Jovis, 8 die Aprilis; Anno 11 Georgii IV ti Regis, 1830.

PRAYERS.

Royal Assent to Bills.

A MESSAGE by Mr. Pulman, Deputy Usher of the Black Rod:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords, authorized by virtue of His Majesty's Commission, for declaring His Royal Assent to several Acts agreed upon by both Houses, do desire the immediate attendance of this Honourable House in the House of Peers, to hear the Commission read.

Accordingly Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to the House of Peers:-And being returned;

Mr. Speaker reported, That the House, at the desire of the Lords, authorized by virtue of His Majesty's Commission, had been at the House of Peers, where a Commission under the Great Seal was read, giving declaring and notifying the Royal Assent to the several Public and Private Bills therein mentioned; and that the Lords thereby authorized, had declared the Royal Assent to the said Bills: Which Bills are as followeth;

An Act to indemnify such Persons in the United Kingdom as have omitted to qualify themselves for Offices and Employments, and for extending the Time limited for those purposes respectively, until the Twenty-fifth day of March One thousand eight hundred and thirty-one; to permit such Persons in Great Britain as have omitted to make and file Affidavits of the execution of Indentures of Clerks to Attornies and Solicitors, to make and file the same on or before the first day of Hilary Term One thousand eight hundred and thirty-one, and to allow Persons to make and file such Affidavits, although the Persons whom they served shall have neglected to take out their Annual Certificates:

An Act for the relief of Parishes from the Expenses of maintaining the Wives and Families of Men convicted under the Laws for the prevention of Smuggling, and sentenced to serve His Majesty in His Naval Service:

An Act for extending certain Provisions of an Act of the eighth year of Queen Anne, for the better Security of Rents, and to prevent Frauds committed by Tenants, regarding Executions to certain Process in use within the County Palatine of Durham and Sadberge:

An Act to enable the Commissioners of the Harbour of Ardglass, in the County of Down, to make Contracts for Works, and to borrow Money for the Improvement of the said Harbour:

An Act for the better regulation of the Affairs of the joint Parishes of Saint Giles-in-the-Fields and Saint George Bloomsbury, in the County of Middlesex, and of the separate Parishes of Saint Giles-in-the-Fields and Saint George Bloomsbury, in the same County:

An Act for maintaining and governing the Harbour of Axmouth and Works connected therewith, in the Parish of Axmouth, in the County of Devon:

An Act for paving, lighting, watching, cleansing and otherwise improving Brunswick Square and Brunswick Terrace, and certain Streets and other Public Places upon certain Grounds, late part of a Farm called the Wick Farm, in the Parish of Hove, in the County of Sussex:

An Act to amend and alter two several Acts passed in the sixth and tenth years of the reign of His present Majesty, for making and constructing certain Wet Docks, Warehouses and other Works in the Parish of Saint Botolph-without-Aldgate, and in the Parish or Precinct of Saint Katharine, near the Tower of London, in the County of Middlesex, and for enlarging and extending the Powers and Provisions of the said Acts:

An Act for better lighting with Gas the Town of Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan:

An Act for extending and amending the several Acts relating to the Docks and Harbour of Liverpool:

An Act for the better paving and sewerage of the Town of Liverpool, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, and for settling the Boundaries between the said Town and the Township of Kirkdale, and parts of the Townships of Everton and West Derby:

An Act for more effectually repairing and maintaining the Road from New Chappel, in the County of Surrey, to Ditcheling Bost Hills, in the County of Sussex and from thence to the Town of Brighthelmston, in the same County; and also for making and maintaining a Branch of Road from the town of Ditcheling to Clayton, in the County of Sussex:

An Act for more effectually repairing and improving the Roads from the Town of Malmesbury to Copped Hall Turnpike, Sutton Benger Church and Dauntsey Gate, in the County of Wilts:

An Act for making and maintaining a Turnpike Road from Pickford Brook, in the Parish of Allesley, in the County of Warwick, to Canwell Gate, in the County of Stafford:

An Act for more effectually repairing, amending, widening and improving the Road from the West Cowgate, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, to the Alemouth Turnpike Road, in the County of Northumberland, and for making and maintaining other Roads communicating therewith:

An Act for repairing the Road from Wakefield to Sheffield, in the County of York:

An Act for more effectually repairing and improving the Road from Chorlton Row, near Manchester, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, to the Bridge at the Corn Mills at Wilmslow, in the County Palatine of Chester:

An Act for repairing the Road from Wool Bridge, to the Borough of Dorchester, in the County of Dorset:

An Act for more effectually repairing and improving the Road from the West end of Gainsburgh Bridge to East Retford, and to Gringley-on-the-Hill, in the County of Nottingham:

An Act for maintaining the Road from Catterick Bridge, in the County of York, by the Towns of Yarm and Stockton, and through the Town of Sedgefield, to the City of Durham:

An Act for more effectually amending, improving and maintaining the Road leading from Nantgareding to Brechfâ, and from Brechfâ to the River Tivy, near Llanlloney Church, and also a Road from Brechfâ aforesaid to Llansawel, all in the County of Carmarthen:

An Act for more effectually repairing and improving several Roads in the Counties of Brecon, Radnor and Glamorgan, and for making and maintaining several new Branches of Road to communicate therewith:

An Act for more effectually maintaining and repairing several Roads from Carmarthen to Lampeterpontstephen, so far as relates to the Carmarthen District of Roads, and certain other Roads in the said County of Carmarthen:

An Act for more effectually repairing and improving the Road from Bolton-le-Moors to Blackburn, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, with two Branches of Road therefrom, and for making and maintaining a Branch of Road to or near the Village of Lower Darwen:

An Act for more effectually repairing and improving the Road from or near Edenfield Chapel to Little Bolton, and the Road leading from and out of the said Road at Booth Pits to or near Bury Bridge, in the County Palatine of Lancaster, and for making and maintaining three several Branches of Road communicating therewith:

An Act for repairing, amending and maintaining the Road from Congleton, in the County of Chester, to a Branch of the Leek Turnpike Road at Thatchmarsh Bottom, in the Parish of Hartington, in the County of Derby, and from the Lowe to the Havannah Mills, in the said County of Chester:

An Act for inclosing the Forest of Roach otherwise Roche otherwise Neroach otherwise Neroche, in the Parishes of Broadway, Bickenhall, Beercrocombe, Ilton, Barrington, Ashill, Ilminster, Whitelackington, Curland, Donyatt, Isle-Abbotts, Hatch-Beauchamp, and the Tithing of Domett, in the Parish of Buckland Saint Mary, or some or one of them, in the County of Somerset:

An Act for dividing and inclosing certain Moss and other Grounds in the Manors and Townships of Out Rawcliffe and Middle Rawcliffe and Stalmine-with-Stainall, in the Parishes of Saint Michael-upon-Wyer and Lancaster, in the County Palatine of Lancaster:

An Act for inclosing Lands and extinguishing Tithes in the Parish of Haddenham, in the County of Buckingham:

An Act to dissolve the Marriage of the Right honourable Edward Baron Ellenborough with the Right honourable Jane Elizabeth Baroness Ellenborough his now Wife, and to enable him to marry again, and for other purposes therein mentioned:

An Act for naturalizing John Anthony Fructuozo.

