The Sun. — London, England, 1841-03-27 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION proceedings pending at this moment on the subject ; and he, therefore, hoped the noble Lord would net object to postpone this clause for the purpose of introducing another of s- similar deacription ; and also a declaratory clause, in. parishes that they were to be secured tinsating to all these in their system c,f Leal government, and that the Poor law Commissiaters had not power to interfere with the local Act-. If the Noble Lord had heard from the Core missieeers, cr others, that the power they derived under the Poor-law Amendment Act was sufficient to introduce the Commissioners into parishes under local government, cf what use was this clause ? The Hon. Gentleman then read the clause, and said that its words partook of the sub tlety which c:istine,uished every thing that came from Se merset-house. belioved the Noble Lord was deceived by the words of this clause. The Hon. Member then moved that clause 3 be postponed. Sit FREDERICK POLLOCK rose to make some observations relative to a (rife which came under his own observatiov. It related to the parish of St. Pancras, re • sfeetirg wild), the Court of Queen's Bench decided the n the district in which there was a local act, it wet not proper for the Poor-law Commissioners to introduce a board cf esardiase under an amendmeet of the Act as distieettialied from the guardians under the Local act. Thus, it was that the parish of Sr. Pancras escaped from the Commissioners. If the Noblo Lord bona fide intended that the Poor-law Commissioners should not hive the poise: of repealirg Acts of Parliament, he must do so by d;fferent language from Chit used in claeac 3. 11f , , there f re, joined with the Hon. Member for Finsbury, in de siring tl o postponement of the clause. Sic A. DA LR YMPLE said the elect of the clause would be to Owe the large parishes at present under Local acts in the power of the Commissioners, and at any time they might bring them within the provisions of the present Mi. After a few words fr im Sir S. CANNING, Lord JOHN RUSSELL understood that parties had complained that unee- the present Bill local Acts Wei e more intefereil with than under the Poor-law Amendment Act. Therefore, to put an end to the alarm that existed on that point in the public mind, he had proposed to intro duce a clause to say, that so far as that Act was concerned, no further interfererca than was at present authorised by law should take place. That was what was intended by the climes , . There did not appear to him to be the slightest ambiguity in the clause. He certe:nly could not agree with the proposition of the Hon. and Learned Mem ber fur Huntingdon to introduce a declaratory clause on the subject, because if places under local Acts were to be alto gether exempted from the operation of the law it would be attended with great inconvenience. Sir ROBERT PEEL said it could not be denied that the power proposed to be granted to the Commissioners over perishes governed by local Acts was of a very un satisfactory nature; because the Commissioners m:ght evade the law by including two or three parishes and form ing a union, and so set aside the exemption of a parish governed by a local Act. The parties interested, there fore, could not feel any security. Although the Commis sioners could not attack a parish so situated individually, they might include it with two or three othres, and thereby deprive it of its exemption. He should strongly ad vise the Noble Lori, and he did not offer the sug gestion fer the purpose of delay, to postpone the clause, wader the conviction that he could not on that night satisfactorily legislate upon the subject. ' He would strongly recommend the Noble Lord to post pone this elnuee, in order that the House might be fur nished with information as to what extent parishes having local Acts had been included in the operation of the Poor law Act. It would also be a fair question to be considered, whether a parish having 20,000 or 30,000 inhabitants, and having a local Act, should be exempted from the operation of the Poor-leer Act.—(Hear, hear). But at present the House was in such want of information upon the subject, that he thought the better way would be to have theclauso postponed.--( Hear, hear.) Mr. EDWARD ELLICE, in illustration of what the Right Hoe. Baronet had mentioned, instanced the city he represeneed (Coventry). That city was governed by a local Act, and ties affairs of the poor had been very satis factorily administered under it. He hoped that some little time would be taken to consider the clause.--( Hear, hear.) Mr. LEADER said the House must fool satisfied that after the spseech of the Right Hon: Baronet the Noble Lord would be compelled to give way, and postpone the clause.—(" Ilea-, hear," and " Oh, oh")—for they all knew that in fact the Government existed only upon the forbearance of the Right Hon. Baronet—(Cheers)—and whenever ke chose to make any suggestion the Govern ment were obiigod .to submit to it.—(Continued cheers.) When the Right Hon. Baronet proposed that the Com mission should be continued for five years only instead of tea, the Noble Lewd was obliged to give way.—( Hear, bears) In Weatteitester there was a very strong feeling reapeeting eleie clause. No complaint had been made of the parishes csbieit were governed under local Acts in Westminster, and 83 there was great ambiguity or dis honesty in the clause, tkere ought to be a deolaratory clause reapossiag parishes that were governed by lccal Acts. Mr. FOX WAULE thought there was some misun derstanding with regard to the powers of the Commis sioners in raapem of local Acts. In the parish of St. Pancras, for inatazace, the Commissioners had the power of superintending the regulation of the workhouse, but they could not by law interfere with the electoral consti tution of the board of guardians under the local Acts. That was precisely the position in which the Poor-law Commissieeers stood. Lord SANDON hoped that the Noble Lord would allow those parishes that had local Acts to totain their power of self-government. The borough of Liverpool, from which he had promoted a petition that evening, was governed by a local Act to the satisfaction of the rate payers, and the teeeivers of relief. - Lord LIOWICK did not rise to object to the postpone ment of the clause, for he thought it desirable that it should bo postponed, as he conceived it required some amendment. He had no objection to deprive the Poor law Commissioners of the power of altering tho or ganizetiou of 'cell boards of guardians, but he was anxious that whatever alterations were proposed they should not be carried so far as to deprive the Commissioners of the power, and authority which he considered indispensa ble, of superintending and controlling the manner in which relief was administered by those local boards of guardians, however constituted, and whether existing under Local Acts or the Poor-law Amendment Act. It was of great importance that the Commissioners should have that gene ral power of auperintanding the administration of the Poor law. So far from agreeing with the Hon. Member for Coventry (Mr. Ellice) that the Poor-law was well adrei ristered under local Acts in large towns, he (Lord H.) feared that tins contrary was the case. In those plat-es the principal inhabitants veers not in the habit of looking after those matters so much as they ought, and, in consequence, the concerns of the poor fell into the hands of persons who were liable to no responsioility, and hence many abuses originated. Some of the newspapers were in the habit of directing attacks against the Poor-law—in many instances those attacks were, nodoubt, made indiscriminately. How ever, with respect to Coventry, it was lately stated in one of those journals that abuses to a frightful extent were pre vailing in the workhouse there. So much for what the Hon. Member for Coventry stated.—(A laugh.) The statement of the newspapers teas, in all probability, without foundatian. But the reel fact ought to bo made out, and it was of irnpatt toce that the - co should be some central auihori y wle:ch would inquire into the existence or non-existence of abuses when thus alleged us hawing taken place. On a lain occasien a nturib:r if Improper females were sent out to Aus tralia, agreeably to a decision which the Local Board of M irtieborse hel come to. It was the casting vote of the Ch;Curnie which decided the question is that ease. Nelhb g could be more improper in his ( Lord Hoe ick's) (pinion, thee sending out those females to that colony. That and many other cases would, Ise thought, go far to P rov e tha•t• ' , lacy should be careful in amending the clause at prase )t wider considerat ion. destroy ATTORNEY. GENERAL sa id that they wou ld coalroyret'al efficiency o f t h e Bill if t h ey preven t e d t h e 'as iouere havieg the powers eei tend the ad minim ation of the Poar-la in largeto up. Sir B. HALL sa0„0:: that Paristlza• e o n , t a rn a i s sa t i .l o e tl ; s e exactly effect s it e 'O s ll si ld n bC of to th l c r s v a e ra t a la p e o C ,. of the clause in the pose enjoyed under the pre vious Act. Ha concurred in ta ought to be postponed. hoped, opinion that the clause t erafore, the metre peleal parishes would ne exempted trona the operation of the Bill. Lord JO [IN RUSSELL said with regard to what had been s'a!ed rf.lqrc,ing puttit g the House in possession of a s!a!ernent of the nurnbcr of paii;hes under local Acts, he ars:se:ed at once that there was such an account, and that it would be eoevonient to have it laid upon the table of the House. It ecntainel an account of 364 paii•hes under general Acts, and of cloven l under y e se o para i te . local Acts. He did not think the . Poor- at which m they 'le could ers would endeavour to do that inhaectly be no objection not do otherwise, and there could therefore ore should to its lying forbidden by the Act. Ho, there} war ,. ) He not objet: to poatisone the clause.