Star. — London, England, 1831-03-18 00:00:00

A revolution has just burst out in a great part of the Canton of Neuchatel. The people have rose en masse and planted trees of liberty. The Bourgeois of the city have assembled, and by a majority of 290 against 31, they have adopted the replacing of the authorities by thirds every two years. They have besides admitted that the initiative right belongs to all the members of the legislative bodies ; that the acts of these bodies shall be published, that the privileges shall be deter mined in a manner not to carry any blow at the political existence, and to the rights of the Bourgeois and community of the state ; in fact, that the censorship should be sup pressed.—Messager Suisse. MANTUA, MARCH 3. To-day at noon, his Royal Highness the Duke of Modena, with Count Guiceiardi, and other officers of his suite, arrived here on his return from Vienna. His Hoyal Highness alighted at the Palace, and in a quarter of an hour afterwards the troops entered by the gate of St. George, and passing in columns under the windows of the Imperial Palace, drew up in order of battle in the ancient Piazza Vergillana. His Royal Highness was received with repeated huuas by his soldiers ; the Lieutenant Field Marshals, Generals, and other superior officers of this fortress, paid their respects to his Royal Highness. PIACENZA, MARCH 1. Her Majesty the Duchess of Parma hu issued a proclamation to all persons belonging to the military corps, enjoining them not to pay any regard to the acts of the self-constituted Government at Parma; and farther commanding them to repair without delay to Piacenza, where they shall receive from the General commanding het troops any arrears that may be due to them, and also an indemnification for the expense of their journey to Placenta. GENOA, MARCH 2. Prayers for three days commenced yesterday in the Cathedral, for the ritorAtion of the health of our beloved Sovereign A very numerous assemblage of civil and military officers, and persons of all ranks, at tended, to join in the prayers of the Clergy. Her Majesty Queen Maria Theresa, and the Princess Maria Christina, were also present.— We have just learned that his Majesty is recovering.—Milan Gazelle, March 5. CRACOW, MARCH 3. Private accounts from Warsaw of 28th February, say, that the Mu nicipality of Warsaw had sent a deputation to the Commander-in-chief of the Army General Skrsvnecki, whose head-quarters were at Wota, nine miles from Warsaw—the wish to avert the total ruin of the city, which would be the inevitable result of a bombardment, by entering into negociations with the Russians, now that there is still time, to which the deputation is said to have received for answer, that negociations were wholly out of the question, and that the army was resolved to bury itself under the ruins of Warsaw. General Skrsynecki has also declared that he would have any General shot who should no. obey his orders. It is said that General Rrucovriecki thinking him self slighted by the appointment of General Skrsynecki to tho chief command, has asked and obtained his discharge. General Chlopicki's wound has become much worse. It is affirmed that he has been wholly removed from the army by General Skrsynecki —Austrian Observer, Illarch 7. SPIRIT OF THE JOURNALS. Tiara.—Though the party for internal order and external peace, seems now to have got the ascendancy in the King's councils, there appears rather to be an increase than an abatement of this disaffected, revolutionary, and warlike spirit. On pretence that the constituted au thorities of the country, and the powers of the general Government are not directed with sufficient seal or energy to maintain the national sove reignty of July, or to repel foreign aggression, an association has been formed to resist the Bourbons and the stranger. The members of this society give their names, and 2d • month to insure the inde pendence of France, and the perpetual exclusion of the fallen dynasty ! In addition to this liberal subscription they pledge their lives and honour in the same glorious cause. But though the apparent means may be insignificant--even including the life and honour of the sub scribers—for the great end proposed, the association, as • focus of po litical agitation, or as a kind of complemen tto the power of the ultra. liberal press, must be of extreme importance. The class of' persons who will enter it, the increased impulse which it will give to ultra-liberal projects in the capital, and the dangerous action which it will exert, by affiliated coteries, all over France may; be inferred from the places to which the subscribers are invited to send their signatures, and the organs which they will be able to employ in disseminating their principles. The offices of the Constieutionnel of the Cowries Francais, of the National of the Journal du Commerce, and of the Tribune, are fixed upon as the subscription-rooms for this new universal club. The other ultra liberal journals will follow the ex ample. The muster-roll will become nearly co-extensive with the number of readers whose passions are inflamed, or whose opinions are directed by the liberal press ; circulars, addresses, and manifestoes, will