Star. — London, England, 1830-04-30 00:00:00

k • li . . . . _- -- .1 '• day la eisimne Ivan w• on ill,: to, , . , ilk Bill. 0 0... r, ~ i ,! • . is , 2 1- GI - George / .1 ` *l.:._ ~/,:// - -•-. 1 1141 \ 1 Itj r i Ni "---- —=-••••- . l, - / t,,• co sirrn 11 zr olv.. 0 343) N 03TiL2re Xr.... 0a : . ,-- WO 0021EING ZJAss 1 dt.•% . . • l ine memememin This day was published, BLACKWOOD'S EDINBURGH MAGAZINE, No. CLXVI. for MAY, 1830. Eau Retford Di f•x:,, CONTZWTS. I. The Influence of the Church of England in Society.--11. Letter from Major-Gen. Stirling.--111. Lines written after reading the Romance of Arthur's Round Table.-IV. Letter He Arte , N e dra, from a Senior Fellow. V. Cloufletley ; a Tale. By the Author of Caleb IVilliaina.—Vl. The Silent Member. No. 2. VII. Trial by Jury in Cira Calloo4—Vlll. Alteration of the Courts of Law in Sootland.—lX. Poor Laws in Ireland.—X. A Greek Pastoral. By the Ettrick Shephent—X I. Hints to the Two Houses of Parliament.—Xl I. Letter from a Half-caste to a Pharttee. --XIII. The Currency Question. Adjustment of the Standard of Value. One Pound Note Circulation.—Xl V. Noctes Ambrosianze. No. 4. Printod for William Blackwood, Edinburgh ; and T. Cadell, !cation. !~~ ~ FRIDAY EVENINC, APP 1L 30, MO. IV- 13,462. Piurr. 71). This day is published, price 3s. Gd. No. IX. or THE RTERLY JOURNAL of AGRICULTURE, and the PRIZE ESSAYS and TRANSACTIONS of the H 1011- SOCIE ry of SCOTLAND. IMPERIAL PA RLIAM ENT. HOUSE OF LORDS-THURSDA Y. CONTENTS: On the Habits of the Domestic Rat, and on a Method of De. straying it.—ll. On the Manure required for a Course of Crops. BY Di. Coventry, Professor of Agriculture in the University of Edinburgh. — lll. On the Agriculture of the Romans—Concluded. IV. On the Origin and Natural History of the Sheep and Goat. Ily James Wilson, Esq. F.R.S.E., &A—V. On the Uses' to which certain Indigenous Plants have from time immemorial been cmployed in the Outer Hebrides.—Vl. On the Agriculture of France, and on the Effects of a Division of Property in Land. In a letter tram Tours.—Vll. On the Accidental Injuries of the Foot of the Horse arising from Shoeing, with their Effects and Treat iiient. By Mr. William Dick, Veterinary Surgeon, Edinburgh.— VI U. (hi the Cure of Hydatids, or Sturdy, in Sheep, by Tre panning.—lX. On die Tala Plant, as a substitute for Thorn in Communicited by the Right Hon. Sir John Sinclair, Ott Economy in Planting. The Practical Planter; containing Directions for the Planting of Waste Lands and Manage ment of Wood. By Thomas Cruickshank, Forester at Careston.— NI. Parliamentary Proceedings—Reduction of Taxes.—Xl I. M is. cellancous Notices.—Xl 11. Quarterly Agricultural Report, &c. I. Reports on 11:e Improvement of Waste Land for Tillage.—ll. On the Improvement of the Syphon for Draining Quarries. By J. Stewart Hepburn, Esq. of Colquhalzie.—lll. Essays on Thatching with Heath and Fern.—lV. Report on the Effects of Nitre as a Ma nure. By Robert Bruce, Esq. of Kennet.—V. Reports on Laying Down Land as a Permanent Posture—Vl. Description of a Ma chine for Sowing Turnips with Bone Manure. By Mr. Alexander Nichol.—Vll. Description of a Subsoil Plough. By Mr. Smith, of Verngon, &C. &C. Printed for William Blackwood, Edinburgh ; and T. Cadell, Strand, London. Mr. BLACKWOOD has in the Press, fn 2 vols.Bvo. with Portrait of the Author, engraved by Hodgetts from an original Picture , by John Watson Gordon, Esq. T HE LIFE of ALEXANDER ALEXANDER, Written by Himself, And Edited by JOHN HOWELL, Author of "Journal of a &knee," " Life of Juhn &c. This singular piece of autibiography exhibits, most minutely and faithfully, the real adventures of Alexander Alexander, the dis owned son of a gentleman in the West of Scotland. It commences sith infancy, trilV (I'M three quarters of the globe, and comprehends a period of nearly fifty years of the life of a man who has been plod in many trying situations, as a se:diet, an Overseer in the Wat Indies, and an Officer in the Patriot Armies of South Ame rica:—it is, in short, the complete, unreserved history of a human being. In foolscap Bvo, SONGS OF THE AFFECTIONS. By FELICIA HEMANS. HI. In octavo. THE PRACTICAL PLANTER; Containing Directions for the planting of Waste Lands, and Management of Wood. By THOMAS CRUICKSHANK, Forester at Careston. IV. In octavo, with Plates, front original drawings, THE BOSCOBEL TRACTS: i.;.;: - ;.\4rratives relating to the Escape of Charles IL after the Battle of Worcester, with Notes by the Editor, J. HUGHES, Esq. A.M. V. In one large volume. octavo THE GREEK GRAMMAR OF DR. FREDERICK TIIIERSCH. Translated from the German, with brief Remarks By Professor SANDFORD. ItECENTLY Imported, direct from Canton, a SPLENDID COLLECTION of the YELLOW or I.mpoor's Coloured CHINA, consisting of Jan., Beakers, &c. &c. Also a quantity of Sea Green Plates, richly ornamented with Flowers 4:.