Star. — London, England, 1831-04-23 00:00:00

~i I~ t . ' I t I 1 1 1 14, ' 13/FERIA I. P.ll tI.IA.NIFNT. HOUSE 011 LORDS. APRIL 22. PROROGATION AND DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT. This T Jay. contrary to general expectation, his Majesty proceeded in c.cie in the House of Lords , for the purpose of dissolving Parliament The proceedings in the House, previous to the King's arrival, were tr most extraordinary character. The Lords opposed to the proroga tion and the NI inistets, cppeared determined to carry spirit to an extent hich Set all order at deaIUKT. The door. were opened won after two o'clock, and being admitted er:ow the hat we found the Duke of Richmond, the Earl of Errol, the Nlsrquis of Clanricarde, and moat of the supporters of the Ministry in their Parliamentary robes. Another party of Peers, known to be Anti.' Reformers, took their seats en moue, without robes, at the lower end of the house close to the bar. Lord Wharncliffe, tl.c Marquis of Lo dm elary the Earl of Mansfield, and other Peers, who arc eon , :dercd Ultra Tories, took their scats on the opposition benches. Seve n.' Peeresses were also in the body of the house. It was also reported that her Majesty was present intro,. but we mention this feet as a re port in the house. IV e did not see the Queen. A strong sensation operated among the Anti-Reformers. They were evidently in cheek by the sudden determination of his Majesty to appear in person; but it seems a plan had been arranged to afford the Noble Lofd Wharnclitre art opportunity of submitting the motion of which he gcvc notice last night. Prayers were read by the Bishop of Peterborough. The Duke of GORDON then presented a petition from certain inha bitants of Fore.. in Scotland, against reform. Another Noble Lord presented a petition to the same effect, from trlkiik. The LORD CHANCELLOR, at half-past two o'clock, left the wool sack to attend his Majesty on his entrance. The moment the noble and learned lord withdrew, several lords called upon the Earl of Shaftesbury (the chairman of the committee) to take the Lord Chancellor's seat. The noble earl accordingly took his seat on the woolsack. Lord WHA RNCLI FFL then rose and said he believed there was no doubt on the mind of any noble lord as to the object of their meet ing that day. The Duke of RICHMOND rose to order, and reminded the house that their standing order required that noble lords should sit in their places. The noble lord who addressed the house was rot in his place. The place of the noble lord was on the cross bench—(Laughter.) A PEER then denied that the rabic duke had given a correct state ment of the meaning of the standing order. The Duke of RICH . O:: D.-1f that is not the ease the noble lord will more for the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the. fact. A PEER then reworked thr.t the noble duke was not aware that the cross benches to which the order a.pplied had been removed. Other ob servations were mada which we could not hear, in consequence of which the Duke of Richmond complained of offensive language. The :Ilarquis of LONDONDERRY rose to tell the noble duke that the noble baron had not used offensive language. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE complained that the noble mar. quis was out of order. [ Much confusion prevailed, with repeated exclamations of Lord NV harncl ffe.] The Marquis of LONDONDRRRY called on the noble duke to st tie what arensive language had been used. If the noble duke in untied to be the hero of the coup d'etat, other peers would feel them selves called upon to express their sense of the extraordinary meeting of that morning. The attempt of the noble duke to stop the privilege of a peer by inquiring whether he WU in his place or not, was not to be endured. Seven] Peers then exclaimed,—Order of the day I order of the day ! in which the Marquis of Londonderry 'joined in the loudest tone. Others called fur ender, and the whole was a scene of disorder. Lord WHARNCLIFFIX then rose, and having obtained attention, said.