The Sun. — London, England, 1841-05-18 00:00:00

EVENING_ EDITION ABORiGINES PROTECTION f the opportunity of announcing that Mr. Tooke, before -SOCIETY. I leaving the room, had left a handsome donation to the Yesterday the Fourth Anniversary Meeting of this Society. Society was held in Exeter-hall. .. The resolution was then put and cal Tied unanimously. Mr. Thence MY, I.4l.P.ehaving been voted to the Chair, Mr. BELL, in proposing the next resolution, expressed said tiler, it 3 4 ets while:e,' gret he undertook the office, in a hope that the next meeting of the Society would. be in the absence of the President, Sir F. Buxton, who would the large room. It slidtild never be forgotten that all be somucln more able to discharge the duties- If the So- the accounts from the colonies proceeded from persons cioty had. , not been as well supported as it ought to be, who had class interests opposed to the interests of the Ore re'son was that its objects were not sufficiently un- aborigines, who were entirely without protection, et deretood. Many people indeed did not know the mean- cept what they derived. from the Society. It was essen rig of the word Aborigines, and he wished that every tial that the question of compensation to the aborigines - friend el the cause would explain their object to be, to for their grounds should be probed and thoroughly tin -Protect the native and original owners of the various derstood, and that the bargain made with them sh ou ld b e lands in which EUropeens had made settlements, from regulated by the circumstances of the natives them se l ves . enetrage and we ' ong.—(Hear hear.) Mr. Bell then entered into the details of the inj us ti ce The Seeeteerane then readd letters from Mr. Thomas committed by Sir Francis Head upon certa in Canadian 'Clarkson, and from Mr. Henry Reid (a merchant con- tribes whose lauds were new possessed by he Canada elected with Van Dieman's Land), expressing regret for Land Company ; and after alluding to the state of the their inability to attend, and their high approbatioo of aborigines in New South Wal es an d N ew Z ea l an d , the institution, expressed a hope that the Government woo ld eventu- The Benoit of the Committee/sof Management for the ally adopt some plan for the more efficient protection lett year was then read. It was very voluminone, and l of the natives. He concluded by proposing a resolution ecesisted in a great measure of correspondence relating of thanks to the Auxiliary Societies, and to those cor -t the treatment of the aborigines in all the colonies of respondents who had contributed their assistv:sce. the world. The efforts of the Society in their behalf The Rev. Mr. GURNEY, an American gentileman, se conded the resolution, and expressed his belie f th a t if th e Wece attended with .treat success, and the prospects of ,_. those mach injured pew& were everywhere improving. Societe , were known in America, he doubted riot but that it would receive support fr o m m a ny o f hi s e e un t r y men , me coednict of Lord John Russell in the department of hie colonial duties, which affected them, was spoken of in and he pledged himself that on his retuzn to the strong terms of prais , : . , which elicited gre a t appl a us e . "United States he would lose no opportunity of urging a a During the reading of the Rerort Mr. O'Connell cp- the claims of the Society upon his fellow-ctiantrymen. peered on the platform, anti was greeted in the most en- In their name he thanked the Society for f: e compli thesiastic manner. meat paid them in the resolution. The resobetion was line - . Md. Boiler= in moving the first resolution, then put and carried unanimously. • widele was to the effect—" Thit the Report which v - as ' Thanks were then voted to Mr. C. Hind! and Dr. : jug rend be adopted be the meeting, and printed for eir- Bowring, fur their conduct in the Chair, aMI the corn et:dation, and thee the gentlemen whose names had been Aliment having been acknowledged by Dr. Bo WRING, in cull nitted should form the Committee for the ensuing a very neat and eloquent address, the meeting 'separated. year." lie wire then it ought to be matter of regret to Mr. Srunou, a gentleman who ha.s resided a consider sill of thorn that the present Society had been iii exist- able time in Brazil, and devoted much time to the el ecoo only four years. As it was a .Soiety which had to vilization of the Indians, distributed at the close of the do with every sea and continent, and almost every island meeting several neatly executed medals, representing iii the world, as they had to do with every community, Pocrane, an Indian, who had been reclaimed from ib n and every parallel of latitude on our globe, it would have wage state in that country. been but tustice, and nothing bat justice, to have such an institution to watch over the movements of our coin - nitre:ai eaterorise in every direction, lest that enterprise while it serred us might be found to indict irremediable losses on the original inhabitants of the countries which we visited. Many of the friends, he meant the friends of 'nee and of humanity, had not perhaps entered fully into the merits Of the Aborigines Protection Satiety, because its very strange name did not convey to every mind the ob jects it ' had in view. Some, however, who found fault with the name, would have found as touch difficulty as the Society itself did in getting another name as a sub stiteto fur it. ,They durst not have called themselves a Society for the Protection of Barbarians, as they wished to protet,t, the inhabitants from the barbarians of our own country—against the supflior power which art and science gave us, and by which alone we could crush them la their tveakness. It was deeply to be regretted that civi lizrion was so much . c7;nnected with the grossest bar teethe. 'they coald not conceal from themselves the fact, s elutt Om- :;aiors and other individual—settlers in dif ferent porta of the world—cmong the South Sea islandere, and wait-xis uncultivated nations throughout the earth—tbought no more of shooting a human being than of shooting a wolf or a bear. They eared no more about the tree thaa about the other. and why ? Jest because no sash Soc'ety 38 the present existed to watch over the pt ogress of those individuals—and to seize on those deeds o anf-Christian and anti-English cruelty--end to hold them up to the exteration of the world, arta ask the Legis latures-el-the different countries of the world from which tinge civilized barbarians had gone forth, to protect by their on-n law, the poor and helpless iehabitants from the cem iiiereial cupidity end tyranny of their own subjects. It erou!d be seen, then, that snob an institation as the Aborigince Protection Society was loud* called for. There was a civil way of promoting civilization as well as a berbaroue way. It was not necessary when one of those poor ignorant savages took up his tomahawk that the eettler should take un his musket. It would be easy anti much better to show him the foly of adopting that. mode ocondnet. Ile (Mr. Burnett) had always ibund that t hose whose hearty were open to the course o f hu mrnity at home, were able to extcnci their humnne feel ings :on - awls distant contries. If the humane course he referred to had been adopted, they would not now have_ to deplore the dcath of the missionary, Mr. Williams, win fall by the clubs of the islanders of Aramango, in revenge for the treatment they received from some Chris tisas who had a short time before come to plunder them of sandal-wood. The Rev. Gentleman, after a few fur ther observations, concluded by moving the resolution. ilkw". Mr. CARLISLE seconded the resolution in a few anivopriste observations- Yr. O'Beirne proposed the second resolution, which u:su its the effect " That the native inhabitants of our co lean.., in whatever state of civilisation or barbarism; 1 - . not so be outraged by a system of colonisation s*, i did not adequately compensate them for their is 14 F f ; . or secure to them - die protection and privileges of leraesish stilsjects ;'d and, in doing so, took obcasion to say, Ike* be deeply iregretted his not having hitherto taken a nate in the proceedings of the Society. If colonization ia'e Properly unttcrstood and well regulated, it would be found to be net prejudicial, but beneficial to the abori ginal inhabitants of whatever country colonists_ from Mt - aslant! might settle in. Theirs was a country tosvhieli e,hey ought CS be p rou d t o b e l ong — a countr y w hi c h, as it nete the test in the career of civilisation, was likewise the first to come forward to protect the unprotected. lie trusted that the individuals, whose benevolence and htunanity brought them to the present meeting, would Fir the ruture co-operate with the Society in working out its ()Wets. Mr. ()Vox:min, who was received with loud cheers, seconded the resolution ; the subject was little under stood and little appreciated, and it was not by the desultory xi - termer in wlmieh the subject must necessarily be treated in the course of a speech, that much impression could be produced upon the public mind. Had the subject been properly I ppreciated, there was no room in the British mettorAie which would hold the numbers which would then have been congregatecitogethen—(Cheers.) Wherever colonies hail been settled, there the aborigines had been trampled ten and oppressed. Himself and his Hon. Friend, Mr. O'Brien, were both aborigines. (Cheers.) el Buv he did i tot then intend to enter into the details of the " - sufferings od Ireland—(Cheers)—but wherever the white man had co me, there the aborigines had been first ba- ' nishcd, next: pursued, and at last exterminated. There was no coitntry possessed of colonies which had not Frticipatm in this guilt.—(Cheers.) Great Britain, rance, raid America were all alike implicated.— (Cheers.) The Hon. and Learned Gentleman then went , into a de tailed statement of the cruelties of the Ameri cans in forcing the Indians to emieate beyond the Mis siseipi, , and even beyond the nearer branches of the Mis souri, and introduced to the meeting Oseolu, an Indian youth belonging to the tribe of Seminole Indians, the ratu;der of whose uncle, by the Americans, had occa sioned the Seminole war, in which the Indians had at length terrified the white man, and might perhaps pro cure from his fears that for which they could not from his justice.