The Express. — London, England, 1848-03-15 00:00:00

INII'ERIAL PAILLIAMEN I'. HOUSE OF LORDS. TUESDAY, MARS 14. The Loan Cussicattott took ttii •cat at 6 &Mock. PUBLIC BreINESS. EMMONS. —By Earl Eel cimit ea, Irvin a clergymanet the Church of England, complaining of the wanner In which the Loge fdastical Comodisioners administer the funds of the Wawa/I.—By Lord liceeLrt, from certain inemuers ot e ther kWh Church, complain ing of the way la which Kolt.i.etical ocay rated im the poor rate to Ireland. SECOND ItEADlNO.—Passengers DAL Cosnerts.—Audlt of Railway Accounts Bill. AUDIT OF RAILWAY ACCOUNTS BILL. On the motion of bud blowritaota the Audit the Railway Amounts Bill passed through committee, and the house re sumed. PASSENGERS BILL. Earl GREY, in moving the secur,d reading of the Pawn gem Dill, entered into a .hurt explanation of the measure, which was exactly similar to that given in the other house of parliament. The noble fart urged upon the linuse the im portance ot not delaying the bill, as the emigration season Woe fast approerhinit. Lord S IANLEY would not object under the circum stances stat..il by the noble lord to aeient to the second read ing of the bi 1, with the unoerstauding that he was allowed to resery : hie opinion upon the details until the house went into committee on the measure. After a few ob.ervationa from Earl FITZWILLIANI and Lord MO\TC.toLE the bill was read a Pet end time. The house adjourned at a quarter past seven. HOUSE OF COMMONS. -TUESDAY, MARCH 14. The SPRAYER took the chair Kt 4 o'clock. PUBLIC Iik'SININI Sir W. CLA , , !1,1118e1b.-• In fAvonr 54 PETITIONS. —By • o ir G. oes ea • the Jewish Onabilities Bill. lord Brerie. trom DenUnek, afainst altension ot the navigation laLord AiwrinaL and Se ears, seeeral petitione in favour or the Roman Catholic Belief Bill.—Sir w. Vassal., truth a place in the north of In4and; Mr. M•Gaiimaii, from forum monsters and eldi re of the church of Soutland; Mr. Tosteamme, from Cheater; Mr. Fusses, men tlw presbytery of Edinburgh: K. Isuite, from St. John' s, Weibull-if. ten, egalne the Diplomatic Resume itleurt of RowelDill—Mr. Cuums, from a t meeting held at the City of London Meek rri; Mr. EwasT, numerous petitions from ...atom; place*; Sir E. livelier, from the society of k'nende; Mr. Illatm, Dust StoCkuOr.. ; Mr. M`Classua, li mn Loudon and another horn 4i istmineter ; V. 50.04, from de,tmouth, and other places; tol. Toone-we, from Lndon jaid another front Weetmineu r ; Mr. Leonean., trout ))estuzinsterMr. J. Wit- UM., from Simsbury ; Mr. ticornearox, from Reading and other pleas; Mr. )low., from Gloucester, ; air J. ClioLisat is, )rum Ltooln. shire; Mr. A..Liostiv, front Coelerinutith ; Sir 13. Iles, Iro:M lebone, in fieette of the analition ut the punishment ef dee WOOD, • petition cowl/Lining of the interlerenoe of the Marlisisi Exeter at the late ilieuon tor stunford, stating Unit • Ilan. act of his tenants Menai; net for Mr. Kell era immediately mad with notice oi ejectment; alio that the ruaretua used his ingemese against the interests of the town, and pre) Mg tor inquiry. On Thurs. day nest he would move the petition be printed with the vo et t . r . order to found a motion upon it.--11r. Deserivau rsven from Owes in Meer airaiwr the guveniuent bid of landlord end tenant tit IreLane. , -s.r It. Vi.xesv, ham Beata* Mr. Cali/WM. from Liverpool, in favour of the Public Health BilL—Mr. Memomeas from St. Anna, Soho, emceed intramural interinente.—Mr. W. O'Coesoa, from J. Shelley, a soldier of long complaining of his net having received the gratuitr y = medal to which he believes Malted enutied.--CoL Twitioint, from Lincolnshire, lutanist an) inernoe in the military establishineuts —ATluslravGccaat, from attmneye of (Siemer ; Mr. Hui% from attorneys of Olosiceeter, in favor Cl the etiolation of the certificate duty.—Col. Dimes, several petitions from various parte et Ireland, praying foe inquiry lota the working of the Four Law , Ireland) Act,- Mr• liens, from a builder of Foldington, th at the insane SYS. Sir G. Garr, trout Cumberlaud, praying that tamers might be rated I. the tan as ether tradene on their actual probes. COMMlTFEE.—tlueen's Prison Dill. REPOMT.—Darnegii Superannuation Fund Dill. RE71;101 ODOEttEI).—Mr. hue novel fur return of the naval forces ir. the east induCianpvii)'s rierviee in Italia, in frigates, corvettes, tinge, g panote, eu.veyiug vee,els, store ,hlw., reeeivihg general ehipe, and tenders ; with the number end ranks of officers and men, European eni native, employed an each, and their &nu:intent in gime, and their tennage ; ilutinguiebing the veniels actually' enigoing from thole nut as employed cm the Ist day of January, lies, and Do let day of January, 1043. , etindar return of the SWIM force, in steam frigate*, stet= (dove, and steam packets, troop vessels, gun veisielie Tacna; anti tend. is; the number of guns, horee power, ant tonnage, with the number and ranks of °theme and men employed in earn, for Ds same years. NutiCt; MuTioN.—Mr. 11. D1.1:115001 , , on an early day, to move for leave to bring in a hal for seci.ring compensation to tercints at will in Lreland. RAILWAY BILLS. Mr. STRUTT, in bringing up the report of the railways committee, stated that the committee considered there was no necessity ° for iuterfering with trio railway bills of the pre sent session an their pi ogress through parliament, but recom mended that they might be allowed to proceed on two condi tions. 'fhe first was that the committee on each bill should direct their careful attention to ascertainiag that the standing orderswere complied with ; the other, diet they should inquire into the bond fide character of the subscription contract, and also into tee sufficiency of the subicricers. The only objection that could be urged to this was in regard to sus pended bills ; but as the euuserietion contract would have to be proved tads scission in those eases as a matter of form, he could see no hardship that coull result from those bills being subjected to the rams examination as to the bond fide nature of the subscription and the eutticieuey of the sub scribers as in the mos of new schemes. The right hon. gen tleman concluded by moving certain resolutions to carry out tho recommendatiens of the committee, which were agreed to. HARWICH ELECTION. Mr. S. WORTLEY brought up the report of the com mittee appointed to inquire into the petition against the re turn of John Attwoed, E.g., and stated that the committee had come to the following remittal.) s : That John Attwood, seas not duly elected at the lite election a burgess to merle In parliament for the borough of Harwich. 'flat the last election for that borough, so tar as respect* the return of John Attivuod, Esq., was a void election. That Jain Attwood, Esq., wee by Ms agents guillyof bribery at the said election' That it woe proved to the aommittee that Edward Selby was bribed to Tote Me John Attwocd, Esq., at the a id election by an at:- same of 411. and upwards wade to aim to en.sble him to pay a debt due by boat and to rewire bia voyel, whtch bid been nixed ; hut that It wee not proved that the bribery In this wee was committed with the knowledge of the said J. AttwomL That J. Hume was bribed by SD advance of 20/., and J. Knight by an advance of 161., under the pretence of payment toe low of time and demurrage of their vessel.', to vile fur the raid J. Attwood, Foci. ,• but it was not moved that the bribery in these cares was oomtnitted with his knowledge. That treating to some extent woo shown to b ve p are revailed at the said election, but there had been nothing to pru by whew order. The report was ordered to lie on the table. DUNDALK ELECTION. The following members wero sworn as the committee, to try the merits of the petition against the return of Mr. M•Tavish for this borough :—Mr. Duncan, Colonel Peel, Lord H. Vane, Mr. J. E. Denieen, and. Sir J. B. East. POOR LAW (IRELAND) —THE LOWTIIERSTOWN UNION. Capt. ARCIIDALL postponed his motion for callieg at tention to the p, tition of the lute guardians of thin union to that day weik, on the ground that the papers on the subject had not been laid beim e the house, Sir W. SOMERVILLE premising to produce all docu ments beering on the subject in the meantime. WINDOW LILEA.KING DURING THE LATE RIOTS. Sir W. CLAY wished to put a question to the Attorney. General. During the rioting which took place last week some of the permits present at those disturbances inflicted considerable injury on property in many parts of the metro polis. A great number of shop windows were broken, and these being mostly of plate glees a very large pecuniary damage resulted. lie w:shed to know whether the parties suffering this damage had any claim for compensation on the country, county, or any other party, and it so, by what process) (Hear.) The Ant/RN EY.GENERAL : In consequt nco of the courtesy of my hon. friend in giving me notice of his inten tion to put this question, I am enabled to answer it, and to say, from the exumination I have made, what is the state of the law in the case. The house is aware that, previous to the comparatively recent act introduced by the right hon. baronet the member for Tamworth (Sir R. Peel), a remedy was given for damages of this kind against the hundred under various statutes; but by the 7&BG. 4. c. 27. the statute of Winton, the Riot Act, the Black Act, and the other statutes relating to remedies against the hundred were repealed, and other provisions were introduced by the act 7& 8 Gco. IV., cap. 31. The first section of this statute gives a remedy against the hundred where the house, shop, or other building is feloniously demolished, pulled down, or destroyee wholly or in part; but to come within the defini tion of that section the offence must he comelete, according to the act 7 an . 