The Express. — London, England, 1853-02-25 00:00:00

(Chan,) liely upon this—tough you may have two or t y res person of the Jewish faith in your mo use o r C m _ depend upon it that the house will bear the charac ter of • legislature far more truly than when it had • Gib hoc as MIS of its ornaments. (Cheers.) And, if that is ' the case. 1 ask you to do away with this remaining perse „awe, with this remaining disqualification ; and to say t h a t Jour door shall be open to men of the Jewish faith. to b e a o h subjects, to men upon whose loyalty you can rely, you wt , o f whose co-operation you will he glad ; and when hue so done, you can then with a clear conscience hate vet other nations may do, we will hold aloft - t he principle of religious liberty, and we will grant that liberty to men who dicier from us in religious oninions." L ik you to agree to go into committee upon this subject. ask you to take away this last disqualification ; and then Ton may my truly, tint having for political reasons done awa y with those other disqualifications, you have done away with this disqualification solely upon the ground of th and juseica ; that you had no other ground to go spun; and upon that truth and justice you will found a truly Christian character. (Loud cheers.) Sir It. INGLIS, before endeavouring to answer the speech of the noble lord, begged to state why he ob. jected to that speech being delivered to Mr. Wilson Vanes. The noble loni seemed to regard it as some advantage to have one step gained in the progress of his measure; but, if it was a gain to him, it must be an iirory to those who were opposed to him. (Hear, hear.) (t refute it was that he (Sir R. Inglis) could not be one tee u p, n a gate to enable the noble lord to go into that which he (the non. baronet) regarded as • sacred ruelosure. (Ch ‘e n ) The mule lord must break down the banier, if he could—and Gel forbid that he should !—but it should s ee ke by any act of hi. (the hon. baronet's) that his course should be mode easier. (Hear, hear.) The noble lord had tit h e d why, in the present !nstance, they should refuse to hi m that which had been pet mined to Mr. Hobert Grant in 18e10? Pos-ibly, it was a wrong step which Mr. Robert Groot had been prepared to tole; they were not region sibic ova for what was done wrong then ; but they were Wiernsible fur the wrung they continued to do. (Hear, h e ar.) The Get, however, was, that the very maw which he (the boo. garonet) wee pre pared now to take was that which he took Nome ti'e years ago. In 1847, when the noble lord pro mesa the same curse:he (Sir IL Inglis) felt it his duty to ref.+, as seer see his iudividual vote was concerned, the per ms-won which was now asked. He said then, as he 'aid halt &Ivor ago, that he believed the course upon which the noble lord had iuvited the house to enter was one hostile to the civil and religious itinerate of the country. (ob.) He believed it to be also hostile to every proceeding in this house. The noble lord had made a moat happy and unwe aned assumption, as the vary foundation of his speech, namely, that he was the advocate of truth and justioe, and th a t all who opposed him were mere bigots, sad the disci ples of as ebsub to system. (Hear, hear.) His (Sir R. loglis'i) proposition was direct., the reverse. The noble tort seemed to treat power as the inherent right of man, and that those woo resisted its extension to any one were bound to give a special mann fur it. (Hear, hear.) Now his (the hocuurable baronet's) argument was, that power was a trust which the state might delegate to thou whom it thought fit for the exercise of that trust; but that it was the inherent right of no man. Hit were, then all the restrictions which they had im pmel with regard to property, age, or sex, were utterly un just.tiable. The noble lord would nut let them go back to .• Vayria Clearta, but there bad never been • period in which as oath bad been administered to the recipient of au, whatever might have bee. its ferns, which could have beta taken by a member of the Jewish persuasion. (Hear, hear.) Whether the noble lord were right or wrong with regard to his dote of 1606, there was no man who could delay that the oaths bad always been administered upon same Christian emblem or other—generally, he (Sir R. lulu) believed, upon the open gospel ; and no person could be admitted to any office or authority of the very lowest degree, without some Christian sanction. (Hear hear.) The pious Jews bad admitted, may, they had touted, that they were a separate people. It might be a matter of convenience to admit them to oflice, but that could not destroy their absolute and inherent character of being a separate nation—a nation separated from the world for 1800 years, and to be separated perhaps for a period io- Calculably longer—but at all events separated as far as their highest aspirations were concerned. (Hear, hear.) He (Sir Robert Inglis) had re ceived • pamphlet, sent him, no doubt, in his cha racter as a member of parliament (for in no other capacity could he have received it), in which the author attempted to prove that England was not • Christian country. Now, though he admitted that we had proved ourselves grossly unworthy of cur calling, he could not say that the great body of the people of England had forfeited their right to be considered a Christian nation. Nobody could say that this was a popular question. He believed that he was mot resisting any rightful claim; but at ell events he felt confi dent that he was opposing no concession that would be grateful to the public at large. On the contrary, ho be haved that the WWl* he was taking would soda? see im sfew body of his fellow.countrymen. (Cheers.) bed been made by the nobles lord to Gibbon sad Wass. They were men who erred from their own wicked amil von nature, but they were not persona who, so ssassfen tins principles, blasphemed the best and highest mysteries ct our faith. It had been said that hypocrisy was the bump which vice paid to virtue ; and the (atonal pro genies of Christianity made by these men, bad as it was umpired with genuine religion, was better than avoved misbelief. Better accruealed infid el than an open blasphemer. He did not believe that this wee the "last remnant of per secution." There were other subjects still remaining who were neither Christians nor Jews, whom they might be called on to admit within the walls of parliament. The British dominions unstained a great number of Mathieu dam. (Hear, hear.) That sheer showed him that there were many ready to go farther than the admission of the Jews. (Hear, hear.) If so what became of the argument that the Jews wen few in number, and that there was therefore, no danger to he apprehended for the Christie; character of the legislature? (Hear, hear.) Did they be lieve that they would promote the spiritual and temporal interests of the people of England by such • concession ? He did not believe that the people of England wen yet pre pared to admit either the heathen or the M into parliament. He believed that they would destroy the pro testant character of the house—that was pose (laughter) —that they must destroy the Chnstian character of the legislature and of the depositaries of power by them stosioessioaa, and for these reasons he woald =the motion which the noble lend bad now, he he , motion for the sixth time, brought before the house. He trusted that by a great reaction on the part of the people of this