The Sun. — London, England, 1841-04-01 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION. netted with the social position of that country ? Was it not the question which related to the appointment of ministers of the Establishment there ? And what question could there possibly be in which the feelings of all parties concerned more impera tive required a tolerable comprehension of the claims of religion than those he had mentioned ? He did not allude to the case of Ireland, where it was unhappily but too notorious how widely they were separated by religious differences, an d w h a t immense difficulties and perplexities had beset the course of legislation in the House in consequence of those differences. If this was the case, if Christianity but only generally pervaded the principl e o f our l aws , i f th e glory of God, in relation to the Christian religion, be not only professed in our daily worship as a guide and guaran tee of all our acts, if all the questions on which it was most difficult to legislate were intimately associated with the main prunciples of Christianity, he would say that it was perfectly competent to argue that those who must necessarily, as conscientious men, regard Christianity as a fable and an imposture, could not be calculated to enter into the consideration of such questions. It was said, however, that they had admitted Dissenters and Roman Catholics to office, and that having done so, either it was not wise to exclude the members of the Jewish persuasion, or that they ought not in common consistency to refuse them such a privilege. That, however, he denied. Such pro fessions were very different from those wbieh had been made when the claims of the Roman Catholics and the Dissenters were under consideration. Parliament was then told oftho bond of a common Christianity uniting all the three. He remembered having heard of a passage in the speech of an Hon. and Gallant Officer ( Sir G. Murray), now no longer a member of that House, which had produced a great effect. That Hon. and Gallant Officer had al luded to the sympathy existing between his Roman Catho lic fellow-soldiers and himself by the bond of one common belief in one Redeemer, and by their possessing a com mon 'hope of salvation. That speech had produced a great impression at the time, and such sentiments were calculated to produce a great effect; but they were totally beside the present question. But there were other consi- ' derations which broadly distiagnished the case of the Ro. ' man Catholics and the Dissenters from that of the Jews. In the first place, while four-fifths of the population of one part of the United Kinglom consisted of Roman Catholics, at Gould not be said with anything like truth that this was a Protestant country. The Roman Catholics formed a large portion of the population, and it could not be ex pected that for any very long period they would consent to be excluded from admission t 9 civil offices ; and when they considered the fact that the Roman Catholics formed the bulk ef the people of Ireland, they certainly had a right to expect that they should be ad mitted to their share in the Constitution, unless some special reason could be shown for their exclusion from thu administration of hie affairs of the coutitry. The Roman Catholics and Dissenters had also their feelings embittered by former suffarizie. Tho Ro nen Catholics particularly were smarting under the tecollet tine of centuries of op pression. —( Loud cheers front the Ministerial benches.) He would repent the phrase, and the only qualification he would give to it wee that oppressiou had been endured by them partly as Remaa Cethoiies and partly as Irish men—partly as re, ee pessessing a different religion from that established—a pertly as men belonging to a country which had been tallest,: invaded arid coequerel.—( Loud cheers.) Under tho.is circumstances t!ley certainly had an equitable claim to perticipston in the Constitution, on the ground of I. eing enah'e I to defeed themselve's from future oppresssion. It c:ight le very well to say to them they were not sett the tine, n'though, literally speaking, even thw would not be ; but they were en titled to have soil e security that tune sufferings should not again be infl c.ed on them. Now, let this case be - .compared with that of the J ew s. The one adhered to ti:e test of Christianity; the other did not. Tice Catho lics were a large body, forming a vast majority cl the po pulation of ono part of the United Kingdom. Now what were the Jews ? The Jews were hardly perceptible upon she face of Briti,ll society, of which they formed an ex tremely Mall and fractional clement. Therefore it was no t worth while so strictly to contest the point of their ad mission to office. They were asked to surrender the prin ciple ref the Coeetiettion for the sake of these persons, and as this wee ers ef the, eluestione which must be deter mined by an eialtibio tt,:r,c--i of c ono considerations. and the deviation «oi:eat eas one of nri.:! there Lad been ?hitherto no exampl ee hots a riele t . consider wllo were hose that made tr,:• deuun.d. and .slant sac th e moral lec iot which (her w, , re cn Lied to ex .reity.—(Hefir, h e tr.) Then, ter re.uect to tie point of gricsabc-, he was tot aware that 11:;r p-tuna against whom the fe`eiinge of the popols , i in of this country hal been .violeuily excited, :le .s rim it they had been martin.; une l er the oepre;sien of grunting law=, or that they were like-.; try T;), , C was n e prat tote for a case of practical e ievaime, or foe tint prulitbility of such grievance. Sit,. sio ale patien was net ma 'et by any .. A dvocate of the preent —( lieu, heat)—weereas in :he case of Dixie ewe end still inor: of Reecan Catholics there were allegatiiti„, ned true allegations Of practical serievtnce. By preetiesl grievance be meant something beyond s mere negation of pol-ical privileges. The gees *foe whethOv the lettlaholning of . poliei al privileges was a gr i ev ance o r ;sot open for citscassion, and must be de termined by greee'el 'o l, tical C nsi.leratiees. and -by the balances, of those stions. lie would i lustrate this point. There we is eell some offices in this coutery to which the reliei..us z wig Strictly applied ; it was ap flied to the bolder ef toe Crewe', to the Ler,' Cnencellor, and to certain great officers i 9 I eland.—(Hear,' hear.) He had never heard it stated that in those partioular cases it was a practical grievance that the religious test sheeld bit applied. To contend that a c ivil office was in itself a practical gti var.ce was to mako the whole system of legislation Impracticable, for it would not Deily apply to religior, but to every Case in which the franchisee itself was concerned.—( Hear, hear.) fie would not furtiaer trouble the House. The disqualification which b e saw i n this case, and which lie did not allege to be a di squ alification which tinder all possible circumstances ought to remelt:, was ono of this nature—that comparing them with other cl .s.is.4; of the community, and upon a full view of their social position and of the principles of the Constitution, the Cent titu tion in his opinion!would;be better preserved; by limitation of the %mining of office to Chris tians than by the admission of the Jeer. With relation to one part of the subject he could net help reminding the House that there had Lean days, and they might again re turn, when that House ead found it necessary to exercise :'unctions of a more religieui and ecclesiastical nature than had hitherto fallen to its lot. There had been days like the days of Queen Eazebeih, like the days ef Charles tho First, and like the days of Charles the Second, and like the days of Willis a the Third, when the British Parliament was called upon to apply themselves directly to the consideration of questions of religion— so the question of what should he the form of religion-- lee d what the public worship of the whole nation should be. All these things had recessarily passed in review before ' both Houses of Parliament, and when the adoption of one f orm or another depended upon the voice of Parliament, be maintained that that House was, to a certain extent, disqualified (he me, ely mean the word in its abstract sense) and rendered less competent, to a certain extent, to dis cuss such questions. lie confessed he, for one, d d not complain of the change that had taker" place in the Con stitution of the House. He admitted that it had lost part of its competency to apply itself to questions which, in the 16th and 17th century, it had been called upon to discuss, but then that competency must be regulated and modified by the circumstances which had incorporated into that House persons who differed from them in religion, and which would have made it unreasonable to have excluded them. But as the number of religionists of different sects in Par liament increased, it was manifest that that incompetency must increase. They would progressively go on from one step to another, and the time would come when the mix. tote of creeds would be so great, that it would be an in sult to public decency if that House should continue to discharge ecclesiastical functions. Therefore in every fresh introduction of a different class of persons there was a tendency to disqualify the House front interfering with matters of religion, and a tendency which it appeared to Lim, should be checked, to overthrow the principles of national religion. The further that change was extended the mere difficult would it be for the House to do what it bad been called upon :o do in ancient times, and he con tended that it wa.3 logically and de monstratively established, that these changes had a tendenc y thoe to s overthrow the prin ciples of national religion. On grounds mh he would move that the Bill be read that day.six Mr. PRINGLE seconded the motion. month s. Mr. MA CA UL A Y rose amidst loud cries of s' Divide. " He could make a llowance for Hon . G entleman, and h e would detain the House for a very little while indeed.— (Hear. ) fl'e would confine himself to a few words upon a remark made by his floe. Friend ( Mr. Gladstone), an d repeated by the Hon. Gentleman who spoke last. Those Hon. Gentlften had treated the Bill in a very improper manner. They treated it as it would relieve the Jews from all Civil disabilities whatever, and would render them eli gible to sit in Parliament. His Noble Friend (Lord J. Russell) undoubtedly said that they ought to be admitted to seats its Parliament, and he (Mr. M a caulay) was of the same opinion.—( Hear.) But that was not the question . at present. This was a measure for admitting them to cite and municipal o ffi ces, and his Hon. Friend opposed it, not because ho gave any reason for thinking Jews incompetent to fill such offices, but because he thought them not com petent to act in the Legislature.