-- My Lords, 11. night gave notice of a motion which I hold in my hand. I mean to state what that motion is, and I now move the order of the day. The Noble Baron then repeated the terms of his notice for an Address to his Majesty, beseeching that Parliament might not be dissolved, and read the intended Address : " We, your Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the House of Lords, think it our duty to state, that alarming reports of dissolution of Par liament have gone forth, and firmly confiding in your Majesty, we de sire to represent to your Majesty, that it appears to us that the proroga tion of Parliament at this time is likely to be attended with danger to the Crown and its dignity, by preventing the calm comeideration of mat ters important to the welfare of the people and the safety of the State, and which require the immediate attention of Parliament." At the conclusion of the above nddrera, the LOll D CHA NCKLLOR again entered the house, and took his rest on the woolsack. The noble and learned lord then said, he had heard that an address had been read, calling on his Majesty not to dissolve Parliament. It appeared to lain that the Crown ought to proceed to the exercise of the Royal preroga tive in dissolving Parliament, when the House of Commons had taken the unprecedented step of refusing supplies. Several lords then exclaimed, both IVharncliffe, Lord Wharncliffe, go on ! go on ! Others exclaimed. the King ! the King ! his Majesty is in the house. The Marquis of Londonderry was most vehement and adverse in gesture towards the Duke of Richmond. The Earl of AIANSFIELD said this was a scene more distressing than any he had ever witnessed in his life, and he trusted he never would see the like again. He had heard with astonishment that it was incumbent on the King to dissolve Parliament, when the House of Commons had taken the extreme and unprecedented *tee of refusing supplies. lie desired to use ro intemperate expression; but as far as God had given him, perhaps, an imperfect share of und erstanding, he felt that the King and the country were now to be placed in a most awful predicament, such as they never had becu in before. II would no' accuse his Majesty's Abetment with any thing like a wunt of chstity, but he did accuse them of weakness, and of conspiring together against the safety of the State, and of making the Sovereign the instrument of his own destruction. (Hear, hear, and great coefuelon.)— Upon the question of reform he had not stated hie opinions, be cause the bill had not been before that house, and because he would -not entrust himself upon it, as he thought the probability was that the bill never would conic there—that it must, as it had done, close the lest of those inglorious aberrations—those theories—untenable 4h:cal:diens of ministers who heel been merely distinguished for incapacity, never observed before.—(Cheers from one part of the houee.)—This was one of the measures suggested by the factions of a disturbed country. It was the result of the counsels of those who had advised the king to adopt a plan of reform such as they themselves had never before thought of, such as they had never hoped to carry, and such as when they presented it to Parliament, presented it merely to show that they redeemed their pledge, applying, at the same time, with mendicant intimidity to their antagonists to suggest a better plan.lllt war not a dissolution of Parliament, but it was wi at they themeches candidly confessed they wished to have, namely, a reformed house of parliament, from which alone they could expect what they desired to have ; and their desire in the first instance was to have a reduction of taxes, which they knew could not take place wituout a previous reduc tion of the national debt ; next the reduction of' slnecures, next the reduc tion of salaries, and next the appropriation of that species of property, which has hitherto been called church property, to an entirely different pulsate. First of all, too, they wanted that every householder in the kingdom, paying scot and lot, should have a vote, and that that vote should be by ballot, which they in their reformed view consi. dered right. Now, he was ready as a Peer, to give his advice to the King, and if he were complained of for having interested views, he could not complain, for much more worthy persons than himself had been simiLrly represented. He had thought it his duty to state to his Majesty, and his Majesty had been most graciously pleased to hear him, that if he should be unfortunately advised to assist the pro. Kress of the measure of Reform that had been introduced into the House of Commons, by giving his assent to it if it passed the Houses of Parliament—should he give it his assent, even in a con siderably amended shape, though he could not predict either the man lier er the gradations of the attack, yet that he (Lord Mansfield) was certain an attack would immediately afterwards be made upon the credit of the country—upon the national debt—upon the privilege and upon the existence of that house—and, at last, upon the privileges of the Crown itself—those ptivileges