The Sun. — London, England, 1828-03-11 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF COMMONS. NOTICES OF MOTIONS FOR, TEIS DAY. 1. Mr. Sykes—To take into consideration the state of the unrepresented Freeholders in certain Districts or Counties Corporate. 2. The Lord Advocate--Bill to authorize an additional Circuit Court of Justiciary to be held at Glasgow, and to facilitate Criminal Trial in Scotland. The Lord Advocate—Bill to alter and amend the Act 55 Geo. 3, c. 69, intituled "An Act to regulate Madhouses in Scotland." 4. Mr. Spring Rice—To refer the Reports on Education in Ireland to a Select Committee. 5. Mr. Sykes—Petition from the Merchants and Trades men of Hull, against the Stamp Duty on Receipts. ti. Sir John Newport—Return of all appointments to Be nefices by the several Diocesans of Ireland during tLe last ten years ; specifying the value of each Benefice, and the previous length of service (as a Curate) of each person appointed, in the Diocese in which he has been promoted. ORDERS OF TILE DAY FOR TMIS DAY. I. Scottish Vagrants Bill--,Second reading. 2. Customary Tenure Bill—Second reading. S. Robeck's Divorce Bill— , Committee ; Counsel and Wit nesses. 4. Passengers' Regulation Bill—Second reading. 5. Westminster Sessions Bill—Second reading. 6. Scottish Entails Bill—Second reading. 7. Mutiny Bill—Third reading. 9. Marine Mutiny Bill—Third reading. 9. Cities and Towns Lighting (Ireland)BiH—Third reading NOTICES GIVEN YESTERDAY. Wednesday, March 12. Lord Stanley—Select Committee on the Laws relating to the passing Irish Vagrants. Thursday, April 24. Mr. Michael Angelo Taylor—Actual state of the Court of Chancery. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, MAR 644 10. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at a quarter past four o'clock, but none of their Lordships being present he adjourned the House at pleasure ; and, on his return, at ten minutes before five o'dock, The Earl of SHAFTESBURY presen ca petition re specting the Truro Road Bill, the pattic tars of which we could not—in consequence of the low cue in which his Lordship spoke—ascertain. Lord MAYNARD presented a petition from the Protes tant Dissenters of Great Dunmow, Patswick, and of Steb hing, Essex, against the Test and Corporation Acts. Mr. Smee attended from the Bank of England to present an account of the total number of persons to whom ,half yearly dividends were due in October, 182'7, and- in Jan. 1828 ; also an account of the dividend received on the 20th Oct. 1827. Mr. Farren, from the East India Dock COMpany at tended to present an annual amount of the receipts and dis bursements of the East India Dock Company, for the year ending 1827. Mr. Littleton and others from the Commons • brought up an Act for Repairing and ItnprOving a Road from New castle-under-Lyme to Leeds. The Duke of BEDFORD presented petitions from Pro testant Dissenters in the town of Bedford, from .those re siding near Bedford, and from those assembling for worship ;n Mill-lane, in the county of Bedford, against the Test and Corporation Acts. Lord TEYNHAM presented a petition from the inhabi•• tants of Middlesex and Surrey, praying for an enquiry into the state of the labouring Agriculturists of those counties. The Marquis of BUTE presented a petition from the Unitarians of Swansea against the Test and Corporation Acts, and be was happy in having the opportunity of expressing his hearty compliance with the prayer of it. Lord ABINGDON presented a petition from the Bap tists assembling for worship in Thames-street, Walling ford, to the same effect. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY presented a petition 'from Roman Catholics in the county Down, in favour of their Claims. " The Marquis of LANSDOWNE had stated on a former occas;on, that he meant to propose on an early day 'the in troduction of another Bill connected with the subject of qw • that Hill hp_nnur h.ht bond it was for amending the law as regarded the admission of evi dence, the first reading of which he should now move. The Bill was not lon g --it would not take more than a day or two to print. ° The other Bill was printed, and he now begged to give notice that he would move the reading of both Bills on Tuesday se'nnight. The Bill was then mead a first time and ordered to be printed. The House adjourned at a Quarter-past Five o'Clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, MARCH 10. The SPXAKER toDIE the Chair this day precisely at Four o'Clock. A person from the British Museum brought up a return of the number of persons who visited the Museum last year. Some papers were laid on the table relating to the East India Dock Company. General GASCOYNE brought up the Report on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. . Mr. A. CAMPBELL broug,ht up the report of the Edinburgh Gas Light Company Bill. Mr. W. DUNDAS presented a petition from Edinburgh for the repeal of the Stamp duty. Mr. PRICE presented a petition from the Protestant Dissenters of Leominster, for the repeal of the Corporation and Tests Arts. ' Mr. SPRING RICE presented a petition from the Ro man Catholics of the King's County on the subject of Education. Mr. CARTWRIGHT presented a petition from the 3faltsters of the county of Southampton, for the repeal of the Malt Act of last session. Mr. E. WODEHOUSE moved for returns of the ac counts received from Foreign Consuls of the prices of Foreign Cont.—Ordered. Mr. E. WODEHOUSE also moved for an abstract of the money expended for the relief of the poor in England and Wales during the last year.—Ordered. Mr, ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL presented a petition respecting the annual duty on insurances. The Hon. - Member also presented a petition from the Irish Friendly Emigration Soeicty of Renfrew, requeiting assistance. Mr_ ASTELL presented a petition from the licensed victuallers of Bridgevater, complaining of the licensing system, praying a repeal. FINANCE COMMITTEE. Sir H. PARNELL brought up the Report of the Uom• mittee on the Public Income and Expenditure. Mr. BELL presented a petition from the Maltsters of Eaddington, against the Malt Act. Mr. DL NDAS brought up a hill for inclosing Morbick Down, in the parish of Tavietock, comity of Devon. 3k. HUME brought up a petition from the Brewers and Alesellers of Arbroath, against any additional duty on Ale. Mr. DENISON brought up a Bill for inclosing Battersea Fields.—The.Bill was read a first time. Sir R. WILSON presented a petition from the Stage coach Proprietors of Surrey, praying to be heard against -the Surrey Road Inclosure Bill. Lord F. L. GOWER brought up some papers from the Foreign Office, relative to our North American Colonies.