Star. — London, England, 1831-09-06 00:00:00

~: r, ` IMPERIAL PAMAAMENT. 1101 TSP OF LORDS. SEPT. 5. g,:'.tion of tile o:ds than the Honourable Member." 0 1)n. Croker is too hig hbred to have any idea of what is naant u mire's rest. Mr. Croker will not. how. rYt:r. prevent the world from giving him credit for a more aqiisive knowledge of the language and manners of St. Giles's than he wishes to claim. Mr. Hughes Hughes, we will answer for it, p:+ssesses no superiority over him in this respect. Tins hopeful subject is to form the subject of a special 3lorior. by Sir Chas Wetherell, on Wednesdny—he 10,king upon i: as a gross infrirgement of the privileges of I'.o Hamm: ! T•tfl Ilarnburgh wails were received yesterday, the last of ehich brought Bamburp,lr papas to the 2d September. Their convenes were extremely intermtting. Accounts from Cratow. of the 25th August. end Lemberg, in Gallicia, of r 27-11, state that Genera Rutliger has been beaten by the and forced to take refuge in the Austrian domi• r..ors. with the remains of his army. The Austrians dirt. mined the Russian:. A Berlin article of the 30th August, states, that Rutliger was beaten 'by the Commander in Skrzv.uc'.i, at the head of sixteen thousand n, on the 2:hh August. Rudiger, it stems, was cortmletcly r.tken by surprise. It is now said that there was no foundation whatever fcr thP retorts of murders and dirt. rertsions in Warsaw, and that tit,. y were fabrications, with a view to amuse the flustdans with hopes of ob7aining the place by surrender, and to divert their attention from the , perations of Skrzynecki against Rudiger. If these accounts ..re to be relied on. Paskewitch has been compelled to re. treat, in consecittence of the defeat of Rudiger. The ac counts come through such a variety of channels that they can hardly be altogether fabrications. The information, however, is still of a vague character, and prudence requires us to receive it with caution. We fervently hope tbat sue eetlittg arrivals will prove that the good cause has tri umphed in Lord COWLEY was introduced as Baron cowLzr, sup ported by Lord Manvaostoocti and Lord SIVA SIT DE I tOTUSAT. Lord KING rresented a petition from the Isle of Wight, for Reform in Parliament. Lfird TENTF.RDEN gave notice that on Friday he should move the second reading of his BM to limit Pre scriptions. The Marquis of DOWNSHIRR presented a petition from Ireland, praying for the continuance of the parlia mentary grant to pro:tyre education. The Noble Marquis eulogised the system which had prevailed with respect to education In Ireland. and expressed an opinion that the funds voted by Parliament had not been misapplied. IPORTUGAL. The Earl of ABERDEEN rose, pursuant to notice, to hying under the consideration of their lordships die present sate of Portugal. The noble earl said the petition he had to present on the occasion was from the merchants, ship. rwr,crs, and manufacturers, connected with the trade to Pur. mgal. They complained that this trade, which had been so rag protected and increased, and which had been so favour able to the nation at large, had been exposed to hardship at.d loss. The petitioners were alarmed lest the measures of his nlajesty's ministers, in concert with other powers. tar arrangements which appeared impracticable, would increase the difficulties under which they labour, and re duce the commerce of the country. The noble earl observed, tl.at the difficulties alluded to were not only of a commercial ramie ; a feeling had been excited in Portugal which con stantly exposed our countrymen to danger. On a future oc ttsion, when the commercial policy of his Majesty's 31 i rsters might come under discussion, he should be ready to state his views. In the present instance he should endeavour to prove, that the present state of our political relations and the trade between Portugal and this country. could not be carried on with advantage. It r.ruld be difficult indeed to carry on the present relations ter any time. The fact was, our connexion with Portugal, founded upon treaties, required cordiality and friendship. Portugal had long been the friend of England, which almost stood in the situation of a mother country. The French had been, on all occasions, so jealous at our ad vantages in Portugal, that they called Portugal the colony ct England. The present inactivity of England with re spect to the ail'airs of the Portuguese nation, would place in jeopardy the whole Peninsula. In bringing the sub ject forward, the noble earl expected to be charged with partiality, and the desire to support a despotic govern ment. Without bawling so loudly about liberty as some robe lords, he hallowed the rights of freedom, and would stand up fe r those rights as strenuously as any noble lord in that house; (Hear, hear.) but in looking at foreign states, he turned to qualities which engaged his at tendon more than forms of governments. He alluded to those qualities in Portugal, which he considered love of Eng land and bet interests, and love of peace. He was less anxious about constitutions, than what was doing to tarnish the honour of England. He admitted that the Government of Portugal was despotic, and knew that despotism had ex isted for centuries; but our connexion had been cemented, and all the engagements of Portugal with this country ful filled. He had seen for the first time, in the history of Eu. rope, a Ft ench fleet domineer over Portugal, with the consent of England. This he considered a disgrace to the Bri. tish nation. It was no matter for resentment on the part of this country, when Portugal refused to have a new con stitution. So long as she was able to fulfil the treaties