which the Crown did not hold for its own benefit, but for the happiness and interests of the people, with which it was happily and intimately connected. He had a pleasure in repeating this at a time when popular clamour was at its height; and if, in his warmth, lie had expressed any thing that was personally offensive to any Individual—(Here the cries of the King. the King. the King, were heard, and a loud voice sounding out, " Ged save the King"— The clamour and confusion continued up to the moment when the doors were thrown open on the right of the throne, through which the King entered. His Majesty mounted the throne with a fi rm step, seated himself, aid immediately bowed to those on the right and left, saying he begged their Lordship to be seated. The Crown worn by his Majesty was magnificent, but it appeared too large. It pressed too much over his forehead, and occasioned an appearance of fatigue. His Majesty wore his ermine robes, and formed one of the most splendid pictures when seated on the throne, we ever beheld. The Lord Chancelior wore scarlet robes, and the great officers of state formed, in their splendid costume, a brilliant train of royal at. umlauts. The Commons having been summoned to the Bar, the doors were thrown open, and the Speaker entered, followed by a numerous body of Members. The rush was tremendous, and several Members uttered loud expressions of pain during the immense pressure. The SPEAKER, before he came to the Bar, turned round, and called order ! The Spzazka hating approached the bar, bowed to the King, and said, his Majesty's faithful Commons presented themselves in obe dience to his MAjesty's commands. In their late proceedings in Parliament they had willingly shown their loyalty and attach ment to his Majesty's Person and Government, by a desire to honour and dignity of the Crown, and provide for if the public service. Impressed with the deepest sense Commons had then to present for his Majesty's Royal Assent, a bill to provide support for the officers and expenscs of bis Majesty's Household. The SNEAKSa having handed in the Civil List MU, the Royal As sent given to the same, and several private bills. His Majesty then delivered the speech,which will be found elsewhere- The King left the House immediately amidst the di►charge of ar tillery. Earl Grey bore the sword of state, and the Lord Chancellor stood M the Ring's right hand holding the purge. A great number of other noblemen attended, and surrounded his Majesty while on the throne. All parties them immediately left the house, and it was utterly ha possible even to attempt to describe the countenances of the anti reformers. _ _ HOUSE OF COMMONS, APRIL 2'2. The SPEAKER, in full State robes, entered the House this afternoon shortly after two o'clock, at which time there must have been between four and five hundred Members present. The body of the House was, in fact, crammed, and there were a great many Itleathers in the side galleries. The Speaker took the Chair precisely at twenty minutes peat two o'clock, and called on Mr. Hodges. Air. HOUOES.—Sir, I have to present a petition from the county of Kent in favour of Reform.—(Haar.) Sir It. VYVYAN rose. He desired to offer a few words before this petition was presented. Seeing the speaker in his robes, be doubted not that they were about to be dissolved. The ministers would not even stop for their estimates; they would, no doubt, act on their own re sponsibility, and rely on the next Parliament for Indemnity; but he would have them not to be too sure of that indemnity.—(Cheers.)— The ministers were about to incur an awful responsibility ; for there could be no doubt that dissolution was resolved upon. However, no doubt they had reflected well on the course they were pursuing. To the country the consequences might be awful; Indeed lie consider ed it to be in vain to hide from themselves that they were on the eve of a revolution.--f Loud cheers.)