The Statesman. — London, England, 1823-03-19 00:00:00

iments ►4 nut action e only im its sus to to pre- upon its, 46. gatived a Bill Mice in lilt was ich had ons cot eaerally the gal increase o amend a wool* holding ) propose per to do }-morrow a BMW land. move that of against ass' Act, lnd hottest sty. With Act, and ;slated to Under the ill debtors lie would servations, meant la- gree to the !r tneastne t to the pre an even s; and an medito aired much against the seasdre *as th the anti of reader shusent,snil N'et, as well airiest ese ieot .for life preßared to objection &Vied bury lig luitkii°Pf THE STATESMAN Mr. ABERCROMBY.couId not agree to the motion of the Hon. Member for Coventry. A recurrence to the old law would he highly injurious to tbd creditor,; for , as had happened before, the gaols wield be filled until' they were crowded, and then a temporary Act would be passed,for discharging them. ? without* a regird to the conduct of the different debtors. He understood that there wart' sum of 10,0001. in the 104 s of the officers , of the Insolvent Court ready for'dietribution among dif ferent creditors, not one of whom applied for any divi dend. He thought the House ought not to part with the princi?le of the Bill. In Scotland the law was more lenient than it etas in England; and yet the people there • were perfectly reconciled - to it. There was, no doubt, ie *Odell, a cautious disposition against the giving of ex , ensiii credit, and he thoUght it would be better if that disposition found its way to England. He could by aio means aeree to the emotive. Mr. NW:MOUSE thought that if the Ron. Mover really wished for any alteration in the preient law, he d& not do better than leave it to he proposed by the Sblicitor-Oeneral, from whomit was sure to receive thit favourable attention from the House which, was with held from measures generally proposed 6om his (Mr. IBibliouse's) side. He should be glad to wait for the promised measure of that Hon. and Learned Gentleman, and trusted that. when he produced it, it would be found to contain some provllion fur altering the constitution of thefoeolvent Court. He hfid just received from one of his Constituents the bill of of a So)icitor of tt.a. Court for conducting the business of an Unopposed Insolvent ; and the amount was not less than 441., ten guineas having teen charged for drawing the schedule. In this case , therefore, the lemoivent, who bad not been opposed by Ids creditors, was la er havtimir given up all his -property, to be arrested at the suit of his Attorney for getting his discharge. Sir A. WILSON said, thr , t a Meeting had lately taken place In the borough of Southwark, to petition fur the re peal of the Insolvent Rill, but there was not a person in that Meeting. however hostile he might be to the enact ments of the Bill, who was an enemy to its principle. He would recommend to his lion. Friend to withdraw his rao tion, and leave it in the 'mends of his Majesty's Law Of- &ere. Mr. BRIGHT said he would not vote for any Bill which would punish with imprisonment for life ; but he was of opinion that the time of imprisonment ought to he pro portioned to the quantity and the circumstances under which it was contracted: The great objection of commercial men to the present Bill, was the diMculty of proceeding un der it. He suggested that the Habeas Corpus, or power of removing the dean . , should be taken away entirely, and , also that insolvents should be deprived of the privilege of ' the rules of the King's Bench prison. Another provision he 'herald like to see inserted In the Bill was, that when- I ever the Court remanded an insolvent, he should be entire ly under the control of the Court, and should not be dis charged at the pleasure of any individual creditor. He also disapproved of the r. gelatines In the Act respecting the appointment of essigters. He thought a clause should be provided for the partlcelar case of accninniodatioa-bills, which often were found to lead to great frauds. Mr. SYKES said lie approved generally of the principle of the late Aim, but he thought much inconvenience attend ed the execution of it. He did not allude to the cases that came before the Chief Commissioner, but to the proceed ings before the Commissioners in the country. The SOLICITOR GENERAL said be recollected that I the feelings of the House was in favour of the principle of the Hill.—(Hear, hear, hear indeed, if the motion of the Honourable Member were acceded to, all the pow erevested is the different persons acting under the I nso!.. 