—( Hear, Lord the. 1. agreed in all that had been statel by the Ne t. Member for N. rtliurnbcrlanc!. Mr. WA KL E Y said lie hoped the Nob'e Lord would also not object to a rt turn, stating on what grow leell:es e . . proceedings hat Lean commenced against parish2s, in order that the expense might be avoi led in future. Captain PECHE LL thought the House should 8.80 be informed of the numbers of parishes incorporated under Gilbert's Act. There sere "SS eith a population of two neilliens. The Noble Lord shoole bis head, but there wereteeese,ooo under the local Acts and G.lbert's Act, and eleven millions uneer the raics and regulations of the Poor -law Commissioner-. Mr. HAWES thought the came favour ought to be shown to large parishes, such as Lambeth, as to those ac cidentally in possession cf lees Ac'':. I..stieo should be done to all, and he ther(f re put in a claim for them. Mr. HODGSON LUNDE thought the Hon Gentle man should carry out his principle of exemption further, and join these who weredesirous of exempting the parishes altogether from the power of th e C omm i ee i onsra. Sir DE LACY EVANS thought the case brought forward by the Noble Lord (Lord Howlett) was but slight ground co . which to found a char ge o f miggovero went against • , ;meshes and to call for more str i ngent sur veillance. Mr. GROTE said the Hon. Gentleman had misunder stood the Noble Lord ( Lord Howick) who had merely said that cases such as he had cited, shewed the neces s i t y of exercising the same authority in large as well as small parishes. After a few words Teem Si: A. DA LRYM PI. E, Mr. MUNTZ said he cool I not why the Commis sioners should interfere its the largo towns any mute tin's they did with Municipal Corporatioes. The motion for postponen,eA was then eel-jet!. On claw 4, Mr. HODGSON HINDE, moved that the word "every " sh ou ld b e left out, and "no " substituted. (The Itl f yse rattedlif time eoustru •ofthe words "rule, order, e __ gu ction TV 11 ° ) lle thought they were bound to go . ore' into the rules and ofC regulations the , • than the' had done at present. It was not right to • ' over the pocr to three •- Le": - de) t With according individuals to, ere e earei . • • to their pleasure. With #, .j to the aged and infirm marrie d an d e4as'/' r men ' aer etat4l • A S • women, the Poor-law Commissioners had not at first car ried out their system of separation, but they had subse quently taken away all discretion from the board of guardians on the subject, and had carried out the system of separorion to a cruel extent, insisting upon the separa tion except under special circumstance., of which the Com naissiohers alone were to judge. He also objected to the separation of children from their parents, who were their natural guardians; there was also an unmet tsary strict ness observed in prohibiting the inmates of workhouses from h ,ving interviews with their friends and relatives. He thought it extremely harsh to lay down down a rule such as that laid down by the Commissioners with regard to diet—that the diet of the pauper should never exceed in qvaptity or quality that of the able-bodied labourer. There ought to be a great discretion left to the guardians on all these subjects. He could not give his confidence to the Commissioners, because he observed on their part con stant endeavours to extend their powers. They had at tempted by their orders to set aside even some of the pro ai'ions of the Poor-law Act itself, particularly those giving to the guardians the power of affording out-door relief. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving the omission of the word "every" from the clause, and substituting the word " no." Lord J. RUSSELL said that it appeared to him that the tendency of the Hon. Member's motim would be to confine the authority of the Commissioners to the forma tion of unions, while he would take away from them all control over their proceedings. There c )uld be no doubt of 0 e abuses of the old system when the guardians had bre i left to their own discretion. The House a 3 well as the country having become sensible . of those abuses, it w as thought alvisable t ) form a Commus on, which would im prove the system of management, while they firmed the parishes into unions. 1-12 thought that the measure then adopted had hitherto succeeded. He would not undert a k e to justify every act of the Commissioners, but he thought that in gonerel their conduct ba'l proceeded on wise and just principles, and was neither inhuman nor tyrannical.— ( Hear, hear.) That was the course, be repeated, which the House had already adopted, and they had no other choice left them unless they allowed the guardians to take theii own course, and to follow their own will and discre tion. He had no doubt but that many boards of guardians would in that case go on steadily, acting on enlightened views; but he was equally persuadei that many others would, fur the sake of gratifying popular feeling, return to the abuses of the old system, a bile there would be no power which could correct that evil. As it appeared to him that the motion of the Hon. Gentleman would have that tendency, ho certainly could not think it would he wise on the part of the House to adopt it. Let them look to the conduct of the Commissioners which had been pronounced to be so harsh and oppressive. Ha found that in the quarter ending in Lady-day, 1840, the number of paupers who had received in-door relief in England alone was 134,000, and in England and Wale?, 143,356 ; while the number who had received out-door relief amounted to 747,000.—(Hear.) The number of able bodied persons alone who had received such relief was 93,134. He thought that these facts did not prove any undue severity on the part of the Commissioners. The Noble Lord then concluded by expressing his determina tion to oppose the amendment. Mr. HODGSON HINDE expressed his conviction that the House itself should lay down the rules for the re gulation of the union?, and not leave the framing of them to the Commissioners. Mr. WARD said that he would be a very mistaken friend of the poor who would hold out to them a cer tain prospect of ease and comfort in a workhouse, no matter what their previous conduct might be. The work ing men should be taught above all things to look to them • selves and their own exertions. He believed, therefore, that the discussions which had taken place in that. House might be attended with an injurious effect, inasmuch as they would create false expectations in the minds of many of the poorer classes. With regard to the conduct of the Commissioners, he thought that in very difficult circum stances they had acted on the whole wisely and humanely. They had, no doubt, committed mistakes. but he was per suaded that there were fe Net than might have been ex pected in their position. He did not think the dietary tables were so very meagre as stated by the Hon. Mem ber; there were six dietary tables faun which the guar dians might choose, and when ke found that the cost of a man, his wife, and four children was 11e. 3id., and took into consideration the wages obtained by an agricul tural labourer, he did not think the system deserved the censure of the Hon. Member. Sir H. FLEET WOOD said the Magistrates of the county and boards of guardians generally complained of the dictation of the Commissioner,. General JOHNSTON said there never was a law which had given so much dissatisfaction as the Poor-law Amendment Act. He saw no reason why the whole of the poor in England should be loft to the caprice of the Commissioners at Somerset-house. Lord G. SOMERSET could not vote for the amend ment cf his Hon. Friend ; he could not agree to abolish the powers of the Commissioners unless some other con trolling power were established. At the same time he felt bound to say that the unpopularity of the law was owing to the manner in which they had carried it into effect.—(Hear, hoar.) Their arrogance was too great ; they had interfered too much in many things which ought to have been out of their consideration. Still he did not think their poser ought to be abrogated. Lord JOHN RUSSELL believed there never had been appointments made by the Government with more anxious care than those of the Poor-law Commissioners. —(Hear, hear.) Oae of them, it was well known, was of opposite principles to himself ; another had been secre tary to a Noble Lord, whom he did not then see in his place ; and the third was not of any very marked political principles.—( Hear, hear). He had seen nothing in their conduct which had ever made him regret the appointment of these gentlemen.—( Cheers.) He believed they were all well acquainted with the practical working and details of the measure, and they had adopted the very wisest and most judicious principles for carrying the provisions of of the law into effect. With respect to the charge of arrogance, he really did not think that they had hid them selves open to any such imputation. They had cer tainly a very disagreeable duty to discharge ; and where the great objects of the Act were to reform abuses and to reduce useless and extravagant expenditure, it could not be pleasant to the parties whose power was about to be taken away from them to have the law strictly and impartially administered.—( Hear, hear.) It was sup posed by some persons that these gentlemen were actuated by the most harsh and tyrannical feelings, and that they felt a reluctance to make any concessions to the unfortu nate paupers who were placed under their control ; but if Hon. Members would look at the Reports which had been laid upon the table of the House, in which they pointed out the important duties they had to perform, and the improve. ments that had taken place in the moral and intellectual condition of the people, they would find that they bad most conscieratiously and honestly discharged one of the highest and most important duties that had ever been conferred upon any body of men, and that, instead of being subjected to odium and abuse, they were deserving the admiration and respect of that House and the country.—(Loud cheers.) Lord SAND ON did not think the Hon. Members on his side of the House should be prevented from question ing the mode in which the Poor-law was administered by these geatlemen. Ho thought the observations of his Noble Fr:end (Lord G. Somerset) were fully borne out by the fact, and he b e lieved there was no instance in which any party who conscientiously opposed the Poor-taw Ameraloseat Bill had not been run down and assailed by the Poor-law Commissioners.—( Hear, hear.) He would remind the Noble Lord (J. Russell) that the sole function of the Commissioners was not to reduce and limit expen diture—they were bound to see that the wants of the poor were attended to, but there was uo case of the kind on record.