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to move for leave to bring in a bill to abolish the offices of the Wardens, Chief Justices, and Justices in Eyre, north and south of Trent."

Lord Castlereagh began by saying, that although on a former occasion he had stated his objections to the principle and object of a measure somewhat similar to the present, he was now willing to give his support to that laid before them. The power of the crown, he admitted, had increased since the war began; but on the return of peace, though they could not be restored to the state in which they were left before 1792, it had been more than proportionally reduced. The patronage of the crown was by no means excessive; for which reason he would support the present measure, because it did not bear upon the influence of the crown. His lordship then went into a severe criticism upon Mr. Bankes's bill, which he charged with tending to augment the burthens of the country, and with seeming to countenance the delusion which had spread through the people, who regarded sinecures as the chief evils of the nation. Motives, however, had grown up which induced him to favour the abolition of sinecures. It was very desirable to correct the false expectations which had been cherished, and the present measure would have that effect. It would not, indeed, be a great saving; but sinecures being bad in principle, it would operate as a cure to the impression which had gone abroad.

Mr. J. P. Grant said that he could not congratulate the House or the country upon the reasons

by which the noble lord supported the measure. Its recommendations were, that it did not in the slightest degree affect the influence of the crown; that it effected no economy; but that it was adapted to the cure of the poisoned public mind. To the noble lord, therefore, he must confine his congratulations; and he was the more decidedly of his opinion, when he recollected the purposes for which the committee had been appointed. At the first part of the session the noble lord hurried forward, so that he superseded the chancellor of the exchequer ; and at length came an investigation of the difficulties and resources of the country. For three months, excepting three days, had the committee been occupied with this subject, and the result of their long and painful investigation was this report. They had been going over the ground that other committees had trod before them, and recommending paltry savings instead of executing the business before them. After a number of remarks, partly serious and partly sarcastical, respecting what had and what had not been done by the committee, Mr. G. concluded by saying, that with respect to the prese..t motion, he certainly would not oppose it: it was to him a matter of perfect indifference, and as such he was persuaded it would be felt by the people, whose delusion, according to the noble lord, it was destined to remove.

Several other members spoke in the debate, which assumed much of personal attack. Mr. Gilbert's resolution being at length agreed to, he moved various other reso

lutions

lutions for the purpose of carrying into effect the objects of the report. The House having resumed, leave was given to bring in the several bills.

JUSTICES IN EYRE.

On May 19th, the bill for abolishing the offices of Justices in Eyre was moved to be read a second time. It met with no other opposition, except a speech from Mr. Boswell, on the ground of his unwillingness to strip the crown of a power to reward public services; and after a reply from Lord Milton, the second reading was carried.

At the same time a motion was made for the second reading of another bill belonging to this class, entitled the Civil Services Compensation Bill. Various objections were raised to this bill, and the House was divided, when there appeared, For the second reading 105; Against it 45: Majority 60.

On the 6th of June, the order of the day standing for a committee on this bill, Mr. Calcraft said, that if he knew of a better plan of getting rid of sinecures, he would be ready, as a member of the committee who had recommended this bill, to adopt it; but he knew of none. Considering, however, that by its provisions the crown gave up 90 or 100,000l. and received back only 42,000l. he conceived it to be a good bargain for the public.

The House then resolved itself into a committee, in which a conversation took place on the several clauses of the bill.

The report was brought up on June 10th, when Mr. D. Gilbert moved several clauses, which were agreed to.

Mr. Calcraft moved a clause, "That any person who may accept a pension under this act, shall vacate his seat in parliament." The House divided upon this clause, when it was rejected by 64 against 27.

It was then moved, that the bill be read a third time to-morrow. The House again divided, Yeas 75; Noes 20: Majority 55.

In the House of Lords, on June 30th, the bills for the abolition of certain offices, and the compensation for civil services, were introduced by the Earl of Liverpool. His lordship, in his speech on this occasion, recommended the bills to the attention of the House, on two principles; 1st, That whatever regulation of this kind might be adopted, there was a necessity for reserving to the crown the means of rewarding public services: 2dly, That these means should be at the disposal of the crown. These principles, he attempted to shew, were sufficiently secured by the present bills. As to the sinecures bill, he said it was fit they should be given up, on two grounds-that the crown should have the power of rewarding services by direct, instead of indirect, compensation; and that the abolition would do away much of the unreasonable prejudice existing on this point. He then stated to the House the saving which would accrue to the public from the measures proposed.

now

The bills were opposed upon different grounds; and especially because they seemed founded upon a forced concession in which the ministers were induced to act in direct opposition to the interests

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of the crown. The first bill being offered for committal, a division took place, in which it was carried by Contents 27; Non-contents 7.

IRISH PEACE PRESERVATION BILL.