'vent Act would be rescinded. Many persons would be liable to new arrests, many soma of money now in the hands of dif f erent persons for distribution would become impounded, and every inconsistency and extravagance would follow. Most of the provisions of the present Act were necessary to give effect to the principle of the Bill; so that as a necessary consequence, no one who approved of that prioeiple could vote for the present itto• tien. He had examined all the Petitions %4 hick had been presented to the Houle on this subject; and he found that no one suggested a practical remedy for the oils of which they all complained. Much bad been aaid in favour of the Irish Law, and he bad therefore ex amined the Irish Act paragraph by paragraph with this English Act, and lie found that their provisions were the same. lie did not deny that evils existed under the pre sent law; but he believed they were much exaggerated. He thought that whenever a debtor appeared to have dealt fairly, gave up his property, and consented that his future property should be liable for the payment of his debts, his person should be discharged. This was the principle upon which he approved of the law.—(Hear, Lear.) —Ile thought the provisions of the present Act were good ; but he believed that creditors were generally inert, and declined bearing the expense of bringing evi dence before the losolvent Court, to show the fraudulent conduct of their debtors. When they were thus inactiie they must take the consequence ; and ought not to expect persona to be confined upon a mere surmise of fraud. The debts dichiarged under this Act were stated toadsoant to Ili millions; but this was a miwake. Every person legally educated was aware that a Man who had given a Bid of Exchange, which had circulated among several persons, was compelled to put each of them in his schedule, lest lie should not insert the proper person to whom the mo ney was due. This circumstance rendered necessary the insertion of many debts several times over, so that, the nominal amount of the Debts appeared to he not unfre,- quenty ten times more than their real amount. The de bciency of assets was to be accounted fur in the circum stance that persons discharged under the Insolvent Act were generally persons in an inferior situation of life, without any capital; while in cases under the Bankrupt Laws the object of them was generally a person in an extensive business, and with a considerable capital. He could only assure the House that he bad no desire to withdraw from the ;hedge he bad given to direct his at tention to the subject.—(Hear, hear.)—He should do so moat assiduously, and would, in due time, state to the House the result of his labours ; and if he thought he could do so effectually, would suggest an improvement of the present law.—(tiheers.) After a few words from ,Hr. J. Sum, and from the SOLICITOR GENERAL in explanatiou, Mr. ELLICE said, he entirely conrsured in the gene ral views of the lion, and Learned Dentleman, and was most happy to find that the Law Officers of the Crown had pledged themselves-to take up the subject. Mr. HUME hoped, that when the Hntiowahle end Learned lientlentan proposed any alteration of the pre sent law, it would include a reduction of the present ex pense of carrying the law into execution. lie trusted also that the operation of the Bill would he extended to Crows Debtors. He was not only fur the principle of she present Act; he was against linprisonmeut fur debt all. Ile could not, therefore, but desire to see the benefit of the law allowed to Crown L)eb'o:s, thany of wilorn remained in custody 10, 15, or 20 years, sad lose of whom died in custody. The law officers of the Croen acre Eder enabled to show unjust and undue fa vour fog political teasons. While they imprisoned for life a poor wretch owing 201 such a man tit, Mr. Theo. dove Rooke was allowed to remain at large, who owes 10,0e0/. Sir J. NEWPORT said that the Irish Insolvent Law was generally approved of. This, he believed, was mainly to be attributed to the limited credit which was given bYtraders in Ireland. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, in explication of are mark of the Hon. MeMber for Westminster. said that the ail‘ he had referred to was not an act of the Court. It was merely an oreinary Attorney's Bill. Mr. HOIIHOUSE said it waltke Bill of an Attorney of the ('stet, for obtaining the discharge of the prisoner tinder ' pr,seut Act. TheSOLICITOR.GENERAL said that it might, like other Bills of Attorniaa, be taxed in the mod manner. Mr. C.. WILSON spoke in favour of the principle of the Bill, though he wished to see it modified. Mr. P. MOORE, in coneequence of the pledge given by del Solieitai-General. would cheerfully Withdraw his motion. The motion, then, with consent of the House, Was Dr. PHi LLIMORB moved for leave to bring in a Bill . 