persuaded they were not liable to any fraud or trick, as they were now taken. If they altered the averages at the same time they altered the prices, they would not be able fairly or fully to judge of the effects of the present measure. Another question connected with the Bill was the assize; and undoubtedly as long as the assize continued as at present, the people of this metropolis would eat their bread dearer than those who resided in parts which were beyond the operation of that regulation. His opinion upon the subject was, that under certain modifications it would be better to get rid of the assize altogether. With respect to the petitions which had been presented, he felt most thoroughly disposed to pay every respect to them, as containing the wishes of a great portion of the people of this country; but he was persuaded that accidental circumstances alone had prevented their lordships table from being loaded with petitions from Ireland, in support of the measure; and he mentioned it only to impress upon their attention, that they had to legislate for the population of the whole empire. It was undoubtedly a question of great difficulty, and one which had created great difference of opinion; but he believed, if the united kingdoms were canvassed throughout, more would be found favourable than adverse to the measure. It was the duty of Parliament to legislate deliberately, and, having formed its opinion to proceed with that measure which it might, in its wisdom, deem most expedient for the benefit of the whole empire. Their lordships divided on earl Grey's motion. PROTEST ON THE REJECTION OF EARL GREY'S MOTION.] The following Protest was entered upon the Journals : "DISSENTIENT, "Because inquiry has been deemed necessary to afford this House full information respecting the state of the growth, the dommerce, and the consumption of grain, and all laws relating thereto, previous to the adoption of any new regulation on these subjects. "Because, though a committee has been appointed for the purpose of such inquiries, and has produced a voluminous Report, containing much information respecting the matters referred to their consideration, it is acknowledged in that Report that the investigation is not complete, and it is an ticipated as the opinion of this House, that it will be proper to resume the inquiry be. fore any alteration takes place in the laws affecting the interests both of the growers and consumers of corn. "Because, with the obvious deficiency of information thus acknowledged in the Report of the Committee itself, and with the strong doubts which so many persons entertain as to the propriety of making any change in the existing laws, we cannot think it expedient to proceed to legislate upon a subject, which, of all others, requires the fullest and most patient investigation, and in which the mischief of any error must be so extensive and dan. gerous. (Signed,) AUGUSTUS FREDERICK. WILLIAM FREDERICK. STANHOPE. ESSEX. KING. TORRINGTON. GRENVILLE. GREY." HOUSE OF COMMONS. PROCEEDINGS UPON COMPLAINT THAT THE APPROACHES TO THE HOUSE WERE OCCUPIED BY A MILITARY FORCE] The orders of the day being read, for taking into further consideration the Minutes of the Proceedings upon the matter of the Complaint made upon Monday last, that the Approaches to the House were occu pied by a Military Force; and for the attendance of the High Bailiff of Westminster, and Magistrates, The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that ́the object of the House in taking these minutes into their consideration, must be the possibility of a tumult, and of the proto secure on the part of the Police a vigo-priety of his being prepared with proper rous discharge of their duty. He believed, assistants to prevent as much as possible since last Monday, every person was satis- its pernicious effects. But what was his tisfied with their conduct. Parliament conduct? Why, he issued summonses in had never held their sittings in greater the usual way for eighty persons to attend, security-had never been less in danger of whom about forty obeyed his summons. of interruption. With respect to what He had no account of those persons, howhad taken place on the day he had named, ever, and seemed to have adopted no he thought it unnecessary to say any method with regard to their organization, thing now. It appeared that every pre- and not one of the witnesses who were caution had previously been taken by examined seemed to have observed the the Secretary of State which common existence of any outrage, at a moment prudence could dictate. He regretted when one member of the House had comthat it had been found necessary to call plained of being nearly rode over by a out the military; but the propriety of troop of horse. He thought the apathy doing this under the circumstances of the which had been displayed on this occasion case, he believed, would not be questioned, should form a subject for very rigorous and he thought it would be seen that inquiry; as he was convinced, if the conhardly any blame attached to the civil stables, of whom it appeared not less than power, if, for once, it had not been able to 150 were in attendance, had been properly preserve the peace, and afford full pro- mustered and judiciously directed, at an tection. If on this subject there was any early hour in the afternoon, all necessity difference of opinion, he trusted the House for the interference of the military would would think the conduct of the Police have been obviated; and if it was not since Monday had atoned for their first probable, it was, at least, possible, that all errors. Conceiving it would be best not the disgraceful scenes which had taken to revive the unfortunate events of Monday place would have been prevented. Under night, and that there would be no objec- this impression he could not concur in the tion to pass over what had occurred, he vote which had been proposed by the should move, that the said orders be dis- right hon. gentleman, of passing over concharged. 