country, sad wader • naetiea than say in that house, this fatal 0411/113. Mi k :ti li t il ;et be averted. (Hear.) Sir IL PEEL, in an emergent address, denied that the cue oh the Jews involved the question of civil and religious liberty, and he would not consent to any form of oath which did not include the Christian form. It was not alto gether a religious question; the objections were partly founded upon the bad chanicter which the Jews bore in the eustry, when they were found on all aides inciting to coma and receiving stolen goods. He did sot even exclude from his sendemaation the family of the pollens= for whose especial manatee the present motion was made, whol ad dame istsch,by the employment of their capital, to destroy civil and refigiose liberty oo the cmatisent. He save his determined resistance to the bill. Vincent Homes sad Mr. Nan= respectively sup paned and opposed the modem. Lied DRUMLANItIO ansuncod his convenion to the lame of the Jews amidst busied applause verging upon Wien Mr WIGRAM opposed the moans both on political sad iis" . DIUDT ad BEYMOUR supported the motion, em the riMli that the beet way to Christianise the Jews wee to win noes inm the buss. _ Woad SlWHORloppoor . d the mastics epee every pee gresed. sod with army mriety et Investire. A Names all fora &Metes at this plat did not prevent Mr. M. O'CONNELL treat insistiag open beisg heard. Ms lea. member did sot lad many lateens, and ea a Maim beim peered the steam was tarried by 21,4 to 105. TM meek was hailed with lend sheers. Oa ear rebate to the gallery, we Aimed the beam in ems- Maar, and the chairman about to put the remistios amidst peat theeries, couater-ehmriarb sad marasiea. What Wait wai mitered, Da CHAIRMAN pat the resolatiee, " Tbat it is ez plant to seesider the Mail disebilities at mama affecting hii ligiart's subjects dale &WY jeseamma with a view le their tassel, is lihe maneet eed with lih:i ahoilitim• • them leswi dke reaming the disabilities et her Ma. Jaya Emma emboli* sehjecte." zr quake was this put, sad the eheirmaa dederimg langthe " Ayes" bad it, there were lead miss Air a am ain. X , . WALPOLE said that the week* hayfag bees put be wield be in ardor is eddresearag the hems ; bat as them Yen se may seer members is the house it would be eon warm to say that it the divides me set litheT the " eyes" es the " sees" beirag give: l = 64 A: Mid take pace, sad es them had bees a diiisiss es the aria gamma it would be annesessary and vaporises. to like s &bum on this question. (Hews Burl The teeolatioe was this agreed to, the Mum resumed, faith, ?isolation reported. NEW TRIALS IN CRIMINAL CASES. Et T. BUTT obtained kayo to trios in a bill to maks prepay for the greeting of new trials in criminal cams. Ilts same hon. gentleman postponed his motion for a West tommittee to inquiry into the proceedings at the Cork "miss mil after the committee on that election had M i rl t lrlTTEß ON THE IRISH TENANT RIGHT BILLS. at I. TOUNG maid "that the select committee as the Lame Powers (Ireland); Landlord and Tenant (Ireland); Tasat Right (Ireleat); and Tenants Compensation (In- Leos) Bills, do consist of thirty exemben John Viseount Palmerston, Mr. She*, Lord Nees, Mr. Lem, Sir Robert Fergus., Mr. Kirk, Mr. Henry Her bert, Mr. Italie, Mr. John Fitzgerald, Mr. Fagan, Mr. _Robert Phill more, Mr. James Sadleir, Viscount Mosel., ~bi% Walpole, Colonel Oreeille, Mr. Napier, Mr. Daffy, Mr. ta"fte, Mr . Bright, Mr. Drummo n d, Mr. Mackenzie, r r. I mbutP. Mr. Vernon, Mr. Bou te rre, Mr. P011ard ...114W% Mr. Fortran', Lord Claud 7,llamiltes, Mr. "b 4 lotide, and Pk. Grogan." Ana some diseusaion, the debate was adjourned till 11:141, BILL FOR THE DISPOSAL OF EXCISE POPERTY. Er. WILSON obtaine d leave to bring in a bill to enable . n 11 118400,16 of Inland Revenue to dispose of certain Wien, is the City of London. ELECTION PETITION RECOONISANCES COMMITTEE. *AL GIBSON nominated the select committee om election pttition recognisant's :—Mr. M. Gibsoa, Lord J. Russell, Mr. Phino, Mr. Walpole, Sir F. Thesiger, Mr. S. Worthy, and Ids. Gotslbws. Aimed to. COUNTY POLLS (SCOTLAND) BILL. Mr. ELLIOT obtained leave to bring in a bill to limit the time of polling at *minty elections in Scotland to one day, and to provide for the increase or alteration in the number of polling places as now flied. CRIMINAL AND DESTITUTE CHILDREN COMMITTEE. Mr. BAINES moved that Viscount Drualanrig and Mr. John Ball be added to the Criminal and Destitute Children committait. Agreed to. COMMITTEE ON THE OFFICE OF SPEAKER. Bir R. H. INGLIS nominated the committee on the office of Speaker:—Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Lord John Russell, Mr. Disraeli, Sir George Grey. Mr. Ooulburn, Mr. Edward Ellice, Mr. Wilaoe Patten. Mr. Thomas fishing ton Macaulay, Mr. Walpole, Mr. Hume, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Brozman, Mr. Fresbfield, Mr. Baines, and Sir Frederic Thesiger. Agreed to. MAYNOOTH. It will be remembered that the hoer of six having ar rived, while the division on Mr. Bpooner's motion was pro ceeding on Wednesday, no decision was come to on Mr. Bcholefield's amendment. On the order of the day being read for the further consideration of the subject, Mr. SCHOLEFIELD fixed Wednesday next, and re marked that as he understood there was to be some further discussion, he would venture to suggest that hie amendment should be considered as a substantive motion. Agreed to. The house then roe at 10 minutes after one o'clock. Patits.—Mr. Pigott paired off in favour of Mr. Spooner's motion with the Right lion. T. B. Macaulay. The Lord Mayor paired in favour of Mr. Spooner's motion with Lord Ernest Bruce. Mr. Thomas Mills paired in favour of Mr. Spanner's motion, with Mr. Moffatt against. SUUT OCT.—Mr. West was accidentally shut out at the division oa Mr. Bpooner's motion, and prevented voting in the minority. Mr. Aich was also abut out of the divi• non on the Jew Bill. 8 like vki avi via who Pr ifts up a I 181 tr Pu Nd 1 111 tit Nu hl Ti la YI ! ghe el:lnv:4ls. THE TO CORRIAPONPINTS. t Amide Wks ef m. Ewes; essearaMg the e. dame eblece • tiesed&" Is published silty Tamil; ad reeky right. is tide tar poet. ♦ tratisemeatsiatanded fart "TM Uprose." Leaden r.iluisg payer, most be et tilt Ofise, Ilseverie-erreet. by The &sleek es die Is; se iliblisetio& NIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. 7Ass DA*—Merslag. 3k. 13m.. Afternoon. 3k. Ms. formanow—Moratni. lb. Hs Aftoeseso. 