'to amend the Act of the 19th George the Third. It Wes . an Act against profane swearing, and there was a chmie in it which required every clergyman in the kingdom to read the who!e Act In church four times in the year, un der a penalty of five pounds for every omission. That penalty was often souglit ambitiously and maliciously, and his object was to repeal that clause of the Act which imposed it. Sir JOHN NEWPORT thought no Act of Parliament whatever ought to be reedits Church. He thought it was a mod improper practice.. Mr. C. WILSON concurred in the sentiments of the last speaker. Dr. PHiLLIMORE also concurred, and rema►ked that he bad himself refused to introduce the clause in ques tion, The Bill he noir proposed to bring in might pro bably be extended so as to meet the sentiments of the Right Hon. Baronet. Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. LORD LIEUTENANT OP IRELLND. Mr. HUME, adverting to the notice of motion which he had given far dispensing with the office of Lord Lieu tenant, Chief Secretary, and other great officers cf Ire land, stated that he wished fbr certain information upon various points, in order to support the case he intended to lay before the House. He should therefore move for several returns. The first was a Return of the income end expenditure of Ireland for the year ending January ISIS; his object being to show that England had to con tribute between two and three millions towards the ex penditure. He next wished for an Account of the Im ports-and Exports of Dublin, in order to show that that part liad gained by the Union. The Return', then, fore, which he required on this point, would he for a period of ten year's before 101, and ten years preceding 1823. The next was a Return of the tonnage of vessels of Ire land outward and inward, distinguishing those of Dub lin. The next was a Return showing the amount of fees received by the Council Office and Secretary's Office in Ireland for the last two years ; but if there should be any difficulty, he would be satisfied with ibis a. count for one , year. And the last was a Return showing the amount of fees paid to the Attorney and Soliciter General, and other King's Counsel of Ireland for the last five years by the different Government Offices, distinguishing the sums I paid by each Office.—All the motions were agreed to. MUTINY BILL.—YORRIGN POLICY. On the Order of the Day being read fur the third read ing of the Mutiny Bill, Sir FRANCIS BURDETT said he had hoped that Ministers ha I determined to put an end to the cruel practice of flogging soldiers of the English army; but from an °lase' vation made ou a former evening by a No ble Lord (Palmerston), relative to the dismissal of an Officer, he pas induced, though reluctantly, to give up his hope. As this subject therefore was, iu his of the highest importance, he gave notice that, on the first open day, he should bring it before the House in the form of a substantive motion. He thought be could not take a better opportunity than the present of expressing his surprise and sorrow at the conduct of Government respecting the sta'e of affairs between France and Spain. The pretence which long bad been made for keeping up a large standing army, ego that Government might be enabled to preserve the balance of power; and now he was called upon to protest in the strongest manner against the dereliction of character shown by this Go vernment, even upon their OA n expressed opiriens. As the Right Hon. secretary fur Foreign Affairs, was ab sent, be should not go so fully into the question as he otherwise should; but be could not forbear rentioding the House that Ministers had, at the beginning of the Session, by his Majesty's Speech, given the House to un derstood that they were maintaining the honour .if the country. Yet, notwithstanding thole assurances, it ap peared that in consequence of the Council of Ministers, we were not in a condition to stay to the Bourbons, "You shall not disturb the Balance of Power."—We had in fact allowed that balance to he destroyed ; we hail deli vered Europe into the bands of two or three aggrandised coalesced Despots.—(Cheers from the Opposition.) And, in the generally exaggerated language of Itir. Burke, who had applied the description to France, " the country had been blotted out of the map of Eat rope." Mr. Fox, fond as lie was of peace, had said that there was a point which would justify war from tnotises of interest as well as those of wisdom—he meant national honour.