Star. — London, England, 1830-07-02 00:00:00

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. DESTRUCTION OF SINGAPORE BY FIRE! Singapore, Feb. 13. We regret much to have to announce the total destruction by fire of a great portion of our town, on the night of Sunday last the 7th inst. Itcomrnenced between eight and nine, and raged with great vio lence till three in the morning, during which time it reduced to ashes not less than 140 houses. Many of them, being situated in Market-street, and occupied by our principal native shopkeepers, contained much valuable property, of which but little was saved. The flames spread with such rapidity, it was thought that *Commercial-square (where our premises are,) u well as most of the European establishments on our side of the river, would go; but the wind happened most providentially to shift a little, turned the !lames in another direction, and our house and Godwin's, as well as your goods therein, thank GOD, remained uninjured.-- Since the calamitous event we, as well as almost all the European gentlemen in the place, have been kept at it night and day, first in : watching and extinguishing the fire, and afterwards in searching for stolen property (of which a large quantity has been found); so that all business for the last week has been at a stand.—No estimate the loss has yet been made. Some suppose it from 400,0001. to 500,0001. sterling. We do not think it so much, but we make no doubt the antount is such that it will take Singapore some time to recover. The principal sufferers, it is expected, provided the Euro pean houses continue to support them, and grant some indulgence in liquidation of their debts, will ultimately pay the whole. We sincerely trust it may be so. SPIRIT OF THE JOURNALS. Mits.—The intentions of the Ministers concerning the busi. neu in Parliament were explained on Wednesday to both Houses. It is the intention of the Ministers to pus the beer bill and spirit duties bill; to drop the stamp consolidation bill, and the ecw equity judge bill ; to abandon Mr. Goulburn's graduated scale of sugar duties, and to pass instead, an act to reduce the duty on West India sugar three shillings, and that on East India Fve shillings per cwt. Having done this, there is to be a tem. pantry vote on the account of the civil list. The bill for the incorporation of Wales with the English circuits, the Ministen trust will pass. The bill for ascertaining and fixing the incomes of the patent offices connected with the administration of justice, Sir R. Peel also hopes to get through the two houses. All the other bills which have been introduced by Ministers or other Members, are postponed till the meeting of another Parliament. The reason given by the Ministers for not bringing forward the questions on the Civil List and the Regency, is the inconvenience of pro. pounding topics which will require so much discussion at this sea. son of the year, and with an imminent dissolution in prospect. — On the question of the Civil List, Sir R. Peel alleged, that the Ci. vil List admitted of so much improvement, that it would be impos. ethic for the Government to prepare a well-digested plan before the time for the dissolution arrived. We confess we did not see any great difficulty in the case of the Regency, till we read some of the speeches of the Opposition Members. We considered, and still consider, the case a straight...forward one ; but if so many points as arc raised by several Speakers in both Houses are to be debated, Ministers must have seen no hope of a termination of the discussion within any reasonable or definite time. Cuaoriter.E..—The demise of the " Birmingham Free School Bill" was erroneously presumed. It appears to have been a case of suspended animation and premature interment. The " Governors,' notwithstanding the decision of the Lords' Com mittee, in the polite intimation conveyed by the original adjourn. went of a fortnight, proceeded with their obnoxious measure, on the expiration of their period of penance. In the mean. while, a Public Town's Meeting was held, on Tuesday se'onight, when a respectable and numerous .Committee were invested with plenary powets to negociate and agree on Tea. sensible terms of arrangement. Two Meetings of the Go vernors and this Local Committee were subsequently held, with no successful result. It was expected that the Bill would then be withdrawn, in deference to the opinion of the majority of theinhabl tants, but the Governors appeared at the Lads' Committee on:Mosi. day, and succeeded in passing the Bill through that ordeal on the following day. This impolitic perseverance was perfectly consistent with the spirit which concocted a bill of odious sectarian proscrip tion, and which introduced it into Parliament without deigning to afford even the shadow of previous notice to the large and populous