—He admitted it to be the undoubted right of the Sovereign to prologue or to dissolve the parliament ; but previ. otialy to that being done, he was glad that a few moments were offered to him to make some remarks to the house. He would ask the minis ters how they had come into power. The ground had been frequently stated and misstated. They had not turned out the late ministers. It was not any demand for a reform bill that turned out the lute ministers. It was not the Duke of Wellington's declaration against Reform that turned them out. (Cheering, and loud cries of oh! oh ! answered by cheering.) The distresses and difficultiea of the country, and the re fusal to institute inquiries into them, had caused the change. (Hear, hear, and oh, oh,) What had the present mini dune ? No thing; they had proved themselves to be incapable and incompetent. (Cheering.) What they had brought forward one day they had not aban doned on the next. (Cheering.) Then there was the Bill of Reform. It was brought forward, but it was not to be altered: and yet • few days afterwards the Ministers brought it forward in a very mate rially altered shape—still, however, saying that it should undergo no alteration. (Hear, hear, hear.) The house had voted that their number should not be reduced; and the moment that was done they were not only threatened with a dissolution, but were actually shout to be dissolved, and sent before the country, charged and stigmatised as Antl.Reformens. (Loud cheering.) However, the Ministers had determined to advise his Majesty to dissolve Patliament. (Heer.)— They appear to have no reason to assign for such a cause, but accident. Ministers came into office, saying they would not rule by patronage— (hear)--and yet they have dismissed persons from the household, and unseated members for Whig boroughs, in consequence of the course they had conscientiously pursued against the Reform Bill. (Immense cheering.) An honourable and learned Civilian said last night, that I had attempted to raise the cry of " No Popery ;" again—that I had tried to raise religious agitation. I boldly avow, that that is my feel ing and my object. (Loud ales and shouts of " hear, hear.") For it cannot be denied that we were to lose the balance of power between the English and Irish Members. (Hear, hear.) Ido not blame the Roman Catholic priests for the part they have taken in returning members to this house. I only censure those measures which gave them the power. We were told the other night that Mr. O'Connell would be brought up for judgment. This must be merely rumour. I will ask, dare the administration of this country coutend against the influence of the hon. member for Waterford, if they have not made a compact with him ? (Cheers.) The repeal of the Union roust soon take place—or either Earl Grey or the bon. member fur Waterford must give tip the contest. And can it be supposed that the lion, member f.:r Waterford will give up the fight, when he is nearly, I was going to say the sole Governor of Ireland ? (Hear.) If that hun. member were now in his place, I would most humbly pray him not to exert his great influence in the present agitated state of Ireland. (Cheers and laughter.) I would pray him to be more merciful in these days of agitation ; and I would pray him, moreover, to have mercy on the present Whig Administra. tion.—(Tremendous shouting, and cries of llear ! from all quarters.) I remember what a learned civilian said lest night, and it puts me in mind of a little circumstance that occurred since I have been Member for Cornwall. It so occurred that I bad to present a pctitiou from three persons who were confined in gaol by a Noble Marquis for some ten or twenty pounds rent. This was in consequence of their voting contrary to the Noble Marquis. He would not mention names, but it was a Whig Lord who now voted for Reform. For two centuries the con stitution of Parliament had remained the mine as it was now. A change, however, was about to take place, and, strange to say, the funds were rising. (Hear, hear.) Little do the fundholdere know of the effects of a reformed Parliament. (Tremendous shouts of Hear, hear.) They ought to know that no new Government had much regard for the debts of an old one. (Hear.) Let the freeholders not deceive themselves. Let them not lay the flattering unction to their souls, that their property was safe, or that the funds would not be touched. (Hear.) Why, the very men now in power—those who have advised the King to dissolve, in order to keep their places, proposed to tux the funds. (Loud cries of Question.) The question before the house is, whether we are to be dis solved or not./ (Cries of No, no, that is no longer a question, and laughter.) Well. then, the question is, are we to be dissolved because we have voted the numbers of the English members should not be re duced ? Sir FRANCIS BURDETT here rose w order. He submitted that there was no such question befote the House. An Don. Alembetshad presented a petition in favour of Reform—a measure which bad his perfect concurrence, and—.(Loud cries of order from all parts of the House.) The SPEAKER said, the question before the House was on a petition praying for Reform. What the Hon. Baronet had been speaking about was a dissolution of Parliament. which, in his humble opinion, might be deemed referable to the subject tatter of the peti. tion. (Hear.) Several hon. members rose at the same moment. _ The SPEAKER.