The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1826-04-29 00:00:00

k - 1 PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS. FainAr, Aran. 28. Mr. Brogden, Lord Clive, sad other Members from the Unn•e arCommons, brought up the Greenwich Hospital Bill, and several Priest, Bills, which were read a first time. Mr. Foster, from the Trustees of the Liverpool Docks, presented at the bar an Account of the Receipts and Expenditure of the Li verpool Dock and Lighthouse. ' Mr. Crater. front the Treasury, presented an Account of the Number of Notes issued by the Bank of England since the 2.1(1 of March. SLAVERY. The fluke of RE.UTFORT presented a petition from the inha bitants of Brecon, pr.tving for the Abolinty. of Shivery. Ala Grace presented % eimllsr netirinn from a pariah in Btrennshire. Lewd CALTHORPE presented similar petitions from the fol. boring plseea—Stourbridge. Polloekshawa, and Chpton. The 31arquis of LANSHOWN presented similar petitions from the City of Cork, Westiium, Carlisle, Lyme (in Dorsetshire), Ten. aardeo (in Kent), Peckham (in Surrey), and from Burley. I'OItPORATION OF DUBLIN. Lord KINO presented a petition from James Hancock. of the County of Dublin, complaining of being wrongfully excluded from the Corporation, because he wee • Catholic. • The petitioner had been at considerable expense in getting himself admitted into one gf the Guilds of that Corporation, but he was still refused admis sion into the Corporation on the ground of his religion. He hoped that some claw"e might be introduced into the 31andamus Bill that before their Lordships. to impose triple or quadruple damages e4gainst persons refusing admission to individuals into CJrporations to which they had a right.—Laid on the table. PARISH OF ST. OLAVE. ____ The Marquis of LANSDOWN presented a petition from the churchwardens and other inhabitants of the parish of St. fliave, praying the interference of their Lordships to prevent the exactions fif their Rector. His Lordship said he had no motive in presenting the petition but what he conceived to be his duty. The petition bati been offered to him at an early part of the session, but he hsd re commended to the petitioners a postponement. in the hope that snow arrangement might be entered upon between the parties. It was stated in the petition, that out of a pariah containing Ill) houses the rector received an income of 1.800/. per annum that he Fad not resided in the parish t that the rectory house was converted Into warehottoes and his Lordship thought it an additional g'riev anee that a bad feeling should exist between the parishioners and titer rector. The Risings of LONDON complimented the Noble Marquis on the mild and gentlemanlike manna in which he had introduced a aubjeet which gave rise to so much angry feeling elsewhere. His Lordship believed the rector in question received more than rectors generally received ; hut his Lordship would not undertake to cen sure him for demanding a sum which was, in fact, less than that which the law allowed him. Although the present assessment was 2s. 9d. in the pound, the rector had outwitted to receive Is. 6d. in the pound, which would make his incomeumount to 1,3501. per annum. The Marquis of bANSDOWN said, that the amount required by the rector was little short of the entire 'messed taxes of the parish. His Lorthil)ip had heard of an offer which had been made lir the rector to accept 1,0001. a-year for himself and his successors, provided the parishioners would pay him at present r...oeer. H is POri ship sincerely hoped that that or some other arrangement would take place, and prevent all further animosity on the part either of the rector or of the pariebioners. ' The Bishop of LONDON said he had then. for the first time, heard of the arrangement alluded to by the Noble 31arquis, and he felt hound to stigmatise in the strongest fermi of reprobation any quch arrangement, to which he could never give his sanction. BANK CHARTER BILL. Mr. Brogden. and other Members of the House of Commons, brought up the Bank Charter Bill, with amendments. On the motion of the Earl of SHAFTESBURY, it was ordered to be taken Into consideration on Wednesday. The Earl of ABERDEEN presented a petition from a parish in Aberdeenshire, against any alteration in the resent system of banking in Scotland. The Bishop of LEIGH LIN and FERNS postponed his mo tion respecting the chartered schools of Ireland until Friday next. The Irish Small Debts' Bill and the Stage Coach Lionsm" BM passed through Committees. The Marquis of LANSDOVI'N presented a petition from the Roman Catholics of Ireland, complaining of the violation of the Treaty of Limerick. Adjourned at a quarter to seven o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, FRIDAY, Aral,. 28. /Ur. WATSON TAYLOR appeared at the table and took the oaths. Lord MILTON presented a petition from John Radcliffe, late a labourer in the cotton manufactory of Mr. John Justice tiouthern. The petitioner stated, that he had received severe bodily injury while attending his duty at the steam-en g in e ; b ut a l t h oug h be had repeatedly applied for relief to his late employer. he hod not succeeded In obtaining any compensation. The Noble Lord said, that the present was one of the many instances which afforded prac tical proof that the poor had no chance of redress against the opulent, _ • After some conversation between the SPT:ANER. Mr. Wx. SMIT/I. Sir FRANCIS ONIIANICLY, and Lord MILTON, the pe tition was ordered to be printed. CURRENCY. Copt WM. GORDON presented petitions against any alteration in the present system of banking in Scotland, from Keithall, Aberdour. King - Edward. Moniemunk, Kintyre, Skene, in the county of Aberdeen. and from Drom, in the county of Perth, which were referred to the Committee. DEBTOR AND CREDITOR DILL Mr. BRIOHT said, that he rose to present a petition from en. tain inhabitants of the town of Cogsleshall. praying the House to introduce a clause into the Bill, when it should come under their consideration, which should make its operation retrospective from ha Ist of Jannary last. Ile (Mr. Bright) would take that oppor tunity of antilop:Mg to the House for the apparent delay which had taken place in carrying on the Bill. In the course of the duty he had had to perform in the preliminary arrangements, many un expected delays and difficulties had taken place: but he was happy to state, that sufficient progress had been made to enable him to Prot. Monday next for bringing it before the House, when he should be most happy to attend to the