town beneficially interested in the Trust. But we would not now ungraciously allude to the past; we would only hold up the result as a wholesome and salutary experience for the guidance of the Go. Vernon in future. When a local bill of such incomparable im portance is opposed by intelligent and opulent parties in &populous commercial town, it is not so adroitly managed as a frimdly suit in Chancery, or a report from the snug recess of a master's office pro forma confirmed before an equity judge, on the consent bri efs counsel, handed to the registrar by the common solicitor. We would now, however, express our hope, that all unworthy feel. ings of triumph or disappointment will give place to an honest and dispassionate desire .in all parties to secure next Session an extended appropriation of the revenues of this munifi cent institution for Public Education. The Governors, in some the provisions of the Bill, have manifested a liberal spirit to pro. vide for a popular system of commercial education and instruction in the Arts and Sciences. We hope that they will now com municate to the town the reasons and grounds on which they differ from the inhabitants who have opposed their measure.-- We viewed this local contest as one of national importance. The decayed state of the Endowed Grammar Schools of England, exposed in the valuable Reports of the Chalky Commissioners, ex cites increasing attention. We hear of many instances in which inquiry is proceeding, and when. the light must break Into dark places. This is not the age in which the subtle and legal constructions of ancient charters, defined by Courts of Chancery, will limit the improvement of such useful institutions for public education. When close bodies of o' Governors," self-elected. ap. ply to parliament to increase their own powers, they must expect parties beneficially interested to try to extend their interests. The exigencies of the present times, not the departed and limited objects of by-gone days, must be considered and provided for in these local bills. The division on the third reading of the bill was—Contents 16, Non-contents 22; Tellers, Lords Shaftesbury and Radnor. - Ilenssu.—One of the most striking faults of the Duke of We lington's administration, next to comprising so many inefficient persons in their respective departments, has been an extraordinary ignorance of the real state of the country, accompanied, as is too often the case on such occasions, by an unwillingness to be informed. Foe a Statesman to put one leg of his compass upon Downing-street, and, inscribing a small circle, say. " this is my world—by this test 1 will judge of the country—within this limit none shall enter," would be as absurd as for a General to expect to draw his sup. plies from within his own camp, or to expect to learn, from within its limits only, the state of the country he has to pass through, or the movements and forces of the enemy. - Yet this, or something very much resembling it, has for a long time been the apparent condition of the Administration. While the distress of the country has been such, that every man out of doors knew and felt its extent and pressure in his own person, the Prime, Minister spoke of it as partial ; and now that actual starvation has been for a considerable time staring a great part of the population of Ireland in the face, till they are at length urged by hunger to acts of criminal desperation, all that the Prime Minister kneels or has heard upon the subject is, that "in some parts of Ire - land provisions have risen in price." If knowledge be power, surely there never were a set of men so little ambillotis of pos sessing it as our present rulers ; and the maxim that " ig norance is bliss" seems with them to be a much more ac ceptable and convenient dogma. 1t was the peculiar characteristic of Mr. Pitt's Administration that be was himself the real head of every department, knowing every thing, and therefore raiding over every thing. Hut talents of so high an order as his are not now to be met with; and the country, knowing this, would be contented if only moderate knowledge, and competent industry and zeal, were brought to bear upon each department. In more than one of these, however, it cannot be denied that the present Government has exhibited a lamentable insufficiency ; insomuch so as to have become in one deparunent the ridicule of other Go vernments, and in some matters of domestic legislation, little less at home. Yet some of these persons have the vanity to think themselves the very Solomon' of their generation, and that the ignorance is on the side of those who judge of their actions, not on their own. If we mistake not, they are about to receive a lesson which, we trust, will not be lost upon them. The period of age. trend election is one in which the government is put upon its trial by the