Star. — London, England, 1830-12-17 00:00:00

it he Est rui porttd it and then opposed it in the bcconit a ca: (Utley for Middlesex. said tli, change of opinion Lul taken ploce be thought of becoming such candidate. Ile per. sonally knew that fact. Alr. NIABERI.I" st id he had been instrumental in inducing the mernbcr for Al ithilt stx to change his opinion on the Beer Bill—that it Lad long taken place before the hon. member thought of becoming a aandidate fur Middlesex, and that it was a most unfair thing so to im pute motives. 14 .-`..• .., An; . ~...7.11. *l4 .4 , ..y.41 ' 't ! A I N iin, li k .2 , • ,::11 • 441.1. i osocit,*-il-'•. hut sicantime, he 1. , WU I' Mr WAR BE' It TON tbre the hon. member tl BOROUGH OF F.VLSUAM. Lord CIIANDOS said, I.c rose to call the attention of the house to the report of the Committee on the Evesham Election petition. which declared that Sir Charles Cockerel' and Lord Kennedy, the members returned, had, by their agents been guilty of bribery and corruption. Thy evidence. not being yet printed, he could not proceed in the manner he might otherwise do ; but he submitted to the house whether they should allow that corrupt borough to elect members for that house before the subject was inquired into. The noble lord moved that the Sp:aker do issue his wtit of supenceleas to pr,.vent the execution of a writ for the election of burgesses for Eveshant. Lord GEORGE LENNOX seconded the motion, and read an ex. tract from an address to the electors of Evesham ' by Mr. Edward Protheloo, jun in which he stated that he had r e tir e d from the repre. sentation because he could not traffic in their franchises, but now he offered himself to their choice as an independent representative. After such addition..l evulence of the corruption of the pace, a former inde• pendent member having retired because he would not traffic in their ft - Anchises, he hoped the house would not allow such a place to return twernbers to that house. Mr. B. CLIV F. said he believed he had, as Chairman of the Corn. nonce, acted in the usual manner in moving for a new writ, but he had no objection to the writ being superseded. Mr. LITTLE'FON said he had witnessed with pleasure the new born zeal of the noble lord, in favour of purity of election. It was al. ways the case, that where the Committee reported general corruption, no writ issued for a new election ; but where the corruption was confined to candidates, or their agents, a writ always issued. Mr.C. ROSS said, though the Report did not justify disfranchisement without inquiry, he thought it fully justified the suspension of the writ till such inquiry took place. In the case of theYenrhyn and Camelford elections, the Committees did not report that there was general corrup tion, and yet, in both instances, the . . House suspended the writ. Mr. TENNYSON said, this was the first time in which it was pro posed to suspend a writ on the report of bribery having been practised by the agents of the candidates. Twenty-two persons had received bribes out of 406 voters, and that was such a small minority as should not prevent the issuing of the writ. In the East Retford case, ge neral and long continued corruption was reported by the Com mittee. If ever there was a time when he should object to the house interfeting in this manner it was the present. We had now an administration pledged to an effictual reform,—(hear, hear.) —and he had no doubt of their carrying their intention into ef fect. One of the members who now supported the measure was member iur Bassetlaw, by giving the franchise to which, the late House of Com mons had disgraced itself, and the ministers contributed to their final overthrow ; tied which he hoped it would be one of the first acts of the present administration to disfranchise. When he saw the present mo tion so supported he doubted the object, and should oppose it. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, he should not enter into the ques tion of general reform, nor of the reform of the borough of Evesham ; the time for which would be when all the evidence was before the house. The question before the house was, whether the writ should be PUS. ;tended. The precedents were all in favour of issuing the writ when the Committee did not report corruption against some number of electors as well as the members. Front any thing before the house it was un certain whether the corruption was confined to one elector, or diffused over the majority. If it was the general wish to suspend the writ, nei ther himself nor his friends near him should give any opposition (hear.) 4ir R. PEEL said the noble lord had stated the case with the utmost candour, and he thought he could satisfy the noble lord that the super. sedeas should Issue. The election committee decided between the sit ting members and the petitioners ; end also made a special report, that the returned members, Sir Charles Cockerel and Lord Kennedy had, by their agents, been guilty of bribery and corruption ; and the Gran ville Act decided that the house might make such order thereon as they should think proper. The precedents in the case of Penryn and Camel. ford were in favour of suspending the writ. In the report of the Pen. rya Committee the report was that eight electors had been guilty of bribery ; and in the case of Camelford, four voters; and in both the wilts were suspended. In the present ease, though the Committee had ' not stated that any electors had been bribed, members of the committee had stated that 22 voters were bribed ; and with such evidence before the house, he thought they should not hesitate to suspend the writ till they could inquire into the practice that had taken place in the borough. Ilis 31ajesty's government were not competent to decide on