—(Cheers.) The Hon. Gentleman then an inlailverted in severe terms on the conduct of Lord Pei meenton, in acknowledging Texas, and said that he was of opinion that. Texas was not so safe as was generally ima gmeeL es the Commanchu Indians who were their near neighboure, had passed from the hunting into the pastoral state, and as they were possessed of horses, it was exceed ingly eleobable t)mt the attempt to extirpate them would be unsuccessful. There was one region to which the attention of the Society had not been directed, and which contained 120 millions of inhabitants, he Incant British India, where, with the exception of one small district, the native possessed no right to the house which he occupied, or the land which he tilled. The consequences of the system pursued in India were horrible. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman then went into a detail of the sufferings produced in India by the fa mines, Which were the consequence of misgovernment, and expressed a hope that India would not be overlooked by the Socitely: He then passed a high eulogy on the conduct of Lord John Russell since he had been at the bead of the ' Colonial Department, which was received with loud cheering, and concluded by expressing an ar dent hope that the Society might succeed in carry ing out its objects, which were to make the pro gress of civilization not what it had hitherto been, a cure to the aborigines, but a source of blessing, comfort, and prckperity.—(Loud cheers.) The CHAIRM IN said that British India was ender the esn 'i T ial care of a Society which was an offshoot from the penennt—ehe Blitish India Society.—(Cheers.) Mr. J. S. BUCKINGHAM considered that with regard to their conduct to the aborigines, England, France, and A u n t ieswere all equally pulty. He denied th a t the sa vagq. races IbbOUYOd under any mental deficiency, anti quoted As a proof to the contrary ; the instance• es the ch ene n ee es, who, without any aid from the Whites had inVonted a written language, established a printing pre*, gild various manufactures. He considered the Bri tish.flovexurnout not entitled to much credit for their not forete r g. the Indian tribes in Canada to emigrate. It was out of no regerd to the Indians, but to secure their ser vioey in case of a war with America. The Indians were eluereeterized by a superior perception of justice and a stria adherence to an obligation. The treatment they ex perienced from Penn formed a splendid exception to the egeaeral course of conduct pursued towards them, and the treetv entered into with him had never been broken. With regard to British India, he had 20 years ago drawn theat tention of the British pliblic to the state of that country, and he had never ceased to advocate the claims of the injured aborigines of that c ountry.---(cheers)—and he 'hoped they would be brought within the pale of the pro tection of that Society. He cordially supported the re solution.—(Cheers.) The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously. Menem - . Dr. CAMPBELL, in moving the next resolution, . „add ho considered this not merely a question of huma mten ; but a questi on o f rel i gion, and as suc h a il t h e friends of missions should oive their aid to this Society. It was most satisfactory- that this Society should have originated In England, the country of colonies and of er n as i o n a . 'lle Rev. Gentlemen then alluded in eloquent terms to the efforts of Sir T. F. Buxton, and said it must be gratifying to him to find those principles, to the a d vocac y o . which he had devoted hie life, steadily ad eancing. The people of England, when acquainted with the objects of the Society, would come forward and support it. They must, however, make more din, ortheywould be lost among the ditty of contending institutions, . He hoped that all the religious periodicals would lend it their swistanee. The Rev, Gentleman then proposed the re solution, which after expressing the gratitude of the So ciety for the disposition manifested by those in authority, pvxtieulariy Lord John Russell, to render colonization a bleeeing instead ofa curse to the aborigines, stated that in thedpinion of the Society, the plan of legislation for the aborigines, drawn up by - air. Standish Mote and a Com mittee of the Soviet e:, was well deserving of attention. Dr. COSTELLO se`conded the resolution, and in doing 50 paid a w ell deserved tribute to the enlightened sole nial.policy of Lord .T. Russell. - The SZCAETA.RY, before the reselutiOnt was - ut, took THE CORN-LA WS. MEETING OF THE WARD OF FARROGDON WITHIN. Yesterday a respectable and numerous meeting of the inhabitants of this Ward took place at the late College of Physicians, Warwick-lane, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of petitioning Parlia ment for the repeal of the Corn-laws. 3lr. Deputy WESTWOOD took the Chair. • , Mr. TAYLOit said he had the pleasure of moving the following resolution :—" That this meeting is of opinion that laws which prevent the free and regular importation of foreicii corn and provisions into this populous island, are highly injurious to the industrious classes, detrimen tal to commerce, and calculated to sap the foundation of our national prosperity." •It was, he said, imagined by some portion of the working classes that the abolition o' the Corn-laws would be unattended by any alvantage to them and the country. It was said by them that a reduction in the price of corn and other articles of food would be neutralized by an equal reduction of their , wages. This was a most erroneous view of these ques tions, as he should now show.—(Hear, hear.) In 1835 the aver age price of wheat wa s 39 5 . 4d. per quartet, and in 1838 it was 795. Bd. per quarter. Now he would ask the working men, who thought that their wages would be affected by the price of corn, whether their wages were lower in 1835, when the price of corn was under 405., than they were in 1839, when the price of corn was nearly 80s., almost double.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) In 1835, when corn was less than 40s. per quarter, it took twenty-five millions less to supply the people of England with food than in the year 1839. (Hear, hear.) And what became of these twenty-five millions which in 1839 were all absorbed by the landed proprietors ?—(Hear, hear.) Did these twenty-five mil lions not go to purchase the manufactures of this coun try ! At the former period agricultural labourers were able to spend considerable money, comparatively speak ing, upon the manufacturing productions of the country. Trade had not been so prosperous for years as in 1835, when the price of wheat was low, whereas, if the ideas entertained by many working men were correct, it should have been a year of distress.—(Hear, hear.) But as it was seen, the very contrary was the case. What con nection, he would inquire, was there between food and wages ? Wages depended not upon the demand for la bour, but upon the price of food. Mr. LEAF seconded the resolution, and, in doing so, said he felt that it was the imperative duty of every man ' to put his shoulder to the wheel on the present occasion. However weak his voice—however small his influence— he should exert them in endeavouring to get rid of the cruel and, oppressive Corn-laws. If they were true to ' themselves in carrying out this great work of reform, the Government had expressed its willingness to assist them.—(Hear, hear.) They had all felt the depression of trade of late years, and the evils arising from it might be traced to the working of the Corn-laws.— (Hear, hear.) He did not hesitate to say that he was for a total repeal of these obnoxious imposts, but he would be grateful for a modification of them.—(Hear.) The resolution was then put and carried. Mr. ASHIIRST, in a good speech, moved that this meeting, without admitting that justice will be done to the people of England by any plan short of the total and and unconditional repeal of the Corn-laws, considers the proposal of her Majesty's Government to place a fixed duty on foreign corn as a great improvement on the ex isting laws, and as calculated to confer a great benefit on this country. Mr. Wanwicet seconded the motion, and some excel lent speeches were made on the occasion, for which, we regret, we cannot find room. All the resolutions were carried by acclamation ; after which it was agreed to forward petitions to both Houses of Parliament—that to the Lords to be presented by Lord Fitzwilliam, and that to the Commons by the City Members. $! .1 !• •7 ~14, . ; ~,,,,j -tA btit. lif4 WO tot THE WARD OF CRIPPLEGATE WITHIN. Yesterday forenoon, at 11 o'clock, a most numerous and highly respectable wardmote of the inhabitants of the ward of Cripplegate Within, st which Sir M. Wood, Bart. M.P. Alderman, presided, was held at the Crip plegate Within Charity Schools, Phillip-street, London wall, " to take into consideration the propriety of peti tioning Parliament for an immediate alteration of the present Corn-laws." There were present Messrs. Smith, Hoole, Brown, Beeton, Last, and Brass, Common Coun cilmen of the ward ; Messrs. Sturt, Morley, &c. mer chants and manufacturers, Mr. Payne th e C oroner , & c . The CHAIRMAN having read the requisition, remarked that he always advocated the principles of free trade, and he was ready to support the utmost extent of the repeal of the duties upon corn.—(Hear.) It was believed by many the farmer and agricultural proprietor were averse to any alterations of those laws ; but that was not the case among the more rational class of them, and who thought that those laws were as injurious to them as they were to the country at large.—(Hear.) They ought to make known their opinions to Parliament, and he was glad to find that the ward of Cripplegate was the first thus early to come forward in support of the Government. Mr. MORLEY moved the first resolution, and observed that there was no doubt that the law against the impor tation of corn was working to the injury of the country, and they ought not to cease agitating the question till they obtained ie total repeal of them.