HC Deb 17 May 1805 vol 5 c24

A message from the lords by the deputy usher of the Black Rod required the attendance of the house at their lordships' bar, where the royal assent was given by commission to the Irish Loan act, the Irish Post Roads act, the Irish Promissory Note act, the Irish Dollar Token act, the Scotch Excise Office act, and several private acts.—On the third reading of the bill for allowing a salary to the chairman of the session of Stalford Hundred in the country of Lancaster, objections were made by sir Robert Buxton and Mr. Shaw Lefevre, on the ground that it was a bad precedent. The bill was defended by colonel Stanley and lord Stanley. The gallery was cleared for a division, and the doors remained shut for a considerable time, during which the debate continued. We believe an amendment was proposed in the committee, for on re-opening of the gallery, we found the bill was ordered to be read a third time this day se'nnight, by a majority of 49 to 38.—Lord Castlereagh, pursuant to the notice he gave last night, moved that leave be given to bring in a bill to amend and render more effectual the act for establishing and erecting public infirmaries in Ireland. His lordship was induced to make this motion from a conviction of the great inconveniency sustained by the poorer classes of people, from the distance they often were from those hospitals, and meant that the bill, among other regulations, should remedy that evil by providing fur the establishment of dispensaries at proper distances. Sir John Newport wished that an accurate enquiry should be made into the mode of conducting those county hospitals, as he was convinced great abuses existed in that quarter, and that the funds were not unfrequently converted into purposes of private emolument. Leave was then granted, and a committee appointed to draw up the bill.—On the motion of lord Stanley, a return of the number of the militia who have volunteered into the regular service, specifying the number from each regiment and the kind of force they had joined, as artillery, marine, &c. was ordered.—Mr. Creevey gave notice that on Monday next he would move for an account of the salaries of the judges of the admiralty.—The Irish spirit duty bill went through a committee, and the report is to be received on Monday.—On the motion of Mr. Foster, the house went into a committee of ways and means. A stamp duty of 3d. was imposed on banker's checks under 51. in order to prevent them from getting into circulation. Policies of insurance in Ireland were made chargeable at 2s. 6d. per cent. as in England. The report to be received on Monday.