The Sun. — London, England, 1846-02-16 00:00:00

--- The Earl of ESSEX expressed his intuition of voting for the Ministerial measure. Lord STANLEY rose to protest against the doctrine, that tithes and land tax were not burdens on the land. The claim of the tithe owner was as sacred as that of the landlord and the landowner had no right to complain of the tithe, pro vided he had purchased his land subject to tithe; but he denied that rent and tithe stood on the same footing. Rent was the surplus of profit. Tithe was to be paid undiminished, whether there was profit or not. (LEFT SPEAKING.) °tight to pay no attention, but to taxes for general pur i)eees, sash as rates for the pour, the preservation of the Entry, and the administration of justice, which were it ePosed txclusiyelv on land, he thought the attention of th e Committee ought to be directed. The maintenance 011ie Poor was a general and national object, and the te Pease should be defrayed out of the national funds, he same argument appli e d t o th e militia rate and to tue eaPenses of the administration of justice. By the anginal Poor-law Act of Elie ibeth, it Ives eneeted that that man hould be ra t e d accor di n g to his ability, so `ast it was not intended that it should be exelu lire! . 3 a tax upon real property. Eventually, how- Z er ' f r° ,ll the difficulty of making the assess eat, it had become exclusively a tax on r eal I) Z e rt- 3 . , and su c h i t was at presen t, and now the i l:let or o f a m i ll only laid up the rental of his mill , he might Stacy time shut up and thus escape from Pa}ing the rates, while the farmer had r.o choice he must either employ men or increase the ,o r r a t t ; e o s r . , .‘",,aaain, houses did not pay in the same pr tr o u r e th `" - poor -rate that the land raid. It wasthat hae,Proportion of payment on the part of house property . " (I late. increased, but that was owing to the in tree, 45i the number of houses, and the come 641Tietin,to decrea se th e quantity of cultivable s b e le . 14 'tog to th e i ncrease o f h ous es and of a rateditivi ad s m as itt e d lilltt ah ath d, t houses were perishable property , a o , therefore, they ought not to e Prot ees l e hi g hl Y : but if perishable property oug ht to be th e what was more perable than the crops of tafer i and whatew a s more (entitled to protectiot .o t o ' a* of settl ement, too, was i n j ur ious to the agrichii_ r erl 4ll , o a dy, an d was of 1 good to the manufacture r, and prig alteration. If they established free trade 4 3 Pies In the corn market, they must do so in the tit mark e t, and destroy t h e l aw of settlement. ex:tried that an alteretion in law of settlement, to the ha rt ProPosid l ast year by Sir J. GRAHAM , woul d give t"e eff ect of relieving the agr i cu l tura l i n t e rest, and Riv e It thern making r es idence for a certain time in to w n s tied settlement, he thought it was impracticable, Th e , iF . Practicable would he no compe nsation Intl & regard to the highway-rate—t h e hi g h wa ys t , , tin ' , l "re for the benefit of the towns than of the The farmer derived little benefit from the gaZa3's• lle would allude for a moment to tithes alto ei" he did not consider them a burden on land. it:la y- f ils to the commutation of tithes, they seriously te t t :" with cultivation, but from the moment of the POr t , -4ta ti(- 1 1 they became mealy a debt on the pro- Tii 3% lie looked on the land-tax in a similar light. its % " e re charges on the property merel y like like r ", ll :' , and not peculiar burdens. The y were Rhie direct taxation on hind in France, the n e consid ere d no t to be any burden whatever in th e I ' l ' t ivation o f the so il. It di m inished the value of eoet tli n i f ( i i ' but did not interfere with the cultivation. He had , -e ti that th e ma lt d u ty was a peculiar burden on it • 411 who drank beer paid a portion of it, but inasmuch tleilltieefsred to prevent the production of barley, in Thee 't was a peculiar burden upon. ' agriculture regard t o o th e r duties, the agriculturists rAh e t o Customs and Post-office as much as any ti to r „ P " r tiori of the community ; they paid to t he tl/ Iti „ - "Vaore, 'and in all the law reforms ,the Stamp 14, 1 11 :P: 4 i th e t rans f er o f l an d e d property was kept up. tia ot 0 '“1 th a t t h e measures pro p ose d by the Govern arta r ; fr ' sr 'd any compensation. With regard to the the far t of protection, it was the difference between what would er obtain for his corn under the prese n t itop e . , lt t'r the system of free trade, which it would be t e , l ,: l wle to caleulate. With regard to the comparative n the producing agriculturists of England and ten st ; fl 'nent, he contended that the producing agricul "f England were much higher taxed. A_ at -au decl are waYs.advocated protection, but if public opinion litid o , tl i t Was to be done away with he would submit , Ices his best e n d eavo urs to palliate the evils and the tragas : a ngry contention between class and class. He that those who acted with him would, if beaten, the i tn it ' ar .ter a fair fi g ht, and do their best to promote Itae7,:Perity of the country. If, however, the measure ttie r Z i ed . „ in this Parliament it would not be t he Ar e of puLlic opinion, but of party tactics—a mea -4tlti:rried in: oppos i t i on t o the opinions of the Lords "'pe r t; m ajority of the Cabinet, by an able manoeuvre Lorapoitnes. Il actunnam said that he retained the opinion dens ti me had expressed in 1820, that there werebur than rrtithPi j,ssing peculiarly on land; and he went further vet s Nobl e F r i en d, for he considered both Let at ' I r"I land- tax •as peculiar burdens upon la nd. eta th e s ame time he denied that the proper way to th e r. qls ste the l an d own ers was to impose a duty on uuttitePortation o f foreign corn. He feared, however , te i , st ithil erlinry would not take within its scope the inee ilit t4 t-Ttant burdens upon the landowner, in his lab our Y t o go into the labour market to purchase his , at the ehi a p t s t rate, in consequence of what egri gilt call the patriarchal state of the (A l4 (n,l Z ;tu ral districts. The farmers and land °tnni P a id probate and legacy duty on their per tain o ' r "Perty in common with the rest of the cote by en 1 11, but th ere were many b ur d ens b orne exclusively '11(1 ' The rec en t l aw c hanges had saved immense had 6 th e ngricultural interests,' and the stamp duties th e l e tl en thereby diminished. Yet he admitted that datn e tutt ed iuterest had cause to complain of the stamp a tax —, and he should wish to see the tax changed from tor en alie nat i on into a tax on success ion. Would DAcan considered that any protection which th e enc ourage an unna tural application of capital to culti vationene_ of the soil, ought to b e remove d, b u t the a aJuat multurist required some protection, as a set-off to the improper protection which had been tries . ton personal property in this country. The poorlirig property -tax levied on agriculture under the %toe sort required that the agriculturist should have „ of protective compensatiou. It amounted to 14 , 0 er°Perty• tax of twelve per cent. on real Pert If 3 7, for all personal property was exempt. ptrProteetion were withdrawn there ought to be some teal remission of special taxation, so as to restore an o r li tY of bu r d ens . T he No bl e L or d t h en a ll u d e d to e te °l the sp eec h es . ma d e at one o f t h e L eague mee tings " Dt ent Garden, in which one of the speakers, alluding th e forty shilling-freenohl movement, called it tt eapon w hi c h wou ld lay the hereditary aristocacy n dust, and called upon the Government to adopt measures to put down the League. Lord MONTEAGLE then rose to move the addition t" th e motion of which he had given notice, v i a ,, that the i nquiry should extend to the peculiar exemption s en- J° Yed by the agricultural interest. It was necessary that thi addition should be made, in order to secure an im- Partial inquiry, and therefore he did not antici !te any o pp os i t i on to his proposition. H e tie 'lPlitaae his Noble Friend on the frank tr , 4. °V his speech, and was g lad to find that he did e oneider tithe as a peculiar burden upon land and if 1 1 . 11 , 1 " t, it cou l d constitute no g round for protection unless t ta tion were intended as a p ro tection for rent only it ot fur th e genera l interests of the community . 1 11 , 14 r rent nor tithe was the cause of price—they Of t he consequences of price, and not the cause 1 tbe e a nd they b o th s t oo d on' the same grOund the Iv aa no difference between the rent paid to o'leidlord ard that paid to the clergyman. tarei: as klered that the dangers connected with trans its tog the charge of the poor to the State were se great liiie l re t atl er the adoption of the plan impossible, and be last r e re had been a great alteration during th e hri o eht- Years in proportion of the ratability of da te greatly Propertie s in favour of landed property , to wingmeans and substances it was so difficult the - e Practic a lly i m possible. Then, with regard to hoti;Tinistration of justice, one-half was already th e 1 , 1 - h ur the St a t e , - and if the State were to b i e r re ° le burden. the State must have the manage . eat Atk „,e "` Prosecuting, and they must have a ',Num Prose cution , an alternative which he consider( d taa' be a wise one. Then with regard to the malt e t edu • s alt had participated more largely in the or tbtl° 1 O of t axation than any other art i c l e . T w o-thirds doubted duly h ad been remitted since 1815, and he a • whether any further reduction would benefit the t t iculte e h t Whieh 4 , a, inasmuch as . at present the manner io te e; l e duty give was levied enabled the maltster to oth . higherprice fur barley than they would "wise• d d the allthe p., • give ; and it also area . Fn„ bush br ew • harley-grower, a . close monopoly. of Prod uce " l es and distilleries, as against the be „ of Sugar and other articles that might tegard uied i n those es t a bl i shments. Then with kost to ; using malt by feeling cattle, the , scientific chemists declared it was not so lieu ''s lam:kited barley. As to the probate and inte‘)l.li(tl;tiP''h:eonsidered that they impsed an interest of taxation favourable to the landed gtirle:ts, laiosu although that inequality was . not so also aciv 4ad ,been imagined. The agriculturists exemptions in regard to draining t he axe m House, and various other articles, and all apti c ,t s t `'ris in the auction Bill of last year were ex Ber ry h, favour of the agricultural interest. He was lie • is Noble Friend had alluded to- • the League. lilt. d aek wha , not their organisations, but he would C on. had the League to do with this ques hoievetirle. wished to see the League cease, and he cea se th promoters of it were anxious it should k• and th e wa Inistry to Y to destroy the League was for the eatcreacontinue in the course which they had new inidin ee ette Noble , Lord concluded by moving the " .44 WiliC4 114dgiveli.noticet Lord MARCH. said he could assure the House that it was not his intention to enter at any great length into the consideration of the question then before it, or to trouble them with any statistical de tails, as Honourable Members to ho peeceded him on Friday night had gone , so fay into the matters that he would consider it presumptuous in him self to follow in that course. At the close of the de• bate on Friday night a Noble .Lord, the Member for Dungannon, astonished him (Lord March) not a little indeed.