The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1825-06-30 00:00:00

I'; I .. I' PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF OF LORDS, WIDNZSDAY, J uxs 29. Mr. Snoops!' and others returned from the Commons the Illivecbants and Factors Bill, and several other Bills, as agreed to by that Soave. BUBBLE ACT AMENDMCNT BILL. The Bubble Act Repeal Bill was read a third time and passed,' :wher a few words had been inserted, on the motion of the LORD Guam ea Leoa. declaring that the common law wits enrepealed. WR I l'S OF ERROR ABOLITION RILL. On the motion of the Earl of LIVERPOOL, the Writs of Furor Abolition Bill went through a Committee, and was reported, with the addition of the clause of which Lord Ellenborough gave notice yesterday, in amendmmt of the Compennatien clause. The Apothecaries Bill, and the Isle of Man Trade Bill, were real a second time, and ordered to be committed tomorrow. The Customs' Laws Repeal Bill, the Irish Linen Bounties, and the Irish Roads Bill, went through Coinmittem, and were respec tively reportesl.—Adjourneid. HOUSE OF COMMONS, WLDNEsDAY. Jerez 29. DUTY ON ,ADVERTISEMENTS AND NEWSPAPERS. 'Jr. !Inn: presented a petition teem the Proprietor of the 6...tac010 For Press against the circulation of advertisements in lista and papers not subject to the stamp duties, which were dis trlhutrd gratuitously, to the great injury of newspaper property ; acd also praying a reduction of the duties on advertisements and Coe circulation of newspapers. The circulation of newspapers had in COnst queoee of those gratuitously distributed lists considerably dminished in Glasgow, Leith, and other places, and unless Government were disposed to give some relief no newspaper speru- L;ions could in future be successfully carded on. It was a great burden on those engaged in the conducting of newspapers, and one that could be diminished without loss to the revenue. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said Govern ment had been advised the lists mentioned by the Hon. Gentle. man were not exempt Iron duty, and they were determined to en. fate the law as it regarded them. Mr. lII I 3IE had hoped instead of imposing a new duty that the old one would have been removed. The petition was ordered to be printed. COMBINATION OF WORKMEN BILL. Mr. HOBHOUSE rose to preogit a petition from certain indi. visuals, mechanics, complaining that they had not been heard before the Comniittee on the Combination Laws and against the Bill. Petitioners staled, that they had at first felt disposed to offer no op. positlnn to the BEI before the Douse, under the expectation that ceriste amendments and modifications would hare been adopted. There were one or two verbal alterations which they were puticu. lady anxious to be admitted—one of them was w ith regard to the word " solely," and the other was in respect to the service of summonses, by which the workmen were at present in a WOMC situa. den than midnight felons. The petitioners prayed that they might be heard by Counsel against the Bill. lie considered the pnnetple of delegation, which was opposed in the present Bill, as highly favourable to good order. and that the clause in the Bill, which struck at the root of delegation, went to remove one of the safety valves of the Constitution, because at the same time that it extin guished delegation it permitted the assembling of large bodies of men for regulating affairs of trade. The old Combination Laws were re-enacted by the present Bill. And what was to be expected as the result if 60,000 operatives were permitted to surround the avenues of the House, instead of fire or six Individual delegates coming forward for the purpose of bringing up a petition? If the suggestions he had thrown out were not attended to he should feel it his duty to throw every possible obstacle in the way of the Bill. Proper time had not been allowed to collect the sense of the work men, but he was persuaded the table of the Upper (louse, if the Bill reached it, would groan beneath petitions against the Bill. Mr. W.IIsLACE objected, that what had been stated by the Hon. Gentleman was strictly in relation to the Bill, and should be , advanced in the Committee or at some future stage of the Bill. It would have been utterly impossible to have attended to all the sug.' gestions and opinions offered on the subject of the framing of the Act : neither was it in the power of the Committee to go into all the cases—their only mode of proceeding was to select a few, and on them examine witnesses, which thee did. He never had pledged himself to any compromise for the purpose of conciliating the ap probation of an/ set of individuals. General GASCOYNE was surprised the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Wallace) should declare he would admit no compromise or alter ation. Mr. WALLACE did not state any such thing, but denied hay. lag given any pledge to that effect. General GASCOYNE resumed, and expressed his determine tioo to give the Bill every opposition the Lateness of the Session and the usage of Parliament would admit. Mr. HUME—Those petitioners had not been heard before the Committee, notwithstanding the owe and invariable declaration of the lion. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Wallace), and of that they complained. The Bill was most grievous and uncalled for, and objected to by every party in the State, with the exception of that particular one to which It was proposed to intrust an unlimited power. Ile thought the prayer of the present petitioners should be attended to. Mr. IVALL ACE explained. al r. HORHOUSE said if the House would not consent to hear petitioners by their Counsel against the Bill, it should at least allow a reasonable delay, for the purpose of ascertaining the opinion of the body of the people, and pemilttine the operatives to express their opinion. lie would oppose the BilL Mr. Secretary PEEL was sure the known good humour of the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Hobhouse) would get the better of his mo mentary rashness and irritation, and induce him to withdraw his opposition ; in saying this, he only spoke the result of what his Dust experience warranted him in assuming., With regiud to the Committee, if it had attempted to hear all the parties who pressed rowan', anxious fora hearing, it could not have concluded its la. hours this Session, or for seventeears to came. Ile was surprised at the objections now taken to the Bill, after the almost unanimous opinion of the House. on the second reading, exprelied in favour of the Bill. He could not concur in calling it a harsh measure The Hon. Member fur Montrose at one time contemplated a much mare severe one, and seemed disposed to consent to an enactment resembling in principle the Irish Insurrection Act, for the purpose of doing away with the mischiefs consequent upon combination. Mr. liu3lE was not aware of ever having countenanced an Act of that description. At one tiros, entairly, the allegations of the Right Hon. Member (Mr. Peel) were so calculated to cache alarm, that his answer tins. if outrages exist, and the civil authority is no: sufficient to