The Sun. — London, England, 1837-02-04 00:00:00

a n 3 even grooms and gamekeepers might change their situation, or in times of popular excitement, precisely where the ser vices of the faithfiel were most nee d e d, b ot h one an d t h e ot h er might .x choose to. go with th e ir own or d er.—( Hear.) Bes i des al constituencies for six counties were deemed too many— and the mac ) stitery ciall h too troublesome an d comp li cate d— espe . Y ( "le with proper management, one body of electors might dr f. h e ld i s t . for all. Accordingly a council seems to have been a eedinburgh, and the muster-roll then gone over—ai:d r • -A of individuals made out, principally resident in that L etty--enen of asce r t a i ne d sent i ments and trust-worthy, who ave no weak scruples, no defined principles of their own ; but the whole thirty-nine articles of whose political creed are summed up in that one watchword —party. These Gentlemen are forthwith applied to, to provide themselves with fictitious qualifications —not in one or two, but each of them, in four, five, or all of the cesunties I have named, as need may be. What is the result? Dc, you not se e h ow f ata l i t must b e ? Th ose count i es a ll . closeto ge th er—t h e i r polling-places may all be compassed from Edinbetrgh in one day--and their constituencies are small—so that, this well-drilled corps of Edinburgh citizens and recruits, tret limited in number, be it remarked, but capable of being expanded ad libitum, by making a rapid tour of those districts during the contest, and invariably throwing all its weight into the unpopular scale, may and must decide every one of those elections. Sir, in my observations, hitherto I have confined myself to a bare narration of facts. I have avoided all remarks that could apply personally to any one. But I see no reason for exercising that self-denial here, nor why I should refrain from uttering my opinion of the individuals who are implicated in this part of the system. For the zeal of partizanship in ordi nary cases we can all make ample allowance, and many acts of even questionable propriety entered on amid the keenness and excitement of party warfare, we can pass by without observation cr reproof—( Hear)—but for the cold-booded and deliberate iniquity of this roving band of political assassins, as their business is without example, so I would feel it to be beyond excuse. I hold in my band a list of the Gentlemen I ant alluding to, and which I received to-day, and all I can Igay is, that even the hasty perusal I have been able to give it is sufficient to diminish my astonishment at the offence. It is a list in which any Scotchman, at all versed in the Tory no m.enclature of former days, will recognise many old and fami liar acquaintances. Let me be just to our opponents. Happy lam to say that little of the respectability of their body Is found here. With a few exceptions, it is com posed of the very dregs and refuse of their party.--( Cheers. ) 111 e ancient system is in every page and in every line. Among t he gentry, the old compliment in votes is here—he whom the Reform Bill was intended to destroy—here is the pettifogging laird, whose zeal of you was eveny essential to his import ance and his profit—and here, too, is the time-serving waiter liPon a party providence, who had not only himself long fat tened upon the public purse, but had trained up his children after him to regard it as their sure inheritance.—( Hear, hear.) You have now the whole brood registered against you, the a ncient prejudic e s o f bl oo d b e i ng s h ar pened by the bitterness of recent disappointment ; and after these is the well-knoem tribe of wanting, jobbing, cringing subordinates and officials— the herd of provincial functionaries and petty pluralists—the Snenials and parasites of the camp, ever ready to fetch and carry as their leaders bid them—the unblushing panderers to Party vice, and feeders on party corruption. But enough of this ; my object at present is not so much to expose the indi viduals, as to denounce the system. That system is yet in its infancy ..what has been done hitherto has been mere matter of experiment ; but preparations, I warn you, on a more magnifi cent scale are making for the ensuing registry. What has been done around Edinburgh will next year be done around Glasgow, and Perth, and Aberdeen, and then a sec tion of the inhabitants of a few large towns will have all the counties of Scotland within their grasp. But I fancy I hear his Grace opposite objecting to me, " Why do you direct all Your censure against us ?—why do you spare your own party, *which has also been guilty of these, which you describe as improper practices ?" Because, Sir, I have discovered a Vide distinction between the cases. In tracing the origin and progress of the system, I have thrown the blame on those who Were its inventors and its chief promoters ; and when indivi duals of their opponents have partially followed their example, I am ready to prove that it was forced on them against their will—that they acted tardily and reluctantly, and purely in s elf-defence. I will show this by a reference to facts ; and every word that I now state, I am prepared to make good be fore a Committee.—( Hear, hear.) The election of 1832 ended late in December, and, as soon as it was over, it was currently reported that great, if not unlimited, power had been given to a well-known Edinburgh agent to create a sufficient number of improper votes to recover the three principal counties that had been lost.--( Hear, hear.) This report many people found a difficulty in believing ; but eshen the registry came on, the claims thus made out were produced—they had all been manufactured in the preceding *January, and immediately after the election. The Liberals Immediately saw what was likely to result from this—the people must be annihilated. They held meetings and consul tations ; but they thought the proceeding so dangerous and so disgraceful, that they would not resort to it.—( Hear, hear.) The registry of 1834 came, and another inundation of th e i r mushroom qua li f i cations ; but still their opponents, did not re taliate. They saw their danger, but they thought it preferable to dishonour—(Cheers)—they had had one year of warning and preparation, -and now a second, but they kept true to their resolve. But then came the general election—and with its in its most disastrous form, the fruit of those two registra tions. District after district was overwhelmed, and county after county snatched away ; and then it was—and thee only -that the forbearance of individuals could no longer be se red. The race was in many places commenced by both Parties in good earnest, and is now being carried on by. such 4 delugi ng o f count i es with votes of all descriptions, that ere ong the advocates of Universal Suffrage will have a favourable ePportunity ofjudging of the practical workings of their favourite theme. Ido not approve of the practice, or defend it either in the one party or the other. I will screen neither—l have ever set my f ace equally against both—and I will expose both equally bef ore th e C omm i ttee . B u t i s t h ere not a great dif lerence in the culpability of the parties ? I say t here is the s ame distinction as between a man who raises his weapon for ass ault, and another who snatches a sword in self-defence. The act of the one party is from choice, and adopted for eg r°ession a n d i n j ury; t h e ot h er on l y f o ll owed the example after N . delay a n d repea t e d provocation, and from th e imperious nec essity of person a l sa f e ty. The aim f the one was to crush the t . . i vileges of the electors; the object of the other to protect them. ho Right Hon. Baronet opposite, the Member for Tam *orth, declared lately at Glasgow that it was his determina tion to support the principle of the Reform Bill, and he called on his followers to do the same. Sir, I honour him for that de termination, and I hope that I may now confidently reckon on his support of my motion. The petitioners ask merely for the principle of the Reform Bill to be carried into effect. " Abolish fictitious qualifications," they say, " and we will thank you a n d b e satisfied. " —( Hear.) There is no further change asked here ; no demand for the ballot ; no petition for short parliaments —and yet they have had their difficulties, and formed their opinions on these topics as well as their southern neighbours. But the elective privilege was so new to them, and so sacred in their eyes was the proper use of it, that they held it firm against all assaults. Intimidation was tried with them, but they braved it all. Bribery was attempted, but they were proof against it ; and then the manufacturing of , v otes was bad recourse to. The people w ere too firm to be o ulliedeeth e y were too honest to be bribed—but they were not too numerous to be swamped. To swamping, accordingly, they were doomed. The work proceeded at a rapid, a fearful Pace, and since the hit was to: come upon them, they now do feel at least grateful to their opponents fur having brought it SO Ppeedily to a head—and that too by a process of operation s S o open and undisguised that no man who has eyes to see can ho.v. - a doubt o f its existence—or that has the capacity to rea son, can deny the necessity for a remedy.