multiply and find a ready means of extensive propagation ; and in a shot time, if the club is not checked at its commencement, it will command public opinion, direct the electorial colleges, domineer over the Chambers, and possess more power than the Legislature and the Crown put together. As the first intimation of this in tended soeiety appeared only in the papers of Tuesday, which arrived last night, we do not know how the proposal will be fie:iced by the public, or be treated by the government. Its objects being legal and laudable, it is only the probable perversion of its power that can excite alarm or justify interference. Journalism was considered under the Villele and Polignac ministry as a new species of government, or rather as an antagonist authority in the state, and, following out the same idea, we may say that this universal club will compose the army of the new sovereignty. It is easy to see that it will be directed, in the first instance, against the Perier Cabinet, just formed. This Cabinet is already branded with disgrace by the ultra-liberal press. We have not witnessed such an unanimous chorus of condemnation of any political change since the appointment of the Polignaz ministry on the Bth of August, 1829, as that which has wel csmed M. Cassimir Perier and his Mends to office. The Constitution. reel " hints at faults, and hesitates dislikes ;" the Cotrrrier Francais boldly announces its distrust and aversion ; the Journal du Commerce declares open hostilities ; and the Revolution, the Tribune, the Na tional, and the Globe, foam with absolute rage. 31. Cassimir Periet is calumniated as the friend of the fallen dynasty, and the enemy of the late revolution. Baron Louis supplies as many weepons against himself as he has exhibited inconsistencies in politics. M. d'Argout is denounced as the negotiator between Charles X. and the Hotel de Ville • Al. Sebes tiani is declared as the enemy of liberty, because he has refus ed to declare sar against Russia on account of the invasion of Poland ; and Admiral (le Rigny is only pardoned for becoming Minister of Marine on account of the laurels of Navarino. We are not addicted to political prophecy, bat, atom a knowledge of the power of the French press, and the re collection of the causes which have within the last few years given so many changes of ministry to France, we should predict, that the Ilea Cabinet will even be more short lived than the last, unless it changes its principles, and yields to the popular current. In order to put its system to the test, it will be immediately called upon to decide on the affairs of Italy. The notices in the German papers leave little doubt that Austrian troops have already passed the Milanese frontier, and have entered the duchy of Modena. Posv.—The efforts made by our Revolutionary Government to de cit e the public, both with respect to the sentiments of the king and the great majority of the Members of the House of Commons, on the -uhjsct of Reform, are unceasing. They tend, however, to prove the alarm of the Government rather than their confidence of success. It is perfectly well ascertained that his Majesty has given his consent to the measures of the Ministers with reluctance, and that in his family circle his apprehensions of the result h a v e been stated without disguise. The efforts of the Courier last night to make the public believe that the mcetiug at Lord Althorp's house was most numerously at tended ate made in the same spirit of delusion. We ran state that the numbers did not exceed 180—a small number compared with the Mem- Lees of the whole House ; and we are well assured that very great doubt wu expressed as to the result of the division on the second reading of the Itetorm Bill. We hare no doubt ; and we have the most sanguine expectations of being able, before this day week, of congratulating the country upon the defeat of this iniquitous and revolutionary measure. HERALD —There was • numerous meeting yesterday at the Chan i:hor of the Exchequer's, in Downing.street, of Members of the House of Commons friendly to the plan of reform brought forward by Lord John Russell. Lord Althorp stated that his object in re. prating their attendance was, to request thit they, as friends of the eleasure, would, out of the house, make known to his Majesty's Government, through himself Lord John Russell, or any Cabinet Minister, their views as to any modifications iu the details, com patible with the strict maintenance of the principle of the Bill, of which they might think it susceptible. Lord Althorp further rointed out the danger that the whole measure might run of being de teatlxl, if the friends of the measure were to bring forward alterations in ,letail, while the opponents were contending against the principle itself; the other hand, that, by private communication, every reasonable modification might receive consideration, without disturbing that unani tr•ny in the Ilnuse, both at the second reading and when the bill was Committee, which could alone ensure triumphant success. The feel •ne among the members present at the meeting was unanimous in adopt •-i; the view taken by Lord Althorp;more than one declared hisdetermina .'"nto support the whole measure,rather than press modifications tricorn 7'atihle with the principle, although, by so doing, they might incur the • of displeasing constituents before whom they should have again •1 offer themselves. One country member declared that, so convinced A as he of the necessity of supporting ministers in this great and patriotic eAsure, that he should, for the first time, act with the thoroughgoing , cal of a party man. Lord Althorp expressed his confidence in the lasing of the bill, and, in reply to an enquiry as to the day of its being ommitted, said that, reference being had to the importance of the men ...re, h e did not t hi n k t h at an earlier day than the tint open day after Eatter recess could possibly be fixed. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, MAUCH 17. The LORD CH ANCELLOR this day gave judgment, confirming the decision of the Court of Session, which disfranchised the borough of Dundee, thereby proving the necessity for the committee in the House of Compton* to sit on Tuesday next, upon a petition spinet the return of the Lord Advocate. The Earl of RADNOR presented a petition from the West Riding work, for Parliamentary Reform. Also a petition to the same effect Rarnsgate. Lord CALTHORPR presented a petition from Bristol, for revision of the powers given to the commissioners under the church building act. The Bishop of BRISTOL and Lord KENYON defended the pro ceedings of the said commissioners. The Marquis of Lt)NDONDERRY presented a petition from the Chamber of Commerce of Londonderry, complaining of a gross misap plication of certain funds in the hands of the corporation of London- The noble marquis thought the subject more lit for the consi. deration of the government of Ireland than that house, but presented the petition because it was respectfully worded. BREACH OP PRIVILEGE. On the motion of Earl GREY, Lieut. Thomas Woodcot was called to the Bar, pursuant to an order of the House, to answer for a breach of privilege in sending a letter to a noble lord (Farnham) complaining of something said by that noble lord in the discharge of his Parlia. mentary duty. Mr. Woodcott acknowledged himself to be the author of the letter, which was read to the House. The writer complained that the Noble Lord, in a speech made the 21st of February, in the House of Lords, had said that an half pay officer of the 4th Dragoons, meaning the writer, had been active in promoting disturbance in Ireland on the subject of tithes. So far from instigating persons to commit excesses, he had been active in prevent ing disturbance, and he therefor: charged the Nobl: bond with uttering calumny. The LORD CHANCELLOR asked whether the person at the bar had any thing to say in justification, or any contrition to express. Mr. Woodcott.—l cannot justly the act, because it admits of no justification. It was written In the moment of irritation, and I have since apologised to the noble loql. He was then ordered to withdraw. Lord FARNHAM said, so far as he was concerned, he was satisfied with the apology. With respect to their lordships• privileges they, were in their own hands. Earl OREY propoaed to follow the precedent found in the case of Messrs. Ross and Ashwood, called to their bar under similar circum stances, in 1812. The house in that instance declared sending of a letter to be a breach of privilege, and upon the parties expressing their sorrow for the offence they were reprimanded and discharged. The question having been put for following the said precedent, the house agreed to take the same course. The letter sent by Lieutenant Woodcot was declared to be a breach of the privileges of that house, and Lieutenant Woodcot was called again to the bar to receive a reprimand. The LORD CHANCELLOR, in suitable terms, informed 11r. Woodcot that his letter to the noble lord, as a Peer of Perlis ment, was a breach of privilege. The privileges of parlia ment were justified by the constitution, and were intended for the benefit of the people. They were not more the privileges of parliament than the privileges of the subjects of the realm ; and if the noble lord to whom the letter was addressed had failed to take notice of it, he would not have discharged his duty to that b-anch of the constitution of which he was a member. That house, e >midterm that no attempt had been made to justify the circlet, and that Lieutenant Woodeot had in. tuned expense in coming front Ireland, had been satisfied with ordering him to be reprimanded and discharged from further attendance. Mr. Woodcot then withdrew. Tvactwo THE ZING'S GUARD. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY considered it right to stand up in his place in support of military authority, and to inquire of his noble friend the General Commanding in Chief, whether certain state ments lately promulgated, relating to a resistance of military order by a great officer of the state, were founded in fact ? The noble marquis thought some explanation necessary to satisfy the military profession and the public. He alluded to the Lord Chancellor's forcing the King's Guard, at the Horse Guards, on the last Drawing-room. The affair had been generally circulated in the journals, but he did not rely on those sources of information. It appeared that one of their lordships was passing at the time, and it did occur to that noble person that something did occur, in short the noble marquis had no doubt the King's Guard was forced by the mace. (Laughter.) He would ask the Commander-in-Chief whether it was true that the guard at the gates of the Horse Guards was forced by the Lord Chancellor at the Drawing. room? Secondly, whether it was the effect of mistake, or intention ? Thirdly, whether the officer who allowed his gate to be forced had been placed under arrest, or whether the officer and men were blameless ? Lord HILL—I beg to state to your Lordships the circumstance alluded to by the noble marquis. In 1815, an order was given by his late Majesty, relative to the arrangements to be made In the Park on the occurrence of her Majesty's birtluday. By that order it appeared that no carriage could enter the Park by the Horse Guards on the birth day. The officer on duty had orders to let no carriage but the Speaker of the House of Commons. The sentinel sta at the gates of the Hone Guards consequently stopped all carriages. When the carriage of the Lord Chancellor lately came to the gate, the sentinel held up his hand, but the coachman, without regarding the signal to stop, drove within the gate. The sentry then seised hold of the reins of the near horse, during the time the carriage was going on, and made the coach man stop. The Lord Chancellor then inquired the reason they detained him there ? The corporal on duty said it was their orders to do so. The Lord Chancellor then desired the officer of the guard to be sent for. The officer came to the carriage, and the :Lord' Chancellor first asked of the officer if he knew who he wm ? The officer said yes. The Chancellor then said why am Ito be detained. The officer answered, My orders are, that no carriage is to go through this gate but the Speaker of the House of Commons in his state carriage. After some conversation the Lord Chancellor said, then, Sir, I am to understand I am not to go through. The officer replied, yes, Sir, it is so. The Lord Chancellor then said, go back ; and the officer moved his hand to the sentry to let go the reins of the b ism. The coachman, finding his hones at liberty, put them into mottos, and went through into the park. The conviction on my mind is, that the sentinel and corporal did their duty, and that the coachman did not hear the order to go back. lam quite sure, said the Noble Lord, that the Chancellor had no idea of doing wrong.—( Hear, hear.) The LORD CHANCELLOR said, he had not entertained the slightest suspicion that the noble marquis would have brought forward this matter in the way it had been introduced. He could have wished the noble marquis bad brought it forward any other day in the year. One person had just been brought to the bar for Meath of privilege ; and it really looked Ilike putting him (the Lord CriatTellor) upon his trial for an outrageous attack on the military : (laughter.) He was, however, obliged to the noble marquis for his anxiety about the facts, and certainly was thankful to the noble Commander-in-Chief fir, hie explicit statement, which he should confirm. He ought to assure their lordships that no person in existence cared less for the stein and dignity of his office than himself. Indeed, that was the pen 1 of his office which gave him most uneuiness. It was not on the grown' of any foolish wish to drive through the Horse Guards, instead of going along Piccadilly and Constitution-hill. His object was to save time. He had been sitting to a late hour in that house for the purpose of saving the parties in a cause 801. or 1001. expense, and he recollected that he could get through the Horse Guards to the drawing room, having been that way before. At the Horse Guards he was stopped, and told that none but the Speaker of the House of Commons and Lord Shaftesbury could pass. The noble and learned lord thought there must be some mistake. Ile supposed Lord Shaftesbury must mean the Speaker of the House of Lords. Lord Shaftesbury was chainran of committees, and the Lord Chancellor Speaker of the Lords, and thus the mistake, as he supposed, must have occurred.— Tbe officer, however, said he must go back, and taking it for granted that he could not go forward, he gave orders to return, but was never more surprised in hislife than he was to find the coachman drive through the gateway. Before he could recover from his surprise, and pull the string they were in the park, and it was then useless to go back. The noble and learned lord concluded by assuring the house that nothing could be more unexceptionable than the conduct of the officers and men on duty when his carriage was detained. Lord FIFE presented a petition from the Royal Burghs of Banff, for Parliamentary Reform. The Church Building Bill was read the third time and passed. The House then Adjourned. HOUSE OP COMMONS. Owing to there beingthree s- ialitmsliedft; today, namely, for Colchester, Galway, and Liverpool, the gallery , was not opened till half past five o'clock ; the two first ballots only however, were obtained— that for Liverpool still remains to be ballotted for. The names of defaulters on former ballots were called over, and Mr. Howard was ordered into the custody of the Serjeant at Arms, he not answering to his name, and there being no excuse for him made. Mr. O. DAWSON obtained leave to bring in a bill for Wiling cham bers in Dublin, for the accommodation of attorneys there. Lord STANLEY obtained leave to bring in a bill to settle disputed tithes at Ashton-under-line. Also for a bill to endow St. Beidget's church, Liverpool. Mr. SAW brought in the bill to enable the Irish inland navigation com to sue and be sued.