suggestions of any Honour. able Members who might favour him with their ideas on the subject. Mr. SYKES expressed his anombation of the measure, and wished to know from his Honourable Friend, whether it was his retention to make the Bill act to a certain extent retrospectively ? It appeared to him t 31r. Sykes) that it would be very desirable that its operation should extend not only to deeds of composition is but to those in progress. He considered it very neces sary that they should be included, from the circumstance of their liability to be c.instrued into acts of bankruptcy during the pro. gress of the measure, by parties willing to take such an advantage. If, however, it was known that all coniposition deeds. signed within a limited period, were to be protected by the Act, it would defeat such an object, and do a great deal of good, by placing those parties under a similar protection with those whom the Act was in. tended to benefit. Mr. BRIGHT said, he vas quite ready to attend to the sng. gestioos of his Honourable Friend (Mr. Sykes). and assured the House it was his wish to make the Act as extensive as possible. PRINCESS OLIVE OF CDAIRERLA ND. Mr. J. WILLIAMS presented a petition from Olive Guelph, jutting that the is the lawful daughter of the late Duke of Cum. berland, brother to his late Majesty t and that she is detained a prisoner is the Ring's Bench, contrary to law.—+Ordered to be printed. CATHOLIC CLAIMS. Mr. S. RICE said that he rose to present two petitions from the Roman Catholic. of Ireland, and which were signed by 40,000 per sons. l'he petitions were signed by the same individuals; one complained of the state of the laws regarding the corporations of that country. and the other that the treaty of Limerick had not been complied with. He was quite ready to admit that two Acts had lately passed, which had done much good, but not all the good which the petitioners had a right to elrm. It was not his (Mr. Rice's) intention to go further into the subject at present. though he was perfectly ready to do an, should it he deemed desirable. Mr. DAWSON said, that the lion. Gentleman (Mr. S. Rice) would have consulted the interests of the parties better, if he had not presented their petition. The petitions impugned the character of the Parliament and the Government, and were calculated to oc. casion the greatest excitation throughout Ireland. He must ob serve, that they were the petitions of the new Catholic Association, who took those means of keeping up that state of excitation to which he had alluded ; and if the petition were allowed to pass in silence, the people of Ireland would say that Parliament acquiescpl in them. He had never known more hnfair petitions got up than those, and they were tolerable specimens of how debates were car ried on in Ireland, where the oratory and declamation were all on one side, but the facts, experience, and historical knowledge, on the other. It was not extraordinary that the petitions in question 'mould come from the Catholic Association, but it was extraordi nary that the petitions should be presented without one single per son getting up to state the contents of them. lie would state what the objects of the petitioner, were: their complaint was, that they were not restored to their rights, agreeable to the treaty of Lime tick, which was a violation by the then (Internment , anti that the acts of that House were equally an act of viol ition at the present day. Hs would trouble the House while be veil the first article from that treaty, which stated that the Roman Catholics should enjoy such privileges in their religion as they had done in the reign of Charles the Second. The petitioners contended that they had a eight to vote under that article of the treaty. and stated their reason for that supposition to be, because their ancestors haul stone so, and from which right they had been excluded by the filth Parliament. 11, however, he (Mr. Dawson) could prove that Roman Catholics did not sit in the Houses of Lords and Commons in Ireland, then be should go s great way to rebut that proposition. He was pre pared to shew that, in Charles the Second's time, Roman Catholics were excluded from every situation of trust, from corporations, and from sitting in Parliament. As a proof that they could not sit, he would beg leave to read a short extract from the proczedings of the Irish Parliament. In Juno, 1143, a Resolution passed both the HOMO of Parliament of Ireland, which stated, that taking into serious consideration the state of the country from Popery, all the Members should be called upon to take the oath of supremacy, and if any refined so to dab they should be rendered incapacitated traria sitting therein, eithm , as knight. citizen, or burgess. In that year there had been a ewe writ issued for a borough, in eon_ sequoia of the expulsion of Mr. Brick, who had refused to take the • oath of supremacy, which was a proof that at that time the Goths liar did not sit in Parliament. There was no dissolution of that Parliament until the year 1661, after the restoration of Charles, and the that Parliament of King Charles had excluded the Catholics by the enforcement of the Test Oaths. Much stress had been laid upon the supposed violation of the treaty of Limerick. That treaty wan sinned on the 3d of October 1691 ; and his Majesty Wil liam the Third had promised to procure such further privileges for the Catholics as should come within the scope of his power. The treaty. although s'gned, wan not ratified until the sth of April 1692. and the first Act of the Parliament. subsequently convened, was to exclude Irish Roman Catholics from seats in the Irish Parliament ; and that exclusion continued from that period up to the Union. From all these circumstances, and front the corroborative fact that no remonstrance was made upon the part of the Catholics, it was not. lie thought, going ton far to inter that no violation of that treaty actually took place. A celebrated historian, who had lived in those times the meant Mr. 51oliartux), and who had occasion to speak of that Act of Parliament, did not, notwithstanding, complain of it as being a breach of the treaty of Limerick. It might pass very well to make such aisertions in the Catholic Association. It might answer the purpose of speaker' in the assembly to mix.state and to distort facts to serve their nen purpoaea, but he could assure them that they could not play the same game in that House. He should not upon that occasion occupy any furhcr portion of the attention of the House. having, as