Star. — London, England, 1830-12-01 00:00:00

public voice, while the supporten of abuse, which has themerit of b e ing inveterate, were in utter discord with it. We trust there is not a county, town, or village in the United Kingdom, which will not meet and petition for a reform in Parliament. The defeat or triumph of the catt.e may turn upon the national unanimity and energy. CtittoxlCLZ.—Of all the attempts at mystification ever made in this credulous country, we know of none more glaringly absurd than that which has been again and again made in both Houses of Parliament, na mely, the attempt to persuade the world that the peasantry of the land. o Sir E. Knatchbull termed them, have nothing to do with the tires throughout the country. We can easily conceive that the Country Gentlemen of England, who have made it their constant boast, that to their residence on their estates we are indebted for advantages possessed by no other country ; and who have even urged in Parliament as a reason for continuing the Game Laws, that without them England could not expect to possess this inestimable advantage—should feel somewhat mortified at so irrefraga hie a proof of the rancorous feelings of the labouring classes in the coun try towards their superiors. Again and again have we heard from them that the town population might be disaffected, but the agricultural po pulation was sound. The Rev. Mr. Brereton, Rector of Little Mas singliam, in Norfolk, first drew attention, in a pointed manner, to the falsity of the opinion, that the rural population were generally better affected than the town population. He soon learned from experience, that the population of the country were almost universally dia. contented, and that the contrast between them and the inhabitants of towns in respect :of morals, was greatly in favour of the latter. The delusion, however, is now confined to those who take their ideas of rural life from old romances. Magisterial interference has been the cause of most of the demoralization of our agricultural population. Without the interference of busy, meddling Magistrates, we cannot conceive how the population should have become so redundant in most of the agricultural districts. Generally speaking, wages have always been considerably higher in England than in Scotland. At present, even In Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, Sussex, the very worst coun ties of England, wages are higher than in Scotland. But the Scotchman is* free agent, and the Englishman is a slave. Ile has been so constantly interfered with by all manner of functionaries, that he attributes all the evils he suffers to his superiors. The attempt to raise wages where. ever the population is redundant will assuredly fail. It is impossible to make a farmer employ more hands than he requires. That the outrages are the fruit of the hatred borne by the labourers to their superiors cannot be doubted. This is a lamentable state of things, no doubt; but the truth must be told. The Insurance Offices, which have such a deep interest in getting at the truth, are quite satis fied that the fires are the work of the peasantry. Totes.—lt will be seen that the choice of President of the Royal Society, by a small majority, has fallen upon the Duke of sussex.— We shall not now say more upon this subject than that the first scientific establishment in the empire has obtained a Prince, and missed a Philo sopher, for its President. With every disposition to repudiate the dis creditable stories which have been circulated, of unfair influence—nay, bullying letters—having been employed to restrain the admirers of dlr. Ilerschell and the friends of independence from voting as their judgment and feelings would have directed,—with the most profound con. tenipt, likewise, for the calumnious falsehood that an exalted indi vidual had threatened to regard henceforth as his personal enemies all those who might not think tit to promote the accomplishment of his views in the present instance,.-utterly disavowing our belief in the pos sibility of such rumours having any shadow of foundation,—we never theless deem it bad in principle, that any weight or power, except that of scientific fame, should be brought to bear down the pretensions of a candidate who has no such extrinsic or illegitimate superiority to sup port him. A Royal personage cannot, under a monarchy like this, otter/air/sr, into contest with any unconnected citizens, where the decision must in great part rest on men who, from their several stations or pro fessions, find their fortunes influenced by the Royal frown or favour. It has been hinted that the Duke of Sussex would probably resign the invi. dious honour acquired under such singular circumstances, but for that we have no authority. STATE OF THE COUNTRY. BUCKS. Hum Wircoses, Morinaw, Nov. 29. The calm which succeeded the disturbance of Friday last, proved, as