The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1824-02-27 00:00:00

I of MAIM* lootitutioso throughout Eagload sod LIMA. AMJLTON asked s ineedos respecting the Scotch alli trODD ADVOCATE. The Acs of Oedema ere now nub* tiblo. aN. W. ITGATOD mowed for the production of certain do eidealre to incurrence. on the Moviuito shore, up to the IRELAND. Lima ALTHOMPN give notice of his intended cultioa on the •rJ Ivelenifer Tuesday, the I Ith May. Mr. EIZRRIES awn al that the resolutions of the Chancellor of e =s e c orac fottodad on the earns in the Itudget should be .----.....---- fiC4 tTe 'II C. E lIIIIIM. AIDLACS.OII/31 . moved, that the petition be presented from the lahaltitud- of Edinburgh, relative to the defec eOrtation a tle-t rity, emelt' ~e read. uetiuri being roe by the I lerk, AMID:110MB 1 rove to tiring forward his promised mo oed in Join to. he ohswrved, that in obedience to the wash of aZaSlalaa, intelligent, and respectable portico of his fellow owsisloymen be lost year presented the petition just read to the no. aim of th eHawse; but as he then found the House otherwise °cas h*, in the asercist of hie discretion, did not thin press its dreutdseatlon. The 'memo was respectful and In conlidirg hut =, and If the discussion should defeat their bor., he must at it, oat to the wont of strength and truth of the cause, but •elt this tableaue of the advocate. Ile knew he had difficultice to ereeteed neater of a foneidable nature, and although that which leo elleald pe.pose would tae of a limited nature, he yet had spry hinelom of .resew. Still those fears were nut unmixed with t?fi t lec he ir.a sat 'Ailed that the petitioners were suppurted by the of public opinion, anal would prove ultimately facet-viral. The 'nod was ~termby a numerous meeting, though the Chief II trate of the city of Edinburgh did nut unction their pro. ... :fr i, lags. The petit cunt/tined the sentiments of • very respect. able body in that city, and had also the concurrence of the great proportion of the people of Scotland. The petition was signed by abeve7oolperrions, and for that aloi.eit WM entitled to respect,exeln atm of the truth and learning whirls it contained. The householders of Edinburgh amounted to 21.1.1111, and 10,101 were rated above dm mounds ; deducting one-fourth from that, it mould reduce the number 1o72711; and of those persons, an rated, full three-fettrths et the whole howielnddery of Edinburgh signed this petition.__ These petitioners were eminently entitled to demand the test atten. non of this Mouse. Ile cor.feeoll the object to be, to have the pe tition signed by permits rated above live roods, in order to show, in the tint place, their r.spertaltiloy, and, in the next place, to skew this House that they were therefore entitled to atter.tioo. They did Lot wish to preebide other persons.frons signing it, but Ow al that nietluel mid mum with a view to skew that they p the advantages of education and pmpirty, giving them an interest in the peace and tranquillity of the country. If lie knew this House, he thought these reasons would induce tbein to listen to the petit' rti with the more attention. l'he population of Edinburgh was 11.111.11911: the pertains returning a Member floolitially were 33, but, in point of 1.1, only 19. (Cries of Hear.) The Town Council massaged the return of the Alenther, and this Co. t o. MI itself was self-elected. The prineipl, of self-election was the prim paid by a succesmir to get into 011ie:, which he afterwards made over to mine tine else, anti so on. Nineteen persons peach. rally elected the Al ember, although there were helmet: Deseons also, who were elected by ;en persons of the incorporated trades. Those fourteen composed the Council. Such was the state in which the Corporation of Edinburgh was placed at this niouietu. fie could not conjectare on what print iple this arrangement could he defended ; it was not on a principle of property, mw at' liberty, We of extent of suffrage. Ile a dint to avoid throwing any ridi cule an demo genilreleti, asoi lie Id Id Sesame forbear to talk of their love of iiidependence Led of the absence of all sell.interest. On one principle only cool,' they continue such a system—ilailiele, to Improve Ste cunipesit ion of this Wane. ,iiid yet alto would really believe It ? who would Islieve this those 19 persons would al. ways act foe the 'Pistilli, good. and not be swayed by private interest? Did they choose an independent mait? or a man who had ready scam to the Treasury, and who could procure for these 19 some of the gond things which all men were anxious to enjoy ? Who was it likely these Gentlemen a wild el, ct ? Why, certainly, mit a pa trioe--nota titan 'Truk ing the feeliegs of the people—tint a rum who did net see in every in , uoirevilltzt I ;imminent what was right. The Member for Edinburgh was elected againat the eminent of the Ilia potty of the people. The whole history of that city stk.:ell, that the Town Council anti the petiole were at issue, and that the me an allied their reprosetitatircwas in the same situation. When ever any new underreking was commented in Edinburgh, Whigand Tory united in begging to be treed f lie Town Council. In fact it wed may Store the time shin the pimple got rid in some degree of those nineteen mde, that Oily trgan to date their improvement. Why should the peolir of Edinburgh be denied the exereise of the highest privilege of civilized men—the election of their Kiwi -pen tane, ? The people of that city never knew any thing of hint till his name was . In the r:e.,eite ; he might defy the citizens of Edin burgh; he ninth' thwart the iitii.t et licrons views ; he might do in fact, as he pleased, pn.vid.ll he war strongly hacked by t hese nineteen people. Why %Mudd the people of Edinburgh be sub jected to such a serum of insults and degraidillitals ? What patriot ism or virtue superior to otters slid these nineteen persons paress, to give them such a right above their fellowaitizens ? Such a sys tem mimes mold he et lung duration, and never ought to be. The emnplahsta on this subject were nut new, for they existed since the year 1116 R, and perhaps !.chore. Ttuly it might be said, there was r.othing new under the Mill, for herr were abuses perpetuated fur such a of yearn. What useful object was to be gained by eon de aled abuses, and thereby provoking the mass of intelligence and w into discontent and dissatisfaction ? Why deny the tither 04 Edinburgh the exercise of a right allowed to the meanest borough in this country ? There could he not-nose—and no cause really tented but our, and that was, that the representative of nineteen persons Ghoul., be at the call of the reigning dlinister, and thereby promise for himself and the individuals who sent hint as their representative,—not the representative of the people of Edinburgh onto Parliament. Ile asked where was the danger of making the representation of Edinburgh more popular, and he would odd, more constitutionally just ? ti'ho were the petitioners ? Were they persons to whom it would he dangerous to entrust the elective franchise ? l'alinhurgh. it should be remembered, was the capital—the seat of justice and the public authorities—the resort of the gentlemen of the bar, who exercised a great control over public opMion throughout Scotland; Edinburgh attracted a great portion of activity, entt•rprize, w,alth, and knowledge; it was the nest of a distinguislivel I 'itieersity. A vast nuniber of permits who had teallsed fortunes in other places resided there; and it con tained, above all, a wealthy and intelligent body of householders. These were the claims of persons who %ivied the petition ; and from such peewits he ask. il liew could there he any rational appre• !tension of danger i' (Cries of '• Ilea?