Ireland-Accounts, &c. presented: Tolls and Customs. No. 264.

The House being informed that Mr. Johnson, from the Office of the Chief Secretary for Ireland, attended at the door, he was called in; and at the bar presented to the House, pursuant to their Orders,-Copies of the Schedules of Tolls and Customs at Fairs and Markets, deposited with the several Clerks of the Peace throughout Ireland.

Grand Jury Presentments. No. 265.

An Account of the annual amount of Grand Jury Presentments received in Ireland during the last twenty years.

Grand Jury (Dublin.)

A Return of the Names and Degrees of the Persons who have been returned on the Pannels, and summoned to serve on each Commission Grand Jury, in the City of Dublin, commencing with the month of December 1823, and ending with the month of February 1830.

A Return of the Names and Degrees of the Persons who have been returned on the Pannels, and summoned to serve on the four Grand Juries for the City of Dublin, in the Court of King's Bench there, for each term, commencing with Hilary Term 1824, and ending with Hilary Term 1830 inclusive:-And then he withdrew.

Ordered, That the said Account and Papers do lie upon the Table; and, except the two last, be printed.

Accounts, &c. presented: Exports and Imports.

The House being informed that Mr. Crafer, from the Treasury, attended at the door, he was called in; and at the bar presented to the House, pursuant to their Orders, -An Account of the Exports of Printed Cotton Goods, with the Amount of Duties received and Drawbacks allowed upon the same, from the year 1814 inclusive to 5th January 1830.

No. 267.

A General Statement of the Imports and Exports of the principal Articles of Merchandize between the United Kingdom and the several Foreign Countries and British Possessions abroad, in the year 1828; specifying the Quantities and the declared Value of the Exports of British Merchandize, and the quantities of imported articles retained for home consumption.

Molasses. No. 268.

An Account, in so far as the same can be made up, showing the total quantity of Molasses imported from the British Colonies in the West Indies into Great Britain, from 5th January 1820 to 5th January 1830 inclusive, with the total quantities thereof re-exported during the same period; and distinguishing each year; also showing the Rates of Duty per cwt. payable thereon when retained for home consumption.

Lead.

An Account of all Lead and Lead Ore; distinguishing Pig and Rolled Lead, Shot, Litharge and Lead Paints from each other, exported from Great Britain in the year ending 5th January 1830.

An Account of all Lead and Lead Ore imported into Great Britain in the year ending 5th January 1830.

Tin.

An Account of all Tin imported into Great Britain in the year ending 5th January 1830; distinguishing from what Countries imported:-also, An Account of all Tin exported from Great Britain in the year ending 5th January 1830; distinguishing to what Countries exported.

Copper.

An Account of all Copper imported into Great Britain in the year ending 5th January 1830; distinguishing each sort of Copper, from what Country, and into what Ports imported:-An Account of the quantities of Copper exported from Great Britain in the year ending 5th January 1830:-An Account of the quantities of Copper exported from the Port of London in the year ending 5th January 1830:-An Account of the quantity of Copper exported from the Port of Liverpool in the year ending 5th January 1830:-and, An Account of all Copper Ore that has been imported into Great Britain without payment of Duty for the purpose of exportation in the year ending 5th January 1830.

Land and Assessed Taxes (Scotland.) No. 269.

An Account of the gross amount of Land and Assessed Taxes received by the several Collectors in Scotland in the year ended 5th January 1830; stating the amount paid by them for Militia and other purposes, and the net amount remitted by the said Collectors to the Receiver General at Edinburgh within the same period; specifying at what number of days the payments were remitted to the Receiver General for Scotland.

Timber. No. 270.

An Account of the amount of Duties paid in the United Kingdom on Timber, and other articles of Wood imported from the British Provinces of North America in each of the years ending 5th January 1828, 5th January 1829 and 5th January 1830; and of the amount of Duties which would have been paid on such Timber and other articles of Wood, if they had been charged with the rates of Duty payable on similar articles imported from the Baltic.

An Account of the Timber and other articles of Wood imported into Great Britain from Norway, Sweden, Russia, Prussia, the British Colonies in North America (collectively), the British Colonies in Africa, and the British Colonies in New South Wales, in each of the years ending 5th January 1829 and 5th January 1830:-also, a similar Account, for the same years, of the Timber and other articles of Wood imported into Ireland:-and, a similar Account, for the same years, of the Timber and other articles of Wood imported into London.

Wine. No. 271.

An Account of the number of Gallons of Foreign Wine upon which the Duty has been paid for home consumption, and the rate of Duty per gallon, stated in the Imperial measure, in each year, from 5th January 1821 to 5th January 1830.

Coffee. No. 272.

An Account of the number of Pounds of Coffee upon which Duty has been paid for home consumption, with the rate of Duty per pound, in each year from 5th January 1821 to 5th January 1830, stated in Imperial weights.

Four-and-Half per Cent. Duties. No. 273.

A Return, showing the gross proceeds of the Produce paying Four-and-a-Half per cent. Duty sent from the Islands of Barbadoes, Antigua, Montserrat, Nevis, Tortola and Saint Christopher's; dividing them under the several heads of Duty, Freight, Commercial Charges, Commission and Net Proceeds, for the last ten years respectively: -also, the quantities, up to the latest date to which the same can be made up, of Sugar in Hundred Weight imported in each of the last ten years from each of those Islands.

A List of the appropriation of the net proceeds of the Four-and-a-Half per cent. Duty received by the Husband from the Agent during the year ending 5th January 1830.

An Account of the Monies remaining in the Exchequer on the 5th January 1829, on account of the Four-and-aHalf per cent. Duties; also, the Monies paid into the Exchequer on the same account in the year ended the 5th January 1830, with an account of the application thereof, specifying whether by way of Salaries or Pensions, or in any other manner; together with the Names to whom such Salaries, Pensions or Payments were paid, and the Balance remaining in the Exchequer up to the same period.

Colliers.

An Account of the number of Vessels laden with Coals which have cleared the Custom House at Stockton-uponTees in the year 1829.

Playing Cards. No. 274.

A Return of the number of Packs of Playing Cards charged with Duty in the years ended 5th January 1827, and 5th January 1830; stating the rate of Duty and amount collected:-And then he withdrew.

Ordered, That the said Accounts do lie upon the Table; and, except the Accounts relative to Printed Cotton Goods, Lead, Tin, Copper, and Vessels laden with Coals, be printed.

East India Company's Resolutions, presented.

The House being informed that Mr. Preston, from the Court of Directors of the East India Company, attended at the door, he was called in; and at the bar presented to the House, pursuant to the directions of several Acts of Parliament,-Resolutions of the Court of Directors of the East India Company, being the Warrants or Instruments granting any Salary, Pension or Gratuity:-And then he withdrew.

Ordered, That the said Paper do lie upon the Table.

