a

to move for leave to bring in a by which the noble lord supported bill to abolish the offices of the the measure. Its recommendaWardens, Chief Justices, and Jus- tions were, that it did not in the tices in Eyre, north and south of slightest degree affect the ir.fluTrent."

ence of the crown; that it efLord Castlereagh began by say- fected no economy; but that it was ing, that although on'a former adapted to the cure of the poisonoccasion he had stated his objec- ed public mind. To the noble tions to the principle and object lord, therefore, he must confine of a measure somewhat similar to his congratulations; and he was the present, he was now willing the more decidedly of his opinion, to give his support to that laid when he recollected the purposes before them. The power of the for which the committee had been crown, he adnjitted, had increased appointed. At the first part of the since the war began ; but on the session the noble lord hurried return of peace, though they forward, so that he superseded could not be restored to the state the chancellor of the exchequer ; in which they were left before and at length came an investiga1792, it had been more than pro- tion of the difficulties and reportionally reduced. The patron- sources of the country. For three age of the crown was by no means months, excepting three days, excessive ; for which reason he had the committee been occupied would support the present mea- with this subject, and the result sure, because it did not bear upon of their long and painful investigathe influence of the crown. His tion was this report. They had been Jordship then went into a severe going over the ground that other criticisin upon Mr. Bankes's bill, committees had trod before them, which be charged with tending to and recommending paltry savings augment the burthens of the instead of executing the business couniry, and with seeming to before them. After a number of countenance the delusion which remarks, partly serious and partly had spread through the people, sarcastical, respecting what bad who regarded sinecures as the and what had not been done by chief evils of the nation. Motives, the committee, Mr. G. concluded however, had grown up which by saying, that with respect to induced him to favour the abo- the prese.it motion, he certainly lition of sinecures. It was very would not oppose it : it was to desirable to correct the false ex- him a matter of perfect indifpectations which had been che- ference, and as such he was perrished, and the present measure suadell it would be felt by the would have that effect. It would people, whose delusion, according not, indeed, be a great saving; to the noble lord, it was destined but sinecures being bad in princi- to remove. ple, it would operate as a cure to the Several other members spoke in impression which had gone abroad. the debate, which assumed much

Mr. J. P. Grant said that he of personal attack. Mr. Gilbert's could not congratulate the House resolution being at length agreed or the country upon the reasons to, he moved various other reso

JUSTICES IN EYRE.

lutions for the purpose of carrying Mr. Calcraft moved a clause, into effect the objects of the re- “ That any person who may acport. The House having resumed, cept a pension under this act, shall leave was given to bring in the vacate his seat in parliament.” several bills.

The House divided upon this clause, when it was rejected by

64 against 27. On May 19th, the bill for abo- It was then moved, that the bill lishing the offices of Justices in be read a third time to-morrow. Eyre was moved to be read a se- The House again divided, Yeas cond time. It met with no other 75; Noes 20 : Majority 55. opposition, except a speech from In the House of Lords, on Mr. Boswell, on the ground of his June 30th, the bills for the aboliunwillingness to strip the crown of tion of certain offices, and the a power to reward public services; compensation for civil services, and after a reply from Lord Milton, were introduced by the Earl of the second reading was carried. Liverpool. His lordship, in his

At the same time a motion was speech on this occasion, recommade for the second reading of mended the bills to the attention another bill belonging to this class, of the House, on two principles; entitled the Civil Services Com- 1st, That whatever regulation of pensation Bill. Various objections this kind might be adopted, there were raised to this bill, and the was a necessity for reserving to House was divided, when there the crown the means of rewarding appeared, For the second reading public services : 2dly, That these 105; Against it 45: Majority 60. ineans should be at the disposal of

On the 6th of June, the order the crown. These principles, he of the day standing for a commit- attempted to shew, were suffitee on this bill, Mr. Calcraft said, ciently secured by the present that if he knew of a better plan bills. As to the sinecures bill, he of getting rid of sinecures, he said it was fit they should be given would be ready, as a member of up, on two grounds—that the the committee who had recom- crown should have the power of mended this bill, to adopt it; but rewarding services by direct, inhe knew of none. Considering, stead of indirect, compensation ; however, that by its provisions and that the abolition would do the crown gave up 90 or 100,000l. away much of the unreasonable and received back only 42,0001. prejudice existing on this point. he conceived it to be a good bar. He then stated to the House the gain for the public.

saving which would accrue to the The House then resolved itself public from the measures now into a committee, in which a con- proposed. versation took place on the several The bills were opposed upon clauses of the bill.

ditferent grounds; and especially The report was brought up on because they seemed founded upon June Toth, when Mr. D. Gilbert a forced concession in which the moved several clauses, which were ministers were induced to act in agreed to.

