The Sun. — London, England, 1823-05-03 00:00:00

etieveral commission grand - jtrities of 1819, 11120,1821, and 1822, ,with the exception of the panel which is not forthcoming ? it have. Can the witness state the number of corporators, sheriffs' peers, aldermen, .or common councilmen which were on the ..commission grand juries for ;1819-20-21, and 22?--I can. In Feb. 18W, six common councilmen were sworn on the grand jury. In June there•werel4 common councilmen on the panel, ,-of.whomfive were-sworn. There were several others summon w,lko did not attend. Were they fined for non-attendance ?—No. In October, .4819, there were 11 common councilmen on the panel, but none were sworn on the grand jury. In December, 1819, there were .four common councilmen on the panel, of whom three were . sworn on the grand jury. Let the witness now proceed with the return for }1320 ?—ln February,lB2o, it appears there was one common councilman .on the grand jury ; but I have not got the panel. In the June xonimissron of the-same year, there were 11 on 'he panel, of whom 2 'were sworn. In October, there were 3on the grand jury, and son she panel. 'ln December t Allere were 3 on the grand jury, andl6 on the panel. By a MEMHEIt.-I understand you to say, there were 16 summoned, besides those who were sworn. • By the CHAT It understand the witness to say, there were 3 sworn, besides 16 not sworn ?—Exactly so. By a MEMIIEII.—There were 19 altogether ?—Yes. • The witness continued.—ln February, 1821, there were 9 common councilmen sworn on the grand jury, and 13 on the panel who were not sworn. In April, there were 2 sworn on - the grand jury, and 2on the panel not sworn. In July, there were 7 sworn, and 13 not sworn. In August, there were 8 sworn, and 32 not sworn. In October, there were 8 sworn, and -- 9 not sworn. In January, 1822, there were 2 sworn, and 2en the panel not sworn. In February, there were also '2 sworn, and 2on the panel not sworn. In April, there were 2on the panel, both of whom were sworn. In June, 11122, there was rw coinmon councilman on the panel. In August, there was ~.but one on the panel, and he was not sworn. In October, there • were 5 sworn, and 14 on the panel not sworn. In January, 1823, there were.l4 common councilmen sworn on ,the grand jury, and 13 on the panel who were not sworn.. , I will ask the witness, with respect to the last panel, of how many individuals did it entirely consist ?—There were 50 names. Does the witness, daring an experience of nearly 30 years, know any instance where the panel was confined to so small a number as 50 ?—I do not. What is the smallest number lie has ever ascertained the panel to consist of in that time ?-:.-The panel in February, 1819, consisted of 61 ; in June, 72 ; in October, 95 ; in December, 87. In June 1820, the panel consisted of 71 ; in October, 66 ; in December, 71. in February, 1821, the panel consisted of 1;7 ; in April 107; in July, 82 ; in August, 79 ; In October, 61. In .larmary, 1 . 822, the panel consisted of 77; in February, . 87 r in April, 68 ; in June, 72 ; in August, 85 ; in October 62. In what manner did the grand. jurors answer upon the panel of January, 1822 P.._There were regular answers to the 26 . names first called, I think; and out of 33 names so called, there were only three absent. Did the witness ever before know such answers,given in such rotation P—l do not recollect any such occurrence. Out of the Ilanel of 50 of which the list was composed, how many commoncouncilmen were sworn, and how many not?— `There were 14 sworn, and 13 not sworn. Have you ever before known a commission gran') jury, on which the common council formed a majority of those sum moned P—l do not find any such circumstance. By Mr. l' NKET T.—Do you not recollect the numbers on • the panel of 1821—I mean of common councilmen ?—Yes, the panel consisted of 79, of whom 40 were common councilmen. The witness then gave some explanation to reconcile his last with the preceding answer, but it was quite inaudible in the gallery. By Sir J. NEWPORT.—Were the 14 common councilmen sworn in the panel of last January at the head of it ?—We un derstood the w►tness to answer yes ; they all, except two, an swered in succession after the foreman. . . Is it in the ordinary course, in calling over the commission grandjury, that the number is completed, without going thro' the whole panel ?—Very seldom at the first calling over, and often not until called upon fines. Will the witness look 'at the panel of proceeding years, and see how far down the names were called before the grand jury was completed?—Mostly not before 70 names were called, and often 105. The witness then gave some explanation respecting . former panels, which we could not distinctly hear, and he was inform. ed by the Chairman that be must refer to his documents, anti .hr prepared on a future occasion to give specific information of • the exact number of names called over on preceding panels, .before the grand jury was completed. Some conversation then arose between Mr. Peel and Sir. Brougham, respecting the manner of ascertaining the above . tact. Mr. 13110110 HAM laid, that there were two ways of call. ing over a panel : one was calling over the names simply, the -other calling them on fines. lle then suggested . that the wit. ness should be asked, if he had any means of ascertaining from .his notes, or otherwise, which names were called simply, and which on fines: The witness, in answer to a question from the Chairman, re. ,plied, that sometimes this might be uscertalned on the face of .the panel ; at other times not. He then promised to make the ~necessary inquiries for the purpose of ascertaining, as far as „possible, that fact. By Sir Joni NEwport.r —ln what manner and by whom . is the panel delivered P—By the High Sheriff. ,By RICE.