Star. — London, England, 1826-12-09 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS. At four o'clock the Sruaraa took the Chair, and proceeded to 1./tar 1n the blembers present who had nut previously taken the oaths and their seats. _ . Mr. Omega, from the Treasury, presented an account of the quantity of Gold and Silver which had been exported from this country during the last year. Mr. HUTCHISON. from the Bank of England, presented an Ac count respecting the Public Balances. Mr. Paaituousz presented a lteport of the Carnatic Commis siunei s. _ _ A Petition was presented against the Return made fur the County of Westmeath. Mr. Alderman WOOD presented a Petition from a Mr. Thomas Durntord, wine merchant, of the City of London. The Petitioner stated that some time since, being incapable of meeting the demands of his creditors, lie had been made a bankrupt, but he had not, up to the present time, been able to procure a certificate, because he could not induce the assignees to hold a final meet ting. This circumstance caused him great suffering, for it prevented him from availing himself cf any oppor tunity which might present itself of again entering into business. A the time of his becoming a bankrupt he had detivered up the whole of the property he possessed, still the - assignees would not hold a final meeting. In deed, since he was made a bankrupt, some of his friends had raised a small subscription, and presented him with 2W. to purchase some lew articles of furniture, and the whole of acne articles bed been seized by order of the assignees. The Petitioner thought the case extremely bald, and prayed that the House would make such an alteration in the taw as uould prevent any other individual in future from suffer. lug under similar circumstances. The Hon. Member assured the House that he had known the Petitioner and his family for a great number of years, and could answer for his respectability and integrity. Mr. Alderman THONIPSON also bore testimony of the re spectability of the Petitioner. Thu Pc Wien was ordered to be printed. CAI 110LIc C LAI II S. A Petition was presented trout the Borough of Huntingdon, pray ing that no further concessions might be nixie to the Roman Ca thoiscs. _ _ Sir HENRY PARNELL presented a Petition from the Roman Cathol c, inhabitants of Queen's County, playing for a repeal of the disabilities under which they suffered. tie would tar the liberty of reading one sentence of the Paition to the House, and they would at once be able to rightly appreciate the feeling which dictated the whole. The Petitit.neis begged to assure the House that they did not yield to any class of tat iti.b subjects in a sincete attachment to their gracious So vereign, and a tired reverence for his person, his office, rind the Constitution of the country. He (Sir H. P.) could undertake from the expel ience he bad had of the retitionen to •ouch for the sincerity with which the assertion was nude. lie would not then ehter into the subject, as the question was to be 'nought tot ward aft, r the vacation; but when it was discussed, he certainty 6huuld nut shtick from taking his part, and enforcing the of the Rowan Catholics in the strongest language he was master of. Air. H. GRATTAN presented a similar Petition from the Roman Catholic inhabitants of the palish of Gra rood, County of Lo:rglord. It had been assented by bo.i,e who Mete adverse to the granting of the prayer of the Petition, that the Roman Catholics were desirous to see the Act of Scutt ment destroyed. Than such an ak &mon, nothing could be more unjust. The very land which he was possessed tit had tornerly been held b) Mre ancistor s tit the Teti inners, and he declared ino.t nuuusly, that it ever SUkb a thing as the repeal of that law should take place, he bil()Uld .00k with per fect confidenCe to such men as the Petitioners for l.ro• tection. His Majesty's Ministers had expressed it to be their intention nut to act upon the question, and from whet had been already said, he feared that the proceedings of that House atter 'the vacation would produce but a miserable result for Ireland. There was but one thing which could restore that distracted coun try to any, thing like prosperity, and that was the grants ing of the prayer of the Petitioners. It was idle to ialk of t he measures of Government having any good effect. It was impossible that they could have any. The Lord Lieutenant was of one opinion, and the Secretary was of another; the Lord Chancellor had one opinion, and the Attorney-General had another:, Under such cir cumstances it was in vain to hope for improvement. It was the I.yalty of the Roman Catholics alone that pre• served Ireland to this country, and not the forty thou ,and soldiers, and six thousand police spies, which in fested that country. It was high time that the oppressed Roman Catholics were relieved, and he begged the House by performing that act of justice to comply with the request of the Peitioners.