—( Hear, hear.) The petitioners come before you with this plain, unanimous re- Inonstrance—that if they deserved the franchise to be be- Stowed, they may now, on stronger grounds, demand that it s hould continue to them. That they did deserve it, they tell Y o u, is attested by the use that they have made of it. Look at their elections. Wherever popular contests Lave taken Place, they have been conducted with peace, and order, and decorum. Wherever popular candidates have been chosen , t hey have b ee n men of experience, of ability, and of character. ( Hear, hear.) The anticipations of their friends on these ",eads have b een more t h an rea li se d . Th e h opes a nd predic tions of their enemies have been as grievously disappointed. (Hear.) Th e peop l e of Scotland now contemp l a t e with JOY the prospect that through th e i r i ns t rum entality the real character of their countrymen may be understood. It was 'With a pang of shame and humiliation that they had hitherto submitted to be judged of by the miserable samples of a beg ging, Aristo cracy , w hi c h an exc l us i ve system threw 111)-- thHear, hear.) Though their former representatives, being eted by an o li garchy, were like the oligarchy that e l ecte d ,then—venal, and sub serv i en t, an d corru pt--the great body of nation, despis e d an d di sregar d e d as t h ey were , were a lways intelligent in mind—educated in habit—highly moral and reli gious in feeling —and nobly independent in their character. — (Hear, And as soon as the power was given them, these were the qualities they sought for in their Members ; and they 'then saw, for the first time, a body of independent than, the organs of the free voice of Scotland, enrolled among babest f riends of freedom iiithe empire, and welcomed by e ni as stout an d va l ue d a lli es i n the great C onst i tut i ona l battles of the age. They bid you observe how the prejudices of country have already died away, and the choice of a Scot tish constituency been admitted a title of distinction. On the ? s ne hand, they poi n t w i t h sat i sfaction to the distingu i s h e d men from England and Ireland who have been united to their connection, and t o w h om have been confided the interests of their wealthiest and most populous towns—their great marts of enterp r i se an d commerce on the Clyde or on the Tay ; a nd, a on t h e other, they remember, with a feeling of pride, amountin g t o exultation, the tribute that was indirectly paid to th em by this very House of Commons ; inasmuch as when it was thought essential to its dignity that the assertion of a P ri nciple should b e i n volv e d i n t h e election of a Speaker, the mober o f t h e i r b o d y , unan i mously pointed at by all classes °le Reformers to be put in competition with a gentleman of great experi ence an d ac k now l e d ge d merit, as the fittest to tpereede him in his exalted office, and sit in that chair as the riumphant champion of their opinions, was no other than with Popular representative of their own anci ent metropolis. such f e eelings, then, and such results -_so encou ,l.Ned and so rewarded—the political mind has become Peaceful haPPY, and contented—( Cries of " Hear")—and • with political contentment naticnal prosperity has gone hand in hand. to But if you reverse the picture—i you endeavour Or W rest from them the boon that has been so f t ately conferred, .sauffer it to be filched from-them by others—have you cal subl thd the effects? Will the people remain tranquil and miss ive ? will the law be similarly respected ? will the elections go on (Cheers.) equally smoothly and undisturbed ? (Cheers.) to Even in the olden times, we are none of us too be_ remember that the murmurings of the populace have th y:o ac_ know . n to swell to such a pitch as to blanch the cheek of 'voUnte of the Town Council, while he was undergoing , he very honours of ordination —aye, and even to shake t he powder from the wig of the all-potent but bewildered Lord Ad vocate of the day. And is it not wisdom to foresee that all this may soon return? If you stop up the channel which the Constitution has provided for the feelings of the people, de pend upon it they will break out through other channels which the law has not acknowledged. The Scotch have but lately tasted the swects.of freedom, but their appetite for re form has only been sharpened by enjoyment ; and if their enemies should succeed for a time in depriving them of its expected fruits, believe me, sooner or later, they will bring the evil to such a head, that it can neither be continued with out danger, nor ended without convulsion. Sir, I have now concluded all I have to say upon the subject. I thank the House for its attention ; and I have now to say, that the peti tions presented to you upon it are just and reasonable in their nature—the arguments they are founded on are strong—and the appeal to your protection is not likely to be made in vain. —(Hear, hear.) When the Hon. Gentleman sat down he was greeted with four distinct rounds of applause. Mr. ROBERT FERGLTSON seconded the motion. After the eloquent and imprc.isive speech of his Hon. Friend who had brought the subject before the House, he felt that it was altogether unnecessary for him to make any lengthened observations. It was clear that the object of the Reform Bill was destroyed by such practices as had been alluded to by his lion. Friend. The continued exercise of such means of in fluence as had been stated to the House would at length compel the Legislature to adapt the ballot as a means of pro tection to the honest voters.—(Hear, hear.) He had long been opposed to the ballot, but the recurrence of such pro ceedings as had been so eloquently described would render its adoption a matter of absolute necessity. Sir GEORGE CLERK felt bound to compliment the Hon. Member on the talent and eloquence he had displayed in bringing the subject under the notice of the House, and on the manner in which he went into the various details connected with it ; but at the same he (Sir G. Clerk) hoped that he mi g ht be allowed to say that the Honourable Gentleman had drawn somewhat an exaggerated statement. Although the Honourable Member disclaimed being actuated by party motives in bringing the subject before the House, yet Honourable Members could not fail to be struck by the difference of language in which the honourable gentleman al luded to certain proceedings of those with whom he acted and to similar transactions of the political party opposed to him. ( Hear, from the opposition). If the system to which the hen. member alluded were calculated to destroy the principle of the Reform Bill no doubt steps should be taken to put a stop to it; but it was not too much to say that it had been prac tised as much by the Whigs as by the Tories.—(Hear, hear.) Ile was prepared to say that if there were an extensive crea tion of fictitious votes by collusive qualifications which was not contemplated by the Reform Bill, means should be taken of put a stop to the system. It, however, must be obvious that when parties were nearly balanced, neither of them would be very scrupulous in going to the very verge of the law for the purpose of supporting their various interests. But he very much doubted whether the Honourable Member had taken a cor rect view of the Reform Bill in the observations he had made. The Honourable Gentleman stated that one of the ob- jects of the Reform Bill was to get rid of non-resident voters. Now the Noble Lord who had introduced that Bill stated that it was intended to get rid of non-resident voters in cities and boroughs, because the Members of those places represented local interests; but that non-resident voters were to be preserv ed in counties, :because the county representation was rather the representation of property than interests. On this ground the right of voting was preserved to all persons who held a sufficient property qualification, whether the party were resi dent or not. Thus a person might have property in various counties, and would be allowed to have a vote for each of them. Under the system of the old political franchise in Scotland, there was little disposition or interest to divide property, and multiply qualifications. When the suffrage became greatly extended it led to a great division of prope,ty. This was par ticularly observable in Ireland, where the soil had been so ex tensively parcelled out for the protection of the political inte rests of the great landed proprietors. The lion. Member spoke in terms of great reproach of gentlemen who had ac quired property in a number of counties for the purpose of voting. If there were a bona fide purchase of this property, he could not see what possible objection could arise to the owners having the suffrage. The objections of the Honour able Gentleman should be entirely to the creation of collusive qualifications, which was not contemplated by the Reform Bill. ___(Hear, hear.) There could be no doubt that there was a great difference between the number of voters in 1832 and in 1836. It reference was made to any town or county in England, it would be found that there had been an in crease in - the number of the constituency in nearly the same proportion as had taken place in the several Scotch counties. At first many persons were ignorant of the nature of the rights conferred upon them by the Reform Bill, and did not take the proper steps to be placed on the register; but in a short time this became generally knowy, a..d those who bad the qualifica tion took care to be placed in a situation to be enabled to cxer c;se tncir right. He could not help, however, observing that it appeared to him to be rather a novel doctrine on the part of Gentlemen opposite, to object to the increase in the number of names on th:., register as voters.