—(Hear, hear, from the Oppo sition.) The feelings of every man in that country was in favour of that gallant and noble nation which was about to be engaged in its defence against foreign aggression. Should Spain be conquered, there could he little doubt that Portugal would be attacked; and he understood that even the Secretary of State for Foreign Alihirs did not deny that in such a case, we might be called upon by our treaty to take part with Portugal. In our present conduct, therefore, there was neither ho nour nor pulicy. If France entered Spain, Portugal would naturally next fall a prey to her rafacity. The question then for this country was, whether we stimuli go into a ear with a gallant nation, to bear the brunt, or whether we should be obliged to enter upon it single banded, with the odds against us? As this was not the proper time to enlarge upon the subject, he would say no more at present, hoping still that the 9uestion was not finally determined. He would still contnine to hope that this important question was not to he so decided that this country was to be reduced to so low a state as to adopt so mean, so dastardly, and so unwise a part, as to observe a strict neutrality in the present state of the world.—(Hear.) That would be the only way of pro moting the true principle of the Holy Alliance, at which every English breast revolted. But if it were intended that we should perform such a part, why, he asked, had nut Parliament been informed of it before ?—(Hear, hear.) Why had they been deluded irito silence, in or der, as it was pretended, to give effect to the pending tn.- gociations ? lie did not know that the House would have agreed to one half of time Estimates that had been granted; that it would have permitted so many taxes to remain unrepealed.—(Hear.) He was sure that they would cot have consented to remain so long idle, which Lad been polo:rive of tatis`action only to the Minis ters, who, he did think, had not shalt fairly by the House in this basin:as. The whole matter must soon come under the fail consideration of the House ; for which time he would reserve himself, only desiring at first to be understood as not acquiescing in the propriety of the conduct of this Government upon the present ue casion.—(Cheers.) Mr. Secretary PE Z!. rose to deprecate the fart'alr prolongation of this disen-aion. If the If an. Baronet thought it improper to discuss th question of flogging in the army with fist malice, he ought to have felt still mere strongly epos so important a question as the pre teet.—(Hear !)—ln the absence; too. of his Right lion Friend (Mr. L..unina), which alas caused solely by india p;rsitian, the diacuasion was El-timed, and more particu larly as the Hon. Baronet said he expected a case to be mane out or. the part of Goveioment. Ile should not save condemned until he I,ivi heard the d e f ence . Isi s Right Hun. Friend (Mr. Canning) had pledged himself, early after the recess, if things remained in the same si• maties, to ester into a full and detailed sla'ement of the proceedings of Ministers Li this question of the: French invasion of Spain.' It aebuld be but justice, therefore, to *sit till that statement was produced. In the mean .time, he (Mr. Peel) had no hesitation in saying, that he differed in his view of the question emir. ly from the Hon. Baronet, and he was sure the whole country would bear with satisfaction. that nothing had happen.d in its relation with other States, which, at the same time that it did not compromise its honour, was at all calculated ,to disturb its tranquillitv.—(Hearl) Ur. HOHHOLTSB . derended the course taken by hied Hon. Colleague. He contended that the vote before the Holm naturally suggested the observations which were made, and that. after all, the Hon . Baronet could not be , said to have travelled much out of the record. His (Sir P. Burdett's) only .object in rising was to enter his pros test against the acquiescence of Ministers in any measures which were calculated to compromise the national honour. It might well he said, that if England permitted Spain to become a province of France, her name was blotted from the map of nations. The House had been promised a? . .. II vindication of the conduct of Minister. It appeared to him to be a difficult task for them to clear themselves in the eyes of the country. A report was certainly abroad that the int , rference of Coaernsa-nt hitherto was directed rather in hostility to the cause of liberty in Spain, than with the view of promoting it.—(Hear.) —This report, he believed, took rise from the conduct of Sir William A'Coprt at Madrid, by endeavouring to procure a Modi fication of the Constitution from the Cortes. If Sir William really acted so, it was the meanest as m ell as the most dastaidly attempt to induce Spain to betray and de grade herself. Addressing himself to the Mutiny Bill, the Hon. Member used some arguments to show that the power of dismissing (officers from the Army without Court Martial, was not an inherent prerogative of the Crown, fur in the feudal tiro a the King had rib laranVat all. Ile also referred to the opinions of Lord Chesterfield on Lord Cobham's dismissal in (leo. 11. to show how que , tionable such a right in the Crown then was. Upon that occasion it was state.' that 0.