was anticipated, the prelude of a melancholy catastrophe. Om Satur day and Sunday measures had been concerted for the paper-makers to meet as early as five o'clock on the morning of Monday; accordingly, at that time a great number were congregated together by sound of horn, on Flackwell-heath, about four miles from Wycomb, armed with sledge-hammers, crow-bars, pick-axes, rite. ; from thence they proceeded through Woburn and Loudwater, towards the paper-mill of Messrs. Lane, situated between High and West Wycomb, who are the first paper-manufacturers on the stream. At this time the re port of the riot being freely circulated, the Magistrates sent expresses oil to Windsor, and to the Marquis of Chandos, for the assistance of the military. The rioters arrived at Messrs. Lane's about nine o'clock, and immediately attempted to force the entrance of the place where the machine was situated, which proved of little avail, and resisted their ef forts for near half an hour. A shot was now fired from the mill, with intent to intimidate the rioters, but this only increased their fury, and in a few minutes the door was partly broken open, when a gun was dis charged, and the whole of the contents lodged In the upper part of the arm of an elderly man, named William Bryant, a paper-maker, of Flack well-heath. Many called out that Harley, the chief constable of Wycomb, had discharged the piece, but we were well assured that Her ley had used every entreaty with the persons employed to the mill, and urged them to use anything rather than fire arms. Tee mob now broke the windows of the factory, and were about making an entrance, when :they were - saluted with four gallons of vitriol, and many of diem were burnt very severely. An entrance at length being obtained, the work of destruction commenced, and in less than 13 minutes the machine was wholly destroyed. The poem wan threw the vitriol was ducked by the rioters, and narrowly meal Ida his life. From thence they proceeded through the town, !crying sea. tributions on the shop.keepers until they arrived at the paper-mill of Mr. Allnut, of Marsh-green, and the machine speedily followed the fate of the preceding one. They then made the best of their way to the mill of Mr. Hayes, who stood at the entrance ready to receive them. Mr. Hayes addres sed the rioters, assuring them that he had ordered his machine to be taken dowo and that it should be worked no more until sonic arrangement ha d taken place between the masters and the men. He told them that he employed no less than 53 hands ' • consequently, if they injured the property, those, from necessity, must be thrown out of employment. He invited any portion of the party to enter the mill, and satisfy themselves. This did not satisfy the rioters, and the work of de molition commenced, One of Mr. Hayes', workmen vainly attempted to oppose them with a red-hot poker, but he was glad to make his es cape. The Rev. Mr. Vincent now came up, and read the Riot Act. The rioters new crossed to the farm of Mr. Landsdale,who has a thrash. ing-machine, which was shortly broken Into pieces. A neighbouring tanner, Mr. Collins, who witnessed the operation, was threatened that his machine should share the same fate. The rioters now adjourned to the Red Lion public.house, where they plentifully regaled themselves with beer ; after which they proceeded to Mr. Plaistow's paper-mill, at Loudwater. This gentleman bad issued a notice, that his machine should not be worked. The rioters, however, were not content with this, and broke into the mill, and in a short time it was completely destroyed. By this time the High Sheriff, Colonel Vyse, had arw rived, who, with a number of gentlemen, attempted to op the riot. ers, when they were immediately saluted with • shower o stones, and we regret to say that Colonel Vyse was much cut In the face. • , medical gentleman from Burnham with difficulty escaped with Ida life. Ile had armed himself with a sword, and in endeavouring t• escape rode over two females, and was throwu from his horse ; he, however, fortun a tely recovered his test, and got oft: The rioters now entered Hedge-mill, the property of Mr. Spicer, and quickly destroyed the machine. By this time many of them were overcome by fatigue, and several of them were in a state of intoxication. Information hay. irg been received that his Majesty's stag-hounds were in the vicinity, a person was sent off to solicit the assistance of the gentlemen of the hunt, when several of them promptly appeared upon the spot, and after ?one short consultation they began to make head against the rioters. Several shots were fired ; one man was wounded in the breast, two were taken away apparently lifeless, and about nine of the rioters were taken p r i soners . A t t hi s t i me s i x grenadiers of the Foot Guards ar rived in post-chaises and escorted the prisoners into Wyoomb, where they were placed in