‘i Insects, now on SALE at Mawe's, 149, Strand. HOUSR AND RSTATE AGENCY OFFICES, No. 57, CONDUIT-STREET, REGENT-STREET, •MD No. 93, BISHOPSGAfEsSTREET- WITHIN. 11 ENRY L. COOPER, grat e f u l t o hi s F r i en d s an d 1.. a. the Public for thievery distinguished patronage conferred so hi. Noose in Bishopsgate-street for a period of nearly half a century, feel. hiniselt called on by the increasing interests entrusted hint in hi. Agency Department, w meet the views of his hieth!s, by affording those facilities hitherto unattempted by any, au.: embracing at once the whole of the Western as well as the ILn.rti parts of the aletr,ipolis, he has consequently established •:. Air: cy Other at No 57, CONDUIT-STREET, REGENT-STREET, •Q section with the original Cabinet and Uphohtery Manufactory in 14181101'SG ATE-STREET, ,•westing to the Fashionable and Commercial World the imposing of regi , tering their Properties in Iwo situations, the most eugiSle in their respective localities, and commanding the attention .! Capitalists. Sales cffLctcd by Auction, A ppraisementt, &c. . STOCK of Splendid I.OOK I NG-GT..I SS F.S. of superb salt:Mons, and in frames of corresponding magnificence, are cen i..ually on sale at both the Establishments. Nu. 57, Conduit -street, Regent -.trees, and No. 93, Bidlopegate-street Within. Stocks, near Keudul. December 6, 1828. (iENTLE H TN, is with greftt pleasure I comnintticate to you the happy result of my taking your Aritiscorbutic Drops. 1 was • several month,' afflicted with the scurvy on my neck and lace; -:ueh so, that the parts afrecttli were nearly raw. I applied to • , vral .Itdical Men for relief, but received no benefit, and I con. ::d in this deplorable condition until I heard from a friend, the ~!.eated CM(' your Mars hid filmic 311(1 after purchasing two 4. 6d. bottles from Messrs. M. s a d It. Ilianthwaite, an amend -Tr; began to take place, and I hill now perfectly recovered, for A.l:cli 1 return you thanks, aid aid, you to make it public, for the . "'tlit of those who may he similarly afflicted. I ant, Gentlemen, your oludient servant, E. DIXON, his mark. Witness Gerrard Walker. flew Drops are sold in moulded square bottles at 2s. 9d. 4%. 6d. " t is. each, by John Lignum and Son, Surgeons, &c. 63, Bridge- Manchester; Butlers, Chemist,, Cheapside, corner of St. London ; 73, Prince's -street, FAiinburgh ; and 54, Sackville *trtet. Dubli n ; Evans, 42, Loug- lac e , West Smithfield ; Sutton and t bowChurch•yard ; Barclay and Sons, 95, Fleet-market ; ESA -7.41h. 67, St. P a ul' s Ch urc h- yar d ;F. N ew b ery an d S ons, 45, S t. "61.• Church-yard ;F. Newhery and Sons, Agents to the Sun h 7 "Scv, 29, Damr-sirert, Dublin ; Scutt and Orr, 100, South lktdEt,And 67, Prince's -street, Edinburgh ; It. Nelson, Glasgow; -t,Jall respectable 31eiliclne Venders. , Ot . 'burn also may bc bad, Mr. Lignum's Improved VEGE. 31 '1 LOTION, fur all Scorbutic Eruptions, price 2s. 9d. duty sLignurn's SCURVY OINTMENT may now b e b a d o f wOove Agents, price Is. 911. each Pecohaty included. Inc DA NO E. It op WET FEET.—There is no evil to mankind k exposed, of eqoal magnitude to Wet Fret. It • fact saiversally acknowledged by the Faculty, that more Lir‘zus snout from this ono cause than from any other. The risk ri simmering this evil may be avoided by using Hunt's Patent " '"ldowf ComPwsidoD, which will render Boots and Shoes im pervious 1., all moisture, even that of snow water.—Sold in Batiks st I I tack, by °Worn. Druggist% Grocers, ate. ogc. Lord DE DUNSTANV II,I(E presented a petition from a sea port in Cornwall against the tax upon merchant seamen towards de. fraying the expenses of Greenwich Hospital. Lord NAPIER presented a petition from the corporate(' trades of Dumfries, in favour of a free trade to India and China. Lord TEYNHAM postponed his motion for the bett:r admi. nistration of the poor laws, which stood for Tuesday next, to Tuesday the 11th of May, in consequence of the motion of the Earl of Alountcashel, which comes on that day, relating to the English and Irish Church Establishment.—Lords ordered to be summoned. GEKEHAL DISTRESS. Earl GREY presented a petition agreed upon ate meeting of the county of Northumberland, complaining of distress, and praying a rigid system of economy in the expenditure of Government. The noble earl said the petition was signed by the high sheriff only, and therefore, in point of fonn, could only he k received as the petition of , that individual ; but it was unanimously agreed upon by the meet ing, and conveyed their sentiments. After the noble earl had read the greater portion of the petition, he proceeded to say that, from the local knowledge which he possessed of that county, he could state that the distress of which the petition compl tined was very great—(hear.) Perhaps not so great as in some parts of the kingdom. It was, however, he was sorry to say, very great. Ile felt bound to bear his testimony to the statement