—(Applause.) Mr. HooLE seconded the resolution. Mr. SHAW moved the second resolution, remarking that the difficulty the Government had to contend against was, that they had three large monopolizing interests to oppose. The Ministers, however, still leave them full pro tection, but they are not satisfied with that, and they, the monopolists, argue that such a course would give encou ragement to slavery. But the real fact was, that the mo nopolists did not care at all respecting the interest of the slave population of Brazil and Cuba, and all they wanted was to keep the trade in their own hands and have large profits, at the same time keeping John Bull enslaved.— (Cheers.) He hoped to see the tax completely oblite rated.—(Applause.) Various other speakers addressed the meeting, when it was further moved, that a petition, embodying the re solutions, be presented to the Houses of Lords and Com mons, and that Sir M. Wood be requested to present the same to the House of Commons. The petition and the resolutions were agreed to unani mously, when The CHAIRMAN observed he should be extremely happy to present the petition and support its object, and he should not forget to state that the meeting was most numerous, and that the feeling was unanimous in the ob ject they were concerned upon. Three cheers were then given in support of the mea sures of the Government, and the meeting was dissolved. FINSBURY REFORM This Club held a meeting last night at the Belvedere Tavern, which was numerously and respectably at tended. Mr. NlcuoLsox having taken the chair, Mr. BARNARD, the Secretary, read the following reso lution tteeS which had bee n p rev i ously prepared by a Com mi 1. That the Corn-laws are highly detrimental to the well-being of this country, and press heavily upon the labouring portion of the community, deprivin g the poor man of the means of comfort to which he is entitled, and rendering the home of ind ustry the abode of penury and privati. 2. That this meeting views, with satisfaction and gra tification, the exertion of her Majesty's Ministers to re move the obstructions to the prosperity of the nation to abolish monopoly, and encourage free trade, and can not omit expressing its indignation at the attempt of the Tories and their allies to continue the present loans to the aggrandisement of the landowners and other monopolists, regardless of the misery of their fellow creatures. 3. That it is desirable to obtain the assistance and aid of all Reformers in this borough, and those who have not already enrolled themselves in the Finsbury Reform Club, are invited to do so without delay, as an early dis solution of Parliament is expected. Mr. HEwIT in a short speech, in which he praised those who supported the „wise plans of the Government, moved that the foregoing resolutions be adopted by the meeting. Mr. RICHARD TAYLOR cordially supported the motion, because he thought that the Ministerial plan em bodied all that was gratifying to the country ; and hoped all classes of Reformers would throw aside. their particular plans to support the one great measnre ; and he thought that the repeal of these great monopolies once obtained, all the rest would be easy, as the aristocracy only bribed at elections, to be enabled to continue these gross abuses, and de bauched the morals of the people in order to keep up monopoly. He thought that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had gone upon a, right footing to increase the rev enue b y lihtening the people's burdens, and was quite sure the people would see through, and appreciate, the hypocrisy of those men who bad raised the opposi ti - . . 34 E SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 18, 1841 ti )n, on the ground of keeping out of this country the produce of slave-labour. The resolutions were unanimously agreed to, a vote of thanks was moved to the Chairman, and the meeting separated. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS FR33I THE EVENING PAYERS OF YESTERDAY. GLOBE.—The effect upon the Tories of the popular movement now in progress throughout the land, is seen in the careful suppression by the Tory Journals of an allusion to the meetings, and to the petitions which erne ' nate from them, in favour of the measure for a moditicettion and material reduction of the fiscal duties which the Government has proposed to Parliament. Except where a company of Chartists, prompted by Tory instigations and paid by Tory gold, have been found lease or mad enough to disturb the proceedings of a meeting convened for the purpose of petitioning in favour of these measnres, not a hint is found in the Tory Metropolitan Journals of any such meetings. ' They would leave it to be inferred that the country cares as little for the great question which has occu pied the House of Commons in close and earnest debate during the whole of the past week, and is still pending, as it would for the fate of a turnpike Bill. This silence speaks, more forcibly than words could express, the deep mortification under which the recently elate Tories are now suffering, produced by the irre pressible consciousness that her Majesty's Ministers have succeeded in raising an interest in the public mind, which is sufficiently powerful, because it is based on xielisures sound and salutary, instinct with the elements of true national prosperity, to _ carry them through the crisis which threatened them with defeat. The House of Commons will probably negative these measures, as the resolutions which ernoody their principles are, in sitecessitin, submitted to its decision. But the ultimate appeal is to the country. The corn monopoly—the timber monopoly—and the sugar mono poly —that Mammon-trinity- which the class interests agree to worship and to serve, in order that they may respectively secure their individual gains at the cost of the nation's weal, will combine their energies to defeat the free-trade advocates at the hustings, as they have com bined. to defeat the free-trade measures in the House of Commons. That they will be able to effect their purpose, we have no apprehensions. They will fight the battle of their class-interests under circumstances less favour able than any contest for the ascendancy of a mere poli tical party ever presented. The long endurance of deep and widely-extended physical sufferings, from which the people saw no prospect of relief from either of the two great parties engaged in conflict with nearly equally unfenced powers, has led ,to a distrust of b o th. The Government h as rouse d the country from this apathy; by - proposing a prize worthy of its exer tions, to secure which nothing is requisite but a calm, firm determination. Mere political changes may be doubtful in their results on the public weal. They may be counteracted by fraud and force, or rendered in effective by public apathy. But untrammelled commerce —the deliverance of trade from the fetters in which the mistakes of legislators have bound it for centuries, now attempted by the Government, and to enable them to carry out which the electoral bodies of the country will be appealed to, is no problematical matter—ao mere airy speculation, but a solid, substantial good—a prize worth contending for with energy. The people feel that i t is their life ; for it comprehends the means by which life is to be preserved, and rendered worth possessing, to those who live by labour. COURIER—The Advertiser, which, it is only fair to say, is shooting far ahead of its Ministerial coadjutor of the Chivnicle in the quantum of Ministerial confidence received, and Ministerial revelations made by it, has a tale this morning about Mr. T. B. Macaulay and Lord Minto, from which it would appear that those Right Honour able persons are the only two members of the Cabinet entertaining conscientious scruples respecting the con stitutional right of the Ministry to dissolve their own .House of Commons in the coming conjuncture of a de feat. Certainly nobody did suspect sentiments so right minded in the exclusive quarters referred to, and we shall be well satisfied to find the report confirmed. Time was when the principles of constitutional law were so much bet ter understood and practised than in these latter days, even by the Whigs and in unreformed Parliaments, that Ministry daring to dissolve a Parliament of their own calling before its term of service was completed, would not only have been held to deserve, but would have been formally visited with, impeachment. There is, and there can be no legitimate pretence for a dissolution. Neither the Ministers nor the Journals in their employ venture the slightest expression of hope of a possible majority in a new Parliament,. even summoned by themselves ; but, on the contrary, it is admitted, with unblushing effron tery, that the majority must be the other way. The only object, therefore, to be achieved —and that object is boasted of as a meritorious piece of tactics, in stead of being what it really is, contemptible trickery —is, by the dissolution and summons of a new House of Commons, whilst still in command of the public purse, to make a last convulsive '-eflisrt, by the un shrinking and unprincipled alliance of every possible resource which Government influence, corruption, and prodigal expenditure can supply, to obtain the return to a new Parliament of the strongest minority possible, so as the better to be enabled to embarrass, and ultimately to oust, the Ministry by which they shall be succeeded. Such are the pure and patriotic aspirations of these official desperadoes. STANDARD.—It is asserted positively to-day, and what is much more extraordinary, it is almost universally believed, that, at the Cabinet Council held on ;Saturday, Ministers came to a definitive resolution to resign, in the event of an unfavourable division on the Sugar Duties. The discussion is said to have been long and animated, and the advocates for a dissolution were ear nest and warm in their .endeavours to bring over to their opinion the more discreet portion of their col leagues, who recommended an adherence t o th e o ld constitutional practice o f - tendering their resignation to their Sovereign, when themselves unable any longer to carry on the Government. It is believed, but here we do not profess to speak authoritatively, that Earl Spencer attended the Cabinet Council at the personal request of an Illustrious Lady and materially influenced the decision which is under stood to have been then adopted. The only doubt of the authenticity of this intelligence, as to the decision of Saturday's Council, is drawn from an inference not very favourable to Whig-Radical sincerity. 