quell them, call in the military, or even arm the Government with some extraordinary power, extending to a limited spot where the outrages exile.; but it had never been his intention to recommend a measure calculated to confound the innocent with lie guilty. He had since reason to believe that the outrages were imaginary. and the alarm only existed in the brain of the Right Hon. Gentleman himself. lie objected to passing an Act such an this on the lest day of the Session. Mr. Secretary PEEL said the lion. Gentleman had grossly mis. represented his meaning. He had never said it was unimportant to inquire, but the opinion of the Committee was so unanimous that it did not seem requisite to go farther than they had. On what principle had the Hon. Gentleman acquiesced in the second reading of the Bill, which he now designated as oppressive to the liberty of the people? He would tell the Hon. Gentleman (31r. Hume) the BM was founded upon his own Resolution, and on Friday night he had declared hie entite acquiescence in the principle of the Bill which he now stood up to oppose. The lion. Gentleman must know it had been necessary to send dragoons to Stroud, to protect the workmen front the vengeance of their fellows, who had used the greatest violence, and dragged many of them through the water in a most inhuman manner. Mr. CRIPPS spoke in favour of the Bill. Mr. H. GURNEY made an observation which was Inaudible ant the Oanevi. Mr. JONES thought there had been a most extraordinary change in the sentiments nf the lion. Member for Montrose since the second reading of the Bill. Mr. WHITAIORE would. on the third reading of the Bill, propose the introduction of clause, fixing the right of appeal from Magistrates who might be supposed to be biassed in their admi nistration of the law on this subject. Mr. W. SMITH would vote for the clause mentioned by the Hon. Member who had just sat down. llow..ver, perhaps it might be better to pass the present Bill than leave the country without a safeguard. It was better a bad law should exist than dangerous outrage. Slr FRANCIS BURDETT said the common law was already cempetent to punish acts which Hon. Gentlemen stated called for new penal enactments. Instances might arise In the administra tion of the Act, where Magistrates, who were themselves-menu ta:turers, or in other respects interested, would have the means of inflicting punishment on the workmen, and to that he objected. It was, indeed, allowed there would be great difficulty in finding im partial Magistrates in manufacturing districts. It should be recol lected masters as well as men might be found in a slate of zombi. nation, and under the old combination laws that state of things was encouraged. As to outrages, everything now complained of, and more, existed under the old combination laws. This question interests the great bulk of the people: a Committee mtould therefore have time to investiinve the subject; and the ar rargement of last year. he thought, sheuld be tried at least until the next Session of Parliament. The less legialativa interference there was the better, for the more the IMAM and journeymen were on • level the more likely they were to agree. The masters tiny combine and actually starve the workmen, and this was really the taw where those acts of violence so loudly complained of were rum:rated. Whilst violence was put down on one side, tyranny should be resisted on the other, and impartial justice done to Page pude'. HUSKISSON said, it seemed evident that the Hon. Baronet had tot considered the evidence upon this subject, nor real the Report of the Committee. Tile lion. Baronet and the Member for Aberdeen seemed to assert that no violence had taken yes-e —that the charge of assassination had been disproved. Now the fact was, that the parties were tried In the highest Court of Judicature in the kingilem, and were convicted. Yet it was d the Wine of Commons should inquire into the truth of the charge. This would only be a mockery worthy of the lion. Member for Aberdeen. It was monstrous to say there was no violence. Was it not found necessary to introduce a Bill to put down the horrid practice of throwing oil of vitriol on the persons of individual.. by which their sight was destroyed in many instances ? One unronunate man's ears were cut off. M'as thin no violence ? He (Hr. lluskisson) was surprised to hear the I ifianimatory lan guage which had fallen from the Honourable Member for Aberdeen. (Dem.) He (Mr. linskimon) had never had any personal inter tour.e either with workmen or masters ou thin subject, and it would I.e well for the workmen and for the Hon. Gentleman himself if he l.ad followed this example. He (Mt. Huskinson) received letters within the last forty•eigltt hours from the principal leaders of corn btattiolislind committees, some of which were courted in the very same language used by the .Hon. Member for alontrose. lie _g _.~.,L ~~fr. tould not give the Hon. Gentleman the credit of originality there- • fore. As to the common law, adverted to by tile lion. Baronet, he i would leave it to the Judges, but would observe, however, that if 1 we should return to the common law we must repeal all the statutes, and it would be necessary for the Hon. Gentleman to make eves a more inflammatory speech than he had done that night. Mr. E. ELLICE said there were two parties interested in this subject—the master and the men. If manufacturers were to be Justices, the persons tried before them should have an appeal to another ceurt, and he should move for an amendment to that effect. On the whole, however, he preferred the urovisione of this Bill to that brought in by the lion. Member (3lr. If ume.) Mr. Secretary PEEL could not allow the observations of the Hen. Baronet (Sir F. Burdett) to pass without a few comments. The Hon. Baro let seemed to forget that the present Bill was found- ed on the resolutions of his lion. Friend, the Member for Mont rose. The Hon. Member for Montrose said, exclude the com mon law, and the Government bad exactly proceedad in this resolu tion. Before Gentlemen voted on this subject, he begged them to consider the transactions as detailed in the evidence, which had ta ken place in Dublin under the lion. Gentleman's act. It was not his (Mr. Peel's) intention to throw any censure upon the law intro duced by the Hon. Gentleman, he merely meant to assert that it did not afford sufficient security against the violence of the many ; (hear) and that it was not sufficient to insure that freedom of em ployment to capital, which was admitted on all halal to be desira ble. It was a notorious fact that an instrument was invented, and used in Dublin and Glasgow, for the purpose of dashing vitriol on the faces of persons obnoxious to the workmen. The evil bad realty arrived at such an alarming extent that no man could be responsible for the peace of the country it' this Session had passed without the interposition of the Legislature. The Honourable Baronet proposed that nothing should be done until next Session of Parliament. Some measure would then probably be introduced with the principle of which the Hon. Baronet could not possibly