4k. Ina this. To what, then, are the defeated party cling ing? To a chance phrase which was_ manufactured for a totally different purpose. They have pirati cally seized hold of weapons that do not belong to them, that never were intended fur them, aiid hope by these means t o prolong a con test which their own strength could no longer sustain. The words "on the true faith of a Christian," which keep the Jews out of Parliament, were placed in the oath with no more reference to Jews than to Red Indians. The weak ness of the party is shown by the nature of the refuge to which they are obliged to Ity. It is too late in the day to enter into elaborate arguments u to the right of the Jews to the privi lege which they claim. The arguments are thread bare—the case lies in a nutshell. No single reason has been given to show why they are not capabfe of performing all the functions of citizens as well as the members of other religious, and consequently none can be given why they should be denied the exercise of these. the religious objection which combines itself with the moral one, asserting that the Jews are bound by the tenor of their faith to hate and persecute those who differ from them, is false and absurd. " Talk what you will of the Jews," said SELDEN, "my life for yours, Christians bate one another just as much." It is scarcely possible that, in matters of legislation with which a House of Com mons would meddle in the present day, a Jew would differ so much from Christians as the several religious denominations in the House differ from one another. It is long since the belief of Christians or Jews has been endeavoured to be settled by legislative operations; it is time, therefore, that the indifference whioh the State shows towards individual faith should be unbroken by any interference with in dividual convictions on matters of religion. The Jewish disabilities are the solitary instance of a breach of this indifference. To Lord JOUN RUS SELL, we trust, is reserved the honour of freeing our institutions from this anomaly. FRANCE. PARIS, THURSDAY Enixiso. The Emperor and Empress last evening visited the historical monuments at the Hotel Cluny. Their Majesties were well received. This morning's Moniteur contains a decree dated the 23rd inst., remitting the remainder of the sen tences upon 138 additional persons condemned to various periods of bani•hment and imprisonment for political offences by the mixed commission. The names of all the amnestied are given in the decree. M. Tanski and Pages Dupont were liberated with out finding sureties. The English frigate Retribution arrived at Genoa on the 17th instant. The government journal announces that three mil lions out of the ten granted by the decree of the 22nd January, for the improvement of the lodgings of the working classes, are to be placed immediately at the disposal of the Minister of the Interior for that purpose. The Itfoniteur contains the expected decree, nomi nating M. de Lamer, ambassador at Constantinople, and the Baron Boarqtteney, ambassador at the Court of Vienna. There has been more fluctuation and excitement on the Bourse to-day than for a week past. Very un favourable rumours were prevalent, relative to mis understandings with Austria, which had the effect of depressing the Reran, until the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. fell 80c. below the quotations of yesterday, Idosing at 105 f. 10c. for cash. Bank Stock also was willed 5 francs lower, leaving off at 2,800 f. The Three per Cents., on the other hand, left off at ea improvement, the last price being 80f. 85c. The Minister of Police has authorised a society or *Regales Parisiennea." Three thousand Tessinois who were turned out et Lombardy have arrived at Tessin°. The Minister of the Interior has written a circu lar te the prefects, requiring them to aid the provin cial directors of the Mortgage Bank of Paris, now by virtue of a recent decree the credit fancier of France, to bring that establishment into full operation. It will be remembered that this bank is under an en gagement to lend 200 millions of francs to landed seprietors at 5 per cent., the which interest paid an nually during 50 years, is to extinguish the principal debt. Seeing that a vast number of land owners are pay ing 0 per cent. interest, while nothing but a accident can ever enable them to pay off their mengege, it might be thought that the only mist ease the bank would require would be in the mise tion from a crowd of anxious candidates of thawing eligible to participate in a fund inadequate to mime more than a very small part of the mortgaged pre. piety of France. 'f heir, taal,however, is not so limited. It appears to be anticipated that, so far from being glistered by too many applications, the bank any eites find it difficult to do business. This I know to be the opinion of many practical men acquainted with the state of inoumbered property and the views of its owners. The prospect of being relieved from the principal of his mortgage in 50 years is too remote to have much influence with a man in pmesut difficulties. To him the only real temptation would be the diminution of the interest he now pays. But he knows that a gigantic public establishment must necessarily be a merciless creditor, and he fears to place himself in such a position that if he were to make default but for a short time in a single pay meat of interest his estate would be foreclosed. Rather than incur this risk, he prefers to pay a little more interest to a neighbour, who, knowing his to matoes, will make allowance for bad crops, aid wait a little when the security is really The mortgage bank, assuming it to do with safety, can only lend to the mama of a moderate proportion of the estimated wain lithe property, and to ascertain this value, the imp= of a valuation must be incurred, an expense that mast fall upon the proprietor, although the bank may ultimately decline to lend him the money he rm quires. After all that has been said about the rapa city of country usurers, it is very doubtful whether the owners of first class securities cannot obtain money from private sources upon as good terms sh those p . roifered by the new in stitution, and it is not easy to see bow the ba nk, governed as it must be by general rules, and protected against fraud by many formali ties, can safely take second clam securities, which are nevertheless accepted es sufficient by private parties having local knowledge. Some such considerations as these are at the bottom of M. de Persigny's in structions to the prefects. He tells them that the directors of the branch banks must in the first place make extensive inquiries. They must make an exact estimate of the landed property of their districts, its incumbrances and its value, they must take into account the recep tion they are likely to meet with, and the prejudices and opposition which perhaps it may be necessary to endeavour to overcome. For these purposes they will have many questions to ask, much information to obtain. " Their mission is delicate, and presents real difficulties." The prefects then are to assist them in this mission, to give them accede to all offi cial documents, to introduce them to the most notable proprietors and capitalists of the department, and to "rally the sympathies of the population to the new establishments. The 200,000,000 to be by M. de Per-r- lent has already been apportioned by . M.ffePersigny among the different departments, in proportion to the aggregate amount of registered mortgages in each, and in order to stimulate encumbered landowners to accept relief from their burdens, he reminds them, by one of the statutes, any amount remaining nnapplied on January 1, 1854 will be distributed among other departments desirous of the accommodation. It results from this circular, that although during the last year the government press has been in the habit of speaking of creditfoiseier as a thing established by the ener getic stroke of a dictatorial pen, it remains to be seen whether the bank bearing that name will be able to accomplish upon any large scale the purposes for which it was created. At present the experiment is in a very inchoate state, and the in quiries of the various roving commissions now recommended to the polite attention of the prefects, may possibly disclose difficulties not anticipated by those who think it the most simple thing in the world to regulate the affairs of mankind by decree. The appointment of