The Sun. — London, England, 1828-03-29 00:00:00

CATHOLIC CLAIMS. As the Catholic Question is shortly to be brought under the consideration of Parliament, it is with :ouch gratification that we have read a seasonable digest of its leading characteristics, drawn up in the form of a letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons. The author is manifestly a scholar "rid a gen tleman, and discusses his subject learnedly, yei in a light, airy, and graceful manner. Another re commendation is his entire freedom from inflamma tory or seditious comment ; aware of the dignity of his subject, be sustains it throughout by a corres ponding elevation of thought. No sarcasm points his style; no invective deforms the fair face of hie al-gu n/era ;his treatise depends solely foretreet 'on the calm, temperate, and manly sincerity that pervades it. The early portions arc for the most part filled with a se tars of desultory observations drawn from the eccle , siasticat histories ofPapacv, from which we learn that the dot-trine of exclusive and unqualified submission ao the Vicar of Christ--s much insisted on by the opponents of Catholicism—is an innovation on the original tenets of the Vatican, which even the staunchest Papist mayreadily and conKiantiously dis allow*-. We will quote the passage in which this remark occurs, for the purpose of enlightening those tetek, lowly, and disinterested divines, Dr. Spry and the Dean of Chester. It is evident from what has been stated, tlett the belief of any temporal authority- in the Popes, either as inde pendent princes, or as the regulators of sovereigns, or of the obedience due to them from their people, cannot be an Article of faith legally to be required from the Roman Catholics. No groundwork upon which to found such a pretension can he discovered in history ; no assumption of any such authority can be produced in the early ages of (liristianity. In the time of the apostles, and under the fathers of the church, a constant submission, even to Pagan .authority, exemplifies the sitbmissive character towards the civil government; the meekness of the religion which our Saviour vouchsafed to reveal to mankind. Upon the doc trines transmitted to us in the gospel, upon the conduct of our Saviour himself, it would be va . ..n to attempt the esta blishment of the principle of any temporal authority. To believe in, it can never ho necessary to salvation, and can never ' ne demanded es a rule of faith. If we deduct this argument of their unqualified submission, from the sum total of those brought =apirist the Catholics, if we track it through its vari .aas shapes and modifications of style and sentiment— for in the pages of Dean Phillpotts (ex 71720 disco ~r unes) it has a Protean power of transformation, and is put forth under divers guises and disguises, so as to indoce the unwary reader to suppose each repeti tion of it, some new and ingenious turn of thought; —if, we repeat, we deduct this argument from the number of those brought against Catholicism, we shall leave a most scanty and penurious remainder. Such is the flimsy foundation on which intolerance 7itui reared her superstructure! After describing the exact nature and extent of the Catholic Claims, and hinting eloquently, but somewhat too apprehen sively at the difficulties that will occur in con ceding them—our author reverts to the trite subject of Ireland in this pungent and impassioned manner:— When five millions of men are bent upon the attainment -of an object they believe themselves in equity to be entitled to, it is difficult to define the extent of the resources they be able to apply to it. Up to the present time, but with Open or concealed rebellion constantly in activity, the power of England has been able to maintain its superiority over the sister country ; but by its laws, it protects and develops the increasing energy of the enemy it fosters in its bosom. That which it could effect against three millions of impoverished and divided subjects, it will find most difficult, if not impossible, against fire millions, particularly when actuated by one mind, and with augmented means. If the animosity is to be kept up, if the boon is not to be ceded, we most prepare for the inevitable contest we shall have to maintain, by arresting the prosperity of Ireland. While she is growing up in wealth, iu power, and Catho licism, we must look upon her as aia enemy till her just rights have been conceded to her ; we must bind her to the ground while we still hold her within our shackle'. Where the means of doing so are to be discovered, it would he difficult to say; but they must be found, and found quickly, ur the moment will be gone by. She is moving with gigantic strides towards influence and ascendancy. The moans of overtaking and arresting her career are not easily to be applied ; nor is there a British statesman who wonlil demean himself by an attempt so unworthy the cha racter of his country. Yet it would be madness to build up the power we must have to contend against. To be lust, then, and generous, is our only policy. In all cases it is wisdom ; in the present, it is necessity. That the concession of the Catholic Claims to the most Catholic country in Europe —to that corm try which feels itself the enslaved enemy of England 7:o long as such claims are. withheld, and which will nifallibly kind down the sense of its wrongs with augmented energies to its posterity—that the con cession of such claims to such a country is a measure not only safe and politic, but generous, and of the most pressing necessity, there cannot be the slightestdoubt. The present state of Ireland—to say nothing of the past—is alone sufficient to corroborate our assertion. From East to West, from Cape Clear to the Giant's Causeway, a vast moral i nsurrect i on is going for ward—a slow but sure estrangement of the whole nation's heart from England. We make them foreigners in every thing, Parias in religion and Helots in citizenship ; Call we wonder then at such aliena tion ? How deep must be that nation's sense of injury, which rises, as one man, inspired with one undivided impulse, in defence of whatever ordinary individual may think fit to identify himself with its wrongs ! A few months since Mr. /Eneas M'Don nell was a gentleman unknown, except to a few of his own private acquaintances; Ireland knew little, England nothing of him: now, how ever, thanks to his timely imprisonment for a libel in behalf of the Catholics against a Protestant As cendancy man (one Archdeacon Trench or French) he has been raised to the dignity of a martyr— the idol of his country—" the young Astyanax of niodern Troy." These scenes of ardent burn ing partizanship, not a single one of which is without it , moral (if Orangemen had but the common faculties of observation) can never know an end, till the claims that originate them are granted. It is not, however, by the recur rence of one or t tvo—nor yet three of such warn ing