Star. — London, England, 1828-02-29 00:00:00

Z ~ `"' --•- . C 41 I) / 4) . A ) I t , %Iv t~ FRIDAY EVENLNG, FEBRUARY 29, 1828. NusIBER 121799.] FRENCH PAPERS. FILIAL TIC BAILIFFS DI FRANCE, DATED FEB. 27. The Austrian Observer contains the following at tide from Constantinople, dated January 25: " The rigorous measures which have been executed for this fortnight past against the Armenians in this I capital have excited great consternation among the Christians. Though the cause of these proceedings is not well known, the following facts may throw some light on the subject : " The Armenian Christians, who have been sepa• rated-ever since the sixteenth century, as well horn the Greek as from the Roman Church, have four Pa triarchs ; the first of whom, who also calls himself Ca tholicos, resides in the celebrated Convent of Etchtniadv Eine, some miles from Erivan ; two others in Asia Minor; and the fourth in the province of Schirwan, which Persia ceded to Russia in 1813. These Patriarchs have under them a certain number of Archbishops and Bishops. The Archbishop, who is at the head of the • Armenians at Constantinople, has the honorary title of ' Pa riarch. " lii the emitse of the eighteenth century a great number of Armenian communities voluntarily rejoined • the Kentish Church, and recognised the .nptemacy of the Pope, and the principal dogmas of the Church, retaining a part of their ritual, without, however, having ever made any public or collective act of union. These united Armenians are very numerous in the Turkish provinces in pasticul,r. Ti.eir prin cipal residence in Asia Minor is at Angola. The Porte has never formally recognised their *eta ions with Rome; nor has granted them (at least in the Capital) separate churches; and always considered them a , being of the same religion as the Armenian Arch-. bishop or honorary Patriarch, and under his protection. They have, besides, enjoyed unlimited toleration, which was never violated except in the years 1781 'and 1819, when a Patriarch, who was hostile to them, endeavoured to discredit them with the Government. 44 The province of Erivan having, in the last cam paign. fallen into the hands of Russia, and the Patriarch d'Etchnliadaine become a vassal of that Power, the Porte received information from the Itontiers of Persia, of a considerable emigration of Arme...nian Christians, who bad gone into the Russian territory under the pro. tcction of their Patriarch. We cannot decide how far this news was well founded. Nevertheless, in the present state of uneasiness. suspicion, and irritation, in which the Porte now is, such a circumstance was sufficient to make the Sultan angry. The Patriarch was asked how far he could answer for the fidelity of the flock cern twitted to his charge? He answered, that he wou'd guarantee the fidelity of those of his own communion, bat not that of the Armenians, who were strangers, and wholly unknown to him. Upon this the or der issued, which enjoined all the united Armenians who had come during a long period of many years from Angora to Constantinople, to quit that capital in twelve days, and return to Asia. This order was executed_ with the greatest rigour. Nearly at the same time the Armenian Patriarch assem bled in the principal church, the principal of the Ar menian Catholics established at Constantinople; exhorted them to abjure their errors, and their strange doctrines, and acquainted them with the will of the Sultan no longer to tolerate them as a dissident sect. At the same time he communicated the order to quit their habitations in Pere and Galata, in the vicinity of the European Mi nisters. and the Foreign Legations, and to settle in the interior of the city, in the quarters inhabited by the non-united Armenians." IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF OF LORDS, Fes. so. The Lean CUAPCILLOII took his seat on the Woolsack at S o'clock. Lord DACRE presented Petitions for the Repeal of the Test sod Corporation Acts from the Protestant Dissenters of Harrow, in the County of Bedford ; of Olney, in the County of Bucks ; of Kenning Halt, Norfolk ; of Ware, in the County of Harts; of Newport. Essex; of Sawbridgeworth, Herts ; of Little Waltham, EMI; of Chelmsford; of Hitchin, Herta ; of Wimley, in the same County; of Sutton Walton; oTurling, Essex; and of other laces. Ea At Gees!: and other Members announced, that leave had been gives to Sir W. Rae, Bart. to attend the Committee of their Lordships on the Game Laws, if he shall so think Sc. The House then adjourned. - HOUSR OF COMMON& A Person from the Chief Secretary of Ireland's Office brought ep an Account of Bank Notes in circulation. The Cranbourn Chase Disfranchisement Bill was read a first time. Mr. BERNAL brought up the Report of the Committee on the Covent Garden Select Vestry After a few words front Mr. Hosnown, Load W. Raimi., Mr. Huse, and Mr. Lamm% the Report was ordered to lie on the Table. Sir W. GUISE presented a Petition from Hereford, against tke Test and Carpet:titian Acct.