agree. The evil too by that time would probably have increased to • magnitude which might be fatal to the peace of the country. Mr. T. WILSON thought it was necessary to protect the work men against themselves. Under this view of the subject he should support the proposed measure. Mr. BRIGHT objected to the summary jurisdiction given to Magistrates to convict upon exparte evidence. Such a principle, if he understood right. watt contrary to all former precedent. Mr. Secretary PEEL said the clause to which the lion. Gentle man objected, wan brought forward by the lion. .lember for Westminster (Mr. llobhouee on a former occasion. Here was a precedent, theretiore, exactly in point. Mr. C. ORA NT said the summary jurisdiction was also sup ported by a precedent, to be found in the Bill introduced last year by the .Hon. Member for Montrose t and the present Bin was de cidedly-in accordance with the Resolutions proposed by that Hon. Gentleman. Ile was surprised the Bill had met so much opposi tion, for it was calculated to produce great benefit. Mr. DENIIAN said, the question was, whether the proposal act was likely to produce the proposed effect. lie (Mr. Denman) was of opinion, that the existing law was quite sufficient to correct all the evils complained of. At all events, he would deprecate legislative enactments on such a subject, and leave the muter and men only to rely upon their mutual good conduct. Ile was sure it was not intended to give an unfair advantage to any patty by this Bill ; but in his opinion, some of the clauses were highly objection. able. The evil would work our its own remedy, and be found amply sufficient. If two or three clauses were struck out, the Bill would meet with general concurrence. The petition was then ordered to beheld upon the table. Upon the motion that the petition be printed, Mr. HOBHOUSE rose to declare, that he was as warm a friend to the preservation of tranquillity as any of the Right Honourable Gentlemen opposite, but that he conceived the most effectual way to disturb the tranquillity which now confessedly existed was being too precipitate in passing the Bill which wu that evening to come under the consideration of the House. Notwithstandiag all that had ban said of the crime of throwing vitriol in the faces of persons. he had the testimony of a Member well acquainted with the state of Scotland, that that offence did not prevail there to the extent stated. He thought that it was just ground of complaint that no witnesses had been examined, as nothing could be more in. consistent with the true principles of legislation than proceeding to enact laws affecting individuals, without permitting those indivi duals to produce evidence, and be heard by Counsel at the bar of that House. He (Mr. Hobhouse) had been accused of using vio lent language. Without admitting that be had used violent lan guage, he would deny that in times like the present—in times of perfect tranquillity, v iolent language, if It had been used, could do any harm ; but if they went the length of enacting such a law, he hesitated not to foretcl that discontent and violence would be the inevitable consequences. All thet the parties asked was a fair trial, and to that he thought them justly entitled. Mr. HUME denied that he had used any inflammatory language. Ile had only spoken the'truth, and in dotng go he had claimed for the workmen nothing but justice. lie denied that the Act of last Session had the effect of suspending the common law in reference to combinations producing duiturhaece and breaches of the pee , " He could not conceive wily it should be imagined that at present there existed a necessity for passing any new measure, seeing that tranquillity prevailed throughout every part of the country. He then dwelt at considerable length upon the ignorance of Ministers on those subjects, and on the gross injustice of legislating without permitting the parties to give the evidence at the bar of that House which they were so anxious and so well prepared to give. He fur ther denied that any of the ill-effects arose from the Act of last Ses. sion, which Right lion. Gentlemen opposite had been so forward in attributing to it. Mr. Secretary PEEL could not let such misrepresentation pass He had never attributed to the operation of the Hon. Gentleman's Act any of the evils which now existed in the country. He had taken every pains to guard against such • mistake with respect to him. lie was tired repeating contradictions of that mistatement. Sir F. BURDETT said, that among the several opponents to wham his Hon. Friend (Mr. Hittite) was replying, it was not ex. unordinary dist he might be itiaecurate as to particular individuals. lie (Sir F. Burdett) thought that the Right Hon. Gentleman, the President of the Hotted of Trade, had attributed some ill-effects to the particular provisions of the Act of last Session. Mr. HUSKISSON- T " I neverdid." Mr. lIUME resumed. The Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Peel) had said, that the hands of Government ought to be strengthened, and adverted to the state of Ireland and Scotland in support of his opinions. Mr. Secretsry PEEL again interrupted for the purpose of saying that what he said was, that, front some cause or other for several years past, the laws regarding the combination of workmen had not been found to afford a sufficient security from the outrages of the turbulent and the ill-disposed. Ills wish and his object were, that some such laws should be enacted, as would protect those who had been hitherto the unodending victims of violence and outrage. Ile then referred to Campbell's evidence; from which it appeared, that it was the opinion of that witness, that much advantage would accrue to the interests of trade if there were passed en Act similar to the Ellenborougli Act, making capital, however, not the attempt but the actual throwing of vitriol, and other such substances, with intent to do bodily injury. With regard to the city of Dublin, he would call the attention of the Douse to the circumstance, that before one Divisional Police Office, there had, in the short space of nine months, been brought no less than sixteen cases of crimes aris ing out of the spirit of combination. That such effects were pre valent throughout the empire, was not to be questioned ; but he was far from making that a matter of personal Imputation on the Hon. Gent. (,lr. Ilume), he only adverted to it to prove his own forbearance. Ile entirely acquitted him (Mr. Flume) of any injus tire. In conclusion, he implored the Douse not to separate, and re. turn to their homes without giving to the public and the interests of trade, that security which the existing condition of the workmen loudly demanded. Mr. lIUME, in again resuming, made a few further observe. Lions. in reply to what had fallen from Mr. Secretary Peel, after which ATTORNEY-GENERAL rose to exprom much sur prise at the opposition which the Hon. Member for Aberdeen had thought proper to say he would give to the Bill of his Honourable Friend (Mr. Wallace), after the communication which he had had with him (Mr. Hume.) He (the Attorney-General) had in his possession a copy of the Bill, in which die lion. Gentleman (Mr. Hume), after expressing his concurrence in the principle of that measure, had made some corrections as to matters of detail, all of which were assented to except two. After a few words from Mr. T. WlLso,r, and Mr. Ilumw, the Petition was ordered to be printed. COMBINATION LAWS' A lIEND3IENT BILL. Mr. WALLACE moved the bringing up the Report upon the above BilL Mr. HUME again commenced hls observations in opposition to the Bill, and the House being very thin, the lion. !