— They said, " We implore your Honourable House to grant peace and happiness to this distracted ceuntly." Ordered to be printed. to relief, but because that particular description of relief was not applicable to them, as if persons of that description were soot out, it would be consigning them to utter destruction. The Petitii ns of the Emigration Society of Cambuslang, and of the Cork Field Bank Society, were then read and laid on • ahe table. , The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said he held in his hand a Petiticn from a Gentleman in Ireland, a friend to the Corn Laws, who was desirous of laying his senti ments on that subject before the House. He was dis posed, from the tespectabi ity of ireTv4-ity, to lay the Petition Wore the House, though he did not concur in some parts of it. In presenting this Petition, as it would he the last time he shotild be able to attend before their Lo , dships adjourned, he took the liberty of expressing a hope that, when they did adjourn, it would be to meet as early *titer the holidays as possible, with a view to enable his Majesty's Government to being forward those measures which, while delayed, kept the whole of the country in a state of agitation. He thought the king's Covet iiment had dis; barged their duty in making up their minds on the alteration of the present system, and hang so done, he was sure the earliest period at which a tolerably full attendance of both Houses might be h id would be the fittest opportunity for discussing this great question, becsuse it was most urgent. With re spect to the subject of the Bill now passing through that House, he was anxious, as he should not be able to at end on Monday, to state that he entirely conctmred in the proptiety of those measures, anal he felt himself the more bound to state this, as he felt it bis duty towards the end of the last Session of Parliament, to oppose the measures intrusting the discretion to his Majesty's Government, conceiving that responsibility would be better bad when the immediate emergency ams-, He had heard that the sole reason for calling Parliament together at this season of the year was the passing of the Indemnity Bill, and unless they had called Parliament together after such a breach of law as he contended it was, he should have objected to delay. Although a responsibility had been most pro perly taken upon themselves, it called for an immediate indemnity. Ile considered an irregularity had taken place as to the datles, which ought not to have been called for after the 15th of Novem beri.a period after which, according to law, no duty should have been called for. He did not mean to impute an intention to the Ministers of committing 'a breach of law beyond what the emer gency of the moment called for, but all pawn* who had paid. such duties had a remedy at law. The Earl of LAUDERDALE said he rose for the purpose of asking the Noble Marquis whether the Petitioner on the subject of the corn had stated anything objectionable? The Marquis of LANS DO NE said the Petitioner had not used any phrase that was objectionable, but had only stated his sen timents ou the subject. Lord DARNLEY concurred in every word which had fallen from his Noble Friend, and expressly agreed in the propriety of the Mouse meeting as soon after the recess as it was possible. The Petition Fran the Landholders in Ireland against any alter ation of the Corn Laws until inquiry should prove what effect that alteration might have, was then read and laid on the table. Lord DARNLEY presented two Petitions from the Roman Catholics of the County of Meath, and another from the County of Slayo, praying to be rilkved from civil disabilities. The Noble Eayl repeated what he had so often stated, that the empire would never be at rest until this question was determined. The Petitions were read and laid on the table. • Earl BATHURST then moved that a Message be sent to the House of Commons, requesting a Copy of the Report of the Corn ntittee on Emigration which sat last Sehaion of Parliament.