—Read a first time. pany Mr. DUNCOMBE obtained leave to bring in a bill to enable the Yorkshire life and fire insurance company to sue and be sued. Mr. HODGES presented a petition from the western division of Kent, namely, Rochester, Re. in favour of the 'ministerial measure of reform. Mr. BERNAL, with great pleasure, supported the prayer of the petition. Mr. H. TWISS complained of having been much misrepresented in what he had observed on the Reform question. He had never men tioned the middle classes—they were never present to his mind—but be had objected to giving so mucb prepondetating influence to householders of from 101. to 201. He had also objected to the inferior attorneys-- those who would have PO much influence under the Lord Chancellm'a County Courts bill having increased influence, because be bad found that they and the inferior shopkeepers were the most exposed lo corrupt Influence. As to the middle classes. • class to whisk 00 Imi"We d ' he had never thought of saying anything to their dbpantelMelat.—but he admitted that he had spoken of the inferior attorneys sod abapiteepers. His language had been much perverted in and (nit of timbals* and he mentioned tile circumstance to show the sort of independence that was displayed on this question. Mr. HODGES then Inesented similar petitions train Ramsgate, Deal, &c. Mr. J. MARTIN presented a petition from Tewkesbury in favour of the ministerial plan of reform. The petitioners most heartily concurred in the bill. He did the same. He was assured that their prayer was for:the whole bill. " and nothing but the hill." (Hear and a laugh from several members.) Petition ordered to lie on the table. Sir M. S. STUART presented petitions from merchants, be. of Glasgow, Port Glasgow, Greenock, &c. against the proposed timber duties. Also a petition from Glasgow for the repeal of the duty on posting, &c.--Ordered to lie on the table. Mr LRAM KECK presented a petition front Loughborough in favour of the ministerial plan of Reform. lie should support the second reading of the bill, and its going into a committee; but he should bold himself at liberty to act according to what might take place in such committee. He a l so p r e se n te d a petition f r om the old licensed victuallers of Loughborough, complaining of the deficiency of magisterial controul in the licensing of public and beer houses.—Ors der to lie on the table. Mr. EVANS presented a petition from Leicester, in favour of the ministerial plan of Reform, although the plan would disfranchise the largest number of out-voters that belonged to any city. He presented similar petitions from Mowbray, and other places in Leicestershire. lie afterwards postponed the second reading of the Stage Coaches`Bill, till April 20. Mr. HUNT presented • petition from Great Austin, near Boston, Yorkshire, for Parliamentary? Reform and Ballot. It was agreed to before the ministers' measure was known. Heals° presented a petition from the Political Union of Worcester, in favour of the ministerial measure. lie next presented a petition for inquiry into the Man. cheater massacre of 1819. He was a witness of those murders, and he hoped it was not too late to get justice for those horrid murders. He recollected that Governor Wall was hanged twenty years after the mur der of which he had been guilty. (Hear.) lie afterwards mentioned that the parish of Christchurch, Surrey, consisting of 12,000 persons, was left out of the plan of Reform, he was persuaded unintentionally. Lord A LiTHORP was not aware of the circumstances of the case, but if the parish came within the general principle of the plan, it un doubtedly ought to be considered. Colonel BERESFORD presented a petition from the Mayor and some of the inhabitants of Berwick.upon.Tweed, agaihst the measure of Reform as proposed by his Majesty's Ministers. The hon. member urged the prayer of the petition with a shirt address. Sir F. BLAKE, we believe, and one of the members for Berwick, i stated that he had had an intimation that a petition, signed by a number of the corporation and many influential burgesses of Berwick, approving of the plan of Reform, would be transmitted to him to be presented to the house. Vol. SI BTHORPE wished that the second reading of the Reform bill could be deferred beyond Monday, the day named, as he had se veral petitions to present which he could not find an opportunity to lay before the house; and he otherwise expressed a wish that the time for presenting petitions should be extended till eight o'clock. Colonel DAVIS moved for a Select Committee on the means to give efficacy to secondary punishments. The Gallant Member, on