Star. — London, England, 1831-09-16 00:00:00

SPIRIT 07 THIS pars JOURNALS. CititONICLE.—A most important declaration was made,last night by Lord Althorp, in the course of a discussion respecting the Press, to which the presentation of a petition from William Carpenter gave rise. His Lordship stated that if he had not been pressed with other business, he should have brought in a Measure for the consolidation of the Stamp Laws; and whenever he had an opportunity, ht. should introduce some measure of the kind. " It was true (added his Lordship) that he had been op. ; .ofed to the introduction of the Six Acts as eagerly as any I lonourable Menibcr, perhaps more eagerly, fur he had been :he person who had made the substantive motion respecting them. He then, as now. desired that the liberty of the Press should be protected to the stmosi possible extent consistent with the prevention of private scandal, and of false attacks on individual character, or attempts to destroy rublic morals (cheers). In his opinion. public mcn and public measures ought to be freely treated (cheers). Those who entered into public life took their situations as public men, subject to such discussions, and they ought not to complain of attacks of a public kind being freely made on their political con duct. (cheers) Ile did not take any merit to himself in saying this, for he did not see those papers which made any attacks on him—he did not read such attacks. They teem not agreeable enough to induce him to do so (a laugh); but if he did, he hoped and trusted he should have more good humour than to mind them (hear, hear): but he felt that public men ought not to complain of criticisms—even if severe criticisms were passed on their conduct (hear, hear)." This is a most important declaration from a man of Lord Althorp's station and influence in the country; and we hail it as the first distinct recog nition in this country of the right of the people to free discussion, in the genuine sense of the word. It is the commencement of a new era. Discussion has, no doubt, enjoyed, fur a considerable length of time in this country, great freedom ; but it has been a freedom on sufferance. Truly was it ob served by Mr Lytton Bulwcr, " that from the free expression of opinion all that was honest and true was to be expected ; and on it, too, all good and real Reform must be founded." T I MRS.—The names of the most respectable merchants and hankers in the city of London have been subscribed to a requisition for a general meeting of that powerful body in order to petition the Lords to pass the bill ; the requisition will be presented to-morrow, and the meeting is therefore certain. What better names can we mention than those of Mr. John Smith and Mr. Grote ? And all the counties— we say "all" the counties-oare in movement. Ths Lords come from the counties, and cannot have a conviction or an int rest different from that of those by whom they are surrounded. The opposition to the bill must therefore be dissipated almost by a breath ; for what was the bole cause alleged why the bill might be lost in the lords ? Not the imperfections of the bill itself—not she nullity of the claims of the people to a fair representation.-hut their indifference to that their right, They will show whether they are indifferent to it ; they will show whether they think themselves freemen, to whom it belongs to choose their own representatives ; arch, having done this loudly and bravely, they may then, but not till then, rest secure of the result. TIMES.—The Dutch and German papers contain far. titer accounts of the disturbances at Stettin, caused by the regulations adopted to guard awl= the propagation of the cholera =rhos. The same spirit of resistance which pre vails throughout the whole of Prussia, also exists in those parts of the Austrian dominions in which that dreadful ma lady has appeared. It does appear strange, that in a coun try so advanced in civilization as Germany, any consider. able portion of the people should have adopted the opinion, that the patients in the hospitals were put to death, in order to stop the progress of the contagion ; but this circumstance will cease to surprise, when it is considered, that though much knowledge is diffused through Germany, there is one of a most important kind—political knowledge—which is rigorously repressed. The censorship, which exists in all the states, and which some are uow strugglihg to get rid of, is intended by its institutors to have a benumbing influ ence on the human faculties; but where it fails to stupify, it is sure to excite irritation and suspicion. It is not unnatu ral, therefore, that agitated populations should infer that go vernments which are in constant dread of the publication of truth, which cover all their acts with a veil of secrecy, and which employ an expensive machinery for the sole pur pose of diminishing the utility which their subjects might derive from the art of printing, may be capable of other evil deeds, even of wishing to apply a stifling process to the life as well as to the mind of man. Such Governments must always be liable to suspicion, and no sophistry in praise of the mildness with which their authority may oc casionally be exercised, can divest them of this law of their ! existence. In a late article of the Austrian Observer, re specting the justice of the application of the term " despotic," used by some of the French papers in speak ing of the three great members of the Holy Alliance, the writer quotes the sentiment of CLAUDIAN -.