Star. — London, England, 1831-03-31 00:00:00

:~ k' ~~ i 4 ~1 i ; ~ ~, ;:., • i . ,4. fthoution of slavery ; from the Cham • atoinst the renewal of the East India , presented a petition for rholttion of cold. ',kg slavery, from a place in Scotland. Adjourned at a quarter•paat :wren o'clock to ten o'clock this dry, for lift purpose of hearing appeals. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. BEYNTON presented a petition from the city of Cork in favour of the plan of reform prottcsted by ministers ; and praying that their de. seendants may not be disfranchised. Mr. D. BROWN presented petitions from Ballina, Kildare, and Galway, in favour of the plan of reform proposed by ministers. The House was summoned to the House of Peers to hear the Royal Assent given to several Bills. The SPEAKER, on his return, informed the house that the Royal Anent had been given by commission to several bills which he et,ume rated. [See House of Lords.) Mr. RUTHVEN presented a petition from the County of Down in favour of reform, and praying that the duration of Parliament should be shortened ; an l that every candidate should be sworn not to use bribery or corruption to procure his election. Mr. GURNEY said, if ever such an oath should be proposed, while he had a seat in Parliament, he should give it his most de- eided opposition. _ Mr. ItUTHVEN presented a petition from Bainbridge, in the county of Down, for reform of Parliament, and abolition of tithes and vestrvers. Mr. LK ADER presented a petition from Mount Meneck, and the city of Kilkenny, for reform in Parliament. .Mr. MILLER presented a petition from Newcastle-under-Line, against the truck system. Mr. MONTEITH presented a petitiou from Selkirk against the union of burghs, proposed by the bill before the house. General GASCOY NE asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he would consent to give up the first day after the holidays for the pre• sentation of petitions. Lord ALTHORP said there were notices of motion for that day, but another day should be appointed. Sir JOHN SHELLY asked whether any arrangement was made for a more extensive delivery of letters by the General Post-office. Lord A LTHORP said his noble friend had made an arrangement by which letters could be delivered at all places within three miles of the General Post-office, without any additional charge. The arrangement was to commence on the sth of April. Mr. MONTEITH moved for a return of the number of persons holding lands of certain value in Scotland.—Agreed to. Lord ALTHORP moved for a new writ for the Queen's County, in the room of Sir Henry Parnell, who has accepted the office of Secre tary of War. Mr. BARING brought up the Report of the Committee on the salaries of Officers of State. Mr. (lOU LBURN said the Committee had gone beyond the pur pose for which they were appointed, and had introduced the subject of superannuations and retired allowances, and had recommended a course to be pursued that would be most detrimental to the Monarchy. They recommended that any case of public service thought deserving of reward should be submitted to Parliament. He had stated his ob. Jeefons in the Committee, where they were unattended to, and now stated them to the House, that they might come to the subject pre pared for clismsaion. Mr. BA RING said it was not very fair to propose a discussion on ti•e Report of a Committee before it was printed. (Hear.) The re eunintendation of the Committee could not be acted on without a Bill, and when that was before the House would be the proper time tor discussion. (Hear, hear.) The Act recommended to be repealed gave the Crown power to grant retired allowances to persons having 1,11 high offices for two years, which the Committee considered quite preposterous. Lord ALTHORP said the question was one of considerable im portance, and should receive the best consideration of Government. Sir H. HARDING F. said he must enter his protest against that par of the report which, while hallowed officers of the navy to hold civil offices, and retain their pay, denied the same privilege to officers of th e army, which he considered an indignity and injustice to the army, and should bring forward a motion on the subject. Mr. KENNEDY said there was no such difference in the report as the gallant officer supposed. The principle was equally applicable to both services. Sir GEORGE WARRENDER said the only exception made was in favour of the Naval Lords of the Admiralty, who were allowed to retain their pay. Sir GEORGE MURRAY said. it was stated that the principle was to apply equally to both services ; but it was evident an exception was made in favour of some naval officers, and none was made in favour of military officers ; he disapproved of the principle altogether. Sir CHARLES WETHERELL said the recommendation of the Committee, like other measures in progress through the house, was anti-monarchical. (Hear, and a laugh.) Mr. HOIIHOUSE hoped the house would not discuss the report be fore it was read. (Hear.) Mr. HUME thought the report was a very able report, and well de served the consideration of the house. If there was one member in the house whose speeches tended to bring monarchy into discredit with the country, it was his learned friend below him (Sir C. Wetherell), who wished to uphold all abuses. (A laugh.) Sir CH Alt LEs WETHERELL said he did not wish to break faith with the crown. The report was ordered to be