—(Hear and a laugh.) Although from the recent conversions that ha had noticed he oaght not to feel surprised.—(Hear, hear.) That Noble Lard, in the short period of one month, had made two speeches in that Hmse, one on either side of the question.—(" Hear," and a laugh.) However, it was -not for him (Lord March) to say to what that change in his ideas was owing ; but he should say that he did not seem to have attended to the debate, for his speech had been 1- most, one-sided. The Hon. Member fir Bridport had Wade a statement, and he (the Noble Lord) wished to urge on him the necessity which every man of honour in that House would admit to be correct, that no roan should make a statement in that House withoutbeing fully convinced of its truth and accurrcy. He stated that a Noble Duke, who was a Member of the Administration, that passed the Reform Act, threatened to swamp the house of Lords. He must appeal to the Honourable Member whether the Noble Duke did not resign his seat in the Cabinet when such principles were broached, and he was sure that if the lion. Member was present, he would bear him out in that - statement.— (Hear, hear.) He belieVed the Noble Lord, the Member for the city of London, would bear him out in that statement. Now, With regard to the immediate question before the House, he believed that it 14 be the ruin of the agricultural classes of this It was sail that free-trade would be ofim mense advantage to Ireland: This he could not believe, for he had not; of the Hon. and Learned . Member for Cork taking part in the debate. During the live nights the question had engross d the attention of that House, the lion. and Learned Member had not risen in his - place to state that her Ma jesty's Ministers were about" to confer a great advantage on Ireland.—(l - fear, hear.) The Hon. and Learned Member had done no such thing. The Right Hon: Baronet at the head of her Mak sty's Ministers had said that the agriculturists should lay cut mote capital on their land in order to Make it more profitable. Ile had said that the agriculturists did not yet know what great benefits were to be derived by the improvements in chemistry, as applied to land—that they were yet in their infancy. He (the lion. Member) maintained that if they were in their infancy, they required protection The Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the speech which he made the other night, stated that the feelings of the whole bulk of the community were in fa vour of a repeal of the corn-law. Now he would main tain that the contrary was the case, and that the great feeling of the country was in favour of protection. — (Hear, hear.) It was his opinion that the measure of the Government was opposed to the wishes of the peo ple ; and if the Right lion. Baronet wanted a proof of his statement, he would only refer him to the elec tions about taking place for Gloucester, Sussex, and Dorsetshire. An lion. Gentleman opposite men tioned the city of Chichester ; but he would tell him that in a canvas made by his brother for five days in that town there were not over twenty gentlemen in favour of free trade. There was a show of hands cer tainly in favour of the measure.—(Hear, and cheers.) His brother offered to go to the poll, but the free traders refused, from the best of all possible reasons, because they were certain of being beaten.—(Loud laughter.) Neither the Chancellor of the .Exchequer nor the Chancellor el the Deehy of Lancaster had as yet de livered their opinions on this subject. He would wish to know if they had changed, and what motives induced them to support the Government ? The Noble Lord did not say that in the year 1841. He was then an advocate of protection to agriculture. It was no concern to him (the Earl of March) how the Noble Lord at that time chose to pledge himself to his constituents. But he (Lord Lincoln) was sent to Parliamfrit for the pureose of following and sup porting a party in favour of agricultural protection—( Hear) — of which the Right Honourab'e Baronet at the head of the Government was supposed to be the head.—(Cheers and laughter from the Protectionists.) That party was cer tainly opposed to the proposal of the Noble. Lord the Member for the City of London; that party advocated protection to agriculture in the strongest manner. He did not impute to the Noble Lord (Lori Lincoln) any impure motives in changing his opinions; but if he and the other Noble Lord (Lord John Russell) had altered their opinions on this question he conceived that they were bound to consult their constituents, and see whether they approved of the change.— (protectionists' cheers .) Their constituents se nt them to Par liament to protect agriculture,—( Hear, hear) —and they were therefore in honour bound to support that in terest.—(Hear, hear.) The Right Honourable Baronet at the head of the Government, it hen he was member for University of Oxford, and chose to alter his opinions, at once resigned his post. The Noble Lord (Lord Lincoln) in the year 1841 had addressed his constituents in different language to that which he now held. He then said that free-trade was all humbug—(Laughter)—and that if protection were to be taken off agriculture, it should also be taken off every article of manufactures, to every one of which a large protection was at present given by the Government.—( Hear, hear.) Now, he opposed the measure of the Bight Hon. Baronet, because he (the Earl of March) considered the principles of free trade which were advocated for corn were equally favour able and good with respect to every other article.—( Hear.) He opposed the speech of the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Peel), because it put forward no new arguments on the sub ject. It was not his wish to sacrifice one class of her Majesty's subjects in the country for any other, because he thought the interests of the agriculturists with those of the manufacturers were closely and intimately united. He thought what was in jurious to one class, was equally so to the other. He found it impossible to advocate the measure before the House, from the speech made by the Right. Hon. Baronet himself, if there were uo other reason ; but when he (the Earl of March) felt that it was wrong on principle and in justice, and detrimental to all classes of her Majesty's subjects—Cries of " Oh, oh ')— he could not sanction such a measure.—( Cheers. ) Mr. BAILEY COCHRAN said he di I net wish to misrepresent the conduct of the Noble Lord, and that be was sure the Noble Lord would do him the justice of thinking so. It was stated by the Noble Lord that a certain Noble Duke stated that he would not oppose the creation of Peers should such be necessary, and it appears that such was proposed to be done. Mr. GIBSON said it would be unnecessary for him to detain the House at any great length on the-subject of the corn-laws. The main object which the party with which he was connected bad in view, was the abolition of all protection, and in that re spect he should be always happy to go with the Noble Lord with his friends around him. But the question before them was not protection to the manufacturers, but whether they shold resolve themselves into a Committee of the whole House to take into consideration the duty which regulated the imports with a view to a repeal of these duties.—(Cries of " No, no.") He imagined that each part of the Right Hon. Baronet's plan would be discussed separately, and be imagined that the question before them was the question of the corn laws.—( Hrar, hear.) He thought the question of what Ministers had said at former times, or the relations in which they stood to Hansard, was really of small moment •to the more important question of whether it was right or prudent to repeal the corn-laws —(Heaf. ) They told him that the present Parliament was elected to maintain protection, and therefore this Parliament could not deal with protection, because that question was settled at the general election of 1841. Now it was because the 'question was settled at that election, that he thought the present Parliament was the best fitted to decide upon the proposition before them. If the question of the abolition of the corn-laws had not been mentioned in 1841, when it might have been urged that the question could not be entertained by the present Parliament, but the question of the repeal of the corn-laws was entertained by the electors of 1841, and no Parliament could better decide upon it than the present, for if they went to the electors again, Ile was sure a more respectable class of men could nut bereturned, nor a class in whom the electors would have more confidence. A great many Honourable Gentlemen, opposite were in a po sition to entertain that question. Even at the present moment a gentleman, a candidate for Suffolk, declared to his consti tuents that he would leave himself open to whatever he should consider best for the interests of his country.—( Hear, hear.) Now that gentleman, though a Protectionist at present, might, on hearing the question discussed, be induced to give a vote for the abolition of all protection. It happened to him (Mr. M. Gibson) to know that appeals were made on behalf of the friends of the Right Honourable Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government on these grounds as well as on the grounds of protection. It had been urged in the manufacturing districts that the Right Honourable thanßaronet w o reproachedal d n and hihot with s wh p oe partcouldy party, were th e y i n office ; arid he (the Hon. Member) was Lowne:eduoldtfildeaopAamiretomyrebtehfroaree-tra tfo fr r de principles o much as the Administration of the present Premier. The supporters of Sir George Murray took that ground ; though every man of common sense knew that the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Ministry professed free-trade prin ciples, and that lie could do more for their advancement than could Lord John Russell if in power. If there existed a charge of deception or misleading of persons outside that House, that charge should rest against the representatives of the agricultural interest. They made the the tenant farmers believe that Parlia ment would maintain those protective laws. He could only say, that, for himself, he bad advised-Hon. Members not to pursue that ' course. lie had advised them not to keep telling the tenant farmers that the Right Hon. Baronet would support those laws. They did, however. pursue their own cour e; they persevered in telling the tenant farmers that those laws would be supported, and they were now reaping the benefit of that perseverance after. The Right lion. Baronet had taken his place in the Ministry on peculiar grounds. When called upon to propose law in respect to the law effecting the agriculturist, he was asked to state his vies ; and his reply was," call me in, and then I shall prescribe for you." They had called him in, and he had prescribed for them a draught more bitter than they seemed inclired to swallow.