-o. 1.. in the preceding reign, was so sensible that this right was not an appurte nance of the Crown, that he instructed Lord Stanhope, by whom the cominuni , ation to the House was made; to bring in a declaratory Hill upon the subject. tie hoped his t4allant Friend would not give up his efforts in irig t h e power of the t..;rate uin this respect. Mr. T. COURTENAY defended the absolute prero gative of the Cr•twn in tisinissaig officers of the Army without the interfercuce of a Court Martial. Such a power uas en undoubted right of the Crown, and had been exercised by it invariably from the Revolution downwards. This usage was equivalent to the law of the land. The existence of this right, however it might have been denied by individuals, was never essentially titles tinned by the Noose of Commons. George the First, though a King, was no authority upon the subject, for he was a foreigner, and necessarily knew little of the Con stitution. Without such a power, an Army in this coun try nould he independent of all controul. He differed hoin the Hon. Baronet in the estimate which he made of the feelings of the people of England upon the Span ish war. The Hon. tiaronetwas net warranted in saying that the feeling in favour of that war was general.— (Ilear.) It was certainly the wish as it was the duty of every EngliEhum to see the national honour supported ; but lie was sure the people would not withhold their gra titude from a Ministry who, whilst they preserved that honour, did nothing to impair the national prosperity. — For lie asserted that the country at this moment contain ed seeds of prosperity, which required but a few years o f peace to bring them to maturity. All he asked was, that the House should not come to any conclusions until they had heard the case Ministers were able to make oat. Is did not follow, that because this country refused to en gage at once in war, its honour was therefore eumpro wised. Sir ROBERT WILSON thought that the Right lion. Secretary, and the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down had thrown down the gauntlet on this subject. He was firmly persuaded, for one, that the majority of the people were in favour of war In the cause of Spain. It was a war of the tyrants and bigots of the human race against the rights awl independence of free nations. The people saw that this was a war against the liberty of this country, and they would look to that House to see who were the abettors of such a cause. 'ibis war was a war against Spain to force her to do what it was impossible she ever could do without for ever excluding her from the sympathy of the world, viz, to force her to yield the point of honour. An abject Briton indeed he mast be who could sit by and see what was going on by France against Spain, and not feel ashamed of the inactivity of his own country. He had not yet been answered on the subject of the Foreign Enlistment Bill ; bet he hoped the generous people of England, whether that Bill were repealed or not, would not refrain from giving their best assistance by every means in their power to the Spa nish cause. He hoped it would be remembered that al though ttAs Bill was then in force, the standard of liberty had first been planted in South America by British bards.—(Hear.) Mr. T. WILSON thought the preservation of peace a great blessing, provided it involved no compromise of ' the national honour. Ile spoke the sentiments of the commercial men of London, who were not advocates for war. This class had suffered as much as any other du ring the late war, though from the nature of their capi tal the losses were less perceptible upon then than upon the agriculturists. The merchants were still for peace. Sir F. BLAKE complimented Ministers on their man liness, and hoped that they would not be induced to com promise the honour of the country for all the semi-barba. roue hordes of the North. lie was glad to hear on a former evening that the navy was in so excellent a state, lung and for ever might it remain so. Col. DAVIES, contended that every one, who, like the Member who spoke last bat one, assisted at the din ner given to the Spanish Ambassador, pledged himself to support by arms the cause of Spain. The declaration of the Right Hon. Secretary(Alr. Canning) on this point twilight, filled hits with 'shame and sorrow. Fur that Right Hon. Gentleman he had a high respect, and atone time he lamented that indisposition should have deprived his Majesty's Councils of the able assistance of one who was so great a friend to liberty and the independence of nations ; but when he saw that the first use which the Right Hon. Gentleman made of his emancipation from his bed was, to publish to the world the sham' fad resolu tio i to whic hl his 3lajesty's Ministers had come to;he (Col Davies) wished to Hon the Right Hon. Gentleman's in disposition had still kept bias confined there.