General Lacour was very generally looked upon at the Bourse as a confirmation of the rumour that France had offered herself as mediator between Austria and Turkey. Yesterday evening Paris was suddenly visited by an extraordinary storm. A decided thaw had set in LONDON, FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 25. Tnz House of Commons has decided by a majority of 29 upon going into committee upon the disabili ties affecting the Jews. This is another proof of the utter impossibility of maintaining much longer sine sole restriction in a representative system which has gradually emancipated itself from trammels which were fixed upon it in days of superstition and discord. The speech of Lord JOHN Russz.u. contains everything that can be well said upon a topic upon which public opinion has been long made up, and is worth peewit for its terseness and generally ability. Bir ROBERT biotin, who admitted that the ex clusively Protestant character of the House was gone, made a worse defence than ever of the slight remnant of intolerance that he wished to preserve. In days long pest kings and nobles of the Norman race were addicted to the practice of drawing the teeth of refractor's , Jews as a mode of punishment or extortion. In modern times we have contented our selves with employing the process allegorically. Drawing the teeth of the Children of Israel has meant for many a long year little more than pre venting the despised race from exercising the most valuable privileges of citizenship. Modern Europe has condescendingly answers Ito Shylock's indignant interpelletion that it may be granted that a Jew truly " katis eyes and hands, and organs', and dimensions," and in fact every article enu merated in the indignant merchant's catalogue. Civilisation has taught modern Europe thus much, and something more. It has naturalised Jews—it has made them electors, members of municipal corpo rations, and ma gistrates. Here, however, it has stopped. It has in England, at least, prevented the Jews from exercisiug senatorial functions. The Jews found &house of bondage in Europe for many dreary centuries. For years they toiled through the barren desert. At last they arrived in the promised land. They have achieved everything they attempted, until they have come in sight of the hostile Jericho. Up to elopement time this has resisted all their attacks. But the fortifications have been invested—the trum pets have sounded—we are awaiting the last blast, when the walls shall fall, and the Children of Israel —natives of free England—feel themselves in the possession of all the privileges of nationality. The question that was mooted last night in the House of Commons is one of a class which excites attention merely . on account of its powering a weak but obstinate principle of vitality without being able to exercise any of the functions of life. People look upon it with the same feelings as those with which they look upon the expiring flame of a candle. It burns obstinately in the socket, yet it gives no light. It shoots up for a moment into unnatural brilliancy, but only to sink into more hopeless darkness. The lookers-cu, however, know that it must go out, that in spite of • feverish spark or two it must be extinguished, nay that it must ex tinguish itself. All the world knows of course that English Jews must be admitted to the privilege of election to Parliament. This point has been settled any time this last twenty years. The hope of keep ing them out lingered, perhaps, in one or two places —ln Oxford, for instance. But the pet member of the University, the present CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, told his constituents, at the risk of losing his seat, that the time had gone by when re ligious dogmas were to be made use of to exclude men from their national rights. Mr. Ouneronts vote on the subject let the Oxford bigots know that their day had gone by. The Protectionists kept op the anti-Jewish ay, either for con science or for party's sake, for some time; but their chivalrous leader, Lord Grottos BEN TINCK, voted against them, and threw up his leader ship, after he had done so. He would not " march through Coventry" with a regiment clothed in the =age of ancient prejudice. Every one is per &at the very reasoning which first relaxed one Jewish disqualifleation, is equally valid in sup port of the relaxation of the list. When Baron EoisscmLD's parents, with ' their co-religion ists in Frankfort, were freed from the ne cessity of retiring to rest at a certain hour in the dirtiest quarter in the (city, when they were allowed to break through the custom or law which had hitherto rigidly confined them to the middle of the road, to prevent their contaminating the passimgers on the pavement—the whole principle of Giessen was given up. It needed no prophet to tell that the days of the triumph of persecution of this kind were sealed. - - - - The repel of the Jewish disabilities will put the crown to a series of acts, the study of which would convinom the opponents of the repeal that they have been fighting against a tendency which is one of the most distinguishing features of our Parliamentary history since the Reformation. At the very commencement of this movement we had a Church Parliament : a legislative assembly, in which all were Churchmen. This state of things endured but for a time. It was interrupted during the Commonwealth, but reestablished at the Restora tion. Bat the preceding period had developed forces which set themselves in opposition to the idea of a Church Parliament. A contest arose, marked by fierce struggle, but which terminated after a time in the utter defeat of the Church theory. The repeal of the Test Acts set tled the question. The defeated party then threw themselves upon another scheme of tactics. If we cannot be all members of the Establishment, it was said, let us all be Protestants. Let us at least all be members of some reformed communit. This answered for a time, but the Emancipation Bill passed, and the plan was shattered for ever. A crowd of Catholics rushed into vacant seats in the House, and strange to my the Legislature exercised its functions as bravely as ever. The successive triumphs were enough to show that we were fast drifting to a period' when nationality, and not theological peculiarity, would be recognised as the condition of entrance into the House of Representatives. Acting upon this re cognition Quakers presented themselves in the House, and were not expelled, in spite of their peculiar notions with regard to oaths. The exclusion principle has been given up long ago. There are the broad facts of history to confirm EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENINCL IzEBR-U-ARY 25,- 1853. , . during the day, an d for several loins in the after noon rain fell steadily, while the temperature was mild. But between 9 and 10 o'clock the wind blew with extreme violence, and a storm of hail, thunder, and lightning ensued, lasted for about half an hour, and immediately afterwards it froze hard. The superstitious ay that thunder in February portends a revolution in the course of the year, and call to mind the fact that the same phenomenon occurred in the years 1830 and 1848. This day (Feb. 24) being the anniversary of the revolution of 1848, there was some expectation that an attempt would be made to make some sort of republican demonstration at the foot of the column in the Place de la Beadle. Nwhing of the