printed. CAMBRIDGE PETITION. Lord PALMERSTON presented a petition from the University of Cambridge, against some of the provisions In the bill for reform of parliament before the house, and praying the house to proceed with great caution in making sod) an important change. Mr. W. BANKES congratulated the noble lord on being delivered of the petition after nine days' gestation. He supposed the petition had travelled with the usual rapidity to Downing-street, but there it be came a drag-chain on the noble lord by whom it was presented. CoI.WOOD said he had voted for the second reading of the bill, but would oppose many parts of it in the committee. Mr. PRAED said the University of Cambridge was not opposed to a moderate Reform ; but thought the proposed bill dangerous. Lord J. It USSELL said he had a petition in his hands from the nobility, bankers, merchiatts, and inhabitants of Dublin in favour of the bill of Reform before the house, for five days, without being able to I obtain an opportunity to present it. Ile was confident there had been no intentional delay in the presentation of the petition from the Univer shy of Cambridge. Ile agreed with the petitioners that abrupt changes should be avoided ; but. they did not know that every possible obstacle was thrown in the way of making gradual Reform ; and that when it was proposed to change hut two members of the house, the same ob. jection was made to it as to the present measure. Mr. 111/ULM:RN said the petition was entitled to attention as c fling front men of information, and who were quite unprejudiced by the' Reform measure. T lie ATTORNEY-GENERAL observed, the petitioners did not say a word about corporation tights. (Hear, hear.) The alarm they expressed would vanish when the bill had obtained a fair and disinte rested hearing. ssir C. WETHERELL said. the petitioners had not stopped at par ticulars, but it was sufficient that they should express themselves against the change greatly. Mr. ATTWOOD said, the assertion that the bill had not been dis cussed in a disinterested mariner was a libel on the House of Commons. He was proceeding to say that he had not expected a libel from a learned member whose profession it was to deal with libels, but was called to order by Mr. Speaker. 111 r. G. PRICE said, he was acquainted with the petitioners, and the majority formed the liberal part of the University. Though not hostile to Reform, they could not concur in a measure which was the death w arrant of the Constitution. Lord MORPEIII dissented from the sentiments of the petition, and also disapproved of the vehement style in which the hon. member who spoke last had supported it. Lord PALM ERSTON defended himself against the insinuations that had been thrown out, that he had wilfully withheld the petition Dom being presented. He explained that he had been prevented from getting his name upon the list unless for a very late hour, and respect for the University of Cambridge made him unwilling to throw its peti tion so tar back ; and he said that the opportunity had been afforded hint even now only by the indulgence of the house In permitting him to present the petition out of his turn. He alluded to this charge hav ing been made prematurely by the learned member for Botoughbridge, actually before the petition had reached him (Lord Palmerston.) The noble lord made some whimsical animadversions on the speech of the hon. member for s.arlborough, and said be was very ungrateful, for had the petition been presented earlier it would have prevented him from having amused the house with his hackneyed metaphors and concocted epigrams on the subject. The noble lord concluded with saying that nothing would ever deter him from performing his duty either as a member of that house or as a member of his Majesty's government. He complained that the sentiments of the petition had been un warrantably misconstrued by honourable members who had spoken upon it, and he denied that it was expressive of sentiments totally ini mical to reform. • Mr. DENMAN likewise rose in explanation, and replied to what had fallen from the hon. member (Mr. Attwood), when he alluded to acts of his (Mr. D.'s) former life. Mr. ATT WOOD explained, and again alluded to the learned At torney-General, and said that in the excited state of the country he might again be called upon to exercise his professional avocations. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL rose to order and expostulated. Isle. H. TWISS made a few ironical remarks on the measure of re. form, and the manner in which it was to be decided. Sir R. V YVYAN deprecated the threats of dissolution of Paella. Went, and said that a tumour had got abroad that it was the intention of his Majesty to avail himselt of the prerogative of the Crown, and to refuse to issue writs for those rotten boroughs at the ensuing election. 11. e hen. member reverted to the conversation that had taken place on the previ us evening on the Hampshire petition, and repeated ' • ' his charge against Lord Althorp, that be bad voted against a Parlia mentary enquiry into the distressed state of the country. Sir J. SEBRIGHT said, that there need be no hesitation in admit ting that as the question of reform at present was to be tried, that it was opposed by hon. members who were interested in its defeat. Lord ALTHORP denied that he had been hostile to a parlia mentary enquiry into the distress of the country,-or that he had dis believed that that distress existed ; but in explanation, he said that he opposed the motion,at that time proposed, on principle,because he con sidered it was quite inefficient to meet the purposes for which it was to be sent forth. Mr. G. DAWSON made a few remarks on the allusion that had been made by an honourable member (Sir J. Sebright) that a number of members who were to vote on the question, were parties interested. Sir J. SE BRIGHT replied that he would only pay, that if he had been placed in their situation, he would have acted differently. 