The Sun. — London, England, 1842-07-28 00:00:00

rc , Apr e i ) , • . r A •:tIWI9 • ' .fopAp, NTARY • 13 notice r leave to Suffrage , on Laws , ,presenta e of Par lat e ear l y ' om mittee, cllord an d g ie propor roduce S. 0-morrovi • Majesty, Le o f JOl O n • SO iiscti At e rsons f Board Dr last. arrow b e effect :---- !en Vil t Y tee of Dr Ye withou t , :ouse into es were 6 ' .nd of t he ared fro ° to t he Harwich. esent lovo hat there' it do i' sue ri of thos - had been cf )n. to nanv.,,e ee on Ow d 0°" of Lor ds .=... -- .."::.1%-..=7-- __ . k.,interfering with the privileges of that House, i'_ut he was OppOsed to the Commission because it vio fe, d principle uPon 'IA hieh . they had always 'Led, L'iieVer 'to allow any Peer to interfere the With .fleetioe matters. He now wished to call pritiOn -of the . House to the 35th clause -- ra a daiiie' 'which . -be conceived to have a tta ° s,t jnjurious tendency. The Hon. Member then , e ,.'t lhe ij lanse, which provided that when costs, expenses," lr gTeltfia'' should be reported and or der ,r. -m, s aid . . i ~ eu ueli by the inhabitants of any borough or 0 -° f . u nt e: / , he cleric of the peace, or • the treasurer 104 ,_ ,„6' ' county shall levy a rate upon the eas 'er - , of: the borough, city, or county, as the an 'e rtef be, for carrying on the expenses of 11 . Y kftions on the score of bribery. Now he called ti l l 'i 3 n e House to look at the monstrous anomaly of e i 5 4,4t5e. Assuming, for example,' that there were es to -IS,6rOugh of Ipswich 1,000 voters, and that of 1. 7 5 et446' on each side were honest electors, kd kiemaining hundred were the very lowest de ttiPg9tl of 101. voters, what were they going to do t fY i thls clause ? They were going to levy a rate on Le Wealthy pert of the community, who would ire-2to pay the whole expense of petitioning. tl e coUld conceive nothing more opposed to the ordi tr3', principles of legislation than such a mode of pro erPg• He trusted, however, that those clauses to tm l en_ he objected might be amended in Committee ; th 'l if this were done, he could have no objection to tf ell 4 lll . He should not, therefore, press the motion towili6i'lle had given notice, that the Bill should be d i t llln. Th ittld that clay six months. 'He felt that by then en v , l4 t .N.lhe House on such a motion he would only cariass' those with whom he usually coincided in *llion. Q. thaTi,r‘l4. PEEL begged to assure his Hon. Friend to ' ne'c&iiil not feel any embarrassment as to the p re ttrs e he should pursue on that occasion, as he was e l Pared . to act upon his own convictions respecting "ireaiure 'Wit • t tte -.%e• ACKINNON said that he wished to avoid th l e against. his own friends. He begged leave, e t,4 l `l,l•e, to withdraw his motion. ' motion was accordingly withdrawn. If i ,lv.r . ter a few= words from Sir R. H. INGLIS and kit l m O'CoNNeee, the House resolved into a Coe i t ee en the Bill, Mr. GREENE in the Chair.' th''' r - 'C. BULLER said that there were three tis es, from 34 to 37, which, although he thought kerinciple valuable, he had, upon consideration, I v , lip his mindto withdraw for the present. There I)rchre. technical difficulties which might prevent their lion e fr o m being easily carried into effect. '' R INGLIS said he would not follow the Hon. til:Ile/n.9 his details. The objection he had to 4 lain was one of principle, and perhaps there Would (0,..1 10 objection to take the discussion then.— ( . \ '`'er, orer.) . WI Clause 1 being proposed, t e ; l4T • O'CONNELL said it seemed to hini that frn..._ar v • , nents could be made to pay head-money with-. 0111 infringing k oh irl fringing this clause. - He thought that if head-. 11, 4 " V Was paid before the vote was given, it would thesFl3nle. within the operation of the clause. ir It.. PEEL said that if money were paid before ... ( ire was given, it would be considered as bribery. e st `,„ ?,ar, hear.) If the words "in.pursuance of any. ob, A . 6e . were left out, he thought it would meet the Ittion of the Hon.. and Learned Gentleman. ebi '• BERNAL agreed with the Right Honour * Et : Baronet. To pay money before the vote I"te given was bribery under the existing law. itb r tot ai _. espect to basket-money, that was a sort of S 10 : 1111 g fee, and was, in effect,' decided bribery. li t a a system ought to be put . a stop to, as well as i' h ini . ortkie- , b er • TURNER knew that, in many instances tli e e taxes had not been paid, they were settled by h on ee ndidates. He wished to know from the Right fe l , • taronet whether that was, or was not an of e Si r R ti t , R. PEEL was not competent to answer that it . . e,, A r t , r - O'CONNELL proposed the insertion of the ~;is "before at or after, ' in the clause. .t h e A: • • e ti ,, . I TORNEY-GENERAL thought the words I ;ecessar ie e l e r • O'CONNELL said that his object was to If thtnt the payment of money on any contract; but N tdd lion- and Learned Gentleman thought they 1 4 t h em e cumber the clause, he would not persevere Sir ' , l.t • cla P u E se EL thought it better to leave the ei - ieral to n s. of , then to recite respecting bribery untouched, and that a practice of paying various head-mou e °lle Y under the names of basket-money, that those Y' kce to voters prevailed at elections, and ._ practices LstiQuld be considered as bribery. mentioned, as an instance of ; 11 , practices, that at the • last Belfast:. election one ihad aid 750/. for car hire ' --- • 10;2'4 8 . :..4 1 t 'quoted the Report of the Compromise . Vinti - Connnittee to slow that the stopping of 11 1 7 7 t , ribefy caused fin increase of treating. He tt)(itealfie necessity of introducing a clause to put Itl4,lo'the practice ,of giving dinners to voters, *As 'often adopted in the place of head-money. Nveb , i tirtlCEB . would suggest that it would be as tleip?esert in that clause something to the effect bleb ? insert was. a doubt as to what constituted tile 01. . He thought that was only fair to 1 A t e nstitueticies in which that usage had prevailed. tf the. same 'time, he thought the definition he adlk,- money by the Right Hon. Gentleman was e f , at - ctlY 'correct. Head-money no doubt was spent tratieities which succeeded the election. Ii lIERNAL thought what had fallen from the aug h t Ron. Gentleman was deserving of very great 11 tion. He remembered the Right Hon. Gentleman tea d lg a measure to meet the great evil of intimidation, April 'e acme up that measure, as he found that to dove pro th asure on that Bill would be to impede the t e ecss of that measure. He (Mr. Bernal) went the to, length of the Right Hon. Gentleman about treat- IQ ; and unless they did something to remedy this evil i 1 Would do no good. They would find that as much lt - e e llief arose after the passing of the Bill as before. t o h ad been proved that a greet sum had been paid wh o in Newcastle. There were other men 11 1 ° did not carry colours, yet they walked before w colour-men, and were termed " gaffers?' They C : eall v o t ers , and were paid. Now, all these points ie' e „. red consideration. To-morrow a Committee % t ie'. 1, might decide that paying the colour - men 14, the e ga ff ers ," was not bribery, while the Corn . b e lt & in No. 2, might hold that it was or ws well aware of the danger k Pass sing that a clause, and he should, therefor e, 11 ..!gest that the Right Hon. Gentleman, who was 14 i isoe t o this Bill, should omit the clause, and rt e K ,e the Bill a Bill of Discovery, to discover bribery. S WORTLEY was quite of opinion that no wilst S. e c ,,ennclusion on a subject of so much im k-`4nee could be arrived at, without some k e ,ter tribunal. If this Bill should establish it a tribunal he could not help thinking that Wouldlat be sufficient to confine the enactment of the lfi.elause to the single purpose of removing the doubt o, l eti existed in the present law, which would then f, enough power and discretion in the hands f o p t he tribunal. He agreed with the Hon. Member V oi . D un pr von, that the practice of giving dinners to tfrs might, in many instances, come under the head t te , b ribery as much as giving money for a vote. He b r 4 t, however, be cautious in distinguishing between t ° eecelings really intended to operate in the election 4 influencin 6 • the voters, and bona fide festivities en at -a time of exultation by a candidate to his !hie t e s tituents. He thought that they might have the k 4 ing - clause on .bribery as it was, with the the ion, which might be placed in the preamble, for it ti i ; ;Purpose of removing the doubt which existed in ' k .present law. ih'l.,•a.l, inlr. AGLIONBY said the remarks of t he Member V.g s , . : nrevouth showed how difficult it would be to i i — , r ent' bribery and corruption, but he showe d ATE grounds whatever . why the Honourable IflTtber for Liskeard should withdraw his clause. , t his clause did not do all that could be wished, it it ~'east removed one great evil. He did not know r o at course he would pursue until he knew whether e t ict the words Fro posed to be introduced, namely, before,// at, or a ter, 'were adopted by the House. sib i thought those words would meet every pos ern'e ease. In the 15th clause he would propose an ti;, ° ,'ldment which he thought would be adopted by A ' `-cenrnittee. He was of opinion there might be eo ntract where no previous head - money had been p :' 11 • The town of Carlisle had tor many years been it - ' e t'ely contested. Up to the passing of the Reform Bill ce,: a s One of the most expensive elections in the 11 1 ,7 1t r3'. Since the Reform Bill it had been one of l i purest constituencies in the country, and 41. 4 nead'-money had been paid.--(Hear, hear.) 'ie. Flat ' the last election, for the first time ,:* Came under the denomination of head-money •Ar c openly paid without any subterfuge whatever. 