—( Laughter. ) They were told that the British farmer was unable to compete with the Polish, because he had 'certain expenses in the cultivation of the soil which were not borne by the foreign farmer—(Hear) —and that in a farm of three parts arable land and one of pasture, labour rated at 355. an acre, and local taxes at 25., making altogether a tax of 37e. an acre. They were also told that the average quantity of wheat was- four quarters to the acre,; now by a common process of calculation they would find that nine shillings a quarter on wheat was the item complained of as constituting the debility.—(Cries of " No, no," from the Ministerial side.) Yes' ' the other items were borne by the foreign farmers as well as by them, and they had re uudiated with indignation any intention of preserv ing high rents by naaintaing protection. Could it be denied that this was a fair statement ? Agricul tural labour in America was much more expensive than it was in England.—(Hear, hear.) It was very well known that the wages of agricultural labourers were at lesst double in America as compared with agricultural wages in England.— )Hear, hear.) It was urged by the protectionists that they lay under peculiar burdens, but the only local taxa tion which he knew of was Is. per quarter on corn, and surely that could not disable English agriculturists from com peting with those in foreign countries.—(Hear.) It appeared to him a perfect mystery how they were disabled from entering into such a corn petition. Why, the very fact of the freight of ds. or 103. per quarter on wheat coming from the United States, together with all other ex pense!, more than covered the amount paid by English agriculturists in local taxation. The English agriculturists were protected by the natural corce of things, and they could not rightfully complain of any injustice being done to them by the present ministerial mea sure. He contended, that even if they could show that they lay under any disabilities with regard to the price of labour, they did not pay near as much as was paid by the foreign a griculturist in importing his grain into this country, gud they were, therefore, entitled to no protection. - HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the chair at five minutei_Lefore Four o'clock. _ _ NEW MEMBER. Mr. FINCH took the oaths and his seat for the county of Rutland, in the room of Mr. Dawnay, who has ac cepted the Chiltern Hundreds. THE GOVERNMEN - 2. POLICY. Sir JOHN IIANMER presented four petitions from the inhabitants of Hull, in favour of the financial and commercial policy of the Government. The Ilon.Mem ber also presented a fifth petition, praying the Govern ment to take into consideration the duties on tea. RAILWAY BUSINESS.. The following reiln ay Bills were read a second time, and ordered to be committed, viz.:— York and North' Midland Railway (Whitby and Pick- eriog Extension). Blackburn, Chorley, and Liverpool Railway. Liverpool, Orinskirk, and Preston Railway. Blackburn and Preston Railway. Ashburton, Newton, and South Devon Railway. North Statiordshire (I-larecastle and Saudbaeh countr line). North Staffordshire Railway (Churnet Valley line). East Lincolnshire Railti3 ay. Epsom and Dorking Railway. Forth Kent Railway. North Kent Railway (City Extension). London and South Westt.r❑ Railway (Hampton Court Branch). London and South Western Railway (London Bridge Extension). London and South WeLtern Railway (Chertsey and Egli: . in Blanch.) - London and South Western Railway (Epsom Branch). Staines and ,ichmond Junction Railway. Grand Junction Railway (11u) ton and Warrington Branch). Manchester and Birmingham Railway. Mr. W. PATTEN wished to bring under the attention of the House the proceedings of Parliamentary agents with respect to the introduction of their Bills into the House. It appeared that those gentlemen were in the habit of giving the Bills one name before the Board of Trade, a second name when brought into the Private Bill Office, and a third title when introduced into the House. Tnis practice was attended with great inconvenience, and rendered it almost impossible for the Classification Committtee properly to classify the Bills referred to them. lie trusted that the house would take some steps to remedy their practice. Mr. GREENE moved—" That it be an instruction to the Comtnittce or, Petitions for Private Bills, and to all Committees upon Private Bills, not to bear parties on any petition hereafter referred to them, which shall not be prepared and signed in strict conformity with the rules and orders of this House." Mr. ENTWISLE thought that people ought to comply with the standing orders themselves before making any complaints. The House then divided, when there appeared--. For the original motion Against it - 63 Majoriry for the original motion —42 CORN-LAWS. Mr. T. M. GIBSON presented a petition from Man chester, in favour of the Government measure on the corn-laws. THE CONVICTS FROST, WILLIAMS, AND JONES. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented petitions pray ing the House to consider the condition of the convicts Frost, Williams, and Jones, with a view to entreat her Most Gracious Majesty to mitigate their sentence. BREACH OF PRIVILEGE. Air. COLLET' gave notice that it was' his intention, instead of moving for a Select Committee, to move for a Committee of Privilege, in reference to breaches of some privilege committed by Noble Lords, Members of that House, the names of four of whom he could then mention.—(A laugh.) Lord DUNCAN gave notice of his intention to post pone his motion from the 19th to the 26th of February, in reference to the window duties. THE WAR IN INDIA. Sir R. INGLIS wished to put a question in reference to the recent outbreak in India. He wished to know if the Government had received any positive intelligence as connected with that outbreak ; and if they had, that it might be communicated to the House. Lord JOCELYN, in reply, stated that no official in formation had been received by Government in reference to that transaction. No official despatch had been re ceived; but a private letter had been received from the Governor of Bombay, dated December 23, enclosing a private communication from the Government of India, which informed them that large bodies of the Sikh troops crossed the Sutlej, against whom the British troops advanced on the 18th of that month; but after a march of three hours they had to give up, in con sequence of the extreme darkness of the night The first entrenchment was taken on the 21st. Since this private letter no communication had been received by her Majesty's Government ; but when the dispatches of Sir Henry Hardinge were received, they would no doubt be highly satisfactory. • Mr. F. FRENCH wished to put a question to the Right lion. the Home Secretary, as to the removal o f the board of guardians at Tuatn, near Castlereagh, Ireland. He wished' o know why ilia) , were removed. Sir J. GRAHAM, in reply to the Hon. Member, had to say that the board of guardians had positively refused to open the workhouse or even to administer the poor laws, and the consequence was, that the poor law commissioners were forced to remove them. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORI) had to request from Sir Robert Peel an answer to the following question: 7 — whether it is the intention of her Majesty's Government to propose to Parliament any measure on the subject of the law of landlord and tenant in Ireland. Sir R PEEL said that he certainly did hope that her Majesty's Government would be enabled to introduce a measure on the subject referred to by the Hon. Member. Mr. COLQUdOUN begged leave to ask a question of the Hon. Member for Cork. He wished to know whether it was his intention to press the motion of which he had given notice, on to-morrow (Tuesday) evening ? Mr. O'CONNELL said he certainly would if the House would permit him. ADJOURNED DEB ATE.—CORN-LAW S. On the order of the day fur resuming the adjourned debate being read, Mr. ASTELL presented a petition from the parish of St. Albans, praying the House not to pass the meas ure proposed by Government with reference to free trade. Mr. 0. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from the county of Cork approving of the pre .ent measures of her Majesty's Government. The petitioners stated that they were engaged in manufactures, and that as they neither had, nor desired to have, any protection on their trade, they prayed the House to abolish all protection to agriculture. Mr. W. MILES presented several petitions from Sornersetshire against the present Government scheme. He also presented a petition from distillers in the southern parts of Scotland, in which the petitioners stated that they had embarked all their capital, in their present trade, and that if the present measure but they all i t n bev their et oreemppvlale7l,ou theld of her Majesty's Government were carried into effect, ine vitablyd not o nl y ruined, themselves, an Rouse not to persist in their present measure. Lord WORSLEY presented a petition from Notting ham against the proposal of the Government, and in favour of protection to native industry. The measure of the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Go vernment was in direct contradiction to those principles which bad brought him into office, and the petitioners prayed that before the measure was passed into law the country might be appealed to through the medium of • a general election; they felt confident that a minority would then be found which would continue protection to agriculture. Mr. THCRNELEY presented a petition from Finston, in Staffordshire, in favour of free trade -generally; and the petitioners prayed that the repeal of the corn-laws might be immediate. An HON. MEMBER presented petitions from sixty three parishes in Herefordihire, against the measures of her Mejesty's Government, and in favour of native industry. An HON. MEMBER presented a petition, signed by 920 inhabitants of the town of Wellington, praying for the removal of all restrictions on food.