—If bon. members appeal to me, they must take the law as I lay It down. (Hear.) At this moment there were loud cries for Sir R. Vyvyan to proceed. Mr. TENNYSON rose amidst loud cries of " Order' from the op. position benches, which continued so long that it was impossible for any hon. member to proceed. At length Sir R. VY VI AN was beard to as,, that when he was called to order by the speaker, the tenor of his speech had reference to the matter of ' the petition, sa d— Mr. TENNYSON interrupted,—(He again attempted to obtain a hearing, but was totally unable from the loud cries of Order, order, I Chair, chair.) Mr. TENNYSON.—I say this conduct is disorderly.—Chair chair I Order, order.) Mr. TENNYSON.—I must be heard, there is no statement in the petition that involves a question relating to the dissolution of parliament. The cries of hear, hear ! order, o. der I chair, chair ! defied all at. tempts at description, never was such a scene witnessed in the memory of the oldest inhabitant in the walls of St. Stephen. Order having been somewhat restored, Sir R. V YVYA N said, Mr. Speaker, I am sorry to say the law you have laid down should be gainsaid. Lord JOHN RUSSELL rose. We heard him make use of the words—' the hon. baronet is mistaken,' but what followed afterwards, I from the confusion that prevailed, it wes impossible to catch. (Loud cries for Sir R. Vyvyan to go on. Sir RICHARD VYVYAN —I really forget the topic I was talking upon. (Loud laugh.) It canes, however, to this, if a Reform Bill passes this House, let Ministers incur all the responsibility on their own heads. (Hear, hear.) They had held out to the different classes of the country, the very great benefit that would accrue; but if a change took place, it may be for the benefit of the one, and the injury of the other. No great change could take place without injury to some. (Hear, hear.) The f a rm ers wou ld no l onger obtain t hose) profits which they had hitherto been in the possession of. (that.), Ministers could not appeal to the agricultural interests with any hope of success, and a stronger feeling of excitation had not prevailed since the time of the breaking up of Sir Robert Walpole'a Administradoo. The prevailing opinion now was, that the tithes were to be repealed. (Hear.) If we get a reformed parliament, it would take the Crown off the Kin g ' s head. [At this momeut the discharge of cannon announced that his Majesty had arrived at the House of Lords. As every succeeding gun was fired, the cheers and groans of Members became stronger and louder. The shouts were, indeed, most deafening.] Sir R. VYVYAN attempted to proceed, but not a single word could be heard. Sir R. PEEL rose, and approached the table. The scene at this moment was such as to beggar descriptioo. During the confusion, Lord A LTHORP rose on the opposite side of the table. The right honourable baronet exerted all his physical strength to obtain a bearing. His action and manner were most extra ordinary and animated. The confusion here rose in the house to the greatest possible height. The SPEAKER called order, and the whole of the members rose from their seats, when loud cries of " Shame, shame," resounded from all parts of the house. After this confusion had somewhat subsided, The SPEAKER, in • somewhat animated tone, said—This is the exact state in which we are now placed. I was called upon to name what hoa member was to prom*. I called upon Sit Robert Peel There were loud cries for Sir v. Burdett, lf, therefore, Sir F. Burdett is to proceed, it must be by a regular motion to the house, which if made I will put the question. But (continued the Speaker, raking his voice) if boo. members appeal to me on a point of laaw, when I decide they I must abide by my d eci sion. (Heap heir.) Sir F. BU*DITT and Lord A.LTHORP gave way, and Sir ROBERT PEEL rose. The right bon. baronet appeared to la bour under unusual excitement. As soon as lie would collect the sub stance, we understood him to say he did not complain of a dissolution, but what he complained of was, the manner in which It was done. It was setting aside the honour of that house. (Hear, hear.) He, how ever, was not like his hon. Mend, the Member for Cornwall, he was not inclined to despair. For if the people united in the great cause of sup porting their liberties and their Constitution, he had the greatest confi dence of the most happy results. (Hear, bear.) It was, however, proper that the people of England should know what was likely to take place. If a reformed Parliament was about to take place, it would give the ;government of this country into the hands of demagogues. --(Hear, bear.