introduce hag his motion, went into a long detail to prove that in general prisoners for offences in the House of Correction fared better than agricultural labourers who followed their avocations, and that the comforts of the House of Correction were generally superior to that of a workhouse. He advocated solitary confinement as being more efficacious than that of hard labour on the tread-mill. After reading some documents to prove the state of cue in which the convicts lived in New South Wales, be proceeded to say, that his object was to make the prisons, instead of a place of joy—and New South Wales, instead of a place for fortune making, places of real punishment. (Hear) lie should now move for a select Committee to inquire into the means of giving efficiency to se coodary punishments. Mr. LAMB did not rise to offer any objection to the molon.'lle apprehended, however, that the difficulty of providing a remedy to the present defects in our system was greaterthan apprehended by the gal. lent officer. He admitted that the rigours of the prisons might have been too much softened by the humanity of individuals and the Legis. lature; this was a natural transition from the horrible state in which they were a few years ago.—(Hear.)--With respect to solitary confine ment, besides the prisoners being perhaps too numerous fur its adop. Son, he doubted whether it would have the desired effect. Transports. don :offered to the reformed culprit the means of acquiring an honest liveliboodi; above all, it removed dangerous men at a safe distance from the honest part of the community. Ile could not agree that it tan considered a slight punishment; he remembered that durir.g his praedee at the bar, it was the sentence which was received by the culprits with the most horror. He could assure them that unjust applications were received from many of the transported for leave to return to their native country. (Hear.) Having offered these few observations, he should give his cordial support to the motion. Mr. HUNT would never fail to rise when the question related to pd. tors. He considered no punishment more effective than that of soll.ary confinement; a few months of solitary confinement he looked upon as equivalent to as many years of hard labour. At present, that punish ment was inflicted entirely at the will of the gaoler. The treadmill was unequal in its punishment, being a mere sport for those accustomed to eked the fields, but a perfect torture for poor tailors, or mechanks. With respect to transportation, why were not all those condemned to it transported forthwith ? The expense of the hulks was im. mense. It was, besides, • subject of great dissatisfaction among the men in the dockyards of Plymouth, to be obliged to work side by side with the convicts. He repeated that solitary confinement was the most severe punishment. This was the one selected for Reformers some years back ; for those who petitioned for what would now be called moderate reform. This reminded hint of a horrible instance of cruelty. Two brothers were confined at York for pol•tical oft*ences, in separate dungeons; one of them, unable to bear the punish. ment, cu• his throat ; and the other was then thrust by the ruffianly gaoler into the cell where the bloat, of his brother was still flowing, that the sight might add horror to his solitude. (Cries of " No.") lie said it was so. Visiting magistrates knew nothing of what was carried on in the interior of the prisons. He could state as a fact, that at cheater gaol a child was born to the gaoler by a female, placed by him in solitary confinement, and was in existence in the prison during six years without the visiting magistrate having a knowledge of the &cum. stance. In the case of females, he should require that when in solhary confinement they should be under the guard of persons of their own sex. Sir E. SUG DEN said, that it was outrageous that a member should say that a reformer had been dragged by his gaoler into the place where the blood of his brother was still flowing. No man could be. here a wind of that. (Hear, from Mr. Hunt.) He challenged the hon. member to bring it forward. With respect to the visiting ma gistrates, he had been one himself ; as such, he had explored every recess—attended the complaints of every individual. What be had done tens of thousands had done. He knew not how the hon. mcm. ber could reconcile the horrible tragedy of York with his eulogium of solitary confinement. No punishnunt was so unequal as this— having little effect on some, and driving others to despair. lie gave his cordial support to the motion for inquiry. Mr. HUNT explained. Ile had been challenged to bring the fact he had stated before the house--lie tat,! done so ; he sent up petitions at the time • a Commission was sent down to ilehester, and the gaoler was discharged. (Cries of" York.") The lion. Member had spoken of Ilehester gaol. (No," from S,r E. Sugden.) You did speak about lichee:cr. The SPEAKER called Mr. Hunt to order. Mr. HUNT begged pardon, and said, the. with respect to York, • petition on the subject was sent at the time, in 1816 or 1817. Mr. SUMNER thought the inquiry proposed would be highly teed, and should support