The Sun. — London, England, 1842-07-30 00:00:00

. ' . "2 . ruinous prices now quoted. ...The future is -fearful to I contemplate ; yet the present state of things has one • • g ood effect---it is bringing many to think with us, who, . few weeks ago, considered us wild and visionary. There is an increasing conviction in the minds of the masters and tradesmen that we must get the trade with the United States opened again, and that nothing will do this but a repeal of the Corn-laws. The Guardians, at the meeting to-day, have decided to give the stone breakers tin it bread, meat, and oatmeal as' last week, but there will now be a great increase to the number needing relief. . The working men deserve great praise for their patient and peaceable conduct under so much privation and distress. They are now daily approaching a star of suffering which will very likely produce what may i?tinvice Sir Robert Peel and his colleagues that the distress is real. I should not be surprised at our county Members, who' have hitherto supported his policy, uniting in a memorial for him to adopt more liberal measures with respect to trade, which, if they would do, it could not be long ere our wishes were accomplished, and the country again prosperous. " I am yours, " ROBERT BEW." • " To the Rev. W. H. Bonner." He was sorry to hear it announced that the Conference would break up on Monday next .; he trusted thit the faraf *ailed in that letter, together with the alarming state of the country in general, would induce them to abandon their resolution. • Mr. HOLLAND, from Liverpool, then said,—Sir, It is my painful task to confirm the accounts you have already laid before you by Mr. Heyworth, and other gentlemen from Liverpool. of the state of trade there generally. Although the distress of the working classes does not Meet observation so much as in the neighbouring towns, which are purely manufacturing, yet, on inquiry, the complaint of want of employment is universal, especially among the shipwrights, iron-founders, machine-makers, sail-makers, and all trades dependent on foreign com merge and shipping. You have already had a report from the Town Missions, as to the distress of the work ing-classes in those districts, to which I may add, that the workhouse is crowded with a larger number of in mates, than is generally experienced here during the winter months. The number of unemployed masters of ships is increasing, and the shipping interest is labouring under more severe depression than has ever been known ; the numerous sacrifices which are being made in colonial built ships, (the larger descriptions of which arc, indeed, quite unsaleable) re-acts upon the price of home• built ships, which can enlj be disposed of at ruinous rates. Vessels may be chartered for a lower figure than can be warranted in the dullest times, the only alternative being to lose money by laying them tip, or continue sailing them with a :Try question able chance of paying their expenses. The fact of this want of employment for shipping is Conclusive as to the inactivity which prevails generally in our foreign trade ; nor is the home coasting trade in any better plight, the freights, from my own experience as being interested in some of these vessels, having fallen to unremunerating rates. In fact, I believe that no foreign trade holds out any profitable employment at present far the merchant and shipowner ; nor is there any large article of import that is now brought here to pay a profit, and with very few exceptions, a loss is sustained by the importer, anti low as prices were at the close of last year, a much lower rate has now to he submitted to. The mercantile community of Liverpool beim; mainly agents for the transmission and exchange of the products of the manu fneturers, the larger share of these losses is sustained by the manufacturer, who gets each day a less return for his goods ; but, notwithstanding the effects are thus removed ip seine degree from our Liverpool houses, still, a large number who are themselves engaged in the export and import trade are suffering extremely, especially those connected with our colonial establishments. All foreign Markets are glutted with our goods ; yet, in order to get rid of their stocks, the manufacturers are compelled to continue their shipments, thus competing against them selves and aggravating the evil. It is easy to say the remedy is to be found in limiting production ; this could only be accomplished by the infliction of still greater distress on the operative classes, and, by the annihilation or abatis donment of the mills and machinery of the capitalists. Nor is it less an error to argue that an increased export of cotton goods proves a diminution of the state of dis tress and uneasines s complained of. The larger propor tion of such exports are of cotton, on which the least amount of labour has been expended ; and the value of exports, when measured by the value of the imports re ceived in payment (the only true measure), shows a di minished, amount arrived in return. It is self-evident that this must continue to be the case so long as we re fuse to receive in exchange in foreign mar k ets t h ose articles which form th e bulk of their productions, and which are pie'cisely those that would be consumed to an 'almost indefinite extent by the now unemployed masses of our population. The remedy, it is plain, is in our own hands, but what Sir Robert Peel terms the