—Ordered to be printed. Mr. H. HUTCHINSON presented a Petition from St. Mary's Parish, Cork„frons the Roman Catholics of Tipperary, and yarrow other places, in favour of Emancipation.—Ordered to be printed. Mr. LOYD presented similar Petitions from the Parish of St. hlary, in the County of Limerkk, from Newcastle and from ether places. He desied that PeOgi Laws were essential to the support of the Constitution. In the abstract such laws must be revolting to the feelings of any people. It was a great mistake to suppose that they were not fek as a heavy pressure by the great body of the Irish population. Tice Petitions were ordered to be printed. Mr. FRENCH presented similar Petitions from three Parishes in the Conoty of Itoeconunon. On the motion of Sir T. ACKLAND, the County Noisiest Reguladon Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be be reads second elate ma Tuesday next. Sr W. HICATHCOTE presented two Petitions from the Comm of Soothaniptesagainit the Test and Corporation Acts.— Ordered to be printed. On theknotioo of Mr. MOOR E, the Irish Bills of /Exchange Bill was read a first tins., and ordered to be read a second time this day fortaight. Oo the motion of the same Honourable Gummier', the Bill for permitting Fire to be used on hoard vessels in Ireland propelled by steam, was rails first time, and ordered to be read a retard tine on Tuesday twat. Mr. HUME presented a Petition from the Roman Catholics of Boyle, la the County of Roscommon, praying for Ernarcipatioo. Ordered us be primed. Mr. POWER presented similar Petitions (tom two Parishes in the County of Waterford. Mr. J. MARTIN presented a Petition from Tewkesbury, pray . lag for the Repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts. Lord MILTON said, this Petition proved the change which had taken place in public opinion on the subject; for not long back a Petition had been presented from the same place agaidirthe mea sure.--Ordered to be printed. Mr. LA WLEY presented a similar Petition from the Dissen• tors of Birmingham and another place. Mr. RUMBOLD presented a Petition from the Mohnen of Great Yarmouth, praying fee the repeal of the Malt Act. Mr. DODS W ELL presented a Petition against the Test and Cot waders Acts, from the Dissenters of Tewkesbury, and others, being members of the Established Church. Mr. PRICE relocated a similar Petition from the Dissenters of Wbitehurch. Mr. LL GRATTAN presented a Petition from certain Rornu Catholics *fare County of Dublin, complaining of the management of the Education Societies, and praying for Emancipation.—Ordered to be printed. Mr. FUMING presented a Petition from the Maketers of Hants against the Malt Act. Mr. 1.. KECK presented a Petition from the Makstera of Lei cester, praying for the repeal of the Malt Att.—Ordered to be printed. GAOL& Lord MORPETH presented a Petition from the Pri soners confined for debt in Horsham Gaol. He bad no connection with the Petitioners. They complained of the seaminess of the accommodations, and of the prison allowance. There were 38 prisoneri altogether. He did not think prisons ought to be places of luxury, but limits should be put to their hardships, and he ex petted much from the general desire for improvement which seemed to prevail. One circumstance in this prison deserved particular attention, the want of sutE. cient classification, and of air and exercise. He trusted the Magistrates of Sussex would inquire into the sub ject. If the interference of the Secretary for the Home Department should be deemed necessary, he felt coufi dent it would not be refused. Mr. HARVEY said he presented a Petition last Ses- ,sion from the same persons, and nearly in the same words. U 1 oh than occasion enough was said by an Hon. M 4 mher, a M igi trace of Sussex, to quiet irquir) at the time, for he dtcl wed the statements were rug gerated. He hoped the matter would receive the at tention of the Right Hon. Secretary (Mr. Peel). Mr. CURTEIS said inquiries had been made in con sequence of a Petition presented last Session. One complaint made then was, that the prisoners were summons &to their various avocatitlns and duties by a whistle. This practice had been done away with. These was a volunteer company going about the prisons in search of grtevancec. They were admitted to all parts of' this prison, and could find little subject for complaint. The chimneys were in part stopped up, but that arose from their having been need as a means of escape. A Special Session was held in consequence of the Petition last Session, and some alterations made, not many. There was