Star. — London, England, 1824-03-26 00:00:00

m en opposhet—the Chaneellor of the Exchequer had manfully brought forward his plan for the relief of the Public, and the moment that had passed, and half the wirdose tax had been repealed, the Commissioners of t ar s went to work to endeavour to bring what re mained of the Assessed Taxes up to the former amount of the whole. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had. sanctioned this proeee.siing from a wish to equalize the duties. But what became of this principle, when he (Mr. Maberly) brought forward his motion relative to the duties on malt and bee;.? The measure now-taken to equalize the Assessed Taxes would, he doubted, finish by increasing the bode tax from 25 to 50 per cent. He was glad to find the people began to under stand what was meant by equalizing. He thought the Right Honour:able Gentleman ought to have looked if it were not possible to reduce the House Tax before he expended 900,0001. on building Churches and repairing Palaces, and before he made that injurious contract with the Bank, by which 1400,0001. was lost to the 'Public. He wished the Sinking Fund to be abandoned, and if that fraudulent Sinking Fund were properly ap plied, the 3,900,00(1. raised by the Assessed ;faxes might be remitted to the public. The people would apply the amount better than by purchasing. Stock at 901. or 951. which had been created for 551. The Chart alor of the Exchequer could not continue to go on at this rate. Some such measure as had been suggested ought to be adopted, and he 'thought when anything of the kind was propo►ed, it ought not to meet with such unmannered treatment (he did not impiste it to the Right fonourable Gentleman) as to be laughed at. The CHANCELLOR of 'the _EXCHEQUER was obliged to offer a few words, though •it was not a con venient mode of bringing into dehate such a variety Or subjects. As to the unmannered conduct complained of, if the notice of the lloaourable Gentleman had called forth a smile tram that side of the House, he did not know that he jthe Chancellor of the Exchequer) had joined in it, and he believed it wholly to have arisen from his having fixed it for a day on which the House never sat—the day ou which his Majesty's Birth was ' , celebrated:ll then the Honourable Gentleman charged him with acting the unmanly part desCribed, he could not plead guilty to the charge. Neither could he admit that he was well grounded in supposing the survey which had been ordered was to increase the amount of the Assessed Taxes; as he had already stated the real object of it was to reduce the tax if pOssible, and thus save the people money instead of taking it from them. Mr. 3IABERLY had not said the Chancellor of the' Exchequer himself laughed when his (Mr. Maberly's) notice was given; but it by what he had now said he meant to get rid of the charge for his colleagues, he (Mr. Maberly) begged most distinctly to say, that when he gave Ilk notice they did laugh—( A laugh.) Mr.•HUME wished the Right Honourable Gentle-' man to take off all the Assessed Taxes. Sir T. LETHBRIDGE hoped in. another year to get rid of the Assessed Taxes. .lie thought it possible to do without them. Without giving up the Window Tax, however, there was a way of relieving the public by allowing all windows which had been *topped up on account Of the ttx to he now opened, without exposing the inhabitants of the houses to which they belonged to an addizional charge. This relief might be afforded with great advatitnge to the public, and without injury-, to the revenue. Mr. N. - CALVMT would not call for the repeal of the Assessed Taxes, till the duties on malt, salt, coals, candles, and all exciscable articles had been en tirely taken cf. Sir J. YORKE said, if the Honourable Gentleman nho badjust spoken would pledge himself that mann factuied articles would be' sold one peony cheaper iii consequence of the repeal of those duties which he wished to see abandoned,'he (Sir J. Yorke) would j- in band in hand with him to call for their redaction.— The Petition was ordered to be printed. EDUCATION IN IRELAND. Sir J. NEWPORT rose to call the attention of the House to a subject of considerable importance, which required not eloquence to entitle it to their attention--; the state of EAucation in Ireland. In discussing this subject, he would abstain from everything likely to create an acrimonious feeling, and view the improprie. ties which had occurred, as the result of measures adopted with the best intentions. He stated this subject to have been taken up in 1787, and described the mea sures pursued in consequence of the determination then come to by the Government and Parliament of Ireland. An Act had passed to give effect to the resolutions to which he had alluded, which was continued by two other Acts f Parliament up to the year 179 G, when the last of them was suffered to expire. In 1806 thesub ject wa s a:taiii taken uo ; Commissioners were appointed among whom aas found that great name for Irelast& the name of lir. Grattan. Thee reports were made by the Commissioners at different peri , als, which came before that House in April, 1809.. He then noticed rice appointment 01 - Commissioners of Education in 1812, read passages from sonic of their Reports, and strongly supported their recommendation that Cie people of Ire land should be educated under the sauce system, and under the same est iblishment, that all classes might avail themselves of the advantages of instruction.