The Sun. — London, England, 1829-06-20 00:00:00

~ I! 3 j .~ capital. Weafterwards found that war was expected upon other grounds, and we might in the first in stance indulge an expectation that extremities would still be avoided. We found that matters did pro ceed to those extremities ; and when we found it, we came down and stared it to the House. Viscount GODERICH was ready to take his full share of blame for not bringing this subject for , - ward at an earlier period, and he rejoiced now to hear that every satisfaction was likely to be afforded. :He disputed the uniformity of the course contended for by the Noble Duke, with regard to laying papers Upon the table, but admitted that interference with the States of South America was impossible, and that all we had to do was to take care that other powers did not acquire an influence which might ul timately be employed against us. As to Turkey, it might no doubt be highly prejudicial to produce do cuments, or even to give verbal information, while negoriations were still pending. While he allowed the propriety of engaging a body of French troops to co-operate with this country for the evacuation of the Morea, he thought it a very strong measure in ..`f execution of the Treaty of July G ; because it cer r,- tainly was an act of hostility, although the Turkish Government had not thought right so to consider it, -;. and had therefore taken it very quietly. The eva '',"•euation of the Mores by the Turks and Egyptians was a great practical point gained. To this mea• sure Sir E. Codrington had mainly and most meri toriously contributed. The explanation of the Noble Duke regarding Terceira was not satisfactory, inasmuch as that island did not belong to Don Miguel, and had not acknowledged his authority.— It adhered to the Queen of Portugal ; and he could not see what right this country had to prevent her sending troops thither if she thought fit, for the pur pose of its protection against the usurper, should he make an attack upon it. He apprehended it was an error, to say that the proposed marriage of the Queen and Don Miguel originated with the late Mr. Canning ; he believed that the sug gestion first came from Don Pedro, who had originally abdicated the Throne of Portugal on two conditions. I. That his daughter should be married to his brother. 2. That the people of Portugal should receive a Constitution. The objection on the ground of relationship between uncle and niece Was no business of ours. Matters had, however, since materially changed : Don Miguel had violated every comp a ct by w hi c h honest men allowed them- selves to be bound, and took the oaths to the Con stitution and to his brother, with the intention of breaking them as soon as a favourable opportunity should present itself. In his opinion the course which Don Miguel had pursued throughout the Whole of the affair was so entirely in violation of his promise, and so injurious to the interests of this country, as well as to every throne iu Europe, that if it were wise in this country to interfere, we should have a right to do so, were it even by force ; but if, out of defere,ice to the opinions of others, we declined this sort of interference, as least he did not see that we were under any obLigation to interfere in such a way as to prevent the subjects of her whom We acknowledged to be the Queen of Portugal going to a territory which really belonged e:o her, where her sovereignty was acknowledged. Tizis was the view in which - the matter struck him at present — the papers might satisfy him that he was fe , error, but he did not think that he could bring himse:f to believ e that the affair of Terceira was one on which they ought to bestow their unqualified approbation, as his Noble Friend had assured them at the be ginning of the Session he could show to be the case. The Earl of ABERDEEN said, that with re spect to the marriage of Donna Maria with Miguel, ;1 1 0 plan had originated with Don John VI.; and -lion Pedro, Mr. Canning, arid Prince Metternich had simultaneously concurred in thinking it an ad visable measure. The Noble Lord had asked how We could prevent the subjects of the Queen of Por tugal going to an island which acknowledged her authority, and was under her dominion ? But the race was not exactly so. It was true that one of the garrisons had declared in favour of Donna Maria, but the population of the Island was unanimously In favour of Don Miguel, and, in fact, a civil war Prevailed in the Island; and if the Noble Lord meant, that it was not a breach of neutrality to allo w an expedition to be fitted out from this coun t'', to join either one party or the other under such c ircumstances, he must take a very different view fr om him (Lord Aberdeen) of the duties of n eutrality. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE replied. He di d not see ho w the Go v ernment could complain fnat they had been taken by surprise on this sub 4-ect, because the whole Session had been suffered to elapse without the question being agitated in that Mouse, although he had fully expected that some Noble Lord wo u ld have a dopt e d t h at course. Find -4 , ng that such was not the case, he had ventured to tlndertake it, though he was aware that the task t night have fallen to much more able hands, and t hat int en ti on l ie h a d ta k en care to not if y to t h e t Noble Earl (Aberdeen) on the previous day. Their Lordships then adjourned, at Half-pas '-fight, till Monday. HOUSE OF COMMONi.-(LAST NIGHT.) At a Quarter before Four o'clock the SPEAKER p r oceeded to the House of Lords, to hear the Royal klsen t given by Commission to several Bills—for Which see Lords' Report. ST. JAMES'S, WESTMINSTER. On the motion of Mr. iiOI3IIOUSE, it was ordered th at l ,, all th e vouc h ers arid receipts presented to the 'louse on the 12th of May, 1828, by Mr. Knight, :*ltry-elerk of St. James's, Westminster, be re 4rted to him. SIR T. M. WILSON'S ESTATE BILL. thi tß. GORDON presented a petition against N* siill., It was signed, he said, by three copy dera of HaniOstead only, Mr. Brodie, Sir T. elite and Mr Ingram. The paucity of signatures 4 t t li ntelied to it aros e f rom want o f ti me to procure °re • if further ti me h a d b een a ll owe d, t h e p e ti• tic 'ner; would have been more numerous. ti The petition was then brought up, read, and or ered-tatie-qpiin the table; as was a similar petition 2%-other two copyholders of the manor of Hamp -14,3 C U ) who prayed to be heard against this Bill by Zitselyes.or their counsel. IV'' l'.' PERCEVAL moved that the report on 1 4 2 1 son's (Building Leas es ) E s t a t e Bill be now ! 