—(Loud laughing.) - Mr. RICARDO protested against the Gallant Officer's doctrine, that all who assisted at the Spanish dinner had pledged themselves to support the cause of Spain by arms. He was present, but his voice was still for peace. So far was he from approving of a war at this time, that be thought our wisest course would be to keep est ar Ia altogether; and it did not follow that all those who . weite present at the late di nner were ready to vote for our go.ng to war in order to assist the Spadiards. Their object in going there W. 13 to express Clear sympathy for the brave Spsn sit nation. Mr. DENISO'N deprecated the idea of this country rushing into a war, of which it wouid be impossible to foresee the consequences. It east our duty to avo'd as long as we could any thing likely to plunge as Into such an abyss. - Sir J. NEWPORT, lamented the question of peace or war had not been left where the Right lion. Secretary (Mr. Canning), had left it in the former part of the even. log, as It MIS impossible to pronounce a judgment with out hearing the statement lie had promised to the House Looking at the calamities war had inflicted on this oil- Con. be thought we ought well. to weigh the queetiou before we plunged lito another; although he would rather we incurred the same burdens, and the same calamities over again, them see the honour of the coun t ry compromised. Mr. JONES remarked on. the material alteration visible in the opinion of the Hon. Baronet opposite(Sir ' F. Burdett) who in a late war upon the same principles which be now contended justified another, did nothing bat deprecate its ever having been commenced. • Mr. WILLIAMS deprecated discussion, hut when he considered the infamous attack upon Napirs,and what had . been the conduct of our Ministers, lie thought we ought to give the Spaniards every confidence-. He dis one/lid having given any pledge by having attended the dinner; but he did thereby bold up to the world his de testation of the conduct (..f the Governimmt of France. When he looked at the tyrants of Enr.epe, it was impos sible tint to feel that their very people must detest ;hem ; and that he might not take up the time of the H..iuse, he would tepeat (whlch he thought very applicablete-weir case) the cords of one of our modern Poets : Nations would do well To extort their truncheons from thepuns hands Of heroes. whose infirm and bri by minds Are gratified with mischief; cud who spoil. Because men suffer it, their toy—the world:* After a few ob.ervatiogts from Mr. flume, Lord PALMERSTON called the altention of the • House to a new clause which be proposed to add to tato Mutiny Bill, to render the E st India Couipanfs officers • amenable to the provisions of that Bill. • This clause wan added to the Bill, which was thew read a third time and passed. ORDNANCE ESTIMATES. On the Report of the Supply Committee being broogl: t up, Air. HUNIE tookoccasion to protest ag4inst the larev scale upon which the Ordnance Est:wat•s had been framed. Ile considered that the whole of the Ari.T was upon too lagr a scale, if things remained as regart.- ed our foreign affairs in their present state. Bit as that was doubtful, he would say no nose at presmt. The whole of the Resolutions were then read, and agrieti to. The his!) Grand Jury Presentment Bill, and the Mae• riage Act Repeal Bill, went through Committees.—it-- port to-morrow. The Irish Tithe Bill was read a first time, and order ed fur second reading on the •_'ls: FIRST FRUITS. Sir J. NEWPORT gave notice of a inotien on this sub ject for Thursday the 10th April. Mr. HUME gave notice of a motion for Thursday next, for a return of the 'lumber of persons pi osecutei fur blaspliemoas libels. The Marine Mutiny Bill was read a third time and passed. The other orders of the day were disposed of, and the House adjourned at half-past eleven o'clock. FALMOUTH PACKETS.