safe custody. One of the rioters taken is the leader who laboured hard in the wait of destruction ; he is an athletic man, but a total stranger at Wycomb or the neighbourhood. The damage done is estimated at about 12,0001. The High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire arrived in towa express on Monday night, for the purpose of communicating with Government on the disturbed state of several districts in that county. Lord Melbourne bring in the House of Gordis when that gentleman reached the Home office, he proceeded immediately thither, and had a long interview with his Lordship, after which the noble Secretary accompanied him to the Home-office. The accounts from the Interior were yesterday morning lion than ustrilly unfavourable. BERIESH IRE. Wednesday a detachment of the f3renadier Guards, a troop of Last. ta t , a nd the Donnington and Newbury troop. together with the gear 'lnnen and inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood, beaded by the adjacent Magistrates of the County, advanced towards Speeniuunland, where they were joined by a party of about 200 strong. After a labo itous search through a number of places, they succeeded in secs petween fifty and sixty of the most formidable of the disturbers, and . .ttimately in restoring peace. Aalsonow, Nov. 2 7,—Yesterday four primers oat of six were rescued on their road to our,House of Cerrecdast. To MVO old pea. •CtVe the peace of the town about two hundred igedol moloalo a _ ll / 4 " +viOrn in. Thirteen rioters have this week been comained «Em i_ma -01; machine+, and one for threatening to ire rbe town d bebop SURREY. Emu, Nov. 29.-1 send you an amount of two Ems, odd* took PLue within two.miks of this place (Epsom), last sighs (Randay).—mt at Banstead, of a large hay stack, belonging to Mrs. Howath ; another, at a short distance from the above, of two corn-stacks of large dimen sion; belonging to a gentleman fanner, which were destroyed. A body of labourers are going about this county, and the fires are sup. posed to have been caused by some of them. A respectable shopkeeper told me they were expected to be at this place to.day. People seem very gloomy in this part of the country. WIMILIDON. Nov. 29..—(Ftom a Correspondent of The Times.) —I think the public should be apprised of the approach of incendia ries In this neighbourhood. Last night late, the horse-patrol, in riding betwen Iklerton and Wandsworth, next Lord Spencer's park pales, saw a man attempting to set the stacks on Ire belonging to Mr. liampton, a farmer ; and the patrol pursued the fellow, who escaped over the Wantlle, towards Garret, and he has not been traced farther. The cool determination of these wretches has become an ordinary topic of conversation at public-houses. A workman of Mr. Partridge, an extensive market-gardener, heard a man at a public-house in Putney my, that they were resolved to burn all the stacks in the Amity, and said—" There is Paterson, who has a larger farm than would employ three farmers; we will visit him and burn his stacks." MIDDLESEX. Flag AT PRTSTON, NBA' 11A210W,•-The neighbourhood of this place, on Monday night, was thrown into a great state of alarm by the reports that incendiaries had been at work, and about this time (six o'clock) their fears were proved to be well-grounded, by a great glare of light appearing near the farm-yard occupied by Mr. John Iliggs. In stant assistance was tendered by the inhabitants, and on their approach to the farm, the following ricks were observed burning s—Three bean. ricks, containing about 100 quarters of beans; and hay in ricks, con sisting of 80 loads. The strength with which the fire had hold of them prevented the possibility of quenching it until nearly exhausted. One rick of hay was saved, with a shed adjoining. On the instant of alarm of fire, a messenger was sent to London, for the engines, which arrived about nine o 'clock, but too late to render any assistance. WEALD OF KENT. NOVEMBER 29.—1 n the weald of Kent there still continues a con siderable mass of latent discontent in the minds of the agricultural po pulation, and of fear and ill-humour among the middle and higher classes. Had the parishes prepared to follow out their Resolutions of advancing wages and furnishing employment in a practical and busi. ness-like manner, the agitation might have subsided ; but, instead of this, some of them are making Resolutions to employ none but their own parishioners, thereby narrowing the market for labour, making the labourer almost the slave of the soil, by confining him to his own wish, and dispossessing many who are now in suitable employment, because they may not belong to the places where they are at present occu pied ; and of course by these measures adding to the existing mass of discontent, and doing away in effect with their own resolutions. Again, in some other places it is said there is hardly an