}—it would reduce this happy country, like other flourishing countries, to a state of despotism, and the government of 6 4 journalism," to adopt a foreign description. —(Cries of Hear.) There could be no doubt revolt was stewing itself in the West India colonies, and that spirit of revolt would soon extend itself to England. His Majesty's government to protect themselves, to save themselves from loss of power, had advised his Majesty to dissolve Parliament.— ( Hear.)—if the Crown was to be so easily Influenced—lf its independ ence was to be so far extinguished, it was an unthankful office to own a high official situation; and yet the present Ministers dissolve for the purpose of protecting their places. The present Administration, dur ing the short period they had been in power, had shewn the greatest in capacity for busineas—(bear); they had shewn the greatest imbecility of any administration in rite history of the country. They had been in office for six months, and he begged to ask what they had done ? They had tossed upon the table certain bills.—game bills for instanee—emi gration bills ; and then, after having established respecting them what they were pleased to denominate liberal principles, they left them to the fate. At this moment Sir T. TT&WHITT, the Usher of the black rod, ap peared at the bar of the house and said, 1 am commanded by his Ma jesty to command the immediate attendance of this honourable house in the House of Lords, to hear his Majesty's royal assent to several bills ; and also his hlajesty's speech for the prorogation of parliament. At twenty.five minutes to four the Speaker returned to the house, and intimated that having been summoned to attend his Majesty in the other house, his Majesty was pleased to pronounce from the Throne a gracious speech, declaring the present parliament prorogued, with a view to an immediate dissolution. The SPEAKER then read the royal speech, and the members lfte the house soon afterwards. The following is a copy of his MAJESTY'S most gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament : " MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, " I have come to meet you for the purpose of proroguing this Parliament with a view to its immediate dissolution. " I have been induced to resort to this measure, for the purpose of ascertaining the sense of my people, in the way in which it can be most constitutionally and authentically expressed, on the expediency of making such changes in the representation as circumstances may appear to require, and which shall be founded on the acknowledged principles of the constitution, and may tend at once to uphold the just rights and prerogatives of the Crown, and to give security to the liberties of my people. lIICUI 10 me /map I ittaiutalo the hone i ' the ez*eriate of tht I if loyafty, the Com 1 , , i i , ~ i I .. .. i " GENTLEMEN OF TUE HOUSE OF COMMONS, " I thank you for the provision which you have made for the maintenance of the honour and dignity of the crown ; and I oiler you my special acknowledgments for the arrange ments which you have made for the state and comfort of my Royal Consort. " I have also to thank you for the supplies which you have furnished for the public service, and I have observed with satisfaction that you have endeavoured to introduce the strictest economy in every branch of that service, and I trust that the attention of the New Parliament which I shall forthwith direct to be called, will be applied un ceasingly to that important subject. " MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, " I am happy to inform you that the friendly intercourse which subsists between myself and Foreign Powers affords the beat hope of the continuance of peace ; to preserve which, my most anxious endeavours shall be constantly directed. "MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, "In resolving to have recourse to the eense of my people, in the present circumstances of the country, I have been influenced only by a paternal anxiety for the con tentment and happiness of my subjects—to promote which, I rely confidently on your continued and zealous assistance. " My pleasure is that this Parliament be prorogued till Tuesday the 10th of May." The LORD CHANCELLOR then rose and said,—" It is his MAJESTY'S pleasure that this Parliament be prorogued to Tuesday the 10th of May; and