—We understand that the Dee* tation from the Merchants, Packet-owners, aid Inhabit ants of Falmouth, now in London, are unwesriid in their efforts to bring under the notice of Ministers, the very injurious erects which must result to the Caunuerciat and Mercantile Interests, &c. generally, *from the pro posed alteration of the direction of the Packets, as wed as the additional expene which the regulations Shunt to be adopted by the Admiralty respecting the-e vessels, will impose on the country. We are, however, sorry to learn, that hitherto they have not made much progress. though their representations have been seconded by many most respectable individuals, who have been satis fied that the intended changes will impede act! nut fa cilitate the communications between this tenantry and those places to which mails awl passeneere ere con veyed from Falmouth. From the steps taken by the Admiralty, we have no expectation Ministers will be in duced to relinquish their plan. An order wes this week received at Plytnotith Dock yard, to ft out the Astrara frigate, with an additional false keel and ivies.' bilge piece:, to guard against injury from grounding at low water. When completed, she ha to proceed to Falmouth, where she is to hear th • pennant of the Commodore, who is to superintend the Packet Es• tabliebnieut at that Port. Of the thirty gun-brigs which the Admiralty have or dered to be built fir the Packet sera e, as stated in one paper of last week, the Rolla, Saracen, Savage, Scorpion, and Sea-lark, are to be constructed at Plymouth, on the model of the Hope and Mutine, which are already in a state of forwardness ;—the Leveret, Mesquite), Recreir, Rapid, and Myrtle, are to be built at Portstnonth ; five others,whose names are not given, are to be built at Mil ford, atd the remainder at the other Royal Dock-cards. —The equipment of these vessels and the Ailtnira!ty es tablishment intended to be kept up at Falmouth, will cause a considerable additional expense, which when pressed, Ministers will doubtless propose to get rid of, in pert, by transferring the Establialiment to the superin tendence of the Port Admiral at Plymouth.—This we Ap prehend, will be the issue of the business, unless the its tended transfer of the direction can be prevented, of which we fear there is very little hope.—(West Britwi ALNAGHAN Assizes. el Rut 10.—Between tweh-e and one o'clock, the Hon. Baron M'Ceeeteteo arrived in Monaghan, and shortly after lie proceeded to tee Court-h ouse, when the Commission was read, the grand Panel called over, and the Jury sworn. His Lordship, in charging the Grand Jury. said the state of the Calendar was not such as to reqttive any ob servation; for whether he considered the number or mag nitude. of the crimes, they were of a nature that might be expected in any populous County. He regretted so mention, that besides the offences specified in the Calen dar, he had been informed by the Clerk of the Crown, that there were an immense number of indictments against individuals for a crime which pre veiled to an atnazing extent in the County; hr meant that of illicit Distillation. There appeared to be (his Lordship said) no fewer than 141 indictments against persons accused of being engaged in this illicit traffic; and lie implored the Gentlemen of the Jury, as they regarded the charac ter and respectability of the County, to use their in flueuce and to exert themselves individually to put an end to that disgraceful traffic, %hie s demoralized and riffled those engaged in it. On Friday last, at Edinburgh, Mary SPKin 3014 who appears to have been the keeper of a brothel, was cUR• vi. ted of the mureer of Mr.'l'.Howatt,in a drunken squab ble which took place at her house. She was sentenced to be hanged on the 16th of April. CARLISLE, MAIM! 15.—ESCAPE OP PRISONERS. — Early on Thursday morning, five prisoners broke out of the gaol of this city,by means, we understand, of a pick axe, and a few other trilling instruments. They were conAued in the Low Gaol, and forced a hole throiCeh the west end of the wall. Irving, one of the party, who is a weaver, prevented the nose iu making the breech from being heard, by moving the shuttle in his loam, although lee had RA web at the time. So in after their eecepe. • Bradley, who is imprisoned for stealing a watch, weid through the hole undressed, knocked at the prison door, sod Sem the outside told the turnkey what had been done; he spin returned through the hole to his Pereutent. Two of the party, Irving and Jackson, h ire uceveluntarily surrendered tiirMSCllirstothe gaoler; the others have not been heard of. l'he followieg are. the *Malta of. the prisoners who eat-aped, with the crimes fur which they tmere committed. Win. Irving, convicted of an assault upon a mileary officer ; Joseph Jackson com muned on a e}targe of smuggling; Michael *Patin, sen . tenred to ti ewonthe imprisonment for stealing eve , el ; John ,Lowden, convicted of a conspiracy, and sentenced to two yen,' insprisonnaent ; and John Tbompstin, posing )45e pig. • that Anis!' reduc was vain ma by I com sat in- _,~a , 7• ;~a ~'r.. f. II I