The Sun. — London, England, 1837-02-24 00:00:00

ABEL ALLI UTT, 3 Vols. Bentley, London, 1837. Abel Allnutt is the production of a practised writer, and who is also a disciplined man of the world. It is a desultory tale, having no pretensions to a well conceived and well de veloped plot, but depending for effect on its characters, which are numerous, cleverly sustained, and not less ably discriminated. That of Major Allnutt, in particular, may vie, in spirit and strict adherence to nature, with the very best of Theodore Hook's. Who, at one time or other of his life, has not met—or fancied he has met—with such a character as this?— "At the peace he returned home as Major Allnutt. So long as he was employed by others his conduct was distin guished by prudence and sagacity, but no sooner was he his Own master, than he became the plaything of his own schemes, and the ready instrument of every schemer. He was one of those visionaries who conceive they can stride into affluence by a singl e step. His quickness in the field of battle made him conclude that he might be equally successful in the arts of peace, and he rushed with the same ardour on what he thought was an indisputable invention, as he did on an unguarded point of the enemy's line. He wrote unanswerable pamphlets which were never read, and for which he never got more than the warm thanks of those to Whom he presented them, backed by the bill of costs of his publisher. He invented a ship that was never to sink, in which he embarked half his fortune, and just escaped with his life, as he was exhibiting her capabilities to an astonished crowd of patrons and spectators. He then con soled himself by endeavouring to convert young town-thieves into honest yeomen ; in which having failed without taking warning of experience, he devised a scheme for rearing salt water fish in fresh water, hoping to supply the town with cod and turbot, to the discomfiture of Billingsgate, and in the suc cess of which he was about exulting-, when, as the Armenian Said of his horse, he exclaimed, had they lived but another day, the experiment would have beta complete." This description of a restless, sanguine temperament re sembles, in point of manner, one of the serious and unexag gerated sketches in the " Idler." The jest, however, about the horse is not of Armenian origin, for it may be found among the " Facetize " of that patriarchal Greek wag nierocles. But jokes are great travellers, which may ac count for its presence in the dominions of old Tigranes ; and this, by the bye, reminds us that an ingenious essay might be made out of " The Travels and Transmigrations of a Good Joke." But to resume. In the third volume, which is by far the best, we find a most graphic sketch of the members of a respectable provincial English family, who are of the Jonathan Oldbuck school—that is to say, bit ten with a mania for antiquities. One of this family, says Mr. Morier, " Seemed by nature cast in the mould of an old man, as if It were intended that he should begin life by the end, instead of the beginning,—his person was stiff, and the shape of his face antiquated. His manners were distinguished by old fashioned courtesy and a tone of great benevolence ; but at the same time he was subject to such fits of absence, that a stran ger often set him down as proud and supercilious. One of the principal feats on record against him was performed at an even ing party after he had drunk tea, viz., placing his tea-cup "'thin a gentleman's hat who was standing near him, mistaking It for the servant's salver." The Cockney's " Journal" of his tour to Constantinople, Which occurs in die third volume, is a rich bit of sly, quiet humour. But indeed Abel Allnutt is light, sprightly, and amusin g throughout, and will not derogate from Mr. Mo rier's reputation as a novelist. EDUCATION REFORM, VoL. I. Longman, London, 1837. The author of this elaborate dissertation, of which the first Part only is completed, is Mr. Wyse, M.P., who has been long and honourably distinguished by his advocacy of a national system of education. His present volume be trays, in every page, marks of unwearied research and assi duity ; and his arguments being chiefly of a practical cha racter, are sure to make an impression on all those—and they are a fast increasing number—who have studied the subject with attention. Mr. Wyse puts forth no narrow, Pedantic theories ; but on the contrary, ridicules the absur dity of those learned ignoramuses, who conceive that the essence of all true knowledge consists in the facility of ma nufacturing Latin and Greek verses. At some leisure period we may return to Mr. Wyse's volume ; but for the Present must content ourselves with this brief, hasty notice. MINING REVIEW, No. IX. Simphin and Marshall, London, 1837. There is a curious essay in this Number on the " Quick- Silver Aline s of Bavaria," which is illustrated by one or two neat wood-engravings, showing the manner in which the ore is worked in the mine. The Number contains besides articles on geological and mineralogical subjects, which, to the initiated in such matters, cannot but be deeply inte resting. THE HISTORY OF PARTY. Vol. 11. dr GROROR WINGROVR COOKE, ESQ., BARRISTER-AT-LAW. London, Macrons, 1837. In this volume the history of the Whig and Tory factions is carried down from the accession of George I. in 1714, to the rise of the Earl of Bute in 1762. Though more in teresting than the former volume, it is less valuable as an historical performance. During the whole of the forty-five Years of factious warfare, of which it professes to detail the leadin g incidents, the Whigs tenaciously held the reins of the Government—giving, for the most part, stronger evi dences of a love of place than of attachment to principles Purely constitutional. Mr. Wingrove Cooke is an avowed W hig —an admission distinctly and honourably made by himself in his preface to this work ; but it affords us little Pleasure to add, that throughout these pages he appears to us to write exclusively in the spirit of one. Thus, though t he Whigs were always in power—though the direction of t he policy of the kingdom was ex c l us i ve l y i n the i r hands from the commencement to the conclusion of the period W hose political history is included in this volume—yet does the author endeavour to palliate their most unconstitu tional acts by supposing how much more reprehensible Would be the conduct of their opponents if, for any part of this , t ime, entrusted with the national destinies. In re fusing to allow that the Tories might have been influenced 7 any feeling of patriotism when opposing the unconstitu tmnal measures resorted to by the Whigs —measures which every, imparti a l p erson h as l ong l earne d to l oo k upon as the ci aP-trap s of a then faction more retentive of place than of public principle or personal honour—he assumes the character O f a partizan. We do not mean to insinuate that the conduct of the Tories would at an) period—if in place—be more im maculate than that of the Whigs—far from it ; but we contend, that the repetition of such inferences when a trial was not al lowed th em, and when the leaders of the Tory faction stood f orward as the champions of Constitutional liberty, in opposi tion to a time-serving Whig Cabinet, is quite unworthy of a write r of Mr. Cooke's acknowledged ability. It may do very Well to defend as far as they are defensible, such shameful violations of the Constitution as the Septennial Act and the Peerage Bill ; but the partiality is not justifiable which ex tends to the denunciatio n of every effort made by the Tories to defeat these measures. Mr. Cooke is himself obliged to admit that the Whigs, during the long administration of Wal- Pole, carried bribery to an extent unexampled in