—(Hear.) Mr. ORD preented a petition from the shipowners of Newcastle, in favour of the Government measure. Mr. FERGUSSON presented a petition from Mon mouthshire and other places, praying that the measure of her Majesty's Government respecting a repeal of the corn-laws may not pass into a law. Mr. HUME presented a petition from several places in Scorland in favour of the measure now proposed by her Majesty's Government. TIMBER DUTIES. Mr. HUTT presented a petition from one of the largest ship owners in Hull, praying that the measures of her Majesty's Government may pass into a law, as it woul: have a salutary effect on the ship building of this country, which was in a very depressed state at present, ,n consequence of the duty on timber. Lord J. RUSSELL presented several petitions in favour of a total and immediate repeal of the corn-laws. Mr. CURTEIS presented a petition from Eastbourne, to the same effect. Mr. BRIGHT presented petitions from places in Northumberland, Cheshire, Worcestershire, Kent, Dor setshire' and Staffordshire, to the same effect. Lord PA LMERSTON presented two petitions from Scotland to the same effect. GISBORNE presented a petition from New castle-on-Tyne to the same effect. Rir R. PEEL had a petition to a similar effect from Tamworth.—(lleac, hear.) The petitioners con sidered that the measures proposed by her Majesty's Go vernment would give an impetus to agriculture land tend to define plenty throughout the land, and there fore they desired to see it passed. This petition was signed by the Mayor and several of the Town Council. The Right Hon. Baronet presented petitions from Dun fermlin, the Corporation of Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Pollock, and Boston, in Lincolnshire to the same effect. ~THE ADJOURNED DEBATE. On the 'order of the day for resuming the adjourned debt boiPg read; THE SUN, L D N, MONDAY RVE G, FEBR U A It. V' 16, 18.1. Sir IV. CLAY supported the motion. The Hon. Member opposite put him in mind of the attorney who indorsed his brief for his council with "no merit ;" abuse the plaintiff's attorney" They had dealt in every sort of abuse of the Right lion. Baron. t, but had not stated one fact in support of the retention of the corn- laws. They had overstated their case and dealt in abuse, and thereby damaged their own case. (LEFT SPEARING.) from the Legislature.—( Hear, hear.) He contended that the foreign coin trade was as good a branch of industry as the trade in agriculture which was carried on in this country, and that they were entitled to carry on their trade free and unnaolested.—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear•.") The Hon Member for Hun' ingdon talked of an an arbiter com ing amongst us to settle thi; question by some compromise.— (Hear, hear, from the protec ionists.) If such an arbiter did come amongst them, he maintained that bisdecision would be un doubtedly in favour of the manufacturers.—( Opposition cheer.) It was said that the repeal of the corn-laws would reduce the value of land, but he confessed he could not see how this could be, for ever since the corn-law question had been agitated land had fetched as good a price as it did before.—( Hear hear. ) Land had been taken at the same rent also as bofore, and in some cases at increased rentals, and if they had a better test of the value of any given produce, or another that was likely to be effected by a Legislative measure, it was in the willingness or unwillingness which capitalists evinced to invest their money in that commodity. Well, then, land fetched as good a price now, and tenants were equally as ready to give good rents as they were years ago. Now this could not be, because they had confidence in the protection party maintaining the corn laws, fur if they did they would be convinced of the mistake they were falling into, when they remembered that the most eminent statesmen, the Right Hod. Baronet on one hand, and the Noble Lord on the other, were arrayed against them.--( Hear, hear.) Al! par ties were just as ready as ever to invest capital in land, and he could mention an instance which had occurred in-the county of Suffolk within a recent period, and which had been cornmuni• cated to him by a friend of his, where sixty three land tenants who were paying exceedingly high rents, notwithstanding the rumours about the repeal of the corn-laws, had made agreements for renewing their leases for very long periods, and not one of these 63 tenants had .asked for a reduction of rent.--(Hear, hear.) Twenty of them stated that the farmers had discussed the question amongst themselves, and they had decided that they were not justified in calling for a reduction of rent.— (Loud cheers.) He was not prepared to mention the name of his friend, but if ary Honourable Member required it, he would be ready to communicate it privately to him. Let him ask what was the meaning of all those alarms about the repeal of the corn-laws ; were they (the protectionists) not jealous of the advance of trade, and was not that the cau.e of their resistance to the measure?--(Cheers, and cries of " No.") He should be sorry to see among the ancient aristocracy of England—the high families of this country—guilty of such unworthy feelings as to be jealous of manufacturing prosperity. But such, be feared, was not the cse.— (No, no, from the protectionists. Was it not a fact a fact that it was a test of the fitness of a manufacturer to a seat ir. the Upper House, that he should be the purchaser of an estate.—( Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Gontleman at the head of her Majesty's Government, on a former occasion, said that he was sure the repeal of the corn laws would not be, in any measure to the landed interest, and would not in the slightest degree tend to alter the value of land.—( Cheers.) That was his (Mr. Gibson's) opinion, and he did not see any reason why the aris tocracy of England should be jealouse as they were (No, no) —of the advance of free-trade principles Ile did not see any reason why they should entertain such feeling; for, after all, be very much questioned, whether many of them were not descended from the manufacturing chest.. of this ccuntry.—(Cheers.) Ile contended that it had been the sy.tern of the country and could be proved, that possession of land had led to the highest offices in the State. He contended that the landed gentry monopolised to a great extent the principal offices and emoluments in society.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) For it was a boast that they make Ministries and unmake them at their pleasure.—( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member for Shrews bury had said truly, that " the aristocracy of the country was a territorial aristocracy." All this he brought forward to show the great advantages enjoyed by the landed proprietary of the country. He believed that competition from so many causes being unlimited, that they need fear nothing from the aboli tion of the corn•laws. He did not bring these matters for ward as charges aguinst the aristocracy ; but as far as his read • ing and experience went, be was led to the conclusion that they had used their functions for their private and pecuniary interests, and for• the advancement of their own political power. — (Hear, hear.) There was one portion of the present question to which he wished to allude, namely, that, if the corn laws were to be totrlly abolished, .why that abolition should not take place at once ?—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Why should they defer to another day what justice was said to require, and what the necessities of the country peremptorily called for ?—Cries of " Hear, hear.") Lord -ALFRED CHUCHILL opposed the measure. • IRELAND. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. Fan. 14.—The Cork Reporter continues to take a gloomy view of the prospects of the poor according as the season advances : " We adverted in our last (says that journal) to the alarm ing prospects of scarcity. in the .iminediate neighbourhood of this city, then brought under our notice. Subsequent ac counts that have reached us tend to confirm our apprehen sions as to the immediate approach of a general scarcity of sound patotocs through' the country. We ma y, h owever , state on what we deem competent authority, that the pre-.. cautionary measures of the Governrnent are on such a scale as to afford an ample supply of food when the exigency may arise to require it. The quantity of Indian corn and corn meal at present 'to be delivered at the ordnance stores is 300,000 bushels; 'but, should a much greater supply be re quired, arrangements have been made by which it can be readily obtained: This will be at once manufactured at the Lee Mills and stored, and will be sent from this port in Go vernment steamers to where - it may be wanted. The terms upon which it will be disposed of we have not been able to ascertain, and our irapreston is that they have not yet been determined upon." • The miners of the Citar-of Cork and its surrounding vici nity. have issued a public 'announcement, stating that, in r of b e t i n h g e s common d n e x e , e e r s ; dear iu summer, they Therefore will not work for less than s c a o t n i s e e s q e u f en li c r e e, a of nd th t the the advanced prl3spect of their 2s. 6d. per day, or ids. p er week, after the 12th da y of April n ext ensuiug.. A very influential meeting was held at Youghal on Wed nesday last, for the purpose of devising measures to meet and remedy a state of affairs such as is described in the following resolution " That from minute and accurate returns lately taken in this town and in the country parts of this parish, by direc tions of the Poor. law Commissioners, the following appear to be the deplorable condition and prospects of the people, namely :—That in the country parts the farmers have no more than a sufficient supply . of potatoes for themselves, that some of the labourers have almost totally lost their potatoes, and that most of them have a - supply only for the consump tion of two months; and that in the town the state of affairs is still worse, there being an awful amount of destitution, much sickness, and no adequate employment for either la bourers or tradespeople, at a time when it is apprehended that potatoes will soon run up to startation prices." The Duke of Devonshire has sent a subscription of 1001. to the fund for the relief of distress in Dungarvon. MURDER IN THE COUNTY OF WATERFORD. "Great sensation," says the Cork Examiner, " has been created in the neighbourhood of Clashmore, in consequence of the disco\ -..ry of a murder, committed on a poor woman living within a short distance of this place. The body was found on Monday . last in a drain, having the breast bone broken, and showing other serious, contusions in various places. It is understood that she has been separated from her husband for some time, who has been, in consequence of certain suspicious circumstances, committed to gaol, waiting the result of the coroner's inquest." • EXECUTION OF BRYAN SEERY. The following account of the execution of this wretched man is furnished by the reporter of the Freeman's Journal. Seery, it will be seen, persisted, when on the verge of eter nity, in the most solemn terms, to assert his total innocence of the crime for which he was about to pay the forfeit of his life MumsGAR, FRIDAY EVENING.