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PROCEEDINGS OF PARLIAMENT.

Tuesday, 28th January. The Prince Regent came to the House of Lords with the usual state at three o'clock, and opened the Session of Parliament with the following speech from the throne:

My Lords and Gentlemen,

It is with the deepest regret that I am again obliged to announce to you, that no alteration has occurred in the state of his Majesty's lamented indisposition.

I continue to receive from Foreign Powers the strongest assurances of their friendly disposition towards this country, and of their earnest desire to maintain the general tranquillity.

The hostilities to which I was compelled to resort, in vindication of the honour of the country, against the government of Algiers, have been attended with the most complete

success.

The splendid achievement of his Majesty's fleet, in conjunction with a squadron of the King of the Netherlands, under the gallant and able conduct of Admiral Viscount Exmouth, led to the immediate and unconditional liberation of all Christian captives then within the territory of Algiers, and to the renunciation by its government of the practice of Christian slavery.

I am persuaded, that you will be duly sensible of the importance of an arrangement so interesting to humanity, and reflecting, from the manner in which it has been accomplished, such signal honour on the British nation.

In India, the refusal of the Government of Nepaul to ratify a treaty of peace which had been signed by its Plenipotentiaries occasioned a renewal of military operations. The judicious arrangements of the Governor-general, seconded by the bravery and perseverance of his Majesty's forces, and of those of the East India Company, brought the campaign to a speedy and successful issue; and peace has been finally established, upon the just and honourable terms of the original treaty.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I have directed the estimates of the current year to be laid before you.

They have been formed upon a full consideration of all the present circumstances of the country, with an anxious desire to make every reduction in our establishments which the safety of the empire and sound policy allow.

I recommend the state of the public income and expenditure to your early and serious attention.

I regret to be under the necessity of informing you, that there has been a deficiency in the produce of the revenue in the last year; but I trust that it is to be ascribed to temporary causes; and I have the conso

lation to believe, that you will find it practicable to provide for the public service of the year, without making any addition to the burdens of the people, and without adopting any measure injurious to that system, by which the public credit of the country has been hitherto sustained.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I have the satisfaction of informing you, that the arrangements which were made in the last Session of Parliament, with a view to a new silver coinage, have been completed with unprecedented expedition.

I have given directions for the immediate issue of the new coin, and I trust that this measure will be productive of considerable advantages to the trade and internal transactions of the country.

The distresses consequent upon the termination of a war of such unusual extent and duration, have been felt, with greater or less severity, throughout all the nations of Europe, and have been considerably aggravated by the unfavourable state of the

season.

Deeply as I lament the pressure of these evils upon this country, I am sensible that they are of a nature not to admit of an immediate remedy; but whilst I observe with peculiar satisfaction the fortitude with which so many privations have been borne, and the active benevolence which has been employed to mitigate them, I am persuaded that the great sources of our national prosperity are essentially unimpaired, and I entertain a confident expectation, that the native energy of the country will at no distant period surmount all the difficulties h we are involved.

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In considering our internal situation, you will, I doubt not, feel a just indignation at the attempts which have been made to take advantage of the distresses of the country, for the purpose of exciting a spirit of sedition and violence.

I am too well convinced of the loyalty and good sense of the great body of his Majesty's subjects, to believe them capable of being perverted by the arts which are employed to seduce them; but I am determined to omit no precautions for preserving the public peace, and for counteracting the designs of the disaffected and I rely with the utmost confidence on your cordial support and co-operation, in upholding a sys tem of law and government, from which we have derived inestimable advantages, which has enabled us to conclude, with unexampled glory, a contest whereon depended the best interests of mankind, and which has been hitherto felt by ourselves, as it is acknowledged by other nations, to be the most perfect that has ever fallen to the lot of any people.

Lord SIDMOUTH, after strangers had withdrawn, informed the House, that as the Prince Regent was returning from the House and the carriage was passing in the Park, at the back of the garden of Carleton House, the glass of the carriage window had been broken by a stone, as some represented it, or by two balls fired from an airgun, as others stated it, which appeared to be aimed at his Royal Highness.

Both Houses examined witnesses on this communication, and presented addresses to the Prince Regent.

