Star. — London, England, 1831-03-22 00:00:00

parliament which did not represent the people and had no right to vats them ?—(Hear.) The spoliation of the great sums would be followed by that of the small. The small holder in the savings banks would go ext.—(lleer, hear.) What security could they have for any property from the new representatives, when amongst those proposed as such, there was one Mr. Mills, who had said. in one of his books that the increased value of land created by legislation belonged not to the individual but to the king ? He would remind them of Fer dinand refusing to acknowledge the bonds of the Cortes, and of the proceedings of the different administrations which had sue. ceeded each other in the first French revolutipn, The Gera titat, in 1788, obtained first the voting together of the three states ; they then, of themselves, changed their name, and after exciting intimidation by massacres, and aided by the influence of a bribed press, --(cheers); this, on the 4th of Augnet, 1789, in one great debate, forced the Convention to concede the tithes, the manorial rights, and the rights of chase. When this blessed reform was achieved, the king was clod the popular, the patriot king. Was that no lesson ? Many days did not elapse ere that Ling was taken in his carriage to Paris, with the *reads of the two gendarmes, killed in defending We person, carried be fore him, before the popular and patriot king : (hear, hear.) Trust to .he breeze of a fleeting popularity, and there is no stability foe the state. How did the grea t states of former times, how did Rome and Venice meet an emergency, or •a popular movement ? They .trengtbened 'the executive, created dictates, councils of ten ; and for his part he should prefer despotism to democracy. They had been told, by a noble lord opposite (the Lord Advocate) that liberty was the daughter of riches, and, as a consequence, that freedom should be extended with wealth. Did liberty follow riches in Greece and Rome? in Persia? He would remind the awned lord of the opinion of a noble lensed, who was perhaps one of the greatest poets this country had ever produced—he meant Lord Byron. That illus trious person, standing in the ruins of a temple, with the Coliseum on his right hand, and the Palatine before him, said— There is the moral of all human tales, 'Tis but the same rehearsal of the past ; First freedom and then glory—when that fails, Wealth, vice, corruption—barbarism at last. lie objected to the plan, that it gave an undue influence to towns. It did away with all the advantages of the variety of franchise—(Na, hear) —returning persons of ell classes, all interests, and all opinions. Com merce, agriculture, the colonies, the army, the navy, were now all re. presented ; but the new Parliament would be a tyrinnleal assembly—tt would represent only one class, the 101. voters, unless briber y were adopted. As to the right of voting, no particular individual had it, or all had the right. The great towns which had grown up since the revo. lotion should he allowed to send Members. But it was one thing to give them the franchise, and another to destroy the boroughs. He con sidered the demarcation, as to population, which was to limit the towns entitled to the franchise, as capricious and arbitrary. Under these cir cumstances it wee his intention, on the Bill being rejected, as he felt confident it would—to propose some resolution assuring the country that they were determined to strengthen the representation. He did not state a plan; but the resolution would show that, while they were opposed to a revolutionary measure, destructive of the King's authority, they were disposed to a constitutional improvement; it would go to the full extent of what was understood to have been the plan of ministers, before a certain occurrence had induced them to change. In conclusion, be should move that the Bill be read that day six months. Mr. CARTWRIGHT, in seconding the motion, opposed the bill, as dangerous and subversive of the constitution. He must observe, th tt with respect to the petitions of the people, two-thirds asked for that which was not befbre theca—the ballot (hear). He would not 'go into the details of the measure • he considered it more manly to oppose it altogether (hear.) If the re was any discontent at its rejection, the re sponsibility would rest with those who had brought it forward without sufficient reflection. He should be glad, however, to hear of some moderate measure being introduced (hear.) Mr. SHEIL gave his support to the measure, which he considered a constitutional one, which not only acceded to the just demands of the people, but would add lustre and stability to a house, the mainstay of British liberty and British power. The Hon. Member for Corn wall had embraced a variety of topics ; he had begun by making a most singular attack upon Ireland. After expatiating on 'the danger ous doctrines of Mr. Mill, he bad passed to Venice, Rome, and the French revolution. Now, be was somewhat surprised that amidst all these topics, not one word had been said in favour of the Cornish boroughs—(hear, hear); he had expected some illustration of the ad vantage of those boroughs, which he (Sir H. V.) had so particular an occasion of observing. The Hon. Member for