`!ember said the question required more attention on the part of Members, and he should accordingly move that the !louse be counted. The House was then counted, and 42 Members being found pre sent, the discussion proceeded. hie. HUAI E then went CM to condemn the Bill as being unjust and oppressive towards the men, and partial in the favour with which it viewed the masters. The Bill of last year gave sufficient power to the masters. With that power they had pat down a corn- ' binution at Glasgow, and caused the men to retool to their work. The masters in the contest with the men had completely succeeded. The masters agreed together, and coerced the men into their own terms, and now that House were passing a Bill, leaving the men no 'I means whatever to punish the masters. This was most unfair, and the Bill proposed would be most unequal in its operation. The Hots. Gentleman then read a letter addressed to him by a commit tee of the operatives at Leicester, in which, after commenting upon one of the clauses of the Bill (a copy of which had been sent to them), which they considered most objectionable, they begged and entreated that they might not be bound by such an unjust law. The least thcy asked was, that they might rot * made amenable to a magistrate, but be open to a trial by a Jury. They hoped the House would wait until further Information had been obtained upon a question so important to . their interest*. Could the House ex pect, after such an expression of feeling on the part of these per sons, that the law would ever be respected, or become effectual. or useful ? He had received another letter, dated from a committee room at Boston,in which the clause,cons pelling men to give evidence, or rendering them liable to an indefinite period of imprisonment, was very strongly objected to. The Hon. Gentleman then proceeded to observe, that the masters had it in their own power to keep the men peaceable. It only required theta to give the men a permanent emprgement. In every use where contracts had been entered into between masters ar.d workmen the:e had been no disturbance what ever whereas, in those cases where masters held their men liable to be turned off without any warning, was it too much for the men so Lin wristanc-zd to say—. you are at liberty to discharge us when you plumate, and we are at liberty to leave yrs' unless you will in. crease our pay." A motets carpenter addressed him sesterday, and alibi he had contracted to build a house trithin a certain period, and that all his men bad struck for higher we.ges. He (Mr. Hume) asked why he had not bound them to him till his contract was com pleted ? The answer was, that such a course was never adopted. lie replied that it was adopted, and referred to the eipbuitdcre, - who always entered into such kind of contracts with their men, and the consequence was, they never experienced any impediment in the performance of their contracts. So far, therefore, from giving masters an increase of power, in his opinion they had no claim whatever to the' least aid from Parliament- He saw no inconvenience in their case which they had 1131 the means of re. medying themselves; let them pay their men liberally and they would never experience any of those ineonvenieneies they now complained of. But he was told that low wages added to the strength and saftey of the country. He denied this.— He would say that low wages never had, nor ever would, produce a comfortable, respectable, and contented population in this country. lie would maintain that it was the high wages which had given the people of this country those advantages which 1 , they possessed beyond those enjoyed by the people of Ireland. If a system of low wages were maintained—wages which were wholly disproportionate to the prices of provisions and the necessaries of life—this country would place a class of men in such a state of de gradation, that they would not, and ought not to be expected to have any interest in the support or welfare of the government or the institutions of the country. There was an inconsistency in the pro. ceedings observed towards the working classes. At the time that they were endeavouring to improve the minds of the lower orders by every species of education, they were also doing everything that could depress them. Not a single enactment of this Bill was ap plicable to the master and the man reciprocally ; for it throughout gave the master everything, and took everything from the man. ' He would say to those who advocated public education, raise, if you an, every man in society—make him have a taste, if you can, for every kind of indulgence that the improved state of the arts c afford him, and encourage him toacquite the means, if possible, that he might enjoy them. But he would repeat that this Bill would have a contrary effect, and was altogether incon. sistent with that system of moral and intellectual improve. ment which was so much encouraged at the present day. It was sincerely to be hoped, therefore, that the House would pause be. fore it proceeded to repeal those laws which were proved to be of so much benefit to the public. He would say the present measure was a hasty, inconsiderate, and uncalled for proceeding ; and this he had no hesitation is asserting in spite of all that had been said in its support. [Some Hon. Members were observed to smile.] The Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Hume) observed, it was all very well for those who were unaffected by these laws to treat this matter wilt a laugh, but it was no laughable affair to those who were to becowe the martyrs of these severe and penal enactments. He did not know whether the Hon. Member for Galway (Mr. Martin) intended to oppose the Bill, but he begged to assure that Hon. Gentleman that these poor workmen were as much entitled to his commisera tion as the bull or the bear. (Wear, hear, from Mr. Martin, and a latigh throughout the whole Plottse-) Those who suffered, ought to know what were their suflerings better than others, and he would rather have the testimony of these poor men on this matter than the statement of any Hon. Member. He did not know whether the lion. Gentleman (Mr. Martin) wound concur with him here, for in this instance the case of the bears and the bulls did not ap ply, for they could not make known their complaints. (A laugh.) The Hon. Gentleman then repeated his former objections to the in troduction of the words molestation and obstruction, and hoped the Hon. and Learned Attorney• General would confine the measure, if it were to pass, to oiolence, threats, or intimidation. He also strongly objected to the word " inducing," which occurred in a subsequent part of the Bill, as it opened a door to every species of, abuse on the part of those who were to determine the meaning and applicatioa of that word. After some further verbal objections, the Hon. Gentleman adverted again to the clause which obliged the men to give evidence against each other, and observed, that in the old combination law this clause existed, whilst the masters were ex empted front its operation ; and it was stated in the Committee of last Session, that such a proceeding was most objectionable. There was nothing, however, in the present Bill that could compel the masters to give evidence against earls other, although it was intended to re-enact that clause as it respected the workmen. This was part of that inequality which had been so strongly complained of in the old laws, and which was most objectionable, evincing as it did so blameable a partiality in favour of the masters. 