a fund out of which the prisoners are as sisted, Now, however, they complained that they were not allowed wine and water—that they were deprived of losuries. The Petition was read, and ordered to be printed. Lord DILINCANNON presented Petitions in favour of Eman cipation. from Listowry, Hurliagford, and nine other places. Sir T. LETHBRIDGE presented a Petition against the Malt Act, from the Mahaters of Taunton, in Somerset. The Act Obated a great deliciency in the Revenue, and did much injury to Else Malts:era. On the motion of Mr. W. PEEL, a Return was ordered of an Persons committed to the various Prisons of England and Wales for the last seven years, distinguhlsing their offences, the number executed, Ste. EDUCATION IN IRELAND. Mr. J. GRATTAN presented a Petition, which, he said, was of great importance. It was on the subject of education, and came from the Catholic Bishops of Ireland. He concurred with them fully in the senti ments expressed in the Petition. What they complained of was, the system of interference now followed. There' was a time when education was prohibited to Roman Catholics, under Elisabeth and succeeding reigns.— That duty was then confided to the Clergy of the Este ed Church, and various foundations for education were formed in consequence. The Commissioners ap pointed some time back, recommended that this whole system should be done away with,.and the fund.directed to a general but national plan of education. Nothing of the kind had been done since. 'There were various societies in Ireland for the furtherance of education, each following its own rules, but the Catholics derived no advantage from them. These rules led to disputes and differences between the Established Clergy and those of the Roman Catholic Church. He should wish to tee the funds voted by Parliament applied to a na tional plan of education. If the present system went on, the greatest evils must result from it. The grants for charter schools had been greatly abused, and the reports of the Commissioners represented them as most mischievous. Still, however, they were continued.— The grants to them in a few years was not less than 1,600,0001. These grants and others, such as that for the discountenancing of vice, should be applied, as he stated before, to some national system of education. If such as plan were adopted, there would, under proper regula tions, be no disposition on the part of the Catholics to expel the Scriptures. He trusted the Right Honoutable Gentleman (Mr. Lamb) would take up the subject. Sir JOHN NEWPORT recommended that his Hon. Friend (Mr. Grattan) should fix some day for this dis cussion. It was a subject of the utmost importance.— The system was now worse than if the House had never interfered at all. He recommended earnestly to the House to enter seriously upon the inquiry as early as possible. The Petition having been read, and the Tuition put that it be hrd upon the table. Mr. W. LAMB said he did not rise for the purpose of entering at any length into the subject. It had, he believed, been brought under the consideration of the H , use twenty years back. Various reports had since that tine been made on it, and various measures pro posed. Another Commission was appointed, not long back, to inquire into the matter, and they also made a report. The length of time which had passed since the question was first agitated,without having been able, up to the present day, to come to any satisfactory result, was a proof of the difficulties in which it was involved. Those difficulties were not now diminished. The Government was not prepared at present to come forward with any measure. He should, however, be prepared to receive from the House whatever assistance they could give upon a point of so much importance. It would, be thought, be better, if some specific propo sition were brought forward, as no great benefit could result from general discussion. Mr. S. RICE said he heard with regret what had fallen from his Right Honourable Friend (Mr. Lamb) . Had be recommended to the House to wait for better timer, he (Mr. Rice) should feel disposed to acquiesce, but it was impossible they could stand still on this sub ject. For his part, he should not concur in the usual annual votes for lrelaad, connected with education, unless he was fiat aware of what was intended to be done. Last Session be put the question to Mr. Can ning, whether a Committee was to be appointed to in quire into the subject of education in Ireland ? The answer of his . Right Honourable Friend was, that he meant to propose a Committee for something tanta mount to it this Session. If no other person took up the subject he should do it himself, aad submit a mo tion for the appointment of a Committee. It something was not done on the subject, be would himself move for a Committee, for he verily believed both the contending ' parties were not only in the wrong, but were inclined to state they were so. He did not give this notice with any adverse feelings to the Government. He wished to conciliate all ; and, as the best means of doing so, unless he were anticipated, he would give the notice he had stated. Colonel WOOD said the best plan would be to withdraw the votes for money from all parties—(Hear. hear).