by which she was bound, this country t ught to be satisfied. The refusal to have a Constitutional Government in Portu gal, was no ground for breaking the friendly relations of this ecuntry. Mr. Canning, speaking on the affairs of Spain, had declared that the people were opposed to a free coo. etitution when it was offered them. :he same might be said of Portugal. The fact was, the people would not de. part from their ancient forms : it was not so wonderful that they should feel a desire to remain unaltered. Notwithstand. ing the glorious days of Paris and Brussels, they had before them no ether than prospects of misery, bankruptcy, and distress. To force a constitution down the throats of the Portuguese against tl.eir will, was, in the Noble Lord's opinion, most ludicrous. It was like the conduct of the father in " Tom Jones," who endeavoured to make die daughter happy by forcing her to marry the man she de tored. Bow sere they to bring the difference in our reit'• thins with Portugal to a conclusion ? How were the dia -1 eltiee to be overcome? His Majesty, in his speech iron' the throne, hail expressed regret that he hod not been able to re new his engagements with Portugal; and he (Lord Aber deen) wished to ask what it was that could glee his Majesty's Government satisfaction? It could not be said the supposed esurpaticn of the Crown of Portugal stood in the way. He should contend there was no usurpation. Don Mi guel had invoked the estates of the kingdom, and those estates had unanimously elected him their king. They had gone further, perhaps to the injury of Spain, sad declared him the legitimate king. The majority of the people had submitted to the justice of that decision ; and Don Miguel had been upon the throne three years, during which the great. cst difiiculues bad assailed all governments. This, however, had been done in opposition to the wishes of the principal pow. era in Europe, and the measures taken by that Prince might not be strictly justifiable—there was much in the Portuguese government to condemn. It was known they were severe, and when they were reminded of the severity of their mea sures, they had invariably said, we desire to be merciful, but In fore we can be so, we must have your suppoen The noble earl was satisfied, even on that subject, there had been gross misrepresentation. During the last three years not more than twenty-two persons had been put to death in Portugal, and their lordships must admit, that in there years, consider ing the situation in which that Government had been placed, 22 capital punishments could not be severe. It was said, shy did not Don Miguel keep his personal engagements ? There could be r.o doubt of his breach of faith—the late Government of this country felt that it was necessary to witcdraw our Minister, and put Don Pedro in posses. soon of the facts. They had a desire to know what he would do with respect to the rights of his daughter. In the course of a Log protracted negociation Don Pedro deter mired that there should be no hostilities with his brother, and th..t all should be settled by a marriage of his daughter with Don Miguel. He knew not what could have induced Don Pedro to alter his mind, but certainly up to the be ginning of this year the same intention was manifested. His Majesty's Government were anxious to produce a set tlement of disputes, and the first thing they recommended was a general armistice. In November a modified am. zesty was submitted to his Majesty's Government, ilt' alter it Lad received the sanction of his Majesty it was transmitted to Portugal on the very day the noble earl gave up the seals of his office. Whatever might bare occurred since that time he (Lord Ahe:dcen) should contend that a renewal of our relations' with Portugal was of the utmost impottanee tines the Fret* took possession of the Tagus. Ilia hope wee, if any be ix ; diment should in the way, the paper be laid b the House. The claims on the part of France might be sub stantially just, but his objection was not founded on those claims, he should contend that it was the duty of the govern ment to interfere and save the Portuguese before the French fleet bad left the port of Toulor Tmties between the two countries made It imperative on us to-become mediators, and use our good offices, but that we had not done. It was desirable to look at the mode in which the French claims had been en forced. The Admiral forced the passage of the Tagus, and took possession of the fleet. The French Admiral then required indemnity for the war, and notwithstanding his assn. dons about French magnanimity he delayed that the Pam guese fleet was to be carried to France. It was considered, perhaps, that the Portuguese ships were good prizes of war.' Ills hopa was, that the noble lords, if they had such an opi niun, would lay that opinion before the House. He should contend there had been no legitimate w.r between the two countries ; but it might be said there was war, but it was peace de facto. It was clear the French (lid not• consider themselves at war with Portugal. The French Admiral, not satisfied with imposing these terms, entered into a new convention, by which he took care to make terms most favourable to French commerce. The French were to stand upon the footing of the most favoured nation.