—The die is cast—' the law has taken its course' and Bryan Seery— the ill-fated, self-declared, and universally believed innocent Bryan Seery —is now no more. The following declaration was made, vo luntarily made, by the unhappy man on Thursday evening, in the presence of the Rev. Mr. Savage, the deputy-go vernor of the gaol, Mr. Gunning (the prisoner's agent), and two magistrates of the county, who signed the document : " County of Westmeath to wit—l, Bryan Seery, now a primer in the gaol of Mullingar, and to be on this day exe cuted, do most solemnly and sincerely declare, in the pre sence of that God before whom I must shortly appear for judgment, that I never fired at Sir Francis Hopkins—that I never committed any act tending to injure him in person or property—and that I never was cognisant of, or a party to, any conspiracy to plot or shoot, or injure the said Sir Francis Hopkins ; and that I am not guilty, directly or indirectly, of the crime for which I am to be hanged. " BRYAN SEERY.' " This was the declaration presented by the Rev. Mr. Sa vage to the Sheriff to witness ; and I presume it is the same document signed, in the presence of the parties alluded to aboVe, on the previous evening. " The prisoner, after having spent the whole of Thursda:, evening with the Rev. Mr. Savage in religious devotions, re tired to bed about eleven o'clock, and slept soundly until six in the morning, when he arose, and after attending mass in the chapel be received the holy communion from the hands of the Rev. Mr. Savage, whose attention to the poor convict was unceasing. At six o'clock in the morning the trumpets of the military were heard all over the town, the men being under orders for duty at eleven o'clock. The military present consisted of the following:—Two troops of the 11th Light Dragoons, 30 rank and file eaele, commanded by Major Jones; two troops of the Bth hussars, of 40 rank and tile each, commanded by Colonel M'Caul and Lord Killeen; the 6th Regiment of Foot (stationed in the town), two corn panics of, the 32d, under the command of Captain Lowe; one company of the 75th, commanded by Captain Bathurst; and 75 constabulary, .under the command of Messrs. Brooky and Shiels. I have never beheld a more awfully solemn scene. Almost every shop in the town was closed, yet hardly a soul except the soldiery attended at the execu tion! It was afine unclouded morning; as the day advanced the clear bright sky proclaimed the return of spring. The streets, as I have already said, were quite deserted, and the people testified, by their refraining from either coming into town, or collecting in crowds in its suburbs, their abhor rence- of the tragedy.. One fact illustrative of this I shall relate :—A mercantile gentleman, who came from Dublin to purchase butter, could not get any person to do business with him, and although the day was that on which the butter market is held, according to the patent, the market being the largest in Leinster, there was not a single firkin brought into town. "At eleven o'clock the infantry and police were placed in order in front of the gaol. The unfortunate convict was ac companied in his devotions throughout the morning by the Rev. Mr. Savage, who, since his sentence, has hem most assiduous and unceasing in his attendance. When the hour of twelve o'clock had arrived, the Rev. Mr. Savage requested the sheriff to witness the declaration, of which I have given a copy above ; but that functionary refused. The Rev. Gentle man then informed the prisoner that the hour was come for him ; and the prisoner, taking a crucifix in his hand, said, I follow Christ, and declare lam an innocent man. "The Rev. Mr. Masterman, wearing his surplice, then walked with the prisoner to the scaffold, repeating the Litany of Jesus aloud. When the prisoner appeared on the drop he said, ' raising the crucifix, and in a calm, loud, and steady tone, and with an emphasis of awful and terrible solemnity—' I declare before my Gad that I had neither act, hand, part, or know ledge in the crime for which I am going to die here 1' " This declaration, so pronounced, caused a shudder amongst the soldiery, and the prayer, The Lord have mercy on him,' burst from every lip. A few moments more and the unhappy man was launched into eternity. " The body, after the usual time of suspension, was cut down and placed in the coffin, and then his friends conveyed it to the late residence of the deceased, in the town of Mullin gar, amid the sobbing and burning tears of the townspeople. Thus ended the fearful tragedy. " The body will be interred on Sunday in Castletown, and although not a soul was present at the execution, some hun dreds of thousands will, I am assured, accompany poor Seery's remains to the grave. There was only one magis trate of the county (Mr. Uniacke) present. I cannot write more, for, in common with the whole inhabitants of the town, I am so shocked at what I have witnessed, that I am quite nerveless. God grant that I may never again have to describe such a scene. Gloomy silence now reigns, and all s tranquil. " The military will not, I understand, leave town for a day or two. " Seery was kept for an hour after the time appointed for his execution. Sir Guy Campbell was understood to have said that the delay arose from the expectation of a re prieve by the ten o'clock coach." THE ATTEMPTED MURDER NEAR ANDOVER. ANDOVER, Fins. 14.—Since our last report of Wednesday's date, Brealey, the man shot this day week by Shurmur, has been rather better, and it is hoped now he will eventually recover. On Thursday last he was ordered by the doctors 50 drops of laudanum at three different periods during the night, each time he awoke. On Friday he was at times sensible and rational. This day (Saturday) Shurmur was brought from Win chester Gaol, arriving at the Andover station by 10 o'clock. At 12 o'clock precisely Mr. Van Santen, the superintendent of the Andover district, and Mr. J. Blair, of the Winchester district, brought him before the bench of magistrates—Col. Ironmonger, the Rev. C. Randolph, and the Rev. C. Dodson. The witnesses were in attendance. Mr. W. Smith, surgeon, was the first witness examined. After being sworn, he deposed that he had seen Brealey that morning. He was still at the cottage, Redrise ; and at pre sent he believed he was progressing favourably, but as yet could not pronounce him out of danger. Probably, by next Saturday, he might be enabled to do so, if he continued to improve as be had done the last two days ; yet even then he would not be sufficiently recovered to be brought up to give evidence. By Colonel Ironmonger—Do you think he may be well enough to be examined here by next Wednesday week ? Mr. Smith—Perhaps he may, if he goes on as well as he has done for the last three days, but I should not like to say positively he would. After some further consultation, Friday, the 27th February, was fixed for Shurmur's further and final examination, till which day he is remanded to Winchester Gaol, on that day to be again brought up to Andover, the examination to com mence at 10 o'clock in the morning, by which hour all wit , nesses are summoned, to attend. Shurmur is much altered in his appearance since Monday last, and expresses great contrit ion, persisting he did not mean 1 to shoot Brealey. • • .lIM LATEST FROM AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE HIBERNIA. The royal'mail steamship Hibernia, arrived at Liver pool at 4 P.N. on Saturday. She left Boston on the Ist inst., and Halifax on the 3d. By this packet we have received New York papers to the 31st ult. The war fever, we are happy to stiy, appears to be subsiding. -- OREGON. The New York Herald gives the following account of the state of parties in Congress : We have received from our special correspondent, whom we sent to Washington for the purpose, and also through several other private sources, and letters from persons well acquainted with the state of }yolks in Congress, the pro bable result of the present condition of things in the capitol, as regards the foreign policy of this country, and also the prospect relative to the succession to the presidency in 1848. During the present session, both Humes of Congress have been prineipally occupied in skirmishing or pre liminary debates on our foreign policy, on the Oregon con troversy, or on the affairs of Mexico. These debates have terminated in no distinct vote, but merely in approaching what may be the probable sentiments of Congress on the issues involved, particularly in respect to the Oregon ques tion. Several preliminary votes have been taken, expressive of these sentiments, such as that on General Cass's 'notion, on the subject of inquiring into the military and naval re sources of the country, which seemed to be rather warlike in the result, until that was effaced by the votes on the motions of Senator Allen, which assumed a different com plexion. The debates on these motions were very warm, and very warlike, and very curious ; but the speeches were princi pally addressed to what we call " Buncombe,'' or in other words, were merely intended to operate on the floating portion of the population, and to make capital for the elections. Yet beneath this turbulent ocean of words there has been a great deal of distinct a n d po s itive arrangements made among the parties at Washington, which will have a most important hearing on our foreign and domestic policy, as well as other measures, auit which are all mixed up with the succession to the Presidency. _ . ing, which may serve as an exp'anation of he views o. the Spanish ships:— " There has arrived at St. Domingo a Spanish fleet, destined to take under its protection the Dominican Republic. A letter from St. Domingo, published in the Manifeste, says that the Spanish Protectorate has been desired by the President , o i n f i o t n h , e that simple S p in rightwill o n f o t Santana, and the Bishop Portes ; and the same paper ex ptlrieesseexeeracniseolronshetor s l u im ze i r t ai i n ts ete exe o r v t e i ancient colony, to which is reserved all the rights of proprietor ship, by the treaty of 1815. This will explain the motive of the extraordinary congregation of Spanish ships, of which in formation has recently been had, in the harbour of Havannah." The other papers state, that it was expected a conflict would take place between the Spanish and the Haytian parties during the month of February, and that there. was every expectation that the Dominicians, who were commanded by Spanish offi cers, would prove victor ious. CANADA. •The Montreal papers are to the 27th of January. Intelli gence had been received in Canada