 % 
HISTORY OF 
the excessive issue of bank notes, 
which were the circulating me- 
dium. He concluded, by moving 
a clause, that the governor and 
company of the Bank of Ire- 
land, should be obliged, upon de- 
mand, to pay their notes, in English 
bank notes. 
_ The marquis of Sligo said, it was 
impossible to add such a clause as 
this, to a bill for restricting pay- 
ments in specie; as the bank of Ire- 
Jand could not get those bank of 
England notes, without paying 
guineas for them; such a clause 
would militate against the whole 
principle of the bill. As to the 
rate of exchange, it perhaps carried 
with it its own remedy. The ex- 
change operated, as a tax upon im- 
ports, and a bounty upon exports. 
He admitted the very unfavour- 
able circumstances in which Ire- 
Jand now stood; but he hoped, 
that better prospects would soon 
appear. 
The earl of Limerick also, disap- 
proved of the clause, which, after 
‘a few explanations between lords 
King and, Limerick, was negatived, 
_without a division. 
_ In the house of commons, on the 
same day, the house resolved itself 
into a committee, on the clergy 
bill; and there arose considerable 
discussion on that clause, which 
allowed the rector three months 
leave of absence, in the year; the 
_attorney general thinking this indul- 
gence too long. 
The chancellor of the exchequer, 
on the other hand, said, that was 
not more than was allowed in every 
public office or collegiate establish- 
ment, for necessary recreation and 
“yelaxation. When the statute of 
‘Henry VIII, was first passsed, 
EUROPE. 125 
from the then state of society, there 
was a more absolute necessity for 
the constant residence of the clergy, 
than there is now. The clause was 
afterwards agreed to, upon a divi- 
sion, and the committee adjourned, 
The earl of Moira, on the next 
day, in moying the committal of 
the insolvent debtors’ bill, in the 
house of lords, made several preli- 
minary observations, on the situa- 
tion of debtor and creditor; he 
wished a distinction could be 
made, between honest and fraudu- 
lent debtors; and that the latter 
should be punished as swindlers, 
He considered all those who con- 
tracted debts, without a prospect 
of repaying them, or who, after 
contracting debts, deprived them- 
selves, by their extravagance, of 
the means of paying them, as frau- 
dulent debtors. It was only the. 
fair and honest debtors, whom he 
would wish to relieve. He then 
stated, that a benevolent institution, 
in this metropolis, had, in the 
course of last year, discharged 
1125 persons, who were confined 
for debts not exceeding, on an 
average 2/. 7s, 2d. per head; and 
those poor prisoners had depending 
on them, 500 wives, and 1400 
children! On the feelings and jus- 
tice of their creditors, he thought 
all comment superfluous. 
Lord Ellenborough said, that 
even that circumstance was only an 
alloy of evil, attached to a much 
greater good. The number of 1100 
so imprisoned, for small debts, bore 
no proportion to the multitudes of 
those who were relieved by credit ; 
and if credit was to be taken away, 
he would expect to see 100 times 
as many people, absolutely starving. 
He was, in general, no friend to 
those 
