The Statesman. — London, England, 1823-03-28 00:00:00

- PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. MEETING OF TEE COUNTY OF LINCOLN. The Freeholders, &c. &r. &c. of the county of Lincoln, wet. pursuant to Requisition, at the Castle of Lincoln. on Wednesday, the 26th ipst., for. the purpose of taking into consideration the expediency of presenting a Peti tion to Parliament for a Reform in the House of Corn ett:es. The Meeting was numerous, and highly respect able. Amongst the Gentlemen present we observed Lord Altherp, `the Honourable Charles Pelham. Sir Ro • brit Heron, Sir E. Brootuhead, Sir John Thorold , R e v. Sir C. And erson, Colon' I Johnson, M.P.. Colonel Allix, Captain Wood, Major Cartwright, A. Welby, Esq., and severe! others. At half-past twelte o'clock the High Sheriff, Sir Wm. EARLE W emir, took the Chair. Sir Rouser Haltom then presented himself to the Meeting, and was received with considerable applause. He sai t, that there were persons who thought that Meet- Ines like that he addressed were useless—he was of a different (Tiniest. The House oomon., inded, wonld not wil :ingly reform itself f ; C bat m whenever e the strong and unanim o us voice of the people of England should be raised in favour of Recent), the House of Com mon.; would not—dee e rot resist that voice. He was one who thoiotht County Meetings, though they had nut yet attained the end in view, were far from being useless ; teey heti mole souse progress in the good cause—every tit ill st was semi ted, Was a step in levour of Reform, every useless place that was estmloheil, took away from Ministers a vote hired against the people. The cause of Reform would ultimately (lowish; it bad its enettiles— it had met with misforotnes e h he I met with defeats arising from the intrigues of those enemies on the one 11 ohl, and fro:n the of the people on the other. At one time tl.e people were almost in sight of the mea s ire, when the apostasy of Mr. Pitt threw it b telt. The Frencii lievoletion sticceeded. and a series of events fol. lowed, of which the enemies of the country took Wean leee. At tope time Iwo or three mirerehle persons, with a little powder in a stocking, created so much alarm, that it was enepo•esl by some that these persons would have overtutoed the Constitution. Those clams, so utterly foundation, marked a peculiarity in the Briise character; an Englishman, moderate in his wisnes sod his views, always fet,' lest he should go too for, was Vet willing to believe that his neigh bme would plunce the country into confusion, and subvert every principle of a iciety.—(dear, hear) The French and I t.liati.inferlor in mot reiptcts to tee &ig loo, a lways j u dged mist fevoitreble of their count:wane), they al WeVS tlioeKht , 'heir c iuntcytnen like themseives— an.Englision to never. It ell' from th tt reason, and from others. that the faction which had so lo ig and so P unfortunately rule! this country, were always able with so 'twee facility to excite public elar.ns, ant by means of these alarm; to put dewn for the time the cause of Re form, From recent transactions that cause had and re I mech. Time County of .York, javtly tacit): a iced on this question, determined to use every effort—they were • se ixi ins that every connty in the kingdom should make ir cenet.on.exertion., any call tor one ceinnian object so that the united efforts of tie people of England might snake u deep impression, and compel the Parliament to comply With the wishes of the nation; but a few misguid ed and intemperate men, by pitting forward the most extravagant proeositions suieed the cause of Reform for a ttte, and terrified many who otherwise would have aided the people in favour of the measnre Men of mode rate and of peaceful habits began to think that it was nut Reform, but anarchy and confusion, drew b irk, and lest the Reformers thin in numbers ; he hoped those who had wttlidrawn were now again aletenniacil to exert them eelyes—oo people were so easily ferried away as the Eng. I lob, but no peepte so soon re:eat:red their seen l an l ho- 1 nest opitions. Mtn respect to hi: , (iir it. IL's) opinion , on tee question of Reform, it wis nut with keu so u. icit an (inject to state w hat yaricular Reform he smould wish railer wish to state a g.neral proposition, to which every sincere Reformer .would agree—namely. that Reform was necessary. Ile was so true a friend to Reform, that he. would rather sanction a mode of Reform of which he might not approve, sooner than have no Re form at all 11 lie should nut feel dispased to pledge himself to any specific plan of Reform, it was not because he wished to urge any objection that might cre ate division—for the purpose of avoiuing disunion, he was anxious to put forward a proposition which would not pledge any loan to