people, and when a license to speak plain truths is admitted on the one side ' and exercised on the other. Though we trust that the elections wi ll every whae be peaceably conducted, yet we trust the people will seize the opportunity, wherever it presents it. self, of telling both the Government and their Representatives how far they are satisfied with the past, as well as what they expect for the future. The former must new be prepared to receive its know. ledge from a wider circle than the mere coterie of official men and their interested hangers-on ; and:the result,we hope, will be, not the election of a mare compliant Parliament, but the awakening of the Government to a due sense of the wants and situation of the country. I LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. The commencement of the month has brought round its usual supply of periodical literature. Magazine day is a red-letter day in the caleader of every one given to intellectual indu as )long as we can recollect, so we have always considered it. The feast is a luxuriant one, at present in this country ; and, to our promise, we shall attempt to amuse our readers with ac allt i t2 of it, and enrich our humble bawl with a 'temple of such delicacies as we may venture to appropriate. The New Monthly Ma aline has always been a favourite with us, except in the name. The adjective new is one of the most ha. pendent that can be attached to any literary production, calculated, like this, to hold a permanent place in the library ; but the Miscel lany is known too well now, to make the title of any material im portance. The first article in the present number, "on Modern Na tional Improvements," is, in a high degree, satisfactory to those who can rejoice in the peweess of the different members of the great European Family. We think the author a little incorrect in the fa vourable view he has taken of our commercial situation ; and cannot but condemn the contemptuous tone with which he has alluded to Mr. Waithman—a gentleman whose talent, integrity, and consistency conduct cannot be injured in public estimation by allusions to his shop, of which he and his fellow-citizens should both he proud. Such a character as Robert Mraithman, we think, peculiarly British—and we wonder the author of this article, with such good sense, should display such bad taste. We have no private knowledge of Mr. Waithman ; we are not partisans—we offly speak of him as we have observed. The next Essay on " Living with the Great." cannot be read without profit; almost all its remarks are judicious, and pone the author to have an accurate discernment of the human charac ter.—" lily Cousin's Toilet" is a most amusing and successful sa tire on some of the follies—we might almost say, as they ate destruc tive to health and beanty—vices of modern female attire; not omitting the most prominent of than all.—Wc recommend this article to the careful perusal of our female readers.—" The Memoirs of the hap piest fellow alive," is another lively sketch - in a style familiar to the readers of this Magazine;—and " The Land o' Cakes" cannot fail to amuse all but those whose partialities may lead them to think the author unfair towards " Aberdeen awa." We happen lobe among that number ; for altho' having no claim to it as a native spot, the place and people are dear to our hearts; for we have some claim to call it an alma mater; and the author of this essay must excuse us for holding forth a little in support of its fame, and in correction of what we think his error. No city, or town, perhaps, in Great Britain, could make a more creditable display of literary yank than could our " guld town of Aberdeen." We shall not attempt the task at present of producing a catalogue of its worthies; but sure we arc, that if we had time, we should be able to produce a list of celebrated literati in continuity of succession, *Vont Barbour and Hector Bocce, down to the present day, that might perhaps astonish our author, who may not have applied his mind to the research. We hope, however, he will recollect the Gregswies and many others no one can forget. We conceive he has not d one justice even to the names he has mentioned. We shall not dwell on the respectable Dr. Gerrard (by error of the press, we presume, called Gerald in this essay ;) nor shall we refer to Dr. Beattie, whom we consider more of a poet than a philoso pher : but we think that the learning and ability of Dr. Campbell merits some more notice; and we should blush indeed for our times, could we conceive that such writers as we have just named, were really not to the " taste of the age," because they are " too !Veal." Can any one, instructed in the important subject ou r our religion, be ignorant of the merit of the only good reply to Hume on miracles, that ever was written ? Can any student on the evidences of