—( Cheers from the Opposi tion.) He recollected that while the Reform Bill was before the House, an able article appeared on the subject in the " Edinburgh Review," in which the writer objected to the disfranchisement of the old voters in Scotland, although under this Bill the right on which they claimed the suff rage was taken away. The argument was that the more extensive the suffrage was made the better it was. Such objections as had been urged by the Honourable Member would almost justify the insinuations thrown out while the ReForm Bill was under discussion, viz., that by the arrange ments then proposed, Hon. Gentlemen opposite were rather anxious to frame and extend the franchise in a way calcu lated to promote their party purposes than for the pro motion of the general public good. Such conduct would fully bear out the assertion made a few nights ago by the Hon. and Learned Member for Bath, that they had introduced and pressed forward such measures as they thought were calculated to advance their own interests, instead of looking forward to such plans as were conducive to the public benefit. The prin ciple to which he had all u ded w ith re f erence t o th e franchise had already been partially acted upon, for it would be recol lected that it was some time ago found out—when the English Municipal Bill was before Parliament—that the freemen of England were too poor to be entrusted with the franchise ; and an attempt was made to take away from them those rights which had been guaranteed to them by the Reform Bill. Under these circumstances he could not help looking at the subject with some degree of suspicion ; but, at the same time, he was willing, and indeed anxious, to put a stop to any system by which fictitious votes were created.—( Hear, hear.) He had no objection to inquire into the existence of fictitious votes, provided the inquiry was conducted with fairness and impartiality. In doing this, however, they must draw the distinction between this class of voters, and certain classes of voters created under the Reform Bill. For instance, the Hon. Gentleman objected to a farmer having the names of his sons included in his lease, that they might enjoy the elective franchise. This could ❑ot be done unless with the full consent of the farmer, and he ( Sir G. Clerk) could not see what objection there could be to allow this to be done. The Hon. Gentleman also objected to life-renters having the francbise. He wished to know whether the Hon. Member was prepared to deprive all this class of voters of their franchise. The question with reference to these votes was fully considered and debated, when the English Reform Bill was before the House. At that time a forty-shilling life-rental was consi dered too small qualification. After a very long discussion, it was with great unwillingness that the present Lord Spencer. consented to disfranchise even the forty-shilling life-renters. If, therefore, a Committee was to be appointed to inquire into the collusive creation of voters, he did not see what necessity there was to go into the question of life-renters. He was aware that attempts had been made to create fictitious votes—but did not the Reform Bill provide a remedy for this ?—for the parties, befor e they could be registered, had to go before the Sheriff's court and establish their claims. He would refer to a case of this kind, which he believed was well known. In Roxburgh. shire an attempt had been made to create fictitious votes, but this had failed ; for when the parties went before the sheriff to establish their qualifications, they did not succeed.--( Hear.) And what, he would ask the lion. Gentleman, was the party with which these persons were connected ? The Hon. Gen tleman alluded to a list which he held in his hand, but which he did not read, of persons residing in Edinburgh who had votes in several places. Now he (Sir G. Clerk) had no doubt that a similar list might be made of pesons pursuing exactly the same course on the other side. He was quite as far as the lion. Gentleman from regarding this as a party question, for it was the common interest of all to take care that none but those duly qualified under the Reform Act should have votes. The Hon.- Gentleman had limited his motion to Scotland, as though the manufacture of fictitious votes was never heard of in England.—( Hear, hear.) The innumerable instances of such abuses in the English Registration Courts, however, should have suggested to the Hon. Member the desirableness of setting the matter to rights South as well as North of the Tweed.—(Hear, hear.) The House need not be reminded of the instance in one of the English counties (Huntingdon), where an attempt was made to create forty votes out of one single field, though not one of the forty worthy electors, when inquiry came to be made into the subject, was at all able to point out which out of the forty portions of the land it was that he claimed to vote in respect of.--( Hear, hear, and laughter.) Nor was the evil confined to English counties, for the instance could be pointed out in which very nearly the same parties who were concerned in making such good use of the field he had spoken of, had also exerted themselves with great industry in the manufacture of fictitious votes in a city not far distant.—( Opposition cheers.) He therefore did hope that the Hon. Gentleman and the other pure Reformers —(a laugh)_who had brought forward this subject would not confine their exertions to Scotland.—(Cheers from the Ministerial Benches.) He would at once say that if the Committee were fairly composed, so as to preclude the prospect of its being actuated by any party bias, he was per fectly ready to vote for its appointment to inquire into the whole subject, not only as regarded Scotland, but in reference to the counties and towns of England, and, if necessary, of Ireland.—(Cheers from both sides of the House.) This, at any rate, would be doing great justice to Ireland.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. ROEBUCK said the country was much indebted to the Hon. Gentlem an w h o b roug h t f orwar d thi s motion , as it afforded a tangible means of testing the sincerity of those who said they wished for a really responsible representation ; of ascertaining whether the House would do as former Houses had do ne i n t h e matter of bribery—admit every thing but the right means of putting an end to the grievance. The evil which the Hon. Member had complained of with virtuous in dignation was one. which necessarily arose out of the present character of the franchise qualification, and was, with other evils, only' to be remedied by the extension of the suffrage and of the introduction of the vote by ballot. The Hon. Gentle man opposite was quite right in saying that the evil was not THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1837. confined to Scotland, and ho hoped the Hon. Baronet would give his aid to the real Reformers in the House in their .at tempt to remedy the evil wherever it existed, whether in Eng land, Scotland, or II eland. And therefore it was that he was glad to see the manifest signs of Hon. Gentlemen opposite coming gradually, as in days of yore, when they were also in opposition, they did, over to universal suffrage—( Hear, hear, and a laugh)—so that there were hopes that if they were kept out a little while longer they would become quite stanch advo cates of that principle.—(A laugh.) In the operation of that principle, and of the vote by ballot, would be found the re medy for the evils which had been detailed to the House that evening. So long as mere property was made the test of qua lification, .so long could votes be legally multiplied by the rich man to any extent. So long as wealth was allowed this in fluence, so lcng would it be taken advantage of. Mr. PR YME said the case particularly alluded to by the Hon. Baronet opposite as having occurred in an Englsh county was in no way analogous to the gross abuse brought before the House by the Honourable Gentleman near him. In the case of the English county the land in question was bona fide purchased by the individuals who sought to vote in respect of it with their own money, bona fide paid for, and bona fide belonged to them, and they, bona fide, received rent for it. None of these circumstances existed in the Scottish case.