—( Hear.) His Hon. Friend alluded to the prayers which were offered up in that House, and he asked could Jews join in them ? But that was a question which would apply to many Gentlemen al ready in that House.—( Hear, hear, hear.) There was one Gentleman, a member of a highly resp ectable sect, which considered such a form of prayer as irre ligious--(Hear.) His Hon/a:retie Friend said that the prayer asked for the promotion of true religion. But there was as much difference already in the House on the subject of true religion, as there was between the Jew and th e Church Etigtand.— (liear, he , ) The Roman Catholic differed from protestant, and the Unitarian differed from the Trinitarian, a s to wlat teas the true re ligion. Which ever of them wee right, there must be great deal of false te; teion in the House of Commons. (Hear, hear, hear.) But it Wilt sot the object of the Bill to introduce the Jews to Pa.h n arnen ht the Jews compe H te e n c t al t l o ed d o is n ch e a v r ery e gentleman who thou,t he duties of municipal racers to vo te f or this Bill, withoutg r k e , e h e n ni t that t x i t r y h :a r e ° ti n : ea ci s k e e d d n f o o w r being deterred by au j ' u t s ri t P , what was right and -something which he eensid cr ed improper. _(Hear, h ear .) His Hon. Friend all :rind t ) the dieracted state of Scotland, and hi, unp,ied ae appreeension that the legislation of Jews upon that subject would be i m _ proper. Surely he did net apprehend that they would ' attempt a system of ercsailieni, and carry over the people in thousands from the itirk to the 53nee'egue ?—(" Hear, bear," and a laug-. ) The only thing to be apprehended from the Jews in re ,, - ad to the Church would be that they would moat likely' t ate the voluntary system , which already had nuratir.:'aevecat - ce in that House. But he would leave th e q's • 4.in to his Hon. Friend's own deci sion. Wo u ld it he eccenteed by himself a serious grievance to be ih urrcd by his religious opinions from civil office—(Cho rsj-.from ei tine in i. at House, (,1 which lie wee cisao; posertti et Me-abet ?—.( Cheers.) It was could be shown not to be a grievance to any man when inflicted by law for some , strong principle of necessity. If Gentlemen made out the necessity, just in the same manner as they argued for this, they might argue for all sorts of punishment for religious opinions, for whipping or burning.—( Cheers.) But it was said that the Jews were few—(Hear, hear)—and therefore it did not matter whether they lay under a grievance or net.—(Hear, hear.) The Irish Catholics were six or seven millions, the Protestant Dissenters were some millions. The Irish Catholics wished to re turn Members to Parliament, they did return a Member for Clare, and the Duke of Wellington, who had cou rage to resist the utmost power of Bonaparte, had not nerve enough to face the consequences of the hostility of disaffected millions. But the Jews were few, we need not apprehend an insurrection in Petticoat-lane or in Duke's place. We need not dread formidable meetings like those in the Corn Exchange, if we withheld from them their rights, and therefore it was said they should be withheld. Tbis argument would be equally strong against the Quakers. The number of Quakers was smaller than that of the Jove, and on what principle did they admit the one and exclude the ether ? It must be remembered also that this argument told both ways. If on the one hand serious injury to the State was not to be apprehended from the hostility of the Jewish population, on the other hand, there was no reason to apprehend their predominance among the people in such a manner as to diminish the numbers who belonged to the established religion. They were a small sect, and not a proselyting one, and therefore, if these circumstances were urged to show there would be no danger in refusing their claims, it might also be used to show that there would be no danger in granting them.— (Hear, hear.) The House of Commons used to exercise functions much more important than now belonged to them. They were formerly called upon to make articles end forms, and modes of worship, duties which it was not likely they would be again called upon to exe cute. For his own part, he (Mr. Macaulay) had of late seen so much proof how little Articles were able to bind the ingenuity of casuists, that he should be sorry to see them occupied in framing any more such cobwebs.— (Cheers.) He could only wish for that which would put an end to this Bill and all such• Bills—enlightened tolera tion; but if learned persons elsewhere would teach the Jews some of their own ingenuity, there could not then be the slightest doubt but that, as they swallowed confession and absolution, so these tests also would be swallowed without the slightest hesitation.—(Cheers.) He would venture to say that a better gloss could be found for a Jewish declaration than other glosses which he had seen— ( Hear, hear)—and that not merely for the purpose of ob taining civil offices, but in order to hold the faith of Rome with the endowments of the English Church.—(Load cheers.) He regretted that the Hon. Gentleman who had seconded the motion, bad introduced some topics which might, in his (Mr. Macaulay's) opinion, have better been omitted. The Eon. Gentleman had alluded to the great national crime committed by the Jewish people more than eighteen hundred years ago; but he (Mr. Macaulay) did not think that House was a proper place in which to make such an allusion. He should at all events say that, from that event, the most solemn which man could con template, there was one lesson to be derived which should not be forgotten. They should remember that the greatest crime ever committed upon earth was committed by men who knew not what they did under the influence of religious I intolerance. For his own part he should say that on every occasion in which an attempt was made in that House to take away any civil disability imposed upon men in con sequence of their religious opinions, it should receive his most strenuous support. —( Cheers. ) Mr. GOULBURN was surprised tohave heardtheHon, Gentleman state in one part a his speech that there was no greater difference between Christians and Jews than be tween different sects of Christians._(" Nu, uo.") Nlr. MACAULA Y said that what he had stated was that there was not a single question of a religious cha racter which his Hon. Friend had alluded to in which be could possibly differ more widely from the Jews than he differed from Member■ of that Housc. Mr. GOULBURN—Then the Right Hun. Gentleman pre up that point. The difference between them was this :—Were they or were they not to admit to a Chris tian community those who held the Christian religion in abhorrence ?—( Hear, hear.) Could any body deny that this measure was only the forerunner of a Bill for the ge neral admission of the Jews into all :aces. He thought, according to the statements of his Honourablo Fiend, the Jews could not he ad.nitted to the administra•iou cf the law in a Christian community. If such was the case, what, he would ask, would a Jex do when he was called on to enforce the law with respect to blasphemy, or the keeping holy the Sebh•th day? The non. Gentletnan had spoken of the liberality of the Jews. Could there be any doubt if a Jew was asked to admit the heathen or the Mahonsedan, that he would refuse to do so ? In condo. sign, be felt baund to support the amendment of his Hon. Friend. Sir R. INGLIS opposed the third reading of the Bill ; on a former occasion be felt that the Bill now under con shc-ation involved she whole question of the admission cf the Jews into all offices, and he was of the same opinion still. W;th regard to the centuries of misrule to which his lion. Friend had referred, he must observe, that whatever mil rule there was in Ireland, it existed long before the dis. tinction of Protestant and Romeo Catholic could be traced in their history, and must be attributed to a different order of things. His opinions remained unchanged, and he should vote for the amendment of his lion. Friend.— (Loudcriesof " Divide.") Lord SANDON (lid not think that any good grounds had been stated for refusing to confer corporate offices upon a very respectable class of reen.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. MILNES must vote against the motion of his Hon. Fliend, the Member for Newark,—(HeAr, hoar.) He regretted to see the spirit in which religious subjects were discussed in that House, and if he wished for any further proof of their utter incompetency to discuss reli gious questions, he could ask for nothing better than the speech of his Right Hon. Friend, the Secretary at War, who delivered over, ex cathedra, to the Church of Rome, a body of men who considered themselves the best and most faithful sons, or, he might say, fathers of the Church. After a fow words from Mr. ESTCOURT, which wore quite inaudible in the gallery, Mr. DIVETT, having undertaken the conduct of the Bill through the House, begged to make a few remarks. _ . He regretted to see the jobbing spirit which prevailed in the Universities, and that their repre3entativcs in that . . House exhibited those institutions as places where reli gion was not regarded, inasmuch as it made men better and wiser, in order to make it a job.—(" Oh," and cheers.) They had seen that spirit evinced in the grossest way lately in proceedings at law.—(Hear, bear. ) He confessed he was anxious that they should exhibit a more becoming spirit, and that, instead of endeavouring to keep people out of their civil rights, they sho u ld exten charity to men of all sects.—( Cries of " Divide.") The House then divided. The numbers were— For the third reading For the amendment... Majority for the Bill _____77 The Bill was then passed. The Parish Constables Bill was read a second time. The Charitable Trusts Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on the 28th of April. The Double Costs Bill went through Committee. The Report was brought up, and ordered to be taken into con sideration on to-morrow (this day.) The Houghing of Cattle (Ireland) Bill then went through Committee, and the Report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow. Mr. BAINBRIDGE moved for certain returns con nected with the distillation and importation of spirits.