The address on the speech from the Throne was moved and seconded by the Earl of DARTMOUTH and Lord ROTHES in the House of Lords; and in the House of Commons by Lord VALLETORT and Mr DAWSON. Earl GREY moved an amendment in the Lords, which was negatived without a division; and the original address was carried in the House of Commons, in opposition to an amendment moved by Mr PONSONBY, by a majority of 152.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Monday, Feb. 3.-Lord SIDMOUTH presented the following message, which was read by the Lord Chancellor: "His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, has thought proper to order to be laid before the House of Lords, papers containing an account of certain meetings and combinations held in different parts of the country, tending to the disturbance of the public tranquillity, the alienation of the affections of the people from his Majesty's person and government,, and to the overthrow of the whole frame and system of the laws and constitution; and his Royal Highness recommends these papers to the immediate and serious consideration of the House."

THANKS TO LORD EXMOUTH.

Lord MELVILLE, after taking a review of the cause, the mode, and the effects of the expedition to Algiers, and paying a wellmerited tribute of applause to the promptitude, skill, and gallantry, displayed in that memorable achievement, moved the thanks of the House to Lord Exmouth, Sir David Milne, and the officers, seamen, and marines; and also to Admiral Capellen, and the officers and crews under his command; which motions were unanimously agreed to.

PRINCE REGENT'S MESSAGE.

Feb 4-Lord SIDMOUTH rose to propose to their Lordships, an answer to the message which he had last night laid before them from the Prince Regent. Their Lord ships would, he had no doubt, concur in the address which he should have the honour to propose, as it would pledge their Lordships to nothing except to an examination of the evidence. He would refrain from all reference to any ulterior proceed

ings, and recommend that nothing should be said or done until the report of the Committee should be laid before the House. The atrocious outrage lately committed against the Prince Regent was certainly regarded with the utmost horror and reprobation by an overwhelming majority of the nation; and he felt it his duty to state, that the present communication was not at all connected with that outrage.

After some general remarks by Lord Grosvenor, Lord Holland, the Earl of Liverpool, Earl Grey, and the Marquis of Buckingham, the address was agreed to, and the papers on the table were ordered to be referred to-morrow to a committee of Secrecy, consisting of eleven Lords, to be then chosen by ballot.

NEPAUL WAR.

Feb. 6.The Earl of LIVERPOOL took a review of the cause of this war, and of the operations which led to its successful termination, and moved that the thanks of the House be given to the Most Noble the Marquis of Hastings, for the able and judicious arrangements by which the war in Nepaul had been brought to a successful conclusion. The motion was agreed to; after which, thanks were voted to Sir David Ochterlony, and the troops under his command.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF
SECRECY.

Feb. 18.-The Earl of HARROWBY presented the report of the Secret Committee appointed to inquire into certain meetings and combinations endangering the public tranquillity, which was laid on the table, and ordered to be taken into consideration on Friday, and that the House be summoned for that day.

SUSPENSION OF THE HABEAS CORPUS ACT.

Feb. 21.-Lord SIDMOUTH introduced a bill, under the title of 66 A bill to enable his Majesty to secure, and detain in custody, such persons as his Majesty shall suspect of treasonable intentions against his Majesty's person and government.' "His Lordship intimated, that it was thought most convenient for their Lordships to discuss the principle of the measure on the second reading of the bill, which he intended to propose should take place on Monday next. Read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday.

Feb. 24.-Lord SIDMOUTH, after moving the order of the day for the second reading of the bill, observed, that whatever differences of opinion might exist as to this and other measures in contemplation, he was confident that no Noble Lord could have read and reflected upon the report of the Committee upon the table, without the deepest regret, calculated as it was to shock every feeling of loyalty to the Throne, and of affection for the illustrious individual exercising its functions, and to cast a loath some stigma upon the character and dispo

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sition of the country. His Lordship then at great length commented on the leading points of the report; urged the necessity of the measure for the preservation of the constitution and the salvation of the country; and concluded with moving, that the bill be now read a second time.

After an animated debate, protracted till past two in the morning, the House divid ed. Contents 150; non-contents 35. The bill was then committed, reported, read a third time, passed, and ordered to be sent to the Commons.