-.. Nunquain libertss gratior emu " Quam sub rege pio:" and follows it up by the celebrated line of Pope—" What. e'er is best administered, is best." Without discussing these fasourite maxims of the Nletternich school, we may observe that they have often been misapplied. Tnr former was constantly on the lips of our Tories during a teign—not a very distant one—which has been well characterised as chiefly remarkable for taking from we liberties and adding to the burdens of the people. With regard so the latter, we believe no people in Europe would willingly place themselves at the mercy of their rulers. The King of Prussia is in general described to be a well-disposed benevolent etan, yet we find that in Prussia dreadful ex. CChSCII have been committed, in consequence of a distrust in the intentions of the Government. Reasonable people, therefore, wish to have some better security tor good govern. nivni than the personal character of Princes. This wish, we know, Is daily gaining ground at Berlin, and notwithstand ing the flattering unction of the Austrian Observer, we believe is nor entirely a stranger at Vienna. H KRA LD.—lf the House of Lords only exists in the Constitution to register the Bills passed by the Commons, it cught not to presume to discuss them; but, if it have higher functiora to perform, the more important the measure to which the House of Commons agrees, the more necessary is it that the Upper House should be free to give it the most calm and dispassionate consideration. If the measure were perfection itself, the acquiescence of the House of Lords, if it does agree to it, ought not to have the appearance of being loved rather than given • but, should the prew,edings of the House i ndicate an adverse teeth g, there will be time enough before a final d.cision to criticise and animadvert upon the sentiments and conduct of their lordships, which will be then fairly under the review of public opinion. At present that pm. tion of the press which loves rather to domineer than to reason actually treats the House of Lords as a hostile body, and demands that that august assembly shall surrender at discretion, and submit to march captive at the chariot. wheels of their arrogant authority, before it can possibly be known whether the majority of that House are favourable or adverse to the Reform Bill. One Journal goes so far as to say that the House of Lords would be at open war with the King, the Commons, and the whole people o. England, if they were to " reject the Bill ;" or what it adds is preci,ety the same thing—meddle with any one of mere important provisions. It is the same Journal that said, not very lung since, in commenting upon the chooses made in the bill in the House of Commons, that the coun try had reason to blush for the bill and ha authors I For our own parts we should like to see the Lords meddle with some of the important provisions of the bill. We should approve, fur instance, of their doing away altogether with the division of counties, and the clause giving the right to vats to farm-krauts at will. These are highly important provisions ; and yet the doing theta away would not put the House at open war with the whole people of England, but render it more popular than before. These provisions are, however, too obviously favourable to aristocratic influence to be viewed with disfavour in the House of Lords. At all vents, we say, let the weapons of reformers be reason and free discussion, and not intimidation and violence. I'OS According to the &hewing of the Times, the people has quite forgotten all about the Reform Bill during its progress through the House of Commons, and they have only been aroused from this state of apathetic indifference by our contemporary's creek of 'Wider ! Arguing, therefore, from this admitted fact, we feel jus tified in asserting that the people, if kft to themselves, would not care one straw about the Reform Bill. Does the hungry man require to be driven to his food ? th does the weary traveller need the Sid of eloquence to lure him to his couch ? Assuredly not. How absurd then is it for the Times to suppose that if the people were really in need of Reform, they would require the crash of its thunder to remind them of theft necessities. No, no ; a people yearn ing for an amelioration of their eonditioa require but little persuasion to induce them to i'emard it; and therefore we say, again and again, that the indifference of the people of finglaml respecting the fate of the Reform Bill, is a full proof that they deem it an unnecessary, and therefore a dangerous measure. That the feeling in favour of Reform was very general eiuting the late elections we willingly allow; but popular excitement is of short duration, and the people, en joying a return of their natural good sense, are at length t.eginning to see their folly, and to repent of their part in , discretion. The ministerial scribes have therefore our full per mission to ray: and rant and thunder as long as they please; we laugh at their efforts. The excessive beet of June has sunk Cown into the healthy temperatitre of September ! By the bye we perceive that the Times is offended a' the charge of violence which has been brought against it. " They charge the Times with appealing to the rwb, and forsooth would meet us t itii le people, in coniradiitinction to the mob. 11' e reject and deprecate mot) meetings!" Ah ! indeed ! and bow ) (mg is it since the Times be gan to reject anti deprecate mob meetiags ?" If se remember it is not three months since the Timex not only armed the aid of wide mectin but kindly advises 1 them of the sort of weapons which the said meetings n most advantageously ure. And also, if we do not mistake, Circe days have not elapsed