— Ordere•d to be printed. ROMAN CMFHOLIC CLAIMS. Sir T. l i.sTHßßlDOßpreTented a petition from the Archdeaconry of Welts, praying that no further maces skins be granted to the Roman Catholics. The Honour able Member said, that when so many petitions were pre tented on the other side, this petition, which came from a i roost learned body, was entitled to great respect. The prayer of the petition was entitled,to his entire Support, and he hoped it w ould be followed by otb ers , on t h e same s id e of the subject. The great argument .in favour of the Catholic Claims was the number. of our. Roman Ca tholic fellow-subjects, which had suddenly increased from three millions to seven, and the Hon. Member for West minste.r stated the other night, that the Roman Catholics were one half of the people of Great Britain and Ireland. This was a bold assertion, and he considered far beyond what the fact would warrant. Mr. DICKENSON bore testimony to the respectability of the petitioners. He thought Catholic Emancipation was not a remedy fur the grievances of Ireland. The petition was then read, and ordered to be printed. Mr. BROWNLOW presented petitions from eleven parishes in the counties of Monaghan, Tyrone, Mayo, and Louth, for the repeal of the statutes which affect the Roman Catholics. The Hon. Member hoped that the petitioners would unite with heart and hand to press their grievances, and never relax till they were placed on a per lect equality with their Protestant fellow-subjects—(Hear.) ,__Ordered to he printed. Mr. BROWNLOW moved for returns of the names of the Oftleera of the Board of Navigation in Ireland, toge ther with the amount of salaries received by them. Lord LEVISON GOWER brought up-the Report of Major Cockburn. Mr. KENNEDY brought in a Bill respecting the Law of Entail in Scotland, which was read a first time. CORN TRADE. Mr. CURTEIS wished .to pit a •question to a Right Hon. Gentleman opposite: Me understood a considerable trade in corn was carried on between Liverpool and the isle of Man. It was stated that within a short period, no less than 10,000 quarters were transported from Liverpool. He would have great satisfaction in hearing that this re port was without foundation ; and, if the trade did exist, he would be happy to hear that it was the intention of his Majesty's Ministers to regulate the trade with the isle of Man, for doing which an opportunity would arise when the new Corn Bill was brought in, which it was understood to be the intention of his Majesty's Ministers to introduce, and on which the country was very desirous of some infor mation. .. • Mr. FRANKL AND LEWIS said that his Majesty's Government had made inquiries upon the subject men tioned by the Hon. Member, and the information received upon that subject came down to the 19th of Feb. last, up to that day there had been exported from Liverpool_to the isle of Man 4,500 quarters of Wheat. It was true that that Wheat when manufactured into flour or biscuit might be exported from the isle of Man to England, but up to that date no portion of that Wheat had been imported into Liverpool in the shape either of flour or biscuit. In order to ascertain in what way this Wheat was disposed of, the Officer of the Customs at the isle of Man was writ ten to, and bis reply was that none of the corn so imported into Liverpool had been exported from thence. He (31r. F.) conld not say whether that corn still remain ed in the isle of Man, or whether it was disposed of to ships in the Channel. JONATHAN FOX. Mr. LUMLEY moved, that Jonathan Fox be brought to the bar, in order to his being discharged. The prisoner, who was brought up in custody of the Governor of Newgate, having been placed at the bar. Mr. SPEAKER addressed him to the following effect : Jonathan Fox, the offence for which you were com mitted to his Majesty's gaol of Newgate, was because that of your suppressing the truth when you were examined as a witness before a Committee of this House. The offence is one of immense magnitude, it is one of a grievous kind, and if such an offence were to be passed over or suffered to be committed with impunity the ends of justice would be defeated, and the dignity and character of this House impaired. The House had no alternative, but to adopt the resolution under which you have been im prisoned ; since then you have petitioned the House, and in that petition you express the feebleness of health at the time you were examined; you express your deference to the opinion of the House, and also express your contrition for what you have done. It is because the House believes the explanation which you have offered, it is because the House relies on the ' sincerity of the feelings which you express, it i 9 because the House is satisfied of your contrition and regret, it is because the House is satisfied that t heir conduct cannot by you, or others, he misconstrued, that I am directed thus early after your imprisonment, to inform you that you are discharged, upon payment of your fees ; you may withdraw." The prisoner was then removed from the bar and dis charged, and the reprimand was ordered to be inserted in the Journals of the House. CITY AND BOROUGH POLLS' BILL. Colonel DAVIES, in alluding to the City and Borough Polls Bill, suggested, that as it was the intention of many Members to propose various amendments in the Committee, the best way would be to let it go through the second read ing, pro forma, with an understanding that the debate should be taken on the question for going into Committee. Mr. BARING said, there was not a clause in the Bill to which he was not disposed to object, if it was the care as had been introduced last year. Sir M. W. RIDLEY said, the present was an entirely new Bill, and expressed his readiness to adopt the sugges tion of his Gallant Friend. The Bill was then read a second time and ordered to be committed on Friday next. COURT OF CHANCERY. Mr. M. A. TAYLOR gave notice, that on the 24th of April he would submit a motion to the House relative to the actiaal state of the Court of Chancery. On the motion of Mr. GORDON, the Pauper Lunatics Bill, and Lunatics' Regulation Bill, were read each a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday. Mr. BANKES presented a petition from the Trustees of the British Museum praying for the usual annual grant.— Ordered to be laid on the table. Sir ALEXANDER GRANT brought up the Report of the Committee of Ways and Meaus, the resolutions of which were agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be brought in. EAST RETFORD. Mr. D. W. HARVEY reminded the House, that he had stated his intention on Friday of examining Mr. Crompton with respect to the inquiry now going on rela tive to the borough of East Retford. Before he stated his reasons, however, for the motion with Which he should conclude, he thought it right to inform the House, that he had written to Mr. Crompton on Friday, to ask whether he would attend in his place, or whether lie would rather wait for an order of the House. Mr. Crompton in his answer had stated his intention of attending on Monday, but in a subsequent note had pleaded a severe cold as an excuse for net attending before Thursday or Friday next, to which period he requested that the business might be postponed. It was his intention to move that Mr. Crompton should be ordered to attend on Friday, for the snore he read and considered the evidence, the snore certain was he that the testimony of the Iron. Member