51r. G. DAWSON said the honourable baronet meant to exclude from that house, rather prematurely, all those members whom he had promised himself the pleasure of dismembering by the measure that he was about to support ; but he (Mr. G. Dawson) contended that if in. tercsred motives were to be attributed to those who were to be disfran chised by the measure, that the same allegation might be laid to the charge of those who were endeavouring to carry it. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL explained. Sir J. SEBRIGHT explained. Mr. H. GURNEY made a few general observations, and said, that the act was only a recent one, and had been framed expressly for the purpose of getting rid of Mr. Home Touke from that house ; and he thought that it ought to be ceded to the two Universities of Oxford and Cambridge the power of sending Members who had holy orders to that house. Mr. HUAIE reprobated the opposition so often repeated of the rights vested in burgage tenures, which, according to that rea soning, ought to be preserved, whether there remained a man in them or not; and that the only plea set up for this was, that practice should be preserved merely because it was of old standing.— This he considered quite ptepoatetous, so long as the large towns of Birmingham, Leeds, and Manchester, were unrepresented. He also remarked, that even honourable members who opposed the bill had frequently reverted to history for their purpose, although in many in stances they brought forward incidents which went to prove, that in all ages changes had been made according to the circumstances of the country. An Hon. MEMBER said that he had examined the Bill, and could find no just principle in it. He denied that any rights had been taken from the people by that house, and, consequently they had none to be restored. He would have supported any measure for reform if he could be convinced that this country was disrespected abroad and mis governed at home, but he was satisfied that neither was the fact. lie said that the bill was not framed to give the people what they had pe titioned for—that none of the petitioners had called for any measure like this. He said that the bill owed its origin to the revolutionary acts that had taken place abroad, and that these measures had been virtually countenanced by a noble lord opposite, who, in that very house, had eulogized the tri-coloured flag. Colonel SIBTHORP said he was favourable to the extension of the suffrage, but he would not consent to deprivation ; if the bill were corrected, he might support it, otherwise he should oppose it. Mr. R. GRANT said, that the petition, as far as it went, was in every way worthy of the eminent body from whom it came. It did not go all the length of the proposers of the measure certainly, nor did it support the views of those who resisted all reform. (Hear.) There was one very remarkable circumstance, however, that petition was proof of the progress of public opinion, for instead of resisting, they called for moderate Reform. And that too with a body avowedly slow to admit changes. Nor was the proof of the progress of public opinion limited to this instance. Scarcely a member had opposed the plan of the Ministers, who did not admit that he would not oppose moderate Reform. He observed that though Norwich had sent a petition against Reform, yet the mass of the population there were as favourable to the plan as any portion of the kingdom. The petition was then presented. Sir R. VYVYAN said, he was glad to have heard a great constitu tional lawyer (the Attorney-General, we believe he meant) state that the Crown had not the power to suspend the writs in a way that had been avowed by some. The ATTORNEY GENERAL observed, that there had been a Resolution of the house on the subject in the time of James I. as he had previously observed; but a Resolution of the House was not law. Mr. C. W. WYNN said, the resolution of the house did not make law, it declared what was the law ; and it declared that the Crown had not the power of suspending the writs. The writs were continued to he sent ; and on those writs John Hampden had sat in that house.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. C. WOOD (we believe) said, the Attorney-General, as be understood, had borne testimony to the existence of the powers of the Crown. Mr M. FITZGERALD said, it was most important tht, question should be set at rest. (Hear.) It was one that involved the IndeK ence of that house. If the crown had the power, it was power of the moat formidable character, and especially when it was remembered with what a bill they were menaced. Petition ordered to be printed. Lord PALMERSTON then presented &petition from the Bachelors of Arts of Cambridge University, in favour of the ministerial plan of reform. Sir C. WETHERELL said, as the question regarding the issuing of writs, whether the crown had the power to suspend them, had been mooted, it ought to be set at rest. (Hear.) The Attorney. General ought distinctly to state whether that which might have been practised in some barbarous periods of the Constitution was the law of the land. Was it the law of the country ? Could the King suspend the issuing of any writ? (Hear.) Mr. SADLER also urged the importance of the question. If the King had such power, it placed in jeopardy all the privileges they had gained by their glorious revolution. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL remained silent. Sir R. VYVYAN urged the importance of a clear understanding on this subject. The reason why Cornwall had so many Members was, that at a particular period the King had issued writs for the re turning of Members for places that had not before returned 3lembers, in order to carry particular measures. As to the threat of dissolution, which it was considered had been held out, he could not consider that the Government would resort to so inconvenient a measure—except to enable thc Ministers to retain their seats. And if they resorted to n dissolution, what had they to expect ? Could they expect the boroughs to send Members who would vote for their own destruction ? Petition ordered to be printed. Lord L. GOWER presented t' petition from Sir A. B. King, the King's stationer, Dublin, complaining that the arrangement entered into with him on the suppression of his patent was not complied with. He wished the arrangement of the late ministers might be carried into effect. _ Mr. G. DAWSON said the petitioner was a most deserving gentleman, and trusted that the petition when printed would be care fully read. ADJOURNMENT OP THE ROUSE. Lord ALTHORP moved that the house, at its rising, do adjourn till April 12.—Agreed to. SPANISH AMMER, AT GIBRALTAR. Mr. G. PRICE on the question that the House go into a Committee of Supply on the ordnance estimates, begged to ask two questions which he considered deeply to involve the character and honour of this country. The first was, whether our government had taken any steps to remove certain Spanish refugees from Gibraltar; and secondly, whether there would be any objection to produce the correspondence that might have taken place between the Governor of Gibraltar and the Spanish autho rities on the subject of those refugees ? He contended, at great length, that the retention of those refugees, who were known to be restless and unprincipled persons, desiring to carry rebellion into Spain, was a gross violation of the laws of nations, and a breach of every principle that ought to be observed towards Spain. Lord PALMERSTON replied, that the relations of amity be tween this country and Spain remain undisturbed ; that the ministers sought to maintain such friendship as tending to the benefit of both countries; and that they should feel they deserved the severest censure if they did any thing, by encouraging of conniving at those attempts to which the honourable member alluded, that was calculated to disturb such friendship. He rejoiced that no cause for any such censure had yet arisen. As to the individuals about whom inquiry was made, the government had learnt with the greatest regret, that some refugees— thirty-four in number—who had received shelter in Gibraltar, had, in February last, made an attack on the Spanish lines. No part of that proceeding was connived at by the governor. Ten days pre viously to this attack the governor had prevented a similar attack on certain particulars coming to his knowledge. About three weeks before that period, the governor, of his own accord, without any special instructtons front England, had communicated to the Spa nish authorities, that if they would point out any Spaniards, having refuge in Gibraltar whom they suspected of availing themselves of such protection for the purpose of carrying on designs against Spain, those persons should no longer be allowed to remain at Gibraltar. However, the attack was made. The Spanish refugees were repulsed, and they retreated into Gibtaltar. They were immediately disarmed by the go vernor, confined, and afterwards compelled to leave the garrison : and even those who were suspected of having aided their plans were com pelled to quit the garrison. The governor had only the power of giving temporary asylum ; no person could become a permanent resident at Gibraltar without the permission of the secretary for the colonies • and it was determined to enforce that regulation in consequence of the at tempts that had resulted frem the refuge offered at Gibraltar, so that Spain might have no cause to complain of the conduct of England. He trusted this explanation would be satisfactory. Effectual measures were taken to prevent Gibraltar from being made the place were plans for such attacks could be formed. AVAST' or IRELAND. Lord ALTHORP, at the request of Mr. Dawson and others, post poned the Ordnance Estimates, and brought forward, in Committee, the popueition to issue Exchequer Bills tor the Relief of the distressed R;~:nr i/ ~ " " 11 11!F . : "1 1 / 4 . IP%, -3! pasts of Ireland. His lordship observed, that considering the fertility of the country it was in a most extraordinary state. With all its ad. vantages, capital would not flow to it, and the consequence was, to re- Pere the difficulties that hence arose, it was found necessary for the Government to interfere to supply that capital which private enter prise would not supply. The noble lord then entered into a de. tail of the plan is accordance with which the proposed relief was to be extended. The aids would be afforded without any refe rence to political feelings. A Commission would be appointed by the Treasury at home, not by the Lord Lieutenant ; the Com missioners selected from those engaged in the Inland Navigation sys tem, dtc.