'e Lp ived.. t'"ii: IL GORDON rose to object to the recep ::ll of this report. He understood the motion to ki that the report on the Estate Bill of Sir Thomas 4 t 11 " Yen Wilson, the Lord of the Manor of Itamp totztd, be now received,—a Bill' whi c h h e con ce i ve d b, 9 N so objectionable in every point of view, that q h _ fel t i t to b e hi s d uty to se i ze t h e very earl i est 47 0 rtunity to oppose it. Thii Bill professed to be o v -t; state•Bill; but 'in point of fact it is a Bill to I N ° to the Lord of the Manor of Hampstead cer -I;owers over the ,copyholders of that manor Le h Jae does not possess at present. Great doubts 1 1 ,7 4 tertained as to the correctness of the forms itj , which this Bill is introduced to our noti ce . 4, _ 4 ' l ' Persons are inclined to think that it partakes .mach of th e na t ure o f an E nc l osure Bill, th at i t I :n't not-to be introduced here without proof that til notices, &c., required in Enclosure Bills had been i,eand formally given. Then there was a second ee tinn in point of form, which he was himself in heed to think was a valid objection—namely, that h e "Ilholders ought to have had regular notice of gl tention to bring in this Bill, and he was pre -4" to. prove that they had not. There 1 hi eh elso a third objection in point of form, 'ill he considered to be decisive, This is it Pabled the Steward of the manor of Hamp. old t° collect sums of money of the copy 1ta..."1 for lic ence s to i mprove th e i r t enemen t s on to,h:tste-: -it was therefore a money Bill, and ought ntigi've origifiatedin this House-instead of having ittwznited in llns--House , of Lords. —lndependently, htline!ers of th e obj ec ti ons w hi c h h e h a d to urge Lt tijt us this Bill in point of form, he had se ver al ob- Ri i i, ti to urge against it, arising out of the injury it Waa calculated to inflict upon copyholdets question respecting Hampstead -heath He (Nr. S. Perceval) denied that there was in the Bill a single syllable enabling the Lord to enclose one atom of the heath. Jf the Lord of the Manor had poweo to enclose the heath, he had that power at present of the manor, and also upon the inhabitants of the without this Bill : if he had not that power, this village of Hampstead. This Bill assumes as fact Bill would not give it bhn. The public, therefore, that the copyholders lisve no right to improve their needed not to be under any alarm as to the effects premises without licence from the lord ; it assumes of this Bill. If; however, they wished to be safe, that they have tie right to dig for clay on the let them strike out the last clauses in the schedule of waste ; and it assumes that there is a eel taut cus- this Bill, and the right to build on the heath torn within the manor. All these three points are would stand as it 'lid before. lie would now address assumed in this Bill; and he was informed that the House as to ;he questien of Hampstead-heath, these assumptions were pregnant with consequences so far as it regamded the public.—(Loud cries of highly dangerous to the interests of th e copy- hear.)—He went along with those who considered holders. The copyholders complain that in this this as a public question ; and therefore he would House they have had no opportunity given them . repeat his opinion, that if they struck out of this to establish their case aga i ns t the lord of the Bill the words which related to the waste of Hemp manor: and they further state, that in the stead, the public would have no interest in the fate other House of Parliament, the motion for allowing of this Bill. He then proceeded to read to the the Bill to go to a Committee was only carried by a i House a clause in p. 15 of the Bill, and another majority of one. 'they th e n state that a f ter t h e cl ause i n t h e l ast page o f t h e Bill , f or t h e purpose of Bill was read a third time in the House of Lords, it showing that those clauses had been introduced to was brought down h ere , an d was read a first time, satisfy the scruples of such copyholders as supposed and was then read a second time, without having that they would be deemed to have no right to ins that notice of the second reading given which is re. prove their tenements without licence from the Lord quired in all cases where opposition is expected. It of the Manor, because it gave the Lord power to was then ordered to be committed on the very day grant such licence. He then proceeded to point out upon which this House was to re-assembl e a ft er t h e the difference between the last petition to the House adjournment. It is well known that this House is of Lords against the Bill and the first, which erne supposed to meet at seven o'clock in the morning, Dated from a majority of the respectable residents at though it is equally well known that in point of fact Hampstead, who were quite satisfied with the saving it does not meet till four o'clock in the afternoon. clauses respecting the part of the heath of which the The Committee met in the morning of that day, copyholders complained. He hoped the House and so many members of it failed to attend, that the would not agree to this amendment, but allow the Bill might as well never have been committed at all. Bill to pass, so as to enable the Lord of the Manor He said that if this Bill were now recommitted, to enter into an agreement which would hind his as in point of justice it ought to be, he could i successor in the disposition of his estate. make out on behalf of the copyholders such a Mr. BERNAL would not be satisfied with the case as Parliament would think unobjectionable. sort of compromise which was held out, and the He thought, however, that the best course which more so, as eminent counsel, such as Mr. Bicker he could pursue at this period of the Session steth and Mr. Richards, and he could now add was to oppose the bringing up of this report altoge- Sir C. Wetherell, concurred in opinion that ther, and to tnove that it be received this day three important rights of the copyholders would be affect months. He thought it right to state, that he pro- ed by the Bill, notwithstanding the description posed this amendment on wider grounds than the in- given of these saving clauses : for instance, it was Jury which this Bill was calculated to inflict upon proposed that the Lord or Lady of the Manor, the rights of the copyholders. He said that if all i after Sir Thomas M. Wilson, should have the power the copyholders had assented to it, he should have of conferring licenses to copyholders to dig for sand, felt inclined to object to this Bill on behalf of the and other uses, upon the payment of 40s. for each public of this great metropolis.