such quern. Lions, they would run the risk of doing mischief ; it could only be done by the House of Commons. In the case of Penryn he voted for the transfer of the franchise to Manchester ; and if general corruption should he proved against Evesham he should support the transfer of its franchise to Birmingham. (Hear.) Lord ALTHORP did not think it very material which way the house should decide. In the cases of Penryn and Camelford, the com mittees reported bribery against the electors, in the present case they did not; and though individuals had done so, it was also stated that the committee had decided against it. His opinion was, that if they suspended the writ, they acted against precedent; but he bad no other feeling on the subject. (Hear.) Mr. E. DUNCOMBE said, he was a member of the committee, and when the evidence should be before the house, he hoped the house would disfranchise the borough ; at present be should vote for the sus pension of the writ. Mr. JOHN MARTIN said, he had never heard Evesham spoken of but as one of the most grossly corrupt boroughs in the kingdom, and should support the motion. Lord 111ORPETH thought if the House proceeded further it would be a matter of some degree of alight to their Commtttee, who had not made any special report. When the House refused to transfer the franchise of East Retford 'o Birmingham—a conduct for which, he believed, all anti-reformers were now bewailing themselves in dust and ashes—(Heer, and a laugh)—he voted for the issue of a writ for East Retford. He hoped the Borough of Evesham, and all similar Boroughs would have justice meted out to them—not, as was erroneously said by the Government, but by the House and the Legislature, and he should oppose the present motion. Mr. WARBURTON quoted a former Member of the House, who had said that if he saw the money laid down on the table by the Mem bre, and taken up by the elector, he would refuse to disfranchise a borough ; for why should they punish when they would not reform. He would rather let the practice continue till the people became so dist. .:ontented as to insist on general reform. On this ground, and not from any regard to precedent, he should oppose the motion.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. BANKES said the argument of the Hun. Gent. was so extraor dinary, that he should not remark on it further than observing, that it would admit of thrcontinuance of every abuse till it became insupport able. He thought the evidence of corruption was fully sufficient to jus tify the suspension of the writ, and should support the motion. Sir GEORGE WARRENDER said, he had the honour of being an elector of the borough (a laugh), and though he never attended an election, he thought he should do great injustice to the virtuous portion of the electors, if he did not oppose the motion for suspending the writ. In all cases where the report of the committee merely stared that the members had been guilty of bribery, a new writ had been issued; and be thought the statements of members, or the address of a candidate, should not make them take a different course at present. Mr. M ABERLY rose amidst cries of " Question ;" he said he bad some small claim to be beard, as be was a voter of the burgh, and was a sort of candidate; and he rose for the purpose of 'toting it as his opi nion that the quest on ought to be left to the decision of the house. Mr. BA NKES, Jun. and Mr. TWISS both supported the suspension off the writ. Lord CHANDOS and Mr. LITTLETON also supported the sue pension, and expressed themselves willing 6 that_the franchise should be transferred to Birmingham or Manchester. The motion was carried without a division. In reply to some observations from Mr. BANKES, the SPEAKER stated that he would have the instrument prepared, and ready for sig. nature, that the writ might be issued as soon as the house bad decided. GENZILAL ILEOISTZIL BILL. Mr. CAMPBELL, pursuant to notice, rose to move foe leave to bring in a bill for establishing a General Register Office. The hon. member spoke at great length, in urging the necessity of a reform in the law In this respect, and expressed a hope that he should see the law over all England and Wales assimilated. He pointed out the Incon. veniences that existed under the present law, from accumulation of mortgages— the number of rights oe terms that had to be carried for ward in every tranttin of property ; and the risk was such, that no man was secure ; and there were man who lost their terms, as all must give way to the original mortgage. These losses did not benefit the public, they were only transferred from one individual to another; and, like a' plank in a shipwreck, no man could get upon it but by putting another off, and, generally, the one who was saved was one who was least entitled to protection. He had the greatest respect for the in stitutions of our ancestors, but he was convinced that all insti tutions must change with circumstances. (Hear, hear.) There had been a register office which had existed in Scotland since 1611, and it constituted the greatest pride of the law of that country. There was oho a register dice in Ireland, which bad been found equally advan tageous ( bear ), and for the counties of York and Middlesex, there had been registers individually established; in Germany it existed and he was convinced that no country stood more in need of a general re. gister office than England. He would op po se the institution of iinecatee on the establishment, as bed been the case where provincial registers had been founded. He would have the eezzppee of regis. trades or reference lower than either at the ofoa s of York or Middlemen. He would not say that the registez.office could be a s paut a bk as the rass.adiaa, but it