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course of inquiry which might embrace it, but in looking to the state of the new trials, before the court of King's-bench, as connected with the northern counties, it could not escape their observation, that those who now administer the justice of the country have difficulties imposed upon them, which, with all their zeal and activity, they are in some instances unable to surmount.

Your Committee, in adverting to the substance of the petition from the city of Norwich which was referred to them by order of the House, are called upon to observe, that the inconvenience there sustained, from the delay of the trial of prisoners, appears to have been so great, that it would be highly expedient, for the sake of public justice, that some remedy should be applied to the evil; and that if it is the pleasure of the House to recommend, in whatever way they shall think best, an augmentation to the present number of the judges, such additional judges might be most usefully and beneficially employed in the respective courts in Westminster-hall, and in the regular tribunals of the country; by this means, an opportunity would be afforded of supplying the defect so loudly complained of on the Norfolk and Midland circuits, viz. of having only one judge on the spring circuit to preside on the civil and criminal trials.

28th April, 1818.

REPORT ON LAWS RELATING TO AUCTIONS.

The Select Committee appointed to take into consideration the Laws relating to Auctions, and to their report the same, with Observations thereupon, to the House ;-Have, pursuant to the Order of the House, considered the same accordingly, and have agreed to the following Report:

Your Committee have examined several tradesmen and respectable auctioneers, who are all of opinion, that great frauds on the public are constantly committed, by the mode in which sales by auction are conducted:

with

That property is often sold under misrepresentation as to ownership, under various pretences; such as, owners going abroad, merchants property intended for exportation; and empty houses are filled goods for the purpose:-That articles of the most inferior manufacture, made for the express purpose of putting into sales, as the genuine property of individuals of respectability; and to such lengths has this mode proceeded, that many auctioneers who are in the practice of vending such articles, have, with a view to impose more successfully upon the public, been detected in using the names of several of the most respectable auctioneers, varying the spelling by alteration of a letter; and your Committee have had proofs, that several of the respectable auctioneers, whose names have been so assumed, have in several instances, in justification to themselves, been 2 B 2 compelled

compelled to appear personally at such sales, to prohibit the same being carried on in their names, knowing such was done with a view to impose on the public.

Your Committee find also, that sales are made of linen, describing the same as foreign, and the property of Hamburgh and foreign merchants; also cutlery wares, and plated goods, in particular, of the most inferior manufacture, with London makers' names thereon, publicly declared and sold as London manufacture; and to such an extent as to compel the London makers to appear in the sale rooms, and in person expose the fraud and imposition attempted to be practised.

Your Committee also find, that great frauds and impositions have been practised in the sales of wine, misrepresenting it as the property of individuals of respectability; and in short, there has been scarcely an article which at auction has not been grossly misrepresented :--That sales are often made without attending to the due order of the catalogue, and sometimes withcut any catalogue, and at others with the same catalogue used for many days sales; and the Committee in this investigation have discovered, that great frauds have been committed upon the revenue, inasmuch as at times no sale has been returned, and at other times less in amount returned than absolutely sold; and that various prosecutions have been from time to time necessarily instituted by the Excise board.

Your Committee have reason to suppose, that the facility given to these sales, by describing

property falsely as to ownership, affords ready means of selling goods dishonestly come by, and holds out the means of the evildisposed debtor to sell fraudulently the creditor's property, to a great and serious injury to the honest trader, raising money (as it is termed) by any sacrifice of price.

That the inferiority of manufacture so sold and mis-stated is of national injury, and your Committee have had instances stated where an exporter has immediately shipped the articles bought, vamped up for the express purpose of deception, and which was not discovered till opened, and no responsibility attaching to the auctioneer, the buyers are left without a remedy: That while these daily sales exist without check or control, the regular manufacturer and tradesman are but little resorted to, and who, your Committee submit (both buyer and seller), are entitled to every protection; by reason;-1st. That the taxes of the country, and the poor, fall very heavy on the established and fixed house-keeper, while the itinerant auctioneer, as many travel from place to place, avoid paying any taxes; and, 2dly, That a proper responsibility to the buyer resting with them for any imperfect or bad article sold, and on whose judgment and credit the buyer very often places himself. Your Committee consider these sales afford encouragement to the manufacturers of inferior articles of almost every description, and are ruinous, for the reasons before stated, to the honourable and honest trades

man,

man, creating a competition for lowness of price, in preference to excellence of quality, whereby the best workmen are injured and thrown out of employ.

Your Committee have received information of daring combinations, by a set of men who attend real sales, and drive, by various means, respectable purchasers away, purchase at their own price, and afterwards privately sell the same, under a form of public auction, termed, "Knockout Sales."

Your Committee have but shortly adverted to the substance of the evidence they have received; but enough, they expect, to satisfy the House to make some alterations, in the present session, which may prevent in some degree a continuance of these frauds and impositions on the public; and therefore resolve to recommend a complete revision of the auction laws, and at as early a period as may be practicable.

Your Committee therefore recommend to the House, that a bill be immediately brought in, to increase the annual licence from 12s. to 201. on every auctioneer or person selling by auction within 10 miles of the Royal Exchange, the first year, and for every future year the sum of 51.; and every auctioneer without the space of 10 miles, the sum of 51. the first year, and the sum of 40s. for every future year; and any person directly or indirectly making any sale by auction, not being licensed, to forfeit for every offence 1007.