any thing more than to the necessity of Reform. If he might give his opinion he would say, that lie was anxious filet for Triennial Parliaments. Se condly, that every freeholder and copyholder should one way or the other have a vote in the election of a Member of Parliament. Haling said so mach he would not at the same time pledge himself against what was called a Radical Morns—Ulm were once convinced that it was the del-Lied opinion of the people of England that thet mode of Reform was necessary—he, on a question on which the people bad so strong a right to decide, would feel it his duty to support end to advance their opini o n ? . (applause.) , Ile world not, however, do so until he had Used every effortin hic power to convince them that they were wrong. Since their last meeting nothing cer tainly had occurred thet could convince them thatßeform was not necessary. The enemies of that measure had acid, that Reform was no cure for art icultural distress — no ; nor AN as gold for famine; but Reform would at least prevent the recurrence of those misfortunes which grew out of the present system, and which were always to be apprehended until Reform should take place. It had been said that Reform would not have prevented the war with America and with France; that he denied. If England had a Reformed Parliament, America would not have been subjected to the insults, the sufferings and in justice which provoked the war ; nor would this country have, at the commencement of the French Revolution, suede common cause with the Despots of the Continent, in order to destroy the liberties of France. The reign of terror Would never have commenced—the Constitu tioral King of France, subject to Constitutional con week would have remained on the Throne, and all the evil and the misery that Europe had suffered might have been avoided. He was willing to allow that some taxes had been lately repealed, that some places had been also fished ; but the House of Commons, at the very time that they abolished those places, had given to hist Crown the fail power of granting pensions without any eon tronl whatever ; and how did Ministers exercise that power? . They gave three thousand pounds a year to Lord Sithointille in addition, a place of four thousand pounds s o year held by hue, as if for his son. the (Sir Itobe.t Heron) was blamed last year, fur having staled that circumstance, that was the very reason why newsuentionedit a second time (applause !); lie never tsonbl besi.we to expose the wretch who lived on his came: y's plunder (aepleuse). Lord Sidineuth received those elttfrilielle rains--ii man who had • done no service to his country—a men who had no talents—o Ise oat not fit fur office (at ). If he had ts lents why had' . lie retired ? ,He ea- not old—lie was not feeble—be eas oat out merely to shake room fee another person. His Lordship bast, indeed, thenked the Magistrates of Mar:- Ch -stet, et theeisne of . use far:a/cable insawe, for such Le could call it—it was a dteadial affair, b the Mi. uisters would °ever allow to have investigated. If more lives - had not b. lost —if mare of the brood of innocent Englishmen apt[ women had mgt beep shed that day, it was not to his Lordship—it was not to the Magistrates or the Yeomen that the country was indebted, but te the peaceful conduct of the people therusel ee and to the ex cellent conduit of the . regular troops. Th. re was one pent to which, isocandour, he would allude. Minisiets Lad lately shown a liberal disposition with respect to TIIC STATE MAN: • the condition of the people of Ireland (applause). With respect to Spain, they also affected liberal views, but ma ny thought that they were not s i ncere. As to Ireland, they certainly pursued a more just and honest policy, and they would be soon obliged to take a decided course one way or the other with respect to the affairs of Spain. In the meantime, whilst they seemed to take a part some what worthy of Englishmen, he would not oppose them. He was not for plunging this country into a war—war declared by this country might make the Government. more popular in Prance—sit might prevent that which he hoped for—to see the detested and false-hearted Bum', bons driven a third time and for ever from a soil which they had disgraced (great applause). If Spain in the course aof that contest for her liberties, which was ap proaching, should want the assistance of Englishmen, they would receive it. The dirty considerations of gold would not be suffered to stand in the way of those great considerations—the vindication of the national feeling,' the rights of nations, the preservation of national faith. lle (Sir ILibert) tees an enemy to the late war, until Na poleon invaded Spain; from that moment be supported the principle of the war; had he done otherwise he