'id' . voter who plumpered for the Conservative candi e Le' got 2/. as head-money, whilst a voter who gave split vote gat one sovereign. He thought that came h l er the term head-money. Instead of the words 0 1 Pursuance of," he wished to introduce the words, I c 9pursuance of, or without any usage or custom , 11 ' B. PEEL thought it was better to leave out Abe x i„ w ords altogether, and to make the proof of the ,e"'"enee of the usage proof of the existence of „ offence. Th e y should not, because they could not, 111 * all the abuses, refuse to cure an ad btea evil. Wh en the Bill was .brought forward j the Noble Lord, he said that he thought ip- attempt to discourage it would be ineffectual, t6 th eY left the law as to treating as it ~1 s tood, and that 'if they could during the r~, e nt :iession, without unnecessary interfe c . I the i - wita liberty of the subject, throw i n pediments in the way of treating, they would be effect eorina' great practical good. One of the greatest abuses t or ; ee trd with the present system of eleetiens ti by le,;, s u PticiT of. voters by means of treating. In the first Ai ` C it corrupted .the constituencies, and introduced ~,`9l, _ Immoral habits, the effect of which was much more ' 4 "tneut thin the 'dared= of - the - election. --In the ~.~ ~~`` ~_ _— second place, it gave a most unfair advantage to the man of we:this, who was able, if dis posed, to corrupt a constituency. He knew nothing more likely to deter a man possessed of the, necessary qualifications for fulfilling the situation of a Member of Parliament, even if he had the command of money, than the necessity of spending money four or five weeks pre vious to the election in encouraging habits of drunken ness. If it was possible, therefore, to prevent treating at elections he would not oppose an attempt to discou rage the practice. Under the present system it would seem as if they practically gave a legislative sanction to treating previous to the testing of the writ. A law had been passed to the effect that treating would be illegal after the testing of the writ ; and the result of that law, although it was a result not contemplated by the framers of the measure, was, that parties considered they might lawfully have recourse to treating before the writ had beets tested. It appeared to him that the establish ment of such an impression was a great evil, and one which they should endeavour, if possible, to remove. He confessed that if they could deal satisfactorily with the system of head-money, and of treating, they ought, in his opinion, to snake the attempt, and take precau tions against that which he believed to be of all species of bribery the most degrading and corrupting—namely, the spending of immense sums of money, which led, in many places, to the most brutal scenes—(Hear)—and the immoral effects of.which tended to disturb the opera tions of indsistry, to corrupt constituencies, and to give an undue advantage to wealth ovyr means comparatively limited. Mr. HARDY said that it was most desirable to pre vent any improper expenses at elections, however they might be incurred. Ile hoped the Hon. Gentleman who had the conducting of the Bill would persevere in his attempt to suppress illegal treating and the practice of distributing head-money. It was encouraging a prac tice tending to make elections expensive, and thereby precluding men of small fortune from standing as candi dates. He thought that candidates should be prohibited from giving head-money on account of any preceding election, ar.d with that alteration he hoped the clause would pass. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL thought it essentially necessary that this clause should not be expunged. He thought that the practice should be set forth in the clause, that it should also be stated that doubts had pre wailed as to 'the nature of the practice, and that it be declared to be bribery. He thought it would be inexpe dient to introduce into this clause any thing relating to flag-men, for if flag-men were engaged for their votes, there could be no doubt but that that was bribery : He thought it would be a great improvement to do away with the distinction which subsisted at present between treating taking place before the test of the writ, and after it. He would be very happy . to render his Hon. and Learned Friend any assistance in his power, between this and bringing up the Report, fur the framing of a clause to meet this purpose. Mr. C. BULLER said lie would be happy to withdraw the clause under discussion for the present, in order to bring it forward at a later stage of the Bill in an amended state. Mr. O'CONNELL regretted that the clause was to be postponed. He so much valued the enactment it pro posed, that if the clause were nut withdrawn, he would withdraw his own amendments. Mr. C. BULLER said that his only object in post p ring the clause was to prevent any obliqueness in their legislation. Mr. ESCOTT would not oppose the clause, because it was, in his opinion,. not only the best clause in the Bill, but was the most effectual to put an end to bribery and corruption.—The clause was then postponed. On clause 2 being proposed, Mr. BERNAL wished to know how far this clause gave a power to Committees to compel agents to dis close matters touching their clients ? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the clause was intended to give the Committee power to examine the sitting Members, or any of the candidates, in cases where they would not otherwise have any eontrol.— (Hear, hear.) It left the question of the rules of evi dence untouched. Mr. BERNAL said, the reason he put the question was, that when an attempt was made to compel Mr. Mr. Lamb to disclose circumstances entrusted to him by his client relative to a Cornish borough, he was. com mitted to custody in consequence of his refusal to an swer. All he wished to know was, whether the subject was left as it was at present ? Sir R. INGLIS did not see why the ordinary privi leges of professional' agents should be withdrawn from them in this case. Every crime seemed now to be cen tered in the sin of bribery. He objected to the latter part of the clause. Mr. O'CONNELL regretted to hear the Hon. Mem,- ber speak with levity of the crime of bribery ; it was unjustly obtaining a power over the lives and properties of men, and it was essentially an enormous crime. As to the question, of examining an attorney, the privilege was the client's, and where the principal could be examined, there could be no doubt but they might examine the agent. He should support the clause. After a few words from the ATTORNEY GENERAL. Mr. SHELL said the subject on which the attorney was to be examined was not a breach of confidence, as their intercourse must have been a criminal one. Sir R. INGLIS explained what he had said of the crime of bribery, in reference to what had fallen from the Hon and Learned Member for Cork. He had not underrated the crime of bribery, but it appeared to him to be considered that if Members avoided bribery they were open to every other political offence. But he was not of that degree of political purity as to think it was the only or the greatest crime ; there were other political offences as well worthy the attention of the Hon. Members for Dungarvon and Cork—that of inti midation for instance.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. C. BULLER said that the candidates being gene rally found quite ignorant of the practices of their agents, it was necessary to examine the latter. He did not believe they had any professional privilege in such eases, as they were not in communication with their clients. The SOLICITOR- GENERAL said if he thought the clause would have the effect which had been stated by several Members, it should not have his support, but being convinced that it would have a different operation, he should support it. In supporting the clause, how ever, he must be understood as not pledging himself to assent to all the other clauses in the Bill. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in order to show the Committee his opinion of the clause, would move, as an amendment, that all persons whatever should be ex amined as witnesses, touching all the matters in question. Mr. DARBY deprecated the new powers given by the Act for the examination of agents. He should propose to leave out all words compelling Members to be examined. Mr. C. BULLER was of opinion that the amendment of the Attorney-General would answer the required purpose. Mr. ESCOTT disagreed both with his Hon. and Learned Friend (the Solicitor-General) and the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. O'Connell). If this offence warn as bad as murder, they had no right to resort to illegal and unjustifiable means to find it out. He should give his most strenuous opposition to anything which would provide that, because they were about to endeavour to put an end to a mischievous practice, they should resort to a practice wholly illegal and still more mischievous. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL . defended the legality of the clause, which he said gave powers to inquire into the terms of compromises—whether they were bona fide, or were entered into for the purpose of preventing in dictments for bribery. That was the object of the clause ; and he contended that it would be impossible to carry out the clause without examining the sitting Members and the candidates. He should, therefore, vote against the proposition of his Hon. and Learned Friend, the Member for Sussex (Mr. Darby). Mr. AGLIONBY was afraid that if those technical objections were constantly raised they would shelve the Bill altogether. His object was to prevent bri ber,' altogether, and to punish those guilty of it, and with that view he should vote for the exami nation of the Members, the candidates, and the agents. He had no idea of the agent being allowed to escape an examin,ation on the ground of privileged com munications. If a professional man chose to undertake such dirty work, and to go about attempting to sully the purity and honour of his neighbours, he deserved to be submitted to a most rigid examination. Mr. DARBY regretted that the Noble Lord, and the Hon. and Learned Gentleman whose names were at the back of the Bill were not present, because he (Mr. Darby) had always understood both , now and "up stairs." that it was not intended to alter the clause as far as related to privileged communications, which had always been held sacred. Mr. BERNAL said they all knew the great incon venience which had occurred, owing to questions being put before Committees in an indefinite manner, This was a most important clause, and he wished to know whether the Hon. Member (Mr. Buller) acquiesed in what had been suggested by the Hon. Member tor Cock ermouth, and provide that solieitors and agents should be protected in giving evidence before a Committee. Mr. ESCOTT hoped the Hon. and Learned Member would discuss this clause on broad principles, and tell the Committee what cases these new rules were to be altplied to. The ordinary rules of evidence mus t be ered altogether, inasmuch as the offence was entirely new. Bribery could not be tried by the ordinary rules of evidence ; if the lion. and Learned Gentleman thought that such was the case, he (Mr. Escott) could assure him that he was mistaken. Mr. C. BULLER would reiterate what he had said before, that this was not the proper time to discuss the question of bribery—the subject then under discussion was that of compromise. When the 26th clause was proposed, then would be the proper time to go into the question of bribery, but at present they were confined to the subject of compromise. Mr. HENLEY said he objected to this clause on prin ciple, and on account of its consequences. To prove the offence of bribery they were to adopt means they did not use in high treason, murder, or felony. But it' they chose to do this let them not do it by a side-wind. By this clause they placed Committees in the situation of being obliged to report black one day, and white the next. He would wish to see the clause erased altogether. Mr. SHELL said it appeared to him that they had to consider the distinction between what evidence could be received from an agent, and what could not. With re spect to what was done by an agent, gentlemen oppo site could not object to that agent giving evidence. If what he did was by the direction of his client, that al tered the matter. That was the protection given to the agent. With respect to this question, he thought the words proposed by the Attorney-General would meet the difficulty complained of, as the proviso proposed pre served the present rules of evidence. The SOLICITOR -GENERAL said be was quite ready to agree to any words which would remove a doubt from the elapse. He objected to this clause, as, he did not think it would have the desired effect. With re gard . to the cases of briWry referred to by - the lion. ,~ .. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 28, 1842. - Member for Sussex, he would find that they were pro vided for by the 26th and 27th Cliaises. If this clause were tigted to, he thought that some words ought to be introduced, providing that no alteration should be made in the present rules of evidence. After a few words from Mr. DARBY, which, were . inaudible, - • Mr. HARDY wished to know if they intended to make compromise a crime, because if they did not, and he did not see how they could, they were wasting time by in quiring into the compromise when they ought to inquire into the acts of bribery. Mr. O'CONNELL was apprehensive that the Hon. and Learned Gentleman who had the care of that Bill, endeavouring to oblige certain parties by omitting cer tain parts of the Bill, would make it, as he stated, a simple Bill indeed, and inoperative. He thought he did wrong in merely inquiring into the compromises and net inquiring into the great question of bribery. An HoN. MEMBER here moved that the House be counted. The House was counted, but there being more than forty Members present the Committee resumed. Some verbal amendments were proposed in the clause, which were agreed to. Mr. DARBY proposed an alteration in the clause, the purport of which would be to confine the inquiry to the fact of a compromise having taken place. Mr. O'CONNELL said that would racier the inquiry perfectly inoperative. It would be better to give up the Bill at once. Mr. ESCOTT would not support any inquiry which should be imperative. He wished to know why they were to alter the rules of evidence, in order to make out this new offence. Everything done ought to be done in a judicial manner. Mr. DARBY withdrew his amendment. Mr. C. BULLER, moved some verbal amendments in the clause, which were agreed to. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the insertion of words to the effect that these witnesses should be examined, subject to the ordinary rules of evidence. If the House sanctioned the 26th clause, which he did not anticipate, the House would then, of course, strike these words out of the clause. _ Mr. AGLIONBY objected to this amendment of the Attorney-General. He (Mr. Aglionby) would certainly take the opinion of the Hoti-e as to the examination of professional agents. He would certainly do his utmost to prevent persons taking advantage of these communi cations being professional and confidential to avoid dis closing them to the Committee. He hoped that, in cases of compromise, Committees would enter into an inquiry as to acts of bribery having been committed. Unless an inquiry was instituted into acts of bribery, it would be childish to inquire into the compromise: Mr. O'CON NELL said the amendment would destroy entirely the effect of the remaining words of the clause. Gentlemen seemed to hate some sort of enthusiasm in favour of the maxim of preventing a man from crinti tatting himself. The rule was a bad one ;it tended to prevent the eiscovery of truth, and was frequently made use of as a mere excuse. But if the party were indem nified, the maxim became of no effect ; and by getting rid of the power of indictment, they got rid of the rule, and ought to get rid of its effects. In reply to the Hon. Baronet he would say, that he considered intimidation a crime equal to bribery, and he (Mr. O'Connell) would gsr to any extent with the Hon. Baronet in preventing inti midation. He knew of one way of preventing it, and that was by granting the Ballot. He moved that the words—‘ . .subject to the ordinary rules of evidence" be omitted from the amendment. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that in the Court of Chancery it was constantly the practice to order an issue to be tried, and the Lord Chancellor would order the parties in that suit to be examined subject to the laws of evidence. He could not consent to permit the words to be struck out. Mr. ESCOTT said that the Hon. Member for Cockermouth stated fairly enough that he wished to dO away with the rules of evidence in these cases, whereas the Attorney-General wished to examine these witnesses according to the rules of evidence, when, according to the rules of evideme, they ought never to be examined at all. The amendment proposed by the Attorney-General was then put and agreed to. Other verbal amendments were agreed to. On the question that the clause as amended stand part of the Bill. Mr. AGLIONBY said that from the conciliatory spirit evinced by the Hon. Gentleman who had charge of the Bill in admitting the amendments proposed, his (Mr. A's.) interest in the Bill was considerably lessened. He would recommend to the Noble Lord who had intro duced the Bill t'.m cut the Gordian knot at once, and next session bring in a Bill for the Extension of the Franchise and Vote by Ballot. Mr. C. BULLER denied that he had admitted any alterations in the Bill but one, of which those who pro posed it pointed out the necessity. On the 26th clause he should bo as firm as a rock. Sir R. INGLIS said that three hours had now been consumed in what was virtually but the first clause of the Bill. He put it to the lieuse if there was a reason able prospect of bringing the subject to a termination this session, and if there was not they should not thus waste the public time. Sir R. PEEL observed in reference to what had been said relative to compromise, as .being a crime, that the fact of compromises acting as impediments in the pro secution of inquiry into alleged bribery, formed sufficient ground for the introduction of that subject in the Bill. With respect to the value of public time, no one could be more sensible of it than he ; but it was not lost in discussing a measure, which would have the most benefi ciaLresults in the cases of elections occurring during the recess. Ile knew of no better tribunal than that sug gested by the present Bill, for the purpose of defeat ing compromises. Mr. DARBY said that, after this session, there would be very little in the way of compromise resorted to. He believed that this Bill would do more to prevent bribery than any other measure which had been enacted on the subject. The clause, as amended, was then agreed to. The third clause was agreed to, with some amendments proposed by the Solicitor-General. Clause 4 was agreed to without discussion. On clause 5 being put ; • Mr. DARBY opposed it. He objected to the power it gave to any political partisan to present a petition imme-' diately after the heat of a contested election, almost un checked, which petitions were to be prosecuted at the public expense. Mr. I3ULLER could not admit the objection. All election petitions were liable to the same charge, and it was met by compelling the parties to enter into recogni zances, and saddling them with the expenses if they turned out frivolous. After some observations from Mr. Darby, Mr. Hardy, and Mr. Henley, Mr. ESCOTT thought if the clause passed there would be no end to the presentation of petitions from malicious motives and party spite. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the Committee divided, when there appeared For the clause Against it Majority in favour of the clause The clause was then agreed to. Clause 6 was agreed to without any amendment. On clause 7, with respect to the amount of recog nizances, being put, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL suggested that the recognizances in certain cases should be increased from 100/. t 0.2501., and in others front 2001. to 5001. Sir R. PEEL thought the suggestion worthy of con sideration, and one that ought to be adopted. The clause, as proposed to be amended, was then agreed to. Clauses up to 13 were agreed to without any amend nents. . 