—( near, hear.) Whenever a cha-ge of cruel'y or oppression was brought against an officer intrusted with the administration of the Poor-law, the Commissioner who was sent down always appeared as the protector of the offending party. He believed these gentlemen were too much the slaves of a certain theory, which induced them to throw overboard and sacrifice their private I ,el - and the comforts of the poor. He admitted that a large discretionary power should be placed in the hands of the Commissioners, but he thought there ought to be some restrictions imposed upon them. Ile should, there fore, oppose the emendmeat of his Hon. Friend. Sir H. VERNEY could assure his Noble Friend that there were many instances in which the Commissioners had interfered fir the purpose of promoting the comforts of tae poor.—( Hear, hear.) He could assure the House that they had done a great deal of good in the district with which he was connect , :cl, and that they had discharged the duty with which they were entrusted faithfully and zealously. Mr. LIALFORD, although he had never taken part in p o t o he a r- lzo g v l agitation that had Bill, af e ltit his taken du t yp to o ce v o w t i e t with regard against it, to an d , t n i d re , a acting nm n d amendment t the of his smiei lion. Friend.principle, be ni should t supportobjecotfio theobjection to p th e e tu ti i l n l g w t a h s:h p e o s w y e st r e omf w t h h i e c L Commissioners,ee ng adp w te h d en it per_ s originally understood that they were only to be used as auxiliaries in es t a bli s hi ng the provisions of the Act, and e ebiliment of a centr a l .sh H e di I not think thre was n th e e c a ess to ty be f.a d r is th eo e at e i t o to, authorityto e i n n 7 - 1 teeere between the poor and their natural protectors the rich. Mr. GALL Y KNIGHT wished to take an p Ey or t t h e e _ et bad it u nity of statieg in reply to what had been mentioned .by Member opposite (Mr. Wakley) relativ e to the t,Bhe ai .rs tf,otioi ) of o thatrdlolnti,on,ne ofthe gsr ho (Nlr. oGaliliyanK3 of ig t h h t a ) on union, who p was not a friend of the PJor-law, d that the circumstances should ha l shown bmade a them selvesdel i l" 0 - connected with that casecowniermeisfsciounneresd, rocniaatim,gistauppmreedheenni e gen of the order of t its he would be otter satisfied if He confessed, howescr, that Fn deliseiritobu7gthh it-ittl;)ero[Cc°rmaniloiti:nric°orss the poor, with respect to outdoor relief and otherwise. t i‘ h ,h e a l t e i g b is r l i a d t g iv e c d. the characters of the powers of the Co mmissions s were some. Mr. SLANE Y rose to de fend . unmerited attack upon them. The I • p rivate Poor-law Commissioners from what he N o co b n w ee i r: o e r d d t o o pp be osi a t r e r ( Lord Sandon) had given all due praise to t tear these gentlemen in their public station. characters, but he cast much obloquy onlitoh(eAcir.arsa,ciatenrcyl the enteroriddeerds and d t t r h e e gu a la g t e io d ns po o o f r twheeregreatly Commissioners, benefited whose by duties were of a most difficult nature, and were performed by them to the beat of their power, and with advantage to the poor. He ksilted that They did not merit the eenstin: cast upon them. . WA h i, f Y submitted to the House t':at it nppearrd io him to be eccupie I in discnising a matter that was not befi re them. The business of the House was to discuss the clauses of the Bill—( Hear, hear)—and not to discuss the private and personal charac ters of the Commissioners.—( Hear, hear.) He never heard, since he had been in that House, any individual, whatever might be his feelings with regard to the Peer law, throw out any imputation whatever against the eha rear rs of the Comrtiasioners, or of any servant of the Com miraioners. tic was su re , w h atever m i g h t b e th e f ee lings of any individuals in that House, they would re frain from any attacks of that kind, seeing that tCaec parties were not in the House to defend them , selves,. For his owe part he knew of uo circumstance prejudicial to the characters of the Commissioners, or of any persons in their service, and he felt great plea. sure in making that statement. With respect to what had been stated by the Hon. Member for Nottirgham shire (Mr. Gaily Knight), he ( Mr. Wakley) begged to remind the Hon. Member th,t that was an explana tion and not a refutation. The order alluded to did exist, and the medical officers bad applied for six rue cessive weJlis to the Chairman, entreating him to have the order rescinded. The Chairman acknowledged that such was the fact. The order, however, was main tained. He l:ad it upon the authority of the medical attendant in the parish of Paddington, that he could not order wine or other aliments without the sanction of the union. He also learned from the same medical gentleman that the aged poor under the old system used to receive ss. a week each, and he (Mr. Wakley) made it his business to inquire of some of those old persons what were the allowances under the present system ; lie was informed is, 6d. a week, a pound of beef, and a loaf of bread. He had also asked Mr. Pnilpots if he ordered wine or other stimulants to patients, did he believe that they would be gives ? Mr. Philpots replied that he thought they %mild he given for a short time, and then withdrawn, and that the patients would be told they should go to the workhouse or forfeit those allowances. Now he (Mr. Wakley) bad learned from many of these old and miserable creatures that they would sooner starve than go to the workhou - e. The Hon. Gentl e m an conc l u d e d by stating that he would li,ve several additional facts to lay hefure the House en Monday next regarding the rules of the Com missioners. which he wou!d show were repugnant to humane feeling and common sense, and by stating that the speeches delivered in that House in opposition to the con tinuance of the law, would have no useful eff:ct com pared with that which would arise from Hon. Members re cording their votes on the journals of the House. Lord HO WICK said that it was complained of the other evening in the House that a rule was made in the Bastford Union prohibiting, even in cases of emergency, the medical officer from administering wine and other stimu lants to patients ; that in order to do so the medical officer should refer fur permission to the board of guardians ; that great delay arose in consequence, and that in one instance, owing to that delay, death was produced. Now he held in his hand resolutions come to by the whole board of guar dians of that union on the 23d of February last, den) ing the existence of such an order. The Noble Lord then read extracts from the resolutions referred to, and con tended that they proved how necessary it was to scrutiaize and inquire into statements thus put forth. He thought it due to the board of guardians of that union to make this explanation. Mr. HAMILTON thought the powers now entrusted to the Commissioners ought only to be exercised by the Legislature of the country. He did not suppose that any Member would stand up and advocate a restoration of the old Poor-law.—(Cheers.) He certainly would not, but the untefuted statements which had been made to the House ought to make them pause before entrusting unli naitoad powers to the Commissioners. Colonel ROLLE STON characterized the document read by the Noble Lord, the Member for Northumber land, as a most adroit attempt to get rid of the efiLets of the statement he (Colonel R.) had made the other cvcning That statement, however, was supported - by the oaths of three individuals, and by the statement made by the surgeon to him (Colonel R.) in the face of the board of guardians, then and there assembled for the purpose of investigating that very case ; and not ono of the Guardians contradicted the statement of the sur geon. He (Colonel Rolleston) said it could not be so, and one of the guardians said it was true, for one of his own paupers had been refused nourishment on a surgeon's order just previously. The statement was a mere play upon words ; it was true no order had been given, because the term order was applied exclusively to what was written in the book, and the injunction the sur geon had received was a verbal one. He was glad the subject had been brought forward, because he thought that such things would not now again occur. He would, however, advise his Hon. Friend not to stir more in the matter, because this was not the only instance, and if that course of contradiction were pursued he should feel it his duty to bring those matters forward. Mr. C. WOOD hoped the matter would not drop, for a more extraordinary case of contradiction he never be ard. Now, how the fact stated in the resolution of the Board, that the surgeon had ordered wine and meat for others, which were supplied between Dec. 28, and Feb. 8, could be reconcilable with the existence of the rule al luded to, he could not imagine. These were facts, or they were not. If true, those tacts could be ascertained; and those facts proved what the practice was better than any orders could do. Sir ROBERT PEEL said, supposing the surgeon was chargeable with misstatements, supposing the guar dians were chargeable with misstatements, and that it was impossible to get at the truth amidst this contradictory evidence, was it safe to entrust the administration of the Poor-laws to guardians alone ?—(Cheers.) He wished to see the Commissioners continued as a tribunal to which the poor man might appeal, as well as a power for regulating the guardians, and he was convinced that at present to do away with the Commissioners would not be consistent with the interests of humanity.—(Loud cheers. ) Mr. W. DUNCOMBE said that the argument of the Right Hon. Baronet went to perpetuate the Commission. Now no similar cases of inhumanity had occurred in places not undor the jurisdiction of the Commission. Petitions from all parts of the country had been presented against the Bill. There was no evidence that the Bill had ele vated the character of the labouring classes. It made po verty a crime, and embittered the feelings of the poor.— (The Hon. Gentleman sat down amidst loud cries of " Divide, divide.") Mr. BLACKSTONE denied the necessity of having Commissioners to superintend boards of guardians (which had been contended for by the Right Hon. Baronet), and contended that the guardians were more competent to ad minister the law than the Poor-law Commissioners. Mr. FIELDEN said that bad the Commissioners exer cised their power in favour of the poor man, he could have forgiven for a time the power with which they had been invested ; but instead of being a board of appeal for the poor man, as they ought to have teen, according to the Right Hon. Baronet, they had unfairly exercised their power to oppress the poor man. He did not blame the Commissioners, but he blamed the House that passed the law giving them power. Mr. HODGSON HINDE replied. Those who wished to give the Commissioners the power of legislation would vote against the amendment he had proposed; those who wished to deny them such a power would vote f,r it. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that the amendment of the Hon. Member would take away altogether from the Commissioners the power of making any regulations. The House then divided when the numbers were-- For the Amendment 75 Against the Amendment Majority against the Amendment ... —l5O _ _ „ Mr. RICE then - moved the following amendment on the clause—" And be it enacted, that every rule, order, or regulation of the Poor-law Commissioners which shall be issued after the passing of this Aet, and which shall apply to the amount or description of relief to be giien to the poor, or to their management in any workhouse, shall be deemed to be a general rule subject to all the provisions relating to general rules contained in the Act first herein recited ; and such rule, order, or regulation shall be ac companied by the minutes or instructions of the said Com missioners, issued in explanation of such order, and every other rule, order, or regulation of the said Commissioners shall be deemed a particular order, notwithstanding that such rule, order, or regulation shall, at the time of issuing the same, be addressed by the said Commissioners to more unions than one, or to more parishes or places than one." In agswer to a question from Lord G. SOMERSET, Mrs RICE said, that he meant his clause should apply to all orders for the relief of the poor both inside and out side the workhouse. Sir Er KNATCLIBULL observed that it was a singu lar fact that although the Commissioners had been so many years in office they had laid on the table only five general rules. In answer to a question from Mr.. G. PALMER, Lord J. RUSSELL said it was true that few general rules were laid upen the table of the House, or made by the Poor-law Commissioners, and the Noble Lord pro ceeded to explain the reason why, but his observations, in consequence of the great noise which prevailed in the House, were not heard in the gallery. The clause pro posed was one to bring before Parliament all general rules applicable to any class of casee. He thought his Hon. Friend's clause would effect that object with more cer tainty. He did not think the amendment proposed mere eefinite, but that it would give rise to confusion. Mr. J. JONES said he wished the first part of his Hon. Friend's clause had been more general. It was his opinion that all rules made by the Poor-law Commis sioners shoul I be under the supervision of the Secretary of State, and subject to the• control of the House._(Hear, hear.) It appeared to him also that the second part of the clause was contradictory to the first. After some further discussion, which was quite inaudible, the clause was withdrawn. Lend G. SOMERSET then moved, at the end of the clause, to add, " Provided always, no such general rule, cyder, or regulation shall be of any effect, unless duly signed by two at least of the said Commissioners, and seclel by their common seal, and countersigned by ono of her Majesty's princidal Secretaries of State. After a short discussion tha clause, as amended, was agreed to. On clause 5 b&lig proposed, . Lord G. SOMERSET move d, m.lmes 4 and 5, to omit the words "so authorised, or," "so." After a snort conversation the clauso was postponed. Sir F. POLLO CK thought that a f ter t h e alteration in clause 4, the clause thca under discussion would have an injurious tff 'et. M. GOULBURN sugrrested that it would bo advis able t) alter this dant° after the alteration which had been male in clauae 4. Mr. FIELUEN said that at that late hour he thought they ought not to proceed with the discussion. Ile should, therefore, move that the Chairman do report progress, and ask leave to sit again on Monday. Lord J. RUSSELL did not object to accede to the proposition of the Hon. Member, but he gave notice that he should move that on Tuesday the consideration of the Poor-law Bill should take precedence of notices of motion. The House thon resumed. T II biCENSUS. fo a r n l d ea 3 v,: n t ,io bring in a Bill to i c l Ou t ld bgeivt.fea7n:en accord - w i ns :it Brit,in and population of ' 'r V e ic.. ' ''. 100, for take the Mr. F. MA TM, E rnovi t, - , amend 3 and 4 Vie., C. , c li, o ) le. : i c i i t ii: o . f 2ei t ia l t i ri e ol :el irmof than trimi t ing a to the present law.—Leave was then c til e cel i ' l li s at u ing s d ; : l n i ree l°. The HON. GENTLEMEN then moved f ur l eave to brin g children in a Bill for regulating the employment of child and young persons in factories. Leave was 51ven accordingly, and the Bills ware save. rel'y brought ro, and read a first time. Colonel SIBTHORP gave notice that on Monday he should move fur returns of certain proceedings connected with the 1100 Union. Ttio House then adjourned, at Half-past Twelve, t o Monday next. THE SUN', LONDON, SA'T'URDAY, MARCH 27, 1841 THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS. (From the 7 imes.) Important as the first exposition o'f the policy conse quent upon a change of Government in a pori'e ful and civilised nation must always be, there never was a time when such information was of more importance than now ; and, fur this reason, few State papers have possessed so momentous an interest as that which atiachea to the Inau gural Address delivered by General Harrison on his in stallation as President of the United States. _ _ The part of this document to which the attention of Englishmen will naturally first be drawn, and which they peruse with the most eager and anxious interest, is that re'ating to the question of peace or war. General Harrison announces his determination to pursue a friendly and pacific policy towards all foreign nations ; adding , not well informed as to the that, " Althocgh, of course state of any pending negotiations with any of them, I see in the personal character of the Sovereigns, as well as in the mutual interests of our own and of the Governments with which our relations are most intimate, a pleasing guarantee that the harmony so important to the interests of their subjects, as we'd as cur citizens, will not be interrupted by the advancement of any claim or pretension upon their part to which our honour will not permit us to yiel I." At the same time he expresses his trust, that " his fel low-citizens will not sac in his earnest desire to preserve peace any indication that their rights will ever be sacri ficed or the honour of their nation tarnished by any ad mission on the part of their chef magistrate unwe rtby of their former glory.'' The phrasecl. gy here employed is cautieus and diplo matic, but not upon that account less worthy of the station which General Harrison occupies. His calm and digni fied tone stands in marked contrast with the insane ravings of the firebrand report on which we had so lately occasion to comment, Great Britain is now assured that the Pre sident of the United States is alive to the vast stake which America has in tho preservation of peace, and to the heinous gui't which she would contract by plunging the civilized world into an unnecessary and unjustifiable war: He solemnly declares his opinion that no differenoes exist between the two countries which may not be amicably settled—nay, more, that no demand will be made by Eng land with which America may not honourably comply. He cannot be ignorant either of the nature of those de mands which England has made in the case of Mr. M'Leod, or of the impossibility of her receding from them ; and therefore it may be assumed that these demands are such as, in her President's opinion, America ought to grant. In connexion with the friendly language of this Address, we are happy to perceive that before the termination of the Session cf Congress (which ended on the 2d inst.) an altered tone had begun to prevail in the deliberations of that body. The Committee of Foreign Relations ap pointed by the Senate had investigated the papers con nected with the Boundary Question, and reported that it was not expedient to give them publicity, Chet the ques tion was in a fair train of settlement, and that the negotia tion had been conducted, on the part of Great Britain, with peaceful, moderate, and equitable views. We trust that this important element of perplexity in our relations with the United States may henceforth be considered as disposed of, at least for the present, unless the braggart independence of Mair.e should rush upon a piratical war, in defiance of the remonstrances of the Federal Govern ment—an event which we aro not at all disposed to anti cipate. So far everything encourages the hope that peace may be suffered to continue. The moral influence of the Pre sident's address will of course be felt in every part of the Union, not excepting the State of New York; and this influence will not be diminished by the character of those views of constitutional law and domestic policy with the exposition of which it is principally occupied. We can not, however, conceal from our readers the fact that those views (while their discretion and reasonableness, as ap plied to the actual circumstances of the United States, may be regarded a 3 more than doubtful) forbid us to hope that the accession of the Harrison Government will prove any fresh security for the peace of the world, if the local authorities of New York should repudiate the mild interference of moral persua sion. In any country but America such a declara tion of the Chief Magistrate as that from which we have been - quoting would be regarded as decisive of the question of peace or war; but in America, and especially under the Presidency of General Harrison, it cannot be relied upon as any safe criterion of the probable issue of eveeta. It is obvious that, unless the central Executive Government cam exercise some power of coercive interpo sition in these matters, the opinion of the most insignificant functionary upon the immediate theatre of action may be of more importance than that of the President of the United States The theory of Government propounded by General Har rison is ultra-democratic, and if carried out will reduce the President to a mere cipher in the Constitution. Con sidering that the party to whom he owes his elevation re presents the moneyed interest, which supplies the place of an aristocracy in America (and whose views upon financial subjects General Harrison cordially adopts, throwing overboard the principles of a metallic currency, and of a treasury subject to the control of the Executive power), we were scarcely prepared for the extreme deve. lopement of liberalism which