would have been unworthy the name of an E:tglislitnan. Last year the Eloise of Commons had supported the cul 1-blolded Lon londerry in his views of foreign pol:cy, and they would sill have continued to support him had he unfortunately for this country remained in p.wer. That Minister always supported and promoted the ob jects of the Holy Alltance—those hypocrites who would drive Liberty from the earth, and establish Thrones on 1 the basis of universal despotism. It remained to be 1 proved what course the present Minister won't: take—' he hoped it might be for the honour of the English name. The Honourable Baronet concluded wind the applause of the Meeting, by moving that the following Petition should be adopted:— " To the Honoursble the House of Commons—The Hum ble Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Lincoln, duly assembled by the authority of their Sheriff, " Who beg leave earnestly to express their conviction, that neitner the wished nor the interests of the people are duly at:euded to in your Honourable House. " They have seen, during successive Sessions, your Ho nourable House, contrary to the universal desire for eco nomy and retreuchmetit, still sanction the support of inneense establishments, and mock the public misery by tun mainte nance of unmerited pensions and places, avowedly useful only fur the carrying on of Government, or, in other words, for the corruption of the Legislature. 66 Instead of twir privileges being safe in your hands. they bate frequebtly seen their rights diminished, and :heir liberties sihrificed to the encroacliments of undue power. .• They do not complain of te return to cash payments, but they cannot conceal their opinion, that in the arrange ment's for effeeing that necessary measure, for inure than justice has been done to the funded proprietor, at the ex pense and almost to tee ruin of the landed population; an t at such a period of deep distress, they cannot but protest against being calle I upon to provide 6,000,0J0f. annually, for a nonainat Sinking Fund, waich has hitherto operated only as a delusioe on the couatry. •* They have listened with joy to the just and liberal po lity recently professed by Ministers towards Ireland and Spein ; but their joy is converted into shame, when they re flect that the same House of Commons which now 'Applauds these generous sentiments, but lately supported those wile ruled 'rebut I with an iron sceptre, scarcely even preseryed a cold neutrality towards our old and unfortunate Allies at Naples, and assisted,tather than opposed, the combination of arbitrary Monarchs, united against freedom, under the name of the iloly Alliance. " More aed wore convinced that your Honourable Meuse does not represent the feelings and opittiene of the nation, they humbly pray that you will be pleased to take i Ito your serious consideration, the necessity of makine 'melt a coin- Mete end effective Reform as shall render your Honourable 'tense in fact, that which you are in titeory, tee real repro. velvati yes of the people. " And your Petitioners will ever pray, &c." S:rJ. TuonOto said, that he considered the question of Reform as a measure of vital importance; but, with respect to arriculturel OistreFs, lie was sof opinion that retirees would tie hest ootnined at the hands of the landholder. lie hoped that the example which had already been set as to the question of Reform. would be followed by every County in the United Klinedoin. The Hoe. Baronet concluded by se conding the petition proposed by Sir Robert Heron. On the question being put, Major CARTWRIGHT said, that the Petition which had been just read, appeared to him in some respects deficient ; he should therefore feel it his duty to move an Amendment. The venerable Gentleman then proceeded to make some ob servations in a very low tune of voice. The House of Commons should represent the persons of the peop:e in the most ample manner. 'rile people had a right to say what they conceived to be their rights. He had been for 47 y ears a Radicsl Reformer, and Le was likely to end where he be gan. Ile was, he said, between 90 and 9J years of age he was in great pain; he had been fur three days going from London to I in. uln; he had thought that be never would have been able to go ten m;lea from London, but his strength allowed him to make a last effort in the cause of Reform. — The venerable Major concluded by reading two Resolu tions, as the ground-work of his Petition. The first stated, that the people ought plainly and specifically to state what they claimed ; tae second Resolution stated, that as Reform was most needful for national salvation, it was expedient that an Act should be passed for that purpose before the investigation of particular and unqueliied grievances, save the immediate repeal of taxes, end