agricultural labourer, but who at this time receives a proportion of his allowances (It cannot be called the wages of labour) from the Poor Rates. This is owing to the working of the tythe system, in one parish where the Clergyman is also a lilagiatrate—in his latter capacity, in the early period of the disturbances, he enforced an order to raise the wages to 2s. per day in his parish, declining at the same time to make any reduction in his tithe-list, supposing the occupiers of land must advance wages; but here the country gentlemen outwitted himself, for the wages continued the same; the addition was made up out of the Poor Book, and as his tithe is rated for the payment of the poor, according to its extent, he has „to do that indirectly (and to the great demoralisation of his parishioners,) which he ought to have set the example of in obedience to Lu own order as a Magistrate. Surely time was never anything so absurd as these injudicious proceedings for the settlement of the present excitement. The system of agricultural management appears in these respects very defective. Can it be owiag to the circumstances in which owners and occupiers of land are p by living much by themselves, surrounded each by his own little circle of dependents, and Ms views (selfish in the extreme) ? Bounded by this horizon, a few of these make up the aggregate of a sh meeting. Seldom accustomed to concert in business, their ings partake of want of method, procrastination, and delay. These defects are in. creased by their situation ; their capital having decreased in amount, and with little returns, their great object is to avoid any additional out lay until the public burdens and the claims of the landlord and tithe. holder are diminished ; with these materials and prospects it will be difficult to restore tranquillity and order. SCOTTISH HOSPITAL. In these times when objects of charity have so much in creased, and when the means of those who can be expected to contribute to them are diminished, it must have afforded great satisfaction to those interested in this truly important charitable corporation, to have witnessed a winter meeting so numerous and so alive to the interests of the Institution, as that which assembled at the Albion Tavern last night. The chair, which for several years past was occupied by His Present MAJESTY, was on this occasion taken by his Grace the Duke of GORDON, who had been unanimously elected at the General Meeting of the Corporation, held in an early part of the day, President of the Institution, in the room of his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, now elevated to the throne. We have so frequently noticed the objects of this most useful and benevolent Institution, that any particular analysis of its merits now would seem almost unnecessary. It derives its origin from a Society, formed a short time after the Acces sion of King James, for relieving the less fortunate indi viduals who had, upon that occasion, come southward from Scotland. In the time of Charles 11. a charter of incorpo ration was granted to die Society, under its present designa tion, giving certain powers to the Corporation. From that time to the present it has flourished, and has been the source of relief to thousands, who otherwise might have perished, the victims of penury, or of guilt. The spirit with which it has been supported, and the amount of contributions which ap pear every year, shows a steadiness and reasonableness of charity not seldom equalled, and is highly creditable to the Scottish nation. The Noble Chairman entered the room soon after 6 o'clock, and when the cloth bad been removed, and the customary toasts given, the Treasurer announced the receipt of sundry donations. His Majesty contributes one hundred guineas annually, her Majesty twenty-five guineas, to be continued half-yearly, in addition to former subscriptions ; his Grace the Duke of Gordon 20 guineas, in addition to his annual subscription ; and many others, too numerous to particularise. The Treasurer announced that, since last St. Andrew's day, the Committee of this charity have examined and relieved upwards of 200 cases of distress in each month, besides pen sions paid to 75 infirm and aged persons, natives of Scot land; and sea passages granted to '292 individuals, returned to their native country—the expenses of all which amounted to upwards of 1,8001. After the cloth was removed, and Non Nobis Domine sung by some professional persons who attended upon the:occa sion. t►e Chairman gave the health of the King, which was drunk enthusiastically with three times three. After the Anthem, the following was sung as a con cluding stanza—the words by Mr. M•YW Z. Hail to Quells ADSLAIDL, Virtue without a shade ! Mild as the Spring ! May she by all carat, Soothe all our cares to rest ! Blessing and being blest— Oon save the Kuto ! The toasts which succeeded, and were followed