The Sun. — London, England, 1837-02-28 00:00:00

enormous expenditure lessened ? His opinion was, that if Hon. Gentlemen had attended the meetings at which petitions werellget up, and had given themselves the tr.:AAA:I or ascer taining how this Bill had worked, they wonid have changed their minds. In every single instance which had arose under his observation, when a full inquiry was made, persons for merly against the Bill expressed themselves in favour of it, and admitted they had no idea that it would work so well as it had done. With respect to the union in which he resided, no Bill could possibly work better. It had been maintained that the medical attendance was in general insufficient. G o d forbid th at t h e poor when in illness sould not have all the aid necessary. He could only say that in that union in which he lived, the poor, even in the most remote villages, were suf. ciently attended. One of the provisions was, that no man in health, however distressed in circumstances, should receive relief except he went into the workhouse. That was a rule which might occasionally be relaxed with advantage. Colonel SII3TH ORP observed that the Hon. Member for Cirencester contended that the operation of the Act had been generally- beneficial to the poor. How was it, then, that the poor so strongly objected to it ? It was not usual for a man to quarrel with his bread and butter. If even in such an union as that over which the Hon. Member for Cirencester presided, it had been found necessary to aid the working of the new system by voluntary contributions, and a relaxation of some of the provisions of the Act, what must be the case in unions not under such able superintendence ? The very name of a Commissioner was discordant to his ears ; and when he saw that the Commissioners appointed to carry the act into execution cost the country 38,0001. or 39,0001. a-year, he had a right to ask if it was not possible to do without them ; and he, therefore, preferred the motion of the Honourable Member for Berkshire to the amendment of the Noble Lord, as the former would afford the means of a fuller investigation of the subject. There seemed a disposi tion to shrink from inquiry: But if the principle of the Bill were so good as it was maintained by its advocates to be, why not go into an inquiry which would establish its excellence ? The opposition to the inquiry proved that the measure was not quite so good as it should be. Since this question had been mooted he had made it his business to obtain much information iii connection with it, and he had visited various places in Search of information. In one county he had found the case of an aged man, against whose conduct there existed no im putation whatever. This man was eighty-four years of age, and he was receiving a weekly allowance—this man (observed the Gallant Officer) " at the close of his life was receiving is. 6d. per week, and two loaves weighing two pounds." He found another in the same parish, aged 78 years, re ceiving the same weekly stipend. Another aged man, with his wife, was receiving 3s. per week and four loaves. Another man, aged 77, 2s. and four loaves. The Honour able and Gallant Officer proceeded (as we understood) to argue that if the poor -rates were much reduced from the amount which they had formerly been, the landlords would raise their rents in a proportionate manner, because hitherto the complaint had been that the occupiers paid perhaps 10s. in the pound poor -rates. He should support the motion of his Hon. Friend the Member for Berkshire. Mr. ALSTON found the general results of that Act as ap plied to Hertfordshire decidedly opposed to the statements made by the Hon. Member for Berks. He was confident that in Hertfordshire the present law had proved to the poor the source, and the only source, of the greatest possible improve talent that had ever fallen to the lot of the lower classes. In the county of Hertford (he quoted that county particularly, because if he was not greatly mistaken it was as dense in point of acreage as any other countv)—in the county of Hertford the results of the unions 'of parishes, &c., were as follow :—ln the union of the town of Hertford, where the usual average annual amount of expenditure, previous to the new Poor-law Act coming into operation, was (as we understood) 8,2021. That amount was now re uced to 3,054/. ss. 4 d. ; and he had the autho rity of a letter of Sir C. Smith (for he was sure that gentle man would not object to his name being mentioned) to allow that whereas formerly no person could approach Hert ford without seeing a number of wandering, idle, unfed per sons, it was now scarcely possible to find any such persons. He had been an active Magistrate in this county for some Eve-and -twenty or thirty years ; and since this law had come into operation not a single complaint had been made to him from any pauper. Then, as to the union of Bishop Stort ford, which comprehended twenty parishes, he had a letter from the Vice-Chairman of that union, in which he informed him that the able-bodied paupers had completely disappeared, as if by magic. There were now only seven men from the twenty parishes comprehended in the union receiving relief out of the house. In this parish of Stortford there had been, on an average, fifty or sixty in the workhouse or re ceivingrelief ; that number, under the new system, was re duced to three. In the union of Watford, which included seven parishes, an immense reduction of expenditure had also taken place ; and no complaint whatever had been made. In Royston, which was a very large union, the public could not find labour sufficient to meet the demand. This Bill which he had watched with the greatest possible attention, had Worked well from its commencement ; no complaint haci been made in Royston—no dissatisfaction was evinced —and the rates bad been reduced more than one-third. The Honour able Gentleman, having expressed his conviction of the bene ficial result s which had attended the operation of this Act, bore the most flattering testimony to the un rem itti ng exer tions of the P oor Law Commissioners. Mr. ROBINSON had always held that his Majesty's Ministers were entitled to the thanks of this country for grap pling with this important question. He a d m i tte d t h at t h ere ad been a great saving in the poor-rate, and a considerable improvement in the condition of the labouring population (Hear)—but it remained to be proved that all these happy re sults were fairly attributable to the operation of the new law. Hear.) Whilst he admitted that there had been a consider able saving in the poor-rates since that measure passed into a law, he totally denied that the whole reduction of 2,400,000/. Was to be attributed to its operation ; because, as he could show from papers he held in his hand, there had continued to be a c onsiderable diminution in the amount of poor-rates ever since 181 8. He believed the truth to be between the two extremes Pointed out on the one hand by the Hon. Member for Berk- Sh ire, and by the Noble Lord the H ome S ecretary on the Othe r , Much of the good it had wrought ought, in his opinion, to be attributed to the peculiar prosperity of the times in which it was brought into operation. Whenever a change took place, 4 " difficult times ensued, he feared, if carried out to its utmost ri g o ur, it would be found to operate with great hardship on the too l *---( Hear.) As regarded the qu es ti on i mmed i ately before House, he could not help viewing it as a misfortune that the Noble Lord should have moved an amendment to a motion which he declared did not substantially differ from that which vrished t o see carr i e d. H e f eared that the effect of the Noble Lord's amendment would be to fetter the inquiry, and to prevent a full and fair inquiry into every part of the subject. *---( Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord said, " you may have an Belt but I will not allow you to t ouc h t h e pr i nciple of the • , Why, if half the statements made that night and on the former evening when the same subject was under discus lion were true, there would, ho apprehended, be no possibility "inducing the Committee to touch the principle of the Bill. -- (t - leer.) He objected to much of the workhouse discipline, t 4 ",te many of the provisions of the Bill, especially to the has aruy clause, which he could never regard without feelings of ~orror and disgust.—(Heax.) He trusted that the Hon. f l etnber for Berkshire and the Noble Lord the Home Secre tary would find some common terms for a resolution in which t -e Y could m u t ua ll y agree, rat h er than allow the House to go ° a division on a question on which it was stated there was no substanti a l di fference of opinion. Unless some arrangement Hhe kind were made he should feel bound to vote with the on. Member for Berkshire.