in that part of the petition. There must, of necessity, he some general cause for that distress. (Hear, hear.) Some. however, attributed that cause to one circumstance, some to another. He had no hesitation in saying (as was underst ood, for the noble earl was imperfectly heard at times below the bar in the observations which be made) that the change in the currency had produced a considerable share of the distress and difficulties which pressed upon all classes— the manufacturing and the agricultural, as well the shipping inter ests. Doubtless much difficulty arose from an excessive burden of debt, which had been contracted in a depreciated currency, and which was now to be paid in a metallic one. He thought that the measure which had passed in 1819, and subsequently, relative to Lile currency, had been passed without sufficient foresight. He begged leave, however, to state at the same time, that althotkell he had ex pressed his conviction of the cause of the distress, yet he was one of the last in the world who would propose or accede to any measure as a remedy that would tend to a breach of the public faith. lie thought that something might ix done of a beneficial descriptim he meant a revision of that measure which related to small notes, under a proper system of banking--a system that would prevent that abuse of the old mode which was practised in the year 1825, with effects so disastrous. lie thought that the present anomalous sys tem of the law of banking ought to be amended. Sonic measure to assimilate the law of England relating to banking in Ireland and Scotland ought to he made. IVltat was good for Scotland and Ire. land, he conceived, would be likewise good for England. There was this anomaly produced by the present law—in the county to which he belonged, although English small notes were not in eireu• lation, yet the Scotch small notes were. In the county of Northum. berland, for 30 miles front the Scottish border, these notes circulated. The coals beyond the border were purchased, and paid for by the farmers and others in this illegal currency ; it was totally impos sible to avoid such a mode of dealing where two systems of banking prevailed. lie really believed that this was connived at by the Bri tish Government. What was also not a little extraordinary was, that no penalty could be laid on the persons who received these mall notes in England, whilst the person who paid them was liable to one. He thought that this part of the system, at least, ought to be revised. Feeling that he was a partner in this mistake, by coon tenancing the measure, he acknowledged his enor, and hoped tout t'te measure revised. lie again begged to say that he should never consent to any system which went to break faith with the public creditor. The petition was then read, and laid on the table. The Archbishop of YORK presented a petition from a parish in his diocese, praying the abolition of slavery. Mr. M. A. TAYLOR, Mr. HOLMES, Lord STANLEY, Mr. STANLEY, and Mr. MARSHALL, brought up the Warrington Rail. way Bill, Wigan Railway Bill, the Leeds and Selby Railway Bill, with other private bills, all of which, at a subsequent period of the evening, were read a first time. 14.1 . 21afer, from the Treasury. presented at the bar an account of the amount duties paid on foreign corn imported for home con. sumption from the sth January, 1828, to the sth January, 1830. Some judicial returns from the equity courts in Ireland were pre. sented at the bar, a!td laid on the table. BRITISH SPIRITS, AND RUM• The Earl of ItIALMESBURY—iIIy lords, I rise for the purpose of presenting a petition from a most respectable body of individuals connected with a trade of great importance—l speak of the dis tillers of the united kingdom. I shall not trespass long on your lordships' time, especially as my noble friend opposite (Viscount Goderich,) who, live years ago, when Chancellor of the Exche quer, introduced the measure to Parliament which is now about being departed from, intends to offer some explanation on the sub ject. This petition would not have been framed, had it not been for a circumstance to which I have alluded—via. that an inti mation has been recently made of the intention of government to lay an additional duty of one shilling a gallon on British corn spi rits, without any additional duty being about to be laid on rum. 1 will, with your lordships' permission, shortly state the contents of the petition. In the year 1825, an arrangement was made by th• administration ; my noble friend being, as I have stated to your lordships, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The subject was be fore parliament, and agreed to. A considerable reduction was then made in the duties on spirits. The distiller of British spirits, it was agreed upon, should pay a duty of Is. Gd. per gallon less than the duty imposts! on rum. That having been agreed upon, after a