we find in his address. The new President considers that in the working of the union of late years there has been a decided tendency to Monar chy, arising partly out of defects in the Constitution, and partly out of the unconstitutional measures of the fac tion by which his immediate predecessors in office were supported. He insists, therefore, upon the necessity of very strenuous efforts, in order to counteract this supposed tendency, by diminishing the power and influence of tho Executive Government. The eligibility of the same indi vidual to a second term of the Presidency—the doc trine that the President has a share of the legislative power—the extent of the patronage intrusted to him— the dependence of the officer at the head of the Tree ' sury upon the Executive—the interference of the Execu tive with the course of legislation in Congress, are all enumerated by him as among the sources of the dangerous encroachment against which he warns the people. For himself, he promises tint he will never again become a candidate for the Presidency, will never use the legisla tive veto, never suffer "an officer of the people, compen sated for his services out of their pockets, to become the pliant instrument of the Executive will," never submit measures, especially on financial subjects, to the conside ration of Congress. He will act in all things as " the agent, not the principal — the servont, not the master." These announcements certainly do not hold out the pros pect of a very strong Government; and without a strong Government we do not see how the aggressive tendencies which particular States are apt to manifest towards Great Britain can ever be effectually repressed. General Harrison holds the extreme theory of the in dependence and irresponsibility of the separate States which constitute the Union within their respective juris dictions. He is alarmed at the tendency of the Federal Government to absorb into itself the reserved powers of the States, and to establish a consolidated power, " leaving to the State; only the shadow of that independent ac tion for which they so zealously contended, and on the pre servation of which they relied as the last hope of liberty." 'l he great objection which he feels to that part of the Con stitution which makes the President the sole distributor of patronage, is its effect in " controlling the free opera' ions of the State Governments." He protests against the ex ertion of an influence over particular States even by " organized associations of citizens requiring com pliance with their wishes," referring to the Anti-slavery agitation. And he lays down the general principles on which he conceives that the Federal Government ought to be administered in the following remarkable passages : " Oar citizens must be content with the exercise of the powers with which the Constitution clothes them. The a: tempt of those of one State to control the domestic insti tutions of another, can only result in feelings of distrust and jealousy, the certain harbingers of disunion, violence, civil war, and t'ee ultimate destruction of our free institutions. Our confederacy is perfectly illustrated by the terms and principles governing a common copartnership. There a fund of power is to be exercised under the direction of the joint councils of the allied members, but that which has been reserved by the individual members is intangible by the common Government or the ind.vidual members com posing it. To attempt it fieds no support in the principles of our Constitution." " Experience has abundantly ' taught we that the agitation by citizens of one part of the Union of a subject not confided to the general Govern ment, but exclusively under the guardianship of the local authorities, is productive of no ether consequences thee bitterness, alienation, discord, and injury to the very cause which is intended to be advanced." It is evident that with these principles General Hari ison cannot interfere to rescue Mr. M'Leod from the assumed jurisdiction of the State of New York, either before or after teisl, to whatever extremities the authorities of that State may think proper to proceed, in the (we trust impro bable) event of his conviction. Whether upon these prin ciples the United States ought not to be considered as a fraternity of nations united in a league offensive and defensive against the rest of the world, without any mutual responsibility cr central control, rather than as a single nation—whether it is possible for the re -I,tions of such a body with other members of the family of Christendom to be established on any fixed or satis factory basis—whether such a state cf things can be recon ciled with that code of internation law which has hitherto governed the intercourse of the civilized world, are ques tions which, however existing disputes may terminate, it so ill be of the utmost importance for the Governments both of Europe and of America seriously and solemnly to con sider. • (From the Morning Advertiser.) Little beyond its generally pacific ten dency and ex pression is to be found in tire Address of the American President, from which an opinion may be formed as to the solution of the questions now pending between Great 13 , 1- tain and the United States. With regard to the vital subjects—the case of Mr. M'Leod and the North-casters! Boundary—upon which public interest in both countries concentrates itself, not a single o bservation occurs to in dicate the intentions of the Federal Government. This omission, however, is satisfactorily account' d for in the desire expressed by the -President ta hold himself com pletely under the direction of Congress, lest the Federal Government or its Executive branch Should encroach upon the rights of the States, or of the people , whom they are appointed to protect and govern, but not to enslave. than an index to the course which, under existing cireurnsta nc ee, is likely to he pur stitTuhtieonad of f ro th ss e i', United dgesthtnetr ra ther an essay on the Con. Stares, pur sued by the Federal Government. In fact, General Har rison appears to be fearfully impressed with the appreheesion that democracy in the theited States will confirm the pre dictions of its enemies, and degeacrate into despotism; or t t however,i intemperate s and outrageous taint the interference of the different States with each other will break up the whol e confederacy. We had augured better results from th i s first g rand experiment of a people virtually to establish the right of sclire dia - goeer , i _ We cannot, ch r e the gr e ment, and painfully indeed should w d p d o is i g n u tm is e e f nt ro o m f o o n u r r so a l n y t o i s ci t p h a o ti d o a n n s g . V proceedings of certain brancheso 4 f n A if m es e t T a i . .. caninevitably tistoeciAettnyomriiersatuuninl a and the o n o f t re o o n d l o r m on ottlreco Americanhec.ion cil izens, but also upon the general progress of the de moeratie principle, which must in all q uarters of t he "rid, be injured by its recent derogatory m tions in the United States. Reserved as the Address prudently is with regard to the questions upon which public f. cling is more immediately excited, it ex. presses, broadly enough, a desi, e to control the dan gerous tendencies of parties, and to correct the car stitutional defects which give scope to their exerci-e. ( From the Morning Post.) The bent and habit of mind which suggested to the new President the topics of an addre.3s devoted almost exclu sively to describe the peculiarities of the American Con stitution, the advantages of which it was intended to be the source,•the dangers to which lie Ccems it peculiarly liable, and the precautions against those dangers which ho is most anxious to recommend, are pledges more effectual than any express declaration, however emphatic, could have afforded, that General Harrison is sincerely desirous to preserve the cherished institutions of his country from the dangers and trials incident to a at ite of war, and must be anxious in the same degree to render justice to other independent nations. But the Inaugural Address, if it adverts very sparingly to the foreign relations of Amrrica, adverts to them for the exclusive purpose of proclaiming the pacific disposition cf the distinguished speaker. There is only one passage in the Address in which foreign poli ics are alluded to. The abstinence is well ex plained. The speaker could not enter into details respect ing pending negotiations, of the actual state of which he was not yet officially informed. Neithe: could he omit the opportunity of declaring his determination that those negotiations should be prosecuted by his Government in the spirit of peace, and hi: confidence that a kindred spirit prevailed in the. Governments with which he would have to deal. We regard this as by far the happiest part in the Address, fir it has the rare merit of saying net a word t .o little or too much. Many persons will lament that Geo. Harrison should have used language in any degree calcu lated to discourage, or even to moderate, the expression of feelings adverse to slavery. We are not sure, however, that, with a view to the safe and even the speediest extir pation of this evil, his admonition may not be a wise one. (From the Morning Herald.) The Inaugural Address of General Harrison, on the 4th instant, on being installed President, at Washington, is at length before the British public. Thu excitement of re cent events, and especially of the transactions connec ed with the case of Mr. M'Leod, and the difficulties of the Boundary Question, had produced a degree of interest touching the probable contents of this speech far more in tense than documeats of such a kind usually create among us. Yet for what regards these two engrossing topics of, we might say, ever, European interest, our readers may search this very extensive disquisition (for such it is) al , most in vain. The case of M'Leod is not even touched upon, eo noniine, by the new President; and we cannot quite concur with our Liverpool Correspondent and others in holding that passage, which is supposed incidentally to glance at it, rca ly was intended by the Speaker to touch the subject. The passage runs thus :—" In no case can the same persor, at the same time, act as the citizen of two separate States, and lie is therefore positively precluded from any interference with the reserved powers of any State but that of which he is, for the time being, a citizen. He may, indeed, offer to the citizens of other States his advice as to their management, and the form in which it is tendered is left to his own discretion and sense of pro priety." To us, this sort of reasoning on the relative and the general character of citizenship in a subject of the United States, seems to be as distant from the case of Mr. M'Leod, as, we fear, are the chances which that gentle man has of experiencing an impartial trial within their ter ritory. Much more to the purpose of Mr. M'Leod's case —more encouraging as holding out some prospect of the cessation of unprincipled and vindictive persecution against our countryman—is that sort of manifesto of honourable and just intensions on tho part of General Harrison's Go vernment, which was conveyed in Mr. Buchadsn's state ment in the Senate. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. HOME ClRCUlT.—borgs, MARCO! 25. CROWN COURT. (Before Lord DENMAN.) THE BEXHILL BURGLARY.—This morning being ap pointed for the trial of the gang of desperadoes charged with the burglarious outrage at Bexhill, which has created so much interest in the county, the Court was filled a long time before Lord DENMAN took his seat upon the bench. The prisoners were then placed at the bar. Henry Easton, alias Old Flick, alias Reuben Stubber field, alias Henry Stubberfield, 28, James Martin, alias Stephen Merchant, 25, James Foster, alias Uncle, 23, Thomas Balcombe, 23, and Charles Foster, 19, were in dicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwel lirg-house of Samuel Holland, at Bexhill, and stealing 40 sove, e'gns, ten 51. notes of the Hastings Bank, a si!ver watch, and a variety of other property to the valae of nearly 400/. ; and William Foster, 38, and Edward Ede, 22, were charged with feloniously receiving part of the stolen property, and Willian Foster was also charged with harbouring and maintaining one of the principal felons, well-knowing that ho had committed the felony. Mr. CLARKSON, Mr. BODKIN, and Mr. TYNDALE con ducted the prosecution, and Mr. CHAMBERS, Mr. COBBETT, and Mr. CREASY defended the prisoners. Mr. CLARKSON, in stating the case to the Jury, said that the outrage imputed to the prisoners was one which pro baby never before was equalled in that or any other coun ty in England ; and the prisoners had probably good reason to congratulate themselves that the offence with which they were charged was no longer capital, for if it were, the result of a conviction would in all probability have been that their lives would be forfeited. After de. tailing the facts of the case the Learned Counsel proceeded to call the witnesces. Mr. Samuel Holland deposed that he was a farmer re siding at Bexhill. On the 4th of January he went to bed at hi: usual hour, and he was awoke about two o'clock by a light shining on his eyes, and he saw a man standing at the foot of the bed with a candle in one hand, and what appeared to be a large knife in the other. This man said, "We be come for your money." I turned and saw three other men in the room ; I believe the prisoner Easton to be the one who held the candle ; I believe Charles Foster to be another man who was in the room ; there were two other men, but I cannot identify them. I got out of bed and gave the first man I saw a purse containing some sove reigns and silver. He then said, " Where is the key of that?" pointing to a bureau, and at the same moment an other man broke it open and took out three 101. Hastings bank notes, and I small bag containing between 30 or 40 sovereigns. The first man then took up my coat that was lying by the side of the bed, and from my pocket-book he took ten tit Hastings bank notes and a bill of exchange for 100/. The men took away my coat, and also the pocket book and two silk handkerchiefs. The men were not in the rcom altogether more than five minutes. The prisoner Easton had ou a dark smock frock and a black hat, and Foster had on a low white hat. After the men were gone I missed my watch that had bean hanging at the foot of the bad. Cross-examined—l am sixty-two years of age, but my eyes;ght is not very defective. I did not see Easton until the sth of February, but I had seen William Foster, and lat first thought be was the man who stood at the foot of my bed, but my opinion had changed before I saw theory Easton. Easton is the man who broke open the bureau and who taok my coat and money. There was no light in the room but from the candle the man held in his hand. By the COURT—I am quite confident Easton is one of the men. Miss Anne Holland—l remember, on the night in ques tion, fastening up the house as usual. Mr. Fuggles, a visitor, two female servants, myself, and sister, and the pro secutor, were staying in the house, and at twelve o'clock all the family were in ben. About one o'clock I was alarmed and got out of bed, and attempted to open the door, but was prevented in consequence of some person holding it on the out ide. My sister also got up, and she said " What do you want ?" A voice replied, " Money, and money we will have." I lygged that they would nct hurt my uncle, and I said I would give them what money I had. The door was then partially opened, and I handed out my purse, and it was taken by some one. Some one then said " Your uncle shall net be hurt." In about five minutes the reel appeared to go down stairs, and I then went to my uncle's room and found it in a terrible state ; there was a quantity o tblood and the curtains of the bed were torn down. I picked up a percussion cap, and under the bed I found the parlour poker. I went down stairs and found the parlour shutter window burst open and the glans of the window broken. The front door had ben opened and the people appeared to have gone out that way. My uncle never used a percussion gun, and was not in possession of any gun caps. I saw Mr. Fuggles almost directly, and he wan in a very bad state, and appeared to bay , been beaten and ill-used. Cros:-examined—l only heard the voice of one person at my door, and that person continued to hold the door until the men seemed to go away from the house. No attempt was made to enter my room. Miss Mary Holland corroborated the evidence of her sister. She also proved that on the morning after the outrage was committed she found a large knife, a stick, and several stones in the parlour. Cross-examined—l said to the man at the door " What do you want ?" He replied, " I want money, be quick." The man said, " Don't be frightened, we won't hurt you." Mr. J. Fuggles—l was staying at the prosecutor's house on the night in question, and I was awoke and heard the noise of voices, and I got up and went to Mr. Hol land's room, and I saw these men standing there. One man presented a gun about a foot from my breast, and I looked at him for a minute and then snatched it from him, and at the same instant I was knockei down. When I regained my senses I found myself on the bed and three men were standing over me, and I was very much beaten and hurt. I should know the gun again if I were to see it, but 'I cannot identify any of the prisoners. I was a good deal hurt, but I am now in a great measure recovered. Jonathan Tompsett (the approver)—l came from the gaol to be examined, and have been in custody since the 23d of January upon this charge, I know all the priso ners except Will:arn Foster. On the afternoon of 'Sun day, the 31 of January, I was living at Hurstperpoiat, and the pr i soner Balcomb - e lodged with rne. James Foster, Martin, Holcombe, and I were together between eight and nine o'clock on that night. They asked mo to go with them, and I said " Where?" They replied, " We are going somewhere where we shall get some money." I agreed to go with them, and we went to the White Horse at Ditchling, where wo had some beer. We then went on the road towards Uckfi ld , and got there about six o'clock in the morning. We came to a lodge at Lindfield about 9 o'clock on the night of the 4th, and according to agreement we met Charles Foster and Henry Easton there. We laid down in the hedge until 11 o'clock, when we started for Bexhill, and when wo arrived acre. Easton and Charles Foster went away to get a hammer and a blacksmith's tool, called a " prickle." Going dawn a furze field, Charles Foster cut two sticks from the hedge. We got to Bexhill about one o'clock, and at this time Charles Foster was carrying a gun. I and Marti❑ stood in the front of the house, and walked about while the others broke in at the window at the end of the house. The two Fosters., balcmnbe and Easton went into the house, and I saw them break open a writing desk, but they did not find anything of value in it. After this we all went into the house, and five of us went into Mr. Holland's bed room. (The witness then stated what took place in simi lar terms to those used by Mr. Holland). A gentleman came into the room, and I had the gun in my hand at the time, and he laid hold of the gun and we struggled toge ther, and at the same moment Jarnt.s Foster hit hint on the head and fetched blood, and the blow appeirei to puzzle" him, and I then pushed him on the bed. Eaten took the prosecutor's coat, and we all r:ent away tog, t')er. I should think we were about the house and i❑ it three quarters of an hour. We returned by the same road as far as Lindfield Stocks, and we shared the gold and silver between us. Charles Foster and Henry Futon then parted from us, and they took the notes, the coat and the watch with them. The wimess then described the route taken by him and his companions on their re urn home, and stated at what places they stopped. They drank gin, beer, and brandy and rum at different public-houses, and they trea:ed the people in them and danced and amused themselves. CYO the Wednesday we got to Lewes, whrte we stayed a', a beer-shop all day, and Balcombc and Martin left me, and I remained at Lewes for nearly a fortnight, with a young woman named Venn, and Balcombe came to see me during that time. When my money was gone, T. Martin and Boleombe agreed to go to Hallow to meet Easton and Charles Foster, in order to get some of the notes they had taken, and I asked Ede to go along with us. We got to Hadlow on the Sunday, the 17th of January. I saw Easton afterwards, and he said that there was 101. to be given to each of them. Easton and Martin went away for the purpose of getting the money, and afterwards raw something rolled up in paper and given to Ede, and we then returned to Lewes, and from tl - ence to Brighton, and we stayed at that place untl the following Monday, when Balcomb.; and Martin went away, and Ede a'so went away on tl.o Tuesday. While we were at Brighton, Ede told me that he had changed two of the notes, and they purchased some articles of clothing. Bef)re at's, Ede asked him if they had