existing interests, insist on our not being allowed to apply it. I may instance the trade to the Brazils, a country fruitful in products which we stand in want of, particularly sugar and coffee ; a country w hi c h, d esp i te our re f usa l to take anything of moment, excepting the cotton and hides, in direct exchange, still consumes four millions sterling of cur goods. The constant reduction in the price of goods here stimulates a progressively increasing amount of exports to the Brazilian market ; the Brazilian shop keeper, who is already a debtor to us generally , • for a twelvemonth's previous purchase, is com pelled in self-defence to buy more of our every day cheaper goods, ur to shut stp his shop, and be himself supplanted by another man. The necessary result is a r oil stun tly augmenting amount of stock cn credit, and en increasing difficulty on the part of the Brazil shop keeper and trader to meet his engagements, owing to the imposaib taking, 4)f our takin,,‘ the, only payment he can •oller in direct exch a n g e, arid to his being thrown upon the already-o.aratoolied marketij!'ebtitlfiental Europe. Unless a change speedily fake place the inevitable . re • suit Must be the rein of our Brazilian debthr, and the lies of great part of what he is owing to us. Sugar from Brazil is now offered in bond at the miserably low price of thirteen shillings per cwt., or less than I id. per lb., whilst our colonial sugar is charged to us at three times this price. Nor must we forget that we thus lose nearly all the carrying trade back from the Brazils, foreign bottoms competing with us at extremely low rates to the continental ports. This result, too, is obtained after paying twenty millions to our colonial monopolists, and !lifter a loss of twenty-five millions to the public during the last seven years in the shape of the enhanced price of sugar. Nor has a proposition which was lately made fur allowing sugar to be used here, for feeding cattle, and other agricultural p ur p oses , b een listened to. Is it strange that distrust of our motives, and a gene ral outcry against our one-sided intercourse, should pre vail ? The same picture may be drawn of our operations in llavannah and other markets. I shall not now dwell on the pretext sometimes advanced about not encou raging slavery ; this subterfuge is too gross, and has already been sufficiently exposed ; and all such attempts at coercing nations must be stigmatised as they deserve, - whilst we continue to violate the principle we propose whenever it suits our purposes. In our trade to the River Plate the same results are manifested ; we refuse to' take what would prove the most valuable article they produce—namely, their beef, except after paying a duty . of Ss. per cwt., which becomes almost prohibitory, IA hen the value of the article here is considered, my opinion being that it would become of very large consumption at a selling p r i ce o f 2d. a 2.1 d. per lb., but cannot come within the reach of the class who would consume it, and who, at present, seldom or never taste meat at a higher rate. Thirty thousand tons of this laid were exported last year from Montreal alone, nearly all which went in Brazil and Spanish ships to the Brazils and the Havannah, thus depriving ourselves of a most valuable trade, and furnishing the slave holder with a cheap and nutritious food to promote his business. If a market were afforded here, 50,000 tons of this beef might be brought from those countries in our own shippins; giving at the low price of Id. ster ling per lb. an exchangeable value of about half a mil lion sterling, all which would be paid for in our goods. The same argument applies in a still stronger degree to our intercourse with the United States (whose agricultural pro2ucts we have hitherto proscribed), and although the new tariff may, we hope, open some trade in this quarter, yet it is-evident the high duties retained must naturally abridge any benefit that would otherwise be obtained from the vast amount of food pro ducts that she could give us ; and which, if permitted to be exchanged on terms of reciprocity, would, we have every reason to believe. raise up such a powerfulinterest in favour of a free trade with this country, as would cement our friendly relations ; and settle the tariff and boundary questions far sooner than any diplomacy can effect. I might extend these remarks to almost every country with which we trade, and point out the same re sults, but I should be occupying too much ofyour time, and probably re-stating what you have already heard be fore. I shall limit myself, therefore, to the foregoing remarks applied to those countries with which I am myself acquainted, hut I cannot refrain from observing, that a complete reply is furnished by these facts to those like Sir Robert • Peel, advance the ' proposi tion that, under present circumstances, improvements in machinery may prove an evil. It must be evident that, were exchange unfettered, such improvement in ma chinery, by producing a larger quantity of cheaper articles of clothing, is equivalent to breaking up a new and fertile soil, for the production of food, inasmuch as you can thus present the settler in the new country with a great amount of stocking in exchange for his food and stuffs, thus inducing him to throw his labour into this new channel ; thus every improvement in machinery would be hailed with delight by all parties, as conducing to increase the amount of com modities which each party can offer in exchange; and the improvements in machinery can only be nega tive in their beneficial results, when, as in our instance here, a constantly increasing 'production of clothing stuffs is met by a stationary and non-progressive amount of toed commodities with which to be ex• changed. This is is our case. An immense inequality exists in this country bots'veen articles of clothing and those of food. We are not allowed to pass a limited field of production to correct this, but are told to trust to the eliances of the season, and when, as in this instance, an adverse season occurs, the disease presents itself in an aggravated shape.