the immediate and ua-" qualified repeal of alt laws affecting the liberty of Ow sub ject, particularly the Six Acts. lie then proceeded tq read a letter which he had that day received from Boston, stat ing that jhe inhabitants of that place were convinc ed that Reform was absolutely necessary, that if it were not grant ed, anarchy and csausien would inevitaely follow ; but stating further, that tnat being thcir market-day, hey were prevented from attending the Meeting. Ile concluded by requesting a friend to read a Petition, embodying the senti ments contained in his speech. The Petition having been read accordingly, Major C. then moved that it be adopted by the Mamiug. • Colonel JOHNSON rose to second the Petition. He pit s that when a question of the most vital importance 1 1 was urged in the nay it had bean, lie could not rennin silent. He presented himself to the Meeting for the pur pose of seconding the Petition which had been moved by Major Cartwright, the leading features of which were—Universal Suffrage, Election by Ballot, and An nual Parliaments There was a time when measures less argent an 1 less derided would have satisfied him, but be had waited year after year; he bad seen the Petitions of he people presented StSSiOll after Session, read,ordered to be pi lilted, and then thrown aside. It was, he conceived. then full time for those who felt the necessity of Reform, to declare their sentiments. But notwithstanding. what lie 1 01a4 stated his opinions to have been, he would have rested Satisfied with the Petition moved by the Hon. Baronet, bad not the question be. n raised by the venerable Major, whether the people ought or ought nut specifically to state what they conceived to be their rights ? -Had this been a happy country—if wealth and happiness were spread about It, then he would ackao.: ledge that there would be nu necessitrfur Reform, but he deuied the facts —wealth had gone into the wrong channel, it was taken out of Vie people, to be squlndered and lavished by the tiovernment ; if they (the people) only saw the way in whi.:ll their pe titious were treated, the spead with which they were got r d or, they woad still nioiv strongly see the necessity of Reform. It W 45 melancholy to ohnerve the apathy which p evailed on that question ; men feemed to have given themselves tip to despair,they were desired to be patient• but he would tell them, and 'core particularly the land. holders, t wit if they continued to remain in their present st ate they would be eoon effectually ruined.- He had lately seen a patnplilet tailed "An Alphabetical List of the alsinbers of the Commons House of Parliament, and the manner in which they voted ou 14 great tpleitions.r teroin that Publication it appeared, thakof the 40 empties in England. 25 Members voted for Minisleee, and 37 ..gaiost them. For tS titles aod,opert boroughs, 57 voted fur Ministers and Ho against . them. In 99 Ci t ies and b°- roughs in which the election is resolved into individuals, 'lslslembersvoted for Ministers, and 12 against them From that simple statement the people Might see how necessary it was to bring about a ralical reform to lay the axe to the root of theevil.Cornwall alone had 21 boroughs, which seat 42 Members to Parliament; of those, 32 voted for Minis- 1 1 tors, and three against them. The 21 Boroughs of Coro wall, which bait the power of sending 42 Members to Parliament, did not coetain more than 42,000 inhabit ants; whilst Leeds, Birmingham, and Manchester, which were not represented at all, hal a population of 324,030 persons. tie would not eo into a consideration of the state of representation in Scotland ; he world only l state that Glaseww alone, with a population of 140.000 persons, had no representative in the House of Commons. Such was the state of the representation. Whet mea sures ought to be applied in order to correct it? Would partial measures be sefficient ? Ile would put a familiar case. If a rat broke out amongst his sheep, would any one say that a few may oeglis to be cored? When greet corruption, when frightful abuses prevailed, would it be right to ab ate it but partially ; would it not be wiser to l look fairly at the evil, and apply measures comtnensirato with it ; He wituld nut go into a consideration of the question of the c neeney, but this he would say, that the alteration in the currency made one pound of the value of two. A men who had borrowed ene thousand pounds during the time of the paper currency, would find it more difficult to par that 1,0001. in gold, than 2,0001. is paper currency. In 1792, the interest of the National Debt amonntedeo nine millions. In 1822, the interest of the National I)eht amounted to nearly forty millions. The whole eepenses of the Government amounted to fifty-Us millii,us, whilst the