11 ith regard to the witness who should refuse to give evidence, he was liable by this Bill to be imprisoned for life; for there was no limi. tatioa fixed fur the term of his Imprisonment. He had proposed to limit it to that extent of punishment to which the principal would have been liable if convicted, and which seemed to him to be fair and reasonable. (A symptom of impatience w. here ma. nifested by some Hon. Members.) The Hon. Gentleman said, lie was quite aware that he was occupying much time, but he must be left to judge for himself as to the importance of those opinions which he had formed upon this subject. He war also aware that there were many individuals who could have put the matter in a much better light before the House; but as they had for some reason or the other declined to do so, they must then be satisfied with what was termed the second best, and he hoped that what he had said, being the result of much reflection and earnest consi. deration, would be listened to as arising from the beat of motives, and which was to stop the progress of this Bill until all the ob. jectionable parts of it were removed. And he would candidly avow, that It was his intention to avail himself of every opportu. nity which the forms of the House would afford him to impede the Bill till those alterations were introduced, and till it was made to meet the views of those who were so deeply interested in it. By this Bill they would actually violate every principle of justice, and taint that administration of the law, the purity of which was always considered the boast and pride of this country, by apooint. ing those men whose interests were involved in the questions that were to be decided by virtue of this Bill, to be the judges to determine those very questions. For he would challenge any Member to deny, if he could, whether throughout the whole manufacturing districts the masters did not make it a common cause with each other in suppressing any attempt on the part of the men to interefere, as it was termed, with the mode of carrying on their business- The clause in the last Bill was, that no Justice, being a master, or the son of a master, should be allowed to heear and determine disputes between any other master and the men. That principle was by the present Bill altogether violated. The provision which empowered any two Magistrates to act, when coupled with the other clauses, made this Bill one which ought not to pass. But over and above this there was no power of appeal giver. by the Bill. This was adding injustice to wrongs already too severely felt. Upon the whole, he was satisfied that none of the positions which he had stated could be negatived, and If so, he felt he was doing right, and his duty, to vote against this report being now bmught up. Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and a division took place, when there were— _ _ For the bringing up of the Report .5.6 I Against it - Majority . . 51 On our re-admission to the gallery we found Mr. JONES on his legs, expressing a hope that a clause fright be introduced into the Bill, giving the power of appeal to the Quarter Sessions from the decision of the Slagistrates. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL declared he had no wish what ever to trench on the liberties of the people, and that he did intend to move the introdletion of such an amendment as that suggested by the lion. Member. Mr. S. W'ORTLEY expressed his satisfaction at what had fallen from the lion. and Learned Gentleman. . 2 On the question, that that clause be agreed to which made it illegal for any person . " by violence to the person or property , or by threats, intimidation, or molestation, to force, or endeavour to force," ace.— Sir R. WIISON said he hoped that the indefinable word, " molestation," might be omitted. A man was liable to be molested in a thousand different ways. For instance, it might be considered molestation in a beggar to ask charity. (!dear, heat.) He trusted the Right Hon. Gentlemen opposite would not consider the present as a party question, and as the Attorney. General had been so con ciliatory in acceding to a former suggestion, be hoped they would consent to limit the term for which a contumacious witness might be confined to the same time that the offender, if convicted, might be kept in custody. In conclusion, he expressed it as his decided opinion that if the matter were left to the good sense of both parties the evil would soon work its own cure. . . Mr. Secretary PEEL said, nothing could be more inconsistent with their character as legislators than that they should permit any acrimonious language to influence them in preventing the introduc e thus of any clause wh ich might be deemed proper. (Hear, hear.) The present, he assured the Hon. Baronet, was not looked on as a piety question, and he begged to inborn' the House that it was the intention of his Learned Friend the Attorney.Beneral to move the insertion of a clause, limiting the time for which a witness refusing to give evidence, to the period for which a person convicted might be kept in custody. (Hear, hear.) In answer to the objec tion of the lion. Baronet, he wished to remind the House that " molest and disturb" were words well known to the law, and that since the time of, he believed, Charles I, they were to be found on the statute book ; it au not fair, therefore, to say that they had now been arbitrarily introduced. Mr. CALCIIAFT contended that the true object of the Bill was to protect the weak against the strong—to shield the person wishing to work from those who were otherwise disposed. In an ewer to the objection of his lion. Friend, he begged to say that there were many sorts of molestation which did nut amount to as sault, and the word 4 . molestation" was introduced at the request of those who had suffered much from it. He trusted his lion. Friends, before they objected to the word molestation, would read led the other word coupled with it. (Hear, hear.) Mr. STUART WORTLEY concurred in the view which the Hon. Member had taken of the question. The men at present well klew that they could be punished for assaults or other injuries, I atd therefore they