The Sun. — London, England, 1841-04-03 00:00:00

MORNING EDITION 1111.• •• rnittee, in which so much good feeling had existed, bad he attempted to do anything contrary to their wishes or without their orders; therefore he cconlsloidne.reNdieimt ha,prehcaud. Early fortunate. c i rcumstan ce that th made the motion, and he sincerely th a nked him for it, in_ asmuch as it gave him an opportunity of making a state- rrient which he hoped the House would allow, especially after the observations which had been made upon the pro. ceedingi of the Committee. He was sorry to trouble the House, but he trusted after what bad taken place they would grant him their indulgence. Ho had stated, after the conclusion of the proceedings in the Ludlow case, and he then repeated it, that in Election Committees not only the character of the Commines, but the character of the House itseir was deeply concerned.—(Cheers.) They neere greatly indebted to the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Pees) for the change which he had made, and, as one of those whom the Committee of Selection bad chosen to act as Chairman, he had thought it his duty to do all in hie power to aid in carrying its provisions into effect—and, however heavy those duties might be, he took them upon himself most willingly.—(Cheers.) Great as was the responsibility of the other Members of the Committee, that of the Chairman woe much greater—they were selected by a Committee, and the:r service was compulsory—those of the Chairman were in a manner v o luntary. With re gard to the St. Alban's case there were circumstances in it which gave it a greater degree of importance than it would have enjoyed but for them. With respect to what had fallen from the lion. Member for Finsbury, he con fessed that it was with great pain he hal hoard the para graph from the newspaper cheered by Hoe. Gentlemen opposite when it said there was a majority of Mini terialists on the Committee.—(Cheers.) He had heard with very great regret the expreasions of feeling with which Hon. Members on the other side cf the House had received such an intimation from a party paper; it had been received in such a way as he (Mr. Sanford), if placed in their posi tion, would net have indulged in. Perhaps, with regard to the details of the evidence that hal been brought be fore the House generally in the papers, it would not be necessary for him to refer to them ; and here he would make a remark in passing that, if the evidence before their Censmitteea were daily published in the papers—he had no objeciion to it—it might be right or wrong, and his own impression was that it ought to be publi-bed, but at least all observations on the evidence and the conduct of the Committee, ought to be abstained from. He thought no expression of „pinion should be given as to toe decision of the Commi tee while the inquiry was in progress. At its c l ose , an d w h en t h e C ommi t tee hail given its decision, then their conduct was fairly before the House and the putlic, but during the progress of the Committee any ob servation would only provoke party feeling. He would not refer to the evidence, but merely to that which more immediately referred to the Committee—he meant the decision to which they had come. During the whole in vestigation there had been but two decisions on matters of fact. Upon the evidence produced before them, they had to form en opinion first whether a certain individual was the agent of the sitting Member. On that occasion the decision of the Committee was far from being minist trial or anti-miaisterial, they having divided on the question five to two—( Hear, hear)—against the question being put, because they did not consider the agency had been proved. The other decision was at a later period of the insestig,a tion, and that he was bound to state was four to three, but when the evidence was produced, Hon. Gentleman would see whether those in the majority hail fair reason to suppose that no additional proof of evidence had been given. Then vi hat did the Committee do? and he would call the attention of the House to one very material fact. So anxious were the Committee to have that matter in vmt:gated, so little desirous to throw obstacles in the way of its investigation, that they came to a resolution, that if Counsel for the petition stated to the Committee that they should be enablei to prove the agency by acts of bribery, they would be permitted to go into the acts of bribery, although the agency had not been proved. That resolu tion was come to before any decision was made. Tne re solutions agreed to by firmer Election Committees for th it own guidance, on points that might be discussed, had teen referred to, and it appeared that they had came to the resolution, that first of all the agency should be es- Vlblishei, but that, if the Counsel fax the petition stated that he wag unable, except by bribery, to prove the agency, that ho would be permitted to pro ceed with the proof of those acts of bribe-3 , , in order to estab ish the agency. Theo resolution was adopted by the Committee over which he (Mr Sanford presided. In what way could Gentlemen placed in the situation in which the Members of that Commidee were, appear more desirous of comirg to a fair decision, and of esucideting everything relating to the matter ? With re gard to other questioe3, they we e of law, such as whether such and such interrogations were admissible. Those oh jections were taken on every occasion. There was hardly a question put which was not objected to. There were opinions advanced on subjects of which the Committee, as mere laymen, could know nothing. limy bad two very able lawyers to deal with, who attempted by every means to confuse and mislead.—(Hear, tear, and laughter. ) On every occasion when the room was cleared they felt how unfortunate it was that they had no authority to go by. They were called on to give decisions, and whether they gave them right or wrong they could only go according to the Lest of their opinion. He must say, ii, justice to the Hon. Gentlemen who composed the Com mittee, he never saw men more anxious t o do their duty. With regard to the observations made by the Hon. Member for Fin s bury, h e (Me. S.) must say that it was with astonishment the Committee received the intima tion that the investigation was brought to a close. He hoped the House would see, that, during the latter part of the investigation, every facility woe given to the petitioners'. On the last occasion the Committee had de cided, by five to two, that the question could not be put, and then Counsel stated that, in consequence of the Com rnittee's first decision, they hael determined not to pro ceed further with the case. Now, this first decision took place three days before.—( Cheers.) The Committee had been pressed to admit the evidence ; they bad been pressed to admit proof of agency by bribery, and, after they had consented to the latter, they even Agreed, at the request of Counsel, to allow the petitioners to strengthen the evidence of agency by acts of bribery ; yet, notwith standmg this, it was thrown upon them, that, in conse quence of their decision, the proceedings were stopped.— ( Chet rs. ) He could only say the allegations against the Committee were most untrue, and he was glad that an opportunity was afforded him of meeting them in his place. He trusted what he had said would be deemed, in some degree, to have exonerated the Committee from therm —( Cheers.) He would now beg leave to make one other; observation. lie was much afraid, that, as Com mittees were now constituted, great difficulty would be found in carrying on the business of Election Committees. The Committee ought to have some authority, as an assessor, to whom they could refer upon any questions of law--( Hear, hear)—or otherwise the House ought to come t r an express resolution for the guidance of Elec tion Committees, whether they should be bound by the strict legal rules of evidence, or give a greater latitude to their consti uction of the facts brought before them.— • (Hear, hear.) If something like this were not done, he was certsia !hat those tribunals would not give siati,f se ti on and the character; cf Gentlerrea who were desirous of honestly d)ing their duty would constantly be da maged, and their feelirgs outraged, by unmerited impu ted .no --(Cheese.) The Hon. Gentleman thanked the House for tie attentive hearing he had receive d, arid sat down amidat cheering. Mr. NHL DMA Y said he never rose to address the Hone with grea .Tr pair. He defended the conduct of the Committee. The evidence was of a very contradictory native, and furnis red the Committee with no g rounds for a special Re r ort. Ile thought the Heuse had sometimes very rig: , tiy shown a disposition to encourage special Reports; and they were seldom received with unqualified satisfaction, Lowerer well grounded. He remernh, red he had himself sat upon an Election Committee which had reported that they hal reason to think that there had beery bribery at an eye .tion ; but the consequence wile, that trey were censured by various Members cf the House for having mode such a Report, while the charge could not aff ct sitting . Member. ' He did not wish to pursue i a similar course a se cond time, mer c e is e e s i p , e d eial y when he found that the evidence in the been taken down. He yiel led to no man in a desir e to put . a i n end to that system of bribery which, be believed, p e r r e i v h a ,e i ei ßh in many boroughs in the country ; but then the ,rte etoihnil petitioners b e a , p h u a n ci i s c h h e a d r g e b d y legal mates. He found that the h Lord Li towels with bribery, but t agency had could d b e 11 not be gust tined, unless the qua anon previ ously established. So anxious, hewevery, tey he ed agency he c t th were the C`mil mate, ter a lair aid full inquiry, that thought was rot strictly allowed legal—they be proved theough bribery. For his part,,,yliparetatFess.neyvnteoer more anxious to do his duty between a knew, in the first place, that he had reason to distrust his own bias; and, without meaning any offence, be certainly thought it could not be denied that they were all liable to a feeling of party interest. But there was another rea son why he felt that if he had erred in judgment, he was not much to blame. He had had mstters brought before him of a nature that he had never had before. For him seif, lie could assure the House that he had endeavoured to perform his duty.