PROTEST.

Dissentient,Because it does not appear to us that, in the report of the Secret Committee, there has been stated such a case of imminent and pressing danger as may not be sufficiently provided against by the powers of the Executive Government under the existing laws, and as requires the suspension of the most important security of the liberty of the country.

AUGUSTUS FREDERICK, BEDFORD,
ALBEMARLE, FOLEY, SUNDRIDGE,
ALVANLEY, MONTFORD, ESSEX,
LAUDERDALE, GREY, WELLESLEY,
THANET, GROSVENOR, AUCKLAND,
ST JOHN, SAY AND SELE, ROSSLYN,
VASSAL HOLLAND.

OFFICE'S CONTRIBUTION BILL. Feb. 28.-The House having gone into a Committee on the Malt Duty, and Offices' Contribution Bill, Lord REDESDALE rose, pursuant to notice, to propose an amendment. The bill contained a clause of a very peculiar description, stating, That whereas his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and many persons holding public offices, were desirous of contributing a certain portion of the incomes derived from these offices to wards the public service, it was enacted, that it should be lawful to give the proper instructions to the officers of the Exchequer to receive such contributions, &c. The contributions were to be voluntary; but then they would be voluntary only in the sense in which the contribution for beer-money was formerly raised among their Lordships' servants. When a new servant made his appearance for the first time, he was called upon to pay this beer-money; and if he refused, the process of hooting was resorted to, and they continued to hoot him until he paid the money. But he would not consent to be hooted out of his money, and he trusted that others would not be induced to be taxed in this way, under pretence of a voluntary contribution. His Lordship then proceeded at some length to contend, that men who held official situations frequently injured their private fortunes by the expenses which they felt it necessary to incur, and to which their salaries were in many instances inadequate. His Lordship there fore disapproved of the whole clause; but his amendment was negatived without a division.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

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PARLIAMENTARY REFORM-RULES TO BE OBSERVED IN PRESENTING PETI TIONS.

Friday, Jan. 31.Sir FRANCIS BURDETT, having some petitions to present, praying for a Reform in the Representation of that House, acknowledged that he had not felt it his duty to read them throughout, but declared that he had read their prayer. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER referred to the Speaker to know whether the Hon. Baronet had read the petition he was about to present, when

The SPEAKER said, there were two clear points on this subject; the first was, that it was the duty of a Member to state the substance of the petition he was about to present; secondly, it was the Member's duty to know if it was couched in respectful lan guage; if not, he departed from the line of his duty in offering it. This was the estab lished practice of the House.

Monday, Feb. 3.-Lord CASTLEREAGH presented a message from the Prince Regent, similar to that presented in the House of Lords.

THANKS TO LORD EXMOUTH.

On the motion of Lord CASTLEREAGH, votes of thanks, similar to those voted in the House of Lords, were agreed to.

COMMITTEE OF SECRECY.

Feb. 5.-On the motion of Lord CASTLEREAGH, the House proceeded to ballot for the Committee of Secrecy, and after the prescribed forms were gone through,

Mr BRODGEN appeared at the Bar with the report of the Committee appointed to scrutinize the lists given in for composing the Committee of Secrecy, when, the report having been read, twenty-one gentlemen were named of the Committee.

SAVING BANKS.

Mr Rose moved to bring in a Bill for regulating Provident Institutions or Saving Banks. In reply to some remarks from Mr Curwen, respecting the increasing burden of the poor-rates, Mr Rose said that he felt great anxiety that it should not go forth to the public that the poor-rates would be considerably diminished by the measure he now proposed. He merely wished it to be understood, that as far as it went, it would tend to afford very great relief, not only by diminishing the wants and distresses of the labouring poor, but also by teaching them to rely in future on themselves for happiness and independence.

NEPAUL WAR.

Feb. 6. Mr CANNING gave a history of the rise and extending power of the Goorkhas, with an account of the war, and its close; and concluded with moving votes of thanks similar to those agreed to in the House of Lords.

COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS. Feb. 7.-The CHANCELLOR of the ExCHEQUER having moved the order of the

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FINANCES AND REDUCTIONS.

