Lords Sitting of 3 February 1832

MINUTES.
Returns ordered. On the Motion of Viscount STRANGFORD, of the number and Tonnage of American and British Ships entered inwards in the Port of Liverpool from the United States of America, from the 1st of January, 1831, to the 1st of January, 1832, and the number and Tonnage of all Foreign Ships laden wholly or in part with Timber or Deals from Norway to London, from 1st January, 1831, to 1st January, 1832:—On the Motion of Lord AUCKLAND, the number of Vessels, with the amount of their Tonnage, built and registered in the several Ports of the British Empire, in each year, from 1814 to 1831, both inclusive; the number of Vessels, with the amount of their Tonnage, and the number of Men and Boys usually employed in navigating the same, that belonged to the several Ports of the British Empire, in each year, from 1814 to 1831, both inclusive; the number of Vessels, with the amount of their Tonnage, and the number of Men and Boys employed in Navigating the same (including their repeated Voyages), that entered inwards, and cleared outwards, at the several Ports of the United Kingdom, from and to Foreign Parts in each year, from 1814 to 1831, both inclusive, distinguishing British from Foreign; and, also, of the number of Vessels, with the amount of their Tonnage, and the number of Men and Boys employed in Navigating the same (including their repeated Voyages), that entered inwards and cleared outwards, at the several Ports of Great Britain, from, and to all parts of the world, in each year, front 1814 to 1831, both inclusive; a like Return, exclusive of the Trade between Great Britain and
1226
Ireland; a comparative statement of tile British and Foreign Tonnage which have entered the several Ports of the United Kingdom, distinguishing the Countries from whence, from the year 1814 to 1831, both inclusive; of the Tonnage of Vessels employed in the Coasting Trade, entered at, or cleared out from, the Ports of the United Kingdom, from 1823 to 1831, both inclusive; of the number of Ships which passed the Sound, from the year 1814 to 1831, both inclusive; and also, for all Lead Ore, Pigged and Rolled Lead, Shot, Litharge, and Lead Paints, Exported and Imported, between January, 1831, and January, 1832, distinguishing the Countries and the amount of Duty.
Petitions Presented. By the Earl of RANDOR, from the Gentry, Clergy, Freeholders, and Inhabitants of the County of Roscommon, in favour of Reform. By the Marquis of LANSDOWN, from the Surgeons of Leeds, and from the Inhabitants in general of Leeds, signed by several thousand Persons for facilitating the Study of Anatomy:—By the Earl of SHEFFIELD, from the Landowners and Inhabitants of Shipley, and from the Rector and Inhabitants of Pulborough, Sussex, in favour of a Labour Rate.

RECIPROCITY TREATIES
Viscount Strangfordmoved for an Account of the Sums of Money paid under the authority of the Lords of the Treasury to Corporate Bodies and individuals in compensation of the loss sustained by them from the reduction of Port Duties on Foreign Vessels in each year, from the 1st of January, 1826, to the 1st of January, 1832. He must observe, and no doubt the noble Lords opposite were fully aware, that the appropriation of the public money to such a purpose was perfectly illegal. He did not, however, intend to cast any censure upon them on account of these payments, as the practice had been established by a former Administration. He moved for the Return, not for the purpose of censuring the principle of the payments, but as the only means of arriving at an accurate knowledge of the expense which the reciprocity system had imposed upon the country.
Lord Aucklandsaid, that it was quite true, as stated by the noble Viscount, that these payments were illegal. His Majesty's Ministers had, however, inherited the irregularity from the former Government. It was only a few days ago that he became aware of the course which had been pursued being illegal, and it was the intention of Ministers to apply to parliament for an indemnity.
The Motion agreed to.

ARBITRATION BILL.
Lord Tenterdenmoved, that this Bill be read a third time.
The Marquis of Westmeathwished to take that opportunity of expressing his anxious desire, that the Bill should be so framed as to extend to Ireland.
Lord Tenterdenhad no objection to the extension of the principle of this measure to Ireland, but he could not take upon himself to introduce a clause to that effect into the present Bill without consultation with the Irish Judges. He had a vague recollection that when this and some other Bills relating to the administration of Justice were formerly before the House, he had applied to Lord Plunkett for his opinion, as to the propriety of extending their provisions to Ireland, when the noble and learned Lord replied, that he thought it would not be advisable without further consideration.
The Marquis of Lansdownsaid, it was impossible that the House could acquiesce in so important an alteration of the Bill as that suggested by the noble Marquis on its third reading, and without any previous notice.
Bill read a third time and passed.