—( Hear, bear.) The cases were totally dissimilar. He should most cordially support the motion for inquiry into the whole subject ; and in reference to both England and Ireland as well as Scotland. Mr. lIORSMAN said he thought it would be better to confine the inquiries of this Committee to Scotch votes. It was quite open to other Gentlemen to move for Committees in reference to Ireland and England, and he should cordially sup. port them.--( Hear, hear.) Mr. HUME said the evil was sufficiently apparent as it was; the great point was to institute a remedy, and in his settled conviction, that remedy could alone be found in the extension of the suffrage and vote by Ballot.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member deceived himself if he thought any other remedy would be effectual. Mr. F. SHAW thought the inquiries of the Committee should be extended to Ireland.—(Cries of" Move, move 1 ") If they wished to do justice to Ireland—(Hear, bear)—this in quiry must be made.—( Loud Ministerial cheers.) It was no torious that the bona fide electors there bad every where rea son to complain of the constant creation and registration of fic titious votes.—( Hear, hear.) If it were an object to do away with fictitious votes in Scotland, it was an equplly great object in Ireland.__( Hear, bear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he was most ready to carry out the principle involved in re ference to England and Ireland as well as to Scotland—( Hear, hear)—but he should certainly beg to caution the Hon. Gen tleman who had so distinguished himself that evening— ( Cheers)—not to consent to bring an inquiry as to the whole of the United Kingdom before the Committee.—(Hcar, hear.) The gravamen of the charge was, the attempt to swamp bona fide electors by a multitude of strange votes. The Hon. Gentleman must take care not to allow his object to be swamped by the somewhat similar process of inundating the Committee with inquiries into England, Scotland, and Ireland all at once.—( Hear, hear, and a laugh.) No one could be more anxious than he was to right the bona fide elec tors of Ireland. He had a deep interest in that country, and he felt very grateful to the Hon. Baronet and Right Hon. Gentleman opposite for having taken up the term " justice to Ireland "—( Hear, and a laugh)—and he trusted before long to bring their sincerity to the test.—( Hear, hear.) As to the Committee, he believed he was right in saying, that it was the intention of the Hon. mover to postpone the nomi nation of the members of this Committee until Monday, in order that full time should be allowed for a thoroughly fair selection, so that the report of the Committee might be re ceived with all the confidence due to unquestionable impar tiality.—( Hear.) O'CONSiELL was delighted to hear the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite talk of extending the Committee to Ire land, and he hoped the Hon. Gentleman was serious. He should, at any rate, take care to put the Right Hon. Gentle man's sincerit3 to the test very soon, for he should forthwith put a noCce on the order-book of a motion for a Committee on this subject in reference to Ireland, which he should call upon the Right Hon. Gentleman to second, and he hoped no one would interfere to separate so harmonious a combination.— ( Hear, hear, and laughter.) Sir 11. lIARDINGE did not see why the present motion should not be extended to Ireland and England as well as Scotland. The intimidation Committee extended its in quiries over the whole of the United Kingdom, and there ap peared no reason why the proposed Committee should not do the same thing. Mr. FORIIES was very indistinctly heard. He said he was prepared to challenge the most rigid inquiry into the whole circumstances of his election.--(hear, hear.) Not a sin gle voter had been put on by his friends whose vote had not previously undergone the strictest scrutiny, both before the first court and before the Court of Appeal.---( Ilear,hear). The Honourable Member bad been very lavish of his expletives, " dependents, parasites, political assassins," and similiar un warrantable phrases. Who was it the Honourable Member honoured with these epithets 2—( Hear). Were the weals by and honourable merchants of Glasgow and the citizens of Edin burgh dependents and.parasites ? Where was the conclave of political assassins that the Honourable Member flourished about ? Had any body else ever heard of them ? The Ho nourable Member must have meant the " clique " (which some gentlemen had heard of) when he talked of the con clave.—(Hear! and a laugh). The constituency which had returned him to Parliament would come out frOm any im partial committee as pure as any in dm land. Their great principle was to support good government and the Protes tant religion, and if men entertaining such principles were political assassins he had no objection to take the designation with them. The motion was then agreed to. MR. LECHMERE CHARLTON. The SPEAKER said he had received a letter from this gentleman, and proceeded to read it. It was to this effect : " Sir, I have the honour to inform you, that the officers of the Court of Chancery, under warrant from that Court, have forced their way into the house in which I was staying, and have compelled me to go to the Fleet Prison with them. I had flattered myself that, while this matter was under the consideration of the Committee of Privileges, such violent proceedings as these would not have taken place; but I am sorry to find I was mistaken. I hope you will read this letter to the House, and that the House, under such circumstances, will extend to me that privilege which, under similar circum stances, it has given to others.—l am, Sir, &c. "—[The read ing of portions of this letter appeared to excite some amuse ment in the House.] Mr. WYNN, who spoke very low, was understood to move that the letter be referred to the Committee of Privileges,and to express a supposition of the probability that the Committee would make an order similar to that made in the case of Mr. Long Wellesley. The petition was accordingly ordered to be referred to the Committee. The LORD ADVOCATE brought in the following Bills, which were severally read a first time :—A Bill to amend an Act of his late Majesty, for restricting the punishment of leasing-making, sedition, and blasphemy, in Scotland. A Bill to make certain alterations in the duties of the Lords Ordinary, and in the establishment of clerks and officers of the Court of Session and Court of Commission for Teinds in Scotland; and to reduce the fees payable in these Courts. A Bill for the more effectual recovery of small debts in the Sheriff Courts, and for establishing circuit courts for the trial of small-debt causes by the sheriffs in Scotland. _ . Lord MORPETH brought in a Bill to amend parts of the Grand Jury (Ireland) Act of last Session. JOINT-STOCK BANKS. The CIIANCELLORof the EXCHEQUER gave notice of his intention, in proposing the renewal of the Joint-stock Banking Committee, to extend its inquiries to Ireland, and also to move the extension of its number beyond fifteen. The House then adjourned at a quarter to eight. TILE POST-OFFICE MISMANAGEMENT.—We are daily receiving numerous complaints relative not only to irre gularity in the delivery of papers, but often ' informing us of their never having reached our subscribers. This is extremely hard, and it is not an example here and there that will cure the evil, but an entire chancre in the system. Year after year, for more than thirty years, have we had expensive Comniis sions of Inquiry instituted to examine into the abuses of the Post-offices ; and notwithstanding that innumerable de fects have been pointed out, and various corruptions exposed, we have as yet made but slow progress upon the high road of Post-office Reform. ' * * As we stated not long ago, the country is indebted to the House of Lords for throw ing out an excellent Bill introduced during the last session by Mr. S. Rice for reforming the Post-office ; however, it can not be forgotten that the Treasury has the power, and that it is the bounden duty of those at the head of it, of making many salutary alterations without the aid of any legislative enact ment. Now, what excuse, we should like to know, has the Post-office for keeping a single inefficient officer—and we must say that an abundance of evil arises from the employment of improper persons, especially as depu ties ?—ln the Customs, in the Excise, the qualifi cation of the persons filling situations is scrupulously attended to ; but in the Post-office any such requisite seems unneces sary. It is thus that we see in one town an efficient officer, while, perhaps, through the caprice of patronage, we see the duties of the next entrusted to an old woman. We do, how ever, hope better things from Colonel Maberloy, who has the reputation of being both a business man and a sincere Re former ; and heartily will we grieve if he evinces the least dis position to follow in the path of old Frceling. And now a word to our Irish Members—to such men, for instance as Moro O'Ferrall. We elect them to do our business and attend to our interests, and they should not throw the burthen upon the shoulders of the patriotic and useful Member for Greenock. We by the Union are' the victims of the centralization system. We arc treated truly like "aliens ; " and we regret to be obliged to add, that this calamity is o ft en ren d ere d more into lerable by the shameful apathy of our representatives.