111-natured observers remark that the report of the contemplated resignation is not discountenanced by the Ministerial adherents, and that, therefore, the probability is, that it is unfound e d, an d put i n c i rcu l at i on b y them selves for some sinister purpose. We give it precisely as we have heard it. CORN-LAW CRISIS. (From the Liverpool Albion.) As far as words can effect it, the Reformers of Liver pool are supporting the line of policy announced by Lord John Russell to the very uttermost. But, at a crisis like the present, they should act upon the maxim, " Deeds. not words," or, at all events, prove the sincerity of their professions by following them up with a prac tice in accordance. It is of no use to meet and talk eloquently and energetically about the blessings of plenty and the beauty and advantages of cheap bread, sugar, and timber, unless they are prepared to express the same opinions at the hustings also, and to drive from the representation of the borough the men who are opposed to the interests of the great bulk of the electors and the public at large. At present, how does the case stand ? We are, by our talk ing loudly and doing nothing, the laughing -stock of the whole country. We have constantly been urging Lord Melbourne's Administration to make advances in a Liberal policy, while we have not given them the least support when they have done so. We have paralysed the exertions of Manchester, and the manufacturing districts, in behalf of free trade, by practically telling the Legislature, that the people of Liverpool are not desirous to remove any of the restrictions which now impede the commerce and trade of the country, but quite satisfied to maintain the statu quo which exists. We furnish the monopo lists with arguments that no ingenuity, no sophistry, no expenditure of words and talk can cope with in the least. They say, and they have a right to say it, while we return men of their mind to " Pooh ! Pooh ! These meetings, these cla mours do but, after all, emanate from a disappointed and feeble minority. The proof of the pudding (to use a homely proverb) is in the eating.' If, therefore, the people of Liverpool are really opposed to the Corn laws and would have the duties on sugar and tim ber reduced, why do they send to Parliament two men who are stanch advocates of monopoly Let us see them expel Lord Sandon and Mr. Cresswell from the representation of the town, and then we will believe that a change has taken place in their senti ments. But, until then, if you please, we must be al lowed to class Liverpool amongst the bulwarks which support the present system and , prop up monopoly and legislation for class interests. This is all very fair, and not a word can we say against it. But, turning to the electors of Liverpool, we ask them, whether they will allow such a reproach to remain ?' Will they, by a continued display of apathy and indifference, sacrifice their own interests and mar their own prospects ? We feel confident, that, if the steam could be pro perly got up, two advocates of free trade might easily be returned for Liverpool. At the two last elec tions there were hundreds of voters, professing Liberal opinions, who never went to the hustings at all. Some were disgusted because the Ministers had adopted what they called a do-nothing policy, whilst others, without so strong a feeling on the subject, yet found in the same policy a reason for shrinking into a neutrality which might screen them from giving effence to patrons or customers. But all this hits Passed away now. The very end for which the Re iorm Bill was carried is now set before the people as the prize of victory. No one can now hang back from the want of an object of sufficient magnitude to contend for. No one can remain in neutrality under the plea that there is no line of distinction between the two great parties which are struggling for the govern ment of the country. That line has suddenly been wid ened into an impassable gulf. The rival States men who, at one time, certainly did appear to be approxi mating to something very like an identity of opinion, have, all at once, hoisted hostile colours, and plunged into a state of warfare more bitter and desperate than they were ever engaged in before. " For the People" is the motto which we once more see embla zoned on the banner of Lord Melbourne and his friends ; while "Against the People," and " War to the Knife," are the battle -shout of the Tories, as they p r ess forward to the enco un t er . And what will the electors of Liver pool do at this most momentous crisis ? Will they de clare for or against dear bread, dear sugar, and dear timber ? Will they again send men to Parlia ment who will not only maintain all these necessary articles at their present high prices, but, to enable them to d o so, must lay on at least two millions of taxes ; must, moreover, diminish,. to an inosiculible extent, the. trade which we. at present. carry on with, • • - . • the Brazils, and provoke fresh duties upon our ma nufactured goods both in Germany and the United ,• States ! These are points which especially interest the 1 merchants of Liverpool. But every tradesman, every shopkeeper, every working-man is equally interested in carrying out a system which will increase demand and employment in every branch. What will they do ? We shall soon see. The leaders of the people have proved themselves true to them. Will the people be true to their leaders and to themselves ? If they will not, then will they sanction and will deserve every pri vation and every misery which Toryism can inflict upon them. Electors of Liverpool, what say you ? We wait your verdict with much anxiety. LAW INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS, lllay 17. CARTER v. PALMER. Sir W. FoLLETT having eloeed his arguments on behalf of the respondent, Mr. R. BRUCE replied, and The LORD CHANCELLOR pol , tponed giving judgment. Pill VY COUNCIL, May 17. WOOD AND OTHERS, v. COODLA EE. Sir FREDERICK Potr.iicr: having concluded his address, Mr. Sergeant 11oMrAs briefly followed on the same-side. Mr. WIGRAM (with whom was Dr. rhillimore) then rose to address their Lordships bs•half of Mrs. Goodiake, one of the next of kin, and was speaking when their Lordships rd journed. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, May • The Court was informed some time ago, when two comedians applied fbr bail in one day, that "theatrical; were at a discount ;" and since then others have ap plied. Three le:::;ees of theatre3 have petitioned the Court, and ascribed their appearances to the failure of the speculations. The three are—Hammond, who had Drury-lane Theatre ; Rogers, who had Sadler's Wells and Radcliffe, who, a short time ago, was the propri e t or of the Victoria The a t re . Mr. George Dibdin Pitt, an insolvent, applied to be discharged' under the act. CHIEF COMMISSIONER —What are you, Sir ? Insol vent—l am a comedian and dramatic author. CHIEF CommisstoziEnl s your wife a theatrical ? Insolvent—She has not been for many years. CHIEF COMMISSIONER—Your debts, I see, have been accumulating many years. Had you any engagement when you were taken to prison ? Insolvent—l was taken from my business. CHIEF COM3IISSIONER—I see since you have been in prison, that you have been writing pieces, for which you have received money from Mr. Osbaldist o n. H ave you any promise of an engagement ? Insolvent—l have, Sir. The COURT ordered him to be discharged. SELF-WINDING-Up CLOCKS.--A collection of very curious clocks, upon a principle entirely new, is to be seen in a room appropriated fin• the purpose at the Royal : Polytechnic institution. The inventor, M. Moi ne:tee a French mechanician, has approximated them, in their construction, as nearly as possible, to the solution of the perpetual motion problem. The means by which they are made " to go" are altogether of a novel kind. Thus, fire (in a fire-place), water (in a cistern), air (in a chimney), the opening of a door, or any constantly oc curring motion, is made use of by the inventor as a primum mobile, and the results arc truly extraordinary. On the present occasion we must confine ourselves to a deecription of one of these time-pieces ; it may possibly serve as a key to the others ; at all events the clocks, on examination, w ill spea k f or themselves. • Th e fi rs t object , is to fix the time-piece in its intended locality —say on a bracket in the hall of a house. Behind the clock a single piece of machinery is attached to the wall, having affixed thereto a wire conductor with a spring catch at the street-door. As often as the door is opened the : wire winds up a weight ; should it previously be fully wound up, no effect is produced, but if not the reverse is the case. The whole of this machinery is hid from view in the wall, and be tween it and the clock there is a secret connection. 'Mo tion is communicated to the time-piece by a compensation lever, loaded at one end with a weight, and regulated by a pendulum. When this weight has drawn down the lever to its limit, a mechanical arrangement permits the lever to be acted upon by the powers husbanded in the wall, the operation of which is instantly to restore the lever (weight and all) to its original starting place, whence it again proceeds on its work. A primary motive power, sufficient for twenty- four hours, is obtained by once opening the street-door in that time. Wherever this is the case a clock will go correctly as long as the materials last of which it is composed. The other va rieties are equally as curious and ingenious as the one de- 1 scribed. LORD SANDON.