The Sun. — London, England, 1837-03-10 00:00:00

COI smsiderable importance, but he did not think that. such Parliamentary grounds had been adduced for the produc tion of the papers just moved for as would render it con sistent with his duty to accede to the Hon. Gentleman's demand. The Hon. Gentleman had not fairly depicted the present state of affairs in America.—(Hear, hear.) Texas had revolted from the authority of Mexico. Hos tilities had been commenced, and the Mexicans had been defeated. Their President had been taken prisoner, and his army nearly annihilated. The Mexicans had not aban doned the hope of reducingthe Texians to their authority, and a fresh army was prepared, ready to take the field in spring. Such was the state of affairs, and would the Hon. Gentleman recommend that England should interfere ? He could hardly recommend it, for if he did he would virtually advise that an army should be sent to Mexico. In the un settled state of Texas, the Hon. Gentleman inferred that the United States of America were most anxious to at tach it to the Union, and make it a part of the Southern States. But he should judge of America or any other Country by her acts, not by any possible suppositions. The President had done all he could to keep the laws on the subject in force, and to preserve amity between America ead Mexico. In the special Message from the President sent to Congress, subsequently to the general one delivered When Congress was opened, it was impossible for any one to speak more explicitly, or to show better faith and a greater regard to principle. The President in the M essage expressly declared that before any step was taken to re cognize Texas, it ought first to be independent and even acknowledged by some other Power. There were no grounds, looking to the conduct of the President of the United States, for this country to interfere in the affairs of Mexico. He would admit that the question of the slave trade referred to by the Honourable Gen tleman was one deeply interesting to this country. If Texas became attached to the United States, it was possible that the number of slaves might be augmented, not only as rebated to their being bred in the country, but to their being imported. The Hon. Gentleman had spoken of slaves being brought from Cuba into Texas, and lie (Lord Palmerston) admitted that such a mode of importation was probable ; but he knew also that the demand for slaves in that island was so great that any number could not be spared, unless the supply from the coast of Africa was ex ceedingly great. He could assure the Hon. Gentleman that the treaty with Spain relative to the slave trade was so carefully observed that the slave trade might be said to have received from it a death-blow. Many ships had been equipped for the trade, but slaves had not been put on board. Spanish vessels had certainly assumed the Portu guese flag, and thus introduced slaves into Cuba ; but it was to be hoped that, if the Portuguese Government seconded them properly, the system would soon cease. The Portuguese treaty had not yet been signed, though he had hoped that it would be completed months ago. Yet if the Portuguese zealously performed their duty, the treaty would be Virtually in force. Mr. W ARD would not speak on the subject under dis cussion, were it not that he was anxious to make a repara tion to Mr. Forsyth, the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the United States, for an imputation cast on him last year when the subject was before the House. He (Mr. Ward) had asserted that some members of the American Govern ment were engaged in private speculations of land in Texas. Ye had not mentioned Mr. Forsyth's name, but it had been expressly stated in the subsequent part of the debate. lie (Mr. Ward) felt exceedingly concerned that he had u nintentionally given pain to that gentleman, as, from a c ommunication which had taken place between Mr. Forsyth and himself, he felt perfectly convinced that the charge was unfounded. He had been misled by a gentleman who came from America, and who had good means of information, but who was deceived on this particular point. With re- SPect to the question before the House, the Noble Lord had given it as his opinion that the Americans ought to be judged by their overt acts. Certainly nothing could be more decent, cautious, and proper than the language of the President. But lie (Mr. Ward) thought that their overt acts were not the only test of their intentions. For ten rears they bad evinced a desire to obtain possession o f Texas, and had exerted themselves to the utmost to com pass their end. As to the slave trade, he thought the in- Aux through Cuba could not be great ; but vast numbers cf slaves were bred in the western States, and from thence they could be imported into Texas. In fact, the cause of revolt was to be traced to the existence of slavery in that Country. As the opinion of the British Parliament might Lave some weight, he trusted the papers would be produced. Mr. O'CONNELL thought that the cause of humanity wa s indebted to the Hon. Gentleman who had brought forward the motion that evening. Some check might, by public opinion, be given to the dreadful system pursued in the American slave-holding states. The revolt from Mex ico was the consequence of the abolition of slavery being, proclaimed in Texas. It was an eternal blot on the Ameri cans that they permitted slavery to exist. When lie heard of the greatness of that country, he could not but feel that their degradation ought rather to be named, from suffering Their vile traffic in human beings to be carried on. Were they not bred for sale, the same as sheep, and did not the owner speculate on the time of his human stock being fit for the market just as a farmer would calculate in this country on the proper time for fattening cattle ? Good God could any horror exceed this ? While the Texas expedition was in preparation, the press of North America Was calling loudly for volunteers, and Louisiana and all the western States actually sent out regular purchasers in order 1 ° encourage the new market for the traffic in human flesh. It was clear that Texas could not become an inde- Itendent state without the aid of North America. He tegretted the Noble Lord had not consented to th e production of the papers, because, if he had do ne so, it would at least have had some appearance of a disposition on the part of this Government to discounte ntnee this infamous traffic. He hoped the Hon. Gentleman would persevere in his motion, and give a more crowded jHouse an .opportunity of expressing its feeling on the sub ect, until the voice of humanity, re-echoed within those would reach across the Atlantic, and teach the Ame 'Lean people that in England, at least, this infamous system cowld not be countenanced.—(Cheers.) Colonel THOMPSON thought it was the duty of the Noble Lord to have taken some step to restrain America in the course she was pursuing. It had been said they oviit not go to war ; but, in his opinion, all that was wanted Was .three inches-of State paper.—(Hear.) M. F. BUXTON was of opinion that there never was treaty more grossly violated, and if measures were not t so mptily - taken the slave trade would be established i n "•exas- upon a scale in comparison with which the slave trade °f Cuba would be but a trifle.—( Hear.) Mr. B. HOY expressed his determination to persevere 1 4 his motion. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the motion Against it ajory 1 AMENDMENT M OF it THE REFORM ACT. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE moved for leave to bring in a TIIV to repeal that portion of the Reform Act which re quires the payment of rates and taxes in cities and bo roughs as the condition of registration. As it might be To, ,e convenient to the House to postpone the discussion anti 1 th e second reading, he would con tent himself with flier ( gy movi ng for leave to bring in the Bill.—( Hear.) Tile CHANCELLOR of tho EXCHEQUER said as the mitt - ors to which the Bill of his Hon. Friend referred had liven fully discussed and settled at the time the Re form passed, h e cou l d not consent to allow the Hon. Membe r to bring in this Bill without some explanation. He had, i n f act, stated no argument with which he could grapple. Mr. L'tUNCOMBE would very shortly state the ob jects of his Bill. When the Registration of Voters Bill 'was under discussion, he (Mr. Duncombe) moved that it .he an instruction to the committee to repeal this portion «of the Reform Act, but the Hon. and Learned Attorney- General said his motion did not come within the scope of th at measure, and that the proper course for him to take Vocild be to bring in a Bill on the subject. Now he (Mr. Dun combe) thought it rather hard that, after having acted Upon the advice of the Attorney-General, he should be Thet ➢an objection on the -part of his Right Hon. Friend to the. in troduction of the Bill.