—In the January panel there were ,14 common councilmen sworn : is there any other occasion within your recollection, when a majority of common council :.lnen were sworn on a commission grand jury ?—The witness .(as we could collect) reified that there was a similar occur .rence in 1821. . . . . Put was not that 'on the occasion of the King's visit to Ire. land, and when no business.was expected ?—it was. By Colonel 11,annY.—Is it not usual in the commission im mediately succeeding the triennial election of the common 'Council, to include a . greater number of that body than on other occasions ?--The witness (as we understood) said, he was un prepared to state how that fact stood. When were the elections of common council within your time P—l believe there were elections in 1010, 1019, and 1822. Have you the panel of February, 1020 P—No, I believe It is ' lost. By the CUAIRMAN.—Have you any means of ascertaining where it is ?--No, I have nor. By Colonel Datum—Why is that panel missing ?—I can not say. By Sir JAWES Mackiwrostr.—Das the witness any do .cuments which he believes to be equivalent to the panel which give the names ?—Yes ; the names of the grand jury -sworn. By Colonel Banny.—Why does witness believe that list to be equivalent to the original panel?—.Because it is copied from the panel into the crown books. '1 he witness then read over the names of that grand jury frorn , the , crown books;_ and in answer to a question from 111 r. linowsmow, he said that Mr. Sheriff' Thorpe entered into ' office at Michaelmas 1822, and that the pannel of last Ja nuary was signed by both the shetifra. lie then repeated his . former answer—that he could not say how far it was usual to summon a greater number of the new common councilmen immediately after the triennial elections than on other oc casions. By Sir J. Macro NTOSIL—What was the number of corn. anon-councilmen who were sworn on the commission grand jury of 1821 ?-one. (The extremely Inaudible tone of the witness, the noise in the House, and the uninteltigble manner in which such quea tions and answers as were desired to be repeated, were read by the short-hand writer, rendered every attempt on the part of -those in the gallery, accurately to follow the proceedings, to tally futile. It is not in our power, therefore, to give snore than a slight account of what took place.) Wai4 that the panel immediately after the election of the Com -mon-ceuncilmen P---(Answer inaudible.) By Mr. J. Erd.ta.—Have you any mode of ascertaining how many of those who composed the graud jury of 1023 were corn. mon-councilmen ?—I cannot tell. (Two or three questions followed, of the import of which, as well as the answers to them, we could gather literally nothing.) By Mr. S. Rich.---Is the triennial election of common- councilmen a matter of public notoriety in the city of Dublin ? —1 believe so. Was there a commission of Oyer and Terminer in Dublin in the month of October, 1820 P--No. - Are you aware who makes out the copies and returns of that list of the grand jury, front which the commission is prepared ? —I cannot tell. By Mr. lintraiT.—Do you know whether, in point of fact, members of the common council who had been last elected, were on the last panel P—( Inaudible.) By Mr. SrittNa RICE.—Do you know any thing of the si tuation in life of Mr. John Henry Moore, who appears to have been one of the grand jury P—l do not. By Mr. Ilusix.—Have you the panel of 1021 ?—No ; I know not (we understood the witness) where to find it, for my .clerk has died since that time. By Mr. PLUNKETT (who had risen eight or nine times previously, without getting a n opportunity of examining the witness).---I think you said that the first day you missed that panel was Friday last P—Yes. When, did you first search for it P—On that day. By Mr. Bnows; ww.—Where are those panels usually kept in Dublin P—The panels of old date are preserved in an office, which is in a house in Queeripstreet, Did I understand you to say that the reason of your losing that panel was the death of your clerk P—The panel might be forthcoming if he were living . . By Mr. F. LEWIS.--I wish to know what was the number of common councilmen on the panel of 89 names : I think that was the last panel of 1823 ?—( Inaudible.) Mr. F. LEWIS (addressing the Chair). —Perhaps, Sir, it may save trouble if I move that this return be added to the others. —(Hear !) By a IVIEMDER.—Does the witness recollect any remarkable circumstances attending the panel that is missing, which cir cumstances would appear on the face of it, if produced ?—lt was not till Colonel Barry reminded me of it, that I recollected that panel at all. Then the witness is not aware of there being any particular circumstances attending that panel which at all differs from the general complexion of the others.—No, not the least. By Mr. itlillaliT.—Are you aware of any special circum stances attending the panel of 1821 ?—(lnaudible.) Do you recollect any thing remarkable in regard to the panel of January, 1823 ?—I will state the facts as they appear on the face of it. I ask you, are You aware of any thing irregular or unusual in that panel ?