—His Lordship numbers among his political friends many gentlemen engaged in the Brazil and a few in the United States trade. These gen tlemen, particularly those engaged in the trade to Brazil, are highly indignant at his conduct en the sugar ques tion, and several of them have vowed that they will oppose him, whenever he appears before his constituents to solicit a renewal of the trust now reposed in him. They are vexed not merely at his open opposition to their interest as merchants deeply concerned in the prosperity of Brazil : they are vexed at the want of courtesy which he has shown to the Brazilian Association. While .he lost not a moment, they say, in acquainting the West India interest with the proposal on the subject of sugar, he (lid not condescend to make any communication to the Brazilian interest. Hence the Brazil merchants are satisfied that he is the sole partisan of the West India interest, whose good-will and support he seeks at the sacrifice of the obvious interest of the Brazilian. The fact, we suppose, is, that his Lordship deems himself more beholden to the West Indians than to the Bra zilians, and he has taken this opportunity as the most favourable for evincing his gratitude fir favours received and for favours expected. Well, the Brazilian interest are irritated and chagrined at Lord Sandon's treatment of them : will they vote against him at the next election ? We shall soon see.—Liverpool Albion. CONTESTED ELECTIONS--FORFARSHIRE.-- It is reported, and there is some truth in the report, that the county and burghs will be contested at the next election. The Honourable Lauderdale Maule is to oppose the Honourable D. G. Halliburton, M.P. for the county ; George Kinloch, Esq. "of that ilk,' is to endeavour to take the place of Sir H. Parnell, the sitting Member for Dundee ; and a gentleman from Lon don is to contest the burghs of Montrose, Arbroath, &c., with P. Chalmers, Esq. of Auldbar, the present M.P. All the parties are said to be Liberal in pohtics.—Edin burgh Weekly Chronicle. THE NIGER EXPEDITION.--The Albert steamer, Captain Henry Dundas Trotter, and the Wil berforce, Commander W. Allen, sailed from this port for their destination. on Wednesday evening last, at half-past six. Great interest was felt to witness their departure, as it was supposed they would sail ear lier.,. There was a considerable number of spectators on Mount Wise, Cremill Point, Plymouth Garrison, &c., throughout the day. As the steamers neared the men-of war in the Sound, viz:—the Impregnable; 104, Capt. Forrest, C. 8., Belleisle, 74, Capt. Toup Nicolas, C. 8., Edinburgh, 74, Capt. W. Henderson, K.H., Bellerophon, 80, Capt. A us t en , an d th e Trille°, 18, Commander Coffin, 'they each manned their rigging and gave the steamers three hearty British cheers—the bands of each ship playing " God save the Queen." The Albert and Wilberforce, as they passed each man-of-war, returned the compliment, and proceeded to sea with as fine a wind as could be desired. Captain Trotter and his brave cone petitions take with them the prayers and best wishes o: the inhabitants of these towns, and of the nation al large, for their health and success in the highly interest. ing mission in which they are engaged.—Plymouth Inde pendent. - The tide of emigration still runs strongly towards the United States. In the absence of goods the ships fill with steerage-passengers. The Roscius, which sailed yesterday for New Y or k, carr i e d out nearly 350. Liverpool Albion. THE DUBLIN MAIL.--On and after the 15 t h of next month, the evening mail from London will be con veyed on the Chester and Birkenhead Railway, and reach the station before six o'clock in the morning. Her Majes ty's steamers, instead of receiving it on the Liverpool, will receive it on the Cheshire side of the Mersey, and sail direct for Dublin. The mail and passengers from Li verpool will be conveyed on board in a steamer. Half an hour, at least, is expected to be gained by the altera tion of the route of the London down mail.--Liverpool Albion. e m a r y sa r ,n e iy d hp e ao n vi c ne et neveri of r E a n r s Pis, geel insnhso so much politics, iumaccohsu, in terest PARIS, MAY 15 —(Extract from a L e tt er .)— fifteenl 3 .e r sto i t ng msoa t m h n e eife is s . htod w hole of abut 6 yof s at the present moment on the subject of the Corn-laws. Everyrescription of persons—Deputies, journalists, or merchants—speak in favour of the proposed change, and only wonder that it could have been deferred so long. Here, where bread is cheap, the monstrous exactions of the enactments relative to the corn-trade appear some thing akin to madness. They consider the struggle in England as the first efforts of strong men waking from a state of leth argy, and resolved to s h a k e off the burden placed on them by weak, though crafty, opponents. This struggle may be of short or long duration, but the cause of common-sense, they think, must prevail at last. This is the un iversally -received opinion here, and it appears to me a just one. THE LATE SIR F. JOHNSTON.—SeveraI in correct reports having already appeared in the news papers, respecting the circumstances in which Sir F. G. Johnstone, Bart., of Westerhall, came to his untimely and melancholy end, I take the liberty of stating to you the true facts of the case. Sir F. Johnstone having re turned from Eglinton Park races to Westerhall, rode over, on Friday last, in company with his factor, Mr. T. Borthwick, to Talford, to give some instructions to his servants residing at new kennels there, previous to his departure for the South of England, On their return late in the evening. Sir F. Johnstone's horse galloped off with him, Mr. Borthwick followed, and when opposite Blackburnfoot, found Sir F. lying on the road-side, to all appearance quite dead. Yr. Borthwick in stantly rode back to Westwater, and aroused 1.1 , 1 r. Max well, who, after ordering his servants to follow him with a conveyance for the removal of Sir F.'s body, ' proceeded to the spot, while Mr. Borthwick came to Langholm f or •surgical aid. Sir F. Johnstone's body was accordingly conveyed to Westwater, and examined by a surgeon from Langholm, who discovered a fracture of the right side of the skull, extending through the ear to the base, an injury sufficient to produce almost in stantanepus death. These are the t ue facts of the cas, which you will be so good as adhere to in your report of the disastrous accident. —Correspondent of the Cvarlisle Journal. ui sa Johnstone, Countess Craven, who arrived in town on Wed nesday fro m th e family • seat, Coom b e Abb e y, near C oven t ry, - went to Hamstearl Lodge, the seat of the Dowager Lady Craven, n ear Newbury . ; to j o i n the circle staying there with the afflict e d L ady Lo who, it is needless to eta e, ieelrr.most acut e l y her domestic bereavement. Earl Craven h as gone t o S cotland to attend the obsequies of his nrdortugate. brother•in-la'w.,{l.- , - - ~.. . 1. . . . . • , i q t5v,1. , .! I. J.r . : : , i" - -:-' :i'>ll , ~o.:7s•: IMPERIAL PARLIAMEN'R HOUSE OF LORDS, May 17. The LORD CHANCELLOR . took his seat on the Wool sack shortly after Five o'Clock. The Exchequer Bills Bill was read a third time and passed. The Bank Copartnership Bill was read a third time and passed. The Duke of DEVONSHIRE presented a petition from the Mayor and Corporation of Derby, in favour of the proposed alteration of the sugar, timber, and corn duties. The Earl of MOUNTCASHEL presented a petition from the Colonial Association against the proposed alter ation of the Timber Duties. Lord WILLOUGHBY D'ERESBY presented a pe tition from Lincolnshire against alteration of the Corn laws. The Marquis of WESTMINSTER presented a peti tion signed by the Mayor, and 750 of the inhabitants of a town in Cheshire, of which we did not catch the name, in favour of the alteration. He cordially supported the prayer. Lord REDESDALE presented a petition from Chel sea, for the abolition of the Metropolitan Bridge Tolls. The Marquis of EXETER presented a number of pe titions against tlr; alteration of the Corn-laws. The Duke of RUTLAND presented similar petitions from places in the counties of Leicester and Rutland. Earl FrrzWILLIAM was desirous of - speak ing upon the petitions presented by the Noble Duke, because no man could approach the House with greeter claims on their attention, not merely on account of. his high station and ample possessions, but on account also of the close connexion which he undeviatingly main tained with those who lived under him, and on account of his active and unbounded benevolence.—(Cheers.) One paragraph in the petitions just presented struck him as particularly requiring attention, as it was directly opposite to the prayer of a petition presented from the same parties only five years ago, when the same land owners and farmers Caine to th e House saying they were all ruined, and praying their Lordships to do something fir them. They then stated that the Corn-laws were in effective; and required alteration, and now they prayed as vehemently that there should be no alteration. In fact there was no class of the community but com plained of those laws at some time or other—in 1835 and 1836 the farmers complained of them—in 1840 and 1841 the merchants cried out against them. That ought to con vince their Lordships that the system was a bad one. lle requested them to look at the state of the commerce of the country. The export of finished manufactures had greatly diminished, whilst that of unfinished and imper fect goods had increased. The manufactures of the Con tinental nations were improving as ours declined, and he cautioned their Lordships not to pass or to keep up any laws which had a tendency to give those manufactures a 'further impulse.—{Bear.) It was important to remember that the German League was about to expire, whether that combination was entered into through hoetility to England, or, as he rather believed, for the purpose of getting rid of the international duties on Germany. They should also look to the depressed state of the manufacturing population of this country, and if they did not think the Corn-laws were the cause of the distress, they ought at all events to inquire into the cause. .A paper had been put into his hand this morn ing, to show that the same quantity of provisions which a certain body of workmen could purchase in 1835 for 12,0001. would now cost 18,0001. It was a mistake to suppose that wages would rise in this ratio of fifty per cent. Nothing could be more erroneous than to sup pose that wages rose in proportion to the increase in the price of provisions. The contrary was the fact, on the very case to which he referred—for, in 1335, the wages of these persons were higher than in 1840.