8 Geo. IV., cap. 30, which makes it a felony wantonly and with force to demolish or begin to demolish the buildings therein specified. Bat in the case which my, hon. friend puts there in no ac ual demolishing nor anything to satisfy the words, "begin to demolish." And • where the injury is only partial the hundred would not be liable unless the act was done under circum stances which would satisfy . a jury that the demolition would have been complete if the rioters had not been interrupted. Upon this sun jest there are many decisions. One or two will illustrate the position. In a case where rioters broke 'own and shutters of a house to compel the proprietor 'e, that was held not to be within the act ; " Reid Perm Reports, p. 49." So al-o in another, where soltuitarily retired after doing similar mischief. aborough directed the jury to find for the defend- L. King v. Chambers (4 Campbell, 307.)" In each intention of the rioters is a question for the jury, c ease is the hundred liable unless the demolition is s, or the intention to demolish satisfactorily 'stab (Hear.) THE KAFFIR WAR. ;HANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated (in Mr. V. Sri an) that he was expecting information the late Kaffir war which would enable him to expense in detail before the house. ..TUGAL, PRUSSIA, FRANCE, ENGLAND. 'ALMERSTON stated (in reply to Mr. HUM)), ewes no objection to furnish a return of the expense upon our late interposition in Lisbon; and (in re am:HAT), that the Prussian government had in , Majesty's government that it was determined to the same clone of policy—namely, not to interfere internal affairs of France—(hear, hear)—and ab 'ern saying or doing anything which might be con ,to a desire to interfere. (Cheers.) PUNISHMENT OF DEATH. ART rose to move for leave to bring in a bill for 4 repeal of the punishment of death. The conviction inexpediency of that punishment now had seized the 1 mind more strongly than ever, and the time had at ela arrived when the government and the legislature of country were expected to abolish a practice which was Ming in itself, and whose consequences, he contended, anything but a moral effect. Tho hon. gentleman referred scene which lately took place at art execution at Clonmel, `to culprit was launched into eternity amidst the ez of the people, directed not against the criminal, against the executioner and the system. Surely such or, as that were not likely to prtluee soy moral effect in the public mini. The hon. then read se last ve extents Leon/ tie report of the cam-ret - . eetee THE EXPRESS. WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 15, 1848, the punishment of death time of the amino they found people coneemned to death for session on the motion of Lord Brougham, showieLthat the for °fames of the gravest kind, times even acquitted on tbe ground of the harsh nature n of four witnesses on this point, three of whom some chaplain of Beading gaol, Mr. Phillips, the crinu lawyer, ought to be retained." Bat the committee had only taken very unequal offences. They would also find that people were opinb the judge of the City Court, • stipendiary magistrate in the Liverpool Mr. Justice Coleridge , Mr. Justice Perrin, and only were in favour of capital musishment being retained ; Chief Baron Richards, of the Irish bench, and others whose t i l o uy . Won The ease of the two sisters, ef the punishment. There were several cases in wen Mr. Baron Platt, Mr, &Meant Doyley, and the proof of his last pee . . . their erley, tried at Taunton , for poisoning own relatives, dth were very grave objections to capital punishment. was etrongly in point. In another ease , . that of a man who opinions were entitled to simile: weight, were in favour of . rd Chief Antic, of the Common Pleas, who, however, B abolishing the punishment of death, and believed that pub- sai ere lie executions tended to degrade and demoralise rather than A judge could not well go further than this without com nghimself in the criminal cases that might sheriffs and aldermen came forward to intercede for the mum murdered his fellownervaot at the Guildhall Coffee-home, elevate the moral condition of the people. He also referred t of eases, imprisonment for life Alderman to the steemsful abolition of the punishment in Russia, p eo r ni mis e i bsifere him . . . Mr. Justice Coleridge had said darer. HUMPHERY.—No. No aldermen. (Much in Tuscany, in the duchy of Baden, in Rome, and that in the majon y ' ad sl be substituted for capital punishment, laughter.) Mr. BRIGHT. —There was another ease of the mum lastly he referred to the act of the present Previsional Go- might vantamou y vernment of France. in abolishing capital punishment for en the groun . d that convictions would be obtained with much of the getter f.elimage of w was not calling in uestion lut assizes, several murderers were respned, in consequence because he had not sufficiently considered the guts political offences, and provisionally abolishing it fur all other greater certainty. Lard Denman had declined to offer tiny deems of Lord Coventry's gamekeeper ; and even at the offences. He hoped the house would consent to the intro- opinion, .public against punish duction of the bill. ton . Mr. Justice Wightman had alsa expressed a p rett y Mr. LENNARD having seconded he motion, ice of exercising strong oeinion on the subject. In the first report the opinion mint by de ath . .. the royal et . of tight judicial witnesses had been recorded against capital the just Sir G. GREY said he should take the same course he put.- punishment ; nevertheless the committee reported that they these cases ; e looked . . . he on every respite that issued sued last year, of opposing the introduction of the bill, be- hthe people upon this su ject. Even with respect to the moat muse they were as competent now to form an opinion on the ad found little difference of oeinion se to the propriety of from the Home- office Be b e. furtber indication of the power of capital punishment being retained. It was desirable that , the prerogative had been ezercised, he the low, while stern in its ni , stice should be mild in its prac recent ease to w hich subject as if the bill were introduced. Had the hon. gentle man proposed to limit the number of offences for which capi tal punishment remained he would not object to the iatroduc- • time , those who admi- law of the murdered soldier, who declared that &mon( the lice, inflicting as little suffering on the offender as was con- had only that morning received a letter from the brother-in. testent with its object. At the same tion of his bill, but as the hon. gentleman proposed the totalh ent of the law ought to be averted from . nistered the law ought strictly to adhere to it ; but, under friends of that unha p py man there was the strongest feeling abolition of the punishment for all offences, no matter now the (+resent system, how often did the mercy of the judge in- that the last penis mthto sign petition great their magnitude, he (Sir G. Grey) did not see thin an object could be attained by his unctioo for the bill to be lai d wit, praming for a mitt r eady of the penalty. Melee. to arrest the tamely hand of the saw ? A stronger the culprit, and that .ey were most ready a proof could not be advanced that something was wrong in to the ro Well then, it w as clear that it was on the table. Ile objected to the hon. gentleman's principle. the law itself. The horror that attached to the instrument (Hear, n He believed that the punishment of death for the greatest