* from the Opposition Benches.) Waa there eomething„ le• asked, in the state of Parliament so rotten, as to cause alarm in giving to such persons the rights in tended foe them by the I 'orostitution ? (Cries of •• hear") Again, what should be the nintiv. , , for comets:don ? lle answered, that the petitioners were insweis who held a etmsiilerable control urn public opinion ; the question if reform lied taken deep root in all who guided it ; and shy, in the name of common sense, give such a body a permanent cac.se for tli..setisfeetinot and alienation? Ihil the policy of witithohliag concissiar. balance the danger likely to result from the continua:tee of those abuses at which ever/ honest man in that tone;, rev shed? (fries of " Hear, hear.") The people saw that these &bums were a blest in the Constitution of this country, anal such was the rapid stride of public oi )iiii i m, admitting them to he so, that the fl.ivemnient of this minify would have Mille tor regret if they d,loyetl concession much longer. If a refistin did not speedily take place, such a holy of abuse would be tell as to assume, tr-fore tang, a most formidable CSlrlietrr. In order to come to, a *tie view of the particular repre sentation of soy one liorgh in seotlxiid, it was first renewal to Wee a glance at the peneral system. And, first, he must say, it wits altogether in the hands 01 an °lig:1701y; th e people were wholly ex cluded front it, they hail 110 Inure lotto with the representation than if they had not the slightest interim in the conduct of the person amt to represent thin,. ( 'Scar, hear.) In short, to give a picture of the representation of Saaland, it would be last to a pply i ts &Lau and condition in Scotland to this country, and thcst the House would be able to judge if s'ene altemtion was not nee...nary. Suppose then the cities el Liottlon,ll'estininster, and Bristol—sup. pat Liverpool and other large towns to have thew representatives chosen by nineteen or tacitly 1/..rsiris, as at Edinburgh ; suppose is the counties, that the right of voting was not in the otwaer of liter of the soil, but in he Stands of I,onle of manure, who being detached from them fur variants reasons, sold them o w . e t o liter . &ants and When; mappose also the hereditary aristocracy buying u:s thew manors, anti convey:tog them away with a strict l egal title, bat yet withal, .n understandieg as binding as a ny other contract, ta ;Din thrill in whatysyr isse they wished to put the voles grits Mg me of such possessiot.. to ; some , 0., th at, of all the Pe.v. who bail a ri.:ht to sit In Pllrlilliiii•M, only a t . ,•w wire clir!iii, tAeelit by the chief minister of the Crown ; sitpeos.- all these, and you will c •at aki owledge of the elate of ri.j.res.edation id s.•,,:land. (Iles.) There was no one case whatever, it, which the peep!; were allowa to interfere. If thy noose were s i.e. they scull rseins fy mi d, itn evil. Hot it might he said eta:. athisitting the troth of all I e stated, stHl it was a step towards reform, and shoal.'., thcreti.re, he resisted. II is answer to that was vent s . pie.-- iii.il it wits, 11.0 it might be perfectly consist:cot in kali Liner to :our for ref,roi in Scotland though they would mot 1,1 1•:liglit• 41. lie asked, if Cat: liagliah representation were like I'm Seo, eh, would any man lilt no his voice against reforin ?l II eAr, tie.o.) lit Seo.land the pea;ol.: were studiously included from all share whatever in the represeii. tatian ; whereas, in England. it might be, as it haul repeatedly been 1 , coateedeil, that the people hail a mitlicient ceer.i,e of e i g h t i n t h,. use of the elective franchise. It might also 1,, ...id that Scotland was virtually repreactoted by the Englosh member. in the !louse of I I :0111111101e • but when Girillellied !Coil Si'. doe. ; for e a so, l. ‘1.1. 1 .: important distinctions —thi•y furgibt Ilia the lA% a i•l Sciitt,•ll a o s . ' - Ol like the laws of England, tom the I'M:tell of :se.ii!st.:l oolet tol os the same footing with the I htirei of Eitel eat : di .s o d; st i " taint formed matter of vast and :et i;:iity cons , d,:ath , a. Iv. 00n m conceive very well that if virtual representatie I were tfi • eclair of conversation between the thirty.three go-ed.-nem of s Le tt t h e oinetisti were the choosers, for ritnrnitig a liii - iiii..l . to Varliallient - • I be could conceive, if those gentlemen weir; iliscussim; tile subject t .yver a good dinner, prtiiid,si at the public elpente, that Cory TOO( Is?, they were represented, and don: nu..; tilitst be tat-tetts and improper persons whit alibi telt...raise. Voile nineteen gentle.- one : might say 00 wi:h truth, for they, no ti nth•, were rerre. tented; but was that the state or re:iresciii,iiiiin which orelit • i satisfy the pimple at large ? 'rinse ni.ae.en gcr.•lent..:l ~turned a niemher who first provided for himself, fled then for I. 7A nineteen constituents, while the ithenets of the p apple wire ne. • elected, their wishes unattended to, and their libeeti- , cmopramised, • If not (Alen literally sacrificed. (!le..e, le.ar.) The ease of the .•oieens of Edinburgh strongly rormiimentled itself to the most f a _ ~,,,,,,,ble attention 0 7 o w 11 4 , 1 ,, e . No addition t , the number of . meads:vs was called fur, end, therefore, :ft: 3l::tist.:r :teed lie: 'bathing ao to Whig an additional opponent. if then tbore mete so dimmer to the Minister, and that there could be no danger to tho State he took to be understood—when, or in what quarter could danger arise ? The citisens of Edinburgh had nominally a repre. sentative, but they wished really to have one, who would represent their interims, convey their wishes, and be the organ of their sentiments—a representative who would be accountable to them for his public conduct, and removable if that conduct did not satisfy them. ((tries of 'limy, hear,' from the Opposition benches.) Again he expressed a hope that the question would not be met by , saying that it formed a part of l'arluutientary Reform, and was, I therefore to be resisted. The present was a case in which redress could be safely granted ; it was a case, in which grievances were: stated which could not lie denied ; and it was a eau in which the remedy for those grievancea was easy. lie trusted, there fore, that all hope of obtaining that remedy would not be cut off by the vote of this evening. In short, if this motion were refused, be thought It would etll l / 4 1(1, 11114 C strongly the peti tioner., and make them enure notions, to obtain their just, though lung with-held rights. Ile thought its r inset would be attended with some danger, while i:•1 being conceded would produce content I and satisfaction in all. IV idiom further further treapimsitig on the at te ttt t of the Douse, he should move for leave to bring in a Bill for the Illtkft: reprosieutation of the City of Edinburgh. in l'urliament. (!fear, hear.) r. S. ‘l . l 1' said, that he haul listened attentively to the speech of the Hon. and I.earned fieutleman, but lie heard nothing front him to justify tl:e house 111 seceding to the mortion with which be (31r. Abercromby) hail concluded. No ease was made out oluiring the proposed alteration ; comiption was charged against the \l.tgistratea. nor were they evom charged with the usurpation of those offices which gave them the right of retuniing the 31ember for Edinburgh. (Bear, hear, from the Opposition benches.) Since Edinburgh was Edinhorgh—since every borough in Scotland was such borough, Sbe system !sox prevailing haul revaihd. then, lie asked, stop at Edinburgh ? What woul d the lion. Mew -1 ber say to Glasgow, which had only one-fourth of a :Member? flow could the lion. Member defend th representation of the city • of London, when it is vested solely in a bode called the Livery, to i the exclusion of all the other intiatritanto ? Ilow defend the repre sentation of Liverpool, when, with a population of one hundred thousand, there were not more than three thousand electors ? How defend that of the city of thibliii, where, with a population of 2:a1,0110 persons, the power of sending Illembeis to Parliament was principally in the bands of a small corporation ? lu all corpo rations, as well as that of Edinburgh, the right of voting was li mited. And, when speaking oh' Edinburgh, it