Star. — London, England, 1831-03-01 00:00:00

i* Li,. ; 1 ! to, the honourable gentleman might rest assured that he (Mr. O'Con nell) would bring before the house his unconstitutional letter, that the honourable member might have the opportunity of making his defence. He had not said that he did not wish for agitation in Ireland,he wished for agitation ; but, he repeated, he desired to avoid that crisis which the Government had expressed a wish to have. And be had not alto gether failed. He felt that even now he was in attitude to see some. thing done for his country. He had done something for Ireland, and his heart told hint that he had acted honestly. Lord ALTHORP said he was astonished at the learned member's language, that the agitations were the results of the proclamations.— ad no agitatious existed before ? Had not the learned gentleman glo ried in having produced agitation ? He considered that the Government had only done what it was entitled to do to prevent the consequences of the agitations that were in progress. The ease of both sides was now before the country, and let the country determine who were right.— (Hear. hear.) Mr. O'OOR3IAN hIAHON said, it was manifest that there had been negotiation, but who originated it was still a mystery. Mr. O'Connell, it was clear, did not originate it, and the Gove rn ment did not take part in it. A dictatorship had been established—there was no union—lreland had all the bad laws of England, or bad laws made for her. As to the censure of the language used respecting Belgium, Poland, &c. it came with bad taste. when they recollected Lora Altitorp's eulogium on the tri-coloured flag. The repeal of the Union was called for by the people of Ireland. The Union had not been c.lled for by the people of ireiand. As to agitation he would support it whenever the opportunity presented itself. He hoped to see the Union repealed, and the people of this country benefitting from such repeal. Mr. S. RICE said, if the friends of the repeal were so confident of its advantages, why did they not rely on calm discussion, instead of evading it ?—(Cheers.)--They teemed to dread nothing so much as discussion. Why have these incidental discussions? Why not name a day for the general discussion? It was not snowing confidereeln the cause, thus to evade it. Let some day be named for it ; that House was likely to decide the question quite as calmly and rationally as the hurlers of Kilkenny.—(C beers, and a laugh.) He thought it would be shewn that the repeal would be most injurious to Ireland.—(Cheers.) The petition fro Lucklard-bridge, Carlow, for repeal of the Union, it as then preset) dby Mr. O'Connell. The Colo Trade Bill was postponed till Thursday. azroaar. _ _ Jr.S LITTLETON reminded tit; House that there were many Par liamentary Reform petitions still to present ; and as there were three ballots for to morrow, would it not be better to receive them first. or to postpone the motion till they could be presented—(No, no—no postponement.) Lord ALTHORP, in reply to the hon. member for Staffordshire, said he would not object to the proposition, and he thought it ought to be submitted to the house. His lordship made some allusion relating to the motion regarding the borough of Evesham, but he spoke in so low a tone that we could not catch his expression. Col. DAVIES was opposed to any delay in the important business of the country before the house, and would insist that the orders of the slay should be gone through regularly. Mr. BENN ET said, that there could be no business more important for the country than to receive those petitions for reform. M. WOOD said, that he knew many honourable members had been at the house as early as nine o'clock that morning, to have their names placed on the list, for the purpose of getting an opportunity to present petitions. That morning's post had brought a vast accession of peti. tions for reform to hon. members from their constituents. He (Mr. W.) had come to the house as early as ten o'clock, and he then found that upwards of 40 hon. members bad been there before for the same pur. pose, to enrol their names. Mr. C. CALVERT thought that it was known that the petitions were all for parliamentary reform, and none against it, and as the mo tion was only to be introduced on the following evening, that there might be sufficient opportunities for hon. members to present petitions before the bill went into committee. An Hon. MEMBER remereetl, that it would be more desirable to have the petirious plead on the minutes of the house before that the bill was gone into. and as the fate of the %potion could not be known, and perhaps it tinght be lost on its first proposition. (Cries of no, no.) The SPEAKER put the question from the Chair, whether or not the petitions should be receired? Lord ALTHORP repeated. that he was willing that the house should depart from the precedent, and suffer the petitions to be received. Mr. CA LCRAFT holed that the house would agree to receive the petitions that evening. The Marquis of CH ANDOS complained of his motion relating to the borough of Evesham being defeteed, on account of the arrangement of the Noble Chancellor of she Exchequer, and said, that he would