House of Commons
Wednesday, June 10, 1818
Finance
, seeing the chancellor of the exchequer in his place, was desirous of getting, for the benefit of the public, some information with regard to the 5 and 4 per cent annuities. He had understood the right hon. gentleman to have said, in moving for leave to bring in a bill for establishing the new 31½ per cent annuities, that such a measure would, amongst other advantages, facilitate the paying off the 5 and 4 per cents, but he was not aware that power was given by that or any former act of doing so during the recess. From the flourishing state of our finances, he did not think it unlikely the funds might rise so considerably before the next Session of parliament as to render it expedient to pay off those annuities. In that case, it would be to be lamented if such a favourable opportunity should be lost in consequence of no authority having been given by a legislative proceeding before parliament should separate. It was certainly of importance to the public to have a saving made amounting to between two and three millions annually, at the same time that faith to the public creditor would be strictly preserved.
said, he conceived that whenever such a measure should be adopted, faith to the public creditor would require arrangements to be made, which must receive the sanction of the legislature, and therefore it could not be carried into execution until parliament should again meet. He did not think an act could with propriety have been passed in anticipation of the occurrence of a favourable opportunity of paying off the 5 and 4 per cents.
Slave Trade
observed, that he had received information on which he could depend, that the slave trade was openly carrying on to a great extent in the French colonies on the North West coast of Africa, and that this inhuman practice was accompanied by circumstances of peculiar atrocity, murders having been committed by wholesale in its prosecution. As it was extremely desirable to prevent the possibility of any effectual revival of this detestable traffic, and as one great means of doing so would be to ascertain, as far as it was practicable, the real facts of the case, he would move, "That an humble Address be presented to his royal highness the Prince Regent, praying that he would be graciously pleased to order that there be laid before, this House a Copy of any Communication regarding the renewal of the Slave Trade on the North West Coast of Africa."
could assure his hon. friend, that every disposition was manifested by the French government to put an end to the traffic in slaves; but his hon. friend must be aware how difficult it was to cause a trade of that kind suddenly and entirely to cease in any colony, more especially when that colony had but recently passed into the possession of the power by which it was held. Although he was apprehensive that considerable mischief had taken place in the quarter alluded to, yet he by no means believed that it was to the extent reported. With respect to his hon. friend's motion, as the information for which he wished was not in such a shape as would allow of its production, and as his hon. friend had, by calling the attention of the House to the subject, effected in some measure the object which he had in view, he was desirous that his hon. friend would withdraw it.
The motion was then withdrawn.
Soon after two o'clock the usher of the Black Rod required the attendance of the House in the House of Lords. The Speaker and the members present accordingly attended. When the members of the House of Commons returned to their House after the dissolution, divested of their legislative character, Mr. Manners Sutton, the late Speaker, offered to read the Speech at the table, as is usual after a prorogation. Mr. Tierney objected to any such proceeding, as implying some approbation of this mode of dissolution, which he considered as an insult to parliament. Mr. M. Sutton observed, that he had consulted Mr. Hatsell that morning on a case where there was no precedent, there having been no such dissolution since that of the Oxford parliament, in the reign of Charles 2nd. The difficulty did not depend on the members present being no longer a House of Parliament. That circumstance equally existed in the case of a prorogation. But the peculiar difficulty of this case consisted in his being no longer a Speaker. Lord Castlereagh said, that the gentlemen present might incur a præmunire, if they appeared to deliberate as a House of Commons. It was remarked, that there could be no harm in a conversation between Mr. C. M. Sutton and his friends round the table. The Speech was not read, and the gentlemen separated.
The following Proclamations were issued in the course of the afternoon:
By his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty.
A PROCLAMATION,
For declaring the calling of a New Parliament.
GEORGE P. R.