by appro priate music, were— Tbe Duke of Sussex, and the rest of the Royal Family—Sir J. Gra ham and the Navy—The Duke of Gordon, as President of the Society —The Duchess of Gordon—General Macdonnel—The King and the Constitutions may one live long, and the other live for ever—Way this Country never be subdued by Despotism, nor torn to pieces by Demo. crazy—The Duke of W iogtoo The Land of Cakes—Tbe Duke of Montrose—Lord Sokoto:, as ice-President—The Hon. Wm. Fraser, the Treasurer, and Mr, Auld, the Secretary, Re. Re. That attached friend to the Society, and gallant nobleman, Lord SALTOVN, was the mover of several of the touts ; and took occasion, when doing so, and in return ing thanks for his own health being drunk, to urge briefly, but in most impressive terms, the object of the Society, on the attention of the Company. This was likewise done more than once during the evening, 1)7 the equally zealous and valuable TIMAIIIIMIT, 60 Hon. The sob i• Chairman, in returning thanks for his health having been dnuak, recommended abort speeches, and weighty contributions. The recommendation was attended to, for the speeches were very short, and the collection consider able. His Grace set the example of concise but very ef feetive elocution ; and seldom went further than pro posing the toa.t. This, however, was done with such a I countenance of joyousness and good humour, as to be far more effective, than laboured prosing. The health of the Rev. Mr. Irving, as Chaplain to the Cor poration, having been drank with enthusiasm, that gentleman ' returned thanks in a short, but characteristically eloquent address, in which ho eulogised the principle and conduct of the Institution, and the character of the President, who. he ; said, in the field of battle, and in the senate house, had equally proved himself the friend and champion of his coun- I try. lie likewise called to the mind of the company, the union of sentiment which has always been displayed by the Scotch, in defence of their independence; on which occasion, as on the present, in support of charity, the noble of the land and the peasant " fought shoulder to shoulder," and hewed their way through surrounding hosts, always to accomplish their independence, even when out of their power to conquer. Mr. MACK INToili, in reply to the fact of the " stand ing Committee of Management," stated the number of casual poor to have been relieved during the past year' at 200 in each month, to whom there had been paid 8051. ; 75 pensioners at 701. and 61. annually, 7001. ; and in passages to Scotland for 294 individuals, 2651. which, with 801. due for passages, made in all an amount of 1,8501. appropriated to the poor of Scotland in this metropolis, in the past year to this day. He then stated that as many of the po w ob jects, who are sent back to their native country, have, after arrival at the port of the vessel's destination, by which they aro sent, a considerable distance to go, and arriving in poverty and distress, it had occurred to the honourable treasurer and him, that a branch auxiliary es tablishment at Edinburgh would be of great benefit, by being enabled, from subscriptions collected there, to advance such poor objects, a little money to carry them to their homes. That a correspondenie had accordingly taken place with se veral influential individuals in Edinburgh, who he was happy to say had entered very warmly into the scheme, the ge neral outlines of which had this day been submitted to, and sanctioned by the Court of the Scottish Hospital. The Honourable Treasurer then proposed the healths of the friends in Edinburgh who are taking an active lead in the formation of the association there, viz. Rev. Dr. Manuel, Mr. Nairne, Mr. Robertson, and Mr. W. Auld. In the course of the evening the health of Sir Walter Scott was drank with the most enthusiastic applause. Se veral excellent songs were sung by Messrs. Collier, Jolly. and Taylor—the latter of whom amused the company by two humorous songs, one of which on the Ravages of Time in the Metropolis, and another on a visit of a country couple to Windsor, afforded great amusement. Three Highlanders, in full uniform, materially increased the na tional enthusiasm of the company, by playing some of their native pibrochs and reels, in fine style ; although we think less of the former, and more of the latter with an intermix ture of marches, would have been more effective. On the whole, however, at 12 o'clock, at which we left, the national enthusiasm was at a pitch of excitement that would have daunted the boldest ' Southren" had he had the wish to make an assault on the Caledonian character. The company was more numerous than on any late occa sion, and the subscriptions amounted to 3881. 