would be prothable to the pub lic, aa well as conveuient. The Host . Member stated that be bad bad aricaeion sm*, the register of Middlesex, and it occupied bo ttom three and four weeks, and incurred an expense of nearly 41101. Mewling to the plan be bad to rupees, the same object would be accomplished immediately, and at an expense of about 10m. He did ; not intend to disturb such title-deeds as were now existing, but on ly to I apply the law for time to come. One objection which had been urged against the measure was, that a public Register would he open to every one who, from idle coeiosiey, chose to pay the fees, and the exposure of the real state of properties might affect commercial credit in many in. stances. In those countries where registers had been established, no s t eel effects had been felt i and he had the concurrence of all the names of the principal houses in the city in the measure, as it would save much mischief that was done by false representation of property. The keep ing of separate registers was very inefficient ; he would therefore pro rose the establishing in the metropolis of "a General Register for all Deeds and Instruments affecting real property, for England and Wales." There should be no necessity for solicitors in the country employing an agent in town ; it would be sufficient to communicate with the office by post. The original title deeds could be deposited in safety, and the owner if he chose might preserve a duplicate copy. There should also be kept a register of all persons indebted to the Crown ; this was of great importance, for the Crown held a prior claim to all others over property indebted to it ; and however unfair it might be to give the Crown this sweeping preference, there was at present no means of ascertaining the Crown debtors, and after a lapse of two or three generations, property might be claimed by the Crown for a prior debt, and the then proprietor would be dispossessed: The plan of index that he would propose, would at one view show the real state of every claim against each property. No notice of existing deeds unregistered would be entertained in preference to deeds regis tered. With respect to pedigrees, it was a fact, that in England it was more easy to trace a pedigree 500 years back than one of 50 years ago. There was no register of births, and such registers as were kept by Dis. renters were excluded front them • to obviate this would form a part of the measure, by having one gene ral register of births, christenings, mar riages, and deaths; so that a pedigree might at once be ascertained. The measure had long ago been approved of by a commission. in which was the illustrious Sir Matthew Hale ; but unfortunately it was not then carried into execution ; but there were greater facilities for the accomplishment of it now, because England had become, as it were, one great town. It had been suggested to make the trial in one or two counties first; but against that he protested. The measure must be general, or it must be objected. The plan had met with the approbation of all the Chancellors, and the principal Law Officers. Tice Hon. Member concluded with a few remarks on the opposition likely to arise from the panic that had arisen amongst the Solicitors' , against the measure. Mr. SUGDEN asked the Hon. Member if he had brought in the measure on his own responsibility, or if he had the support of his Ma jesty's Government ? Mr. CAMPBELL replied that in the present stage he brought it in u a Member of the House, and that his Majesty's Government had not yet decided how they should act towards the question. Mr. SUDDEN was of opinion that such a measure should only be taken up on the responsibility of Government, with the approbation of the law officers. Sir CHARLES WETHERELL trusted, that whenever the Bill came under discussion, every country Member would be in his place to oppose this most expensive and mischievous change. The learned Gentleman, in his rather dubious eulogy of I ord Eldon, had meant, no doubt, that that Noble Lord was so learned in the law as it was, that his head was neither string nor liberal enough to know that which it ought to be. Now be (Sir C.) knew of a set of reformers who asserted that the law should be changed because they knew not what the law was.—(A laugh.) Mr. FERGUSON said, that there was a register established at Edinburgh, and that it bad given satisfaction to the landed proprietors. He should give the Bill his support. Mr. HUME, in allusion to a question which had been put by an lion. Member, asked in what situation Members, active and inde pendent Members, would be put if they could not introduce a Bill without the sanction of Government y With respect to the subject under discussion, he could say, that the register at Edinburgh was much more easy of access than anything which he knew to be connected with the law of England. Sir J. SCA RLETT said, that he should not argue the question in the present stage, but that he was entirely in favour of the Bill. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the eulogy which had been given to Lord Eldon, and which bad been objected to, was he believed, applicable to lawyers in general, for they were not a reform ing tribe. It would, indeed, give great weight to the measure pro. posed, that it should have met with the approbation of so many eminent lawyers as the Learned Gentleman had enumerated, and with the una. nimous support of the Commission. If Government should be pre cluded by the present necessities of the country from giving the Bill proper atten ion, and lending It their decided support, the Hon. and Learned Gentleman was from his situation and talents a most proper person to introduce it. He hoped, however, that Government would be enabled to give the subject the consideration it was entitled to. Mr. F h ESHEIF.LD said the Solicitors were far from being enemies to improvements in the law. Mr. CA MPBELL made a few observations in reply. The Bill was then brought in, and read a first time. COURT OF CHANCERY. Sir. E. SUDDEN said that the House would recollect he had when in office given notice of his intention to bring in a Bill for faci litating the administration of justice in the Court of Chancery.