ed for
a fortnight, to give time for all the petitions recently received
from persons who had been imprisoned to be brought up. This amendment,
however, was negatived, as was another on the third reading of the bill,
the object of which was to do away with it altogether. When introduced
in the commons on the 10th of March, it was strongly opposed by Sir
Samuel Romilly, who contended that it was improperly called a bill
of indemnity. The object of indemnity, he said, was only to protect
individuals against public prosecution, without interfering with the
rights of private men; but the object of the bill was to annihilate all
such rights, to take away all legal remedies from those who had suffered
an illegal and arbitrary exercise of authority, and to punish those who
presumed to have recourse to such remedies by subjecting them to the
payment of double costs. Mr. Lambton moved an amendment that it be read
again that day six months, but this was lost by one hundred and ninety
to sixty-four. The bill was read a second time on the next day, but the
chief discussion took place on the order for committing it, when several
petitions, complaining of grievous oppression, were presented to the
house: the bill, however, passed on the 13th, and four days after
received the royal assent.

EXTENSION OF THE BANK RESTRICTION.

At an early period of the session, Mr. Grenfell inquired of the
chancellor of the exchequer whether any event had occurred, or was
likely to occur, which would prevent the resumption of cash-payments by
the Bank in July. He observed that the public stood in the situation
of debtor to the bank for L3,000,000 advanced without interest, and for
L6,000,000 at an interest of four per cent; but as the Bank had secured
possession of public money deposited in their hands, which for the last
twelve years had amounted on an average to L11,000,000 for the
repayment of these sums, he asked whether any arrangement was made
for discharging, or placing them on a better footing. In reply, the
chancellor of the exchequer stated, that the Bank had made ample
preparation for resuming cash-payments at the time fixed by parliament,
but that pecuniary transactions were going on with foreign powers which
might probably require an extension of the restriction: as regards the
loan of L6,000,000, he said, he should shortly submit a proposal for its
repayment, allowing the country still to enjoy the benefit of that on
which no inte