—(Loud cries of license, and three guineas to the steward ; but the " hear" from various parts of the House.)—He s Lord might refuse, if he pleased, to grant such knew that it was not the fashion of the present day licence, while, on the other hand, the parties at to think much of the comforts arid amusements of present insisted they could avail themselves of the the lower orders. This Bill, he was prepared to i heath, in this manner, without his leave, or any prove, infringed both upon their comforts and upon j further payment, upon their existing tenure. He their amusements. It infringed not only upon the certainly knew tenants on the court-roll who de comforts and amusements of the lower orders, but dared they had this privilege. Besides, he was in also upon those of the higher ; for there w as s c arce l y informed that in the schedule of this Bill there were a gentleman w ho heard him that did not derive plots of land inserted as freeholds, which the tenants benefit either for himself or for his children from declared themselves in a condition to prove were not the open heath of Hampstead. Now this Bill pro- such. He regretted that any difficulty should have fesses to encourage the copyholders to build upon been imposed upon the settlement of any gentle that heath. It was, therefore, an appe a l t o t h e wis- man's estate in the manner he thought proper; but dom of Parliament to afford them that enco urage - he really thought when such clashing titivate in ment. He h o ped that Parliament would not listen t terests and public convenience were involved, the to that appeal. If the copyholders have facilities at best way was to let the business stand over until it present for building on the heath, let them enjoy their could be fully and fairly discussed for all parties, facilities; but if they have not, let us not consent which could not be at this late stage of the Ses to place them in their hands. On behalf of the sion. copyholders whose-'-rights it infringed, and on be- Mr. LITTLETON, although "surprised the copy half of the public whose comforts it invaded, he holders had not come forward in due time to oppose called upon the House not to accept the report on the progress of this bill, arid allow their claims to be this Bill. investigated, yet could not give his consent to the fur- Mr. STEWART (Beverley, we believe,) se- ther progress of the Bill, under existing circumstances. conded the amendment. The estate which Sir T. Sir J. YORKE—" Mr. Speaker, it is time to M. Wilson possessed at Hampstead was originally stop with these enclosures of waste land in the acquired by his father. His f at h er gave t o the pr e - neighbourhood of the metropolis; for if we go on sent Sir T. Wilson his estates in other parts of th e in this manner, we shall shut out time whole western couniev in fee simple; but he only gave him a lif e air of this great town from which the Hygeian estate in the manor of Hampstead. It was evident breezes spring. —(A laugh)—O, but it is said that therefore from the will of the predecessor of the pre- we are to have a part of the heath left to breathe sent Sir T. M. Wilson, which was recited in this upon it, if we can wade to it over brick buildings. — Bill, that be never intended any part of his manor (A cry of No, no.')—Well, if I urn wrong, I of Hampstead to be parcelled out in the way in will not say a word more about it. Thus it was with which its pressent possessor now intended. A copy- the Regent's-park, where I remember the public were holder of the• manor of Hampstead--a gentleman of anxious to stop the building of houses, particularly in *Teat respectability—had informed him (Mr. S.) the northern part, and were disposed even to that the father of Sir T. M. Wilson had himself purchase ground to put an end to it. However, the wished to enclose a spot of ground on the waste attempt to interfere got into marvellous bad odour, adjoining to a farm of his own. He applied to the and the buildings went on. I differ with the Hon. copyholders fo r leave to enclose it, and gained it on Member who spoke last, for I think the Government the express coeulition that no other spot but that for ought not to be indifferent on these occasions. They which he asked leave should he enclosed. Now, ought not silently to look on and see a population of other spots were sought to he enclosed, and if this 1,200,000 congregated in this city, and hemmed in Bill should be e.ermitted to pass int o law, it would on all sides, at the will and mercy of a few private enable Sir T. Wilson to violate the pledge given individuals. Why so uneasy about a new Police by his late father. The Bill throughout spoke of the Bill for the metropolis, if they were to be so indif freehold tenure of the waste being in Sir T. M. ferent to their health and enjoyments ? The fact is, Wilson as lord of the manor. Now, he had already the town was now so elongated, and the old environs proved that Sir M. Wil s on was only tenant for so built upon, that a gentleman must alter his time life; and the c o pyh o ld e s s o f H a mpstead likewise of setting out on a journey to meet these improve denied that the waste belonged to him in fee simple. ments as they were called. If you say you must set They declared that they had a part in it; and having off at twelve o'clock in the day, your friend a s k s such part in it, they had a right to oppose this Bill : you why not stay till four o'clock ; you reply, the inhabitants of L ondon had also a right to oppose why it will take me till four o'clock to get it. No place was so advantageous to them for the out of the streets.