— (Hear, hear.) The change which had taken place in his situation had relieved him from the task, and he would leave it in the hands of those who from their official situation and their talents, though not from their seal, were more competent to perform It. The principal changes he had intended to introduce were in the Court of Chancery. The put. ting down of all patent pensions granted in reversions the Lord Chan. cellor being indemnified for the loss he might sustain in consequence by an addition to his salary of 2,0001. The Rolls Court should have be. come a regular court for the transaction of all business except hank ruptcy, possessing the same functions as thou which were possessed by the Vice-Chancellor's Court. At present, the Muter of the Rolls could not hear motions, and suitors, after having had counsel to move their causes in the Vice Chancellor's Court, were put to the ex pense of taking new counsel to argue the cause again in the Rolls Court. (Hear, hear.) The blaster of the Rolla should have sat the same hours as the Vice-Chancellor; and the Rolls Court should have possessed a separate bar. The Vice-Chancellor would have been regarded as entirely Independent of the Lord Chancellor.— In the Exchequer the Chief Baron would have entirely dedicated his time to the administration of Equity. The orders in the Court of Chancery would have been revised, and a new list of orders published ; the Court of Exchequer would have adopted the same rules as those of the Chancery Court. The motions which went under the name of motions of course, and which were accom panied with heavy fees, he should have abolished. The difficulty of getting what the judgment of the Court really had been, was remarkable; for after judgment had been delivered, it was difficult to determine its meaning—the Register referring to the different briefs for the terms ; and if they differed then there was a hearing before the Register to settle the terms--aod if they could not agree about the language of the judgment, then if It could not be settled, there was a re-hearing of the case to learn what the Court's judgment really had been (hoar). That ought to be remedied. Another remedy was required—the prevention of the admixture of law and facts in their arguments in Court, following the example of the Court of King's Bench, special paper, or special argument day, would remedy this defect. It was also requisite to correct the practice of postponing motions from day to day, because it led to endless expenses, and to the repetition of affidavits. The consequences were 1110061101116 He main. 1 tained that when a cause was ready for hearing, there ought to be a Judge to hear it; and he did not say that further aid wee required ; but if is were it ought to be adduced. Another great defect was, the delay of judgments. He would rather have the Court shut up foe two or three days In a week than have the judgments delayed. He would have this remedied by having the officers to take notes of all cases decided, and at the end of six weeks producing a list to the Court of cases that remained to have judgments delivered. (Hear, hear.) Another most important subject was that of appeals. A Gentleman was generally selected for the Lord Chancellorship on account of political circumstances, and but too often from a common law court. That was an infliction on the country-- and the calamity was increased by finding that the self-same Judge in the House of Lords had to decide on the appal against his decision. That ought not to continue—the appellant jurisdiction of the House of Lords ought to be separated from the Chancellorship. (Hear.) He made no complaint of the recent appointment; the previous Lord Chancellor (Lyndhurst), was taken from the common law courts. He complained of the system. He thought nothing was more disgrace ful than the Scotch appeals—ecarcely one of them ought ever to have been allowed—their object generally was to ascertain who was to pay the expenses of a long-pending appeal. To remedy the defects of the present mode, he would have appeals heard with the assistance of other Equity Judges. There had been much inquiry ; but the present Go. vernment would do itself great credit by introducing extensive reforms. The country was prepared for them. The next subject requiring re medy was the offices connected with the Court of Chancery. He would have the officers of the Court real and efficient. The heads of the six Clerks Office received 12001. a year each. He would have a system of taxing of costs instituted, and other really useful labour to the Button imposed on them. The office of Accountant-General, who received 3,1001. he would not touch, even though part of the income was raised from receiving part of the brokerage. The Report-office, where pro. ceedings only were copied, required correction ; the master of it no °rived the enormous sum of 4,680 L last year. (Hear, bur). Im mediaterevisicm of it was called for.—(Hear, hear.)