he thought, advanced quite enough to chew that there hail been no violation of the treaty of Limerick. AILS. RICE said that he hail. In presenting that petition, done, every thing that he could to avoid provoking a discfission, and he bad determined not to speak upon the subject, until he found that the dissuasion was absolutely forced upon him. With respect to the Catholic Association, he thought if they were violent in their lair. gauge, that there was at least sonic excuse fir them In the acknow- !edged fact, that they were smarting under the rod of oppression. ' With regard to the speech of his Bon. friend opposite (Mr. Daw son), lie felt happy in being enabled to answer what he had ad. •anced in the most triumphant manner; and nothing would give him greater pleasure than to have the opportunity of arguing the question as a mere matter of law before a Judge. who would have the power of acting upon the arguments which might appear to, him the most conclusive. What could be more absurd than for his Han. Friend to defend his position by quoting foe his authority 1 an act of usurpation of the British Parliament. In the first Par. liament of James the First there were no less than 98 Catholics out of 229 Members. The Act which hail been referred to, was the' 30th of Charles the Second ; hut that Act had never passed the Irish Parliament. and therefore was not law. The argument of acquiescence upon the part of the Catholics—the Inference drawn from the fact of their having made no remonstrance—was equally futile. for they were beaten down and had no hope of satety or tranquillity. except in unconditional submission. lie would ask the Hon. Gentleman to refer to the ninth article of the Treaty of Limerick. Ily that article Catholics were te be subject to no other oath except that of allegiance, so that evwd if the oath of Supre macy had been previously a bar, by that article they were to be ex empted from its operation. tic itad an authority to adduce of no common kind—the authority of Bishop Burnet, who says that the ' Irish, at the Treaty of Limerick, made large demands, incited to do so by the French, under the confident expectation t hat they would be rejected by the English. King 11111;am, however, was so anxious for the conclusion of the war, that he gave secret instuc lions to Generil Ginkle to agree to every thing that the garrison might propose , so that the French were disappointed. The inha bitants of Limerick treated not merely for themselves, but foe all their countrymen in arms, who were to be indemoified for their losses, and restored to all the privileges they possessed in the time of Cherie, the Second. They were to be restored to all the privi leges of Rritiah subjects, upon taking the oath of allegiance, with. nut the oath of supremacy. It also appeared that Parliament had made a charge against Bing William, of having metaled too much at the Treaty or Limerick to the Catholic'', upon his own respon sibility ; but still the benefits conferred by it upon the Catholics were unquestioned. Sir J. NEWPORT thought that such vituperations against the Catholics as the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Daimon) was in the habit of indulging in, both in and out of the House, could come front no quarter with a worse grace than from a person holding an official situation. He little expected to have ever seen an Irish Member rising in that Hasse to quote an arbitrary stretch of authority of the English Parliament at that period, as binding upon the people of Ireland. He still less expected to see a Member for a northern county in that si.uation—a Member for a county which had ex erted Itself so strettuously, so nobly. and so successfully, to put down that nefarious usurpation. fie had, however, lived to see that day, and, in addition to his regret, he had the misfortune to see in that pereon a Mettiber for whom he had hitherto entertained the highest respell. He felt assured that the people of Derry would lament the circumstance as lie did. Mr. DAWSON denied that he had been the means of provok ing the discussion. He had merely quoted historical facts, for the purpose of conflating the unfounded allegations contained in the petition. He thought the Hon. Member on the other side (Mr. S. Rice) had first thrown down the gauntlet. by declaring it to be his opinion that the treaty of Limerick had been violated. If he ex. pected that that House was like the Catholic Association, where all the speaking was upon one side, he would fi nd himself mistaken. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL concurred in the opinion that the discussion had been provoked by the lion. Member opposite (Mr. S. Rice). dft had to observe, that it was only recently that the claims of the Catholics had been preferred to that House upon the ground of the violation of the Treaty of Limerick. If he recollected sight, the year 1806 was the first in which their claim s had been so founded. If the arguments of those who had pre viously to that period advocated the claims of the Catholics were to undergo a revision, it would be found that they had never founded those claims upon t h e violation of that treaty. He protested against entering into discussion upon the subject of the violation of the Treaty of Limerick upon the presentment of a petition, brit if a motion were made upon the subject, he believed he should find it no difficult matter to prove that it had not been violated at all. Mr. Secretary PEEL, who had just then entered the House, said that nothing could be more inconvenient than attempting to reply to arguments which he had heard by second-h a nd report • but having been present at the latter part of the di scuss i on , he ;b ut it necessary to avow that he could not admit the claim which bad been set up upon the part of the Catholics. that the privileges to which they supposed themselves entitled were guarantral to them by the Treaty of Limerick. He still retained his former opinion upon the subject of that treaty, and he would once more state, that three privileges were not withholden in violation of the Treaty of Limerick. Ile believed that the petitioners themselves felt doubt. ful of the validity of their claim under that treaty. Th e y quote d the first article of the treaty, which guaranteed to them all the pri. 