Accounts of Prices of Foreign Corn, presented. No. 275.

The House being informed that Mr. Joyce, from the Board of Trade, attended at the door, he was called in; and at the bar presented to the House, pursuant to their Address to His Majesty,-A Return of Accounts received at the Foreign Office, from his Majesty's Consuls abroad, relative to the Prices of Foreign Corn during the year 1829:-And then he withdrew.

Ordered, That the said Return do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Returns from Ecclesiastical Courts, presented.

The House being informed that Mr. Fox, Deputy Registrar of the Commissary Court of London, attended at the door, he was called in; and at the bar presented to the House,-Further Returns to an Order of the House, dated the 4th day of February last, for a Return of the Fees, Profits and Emoluments of the Judge, Registrars and Officers of the Consistory and Commissary Courts of London, in the years 1826, 1827 and 1828:-And then he withdrew.

Ordered, That the said Returns do lie upon the Table.

Petition in favour of Clyde Navigation Bill.

A Petition of Merchants and Traders residing in the ports of Killough, Downpatrick, Strangford and Portaferry, was presented, and read; taking notice of the Bill to enable the Trustees for the Improvement of the Navigation of the River Clyde to purchase up certain Exemptions from the Rates payable on the said River and the Harbour at Glasgow; and praying, That the same may pass into a law.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Petition against Polloc and Govan Railway Bill.

A Petition of Duncan M'Geachy, merchant in Glasgow, was presented, and read; taking notice of the Bill for making and maintaining a Railway from the Lands of Polloc and Govan to the River Clyde, at the Harbour of Broomielaw, in the County of Lanark, with a Branch to communicate therefrom; and praying, That the same may not pass into a law as it now stands.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee on the Bill.

Everton (Lancaster) Church Bill, reported.

General Gascoyne reported from the Committee on the Bill for endowing a Church in the Township of Everton, in the Parish of Walton-on-the-Hill, in the County Palatine of Lancaster; That they had examined the allegations of the Bill, and found the same to be true; and had gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments thereunto; and the Amendments were read, and agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Leonard Stanley Inclosure Bill, reported.

Mr. Bright reported from the Committee on the Bill for inclosing Lands in the Parishes of Stanley Saint Leonard's otherwise Leonard Stanley, and Eastington, or one of them, in the County of Gloucester, and for discharging from Tithes Lands in the said Parish of Stanley Saint Leonard's otherwise Leonard Stanley; That the Standing Orders relative to Bills of Inclosure, had been complied with; and that they had examined the allegations of the Bill, and found the same to be true; and that the Parties concerned had given their consent to the Bill, to the satisfaction of the Committee (except the Proprietors of 165 acres or thereabouts, who refused to sign the Bill; and also the Owners of 77 acres or thereabouts, who were neuter; and that the whole of the property belonging to the persons interested in the improvement, amounted to 806 acres or thereabouts); and that they had gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments thereunto; and the Amendments were read, and agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Arle Inclosure Bill, reported.

Mr. Bright reported from the Committee on the Bill for inclosing Lands in the Tithings of Arle and Arlestone otherwise Arlstone, in the Parish of Cheltenham, in the County of Gloucester, and for discharging from Tithes Lands in the said Tithings; and to whom the Petition of Richard Critchett and Thomas Spinney, Esquires, and William Taynton, Gentleman, being severally Owners and Proprietors of, or otherwise entitled unto, certain lands and premises in the tithings of Arle and Arlestone otherwise Arlstone, in the parish of Cheltenham, in the county of Gloucester, was referred; That the Standing Orders relative to Bills of Inclosure, had been complied with; and that they had considered the said Petition; and had examined the allegations of the Bill, and found the same to be true; and that the Parties concerned had given their consent to the Bill, to the satisfaction of the Committee; and that they had gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments thereunto; and the Amendments were read, and agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Petition respecting Poyais Bonds.

A Petition of Mary Ann Lloyd, of Roupel-street, Cornwall-road, Lambeth, was presented, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner is much distressed, through buying certain Poyais Bonds, which she has in her possession; but that the same are considered of no value by the existing agents, although, for six years past, the different agents have given her hope and promises that they should be considered valid and good; stating the particulars of her case; and praying, That the House will investigate the cause, as she is totally without the means of obtaining redress by lawful authority.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Petition against Hollingrake's Patent Bill.

A Petition of Robert Fayle, of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, Engraver, and Matthew Fayle, of Whaley, in the county of Chester, Pattern Designer, Assignee of the estate of the said Robert Fayle and Samuel Davenport, bankrupts, was presented, and read; taking notice of the Bill for prolonging the Term of certain Letters Patent granted to James Hollingrake, for an improved Method of manufacturing Copper and other Metal Rollers, and of casting and forming Metallic Substances into various Forms with improved closeness and soundness of Texture; and praying, That they may be heard by themselves, their counsel or agents against the same.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Report of Warrington and Newton Railway Bill, considered.

A Motion being made, That the Report which, upon the 31st day of March last, was made from the Committee on the Bill to enable the Company of Proprietors of the Warrington and Newton Railway to extend the Line of the said Railway, and for repealing, explaining, altering, amending and enlarging some of the Powers and Provisions of the Act relating thereto, be now taken into further consideration:-And the House being informed that printed Copies of the Bill, as amended by the Committee, were delivered at the door to the Members of the House upon Saturday last, pursuant to the Standing Order;

Ordered, That the Report be now taken into further consideration:-The House accordingly proceeded to take the Report into further consideration; and the Amendments made by the Committee to the Bill, being read a second time, were agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Petitions against Watching, &c. Parishes Bill.

A Petition of Commissioners for paving, cleansing, lighting and watching the manor of Southwark, otherwise called the Clink, or Bishop of Winchester's liberty, in the parish of Saint Saviour Southwark, in the county of Surrey;-and, of Commissioners for paving, lighting, watching, cleansing and regulating the streets and other public places on the estate of Lord Calthorpe, near Gray's-Innlane,-were presented, and read; taking notice of the Bill to make Provision for the lighting, watching, cleansing and paving of Parishes in England and Wales; and praying, That they may be heard by themselves, their counsel or agents against certain parts thereof.

A Petition of Commissioners for paving and otherwise improving certain streets, and other public passages and places which are or shall be made upon a certain piece of ground belonging to Thomas Harrison, Esquire, situate in the parish of Saint Pancras, in the county of Middlesex, was also presented, and read; taking notice of the said Bill; and praying, That the same may not pass into a law as it now stands.

And the said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the Table.

Petition for Leave for Almondbury Inclosure.