—He hoped every clergyman in Ireland would be obliged to keep his parish school, and then a great saving would be made to the public. Sir H. PARNELL said that the money voted for this subject was shamefully misapplied, and he was sure the Catholics would consider any such vote as an act of hostility to them and to their interest. Mr. F. LEWIS, having served on the Commission to which allusion was made, complained of the exagge rations which had taken place as to the nature of their labours. Their object was to diminish the evil of discord which existed, and not to increase it. That they failed in decreasing it was not th it fault, and it was only to vindicate himself that he now rose to state those few observations. Mr. H. GRATTAN complained of the system by which landlords and their agents would riot let leases, unless the tenant allowed their children to be educated as the landlord thought proper. The object of such a system was to make good Catholics bad Protestants ; and to foment the purposes of faction in Ireland. It was in vain to think that harmony or peace could pre vail in Ireland until this question was set at rest. An idle bundle of reports could do no good; and he trusted the Government of Ireland would attend to it. Mr. MOORE denied the mismanagement of Money, particularly as regarded the Kildare-street Society—a body of men who were entitled to the thanks of every man of sense in both countries. He contended that all education should have the Scriptures as its foundation, without which it would tend to promote rather than discourage immorality. Thu Kildare-street School had now increased to twelve thousand, and the system there adopted met with the approbation of all the intelligent classes in !reload. The Petition was then ordered to be printed, after a few further remarks front Mi. GIIATTAK, expressing' his regret that the Government were not prepared to pay more attention to the subject.' Mr.S. RICE gave notice that be would move fors Select Com mittee to 'wake into the su►ject of Education in Ireland, on tint I tth of March neat. POLICE Or THE METROPOLIS. Mr. Secretary PEEL, in bringing forward his motion relative to the Police of the Metropolis, spoke as fol lows:—I am desirous, Sir, of calling the attention of the House to a subject which at first view may appear to be of limited operation, and to embrace considera. l tions merely local; but, on further reflection, I entertain no doubt whatever that it will be looked on as involving matters of the very utmost importance. The subject s to which I shall primarily advert are the increase of crime in the metropolis and the districts adjoining, and the state of the police, and the establishments connected with the police, in London and its vicinity--I mean those that are connected with it for the prevention of crime. In the early past of last Session, I gave notice of my intention of proposing so this House to institute an inquiry into the state of the police s but the circuma stances connected with my retirement from office pre vented that inquiry from being followed up as it would otherwise have been ; and after the Easter recess it was too late for those on whom that duty naturally devolved to bring forward this subject in Parliament. The Noble Lord, the Member for Brandon, proposed to the House to institute an inquiry into the state of crime and police, I may say, throughout every part of the nation. That inquiry was for some time prosecuted with con siderable effect, and much useful information obtained. Thus the foundation was laid of ulterior proceedings, and probably that Noble Lord may think it expedient to revive the subject before the end of the present Ses sion. The objects of his inquiry were threefold--the causes of the increase of crime in the agricultural dis tticts, in the manufacturing districts, and in the metro polis. Of these three, the first was the only branch in which the inquiries were prosecuted to such an extent as enabled the Committee to make a report.As respected the manufacturing districts, no evidence has been adduced, nor any information communicated to the House. The stablest of crime and police in the metroptiis was not at all touched upon by this Committee, and it is that, the third branch of the inquiry, which' shallon the present occasion desire to bang under the consideration of