—(A laugh.)--Why should restoration of their health as the heath at Hamp- all the Hampstead people, instead of having stead.—(Hear, hen r.)—lt was a common source of the country before them, have now an hour or two good to all classes in the metropolis ; and even employed to get clear of the bricks ? I will vote artists were in the habit of going to Hampstead against all compromise, for I am for keeping Sir heath to draw sketmehes of the metropolis.—(Laugh- Thomas Maryon Wilson where he is, and as h e i s , ter.)—He cordially seconded the amendment. (Loud laughter.)—Why not stop on the heath, us Mr. S. PERCEVAL felt confident that if Hon. his ancestors did who left it for hint, and not want Gentlemen would attend to his statement, they to grasp at the enjoyments of others, until, like would not consent to the amendment proposed by the fable, he loses the substance to grasp at a the Hon. Member for Cricklade, but would permit shadow ?" the report of this Bill to be received. He begged So-angers were ordered to quit the gallery for a the House to observe, that the opposition of the division, when Hon. Member for 'Cricklade was made partly on be- Mr. PERCEVAL said, that in obedience to the half of the copyholders of Hampstead, and partly on wish expressed, he would not put them to the behalf of the public of this great metropolis. With trouble of a division, but would withdraw the Bill, respect to the filet ground of the Hon. Member's (Hear, hear.)—lt was accordingly withdrawn. opposition,—namely, the infringement committed on Mr. PEEL presented a number of papers, show the rights and interests of the copyholders,—he ing the proceedings between Great Britain and begged the House to remember diet the Hon. Germ- Portugal; and the treaty with Mexico, relating ( as dollen had not, in the whole course of his speech, we understood) to sugars.—Laid on the table, and pointed out a single point in which those rights had ordered to be printed. been invaded. He stated, indeed, that they had Mr. S. RICE presented a petitition from Mr. been invaded; but he did not offer one iota of proof Thomas Dillon, complaining of the Limerick -roads to show how they had been invaded. The lion. Bill. Member had commenced his observations by speak- Thorndike's Divorce Bill was read a first and ing of the manner in which this Bill had been second time, and ordered to be committed on Mon brought in here, and had complained of the hurry day. Mr. Thorndike was called in to the bar to wth which it had been attempted to smuggle it verify his petition. through Parliament. [The lion. Gentleman then Lord F. L. GOWER brought up the report of stated the variou son which the petiti on for time the Select Committee on the Irish estimates.— Bill, the first • " d reading of time Bill, the Laid on the table, and ordered to be printed. committal of thi. and the third reading of the Lord F. L. GOWER presented a petition from Bill, had taken IA& in the House of Lords; but Mr. A. Nimmo, Government civil engineer in Ire his statement was so indistinct that it was impos- land, in reply to certain• statements, affecting his sible to comprehend it in the gallery.] The official and professional character, that had been House must he aware of the sensation which submitted to that House a few weeks since in a had been excited by the Newspapers respecting petition complaining of his conduct in the making this Bill. It had been called a Bill for enclosing of a road in the county of Galway. The Noble Hampstead-heath. Now he denied th a t it was an Lord stated, in support of the petition, that the Inclosure Bill in any acceptation of the terms known char g es advanced in the former one had been found to the English language. It was simply a Bill to be groundless, and were the more ungracious, as enabling the lord of the manor, being tenant for they were made without any intimation to Mr. life, to enter into certain agreements, into which he Nimmo, the party affected by them. could not enter as tenant for life, but into which he After a few words from Mr. FITZGERALD to the could enter as lord of the f e e. --(H ere the lion. same effect, the petition was ordered to be printed. Gentleman read a clause of the Bill to prove this Lord F. L. GOWER presented a petition from assertion.)—He would now state to them very the Solicitors arid Attorneys of Cork, for an increase shortly how Sir T. M. Wilson was situated. Some of fee in civil bill cases. years ago there was a Bill brought into this Ilouse PROPERTY TAX. to make a road, which passed through one of his Mr. BENETT presented a petition from Mr. J. farms in Hampstead. He opposed that Bill with Mansen, of Hackney, praying the House to levy all his might anti main. The Committee would not Property Tax for the purpose of effecting a reduc listen to his opposition ; but, as he understood, one tion of taxes through a diminution of the funded debt. main reason for passing the Bill, to which Sir T. After a few words from Mr. Hunts the petition Wilson objected, was, that it would improve his was ordered to be printed. estate by giving him a further frontage. As he was Mr. HOI3HOUSE brought up the Report of the merely a tenant for life, he could not grant building Committee on Vestry Laws and Usages.—To be leases; and, therefore, he derived no benefit from printed. the extended frontage which that Bill gave him. Mr. W. PEEL laid on the table the 21st Report Now this Bill merely empowers him to grant li- of the Commissioners on Public Charities.—To be cences, to make improvements on the tenements printed. already erected —and that is its sum and substance, and no more.—(The Hon. Gentleman here entered into some details respecting the Bill, which the hum of conversation prevailing in the House, and the low tone of voice in which he spoke, prevented us from hearing.)