kind, however, took place. Three or four extra sergens de-ville on duty, walked round about the column, keeping a sharp look out. I maw them prevent two or three people in blouses from approaching the rail ings, a proceeding strangely co nt ras ti ng w ith th e , inscription yet conspicuous in front of the column, "To the glory of those French citizens who took arms, and fought in defence of public liberty, on the 27th, 28th, and 29th July, 1830." There were troops in the guard-house at hand, who would instantly have dispersed anything like a procession. But there were not more people than usual about the spot. I understand it has been frequently in contemplation of late to tak e down this column of July, an eyesore to the present government, as being at once a monument of liberty and Orli anism. I believe the idea is by no means abandoned, but it is difficult to find a pretext that would pass with the inhabitants of the Faubourg St. Antoine. People who know them well say they would resent the destruction of this mass of iron and brags more than the arbitrary transportation and imprisonment of thousands of their fellow citizens. PARIS, WIDNIIIRDAT EVeNING. A law suit, decided yesterday by the Council of State, revives the recollection of a curious episode of the revolution of 1830. While the fight was raging in the street an obscure citizen, named Dubourg, who had never been a soldier in his life, appeared on horseback in the uniform of a lieutenant-general, sue eroded in passing himself off as an officer of that rank, put himself at the head of a large body . of in surgents, and did signal service to the revolutionary cause. Louis Philippe was so grateful to the self constituted general, that he confirmed his rank, by signing a regular commission in his favour. General Dubourg, thus encouraged to think that he had done the " state some service," brought in a bill of 42,000 E, which he stated he had expended in the pur chase of horses and the pay of his irregu lar troops. A committee appointed to con sider all claims arising out of the events of the " three glorious days " reported against the claim. Bat the minister of the day supported it, and in 1832 the item was submitted to the Chamber of Deputies as part of the budget. The house rejected the claim, but from that time up to 1848 2,000 fr. a year was regularly paid to the general out of secret service money. The pension then ceased, and after some delay General Dubourg renewed his demand for 42,000 fr., and brought it forward asaal debt from the state, It may well be sup posed that a claim of this kind for services rendere d to the Or leans family, even if better founded than the general's appears to me, would not just now be looked upon with much favour, and ac cordingly it has been rejected by the Coun cil of State. There is a very amusing account of this General Dubourg, and the part taken by him in the revolution of 1630, in the memoirs of Alexandre Dumas, now publishing in the feuilleton of the Presse. I have seen to-day a letter from Vienna, which states, although of course I do not guarantee the fact, that the Hungarian who attempted the life of the Emperor of Austria was the husband of a woman who wu flogged to death by the Austrian authori ties at Peath in 1849. It was stated in all the official accounts of the re cent visit of the Emperor and Empress to the Opera that M. Nestor Roqueplan, the manager, conducted them to the imperial box, walking backwards with two wax candles in his hinds. lam told that M. Roqueplan assures all his friends that this is not true, and he has applied to several newspapers to contradict the statement. The journals, having a due sense of their responsibility in reference to a solemn affair of imperial etiquette, refuse to insert any other contradiction than a letter from M. Roqueplan, authenticated by his signature. He shrinks from writing such a letter, although much vexed at being supposed to have acted what he considers a ridiculous part, and so this important matter rests. HUNGARY. A German letter from Pesth of the 17th thus speaks of the arrests and commotions at Pesth, which we reported on Saturday morning, according to the electnc telegraphic despatch : " It appears as if the scenes of Milan have excited a sympathetic movement here, and that a general in surrection is contemplated. For several days arrests have been made, and the prisons are full of persons suspected or compromised. The night before last the polio° arrested twenty travellers in the Hotel d'Angletcrre. " Yesterday evening sentinels were posted at all the gates leading to the fortress of Buda (opposite Pesth), a most unusual precaution. The chief gate is commanded by officers. The Arsenal, opposite the Palace of the Archduke, has received a reinforce ment of troops from the artillery and engineer corps. The infantry battalions are kept in readiness to take arms at the first signal. These measures seem to indicate an apprehension of a coup do main on the fortress to deliver all the political prisoners." GERMANY. Telegraphic despatches from Vienna, of the 22nd, announce that the Emperor is fast recovering from the late attack. _ _ _ The Irreuz Zettutig states absolutely that the com mercial and customs treaty signed by the Prussian and Austrian plenipotentiaries on the 19th is to oome into operation on the Ist of January next, and that Prssala reverves the right of accession to the same in favour of those German states which shall be united with her in the Zoilverein. The Krems Zeiteusg further learns that Hanover will mark her acceptance of the September treaty by at once pub lishing those of its preecriptions which should come into operation on the let of March. Since the outbreak at Milan, the Austrian-disposed newspapers of Germany have daily contained pre dictions, some of themprofessing to be authoris ed, of a joint note to be addressed to England by the European powers, demanding coercive measures against the refugees. With Piedmont and Switzer land a shorter process is, according to these authorities, to be followed. The Post Gazette published at Frankfort. the faithful expo- rent of Austrian ideas, announced on the 19th that' the imperial government will set to work " to purge Switzerland and England of the revolutionaries;" but omits to say how it will go *bout the task. The reactionary governments of hurope are still very sore' from the effects of Lord Palmerston's note, which, with copies of Mr. Gladstone's pamphlet no Naples,' they received two years ago from the Foreign-office, and would gladly seize an opportunity of recrimina tion. The semi-official Pariamento states that the' relations of the cabinet of Turin to that of Vienna' are again very cold; and another Sardinian paper connects the Marquis d'Azeglio's visit to England with a desire on the part of his Sovereign to draw closer the bonds of amity between this country and his own, in anticipation of possible dilEculties. ITALY. Vienna letters of the 19th state as a rumour that the Austrian Emperor proposed to seize on the pro perty of a l"rge number of emigrant Lombards, alleging that they were engaged in designs against his government. The same correspondence reports the Milan arrests as having been 300 in number, and continuing every day. The number of individuals executed is said to be 17. The last executions reported by the Italian papers, those of the 14th, it may be remembered, brought the number up to 13. Advice% from Venice inform