— This could not be agreed to without injustice to Eng land, and Viscount Santarem merely declared that he was disposed to treat upon commerce in a yawner reciprocally advantageous to France and Portugal. Another advantage to this country—he hail heard it was the intention of his Majesty's glvern.nent to allow the Portuguese ships to assist Don Pedro in his designs upon Portugal. Now if it were a Portuguese fleet, what right had the French to take it away ? and if the ships were prizes, why did the French allnw them to be so employed ? Could the noble lord be so infatuated as not to ace that anything done by France in Portugal was injurious to this country. The object was to destroy the colony of Portugal—for such it had been considered with reference to England by Hourhous,'Honepattists, and Carl. ists. Every government in France had looked with jealousy upon the connection between England and Portugal, and the object of all, including the present Government of France, had been to gain, if possible, the advantage Eng land had so long enjoyed. The noble Earl (Aberdeen) went on to say that n earl at the head of the present Oo• vernmcnt would find that he had much to unlearn on the subject of our foreign p ricy ; that pol'ey might carry the horrors of civil war into the Peninsula and deluge it with blond, but lie never could succ:ed in disturbing those falai. utions to which the people of Portugal had shown so much aft:id:mew. (Hear.) He, therefore, should conclude by merely moving that tttc petition be real and ordered to be lard on the table. The i chitin which was from the shipowners , merchants, and °thin in London, engaged in the trade with Portugal, was th en read at lengt h by the clerk from the table. Earl GREY said, he had not been made altogether am quainted with the secure of the noble earl's petition. He had sui , posrd that the petition had reference alone to the commerce of this country with Portugal ; hut the noble earl who presented it had thought tit to enter into leng h. end details respecting not only the :rade of the two coun tries, but also their political connexion. The Earl of ABERDEEN, across the table, observed, he had given notice that his remarks should have reference to the political shoe of Portugal. Earl ORBIT rammed. He considered, after the promises which had been made by his Majesty's Government on the present subject, and after their consent in the other House of Parliament to produce certain papers which had been called for relative to the affairs of Portugal, he (Earl Grey) had hoped that the Noble Earl would have abstained from making his present statements. All he (Earl Grey) had now to offer generally was, that he was not prepared to follow and answer all the Noble Earl's remarks ; he should observe, however, that he had been informed (be did not know how co:reetly) that the petition presented by the Noble Earl had been got up, as the phrase is, by an individual connected with the press of the country, friendly to the views enter had by teat noble earl respecting Portugal, and that it had lain at a toffee-house in the city for a considerable time, and had only obtained 16 signatures to it. (Hear.) With respect to the non-recognition of Portugal by this and other states, and the French expedition to the Tagus, the necessary infor. mat'on should in a few days be laid before the house, which would completely show that the statements of the Loble earl were not well founded. The noble earl had denied that France had any right to demand redress of Portugal; he (Earl Grey) was not prepared to answer that statement, but he was rather surprised to hear it made after what had fallen from the noble duke opposite,who had said thee after the Eng lish had demanded redress, there was no other course left for France but to adopt the same line of proceeding. Touch. hug the opinion of the King's Advocate respecting the ne. gociations with Portugal, he (Earl Grey y was exceedingly anxious to place that opinion before the House; from that document it would appear that the whole and only wish of his Majesty's Ministers had been to act with the utmost impartiality as regarded both nations. When the Noble Earl and his colleagues had the Government of the country entrusted to them they laboured with all their might to show sufficient cause for refusing the very information which was now demanded. Whilst the Noble Earl and others on his side of the House indulged in such statements, they ought to re collect the affair ofTerceira.—(Hear). But with respect to the more important part of the Noble Lord's remarks, viz. the position in which this country was placed in relation to Por tugal, in consequence of a suspension of that friendly inter course which had existed for so long a time between the two ra:ions, he begged briefly to direct their lordships' at tention. The noble earl ( Aberdeen) himself would not go further than he would to maintain these friendly relations, and if there was any responsibility attached itself to this country for the present state of affairs in Portugal, he could assure e house a very small portion of that responsibility rested on the present ministers of the crown. (Hear.) After alluding to the expulsion of Don Pedro, the noble earl (Grey) said, that expulsion was not the cause of the non recognition of Portugal; but a general recognition might follow, if treaties of peace, and amnesty with other nations, were ratified by Don Miguel. The noble earl (Aberdeen), in one of his own dispatches had alluded 'o the insur mountable barriers which existe d to the recognition of Don Miguel; these barriers still existed, and however desirable it might be to have them removed, there was still greater and more important objects to be kept in view by his Ma jesty's Government ; an amnesty, the non. grantingof which was considered an insurmountable barrier by the alibi* earl (Aberdeen) on the firer day of last Session, never had been issued—never could be 4 obtrined by the present Ministers. In. stru:tions had been sent to Mr. Mackenzie, the British:Con- , sul at Lisbon, to obtain an =natty ; these instrucrie ns had been repeated to Mr. Hoppner, the successor of Mr. Mac kenzie, and he had been equally unsuccessful; in short, up to the present moment, the detzuud for an amnesty ha il I been met in the same spirit, and none had been obtain d.