BOROUGH OF GRAMPOUND.] Lord John Russell gave notice of a motion for leave to bring in a bill to disfranchise the borough or Grampound, and to transfer the elective franchise to the borough of Leeds. He also begged leave to say, that in the course of the session he intended to submit to the House a motion for shortening the duration of sir M. Lopez's imprisonment. EDUCATION OF THE POOR.] Mr. Brougham gave notice, that, at an early period after the Whitsuntide holydays, he should submit a motion relative to the education of the poor. Although he was aware that it was irregular to enter into any explanation on rising merely to give a notice, yet he trusted the House would allow him to observe, that the delay which had already occurred was owing to any thing rather than to his being less sensible than formerly of the importance of education. On the contrary, the events which had lately occurred had rather strengthened his conviction of the indispensable necessity of imparting education to the poor. One cause of the delay which had taken place was, that the Education Digest, on which the measures which he should have to propose would be founded, could not be sooner prepared; and it was desirable that it should be in the hands of members before the question was brought under discussion. Another reason for his not fixing an earlier period was, that the discussion of the civil list, incident to the commencement of a reign, would occupy the attention of the House for a consider able time, and it was desirable that the discussions on these two subjects should be kept separate. Longer, however, than till after the holydays, he could not consent to postpone the consideration of this important question. CATHOLIC QUESTION.] Sir H. Par- nell rose to give notice, that on Thursday, the 11th of May, his right hon. friend, the member for Dublin (Mr. Grattan), would submit to the House a motion for the removal of the disabilities which the law at present imposed on his majesty's Roman Catholic subjects. REFORM IN PARLIAMENT.] Mr. Lambton rose to renew the notice which he had given in the last session of parliament of his intention to bring before the House the present state of the representation; and he now gave notice that he should submit a motion on that subject. on Tuesday the 6th of June. As far as he could judge, that arrangement would not interfere with the other business of the House. Lord SCOTCH REPRESENTATION.] A. Hamilton gave notice, that he meant to bring before the House the question of the Scotch representation; and, to keep clear of the time just fixed on by his hon. friend, he should bring forward his motion on the 24th of May. He also gave notice, that on Thursday next he should move for the revival of the committee on the Scotch burghs. ADDRESS ON THE KING'S SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF THE SESSION.] Sir E. Knatchbull brought up the report of the Address on the King's Speech. Upon the motion, that it be read a second time, Lord A. Hamilton said, that it was not his intention to trouble the House at any length, but he could not allow the present opportunity to pass without impressing on the minds of the right hon. gentlemen opposite the necessity of attending to the distress of that part of the country with which he was connected. When the House recollected that fourteen or fifteen weeks ago the commerce and ma. nufactures of the country had been represented to be in a most flourishing condition, and when they compared that declaration with the statements in the Speech delivered yesterday from the throne, they must all be struck with the sudden change which had taken place in the aspect of the country; and he, for one, should not think that he discharged his duty conscientiously, if he did not on the present occasion suggest what he conceived might be applied in mitigation of the evil. They would all remember that a sum of 50,000l. had been voted last year for the purpose of promoting emi- | many persons had availed themselves of gration to the Cape of Good Hope; and the offer of government; and what had the object of that grant was, undoubtedly, been the result of the plan, as far as it that which the House and his majesty's had been adopted. He concluded by obministers ought to have in view-the al- serving, that any delay in the application leviation of distress. There were in that of a remedy to the evils which he had House many honourable members who pointed out would not only be disastrous were as well acquainted as he was with in itself, but would render more difficult the present situation of the distressed part the attainment of that ultimate object of Scotland, and particularly his hon. which ought to be kept in view-the supfriend opposite (Mr. Finlay), whose con- pression of the present disturbances in nexion with Glasgow led him necessarily Scotland. to know the state of that part of the The Chancellor of the Exchequer stated, country; and he was sure it must be in reply to the questions of the noble their opinion, that if ministers meant to lord, that the expense already incurred assist those who were disposed to emi- considerably exceeded the 50,000l. which grate, they ought to give that assistance had been voted by parliament for the enimmediately. Many persons in that coun-couragement of emigration, though all try were in such an absolute state of destitution, that they looked on their existence as a burthen which they could scarcely support. They could neither maintain themselves nor their families; and the period was fast approaching, when without food and without raiment, they must either perish, or prolong their exist ence by the plunder of their neighbours. He could not, therefore, let this opportunity pass without urging on ministers the necessity of turning their attention to the deplorable state of things; and, if they seriously applied their minds to the subject, they would not only be conferring a benefit