ixis lt i e wes in the g po " we of any thistle juror ceimes—he meant wilful and deliberate murder--was Tema- by which the last penalty of the law was enforced—the hang- rineite itn eaL ie ) bl for , the vernment to carry out man—arose from the Net thatpulffic humanity was outraged. th laws. . . the r of . ... ~. site for the protection of society and of human life. The (Hear.) Why draw the cap over the criminal's face if there to defeat the law •it was in power any humane lai hon. gentleman advocated the sacredness of human life ; but could he guarantee that if capita punishment ceased murderse any Rome niaretery who carried out the was not something of which to bz ashamed ? (Hear, vidual to arouse so neech p e ublic feeling in any particular hear ) The supporters of this motion could not be ease lia to plat would not iaerease ? Because, otherwise, that sacredness would be violated to a greater degree. The punish- ith him most upon this subject was the accused of sympathy with crime ; their object WAS to pre- law in an awfully responsible position. . But the argument vent an undue sympathy with the murderer. The moment which weighed w . ment of death was now virtually limited to casesc reverence for human 1 ' h ents weaken or of murder. In some cases sentence of death was gotten. Their object was to remove all false sympathy, and life and eta inviolability. Did capita punts m it a criminal appeared on the scaffold his crime was half for- n. cessity tor strenethenince the publi recorded without any intention of carrying it into effect, make the law certain and severe. (Hear.) Recently he , (Hear hear.) o and it might tie adviseble to make the law consistent with had heard of a penny theatre being established in the city of believed t i was most important thet parliament should aoan strengthe . n that feeli n g of reverence . . , the practice in that reepect. But that was not the question. York, where the entertainment consisted in hanging the don this pum. The question now was, should they abolish the punishment ' ' all t rmination to the ethment rather than that juries and the people effigy of a recent culprit, the real executioner o ffi ciating in should themselves virtu y t e of death in every caws lie thought they ought not, and reopens persona. e• Hear," and laughter.) But the Practic e - • referred to the readiness with which juries invariably con- weightiest and most awful consideration on the question was Mr. F. O'CONNOR, having had considerable experience— ' vatted in clearly proved caws of deliberate murder to show that there was no reluctance on the part of juries to retain Pc f observation , . 1 t wee this—that an irrevocable punishment Was incompatible with (loud laughter)—in the o ration of the criminal law the notion of a fallible tribunal. (Hear , hear.) This was Wall desirous to offer a . ew that punishment as • protection to society. Ihe influence of a public execution upon those who witnessed it was not a would never tolerate the no fanciful apeculation :it had been proved that, for • lung his conviction, in opposition to what had been Wits of years one innocent inpersou had Men hanged every just said, that the public . criterion; for, generally spniking, these who viewed as a three „ern 'Sir F. Kelly, lB4l, had placed the average practice of acquitting mur derers pastime the dying struggles of the malefactor could not be unishment clearly convicted upon the I I much •he had showed that in 50 years 41 pareons had evidence of witnesses merely becaese of the th more affected by the sight than by the knowledge that such a punishment attached to the commission of certain crimes. l oom . been executed ' whose innocence had since been clearly estate to which the party might he subjected.. p ats as e I (Hear.) Mr. Baron Parke related an instance of I lie found that the commitments for attempts to murder for punishment of death went , it seemod to him that great t rm- five innocent persons being saved by a mere accident. forms wete already being made. There was eow,_ in o be I the five years ending 1831, which were the five years pre- (Hear, hear.) The rale of Michael Howard, of Limerick, power to convict of manslaughter, an opportunity sif finding ceding the abolition of capital punishment, were 450 : waa one of those who bad escaped an unjust punishment by a man guilty under circumstances of extenuation. But in the five years following they were 668 ; the next five years, 937 ; and in the five &Wiw i° mere accident. A great cry of innocent blood rose up whilst regarding with synipathy the fate of the murderer, let against the existing law. ( blear, hear.) But one tribunal them take care they did not render the life el the public less quest years 1089; while for rape they had increaaed from had the prerogative of palming an irrevocable sentence—that secure. With regard to what had been said in favour of ! '252 for the first period, to 597 for the last period of five tribunal before which every human being must appear. lie secret executions he hoped the country would never again years, showing plainly that tho abolition of capital punish- trusted that every hon. member who had not convinced hear of such a proposal. merit for these crimes had caused their increase. With re- himself of the necessity of capital punishment for preventing Mr. 0. TtIONIPSON extolled the motives of those who meet to the crime of arson in dwelling houses and on hoard murder would support this motion. It sus no answer to P ship, the capital punishment had been abolished in 1837, and etitioned this house in favour of the measure now proposed say that proof was wanting of the efficiency of secondary for their adoption. i n contended that no one not pr opo se d after that there had been a temporary diminution in the punishments fur this pureose ; the onus probandi lay on the of the infallibility of judgment, solely vested in omniscience, number of those offences; but in the live years ending in other side. (Hear, hear.) Let not hon. members think should dare to wield the sword of omnipotence. 1846, the numeer had increased to 581 as compared with 212, that he question might be as well decided next year ;if Mr. DRUMMOND observed that the argument derived the number before abolition. In like manner with respect to forgery, the number of committals for the five years end- they had a doubt, let them decide in favour of humanity. from the fallibility of human judgment might, to more or (Bear, hear.) Were the law abrogated it would be looked less extent, be directed against the infliction of any punish ing 1831 had beta 312; for the five years ending 1336, 350. back upon, five years hence, with as-great horronas we HOW ment whatever. lie contended that there was no fear so In 1837 capital punishment for this offence had been abo- regarded the capital puni sh ment [ tor forgery s and other effectual for the repression of great crimes, as the fear of tidied, and for the first four years ending 1841, after cr e me .. (Hear, hear.) death. He strongly deprecated the mawkish sentimentality abolition, the commitals had been 564, and for the five Sir R. I SOLIS could not agree in many of the mieitions which had been growing up on this subject, and whet, was years coding 1816, the number was 731. With regard to burglary capital punishment was abolished in 1837, except in of the noble lord. He fully concurred in his strong Wimp. encouraging jurors to violate their oaths an 4 to abandon probation of the questions put to the judges respecting a their duty to God and m en, by a preposterous sympathy cams of violence to the inmates, and the number of commit- law which they were called on to administer, not to justify with all the mimes who were brought Mime them. tale for burglary, for the five years ending 1835 (that was er condemn. (lieu, hear.) But it ought to have been Mr. NAPIER said that every portion of our law, as it before abolition), had been 1,060; while for the five years ending 1816, the number had increased to 2,701. As to added, that all the judges of Ireland and two English judges existed, manifested the tenderest care for the life of man, were unanimou•ly oppesea to the abrogation of capital pun- the utmost cautinn that, without the clearest evidence of murder, for which capital punishment had been retained, ishment—at least by legislative enactment. As to the right deadly crime, no life should be sacrificed; hut the existence , he was happy to say there had not been a corresponding in- of man to inflict capital punishment, he thought that might of such crime being proved to the judgment td those called crease. for the returns, on the contrary, showed that the bo deduced from