was impoaaible for , biota not to feel some degree of *olfaction for it. Ills origin was I Scotch. anecaturs were Scotch • and, though bred and horn in England, he never visited Edin burgh without strong feelings of • pleasure and satisfaction. Edinburgh was a sight to be looked at in its nom improved condition—a condition to which it is pritici pally 100t...Mal to that corporation who were r.uw MO much abused. Bete the lion. Nienitter referred to a written account of the Pat - tern. cave in the reign of Deems I. whets Edinburgh was lined and disfranchised; and from which, he comet/dal, that in all its changes up to that period, upon every ?mesal of her charter, the, same system of 3lagiatracy and of franchise had been continued as they existed at this moment, when to lt complaint was heard within and without the walla of this blouse laird !SINN! Nt; could not agree with the principles which had been advanced by the opposite side. If these motions were to be entertained by the 'louse, which proposed the reformattun in the! various towns of the kingdom, piece by piece, then might they be construed into a lIfte(11131L for acceding to the more general ques tion of Parliamentary itefonn. lie wua ready to agree to the cur rectum of any allow in the teprinentation of any town or city, where malventation of the corporate rights, or where .earuption was proved. It such spots and stains were ascertained, then het them be removed; but let the ilouse not tamper with rights when no such abuse was even alleged to exist. It mattered nut whether the towns or cities referred to wire close boroughs, or whether they were places enjoying popular representation; whatever were their definite and established custom should he carefully preserved to l l them 'l B . The on. 31ember for Yorkshire quoted, with much pro- 1 priety and relevancy, the opinion, of the Duke of Argyll and of, laird ilardwicke. relative to the guarantee given to the corporate towns of Scotland at the Union, fur time preservation of their privi. lee,. The articles of I.7nion were not obscure or unintelligible on this point ; they set forth in plain and distinct terms the assurance then given to the towns of Scotland, that " the rights and privi leges they then enjoyed shoold be maintained inviolate." The iiimion of the lion. (lent. if acceded to, would go to raze the seal from the bond by which this guarantee was given to the towns 'I and cities of Scotland. If the reformation now sought for was made, it would be established into a precedent for a similar reform iq other places, till the general principle moat length brought into operation and effect--• principle which he believed to be subver sive of the constitution of that House, and which for that reason he ever had opposed and ever would oppose. Indeed so far was he impressed with a determinate opposition to this measure, that although it were proved that the representation of Scotland was as bad and defective as mine Honourable Members in that House re presented it to be, yet if the correction of that bad system would be attendant with a subversion of the principles on which the I House was at present constituted, he owned he would DOt consent to any change in it. (blear, hear, from the Opposition.) If, indeed, by any strange concourse of events, the separation of Scotland from this country, which was a moral impossibility, were to take place, and Scotland were to have a separate and distinct legislature, he would be ready to admit that great changes might be introduced into the representation of that country: but united as this country was, in interest and in feeling, as matter' now stood, he saw no necessity fur such a change. At present the seuti ments and opinions of the people of Scotland were efficiently repre sented in chat !louse ; the doors of Parliament were open to their representations, and every measure was readily enterta'ated here, calculated to advance their prosperity, happiness, anal freedont. Honourable Ilentlemen on the other side if the House anxiously took care, in the consideration of the question, to separate Scotland from England : this was not a fair view to take; for the represents- tion of Scotland should be looked upon as a cuomonent part of the general representative system of the country. (Hear, hear.) Ile would ask why was Edinburgh selected, in preference to any other town, to practise this new scheme of partial reform which It Wall now sought to introduce ? The borough of firampound had already been 'Thinned, but it was on the ground of corruption, and the statement of abuses which were well knowu to exist, lie be lieved that sonic Honourable Illembers were glad to detect this ease of corruption, in miler to transfer die representation to heeds. 11'hy was not tilitsgom selected? IVlty did not Honourable Gen tle:num take that town, in preference to Edinburgh, in order to establish a precedent Mr that piecemeal reformation they were so desirous to palmate ? In his opinion, the MSC Of GlallgOW was much stronger ; it was far superior to Edinburgh in population in manufactures, commerce, in everything that constituted wealth. It might be regarded as the second city in the kingdom ; yet it was only one of four boroughs which sent a Slenther to l'ar hantent. Why, he had asked, was Edinburgh selected for the pre sent experiment ? reason. tarsooth, assigned, was the great virtue of its inhabitants, their learning and intelligence. If, then, this argument were to be admitted in favour of quali fication foe representation, it would Ire the duty of the House to turn their attention to some cleric bennigh or corporate town ; and if the character of its inhabitants were found exceptionable, surely they ouglit to disfranchised, if towns were to be enfranchised lieraime the inhabitant% of them were men of learning Auld virtue. (Deur.) lie did not thi ik such were the sound principles which Agave security to our constitution. Ain-other argument that induced him nut to accede to the motion was, that the too* of Scotland had a confidence in the present Parliament which teal nut he in creased, and which ought not to lee shaken—that l'arlianient which his Iloam. Friend the Member for Yorkshire had Mt justly eulogised, which carried the einintry through " good and through evil days," which having triumphantly conducted through a protracted war, saw the country daily increasing in prosperity and wealth beyond any hummer period. 'the Learniol I ientleman, on laying the peti tion on the _able of the theist, stated that the names 'it those were excluded t'.ont it who were not 1/111tWONIXI of Moises rated at Si. rent a d upwards. This woe, indeed, a strange proceeding on the part of the Ilonoturahle lientleman who had got up this petition—a wonderful inatatice of the conduct and consistency of the Il'hijno of Ireland. It was a speeinximil what the French culled" U 1414110. envie pupa/dire." bl ow could this qualification to refer the peti tion detest d?C.UNit to be ascertained from a person staod ing at each dom nod inatimting iiiimiries as to the amount of rent the resident paid, or wait this mode of sscertaiiiing the qualification becoming? Afire great e!:ertions mule in getting up this petition, and the miblication of a paroplikt, from which it was principally taken. la the House Colllliitti the number of signature'.: the number who, it was alleged, were nth:v.'s! by the grievance amounted to gl,Ontl, yet there were to be limed only six or seven ehoeaml aignatures sober:ideal to it. If a deduction of a bee sear 11.111 t, Of those who signed twice, and of those who were not 'foil:llea to sign, it would appear that even not one-third of the aggrieved persons haul signed. But let the House consider in comparison with the present number of signatures, the petition' for Tenons that poured in upon Parliament with Mouser& of sig natures, far eoeceding the present tatniber, from the serious towns and cities of the kingdom, comintainieg of the state of representa tion. 