—( Heir, hear.) Much had been said against him, but he was too old a seldice to mind it. But when hi; motives were impugned, he felt bound to pro tect himself. He was not actuated in the Committee by any leeliegs as a Ministerialist, for he would as soon have Oven Mr. Cavan a seat in that House as Lord Listowel!. He conscientiously believed he had performed his duty and, h feared not the consequences. Mr. CLIVE, as the late Ch a i rman o f t h e C an t e rbury Committee could not allow the subject to pass without sasiog a few words. From what had fallen from the lion. Membe r far Finsbury, it might be thought there was some connection between the two Committees—that, he cou ld assure th e H ouse, was not the case. When, the Members of the Canterbury Committee went into th e Committee-room, td dy went Counsel e i l e h re ei not what h they were to hear. On the Com mittee explained to the m the course ng they called had in, laidt dow, to be pursued. Immediately that statement had been made, the Counsel got up and stated that they met the previous night , and they had determined that a the wisest course to be pursued was not to entail great expellee without coming to any conclusion, the Couneal th ere f ore begged leave to withdraw, and upon that ground idene the Committee had come to the decision they had done He bad the honour of sitting upon a Committee last year , iu v hich the decision was made by a majority o f 6 to, I. Those Hon. Gentlemen with whom he had had the honour of being associated in Election Committees had s h own the greatest anxiety to perform their duty ; and be trusted that the House would give them credit for their endeavours. Mr. ELLIOT said, that although a Member of the Committee, he had not read any of the statements which had appeared on this subject. However desirous be might be f or hi s own sake that the evidence should be printed, he felt himself called upon to lay before the House the exact natur e of the evidence, in order that the Heuse might be enabled to judge whether it was prob er that it should be published. The Committee proceeded, in the first puce, to take direct evid ence of agency. That fail ing they h a d, as had been Allegationsstated, end eavoure d to prove agency throu g h b r ib ery. brought against two i n d' • of bribery were cluds-wthero were but two per. sons who were charged with bribery before this Commit tee. 'With respect to those two individuals, they went into evidence to a great extent A prima facie case of bribery was made against one of those individuals, and to a certain degree against the other. In this position the counsel for the petitioners bad said they would go no further. They had a mass of ex parte evi dence before them, which made very heavy imputations against individuals. He ( Mr. Elliot) suggested to the House whether it would be proper to publish ex parte evidence—evidence to which there had been no oppor tunity of replying ? Another point was this. From the mo ment that they proceeded to prove agency through the means of bribery, it was acknowledged throughout the Committee that the evidence which they were taking would only become !e - gal evidence in the event of agency being proved. Agency had not been proved. Now, if they printed this illegal evi dence the characters of individuals might be greatly injured. Though he stated these (objections, however, he would be glad, if it were thought advisable, that the evidence should he printed. It was important, he thought, to the charac ter of the Committee, and to the tribunal generally, that the evidence should be published ; but he could not pos sibly understand why the abrupt stoppage of the Commit tee should be made to imply anything wrong in the Committee er anything wrong in the tribunal.—(Hear, hear, from Sir Robert Peel.) Ha could not understand such imputations.—( Hear, hear.) He (Ed not see how it was possible to twist it into any thing like partiality. Until the moment whe v the proceedings stopped, they were affording every facility to the titioners to prove their case ; and so far from starting difficulties, he be lieved the only doubt in the minds of the Committee wee whether they were not going beyond their authority, and opening the door too wide. Suddenly, after they had de cided cases in favour of the petitioner, the Counsel declared that he would proceed no further. Why should they bring disrepute on the tribunal which all were anxious to render respectable ? He felt satisfied that he had acted the part of an honest man, and he did not think there were ten men in that House who thought othcrwiie ; but if there were, he held them in utter and complete contempt.—(Much laughter and cheering.) No man would entertain that feeling but a man who had the baseness of heatt which would induce him to act in the same way himself.— ( Hear, hear. ) Lord 110 WICK—So far as he had understood the ob servations of the lion. Member for Fiasbury, he had thrown out no imputation on the character of the Com mittee. The discussion that had taken place, however, was of a very important character, and it would draw the attention of the House to the question of whether there were not defects in the constitution of these tribunals and in the law, which required the interference of that House. —( Hear, hear.) Ha fully concurred in the observations of the lion. Member for Somersets'nire, on the hateful position in which Committees were placed, in deciding what was and what was not legal evidence. During the protracted inquiry before the Ludlow Committee last year, where he (Lord Howick) bad Leen compelled to ect as a member, that question had been repeatedly raised ; and, as had been already remarked, Hon. Members, not having a professional education, when conflicting deci.ions were brought before them, were utterly at a loss bow to decide. The same question would perhaps be repeeted five minutes afterwards, with some trifling variation, and Counsel, it was well known, presumed upon the ignorance of the Members upon these professional points, and their not 1 , being able to decide upon the fallacies they put forward. E .ery moment the most vexatious objections were made, and the Committee became a scene of wrangling which was most improper to be witnessed in a judicial tribunal, He ( Lord Howick) had stated, when the 13,11 of the Regret Honourable Baronet the Member for Tamworth was first introduced, that it would be necessary for the Committees to have the assistance of a professional and impartial adviser. Some great c'aange was absolutely necessary, unless it was the inten tion of the House to sanction bribery and corruption to the greatest extent. As the law at present stood, unless there was great clumsiness on the part cf the accused, it was impossible to get a', the facts. Agency must be proved, and the greatest caution was requisite. A losisg candi date mignt send down persona to bribe and treat in the sae e of his opponent, and the grossest injustice might ili,:reby be practiced.—( Hear, Lear.) It would appear as if ire the cee of Ludlow there had been a tacit rand: r. standing on both sides that no petition should be pre icate 1 , for no caution was observed, and both patties com mitted themselves in t'ee most extraordinary manner. He could not see how, with ordinary skill in managing the corruption, they could get at proof of agency. There was one cure and one only in his opinion, nan.ely, by a legis lative enactment to authorize the examination of agents by the counsel. That was a test which would get toe truth from almost any man, however reluctant. If that were done he believed it would be a matter of extreme peril to carry on those disgraceful practices, but if they did net do that, it would he better to repeal the 1 twa against bribery and corruption, and let every per son do the best he could. —( Great laughter.) It would be necessary, however, to introduce a proviso that no penal consequence should attach to givisg evidence which would criminate the party himself. The Legisla ture would not compel h in to criminate himself, and then subject him to criminal consequences. He wished to have heard, before the discussion closed, a denial that any com promise had taken place, because when there was so strong a prima facie case it was difficult to refuse credit to the rumours afl ;at. On the whole, be thought the House should turn their urgent attention to these [Joists if they had any regard for their character, and wished to prevent the increase of such a system of corruption. Mr. JA MES said, every Hon. Member who regarded the character of that House must regret the scenes of cor ruption that w ere exposed at St. Alban's, Canterbury, and Walsall. lie had stood a contented election far Carlisle in 1820, and he declared upon his honour as a gentleman, and be could make oath of it in a court of justice, that he was not cognisant of a single farthing being expended in bribery when several thousand pounds hal been expended in that way.—(Hear, and laughter.) He was told the legal expense of the electtion would be 4,0001. or 5,0001., and three weeks a erwards he was told tint the elestion had cost him 12,0001.