it. The regulations of prisons one at present too lenient towards prisoners. lie had seen instances in which se•litary confinement had produced the moat powerful and excellent effects. Mr. Alderman WOOD thought all the arguments were in favour of inquiry. Every thing that had been stated of Dehester gaol, by the Member for Preston, who was then a prisoner in that gaol, was denied by the county members in that house ; ard when he made a motion for inquiry, he was accused of neglecting his own duty as a itlagietrate, to censure the conduct of others. The house, however, granted an in quiry, and it was then proved, that every thing said by the hon. member for Preston was strictly true ; that the gaoler was in the habit of putting prisoners in chains, and rutting blisters on their heads, merely because they refused to obey his commands. The expense of transportation was complained of ; but it was the expense of the hulks that ought in be complained of; ard as the convicts there, when let out, returned again to their evil courses and were again committed to the hulks. The Penitentiary had cost the nation several millions ; and the way the Governors attempted to get a character for theft discipline was to go to Newgate and 14.1, et the prisoners of the best character for their experiments ; and aßer all two. thirds of them came back to Newgate. He was confident the only effectual means of ridding the country of such characters was transpor tation ; and ninety-nine out of a hundred were willing to go, and by sending them all, the expense of Hulks and Penitentiary might be saved. Sir CHARLES BURRELL thought it irrelevant to go back to circumstances which happened many years ago, and which could nut occur again, in consequence of the improved regulations of prisons. Mr. Howard had approved of solitary confinement, but it lost its effect as practised in many prisons, because though the prisoners were not allowed to see each other, they were placed within hearing and allowed to commune. He agreed with the hon. alderman, that sending convicts to the hulks, from which they were often discharged in a year, instead of transporting there, was an injury to the public. Mr. SHAW said be had seen the best effects from solitary confine. meet; bat thought it should never tweed a fortnight. He cord ally supported the motion for inquiry. The resolution was agreed to, and the Committee appointed. Sir W. RAH moved that leave be given to bring in a bill to faci litate the transfer of heritable seenrities in Scotland —Leave given. Mr. CURTEIS postponed hit motion for the repeal of the n a't tax to the 18th of April. Mr. S rUART WORTLEY raid, the bill of which he had given notice wax intendtd to regulate the fees of officers in India. which its many instances had risen to a height that war never contemplated The Registrar of Bengal received in fees front that office about 20.0001. besides which he held several other offices. Hr proposed that a res•on able salary should be paid to each officer, and that if it should bethought proper to continue the fees. the aurplu. should be applied to the ex penses of government. The honourable gentleman moved, that leave be given to bring in a hill to regulate the fen of officers of Courts of India, and to prevent the clerks of the judges acting as attorneys. Mr. C. GRANT said he readily gave his consent to the bringing of the bill. reserving to himself the ridtt of objecting to its details. The resolution was agreed to. The Sugar Duties Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed to-morrow. The Interpleader Bill passed through a Committee. Report this day week. The Witnesses Examination Bill was committed. Report tn. morrow. The Prohibition and 3landamus Bill was committed. The report was brought up, and the Bill ordered to be read a third time to morrow. The Arbitration Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com mitted on Wednesday. Lord SANDON presented a petition from Tiverton, la favour of the plan of Reform proposed by 'Ministers. The other orders of the day wete then disposed of, and the House ad journed at Half-past Eleven o'clock. SUPPORT OF AIINISTERS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. SIR,—I have perused Lord John Russell's glorious Re form Bill with all the satisfaction which must be felt by every lover of his country —hut while I thus express my general enthusiastic admiration of that great measure, shall • I be excused for saying that in one little particular I was disappointed. In anxiously looking over the schedule in which are specified the townships and boroughs to which the elective franchise is now to be extended, I was much mortified to find that the town in which I reside, and in which I need not tell you, Sir, my progenitor, whose name I bear, once flourished, and even aided the regal revenue by his wealth, is still denied a representation The town I allude to, Sir, is that of Newbury, in Berk shire. In that township, and its adjoining parish, Speen ham Land (the Spinse of Antoninus) there are more than 8,000 inhabitants. It is the central point for internal com merce of an extensive agricultural district, and its corn market is one of the largest and best attended