—( Hear.) t Mr. EDWARD BULL ER quoted a number of instances o show the beneficial op eration of the Bill. At Stoke- u p on - Trent t h e system had not been introduced untilit was found to be i mpracticable to go on upon the old system, in cense litterice of the disputes continually arising amongst the parish Officers, the vestry,- Minand the rate-payers. The disputes deter ed the parish to apply to the Poor-law Commissioners to intercede wish the then authority, and the affairs of the parish proceeded with advantage to all parties. The Honourable and Learned Member for Southwark had said that although it might be true the Commissioners bad saved two millions of money in the expeediture of the Poor-rates, yet it had been wrung from the patriarch, the matron, and the infirm. They had forced them to surrender 25 per cent. of their pittance. Was the Hon. and Learned Member for Southwark so utterly unacquainted with the transactions in the towns and cities ? Had he passed the whole of his days in some peaceful valley, or in some Arcadian shade, that he knew nothing of the job bing of parish officers ?—that he knew nothing of the for tunes. that sere realised by the distribution of the parochial rune s e • thesle_ .—( Hear.) Had lie known nothing of men once filling e offices haying been put in nomination to be sheriffs of pe chief city of the empire ?—( Hear, hear. )—lt was because th o Commissi oners had put an end to these jobbines that a great porti on o f the opposition to the new law had arisen. Before the Bill was brought into operation, the greater part ;7the labourers throughout the southern counties were liers. In twelve parishes in East Kent the able-bodied vyers, before the operation of the Bill, were no less than e7ro--the number was now reduced to five.—( Hear, hear, 7 e 4 ;) In Sussex, before the Bill, 6,100 able-bodied paupers v:wed parish relief; the number was now reduced to 124. tv,,±Lar, hear, hear.) The question issue simply was this— the three Commissioners atSomersethouse, and the Board s Commissioners throughout England, had the g%t, as of Guardians in the different unions combined to ee to üblish in their reports a collection of falsehoods be.—falsehoods so gross and palpable, that they must have e ° Immediately detected ; or had they given to the House tit 11 lqei c ountry a st a t ement of facts—had they, in sh o rt, told the,,l tr y a ?—(Cries o f " H ear, hear. " )-11 they had, to the if ever th ere was a measure fraught with advantage country—if ever there was a measure which was eialeulatecl to raise the condition of the labouring popula eoumne—if ever therb was a measure adapted to increase their Ara tort', or improve their character, it was the Bill for the N7ndment of the Poor-laws.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) away BE AUCLERK said, while he was anxious to do to dy with the abuses of the old law, he was equally anxious ts _ S t,op short of that part of the amended law which violated il'ieptTst feelingg of humanity. The principle of the amended tlo.,'„,hon Conceived to be to give assistance to those who were olo il a ul to work, and to those who, being able, had not the thmeans of reciting it. But if in giving ast.i-tane e they forced cri T l iiltoor into theb workhouses, they did neither more nor less, what they Would would, than force them into prison -houses. Ile Principle tr . s . to the Committee, then, to carry out the salutary r aea t ris o f . , giving assistance to the poor, nitliout rendering it essential° °PPression. . A full and fair inquiry was absolutely Sir STRATFORD CANNING thought this was not the p ro per time for dismissi ng the merits of the new Poor-law. en. th e one re sulted fromthee it was evident th at a vast d ea l o f goo d h a d rati on; but 0 new law d ur i ng the time it had been in ope n the other side it seemed to be apprehended that the value of the benefits obtained, and the diminution of Pqor iates, were counterbalanced by the hardship of its pressure on the poor. All parties appeared agreed that an inquiry by a Committee was desirable ; the only question was as to the extent of that inquiry. He should support the proi , oitien of the Noble Lord opposite. Sir S. WHAL LE Y also supported the Noble Lord's amendment, Sir R. PEE L said the eetil titiestien at lone lay within the narrowest tompess, atid he could express his own opinion upon it As well or better in five minutes than in two hours. The whole question turned on this—What would be produced on the public mind by the course of the House on this occasion ? —( Hear, hear.) The terms of the one motion might differ very little from the terms of the other. The inquiry to take place in pursuance of the one, might differ little from that in. stituted under the other. The real question was, what would be the construction put upon the vote of the House by the public—by those for whom the law was administered—by those who administered it? If it were intended to repeal the new Poor-law Act to prejudice its operation, their course was per fectly clear.—(Hear, hear.) If, on the other hand, it were intended to maintain that Act, to give the moral aid of tl e support of that house to those who had to administer the very difficult and important functions entrusted to the Poor law Commissioners, the House ought to be most exceedingly cautious how they did anything likely to create in the public mind a suspicion that the House had doubts upon the subject of this measure, or wished to shrink.from the responsibility of allowing its operation to be continued. The great object of the change in the Poor-laws was not to save expense. He should attach very little importance to the benefits derivable from the measure if they were confined to a mere diminution of the poor-rates.—( Hear, hear.) When he heard it stated that a savin g of one, two, or three millions a year, had already been effected by this measure, he was far from under valuing so important a result, feeling, as he did, that no reduction in unwise expenditure could be made without doing a vast good to the labouring classes—( Hear, hear)--but the great object which he had contemplated in advocating the measure was to improve the moral condition of the people, to give them a feeling of independence, to open be fore them the prospect that by industry, combined with good moral character, there would be a certainty of their being able to provide, in an independent and honourable manner for their own subsistence and that of their families.—( Hear, hear.) Having given to the measure his cordial support, he must say that he had hitherto heard no facts stated of a nature to induce hint to repent of that support, or incline him to take any step likely to prejudice the operation of the measure.—(Hear, hear.) It was not in the course of things to expect other than that the alteration in the law,the attempt to do away with abuses so long and firmly established, would have to encounter a vast deal of opposition, not only on the part of the many persons interested in the maintenance of the old abuses, but on the part of many well-meaning persons, whose compassionate feelings would be excited by instances of individual hardship or suf fering.--( Hear, hear.) From these different parties a great deal of opposition to the measure was inevitable ; and if those who were entrusted with the management of the mea sure had had reason to believe that the support of one branch of the Legislature was taken from them, their diffi culties would be aggravated in a tenfold degree; and it was, therefore, most essential to avoid doing anything which should excite in the public any suspicion as to the efficacy of the prin ciple, or that the House meditated its retractation.—( Hear, hear.) It was impossible, in the effectual working of this measure, to avoid many cases of individual hardship ; and it was most desirable that the nature and extent of these cases should be accurately ascertained, in order that it might be seen how those cases could be best remedied, and also to ascertain by what mode of mitigating the severities of the operation of the Act, its general efficacy might be in creased.