— lirdered. Mr. COAFER, horn the Treasury, presented the 13th Report of the Couuni ss tuners of Revenue Enquiry. Mr. Pa Nattouse, from the Carnatic Commissioners, also present ed a thud liepion respecting Tanjore.—Adjourned. r PORTUGAL AND SPAIN. Sir ROBERT WILSON said, that understanding the Right Hun. Secretary fur Foreign Affairs would, in all probability, he suffic;ently recovered from indisposition to attend the House on Tuesday next, begged to give notice that he should on that day move for the production of ceitain papers, respecting particular transactions which had recently taken place on the Tagus, and in Portugal. EMIGRATION. Mr. wiLmoy HORTON apprehending that the Hon. Baronet opposite (Sir James Graham) had not rightly understood what he had stated last nign, beg ged to read to that Hon. Baronet a copy of the letter which had been sent from the Colonial Office to the Gentlemen who had been deputed to wait on his Ma. jesty's Government by the Emigration Society in Scot land—(The Hon. Member read the lever, which stated that no other answer could be returned than the one already given). The answer alluded to was a printed circular,which certainly could not fairly bear the construction which bad been put cn it. He was not aware that any encouragement had been given; but the case could, if necessary, be again brought under the consideration of the Committee in February nest. Sir JAMES GRAHAM must confess he did not agree with the Hon. Secretary, for although that Hon. Gent. had not given the Editor of the Glasgow Paper sufficient . encouragement .to entitle him to make the report, he did to a meeting of the Glasgow Society; still he was of opinion that some influential Member of his Majesty's Government had done so. With respect to the case being brought before the Committee in Fe bruary, he feared that before that month the opportunity for effect ing any good in this particular instance would have passed away. The Honourable Baronet read the Report which had been made to the Glasgow Emigration Society, and declared his opinion to be unchanged. - - - Mr. S. RICE, moved for returns of the quantity of Coal, Coke, and Cinders imported into Ireland during the last year. Also, a copy of the Memorial addressed to the Treasury by the Dublin distillers in June. 1521, relative to the mode of collecting the duty on malt in Scotland, and the draw back duty on exported whiskey. Also, returns of the payment to the Commissioners of First Fruits in Ireland -during the last ten ycars.—Ordered. Mr. HUME wished to ►now w►ether, and when, the Colonial Under Secretary would lay before the House an account of the in-, come and expenditure of the Colonies? Mr. WI LMOT-HOR TON said, they would be laid before the House at the dee period. Mr. HUME gave notice of a motion for Monday, for returns of the income and expenditure of the Colonies. The lion. Member atm presented Petitions from Bradford and Halton, in Yorkshire, fora repeal of the Corn Laws. YIRI INSVRANCIG Alderman THOMPSON presented a Petition from the Royal Exchange and Sun Fire Insurance Compa nice, praying for a reduction of the duty on policies.— The petitioners stated, that while their highest rate of charge was ls. 6d. per cent. the Government duty was Ss. and that in consequence of this high duty, but ls.6d. in 1782, raised twice during the war, and not reduced since the peace, the business of fire insurance was much injured. They also stated, that if that duty of Sc. were reduced one half, or even two thirds, the revenue would be, so fat from injured, considerably iniproved, as many, who ate deterred by the present high duty from insuring their property, would do so then; so that the quantity of business would make up for the dimi nution of the rate. This would be particularly the case with the middling classes, and the owners of small pro perties. He fully concurred with the sentiments of the petitioners. As he was on the subject, he would suggest the importance and necessity of a total revival of the present system of commercial stamp duties; they were now so high in thin country, as seriously to affect its trade, and, unless reduced, would be ruinous to one branch of our commerce. Formerly, all the merchandise of the world was insured in London; but now, in cbnseciaencs of our high policy duties, even British merchandise was insured in foreign countries, where there was no policy duty. This was a notorious fact that came under his daily observation, and in itself forcibly suggested to the Government the necessity of revising these duties. Mr. BERNAL hoped