14s. The dinner and wines were excellent, and the conviviality of the evening was kept up till a late hour. Since preparing the above for the press, we have been in ' formed that his MAJESTY has been graciously pleased to signify to the Duke of Goanow, his intention to support the Edinburgh establishment, by his patronage. NAVAL INTELLIGENCI. Mans Altana) Tau Day—Dublin, 1 ; Waterford, 1; ilambargh, 1 Lisbon, 1 ; Malta, 1. The Spencer, from Hamburgh to Pernambuco, was spoken with= the 14th ult. In let. 53. long. 14. The Mars, Gibson, from Cardiff, was towed into Kinsale 25th ult with loss of topmasts, bound to Limerick. The Mary, Pippard, from Dantaic, to Harwich, with loss of anchor and cable, bound to Newfoundland. ' Dem., Nov. 50.—Wind RAE. fresh breese.—Arrived the Woks, —, from St. Petersburgh. Postenoove, Nov. SO.—Wind E. Estasnoms, Nov. 29.—Wind S.S.E. to ES.Ee.—Arrived tbe Stam mer packet, from Lisboa—sailed 21st inst. Sailed the Cygnet packet, for Lisbon. SI. Ives, Nov. It—Arrived off the port, the Hermes steam packet, from the bLditerranean, left Corfu 13th Nov. and Gibraltar I the 22d. STANDGATI CRUZ, Nov. Ml.—Arrived the Eliza, Gusb, from Messina. Hata, Nov. 29.—Arrived the Neva, Cherry, from St. Petersburgh; Vigilant. Wood, from Buckturar; Cupid, Hunter, from Riga; Helen, Wilson, from Gottenburgh ; and Arno, Smith, from Memel, leaky, having struck on the Lemon Sand, bound to London. Gramm:ran, Nov. 22.—The Aurora, arrived here no the 111th inst. (ro-u Bahia, sailed 7th sly. report, that an American brig, from Bar celona to that port, was burnt about 200 miles from her destination, and that the master and part of the crew had arrived there ; but another boat, with six men, had not been heard of. The Duchess of Ct:at t:n LAN u, the Duchess of GLov cESTTR, and the Princess SOPHIA, visited the QuEatt yesterday. A conference of the Ambassadors and Ministers, on the laffairs of Belgium, was held yesterday afternoon at the Foreign Office. The meeting was attended by Prince Err L a HAZY, the Austrian Ambassador; Prince IA EVEN, the Russian Ambassador; Prince TA 1.1.EY RAN D, the French Ambassador; Mons. FALCK, the Ambassador from the Netherlands; Baron Bt:Low, the Prussian Minister; and Viscount PA LMERSTON. The conference lasted about three hours. Mr. Pov T. ETT THO M PSON , Vice-President of the Board of Trade, arrived in town on Monday night from Dover. Mr. T. attended yesterday at the office of the Board of Trade. Sir JA Mes Ktxtrr (late Governor-General of the Cana dits) transacted busiuess•yesterday at the Colonial Office. During the officiation of Emil Lyndhurst, a period of little more than three years, upwards of 120 benefices fell to the gift of the Lord Chancellor. The Marquis of Hertford, with big extensive suite, sailed last week from Dover to Calais, and from thence would travel through the centre of France to Marseilles, where his Lordship will remain during the winter. A Right Hon. Secretary manages the immense parliamentary influence of this nobleman until his return. The Secretary of the British lastitution has paid into the bands of the executor of the late Sir Thomas Lawrence up wards of 3,0001. the net produce, after deducting every ex pense, resulting from the exhibition of his pictures in Pall-mall. A divorce is now in progress in the Scots Ecclesiastical Cour; between Miss Paton and Lord W. Lennox. So complete was the delusion of the Duke of Wellington's party as to the nature of the division on Sir H. Parnell's mo tion, that intelligence haring been brought to Mrs. Hope's assembly of a majority, it was announced by Lady Jersey, as a matter of course, to be in favour of ministers. Many members present, who were wholly unprepared for an early division, had been o■ the point of starting for the house to give their votes, as usual, in favour of his Grace's Adminis , tat*. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Nov. 30. • SLAVERY PETITIONS. Lord NAPIER. in presenting a petition, stated, that from his long residence in many of the West India islands, he was possessed of consi. durable information on tile subject. lie was persuaded ill I , great mi-. representations, relative to the condition of the slaves in the Colonies, existed; to counteract the effect of which, no step mote cflici,i:! could be adopted than the appointment of a select committee of their lord ships, by whom the question could be investigated in all its hearings ; and he doubted not but a very different conclusion would ht. come to than that of the self-atyled politicians by whom so much, of late, had been stated on this important subject. The Noble Earl stated, that though he presented the petition, be did not concur with its prayer. The petition was read, and laid on the table. Petitions to the same effect were presented by Lord Bexley, the Earl of Carlisle, Lord King, Earl Grosvenor, the Archbishop of Cmterbury, Lord Roden, Lord Farnham, and Lord Winchilsca. NEW POLICE. Earl GROSVENOR presented a petition from the parish of St. George, in the county of Middlesex, praying for a r 'NA! of the