diligent inquiry and investigation of the subject, the next question that now presents itself is—why is it to be departed from P Has any thing occurred which renders it necessary to deviate from the principle then laid down ? It was not given to the British dis tiller as a matter of favour that he should pay the duty which I have named ; but it was an Arrangement made, after a minute and lengthy investigation. Your Lordships need not be told that rum, when brought into this country, is fit for immediate consumption ; but British spirits must be rectified and compounded before they can be brought into the market for use. This process is only accomplished after an expense of front Gd to led a gallon. I will, however, take a medium, and say &I a gallon. On this head alone there is an ad. ditional expense to the British distiller. The next point to which the petitioners allude is one, 1 think, of considerable importance-- not only to them, but to that class to which I belong —the agricul. lutist.. I am now speaking of the operation of the corn laws.— The distiller says that he is unable to purchase corn so cheap as he otherwise would do, were it not fur these laws. This has been cal -1 culated by some as operating to the extent of a shilling a gallon on the spirits which he distils. 1 ought also to mention, my Lords, the operation of the malt duty, which acts to his disadvantage. lie is obliged to use a considerable quantity of malt, on which he must pay a duty. Now, in Scotland there is a drawback allowed on malt used, hut not in t.ngland. From a return to which 1 have had as cess, I find no less a quantity of spirits than 9,000,000 of gallons distilled In Scotland. No doubt, of this quantity, a considerable portion finds its way into this country. When brought to England as • spirit, there is a malt duty charged. But there is another point to which I wish to call your Lordships' attention. By the regulation of 1825 the sun) of 250,0001. was expended in altering premises to carry on the trade 'Ellis sum was laid out in the be lief that the regulation would be permanent—(hear, hear). With respect to the third head in the petition, my lords, for a justification of giving Is Gd a gallon to corn-distilled spirits, there is a vast mass of regulations, occupying no less than G 2 folio pages, front which the West India distillers are free. When your lordships look at this, 1 think your lordships will comitier the corn distiller ought to have some advantage. I am assured by respectable indi viduals that they would willingly compound for fid a gallon add/. tional duty, to be freed from these burdensome regulations. Your lordships are aware that a very large portion of corn is consumed in distillation. I find no less titan 1,400,000 quarters of various de scriptions of corn were used last year (we believe). The corn that way be used for that purpose is that which is often unfit for others. The two last seasons have been peculiarly unfavourable for harvest, and a considerable quantity has been thus consumed not useable in any other manner. As a question, therefore, interesting to the agri culturist, it becomes' important to hint when ft is proposed to im pose an additional duty on corn-distilled spirits. I trust that those a ho are in favour of the West India interest, for whom I feel as much as any one, will not be satisfied under these additional duties as a mode of relief for that body. If 1 were one eif the West India proprietors. I should not ceesitler It; • proposed nieasute as a boon. I should rather decline to be so relieved ; for, when my case became more aggravated in its distress, I should not like to he told, " You have been already relieved, by having a duty of Is a gallon put upon British oorn spirits." I would say to those who now propose this dote, " (Jive us something more substantial - it is not enough to ! relieve u 5.... Have the goodness to inquire into the duties on sugar, and see whether we cannot have none:thin; done more walculettel to benefit vs." Your lordships are not probably aware that the price is 23a. whilst the duty is 275--(hear)—and this not an ad valorem duty 1 for Are same duty is paid upon every description of sugar. It it also important too, not only to the West India pro. prietor, but to the poor in this country, sir ce tea has become uni. venally drank, 'and sugar is essential. It would be of considerable importance to have an ad valorem duty. This piddling mode oil relief, by plating a duty of Is. a gallon on core spirits, will be but', of little advantage to the West Indian proprietors. and of consider able disadvantage to the British distiller. lam not sure too wit.. they the effect of this proposed duty may not increase smuggling. ant not certaie, whether 14 per cent. to the present price of British spirits. which Is. added to 7s. is, may not tarn the scale on the part of the smuggler. Living, as I do, in