--( Hear, hear.) In reference to the propositions before the House, while he greatly respected the motive which he was sure had operated with his Hon. Friend be hind him in bringing forward the original motion—a mo tion which he felt convinced owed its origin to a sincere de sire on the part of the Hon. Member to benefit ,those who were so well entitled to the sympathy and earnest considera tion of Parliament—yet he could not help differing entirely from the Hon. Gentleman as to the impression which that motion was calculated to produce on the public mind. He did not hesitate to say, and he was bound to give his frank opinion, whatever unpopularity might attach to it—he did not hesitate to say that being, as he was, uncontroverted from his Original conviction as to the principle of the measure, he felt that it was entitled to a full and fair trial. The evils which it had for its object to remove were of the most disastrous cha racter, not only to property, but to the independence and moral condition of the poorer classes, and he should, therefore, give his support to the amendment of the Noble Lord, which seemed best calculated to maintain the principle of the measure, and tended to increase its efficacy, Mr. ROEBUCK was one of the early supporters of the measure ; and he begged to assure th e H on . M em b er f o r Southwark that he voted for it with a perfect knowledge of what he was doing. He adhered to the principle then laid down ; and had heard no argument or evidence adduced in this House or elsewhere, calculated to make him now shrink from the principle which he recognised and openly avowed at the time when the Bill was originally introduced. Many Hon. Gentlemen who professed a great regard for the la bouring classes had impugned this Bill as a cruel and i n h uman Bill. He should gi ve it his support—not because it had di minished the parochial expenditure—but for reasons which he considered of much greater importance. There were two classes of persons who were included under the name of the labouring classes : these were the industrious poor, and the poor who were not industrious.—(Hear, hear, hear.) Now he believed that the interests of the industrious poor were deeply involved in this Bill, and it was as a friend of the industrious poor that he would vote for the maintenance of the principle of the Bill. He had been ad dressed personally and called on to explain how he could con sistently support the principle of self-government and at the same time the principle of centralization to be found in the measure under discussion. He would reply, that nothing was easier. He divided the Bill into two parts—first, there were the regulations which it provided, and next there was the machinery by which they were to be carried into effect. He was prepared to support the principle on which the regulations were founded. There were two difficulties before them. There was the formidable one of any man being allowed to suffer from want; and there was the great difficulty of making such a provision against want as would not have the effect of destroying the industry of the population.--( Hear, hear.) He wished to relieve want, and in doing so to avoid generating idle habits.—( Hear, hear, hear.) He thought they ought to give relief to all who really wanted it, but not in such a way as to induce them to neglect the means of pro viding by honest industry against a state of destitution. With this view he would draw a distinction between the classes re- ceiving relief. There were the old and impotent poor, and the industrious and able-bodied poor. Now, he had no personal knowledge of the fact, but he had received some account from his constituents, of whom he had made inquiries on the sub ject, in which he found a contradiction of the assertions made this night, and on the former night of the debate, for his con stituents told him that in th e i r ne i g hb our h oo d a large body of the old and impotent poor were maintained out of the house ( Hear, hear.) He believed that to be the principle of the 13111. He hoped that the poor never would be taken into the workhouse indiscriminately ; but he conceived it to be quite necessary that the able-bodied poor should receive their relief in the workhouse.—( Hear, hear.) He had now a few words to say with respect to the machinery of the Bill. Some of the Honourable Gentlemen who had spoken on this subject would make them believe that the question of relief was one which solely interested those persons in the parish who gave relief to the poor belonging to that parish. He for one, would resist this view. He would say that the poor be longed to the nation. The provision for them was a national concern, and it ought not to be left to any locality to say whe ther they would relieve the poor or not. It was a principle of the State that none should die of want, and he would not yield that to any locality whatever. Ile therefore thought the Legislature had done wisely in creating a set of Commis sioners, who would exercise the necessary control to enforce certain fixed principles, while they left to the locality to decide with respect to the particular persons who should receive re lief. In conclusion, the Hon. and Learned Gentleman would oppose the motion of the Hon. Member for Berkshire. Sir.JAMES GRAHAM said, having taken an anxious part in the original discussions on this measure, were it ten times more unpopular than he believed it to be, he should be ashamed of himsellf n if, on the present occasion, he shrunk from taking his full share of any odium that might attach to its supporters. He had stated his opinion as to the general policy and the particular enactments of the Bill, and the result of his expe rience was, that he not only approved of the general policy, but he considered the particular enactments indispensable. fie did not think this a fit opportunity for discussing the po licy of the Bill. The inquiry as proposed by the Noble Lord the Secretary for the Home Department appeared to him satisfactory. An idea prevailed in the county he repre sented that no good would result from an extension of the measure to his district. lie differed from his constituents in that respect, and he was convinced that by an inquiry into the subject—but it must be a full inquiry—he was convinced, he said, that if they went into an investigation of the peculiar circumstances of his county, his constituents would be satisfied that the measure would be found most salutary there as well as in other places. lie should give his most cordial instead of his reltn;tant support to the amendment amendment of the Noble Lord.—( Hear, hear.) • The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER should he ready on the part of his Noble Friend, feeling the immense importance of an unanimous opinion, to adopt the suggestions thrown out, if lie did not feel that, for the purpose of purchasing that unanimity, he was endangering the principle itself, if not within the House, most as suredly without the walls,—(Hear, hear.) He considered that danger to be much lessened by the course which they proposed to take. His Noble Friend, when he originally in troduced the measure, took his stand with perfect reliance on its justice, its policy, and expediency. He believed that the point which remained for consideration was whether they ;vere disposed to go into a full and fair, and just inquiry into the operation of the Bill. With regard to this part of the s'irb ject, he begged to say that it was not noW the intention of his Noble friend, nor was it his intention, in moving the amend rpent, to exclude from the inquiry any one question that was not directly oppo'ed to the principle of the Bill.—( Hear, hear.) He would try the case by the question put by the Right Hon. Baronet ( Sir J. Graham.) He said it was a question whether this Bill ought to be applied to the northern parts of England, and he wished to know whether that was a matter which might be considered and discussed in this Com mittee. His reply as that that Was really within the fair scope and object of the Ccrnmittee of his Noble Friend ; and so far from seeking to elude such an inquiry, he believed that the result would be as favourable as the result of the whole inquiry would be favourable to the principle of the Bill ; and that in stead of shaking the confidence of the people in the adminis- TILL SUN, IAiNDON, TUESDA V, FEBRUARY 28, 1837 SPIIUT OF THE PUBLIC JOUNALS tration of the Poor-lay. s, it would increase their confidence and confirm the measure in their good opinion. It was stated on Friday night by the Hon. and Learned Member for South *ark, that he had presented a petition, not important, perhaps, dii Accatint tii itS numerical strength, but entitled to great weight, inasmuch as it was signed by gentlemen of great in fluence, the Guardians of the P o or in the large parish of St. George, Southwark. The lion. Member said that these Guafdiatis, Comprising eighteen persons, at the head of their district, had remonstrated ageing the introduction of the Act into their parish, and objected to being conipellcd to admi nister its provisions, and their petition was presented by the Hon. Gentleman as against the Poor-law Amendment Act. Now, how stood the fact ? It was true that there was a Board of Guardians in that parish. But the petition was agreed to at a meeting of which no notice with reference to the petition had been given : it was agreed to at eleven o'clock at night; and so far from the meetin g having consisted of the eigh teen members of the Board of Guardians, there were only seven of the eighteen members present, and only five of those seven voted in favour of' the petition.