bushel of wheat in 1792 and 1822 was nearly of the sante value. He would state one fact more, and that fact be had out of a Report of a Com mittee of the Hoes • of Coestn 'es - 89 Members of that House received of the public motley in the way of places. pension., and einolume is (inclusive of the Army anti Nave) 173 0001. annnaly. These 89 Members b r ined the bulk of every majority on every question against the ' liberties of the people. !Levine stated these facts, he would leave them to spe tit for themselves—he would not further trouble the Meeiini, lug content himself with se condine the. Petition of the venerable Major. Lo•d A LTIIORP next presented himself to the Meeting. His Lordship silt, that from the feeling is Lich manifest ed itself on the question of Reform, he should not feel it neres.ary to advert to these are meets whit It had deter mined hen in favour of th it measure ; lie knew it had been asked, will Reform r re to tee Agricedterists from distiess 7--!ie knew it eundl nit, he would deceive the people if he bad slid it would —but though locking the stable doorafter the horse had ben stolen would not re store the horse, yet it would secure the retnaintler of the cattle ; d ue would then recommend the people sell to press forwent their Petitions. Another objection bad been urged against Refurni—it mass said that the Reformers die not agree aintrt ! , it themselves ; it was true the Re formers differee amongst theinsehes in some paints, but teat teas the necessary consequence where independent 111.•11 deliberated upon a question which admitted of so many views ; hut as to the mein question of Reform, up on that there was no di"ference of opinion, the great mu : jority of the veopht wished for it. Why, thee, said the enemies .of Reform, hail it not been carried into effect? — because it vas opts, used by a po.verfill party. The friends of corruption %%tee able to make a formidable resistance because they were united. Let the friends of Reform be united also—let them not, by urging reooltitiona :Led measures more strong than the generality of the reform ers can agree to, give support and triumph to their a I versaries. That brought hint to the oueition immediate ly before them. Til• petition of the lionoerettl: Baronet appeared to him a Petition which every Reformer might sign, because it simply called for Reform, that necessary Reform whieh woeitte l ise the people an influence over their representatives. If reform co tit' be once establish ed, no man need much, care in what exact form it millet I be. done, provided it was au effectual and complete ltie form. 11 • (Lord A.) could not go the length which the I honourable gentleman (Major Cartwright) proposed to go. lie avowed that he was against the principle of I..:Uiversel Sutfrege, Vote by Ballot, and annual Perlin ments. He was a friend to effectual and complete reform, and until that should be obtained, he would not slacken his efforts to promote that measure. lie lamented that any disunion should exist at that Meeting, because he was convinced that disunion on the part of reformers would do more against the success of the measure than their best exertions could do in its favour. Sir Eow•an Feexcit BROOMUEAD next came for Ile said that defects ought to be radically reform ed where they existed ; but he was satisfied that things were now as good as they possibly could be made (a laugh, and disapprobstiom) He would let the meeting into the secret of the Speech of the Noble Lord (a laugh) Tee fact was, there was a conspiracy on the part of the, Aristocracy against the liberties of the nation en laugh.) They wished to increase the number of the Aristocracy in the House ; and to shut o :t men of talents, who might come in for boroughs, lie should have no objection to' such men as Mr. Pelham, or his Hon. Friend Mr. Chap o—(a laugh) 'f he great majority of able men sat for sine(' Borough+. The lints. Baronet (Sir Robert Heron) sat for a close Borough ; Sir James Mackintosh and Mr. Tierney sat for small Boroughs. With respect to the influence of Miuisters, they were defeated on many ques tions—they were defeated on the question of the Proper ty Tax—they were defeated by the vulgar economy of the llouee uf Consumes on the question of a provision for the younger branches of the Royal Family—they were defeated on the question of breaking up the Con stitution of the Admiralty. (a laugh.) As to the book that an Hon. tientlem in had alluded to, it was a tl sgrace to the faction that produced it (great disapprobaion.)