of the appointment of Earl Cathcart as Governor-General. There was a rumour that the militia was to be immediately embodied. MEXICO. The latest intelligence received at New York was, front Vera Cruz to the 3d, of Tampico to the sth January. Paredes had completely succeeded in his revolution, had entered Mexico, and was forming his Ministry. The following account of the revolution from the pen of an (neer in the United States Navy, who was an eyewitness of what he describes , appears in the Pensacola Gazette:— As several very important changes have recently taken place in Mexico, having more or less bearing upon our rela tions with that country, I propose to give you a brief account of them, which cannot fag to interest your readers, as well as the public generally. We took down to Vera Cruz, Mr. William S. Parrot, our Mexican Secretary of Legation, who bore dispatches for the Minister. Upon oar arrival at Sacri ficios, we found that Mr. Slidell (our Minister) had preceded us some ten days. lie had been received with every demon stration of respect by the authorities at Vera Cruz, and lied proceeded on his way to the capital. Lieut. Kenneday, of the St. Mary's, accompanied him with a view of bringing back his dispatches for the Government. After Mr. Slidell had been some days in the capital, he , was formally notified by the Mexican Government, that it could not receive him in the capacity in which he eaten, which was that of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni potentiary—the Government not considering itself bound by the promise it had made us of receiving a special Minister, charged with the negotiation of the Texian difficulty, to receive the usual Minister resident sent from one friendly power to an other, as the reception of the latter would imply a state of friendly and pacific intercourse which does not exist. The Go vernment, however, did not require that Mr. Slidell should withdraw from the country—on the contrary, it gave him per mission to retire to Jalapa, a pleasant little town some sixty miles from Vera Cruz—there to await the further instructions of his Government. Such was the state of things when the St. Mary's sailed, and the above was, no doubt, the substance of Mr. Slidell's dispatch to the Govern ment by that vessel. In the mean time the country was on the eve of a revolution, which broke out the next day after the St. Mary's left. It will be recollected, that General Paredes commanded a division of the army, called the " Army of reserve," and stationed in the Department of San Luis Po tosi—the Department adj doing Tamaulipas, in which latter Department Tampico is situated ; which army was destined to second any movement that might be made by Gen. Arista, who commanded the Northern trsntier. If we may judge by the tone of the correspondence which had passed between Gen. Paredes and the Minister of War, and which has been published in all the Vera Cruz papers, his troops as well as those of Arista were exceedingly anxious to com mence the war upon Texa s ; to enable him to do which, he importuned the Government for the necessary sup plies, which it denied him, under one pretext or other, although it had, as Paredes alleges, ample funds for the purpose in the five million loan authorised by Congress. The army, grown tired of the state of inactivity to which the Government had reduced it, naturally became disaffected. The opposition press fanned the mark of disaffection into a flame. The most vehement and bitter denunciations were every day launched against the Ad ministration, charging it with every species of corruption — fraud, peculation, and even treason—in entertaining the design of re-opening negotiations with the United States for the sale of Texas, New Mexico, and California ; and after the arrival of Mr. Slidell, it alleged that this gentleman came among them empowered to offer a corrupt bribe of five millious of dollars, the price of their dishonour and treason. These attacks followed each other in quick succession; and were written with warmth and ability. The following extracts from the Veraciruzano Libre will give yen a just idea of the tone of the opposition press, generally, which, as they say, is the tone of the whole Mexican people : "No The sale of Texas shall not be consummated, neither under the pretext of settling boundaries shall the perfidious Yankees extend their rapacity to other departments, not less rich and precious. Let them keep their infamous bribe of five or six millions of dollars, as the valiant Mexican army does not deal in such opprobrious transactions with the enemies of its country, and is resolved to defend to the life of the last veteran the integrity of the territory and the national honour." The disaffection which bad been thus gathering head, broke out into open rebellion and revolution as soon as the arrival of Mr. Slidell was made known at the head quarters of General Paredes, who forthwith issued hispronuneramento, or manifesto against the Government. The pronunciamento was re-echoed by the fortifications and garrisoned towns as soon as received— the train having been well laid, and the match no sooner ap plied than the explosion took place almost simultaneously all over the country. The city of Mexico, even the very seat of the Government, throwing . wide its gates as soon as Paredes sounded his first bugle in its spacious valley—notwithstanding Herrera had taken all the precautions in his power for the de , fence of this last stronghold of his party. Indeed, he used his authority so arbitrarily as to give just cause of offence to the citizens, seizing upon the public money without warrant of law, suspending the liberty of the press, levying forced contribu tions, and maltreating and arresting many of the principal in dividuals. Among others, the Archbishop was forced to take refuge in Tacubaya, and Almonte secreted himself in the city. The news of the revolution reached Vera Cruz on the morn ing of the 23d of December, and in a few hours thereafter we were astounded by the reports of the heavy guns of the Castle, as they gave a hearty response to the grito of their companions of Potosi. The fleets followed the example of the Castle ; and a salute from the steamer Montezuma, with the English flag at her fore, and the Spanish at her mizen, announced its determi nation also to adhere to the pronunciamento. In the city of Vera Cruz occurred the only resistance we have heard of This city is garrisoned by two thousand troops. One hundred of this number, ,with a colonel at their head, stood fast by the government, took up their arms and marched out of their barracks, firing a volley as they passed upon those who remained, and killing a captain and two zoldiers, They then formed in a public square to consider what course they should pursue • but finding themselves alone in their strug gle against the popular current, thet continued their march, and strange to say, were permitted to do so, unmolested, into the open ceuntry. Paredes is now master of the capital and of the country. The administrationot' Gen. Herrera, who succeeded Santa Anna, having continued just one year. To show you how much the arrival of Mr. Slidell had to do with bringing things to a crisis, I extract the following paragraph from the manifest of the gar rison at Tampico, announcing their adhesion to the movement of Paredes : The officers here assembled are convinced that *e adminis tration does not intend to prosecute the war at • 2s, t Texas, thus setting at defiance the will of the nation, an. -'at, with the greatest assurance in the face of the whole periisle, it is actually treating with the Government of the United States for the sale of Texas, and for aught we know the Californias also, and that therefore it behoves the army and the people to dise pose an administration which has so little regard for the national honour, &c. A rumour was current in our streets to day that Mr. Slidell had been murdered in Mexico by the troops of General Pa redes. It was said at first to have been transmitted by the telegraph from Baltimore. We can find no foundation for the rumour. In fact, it was stated three days ago, but not thrown into general circulation till • this morning.—Washing ton Union, Thursday. The American naval forces in the Gulf had been increased by the junction of the frigates Cumberland and Potemac ; and the army on the Rio Grande was kept in good fighting condition. It was considered probably that the President would recommend decisive measuresTEXAS to be adopted towards Mexico. (From the New Orleans Picayune,'Jan. 18. ) LATEST FROM TEXAS. —By the arrival since our last of the steamship New York, Captain Phillips, we have Galveston dates to the 11th, and Corpus Christi to the 7th. It would appear that General Darnell has been elected Lieu tenant-Governor of the new state by a small majority. The majority of General Henderson for Governor is very heavy. The rews from the frontiers is of little interest. Emigration continued, the roads being filled with waggons, fl ashington Union, Thursday. An extensive fire had occ urred at Philadelphia Jan. Ir, which which bad destroyed se veral stores, and propertyto t ttle work amount of of 125,000 dollars. It was supposed to have been an incendiary. M ONE, -Y MARKET, Jerein stocks to-day.. 31, 1 P.M. The sales Th ere was very little doin g h a nd at an advance on y esterda y 's p rices of r incipally for cas one P and two per cent. Long Island went up 2 per cent. ; Canton, 1 ; Norwich and Wor cester, 2 ; Harlem, li; Morris Canol, ; Reading Railroad, 11:4; Farmers Loan ) *-4- • The Closing quotations for sterling exchange were 8 to q per cent. premium. The demand for bills this morning was more [railed than anticipated. COMMERCIAL. We mean now to give a programme of the state of things, as indicated by facts that have come to the knowledge of our cor respondents; and communicated to us. The parties in Congress may be divided into three sections, the Whigs forming a very important body ; the Democrats the other most important body of men, having also the reins of government in their hands; and, in addition to these two par ties, there is a distinct party, which may be called the " Independents," being those - members who are principally attached to the fortunes of John C. Calhoun. During the last two months, the Whigs, after a great many consultations, have very generally agreed a m on g their leaders t 3 bring foward for the next Presidency Winfield Scott, Major-General of the United States Army. There has been an effort made among them, to make Judge M•Lean the candidate of that party ; but the effort died, and was annulled by the supposed greater popularity and avatlabi lity of General Scott. On the other hand, the democrats, or those attached to the fortunes of the Administration, are divided into a number of separate 'Presidential cliques, comprehended under the names of