—they were to make report to the Treasury only, and not to sanction any new work by means of loans, without the sanction of the Treasury. The Noble Lord went on to say, that the main object of the proposition was to obtain a loan of money for the im provement of Ireland ; not, however, to be obtained on the principle of former loans; the interest to be paid regularly, and the principal by instalments ; and the persons borrowing to be reckoned Crown Idebtors ; security to be given on the county rates, with a col lateral security on real property. He should merely observe, in addition, that he anticipated no material objection to the propo sition, inasmuch as all former loans had been punctually paid. As the month of May might arrive before the measure be now had the honour of submitting to the house could be finally agreed to, he pro. posed, in the meantime, that a smaller grant be allowed. Considering, therefore, the present distress of Ireland, and the long time that must elapse before any remedy could be applied, he proposed that the sum of 50,0001. be placed at the disposal of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland ; but under the same restriction as the Commissioners, viz. that the Lord Lieutenant be not at liberty to undertake arty new works without first consulting with and receiving the consent of the Lords of the Treasury. On the question being put, Mr. WYSE was of opinion that most beneficial results would be obtained by reclaiming the waste lands of Ireland. According to the statistical report of Mr. Nimmo, there were 5,000,000 of acres of bog land in that country which might all be reclaimed at the rate of one guinea per acre ; thereby affording a permanent relief to the popula tion. He should rather prefer that the present security should be found by an assessment on the country at large, and made to bear more heavy on absentees than on others. He should support the proposition of the Noble Lord most cordially. Mr. SADLER considered relief of the present kind to be altogether inadequate to the wants of Ireland; it was only a loan of about three half.pence a head for the whole population : (a laugh.) No permanent good would result from loans, which had been repeatedly tried without effect already ; the only cure was to be found in the adoption of an ef fective system of poor-laws. He did not, however, oppose the proposi. tion before the house, but he should recommend a more efficient course to be adopted by his Majesty's ministers with respect to Ireland. Colonel TYRELL did not oppose the measure, but trusted that the poor of this country would not be forgotten. Mr. O'BRIEN contended that Ireland, sooner or later, must have recourse to a modified system of poor-laws. Ireland had within itself sufficient means to support all Its population. Sir ROBERT WILSON expressed similar sentiments; as did Mr. J. GRATTAN. Mr. G. DAWSON objected to the proposition ; it was a stigma upon the industry of the country it meant to relieve. He implored His Majesty's Ministers to look upon the present measure as merely preliminary to the introduction of a modified system of poor-laws into Ireland. Dlr. STANLEY said that there were various measures for the relief of Ireland before the house, and discussions of them had only been kept back by the other important business before the house, which, as every hon. gentleman was aware, had engrossed the attention of the house al most to the exclusion of every thing else. lion. members objected to the loan of 50,0001. as inadequate; it ought to be recollected that Ministers did not propose it as a panacea for the ills of Ireland; it only formed port of a larger sum to be applied in aiding the productive interest of Ireland. The money was advanced primarily as a means of opening channels to productive industry, by which the revenue of the country would be increased, and it was also an advantage that it would, in a great degree, relieve the existing distress of that part of the kingdom in which the money was to be expended. Mr. GOULBURN watt afraid Government would find itself much disappointed if it supposed that a loan of 50,0001. would relieve the distress of Ireland. The right hon. gentleman would find that the most distressed part of the country had no security to give, and that it was only to the wealthy part, where no distress existed, that the loan would be made on good security. Mr. M. FITZGERALD fully concurred In the grant as far as It went, but thought a compulsory assessment on the land might be re sorted to for the repayment of the money. Sir. COURTENAY hoped the noble lord (Lord Althorp) would appoint an early day for the discussion of poor laws for Ireland, as without resorting to some such system. the misery of Ireland could not be removed. He should make no objection to the motion, but feared it would not be productive of any important benefit. Colonel TRENCH thought the money should be applied in the first instance to works on the account of Government, without looking to repayment. Mr. ATTWOOD would not enter into the question