a county when smug gling was carried on to a vast extent, producing so much mischief and evil—for nothing tends to demoralize the lower classes more than this unhappy mode of life, but which hart been, fortunately, by means of low dirties, and the activity of the preventive system, which, by the way, is ro trifling expense to the country—it is na. tural that I should view with alann and anxiety any proposition which is likely to produce again those wretched pc pe; and cent that then prevailed. A thousand pitons of spirits will have an additional duty of 501. Now this is a considerable :Mit, and may tempt persons to be engaged in smuggling transactions. The pt. thinners, my lords, do not, however, object to the proposed duty, provided a like duty is put upon runt. If this duty tended to di ininieh the consumption of spirits, I should think it rather a for tunate circumstance than otherwise, as I hold it to be highly iuju. , rious to the health and morale of the lower deuce the habit of drinking epititous liquors. If you increase the duties, not only will you encourage persons to become smugglers, but illicit stills are put into practice. The noble earl opposite (Earl Grey) has very ably pointed out the folly of the anomaly of the existing law respecting banking in England and Swatted. Nothing can be, more absurd than to have two different laws on the same subject. What is the ease of, this very subject as the law now stands ? Why, that a person can purchase, as it were, with one hand, spirits fn. a gallon less than with the other. In one place he can pay fur it with a pound.note, and with a metallic currency in another. If, therefore, the paper be in a depreciated currency, he posses an advantage. I beg to apologise to your lordships for having taken up MO much of your time—(hear), and I will now move that the pe tition be read. The petitioners, in addition to their prayer, trust that the duty in question will not be imposed, at least without investigation. If it be persevered in, I may probably, on a future day. submit a motion to the house to take the rabject into consi. deration. Viscount GODERICH said that the subject was doubtless one of considerable importance. The general principles of policy which were now to be departed from, having been adopted when lie was the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he felt it right to offer some ob. serrations to the house on the subject. In order to explain those principles which he took the liberty of recommending for the adoption of Parliament, he must be allowed to say that they origi. nated in the necessity of taking some decided steps for putting an end to the system of illicit distillation which prevailed in Ireland and Scotland. So great and manifold were the evils arising from that system, no one unacquainted wills them could conceive their extent. In various parts of Ireland something very like a civil war had sprung up between the people and the kiag's troops—(hear, hear.) The most severe and most unconstitutional laws had been adopted by parliament for lessening those evils, but all without ef fect. The only remedy that appeared to him was to a great reduc tion in the duty on spirits. The duty on Irish spirits was then ss. Qt. it was lowered in the year 1823, to its present rate—viz-2..10d. This was a great redaction, but it was absolutely called for. It was clear that in proportion as the duty on Irish and Scotch spirits were reduced, the English would be aificted ; but it was, however, quite impossible to see exactly how the English duty ought to be regu lated. At that time it was illegal to have Scotch and Irish whisky in this country ; nothing could be more absurd than this regulation. In the following year, 1824, the West India interest was repre. 'tented as being labouring under very considerable difficulties. One of the great causes of their complaint was, the difficulty of finding a market for their rum. They represented that if greater freedom of access to the English market were obtained, it would go a considerable way towards compensating them fur the loss they had sustained in sugar. The duty on rum was about Is. 6d. a gallon snore than the nominal duty on British corn spirits. In the lyear 1824, in order to meet this case of complaint, lie introduced a measure into the other House of Parliament, the object of which was to reduce the duty' upon rum. lie acted upon this principle, that the cultivators of the soil in the West Indies had as much right I to protection as any other class of people. The principle upon which he acted wan equality. His object was not to favour one class more than another. The duty was accordingly lowered. In the following year, 1824, having endeavoured to make himself acquainted with the details on the subject, and moat intricate and difficult to be un derstood they were. (Hear.) lie then proposed the law which now prevailed on that