was of importance to the case. The object of the present inquiry was to punish the borough by blotting it from the political map of the country. The Hon. Gentleman who had brought forward the ques tion had endeavoured to establish a case of continued prac tice against the borough, selecting the different periods of 1812 and 1818 for that purpose. In his examination of the witness who had been just discharged, he had asked how the 2,8001. which was lodged in the Retford Bank had been disposed of. The witness had at first pretended total ig-norance, but o❑ being pressed and admonished by the Chairman, had said that he believed lie could speak positively on the subject, if he bad a paper in his posses sion which Mr. Crompton could give him. Was not this a material chasm in the evidence? and how could it he so well filled up as by questioning Mr. Crompton on the sub ject? The Hon. Member concluded by moving, " That Samuel Crompton, Esq. do on Friday next attend the Committee of the whole House, to whoni the East Ret ford Disfranchisement Bill has been referred." Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN thought that no further evidence was wanting to prove the corruption which per vaded the burgesses of East Retford. As to the motion made to call Mr. Crompton to the bar, the House, though placed in a situatian of some difficulty, had only one course to pursue, if it had any regard to its own character. He had no wish to examine Mr. Crompton; for be wanted no further evidence to make up his judgment; but he thought that the House ought to consider, whether it would not injure its own character with the country if it failed to command the attendance of that gentleman.. Mr. G. BANKES would take this opportunity to in form his Hon. Friend, the Nember' for Bletchingley, that he did not consider the evidence, as it now stood, sufficient to disfranchise the borough of East Retford. The evi dence of Hannam varied materially from that of Pickup ; and he should wish to have both those witnesses re-exami ned at the bar, with a view of seeing whether the discre pancy in the evidence could he reconciled. He was also of opinion, that the banker at Retford, Mr. Foljambe, should be examined at the bar. There was also another point on which he - considered the attendance of Mr. Fol jambe necessary,—he meant with respect to that part of the case which related to the powerful influence which ap peared behind Mr. Foljambe,—that influence which had advanced 1,200/. in two sums for the purposes of the last election. Painful as it might be to his feelings, he - did must sincerely wish to have the attendance of Mr. Cromp ton at the bar, if it could 'be procured ; but he did net see that,Mr. Crompton ought to attend, if he felt a strong re luctance to such a measure. He now gave notice, that if Mr. Crompton should be ordered to attend at the bar on a future day, he would move that Mr. Hannam, Mr. Pickup, . and Mr. Foljambe, to be ordered to attend on the same day. Mr. D. SYKES :merely rose to state to the House the situation of Mr. Crompton. His Hon. Friend had in tended to have met the challenge of the Hon. Member for Colchester; but he was at present too much indisposed to come down to his place in that House. He (Mr. Sykes) held in his hand a medical certificate, stating that Mr, Crompton was so ill that he could not attend that night in his place without extreme danger to his health. Mr. Crompton had desired him (Mr. Sykes) to say, that he re posed his honour securely in the House ; and that, Laving so revised it, he was willing to undergo any examination. At the same time he entertained great doubts as to the competency of the Howie to put to Lim any questions which by their answers might involve him in a criminal prosecu tion. So mach lie had thought it right to say on behalf of his Hon. Friend. He would now say a word or two in his own person on the motion of the Hon. Member for Col chester. He was not going to deny the right of the House to order Mr. Crompton to attend at its bar to be examined, but he thought that the House was bound to consider the expediency of exercising that right. For his own part he would say that Mr. Crompton, if called upon to appear there, would have reason to complain of a violation of that candour and delicacy which he had a right to expect would be shown him by his brother members. A MEMBER, whose name ase could not learn, and whose words we could scarcely hear, stated several circumstances to the House with a view of showing that there was no occasion to call Mr. Foljambe to the bar as a witness. Mr. LUMLEY considered that there was no necessity for examining Mr. Crompton, and therefore declared his intention of voting against the present motion. Mr. TENNYSON said, that the question of the pro priety of calling Mr. Foljambe as a witness to the bar had been so ably disposed of by the Hon. Gentleman on the other side of the House, that he felt himself excused from the necessity of saying a wor: upon the subject. With re spect to the observations which his Hon. and Learned Friend had made upon Mr. Foljambe's connexion with a part of the case proved before the Committee up-stairs, a ll he had to sayyas this, that the conduct of Earl Fitzwilliam, as there disclosed, had no bearing whatever on the case which he had undertaken to lay before the House. As he had been obliged to touch upon the conduct of Earl Fitz william,—he thought it mere justice to the character of that illustrious Nobleman to add, that though it had ap peared that he had advanced 1,2001, for the purpose of that election, it did not appear that he had advanced it for any corrupt purpose!. It was advanced for the defrayment of those legitimate expences which every body knew were al lowed at elections ; and he must say, that lie saw no harm in a Peer's advancing 1,200/. for the payment of the legi timate expences of his nephew's return to Parliament. As to the present motion, for the attendance of Mr. Crompton at the bar, he had only a few words to say. It was indif ferent to him how far the House might proceed in its exa minations. He thought that he had already made out a case amply sufficient to justify the House in disfranchising this Borough. He regretted the delays which had already taken place, and considered them extremely disadvantage ous. At the same time, he was sure that if the House was not tired of these examinations, the further they were continued the clearer they would show the corruption of the Borough. He really could not see what end his Hon. and Learned Friend's proposition could obtain, except the interposition of unnecessary delay. Mr. G. BANKES disclaimed all desire to interpose un necessary delay, when he wished to make a further in quiry from Mr. Foljambe. That Gentleman had stated that all the money he received from Sir Robert Dundas was to be derived from Earl Fitzwilliam, and he only de sired to see how far this part of the transaction had gone. In doing so he meant to cast no sort of stigma upon the noble earl, for whom he entertained the highest respect. Mr. PEEL