—that the money 11,,r had put into the hands of his agent to pay the legal expenses had been ex pended in gross bribery, while lie decl ired most sol , mnly he had not the slightest i lea of it, and he was repeatedly told that no bribery was going on. If the Hon. Gentleman vvho brought forward this motion, or his friends, wire,; sin cerely desirous c f putting a step to bribery, they shoul adopt the only effectual remedy for the evil ; namely, the vete by ballot • Mr. - GLADSTONE rose to explain. In consequence of what hal fatlen from the Hon. Gentleman, the Com mittee had, immediately on its sitting, decided that there was not the slightest foundation for the aliegaiion of bribery that was made in the petition against his (Mr. Gladstone's) election for the borough of Walsall. As to the charge of treating, the evidence did not go to connect it with him (Mr. G.) or his agents. Mr. JAMES stated most distinctly that he did not know that bribery bad taken place at the election referred :o. He had merely said that the most effectual temedy ag sinst bribery was the vote by ballot. M-. HAYTER said that the Hon. Member (Mr. Glad tone) was perfectly correct in his statement with re spect is the charge of bribery. With regard to the alle gation rfl.st ye to treating, the Committee hal made a special Report on The Report stated that considi r able t-eiting existed at Walsall, both previsus to and dur ing the election ; but that the evidence was of such a doubtful nature as to render them unable to connect it with the sitting Member. He had the misfortune of differieg with the majerity of the Committee on that occasion, and though he regretted that, yet on reflection he did nat think he was wrong in so differing. They all felt that the great doubts arising in that inquiry were owing to the nature of the tribunal. The fact was, these questions were consi dered to be simply questions between two interests I parties—a sort of issue to be tr!ei between interested per sense But the party mot interested—the House of Commons itself—did not appear in that tribunal ; and, al though the Committee knew that there were persons in the room who could spe de to every fact, and who could prove or disprove every allegation of treating, it was not proposed by the parties interested to bring forward those persons as witnesses. (Hear, hear.) The Com mittee were left to find out the truth as best they could. In any investigetisn he hail ever seen, he had never known so little truth and so much false hood stated. He had merely risen for the purpose of stating the inaufficieccy of the tribunal as a' present con stituted. He thought it requiiite that sonic more of ex tracting evidence, so as to enable the House to anise a t the ta nth, ()Tight to be adopted. Sir R. PEEL thought that the question of graetirg utional powers to Election Committees for the purpise of the better extracting evidence, ought to be kept apart from the mere consiLieration of the ti ibunal. He did not think the present a proper occasion to discuss that ques :ion. Ile must say, however, that in the course of Cris discussion, be saw nothing whereby the into rfrity of the tribunal r e f erre d to could he impeached.—( Hear, hear.) Neither in tie last session, nor in the present, could he detect anythin g i n the cJnduct of tribunals of this sort that showed they were not desirous of ascertaining the truth, and of admit istering justice. Upon the occasion which was now the subject of discussion, he could not conceive what other course could have been adopted. He under stood that before the Committe e was appointed, the panel of chairmen met to consider the points chiefly litigated in Election Committees, in order that they might establish, possible uniformity of p ract i ce. They took into COl, if pissi sideration the question, whether they would permit tho agency to be established by proving acts of briber), and thev decided that where the agency could n o t be esti,- bliihed, except by the proof of acts of brin,ery, they would permi t it to be so established. That wa g l a i d down as a general rule by the panel of caairmen, and when tire Hon. Gentleman who pre,iricd over the St. Altan's Election Cl3nim"tee, a ked the membets of i t if ther would abide by it, they ?greed to do so. He (Sir R. Peel) could not, therefore, j see that the slighte s t shadow of imputation could with justice bectaste nicest up d them p. . .k.t`tough they might not be able to make h tinctions between the opinions advanced by COunsel, yet the reasonable presumption was thatttretitc evidenceyhadac teelfair and justly. The production ot. would not object to, if it was for the purpose of showing that it was desirable to alter the law in crl.r to enable Committees to have professional assistance; but to its production for the puirp, jo,.at rse . o e t enabling the Mr mhers of that Committee to their characters, he had every objection, as he • i did riot think such vindication necessary. On that ground he certainly would not vote for the production of the evidence. Air. ELLIOT explained. Mr. WAKLEY hoped the Right lion Baronet would not oppose the production of the evidence because he considered it of no importance with respect to the charn ter of the Committee. If the House was to legislate on the subject for the future guidance of Committees they ought to be possessed of whatever would enable them to form a correct judgment of the state of the law. He (Mr. \V. ) thought tn, evidence was of no importance with re spect to the character of the Committee. However, it ought to be produced for the purpose he mentioned. He thought they ought not to confine their motion to two of those tribunals. They ought to have the evidence given before the Walsall Election Committee also, and if no other Hon, Gentleman would do so, he himself would move for the production of the evidence taken before that Committee. The lion. Memter for Walsall said that he really knew nothing of bribery bidag put into practice at his elcc'ion fur that borough. .. An HON. MEmßEa—Not bribery—treating. Mr. WA KL E Y—Treating—that's another term for bribery —a Lice mild Parliamentary term for bribery.— (Laughter. ) But be might !cirri of it hereafter. What was the information the Hon. Member for Cumberland re ceived? That the 5,0001. deposited for election expenses had been expended in bribery. He entreated the Hon. Gentleman not to congratulate himself upon the extent of his ignr ranee. He might soon receive information that might have the effect of enlightening his darkness. The present discussion was a most edifying one. Honourable Gentlemen, one and all, said that their object was to maintain the character of the House. If such was the case be thought they should have been silent on what had transpired, for this discussion exhibited one of the most degrading pictures that could be exposed to the eyes of those who trusted they were faithfully represented in that astembly—bribery and corruption I Why these things were as common in their appe stance as noon-day ; there was nothing more common anti ordinary. The Noble Lord ( Lord Ho xick) had suggested a remedy, but tnere was a more efficient or.e. B , ibery was practised among small constituencieA, and not in large ones ; and if the House was sincere in the r dense to prevent corruption, they should give such large masses of the people the power of electing representatives that no purse should he suffi ciently long and heavy to corrupt them. —( Hear, he.r.) That was the only efficient remedy, and until it was adopted by the House the sincerity of their professions to put down corruption would be justly doubted._( Hear,) The Hon. Member for Somersetshire had said that the Committees were constantly puzzled by the subtleties of the lawyers, and he proposed as a remedy another lawyer. —( Laughter.) Now he (Mr. Wakley) thought it would be a more effectual remedy to get rid of the lawyers alto gether. lie was sure the public would agree to it, and he believed the Howe would also. What we.e they called upon to decide ? Were gentlemen who legislated for the lives and property of the people, and the great interests of the country to be deemed incompetent to decide upon the simple question of fact, whether or not a Member was competent to sit in that House? He entreated the House to take the matter seriously into considerasi.e , for he be lieved the conduct of the lawyers in these a..d in many other Courts, was orsjudicial to the course of justice. Mr. SANFORD explained that he proposed that the assessor should simply give advice upon points of and not on questions of tart. On the question being put, Mr. \VAKLEY moved chat the evidence taken before the W.lsill Commi:ree be alto primed. Mr. GLADST'ONE seeo:;ded the motion. Lord F. EGERTON said he did not ti•iok it right, as the proccedinv befo:v the Walsall Committee ban only been incidentally mentioned, to move that they should be printed. lie thought it was calculated to cast an imputa tion upon the Committee, and would therefore divide the House a•Zainst the nactiln. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said if he thought the eff 'et of the motion would be to sanction any imputa tion against the Members of these Cemmitt(c , , he would certainly divide the House against the mo tion, bui. he thought there could scarctly be such an impression on the mind of any person. He thought there were two reasons of considerable importance why this motion should be carried. By a knowledge • f the proceedings of these Committees they might de vise rules by which those tribunals might be amended. Another important reason was, that it might enable them to judge whether it was advisable to give these Committees additional powers on behalf of the House and the country—( Hear, hear.) It had always appeared to him that the Grenville Act tended to make the question before the Committ e apparently a question between two parti e s, each of whom had able Counsel, each of whom proposed their own views, while the ge neral question before the House, whether representation in the House was duly secured, seemed to he overlooked. How( ver the remedy, into the question of which he would not then enter, was a matter of considerable difficulty. He th,ugat the prolnetion of any evidence of this kind would show the inefficiency and imperfection of the liw for the purpose of viorough ievestigatiun, and would thus be useful, and enable them to discover iu what way a re medy could be applied. He did not think any imputa tion was intended upon the Committee, for if these ques tions had been sent to a Jury or a Judge, and one party had said—" We have no evidence to offer and cannot make out our case." they could clearly come but to one decision. On these grounds and on these general prin ciples t!e should not oppose the motion. —( Hear.) Mr. BLACKSTONE e jibed to set himself right with the House. He had never intended to cast any impute tien on the Committee. He had no objection to the pro duction of the evidence before the Walsall Committ e. The eiidcnce betnre eac!o of Vie three Committees was then ordered to be laid before the House. II answer to a qtle!i , in from :dr. ORNISBY GORE. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that it was intended to issue a C• mmiseio❑ to inquire into the state of the Church in North Wales. Colonel SIBTHORP asked if it Was to be a paid Com mission ? Lord J. R USSELL said that the Hon. and Gallant G. ntlernan bad better ask the Archbishop of Canterbury, at whose instance the Commission was issued.—( Laughter. ) COUNTY COURTS BILL. The further consileration of the Report on the County Courts Bill was postponed to Monday. ROUGHING OF CATTLE BILL--(IRELAND.) This Bill was rend a third time and passed. POOR-LAW BILL. On the reading of the Order of the Day, for the ad journed Committee on the Poor-law alt, Mr. SANFORD said that he had irtended to make a statement before the Speaki_r lefi, the Chair respectivg a charge made by an Hon. and Learned NI, mber opposite aganst the guardians of the Bridgewater UlllOll. But as the lion. end Learned Gentleman was not in his place, he (Mr. Sanford) would take anothei opportunity. The House then went into Commi tee on the Bill. On el :use 24 being put, which related t, the regulation cf the Emigration Fund, Lord J RUSSELL announced his intention to strike out the clause fur to present, with a view of inserting here after another in its stead. He wished to give the control of the Emigratim Fund, to the guardians, and take it out of the hand, of the rate-payers. Afi.cr some conversation, the clause wai struck cut. Oa clause 25 being put, which related to the of paupers, Mr. DARBY proposed an amendment, to the effect that paupers might tie hurie I in the palish churchyi,rds. Colonel SI BT HORP thought there was a general feel ing that the Noble Lord hid given up this clause. It was t, tally unmindful of the feelings of the poor. By the clause power was given to consign to the grave the body of a poor person who might die in Union gaol—for so he would call it—without tf c consent of his relatives. There was but one further step to take, and that was to consign the body to the anatomist , . He should take the se n s e nf the House as to the propriety of expunging the clause. Ho gave the Noble Lord credit for tile possession of good feelings and humanity, and he trusted he would expunge the clause. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the Hon, Gentleman had misunderstood the meaning of the clause. Its mean ing was not to prevent the giving up the bodies of poor persona to their relatives who might be inclined to bury them, but to provide for the burial of those who had not left behind them sufficient effects to bury them, or whose relatives might refuse to do so; at present the law was unentain on the subject of who should bury such persons, and it was to settle the law on that point that this clause had been introduced. He should not obj,ct to the intro duction of words enacting that the body should be buried in the churchyard of the parish to vthich the person had belonged. Sir E. KNATCHBULL thought that, where the ftiends refuted to interfere the body should be buried in the churchyard of the parish in which the union house was situated, but that in other case; every facility should be aff,rded to the rnbit:viss of the deceased to have the body interred in the churchyard of the parish to which the deceased belonged. Dr. LUSHINGTON had endeavoured, as fir as be could, to collect the true meaning of the Hon. Member for Sussex, but he cenfesed he could not undt rstend it until it was explained by the Right Hon. Member for K As he understood it, the clause was intended to consult the f. e lag f the relsvi,ee tf the poor by providing that those who ti'ed should be buried in the parish to which they be longe:l. That might be all very well, but he thought there ought to be no compulsion. It ought to take place only upon the application of tt.e friends of the deceased. In many cases such a provision could not be cart i?d out, for in some parishes there were no burying grounds; in ethers when' there were, there was no room ; and theref..re there must be some provision made in that respect. Ho deprecated burials in populous places, as he thought it tended greatly to the injury of the health of the inhalaitenrs. Another subject worthy of consideration nat the expeasee attendant upon the burying of paupers; tide often led to ill feeling, aed the clergymen under the pre sent law could not recover any fees. He thought those fees ought t , be reduced to thy lowest scale; but unless some enactment took place on the subject, he was afraid the same ill feeling would continue. He consieered tee prin ciple of the chute good, but it required some amend meat. Mr. DARBY, after a few ohs rvarions, withdrew his amendment, upon the understanding that Lord J. Russell would en frame the clause as to carry it out. Sir T. FREMANTLE wars anxious that the amend merit of his Hon. Friend, the Member for Sussex, should be carried out. He was glad to hear th t the Noble Lord in tended to do so ; and, under t h ere circumstances, his Friend had done right in withdrawing h e amendment. Mr. WA KLE Y could not go the entire length of the Gallant Colonel, in objectirg to this clause. In many in. s u ta e nc tl e t s iiu F g a b ri t i eits In died t without b.. effect=, and then . the must. ia- decent cisputes took place as to who should bury the body, b t h u e ri t e W h e a parish mdi fi inijectionable that parties should be Lord J. , which they died If that part of intimated no objecti , n to RUSSELL intimated that he was willing to modify the clews, i i that e Sir A. DALRY MPLE " i' e i c d t _ e he en.irely conc ur r e d i n p the seg'eestions oflitehi,ec the Right i l fm. Gentleman th e Merr— ber far Sussex. prevailed, n a s li o e n d ie instances, th e prac tice referred to had al rea d y to the a w e ords of th e c l ause Mr. DARBY oh,p cte , l of wPohoitrh-taawssCiunmedmistshieonepayment moved' th b a u t ri t a b l ey fe b e e s s t t o ru t c h k c jut. Mr. GORING hoped the Noble Lord would not agree to the exception. Mr GROTE said, that in his opi n i on there was much difference betty een the clause as it th ew stood notand the clause as proposed to be amended. At present, power was given to the guardians to order the body to be in terred according to their own discretion. Sir T. FREMANTLE said the case was provided for by the 29th cl +use. Lord J. RUSSELL said he would have an observa tion to make on the 29th clause Colonel SIBTHORP thought they should have a pro vision for sending to the relatives of the deceased, and consulting them as to where the body should be interred. Lord G. SOMERSET thought it would be very undo. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1841 sirable to get rid of the clause. Still he thought the ad dition of a few words would would greatly amend it, espe cially some words providing, for the burial of paupers in grounds te!onging to unions which were in villages, and too small for the purpose. He trusted provision would be made for any wish expressscd by the pauper as to the place of his burial, eTccially if it were within the limits of the anion. That was an important point, and might greatly raieve the mind of many poor persons who were reduced to the workhouse. He certainly should move a proviso to cause pampers to be interred decently and in a proper manner, and the expenses should he allowed by the ruditors. Lord J. RUSSELL thought the proviso wauld be totally unnecessary, for if the funerals of paupers were conducted in any indecent or improper manner, they broke the law as it at present stood. There was a general wish that all such funerals should be conducted both decently and properly. Mr. BRUGES said, as Chairman of a Poor-law union, be was aware that many chs,enting paupers had a great oh jectisii to being bur:ei to the parish burying ground. Would the Nob!e Lord hive any objection to strike out the words the burials to such grounds ? Mr. BE RNAL said there was an amendment before that. Caetain PECHEL L proposed to add words to enable single parishes burying a pauper, not belongir g to them selves, to recover the expenses from the parish of the pauper. 11 moved the insertion o f t h e wor d " er ."— A laugh ) Mr. F. MAUL E said it was not very easy to see what the efftet of the insertion of the word "or " might be. He was afraid that it was intend. dto obtain a recognition of the Gilbert Uni nit..—( A laugh.) He felt bound tri oppose the amendment. Sir C. GRE Y suggested that the Hon. and Gallant Member might obtain his object by striki.ig out tho words " under their control." Mr. B E RNA L said the amendment could not be put; it was too I. e. Captain PEC HELL hoped the Noble Lord, the Se cretary fir the Colonies. would turn his t.tt o ton to the subject, for suite partshes w& re put to an espeuse of 501. a- . sear in ;he bu igl f paupers not their owe. On the motion of Mr 13RUG ES, the words " in the pas ith of" were st, uck out, to allow paupers to be bu ied in chapel burial g, outich, if he expr,ssed a wish for it baote his death. GRIM SDITCH said he should divide the House upon the clause. In answer to a question from Alderman HUMPHERY, Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he proposed to fill up the Wank f,r the fee for the burial of a pau}•er with the words " five shillings." Mr. PRYME m veil to extend secti ,ns 25 and 27 to persona ri!cliaroed from or dyin g in any public hospital. Sir E. KNATC HBULL thought the clause unn, ces_ sary, as those who died In hospital, would be removed for burial bt tho,e who had receminvnded them to it. Mr. PRYME said that it such an expectation were to be generally entertained it would hate the (fleet of induc ing subset ibers to hospitals to withhold their recommenda tions.