-1\ o. By Mr. DENMAN.—Is the witness aware whether there are ' any other means of recovering the panel ; whether it can be got at from any other sources, now that his clerk is dead ?—No. Not in the sheriff's office ? May there not be copies kept there ?—Possibly there may be. Does the witness think he can in any way get at the panel, or at a copy of the panel, of January, 1817 ?—if I were in Dub lin, I dare say I could. Could the witness send for it?—Yes, I could. And could he send in the like manner for that of January, 1823 ?—Of course I could. Anti also for the panel of 1814, of the month of January? ' —Yes. Mr. DEN3I A N (addressing the chair.)—Then I shall beg to ' move, Sir, that the witness be desired to obtain these papers. By Mr. It, Man:rm.—Was not the witness acting clerk of the Crown for sortie time in Ireland ?—I was. And for what counties ?—For Meath, Westmeath, Queen's County, Kildare, and Dublin. hit run in those pans of Ireland an object with gentlemen to make their appearance at the assizes and be on the grand jury P—l think gentlemen are always anxious to be on the grand jury. [The next two or three questions were inaudible.] ,'By Mr. Bnows Low.—Was there, to your knowledge, any thing unusual or irregular in the mode of constituting the panel, before the grand jury was sworn in in January, 11123 ?—lt was unusual to have 14 common councilmen, or more than one-half of the grand jury, so sworn ; but whether this tray be irregular or not Ido not know. It is unusual certainly. By Mi. I.:Ltda.—Can the witness say whether Mr. Moore and his family are old and settled residents in the city of Dub lin cannot say whether they are or not. Does not the witness believe, from the circumstance of Mr. Moore's being agent of an insurance company, that he is an old resident of the city of Dublin ?—I don't know. By Mr. S. RICE.—Can the witness state, from the return to the panel of January, 1823, whether there are upon it the names of any Roman Catholics ?—I believe there are not. Can the witness state of his own knowledge whether, in any former panel of commissions for grand juries, there are the names of Roman Catholics ?—That is really a matter upon which I am not at all informed. Ilave you ever known a Roman Catholic serve under these commissions for grand juries ?—Within my own knowledge, I canot say that I have. By Mr. linowieLow.—Besides the two persons whose names you have mentioned, state what others were afterwards brought before the grand jury 2—l don't recollect. Have you heard that. they have been summoned to appear at the bar of this house ?---1 es. By Mr. PLUI*ETT.—Has the witness at any time, and when, sent the six panels to the house of , any person ?—I sent the six panels (of January, 1823) to the house of the Attorney- General for Ireland. Was that on the evening of the first day upon which the grand jury sat ?—lt was. Was the witness sent by the foreman of the grand jury on the-evening of that day P—l was. How ?-11) , direction of the Court. Is it usual for the Court to do s0?-4 believe not. Have you ever seen them do so P—l don't know. The witness was next examined by Sir J. NEWPORT and Mr. ',Now sr Low ; but we were again left in total ignorance of what was stated. By Mr. BROVORAIL—Were you in your present office in the year 1811 was. 1)o you know of any bills having been preferred in that year at the suit of Sir E. Littlelialea on a charge of bribery ?-1 es. What became of those bills?—They were ignored. flow many bills were there ? —Two. Do you know, of your own knowledge, of any further pro. ceetlings having taken place upon those charges P—l have seen a copy of an ex officio information filed by the late Attorney. General, Mr. &twin. On the same charges, after the bills were ignored ?—Yes ; immediately afterwards. Were any proceedings had upon that information ?—Judg ment went against the defendant for want of plea. There are two kinds of grand juries in Dublin, are there not— term and commission grat i n juries ?....There are three, the term, commission, and sessions. Then in Dublin there are three kinds of grand juries; but in the other counties of Ireland are there not only two ?—Yes, and they are called the assize and sessions grand juries. What are the offences which the commission grand jury deals with ?—Cases of felony and misdemeanour. What do the sessions grand jury deal with ?—Matters of a criminal description, but of a lighter character, assaults, and petty larcenies, ace. What are the duties of the term grand juries P—They make presentments of money. I don't understand this ;it is all Irish—(a laugh)—state what you mean ?—They direct money to be assessed in the city of Dublin. In what way are the inhabitants assessed? Are they assessed according to their property P—l believe with reference to mi nisters' rnoney.—(A laugh.) We are getting deeper and deeper into ignorance. For what purposes is the money which the term grand juries present?— For a variety of purposes ? Name them ?---For the support of giols, bridges, and all public works in Dublin. Is any of it applied to defray the expenee of lighting and paving e Mr. DAWSC)N rose to order, and the witness having with. drawn by the direction of the Chairman, the Hon. Member expressed an opinion that the course of examination which the Learned Gentleman had adopted was not calculated to eluci date the business before the House, and that was merely west ing time. Mr. BROUGIIAM said, lie had had misgivings that there was something in the state of Ireland s and in every thing con. nected with the administration of justice in that country, which would make it a very ticklish thing to ask a single question during the inquiry in which the House was engaged.