take the opportunity of saying, that there might be some who did not consider it a motion of any importance, but he thoo3ht far otherwise, and be was determined to bring it forward on Mond. .y next. Lord J. RUSSELL said, Mat it was his desire to be enabled to com mence his measure on the Reform question on the following evening (this evening) at six o'clock. General GASCOYNE objected to delaying the business of the house for the purpose of receiving petitions. He would call to the recollection of the house that when the Catholic question was being discussed the petitions were dropping in every day against the measure, and no interruption of the business or the house was allowed and he did not see why the precedents of the house should be departed from in this case. Whet he was on his legs he felt bound to notice the in difference with which the noble Chancellor of the Exchequer seemed to treat the intimation that had been made to him of a person being in custody for having insulted an hon. member in the house . The hon. member for Waterford had been most grossly insulted; it was tht greatest insult that he (Gen. Gascoyne) had ever heard offered to any one in that house, and it was impossible that it could be overlooked.— The noble Chancellor of the Exchequer ought to notice it, or other wise the hon. member for Waterford might suppose, arid very justly, that he had not been properly protected in his place. The SPEAKER said, that properly he was called upon to answer the hon. member who had spoken last, as the notice of the person in custody had been deferred at his suggestion. The noble Chancellor of the Exchequer had by him (the Speaker) been told, that be considered it would be better not to interrupt the business of the house by going into the matter then, seeing that the person was in custody, and could not be liberated until he was discharged by the house. General GASCOYNE expressed himself satisfied with the ex planation. Sir ROBERT PEEL was prepared to give his vote that the pea. tions should be received. He said that he was a very disinterested per son on the subject, as lie bad one petition for reform, and one against it, to present. (A laugh.) Considerable confusion arose in the house, which was very full, so that a number of honourable members who spoke could not be beard, on account of the number of honourable members who hurried from their seats. Mr. HUNT said, that he had not been aware that the house would have come to a resolution to receive petitions that night, anti several which he got by post he had in consequence not brought with him; but if they were likely to be received, he would go home for them. The hon. member accordingly left his seat immediately for that purpose. The motion was agreed to, that the petitions be received. Sir ROBERT PEEL hoped that it would be distinctly understood by the house, that the secession had been allowed for reform peti tions only. Mr. LITTLETON then presented five petitions from Staffordshire for Reform, four of which he stated prayed that the suffrage be extended to the petitioners, who hitherto, although numerous, had not been al lowed a voice in the election of a representative. The petitions were from Bilston signed by 16,000 persons, Dudley, Waled, Staffordshire Potteries, and Button-on. Trent. The hon. member supported the prayers of the petitions, and remarked that there were few places where so large a population was unrepresented as the conjoint districts front whence the petitions came. A number of other petitions were presented by several other members, but the noise in the house made it impossible to hear them. Mr. DEN M A N presented five petitions for Reform. Sir 111. RIDLEY presented one from Barnard Castle. Mr. BELL presented one from the County of Northumberland, and one front the town of Hexham. Sir R. BATES presented one from Londonderry. Mr. RU st BOLD presented one from Great Yarmouth. Mr. HODGES presented one from a parish in the eastern district of Kent. Mr. BURKE )iresented one from Exeter. Lord G. BEN r INCK presented one, but the name of the place did nor reach the gallery. Mr. IV ILKES presented one from Long Sutton. Lord EBR IDGE presented one from Newton Abbot, and another from the parish of Shibear. Mr. STRUTT presented one from Derby. Mr. MI LDBIAY presented one from Winchester. Mr. EGERTON presented one from Macclesfield. Mr. C. GREVILLE presented one from Warwick. Mr. WILBRA HA M presented one from Nantwich. Mr. LEFEVRE presented one from Basingstoke. Mr. JUN RS presented one from Carmarthen. Sir F. BLAKE presented one from Berwick-upon-Tweed. Sir It. PEEL presented one from Banff, for Reform ; and another against universal suffrage and annual Parliaments, from the Vicar and others from a parish in Nottingham. Lord ALTHORP presented petitions from Pembroke and Upton, for Reform. Mr. LAMBE presented one from Melbourn. Mr. WOOD presented one from the inhabitants of the city of York, who were not allowed to vote at elections, praying for Reform, and an extension of the elective franchise. The honourable member stated that unless the franchise wasextended, that no description of Reform would be availing ; and he stated, that if the measure to be brought forward