done a robhery, and he told him we had. Ede afterwards told me that he had given the notes to different people to get changed. The witness at some length proceeded to detail his further proceedings, with a view to his statement being confirmed by other testimony. Cross-examined—Did not make any disclosure of these circumstances until after he was taken into custody and had under gore an examinatian bcfore the Magistrates. Had never been in prison for trial before. Had been in prison six weeks for poa.chicag and breaking windows. When he was in the army be was sent to prison for a month. Had been discharged from the army about fJur teen years. Since that time he had been working for his living as a labourer. He had been working with Charles Foster on the railway, and he left the work without "much notice." He was known on the railway by the name of " Crocky Ware Jack." Did not hear of Foster losing a shovel while he was working tl.ce. When they talked to him about getting money, he knew directly that they intended to commit a robbery somewhere. Ho did not assist to break open any part of the house, and the reason he took the gun out cf the bed-room was for fear of an " acti lent" happening. The old gentleman was pretty strong when he struggled with Lim, and be shoved him back in bed. He did not hear of any reward being offered until after he was taken before the Magistrate=. The officer read a reward that wasetfered. The reward was 2001. for anybody who would give information ; but he did not expect to get any part of that reward. Some further cross-examination took place, but nothing material was elicited. Cross-examined by the prisoner Easton—You said there was 801. in notes, but there would be 101. to be given to a man who had given some intelligence about the house, and that you and Charles Fester were to h-ive 5/. a piece more than the others, which would leave 10/, a piece for them. A number of witnesses were then called to corroborate the statement of the accomplice relative to the prisoners having been seen in company with him on the night of the rob bery, and both before and after it was committed. A wit- MSS was also called to prove that:the' prisoner Balcombe told him after the r , bbery that he and his companions had gone as far as they could for water, and then they got into a house; and be also gave the names of the persons who accompanied him and assisted in the commission of the robbery. Superintendent Fagan, of the Sussex constabulary, who deserves great credit for his exertions in bringing the F ri_ soners to justice, was then examined. He proved the ap prehension of four of the prisoners, and also that he found upon them two silk handkerchiefs that were identified by Miss Holland as her property. He also produced a gun which one of the prisoners claimed to belong to him. The case for the prosecution closed at half-past five o'clock, and the Learned Counsel severally addressed the Jury, and Mr. Chambers made a most forcible appeal on behalf of his c:ient. When the evidence for the prosecution was concluded, Mr. Cleary submitted to the Court that there was no evi dence against William Foster to go to the Jury. His Lordship concurred in this view of the case, and directed an acquittal as regarded that prisoner. At half-past seven o'clock Lord DENMAN commenced summing up the evidence, and his address lasted nearly two hours. The Jury, after deliberating for some time, returned a verdict of guilty against all the prisoners, with the excep. tion of William Foster. Lord DENMAN then sentenced Ede to be imprisoned for six months, and directed all the other prisoners to be trans ported for life. ' POLICE INTELLIGENCE. BOW-STREET. Yesterday evening, about half-past five o'clock, Colonel Torrens was brought up on a warrant, by a constable of the F division, charged on suspicion with intending to commit a breach of the peace by fighting a duel with Mr. George Palmer, jun., a gentleman residing in the City. Mr. William Palmer, who occupies chaiubers in the King's Bench-walk, Temple, sta'e3 that a correspond ence appeared in the Morning Chronicle on Wednesday last, between Colonel Torrens, as chairman of the South Australian Commission, and Mr. Mackinnon, M. P., in which there were strong reflections made upon his brother's character, and as he bad every reason to apprehend that his brother and the Colonel were likely to fight a duel ho ap plied for a warrant for their apprehension. Mr. TWYFORD could not conclude from what he had heard that either of the persons named intended commit ting a breach of the peace; but he would hear Colonel Torreas's own account of the transaction. Colonel Torrens said a friend of Mr. Palmer's had called upon him for satisfaction, and he told him he would not give any unless certain expressions, made use of in a correspondence to Lord John Russell, were first with drawn. After some conversation witness said he, Mr. Palmer, had declared he would assault him in the public streets ; and the answer he gave him was, net if he did so he would prosecute him criminally. Mr. Palmer said if the Colonel pledged his word no meeting would take place before to-morrow he would be satisfied. Mr. TWYFORD said it was a very delicate affair for him to interfere without some legal evklence, and ho thought there were better grounds for binding over Mr. Palmer to keep the peace than Colonel Torrens, who threatened to take legal proceeding=. Colonel Totrens said the cause of the misunderstanding war, that Mr. Palmer had mmle ce'tain representations injurious to his cl aracter, which were contrary to what ap peared in his own handwriting. Mr. TWYFORD desired the officer to execute the warrant immedia.ely against Mr. Palmer, and bring him before him, and ho would bind him over in 400/. and two sure ties in 200/. to keep the peace. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. Yesterday, on the charge sheet being placed heft re Mr. Dyer, he obscrvei the name of Lord George Loftus en tered on it as one of the prisoners brought up from the station-house. His Lordship being charged with drunk enness and disorderly conduct, and refusing to pay his cab fare. Mr. DYER inquired if his Lordship was in attendance. Inspector Beresford, of the C division, stated that Lord George Loftus was still in such a state that he was unfit to be brought before the Bench. At about half-past 12 o'clock his Lordship had sufficiently recovered his sobriety to allow cf his being brought up from the station-house, and was placed in the dock. Police constable, No. 92; of the C division, stated that about six o'clock yest-rday morning he found the de fendant, who was very drunk, wrangling with a cab driver in Piccadilly about the fare ; his conduct was so boisterous and disorderly that it caused a crowd of persons to assemble, and created a great obstruction to the tho roughfare. Witness therefore interfered, and with con siderable difficulty succeeded in conveying his Lordship to the station-house. Henry Spencer, the driver of the cab No. 120, stated that he was called off the stand in Piccadilly by the defer.- dane, and ordered to drive to the Cavendish Hotel, in Jermyn-street. His Lordship, however, refused to get into the cab, and after keeping him wrangling for three quarters of an hour, also refused to pay him Bd. which he was entitled to for being called off the stand. Mr. DYER asked the defendant what he had to say in answer to the charge. His Lordship attempted to defend himself in the best way he could, and in doing► so used some strong expressions against the policemen. Mr. DYER cautioned him against swearing, and said that for each oath he afterwards uttered, ho should fine him in the fullest penalty. The Defendant—Fine me I What do I care about being fined. I'm a nobleman and a gentleman, and have set red her Majesty in three different regiments, and its d—d hard that my word is not to be taken before that of the policemen. They are a d—d bad set, and I'm d—d if I don't give them a d—d good licking. Mr. DYER—There are four oaths, I shall fine you for each. Defendant—Oh then I had better leave off, or it will come too expentive. Mr. D E . Fc—Your conduct is highly disgraceful to a person of your rank and station in soci:ty. The defendant here made use of four men! oaths. Mr. DYER-1'110;c make eight. I fine you 5 for being drunk, 5 fur each of the eight oaths you have made use of, and I ort2er you to pay the cab. driver 2s. 6J. for his loss of time, and BJ. f.r his fare. Defendant—Go it, Mr. 13encb 1 Yea know you dare not commit me. . His Lordship was then removed in custody, but be soon procured the money to pay the tines, and was set at lib3rty. WORSHIP-STREET. Yesterday William Shingle. a common informer, was placed at the bar before Mr. Bingham, charged under the Act 3d and 4 h Victoria, ch. 84, sect. 11, with having extorted various sums of money from Mr. John Wm. Furr, a master carman, living in Honduras-street, Si. Luke's. It appeared from Ow prosccuto , 's evidence that several months ago he was summoned by the prisoner t) this Court, for having obstructed the carriage-w a y in front of his house, and he wan consisted of the offence and amerced in a trifling penalty. Soon afterwards the prisoner called upon him, and told him that the law only allowed him twenty minutes for the purpose of loading and unloading his carts and vans, and as he was in the habit of excee di n g that space of time, he had better g i ve hi m (the prisoner) some money if he wished to be saf e . Wi tness su b m i tte d to the exaction to avoid another information, but since EYE N ING EDITION. --- then he had been repeatedly beset in a situ mar ner by the prisoner, to whom he l'a", 1 ! - 64 ram cy on each occasion, under the diced 0' .' one r prcsecuted. On lie preceding morning the reidej,, carve up :to him in the street in which the Woo, and a-ked if he had got any money for Or to which he replied in the negaive, and walked awl' 0 , was followed by the prisoner, but two of his neightou, who discerned what had pawed, and suspected the 115 of the application, immediately marked a sixpence' w „ r igr they contrived to slip into his hand, unseen by t_. e be ne-, and, upon the latter renewing gave him the marked money. A policeman came UP afterwards, and the prisoner was given into custody., h he Police constable G 175 produced the sixpence , I ' 6.c had taken out of the prisoner's hand. s th e The prosecutor's friends identified the money same they had marked, his importunitre4;oo Mr. BINGHAM sail the charge had been ele!rtYtlo/p,al out against the prisoner, and he should order him ce f or