--The &Otter's Office likewise required Investigation and correction ; additional Re. besters were absolutely required to be appointed by th e J u d ges , and net y the present Registers as they required. Solicitors or Banisters ought to be appointed, but the present persons who were clerks rose to be Regis ters in regular succession. That was an evil, the root of whirl ought to be struck at. The Registers were not competent to pedant the duties fie whish they now received emoluments. More Registers ought to be Cidsad without any additional burden to the public. Am. l ia l ' efect was the great • hug* and imperfect mime of prepselag decrees. He should *Wm to Bolieitees being al lowed to make the copies of decrees; but that the Registers ought to be compelled to prepare such decrees as would be useful. The Masters' offices were a source of still greater abuse, and they still more loudly called for correction : the system of fees seemed to be an incitement to prolong the business. That ought not to exist. Another abuse was, that the proceedings of the masters were carried on in chambers—they ought to be open to the puhlic—(Hear, hear.) He had great pleasure in stating that the Masters themselves desired the correction of these abuses. Thus, after all the inquiries, and the pre sent state of the public mind, as far as regarded the Court of Chancery, the present Ministers had the opportunity of doing more to correct dirt Court than had been possessed by any preceding administration. As he proposed to make the Masters efficient officers, he would render it unnecessary for them to attend, as matter of parade, on the Lord Chan cellor and the Master of the Rolls; and he would require that the Masters should be really. judges,and that they should hear the cases publicly. Their average profits for the last three years had been 3,8001.,—he would give them 3,0001. a-year, thus rendering them independent of the soli. &ors. Their Clerks' salaries had increased, being about 1,2001. a. year ; and their salaries were raised by the most objectionable means— by fees and gratuities--the *fatuities exceeding the fees, sometimes amounting to 8001. whale their fees were not 5001. That could not be right—and it ought not to be allowed to exist an hour longer. They ought to have fixed salaries. Besides the practices of the Masters' offices were almost all different. They ought to be uniform—there ought not to be distinct rules in each Master's office. He also proposed to correct the evil of requiring affidavits under certain circumstances if the party resided within twenty miles of London, to be sworn before Masters in Chancery. (Hear.) He should also propose to correct the system of appointing the officers of the Court. The appointment of a solicitor to be Secretary of Luna cies had given great dissatisfaction because he was a solicitor. No at. torney in practice should be appointed to any situation in which it was possible his official duty might even be supposed to be influenced by his private practice. The present Lord Chancellor had also appointed for Secretary in Bankruptcy a Solicitor in high practice. of great honour, who did not since take bankrupt business; but his partner did, and that was a cause of great dissatisfaction. The learned gentleman here paused for an instant, and then said, I can't but hear what's said on the benches behind me, and greatly am 1 surprised to hear such an observa tion from the hon. member for Middlesex. I can assure that hon. gen tleman it is no splash—(a laugh)--it is the performance of an impor tant and painful duty.—( Hear.) He hoped the observations he had made might be useful ; and that the present government would gain for themselves the high honour of putting the administration of the Court of Chancery on the soundest basis. The hon. gentleman moved for a return of all causes that stood for hearing in the Court of Chancery on the 25th of November last. Mr. A. TAYLOR said he had too much compassion for the speak er and the Members who had heard the statement to enter at any length into the question. If any one could be gratified at the state. ment made, it must be himself. Ever since the year 1810, he had la. bourcd to have the abuses of the Court of Chancery redressed, but their extent was constantly denied, even the hon. gentleman admitted them all. His noble Friend, the present Chancellor, had only done what all previous Chancellors had done in appointing his own secretaries, and it was admitted he had appointed most honourable men. He was con fident the present Chancellor would remedy all the great abuses in Chancery even without the aid of acts of parliament. He should move that the debate be adjourned to Monday next. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded the motion. He thought his learned frier.d was wholly unwarranted in the observa tions he had made on the appointments made by the present Chancel lor, who had only appointed solicitors for his secretaries, as all former Chancellors had done. If his learned friend thought there was any thing exceptionable in the practice, might lie not have mentioned it to the Lord Chancellor, who was now in his seat. The present Lord Chancellor had allowed two secretaries, appointed by Lord Lyndhurst, to continue in office, though the appointments were highly valuable. There never was a stronger instance of the absence of any improper exercise of patronage. Ile called upon the public to look at his pro. ceedings ; he could say there never was a judge who entered office with a greater desire to correct abuses. If any man had a right to take credit for the Reform that was now going on, it was his learned and hon. Friend the Member for Durham. It was said the motions were brought forward from political and party purposes ; he retorted the accusation; it was for political and party purposes they were de. kitten. He should be most happy to render assistance in the correc tion of abuses. and be was confident that was the feeling of every mem ber of the Administration and the house. Sir C. WETHERELL said the present Lord Chancellor had only continued