A Petition of Proprietors of estates in the manor of Meltham, in the parish of Almondbury, in the west riding of the county of York, was presented, and read; setting forth, That an Act was passed in the 57th year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the Third, intituled, "An Act for inclosing Lands in the Manor of Meltham, in the Parish of Almondbury, in the West Riding of the County of York," and that nearly thirteen years have elapsed since the passing of the said Act, and the inclosure is not yet completed, or likely to be; and that land, part of the commons, has already been sold for defraying the charges of the Commissioners to the amount of upwards of 12,800£. probably to the amount of 16,000£.; and that one of the Commissioners has charged and paid himself 2,900£. or thereabouts, and the other Commissioner has charged and paid himself 2,286£. or thereabouts, besides a very large sum paid to the clerk to the Commissioners, and the inclosure is not completed; and that the Commissioners refused or neglected, until the year 1828, to make any statement of their accounts, and lay the same before a Justice of the Peace, to be examined and balanced, although by the said Act they are required so to do once at least in every year, and the proprietors are constantly refused permission to take any minutes of the accounts; and that William Rayner, one of the Commissioners, now is a prisoner in the King's Bench Prison, and has been so a prisoner for more than twelve months past, and about the same time became a bankrupt, and is thereby prevented from acting as such Commissioner consistently with the provisions of the said Act; and that it is by the said Act provided or enacted, that if the Commissioners respectively shall die, or refuse or neglect to act for the space of three calendar months, or shall become incapable of acting as such Commissioners, then that other Commissioners shall be appointed in their room or stead; and that at a meeting held in the month of June last, Frederick Robert Jones was appointed a Commissioners in the room of the said William Rayner; and that Joseph Taylor, the other Commissioner, refused to swear in the new Commissioner, Frederick Robert Jones, as it appears, by the provisions of the said Act, he the said Joseph Taylor is required to do, and the Petitioners were advised, that by such refusal the said Joseph Taylor became disqualified to act as a Commissioner, and therefore, at meetings held in the month of August last, Thomas Bradley was appointed a Commissioner in the room of the said Joseph Taylor; and that nevertheless the said William Rayner and Joseph Taylor, and also the clerk to the Commissioners, refuse to give up the books and papers to the new Commissioners, and the execution of the purposes of the Act is thereby prevented; and that the said Joseph Taylor has refused to act with the said Frederick Robert Jones, so appointed a Commissioner in the room of the said William Rayner, and the due execution of the Act is thereby totally suspended; and that legal proceedings have been instituted with a view to promote the progress of the execution of the Act, but it has been found that it is in the power of the said William Rayner and Joseph Taylor to protract any legal proceedings for a great number of years, and that the intricacies and doubts attending the circumstances of the case are such, that no effectual relief could be obtained from the courts of law, and that, after all, the Petitioners would be obliged, as they are advised, to apply to the Legislature for effectual relief, and that in the mean time the whole of the commons might be sold, and the proceeds consumed by the said William Rayner and Joseph Taylor for their sole benefit and advantage, and in protracting the prosecution of all legal means of redress, if any such means should really exist; and that the said Commissioners have in fact neglected for nearly thirteen years to effectuate the purposes for which they were appointed by Parliament, and have moreover themselves, under various pretences, raised and created impediments to frustrate the purposes of the Act, and have for many years acted upon, and have evinced their determination to continue to act upon, no other system than that of protracting the final execution of the said Act, for the purpose of paying to themselves large annual incomes for nominal attendances, as Commissioners, until the whole of the commons shall be annihilated, and it is therefore expedient that the said Commissioners should be immediately removed, and another or others appointed in their stead, and that the powers and provisions of the said Act should be amended; and that by reason of the necessity for references to, and obtaining the opinion of, counsel respecting the practicability of proceeding without any application to Parliament, since the last difficulty in the proceedings occurred, the impracticability of such a proceeding was not ascertained by the Petitioners until after the time limited by the House for receiving petitions for Private Bills had elapsed; and praying, That leave may be given to present a Petition for leave to bring in a Bill for effecting the purposes aforesaid.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to a Committee:-And it is referred to Sir Robert Wilson, &c.: And they are to meet To-morrow, in the Speaker's Chamber; and have Power to send for persons papers and records.

Petitions against throwing open the Beer Trade.

A Petition of Licensed Victuallers and Occupiers of Public-houses in the townships of Sutton-in-Ashfield cum Hucknall-under-Huthwait, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, and Skegby, all in the county of Nottingham;-and, of Licensed Victuallers and others of Frome Selwood and its vicinity, in the county of Somerset,-were presented, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners perceive there is a proposition before the House to take off all Duties on Beer, and grant an extension of free trade in the sale of that article by retail; and praying, That such remedies may be applied by the House as will relieve the country generally, without inflicting a peculiar and destructive injury, as such will be to the Petitioners, if the plan brought forward be persevered in, and carried into effect.

And the said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the Table; and to be printed.

Petitions against Renewal of East India Charter.

A Petition of Merchants, Manufacturers and others interested in the trade and commerce of Newcastle-underLyme;-of John Stevenson, Convener of the Seven Incorporated Trades of the burgh of Stirling;-of Members of the Incorporated Trades and Burgesses of Arbroath;- and, of Magistrates, Councillors and Burgesses of the burgh of Pollokshaws,-were presented, and read; praying the House, That at the earliest practicable period measures may be adopted to throw open to a free trade the interior of India and China, and all the countries east of the Cape of Good Hope.

And the said Petitions were ordered to be referred to the Select Committee on East India Company's Affairs.

Petition for abolishing practice of burning Widows in India.

A Petition of Protestant Dissenters of Ebenezer Chapel, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was presented, and read; praying the House to adopt such further measures as may effectually secure the abolition of the practice in India of burning Widows on the funeral piles of their husbands.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Select Committee on East India Company's Affairs.

Address respecting Colonial Income and Expenditure.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that He will be graciously pleased to give directions, that there be laid before this House, a Copy of a Letter from R. W. Hay, Esq. dated Colonial Office, 10th April 1827, in reply to a Letter from J. C. Herries, Esq. dated Treasury, 24th March 1827, relative to the Revenues and Expenditure of Ceylon, the Mauritius, the Cape of Good Hope, Trinidad, and Malta; together with Copy of the Financial Statement in explanation thereof.

Ordered, That the said Address be presented to His Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of His Majesty's most honourable Privy Council.

Accounts to be printed. No. 276.

Ordered, That the Annual Account of the West India Dock Company, which was presented to the House upon the 19th day of March last, be printed.

No. 277.

Ordered, That the Account of the quantity of Hops imported and exported in the last year, which was presented to the House upon Friday last, be printed.

The Lords have agreed to

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Giffin Wilson and Mr. Eden:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have agreed to the several Bills following, without any Amendment; viz.

Tanjore Commissioners Bill.

A Bill, intituled, An Act to continue an Act of the fifth year of His present Majesty, for enabling the Commis sioners acting in execution of an Agreement made between the East India Company and the private Creditors of the late Rajah of Tanjore the better to carry the same into effect:

Radstock Roads Bill.

A Bill, intituled, An Act for more effectually repairing and otherwise improving several Roads from Radstock to Buckland, Dinham, Kilmersdon, Babington and Hallatrow, and from Norton Down to Norton Saint Philip, in the County of Somerset:

Merlin's Bridge Road Bill.