said, that on the subject of the examination of their Members in the manner proposed, the information furnished by the current of authorities was rather of a complex kind. No Committee had, he thought, a power to originate a motion for the examination of nay witness, whether member or not, without an order from the House. On the whole, however, he was disposed to assume, that the House, if it pleased, had the power to examine Mem bers as witnesses in any business before them. For his own part, being satisfied on the point to which alone he thought Mr. Crompton could be examined, he saw no ne cessity for calling upon that Hon. Member. Still, as this was a case in which they had to decide judicially, and where their decision ought alone to be founded upon the uninfluenced operation of their consciences, he would yield his opinion, should it appear that any number of Hon. Members were anxious to have Mr. Crompton examined., (Hear.) He cared litttle for the prevalence of any feeling elsewhere, that they would be disposed to screen ane of their own Members : all he should ask himself was, ought this particular course to be taken? Because, ifhe felt it ought, he would do it regardless of popular impressions. If many Hon. Members were desirous of examining Mr. Crompton, then he thought it quite clear in the course of such exa mination no question whatever should be put which could expose the witness to penalties, or to his being placed in an unfavourable situation elsewhere. Mr. W. VI. WYNN was disposed on the whole to agree with his Right Hon. Friend who spoke last, in the pro priety of pausing before they decided upon this question. At the same time, he bad not a shadow of doubt that the Committee of the whole House had a right to interrogate any Hon. Member, who was present during their sittings, without waiting for any order from the House. He re membered that when Colonel Wardle was called on to be examined in the House, an Hon. Member asked the then Speaker (Lord Colchester), whether the Colonel was, so called upon, bound to submit to interrogation? The Speaker's reply was, " that no Member had a right to examine another except it be touching an inquiry in a Committee of the whole House." If the Member, or in deed any other witness, refused to answer, then the Com mittee had no power to compel him, without reporting the contumacy to the House. There were several cases in which Members had refused to be examined, on account of their oaths of office AS Privy Councillors, but none on the ground alone of their being Members of Parliament. As to the protection of the witness from proceedings elsewhere, founded upon anything which might fall from him in giving evidence before the House of Commons, there need be no apprehension of that kind, for no copy of their minutes could be given, without their consent and a spe cific motion for that purpose.---(Hear, hear.) By the provisions of the Bribery Act, the person who prosecuted another to conviction, though himself guilty of acts of bribery, however numerous, was fully indemnified from all further exposure to permity. Mr. PEEL agreed with his Right Hon. Friend, in the right of the House to interrogate its own Members, as well as others. He doubted, however, if the Committee could summon a Member without having received the previous authority of the blouse. Lord HOWICK had the strongest dislike for fastening on these individual cases, while the general system was so notorious. While he made these observations, he was at the same:time ready to vote for this Bill, because he could not bring himself to think that any set of burgesses bad a right to use Uhl privilege of returning Members to Parliament for the purpose of promoting their own selfish interest.- -(Hear, hear.) Sir R. WILSON said, that all those who thought, as he did, that enough of evidence was before them for the disfranchisement of this borough, were under no necessity of calling for the testimony of Mr. Crompton. Mr. PEEL, in the observations he had made, begged not to be understood as pronouncing any opinion upon the question of disfranchisement. Mr. D. W. HARVEY protested against the doctrine that it was competent for a Peer of the realm to interfere in the election of a Member to serve in that House, in the manner in which it had been proved the Noble Earl (Fitz william) had done. He would take the sense of the House upon the motion. Mr. PEEL explained. Mr. TENNYSON explained. This case was to prove the receipt of money by the burgesses of East Retford, and it was no part of his duty to show from whom that money had come. He therefore did not call Mr. Crompton nor Mr. Osbaldiston, thief not being able, as he understood, to prove . the receipt of the money, and consequently not wit nesses for his case. Mr. Aid. WAITLIMAN rose amidst cries of " Spoke," and recommended the Lion. Member for Colchester to with draw his motion. If it went to a division, he (Aldertnan Waitliman) should not vote for it. Mr. HUME concurred in the recommendation of the worthy Alderman. If, however, he pressed it to a division, he (Mr. Hume) should certainly vote for it. Mr. D. W. HARVEY said, insinuations had been thrown out against him, and "be therefore was anxious to press this motion to a division, in order to satisfy the House of the purity of his motives. To clear himself of such Unfounded imputations, if he stoi,d alone he would divide the House 30 times. If, however, the Howie were satisfied as to the purity of his motives in bringing this matter forward, he should not press for a division.—(Cries of Hear, hear.) Mr. PEEL could bear testimony to the fact, that the lion. Member for Colchester upon a former evening, and before any of the imputations alluded to had been made, had pressed as anxiously for the examination of the Hon. Member (Mr. Crompton) as he had done upon the present occasion. There was no question, then, as to the purity of the Hon. Member's motives ; and seeing that he, Mr. Peel, trusted the Hon. Member would not call for a divi sion. The motion was then withdrawn. The Home then went into a Committee upon the East Retford Disfranchisement Bill. _ _. The House having resumed, the report upon the Bill was brought up, and ordered to be taken into further eon., sideration on Fa iday next, and the Bill was ordered to be printed. THE MUTINY BILL.—PUNISHMENT OF FLOG GING. On the report of the Mutiny Bill being brought up by Sir A. GRANT, Lord NUGENT rose, pursuant to notice, to move a clause for preventing corporal punishment in the army..-- He held it to be incontrovertible, that the King, amongst his other prerogatives, possesses the power of not only con trolling the army, put also of regulating and enforcing its discipline accordink to his discretion, subject to- the laws enacted for that purpose, and under the sanction of this House. The Noble Lord proceeded to combat some of the objections formerly urged against this motion. it was a fallacy to contend, that, because the soldier had voluntarily subjected himself to this disgraceful punishment, they should not legislate upon the subject, and decide as to the propriety and utility of this portion of military discipline. Even granting for a moment that the soldier has no grounds for complaint, he (Lord Nugent) would still ask—first, is this a proper sort of punishment to exhibit before those who were the natives of a free country, and were accustom ed to civil liberty ; and was it a punishment conducive to the maintenance of those feelings and of that spirit in the army which it was so desirable to uphold and preserve ?