—(Hear, hear, hear.) The lionmyrat,,le Member then proceeded to detail the nature of the Bill. .The Noble Lord (John Russell), when he intro- Iluced the Reform Bill, stated that 95,000 would be added to the constitue.gcy, but, in point of fact, the increase did tint exceed 48,000, so that the advantages promised by the Noble Lord had not been realised. In the new metropoli tan boroughs which had been created under the Reform 4s ere a k gnarnely, M ary l e b one, Fi nsbury, and Lambeth, there 45 vt least 160,600 101. householders, out of which only ,000 were enfranchised. This was owing to a want of Put ctuality in the payment of their taxes, occasioned, in Ulan, y instances, by the gross partiality of Tory collectors, who did not demand the taxes until the period prescribed 1 23' lu,t v for their payment had expired. His object, there lore o, 'as t o put b orough and city voters upon a footing Witt; co Unity electors. The latter were not obliged to pay th eir t tt.xes to entitle them to register, and he saw no just groundgr for appl y i ng a con t rary pr i nc i ple to the inhabitants tow' , sa t ld cities. 11 , The C 'II&NCELLOR of the EXC HEQUER thought no ren3on had been shown for altering a prin e'pie whichi .had been recognised from the earliest p er i o d s Inour his tore. If there was anything unjust in th e mo d e I n Which takx( 's were ejected, it would undoubt e dl y b e Point grog tad f or a la inquiry ; but as the collectors wer e ap -I;edi.b7 ants, i t 1 orit independent of the Crown, Govern °' (=curse c oa l d not be held responsible for their acts. -,,,•: , ter t circumstances, he did not think his Hon. i'nend had tawnaue out .a case to justify an alteration of the settles,by • ' the Reform Act.—( He a r.) v ' • from ttlie‘ AX LEY rose, amidst loud cries Divide" Min. 1 4t erial ibenches. This was a question which ought not to be disposed of hastily.—(Renewed cries of, " Divide.") The simple question was, did the Reform Act intend that every man who occupied a House worth 101. should be entitled to a vote? If such was the intentions of that Act, he (Mr. Wakley) denied that it had been car ried into effect--(Hear)—and he must say that portion of the Act which required the inhabitants of towns and cities to pay their taxes before they were entitled to register was a disgrace to the Legislature. There ought, in his opinion, to be no distinction in this respect between coun ties and towns or cities. Lord WO RSLEY thought that the House should allow the Hon. Member to bring in this Bill, at the same time he begged to be understood as not being pledged to support it on the second reading. Lord D. STUART also thought that leave should be given to the Hon. Gentleman to bring in his Bill, although he would not pledge himself to support its second reading Mr. PEASE could not accede to the motion. The House then divided— Ayes 49 Noes 3B Majority —ll Mr. WARD postponed his Bill with regard to waste lands in the colonies. Mr. TOOKE obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the several Acts for the regulation of Attorneys and Solici tors, as also for another Bill, which was but a sort of regu lation with regard to caption fees. These, by an old Act of Edward the Third, were but 4d., while now 10s. 6d. was charged. DRURY-LANE. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE moved the consideration of the petition of the lessee of Drury-Lane Theatre, complaining of the undue influence of the Lord Chamberlain's Office with the licensed amusements of the people. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, the petition did not relate to his department, but rather to that of the Under Secretary of State, who was compelled to leave town ; and he trusted to the courtesy of the Hon. Gentleman not to press it forward. Mr. DUNCOMBE hoped that an early day would be fixed. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not wish then to raise the argument, but he was ready to show that the Lord Chamberlain had acted in accordance with unvarying usage. Mr. HUME moved that in future the fees now payable by Members on taking their seats in the House be discon tinued. The Orders of the Day were then agreed to, and the House adjourned at Nine o'clock. HOUSE OF LORDS, MARcH 9. The LORD-CHANCELLOR took his scat at Five o'clock. CHURCH RATES. Earl SHAFTESBURY presented petitions from va rious parishes in the county of Dorset against the abolition of Chuich-rates. The Bishop of CHICHESTER presented a petition from Wrexham, and two other parishes in Wales, to the same effect. Lord KENYON presented petitions from Sheerness, and a great many parishes, to the same effect. The Bishop of ROC HESTER presented petitions from Kingsnorton, and other places, to the same effect ; also petitions from parishes in the counties of Gloucester, Hert ford, Middlesex, and others, to the number of 25, to the same effect. Lord STRANGFORD presented petitions from Bath, and several parishes in the county of Kent, to the same effect. Lord DUNCANNON laid on the table a return of the Commissioners of Education in Ireland up to 1837 ; the accounts of Presentments of Grand Juries made in se veral towns in Ireland up to 1836 ; and the Gaol Returns under the Act of Parliament. 'the NOBLE LORD also presented a petition from the Dissenters of York-street Chapel, Walworth, praying for the abolition of Church-rates. Lord REDESD AL E presented petitions from Wood low, and three other places, against the abolition of Church rates. Lord LYNDHURST presented petitions from Bedford, and a vast number of parishes in different counties, to the same effect. Messengers from the Commons then brought up the Worcester County Hall Bili, and several private Bills. The Bishop of BATH and WELLS presented peti tions from the Clergy and Inhabitants of Stoke Hampden, of Ilchester, of Suffolk, and several other places, the prayer of all of which was that their Lordships would not consent to the abolition of Church -rates, which would be attended with injury to the interests of religion. The Bishop of WINCHESTER presented a petition from Winchester, and from several parishes in Surrey, South Hants, and the Isle of Wight, to the same effect. Lord H ATHERTON presented a petition from 1,600 inhabitants of West Bromwich, in Staffordshire, against Church-rates. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the Dis senters of Durham, praying for the abolition of Church-rates. This petition had been agreed to at a public meeting, and the ground taken against Church-rates in the diocese of Durham was a peculiar one—there were in that diocese four times the number of Dissenting places of worship be yond that of churches and chapels of the Established Church —that is, the number of the latter was 112, whilst that of the former was 447, and the number of Dissenters was double that of the Churchmen there. The Noble Lord also pre sented petitions to the same effect from Chorley in Lan cashire, signed by 1,200 persons ; from the borough of Denby ; from Buckingham ; from a place in Renfrew. He also presented a petition from a place in Fife. Lord KENYON (having taken up the petition) said that it was not against the abolition of Church -rates, but was in favour of the Ballot. Lord BROUGHAM was glad to see the interest taken in the question by the Noble Lord, who seemed anxious that no authority should be lost in favour of it.