'duct lightly, which he could not but view with great jealousy in persons to whom the protection of the House was entrusted. He thought, with a view to the future, that it was essential something like the disapprobation of the House towards the conduct of the magistrates should be manifested. Mr. Whitbread was sorry to be under the necessity of bringing back to the recollection of the House, the evidence which was taken on the night in question, from the nature and effect of which he conceived the motion of the right hon. gentleman was by no means such a motion as the House could agree to, with a due regard to its own character. The right hon. gentleman, however, had not contented himself with merely moving, that the order should be discharged, but had intimated that the magistrates were almost without blame; and, by a panegyric upon their subsequent conduct, seemed desirous of at once wiping out all recollection of their previous proceedings. Now, what was the real history of the transaction? With respect to the precautions taken, upon the part of the Secretary of State and that of the Speaker, nothing could have been more proper or creditable to their vigilance; but, unfortunately, those precautions were rendered nugatory by the conduct of the magistrates to whom the execution of the orders given was entrusted. Notice, it was seen, had been given to the High Bailiff of Westminster of Mr. Bathurst said, the House would recollect that it was understood, on the night alluded to, that information should be given to the magistrates of the feelings which the House entertained of their conduct. [Mr. Whitbread here remarked, that there was nothing on the Journals to this effect.] Mr. Bathurst, in continuation, observed, that Mr. Morris, the high bailiff, was in fact under the direction of other magistrates, at the head of whom was sir N. Conant, who at the time the outrages were taking place, was acting as the chief, from whom orders were received; but from the immense multitude which had assembled, he believed it was impossible to have avoided calling out the military. With respect to the assertion, that the calling out the military had produced the other outrages which had been committed, he believed this would not for a moment missness on the part of the magistrates and civil power; and with this feeling he thought their conduct should not be passed over without an expression of the feeling of the House upon the subject. be credited, when it was known that before the military had arrived in Palaceyard, sir N. Conant had actually been called away to suppress riots of a complexion equally dangerous, which had broken out in other parts of the town. It was very true, that the magistrates had not placed themselves without the avenues of the House, because such situations were attended with imminent danger-one or two of the constables having been absoJutely incapacitated from the exercise of their duties by blows received from brickbats. As far, however, as they could, consistently with the strength of the force under their orders, they had taken every means to resist the gross attacks which were made. Upon the whole, he saw nothing which called for punishment upon those individuals, or indeed merited the further cognizance of the House. Mr. Wynn was of opinion that it was impossible to pass over the conduct of the magistrates without notice. He would recall to the recollection of the House, that the noble lord (Castlereagh) had objected to any admonition being given to those persons on Monday night, because he considered that any discussion upon the subject would have kept them from those duties which at that time required their presence. It was then understood that their conduct was liable to inquiry on a future occasion, and, in obedience to that feeling, he conceived an inquiry should now take place. He thought with his hon. friend (Mr. Whitbread), that the conduct of the High Bailiff had been particularly reprehensible, because he was the person, of all others, to whom he believed the House ought to look for protection, and yet he, of all others, seemed to be most ignorant of what was passing. With respect to the hazard in which it was stated by the right hon. gentleman, who spoke last, the constables would have been placed by remaining without the doors of the House, he considered it of less importance that they should run risks, than that the members of the House should be prevented from performing their parliamentary duties. It was, in fact, a necessary attendant upon the office of constable, that he should expose his person to danger; and if such an excuse were to be received as a ground for neglect of duty, the necessary consequence would be, that on all occasions the military must be resorted to. Upon the whole, he could not help being of opinion, that there had been great re Mr. F. Douglas thought it of importance, that the conduct of the civil officers should be minutely inquired into, not so much with a view to punish or to censure the past, as to guard against a recurrence of the evil complained of. However he might regret some of the events which had taken place, he should always remember with pleasure the firmness and dignity which that