events, that the result we deprecate will ensue; the rock is worn away, not by one storm in particular, but by the encroachments of the sea for ages : so is it w i t h regard to Ireland; the misrule of centuries on the part of Englauti, has been gradually s apping her energies, and undermining her founda tion; and the hour is at hand, when the whole loosened fabric, if not seasonably prevented, may fall in thunder on her head. « vid e au interesting corresp on d ence on this very sub ject (in the Appendix to the Pam phlet) between th e l a t e Pepe and the King Of Naples, on t h e subject of some trifling act of homage which the latter refused to concede as implying an acknowledgment of lris Holiness's supremacy. We may perhaps give this at eome flame opportunity. Dr. THOMAS (Bishop of Salisbury), fon-rot ~,e d ay h a was to be married, an d was ,surpri se d at his aervanta brin g i ng hi m a new d res s. A gnat stinginc, Lint in the leg, the Doctor stooped and scratched the leg Pi 3 Gentleman who stood next to him—Mirror. NlAnctt OF MlND.—While a ventriloquist wan describing the nature of gas, a blue-stocking lady cla morously enquired of a gentleman near her, what he meant by oxy-gin and hydro-gin, or what was the difference ? " Very little, Madam," said he : "by oxy-gin, we mean pure gin, and by hydro-gin, gin and water." IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, MARCH 2S. Baron HEYTESBURY (late Sir Wm. A'Court) was introduced by Barons Howard de Walden, and Stuart de Rothesay, and took the oaths and his seat. Sir ALEXANDER GRANT, Sir R. VA UGHAN, and others from the Commons, brought up two Bilk which were subsequently read a first time. The Earl of LIMERICK presented a petition from certain persons residing in Belfast, complaining of their great distress, and at the same time praying that the Government might enable them to emigrate to Canada free of expense.—Ordered to lie on the table. At thirty_five minutes past four o'clock, their Lordships adjourned during pleasure. The House resumed at five o'clock. The Earl of ESSEX presented petitions from the Pro testant Dissenters of a place in Leieester, against the Gif poration and Test Acts. The Noble Earl presented similar petitions from the Dissenters of Marsden, in Kent ; of Churchover, in Warwick; and of Queen's-head-lane, in Northampton. The Earl of ELDON presented a petition from the Clergy of Canterbury, against the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts. The Earl of ROSEBERRY pr►sented a petition from the corporation of candle-makers at Edinburgh, against the Test Act?, The Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND presented a pe tition from Durham and Northumberland, against the im portation of Foreign Lead. The Earl of LAUDERDALE presented three petition, from the burgh of Dumfries, and one from riaddington, praying for the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts. The Noble Lord presented a similar petition from the Dissenters of Jedburgh, and also a petition against the duty on Receipt Stamp:. The Earl of HARROWBY presented a petition from the Dissenters of Altham, and from the Dissenters of other places in Staffordshire. Lord 'MELVILLE presented a similar petition from the Corporation of Tailors in the city of Edinburgh. The Bishop of BRISTOL presented a petition from the inhabitants of Newport, against any further concession to the Roman Catholics. The Bishop of LONDON presented a petition to the same effect from Deptford. Lord KING presented a petition from the parish of Maryhorough against the Irish Subletting Act. Petitions for the Repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts were presented by the Marquis of BrrE, from Brad bury and other places ; by Lord KING, from the Catholics of Warrington, of Marvborough in Ireland, and for the general repeal of all civil disqualification, from a parish in the county of Fermanagh ; and by the Earl of RossLyN, from a burgh in Scotland. The Duke of WELLINGTON presented a petition from the Corporation of Dublin, against any further concessions to the Roman Catholics. CORN LAWS. His Grace then begged to inform their Lordships that it was his intention to postpone his motion appointed for to-day till Monday, and his reason for doing so was that a Right Hon. Friend, who intended moving in the House of Commons for the production of certain papers on the subject of corn, was prevented from doing so to day in consequence of indisposition, and he thought it advisable that the motions should both be made on the same day. GAME LAWS. Lord DARNLEY thought, as the Duke of Wellington had appointed Monday for brieging forward his motion, that it would be better to have the motion that . the House should go into a Committee on the subject of the Game Laws, postponed from Monday till Tuesday. Lord WHARNCLIFFE did not intend to occupy the House at any length on Monday, and therefore he could not see any particular reason for postponing his Committee. Ile meant only to move the introduction of certain new clauses, then that the Bill should be recommitted and printed, and that when it should come before the House again, then to enter into the detailed natnre of his Bill. The Marquess of SALISBURY thought it would he best to go Into the nature of the clauses of the Bill on Monday. A conversation then took place between several Mem bers upo❑ the subject, and finally, it was agreed that it should stand, as it had been appointed, for Monday. STATE OF POPULATION OF IRELAND. Lord DARNLEY said their Lordships would no doubt recollect that at an early period of the Session he i mated that unless some measures were adopted by his Majesty's Ministers, for the relief of the population of Ireland, he should himself call the attention of Parlia ment to the subject. The Noble Duke at that time stated, he was not aware of any measure about to be brought forward of the nature wished for; indeed, he (Lord Darnlev) un derstood that no conciliatory measure was thought of. The only measure he could hear of as being in contem plation was to' encourage emigration ; and this would certainly afford relief comparatively, but to a very few and in a very inefficient manner. He had hoped the sub ject would have been brought forward by some Noble Lord more competent. to handle it than himself, but this hope not haiing been realised he should certainly bring it forward on Friday the 25th of April ; and that his present inten tion was, on that day to move: for a select Committee to enquire into the state of the population of lielan.l, with a view of ascertaining what measures could be adopted for the relief of that population. The Earl of LIMERICK said that as one of the representative-3 of that country, he certainly should feel it his duty to oppose the appointing of any such committee, because he was persuaded that nothing beneficial would result from such a step. Lord REDESDALE suggested, that there were only two ways in which Ireland