—(A laugh.) He concluded by presenting a petition from Rochdale against Church-rates. The Earl of RADNOR presented several petitions from parishes in Yorkshir e in f avour o f th e abolition of C ure rates. The Bishop of EXETER presented a great number of petitions from parishes in the counties of Devon and Cornwall against the abolition of Church-rates. Lord MELBOURNE presented a petition from Paisley, praying for the abolition of Church-rates. - The Archbishop of CANTERBURY said that he held in his hand a great number of petitions to the same effect as those which had been presented so numerously by the Right Rev. Prelates who had preceded him in occupying their Lordships' attention. It was not his usual custom to trouble their Lordships with any remarks on presenting petitions ; but he was now placed under peculiar circumstances, and he trusted their Lordships would excuse him if he on this occasion deviated from his general rule. It had been assumed, from the num ber of petitions which had been presented, the meetings which had taken place in the different parts of the country, and the great clamour which had been excited, that the country was hostile to the continuation of Church rates. Nothing, however, could more strongly show the fallacy of that assumption than the great number of peti tions which had now been presented against the abolition of Church-rates. He did not remember any occasion on which there had been so general a sensation excited among the agricultural population as had been by this question.--(Hear, hear.) He believed the abolition of Church-rates would be in the highest degree unpopular among them.—( Hear, hear, hear.) They were attached to the Church to which they had long gone—to which their fathers and grandfathers had gone before them—and they could not bear the idea that those buildings should be disturbed in any way whatever. The feeling against Church -rates, he believed he might venture to say with truth, had been confined entirely to certain populous districts ; and if one might judge from the strong language held on the occasions on which those per sons had expressed their dissatisfaction, such persons would not be satisfied with going the length of mere abo lition of the Church -rates, but they would use every exer tion to have their ulterior object accomplished ; and indeed they made no secret of the fact that they had ulterior views. In every advertisement they avowed that they had ulterior views, and they were easily known. He sincerely wished that the plan propounded in the House of Commons had been, as it was said to be, satisfactory to all parties. Had he thought it could be so, he would not have presented the petitions to the House without inquiry of the par ties signing them, whether they wished them still to be presented.—(Hear, hear.) He felt astonished that the plan could give satisfaction to any friend of the Church. —(Tory cheers.) The principle of the Bill—its whole out line was so very unkind to the Church, that he could never give his assent to its becoming law.—( Hear, hear.) It took the Church-rates from property which had borne it from time immemorial, and placed it upon the Church. Were the great possessors o f p roperty th ose p ersons w h o complained of the burden of Church-rates ?---( Hear.) No, they would be ashamed to complain of an impost which was laid upon them for the support of religion, and he might say the morals of the lower orders.--( Hear, hear.) It was to relieve the Dissenters, who professed they could not pay those rates upon principle. Their only principle was to get that property relieved from the payment of Church-rates which they had bought subject to it. If the Church bad funds at its disposal, why should they not be disposed of, i w n e st r r e uct l i , o , it,the an wobelonniiglliinogns for th e purpose of finding Church-room and pastoral d withoutt o toof thpeeopClehurwello? When the wants of the Church population of the country were so p ress i ng , i t would be unjust and impolitic, in his opinion, to apply the surplus applicable to Church purposes otherwise than for the numerous of the Church.—(Hear and cheers.) Such, however, was the nature of the plan that was proposed—it was in fact proposed to relieve those who dissented from the Church from bearing the burthen of Church-rates. (Cheers.) The plan was neither more nor less than a scheme for plac ing the estates of the dignitaries of the Church under the management of a Board of Commissioners, invested with full powers of granting leases, of selling reversions, of mortgaging or alienating the property.—(Hear, and cheers.) Who was so blind as not to see that the effect of this plan would be to make the dignitaries of the Church, (to use the mildest term) annuitants—to deprive them of all the influence and advantages which were annexed to the possession of land—and to render them dependent on a Board of Commissioners, persons nominated by the Government ?—( Loud cries of Hear.) Why, considering the very violent changes that had taken place at different times, a state of affairs might arise, in which the aggre gate of the whole of the property might be swept away in a moment.—(Cheers.) He had said enough to show the injustice of the scheme that was proposed, its invading effect on the dignitaries of the Church, and the danger with which it was attended to the property of the Church itself. Objections without end could be urged against the measure , hut as many of them were matters of detail, although in volving principles of importance, yet he would not further remark on them, but he felt obliged to come forward, not only by his own feelings on the subject, but he had been authorized to express the sentiments of others. A meeting of Bishops had been held this morning, at which they as sembled to the number of 15, being nearly all the Prelates who were in town, and he had been authorised by them to express their unanimous concurrence in the senti ments he had announced, and their determination to resist the proposed measure by all proper and just means.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") There was ano ther consideration which impelled him to come forward—it was that the names of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, y,n d of the Bishop of Landaff, as Dean of St. Paul's, were placed amongst the names of the Commissioners under the proposed Bill. This was not done with their concur rence. The Right Rev. Prelate concluded by presenting petitions in favour of Church-rates. Viscount MELBOURNE rose, and spoke nearly to the following effect :—My Lords, I have listened to the most Reverend Prelate with the deepest attention ; I have listened with the utmost respect to the expression of his individual opinion, and with still greater respect, when I heard him state that he was speaking not only in his own name, but in the names of the fifteen Right Reverend Prelates by whom he described himself as commissioned and deputed to state their sentiments and his own on the present occasion.—(Hear, hear.) I have repeatedly lis tened to him with the utmost attention, with the utmost respect, and at the same time I beg leave to say, with the deepest sorrow and concern—(Hear)--with the deepest concern and sorrow, not only because it always pained me to find myself opposed in opinion to the Most Reverend Prelate, but peculiarly on this occasion, because I feel that his opinion on this subject must necessarily have a con siderable effect on the measure which is now before the other House of Parliament, and which I confidently be lieve to be a measure fraught with the most important benefits, and eminently calculated to effect the greatest advantages for the Church and for the coun try—to be a measure absolutely called for in the situation in which the country is now placed.—(Hear, hear, hear.) I have listened to the Most Reverend Pre late's speech, therefore, with the deepest concern ; not only on account of the measure itself, but on account of the Church and of the hierarchy.—( Hear, hear.) Deeply anxious as I am for the preservation and efficiency of the Church, I always lament to see any of its dignitaries adopt a course which appears to me of a, character not to conci liate for it that respect, that reverence which I should al ways wish to see it deserve and command.—(Hear, hear.) I;would put it closely to the Most Reverend Prelate whe ther he could conscientiously deny that there is somewhat of haste and precipitancy in the present proceeding— (Hear, hear)—whether he had not brought forward this subject improperly and invidiously, did I not feel confident that he had been driven on by those who have more guile and deeper designs than himself—(Loud cheers)—in order that an effect may be produced both here and elsewhere of a nature to influence the decision which is impending in the other House on this all important question. My Lords, I consider that this measure is a measure of peace, of con cord—(Loud laughter on the part of the Bishop of Exeter) —the Right Rev. Prelate laughs, but he will find, if he is not already aware of it, that the subject is a most serious one.