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 divided. 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.
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 towards 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 therefore disapproved of the whole clause; but his amendment was negatived without a division.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
PARLIAMENTARY REFORM—RULES TO BE OBSERVED IN PRESENTING PETITIONS.
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 language; if not, he departed from the line of his duty in offering it. This was the established 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