—(No, no.) Alderman Id UM PH E RY said there was never any dif ficulty with respect to the burial of a pauper who die i in an hospital.: If the body was not removed by friends it was always buried at the expense of the ht,spit.d. He th..refore racummended his Hun. Friend to withdraw the amendment. After some further discussion tie House divided— For the clause For the amendment Majority against the nmendment 98 On clause 26 being proposed, Lord, HOW ICK said the ca;ual poor were constantly sent from one parish to another, and were furni , hed with the ire ins of proceeding to their destination. lie was perfectly persua.c:ed that relief would be ado inistered to the casual poor on a more fair principle if the expense LI( in common upon all the parishes of the union. He hcped, therefore, that the clause would not he rejected. Lord G. SOMERSET said that justice was involved in the clause which they were then discussing. lie thought that soma reasons ought to he stated to induce the House to make alerations in the law, which would be of so ex tensive a nature as those that would result from the pass ing of that clause. Humanity was not in the slighest de gree into ested in the passing of that clause, but great in justice would be done by its enactment. He would, there fore, persist in h:s intention of mos.ing the rejection of the whole clause. Mr. HAWES thought the passing of the clause would be titended with the most beneficial rcsulti, and therefore hoped that it weld meet with the support of the House. After a fes words from Colonel N9OOD, Mr. HUMPH Eli Y said that the Irish labourers, at certain seasons of the year, passed in large numbers through tLe large towns situated on the principal high roads, and spent in those towns the money advanced to them out of the union fund. Those towns were, there fore, benefi'ed thus in some degree, and it was fair they should bear the burden of forwarding those paupers from one place to another; but it was a hardship that parishes some ten or twenty miles off, which happened to be in the union, should contribute to the expense, from which they detived no tenefit whatever. The House then divided, and the numbers were— Fur the clause For the amendment Alajot ity On our readmis,ion we found the CorniFitiee in discus sion on the 27th clause, the object of wh,ch was that notice of rem-v it of paupers might be sent by post. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL mov d the following amendment to the clause—" unless the phriy to be affected by such notice or otri: r document shill prove that the same had not been dely rvuelved." After some cJnvzrsatiou the amendment was added to the clause. Mr. TO WNLE Y PA RE ER ; ruqed that, the Solicitor- Gelieral would divide the Cumin to e on tie cl use. S , rangeri were ordert.d to Rithdraw. Cummittee divided, when there appeared— For the el,iu,e Agai,,st it Majority for the clause 6l On clause 28 biltig put. Lord JOHN RUSSELL proposed to strike it out.— (Loud clmers). C lorn.l WOOD said that he should, at some future stage of the B,tl, propose the amendment of he had given notice, as a distinct proviso. The clause was then withdrawn. Clause 29 was pospot.ed. . . On crust` 30 ticing put, Mr. TATTON EGERTON said that as many unions were situated in different counties, t e should recimmend the clause being withdrawn, is order that might reeci‘e further consideration. Lord G. SOMERSET suggested that this chose would place the high constables of counties in a situa tion of great dALutty. Ile hoped it would receive further :n. Mr. ("RIM SDITCH was of opinion that the law as it stood at pies. rt did not need any alteration. Lord J. RUSSELL thought the clause would effect a great improvement in the manner of collecting the rates, and was nut inclined to postpone it. Mr. GOULBURN did not approve of imposing upon the guardians the duty of collecting the rates. Mr. E. BULLER thought the clause pointed out the cheapest and the readiest way of collecting ha county rate, and one that would effect a considerab:e saving. He thought the guardians ougl:t to have the same power given to them as the °vets( era now possessed to enforce payment of the rates. He hoped the Noble Lord would persoveie in the clause. Lord G. SOMERSET complained of the anomalous situation in which this clause would pl ace ex officio guardians, guardians, who, in their capachies as Magistrates, might be called on to isvuo warrants against themselves. Colocel ROLL E STON said that the rate -pal ers would have no security for the money they paid under this change. He trusted, ti e:efore, the Ncib!e Lord would amend it so es to give the required security to the pubic. Mr. GISBORNE thought tile principle of the claus• was good, hut there were one or two parts of it that might be amended. Lord J. RUSSELL thought it would he .better that the board of guarMaiis should order th 2 collectota tA' the rates rather than let them remain its they now stood. Mr GUULBUR.N said that the clause had more re ference to the collection of county ratis lhan the relief of the poor. He trusted, therefore, the Noble Lord would raconsider tt:e clausa. . Mr. HAWES thought L. would simplify th , ,ir proceed ings on this 13111 if the Noble Lord would consent to post pol,e the clause. Lord J. RUSSELL admitted it t) tie true that the clau.ie was not necessary to the working of the pe,ent Bill. If the CommiLtee thought it should be omitted from the Bill, he should have no cbjec;iin to do so, but as to introduciog it int, another Bill, that would be matter for future cmisi.,elation. E BULLER if the Noble Lord would with drqw the clau,e and uu. ertalte to iutruduce it in a,ottier Bill, he should be g!ad. Ater a tew woro3 trom Lord J. RUSSELL, the clause was withdrawn. The C El AIRMAN then reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again pro forma on Monday. Tne South Australia Bat went through Committee with. out a:nenumeuts, and the Report was ordered to be received on Monday. The Ireland Boudieg Warehouse Bill went through Committee, and the Report was re,eived. The Wide Street Dub:iii Bill we t through Committee, and tile Report was ordered to be received on Monday. The D,uble Costs' Bill was read a third time and passed. The Indemnity Bill was read a second time, and crdered to be committed. Mr. LA 130 UCHERE then moved for a Select Com mittee to inquire into the state of the law respecting Joint-stock Companies (banking companies excepted), with the view to the prevention of fraud.—Agreed to. Tee other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Qaar - er to 011 e. SPA NISII liAlßASSY.—llespatches were re ceived on Tuesday la,t by his Exr elency General Alava, by which we u,derstand the gallai.t tie: eral is recalled by the Spanish Government. We can also state, upon un doubted authority, the same despatches accredit his Ex cellency M. Gonzalez, as Minister from Spain to the Court of St. James's. His Excellency M. Gonzalez left Mi. vart's Hotel on Monday night for Paris, en route to Ma drid, and of course was unacquainted with his appoint ment. A courier was despatched by General Alava on Tuesday afternoon to Paris, in order to apprise M. Gun. ziliz of the instructions he had received from the Spaniidi Ministry, and to urge his immediate return. As M. Gon zalez intended to stay 24 hours in the Fren ch ca p ital, it is probabl e th e courier would be able to reach Paris before his departure for Spain. General Alava will leave this country with regret to a numerous circle of private friends, particularly the Duke of Wellington, with whom his Ex cellency has maintained a cordial friendship of neatly half a century. Mr. G eorge Hope is p re vented attending his Parliamentary duties for the present, by an accident he met with on Wednesday last. COURT OF SEWERS OF WEST MINSTER, AND PART OF MIDDLESEX. A Court of Sewers for the City and L•berties of Westminster was yesterday had at the office of the Commissioners, Greek.street, Soho, T. L. Donaldson, Esq., in the Chair. The usual routine business having been transacted, Mr. BicKNELL, the Solicitor to Chelsea Hospital, entered the Court, and said that he bad attended out of courtesy to the Court, to state to them that he had taken the opinion of the Attorney and Solicitor-Gene ral as to the liability of the buildings belonging to the Hospital not hitherto rated to be assessed to S'.twers rate, which he would, if the Court pleased, read to them. The CKAIItMAN expressed the feelings of the Court on Mr. Bicknell's courteous offer, and stated their de sire to hear the case and opinion. Mr. Bicknell then proceeded to read the case and opinion, from which it appeared, that according to the opinion of the Attorney and Solicitor-General, Mr. Hall was not legally liable to be assessed to the rate for the chapel and buildings of Chelsea Hospital ; that the second presentment was bad in form and in substance, and that the payment of it ought to be resisted. Mr. BICKNELL said that he would attend whenever a distress should be levied, in order to try the ques tion ; but he gave the Court notice that he should take a preliminary objection to the presentment, so that the merits of the case could nut be trial under the present case. The CHAIRMAN then called on the Court to consider as to signing a warrant for levying upon the buildings not hitherto rated, chapel and wards, and fifty-seven acres of lind of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. Sir G. FARRANT said that after the decl rration of the Learned Cireotl.,inan, that he could put, and should put them out of Court, on the ground of it would be well to review the proceedings to see where they were vulnerable before they went into Court, and retrace their steps if necessary. Mr. GUNTER was not idluenced by the opinion given by the Attorney and Solicitor-General, and should certainly hold up his hand for signing the warrant. 