—(Hear.) Lox d KENYON inquired, did he mean to apply that doctrine to agricultural districts ? Earl FITZWILLLAM said he meant to apply it generally. Lord KENYON—Then it is not true ; in the districts with which I am acquainted, the wages have risen in proportion to the price of food. Earl FITZ WILLIAM was aware that in some places there had been an advance of wages. But that was confined to agricultural labourers, and it was not universally the case with them. The first effect which the rise in the price of food occasioned, was to injure the condition and the comforts of all clasaes of labourers, but especially of the manufacturers. The next effect was, to injure trade and manufactures generally ; and, in fact, there had been a continual deterioration of the state of this country for years past. It was worse last year than the year before, and worse this year than last. In the prices of our ma nufactures there had not been an increase concurrently with the scarcity of food—on the contrary, there had been a decline.—(Hear, hear.) In our exports (except to the colonies, of which we had a monopoly) there had been a decrease as he had said, especially of finished goods ; for instance, though there had been no decrease in the export of yarn, there had been in the export of cloth. The Noble Earl concluded by presenting a petition from Manchester in favour of the alteration of the Import Duties on Corn, Timber, and Sugar. The Earl of RIPON denied that the argument which the Noble Earl attempted to draw from the sup posed decrease of our exports applied to those countries (Russia, Germany, Holland, and - Belgium). which would be effected by any reduction of our Corn-laws. Besides, the Noble Earl was not correct in stating that there had been a gradual decrease in the value of our exports of late years. By returns which were laid on the table in 1839, and which had since been, carried down to the close of last year, it appeared that the official value of our exports was, in 1829 £61,152,000 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 —(Much cheering.) It was true that in these years there was some fluctuation, but, looking at the whole period, there was, in fact, a gradual increase instead of diminu tion.—(Cheers.) He had also returns of the declared value, which v, al somewhat different in the amount, but the result was the same, that. is, they showed a gradual increase. The returns relating to the exports to Russia, Germany, Hungary, and Belgium showed the same in crease as the general exports in the same years. They were as follows in 1829 £13,651,000 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 —(Cheers.) He knew that the Noble Earl would say that although the statement might be true that the amount had been increased, yet the profits had di minished, because the goods exported were for the most part unfinished. But that was not the case, especially as regarded the exports to the countries to which he had re ferred. The decrease in the perfectly Manufactured articles. was very small, while the increase on both was enormous. He could not see what possible injury could be done to the spinner of wool by any decrease in the exportation of manufactured articles. Take a series of periods, each containing four years. In the first the export amounted to 2,191,000/. ; in the second four years it was 2,399,000/. in the third period it was 2,011,0001. ; the middle period was much the largest ; but there was this singular cir cumstance attending it—that period comprised the years 1833, 1834, 1835, and 1836. Now these four years coin prised the period when corn was at the lowest price, and when consequently the duty was highest.—(Cheers.) During that period the export of cotton manufactured goods was the greatest.—(Cheers.) He did not want to draw any unreasonable inferences from the fact, but he thought it was enough to make their Lordships pause before giving implicit credence to the statements of the Noble Earl.—(Hear, hear.) As far as he was indivi dually concerned, he had never supported any Corn Bill whatever, except upon the most sincere conviction that it was a necessary evil, in order to prevent this country from being-dependent for its subsistence upon foreign coun tries. He could bear his testimony to the faithfulness of the picture drawn by the Noble Earl of the Noble Duke (Rutland), whose virtue and benevolence were the admi ration of all who knew him. He hoped the same feelings would animate him in the management of that great pro perty which it had pleased God to bless him, and how ever inferior others might be to him in property, rank, and public estimation, he hoped they might all put in a claim to be influenced in the matter not by the wretched and miserable and selfish objects which are sometimes ascribed to them, but by_ an anxiety to do their duty to those who looked up to them for support. The Duke of RUTLAND said that although he dif fered on many points of national policy from the Noble Earl opposite, he always had, always would attribute to him as the motives by which his public conduct had been swayed, those of pure patriotism and public benevolence. He could not help thinking that if they legislated for ages, they could not enact anything . better than a duty which would be in the inverse ratio of the price —that was to say, that when the price was high the duty should decrease, and when it was low the duty should be such as would promote the interests both of the home-grower and the consumer. In the district in which he resided the farmers, greatly to their credit, and also to those beneath them, without any application, raised the wages of the labourers from 12s. to 14s. and 15s. a week. That rate continued until No;ember, when he (the Duke of Rutland) reduced his men from 14s. to 12s. a week. But he had the gratification to say, that many of the farmers around him contin ue d t o pay t h e i r men from 12s. to 15s. a week. He could state that the labourers generally would infinitely prefer having the corn at a rennine rating price to their employers, than to have wages low, and corn at a price which would not remunerate them. He had adduced the opinion of a body of labourers On the subject, and he was not afraid that their Lordships would slight the petition of the humblest classes of her Majesty's subjects upon any question of national policy, especially on so important a question as the Corn-laws. The Earl of STRADBROKE said, with reference to the observation of the Noble Earl (Ripon); that in 1834-5 the price of labour in the east of England was Bs. per week ; but when corn rose, wages rose also to Its. a week, at which they now stood. .. Earl FITZWILLIAM said, that he conceived the fact of the rise of wages, as stated by the Noble Earl, to result very much from the -operation of the Poor laws.. was about to show to the Noble Earl . (Ripon) that. they. both perfectly ag reed on this point. Th e N o bl e Earl'-had read .a table; .by which it appeared that oar exhorts of half-manufactured goods had much increased; „ . ,> : of which he (Earl Fitzwilliam) had no doubt ; but 'that table also showed that the export of complete manufac tured goods had diminished, and this appeared to him (Earl Fitzwilliam) to be one of the most alarming symp toms of the state of our manufactures—(Hear, hear) — our exports being that on which the least amount of labour was expended. He quite agreed with the Noble Duke that their Lordships' ear would he opened to the petitions of the humblest classes of the community, but there were humble classes in the manufacturing as well as the agricultural districts—(Hear, hear)—and all he desired of their Lordships was, that they would open their ears as m uc h t o the manufacturing as to those of the agricultural poor, and see whether there were any grounds of complaint against these laws. He gave the Noble Earl full credit that his sole object was to make the country independent of foreign countries for supply, but if this were the object of these laws, all he could say was, that they had not been fortunate in their re sult. The only question for their consideration, was the mode and circumstances under which they could obtain the supply. That they must have a supply there could be no doubt. s The Duke of WELLINGTON, who was very indis tinctly heard, said that from the year 1829 to the year 1841 the official value of exports of British and Irish produce and - manufacture produced an increase from 56,217,000/. to 102,715,572 i., and the declared value from 10,148,3051. to 41,468,409/. • The Noble Duke, after noting a table of the exports of cotton and cotton . manufactures, which was quite inaudible in the gallery, said that these papers showed that the manufactures and commerce of the country could not be considered as in a very unprosperous state, either: in reference to quantity or value. The prosperity of manufactures must depend on the general prosperity. The ,Corn-laws were supported, not with a view to the ad vantage of any particular interest or class of men, but with a view to render the whole country independent of foreign nations in respect to its supply of food. He be lieved that all parties would best consult their interests in the attainment of this object.—(Hear.) Undoubtedly it was impossible for. the agricultural interest to flourish without their Lordships, and other great proprietors, deriving some advantage from it ; but he would give their Lordships credit for higher motives—they supported the law for the sake of the people themselves. The Earl of RADNOR denied the: the present Corn law had answered its purpose, for during the 11 years previous to 1839 we had imported more corn than in any 11 years before ; it had, therefore, not rendered us in dependent of foreign countries for n o r su pply of food.