whether the money could be repaid or not, but thought the proposed relief was wholly inadequate to the relief of the distress that raged in Ireland. The noble lord at the head of the government said, the first object of government would be to inquire into the distress of the country, to afford relief, and the only measures they bad proposed were a system of emigration, and a loan of 50,0001. Mr. D. BROWN was doubtful whether poor laws were applicable to Ireland. In the district where distress now raged, he was confident there were more inhabitants than there were pounds in the rent. He knew one of the estates, of 18,0001. a year, and there were 20,000 per sons living on it. He was afraid no security could be given for money in the place which was most distressed ; but thought it absolutely ne cessary that some gratuitous advance should be made, to preserve the poor from perishing. Mr. LEADER hailed with gratitude the proposal of the noble lord, which would be attended with great immediate benefit, and without any loss to the government. He thought 50,0001. should be advanced for the relief of those districts where no security could be given, and that money should be advanced on loan to those parts of the country that could produce sufficient security. The evils of Ireland arose out of a desolating system of absenteeism, which forbad hope, and left nothing but the most frightful state of anarchy. He had that day received a letter from an able man in Ireland, addressed to the Lord Lieutenant, front which he would read one The honourable gentleman read a passage, in which the writer sai d, The war of poverty against property had commenced, and that if the distress of the people was not speedily relieved, Ireland would become uninhabitable." He hailed the present measure as one of temporarrrelicf ; but it had nothing belong ing to it of a permanent character. Sir J. BOURKE was grateful to government for the proposed grant, which he was confident would only be efficacious if expended under the direction of government. He thought public works, with a compulsory act to compel the repayment, was the best system of poor laws for Ire land. The resolution was agreed to. 1 The house resumed, and the Report was ordered to be received on the I2th of April. The civil list bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com mitted on the 12th of April. Lord ALT lIOR P moved for a return of the salaries and allowances heretofore paid out of the civil liar, and not provided for in the present civil list. Ordered. Sir. SPRING RICE moved for a writ f..r the election of a Burgess for Slalton, in the room of Sir James Scarlett, who has accepted the Chil•ern Hundreds. Mr. WILES moved for a return of the number of houses in the several districts round the City of London, to which it is proposed by the 1. eform bill to give representatives, rated at 101. and upwards. Several petitions were presented in favour of reform. The house adjourned at Three o'Clock. PANORAMA OF THE BRIT SH EMPIRE. BATH JOURNAL, MARCII 28. ARBIVAI.S.--Lord Hood, Hon. G. P. Payne, Sir Wm. Burdett, Bishop of Dromore, Col. Baines Cel. Baker, Major and Mrs. Homer, Major Waters. Captains--England, Wynne, Hillier, R.N. Campbell, Collingwood • Madame Vespetmann, Dr. Garlike. Rev. Messrs—A. Baillie, Dud ley, Edwards, Macao Battu PARILit is supposed that this magnificent promenade was thronged at one period on Sunday. by an assemblage of eight thousand persons. Davos; Assurs.—David Yeoman, was tried for maliciously cutting and stabbing Ann Harley, at Dodbrooke. The prosecutrix, a young woman, about twenty-five years of age, stated that the prisoner was a wheelwright, and had, for some time previous to his committing this offence, been lodging in her father's house. She had known him for about two years, and for the greater part of that time he was paying his addresses to her. She had refused him decidedly and repeatedly on the subject of marriage. On the evening of the 12th of Fe bruary last, he called upon her, about five o'clock, at her aunt's, and asked her to take a walk with him as he had something to communicate to her. She at first refusal to accent. pany him, but she afterwards consented, and they walked down a neighbouring lane. Whilst going along the lane, he enquired of her if she was fixed in he resolution never to accept him as her husband. She replied that such was her fixed determination. He then said, as he could not live without her, he should kill both himself and her, and he then drew out a knife, with which he stabbed her in four different places, and after be had so stabbed her he attempted to kill himself, but she snatched the knife from out of his hand, and threw it over the hedge. She then asked him to accompany her back to her aunt's, as she was faint, which be did. She was then stripped and put to bed. and a surgeon was sent for, who dressed her wounds. Other witnesses were examined in support of the charge. Mr. Elliott, a surgeon, stated the nature of wounds. inflicted on prosecutrix. This witness, on his cross-examination, said that be heard that disappointment in love pry ~. ' ' produced madness in some instances. Several witnesses gave the pri soner a good character. Mr. Justice Taunton summed up the case. A. the jury were about to retire, a scene took place in Court, which baffles all description. One loud and general shriek proceeded from th e audience, particularly from the female part, which chiefly com posed the audience, several of whom were fainting, and most of them shedding team It was then, amidst the general confusion, ennoun a ed ,„ the Court that the prisoner had attempted to cut his throat. He h ad, it seems, concealed a knife about his person, and taking advantag e o f the withdrawing of the Jury, which created some little noise and con. fusion, he inflicted a wound upon the left side of his throat, in the di. section of the carotid artery. He fell on the floor, and the knife tea l immediately taken from him, and it was ascertained that the wound was only a slight one. He was then removed from the Court to the jail infirmary.