New Police Act. The noble Earl considered the present watch better than the old watch, therefore could not concur in the wish expressed by the petitioners to repeal the Act. The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from an individual at Brighton (Matthew Phillips), praying their Lordships would inquire into the state of the agricultural poor. POOlt LAWS. The Earl of %%INCH I LSEA expressed s wish to have 10: name withdrawn from the list of peers forming the Committee movtd by a noble Marquis (Salisbury) to inquire into the state of the poor laws. He did not wish to be in that committee, unless he could do justice to the inquiry by punctual sod constant attendance during the present disturbed slate of Kent, all his attention was required in that quarter. The noble lord considered the cornmittve highly Important, and his hope was that the result would be advantageotts to the country. After a few words from Lord ELLENBOROUGN, the name of Lord Winchilses was withdrawn ; and on the motion of the Marquis of SALISBURY, Lord Sawa was achltd to the committee. The noble marquis also moved that a message be sent to the House of Cumtnors, requesting the attendance of Mr. Ilodges to be examined as a witc...ss before the committee on the poor laws.—O:d .led. Other witwe.ses were ordered to attend the Holes on Monday next. LAM:WRENS' HILL. The Earl of WINCIIILSEA adverted to a bill in the other house for the employment of labourers, and withdrew his bill on the saute subject until he could ascertain the effect of the measure then in the Commons. The order for the second readinz of the noble lord's bill on the 7th of December was accordingly wilidrawn. LAW REFORM VILLA. Lord TENTERDEN moved the second reading of his bill for the better Administration of Justice, so far as relates to sessions and terms. The noble and learned lord stated that this bill was brought in last Session of Parliament, but at too late a period to be carried into a law. Having stated the object of the bill, which is technical and chiefly in. teresting to practioners, it was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Friday, REFORM IN COMMON LAW PRACTICE. Lord WYNFORD, pursuant to notice, rose to present to their lord ship another bill for the better Administration of Justice in civil process. The noble and learned lord, in a tone of voice not always audible below the bar,alluded to the reports made by the low Commissioners,and observed that those learned persons had been the means of makir.g considerable improvements in the commas law practice, yet much remained to be done. In the bill he had the honour to introduce, he had endeavoured to bring under the view of Parliament a remedy for defects, which had made a strong impression upon his mind during the whole of his profes sional life. He was anxious to have the bill read the first time, but did not wish the second reading to take place until after Christmas. In the interim noble lords would have an opportunity of seeing the provisions, and of making up their minds upon a subject of so much importance.— ' The noble and learned lord then entered into the details of the bill, of which a brief outline will suffice. The two great causes of expense in the courts of justice were special pleading and the examinatlon of wit nesses. well calculated pleading, in ancient times, was founded on good sense. It was calculated to convey information to dig judge • but the de viations which bad taken place, made special pleading, at t he presets day answer no useful purpose. Many pleas, so far from being useful, gave no information to the judge or the parties in the suit. Another source of expense was the numberof counts put in a declaration, and he proposed to render such proceedings totally useless by bringing the plaintiff and defendant to agreement upon the character of the question at issue. The next great cause of expense in Westminster Hall was the number of witnesses brought up to prove a fact which might be proved by:one. The noble and ksen lord recommended, as a correction of the evil, that ponies should be examined upon interrogatories. In that form of proceeding an immense expense would be saved, and a cause might be tried at one-fourth of the expense usually incurred. It was true a person, as the law stood, might be examined upon interrogatories in Courts of Equity, but It would cost 2001. and it was his desire its have witnesses examined upon interrogatoties in Courts of law, at tit: lowest expense. His bill would diminish the expanse of law proceed ings. The object was to render trials cheap ; but the noble and learned lord went further. He had endeavoured to prevent the evils arising out of proceedings upon Writs of Error. It frequently happened that a defendant put the plaintiff to two hundred pounds expense. by sham pleas, and then ran away. The provisions of the bill would save both pities costs, by giving