—(Hear, hear 1)—Ile was not, therefore, much surprised at the objection which had just been made. The lion. Member who made the Objection would only allow the house a farthing candle glim mering before their eyes, instead of a torch, to light them through what lie foresaw would be neither a short nor a simple examination. Now that the Ilouse bad, God be thanked, for the first time entered into an investigation of the gross and fla grant abuse of the administration of justice in Ireland, it was n e e F ria r y that every circumstance should be inquired into which tended to throw a light upon the subject.—(Hear U.—He found it impossible to get on one step without being informed of the nature of the grand juries in Ireland. The Howie had heard the witness speak of term, session, and commission grand juries. These distinction s were unknown in England. To obtain information upon that point had been the object of' his questions. Whether any thing very delicate or corrupt might be exposed by the answers be could not say. 7( Hear 1) Sir G. HILL said lie would not offer any impediment to the course of inquiry adopted by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman. Ile, for his own part, would ask any question which he thought likely to elucidate the aubjecL—(llear !) Mr. BROUGHAM gave the Right Hon Bart. credit for his manly support. His conduct did hint infinite credit. Mr. DA W'SON withdrew his objection, the witness was re. called and Mr. BROUG HAM proceeded with his examination : Yousay that the term juries levy money for the support of public works?—Yes. Taking the term and sessions grand juries together, do they levy , money for the payment of the salaries of different officers ? Y es. What officers P—The clerk of the Crown.—(A laugh.)—l am sure the money could not be better employed.—(Laughter.) What other officers are paid by the money thus levied ? The clerks of the peace, and the ten clerks, all gaolers, the officers belonging to the court, &c. Are those officers or any of them appointed by the corpora. tion of Dublin ?—The ten clerks and the gaolers are so appoint ed, but as I am not the officer of the corporation, I am not pos sessed of further information on the subject. Do you recollect any . other purposes to which the many levied by the term grand juries is applied besides those which you have mentioned P—l can't charge my memory. Is it not applied to the payment of the clothing of convicts ? —Of course that comes under the head of gaol expences. Who gives the contracts for clothing the convicts P—The grand jury. Are the contracts made by open bidding P—The witness he sitated, and Mr. Brougham added, Oh, you do not under stand that in Ireland ?"—(Laughter.)—ln England, when a contract is wanted, an advertisement is published, and the bar.' gain is made with the highest bidder. Then you do not know whether the contracts for the convicts are made by open con , tract or close connivance ?—I have already said that I am not the officer of the corporation, and am not therefore acquainted with these particulars. Who are the sheriffs elect ? Perrin and Lamprin. When were they appointed ?—Lait month. Do you happen to know whether they were on the grand jury which ignored the bills that were preferred by the Attorney- General ?—They were both. By 31r. DAWSON.—If any improper or illegal presentment were made by tbe term grand juries, and the inhabitants of Dublin submitted to them, would they be' more to blame than the grand juries ?-01 urmurs.) Mr. GOULBURN suggested whether it would not be for the convenience of the House, if the inquiry was to be entered upon to which the question of the Hon. Member would lead, to examine some witness who was well informed on the subject, which the present witness had acknowledged he was not. Mr. GRATTAN thought it was imposible that the witness could answer the question. Mr. S. RICE approved of the course of examination which had been proceeded in by his Hon. and Learned Friend Mr. Brougham. Mr. WYNN asked whether it was proper that the House should examine a witness as to inferences ? Surely the wit. nesses ought to be called upon to state facts, and Members should make their own inferences.—(Hear !) Mr. BROUGHAM supposed, from the question which had been proposed by the Hon. Member, that his (Mr. Brougham's) questions had been misunderstood. He had never charged the jury with malversation. Colonel BARRY thought that the House ought to dispose of the case of the high-sheriff in the first instance. He would then support the Hon. and Learned Gentleman opposite in en inquiry into the mode in which grand, juries were constituted in Ireland. He hoped that the case of the, high sheriff' would not be entangled with any other question. Sir J. NEWPORT was of opinion that it was impossible to disconnect the case of the high sheriff from the question of the constitution of grand juries. Mr. DAWSON said that he had only endeavoured to follow up the line of examination marked out by the Learned Gentle man opposite. The Learned Gentleman had talked of the gross and flagr ant abuse of the administration of justice in Ireland. He Mr. Dawson) wished to shew that the people of that country, if they were improperly treated, had the means of redress in their oWn hands. lie would not, however, press the question. The witness, who had withdrawn when the objection was taken, was again put to the bar. By Mr. DawsoN.