— (Hear, hear.) Again, says the noble earl, the Government of Don was not of a harsh or bloody character, for only 22 individuals during its three years continuance had been executed on the scaffold. The noble earl, however, had , passed lightly over those unfortunate persons who, for slight I political offences, were submitting to imprisonment in the dungeons of Portugal. The: noble earl, before he arraigned his Majesty's present Ministers, should hare been prepared . to defend himself fur the state into which the politics of the two countries were now placed. It was not the duty o Minister. to look too nicely into governments of other coun tries, if they found their sovereigns willing to cultivate peace and amity with neighbouring states. One word as to the counsel of the noble earl respecting the vigilance which was necessary to be adopted by Ministers to guard the interests of the country which had been entrusted to them, he (Earl Grey) did not stand in need of such counsel. He trusted he should guard the interests of the country against both enemies and powerful rivals. ( akar.) The Duke of WELLINGTON vindicated the charac ter of the petition which had been presented by the noble earl ; it had the signatures of thirty-two of the principal merchants of the city of London, engaged in the trade to Portugal, attached to it ; the topics brought forward in the presenting of that petition, by his noble friend, were the very topics treated of in the petition itself; there wax one point, however, which that noble earl had abstained from noticing, namely, the wine trade with Portugal, a point which t ot tally interested that country, but the whole Penin sula, Germany, and Italy ; it was now intended to put the wines of these places on a par with those of France, a country, in its relations with England, which ought not to be entitled to such an advantage; but it ,hewed the partiality which noble lords opposite entertained for France. After alluding to the expedition of i France to the Tagus, and the subsequent possession of St. Michael's by the French, the noble duke said, that as an Englishman, and not as an officer, he considered the conduct of the French Admiral as calculated to excite feel ings of indignation. Then there was the treaty for fort St. "Fallen • arid that the forts in the Tagus should not be re- inforami or repaired ; the dispute altogether arising out of articles in two newspapers, the one published in Coimbra, and the ether in Oporto. It was the duty of this Govern ment to_ place Portugal with tha Governments of other coun tries. No man deprecated more strongly than he did the eon duct of Don Miguel, who, after he went to Portugal from this country, broke all his engagantnts ;hut bis (the Duke of Wellington's) duty, as a servant of the King, would have been to endeavour, by every means, to place the two branches of the House of Waimea on a friendly footing without resorting to the use of fire-arms. The bit ministers found Don Pedro sometimes desirous to go to wit —that is, that this country should go to war for him ; some times he was *axiom fer pace; at other times he wished to make war against his brother; those means he (Wellington) did not approve of, and the last negotiation, namely, that iDon Pedro should allow his daughter to marry Don Miguel, he did not approve of, and consequently It was broken off. He (the Duke of Wellington never should have agreed that this country should be the arbitrator be tween Don Pedro and Don Miguel; but the Noble Earl (Grey) had not told their lordships whether he agreed to send an Ambassador to the Court of Don Miguel, if an amn►sty were to be ratified—lt was now more important than ever that Portugal should be brought back to the family of Europe : the late revolution in France and Belgium ren dered such a step more incumbent on this country, which was absolutely necessary to prevent Portugal becoming a province of France. We owed it to the firmness of Don Miguel and his people that not only a commercial but a po litical alliance with France had been frustrated. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY read at great length a communication from an officer resident in Lisbon, impug ning the conduct of Mr. Hoppner, the present British Con sul in that city, observing, that he saw nothing on the part of France in its whole transactions with Portugal, and its other foreign relations, but attempts to gain power in Por tugal. The Marquis. of LANSDOWNE vindicated the charac ter of Mr. Hoppner front the aspersions cant upon it in the communication read by the Noble M.Arquis, in justice to one of his Majesty's diplomatic servauta. The Marquis of I.ONDONDSitRY rose to explain, but was prevented from proceeding by loud cries of order, order. The LORD CHANCELLOR, after much uproar, pre 'mktt himself and raid, he rose to order. The Noble filar. quid could not interject an explanation in the midst of a sentence in ano.her tire‘cit ; he would be allowed to explain by courtscy, after the Noble Mitrquis (Lansdowne) had finiahed The Marquis of LANSDOWNE resumed. He was about to observe, that the noble marquis had founded his statements upon an anonymous letter, and not upon a par liamentary document, as he ought. lie (the Marquis of Lansdowne) contended it was unjust to the character of an estimable individual so to do. The noble marquis then at some length defended the course of policy adopted by mi nisteis as respected Portugal, observing that the requisite information on that head should be laid before Parliament in a few days. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY explained. The document he read was a letter from brigadier general Sir John Campbell, and was entitled to the utmost attention. After a few words from the Duke of WELLINGTON ha explanation, The Duke of RiCil MON D said he was glad the noble marquis had stated from whom the letter emanated. The gallant officer who was the writer of it had married a Portu guese lady—no doubt a Miguel:te—and her husband had probably, to a certain extent, imbibed her ideas—.(Cries She is dead.) Did the writer, however, state the number of prisoners for political offences at present in Portugal? The Marquis of LON DON DhltßY declined to answer the question. The letter might be placed in the hands of his Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, of whom the noble duke might have whatever information on the sub ject he required. After a few words from the Marquis of LONDON DERRY and the Duke of RICHMOND, Viscount MELBOURNE inquired to whom the letter was,written ? Lord LONDONDERRY answered, to himself. The petition was then ordered to be laid on the table. The Bills on their Lordship's table were forwarded their respective stages and the tiouse adjourned a few minutes before Nine o'Clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Colonel EVANS presented a petition from Manchester, for a further extension of the elective franchise. Mr. BRISCOE presented a petition from the Seaetary of the Labourers Benefit Society, No. 61, praying that parishes might be enabled to take lan d sufficient for the wants of the parish, and not be confined to fifty acres; and that the parishes of the metropolis might be empowered to take land for the employment of the poor within t-n miles of the metropolis; and a petition from certain inhabitants cf the metropolis, praying the house to address Ms Majesty for • remission of the sentence passed on the Rev. Robert Taylor. Mr. HUME presented two petitions from parishes in Ireland, against the grant to the Kildare-street Society; and expressed his hope that Government would make grants for education to Protestants and Catholics sepa rately. (Hear, bear.) Mr. HUIIE presented a petition from the parish of Mary-la-bonne, against the select vestry set, which was the cause of great agitation in the parish; and two petitions from the inhabitants of the metropolis, complaining of the prosecution of the Rev. Robert Taylor, and praying that the house would address his Majesty to remit his sentence; and that they would repeal all laws against the free expres sion of opinion, which was a natural right; and a similar petition from Manchester and Salford, signed by 5,000 per sons. He perfectly concurred in the prayer of the petitions. Mr. &saw (recorder of Dublin) was sworn and took his seat. Mr. HUME presented a petition from inhabitants of Alary.la-bonoc,complaining of the prosecution and imprison ment of persons for selling cheap publications in the streets, and praying that the law might be repealed, and that the persons prosecuted might be compensated. Col. SIB THORPE said persons had commenced a prat.- tice of defrauding the revenue by printing news on cotton. Mr. HUME said be was not before aware of the printing on callico ; but he was fully aware of the ingenuity by I which Acts against cheap publications would be evaded.— lie presented a petition from persons keeping beer-shops in Stockport, praying that they might be allowed to keep their shops open as long as licensed houses. Sir ft. VIVIAN said the beer•shops should be placed under the cootroul of Magistrates. Mr. WHYLAND said the beer-shops in his neighbour hood had done much injury, and required regulation. Mr. ESTCOURT wa' satisfied it was impossible to get rid of the beer-shcps, but thought they ought to be put under regulations. Mr. HARVEY was confident the best way of putting down drunkenness was to takeoff the malt duty, siod that would en.ble every man to brew at home. ROTHIAT STEAMER. Colonel SIBTHORPE hoped the Secretary at War would take steps to prevent steam-vessels advertising themselves us War-office packets, which was the cue with the ltothsay ' steamer, and caused her having so many passengers. Sir H. PARNELL said the contract entered into with Government allowed the owners of these packets to call them his Majesty's War-office Stearn-packets. Col. SI BTHORPE gave notice that to-morrow he thoukl move for the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the frequent calamities attending steam-boat navigation. Mr. HUNT presented a petition from the industrious in habitants of the 3letropolis, against prosecutions for selling cheap publications; and gave notice that to-morrow he would move an address to his Majesty. for the release of all Crown debtors, and a grant of 24,000 L for the release of prisoners confined for small debut allover the kingdom, on occasion of his Majesty's Coronation. T EJ 11-1108 T Mr. Alderman WOOD said, he not at present press his bill for the regulation of the speed of steam-boats on the Thames; and moved, that it be read a second time this day six months. Agreed to.