62 Clause 14 having been put, Mr. O'CONNELL objected to the proposal in the clause of constituting a Commission of Inquiry com posed of Members of both Houses, in the case of a borough suspected of bribery. He should divide the House against the clause. Mr. HAWES thought that if the House consented to the appointment of a Corpmission composed of Members of both Houses, they would be yielding up their own privileges. Mr. ESCOTT also objected to the clause. • Mr. AGLIONBY stated that she object of appointing a mixed Commission was, to facilitate the adoption of any measures which it might be thought advisable to take against a delinquent borough. .No Bill for disfran chising a constituency could be passed without the sanction of the other House ; and it was felt that that sanction could he more easily obtained, if Peers were al- • lowed to be members of the Commission. He thought that that consideration was sufficient to justify the pro posal in question. Mr. MACKINNON opposed the clause. He thought that the pow ers of both Houses should be kept distinct. Mr. ROEBUCK hoped the clause would not be pressed. lie should feel great repugnance in voting for a proposal that that House should devolve any of its powers to the other House. He entreated the House not to decide hastily on such a subject. Let them suspend their judgment for the present ; and let Ministers prepare a well-considered measure to settle the whole question in the next session. He believed that those tribunals to which the House now left the decision of election peti tions were inefficient ; and he did not think that that inefficiency would be remedied by the calling. in of a number of Members of the other House. The Members of the other House were as liable to be biassed by party b c cons t i h d a e t r a t t h i o e y n s s , h a o s u t l e d c y were o mmit t t h h e e m p s o el lv v e e r s . 0 fHi decidingsish s would elec tion petitions to one or two high judicial functionaries. Sir R. H. INGLIS said that he coincided in every ord that had fallen from the Hon. and Learned Mem ber for Bath. In his opinion it would- be advisable to transfer to an external authority that power which they bad hitherto reserved to themselves with respect to elec tion petitions. If the Hon. Gentleman proceeded with the clause he should propose as an amendment that the Commission should consist of three Judges of the supe rior courts of law. Sir R. PEEL felt an objection in principle to such a course. It could not be skid that he was not anxious to maintain the privileges of the House of Commons — (Hear) —but the disfranchisement of a borough was not a matter relating to the special privileges of the House of Commons, but was a subject fur legislative interfer ence ; and they could not proceed a single step without the concurrence of the House of Lords. They had a right to determine the issuing of the writ, but they could not disfranchise a borough without the concurrence of the other Holise of Parliament, and therefore when they called in the aid of the House of Lords in the composi tion of the Commission, it seemed to him they were sur rendering no rights. The object of the Commission was that they should have power to discover such facts as would enable both Houses to disfranchise guilt boroughs without any further inquiry. H e - was i n favour of the appointment of a Commission by: the Crown, but he thought it would be better to take the ;)ell e , tic }louse upon the appointment of a Commission at'all in the' first instance. Mr. BERNAL suggested to his Hon. Friend (Mr. C. Buller) not to proceed at that late period with a clause of such importance. He did not see the use of the proposed Commission. It was quite new, and he did not vee what benefit would be procured by it. He hoped the Right lion. Baronet would be prepared next session with a large and general measure on the subject. Mr. T: DUNCO MBE said his lion. Friend was press ing this Bill under great disadvantages. The . Bight Hon. Baronet seemed so well to understand the bearings of this Bill, that he recommended his Hon. Friend to hand it over •to him.—(Laughter.) Under the present system, a double inquiry was necessary. He therefore hoped his lion. Friend would not hastily abandon the cla use. Mr. ROEBUCK did not object to the appointment of a Commission. The object was to get at the truth in the best way possible. -He thought that object would be best attained by a judicial tribunal. He hoped his Hon. Friend would postpone the clause. Mr. ESCOI7 said his great objection to the Commis sion was, that when it obtained the evidence they could not proceed judicially upon it. - After a few words from Mr. HUME and Mr. HOWARD, Mr. C. BULLER said that he thought he ought to take the sense of the House upon the clause. If he Succeeded in carrying it by only a small majority, he thought it would be useless to proceed with the Bill. Sir R. PEEL suggested that all the clauses of the Pill frOm the 13th should be withdrawn, and that an other Bill to satisfy the purposes of the remaining clauses might be introduced next session. Mr. C. BULLER withdrew the 'clauses, and on the question that clause 26 should' stand part of the Bill, he said that 'he thought it of the highest importance to the efficacy of the Bill, and he was disposed to leave it to the House, on a division, to adopt or: reject it. The ATTORNEY-.G ENEBAL objected to the clause breaking in upon one of the most important principles of English law, by making it compulsory upon witnesses to criminate themselves. Why should there be a diffe rent rule in this case from that which existed in the case of treason, misdemeanour, and other crimes ?—(Hear, hear.) It appeared to him that the clause would intro duce a new law entirely contrary to the present rules of evidence. Mr. O'CONNELL said that the great question was whether they would be at liberty td 'discourage the crime in question, by compelling the party to criminate himself. AVas it likely that bribery could be discouraged if every person concerned in it might protect himself ? Was not that a bipus to commit bribery ? Was it not a shield thrown over the briber ? It seemed to him perfectly plain, that .the way to check crime was to allow disclosure, and the way to encourage it was to prevent disclosure. He thought that, if they passed this clauSe, they would make the Bill efficient, and if not, the Bill would be worthless. Mr. PARKER supported the clause. Mr. ROEBUCK said, that if a clause of indemnity were passed, the person would be prevented by the in demnity from criminating himself. Lord PALMERSTON thought that to allow .a party to give evidence criminating himself was not entirely in consistent with the ordinary course of the law. They often had recourse to the evidence of an accomplice, who was equally criminal with the man against whom his evidence was brought. He did not-think the objections of t he Attorney-General entitled to any weight. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said they all admitted that bribery was a great crime, but it was not a greater crime than many others. What was done by the clause ? It compelled a person to answer a question tendingtocriminate himself, while at the same time a clause was introduced affording prospective indemnity. Reference had been made to the case of an accomplice who was admitted as Queen's evidence, but the Crown had no power to grant a pardon for future offences. In effect this indemnity clause said, " You may go down to a county or borough and bribe to any extent you please, and if you are afterwards examined before a Committee it shall no longer be a crime."—(Hear, hear.) He be lieved that a great deal had already been done by the measure passed last session towards suppressing bribery. It was now seen that it was impossible to commit bribery without investigation. In every case this session in which a petition had been presented containing charges of bribery, the party petitioned against had been unseated.—(llear, bear.) He thought that circumstance would have a great tendency to check bribery. Mr. AGLIONBY supported the clause, on the ground that without it the Bill would be wholly inefficient. Mr. HARDY said it was impossible t o detect bribery without examining the parties themselves ; it could only be discovered by bringing the payer and receiver before the tribunal appointed to investigate it. Mr. SHEIL thought that all the objections of the So licitor.-General might be removed by the introduction of a few words, to the effect that the answers given by the, witness should not subject him to any further proceed ings. He could not help thinking that if the clause were emitted, a clause introduced in the former Bill, but rejected in another place, the present Bill would be de prived of its greatest benefit. The Committee then divided, when there appeared. For the clause 39 Against it BO Majority against the clause —4l The clause was consequently lost. On clause 27 being put, The SOLICITOR-GENERAL stated that he appre- clause had been decided by the division on the last clause, as it involved the same principle, and must, therefore, be attended with the same results. Sir IZ. PEEL doubted greatly the policy of compelling a party to criminate himself. He thought that any enactment to such an effect would only hold out a temptation to perjury. The subject had been ably dis cussed in an article in a late number of the Edinburgh Review, on the trial of Madame Lafarge. It appeared that the practice in France was, under certain circumstances, to examine the party accused ; but the writer of the article to which he had referred showed that that practice often only led to a suppression of the truth. Mr. C. BULLER said, that considering the opposition to the principle of the 27th and 28th clauses, he should piiipose their withdrawal. Mr. S. CRAWFORD would not consent to the with drawal of these clauses. He believed that that would entirely upset the utility of the Bill. The Committee then divided, when the numbers were, For the clause 2B Against it Majority against the clause The clause was therefore struck out. The Committee having resumed, clauses up to 31 were struck' out. After a short discussion, clause 32 was agreed to, as were also clauses up to 42. After some discussion clause 43 was agreed to. The Bill then passed through Committee and the Report was received, and ordered to be reconsidered on Friday. CORONERS, &c., (LANCASTER AN]) WARWICK) BILL—ADJOURNED DEBATE. On the Order of the Day for resuming the adjourned debate, on the second reading of the Coroners, &c., (Lan caster) Bill being read, A short discussion took place, after which Dr. BOWRINU moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr. BROTIIERTON seconded the motion. The House divided, when there Appeared, For the adjournment of the debate ..