—How could this' be considered as a SPANISH BONDS. Sir R. WILSON presented a petition from cer tain Spanish Bondholders, resident in Deal, in Kent, praying the interference of Parliament for the pur pose of inducing the Court of Madrid to indemnify them for the loans advanced by them to the Spanish Government. After a few words from Mr. EASTHOPE in sup port of the petition, it was ordered to be printed. CONDUCT OF MR. NASH. Mr4UIVIDOLD appeared at the bar with the Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into Mr. Nash's conduct, in relation to the new Archi tectural Improvements in the neighbourhood of Charing-cross. On the question that the Report be brought up, Colonel DAVIES rose, for the purpose of stating the grounds on which he felt himself compelled to observe upon, and dissent from, the resolution con tained iii the report of the ou which, as the House was aware, had been appointed at his suggestion, to inquire into the conduct of Mr. N ash. As that Committee had been appointed on his own motion, it might naturally be supposed he could not complain of'aity - resolution its labours might terminate in. A'shcirt - explanation would, he. was persuaded, show there was no inconsistency in his objecting to that resolution. Before he moved for that Committee, he had showed to the Chan t cellos of the Exchequer his list of the members he intended should compose it, to which list the Right Hon. Gentleman objected on the ground that it con tained too many from his (Col. Davies's) side of the House He told the Right Hon. Gentleman in re plyathat he was at liberty to add as many members as b e pleased from the Ministerial benches. He then showed the list as amended by the Right Hon. Gentleman to some of his (Col. Davies's) friends, and they, on the other hand, objected to its contain ing too many members holding official appointments. But he replied that that objection should not prevail with him, that he had brought forward serious charges against an individual, and that it should never be said he had attemp , ed to run down that individual by objecting to the members of a Com mittee appointed to inquire into his conduct, on the supposition that they might be friendly towards him from being co-holder of office under the Crown.— It happened that four of the members who viewed the transaction in the same light with himself were obliged to leave town very soon after the appoint ment of the Committee, and the consequence of their absence was that the ministerial phalanx which acted under the Right Hon. Gent. enabled him always to command a majority. Hence the resolution which the Committee had adopted, and which he begged the• House to compare with his statement, and thereby determine how far it was justified.—That statement would be founded on the evidence heard before the Committee. It was hardly necessary to premise that Mr. Nash by his office was a responsible servant of the Crown, or perhaps he should rather say, of the Woods and Forests' Commissioners, that it was his duty, as architect of the Crown, to look closely to all transactions involving Crown leases arid Crown building property, so as to guard against any unfair advantages in the disposal of those leases, and of every other species of Crown property which fell under his official cognizance. Without entering into any detail of the agreement by which Mr. Nash held his appointment under the Woods and Forests, he would remind the House that that Gentleman was entitled to one-half per cent. on the sale of the materials of the buildings pulled down for the pur pose of erecting the new streets in the neighbour hood of Charing-cross, and to half a year's rent on the entire of the new buildings erected, or about to be erected. Surely this was a revenue sufficient to satisfy avarice itself, and to preclude other modes of making money of those buildings. And vet it WAS in evidence that it was not. It was in evidence be fore the Committee, that in 1820 Mr. Nash reported to the Woods and Forests that a certain tract of ground between Pall-mall East and Suffolk-street might be advantageously purchased? This happened on the 20th of January. On the 26th of the same month it appeared in evidence that a Mr. Edwards, a near relation of Mr. Nash, applied for a lease of a portion of this ground to the west of Suffolk-street. Mr. Edwards admitted before the Committee that his application for the lease was in the hand-writing of one of Mr. Nash's clerks, and that he had pre viously had a communication with Mr. Nash on the subject. In fact, the application was made at the suggestion of Mr. Nash, by whose influence and valuation Mr. Edwards obtained the lease from the Woods and Forests. Mr. Edwards, after obtaining his lease, appointed, as he had admitted in evidence, Mr. Nash his agent, to manage the ground he had thus purchased, and to dispose of it as he might think advantageous. Now, this single fact alone ap peared to him (Colonel Davies) as a most extraordi nary mode of proceeding on the part of a servant of the Crown. Here the official authority, whose duty it was to vigilantly guard the interests of the Crown so far as they were involved in the valuation, &c., of the Crown leases within his jurisdiction, first values (he would not then say more), and assists in disposing of a certain portion of the Crown property, and then what ?—becomes, forsooth, the agent of the new lessee's.—( Hear, hear.)—After this Mr. Edwards went to the country, thence to the Con tinent, where he stayed upwards of twelve months, not returning till 1822. Shortly after his return he had a conversation with Mr. Nash, who happened to be on a visit with him at his house in the coun try, respecting this Crown lease property. On this occasion, according to Mr. Edwards, Mr. Nash vo luntarily offered him 4,5001. for his interest in his lease, which he at once accepted without any further conversation or dealings whatever. This would, perhaps, appear the more surprising when Mr. Ed wards's professional habits were considered. Mr. Ed wards was an attorney of 30 years' experience in leases and other pecuniary transactions, and yet strange to relate surrendered the entire management of this pro perty to his friend and relation,Mr.Nashoever making any inquiry respecting it, and finally disposing of it in a common conversation for a premium of 4,500/. without any written document whatsoever of the transaction.--(hear.)