hs ministerial office iu reference to the law upon to try offence., there could be no real doubt that the commitments for murder for tne live years ending 1536 had of God. It was a s serted that the Christian dimensation had divine word delegated to man the punishment of crimes been 6.55, while for the five years ending 1846 they feud been mitigated the Leviticea law, which said, " Whosesheils Man's committed against man, ape that this punishment might be 611. Reference had been made to the evidence trisect before blood, by man shall his blood be shed." Ile denied that the extended to death in those cases for wbich divine and human the select committee o f the H o ne o f L er d s , moved for by law of the Old Testamet had been abrogated. There was no law assned that last penalty. Lord Broughaiu, on the subject of the criminal law, but mention in the Word of God of the reformation of society Mr. U ROTHERTON , who spoke amidst loud cries of that evideace did not bear the construction which being the reason for the infliction of punishment. Ile would " Divide," protested against the question being argued on Jut been put upon it. Mr. Justice Coltman und Mr. be no party therefore to any law which would deprive the the ground of expediency. lie contended that as man had Justice Wightman had only given qualified assent to the law of Gad of the sanction of the legislature, or rather he no power to give life he had no right to take it away. abolition of the puaishment of death, and the great majority would not be a party to any law which w 3 inconsistent Mr. biUNTZ remarked that the very wont use you could of the English judges were in favour Sc its retention for the with the Word of Gest. A meat reform had takua place due - make of a man was to hang him. (A laugh ) Ile was crime of murder. 'l'he whole of the Scotch judges were so, ins late years in their criminal law, and in his opinion many influenced by no morbid sympathies. If he found a \ man and so were 8 out of 10 of the Irish judge ; and h tr a p eort laws had been repealed which ought to have been re- breaking into his house he would shoot him. (uch of the Committee of the House of Isorels stated " tht re- tained. A great deal had been said of the evils of public laughter.) But that was a very different thing from hang spketing the expediency o f a bmi s hieg cap it o l punishments, executions. Ile did nut think that was a euffieient reason in a man in cold blood. To justify hanging you must the committee had found scarcely any difference of opinion, all parties agreeing that for offences of the gravest kind the for abrogating the puuishment of death is all cases. The law prove that it revented crime. And there was no proof wa ded cu admtered, and the hat punishment wpa not that that wa s the result. It was far better that one punishment of death ought to be retained." 1 hese were the grounds upon which he felt bound to oppose the motion of inflicted except is very bad eases. But if they were to abolish thousand guilty men should escape than that one the punishment of death what were they to substitute in its innocent man should be hanged, and they also knew his hon. friend the member for Duinfries, and he hoped the p a ce ? It was not enough to pull down. They must also build how fallible juries were, and that innocent men had house would concur with him in resisting the motion. up. One gentleman was opp osed to transportation, another often been convicted on ci rcumstantial evidence. Except in Sir C. BURRELL was understoml to express his recalcitrated against solitary confinement, and all those who the case of punishing by death, they might in wime amerce entire coucurrence in the views stated by the right hon spoke in favour of the motion differed amongst themselves remedy the injustice of a false conviction ; but if they baronet at the head of the Home Department, and added with regard to the pate t h e that should be substituted hen ged a man they could not uwhang him. He knew what that he hoped the day would never come when the criminal for ire Believing that the magistrate derived the power of it was to be tried by a jury. Ile had been once tried by a jurisprudence of the country should be so altered as to fail to inflicting deaths tor the crime of murder from the law of lin'T tor an offence of which he was as innocent as the give protection to the lives of the virtuous and the right- God, and seeing no substitute for it even in a worldly Speaker of that hoase—(hear and •• laugh)—and let that minded, and secular sense, he should resist the motion of his hon, jury had determined beforehand to convict him, and would Mr. B. OSBORNE thought great merit was due to the friend. (Hear, hear.) have done so but for the charge of the judge. hon. member Inc Dumfries tort he great pains and ability he Mr. HUME said that crimes changed with changes of MnIEWART shortly replied, and had devoted to the subject; tor though he (Mr. B. Osborne), manners &ail characters. The hon. gentleman who had The house divided—For the motion 66 was not prepared fully to agree to the whule of the scheme just spares relied chiefly on tho Word of God, but Against it proposed,.still he thought it would be right to mit the he (Mr. Hume) denied that any text of Scripture could be COMMITTEE ON MILITARY EXPENDITURE. bill, and m • futum stage tO eoalidler whether h ad im quoted giving authority to one man to take away the life Sir H. VERNEY moved an insruction to the select law in its execution might not be made more humane than it of another. " I will have mercy and not secritice," were committee en the navy, army, and ordnance estimates to now was. Above all things, he thought it most desirable to the words of God himself. Ile also said, " Thou shalt not consider whether the character of the navy and army might get rid of the disgusting exhibition , ' and public executions, kill," a command which he believed referred to the taking not be elevated by the more frequent employment of die which, so far tram deterring other from the commission of of life as a punishment as well as to the crime of murder. charged sailors and soldiers, who are duly qualified, in sober crime, only rendered the people who witnessed them more He had never seen an execution but once, and then twenty dinate offices of various public department., for instance, in callous and hardened. If capital punishment could not he persons were hanged together, for crimes which had been the cuetoms and excise, offices under the Admiralty and abolished, he thought it might be carried into execution subsequently bletted from the statute book as punishable within the precincts of the prison, before proper officers. by death. (Hear.) Ile believed that iii all countries where an that additional horse Guards, dockyards, victualling-y dard s, arsenals, &e., rospect of reward for merino- On the whole, he should vote for the introduction of the life was held cheap by the public authority it was held Moue conduct might be held out to sailors and bill. cheap by the people. ( lieu.) Wherever executions were Mr. LENNARD said he had seconded the motion of the frequent receless assassination and murder became mat- soldiers, and that during their employment a por tion of their pensions might be saved to the country. bon. member fur Dumfries; because, while he admitted the tern of course. He believed that society had been better Whether means see afforded to the troops for spiritual and question was not free from difficulty, ho was disputed to conducted under the amended system of punishment which make an experiment as proposed. The state of Ireland of began with Sir S. Remaly, and he believed that if moral inettuction, particularly to those on active service in India. Whether su ffi cient provision is made for the tonsi -1 itself suggested the necessity of some change ;rues here, in he were alive now he would support the motion of his hon. lectual employment and instruction of soldiers in barracks. spite of the existing lews, the most dread:ill murders and IS- friend. His reprewntative,the hon. member fer Devonport,said To consider the best mode of applying the proposed grant of seminations still continued, Mowing the. the puniehment of that all executions were evil, and yet they were defended Oa 150,0001. for re-organising the militia, and whether death was insufficient to deter offenders from the commission examples to society. It was well known that murders had of these—the gravest of crimes. Belic•ing that great good been committed which had originated in the beholding of that force appears to be the best that can be de vised for the defence of the country in time of war. would result from