— The House of Commons never intended to represent phy steal force—it was only intended to represent particular interests. Cornwall, to which so much allusion had bean made, was never so ponulans as it Ives at pfeseut —but those boroughs gave an opportunity to persons to repree sent other interests—the East India Company—the Bank —the Stock Exchange, were represented by means of these boroughs, (is laagh.) He would say to the Meet ing, " Do not interfere with the Constitution which our ancestors handed down." He thanked them for the at tention they gave him, which certainly was more than Inn expected, Mr. PELHAM next addressed the Meeting. He eaid,that on the question et Reform, he had last year delve' ed Isis opie nions; he Biro thought that Reformw•allnecessary ; he was still of thesame opinion. He was convinced that the peo- Ple were not represented as they ought to be, but het could not go the lengths that many seemed - anxious to go to. He world wish to destroy all the rotten boroughs, and to s-a tile linded interest fully represented, because lie was cons ittre i that tlie more fully the landed interest was represented, the more secure would lie the liberties and tile interests of the people. So tar lie would go; he might, perhaps. be induced to go farther. No man re gretted more than he ;lid to see the manner in which the prtitiops of the people were treat-d. He agreed with an Honourable Gentlemen, that it was frightful to ate how those pe lions were received, and to know that they never after was taken into consideration. lie shout! be anxious to see Reform originate in the Heim of Coin mons. With respect to the Petitions before the !leering, he would vote in favour of that moved by Sir Robert Heron, because it was general in its nature. Any per son being a Reformer might sign it ; it pledged hint to an particular Mode of Reform ; it therefore had his sup port. The Rev. Sir C. ANDERSON said, that the question of Reform had been often pressed with little or no success; this be imputed to the intemperate and extravagant zeal of those who called themselves the friends of the mea- . sure, but who were in fact its greatest enemies. He la mented that any thing like division. should exist at the nieeting. There were two Petitions before the Mce ing, ; it was an invidious thing to judge betwe is theta. Teo Meeting, perhaps. would act wisely if they adopted the principle ',in tnedio tutissimus fide." ‘V ith r.spcct to the Petition of the venerable liejor Cartwright, it Ras his opinion tlett if the object of it succeeded. it would go far to subvert the constitution, and to destroy the social. and moral virtues of the reentry. lie tt a s anxious fee the destruction of rotten Boroughs. lle alw•lta looked upon them re a blot on the reresentAtion. lie wished to see them abolished. and the representation extended to great and monitions towns. Alive all, he would wish for the abolition of Sinecures and Reversion try raves. These created art undue intluen.:e in the House of Com mons—an einhothed phalanx of poh;tti corruption. — 'flue Reverend Baronet concluded by saving, that lie would give the Petition moved by Sir lt. 11 .rett his in tec unqualified support. Mr. Citerider ea'3l, he woad not support either .Peti.- woul , l net support the Pett!ien moved by Sir Robert Heron, becaese it went to pledge tee Meeting to Referen with nit run tinir ont any p.rtien tar nettle of Re form. He could mot e nith those Gentlemen who wool sweep away the Borough franchise. I f there were but three honest men in a Berottell, he saw no right in any body of men to takeaway from them their rights. Upon that ground he would oppose the question of Reform. Colonel AbLtx slid. that lie was a it itlical Itcformer, but lie was not a friend to Universal Suffrage or Annaal Parliaments. lie was convineed chit those things, if attained, woad only lead to the destruction of Liberty —they would lead to the lawless ride of democracy. and afterwards to elieolute power. He was a Radical K. former to that Reform which woelti radically de ti ny corruption ; he would therefore prefer the Pe tido!, moved by the Honourable Baronet to that of the Amention nt. The question of Reform was advertise -I by s hine of tot most brilliant ornaniters the' England had to hoest of by Mr. Pitt —hi Mr. Fox himself, a siercre, and cot:- sistent lleformer—by the great Lord Chatham—and by many others; but nofortan ttely that uyasure, so Dere , - • serer t 3 the welfare of Elle line, had not y• t suceerde , !