—To be sure, when the un usualness of such a proceeding was stated to Mr. Edwards, that gentleman declared there wa s no col lusion D im i and es) his for forineened felt relation,a o u ll l l l r d . Nash. betweenHe w Co lh to believe that declaration, the rather as M r . Ed wards was a man of considerable property, an d h a d et ( e . been a Member of that House. Had he been a less unquestionable witness, he (Col. Davi es ) f eare d h e should be uncharitable enough to suppos e th a t as Mr. Nash could not take a lease in his own na me , h e suggested to his friend and relation to take it out in his, so that both might divide the profits. Mr. Edwards's account of the transaction was amusing; indeed, it smacked somewhat of romance. He stated, that Mr. Nash, " with hi s usua l warmt h an d _ _ generosity of feeling," said to him, in an off-hand manner, in conversation, " Edwards, I'll give you 4,5001. for your good-will in the lease," &c. But, after all this genergity, it turned out that Mr. Ed wards knew not alp advantages of which he was the possessor. For what was the fact in the sequel? Why, Mr. Nash actually sold this property, for which he had given his friend and relation 4,5001., t h e annual ground -rent of which was 769/—for 17,001.—(Hear, hear,)—without any outlay on his part, excepting 5001. on the Uni versity Club-house.— (Hear.)—From this immense profit let 2,3001. of an unadjusted account with Mr. Nash be de ducted, and it would be found (the Hon. Member said) that Mr. Nash made a clear profit of 14,6861. on what he had given Mr. Edwards but 4,5001. for —(Hear,)--and without any outlay on his part. Now he (Colonel Davies) begged leave to ask, dis passionately and calmly, was this the fitting conduct of an individual filling Mr. Nash's situation ? Was it right that the architect of the Crown, holding an important and highly remunerated appointment under the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, should use the influence of his office to first obtaining his friend and relation a cheap lease of Crown lands, and then to disposing of it at an enormous personal profit ? Either he had undervalued the property in the first instance, or he overcharged for it in the se quel. Was it not his duty in the formor, the much more probable case, to have stated to the proper au thorities, " I find I have unintentionally committed an error; I undervalued such a Crown property, but fortunately the lessee is disposed to take a compara tively speaking small sum for his goodwill. Pur chase his interest in the lease, and let the public have the advantage of the greater price which you can obtain for the property," Was not this hi,. duty ? and yet what' was his conduct ? He actually most studiously' concealed from the Commission of Woods and Forests the whale transaction; and al, though Mr. Edwards obtained the lease in 1820, and Mr. Nash gave him 4,500/. for his goodwill in 1822, Mr. Mill oft heWoodsand Forests, declared in evidence that that office knew nothing whatever of the matter till about a year and a half ago.—(Hear, hear.)- I.e: the Houle for a moment roNsidcr :he whole transaction as one between private -parries. Let them suppose Mr. Nash to have been the agent of some individual owner of ground -rent property. What would be the conduct of Earl Grosvenor, or the Duke of Bedford, if it appeared to them that their architect agent abused the trust they reposed in him, to first providing for his friend and relation by a traffic in their property, and then having heS come the lessee himself, by disposing of it at a large personal profit, all the time studiously concealing from them (his employers) every thing connected with the transaction ? Would they not at once, on discovering his conduct, dismiss him from their ser vice as a dishonest servant, and fix the brand of vio lated trust on his brow ? But, forsooth, Mr. Nash is to pass off scatheless, unadmonished, immaculate. It is true, in defence of his conduct, it is asserted by Mr. Nash's friends, that it would be found he came off with very small profits; that had such been his de sign, he might have consulted his own pecuniary ad vantage much more than he had done. It is stated, for example, that in Mr. Edwards's lease transaction, Mr. Nash's outlay was 21,5981., though he received but 17,021/. for the property, thereby being at a total loss of 4,5771.—(Hear, hear.)—Now Mr. Nash would persuade the world that he lost the sum of 4,5771. upon these houses. No man who considered the subject, and who reflected upon the experience of Mr. Nash as an architect, could \v eil conceive how he could have lost so much ; but even supposing that he did, how did that circumstance alter the case? If a dishonest servant, for instance, should rob his master of a certain sum of money, and afterwards lose-a proportion of it, did that affect his rase, or could it be brought forward as an extenua tion of his conduct ? It was the duty of Mr. Nash to value those houses and the materials of which they were composed. Now he (Colonel Davies) would ask what reliance could be placed upon such a valuation and survey of those buildings which Mr. Nash had himself erected? What security could there be under such circumstances that these build ings were composed of proper materials ? Who could depend upon the statement .of Mr. Nash himself as to whether the materials which entered into the com position of these buildings were either good or bad ? That was a case sufficient to justify inquiry into his conduct. But an attempt was made to bolster up the case of Mr. Nash by the evidence of Mr. Shaw. The evidence of Mr. Shaw certainly, in his (Col. Davies's) opinion, quite exculpated the office of Woods and Forests in the transaction. When they found that Mr. Edwards was desirous to have a lease of these houses, they thought it not expedient to lease them to him merely upon the valuation of Mr. Nash. Accordingly, they employed Mr. Shaw, without the knowledge either of Mr. Edwards or Mr. Nash, to value the property, and Mr. Shaw valued the land, without know ing that any application had been made for it on the part of Mr. Edwards, Mr. Shaw valued the ground, but upon a plan which had been originally drawn by Mr. Nash. Mr. Shaw valued the property at 900/. a year, exclusive of the sum of 174/. a year expended upon the land in the shape of an increasing ground-rent. He likewise valued the old materials at 4,000/. He (Colonel Davies) ex amined this witness. In answer to a question from him, he stated that he considered the