sine:, the • Times hinted ab... I:.e probability of open violence on the part or t!,e rabble. Can cur Contempormy, in defiance o. these facts, attemp to " reject and deprecate mob meet ings ?" All his eirorts. however, to remove the impressine of disgust ewer:aired against him will prove in vain; of this we are quite ccrtair. Zits newtons, and regretted even by ;he more hio lerrltc Reformers, that the Times has endea voured recite t:le rabble to acts of outrage and violence ; and our Cortempo.ary may rest assured, that the remem brance of this fact will long stand out a lasting disgrace. not only to hin,self, butt to the infamous intriguers whole. views he endeavours to forward 131 PER lAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Sm. 15. tietetal of the newly.cteated peers were introduced. LONDON COAL BILL, AND PO•TUDAL. The Earl of ABERDEEN gave notice, that • noble friend, then absent, would move the second reading of the London Coal Bill on Thursday next. The noble Earl tools the opportunity to advert to an observation which had been made by the noble Earl at the head of his Majesty's govern. ment in the course of the debate of yesterday respecting Portugal. The noble Earl had thought proper to contradict an important statement made by himself in that house. On a former occasion he had as s erted, that the French admiral in the Tagus had endeavoured to procure commercial advan. tagea for France in Portugal. Although that statement been contradicted he you'd say, when next the noble Earl appeared in the house, that he was ready to re-assert all that had been s►id by himself on that subject. The LORD CHANCELLOR assured the noble Earl, that the contradiction which be had noticed was not a volon. taty denial of the matter, but forced from the noble Earl by the arguments in debate. Whether it was wrong or right, at that moment he was not prepared to decide. The Earl of ABERDEEN was aware that the maim had occurred without previous arrangement, but when the Noble Earl appeared in his place he should repeat what he had before asserted. The Alarquis of LONDONDERRY observed, that he said nothing in debate with respect to the subject of com mercial advantages. Viscount MELBOURNE pointed out this as an instance of the inconvenience which arose from entering into debate irregularly, and he exhorted Noble Lords to avoid such consequences in future. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said the Noble Viscount might have spared his lecture. He had given notice of a motion for papers, and the Noble Earl only pre vented that motion by consenting to lay the papers on the table. ..- CHOLERA YORE!. Lord STRANGFORD had to put a question, but should follow the exhortations of the noble viscount, and avoid ir. regularity. He was desirous of being informed whether any step' had been taken by his Majesty's Government to obtain a revocation of the Neapolitan quarantine law, which had been made applicable to Btitish vessels, In consequence of the Board of Health in the port of Trieste having heard a report that the cholera morbus had broken out in the north of Ireland, all vessels from England were obliged to submit to remain 40 days under quarantine. The noble viscount had received a letter from Palermo, stating the fact, and that it was probable the quarantine laws would continue in force some time. By the system adopted within the dominions of the King of the Two Sicilia, the quarantine laws were farmed out, and persons had an interest in keeping the same in operation. The noble lord at the head of the Cola nisi Department would, therefore, see the necessity of inter ference. Having mentioned this circumstance, he should only add, that it was his intention to call the attention of their lordships to the wine duties. On a forum occasion be endeavoured to impress upon the house the important the alteration of those duties would produce in th: b :;:E with Portugal, but he was unable to procure attention. Not withstanding that indifference on the part of some noble lords he should persist in doing his duty. Lott! AUCKLAND, in answer to the Noble Viscount's question, said the strongest representation had beeen made by the Board of Trade to the proper authorities, and the in convenience to which the Noble Viscount referred would be removed. STEAM•VESSZLIM Lnrd BOSTON presented a petition from the inhabitants of Beautrowis and Bangor, detailing the dreadful loss of lives in the Rothsay Castle steamer, and praying that no steam-vessel in future be allowed to carry passim ens with out being first licensed—the slid licence to be obtained upon a certificate of sea-worthiness, and the general con. duct and qualification of the captain. The Noble good d d con. sidered the petition of great importance with a view to the preservation of the lives and property of his Majesty's sub jects ; and also contended that it was expedient to erect light-houses on those parts of the coast where accidents were moat likely to occur. The petition was read, and laid on the table. Lord DUNDAS presented three petitions from indivi. duals residing at Mile End, praying that the beer bill may pass with proper regulations. Mr. Bernal and others from the Commons brought up two private bids. DEED. BILL. Viscount 31ELBOUHNE rose on the order of the day for receiving the report of the Committee on the Beer Bill, and intimated that it was his intention to move the bill be recommitted. The Earl of SUFFIELD said, the object he had In view when last lie addressed the house on this subject, was to re• move all doubts as to the power of the magistrates to pro. hibit gambling. He was satisfied