the Hon. Alderman would font's , / up his able statement by some measure that might give commerce relief from the present high policy dudes (five shillings per cent.) which were actually a tax upon Paovinerice and discretion and which bore so particularly upon the industrious poor and middling classes. Mr.WA It BURTON considered the law required revision, were it only from the severity with which it bore upon the shipping in terest of the country. Alderman THOMPSON said, that he awaited the result of a negotiation now pending between the Mer chants of London and the Government, on the subject of Marine Policies, before he proposed. any measure to the effect of the Petition. After a few words in support of the Petition from Alderman Waitbman, it was ordered to be printed. ORDNANCS CONTRACTS IOR TIMBER. Mr. WARBURTON wished to direct the attention of the Gallant General (Sir H. Harding) to the sub stance of a paper put that morning into his (Mr. War burton's) bands. It appeared that the Ordnance had contracted with certain individuals for the supply of a particular (supetinr) species of timber, at a specific price. Now it was impossible to supply the superior article coot' acted for at the price specified ; so that the supply must be filled up by substituting an article bearing an inferior price. The notoriety of the fact kept men of honour hum contracting for the supply, and induced him to threw it out as a suggestion for the gu dance of the Ordnance. Sir H. H A RUING thanked the Hon. Member for the sugges tion, on which it was impossible for him then to say more than that it should be attended to by the heads of the Ordnance Depart ment. A Messenger from the House of Lords requested a copy of the Report of the Select Committee of Emigration.—Granted. On the motion of Mr. BERRIES, the Ten Millions Exchequer Bills' Bill, and the Transfer in Aids' Bill , were lead a third time and passed. The consideration of the Bill for assimilating the Postage Duties of the United Kingdom was postponed till the 13th of February. The Reports of the Committees of Ways and Means, and of 'Supply, were postponed till Monday. Mt. BROUGHAM begged to remind the Hon. Member (Mr. Horton) that when he (Mr. B.) presented the Petition of Bishop Burnett, complaining of the con: duct of Lord Chatles Somerset, he stated that it was impossible that all the charges were true; for if so, it was a libel on the House and the Government that Lord Charles should have been continued an hour in his tficc. He thought, however, that the Report, so con fide..tly appealed to by the Hon. Member, as content:q t .; a I;futatioti of Bishop Butnetes case, left sufficient of his charges untou..hed to induce the House to enquire into the conduct of Lord Charles, who, the Right Hon. Foreign Secretary declared, to be then on his way home to demand an enquiry—infaCt, to be , tried for his misconduct. He was absent from the House last night, when the subject as before the House, otherwise he should got have tres passed on their time then. I Mr. HOBHOUSE wished to procure some infOrria- Lion from the Hon. Member opposite (Mr. Herries), tin the absence to the Secretary to the Woods and Forests, as to the Charing Cross Improvements. His consti tuents were most anxious on the subject, as many of them could neither sell, let, nor repair their houses till they had authentic in formation on the subject. Mr. HER-111ES replied, that all he could 's ty, as the subject was not in hi 3 department, was, that the prelimi• nary steps, the purchasing of property, valuing of houses, &c. occasioned some delay to the active exhibi tion of the Commissioners' labours, which were, nevertheless, un ceasing, and would soon be apparent to the Public. In answer to a question from Mr. BERNAL, Mr. W. HOR 4 TON said, the Report of the Sierra Leone Commissioners would be ready in February. . _ _ Sir A. GRANT I;rought up the Report of the Committee on the St. Domingo Postage Bill. The Resolutions were read and agreed to; and the Bill ordered to be read a third time on Monday. DOWILIt SETURNS. The SPEAERR called upon such Members as were returned for two places, to declare those they took their seats for. blr. ESTCOURT (returned for the University of Oxford and the borough of Downton) declared he sat ad Representative of the former, and that he vacated his seat for the latter. Sir O. GRANT (at a later period of the evening) declared he took his seat for the borough of Aldborough, and that he vacated his seat for the borough of Listowell, in Cornwall, for