three the extreme venalty 101., or be clmmitted lendar months to the House of Correctfon. The gaol .r was about to remove the tte latter turned round to the Magistrate, and said, pose I may have my sixpence after this ?" prisoner , v e rT n i or Mr. BINGHAM—Must unquestionably net: The prisoner was then led away in custody.. HAMBURGH MAIL• (From tl e Hanover Gazette.) I o bjec t A very c implinted ethic, which is the genera _ r ats of conversation, took piece this forenoon in the elle ° t ribe before the theatre. Mr. W. D--r, a pee former 'repro, opera, took occasion to make some cllu6on in t he „" 011 , pre;entatinn of the opera " Ca i r o and Zenlna er° ;:. ' 19 ° Sunday las*, to a rich Englishman who live s I,c, ' 0 s et , holds the rank of captain of cavalry in the A ustr 7e 4 vice, who is a great amateur of horses, rides no t o, day, and daily visits the theatre. This allusion theP Olt much to its honour, received vi•h disapprobatiooildot morning the Englishman who had been thus ins t s,_ isa sto D--r in front of the thcctre, and asked hian if 0 t rig was D--r, and bring answered in the affirmatirefee'obit him across the face with his horsewh'p• to oode i , ensued, in which both parties were muc h ;dist" , and cut about the heal. lo t "' o olf proceeded, accompanied by six witnesses, to We poi office, in order to claim the protection of the 'Ott s oils' police- liicc D-r, who was much affected by t ' ; : j ia, t ; meat and the attack, fell down insenslble. lic, be rather better, but is under the care of a phYsi c- Euglisman has already been e x am i n ed at the 11 013.:e e a the A great number of persons are said to have ailri! sl islisi r affray. It is pretty generally believed here tha t to t re' might have b'ea ',cry well preven'ed if the actor bi,jo. ceved from the proper quarter a reprimand fo r 0 0° rr ,rer conduct. Captain N. N. spends here sn o h for of 8,000 florins, and has, in truth, given no gro! e disgs i ridicu'e. He has been liberated on bail, but Pre" Igoo will be instituted in a Criminal Court. The 0181/00, the theatre claims damages from the Englisbnla n ' e atev D-r will probably Ic unable to perform fur 5 02 Sen t to come. s hips its BniEnten, MARCH 17.-A number of elvtP 4 e ar by Hesse Darmstadt cast anchor this evening b og ie to stone dam, and to-morrow the workmen will P`r remove it. eon g ao. COLOGNE, MARCH 13.—We heer that the - t • 4 0 - vigation Companies intend to apply to the He sgl i e b Of/ vcrnment far an indenatification for the loss wb roe suffered in consequence of the impediment to tu e tot' tion of the river by the stone dam, and which ei o l o' tinue till everything was restored to its former e s ' will probably be a work of time eat rot FROM THE MAINE.-MARGII 15.-we bear .' d hist. re authority that the Diet will deliberate on the 235001 on on the subject of the fortress to be erected in k 10.1 Germany, in which all the Governments have m c i e since agreed ; the chief point will be to resolv e _ At ilt manner the funds shall be provided which will be,TPI to build two fortresses instead of one.-Hambu r g a` March 23. 1 ° The Hamburgh Borsenhalle notices the ate)arr"B.l 100 ships at Hamburgh on the 20th and 23d of I,' HAMBURG BORSENHALLE, MARCH 23 god Bills. jo Austrian 5 per Cents. Bank Shares IO6A 10 Anglo-Russian Loan lOl Russian 5 per Cent. Ist series, Certificate 10 , Inscription, Ist Series Russian 5 per Cent. Hope and Co. 3d and 4th Series llO4 Ditto in Certificates Dutch Actual Debt, 2 per Cent 49:4 Ditto 5 per Cent Polish Bonds New 1 icket Anglo-Danish Loan, 3 per Cent N.lwegian Loan, 1834, 4 per C e nt. 7;;;4 Spanish, New 5 per Cents. EXCHANGES OK LONDON. ill 84. HAMBURG, Msncn 2a-13 534.—Tw0 months, BREMEN, MARCH 11 —Two months, 6 15. BELGIAN I. UNDS—ZiauseRLA, MAucg 2„4i Actual Debt, 2) per Cent. ..................... Rothschild's Loan, 5 per Cent ................... Loan of Thirty Millions, 4 per - Cent. ........• 3 per Cent ........ ---.Thirty.seven-----••• ...... 96 (1E40) .................. 83 Loan of City, 1832, 4 per Society of Commerce, 4ygper Cent ............ .79,4 Bank of Belgium, 5 per Cent .................... National Society . Exchange on London (short) .................. -Brussels Papers, March 24. AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—VIEnria, Dragon 1610 five per Coats. Metalliques ............................ Fear per Cents. .................... ............... Three per Cents. ............ . ........... ........... 06 Bank Shares ....111gemeine Zeittmg, March :1 re 4 1110 THE MARY STUART.—From e0 e ve - d i c e ceived yesterday it appe ars t h at t hi s unforte7 e i ring which, it will be recollected, was nearly iovi opea ane' ll o gale on Monday last, off Portleaven, near i b " re ng jot Cornwall, was got off on Thursday last, t iv i o , t 11 34 assistance rendered by her Majesty's cutter ni e g- 08 0 $ the command of Lieutenant Brewer, and the P; o sidek. belonging to Dartmouth, and was towed al ee l Penzance pier. She, however, appears a Pe r ,.. e e of ,„pf In the course of Wednesday the bodies of ti", stte7,o men who perished with Lieutenant Smith, i°, B o o tr o s to reach the wreck, were washed ashore. s' e . eu ragit,b; drowned, and not five, as was stated in this pi; Thursday last. Their names are Lieutenautbei Henry Wilspring, aged 42, chief boatman, vsbA°27, se 0, ' widow and nine children; John Farrans, o rfr o ti boatman, left a wife and five children; Meanie, o .if left a wife and four children; John Mac Mah °ll l job° eof, Ibo six children; William Simpson, aged 18; eta go fe r, thauteau, aged 14. An inquest has bee "" t °e Ago bodies of those found, and the Jury have rea „oft slict of ‘.Accident death." The Mary Stuart 0 1 I the extant of 1,7601. o p- t or THE NEW NOVEL, " THE ENG" , 0 5t C - 0. -This striking work seems to be exciting "" a iaillg o itlt ordinary sensation. The author persists in re til ibcd , r ed known, although the production has been ag ent ob, some show of Justice, to more than one en' i n a stli, of person of the day. A contemporary jeans' gich ts or es serves that " The Engagement" is a work west OP" merely one of the most vivid, vigorous, an d ibeen of English aristocratic society which has ever r obioed I to the world, but one of the most subtle and se' sos • hc . toe dor j lineations of human character and passion, '" . 0 0g - d o , most ingenious, original, and intensely iete,te; a 0 1/ 0 0 All the characters in the work are origin al I degree. We are acquainted with nothing .° brti r , ict literature, or anywhere else, that is at " cc 'ore 1° u tor and so original as Louis de Grey; nothing Ill n e fsle; Jot feeling than Coningsby, and also Eleanor ne_ e t ial! :te lf thing more exquisitely artificial, and at the sat: csgetsimp the qualities are by no means incompatible) , s as Mrs., true to na'ure as it is modified by socie t y , ° thing ors , ceval and Lady Morningtan ; and certainly e_ 000 i entertaining than the way in which all the oaaetori, and a score of others, are put into action, all u me !eb servient to the development of a fashionahlcof Odom and an original and exciting plot-the latec e r oc ent superior to almost any that we recollect , 0 ' 0 1 1 in any work of this nature. i s TITE FRENCH STA GE.—lf ther e „ t he g e . ,, 1 i09 , thing that would tend more than another to ran . ' t e eow e ctl character of the English stage from its pre se° be F re it would be a due study and appreciation ctf Geol lte stage at its most palmy period--that of Tal o villc:ge and.Duchesnois in tragedy ; and of Fleuri,.. ht fal ' the ir nauld, &c , in comedy : and, luckily, the dellg t u oa dO .4 0 moirs of Fleury," written by himself, have ju res spel u 'rel appearance in an English dress, as if for the exPtbe fsv llll of affording us this facility. As Fleury W 0 5, 0, 9 0 frond and companion of every grade and e arl td eiae h 1p choicest spirits of his day-from the high° 10 rif: a ptt palaces to the lowest of the conlisses-vi e w n e te rtai n 7 tbs anticipating a work of singular and varied c . 1 Ali „ o il even without the important and appropriat e of its lid tt English ver:ion of it has received at the ha o ° o sue and humorous editor, Mr. Theodore Ho ok, " with many notes and commentaries Ors ° ; REGISTER STOVES, 3 ft. w ide, e j eer, t oe Poles for Window Curtains, Is. 3d. per foot- glier e er Bd. per inch ; elliptic stoves, 4d. p e r inch ; ree d ortr j t with bright fronts, bright and black b a rs, hre"7 l .ol Ioos. ; brass poles for window curtains, 4 1' jotls. Is. 3d. per foot ; 2 inches, Is. ad. ; a inch for inches long, with ends, rings, and brackets, co 'p o ny s' Catalogues gratis, containing the price of sue t:•• 11- ironmongery. Oz ror RIPPON and BURTON, Wells-str eet, { 11 '" BIR TH S. cou ntess 0, On the 24th inst., in Grafton-s'rect, the rod e mo O re, of a son nd h , Greenw ich, N O b lo t' eir. a son. a a (V () i"P" .j At North Bet wick, the Hon. Mrs. CoventrY,,_d, of wn the the 19th inst., at Dane Court, Ke nt, the r Rice, Esq., M.P., of a daughter. o f a daa. nto ot` i . Lotlir eC2ottitioain n , s of t street, 1 ark-lane, Lady he I1un• Dlrs. I (7)ll B tre t 2 h :3 - a son. , a tlaeg On the 26th ins! . ., Mrs. J. 'Marshal Memo' Reg , MARRIED. ante ,bY 10 0' On the 25th inst., at St. Botolph DishOP,o Diary John Evans, A.M., Joseph Barton, 1% 5 '1- , t - nro ad-stJ. eldest daughter of John Evans, Esq. t ip NoOrin• st,hEe Esq., of i o n f s t A ., id a e t , , S g t a . Nnrris, Esq., of Sutton Courtney., only child of Francis Hume Chippin, Esq. , of F e r' the county of illiddlesex. of only dough te il - I s ar tr y ce A t church-buildings, to Susannah Elizabet h, George Mereweather, of Chepstow. s_t On the 24th inst., at Chepstow, Mr. amu.e ter ,bbi33,ooeturtkisg.,, Emily aeldest daug.hterv,oest pul of Caroline, wife of Don Miguel Pic, of St. Lucia , ‘ ce , o lo"'',l, t e Major-General Seymour, Governor John nornetius On the sth of Noveraberll, 181011,. ge r the fe ar On the 28th of August, 1840,pietn e _ or of the Survey Dopartment, Hobart -town , Govern Go vern lop, ran Lucia, West Indies. Richard Lot j o bl l On the 20th inst., at Bor,leaux, if , o f ods D u mfriesshire. Esq., of Locker's° , 3!ar i a ,, the , third son of the late Major-General Se3,ra xlord, hello f Dnribrodv-natli, We Kennedy, Esq., 0- er' o t " f e 1:s Nottingof r sli at Cheltennaln , On the 9 , 5:11 inst., ti kt ; p i London: Printed and Published by ME Lai 0- 4 9 1 ad o / No. 112, Strand, at The Sun Office, No. 1 12, 1 - thecountyof Niddlesex,—.Saturday, March 271 W^. N~ p 1 0 h,6 3 roma: tales jftelk J, t eco htt 41"14 C' N 1. ' , O tt '44 ~\ -