that power did exist, with respect to common licensed ale-houses, but whether it was given to the magistrates by this beer bill he could not de. cide. The noble earl was, therefore, desirous of asking the highest legal authority in that house, whether, under the provisions of this bill, the magistrates had the power to pro. hibit gambling ? The LORD CHANCELLOR said gambling was pro. hibited by the words of the licence. If gambling was en couraged the forfeiture of the licence would be the cone. quence. The noble and learned lord observed that it was important that gambling should be prevented, u he under. stood it was carried on in beet houses to a rest extent. A letter from a rev. friend, who had made it his business to inquire into the conduct of beer houses, states that he had found the clergy and magisirates constantly complaining of the gambling going on in those houses, and he suggested that conditions with respect to gambling contained iu the licences to common ale-houses should extend to beer shop licences. It was necessary some one should look after beer houses, and see the condition in the licence was not violated. Lord SUFFIELD was satisfied with tie noble and learned lord's explanation upon the subject. He bad been anxious as a Magistrate to ascertain that the law was ade. quate to prevent gambling. The Earl of HARROWBY pointed out a difference be tween the licenses to common alehouses and beer.shops.— The time allowed between the first and second offence was not the same, The report was then received, :and the Bill ordered to be re-committed. Lord MELBOURNE gave notice of his intention to bring in a Bill to allow spring-guns to be used foc the pro ceed= of barns and outhouses. The LORD CHANCELLOR then resumed the hearing of appeals, and at the usual hour the House Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The house balloted for a committee to try the election netition for the county of Pembroke. The membas of the committee were sworn at the table. Mr. HUME prevented a petition from John Savage, of Many-la-bonne parish, stating that his goods were Illegally wised under the authority of a select vestry, and praying protection. The honourable gentleman said, is consequence of the proceedings of the select vestry a pariah meeting nu held, at which he presided. It was the most nu merous meeting ever held in the parish ; and they came to an unanimous resolution not to pay illegal taxes. The gunds of two parishioners were now under seizure for refus ing eo pay those exactions of the Select Vestry, and were taken out of the parish to he sold, which had excited such a ferment in the parish, that he felt it to be his duty to give notice to die Secretary of State, that he might provide for the public peace. His own goods might be seized tomor row, for he certainly would not pay the illegal tax. He hoped Covernincnt would take the subject into considera tion, otnertrise the public pace could not be preserved —(Hear.) .ti c. HUME presented - p:titioo from 11 icLard Carpenter, a prisoner to ;he King's Bench prison. for publishing an on. , tamp:tl • paver r, or pamphlet, called the Political Letter, praying ;u be , :ischargati. Mi. Hume said, the pedioner we., imprisoned under on' of the Six Acts, which had been opposed by five of hi. Maj'tsty's present Cabinet Ministers, anal. he thought, should out be. allowed to remain in thews. tut e.bon k. Tgie.r a oce ,a producing many of Co: evils rf .h count.y. The state of the mars of the community could only be raised by thediffosicn of kno.% ledge, and every check lt• a continuation of the evil. It was di,- giaeeful to a Whig Ministry etat of those acts elto-II etc alheeti .o cre•tinue. Thti: civet in t; is respect we.. so/4in ° - public confi l: n:' 'e :lie present Administraiioo, oo.hin:; bit ti•e 4oric which they 1% :re eugagcd c.-tie corm y - for • tic! , gross neglect. Al. O'CONNELL otyported the prayer of the petition. Si. ell AN CIS BURIPLTT Ciought the law was very miecl.i.• us in i.s on .ration, end l.opett I. would be speedily rep:altd ; end he ' , opal the soil - rang petitioree would he ....lowed from its penalty without delay.—(Hear.) Mr. IV BUETON hoped that its Goveroment had proved th: pehlic who: the state of the law was, they would ,Iseha , ge the petitin”cr from tooter suffering. The WEINEY-C ENEE AL said lie understood .he iescription of the petitioner's sufferings was such as at. call .O. inquiry, which s'•oulti be tuad: with every conside ration foi patitioh.r. Tile proceedings were commenced nefoie ::ante into office, and were necessary for the pro tatioil of ,Ire r:wspaper annp-duty. Mr. Carpenter had incutrial penalties to 0: amouni of many thousands of pounds ; the verdict was only taken for atingle penalty, and he did not know till this neoinait that he was not able .0 pay, and .ad gone to prison. Mr. HUNT said he was glad to say a word in favour of Mr. Carpenter, and that wm, that lie had alwa sum:wed the Reform Bill, and abused him.—(A laugh. Lord. A LTHOLIP said, after the statement t at lied been matte of Mr. Carpenter's situation, it should certainly be immediioely taken intl consideration. With respect to the ste'e of .lt . le.; it %/as itis intention to have Inottglit forwa. d a iteasure for the consolidation of die litani l t Arts, in which 'lC'Fern, i crease the facilities for cheap publiattions. He though , the picas should he as free as was consistent with ,h e pr tection of private character and murals. As fur pub lic :um they knew under what responsibility they entered into office, aryl had no reason to complain of attacks on their public conduct or measures.