Whereas we, acting in the name and on the behalf of his majesty, have thought fit, by and with the advice or his majesty's privy council, to dissolve, and have by such advice as aforesaid this day dissolved the parliament, begun and holden at Westminster the twenty-fourth day of November, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twelve, in the fifty-third year of his majesty's reign, and from thence continued by several prorogations to the twenty-seventh day of January, in the year eighteen hundred and eighteen, and which on the said twenty-seventh day of January was holden and sat and continued sitting from thence until and upon this tenth day of June, when it was by us dissolved as aforesaid. And we being desirous and resolved, as soon as may be, to meet his majesty's people, and to have their advice in parliament, do hereby make known to all his majesty's loving subjects our will and pleasure to call a new parliament: and do hereby farther declare, in the name and on the behalf of his majesty, that, with the advice of his majesty's privy council, we have this day given order that the chancellor of that part of the United Kingdom, called Great Britain, and the chancellor of Ireland, do respectively forthwith issue out writs, in due form and according to law, for calling a new parliament. And we do hereby also, in the name and on the behalf of his majesty, by this Proclamation under the great seal of the United Kingdom, require writs forthwith to be issued accordingly by the said chancellors respectively, for causing the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, who are to serve in the said parliament, to be retuned to and give their attendance in the said parliament; which writs are to be returnable on Tuesday, the 4th day of August next.
Given at the Court at Carlton-house, the 10th day, of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and in the fifty-eighth year of his Majesty's reign.
God save tie King.
By his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty.
A PROCLAMATION,
In order to the Electing and summoning the sixteen Peers of Scotland.
GEORGE P. R.
Whereas we have, acting in the name and on the behalf of his majesty, and by and with the advice of his majesty's privy council, thought fit to declare our pleasure for summoning and holding a parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, on Tuesday, the fourth day of August next ensuing the date hereof: in order therefore to the electing and summoning the sixteen peers of Scotland, who are to sit in the House of Peers in the said parliament, we do, acting as aforesaid, by the advice of his majesty's privy council, issue forth this Proclamation, strictly charging and commanding all the peers of Scotland to assemble and meet at Holy Rood house, in Edinburgh, on Friday, the twenty-fourth day of July next ensuing, between the hours of twelve and two in the afternoon, to nominate and choose the sixteen peers to sit and vote in the House of Peers in the said ensuing parliament, by open election and plurality of voices of the peers that shall be then present, and of the proxies of such as shall be absent (such proxies being peers, and producing a mandate in writing duly signed before witnesses, and both the constituent and proxy being qualified according to law): and the lord clerk register, or such two of the principal clerks of the session as shall be appointed by him to officiate in his name, are hereby respectively required to to attend such meeting, and to administer the oaths required by law to be taken there by the said peers, and to take their votes; and immediately after such election made and duly examined, to certify the names of the sixteen peers so elected, and sign and attest the same in the presence of the said peers the electors, and return such certificate into the high Court of Chancery of Great Britain: and we do, by this Proclamation, strictly command and require the provost of Edinburgh, and all other the magistrates of the said city, to take especial care to preserve the peace thereof, during the time of the said election, and to prevent all manner of riots, tumults, disorders, and violence whatsover. And we strictly charge and command that this Proclamation be duly published at the Market Cross at Edinburgh, and in all the county towns of Scotland, twenty-five days at least before the time hereby appointed for the meeting of the said peers to proceed to such election.
Witness George Prince of Wales, Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, at Westminster, the tenth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, in the fifty-eighth year of his Majesty reign.
God save the King.
List of Public Acts
Passed in the Sixth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland—58 GEO. III. A. D. 1818.
1.An Act to repeal an act made in the last session of parliament, intituled 'An act to continue an act to empower his majesty to secure and detain such persons as his majesty shall suspect are conspiring against his person and government.'
2.To suspend, until the end of the present session of parliament, the operation of an act made in the last session of parliament, to provide for the more deliberate investigation of presentments to be made by grand juries for roads and public works in Ireland, and for accounting for money raised by such presentments.