the previous annal s of this country ; but, instead of censuring, he palliates t he time ; nor does he say one word in favour of the Tories who sought to stern the corrupting torrent by the passing of Tri ennial Bill, and a return t o th e const i tut i onal practice of p a rtiality, P ar li aments. But, indep en d ent l y o f t h e aut h or ' s We cannot notice, without reprehension, a leading Prin ciple of faction which he puts forth, and even attempts to • oplJustify on the score of moral necessity, namely, that in Tesie lif e t h e end justifies the means. hus, in speaking , r _ s th . e cond uct of the Whigs who in 1736 opposed the t Act, Mr. Cooke emphatically observes, " The con duct of the Whigs upon this occasion was that rather of Zentdent than of lofty-minded men. But it is a melancholy ve , that the chivalrous honour, unswerving regard to rin gp.lv 'tend recklessness of consequences, so admirable in i e life, utterly disqualify their possessors for the go bt Per na let of a free country!" This doctrine will admit tewo interpretations. Either, as we observed above, th4 t th end in politics justifies the means—a most de tteetoth:le principle ; or that no honest man can advanta d_ u stY Presid e over the councils of a free people. But we ; i n e Y (in toto the proposition which we have just quoted. chivalrous h onour " an d the " unswerving regard to koci n i e so " admir a bl e i n pr i vate life, " are not less ne a e eegs ar at y i n the composition of the qua li t i es requisite to form habitstatesman, than a knowledge of the language and hi sto ry f the pe o pl e whom he is appointed to govern. The 4eref mixed a n d repu b l i can governments—ancient and assertinon furnishes ample proofs of the correctness of this a re prepare( Without having recourse to extreme cases, we aseee to prove, that an unswerving regard to principle ever, thatsTU in public as in private life. We admit, how v_a.iled i n most subversive of the lib . O C f j O h n e ke's doctrine upon this subject long pre of p c s r Cabinets of Europe ; but a fallacy more . of mankind was . o l i r l i t ( i l ig m a o te r d e . dangerous to the morals, This work, honweevver, when completed, will form a very valuable addition to our standard political literature There is not a page of it in which we do not find traces of careful research, and the evidences of a vigorous intellect. The Whigs owe much to Mr. Wingrove Cooke, and, judging from his works, they would find him an invaluable acquisition to their strength in the House of Commons. JUSTICE IN SWITZERLAND. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR-I observe in your Paper of the 18th instant an CXII act from a Frankfort Newspaper, which contains a garbled state ment of a case, which, if it affected only the interests of an individual, I should not have noticed at all, but affecting as it does, the rights of every British subject, I presume to think that you will deem it proper to admit into your columns my explanation of the ease referred to. The statement imports that the Chamber of Finance of the Canton of Zurich claims the property of my relative, who lately died in that Canton, " that on his death an inventory was made of his property, and the Magistrates, ignorant of the English language, were forced to make use of strangers, and it is believed a will was forged which was found sometime af terwards amongst old linen, by which distant relatives in Eng land are left heirs to the property." The article concludes in effect that it will be highlylbeneficial to the State of Zurich to appropriate this property to itself. Now, Sir, what are the facts of the case ?—On the death of my relative at his house at Goldenberg, near Zurich, the Officers of the Government took immediate possession of his effects, they went through his papers, and were assisted in the examination of them by Mr. Henry Escher Zolli Kofer, a highly respectable Swiss Banker, who has a perfect knowledge of the English lan guage, and they found the will of the deceased, which they took possension of, and still hold. Fortunately for me my re lative has placed in the hands of one of the Magistrates of this town, a duplicate of this will under a sealed envelope, on which was written a direction that it should be opened in the presence of six respectable gentlemen, so soon as authentic in telligence of his death reached England. In compliance with the wish of the testator so expressed, the seals were broken on the Bth of November last, in the presence of Charles John Brigg, Esq., the Mayor of this town ; John Clayton, Esq., the Town Clerk ; Robert William Brandling, Esq., a Magistrate of Northumberland ; George Thomas Dunn, Esq. (the gen tleman with whom the deposit had been made), and other in dividuals of known credit. The will was found to be properly executed by the testator, in the presence of and attested by three respectable Englishmen, and every word of it is in his own hand writing—it has been proved by me, the sole execu tor, in the Prerogative Courts of York and Canterbury, and I am in full possession of the testator's large property in England. The will in Switzerland, as appears from a copy transmitted to me, is a perfect duplicate of that which is acted upon here. So much for the pretence of the Zurich Treasury, that some one had forged the will ; but the Chamber of Finance make use of other pretexts to deprive me of my property—they have the modesty to contend that all my relative's property not only in Switzerland, but also in England, must pay a legacy duty of 101. per cent, to the Treasury of the petty' state of Zurich, in which he happened to die, and in order to enforce the pay ment they seize my property in Switzerland, about 8,0001. in value. Every British subject is interested in the successful resistance of an attempt to make his property in his own coun try pay a legacy duty to a Foreign State, and in resisting it I feel that I am entitled to the protection of the British Govern ment. Assisted by a spirited and intelligent countryman, Ralph Carr, Jun., Esq., who happens to be resident on the spot, I am repelling this unconscionable demand before the legal tribunals of Switzerland, from which I expect justice, and I will continue my resistance to the last. The writer in the Frankfort Newspaper concludes " that no one will grudge this acquisition to a State which boasts that it manages its small resources wisely." Now Ido grudge to the Canton of Zurich, as I would grudge to any other State, or in dividual, the possession of property acquired by injustice, whatever may be the purposes to which it is applied. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, WILLIAM MATHER. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Feb. 20, 1837. RE PRESENTATION OF SHEFFIELD FEB. 23, 1837.—A numerous meeting of electors in the Liberal interest was held at the Town-hall yesterday, Dr. Arnold Knight in the chair, to consider and adopt measures for securing a fit and proper candidate of known tried Reform principles to represent the borough, on the resignation of Mr. Buckingham. Luke Palfreyman, Esq. being deputed by the committee of the Reform Association of Sheffield, a com mittee, consisting of the most active members of previous com mittees, of every liberal candidate who has been nominated for this borough, proposed a resolution, that H. G. Ward, Esq. M. P. be reipectfully invited to become a candidate for the representation of this borough in Parliament, on the re tirement of the present MemLer, Mr. Buckingham. This resolution was carried unanimously, every hand being held up, amidst the most enthusiastic cheering. Other resolutions were also passed unanimously, pledging the hearty and energetic support of the assembled electors to return Mr. Ward on the same terms as our former representatives had been returned, viz., free of expense. This unity of feeling at a meeting of near 1,200 Reformers of all grades—from the Ultra-Whig to the Ultra-Radical—has thrown complete dis• may into the Tory camp. Yet we aro threatened with a re gular out-and-out Orange Tory, Captain Gordon, provided it is proved that he is not a member of either Graham's or Crockford's, nor plays at guinea-points and five-pound rubbers —our clergy cry whist !