the Parliament is pro rogued to that day accordingly." How different are the humours of men. King Philippe rides on horseback to address his parliament. Washington used to go in an old coach. But the King of England, as a mark of respect, goes in a state-coach, drawn by eight horses, surrounded by his household, all in dresses of cere mony, and renders the procession one of the most gorgeous pageants of his royal office. The Emperor Nicholas, not having enough upon his hands near home, has, forsooth, been dictating to the Swiss. He imitates our boroughmongers, and calls the Swiss reforms revolutionary, insisting on all the constitutions of 1815. Now his relations with Switzerland are such as those of the Emperor of Japan ; and what should we think of that poten tate, if he bad issued such a mandate. It proves, however, that the Polish is a European war; for, in fact, the routed army of Diebitsch was only to bait at Warsaw, and then dine in Belgium, and perhaps sup in Switzerland. In the late Division, what a want of respect and con !sideration it was in a Member for Devonshire, Dorset shire, Northumberland, Exeter, Northamptonshire, Buck inghamshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Cambridge, Hampshire, Leicester, Oxford University, Shrewsbury, Leicestershire, Radnorshire, Cumberland, Westmoreland, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, Pembrokeshire, Berkshire, Lancashire, Cornwall, Bedfordshire, Carmarthenshire, Bris tol, Liverpool, Carnarvonshire, and other places of reputable constituency, to bring them into contact with Old Sarum, Gatton, Heytesbury, Seaford, &c. &c. It was a foul dis grace, which the Independent Electors must now remove, — and they ought to be grateful to Ministers for affording them the opportunity. Let the rotten boroughs form one side of the House and the real representatives the other; and as the people will do their duty, we may reasonably calculate on a majority of One Hundred in the New Parlia ment in favour of the ever-to-be-honoured Reform Bill. Thousands of unfortunates are fleeing the country to the wilds of Canada, and other distant realms. Never in any season did so many ship-loads of our hopeless population leave their native country from various ports in the king dom. Yet such is the result of the government of the Boroughmongers, and there are those among them who in sult us by boasting of the prosperity, which their system has produced. It is true there are great public improvements, but produced by universal mortgage and debt. Loans of 800 millions ought to afford something to shew in return; so also the town-debts, the parish-debts, the road-debts, the bridge-debts, the harbour-debts, the canal-debts, the corporate-debts, ought to shew something to those who pay the interest. Can a man in possession of a splendid house be therefore called rich, if be is debtor for every thing in it ? We pay 30 millions of interest, for war-debts, by which we gained some expensive colonies, and it is doubtful whether we do not pay as much more for the other debts for which we have roads, canals, &c.—ls this prosperity ? —ls it not rather a gross deception I—ls it not a fact which justifies the nation in getting rid of a set of leeches who have contrived to pocket a per centage on most of these loans and jobs I But the other fact that thousands are fleeing from a country in which there are nearly 20 acres to every family in it, says more than volumes could say of the expiring system! PRICE OF STOCKS AT TWOiO'CLOCK. 3 per Ct. Cons. 79i Si 9 4 per Ct. 1326, 95 4i CMS. for Ace. 79 tig ‘ Long Ann. Jan. IMO, Igi 1, 3 per Cent. Red. 781 71 Old Annuities —. N, -- 31 per Ct. DIM 871 £lOOO Etch. 139 i., 9 3 r 34 per Ct. Red. 871 7 42500 Ditto 9 6 34 per Cent. New, 881 1 £lOO and X 230 Do. 10 6 FOREIGN STOCKS. Austrian, Si. Brazilian, for Acct, 571. Danish, for Acct, jy Portuguese. for Acet, 451 13. Russian, for Acet, 881 8 ; ditto 811 e. Spanish, 510,161. French 5 per Ct, s7f 2.5 e. Three per C , , 591. Exchange, 251 10e. French Scrip , S pet Ct, 21 p rem . ' f BLIC Bank Stock, 19711 6 India Stock,—. Bonds, par Ipm London Docks, .859 101 St. Catherine's, X7ll 10s City Gas, £l9O Bank of Scotland, £167 British Linen, MSO Grand Junction, £245 Leeds, 1.395 Regent's, £lB 100 IMPANIF.S. Irish Grand Canal, 731 Forth and Clyde, £625 & Man.Railway,.£66 t 0,6 %) Crontford, £45 Guardian, Albion Fire, £75 Alliance, £8 5s County, £4O Bolanos Mines, £lBO &eam Navigation, dis. £6 is, Cu. o'CLoce..