--(Hear, bear.) it is. true that a remedy - is attempted to be found by a relax ation of the prohibitory system in the new Corn Bill, but this cannot prove effectual; and if we look at the present workin g of the new law w.s find that the pro visions which h holds otit`to the gambler must prevent it from ever becoming a trade of barter for the regular isterehant.. A large amount of corn, probably 1,500,000 q uarters, have b een bought in foreign markets by the speculator under the impression that the crop here might hrove a small one, in whi c h ease prices might rule high ere, and the duty proportionably low. The foreigner, slimily alive to these schemes, obtained a much higher price than would have been paid under ordinary circum stances of a free trade ; but with the present prospects of' a fair average crop here , the speculato r i s now pay i ng a duty of Bs. per quarter, besides having:lo take tahnv., price afterwards, thus suffering a serious loss in the shape of the firm price paid to. the foreigner. In short no regular merchant can venture where the' lottery of chances is thus made still more hazardous by the law. It might be supposed that as the accomplishment of the objects for which the late Corn-law was ostensibly framed had utterly failed (namely, to secure an equal and abundant supply independent of foreigners), giving the framers of that law every credit for sin cerity in their good intentions, they would abandon it entirely; but the reverse is the case and the bondholdertenow cling to the retension of the name prin ciple, although their motives for so doing must now be viewed as _solely of a selfish character. . They insist upon being allowed to attempt to supply the inequality which conessedly exists, between the two articles of food, and the products of manufacturing industry ; to do this they have only to take poorer soils into culti vation, which is the same. ,thing as using an inferior medium. And then they turn round and complain of the continued improvements in machinery, which the ma nufacturer makes. So long as the other products of British industry are thus compelled to be exchanged for food raised by this inferior 'machinery of production, instead of being allowed to obtain the largest amount o: food from the most fertile soils in every quarter of the world, so long must the inequality of the supply of food to that of other goods, or the so-called over-production of machinery and under pro duction of agriculture, be felt, and our industrious classes continue in the present state of distress. Such a system cannot, in my opinion, be too strongly reprobated, and the fact of one class in the community— and that a small one—thus creating such a general de rangement of the state of our social body, and causing the distress which we see around us, is sufficient to arouse the indignation which is now becoming so gene • rally expressed. But I think it should not be forgotten that the power thus injuriously wielded by a certain class is based upon their having possession of the land. Now, the property i n l an d i s o f that kind which has the least right or title to be made use of for merely selfish purposes, to the prejudice of the public. The right of the State Government to a ground rent payable to it as representing the public by the landholders, and the way in which the latterhave contrived to get it converted into a na:serably small annual sum, instead of paying in proportion to the increased value of their rentals, has already been sufficiently expressed to the world; but the claimto a ground rent from the landholders to the State, can never be extinguished by any such pretended com mutation for a fixed sum, and the principle itself dates from the first institution of property, and we see it re cognised in all the States ofEurope. It cannot then, Isay, be too strongly repeated and urged to the people of this country, that it is at the hands of that very class who ought to contribute more than any other to the comfort and well being of the community—being in fact the farmers of the soil for the public, and paying a ground-rent to the public for the use of the same—that it is at the hands of this class, in whose so-called property the public has such an undeniable and prior interest, that they (the people) are doomed to have famine inflicted on them, thus super adding insult to injury. But we are told by Sir R. Peel that the principles of free trade, though undeniably good in the abstract, cannot be carried out, owing to existing interests—in other words the landholding mo nopoly interest. How far the presumed rights to injure the public for their own supposed benefit may be carried, when it has no other foundation than the robber's plea, that of being