_ Lastly, though certainly first in importance, comes the question—Can a substitute be found for this disgraceful and humiliating punishment? If there be any practicable and safe substitute,— any escape whatever from the infliction of a punishment degrading at once to him who suffers it, and to the service which admits it,--.. sure he was, that the House would gladly adopt it.— The opinions of the officers in the army coincided with his (Lord Nugent's), that, if practicable, a substitute should be found for this degrading punishment. The Noble Lord proceeded to advert to the cruelty and injustice of the punishment. It was not calculated to maintain that chivalrous spirit which should always characterise the military service. Gentlemen should not disregard the maintenance of honourable feelings in the army, even to the lowest ranks. The Noble Lord illustrated this position by reference to a fact which occurred during the wars of the succession. A number of Highland officers, who had followed the fortunes of the Pretender, on being obliged to leave their native country, entered into the French service, and were there formed into a distinct regiment. In one of the battles which subsequently took place, they claimed the post of honour, and, advancing in the front of the army, they bravely bore the hottest fire, until they were mown down by the enemy's carmen. The Frenchmen, on beholding such a noble exhibition, universally exclaimed, " Gentilhomme est toujours; gentilhomme !" In a Highland regiment, the soldier who suffers beneath the lash of the drum-major can never again return to his country ; he is an outcast and forbidden, and a stranger amongst his companions. Such was the feeeling with which this degrading punishment• was regarded in the Highlands. It was a species of punishment which tend ed to confound the gradations of crime. He (Lord Nu gent) understood that 200 or 300 lashes constituted the punishment for crimes of a secondary order, and yet more than SOO lashes could not he inflicted even for a capital offence, without endangering a soldier's life. Thus, where a man is ordered to receive 1,000 lashes, the number actually inflicted cannot exceed SOO ; and be was glad to understand that in late years the disgraceful practice of bringing back a delinquent who had undergone a certain portion of his sentence, a second time to the lash, had been very properly abandoned. The Noble Lerd proceeded to recommend as a substitute for flogging, that which he saw employed three or four years since in the garrison of Gibraltar,—namely, labour and extra service. The Noble Lord then moved, that in section 24 of the Mutiny Bill, which relates to corporal punishments, the words " not ex tending to life or death" should be omitted, and the follow ing words inserted—" provided always, and he it further enseted, that nothing in this Act shall authorize any Court martial to direct the punishment of flogging, or any other bodily punishment, to be inflicted on any offender, except for drunkenness on actual military duty, t'or theft, for fraud, or for assault with intent to commit felony." The Noble Lord observed, that these latter offences, to come within the meaning of the clause, must be perpetrated against a brother soldier—because, in case of their being put in practice against fellow-subjects, who were net connected with the military profession, the individual offending came within the operation of the civil law. Mr. J. SMITH, in seconding the motion, dwelt at some length on the demoralizing consequences attached to the system of flagellation. He had made inquiries with respect to the effect which the practice of whipping had on those individuals who were thus punished at the close of each session at the Old Bailey ; and he had learned from the in telligent individual whom he had consulted, that he bad observed, during the whole time in which he had held the office of principal keeper of Newgate, that the individuals so punished were, for the greater part, in his custody again before the expiration of 12 months, lie was convinced that this punishment in the army had an equally banefnl effect. Sir J. SEBRIGHT would justify this mode of pu nishment which had been so much inveighed against, on this simple ground,—because he considered it absolutely necessyy fur the discipline of the army (Hear), and he should hold that opinion until he was set right by Hon. Gentlemen,—not by those who had no experience on the subject, but by officers who hail been in the habit of com manding troops. It was not correct to say that this pu nishment was frequently inflicted : those in command went on without it as far as they possibly could, and it was only had recourse to as the dernier resort. Sir H. VIVIAN was a friend to the discipline of the army, knowing that without strict discipline, an army was infinitely more dangerous to friends than to enemies.— (Hear.)—lt was said that British officers wished those men who were placed under their command to crouch under the lash like spaniels. In liis view of the case, however, the soldiers were more like their own national bull-dog, and sometimes required the strong hand of the master to prevent them from being dangerous to their friends.—(Hear.)—ln consequence of what had passed in the House last year, he had made some inquiries into the number of corporal punishments inflicted in different regiments for a given period, and the result of his in quiries was this :—ln one regiment he fining 68 defaulters, 4 courts-martial, 1 man punished ; 2—'7o defaulters, 17 courts-martial, 3 men punished ; 3-80 defaulters, 19 courts-martial, 2 men punished; 4-35 defaulters, 4 courts martial, 2 men punished ; 5,-21 defaulters, 1 court martial, 1 man punished ; 6,---W defaulters, 16 courts martial, 3 men punished; and, except in two cases, no punishment was inflicted exceeding 100 lashes. He there fore contended that there was no abuse whatever of the s) stem. The Noble Lord had referred to the French army ; but he ought to take into consideration, which he had not done, the difference be n -- the manner in which the French and the British army was constituted. The Noble Lord proposed to punish with the lash drunk enness on actual duty, theft, fraud, or assault with an in tent to commit felony; but he had wholly forgotten mutinies, disobedience of orders, or a sentinel sleeping on his post. Now, with respect to this petty pilfering of one soldier from another, he ought to have known the articles of war consigned offenders of that class to the civil power. An officer could not, if he wished