'lieges of I 3 • h subjects, connivent with the laws of Ireland. M'as it meant by this to restore to them all their privileges, or were they to be limited by the laws of Ireland ? If they construed that clause, to restore them not merely the exercise of their religion, but also the right of voting in that House—and if such construction was correct, why then there was an end of the argument ; but the ques tion was, whether such a construction was correct or the contrary, and when the subject came before the House, he thought he could show that that treaty could not justify such an inference. Afters few words from Mr. S. RICE, the petiiwn was ordered to be printed. ASg ESSE D TAXES. Mr. 3IABERLY moved for returns of the gross receipts and net produce of the Assessed Taxes, from the year 1816 to MA distinguishing the amount in each year, and the respective bends under which It was collected; and also stating the expense of col. letting it in each year. BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS' BILL. . . - Lord J. RUSSELL moved the Order of the Day on the Bribery at Elections' Bill, in orda to postpone it until the next Session of Parliament. He wished to have the assistance of Right lion. Gentlemen opposite in the measure, as be feared unless the mea sure unanimously passed that House, it would have but little thanes in the House of Lords ; and there could be but little hope of obtaining the assistance he desired in the present Session. Colonel DAN' IES expressed his regret at the postponement of the measure, which he thought ought to be taken into immediate consideration. Alt. WYNN Raid he was aware of the importance of the sub. jeet, and would support any effectual measure to correct the evils complained of. The Bill was then postponed to next Session. EPISCOPAL UNIONS BILL. On the motion of Sir JOHN NEWPORT, the Episcopal Unions Bill was pmtponed to that day three months. CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL. Mr. PEEL having moved the third reading of the Criminal Jostics Bill, Mr. JOHN SMITH wished to call the attention of the Right Hon. the Secretary for the Home Department to the present sate of the police of the Metropolis. Ile wished that a Board should be appointed under the eye of Government. Under the present systeni great inconvenienee had been experienced in apprehending offenders; he had himself spent WM. in order to detect persons who had stolen certain prop erty. lie was unsuccessf u l i n b r i ng i ng them to justice, which he did not regret, as it was always unplea sant to bring a man to condign punishment; but he thought the present system was capable of improvement. Mr. Secretary PEEL said the lion. Member seemed to wish that the police should be like the Board of Customs or Excise; that there should be regular gradations, and that the subordinate persons should be under the control of superiors. He could nut agree in the propriety of such a change; he did not think it by any means necessary that the police magistracy should have more power than the ordinary makistrates ; he had frequent communications with the different magistrate', and In consequence became acquainted with the state of their districts. He could not think it would be preferable to concentrate the police establishment, instead of having seven or eight districts as at present established ; he did not ima gine that it would facilitate the administration of justice. He agreed with the Hon. Member that there was great inconvenience in de tecting criminals ; but how could the difficulty be corrected? The magistrates had no control over persons who were at a distance: in extraordinary cases, if they could spare an officer, they always sent one in pursuit of the criminal ; but the law did not allow magic trates to send officers to a distant part of the country. in pursuit of suspected persons. Tf:e sug.eeations of the lion. Member would make alterations in the commissions of the prate which Ise could not approve. On the motion that the Bill be read a third time, Mr. G. LA:1113 proposed a clause, that no dilatory plea should abate or annul an indictment on account of a misnomer, or want of addition, but that the error or errors should be Immediately cor rected by the Court. Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that every facility should be given to bring the guilty to justice, consistent with the security of the in nocent ; he had no objection to the clause. The clause was then read a third time, and added to the Bill by way of rider. THE BRITISH PRESS• WRONGOCS IMPRISONMENT BILL. SeeretaryPEEL moved that the ‘Vrongotts Imprisonment Bill be read a third time that day three months. Mr. P. GRANT said that, as the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite (Mr. Peel) had said that he void not at that late period of the Session give the subject that consideration which its importance demanded, he had no objection to postpone the Bill. Mr. PEEL said the Honourable Member had acted with great liberality in conseitting to the postponement of so important a bill ; at present he had so much to do lie could not attend to the subject. The Honourable Member should obtain notice of its introduction next Session of Parliament, and he could then introduce his own clauses into the Bill. After • few words from Mr. Abcrcromby, the Bill was postponed to next Session. CHARIND.CROSS IMPROVEMENT BILL. 31r. ARBUTII NOT having moved the third reading of the Charingscropp Improvement Bill, Mr. HONHOUSE satd it was of great importance for those per il-ma whose Istmees were to be taken down, to know at what precise time an arrangvnent would be made with those persons. Mr. ARBUTHNOT said that, if the Bill passed into a law, no time should be lost in carrying it into effect, and obtaining posses sion of those houses. It had lwen suggested to widen the Strand as far as Exeter 'Change, and the Duke of Bedford and the Mar quis of Exeter had agreed to the projected alteration, as they thought it would b: for the public improvement. He begged to con. rect a mistake which had gone abroad, that he had said that the Marquis of Exeter was disinclined to allow any change for the pub lic good : all lie had said was, that private property should be re spected; but the communication which he had had with that, Noble Lord, proved to him that he had no objection to a change which would be an improvement. The Committee up stairs had acted with the remelt attention, and had obtained every assistance from the Members for Westminster, to whose suggestions the Com mince paid every attention. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. Lord Al HAMILTON presented petitions from two parishes in Scotland against any alteration in the Currency of Scotland. Mr. Secretary PEEL brought in a Bill for regulating the law re lative to Stealing horn Gardens and Hot.houses, which was read a first time, and ordered to herein) a second time on Monday next. EAST INII/1:3 WRITERS' BILL. On the motion of Mr. WYNN, the House resolved itself into a Committee on the East India Writers' Bill. Mr. DENMAN said that no experiment had been ever tried with greater success than the East India College. It was thought necessary that certificates of qualification should be given front the College. Suppose the College could not supply persons sufficient to fill up vacancies, the certificates should be incorporated in the Bill. Very opposite opinions were entertained of the merits of the College. Mr. Hume, whose absence from indisposition he sincerely regretted, thought that establishment a complete failure, while others thought it a great institution. Ile wished to know the rules by which the College was regulated, without which he would object to the Bill which would establish the College. Ile would wish to learn from the Right Honourable Secretary for Foreign Affairs if any security would be afforded to persons who should go out without a certificate that they would not be looked upon with suspicion. Ile felt an interest in the question, and certainly knew that very great ornaments of the country had been educated in the College. Such names as Mackintosh and Malthus would cast credit on that establishment. From their exertions abuses had been prevented ; but occasional rebellions broke out among the students, which was not to he wondered at, when th t age at which they entered was eon. sidered, and as they thought that they had a vested right from their being students of the College. The Honourable Gentleman concluded with observing, that he thought he should not have performed his duty to the public if he had not stated Ilia opinion on the Bill. Mr. ; I RANT s aid, white ter abuses there were to be complained of, and doubtless there had hero great ones, he could not agree with the Hon. and Learned Gentleman that they proceeded from • want of education., In his opinion they were rather the result of the system. As a practice! man, be could say that the Civil Ser vice in India had not been improved by the establishment of this College. One of the most distinguished servants of the public in the Indies, who had been educated at the College, had expressed a similar opinion. He agre'd with what a Noble Lord (Lord Gren ville), in the House of Lords. had stated should he the system of education pursued. He should support the present Bill, because he felt convinced that either the old establishment must be enlarged, or the present course must be adopted. Me. Secretary CANNING made a few observations, but the Right Hon. Geptleman spoke in so colloquial a tune, that they were not audible in the gallery. We understood him to say that the country had a right to take some security that individuals who were to be intrusted with such important duties should possess high qua. lineations. lie thought there were no means of taking this security excepting by examinations. He was inclined to support the Bill, because he thought it necessary to have a different institution. Were they to corn:nem now, he should perhaps recommend that the College be place t under the superintendance and local supervis sion of one of the IliAveraities. 'fbe was certainly advantage to be gained by those who were to he educated mixing generally with the mher youth tit England. He gave his honour that the present measure did not contemplate getting rid of the College. After a few observations from Mr. Lushington, Alr. T. Baring, and Colonel Millie, Mr. C. WYNN said he had introduced this Rill merely as a temporary measure, to provide for present necessity, and he did not consider himself as hiving given any pledge us to what course he might adopt hereafter. When they had obtained the experience which would be afforded by the present measure, they might pro ceed to adopt any new course on better grounds than such as Dow existed. The Bill was then committed. Mr. BROODEN brought up the Report, which wu ordered to be received on Monday next. EAST INDIA NAVAL FORCE RILL. _ . -. On the order of the day that the East India Naval Force Bill be read a second time, Mr. BRIGHT proceeded to complain of the manner in which India affairs were conducted, so that no accurate information could be obtaired on the subject. The very last despatches at which he looked were not official, and thus no satisfactory knowledge could be procured. He had then in his possession a newspaper of last week, in which the Gazettes were nor authenticated as they ought to have been. He was happy to hear that the India Company was able to provide for the expenses of the war. But money was not the only thing to be regarded in that respect. A great power was formed by the operations in India, and it was proper that thiscoun try should not lose the control of that influence which was so pro duced. He thought the Bill involved a great Constitutional quer.tion, and that the House should retain the power of investigating East India affairs, from which so many important results might be ex pected. if the Bill should pass, it was incumbent that the funds of the East India Company to prosecute the war should be ascer tained; for it would be ridiculous to invest the Board of Control with discretio t over means which dud not exist. He hoped that the serious consequences which he apprehended would be averted. He should at all events do his ditty in calling their attention to the subject, and taking the sense of Parliament on it when the proper opportunities should occur. Mr. W. WYNN said that the Bill was grounded on what he conceived to be accredited principles. It was well under. stood that th• expenses of the war should be defrayed out of the territorial acquisitions of the Company, according to the provisions lit the Charter, which established the modes and regulations to be adopted in times of peace and of war. His Right lion Friend (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) had explained the matter fully when the Estimaos were before the !louse. After a few words from Mr. Bemire and Sir JOHN NEW roar, the Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be commit ted for Monday n?xt. PETT SESSIONS (IRELAND) BILL. The House tnen went into a Committee on the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Bill ; after which the House resumed, the report was received, and ordered to be taken into further consideration on Tuesday next. IRISH PRISON LAWS. TTpon the motion of Mr. GOULBURN. the Irish Prison Laws Bill was read a first time, and went through a Committee, after a few words from Sir J. NcirrouT and Mr. S. RICE. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter past Ten o'Clock. PRICES OF BRITISH Beni Stock 9184 por Cent. Red. 7144 74 1 per Cont. Conn. 'Y 78J Ditto Acct. 794 783 79 $4 per Cent. 851 34 per Cent. Red. New 4 per Cent. 94 I 4 I I.nne Ann. IS le PitlCk:3 OF I , oltEll.N Brazilian Bond. Lsi Coloostiion Bonds 411 Ditto Itooll.(1B24) 414 I i et h 1 391 40e 314 40i 46" ---- - Ditto Acct. 404 140 8 3 d AI 40 :191 40 Dattlith Handl '1825) 6 , 54 Unto Acct. ►s} French Bente , . 5 per Cent. 96f. 50c. Exchange 241.65 c. 35c. 60c. French ttoutet 3 per Ceut. Of. lizchauge 25f. We. COURSE OP RECO. Amsterdam ............C.F. !2 S 1 •" • • Ditto St fight Rotterdam !U. 12 10 Antwerp ... l2 10 Harnburgit Alton, ......... U. 37 11 Pall., 8 days' might 23 7.5 Ditto 2 U. 26 Bordeaux ....... . . 26 0 Berlin Frankfort on Maine Ex. M . 156 Peterburgh, rble Ur. Xi Vienna, effective I. 211. 10 '25 . India Stock 2271 India Bonds 8 7 pm South Sea Stock South Sea New Annuities 781 Es. Bills 10001. 9 1U pin Ditto 4001. 9 10 pm Ditto Small 9 1U pm Lottery 'rickets 211. 114. Stut;d4 Ykallaittint . Week Bonds Ditto Bonds (1825) 14 135 Mexican Bonds:4 »Btu Bonds (ME 54151322 2 Ditto B Acct. 644312 i 3 2 i 5 Peruvian Bonds 29 } Rusdan Bonds 76574 65 7 Ditto Acct. 77 2c io ntn is h o l , lndl B B : l 3 B ) 64 6 Ditto Acct. lANGfi YESTZZDAY. Leghorn 47 Genoa. 43 Venice Malta Naples Palermo .... ....... pet es 114 Lisbon Oporto Rio Janclro ' 64 Bahia 47 Buenos Ayres Dublin, 21 days' eight ••• • • • il Cork suLatve r PISS OS. 4 e. d. Portugal Cold, In coin .. 0 9 0 Foreign Gold, in ban. .. 8 17 . 6 New Doubloons New Dollars Silver, In ban, standard 0 4 II MINORITY On Lord John Russell's ilOiconfMlieform In Parliament, April 27. Abercrumby, lion.Dundas, Hon. I'. Knight, R. Robinson, Sir G. J. Dickenson, W. Lamb, Hon. 0. Rowley. Sir W. Allen, J. H. Ebringtun, Vis. Lcycester, It. Rumbold, C. E. Althorn, Via. I: MIA, W. Lloyd, Sir E. Russell, Lord W. Anson, Hon. G. Ellice. K. Inshington, S. Rickfurd, W. Anson, Sir G. Fills, Hon. G. A. Leader, W. ltrarlett, J. Haring, It. Pitrgeraid, Right Langston, .1. H. Scott, J. Baring, Sir T. Hun. It. Lsbouchere, H. Sebright, Sir .1. Barret. S. M. Fergusson.SUß.C.Lester, B. L. Smith, John Bernal, It. Foley, J. H. Moberly, J. Smith, Hon. R. Birch, J. Yon:stone, Vic Moberly, W. L. Smith, W. Brougham, H. Gaskill, B. Macdon al d, J. Stanley, Lord Burdett, Sir F. Glenorehy, Vi.. Marjoribanks, S. Sykes, D. flyng, G. Grant, J. B. Martin, J. Tavlatock,Marribils Hewett, J. Grattan. J. Milton, VD. Taylor, M. A. Bentitick, LordW.Grinsvenur, Iln. ILMonck, J. B. Tennyson, C. Butterworth, J. Glthe, Sir W. Moore, P. Tierney, Right Calcraft, J. l'urneL R. H. Newport, Right Hon. G. Calvert, C. Oordots,llt. ' Hon. Sir J. Townshend, Ld.C. Culvert, N. Heatheute, G. J. Nugent, Lord Tomes, J. tarter, J. Heron, Mir R. Ord, W. Warre, J. A. Cavendish, C. Hobbouse, J C. Osborne, Lord F. %Vebbe, E. Cavendish, 11. Honywood, W. pt . Palmer, C. Wharton, J. Clifton, VI.. Hornby, H. Pares, T. Whitbread, S. C. Coffin, Sir I. Hoghes, W. L. Philip+, G. yen. Whitbread, W. 11. Colborne, N. R. Hume, J. Philip, G. jun. Williams, .1. Creevey, T. Hbavard, H. Power, R. Williams, T. P. Crompton, S. James, W. Pry.., Pryse Wilson, sir R. Davies, 'l'. Jervoise, G. P. Ramsden, J. C. Wood, M. Denison, W. J. Johnstone, W. A. Rice, T. S. Wyvill, M. Denman, T. Ingilby, Sir W. Ridley, Sir Hr.W.Wrottesley, 9lr J. Umbria*, C. Kemp, T. Robarts, A. Whitmore, W. W. TALLeits—Vls. Duneannon and Lord John Russell. An accurate ideaOith; immense value of property an nually dibposed of by auction in this country may be formed by the inspection of an account printed by order of the House of Commons. It appears by this Return, that the amount of sales by auction, on which duty was paid in Great Britain, on estates, &c. at the rate of 7d. in the pound, and on furniture, &c. at Is. per pound, was as follows, during the undermentioned periods:— On Estates. On Furniture. Year endlialuly 5. 1824 - .C 4 322.:179 4:2,1818,843 Do. July 5, 1825 - 6.1101.637 2.8111613 Half.year to Jan. 6, 1826 - 3,177,304 1,491,100 x ht OftitiOh V1t7050.!_ DRURY-LANE THEATRE. Evening, SATURDAY, April 29, will be performed (let time) • Grand Romantic Opera, called ALADDIN. _ The principal Characters by lifesars. Sinclair, Horn, Browne, Bedford, G. Smith, and Harley; Mims Stephens, Cubist, and Posey; Alm Davi son, and a young Lady. To conclude with the Farce of JOH N BROWN. The principal Characters by Mews. Browne, Wallach, and Harley ; Mrs. Hsrlowe, and Mrs. Yates. COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE. Yids Inning, SATURDAY, April 29, will be performed tba Grand Romantic and Fairy Opera of OBERON ; or, THE ELP•KING'i OATff. The principal Characters by Henn. Graham, Cooper, Dureset, C. !Hand, J. l*aaes, and Bakery Miami Paton, H. Cairn; Madame Yea trio, Mrs. Vining, and Mrs. Davenport. To conclude with the Musical Entertainment of PAUL AND VIRGINIA. Paul, Madame Valois) Virginia, Miss Goward. The BIITISPI Pages commenced publishing yesterday morning at five o'clock. LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1896. We have received the Brussels Papers of the 25th April. The principal article of importance is an extract from the Oriental Spectator, which we subjoin. BRUSSELS, APRIL 25. A British Cabinet messenger passed through this city this morn. ing. He precedes the Duke of Wellington, who is expected this afternoon with his suite, at the Hotel Belle Vue. Ills Grace will only stop and dine, and then proceed on his return to London. [From the (Mental Spectator.] The Balracs, or regiments of Galiongis, raised for Constanti nople, are gone, without having given any reason for complaint at Smyrna. or the parts of its territory through which they were passed. There remain only two regiments to be raised, in order to complete the number required. They will go direct to the capital, where a fleet of 2.fi ships of war, some of which are of 81) guns, is fitting out. This expedition will enter the Archipelago in the spring, but its destination seems to be unknown. A letter from Syra says, the permission which the Commander of the English naval force has given to the Greeks, to visit under the English guns the rich vessels of that nation coming from Alex• andria, and to carry into Napoli for judgment, has rendered them more insolent than they were before. They