— This could only be effected by avoiding all religious tenets, and even the appearance of seeking to make proselytes. It would appear, upon an examination of the Royal Schools, that they were in an imperfect state, very expensive, and having very few scholars. Where the Roy al munificence had extended endow men ts, tuition eight to be moderate Ia its expense, and rendered easily available. There was a great objection in the body of the people to have gratuitous instruction for their chil dren, and when such an honourable feeling existed among the people, it was still more the duty of the Le gislature to extend education upon the lowe.t possible charge. The Right Hon. Baronet then read extracts from the 14th Report, shewing the anxious disposition of the people to give education to their children, and the opinions of individual Gentlemen appended to that Report, as to the proper regulations for general national ;drools. They recommended that no religious distinc t( ms should be made, and that the children should be ~•Ight the four great point, of duty towards GOD, duty towards each other, duty towards their country, and . t'-ity towards the Government. l By the last returns it wa s see,, that at the endowed schools there were very few lice scatilars. They round six in one, thirteen in :;nother, and nine in another. Now lie considered that where the Royal munificence had provided emolument! for the masters, the rerins, ought to be so moderate as to Come.withill the common Means of the great body of tie people. The Right Hon. Baronet alluded to.the Report s of some Loudon Companies, the Fishmongers Lid Drapers, upon the subject of Education in Ireland: : 1 3d stated that the soundness of their principles and the c ( Trectness of their views would do honour to any Statesmen in Europe. This. was not his own opinion merely, but one which had also been declared by his Noble Friend, the Chancellor of the University pf Ox ford. He was afraid that a good deal of jealousyand distrust had been exp r e sse d I n I re l an d upon t h e su bj ect of extending education. But it was culy just for the House to make allowance, and remember that they were PrOtestants, and that they were legislating` for a large majority of people holding different religious opi nions. It was their duty to endeavour to abate the . jealousy, and not to ma k e i t a groun d f or re f us i ng t h e education. It appeared that education was making some progress, and that a great many schools had been established upon private foundations. There was an individual, humble in rank, an inhabitant of the city he had the honour to represent, who was originally a butcher, and thence becoming a drover, had realised a certain quantum of _property which he devoted to the support of schools. As a mark of the benefit which these schools conferred upon society, he would mention that the Quakers always rook the boys educated at them in preference to any others, for their good moral and orderly conduct. In Tuam there were 116 Roman Catholic schools, and in another diocese 159, containing together 21,000 scholars, who were taught readin'g, writing, and arithmetic, at the rate of twenty shillings per year each. He felt it was the duty of the Legisla ture to undertake this subject, and he saw two modes in which it might be done. The one was by a Com mittee of the House, the o the r by a Comm ission to pto ceed to the spot, And to report their opinions . to the House. A Committee, he was aware, would better attract the public attention of this country to the subject, but a Commission was preferred by those who were en trusted with the Government of the country, and whose peculiar care it was to watch over its tranquillity and happiness. 