subject in England, Scotland, and Ireland. It appeared to him that if the duties were to be the same on rum as on British corn spirits, an advantage would thereby accrue to theWcat Indian interest. The effect of the corn laws, it might be assumed, would tend to diminish the profit of the British distiller. The par. tics themselves made propositions of what they considered likely to equalize the duties. The British distiller claimed 2s. a gallon, as a protecting duty. The West Indian proprietors argued against it ; they urged that not more than Is. a gallon could be afforded. He (the noble viscount) naturally took the division between the two, and put the duty at Is. 6d. This, he thought, would gives fair protec anti to the British distiller. At that time he assumed that there would be an increase in the consumption of spirit., which would tend to diminish the falling off in the) revenue which would neces. wily follow. lie calculated that the consumption of rum would be much greater than heretofore, and was right in his anticipation. At that period, it was said he had been mistaken in his calcula tions ; but the result was, that he had rather under-rated the loss of revenue than over-rated, as was insisted. The loss to the revenue amounted to 600,0001. but, on the supposition that there would be lan increased consumption, lie calculated that the actual loss would not exceed 300,0001. And so it proved. Flom the official papers, he found that in the last two years there had been an increase to this amount, thus showing that he had not proceeded in his calcu lations on false data. In the year 1828, the loss to the revenue, compared with the period previous to the reduction, was not more than 200,0001. and in the year 1829, he found the consumption of rum had increased from the preceding year. His expectations had not been disappointed, for there was at least one-third more added to the revenue than he had calculated upon, and which he had been mitred that he had rated much too high. Ile confessed it did not appear to him that any ground existed in policy in making a change from the arrangement which had been adopted. He was not aware that any circumstances had occurred which made it necessary to de part from that arrangement which had been entered into. He thought that a stimulus would be given to smuggling by the pro posed measure. The ingenuity which was displayed by gentlemen engaged in that practice, and by ladies, too--(a laugh,)—for they mingled in it—was truly ludicrous. Although the effect of the proposed measure would not relieve the West India proprietor very greatly, he could not agree in what the noble lord had said on this subject, that it would be of no benefit whatever. After some fur ther remarks as to the probable advantage which would flow from an equalisation of the duties on East and West India sugar, the noble viscount concluded with saying, that he was not aware of any circumstances which made it desirable or expedient, or at all nem wiry, to deviate front the principles of the arrangement which had been entered into. The Earl of iIIALMLSBURY, in explanation, said he had not stated that tio benefit would be obtained by the %Vest India pro. prietor, but that it was of a trifling description. He added, that he believed since the year 182 the consumption of runt bad inert t.'ed bb per cent. The petition was then read, and laid on the table. Wallis 's divorce bill passed through a committee. D'Oyly's divorce bill was read a third time and prisrd. The Karl of DARNLI:Y presented a petition from Gillingham, Chatham, and other parishes in Kent, praying that poor laws might be extended to Ireland. The Earl of LIMERICK protested against the introduction of poor laws in titut country. The petition was then read, and laid on the table. The Marquis of SALISBURY then moved the order of the Palfryman was called in and eon:tinted belay. Thomas Appleby, an Alderman of East Rettord, a, k! colt:JO the receipt of 10 guineas after the election of 1812 ; 40 guineas in 1818 ; and 20 guineas in 1820. In answer to the Marquis of SALISBURY—He alw is , ete..d conscientiously. The money had been left input:els at los hotiee. He kept it, but could not say whether it was tiw electio purp e si or not. Samuel Buxton, Burgess of East Hetford --Knew Alt Ilaoratt the alto ney, who promised him 10 guineas after the eleetico 1812. Witness never asked him what it was for. He reale e! parcels containing 21 guineas each, four times, twice fiesta ercL, of the successful candidates, after elections. We. Feats a d - Mr. Crompton had been the successful candidates when 1w received two of those parcels. (Hear.) Ht voted act:edit g to his principles. In the course of the crow examination by lewd DIOR r A M, Lord ELLIENBOROL'OH begged to call the attention of the house to the abandonment of its established custom for rob!' lord, to stand while examining witnesses. Such