now pretend to lay down as a rule the right to visit European merchantmen, even within pun•shot of the ships of war of their respecti►e nations. Emboldened by the example that occurred at Syra, brigs of war went to Palos, where there were seven Austrian merchantmen convoyed by the Arethusa schooner. There they thought they would be allowed to visit unmolested as at Syra. The Captain of the Aus trian schooner, seeing the disproportion of strength, requested the French Captain of La Chevrette to unite with hint to convoy the Austrian shire, which the French Captain promised. The Arethusa and the Chevrette sailed together, but the latter, when it had got out of port, was separated by a squall of wind. However, the seven Greek ships of war did not venture to attack the convoy under the Arethusa, which accompanied it to Syra. In the night, two of the seven merchantmen were parted in a violent gale, and are supposed to have gone to Candle or Rhodes unless the Greeks have fallen in with them. Among the latter there are Captains who have obtained letters of marque at Hydra, by placing their pistols against the breasts of the Primates. This is the state of things, which will grow worse, and will not terminate till the Powers shall be roused by these scandalous proceedings-- Brussels Papers, April 21. The disturbances which have broker out in the manu facturing districts in Lancashire, arise from causes which unhappily the Government has no means of relieving; it can only perform the painful duty of acting with vigour and promptitude in suppressing them. We may sympathize with the sufferings which goad any number of the working.classes to a breach of the laws: it is humane to do so; but it would be carrying our sympathy too far, to overlook the guilt of revenging such sufferings on those who, personally, have had no share in producing them, The rioters, moreover, by their acts of violence, will only perpetuate that distress, which, intolerable as it may be, is not of a kind to yield to the destructive measures which they have adopted, but which must aggravate, not lighten, the burdens they now endure. We cannot hut condemn the tone in which several of the public journals accuse the Agriculturists as the primary cause of the misery which has armed the disturbed districts. " It will be seen," says the Chronicle of yesterday, "that the middle and lower classes attribute their evils princi pally to the Corn Laws, and that the rejection cf the mo tion for the alteration in them was the signal for the activity of the unemployed workmen. If the Country Gentlemen are not able to interpret this hand-writing on the wall, they must be stupid indeed. Good God ! to think only of the desperate game they are playing ! To think of men, in the proud and enviable condition of the English aristocracy, blessed with such abundant wealth, the fruits of the in dustry of the most industrious people that ever lived, ex posing the country to jeopardy, and their own happiness, from a blind and stupid determination to add a little more to their enormous wealth, by means:against which all the intelligence and virtue in the nation have long been raised !" It is impossible not to have observed of late the unceas ing aim of a certain political patty in this country—and a very strong party, too, it is—to point to the landholders as the real oppressors of every other class of the community; to represent them as extracting high rents from the indus try of the working classes, and devouring by their selfish monopoly the produce of manufacturing labour. To what result can this lead ? What other effect can it have than to excite the infuriated spirit of the labouring classes against the farmers and country gentlemen, and to send them, frenzy of the when they have broken up the power-looms and laid waste the property of their employers, that they may raise g e price of labour, to begin their next work of vengeance in th e quarter pointed out to them, and to set fire to wheat -stacks and hay-ricks to lower (lie price of hread? It is cruel in. justice thus to stimulate the exterminating lower orders. Nothing but crime and calamity can gr ow out of it. It is the leading duty, and ought to be the con. joint effort, of the daily press, to draw the public attention t o the real nature and cause of that wide-spreading an d deep-rooted distress which threatens the security of pro perry in every direction. It is inhuman, at this crisis, tom. asperate the labouring community against the landholders; and when, at length, they have broken out into disturbance, to turn round and recommend that the sword of the law should promptly mow the starving population down. What is so likely to urge men in such a situation to ex. claim against the country gentlemen and the Corn Laws, as ringing perpetually in their ears such language as ae hav e just quoted? And yet, when they have risen against the laws, what is the course which we find the Chronicle recom mends? t` The first thing to be done is, to p our in on PI di.th lel such on amount of military force, as may put down, with as little delay as possible, the rioters, and exiinguith in them all hope of the possibility making head against authority." It behoves a public Journalist to be very cautions how he foments a spirit of tumult, which heir so forward to suppress by promptly advancing against tha, deluded multitude such a charge of bayonets, as may at once take from them all hope of making head against those who m they have been taught to look upon as their eppressors. We are without any fresh intelligence from the dis turbed districts, and we therefore most ardently hope that the tumults have been appeased without any interfe rence on the part of the military. CITY, FRIDAY Evxxixo. The business on the Stock Exchanges was in the same state of stagnation this morning that we have had occasion to notice for several daysbast, and Consols closed at 78/ 9. Exchequer Bills were also a shade lower, 9s. 10s. pm. j r , other English securities there was no alteration. iVith the exception of a slight decline in South Amerie3n Socks, the Foreign market remained the same as y s k r . day. Colombian Bonds were 40, Alvxican 6 per Cents. 