Judges the power to allow time for payment of debts to a judgment creditor. If a man would say he would pay the debt in three months, and give security, the Judge would have the power to allow that time. The Judge would then do openly and legally that which was dome secretly as the law stood. The bill also applied to common recovery. The recoveree, or plaintiff, upon a writ of entry, generally took possession of the land without making allowance for improvement ; that was not the law in Scotland, France, Holland, or Spain. If a tenant had improved the property, he should not give it up until the improvements WIC paid for. In such a case, the law should allow a Judge to suspend judgment until compensation be made. The object of the noble and learned lord was to improve the practice of the law, and be only proposed to read his bill the first time. It would not be committed until after the recess, and during that time be should have the assistance of some of the learned Judges. He ac cordingly moved the first reading of his bill. lord TENTERDEN did not wish on that occasion to enter upon the details of the bill. He did not object to it, on the contrary, be was ready to p ay attention to every part of it. He should only say.. Lime from the noble and Learned Lord would involve more con , i,le. ration than be could give that night to the subject. The LORD CHANCELLOR concurred in what had fdllen t . :oitt the noble and Learned Chief Justice. The noble Lord (Wynford) had gone over a large space, and material indeed would be the alterations proposed by this bill in the law of the country. It was impossible tc legislate upon the subject without mature eonsidesation. Tile last pro. position, on bona fide possession of persons making impuvernents, W. 114 subject to much inquiry. Improvement might be nettle by persons who had no right to possession. Ike tainly the noble ai.d Learned Lordo bill atoned not be hurried, but remain upon the table long enough t afford ample discussion upon its merits. The bill was then read the first time —Adjourned HOUSE Oli COMMONS, Nov. :10. The Gallery was not opened till nearly four o'clock, owing to time being a ballot for the Queenborough Election Committee. ELECTION PETITIONS. The SPRAKEIt eoon afterwards communicated to the house, that the parties had failed to enter into the requisite recogniz-inces. to recs. secute the election petitions for Surrey, by Messrs. Jul ire; for the city otf Londonderry, by Messrs. Scales; and fur Iluntingdon. by Mr. Wells. The Speaker informed tile house, that there were other ctoes. where the orders for considering toe peq ions nonce also he dischargtd, except there were special reasons urged and &denim d for delay ; that was the situation of the petition fur the county of Galway. Mr. G. DAWSON then presented a petition from Mr. Muntlat. praying the house to grit ten days' delay, the election retititmere not having had sufficient time to provide the requisite rveognitances; anti moved that ten days be allowed accordingly. Aiditiunal time granted. Mr. DYSON then appeared at the bar, with the reduced list of the committee to try the Queenborough eltction intition. The following were the committee who were sworn at the table : lion. Hugh Arbuthnot, J. W. Patten. J. D. Alexander. ST J. Kelly, G. Ityng, W. S. O'Brien, Lord Elliot, C. Roto, J. Cox, lion. F. W. ~rant, Hon. Cadwallader I). Blaney. The SPEAKER. next called die attention of the House to the Dm.. batton elee:ion I etitiun, where the parties bad failed to inter late the tee quisite recognisance% Mr. K ENNEDY n.oved that ten days further time be al/owed. Motion postponed for the present. Tire SPEAKER uext mentioned the Stamford election petitior. Mr. Tk:NNYSON said these petitimiers were under very mediae circumstances, which he briefly detailed. There had been failure, on the part of those who had to complete the sureties, and the failure was so peculiar, that he uusted the petition tor more time would receive the attention of the House ; the agent it appeared had been impeded by in. ditrooiqun. Mr. 51:11.1ERLY hoped that the ease would be considered, without refetenee to what bad appeared in the rewspepers ; and declared that he was aetonislied st the claim of the honourable member, who was In fact the petitioner, mid who ass ntoreever • teamed in the law." (hear) —and 'Arnim had not the pretext of ethers for not having duly at tended to the rules of the house. Except the house went in the tet t'i of the Acts, and of their own decisions, he slid not see how further tine could be pasted (hear). Sir C. 11'ETH ER ELL said, heals, did not see how the house could in this ease fIJ is the face of positive enactraeots. Mr. TENNYSON toes prowsted the petition. It was fr om .1 i ws . Beagley, and others, of Stastfood,apray log Cot farther thee. It bar :mg hoes read, Mr. T. moved that the prayer of this ;petition be conlio.i. I 1 I