'flione petition's were not tatendool to by the House (cheer, from the I ipposit inn.) and he thottglit it pridaeworthy in Parliament to nay tl a' they wire not ; for he never would countenance any change in the cons;ituti tttt of this branch of the legislature, and ttl ,iirstitute lior it a eons:Milton by which everything sl Id he re ferred raind o iV el ro.. ' Il e would refer to the flourishing aid medicinal city of Bath, which consisted of a population far evee.liing that of Edinburgh, where the repreaentation was in t:::1(1s of nineteen or twenty persons, mod all of them, he be th•veit, professors or nitilicine. Ile had no objection to these me- Meal gentleinea, who, lie believed. renamed both members for the eats of Itch, and he aould preserve to them their rights on the I same principle of justice that he wool., allow to other towns the I mogiolar rcmosentatoona they enjoyed. ‘Vhere was the member tHr stietliclol—where the member fur Birmingham er '- anchex ter? (therts from the I Ippomtion.) But if the example be now set by the llouse--if a precedent be now established for retorou without proof of abuse in uric city, let tray other city be •ppre . liensire for th. seeority of its rights. If Etoinburgh, tolls let Bath treoible. The nom tient. who brought forward this question ,retiovil to thituL that it might be acceded to by those who generally pie:thiiiientary return ; they separated from that questioni. Si c .% III:111'111 )31 BI" (across the table)--" Not a word about it, certai.ly." loony ItISNINIi resumed—lle certainly understood the lion. Gentleman to say, that the motion he intended to . propose was consistent with the principles of a milted popular constitution, and Ocrefore he saw on reason why Gentlemen opposite should not go slog with him in voting for it. Mr. A GEM • Itt /Milli intimated assent to the latter abode in which the Noble Lord stated his position: Lord BINNING was of opinion, as he had already stated, that the present mown, and the objects he had iusiew, was only " • )4art and parcel of the general reform which had been so often ry ',toed by that I louse. The Town Council of FAir.burgh had been spoken harthly of in this debate. They had been contrarcil to the Corporation of mane petty tows, lobo thimght of nothing but eat. ing and drinking. He would refer to the appearance of that city, and to the good regulation that prevailed, as to the junky of such imputation. No foreigner ar Englishman could visit that city without being struck with the splendor of its buildings, and with the excellent management evinced by its Magistrates. He would refer to the late visit of the Sovereign of this country to Scotland, when the good order that prevailed, and the propriety of conduct of the inhabitants, were the themeof general commendation. It 4,1 I not appear to him that I:dinburgli, in its present state of growing i prosperity, in every department, required any interference of the legislature. Ile was grateful for the attention of the House, and for the reasons he had stated, would oppose the 'notion of the Hon. Ge6tlerti.m. --. SirJOTIN NEWPORT heard with suspicion and distrust the various eulogies that wee* pronounced upon what that House had done for the country. They reminded him of the speeches which were made in the Irish Parliament from 1792 to WOO, wiarti the Parliament of that country scaled their downfall by the surrender of their Legislature. With the exception of local allusions and ap pliattions, the eulogies which he beard from the lion. Member for York and other Hon. Member., were precisely the same. It had been said that the petition now presented did not speak the general opinion of the initabitsints of Edinburgh. If so, why wss there not a counter petition laid on the table of the House ? It had been said that tiht.gow was • titter place to introduce a reform in the representation. It might be so: but they had not now a petition Gum Glasgow, and should confine their attention to the one from Edinburgh. The present petition hail been derided because it haul been endeavoured to obtata signatures of pertains of property. This had been done because other petitions had been ritliculal be , cause they were not signed by permit's of property. It was said int incdiately tin the other side of the House, that the petitions were the petitions of the rabble; and now it was complained that they ' were the petitions of those who were rot the rabble. lie highly ap proval of the motion of his lion. (Friend, and thought progressive reform, of which it set an example, would be adopted and ca -1 wheal to the ;.,encrail improvement of the representation of the kingdom. 3I r. KENNEI/Y supported the motion of his lion. Friend (Mr. Aber:Tondo). Ile rose only to make an observation on the articles lof Union which had been relented to. The ot 'one of the Duke of Argyll and of Lord Ilanhiticke (than which none could be more authoritative; had been quoted to prove that the corporate rights had been guaranteed to the several towns of Scotland possessed of char tered rights. A distinction, however, should be made between corporate rights anti the right of trending a Member to Parliament. The 22u1 Article, to which he begged to refer the (louse, in his construction only meant the former, and did not include the latter. ';'his was his construction of the Acts of Union, as related to the representation of Mambos for Wive and cities of Scotland. If any doubt existed on the subject, it ought to be cleared up. It was not fair to presume that an insuperable bar was raised to the Improve ment of the representation of Saida:id. The House was then clearing for a division, when Mr. A BERC HUM BY rose to reply. Ile was glad to find that in the several opinion' which had that night been thrown out, no Member rose to vindicate the present system of representation in Scotland. That was a task which no lion. Gentleman volunteered to undertake. An allusion to republicanism had been matte in the course of discussion : if a spirit of republicanism prevailed, no better mode could, in his opinion, be suggested for repressing it titan a gradual and progressive reform ' and in the extension of the benefits of the I:int:mention, by which all in the participation of its benefits might feel an interest in preserving it. Ile had not before connected the present question with the more general one of Par liamentary Reform ; but he was free to say that was one in the advancement of which lie felt a deep interest. The education of the people of late had greatly advanced : in proportion to the advances it made, so would a growing spirit for reform strengthen and pre vail throughout the country. II is conclusions on this subject had been made up from the effects which he saw education create on the minds of the people. Tilis House largely contributed to its self-love; they. suributed every thing to thcar own skill and wisdom, and ability. lie would, however, say that this House did not lead public opinion, but was led by it. (-• Hear, hear," from the Ministerial benches.) Ile knew the point of view in which this arg.seent would be regarded on the opposite side of the House. What he meant by it was, that it was the force and effect of public opinion, which wrung from 31inisevs those concessions which they made, and the merit of those concessions was due, not to Mintstent but to the perseverance of the people. (Cheers from the Opposi tion.) If his present motion was refused, and he was not sanguine enough to hope it would be acceded to. two propositions would go forth to the public, and he knew the effect they would produce on the intelligent mind of Scotland : first, that the people had en in terest in choosing their representatives; and secondly, that sixteen or seventeen suspected persona were better qualified to choose a re presentative for thentilum they themselves. These plain proposi tsons would be well understood—the diffusion of education lied caused the minds of the people to expand and understand the policy by which they were governed. lir hatever might be the sun. cam