—The Jury found him Guilty. A few days since, a labourer, in removing the thatch from an old building, in the neighbourhood of this city, found deposited in an old leather bag, near 400 pieces of silver, struck during the reigns of Phillip and Mary, Elizabeth, and James 1. many of which arc in high preservation. Tuesday night, the farm house at Rugby, in the parish of Tawstock, occupied by Mr. Slooman, his wife and only daughter, was blown down with a tremendous crash, burying the inhabitants beneath its ruins. The mother and daughter, we lament to say, perished, by the: accident, but Mr. Slooman escaped with life, though severely hurt. A reform meeting was held at Bodmin on Wednesday. Letters stating causes of absence from the county members had been received by the sheriff, and was read to the meeting. Considerable expressions of dissatisfaction were evinced at the moderate reform sentiments of Sir ' R. Vyvyan • but one from E. W. W. Pendarves, Esq. was much a p. plauded. it expressed his unalterable attachment to the cause of re. -ns. An address to the King, and petitions to the legislature, were unanimously agreed to. As Mr. J. Newton, of Bristol, was driving in a four-wheel chaise, from Stapleton, on Monday, the horse took fright, when Mr. Newton was thrown out, and so injured in the fall, that he died on Tuesday. Upwards of two hundred and fifty persons sailed in the fine barque Airthry Castle, on Thursday last, for Quebec. from this port. The weighing machine erected on the Somersetshire Coal Canal at Mitford, having been surveyed last week, by several gentlemen connected with the coal trade, and some eminent engineers and boat-builders, all present were satisfied that the weighing the boats was effected with great facility, and without the least injury to the boats. The Bath Turnpike Tolls were let on Saturday for one year, to com mence on the Ist of April next, for 11,0101. being an advance of 8991. on the last year's produce. Four silver dishes, weighing 220 ounces, have been presented by the parishioners of Shepton Mallet, to the Rev. P. Wilson ' as a memorial of their attachment, on his resignation of the curacy of that place, and accepting the living of lichester. Saturday evening last, a considerable number, both of infants and those of riper years, were baptized at the parish church of Frome. pr:- paratory to their embarkations for Canada, pursuant to a plan wittelt was adopted at a late vestry meeting ; and on Sunday evening at Christ's Church (the new church), the Rev. J. Alger preached an appropriate sermon on the occasion, from Phil. iv. 8, " Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest," &c. to a numerous and attentive auditory ; in which the reverend gentleman. with much feel ing, addressed about seventy of the individuals who are thus about so soon to leave their native land for a distant country. Three waggons and two carts passed through Frome on Monday, with poor persons and their families who had become chargeable to the parish of Horning._ ham and parishes adjoining, on their way to Bristol, whence they are to embark as emigrants for Canada. A most daring robbery was committed at the Westbury Branch Bank at Frome on Monday se'nnight. About 7001. in cash and bills, besides a quantity of plate, were abstracted. I LIIINSTIL—A fire broke out in this town on Friday night, when five cottages, the property of Mrs. Boyce, and Mr. Larcombe, were burnt to the ground. Mrs. Hayman, of Honiton, (says a correspondent,) has given to her tenants in the neighbourhood of Bridgwater whose 7 years' leases are expired, notice that they must pay advanced rents to continue, and the tenants have given an exchange notice to the lady saying," that they shall quit unless the rents be lowered." Four brothers, labourers, who reside in the neighbourhood of Rock House, near Taunton, have, within the last month, come into possession of property to the amount f forty thousand pounds ! This unexpected windfall was bequeathed to them by a relative, who, some years since, went to London in the capacity of porter to an oil warehouse. BATH, SATURDAY, MARCH 26.—Wheat, per quarter, 50. to 78s ; Flour, 63. to 683 ; Seconds ditto, 57s to 58s ; Beans, per quarter, 40s to 54s ; Barley, per quarter, 30s to 46s ; Peas, per quarter, 416 to 70s ; Oats, per quarter, 26s to 30s.—The 41h. loaf, Wheaten, 101; Standard Wheaton, 9d.—Beef, pet lb. 6d to 7d ; Mutton. 6d to 8d ; Veal, 7.1 to 9d ; Lamb, 7d to 8d ; Pork, Gd to 7d.—Chickens, per couple, 3s to 3s 4d ; Fowls, 3s 61 to 4s ; Ducks, 3s 9d to 4s 4d ; Geese, each, 4s 6d to 51 6d ; Turkeys, 7s to 9s ; Butter, per lb. Isd to 16d ; Cheese, per lb. 6d to lid ; Eggs, per dozen, 14d to 20d; Po tatoes, per peck, lid. MARRIED.