on the lst of March did not embrace that alteration, he would bring for. ward specific motions for that purpose, front all the large towns in Eng land. He also presented a Reform petition from Birmingham, from the Wesleyan Society. Mr. L. WELLESLEY presented a Reform petition from the' county of Rases. Mr. WESTERN said, he should support a fair and temperate Reform. Mr. MABERLY preaented a reform petition from Croydon. After a few words Roma Member, whose name was not known, Mr. Warburton, Mr. &ism; and Mr. Waithman, the petition was read, and ordered to be printed. Mr. M ABERLY presented a similar petition from Abingdon. Mr. O'CONNELL presented a reform petition from Mr. Yates, a Magistrate in Gloucestershire. Sir T. ACKLAND presented a reform petition from Plymouth. Lord EBRINGTON concurred with the petitioners. Reform patitiona were presented by Alderman Wood, from the Ward of Crippl te ;by Alderman Waithman, from St. Dunstan, Stepney ; by Sir J. Graham, from the county of Lanark, from Monmouth, and from two other places; by Mr. Hunt, from Preston, Arington, Yeovil, airy St. Edmund's, Ashford.in.thesWater, from Charley, and from two other places. Several paktum. were presented flow the following places by the fol lowing member*: Mr. BAINBRIDGE, from Taunton, praying for the vote by ballot. Mr. LABOUCHEItE said, be was not able to support the prayer of the vole by ballot, as he had never heard any arguments in its favour aufficient to cto.vince ititu. (Hear.) Mr. HUNT said. be was desired to support the petition. He was confident that if toe people of Taunton were to vote by ballot, 18 out of 20 would support the prayer of the petition. Certainly, if the hon. ge..tleman opposed the vote by ballot he would lose his popularity in Taunum. It was like giving a man with a wooden leg the privilege of runnin , r a hare, to give a man a vote and not give him the means of exercising it. Mr. HUME raid, unless his honourable friend (Mr. Labouchere) could point out some remedy for such practices as took place at Newark and Liverpool, he would be hound in honour to vote for the ballot. (Hear.) Lord SA NDON said if the electors were to vote by ballot, he thought the menaben. should vote by ballot too. Mr. O'CONNELL oaid the cases were wholly different. The mem bers acre deleg.tes, and it was proper those who sent .been should know how th.ty performed their duty. The constituent was only accountable to his own cooseience. Mr. CAL' RAFT thought voting by ballot would only make men deceiver-. (limr, bear, hear.) While canvass was continued, men would certainly promise; and if they broke their words they would be deceivers. Mr. CAMPBELL hoped never to see the day when Englishmen would Tom in secret. Lord NUGENT thought if the ballot would tend to do away with canvass, that would be a o.rong argument In his favour. He would be ashamed to ask one of his conseitttents how he ohould tote. He was satisfied to hear it at 111 c, hu.tin A s. Mr. LA BOUI OURS said he looked for the repression of such radices as had taken place at Newark from the honest intliguaticio of the public. Lord NUGENT presented a petiti..n from Aylesbury, and two from patislies in Bucks. Mr. C. GRANT, from Inverness and from Peehles. Mr. HUN f, from a paish in Manchester. With respect to th, hon. members who appeared to be OW anxious to protect the morals the people from the bud eff, co, of voting by ballot, was it not wontle• • fat tht.t they neva thought of protec.ing them from the bribery and cor ruption, sod lying and dtmtkennent that at present Wig place at Ali popular elcctions. Mr. ELLIS moved for a new writ for the county of Nairn, in the room of Mr. Goo; ge Campbell, who has accepted the office of Groom of the Bedenomkr. Mr. WYNN brought ;n the Mutiny Bill. Read a first time, and ordered to be rad a a. tond Bruce OUTRAGE IX THR ROUSE. Lord A LTHORP said the uZINUJI who bAll committed the drew ag2invt the house wl.s 'tow in cus.ody. one) be would move that he b e called to the 11;1 -n i t shots woilid be that he shorld be repoh. matiticd diothat A ed. a. te. thought die person who had eounnit.so such au uutete,e eau d scarcely be in a state of mind to suffer severe punishto.:nt. e..r.) The prisoner vim :hen brought to the bar. SPEAKER —What is your name ? P. isotiar.—Alz rade,. Jacobs. SPEAKER.—What doology have you to offer for the very great (Sul you have commis against for house ? The priscma was it.tl4titic..l, hearth in th• g..llety. He said be was conecrmat in a trade whito he eavect:rl an •Id be discmsed that night. and he t. , otiAht he nod a rigiu an an Ety,linte eon to be pieseot eluttug the discussion... He Mti .sot .ii.k It as us 110.siblO that any .)...3111)1.r of that house cou'd exi.:ct the , hz. as ail Ri , 5ii.b.1.419. could be bika• when bk., hand who: had oe-i; 7.41.t1 i.; 'hot house .hat •;ight. The SPEAKEtt cellist the orisooes to order. • ml 64.0 he was hrooghs there to melt: an apoloAl s'er .11 • ip.a. offe , tee 11:: had committed. H. should lake care ussc to inflame shat uy proteedio3 in she mean t. he was .hen The piscoser said he d.d not think the gentleman to akin be spots cotAd expect that any E4glisistrass should lee. p his tensile?. The SPitAKER *gip called hi..