it, punish a soldier by flogging, for an attempt to commit a robbery. Mr. WILBRAHAM strongly condemnbd the practice of flogging. Mr. WARBURTON was sorry that the suggestion which his Hon. Friend the Member for Montrose made last Session had not been attended to. The suggestion he referred to was, that flogging should be confined to regi ments on foreign service. He thought this suggestion well deserving the attention of the House. _ _ An Hon. &EMBER (whose "name we could not learn) said, that Hon. Gentlemen ought not to forget of what class of persons the army was composed. Some of them were wayward and disorderly, and a great portion of them exactly at the age when men's passions were the strongest, and most ungovernable. Physically speaking, the army was the most uncontroulable body in the community. It was therefore absolutely necessary that such men should be restrained by a very severe code of laws. Mr. HUME said it was not proposed to destroy the dis cipline of the Army, but to uphold it by less brutal and degrading weans._ _ _ Colonel WOOD admitted that this kind of punishment, as far as old soldiers were concerned, never corrected the offence for which it was inflicted ; but then it frequently deterred others from committing the same offence. Sir 11. VIVIAN explained. Lord P,ALMERSTON said it was a great mistake to s uppose that corporal punishment did not prevail in foreign armies. Foreign soldiers were subject to blows and stripes, and the only difference between them and ours was, that i n the one' case this species of punishment was inflicted with trial,. and in the other without trial. Many of the s ubstitutes for this punishment in foreign countries would not be tolerated in England. If our soldiers were seen parading the streets with cannon-balls chained to their legs, he was quite sure that such a spectacle would be Much more revolting than the present system. But to come at once to the proposition of the Noble Lord. The Noble Lord wished to abolish all corporal punishments, except for certain' offences named in the clause. Now, the Mutiny Act and the Articles of War said, " Go to the civil power whenever it is possible," and the cases in which this was not possible, were the very cases in which the Noble Lord wished to do away with corporal punishment. --(Hear, hear.)--The Noble Lord's proposition involved an impossibility ; and he thought that it would be better t o say that there should be no punishment but death, and take away' corporal punishment altogether, rather than make such dangerous exclusions as these. General DUFF proteste d aga i n st any hasty attempts to re-model an army which had driven the invincible legions of France from one end of the world to the other. The House was then cleared ;hut no division took place, and the amendment was negatived. On our return to the gallery we found Sir JOHN WROTTESLEY on h's legs, objecting to a charge of 45,000/. for the service of the commissariat. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that a considerable part of the 45,000/. was paid for the maintenance of the commissariat establishment abroad. The report of the Marine Mutiny Bill was received, and ordered to be further considered to-morrow (this day.) _ STAMP DUTIES' BILL. On the motion for a Committee of the whole House on the Stamp Duties' Bill, Mr. WARBURTON begged to have some explanation of the nature of the Bill, of which at present he was en tirely ignorant. 111r.DAWSON said that the Bill was meant to apply itself chiefly to policies of insurance. Mr. WARBURTON said that if much care was not taken, the effect of the Bill would be to prevent all insur ance offices from insuring merchandise in different situa tions, without what was called the " average clause." Such a result would be very mischievous to commercial men ; and he (Mr. Warburton) could wish that the Bill was postponed. - Air. DAWSON was perfectly willing to postpone the Bill. He wished, however, that it should be allowed to go through the Committee pro forma. The Bill then went through the Committee. ROMAN CATHOLIC LAND-TAX BILL. On the motion that the Houiie should go into a Com mittee on the Roman Catholic Land-tax Bill, Mr. CURTEIS said a few words, which did not reach the gallery. Mr. G. BANKES said the object of the Bill was, not to place the Catholics in a better situation than the Protestants with respect to the land tax, or to throw on Protestants that portion of the burden from which Catholics were to be relieved. The loss, whatever it might be, would be deduction from the public income, and the inconvenience in that respect ought to be borne, in order to get rid of the injustice of the unequal pressure of the tax on Ro man Catholics. Mr. FERGUSSON said, that some objections which he had to part of the Bill having been removed, he now gave it his hearty support. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL had no objection to the principle of the Bill, but he thought the relief ought not to be extended to Roman Catholics who had pur chased the estates of Protestants, or to Protestants who had purchased those of Roman Catholics, for they bought them subject to those payments. The House then went into the Committee, and certain verbal amendments having been made, the House resumed, and the report was ordered to he brought up on Monday next. Sir J. GRAHAM brought in a Bill for the better re gistration of persons entitled to vote in counties. It was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday, and to be printed. Adjourned at Eleven o'clock. NEW CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION. (From the Second Edition of the Dublin Evening Post of Saturday.) Amount of Rent for the week, 2041. 3s. sd. MR. DILLON BOYLAN IN THE CHAIR. Mr. Cunamq acted as Secretary, and read the proceed ings of the last day's meeting. Mr. LAWLESS read a petition which had been presented by the Working Woollen Manufacturers to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, and his Excellency's Answer, express ing the greatest anxiety to meet the prayer of the peti tioners. He stated that his Excellency expressed himself fearful that, in his reply, he did not convey how fully he felt the desire to assist the National Manufactures ; that not oaly would he do so in his own power and person, but in every way in which he could extend his influence—that his Household and his Regiment (the 7th), should use none other. Mr. O'ComtEm. gave notice, that he should on Satur day next move a vote of thanks to the Rev. Mr. Laffin, Minister to a Union of three Parishes in Tipperary, and also to Mr. Quin. He complained that no friend of the Catholics had brought forward the hardship of the New Vestry Bill, nor had they taken a proper view of the Sub letting Act, and particularly reprobated the conduct of Mr. Villiers Stuart, who came into Parliament on the skoulders of those who would be rendered paupers by that very Act ; he said the Catholic Association owed more to the liberal English Members, and gave notice that on Saturday next he would move that a ticket of admission should be for warded to Joseph Hume, Esq., who had so manfully said that he should be proud to be a Member. Mr. O'CoNNELL brought forward his ;notion for an ad ditional yearly allowance of SOL to Mr. Dwyer, the Secre tary to the Association, to enable him to obtain assistance. Sir Thomas Esmonde seconded the motion, and eulogized the conduct of that gentleman for his steady and unre mitting exertions.