could be improved. One was by the encouragement of cultivation, and therefore the question which now stood for their Lordships' consideration on Monday next, tvas a most important one as regarded the improvement of Ireland, for it was only by this country being properly kept open as a market for Irish corn, that the cultivation of Ireland and the improvement of the lower orders of the people of that country depended. The other way to improve Ireland was to make the law reign there. Lord DARNLEY considered the evils in Ireland had got to such an extent, that it was the bounden duty not only of Parliament, but of every humane man to endeavour to alleviate the sufferings of the Irish. Lord HOLLAND presented several petitions from Pro testant Dissenters, against the Test and Corporation Acts. The Bishop of CHICHESTER presented a petition from a place in Sussex, apiust the Test and Corporation Acts. The Steam Vessels (Ireland) Bill passed through a Com mittee. The Promises and Engagements Bill, and the Records' Variance Bill, were reported with amendments, and agreed to. On the motion of the Marquis of LANSDOWNE, the House went into a Committee on the Bill to Consolidate the Laws relating to offences against the person. SUBJECTS FOR DISSECTION. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE moved that part of the clause empowering the Judge to order the dissection of the body of a murderer be left out, leaving to the Judge only the discretion of having the criminal hung in chains. The Noble Marquis stated that, from his communication with the medical profession; he understood that they would rather be without the limited assistance which the present law afforded, than allow a stigma to he attached to the dis sktion of the human body. It was desirable on every principle to encourage, as an act of public good, whatever might lead to a greater supply of subjects for the anatomist, and if the stigma attached by the people to the dissection of the human subject were removed, a more ample supply would be obtained. The Earl of ROSEBERRY, having been one of a commission to inquire into the Edinburgh University, wished to make a few remarks on the subject. He could assure their Lordships that many medical students were obliged to leave this country and fly to the Continent for the purpose of pursuing their education. $o long as the infamy of dissection continued to he a part of the punish ment for the worst offences, so long would one great ope rative cause prevent the supply of a suf f icient number of bodies for dissection to ,erve the purposes of science. Lord TENTERDBN, though assenting to tho amend ment of the Noble Marquis, wished the House to consider what might be the effect of it on the country. Another point worthy of their Lordships' consideration was the feeling of respect paid by the people to the bodies of their deceased relations,—a feeling, he thought, which ought to be encouraged. The amendment was then agreed to. Lord TENTERDEN proposed an amendment in the clause relative to the concealment of the birth of illegitimate children. There bad, he observed, been cases where some difficulty bad arisen in proving the alleged illegitimacy...— He proposed, therefore, that the clause should be made applicable generally to all cases of concealment of birth.— The Noble Lord proposed another amendment in the same clause—viz. that the party should be put upon her trial, either upon t h e coroner ' s inquest or the indictment, in the discretio n of the Judge. The above amendments were agreed to; and, after a veriety of verbal amendments had been nial.‘, the Bill was ordered to be reprinted. The House then went into a Committee upon the Bill for amending the law of evidence. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE observed, that since he had introduced this Bill, he had received a variety of com munications from members of that respectabl e and excel lent body of persons to whom one clause of the Bill parti cularly referred. They wished it to be understood that the proposed enactment bad not been sought for by the general body of Quakers ; and be (the Marquis of Lans downe) believed be had so stated to their Lordships when he moved the second reading of the Bill. It was not pro posed as a boon to the Quakers, but as an act of justice to them, and for the benefit of the community at large. At the same time he thought it due to the general body of Quakers to state, that although their peculiar tenets made them averse in ninny instances to give evidence in criminal cases, yet they had not objected to the produced alteration in the law, which would henceforth render it imperative on them to give their evidence upon their affirmation in cri minal as well as civil cases. There was but one amend ment in the clause of the Bill now under the consideration of their Lordships, which he (the Marquis of Lansdowne) wished to propose : and the object of that amendment was to extend the evidence of Moravians to criminal as well as civil cases, so as to put them on an equality with the Quakers in this respect. The amendment was then put and agreed to, as was also one which had reference to the other clause of the viz. that enabling a party whose hand-writing had been forged, to give evidence on the trial of an indictme n t for forgery, notwithstandin g any interest he might have in the document forged. The amendment excepted the case of a party convicted of perjury. A few verbal amendments were made, and the Bill was ordered to lie reprinted. Both Bills were ordered to be re committed on Wednesday next.—Adjourned to Monday. ILOUSB OF COMMONS, MARCU 28. As it was understood that the subject of the Corn Laws was to be broughthefore the House this evening, by the Pre sident of the Board of Trade, every seat in the gallery was occupied shortly after the opening of the doors. The SPEAKER. took the Chair precisely at four o'clock, and the House proceeded to business. On the motion of Mr. BRIGHT, the Bristol and Glou. cester Rail Way Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. The Avon, Gloucester, and Bath Railway Bill, was also read a second time. Sir ROBERT INGLIS presented a petition from Chris tians of various denominations in the neighbourhood of the metropolis, praying that the Test Laws should be re pealed, as fir as related to the sacramental test.—Ordered to he printed. Sir THOMAS GOOCH presented a petition from Hatfield, against the Malt Act of last Session.—Laid on the Table. Mr. MUNDAY moved for a return of the informations against Distillers in Scotland.