'lme was another ground upon which he, made up his mind, in favour of a Commission ; anJ that' was the great advantage which Ireland had derived from the labours of two other Commi-sions, which were appointed to inquire into the Courts of Justice and the . Revenue of Ireland. Of the good which had been done by the latter, and of the readiness with which the Go vernment had carried its recommendations into effect, it was impossible that any man could say too much in praise. After thanking the House for its attention, the Right Hon. Baronet concluded by moving " That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, praying that he will he graciously- pleased to issue a Commission under the great seal for inquiring into the nature and extent of the several institutions in Ireland, established for the purposes of education, and how far they are either wholly or in part supported by the public funds; for inquiring into the state of the diocesan and district schools, and the nature of the instruction there given; for ascertaining what regulations will be fitting for the parochial schools, and to report such measures as can be adopted for extending the benefits of education to all parts of the people; and that his Majesty will be gra ciously pleased to order and direct the prikeedings of such Commission to be laid before Parliaments", Mr. GOULBURN highly complimented the temper and moderation of the conciliatory speech by which the Right Honourable Baronet had prefaced his motion. If education was a subject of high importance here, how much more was it,so in Ireland, where its first object was to raise the people to a level in acquirements and tranquillity with the people of this country. He agreed with the Right Honourable Baronet, that all irritating topics ought to he avoided when treating of this ques tion, and he should 'think himself highly culpable if he made use of any cxpeessions calculated to disturb the unanimity which ought to prevail. The greatest anxiety was known tu.exi.t on the part of the people of Ireland to procure education, and great progress towards af fording it had certainly been made. The attention of the higher classes had been mote called to the )übject, AnfitbeLegiblature had liLewise seen the necessity of interposing. He should content himself with express ing his concurrence in the motion, and with once more ' acknowledging .the temperate, judicious,, and manly speech with which the Right Honourable Baronet had introduced it to the House: Mr. J. SMITH - saidithat in consequence of the man ner in which the motion bad been met, he should not detain the House with what he had intended to say upon the subject.. He felt grateful for the concession which the Government had made; but while speaking upon the subject of education in Ireland, he could' not help expressing his surprise at the manner in , which the House had heretofore neglected it. He recollected hearing, some years ago, a very eloquent speech . from a . Right Honourable Ge n tleman, a t th a t ti me connected with Ireland, setting forth the advantages of education. But he had since husked in vain for the -effects of any practical measures adopted by that Right Honourable Gentleman in an improved tranquillity of the country. Tney could never expect the people of Ireland to change their habits, unless they taugnt them how to do better. To use a familiar comparison, they had their dogs and their horses trained before they expected them to con tribute to their pleasure or use; but man—man alone, was to be left a prey to his own natural vices and follies ; and then came hanging or transportation for acts which they had not taught him to avoid. While people were kept in this state of darkness, and we neglected to edu cate them, he protested against the application of our bloody and ferocious laws. He confessed that he should have preferred the appointment of a Committee before sending out a Commission. A Committee of that House; he thought, was always sure to get at the whole truth of anything that came before them. He trusted that in the nomination of the Commission, the Government would exercise that candour .and fairness which alone could make its services of value. Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that from the course which 'the debate had taken, he should not have troubled the House, but for an observation addressed personally to him by thellonourable Gentleman opposife, who charged Rini with having made a speech in favour of education, and then with not having acted upon it, because they saw no consequent increased tranquillity in Ireland. He begged to observe, that whatever might have been done since that period, the visible effects of education could not yet be expected to appear. But he wasanxious to convince thf Honourable Member that he had not neglected to act'up to, the sentiments expretsed in . that speech. The thirteen Reports of the Commissioners contained ac - cou:its- of abuses existing In endowed schools, and the fourteenth retommended plans fOr a general s) stern of education. With tespett to the thin, teen first Reports, he brought in the Act .which Pre : vented the tecutreace of the abuses they exposed. Afier turning the other part of the subject in his mind 3rith the greatest anxiety, he was afraid that the Uten state of _public feeling would not peruitt that he.shoold Propose another Act fur the appointment-of Gominissiouers to regulate the education "of Ireland. There was at that period so much diarost and jealousy, abroad, that he felt, instead of advapcing the cause of education, he