of hiwpresent motion, he felt that the force of popular opinion and the daily increasing intelligence of the people, would ensure it and the principles which sustained it, ultimate success. The House then divided. The numbers were— For the motion, 73—Against it, P9—Majority against Mr. Aber croenby's motion, 24. ..... CRUEL SPORTS. Mr. It. 31.1RTIN maid that he should preface the resolution which !to had to propose to the House by observing, that as ani mals were intended for the use of man, so was it man's duty to allord to them all possible protection, and at all events to prevent the infliction upon them of any unnecessary pain. ((dear, hear.) This was a proposition which no man in the House would deny, and just as unlikely did it seem to him that any Hon. /dauber would contradict the troth of the statement—that creel sports per severed in tended to demoralise the peonle. His motion then was, ' that a Committee should be appointed, for the purpose of inquiring I how far such sports had such a tendency. ((dear, hear.) If in that House any lHem. Member would maintain that the brutal prac tice of bear-basting had not the natural consequence of demoralizing I the people,t I ten lie was ready to withdraw his motion. But he would hist appeal to the Magistracy of London and its vicinity, and the House would find that an appeal to their experience, in twenty instances to one, would and must be answered by affirming the tesolutirn with which he should have the honour of concluding. It had been attempte4 to institute • comparison between the brutal practices which prevailed in the Westminster Pit and the ibid. sports in which country gentleman had so much enjoyment. There was no analogy between the cases, and the assertion of it was 'a direct libel upon the country ge n tleman. The reptiles who attend ed this scene of sanguinary confusion, were of the lowest dregs of society collected together to witness spectacles at which humanity shuddered, and deriving from it none of that excitation of *pint and improvement of health which country sports aflorded, but it' rather engendered within them a sullen apathy to suffering, a savage joy in the horrid sights to which they were accustomed. In that Westminster Pit there assembled about two hundred of the smut profligate characters of that part of London, and the young gentlemen of Westminster School were occasionally inveigled to witness these exhibitions. The respectable Master of 11'estinitister Schted was most anxious for its suppression, and even on the score of police that infamous establishment might be put down. There badgers were baited. tortured for some days, then allowed a respite, during which time they lingered in their suffer ing., and so were they brought forward again anti again, until at length, after repeated tortures, they expired. Now was this brawn ing a moral people 1 Monkeys and bull-dogs were )mired against each other, and as he had on a former occasion mentioned to the House, in a contest between two of :hese animals, the under jaw of the monkey was torn away, and the jugular artery of the dogseeered. Ile (Mr. Martin) had seen a bear so completely torn to pieces, that the keeper, with a suspicious humanity, put the animal to death, seeing there was no longer a place whereon • dog could fasten. Ile did not intun to assert that this was the sport of any but of the ignoble and the vicious, and the brutalized few ; they were not the people ; the many and the well thinking were annoyed at and disgusted with it; and the IloNuse would ;;peetlily hear that every art of the country was interested in putting down these abo. utinable sports. Ile ha d himself the humour, a few evenings since, of presenting a petition from Manchester, signed by 71K) most re sPeetable inhabitants. Ile had inquired iu the City, of bankers con nected with Manchester, and they had invariably assured him that it was most respectably signed. The physician. of the place, cler gymen and magistrates. were among the number of those who had signed it ; and - he could assure the House, that in Liverpool and Bristol similar petitions were preparing. lie had felt it tin honour to have been selected fix the purpose of presenting the petition from Manchester ; and be was quite sure t h at however unsuccessful at present might prove the prayer of the petition, humanity, good feeling, and moraly_psujd ultimately carry their wishes to • suc cessful termination- (lieutj Ile should move that a Committee he appointed to inquire bow far auel sports tended to demoralize the people. The question having been seconded, was put from the Chair— .. .. Sir H . II EHON rose toxin this motion his utmost oppositio.). It seemed to him the offspruag ot'a blundering legislation. ( Here Mr. 3lartio bowed repeatedly to the Han. Baronet.) Ile should explain his meaning, and when he had given such explanation, he was disposed to think that the house would tint be of opinion that he had unfairly characterised thin measure. On a hornier occasion, when the llou. Member fix Galway brought forward his Bill, he said, •• I sin not intend to touch upon bull-baiting, because I more than fear I should find that attempt strenuously opposed." Vet he now brings forward his well-digested measure, which he formerly avowed he never meant to bring forward. Therefore do I call it a very bungling species of legislation, which recommends to the House that which it never intende.. to recommend. Pond bly the Hon. Member for Galway had it within the *cape of his be:linoleum to give us one tall for another, and if so, he has sue- medial. (A laugh.) Ile (Sir B. llnun) did not wish to interfere with the sports of the lower orders. The Legislature was hot very favourable to their amusements, and therefiwe he would never con_ ! sent to treat them with a rigour which wis confined and limited, which extended not to the spurts of the rich, but was satifti,il with I punishing the vices of the peasant. To such partial and unequal I:gislmism he was decidedly averse. and he trusted the House 1 would nevi countenance it. Ile did not believe that in this age there existed any general disposition to cruelty. (llean) Ile he. lieved that the age was twit so far gone into intim:rainy an it suited such a legislator as the lion. Member for Galway to represent it. Ile must say, either that t h is resolution proceeded too far, or it did not go far er.cugh. Why did not the lion. (lent. attack the cock. fighters, nu mean race, made up of sonic of the most respectable men in the community P • !ad the Hon. lientientan himself never , indulged the amusement of torturing an oyster, and eating it while' alive? lie was no badger-baiter, but he was at a lOUs to discover the difference of the two canes in point of cruelty. The Hon. Mem. bee for Galway would tolerate no shooting except shooting for the pot. (A laugh.) But the lion. Member must go further, and procure the mediation of his Majesty's Government with the French King to interfere for the safety of the frogs of that frog-de- ' enuring country. (A laugh.) A Strasburgh pie, too, was a luxury' s which, under the severe code of the Hon. Member tOr Galway, was not to br tolerated, since that dish was composed of a goose's liver, which wee nailed to tin merman& six* for the pitmans of rendering it palatable. The Hoe. Slant-2 might see the project of improv ise $ guess's Byer in the treatise of a 6dy, denominated, par excel kilter, the ingenious Mrs. (liaise (A laugh.) The Hon. Barooet concluded by deprecatieg this petty legislation. Mr. W. PEEL said, 1 am most willing, Sir, to give every credit to the benevolent views and the humane disposition of my Jinn. Friend the Member for Galway. Ile has persevered in that course which his own convictioi sanctioned, and he has neither in this House, nor in situations of more difficulty aid danger, hesitated to fulfil that which his conscience told him he ()welt to perforitt (hear, hear.) But I am, with the Honourable Haronet who spoke loot, utterly at a loss to discover where this