—( Hear.) I repeat, my Lords, this is a measure of peace and concord ; a measure for the relief from an unjust tax of a large portion of his Majesty's subjects ; a measure to put an end to a state of things which the most Learned Prelate himself has practically mitted to be unfitting and inconvenient, and to require to be put an end to ; for the Most Reverend Prelate himself gave his consent to the in troduction of a measure for the purpose of doing away with the present mode of assessing and administering Church rates.—( Hear.) Considering, then, my Lords, that such is the nature and character of this measure, I must beg to say that 1 think it would have been more fitting, more becoming, more decent, on the part of the Most Rev. Prelate to have waited until the regular time had arrived for the discussion of this question, and not to have pronounced with precipi tate baste so decided a sentence of condemnation of the measure.—(Loud cheers.) lam well aware that the most Rev. Prelate has been for some considerable time past i❑ possession of all the details of the plan, and that of course whatever objections he may have to the scheme must neces sarily ere this have been matured in his mind ; but consi dering the deep interest which is felt in the measure —con sidering, too, its present position and stage in another place, I must again say that I think it would have been much more becoming and decent on the part of the most Rev. Prelate and others, to have postponed the declaration of their sentiments respecting it until it arrived by the usual course in this House, and became a legitimate subject for our consideration.—(Hear, hear.) The Most Rev. Pre late has given us the information that there exists through out the country a strong desire for the preservation of the Church -rates, and that the abolitio❑ of this impost would be in the highest degree unpopular—the people of the country being deeply attached to their Churches, and most anxious not to see them fall into ruin and decay.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") No doubt, my Lords, the latter feel ing does exist, and I rejoice that it should ; but I will ask the Most Rev. Prelate whether lie conscientiously believes that this measure has been fairly represented to the people— whether necessarily it has not been misrepresented—if the feeling it has produced on the minds of the people is that its operation is in any way to injure the sacred edifices of the Church ?—( Hear, hear, hear.) I will ask you, my Lords, whether if this measure be fairly stated to the people—if it be shown them that its object is, while securing the full at tainment of all the objects now provided for out of the Church-rates, to relieve the people from the imposition of those rates—l will ask you, my Lords, whether it is con sistent with reason and common sense that the people should entertain any objection to such a measure ? (Hear, hear, hear.) There cannot be the slightest doubt but that the moment the measure is rightly understood by the people it will be hailed with the greatest delight.— (Hear, hear.) My Lords, it is to satisfy the claims of no one particular body of men, to open no way to them for further encroachments, that this measure has been brought forward ; but it has been maturely determined upon, as the only means of putting an end to a state of dissension and discord existing throughout the country, and the existence of which, the scandal of which, the incon venience of which, the Right Reverend Bench themselves will not venture to deny ; and which scandal and which inconvenience will become tenfold aggravated if the Legislature do not pass some such Act as that now before the other House of Parliament.—(Hear, hear.) My Lords, I was in no slight degree surprised to hear a Noble Lord on the opposite benches declare, on a former evening, that he could not see by what conjuring or contrivance the value of Church lands could be increased, and that he had never heard that such an increase in their value could be effected. Now, my Lords, for my part, I never before heard it doubted that the value of these lands could be ma terially increased by better management, and especially by doing away with the evils which necessarily ensued from the present system of life -tenures.—{Hear, hear.) I do not at present pretend to be a master of all the calculations on which the measure is founded, or to be able to go through all the details ; but this I can tell the Noble Lord, that if there is any part of the measure on which I feel less doubt than another, it is the financial part of it. I am perfectly convinced that, by a proper management of these Church lands, ample funds will be realised for all the purposes stated i❑ the measure.—(Hear, hear.) The most Reverend Pre late has laid it down that whatever surplus there may be ought to be applied to remedy the wants he states to exist of Church accommodation, and that any other application of it will be inconsistent with every just principle. On the latter point I altogether differ from the Most Rev. Prelate. I admit, that having found a surplus to exist, it became a fair question in what mode it should be applied, whether to the object now proposed, or to the object stated by the Most Rev. Prelate. Having fairly considered . that ques tion, the decided opinion I have come to is this :—that to restore tranquillity to the country, to remove the causes of that discord, of these disturbances and dissensions, which have so long agitated this Christian kingdom, is the first duty of a Christian Legislature, and ought to be the first duty of a Christian Hierarchy.—(Cheers.) With this feeling, however anxious I have ever felt that the objects now stated by the Most Reverend Prelate should be amply provided for, I have made up my mind that the preference should be given to the objects contemplated by the measure now in question.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") The Most Reverend Prelate expresses his opinion that this measure is a concession to the claims of a sect. No, my Lords, it is not a concession to a sect : it is a measure framed to meet the general, the well-understood exigencies of the State, the general interests- of the community, the wants, the demands, most general, most pressing, and most immediate—to secure those objects which are most essential—to secure peace, harmony, tran quillity, and concord—objects, my lords, all-important in my eyes, whatever may be the case with the most Rev. and Right Rev. Bench.—(Loud cheers.) The most Rev. Prelate, my Lords, has also intimated some objection to the mode in which it is proposed to carry this plan into effect. My Lords, if any plan of this description—whether the present measure, or a measure for the augmentation of small livings, or whatever it he—is to be carried into effect at all, it must be in the manner now proposed, and in no other. My Lords, I repeat it was with great sorrow, with great concern, I listened to the speech of the most Rev. Prelate ; and it is necessarily deeply painful to me to find, that in the further prosecution of this measure we are to look for the decided opposition of the most Rev. Prelate and his brethren. But, my Lords, however great my regret, I take leave to assure him and them—l take leave to assure the House and the country—that the opposition of the most Rev, and Right Rev. Prelates shall in no degree in fluence me to alter the course I have marked out for myself on this question.—(Loud cheers.) Convinced as I am that it is a measure most important, most beneficial, and most essential, no opposition, whencesoever it comes, shall deter me from persevering in it to the last.—(Cheers.) The Bishop of LONDON would loudly protest against the virulent attack whi c h th e N o bl e Vi scount had ven tured to make on him and his brethren.—(Hear, hear.) What l was it to be endured that because he and his Right Reverend Brethren had come forward to state their oppo sition—strongly, though respectfully and mildly—(Hear, hear)—to a scheme of sacrilege and spoliation, were they to be denounced in this vehement, this unparalleled manner, by the Prime Minister of the Crown ?—(Loud Opposition cheep.) Because they came forward, not to assert their own rights, so much as to defend the threatened spiritual interests of the hundreds of thousands, the millions of the poor, who were now destitute of religious assistance, of pastoral care, was it to be endured that they should be thus attacked—attacked in a manner altogether unprece dented in any former Minister of the Crown ?