—Dub lin Pilot. The Earl of Minto gave a grand dinner on Thurs day at the Admiralty, and the Countess had a soiree. The dinner party at the Russian Ambassador's, on Tuesday evening, consisted of the two Princes Esterhazy, Lord Burghersh, Baron Maltitz, Prince Paul Lieven, M. de Burg, Count Tolstoy, M. Hummelaur, and Colonel and Countess Pozzo di Borgo. The General Commanding-in-Chief will hold levees at the Horse Guards on Thursdays. His Lordship will not occupy the Marquis of Tweedale's mansion during the season, as Mr. Hanbury Tracy has takenit. . . PRICES OF CANALS, DOCKSTOCKS ASSURANCE COMPANIES, &c. &c. Scc. ! LONDON, FRIDAY, FEB. 3. Number Dividend Price of per CANALS, per Shares. Annum. Paid. Share 1,760 8 Del cent. Ashton and Oldham....Average 97/. 18s. sh. 142 1,182 41. Ashhy.cle-le.Zouch Average 1131. sh. 65 1,244) ... ...... Basingstoke lOOl. sh. 4 1,005 51. Brecknock and Abergavenny 150'. sh. 100 8,000 1-lOsh. 91. 9s. Birmingham, 1-16th share 81/. & 711. 217 4,000 Ditto and Liverpool .1unct...1251 sh. 100 pd 321 600 . Bridgewater and Taunton ....100/ sh. all pd 64 400 4/. Chelmer and Blackwater 100/. sh. 102 500 481. Coventry 1001. sh. 700 4,515 Croydon Average 31/.28.10d. sh. 3 .2,081 4/. Os. Dudley lOO/. sh. 78 000 71. Derby 100/. sh. 120 20,000 Danube and Mayne ...41/. Ms. Id. 361/. pd 18,6 3,574 3/. Ellesmere and Chester Average 1331. ,h. 80 231 - 401. Erewash 1001. sh. 560 1,997 241. Forth and Clyde Averape 4.001.105. sh. 600 11,500 12/, Grand Junction 100/. sh. 208 2,6491 1/. Grand Union 100/. sh. 2tj 1 30, Grand Surrey ........ „.. lOO/. sh. 120,000/. 41. percent. Ditto (optional) Loan lOO/. 70 3,094 Grand Western 600 13/. 12s. 9d. Glamorganshire, Average cost 1721. 13s. 4d. 230 749 10‘. Grantham 150/. sh. 202 6 ,234 1/. 15s. Huddersfield Average 571. Os. 6d. sh. 35 100 Kensingfan 100 sh. all pd. 10 23,323 1/. 2s. Kennet cad Avon, Average 39/. 18s. 10d. sh. 22 2,'0'7; 201. Leeds and Liverpool 100/. sh. 530 5414 12/. Leicester l4O/. sh. 195 1,5(97 4/. 105. Leicester and Northampton... Aver 53/. 10s. 77 2,400 - 10/. Monmouthshire 100/.sh. 200 50 161. Melton Mowbray 1013/. sh. 200 500 251. Mersey and Irwell 1001. sh. 565 3 , 01.1 0 I/. 10s, Macclesfield 100/, sh. all pd. 54 217 17/. Neath 1,781 3 , 11. Oxford 100/. O. 580 2,400 5/. Peak Forest Average about 781. sh. 104 21,114 12i. Regent's (or London) Aver. 33/. 16s. &I. sh. 16 5,6(19 61. per cent. nochdale Average 6r,/. sh. 119 500 . 8/, Shropshire 1251. sh. 140 809 9/. 10s. Somerset Coal 150/. sh. 153 3,6n0/. 41 per cent. Ditto bock Fund Stock l2/. 10s. sh, 111 700 40/, Stafford and Worcester l4O/. sh. 730 500 94 Shrewsbury 125/. sh. 243 300 8/. Stourbridge 3,017 2/. o s. Stratford.on.Avmi ...Average 701. Os. Pd. sh. .54) 533 12/. Swansea 1 00/ sh. 220 3,702 1/. 4s. Severn and Wye and Railway... Av. 351. sh. 19i 2,600+ en. 321. 10s. Trent and Mersey, i share 1001. sh. 555 8,11.9 Thames:Aid 51edway... Aver, 191. ss. Stl. sh. 2 1,0005 h./ iv. Warwick aid Birmingham 100/. sh: 351 I ,000,ish.1 " 980 10/. Warwick and Napton lOO/. sh. 138 6,000 4/. Os. Worcest , r and Birmingham... Av. 76/.145. sh. 82 5,00) 2'2s. Wilts an, Berk:: .. Average 671. 10s. &I. sh. 21 SOO 81, Wyrley and E6sington 1251. sh 75 106 „...... Vv'imbeach - 905 11. Wcy and Arun llO/. sh. 221 DOCKS. 2,6008 z 3 3 n c. Commercial 100/. sh. 1,063i5h. • " 191,667,1/. 6 per ct. East India Stock 2,239,31041. 565. p. ct. London Stock Ditto Bonds 5,:n0,0001. Si. per ct. West India .2 .!: 0 . 1 2/, 19s. Bristol titc32l/. M.per cent. Ditto Notes, various amounts 1.352,752 4 o , r cent. St. Katharine Stock ax , ,n) It per cent. Ditto Bonds 200,060 4 per cent. Ditto Bonds ha - 10 years Shoreham IL t hour 2.500 ........ Deptford Piet BRIDGES. 1,600 rs. Haminersm.t 1, 5O/. sh. 7,231 Southwark, Old Av. 63/. '2s. Sd. sh. 1,700 11. 15s. Ditto, New, of 7,1. per cent. 5O/. sh. 5,000 Waterloo 5,000 ISs. Bd. Ditto, Old Annuities of id. (101. pd 5, 00 0 19s, 3d. Ditto, New Ditto of 71 40/. pd 60,0001. It. per cent. Ditto Bonds 6,000 17 3 Vauxhall Average 701. 10s. 3d. sh .ASsCRANC.P.: COMPANIES. 116 5G 105 88 1: 115 42,000 3/ 10s Albion 5001. sh. 501. pd 79 50,000 t s rn e ( r i F l e s n c t i Alliance,British& Foreign 1001. sh. 1011. pd 121 50,000 6 per cent. Pitto, Marine 100/. sh. 5/ pd 5f 24,000 11 per sh. Atlas 1,200 ;sh. 5/. Birmingham lire 250/. sh. 551. pd 105 0,060 4/ percent. British Fire 2501. sh. 50/. pd 40 12,000 6/. per cent. British Commercial 50/. s h. 5/. pd 6f 5,000 51. per cent. Clerical, Medi al,&c. Life, ICI V. sh. 12/10s pd gi 4,000 21 IN County 100/. sh. 10/. pd 42 20,000 __ ss. _ Eagle Lord Ranelagli and Mr. Humphreys had been or dered to quit Bayonne within twenty-four hours, but have since received permission to remain till the 2tith. 200 5'5 per cent. Economic Lite lOOOl. sh. 2501. pd 375 Lanel 301 bs. 2,271 225. percent. European Li, • 9 0/. sh. all pd 22 50,000 2s. Ditto, New ... 0 01. sh. 2/. psl 1,000,000/. 71. p er c t. Globe Stock 152 20,000 5/. Guardian lOO/. sh. 278/ pd 33 40,000 Gs. 6d. Hope 50!. sh. 51. pd 5; 2,400 5/. 7s. 6d. Imperial Fire 500/ sh. 50/. pd 125 7,500 • os, Imperial Lite lOW. sh. 10/. pd 9 13,452 12s. per sh. Indemnity Marine b 01. sh. 8/. p 4 16; 2,020 31 lOs Kent Fire 50/. sh. all pd 92 3/. Ditto Life. 79 10, 0 00 163. Law Life .5 000 10s. London, Fire 25/. sh. 12/. 10s. lid 158 3,900 10s. London, Ship 257. oh. 121. 10s. pit 151 30,000 5/. per cent.. Palladium tat: 501. sh. 21. pd 218 s Od 50,000 Protector Fir a OO/. sh. 2/. pd 18.6 d 2,500 1/. Provident Die. WO/. oh. 10/. pd 20 100,0140 51. percent. Rock Life "0/. sh. VI. pd 01 1140,220/ 51. per cent. Royal Exchange Sto k... 2-20 8,000 5 per cent. University Life lOO/. sh. 5/. pd 51 50,000 4 per cent. United Kinedom Life W. pd JOINT SLOCK BANKS 25,000 Agric. and Cumm. of Ireland 251. sh. 10/. pd 5,000 Attst rala,il 4O/. sh. 407. pd 10,004 10 per cent. Bank of Buntingliarn 5ll. sh. 10/. pd 1 0, 0 0 10 per cent. Biimingham Bank 5Ol. sh. Si. pd 3 ",000 4 per cent. Lon.lon and Westniinstcr...lOol sh. 201. pd 3 , 00 0 4 per cent. Lancaster 100/. sh. 201. pd 15,i1;0 Liverpool 1001 eh. 10/. pd 50,000 6 per cent. Mancliestet and Liverpool./ 100/. sh. 151 pd Discount 20 , 000 74 per cent. 'Manchester 1001. sh. '251 pd 20,000 Provincial 11 ink of Ireland-10W. sh. '251. pd 20, 00 National Bank of Ireland -V./. sh. 17Y. pd 10,00 1 1 5 per cent. National Provincial Eng. -.100/. sh. 251. p.l 10,01 s) Gloucestershire 501. sh. 10/. lid 0,000 10 per cent. lianipshi re 101. a h 51. pil GAS LIGHT AN 1) COKE COMPANIES. 2, 'via 1 l Ls 6:1 Bath 2Ol. sh. 111/. lid 3,090 B, itish 4Ol. sh. 16/. pd (57. , ,ercont : 1 , 000 t an k 13 ,. 5 ,3 Ditto Provincial 201. sh. 19 pd 9 . .24 Si lOs Birmingham 1,250 '2l Os Bristol 2O. sh. 1,500 3 103 Brighton 2Ol. eh. 750 31 lOs Ditto, New 2,171 5 per cent. Brigitton General 20/. sh. all pd 1,000 41. Continental Consolidated lOO/. 021/.lxl 1,000 10/. City of Loudon 'oo/. sh. all pd 1,1100 61. Ditto, New 4,000 41. 1 0 e. Equitable ... 10, 0 00 24 per cent. Imperial 5O/. oh. 800 51. per cent. Isle ef Thadet '251. sh. '2O/. pd 2,350 6/. per cent. independent . 3Ol. O. a!! pc! 9,000 31. per cent. Manna ... 5501.8h. 310. pd 1,000 4/. per cent. RatclilF - 100/. sh. 50!. pd 4,0) , ,1(1 South Metropolitan 5 11. sh. 1)1/. pd 8,200 5/. per cent. United General 5O/. sh. 461. pd 210 5/. per cent. Warwick 501. 811. 4 0 0 8/. per cent Wakefield l5/. sh. 12,000 31. Westminster Chartered 6,001 128. Ditto New . 511. sh. 101. pd BCO Yarmouth 201. sh. 181. pd WATER WJIIKS. 4,500 Ps. Birmingham 25/. sh. 1251. pd 1,143 61. East London • 1001. sh. 5,500 21105 Grand Junction ....Average 411 13s. 4d. sh. 2,000 22. Kent 1001. sh. 37' 101. Liverpool Bootle 2201. sh. 1,500 2/ 108 New River London Bridge Water Annuities 6,486 1/ 15s Manchester and Salford , 100/. sh. 300 4 per cent. South London 100/.0. 5204 3/. West Middlesex ....Average 031. 12s. ed. sh. 1,360 1114 s York Building Co. Lessee Prop 1001. sh. IRON RAILWAYS. 2,500 Aylesbury 2O/. sh. 1/. pd. Birmingham and Derby Si. pd 9,500 Birmingham and Gloucester 101 pd 7,500 Birmingham, Bristol, and Thames Junction 15,000 Bristol and Exeter ......... ...... 1001. sh. spd 600 Calcutta and Saugur .. 50/. sh. 2/. pd 7,500 Cheltenham and G. Western...! 001. eh. 71/. 3,000 Clarence IOW. sh. 100/. pd 12,000 8,000 Dublin and Kilkenny 100/. sh. 24 pit 60,000 Eastern Counties 251 sh. '2l. pi Grand Junction 1001. sh. 507. pi Great North of England YI. pit 25,0413 Great Western lnn/. sh. 30/. pd 2,0110 Hartlepool 100/. sh. 1001 pd '2,000 Hull and ~ clhy 5Ol. oh. 5/. pd 10,000 Leeds and Manchester 1001. sh. 5/. pd 7,100 ... ...... Leeds and Selby 1,500 Leicester and Swannington ....501. sh. all pd 5,103 10 per cent. Liverpool and Manchester-10( LA. 100/. psi Ditto Quarter Shares '2sl. pd 10,000 „ London and Brighton IOW. sh. 4/ pd 45,000 Ditto ditto (Gibbs') ...VV. sh. 1/ pit 1(1,000 Ditto ditto (Rennie)...sol. sh. Si. pd 8,04 ... ...... Ditto ditto (Cundy)...loo/. sh. 3/. pd 12,000 London and Blackwell 501 sh. 31 pd 20,000 3 per cent. London and Greenwich 2O/. Ms. VW. pd 25,000 London and Birmingham ...1001. oh. 75/. pd 20,r,00 London and Sinithampton 50/. sh. 301. pd 7,000 12,000 London Grand Junction 5 1. sh. 2/. pd 10,010 Manchester South Union looL sit 51. pd •• North Midland 1001. sh. 1 , 1. pd • ..... .