proceeded to molestation, and insult those I who might wish to dispose of their labour at a low rate. Without ! the words " molestation or obstruction" he thought the whole Act not worth one farthing, not better titan so much waste paper. (Hear, hear.) Ile contended there were no grounds to dread an! increase of dominion in the masters, for in almost every case of a strike they had been compelled to succumb to the men. The twa parties had by no means an equal game to play, for the masters had their capitol lying idle, whilst, on the other hand, the men were supported from the combination fund. Mr. ABERCIIO3IBY said be would have felt some doubt as to how he should give his vote on the third reading, had not his' Honourable and beamed Friend given notice of his intention to move the addition of a clause, permitting appeals. For his own part. he thought that if the matter were left to the good sense and judgment of the parties, it would be tnore effectual in checking the evil than all the btatutes that might be (ranted. lie most err- , tainly would have voted against the word " molestation," had his Hon. and Learned Friend not granted the power of appeal, and thereby afforded an opportunity of reconsidering the decision. As that opportunity had been conceded he should give the mess sure his support, as much through a wish to promote unanimity on so important a subject, as for any other reason. (Hear, hear). Sufficient time had not been given to examine the evidence; he trusted, therefore, that hiaalajesty'sslinisters would watch narrow ly the progress of the Bill, and be prepared next Session to be an swerable to the House for its operation, and further, to remove all that might not beneficial in it. (Hear, hear,) lie thought also, they ought to make the provisions of the Bill as intelligible as pos sible, and expressed an earnest hope, that those who had any infitt- a enee amongst the operatives would endeavour to explain it to PRICES (IF FOrtrUre them. Austrian Bonds (10 (lu. pee!: Mr. HOBHOUSE said great doubt existed as to the proper in. St.) 914 terpretation of a particular clause in the Bill. The clause to which Brazilian Bonds 1104 he alluded was that which provided, " That this Act shall not ex- Ditto Scrip (182 a) 1 04 dis tend to subject any persons to punishment, whn shall meet together Ditto Acct. 0/ this solely for the purpose of consulting upon and determining the rate Buenos Ayres Bonds 931 of wages or prices, which the persons present at such meeting, or Ditto Acct. 934 any of them, shall require or demand for his or their work, or the Chdian Bonds 024 14 hours or time for which he or they shall work in any manufacture, Colombian Bonds trade or business, or who shall enter into any agreement, verbal or Ditto Bonds (1821) 881 8 i 8 written, among themselves, for the purpose of fixing the rate of. Ditto Acct. 884 4e i 4 wages or prices, which the panics enterinq into such agree:neat or Danish Bonds 16.24 any of them, shall require or demand for nis or their work, or the Ditto Z. 'u (1823 j 3 dis hours of time for which he or they wilt work, in any maaurfacture, ! Ditto ts,et. 24 dis trade or business." Now, the men entertained a fear, that if at French Rentess prCt. 102 f. 60e. the meeting held for such purposes, any persons signed the names I 103 f. 102 f. 30e. of others who were absent, and that in case those absent from the Exchange 9:ir. 10e. meeting should subsequently adopt the sgreement which had been Ditto Acct. 102 f. 76c. come to, and attach their signatures to die document, that they Exchange 26f. lee. would not come within the operation of that clause, and be exempt from punishment. He trusted the Learned Gentleman oppose would state his impression on the subject. The Honourable Member, after some further remarks, said, that there was toth;ng in the Bill to affect masters whn might combine. Mr. Secretary PEEL—They are included in the words " persons." Mr. HOBIIOUSE said the word " persona" was certainly in the Bill, but then it applied only to the workmen. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL contended, that the Act as it stood applied equally to masters and men ; however, he had no oh. jection to introduce one or two words which would make its mean. ing perfectly unequivocal. In the clause which made it pens! to force a person to combine in order to procure an increase in the rate of wages, he would introduce the words " or diminution ;" in like manner, after the words " to lessen the hours of labour," he would add, " or extend the same ;" that he trusted would meet the Willies of the Hon. Members; the other clause alluded to by the lion. Member he did not think open to any objection—the only object of that was to legalise meetings such as had been deteribed, and in order to eff e ct that, it was necessary to introduce such a clause ; then to the Hon. Member's question, would the men. in that particular case, be punishable, his answer was, that they would not—and why ? because they were protected by a subsequent clause, which provided, that all agreements between persons, Ole then absent or not, ..s to the rates of wages, were to be deemed not illegal. (Hear.) He trusted that those explanations would be sa , tisfactory to the Hon. Member. Sir P. BURDETT wished to know whether the masters were to be liable to summary punishment. He thought it objectionable that the men should - be condemned to the tread-mill ; and still more so that the masters should be subjected to se degioling a punishment. He did not think the offence had sufficient radians ix se to warrant such an infliction. After a few words from Mr. Hums and Mr. Secretary Pup.-- Mr. DEN3I.IN contended, that by no Statute was inoksta.lon made a misdemeanor; as well might they make idle looks or ob noxious gestures punishable. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL replied, that in a !great many Acts " to molest, oppose, or obstruct," was pronounced illegal. Mr. DENSIAN—Yes, when a person was in the discharge of his duty. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—WeII, bow did the present Act stand ? it merely made it illegal to compel a man to do so and so by molestation ; and if the Hon. and Learned Alen:her did nut think it possible to diem it by such means, he begged to remind him of a case that occurred lately in London, and which came be fore the Magistrates, where it appeared that a party of shoemakers watched a person of the same trade, who was obnoxious to them, and followed him through the streets, offaing him gross insult (hear, hear) : they did not, to be sure, assault or threaten him, fur that either of those was already punishable, but they did what was just as likely to attain their end. Mr. HU3IE made an observation. Sir It. WILSON contended, that the ease mentioned by the Attorney-Get:mat was already proved. The Report was then received ; the Amendments ordered to be engrossed, and the Bill to be read a third time w-morrow. - - SPRING GUNS BILL. On the Order of the Day for the third reading of the Spring Guns Bill being read, Mr. It. COIAIORN proposed the clause of which he had pre viously given notice, to render the setting of spring guns in the day time illegal. After a desultory conversation, in which Mr. WELLS, Sir J. Snxxxxx, Lord NORMANDY, Mr. BENET? (Wilts), and Mr. S. WORTLEY. took a part, The SOLICITOR-GENERAL expressed his disapprobation of the use of spring guns. Mr. HUSKISSON recommended that the Bill be withdrawn for the present Session. Sir R. WILSON deprecated the use of spring nuns. Mr. ABERCRO3IBY thought there was till individual pos sessed a right to take away life by setting spring guns. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, but we understood the question to have been negatived without a division. Lord BINNING then proposed a clause for exempting gardens from the operation of the Act, upon which, Mr. AIIERCROMBY moved as an amendment, that Spring Guns uied for the preservation of game should be prohibited. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL objected, or the ground that such a provision would be inefficacious. The House then divided, when there appeared— For it, Against it, 3lsjotity, A clause was then curled without a division, rormittins Spring Guns to be set in whiled gardens or orchards. Mr. TENNYSON then said, that although he had trroduced the Bill, he would still vote against it, rather than con ant to cognise the legality of such diabolical engines. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the passing of the Bill, . . . 31 Against it, 32 Majority, The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House aijourned at HALT-PAST ONZ O'CLOCK. Elie Writtott gr 311.. DIWRIP-I.4NE THEATRE. This Evening, THURST)AY, June 30, ICII be performed MACHETII. Macbeth, Mr. Kean; Maeduff, Mr. Wallach; Lady Macbeth' Mrs. -- • bunt. • - - After which. . fiR FR EISCHI. , TZ. Clasper Mr. Horn: Adolph, Mr. T. Cooke ; Bernhard. Mr. Bedford; Hermit, 'Mr. Sheriff; Kilian, Mr. Fitstrillium. Linda. Mia Brad. dole; Boat, Mims Povey. COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.. Thus Evening, THURSDAY. June3o, will be performed THL TF.AIII:ST.. _ . Prnepero, Mr. Young s Ur. Cooper t Trlnado, Mr. Illanehard; Stephanu Mr. H. Farrell; Callbau , Mr. Rayner. Durlnds, Mae Paton Miranda, Wes Hammersier, Ariel, Num 11. Cawse. After which, TILE CHILD 01 , NATURE. Amanthis, Min Foote. HAYMARKET THEATRE. - Thls Keening. THURSDAY, June 30, %sill he performed TRIBE/LA rION i or, UNWELCOME VisiToitS. The Char.iecers by Years. Dowton, tlnlug. end Raymond; Mesdames Davison and Glover. After which, _ _EX CHANCE NO ROBBERY. ...... Sir Christopher Cranberry. Ur. Dowton i Sam Swipes, )ir. Liston Lady Cranberry. Mrs. Davison. To euuclude with "EWOULD PUZZLE A CONJUROR! Van Dunder, Ur. Liston. ENGLISH OPERA HOUSE. Thle Theatre iiii - Vi;iiiinr — tile . 7ll;iife! -- Seiaiitieat SATURDAY . . NEXT, July 2, with THE IIEOGARS OPERA. Captain Macheath. Mr. Thorn (Dow the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh); Polly, Ines Stephens) Lucy, Ills' Kelly. After which ROSINA. Rosins, Mite Dow(act (from the Theatre Royal, Norwich). With TIIE SPOILED CHILD. Little Pickle, kliee Gower& On Monday, a new Comic Opera, to be called Broken Promises. or the Colonel, the Captain, and the Corporal. ROYAL GARDENS, VAUXHALL. UNDER THE ESPECIAL PATRONAGE OF Ills WIAJESTV. To-morrow Evening. FRIDAY. the let of July, *GRAND GALA will be given, and the Gardens will be Illuminated with a variety of new and spiendio Devires. Trophies, &c. Ac, The meta will consist of a variety of new and popular Musle; the Entertain ments on • new and extensive scale; the admired Chinese Wed- Mug In the new Theatre, by the whole Corps de Mallet; the Female Juggler will, by particular desire, continue her miraculous Perform ance; and the celebrated French Juggler repeat his various Feats, which have re c eived such unbourvied approbation; the wonderful Tight and Snack Rope by the admired American: the unequalled Fautoccini, with new and additional Figures, in the Rotunda; and new %lewd in the Cosmorama& To eitichide with a novel and splen did Display of Fire Works; and. in the midst of a shower of Ere, the terride Ascent and Descent will take place, which has attained such rapturous and universal applause. Doors open at Seven.—Adnilselon, 3s. 64. THR APOLLONICON. MIME TES onsestsera PATROXAOM OW MS BILWYWY. Ou SATURDAY NKXT, at Two etClock. lite following SKLUCTION of MUSIC win be performed bp Mr, NUIIKIS on the AHOLLONICON, a Grand Musical Instrument. Invented and constructed by Mews. Flight and Robson, Organ Bullalers, 101, St. Nernst's-lane T— HANT I. Overture. Calipbe de Deeded (I.7lldieu)—Sonte. ' Dove sante (V.eart) —Glee. • I.e, tirpleee (Vt elehl—aung. 'Aurora ehe eurgerat? Chorus. Zruberttute (Muzartl. PART I!. - - • • - Overture, Der Prelerhuts Ifs youth should meet • maiden. Der Frelsehmr. (Weber)Song, • Vedr•t earim. ( Mozartl— Song.' Should he up'orald . (Ulehop)--Storm Concerto (Stlebelt). l'arkis's Performances Will be 'enthused every fintarday daring the Seaeou. The Mechanical Powers of the Apollonicon ere exhibited Daily, Rem One till Four (except during the time of Mr. Purkis's attendance). performing Beethoven's eetelintted Overture to Prometheus. Meserrs overture to Zauberflote, sad itardn's timnd Military Movement Rem his Twelfth liymphony, in the execution of which It has been bummed with the sanction of the most eminent ineohanical and musical men of the age, and is allowed to possesll a grandeur and egrioty of effect, with a precision usict &delicacy' of expreaskat, 'ope ner to any other Instrument in Europe. "Elle kluge errange4 for and set on the CyWider" by Mx. illZbt, jut. YESTERDAY. I:. • k nokral.. uSciip (lan) 101 di. ••• Ater. 11 10, ri , s Bonds 7I t 7 7 :. , Acct. 771 Di:to Scrip (1U25) ilia t , i) Acct. 2 I , li dis Neapolitan Dons.' Peruvian Bonds Portuguese Bonds MI Ditto Acct. Prussian Bonds Inli Russian Bonds I% Ditto Acct. Spanish Cons.9ll 213 Ditto Acct. 22 IDitto Cons. (1823) 171 16 1 1 Ditto Acet. Tiis lla ITS ill PREIS commenced pubnohing yesterday mon ing at half-past Five o'clock. LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 30, DM. 1 The Paris morning papers of Monday contain not an article worth extracting. The accounts from Greece are only repetitions of what we have already published. The Polish Diet was closed on the 13:h ibis:. In the sittings between the 27th and 31st of May, the heads of the new Civil and Criminal Code were adopted, some unanimously, and some by a majority of votes. We subjoin the EMPEAOR'S speech on putting an end to the Session. Isis Imperial Majesty is profuse of his expressions of satisfac tion at the course followed by the Diet. It appears that the Emreaos has agreed to every amendment they have suggested, and they on their part have passed every law he has proposed. If the feelings of the Polish Diet be really as much in harmony with the views of the Russian Ge vernment as this statement implies, there can be nu reason for continuing the suppression of their debates. Until that edict is revoked, we shall doubt that all is absolutely so happy as we may be told. [From the Etolle, dated Tuesday, June 28.1 PARIS. JUNE 27. The following la the Speech of the Emperor of