—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.) Was this the manner in which they were to he treated, because they stood forward to resist the sacrifice which was now attempted to be made of the Pro testant Church ?—{Hear, hear.) He would not trusthim self to speak further on this topic, lest his feelings should betray him into the same error, into the same vehement personalities, which the Noble Viscount had been guilty of. To proceed to the subject matter before them, let him call the attention of the House—let him expose one or two of the glaring sophistries, if indeed he might so call them, of the Noble Premier. The Noble Viscount said that the present state of things, that the exciting dissensions in the country, were a scandal. Yes, they were a scandal ; but on whom rested the scandal? Not on the Church, but on that small body of the people who excited those dis sensions by their resistance to a payment which they them selves confessed was no heavy burden, and to which all the property they purchased or inherited was by law subject. The Noble Viscount said the concession would ensure peace. This was an allurement which had already been often successfully held out on other questions ; and with what result ? Look at the concessions granted one after another on this very plea to a sister country ; every one of these concessions had been made on the plea that peace would be ensured by it ; yet the result in each case had been increased agitation and aug men t e d demands.—(Hear, he a r, hear.) Such would be the case here ; for had not the parties most clamorous against the Church-rates repeatedly and openly declared that they looked on the abolition of these rates but as an instal ment ?—(Hear, hear, hear.) Had not this been expressly declared only the other day at the meeting in the City of the Anti-Church-rate party, where the precipitancy of some of the persons present, who wished to mix up other matter with the Church-rates, was checked by the admonition, " Net so fast ; let us get Church-rates abolished as the first step—then we can go on to other demands with fresh vigour." Yet with such well-understood facts staring them in the face, was Parliament called on to sanction this mea sure of spoliation, of fatal injury to the poor members of the Church ? The Noble Viscount, though at the same time admitting that the most Reverend Prelate had had full op portunity of maturely forming his own judgment on this measure, had taken upon himself to declare an opinion that the most Reverend Prelate who introduced this discussion laid only done so from being urged on by others who had more guile and deeper designs than himself. It was very possible that the course adopted had been hastened, and by something which, if not exactly guile, was at least a great want of ingenuousness on the part of the Noble Viscount him self. This very subject had occupied the attention of the Ec clesiastical Commissioners, as appeared on the face of their re port ; and it was the unanimous opinion of the Commission ers that any such scheme as this would be altogether ineffi cient and impracticable. The Noble Viscount said that of the whole meesure he felt the least doubt about the finan cial part. Now it would not be difficult to show that as a financial scheme it was altogether erroneous ; that there were no data to warrant time conclusions come to ; that, in short, as a fiscal measure it would not stand the slightest impartial inquiry.—( Hear, hear.) Viscount MELBOURNE was understood to say that he had expressed his opinion that it was expedient and prac ticable. The Bishop of LONDON said that be asserted that this was unanimously determined by the Commissioners, and the plan appeared to them to be inexpedient and impracti cable. It was admitted that it would alter the tenure of Church property, and would be attended with danger to the Church. Viscount MELBOURNE observed that he bad stated his opinion openly, and had declared that the plan was both expedient and proper, and that be had dissented from the opinion of the Right Reverend Prelates. The Bishop of LONDON did not recollect the declare- tion made by the Noble Viscount ; but he remembered the observations of other Ministers of the Crown who took a more active part in the proceedings of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners than the Noble Viscount, and they de clared that they never would consent to such principles as were involved in the plan submitted to the other House.— (Hear, hear.) But he would ask was the measure pro posed just in policy, fair towards the Church of England, or was it fair to the people of England ?—(Hear, hear.) That this measure, which was deemed to be impracticable, as it tended to impede the improvement of religious instruc tion, should be brought forward as practicable, was to him a matter of surprise, for it not only diminished the re sources of the Church, but it also gave them to those who had no claim whatever to them.--(Hear.) He should not have troubled the House with any observations on that oc casion but for the appeal made to the hierarchy as to the promotion of the peace of the country ; but it was their duty to prevent, if possible, the passing a measure which was likely to be attended with such detriment to the best interests of the Church. He denied that any portion of the clergy, or that the public considered this plan to be just. He was sure that by resisting this attack on the rights of the Church they would do more for the peace of the country than by pursuing any other course ; for it would never tamely submit to such an act of spoliation as had been pro posed.—(Hear, hear.) He did not speak merely for the interest of the clergy, for that was the last object to be con sidered on such a subject, but for the poor people of this country.—(Hear, hear.) There were two millions of poor people in England who were without the means of religious instruction ; and to what other source could they look for means if the present plan were adopted ? But he might be told, " Oh, you will be ready to adopt a plan for the devotion of the property proposed to be given in lieu of Church-rates to some other purposes." He confessed that he should like to leave it open to some arrangement, so that the property of the Church might be *roved, and they might thus be the better also to provide for the reli gious instruction of the destitute people of this country. If this measure passed all hope of attaining such a result would be at an end, and they would throw open the Church to the voluntary system: He would cnly add, that if the voluntary system ever prevailed in this country, there would be an end to the Church of England.—(Hear, hear.) Earl FITZ\VILLIAM understood the Right Reverend Prelate's objection to this plan was, that in a financial point of view i t must f a il ; an d t h e Ri g h t R everen d P re l ate a dd e f' , that if thi s measure were carr i e d i nto e ff ec t, th e y mus t ex _ pect to p u t a s t op to a ll means f or prov iding for the,, spiri tual want s c f t h e peop l e . B ut t h e o bj ec ti o n of o,e Right Reverend Prelate was not so much a want of rr-sourees as to the Legislature dealing in the way proposA with the real prop er t y o f t h e Ch urc h i tse lf. He was not disposed to enter upon the discussion of the subject on the prese aat occasion ; but the Right Reverend Prelate knew, from what had been stated on various occasions, it was his anxious desire that no portion of the people should be left without the means of spiritual instruction, and, above: all, the means which were afforded to them through keen- ing up the spiritual edifices of the•country at the oxper of the landed proprietors. If he had arrived at u .4y conclusion on the plan proposed by the Government i tt , another place as to Church-rates—and he certainly had; doubts as to what would be the effects of it —A w , that it would not disconnect the Church with State ; but he feared that it would disconnect it Ivith the , local influences with which it was desirable that it sh Quid be connected. He did not object in any great d egm , t , the appropriation of any portion of Church piwperti wi t ich could be usefully applied to any other eoclesiastical li ur poses ; but he entertained great doubts whether it would. be t h e t e i n ) r d o e p d o s c tod separate of f the Ciuorexpedi ent to separate the support of the edifices of v ar i l the i t G i v e e h rn front uien " S 'a