unequal legislation is to terminate, and I am much disposed to believe that my Honour able Friend himself has not made up lois mind on the subject. In the extensive sphere of his humanity, who would pr,utne to say to him, Thus far shalt thou go and no further?" (hear, hear.) Sir, such a command would have as little effect in retarding the progress of that humanity, as it formerly had in lettering the waves of the ocean (hear, hear.) sir, I complain still more of the partial, and the invidious operation of this resolution. Wby should it, passing over the peer, grapple only with the defenceless peasant ? I admit that bear-baiting is hole calculated to pnnnote morals . • perhaps it has rather a tendency to debase and to degrade, Go to make callous the heart of 1110,1: oat let us look a hule to our own parfaits; is it consistent with our duty as Christians—is it the example we should by our liv(s hold forth tuflumble men— to wear away the long night at nit ( Opera, and to have its curtain fall long after the Sabbistil morning has begun. (hear.) Is this becoming? And while such things are tolerated, let us begin the work of reformation with the rich, and depend upon it, Sir, that by the poor the example will nut be disregarded (hear, hear.) Mr. JOHN SMITH observed, that notwithoandirg the ridi. cute with which the pnmosition of his Hon. Friend had been treat ed by :In Member for Lincolnshire (Sir It. Hewn) for it could not fairly be termed argument, lie should ;,:ve it (lie M pport of his vote. Ile was told something of this sort, that we were cruel our selves, and therefore it was unnecessary to prevent cruelty in others. I Now he was not conscious of such cruelty, and thereinto lie would support the motion. Would any Gentle:nail say that these 1 e.r baiting, wen not moat injurious to the murals of the country ? lle had reason to think they were ; he had heard sit front the most re spectable authorities ; he had heard that that place of amusement, so much reprobated by his lion. Friend, was infested by the lowest the most unfortunate, and the most ignorant beings that existed in the metropolis. Their ignorance could lel,. be removed by edu cation ; that was the only cure for it, but until that could he efrect. ed he certainly thought that every nealiod should lie adopted to interfere between the people and their eaitact s ith a hat was bru &tieing and degrading. Mr. Secretary PEEL said that the Honourable Member who spoke last, had urge), unquestionably, a vioy ex.-Aleut argument for the education of the people. 'File people who freitiented these :ports were low and ignorant, and the fair argument was, educate and thus elevate them ; but do not select the sport as a subject for specific legislation. (Hear.) The people were divided into two classes—the educated and the uneducated ; both had their sports, and cruel sports, perhaps, they were; well, the% was it not right to say, let the educated sportsman, who knows better, be punished, but let not the uninformed be subjected to punishment until edu cation Informs them that such sports are criminal'' ( Ilear, hear.) t Th. philosophical man, who NS stores within his reach, inde pendent of such smusenient, is the culpable man, who, neglen mg the treasures which his mind could minister to lino, rejoices, like Nimrod, " the mighty hunter !whore the Lord," in the spores of the field and the pursuit of such nnintellectual pastimes. But the peasant has but few hours of enjoyment ; lie has no delicacy of taste; he has no cultivated understanding ; all his pleasures are coarse sod homely, and his is a `• vulgar joy ;" therefore is he nut accountable as the educated man for the enjoyment of such sports as present themselves to his wearied being. It was impossible to accede to the appointment of this Committee. The House could never legislate on melancholy stories, though no man could feel indifferent to the sufferings described by his Hon. Friend in intro. ducuig his motion. But it haul been truly said that the measure was partial, and an illustration of its partia.ity timid easily be given to the House. Let the Hon. Member fur Galway look into any newspaper, and see there a challenge by some celebrated cock tighter to all Englaui— Mr. MA RT I N-- I'd put that down. Mr. PEEL—The Hon. Member says he'd put down cock-fight ing too, and I dare say he would ; but as slay lion. Friend (Mr. ‘V. Peel) asked, where is this to tenuinate ? The lion. Alember fur Galway comes one Session with a cock, and another with a bull (a laugh), and so he will go on, down to the spinning co.k chafers. (A laugh.) But why does the !lon. 31ember not put down horse-racing I Mr. M A RT 11, —Because you desire it. Mr. PEEL—That is certainly very obliging. It was true po licy to connive a little at the irregularities of the poor, and not to condescend to any minute legislation. lie liked the wild luxuriance of England, better than the trim growth which results from over weening legislation. Look to the character of the English people, and would any man say that they were a cruel people ? (Cheers.) And if the lion. Member for Galway refused to give his assistance to put down Ascot and Epsom Itaceii--if he (lid not commence with these, he could not fairly expect success in his undertaking. He would wish to know if, in all England, twenty bears were kept fur the amusement of the populace ; and yet this alien beast was protected by the Hon. Member, w.iile the natural-born subject of the realm, the timorous hare, received not the benefit of his hu enmity. Mr. MARTIN briefly replied, that the arguments used against him were very bad arguments; because he could not accomplish all that he desired, he ought to du nothing. 'Phis wits the argument upon the spewing of his opponents. Sir, said Mr. Martin ' if I emma( save HI per cent, 1 will save ell; if not, 10. if not 5; and even to the tanallest number. 1 have been asked why Ido not go further. Let this point be conceded to me. if it be a lit subject fur inquiry, and then I shall perhaps go further. The keeper of West moister Pit was more indebted to the Honourable Baronet (Sir R. Heron), for his satirical pleasantry than the people of Eng land, and he would advise him, when he next joked, to try how tar novelty might prove a recommendation. In mercy to the House, he would not press the questMn to a division, in order that tho s e who might now vote against him should have time fur n diction upon the tendency of the motion which lie had that night proposed. The question was then put, and the motion negativ.d without a , division. IRISH GLEBES. Mr. GOULIII•RY moved for leave to brirg in a Bill to amend an Act passed in the list Session of Parliament. The alteration he interaltil to propose was OM of a very simple nature: one of the provisions of the 11111 was to extend the change of glebes in Ireland, according to the provisions of an Ergfish Act. That Art, however, directed that the money should be deposited in t h e Kink of Eng land, subject to the order of the Lord Cinnicellor of England, and in :he opt lion of legal persons it was not competent to place the money, under that Act, in the Bonk of Ireland. The inconve nience was extremely great, and the object of the nmendirent was to alter the wording of the Act, substituting the Bank of Ireland for that of England, and giving to the lrisn Chancellor the powers which, under the present Art, acre delegsted to the Chancellor of England. The Right Ilan. Gentleman then moved for leave to bring in a Bin to amend the Jth of Giairg.: the Fourth, relative to the collection of church rates in Irelainl. Sir JOHN NEWPORT said, it amid be in the recollection of the House that thin Bill had been brought into the House early in the I. at 5C141.11111. It was postponed night after night, and its discussion came on at length at a ver late hour, when it was ut terly impossible to say any thing upon it. Ile was anxious, there. fore, to bring this subject again under the consideration of the House, as he believed that a more niischievouslvoppressive Bill had never been sent out of that noun, even Clough it was destined for Ireland. 