A Bill, intituled, An Act for improving and maintaining the Road from Merlin's Bridge to Pembroke Ferry, in the County of Pembroke:-And then the Messengers withdrew.

Petition for equalization of Land Tax Assessment.

A Petition of Owners, Occupiers and Inhabitant Householders of the parish of Saint Paul Covent Garden, in the county of Middlesex, was presented, and read; setting forth, That the Land Tax has, for a long series of years, been very highly and unequally levied on the parish of Saint Paul Covent Garden, which pays a much larger proportion than most other parishes in the county of Middlesex; that the Petitioners are now paying on an assessment at the rack rent, 2s. 4d. in the pound Land Tax, a rate bearing no proportion to that paid by many contiguous parishes, particularly the wealthy and opulent inhabitants of the parish of Saint George Hanover-square, who are contributing to the Land Tax at the rate of only 6d. in the pound, whilst the populous and wealthy parish of Saint Pancras pays only three halfpence in the pound, and the rich and extensive parish of Saint Mary-le-Bone pays but once in three years one farthing in the pound; that the said parish of Saint Paul Covent Garden, containing scarcely more than 500 houses, and possessing a rental of only 42,000£., pays annually to the Land Tax the sum of 4,840£. 12s., whilst the parish of Saint Pancras, with a rental of more than 400,000£. pays only 1,776£. 15s. 7d. annually, and the parish of Saint Mary-le-Bone, with a rental of 704,000£., is paying only 492£. annually; that the total amount of Land Tax redeemed in the parish of Saint Paul Covent Garden, is only 138£. 8s. 2d., the smallness of which the Petitioners attribute to the very high rate at which it is imposed; that the houses of the said parish are generally occupied by tradesmen and artisans, upon whom so heavy a tax has proved extremely burthensome and oppressive, and several highly assessed houses have of late years been vacated, and many are now unoccupied, which has increased the burthen of which the Petitioners complain; that the Petitioners humbly suggest to the House, that an equalization of the Land Tax on a fresh assessment throughout the Kingdom would considerably improve the revenue, and afford the relief prayed for; and praying the House, That an equalization of the Land Tax may be effected, or that the House will extend such other relief in the premises as to them may seem meet.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Return of Life Annuities and Tontines (Ireland), to be made forthwith.

The House was moved, That the Order made upon the 12th day of March last, That there be laid before this House, a Return of the Names and Description, and of their Places of Residence, where specified, of the several Nominees in the Life Annuities or Tontines of Ireland, created in 1773, 1775 and 1777, who received their Dividends on their several Annuities at the last half-yearly payment thereof, might be read; and the same being read;

Ordered, That a Return to the said Order be laid before this House forthwith.

Treasury Minute on Customs Compensation to Collectors, ordered.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Copy of any Minute or Order of the Board of Treasury since the year 1824, by which Remuneration or Compensation was granted, by annual payment or otherwise, to the Collectors of Liverpool, Bristol, Cork and Belfast, for losses sustained by them from the alteration then directed in the mode of remitting the balances of Public Money received by them in the Custom Department of those several Ports; and also, of any Letter which may have been written by direction of that Board to any other Collector of the Customs, rejecting his or their claim for similar Compensation.

Petition complaining of Distress.

A Petition of Inhabitants of the town of Haslingden and its vicinity, in the county of Lancaster, was presented, and read; praying the House to continue to give anxious consideration to the present unexampled distress of the manufacturing portion of the community, and to adopt such measures as will most speedily and effectually place the two great interests of the country upon such a relative footing, as will be most likely to restore solid and permanent prosperity to the nation at large.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Petitions respecting Climbing Boys.

A Petition of Inhabitants of Whitehaven;-and, of Cockermouth,-were presented, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, deeply impressed with a sense of the misery and degradation consequent upon the employ ment of children in cleansing chimnies by climbing, are desirous that such an inhuman practice be speedily and totally abolished; and praying the House to pass an Act for the prohibition thereof.

And the said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the Table.

Petition for revision of Stamp Duties (Scotland.)

A Petition of the Magistrates and Town Council of the city of Brechin, was presented, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, understand it is in contemplation to consolidate and revise the existing Stamp Laws of the United Kingdom, a measure which cannot fail, from the known hardship, inconvenience and expense attendant on several branches of the present system, to give universal satisfaction; in particular, the Petitioners would beg to bring under the notice of the House the manner in which the Inventory Duty on the moveable effects of persons deceased has hitherto been ascertained and levied in Scotland, which is universally complained of as vexatious, and attended with a train of expense to the lieges without advantage to the revenue, particularly in cases of small amount; that the Stamp Duty at present exacted on the protesting of small bills, and on the steps of diligence thereon, bears very hard on the trading part of the community, and ought to be wholly repealed, particularly as no other step of legal procedure for the recovery of debts is subject to any duty whatever; that the Tax on Notaries Public, Solicitors or Attornies, and Procurators and their Clerks, being a direct tax on the individuals of a particular profession, whose incomes are very different, is by far too high, and ought to be modified; and praying, That the House will take their Petition into consideration, and give such relief in the premises as to them may seem meet.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Accounts, Ordered: Ordnance Manufactories.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, and Account of the Profit and Loss on each of the Manufactories of Small Arms, Powder, and of any other article manufactured under the Board of Ordnance, in the year 1829; stating the Prime Cost of all Materials used, the Salaries, Wages, and all other Expenses incurred, in each Establishment; together with the Quantity, and the estimated Value, of all Articles produced.

Navy Board.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a similar Return, from the Navy Board, of all their Manufactories in 1829.

Land and Assessed Taxes (Scotland.)

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Return of the Expense of the Office of Receivers General of Land and Assessed Taxes in Scotland in the year 1829; stating the Names of the Receivers General, and all Officers employed in the receipt of Collection whose Salary and Emoluments amount to £.100 a year and upwards; distinguishing each, and all other contingent Expenses for the year.

Revenue (Scotland.)

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Return of the amount of Revenue remitted from Scotland in the year 1829, by whom, and at what dates of Exchange between Scotland and England, the same was remitted.

Dioceses of Lincoln and Norwich.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, Copies of the Patents of Appointments of the Chancellors of the Dioceses of Lincoln and Norwich.

Address for Return from New South Wales.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that He will be graciously pleased to give directions, that there be laid before this House, a Return of the Civil Establishment at New South Wales, in the year 1829, stating the Name, and Office or Employment of every Person receiving more than £.60 a year in Salary and Emoluments, in the Civil, Judicial, Land Revenue, Convict, and all other Departments; together with the amount of contingent Expenses in each Department, and the total Expense for the year; stating also, whether any Persons have more than one Appointment, and how many Appointments, with the Salaries and Emoluments of each; -also, whether they are Military Men, and receiving Full, or Half, or Retired Pay, along with their Civil Salaries and Emoluments.

Ordered, That the said Address be presented to His Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of His Majesty's most honourable Privy Council.

Petition against alteration in the Welsh Judicature.