had been the habit of noble lords during the Queen's trial, and on all similar procesdhlgs within his memory, with the exception of the present, and a few other occasions during the last year. Ile blamed himself for rot having made these observations soontr, hut he felt himself Impelled to do so theu on account of the colloquial and inaudible to'e into which the noble lord who had been examining the witness hail &lieu —a tone which, while it naturally followed from the habit of reble lords sitting during examination, rendered the substatese of 11, it ex. amination quite unintelligible to those who, like himself, rlieuld happen to sit at some distance from the bat linid DURHAM said he could not but scorn his thanks to the noble lord for the allusions winch he had made to his (Lord Dur ham's) manner. He could not hut r..!mark, however, that if he should feel inclined to take example front any individual of that house, it certainly should not be front the noble lord, who had fa voured him with his strictures. ‘Vith respect to the circumetance which had given rise to these observations, it was one which affected the privileges of their Lordships, and to theO decision on the sv I) • jeer he should willingly how. Lord ELLENBOROUGH disclaimed all intention of ailudin e , in the sliginest•Jegree, offensively to the conduct of the noble boil The LORD CHANCELLOR said he should take the liberty o: explaining what be under;ood to be the practice of the house in re spect to this matter, which was. that a t01.d.: lord should wand alien pursuing a long systematic line of examination ; but when I only put questions incidentally in a witness ' lie might then remit - , his seat. In the prset.t case h e thought VI: Noble lend (Durham) should Ise elloweil to exerc;se ies eliscret . Lord Mini A M then proceeded with his examination sitting, Wm. Hudson. a shoemaker and burgess of Last Retro& for 22 years, was examined —He received 20 guinea. in 1814 front Mr. Hannan, in a room in the Angel tun. In 1818 11C reeeive.l 4') guineas after the el:ohm, and a similar stint in 1820. This money was left at his house—it was not owing to hint, he did not know who sent It, nor for what purpose. How could he ? This witness, as well as his predecessor, resorted to every su b. terfuee, however palpable, before be could he brought to admit that he understood the money to have been scut hint for slectiee purposes. At a Quarter past Nine the House adjourned. 110 USE OF COMMONS—TurnsDAY. LONDON BRIDGE APPROACHES. Mr. Alderman WOOD moved the .sccond reading of the bill. Sir E. KNATCHBULL moved the introduction of a clause int. posing a duty on the parish of Gravesend of half the duty on coo?; payable in the port of London. Aidtnuan WOOD opposed the clause. as coming by surprise. Mr. TENNYSON took the opportunity of enquiring of the 'tight lion, the Master of the Mint whether it was intended tt to continue the duty after the payment of the debts now contraeted. tit; duty HERRIES replitd that it was not intended to contin ue duty after the payment of the accounts. The clause was agreed to, and the bill read a 'econd time. Nlr. M. A. TAYLOR presented a petition from Durhatt: against the punishment of death fur forgery. iNsOLVENT lIIESTORS . ACT. Lord A ',THORP rose to present a petition, of which he ',id gi ven notice, front Alrj, ri Dance provisional assigree in the Insolvent Debtors' Court, against I& sent state of th e l aw as regar d e d i.. solvents. The petitioners ui that the law requir e d amewi l ment in several points, more Atitic . uiarly in those whi c h re l ate d to t h e di visionof the debtors' prope rty, and imprisonment, previous to ob taining the benefit of the Act. Ile concurred in the sentiments of the petitioner, and thought that imprisonment, instead of berefiting, was detrimental to the creditor in those cases where the debtor was really insolvent, and where he had acted with good faith slid ho nesty. Imprisonment could not benefit the creditor, and ought onli. to be resorted to against fraud and dishonesty. lie would be the last person to say that punishment ought r o t t o f o ll ow such conduc.. but, when hottest men were reduced to a state of inscireney by unforeseen and calamitous circumstances, it surely was a great hinds ship to punish them for what could only be regarded by every one as a misfortune. His object, therefore, was not to abolish the power of imprisonment, but to give the creditors power to divide the property, without compelling the debtor to go to prison. When an honest man becomes insolvent, why not say so at once, shim:: first making him undergo the ordeal of imprisonment ? The come. queue of the first clause was, that, often where there was no pro perty to divide, the insolvent still was compelled to go to pri-son ; and the other was, that persons possessed of considerable irforn e could go into the rules of the King's Bench