which he was also returned. On the motion of Mr. WYNN, a new writ was issued for the bo. rough of Duwntoir,in the room of R. Southey, Esq. nut qualified. COLONEL bitADLEY'S CASE. Mr. 11UME, on moving for certain returns, connected with the case of Colonel Bradley, reminded the House of his having more than once brought that Gentleman's case before them, as one of peculiar hardship.. This Colonel Bradley held the King's Commission, as tary Governor of the Island of Honduras; and for re fusing to. obey (with that Commission in his hand) the " letter of service" of a half pay officer, his inferior in rank and authority (Colonel Arthur), was placed under I arrest; and notwithstanding his 21 years hard service, on resisting this unjust sway, and complaining of the conduct of Colonel Arthur, was dismissed his Majesty's service; and all because he had not aristocratic influ ence at the Commander-in-Chief's office. while Colonel Arthur had. This was the case in a few words; and it. turned, in a Parliamentary point of view, on one point—whether an officer, contrary to military usage, should make a , s letter of service" supersede the King's Commission, and that too held by a full-pay Colonel; while the other was held by a half-pay Major (for such he was then)? He intended to bring the case of Colonel Bradley again before the House.; and in order to make it perfect at all points, he would move for a copy of the instructions sent by the Duke of Manchester on the 7th of July, 1814, to General Fuller, Chief in command, at the Honduras—then for General Faller's letter to Colonel Arthur, authorising him to assume the com mand over Colonel Bradley—then for Colonel Arthur's report to the War Office in 1821, on the circumstances of Colonel Bradley's arrest, and of his correspondence with Lord Bathurst on the subjk.ct. The SPEAKER having put the question from the Chair, respecting go Copies of the general order issued by the Duke of Manchester, on the 7th July, 1814, relative to the appointment of Major Arthur, Superin tendent of Honduras," _ _ Lord PALMERSiON objected to the production of the document required by the Hon. Member. He did not do so because the documents had no existence,' for the Commission, or as it had been called, the letter of service did exist: Neither did he oppose the produc tion of the papers because he was unwilling to furnish proper information. He objected to produce them, 'because there existed no Parliamentary grounds to de mand their production ; and more than all, because, if produced, they would not furnish a case that admitted of Parliamentary interference. He repeated, no pro ceedings in that House could be founded on the docu ments if produced. As the Hon. Member had taken the trouble to investigate the details of this matter, he (Lord Palmerston) would shortly state the case, in order the better to correct the erroneous view of the subject taken by the Hon. Member for Montrose. The facts were simply these—Lieut. Col. Arthur was appointed by the Duke of Manchester, Superintendent of Hon duras in 1814, and received a letter of service at the same time from Lieut. General Fuller, the Commander on the Jamaica station. This commission, or letter of service, authorised Colonel Arthur to assume the com mand of the Island of Honduras. Colonel Bradley, an officer under his command, resisted the authority of Colonel Arthur, on the ground that the regiment of the latter was disbanded, and he himself consequently placed upon half-pay. Lieut. Col. Bradley argued, that Colonel Arthur therefore ceased to possess any military authority over the Island of Honduras. But, it was to be observed, his authority was derived not from the commission which conferred on him regimental rank, but from the letter of service granted him by Lieut. General Fuller. This was the simple state of the case; but Col. Bradley chose to interpret for himself the mili tary law; and not content with that, acted on his own in terpretation. In fact, he took upon himself the responsi bility of an act of military disobedience, and he must now abide by the consequence. If right, well and good ; but, as it turned out, he had acted wrong—let him take the re sult. Colonel Arthur considered it his duty to super sede Lieutenant Colonel Bradley, and put him under , arrest, for what must be admitted by all military men to be a flagrant act of mutiny. A report of the trans action was made, and the question referred for decision to the Commander in Met at home. The Royal Per sonage having heard both