A Petition of the High Sheriff and Grand Jury at the Spring Great Session for the county of Montgomery, 1830, was presented, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are unanimously of opinion, that very great inconvenience will result from the proposed measure of dividing or combining the Welsh counties, and therefore most urgently pray, that such a measure may not receive the sanction of the House; that the Petitioners would receive with gratitude any advantages which may arise to the Principality from a different mode of appointing the Judges, but as the inhabitants of the Principality now possess considerable advantages under the present jurisdiction, and praying, That no measure may receive the sanction of the House which may deprive them of those advantages.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Returns, ordered: Machinery.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Return of all Machinery exported during the last six years, specifying the exact quantity exported in each particular year.

Tobacco.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Return of the quantity of Tobacco, manufactured and unmanufactured, imported into Great Britain and Ireland from the British Possessions in Asia, Africa and America, in the year 1828; distinguishing the quantity received from each, and in what proportion, Foreign or Colonial.

Returns, &c. presented: Magistrates (Scotland.) No. 278.

Mr. William Peel presented to the House, pursuant to their Addresses to His Majesty,-A Return of the number of Magistrates named in the Commission of the Peace in each county in Scotland; specifying the number who have qualified and acted as Magistrates, and stating the date of the last Commission, and addition thereto.

Church of Ireland. No. 279.

An Account of the number of Faculties or Dispensations which have, in each of the last ten years, been granted in Ireland for the purpose of enabling Ecclesiastical persons to hold more than one Benefice, and of the rules and regulations under which such Faculties are now granted.

Bankrupts and Insolvents. No. 280.

Returns to several Addresses to His Majesty, dated the 16th day of March last, for Accounts of the number of persons declared Bankrupt during every month, from January 1825 up to February 1830, (both inclusive), classed according to their trades;-and, of the number of persons declaring themselves Insolvent during the same period, and classed in the same manner.

Climbing Boys. No. 281.

Copy of Circular Letter addressed by Mr. Secretary Peel, to different Public Offices in favour of the Society for superseding Climbing Boys by the use of Machinery: -List of Public Offices to which the same was addressed: -Also, the number of Flues in each, that have been cleansed by the Machine or swept by Boys since the date of the Circular; showing also, in which of such Buildings the Agents of the Society for superseding Climbing Boys or Sweeps that keep boys are employed.

Ordered, That the said Papers do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Petition for mitigating Punishment for Forgery.

A Petition of Bankers, Merchants, Tradesmen and other Inhabitants of Woodbridge, in the county of Suffolk;-of Inhabitant Householders of the Liberty of His Majesty's Tower of London;-of Magistrates, Clergy, Bankers, Merchants and other Inhabitants, of the towns of Portsmouth and Portsea;-and, of Bankers and other Inhabitants of Witham and its vicinity, in the county of Essex, -were presented, and read; praying, That the House will, in revising the laws relating to Forgery, take into consideration the various objections which may be urged against the punishment of death, and adopt such other punishment for Forgery as shall be more calculated from its certainty to prevent the offence, than that which, from its undue severity, is rendered generally precarious.

And the said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the Table; and to be printed.

Petition for Duty on Importation of Lead.

A Petition of Inhabitants of the district of Craven, in the west riding of the county of York, was presented, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have for several years been employed in the raising and manufacture of Lead, which employs a large capital invested in Mines and other works, supports a numerous and industrious population, and contributes to advance the trade and commerce of the kingdom; that owing to the extreme depression in the price of Lead and the consequent burthen of increased stocks, the Petitioners in common with all others concerned in Lead Mining are reduced to great difficulty and distress, and if the present low prices continue, a great proportion of their works must be abandoned, their capital destroyed, and numbers of work-people deprived of support; and praying, That the House will give such further protecting duty to the British Lead Miners, against the importation of Foreign Lead into this kingdom and our colonies, or afford them such other assistance as to the House may seem proper and expedient.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Address for number of Executions for Forgery.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that He will be graciously pleased to give directions, that there be laid before this House, a Return of the number of Persons who have been executed for Forgery, during each of the last ten years; specifying the nature of the Forgery of which such persons were convicted.

Ordered, That the said Address be presented to His Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of His Majesty's most honourable Privy Council.

Petition respecting Post Office (Brighton.)

A Petition of Inhabitants and Visitors of Brighthelmston, was presented, and read; setting forth, That a great portion of the inhabitants of the said town are now and have been for some years subject to a demand made by the postmaster of one penny, over and above the postage chargeable on the same, on all letters and newspapers directed to or delivered at any house which is situate beyond a certain line or limit laid down within the said town and parish; that the most valuable property in the said town and parish, and some of the most extensive districts, are situate without or beyond such line, and as such subject to the demand complained of; that they consider such demand to be unjust, vexatious, partial and oppressive; and seeing that they cannot obtain redress in the proper quarter, pray the House to interfere in their behalf, and put down and abolish this tax, which has been imposed upon so large a portion of the inhabitants and visitors of the said town.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Returns, &c. ordered: Silver Coins.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Copy of the Report made to the Lords of the Treasury, dated 12th September 1695, by Mr. Lowndes, the Secretary to the Treasury, on the subject of the Silver Coins.

Rum.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Return of the number of imperial proof gallons of Rum in bond in England on 5th January 1826, and imported into England between 5th January 1826 and 5th January 1830, showing the total of both.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Return of the number of imperial proof gallons of Rum exported as merchandize, as ships stores, or exported under any other denomination or character, taken for the use of the Navy or Army, or any other Government purpose, from 5th January 1826 to 5th January 1830, and of what remained in bond on 5th January 1830; and showing the total number of gallons of all these added together, and the difference between them, and what was in bond on 5th January 1826, and imported since then to 5th January 1830.

Distillers.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, Copies of Memorials addressed to the Treasury by Corn Distillers in England, Scotland and Ireland, bearing the following dates: 6th February, 17th March, 22d April, 30th March, 16th April, 22d April, 25th April, 26th April, 6th May, 9th May, 13th May, 30th May, 6th June, 2d July, and 29th November 1828; 30th January, 21st March, 25th March, 30th March, 4th May, and 18th May 1829; and together with any Reports of the Commissioners of Excise thereupon.

Petition respecting Galway Franchise.