—The hon. alderman gave notice, that he should move for a select committee to inquire into the subject of the speed of steam-boats in the Thames. LIVERPOOL ELECTION. Mr. VERNON, in moving for a writ for the election of a member (or Liverpeol, said he was surprised that any ob. jection should be made to the motion by reformers, at a time that a motion for a general reform was in progress through the house. The hon. member for Wiltshire might vote for the present question, and afterwa,tls, If he thought it necessary, bring the corruption of Liverpool under the ! consideration of the house. The hon. member for Liver. pool had suited that he felt the representation of that great town, without a colleague, was a burthen too heavy to be borne without injury to his constituents. Corruption did nut for the Srst time take place in last November ; the elections of Mr. Roscoe, Alr. Canning, and Mr. Bus. Meson, were also tainted. He did not use this argument for the continuance of corruption ; but as Reform was certain, he thought it was not necessary to deprive Liverpool of one of its representatives. There will be 14,400 101. house holders in Liverpool, after the peering of the Reform Bill ; , after which addition to the electors there could be no appre. pingo:a of corruption. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving that the Speaker do issue his writ for the election of, I a representative for the borough of Liverpool. Mr. BRNETT said he war most anxious not to delay the great question of reform, but he felt compelled to bring forward his motion for the punishment and purification of the constituency of Liverpool, which was proved, by the eel. deuce given before the election committee, to be so exten sively corrupted, as to make it inconsistent with the character of the hum to allow ft again to return members in its pre. sent state. The hon. member here read extracts f,otn the evidence to prove that the freemen were brought from the bus. flop to the pay-mom, where it was certified that they had voted, and they were all paid-1n the early part of the election 51. each, but towards the close the 51. was raised to 401. a vote. One witness proved that he paid between 50001. and 60001. for 200 out-voters. The evidence proved that the briberywas practised throughout the whole election, from the first day to the last, and that it was geaeraL There were persons behind the curtain who supplied the money for this extensive corruption. It might be asked what Induced per.. sons to give such large sums of money to bring in some eminent public man for Liverpool—the answer, he believed, was, that there was very extensive patronage in Liverpool. (Hear.) He wished to take away the franchise from those elector% not as • punishment to them, but to take away from the corruptionists behind the curtain the tools with ' which they worked. He believed that by examining three or four witnesses at the bar, he should be able to prove that between three and four thousand persons had been bribed, which would be sufficient to deprive them of the elective franchise, which, even after the reform bill should pass, they might use to influence the return for Liverpool. The hon. gentleman said he should move three resolutions as an amendment to the motion for issuing the writ, to the effect that the house egrecd In the report of the Liverpool Election Committee, that gross corruption had been practised at the election for I.iv.rpool ; and that leave be given to bring in 3 bill for the exrcetion of the evil. The SPEAKER put .he question on the first resolution} Mr. HUME said ne should support the original motion for issuing the writ, because he thought the town of Liver pool should not be left without both its representatives du. ring the present most important proceeding ; and that the reform before the House would effectually prevent the repe. iition of the offence ; and that going into an inquiry now would greatly delay the Reform Bill. Lord MORPI-.TH said as a member of the Liverpool election Committtee he must concur in what was said of the extent of the scandalous corruption that was charged against Liverpool. The great question was the prevention of the recurrence of the evil; and that be thought would be ef fected by the Reform Bill. He, therefore, should vote for the issuing of the writ that Liverpool might no longer re main without two representatives. Mr. WASON supported the amendment. He thought it necessary to the honour of the House that the corrupt electors of Liverpool should be disfranchised. Mr. LABOUCHERE thought it would not be difficult to prove at the bar that the majority of the electors hed been guilty of corruption, but he could not in the present state of ;he business of the House consent to postpone the issuing of the writ. Mr. CROKER supported the amendment. Issuing the writ would perpetuate to the corrupt electors of Liverpool the power of returning the members. He could not under stand hawany real reformer could persuade himself that he was not giving a bounty to corruption by issuing the writ. He should be glad to hear the noble lord opposite state his opinion. Lord ALTHORP said, lie had on the former occasion voted for issuing the writ, not for the purpose of smelling corruption, but because he felt it would lead to long delay and great inconvenience if the writ should be suspended. The house might just as well punish the corrupt electors after the writ was issued as before ; but the house having resolved to suspend the writ, it would now be inconsistent to issue it ; and he thought he was more bound by the deci sion of the house than by his own opinion, and should vote fur the amendment against issuing the writ. Mr. VERNON replied. idr. HUNT said that he considered it nothing was done to mark the sense of the House relating to the bribery and corruption that had prevailed at Liverpool, that it would be gross injustice to those boroughs which had been disfranchised by the Bill. After some conversation the gallery was cleared for the purpose of division, and the numbers were— Ayes Majority ... ... 