—(H ear .) The Noble Duke (Rutland) had said that the price of wages had risen with the price of corn, but that had not been the case in the South : indeed wages did not at all depend upon the price of corn, but upon the supply and demand for corn. The fact was, as had been stated by his Noble Friend, that the export of finished goods had diminished in pro portion to the unfinished. In 1829 the proportion was 61,000/. of perfect goods to 39,000/. of unfinished. In 1839 the proportion was exactly the reverse. It was 68,0001. imperfect to 32,000/.* of perfect. This was a great injury to the operative, who • lost the employment which would be derived from finishing, and that too the most valuable part of the employment. The Noble Earl then read letters from Stockton and Ashton, and other manufacturing towns, to show the extreme distress that prevailed in those towns from want of employment, and the high price of provisions. In Ashton the mills were working only four days a week, and then on short time. The Noble Earl then reverted to his former statement that the exports of wheat from Ireland and Scotland had diminished. He had again examined the official re turns, and he found that what he had said was correct, although he regretted that he should have given offence by that statement to Noble Lords connected with those parts of the United Kingdom. The Earl of HADDINGTON and the Earl of WEST MEATH protested that they had not taken offence at the Noble Earl's statement. The Duke of WELLINGTON said that the export of manufactures had increased as 100 to 1 since the enact ment of the present Corn-laws, and the declared value had been more than double.—(Hear, hear.) Lord ASHBURTON could not deny that distress ex isted in the manufacturing districts, but he was convinced that the measure contended for by the Noble Earl opposite (Fitzwilliam) would greatly aggravate rather than remedy it. The greatness of the manufactures had grown up with the Corn-laws. It had run up with occasional checks, and with alternations of prosperity and distress, but still it had run up since the enactment of those very Corn-laws, and no country in the world ever presented such an accumulation of wealth' as this during the last twenty-five years. Of the sixty millious sterling that had been invested in railway eaterprises, at least fifty mil lions came from the manufacturing towns.—(Hear, hear.) Possessing such wealth, notwithstanding the oc casional fluctuations inseparable from trade, they ought not to seek to depreciate other interests and to destroy their own home market.—(Cheers.) The Noble Lord complained of the agitation which had been got up on this subject for party and factious purposes, for which all the great interests of the country had been thrown 'to a most injurious state of suspense.—(Hear, hear.) Earl HARbWICKE said the Governmeft now pro posed to raise more revenue from bread than had ever been done before. That was the way they proposed to relieve the manufacturer. Earl FITZ WILLIAM said it was a way in which the manufacturer would be pleased to be relieved. Lord ASHBURTON said the Government had been agitating the country from one end to the other through the officers of the Board of Trade, who had given the most exaggerated accounts before the Committee of the other House—such accounts as could not have stood for a moment before al - ,y one holding different opinions, or had they been cross-questioned. The Earl of CLAIIENDON begged to be allowed to give an unqualified denial to the assertion that the Go vernment had been agitating throughout the country upon this question. The country generally took a very different view of the Report of the Committee on Lu port Duties from what the Noble Lord did. In his opinion it was the most important document ever put forth by any Committee. It had been translated into almost every language, and was deeply studied on the Continent. No less than 46,000 copies of it had been sold to parties who paid for them—of course they wanted them, or they would not have parted with their money. --(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord might call it absurd, shallow, and empirical, but the country were of a different opinion—the Report was the fair result of the evidence laid before the Committee ; however, there was nothing in the Report half so vala able as the former speeches of the Noble Lord.—(Hear.) In the year 1815 the Noble Lord said the duty on corn cost the country eighteen millions and a half and not for revenue, but that was the sum put into the pockets of the landlords ; and calculating _up to the present period, by the showing of the Noble Lord himself, the country had paid between three hundred and four hundred mil lions. Was there anything more extravagant than that, in the evidence given before the Committee ? The Earl of WICKLOW blamed the Government for giving up their own convictions for the mere purposes of party. Liird ELLENBOROUGH said the witnesses before the Committee were not cross-examined. Had any one been there holding contrary opinions the result would, undoubtedly, have been very different. The Earl of RADNOR said the Committee was fairly constituted, and consisted of half from one side and half from the other side of the House. If any Hon Member had entertained an opinion of the evidence such as the Noble Lord, it was his duty to have attended and sifted the matter. The Marquis of NORMANBY denied that any change had been made in the intentions of the Government by recent events. Every part of their plan had been de cided upon long before the Easter recess. Earl FITZWILLIAM presented a petition from the Corporation of Manchester and numerous other places, praying for the repeal of the Corn-laws ; and one from Peterborough, praying for a revision of the Import Duties. The Marquis of NORMANBY laid on the table the Sixth Report of the Commissioners on Criminal Lav,-, and the Ninth Report of the Board of Public Works in Ireland. The Earl of RADNOR presented petition; praying for the abolition of Church• rates. from several places.— Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 17. The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual time. The Loverington Inclosure Bill was read a third time, and passed, on the motion of Mr. YORKE. Sir C. GREY presented a petition from North Shields against the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Improvement Bill. The South Metropolitan Gas Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. LOUGH FOYLE DRAINAGE BILL. Sir M. WOOD moved the second reading of the Lough Foyle Drainage Bill. Captain JONES opposed the second reading of the Bill, on the ground that there was already a Bill before the House which would answer every purpose contem plated by the present measure. Sir A WO - OD defended the Bill. He was surprised at the Hon. Member's opposing the measure, as it was his own propoSition. Mr. B. WOOD felt bound, in justice to the Hon. Membe'r opposite (Captain Jones) to state that there had been one petition presented against the measure. Colonel. CONOLLY asserted that the Bill now be fore the House was not the Bill that had been intro duced by his Hon. Friend (Captain Jones). He had been instructed by his constituents to oppose the measure, on the ground that it would release the original parties from their engagements, and would substitute a stock jobbing arrangement that would not be satisfactory to them. After a short conversation, Sir M. WOOD proposed to withdraw the motion for the second reading, but this was resisted. Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the House divided, when there appeared— . For the second reading 5B Against it 7B Majority against the Bill —2o On our return to the gallery w e found Mr. BRISCOE on his legs. He assured the House that he had no knowledge whatever of the irregularity that had taken place connected with the measure. Be hoped the House would allow a new Bill to be introduced that day week. Colonel CONOLLY would object to any proposition of the kind. He had been requested by all parties in Ireland to endeavour to throw out the Bill. He had no doubt whatever that fraud had been committed ; and although he did not impute a knowledge of that fraud to any Hon. Member of that House, it was their duty to ascertain, if possible, where it originated. On the motion of Mr. KEMBLE, the amendments to . the Hawkluirst Juncti on R oa d Bill were considered, an d the Report received. 'On.the motion of Sir. T. FREMANTLE, the Great Norwood' Inclosure Bill was read a third time and passed, EVENIN G EDITION. CHURCH EXTENSION.' Sir R. INGLIS postp o n e d hi s ' mo tio n with rear ° . to Church Extension till after Whitsuntide. Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD gave 'ilbtice that should, in Committee on the Poor;lnw. Bill, move Cll clauses with respect to.medical assistance.' The Birmingham and Hayley-road Bill was 111 ' d third time and passed. SUGAR DUTIES. - Lord J. RUSSELL having moved ' the Order of l b Day for renewing the adjourned debate . . ' Mr. WYNNE expressed a hope that, c o ns id er ing th: was the seventh night the question had been discuss!: the Noble Lord would allow them to proceed to a th`l, sion.—(Great laughter.) He felt that the understgiTt ing which he asked for was not an unusual one, that t; debate should not b e again adjourned, but that they . SIW T . be allowed to proceed to a division. If the . Pon.l ll el'', l ,, fur Salford, wh o t oo k suc h great care o f ' t h e ir he a ',',. would for that night re f ra i n f rom mov i n g' the ati.i`n`sl mcnt, and allow the m t o procee d to a d i v i s i on , it `.,„ t i greatly accommod a t e the House, and tend to the disP' of public business.—(Hear, hear.) 'Alt Lord JOHN RUSSELL could assure the P I , Hon. Gentleman that he had no wish to protract the .( , bate unnecessarily ; but while there were Hon. Mera be ; c7 tr the House who represented constitmencies cLeplY ' n ,,, rested in the question—(Loud cries of " Hear, 'heat ':' it he should take no steps to prevent them expressing ta e " opinions on the subject. Iris h ,f Mr. BUOTHERTOI , 7 said that if it was the I . "' 0 the House to come t o a di v i s i on, h e c e rta i n ly sl w t `j,,, not interi;ose, but th ere W ere more t h an a dozen o ° l men on his side of the. House who were anxious to sP e on the subject.