---Ordered. Lord BELFAST presented a petition from Belfast, complaining of distress, and praying for relief. The Noble Lord also presented a petition from the Malt sters of Belfast, for the repeal of the Malt Act. Mr. KENNEDY brought up the report of the Scotch Entail Bill. Mr. W. DUNDA-S presented a petition from the Malt titers of Edinburgh, for the repeal of the Malt Act. Sir T. LETHBRIDGE presented a petition from Chard, Sontersetshire, for the repeal of the Cider Tax. Mr. OTWAY CAVE presented a petition front Leices ter, for the repeal of the Corn Laws. Mr. MARSHALL presented a petition from an individual residing in York, against the Aire and Calder Canal Company. Mr. HUME presented a petition from Middle-street, Perth, for the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts. On the motion of Mr. DAWSON, the further consi deration of the reports of the Ways and Means Committee, and of the Supply Committee, were ordered to be postponed until Monday. On the motion of Mr. DAWSON, the House resolved itself into a Committee on the Application in Aids Bill. The Bill went through the Committee, and the Report was ordered to be received to-morrow. Mr. HOME DRUMMOND moved else second reading of the Scotch Licensing Bill.—The Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on the 12th May. Sir R. FERGUSSON presented a petition from the Corporation of Hammspnen and Dyers of Edinburgh, for the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts. The Hon. Mover also presented petitions from several other in corporated trades in Edinburgh. Mr. O'BRIEN presented a petition from the Catholics of Killaloe, Ireland, in favour of the Catholic Claims, and against the Vestry and Subletting Acts. On the motion of Mr. LAMB the House resolved itself into a Committee upon the Office of Registrar of the Re gistry-Office in Ireland, when a resolution was agreed to for bringing in a Bill to abolish the said office, and give compensation to the present holder of it. Upon the clause being read granting compensation to the Registrar, Sir JOHN NEWPORT reminded the House that there wan a report OR the table setting forth that there were various abuses in the office of Registrar. He recom mended that no grant should be recommended without further consideration. After a few words from Mr. BARING and some observa tions which did no.: reach the gallery, the clause was agreed to. The House then resumed, and the report was ordered to be taken into further consideration on Monday CORN LAWS. Mr. Secretary PEEL rose for the purpose of post poning to Monday next a motion which stood upon the paper, relative to a resolution upan the Corn Laws. A short time since he received a communication from his Right Honourable Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, stating that he was unwell, but that he did not consider himself so unwell as to be unable to bring forward the motion to-day, if he (Mr. Peel) thought there would be any inconvenience to the House to have it postponed to Monday. The Bight Hon. Gentleman's an swer was, that he thought the House would feel no difficulty under the circumstances in consenting to a postponement till Monday. He was confident that his Right Hon. Friend would be able to move the resolutions on Monday, but as, after the delay which had taken place, a further postpone ment must be inconvenient, he or some other Member of the Government would, in the event of his Right Hon. Friend not being able to attend on Monday, bring forward the subject on that day. Sir E. KNATCHBULL was very anxious that, upon a subject of such importance, the Right Hon. Gentleman would state distinctly what course the Government intended to take. Would they confetti themselves with placing their resolutions on the table of the House, having them printed, and then, on a future day, when time for consider ing the proposition had been allowed, to come to a decision upon it ? Surely the more satisfactory course would be to have the resolutions first, and the discussion after a short intervening time. Mr. PEEL said, his Right Hon. Friend would on Monday next pursue that course which was consistent with the usual practice in such cases, namely propose in the first instance to the consideration of the House those resolutions which his Majesty's Go vernment had agreed upon, and if it should be the sense of the House, that owing to the absence of Members or any other cause, it would be inconvenient to come to a positive vote upon these resolutions, there would be no wish on the part of his Right Hon. Friend to pledge the House to any specific course, or to ask them to come to any conclusion inconsistent with the usual mode of proceeding. Mr. WHITMORE apprehended that great inconve nience would arise from submitting the resolutions to the Committee, inasmuch as the House in Committee must, by their vote upon the resolutions, pledge themselves to some specific course. As he intended in the present year to pursue that course, which he had adopted last year, and to propose resolutions which would probably be dif ferent from those of the Right Hon. Gentleman, he doubted much whether a Committee was that form of the Ilouse in which such resokitions ought to be submitted. Mr. BARING said there could be no doubt that it would be most inexpedient for the House at once to pledge itself upon so complicated a plan ; but it was not to be sup posed that any gentleman bound hanself as to his future conduct by voting on Monday next for the resolu tions, if he should be called on for a vote. That vote would be a mere form of getting the business into shape. As far as his experience went, the coarse pnrsued was, on this question, to submit resolutions to the Com mittee, and have counter-resolutions submitted by other Hon. Members which, although perhaps irregularly sub mitted, were still suffered by the Ifouse to be printed, and then the question was adjourned till after the holidays. If any Hon. Gentleman would look into the Journals of that House, he would find that not only Government resolutions but counter-resolutions were suffered to be printed, and therefore there could be no difficulty in find ing a precedent for printing counter-resolutions, if any Hon. Gentleman should be disposed to submit them. Mr. HUME said that he intended, on Monday next, to submit a resolution for having a permanent fixed duty upon Corn, if by the forms of the House he was not prevented from doing so in a Committee. Mr. Secretary PEEL said he understood it to be the general wish of the House and the country, that before Easter some distinct explanations of the views of the Government, upon the Corn Question should be given —(Hear, hear, hear.)