us that on the night of the 14th a number of persons were arrested as they were in the act of stnpping the walls of Ha detzsky's proclamation. TURKEY AND MONTENEGRO. On the 21st, as we learn by telegraph, it was rumoured at Vienna, and generally credited, that the French government had proffered its mediation on the differences now existing between Austria and the Porte, and that at Constantinople this offer had been accepted. It will be remembered that the Paris Moniteur announced a fortnight since, that, as far as Montenegro was concerned, a pacific settlement would be attempted by the French government. INDIA. AND AUSTRALIA. TILE OVERLAND MAIL. We have received the following telegraphic message in anticipation of the Overland Mail, dated TBIESTE, FZMIXAST 24. " The steamer Adria arrived here this afternoon, at two o'clock, having left Alexandria on the 18th. The Burmese hold the Aeng pass with a considerable number of troops. Pegue has been invested anew by a large Burmese force, which was, however, withdrawn on the Bth and 9th of January, as their commander learned that General Steel was ad vancing on a position in the neighbourhood. The enemy has abandoned Proms and Meadamy. It is said that a revolution has broken out at Ava. The old King has been dethroned and driven away, and the new Monarch has recalled his troops to Ava, de siring peace. Fever and diarrhcoa prevail and in crease among our troops. The Indian market is inactive. Exchange at Calcutta, February 9,2 s. Id. " The insurrection in China is causing considerable devastation. "'rho Pottinger brings 21 boxes of Australian gold dust." Zbe Court. The Right Hon. Charles P. Villiers, Judge- Advocate General, bad an audience of the Queen yesterday, at Buckingham Palace, and submitted to her Majesty the proceedings of some Courts Martial. Iler Majesty and Prince Albert, attended by the Countess of Desert, the Hon. Flora Macdonald, Lord Rivers, Lord Alfred Paget, and Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon, honoured the Haymarket Theatre with their presence last evening. The Queen's Private Band was in attendance in the Palace on Wednesday evening, and perfumed the follow oompositicer: overture, indorle" Rmnaace, "Robert le Diable" Pen* "Le Pre sus Lime . Herold. ?!eyerieer. A Deputation of Middlesex Magistrates, beaded by the Marquis of Saliibury, the Lord-Lieutenant of the County, had an interview with Viscount Palmerston on Tuesday, on the subject of the "County Rate Expenditure Bill." The deputation consisted ot Messrs. Pownall, Cottrell, Kern shied, Turner, Wilkes, Armstrong, Brooking, and ftubiu son, Viscount Canning, Postmaster-General, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Wednesday. Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue, had an interview with the Right Hon. Gentleman yester day, at his official residence, in Downing -stmt. Mr. Richard Blanahaid had an interview with the Duke of Newcastle, yesterday, at the Colonial-nffiee. Despatches were sent yesterday from toe Colonial-office to the Governor of Malta. Despatches were received from the Governor of Gibraltar. TnE LitTEOTTE — PORTER.—The committee of gentlemen who have bad the management of the fonds col lected for the purpose of raising atestimonie to the memory of the late Mr. George Richardson Porter, of the Bard of Trade, have selected from the deigns sent to them by the several competitors • model by Mr. Wyon. The monument will be erected in the churchyard at Rusthall, at Tunbridge Welk, and a print of it will be made to send to every contributor. The model ma be seen by subscribers at the studio of Mr. Wyon, .No. 19, Stanhope street, lfampstead•road. ACCIDENT,AON THE GHEATMWESTEILNJ RAILWAY. ONE OF THE DIRECTORS KILLED. A lamentable aocident, remitting in the death of one of the directors of the Great Western Railway, and the serious injury of several other persons, took place yesterday morning to the up express train leaving Bristol at 8.10 a.m., sad due is Lowd en at 11 . 30 am. -. The train left Bristol punctually, and kept correct time up to its arrival at Ealing, about 6 miles west of Padding ton. It consisted of an engine and tender, a luggage van, two second-class and three first-class carriages —the latter being in the rear. A travelling porter invariably accom panies the express trains on the Great Western Railway, occupying a small iron box on d of the tender, (rein which he commands a view of the train, and in case of necessity can communicate with the engine -driver without difficulty. The train to which the accident occurred had just parsed under the bridge, a short distance on the Lon don side of the Ealing station, and was traversing that portion of the line known as the Ealing cutting, when the travelling porter observed that the Beat of the three first class carriages was off the rails, and swaying to and fro in a very alarming manner. He instantly got up and turned round with the intention of calling to the driver, Robert Hark, one of the oldest and ben of this class of the company's ser vants, to bring the train to astand. Hula was in the set of looking round at the moment, and observing that something was wrong, he shut off his steam and reversed the engine, Having done this, he again looked round, and at this in stant the coupling chains between the second and first class carriages gave way, and the two first of the latter ran up the embankment with fearful velocity. The first, on rzsching the top, a height of about fifteen feet, toppled over and fell backwards upon that which followed, crushing three out of four of its corn- , partments, and forcing it back on to the main line, where it fell over on its side. The third carriage did not leave the ' rails. Rule brought up his train as quickly as possible, and returned to the spot. A fearful scene here presented deaf. The first of the three first-class carriages was turned completely over, and lying upon its roof : the several com partments being more or leas crashed, and the passengers imprisoned therein. The second carriage had suffered most. In the centre compartment of this had been seated four of the directors of the railway, on their way to the usual weekly board meeting. The names of these four g en tl emen were Richard Potter, Esq., of Gloucester; Henry Simonds, Esq., of Reading ; Dr. Richard Prichard Smith, of Read ing ; and James Gibbs, Esq. of Clifton, near Bristol. The latter gentleman was killed on the spot. Dr. Prichard Smith, who was seated by his aide, sustained a dislocation of the shoulder end fractured rib. Mr. Potter and Mr. Simonds,who were seated in the same compartment, and opposite Mr. Gibbs and Dr. Prichard, had a most miraculous escape, and were not at all seriously hurt. There were several other officers of the company and general pas sengers in this carriage, but none of them sustained any severe injury. The passengers in the third carriage escaped with nothing more serious than the shock. The best aid that could be given to the sufferers was afforded on the instant by the second-class passengers, none of whom had suffered the smallest inconvenience. One of the guards hastened back to the Ealing station, and as soon as the pas stagers who were not hurt could be transferred to the second-clam carriages, the other came on to London with the train. Intelligence of the catastrophe was instantly communicated to Mr. Saunders, the secretary, and Mr. Gooch, the locomotive superintendent. The former, without