Wright, Denton, Cass, Walker, Buchanan, Dallas, and some others. Mr. Polk, the present chief magis trate, from his official position, if necessity should require it, will be the candidate of his party, although he must of coarse deny at present that lie has any wish for the office again. Lastly, the independents, who may be called the "free trade" party, the Girondists of the present day, the juste milieu, look on John C. Calhoun as their leader, and mean to support him for the next Presidency at all hazards, without respect to conven tions or nominations from any quarter. The determination of the Independents over the country is a great and important fact, possessing a great control on the next Presidency, and perhaps decisive of the particular result. The strength of these three parties in Ccngress varies very much. In the Senate, the Independents, or friends of Mr Calhoun, can give a majority to either the Democrats or Whigs as they list. They number some six or eight votes. In the House these balance-of.power men have not yet suffi ciently revealed their strength to enable any one to determine what influence they possess. It is probable, however, that the Democrats, or exclusive supporters of the Administration, have a small majority in the House. The influence of these private and secret arrangements among the leading politicians at Washington will be very great on the issues of our foreign and domestic policy, com prehending the Oregon controversy, the Sub-Treasury, the Tariff, and perhaps other measures. We are perfectly sa tisfied, from what we have seen, and what we know, first, that no absolute " notice" relative to the Oregon question will pass the Senate, and therefore it cannot get the sanc tion of both houses. The passing of such a notice cannot be accomplished at the present session, because the Independents, or friends of Mr. Calhoun—being friendly to negociation—will be a sufficient check to the war party in the Senate, even if the war party in the House have a large majority. Again, it is highly probable, judging from the same data, that—Secondly, a modification of the tariff of 1842 will take place by a union of the Democrats and Inde pendents in the two houses; and also —Thirdly and lastly, that the same majority will be able to pass the Sub- Treasury Bill proposed by the Presidtnt in his late message. These are the most accurate conjectures that we can now form of the present state of parties and their results in Congress. The most recent intelligence of the probable return of Mr. Calhoun to the State Department will not vary much these results, but rather give strength to the presumption that the Oregon question will be settled by negotiation, and the Tariff modified , and t he Sub-Treasur y Bill passed the results; thus far so unexpected at the be ginning of the session of Congress, have, in a measure, been brought about by the independent position and moral power ex hibited by Mr. Calhoun and his friends, in resisting and op posing all those who supported ultra measures relative to our relations with Great Britain. The probable prospect, therefore, of the present state of things in Washington is highly favourable to a peaceable ter mination of our difficulties with England—of the success of liberal principles in commerce and currency, and the probable triumph of the measures brought forward by Mr. Polk. How the question of the next Presidency may be, will be a matter of speculation hereafter. The New York Journal of Commerce, in commenting on the probability of England renewing the offer made to her for the settlement of the Oregon question by Mr. Gallattin, under the Presidency of Mr. Adams, observes, that, " it breathes peace, conciliation, concession, in every line. Let but the same spirit prevail in our own councils, and all will be well. It is easy to meet when the approach is mutual. We do not ourselves per ceive any great objection to the, free navigation of the Colum bia, in time of peace. In some respects it would be an ad vantage to our people. Wherever an Englishman goes, he carries money ; and wherever he carries money, he leaves a portion of it. As both shores of the river up to lat. 49 would he ours, and inhabited by our own people, the pre sence of British vessels and merchants would be a constant source of profit. Mr. Gallatin's proposition, as presented in his recent numbers, is very similar to the above—only he thinks we must have the free navigation of the St. Lawrence by way of offset. This, we presume, is out of the question ; but it is plain, from the near approximation of the two propositions, and from other indications which meet us daily, that the current is gradually working clear, and that the prospect of a peaceful and satisfactory adjustment of the dispute as becoming brighter. The people will ratify any concessions which the Government may deem it proper to make." The following is the latest from Washington : Correspondence of the Journal of Commerce. WASHINGTON, JAN. 29.—The city is rife with rumours of Cabinet changes; but I do not, as yet, see any ground for them. There are also rumours of intelligence from Mexico, of a kostile kind, said to have been received from the South, by the Government, last night. There was no mail to-day from beyond Richmond, but news is anxiously expected from that quarter. Mr. Webster's resolution calling for the correspondence which may have taken place between the Government of Great. Britain and that of the United States, on the subject of Oregon, since the date of the Preside nt ' s late messa g e, was adopted. The Navy Bill was taken up, and Mr. Speight of Missis sippi spoke agaist it, and, in course of his remarks, declared his opposition to the notice, and his opinion that our title to Ore gon was neither clear nor unquestionable. The Senate adjourned over to Monday. The House was engaged to-day upon the Oregon debate as usual • but, as a proof that it will not be Ton g continued, it may be remarked that the interest in it has entirely subsided, and that the hall has been thinly attended during this week, and is less orderly than heretofore. But the House is unprepared to tako the question ; perhaps because the members have not made up their mind which way to vote. They must take the question before the 10th Fe bruary, for that is the day assigned for taking up the subject in the Senate. The House, however, refused, to-day, to adopt a resolution for terminating the debate on the 7th February, by a vote of 85 to 53. Mr. Holmes, of S. C., made a speech of one hour against the notice, and presented the subject in a vivid and original light. He denied the allegation that our title to Oregon was clear and unquestionable ; or that the United States had any title to Oregon from discovery, exploration, or contiguity, that Great Britain did not also possess, to an equal extent. Our claim under the treaty with Spain, of 1819, did not confer upon us the exclusive title s to the soil of Oregon, becaduse always not possessed' by pain. Great . Brita o i f n h Oreg a on for t claimed a right to the unsettled portion: brought nearly to. a war, it was settled by the treaty of Nootka to purposesthe e fishing , e a l f usive h pretensions antiag, oafamSmp commerce , When eanntdh never s t ion assentedw as Sound, which acknowledged the rights of England in the ter ritory. The Secretary of State had endeavoured to get over this by an assumption that was wholly untrue., viz. that the treaty of 1790 was abrogated by the subsequent war between Great Britain and Spain. It was one of those treaties that conld never be annulled by war, because it conceded mutual rights, instead of merely conferring a privilege. He illustrated the difference by reference to the treaty by which we purchased Louisiana. A war with France would not annul it., for the treaty conferred on us a right. But, in regard to the treaty with Great Britain, by whi c h we were allowed to fish on the banks of Newfoundland, war would annul it, because it was a privilege. Mr. 11. dwelt with great force on the destructive conse quences of a war, especially in our present unprepared state. Even supposing that England would wait for the expiration of the year's notice, he did not believe we would be able to send a vessel out of our ports, either on the Atlantic or the lakes, for they would be immediately taken; and he asserted that no military man in the country would hazard his reputation by saying that we could take Oregon; and he denied also that we could take Canada. The debate was continued by Mr. Ewing of Indiana and Mr. Baker of Illinois, in favour of the notice. The Washington Union, the organ of the Government, in speaking of the report that an offer was likely to be made by Great Britain to settle the Oregon question, on the basis pro posed during the Presidency of Mr. Adams, says, That such a proposal as that on the part of the Briti li Government, made in the manner, and carried out in the spirit which we have in dicated, would make every friend of just and honourable peace, both in this country and in England, and throughout the world, breathe freer and deeper,' with a good hope for civili sation, for free iustitutioes, and for niaokind. It would not then be unreasonable to hope that on such a proposal, so made and so carried out to the more ample recognition of our just claims, further negotiation might yet build a peaceful monu• ment to the enlightened moderation and justice of two great nations. We say this, of course, in view of the fact that the navigation of the Columbia, by Great Britain, through five hundred miles of American territory, could, in the present state of the question, be hardly urged with seriousness by the Britieh Government." Mr. Ilannegan, however, in a debate_ in the Senate on the 28th January, said that. he knew the article had not been sub mitted to the President prior to insertion, and that it did not meet his views, and the Union , in an article on the Caine sub ject, on the following day, says, in regard to the free navigation of the Columbia :—" We spoke of the navigation of the Co lumbia as a proposition which c mid not be seriously urged in the present state of this question, by the British G e vernmept. Wh e ther urged or not, such a proposi tion we deem whool!y.T a dmissable by our Government , as in fact it is declared t be by the President, in his messy ee," 'HAYTI. Latest information from Cuba men (From the New York Journal of hships of of Sparas war. Havannah of an unusual numberua C" tio n n ier s ce the Fe ar b. r 3 iv . a )l at a P rince We translate the follow- Yr cont the Journal of Fort New yoRK, JAN. 31.—FaalouTs.—To Liverpool, are rather quicker, though the packets recently have filled up with much difficulty. To London, they are 4 not active, and we slightly reduce our quotations. To Havre, there continues to be a very small amount offering. To Antwerp, 15,000 bushels of corn have been engaged, at 20 cents per bushel. EXCHANCE.