House had displayed, and exult in the reflexion, that not one of its members had mistaken the clamour of a mob for the voice of the people. Mr. Lockhart was willing that the proceedings which had taken place should be consigned to oblivion, as far as the punishment of the magistrates was concerned; but he wished their recollection to survive, in order that such measures of precaution might be taken as should make it unnecessary to call out the military on any similar occasion. He wished to see the constables young, healthy, and vigorous, instead of decayed and decrepid men, like those which he had seen on the late occasion, who appeared to be incapable of acting with effect, although he found they had foolish vanity enough to be jealous of each other. He understood such a feeling had caused a difference between the officers from Bow-street and those of other offices. He was of opinion that a civil force, better headed, and better organized, ought to be at hand on such occasions. He wished the old law, of calling out the house-keepers of each parish when the public peace was endangered, were again resorted to, places of rendezvous named, and other arrangements made for their being speedily assembled, and effectually engaged to quell the disturb. ance. If such measures were not adopted, the capital might one day fall into the hands of a mob, who might not be kept down till they had done it great, and almost irreparable injury. He took occasion to censure the conduct of certain persons forming the jury on a coroner's inquest, who had promulgated authoritatively what they took upon themselves to lay down as the law, though he would not acknowledge it to be so. controverted the opinions published by the jury, who lately sat on the body of the officer unfortunately killed in Burlington He street, refuted the doctrine which they Mr. Butterworth said, that he had expehad attempted to inculcate, and, supporting rienced some difficulty in reaching his himself on the authority of lord Mansfield, carriage, about eight o'clock of the evecontended that the right of the parties ning in question; but on that occasion, as entrusted with the care of any place well as on his return to the House about an assailed by a mob, to use the weapons with hour afterwards, the constables exerted which they were armed, to the destruc- themselves to the utmost to clear the way. tion of the assailants, was only to be determined by the necessity of the case. Mr. Addington observed, that the charges brought against the magistrates seemed to be, that they had not been in their proper stations at the time of the riot, and that they had not made a judicious disposition of the civil force. Now, the first charge could only amount to an error in judgment; and he admitted that if they had been on the outside of the building, they would have been better able to direct the constables. As to the second charge, he thought it too much to expect, that on the first occasion, they should have been able to make the most judicious disposition of the civil power, which it was possible to make. The chief magistrate of Bowstreet had been desired to be present at the Secretary of State's office during the evening in question. From a laudable degree of zeal he came down to the House in the beginning of the evening, and there continued till between eight and nine o'clock, being then on the outside of the building, when he was called suddenly away, his presence being necessary in another quarter of the town. The magistrates within were not aware that he was called off, and it was from this, he believed, that the circumstances had taken place which had given rise to the imputation of remissness. The conduct of the magistrates had been marked, since that period, with a great degree of zeal and assiduity, and he hoped the House would not think it proper to visit them with a punishment so heavy as its censure. Mr. Whitbread explained, that it was not his intention to lump all the magistrates, who had been examined, in the charge which he thought should be made against some of them. It was well for the right hon. gentleman who defended them to confound them; but he did not mean to attack them altogether. Mr. Hammersley thought the police laws defective, there being no provision for an extraordinary number of constables in case of riots. He hoped that the persons to whom this department of the government was entrusted, would pay attention to the subject. Sir C. Monck observed, that the Speaker of the House was not supposed to know any thing about the preservation of the peace; having given orders for their attendance, it was the duty of the magistrates to take all proper measures. He thought it most extraordinary that a verdict of murder had been returned against the soldiers, while it did not appear that any rioters were in custody, or that any altempt at arson or murder had appeared on the part of the populace. Mr. Addington stated there were at least thirty rioters in custody. Mr. Wrottesley could not agree that the magistrates were altogether exempt from blame. He remarked on the evidence of the high bailiff, who had stated that he had about 50 out of his 80 constables about the House; that that force was insufficient to repress the mob; but that he did not take any measures to procure additional force, relying on Messrs. Baker and Birnie, whom he knew were in attendance. He did not, however, communicate with them. His reliance on Mr. Baker was much to his credit, as there was a marked difference between the conduct of that gentleman and that of the other persons who had been examined at the