• to order. The prisoner then sad well, Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen, if 1 hare offended you I beg all your pardssus. He was then removed froth the bar. Lord ALTHOttP said what the person had said at the bar was not such an apology as could satisfy the House. He thotsght the cone he had intended to pursue would not be a snffieient vind.cation of the dig. nity of the House. lie should therefore move, that Alexander Jacobs, being guilty of a breach of the privileges of the House, be committed to Newgate..—( Hear. hear.) Mr. O'CONNELL said he did not mean to palliate the offence com mitted against the House, by the man who had been brought to the bar but he hoped he might be permitted to say, for one individual, that h. wished that pardon might, if possible, be !granted. The man appeared to be under come influence, perhaps peculiar to the day—perhaps of a more permanent character—and in either case he was an object of p ty It did appear that:there must he some obliquity of intellect that cou l d lead to suet an uncommon offence ; which was not likely to her:Tema); and, as the offender had begged pardon. he would take the liberty of moving an ao•endment, that Alexander Jacobs be reprimanded by the Speaker and discharged. Sir R. PEEL said, he could understand the feelings of the hor. gen tleman, and if the offence was merely personal, could accede to his pm. posal : but the offence was against the dignity of the house, and could not be lightly passed over. When he considtred how easy It was to repeat such an offence, and that last session papers had been thrown from the gallery into the house, he must support the motion of the noble lord. The prisoner said he was concerned in trod; that showed he ass not deficien. in intellect ; and if he came to the house in a sots of intoxication, he deserved punishment. Mr. W. WYNN said, the prisoner should, he thought, be kept in custody till to-morrow, to give time It inquire into his state of mine. ' Lord ALTHORP thought it was neeesmuy, p preserve the dignity of the house, that such an offence should be punished. The motion for the committal of the prisoner to Newgate was then agreed to. - NAVY EbTIJIATES. On the motion of Sir JAMES Sir ALExAripla GRANT brought up the report of the committee of supply oa the nay, estimates. Mr. HUME said he understood the tight I,on. bayonet (Sir Janie , . Graham) to say that Sir Jame. Cockburu I,AI diAc tergad nun,' of : I military character in the ',mettle servicJ brild I.e was appvinted I • spector of Marines. H. un.Yerstood that h.: and no 'military rank. t.a• that the duties he ptrfurmed wet.: mer..ly civil, let tie wa. now ptacet. at :be head of the tontines. Sir JAWS GRAHAM said, whil.t Sir Jaara Cockburn win P.c. master of Marines he certainly had no military rank. The .iffice of Payinastor of 31annea was abolished, and Sir iao.e.. Cockburn appointed a Lieutenant in the Aunt-. was also appointed harper.° - General of Marines. He thoeghe the Marinas to. meruur•uut. a built any in the service : and„if mere was no objection to expense. be should be wilting that an Adjutant.G.:mr.il should be appointed from the marine officer*. Mr. HU3lE*aid an ordrr hatl been nude lately with which he dot not lowa whether that house could interfere. It was to prohibit masters. pur*ers, and burgeons in the navy. frotn appearing ar hi. ,14. jetty's levees. Great endeavours had been mad, to raise the charaew of surgeons in the navy, and with the best effect. This regulation was felt as a stigma on the profession of navy surgeons, and hr hoped would be re-considered. -.. Sir JAMES GRAHAM said he was very incompetent to (Vico,. the question, which woe properly belonged to the Lord Chamberlain. A broad line had been drawn between the officers of the navy who should attend levees and those who should lot; the line of dis tinction I.as between commissioned and non.commiAsioned officers.— He had, however, received itis Majesty's commands to con-ider the subject, in conjunction with the Cotomande, of the Forces. (Hear, hear bear.) Mr. 111131 E said, a surgeon in the navy could not now attend a levee ; let hint I) • struck &amid he could attend the next day; it bad taken place at th.• hot levee. Lord HUT HAM tliou 4 ht the corps of marines should have their highest officer taken from amongst themselves. R. UORDON a-ked, acre the Naval Lord, of the Admiralty and the Secretary allowed their half-pay ? Sir JAMES tiRA HAM said, the Lords of the Admiralty whose salaries were 1,0001. a year, were allowed to retain their half-pay • but the Secretary , whose salary had been reduced from 3.0001 . to 2,5001. a year, watt not allowed to retain his half-pay, because his salary was deemed sufficient. Sir G . CLRRK highly approved of allowing the Lords of the Admi ralty to retain their half-pay. Sir GEORGE WA KRIINDSR always thought the Lords of the Admiralty underpaid, and was extremely happy they were allowed to retain their half-pay. Sir H. HARDINGE thought a sound &credal had been exercised, and hoped it would be extended to military °Seers. Mr. HUNT said, if the money paid to the pliant officers came out of the pockets of the aristocracy, or was even raised by a well