Cornwall had expatiated on the bill as a dangerous and unprecedented measure; but he denied that it was either dangerous or unprecedented. The manner in which the Parliament had dealt with the boroughs of Ireland; on the occasion of the Union, as had been shown by the Hon. Member for Waterford (Mr. O'Connell), proved that what was now proposed was not without precedent; and not only had boroughs been abolished, but a whole House of Commons was abated, and 100 members added to that house. It was urged that they had no right to change the coned tuency. Why, what had they done hs 'the ease of 40s. freeholders of Ireland they had swept of 200,000 votes of Irish peasants, if they pleased, but British subjects after all. Was not that changing the constituency ? and why ? to meet the emergency of the case ; and if no mercy were to be shown to these voters, when the emergency of the case required the sacrifice, what in the name of heaven, of virtue, and of truth was there peculiar in the confederated and rotten boroughs, that they should be spared when the public interests required their suppression ? (Loud cheers.) But it had been said that the system worked well ? How could it work well, when there was a mass of discontent from one end of the country to the other ? And would any man deny that such was the feet? As to the pros being virulent, it was only following its vocation—it only represented the public mind. Take away the cause of discontent, and the virulence of the press, as it was termed, would cease. The discontent was not ima ginary—it was not an hypochondriac's dream—it was the gangrene that was traceable into the vitals of the state. But mischievous as was the bill, it seemed the honourable member for Cornwall had a measure ; what it was, he would not expound. The patient was admitted to be in a bad way—all the other physicians were wrong—one had a re medy—but when asked for it, the reply was, " tell you when I have compounded it." (Cheers and laughter.) Now, what we the system in Cornwall ? Did it represent the people ? Were they to legislate on fictions? Were they on " idealisms" to build the great fabric of legislation ? (Loud cheers.) It wu an idealism that Peers were not to interfere in returning members to that house : what was the fact It was alleged, and never yet disputed, that 158 Peers and others returned a majority of that house. Was that majority the representatives of the people, or of individuals ? Bat this bill would open a wide inlet to bribery —was there no bribery now? Was it not a notorious fact that seats wee openly bought and sold, btought toe sort of Parliamentary bazaar ? (H ear .) They were so much mat ters of arrangement, matrimonial and otherwiee, that be expected, it the boroughs continued, that ladies would have settled on them Galion tor a jointure, and Old Sarum for pin money. (Much laughtei.) True, there were statutes against bribery, but they only made matters nue they only increased the hypocrisy ; for, with Smuts virtue, they did not punish the crime, but the atrocity of permitting deteetton. like) Was that fancy ; was i t an i deal i sm ? Nov the people were fond of virtue i • and as that was tbe eau, seeing such sales, such bribe ries, such proc eedings, was it surprising that the people started up and resolved to expel from the Temple of the Constitution what were so fin; holy and monstrous? (Cheers) The deformitities, the close boroughs, were defended as having let in so much eloquence and merit, and the names were mentioned. The list was splendid, it was true ; but, though they were nursed by the borough system, yet had not all of them spoken , against it ? Mr. Dunning was a reformer; Mr. Pitt, before he was a Minister, was a reformer • Mr. Fox wee a Parliamentary, reformer, so was Mr. Sheridan, and most o f t h ose w h o were mentioned— what became of the argument ? (Hear, hear.) The illastrious dead were invok e d i n f avour of the boronghs, and if they visited the tom b s they found a majority in favour of Padiamentaty Re. twin. The splendid contingency was en their side. It was added sarcutically—that the aristocracy would be alketed—.aad yet. that some how or another, the influence of the house of Bed/oed and of Tavistock was preserved. If that were tutu as applicable term war It not quail)? true as regsrded the other ham& 1 1 Could the of, else preserved without wastairsiat th at of another ? Tkr/ off clk ari would not be destroyed, but it wrack at tlieSitots of the !rn/TT cut at their clandestine Wane* and au ts, and brought all into op en d ay . By the mew" arise con.todacy trould be strengthened, and the Mae" 001121 axed MOM fl*mly on his bad. He next contended that the measure was celled/Ur by the same nag e.nsergeney that had coceded the Cetbolle chime. le then minister admitted that fact n ; they bowed before de mass of discontent that had arisen. The concession had become — mid it was not unjust, and t h e lik e emergency had arisen here. There was a of discontent unequalled, and it there were talent and station ; and where were their opponße=r Where w ife sh e pajama Worm (heat). If Ireland had so aroused itself that its knock insß at the door of the Cabinet had startled the Ministers .were the emends of England likely to b e l ess powe r ful ? If in