--- unfortunately it was so—they would net have wit nessed the frequent violations of the Coestitutien tho extravagant expenditure of the pohlie money, Mitch le I to so much distress and diecontent, had the Muse or Commons been the honest stewares of the l'urse —the faithful guardians -ef the People of Englenil. Sir R. faith ful then replied in a few words. .1•6 Sheriff put the question uo the Meet:dinea% it il:1 Is 11.4 i lost by a great majority. The question on tto original motion wee then peie when the Petition moved by Sir Robert Helots- ea, adopted.altnest unanimously. Sir It. HERON skid, he wished to lincev whether the , High Sheriff had any ohjociion t • situ the Petition ? The lima Si:utter said, he sholili 'lave no übjectiort to sign the Petition on behalf of the fleeting. and :n !tie o Bela! canteity, prori led it Ives stated that he did not sign it as his Petition. Sir R. Hgime said, that it wont! be un lerst md that. the High Sheriff signed tite Peeiti ni on behalf of t:m I Meeting only ; when the Petition should be } nester...l to the House of Cum:nuns, he would take care th.at the fact ehaultt be stated. burl e tl eTitußr then snored, that the Petition shen:.l he presented to the douse of CO!1111101% by Mr. Pellet a anti Sir It. Heron, which was aereed to. Thanks were then voted to the High Sherilf, af.er which the Meeting dispersed. COURT Oii — C - 11.61 - 6 - ;;WV, AlAncti 27. THE PORTSMOUTH CASE. TIT ATTORNEY-GENERAL prated t..at hit I.or,Wis siool.l he plea.e.l to confirm the Aiister's It Tort ski v.., case, for the app..int tieht of a Cousa.luee. Mr. TREsLOVE, who iippeu•ed fur the other side, t opposing, l'he LORD CHANCELLOR arviesce I. Mr. Henry Fellowes (of S , titersetshire), no ittrite(i:4:.t relation to the lustily, ha., we believe, been appoin to the office. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, MARCH 27. COLOMBIAN BONDB.—•DOLLERET V. HERRING AND C o. Mr. HART applied to the Court, on the part of the plaintiff, who is a holder of Colombian Bonds to a con siderable amount, for an order to compel the defendants, who were Contractors for the Colombian Loan, to dealar;t by affidavit the amount of the Funds at present in the; e hands, on account of the Loan, and the amount of ilia dividends they had paid to the holders of Bonds. Mr. lieu., on behalf of the defendants; opposed Cot application, which he argued was unnecessary fur. she security of the plaintiff, aed by the alarm, winch gra•e ing it would probably excite, would operate to depve- (fiats the price of the Bonds, and by consequence injnye, not merely the plaintiff, but all the other holders. ne Court had already made an order to govern the contlect of the defendants in the disposal of the fonds in t!me r hands, and the payment of the dividends, and that sliouid be consieered a sufficient security for the plaiuti.l, as the Court would enforce its own order. The Vice-Cmaticehhoa sail, lie WAS not aware wbat effect granting the order might have on the pie , of too bonds, or the money market, but it was material that it would probably hare at least some effeer. An order h.t.l already hewn made in the cause which gave the pialtithr all the security he could require from the Coact, for iad payment of his dividends,; un thls ground, therefore, and also oil the grolad, that in a subs...pent sratt of the proceedings, an inquiry might talce place that would ascertain more conveniently time state of the facts on which information was now sought witilout prejudic)to the interests of third parties who were not before the Court, he mast refuse tie present application. SUICIDE IN THE COMPTEK. —A man of the :tante of JVm. Cooper, wins had been taken to the till:sem-street Coinpter, on Wednesday night, charged with several un equivocal acts of indecency towards the person of 4 emu who lodged in the same room with him, and w. • front the nature of the charge had been looked up far the night in a separate room by himself, was found yesterday morning, when the keeper went to unlock the tell, quite dead, baying suspended 'liftmen by his silk haisdk-ratiief from the top tit the inner-door. A Cortme.'s I r .uest wit be held upon the body on Saturday. Yesterday morning a young man, named Payne. son to a cow-keeper in Kentish town, was found haticTog in his father's cow-house. He was cut does iunur,Jiatriy on being discovered, and a neighbouring surgeon .sent for, who opened a vein, and used the necessary means for restoring suspended animations his success, as he was restored to liie. it is said that •he cause of his comm.*, ling the act was his father's disapproving of his marry ing a young woman in that town to whom he nas vto 'early attached. Sultana or w YouTH —Lint evening an inquest was hell at tile house of Air. Hill, llervick-stre.u, ou the ho I y of %V. Hill, his son, who put at► end to his existence by hanging Itimielf. Verdict The deceased hanged himself in a state of inertial derangement." Wednesday morning part ofns small new hum., •rect ing with others in one of the ti-Ids near the Coburg Pheatre, gyve way, and three men, who were employed underneath, we c dreadfully bruised by the tiinners, ,ricks, and other building sulterills falling upoulliens. One of the men was so seriously injured, that it was fuunl neces , ary to carry him for surgical assistaace. i ITs 1~ 4~ r e lial !Okr i a