the practice of all former Chancellors. He was not a politi cal supporter of Lord Brougham ; but he would defend the honour of his noble and learned friend. The Attorney-General had most pro perly defended the noble lord from the unfounded attack made on him, and If that learned gentleman bad not done it as an (Nicer of the Crown, he should himself have done it as a volunteer. Mr.HU ME could assure the learned gentleman he had not in. tended to offend him. He had been asked what was the question be. fore the house, and he answered there was no question, it was a 'splash' (a laugh.) He would tell the learned gentleman what he meant by " a splash ." it was when a long speech was made that was to end in nothing. (A great laugh.) He did not, however, intend that the learned Gentleman should have heard the observation. He had not heard any speech from any lawyer in the house that ever gave him half so much pleasure as that from the Attorney.GeneraL He was confident he would never be three years in office and do nothing for the correction of abuses, and then come down to the house complaining of their not being reformed. The question of adjournment was then agreed to. 31r. LITTLETON brought in a bill to amend and consolidate the laws prohibiting the payment of wages in any other manner than the coin of the realm. Read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on the 11th of February. The House adjourned at One o'Clock. STATE OF THE COUNTRY. On Thursday evening, • shed belonging to Mrs. Moron, in a field between Cottingham and Newland, was wilfully set on fire and burnt. On the evening of last Monday week, a fire broke out in a field be. longing to Mr. J. Westboy, near Barton-upon.Humber, which con. sumed two stacks of barley and one of wheat. On Sunday night week, two thrashing-machines, the property of Mr. J. Whip and Mrs. Wardel, were set fire to, at Etton, near Beverley. Mrs. Wardell's was quite destroyed, and die other was only partially injured. On Wednesday evening, soon after eight o'clock, three letters were dropped into the Post-o at Beverley. and there being reason to sus pect that one of them was a threatening letter, the person who put them in was instantly apprehended. It was subsequently ascertained that the letter in question was signed " Swing," and contained a threat of a visit from him to the gentleman to whom it was addressed. The person who put the letter into the post-office la a clerk in a respectable house in that town. Be has been held to bail to appear at the oesaions.—lluilPackei. BRIGHTON. DEC. 14.—A destructive fire took place last night in the neighbourhood of Bolney and St. John's Common, when a large quart- City of oats and some houses were completely consumed. The Magi*. crates have obtained some clue to the late conflagrations near Hickstead. and are pursuing it with great vigilance. CRILDISSORD, Dec. 14.—Previously to the commencement of the Assizes, this county bad been comparatively tranquil, only one instance of burning having occurred, and that apparently caused by private malice rather than concerted malignity; but on a sudden disturbances and symptoms of growing turbulence manifested themselves in various parts of the county. One party commenced operations at Colchester, another at Thorpe, another at Clacton, and another at Walton; but these outrages were chiefly confined to the breaking of machines, and compelling farmers to sign an agreement for an increase of wages. Sncrroan, Bens, Dec. 13.—A fire, the work of an incendiary, broke out yesterday afternoon in the farm-yard of Mr. Gresham, a gen tleman hi ly respected in his neighbourhood, stew a rd to Si r J o h n O s . borne, of about a mile from hence. It was discovered early enough to prevent the destruction of the whole rick-yard. and was con fined to the hsum rick, where it commented. It was gratifying to ob. serve the emulation between all classes to render assistance. At Dymcbureb, in Kent, a woman having a large family, has been apprehended on suspicion of being the writer and distributor of several threatening letters, and is now in confinement undergoing a legal mination.—lentish A correspondent states that a fire took plate on the prenders of John Theophllus Dauber, Esq. of Layton, Ramer, only sir miles from town, by which a large wheat-stack and other property were destroyed. The fire was discovered by Mr. Daubries private watchmen, at tea o'clock at night. An alarm was imviediately given, and the labourers and people in the village, who assembled in great numbers, did all in their power to pews the extension of the flames. The motive of the incendiary kik mem difficult to be imagined, as Mr. Daubris and his family are, and bow* lag been, extensive benefactors to the indigent hi the neighbenebood. A few days ago a he*, to the following purport, was received by Mr. Smith, the pespdeler of the distillery In the Whitechapel road : " Bir—Withost you employ more men and abolish machinery, your extensive premises will be burnt to the pound in a few hours. (Signed) "Sous." Mr. Smith, hnmediatay upon raiding the letter, called all his work men together, read the letter to them, and asked if any one among them was diustladed with his treatment. The workmea to the num. bee ef 100, immediately answered that they were perfe c tly baddied with their wages, and they all unanimously aimed to watch the pro. mime, both night and day, free el any mews to Mr. Smith, and said that, in ease of danger, they would risk their lives to protect Mr. Smith and his property. SO 11 ERSETBII IRE. Sr a—l was much surprised to read is ma Aga al Illitrader bee a oenneuniostion from a (*roman, a tails ems% aaea 11. dame, relative to a disturbance that vase* Is It plias Is the nigh_ botobood of Heasbddge. As doe 