W. Smith took occasion to make an attack upon the author of a Poem called Wat Tyler, which he condemned as the most seditious book that ever was written; that government ought to repress this work, and punish its author, who was, he understood, the writer of the 11th article in the 31st Number of the Quarterly Review, which contained sentiments strangely in contradiction to the spirit with which the poem was written. Mr C. W. Wynn, in reply, said, he was surprised the Hon. Gentleman should amuse the House with criticisms upon two anonymous publications, and by personal reflections, in a place where the author could make no answer. Sir Samuel Romilly opposed the bill, observing, that to control doctrine by force, was as idle as to attempt to take a besieged town by syllogism. Mr Canning supported the bill, because, he said, persons went amongst the poor, not that they felt their distresses, or were anxious to relieve them, but that their voices might be called forth, and that they might take advantage of the inflammability of the people, to goad them on to a subserviency to their own wicked purposes. Mr Brougham entered his protest against the measure of putting the power into the hands of a single magistrate, of arresting any person for uttering any thing which, in his opinion, tended to bring the government into contempt. A division took place, when there apppeared for the third reading,—ayes 179; noes 44; majority 135.
ORDNANCE ESTIMATES.
Mar. 17.—Mr Ward moved, that a sum not exceeding £258,000 be voted for the service of the Ordnance Department, fram the 1st of January to the 30th of June 1817.—Agreed to.
COTTAGE WINDOW TAX.
Lord A. Hamilton presented a petition from the landholders and freeholders of the county of Lanark, praying for a repeal of this tax.
LOTTERIES.
Mar. 18.—Mr Lyttleton moved, that the existence of state lotteries is prejudicial to the people, and must ultimately diminish the financial resources of the country. The Chancellor of the Exchequer contended, that most of the evils formerly attending upon lotteries had been done away with by the present mode of drawing, and he did not see how such a sum could be raised in a less objectionable way. Mr Wilberforce, in feeling and eloquent terms, recapitulated the evils attending on lotteries. The House divided. For the resolution 26; against it 72; majority 46.
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN SCOTLAND.
Mar. 19.—Lord Binning, in moving to bring in a bill for their better regulation, stated, that there were 1500 lunatics in confinement, and about 2000 at large in Scotland.—Leave given.
EXCHEQUER BILLS.
Mar. 20.—On the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the third reading of the Exchequer Bills' Bill, Lord Cochrane insisted, that this system of Exchequer Bills was the real cause of the rise in the funds, in consequence of the bills being deposited in the hands of the bank, who issued their notes to ministers, to enable them to go on without a loan. But this would ultimately be the ruin of the public credit. The Chancellor replied, that if the Noble Lord would take the trouble to inquire at the Stock Exchange, he would find his opinion was totally wrong. (Hear, hear, and much laughter.)
WEIR'S PETITION.
Mar. 21.—Sir Samuel Romilly presented a petition from John Weir of Glasgow, complaining that he had been unjustly detained in prison, on charge of sedition, for two or three days, and then discharged.
The Scots Lunatic Asylum Bill was read a first time.
ILLNESS OF THE SPEAKER.
Mar. 24.—The Speaker being extremely ill, it was early in the evening understood, that all questions likely to excite discussion were to be put off.
POOR LAWS.
Mar. 25.—Several petitions were presented from different places, praying relief from the poor rates; one of which, from Sudbury, stated, that out of a population of 4000 souls, 2000 received parochial aid; and that the town lands paid 30s. per acre to the poor rates.
SEDITIOUS MEETINGS' BILL.
Mar. 26.—A message from the Lords stated, that they had added some amendments to the bill. It was ordered that the amendments be printed, and taken into consideration to-morrow.
ABOLITION OF SINECURES.
Mar. 27.—Mr Davies Gilbert appeared at the bar, and stated, that he held in his hand the First Report of the Committee of Finance. (Hear, hear, and a general cry of read, read.) As soon as order was restored, the clerk began to read, and the substance amounted to this, that such offices as might be considered in the nature of sinecures, ought to be abolished on the death of the persons who now enjoy them. "They therefore recommend, that the following offices should be abolished, viz. Chief Justices of Eyre, north and south—Auditor of the Exchequer—Clerk of the Bills—Four Tellers of the Exchequer—the Warden of the Cinque Ports—the Governor of the Isle of Wight—and the Commissary-General of Musters." Mr Gilbert said, it was unnecessary to go farther. Enough had been read to satisfy the House of the spirit of the report.
On the motion that the amendments to the Seditious Meetings' Bill be now read, they were postponed till to-morrow.