—( Cheers.) Yet that petition, signed by five persons out of the eighteen, and agreed to at eleven o'clock at night, was presented to this House by the Hon. Member for Southwark' as the petition of eigh teen Guardians of the Poor; and on such grounds as those were the people of England to be called on to oppose the Act ? Mr. R. PALMER was sure nothing would satisfy his con stituents short of a full and impartial inquiry. Mr. G. F. YOUNG rose amid such loud cries of " Ques tion " and " Divide," that his observations were not heard for several minutes. We understood him to say that he had joined with the Hon. Member for Berkshire in giving his conscientious and continued opposition to the new Poor-law Act when it was before the House, and he would now support the Hon. Gentleman's motion fur inquiry into its operation. He had ever considered that that Act violated the inalienable right of every Englishman—namely, the right to receive sup port from the soil on which he lived. He regarded it as a measure repugnant to every law and feeling of human na ture._( Cries of " Question.") Mr. WA KLE Y said, if an inquiry took place it was a mat ter of importance that it should be a free and full inquiry, and pursued without any feelings of excitement. He hoped that the Honourable Member for Berkshire would withdraw his motion, as he thought that it was of great importance that the House should be unanimous. Mr. HARDY then rose to address the House, but could not be heard for several minutes in consequence of the cries of " Question" and " Divide." He wished to ask the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer one ques tion. Would the inquiry be allowed to extend to the question of the bastardy clause ? This part of the subject had hardly been noticed. It did not appear that any instructions on the subject had been promulgated by the Commissioners. If the Right Hon. Gentleman would allow tho inquiry to extend to this part he (Mr. Hardy) would vote withhitn. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that the inquiry would be incomplete if it did not extend to the operation of these clauses ; therefore it certainly would be em braced in the inquiry ; at the same time he begged to add that be was convinced that the inquiry into this part of the subject was so extended as to lead to the same results as all the other branches. Captain BOL DE RO wished to state a fact. He was ac quainted with a certain parish in Wiltshire in which there was a very large benefit society, one of the members of which was visited with a disease which was very fashionable.---, (Shouts of laughter for several minutes, and loud and conti nued cries of " Name I") The question he wished to put was one of great interest to the whole kingdom.—( Cries of " Name l") This person when he got diseased applied to the parish for relief, and was told to apply to the benefit club he belonged to. What was the consequence ?—(Cries of " Name 1") Hon. Members called upon him to name. He would name the place.—(Cries of " No, no 1 the disease.") The society had a meeting, and came to a resolution that ra ther than allow their funds to go towards a diminution of the poor-rates, they would dissolve the society. The result was, that they did so: and the funds, amounting to between 8001. and 9001., were divided amongst the members. If these societies were thus allowed to be treated they would be dis solved, and thus great injustice would be done to the indus trious classes. He hoped that the inquiry would extend to this part of the subject. He trusted also that paupers would be allowed to attend their own places of worship. Mr. WALTER replied. He observed that if the Noble Lord or the Right Hon. Gentleman had stated on Friday one half of what had been asserted that night, a great deal of time would have been saved. This discussion had, in his opinion, obtained such concessions of importance from the opposite side, that he did not mean to press his motion to a division. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER remarked that the Hon. Member for Berkshire seemed to be of opinion that concessions had been made to him, which, if made at an earlier period, would have saved the House a good deal of trouble. He had made precisely the same statement which the Noble Lord had made at an early part of the debate.—( Hear.) The amendment was then withdrawn, and the original mo tion was agreed to. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that the Noble Lord (the Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment) had been prevented by indisposition from being present. It was the intention of his Noble Friend to have moved for a Committee of twenty-one Members. The subject was con sidered to be so serious, that it was thought to require a larger number of Members than were in ordinary cases moved for. He proposed that the Committee should consist of the follow ing Members :—Lord John Russell, Mr. Walter, Mr. Faza kerly, Sir James Graham, Mr. Poulett Scrope, Mr. Baines, Mr. Hume, Sir Thomas Fremantle, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Est court, jun., Mr. Ponsonby, Mr. J. Loch, Mr. Wakley, Sir 0. Mosley, Mr. Villiers, Mr. Miles, Mr. Barneby, Mr. Gordon, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Hodges (of Kent), and Mr. Chichester.—Mo tion agreed to. Mr. 'WALTER then stated his determination not to act in the Committee, and said that it was his intention to have proposed the following names as a Committee if his motion had been agreed to :—Lord J. Russell, Sir R. Peel, the Marquis of Chandos, Sir J. Hobliouse, Lord Granville Somerset, Lord Ashley, Lord Stanley, Sir J. Graham, Sir C. Burrell, Col. Wood, Mr. R. Palmer, Mr. Stanley, (of Cumberland), Major Beauclerk, Mr. L. Hodges, Honourable E. Law, Mr. Fazakcrly, Mr. C. Canning, Mr. Alderman Woed, Mr. Morrison, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Hall, Mr. Robinson, Mr. G. F. Young, 'Mr. J. Fielden, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. T. Attwood, Sir S. Whalley, Mr. D. W. Harvey, Mr. Wakley, and Mr. Etwall. EDUCATION (IRELAND). On the motion of Mr. WYSE, the following Committee were nominated :—Mr. Wyse, Lord Viscount Morpeth, Mr. Shaw, Mr. S. W. O'Brien, Lord Viscount Mahon, Sir Ro bert Ferguson, Mr. Mackinnon, Mr. Jephson, Mr. Vesey, Sir It. Mulgrave, Mr. J. Young, Dr. Bowring, Mr. Macken zie, Sir C. Lemon, and Mr. M. J. O'Connell. OFFENCE AGAINST THE PERSON BILL. Mr. TREVOR moved the second reading of this Bill. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed it lle stated that it was the intention of Government to introduce a general measure upon the subject. Mr. TREVOR stated that, after such a declaration, he felt bound to withdraw his motion. Upon the motion of Mr. WALLACE, returns relative to Courts in Scotland were ordered. STAMP DUTIES ON THE ADMISSION OF FREEMEN. Mr. WILLIAMS moved for leave to bring in a Bill to re peal the Stamp Duties on the admiesim of freemen to the freedom of cities and boroughs in England and Wales. Mr. R. WASON seconded the motion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER felt bound to oppose the motion, not on financial, but on political grounds. Mr. FORBES supported the Bill. Mr. P. HOWARD regretted that the Bill did not meet with the support of his Majesty's Ministers. He looked upon it simply as an act of justice, and would support it. Mr. H. WARD also supported the Bill. Colonel SIBTHORP did not think that he would be jus tified in supporting the Bill. After a few words from Mr. A TnEvon, Mr. Git.r.oN, and Colonel THOMPSON, in favour of the Bill, and from Mr. Wm.. LIAMS in reply, leave was given to bring in the Bill. JOINT-STOCK BANKS. dr. HUME wished to know from the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the committee on joint-stock banks had commenced their inquiry, and, if so, what progress they made? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER considered it would bw irregular for any individual to communicate to the House what proceedings had taken place in any committee till the chairman made a report, and still more irregular when it was a committee of secrecy ; but he might he permitted to say that witnesses were under examination, and that the com mittee were prosecuting the inquiry with due zeal and industry. BREVET PROMOTIONS. Mr. HUME postponed his motion relative to the late bre vet till Wednesday, and stated that it was his intention to bring it forward. on that day, and take the sense of the House on the subject.--,Adjourned at half-past twelve. A letter of the 16th inst., from Munich, states that several apartments are being prepared in the palace of the Duke of Leuchtenberg, for the reception of the Duchess of Braganza, who is to leave Lisbon for Bavaria. MR. THOMAS CAMPBELL.. —This distinguished poet is one of the very few writers who have Len accused, and justly, of coining too seldom before the public. We are glad, 'therefore, to find this favourite of every class of readers re-appearing upon the stage—and in the character of a travel ler—by the publication of his " Letters from the ,South." He is right welcome. Ile has laid us under fresh obligations to him. These letters, of which the public have had various specimens, are the result of fifteen months of travel, and they are among the most charming productions of his pen. His subject matter is full of interest, and he presents everything the lightest, freest, and most graceful style. CHEAP itE-PUBLICATION OF MR. BURKE'S liisToar OF THE COMMONERS.-It is already known to the majority of the public that Mr. Burke, whose new edition of his splendid and valuable t* Peerage and Baronetage" is just. now attracting universal attention, has for the last two or three years- had, in course of publication, a companion history of the " Landed Gentry." Thirteen Parts of this work have now been published, end the remaining three are nearly completed, and we are glad to find that, in conse qoe&e of the approaching termination of the largo paper e dition, Mr. Burke has now commenced a cheaper re-imbrica tion, on smaller paper, to be completed, a l so , in s i x t een monthly Parts, commencing March I. As the first edition was ton expensive for general circulation, we congratulate the public on this re-impression at a very moderate price (4s. 6d. each Part)—so that no one need, in future, hesitate on the acquisi tion of this invaluable memorial of his country's eminence in wealth, talent, honors, and achievements. Sir Robert Peel has not disappointed us. It will be seen that he last night, in a short but most appropriate speech, supported the amendment :—" For if," said the Right Hon. Baronet, "it were intended to maintain the Act, to give the moral aid of the support of that House to those who had to administer the very difficult and important functions entrusted to the Poor-law Commissioners, the House ought to be exceedingly cautious how they created in the public mind a suspicion that they had doubts upon the subject of this measure, or wished to shrink from the responsibility of allowing its operation to be continued." He added, that " having given to the measure his cordial support, he must say that he had hitherto heard no facts stated of a nature to induce him to repent of that support, or incline him to take any step likely to prejudice the opera tion of the measure." It will be seen that while many Members, from their own experience, bore testimony to the great benefits produced by the Bill, little more than hear say, and that confined to particular instances of hardship, was stated against it. Mr. Walter (lid not press his mo tion to a division, and a Committee was named by the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, and agreed to.— Morn. Chronicle. The stupid discussion about the Poor-laws, that ought not to have occupied an hour and a half of the time of any assemblage of rational or sensible men, unprejudiced by party feeling, terminated last night by the adoption of the amendment of Lord John Russell. Sir Robert Peel made the only apparently honest speech that lie was ever beard to deliver ; but it requires no stretch of imagination to per ceive that the honesty of the Right Hon. Baronet is just _ . . as fairly to be attributed to the part which he played when the Poor-law Amendment Bill was passing through the House, as to any desire to support his Majesty's Ministers. Lord John Russell was absent during the debate, owing to indisposition ; but his place was very ably supplied by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who officiated for bim.— Morning Advertiser. If, at the termination of the financial year, which has now but another month to run, the surplus of the revenue should be such as the past quarters have given good ground to anticipate, the country will naturally enough look loolC to a further relief., from taxation, as one feature in the forth coming Budget. 'As usual, different interests may be ex pected to put in their claims for the boon. The three suggestions which as yet stand most prominent are, the malt tax, the window tax, and the remaining impost upon soap. The last appears to have an irresistible claim to attention—first, as an article of universal consumption, which it is desirable should be furnished at the lowest pos sible price ; and, secondly, because it has been undeniably proved, by those best acquainted with the manufacture, that the present duty is evaded to an extent alike injurious to.the revenue, and ruinous to the fair trader. In advocating the repeal of this duty, however, we would wish to see some security, that, ifrepealed, its amount will remain in the pockets of those for whose benefit such repeal is intended ; and that the public will not, as in the case of the leather tax, have just as much, or more, to pay for the untaxed commodity, than they did when it paid a high impost to the State. The repeal of the window tax would be a still greater boon and would reach every class of the community. Even the lodger and the cottager, who do not nominally pay it would feel the benefit ; the one, in seeing his rent lowered, the other in a proportionate fall in the prices of commodi ties. In an article which we published some time since, we pointed out a way in which this alleviation of the pub lic burdens might take place, without interfering with or preventing any other mode of relief. That method con-1 sisted of an equalisation and small increase in the gene ral amount of the land tax. At present the window tax is, for the most part, paid in districts which are nomi nally exempt from the land -tax, such as Liverpool, Manches ter, Leeds, Murylebone, and the numerous other places enu merated in the valuable tables attached to the pamphlet pub lished by " A Citizen of Westminster" upon this subject ; in all which the owners of house property pay no public burdens at all, while the tenants contribute largely, in the shape of window tax and other imposts, both to public and local taxation. In this case, by the transfer of a very small burden to the one a heavy and obnoxious load might be removed from the shoulders of the other. With refe rence to the malt tax, no one can have read, with any de gree of attention, the evidence taken before both the 'Lords' and Commons' Agricultural Committees, without per ceiving that most of the witnesses concur in stating it as their conviction that the repeal of one half the present war duty upon malt, besides its general benefit to the community, would be a great, though necessarily a par tial boon to agriculture. If, however, that boon is to be purchased, as the chairman of the Commons' Committee (Mr. Lefevre) recommends, by the free admission of foreign barley, it becomes scarcely a question whether it would be worth accepting upon such terms. In conclusion, we Would only for the present observe, that we fear no prac ticable reduction of taxation, either under these or any Other heads, is likely to be of any temporary, still less per manent, advantage to the country, while its monetary sys tem is crippled, and its real wealth made unavailable by the operation of Sir Robert Peel's unfortunate Currency Bill. That is the incubus which weighs down the energies of the country. Till that is removed, or its operation greatly ameliorated, more placebos may be applied to the national disease which it has inflicted, but a thorough curo can never be expected.