—(Hear, hear.) For himself did not know tv:::ther be was made .he object of attack, ,IS tie did not read the ;au:illations in which he was likely .o be attacked ; but certainly he did not wish to be protected by aus restraint on the liberty of the prew.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. L. BUMPER was d e li g ht e d a t wh a t h a d fallen from the Noble Lord, both on the liberty of the press and as regarded Mr. Carpenter. (Hear.) CORN LAWN. Mr. Ii UNT being called onbytite Speaker, Lord ALT HORT expressed a hope that the Hon. Gent. who had already postpoind his motion at his request, would spin postpone it, to afford time for the consideration of the Deport of the Reform bill. HUNT "le only subject on which be had been reproved by hie constituents was the delay of his motion for the repeal of the corn laws. He would, however, consent to delay It till Friday week if necessary, but if the report on the Reform Bill was concluded before ten o'clock to night, he would then briny it on. _SCOTCII REFORM. Mr. 6. WORTLEY asked the Lord Advocate whether the Scotch Reform Bill .hat had been read a first time, was the same that sag to be read a second time on Tuesday. The LORD ADVOCATR said the bill that had been read a first time was the only bill that could be read a se cond time. CALL OF THE HOUSE. Mr. O'CONNELL moved that the house be called over on Monday next.—Agreed to. REFORM. Lord A LTHORP moved the turther consideration of the report of the Reform Bill. Mr. PUSHY moved that the county towns, Dorchester, Huntingdon and Guildford, which were placed in schedule B, and thereby deprived of ooe of their members, should be taken out of said ached le, and allowed to return two members. Mr. W A RBURTON, after the decision that had already been come to by th. house, could not support the motion. Sir GEORGE WARRENDER thought the whole of schedule B was an act of injustice, and hoped it would be remedied in another place. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the circumstance of these towns being county towns was taken into consideration ; and it was thoughtnot suffic:ent to take them out of the schdule B, which contained other towns of more importance and greater population. Mr. GOULBURN supported the motion, but knew It was useless to press it on the house. The question was put that Dorchester stand part of eche. dule B,—and agreed to. Oa the question that Guildford stand part of schedule B, Mr. DENISON and Mr. MANGLES opposed it, on, the ground that Guildford had 4,000 inhabitants fu 1621. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said it was only by including a hamlet with a rural population that Guildfoni was made to appear to have 4,000 inhabitants. The motion was agreed to. On the question that Helston stand part of schedule B, CRUKER opposed it. The question was agreed o. Mr. PIERS WILLIAMS moved that Great Marlow be left out of the schedule. Sir G. WARRENDER said, if he should be a member of the refutmsd parliament, this measute should not be final dile could prevent it, for he would bring forward the case of the towns in schedule B, that were cut down and deprived of one of their members. The question was put that Great Marlow stand part of the bin, and agreed to. Lord ALTIIORP moved that Ashton•under-Line be in serted in Schedule D. Sir C. WETHERELL said, the frequent alterations in the Reform Bill bad made it, in the eyes of all prudent men, a perect farce. The gentlemen opposite might say no I if they pleased—he did not we for the opinion of pledged men, of men who were nut there to deliberate, but to v o te according to the directions of their constituents. (Order, order !) Would the hon. member who cried order !be pleased to tell him why be was out of order ? Lord G. LENNOX said it was disorderly for the learned member to say, looking at him (Lord L.) and other inde. pendent members, that they were pledged to vote as minis ters directed. hit C. WETHERELL said he had said no such thing. He begged to ask ministers why they had added Ashton under-Line to the bill, and omitted Chelsea? Lord ALTHORP said, Chelsea had been omitted be cause it was not thought desirable to add ether members to the metropolis. The l e arned member had treated his (Lord Althorp's) side of the house with great courtesy; he had accused hon. members of acting without judgment—of being mere machines. He thought there was SUMO reason for call. ing him to order, when he treated members in that manner. But he would tell the learned member that he had often in the committee observed many of what was called the pledged majo it y vote against ministers, whilst he had never seen one of the opposition vote with them. Lord EBRINOTON said it was cot to be borne that the nominee of a Peer, that one representing no constituency, or at least a constituency that dared not resist the will of his patron, should impute it as a crime to Hon. Members, that they came there to follow the wishes of their constituents, wishes which they had declared to be in accordance with their own, before they offered themselves as candidates.