3.For continuing to his majesty certain duties on malt, sugar, tobacco, and snuff, in Great Britain; and on pensions, offices, and personal estates, in England; for the service of the year 1818.
4.For raising the sum of thirty millions, by exchequer bills, for the service of the year 1818.
5.To indemnify such persons in the united kingdom as have omitted to qualify themselves for offices and employments, and for extending the time limited for those purposes respectively, until the 25th day of March 1819; and to permit such persons in Great Britain as have omitted to make and file affidavits of the execution of indentures of clerks to attornies and solicitors, to make and file the same on or before the first day of Hilary term, 1819; and to allow persons to make and file such affidavits, although the persons whom they served shall have neglected to take out their annual certificates.
6.For indemnifying persons who, since the 26th day of January, 1817, have acted in apprehending, imprisoning, or detaining in custody persons suspected of high treason or treasonable practices, and in the suppression of tumultuous and unlawful assemblies
7.To indemnify all persons who have been concerned in advising, issuing, or carrying into execution any order or orders for permitting the importation and exportation of certain goods and commodities in foreign bottoms into and Out of certain of his majesty's West-India islands.
8.To authorize the governors of the hospital of king Charles the 2nd for ancient and maimed officers and soldiers of the army of Ireland (usually called the royal hospital at Kilmainham), to suspend or take away the pensions of such pensioners of the said hospital as shall be guilty of any fraud in
respect of prize-money or pensions, or of any other gross misconduct.
9.To further continue, until the 5th day of July, 1818, two acts of the 54th year of his present majesty, for repealing the duties of customs on madder imported into Great Britain, and for granting other duties in lieu thereof.
10.To rectify a mistake in an act, passed in the 55th year of the reign of his present majesty, for punishing mutiny and desertion, and to indemnify certain persons in relation thereto.
11.For punishing mutiny and desertion; and for the better payment of the army and their quarters.
12.For the regulating of his majesty's royal marine forces while on shore.
13.For charging duties on licences for retailing aqua vitæ in Scotland.
14.To amend an act of the last session of parliament, for preventing the further circulation of dollars and tokens issued by the governor and company of the bank of England.
15.To amend an act made in the 26th year of his present majesty, for the encouragement of the fisheries carried on in the Greenland Seas and Davis's Streights, so far as relates to the oaths thereby required to be taken.
16.To continue until the 5th day of April, 1819, and amend an act of the 56th year of his present majesty, for reducing the duties payable on horses used for the purposes therein mentioned.
17. For charging certain duties on four-wheeled carriages constructed and drawn in the manner therein described.
18.To charge an additional duty on corks ready-made, imported into Ireland.
19. To allow for three years, and until six weeks after the commencement of the then next session of parliament, the importation into ports specially appointed by his majesty, within the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, of the articles therein enumerated, and the re-exportation thereof from such ports.
20.For more effectually discovering the longitude at sea, and encouraging attempts to find a Northern passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and to approach the Northern pole.
21.To revive and continue, until the 5th day of July, 1819, several laws relating to the duties on glass made in Great Britain; and to prohibit the making of smalts within a
certain distance of any other glass-house, or by the maker of any other kind of glass.
22. For fixing the rates of subsistence to be paid to innkeepers and others on quartering soldiers.
23.For raising the sum of three millions, by the transfer of certain 3l. per centum annuities into other annuities, at the rate of 8l. 10s. per centum; and for granting annuities to discharge certain exchequer bills.
24.For enabling his majesty to make further provision for his royal highness the duke of Cambridge, and to settle an annuity on the princess of Hesse, in case she shall survive his said royal highness.
25. For enabling his majesty to settle an annuity on her royal highness the duchess of Cumberland, in case of her surviving his royal highness the duke of Cumberland.
26.To continue, until the 5th day of July, 1819, two acts made in the 54th and 56th years of his present majesty's reign, for regulating the trade in spirits between Great Britain and Ireland reciprocally, and to amend the same.