should only be doing- it disservice. To shew the extent of progress'which education was making In Ireland, mentioned that a society, composed of persons of dif ferent religious persuasions, established in 1816, 320 schools. Their object was to have a system which would at the earliest period of age unite the Protestant and Ca tholic, so that they might afterwards grow up in amity. He wished to see the instruction in such schools founded upon true Christian principles, but far religious doc trines to be left to the Pastors of the different sects. In the Society he had named, the number of - schools grew in two or. three years to 513 ; the next year it was 727, and last year the number increased to 1100. There' were other institutions in the country which had like wise forwarded the interests of education. The beit way, therefore, was to examine into their several merits, and adopt such plans as appeared most eligible. Let them inquire—let them appoint Corn mi • sioners whom they could rely, and then they should know how to act with safety and with satisfaction. He agreed that the I: utility of the measure would greatly depend upon the constitution of the Commission. • Mr. BROWNLOW thought the only hope for Ire land was in a liberal and eonifilete system of clucation. lie should object to any plan which did not combine and unite the Protestant and Catholic in one ezablisli mein. Any attempt at having separate schools, for the ,wo classes, lie should consider as a wretched and wicked system of perpetuating the feelings 9f animosity which every honest man desired to suppress. lie would never consent to any specious plan of morality with.,ut religion; for although instances were pointed out, such AS Mr. Hume and whets, of men who were good moral characters without religion ; yet he defied any man to point nut to hi rib the people iOto were ever permanently great and happy, where religious instruction did not form a par tof t h eir education. He wished it to be distinctly understood that he desired no conversion or proselytism, and bast of all the conversion of boys at school. The Ilonourable Member concluded by con,- plimenting the Right Hon. Baronet upon the manner in . which be had brought forward the motion, and ex pressed great pleasure in Pgreeing with his opinions„— The motion was then carried unanimOuslys . LABOURING POOR. Lord JOHN RUSSELL presented a Petition from Matthew Phil i ipi, civil engineer, praying that the House would order an inquiry into the condition of the labour . poor.—Ordered tobe . printed. Lord JOHN RUSSELL then prefaced the following Motion by a few obseiiatiods— " That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the condi tion of the Labouring Classes, with a view to the practice of paying the wages of Labourers out of the Poor -rates, and to report their observations thereupon to the House." Mr. Secretary PEEL suggested that some alteration in the wording of the Motion would be necessary, as it proposed to inquire into the condition of the labouring classes without limit—a sea on which they would be embarking as it were without chart or compass. He thought it•would be better to have the following words : " That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into a pr:actice which prevails in wine parts of the country or paying wages for labour out of the Pool...rates, and to consider what measures may be carried into ettecuilnbfor theptupose of altering that practice." Lord JOHN RUSSELL adopted the prOpOsed words, the Motion was agreed to,, and a Committee was ac cordingly.appointed. SILK DUTIES RILL. - The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the third reading of the Silk• Duties Bill. Mr. DAVENPORT made a few observations upon the Bill.—After a few words from Mr. BRIGHT, Mr. P. MOORE thought more time ought to be given than was proposed, by way. of •experiment.—The Bill was then read a third time and passed. GAME LAWS. Mr. S. WORTLEY moved:the recommitment of the Game Laws Amendment Bill.—Agreed to. -And •the Rouse being in a ComMittee, some verbal Amendments were agreed to. On the Clause describing the anfinali to be treated as game, Lord MILTON objected to the enumeration of those animals in the Bill which had not been declared game by the Common Law. He had several other objections *to other clauses in the Bill, but he did not wish any legislation to take place on the- subjecti for any enact ments that might be _made would only cumber the Statute Book, and increase the rig - our and odium with which the Ganie Laws were viewed by the people of `this country. .There was one clause particularly, and which gave scope and direction to the whole clausei, which he could not pass over in silence, viz. that v..hicli vested the owner of fifty acres of land with the pro : . perty of the game which was found oh it. This was giving a power which was dangerous in its effects. If in any country a code of laws were obnoxious