— (Cheers.) He (Lord L) was pledged to the 'rut rtindlai of Reform, but not to every minute detail of the BW, and he believed such was the case with all the other Members. —(Hear.) Mr. GOULBURN egad bow long It was sinew the Noble Lard bad ceased to be a nominee himself— (Hear.) Lord EBRINOTON explained. Mr. STRICKLAND was not pledged to support the details of the Bill. Sir C. WETHERELL explained. Lord G. LENNOX, Mr. R. GURNEY, and other Honourable Members, said they were not pledged to the details of the BIM Mr. KNIGHT was eurpriscd to hear the Noble Lord, one of the very few Members to whose speeches he (Mr. Knight) paid any attention—accuse the Opposition of al. ways voting against Ministers, afta• the two divisions of last night, namely, Singe on Aldborough and Downton. Mr. TREVOR, said, he was plalged to oppose the Bill and he glorizd in his pledge. Lord J. RUSSELL hoped honourable members would preserve their good humour until the third reeding, when it ras agreed that they were all to be v:ry angry with each other. (A laugh.) The motion was then agreed to. Several verbal amendments were also agreed to. lord ALTHORP moved, that Stroud share with Ebel , tenbam in theelection of a membm—Agreed to. Mr. CROKER moved. that Workington be cxcludtd from skating In the elective franchise with Whit e b ac . n f rom which it was eigt . t miles distant, on the samedistant, principle that C.isfvenchisel ;he fr:cmcn seven miles distant from the place of voting. Lord ALTHORP said. the cut-voters were diNftan chit: to Nl7O citp , mt: of conveyance, but nn such expense would b: occw,ioncd by the voters of Workington. be vuse th: poll tould talon at Nl'otitir.gton as well as at Whitt.taven. Mr. C. WBTH ERE L supported the modem The motion tors ne;itivcd without a t it ision. Several verbl , l smeieln.ents trete disposed of. On the motion that the Bill with its amendments be agreed to, GOULBURN asked when the copy of the patent of the Governor of the No of Wight, which had been ordered by tl'l House Let mon.h, would be produced? Lord A veil ORP bald to-wiener/. Mr. KNIGIIT saki, if th 2 copy was not produced to morrow, he sheuld more that hislej.sty be re-seltiremd 'lts: the subject. The Bill. as amended, was then agreed to, and ord2red to be read a thin) time on Monday next. BEIREST AT ELECTION. Lord J. RUSeTillinren;tice that on that day fort night lit should move for leavz to bring in a bill to emend the laws on bribery and corruption in elections.—(Cheery.) coax LAW& Mr. HUNT said. he tOwrose to bring forward the motion of whicia he had given notice, on the first day he entered the house. He regretted that a subject of such vital importanc: as the corn laws should not fall into more able hands; but at least he should give Ministers an opportunity of expressing their sentiments on the tub - ject. He hoped they would at least hold out some pros pect of amelioration in .he present system, if they were not disposed to go the length of his (Mr. H.'s) motion, which we., that all laws restricting the importation of corn should be abolished. He knew he should be told that it was impossible fur our farnien to compete with the foreigner, owing to their wavy burdens. He would admit at once that nis motion necessitated a diminution of those burdens ; but was it too much to require from the landowners end the clergy a diminution of rain and tithes ' which had been tripled within the l a s t : ort y years. Political economists would tell tii;:nt that Cie i:ew system would turn to their own emolument. However that migh, be, he considered that it was necessitated by the general distress of the lower orders. He then entered into a series of calculations, to prove that a free import of foreign grain would bring down the English wheat to two-thirds of its present price, and that thereby the annual expeediture on bread In this country would be diminished 'by upwards of thirty millions. He next commented on an article in the Times, in which the prohibition of fo reign where was termed a rebellion against Heaven," when the population of this country had so much out stripped the produce of the soil. He did nut attach par ticular importance to what a bridles& barrister might write In his cabinet; but it sheaved, at lean, that the present restrictive system was disagreeable to his readers, and to the public. Another proof of the sense of the public on this question was, that the first of the pledges which I the electors of Bolton intended to require from their representative in the reformed parliament, was a total repeal of the corn laws. When the member for Bolton came in next session, if he bought forward a law for the regulation of primogeniture, he would not want a seconder; that is, if he were there, and be was sure he might be there if he chose—(a laugh)—he bad had very good assurance of that very lately, he could assure them. (Great laughter.) He bad opposed the corn laws fifteen years egos be was always opposed to them becaese he thought that they bad merely been I instituted for the purpose of making the farmen pay high rents and high taxes. I'he consequence was, the utmost misery ex- I isted among the labouring claws. He did not think it was possible for the poor people to exist on what they existed upon. He gave a grievous picture of the hardships endured by the labour in g classes, which he had been an eye witness to. He was sues that this could not long be borne; and he would call upon the landowners to make a sacrifice at the proper time. He was satisfied that the Reform-Bill would not cure these evils; and if the people imagined such would Ibe the cus they would find themselves egregiously mis. taken. The Hon. Member went on to draw • comparison between the prices acorn In this and foreign countries. He said he was satisfied that a repeal of the corn laws would affect the landlord, but not so much as it would be a relief to the poor. The repeal of the corn laws would also be a relief to the farmers who, lie was certain, were paying their rents out of die small remainder of capital that they had left. He would therefore he knew that he I would be laughed at for it--but e would move for a Com mittee of the whole