•• Northern and Eastern lOOl. sh. 3/. pd 2.600 Preston and Wyre SOL sh. 8/. pd 28,000 South Eastern and Dover . 71. pd 1,000 6/. per cent. Stockton and Darlington lOOl. sh. 9,000 6,000 MINES. 11,000 ..... .... Albion Copper 5/. sh. 3/. pd 4,000 : .... .... Alters 15/. sh: 121. 10s pd 11',000 ... ..... Anglo Mexican,-40.'51. pm.... 100/. sh, all pd ~ Ditto Subscription ..... ........- ........ 0.51. pd 2,000 Bolanos ... 1501. sh all pd 10,000 11. 108 Brazilian Inv: iss. 5/. pm 35/. sh. 291 IA 6,010 Macaubas is Cocaes Dnited...251.5h.231/. pd 11,000 Ditto St. John Del Rey 20/. sh. 83/. pet 10,000 Bolivar Copper Company 201. sh. 201. pd 10,010 ......... Ditto Scrip IN. sh. $l. pd eO,OOO British Iron 501. sh. 501 pd 6,000 British Copper Cate Branca... 6l/. pd Candonga 71:1. pd 10,000 1/, Copiapo 2Ol. sh 1231 pd 8,500 Columbian, iss. 51. pin...-. 55/. sh. Sal. pd 2,850 3/, English 121 Its. pd 20,0n0 General Mining A ssoclation...2o/. sh. 15/. pd 6,155 Mexican Company 100/. sh 511/. pd 3,000 Polherou Consols lO/. sh St. pd 11,500 Real del Monte, Unregistered Ditto Loan Notes l5O/. pd 30,000 ...... ... United Mexican, iss. 2pm ....401. sh. all pd Pitt,. Scrip Ditto New Scrip 5l pd West Cork 501. sh. 50/. pd LITERARY INSTITUTIONS. 1,000 1,500 London University 100/. sh. all pd 700 King' College lool.lxl MISCELLANEOUS. 10,000 15s. Australian Agricultural....lool. sh. 2041. pd 55 6,000 6/.'per cent. British American Land Company IS/. tel 11 10,000 61 per cent. Canada Company 1001. oh. 24/. pd 37 200,000 5/, per cent. Upper Canada Loan 95 City Bonds, 4 per cent lOl 1 5, 000 1 1. Os. General Steam Navigation ...151. sh. 131. pd 25 101. per cent. Hudson's Bay Stock 2,000 IL London Com. Sale Rooms As'. 75/. sh. 19 8,000 ........ . Caoutchouc Company .........251 sh. Thames Tunnel 2/. pd 3 4,000 New Brunswick Land Company 981 pd 251 2 , 754 5 /. per cent. Reversionary Interest 50c...100/. sh. 100 /. pd 130 2,633 51. p er cent. Di tto N ew 100/ sh 451 pd 80 8 501. sh. all pd 'sf ... 10,000 ......... Van Die.nen's Land ...... 100/. sh. 17!. pd 131 21! '2.8; 40 113 i 311 50 494 10 '2!} 139 43 32'6 .1 3 / 125 22f 7 LIST OF SCOTTISH COMPANIES' PRICES, JAN. 4, 1837. BANKS. 1,500,00 V. GI. p. ct. Bank of Scotland &V. 6s. Sd. sh. all pd 168/. 2,000,0 X/. 5f p. ct. Royal of Scotland 100/. sh. all pd 165/. 500 • 0 9 e/. 6IL ct. British Linen Company I 00/.5h..11 pd 2401. 3,000,000/. 61. p. ct. Commercial 5OOl. sh. 100/. pd 174/. 5, 0 00,0001. 5 p. ct. National lOOl. sh. 101. pd 161. 2,00 1 ,0001. 51. p. ct. Glasgow Union ` l 5O/. sh. 501. pd 69/. 4,000,001. 4p. ct. Western of Scotland 2001. sh 301. pd 3614 INSURANCE COMPANIES. S 250,000 h.' 61 p. ct. Scottish Union 20/. sh. 1/. pd 25s ,50"4 sp. et. Hercules lOO/. sh. 10/. p 0 1 - 1 15s. 160 , 00 0 sp. ct. Insurance Co. of Scotland ....10/. sh. all pd 711. ____ ._. . .. .... 5 9;9. 00 61. ct. North British 2001• sh• 10/. ixl .„. 1 ,000 5 j). ct. Caledonian Fire 100/. sh. 10/. lid 1610. 5 ,000 6p. ct. Edinburgh Life 100/. sh. 10/, pd 14/ 5s 100,000 MISCELLANEOUS 4,810 Edin. and (+las. Un: Cana1...50/. sh. all pd 2'21. Ditto Allocated 96/. ,h. all pd 051. 5 . 4 0) 5 per cent. Edinb.:Joint Stock Water 251. sh. all pd 401. Carron Iron Company 2501. sh. all pd 461. 2,0005 h 15 per cent. Shotts Iron Founuery 50/.sh 3n. pd 471 10,000 3 per pent Edinburgh & Leith Glass 201. sh. 16/. ixi 741. 4,500 10 per cent. Edinburgh Coal Gas 25/. sh. all pd 591/. 4,450 10 per cent. Glasgow G.ts 23/. sh. all pd 61/. 750 7i per cent. Leith Coal Gas 20/. sh. all pil 45/. 1,200 .... .... Edi n b urg h an d I)alkeith Railway-50/3h. 53/. 3,000 5 per cent. Equitable Loan Corapan7 25/, oh. 91 pd 10/. I-SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS It will be seen from our Parliamentary Report that Mr. Horsman, who was much complimented for the able manner in which he brought the question before the House, succeeded in carrying his motion for a Committee to inquire into the dis franchisement of bona fide electors by the creation of fictitious votes in Scotland. Several Members suggested that the in quiry should he extended to England and Ireland; but the Honourable Gentleman very prudently confined it to Scotland. The evil in Scotland is more pressing ; and, besides, were a committee to enter on such an interminable field of inquiry as election abuses in the two other countries, it would be unable to terminate its labours. The abuses in the three kingdoms under the Reform Bills differ in each. In England the land owner intimidates his tenantry at will. In Scotland, again, the land is generally under lease; but by the device explained by Mr. Horsmann, land let, say for 1,0004 a year, may give one tenant only a vote, while it may give 100 fictitious votes. The expense, tgo, is trifling. One conveyance will serve for the whole 100. Against a wholesale fraud like this, the bona fide elector can do no thing. Elections become complete farces. There is not only an economy of money in the constitutien of the fictitious title, but an economy of labour in the exercise of the pretended franchise. The counties of Edinburgh, Linlithgow, Had dington, Peebles, Selkirk, and Roxburgh, all polluted by this abuse, are contiguous, and the same fictitious non-resident voter may easily vote at the elections of all of them. The very dregs of society have been put in requisition to give effect to this wholesale system of abuse. It is not a little honour able to the people of Scotland that, by their spirit and stub born honesty, they have driven the Tories to have recourse to this abominable expedient. Mr. Horsman said—" He did not require the House to go beyond the Reform Bill ; he did not ask for the Ballot, nor demand an ex- tension of the suffrage. The people of Scotland, by their conduct, bad shown that they ought to be protected in the enjoyment of the elective franchise. In their eyes the franchise was so valuable and so sacred that intimidation was tried in vain to influence them ; they braved it, and defied the power exercised against them; bribery was then resorted to, but to no purpose. It was then that. this system of creating fictitious !votes was acted upon, and those who were too brave to regard threats, and too honest to be bribed, could not help being sacrificed by the steps taken against them.—( Hear, hear.)" To put a stop to this evil will no doubt be attended with some difficulty. But the people of Scotland must not be suffered to fall without a struggle in their behalf. Their needy aristocracy had earned for the whole nation a reputation for base cringing which was not deserved by the people, and the independence they displayed under the Reform Bill suffi ciently proved that the iron had not entered their souls. In no case have the electors prostituted themselves for a mess of potage, or shown themselves base enough to receive bribes. They merit a better fate than to be sacrificed to a vile and sordid aristocracy.—Morning Chronicle. FROM LAST NIGHT'S GAZETTE. WAR-OFFICE, FEB. 3. 4th Regiment of Light Dragoons—Lieut. J. Miller, from the Bth Light Dragoons, to be Lieutenant, vice Huband, who ex changes, Feb. 3. Lieut. T. Lloyd to be Adjutant, vice Gordon, who resigns the Adjutantcy only, Sept. 6, 1.836. . Bth Regiment of Light Dragoons—Lieut. G. J. Huband, from the 4th Light Dragoons, to be Lieutenant, vice Miller, who ex changes, Feb. 3. Cornet G. Brown to be Adjutant, 'rice Reilly, who resigns the Adjutancy only, Feb. 3. 9th Regiment of Light Dragoons—Lieut. General S. Need to be Colonel, vice General the Earl of Rosslyn, G. C. 8., deceased, Jan. 30. 16th Regiment of Light Dragoons—Cornet R. Downie to be. Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Kemp, who retires ; H. D. Sweten ham, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Downie, Feb. 3. Coldstream Regiment of Poet Guards.—Honourable A. E. P. Graves (Page of Honour to the King) to be Ensign and Lieute nant, without purchase, Feb. 3. Bth Regiment of Foot—Brevet Lieut.-Col. C. B. Turner, from the half-pay Unattached, to be Major, ♦ice Powell, deceased. Feb. 3. Lieut. J. Pringle, to be Captain, by purchase, vice Westenra, who retires, Feb. 3. Ensign J. E. Wrest, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Pringle, Feb 3. _ _ _ E. iavec, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice West. Feb, 3. Quarter-master Serjeant J. Aldrich, to be Ensign, without pur chase, vice St. Leger, deceased, Feb. 4. Assistant-Surgeon P. Fraser, to be Surgeon, vice Cardiffe, de ceased, Fcb. 3. 'Staff-Assistant Surgeon W. H. Anderson, M.D., to be As sistant-Surgeon, vice Fraser, Feb. 3. 13th Foot—Ensign W. A. Sinclair to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Se?, - ell, deceased, Aug. 2 ; Ensign G. Wade, from the Ist West India Regiment, to be Ensign, vice Sinclair, Feb. 3. 39th Foot—Ensign J. S. Atkinson, from the 77th Regiment of Foot, to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Innes, promoted ; Lieutenant 111. G. Nixon to be Adjutant, vice Jones, promoted, Feb. 3. 