Ireland there !tete stiffen evil and a feverish suseepoiltlity—even afterthedainstad bee * conceded, let them recollect that their procrastinatieln had betwthe cause of it. Had they seined the guidon yews ages therbirmig 126 a. be en no cause to complain of that auCgOility. (hap.) And what we do Idea, to make of this reference (continued the ha. and i m ma ge "'" ) " regards En g land ? WbY2 conjure you not to alt. Take "ming by the past. You saw what happened in Ireland by delaying twice.; do you wish to wall tilif you see in England the repetition of events similar to thore that occurred in Ireland P Do you wish to be bold comblnadons here ? Bryon do not, I call upon you to be wise in ! time, not to procrastinate; do net pause, do not wait till you have still more powerfully embodied the feelings,of the country against you P— lCone, I call upon you ; concede In tithe ; futile/ is With the people ; concede then, I say, while you may do so with'safety and credit. Ad. miring, as I do, the principles of freedom contemplated by all, as the birthright of our constitution—l hesitate not to say that I wish to see that constitution perpetuated. I will adopt the Venetian's prayer, esio popettea 1 may the free character of ow conetiigtion be PerPe tested ; and I pray that my prayer may be more fortunate than was the'Vedetfan's.—.(Loud and enthusiastk cheering marked the conclu de; of this Speech.) Lord HARVEY rose, but owing to the low tone in Which be spoke, , ' and the confusion that existed, little that he said reached the gaiety— He wits, however, understood to oppose the measure, and to say that no bath* weld be shown where boroughs had been forcibly disfranchised. He regarded the present excitement as the reflection of the 40 years' agi. tattoo of certain parties in that House. Mr. PEN DAItVES said he represented a county (Cornwall) that would be more affected by the operation of the present measure than any p ireed other; assure yet he could the house that his constituents fully a with the plan of reform proposed by ministers. And he ho the government would not concede any material point in the Bill. ( ear.) ' It might, perhaps, be asked, how he knew that the general feeling in Cornwall was in favour of the measure. He would - answer, that he knew it by the number of petitions that he had presented, and he bad many others to present, which expressed entire satisfaction of the sere, and and they all expressed &hope that !might pass into slaw. Mew.) There was another county meeting about tote held on the subject, the requisition for which, in a few . hours, obtained 1,200 signatures, amongst which number were the names of forty magistrates..—( Loud cries of hear, hear.) Honourable members, as he before sald, might be surprised that Cornwall, losing so much by the bill, should petition in its favour; but the cause was plain, they found that in the manner in which their present representatives were returned, they were of no be nefit to the county. He woulinot then stop to Inquire how it was diet Cornwall had conferred on it so large a share in the representatioo. It was, however, no doubt, from its loyalty to the then existing Govern. meat. (Hear.) Objections had been raised of various kinds; one of which was, that the bill went to upset the settled institutions of the country. He never could agree that rotten boroughs formed any part of the settled institutions of the country. (Hear, hear.) Another ar gument was, that through the medium of boroughs all the talent had been introduced into that house. In answer to this he would say, that Went, distinguished talent, would always find its way within its walls. (Hear.) On that account, therefore. he saw no objection to the bill, and it should have his support. It might. perhaps, be a little ben.. ficianv altered in the committee, as regarded the amount of rent for a qualifleation of a voter; but if no alteration took place he was satisfied that if it passed into a law, the interests of all would be better protected —(hear)—and he was convinced that the general feeling throughout the country_ was decidedly in favour of the measure. Lord VALLETORT opposed the bill; but the noise in the house was so great that it was impossible to catch correctly the purport of the noble lord's observations. He was understood to say that the whole measure was in tenor with the political lives of the members composing the present administration. It was with astonishment that he beard the Attorney-General state that the paragraphs in the Times were no doubt libellous ' • but that if they were libel*, they were truths : (h ear .) Mi nisters ha d brought about the present excitement, and as an independent member of parliament, he felt it his duty to tell them so. It was thought by many wino supported the measure that it went too far; they, there. fore, intrusted themselves to a ship carrying too much sail. It was an experiment which, in his opinion, ought not to be tried, when it might be done by healthier and safer means. He asked hon. gentlemen to pause, and give the measure the best consideration before they gave a vote In its favour. Several members rose together, amongst whom was Mr. Charles Grant. Loud cries from all parts of the haute for Mr. Grant to pro ceed, and in consequence the other