the strongest, unless, indeed, a prescrip tive right have grown out the practice of it, remains for the people of this country to determine ; but is it your part, gentlemen, to arouse them to the facts of the case, and to show Sir Robert Peel that there is a far larger interest than any of those who resist the applica tion of right principles, namely, the interest of the people of England, who demand justice at his hands. It must be matter of much regret to all of us, that principles thus admitted to be true by the Goverument, cannot prevail by the mere. force of argument, but that you should be called upon—by the declaration of the Minister himself, that he cannot overcome the influence of existing powerful interests—to have to continue an appeal to the people on the one hand, and to the fears of these opposing interests on the other ; yet is there no alternative left us by the Government, and the progress we have made, and the justice of our cause, leaves no doubt of the result in my mind. Although lam well aware that this Association cannot take up any agitation of a political character, I shall venture to make one remark in connexion with politics, particularly as the subject was lately adverted to in a speech by one of your members, namely, that it cannot be disguised, that in all appeals to the people to accomplish some great national reform, it does become an appeal to their numbers, determination, and physical as well as moral force, and that the Reform Bill and Catholic Emancipa tion were thus carried. It was a mistaken notion, it now appears, that the Reform Bill would cause the appeal to reason and justice in that House to supersede the necessity of again agitating the people ; but as all such agitations do place society on the verge of convulsion and of disruption, and where the rebellion of the belly may, as Sir James Graham says, sweep away all the social barriers, if a famine super venes in our present distress, before any remedy has been applied.—l do say, Sir, that I for one should very much prefer to see the people admitted to the enjoyment of political rights, and have all these questions discussed by their representatives in a deliberative' assembly : and, although I regret that I am aware this * Association can not, as a body, join the movement which has been made in that direction, yet I trust no sentiments adverse to such a movement will be heard here, and that. in their individual capacity, we shall find numbers of the middle class joining to obtain their rights for their fellow men, and thus giving a pledge of their sympathy for them, and of their indisposition to see themselves compelled to resort to these appeals to the people out (if. doors to force measures of justice from the!Govrninenl . Mr. INfooliu rose fiwthe- yurpose ; of calling the atten tion of the meeting po the effect which .the Corn-111.A had upon Ireland, whiCh . was solely and purely an agri • cultural country. If agriculture—meaning thereby far mers and labourers—were to derive protection and support from the protective system of the Corn-laws, then the farmers and labourers of Ireland ought to be the most prosperous in the world. It was now some years since Henry David Inglis made the tour of Ireland, and wrote an account of his journey. . Speaking of the rate of re muneration received by the labourer, that gentleman said he was quite confident that if the whole yearly earnings of the country were divided by the whole number of labourers, the result would give under 6d. a day for each labourer in Ireland ; in speaking of their habitations, he said the only difference between the best and the worst of the mud cabins was, that some were water-tight and some were not ; airtight he saw none—windowless all scarce any chimneys ; no such thing as furniture to be seen, unless a broken stool or two and an iron pot can be considered furniture. In Lein ster, Munster, and the lower part of Connaught, beds were far from common, and bed-clothes were not nearly sufficient. He went on to say that the destitute, infirm, and aged formed a large part of the population, and that three-fourths of the people died of destitution. " Their present condition," he said, "is shosking for humanity to contemplate, and a reproach to any civilised country." He (Mr. Moore) would now beg to refer them for a moment to the evidence given before the Irish Poor-law Commission. From inquiries made of that Cork:mission it appeared that the wages of the best labourers of Ireland, in the best parts of Ireland, and at the most favourable times, were lod. a day for three days a week, or only sd. a day ; that gave to the labourer an annual income of 61. 10s. ; th..re was no source whence his wife or children could earn a farthing ; and out of that 61. 10s. he would have most probably to pay a rent of 11. 10s. a year for his cabin. It was further stated in this book that 3,000,000 night be taken as the average number of people in Ireland who would need relief or parish assistance in the winter, and from the months of May to August. Now that was from an authority that must be credible. It was not prepared by an Irishman seeking to gain something for Ireland ; it was not prepared by a Corn law repealer, but it was prepared by an English Poor law Commissioner, sent over there to inquire into the state of the country. 