regalated crty-taz, he would not object to sums paid them ; but what he that it came out of the pock Si of a suffering people, be could not but think that the pay was sußcient, without baK-pay. He bad many communications from marine Seen, complaining of promotion in their corps being given to oaten out of their corps. He wished to uk whether Captain Grey had been appointed to the Acuson three months before she was launched ? Sir JAMES GRAHAM said, Lord Melville had made the ap. pointment, not only out of friendship. but because the Acuson was a 'earl for experiment, and Capt. Grey was thought peculiarly qualified to take the command. Sir GEORGE COCEBURN raid it was by no means unusual to appoint Commanders to vowel, before they were launched. The Resolutions were then agreed to, and Sir James Graham ordered to bring iu a bill. DUTY OX PRINTIID CALICONS. Lord ALTHORP moved that the house resolve Itself into a Com. mince on the Excise Acts. His object was to pass a resolution for taking off the duty on minted cams. Great objections had at first been made to a . tax on raw cotton, which he only took as a choice of evils. That objection had now subsided. The mode in which he meant to propose the tax should be levied was the following t—Cotton was at present subject to a duty of six per cent which was about three eighths of a penny per pound. That duty he propmed to repeal, and to imposes duty of # of a penny per pound on all raw cotton imported, and not allow any drawback on the export of coma goods. Thu would be an addition to the present duty of 2-Bths of a penny per lb. He had been much prated on the subject of allowing *drawback of the duly on the stocks of printed calicoes in hand; but he found it would be impoesible to effect it in a satisfactory manner ; and be meant to propose that the duty should be repealed immediately, and that the drawback should be allowed on all printed calicoes exp orted for three months to come, by which means he hoped those who had stocks on hand would be saved from loss. Mr. GOU LIM UN said, when the noble lord proposed to repeal the duty on printed Wham', which amounted to 580 ; 0001. he said he could not repeal it without a sebstitute. In that he perfectly agreed with the noble lord. The right bon. gentleman cant:bided by observing, that he looked with pettiettinr je.4i.esy upon slily can *bleb reduced the al ready small surplus deckled by the noble lord; that reduction would be about 250-0001. beyond the amount stated when the Budget was first laid before tb.i Louse. It ought also to be borne in mind, that a great diCiculty would have to be met in the large stock on bum,. Mr. W A ITH MA N said he could see no occasion for limiting the amount of drewbecks on goods for exportation ; undoubtedly the die!. cult) , to be got over, as respected the stock on band, was very consider. able. Upon good authority ha was able to assure the house that the present stock in the market amounted to not less than one year's coo. gumption, equal to a sum or 500,0001. from equally creditable autbe. city by ihe proposed arrangement 22 persons alone would lose not ISO then 38,0001. the inconvenience and loss would be severely felt. He could mention a f..et with which he bad made himself acquainted, viz. that in one of the principid streets of London, containing about three hundred houses. durin c l the last three years there had been tei fewer than one hundred and seventy•eight bankruptcies, all of indict. duals connected with the cotton trade. He therefore trusted that the Noble Lord would consider well before he entered upon the ;proposed alteration. After a few words from an Hon. Member below the gallery, Mr. WAITH MA N explained. Another Hon. GENTLEiII A N from below the gallery said a few words, which were inatelible in the gallery. Lord STANLEY acceded to the: proposition of the noble lord. Sir It PEEL said, he could not agree to the arrangement proposed by the Noble Lord ; he contended that the interest of the public would have been more studied had the ditty on printed calicoes remained, than there should have been substituted a duty on raw cotton; be was satisfied that the total amount out of the Exchequer by die arrange. went would not he less than 317.5001. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was aware there would be 110111 C loss by the present mode of arrangement ; but he 'elf it was utterly impossible with justice to the finance, of the country to do otherwise. At the same time, he did not admit the loss would be any thing like the amount stated by the right boa. gent. (Mr. Gotilbetn). After a few words from Mr. GOULBURN, Mr. Alderman TB OM PSON had hoped that the noble lord would have acceded to the proposition of the calico printers of the city of Loa. I dun. For his own part, be had no objection to the duty on raw cotton ; he had not been instructed to oppose it. Mr. PAU LET THOSISON was not apprehensive that the trade with France would at all injure the trade of this country under the Dew arrangement. After a few words from Mr. WHITMORE, the house went We committee. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER proposed that *I Duties of Excise on Printed Stuffs and Calicoes do cease and is. termine. Mr. HUME entirely concurred with the proposition, although he considered the manner of dealing with the stock in band rather harsh. Mr. BERNAL supported the proposition. Mr. J. WOOD opposed it. He had great objection to any addi tional duty being placed on the raw article. Mr.;Alderman W AITHAIAN stated that one house had a stock of printed calicoes the duty on which would be 3,0001. another the tlety , on whose stock would be 4,0001. and several others bad large stocks, none of which were at all adapted for the ehipping trade, but were exclu sively made for the London market. The wholesale dealers were out so badly situated as the retail dealers, for the wholesale dealeta frequently did not execute work until after they had received orders; and he hoped the noble lord would give the question due consideration. Lord ALTHORP said that the plan which he had declared, sad which he must abide by, was to give an allowance of the duty for three months from the Ist of January. He did not mean to give any draw back for goods for exportation. Mr. itOBINSONsaid he was prepared to support the measure of the noble lord, tut it was freeing the public from a very vexatious tax. He did not concur with the hon. member for Middlesex, that the duty would be a temporery duty. Mr. GOULBURN acknowledged the difficulty under which the noble lord was placed, but he could see that by lifting the tax in one shape, lie was inflicting more severity in another. He pointed out that goods exported to Ireland would be entitled to a drawback, and that those goods might be had from Lancashire ou that understanding, and be intinduced into the market, to the prejudice of the other dealers. He had always been opposed to the duty himself, and the only obj. ction that he bad to its being removed was the difficulty of its adjustment at its removal ; the hazard was so great as to encompass the ruin of many, and was far too much to risk. The non. number also wished to know when the duty on soap was expected to recede. Lord ALTHORP replied that it was to recede immediately. Mr. 8. RICE said that the drawback system was a great injury to the trade of Ireland i.nd he would hither encounter the inconve nience of the three month's' drawback than the continuance of the ditrerence of prices between the two countries that would otherwise spring up. Mr. GOULBURN explained. Lord A LTHORP explained, and the Resolution was agreed to. A MEMBER moved that the House resolve itself into a Catmint on the Vestry Bill. Another MEMBER move) that the House do now adjourn. Mr. J. 8311T11 then ro.e to present a petition; and a discussion imbued, vide!, led the Speaker into an explanation, relatiug to a de parture from order. The hods, then resolved itself into a Committee on the Vestry Bill, and the Report was brought up. The house then resolved itself Into a Committee on the Scotch lie. ritabk litteftment Bill, and the report was brought up. Mr. U. HOY, in moving for returns of the flambee of passengers by skew-vessels that ply between the Isle of Wight and the coast of France, expressed his dissent front the propriety or a tax upon stemn-boats, either on the power or as a poll tax upon the passe°. ism He also expressed his diesention upon any taxes on COMM. akatlon whatever. Mr. SPRING RICE defended the tax, because that there was a tax on '4Bga-cantles. Sir W. INGLEBY said, that the apology offered was erroneous, as It vas an extetieion of a bad system by taxing communications. Mr. O'CORM AN MAHON should like to know whether or not it was the intention of Government to persevere in the tax upon the per. sons who came from Leland to this country ? Mr. SPRING RICE, in teply, said, that the question had already been answered—that Government did not intend to persevere in a tax upon the passengers, but that the tax should be placed on the steam. loom Mr. O'GORMAN MAHON, in answer, said, that he was sure the announcement would be joyfully received by all the sister kingdom. Mr. J. Smith presented a petition from Erris (Ireland), complain. dog of severe distress.—Ordered to lie on the table. Several other petitions were presented, and the house adjourned at Two o'Clock. The rise in the price of mutton arises from the frightful rot in sheep ; that in corn from deficiency in harvest, and a spe culated interruption of the communications with Poland, &c. Hyde-park is to have an opening opposite Lord Grosvenor's new squares. Foreign salutes to British ships are hereafter to be equally returned. The passage by steam-vessels from India via Egypt is now complete-17 days from Bombay to Suez, and 24 days from Alexandria to Falmouth. PANORAMA OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. PLYMOUTH AND DEVONPORT JOURNAL FEBRUAILY 24. Tuesday night last, the lower parts of the town were thrown into considersble alarm by the riotous conduct of large parties of the 67th regiment; who, as customary on the night, previous to their embarks dos, had been allowed liberty in the town. Fourattacked a serjean 4 o f the marines in George-street, and without the slightest provocation threw him on the ground, where they severely injured him. The shout. der-knot of the soldier was torn off in the act, and