A Petition of James O'Hara, Foreman of the Grand Jury for the county of the town of Galway, assembled at Spring Assizes 1830, was presented; and read; setting forth, That, previous to the year 1717, the merchants and traders of Galway, without distinction of religion, were entitled to the freedom of the corporation thereof, as is evidenced by the recognition of the Guilds, or Companies of Trade, in the charter of 29th Charles the Second, new rules of 1672, and by the following Resolution entered into by a Committee of the Irish House of Commons, in the year 1715, "Resolved, That the several Guilds and Companies of Trade in Galway are part of the commonalty thereof, and are as such entitled to vote for Members to serve in Parliament" (Irish Commons Journals, vol. iii. p. 66); that by Statute 4 Geo. 1, c. 15, s. 5 (Irish), commonly called, "The Galway Act," it is, amongst other things, enacted, that "all traders, artificers and handicraftsmen who do or shall come to reside in the town of Galway, shall be entitled to the freedom of the corporation thereof, and also of that company or corporation to which their respective trades belong, without paying any thing for such freedom;" that, by a subsequent section in said Statute, it is provided, "that no person or persons shall be entitled to the benefit of such freedom unless he or they shall have been professed Protestants for seven years or upwards, and shall also have taken the oaths of allegiance, supremacy and abjuration, and shall make and subscribe the declaration against transubstantiation;" that the general laws affecting the civil rights of His Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects were done away in the last Session of Parliament, with the declared intention of placing Protestant and Catholic on a footing of perfect equality; that, applauding the wisdom of His Majesty's Government in effecting the great measure of relief which, in the opinion of the said Grand Jury, was equally indispensable to the peace and prosperity of Ireland, and to the strength and safety of the Empire, they cannot but view with regret the existence of a local restriction, which must, if allowed to continue, keep up an odious distinction in that community between fellow Protestants as well as between Protestant and Catholic, contrary to the intent of the Legislature, and must also deprive that district alone of all the benefits which the general measure is so eminently calculated to confer; that they appeal with confidence to the House on behalf of that community, and especially of the Roman Catholic merchants and traders, thus unjustly excluded from their corporate rights, and humbly pray the unqualified repeal of the proviso in the Statute 4 Geo. 1, c. 15, which requires the profession of Protestantism to entitle claimants to the freedom of the corporation of Galway.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Jews Relief Bill, deferred.

The House was moved, That the Order made upon Monday last, for reading a second time upon Monday the 26th day of this instant April, the Bill for the Relief of His Majesty's Subjects professing the Jewish Religion, might be read; and the same being read;

Ordered, That the said Order be discharged.

Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time upon Monday the 3d day of May next.

Petition for holding Assizes at Wakefield.

A Petition of the Clergy, Gentry, Freeholders, Merchants and others, Inhabitants of the township of Dalton, in the west riding of the county of York, was presented, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have observed, with pleasure, the recommendation contained in the recent Report of the Law Commissioners for holding the assizes at Wakefield; that it would be a great advantage to the Petitioners, and to the other Inhabitants of the said west riding, and would greatly promote the ends of justice, if the Assizes and General Gaol Delivery for the business of the said riding were in future to be held at Wakefield, an ancient and considerable market town, nearly in the centre of the said west riding, where the Register Office and the Clerk of Peace's Office for the said riding are situate, where also a spacious court-house and an extensive prison have been provided, and where the public meetings of magistrates of the said riding, and other public meetings for transacting business, are usually held; and praying, That the Assizes and General Gaol Delivery for the business of the said west riding may in future be held at Wakefield, and that such other relief in the premises may be granted to the Petitioners as to the House may seem meet.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Adjournment.

Resolved, That this House will, at the rising of the House this day, adjourn till Monday the 26th day of this instant April.

Resolution respecting Private Bills.

The House was moved, That the Resolution of the House, of the 5th day of February last, limiting the time for receiving Reports on Private Bills, might be read; and the same was read, and is as followeth;

"Resolved, That this House will not receive any Report of such Private Bill after Monday the 3d day of May next."

Ordered, That the said Resolution be rescinded.

Resolved, That this House will not receive any Report of such Private Bill after Monday the 10th day of May next.

Returns, &c. ordered: Cottons and Linens.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Return of the number of square yards of Calicoes, Muslins, Linens and Stuffs made either of Cotton or Linen, printed, painted, stained or dyed in Great Britain (except such as shall have been dyed of one colour throughout), with the amount of Excise Duty collected thereon in England and Scotland in the three years ended 5th January 1830, distinguishing the number of square yards, and amount of Duty collected thereon in each year.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Return of the total number of square yards of the like articles exported from England and Scotland in the same period, the amount of Drawbacks paid or allowed thereon; distinguishing in each year the quantities and amount of Drawbacks allowed to Foreign parts from the quantities and Drawbacks paid or allowed on the like articles on the removal coastwise to Ireland.

West India Produce.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Statement, showing the rates and amount of Duties levied under British Acts of Parliament on British West India Products imported into the British North American Colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Upper and Lower Canada, Newfoundland and Prince Edward's Island; distinguishing such products under the heads of Sugar, Rum, Molasses, Coffee, Pimento, and Miscellaneous Articles, for the last year to which the same can be made up, with the appropriation thereof:-Also, the rates and amount of Duties, levied on the above articles of Foreign growth, imported into the said British North American Colonies, for the last year to which the same can be made up, with the appropriation thereof.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Statement, showing the rates and amount of Duties levied in each of the British West India Colonies on Goods, Wares and Merchandize, and the quantities of the articles imported therein, indirectly from the United States of America; distinguishing such of the said articles as come from the British American Colonies, and from the Foreign free ports in the West Indies, for a year, ending at the latest period to which the same can be made up.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of the quantities of Sugar, Rum, Coffee and Molasses, exported from the British West Indies to the United States of America, during the year ending 5th January 1826, and the year ending 5th January 1829, placed in comparison with each other.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of the quantities of Sugar, Coffee, Rum and Molasses exported from the British West India Islands to the Foreign West India Islands, during the years ending 5th January 1826 and 1829 respectively.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of the quantities of Sugar, Coffee, Rum and Molasses exported from the British West Indies into the British North American Colonies; distinguishing the Colonies into which imported, during the years ending 5th January 1826 and 1829 respectively, placed in comparison with each other.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Comparative Statement of the quantities of the different productions of the United States of America imported into each of the West India Colonies in the years ending 5th January 1826 and 1829 respectively.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of the quantity of British Plantation, Mauritius, and other Sugar, on which Duty has been paid in each month, in the years 1828 and 1829, the first year computed from 5th January 1828 till 5th January 1829, and the second year ending 5th January 1830.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of the quantities on which the Duty has been paid in each month, from 5th January till 5th April 1830.

Petition respecting Court of Session (Scotland.)

A Petition of William Hume, Chief Magistrate of the royal burgh of Dunbar, in the county of Haddington, was presented, and read; setting forth, That an Act was passed some years ago (4 Geo. 4, c. 98), intituled, "An Act for the regulation of the Court of the Commissaries of Edinburgh, and for altering and regulating the Jurisdiction of inferior Commissaries;" that by the sixth section it is enacted, "That the boundaries of all inferior Commissaries, as they exist at present, shall cease and determine, and from thenceforth every sheriffdom and stewartry shall constitute a Commissariot, excepting always the sheriffdoms of Edinburgh, Haddington and Linlithgow, which sheriffdoms shall be and remain the Commissariot of Edinburgh, as provided by this Act;" that this exception in the Act is attended with great inconvenience and expense to the county of Haddington in general, and to the burgh of Dunbar in particular, in so far as the inhabitants are obliged to bring causes peculiar to the Commissary Court before the Commissaries at Edinburgh, whose court is held at the distance of nearly thirty miles from that burgh; that this distance forms no bar to litigation, because most of the causes peculiar to the Commissary Court cannot be avoided; thus services of executors, giving up inventories, confirmations, &c.; in some of these causes personal appearance is necessary, which the distance renders very inconvenient, and in all of them two agents are required, for the agent in the country cannot practise before the Edinburgh Court; instead also of the warrants from that Court being executed by sheriff officers, as is now the case in other counties, they must be executed by messengers, whose rate of charges is four times higher than sheriff officers; that, as the Petitioners understand some further reductions are contemplated by the House in the Supreme Commissary Court, they beg leave to represent, that the business of that court would be considerably lessened if the sheriffdom of Haddington were constituted a Commissariot under the Sheriff, in the same way as in other counties, and a considerable saving of expense and time would follow to the inhabitants, as well as great convenience in the conducting of business; and praying, That, in any Act that may be passed regulating the Supreme Commissary Court, it may please the House to appoint the Sheriff of Haddingtonshire Commissary of the County, with powers similar to those enjoyed by other Sheriffs within their jurisdictions.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table; and be printed.