direct opposition to the interests

of

of the crown. The first bill being tary force, that he now asked for offered for committal, a division leave to amend the act. As the took place, in which it was carried law at present stood, it was neby Contents 27 ; Non-contents 7. cessary on the appointment of a

certain number of peace officers, IRISH PEACE PRESERVATION BILL.

to create a superintendent magisOn March 11th, Mr. Peel asked trate, who should act as the mafor leave to amend an act of the gistrate of the newly disturbed 54th of the King, for enabling district. To prevent this accuthe lord-lieutenant of Ireland to mulation of magistrates, he should appoint superintendant magis propose, that different bodies of trates and constables in those dis- constables belonging to different tricts of Ireland which might be- districts, should be allowed to act come the scene of disturbance. under the same magistrate. He The object of that bill was to sup- should next propose,

that the ply a deficiency in the civil power, lord-lieutenant and council should and to introduce something like have the power of apportioning an effective police, instead of hav- what part of the expense incurred ing recourse on every occasion to by a disturbed district should be a standing army. In the year paid by the inhabitants, and what 1814, when the right hon. gentle- should come out of the public man brought forward the measure funds. This last amendment would which he now wished to amend, direct, that in all cases where the he proposed that the lord-lieute- act was introduced, an account nant in council should have the should be laid before parliament power of placing in disturbed dis- of the expense to be defrayed by tricts magistrates specially appoint- the public, and also of the aped, and constables to assist them pointments made under it. in preserving the peace. This mea- respect to the objections relative sure met with the almost unani- to expense which might be urged mous approbation of the House, against the bill, if it were said and it was in three instances car- that it would be better not to pay ried into execution, where it was constables to preserve the peace, found to produce a most beneficial but to leave it for the population effect. Under this act, the whole in general to exert themselves to expense was to be defrayed by the keep the peace, he should answer, disturbed districts; a mode of that such a system could not at proceeding which might operate present be effectval; in which very well in some parts of Ireland; stateinent he would be borne out but others were so poor and ex- by every gentleman connected with hausted, that they were unable to Ireland. He had further the silbear this expense, and it was tisfaction of being able to state therefore impossible to carry it that a considerable reduction was into effect in those districts. It proposed to be made in the army was to provide against the recur- of that country. Instead of 25,000 rence of cases of this kind, and men, it would be reduced to to render it, as far as possible, 22,000; and the seven brigades unnecessary to employ the mili- of ordnance which now consisted

of

of 400 guns, would be brought of the laws in Ireland, by appointdown to 200 guns. Thus a great ing superintending magistrates expense would be removed ; and, and additional constables in cerwhat was much more important, tain cases." a foundation would be laid of in- Mr. Carew, Mr. Chichester, and spiring the people with an habi- Mr. V. Fitzgerald, expressed their tual ubedience to the law.

approbation of the proposed meaThe right hon gentleman con

Leave was then given to cluded by moving, “ That leave bring in the bill; and there is no be given to bring in a bill to notice of its being opposed in amend the act 54 Geo. 3d. c. 131. either House. to provide for the better execution

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.

EXCIIEQUER BILLS.

In this last resolution there was a difference as to form, on account

he

a

Commons having resolved should afterwards explain. itself into a committee for the The right hon. gentleman then purpose of considering the best went into an explanation of his mode of issuing exchequer bills plan. In former cases a special for the relief of temporary dis- committee had been appointed to tresses, the Chancellor of the Er- inquire into the existing distress; chequer said, that before he pro- but in the present case such a ceeded to explain the object of the plan was unnecessary, as the House proposition which he had to sub. was but too well acquainted with mit to the committee, he would the extent of the prevailing evil. read the two resolutions in which The commissioners who were to that proposition was comprised. have the disposal of this money The first was, “ That it is the would particularly consider the opinion of this committee, that influence that the prosecution of his Majesty be enabled to direct any public work would have upon an issue of exchequer bills to an the employment of the present unamount not exceeding 500,000l. employed population. There were to commissioners, to be by them a great variety of such works which advanced towards the completion had already received the sanction of public works, now in progress, of parliament, of which many or about to be commenced; to parts were finished, but were useencourage the fisheries, and to less until the whole were emply the poor in different pa- pleted. To these the attention of rishes in Great-Britain, on due parliament had been intended to security being given for the re- be called in a direct manner ; payment of the sums so advanced." but it was now considered that The second was, “ That the lord- it would be more beneficial if lieutenant of Ireland be empow. the money were placed at the disered to advance out of the conso- posal of commissioners quite unlidated fund of that kingdom a connected with government. He sum not exceeding 250,0001. for would propose that those commisthe completion of public works, sioners should be empowered to or the encouragement of fisheries, advance sums, by way of loans, to in Ireland, under condition of re- corporations and other borlies for payment in a time to be limited.” the purpose of making harbours

com