—He was perfectly prepared to comply with that wish, and at the same time avoid committing the House prematurely in ally difference of opinion on the subject. Pie hoped there would be no difference of opinion ❑pon Monday ; but if any Gentleman had counter-resolutions to propose, the usual courtesy of the House would permit the resolu tions on both sides to be printed. Although some thought it would be inconvenient to bring forward the ' resolutions in the proposed form, his opinion was that there would be an equal inconvenience in leaving the country until after the recess, in ignorance of the opinion of Govern ment on the question. Lord ALTHOLIP did not think it would be fair to call upon the House on Monday for a vote upon those re solutions, but he thought that the whole question ought to be left open to the consideration of the public until after Easter. Mr. PEEL said, the resolutions were to be so framed, as to have a Bill founded upon them ; still, if inconvenient to the House, there would be no necessity of calling for any determinate vote. Sir JOHN WROTTESLEY thought there ought to be a more distinct understanding than had been yet given, that the House would not be pledged a single stage in the bringing in of a new Bill, without ample time for considera tion. It was very desirable to know, then, the exact course which the Hight Honourable Gentleman meant to pursue on Monday. Mr. PEEL said all he wanted was, by some proceeding to put the country into possession of the views of Government upon the subject. If that object could be obtained either by a form of vote, or the chairman reporting, it was per fectly immaterial to him. The Order of the Day was the❑ postponed to Monday. REGISTRY OFFICE OF SCOTLAND. Sir J. NEWPORT moved the inquiry he had made on a former evening, respecting the office of Registrar in Scot land. He thought if it was necessary to retain the office ; the salary might be considerably reduced, as the business was now done by deputy. Mr. Secretary PEEL said he was waiting for informa tion before he made any appointment to the office. He understood the manual labour of the office required a deputy, but that there was a heavy pecuniary responsi bility attached to it. IRISH JURY BILL. On the motion of Mr. LAMB the House resolved itself into a Committee on the Irish Juries Bill. After a few observations from Mr. S. RICE, the Bill went through the Committee; after which the House resumed, and the report was ordered to be taken into further consideration on the 16th April next. Mr. LAMB obtained leave to bring in a Bill for Con solidating and Amending the laws relating to malicious injury to property in Ireland. TEST AND CORPORATION ACTS. Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved the Order of the Day fur the further consideration of the Report on the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts. The Bill was ordered to be engrossed, and read a third time on Monday next. PENRYN DISFRANCHISEMENT BILL. Lord J. RUSSELL moved the order of the day for the further consideration of the report upon the Penryn Disfranchisement Bill. Mr. STEWART rose to propose the introduction of a clause into the Bill. It had b een re p ea t e dl y d ec l a red in the discussions upon this Bill, that Penryn was to he dis franchised on account of the proofs laid before the House of the bribery and corruption so frequently practised there. Now, in transferring the franchise of that borough to Man chester, the House, to be consistent, should endeavour to guard against the prevalence of similar bribery and corrup tion there. It was with that view that he (Mr. Stewart) now rose to propose the introduction of a clause, rendering it imperative upon the members elected for Manchester to subscribe a declaration, before they took their seats in that House, to the effect that they had not procured their re turn by bribery or corruption, or by any other undue means. The Honourable Member concluded by moving, that after the words in the Bill "to vote at any elec tion," the following clause should be introduced—" and be it further enacted, that the burgesses who shall be re turned to serve in Parliament for the said borough, shall each be called upon, and required by the House of Com mons, before taking their seats, to make and subscribe the following declaration:—" I (A. B.) do solemnly declare, that I never gave, procured to be given, nor intended to give, through myself, or others, directly or indirectly, any I fee or reward to any of the electors of Manchester, to in.• fluence their votes at said election, and that it was not through any pecuniary consideration or promise that I was returned to serve in Parliament for said borough ; and I declare, to the beet of my knowledge, that I do not believe my return was procured or promoted at said election, by the interference, directly or indirectly, on the part of any Peer of Parliament, or by that of any person acting upon his behalf." Mr. D. W. HARVEY seconded the motion. Sir J. NEWPORT could have no possible objection to the proposer! clause, if made to apply generally to all elec tions.—(llear.)—Alany years ago, on the introduction of a Bill by the present Member for Cumberland, lie (Sir J. Newport) proposed a clause similar in import to the pre sent; but then he proposed it as a general measure, and as applicable to every Member of that House. He had a decided objection, however, to this clause, which would go to place the representation of Manchester upon a different footing from all others.—(Hear.).---It would be casting an imputation on the electors of Manchester, as if they were snore corrupt than any other electors in the United Kingdom, and would he subjecting their representatives to an ordeal which no other Member had to undergo. He was sure the House of Commons would not sanction such a partial measure. Mr. D. W. HARVEY should he as anxious as the Hon. Baronet to see a clause of this kind applied to all Members, whether returned firr counties, cities, or bo roughs, open or close ; but that was no reason why he should oppose the present clause because it was a partial measure. If a general measure of the kind were proposed, there would be an abundance of Members, at least on the other side of the House, to oppose it, and it would be characte rized 'there as too general and sweeping. Partial reform was now the fashion of the day. When the advocates of reform could not. remove the evils of the general system, they brought forward some instance of gross and manifest corruption, and the Mouse then dealt with the place as they were now dealing with Penryn, and, as lie supposed, they would hereafter deal with East Retford. In this way a partial benefit was procured, and the principle of reform was so far promoted and established. It was for these rea sons that he supported the motion. Mr. WARBURTON objected to the proposed clause, but not if accompanied by a clause introducing the secret mode of voting by ballot, which would enable the poor to vote, uninfluenced by the power or displeasure of the rich. Mr. PEEL would, most decidedly oppose the Bill if it contained any such clause as that recommended by the Hon. Member for Bridport. What ! did he mean that the electors should vote in secret ? Nothing could be more un• fair towards the electors of this country. 