— Barometer, tll-47 ; Thermometer, ES. Wind s.E• Weather, showery and mild. Til E EVENING STAR. LONDON. SATURDAY, APRIL 23. DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT. At three o'clock this Afternoon, a Privy Council asseua • bled in St. James's Palace, at which the KING signed th Proclamations, with the copies of which we have been fa. I Toured and now subjoin, for dissolving the present Parlia ment, and appointing a new one, to meet on the 10th of June next. BY THE KING. A PROCLAMATION. FOR DISSOLVING THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT, AND DECLAR ISO TEI cauire OP WILLIAM R. Whereas We have thought fit, by and with the Advice of Our Privy Council, to dissolve this present Parliament, which stands prorogued to Tuesday the Tenth Day of Ilk , next : We do, for that End, publish this Our Royal Pro clamation ; and do hereby dissolve the said Parliament accordingly; and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, and the Commissioners for Shires and Burghs, of the House of Commons, are dis charged from their Meeting and Attendance on the said Tuesday the Tenth Day of May next. And We being desirous and resolved, as soon as may be, to meet Our People, and to have their Advice in Parliament, do hereby make known to all Our loving Subjects Our Royal Will and Pleasure to call a new Parliament : And do hereby fur ther declare, that, with the Advice of Our Privy Council. We have given Order that Our Chancellor of that Part of Our United Kingdom called Great Britain and Our Chan cellor of Ireland do respectively, upon Notice thereof, forthwith issue out Writs, in due Form and according to Law, for calling a new Parliament. And We do hereby also, by this Our Royal Proclamation under Our Great Seal of Our United Kingdom, require Writs forthwith to be issued accordingly by Our said Chancellors respectively, for causing the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, who are to serve in the said Parliament, to be duly returned to, and give their Attendance in Our said Parliament; which Writs are to be returnable cn Tuesday the Fourteenth Day of June next. Given at Our Court at St. Jamul's, this Twenty.third Day of April, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-one, and in the First Year of Our Reign. GOD SAVE THE KING. BY THE KING. A PROCLAMATION. IN ORDER TO THE ELECTING AND SUMMONING THE SIXTEEN PEERS OF SCOTLAND. WILLIAM, R. Whereas We have in Our Council thought fit to declare Our Pleasure for summoning and bolding a Parliament of Our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, on Tuesday the Fourteenth Day of June next ensuing the Date hereof : In order therefore to the electing and summon ing the Sixteen Peers of Scotland, who are to sit in the House of Peers in the said Parliament, We do, by the Advice of Our Privy Council, issue forth this Our Royal Proclamation, strictly charging and commanding all the Peers of Scotland to assemble and meet at nolyrood House in Edinburgh,to nominate and choose the Sixteen Peers to sit and vote in the House of Peers in the said ensuing Parliament, by open Election and Plurality of Voices of the Peers that shall be then present, and of the Proxies of such as shall be absent, such Proxies being Peers, and producing a Mandato in Writing duly signed before Witnesses, and both the Constituent and Proxy being qualified according to Law : And the Lord Clerk Register, or such Two of the Principal Clerks of the Session as shall be appointed by him to officiate in his Name, are hereby respectively required to attend such Meeting, and to administer the Oaths required by Law to be taken there by the said Peers, and to take their Votes ; and, immediately after such Election made and duly examined, to certify the Names of the Sixteen Peers so elected, and sign and attest the same in the Presence of the said Peers the Electors, and return such Certificate into Our High Court of Chancery of Great Britain: And We do, by this Our Proclamation, strictly command and require the Provost of Edinburgh, and all other the Magistrates of the said City, to take especial Care to preserve the Peace thereof during the Time of the said Election, and to prevent all manner of Riots, Tumults, Disorders, and Violence what soever. And We strictly charge and command that this Our Royal Proclamation be duly published at the Market Cross at Edinburgh, and in all the County Towns of Scot land, Twenty-five Days at least before the Time hereby apppointed for the Meeting of the said Peers to proceed to such Election. Witness Outsell at Wainintier, this Twenty.third Day of d}r il One thousand sight hundred and thirty-one and in the First Tear of Our Reign. GOD SAVE THE KING.