'That was the condition of the country, and that was the condition of the labouring population, as protected by the Corn-laws. He now came to the small farmers, and their condition was little better than that of the labourers. The small farmer had scarce a better house, and scarce better provisions, than the 'labourer; he was obliged to sell the whole of his produce to pay his rent. The Corn-laws did indeed keep up the price of fubd in their markets, but it gave the whole of their produce to the landlord. The farms of Ireland were very small—an acre and a quarter was considered a good-sized one—and if a man once got such a one, he would consider himself happy and comfortable, and settled fur life ; and they were thus minutely subdivided, As stated by Mr. Cobden in his "England, Ireland, and America," to meet the desperate competition of a people who had nothing but the land to resort to for employ ment. They had then the labourers in a state of absolute destitution—for they could'not consider a man earning l Od. a- day three days a-week in any other condition, and they had the farmers, as a mass, in constant and unnecessary destitution. Then the whole of the farming and labouring population of Ireland were protected in a state of con tinued destitution by the Corn-laws.--(Hear.) There was no amount of money scarcely that could not be ob tained for the land. He,(Mr. Moore) had known 1001. offered for the good-will of a farm of five acres, paid simply for being allowed to enter and live there ; a rent of thirty shillings an acre was paid besides. A man had no outlet there for his family but the land ; .sons and daughters must either have land themselves or become labourers on the land for others ; and as the condition of the occupier of a small piece of land was a little bit better than that of the labourer, they preferred having a little land themselves to becoming the serfs of the serfs of the landlord. Ireland had no occasion to continue in that condition ; her sons were active and industrious — her soil the richest in the world,—(Hear, hear.) The fact was, that wheat cropping was unfit for Ireland, that the Corn-laws held out unnatural inducements to continue wheat cropping, that the land lord, keeping out of the country, never turned his at tention to agriculture, and that he knew nothing at all about his land, save that he received so much from it every year. These were the causes to which Ireland's ruin was to be traced ; the people would be slow to give up their present habits, but they must do so before Ire land regained her place am , :ng the nations. (Mr. Moore then read a letterfrem a, practical farmer, to show what might be obtained from the land, if the pre sent system of wheat cropping was abandoned.) That letter showed that their present system of agricul ture, fostered under the Corn-laws, kept the farmer and labourer in incessant poverty , and proved indisputably that whilst manufactures advanced in this country, and whilst the means of being useful extended in every thi ng , agriculture had not kept pace with the race o f Improve went. The people were becoming more and. more im poverished ; and those who were connected "with th e land, thought they did all they could if they wrung fro m ' . the workman upon the land- the whole of the profits he could.raisefromit. - Non;.; sac wink would be the eff ects upon Ireland if the Corn-laws were repealed. Tb great product that Ireland seemed fitted to prOduce -was THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 30, 1842. flax ; but flax could - not be grown in large quantities ; the great quantity of water, the superior soil, and the great and constant care that were required to bring it to perfection, rendered it impossible to cultivate it in very large quantities—a square rood, and even a perch frequently being the extent of a flax field. The south of Ireland, which was the part best adapted for the cul tivation of flax, grew none ; in fact, 100,000 acres was the whole extent of Ireland occupied in the growing of flax. He was not prepared to say at present where they could find a 'market for any largely increased quantity of sax, but he knew that they could in Ireland, without any difficulty, grow twenty times as much as at present. This would give a staple manufacture, a staple trade to Ireland ; that trade would be partly with England, partly with France, but principally with America ; and from the island of Valencia, on the west coast of Ireland, the transit to America would be both safe and speedy. From Valencia to New York, in fact, the ship might steer a straight line ; the distance was about 2,700 miles, and the passage might be performed in eight days by steam. Ire land had no trade now, and as surely as her trade was destroyed by a law designed for the purpose, so surely would the trade of England be destroyed under a law de signed to protect the land. The distresses of Ireland were to be attributed to a system of agriculture, fostered by a Corn-law, unfitted for.the country ; and he would re mind them that they could not get rid of that system till they got rid of the Corn-law, and called the attention of the people to the best means of improving their in dustry on land.