a moment's loss of time, summoned Mr. Caesar Hawkins, Mr. Alfred Keyser, Mr. Tetsuo, and Mr. Harper . , medical gentlemen resident in the neighbourhood, and dispatched them to Ealing, to render every assistance in their power. The latter soon got together a party of artificers, and ac companied them to the spot for the purpose of clearing away the debris. Oa their arrival it was found necessary to break up the two carriages most injured, in order to ex tricate some of the passengers, who were still completely wedged in. One gentleman, Mr. Adam Duff, of Reading, who was seated in the first Canine when it fell ever on its roof, got his head fixed firmly into the hole through which the lamp is ordinarily suspended, and it was with ' the utmost difficulty be could be extricated. Mr. Duff had some of his fingers broken, but was not otherwise injured seriously. The body of Mr. Gibbs was got out as soon u possible, and conveyed to the Ealing station. The unforta nate gentleman's death seems to have been oc emplaned by a fracture of the spinal cord about the neck. Among the other passengers injured were Mr. Miller, of Warminster, whose forehead was seamed with a terrible gash ; Mr. Ormerod, of Briskness College ; and Mr. Kelly, the company's station-master at Birmingham. Dr. Prichard Smith was brought on to London, and con veyed to the Prince of Wales Hotel, close to the station, where his dislocated shoulder was reduced by Mr. Cesar Hawkins. He was stated last evening to be going on , favourably. Mr. Miller was also stated to be progressing favourably. ' The accident is supposed to have originated in the break ing of one of the " scroll irons," or " spring hangers," attached to the near leading wheel of the front first-class carriage. The emeequence of this breakage would be to set the axle box free, thereby giving the wheel a play which would necessarily, in a very short time, throw it off the line. The ballast is torn up for some 400 yards, in dicating that the wheel or wheels had been off the rails before the coupling chains broke. There must, of course, always be a degree of uacertaints as to the precise cause of any accident of this character, bur, from a careful examination, this appears the most probable solution of the disaster. It is suggested that the extraordinary variations in temperature dutiug the lest 48 hours may have been the primary cause of the fracture described, no imrerfectiou being visible in the iron. The catastrophe, it is needless to say, occasioned a great shock to the board of directors, who were expecting the ar rival of their oolleagues when the news reached Landon. The deceased gentleman his been a director for many years, and was universally respected. He has le ft • widow and family. One of his sons is, we believe, in the church. Mr. Wakley has received information of the death, and will no doubt empanel a jury to-morrow (this day). CONTROVERTED ELECTION COMMITTEES. SOIJTHAMPTON.—PROTEST OF SIR ALEXANDER COCKBURN. Yesterday the members of this committee, con sisting of Mr. H. A. Herbert (chairman), Sir J. Walsh, Lord anthers, lion. H. B. Brand, and Mr. J. A. Smith, mat for tha first time to inquire into the petition of W. U. Mackay and &wither against the return of Sir Alexander Cockburn sad Mr. R. M'Ghie Wilcox, on the ground of bribery and corruption. The names of counsel for the sitting member given in were Mr. Serjeant Kinglake, Q.C., Mr. Edwin Jame Q C., and Mr. Pigott. Parliamentary agents. Meson. rearuu and Clabon. Couasel for the petitioners were Mr. Aleunder, Q.C., Mr. Sewell, and Mr. Miclauchlan. _ The comm . itte room was much crowded, and previous to the commencement of procettlingt ' Sir A. Cockburn rose and said,—Mr. Chairman, at this stage of the proceedings it becomes necessary, es I have given in no names of counsel or agents, to call the atten tion of the committee to the very singular and peculiar cir cumstances in which lam placed berme you. This is not a petition affecting the return by which I was returned as member to serve in the present parliament for the borough of Southampton, but a petition appertaining to a return by virtue of which lam no longer sitting fur that borough. It is altogether an unprecedented case, a case of some com plexity, really ofa very anomalous character. This is a petition against the return of a writ that was issued at the general election which was held in July last, and at which my hon. collctgue, Mr. Wilcox and myself were returned as mem ben to serve fur the borough of Southampton. After that et turn, and after that petition which you are now euipa nelh.d to try had been presented, I was offered the office of her Majesty's Attorney-General. That attire I accepted ; and the acceptance of that office brought me within the pro visions of the well-known statute of Gth Queen Anne, (hap. 7, sees. 25 and Ai. which are as follows : ".Sec. 15. That no p'raon who shall have in Lis own name, or in the name of any person or persons in trust fur him or ter his bentfit, any new office or plac • of profit whatsoever under the crown, which at any time since 25th Dec., 1705, shall have been erected or created, nor any per son who shall be a commi.siontr or tub-commissioner of prime., secretary, or receiver of prime, &c., shall be cape hle of being elected, or of sitting or voting u a member of the House of Commons in any parliament which shall be here after aernmoned and holden. " See. 26. Hazy person chosen a member of the Haase of Commons shall accept of any (dike of profit from the crown during such time as he shall cantina: a member, his election shall be sod is hereby declared to be void, card new yr,: shall issue for a new election, as if suet person so accepting was naturally dead; provided nevertheless that such person shall be capable of being again elected, as if his place had not become void as aforesaid." Now, sir, upon this state of things, having accepted the office of her Majesty's Attorney-General, my seat, as mem ber fur Southampton, became void, and a new writ was directed by the House of Commons to be issued. It was Issued, and ape:a the principle laid down in the 26th section id this statute, viz., that a member so circumstanced is to be treated as though he "were dead, and his return treated accordingly, and thereupon a new writ be is sued. Some question was raised in the House of Commons as to what ' was the proper course to be pursued. Seeing that, al though having accepted °dice, and by the statute rendered numbed* of sitting, and although my mat was vacated, still there was a petition presented wisest me. Mr. Speaker, however, took the very obvious distinction between a case where a seat was prayed for, and a petition where a seat was not prayed for. Suppose a person accepted office and vacated his seat, and thereby (to use the language of the statute) became naturally dead, the seat would of course be vacated and a new writ would issue, notwithstanding re petition pending, unless the petitioner claimed the scat. If the petition merely sought to be an avoidance of the return at • tresb electiou, why the object of the committee would be already pined by the death of the party, and there is no reason whatever, either in law or in equity, why the petition should be gone on wilt when the result of voiding the election is already attained by both parties to the question. Mr. Speaker, therefore, to -lc that distinction, and said, inasmuch aa in this case there is no claimed