Christianity be ignorant of the great merit of Dr. Campbell's translation of, and dissertations on, the four gospels; or, if divinity be not the " taste of the age," we would wish to ask our author, whether any work is more pro found and mote ontioereally read, than the truly philosophical work of the writer in question, on rhetoric. Nor is it fair to say, that modern times in Aberdeen has displayed a poverty of literary merit. We decline to speak of the living ; but the biographer of Beside was a resident, we believe, of this town • and th e late Lords Gardenston and Mont:odd°, would prob ably have not rejected their connection with " Aberdeen awa ?" We have not room to say more, as the attachment to the subject is leading us too deep in our columns. We shall now close our notice of the New Monthly by saying, it is of a pia,* with its mors, as to affording a store of intd. lectual amusement ; and as a proof, we shalrtake the liberty to " borrow awa," as they say in the Land o'Cakes, the following extract s LUNATIC LAYS. 4 ' I must and will an actress wed." I must sad will an actress wed, Still smile away all shadows, The voice of Love is eloquent In green-rooms—not green meadows : Talk not of rural hills and vales, They suit my optic sense ill, The only scenery Iprise Is tkat of Stanfield's pencil ! The Earl, my father, storms at me, And says it is a queer age, When comic first appearances At last lead to the Peerage : And my maternal Countess vows That nothing can console her, If I disgrace the family, By marrying a stroller ! But, oh ! scorn such prejudice, Although 'tense universal, For I have been behind the scenes At night and at rehearsal : No titled heiress will I ask To be my benefactress ; I'd rather elevate my wife, So I will wed an actress. Oh, first I burnt for tragic queens. Ily passion scarce is cool yet, I teased each Mrs. Beverly, Ruphrasia and Juliet; And if by Belvidera's frowns A little disconcerted, I Sew to Mrs. Haller's side, And at the wings I flirted. But Colonel Rant, (the gentleman Who's always asnateuring,) Behind the scenes cause every night With language most alluring : , And be had such a way with him, He won their harts by magic, So I resign'd Melpomene, And Rant reign'd o'er the Tragic ! And then I sigh'd five the soubrettes In aprons made with pockets, Who frisk about the stage like squibs, And then go off like rockets : But at their beck I always found Some beauteous Bob or Billy, With whom they lightly tript sway And left me looking silly. • •••••I1 0.111, But ROW a love for figurants Within my bosom rankles, I dust upon extended arms, And sigh for well tuned ankles: Enchanting girls ! how dark their hair ! How white and red their skin is ! I love them an though wicked wits May call them "spinning Jennies." In Peter Wilkins I have sigh'd For sylph-like forms, whose trade is To hang suspended by the waist, And act high-flying ladies : The Country Curate may abuse My loves because they lack dress, Melt choose a wife from private life ; But I will wed an actress. His Majesty William IV. it is said, will continue his residence at Bushy for some time, preferring that and Kew to the half-finished residence of Windsor Castle ; even the celebrated terrace, on which George 111. and the public used to walk, is, and long has been, partially stopped against the public. THE ROYAL UNION PENSION FUND.—The Annual Meeting of Subscribers to this Institution was held pea se& at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, when the past Atlas were y elected, and after a report was made of the rapid imam el t of he fund/, ten more aged passes were added to the list of whom Mere an now ninety provisioned fir life. This limi is sap potted by the contributions of the Nobility sad fiewley, and was es. tablishrd by Act of Parliament, be memory tithe late Osesmawdm in.Cttlef, his Royal Highness the Du of York. The WM ndsed in the room exceeded that of any former oassiso, sad the MINN were unanimously thanked for tisk pest atavism. The ameemihi amdidaus were literary Nathan, aged OS )1 Ma aged 74 ; Jam kinnay, wd 74 ; Mary so el= Thatcher, aged N; Smib Boaelem, atO J4olllllll_ aged 76 ; Ann Slater, aged II ; AllrLTroika nute Pft milid sit and May Samoa, aged N. Among the oases at dag, were nearly 100 of the Nobility. • • NATAL INTELLIGENCE. Vasa= semen wrns.—The William, Shand, from London to New York, on the 13th inst. in lat. 4a. long. U. Pomona. from Trinidad to Bristol, on the 16th, in lat. 49. long. 23. Florida, on the 6th ult. 115 miles from Sandy Hook. Prince Leopold, bound to Quebec, in lat. 46. long. 47. and Leslie, Gault. from London. derry to St. John's, N.B in lat. 46. long. 54. The following arrivals base taken place :—The Arrow, from Rigs. in the Clyde; Wheaten, Mitchell, from Leghorn, at Cork ; City of Limerick, Cooper, front London, ard Elas, Rankin. from, Oporto, at Limerick; and Zephyr, Fitzsimmons, from London, at Belfast. Thu Beatrice, Pryse, from Dundee to New York, was driven on shore on the island of Stromer 27th uk. and is discharging. DuL, JOLT I.