making the experiment proposed, he had public executions. (Hear.) lie was opposed to executions; The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not seconded and now supported the motion tor the introduction in private, because they would then be little short of acts think it would be wise to impose on the committee the duty *Ethel bill. of revenge. He believed that every executi on was an injury of inquiring into thesubjects referred to in the motion,though Kr. Alderman SIDNEY regretted that the right hon. to the state, and led to others of a similar nature. He would he did not mean to say that the departments to which they baronet (Sir G. Grey) bad thought it incumbent upon him therefore support th motion of the hon. member for Dana related might not properly turn their attention to them. to oppose the motion, because he (Mr. Alderman Sidney) fries, Mr. HUME thought it was necessary the house should thought the time had arrived when the matter might be Mr. WOOD said that he had given a serious and early at- have some knowledge of the matters to which the tom fairly tested. Ween serving the office of sheriff of London tension to the subject before the house, and he came to the mince were really to turn their attention. he had witnessed the painful and demoralising scenes which conclusion that it would not be expedient to &holed' the The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the public executions had presented, and it was his firm convic- punishment of death for the came of murder—a conclusion committee was appointed to investigate this department of tion that they were productive of crime to • fearful extent. to which he would not come if he believed that the taking the public expenditure. The hon. member detailed some circumstances with respect away a man's life was unauthorised by Scripture. The sa- Sir 11. VERNEY then withdrew his motion. to recent executions, with which the public are already ermines.% of human life was the object they all had in view ; familiar, and added, the governor of Newgate, Mr. Cope, but their feelings were likely to lead them astray as they KILLING OF IIARES (SCOTLAND) BILL. had that day informtd hun that, during the fifteen years he viewed the subject from Dec point of view or the other. He Mr. MACKENZIE ontained leave to bring in a tall to had been governor, every criminal executed during that thought that the vindictive element of the punishment of iers of land in Scotland having a enaele owners and oceup _ , time had admitted to him that they had been present as death ought to tie eliminated, but he had not heard a single right to kill hares on that land, to do so themselves, or by spectators at previous executions—all, with one solitary ex- areument against the right of the state to take care of all its such persons authorised by them, without being required to si ception. Oa all the grounds stated, he Mould vote fort the citizens in the Menem of their privileges, that of life itself. take out a game certificate. minion, believing that if an experiment of abolition were He thought that no method of preventing the crime of REDUCTION OF SALARIES IN STATE DEPART made, even for a limited period, much good would result. murder was so effectual as that of the frightful punishment lIENTS APPOINTMENTS. that she Mr Mr. ROMILLY remarked , that it was quite Clear that of death. There were two objects in punishment—the pre . HUMS moved an address to her Majesty, the object of all parties was the protection of human life. It vention of the crime, and the reformation of the offender. will be graciously pleased to direct, that in all appointments appeared to him that the crime of wilful and deliberate With regard to the punishment of death, the latter con- to office, in every department of the state, both at home and murder stood Ore very different ground. front any other e ideration was out of the question ; but with regard to the abroad, the appo i ntments be made subject to a reduction of I offence, and if death was nut the punithment, it must of prevention of the crime, they did not merely prevent it for salazy end allowance, and even to the abolition of o ffi ces, if I necessity increase. Became an offender nowt , committed a the sake of the community against whom it was Callnalttetl, such be deemed necessary, after a careful inquiry into the burglary, with violence to the inmates, he was liable to a but also for the cake of the clam of Persons hy whom it Waa state of the finances of the country, in order that in cases punishment equal to imprisonment for lite with bard labour, likely to be committed ; those who from want of education— where such reduction of salary or emoluments, or such &M -end if that punishment only was allotted to murder, he and in that respect he feared they had much to answer for— lition of office be made, no claims for compensation be u nded thereon, would have the inducement to commit that crime as the (hear, hear) —or from the bad example of their parents fo means of preventing his detection by the evidence were prone to crime. They had, then, to consider what mode The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did sot of his victims. Oa them grounds he was not Pre - of punishment was most likely to deter them from crime, think it advisable to addrese her Majesty on the subject, pared to go with the honourable member for Dumfries. lie feared that those who were disposed to commit the although he admitted that the spirit of the resolution was He could not forbear a remark on the disgraceful exhibi- crime of murder would not be open to other influences th a good, and ought to be carried out. He could only say that lions which took place at executions. (Hear, hear.) It was those of terror and the punishment of death. And itseemed the rule in granting appointments in the Treasury was, that desirable that executions should not take place in public • m to him to be perfectly consistent with the most earnest love in any change which might result from any pending inquiry the knowledge that conviction would be followed by death of man to deter him (rem the commission of crime to which no compensation should be given. was sufficient ; the public exhibition itself produced a mast art evil disposition might lead him b y the p ros p ect of such a Mr. HUMS said he would with draw his motion if the demoralising effect. (Hear, hear.) l f, on sentence being punishment. One of the t hree greatest poets of the world, g The CHANCELLOR of the E XCHEQUER could only ov ernment would promise that that rule shoals ) be g eneral. pronounced, the criminal were taken back to prison, never Dante, made one of the condemned souls say— more to appe . ar in public, that would have a much better Tdas created by Almighty power, speak of the department with which he was connected. effect; and if, instead of the tolling of a bell, as at executions, e highest week.= and primeval love. Mr. LABOUCHERE said that the government did not at at present, notice were given ot what was going o n, that He would not say that theme who supported the motion were all object to the principle of the hon. gentleman's motion, would be all that was necessary. Sufficient security ;night actuated by a morbid humanity, but he believed them was as they considered it would be extremely improper of the easily be provided for making public the fact that the crimi- amongst a large portion of the community a revulsion of government so to use their patronage so as to cause the least nil had expiated his guilt with his life. Mie ar, hear.) He feeling—the effect of their former severe criminal cede-- obstruction to any pending scheme of economy ; but to its thought the present movement against capital punishments which now shrunk from what appeared to him to be a present form he could not consent. generally was a reaction arising out of the indifference which lawful, proper, and consistent mode of punishment. He Mr. HENLEY approved of the motion, but thought that had formerly prevailed as to that punishment. At present, believed that an increase of crimes followed where the pun- the best course would be to postpone it until the noble lord there was a most injurious sympathy with criminals ; ishment wee re moved. Capt. Maconochie stated that, after at the bead of the governmeet should be present. the public exhibition of an execution had a sort twelve executions had taken place in New South Wales of Sir. HUME said he would withdraw it for the present, re of charm for some vulgar minds, and led them bushrangers who had committed crimes attended with mu- serving to himself the power of reviving it on a future oc to seek that distinction. This would be effectually prevented den, those crimes had ceased, and the remedy had been maion.