'rile CHAIRMAN asked Mr. Bicknell if the Commis sioners of the hospital would be willing to take a deci sion on the liability of Clielsca Hospital to be r..ted. Mr. BICKNELL said he should advise the Commis sioners of the hospital to take an objection, first to the form, and next to the merits, in order to give him an opportunity of showing to another Jury that the hos p tal derived no hens fit whatever from the sea ers. Kuosing• what Mr. Ogle's charge had been, he should be prepared with evidence on that poia ; he considered Mr. Ogle's charge not a judicial one, not a legal one. Mr. MuLLINs thought the charge a highly improper one. Mr. LESLIE had pointed out to the Court that they could not levy except upon the goods of the person rated, and as Mr. Hall had no property in the hospital no distress coal be levied tl.ere. Tney had been misled by Mr. Ogle and Mr. Smith intu the opinion dust they could levy upon the property without regard to the persons. He thought the sooner a determina tion was come to the better, and that they ought to try the question immediately. The CHAIRMAN then put the question, when there appeared For issuing the warrant 4 Against it The CHAIRMAN gave his casting vote for having the warrant signed. Mr. Beach, Mr. Locke, Mr. John Gunter, and Mr. firace, were the four Commissioners who voted for issiiing the warrant. The warrant was then signed and given to the offi eer of the Court for execution. The COURT then proceeded to consider as to signing warrants for levying upon the churches and other newly rated property in the Eastern Division of the West minster Sewers. 111 r. GODDIDGE suggested that they should select one church to try the question. The CHAIRMAN asked which church they would choose to proceed against in the event of their deter mining, to Issue a warrant ? Mr. J. GUNTER wished to know whether, in the event of the churches not paying, the Company could cut off their connection with the sewers. Mr. Mew:vs thought it would be well to let the question sta,id over tint' the question of occupancy should be determined by the Court of Queen's Bench in the case of Che's, a Hospital. Mr. BROUGIITON wished to know what mode of pro ceeding was to be adopted with regard to churches %lieu tiie warrant should be issued. What was the officer executing the warrant to take ? Mr. LESLIE said that by the decree the C..mmis sioners had ueterniined, if the officers found no goods, tat they would proceed to demise away the church, so that they would put up the church to auction he sup posrd.—(A ;augii.) Mr. Buoucirrox still urgt d his question—Did they intend to take the sacred vestments on the commuhion 'lite, or tue books of the church or of the congre gation ?_ - Mr. J. GUNTER thought it was a serious question, and suggested that a , ier issuing the warrant :t would be well to consider how they should execute it. He had not said; as had been represented, that. he would sign a a arrant unswed by eeclesidstica! censure. He had said that he would follow up his opinion by signing the warrant, but that warrant ought not to be exe cuLd in such a way as t-d shock publics feelings. Mr. BRoUGHTON said, in allusion to the opinion of Dr. Pilimmore, that there was a white sheet hung over the beads of t..e Commissioners and of the collector, if they proceeded. It was hard upon the cullzctor, us he bad no voice in the matter. Toe Court ought to de termine how they would execute the warn ant beford they issued it. Mr. BouvEarE thought it was ridiculous to issue a warrant until they had deter Mined what they would do w:th it. The solicitor was present, and he could ttli them how they were to act. Mr. GOODRIDGE hoped the Court would not be ictimidated from (icing their duty by the bugbear of ecclesiastical censures, and white sheets. He was surprised at the present backwardness of many Com mist,ionere, who had hitherto been the most forwa; d in urging on the rating of churches. There was always plenty of furniture in a vestry-room on which they could distrain, and which, he believel, was not inter res sacras. Mr. A'BECKETT wished to know whether it was necessary to go upon the property assessed, and whe ther they cou!d not take the goods of the churchwarden. a.. their own house 3. Mr. SMITH thought they must go on the premises assessed. Mr. A'BECKETT had never heard of such a thing as a distress in a church. If they were right in law, how ever, the Court of Qiteen's Bench would interfere to prote. t them from ecclesiastical censuring by means of a prohibition. He should like to know in what form it was proposed to issue the warrant. Toe SOLICITOR referred to the original opinion given by him, that a though churches were liable, it would be impossible to enforce the rate in respect of them, and to the opinion of Sir AV. Follett and Mr. Ogle. He was still of opinion that it was impossibl2 t, enforce the rat,: against churches. Mr. LESLIE said the whole of this difficulty had arisen from their be , ng misled by their legal adviser into the opinion that they could rate property w,thout an occupier. They could do no such thing. It behoved the Commissioners, signing these warrants, to ci mider well whet they were doing, as they would be running themselves individually into expense ; for they had taken care to place such matter upon their records as would cxemrt the public from the expense, and throw it upon the individmil Commissioners taking [Art in these pro cceAmgs. Their defeat teas certain, and the sooner they were defeated the less embarrassment would be oc casioned to the Court. Mr. BROUGHTON thought the opinion of the solici tors as to the Lability of property in contradistinction to persons to be assessed to sewers' rate, was quite right, and Mr. Leslie was wronr, and quoted the words of the St et ut: Hon. VIII. in support of hi, opinion. He thought churches were not Italia under either the Act of Hen. VIII. or of Anne, and he could not recommend any Commissioner to sign a warrant, nor ought they to send any officer without giving him clear and distinct instructions. He thought the best plan would be to re trace their steps in regard to churches. Mr. LESLIE contended that the wording of the sta tute of Hen. VIII. proved his po,ftion, that persons were to be rat ei for the land and riot the land itself. Tile jury returned the parties liable, not the lands liable, and, therefore, utlss the person were rated, the rate teas 'Doi. Could they sell the churches if the rate wero reused? Let the Commissioners re , ollt et that if ti ey exceeded their commission, they could not be indemni fied for any expenses they might incur. Mr. MuLt.ms agreed with Mr. Leslie that the person must be rated for his property, and not the property, without reference to the occupation. lie thought the churchwardens, having neither I.):'nefici.tl interest, or in terest in in the churches, could not be rated. He should, therefore, move, that no warrant should he issiv:d. Mr. WILLOUGHBY thought the warrant ought not to be signed on account of the practical difficulties existing in the way of executing it. He seconded the motion. Mr. LESLIE said that at the last Court a similar mo tion of Mr. Willoughby's was negatived on the ground that it would stultify the proceedings of the Court. He had always understood that the decree was the final judgment of the Court, and could only be set aside by the judgment of a superior Court, and the sooner that judgment was obtained the better. They had not tho power of reversing thoir own decreer. He should not vote on the question for the reasons he had frequently stated. Mr. GOODRIDGE contended that they ought either to carry out thei r d ecree at once, or a b andon the question entirely. Mr. BROUGHTON had never heard that after judg ment was obtained it was imperative to proceed to exe cution. There couli not be a doubt but that they could refuse to issue the warrants. Mr. ATECKETT vas certainly against issuing war rants against the churches. Mr. FULLER considered their refusal to carry out their own decree as an involuntary compliment they were paying to Mr. Leslie's opinion. Had they consi dered Mr, Leslie's amendments on a former occasion, they wouli ha% e escaped all the trouble. It was not now the time to consider the question. What would they think of the Court of Queen's Bench, alter having given judgment, on the application of their officers to carry that judgment into cfr,et, to say, No, we will take time to consider, and get some barrister's opinion. Mr. MULLINS replied, and contended that by agree ing to his motion the Court would not be precluded from isuing . the warrant at some future day if it should be deemed requisite. Mr. BROUGHTON thought it would be better to mo dify the motion by introducing the word " now " before the word "signed." Mr. Mullins and Mr. Willoughby assented to have the motion modified by the introduction of the word " now." Mr. LESLIE objected to having the motion altered altar it had been handed to the Chairman. It was contrary to the Standing Orders, and he thought it important that they should hav, the opinions of propo ser and seconder on record, seeing they were both legal gentlemen. _ _ _ The CHAIRMAN could not put Mr. Broughton's pro position as an amendment after the mover had replied. Mr. GOODRIDiE would then move the adjournment of the Court. C4tAin BAnuE seconded the motion for an adjourn , menr, which was carried by a majority of nine to serea Tae Court then adjourned to 'I ucsday next. THE SPECTACLE-MAKEtS' COAT PAN Y. On Thursday a Court of the Spectacle-Makers' Company was htld, fur the purpose of admitting to their fre2dom Lord Hilsnorough, Mr. Fox Mettle, Call tin Dundas, Mr. A. Rogers, Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, and other distinguished individuals. The Court of tie Company and the newly-made members afterwards dined together at the London Coffee-house, when the chair was taken by the Worshipful Master, Sir James Duke, M.P. Mr. Hutt, Sir George Car roll, Sir H. Nicholas, and several other Members of Purl ament,. is era present. Atter tt.e usual toasts, the health of the new members was given with great applause. Lord HusßoliouGm said he had been induced to seek tie freedom of the City of London from the admi ration he entertained of her civic institutions, and the numerous cilantro which it was her pride and glory to tuaintain.