--" don't mention it." The Honour able John and James may stay at Wharnclifice and play double dummy, without cutting their thumb-nails—haring got the cut direct from their shuffling friends, both at Halifax and the West Riding. MEETING OF MIDDLESEX MA- GISTRATES. Yesterday being County Day, the usual meeting of ma gistrates took &ace. Mr. Sergeant Adams was unanimously re-elected Chair man until the county day of next September Sessions. Mr. POWNELL and several other magistrates expressed their regret that they were not in a situation to award him a salary. _ _ After some formal business, the death of the district sur veyor of St. Luke's, Old-street (Mr. Samuel Acton), was reported ; and on the motion of Captain Acklom, the elec tion of his successor was appointed to take place on Tues day, the 4th April next, and candidates were to send in their testimonials on or before the 27th of March. Upon the report relative to the state of the New Prison at Clerkenwell being brought up, on the motion of Mr. ROTCH, it was put and carried unanimously that it be re ceived, presented, and taken into consideration on the next county day. NEWGATE PRISON. The report of the Committee of Inquiry into the state of this prison was brought up, and, on the motion of Mr. MILLS, ordered to be taken into further consideration on the next court day. COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUM. The report of the Visiting Justices was brought up. After some conversation as to the number of deaths occurring amongst the pauper lunati cs o f th e county o f Middl esex being larger in proportion than those of other counties of similar extent, and its being attributed to the want of space and accommodation in the asylum to enable lunatics to derive the benefit of the medical advice and plan of treatment adopted therein, instead of placing them as out door patients, on the motion of Captain Adorn, it was put and carried that the report be received and printed, and copies of it forwarded to the different parishes in the county, with a lithographic drawing of the present building and the contemplated alterations. After disposing of some other business, of no public im portance, the Court adjourned. Lord De Roos, pronounced by a Special Jury of his countrymen to be guilty of cheating at cards, is an heredi tary legislator. If shame should prevent this noble gambler from appearing personally in the House he graces, he may and probably will send his proxy. Lord De Roos, exiled from so ciety in England, may vote away the liberties of England, and help to bathe Ireland in blood, even while he is practising sleight of hand in the hells of Paris. Is it not most foul, strange, and unnatural ? If a member of the House of Com mons had been thus convicted, could he have retained his seat ? Why should a Lord be exempt from the same responsibility to the people for whom he makes laws? But this is Hereditary Legislation. Mark it well.—Somerset Gazette. The members of the Catch Club dined on Wednce day at the Thatched House Tavern. Covers were laid for thirty. Amongst the company present were his Grace the Duke of Argyll, Hon. M. Fortescue, Hon. W. T. Fiennes, Hon. Henry Fitzroy, Hon. Craven Berkeley, M. P., W. F. Campbell, Esq., M. P., John Bowes, Esq., M. P., W. Tudor, Esq., P. S. Salomons, Esq., &c. THE LATE BISHOP OF SALISBURY.—Accounts reached town on Wednesday of the demise of the above Right Rev. Prelate (Dr. Thomas Burgess, F. R. S.) who expired , on Monday morning, at Southampton. His Lordship was Chan cellor of the Order of the Garter, President of the Royal So ciety of Literature, Provincial Precentor of Canterbury, &c. His Lordship's attainments in Hebrew and Greek were very considerable ; he was generally considered to be the best Greek scholar in the kingdom. The deceased was consecra ted Bishop of St. David's in 1803, and was translated to the see of Salisbury in 1826. His Lordship contributed greatly to the prosperity of Lampeter College in Wales, and to other learned institutions. Napoleon, at age of twenty-six, marched at the head of 50,000 Frenchmen. The Princes Rosoliu and Ne mours will be at the head of 1,000,000 of Franks (francs). -- Charivari. As soon as half a dozen dowries and apanages have been voted, the newspapers of the right way of thinking will be able to say with some truth that the fortunes of France are attached to her Princes.— Charivari. A meeting of the electors of Marylebone, ill the in terest of B. Hall, Esq., M. P., was held at the Duke of York Inn, Portland Town, Mr. Arland in the chair. Mr. Hall came forward to detail his well-known opinions : and resolutions were passed to support Mr. Hall in case of a vacancy. In the Channel Islands, especially in Guernsey, the prevailing influenza has been most general and fatal. There has been an awful conflagration at Auburn, in the State of New York, which has destroyed nearly one hatf of that beautiful little town. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY, FEI3IIIUARY 24, 1837 a legatee attested a will, the legacy became entirely void ; but this was a law which the common feelings of man would not permit to be executed. At present if a will were not witnessed in the sight of the testator it became void, and he could assure the House that many wills of undoubted validity had been rendered void by little accidental circum stances which had prevented the testator from seeing the proof of attestation. With regard to the revoking of wills that was provided fur by this Bill ; and no reviving of a will would be permitted to take place without a re-execution, or an express declaration in writing of the intention to revive. —(Hear, hear.) Under the present law, the avowed intention of the testator was often defeated and frustrated by the technical and difficult rules of construction. He (Lord Langdale) was of opinion that the most popular and ordinary construction should be applied, and this Bill con tained a clause to give effect, as much as possible, to the intention of the will. The Bill now before the House pro posed to adopt all the regulations of former statutes, which it might be deemod advisable to retain ; and, as soon as it came into operation, to repeal all the other statutes on the subject of wills. With this statement, therefore, he should conclude by moving that the Bill be read a second time. Lord ABINGER thought that this Bill was a great improvement on the Bill of the year before last, and• he could assure the Noble and Learned Lord opposite that he should give it due consideration. LordBROUG HA M bugged to express to his Noble and Learned Friend the Master of the Rolls his sense of obligation for having introduced this measurse. He thought it a great improvement on the existing law, and he was happy to hear opinions in its favour from the Noble and Learned Lord opposite. He considered that this Bill was calculated upon the whole to effect a valu able improvement in the existing state of the law with respect to the proof necessary to establish the validity of a will. There were, however, undoubtedly, one or two exceptions to his general approbation of the measure, which could more properly be discussed in Committee ; and also one or two others of such importance as to re quire further consideration ; but there was nothing which