parties, Colonel Arthur through his report, and Colonel Bradley by means of his representations, decided that the former was right, and the latter wrong. Having come to this decision, as it was clearly impossible to pass over so flagrant a vio lation of military law, his Royal Highness resolved to' , remove Colonel Bradley from the service. This was the unavoidable consequence of that officer's own act ; at the same time, the decision was carried into effect' with the greatest possible kindness and leniency to the party. Instead of being cashiered (a punishment justi- I able by his offence), he was allowed to retire, and re ceive the full value of his commission: So far as he (Lord P.) had related the transaction, every military man in that House must perceive Colenel Arthur had acted right. He had acted right in superselling and putting under arrest the offender. In a subseq uent stage of the proceedings he had Acted wrong; Colonel Arthur kept Mi. Bradley under arrest after he had been in. formed that Gentleman was removed from the service by the Commander•in-Chief. This information did not reach Colonel Arthur, through the official channel, up to the time of the release of Mr. Bradley. At the same time, he (Lord P.) was of iipinion Camel Arthur might have taken off the arrest suoner than he did. However; he acted differently, and kept Mr. Bradley under arres t till he received information officially, through the General in command at Jamaica, of the decision cane to by the Commander in Chief at home ; when this in. formation w as received, Colonel Bradley was dismissed, he never having been kept under close arrest, as stated by the Hqn. Gentleman opposite, during the smite period. Colonel Bradley, dissatisfied with the decision of the Commander in Chief, brought bis- case before a legal tribunal. He appealed - to the lawi - of his country for redress. He (Lord Palmentoe)-Was present at 6e trial, ancl the result was, that the Court affirmed that Colonel Arthur possessed military authority to cw.fine Mr. Bradley. However, as it appeared that, although Colonel Arthur had a just right to put him under alter, he had continued the arrest longer than was necvssary, on that ground the Jury gave Colonel Bradley 200, damages. Colonel Bradley was not sat6litd with t h e determination of his Royal fitglmess the Commander in Chief, and he now proved himself to be equally d; s . satisfied with the verdict of the Jury. Accordingly, he moved for a new trial, on the ground of misd . rvc. tion by the Learned Judge who tried the case ; but t e application was refused. Thus, the Houw would per. ceive, Colonel .Bradley's assertion, of having rt seise,) a grievous injury, was negatived, first, by the Command er in Chief ; next, by the Court of Law, on the trial ; and, again, by the same authority,•on his second application. —After this he would ask, on what grounds Colonel Bradley came here? He (Lord Palmerston) considered the command of the army as the peculiar prerogative of the Crown. At the rime time it was nor his intention to defend an abuse of that authority, if any such abuse existed ; but it was incumbent on an individual, applyin g to Parliament for redress, to make out the abuse. In this instance, there had not been offered any thing which could be considered as even prima facie evidence of such a case; and, on that ground, be would resist the motion for the production of the documents required by the Honourable Member for Montrose. Mr. HUME, in reply, reiterated his former state ments, and contended, that the letter of set vice referred to, could not be considered as superseding the Military Commission. Under the Military Commission, Colonel Bradley was Major Arthur's superior Officer, and therefore not bound to obey him. There seemed to be great doubt about this letter of service—a document, which the N3ble Lord sometimes designated a Military Commission, and sometimes a letter of services This inconsistency induced him, Mr. Hume, to suppose no such document existed; or that if it did exist, it had been fabricated, subsequent to the arrest and dismissal of Colonel Bradley. If the Commission did exist, why not produce it? If such a Commission existed, why was Colonel Arthur so anxious on the subject I the relation in which he stood to—Coloael Bradley ?. His (Mr. Humes's) conclusion from the whole of tie case ,was, that no such Commission existed : or, if it dtd, that !it had been got up subsequent to the arrest of Colonel Eradley, fur the purpose of screening Colonel