the House. In thus setting,on foot an inquiry, with a view to trace, and if possible discover, the means of prevent ing in some degree the increase of vime in the metro polis, t shalt notice in the first place the number of commitments and cons ictions in London and its vicinity, previously to doing which, however, I must be permit ted to observejthat no inquiry could be mote loudly or more urgently called fur, by circumstances, than one which should have for its ohject to diminish the clime of the metropolis, and to place its police upon a letter footing than it has hitherto stood. The information which has impressed this persuasion upon my mind, is derived from a source of the highest authority ; indeed, the facts are so evident Mid S;) notorious, that they admit not of the slightest doubt or controversy ; and it is im possible for any one to be acquainted with them withcut feeling perfectly satisfied that the degree of security of person and property, but chiefly of property, is sot such as ought to be enj eyed by the inhabitants of this me-, tropolis and its vicinity. I repeat, Sir, that in London ' and the districts immediately adjoining it, there is not that protection for the subjects of the realm which every subject is entitled to who yields allegiance to a State.— Ike facts which lead me to this conclusion are not alone , derived from experience, not alone from local informa tion, but from official Returns prepared in the office of the Secretary of State foi the Home Department. and formerly laid upon the table of this House. These Returns exhibit in the most striking form the increase of crime in those distt lets ; they are confined exclusively to those districts, and when compared with the popula tion, will be found to bear a most unusual proportion. I am now, Sir. speaking of the increase of came in Lon don and its viciwity. With that which has taken place. and I fear is going forward, in the country, I shall not at present trouble the House. I should propose to postpone that till the other has been satisfactorily dis posed of. I shall now read some extracts from the Re. turns laid un the table . commitments in London La taw lalt ISM 1113 During these four the numbers materiall; year 1823,as compared of 270. In 1824, namely, from 2,503 that I am confining serious character, It of offence of a petty stated, the numbers 2,902; in 1826, the' amounted to 3,457 pared with the preced the numbers being increase in 1826 w; 1827 so small, that t to justify our dispen: (Hear, hear). In :time, I mean numeric; %atisfactory to refieCr aggravated charactr quart, and that, generai these returns embr 1820. it will be 2.773—in 1826. 3. In that class of °few in 1820, the numbers exhibiting a difference numbers of those yr 634; hence it is ev , only made up that not only constitutei much more, for have been materi, Some time since I tion of the state of of the Continent. ing Berlin, Paris, I have also procured of crime in the in; dom—in London— Dublin—in Edinbnri turns. I admit. are curiosity than any ' may be instituted different places, as offences, do not infetences can be very ingenious esti, different parts of sieur Peyronnet, for obtainin4 col and has availed tent. I have eat they are limited to in so detailed and worthy of regard, to call the attention calculations which minute and exact be obtained, of the mina! justice in Fr. offenders, the oat: curious and instruct In addition to chit proportion of crime lropos t, of criminals as contrasted with the. amount of popula tion, distinguishing between the number of -42ffeuces committed against the person and against proper ty.— Along with this they describe the nature of the respec tive offences, and detail * great number of circuits stances connected with the state of crime in different parts of France, which are not less curious than instruc. tive. With the assistance of the accounts, and of Be. turns of the state of crime in this country. I have en. deavoured to compare the offences committed in Paris with those perpetrated in London. I have made the comparison in reference not only to the amount of crime, but to the amount of population in the two capitals.... The last census of the population of Pal it? was taken in 1817. In the year 1320 it was admitted that the num. bens in that capital uere pretty neatly the same as is 1817, no material variation having taken place in the interim. In 1817, then, according to an exact account then taken of the population of Paris, the numbers will stead thus— Permanent population within the barters . atm Variable population in Prisons, in 43 Military Estahli I. aunts, and 49S Bowls . 54,714 Total villain the barriers . 713,94t1 Or say In rollanlillinhers seven hundred and hones" thousand. In addition to this there are contained— . _ ~,.. ."' ) -•;•?atA '!