• 19 Against it 5l Majority against the adjournment The Bill was then read a second time, —32 and ordered to be committed on Wednesday next. The Parish Constables Bill was read a third time, and passed. The East India Bishops Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Friday. The Tobacco Regulations Bill went through Committee. The Slave Trade Suppression Act went through Com mittee, a resolution having been a greed to that the Commissioners be empowered to divide a portion of the proceeds from the sale of slave ships atnongst the captors. The other Orders of ihe Day were then disposed of, and the adjourned at Half -past Two &Clock. THE BISHOP OF EXETER. (FROM A coanxsposi D ENT.) It is not generally known that when a Bishop or dains a Deacon or a Priest, this ceremony does not of itself confer on the party a right to preach the Gospel of Christ ; the rite of ordination only empowers the individual to read the prayers and the homilies, and perform the sacraments ; to preach he must have a separate, a distinct license. The Universities have the power to grant this license, so have the Archbi shops within their provinces, and also each Bishop within his diocese. A license granted by one Bishop gives no power to an ordained Priest to preach within the diocese of another Bishop; and a Rector or Vicar cannot of himself allow a stranger to preach in his to demand his " Neither the i p i u e l e p n i s t e if to th p e re C ae h h u . r — V d r e de s n ot i h nt e e a rf es n e o r n. Minister, Churchwardens , nor an y o ther officers of the Church their churches their license to preach , s hall a pp ear unt o them to be u rc r h s e h s al o l r chapels, suffer any man but such as, by s h ow in g to preach within sufficiently authorised thereunto,as is aforesaid." . the se 52 to their church from any other p lace be noted in a book which they shall ha ve ready for th a t purpose; thatd canon o n names orders of ft all hat preachers"th shall`"the which come Churchwardens wherein any preacher shall su bscri be his name, the day when he preached, a nd the name of the Bishop of w hom he had license to preach." These observations are necessary to explain the conduct of the Bishop of Exeter, who has just issued his prohibition on the fovegoing grounds. The Rev. Vicar of Clovelly, in the north of Devon, feeling disposed to take a trip from home this summer, selected the Rev. James Pears, of Bath, to take his duty for a period of two or three months ; the Vicar gave up his parsonage-house to this gentleman for the term ; and, on Sunday the 17th inst., he commenced his duties, but, during the week, the Bishop of Exeter caused a prohibition to be served upon him and the Vicar, so that the Vicar was obliged to return on Sun day last to perform the duty himself. Complaint is not made against the Bishop or any other person for carrying out the law to it s f u ll e ff ect, but that it should be done partially ; for how seldom does a Bishop or a Minister interfere to prevent a person preachm ,, who has a l ic ense to preach from some lawful authority. In this case, Mr. Pears happens to be a gentleman of independent p r operty, of I,,tberal political opinions, ::P.:l is opposed to the general principles of priesteraft, • Pusevism . gsfo Th e D u k e an d Duc Sutherland are expected iu ttte nt , rtil in a few days, to reside in their ancient seat of Duuro)44 Caste. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURTOF CHANCERY. July 27. Neither the Lord Chancellor nor the Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce sat in their Courts to-day ; the former in consequotice of his continued indisposition, and the latter on account of having to attend the Judicial Com mittee of the Privy Council. . ~;:_ v4e.- VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, July 27. Petitions, demurrers, and further directions, of no general interest, occupied his Honour the Vice-Chancellor of England the whole day. INS 0 IVENTDEB TOR' S COURT, Julg 27 '1 he Court was occupied during the day in hearing bail cases, of which there were thirteen town and three country applications. No point of general interest was elicited in any of the hearings. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GUILDHALL. THE WESTMINSTER LOAN COMPANY. Sir Peter Laurie was engaged upwards of two hours in investigating the charges against the above Company. The Court was crowded by persons who lent them money, many having lost their last shilling. Sir BETER desired the parties present to put down their names, and the amount due to them, which they did in the private room. It was ultimately agreed that the matter should stand over until next week. Several of the parties have expressed their determina tion to commence criminal proceedings against the Com pany, in the event of not getting then• money. BOW-STREET. The cases which came before the Court this morning were not of an interesting character. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. Edward Kelly, a lusty, powerful Irishman, and Susan, his wife, young woman of exceeding stature, were charged with committing a violent assault upon Police constable No. 109 of the P division, in the execution of party was traced further on the road, and ultimately taken up and committed to take their trial ; but no money was then found on either of them. The Gratd Jury, however, ignored the bill against the two men; and the case was now gone into as against the woman alone. Mr. PALMER having addreised the Jury, The Learned JUDGE left it to them to say whether the pro secutor was mistaken when he swore, as he did must stoutly, to his knowledge of the prisoner's person. Guilty—Nine months' imprisonment. WESTERN CIRCUIT—Exeter, July 25. CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justi ce -RESSWELL. ) William Lazarus and Philip Ewings were indicted for breaking and entering the house of the Rev. W. Timothy Napleton, at Stoke Canon, in this city, and stealing therefrom a quantity of plate. The only fact in this case at all of public interest is, that no evidence could be given in what way the prisoners had entered the house. The prosecutor's two servants proved the locking up the house at night, and that a back door leading into the garden was found open in the morning when the robbery was discovered. This door had been bolted, and the witnesses stated that it was impossible it could have been opened on the outside. The prisoners, therefore, must have secreted them selves in the day-time in the house, .r they must have had an accomplice there. From the failure of evidence as to the mode of their entrance, and as there was no second count charging them with breaking out cf the house, they were acquitted of the burglary, but found Guilty of stealing from the dwelling-house. Though only 21 and 16 years of age, there were three other indictments against them. Sentence was therefore deferred. WITNESSES TO THE CHARACTER OF A PRISONER.—In the course of this day, after a prisoner had been convicted, her counsel on her behalf tendered to the Learned Judge a certifi cate of her previous good character. His LORDSHIP refused to receive it, and said, " I shall always refuse a certificate of this sort. If any one knows enough of a prisoner to think it proper that he should receive a good character,. it is a public duty that such person should come forward and state it in open Court. In my short expe rience en the Bench I have remarked with great pain the man ner in wh;ch even respectable people venture to give prisoners a character, and that too on their oath. A slighter sentence is passed in consequence, and then rumours sometimes reach us, and which are afterwards confirmed beyond doubt, that the par ties were as bad characters as they well could be. This is a great evil, not only with regard to the false evidence given by these parties on their oath, but also that it seems to take away the effect of a good character when it is properly and truly given." his duty. • • It appeared that about half-past eight :on Tuesday evening, the prisoner and another woman were quarrel ing together, and causing a great disturbance in Dudley court, High-street, St. Giles's, a place where fights and rows occur several times a day ; and on the com plainant 'interfering to preserve the peace, both the Prisoners commenced a furious attack upon him, got him down, and then beat and kicked him in a brutal manner about the head, face,- and body, until he became appa rently lifeless. Others of the force having arrived, the prisoners were secured after a desperate resistance, in which they struck and kicked several of the constables. They were fined 50s. each, or in default, six weeks' imprisonment and to hard labour in the House of Correc- , tion, Cold Bath- fields. The, LATE WHOLESALE ROBBERY.