—Carried unanimously. Mr. O'Corisma. prefaced by a short and feeling address a motion to the effect, that a subscription should be entered into, in order to pay a tribute of national gratitude to Mr. Eneas Macdonnell. Mr. Sum seconded the motion in a short speech, which was frequently interrupted by, and concluded amidst, gene ral cheering. _ _ Mr. LAWLESS and Mr. O'DwYEa spoke to the same effect. Mr. CoxwAY said the eloquence of Mr. Sheil and others bad left him nothing to say in support of the motion, he knew there was no man who would receive a mark of national consideration with so high a feeling of gratitude, and he should not like such a motion to pass without his voice being heard. The motion was then carried with acclamation, upon which Sir T. Esmonde, Mr. O'Connell, and several other gentlemen immediately gave their names as contributors for ten guineas. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE, LIVERPOOL. MARCH 9,—High water, 14 minutes p. 4.—Wind W. N. W. to W. S.W.—Arrived, the 'Mary, M'Minn, from Campeachy ; Thetis, Townley, Dublin ; Fretvogel, De Jouge, Belfast ; Jacobus, Okkel, Rotterdam ; Lightfoot, Hind, Maranham-4 brigs, 1 snow off at si. Sailed, the William Byrnes, Hackstaff, for New York ; Alexander, Baldwin, Philadelphia; Corvo, Rich, Boston. —All packet vessels, and had steamers to tow them out. Holyhead, March 8. Last night, at 10 p. m., wind W. fresh breeze ; at 12 the same ; 2 a. m., and throughout a. rn., wind W. S. W. fresh breeze.—Sailed the Luna, Brown, for New Orleans; Castle Mulgariar, Ewens, Glasgow ; Williams, Byrn, Strangferd. SIGNAL STATION.--7 a.m., ship 186 off, homeward bound; 2 schooners off, ditto-2 p.m., 1 brig off home ward bound, black sides and white mouldings and a head : a galliot off homeward bound, appears a foreigner ; a ship off outward bound.-2 30 p.m., nothing in sight. Telegraph Office, Sunday. Wind at Holyhead, at 7 a.m., W. blowing fresh.—The Luna, Brown, sailed from Holyhead yesterday for New Orleans.. GUAYRA, JAN. s.—About one-third of the cargo of the Laurel, Kenton, from Liverpool to Havannah, brought in here, has been condemned by the Admiralty Court. The vessel will proceed for her destination, with the remainder of her cargo, as soon as released. Herrings are selling in Galway at 1/. ss. a thousand.— Cork Morning Chronicle. A RARE BARGAIN.--JOHN COOK, a labourer, has lately been called on by the Overseers of Tingal, to support his wife, whom he sold for half a crown about 16 years since ; but the worst part of the story is, he is also required to support seven children she has bad by the purchaser. —Dublin Evening, Post. IMPROVEMENT OF IRELAND.---This day his Excellency received the Deputation from the Society for the Improvement of Ireland, consisting of the LORD MAYOR, the Marquis of Dowristuau, and several, other gentlemen. His Excellency entered very fully into the subject, and devoted more than two hours in minute in quiries into the present state of the country, and the means suggested for its practical improvement. The conversa tion terminated by the strongest expression of his wish to be furnished with every further information, and his de termination to give his most zealous and cordial support to promote the laudable objects of the Society. We are happy to be able to state, that nothing could exceed the anxious wish expressed by his Excellency to promote every mea sure, calculated to advance the prosperity of Ireland. Dublin Evening Post. TITHES- HORRIBLE BARBARITY. A poor man, named PAT. BRYAN, lived ix Haggard, Moun tains of Glanmore, having a poor hovel he built himself on half an acre of ground; the land about him is let for 103. per acre ; he has been ill for a long time, supported by the parish, having four children and a poor wife. A day or two ago, he was called on for tithes ; there were Rectorial Tithes, Corporation Tithes, and Vicarial Tithes. Having nothing to pay them, the very zealous Collector took from off him the only blanket he had." But it would be well if it ended here—hear the sequel : --The zealous parish priest of Slieverne, the Rev. J. FITZPATRICK, and his coadjutor, the Rev. Mr. FoRAN, were collecting yesterday a subscrip• , tion to purchase a coffin and shroud for what ? to bury the corpse of the man who died on the night of the day that he was stripped of his only blanket ! ! !--Water= ford Chronicle. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. FRENCH PAPERS. , (From the Gazette , de France of March 9.) VlErma, FRB. 28.—Our accounts from Constantinople are to the sth. They state, that at that time the Porte had suspended the persecution against the Armenians,. and disapproved of the conduct of the Patriarch. It is also said that oar Internuncio is ill, and has asked leave.of absence, which has been granted. M. de Huszar will transact the business of the Legation during his absence. We hear frota Corfu that M. de Guilleminot has arrived there, and that he was very much surprised at not finding either of his col leagues. It is thought that his stay at Corfu may not . .ke very long. M. de Ribeaupierre will go by land from Trieste to Ancona, whence he will return to Corfu. Mr. • Stratford Canning seems to have received at Ancona de spatches, requiring him to return to England. It is said that he will be succeeded at Constantinople by Lord Strangford. The letters from Corfu also state, that Fabvier has been obliged to raise the siege of Scio, and that by the media tion of M. de Rigny, he has concluded a convention, by which he has permission to retire. Count Capo d'lstria has arrived at Egina, and one of the first acts of his power, as President, has been to order the execution of several pirates, duly convicted. As he had not brought any considerable SUM of money to Greece, it is to be presumed that by such measures he will soon lose his popularity with his countrymen, among whom piracy has keen organised as a lucrative profession, in the exercise of which the primates themselves have not dis dained to take part.