ought to prevent their Lordships from allowing it to be read a second time. Lord ABINGER said a few words in explanation, which were perfectly inaudible. Lord WYNFORD approved of the principle of the Bill, but thought that the recommendation of the Eccle siastical Commission, that the same number of witnesses should be required to attest wills both of real and per sonal property, ought to be carried into effect. He was likewise of opinion, that the birth of a child should be considered to operate as a revocation of a will, and that that this Bill required some alteration in that respect. He should be most happy to afford his assistance in Committee to render the measure as free from objection as possible. The LORD CHANCELLOR expressed great satis faction at the unanimity of opinion expressed by their Lord ships as to the principle of this Bill ; and his only object in rising then was to draw their attention to another measure, which he had the honour of introducing last Session, and which he had postponed, in order that the present Bill might take precedence of it. The object of this measure was to attach more solemnity to wills of personal estate ; and that object could not be effected unless some provision were made for affording the means of strict proof. At present that matter was left entirely to the very imperfect machinery of th e Ecclesiastical Courts, and the Bill for the improve ment of those Courts (to which he had alluded, and which had been much discussed up stairs, but had subsequently been postponed, in consequence of the necessity of passing previously some Bill of the same nature as the present) contained a clause which provided for the object in question. The two measures, taken together, would be highly benefi cial. The first Bill would provide the means of properly making wills of personal property ; and the other would provide means whereby the fact of their having been pro perly executed might be satisfactorily tried. The Bill was then read a second time.—Adjourned. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S-YESTERDAY. THE DERBY. The room was less numerously attended, and the business trans acted inferior in character and amount to what was done on Mon day. Of the few changes that arose the chief one is in the two favourites, Jereed havinr , obtained a decided call of Lord Jersey's horse—neither was backed outright. 23 to 1 was the highest offer against Caravan or Mahometan, or 11 to 1 against the two. Offers to take 12 to 1 or 25 to 1 about either ; several parties endeavoured to get on, but the only public bet noticed by us was one of twenty three fifties against Caravan. Rococo was backed for 1001. at 40 to 1, and a new favourite from Scott's stables, Capulet (bought when a yearling of Mr. Walker), first at 2,000 to 25, then at 2,000 to 30, and lastly at 2,000 to 40 ; an offer was also made to take 6 to 5 that he beats Sambo. Other horses were backed without affecting any alterations. 71 to 1 agst Colonel Anson's Jereed—take 8 to 1 8 to 1 agst Lord Jersey's Bro. to Bay Middleton—take 9 to 1 14 to 1 agst Captain Gardner's Phantasima colt—taken to 1001. 20 to 1 agst Mr. Wrefurd's Wintonian—taken to 501. 20 to t agst Mr. Greville's Mango—taken to 501. 20 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's Dardanelles—offered 2.3 to 1 agst Mr. Osbaldeston's Mahometan—take 23 to 1 23 to 1 agst Lord Stradbroko's Caravan—take 25 to 1 25 to 1 agst Mr. Sadler's Defender—offered 25 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's Troilus—taken to 401., and after wards offered 30 to I agst Lord Lichfield's Cartoon—taken to 501. 30 to 1 agst Mr. Savile's Brother to Elis—taken 40 to 1 agst Sir M. Wood's Rococo (Cetus colt)—taken toloo/. 50 to I agst Lord Chesterfield's Capulet—taken 50 to I agst Mr. Bowes's Mickle Fell—take 66 to 1 66 to 1 agst Duke of Rutland's Slight colt—take 100 to 1 1200 to 100 agst Troilus and Dardanelles—taken 1300 to 100 agst Caravan and Cartoon taken in on bet 1400 to 100 agst Phantasima 500 even on Jereed and Capulet agst ord Jersey's two THE PORTLAND HANDICAP, Z.P. 8 to 1 agst Lord Egremont's Hoek—offered 8 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Birdlime—taken to 751. STEEPLE CHASES. Three or four important races come off in the course of the ensuing week • the first will be on T ues d ay , f or a sweepsta k es of 10 sovs. each, in addition to a valuable gold cup, presented by a foreign Prince. The entries close at St. Alban's to morrow evening. The Bath Rices come off on Wednesday and Saturday, each having a very good entry. The Liverpool is fixed for Wedne3day. The Tamworth and High Wycombe are also appointed for Wednesday. The Dunchurch race takes place on the 7th, and Leaming_ ton on the 14th. These two last create very great interest. REPRESENTATI ON OF G A TESII EA De—During the past week the borough has been thoroughly canvassed by the friends of C. Rippon, Esq., the sitting member, and of J. W. Williamson, Esq., of Whickham, who is now offering him self to the electors. Mr. Rippon's election, we have reason to believe, will be secure, but his friends will act imprudently if they suffer his present prospects to induce them to relax in their vigilance or exertion.— Tyne Mercury. LITERARY NOTICE.—We are requested to state that the new work, by the author of " Hajji Baba," entitled " Abel Allnutt" was published this day by Mr. Bentley, New Burlington-street, and may be obtained of all booksellers. At a recent marriage at Bridgewater, Verment, where only eight persons were present, and where the bride. groom wedded his brother's wife's mother, the bride being 67, and bridegroom 47 ; there were, nevertheless, counted 3 fa thers, 3 grandfathers, 3 mothers, 2 grandmothers, 4 children, 2 grandchildren, 3 husbands, 1 daughter, 3 wives, 2 uncles, 2 brothers in manhood, 2 aunts, 2 brothers in childhood, 2 sisters, 2 nephews and 2 wives--in all 37 distinct relationships of kin dred and marriage. Mr. SULIVAN'S " FLITTINGS OF FANCY."— This work embraces a succession of tales and sketches, written with great talent. The grave and gay are happily blended, and the author, in his flitting, proves that while his fancy is most vivid, his power of exciting the sympathies of his readers is equal to that of most of our modern candidates for literary fame. The story of " Wild Water Pond" shows very supe rior powers, both of conception and execution. It is as vivid a piece 9f painting as is to be met with in Washington Ir ving's " Legend of Sleepy Hollow." As a sample of of easy, graceful Addisonian humour, we may instance the story entitled " Insurance and Assurance," which, in its way, is as good as " Wild Water Pond." We have lately heard of d most revolting murder, for even in this most revolting crime there are shades of differ ence. An old man of the name of Bell, residing in Moffat, was this morning (Monday) murdered by his own son with a rack-stick, when entering the threshhold of his own domicile. The Fiscal lost no time in repairing to the spot, and the of fender is in custody. Medical aid was immediately called in, but to no purpose, as the old man expired almost instanta neously.—Dumfries Times. THE BEST AND CHEAPEST NAVAL HISTORY OF GREAT BRlTAlN.