members withdrew. Mr. GRANT then proceeded. He was aware the house must be almost tired with the long discussions that had taken place on this im. portent question; but he trusted its kindness would permit him to make a few observations. (Hear.) Thcre was no occasion for the noble lord who had just sat down to attribute unworthy motives to those who brought forward the measure. (Hear.) To those gentlemen about to be disfranchised, he gave credit for their opposition ; they were only doing justice to the patrons who returned them. (Hear, hear.) The measure had been decried as revolutionary—that it would upset the Throne, subvert the constitution, and rata cep a powerful array of charm. pions against the legitkosteauthodnes of the land. (Hear.) It was said, appeal to the country. To the country an appeal had been made, and from one end to the other was its voice raised in support of the measure. (Great cheering.) It had monocled from all quarters of the empire. The country was unanimous. AU admitted that some reform was ne cessary. The bon. Baronet himself, who proposed the amendment, admitted, towards the close of his speech, that should the present mea sure not be carried, he himself had a plea of Reform to propose ; there fore be might say the quesdoe, as to Reform or no Reform. wai set tied, it only remained for the house to deride what Reform Would satisfy the country. In his opinion it must be an efildent measure of Reform. Hotly a partial excitement existed in the country it ought not to be totally disregarded; bow much more necessary was it then to attend to the general feeling. (Hear.) Let any man look at the state of the country during the last few years—let him recollect what bad passed, and he must be convinced that, sooner Or later, the greit subject of re form must force itself on the attention of Parliament. (Hear.) It was a question founded on justice and principle, and supported by the una nimous voice of the people. And he never knew the statesman yet that had been bold enough to soy that public opinion ought not to be re. garded. It was well understood that the present state of the represents. Lion was not calculated to cure the evils in the Constitution. The right hon. baronet opposite (Sir Robert Peel), when he brought forward the Catholic bill, said it was the duty of the house to find out the evils in the Constitution, and apply a remedy ; that course had been the object of the present ministry ; they had drawn aside the veil' of British jus.' dee, and examined into the sacred soil of the British Constitution. The right honourable gentleman went on to say, that Parliament bed now to deal with an enlightened and instructed people; and it was not merely public opinion that called for a reformed parliament, but public justice. (Hear, bear.) The people of Ragland complained of the system of non-representation ; they complained, further;of direct inter ference with the rights of representation; they are taught to believe that this house was intended to counteract the other branches ot' the legisla ture. but they found it was not so. It b a d b een sa id o f t h e D uke of Wellingtonthat before the great question of Catholic emancipation was carried he had used intimidation. lie( Mr. C. Grant) did not think that he had ; he was fearful to defer concession which had shady been toolong withheld. At that late period of the evening he should not trespass long on the time of the house, although be had some further observations to make , on the subject: there was one point however touched upon by the hon. ban (Sir R. Vyvyan) viz. that the present state of foreign Europe ought to be a powerful reason against the passing of the present measure. He (Mr. C. Grant) bad, as well as that honourable baronet , contemplated the affairs of foreign Europe, but he confessed be drew a very different lesson from the consideration of the subject which he had bestowed: in short, he wan of opinion that as disturbances were to be found abroad, to prevent their occurrence at home, the present measure was atarmay. If it can be proved that the excitement which had prevailed was to be ascribed to a delay of cow:anion, then the present was the moment, of all other*, when delayed concession ought to be granted; by delaying it longer the seeds of deep agitation would be sown; a consideration, therefore, of the drain of foreign Europe must convince every one that the present was the time for bringing forward the great question of a reform in the representation of the people. (Thrright honourable gen tleman sat down amid much cheering.) Mr. W. B %NEES would eater hie protest against the present mea sure of Ministers. He could call it by no other title than that of an experiment. He candidly acknowledged that it could not be eddied to any former system as a precedent ; but he would venture to say that it was distinguished by this difference, that wiwn experiments proved abortive, they usually leave the parties trying thews as they were; a very dial:not result, however, was to be anticipated in t h e p resent experl ment.--(Hear, hear, from the Opposition.) If he ( Mr. %ekes) *ere to enter upon a voyage of experiment, he should like his cane to be composed of good practical men, who in former voyages had not non ashore ; be should not choose the proposeri of the ;Resent measures, . who sat on the benches opposite, whose every project and aniline since they came into oMce had been a faUure.