house for a total and an immediate repeal dill the existing laws that prevented a free importation of corn. If this was refused, he would say that then there ought to bean end to all pretensions of free wide. Mr. JAMES said be was quite of the opinion with the hon. member for Preston, that the Corn Laws were most iniquitous. He was aware that titers was some diSculty in broaching this subject In a hornet's nest—the landed interest • but nevertheless he would stand up and second the motion: He, however, differed from the hoc. member (Mr. Hunt) in saying th at the Reform Bill would be no benefit to the people ; for he was one that the first act of a reformed par liament would be to repeal the corn laws. He was of opinion that high-priced bread was a great evil to the country. If the corn laws were passed for the protection of the land-owners, he could prove from fee s that they did not answer the purpose, for after the parsing of Mr. Peel's bill the price of corn fell to ;ruinous prices. Yet we were; year after year im porting corn at a great disadvantage. The most that he possessed was in land, yet he thought that something was due to the labouring classes. Those who knew nothing but the splendour of this metropolis, did not know any thing of the misery that existed in the manufacturing dis tricts. He had seen than in their wretched hovels, with not enough to cover their nakedness. (A laugh.) He would call upon thou to make a sacrifice, who kept four horses to be contented with two —(a laugh)—and those with two to be contented with one—(a laugh)—and those with one let them walk. The luxury of the few were no. thing to be taken into account, compared with the misery of the million. The Honourable Member concluded with saying, that although he felt it his duty to second the mea sure, he did not expect that there were twelve Members in the House would support than. Mr. BENETT thanked the hon. member for Preston for having used his name, as it alluded him an opportunity of all his ar most dedds contradiction to senious. living the m ile o. member proceeded ntrad to prove from facts, that the hon. bo member (Mr. Hunt) had been in error, and said that he thought the introduction of the question was ooly a sub tle artifice to injure the great question of Reform, by intro ducing it at this time. Mr. HUME said be was as great an enemy to the corn laws as any one, bat he thought there was a time for every thing,and this was not the time foe distracting the attention o: the house in the midst of a question that would lead to so many important changes, or which the corn laws, he hoped, would form a part. The hen. member at great length analysed the speech of Mr. Hunt, and deprecoted his assertion, that the corn laws were for the benefit of of the landowners ; and also deprecated the ides that landlords should be compelled to make a sacrifice. Hr was duly impressed with the =pen ance of the measure; and he should not wish the country to believe that the ap peal had been rejected, and he would therefore move the previous question. Lewd ALTHORP was also impressed that the question , wu one of such importance as not to be disposed of in this superficial manner; if it were pressed, he must say that it ought to be negatived ; but be would accede to the motion of the boo. Member for Middlesex. Mr. U. La NO VON, Col.Tosna NS and Mr. STRICKLAND, opposed the measure, =amount of Its being ill-timed. 111 r. GOULBURN said that it ought not to be left to on the previous motion, but to be negatived at ODCC. Lad A LTHORP explained, and adhered to his Cm... pressient. Mr. HUNT replied, in the course of which he was . y laughed at, and annoyed with cr i es o f " Oh, u!. . Cr ite co mplained t loudly of that behaviour; but he afters re, was called to order in speaking of the honourable mom, for Wilts, by saying that " he did not believe a word ; said." The " Oh's" litre were tremendous. He said h, was determined to press his motion at this time, being the most fitting, to show the country who was for, and who oaf against the Corn Laws. The gallery was cleared, and the House divided, wit., there were— For the motion Against it 197 Majority l9l On our return to the gall . ry t e .ound Mr. BERRIES stating his objections to the third read ing of the wire chain bill. lb allneed to the noble lord having propost.d rt.her alarations in duti s rirch the bout.• bad not sanctioned, and did not think the present entitled to greater favour. He thorglit the measure was objection able, politically, commercially, and financially. The 31.. thucn treaty, which had existed 130 years, and become a part of the policy of the country, should not be abandoned without sufficient reason, which did not at present 5X:,;: the commercial advantage :1 secured to this country by the preference it procured fur woollens ia the markets of Por. tugal ; and as a ir assure of finanat he could scarcely con ceive that increasing the duty of the wines of Portugal, and lowering the duty on French winc,coold increase the revenue. Lord AL'i'HORP arid, that the Irish Hon. Gentleman bad called the at anion of the Hour . to the subjec t und e r three heads, political, comm. cia.. and finaocid. The Right Hon. Gentlemota had all- ded to his failure of reduction of the dud.