That no goods be sold, under a heavy penalty, without being

previously exposed to view, at least 24 hours, nor without a catalogue previously printed, and sold in the order of the said catalogue; and that the real name and address of the auctioneer be printed on the first page; and that a penalty of 100%. be inflicted on every person using any fictitious name; and that the sales be confined to the hours from ten in the morning to six in the afternoon; except book sales, and produce usually sold by the candle.

That all auction rooms for the public sales of goods by auction, such as linen drapery, woollen drapery, hosiery, haberdashery, mercery, stationary, jewellery, hardware, books and prints, be licensed from time to time for one year, and security taken from the auctioneers and others, that these regulations and former acts should be complied with.

That a duty of 1s. per lot be deposited at the Excise-office upon delivery of the catalogue; and that the sum of 1s. per lot be allowed to be deducted from the duty on every lot which shall exceed 20s.

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and have agreed upon the following Resolutions:

1. That the laws regulating or restraining the rate of interest have been extensively evaded, and have failed of the effect of imposing a maximum on such rate; and that of late from years, the constant excess of the market rate of interest above the rate

limited by law, they have added to the expense incurred by borrowers on real security, and that such borrowers have been compelled to resort to the mode of granting annuities on lives, a mode which has been made a cover for obtaining higher interest than the rate limited by law, and has farther subjected the borrowers to enormous charges, or forced them to make very disadvantageous sales of

their estates.

2. That the construction of such laws, as applicable to the transactions of commerce as at present carried on, have been attended with much uncertainty as to the legality of many transactions of frequent occurrence, and consequently been productive of much embarrassment and litigation.

3. That the present period,

when the market rate of interest is below the legal rate, affords an opportunity peculiarly proper for the repeal of the said laws.

REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE EDUCATION OF THE LOWER ORDERS.

The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the Education of the Lower Orders, and to Report their Observations there

upon, together with the Minutes of the Evidence taken before them from time to time, to the House; and who were instructed to extend their Inquiries to Scotland; Have considered the Matters to them referred, and agreed upon the following Report:

Your Committee rejoice in being able to state, that since their first appointment in 1816, when they examined the state of the Metropolis, there is every reason to believe, that the exertions of charitable individuals and public bodies have increased, notwithstanding the severe pressure of the times; and that a great augmentation has taken place in the means provided for the instruction of the Poor in that quarter. They are happy in being able to add, that the discussion excited by the first Report, and the arguments urged in the Committee to various patrons of charities who were examined as witnesses, have had the salutary effect of improving the administration of those insti

tutions and inculcating the importance of rather bestowing their funds in merely educating a larger number, than in giving

both instruction and other assistance to a more confined number

of children. As the management of those excellent establishments is necessarily placed beyond the control of the legislature, it is only by the effects of such candid discussions that improvements in them can be effected.

Since the inquiries of your Committee have been extended to the whole island, they have had reason to conclude, that the

means

means of educating the Poor are steadily increasing in all considerable towns as well as in the metropolis. A circular letter has been addressed to all the clergy in England, Scotland, and Wales, requiring answers to queries. It is impossible to bestow too much commendation upon the alacrity shown by those reverend persons in complying with this requisition, and the honest zeal which they displayed to promote the great object of universal education, is truly worthy of the pastors of the people, and the teachers of that gospel which was preached to the poor.

Your Committee have lost no time in directing and superintending the work of digesting the valuable information contained in the returns, according to a convenient plan, which will put the House in possession of all this information in a tabular form. They have received important assistance in this and the other objects of their inquiry, from two learned barristers, Mr. Parry, and Mr. Coe of the Court of Chancery, who have devoted much of their time to the subject.

It appears clearly from the returns, as well as from other sources, that a very great deficiency exists in the means of edu cating the poor, wherever the population is thin and scattered over country districts. The efforts of individuals combined in societies are almost wholly confined to populous places.

Another point to which it is material to direct the attention of Parliament, regards the two opposite principles, of founding

schools for children of all sorts, and for those only who belong to the established church. Where the means exist of erecting two schools, one upon each principle, education is not checked by the exclusive plan being adopted in one of them, because the other may comprehend the children of sectaries. In places where only one school can be supported, it is manifest that any regulations which exclude dissenters, deprive the poor of that body of all means of education.

Your Committee, however, have the greatest satisfaction in observing, that in many schools where the national system is adopted, an increasing degree of liberality prevails, and that the church catechism is only taught, and attendance at the established place of public worship only required, of those whose parents belong to the establishment; due assurance being obtained that the children of sectaries shall learn the principles and attend the ordinances of religion, according to the doctrines and forms to which their families are attached.

It is with equal pleasure that your Committee have found reason to conclude, that the Roman Catholic poor are anxious to avail themselves of those Protestant schools established in their neighbourhood, in which no catechism is taught; and they indulge a hope, that the clergy of that persuasion may offer no discouragement to their attendance, more especially as they appear, in one instance, to have contributed to the support of schools, provided that no cate

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