Accounts from the Court of Chancery, ordered.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of the number of Causes, Re-hearings and Appeals, Pleas, Demurrers, Exceptions and Further Directions, Cause Petitions and Special Motions, which have been contested; Bankrupt Petitions which have been contested, and Lunatic Petitions which have been contested, which have been heard and decided by the Lord Chancellor in each year during the last six years; distinguishing how many of such Re-hearings and Appeals, and of such Petitions and Motions as have been Appeal Petitions or Motions, have been affirmed in each year, and how many have been reversed in each year; distinguishing how much of such business has been heard and decided in each Term of each year.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of the number of Causes, Re-hearings, Pleas, Demurrers, Exceptions and Further Directions, Cause Petitions and Special Motions, which have been contested; Bankrupt Petitions which have been contested, which have been heard and decided by the Vice-Chancellor in each year during the last six years; distinguishing how much of such business has been heard and decided in each Term of each year.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, an Account of the number of Causes, Re-hearings, Exceptions and Further Directions, Cause Petitions and Special Motions, which have been contested, which have been heard and decided by the Master of the Rolls in each year, during the last six years; distinguishing how much of such business has been heard and decided in each Term of each year.

Returns to be printed. No. 282.

Ordered, That the several Returns relating to the Court of Chancery, which were presented to the House upon the 22d day of February and the 1st day of March last, be printed.

No. 283.

Ordered, That the Papers relating to Ex Officio Informations, which were presented to the House upon the 16th and 18th days of March last, be printed.

Address respecting Jesuits.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that He will be graciously pleased to give directions, that there be laid before this House, a Return of the Notices or Statements, which, pursuant to the provisions of the Act 10 Geo. 4, c. 7, and the Schedule thereto annexed, have been delivered to the several Clerks of the Peace, or their Deputies, in Great Britain and Ireland, by Jesuits, and Members of other Religious Orders. Communities or Societies of the Church of Rome, bound by Monastic or Religious Vows, Copies of which Notices or Statements have been in Ireland transmitted to the Chief Secretary of the Lord Lieutenant, and in Great Britain to one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, according to the further provisions of the said Act; such Return to specify the time or times, at or about which such Notices or Statements shall have been delivered to such Clerks of the Peace, or their Deputies.

Ordered, That the said Address be presented to His Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of His Majesty's most honourable Privy Council.

Return of Tithes (Ireland), ordered.

Ordered, That there be laid before this House, a Return by the Registrar in each Diocese in Ireland, of the number of Parishes, the Tithes of which are the property of Laymen, specifying the name of such Lay Impropriator, and the amount of the Income which, as such, he derives from each such parish, if under the Tithe Composition Act; or, if not under the said Act, the number of Acres in each such parish; distinguishing whether the Tithes thence derived be rectorial or entirely impropriate, and the amount of allowance allotted by the Lay Impropriator in each such parish to the officiating Clergyman therein.

Sale of Beer Bill, ordered.

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to permit the general Sale of Beer by Retail in England: And that Mr. Calcraft, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Lord Granville Somerset do prepare, and bring it in.

Report on Stamp Duties Acts.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of the Act 56 Geo. 3, c. 56, to repeal the several Stamp Duties in Ireland, and also several Acts for the Collection and Management of the said Duties, and to grant New Stamp Duties in lieu thereof, and to make more effectual Regulations for collecting and managing the said Duties; and also, of the Act 56 Geo. 3, c. 107, to amend an Act of the last Session of Parliament relating to Stamp Duties in Great Britain, so far as relates to Inventories to be exhibited and recorded in any Commissary Court in Scotland, the Resolution which they had directed him to report to the House; and the same was read, and agreed to by the House; and is as followeth;

Resolved, That the several Duties under the care of the Commissioners of Stamps, by virtue of the several Acts of Parliament now in force, and the several Allowances and Drawbacks in respect of any of the said Duties, shall cease and determine; and that, in lieu thereof, there shall be raised, levied, collected, paid and allowed the several Duties of Stamps, and the several Allowances and Drawbacks contained in the Schedule hereunto annexed; (that is to say)

SCHEDULE.

PART THE FIRST,

Containing the Duties in respect of Deeds and other Instruments, and the Allowances in respect of the said Duties.-p. 287.

PART THE SECOND,

Containing the Duties in respect of Bills of Exchange, Promissory Notes, Bankers Notes, Receipts, Protests and Insurances, and of Licenses to Bankers and Insurers, and the Allowances in respect of the said Duties.-p. 306.

PART THE THIRD,

Containing the Duties in respect of Probates of Wills and Letters of Administration in England and Ireland; and of Inventories of personal or moveable Estates of Persons deceased in Scotland; and of Legacies and Residues of such Estates in any part of the United Kingdom, and of Successions to such Estates in cases of Intestacy.- p. 310.

PART THE FOURTH,

Containing the Duties in respect of Newspapers, Pamphlets, Advertisements and Almanacks; and the Allowances in respect of the said Duties.-p. 312.

PART THE FIFTH,

Containing the Duties in respect of Playing Cards and Dice, and of Licenses to Makers of Cards and Dice. -p. 312.

PART THE SIXTH,

Containing the Duties in respect of Gold and Silver Plate, and of Licenses to deal in such Plate; and the Allowances and Drawbacks in respect of the said Duties.-p. 313.

PART THE SEVENTH,

Containing the Duties in respect of certain Medicines and of Licenses to vend the same, and in respect of Licenses to Hawkers and Pedlars in the United Kingdom; and in respect of Appraisements and Licenses to Appraisers and to Pawnbrokers in Great Britain; and the Allowances in respect of the said Duties.-p. 313.

PART THE EIGHTH,

Containing the Duties in respect of Stage Coaches and Post Horses, and Licenses to keep such Coaches and to let such Horses, in Great Britain.-p. 319.

PART THE NINTH,

Containing the Duties in respect of certain Proceedings in the Courts of Law and Equity in Ireland; and the Allowances in respect of the said Duties.-p. 320.

PART THE TENTH,

Containing the Duties in respect of Game Certificates in Ireland.-p. 321.