§ Sir H. Parnellrose to present a petition, signed by several wealthy and respectable merchants and 945 bankers of Belfast, praying for an alteration in the laws relating to bankers in Ireland. He begged the chancellor of the Exchequer's particular attention to the matter of this petition, which originated out of an act passed in the session of 1821, for effecting certain alterations in the charter of the Bank of Ireland. The evils of which this petition principally complained were certain disabling clauses, as affecting the power of bankers to alienate and dispose of their property, contained in an act passed in the 29th of George 2nd. Of that act he would only observe, that no system could be more ingeniously devised to prevent opulent and respectable persons from establishing themselves as bankers in Ireland.
The Chancellor of the Exchequercertainly considered the subject to which the petition pointed, as well deserving that serious attention which he for one was disposed to give to it.
§ Sir J. Newportthought that the House might not be aware of the nature of that act; for it was an Irish one, passed before the statute known as the "Bankers' act." The consequence of this was, that two distinct codes prevailed in one kingdom, in respect of bankers. He need only mention one clause of the act of George 2nd. to show how necessary was the revision of the law upon this subject. It was enacted, that no person intending to trade as a banker should be enabled to make any settlement upon his son or his daughter, his grandson, or his grand daughter, even for a valuable consideration; but that all such settlements should be absolutely null and void.
§ Mr. Irvingthought that no subject could be taken into consideration the result of which would be more likely to prove beneficial to Ireland, than the propriety of making an alteration in the laws affecting bankers in that country.
§ Ordered to lie on the table.