t s a Staten,, bu be t at ; Church es f rom t h e l oca l i nterests upon which they now sus t, it Pcnded f or t h e i r ma i ntenance. If h e, therefore, obje' : it was calculated to connect the nation tOQ i4(:4 with tic • THE SUN, LONDON FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1837. management of the Church, and to disconnect the inhabi tants of the various parishes from the Church. He thought that it was desirable that local communities sh ou ld feel an int er e s t i n the maintenance of the Established Church, and should "feel responsible for keeping up the local edifices. The petitions were then laid on the table. The Bishop of LLANDAFF presented several peti. tions from Monmouthshire, against the abolition of Church, rates. • Similar petitions were presented by the Marquis of Sails bury from places in Hertfordshire ; by Lord Wodehouse, from parishes in Norfolk ; by Lord Northwick, from Ware ham ; by Viscount Canterbury, from Wickham and other places. Earl FITZWILLIAM presented petitions from Hythe, and three other places, for the abolition of Church-rates. SCOTCH AND IRISH VAGRANTS. Lord REDESDA LE moved that this Bill be committed. After a desolutory conversation, in which Lord Brougham, the Marquis of Salisbury, Lord Redesdale, and the Earl of Wicklow took part, the House resolved itself into Com mittee. A number of amendments were introduced, and the House resumed.--The House then adjourned. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. CANADA. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8. Committee on the Paragraph in the Speech of tile Lords Com missioners relating to Canada,—Motion made, and Question pro posed,--" That, in the existing state of Lower Canada, it is unad v►sable to make the Legislative Council of that Province an Elective Body ; but that it is expedient that measures be adopted for se curing to that Branch of the Legislature a greater degree of public confidence :"—(Lord John Russell :)—Amendment proposed, to leave out all the words after the words " Lower Canada," in order to add the words " it is advisable to make the Le.islative Council of that Province an Elective Body :"—(Mr. Leader : )—Question put, " That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the proposed Resolution :"—The Committee divided; - - ----- • MAJORITY -- AYES, 318. Adam, Sir C.—Clackmannanslaire kerrisc . ) . l?, Sir Edward—Eye Ainsworth, P.—Bolton King, K.B.—Warwick . , Alsager, Captain—Surrey Alston, Rowland—Hertfordshire Angerstein, J.—Greenwich Anson, Sir G.—Lichfield Arbuthnot, Gen.—Kincardineshire Archdall, Gen. M.—Fermanagh Ashley, Lord—Dorsetsh ire Astley. Sir Jacob—West Norfolk Bagot, Hon. W.—Denbighshire Bagshaw, John—Sudbury Baillie, H. D.—Honiton . Baines, Edward—Leeds • Balfour, Thomas—Orkney Barclay, David—Sunderland Barclay, Charles—Surrey Baring, F. Thornhill—Portsmouth Baring, F.—Thetford Baring, W. B.—Winchester Baring, Thomas—Yarmouth Barnard, E. G.—Greenwich Barneby, Joh n—Droitwich Barron, H. W.—Waterford City Beckett, Right Hon. Sir J.—Leeds Bell, M.—South Northumberland Bentinck, 'Lord G.—Kitig'sLynn Bentinck, Lord W —Glasgow Beresford, Sir John—Chatham Berkeley, Hon. F,—Gloucester ilerkeley, Hon. C.—Cheltenham Bewes, 'T.—Plymouth Biddulph, R.—Hereford Blackburne, I. J.—Warrington Blackstone, W. S.-Wallingford Rolling, W.—Bolton Bonham, 11. F.—Harwich Borthwiek, Peter—Evesham Bowes, John—South Durham Bramstcn, T. W.—South Essex Brocklehurst, J.— Macclesfield Brodie, W. ft—Salisbury Brownrigg, 'S. J.—Boston Bruce, C. L. C —lnverness, &c. ' 'Bruen, F.—Carlow Buller, E.—No -- ith Staffordshire Buller, Sir J. Yarde—Devonshire Burdon, W. W.—Weymouth Burrell, Sir C.—Shoreham Bylig, George—Middlesex Campbell, Sir H.Berwickshire Campbell, Sir - John—Edinburgh Canning, Hon. C. J.—Warwick Canning, Right Hon. Sir 8..j-King's Lynn Cavendish, Hon. G. H.—Derbyshire Cayley, E. S.—N. Yorkshire Chalmers, Patrick—lnverbervie Cliandos, Marquis of—Bucks Chaplin, Colonel.„-Stamford Chapman, Aaron—Whitby Chetwynd, Capt. W.—Stafford Chisholm, A. W.—lnverness-shire Clerk, Sir George—Edinburghshire Clive, Edward ft—Hereford Clive, R. H. South Shropshire Collier, -J.—Plymouth Compton ' H. Combe—Hampshire Conolly, Edward M.—Donegal Corry, Hon. H. L.—Tyrone Co. Cowper, Hon. W. F.—Hertford Crawford, W.—London ' Crewe, Sir George—Derbyshire Dalbiac, Sir Charles—Ripon, Dalmeny, Lord—Stirling Darlington, Earl of—Shropshire Denison, W. J.—West Surrey Denison, J. E.—South Nottingham. shire Dillwyn, L W.—Glamorgan:hire Di vett, Edward—Exeter Dottin, A. R.—Southampton Dugdale, W. S.—Warwickshire Dunbar, George—Belfast Duncombe, Hon. W.—Yorkshire Dundas, Hon. T.—Richmond Dundas, J. Deans—Devizes Dunlop, John—Ayrshire East, James B.—Winchester Eastnor, Viscount—Reigate Ebrington, Visc.—North Devon Egerton, Lord Francis—Lancashire Elley, Sir John—Windsor Ellice, Right Hon. E.—Coventry Bstcourt, T G. B.—Oxford Univ. Estceurt, T. Junior—Devizes Farrand, Robert, (Stafford) • Fector, John Minet—Dover Feilden, W. J.—Blackburn Ferguson, R.—Haddingtonshire Ferguson, George—Banffshire Fergusson, Right Hon. R. C.—Kirk cudbright Finch, G.—Stamford Fitzroy, Lord C—Bury St. Edm. Fleming, John—Hampshire Folkes, Sir William—Norfolk Follett, Sir W.—Exeter Forester, Hon. G.Wenlock Forster, C. S.—Walsall Fremantle, Sir T.—Buckingham Freshfield, Jas. Win.—Penryn Gaskell, J. M.—Wenlock Geary, Sir William-Kent fi Gladstone, T.—Leicester. _Bad stone, W. E.—Newark-on-Trent Gordon;Robert—Cricklade Gordon, - Hon.W.—Aberdeenshire Goring, H. D.—New Shoreham Goulburn, Right Hon. H.—Cam bridge University Graham, Sir J. B. —Cumberland Grant, Hon. Colonel—Elginshire Greene, T. G.—Lancashire Greisley, Sir Roger—Derbyshire Grey, Sir George—Devonport Grimston, Viscount—Hertfordshire Grimston, Hon. E. H.—St. Alban's Hale, B. R.—Gloucestershire • Raiford, Henry—Leizestershire Halle, J.—St. Ives Hamilton, George A.—Dublin Hamilton, Lord C.—Tyrone Co. Handley, Henry—Lincolnshire Llareourt, G. G —Oxfordshire Harhourt, Gee. Simon—Bucks Hardinge, Right Hon. Sir H.—Laun ceston Hardy, John—Bradford Hastie, Archibald—Paisley Hawkes, Thomas—Dudley Hawkins, J. H.—Newport, I. Wight Hayes, Sir E.—Donegal Heathcoat, J.—Tiverton Heathcote, G. J.—Lincolnshire Henniker; Lord—East Suffolk Herries, Right Hon. J. C.—Harwich Hillsborough ' Earl of—Down Hinde, John Hodgson— Hohhouse, Right Hon. Sir J. Cam Nottingham Hope, H. 'l.—Gloucester Hotham, Lord—Leominster Houstoun, George—Renfrewshire Howard, P. H.—Carlisle Howick, Visc.—Northumberland Hughes, W. H.—Oxford . Hurst, R. H.—Horsham Inglis, Sir R. H.—Oxford University Irton, Samuel—Cumberland Jackson, Mr. Seq.—Bandon Bridge Jephson, D. O.—Mallow Jerrayn, Earl—Bury, Suffblk Johnstone, Sir J. V.—Scarborough Johnstone, .1. • J. I I —Dumfries-shire Johnston, Andrew—Curar Jones, Wilson—Denbigh Knight, H. G.—Nottinghamshire Labouchere, Right Hon. Henry— Taunton Law, Hon, C. E.—Cambridge Uni. versity Lawson, Andrew—Knaresborough Lefroy, A.—Longford Lefroy, Rig nt Hon. T.—Dublin Uni versity Lemon, Sir Charles—West Cornwall Lennard, T. B.—Maldon Lennox, Lord J. G.—West Sussex Leveson, Lord—Morpeth Lewis, David—Carmarthen Lewis, Wyndham—Maidstone Lincoln, Earl of—South Notts Lister, E. Conliffe—Bradford Long, W.—North Wiltshire Longfield, Richard—Cork Co. Lowther, J. H.—York Lucas, E.—Monaghan Lushington, Dr.—Tower Haml. Lushington, Charles--Ashburton Lynch, A. H —Galway Mackenzie, J. A. S:-'Hess-shire Mackinnon, W. A.—Lymington M'Leod, R.—Sutherlandshire Mahon, Viscount— Hertford Mangles, J.—Guildford Marjoribanks, S.—Hythe Marshall, W.—Carlisle Martin, John—Sligo Mamie, Hon. Fox—Perthshire: Maunsell, T. P.—Northamptonthire Maxwell, Henry—Cavan Methuen, P.—North Wilts Meynell. Capt. EL—Lisburne Miles, Wm.—East Somersytshire Milton, Lord—Malton Mordaunt, Sir John—Warwickshire Moreton, Hon. A.—Gloucestershire Morpeth, Lord—Yorkshire Morrison, J.—lpswich Mosley, Sir o.—North Staffordshire Murray, Right Hon. J. A.—Leith Neeld, Joh n—Cricklade Nicholl, J —Cardiff Norreys, Lord—Oxfordshire North, F.—Hastings ITerrall, Richard M.—Kildare Oliphant, Laurence—Perth Ossulston, Lord—N. Northumber.. land Palmer, R.--Berkshire Palmerston, Viscount—Tiverton Parker, Mantagu—Devon Parker, John—Sheffield Patten, J. Wilson—Lancashire Pease, Joseph—South Durham Pechell, Captain—Brighton Peel, Right lion. Sir R.—Tamtvorth Pelham, J. C.—Shrewsbury Pemberton, Thomas—Ripon Pendarves E. W. W.—Cornwall Philips, dark—Manchester Philips, G. IL—Kidderminster Phillipps, C. M.