'Why should not electors be at liberty on the hustings to state their reasons in giving their votes, and to canvass the conduct of the several candidates proposed for their choice? If such a principle were admitted into tkis Bill, it should be then ad mitted generally. With respect to the clause before the House, he objected to it upon that ground particularly. The other night several special clauses, such as that re garding qualification, and which locally applied to Man chester, were agreed to. But if a general principle of this kind were to encumber the Bill, it might affect the final success of the measure. It would not be just that the re presentatives of Manchester should be called upon to make such a declaration, while it was not proposed to any other Member in that House. Mr. HUME believed that the Right Hon. Gentleman scarcely intended to convey the meaning which his words certainly bore. He objected to the principle of voting by ballot, and yet it was the course which this House adapted As the best and fairest, in the appointment of their Secret Committees. The lion. Gentleman would have an op portunity of discussing this subject on Monday, when he (Mr. Hume) intended to bring forward a motion' respect ing this, as the Hon. Gentleman seemed to think, very objectionable mode of proceeding. As to the regulation now under the consideration of the House, he would sug gest to the Hon. Member opposite, not to press for a divi sion, seeing that the feeling of the House was against the proposition, but to await the discussion of the general principle which he (Mr. Hume) would bring before the House on Monday, in the Committee upon the Bill intro • duced by the Hon. Member for Worcester, for regulating the polls in cities and boroughs. Mr. PEEL said, the Hon. Gentleman opposite had stated that the Committees of that House were chosen by ballot ; the Election Committees were certainly so chosen, but generally the Committees of the House were not se lected in that manner. Mr. HUME instanced the Secret Committees. Mr. PEEL admitted that such was the fact ; but secret committees had not been appointed by the House for many years past. The Right lion. Gentleman, in conclusion, suggested to Lord J. Russell the propriety of altering the clause in the Bill, which enabled the returning officer to stand as candidate at the election. Lord J. RUSSELL had introduced that clause into the Bill, as the boroughreeve at Manchester, who would be the returning officer was appointed by the Lord of the Manor, in order that no person who, it might be well known for some time previous to the election, intended to offer him self as a candidate, should be prevented from doing so by being appointed by the Lord of the Manor to the office of boroughreeve. He (Lord J. Russell) objected to the clause proposed by the Hon. Atoning- opposite, because it did not apply to other cities and boroughs. He did not see why the Members for Alanchester should he called upon to make a declaration which no other Member would be re quired to subscribe. Mr. C. W. WYNN was against making an exception to the general rule in this instance. Sir J. SCARLE'g'g was of opinion, that it was not expedient to make this a case different from all others. With regard to the declaration which it was proposed to require from the members for Blanchester, he would only say, that in no part of England could there be less ground for the suspicion of bribery and corruption than in Manchester The population there was vast, their independence great, and it was not therefore possible that the majority of the electors ever could be influenced by bribery or corruption.—(Hear, hear.) After a few words from Sir G. Puruars, Sir J. SCA K LETT, and Mr. STEWART, Strangers were ordered to withdraw ; the House then divided, when there appeared— For the amendment 1 Against it. l2O Majority ll9 While we were excluded, we understood that the other amendments were read and agreed to, and the report was ordered to be taken into further consideration some day next week. On the motion of Mr. Lion, the cities and towns (Ireland) Cleansing and Lighting Bill was read a first tune, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday next. THE WATER COMMISSION Mr. lIOBHOUSE seeing the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Secretary for the Home Department, in his place, wished to obtain some information from him respecting a report presented by the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the supply of water to the western parts of the me tropolis. That report was any thing but satisfactory, and he would request the Right Hon. Gentleman's attention to one or two passages in it. It appeared from the report, that it was the impression of the Commissioners, that their inquiry was to extend, not only to the present state of the supply of water to that part of the metropolis, but that they were also bound to suggest remedies for correcting the defects in that supply, and that, if no alteration could ren der the present mode of supply salubrious, it was in their power to suggest some other. Under this impression they entered upon an examination, and prepared a report, in which they state that they have collected a large mass of evidence on the subject. It was highly material that that evidence should be laid before the House. After stating that they had been " occupied for the last four months in collect. ing a large mass of evidence relating to a much more extended inquiry than was compri,ed in the questions to which the Right Hon. Gent. (Mr. Peel) had limited their commis sion," the Commissioners proceeded to may—" This evi dence, we hoped, would have prepared the way for our re commendation of a practicable and efficacious plan of sup plying the whole of the metropolis with pure and whole some water—an object which we cannot but esteem as of considerable importance, and which, as it appears kern the several petitions to Parliament giving occasion to the present commission, has been so loudly and so earnestly called for by the public." That appeared to him (Mr. Holshouse) to be the real and proper object of the commis sion. The Right Hon. Secretary objected to any expenses to be incurred in the taking of levels and making of surveys. Why was an eminent engineer appointed in the commis sion, if no surveys were to be made, and if the inquiry were to he confined to a mere analysis of the water ? It appeared to Mtn (Mr. Hubhouse) that the object of the commission was to suggest the best mode of affording a supply of salubrious water to the western part of the metropolis, and to the Surrey side of the river. That, it seems, was also the opinion of the Commissioners themselves. But now the Right Hon. Secretary of the Home Department limits their inquiry to a mere analysis of the water, and in reply they state to hint that the ana lysis will nut be completed for six weeks more. Now he (Mr. Hohhouse) would suggest to the Right Hon. Gentle man whether it would not be better to have the report which the Commissioners stated they had prepared, and the evi dence which they had taken, laid on the table of the House at present, instead of waiting for the completion of the analysis of the water. If they were to legislate at all upon this subject during this