—(Crics of " Oh, oh.") I ,•tavtl Mr. HUME presented a petition from the inllau h a t of King'sLLynn approving of the Ministerial Lae" - be - t for the reduction of the duties on corn, sugar, and o ' l , o l —also petition s f rom 50 agr i cu l tur i sts o f Barton cl; Huraber,prayin g t h at all taxes on food might be retool di from 400 inhabitant:; - of llathgate, for the ra, sl .o l of all restrictions on trade ; and from 283 inha bt j 0! 1 of a parish in Forfarshire, for a total rePe g ',‘ " d a t., but o and an equalization of the import it . o , The Hon. Gentleman also resented several Pa t " l .4, from Uxbrid ge , Denham, hillindon, Ri c kmans" e a ' o ' d and other pl aces i n Middlesex, generally' t o the I abet. the Mr. WILBRAHAM presented a p e titi o n from La t he shire, praying the House to institute an inquiry int o hest mode of protecting the landed interest. frO Mr. HODGSON presente d several petit i ons Kent against any alteration in the Corn-laws. a e 31r. BROTHERTON presented a petition sign'' e 't of 12 ; 255 inhabitants o f Salford, praying f or a repea l the Corn-laws. Mr. GIIOTE presented petitions from the me polio to the same e ff ect, an d a petition frein or fo , of London, agreed t o a t a public meeting, prayii=e, as mitigation of the import duties, and the adoption 0 ' commercial measures of the Ministry. ' A"' Mr. MACAULAY pr esente d a pet i t i on f r om . burgh, in favour of the commercial measures of Government. • vid es Mr. WARD presented sever a l p e titi ons f rom the t of Sheffield to the same effect. TrA ti " Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE p resen t e d petitions from ,-i oe r ford, and other plac es , praying, for a repeal Of the " laws. and a revision of the import duties. Mr. Alderman HUMPHERY presented a Pe t he from the parish of St. Saviour's, in Southwark, t 0 same effct. lsc° Mr. LANGDALE presented a petition from 11 P er , in the West Ridi ng o f Y or k s hi re, with a sim i lar p r3). t - be Lord POWERSCOURT presented a petition t he Corporation of B a th ( as we un d erstood) in f a vour " commercial policy of the Government.—{" Hear, I) , e es tl on the Minist er i a l b enc h es .) Th e N o b le Lord blTete leave to add, th a t out o f a C orporat i on of fifty-eil, ,ett; were but twenty-six present when the petition agreed tt). Mr HEATHCOTE presented a petiti o n aga i ns t • alteration in the Corn-laws. e l ill Sir H. FLEETWOOD presented a petition sign : ' } 1,500 inhabitants of Preston, which represented diet to o, were now upwards of 1,200 em pty h ouses in that sati and praying for a r e p ea l of the Corn-laws. -A-t s( ? t i l A signed by 5,000 f ema l es i n th e same town, - and similar prayer. Mr. B. WOOD presented a petition from a piling meeting held in the Town-hall of Southwark, pm for rile:al of the Corn-laws. T 'd3l e° . FILMER presented a petition 3 - 34 or . and another place, against any alt ration xi the C ° laws. Mr. BROADLEY presented a petition to 'a t ' 53.111e' effect. ea b i Mr. P. AINSWORTH p resen t e d a petition; lig i n 1 ,bo• 15,000 inhabitants o f B o lt on , p ray i ng for a speedY lition of the Corn-laws. out h Mr. INGHAM presented a p e ti t i on f ro m - s Shields against any alteration in the timber duties. efisi t Sir DE LACY EVANS - presented petitions ' various parishes in Westminster; from Bethnal - qi!, from Whitechapel, . from 'Hackney; from Saffrot?: t he from Shoreditch, and from var i ous ot h er • perishel county of - Middlesex, in favour of the Ministerial i' position, and praying for a repeal of the Corn-laws' oo lt Colonel SALW EY presented a petition from Col 11 , 1 1 : e o f Dale signed by 570 persons, praying for the abo!LATiee,, the Corn-laws ; also a petition from Wenlock, atatreu":4 the present deficient supply of food was a f r ui c tfu rn s .. .? of disease, and praying for a total repeal of the o_ as t Mr. OSWALD presented a petition from 6 -1 praying for a total repeal of the Corn-laws, and for vision of the Customs Duties.; •Con 9 Mr - DENNISTOUN presented thirty-nine pet i s * one of which was signed by 6,000 persons, p ra ying total. repeal of the Corn-laws, and a revision of the port Duties. . Sir B. HALL presented a petition from praying for-a total repeal of the Corn-laws. . 11 0 , Mr. BAINES presented a petition from Leeds our of the Ministerial measure. ra rie.° Mr. VILLIERS presented petitions from cora places in Lancashire, praying for a repeal of the „r laws ; also a petition signed by 1,133 working ?t i qi ' ' t he Marydehea 6 Lewes, repudiating the idea that wages rose with sot rise in the price of corn, stating that their wagesh' - ol risen during the last three years—(Hear, praying fl a total repeal of the• Corn-laws. • of Mr. M. PHILIPS presented petitions in fav ° ' lr ,,ei the measures p ro p ose d b y h er M ajesty ' s -Ministers, fi. several parts of Manchester. - • • Mr. tf,laney presented similar petitions from Slirolf bury ; General Johnson from Lincoln ; M i sTh° etl , from Tu ns t a ll ; Si r G eorge Staunton from P or tsln°' and Mr. C. Buller from Stone. ADJOURNED DEBATE. • ur n ' d On the O r d er o f t h e D ay , f or resum i ng t h e 4l l J° Debate being read, ;Sir C. GREY procee d e d t o a dd ress t h e H o use r f ia an t considerable n o i se , w hi c h p reven t e d the commetfejetfr of hi s o b servat i ons f rom reac hi ng the gallery. Tu ° 1,0'3 Baronet was understood to say, that it appeared to that on the present all-important question the Pro is ings in which they were engaged did not place the- o 3 t . t he very advantogeousposition in the eyes of the peopl e , pro' United Kingdom, or in those of the world. These west ceedings had a tendency in their consequences not only inconvenient, but dangerous. On the %th e lf May th e O r d er o f t h e D ay f or the House resolving t o t into a Committ ee of W a y s an d M eans h a d been 'll_B`,ltat,d That wa s a mot i on w h ic h h e b e li e v e d no o ne fx j deny Must be acceded to almost immediately wo re if the pr esen t Ch ance ll or - o f t h e Exc h et pier t he to abandon his place, and any Gentleinan,ilt Opposition s id e o f th e H ouse was to be pio'-iirst• that situation, that motion would be the verY tye - which would be brought forward. 'What, then,' i va- ,eo ground upon which so necessary a questil o -00, opposed ? Wh a t necess i ty was t h ere for go' aid • on the opposite side to take the course that :theY go ase' That motion stood on the apers of the „ the It was a motion which would be proposed eveliPl e t ar' Members of the Opposition themselves. 1 . 1m19 ,4 t t j t circumstances of the ease, the House had a ,rib expect that the amendment of the Noble, eonl ° would propose some practical object, o° , measure equally important with that of th e vernment. The amendment merely stated fji;it the House would not acce d e .to any alteratiolie(e)i ptie e sugar duties, and that for two reasons: alleged in the first place that the examniejw set in attempting the abolition of sla v{ : w ; - 11?° - not yet been brought f orwar d b y ot h er nat i on s, t it would be improper, on our part, to recede fr i , i t course we had taken . ; and, in the ;second I:2;4sat e . was said that there was now a su ffi c i ent s IIPIAY TTsw from our own colonies for the ensuing ycar7 d -.. ps iivell latter assumption was flatly, plainly, s f r t ',, 'ladle co' contradicted by the five agents from the Iv us,- - crows 0 0 lonies, who had signed a paper laid before the'N;,,,,, , „0" Friday, remonstrating against the measnie-of tht 4 uu t ie went. In the next place, he did nOtfihNiklha*,,e , House would be justified,' from the ,nfted' i•ticoul l g e r ment to the slave trade; to refuse /the Rigor Of e c ,„tc• countries under the present exigencies of the' C Y On these grounds he did no t un d erstan d on what 1 111.- rr plc the amendment' of th e N o bl e L ord could h' „ ported—(Hear, hear)—and he believed that the le:r t li ° 4l; the either side, whenever they attained power, wordd that amendment as speedily as possible to be burie‘• oblivion.—(Hear, h ear .) The grounds upon wh it ' i ;'o was supported were n o t a d opte d b y many Gent l e ine,t; the other side. The Hon. Member for the Universl,44 Oxford rep u di a t e d i t ; h e sa i d he would not nam -1 " be foreign sugar until slavery should be every Where itir,o lished, while the Hon. Member for Antrim said tha'ao thing could save the West Indians from ruin, hut L'aj t' hibiting duty. Th e H on . M em b er f or Bever l e y ha Fa peered th ere as t h e organ of the Directors of tit b India Company, an d h e must say that, r e co llecting w it recently they had reprobated the monopolizing et s laieit of the W est I n di an b ody which opplesd being pl ace d upon a commercial equality wit th ems- j pcil t; thleteyt4lotuargllothittailnvaesd.ntioiet e c o re n t s a s b io le ns tt i , he t:i , . r m q s round and try to prevent foreign nations, placed upon an equality with themselves, but froul c ii of ing the adv an t age w hi c h m i ght accrue from a rein° fola absolute prohibition, so that they might enter the ead:' of competiti on . On :?rat sid e o f th e House the ''''f f ol° meat would be supported by gentlemen differing_ t i e q the purposes of it o n a l most every other point , ,s c :„ o ct; the' majority, if ma j or i ty there were, would he e°,` c -r tol' I S of the most h e t erogeneous materials. The r°b,lo°' the Member for South Lancashire, and the Hon. moe , her for Kilmarnock agreed in—principle with t h . e n li colter of the Exehequer, and seemed to irnagl ioo p, _ they might perhaps be'called•on' to support, ere, }ono tr, soinewhat similar proposition s.While the Noble l l e u eee d : Member for South Lancashire' Said sugar,i,%l‘.s tion- to the general principle. 'Under these eiren eer he hoped the Right Hon. Baronet the - Memho', l ; ato ca' worth would, during' the course ihe deb . 4 0 1' e - set - w ater . plieitly Elie principle With which the .prir_OPt . r e _t"f be We e° hy the ChantielTer ExclieqUer was 0 fi , r Before that took place, he 'VMS anxiou s to statt~' Oi l which tesSeiitcde.heart and sOnt,,t,o - fnigc oe quet satisfaction Of his own constittiency, sores pronosed by the - • i~ 4, 1 frit VO; '' ~• r- . I ~, I , , „ .1 „ • ^ yl. ' i„c,4l