—Do you not know that any person in Dublin or in Ireland generally, who pays the grand jury assess ment, has the right of traverse if he think the assessment un just or unfair ? I always understood so. Mr. DAWSON thought that the witness ought, as Clerk of the Crown, to be able to give a more decisive answer to the question. By Mr. BROUGUAM.—At whose expence would any person traverse ? at his own charge or that of the country ?—At his own charge.— (A laugh.) L By Sir G. Hii..-- - When was your recollection called to the proceedings with respect to the charge of bribery in 1011 ?—To. day. Have you referred to documents which afford you accu , rate knowledge of the filing of the ex-officio information in 1811 ?—I have. Will you state how these documents came into your posses. sion ?—(We could not hear the answer to this question.) Have you the date when copies of these informations were forwarded to you P—l got them on the 28th of April. What was the date of the proceedings ?--October, 1011. Did the present Crown Solicitor act as such in October, 1811 ?—Yes; in conjunction with his father. By Mr. H . G. BEwsare.—The witness says he saw copies of the proceedings of October, 1811, in the CUB of Sir E. Littlehales, where did he see them P—ln the office or study of Mr. Blake. By Mr. PLUNKETT.—Were they not sent to Mr. Blake's office ?—Yes. By Mr. G. BF:TO/XT.—Did the Attorney-General or Mr. Blake give then' to you ?—I think the Attorney-General (as we understood) was present when I got them. Have you been in communication with the Attorney-Ge neral since you came here ?—I have been only a short time in town . • the Attorney-General has asked me some questions. By Mr. BILOWNLOW.—By what tenure do you hold your office ?Isit a patent one P—l hold my ()Slice under—(we could not hear the nanie.) 1 apprehend, from the opinions which I have got on it, that I am removeable at pleasure. Iljr Mr. W. CouRTENAY.—You think you are removeable at pleasure ?-1 believe 1 am. fly Mr. B. OultNEY.—I wish to know. from the witness, wheelie') from the great interest which the trial excited, the whole of the panel did not attend P—l cannot say (as we un derstood) whether they all attended. Have the common councilmen precedence on those penals ? Ido not think they have. On looking over several panels, I find some without any common councilmen on them ; others with a few. On one panel, where there were 107 persons, 105 an. swered (as we understood), and there were only three common councilmen among them. • Does the witness know whether the common councilmen chosen stood at the head of the list ?—(lnaudible.) The examination of the witness was here closed, and he was ordered to withdraw. Sir F. BUItDETT said, that at the'present late hour he did not think it proper to call any other witness. Colonel BARRY observed, there were some witnesses in at tendance to whom it might be of much importance, as their time was of consequence, that they should be examined as soon as possible. Among these were .illr. Sheriff Cooper, who was ready to be examined if the House thought proper. Mr. BROUGHAM did not see any objection to examining the second sheriff now, Wile wished to be called; but as the sheriff's might be considered in the light of defendants on this occasion, it would perhaps be more convenient to hear the tes timony of' those who might be examined as to their conduct be fore the House proceeded to examine them. Colonel BARRY said, there being no charge against Sherif Cooper, it could not be inconvenient to have him now examined . Mr. BROUGHAM begged to be understood as having no objection to Sheriff Cooper's examination it' he desired it, and also to give him an opportunity of hereafter coming forward to explain any parts of his conduct that might be adverted to by other witnesses. Mr. ABERCROMB' was of opinion, that it would be bet ter to examine the other witnesses in order to see what was the nature of the charges against the Sheriffs, before they examined the Sheriff's themselves. Colonel BARRY had no objeoon to this course. It was not his intention to call any witnesses. He had only thrown the suggestion out to the House. Mr. - PLUNKETT said that when on a former night he made the statement, out of which this examination arose, lie had men tioned that he was prepared with witnesses who could prove it. Those witnesses were not now all in attendance ; and as Sheriff' Cooper was not implicated in that part of the transactions to which the evidence would refer, he thought it would be incon venient at present to examine Mr. Sheriff Cooper. Mr. S. RICE wished to postpone the examination of the sheriffs, until several documents which hail been alluded to were laid before the house ; and after the length to which the evidence had already gone, it was better to have it fully before them in the printed form, so that they might see its bearings before they went any further. The examination of' Mr. Sheriff Cooper must necessarily be very long : it would be bettter not to commence it to night. M. OOULBUItN did not see any advantage which could be gaind by commencing the examination just then ; however he thought that the earlier the time fixed for resuming this