51r. 11011 . 1.111 . 11 N, In explanation, said, that if the lion. Bart. was desirous of discussing again a unnwure that had under gone debate during the last Session. and which by the way was re peatedly postponed to accommodate the Right lion. Gen:len - um himself. he had not the least objection to met, him on that subject. If the Right Hon. Gentleman ass. rt,tl that the law was oppressive, it was quite clear that he was utterly ignorant of the law. Sir JOHN NICd I'llla—indeed ! 1 tuts much obliged to the Bight Hon. Secretary for the courtesy with which he Ina informed my ignorance; but I can assure hint that I w•as acquainted with the law of Irehuid before it ever had the good fortune to moire the Right lion. Gentleman as its S.oretary. .Mr. 1:01'1.111 . It N.-1 mean to liatit my observations to this particular law, and 1 say it is not topprcs,ive. Leave was then giveti . to . bring . M . lll • 1!ill.. A UST It N I.OA N. Mr. HUME observed. that the tkect he Intl in view was for an esplanation of the tenor that had le en granttd to the einoract tea for the payment of the Austrian Loan. It appeared to him a vsry irregular transaction, bot no doubt an explarmi•in ought b., given that would be satisfactory to the Iltitow. The miestion he h il to ask was, wlty his 31ajesty'a Govtroment had come to any .Ig-ce ment tor the payment of M. large a nom of mane y as the viscount to the contractors on the various inataiments t f this loan ? Ile was aware that 31iiiisters could rot have c•no.• ;Soy r.:.:reentert for the payment of an large a sum of money, wrbout a written (Imminent • on the subject. Au tee,. had been made to the contrattors to advance the two millions and a half that A ualria had agreed w pay, on certain conditions; what he wished oy that 1.6.1 was, a copy of the offer made to them by the Treasury, under gate of the 15th October. The contractor.' had been partly negotiated I with, and the Emperor of Austria had illso been Legoriated with. Now the Emperor of Austria had either made the agreement. or he had not made the agreement, at 910,1I00:. less than the tom orir ginally stipulated for to he paid by Austria in liimida.ion of he debt. In a transaction of this description, conducted by a public body like the Treasury, there must be more than etilectwattui ; the subject of the negociation must have been reducza to writing ; and he should therefore move fur a copy of the pniposal addressed by the Treasury to Reid, Irving, and Co., to hiving, Brothers, and Rothschild and Co., relating to the payment of :,:aat,tstl:.; to. ?ether with the copy of any letter aultlnnived by the contractors of the Austrian Loan to the Treasury, referred to is the Treasury 11 inure of the L•hh ()ember. could. He was aware that the Ministers were reappesible far bar. ing made the bargain, and that if the House thought they h a d done wrong, they must answer for it ; but, considering that there wan no ground fur calling on the government to pr duce the pa pen mentioned by the Honourable Member, he should oppose the ntot too. Mr. MIMI.: thought, that if the House was to understand that the offer existed in writing, it taught to (simnel the governmet.t to produce it. The Eight Hos. Gent. had s..iti, that the Austnan government Lad offlrcd stock. That was precisely of what he complained—that tio other parties except the contractors were asked to purchase it. The ) ractice he unisOlered as iniachievoss, to exclude all but the favoured few to the bemtits they had pruhted by. In justice to the country and to contract,. sin general, the government ought to have caused notice to bare beets given on a cluinge of the meows six's. as if they had linni aho it to contract hir a Man. At least, an option ought to have been given to other individuals as well as to thilSe who concludcil the bargain. Ida considered dim the government was not warranted in paying this sum to the contractois. . _ 31r. BAR ING observed, that if the Howe would tillaw him, ha would (Ade:tenor to esplait. what the lion :Itemiser did not seem exactly to understand. The fact was, there was no specific paper containing a proposal to the Treasury, but it had arisen in the progress of the transaction. Ile had been in the habit of advo cating public tenders, but in this ease the grieer.mient had no op purtnaity of acting otherwise. The Austrian government, at least the Austrian Finance Minister, would not gie! more than a car. tain sum, and the Austrian government bank:" at Vienna, were mixed tip with the transaction ; they had adsamed the Inim, aid it was agritd that no other could be made without them. The Au. striae government could not have offered this government its stock without them, and it would not have been &rem to that govern ment to otter its stock publicly in the market. Ile had no reserve or mystery on the subject: he was ready to give any explanation to the Ilon..3lenilser in his Dower. _ Mr. 3IABERLY looked upon the retmymcnt of the loan as the Right Hon. Gentleman did--as a perfect Gis'-i nd. I' : *kinetic that, in fairness and justice, the EIIIIXTOr of etustrit In ght have got rid of all the debt. This ought to have been urged at the treaty of Paris, %hen the tramfer of domitions look place. and the repayment of it Low was !tient) , honourable to the eits . racier of the Luiperor. Mr. Secretary ('ANNING said, that in paying this debt the Inittenw of Austria had sliewn a very nice sense of honour ; and one that ought to be highly regarded by this county. With re spect to the motion that the Honourable Member had proposed, he seemed to ha altogether mistaken in it. The Honourable (tenth man seemed to imagine that the British Governme.,t were in the actual possession of Austrian stock before the intervention of the Austrian bankers; there was no such thing. The Austrian Go vernment roposed to the 'knish Government to repay die loan that had been advanced to it by this country in stork ; and then the question arose how the British Government should dispose of such stock. The choke of the contractors did not rest with this goverr, merit they had been previously mixed up with the transaction in cemsequence of the share that the Austrian bankers had had in it, sithout whom that government could not have made an advance towards paying the debt due to this country ; therefore .tlinisters had no optior—du y must take the re-rtaymeid on the best terms they could. lie wi-red the llonourabm .11enther distinctly to un derstand that the British Government was never in possession of the Austrian stock as a marketable commodity. This government might have received the stock when it would have been markt • able, but the government decided to hold out tilt they could have the debt put in a tangible shape. It was a mere Inciter of detail between the Austrian Government and the monied men, aid one that this government could have no control over; but the great object was to get the stock converted into money, which could have been done by no other means titan tiinnigit the contiactots who stipulated to receive the sum the !immutable Mennuer coin. plainest of; and lie confessed that he thought a good service had been done by that transaction. Mr. 11011110 USE asked the Right Honourable Gentleman op. posite (the (:hancellor of the Exclinour) whether the sum received from Austria was 2,500.11e01., less 96,0001? The CHANCEI.IA)II of the EXCHEQUER answered, that the sum of 2.290,0011/. win the net amount to be received Ile begged the Honourable Member to understand that the discount related to that portion of the loan which belonged to the deferred payments, and which t h e contractors might choose to advance the money for. A jutyment had been made last Detteniber; another had been made in August; and the whole debt would not be hqoi• dated tiU 1H27. If the instalments were paid up together, in that case the contractors were to receive interest. 31r. .1. 