Feb. 7.Lord CASTLEREAGH (the House being in a Committee on that part of the Regent's Speech which related to the Finances), in an elaborate speech of great length, and embracing a variety of views of the state of the country-past, present, and prospective, did not disguise or extenuate the present distress, but still maintained, that with the characteristic vigour and energy of the British character, and an economy pervading every department of the public service, we should soon be restored to our high situation among the nations. He then entered into a detail of the reductions of the national expenditure which were contemplated, making a total annual diminution, in all the different branches, of six millions and a half, and thereby reducing the current expenses of this year to £18,373,000; and that there might be a further saving of above a million anticipated in the next year, which would bring the expenditure down to £17,300,000; and that of this sum there was not more than £13,000,000 applicable to current services, for there were now paid in pensions, and half-pay to the officers and men in the army, navy, and ordnance departments, who had contributed to bring the war to so glorious a termination, upwards of four millions. A certain proportion of the pensions would annually be available for the public service by the decease of those who enjoyed them. hundred thousand men were now in the receipt of pensions and half-pay. He had made inquiries as to what, upon ordinary calculations, might be expected to accrue annually from the falling in of their allowances. By assuming the medium age of 40, one half of the whole would cease to exist in the course of 20 years, making 2,500 annually; and, as the allowances are four millions, the sum becoming available every year for the public service, in the reduction of the public burdens, would be £100,000. In making up the estimates, a sketch of which he (Lord C.) had submitted to the House, Ministers were actuated by the most anxious desire to effect every possible reduction; to carry into effect every plan of economy that was consistent with our situa tion and security; and to bring the expenditure of the nation as much as possible within its means. His Lordship took a review of the general distress that prevailed all over VOL. I.

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Europe; he praised the generous sympathy which bound all classes of society together in this happy land, and those spontaneous efforts made to lighten the burdens of the des titute, by sharing them. In the highest quarter, in the head of the government of this country, the same feelings and sympathies were shared that actuated his people. He not only sympathized with their distress, but was prepared to share their privations; and, from the spontaneous movement of his own mind, had expressed his determination to abstain from receiving, in the present state of distress, so much of the civil list as he could refuse, consistently with maintaining the dignity of his station, without doing what Parliament would disapprove of incurring.-(General Cheering.) His Royal Highness had given his commands to inform the House, that he meant to give up for the public service a fifth part of the fourth class of the civil list, which, it ought to be observed, was the only branch connected with the personal expenses, or the royal state of the Sovereign; for all the other heads of charge included in the civil list, except the privy purse, were as much for paying public services as the sums included in the estimates he had this night mentioned(Hear, hear!) That branch of the civil list amounted to £209,000; and his Royal Highness offered, out of this and the privy purse, £50,000—(Hear, hear!)-for the public service. His Royal Highness had directed and applauded the exertions of his people, he had shared in their glories, and now generously sympathized in their sufferings, and determined to share their privations. (Hear!) The servants of the Crown had resolved to follow the example of their Royal Master, and to surrender that part of their salaries which had accrued to them since the abolition of the property tax. (Hear, hear!) His Lordship came then to the last branch of the subject, the formation of a Committee, for the purpose of inquiring into the income and expenditure of the country, on the mode of choosing which, and on the duties they were to perform, his Lord expatiated for some time, and then concluded with proposing the appointment of a Committee, to consist of 21 members, "for the purpose of inquiring into the revenue and expenditure of the country for the years ending the 5th January 1815, the 5th January 1816 and 1817, and also for the years ending the 5th January 1818 and 1819, with a view to the investigation of measures for affording relief to the country, without detriment to the public service; and to report thereon, from time to time, their opinions to the house." Before he sat down, it would be right to mention, that he proposed the committee should be invested with full powers to send for persons, papers, and records, (Hear, hear!) that they should possess all the means of pursuing their inquiries to the bottom.