'mongoloid's is mud mug. trassa as d the win oak's a most pill maven is "snip il ' obarister of the Methodists, who, he ants "tea e s „ heed to be sworn in snail asitibles," I trust to your indoor for the insertion of a few lines to correct his statement, and point out to your readers, and to your Correspondent him. self', the ignorance or the malice .that cause have induced hi ll , to make the assertion complained ot. In the Fesent disturbed !late “f the country, when it is the duty of every 111311 to endeavour 10 allav ti,,. feverish spirit that prevails. it is both foolish and m i sc hi evous to e ast. Berate, it. direct tendency being to keep up exchettant and spresel affection. Why then does your correspondent make ten s times more of the thing than the occasion demanded, and publish to the world, throe the medium of your paper, vague and puerile rumours which s ere affit d • but which wanted foundation, and were scarcely worth the noir e , any sensible man ? I suppcse it TRIM he to gratify a disposition Mr the marvellons ; a thing little minds, such as those who heard...4.lv slander their neildsun, generally delight in. Not to go into do,d! for I must be brief, suffice to say, there was some little disturbance et; the night in quest'on. and a number of persons front various parts Caw, to suppress it, but , f you bate half the number your correspondent sta te , you will still have mitre than were present. You may judge of the eor. mines , : of the whole of his account, front his assertion that there wire of the rir g l ea d ers were appreltend..ri at least 501) horsemen there, when there were not much abo ve l OW lour these, ' terrible mob were only spectators drawn together to see w h at was On.. em as f e a c r l Ta tn l d ca en n t I s ea ts i te n s ,w i e h r A c t all 7 that were engaged in th e affair. The on. "The Methodists, toa man,refused to be sworn!" How did your ltee =respondent come by tais information ? Can he point out one mil:. vidual Methodist who refused? If he can, he will be very clever; to pcsitively there are no Methodist , in that neiAhbourhood, and without the least fear of contradiction, I assert, that there is not a Methodist :t Ilehester, Wiocanton, Hensbridge. or Siaihridge. Ilchester being th, place near which your correspondent, I suppose, r es id es , an d t h e other towns, those in which the alarm was circulated, of which he has given you so pompous an account. Another district so barren of Methodism I do not know in the West of England, and yet this frontless man as. ants, that " to a man the Methixlista refused to be sworn in special constables." ft is the farthest from my intention to write this in defence of ti!, Methodists,for as a body they are utterly beyond the reach of any harm your correspondent can do them, and equally regardless of the pLtty slander with which he feels disposed to assail them; but to hold up :•• just and merited odium the pitiful attempt made to asperse their cha. racier, and to inform your readers that your correspondent has toad,• a good deal out of nothing, for there was scarcely more than the shadow of cause for alarm, and ten men. instead of ten hundred, would have Kett amply sufficient to have put Mr. Swing's mob, which so alarmed your correspondent, though twelve miles off, completely to the rout.— I am, Sir, a Wesleyan Methodist, and your obedient servant, Milborne Port, Dec. 13. THOS. ENSOR. &mum az.—Between six and seven o'clock yesterday evenicg (Tuesday) the inhabitants of Reading were thrown into a state of per alarm by the cry of " fire!" and in a few minutes the whole town sar illuminated by the flames : it was soon known to be at the Art Farm, is Watlington.lane, in the occupation of Mr. Shackell. The eogines of the Berkshire Fire.office.the County Fire,the parish engines, and that of Mr. B. Simonds, were quickly on the spot ; but it was a consider:die time before a supply of water could be procured. The property destroyed consists of a barn, stable, and cowshed, a rick of straw, and up wards of 5001.'5-words of building materials in doors, sash-frames, tic. which were in the barn (where the carpenters were manufacturing them, and who have also lost the whole of their tools.) Every exertion via. used by the gentlemen and inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood for seven or eight miles round, and by the military stationed here, by whose means th.: fire was prevented coos-nunicating to several large ricks of hay. There was no corn on the premises, Mr. Shackell having carried it all to another farm in his occupation. No part was in. surcd. The fire broke out in two or three places at one time. SCINTILLA?. Ruben., when painting a lion from the only live speci men he ever had in his power to study, expressed a desire to see hint in the act of roaring. Anxious to please him, the keeper plucked a whis. ker from the royal beast, and with such success, that he daily repeated the experiment. Rubens, however, perceived such deadly wrath in the countenance of the animal, that he begged the man to desist ; his hint was at first regarded, but too soon neglected. The consequence was dreadful ; the enraged lion struck down the keeper, and lay upon him the whole day ; in the evening he was shot by a body of guard:, but in the agonies of death the keeper was torn to pieces. Among the curious manuscripts in possession of the Duke of Sussex, is a relation of the campaigns of James H. written in his own hand, and countersigned as genuine by Mary of Modena. Another curious relique of the House of Stuart, in the shape of a massive silver tankard, curiously embussed with armorial bearings. and formerly be longing to the Pretender, was purchased some years ago at a consider. able price, by his Royal Highness. The library at Kensington Palace is replete with historical antiquities.