4 131 ES thought, that, after the delay that had taken place in the payment of this money, the amount ought not to have been thus diminished. Mr. Ilume's Resolution was then withdrawn. RATES OF I'OST.IIIE. On the motion of the I'll.l :WELL( /It of the EXCHEQUER, the House went into a Committee on the Postage Rates BilL Mr. 11 Ell R IES moved that all packages containing bank-notes, going to or coming from the country, should pay, according to their weight, one- fourth less postage than any other letters. Agreed to. Mr. 11U3IE pmposed that newspapers should be sent free to tho Colonies, the high rate of postage upon which greatly impeded their circulation in the dependencies of this cottony, which he con. sidered a great evil. At present the postage of a daily paper was 12/. 14s. 4d.; of a three-day-week paper, 71. Ids. ad.; and or a weekly paper, 21. 4s. In 11110 there were 382 daily newspapers sent to the Colonies; in 1817. 271 ; and in 11121, 206. la 1817, the produce of postage on these newspapers was only 7,6001. ; whilst, in 11110, it was 6,0001.; and now it was °sly 6,250/. So that the whole amount lost to the revenue would be only the latter sum, and that would be made up by the increase in the consumption of stamps in vonsequence of the reduction of the rate of postage. He had b e en infortned by many gentlemen connected with the public prtv, that the whole amount of the revenue would be greater by the alteration. He was glad to see that a clsuse hue the accommodation of bankers had been introduced. It ought to have been done four years ago, as he knew it had bee proposed to Government to do ; and he trusted the boon would not be denied to the public penis of the country, by means of which knowlxiga was wi lely circulated. Ile thought the money cnil.ved on news papers illegally collected, as he knew of no Act of Parliament which authorised the imposition of the rate of postage on newspapers going to the colonies. Ile was aware, that two or three officers at the Post-office were benetittetl by it. Mr. Frecling received 4,0001. a year, Mr.A. Stanhope 3.1:00L The II or. Member then moved, that it was the opinion of the Como i tee that it would be expedient that the Act of his late Majesty, that rendered it 121,1'111 for newspipen to be sent free of pestagedo Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Ala - , should be extended to the co!onies. The CllANl:Ftiairoll• of the EX('HEQI'ER was not aware that the lion. 3lember would have questioner. the legality of the practice of charging newspapers going the colonies w i th postage, otherwise he would have Irronght down ntinetra wlf...h would hate enabled the lion. Gentleman to hare informed himself respecting the Acts of Parliament on the subject. The fact was, there Were some old Acts that confined the produce of these rates of postage to the Secretary of the Post-office, aid they were a great source of emolument; but no otlitters of the public were more dessreing of reward than Mr. Freeing, and dia.s connected with the Port office. He thought the llottourable elentletnan would consult tits public convenience moat by withdrawing his m omia for the pre. sent, as the Commissioners of Inquiry, whose powers were es. tended last year, were in a course of inquiry relating to all subireta connected with the Poet.ittice; it was therefore quite obvious, that to proceed now, as the Honourable .Member wished the House, would be acting without information. it souk! certainly be better to wait, under these circumstances, and if the Honourattle Member felt it his duty to press the motion, he should oppose it. Mr. Ill; 111: did not w id* to press his metion, when be saw a disposition to i squire ; but lie hoped the Session wolid not pa s without somethingbcine done. lie hoped the Itit;fit lion. Gentle man would have no objection to the intro luction of a clause, ai - thorising the Treasury not to enforce the payment or these postal:* rates ; otherwise a year would be lost before they could be taken on: Now he was uo, lie svettil rentork that the present Comp troller of the Post-Mice, Mr. S:31111011C, h •il it very large salary. He hoped after his time the duties of that Mike worth: be dune lower. The CII A NCR 1.1.011 of the E Xell EQU ER could not con sent to the introduction of a clanne contingent oo the Report of the Commisaiuners ; it would be very singular, 0:4 not knowing what the Report would be, to introilmss a prospective daunt-. Mr. HUAI E hoped they would make the Report this Session. The Cll.l:sa 7 1 . .1.141 )it of the EXCHEQ:.•ER answered, that he could not possibly tell that. Mr. 11 ART I N wished to aak the Right Honourable Gentle.. man, if the plan toe building a new l'ont-fSre had been aban doned, and what had been thine with the 140,0001. ri.ised for that purpose The ('I L tN('EI.I.(►R of the ENCIII:Q11:ft was not at all sneprin-d at the Hon. ember asking the .!iies:ion ; and it was enry inconvenient that the t'ang should have ea !nog continued in abeyance. liv the Act the City w ere uSli:;ed to advar.ee two bods. one for 141,411001. n!iich kid been brought to account b the Consolidated Fund, and another of 40,1 0 001. which had been kept in the hands of the Post-31ast.c Ocreral. It had been represented to hint last year that it wan essential something should be done about the new Post-olli.-e, anti that it was essential for the interest of the public that it rhnuid go on. A Plan was submictd 10 Treasury :Or the trect,on of the building, which was to hr finished in three years. Ile shonld not call on Parliament thin Session, an there was the City bond for 40,0V111. in the hands t•i the Pos:in:l,ter-lIe:leral. 3lr. askril if the (II had contributed towards the Post.ollir: to the full amount they were bound ? Ile understood that the ulloie money voted by l'arliemeot had been expended in poitltating houses on the spot and ,Merin? the Frouoil. Ti e CII ANI '1...1.1.111: of the EXt'lllA/7 Ell observed that ltz arpreliettikd t h e City had complied in everything with the provi.. loon, of the .let. It was perteedy true that tile money voted by Parliament had been absorbed as the llonourable 31cluber had sup posed. Mr. Alderman 1V11111) bcgiroxl to essure tte Honourable sleet. her that the City had paid 30,0CtIL out of their own funds for the pill n)sc. I 'ME lieg.zed to ask if there would be any objection to the forvii.-n post leaving Er.;;land o.t alternate nights, instead of on three sueees,iy,. day, The I!HA Nelf;LIA /It of the EXCIIRQITErt thought that the discussion the other night on this question, must have satisfied the Lion. Gent. The fact was, that the Austrian Government had of fered stock in repayment of their loan, which was a very unsatisfac tory way of liquidating its debt, as the lion. bent. must be aware. This government must have gone to market with it. and a had bargain in all probability would have been made of it, for it would have been subject to all the chances of the fluctuations of t`le funds. It was then proposed by the British Government to re ceive the sum of 1,5111.1,0001. in lieu of stock offered. This pm peal was acquiesced in by the Austrian goyernment, but it had t (IRI)F.IIS OF T 1111; DAY (THIS DAV} no money in its own country to pay PUril a aunt, nor could sow of I I.—AVays and %tears ;—Third Resolution (11th February] (Fa its capitalists raise it. It was necessary, therefore, for the British rein Stunts and Sweets) t Further consideration of Report. government to accept what the contractors could allied to give. It S.—L sury laws Repeal Bill ; Committee. was true there were letters passed with the contractors. who at j NI/TICE OF MOTION (TRW DAY). length sent io their ultimatum, which was scceltil to. because this . Sir Henry Ilarthuge.--Ordeence Rs:hniges. (In Coondrete of government fat that if it could not get all, it ought to get what it Suprly. %re heimi tm reply from the Charmilor of the Exchequer.] Mr. utoe's retohrion Was then withdrawn. The I lottse r...unicd, and the other orders of the day were then tli.i.csed of.—.l.ojourned at II alt-p.i.t Tea. • 1 1 k J