54th Foot—Lieutenant E. Wells to be Captain, without pur chase, vice Mandilhon, deceased, July 1,1836. Ensign R. H. Dyke to be Lieutenant, vice Wells, July 1, 1836. Gentleman Cadet H. J. Warre, from the Royal Military Col lege, to be Ensign, vice Dyke, Feb. 3. 63d Foot—Lieut. W. M. arew to be Captain, without pur chase, vice Young, deceased, Aug. 22, 1836. Ensign V. Berdmore to be Lieutenant, vice Carew, Aug. 22, 1836. dFntlernan Cadet J. It. Lysaght, from the Royal Military Col lege, to he Ensign, vice Berdmore, Feb. 3. 77th Foot—Gentleman Cadet R. Baillie, from the Royal Mili tary College to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Atkinson, pro moted in the 39th Itcgiment of Foot, Feb 3. let West India Regiment—A. W. Mackenzie, Gent., to be Ensign, without. purchase, vice Wade, appointed to the 13th Regi ment of Foot, Feb: 3. BREVET. Captain O'Hara Baynes, Fort Major at Alderney, to be Major in ,e Army, Jan. 10. WHITEHALL, FEB. 2, 1837. The King has been pleased to direct letters patent to be passed under the Great Seal, granting the dignity of a Baron of the United Kingdom of Groat Britain and Irelandunto the Right Hon. Francis William Earl of Charlemont, N.Y., and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by :.he name, stile, and title of Baron Charlemont, of Charlcmont, in the County of Armagh ; with remainder, in de fault of such issue male, to the Hon. Henry Cauldfield, of Hackly,in the said County of Armagh (brother to the said Francis William Earl of Charlemont) and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten. CROWN-OFFICE, FEB. 3, 1837. MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT. COUNTY OF RENFREW.—George Houstoun, jun., of John stone, Esq., in the room of Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, Bart., de. ceased. • Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Wilts. Royal Wilts Yeomanry Cavalry—Chippenham Troop of Yeo manry Cavalry—W. Money, Gent., to be Cornet, ♦ice Wm. Earl of Kerry, promoted; Lord H. P. Fitzmaurice to be Lieutenant vice William Earl of Kerry, deceased, Jan. 23. Everley Troop of Yeomanry Cavalry—Sir E. Antrobus to be Captain, vice. Wroughton, resigned . ; Lord E. Bruce to be Lieute nant, vice Fowle, resigned ; E. Antrobus, Gent., to be Cornet, vice Lord E. Bruce, promoted, Jan. 23. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Sussex. Royal Sussex Regiment of Militia—H. W. Freeland, Gent., to be Ensign ; Jan. 24. DECLARATION OF INSOLVENCY. JOSEPH JOHNSTONE, draper, Widcombe, Somersetshire. BANKRUPTCIES SUPERSEDED. JOSEPH HUDSON and THOMAS RUSHER, silk-manu facturers, White Lion-street, Spitaifields. JOHN WALKER and JAMES WALKER, cloth-merchants, Leeds. BANKRUPTS. JOHN BURKE, soap-maker, Golden-lane, to surrender Feb. 13, at two, and March 17, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Lackington, official assignee, Basinihall-street ; Lake and Curtis, Basinghall- street. EDWARD BURN, merchant, St. Helen's-place, London, Feb. 8, at one, and March 17, at twelve, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee ; Basendale, Tatham, Upton, and Johnson, Great Winchester-street, London. JAMES WILLIAM SPRADDROW, linen-draper, Newing ton, near Sittin:bourne, Kent, Feb. 9, at half-past ten, and March 17, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Canaan, official as signee, Sambrook-court, Basinghall-street ; Hardwick and David son, Lawrence-lane, Cheapside. JOHN JAMES COLE, ale brewer, Britton-street, Chelsea, Middlesex; Feb. 10, at half-past eleven, and March 17, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee ; Madox, Austin -friars. HARRY PEGG, hotel keeper, Tonbridge Wells, Kent, Feb. 14, at twelve, and March 17, at one, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Alsager, Abchurch-lane, official assignee ; Trehern and White, Leadenhall-street. • WILLIAM MEDLEY and ARTHUR OUVRY MEDLEY, bankers, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, Feb. 11, and March 17, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Abbott, official assignee ; Jones and Ward, John-street, Bedford-row. CHARLES STODDART, money-scrivener, Bank-chambers, Tokenhouse-yard, London, Feb. 10, and March 17, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Gibson, Basinghall-street, official as signee ; Thompson and Hewett, Great' James-street, Bedford-row. WILLIAM DE BURGH, licensed victualler, Bishopsgate street, London, Feb. 11, at two, and March 17, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom, Abchureh-lane, official assignee ; Dimmoek, Bond -court, Walbrook. CHARLES WHITE, goose-feeder, Willingale Spain, Essex, Feb. 11, at one, and March 17, at eleven, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Edwards, Pancras- lane, offi c i a l assignee ; Carter and Gregory, Lord Mayor's-court. JOHN CRAM, coal-merchant, Whitefriars New Wharf, Feb. 10, at twelve, and March 17, at. eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, Basinghall-street, official assignee ; Toulmin, Old Jewry. -GEORGE MORE and JAMES WOOLLY, woollen-drapers, Basinghall-street, February 10, at one, and March 17, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Goldsmid, official assignee, Ironmonger-lane ; Fox and Meeke, Basinghall-street. WILLIAM IREDALE, horse-dealer, Blyth, Nottinghamshire , Feb. 8, and March 17, at twelve, at the White Hart inn , E ast Retford, Nottinghamsire. Bell, Bedford-row, London ; Cart wright, Bawtry, Yorkshire. HORATIO RAINES and JOHN SAVAGE, steam-boiler makers, Dukenfield, Cheshire,Feb. 17, and March 17, at one, at the Commissioners' Rooms, Manchester. Sale, Manchester; Bax ter, Lincoln's-Inn-fields, London. WILLIAM SPLAINE, coal-merchant, Liverpool, Feb. 17, and March 17, at one, at the Clarendon Rooms, Liverpool. Tay lor, Turner, Sharpe, and Field, Bedford-row, London; Lowndes and Robinson ' Liverpool. THOMAS PIERPOINT, draper,. Warrington, Lancashire, Feb. 13, and March 17, at two, at the Commissioners' Rooms, Manchester. Johnson and Weatherall, King's Bench-walk, Temple, London ; Carver, Nantwieh, Cheshire. HENRY HOLDSWORTH and ALFRED KNIGHT, wors ted-spinners, Halifax and London-wall, Middlesex, Feb. 17, and March 17, at eleven, at the Magistrates' Office, Halifax. Alex ander, Halifax ; Emmett, New-Inn, London. RICHARD WILSON, tallow-chandler, Lancashire, Feb. 17, and March 17, at two, at the Clarendon Rooms, Liverpool. Arm strong, Staple-Inn, London ; Vandenhoff, Liverpool. - ' JOSEPH HARTLEY, victualler, Stickney, Lincolnshire, Feb. 16, and March 17, at eleven, at the Peacock Inn, Boston, Lincoln shire. Walker and Sons, Spilsby, Lincolnshire; Walmsley, Keighst ley, and Parkin, Chancery-lane, London. JOHN WILMOT, coach-proprietor, Lenton, Nottinghamshire, Feb. 16, and March 17, at eleven, at the Poultry lIMel, Notting shire. Payne, Nottingham; Taylor and Collision, Great James street, Bedford-row, London. JAMES HARTLEY, draper, Colne, Lancashire. March 9, and 17, at eleven, at the Swan Inn, Bolton, Lancashire. Mile, Parry, Milne, and Morris, Temple, London ; Crossley and Sudlow, Man chester. JOHN STAFFORD, victualler, Glossop, Derbyshire, Feb. /4., and March 17, at twelve, at the Commissioners' Rooms, Manches ter. Clarke and Medcalf, Lincoln's-Inn-fiefs, London ; Higgin bottom and Buckley, Ashton-under-Lyne' Lancashire. WILLIAM BO ULTER, tobacconist, W or c.ester, Feb. 11, and March 17, at twelve, at the Unicorn Inn, Wol les ter. Dou g lass and Cragg, Verulam-buildings, Gray's-Inn, Lona.ln; Jones and Smith, Ledbury, Herefordshire. ALEXANDER FLETCHER. auctioneer, Redbrici . ". South ampton, Feb. 15, and March 17, at twelve, at the n Inn, §,uthampton. Randall and Eldridge, Southampton ; End Sanders, Elm-court, Temple, London. THOMAS LADYMAN. ironmonger, Liverpool, Feb. 16, and March 17, at one, at the Clarendon Rooms, Liverpool. Avison and Son, Liverpool; Adlington, Gregory, Faulkner, and Follett, Bedford-row, London. JOSEPH BUTCHER, chemist, Birmingham, Fel). 17, and March 17, at one, at Dee's Royal Hotel, Birmingham. Battye, Fisher, and Stidlow, Chancery-lane, London ; Cradock, Nuneaton ; Hebbert, Birmingham. DIVIDENDS, At the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall-street. W. H. Alexander and C. B. Richards, hardwaremen, Upper Clifton-street, Finsbury, Feb. 25, at two—J. W. and G. W. Col lison, linendrapers, Quadrant, Feb. 28, at twelve. In the Country. T. Stephens, malster, Westbury-upon-Severn, Gloucestershire, Feb. 27, at twelve, at the Lower George Inn, Gloucester—W. M. Clapp, ironmonger, Exeter, March 2, at twelve, at the George Inn, Exeter—R. Hides, grocer, Chesterfield, Feb. 27, at twelve, at Mr. George Saxton's, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire—C. Wright, innkeeper, Dovor, March 29, at two, at the Bell Inn, Sandwich— W. Dixon, draper, Scarborough, Yorkshire, Feb. 27, at ten, at the Commissioners'-rooms, Manchester—R. Woods, builder, Cain bridge, March 1, at twelve, at the Eagle Inn, Cambridge—W. Young, pawnbroker, Bath, March 6, at eleven, at the Castle and Ball Inn, Bath—R. P. Curran, cooper, Liverpool, March 1, attwo, at the Clarendon-rooms, Liverpool—J. Colbourne, merchant, Stur minster, Feb. 28, at one, at the Old Antelope Inn, Poole—M. Retemeyer, salt dealer, Liverpool, Feb. 25, at one, at the Claren don-rooms, Liverpool. CERTIFICATES.