41 By which majority it was determined that the writ should issue. Mr. HUME said be was so anxious for the Reform Bill passing that If he had any certainty that the exclusive bill for Liverpool had been gut up for the purpose of delay, he would oppose it. Lord .1. RUSSELL spoke on the same side with the hon. member for Middlesex. RIFORM BILL. Lord ALTIIORP then moved that the house resolve it• self Into s Committee on the Reform Bill. Mr. B. WALL put a question to the Noble Lord (Al. thorp) regarding the Parliamentary Commissioners, in con. sequence of a letter that he bad received, stating, that on the 24th of August, 31enrs. Dawson, Drinkwater, and Satin. den, had applied for information regarding the division of counties, under the authority of the Secretary of State, and signed by G. Phillips. He contended, that his Majesty's Government was not warranted In sanctioning that expend!. Lure, or furnishing that authority. After a long conversation, the house went into committee on the clause that the Commissioners of the Treasury be em powered to defray the expenses of banisters in making out the returns of the list of voters, which was agreed to. Sir CHARLES WETHERELL gate notice that be should move to.mortow for a copy of the circular to the The CHAIRMAN having read part of clause WS, enact ing that the overseers shall prepare lists of persons entitled to vote in boroughs. Mr. WHAM said, the expense of the lists should not de volve exclusively on the parishes returning the members.— The expense would be too heavy a burden fur the parishes. In the Tower Hamlets, it would amount to 1,0001. or 2.0001. annually. Alderman WOOD said, u there were 40,000 inhabi tants in the Tower Hamlets, the expense to individuals would not exceed one shilling, suppuMng £2,000 to be the correct estimate. But the expense would be nothing like that sum. Mr. WARBURTON thought It would be tint, to con. eider the point, when the Tower Hamlets complained of their newly-acquired privilege.—(Hear). Colonel 818/HORPE was of the same opinion as Mr. Walks. Lord ALTHORP said, it was just that the places en joying the benefit should pay the expense.—( Hear). Be sides, the expense being under the cancroid of the parish, would be less liable to accumulate than if made a public burden. 31r. HUNT observed, that the power lodged in the hands of the overseers, was perhaps too considerable. It would be well to preclude them from canvas=ing. Dlr. MILKS suggested the association of the Church. wardens with the overseers. Six C. WETHERELL considerel the registers contain: log the conuibutions of the Inhabitants to the poor rates, &c. to supersede the necessity of the present clause. Lord ALTHORP said a few words which were not heard. • On the motion of Mr. WILKS, words directing that copies of the list should be delivered to individuals on pay. meut of Is. were inserted in the clause. The clause was then agreed to. Schedule K (annexed to clause 33) was declared part of the bill. Clause 34, enacting that town clerks shall furnish the over. seers with lists of the freemen, wee agreed to. Clause 36, enacting that precittete, extra parochial or otherwise, baying no overseers of the poor, shalL for the poe. pose of making out the list of voters, be deemed to be within the smallest pariah or township adjoining, was then put. Mr. J. CAMPBELL proposed that "lent populous" should be substituted for " smallest." The amendment was agreed to, and the clause as amended was declared part of the bilL Clause MI, ipsting the judges who are to name the barristers who shall revise the list of borough voters, was agreed to 37, directing that returning officers are to revise lists of borough voters ; and clause 31, enacting that over. seers shall have the power of inspecting tax assessments and rate-books, were also declared part of the Bill. Clause SU, enacting that Returning Officers and Barristers, in revising the lists, shall have the power of administering oaths, and that they shall settle and sign the lists in open Court, was then put. After a few words from C. WETIIIIIILL and the AT. voamar.Girtsaat, the nuvalext was agreed to. The CHAIRMAN mad clause 40, requiring the Sherif to keep a list of the electors. Colonel WOOD said it would be found impossible fur tl.e sheriff' to keep such a list. Lard ALTHORP defended the clause, which wa, agreed to The CHAIRMAN read clause 41, prohibiting any quiry at the time of polling respecting the right 0: vu:in., except as to the identity of the person, that he has the -.tn.. qualification as when he registered, and his not hoeing pre viously voted at said election, of which the oath, or affirma. tion, of the elector shall be coaclusive evidence. Agreed eu, Clause 42, directing the returning officer to take all vo4:i that were in the registry, was agreed to. Clause 43, directing sheriffs to make proclamation t.f the times and places of election, was read and agreed to. Ciaose 44, providing that the polling should comment.: at nine o'clock and continue two days, being read, Mr. Strickland, Sir E. Sugden, and Sir C. Wetherell oh. jetted to the time as too short. Lord ALTHORP thought there could be no difficulty in taking the poll in two days, as thcre could be tiftmu places for taking the poll, and the booths at eac l .l might be divided as much as at present. Mr. WILKS suggested, that there should be an ini..rval of more than one day between the day of nomination and thecornmencement of the poll, to give time for non.residen t freeholders to come to the poll. Lord ALTIIORP considered two days sufficient thic, counties being divided. After a few words from Mr. Sraical.sarn, _Mr. 1101-nt. woant, and