—Captain Brenton's truly National work, which makes its appearance under the auspices of his Majesty, is now completed in two thick Bvo. volumes, adorned with twenty-four illustrations, consisting of striking Portraits of our most illustrious Naval heroes, &c. This edition, by means of close print, contains a complete narrative of British Naval Exploits in all parts of the world, from 1783 to the present time, and includes the whole five volumes (besides great addi tions) of the original impression. Being written by a gallant officer who has had fifty years experience in the service, Capt. Brenton's work must claim a decided superiority over every other book of a similar kind. It thus becomes a text-book for the Navy, to which the young officer will refer with pride and satisfaction, while the historian will know what value to attach to a performance composed from the official documents and other sources of information to which Captain Brenton has had unreserved access. The remarkably cheap price of these vo lumes is another powerful recommendation to public favour. It is said there is no truth in the report that a mar riage is in contemplation between Lord Glandine and Lady Georgiana Russell. TILE NEW WORK BY THE AUTHOR OF " Rootcwooo."—We are requested to state that the new ro mance by Mr. Ainsworth, entitled " Crichton," will be published by Mr. Bentley, New Burlington -street, on Mon day next, the 27th instant. Orders, which should be for warded immediately to secure an early delivery of the work, are received by all booksellers. IMPERI AMEN T HOUSE OF LORDS, FlontrAnr 23. The LORD CHANCELI.OR took his scat en the Wt. olsack at five o'clock. Lord STRAFFORD presented portions from Poo7e, in Dorsetshire ; from Binkley Long, in Kent ; and ft.( m the congregation of Chapel-street, Holy cell, praying f( r the abolition of Church-rates. Earl RADNOR presented a petition to the sallme effect from Ashstead, in Kent. The Bishop of BATH and WELLS presented a pe tition from Bringfield against the abolition of Church-rates, and praying for protection to the Established Church. The Earl of DEVON presented petitions from Kew, from Beer, and from the parishes of Bishopstone and All Saints', Dorchester, in favour of Church• rates. The Marquis of CONYNGHAM presented a petition from Ramsgate for the abolition of Church-rates. Lord CLONCURRY presented a petition from the parish of St. Michael's, Dublin, in favour of a system of poor laws for Ireland ; from a parish in the county of Mayo, for the abolition of tithes ; and one also from the same parish, praying for Corporate Reform. lie had seve ral other petitions to present from different places in Ire land, praying also for Corporate Reform, but they contained certain words which had been declared irregular to be troduced into petitions on a former evening, and therefore he was not sure that they would be received. Unlike the former petitions, those he had now to present did not allude to either person or place. He should read the words of the petition, and leave their Lordships to decide whether or not they were irregular. The Noble Lord thee read as fol lows :—"Your petitioners therefore pray that they may not be legislated for as if they were aliens in blood, in religion, and in language." There being no opposition offered to the reception of the petitions, they were laid upon the table. Lord KENYON presented a petition from a parish in Macclesfield, praying for the repeal of the present Poor Law Bill, and complaining of the effects it was likely to have upon the manufacturing districts of the country. The Bishop of EXETER had been requested to sup port the prayer of the petition, but although he hoped such an alteration would be made in the law as to induce more humanity in the exercise of it, he could not join the desire for its repeal. The Earl of RADNOR, for his part could not under. stand from the petition what it was the petitioners core plained of. Lord KENYON suggested that the petiCoa should lre read for the information of the Noble Earl. The petition having been read by the clerk, The Earl of RADNOR said that the petitioners did not seem to have any individual or specific grievance to complain of. They appeared only to fear some specula tive evil. Lord IV HARNCLIFTE, although he did not approve of that part of the Poor law Bill which prevented out-door relief, yet should not support any proposition for the repeal of the law, not even the bastardy clauses of it. He had had much opportunity of seeing in many extensive districts of the country that the law worked well when properly ad ministered. The Earl of DEVON also bore testimony to the bene ficial operation of the Poor-law Act, and believed the Com missioners generally exercised a very sound judgment and discretion in the application of its provisions. The Marquis of SALISBURY wished to call the at tention of the Noble Lord opposite (Lord Cloncurry) to some rather remarkable circumstances connected with the petitions which the Noble Lord had that night presented from places in Ireland. In those petitions there were seve ral erasures, and some of the sheets of paper on which the names were signed appear to have been joined together by wax seals ; but two out of three of those seals had been torn off. Lord CLONCURRY was perfectly willing, and indeed anxious, that their Lordships should institute an inquiry into the irregularity, it such it was, which the Noble Mar quis had pointed out, and he therofore hoped their Lord ships would call for the attendance from Ireland of those who signed the petition. He was sure that there was not one of the petitioners who would not be delighted to take a trip to this country at the public expense.—(A laugh.) For himself he could only say that the petition s underwent no alteration since they came into his hands. The Marquis of L ANSDOWNE did not think it was worth while to go to the expense of bringing over the peti tioners on this occasion, however anxious they might be to visit this country. The Marquis of SALISBURY was quite satisfied with the explanation given by the Noble Lord. Lord BROUGHAM presented a number of petitions— from Norwich, signed by two thousand persons; from Brighton, signed by three thousand persons ; and from various other places—praying for the abolition of Church rates. The Marquis of BUTE presented a petition from Sud• bury, in favour of Church-rates. Lord REDESDALE presented two petitions to the same effect. The Bishop of EXETER presented petitions against the abolition of Church-rates from Dudley, Plympton, St. Stephen's, Exeter ; and other places in Devon. Lord EL LENBOROUGH moved for a return of the expenses incurred in passing paupers from this country to Ireland since the Union. It was necessary to have those returns before the House preparatory to the introduction of the Bill for establishing Poor-laws in Ireland.— Agreed to, On the motion of Lord DUNCANNON the Post office Contract Bill went through a Committee. LAW OF WILLS. Lord LANGDALE rose, pursuant to notice, to propose to their Lordships the second reading of a Bill for certain alterations in the present existing law of wills. Their Lordships would see that this was a subject of the greatest importance to families and all persons who had property to dispose of by will.