to the great mass of'the people, and if they were so flamed :hat their execution was left to a small number of per sons, surely the.weight of them would be increased ten fold by multiplying the number 'of prosecutors. He wished this clause to be altered or modified in some shape or other. • Mr. S. WORTLEY had never - meant that the animals mentioned in the Clause should be regarded as Game. By the Bill, a man who ' had a foot of land could shoot Game. Mr. BERN A L thought the Clawe should be accurately worded, else the taking away the animals might be regarded as felony. Sir J. SEBRIGHT said, the Game Laws were unpopular, be cause they gave to one what should be the property of mmiy. He thought a more popular measure could not be brought forward..--. At present, no man, unless he was the son of aft Esquire, could shoot a hare in his own defence—( • Laughter). Mr. MONCK wished all the animals not regarded as Game by the Common Law should be excfiiiiM thiii the Clause. • - Mr. S. WORTLEY said he hacr,itsi Okit•etion ; and the Clause, so amended, was agreed to. ' ' Mr. GOULBURN said, be should' oppose the Clause that gave away the property; •ol` the - Game from the Lord of the ;s4inor to the tenant or owner of the soil. Mr. BERNA L contended, that the fights of the Lords of Ma- nors would not be Infringed lay the Bill. Mr. PEEL could not agree with the argument of 'the Noble Lord, to do away all restrictions; to do so, would be to turn the population into an armed multitude, going about killing game, and destroying the'property of others. Mr. S. WORTLEY stas'coniineed it would be impossible to make game a saleable article, and yet preserve the property of it in the handl in which it now was. Sir J. SEBRIGHT pet4ctly agreed with his Hon. Friend, the Member for Yorkshire he thought game should be the property of the man on whose land it wail found. • Whatever might be the fate of this Bill, he was convinced it was a Bill by which the People would be much bet fitted. • • • Mr. G: BA NK ES could not consider this Bill as an experiment. It was nova measure from which, if Once adopted, they coulJ again retreat. It Would, go to throw open vested rights, at present in the hands of a few, to give it to the multitude'. It Would give them a vested right, 'a money right, and one which he did net believe the House either'could or Would attempt to resume. He did not be lieve it would at ail have the Ant of putting an end to poaching, though it niiglit'give another Hameln the offence. Instead orporth ers, we should In - future call them thieves. He opposed the Bill: Lord BINNING also opposed the Bill; although' he wale roue of seeing an alteritton ut the present system. Sir J. SHELLEY opposed fee Bill. ' • After some further couvtisation, the Committee divided-Foi si r the Amer &tient tlt-For the Clause Se—Majority 65.—The Oause was then adopted. After Fome further conversation, the. Cosateisam *reported pro gress, and obtained leave to sit again to-morrow. The other Orders were then disposed ocand the House adjourned at a Quarter before One &Clock. COMMON COUNCIL. A Court of Common Council was held ye , terday at Guildhall, when the Remembrancer presented,the Court with copies of Bills before Parliament, fbr building an iron bridge across the Thames at St. Catherine's ; for building another bridge at II imtnerstnith ; for forming a tunnel under the Thames at Rotherhithe; and for cutting a canal in the neighbourhood of Chelsea ; and stated that application had been made fo-r le tve to briii7. in Bills for building two new sets of docks—viz. the South London Doclzs, and St. Catherine's Docks. These communications were orderedao-be referred to', the Parliamentary Committee", with instructions to watch the progress of these measures in Parliament, and to ieport the proceedings upon them from time to time to this Court. ' THE SPANISH VOTE. Mr. FAV ELL brought. up the. Report of the Com mittee, to which the distribution of the sum of 1,0001. voted in aid of the Spaniards in. June last, had been intrusted. It stated that the committee had paid. the money into the bands of J. Smith, Esq. one of the Treasuters to the Committee of Noblemen and Gentle men Lich met at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, under the impression that it would be most advantageously distributed by those Gentlemen who had taken such a warm interest in the afrairs of the Spaniards, with whom they had opened cornmut;ications for the purpose of as •certaining how they could best apply the funds. Mr. FAVELL, as soon as the Report was read, rose to move, that the Coin., should agree with it. Mr. DIXON rose to order. As the.mover (Mr. James) of the resolution which called for toe report was not present, it would mat be regular to press for its Adop tion in his oh:dice. Mr. l'Aver.r. said, that if Mr. Dixon would pledge hiinsell that Mr. James would be present in the course of the day, he would postpone