— Ordered. The ether Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Half-past Seven. ANTI-CORN-LAW MEETING. The second annual meeting of the Metropolitan Anti- Corn-law Association was held yesterday in the Crown and Anchor Tavern, Strand. The Chair was taken soon after one o'clock by H. WAR who was supported by Mr. Place, BURTON, Esq., M.P., Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Villiers, M.P., Mr. R. Stuart, M. P., Mr. Thornely, M. P., Mr. Easthope, M. P., Mr. Ewart, M. P., Mr. Milner Gibson, and several other gentlemen of eminence. The Secretary (Mr. Sidney Smith) was called upon to read the Report, which was as follows: The Business Committee of the Metropolitan Anti-Corn-law Association, appointed to transact all the business of the As sociation in its details, beg leave to report as follows : That the first Report of your Committee was made at a meeting of the Members of the Association, held at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand, on the 3d of Augast, 1840. That Report contained an account of the origin of the As sociation, and of the difficulties it had to encounter—First, from the general apathy of the middle class ; and second, from the hostility of the more political portion of the working class. It congratulated the meeting up on the decline o f ap a thy in the one class, and upon the cessation, to a considerable extent, of the hostility of the other. Your Committee have now the pleasure to report that a very large portion of the middle class, as well as vast numbers the working people , have become all over the metropolis, of active promoters of the objects of this Association. That no fewer than Seventeen Local Associations have been formed in and around London, each em bracing a numerous population ; that si m il ar A ssociations are in course of forma tion, and your Committee doubt not that in a short time every district of this vast metropolis and its suburbs will establish an Anti-Corn-law Association. Your Committee feel justified in considering this great pro gress, within the short period of thirt een months, tobetts portant 29 it i s unparalleled ; and that it i s a strong practical, and conclusive testimony of the sound understanding of the people, and of the manly and energetic spirit with which the great cause of Cern-law Repeal has been embraced. Your Committee have great pleasure in being able to report that the same spirit is spreading rapidly in every direction, and will, ere long, animate the whole countr y . he great, varied, and judicious exertions of the Members of the National Anti-Cora Law League have been ext en d e d ' over a large portion of the United Kingdom. Energetic and well-qualified gentlemen, under the auspices of the League, have been eminently successful in their efforts to convey useful instruction to the people. They have been well received in every part of the kingdom. Their lectures have been numerously attended, and in no part ofthe country w snore satisfactorily than in the south-western counties, ) inoa y which the the supporters of the Corn Laws declared, l they dared not show themselves. So broad, so strong, s ' o ' genial is the light these gentlemen have diffused, that the League have only to continue their exertions, in conjunction with this Association and other Central Associations, to cause the enrolment, in aid of the Repeal of the Corn Laws, of the whole of the thinking portion of the population of this great empire. Their useful and well-conducted publications, and their individual and collective exertions, each and all deserve the cordial approbation, not only of this Association, but of every man who is an enlightened friend of his country, its trade, com merce, manufactures, and the well-being of its people, and more especially of those who, while their labour mainly crtri butes to its pre-eminence, are more than others oppressed by the unjust laws which it is the object of the League to abolish. Your Committee have also great satisfaction in noticing the active and successful efforts of the "Glasgow Anti-Corn-law Association," from which has just issued an admirable " Ad dress to the people of Scotland." Since the date of the last. Report, several new features in the progress of the Anti-Corn-law movement have presented them selves. Of these, none is more worthy of notice than the effect p•roduced on the station by the important evidence which was , given last year before a Committee of the House of Com- THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1841 mons, by persons of great official and commercial experience, in respect to the enormous amount of the injury which is inflicted on the country by the Food Monopoly. Not only has a large impression of a digest of the Report containing this evidence been entirely sold off, but no fewer than three new editions have been called for, involving an immediate issue of nearly twenty thousand copies ; thus evincing the great interest which is occupying the public mind on the subject of the Corn-laws, and indeed on the whole system of restrictive policy. A well-timed manifesto has also appeared, signed by nearly oae hundred and fifty influential Members of the House of Commons. which it is hoped may help to induce her Majesty's Government to give their earliest and immediate attention to the baneful effects which are produced by the Corn Monopoly on the revenue and prosperity of the State. Your Committee have to report that the extensive and mul tifarious business of the Association has been arduous and difficult : how well it has been managed, the occurrences of the past year will testify. Your Committee hope that the Association do them the justice to think that all the effects have been produced which could be accomplished by aid of the fund subscribed amounting last year to 962/. 4s. 2d. The large space over which their efforts have been extended, and the immense number of persons who, in consequence thereof, have been induced, directly and indirectly, to become advo cates for the Repeal of the Food Monopoly, have opened up new sources of continued, unremitted exertion ; and your Com mittee aro satisfied that if the means be provided, everything which has been indicated as probable, will be accomplished. Most of the original subscribers have promised to renew their subscriptions, and some of them, it is expected, will double the amount ef theirs ; and your Committee have only to observe, with respect to what are usually called the sinews of war, that should these, as they expect they will, be fully provided, they shall be carefully and economically expended, and as clearly accounted for as those which were formerly entrusted to them have been in the first Report made by the Committee to the Association. Your Committee are of opinion that the business of the Association should continue to be conducted as it has hitherto been, but upon a larger scale ; and they expect that, supported as they will be by the Local Associations in the metropolis, and aided by and aiding the National Anti-Corn-law League, and the Association at Glasgow, good may be done to an extent which, they believe, has hitherto been thought impracticable by all but a very small number of their friends. After mature deliberation your Committee feel justified in recommending a renewal of the measure of petitions to Par liament ; because, notwithstanding the apparent disrespect with which the Legislature last Session treated the question, it is very certain that the effect of addressing the House of Com mons was to diminish the former adverse majority. Your Committee have also come to the resolution of advising the presentation of one large national petition to the Queen against the Corn-laws, praying her Majesty to instruct her Government to take the subject into their immediate con sideration. Your Committee cannot conclude their Report in a better way than in the words of a former Address,thus : " Finally, then, permit us, fellow-citizens, solemnly to ap peal to your sympathy—to your intelligence—to invoke your aid and co-operatisn • since, deeply assured as we are t h a t our object, the TOTAL co-operation; L OF THE CORN -LAWS, iS for the welfare of all, so must it be the imperative duty of all to aid in its accomplishment." By order of the Committee. FRANCIS PLACE, Chairman. SIDNEY SMITII, Secretary. Mr, BEACON moved that the Report just read be adopted, and circulated amongst the Members of the As sociation. • Mr. ASHDOWN, as a stranger, most cordially seconded the motion. He had been quite ignorant of the principles of Corn-law Repealers, until some of the publications of the Association fell into his hands—they made him begin to think upon the question, and having done so, he was at once convinced, and he with the assistance of a few friends got up a Branch Association, their eminent lec turer, Mr. J. Smith came down, and the consequence was, they were now going on with great promise of success. The resolution was passed unanimously. Mr. VlLLises was then called upon to move the first resolution, and appeared amidst loud cheers. He said he attended the meeting in obedience to a summons from the Committee, because be had been unwilling on that as on former occasions, to shrink from bearing his portion of the trouble and inconvenience that must be inseparable from forwarding the question they had met to discuss. He could not, however, claim any credit for the holding of the meeting, because so long ns the unhappy differences existed between large sections of the people, he was of opinion that there was not much usefulness effected in meetings of that sort ; but he had been informed that at the last meeting, owing to the unfortunate confusion that prevailed, the Committee had been prevented from completing the proceedings ne teissry for the maintenance of the Association, aad in order to keep it alive it was neeessary that a future meet ing should be held. He was pe, fectly ccrt4iu that that would be considered a good reason, ned ono which fully justified the Committee in calling the present meeting, for he was assured that here was net one present who would not be of opinion that the Association should be continued. Viheu he referred to the peculiar character of the meet ing, and to the Vferences of opinion which exi , ;ted nroongst the people, he di i not object to public meetings, because he thought they were the great cure for all evils in taings politic, sad that although an error had been committed he had no doubt but that in the course of time, and that very shortly, that error would be perceived and corrected. Tae ueople were misled—they had been misguided—by individuals who had gained an ascendancy over them for a time., but their good sense would soon perceive that if the course which had recently been pursued at public meet ings were to be persevered in it would net be tolerated in this country. It was against all the habits of the English people.—( Cheers.) They were accustomed to express their feelings fully, and allow others to do the same. ( Cheers.) But if a body of men were to make a practice of coming into all sorts of public meetings, not for the purpose of discussing its objects. hut for the express pur pose of disturbing their proceedings, it would be consi dered the utmost stretch of tyranny, and Englishmen would not bear it. By such a system a few persons had it in their power to put an end to free discussion altogether. When he objected to the course pursued by some portion of the people it was not that he objected to the views they held upon the Corn-laws, but to the manner in which they attempted to carry their own views into effect. On the contrary, he thought that their views—that their opinions formed a t ery fit subject for discussion.