being picked up by one of the individuals who came up on the occasion, served the neat day to identify the assailant. Information of the assault was then given to Mr. Adams, the Commissioners' Surveyor, who, with two men, s et oat for the spot. On their way through 134;1ford-street, they met 16 when in consequence of their own inferiority of number they retreated to the watch-house. The military party then passed the Guildhall in the same order, clearing every thing before them, and proceeded down Looe. street. In the meantime the night-watch had been called in, and the watch were deliberating on attacking them, when one of them, belong. tag to the band, proceeded to draw his sword, and advanced on Mr. Adams, who immediately seized him by the collar, tripped him up, and secured him. A soldier now advanced to the rescue with his drawn bayonet, and made a thrust at Mr. Adams, but, receiving a blow across the bead from the staff of the latter, he retreated upon his party, who had in the mean time been partially engaged with the watch , and then they all ran away. In Millbay another . party attacked several privates of the marines, and being in such superior numbers and few watchmen in that direction, the latter were obliged to retreat. A servant of an officer of the marines was assaulted by the long drummer of the 117th t and the marines, between whom and the 87th such a cordiality of feeling was reported to exist, were in most instances the objects of attack. Although bayonets were freely used, only one man was wounded over the eye by a cut ; another watchman is also severely hurt by a blow from a stone. In one instance a thrust from a bayonet was parried by a rattle, and in another the point of a bayonet passed through a man's sleeve, and grazed his hip, without wounding him. Notice was given to the military force In the Citadel, and about 11 o'clock a large piquet (from 100 to 150 men) came out, and patroled the town. Yesterday morning the seven men who had been secured were brought up before the magistrates. They were at first remanded for further examination, but were subsequently given up to be de a l t with metal to mart ial law, in consequeoce of a communication front the Colonel, who promised they should be tried, and the guilty punished, before the transports put to sea ; which, it is expected, will take place to-morrow. The assault on the watchman is compromised for 5L The only comment we shall mole is, that the above-men. tinned is but one of the many occurrences, which prove the danger of allowing soldiers on such occasions to carry their side-amts. The Service Companies of the 87th or Royal Irish Fusileers, em. barked yesterday morning at the Dock-yard, on board the Orestes, Amity, and Arab transports, and will sail the first fair wind for the Isle of France. The lath Depot, now lying in the Citadel, are toreinove in a few days to Dave:port. The Undanoted, 46, Capt. E. Harvey, was suddenly ordered on I Wsdnesday, es take a reinforcement of royal artillery, composed of Live,. Ihrobby and 26 men, to the Mauritius, end to remain as an augossmstion to our force on that station. By the last advices from that Maul, a mutiny had occurred in the 99th regiment. It appears that instructions had been received there, either regulating or prohibit. ing the flogging of slaves ; and on an occasion when a soldier of this regiment was brought out for punishment, a sergeant stepped from the ranks, and said that the regiment was determined not to submit to GM penal punishment in future. alleging that as the blacks were no longer to be flogged, there wee no reason the whites should continue to be so. This man and others who were ringleaders, were tried by a Court Mar. dal and sentenced to be shot, but the governor, Sir Charles Colville, did not carry the sentence into effect. Coaxwatt.—Symptoms of discontent have been manifested by the miners in different parts of the county, in consequence of the shipment lof corn for the eastern ports. The last harvest in Cornwall was in many parts abundant, and on the whole was • fair average crop; it was also saved, in general, in excellent condition. The farmers finding they odd readily dispose of their corn in large quantities to the factors, bwe Sew so; the markets are no longer so fully supplied as before, mid lie 'WWI of obtaining small quantities of grain has become a mono of complaint to persons, who, disliking to purchase dour of the inpsiers, conceive they see in the shipment of grain the cause of the beenwatienee they experience. From the causes just stated a body of memwtheners, from Luxullian, Roche, and the adjoining parishes, col loid ea Friday last and proceeded to Wadebridge and Padstow, where shipmate were being made for Plmouth and other parts of the kingdom They stated, that In the neighbour ing markets—those of St. Columb, St. Austell, and Bodmin—the supply of corn has latterly been very defi cient, and they requested the magistrates to represent to the farmers the propriety, from prudential considerations, of supplying the markets as heretofore. On Tuesday last, about three hundred miners of St. Just entered Penzance In a body, and proceeded to the quay there, for the purpose of preventing the