his motion until he came. Mr. LEDGER said, that if Mr. James had had notice of-this motion, he was certain he would have been here. Thi LORD MAYOR said, every member must be taken to be_acquaiuted with the business before the Court. - Mr. Drxosi said his memory might be very treache rous,.but lie never knew of a motion being made upon any queition in the absence of the member who had Originated it. A Member observed, that it was not stated in the gaper. Mr. DIXON thought, titat even though it had been mentioned in the paper, still it ought to be postponed in colt' tesy to the Gentleman who was absent. The LORD MAYOR said, that the whole of this discus sion was irregular. Ile never knew, long as he had been in that Court, of a report being deferred in deference to the absence of anybodf. - • Mt. DIXON said.it . had always been done; and that there was a standing order that requited it. The LORD MAYOR did not know 'whether the worthy Meniber came here to insult him, as it would seem he did, from his manner upon the present and tc late occa -slon. He had said there.wis a standing order'to that effect, and yet he had not shewit.it. There was no such Standing older. Mr. DixoN rose with a book cobtainingthe .standing orders of the Court, open in his hand, and said, My Lord Mayor, The LORD 'MAYOR (in a loud voice.)—Order, Sir! order. , Mr. DixoN was about DI FOCI:cll. The Loan MAYOR: On a veto still louder).—Sit down, Sit' ! Mr. DIXON (bitting down).— . -1 will sit (hewn, Sir. . You are very polite, My Lord Mayor. The LORD MAYOR.—That is more than I can say of you{ Sir.' Mr. Fatvs:t.s, then proceeded.to justify the vote for the 10001. and concluded by rooting, that the Report of the CoMmittee should be entered on theJeturhals of the Court; which was put and carried without - further opposition. It was then moved and agreed to; that the -an nual appointment of the Committees of this Corporation do hereafter take place at the first court after St. Thomas's Day. Mi. Dams commenced making some observations upon the subject, which we did not hear distinctly. lie was called to order. The LORD MAYOR.--It is very painful for me . to be obliged to internuFt the same individual. so often,. be cause it may appear that I am acting I,ers9nakly .to wards him, which I should be sorry to do towards any man ; but the worthy Member is quite irregular. Mr. DIXON.-1 had made no observ.itions i my Lord Mayor. I had not made any observations.. • All the other business in the paper was then disposed of ; and the Court adjourned. • • The society of the Friends of ]Foreigners in Disttess held their anniversary dinner yesterday, at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate•strect. A highly re spectable company ay.embled on the occasion ; and the evening was spent in the best spirit of sociality. The benevolent objects of the Society were effectually bornp in mind by the company. •The anniversary dinner of the London General Pen sion, Association took place yesterday, at Albion House. The object of this Society is to allow pet manent relief to decayed artisans and mechanics, and their widows. The festival was attended by a most respectable company. Monies to be paid within the year on Foreign Loans, contracted otabout to be contracted for French .- 110,000,000 Mexican Dutch - - 2,000,000 Ditto, new Colombia 4,000,000 Spanish BrAxil - - 2,500,000 Mines - , Portuguese 1 500,000 I Neapolitan Austrian 500,000 1 Greek A 42,500,000 5,000,000 5,000,000 500,000 2,900,000 5004.40 Peruvian - Buenos` Ayres - 2,000,000 1,000,000 Of which £13,000,000 are contracted, viz. Greek - £392,000 Mexican - 1,21.6,4:90 Peruvian. Portuguese - 705,000 I. Sterling Money X 38,000,000 :o be paid on Loans already French - 1'9,935,542 Futuo payments 212,96.8,542 . - . • A G entleman in Lond. cin . itas receigeoti a lette r from a friend at Naples, dated May ti, from which the following ,is an extrartl-- I mu:t turn your attention to the ' , flowing—Cap. tau Krenshaar, of the 4th.fte,ginient of the flae; in the services/ his linpstilil Majesty the Foi l it;ror of Ausl . sia o ascd 44 years has been bald e,ver since the ai;t e of ts. lle . wat recuano . cnded to Sly 114)Waltilii hIACAS;AR . OII.. by a t ;entft man %%a) hail already tapes rieoCed its good effects. I h some of nit of. the'llat re ceived taunt England, and perstvcryd iu applyirg it. In less than two months his hair new on the•hald parts, and is now very thick: - The eapt4tin is highly pleam.il, and hasspread its fames Otiglise,. ybu the deniand for that artittc it very, great. I must big OL ypu to send esupply without 10S3 of tinte."-- , •The 'above eittettt another ciarrotiossithio additional to ishundrtid others,' of the Ida-' lible properties which 4uwlatitr.s Macassar <XI possesses in regene rating the flair. The particulars of this astonishing, f a ct may ise,. ltiily known by application to the Proptietors, 20, Hatton-garden: . " I -,I ! !.. j :1 •