—(Hear, from the Opposidon.) The Hon. Gentleman then went into a comparative statement of the population of the county with which he was connected (1:1101R9, and. that of Notts ggham, to show, that though the former wowed a greater pepal a don, the measure of disfranchisement had been sEntised to a extent than in Nottingham and other comardas. . BLANEY said it had been argued against the utility pi reform, that the house was willing to V:Z ici %tne hat minis found hu pthallikWr pupae sly at resent. Assn if it were twee that as hydra imistidsti could take pdee, still it would'be a peat Mc se were : ti:etiliontwits.ll"4 To that sil.the 1 lheir :b w :bl= i t t f ie" mew that the bee kir tilaticai* their virtual rep •s—to tell the people of Binningluid tbit the member" for Old &turn was their whirled rapstarntadve—What was it but to alit brook to opptiasion. He had laply tol his comadtwests, *ad bad be much In communication: with" th e mM44I - chaps, the mat virtuous in the sonunuOy.,—and . saioeigit ilteni he never tied one dimenthint voice raised in opposition to eltepisa versions proposed bY I. (Hear, heat.) With the' voice of so many -millions in favour of the measure they should not— they dare not resist it. (Loud cries of " Question.") The hon. Member for Sarum and the Hon. Member for °anon might cry out question ; but as the representative of a large body of constituents, be felt 'tilde bounden duty to give ;expend= to their opinions, whit k were the opinions of the whole people of the United Kingdom. (Cries of question.) He warned the House that there was a universal voice in the country, not to be put down by clamour, crying out for their just rights, too long withheld. Let those who opposed the bill now reflect, that they were not voting for any matter in detail, but against the great principle of reform (cries of no, no.) There was but one feel. ing throughout Ragland on the subject--no one who bad not been amongst them could estimate it. If this measure were refused, it was impossible that the people of England could any longer place confidence in that House (hear.) Lord NOR KEYS said, he became a member of that house, enter taining the is that some refmm was necessary, and he intended to give Iris vote for the bill that ministers should bring in ' • but he could not support a measure that, if passed into a law, he believed in his conscience would be the destruction of the constitution. As the hon. member for Cornwall had given a pledge to the house that he would hrin; forward an effectual measure of reform, be should, when it was produced, support it if he proved of it (a laugh). He was returned to that house by a large body of the middle classes, and he should sup port that part of the bill which went to extend the franchise to that class; btu whrn he saw the constitution endangered by the whole bill, he could not support it. He thought there might be in future times, as at preeent, men who would agitate the minds of the people, and excite them against those in superior stations; and that if this bill were to pass, there might be a recurrence to th e scenes that l a t e ly disgraced the country. He would not accuse' ministers of intentional unfairness in the line they bad drawn for the disfranchisement of boroughs, but certainly they had drawn it most ingeniously and adroitly for themselves, and in a manner well calculated to increase their power. (Hear, hear.) He had a large constituency, and felt the force of the Right Honourable Harts threat of a dissolution ; but he could not sacrifice his duty to any selfish eon. sidantion, and was prepared to stand or fall with the Constitution.— (Hear, hear.) Let the present Bill be passed, and the day would come when the country would awake to its consequences. (Hear, heir.) — They were called upon to legislate for future times, and he would sooner retire from the House with the honour of baring discharged his duty, than gain popularity by euzificing his principles, and endangering the Constitution. cHear.) Mr, VILLIERS STUART wished shortly to explain to the house the very difficult situation in which he was placed. He had hoped that before this night should arrive, he should hare been enabled to transfer to another the trust he reluctantly held. Circumstances wholly out of his power to control had prevented the event be wished, and he was now compelled either to leave his constituents without a representative to vote in defence of their existing privileges, or to sacrifice his own opinion and individual feelings. Nothing but a sense of honour could make him vote against the second reading of the bill ; but he considered him. self only retaining his seat till his constituents could elect another re presentative; an d he could not give a vote contrary to their opinions, and feelings, and privileges, though he bad no hesitation in saying that in voting against the bill, it was his hope and trust that be should be left in a minority. (The hon. gent'; speech appeared to excite the astonishment of the Mouse.) The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said, the bill before the house had been