inquiry the better. r. C. WYNN moved that the Chairman do report progress, and ask leave to sit again. The CHAIRMAN put the question, to which there were several dissentient voices. He declared it to be carried in the affirmative, and left the chair. FUTURE ORDER OF THE PROCEEDINGS. The House having resumed, it was moved " that the Com mittee do sit again on Monday." The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER suggested the propriety of the H ouse ' s c oming . to some understanding in respect of the further conduct of the inquiry. He thought the precedent of the examination of witnesses respecting the orders in council might be conveniently followed in this case. On that occasion, when other business was before the House, the exami nation of the witnesses continued till nine o'clock, and then gave way to the orders of the day. BROUGHASI had no objection to this course being adopted ; but he believed that ten, a nd not nine, was the hour that was fixed in the case to w hich the Right Hon. Gentleman had just alluded. After a few words across the table between the CITAIICEL- Lon of the EXCIIESWER and Mr. BROUGHAM, it seemed to be understood that these proceedings were in future to com mence at five in the evening; and on day! when other business stood for discussion, should conclude at nine. Lord MILTON thought it might be inconvenient for the House to bind itself down to any particular hour. Mr. BROUGHAM said it could not be understood by fixing a particular hour that the House was strictly to stop at.that hour, or cut itself short in the mhldle of a sentence. But it would be the general understanding, that no new head of in quiry should be entered upon after the hour mentioned.—The motion was then agreed to. Mr. GOULBURN postponed the Committee on the Irish Tithe Committee Bill to Monday. Sir ROBERT HERON brought up the Minutes of the pro. ceedings, which were ordered to be printed. Sir NICHOLAS COLTHURST expressed an earnest hope, that the motion respecting_the renewal of the Irish Insurrection Act, of which the Itight Hon. Gentleman had given notice, and the discussion of which would necessarily involve the considera tion of the general state of Ireland, might be brought on at as early a day as possible. Mr. M. A. TAYLOR observed, that if the examination was to commence every evening at five, and continue till nine or ten, it would be very difficult to go on with any other business: he therefore would suggest, that three days of the week should be reserved for theresumption of the examination, appropriat ing the other days to the regular business of the House. Mr. GOULBURN was quite anxious to introduce the ques tion of the Irish Insurrection Act as soon as possible; but he was entirely at the mercy of the Hon. Gentlemen on the other side who had notices of motions fixed for every day for a con siderable time to come. If they would give way, he should be happy to fix an early day: Mr: HUME said a motion of his stood for the fith, which he should be very willing to give up—(Hear, hear !)—on condi-1 tion that his Majesty's Ministers would agree to the appoint. meat of the Committee for which he should move. In that case, he would not say a word.—(Hear, hear ! and a laugh.):— The motion was for a Committee of Inquiry into the State of Newfoundland. He hoped Ministers would agree to it, and he would be very ready to spare the time of the House by refraining from any observations. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, as was understood, that he could not accept the Hon. Member's cour tesy on those conditions ; but the fact.was, the Hon. Member's motion did not stand first on the day in question. The first was, that of the Noble Lord, the Member for Lanark, who might, he trusted, be induced to give way. Mr. KENNEDY, in the absence of his Noble Friend, thought he might say his Noble Friend would not be willing to give it up, as this was the third session in which he had at tempted to bring it forward. Mr. GOULI3IJRN then said, he would fix Tuesday next for the motion, in hope that some Hon. Member :might be in. duced to give way. 'The occasional freeholders Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday the 12th inst. On the report being brought up of the Irish county trea surers' Bill, Sir G. HILL opposed the clause respecting the appointment of collectors. Sir J. NEwronT and Mr. S. RICE defended the clause. The [louse then divided ; when there appeared— For the Clause - 14 Against it - 27 nijority - - —l3 The bill, as amended, was ordered to be read a third time on Monday next. Mr. J. WILLIAMS obtained leave to bring in a bill for rendering the 4ffirmation of Quakers admissible in criminal cases. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at HALF-PAST TWELVE O'CLOCK. A LIST OF THE MINORITY On the'Clause offered in the Irish County Treasurers' Bill to prevent the re-appointment of Insolvent Collectors. Bagwell, Riflniff. Hutchinson, C. H. ',Vhithread, S. C. Bernard, T. M'lntosh, Sir J. . Williams, I. Denman T. l‘lonck, J. B. Foley, j. H. Nugent, Lord. TELLERS. Grant, Rt. lln. C. Phillips, G. H. Newport, Sir J. Grattan, J. Price, It. Rice, T. S. MINORITY Who voted against the second ;;;;dinii of theßill for the Regu lation of the Fees of the Court of Requests in the Borough of Southwark.