—Fza. 24. J. Bush and N. G. Prideaux, scriveners, Bristol—T. Taylor, cheesefactor, Topping's-wharf, Tooley-strct't, Southwark —J. Loader, furnishing ironmonger, Hangerford-street, Strand—F. Hutchinson, Epsom salt manufacturer, Heworth Chemical Works, Durham—B. Hogg, jun., cloth manufacturer, Armley, Leeds. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. H. M. Rimnel,i.:.l.l.faudeau, and P. J. G. A. Bessan, Rcgent-street—J. Danby and P. Taylor, carpenters, Banbury, Ox fordshire—G. and J. M. Sperling, attorneys-at-law, Halsted, Essex—J. Makin and R. Balshaw, muslin manufacturers ' Little Bolton, Lancashire—M. Rees, Eleanor Waldron. and J. M. Tho mas, linen drapers, Cardigan--E. Staveley and W. Dudley, archi tects, Nottingham—J. Squire and It Jeffrey, paper stainers, Great st. Helens—C. Neve and S. Misted, plumbers, Hastings—J. and M. Cornell, corndealers, Thaxted; Essex—J. Yates and E. Brod ribb, tea brokers, Liverpool—G. Harding and G. Prichard, book sellers, Chester—T. Bate, W. W. Yeld, and W. B. Dawes, malt sters, Stafford—J. Goody and J. Richardson, drapers, Chesterfield —G. Hitchcock, F. Rcgers, and R. Peeke, woollen drapers, Lud gate-street, London—J. Stripling, T. Bland,. and P. Chaloner, rope makers, Liverpool—Mary and M. Fletcher, tallow chandlers, Bolton-le-Moors, Lancashire—C. and H. Strange, wholesale cheese mongers, Bishopsgate-street—L. Woolf and H. Jonas, potters, Wapping-wall—J. Allen, G. Prise, and J. Fowle, merchants, Rye, Sussex (so far as regards G. Frise)—J. Meyer, J. Meyer, jun., and J. Meyer, tailors, Conduit-street, Hanover-square (solar as regards J. Meyer, sen. )—W. Stevens and E. Spencer, cloth workers, Dean-street, Soho—J. Gripper and J. Gripper, jun., wine mer chants, Hertford—J. Gripper and J. J. Gripper, malsters, Hert ford—J. Chadwick, S. Radcliffe, jun., and J. Radcliffe,, dealers in fustians, Manchester—J. Codling and T. B. Coulson, house painters, Grantham, Lincolnshire. PRICE .OF SUGAR , The Average Price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, computed from he Returns made in the week ending the 3lst day of January, 1837, is 34 IV. per Hundred Weight, exclusive of the Duties of Customs p od or payable thereon on the Importation thereof into Great Britain. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the New London Price Current of February 3.) SeeAn.-The request for British Plantation has been very moderate, and the importers have submitted in some instances to a reduction of 6d. for the brown and mid. yellow descrip tions, but in the prices of the good and fine qualities there has not been the least change ; the demand has l;cen principally for the descriptions suitable for the pan, at 565. a 575. ; at auction, 125 hhds. Barbadoes went at rather law prices, and sold at 61s. to 675. 6d. for ord. to fine. For Refined goods there has been an improved request from the grocers ; 78s. paid for Lumps to pass, a.nd 775. for those rather under the standard; the export descriptions have been in rather better demand, and several parcels of fine Crushed, for immediate delivery, and three weeks on,. brought 365. a 365. 6d., and one refiner has sold about 1,700 e.wt. at Wis., to, be delivered in all February. Hamburg Loaves were also in request for shipping at 395.. to 405., which latter price has since been refused for some just passing the standard, the Refined wanting 41s. In Dutch Crushed there ha been no thing done, and the price remains at 345. MAURITIUS.-This afternoon the public sales of 3,946 bags went off without spirit, the prices of the good and fine sorts were fully supported, but low. and mid. qualities sold at a decline of Is., strong grey for the pan went at 565. Gd. to 575. 6d., mid, yellow 545. 6d. to 575., good mid. and good bright yellow 58s. to 605., fine 635. kormoN.-For the best qualities of Havannah there has Bern a good demand, and 600 to 700 boxes yellow at 265. 6d. to 275. ler mid. and good, and 245. 6d. for ord. ; at public s - rle 820 boxes of the former, the principal part of which was in very indifferent condition, sold at 31$. a 31s. Gd.. for ord. and good mid., and 295. for very inferior soft quality.. MOLASSES.-The transactions in West India have been only a parcel of fair Demerara at 265. 6d. a 275. OlLs.-Linseed Oil has gone off heavily at 365. 6d. For Rape the request has been moderate at 48s. 6d. a 495. for pale, and 48s. for brown. Sperm has been in good demand at 811. a 821. SALTPETRE.—Strong dry refraction 3 a 4: 3 ,- selling at 265. TURPENTINE.—For Spirits the request continues moderate, although there are ready sellers at 725. a 735. Of Rough, 1,000 barrels have been taken at 125., but 13s. is now de manded for the next parcel to arrive. TALLOW.—There has been a good request for consumption, and the prices have again advanced; sales of P. Y. Candle on the spot made at 455. a 455. 3d., but for spring delivery the Market has been quiet, and the quotation has fallen to 425. 6d. COTTON. — The sales this week consist of 150 Surat 4*d. to 51d., and 80 Bengal Od. to 4:ld. Fatirr.—At public stile 76 butts and 22 crtls. Patras Cur rants, bad to slight damaged sold 695. to 735. per cwt. ; 23 butts 1 crtl. Cephalonia ditto damaged 635. to 655., oil da maged 625., and about 13,000 drums Turkey pulled Figs, only a few lots sold of good to fine Eleme 106 s. to 1225., and a parcel privately at 60s. ; for Denias in baskets there is rather more enquiry. This afternoon at public sale 1,030 boxes 908 f-boxes and 135 barrels Raisins were offered, only a part of which found buyers, red Smyrna in barrels at 385., benia in boxes 405., and Eleme in i-boxes 48s. SPICES.—The business done in Pepper has been on a limited scale at a reduction on previous rates of id. a Id. ; at auction 1,676 bags Ceylon, Malabar kind, went at 3d. for even half heavy, and 3d. for superior. This afternoon at public sale 25 chests Cassia Lignea sold at 60s. for fair quality ; 950 bags Pimento were nearly all taken in at 30. a 30., being previ ous rates. _ _ Rim—The request for East India is still moderate, and of 4,500 bags at auction only a very small portion found buyers at a reduction of Gd. a Is., mid. and good white Bengal selling at 13s. a 13s. 6d. COCOA.—Trinidad ord. went at 435. to 465., good grey taken in at 505., and fine red at 60s. Foreign is neglected, and 200 bags Brazil at auction were taken in at 50s. for good red. COFFEE.—Jamaica 78s. a 91s. for fine fine ord., 70s. a 755. for good ord. Ceylon at public sale were all disposed of at fully previous Market rates, good ord. at 675. 6d. a 70s. Of 713 bags Brazil offered at auction only 150 bags were disposed of at late prices, good ord. coloury 495. 6d. a 50s. 6d., good ord. pale taken in at 48i. This afternoon at auction 254 bales of Mocha, all of which were disposed of at rather stiffer prices, mid. sold at GBs. Gd. a 70s. Gd. Jamaica of clean quality sold dearer, and went at 105 s, a 106 s. for good middling. PROVISIONS.—This branch of trade continues in a very lan guid and depressed state, though during the last few days rather more inclination has been evinced on the part of the buyers to do business. . TEA.—Twankays have declined id per pound. Canton Boheas but little in d e m an d•at 61d, say 2s Old per lb duty paid. LAC DTE.—At auction this day 50 chests of ord was all taken in at is Ifd a is 2d. METALS.—Spelter is dull of sale at £l6 10s on the spot.—. In East India Tin little done, and the prices remain at 90s. for Banca, and 85s. for Straits. TosAcco.-200 hhds. of country damaged Kentucky have been taken for Belgium at 17s. a 19s. 6d. The invitations from the President of the Royal Society, the Duke of Sussex, were in the course of distribu tion on Wednesday. The first party will be on the 11th inst., at Kensington Palace; and the following ones on the 11th of March, the 13th of May, and the 10th of June. Lord Ponsonby, his Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople, having obtained leave to come home for a short time on urgent private affairs, Sir C. 'Vaughan, late his Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Washington, is about to proceed to Constantinople as Am bassador Extraordinary whilst Lord Ponsonby is away : it not being thought right to leave so important a post without an Ambassador. But Lord Ponsonby's absence will only be temporary, and will probably not exceed a few months.-- Evening Paper.—[This confirms the information we pub lished on Saturday.] Wednesday the revived burletta of the Two Figaro' s was again performed at the Olympic Theatre. Madame Ves trig and Mr. Liston having resumed their requisite parts, we need hardly state that the performance went off triumphantly. There is but little doubt that such a lively piece, so well sup ported, will continue to attract—or in the more expressive technicality of the stage—to have a run. The house was, as usual, well attended. Mr. Winston Barron, M.P., has paired off' with the Hon. Colonel Dawson Darner, until the 14th of Feb. Both gentlemen are suffering from influenza, and are in Paris at present. The Countess of Pembroke and Lady Herbert are on the eve of leaving for Paris, where they contymplate so! journing some time.