—Wind E. steady breeze.—Arrived the Mer cury, Galloway, frost Messina. Porrsasouvn, JULY I . —Wind E.S.E.—Arrived the Paragon, —, from Jain&lca, and Antaus. Pearson, from Antigua. FALMOUTH. Juni 30.—Wind S. to E.—Off the port, the Ca therine, Norte, from Matanzas. Arrived the Goldfinch packet, from Plymouth. Sailed the Princess Elizabeth packet, for Ply mouth. BRISTOL. Jut.r I.—Arrived the Alfred, Jones, from Jamaica, and John Bigg, Stevens, from Cadiz. HOLTUZAD, Jums 30.—Arrived the Renown, from Trinidad; Commerce, from Charleston ; George Canning, Allem from New 1•otk ; Sapphire, Woodbury, from Boston ; and Adelphi, from Halifax. ILwavarom, Juxv '2 9 . —Arrived the Lightfoot, Hind, front Ma ranham ; Thomas, White, from Pernambuco ; Cyrus Butler, Mulder; Saratoga, Brown ; and !Uses. Bauch, front New Or leans; Dickin, Grindley, from Darien ; Charles Drew, from Mexico; Mobile, —, front Halle; Vulcan, Weeks, and Mos. ' cow, Weeks, from Savannah • Casrol, Rich a rds , and Telegraph, Cioshy, from Philadelphia ; Pacific, Johnson, from St. John's, It B. laisabeth, front Odessa ; Culling and Marian, front Cepha lonia ; Nile, from the Mediterranean; and the Ruby, Isaac, front Lisbon. _Jug 30.—Arrived the klorea, Hammond, from Virginia; Laioda t Baker, from Charleston ; and Cottager, Cornish, front Genoa. Off the port, the Emulous, from New Orleans. Jzeny, Jou& gB.—Arrived the Canopus, Rouignol, and Me dusa, Asplett, front Bahia ; and Enterprise, Le Gros, from Gambia. riIEATRICAL INTELLIGENCE. HATNAUtET TIiZsTRZ.—A new Petite Comedic, called S paratiun and Reparation, written, as we are informed, by Mon. TON, was brought out last night with complete success. It IS an adaptation of a foreign piece, and the scene is laid in Germany : the story depends chiefly upon the marriage of two persons who are not very fond of each other, promoted and brought about by ran Gro tau, a lawyer , admirably acted by Fanatic All the principal parts were well and played, and on a future occasion we may, perhaps, enter more at large into the merits of the piece, and its performance. Excitasu OPERA.—The company belonging to this theatre commenced their performances for the season lam evening at the Adelphi Theatre, in which they have taken up their quarters until their own should be re-built. The performances commenced with the usual ceremony of singing the national anthem of God tare the Kiwi, the words of which were furnished from the new version of Mr. Arnold, a copy of which appeared recently in this paper. The Sister of Charity followed, which was ex tremely well acted. The great interest of the piece consists in the performance of Miss Kelly, who represents with powerful but almost too painful accuracy, the heart-breaking emotions of the heroine. There is certainly no actress on the stage who possesses, in any thing like the same degree, the influence which she is capable of exercising over the feelings of the feelings of the audience; but she sometimes carries this so far (as she does in the piece of which we are speaking) that the true end of dramatic representation is overshot, and the delineation of human agony becomes so close and striking, that it creates an impression more profound than it is the business of the drama to make. Not withstanding this fault (for it is one), Miss Kelly's acting of the Sister of Charity can hardly be surpassed. The other parts of the play were very well filled. Mr. Keeley was very amusing, and his wife who, at a certain distance, has some touch of Miss Kelly's excellence, played the part of Nina. with great effect. The other performances of the evening went off extremely well, and the com pany were as much at home as could be expected in the very narrow space which this small theatre affords for their exertions. COBURG TAlZaTUE.—Tuesday night, after the new splendid drama of The Field of Cloth q i . Gold, which continues to be very attractive, the drama of Florence 111•Cartlay was brought forwa for the purpose of introducing Mrs. W. IlmtaYstoar, and Mr. Wzrtwts, of the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, to the Coburg audience. A number of years have now elapsed since wo first perused the admirable novel upon which the drama of Florence .1111,trifty is founded, and we can still recollect the infinite pleasure sod delight which the reading of that beautiful production added us. We know of no modern work upon Ireland which is otter calculated to give a correct and true idea of Irish character, or which more strongly illustrates the workings of that infamous system of local or county government, of which that unfortunate country has been so long the victim. It