characterised as revolutionary. He was as great an enemy to re. volution as any mes..ber of the house, but he saw no tendency to rem. lution in the present measure. The constitution was gained by a con- tinual struggle and successive improvement. He felt confident that the house, in passing the present bill, were not passing a revolutionary mess sure, but a measure perfectly consistent with the principles of the con stitution, which held every public power, however possessed, whether hereditary ce delegated, as a public trust for the benefit of the corn. munity : (hear, hear.) His learned friend, the member for Borough. bridge, said parliament had no right to disfranchise boroughs: what would his learned friend say to the Septennial Act, which disfranchised all :the Corporations in England for four years ? Boroughs were managed in corruption. (No, no. Tice learned gentle. man repeated his declaration often, which was always accompanied with cries of no, no, from the opposition). He begged leave to direct the attention of the house to the qualification under which he made the assertion. He did say that such was the public impression, and that the public had no security for the faithful discharge of the right o4elee don ; and he would ask if the mode of election was consistent with the constitution. He knew that a great deal had been said about popu lar clamour, but be was the last to lay weight on popular clamour, yet he could not hut remark the progress of opinion that was so decidedly marked by the public meetings which had been convened wherever they could constitutionally he assembled. He would particularly remark the voice of private society, in which, where politics had never before been no. deed, Parliamentary Reform was now the prevailing topic, and the cry for it could never be beat down, but at the expense of the public peace. He could tell the house that so far fran this measure being coo much, so strong was the public expression that they bad In a gg t number of cases called fir vote by ballot. (Hear. firom the ion.) He said that that had been the expression of the people t bat he could say that the imam measure would satisfy those people, and was perfectly con stitutienaL Such being the case, be would ask the house if they were warranted, or were they in a situation to refuse the people all that they asked—he was of opinion that they were not. The learned gentleman concluded with stating, that the measure was strictly constitut ion al, was according to precedent, and was what the country not only required but must here. (Tumultuous calling of adjourn, from the Opposition, and go on from others.) Sir E. B. SUCHEN thought, that on so important a subject it would hes pity to take into thought a few hours delay, and would be exceedingly sorry that the House should adjourn after the address of his learned Friend the Solicitor-General, which was one of the most un- constitutional that he had ever heard delivered. The learned gentleman then went into a lengthy disquisition on the arguments of the learned gentleman who spoke last, and said that while he was upbraiding others with wandering from the subject, he had not himself advanced one argument applicable to the bill. (Hear, hear, from the Opposi tion.) Ily whom had it been proposed! by the present Government who had done it to preserve their places. (Cries of hear, hear and No, no-) They had taken advantage of a popular ferment, instead of joining the former; administration to turn it out. (Cries of hear, and Oh, oh,) and would now grant to the people whatever they chose to ask. The bill was wrong from beginning to end, on the admission of :he learned gentleman himself, who said that legal evidence was neces sary; yet upon moral evidence all these boroughs were to be disfran chised. The Bill was to grant what the people had petitioned to:— they had all petitioned for vote by ballot, universal suffrage, and triers. nial Parliaments. (Laughter. and cries of No, no.) He was sure that they had all asked for these things—and destruction of tithes, and de. suction acetate. The member for Waterford had once said that it was his wish that the people of Ireland should agitate for a repeal of the Union, and that tht people of England should agitate for Paillamen , t u y Reform; and Ministers seemed to be acting oo that suggestion.— The honourable member for Preston could confirm this assertion, who knew the people best. The honourable member for Waterford had open. ed his (Sir E. Sugden'a) eyes on this measure, a little, when he said that be was contented to accept this measure for a reformed Parliament, for with it he knew that all which he wanted would soon follow. The Hon. Members for Preston and Waterford were like to accept any thing that would strengthen the hands of the democracy, as they made sure that vote by ballot would follow next Session. The Learned Gentleman alluded to the tri-coloured flag which had been used in a proocssion, and w hich the Noble Lord opposite had spoken of in eulogy in that House. He (flit E. Sugden) had no objection to the lag as a flag of Frame. but as a tag that had waved over the wreck of the French Constitution, and had been flourished over the destiny of the nation's monarch, he (Sir E. Sugdee) world always raise his voice against