—Motion by leave withdrawn. by abolishing capital punishment in all cases except for de- effectual. It was a remarkable proof of the efficacy of the BOROUGH OF HARWICH. liberate and wilful murder, and allowing executions to take punishment also, that after the late executions in Ireland am Mr. BAGGE moved that a new writ be issued for the bo place in private. (Heu.) sassivations and murder had ceased in that country. (If ) ear. rough of Harwich in the room of John Attwood, Ese., un- Sir G. GREY explained that, in the bill which he meant There had been same very alarming instances recently of seated on the ground of bribery. to prepare, he would continue the capital punishment in public feeling upon this subject. Perrone had been records Mr. BLACKSTONE opposed the issuing of the writ, on eases of ferocious attack with an evident intent to murder mendd to the mercy of the crown whose offences were of a the ground that a special report had been issued by the coca. but where, by superior medical skill, the party had been; very h et nous character. It would be probably said that the mittee appointed to try the merits of the late election. He restored. cause of this was the harsh character of the punishment. considered that the practices which had for some time pre- Lord NUGENT said he had listened with great attention He believed, on the contrary, that it was not the harshness veiled in Harwich, were such en loudly to call for the Inter to the speech of the right hon. the Rome Secretary, and he of the penalty, b u t the publicity given to the execution, ference of the house ; and that, at least in the present in thought he had taken an im perfect view of the statistical am which raised the sympathy of the public. The proper stance, nothing should be done until the special report and =of the hon. mover. From the Portian law of the course would be for the criminal to be taken from the bar, theevidence in the h elsof(Hear. ) The were an member. down to the code of Duke Leopold, and in more and never to be heard of again, save through the official hon. member proceeded to quote the evidence taken before recent times, it had been shown that crimes of violence had communication that he had suffered th e e penalty of the law Mr. Roebuck's committee, more especially that of Mr. Bag inceeased or decreased proportionally with the increase or in presence of the proper 01 mers e For thew and other ref - shawe, the then unsuccesaful candidate for the boroug h . decrease of violent punishment& With one exception, in sons he had come tot he conclusi on that it was impossible to That gentleman stated that in the contest in which Ise had I our own country, the crimes for which the punishment of support tae bill of the hon. member, and he should come- been engaged Mr. Attwood spent 6,0001. Sir D. Le Mar death had been abolished had decreased. That exception quently vote against its introduction. chant 1,5001., and himself 5001. That about ' thirty voters had was criminal assaults on females ; and the fact of its being Mr. BRIGHT thought he was able to discover an in- obtained government situations, and that there were more an exception arose from there being more Prosecutions and creased interest in the dismission On this subject within the Harwich people holding similar appointments than there were convictions since the capital punishment was done away ; house, and he thought he could venture to say that there actually voters in the borough. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. previously to that time the usual course being to indict was a very gently increased interest in it out of doors. They Blackstone) considered that in the face of such testimony, and ' only for the common assault. The same remark am had not been charged, on this occasion with "morbid feel- after the recent decision of the committee, h ense would plied also to the crime of cutting or wounding, m en" and "sickly sentimentalities." The hon. baronet the do well to pause before it allowed the elect of Harwich with intent to kill. If there had been an increase in thus ember one Oxford congratulated Mr. Romig with no t again to exercise the franchise. He moved, therefore, as crime, it was a proof that capital punishment did not deter haying gone further upon this subject thanhis father did. He an amendment, that the issuins of the writ be postponed from ita commission. (Hear, hearn With the question of (Mr. Bright) should be glad to lknow what ancestor of the until the 10th of April, and that in the interim the minutes authority he would deal very lightly. Passing by the opi hon. baronet had equalled him in his political opinions. of evidence taken before the committee be laid on the table , nions of philosophers and judges all which proved the inefli- It seemed to him that this p unishment of death p roceeded Lord D. C. STUART supported the amendment. Ha cum of the punishment of death ' to prevent crime, he would on an erroneous idea of what were the feelings of people wished that the house could devise some plan by which merely refer to those of some of the most eminent lawyers of likely to commit crimes. The threat of eternal punishment bribery and intimidation at elections might be done away the day. In the second report of the lords' committee on which was sounded every week from 20,000 pulpits in this with. criminal law the subject was treated very lightly ; they country did not deter from the commission of creme : how Sir G. GREY said he had not been aware until that mo merely remarked that, " respectingthe expediency of capital much less, then, could the threat of punishment by death merit that the Harwich committee had made a special repart. punishments, the committee finds scarcely any difference of deter ? (Hear, hear.) Let the house really ask themselves He thought that the better course would bee toil postpone the opinion ; almost all the witnesses agree m the opinion that what the thr eat wee. If they looked over newspapers at the issue of the writ (without fixing any day) unt ----------- taken before the committee should be is the hands of mem- hers. Mr. ACILIONBY considered that the report of the com mittee made out but a rery wen& CAN, for the virtual disfranchisement of the borough. Out of 180 voters, the committee had reported only one single ease of bribery. Mr. COBBOLD, as one of tke constituency, vindicated the general body of the electors of Harwich from the charge of bribery and corruption. The ATTORNEY•GENERAL suggested that the evi dence might be in the hands of members to-morrow (this day) when the motion could be renewed. Mr. BLACKSTONE was willing to postpone his motion until the evidence was printed. Mr. BADGE said, that seeing the feeling of the house, he should withdraw his motion. The motion was then by leave withdrawn. ITREATY OF ADRIANOPLE. Mr. C. AN STEY postponed the adjourned debate on t he treaty of Adrianople until Thursday next. The house adjourned at quarter-put 12 o'clock. illeWiniloWs i 1 1 II to illuminate, v. Clark, 7 Te the mob volt Lord Encabo' ! ants i "L. K cue the inten I i 4 and in no caw r complete, or lished. (Era 1 The CHAT i ' i l reply to Mr. respecting thi . I ti lay the expen P0RT1.761 Lord PALI that there we attendant up folld h t : lir e . 3 pursue the as to the intern 1 . stain from si 'trued into a I 11 ? Mr. EWA the total rep of the inexp4 public mind length arrivi t . the country reeoltiag in had anythin to the scene , where the execrations I i " but against semen Se t: upon the pa ral extracts . e. .., PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION. HOWSE OF COHMONS.—PUNISHHENT OF DEATH. Monier made and qui4.tion put,—" That Wave be given to bring in a bill for the total repeal of the Puniabrnent of Death :"—(Mr. Egart.)—The house divided; Ayea, fig ; Noes, 122. AYE& Adair, H. E. Demean, G. -- King, Hn. P. L.Roche, E. B. Aglionby, IL A.. Pagan, W. Lennaril, T. J. B. Sa'wry, C 01. Alcork, T Fagan. J. Lusbington, C. Seboledeld, W. Barnard, P.. 0. Fox, W. J. Meagher, T. Sidney, Aid. Birch, Sir T. B. GMTIe, J. Masterman. J. Smith, J. B. Boarrtng, Dr. Gvenor, TaLßMilne*,Strickland, SirG. Bright, :oho Hall . Sir B. Mowatt, F. Tennent, It. J. Brothertoe, J. Headiani, T. F. Mentz, G. F. Thompson, Col. Collura:di, D. Henry, A. O'Brien, T. Thompson, G. I Clay, J. Heywood, J. O'Connor, F. Thornely T. i obbold, J. C. Hindley , C. Pattison,J. Turner, E. Cobden, R. Hodges, T. T. Peehell, Capt. Walonley, sir 3, Cowan, C. flume, J. Pilkington, J. Walrus., J. T. Crawford. W. 8. Hutt, W. Power, I'r. William., J. D'Eracourt, C.T.Jactiaon, W. Power, N. TRU... DiVett, 11.... Keating, 11.. Raphael, A. Mr. Evart Duff, G.S. Kershaw, J. Bobartes, T. J. A. Lord Nugent NOES. Abdy,Deering, J. Humphrey, Ald.Pinney. W. Adair. It- A.S. Drummond, H. Inglis, Str R. H. Rice, E . It. Adderley C. B. 