27. To permit the importation of certain articles into his majesty's colonies or plantations in the West-Indies, or on the continent of South America; and also certain articles into certain ports in the West-Indies.
28. To repeal an act made in the 56th year of his present majesty's reign, for establishing the use of an hydrometer called Sikes's hydrometer, in ascertaining the strength of spirits, instead of Clarke's hydrometer; and for making other provisions in lieu thereof.
29. For regulating the payment of fees for pardons under the great seal.
30. For preventing frivolous and vexatious actions of assault and battery, and for slanderous words, in courts.
31. To amend an act passed in the 53rd year of his majesty's reign, to make further regulations for the building and repairing of court houses and sessions houses in Ireland.
32. To amend so much of an act of the 55th year of his present majesty, as relates to the salaries of clergymen officiating as chaplains in houses of correction.
33.To alter the allowance for broken plate glass, and to exempt manufacturers of certain glass wares from penalties for not being licensed.
34. To repeal the several bounties on the exportation of refined sugar from any part of the united kingdom, and to allow other bounties in lieu thereof, until the 5th day of July, 1820, and for reducing the size of the packages in which refined sugar may be exported.
35.To provide for the maintaining of the royal canal from the river Liffey to the river Shannon in Ireland.
36. To carry into execution a treaty made between his majesty and the king of Spain, for the preventing traffic in slaves.
37. For further continuing, until the 5th day of July, 1819, an act of the 54th year of his present majesty, to continue the restrictions, contained in several acts of his present majesty, on payments of cash by the Bank of England.
38. To extend and render more effectual the present regulations for the relief of seafaring men and boys, subjects of the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in foreign parts.
39. To explain and amend an act passed in the 56th year of the reign of his present majesty, for amending the law of Ireland respecting the recovery of tenements from absconding, overholding, and defaulting tenants, and for the protection of the tenant from undue distress.
40.To continue the laws now in force relating to yeomanry corps in Ireland.
41. To amend an act made in the 56th year of his present majesty, for regulating and securing the collection of the duties on paper in Ireland, and to allow a drawback of the duty on paper used in printing certain books at the press of Trinity College, Dublin.
42. For enabling the trustee of certain premises at Great Yarmouth, in the county of Norfolk, held in trust for his majesty, to execute a conveyance of the same to a purchaser thereof.
43. For preventing the destruction of the breed of salmon, and fish of salmon kind, in the rivers of England.
44. To alter the application of part of the sum of 50,000l. granted by an act passed in the 56th year of the reign of his present majesty, intituled 'An act for improving the road from the city of Glasgow to the city of Carlisle.'
45.For building and promoting the building of additional churches in populous parishes.
46. For relief of persons entitled to entailed estates, to be purchased with trust monies, in that part of the united kingdom called Ireland.
47. To establish fever hospitals, and to make other regulations for the relief of the suffering poor, and for preventing the increase of infectious fevers in Ireland.
48. To amend an act, passed in the last session of parliament, to encourage the establishment of banks for savings, in England.
49. To explain three acts, passed in the 46th, 47th, and 51st years of his majesty's reign, respectively, for the abolition of the slave trade.
50. To amend and continue, until the 10th day of November, 1820, an act passed in the 56th year of his present majesty, to repeal the duties payable in Scotland upon wash and spirits, and distillers licences; to grant other duties in lieu thereof; and to establish further regulations for the distillation of spirits from corn, for home consumption, in Scotland.
51. To amend certain acts passed in the 4th year of king Edward the 4th; 1st and 10th years of queen Anne; 1st, 12th, and 13th years of king George the 1st; 13th, 22nd, and 29th years of king George the 2nd; and 13th and 57th years of king George the 3rd; prohibiting the payment of the wages of workmen in certain trades otherwise than in the lawful coin or money of this realm.