the measure that that Noble Lord proposed. He contended that instead of the number of representatives being abridged of sixty-two, they ought rather to be in. amend ttow, when the population was increasing at the rate of a "tarter of a million a year. The bill was a billy( palm and pe nobles calculated to widen the spread of devastation and confiscilion, and delivel a constitution that would work well for itself. He appealed to the boo. member for Preston if be was swan{ that. the bill ms 4. no provision for the protection of his constituent'? fraiichiseidurieg . life, but that if he supported the bill he would, by his vote, disfranchise the very persons echo had sent him to that house. Beyond,* simple open. log speech, no gentleman bad ever vouched to give any explanation of I it. He, as a lawyr could understand an act of Parliament; but he confessed tha: he co uld not comptehend the points of the bill, although he hid read it over. The measure was represented in a different wq to different classes; the middle elan was told that it would extend their rights; the aristocracy, that it would secure their power. The object of the bill was to cut up the country into petty dis tricts, these were always open to iniluenoe.:Then Parliaorellt wags 14 : 0 cede to the Privy Council the power of arranging title, districts, and coo. sequently would leave the disposidoo of thieketions hi' their hank.— The rights of the corporaters,.aad oft ISS lootnad,1•1 I? unduly destroyed. He asked wbo was the lend*4 who had introduced the clause that before the constituent sitsold be tend he tliold4 hve Pad *V all his rents and taxes ? This;tli mil to esii rpm right of lionise is divined quallses Via' • ted inerectly by t he Lord The boa. nersithat it ) All* tntlrelso. dr. alld se =ii misters with having eimplemised with Mr. O'Coomils, but was' stopped by cries of " Qawaisa." He asked, had the people, in asking for Ont., asked for &reduction of eix i ty-two membere n deprecated the of members to Ireland . at the expellee or laod ,' ate time Wise flutylass that at the new election the Irish were to.be pise a tMari of the union He should give his cordial support to tie The debate was thisadjestrned. The orders of the day were disposed of, and the house adjourned at • quarter to four o'clock. THEIR MAJESTIES, 40. WINDSOR. MARCH 21. At eleven o'clock this morning the 11; tsiti , accompani(d by Lord HILL and Mr. GREENWOOD, drove thirinvh town in her MAJESTY'S pony phaeton, and pi - oceitial thy Long Walk to Norfolk Farm, and from thence through tl. Park to Flemish Farm, and returned to the Castle at 1)4.1 - last one o'clock. At three o'clock the Kiwo and Qt-!r left the Castle by the new entrance, which leads in a straight line to the Long Walk, and proceeded to Virginia Water. Their MAJESTIES were attended by the whole of their 46- tinguish,:d visitors who are now staying at the Castle Mr G FEN v. non rode with the KING in the pony phaeton, and the vest of Cie royal party were on horseback. '1 he splendid retinue returned to the Castle a little after five o'clock. In the evening their MAJESTIES will entertain a mimermis dinner party : among . those who have the honour cf invitmien ale the officers of both regiments which are stationei here, and most of the nobility and gentry in the surrounding nui g h - bot: rhood . The band of the Coldstream Guards have olden,: to be in attendance. COURT CIRCULAR. The Princess Augusta honoured Lady Caroline Weida grave with a visit yesterday at her residence in CIITZOT. - street. 'the Landgravine of Hesse Bamberg, and a select party : dined with her 'loyal Highness yesterday. Sir Murray Maxwell (the Governor of Prince Edward's Island), had an interwitz with Viscount Godericlt ye tei at the Colonial Office. Mr. Justice Halliburton, and P&r. Archibald, the Attorney- General of Nova Scotia, transactet!• business yesterday at the Colon* Office. The PraAian Minister visited Viscount Palmerston yos terday at the Poreign Office. Despatches were sent off by an Italian courier last even ing, for the Honourable General Ponsonby, the Lieut.- Governor of Malta. DEPARTURE OF THE PRINCE OF ORANGE. The Prince of Orange and suite left Mivart's Hotel, Sunda y mowing, to embark for Rotterdam. His Highness was ac companied to the vessel by a large party of the nobility (ladies and gentlemen), to bid adieu to his Royal Highness, and to express their sincere wishes for his welfare. It was intended he should have embarked in the Dutch vessel of war the Curacoa, sent expressly last week with a strong de tachment of marines, under the orders of Commandant Mons. Le Jenne, who was most cordially received by his Royal Highness and friends; but the vessel from its great depth being unable to reach London or Rotterdam, it was found more convenient to take the Batavier steam-vessel. COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE. Miss Homiest appeared as Lady Covselanee, in King John, last night, for her own benefit. This character, though among the most beautiful on the stage, is remarkable for it,. brevity, and presents a singular instance of the part of the heroine enduring only to the third act. The moat celebrated speeches are the reproof to Austria, that which she delivers sittinf on the ground, and the lamentations for