—Ayes, 114—Noes, 2. TELLERS. Collett, E. J. Yorke, Sir J. Onslow, A. Sumner, H. FOR TIIE SUN. EDITOII—I hope you will do me the favour, in justice to the real Author of the forthcoming Opera at Covent Oarden Theatre, to contradict a report which has arisen, that the Literary as well as the Musical Arrangements of that Opera are by me. I beg to assure you, most unequivo cally, that it is not the case; and the immediate insertion of this letter in your Paper y will greatly oblige, Sir, your obedient humble Servant. HENRY It. BISHOP. Upper Gower-street, May 2, 1823. THE PORTSMOUTH CAUSE. COURT OF CHANCERY.--(Tins DAY.) The Court was this day as usual crowded, under the idea that the above cause would have come on for further discussion. , The Loan CHANCELLOR, however, intimated that he had seen the Master and had communicated certain points to him. He had also received a commu nication from the Master, but as he should see him again on the subject, he would have the op. portunity of communicating any further circum stances,and if he had any thing farther to state,the petitions could come on as of course on Tuesday, without being put in the paperof causes for thatday. His Lordship briefly adverted to the motion for the committal of Mr. CARR, one of the Solicitors of the Court, and, having expressed his disap probation at the proceedings that took place, namely, the going on with the action, and the present motion, dismissed it, declining to give any opinion as to the merits or demerits of the suit. ERCANTI LE SHIPPING. DEAL, MAY 2.—Light airs and variable.—Came down from the River this morning the Endymion, Todd, for Miramichi ; and Luna, Knox, for Bermuda, and sailed with the outward_ bound as per last for their different destinations. Arrived the Aquatic, Clover, from the Cape of Good Hope and St. Helena. HALF-ran' Six.—The Aquatic and James Sibbald are now in the Gulls nearly becalmed. PORTSMOui.H, MAY 2..--Light airs.—No arrivals or PTA-stop-Fri, MAY I.—Wind N.—Off the port the Jane, Jones, from Malaga, In 32 FALMOUTH, MAY 1.-n Ind S.E.—Arrived ow the port the Cambrian, Clarkson, from Bombay for London. LIVEUPOOL, MAY I.—Arrived the Ceres, Braithwaite, from New Orleans : sailed the 28th of February. On the Iruli of March, oft' the Havannah, was hoarded by a Piratical schooner, who robbed them of all their cabin stores, Captain's watch, beef, bread, and such of the ships stores as they were in want of: they treated the master and crew with great cruelty, beating them with their swords and threatening to hang them. We put two of the crew of the brig Minerva, of Amsterdam, on hoard of the Ceres, which vessel they had taken the 25th of February.. The master. a passenger, and. rest of the crew of the Minerva, were kept on board the Pirate; the Ceres put into New Providence to get supplies. The privateer schooner was about 50 tons, painted black, with white bottom and mouldings. MILITARY ACADEMY.-----Land MELVILLE, the Marquis of ANGLESEA, Sir GEORGE CLERK, and several other Noblemen and Gentlemen, attended yesterday at the Royal Military Academy, at Chelsea, to witness the gymnastic exercises of the boys, who are placed under the instruction of M. CLEAS, Professor of Gymnastics. They expressed infinite satisfaction at the dexterity evinced by the boys, and complimented Mr. CLEAS upon the important benefits which the military, and particularly the naval service, are likely to derive from his instructions. M. CLEAS had the honour of presenting to Lord MELVILLE his Treatise upon Gymnastic Exercises. On Sunday night the sentinel of the Royal Guard, who was posted on the Place du Car rousel, near the Louvre gate, perceiving an indi vidual lurking near him, called out several times, " Who goes there ?" and ordered him to retire. The man, however, continued to approach, and the sentinel fired and killed him.—(Gaulte de France.) PARIS PAPERS. (From the Colutitutionna ) i PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. PERPIGNAN, APRIL 2.—At half past eleven this day, Lieutenant General Donnadieu set out for Cerdagne with an escort of 40 men of the sth Chasseurs.—The oscillations in the movements of the troops have at length terminated, and all the different corps which are to compose the army of Lampourdan are immediately to proceed to their respective stations. The 12th Light In fanky replaces the Ist in Cerdagne, and the 3d battalion of the sth line sleep to day at 13oulon. The divition of Cerdagne will be formed by the 12th Light Infantry, 800 strong; the 2d line 1,400 strong, and the sth horse Chasseurs amounting to 400.—The Priests and Monks who were to set out in all haste to return to their homes, almost all remain on the frontier; those of Olot sent an express to their brethren who remain at Perpignan to tell them not to stir ; that Llobera occupies Olot with a considerable corps of troops ; and that Mina has assembled a strong army at Vich.—The Fluvia washes the walls of Olot, and Vich is one march from that town.—To-day the Marshal has caused ROsas to be taken possession of by our troops, place and the port are to be put in a state of de • fence to protect our commerce and our debarka. tions, as vessels will henceforth be expedited from port Vendres. ,PARIS, APRIL 30._L'Etoile states that c ac- cording to all appearances, General Morillo fallen into a Royalist ambuscade, and that he That has been arrested by those who have, it is said, shamefully abandoned him. It adds that the last two couriers from France have been stopped by the Cure Merino, who, according to this in' telligence, will not therefore be our ally. ‘i According to the same accounts Gerona waste, have been occupied by our troop s. It is knots" that this place was dismantled in the late war. bees' The General-in-Chief Mina appears to . S tablished on the right bank of th e Ter, an d it I t i l l e as la t y ak to en m presumed, according if 1 e that he will not . (From the Journal des Debats.l aarpcohsiudownti.attheoElobtr.o. General blilans Paws, Apßil. 