Russia to the two Chambers, on the dosing of the Diet of Poland, June 13, 1025 : `• Representatives of the Kingdom of Poland, " Your third Session offers results on which I cannot sufficiently eongrattilate you. You have deliberated with calmness and pm. dence, fulfilled the expectations of your country, and justified my confidence. • - - - _ " Religien has received from you a legitimate and judicious homage. Its rights have been reconciled with the institutions and forms, the maintenance of which was required by the public in terest, and the first book of your new Civil Code has laid down the basis of a system of legislation appropriated to the State. the wants and the manners of the saciety which it is to govern. Vour future meetings will finish this important work. " In the [Airs on Mortgages, and in several parts of your Penal Code, experience bad pointed out some inconveniences—you bare censored them. _ " Your lung misfortunes had burdened landed property with debts; this property, the real support of the State, required an in. dispensable relief—you have felt the necessity of assishog it. The obstacles which might check the development of the law on the Territorial Association will be removed, and by means of its in fluence—of the active solicitude which will direct its execution—of the particular assistance which the Government has guaranteed for cases in which even the benefits of the law would be insufficient-- you 101, as I love to believe, see the last traces of your misfortunes d. " I have readily adopted all the amendments which you have proposed to me. On your side you have adopted all the projects of law' which I had laid before you. This exchange of 'haws and in. formation. this mutual agreement, the only means of confirming the institutions which you enjoy, are at once the chief cbject arid the essential advantage of them. " To cement so happy a union, to keep up the communications. of which it is the fruit, in the interval which will elapse till the next Diet, a Committee taken from your own body will continue to take part in drawing up the projects of law. " You have presented several wishes to me. I will take them all into consideration, and you hill learn the motives and the decisions which 1 shall make respecting them. They shall be complied aids as far as circumstances will allow. " Representatives of the Kingdom of Poland—l quit yon with regret, but also with the satisfaction of having seen you 00-operate to your happiness according to your interests and my wishes. Par. take this sentiment, spread it among your fellow-citizens, and believe that I shall know how to acknowledge the confidence, the marks of which have distinguished your Session. They will not be lost. I preserve a profound impression of them, which will slwars be united with the desire of proving to you how sincere is 14e affection which I bear to you, and how great an inlucoce your conduct will have on your future situation." The Prince of Salerno, uncle to the Duchess of Berry, arrived at Lyons on the 24th, on his way to Paris. FRENCH FUNDS.—PARIS, JUNE 27.—Five per Cents. 103 f. ; 3 per Cents. 76f. : Bank Stock 2,2021. 30e. t Kente de Naples, aerti talconnet 811 f. 20c. ; Rentes d'Espag. ; Royal Spanish loon 57. Exchange on London—One month 2fif.; three ditto 211. 5k.--Coars luthentique. June 27. T.te Lisbon Papers reeet% rut yesterday by the packet confirm the statements we had through the French Jour nals as to the improvement of the commercial system of Portugal. Several of the export duties are diminished, and the restrictions on importation removed : among the reduced duties arc those on Port wine one-third, and on Ma -1 deka one-half. These are some of the beneficial conse quences already resulting from the liberal policy latterly pur sued by this country. We may look forward with confidence to many changes yet greater, which will follow the general adoption of the commercial system recommended by the authority and example of the first maritime power in the world. The following letter, dated Lisbon, June 11, states the principal alterations:— " The Decree mentioned in our last has been published. It states that all foreign manufactures will be admitted henceforward at • certain duty, which is not yet fixed, excepting starch, urine, brandy, vinegar. and all other spiritous liquors. cud: , soap, and tobacco. The duty on staves is lowered from 30 to 10 per cent., and that on the export of wine and salt is also reduced, but rot to any amount of consequence : on salt it will not cause a greater dif ference than bars. per moy, and on wine about 3,000r5. per pipe. Transhipments of all admissible goods will be allowed at a duty of 2 per cent., and foreign tanned calf-skins will pay 160 rs. per pound duty." Yesterday we received Colombian Papers to the 4th ult. inclusive. The advicea from Bogota are to the 29th April. On the morning of the 25th the third discussion took place in the Colombian Congress on the ratification of the treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, between that Repub lic and Great Britain, which had been signed on the lath by the Plenipotentiaries of both nations. The different articles were debated very fully. Senor GOAL, the Secre tary for Foreign Affairs, was present, and satisfactorily explained the objections which were stated . by a few repre sentatives. The treaty was finally approved in all its parts and fully ratified. In another column we have published this important document at length, with each extracts from the papers as are moss intet esting. They contain no account either of the fall of Callao or the capitulation of Ot Amara. We have given the decree of General Do LI VA a depriving, the garrison of all the rights of war. The general Ameri can Confederation is likely, it would seem, to be carried into execution. This is the plan for an assembly of deputies from all the states of the New World, to concert measures for their general safety and welfare. Bortva a is repre sented to feel great anxiety for the convocation of this body. In a letter to the Vice-President of Colombia he observes: " I hope that the Government of Colombia will not fail to take this step, so essential to the completion of her glory." .. _ The formation of the Colombian Agricultural Associ ation is noticed in these papers and highly applauded, a$ holding out many benefits to that country. The commercial treaty with Colombia is the consum mation of a great work, giving political existence, and se curing freedom and indepentleucc to that republic, and opening new and rich channels of enterprise to our own countrymen. The question of South American ir.deperd cnce is now decided, not only in fact, but in form. :Spain is too feeble to make any attempt against her revolted co i lonics, and England has made known her determination I that no other Power shall interfere in the struggle. The course followed by the English Government with religion Ito this contest, is worthy of being recalled to notice. The position of England at the general peace of Itils was, a inalliinrl • IY. I .1 .1 hi mill ... • 1 - OtAli . jun bee Pur Chi wit! to t Cht he; lasa