640 



Political Oecurrences, Sfc. 



[June, 



ditch, for a new composition for the pur- 

 pose of waBliing iu sea water. 



To Levy Zachariah, Juii., Poitsea, for 

 a new invented combination of materials to 

 be used for fuel — 8th iMay ; 6 months. 



A List of Patents, which, having been 

 granted in June 1812, will expire in the 

 present Month of June, viz. 



2. To John Scambler, of Birmingham, 

 for an improvement in the manufacture of 

 needles. 



2. Leger Didot, of London, for im- 

 proved candlesticks and snuffers, 



6. To Henry Thomas Hardacre, of 

 London, for a composition to prevent the 

 effects of friction. 



9. To James Lee, of Enfield, Middle- 

 sex, for an improved method of preparing 

 hemp and fax, and by which other vegetabl.'S 

 may be substituted for them. 



9. To James Needham, of Islington, 

 for improvements on his patent portable brew- 

 ing apparatus. 



' 13. To Jofin Webb, of Middlesex, for 

 an improved method of weaving. 



25. To Benjamin Black, of London, for 

 an improvement in the construction of car- 

 riage lamps. 



25. To William Averill, of London, for 

 his machinery for extracting corroded iron 

 from ships' bottoms, ^c. 



25. To Anthony Schick, of London, for 

 an improved method of roasting coffee. 



POLITICAL OCCURRENCES, &c. 



Though storm and whirh\-ind have been 

 raging throughout the manufacturing dis- 

 tricts of England for the greater part of the 

 last month, yet the political proceedings of 

 Parliament (with the exception of one im- 

 portant debate) have been uniformly marked 

 by temperance and tranquillity. The House 

 of Lords, in particular, seems to have busied 

 itself with few important discussions, un- 

 less, indeed, we except the Corn Laws, 

 which were brought forward by Lord King, 

 in a petition signed by the weavers of 

 Manchester, who attributed their distress 

 rot so much to machinery as to the spirit 

 that influenced the Corn Laws. Lord Li- 

 verpool, in reply, said, that there was no 

 man, either in that or the lower house, but 

 must feel dcejjly for the present distress ; 

 he thought, however, at the same time, 

 that before Parliament adopted any ])ro- 

 ceedings for granting money, every other 

 expedient should be tried. lie looked 

 forward, he observed, with sanguine con- 

 fidence to tfie vohmtaiy subscriptions of 

 individuals, and thought that such exertions 

 would be far more desirable than any par- 

 liamentary grant. Yet, notwithstanding. 

 Parliament ought not to sc])arate without 

 releasing the bonded corn, that is, without 

 vesting in the king in council a po\\er to ad- 

 mit further supplies, if necessary, at a cer- 

 tain fixed duty. Lord Grey insisted that 

 ministers ouglit not only to furnish means 

 of immediate relief, but also a permanent 

 security against a repetition of such cala- 

 mities. His Lordship said, that mhiisters 

 ought to introduce a, rigorous inquiry into 

 the cause and extent of tiie present dis- 

 tresses : if, however, they neglected so to 

 do, he trusted that the house would fulfil 

 their duties and make every possible rcjia- 

 ration. A return to metallic currency, 

 which had been some time in agitation, he 

 thought unadvisable, and indeed almost im- 

 possible, in tlie present state of the nation. 

 Earl Dnrnley said that Lord Liveiyool did 



not seem to be aware of the extent of the 

 public distresses, for that individuals in 

 many places were actually expiring of hun- 

 ger. After a few words from Lord King, 

 the petition was laid upon the table. On 

 the .3d, Mr. Canning gave notice of his in- 

 tention to submit a motion (respecting the 

 Corn Laws) to the consideration of the 

 house on the morrow. The step, he said, 

 now ))roposed to be t:iUen was similar to 

 that which had been adopted the preceding 

 year, withont in any degree prejudicing the 

 general merits of the.corn laws. Mr. Janies, 

 in rejily, made some desultory remarks on 

 the state of the nation ; -v\ hich were, how- 

 ever, drowned in the clamour of general 

 disapprobation. On the 4th Mr. Canning 

 brought forward his promised motion, and 

 moved that the house should resolve itself 

 into a committee of the whole house on the 

 corn laws. Sir Tliomas Lethbridge vehe- 

 mently opposed the motion, and trusted 

 that the house would vote for that which he 

 should propose — namely, that a select com- 

 mittee be appointed to inquire into the 

 causes of the great general distress. After 

 u few words from Messis. Hobhouse, Whit- 

 more, and Williams, leave was given to 

 bring in the bill. On the Gth, occurred the 

 most imi)ortant debate that has taken place 

 during the month, namely, Mr. Hume's 

 motion respecting the state of the nation. 

 He moved a series of no less than forty- 

 seven resolutions, the substance of which 

 went to prove, first, that the great reduction 

 in the national debt, which the Chancellor 

 of the Exchequer said had been made 

 during peace, was a mis-statement ; se- 

 condly, that the public expenditure infi- 

 nitely exceeded the revenue ; and that a 

 sum of .£.36,000,000 sterling remained 

 wholly unaccounted for by his Majesty's 

 ministers ; thirdl)', that crimes, pauperism 

 and punishment were in a state of lament- 

 able progression ; and, lastly, that for all 

 these complicated evils an immedia te inA-es- 