—Yesterday Ri chard _Manley, alias Hanley. alias Davies, alias Under wood, .Enoch Word, and Sarah Ann Hunt, alias Good, who were on Wednesday last committed on six separate charges of felony, but who were brought up again in order that other charges might be substantiated against them, were placed at the bar. Since the committal of the prisoners a number of ether cases have been preferred against them, and a host of fresh prosecutors were in attendance. Several witnesses were examined, and described the wav in which they had been deceived and robbed by the prisoners, but the statements were without interest to any but the unfortunate prosecutors. Mr. MALTBY, after the examination, said he had made a calculation, and found the amount of property already proved to be stolen was 2,3041. The prisoners were then fully committed on these ad ditional charges, but were ordered to be brought up again next Monday week, as it is expected, that in the interim, more of tha stolen property remaining in the hands of the police will be owned. The value of the whole of it was at first estimated at upwards of 1,000/. Mr. Clarkson appeared for Giftbrd, and Mr. Phillips for Hunt, and an application was made by them to Mr. Maltby to order to be given up property found upon Gifford and Hunt at the time of their apprehension ; viz., upwards of 100 sovereign, and receipts tor 700/ de posited by them in the Westminster Bank. Mr. MALTBY said it might be the proceeds of the rob beries that had been committed, and therefore he should leave it for the Sheriffs at the trial to dispose of. _ QUEEN-SQUARE. tVIONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS. TIMES.—The premium on gold at Paris is 8:} per millet which, at the English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 10-lid. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25 36k., and the exchange at Paris on London at short being 25 474., it follows that gold is 0.44 per cent. dearer in London than in Paris. By advices from Hamburgh the price of gold is 4311 per mark, which, at the English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 10d. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 13 81, and the exchange at Hamburgh on London at short being 13 10, it follows that gold is 0.80 per cent. dearer in London than in Hamburgh. By the official returns published by the Customs the export of the precious metals to foreign and colonial parts for the week ending Thursday last, was as under:— Ounces. Silver coin to Ceylon Silver bars to Hamburgh Silver coin to Mauritius The report mentioned in the Times the other day, that the West India Steam Packet Company design to have one packet per month instead of two, now obtains general credence, and has created much excitement among the merchants, who are resolved to use every effort to prevent the object from being accomplished. The new Mexican tariff, a copy of which has lately been received, contains some items which promise to be of material benefit to the manufactures of this country, and show the decided steps towards more liberal com mercial views which have been 'taken by Santa Anna. The descriptions of linens which formerly paid 14 cents* the square yard are now reduced to 11, while others which paid 12,?- t are reduced to 9 and 10. Stockings for adults of all descriptions have undergone the reduction to one dollar 25 cents. the dozen, from two dollars 25 cents., while handkerchiefs, which used to pay 124 cents. a piece, are reduced respectively to 6 and 10 cents., ac cordingly as they are dyed or not. These facts, it is to be hoped. will give additional encouragement to our ade, which seems to be generally reviving. Augustus Such appeared upon a summons charging him with using language of a threatening character to wards the Rev. Daniel Nihil, the Governor and Chaplain of the General Penitentiary. The defendant was formerly a wardsman in the Peni tentiary, and was discharged for some impropriety of conduct. It may be recollected that in February last the defendant was charged at this court with severely horsewhipping the Rev. Mr. Nihil, in Milbank-street, and he then said his motive for acting in so violent a manner was, that Mr. Nihil had, after he had left the Peni tentiary and obtained a situation at a county gaol, written to the Governor, and stated such things that the Go vernor, with whom he had been an especial favourite, had turned his back upon him, and rendered his situation so uncomfortable, that he was compelled to resign it. It appeared from the evidence adduced, that he had, within the last few days, threatened " to do for " Mr. Nihil ; and on information to that effect being conveyed to the Governor, the present proceedings were instituted. After some witnesses had been examined, the prisoner offered to make to make an ample apology, and engaged never to do the Rev. Gentleman the slightest injury. _ _ THE COLLIERS' STRIKE. ( FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) STAFFORDSHIRE POTTERIES, LONGTON, TUESDAY. With great pleasure I write to inform you that an amicable adjustment of the colliers' grievances has just been effected with a large firm, and which will have its full weight on others. The Broadsfield Colliery Company, Alderman Copeland, Philip Barnes Broade (lord of Fenton Manor, and a Magistrate), and William Baker, Esqrs., have arranged with their men, who commence work to-morrow morning, under the almost unani mous accordance of the whole• body of colliers present at this meeting. The terms are these—there will no longer be any boot•-colliers, to take much of what the men earn, without sharing the labour and danger ; each man is to be paid 4s. 3d. per day, for nine hours work, but not to have his burn (burthen of) coal for house fuel; the regular (former) customers to be served only ; and their workmen, with the employed colliers, to contribute to the support of the men whose employers are non-contents. A diversion in favour of the old system was tried, but failed ; and the tearful eyes of some of the booty colliers present plainly showed they felt " Othello's occupation's gone."—Yours, S. S. This morning some military were marched into Tunstall, to be present lest anything might occur to interfere with the men who were to resume work at Golden Hill and Kidsgrove. On Wednesday a general meeting will take place at Tunstall, rela tive to the Pinnox, and Botany Bay ,and Greenfield,and Clanw ay colliers resuming work, on the terms of Messrs. Copeland, Broade, Baker, and Company. I understand this minute that Messrs. John and William Ridgway have agreed on these terms with their Übberley colliers. Mr. Nihil left the ease to the Magistate. :Nit.. GREGORIE, after animadverting upon the conduct of the defendant, whom he described as a young man possessing au exceedingly irascible and dangerous tem per, ordered him to find bail, himself in 2001. and two surieties in 1001. each, to keep the peace for two years, and to give twenty-four hours notice of bail. Defendant was taken to Tothill-fields Bridewell. KINGS 7ON POLICE COURT. WAGES OF FARM SERVANTS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. The Sun of the 16th inst. it is stated that " John !finite, in the beginning of Spring, had eight farms unte nanted ; three are now let at a reduction of 25 per cent. ; the other five he cannot let." That " wages in two branches of business have, within two years, fallen tram 2s. 6d. to Is. 2d., and horn 4s. to Is. 10(1. ; other branches in the same proportion." That " in Northumbrrland, Cumberland, and Durham, the labouring men subsisted upon a little weak tea and black bread —not fit for dogs." These facts are no doubt brought forward to substantiate the assertion so frequently made, and pertinaciously adhered to, viz., that rents are sustained by the high prices of agricul tural produce obtained by means of the Corn-laws. It is alto gether beyond my comprehension how this opinion could be adopted in defiance of the fact, that the average price of grain has always been lower under the operation of a Corn-law, than it was when the law was enacted. If people would examine and retied, instead of jumping to a conclusion, such mistakes would not occur. The greatest consumers of agricultural produce are the work ing people, and it is not probable, that a system which deprives them of good bread, butcher's meat, and malt liquor, and re duces them to black bread and tea, should be the means of raising prices. The only certain protection that caw be given to agriculture, is securing a free scope for industry, that people may have full employment and good wages. This conclusion was arrived at, several years ago, by an agricultural Committee of the House of Commons, after a laborious investigation of all the evidence that could be procured upon the subject; and well would it have been for all classes of society if the report of that Com mittee had been acted upon. The evil of the Corn-laws has not been in raising the prices of provisions, but in throwing people out of employment, anti thereby taking from them the means to purchase the necessaries of life at any price.-1 am, Sir, your most obedient, WILLIAM BO ULT BE E. Frederick-street, Edgbaston, Birmingham, July 20, 1t342. Two persons, of respectable appearance, one of whom described himself to be an attorney's clerk, and the other a publican, were on Monday brought before Mr. W. B. Jones, the Mayor of Kingston-upon-Thames, on a charge of stealing five 51. Bank notes, 131. in gold, and ten pounds worth of silver, the monies of Mr. Dunlop, the landlord of the Dolphin, in the above town. A Solicitor appeared on behalf of the accused. The prosecutor stated that on the previous Thursday afternoon, between two and three o'clock, two persons, whom he believed to be the prisoners, came to his house, and entered the bar and called for a glass of brandy and-water, which was furnished to them. They then asked for a newspaper, and afterwards for a sheet of paper, and while these things were being fetched, the parties were left alone in the bar, and they took the opportunity thus affbrded them to dexterously open a bureau in the bar, and remove nearly fifty pounds in gold and silver from it. The men left before three . . Three o'clock, and very soon afterwards the robbery was discovered. In his opinion the prisoners were the same men who came into the bar, and he said that the rob bery could not have been committed by any one else. On the prosecutor being cross-examined by the priso nrr's attorney, he admitted that after his accompanying the officer to London, awl being shown the prisoners, he said they wore not the men, and that they afterwards drank together, but he said, upon further consideration he was now induced to think that they were the same pet sons. Elizabeth Atkins, the daughter-in-law of the prose cutor, said she was in the bar on the day of the robbery, and she expressed herself to be certain of the identity of the prisoners. One of them asked her to get him a sheet of paper, and when sho went out of the bar to fetch it, he took down an inkstand ; and when she re turned with the paper, he was standing close to the bureau, and- he then put the paper in his pocket, and both the prisoners left the house directly afterwards. A person who was stand ing close to the bar when the parties entered, also spoke to their identity, and witnesses from the railway station were likewise called, with other persons, to prove that they were in the town about the time the robbery was committed. The attorney for the prisoners said he vas instructed that the witnesses were all mistaken, and that there was no ground for the charge made against the prisoners, who, he assured the Magistrate, were persons of respec tability, and incapable of committing the offence imputed to them. He then applied for time to be all Owed to pro duce witnesses on their behalf. The MA.voit said that,. as the case at present stood, he should feel himself called upon to re mand the parties for further inquiry to be made, and this would give an opportunity of obtaining additional testimony. An application was then made to admit the prisoners to hail, and they were ultimately liberated upon entering into recognizances, and producing sureties to the amount of 400/. for their appearance on a future day. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. HOME ClRCUlT.—Guildford, July 27. LLOYDS' SHIPPING LONDON, JULY 27.—Wind this day at Noon, S. DEAL, JULY 26.—Wind N.E., moderate.—Arrd. Brixton, Elbourne, South Seas ; Prince George, and Curlew, Quebec. Arrived from the River, and sailed, Moffatt, Hobart Town ; Ellza, Quebec. PORTSMOUTH, JULY 26.—Wind E.S.E. to S.—Arrd. George IV., transport, London, for St. Helena, &c. POOLE, JULY 26.—Arrd. Reaper, Quebec, after touching the ground, apparently with little damage. FALMOUTH, JULY 25.—Wind variable and light.—Sid. Royal Tar (steamer), Vigo. Livicaroor., JULY 26.—Wind W.N. W., light.—Arrd. Portsmouth, Glover, Mobile ' • Sterling, Saunders, Savannah ; St. Lawrence, Brown, New York ; Zanthe, Porsen, St. John's, New Brunswick; Burnett, Thomson, Montreal. Sid. Rhode Island, Providence, Harvest Home, Calcutta; Inglewood, Havre and Rio Plate ; Hope, New Orleans; Rochester, New York ; Grace Darling, Rio Grande. Arrd. off Cer delia, China ; Havannah packet, Africa ; Alezo, Wise, and Alexandrine, Montreal; Mary and Eliza. Dumas, JULY 23.—S1d. British Queen, Miramichi. CORK, JULY 24.—Arrd. Pallas, • Hall, St. Andrew's. Sld. Caledonia, Jamaica. PENTLAND FRITH, JULY 23.—Arrd. Alfred, White, Que bec ; Symmetry, Kendall, America. VESSELS SPOKEN WITH.—A ship, supposed the Otterspool, No. 9,267 (new code), 11th inst, lat. 39, lon. 14, by the Byker, arrived at Cork ; Progress, Monte Video, to Cork, 20th ult., lat. 48, lon. 46, out GO days ; Packet de Genes, ditto to Genoa, 27th ult., lat. 32, lon. 43, out GG days, by the Matbilde, arrived at Bordeaux ; St.' Andrew, Stornoway, to Cape Briton, 29th ult., lat. 43, lon. 56 ; ILope, Teignmouth, to New foundland, 6th inst., lat. 47, lon. 42 ; Pride, Quebec, to Limerick, 17th inst, lat. 51, lon. 12, by the Louisa, arrived at Cork. Five Sisters of Aberdeen, 19th inst., lon. 7, by the Curlew, arrived in the Downs ; Providence, London to Quebec, 21st ult., off the Bird Islands, by the Kingston, arrived at Southampton ; Brilliant, Liverpool to Quebec, 13th inst. lat. 49, lon. 17, by the Reaper, arrived at Poole. LIGHTS AT SANTA CLARA. .1 • IV The Commission for the county of Surrey, was opened this day by Lord Abinger, and to-morrow morning at ten o'clock, both Courts will proceed with the business of the assize, Lord Abinger presiding on the Civil Side,. and Mr. Justice Coltman in the Criminal Court. There are very few prisoners for trial, and none of the offences are of a serious character. On the Civil Side a great many causes are entered, several of which are Special Juries, and it is expected that the business will not be concluded in less than a fortnight. NORFOLK ClRCUlT—Norwich, July 25. These assizes commenced to-day at ten o'clock, with ten.. causes, of which three were special jury causes, and a calendar containing 53 prisoners. CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice WILLIAMS. ) Letitia Broom, aged 23, was charged with having stolen the sum of 301. from the person of one John Neale, of Edge-field. Mr. O'Malley was Counsel for the prosecution ; • and Mr. Palmer fe,r the prisoner. It appeared that the prosecutor, who is a cattle dealer, re paired from his home to.Reepham fair on the 7th of this month, for the purpose of selling an old horse. Having accomplished this job for the small sum of 21. 25., the prosecutor found time rather heavy on his hands, as he intended to proceed pn the following day to Dereharn market to make large purchases. In order to dispose of the superfluous hours he wandered into the fair, where meeting with some friends he adjourned to a booth. Leaving this, he agiin tried the fair, and for four mortal hours he gazed at some " London show, where there were plenty of Andrews." While so engaged night drew on apace, and about half-past ten o'clock at night a " female with a black eye and a weil over her bonnet" came up to him and with out so much as "by your leave, or with your leave," she thing her arms round his neck and saluted him as an old friend. Staggered at the warmth of the greeting, the prosecutor drew his right hand from his breeches pocket in which was his purse, and put her away from him. At that instant the fair one slipped her hand into the unguarded pouch and extracted its precious contents, with which she made off as fast as possible, in com pany with two men, who were seen by other witnesses to be in the fair with her both before and after the robbery. On the following morning, at half-past six o'clock, the prisoner and her two companions, foot-sore and fatigued, made their appear ance ataymondizam, a distance of nearly eighteen miles from lie4liam, when she was observed to have in her possession a quantity of severeigus. The robbery be noised abroad, the OPENING OF CROSBY HAL , This ancient Hall, in Bishopsote-street, to wh 'cn so many rich historic reminiscences attach, wact yesterday evening with an accompanying soiree, va occasion of its conversion into a literary and OM ; . V c institution, an inaugural address being delivered f Bell, Esq., F.R.S., the President. The institution MM... sists collectively of a suite of apartments, the entrant '- chamber, or refreshment-room, possessing an excellerat organ, and ornamented by a City artist with fresco paint ings, illustrative of the Third of the Plantagenets and . his actions. Descending by steps, three rooms con tiguoui -to the Hall contain specimens of a mu seum which is in course of formation, and in which we observed, en passant, several fine speciniens of marine con - chology, and geological relics of the antediluvian world, in the shape of huge fragmentary bits of various mega theriu , with several of the tortoise and tapir species complete war-skins of African Caffres and Boshmen also embellished the walls. The entire library also, which. has been accumulating for three years past, while the in stitution was at Salvador House, consists of five or six thousand volumes. The Dail itself, intended for lec tures, meetings, &c., and which had a doubly-magnifi cent appearance last night, when the antique beauty 0: its architecture was enhanced by the• attendance of 500. to 690 fashionable and select City people, measures about. 60 feet in length, and about 37 in width, containing the usual ranges Of raised seats, and terminated a: each cadl by elevated galleries. Mr. Davies, the architect eto ployed, has used his best art and taste in restor:ng its long-- obscured and time darkened beauti e s ; f ar , as th e a ble lecturer on this occasion *noted; this hall till within these . few days, was put to the vile uses of a packer's warehouse—a hall which had been trodden by princes and merchants, whose roof had resounded to the uhisic of high civic feasts in the days of the fif teenth century; whose floors had re-echoed to the tratti of Richard; in which the classic More, a scholar and Chancellor dear to fame and England, had resided ain't studied; and in which the accomplished Sully, the rich Spencer, and the princely Gresham, had lived or con stantly resorted to. The roof is especially noticeable, as formed or that richly carved Gothic cedar-work, which architecture had so much in vogue in 1472, the period the ball was erected; the elaborately cut arches spring from their stone-work rests or pediments no less vigo rously than symmetrically. Ceastantly surrounded by such associations as those enumerated above, the mem , bars of this institution will involuntarily breathe in a re fined atmosphere of thought and intelligence, such as the annals of history inspire. The . youth, the mechanics, the virtuosi, of the City and its environs, will here, for their almost nominal annual subscription, find constant me;gis of improvement and pleasure, and the Committee canon be too highly eulogized for the excellent project which they .litive thus carried out and perfected in rescuing the veneraed hall from desecration and a lumber-room to its present apposite and intellectual purpose. Mr. Bower , ba,nk, Mr. Ward, and other influential gentlemen, ho noured the.assemblage with :heir pr.,senee. THE MELOPItoNIC GUITAR.