and set their creditors at defiance, and, merely because they were in nominal cor,finement, they acquired the power of eluding their creditors. I hese were evils which required amendment, and he should, therefore, Ir. glad to see, in the bill which had been introduced by the At. torney.deneral, certain clauses inserted which would allow of a di vision of property, and which should compel the creditor, in certain ' eases, to take a composition without arresting the debtor. Mr. Alderman THOBIPSON was confident that the law re. quired amendment, and that the proper time was now come for in quiring into the operation of the law as it bad existed for years. As it at present stood, it was of little or no benefit to the retail trader, as it might be seen from a return which had been made or the amount of debts of insolvents for a certain number of years. That amounted to eleven millions sterling, while the composition paid to the creditors did not exceed did in the pound. Another evil was, that there was no time fixed when the insolvent could be obliged to give up his property for division among his creditors, instead of going on, as many debtors did now, living in gaol, and squandering away their property, till every farthing was gone whets he applied to take the benefit of the act. The punishment of im prisonment be did not think sufficient for a fraudulent debtor; anti if the law were made more severe on that point, and the offending party subjected to transportation, a great advantage might be ex pected. As to mane process, he would not take upon himself to say what particular alteration should be made, ben he was afresh unless some more protection was extended to the retail dealers, they must be ruined. Sir JOHN NEWPORT was convinced ( f the impolicy of the law, and he believed no one could deny it. Fine and imprisonment against a fraudulent debtor were not stafiCiersi ; some more severe punishment should be inflicted. He thought, at the cause time. that retail dealers were much to blame. They often gave credit to a man they knew nothing of, and, trusting to the power of impri.. sonnwut, they would furnish him goods almost to any amount. To prove that such a law was not necessary, they had only to look to the practice at Hamburg, one of the most commercial cities in Europe. At that place the power of arrest was not called for; and why should it not be called for if it were necessary • The fact was, the law, as it stood, assisted the ft. udulent debtor, and acte d as a punishm enti on the homed trader. Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN said the law, as it at present stood, was extremely defective, and was peculiarly oppressive to the honest trader. When once a trailer of this descriptioo became in volved, he, in a manner, became reckless, and only Ittokcd forwaid to imprisonment, wind:stamped his character 'or ever. Nothing. he was convinced, affected an honest trader MOrn than this, and many of them, he believed, would rafter suffer death titan be subjected to it. In addition to this, the dividends were so small that they did not pay half the salaries of the commissioners. What be would may was, give the honest trader a fair chance, and adopt some such law as that recommended by Sir Samuel Romilly. He knew of instances in which persons, with 400/. a year, had been in the King's Bench for ten years, and he would venture to say that 1001. of that would have satisfied the creditors. It had been oftet, stated that retail dealers were entirely to blame. Now, he would ask persons who said so only to inquire fairly into the business. anti they would see what delusions were practised to rob the retail dealer. And if the porter received instruction to jurist en payment betore delivery of the goods, what was the result ? Why, those very per sona who blamed the tradesman so much would be the first to cram • plain of such a supposed insult. Without credit, or small cente, retail dealers could nut go on. He trusted, therefore, that the At torney General would give time in the Committee for considering the bill fully, in order to sec what amerfaments can be made. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, he was unwilling to vet.- lure an opinion on the subjects alluded to, but should tee most happy to take them into consideration at a fit opportunity. With regard to one—namely, that of a division of property—he ntiga:. however, say that lee was favourable to such a plain He bad nor made up his taind as to the other proposition, moat for contpelliog the creditor to accept a composition wifiroor the power of arresting the debtor, except in cases of (module t ey. He auld, howeWer.le ready to secede to a ZII 1111 l 'titre of inquuy, where the different points I might meet with the fullest investigsfon. Mr. BRIGHT was glad that the learned gentlinm ea lt:td no oh ' j ectlon to a committee. The evils of width he coop however,