Alfred. We are too limited in space to enter into minute cri tichm, and must, therefore, conclude for the present with the hope, that Miss Ermines persosiation of Constance may improve by rc. petition. With the merits of Waimea Xing John and KIMBLE'S Favloonbridge, the public is already acquainted. The Farces of A Daypfler the Wedding and The Otorsibes, both admirably acted, and some introduced songs by Miss liivitisarrit, Miss Mollies, WiLsow, and KEELEY, enhanced the attraction of the evening. COVENT-GARDEN THEATRICAL FUND FESTIVAL. The Committee met yesterday, for the purpose of making Anal ar rangements for the Festival tumerrow (Wedas). Sir Oconee Sawn. attended, and made an encouraging report of the he had made amongst thole who hod kindly tendered their nal u. illsiance at the Anthems:7 Dinner. lir. Eszavop read a letter from Mr. Jones, announcing that ldr. Bamtam has kindly promised to at tend the dinner. THE ARMY. DUBLIN , & Uca 17. The 10th hussars will, immediately after landing in Dublin linen York, proceed to Newbrldge, and relieve the 17th Lucas. The 12th Royal Lancers are In daily expectation of the route to Dundalk. A troop of the 17th Lancers, stationed the last week at Alountrath, when disturbowes wereexpeeted in consequence of hostility to tithes, returned to bead-quarters, Newbridge barracks on Monday. In consequence of information received oo Tuesday, in Limerick, by T. P. Volta, Esq. the chief magistrate, he applied to Colors! Wortley, the commandin officer, who instantly sent off an officer and 20 men of the 74th reg iment to Bradford. Tuesday and Wednesday the entire of the King's Dragoon Guards, lin Limerick. with Major Maxwell, Captains Bray and Martin, Lieuts. Hawke anti Scott, left fa Ennis. Capt. Harold's company of the 74th regiment left Limerick on Wed. neaday, fur Scariff, and Capt- Gordon's company of the nom for Corolin. Four companies including bead-quarters of the bth regiment, from Buttevant, marched into Limerick . this day, under command of Cr..c o p. Tovey, on route to Clare Castle, where they were to arrive on Thursday. The total strength is 12 officers, 14 sergeants, and 260 rank and tile. Intimation having been received that the peasantry intended to break into the bridewell of Sixmile-bridge, where Grady is confined, a party of the King's Dragoon Guards, and 56th Regt. with Captain Drought, left Limerick, at ten o'clock on Monday night, but no violence having been committed, they returned on Tuesday morning. The house of Clifden, Den Corolla, is now occupied as a military , The The reserve Companies of the 99th Regiment, are ordered from Clare Castle to Naas. Colonel Vincent, Quartermaster.geoetal, arrived from Dublin nn Tuesday at Ennis, where be will remain with the troops ordered to be stationed in the county Clare, during the election, which commences on Monday next. Eight companies of the 6th regiment are on their march from Butterant to Clare, Castle, Ennis, Ennisdmou, and Kibosh. Three troops of the Combine= from Ballincollig, and one troop of the King's Dragoon Guards from Limerick, are ordered so Earth, with four pieces of artillery. Fifty of the 74th et Snub, under Major Crabbe, are to be moved to Conran and Tali*. The grenadier company of the 74th regiment, which arrivtd at Ennis from Limerick, to attend at the executions on Friday, marched lib:gain on fiattudey morning. reserve companies of the 91st, or Argyleshire r*nierit, have re. caved 84 tine reciutta, few of which see eider 5 feet 7 inches in height, NA one exceeding 20 leers.ot age—tbe general number of them are perfect in drill and in ;Ise ranks. Major Warburton having allayed the outrages in other counties of his district. Is now proosaliogtei En* to satin Hr.-Yokes. Thegreuadier (*.apply of the 74th, which farrived[at Ennis pont Li to attend at the executions es Friday , modied hack again on Saturtiay pigmies. beetegitt on tiat A large numbq O w** sons wowsay evening from Clare Coeds, nodes a -strong *peon of tits .4th, commas ded by Lieutenant Hied, and pooseded no Moodily, engrains for eak, to de. poeit the sons in the Hines were at Haulbowlhie. IRISH YZON AN RY APPOIN TMENT. 15th March, 1831, BALLINAMOI2 YEOIIAWIY, COUPTT LESTRIM.--Jaltes ley. )sq. to be Second Lientenant, sins Nig resigned. ANAMOZ YZ01141.1111,7, COUNTY WICKLOW.—WIII4OII Johnson, Esq. , o be First Lieutenant, vice Edge, deceased. 18th March, 1831. RaLLesicEr; YzomANNT, COUNTY fiLloo.—William Garret, Esq. to be :%:econd Lieutenant, vies Rea, deceased. Marti& tbe 2let inst. the lady of J. IL:lt !adore, Esq. of Mimed. square, of a daughter —At Peckham, the 10th Inst. blv. B. Edging top, of atlas--At Brightoo, the 20th inst. the lady of F. B. Glisvoole, Esq. M.D.. of a daadbter. Satettaj,the 19th hut. at tlt.' '' A bbot ' s, J We. thgell. Esq. al t i 9l.*So v Dhja We 'll, youngposhmehter of the late P. Qilbest, d S ar i atoort.— t the British Ambassador's, at Bern, laBwitseelead, the 11th toot. the Rev. J. L-Pores, of Chases, to Catherine, wood drogbme et Mr..C. Stevens, of limilaittoo-Oare. lir, W. Parr, of Nts. 11, Upper4eTraes, Itliaitsik—lbt lath hot. sodEllssisdi, die loth of J. AMU, stßetiaa, Middlesex IPida7. it T.Outior'a-street. aged ?be !Ist tam at Ids abriabers, in Elm-court, in tbe Middk Templt, ,N. Wisekley, req. aged