52. To continue, until the 20th day of June, 1820, an act of the 52nd year of his present majesty, for the more effectual preservation of the peace, by enforcing the duties of watching and warding.
53. For enabling his majesty to make further provision for his royal highness the duke of Kent, and to settle an annuity on the princess of Leiningen, in case she shall survive his said royal highness.
54. To grant certain rates, duties, and taxes in Ireland, in respect of fire hearths, windows, male servants, horses, carriages, and dogs, in lieu of former rates, duties, and taxes thereon; and to provide for the payment, thereof to the collectors of excise, and for the more effectual accounting for the same.
55. To continue until the 5th day of July, 1819, two acts of the 54th year of his present majesty, for repealing the duties of customs on madder imported into Great Britain, and for granting other duties in lieu thereof.
56. To make perpetual an act of the 46th year of his present majesty, for granting an additional bounty on the exportation of the silk manufactures of Great Britain.
57.To amend an act of the 55th year of his present majesty, for granting duties of excise in Ireland upon certain licences, and for securing the payment of such duties, and the regulating of the issuing of such licences.
58. To defray the charge of the pay, clothing, and contingent expenses of the disembodied militia in Great Britain; and for granting allowances in certain cases to subaltern officers, adjutants, quartermasters Surgeons, surgeons mates, and Serjeant majors of militia, until the 25th day of March, 1819.
59. For defraying, until the 25th day of June, 1819, the charge of the pay and clothing of the militia of Ireland; and for making allowances in certain cases to subaltern officers of the said militia during peace.
60. To continue, until three months after the ceasing of any restriction imposed on the Bank of England from issuing cash in payment, the several acts for confirming and continuing the restrictions on payments in cash by the bank of Ireland.
61. For the better accommodation of his majesty's packets within the harbour on the north side of the hill of Howth, and for the better regulation of the shipping therein.
62. To continue, until the 1st day of August,
1819, two acts of his present majesty, allowing the bringing of coals, culm, and cinders to London and Westminster.
63.To revive and Continue, until the 25th day of March, 1819, an act made in the 49th year of his present majesty, to permit the importation of tobacco from any place whatever.
64. To make further regulations respecting the payment of navy prize-money, and to authorize the governors of Greenwich hospital to pay over certain shares of prize-money due to Russian seamen to his excellency the Russian ambassador.
65. For repealing the duties of excise on verjuice and vinegar, and granting other duties in lieu thereof; and for more effectually securing the duties of excise on vinegar or acetous acid.
66. To empower any three or more of the commissioners for the reduction of the national debt to exercise all the powers and authorities given to the said commissioners by any act or acts of parliament.
67.To provide for the more deliberate investigation of presentments to be made by grand juries for roads and public works in Ireland, and for accounting for money raised by such presentments.
68. To repeal so much of an act passed in Ireland in the 9th year of the reign of queen Anne, intituled 'An act for taking away the benefit of clergy in certain cases; and for taking away the book in all cases; and for repealing part of the statute for transporting felons;' as takes away the benefit of clergy from persons stealing privily from the person of another; and more effectually to prevent the crime of larceny from the person.
69. For the regulation of parish vestries.
70. For repealing such parts of several acts as allow pecuniary and other rewards on the conviction of persons for highway robbery, and other crimes and offences; and for facilitating the means of prosecuting persons accused of felony and other offences.
71. For granting to his majesty a sum of money to be raised by lotteries.
72. For improving and completing the harbour of Dunmore, in the county of Water-ford, and rendering it a fit situation for his majesty's packets.
73. For regulating the payment of regimental debts, and the distribution of the effects of officers and soldiers dying in service, and the receipt of sums due to soldiers.