—Morniny Herald. We have not been unwilling to permit for a time our Whig and Radical Contemporaries to take their own course upon the subject of the insult said to have been offered on Wed nesday last to Lord Lyndhurst by the Ministerial faction in the House of Commons. The statements which have been given to the public are not true ; but they have served the purpose of truth in unfolding the taste and temper of the retainers of the Administration. It is full time, however, that the public should be disabused upon the matter ; and we will now give an accurate statement of what really occurred, for the purpose of preventing any further self-exposures on the part of Ministerial writers, and of rescuing the House of Commons from a disgraceful imputation, and not by any means for sake of the Noble Lord, the supposed object of the alleged indignity, whom we are about to strip of a distinction which, had it been really conferred upon him, might have been, and no doubt would have been, to Lord Lyndhurst, who is a man of taste, judgment, and spirit, a source of honest pride. The brutal yells and hootings which the organs of Ministers, with charact er i s ti c sense an d taste, have described so exultingly, were nearly, if not altogether, confined to the O'Connell party. This we assert upon the concurrent authority of many Members of the House of Commons of different parties. Mr. Sheil, we assert, upon the same authority, had concluded the passage in his speech in which, after the manner of his party, he perverted the expressions used on a memorable occasion by Lord Lyndhurst, before he was aware, or before he seemed to be aware, of the presence of the Noble Lord. The fact of the Noble Lord's presence was then communicated to him by the gesture of a gentle man sitting near him. It was then, and not before, that the yells and hootings burst forth ; but it is due to Mr. Sheil to say, that neither by a repetition of the passage, or any part of it, nor by any other means, did he afford the least sanction or encouragement to the disgusting conduct of his party. That conduct was pursued exclusively by persons, as we have already intimated, whose cowardly and malignant hatred can only' confer honour upon its ob ject. Bet there was a visible disturbance and excitement on both sides of the House. Such was the fact ; and this circumstance added so much to the effect of the hideous noises with which it coincided, in point of time, as to de c:;.ive persons in the Gallery who could not command a view of the entire scene. We will explain this accidental coincidence. At the moment when Mr. Sheil's attention %vas directed to the presence of Lord Lyndhurst, an Irish Member, situated near the bar, began to yell in a man ner-,so obstreperous and discordant, as to excite univer sal attention. Members on both sides of the House started simultaneously from theii• seats, to see who it was that dared, apart as he was from the rest of the herd to which he belongs, thus to misconduct himself. Hence the commotion and apparent excitement. As to the yells and hooting s of the Tail, we are assured that, but for the accompanying circumstance we have described, they would not have been thought anything extraordinary. We are so entirely convinced of the accuracy of this statement, that —should it be disputed—we shall print to-morrow the name of the Honourable Member whose conduct gave occasion to the movement in the House—a disclosure which we now only withhold because some kind of ex cuse—although it is a bad one—may be found for the be haviour of the Hon. Member in the ilict that he was not in the condition in which men are expected to he masters of their own actions. We feel no interest in this matter other than that which is inspired by a regard for the cha racter of the House of Commons. As to the Noble and Learned Lord whose name is connected with the scene, had it been such as our Ministerial Contemporaries have delighted to describe it, the triumph and glory would have been entirely his, the disgrace and ignominy th ose o f hi s assailants. Wh a t more unequivocal 'testimony to his ta lents, his power, and his worth, could the roost z':7alous friends of an y p u blic man desire fbr hi m th an t h e expres sion of r ancorous h a tred, malignant jealousy, and fear, pro ceeding from such a body of persons as th e Mi n i ster i a l writers have depi c t e d the Ministerial majority of the House of Commons ?---Morning Post. A learned Correspondent of the Chester Chronicle as published in that paper an elaborate argument, to prove hat the sun is not a body of fire. An Indian overland despatch has arrived, bringing, however, letters only. It left Bombay December 3. Freight at Bombay, fur London, is quoted at 31. los. to 31. 15s. ; at Madras, 61. per ton ; and at Bengal fur heavy goods, 61. to tiL i Os. , and for indigo and light goods, 71. 103. Exchange, Bombay, November 30, bills on London at six months, 2s. lid. to 2s. lid. LAW INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LT)RDS, Fmn. 27. APPEALS.--THE QUEEN OF PORTUGAL V. GLYN AND OTHERS This was an appeal from a decision of Lord Abingcr in the Court of Equity Exchequer, by which a demurrer filed by the appellant had been overruled. The respondents had been made defendants in a suit at law, brought by Mr. Soares, the agent in this country for the Portuguese Government. The action was to recover the amount of certain bills of exchange accepted by the defendants on account of the loan raised in this country for Don Miguel. To resist this action it was necessary to have evidence which the defendants could not then procure but from the ridmissions of Soares, and they accordingly filed their bill against the Queen of Portugal and Soares, in the Court of Equity Exchequer, for a discovery, the defendants alleging in their bill that the bills had been taken possess!on of by the Government of Donna Maria and then indorsed over to Soares; that the loan to Don Miguel had been repudiated by Donna Maria ; and that her Go vernment had given no consideration for the bills, while that of Don Miguel, for whose benefit they had been ac cepted, had given formsl notice to the acceptors not to pay them, and had duly published that notice to the world. The bill then went on to allege that the Queen had brought an ac• tion to recover the amount of the bill's in the name of Soares, that she claimed an interest in them in his hands, and it prayed for a discovery' of the circumstances, with a view to show a de- ' fence to the action. The Queen demurred on the bill that she was not a party to the suit at law, and also because the matters stated in the bill would not be a valid defence in an ac tion at law. The Lord Chief Baron, on the 19th July, 1836. overruled the demurrer with costs. This was an appeal against the order made on that occasion. After bearing Counsel, The LORD CHANCELLOR said that the case involved many nice and difficult questions, and that their Lordships would take time to consider the judgment. Lord WYNFORD had some doubts whether there ought not to be a bill of interpleader between Don Miguel and Donna Maria, before this case could be properly settled.—Judgment postponed. CRIMINAL COURT.-(MONDAY.) SUMMARY STATEMENT, DESCRIPTIVE TUE PRISONERS SF. Bigamy Burglary 3 Uttering and having Coon ter 1 eit E OF VIE VARIOUS OFFECNES WITH :vERALLY STAND CHARGED. ! Stealing in a dwelling-house I above the value of 51 5 Stealing from the person Ditto by Servants Stealing a Letter in th:!_. Post Office I Sheep-stealing Misdemeanour 4 Receiving stolen goods .. Coin in possession 6 Embezzlement )3 Committed to give evidence 2 Forgery Housebreaking 9 Larcenies Total l9O London prisoners Middlesex ditto Essex ditto Kent ditto , Surrey ditto 135 t.... ~~~ 22-190 STATE OF lIIS MAJESTY'S GAOL OF NEIVGATE, MADE UP TO SATURDAY EN' c.Ni NG. Males. Females. Prisoners under sentence of death Prisoners under sentence of transportation for life 1 0 14 years .... 0 l 7 years .... i 1 12 Ditto, for trial at the present Sessions Ditto, whose judgments are respited 2 0 Ditto, committed by Commissioners of Bankruptcy 1 0 Ditto, under sentence of confinement 1 0 158 219 Total OLD COURT. William Featherstone Greathead, aged 54, was indicted fof obtaining, by means of forged orders, twelve pint bottles of wine from the St. Katharine Dock Company, with intent to defraud Mr. Archer, a wine merchant. Mr. C. JONES addressed the Jury on behalf of the prisoner, and called two witnesses to character. The RECORDER summed up, and the. Jury found the pri soner guilty. The COURT sentenced the prisoner to 132 imprisoned for six months, and to be kept to hard labour. -The Court was occupied till five o'clock in trying cases of not the slightest importance. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHERN CIRCUIT, NEweAsrLr,FISR. 03. The assizes for the county of Northumberland and the city of Newcastle, commenced yesterday. Three cases only have been entered for trial on the civil side. The criminal cases aro rather numerous, there being thirty-six prisoners in the county, and sixteen in the city for trial. The greater portion, however, have been committed for petty thefts. Two were charged with child murder, two with cutting and maiming, and two with manslaughter. Immediately after opening the Commission the Judges pro ceeded to try several prisoners, whose cases, however, were of no importance. lIOGARTH V. NEWTON. The plaintiff in this case is a builder, residing in the town of Newcastle, and the action was brought to recover compen sation in damages for slander on the part of the defendant, who is a horse-dealer and livery-stablekeeper. The Jury re turned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages, One Farthing. The civil business for the county being concluded, Mr. Jus tice PATTISOX proceeded to take the Crown business for the county. William Anderson was indicted for cutting and maiming John Collingwood, at Alnwick, in this county, on the 24th of August last. Verdict—lnsanity. William Chipchase was indicted for cutting and maiming his wife, Elizabeth Chipchase, on the 6th of September last. Guilty—Sentence of death was recorded. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. HA TTON-GARDEN. Yesterday Mrs. Margaret Newman and Miss Julia St. Clair Newman were again examined before Mr. LAING, charged by Mrs. Hunter, of No. 23, Grosvenor-place, Pimlico, with having stolen a diamond ring. On being placed at the bar Miss Newman looked up as if to recognise some one, when she sunk upon the rail of the bar, with her head resting on one hand, and remained in that situation for several minutes, when she relieved herself, and, turning round to her mother, they spoke together in a whis pering tone. Mr. LAING, observing this, asked what they were talking about ?—Mrs. Newman replied, Nothing." Mr. Flower attended for the prosecution; Mr. Rawlinson, with a host of friends, were also present, and a great,number of females. Mrs. Hunter was now called upon to give evidence. to being sworn, Mr. LAING asked her whether she had lost anything ? Mrs. Hunter replied, I have lost a ring, but I cannot tell how I lost it. Prier George Collier, 38 E, said that there was a pawnbroker present who had a ring which he should like Mrs. Hunter to look at. A pawnbroker produced three gold rings. Mr. LAING presented to her one of the rings, set in dia monds ; and inquired whether she could identify it ?—Mrs. Hunter looked at it, and said it was hers. Mr. LAING asked under what circumstances she missed it ? —Mrs. Hunter : I went to visit s a gentleman in the Kings Bench Prison, where the prisoners were confined for debt. He gave up his room as a :water of accommodation to Mrs. and Miss Newman, and whilst I was on the visit I had occa sion to speak to him in private. I left my reticule, containing the diamond-ring and my purse, on the table. I returned home and missed my ring. Mr. LANG inquired whether the prisoners were in the room at the time that she left her reticule ?—Mrs. Hunter : They were, but I cannot tell how I lost the property. I might have lost the ring on the road to the prison. Miss Newman here (ell upon the bar as if fainting, but (at _ . the time, in consequence of" the darkness of the. day, it being necessary to have lights) a candle was hell before her, and she soon recovered herself. Mr. LAING asked the pawnbroker whether he could identify the person who pledged the rings ?—Pawnbroker : I have some slight recollection of the younger prisoner. I was in the shop at the time they were offered as pledges, and it being evening we had a doubt whether it was a diamond-ring or nit. Mr. LAING inquired in what month they were pledged ? Pawnbroker—On the 21st of September last. Mr. LAING asked Mrs. Hunter when she missed her ring ? Mrs. Hunter—ln January, 1830. Mr. LAING —What name was it pledged in ? Pawnbroker— in the name of .‘ Julia Newman." The shopman who took it in had quitted his service. Mr. LAING—What is your impression : do you believe that the younger prisoner was the person who pledged it? Pawn broker—From all the circumstances, it is my belief that she is the person who pledged it. Mr. LAING—What is the value of the ring ? Pawnbroker— We lent 11. 4s. upon it,; it is worth 40i. Collier—The lady told me that sonic bracelets were also stolen at the same time. _ _ Mr. LAING asked if that was the fact ? Mrs. Ilunter—Yes, •our worship. Mr. LAING ordered the clerk to take the case. —.......— A gentleman here stepped forward, and said that Mrs. Hun ter was his cousin, and she had no desire to prosecute. The officer (Collier) called upon them and told them that it was only necessary to make their appearance, but they would not he hound to p ro ieeute. lie ad bed, "If I had known this she should not have come forward." Mr. LAING (peremptorily)—Then I can only tell you that I would have compelled her to come forward in such a ease, and in consequence of what you have stated I shall feel it to be my duty not to allow her to leave this place until good se curity is entered into for her appearance to prosecute the parties. Mrs. Hunter was now sworn. She proved having gone to the King's Bench l'rison, and' seeing the prisoners in her friend's room, leaving her reticule with the ring in it, End missing it on her return home. Mr. LAING inquired whether it was her belief that the ring was taken by the prisoner after w hat she had heard? Mrs. Hunter (hesitatingly)—l Might have lost it, or dropped it on the road. I took a hackney-coach in the Strand; I might have lost it in the coach. Collier found the duplicate of the ring in a secret drawer of a desk, with the name of Miss Newman on it, together with -32 other duplicates. Mr. LAING—Did you ever mention to either of the prioners that you lost the ring ? Mrs. Hunter—l might, but I cannot call it to my recollection. _ _ Collier—Mrs. [Linter told me that she did mention it to Miss Newman, who said, " I am very sorry for your loss."--- (A laugh.) Mr. LAING asked Miss Newman whether she had anything to say to the charge? - Her solieitor.sugdesteil that she shout I reserve her defence. Miss Newman (coolly)—What I have to say will no be credited here, and therefore it will be useless for me to ; say anything. Mr. Late° (to Mrs. Newman)—H ave you anythin g tosav ? Mrs. Newman—No, no (hastily). The Magistrates asked Collier when the parties upon , whom the prisoners had committed an extensive robb er y o f jes'rellery would be able to attend? Collier—Oa Wednesday nett. Mr. LAING then ordered the priso: ers to be brought up again to answer that or any other charges that could bcOrought forward against them, and the prisoners were taken from the bar. Mrs. Hunter's cousin here whispered to Mr. Laing.!. Mr. LAING said that he was determined that the case should be prosecuted to its furthest extent. He would detain Mrs. Hunter until securities were brought forward for her -appear ance to prosecute the prisoners. He then ordered that she and her friends might be accommodated with a private room in the office until the arrival of the required sureties, and they were conducted thither by an officer, who was directed to keep a watch over her, in order to prevent an escape, and it was suggested that the parties should hasten for the bail before three o'clock, the time for the office closing. At nearly three o'clock Mr. LAING inquired whether the bail was forthcoming? An officer replied that a messenger was sent after it; and shortly afterwards the clerk intimated that a gentleman had come forward, when Mr. Laing ordered hat he should he bound over in the sum of 1001. for Mrs. Hun ter's appearance to prosecute. The clerk said that the individual was arguing with him the legality of the proceeding, and he was introduced. His name did not transpire ; but it seems he is a pawnbroker in the Strand. He refused to be bail unless the sum was 40!. He observed that sum was scratched out of the recognizance paper and 1001. inserted in its stead. Mr. LAING-I have been informed that there was a desire to steal away, and that somethimg like an overture or induce ment had been made by a party concerned, and it being a large sum in which she will be bound over renders it less likely for the party to afford the money. lam not bound to any par ticular sum. A magistrate can demand 40!., 100/., or 1,000/. according to circumstances ; but as it has been stated to me that some remuneration had been offered, I will not depart from my course. lam bound to see that the.;aw is not frustrated. It is very extraordinary that a :party who is willing to become bail for 401. should refuse for 100/. Bail—l am willing to become bail for 401. for her, but not 100/. lam already under bail. She shall send for her mother. Mrs. Hunter—Pray, Sir, must it be a housekeeper? Mr. LAING answered in the affirmative, and the lady seemed to be in the utmost suspense and anxiety, when Mr. LAING said that in consenting to liberate the lady, it was not out of any consideration for the party who offered bail, but from sheer compassion for her. Her brother then offered himself. Mr. LAING—Pray, what are you? Brother—l am an offi cer of the army. Mr. LAING-Then, as an officer and a gentleman, Icall upon you to pledge yourself that she shall be forthcoming at the prisoners' trial. Brother—She shall, your worship. Mr. LAING-Then you are bound over in the sum of 401. for her appearance to give evidence against them. He also bound over her cousin in the same sum, and Mrs. Hunter quitted the office with her friends, highly delighted at her escape from imprisonment. Other robberies have been traced to the pri soners, and Collier, to whom considerable credit is due, is mak ing active inquiries to trace their delinquencies. The prisoners act with great indifference whilst in prison, but are most cau tious not to be overheard on their road to the office. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTER S A L L' S-YESTE.IMII'. THE DEEM Very little anxiety was evinced to back either of the favourites, who retain the same relative positions assigned to them in our last report. The same observation may be applied to Pliantasitra, Dardanelles, Caravan, and Wintonian, the last four having scarcely been alluded to in any of the offers made. Mango was backed at 16 to 1 for 501., and for a smaller sum at 17 to I, the last being the closing price. Mahometan was backed freely at 20 to 1, and a few ponies put on some of the outsiders, in which class defender is now to be found. The room was fully attended, but the betting was slack. . 13 to 2 agst Lord Jersey's lot—offered 7 to 1 agst Colonel Anson's Jcreed—take 8 to 1 8 to 1 agst Lord Jersey's Bro. to Bay Middleton—take 9 to 1 13 to 1 agst Captain Gardner's Phantasima colt—offered 17 to I agst Mr. Greville's Mango—taken 20 to 1 agst Mr. Osbaldeston's Mahometan—taken 28 to 1 agst Lord Lichfield's Cartoon—offered 30 to 1 agst Mr. Sadler's Defender—offered 32 to 1 agst Mr. Savile's Brother to Elis—taken 35 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's Hybiscus—take 40 to 1 60 to 1 agst Mr. J. Day's Mustee—taken 50 to 1 agst Mr. Thornhill's Brother to Mouche—taken 2000 to 25 agst Mr. Theobald's Tredville colt—taken 3000 to 60 agst Mr. W. Edwards's Bequest colt—taken 650 to 53 agst Brother to Elis and Caravan—taken 1000 to 50 agst Sambo and Hybiscus—taken THE RIDDLESWORTH, P. r. 7 to 4 agst Lord Jersey's Brother to Bay Middleton THE PORTLAND HA NDICA 1., P. P, 6 to 1 agst Mr. J. Day's Venison— offered 7 to 1 agst Lord Egremont's Hock—taken 7 to 1 agst Lord Lichfield's Elis—offered 8 to 1 agst Mr. Dawson's Locomotive—taken 8 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Birdlime—taken 16 to 1 agst Mr Robertson's Lucifer—taken 8 to 1 each again the first three laid in one bet. Lord Stafford reached Rogers's stables at Newmarket on Friday. Mr. Dixon's mare won the trotting match for .500 guineas. The terms of the match were, that the mare should perform the distance of 120 miles in 10 successive hours, which sh e accomplished within the time, though much distressed. The match came off on Sunbury Common. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. EAST INDIA SHIPPING. Arrivals at Bombay.—The Boyne, Nov. 6th, Bengal, Gth, Malabar, Bth, Gilmore, Bth, Lady Faversham, 13th, Marquis of Hastings, 20th, Royal Admiral, 22d, and Hestonjee Bo niunjee, all from London ; the Bombay Packet, Nov. Bth, Frances, 9th, Orient, 10th, Annandale, 10th, Albion, I Ith, Urania, 24th, and John Knox, 24th, all from Liverpool ; the Columbine, Nov. 7th ' • Elector, 13th, and Britanoia, 29th, all from Llanelly ; the Niagara, from Newcastle ; the Isabel, from Liverpool and Rio; the Fortfield, from Calcutta; the Hugh Lindsay, Dec. Ist, from the Red Sea. Departures from Bombay.—The Duchess of Clarence, Oct. 25th, for Ceylon ; the Princess Charlotte, Nov. sth, Voleana, 6th, and Isabel, 25th, all for Liverpool ; the Walmer Castle, 13th, Royal George, 14th, and Australia, 22d, all for Lon don ; the Pestonjee Bomanjce, 13th, and Bengal, 18th, for Calcutta ; the Frances, 26th, for Madras ; the Annandale, 29th, for Ceylon. Ships Loading.—Nov. 29, the Boyne, Richardson, for Lon don, to sail Dec. 15th; the Malabar, Voss, for London, 'Jan. 2 ; the - Gilmore, Lindsay, Dec. 26th, for London ; Lady Fa versham, Webster, for London, in January; Royal William, Fotheringham, for London, Dec. 15th ; the William Nicol, Kincaid, for the Clyde, in a few days; the Niagara, for Li. verpool, in a few days ; the Columbine, Horton, for Liver pool, Dec. 20; the Bombay Packet, Ebinoc, for Liverpool, Dec. 7 ; the Orient, Taylor, for Liverpool ; the Albion, Un derwood, for Liverpool, Dec. 20 ; the Hector, Johnson, for Liverpool, in December. The Urania, Noakes, and John Knox, Thompson, were ad vertised for freight or 'charter. Arrivals at Calcutta.—The Hygera, Lucy, and Herculean, Hextable, from Liverpool ; the Lady RaffL•s, Pollock, from London; the Mary Catherine, Campbell, from Newcastle and Bahia ; ,the Deane, Hawkins, from Liverpool. Madras, Nov. 18.—A very severe gale was experienced here on the 30th ult., which has occasioned considerable damage. All the vessels in the roads—viz., his Ma;esty's ship Andromache. the American ship Star, the French ship Eliza, the Jahn William Dare, the brig Ayr, and the schooner Recovery, got to sea, and we are happy to say have all since returned to the coast. The Star, however, was totally dis masted, and has been otherwise so much damagod that she has been condemned, and is to be sold on ".he 25'11 inst. for general benefit.; her cargo is also greatly damaged, and the greater part will require to be sold here, being unfit for re shipment. The Eliza lost her mizenmast, but sustained little further injury, either in hull or cargo. The John William Dare and the Ayr Were both dismasted, but have returned, the former to COringi, and the latter to this port. The Andro mache, and the Recovery, appear to have both escaped the gale by going southward, and the former is to day reported as having arrived at Trincomalee on the sth inst. We may mention also that the Futteli Idam, an Arab slip from Bom bay to Calcutta, foundered in a gale ; and a few of her crew only were providentially rescued by the hawk, after being at sea seven days. The Amelia, which sailed from Calcutta on the 18th of October, is the only vessel which remains unac counted for; she is now some weeks overdue. THE DIVORCED.—Wc know not when a greater Sensation was produced in the world of fashion, than on the appearance of this new work, from the pen of the sister of the Duke of Ar founded, it': appears, on a real occurrence which took place not many years ago. But we shall not fore• stall the interest which every reader of sensibility will feel by giving the outline of this affecting story, the moral develop ment of which does so much honour to the head and heart' of of the noble authoress. • COURT OF - COMMON CouNcm,---Yesterday a Court was hell for the purpose of receiving and discussing the merits of the report of the Parliamentary Committee upon the applicatiori of the Commercial Blaekwall RailwAy Company for the permission of the Corporation to extend the railroad into Leadenhall-street. After several petiti ons h a d been presented, the report of the ComMittee, recommending immediate oppo sition to the Bill, was agreed to by a vast majority. The Court then adjourned. Rumours of a general election are rife in, the politi cal circles at Canterbury. At all events, it cannot be very fi distant. The liberal electors of Canterbury are well prepared fur the struggle. We trust, to hear the same of other Wows in the county. The Reformers met last evening, very nume rously, at the Fl)ing Horse ; and tai Wednesday their meeting will be, held at the City Arms, Northgate, when a very full attendance is expected.—Kent Herald. _ During the terrific thunder storm of last Saturday the electric fluid took fearful effect on the Victoria yacht, the property of D.• Connor, Esq., of Ball) bricken. The copper theathing at the head of the masts attracted the lightning', which passed down throe , h the deck into the cabin, tearing every thing in its progress, and eventually forced its way through her planks. 'Several windows have been broken in the village of Ringaskiddy, and the uldest inhahitant3 declare they have never witnessed a more awful storm. We are glad to state the accident has not been productive of loss of life.— Cori; Paper.