Mr. P RARD , c l ause 4 4 wa - agreed to. The House then resumed, the Chairman spored pregro4 and obtained leave to sit again to-morrow. The Reform of Ireland Bill was pcstponed to llonoay next. The Wine Duties 13:11 wu postponed to Wednesday next. Lord ALTHORP moved that the committal of the Si. gar Refinery Bill be postponed to Monday next. Mr. K. DOUGLAS complained of the frequent postpone. meta of the bill, which greatly interested the colonies. Mr. ROBINSON complained, that peat fiscal questions should be brought forward pending the reform bill, wittn they could not receive due consideration. Lord ALTHORP said, the Sugar Refinery Bill had been originated two years since ; its principle had been agreed to, and it stru now considered a motion, of course. The little discussion it now required might well be disposed of, titer:. fore, pending the reform bill. Mr..HORDON would prefer postponirg the " wicketl" last bill—(a laugh)_ to that day six month s . (R ear , and a gh The .) motion was agreed to. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the house adjourned at Two o'Clock. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. OUR EXPRESS FROM PARIS. The Army of the North is returning to France. A division, commanded by General Barrels, about 12,000 strong, will remain in the Belgian terri tory, at the disposal of King Leopold. The head quarters of Marshal Gerard and the Duke of Or leans will be transferred to Maubeuge, where a camp is forming near that town.—Moniteur. A terrible revolt has broken out in the Russian military colonies. Frightful massacres of Gene rals and officers are described. This intelligence leached the Government yesterday evening by a courier from the Duke de Mortemart, and may have a gloat influence upon affairs in Poland.— Le Temps. Cascow, Aug. 19.—0 n the 14th, the Polish Prince Radziwell was sent from Warsaw to the head-quarters of the Russian Count Paskewitsch ; but when this mission was known on the following day by the patriotic party in Poland, on some sus picion of treason the excesses of the 15th and 16th took place.—Austrian Observer. Minds are far from being calmed in Switzerland; it is stated that a party exists, having for their aim the dispersion of the Diet, and the establishment of a central government fur all the Cantons.— Bias, Awe. 27.—(Private Correspondence.) —The inhabitants of the country have not obeyed the injunctions which had been given to them by the four deputies sent by the Diet. The number of their partisans increases daily. There arrive from the neighbouring cantons armed men, ready to serve the cause of liberty. Liestall resembles now a place of war. Barricades are raised, Louses are fortified ; all is prepared for a vigorous resist ance. The provisionary government proceeds with regularity. On the receipt of this last intelligence, the Diet ordained to General Guigues to bear upon Liestall with 4,000 men : but what troops can be sent against the Swiss who do not wish to obtain in the like manner as those of the other cantons, a just repartition of political rights ? Blood enough has been shed for the aristocracy. Is it now, is it in 1831, that there will be found in Swiss soldiers instruments of oppression. Scit w Tz.—The fermentation in the Canton of Schwitz augments more and more. On the 17th, the council of exterior districts made an appeal to arms. On the 21st, the two contingents were un der arms, and the landsturm was inspected. An attack was expected from the troops of the ancient country : all the positions of the frontiers are gar nished by carabiniers. The same day the landsge meinde of the ancient country of Schwits assem bled, conformably to the invitation of the diet.— After five hours' deliberation, it rejected all accom modation with the exterior districts, as well as the conciliatory propositions of the Diet. It is to be feared that civil war will burst out, if the Diet does not interfere more energetically.—Sentinelle Ge nevoise. TOULON, A uo. 28.—The frigate Bellona has returned from Algiers ; she brings 150 sick be longing to the various corps of the army of occu pation. Our soldiers experience again the effects of the climate of Africa. Nearly all the hospitals of Algiers are crowded, and several vessels are trancporting the sick to France.—National. The members of the Chamber of Deputies as sembled at noon yesterday, in the committees, to continue the examination of the Budgets for 1831 and 1832. The discussions were equally long and warm as the preceding. M. Cabanon proposes to move the following amendment, as a substitute for the bill presented by the Government to form Art. 23 of the Charter :—The Peerage ceases to be hereditary : and is not transmissible to heirs. The King appoints the Peers out of a list of candidates elected by the arrondissement Electoral Colleges, in number equal to that of the Deputies ; the age of eligibility is 35 years years accomplished. This list shall always be kept complete. The nomina tion of Peers cannot be less than one-third of the number, nor exceed the total number of the Cham ber of Deputies." The defenders of the hereditary Peerage quote documents to prove that there are not in all France more than 107 persons who possess 100,000 fr. a year in land, and that those who pay 5,000 fr. a year and udwards to the land tax do not exceed 574 Courtier Francais. The responsible editor of the Gazette du Lan guedoc was condemned a few days ago by the Court of Assizes for the Haute Garonne to eis months' imprisonment and a fine of 1,000 fr. for insult towards the King's person, by the insertion of a fable, entitled " Le Bone et le Renard, ou Maitre Dupla et son Compere."