bar. He thought the high bailiff blameable in not communicating with the police magistrates. Some measures, he thought, should be taken to let the magistrates know that it was necessary for them to take proper methods to stifle tumults in their commencement; for he was confident that with the help of a few constables at the beginning of the evening the riot might have been altogether suppressed, by taking such persons into custody as refused to disperse. He observed, that it was extraordinary that none of the persons had been apprehended, who had defiled the walls about the metropolis with the most inflammatory inscriptions. He thought this might have been done by the ordinary exertion of the Police. Mr. Alderman Atkins stated, that as far as he had witnessed the conduct of the magistrates on the night in question, they had been very active. The high bailiff, he thought, had exerted himself to the ut most of his power. The civil power was by no means adequate. Having filled the office of sheriff, on the occasion of former riots, he had witnessed the conduct of Messrs. Baker and Birnie, who had read the Riot Act to their own great danger, with laudable zeal and courage. In those riots he found, that of the constables for Westminster, never more than 10 attended. The motion for the discharge of the orders was then put and carried. be repealed. A duty of 41. per cent. on goods shipped to South America would expire on the 16th of March, so that a renewal of only half that duty would be necessary. He concluded by moving the following Resolutions: 1. "That the exclusive right of trade granted to the South Sea Company by an Act made in the 9th year of the reign of queen Anne, do cease and determine. 2. That, in consideration of the surrender of such exclusive right, a guarantee fund be created in any of the public funds or annuities, bearing an interest of 31. per centum per annum, which shall accumulate until it amounts to the sum of 610,464l. 3s. capital stock, SOUTH SEA COMPANY.] On the order of the day for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Act 9 Anne, c. 21, for for making good deficiencies, and satis-bearing an interest at 31. per centum per fying the public debts; and for erecting a corporation to carry on a trade to the South Seas, and for the encouragement of the fishery; and for liberty to trade in unwrought iron with the subjects of Spain; and to repeal the Acts for registering sea men, The Chancellor of the Exchequer took a view of the establishment of the South Sea Company, and observed that this corporation possessed the exclusive privilege of trading to America, from the river Oroonoko, round Cape Horn to the north-west coast of that continent. This exclusive privilege had for many years been of no advantage to that Company; but South America having become at last open to us, it might become a great obstacle to our commerce. He therefore had to state the terms on which the Company were willing to sell it to the country. That Company had lent all its capital to the Government, for which they received 31. per cent.; and they also obtained a further dividend of per cent. on their capital, by acting as agents for Government in the payment of the dividends of such part of the public debt as existed in 1721. By the Act of 1813, which would cancel all the national debt which existed before the establishment of the sinking fund, they would lose that per cent. They therefore consented to abandon their exclusive privilege of trade, on condition that the Government would guarantee thisper cent. or about 18,000l. a year to them. For this income it was his intention to propose the creation of a fund, by a duty un tonnage of ships trading to South America, and on the export of goods thither, to the amount of 21. per cent. The fund necessary would be 400,000l.; when that sum was accumulated, the duty would 4. annum, and such capital stock shall then he transferred to the said Company. 3. That until the said sum of 610,4641. 35. capital stock shall be so accumulated and transferred as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the lords commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury to direct the issue, out of the consolidated fund of Great Britain, from time to time, of such sums of money as may be necessary to enable the said Company to pay a dividend of per centum per annum on their trading stock, after applying to that purpose all the funds of the said Company which now are or may remain applicable thereto. That a duty of 1s. 6d. shall be granted, for a time to be limited, for and upon every ton burthen of every ship or vessel entering outwards or inwards in any port of the United Kingdom to or from any port or place within the limits of the sole and exclusive trade granted to the said Company by the said Act. 5. That a custom duty of 21. be charged upon every 100/. of the value of all goods, wares, or merchandize, the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United Kingdom; exported to any of the said ports or places, for a time to be limited." The first resolution being put, Mr. Bennet thought the proposition just and equitable; but he wished to make some observations on the state of the country which was the subject of the law on which they were deliberating, viz. South America. All that continent was now in arms, and the spectacle of a great nation struggling for liberty had always been regarded with peculiar interest by this coun try. He wished to know whether any steps had been taken by this country to mediate between the mother country and the colonies? The consequence of the dreadful |