session, the production of these documents should not be delayed. He would again ask if the inquiry were merely to be limited to an analysis of the water, why was Mr. Telford, the able engineer, nominated on the commission, and why, in addition to Mr. Braude, the celebrated chymist, was Dr. Roget, a distinguished physician, also appointed ? He trusted the Right Hon. Gentleman would order the evidence to be laid before the House. _ ` Mr. PEEL when he returned to the office which he ' now filled, found that a Commission had been appointed under the former Secretary of State, and invested with powers to make full inquiry into the state of the suppl y o f ' water to the metropolis, and that the Commissioner s were empowered in this inquiry to examine persons upon oath, and to compel the examination of witnesses before them. ' It appeared to hint (Mr. Peel) that this w as g i v i ng to the Commissioners very ample powers indeed. The Commis sioners had applied to him o ( n A t l hre. ePxepeel)nsetowkhnicohw would n-hethbeer ' they were empowered to take levels and ma k e surveys. incurred by l)Cestll)Chobserl'ed,upon proceedings, and he hesitated therefore to adopt the suggestion.—( Hear, hear. )--On communicating with the late Secretary of State, he understood that such objects were not embraced in the Commission, and . his (31r. Peel's) present impression was, that the Commis sioners had not any thing to do after they had been ap pointed, but to make an analysis of the water now supplied to London by the several Water Companies. The Commis sioners were appointed upon the 25th of June, 1827, and on the 29th of February, 1828, their inquiry had pro ceeded so far that no analysis of the water had been made, and no analysis will be completed until the lapse of six weeks from that period. He thought the Com missioners should confine themselves to an analysis of the water, in order to ascertain if it could be obtained in a salubrious state from those parts of the Thames whence it was at present supplied ; and if not, that they should metropolisd r derived point out in their report those parts of the Thames . where a supply of pure salubrious water could he obtained. If that fact were ascertained and made public at once, com panies those‘% ply should be afforded to the public by companies than by -oupldarbtse ofsta tritieedritroersuwptlT.nwceattetrcetouldthbee the Government. It would be far better to l eave t h e matter to public enterprise and speculation than t o th e in terference of Government.—(Hear.)—He (Mr. Pe e l) h a d certainly objected to the taking of levels and making of surveys, on the ground of the expence ; and as soon as the reportofthe Commissioners was completed, he had no doubt but all those objects would he accomplished. He had not the slightest objection to the production of the evidence called for by the Hon. Member opposit e ; Mr. S. RICE said, a person had been appointed by the commission as secretary, who w as not calculated to dis charge the duties of that office, as he was not acquainted with the science of engin eer i ng . I n consequence, in No vember, application was made for the a pp o i ntment of anotherindividual to act in th a t d epartment. The sub ject was at that time laid before his Noble Friend (Lord Lansdowne),. then at th e h ea d of the Home-office. His Noble Friend at once expressed a doubt, whether any ex tensive plan of en g i neer i ng, or whether the erection of public works, necessar il y came under the direction of the Commissioners ; and he also declared, that he did not think the creation of any new berth was necessary, but lie added, that if the Commissioners thought it necessary, they should give in an es ti mate o f t h e probable amount of ex pence, which estimate should be laid before the Treasury, and a proper authority might then be given. The House would, he was sure, see the inexpediency of giving a num ber of gentlemen, however able, a roving commission to inquir e i nto t h e state of public works. No such egti* mates had been given in while he (Mr. S. Rice) syn'' the Home-office ; and he believed that none had been sent in up t o t h e present time. If, therefore, any delay had taken pl ace , i t was rat h er to be attribute d to the LA) sioners themselves than to any other persons• Mr. PEEL was willing that the evidence already taken bhould be produced, provided that it did not tend to pre judice the question. He should, however, see the Com missioners to-morrow, and hear what they had to say on the subject. LEAD MINES. Lord W. POWLETT presented a petition from the proprietors of lead mines in the county rof Durham. The petitioners complained that th e population in that part of the country, who chiefly subsisted by working those mines, were plunged in the deepest distress, in conse quence of a clause in a recent Act of Parliament, by which the duty on the importation of foreign lead ore was reduced ; and they prayed for relief. NiTheta be stated, that i❑ Durham and the neighbouring count/ there were between 40,000 and 50,000 persons wiwt e subsistence depended entirely on the mines, the Bub' ject would at once be recognized as one of considerable importance. The petitioners stated that Spanish eft to a considerable amount was imported into this country► and he was informed that the Spanish ore was of a much finer quality than the ore of this kingdom ; and they wished to call the attention of the Right Hon. Gentleman to the inequality between the duty on lead sic imported, as com pared with that charged on manufactured lead. The duty on the former was 1 Os. a ton ; on the latter it was upwar , !e of 40s. They were desirous that these duties should be equalized. He must, however, in candour observe, that there bad been so small an importation of the raw material for some years, that he did not think it could have opera ted against this country. He believed the real cause of the depression arose from a very considerable quantity of the Spanish ore being sent to South America, which shut n 5 out of that market. The mines of Spain yielded 40,000 tons of lea 44 per veer; and of that quantity 20,000 tons were exported. The subject was however, yell worthy of consideration, since the British mines employed a n im mense number of persons who had no other means of sub sistence whatever. Mr. HUSKISSON said, an alteration had undoubtedlY been made in the law on this subject ; but he did not attri bute the depression complained of to that circumstance. The scale of duty had been lowered with reference to lead ore ; and an additional duty had been placed on the manu factured article. That plan was adopted because it gave an opportunity for the employment of British capital, and the exertion of British industry, in the manufacttue of the rare article. The importation had been, however, so small, that he could not attribute to that cause the depression which be, in common with the Noble Lord, deplored; nue!, which he (M