—Augsburgh Gazette. FROM THE FRONTIERS OF RUSSIA, FEB. 15...:-The English Cabinet, whatever may be the sentiments which prevail in it, cannot have failed to perceive that a doubt on the course of its policy would have the moat prejudicial effect on the relations of the Powers with each other; while, on the other hand, it depends upon it alone to re move all dangerous embarrassment, and to preserve the good understanding which has recently manifested itself in the most difficult circumstances, and caanot be disturbed if the measures agreed upon are strictly executed. It cannot therefore delay plainly to declare its resolution, to secure a confidence which cannot be actuired but by sincerity, and which must be considered as the certaia guarantee of the public tranquillity. If no schism occurs in the policy of Europe, through the views •f the English Cabinet,—if the sentiments of disinterestedness, on which the whole edifice of the grand alliance rests, are maintained,—not only will no means be spared to attain the proposed end, and to effect the pacification of Greece without military measures, but even if, after having exhausted all diplomatic efforts to make the Porte understand its position, it should be found necessary to have recourse to arms, it would be not to depart from the line of pacification. The Porte must be blind to its situation iu an incredi ble degree, and resolved to expose itself to the utmost dan ger, if, after having rejected all friendly remonstrances, and in spite of the correction it has already received, it should resolve to risk the chances of an open contest, and make war by sea and land. It would thereby not only draw upon itself the Powers united by the Treaty of Lou don, but - would also eblige the neutrals to disapprove its conduct. If, on the part of the great Powers, there is no fear to be entertained for the rupture of the existing rela tions, may the Porte make it its duty to turn this disposi tion to its advantage; for it would cruelly deceive itself if, rept.i.sing the last attempt of the great Powers, it should refuse to listen to the voice of reason, in the hope that time and conflicting interests would disunite the Cabinets, and produce misunderstanding among them. The Porte, by persisting in its present policy, may easily ind its existence endangered ; for by seeking to excite in its people, in in odious manner, sentiments of national pride and faith, it stimulates these sentiments in the Christian nations ; and this is what will happen as neon as it should violate the sanctity of treaties, and think that it may, as its caprice shall dictate, destroy the com merce of other nations. PARIS, MARCH B.—The letters received to-day from Vienna announce that all hope of the preservation of peace ' is given up there. This opinion is generally adopted, and the news of the passage of the Pruth by the Russian army is every moment expected. The letters from Vienna say that it is certain that Austria will join the three Allied Powers. FaENCN FUNDS.—Five per Cents. ex-dividend, 102 f. ; Three per Cents. 69f. 25c. ; Naples Stock, 75f. 65c. ; Royal Spanish Loan, 70if. Exchange on London—one month, 25f. 15c. ; three months, 25f. sc. , PRICKS OF STOCKS THIS Bank Meek shut! 8 per Cent. Rea. shut 3 per Cent. Cons - 8 8504 Y 936 per Cent.. shut Ditto Red. shut 4 per Cent. New ...... 100% V 4 Ditto, 1926 Bank L Ann. ' India Stock shut Ditto Bonds 89 90 pm; DAY AT ONZ O'CLOCK. South Sea Stock Old Annuities shut New Ditto Ex. Bills, £l,OOO 2d. 58 50 pm. Ditto 5OO 2d. 58 59 pm. Ditto Small '2d. 58 CO pin. Ditto Commercial. Bank for Account ..... India for Account Cons. for Ac. 8330630 i PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS Austrian Bonds, 5 percent. Brazilian; Bonds 63% Buenos Ayres Bonds 56 5 Chilton Bonds, 6 per ct. Colombian Bonds Ditto, 1824 ...24% 4 Vanish, S per cent. ...... Greek Bonds .. Ditto,;lB2s Guatimala Mexican Bonds„.. Do. INS. 38V6 THIS DAY AT ONX O'CLOCK. 1 Neapolitan, 1824 --. Peruvian Bonds Portuguese Bonds. —. Prussian, 5 per cent.. ...... . Ditto, New ..... Russian, New IVAN', Spanish, 1821 , ~, 1823 French Amu*, b p: c. - 102f 50r. 2 bf: 20c. S per cent. —f. —r. Exchange —f..—c. MAILS. Arrive 1. Due. Arrived. , Due. 0 ' America 0 0 Haznburgb 3 1 Brazil 0 0 Holland 0 I Buenos Ayre4 0 Dublin 0 0 Leeward Islands ... 0 • Flanders 0 0 Lisbon 0 1 France 0 Gottenburgh 1 0 . Mexico .. .. . . ...•• 11 .0 Guernsey& Jersey 0 1 Waterf0rd.......... 0 4, i1"hf..17-;;WAENift AIL LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 11, 1818. The proceedings in Parliament last night were not particularly . interesting. Mr. JONATHAN Fox was admonished and discharged, and Mr. D. W. iralavuY failed in procuring the attendance of Mr. CROMPTON, who has taken a violent cold. Lord NUGENT'S motion, for abolishing corporal punish ment, met with the usual fate of such measures.— Mr. G. BANE.RS stood forward in the cause of the Roman Catholics, by proposing to remove their double Land Tax--not their civil disabilities; but Sir C. WETHERELL could not accompany to its full extent this enlargement of mind on the part of the Hon. Member for Corfe Castle. The news from the East in the last French Papers received, adds little or nothing to our pre vious information. The same preparations and the same high bearing continue to mark the conduct of the PORT% while the rumours of the Russians hav ing passed the Pruth, or about to pass it, assume daily more probability; save up to the pretest moment nothing is positively known, but that a feverish state of e xcitement is kept up for obvious purposes. It would, therefore, be idle to reason upon such a state of uncertainty, when a few days, perhaps, a few hours, may give a decided cast to the situation of affairs. It appears that by a telegraphic despatch from Lisbon, DON MIGUEL had taken the oath to the Charter on the 26th ult. before the Cortes, and the first, act of his Government was to appoint the following liberal Administration :—The Duke of CADOVAL, President of the Council ; the Marquis of VILLA REAL, Minister. of War. and Foreign Affairs; the Marquis of VIANA, Minister of Mari ne; M. LEITE, Mi n i ster o f t h e Interior ; M. FURTADO, Minister of J us ti ce; an d C ount d e LAUZAN, Minister . of Finance. It is supposed that the Marquis of PALMELLA Will be Minister f9l' Foreign Affairs. , The private advices from Constantinople, since the - ' departure of the diplomatic Agents, agree in stating that most part of the troops which the GRAND StM. NOR had collected in haste in the above capital are destined for an expedition to the Morea, but it is hoped that the project, which will lead to the mas sacre of the Greeks, will be impeded by the forees - _ M England and France, which are going tto be sent to the Pe been sent Ottoman Inform states, it was goinE with the favour 01 of :the res Accord ment of t that Prov inforeente the. Dam passage, to the 7tl Accou] of Noverr All was c state far f His M with a m the 16th Rio Jane extracts 1 The /1 contains repeating Brasil wo of Brasil papers do The 0 senada, 71 giving an Braailiana vessels ux but whit] tine and seven sum obstinate gress, any donesl thc afterward men of w meet him There Dae. rations, ci appearan proved, infantry campaig/ lions hav German d iseonte / army. Dtc. Duraano, it necess mesa ha pointed Governu The of the In th Thinnea from Fri of whict which ti that fom the circa With Austria: is recall Bering 1 He yesti with a d Some r Paris, a Lis Boa We to the I of Enp chants stand t has dei the Di ject. readerE Is rep questic Brand printer jected sufficil *id ( the A excels work. Gri in art /Mehl! IiCrOSI mera equal Britis whole by the factur pea di of at tax of benef pies t This i be rai to a i jpiA~