—(Hear, hear.) They would then esta blish manufactures in Ireland—a linen manufacture would be the first ; that would find employment for the unemployed portion of the people ; it would represent an improved system of agriculture ; instead of having employment one season of the year, they would have employment all the year through ; instead of starving at home, they would have the means of exporting to other nations ; instead of being a country at which the people of the world looked with astonishment, and wondered why it was so impoverished, its western ports w ould be crowded with ships from all other quarters of the globe ; instead of being a country where no railways existed, it, would be the pathway between this and America ; and Ireland would have railways stretching out their run arms throughout the length and breadth of the land, as England and America had ; they would get their bread from America, and send them linens in return ; and, in stead of there being a growing competition for land, which brought destruction on the people, and ruin on all, there would be employment for all, plenty for all, peace would hold her sway, and property would be secure throughout. the whole country.—(Loud cheering.) Mr. RAWSON said that a gentleman, Mr. Thomas Platt of Glossop, one of the delelegates had just been in the North of France to examine the state of the spinning establishments there. lie would by the leave of the Chairman ask him a few questions. What kind of machinery as compared with ours, do you find in the north of - France ?—I consider the machinery most de fective. What are the masters giving in wages for a thousand hanks ?—They are giving from three to four times as much money wages for 1,000 hanks as we are giving. What amount of money is given to the French cotton. spinner —say fur spinning one pound of number 40 twist ?—Four pence per pound in English money. What does the English spinner re ceive in money for spinning a pound of the same number of twist ?—On improved mules not quite one penny. What amount of money wages weekly will the English spinner make on the average spinning this quality of yarn ?—From 20s. to 255. IN hat does the French spinner earn weekly at 4d. per lb. for spinning P—A bout 15s. Then to what do you attribute the higher wages earned weekly by the English operative, seeing that the French spinner gets four times the money the English workman receives for an equal weight of yarn ?—I at tribute this wholly to our superior machinery. Are the French cotton-spinners improving their machinery ? Decidedly ; from what I saw they are at present turning their attention especially in that direction. Are there any new machine making establishments that came under your pwu observation in the North of France ?—There are several. I saw one myself lately established by English machine-makers at Lisle, and from the manner in which that establishment is fitted up and conducted, they are able to manufacture machinery on the most improved principles. Should you think, from what you saw, that with the price at which yarns are selling in France English capitalists, with such machinery as is now constructed there, would be able to realize a profit ? —I am convinced that an English cotton spinner establishing concerns in France with the modern machinery would realise a very handsome profit indeed. With regard to the opinion that machinery was one cause to which the distressed condition of the operative might be traced, Mr. PLATT begged to observe, that about nine or ten years ago he had his machinery very considerably improved, and he now. employed three times as many hands as he did previous to that time.. Mr. S. &mill - gave a short account of a meeting which was held a night or two ago at Chelsea, where persons of all conditions in life, and of all trades, including shoe makers, plasterers, curriers, &c., came forward, and testified to the depression at present existing in their re spective branches of industry. He also stated that he had received letters from various Associations in the country, stating that they were anxious to send deputies to the Conference to strengthen their hands, to thank them for the exertions they had made, and to assure them that they had effected much good. He (Mr. S. Smith) believed there would not bo time, before the breaking up of the Conference, to receive them here, but he believed that it would be of service to send any ac count of good that had been done to the Anti-Corn. law Association ut Manchester. The CHAIRMAN then said-311a time has now arrived-' ..fur adjourning. I had thoughts - °I should-have been able' to lave announced to you to•day+,' whether.or not this oO'nference would break up on Monday. It appears that all means to influence the Government have been tried —it appears that but little morecan be done substantiiely by this Conference. We have received communications of distress from all parts of the country, and there is little more to communicate on that point. The disturbed state of the country, and the mani:estations which may become greater than they are at present, act in two ways. In they first instance, it makes many who are here de sirous to be at home ; and in the second place, it does afford some argument, that if the distress of the country should manifest itself in a greater degree than it has hitherto done in disturbances of the public peace— or what is called so, which is taking food without which ' life cannot be sustained—(Cheers)—it might be desirable that the Conference should still sit. On Monday, next we meet again at the usual hour ; I hope the at tendance will be as full as possible, because it is pro bable that the question will be submitted, whether the time has arrived for the termination of the Conference, or whether it would be expedient for us to continue our labours, The Conference is now adjourned till the usual hour on Monday. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LOIWS, July 29 Their Lordships assembled at Five o'clock. On the motion of the Duke of BUCCLEUCII, the South Australian Bill was read a third time, and passed. The Earl of RADNOIt presented a petition from Dunfermline, praying for the repeal of the Corn-laws. The NOBLE EARL alsollaid on the table a Bill to repeal the Corn-laws, which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Thursday next. . The Poor-law Commission Continuance Bill was read a third time, and passed. The Court of Chancery Offices Abolition Bill was read a third time, and passed. The Earl of CLANCARTY, pursuant to notice,. begged to put a question to the Noble Lord the Presi dent of the Council. He wished to know whether it Was the intention of Government to sanction the appropriation of any portion of the education grant for Ireland for the establishment and endowment , of agricultural schools in connexion with the schools of . the .Board of Educa tion in that country, and if se, whether such endowment would be limited according to the principle laid down in the seventh Report of the Education Com-, missioners ? Lord WHARNCLIFFE said that it was not the in- tention of the present Government to withdraw any portion of the present powers of the Education Commis sioners in Ireland. SUDBURY DISFRANCHISEMENT BILL. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said, that looking at the present state of public business, and considering the late period of the session, he did not think it possible for their Lordships to bring this Bill to a satisfactory termination. He begged, therefore, to move that the order of the day for the second reading of the Su& bury Disfranchisement Bill be discharged. After a few words from Lord BROUGHAM, the mo tion was agreed to. POOR-LAWS (IRELAND.) The Earl of GLENGALL presented a petition from a place in Ireland, praying that the conduct of the medical charities might not be placed under the control of the Poor-law Commissioners. The Noble Earl took that opportunity of deprecating the extravagant sums paid to the Poor-law Commissioners and Assistant Com missioners as travelling expenses, &c., in addition to their salaries, and also passed some strictures on the Poor-law Commission generally. The Earl of WICKLOW said that the expenses of the rommissioners, if extravagant, from whatever fund they might be taken, ought not to be permitted ; but he must say lie never knew of public servants who better deserved the remuneration they received than the Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners. After a few observations from the Bishop of DERRY the petition was ordered to lie on the table. The Earl of MOUNTCASHEL presented a petition from the medical practitioners superintending the fever hospitals, dispensaries, &c. of the county of Donegal, against placing the administration of the medical chari ties under the control of the Poor-law Commissioners. The Noble Earl also presented two other petitions to the same effect. The Earl of GLENGALL presented a petition to the same effect, from a Board of Guardians in the county cf Fermanagh. The Grand Jury Presentments (Ireland) Bill was read a second time. The Fisheries (Ireland) Bill was considered in Committee.—Report to be received on Monday. The Municipal Corporations Act amendment Bill passed through Committee. The Rivers (Ireland) Bill also passed through Com mittee.—Report on Monday. The Manchester, Birmingham, and Bolton Police Bill was read a second time. The Assessed Taxes Bill was also read a second time. The Joint Stock Banking Companies Bill passed through Committee. On the motion of Lord BROUGHAM, the Insolvent Debtors Relief Bill was read a second time. 7 -Committee on Wednesday next. The House than adjourned at a Quarter-past Seven o'Clock, till tomorrow at Twelve o'Clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS, July 29. The SPEAKER took the chair at Four o'Clock. The Lords' amendments to the Mersey Conservancy Bill were considered and agreed to. Sewell's Divorce Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. Mr. BROTHERTON brought up the Report of the Committee on Public Petitions. FREE TRADE. Mr. VILLIERS presented petitions from a benevo lent society, Elgin ; from the hand-loom weavers, Mid dleton ; from a friendly society at Northwich, in the county of Chester ; from the machine-makers in the employ of the Messrs. Sharpe, all complaining of dis tress, and praying for the removal of the restrictions on trade. Mr. BROCKLEHURST presented a petition 'from a body of operatives in Lancashire, complaining of their low rate of wages, and of the laws affecting labour, and praying the House not to separate without taking their case into consideration. BREACH OF PRIVILEGE. Mr. SHEIL said he believed it was a breach of privi lege to attribute to a Member of the House expressions discreditable to him, and sentiments which he had never uttered. In the Morning Herald report of the debate on the Bribery Bill, he was represented to have said that in his opinion in Ireland the bribery oath was no check to the practice, and:that it was frequently violated. lie had uttered no such sentiment ;* what be had said was. that the.oath was a very-great restraint. He was sa tisfied., -tlio rcp,irter did