in England. Surely then, Sir, this town should not have been omitted — and when it was determined to take one Member from the comparatively insignificant borough of Wallingford, in the same county, thatjone might without impropriety have been given to Newbury Great Marlow, and many other towns of half the magnitude, are allowed representation. The town of Newbury sent formerly two Members to Parliament. I shall esteem it a favour, if you can find a corner for this communication ; for although I hope sacrilegious boroughmongering hands may not be allowed under pretence of amending, to do treacherous violence to the Bill, per haps the STAR may meet the eyes of the noble author and natural protector of it, and of his country's rights—L►rd John Russell, who may introduce my town to the notice it nr:rits, and which I trust will never be disgraced by A DESCENDANT OF JACK OF NEWBURY. Newbury, Beats, March 17. FROM A CORRESPONDEWT.— A meeting of the whole county of Essex is convened for Saturday, and we are glad to hear that pe-sons of all parties had signed the requisition for the same: at first it was confined to the Whigs, the Liberals having had a meting already, while die Tories hung back. But an announcement having been given out of a sort of High Church and king Meeting to oppose a party they chose to call " revolutionary reformers,' the word sounded in Essex like a tocsin, and all parties hastened immediately to sign the requisition, determined to oppose bigotry, and to bury their minor differences of opinion in oblivion, in giving support to the general cause of rational freedom ; and now Tory and Whig, Liberal and Radical, Ballotist, and those who hate the Ballot, Catholic and Pro testant, and even the quiet Quaker, all are hastening to give unanimous support to a measure, which being proposed by the advisers of the Crown, and backed by the whole bulk of the people, it becomes part of the dity and alle giance of all loyal men to rally round, in order to defeat ft* iatrigues of an interested, rapacious, and aristocratical oli garchy. Among the supporters of the measure of Parlia mentary Reform, may be found men of title, men of science, politicians of all parties, and the professors of very different religious creeds. We noticed the names of Lord Dacre, the Earl of Essex, Hon Charles Petre, a Catholic. • C. C. Western, Esq. M.P. for Essex, T. B. Lennon!, M.P. D. W. Harvey, Faq. M.P. for Colchester, T. Forster, Esq. of Boreham, Sam. Sheen, Esq. of Hatfield, and above 40 other highly respectable names. lts.roux MEETING AT IPSWICH.— Pursuant to a requi sition very unanimously signed, addressed to the Bailiffs of this borough, a public meeting of the inhabitants was held on Wednesday at the Town Hall, for the purpose of aihlres sing His Majesty and the House of Commons in favour of the ministerial plan of reform. The object of the meeting excited the most lively interest, bills were placarded r•uod the town, calling upon the inhabitants to come forward '• to su;port the King in his struggle with the boroughmungerti," and the attendance of the inhabitants was very numerous. Several gentlemen addressed the meeting, urging strongly the necessity for strengthening the hands of ministers in their endeavours to effect the long required plan of reform, and resolutions, upon which an address to the king and a petition to the House of Commons were founded, were una nimously agreed to, expressive of the concurrence of the inhabitants of this town in the proposed measure of ie!ief, and praying that it might be allowed to pass into a law. The inhabitants of' Halesworth also, in the county of Suffolk, met upon ere same subject on Tutsdoy last, and various other towns in the same county are follow lug the like ex ampli s. One of the most important of al the Reform meetings was held yesterday at Stowmolker, in porruanee f a re quisition, signed by six hundred «rid Iwe•.ty Fret h riders, and substantial Householders, of the County of St if e!k, at which the High Sheriff presided. After some apologies were read hum several gentlemen, te I o were necessarily absent, the meeting gas addressed by Sir ROBERT HARI AND, fart. who proposed a series of resolutiens, tending to strengthen the hands of his Majt st ..'s. Slinisters, in carrying the Reform bill into a law. Mr. MossLY seconded the resolutions, which were intmed•ately carried, without modification, amidst great chtering. Sever al gentle men addressed the meeting—all in favour of the measure. At Blandfurd, a hole-and-corner petition, against reform, was attempted to be got up, but which in four days re ceived only 24 signatures; whilst that in favour of reform, was signed by upwards of 300 persons in about four hours. A Council of the Corporation of Redford has been held, at which various spirited resolutions, moved by the Rev. Phi!ip Hunt, Rector of St. Peter's, were agreed to. This Corporation possesses the right of nominating burgesses and freemen, without limitation of number, having a right to vote, even without residence, at all elections of members of Parliament for the borough ; but it has magnanimously resolved to abandon its privileges, with a view to the increase of independent principles.