64, 3, and Peruvian Bonds 29i. The settltment m this market to-day passed off without any defaulter being de clared, or any circumstance occurring connected with it that was worthy of notice. Yesterday, at twelve o'clock, th. it Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Clarence, the Princess Augusts, Prince Leopold, the Duchess of Kent, the Princess Feo dore, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, attended by theit suites, visited the Exhibition of the Royal Aca demy, previous to its opening to the public. They wire re ceived and conducted through the rooms by Sir Tbomu Lawrence, the President of the Academy, and the other cams of the establishment. The Duke and Duchess of Clarence came to town yester day morning, from their residence at Bushy. Yesterday the Duke and Duchess of Clarence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, visited the Princess Augusta. _ _ The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester gave an enter tainment on Thursday evening, at their residence in Park , lane. The Princess Augusta was of the party. Yesterday, about twelve o'clock, the Duke of Welling ton went to the Foreign-office, and had an interview with Mr. Secretary Canning for about two hours. His Grace appears in much better health than when he left England. 'f he Duke of Wellington was inirodue'd to the King by Mr. Secretary Canning, upon his return to England from his special Embassy to the Emperor of Russia; bia Grace had also an audience of his nejesty. The Duke of De vonshire was also introduced to the King by Mr. Secretary Canning, upon his being appointed to a 'pedal , Embawy to the Emperor of Russia. Yesterday afternoon the Portuguese Ambassador, the Marquis de Palmella, was introduced to his Majesty, to de liver his new credentials from the Regency of Portugal. Yesterday the Earl of Harrowby transacted business at the Foreign-office. The Ambassador from the Netherlands transacted business at the Colonial-office yesterday. Yesterday morning, Mr. Clewse, the Kings Messenger, arrived at the Foreien-office, in Downing -street, with de spatches from the Hon. Frederick Lamb, the British Am bassador at Madrid. Some importance is attached to the despatches, owing to the Messenger's having travelled with extraordinary speed. We regret to state that Lord Charles Bentinck did yesterday, at his house in Park-lane, suddenly, of an aneurism of the heart. His Lordship was Treasurer of his Majesty's Household, and brother to his Grace the Duke of Portland.) A subscription has been commenced by some benevolent individuals for the relief of the unfortunate families who were sufferers by the late calamitous fire in Were -street, Clare-market. It is said that two of the children who were with difficulty rescued from the flames are now lying in an almost hopeless condition. The University Club, it is said, is about to increase Its numbers, and erect a new house opposite the point to be occupied by the United Service Club. The mansion of Sharphatn-park, near Glastonbury, the birth-place of the celebrated novelist, Henry Fielding, is announced for sale. The greater portion of T 0,,, Jon $ was written on this spot. The house is to be pulled down, and the materials sold in lots.—Taunton Courier. Letters received yesterday from Havre state the arrival of twelve ships from the United States, with 10,000 bags of cotton ; the largest arrival in one tide, we believe, that ever took place. It appears by accounts from the Hague of the 26th inst. that the Government of the Netherlands is about to raise a new loan of 40 millions of guilders, to be subscribed for in 5,000 shares, of 8,000 guilders each. The details of the plan are not given, but the subscriptions are to be paid n cash, or in existing Government Securities, taken at a rate below their present value in the market. The twenty millions wanted for Java are included in the proposed loan. The German Mail contains the following article from the Rhine:— (From the Rhine—at the end of March.) " It has often been remarked, and sometimes publicly said. that the helplessness of the German people, which frequently manifests itself on occasions of active interference in the public affairs of the country, is a singular contrast to the knowledge and enhghtened views which are so generally diffused, and to the eager participa tion in public events, which is often so loudly expressed in words. A very striking instance of this is afforded by what passed on the 21st and 211th February, at Coblents and Dusseldorff, in the election of Deputies to the Second Estate to the Provincial Diet. To this estate belong all the possessors of what were formerly noble estates, without any regard to the difference of old or rew nobility, or persons not noble. It was to he hireseen that the de scendants of the ancient families, who, in the former ecclesiastical states, were elevated, by privileges of all kinds, far above all the other classes, would not be at all pleased at being ranked in the came state with persons not noble. It was even known that some individuals of this class hail addressed remonstrances to the K in g of Prussia against this amalgamation, which were rejected wt'h equal mildness and decision. It could not, therefore. escape the most limited penetration, that the members of this formerly so highly privileged body, would take the opportunity of the elections, in order to get the direction of the Grand Estate of the Provincial Assembly into their hands, after the law and the express will of the King had denied it as a privilege. re thii notorious state of things, and the certainty of the consequence*. could not induce the not-noble landowners of the province, who make the great majority of the Second Estate, to agree togeth er in the exercise of the new political rights given them by the law. and the will of our most just King. Most of them did not attend at the election ; the consequence was such as to be expected under such circumstances. The twelve Deputies elected in Coblents belong, without exception, to ancient noble families ; and of the 13 elected at Dusseldorf'', there are only two who belong to the class of landholders not noble. ‘Ve hope that these events will serve to give such a direction to the elections of the 3d and 4th Estates, as to show that the proprietor, who are not noble will place themselves on a level ♦ith the old nobility in the exercise of their Political rights, as they claim to be equal to them by their wealth and edit. cation." Trfevti...do ►o 25 Madrid 174 Cadiz Bllboa Barcelona Neville . ....... ...... 36 Gibraltar 11 PRICES OP SIIAI .ES YESTERDAY. • Share. Paid. Anglo-Mexican Pasco-Peruvian PAOal, La Paz, and Permian Assodaalau . ASSOSAIIft COMPANIES. Protector Fire 2O owe WOK AND COEN COMPANIES. Provincial P0rtab1e.......... 3 idis MISCELLANEOUS. Se 1 2 tells 10 II ells r•.gnitable Loan 8ank............ ... New Corn Exchange ......