r . H us ki sson ) would immediately remedy, he knew any means of doing so. He could sot consent to repeal the 'law, a course which would not relieve the parties, and which.would, in fact, seem like a recall of those measures with respect to the commercial policy of thto country, in the propriety of which the House had agreed with him. Mr. WARBURTON•observed, that lead mines of pecu liar richness had been discovered in Spain, and from those mines she supplied the world with this article. That being the case, it was impossible that any thing could be done by the Government to effect the change required by the petitioners. Mr. SYKES entirely agreed with the principle laid down by the Right Hon. Gentleman,—namely, that greater impost should be laid on the manufactured than on the unmanufactured article, and he wished the Right Hon. Gentleman would in all cases adhere to that principle. But in one very important branch of our trade, a rule di rectly contrary was adopted : he alluded to the timber trade. With respect to that trade, a higher duty was charged on timber in the beam, than when it was sawed into boards. The petition was read, and ordered to be printed. SALMON FISHERIES (SCOTLAND). Mr. H. DRUMMOND obtained leave to bring in a bill to regulate the salmon fisheries in Scotland. Adjourned at Seven o'Clock. PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. BANK NOTES. An Account of the total number of Notes of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, under the value of W., which has been issued during each and every Week from the 11th of February, 1828, until Saturday preceding the 15th of March, 1828; and also the total number of Notes under the value of 51. actually in circulation at the close of the business on every such Saturday, pursuant to Act 7th Geo. IV., cap. 6• Number on Notes of £1 issued. ;Amount in Citeula tion of Notes under I the value of £5. Both inclusive. Front Feb. 11 to Feb. 16.., Nil Feb. 16 419,(CS From Feb. 18 to Feb. 23.,, Nil Feb. 23 418,013 From Feb. 2; to March 1... Nil March 1 11.5,855 From March 3to March 8... Nil March 8 ;14,36 1 N. B. No other Notes under the value of 5/. have been issued. (Signed) WM. DAWES, Acct.-Gen. Bank of England. March 13, 1828. MALT. Au Account of the Number of Bushels of Malt charged with Duty in the United Kingdom, separating each Country, from Jin. 5, 1827, to January . s, 1828 ; die tinguisbin g the Quantity used by Brewers and Victual' lers, and the Quantity used in the Distillery ; so far a$ tile same cause can be ascertained. Bushels of Malt charged with Duty. ----------- England ............... 25,096,338 Scotland ............... 2,714,074 Ireland ................ 1,806,795' The United Kingdom 29,617,207 Bushels of Malt used by Brewers and In the Victuallers. Distillery. 2 20,575,0331 636,654' 1,384,94" 302,253 !,243,306 837,645 122,596,634 3,383,264 J. Excise Offi ce , Londo EWBAN, Gen n, March 17,128 .-Accountant.. HOPS. Abstract of an Account of the Tetal Numbers of Acres of Land in Great Britain under the Cultivation of Hops, in the Year 1827. Numb er of . Colleetion. I Number of Collecti ons. Acres. Acres. -- ----'------- - 8 11.16 Oxford ................ 10 4.16 Barnstaple Bedford at Plymouth ............ 4 8-16 Cambridge -16 Reading ............... 11. Canterbury 8,024 12-16 Rochester ............ 13, Cornwall Chester 1 12.16! Sarum .. . .............. 1,043 B_l6 Derby . 11 Somerset ............. 1 106 ! Stourbridge ........ 749 4-1 6 Dorset Essex 503 8-l6i Surrey Exeter 2tl 8.16 t Su ssex Glouce ster 7 8-16 Uxbridge - 16 Granthain ......... ... 28 4.16 Wales, East l 9- 16 Hants....—. .......... J,556 8.16 Middle Hereford ............ . 19,141 -- West KA Isle of Wight ...... 1 Wellington Lincoln ............... 536 Worcester........ 4 2,259 14-1 6 Northampton ...... Marlbro' —___......... 2 4461 Total 49.485 9-16 ---- 49,485 9.16 Excise Office, London, March 17, 1828. BEER. An Account o f t h e N umber of Barrels of Strong, Table, and Intermediate Beer, chargeable to the Duties of Ex cise, brewed in England, Scotland, and Wales, from sth, January, 1827, to sth January, 1828, distinguish ing the Number of Barrels brewed within the limits of the Chief Office of Excise, and within each of the se veral Collections, particularising the quantity brewed by Public Brewers, Licensed Victuallers, Intermediate Brewers, and Retail Brewers; also the Number of Bar refs of Strong Beer exported during the above period. COUNTRY COLLECTION. Number of Barrels of Beer brewed by Public Brewers-- 2,315,082 strong, 725,068 table. Ditto by Victuallers-2,328,067 strong, 478,688 table. Ditto by Retail Brewers-142,968 strong, 34,069 table. Ditto by Intermediate Brewers-1,178. LONDON WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE CHIEF (mum Number of Barrels o f B eer brewed by Public Brewers.— 1,582,198 btrong, 274,828 table. Ditto by Victuallers-6,001 strong, 9,333 tabl e . I)itto byby Intermediate ßetailr Brewers— re l x 9 e , r o B- 95 15,9 strong,. 1 8,762 table. Ditto TOTAL ENGLAND AND WALES. Number of Barrels of Beer brewed by Public Brewers—. 3,897,280 strong, 999,89 6 table. Ditto by Victuallers --2,:331,068 s t rong, 486,016 tab l e. Ditto by Retail Brewers-162 , 0 63 s t rong , 5 2,83 1 table. Ditto by Intermediate Brewers --17,153. 188 ,366 table. TOTAL SCOTLAND. "r lf el-n ie g t ' uallers—...4,s9B strong, 4 8,813 tabl e . Number of B arrels o f Beer brewed by Publießrewers -02,q28 by by Intermediate Brewers-- o - • by Retail B revers-1,493 strong, 4 ,112 table. p 1 31) i i i t t t ttt ‘EAND TOTAL. __r ~,i Number of Barrels of Beer brewed by Public Brewers-- 1,000,208 strong, 1,188,262 table. Ditto by Victuallers -2,338,665 strong, 636,829 table. to Ditto by Ret a il Brewers -1 66,556 strong, 56,918 ble. Ditto by Intermediate Brewers-17053. 87 e 3 NUMBER OF BARRELS OF STRON G BEER EXFORI ED YOM ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND WALES. Country Collections, 9,651 b arrels; Loudon within the 49 ,222 dit to; Total England Total S cotland, 2,605 ditto 1 limits Grand ao T ife o stP t i a l 1e5,8C6, I hi ,378 f °diTtoce; ditto. Three men, who, a few days since met toge ther at a public-house in this city, joking over some ale, agreed to go and get measured for their coffins, which was accordingly dune ;and, si ngu l ar as it may appear, they have all three since paid the debt of natur e , and now occupy their new and last habitations, having survived their joke but a few days..—Zreter Flyiv Post. 8,733 4 4-16 1 9 -15 139 R. 16 goof will three is tc enabl the d tyran fear he purpt ratio vile inten t other. tinge] natio] bindi value the el as if if th, gain it is the ft wouli did 114 an un whici and cl The the ep they at ban. Court, - The been tr 1 I 1. ii 2. ".!-. Bra, Hite polo Diu( Unit Ran Cons Gov. Dim 6 per Gov. Roya Gran Anil 0 .•........... _-~: our to ( CAI that gervi cont; and 1 Cath ings sever the day vengi lielpl to p child drive taino mit strue i may