—(Hear.) The subject had indeed been considered of such importance that two commissions had been issued to inquire into the state of the law as re garded wills, and to report upon it. One of these commis sions, the real property commission, was issued in 1828, and the other, the ecclesiastical commission, in 1830. These two commissions had made their report, and as one was an inquiry into the disposal of real property and the other into the disposal of personal property, and both being necessarily connected, the two reports were calculated to supply the most valuable grounds for an improved law upon the subject. Pursuant to the report of the real pro. perty commission a Bill was introduced into the House of Commons in 1834 ; but it did not pass that House in that year. In 1835 it was again introduced, and passed the House of Commons ; but on being brought up to their Lordships it was referred to a Committee, when the sub ject underwent the closest investigation, and from that in quiry the present Bill was proposed. Notwithstanding, however, all the information thus supplied by means of the inquiry in their Lordships' C omm i ttee , an d the reports of the two commissions, he felt it his duty to cause copies of the Bill to be sent to the most eminent members of the legal profession, to obtain their advice and opinion. In this way he had obtained much valuable and carefully con,idered judgment on which to introduce improvements. Having thus stated the general scope of the Bill, he would briefly advert to its particular; objects. One ob ject was to reduce the statute law, so as to define what pro perty was disposable by the will. N ext, how a will should be executed, how revoked, and how it might be revived. With respect to property, the present Bill would give the power of disposal of all property held by the person at the time of death, which was not the case at present. There were certain freehold estates called copyhold, which, under particular circumstances, were not now devisable by will. Another alteration which the Bill contemplated was this— as the law now stood a man might make a will, dividing all the property he should die possessed of at his death, but should he acquire any property, however extensive, after making his will, that property would not be conveyed by the will, although it devised all he should die possessed of. The Bill also went to make an alteration in the period of life at which a person was to be competent in the eye of the law to make a will : At present the age was twenty-one ; but the present Bill would provide that twenty-one should be the age qualifying a person to make a will conveying or dis posing of real property, and seventeen the capable age at which personal property might be disposed of by will. The Commissioners recommended that as clear, uniform, and distinct a form as was practicable should be adopted, and the reason why the law at all required a degree of so lemnity in a will was to prevent spurious wills. It had been said that the law exhibited a matchless variety in this respect. There were no less than ten different ways in which property could be legally conveyed by will. What he (Lord Langdale) should do on the present occasion would be, to bring before the House the two modes most strongly contrasted. A will disposing of real property must, under the statute of frauds, be signed by the testator, and subscribed by three or four creditable winesses in the presence of the testator. With respect to wills merely conveying personal estate, no form whatever was required. A letter to a friend, a letter to an agent, a loose me morandum, or a string of loose memoranda would convey personal property, provided that the Ecclesiastical Court could collect an intention to devise. Both these modes of disposition were open to great objection, and many learned and eminent Judges had expressed their dis approbation of them. He would not go into the report of the real property Commissioners, but they, however, stated that it was desirable that some uniform plan should be adopted. To the validity of a will it was necessary that it should be in writing, signed and attested. By the statute of fraud three or four witnesses were required ; but the Commissioners were of opinion that two would be suffi cient. He (Lord Langdale) agreed with the Commis sioners in that opinion. In the present state of the law if LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF CHANCERY, Fin. 2.3. GOMPERTZ V. ANSDELL. Mr. TIERNEY moved in this matter to discharge an order of the Master of the Rolls, which restrains the defendant from continuing to receive the dividends on a sum of 10,000/. Three per Cents., part of the proceeds of the estate of the late Benjamin Isaacs. By the will of the father of Isaacs the property was to descend to Joseph, the brother of Benjamin, and to Joseph's eldest son in the event of Benjamin dying without issue. Benjamin died in 1829, without issue, his brother Joseph and two sons of Joseph having died before him. One party put in a claim to the property in right of the eldest son of Joseph ; another party claimed in right of the second son, the eldest being, as they maintained, illegitimate, there being reason, to believe that the parents were not mar ried before the birth of the eldest son. All parties, by the advice of a person named Dean, the clerk of their solicitor, agreed-to a compromise, which divided the property among all the claim ants. The plaintiff, who is entitled as remainder man, in the event of Joseph Isaacs dying without issue lawfully begotten, filed a bill in July 1836, alleging he had evidence to prove that both of the sons of Joseph Isaacs were born before the marriage of their parents, and that he, therefore, and not the defendant, is now entitled to take the whole of the pro perty. The Master of the Rolls being of opinion that a ques tion had been raised which must ultimately be determined by a Jury, through the means of an issue, to be directed by the Court, granted an injunction, which deprived the defendants of any control over their share of the funds, and as they now contended, of all means to resist a claim made on the part of the plaintiff. The Learned Counsel therefore prayed that the injunction might be dissolved. His LORDSIIIP directed the injunction to be continued, and an issue on the question of the legitimacy of the second son of Joseph Isaacs to be tried at the next Exeter Assizes, the par ties having resided in D evon . . Co UR T OF KING'S BENCH, FEB. 23. SMITH V. GRIBBLE. This was an action to recover damages from the defendant for alleged ill treatment of the plaintiff, by flogging him and then imprisoning him with irons in the gunner's room. The plaintiff had been a seaman on board the Illargacss Camden, which sailed from London in July, 1835, and arrived at the Whampoa River in July, 1836. The defendant was the captain of that vessel. The defendant pleaded a special justification. Lord DENMAN summed up, and the Jury returned a verdict for the defendant. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, FRE. 23. REILLY V. LANE. This was an action brought by the executors of the late Mr. Reilly, who was proprietor of a large establishment, called the York Hotel, in Bath, against Mr. Lane, an extensive stage-coach proprietor of that city, to recover compensation for a breach of covenant. Messrs. Lane and Reilly having been in partnership as tavernkeepers, the proprietors of the York Hotel, and as coach proprietors, dissolved partnership, in 1826, upon an understanding that Mr. Reilly should have nothing more to do with the coach business, which was to be left entirely in the hands of Mr. Lane, the profits and business of the inn being reserved to Mr. Reilly. The deed of partnership, however, contained three covenants, to the effect :—First, that Mr. Lane, in his management of his busi ness as coach•proprietor, should advance, as far as was in his power, the interests of the York Hotel, by inducing the pas sengers in his coaches to stay there ; secondly, that in case of the death of Mr. Lane, or of his desire to relinquish his bu siness of coach-proprietor and horsing stage-coaches, Mr. Reilly should have the option of taking that business upon a valuation by two persons, to be appointed one on each side ; and, thirdly, that Mr. Lane should do no posting business, by letting out for hire post-horses in the city of Bath or within ten miles thereof. The declaration alleged seven breaches of that covenant. The Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff on all the is sues—Damages on the last (the seven.h) issue, 1001., and on the rest 1601. each. PREROGATIVE COURT, FRB. 23. HARRIS V. REED. The case had not concluded at the rising of the Court. MIDDLESEX COUNTY COURT. KINSGATE-STREET. CRIMINAL CONVERSATION. —George Johnston, a helper in a gentleman's livery stables, was summoned by a sallow-look ing livery servant for the sum of 11. 