'Mundt, J. Jesloyn, Earl Hamill, J. Amen, Hon. Col.Dundrui, Adm. Jerrus, Sir J. Rushou ) t, CaPt- Analey, T. C. 'tondos, (;. Johnstone, Sir J.Sanders, G. Armstrong, It. BIM Pre, C. G. Keogh, W. Seymour Lord Arundel and Sur-East, Sir J. B. Keppel,lfon.G.T.Sheil,R 4 HmlLL. rey. Karl of Ebrington, vlaet.Labouchere, H. Sibthorp,Co . ol W. Rogge, W. Edwards , 11. Langston, J. H. Soinerville,r Barrington. Visc.Evans, W. Laseelles, W. 8. Stafford, A. Bellew, R. 14. Parrer, J. Lewis, G. C. Stanley, Iln. E. J. Berkeley, Capt. Forbes, W. Mackenr.k, W. F.Stanton, W. H. Blaekoll, S. W. Fordyce A. D. heNagtaten,Sir4l.Strutt, Hon.& Blackstone, W. S Gladatone, W.E. Megan, W. H. Stuart, H. Illakernore, R. Goring, C. Maitland, T. Sullivan, M. Bouveriejlon.E.Grrene, T. Mardi:ill. W. Tbedger, Sr F. Boyle. Ilan. Col. Grenfell, C. W. Matheson, 031. Tollemache, J. , ,' Brockman, E. D.Grey, Sir (I. Melgund , Vise- Verne y , Sir 11. 'Sunbury, E. H. Ilaggitt, F. R. Meal, Sir H. Vivian, J. E. Burrell, Sir C. M.Hamilton, O. A. M itchell, T. A. Vyse, R. IL Burroutim, IL Ileatheote, J. Morpeth, Vie. Walter, J. Busteild, W. Ilestboote, G. J. Morris, D. Ward, 11. G. Catupbell, lion.F.lleatheote. SirWNi pier, J. Westhead, Carew, W. 11. P.lienesge, 0. Norreys, Lord Whitmore, T. C. Chichester, Lordlllenley, .1. W. O'Brien, J. Wilson, M. Clive, U. B. Hildyard, It. 0. O'Connell, M. J. Wood, Ilon.Sir C. Coke, Hon. F.. Hildyard, T. Paget, Lord A. Wood, W. P. Colebrooke, Sir T.llsidges. T. L. Paget, Lord C. Coles, H. B. Hope, Sjr J. Palmer, B. MISR% Compton, H. C. Hope, ,e; Parker, J. Mr.Tutfnell Conotly, Col. Howard, C.W.G.PatteJ. W. Marcus, Lard IL Craig, W. G. Howard, £.O.G. Bigot, Sir It. ELECTION COMM ITT EES.—YESTERDAY- I BEWDLEY.—Evidence in support of the counter' petition farther begat!. AYLESIIVRY. — The day was occupied with the ex amination of innkeepers and others relative to the treating alleged against Mr. Deering. liaitwlCll.—This committee concluded its labours by deciding that John Attwood, Esq. had not been duly elected, and that by his agents he had been guilty of bribery and treating. ERRATUM—In our report of the adjourned debate on Mr. Hume's motion yesterday, the speech attributed to Mr. Jackson was spoken by Mr. Mowatt. Our contemporary• the Globe was led into the same error, having published our report of fort Monday's details, which we should regret but he wholesale, and it appears indiscriminate, manner in which that paper daily transfer' every sort of in telligence from our columns to its own without the slightest acknowledgment.—Datly news. he (v rpregg. MAILS The West India Malls, excluding Bermuda, Masan, Trireme Honduras, New Orleans, Vera Cruz, Tampico, and Porto Rico. mei including those for Madeira, Jactnel, Carthagena, Santa Martha, Chaves, Pana Wist Coast of South America, and St. Juan-do- Nicaragua, ma, be mate up on the month* of the 17th March. I he overland mails for Gibraltar, Malut6teox, the lontan islands Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, India, liong.Kong, and China, via Southampton will be made up on the morning of the 20th March. The mints for New South Wales, Vas ihernen's land, and New Zealand will be made up on the evening of the Slat Mardi. The mails for the West Coast of Africa and Madeira will be mate up os the evening of the Slat March. The mails for Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Madeira, Cadiz, sad Gibraltar will he made up on the morainic of the 17th March. The mails for the Brest's, the Hirer Plate, Monte Tideo, Pernam buco, Bahia. Madeira, and Buenos Ayres, will be made up on the evening 01 the 4th Aprll. The overland elosed matte, cis Marseille., to the Mediterranean Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, India, Ilea( Kong, arc., will be made op on thi everting of the 24th Apt iL The mails for British North America, Bermuda, and the Unites Mates. will be made up en the evening of the 24% April NOTICE. - - - - - THIS number of STAMPS issued to the DAILY NEWS by the authorities of the Stamp-office, during 1847, was : From JAN. 1, ta Dec. 31, 3,447,009 This, we believe, is within eight per cent. of the number issued to the Morning Herald, Morning Chronicle, and Morning Post, ALL PCT TOGETHER. In addition to the above,issued to the DAILY NEWS, Montilla Paper, there were issued for the Evening Edition , THE EXPEESS, From Jan. 1, to Dec. 31 778,714 Which was more, we believe, than were issued either to the Globe or Standard, Evening Papers. TO COENESPONDIVIS. lotwoled for • TN Itopoloo, • London rreoloi POP.. 000 B.1116.(11•0 0 7 Two o'clock on the La .f poblicot •.. AdMeM•Ol4. l . b••tthe arm, 10. SIGH WATER LT LONDON IMIIIOII. Twu 1)&1-410.020. 40 oh. 0001 III; IRrnnnu. 11 mle. low 11. to•llonacm—blorulog. M al. mat II ; al. yen 0. LONDON, WEDNESDA Y, MAR.IS. IN the first movements of the campaign the taxa tion reformers have been worsted : it would be affec tation to deny it. The question of the income tax is to all effects and purposes settled for this session ; and when the advocates of a mom equitable assess ment of that tax renew their efforts—as renew them they assuredly will—next session, the vote for three years will undoubtedly be thrown in their teeth. they may, therefore, commence without delay their preparations for exposing that fallacy. In the mean time, however, there is work enough on hand ; and that it may be set about with any prospect of success, partial or complete, a review of their actaal position, and of the tasks immediately before them is in cumbent on the beaten but we trust not disheartened party. W ith respect to the minority who have struggled with more or less steadfastness and consistency against the iniquity of a uniform income tax, we confess our dislike to the practice of gibbeting, sans facon, every member of parliament who gives one bad vote. Constituencies are right to keep a sharp look out upon their representatives, and to insist upon their explaining everything that may be equivocal in their conduct. But to pounce upon a man sal soon as he gives an inconsistent vote, and denounce, him to the public therefore, is as likely to confirm him in his error as to reform him. If his weakness and tergiversation have been caused by mean motives, the blazon of his disgrace diminishes his care of character : if by confusion of ideas or excess of good nature, the attempt to intimidate kindles a mis taken generosity of feeling into obstinacy and defiance. For this reason we abstain from parading names on the present occasion. But this does not preclude a general analysis of the divisions on the motions of Mr. HUME and "Mr. HORSMAN with a view to esta blish generalised facts and principles. Looking then to the lists of division on these occa sions, we find with Mr. Holism/0 a minority of 143 , (tellers included), and with Mr. HUME a minority of 140 (tellers likewise included). We find, moreover, that 80 members voted both with Mr. IlonsmaN and Mr. HUME ; 42 voted with Mr. HOESMAN and against Mr. HUMS; 33 with Mr. liostE and against Mr. HORSMAN ; 19 voted with Mr. HORSMAN who did not vote on Mr. HtME's motion; and 20 with Mr. HUME who did not vote on Mr. HORSMAN'S motion. I The nucleus of both minorities is composed of the eighty members who voted on both. Their position is unequivocal : they have declared by the first vote their conviction that the income tax ought to be assessed upon a more equitable principle ; by the second, that the conviction is so strong as to compel them to the exceptional step of proposing to vote for one year only a tax which, from its nature, ought to be granted for a longer, though still a limited, period. Among these eighty members we find sixty two liberals of various shades of opinion, bat all free traders; seven conservatives of the PEEL section; eleven conservatives of the protectionist section; and two nondescripts. Among the forty-two members who by voting with Mr. HonsluN showed their conviction that the income tax could, and ought to be, more equitably assessed, and by their voting against Mr. HUME that they are wanting in that faith in their own opinions, or that power of misting indirect influences which enables a man to act consistently, we find thirty. eight liberals, one conservative of the Peer. tion, three conservatives of the protectioeist section, and one nondescript. This shows beyond doubt that the main defection on the second vote ha/ been owing to fear of giving umbrage