_-_, ..,i "•-.. ~ ‘,.. -m k, Y:4l - 4 - - ce • , , - . - ...._ _ . .t 1 . • : t ' ' '144%144. , .: .. [PRICE SZVEMO2I4OI. - ' ~-, . ,—...— es, ,ble of this House, of convictions gird ondon and Middlesex: D ate namben were' s,rts 1 • . smo , r I . . 2,5112 3 . . 2,503 ur years, the House will observe that , rially varied. The numbers is * the . ared with 1820, exhibited a difference , there was a progressive increase, 1 4 6 to 2.621. The House will observe, .1 P , I g myself exclusively to crimes of a ' • [speak - net ofassaults, nor any species Y . y nature—in 1824, as I have already , rrs were 2,621 ; in 1825, they were ley increased so rapidly as to haye ..- --1 ; in 1827, however, there was, corn. I )1: 'ceding year, a diminution of 76 / • . in the latter only 3 881; still the 1 • i : . i was so large, and the diminution in t this circumstance affords no ground ensing with the proposed inquiry— I ''' viewing this vast accuinnlation of t l il rnerically considered, it is estremsly P , &let that none of them are of an ter—that murder cases are not fee- t merally speaking, the aeons which i ( r ' :, ce are connected with property. In , retollected that the numbers were I.4s7—exhibiting a difference of 664. Fences denominated simple larcenies, bers were 1,3144—in 1826, 2,118-- 1. ence of 734. Now, between the total years there war a difference of only #;, + rident that the crime of larceny not ri it difference, but went beyond it. It ted the whole of the inerea,e, but the other classes of offences mast t' 01' jelly diminished in that interval. took measures for obtaining intornia• .. - F increase of crime in the large towns . I have obtained information respect- Vienna, Antwerp, and Hambargh. ' ,: f red returns connected with the state principal towns of the United King- n—in Glasgow—in Liverpool—. inrgh, and other places. These re- I . . • tre in many cases more matters of , .'r r thing else. The comparisons that t , between the relative conditions of ' '-r- -, sit regards the commission of criminal 4 1 t • always form grounds from which . safely and correctly drawn. Sisine h estimates of the state of crime in France, have been made by -Mon- who has had excellent opportunit:es °nett information on the subj•ct, himself of them to no small ea-- Retained these tables, and although likt :o the year 1825, yet they ate presented id perfect a form that they ate nel,l trd, and I shall therefore venture anionof the Hone to some of tare ts I . - they contain. They give a moie f 1 ct account than is in most cases ea he state of the administration of esti. r France.. The names and ages of the r rite of their crimes, and a vast deal of uctive details, are contained in them. I his, they comprehend accounts of-ti.e ne in each department, the proportion :. t ontra,ted with the. amount of pokrula- f 1 . no . . between the number of-offences f Is the fatvironsof Paris Which. added to the foregoing, gives for the population of Paris and the Department of the Seine a popula tion of eSI 656 • • . 101,740 This, Sir, was the state of the population cf Yat s and its Ealing): in the year 1817. In 1820, as I have alueady stated, it is supposed to have been about the same; but these can be little or no doubt dust in the yea 1824 a considerable increase had :Asa place in the population, for we find the births in the latter period considerably exceeding rho e that occurred in the former. Owing to this and other causes, lam of opinion that the population of Pails has of late years increased in amount : In 1524 the number of bit the were . In 1820 the births amounted to . . 31,300 . 28,6440 Excess of births to 1824 novo 1820 • • 2,700 Allowing then for the increase which may have taken place by births and other causes, between the years 1820 and 1824, perhaps it will nit be assuming too much to suppose that in the hitter year the population of Paris and its environs amounted to 900,000. lam new talking of Paris, and the department of the Seine, for great mistakes may arise from confound ing together the population of the t wo w h en on l y speaking of that of the one. Thus, then, the account stand: population of Paris in the years 11117 and 1520 . 714,000 Population of Puts and the ,department of the Seine in Iss4 and 1525 . . . . 000"0 So much it was necessary to premise in relation to the population of Paris. I have now to add, that iu France there are three descriptions or distinct classes of criminal jurisdiction-- Ist. That which is carried on by the Cosa tr.:Wm. 541. By the /Wire Chrrectienneile. 3d. By the Java de raiz, or Simple Police. Of these, the tour d'Assises takes cognisasett Hof offences of the grosser and more enormous kind, eel.- mitted against persons and property, and is autborisad .diSiN. ~~..•:+. I' 1 , i , 110 $ L