The noble Lord concluded with reading

the following list: Lord Castlereagh, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Ponsonby, Mr Bankes, Mr Long, Mr Tierney, Loid Binning, Sir J. Newport, Mr Peel, Mr C. W. Wynne, Mr Arbuthnot, Mr Frankland Lewis, Mr Huskisson, Mr N. Calvert, Mr Davies Gilbert, Mr Cartwright, Mr Holford, Mr Edward Littleton, Lord Clive, Mr Gooch, and Sir T. Ackland.

Mr TIERNEY, and many other members, delivered their sentiments at great length, both against and for this nomination, after which the House divided. For the Committee 210; against it 117.

Two other divisions took place, on a motion to substitute other names in the room of Lord Binning and Mr Huskisson, but the majority decided that they were to stand as part of the Committee.

SINECURES.

Tuesday, Feb.11.-Lord CASTLEREAGH, in reply to General Ferguson, stated that the Noble Marquis (Cambden) alluded to had resigned all the emoluments and profits of the office he held (Tellership of the Exchequer, and only retained the regulated salary of £2500. (Cheering.) The Noble Marquis had been for some time desirous of making this sacrifice, but as his office was in the nature of a vested right, and as he did not know what effect this surrender might have on others in a similar situation, he delayed till the meeting of Parliament. Seeing, however, the example of retrenchment and sacrifice set in the highest quarter, he no longer hesitated, and offered now all the emoluments of his appointment. (Hear, hear!)

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WE PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.

Feb. 14. A great many petitions having been presented praying for a Reform in Parliament, most of them claiming universal suffrage and annual elections, as the ancient constitution of the kingdom, Mr BROUGHAM Spoke to the following effect: Sir, I have in all cases gone as far as it was possible for me to go, to assist in opening the door of this House to the people's complaints and I have done all that I could and not less than the Noble Lord (Cochrane) -to discountenance, as far as my little influence would allow me, any proposition which appeared to me to be calculated to impede, cramp, and hamper, the exercise of popular rights. (Hear, hear, hear!) I therefore put myself on my country, in competition with the Noble Lord, as to which of us has shewn himself to be the greater friend of the people of England. (Hear, hear, hear!) But, Sir, I will not shew my friendship for the people, by telling them falsehoods. (Hear, hear, hear!) I will not be a party in practising delusion on the people. (Hear, hear, hear!) I will not take advantage of the warmth of popular meetings, a great proportion of the individuals constituting which are necessarily ignorant of the nicer points of history and antiquity,-to induce the people to sign such petitions as those

which have lately been presented to this House. (Hear, hear, hear!) Sir, I would not be a party in telling the people, (monstrous assertion!) that twelve hundred years ago this country enjoyed a free and perfect constitution. (Hear, hear, hear!) This, sir, is a specimen of the historical knowledge, of the antiquarian research,-of the acquaintance with constitutional law of these wiseacres out of doors, who, after poring for days and nights, and brooding over their wild and mischievous schemes, rise up with their little nostrums and big blunders to amend the British Constitution! (Laughter and loud cheers.) And then, sir, we are pronounced ignorant and daring who refuse to subscribe to the creed of these true reformers, who know accurately what happened in this country five hundred years before authenticated history begins! (Hear!) and we are told, that he who will not believe the self-evident propositions of these gentlemen, which it is said are so reasonable as not to admit of the least controversy, are dishonest as well as ignorant and daring. The people of England have presented hundreds of petitions to this House. I believe above a million of people have declared to this House some opinion or other on the question of reform. These persons have been collected together at meetings, to which they flocked simply because they felt severe distress. They knew from their own experience, and from the nature of their sufferings, that they in a great measure originated in the mal-administration of public affairs. There is one conclusion, sir, which we ought to draw from all these considerations; namely, that severe distress is the real cause of this popular agitation; and that as far as the people call upon us for great retrenchments and some reform, the call is well founded, and must be heard. I heartily hope that it may be heard before it is too late, and that the people may by that means be taken and kept out of the hands of those who would betray them into misery a hundred fold greater than that which they at present endure."—(Hear, hear !)

COMMITTEE OF SECRECY,

Wednesday, Feb.19,-Mr B.BATHURST appeared at the bar with the report of the Committee of Secrecy, to whom certain papers, laid before the House by command of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, had been referred.-Ordered to be printed, and taken into consideration on Monday next.

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