19s. 11 1 d., money lent to the wife of the defendant by the plaintiff. The wife of the de fendent apreared in Court, and with her snub nose, together with her sad temper and terrible evil disposition, the whole Court was sadly puzzled with her presence. Mr. Commissioner DUBOIS (to the defendant)—Pray what do you say to this? Defendant—That man, Sir, has been the ruin of my mind; he has not only basely weatied the affec tions of my wife from me, but he now wants to fairly swindle me out of 21. I do hope, Sir, that I shall have justice at your hands. I have been wronged and robbed on every side. The Wife—And sarve you right, you good-for-nothing feller. COMMISSIONER—Keep silence, madam, if you please. The Wife—Keep it yourself. I dare say too—eh—keep tt yourself. COMMISSIONER—Officer, if that woman is not silent you must hand her out of Court. The Wife—Yes, you try it on, and see how I'll tear your eyes out. Defendant—Oh, this ain't nothing, Sir. I've pulled her out of the stables about a hundred times ; and, in fact, Sir, I don't know what to do with her. The Wife—Do ! yer wagabond I Why do the best you can ; and, mind, don't you expose me, or I shall very soon expose you. COMMISSIONER—You are making a sad exposure of yourself, madam. Pray what did you borrow this money for ? Wife— To pay the rent, Sir, that's what. Defendant —Why, I gave you the money long ago. Wife—Yes, but I'd spent a couple of pounds, and so I was obliged to borrow more more, mister. COMMISSIONER—And did you apprise your husband of the fact ? Wife—No, I did'nt. I'm not obliged to tell him everything. COMMISSIONER—Nor shall we compel him to pay everything. This appears to be a most infamous affair. Wife—And you're a hinfamous feller for saying so. The Jury, after a short consultation, dismissed the case, ex pressing at the same time the utmost disgust at the conduct of the plaintiffs. Immediately the parties got outside the Court, a scene took place that beggars all description—the wife and her paramour fell foul of the husband ; the latter being a very sturdy, thick-set man, the criminal parties got the worst of it, and they severally rolled in the mud, the husband being at all times uppermost. After about ten minutes' hard screaming, bawling, and hard fighting, the police interfered, and the little black-complexioned woman walked off with the poor crest-fallen and well-beaten plaintiff, amid a torrent of execra tions and hissing from the crowd. LIVING IN HOPE.—An elderly defendant, probably about 75 years of age, on being asked yesterday if he had any fa mily, replied with great naivete—" No, Sir, not at present." POLICE INTELLIGENCE. HATTON:GARDEN. Yesterday, Mrs. and Miss Newman, were again brought before Mr. LAING for re-examination. The most intense in terest prevailed, as the crowded state of the office fully tes tified. Among some other articles, the property of Mr. El derton, proved to have been pledged, was an anatomical prepa ration of a human feetus. The facts, in addition to those eli cited by the previous examination, were so conclusive that the clerk proceeded to read over the evidence (Miss Newman having sufficiently recovered from her swoon as to say she could attend to it), and Mr. LAING fully committed the pri soners for trial ; but upon Collins, the police-constable, stating, in reply to a question from Mr. LAING whether any other pro perty could be produced, that there was plenty, and that be hoped to be able to trace it in a day or two. Mr. LAING thought it advisable to remand the prisoners till Wednesday, with directions that should any thing be traced previously, they might be brought up on Monday next. THE MURDER NEAR UXBRIDGE. INQUEST ON TIIE BODY.—On the arrival of the Coroner the Inn was crowded to excess, and some hundreds of persons were assembled outside. The two prisoners, Lamb and Bray, were in separate rooms, in the custody of officers. A highly respectable Jury was empannelled, of which the Rev. Chris topher Parke was foreman. • Mr. Charles Potter, surgeon, of _Uxbridge, had examined internally the body of the deceased. On removing the scalp appearances of contusion were seen on the inner surface of that part covering the left temple. On removing the skull cap the vessels of the brain were found gorged with blood ; there was a great effusion of blood on the brain, which was the cause of death. Mr. Charles Churchill, farmer, of Ruislip, was next exa mined. The deceased vv4s a very steady, industrious lad. I am aware that the life of the poor lad had been threatened by Bray and Lamb, in consequence of his giving evidence against them at the Uxb r id ge S ess i ons on a c h arge o f p oac hing, Mary Brill, the sister of the deceased, an intelligent girl, stated that after her unfortunate brother had given evidence against Lamb and Bray, on a charge of poaching, she met Henry Hill, who called her on one side, and told her to tell Jackey - (alluding to the deceased) to keep a good 100k -out, as Jem Bray said he would kill him whenever he had an oppor tunity. The Jury returned a' verdict of " Wilful Murder against some person or persons unknown." The prisoners Lamb and Bray were then brought before Mr. Dagnall, the Magistrate, will addressed them at some length upon the great suspicion against them, but that the evidence was not sufficient to warrant their detention. Lamb, however, was detained or, a charge of horse-stealing. Members of the House of Commons have been arriving daily this week, who had been prevented from attend ing at the commencement of the session by the influenza, but who are now convalescent ; though a few still remain indis posed, and are unable to attend to their duties in Parliament. A carpenter received several kegs of nails from a friend, with a request that he would sell them on comraiFsion. Not being accustomed to sucl► business he wrote to his corre spondent, at the end of three months, and informed him that he could not sell the article. The owner answered his letter, a nd told him that if he could hot otherwise dispose of the ar ticle he might put them all under the hammer. He waited some time, and not hearing from the carpenter went to town, where he found he had been literally obeyed, as his friend had driven them all into a board fence, which he had been called on to build round a garden lot. SPIRIT OF THE PU The unanimity of opin. V ont the metropolis, on the s u bj e , as occupied Parliament for th r i t little uT astonishing. The partisans of the Tories wereliterally shamed into silence. In truth, they were reduced to a very disagreeable alternative, either to confess thr that its cause of their party was a very h o p e l ess one, c its advocates in the House were unequal to the task of asserting it, for any thing 'more lame and miserable in the way of argument never was thrust upon an en lightened public. To the conviction of the badness of the cause we must ascribe the striking increase of sixteen in the majority against Lord Francis Egerton's motion, as compared with the majority against a similar motion last year. And here we must notice the paltry disingenuousness of some of the Tory writers, for which, however, we prepared our readers on Monday last. The Morning Herald, indeed, would have been glad to find its recollection defective, so much was it taken by surprise by the great increase in the majority. " This," observes our venerable Contemporary, " is, we believe, a much larger majority than was anticipated. Nobody, we' be lieve, reckoned on a larger majority than that of last year, which, if we mistake not, was 64 ; so that the present has exceeded the former by 16, supposing our recollection, as we do