—( Hear, hear.) His name had bt ea enrolled that day as a member of the Spectacle-Makers' Com pany, and he was delighted to form an acquaintance with the members of the Corporation. He trusted that associations of that description would ten t to ren der the differeot orders of the community better ac quainted with each other, and to unite them together by closer ties.—( Hear, hear.) He should at times be delighted to contribute to the charities of the City, and to fi.l any of the offices in the Spectacle-Makers' Com pany, which it might be his duty to occupy.—(Cheers.) There was, however, one exception. He must bar being Lord Mayor.—(Laughter.) Song—" The Lord Mayor's Show." Captain DuNDAs and Colonel CAMPBELL respec tively returned thanks for the navy and army. The former said be felt no hesitation in asserting that there had been no period of our history in which the navy had been in a higher state of efficiency, notwithstanding the misrepresentations which had prevailed upon that point. If the enemies of old England should be tempted by the croaking of those who ought to be her friends to provoke hostilities, which, he hoped, would long be aye:ties!, the navy of Great Britain would be ready to vindicate the high reputation which she had acquired during the brightest days of ber glory.—(Hear, Lear.) " Tom Bowling," by Mr. Turner. Lord lirestionouen proposed the health of the Chairman, which was rece►ved with great applause. Sir JAMES DUKE said, as an old sailor he felt proud that the navy had recently proved that she was as ready as ever to sustain the honour of tlieir country. He trusted that the blessings of peace would long smile upon the land, and that the commerce of the City of London and of the kingdom at large would continue to prosper. In giving success to commerce, he should as sociate with it the name of Mr. Hutt, as the representa tive of Hull, a port second only to Liverpool in com mercial iin porta n ce. Mr. HUTT returned thanks, and expressed great satis faction at being brought in communication with the members of the Corporation of the great emporium of commerce, and one of its principal Livery Companies. The time had passed away what narrow feelings and local jealousies estranged from each other the repre• scram:yes of great commercial interests in diff..rent parts of the empire. The prosvcrity of every part would lie best promoted by upriording al nerd' sstein of coin h.erei..l intercourse, and thr. Corporation of the City of London, as the couservators of the noul: river to which they were indebted for their mercantile grearnesi, did welt to set an example in m rnifesting these liberal feel- Ghters.) The toast The Church," was rezeit ed with great applause, and the Rev. Mr. J. Judkiri, in the absence of Mr. Jennings, prebendary of Westminster, who is chap lain io the Company, returned thankr•. Mr. DOLLOND and several other gentlemen addressed theUonipaily. Tney separated at 11 o'cloek, after a very =vivid enjoyment. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. CROXTETH PARK RACES.--TIIU RSDAY The Scurry Stakes of 5 sovs. each, with 20 add,d. A little 1 ss than the third of a mile. Lord Chesterfield's Isaac of York .........(Captain White) 1 Air. Haworth's Nimrod, 6 yrs Lord Cranstoun's Fatry, aged The Biliesdun Copluw Stakes of 1.5 soya. each, h. ft. Two miles. Colonel Thompson's Hamlet, aged (Owner) 1 Lord Chesterfield's brother to Prize!lor , er, 5 yrs Mr. Scobell's Cracksman, 5 yrs The Granby Haudieap of ;40 sovs. each, 10 ft. and only 5, wish 50 added. Once round and a dis. Mr. Osbaldeston's The Mountain Slph, 4 yrs (owner)... 1 Cul. Thompson's Hamlet, aged Mr. J. Day's Tambui ini, 5 yrs Air. Evans l s Fat Jack, aged Duke of Richmond's the Currier 'l he f;ll.,wing also started, but were not placed :—Mr. thington's i\orthendon, 6 yrs ; Lord Duramore's ALA din, 6 yrs ; Lord ligliiiton's liellona, 6 yi s ; Mr. Knox's George ; Mr. Goodman's Colchicum, Air. Turner na Wings, yrs;s lion. C. G. Noel's Lady Ann, aged ; Lord Chester field's Alulyneux, 4 yrs ; Sir. Worth's Brunette, 6 yrs ; Air. Sadler's specimen, 5 yrs ; and Mr. Cowley's Spangle, b yrs. The Farmer's Plate of p 0 soya. each, and 10 for the second. Heats, two miles. Mr. Stokes's Whitefoot, 5 yr5......(Mr. Grantham) 2 1 1 Mr. Wright's br g Hazard, 5 yrs Mr. Sharpe's hg, by Norton, 5 yrs Several others started. BEVERLEY STEEPLE CHASES—WEDNESDAY. Sweeps!akes of 5 sovs. each, p.p., vtith 50 added. hree mile! Mr. J. Simpson's Aggravator (Mr. Rounding) Mr. Lami,lagh's The Rump Two others started. The Second Chase was won by Mr. Lister's Lingcropper. ROBBERY AT WINDSOR CASTLE.—WIND con, APRIL 1.--It has just been ascertained that a large and valuible portion of the splendid marquee, well known as " Tippoo Saib's Tent" (which was captured at the sterming of Seriugapatam, and presented to the then So veleigh of Euglaißt by the Marquis of Cornwallis), had been taken away from the stores at the Castle, where it has been deposited for a number of years past. It was fttmerly occasionally uved by the late Sovereignsilian IV. and George IV., upon the Royal excursions to Vit . - ,inia Water. Amongst various parts which' are missing is he long pole ‘i hich suppoit:d the roof. This was studded, and many porticos of it cased with niass.vc silver erha meets, and tic two laigc knobs at each end are stated to have been of solid silver. These, of course, are pne wilt tie lest. Other portions, containing various silver and other ornaments of g,cat value, a-e also stated to be miss ing. Nu traces have been hiscuvered r ftho inovi , ments of the party who be, absconded, beyond what have teen mace pubiii up to the period of his airiving at toe Slough ate ton, front Windsor. No reward has yet been off..ied for his apprehension. AFFAIRS OF TIIF EAST.—We find the fol loait g in the ObserratEur of 13rust•el3 :—`• France, Eng land, Austria, and Fiussia have segued at London a treat ) , whereby all ships of war rut Le.origing t..) the Sultan are interdicted from enteliag the Dardanelles or the Bus phorus. The Rus•iin Eovoy Extraordiaar, declarei that lie could not sign the treaty wiinuut fresh instructions from i,is C ,uri. It is b. lieved that those which he will tee ive will not to at variance with the paeitie views ut the above four Powers. We 1, am also that a treaty of commerce and nsvigatiin has been entered into between the Poite and the German Customs Union." CONSTANTINOPLE, IMARCII 10.—Syria was finally and entirely Lvaeu,ted by the Egypt,aii troops. On that day the lust Once thousand men embarked at Gaza fur Alexandria, to which city Ibrahim Pacha and his suite proceeded in the steam-boat, the Nile. The Eng maliaers that were in Sarda, Beyrout, and St. Jean d'Ac;e, have also left those plse,s embarked in the English ine.l•of war which ldt Be3rout on the 25th of February, and sailed for Marmorizza, to which port ti.c t, iin corvette Clemenza, which xas also off Beyroul, is gore. AIR. LAWRENCE'S BENEFIT.—On Monday next Mr. Lawrence, treasurer of the Surrey Theatie, takes hie benufi: at 6at house. He will have the a,sistance cf Mt. Paul Bedford, Mr. Stansbury, Mr. Wright, Mr. T. Matthews, Miss Covency, and other performers who arc cisengaged on that evening in consequence of the closing of the metropolitan theatres, together with the excellent performers of this popular theatre. The entertainments for the evening are well selected, and as theatrical amuse ment in Passion week is not very abundant, Mr. Lawrence is likely to have as many visitors as he can accommodate. All who know his obliging manners and the attention he pays to his duty at this establishment, say he cannot have too many, and will be happy to render him every supp or t, LIE JEWS.—TaIk what you will of the Jews, they thrive wherever they con e ; they are able to Oblig e the Prince of their country by lending him money; none of them beg ; they keep together; and, for their being hhte;l, my 11! for yours, Cnitstiona hate one another as muelh—Selden's Table Tails. 11✓1.ORN LNG EDITION. PARLIAMENTARY PAPER• RESOLUTIONS (with Amendments) intended to be par posed its Committee on Trade of British Pos twa r Abroad. (Mr. Lanouctierse):— r ef 1. Resclved, That in lieu of the respective Du pa b, 71. 108., of 151., of 201., and of 301. on every 1001.. 0 f l ie value of certain of the articles specified in th e bchedol contained in an Act of the third and fourth yea r 0f I ,,a i° a William the Fourth, to regulate the Trade of the Br"'"'„ Possessions abroad, there shall he paid on goods, wa,rfcr and merchandize not being the growth, productieNte wartuf.ctura of the United Kingdom, or of any or b British Possessions in America, and imported by eta r oll _inland carriage or navigation, a duty of 7 1 . for every 1 t ,, of the sake thereof, together with the amount of any I' levied at the same time upon goods, wares, and rnereb";; dize the growth or production of the United Ki n g of the British posessionst. 2. Resolved, That, in lieu of the seve ral.Dutiee able under the said Act upon the following article?, the being tine growth, production, or manufacture O . ja United Kingdom, or of any of the British Poss ession. oo America imported or brought into any British Noes'', by sea, there shall be paid the following Duties, viz. Wheat Flour (except into Canada) the bar. 2 0 rel Beef and Pork, salted (except into Canada), • 0 ,3 the cwt Wine of all sorts, whether in bottle or net, for every 1001. of the value?, in lieu of all Duties now pay able thereon, under the Acts 4 Geo. 3, c. 15, and 3 and 4 Will. 4, 0 7 JO. c. 59 Free . Tire Bottles ° Shingles (except into Canada), the 1000 No 0 Oak Staves and Headings (except into Ca- 0 nada), tie 1000 No. Wood Hoops (except into Canada), the 6 1000 No. Pitch Pine, and other Lumber, 1 inch tbiok „ 0 (except into Canada), the 1000 feet 0 Now prohibited, but the prohibition whereon . is to cease:— Fish', dried or saled, the cwt 0 0 pi. pled, , he barrel o tlie Together wait the amount of bny Duty levied st . 