Arthur from the consequences of that act. Lord PALMERSTON was at issue with the Ile nourable Member on a point of fact. That H 0111,111.1- ble Gentleman had said, the Commission did not now exist, or had been. fabricated, and anti-dated, to serve a particular purpose. This he (Lord P.) begged f in the most unqualified manner, to deny. The Hon. Member might make what allegations he thott&ht proper, but he could not tear away the seal from the bond—he could not destroy a record- existing at this moment, .and which had existed from the period he had already stated. It was also said that the commission was fabricated—and, come from whom it might, he pronounced such an assertion to be a base, fake, and scandalous calumny, - and he repelled it, and. thieve 'it back upon its author with all the contempt and repro bation it deserved—(Hear, hear). He (Lord P.) had already stated, that the commission was signed by Gen. Fuller, and it was only a few.months ago, in his place in Parliament, and on a motion on this subject, brought forward by the Hon. Member (Mr. Hume), that he had read the dispatch of . Gen. Fulkr, in which he alluded to that very commission. There could not exist two greater falsehoods than, first, that the commission was not in existence—or next, that it was fabricated for the base and unworthy purpose suggested by the Hon. Member (Mr. Hume)—(Hear, bear). Mr. HUME wished to know by wh .t authority the King's Commission was superseded by General Fuller's letter of service—which moreover was fabricated in 1819—five years after it was pretended to have been given. He denied the existence in tea of Col. Arthur's authority lu 1814; would prove from Colonel Arthur's own letters that he had no Commission at the time ; and that, therefore, this letter of service was a subsequent fabrication. • Lord PALNIERSTON replied, that to deny the ex- istence of Colonel AYthur's authority in 1814 was a base, infamous, and scandalous calumny . ; and that whoever declared it uttered a most infamous falsehood. He (Lord Palmerston) on a former occasion read a passage to the House from General Fuller's letter, acknowledging the authority; and that it was a wicked falsehood to deny its existence. Colonel Tomos opposed the returns. Sir H. HARDING said, that there was a base im putation on the Army conveyed in the Hon. Member's denial of Colonel Arthur's authority, which was by no means invalidated by his having been on half-pay, as almost av the Staff Officers in the Empire were. Mr. HUME would bring the question to one point. D Br i a d C diey o u lo nd n e e r l s A rz rt st h , u p r osse , a t s :he aut t h i o m ri e of his tyfrom p Ge t n i e t r t a i Colonel wa r. ranting him to do so ? Lord PALMERSTON.—I have sufficiently answered the ques tion already In the affirmative. Mr. HUME repeated the question. Sir H. HARDING thought the repetition• of a ten times an swered question should be discountenanced by the Howse. Ho Ld n O . r s e P m A b i e . s k in it t S el f le ° Ct N bility of comprehending a simple ans wer. He was com dtildioungoltit a ul d ie m c it b o tus f e a n n e y ss O p f os th s i e . pletely indifferent whether the Hon. Member understood him or not; as his now saying that Colonel Arthur had the authority, was not intended for his information, but for that of the House. Mr. HUME was not to be di v erted from h is p ur p ose t by abuse, which was no argument ; and if he did sot ' possess the brightness of parts for which the Noble Loid was so distinguished; it was his misfortune, and not its fault. As to the offensive language of the Noble Lord, ile should hold it as he always did, and ever would hold it, as he was sure the House held it, in utter contempt. lie would net imitate the Noble Lord, by saying he declared a falsehood ; but, by Colonel Arthur's own hand writing, he would prove it to the conviction of the House. Sir H. HARDING said, his warmth arose from the lion. Member having declared, a few nights since, that the officer the army were slaves. Mr. HUME said, be meant that if officers were refused redrro when aggrieved, they were in the condition of slaves. Sir H. HARDING, the Hon. Member's fa make it somewhat difficult to know what should be replied to his arguments assertions. _ . Atter_ a few words from Mr. HUME, the 11106011 for th* returns were put and negatived without a division. • ItIONA )(MINS COMMITTIR Mr. R. MARTIN was anxious to have Wed more n:.m..‘ : 0 this Committee, now that they have leave to Mt (hull's the tCt but wag thnuaded by