—A concert was given yesterday evening at the Hanover-square ROOMS, prin cipally for the purpose of introducing to public notior M. Barelli's new musical discovery of the Melophonie Guitar, which was played upon and exhibited by Signor Giulo Regondi. ' The novelty appears chiefly to consist in a refined melodiousness of the ordinary guitar strings ; for the body of the instrument is essen tially the '-same, as also the mode of operation. Its name, " Melophonic," or "Melodiously modulated," is exactly expressive of its character. A MS. concert, by Schutz, a Fantasie Elegiaque, and the Souvenir des Huguenots were each performed upon it by Regondi, and these strings confessedly were proved to be capable of pro ducing much finer and softer instrumentation than the often tuneless strings commonly used. The concert was given by its inventor for the philanthropic purpose - of getting lovers of music to patronize and adopt it, and so affbrd work and occupation in a new line of factory art to the English working-classes in want of employment. The direction of the preparations for the funeral of the Duke of Orleans, is confided, says the Moniteur Pa risien, to M. Visconti, who has received the necessary instructions and powers. All the persons who are to assist him have been specially nominated by the Minister of the Interior. Workmen are actively employed in pre paring the draperies and other ornaments with which the Cathedral of Notre-Dame is to be hung on this truly awful solemnity, which, it is now said, will take place on the 30th instant, instead of August 3, as first suggested. Many workmen have also been sent to Dreux to prepare the tomb for the reception of the august remains. We understand that the Right Hon. Earl - Grey will shortly arrive in this neighbourhood, on a visit to his son-in; laiv, J. C. Belted, Esq., of Fleet.—Devonport Independent. Major-General Sir ,John M‘Leod, Lady Pottinger, Sir Michael Stewert, Lord and Lady Rivers, lady Majori banks, and Lieutenant. E. Von Donop, left London on Tuesday in the General Steam Naeigation Company's steam-ship Soho, for Antwerp and the Rhine. Major Begbie, Lady Bidden, Sir George Clerk, Mr. Bet thwiek, M.P. Colonel Cadeil, Sir E. Colebrook , and General Wardlow, left London fee. Edinburgh yesterday evening, in the General Steam Navigition Company's new steam-ship Princess Royal, Captain J. W: Morris. A man named Rochblave was murdereti l ast week by his son, a young man of eighteen, in the com;.none of Mialet (Gard.) The father lived unhappily with his wife, and frequently had quarrels With her. On the da' On which the fatal act was committed, some words arose as usual, when the son interfered and took the mother's part. Urged on by her, he seized a large stone, and hurling it at his father struck him on the temple. The father fell, and the son immediately attacked him most ferociously, striking him with the stone until he was \dead. The murderer then took to flight, but in two hours returned and gave himself up prisoner. His mother is also in custody. The Sentinel& de la Marine gives an account of an accident which has occurred at Toulon, on board they 'l'enare steamer :—" The boiler, which had not been hexed for two months, but which after being cleaned a. !brought ago had been since hermetically closed, was on the 13th opened in the upper part to be examined by it new engineer. A candle which was thrust down having been extinguished, he determined to wait until the air was renewed, but the stoker and another man disregard big this prudent resolution and the engineer's remon strances, descended, and were immediately deprived of their senses. Luckily they were drawn up, though not without difficulty, in time to have medical assistance afforded them with effect." • vir • ~ HITES AND BLACKS.—" I find from the votes Of supplies, which have been passed by our careful And Considerate House of Commons, that the sum of 30,0001. has been voted for the purpose of education in England, and 24,000/. for the like purposes in the West Indies. The population of England is 17,000,000 ; that of the negroes in the West Indies under 1,000,000. The amount per head for the education of the blacks Is, tlieretore, about 7d ; for the whites rather more than a farthing .and a half ! If the suns voted fur the blacks be not a lavish one, that voted for the whites must be a very scanty one."—Correspondent of the Bolton Free Press. FATAL ACCIDENT.—Tuesday afternoon an in quest, adjourned from Thursday last, was resumed before Mr. Baker, at the University College Hospital, on the body of John Steedman, aged 13 years. From the evidence it appeared that the deceased was the son of a isabinet-maker, residing at No. 49, Seymour-street, Euston-square. Ott Tuesday week last a gentleman gave him a horse to hold in Judd-street, Bruns wick-square, and he (deceased) was riding it quietly towards the New•road, when several boys collected around him, and endeavoured to frighten him and the horse by shouting and waving their caps. Deceased kept the same pace until one of the boys, about seven years old, threw his cap at the horse's head, and the others at the same time set up such a cry that the animal started off at full gallop. Deceased clung to the saddle for a few, seconds, but the horse gallopped at such speed that at the corner of Leigh-street the boy was thrown, and as he fell his foot became entangled in the bridle, which he had suffered to hang liaiselY by the side. In that manner be was dragged along about 15 yards, and when at length the bridle broke he was found lying in a state of insensibility in the road. lie was taken to the hospital, and died there of an injury to the skull on the following night. The Coroner adjourned the in quiry in order that some of the boys, if any of them were above the age of seven years, might be apprehended. When the Jury met yesterday the boys were found to be too young to be amenable to the law. The Coroner suggested, and the Jury agreed to, a verdict to the effect that deceased died from a fall from a horse, but how or by whom it was set in motion there was not sufficient evidence to show. LARGE SEAL.—There wits shot on Saturday week, in the bay of Thurso, by Mr. G. Sutherland, salmon fisher, in the service of the Messrs. Hogarths, a seal weighing three cwt., and measuring seven feet.—Ross Advertiser. .CHEAP CORN FROM ABROAD..—A . Correspondent informs us that the Anti-Corn-law League are about to establish an association upon a large scale, to import Corn from all parts ,of the world where it is to be had Cheap, seeing that they can make no impression on the landed interest., who form a large majority in the House ef Commons.. - We do not know whether the advertise ment in another part of our paper refers to this or not, but this we do know, that fine wheat may now be pur chased at Calcutta for lfis. per quarter, and brought to this pirt, freight and all charges, including the highest rate of duty, to stand in not. more than 41s. per quarter, and the recent importation from chili is said to have realised a profit of 40 per cent. The accounts from America represent the growing crops as promising a yield of many millions of quarters, in excess of the wants of its inhabitants, the greater part of which will, no doubt, find its way to this country, the same us cotton does ; no matter what the prices may iie, for they will have it to spare. From South Russia rind Poland, where an extended cultivation has taken ace. large supplies ma t s be • expected ; as also from brermany, Italy, South France, and Spain, so that the tettl.ily farmers of this country will no longer be able, by withholding supplies from the market, to keep up prices as they have done ; and a well-informed friend of ours expects that the average price of wheat, from he ddier next, to the harvest of 1843, will not exceed 425. per (parte r. —London Mercantile Journal. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and quite on Tuesday honotired the Surrey 'Zoological m G e a m n b lez with a visit, for the purpose of inspecting the beautiful t ir t e :sisn t i h inl e il eu r a ,d d di admission Of Oxhibition of flowers and fruits go b t eife u to. tif the South London Floricultural Society. The Duke arrived early in the morning, Of the general company, so as to obtain a view of the I f: c o t :7 (11 w a h g i . l a e in t h i e b i r t bte'resliness evening wtats) witness qttnosphere of the crowded t ents . 'rAeonTfo theo last. His shot al Ili Less fireworks fro the Cttit • ACCIDENT. o rSt A tl i ttal accident 0e .... Auge.o. arc expected at Gordon Castle early :The Duke and DUchess of Richmond and family .", i ," I y 1 , A o T i v. , A 0 I tn t od A au l y L of N wo N th . ManchesterAfmaetri named John i i . l e a a i h l : in August. Prepa- (Fred on_ the line rations for their reception have been making for some aed 5-, residing at Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, having engaged time past. Z I An address of thanks to Mehemet Ali for ,' Tme men keeping ne, was watchin e hay grass growing on the slopes of the open the communication through Egypt in 1840, beauti- 1 t i rain w .. aAv g them work, and as the half-past nine o'clock from Manchester, he observed his dog fully engrossed on vellum, with the Royal arms of Eng- ! r in , " , ri to btiaskkei basking* out aona c o t: l f hg t e lt l e i n d e an . e T r he an d d og i n m oV ci )e a c t d e i l ng on h b is is ca .e l t l i. he land at the top, together with a large gold medal, bear- i . inn an admirable likeness of the venerable__ Pacha, will ' old of it.the engine came 4 Ind knocked m him Y down,ar!'d so i ra n' t passed ever hi s y . He k i lled on be transmitted by the next mail to the English Conattiat ei .s _f tilt, carriagewheels bed , was Alexi:lschia for nrpentation to his ilighae§s. Y' 9 0 t, 44, bis body YAP mob mutilated.. ~ . , ! The Nethalie, Labrielle, arrived at Havre, reports that since Jan. 1, 1842, a fixed light had been established on the highest extremity of the island of Santa Clara, in the Gulf of Guayaquil ; and, in order to avoid the numerous tratlite , s of vessels which formerly took place, two buoys have been placed at the entrance of the Roads of La Puna, differently painted. The white should be passed at larboard, and the black at starboard ; and both may be approached without any fear of danger. NOTICE TO MARINERS. SHOAL. AT PORT ROYAL (JAMAICA). A white buoy with a black vane and staff; has this day been placed on the 17-feet shoal in the entrance of the South Channel, approaching Port Royal from the southward, with mask, and bearing South Key on with South-east Key bearing S.E. by N., southern part of St. Gelrge's Cliffs N.N.W., Wreck Point W. by S. half S., and the Portuguese Bay N.E.• by N. a bout half a mile distant. IL D. BYNG, Commodore. Jamaica, June 17, 1842. r/: . ?7v~ f