* h: had proposed. lie admitted that he had been defeated in some of the reductions ha bad proposed ; but he thought the country would be beneitted by the re. ductions that hed token place ; the rep7al of the duty on coals—the duty on printed calicoes and the coning repeal of the day cn candies. (Hear, bear.) The right bon...wattle gentleman appeared to say, that h: (Lord Althorp) could do without any alteration of the trine duty; but he rather thought the tight honourable gentle. man spoke in irony. Certainly he could not, after the re tluctiont.hat had been made, affonl to give up 180,0001. revenue. which the proposed alteration was calculated to pro duce. Tits tight honourable gentleman argued against the alteration as to injurious change in our political policy._ In this Its wholly differed with the right honourable gent. He thought we should improve our political and column dal relations with Franctr. ; and in doing to is the present ins once we should not violate any engagement with Porto. gal. by whom it could not be regarded as any thing un friendly. The right hon. gentleman admitted that it les s just commercial policy to cp:n our trade with rich countries This was admitted as a general principle, and it was his de sire to carry it into effect as speedily as possible. Ile sot think w: should lore sue export trade to Portugal, bt. canoe we could supply the manuf.wturcs she wanted cheaper than any other country. The right hon. gentleman argued against we m.uure financially, on the ground that it would diminish consumption of the wines of Portugal; but he did not think if would have that effect, at least It would only produce that effect by increasing the consumption of the wines of FfanCe ; for he could not contemplate any reduction in the commmption of wine in this country. He therefore hoped the House would agree to the measure. After some remarks from Mr. Goulburn and Mr. Briscoe, the Bill was read a third time, and passed. The other Orders of the Day baying been disposed of, the House Adjourred at a Quancr.past Two o'Clock. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. POUND. DUTCH MAILS-RECEIVFD THIS DAY. CRACOW, SEPT. 3.—The Courier of this city contains no direct news from Warsaw, as the com munication between Warsaw and Cracow is inter rupted, and hence it is a long time since we have received the Polish Journals from the capital ; on the other hand the Courier gives many reports derived partly from private letters, partly from the statements of travellers who have arrived here, the authenticity of which there is the more room to doubt, as they aro partly at variance with one another, and equally so with the authentic ac counts already made known through other chan nels. Among these accounts are the following : That according to merchants' letters from Brody, the reserve under Count Tolstoy had been de feated by the Poles, and the military chest taken : another report adds that General Krukowiecki, after he was placed at the head of the Government, had immediately given orders to the Commander in -Chief, Prondzynski, to attack Field Marshal Paskewltach on the whole line, and in consequence of this, the Russians had been obliged to retreat. In contradiction to this news, which the Courier gave in its yesterday's number, affirming at the same time, that the Russian army was already 10 (50) miles from Warsaw ; the same paper gives to-day, from a private letter, the news of an at tack male by the grenadiers of Schacboffskoi, in the fortifications of Warsaw, nearWola, announced to have taken place on the 24th August, in which the Russians were repulsed with very con siderable loss by the Poles, so that it was hoped in Cracow, that the communications with Warsaw would soon be open again. The Courier affirms, that it has received through a private channel, the Warsaw journal, " Polak Sumienny," of 17th August, from which the account of the murders in that capital is taken, in these words, that Jan kowski, Hurteg, Bukowski, Fentscb, Fansbawe, and Madame Bazanow, had been punished with death ; that besides this several spies had been taken, and hanged out of the city. The Couirer then affirms, that the Russians themselves make no secret of the total defeat of General Golownin, and adds, that a citizen who had arrived from Kielce, had positively announced that that general was defeated, and that the Poles occupied Lublin Col. Koss, who was before affirmed to have fought his way from Samogitia to the Dwina, is now said to have returned with a great number of patriots from Lithuania and Warsaw. With respect to General Rogyski, the Courier of to-day says, that according to a generally spread report, he had taken Radom ; the Duke of Vfnr temburg who commanded there, having retreated on being informed in time of the approach of the Poles. But the same journal contained yesterday, an order of the day, dated so late as Aug. 25, from Ostrow icz, addressed by General Rozyski, as com mander-in-chief of the forces in the province of Cracow, Sandomir, and Kabuli, to all superior and other officers of the following tenor:— " It having been signified to me, that many offi cers, without authority from the national govern ment and the Commander-in-Chief, have collected at different points smaller detachments, under the pretext of acting as partisans and remain inactive, even to the injury of their own army in the rear, have resolved to summon all officers without exception, who possess such corps, to appear with their corps within three days at Kielce ; there to present themselves to Colonel Obrechowit:, from whom they will receive further orders. Any of those officers who do not obey the present order, shall be considered as a traitor to his country, and arrested and delivered to the military tribunals, and punished with death, and his name shall be for ever branded, by being published in the journals as a traitor. At the same time, therefore, that I enjoin all civil and military authorities strictly to al M at A( SO CA