speculation a hazardous one ; and for this reason—that he had known persons who had built houses in Regent street, and who had them upon their hands for some time before they could find tenants to occupy them. He (Colonel Davies) then asked the witness wiles_ ther he would not have given a different valuation of this property, if he had known at the time that there had been several persons inquiring for it before the period of Mr. Nash's application ? His reply was, that he would have attached more value to the property if he had understood that others had made application for it. Now, it appeared from the evi dence contained in the report of the Committee, that previous to July, 1820, there had been a variety of applicants for this property. Mr. MABERLY rose to order. (Cries of order.) He was quite sure that his Hon. Friend meant to deal fairly with Mr. Nash, but if he (Mr. Moberly) were at all acquainted with the forms of the House, be conceived that his Hon. Friend was out of order. He would submit it to the decision of the Chair whether or not it was usual or regular for an Hon. Member to go into the details of a report which was not printed, and which was not as yet before the House The SPEAKER said, that having been called upon to state his opinion whether the proceeding of the Hon. Member was not unusual and irregular, he had merely to observe, that he was not prepared to state that the line which the Hon. Member was pursuing was disorderly, as he did not at present know to what conclusion that Hon. Member intended to arrive. Colonel DAVIES proceeded. He could assure his Hon. Friend Mr. Moberly, that his only object was to procure sufficient information for the public on the subject, and he was only desirous that a full statement of the case should go forth to the world. Now what was the case here ? This report merely contained the resolutions of the Committee, which stated that Mr. Nash was not at all to blame in the transaction, and which, therefore, went so far to criminate him (Colonel Davies), who had preferred those charges against Mr. Nash. if those resolu tions were true, he ( Colonel Davies) was an indi vidual not deserving of credit ; for it would appear that he had brought certain charges against Mr Nash, and that a committee appointed to investi gate those charges had pronounced them unfounded, and had totally acquitted Mr. Nash. But this re port merely contained the resolutions of the Coat- mittee, without the facts of 'the case--,without the minutes of evidence which had been taken before them, and which he (Colonel Davies) contended lar go forth rantedadi to the country,fferentconcltisio;‘Th individual in i resolutionsose would t would read them, while the Mihkgto s ?f evidenc e which had bee n t4ben before the : kttee, even if they were printed, would not: . , one out of .50 individuals in. the country, and -. heir nature, it would be difficult to underttand them with, out devoting considerable time to their con sideration. He (Colonel Davies) was there fore anxious that the facts of the case should be laid before the public, and he trusted that his Hon. Friend would not object to the course r.s.f proceeding which it was necessary for him for that purpose to adopt. Mr. Nash stated in his evidence that a great number of applications had been received for this land—so many, that not one-half of them could be accommodated. Another witness stated, that up to July, 1819, they had received communications from various persons desirous of obtaini ng portions of this l an d. Th ere was also an imortarit circum. stance stated in the evidence of Mr. Shaw, to which he wished to call the attention of the House. It appeared that there was no less than three y; - -ars pepper-corn rent to be allowed to persons taking this land, and Mr. Shaw state., that he was not at all aware of that clrcurnstance when he gave his valuation ()fit. He was accordingly asked whether he did not think that it would have made a great difference in his valuation of those houses, if he were aware that indi7iduais—who would have, suppose, to pay 1,000/. a-year—would have such an allowance made to them for three years ? His reply was, that such a fact would have made a great difference in his valuation, Mr. F. LEWIS rose to order. He did not know whether he should stand excused with the House for the motion which he should t . na4e, but under the circumstances he shotdd, without further preface, move, that strangers be ordered to withdraw, The gallery was accordingly cleared, and during the exclusion of strangers, which continued for half an hour, we understand that the CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEQUER, Mr. F. I.2=A; is, and Mt. Pi:0711E110F, addressed the House. On our re-adinisFion to the gallery w•e found the SPEAKER putting the question, " that the report be printed." Colonel DAVIES took this opportunity to state, de l t e eim ri lyinperind x ed to bring net s t e h s is sin s n u , bje t c o t again w under the con s id erat i on o f the House—he as-de to h mined, h n e e d v a a L s an it again under the notice of the House. Mr. F. PALMER expressed his satisfaction hearing the pledge given by his Hon. Friend to re sume the F bject of these charges next Session. Sir...l. YORKE, without making any more than a passing allusion to what here might he called in architectural terms whitewashing, must say, that the party arraigned had figured away in a variety of capacitie,s. In the language of holy grit, it appear ed he lead been the servant of God and Mammon, and trimming his course with dexterity, he had cleared the Woods and Forests without falling foul of the Treasury. What most surprised him was, that he had procured the warrant alluded to in this instance to be backed by the Lords of the Treasury. There had been enough developed in the transac tions between Mr. Nash and his nominee, Mr. Ed wards, to induce him to look on Mr. Nash as a suspicious character. He would, however, candidly confess, he exculpated him from all imputation of fraud, although it appeared he was excessively anxious to amass a fortune for his posterity. He also had the prudence to secure the support of his employers throughout. The affair of the reletting of the ground for the University Club, by Mr. Nash, for 