is a work from which the Statesman may draw much instruction, and the people of England much information on the real causes of outrage, and of thecondition generally of the sister country. In representing the accomplished Florence At‘Carthy, Mrs.W. BARRY MOSIC evinced the possession of such talents as made us regret that she should be so uniformly confined in Drury-lane to the personation of merely pantomimic pans. First, as Mrs. ill'Gillicuddy, and afterwards as the Gypsey Girl and Lady Clancare, she displayed great judgment and ability, and infused into the entire performance an ease and humour which called forth frequent applause. Mr. Waseca supported the Lady in admirable stile. T ho ugh Padres* Gar is not a part which affords him'much scope, he, notwithstanding, eontributed greatly to the amusement of the audience. His brogue is the very thing. It comes out of his mouth quite rich and pet, and his songs were ex quisite. His" Boys of Kilkenny" is a treat seldom equalled. It is needless to say, that it was last night encored. We conceive that the piece might, with much advantage, be considerably curtailed.— If done judiciously, it would be increased in interest and attraction. We should mention that after the first piece a new " God rare the King," composed by Mr. 'locums, the wotdsby Mr. H.KEmPLE, was sung by the characters with much applause, and was encored. ' It is said that Alderman 'enables will again stand for the city, as well as Sir Peter Laurie ; Alderman Copeland is also spoken of. Dinners were given yesterday by the Marquis of Cleveland, Earl of Harrowby, Lord Montagu, Lord Dynevor, the blaster of the Rolls, Captain Cadogan, Sir Henry Peyton, an d the Marchioness Cornwallis. The roof-gallery over the House of Commons was on Thursday attended by many ladies to hear the delettes, to which they gain access through the great ventilator over the centre chan delier. Among them were the Dowager Duchess of Richmond, and the Duchess of Richmond. This favour is obtained through the agency of the Sergeant-at-Arms. Sir James Scarletes Libel Law Bill, repealing the banishment (or inoperative) clause, and imposing additional sure ties that would operate still more onerously than the existing laws, stands for this evening : but as Sir Robert Peel did not enumerate it amongst the Bills that arc to be pressed, and as the Attorney. General has not intimated any intention to give up the obnoxious additions that are to mar the grace of Repeal. this Bill may be con shined as also among the abarolone4, on the ground that it wculd fail forth protracted opposition. Mr. Slaney has given no fewer than three notices " for the next Session," on the subject of the poor and the poor laws :-1. That he will move fur a Bill to correct abuses of the poor laws; 2. For a bill for better rating tenements under a certain an nual value ; and, 3. For a Select Cotinnittee to consider the necessity of securing open spaces in the inimetliate vicinity of large and po pulous towns fitted to preserve health and afford means of exercise to the poorer classes. The following box mot is attributod to his late Majesty : A valuable miniature likeness of Oliver Cromwell, painted from life, having been accidentally found, the enssessor had the honour showing it to the King, who immediately exclaimed, " How would Charles the First have honoured the titan who had brought him Oliver Cromwell's head !" It was last night confidently stated, about the llouse o Commons, that the Ministers have determined nn havir.g the dia. solution of Parliament is a fortnight. The activity of members in writing letters in the rooms adjoining the House, especially on Wed nesday evening, after the communications of Sir R. Peel, exceeded any thing of the kind in the remembrance of the oldest persons about the House. The smoking room and committee-rooms were crowded with htisawritsrs. Bat foe the " God-oesade" (to quote the language of LW SAWN slate Ormeelliee of the Baehequer) that have cow la to the rellefet lir. thelhame, what would he have done? Now mamma are oloodeseed, *.meth, that could not have been car dal, except the Saw Imi ens at bait two or three month. longer ant net till rises eadmilue bed hem caused Such is the case with the deelaami 66 011.1161.1 . (which, In reality, man ha. own in Elearik as wen as In band) of the stamp dirtiest" tad twins which a " ethedule" of elefy Alio peon, and they a 66 INlMPistits eshobale of ewe kneed paps, have sena trail sod pninien Y (heat Behan sod leelithe expire at peeing mg Idling which alone moat tuna hen great I yet sow sismaned IMPERIAL PARLIANYNT. 