74. For the further regulation of payments of pensions to soldiers upon the establishments of Chelsea and Kilmainham.
75. For the more effectual prevention of offences connected with the unlawful destruction and sale of game.
76. To subject foreigners to arrest and detention for smuggling within certain distances of any of the dominions of his majesty; for
regulating rewards to the seizing officers, according to the tonnage of vessels or boats seized and condemned; and for the further prevention of the importation of tea without making due entry thereof with the officers of customs and excise.
77. To repeal the duty upon rock salt delivered for feeding or mixing with the food of cattle, and imposing another duty, and making other provisions in lieu thereof.
78. To make further provision for the better securing the collection of the duties on malt, and to amend the laws relating to brewers in Ireland.
79. To amend an act of the 54th year of his present majesty's reign, for granting duties on auctions in Ireland.
80. To amend an act passed in the 57th year of his present majesty, for permitting the transfer of capital from certain public stocks or funds in Great Britain to certain public stocks or funds in Ireland.
81. For extending to that part of the united kingdom called Ireland certain provisions of the parliament of Great Britain in relation to executors under the age of 21 years, and to matrimonial contracts.
82. To prevent frauds in the sale of grain in Ireland.
83. To amend and reduce into one act the several laws relating to the manner in which the East-India company are required to hire ships.
84. To remove doubts as to the validity of certain marriages had and solemnized within the British territories in India.
85. To carry into execution a convention made between his majesty and the king of Portugal, for the preventing traffic in slaves.
86. For raising the sum of eleven millions six hundred thousand pounds by exchequer bills, for the service of the year 1818.
87. For raising the sum of eight hundred thousand pounds British currency, by treasury bills, in Ireland, for the service of the year 1818.
88. To amend two acts, made in the last session of parliament, for authorizing the issue of exchequer bills, and the advance of money for carrying on public works and fisheries, and employment of the poor; and to extend the powers of the commissioners appointed for carrying the said acts into execution in Ireland.
89. To repeal so much of an act passed in the 43rd year of his present majesty, as requires the attendance of magistrates on board vessels carrying passengers from the united kingdom to his majesty's plantations, or to foreign parts.
90. To alter and amend certain of the provi-
sions of an act passed in the 51st year of his majesty's reign, intituled 'An act to provide for the administration of the royal authority, and for the care of his majesty's royal person, during the continuance of his majesty's illness; and for the resumption of the exercise of the royal authority by his majesty.'
91. For appointing commissioners to inquire concerning charities in England for the education of the poor.
92. To consolidate and amend the provisions of several acts, passed in the 51st and 52nd years respectively of the reign of his present majesty, for enabling wives and families of soldiers to return to their homes.
93.To afford relief to the bona fide holders of negotiable securities, without notice that they were given for a usurious consideration.
94.To continue, until the 29th day of September, 1819, and to amend an act passed in Ireland, in the 36th year of his present majesty, for the improvement and extension of the fisheries on the coasts of Ireland.
95. To regulate the election of coroners for counties.
96. To continue, for the term of two years, and until the end of the session of parliament in which that term shall expire, if parliament shall be then sitting, an act of the 56th year of his present majesty, for establishing regulations respecting aliens arriving in or resident in this kingdom, in certain cases.
97. To prevent aliens, until the 25th day of March, 1819, from becoming naturalized, or being made or becoming denizens, except in certain cases.
98. To explain and amend an act passed in the 51st year of his majesty's reign, for rendering more effectual an act made in the 47th year of his majesty's reign, for the abolition of the slave trade.
99. For altering and amending an act made in the 55th year of his present majesty, to amend an act made in the 48th year of his present majesty, to improve the land revenue of the crown, so far as relates to the great forest of Brecknock in the county of Brecknock; and for vesting in his majesty certain parts of the said forest, and for inclosing the said forest.
100. For vesting in his majesty certain parts of the hayes of Birkland and Bilbagh, and of certain commonable lands and open un-inclosed grounds in the township of Edwin-stowe, within the forest of Sherwood, in the county of Nottingham.
101. For applying certain monies mentioned for the service of the year 1819.