—There has not, as yet, been much done in foreign, for transmission by the Boston steamer to-morrow. We quote bills on London 8 1 / t to OA per cent. premium-- though sales have in some instances been made below the lowest, and above the highest of these rates; Paris, sf. 28 3 / 4 c. to sf. 27%c. ; Amsterdam, 39 1 / 8 to 3104 ; Antwerp, 32 1 4 to 39% nominal, there having been nothing done ; llamburgh, 354; and Bremen, 78t, tont% cents. OCEAN STEAM N A VIGATION. —We seem suddenly to have waked up to the importance of increasing our steam marine. In a day or two, the P o stmaster-Genet:al will conclude one or more contracts, for carrying the mails to Europe in steam.. vessels ; on the 27th instant a Bill for the incorporation of Company, to be called the Ocean Steam Navigation Company was introduced into the House of Assembly of this State. It was stated that as soon as the Company could procure an Act of Incorporation, they would proceed immediately to build four steamers of the largest class, capable of making the passage between New York and Havre in nine or ten days. It thus appears evident that we are likely soon to have two or three lines of ocean steamers for the merchant marine, exclu sive of those that Congress may have built. It is right and proper that all this should be done. There will probably be ten or a dozen steam-ships in the Atlantic trade before this year runs its course. Four, and perhaps five, will run to Boston, and four or five to New York. In ten seals there will be as many ocean steamers as packet ships; and it is not unlikely that our packets will, in that time, turned into propellers. ..-----=---_ ACTS OF PARLIAMENT. —A return, procured by Mr. Hume, was issued on Saturday, showing the number of Acts of Parliament supplied to the public under the promulgation order, and to public departments in Great Britain, in each year from 1835 to 1844, both' inclusive. The Acts supplied in 1844,_ under the proinulgation order, numbered 505,849, and to public dcipartmerits. 45.313. THE M AILS.-- SOUTHAMPTON, FEB. 15.—The Gib ratter steam-packet Royal Tar, Captain Evans, arrived in the docks at twelve o'clock this day and landed the mails of the following dates :—Gibraltar, the 6th inst. ; Cadiz, 7th ; Lisbon, 9th ; Operto, 10th ; Yip, 11th ; and Corunna, 12th ; which were forwarded to Landon by the five o'clock train. The Tar experienced very bad weather upon her outward voyage, which has been the cause of her not leaving Gib raltar at an earlier date ; she has thirty-nine passengers, a cargo of fruit, - some specie, four oxen, and two cases of leeches. The Queen steamer, with the next Peninsular mails, is expected on Wednesday. The next outward Gibraltar packet will leave here on Tuesday, on which day the Tagus, with the East Indian mails, may be.expected. • LElss.—There has been rather more business done at the Cloth-halls this week in cloths of low qualities, and low priced summer Tweeds for the 'German market, but in fine and middle qualities there has been very little business done. Prices are exceedingly steady, and the stocks in the m anufacturers' hands are below the average at this sensor_ There has also been more doing in the warehouses this week than for some time; many of the buyers are making their appearance in the market, and are purchasing cautiously for .the spring default. BARTIADuEB RAILWAY.—The Harbadocs papers, re ceived by the packet, are full of the ra ilway. A pr public meeting, which was most numerously attended, and over by the Honourable the Attorney-General, had been held; a previsional committee, consisting of eighty-four Although no allotment . i a s n la d n a d mpraonia.rgieilt,ogrsceiargilitltepaeti,inligeti,idie.rcliants, had been formed. a dgNoa arrivedlda b r i repair the ha i A r d i subscribed for, and the GSVeffilliE.nt. were expected to take had yet been made, .1,61 it .1,000 fli a rea h up 1,0001. to aid the project, ss they had a surplus revenue, and the introduction of a railway would save mueli of the .1 1 w e s s e publiciidriot forthwitha i d :e ,. n t i i t vi ,oi c ecrocemqoitninilrpeenaden commence fi oBp i e i r i aa operation engineer n io t i a l, in . very of coal had been made in the hilly districts of -c - which bad been favourably reiforted on by si the island, Robert Sthom burgk, and analyzed by Mr. Here path, of r Bristol. SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY P H be repeated on Friday next. • andel's Samson is to Birch, and Miss Hawes Braham, Phillips, Leer, Miss are the principal vocal performers. Lord John Russell received Viscount Melbourne Via count Morpeth, Mr. R t berfurd, and a select circle to dipper 1 on Saturday, at his residence in Chotapi-place, COMMONS SUMMARY. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. Mr. FINCH took the oaths and his seat for Rutland shire in the room of the Hon. Mr. DAWNAY. Several Railway Bills were read a second time, and ordered to be committed. A discussion took place upon the motion of Mr. GREENE, " That it be an instruction to the Committee on Petitions for Private Bills not to hear parties on any petition hereafter to be referred to them, which should not be prepared and signed in strict conformity with the rules and orders of the House." Mr. ENTWISLE moved, as an amendment to the motion, to leave out the word " hereafter;" which, upon a division, was lost by a majority of 42. The original motion was agreed to. Mr. T. DuscomnE gave notice of his intention, to morrow week, to bring forward the petition on behalf of Frost, Williams, and Jones. Lord DUNCAN postponed his motion for the repeal of the window duties to the 26th of February. In answer to a question from Sir R. Limas, Lord JOCELYN said that the Government had received no information with respect to the war in India, further than that which had appeared in the public papers. He bad no doubt that in a few days the Government would be in possession of information which would show that the aggressions that had taken place had been properly and fully resented. Sir R. PEEL, in answer to a question from Mr. S CRAWFORD, said he was in hopes the Government would be enabled, during the present session, to intro duce a Bill relative to the law of lanllord and tenant in Ireland. Mr. O'CONNELL, in answer to a question, said it was his intention, if he possibly could tomorrow, to bring forward the motion of which he had given notice, rela tive to the disease and famine existing in Ireland. Several petitions were presented for and against pro tection to agriculture and native industry. Lord WonsLEY presented petitions from Lincoln shire, praying that the House would not place any confidence in her MAJESTY'S Ministers. Lord J. RUSSELL presented petitions in favour of the total repeal of the cora-laws. Sir R. PEEL presented a petition from Tamworth, signed by the Mayor, Corporation, Town Council, and a great portion of the inhabitants, in favour of the Go vernment measure for the removal of restrictive duties. The Right Honourable Baronet presented several other petitions to the same effect. The Earl of MARCH resumed the debate on the Customs and Corn Importation Measure. He considered that the debate on this mea sure had been entirely on one side. He be lieved that the taking. away of protection to native in dustry in England would ultimately tend to the ruin of the country. He maintained that protection was necessary both to agriculture and manufactures. The feelings of the country were opposed to the mea sures of the Government, and as a proof of that he thought he might refer to what was taking place at the elections for some of the counties. He thought the interests of the manufacturer and the agriculturist were united, and that one could not be injured or bene fited without injuring or benefiting the other. le believed this measure would injure all classes, and ,herefore he gave it his determined opposition. Mr. M. GIBsoN agreed with the Noble Lord that if protection was not given to the growth of corn, none should be given to manufactures. Those with whom he was acting had always, advocated the abolition of protection of every kind. The question now was, whether the corn-laws should be abolished or not. The parties who advocated protection in that House had led the tenant-farmers to believe that protection would be peimanently adhered to. For those misstatements they were now reaping the fruits of the agitation of this question. The Protectionists had called on the Right Honourable Baronet, instead of the Noble Lord, to prescribe for them, and they were now suffering under the severe dose he had administered to them. The Right Honourable Baronet, in leaving a . protective duty of Is. on foreign wheat, gave to the agriculturists more than an equivalent for the bur dens which they bore. The price of bread of We had increased, and could it therefore be said that the repeal of the corn-laws was likely to reduce its value. In Suffolk not less than sixty-three farmer; had renewed their leases, and not ask for any decrease of rent. What, then, could be thought of those who wished to retain protection, who thought the aristocracy of the country were determined to support their own interests without any consideration to those of the community. The landed gentry monopolised all the places in society, and it was only a short time since that one of their body said they could make and unmake Ministers. He did not see, if the corn-laws were to be repealed why that repeal should not take place now, and not be delayed for three years ? He believed the agri cultural interest would be more benefitted by the im mediate than by the delayed repeal of the corn-laws. He urged upon the Government to consider the neces sity of making the repeal of the corn-laws immediate ; believing that nothir.g would settle the different questions that were under agitation in the country but the adoption of that course. lie felt convinced that those with whom he acted were so strongly of the same opi nion as nimself, thrt they would not be induced by any cons ideration to forego usking the sense of the House upon the question. The protectionists might ask for a dissolution if they would, but it would be only a post ponement of the measure. lie entreated of lion. Mem bers to put a stop to their futile opposition. Mr. HALSEY opposed the Government proposition. He asserted that the proceedings of the League were neitber honest or constitutional, and if they were legal he trusted the Government would adopt such measures as would soon put a stop to their legality. He advocated equal protection to agriculture and commerce, Mr. DICKENSON supported the Ministerial plan, be lieving the best course to pursue to peevent scarcity of food in this country would be to give every facility to it § a d Dl Agon inp England from foreign countries, . • . robe burdens is than were ad 11,4 reatnra s drawn g a duty ,e would (• on the )rn-13".5 ;01. it° wou