0 , same time upon similar reticles, the produce of. e r ,, s . ported 1, em, the United Kingdom or the British Pe. '" sr 3. ons. Resol7el that Tea be permitted to be impert eai il, British North America by Inland Carriage or Natilg i 'ls on payment of ti .e Duty which may at that time be cbsib o , abl, upon Tea imported from the United Ki , ga° lll ; t at getber with ten pounds per ceetum on the anreer l " , such duty. hie 4. IL solved, That Rum, the produce cf places the limits of the East India Company's Charter. an ported into British North America, shall pay the sl i t duty as Rum the produce of places in the Britia h . "7, Indies. 01 5. Resolved. That so much of the said Act Pe any sort < f Craft. Food, and Victuals, except Spiri ts ; v iel any sort of Clothing and Implements and Materials Pg..„ necessary for the British Fisheries in America, t o be frig ported into the place at or from whence such Fi' b s er a l as carried on, Duty free, shall be repealed, except so 1 ..•4 6 regards the following articles (that is to say), bread , e ° o, pork, b. ef, bacon, butter, lard, cheese, duce of the British Possessions), potatoes, oiltive l ' A f g ge• molasses (th e , Pr pot barley, Indian meal, peas, rice, salt, corkwoods e i e r rs 'ise oakum, pitch, tar, resin, turpentine, varnish, spars, . I ._ ii .c a rt, oak staves, shingles, wood hoops, leather and l e athe . ",,l f ig and all sorts of fi-Ling craft and bait, fishermen's elO t " as end hosiery, which shall be delivered Duty free, 6 ' 1.1- use of the Fisheiies. c ere 6. Res, Iced, That Goods, the produce or rnanef l i d e of the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, o r Sat".. - i a ported from such i-lands, be admitted into the Possessions in America upon the payment of the Idet Duty as the like Goods the produce or manufacture e' '- United Kingdom, or of any of the said Possessions. PARISH BATES. c t. The folk:wing form of petition to Pat liament i; fe l! ' li d fully offerud to the c o mide:at'on of the Clergy of End re' for adoption in their set eral parishes. It has plreauf e re ceived the signatures of eigty• tight princival Rate - r Y te d. in the parish of Eastbourne , Sussex, where it origW rETITtoN. To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britic i° ,.of Ireland in Parliament assembled—. The bumble Petilo the undersigned inhabitants of the ratish of Eastboelle' the ci;unty of Sussex, !tom t 0 Showeth, Ist—That it has ben customary, accord law, to assess occupiers only to the poor-rate. tio s 2dly—That owing to the amount of the qualiiell for the office of guardians of the pcor almost all PIO in agricultural parishes, but the renting farmere, har e excluded from exercising the duties of the office. Your peti , ioners therefore pray your Honourab!e n i l e f to cause owners of property, who are in reality tlx furnishers of the rate. to be assessed instead of the blo piers, and to make the collection of the rate ebe r g ci stai upon the properties a absentee landlords in the so '-a am as the tithe commutation rent charge is now by lam ' - chargeable. t At all events, so to reduce the necessary all rateable qualificatiou for the o ffi ce of guardi ans respectable persons may be duly qualified to sel l " same. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. March 24, 1841. 00 /31 The Bishop cf Chichester has un d er t a k e n to P, r A , to the petition to the Pee r s, an d th e H on . C. Cavc nu' the CornmonF. THE LATE SIR A. COOPEI. . For many months previous to his late illness, Sir Afro Cooper had occasionally experienced great dyspnee 3,llP b tii the sli g htest exertion ; and it ha I been observed by friends that the peculiarity of his complexion bespokeno.: serious impediment to the cir c ul a tio n . It was oet , rod ever, till about six weeks bef o r e Li s d ea th that be 'Lot' ddliculty in assuming th e re cum b en t p os ition ; and cw - in that time he began to pass the grei.t !r part of his the a , rf.thor than attempt to li e down. 11° t 1:0' continued to see a few patie n ts d ur i ng the day, the ject and at their own houses, 1 - 1.: now became o e ,; ( 0e ject of frequent cough ; which was imm e di a tely broufPAl-fot it' he attempted to recline. The gout, cf which be " o lri several yra-s experienced peri o di ca l att ac ks, showed I wo' impel f. cly in the foie-finger of the left band; and h i ". - bic ls began to smell, owing to the depending position in they constantly remained. ses% During all tliis time he refused medical aid ; and of not till ae 22,1 of January that b e consen t e d to see ..10,9 ono, to whom he night state his symptoms. At Ih e , be we; first sisited, ue was sitting in his chair, v" i " bii b.dy inclined forward, and his chin nearly restief; n o r chest ; the pulse accelerated ; not th e s lightest br u "ive, abnormal sound in the though the Leat was ext en ," - os and heard quite to the right t id e o f th e c h es t. Ile Tbcr affordrd considerable bronchhl rattle, but were re ' const.ldated nor compressed, and filled both cavities 0 ' cLe,t. doe Although remedies appeared more than once to P r t u ck a temporary remission of his symptoms, and a furtber'ibe of gout in one foot seemed to afford some r elief tf chest, yet, upon the whole, the diseased advance li bis was atterded by frightful fits of dyspncer, during ob, le ar e face was purple and hi; mind cinfused; and it we' T " otb of these paroxysms that he died, on the mornir g of the of February. esse d Shorty bAcre his death, Sir Astley Cooper exP r- doo a wish tiat the appearances wli;th should be prefe" t , ,e „,ts , the inspection cf his body might be recorded in the Hospital Reports. He had particularly alluded points', the investigation cf which be thougl.t desiraht. a cured oblique inguinal hernia ; a cured umbilical herlid. some suspected indic4tions of phthisis in his youth ; 4 . 0 , an inability to sleep whilst lying on his left side...P- 1116 ' 1 Gazette. THE WEATHER. ROYAL GALLERY OF SCIENCE, ADELAIDE STREET. Barometer Thermometer Highest Lowest 3 0 920 o 6 r L) o: P . ft 1 r 2 Wlnd NV. by N.—Freezing Point 32 Deg• 012411.2y....ri TUE PItLSIDENT STEAM.SH The PresiJent has not yet arrived here, nor has sha I% telegraphed.—Liverpool Mercury, Thursday, 9 P• • f l 15 OLYMPIC THEATRE.—On Easter Monua.y house wits is , • opened uti i r the auspices of Mr. G \V i c. who has provided fur the occasion the following' en te f; tainments : drama ill three Acts, raped " C hlr i g e r O'Malley, the Irish Dragoon," founded on the poPu; h - g , tory of that name ; a new piece by the author of : . " O Ladies' Club, en itivd the Little Gypsy ; and a myth s , logical bull tta, bearing the title of Olympic Froi"•`; The ci.-mpai.y includes Messrs. T. Lee, T. Brookes, 11,1forel, and Mr. Charles Baker (the s , t :*: manager), Mica Fortescue, Miss Howard (pupil of 'L . ': Gluier), Mss Lebatt, and ether arti.ts, of prosincisi r di lebrity. The pr i c es f admission have been reduced, i4 n .. he iniei•ior of the theatre has teen thoroughly cletole'l: Mr. George Wild has every chance o f success, a nd e' trust he will have no reason to repent of his undertaking iNc cs ft P 0 HA TED SOCIETY OF LICENSE° VICTUALLERS. —On Thursday a Quarterly General Court' nume rously attended, of the members of this Society, was held at the Licensed Victuallers' School, Kenningwnci lane, fur the purpose of electing by ballot, from P r ' nfe lists of quaitied AlembiTs, new Trustees, Committee men, and Auditors, in lieu of those going out of office by rotation; to trimspet the other routine business of the A Co ud ur it t, e tn rn d n to itt t e le ,, et hi bi' ie b u al o lo f t A o l n r e . Ernveartiibev,ratvogshearivi: on t he ,. Lower East Smithfield, deceased. BUSINESS OF THE METROPOLITAN POlLalerC: CoußTs,—The f o ll„i ng p is a com arat iv e return of? ' amount of busi ness transacted in the metropo!itan Pr Ake Courts for Feb ruary, 18 41 ;— Th e nu mber of ewes aard at Bow -street were 531 ; Union-hail, 307 ; W'Jr9biP street, 477; Marylebone, 345 ; Thames Pulim, 291; Greenwich and Woolwich, 263 ; Hatton-garden, 235; Queen-sppre, 183; Lambeth-street, 152. EXCHEQUER BILLS.—From a return recently' moved for by Mr. Robert Gordon, "L P., one of the Secretaries of the Treasury, it appears that the amount of Exchequer-bills authorized to be raised, charged 00 the aids or supplies of 1841, is 21,751, 5501 . , from which, if the sum of 125,200/. far Exchequer- bills FBA off in money, and provided for fr j o B m7 a rp c l . 7 I e deducted, to the sth of January, 41 will remain a sum of 21.626,350/ , dm'bate t en t rs o el amount to be provided for in the present yea r . Lord Chesterfield is now at Lincoln, for hunting' Mi DEDICA' ) Ilanchonne and toyal E "-Niax w , ofe :tte ive llu Nc 4449 4‘ t l I 1: e It s hNIAI 1 , I :lee: Ido r d r l ug Post. ►• Henry Cc H /letiry c o t --.___ , T H ANI R I S i p ri TE EI - VIDENI mr luny A II E re n ow gE r et3olls 14 av re 6I PECT U S iv ~ AUT DEL bap, l l, l ‘ l E Dl` 425 ,000 5,000 2,000 1,500 1,000 'I HE ' II )ER th. be re 14 Hu .41 6' e° 4 , r• r. • 4 6 Adolp h ; 1 4Z un " e V et After Rl • I le de r jknderst • 00 - "" rs to t. t ,'Zetire at Box rei es. ss. • "p, a ry 1? -tet3 an %., qe Boz-o Fie had i6:;,:ste B Bc Itst Night 4 Estutter s wiaractler's 'II E RED Pi, elk Fid ter w h• to l'O OR oh 1 j K •xing, G 4 . 1 , 4 n Ext , ton . , enderl Mr. C c; Ti "gain 0 short] cut) .11.4 E t, • now N a•nnt- 4 PPea to hea Comp He In' the P LINES Aroba 4 , 411(111 'kilo .:70% ~_ ; ; ' .1