110 USE OF LORDS, July I. The Earl of Shaftesbury took the woolsack In the absence of the Lord Chancellor, whilst sotneof the peers took the owhs of Illegiarc—. The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the woolsack at a few al:t ames after five. Earl GREY presented a petition from the protestant. of Gals:iy, against the late amendment in the Galway franchke 1113111fORAM ORASIXAR scitiiot.. Earl GREY also presented a petition from Bir.nin4l:3;tl, against the Birmingham grammar free-school bill, and pra,.iiig that the further consideration of it be postponed to the rest Nessinn. The Rarl of SHAFTESBURY, in proposing r..ading of this bill, said he could not take upon himself to witildrsw the bill, but he thought the best course would be to p.iss the bill, and the house of commons might, if they pleased. pastpune it. Lord CALTHORPE supported the bill, as he was satisfied with the amendments which were made in the committee. Os the whole he thought the bill a usdul ono, and required to be passed r: bout delay. The Eat! of RADNOR opposed the third rea.ling, !:cause it was contrary to:an understanding with the parties most interested. Earl FERRERS said if the bill di 1 not pass, it would crrate a gtrat fetment in Birmingham, and he was sum the passing of this bill would be of benefit to that town. Earl GREY feared more agitati. n would wise out of the pass:ng of the bill than by its rejection. lie therefore moved the I.::: he read a third time that day six months. The Earl of HARROWItY said he should be inclined to sup port the amendment of the noble earl, if be thought the delay would tend to tranquillity, but he did not so think. Lord DACRE said it was a great injustice to the petitioners to pass this bill, u they were deceived by the understanding which had been conic to, and were now taken by surprise. Lord CAISHOR PE again hoped the bill might pass. Earl C.IR NA RV( rN said this bill had been originally brought in without the knowledge of the people of Birmingham. who were most interested in the subject. and were now taken by surprise. The LORD CHANCELLOR then put the question, and said, in his opinion, the contents had it ; but there was a call of the " not.coments have it." Strangtts ',re excluded and a division took place, For the third reading For the amendment l6 Majority against the Bill . . The Marquis of DOWNsIIIRE presented a petition from Down, against the increased duty on Stamm in Ireland ; and the same noble marquis said he entirely agreed in the prayer of the p:- titionets. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said nothing was more likely to conciliate the people of.lrelond, and to endear the govern ment to that country, than the withdrawal of the measure to which the petition referred. The Marquis of LANSDOWN concurred with his noble friend. His surprise was not that the measure was now withdrawn, but that it had not long since been withdrawn by the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, or rather that he had ever entertained the notion of imposing such taxes. . ..--- After a few words from Earl DARNLEY, this petition, and three more on the same subject, presented by the Marquis of Downshire, were laid on the table. The Marquis of DOWNSHIRE laid on the table the report of the committee on the draining of bogs in Ireland. The Marquis of LANSDOWN presented a petition against the punishment of death for forgery, from Swansea, and from other places in Wales. The Duke of DEVONSHIRE presented three petitions from the county of Cork, against increased taxation in Ireland. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY brought down and read the an. swer of his majesty to the address sent by their lordships, which was much in tire usual terms. TONGEIT SILL. On the Order of the Day being read foe going into Committee on the punishment of death for forgery Bill, The Earl of MAIZIESBURY wished to know why this Bill was not extended to Ireland and Scotland ? for his part be could not see why there should be one law on the subject on this aide of the Tweed, and another on the opposite side. The Marquis of LANSDOWN said it was the wish of the right hon. secretary, who brought the bill into the other house, that an experiment should be made in England, and he had no doubt but it would be ultimately extended all over the empire. After a few words from the Duke of WELt.tworow and Load 31.u.st2savav, their Lordships resolved into a C'ommiace on the Bill. 013 the question being put on the fourth clause. The LORD CHANCELLOR said he wished to state his ob jections to the Bill. They resolved themselves into two, namely, the alteration in the punishment of death for forging negotiable securi. ties, and the transfer of stocks; as regarded these, he wished the law to remain as it was at preaent ; but whatever might be his opi. nion on the subject, he would at once bow to the decision of their lordsbip., if they should happen to dirty with him. The noble and learned lord entered into the history of the laws regarding forgeries, to shew that the punishment of death had always been found neces