—N. Leicestershire_ Pigot, Robert—Bridgenorth Plumptre, John P.—East Kent Polhill, Frederick—Bedford Pollen, Sir J.—Andover Pollock, Sir F.—Huntngdon Ponsonby, Hon. John—Derbyshire Poulter, J. C.—Shaftesbury Powell, Colonel—Cardiganshire Price, Samuel Groye—Sandwich Price, Sir R.—Herefordshire Price, Richard—New Radnor Pryme, George—Cambridge Rae, Right Hon. Sir Wm.—Bute Ramsbottom, J.—Windsor Reid, Sir J. Rae—Dover Rice, Right Hon. 'l'. S.—Cambridge Richards, J.—Knaresborough Richards, Richard—Merionethshi: c Rickford, William—Aylesbury Robinson, G. It —Worcester Rolfe, Sir R. M.—Penrhyn Ross, Charles—Northampton Rushbrooke, Colonel—Suffolk Russell, Charles—Reading Sandon Lord—Liverpool Scott, eir E. D.—Lichfield: Scott, J. W.—North Hampshire Scourfield, W. M —Haverfordweat Scrope, Poulett—Stroud Seale, Colonel—Dartmouth Seymour, Lord—Totness Shaw, Rt. Hon. F.—Dublin Univer. Sheppard, Th om as—Frozne Shirley, E. S —Warwickshire Sinclair, Sir G.—Caithness-shire Smith, J. A. —Chickester Smith, Hon. R.—Wycombe Smith, R. Vernon—Northampton Smyth, Sir Henry—Colchester Somerset, Lord G.—Monmouthshire Stanley, Edward—Cumberland Stanley, Lord—Werth Lancashire Stanley, W. o.—Anglesea Stewart, P. M.—Lancashire Stormont, Viscount—Norwich Strangways, Hon. John—Caine Strutt, Edward—Derby Stuart, Lord J.—Ayr Sturt, Henry Charles—Dorsetshire Surrey, Earl of—West Sussex Talbot, C. R. M.—Glamorganshire Tennent, J. Emerson—Belfast Thomas, Colonel—Kinsale Thompson, P. B.—East Yorkshire Thompson, Ald.—Sunder land Thomson, Right Hon. C. P.—Man. chester Townley, R. G.—Cambridgeshire Trench, Sir F.—Scarborough Trevor, Hon:Arthur—Durham Trevor, Hon. G. R.—Caermarthensh Troubridge Sir T. E.—Sandwich ' Turner W—Blackburn Twiss, Horace— Bridport Tynte, C. J. K.—West Somersetshire Vere, Sir Charles B.—Suffolk ' Vernon, G. H.—East Renton Vesey, Hon. Thomas—Queen's Co. Vivian, John Henry—Swansea Vivian, John Ennis—Truro • Vyvyan, Sir R. R.—Bristol Wall, C. Baring—Guildford Walpole, Lord-Norfolk Wagon, Rigby—lpswich Wemyss, Captain—Fifealzire Wetland, Major—Oxfordshire Whitmore, T. C.—Rridgenorth Wigney, J. N.—Brighton Wilbraham, Hon: B.—Lancashire Wilbraham, George- Cheshire Wilde, Mr. Serjeant—Newark Williams, W. A.—Monmouthshire Williamson, Sir 11.—North Durham Wilson, Henry—Suffolk Wodehouse, Edmund—Norfolk Wood, Charl - s—Halifax Worsley, Lord Woulfe, Mr. Serjeant—Cashel Wrightson, W. B.—Northallerton Wynn, Right Hon. C. W.—Mont. gomeryshire Young. Geo. Fred.—Tyncmouth Young, John—Cavan ' Young, Sir W.—Bucks TELLtP3. Stanley, E. Joho.—Nr,zth Chu' Steuart, llober.i—illtddington MINORIT Aglionby, H. A.—Cockermouth Baldwin, Dr.—Cork City Beaumont, T. W.—South Nrlrthum.4 berland Blake, M. J.—Galtr• ll • V` rabazon, Sir Brady, Dern, "' 4) caulfteld—Newry B rj r ro k t i f e e m e ar ~ Hewitt—Ennis Aro,. • 4.0 n, lit- ..ne, R. 13 1 .—May.. .(ckingliam, J. S.—h el,.ield 41 11wer, E. L.—Lineoln . .iutler, Hon. P.—Kilkenny Co. Crawford, W. S.—Dundalk Elphinatone, Howard—Liastinss Evans, Gl—Dublin Ewart, Wm.—Liverpool ))elden, John—Oldham Finn, W. F.—Kilkenny Co. Fitzgibbon, Hon. R.—Limerick Co. Fitzsimon, C.—Dublin Cu. Gaskell, D.—Waketield, Grote, George—London Gully, John—Pontefrr,,,t Harvey, D. W.--S',uthwark Hector, C. J.- I : e t ers fi e la Hindley, Chp.ries—Ashton Holland, F,award—Worcestershire _fluane : Joseph —Middlesex utunr.iery, Jolut—Southwark -NOE.S. Maher. John—Wex ford Co. ©°' .worth, Sir William—Cornwall P. W.—Kerry iMusgravc, Sir R.—Waterford 10 !Brien, W. S.—Limerick Co. O'Connell, Daniel—Kilkenny O'Connell, John—Youghall O'Connell, M. J.—Kerry O'Connell, Morgan—Meath Palmer, General—Bath Parrott, Jasper—Totness Pattison, JaMes—London Power, James—Wexford Co, Rundle, Joh n—Tavistock Ituthveu, Tancred, H, W. — :Banbury Thompson, Ccn.—Kingston-on-Hull Thorneley 'Thos.—Wolverhampton I r,,, , Vawr:ey, Sir W.—East Cornwall C. A,—Poole I z ~'.irs, •N.—Carlow Co. idlers, C. P.--Wolverhampton ?Wan), H.—Bridport ?Ward, H. G.—St. Albans Whalley, Sir S.—Marylebone Williams, William —Coventry Williams, Sir 3.—Carmartlicnsbire i 'F ELLE RS. Leader John T.—Bridgwatet Roebuck, J. A.--Bath POOR-LAW COMMITTEE.—(THIS DAY.)--Thc Committee met at the usual hour, rand strangers were ad naitted, After being in the room, a. few minutes, strangers were ordered to withdraw. Aster an absence of nearly an how:, the doors were re-opened, when the Chairman said he was instructed by the Cornratee to inform all strangers ad mitted into the room, thus they had come to the determination no:: to allow the evidence, or any portion of the evidence, to he publisVNl, unleas by their own authority ; and he had there fore to mquest all strtoven to refrain from publishing the evider,ee, or any part of it„ during the time of the Committee sitting • and if after such notice it was done, the Committee ' We . old have to do that which was extremely unpleasant to V.lein—that of ex,etudiag all strangers from the room. The Committee then proceeded to hear evidence. A seizure of smuggled spirits was effected at Skin nergrove, on the night of the 21st inst. by the preventive ser vice, and taken to Whitby, where about 90 casks were lodged in the Custom-house. One man was killed by falling down the cliff, whilst endeavouring to effect his escape with two cases of spirio.—Shields ()Wryer, ' . COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. Yesterday . a Court was held for the dispatch of public bu siness, and, in consequence of a requisition to the Low MAYQR, specially to consider the motion for an application to Parliament for leave to bring in a. Biil for the better regu lation of the nightly watch within the City of London and its liberties. Alderman VENABLES stated that it was his intention to move for an application to the Legislature for leave to bring in a Bill similar in most of its details to that last submitted to the House of Commons by Alderman Wood. Aftei• having at tacked the existing system upon the ground of enormous ex pense, as well as the most ridiculous inefficiency, the Alder- ' man moved for the application to Parliament for leave to bring in a Bill, &c. &c. Mr. ANDERTON seconded the motion.. • An amendment was moved, that the subject be referred to . the nightly watch Committee, to inquire, examine, and report whether any, and what (if any) change was necessary to be made in the nightly watch. After a discussion of considerable length, the amendment was carried by a majority of 30, the numbers being, for the amendment GS, against 38. THE POLISH REFUGEES. The LORD MAYOR stated to the Court that he had received a communication from Lord Dudley Stuart, and other mem b2rs of the Literary Association of the Friends of Poland, on the subject of the late grant made by that Court to the unfor tunate Polish refugces.—( Loud cries of Hear.") Lord Dudley Stuart and the other gentlemen of the depu tation having previously taken scats in the Court by the Lo. .d Mayor's invitation, kr. WILLIAM PRITCHARD proposed " That Lord nudla y Stuart and the gentlemen by whom he was accompanied b heard at the upper bar of the Court." The motion was seconded by Mr. RICIIAItD TAYLOR, and. carried by acclamation. Lord I.)unLEy S=TuAnr then addressed the Court in nearly the following terms :—My Lord,—We appear as a deputation from the Council of the Literary Association of the Frtende of Poland, for the purpose of expressing to the Common Counrtil the gratitude felt by the body which we represent for the mu', nificent donation of 5001. made to the Polish refugees by th, )• Common Council, and which the Common Council did us the 1! honour of entrusting to our care. The donation, splendid in its amount, was also opportune, coming at a time when many of the refugees, excluded by the strict regulations of a very eco ' nemical Chancellor of the Exchequer from all participation in • the grant voted by a generous Parliament, exposed to the rigours of a season of unusual severity, and to all the privations expe rienced by foreigners arriving in a country with whose customs, manners, and language they were altogether unacquainted, were . in a state of the most melancholy destitution. The Court of Common Council stretched out to them the hand of assistance and liberality, and saved them from starving, while it saved this nation from the disgrace of allowing a number of gallant men, whose only crime was attachment to liberty, to perish for want in the heart of the first and most opulent country in the world. But this was not the only value of that generous act. The vote of a body so important as the Common. Council cannot be without a degree of moral influence all over the United King- - dom or throughout the world; and while we thank you for enabling us to relieve the distress of persons so deserving, we acknowledge with feelings of the highest gratification the still greater service you have rendered the Poles by an act having so great a tendency to foster or diffuse sympathy in the cause. —( Loud cheering.) Mr. W. PRITCHARD then moved that the communication be entered on the journals. The resolution was unanimously agreed to amidst acclama tions ; and Lord Dudley Stuart and the rest of the deputation withdrew. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. OXFORD CIRCUIT.—WoRcrsrEn, MARCIE •g. Mr. Baron Bolland continues so seriously indispoE.eii a s t oo be unable to attend in Court. No causes hare for fair; reason been tried since Monday morning, and two only wt:re then disposed of. Mr. Baron Parke (who has been assisted by Mr. Sergeant Ludlow), after having been occupied in the Crown Court till nearly seven o'clock this evening, proceeded to the Nisi Prius Court, where he was detained until a late: hour. The case of Crim. Con., Candler r. Crane, which ex.. cites great interest here, is fixed for to-morrow morning. I t is understood that Mr. Sergeant Talfourd will proceed t o Stafford on Monday to open the Commission ; Mr. Baron, Parke remaining here to try a case of child murder which i s used for that day, and, if possible, to get through some of the remaining causcu._, William Lightburn was indicted for the w ilf u l murder of Joseph Hawkins. at Areley Kings, in Cnis county, on the Bth of September last. Shortly after nine o'clock, Mr. Baron Parke took his seat"on the Bench, and the prisoner was placed at the bar. He did not appear to feel his awful situation ; and, when called upon to plead to the indictment, he threw up his head with the utmost confidence, and loudly. exclaimed, " Not Guilty." _ After evidence had been heard, the Jury returned a verdict of Guilty. The prisoner when asked why sentence of ileatl should not be passed on him made no answer.—The Learned JUDGE then passed the awful sentence in a must sele`mn and impressive tone, remarking that he had never inibia life heard of a more deliberate and cruel murder than that of which the prisoner had been found guilty. MIDLAND ClRCUlT.—Luvcomv, Mown 8. CROWN COUILT.—John Dimsey, aged forty years, was charged with having, on the night of the 12th of December last, murdered William Marshall and Deborah Elizabeth. Hutchinson, of Kirton, in this county. The two murdered persons stood in the relation to each other of brother and sister, and had resided, up to the time of this foul trans action, at Kirton, the brother at the time he was murdered being sixty-Nine years old, while his sister, Mrs. Hutc'a inson, was seventy-four, and, in addition to her`great age, she was very infirm, so as to be incapable of rising' from her seat without assistance. Marshall carzied on the trade of a market-gardener, the house tli e old people lived in being the property of his sister, upon which however there was a mortgage to the amount of tiOOL, the half-year's interest for the same amounting to 15/.., having to be paid the day after the committing sof the crime in question, which circumstance was supposed to have acted as an induce ment for its perpetration, that fact being no doubt well known, and the money, it might be reasonably supposed, would be in the house. Monday, the 12th of December last, Kirton fair was held, and on the Evening of, that day, about five o'clock, Elizabeth Beck, who acted as the daily servant of the deceased persons, had left tlie house, having first put a pot of potatoes on the fire to boil for the pig, leaving the old people in the house sitting opposite each other at the side of the fire-place. A friend named Humsby called in about six o'clock the same ' evening, he being the last person who saw them. alive. On the Tuesday morning, at about eight o'clock., the servant came, as was her custom, to do her daily work. She found the house shut, but the door was simply on the latch, as she had left it the previous evening. She entered, went to the win dqw, opened the shutters, and as the light streamed in upon the room, she saw her mistress's bonnet lying upon the floor, she stooped in order to pick it up, and then for the first time beheld the feet of her mistress, the unfortunate woman's head being covered over with some sacks ; she was lying cross ways on the floor, The servant thinking she might have fallen, went and took her by the hand, but upon finding it stiff and cold, became alarmed, and ran out of the house, when, assistance having been procured; a full examination of the premises took place, and it was found the two poor old people had been foully murdered. The following were the causes of suspicion against the prisoner :—He had formerly lived at Kirton, and been employed upon the premises of Marshall ; so that they were well known to him. He left Kirton in April last, since which time he had resided at Sheffield. A few , 1 days before th e comm i ss i on o f t h e mur d ers h e proposed to I take a journey to Kirton, in order to collect in some money, and to sell some property which he stated he had there. He accordingly left Sheffield with only 3d. in his pocket, and ar rived at Kirton on the Friday preceding the murder, when he took up his lodgings at a per son ' s o f th e name o f Mackaw, and never left his llama until half past 6 on the Monday evening, that being the night of the murder. He was seen shortly after that time near the murdered people's house, after which. ' ha was,not seen again till he arrived at Gainsborough, wher e he stayed that night, and the next day returned to Sheffiel.d. On the Thursday the Kirtoa constable took him. into custe.dy„ and, on his clothes being examined, several spots of blood were found on the left area of his jacket, also stains of blood in one of his pockets. The blood he ac,:ounted for by say ing he was in the habit of buying sheep's and bullock's heads, and in chopping the same up he said the blood might easily have come upon his clothes. The Learned JUDGE having summed up, the jury, after five minutes' deliberation, retwzned a verdict of Not , Guilty. NORTHERN Manciz S. DYSON V. &RmyTAGE AND *OTHERS. This was an action for an assault, arising out of the disputed right of way :which was tried yesterday. Mr. Syke s , person claiming the right of way, had determined to asser t by force, and had assembled a number of persons--wmong others the defendant, Armytage, who is a deputy consr„ a ble—. to assist him in doing so. A scuffle ensued betweetBt ) .lo party thus assembled, and some persons who, ve,th Mr. Dyson, re sisted them in their attempt. During its continuance, Army-, tage called on the persons present to aseist him in keeping the. peace, and Mr. Dyson was finally taken in custody to a public- house, threatened with handcuffs, and.obliged at last to deposit a sum of money before he Wa4releawd. This was the assault: complained of. It uas finally arranged that the road in clues— tion should be set out by metes and 'bounds, in such way as axi arbitrator should, appoint ; that a verdict for the plaintiff shou 1.34 be taken in. t:ne present action—damages,4os., and that, ,in ardther action, arising out of the same dispute, a juror she mold oe withdrawn. Lord and Lady Frederick Beaucierk and family have returned to his Lordship's rectory at St.. Michael; s, near St. Alban's, from Brighton. .We are sorry to learn that Gen.. Chichester, o f the Spanish Legion, had, acr,:ording to t'.le latest accotrats troy . San Sebastian, been Ve . rV severely, it not dangerously, attac) d with the influenza; nnd that 2,00 a men were in hospital, la bouring under the tame disease. Mr. Ainsworth's reputation as a lyrical wri to already stood very high in public estimation on account of 'his former works.. Many of the songs in his new romai ice, " Crichton," 'however,. are inferior to those of no living pi ►et Ile pours them forth in every style, and with no niggard ha ad. One of the scenes—a revel—at the gay and brilliant Court of the Third Henry of France, in which Crichton, Catherine de Medicis, and the voluptuous beauties of that day participv,ix ie literally alive with melody—it is, in fact, a lyrical cont e st for the crown of music—a true joust of the Poets, whose ;yr.: : his if Still further stimulated - by the presence of the Graces ? •