teat, the act of parliament operates without redraint er qualifi cation, as though the member were naturally dead, and a new writ issued. If the seat had been claimed the case would have been different, because if there is a petition pending that claims the slat, and the member die, inas much as it .is uncertain whether he ought to have been returned at all,—unlike the other case, where the return is voided, it is • case whether that return ought, in fact, ever to have been made ; and the Speaker therefore held, I believe with the unanimous assent of all the law yers of the house, that it was perfectly right that the writ should issue, leaving it to awe who had petitioned against the return to take advantage of anything by way of exception upon the new election about to take place. Ac cordingly at the new election a new writ was issued at the beginning of January last. A notice wan served upon the electors of Southampton to the effect that in consequence of the latter averment in this petition as a ground of exception to this return, I was disqualified from being elected a mem ber for Southampton, and a petition has been presented upon these grounds. But we cannot, according to the act of parliament, come before you, because the petition relates to the return of July last. The petition I am speaking of is a petition against the return in January, but the petition alleges the ground of the dis qualification in the previous petition, and that it is on that petition that Mr. Baillie Cochrane claims hie beat. lam in this potation, and so are the committee, indeed we are all in this very 1111061.1i0111 position. As far as the return is concerned which is objected to, in this petition, except so far as I sin morally and personally concerned—because I am as deeply interested in it as though I were sitting in pursuance of it—yet as far as my seat in parliament is con cerned I am perfectly indifferent, because if you were to declare the matter both ways—of course it would be unbecoming in me to anticipate, at this stage of the pro ceedings, what will be the result, but to put it both ways, what is the jurisdiction that you have ? Suppose, in the first place, you should determine that the return of July was a good return, defeating the object of the petition, and refusing to accede to its prayer, what would be the result ? Not at all that I should bo acquitted with regard to the claim that is made against me by any petition on behalf of Mr. Cochrane with respect to the very same matter which is the subject of this petition; the whole of this would have to be gone over again, and your acquittal of me on the present petition co uld not be pleaded by me in bar of the new inquiry into the whole subject matter of the second petition of Mr. Cochrane—contrary to the universal practice that a man cannot be twice tried fur the came matter. Now, let me take the other petition. Suppose you were to determine that the allegations in this petition were well-founded ; that there had been bribery and treating(or which I am responsible at the last election— and that se a consequence you declare the return of July to be void —it would not affect my seat in the least. I could go into the House of Commons and sit until the other petition was tried, because I am sitting not on this return at all—not on the return that has been voided—l am sitting on the return of a fresh writ, consequently if you declare the return of July, as far as I am concerned, void, you do no more than has already, ipso facto, by the operation of the law itself, been declared null and void. A new writ has now been issued, on that return, and in virtue of which new writ, I now hold my seat, and the return to which new writ is not within the scope of the petition. We are all in this extraordinary position and anomidy. It is referred to the house to try the matter of the return, and in the event or your coming to a certain conclusion ex to the facts, you void that return which has already not only by law but by fact been voided, and • new writ issued. Now, sir, I will tell you what we ought to do in this case. The whole proceeding, as far as I am concerned, is entirely inoperative. At the same time, I will not disguise tram myself or the committee that I am as much interested in this petition and the trial of it as though I were sitting on the return you are empanelled to try. Unquestionably, as a public man, end as a professional man there is not the slightest doubt that my character —my existence, so to speak —are at stake on the r. cult of this petitiao, and I have not the slightest doubt that I feel just as much inte rest in it as though the return affected me individually. I hardly know what course to pursue. I have asked myself and my friends in the house, and they do not know either. There is not the slightest doubt upon the point, that I am not sitting on the return you are appointed to try. Still, on the other hand, were I to withdraw from your juris diction, I should be withdrawing from the in quiry and the contest in which personally I am deeply interested. Under these circumstances, 1 thought it right to point out to the committee the anomalous posi tion in which we are all placed, in consequence of these unprecedented circumstances. I think the better way will he for me to appear before you under protest, so as on the one hand not to have affected either to have withdrawn wool!, or on the other hand, not to have appeared befute you. The committee, I am sure, will acquit me of the ahgbtest desire or intention to treat them with the slightest disrespect, or their jurisdiction with any want of considera tion. I hope it will not be imputed to me that it is from and desire in the world to shrink from this inquiry, or to post pone it for an hour. I wish from my heart end soul that the two petitions could, under tho acts of par.'ament, be referred to one and the same com mittee, and be disposed of at the earns time. The:, however, according to the law of the house, is impoesible, and according to its practice cannot be done, and, therefore, one must submit to two inquires instead of one. I, therefore, shall be exceedingly reluctant to show even the slightest indications of a desire to withdraw from the inquiry, or to postpone the progress of investigation into any of the transactions connected with the last election. I sat perfectly ready to meet them at the earliest moment, on 'fetich the issue can be joined. I thought it my duty to eall your attention to the position in which we are placed, sad to say that I appear under protest as not ackuowledg hag the jurisdiction of the committee in the matter. Mr. Alexander, Q.C., for the petitioners, observed that the hon. member had made no specific application, but had merely stated what he should do. No doubt the com mittee and the parties were iu an anomalous position. The inquiry, however, was directed against both the sitting members. It would not be inconvenient to refer both the petitions to this committee. Sir A. Cockburn—That cannot be done ; the act of par liament obliges you to take them in order. Mr. Alexander—l have no objection to Sir Alexander Coekburn proceeding under protest. The committee deliberated, and The Chairman said, the committee consider that the petition having been referred to them by the house, they must proceed with it in the usual way. The corawittce have no application before them. Sir A: Cockburn It is ua lerstcod I appear under protest. 1