to ministers, or reluctance t. bear hard upon them. The thirty. eight are made up, in pretty equal numbers, of old stagers rather notorious for seeking credit by affect• ins a certain degree of independence when the party do not need their votes, and scampering tack to their standard whenever it seems in danger ; and of new members who do not yet understand the nature and value of parliamentary ear-wigging. The former are hopeless until the whole party move with them; the latter may yet regain the ground they have lost > es recruits who ran away from their first field have been known to turn out good soldiers when custom has hardened them. The thirty-three members who voted with Mr. Flume and against Mr. lionsmam number among them no less than twenty-six protectionists; tees conservatives of the PEEL section; and four liberals —one of whom is a protectionist. For the eccentrics movements of five of these gentlemen it would be the height of presumption for any but themselves to attempt to render an account. The game of the 27 pree tectiouists is sufficiently clear; as also the fact that this is nearly the extreme number that GRANBY, BENTINCE, and DISRAELI are able to bring int o t h e field. The nineteen who voted with Mr. lionsawr, and did not vote on Mr. Hume's merlon, as also the twenty who voted with Mr. HUME and did not vote on Mr. HORSMAN'S motion, can only be regarded u supplementary lists to the two last considered. On both we recognise some who are known to have been detained by unavoidable accidents on the occasion on which they failed to record their votes; and as this may have been the case with others, it would be unfair to assume how their inclinations tend. But the circumstance that the list of these absenteesfrout the division on Mr. Hume's motion, shows 13 liberal, and 2 Peelites, with only two protectionists; while that of absentees from the division on Mr. HORSMAN'd motion shows 10 protectionists, 9 liberals, and 1 non. descript, sufficiently indicates the composition of both. The result of this analysis would ihem to be that in the present House of Commons there are at thistitne rather fewer than 100 members who are prepared to stand out for systematic and extensive financial re forms irrespective of party; rather fewer thanfiftywho are inveterately bent upon perpetuating the protec tionist or anti-Peel schism in the conservative ranks • and that the rest of the house, though some would prefer Lord JOUR RUSSELL and his friends for minis. tens, while others would prefer the disciples of Peet, and others again may have visions of a coalition, are willing enough to support moderate returns when propounded by a minister, but will not budge a step forward without such a sanction. We say for the present, knowing how much cir cumstances, and frank, earnest, persevering advocacy of justice can do to modify and change tee opuuons and actions of a parliament. There are among the more numerous section of parliament which timidly clings round the two official phalanxes, mauy more capable, from knowledge, to advocate useful practical financial reforms,. and quite as ga mic in their aspirations for the public good, as some individuals who have distinguished themselves by their firmness, or, controlled b' their connexims, have obtained credit for possessing it, on the late occasion. But that very firmness is at times like the present the most invaluable feature in the characters of public men. To want it is to want everything. Trusting that some at least of the laggards may e'et nerve themselves, we refrain from adding to those reproaches which they cannot but be venting in secret against themselves. Be this as it may, the next great occasions that will call for the services of earnest financial reformers in parliament are the impending discussions on the estimates, or on the reports of the tar) committees to whom the estimates have been referred. This subject of consideration we reserve for a separate article or articles. Before concluding, there is one point of grave im portance upon which we would cursorily touch. Wishes for out-of-door associations to urge on finan cial reform have been expressed in various quartzes, and have already , given occasion to alarmist comments in parliament. .Admitting to the fall extent the pro priety and expediency of such associations, when cir cumstances render them necessary, we must explicitly declare that at present circumstances do not render them necessary. Associations out of doors, for the purpose of bringing the pressure of public opinion to bear upon parliament,. are ob. viously exceptional movements. They imply—they can only be justified by—an experienced and otherwise insurmountable derangement of the relations between the constituencies and the representative body. Such a derangement existed when the political unions were requisite to obtain the Reform Bill, and again when the Anti-Corn-law League was requisite to obtain the liberation of commerce in food. But at present the public which demands financial reform is retire seated in the House of Commons by a respects. ble minority of earnest men entirely sympatbising with it; while the retrograde or obstructive phalanx is animated not by opposing convictions, but by political connexions, or timidity, or mere scepticism. In such circumstances there is reason to hope that the reform may be worked out by the ordinary regular forms of the constitution ; and, while reasonable grounds for such a hope remain, we are averse to the idea of having recourse to irregular associations, with their inevitable drawbacks. Of these drawbacks, we may add, the stir and mewl which supply the chief objections to them with many, have less weight with us than their tendency to create and keep in existence a class of professional agitators, and other instruments, who seek to live by the trade. COMMERCIAL distress, we are sorry to say, gains ground in France. The upper a nd propietorial classes are playing, too many of them, a selfish part. The commercial and manufacturing world, who bad embarked lar_ely in enterprises and speculations oa credit, are paralysed—the more prudent equally with the less so—by the depreciation of the best securities. The lowest or labouring class, at the very moment that it expected a mine of gold and of security in the re- volution, has found idleness and starvation instead. The disappointment may produce desperate acts, esp.- daily when we consider what influence the working class, or its chiefs, have over the Provisional Govern ment itself. But no cause has so contributed to the present danger and distress as the disorganisation of the finances by the late government of France. There is no surer barometer of coming events than the pecuniary and financial state of any country. Their derangement inevitably portends political revo lution. As thunder is always p receded by the light ning flash, which points out a path in the dark, so have the storms of society their warning. The revo lution of February was preceded in France by . a leng•hened and profound discu ssion on the financol distress of the country, which occupied min successive sittings of the Chamber, and will called forth the oratorical powers and the political experience of all its eminent men. The discussion clearly displayed the grave and fundamental errors of LOUIS PHILIPPE'S policy, which in the treatment of the financial interests of the country, as in the deve lopment or management of its liberties and liberal spirit, had brought it to the brink of an abyss. The budget presented by M. DUMON for the year 1849 estimated the expenditure at the sum of 1,32 millions of francs. But as the supplementary crePs voted each year amounted to fifty or sixty millions more, an expenditure of 1 , 440 millions of francs, or nearly 38 millions sterling, was to be provided for. Over and above this enormous budget re the we extraordinary public works , estimated at nearlY another milliard, or 40 millions. So that the budget of the Napoleon of Peace was quite as formidable as that of the Napoleon of War. A floating of well nigh another milliard came to complete the account, a gigantic total, that affrighted the friends of the monarchy, and of itself was sufficient to resuscitate the hopes of all its enemies. Whilst the last monarchic government of France was thus eo lavish in its expo nditure, how did it fare with its resources ? Vert) those taxes, which ra lud i sapplied the revenue , on the merease, so as to warran so much confidence and prodigality. They Wel! seriously cn the decrease. Thu reveLue of 11 han had been by rainy millions of franui less that of 1846; Qui the revenue of loato debt viiiii and