30.—1 t is certain th at we are at Saragossa, although there is no official account o f it. It is a dded, tha t the right bank of the Ebro is cleared to Tarragona and to in Thus ennseq this the sea. It appears, that the Cortex have in reality fewer soldiers than was imagined. ileinhceemorictShaeradgeossafenCe mwhadicehb7 its gates to the French under the standard of legitimacy. ( From the. Courier Francais.) ,• i d With BAYONNE, APRIL 24.—We receive but rarel, an , much difficulty, intelligence from Madrid. All the " ei, menial couriers are intercepted, and every °tie is s e . er _ prohibited to cross the frontiers 'With a Spanish journal in P r : troops, who allowed them to Pas s the _ pocket. We are, therefore, obliged to report filar° chair; of travellers. Those who have tbe most recenhtlY that tel arrived here quitted Madrid the 14th. They state, ittsßpnuopnuainpatritnen s , onianeiuricloii met on the road echelons of from 4 to 5,000 Constitutions) ee an instant, and without causing then any vexation. . es troops were well equipped, and had with them eight re of artillery. Two thousand men were on the 15th between Aranda and Orubia, 20 leagues from Madrid. The oth were on the side of Zerma, seven leagues from Burgos. Thee same travellers state that 2,500 of the militia of the Bas! .. provinces were also marching on the mad front Valladolid. IP, without detaining Tthhem these corps were proceeding to Madrid to reinforce the Om n i; commanded by the Count de l'Abisbal. On the other 11 , 11 r. they agree in saying that Ballastcros was, on the Nth, at 114 . military preparations were continued with- as ragona, in Upper Arragon. At the moment when these t o r% veleta left Madrid, that city was very tranqu il, i ' n't _., 41 . 3 activity. of the The reports circulated here respecting t he disgrac e ~1 f Trappist are not confirmed, - lie was at the ativanCed gua rd °f the army. It is reported that on the Ifith he was at Willie s ' : of forty' Cuebillas on the same day entered Burgos at the head five men. natters of th e It appears to be determined that the head-rio t -5 e . army shall remain at Vittoria till the sth May, and that the o . l l oa. togifktehetill:::l:ll Am e' rations for advancing will not recommence till after that Pe rl ~ , 2 „ rat ossa Nit's, A elm. 30.—The report of the opture Or ''''.- lion i. by the French army was circulated on Monday , hn t thc 4 ,„,,,,efer, MUCh Oruer a tear of yesterday did not mention it. Yesterday' ''. nin g the same story was circulated at the Bourse, but in the sle i t l'Etoile maintained the same silence as the 2/914 , t : the may be stated, however, that this intelligence carne " r-- ~ n a and tdhtehaan army 3 ) 1 , a d r s e s h n a I . n e t the e t 0D combatuke of B n n e 1 l thatu n o Court. al :11 01 ' It is said that the age and state of health of Illarsh— -04, ; coy wilt not allow him to support the campaign in Cat t s nd • sub. . We have stated the injunction given to EuroPene link, and ram Spaniards at Paris to quit the capital immediate' ' 0 . to leave France. 'We now learn that the execution of this 11l sure has been suspended. the hen' The Gazette de Lyo3 has allowe I itself to put forth . who point will viest denunciations againstseveral young men of that CltY;: ne , : at the last Carnival got up a Masquerade to celehr ste l b e fore ral of Commerce; *fourteen of them, brought on the • . - The Ga . the Correctional Police, were honours* aetnli ttea. ;I o f thi s zette de Lyon of' the 24th, however, makes 11 0 In ent " --1 act of justice. ' • —.._. PROCLAMATION IansdO;LDasIERRISI rto—ofn wlee song. anfLygoPeBRAOTIHR. A.NTONIO MANNAI; TiO• ou of and that N O N to the SOLDIERS of the CONSTITV ARMY of SPAIN. ed the Spanish winter, Theo of that gooen and you hear not; hands and you feel not. dove has left the ark, and it wills pecdilY return.,al r ent the oily and the waters a a t r e e rs no o w f itnttehoßdePfelsf.lattiiTirlee,:lreeable, and flow ! wi l tit he e i v rwi i di o t l hi e n mao t ns h se u tre r r ern : ,branch soon N t the Nation t it i oe t s ntn t i,)‘ n s o i lulttmhh hive the e e la t i s hln t t i b r e p a e c ad l c 't rh , ne sa s s u on p b wd b i e l e t t sstencell,o:alit;eainT6l.:_airecAtirt.,Pneii those patrotic songs, the productions of frenzied brtO2O4ol f o rth be filled with jubilee pleasure and contentment, anotiuutot the into hymns of triumph and hallelujahs. tell V e wa ves bi d ship of Peter, which was driven about arnenfi t? a ce, o n h, h the Ch l ' " the the abortion t canaihaslle, le cost w hc s o h many n availing y tears t t o f t . , tior:Stni IP y s ol i t i I i nt . .tr01:1:;:neolir_1!:11:yroi cri:l and to the Christians her dear songs_ is about to uts 4 P'r en ter , the Spanish soil. Already the rrellCll artniezo O.,Y.lncogst ed Spain, do not doubt it ; and you will be envel ha; to t.--, 0 , blindfoldzd and chained you hand and foot, you over the precipice which you cannot re•ftsc e ca S tn r e e c lz , e7 ed ili l o soo f te i n ll ia b y e i ou i : tsh c ca : tv i h t li de o In TIP ha:*