suppose it, to be correct." We can assure our Contemporary that its recollection is perfectly correct, and that there is no mistake in its reluctant homage to the truth. The Times, either from a degree of candour (rare conduct in that un principled Journal), or from , being at fault for a story, or from mortification at having so recently anticipated, from Lord F. Egerton's motion, the destruction of the Whigs, was silent on the subject of the majority. But the Morning Post had the assurance to inform its readers, that " the actual decrease of the Minis terial majority, instead of 16, was no more than six, the majority on the 10th of June last year for disa greeing with the Lords' amendments having been 86, and that of last night, substantially on the same ques tion, being 80. The present division presents, then, a clear gain, although not a very considerable one, to the friends of the Constitution." And the Standard, which would be ashamed to be distanced by any com petitor in taking liberties with matters of fact, coolly states, " that as compared with the latest division upon the same subject, the majority has rather dimi nished than increased. It will be seen that in the ab solute force of the Conservatives there has been an in crease of four since June—in the Ministerial party an absolute diminution of two." The majority of 86 was not on the latest division upon the same subject. The latest division upon the same subject was when the third reading of the Bill was carried by a majority of 61. The rejection of the Lords' amendments was voted by several Members who opposed the Bill, and of these Members, some, whom, however, we will not now name, voted for Lord Francis Egerton's motion on Thursday morning, who, should the Lords repeat the mad experiment of last year, will again swell the ma jority against them. The two questions are so distinct, and the danger so evident, from following the insane counsels of Lord Lyndhurst, that, should the Lords persist in their insulting denial of justice to Ireland, we have no doubt the majority will be swelled from 86 to upwards of 100. Who, indeed, can contem plate the consequences of so marked a demonstration to a people like the Irish, as quick to feel insult as they are easily led by kindness, that from the Parlia ment of the United Kingdoms they have nothing to hope, that the Emancipation Bill admitted only in name Catholics to equal privileges, and that their re ligion is to be a constant badge of degradation ? Fortunately, however, for the good cause, while it has been supported by the most conclusive arguments, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Stanley, and Sir James Graham exerted themselves in vain to find even a colourable pretext for the injustice to Ireland which, in an evil hour for the Tories, they resolved to perpetrate. Triumphant in the House by strength of argument and increasing numbers, the stream of public orinion will set in on the Lords with a force which we trust will have the effect of restoring them to their reason, which has been so long in abeyance. Who can read the debate without feeling contempt for the Tories, who must themselves be heartily ashamed of the sorry figure they cut ? Lord Stanley affords a fresh proof that a deserter cannot make up by malice for the energy which honest conviction gives ; with the abandonment of his principles he seems to have lost his former aptitude for debate. With the aid of Sir James Graham derived from misrepresenting the purport of the statements of the pamphlet on the " Policy of England towards Spain," and suppressing the high praise bestowed on the parish priests of the Peninsula for the purpose of transferring to the parish priests of Ireland the odium of the bigotry and fana ticism charged only on the Spanish monks, his speech was merely a rificciamento of some of the worst parts of Sergeant Jackson's. And as to Sir Robert Peel, he never once attempted to meet the arguments on the other side, but repeated a few of the vague assertions which had been so successfully disposed of by Mr. Charles Buller and Mr. Roebuck. It might be very gratifying personally to the Right lion. Gentleman to be able to patronise Lord Stanley, and to find an occa sion for requiting the efforts of Lord Lyndhurst to supplant him in the good graces of the Tories, " faintly excusing (to borrow the language of our Contemporary the Globe) the alien' ebullition of immortal memory, as a hasty expression that had fallen from an individual." But whatever Sir Robert re• ight gain, the Tories gained nothing from his incon clusive speech. In short, the Tories have been soundly drubbed, and cannot conceal their chagrin. They have advanced nothing which even resembles an argu ment against conferring on Ireland the benefit of mu nicipal institutions. The language held by Mr. O'Connell at different times—the merit of the altera tion in the mode of appointing juries in Ireland—the proportion between the Catholics and Protestants ap pointed to offices by the Irish Government, and a hun dred other matters of detail, have been lugged head and shoulders into the discussion ; but they failed to show that even if all Mr. O'Connell's speeches were not emanations of absolute wisdom, or even if un packed juries do not always find proper verdicts in Ireland any more than in England, that there fore Ireland should be deprived of beneficial insti tutions. It has been repeated, indeed, ad nau seam that the circumstances of Ireland differ from those of England, and that difference of circum stances call for a difference in the legislation for the two countries. Ireland, is, it is true, less advanced in civilization, less wealthy ; b u t w h at d oes t hi s amount to ? The principle, that a man, whether rich or poor, ought to be allowed to manage his own private con cerns, that the inhabitants of a neighbourhood ought to be allowed to manage the concerns in which all the inhabitants have a common interest, is not affected by the wealth or poverty of a nation, by its greater or less advancement in civilization. The poor nation is assisted in its progress from poverty to wealth by the possession of local administrations for local interests, and the wealthy nation is enabled by them to preserve the wealth it possesses, and to increase it. Some special reason must then . )e discovered for refusing to Ireland what is beneficial to a people in every degree of civili zation—what enabled the emancipated thralls of the middle ages to become free and great in spite of the feudal despotism that surrounded them ? But the Tories can assign no intelligible reason. A people must have some religion, and it so happens that the majority of time Irish profess the Catholic religion, while the majority of the English are Protestants; and the Irish, forsooth, are to be deprived of what is univer sally admitted to be in all stages of civilization a blessing because the religion established is that of a small minority of Protestants, and it is assumed (though the modus operandi remains a secret) that a measure calculated to benefit the whole population would be destructive of the religious Establishment. We beg the pardon of the Tories. Some of them, and Sir Hobert Peel in the number, did advance a sort of negative argument, by way of apology for the injustice of withholding municipal privileges from Ireland. It was urged that the example of Manchester and Bir minham proved that towns could flourish without •: . - municipal corporations, and that i Southwark and Westminster, and other inetropolitan districts, we.e also without those institutions. This is the arument of the Head of Louvaine College against Greet—" I J 4 td JOURNALS! \•-- • • ion pra.yl tivnout .. ct ()Wks i vy has ree day s , was - 'flit - lA. I little ^mss