—( Cheere.) They were of opinion that no good could be done, or any evil re dressed, until they had a perfect reform of the representa tive system, according to the principles contained in the Charter. They were for striking at the root of the evils which oppressed them. That, in his opinion, was a very fair question for discussion, and he was very much disposed to agree with them that until there was some better distri bution of political power they would never obtain that jus tice to which they were entitled.—( Cheers.) But that was no reason why they should disturb all meetings called for other purposes than those of the Charter. On the contrary, it was a reason why such Associations should meet with aid and encouragement. They claimed such a reform as would give them a share in the representation, but when they came and disturbed the meetings of such Associations—Associations which were working in the beat manner for the amelioration of the condition of the working classes—they showed an unfitness to be entrusted with the power they desire, Many of them affected to think that the Repeal of the Corn-laws would place the working classes in a worse position. Why so ? They acknowledged that the law was bad—it was because it worked ill that the Association sought its Repeal. He saw by the public newspapers that some persons calling themselves Chartists highly approved of the Corn-laws, and said that if they were repealed the wages of the work man would be reduced—that they had given three cheers for the Corn-laws, and three groans for Villiers.-_(A laugh.) If these were their opinions they were defeating their own purpose I and he knew no better means of keep ing things as they were than by defeating all attempts at public discussion by denying that they knew the first prin ciples of liberty, and by stating that those evils which they recognised were not injurious to the public. He dis regarded no man's opinion and he thought it ought to be made known that when they said the people were asked to join in the demand for the Repeal of the Corn-laws those who made the request had no desire or intention of lower- ing wages. If tliat were to be the effect of the Repeal of those laws he admitted that it would be a great and a serious evil. But it could be demonstrated to a cer- tainty that that would not be the effect - of the Repeal. How was it to be proved that if the price of corn fell wages must also fall. The prices could only be affected by the scarcity or the abundance of the article. The proposition that the more food was abun dant the worse the people must be off, was, to say the least of it, a strange one. If tha t proposition was true, so must also be its converse ; and that Would be, that the more scarce food was the better off people must be. But he would ask, was any man fit to be loose, or out of Bed- lam, who would broach such a doctrine ?—(Laughter.) We could not get more food from a foreign country, with- out giving something in exchange for it; we could not get that something, without creating a demand for labour. The fact was, that every restrictron which was removed, every approach to free trade, extended the trade of this country, and every extension of trade created a demand for new labour.—(Hear, bear.) Now, no man could be sought for by two masters, without the value of his labour being raised. It has been said that that was a Middle_ class question: It certainly was ; but it was :equally a question which affected every other class in the country-- it was an enormous injury to every person in the cemmu- _ . nity. A large class was calling for the repeal of these laws. That it should be said by any other class that they should not have an opportunity of expressing their opinion freely, was a tyranny which would be intolerable to the English people. Should the Chartists prove successful, there would be an end to all free discussion of the griev ances of the people. The Association had had great suc cess. They had dissipated the errors which had existed in the minds of millions ; and the resolution which he bad to propose truly congratu,lated them on the fact. He had much pleasure in moving—P That while the members of this Association have much reason to feel satisfied with the result of their efforts to enlighten the public mind on th e subject of the injustice and impo lieyof the Corn-laws, and for congratul a ti on on t h e grow i n g restrictions i nterest o f the and mono polies, country on o in the st rugg l e against c om merc ial _ * leis they see i n th e great distress of the industrious classes, an d t h e continued depress ion of commerce and ma nufacturer, the imperative duty of increased exertions in n t h e e oe c s a s u a s ti e e of s o t f h l e ife repea l of all prot e cti ve d u ti es on t h e fi rs t . Dr. .P. SMITH said, that although it was foreign from Corn-laws was so extremel h e lp giving them his feebleyi;olump Ins habits to attend publ ic m eet i ngs , still the question of the p p o o r r t t a u n p t, on th m a o t r h a e l c a o n u d ld ro n l o i- t reli gious grounds . . The Rev to prove quoted several passages r rooo p oo reve that . denunciations of from the Scripture in or y de p . thee against the oppres evil had been frequently moral nature of the g t he did not see as irany sor s of the poor, Considerin g as there were persons alto gether. fje w . as about to enter into theticleiuerarretineclye A STRANGER Legged to ask whether the prictei would not be reduced by a larger growth of be said was inseparable from question,in t lii s co untry . Corn question, when he was ceded . to order, th e q which Curre ncy question not being connected with the object gof the meeting, The resolution was then p ut and carried unanimo us l y , -. R. STUART, Esq., M. P. , had been invited to attend the meeting, and as the representative of an ag r i cu l tural constituency, he thought it his duty to attend. He was most happy to say that his constituen ts resided in the first agri cultural county in the kingdom, and he was most happy to state that the great majority of the enlightened farmers in that district, together with the whple of the labourers were in favour of the repeal of the Corn-laws, and had attributed their distress to those laws before the Committee on that subject in 1837. It had been proved before the Import Committee, that the Corn-laws formed one of the most objectionable features of our most objectionable tariff, and that the extra duty which the monopoly gave, calculated only at five shillings per quarter, was a tax upon the consumer of eleven millions, not one farthing of which went into the public revenue. He called upon the Association to join with the repeal agi tation, an agitation for the total repeal of the tariff, He had much pleasure in moving " That this Association, gratefully acknowledges the valuable labours of a Com mittee of the House of Commons during last Session, in eliciting in its Report on the Import Duties, a mass of valuable evidence on the subject of the Corn-laws; and regards, with great satisfaction, the recent declaration of a considerable section of the representatives of the people of their determination to support the practical application of the principles recommended in that Report, in all mea sures of fiscal legislation." Mr. RICARDO seconded the motion with great cor diality, as one engaged in commercial pursuits, and deeply impressed with the manifold evils of our present fiscal system. Their enemies had now resolved the struggle into one between agriculture and commerce. Now although commerce was not a part of agri culture, still agriculture formed a part of commerce. Whenever capital was employed for the purposes l as sewnneeolfil benefit of mightnt e h e e s th i b n euyt e c r th i apexpr theoinr g t ht t ae h i lebo baker k n oe e rr t_ o the(benefit of gain, it was employed in commerce—( Hear, hear) — m the maker d t r h there f e o r r . A the w laughter.) Commerce bound nations together—even now commerce has saved us from a frightful and cruel war.— (Cheers.) Commerce has been the founder of our navies, the supporter of the revenue, the main spring of our civilization ; and they were now called on to release it from those fetters which prejudice had thrown around it ; they were called on to effect a commercial revolution. Mr. FORSTER supported the resolution. He had long been engaged in commerce as a British mer chant, and most sorry was he to see the supineness of his fellow-merchants in the city of London. Foreign travellers used to be wholly unknown in this country, but now they were to be seen every day, and our merchants were obliged to purchase from them, their prices being so much lower than the native manufactures, and they were progressing at such a rate, that if the Corn-laws were not abolished, our manufacturers would be completely excluded from the markets we had been in the habit of supplying. Only yesterday he had conversed with a mer chant from New Orleans. In that market flour was 17s. a barrel ; the same quantity packed in the same manner in this country, would cost from 465. to 475.—( Cries of " Shame.") The merchant very naturally inquired whe ther, as we would not take their produce, we could be sur prised at their turning their attention to manufactures. The result, of his experience and reflection was, that if those laws were continued, the commercial prosperity of this country was doomed to destruction. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. Mr. EWART congratulated the meeting upon the pro gress the question of the repeal of the Corn-laws had made during the time which had elapsed since their last meeting. The Report of the Import Committee had shown upon the evidence of a Conservative, who had for fifty years sat at the bar peculiarly provided for the interests of trade, that those laws were destructive of the best inte rests of the country. He regretted that attempts had been made in certain quarters to put a stop to that progress, but he would ask whether, because one great evil existed, another great evil, acknowledged to be so by the parties themselves, should not be allowed to be abolished ? If the Chartists were true to their own principles they must go even still further. Mr. WATKINS, a Chartist—lf that body were to be condemned, and its proceedings found fault with, he would insist on an opportunity of replying. Mr. EWART was not accusing any body. He had been reasoning strictly to the purpose, for he had been endea vouring to show by reason only, that the best course the Chartists could adopt was to join them in their demand for the repeal. It they pleased let thorn show by reason also that the best course the Corn-law Repeaters could adopt was to join them in their demands for the Charter. The proceedings which they had adopted of late would go to resist tee attempt to remove any ac know !edged ahuse--it would be putting a lock on all poli tical machinery. However, he denied that they repre sentel the people, and he insisted that the middle classes were actually working this work. The progress the question had made even among.t the aristocratic classes had been very great in that most oligarchie3l assembly, the House of Commons; the progress they had made was shown not only in the Members who voted for them, but in the fears r. hich Pe-tly operated on the minds of their opponents. Peel bad cautiously retired from the field and left the opposition to be conducted by such paltry orators as Darlington and others of that el iss, who were better able to adorn than to advance or defend any cause. In that House they were not reasoned with, they were out voted, and even once they were hooted down. Certain gentlemen came down at a certain time of the night satiated not with debate but. with dinner—( Loud laughter) —and not having heard one word of the proceedings, wiselodetermined to put an end to them. If they wished to destroy themselves, they had only to maintain those odious laws which the Association cordially wish the assistance of all men to have repealed. He proposed " Thst this Association renews, with increased confidence, its former recommendation to the Electors and Non-Eke. tars of the United Kingdom, to promote the return to Parliament of tbose Candidates only who will support a Repeal of the Corn and Provision Laws." Dr. WADE had almost intended to give up attending public meetings while the present disunion existed between the middle and the working classes, for if he could not be a peacemaker, he was determined he would not be a fire brand. The theory of the Chartists was still untried, and he earnestly called on them to join the middle classes, who were doing the work of the Chartists, by breaking down the head and front of the oligarchy by a repeal of the Corn-laws. He would strongly advise them to come for ward boldly, and join in getting quit of a bad law, and not disturb every meeting with the cuckoo cry of " Charter, charter."—(Cheers.) Mr. WATKIN, the Chartist, expressed himself a stre nuous opponent of the Corn laws, but he was quite con vinced they could never be repealed by a Legislature constituted as ours at present was. He considered that a repeal at the present time, with the Joint-Stock Banks in full operation, would create a cursed monopoly in the food market, to the great detriment of the working classes. Mr. PALLISER strongly swported the objects of the Association. The Resolution was then put and_carried. Mr. THORNELY, M. P., felt great pleasure in congratu lating the meeting on the great progress of free trade principles within the last year. As a proof of the folly of the tariff system, he stated that a cargo of coffee came into Liverpool, but it being found that when foreign coffee was shipped from the Cape of Good Hope, the duties were much lower, the same coffee was actually sent from Liverpool to the Cape, transhipped there, and brought back to Liverpool; yet the merchant was a gainer. This was a most absurd system, and one which, when fully known, as it soon would be, by the valuable Report of the Import Committee, could not stand. It had been said that low prices of food caused low wages, but his experience taught him otherwise. He remem bered that in a remote part of the State of New York, when wheat was 9s. 6d. a bushel, the wages were very high, and if all joined heartily in knocking off those ob structions to the industry of the country, the people would maintain themselves without Poor-laws ; and he had too good an opinion of the working classes to think for one moment that if they could do so, they would stoop to receive the boon of education for their offspring, either from the nation or their richer neighbours. He moved " That, relying not only upon the growing enlightenment of the public, but the certain ultimate triumph of truth, and entertaining an earnest conviction of the justice of their great cause, the members of this Association renew their solemn pledge to each other, and to their country, to con tinue their exertions with increasing energy, until that cause is brought to a completely successful issue." Mr. MILNER Grnsors seconded the resolution with much pleasure. He was of opinion that God helped those who helped themselves, and therefore if the people did not all join heartily in the cause, he would despair of its success. The question resolved itself into this, that a party of men, Noble Lords and Hon. Gentlemen, kept a bread and beef shop, and they did not like to see any one else open an other in opposition.—(Loud cheers and laughter.) That was the real question of the Corn-laws, and very natural it was that the owners of the shop should act so; but it was equally natural that the consumers of bread should desire to have as many:shops opened as possible, that they might have the advantage of the reduction of price which competition produced. He was much pleased to see the great change which had taken place in the arguments nsed in support of the Corn-laws. In a very short time there would be no argument left in their defence except that used by the Earl of Eldon in defence of slavery, who said " Slavery cannot be such a very horrid thing as has been represented, or the Bench of Bishops would have de nounced it long ago."—( Loud laughter.) When they were seduced to that argument, that the Corn-laws could not be bad because the Bishops did not denounce them, the emancipation of trade would be carried as the emanci pation of the slaves had been before. Mr. WILsoN strongly supported the repeal of the.Corn laws as being, when well understood, for the benefit of all classes iu the kingdom. The CHAIRMAN said, as they had now come near the close of their proceedings, he must again express his regret at the system pursued by the working classes. Until they were supported by the great mass of that body they could never succeed—their success would be absolutely certain if they were united. If they continued their present system of interrupting all discussions the new gagging bill would be far worse than even Castlereagh's in its worst times. All monopolies hung together and supported each other . The Corn-law was the cryin g monopoly of all, and if it were destroyed all tire rest would vanish like vapour before the sun. The resolution was then put and carried. On the motion of Mr. COATES, the thanks of the meet ing were voted to the Chairman, who having returned thanks, the meeting separated. A PAIR OF CARDINALS.—Abbe Grant told us a comical story of Cardinal York and Cardinal de Berni.. They were sitting together one day, when the floor of the room gave way, and partly fell in. Fright ened to death, and thinking themselves on the verge of eternity, they both called out with a loud voice, the one, " Excellenza 1 assoluzione in articulo mortis 1" the other, " Altezza reale 1 assoluzione in articulo mortis 1" How ever, their fears were groundless—l do not mean to pun— for the floor did not fall a urcat way, and they met with no hurt. —Swinburne's Courts of Europe. A RESTIVE GALLANT.--.The Queen is ve r y generous, but has not a large allowa nce. When she first took whosea fancy to cto(cs N.?susseroinho,e thes t h h e en towldr a ,that she must g i ve Princess of Stig ihim up to her, aid the Stigliano consented; but the gallant himself was resivc, and would not be disposed of, and devoted his time and attendance to a third lady whom he really loved.—Swiaburne's Courts of Europe. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF CHANCERY, M4RCH 31. JEW V. WOOD. The LORD CHANIIIELLOR gave judgment to-day in this case, which was argued before the Court on Saturday last, upon appeal from the decision of the Master of the Rolls. The plaintiff was tenant of part of the lands belonging to the late Mr. James Wood, of Gloucester, and under the circumstances which had taken place between Sir M. Wood, whose claim as the personal representative of the late Mr. James Wood, was disputed ; and the question was, whether the latter could file a bill of interpleader. The Master of the Rolls was of opinion that he could, and his Lordship agreeing with that Judge, ordered the motion to be dismissed with costs. SEELEY V. FISHER. This case came before the Court; upon motion to dis charge the order of the Vice-Chancellor, granting an injunction restraining the defendants from publishing any copy of " Scott's Commentary on the Bible," with the en velopes with which the defendants had hitherto published them. The facts of the case were fully reported when the application for the injunction was made to the Vice- Chancellor: The arguments had not concluded when the Court rose. THE DEAN OF YORK V. THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK ♦ND HIS COMMISSARY. Shortly before the rising of the Court, Mr. WIORAM applied, en behalf of the Dean of York, fur a prohibition, restraining the Archbishop of York, or his Commissary (Dr. Phillimore), from proceeding to pass sentence of deprivation and deposition against the Dean, which it was expected the Learned Commissary would do from the course be had pursued. Our readers will recollect the proceedings that have taken place at York, relative t,o the charges made against the Dean of selling livings in that diocese. In the course of those proceedings, some alterca tions took place between the Dean and the Commissary, in the course of which the latter said that the Dean in the course he was pursuing had rendered himself liable to deprivation and deposition, and at the termination of the proceedings, the Court was adjourned to Thursday the Ist of April. The affidavit of the solicitor of the Dean was read, stating what had occurred, after which The LORD CHANCELLOR said that there was nothing in that affidavit which warranted the supposition that the Commissary intended, to pronounce sentence either of de privation or deposition. All that the Commissary, as his Lordship understood it, had stated was, that the course the Dean was pursuing subjected him to deprivation and depo sition, but it was not to be inferred from that that he meant to pass such a sentence. If his Lordship granted a pro hibition on suck slight gronnds, he might put a stop to all proceedings on the part of . the Archbishop to regulate his diocese. VICE- CHAN CELL OR' S COURT, MIIRCIf 31. ATTORNEY-OENERAL V. THE CORPORATION OF GRAVESEND. This case, which was before the Court at intervals during the greater part of last week, was concluded to-day. It was a motion for an injunction to restrain the corpo ration front applying the pier tolls in payment of certain loans which it was alleged it had made in contravention of the Pier Acts, and to the prejudice of the proper credi tors of the tolls. His Honour thought that no part of the motion could be granted at present. He should, there fore, make no order. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, MARCH 31. In the course of the day an order was communicatekl from the Lord High Chancellor to the Learned Commissioners of this Court, enjoining upon them to require from the dif ferent official assignees a monthly return, upon oath, of all the balances which may remain in their hands upon the respective estates to the collection and administration of which they may have been appointed. This matter has been frequently pressed by the Commissioners themselves upon the official assignees, but hitherto without the least effect. HACKNEY PETTY SESSIONS.. TUESDAY. CHURCH-RATES. More Mr. Burnell, . Mr._ Stutfield, Mr. Wil son , and Mr. Butler.) Several hundred defaulters were summoned befurc the Magistra.es to answer for non-payment of Church -rates, amongst whom were several of the most wealthy end re spectable inhabitants of the patish. For some time after the commencement of the proceedings it was fouud almost impossible to maintain order, owing to the. anxiety of the recusants to gain admittance to the justice-room, but the Bcceli had given orders previously that a small number of appellants should appear before them at a time. The cla mour at length became so great that the Magistrates were apprehensive of the doors being forced, and eventually they were obliged to call in the assistance of the police for the purpose of preserving order. The first defaulter who appeared was George Offer*, Esq. (a Ma g istrate). His objection t o th e rate , he Raid, was, that as he never attended the church, he ought not to be burdened with a portion of the expense for conducting divine worship there, the more especially as those who did attend were sufficiently wealthy to provide for their own spiritual instruction. • The BENCH inquired whether he meant to deny the va lidity of the rate. Mr. Offer said he had no wish whatever to appear in the Ecclesiastical Court, and therefore he would rather that the Magistrates decided the question whether the ob jections he had stated affected the validity. After a short consultation, the Bench decided that there was no force in the objection, and ordered payment on Mr. Offer and several of his tenants. The next appellant was Mr. Charles Green, who said he would object to the purposes for which the rate was made. Even a Church -rate, to be valid, must be made for purposes which the law recognised. The repair of the church was the principal object —in legal discussions was generally assumed to be the sole object. He held in his hand a copy of the estimate for this rate, which amounted to 6981. 45., and the item of repairs amounted only to 7.51. The rest was swallowed up in salaries to all sorts of church officers ; playing and repairing the organ above 150 E ; uniform and gold lace for beadles, and other matters of that kind. These things, he submitted, were not neces sary to the decent performance of divine worship. The Bishops of Norwich and Exeter, in the House of Lords last session, cried shame upon Churchmen who forced such payments from Dissenters, and declared that a Dis senter was not bound to pay for the luxuries and contin gencies comprised under the head of " Church-rates." Mr. Pulley said that as a majority in vestry had allowed the rate, it had thereby become legalised. Several Magistrates expressed themselves of that opi nion also. After urging some further objections, in answer to a question from the Bench, Mr. Green said he felt some diffidence in deciding what did and what did not invalidate a Church rate. The most eminent legal authorities dif. fercd on that point. The Attorney-General was at issue with Sir Frederick Pollock, and one Lord Chief Justice with another. He would rather that the Bench deter mined whether the irregularity which he had pointed out was sufficient to invalidate the rate. The Bench declined doing anything of the sort. The appellant must; decide for himself, ay or no, whether he meant to dispute the validity of the rate. Mr. Green said, although be would much rather have avoided the responsibility of making a direct avowal; yet, as it was insisted on by the bench, he begged to state em phatically that he would dispute the validity. Mr. Varty (Churchwarden)—Then I now declare that, after that avowal, we shall to-morrow commence proceed ings to bring the matter before the Ecclesiastical Court. At the close of this case a large number of appellants were admitted, many of whom denied the legality of the rate, and others pleated poverty. A few orders for pay ment were made by the Magistrates. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. HOME ClRCUlT.—Knvasnor, Mateo 31. CROWN COURT. James Oldbrook, aged twenty, was indicted for . the wilful murder of William Budgen, by stabbing him to the heart with a knife, on the 16th August. Mr. CLARKSON having stated the case to the Jury, called the following witnesses : James Willis deposed that he was a brickmaker, in the em ployment of the London and Brighton Railway Company, and he lodged at the Crown public-house, Nutfield. About eight o'clock on the evening of the 16th August, the prisoner and the deceased, who were both intoxicated, were in the tap-room ; a quarrel ensued, and they stripped and went out to fight. They fought for some time, and both were knocked down, and the prisoner was carried into the public-house ; but he insisted upon fighting, and went out and re-commenced the fight, and the prisoner attempted to kick the deceased, but he was prevented by the bystanders. He then went into the public-house again and took a knife out of his coat pocket, and immediately returned, and struck the deceased several times. Witness gave an alarm, and followed him ; and when he got out of the house, he saw the deceased lying on the ground, with his he a d on his left arm ; and when wit ness moved him, he saw a quan tity of blood come from his side, and he died while witness was looking at him. The prisoner was apprehended shortly after wards, and he then saw some blood on his right hand. Cross. examined.—The prisoner cried very much After the man was found to be dead. The deceased had struck him se.. veral very violent blows before he used the knife. The priso ner had been to a funeral, and he and the deceased were very much intoxicated. James Fuller proved that he was present when the affray took place, and he saw the prisoner go towards the public house, and, as he passed him, he said, " I will fetch something that will do for the He came blek in about a minute or so, and he then called out, ‘-‘ Where is the ? I am ready for him now ; I will do for him." He immediately renewed his attack upon the deceased, and some blows were exchangedbetween them ; and he saw the prisoner strike the deceased on his left side, and he fell upon his se cond's knee, and asked him to put his hand to his side for the prisoner had stabbed him. The deceased's second put his hand to his side as he wished, and when he withdrew it, it was was covered with blood. Mr. CHAMBERS submitted to the Court that there was no proof that the name of the deceased was William Budgen, as alleged in the indictment. The witnesses were then re-called, and they stated that they had heard the deceased called by the name of Budgen, but not until after he was dead, avid they knew nothing of him of their own knowledge ; and it appeared very probable that the case would be stopped, when a witness was called who saidthet white the fight was going on the deceased was called William Budgen. Mr. CLARKSON said he could not carry the identity any farther. Mr. CHAMBERS then submitted to the Court that there was no the i evidence t go . to the Jury in support of the allegation in indictment that the name of the deceased was William Budgen. He submitted that it was absolutely necessary this should be di'tly proved, an d th ere were numerous cases in point, and h e ight direct the att en ti on o f t h e C ourt to a recent ease ch had excited a great deal of interest, in which it was distinctly laid clown that such proof ought to be adduced. Baron PARKE expressed his opinion that there was proof that the deceased was known by the dame of William Budgen, which in his opinion Was sufficient prima facie evidence for the Jury that it was his name. In the case refereed to by the Learned Counsel there was an absence of such proof, and it was on that ground the acquittal was directed. Mr. Chambers was then about to address the Jury, when he was interrupted by Baron Parke, who said that he did not think upon the evidence that hail been adduced that the pri soner ought to be convicted of murder. Mr. CHAMBERS said that, after this intimation from the Court, he should refrain from offering any observations to the Jury, as he must admit if they were satisfied that the identity of the deceased had been proved that he could not hope to avert from the prisoner a conviction for manslaughter. Baron PARKE then briefly addressed the Jury, and they found the prisoner Guilty of Manslaughter. Thomas Moss, aged twenty-two, was capitally indicted for shooting at Emma Moss with intent to murder her. The circumstances out of which this indictment arose were these :—The prisoner had heen separated from his wife for some time, and about five weeks ago, as she was returning from chapel, he met her, and as she was going into her mother's house, he discharged a pistol in 1-er face, and wounded her severely. On his being secured and searched, a loaded pistol and a razor were found in his pockets, and he told the officer that he intended to have murdered his wife, and that he should have killed himself afterwards. After a lengthened trial, the Jury returned a verdict that the prisoner was not of sound mind. The LEARNED JUDGE Lsaid that the effect of this verdict would be that the prisoner would be taken care of, and in the event of his mind being restored, he would still be liable to L.?, tried for the offence. At present it was quite clear that he was not in a fit state to plead, and after the evidence that had been adduced, there could be no doubt of his being insane. The prisoner was then removed from the bar. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. Two men, named Henry Rose and William While, were charged with having stolen a quantity of horse provision. The prisoners, who were carmen, are suspected of having been concerned in several robberies in the neighbourhood of Swan Wharf, Upper Thames -street, and their move ments were accordingly watched. At half-past five o'clock on Saturday last, While was seen to drive a cart up to Messrs. Tennant and Co.'s warehouse, at the bottom of Swan-lane, and stop there. At half-past seven White and Rose, the latter of whom was carman to Messrs. Ten nant, went with the cart, which was empty, at the earlier hour to Arthur-street, where they entered a public-house. The cart was then examined by a policeman, and found to contain under some dung three bags, each of which had in it a quantity of horse's food, chaff and corn. The policeman then went into the public-house, and saw White, who said that the cart belonged to him, and that he had brought the three sacks up to town with him from Bermondsey-level, and that he had brought the dung from Mr. Tennant's Wharf. Subsequently Rose came up to the policeman and said " It's all right, its only the sweep ings and what is scraped up from under the manger, which my masters allow me to give away." James Beeson stated that he let out horses by contract for the service of the carts and waggons of merchants and others. He supplied Messrs. Tennaat and Co. with horses, harness, and fodder, by the year, for the use of their waggons. Since Rose had been in their service, a valuable horse, which witness let out to them, had been much reduced in strength, and deteriorated in value, for want of food, of which he always supplied an ample quan tity. The food produced from .the sacks was, he had not the slightest doubt, part of that which had been supplied by him to Messrs. Tennants for the use of his horses. Mr. Brown, a partner in the firm of Tennant and Co., stated that Rose had been in the service of the firm, as carman, about six months, and that they never authorised him to take away horses' food, or any thing else of that nature, from the premises. Rose said the sacks contained merely a few scrapings of no value, and he thought it no harm to give them to White, who called in the morning to be accommodated. The LORD MAYOR said that he considered the robbery to be a most cruel one, as the poor horses, who were worked hard, were literally starved by the practices of the prisoners. The prisoners were then committed for trial. John Brown alias George Bacon was brought up for final examination on numerous charges of robbery in public-houses and lodging-houses. The Justice-room was crowded with persons whom the prisoner had plundered. Elizabeth Menzies, servant to Mr. Totson, a lodging bouse-keeper in Falcon-square, stated that the prisoner, who has very much the appearance of a seaman, called at the house on Saturday fortnight, at half-past ten at night, and after having made inquiry about lodgings, asked whe ther he could have a bed. He was accommodated, and when witness came down stairs in the mornings he found that he was gone, and that he had taken the umbrella of a gentleman who had lodged in the house, and other pro perty, with him. Mr. D. R. Bailey, propriater of the Commercial Coffee house, No. 85, Cannon -street, stated that the prisoner called there on the 10th instant, and after having taken refreshments entered into conversation with the waitress, said that he was mate of a vessel, who was in the London Docks, was but a short time ashore, and wished to lodge in tho house. The prisoner then gave his card and left the house, and on his return was shown into the bar where he stated that his name was George Bacon, that he be longed to the Armadillo which had just arrived from Calcutta, and that he had inquired into and was satisfied of the respectability of the house. The prisoner then went to bed. Witness went in the morning to the London Docks to make inquiry and found that there was no such vessel there as the Armadillo, but upon his return he learned that the prisoner had decamped taking with him a new pair of trousers belonging to witness. John Thomas, mate of the ship Pearl, stated that the prisoner who had lodged in the same house with him, went away on the 2d of March, taking with him witness's watch, cap, and coat, while witness was asleep in bed. The duplicate of the watch was found in the possession of the prisoner. Mrs. Watkinson, the owner of a public-house, stated the prisoner took a bed at her house, but left the house upon some pretext the same night. After which it was found that he had robbed one of the rooms of 41., the property of a gentleman who lodged there. Witness saw him in a steam-vessel, and caused him to be apprehended. It appeared that while the lodger was asleep, the pri soner rummaged his pockets of the money and four keys, and a pencil-case. The pencil-case and the keys were fodnd in the fellow's pocket. Mr. Ashton, the owner of Coger's-hall, in Bride-lane, identified the prisoner as the person who had' engaged a bed at his house, and broke open and plundered a cash. box, containing money, belonging to the Sons of the I Thames. There were several other charges against the prisoner o a similar description. The LORD MAYOR ordered the prisoner, who is be lieved to be a returned transport, to be committed far trial. EVENING EfitTl9l4i. THE CONVICT 1111sTERS (FROM A CORRESPONDE NT . SHREWSBURY, MARCH 31.—1 t is understood that Joi ii : l Misters will be executed in front of tlyn County Pris en io twelve o'clock on Saturday, as the ; Governor of to prison, up to l as t n i g h t , h a d not !rece i ve d any 01 1 1 to the contrary. Mr. Mackreth has petitioned 1 : the unhappy convict's capital sentence should be O . : muted. In this attempt h e h as b een backed by the f 'd man of the Jury, and by many respectable inhabitants,„ Shrewsbury ; and all pray for the commutation, on tiler, of the convict's youth, a n d t h e f act th a t murder wag 11". actually committed. The relatives and friends of Misters are also using et. el effort to obtain the exercise of Royal mercy. Hi s ,"; ther, Mr. John Misters, of Birmingham, (who is a nws' con spectable and worthy man) went to Bristol, with Mr. Ludlow, immediately on hearing the re:s., of the trial, and returned on Sunday night. Their 0 1 V eg, e ' was to see Mr. Mackreth, but did not succeed, the tleman not returning to I3ristel until yesterday. A. i j o s mingham, where th e f ee li ng is in favour of the rem et of the extreme s en t ence o f the law, principally on aecue,i, of his family and respectable connections, a P t io lion has been numerously signed, and a daps tool of gentlemen left jesterday with it to wait upon„ere, Normanby. On proceeding from Shrewsbury to o tlar , ford on . Wednesday last, th e two J u d ges (Mr. Bart/ Gar ney and Mr. Justice Coleridge) visited the Angell to Ludlow, caref u lly exam i ne d t h e prem i ses , a nd are sl tios have declared th a t th e resu l t o f t h e i r persona l investig i was a conviction of the justice of the verdict The Rev. D. Winstane, the chaplain, has bee s toy miffing in his atte a d anee upon t h e pr i soner . On I to r he preached the condemned sermon, the text behlg ue b o ltl, hers, xxxii. 23.—.." But if ye will n ot to do 8 0 , u„,. sis ye have sinned against the Lord ; and be sure 7 °— o ne will find you out." Immediately before, as wel l as Ita during the sermon, th e p r i soner f a i nte d . Restoratives the promptly admi n i s t ere d by M r. D awson, t h e G o vernor prison, whose humanity is only equalled by his a. tte „ t ios. to the duties of his v er y res p ons ibl e an d pa i n ful site' bit The prisoner's st a t e o f h ea l t h rema i ns as i t was Pril°oo trial. There is little change in his manner or aPP e litio• He preserves the self-possession which so muc h , in dite guished him during th e w h o l e ti me h e was on Via.," "Oa still persists in his inn ocence . Thi s morn ing, la, pie Mister, accompanied by Mr. Ludlow, were to lea l :; u poli mingham for Gloucester. Their intention is to . wg ib i- e esie Baron Gurney, a n d p ersona ll y entreat hi m to re his merciful consideration. CORN AVERAGE 6. - k.— O S O l Ot GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH C 6O 0 04 For the Week ended March 26 , 1841 ,zmade up from the I,o l ^ the Inspectors in the different Citi es and Towns in 11 ' .1 Wales, per Imperial Quarter. 119 1. 61, Wheat (4s. 48.1 Oats 1 Barley 32s. lid. 1 Rye AVERAGES OF THE LAST SIX WEEKS. OA> Week ending. WHEAT. , BARLEY. OATS. RYE. EgA . --.—..,,..--- -----, ...--..--......... )0 Feb. :929 A (11 1 32 0 21 0 35 7 5 ao i - 2 25 432 5 31 11 22 4 34 9 39 6 s 9 March 5 63 6 32 9 22 8 35 6 .0 39 9 ; 1 12 63 11 32 11 22 11 35 1 ~ ~ , 6 19 63 9 3:3 '2 23 0 35 6 3 9 ; P" i ..‘ 26 64 4 32 11 23 5 31 9 39 02 ,- 6), IMPERIAL AGGREGATE AVERAGES OF THE 51X „ SOS. 0, Wheat 63s. 48. Oats ......... 225. 88. 1 Bcans..... • . :stei Barley, 32s. 7d. I Rye DUTIES ON FOREIGN CORN. ..I N P Wheat 23s. 88. Oats .. pi. Barley 133. 10t1. I R 1 Rye THE MARKETS. COAL Ships arrived since I. ''-, Adair's 6 Derwent Main l6 0 Walls End Lambton ...•'".. 40 9 Hebburn Main lB 6 W a ll s End Pember ton...." 0 0 Molywed Ma n lB 0 Walls End Stewart's ...•."'.. 90 I Garestleld Ord's Redliugh Wylam ... 1 1 9 6 6 3 N. H v o a l r vlr r d o 's 110 9 Walls End Teec Hetton. ..... 14 . Walls End Clennell NW" 6 u Walls End Hilda Walls End N ,, r,humberland IS 6 Walls End Devonsbire..... , Walls End Haswel .4.22 9 P N a e rk th . ..................... .... 1 9 8 last market day, 41. COUNTRY CORN MARKETS. i1".,,,' Wheat. '.. Barley. 1 Oats. Bean.. ...-, --...... —..........._ --- Per Quarter. s. to s. s . to 1. ... s . ~, 43 S. to s. a. to 5. 39 Bt.ston ... 5B 63 33 38 19 26 35 40 59 Braintree 5B :0 28 37 23 29 36 40 0 11 , ighten Y.) 69 28 35 23 26 38 44 - , Cambridge - 64 - 30 .. - 36 ;7 Chichester 5B 64 27 3s 23 27 20 40 -5 Dunmow Grantham Hailsham Hitchin :3 64 32 38 22 30 1) Ipswich 5B 60 36 34 24 28 H ' . Lewes 56 61 30 34 22 23 II • Lynn 56 69 i 7 34 21 28 11 I ' Maidstone 59 66 36 39 26 92 15 Norwich I Petworth Rom ford 64 74 30 35 24 30 34 2 1 .4 gi ll' Sandwich 56 67 34 4:3 27 34 33 45 •' Tnetford Wishech Witham 57 67 30 36 25 29 35 42 $ 9 33 Yarmouth 62 66 I 1 34 24 90 40 41 Li V ERPOOL CORN MARKET.-March 3 0 . 1(11°' WHEAT, English, White, per 7011)... 9s. 6 . 1• to 9 Red White v Scotch Welch, and Manx Irish, 7 4 0 ri , ----- Red 7 9 j 0 '' Foreign OATS, English, Welsh, and Scotch, per 451 b 3 0 s Foreign Irish ~,_,.. 3 3 0 v • 0 0 4 0 0 e BAILEY, English, Maltin g , p er I mp. quarter......... ." 7 4 - Scotch and Irish, per 60Ibs c 3 P .J 5 : ......... Feeding °, 6 4,1 - 0 BEANS, English, per Imperial quarter , 43 0 4! 0 Irish, &c. 40 0 4,1 0 Foreign 40 0 4 , 0 Pease, English, per Imperial quz , ; ( t er .. .I,per 241 lbs .......... .. ..--- Foreign ....... „..... .. 3 9 v $. 0 FLOUR, English, per 2801 . b. " 47 ° 49 6 Irish 9 n „ 0 p ' , OATMEAL, English 4 , 8n0 d 1 j r i s i . ' ..... ',.:',•,*; ................... 