sary to check the crime. The great argument was that the severity of the punishment defeated the object. He did not think so, be cause the crime was not one of the greatest frequency, considering the great facilities which were afforded fur it, particularly in the immensely extensive dealings of the people of London. He would take the liberty of directing the attention of their lordships to the great extent of these dealings, and of the necessity of affording them every protection. Out of 20 bankers in London, four of them had, in the short period of three days, in the last month, turned nine millions sterling, and the yearly transactions of these four houses amounted to a sum of upwards of 500 trillions ; and in the whole twenty houses, the yearly transactions amounted to 1,000 millions, which was considerably more than the whole of the national debt. The small number of forgeries committed in the course.of these great transactions, was another proof that the present law operated well. He did not coincide in the opinion that jurors did not gene. rally perform their duties in forgery caws. His own experience taught him to think differently. Besides there was no punishment that he knew of which could be substituted for that of dta.h I in such cases. Transportation was wholly inefficient, ut.d solitary imprisonment was allien to the free constitution of this coon try.—( Hear, hear.) And subjecting culprits of this kind to ha t 1 labour in the hulks, would only be imposing upon them a slower and a more painful, as well as a more ignominious death. The noble and learned lord then moved to substitute for the latter part of the clause these words do suffer death as a felon." The Marquis of LANSDOWN felt confident that the present law was in practice no protection against the crime of forgery, anal notwithstanding the opinion of the noble and learned lord, he was sure a milder punishment would be more effectual. At all eve: to the bill before the house was only an experimemal one, and if at expiration, in five years, it was found ineffectual, it need not be re• Hewed. He should oppose the amendment. Lord WYNFORD said that his experience at the !tar and on the bench led him to conclude that the present law was mere effectua; than the proposed one. It was mercy not to repeal, but to coctihue this law, for it was the great object of law to deter from the commission of crime; and he would ask whether it was not mere humane to transport 100 persons than to execute one.—(Hear,bear.) Tort TENTERDEN also supported the amendment. L .rd ELDON said be had been nearly 25 years in a situation re quiring hint to advise his sovereign in cases of life and death, and the result of his experience led him to think that the repeal of sic present law to the extent intended, could be neither consistent w th justice nor mercy. Their lordships then divided. when there appeared, For the Lord Chancellor's amendment Against it 2O Majority The house then resumed, and the report was ordered to be re ceived to-morrow (this day ) Adjourned at half-past Eight o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Jvtle I. Petitions were presented front lillsborough, in Inlaid, atn.irst any additional duties on stamps in Ireland ; from New Ross, to trw same effect ; and from a parish in Dublin, to the same effect. Lord F.. GOWER brought up his Majesty's answer to ila Address of Condolence. Petitions were presented from Longrords against tl'c irCrea h 'e g/ f taxation in Ireland ; from the Chamber ut Commerce in Home: it . ham, complaining of the sufferings of merchants on Recount of mate transactions at Copenhagen : from Dungarvon, in the county of Waterford, against the Vestry and Subletting Acts; ham a !O WT: in Lancashire, against the burning of Ilindoo widows ; three erh.:s to the sante effect, from different parts of England ; from the Chant. be cf Commerce in Plymouth, praying for a reduction of ditty cc molasses, in propottion as nu made un sugar; from Lan.i.t• h. praying to amend a bill now before the house respecting the buildir g of an additional church In that neighbourho od. This petition created some desultory discussion, in. which \lr. Baring, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Dr. Philliniore, and lir. Ridley Colborne took a share. Lord ALTHORP wished to know what course the Chancellor of the llizehecem intended to pursue tomorrow in the Coma wee of the Estimates ? Theiaranti.os of the EXCHEQUER •haatvcd tha t it was Ms Intention to mars for a vote of credit for the remainder of . the == i n A ot wishing to deli from proceeding with i the t - lik J. 0 by _ cl LIAM gays notice . item& Would rersist in his too. de=ethig the 4e per cent. duds. on going iota the committee iet Mr:BROUGHAM, in preenning a petition from the Society the Abolition el EL.r.ry, egoism Usnial Slavery, felt in- ~o 1 1 1 I