—G. Moore, Esq. surgeon, of Moreton-in-the-Marsh, to Eliza, fourth daughter of J. New, Esq. of Northway, near Tewkes bury.—Thos. Nott, Rog. of Southampton, to Miss Susan Harding of Combmarin.—John Tylden, Esq. of the Royal Artilley, to Catherine eldest daughter of the late Col. Williams.—Mr. Fred. Jas. Badham, , of Bristol, to Ann Mauduit, only daughter of the late L. Garvey, Esq. DIED.-73, Mr. Thomas Pope, late of the Royal Mint.-24, the Hon. Miss Maria Noel, relict of the late Dean of Salisbury.—At the Vicarage, Bitton, 28, Ann, wife of the Rev. H. T. Ellicombe.—Wm. Ashman, Esq. of Egford House, near Frome.—At Bitton, Mr. George ' Swayne.—Edmund Carr, Esq. aged 45.—At Tewkesbury, Thomas Cooper, Esq.—The Rev. Mr. Prowse, of Bromham, near Devizes.— ' The Rev. Mr. Noyes, Dissenting Minister of Pewsey.—Mr. Perkins, ' clothier, of Trowbridge. NORTHAMPTON FREE PRESS, MA RCII 29. The sport at our races on Thursday was excellent; the match be tween Mr. Whitworth's Donna Clara and Mr. Cox's Haidee was admirable— Haidce winning by only a neck ; but it is generally thought had Donna Clara been pushed earlier in the race she would have won it. Captain Bouverie was extremely fortunate in tiding four of the winning horses. A meeting of the electors of Northampton was held yesterday (Mon. day), to consider of the parliamentary conduct of two gentlemen, as the representatives of the town; when a resolution ...as unanimously passed of approbation of the conduct of Sir George Robinson, and a vote of censure was as unanimously passed upon the parliamentary conduct of Sir R. H. Gunning, Bart. for the votes he gave upon the only two questions of importance that have been agitated since his return to per. hament ' viz.—against the motion of Sir H. Parnell upon the civil list, and the all-important question of reform. We think Sir R. Gushing may bid his friends good-bye, as the representative of Northampton, when the next election arrives. Up to a late hour on Saturday evening, only 45 names were sub scribed to the county anti-reform petition lying at the Eagle, Cambridge, including that of one of our devih,vrhom we sent to reconnoitre,and being detected in the fact, was obliged to sign —to avoid a perhaps more dis agreeablealternative. Our devil was the forty.fourth, and the deputy town clerk completed the forty.fifth ! Six of the unfortunate men who were convicted at our assizes of ma chine breaking—viz. John Simon Clark and Thomas Stapleton, for 14 ears; William Colley, William Hughes, William Homer, and Wm. Page Wells, for seven years, were remelted yesterday ae'nnight, in the custody of the governor of the gaol, to Gosport, to be put on hoard the Yak Hulk for their several destinations. ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL.—At a meeting of the inhabitants convened at the Town Hall, Huntingdon, on the 15th inert. by direction of the relators in the cause of St. John's Hospital, Mr. Wells gave a detailed and satisfactory explanation of the progress of the suit ; and of his great exertions in the cause. It appears a great many inmealiments had been thrown in his way ; most of which he fortunately overcame. — Nineteen years, he observed, had elapsed since the commencement. BIDPORDSHIRE —The praiseworthy efforts of' Mr. Montagu Bur. goyne to collect a fund for the location of poor labourers in small allot ments of land, through the medium of a morning concert, were abun dantly rewarded by a very fashionable and full attendance. The coo cert being finished, Mr. Burgoyne went into the orchestra, and in an animated and pathetic speech, thanked the performers fur their hence°• lent and gratuitous assistance, and explained to them what he had in view. He told them that the object he had Ras to enable the poor la bourer to live in comfort and content at home, by giving him a small allotment of land, which he might cultivate and call his °en. and by his own industry maintain his family, instead of being driven by distress to foreign climes, where his happiness and even his hie would he uncertain. He declared himself an enemy to emigration until the means of provision at home were exhausted ; and he could not think this to be the case at present, when fifteen millions of acres were uncultivated, twelve thousand of which were almost contiguous to the metropolis. BenroaD.—A public meeting took place at the Shire hall, on Thursday se'nnight, to consider the propriety of presenting an address to his Majesty, expressing their approbation of the plan of Reform, in troduced into the House of Commons by Lord J. Russell ; and also to petition both Houses of Parliament, that the same may be carried. BANBURY, MARCH, 24.—Wheat ' 9s to 10 1 ; B ea n s , 4s to 6s 6 1 per bushel ; Barley, 28s to 42s ; Oats, 244 to 32s per quarter ; Flour, 55s to (15. per sack ; Bread, ls &I per half peck. NYWGATE AND LEADENHALL—THIS DAY. By the Carease.—Per stone of 81t,s. Beef 2s 10d 3s ed Ss 1041 I Mutton Ss 6d 4s 01 4s 44 Veal Ss 84 4s 81 Si 44 Pork 3s 64 4s 81 Ss vt l Lamb.... 7s Od ... 7s 4d. FARRINCIDON AIARKET—THIS DAY. Beer—Finest Roasting, 8d per lb. Boiling. sed to 6d. Mull - Leg, Bd. Shoulder, Td. Vgab—Leg. fled. DUO, iOl. Peas, 7d to 9d. In s erVAl t it A 0 IrT i• E'6 1 Gk 1"0- MDR ROW . Morning 4H. iOl4 I Afternoon 41t 4B* LONDON: Ponied Published iii JOHN MAYNE, et the JTAI Orrwit, No. 1, Pickett-place, Temple Bar. Mount - t ie s y x . 'A t • v , 1 41 11 . F. I • • • •• for Vie be 1 , 1 ." • asgow, Companv'a charter. The Earl of GLASGOW prt