on the sufferers, but would be taking the most effectual means of suppressing that disturbance of which they complained. He must say, that, from the spirit and temper of ministers, they seemed to have greatly under-rated the distress which at present existed in the northern part of the kingdom. They had ascribed a larger portion of the disturbance to disaffection than to distress, and had applied force to quell disturbances which would have been more effectually suppressed by furnishing the means of subsistence. The right hon. gentlemen opposite were more willing to facilitate emigration to the Cape of Good Hope than to any other quarter of the world: and the reasons for this preference he could not perceive, especially as most of those who were inclined to emigrate from Scotland had powerful reasons to induce them to go to our settlements in America, rather than to Africa. He begged to call on his majesty's ministers to say what part of the money which had been voted last year for the promotion of emigration, had been applied to that purpose; how the charges had not yet been defrayed. As to the number of those who had availed themselves of this assistance, he had to inform the noble lord, that upwards of 5,000 persons had already gone to the Cape of Good Hope; and, when the last accounts were received from them, they had performed part of the voyage in good health, and had the prospect of terminating it prosperously. When the noble lord recommended North America as a preferable place for emigrants to resort to, he apprehended the noble lord was not aware of the representations which had been received from that quarter. In America the greatest distress at present prevailed, and the manufactures of that country were in as languishing a state as those of our own. To send the destitute to that quarter would be, therefore, only to shift the scene of distress, and to transport them to poverty on a foreign shore. The British provinces of America were also so overloaded with emigration, that the strongest remonstrances had been made on the subject by the government of Canada. It proved a great grievance both to the government and the people; and, under these circumstances, he thought it would be highly premature to adopt any plan for the promotion of emigration to that quarter. His majesty's ministers were not reluctant to assist those who were distressed at home in looking for a happier lot on any foreign shore; but such a measure should not be hastily or prematurely adopted. With regard to farther emigration to the Cape of Good Hope, government wished, in the first place, to learn the success of those who had already gone out, before they encouraged any farther emigration to that set tlement on a more extended scale. He hoped the House and the noble lord would do his majesty's ministers the justice to think that they did not feel any reluctance to assist the distressed part of the population in seeking that comfort on foreign shores which circumstances prevented them from enjoying at home, though they might not appear so forward as some expected in tendering that assistance. Mr. Finlay agreed with what had been stated by his noble friend respecting the distressed state of the country; and when the right hon. gentleman stated that only 5,000 persons had gone to the Cape of Good Hope, the House would see that by the regulations adopted it had been impossible for the distressed population to relieve themselves. It was impossible for them to pay any sum of money, however small; and therefore, if the means of emigration were not granted unconditionally, and as a boon, he feared they could not avail themselves of the opportunity afford ed. He believed his noble friend was in possession of many communications, as he himself was, from persons who, though perfectly willing to emigrate, could not transport themselves, being destitute of all means whatever. He was confident that the subject required only to be brought forward by government in such a practical manner as to engage attention, and that a sum of money, comparatively small, would be productive of great benefit, since those who were removed would not only be relieved themselves, but would relieve those to whom they were at present a burthen. The Address was agreed to nem. con. that this total of 385,000l., as taken upon the long reign of his late majesty, was little more, upon an average, than 6,000. a-year. Mr. Tierney knew that the allowance of 60,000l. for a privy-purse was vested in the Crown by parliament. But this case was entirely different; for, with respect to the privy-purse, it had been thought fit that the king should have a sum at his absolute disposal, for whatever purposes he thought proper; and no doubt this was extremely fitting. This sum had been limited to 60,000l., and it was placed beyond the control of the House, and not subject to any other curb than his majesty's own discretion. But this excess was stated to have been added out of funds whose application should be matter of parliamentary direction, and for which ministers were responsible. He must again ask, how this addition was to be justified? The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that such had been the immemorial usage. Mr. Tierney wished to know, whether they were to understand that the funds of the Crown might be enlarged in this manner by his majesty's ministers? If not, how did it happen that this 6,000l. a-year, or aggregate sum of 385,000l., had been so added to a specific provision made by parliament for the privy purse? How did it happen that no account was rendered, by which it might appear that about 6,000l. a-year was yearly carried to the increase of that purse in the way mentioned by the right hon. gentleman? Mr. Hume was very anxious to know what the colonial funds in question were. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that it was impossible to give a specific account of such appropriations, occurring in the earlier years of so extended a reign, although it might be in his power to show in what manner they had been made during the latter part of it. DROITS OF THE CROWN AND PRIVY PURSE.] Mr. Tierney said, he could not help observing, that the papers before the House seemed to be all very clear, with the exception of the sum of 385,000l. The allowance to the privy purse, it was known, Mr. Tierney said, that the excess of was 60,000l. per annum; but, over and 385,000l., for any thing he saw upon the above that allowance, there appeared to face of those papers, might have accrued have been, during the late reign, an ex-in one year instead of sixty years. cess of 385,000l. He would thank the right hon. gentleman to explain this matter. The Chancellor of the Exchequer observed, that it had been from time to time the practice of parliament, that certain monies, arising from particular colonial funds, should be added to the privy purse. But the right hon. gentleman would see, Mr. Brougham said, that upon the subject of the civil list it might be matter of convenience to the House to understand when it would be brought forward. He deeply regretted that it was one which was not to remain in the hands of hon. gentlemen opposite. He did hope that those hon. gentlemen would have submitted the matter to the consideration of parliament; and from them he consi- The REVENUES OF THE CROWN.] following account was laid on the table of the House by his Majesty's command. An account of the total produce of all Funds at the disposal of the Crown, and usually deemed not to be under the immediate control of Parliament, since the accession of his late majesty; distinguishing the monies arising from droits of the admiralty, and droits of the Crown; 4 per cent West-India duties; Scotch revenue; and from all other sources not hereinbefore specified; so far as the same can be ascertained. An account of [the droits of *the Admiralty and droits of the Crown, from 1760 to 1820 £. s. d. ... 9,562,614 46 The application of this sum in rewards to captors, and payments to claimants, and in áid of the public service, and of the civil list, and for other purposes, is to be found in the accounts which have from time to time been laid before Parliament. An account of the four and half per cent West-India duties, from 1760, to 1820. 2,116,484 0 0 granted by the Crown; as An account of the sur- *An account of the sur- ...... An account of the Escheats to his majesty in cases of illegitimacy or otherwise, from 1760 to 1820.. An account of the Escheats to his majesty, being the property of Alien enemies, from 1760 to 1820 .... An account of the funds * An account of the reve- .... 124,256 10 7 207,700 0 0 214,647 15.0 108,777 17 8 106,300 0 0 150,816 0 7 104,865 3 2 £.12,705,461 11 7 The whole of these sums have been appropriated at various times in discharge of the debts of the civil list, and to other public purposes, as will appear by the reports and accounts laid before parliament; with the exception of 385,000l., which sum was applied between his majesty's accession and the year 1820, in numerous payments, for the purposes Whitehall, Treasury Chambers, HOUSE OF COMMONS. Monday, May 1. THE KING'S ANSWER TO THE ADDRESS.] The Speaker reported his Majesty's Answer to the Address, as follows: "Gentlemen; I return you my warmest thanks for this loyal and dutiful address. It gives me the utmost satisfaction to receive these assurances of your veneration for the memory of my beloved father, and of your attachment to my person and government, on this first occasion of my meeting you in parliament since my accession to the throne; and I shall rely with confidence on your support in my endeavours to promote the welfare of all classes of my people, as affording, under the blessing of Divine Providence, the surest pledge of a prosperous and happy reign." The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, he had searched the Journals of the House, and had found two precedents in former reigns wherein it had been the practice of the House to return thanks for the royal answer to the address presented to the throne by the first parliament of a new reign; therefore as hon. gentlemen had now heard read from the chair the most gracious answer of his present majesty, he should move "that an humble address be presented to his majesty returning the most humble thanks of this House for his most gracious answer to the address; and that such address be presented to his majesty by such members of this House as were members of his majesty's privy council."-The motion was agreed to. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.] Mr. H. Sumner adverted to the great inconveniences under which the county of Surrey laboured, owing to the varying and uncertain state of weights and measures. He said that the city of London had formerly felt the great inconvenience and disadvantage of a similar state of things, and conceived that, acting under their own authority, they were capable of subdividing the standard measure in the Exchequer, and and of making those subdivisions the standards of weights and measures within their jurisdiction. Now, the county of | Surrey having no means of obtaining that He The Chancellor of the Exchequer was not entirely prepared to answer the question of the hon. gentleman. The subject was one which had long occupied the attention of his majesty's ministers. was quite aware of its importance, but he apprehended that no general meausre could be brought in during the present session; some preliminary steps, however, might be taken. COURTS OF JUSTICE IN SCOTLAND.] Mr. H. Clive laid on the table a number of papers and reports connected with the commission to inquire into the receipt of fees, &c. in the courts of justice in Scotland. He moved they should be printed. Lord A. Hamilton begged to be informed whether it was true that a new appointment had taken place, or was about |