4 1 ~ f 5 ~ MALT, per Imperial ,NDIAN CORE, per RYE, per Imperial qurrter quarter HULL CORN MARKET. O. Wheat, Whit( (per Quarter) s6s. S S ; 66 5 . Foreign 5 4 5. Red s4s. 6°ll. 33 v.-- - OP 5 • • Barley, Malting 29s. 3el „ 91 1 ' Grinding 240..6 ‘,•-• 955. Oats, British „,925'g25. Foreign (in bond) Beans 33s. V' stle. Pease, Grey 340. 406. Blue and White 36,, 38s. f p, Lins eed 505. 555' Os Flour (per sack) ..„,,, 46 5 . a d, Rapeseed per 10 quar t ers) —l. $ 34 '"-- b C H ELTENHAM MARKETS. es. -to 01 Per Bushel. s. d. to s. d. Per lb. '1 / Wheat barley 3 0 4 3 Mutton .................. .... 9 / Oats 3 0 3 9 Veal •••••'. 6 8 Beans Pease 5 0 8 0 Lamb ..... .. . ....... ......' Hay V. 101 to 51. Os. ..... per Ma. CANTERBURY MARKET, , ..-, Wheat, white---... 63e. to 71, . ......... 01d............... --''' t n o't -- red ..., 565. to 655...-,,. Obi. ...... " j ; to "7,, Barley, Ma1ting,,,,,,,,, 28s. to 345....... Gri n ding.. --_-; to ,- ,, BOats ...........-........—. 245. to 275....... r,)1E1,...-...... _-_--, t o _ j ," ean s ................................ ills to 405....„ 01d........ ~Q „ . - 'to Pease CHELMSFORD 425. to -a. t. • Grey.......... •''''' 7 A gli ,i; Wheat, White e 6 l ti 3 ' P. " Oats ... ~.. ..................... r , .4 Red P MARKET. „.,,,,; ~i) Pease, ' Gray ................ 40 0, Barley •.. 36 White ...... .. ..... 39 4v Chevalier....,... ,9 , ',i Grinding .„ Mazagan .......** v ic g ill° DEA Tlf 01 .14°' A VETERAN.—Died, at ~ Wil I e j Cottage, parish of Ayr, on the 15th instant, MI: oc tet ie Mills, in the 81st year of his age. In 1778, r o of' b.. she 82d, or Duke of Hamilton's Regiment, an` s2 d Of p, 3 7 Beans, Tick ................. 0 that corps nearly six years. He joined the, t his, , - 1,. landers, at New York, in October, 1783. 1 9 i00 0 , 0 t tinguished corps he served as a non-conn s i,org e o; ficer for nineteen years; thirteen as d!'„ nt 0, 0 0 and, during that period, was never av D . 9 %.i t eet l : of from bead -quarters. He was with the iZ e °Oulpt the Continent under his Royal Highness the be "id York, and was in several actions. In 18 0 " 0 0 1 , or with the regiment to Egypt, 'under the CT. p s oi ber e General Sir Ralph Albercromby. At the jail cll,ss troops on the Bth March, a bomb fell into the '''' - fle " e , he was, which he lifted and pitched overboarctst, be 9 • in the actions of the 13th and 21st; en the 21 b i c h !I! / f , ceived a musket-ball in. his blanket, inside of vi his D;11 bill-hook ; this article prevented it from enteriog ot ber be on his right He was in a short time afterwards struck hy, ag s oliell t bi/ had stavedlls waistcoat pocket, inside 4 r ) :` for ce , ,7 es, three of which were bent by 1 1 . , i n fal?7o also .ts life. His fusil (being in the lig u d too b 8 , wa , s struck on three different places and shatter e t battle; ic h I n tit! I :and ; and towards the close of this gr; e a ct of I I t he re ( ''',tved a ball in the left thigh, from the e4t bi , ersl ad t, ',le was confined in hospital six weeks. e dal , On only time he was off duty, or absent 00 e yeal l. ir ing a period of active service for twenty- 2, be il, is; his being discharged and pensioned in 18 ergesl a r,a diately joined the Ayrshire Militia as drill" muc h see yje which capacity he discharged his duties With er ioro• t. / 0 0 efficiency, and was highly respecte d b y his suP bo sell has left a wife, two sons, and a daughter, to death. —Scotch Paper. - e n -11. t y............-............., _ ,ivr .l SPOONS„TORKS, tscc., superior to o'i, ot ts, Job rability, equal in appearance. Tabla Spoons or,_ codiel b oS, Dessert, 10s. ; Tea Spoons, ss. per dozen; Tab le of .`igla 8 inches high, 7s. per pair; the particular 2 1 ' 1 _ , on ly tr .ft e these articles are mad, is so like silver, that it era' , o t asu from it by the stamp; every article wade in silver fs o. RIPPON and BURTON, Wells-street, Oxfo tured in this mat er ial by tre Who, to prevent imposition, confine the sale of it t 1 " Catalogues of prices gratis. o rtsetssel e 6 --- BIRTHS. had On the 27th ult., at Walmer, M rs. G. Karnev , of • 1% On the 28th ult., at Dartmouth, the wife of Sid en '. $ a thus, Esq., of a daughter. sz 15131 On the 30th ult., at Hampstead, the lady of S. K. X 0 .sq., of a son. povf ei ' On the 30th ult., at Artillery-pl a ce West, M rs ' al e of a son. On the 30th ult., in Devonshire-street, Portland-Place' lady Oof M. E. Impey, Esq., e a 50 0„, On the 31st ult., at East Ham, Mrs. tr W. S. Fry, 0 ' of a dau,gho. it, ICatoe O rn ithiti4en.3lo3athteusß,. R.A. P Ar y - c 4 r -----R ef -R t l E E sq. D. of the lion. Est .- i V i t' DI I P , ,A n pany's Mad ras Civil Service, eldest son bf T. PYcroPt tisi Grosv enor - place, Bath, to Frances, Esq., second daughter ' ,P f $. _ O O , n the 30th ult., at Totteridge, Edward, oldest Oa ° ...iet , third daughter of the late Richard Hall, Esq., of Portlas .d-P nd Copped Hall, Hertfordshire. 1" On the 31st ult., by special license, at St. Georg e'so t 9 0 0 of sir Thom t a h s e ß ß a i r g i h ng t HBoanr.t.F:roafncsistraßtatornin_gp,ar.ll:PF. kan , e t l s cl r e: of, t s b r e i Lady Arabella Georgia:na Howard, second dangle er of th e f of Effingham. 00 , ° On the '29th ult., at Brenzett, Mr. W. 4- 7 .. NV 0 0 1 . d o , Newgate-street, to Mary, secondda u g hter of V.ie late E. J‘if'y north, Esq., of Kinnarchngton. DIED. R. D. V Oit' P On the fish of January last, drowned ',it sel y J. It ''' grandson of Mr. H. Dixon, of Deptford, age d 1 rs 8. , L i v er) On the 29th ult., at Cambe rwell, Surrey.„ M. ''' of of Kent Lodge, Hanwell, Middlesex, aged , 73. ett, E s q . ' On the 29th ult., Diana, the wife of C. Benn Clapham, Surrey. o f _ _ 106111T01MM.NN............ Am . _ _____...,--1 0, ..:t Y(").. Stmt' Lond: Printed and Published by on ' No. 11°, Strand , at The Sun Offict ), N o . 11% the county of Middlesex. —Thursday 10 " ` DAP ril 1, 1841 .. ~l STATE OF TRADE. (From the Manchester Guardian.) The only change perceptible in the market, yesterday, was a trifling increase in the demand for yarn, and radio, business was done than on the preceding Tuesday, though by no means at improving prices. In the good's market the non arrival of the American steamers caused a general disinclina tion to effect purchases, and the business was extremely limi ted. The agreement on the part of the spinners and manu facturers, at Stockport, to work short time, was carried into effect on Monday ; when, we understand, about four-fifths of the steam-power in that town and neighbourhood, was put upon the reduced time of four days per week. ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, MONDAY, MARCH 29. The demand for goods to-day has been rather better than that of last Monday, but prices have been lower. The small manu facturers, many of whom are obliged to sell, complain very justly of the poor remuneration they have for their labour. The wool market continues about the same as that of the preceding week. NAVIGATION OF THE RHINE. FRANKFORT, MARCH 5.--The dosing of the right arm of the Rhine above Biberich, by order of the Government 3f the Grand Duchy of Hesse, has already given rise to nany diplomatic surmises, Yesterday his Highness the Duke of Nassau arrived in this city, and had a conference with the President of the Upper Diet, Count Munch Bellinghausen. The Duke returned afterwards to Bibe rich, to which place M, de Aotgen, the Envoy from Nassau to the Diet, had repaired. The wall which bas been so suddenly formed in the Rhine to cut off the com munication with the port of Biberich is five feet in thick ness, and is raised to half a metre above the water. About 300 workmen were employed in building this wall. They were assisted by a detachment of Hessian gendarmerie, and directed by a Dutchman and some en gineers. Whilst carrying on the works the workmen sang Beeker's song, " They shall not have the free Ger manic Rhine." In order that steamers and other vessels may communicate with Biberich, the Nassau Government has just ordered the erection of a landing place in an island . opposite that port. Th e commmun i cation between BP'„,. rich and the island will be by means of a flying bricl , 4e ...._ Cologne Gazette. The Cologne Gazette, under head of Mayrnce, of the 2d instant, gives us the subjeine.Cs explanatlon 'of the dispute between Hesse Darmstadt And Nassau; concerning the na vigat:on of the Rhine A.-- " An occurrence took place kere yesterday which has excited general interest. Our merchants had petitioned the Hessian Government 'co take such measures as might prevent a diverting of the current of the Rhine, which would be the effee,; of the accomplishment of the works projected by its inhabitants of Nassau for the purpose of converting rs iberich into a trading port. This mat ter was also brought before the Assembly of the States, and the Government was required to give the necessary orders. The affair was half forgotten till last evening, when upwards of 100 barges, laden with stone, were brought down from the Necker, and their contents sunk in the river above this town. By this act not only have the works undertaken by Nassau been ren dered useless, but henceforth the river, in times of low water, will find a current only along our shore, and Bibe rich, instead of being made a port, will scarcely have a t landing-place for a boat. We have been astonished, but at the same time are rejoiced, at the promptitude and re solution of our Government, which has shown its estimate of the value of our town as a place of commerce by the solicitude of maintaining it. If the water bad been drawn over to the Nassau side our commerce must have been annihilated, and even our transit trade, because all mer chandise sent from the Lower Rhine to Frankfort and the north and east of Germany might be sent forward through Nassau by means of the railroad." The Gazette du Rhin et Moselle, referring to the mea sure taken by the Hessian Government against that of Nassau, says : " We learn that the Directors of the steam-boats have posted up public notice at Weisbaden that their vessels cannot now reach Biberich without making too greet a cir cuit, and therefore that this passage is suspended. The Duke of Nassau, learning this news while on his roan to Holland, immediately turned back in all haste to Bihericia." SUICIDE OF A CLERGYMAN.--rhe Rev. J. Marshall, vicar of Ovingdean, near Bri.g'lton, committed suicide by hanging himself. Various c awes are assigned for the commission of the deed. He •was much attached to his family, and previous to going or kissed his children most affectionately, but there %vas n, ;thing in his conduct to excite at the time any suspicio.a TX his dreadful inten tion. D ecease d was about forty years of ag e , an d Iva; much he Ivin respected by tithe r, the parishion v ' fr. Ile was presented to tg by his Trey h: u Ti fi I'AIN lm 4:014 8 1 104 r, V eta 4 ta 4 , %1 • i kl