-Cotert Jburnal. SOCIETY.-A large establishment has been projected at Paris, for the purpose of enabling any individuals, by the annual pay ment each of 700 francs (less than 301 .) to enjoy all the pleasures of social, with all the independence of domestic life. For that sum they are to have lodging, hoard, clothes, and washing, the use of a library, the daily papers, billiard-rooms, play, conversation, &c. The whole to be under the management of a Committee chosen by themselves. The prospectus even holds out the expectation of a country house, and free admission to the theatres !-Literary Gazette. The population of France at the present day, according to very elaborate calculations made by M. Ymbert, formerly an offi cer of lior.aparte in the War Department, amounts to 31,845,428 souls, of which he assumes one-half to be males. He estimates the whole " brute force," as he calls it, of the country, at 8,160,432 men, thus classified :- No. 1, young men of from 20 to 25, amounting to 1,614.939; No. 2, of from 26 to 30, at 1,246,691; and No. 3, of from 31 to 59, at 5,288,802 men. Large deductions are to be made for clergymen, employes, men under size, superannuated, convicts &c. and the net force available for the military detanct of the country is stated at 4,008.849, which is a proportion of 124 men in arms to every 100 throughout France. Of this number 1,091,383, taken from the lint two classes, of young men between 19 and 30, may be sent to any part of the frontiers in aid of the troops of the line. With such a force what has France to fear from barbarians ? A Letter to the King on the unjust Distribution of Church Property, by a Country Curate, insists upon the usual topics correctly but feebly. The following is given as the list of curates employed throughout England. " The curates employed in the several dioceses are-in St Asaph, 30 ; Bangor, 58 ; Bath and Wells, 190; Bri':ol, 103 ; Canterbury, 135 ; Carlisle, 44; Chester 158 ; Chichester, 110 ; St. David's, 194 ; Durham, 78 ; Ely, 71 ; Exeter, 256 ; Gloucester. 128 ; Hereford, 153 ; Llandaff, 94 ; Lichfield and Coventry, 264: Lincoln, 550; London, 234; Norwich, 473; Oxford, 69; tuba rough, 116; Rochester, 47; Salisbury, 174 ; Winchester, 177 ; War. cester, 83; York, 260; tcral, 4, 254. Of this number, 1,393 reside in the glebe-house, and 805 in the parish; 3.600 arc licensed curates. The following statement of stipends affords a melancholy aspect curates receive under 201. ;59 under 301.; 173 under 401. ; 441 under 501. 892 under 601. ; 300 under 701.; 415 under 801. ; AM under :POI. : 156 under 1001.; 500 under 1101.; 69 under 1201. ; 207 under 1301.: 52 under 1401. ; 32 under 1501. ; 162 under 1601. ; 26 under 1701. ; 15 under 180 L ; 6 under 1901. ; 3 under 2001. ; 17 under 2101. ; 2 under 22w.; 2 under 2301. ; 2 under 2401. ; 3 under 2501. ; 4 under 2601. ; 1 under 2901. ; 2 under 3101. ; 1 under 3201. ; and 1 unda 3401. There are 43 who receive the whole income of the benefices lky serve ; 2 receive one-half of the income ; and 1 is paid two guinea each Sunday. With respect to the gross value of livings where tbs in. cumbents are non.residents, it is stated that there are 2,496 under 3001. and 1,233 of the value of 3001. and upwards." PLlssuas.-In the common actions and diversions of our lives, the pleasure lies almost entirely in the pursuit, and very little in the attainment. He that at whist should have four honours, slit trumps, always dealt him, would lose his whole diversion, became he would have nothing to do but throw down his cards, and win the game. In bowling, the player takes care to deliver his bowl aright ; Ice runs after it, chides it, encourages it, writhes his body in all manner of con tortions, as if to Influence ha bias, and in this consists his entertain runt, for the joy of winning the game i s over in a moment ; he tsltat ter his stake, pockets it, and only thi n k s w h ere to throw the jack fur begin. ning another art.- Tucker's Light of Mousy. The Dutch papers allege, that great discontent prevails in Belgium, in consequence of the distress occasioned by the Revolution ; and in proof of their opinion, quote the follow ing doggrel verses, which they say are daily in the mouths of the common people of Ghent:- " Under our old Orange head, We had always butter and bread, Dot under this de Potter. We have neither bread nor butter." DIED. The 29th ult. Ann Black, wife of M. Park, Esq. of Carnbooth, SW Carentnneek, MINI 42—The 23th ult. at Frankf or t, a f ter a f ew d a ys Mama, Lieut..CoL A. LIIIIt, late of the 76th Regiment —At Lossir umth House, as the 3d curt. Lady Margaret Stewart King, widow of the late Alsier.(ien. F. Stewart of Lessrurdle, county of Banff— Dec. 11, at Mhon, J. White, Esq. of Palace, in the Tele of Wight. and of Up Cerne House, Dorset, of which county he was High Sheriff in the year 11122 I be was else one of his Majesty's Justices of the Pence for the counties of Hants and Derest—At - Clanslde of cloy, A. Cameron, 100 years doge. He was the may person in the district who recollected to see the HWWIIs prising from Nairn to Colloden. previous to the bade. His enema &colds' remained unimpaired to the last. --.+411 1 0F HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW IL se. Manske I MI I Afternoim - a LONDON: Pliatell mid rideikei b 7 JOllll MAIMS, it Übe &ran Ovrici, li.. 1, Picket-plan, Temple Be. TE CRII NOT Ow. PL its• A BA at the lest b f►mi mar Om. J. am IN &dos Meer Ar*i PR baldai midget so too and G o 1 Iti doss. Price UMW tbe le Kemp Staieg Three 4 .pa eta et ic6.: a tai then is gee .t►eeu JO sum use. wb4t M t►t the Price V, Pi ulet 1410 esti Mei - 11 a•, sdi mai irk *oh amid wed • ON egg dip Ws • OM