exportation of a quantity of' barley then in course of shipment, by Messrs. Branwell and Sons. The two resident magistrates of the town, Robert Richards and Edward Collins Giddy, Ears. with several of the inhabitants, repaired to the quay, when they found that the shippers bad promised they would not export the corn, which was accordingly taken back for the warehouses. This measure completely satisfied the miners, and they returned at once to theirhomes. In consequence of the assemblage of the streamtinners and miners, before stated, the Royal Cornwall militia at Bothnia. have received notice to hold themselves threadiness to march eta moment's notice. A patient from East Torrington, of the name of Bishop, died in the Notth Devon Infirmary, on Thursday se'nnight, and on the fol lowing Monday the funeral took place, and the supposed corpse was interred in our Church-yard. The widow of the deceased subsequently received en anonymous letter, which informed her, that although a fu. neral had taken place, and a cofiln had been buried, the remains of her husband were still in the Infirmary. On receiving this infor mation, accompanied by the overseen of Torrington, she came to Barnstaple, and after obtaining permission of the proper authorities, had the coffin disinterred, whi‘h on being opened was found to be filledwith earth I The parties then proceeded to the infirmary, where after some little delay the body was surrendered to them, having been disem bowelled, and exhibiting signs of the commencement of diseection. The poor woman had the mangled remains placed in the coffin originally designed for them, and took them home with her to Torrington. This " untoward event" having excited the utmost alarm, that the institu tion, which had become exceedingly prosperous, might suffer by it, a very full meeting of the Committee of the Institution, was held on Tuesday. The Lord William Bettina transport, in nineteen days from Ber muda, arrived on Thursday. She brings home a few invalids, and 68 convicts, some of whom have served out their time; the remainder have been sent home for refractory behaviour. On their passage they evinced a disposition to mutiny, when the agent, Lieut Grigg, imme diately chained the most turbulent to the chain cable. The denims convict ship will shortly be at Portsmouth to take the prisoners to New South Wales who were sentenced to trans portation at the late Special Assises.—Of there 76 are now on board the York. and 80 more are expected. Some of the parishes who are burthened with the families of these men, have been in correspondence with the government, with a view to send out their wives and children. The Proteus convict-ship will also take felons to New South Wales from this port. Fresh orders have been received at this port relative to the flag-ship for the Mediterranean. The Asia, 84 guns, will remain at this port as guard-ship, and the Bt. Vincent, 120, will take out the flag of Sir Hen. Hotbarn. Sir Henry will also have a further accession of force in the Mediterranean, in the Ganges, 81, and the Kent, HI. PLY MOUTH POLICY.—Henry Baker and William Ley, two young men employed in the Vicinalling Yard, were brought forward bj the Commissioners for improving the town, and, on the information of two men of the night patrole, fined Fifty shillings and costs for obstructing the foot-path in George-street, on the evening of the preceding Sunday, and behaving in a disorderly manner to the annoyance of female pas sengers. In default of payment they were ordered to be imprisoned fot the period of three months. PLYMOUTH Coax RICTURN, FEB. 22.—Average—Wheat 7413 d. Barley 34s lid. Oats M.—Currency—Wheat 64a to 80s. Barley Sls to 565. Oats 24s to 255. During the preceding week and on Monday last, our markets presented a vet, liberal supply of Wheat, Barley. and Oats; the business transacted in Wheat was inconsidera ble compared with the previous week, and but few parcels obtained our last quotations. The dullness in trade may be attributed to the anticipated reductions in the duties of Foreign Wheat in the bonded warehouses. The sabre of both Barley and Oats were dull, though there was little or no variation in price to note. MARRIED.—The Rev. W. Whitter, of Cullompton, to Frances, second daughter of the late Thomas Kennaway, Rsq. of Exeter—At Wolborough Church, Wm. Baker, late of Newton Bushel, to Anne, the eldest daughter of the late Robert Warren Langwonlty, F.Pq. o Newton Abbot—Mr. Ellis, Master Measurer of Portsmouth Dock. yard, to Miss Dorking. DIED.—At Southampton, aged 73, Katherine, relict of Admiral Sir Richard ()Aldan, K.C.B.—At Sandwich, M. Strong, Esq. Cam• minder, R. N. DIED. On the 22d instant, in Bruton -street, atter a lingering Dowager Lady Scott, relict of the late Sir Claude Scott, Bart. a,;eati - 2. On the 27th ult. William Gunnell, Esq. cf the House of Counuoido. On the 25th ult. at Brixton, Elm Smith, many years an inhabitant of Clapham, at the advanced age of 102.—Saturday, Mr. Edward Vining. lately a member of the Drury-lane company. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW. Morning SH. SM. Afternoon Printed and Published by JOHIII AIAVNE, at tog OrTICE, No. 1, Plekett•plsce, Temple Bar. ii.ll