3941., which he had bargained for and procured for 143/. from the Commissioners, was, amongst others, a reason with him for inferring that Mr. Nash was the sound-minded, right-headed, well regulated public officer which the affairs of this great empire demanded in the situation of civil archi teet to his Majesty. He was certainly a great speculator, for kis extreme age (being, as he was informed, nearly eighty years old) had not prevented Win placing a great stake on the event of this speculation, although hastening rapidly to that bourne from whence no traveller returns: Indeed, those who had embarked in an undertaking which, it appeared, was to require nearly a million and a half of money ere executed. felt disposed to hesitate and tremble for the result, should they be unable to cover this vast space with houses; when Mr. Nash boldly stepped forward and said—" You, Mr. Ed wards, and you the Canal Company, with my Lord Macclesfield at your head, don't be solicitous for the result; for lest you should think I have brought you into a scrape, abandon the design for yourselves and I will undertake to cover the whole space with houses myself." Here Mr. HUME rose to order. He obsen'ed it was rather unfair of his Hon. and Gallant Friend to enter into the minutia of these transactions now, as it had been agreed by both parties in the House that they would wait for the production of the evi dence, and the printing of the report, before they made up their minds on the subject. Sir JOSEPH YORKE assented to adopt tho course proposed by his Hon. Friend, and expressed his determination to await further and more perfect nformat ion. Mr. JOHN WOOD was satisfied there had beer, no ground to accuse Mr. Nash of fraud, and he had tiaerefore agreed with the majority on the drawing up of the report. Mr. PROTHEROE acknowledged he had voted with the majority, through a conviction that ►►o fraud could be imputed to Mr. Nash. Mr. FRANKLAND LEWIS agreed with his Hon. Friend in opinion as to the propriety of the course which the House had resolved to adopt us most likely to do substantial justice between the parties.—The Report was then ordered to be printed. SLAVERY. Dr. LUSHINGTON presented the petition of a famale slave, named Mary, in behalf of herself and fellow slaves, praying for the abolition of slavery throughout our Colonies in the West Indies. Mr. HUME presented the petition of the bur gesses of the borough of T ra l ee , complain i ng of the infraction of their ri g ht s an d lib erties , o f the various abuses practised in the borough, and concluding with a complaint o f a l a t e un d ue election of a Mem ber to serve for the borough in the person of Mr. Chas. Vernon Smith. The Hon. Member also pre sented a similar petition from the inhabitants of Tralee.—The consideration of these petitions. wits fixed for this day month. PETITION OF A CONVICT. Mr. HUME then presented a petition which he said he should not have expected to have received from a member of the legal profession, who could hardly be supposed not to know that it was out of the province of the House to interfere in a case such as his. The petition was from Richard Radford Roe, who had been convicted on subornation of per jury, and sentenced to seven years' transportirion. He represented the prosecution to be the result of a conspiracy against him, and prayed the House would inquire into his case, i and give ti me to hi m t , pro. duce proofs of his innocence. The petition was signed on board a convict ship in Dubin-bay, ready to set out on her voyage to New South NVales. The Home Secretary, he was happy to be able to ac knowledge, had pledged hinlscif to take the rive into consideration. Dr. LUSHINGTON opposed the practice of per. milting persons legally tried and convicted before a criminal Judge, to asperse their accusers and arraign their u N ll d V g o i e u:l A d . m. t l a r k d e i so:i'ai place t s : n w e i h t t i a l o i: l . i ' i t e i t i t d : entailing s a c c : v ir o c c e a l o a : c the on viction House a petition as a matter of course. the propriety of the interference of the House, —Peti tion laid on the table. SMUGGLING. The latter lion. Member presented the petition of Mrs. Bernard Ross, of Billiter-square, praying for the repeal of the excessive duties of foreign spi rits, which i❑ some instances exceeded 9004 per cent. on the article imported, and had the effect of injuring every fair trader, and offering irresistible in. ducements to the smuggler to evade the revenue and " tan" the spirits clandestinely into this country,-- Laid on the table. He then, after remarking that returns had been made byte Bishops of England and Wales to the King of the number of clergy, curates, as well as others in their diocese, whether resident or other. wise, from the year 1810 to 1815 inclusive, - moved that similar : . eturns be made for the years since in terveniug. Also returns of the number of churches and elm pels of ease of the Established Church, the number of places of worship not connected with the Church of England. Also the numbi. , : of licensed curates, whether re sident or otherwise, with the amount of their salaries according to the diocesan returns.—Ordered. He gave also notice he should on Monday move for a return of the number of Archdeacons of Eng land and Wales, distinguishing such as were reside; . lt from non-resiclants. ARMOURY IN THE TOWER. Also a return of the gross amount of fees taken for showing the Royal Armoury in the Tower of London. These fees he had long considered a (4i grace to the Government. They had lately been doubled in Colonel Stapleton's time, and amounted to near 3,000/. a year. This was the only capital in the world which had been subjected to so dis graceful an extortion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, he would have no objection to such a return, and the retuens were ordered for the years 18,11, 1820, and 1828., Mr. PROTHER:OE moved for ieturns calcu lated, as he expressed, his motion, to ascertain the testame"tary powers u!td jurisdictiop o officers en gaged iu official registration of devises.—Orderid. LABOURING CLASSES. Mr. SADLER gave notice he should, esrly next Session, bring before the House a motion relative to a project for Elio better regulation and management.