On March 11th, Mr. Peel asked for leave to amend an act of the 54th of the King, for enabling the lord-lieutenant of Ireland to appoint superintendant magis trates and constables in those districts of Ireland which might become the scene of disturbance. The object of that bill was to supply a deficiency in the civil power, and to introduce something like an effective police, instead of having recourse on every occasion to a standing army. In the year 1814, when the right hon. gentleman brought forward the measure which he now wished to amend, he proposed that the lord-lieutenant in council should have the power of placing in disturbed districts magistrates specially appointed, and constables to assist them in preserving the peace. This measure met with the almost unanimous approbation of the House, and it was in three instances carried into execution, where it was found to produce a most beneficial effect. Under this act, the whole expense was to be defrayed by the disturbed districts; a mode of proceeding which might operate very well in some parts of Ireland; but others were so poor and exhausted, that they were unable to bear this expense, and it was therefore impossible to carry it into effect in those districts. It was to provide against the recurrence of cases of this kind, and to render it, as far as possible, unnecessary to employ the mili

tary force, that he now asked for leave to amend the act. As the law at present stood, it was necessary on the appointment of a certain number of peace officers, to create a superintendent magistrate, who should act as the magistrate of the newly disturbed district. To prevent this accumulation of magistrates, he should propose, that different bodies of constables belonging to different districts, should be allowed to act under the same magistrate. He should next propose, that the lord-lieutenant and council should have the power of apportioning what part of the expense incurred by a disturbed district should be paid by the inhabitants, and what should come out of the public funds. This last amendment would direct, that in all cases where the act was introduced, an account should be laid before parliament of the expense to be defrayed by the public, and also of the appointments made under it. With respect to the objections relative to expense which might be urged against the bill, if it were said that it would be better not to pay constables to preserve the peace, but to leave it for the population in general to exert themselves to keep the peace, he should answer, that such a system could not at present be effectual; in which statement he would be borne out by every gentleman connected with Ireland. He had further the satisfaction of being able to state that a considerable reduction was proposed to be made in the army of that country. Instead of 25,000 men, it would be reduced to 22,000; and the seven brigades of ordnance which now consisted

of

of 400 guns, would be brought down to 200 guns. Thus a great expense would be removed; and, what was much more important, a foundation would be laid of inspiring the people with an habitual obedience to the law.

The right hon gentleman concluded by moving, "That leave be given to bring in a bill to amend the act 54 Geo. 3d. c. 131. to provide for the better execution

of the laws in Ireland, by appointing superintending magistrates and additional constables in certain cases."

Mr. Carew, Mr. Chichester, and Mr. V. Fitzgerald, expressed their approbation of the proposed measure, Leave was then given to bring in the bill; and there is no notice of its being opposed in either House.

CHAPTER

CHAPTER IV.

Issue of Exchequer Bills for local and temporary Relief.-Mr. Tierney's Motion renewed, for the Abolition of the Office of Third Secretary of State for the Colonies.-Roman Catholic Question.-House of CommonsHouse of Lords.

EXCHEQUER BILLS.

N April 28th, the House of Commons having resolved itself into a committee for the purpose of considering the best mode of issuing exchequer bills for the relief of temporary distresses, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that before he proceeded to explain the object of the proposition which he had to submit to the committee, he would read the two resolutions in which that proposition was comprised. The first was, "That it is the opinion of this committee, that his Majesty be enabled to direct an issue of exchequer bills to an amount not exceeding 500,000l. to commissioners, to be by them advanced towards the completion of public works, now in progress, or about to be commenced; to encourage the fisheries, and to employ the poor in different parishes in Great-Britain, on due security being given for the repayment of the sums so advanced." The second was, "That the lordlieutenant of Ireland be empow. ered to advance out of the consolidated fund of that kingdom a sum not exceeding 250,0001. for the completion of public works, or the encouragement of fisheries, in Ireland, under condition of repayment in a time to be limited."

In this last resolution there was a difference as to form, on account of some circumstances which he should afterwards explain.

The right hon. gentleman then went into an explanation of his plan. In former cases a special committee had been appointed to inquire into the existing distress; but in the present case such a plan was unnecessary, as the House was but too well acquainted with the extent of the prevailing evil. The commissioners who were to have the disposal of this money would particularly consider the influence that the prosecution of any public work would have upon the employment of the present unemployed population. There were a great variety of such works which had already received the sanction of parliament, of which many parts were finished, but were useless until the whole were completed. To these the attention of parliament had been intended to be called in a direct manner; but it was now considered that it would be more beneficial if the money were placed at the disposal of commissioners quite unconnected with government. He would propose that those commissioners should be empowered to advance sums, by way of loans, to corporations and other bodies for the purpose of making harbours

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