not. intend' to misrepresent him, but he was naturally anxious that no erroneous impression of what he had said should go abroad ; there had been a misconception, but it had arisen from his own indistinctness.. . Sir J. GRAHAM said he had paid particular atten tion to what the Hon. and Learned Gentleman had said. He was the first Member who objected to the clause, though he alleged that its stringency was very great, and had been effectual. Mr. SHELL—It was a mere mistake. BRIBERY BILL. In answer to a question from. Mr. HUME, Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET said, as the evi dence on the Bill, as taken before the Committee, con tained various matters connected with individuals and the public, he_was not prepared to say that he could lay it all on the table. Mr. HUME would put a question on the subject on Monday. Dr. BOWRING asked, as the evidence referred prin cipally to one locality, whether it would be followed up by any other Report? Lord G. SOMERSET said another Report had been prepared, but he could not say when it would be pre sented. THE DEPTFORD CHARTISTS. Sir J. GRAHAM said he perceived by the notice paper that the Hon. Memb er f or Finsbury intended to present a petition from Dr. M'Douall this evening, and to submit a motion to the House upon it. The Hon. Gentleman had submitted his motion in this particular form, in consequence of the Standing Order adopted in April last, which made it competent to the House to discuss any petition complaining of a personal grievance, which pressed fur a remedy. He understood that the person whose grievance was intended to be brought under the consideration of the House was not in custody, but at large on bail. At present, therefore, there was no personal grievance suffered ; had there been he would not have asked the Honourable Gentleman to postpone his motion. But as the parties were at large, it would be a great convenience if he would adhere to the customary usage in presenting petitions, and give notice of the precise motion he intended to make. As a point of form, there would be greater advantage in adopting that course. He (Sir James Graham) would state that he had, yesterday, written to the Magistrate, requesting to be furnished with a full report of the pro ceedings in the case. He had not yet received the re port, but h e expect e d to receive it by Monday. It would, therefore, be more conducive to the ends of j us tice if the Hon. Member would postpone any motion he might be desirous of bringing forward until Monday, on which day her Majesty's Government would give him every facility for bringing forward his motion. He (Sir J. Graham) requested, as a personal favour to himself, that the Hon. Member would postpone his motion till Monday. Mr. DUNCOMBE would be happy to accede to the proposal of the Right Hon. Baronet, and would post pone his motion, on condition that he should have pre cedence on Monday.—(" Hear, hear," from Sir. James Graham.) He would- now confine himself to pre• renting two petitions. He thought certainly that those petitions came within the rule which allowed a discussion to be raised on the presentation of a petition, complaining of an immediate public and per sonal grievance. The petitioner had been held to bail for six months, when he had committed no offence, but had merely exercised his right of a t ten di ng a public meeting, which the police , acting upon the law as laid down by the Right Honourable Baronet, had chosen to interrupt as illegal. The first petition which he would present was signed by the Chairman of a public meeting, consisting of 5,000 or 6,000 of the in habitants of Deptford, complaining of the conduct of the police in arresting 1)r. M‘Douall, and the other was from Dr. M`Douall himself, a surgeon, residing in Hampton-street, Walworth, complaining of the conduct of the police in interrupting a public meeting, and arresting him ; of the hardships which he had endured in the station-house, and of the obstacles which had been thrown in his. way to prevent his pro curing evidence to show that the charges of the police were unfounded. He moved that the petitions be printed. The petitions were then brought up and ordered to be printed with the Votes. RAJA OF SATTARA. Mr. HUME presented a petition from Puntaub Shean, the deposed Raja of Satpira, who was now a state prisoner at Benares. He had last year offered a petition to the House on the same subject, but as it was written in the Mahratta language, and un accompanied by an English translation , it had been with drawn. He now presented a petition from the same in., dividual, written in the English language. The petition was signed at Benares, on the Bth January, 1842, and was sealed with the seal of the Mahratta kingdom of Sevajee. It was attested by four inhabitants of Benares and ' by a Magistrate. The petitioner stated that he was the lineal descendant of Sevajee, the founder of the Mahratta empire ; that he was now the legitimate head of the Mahratta empire ' • that in 1819, on the d e po s ition of the Peishwa, he had been restored by the British Government as a feudatory of the British empire ; that from that period, up to the year 1835, he had enjoyed the unlimited confidence of the Court of Directors, who in that year had sent him -a sword of honour, and :stated.. that .his conduct was worthy of the imitation of the . other native - Princes ; that since that period he had I*.h deposed, under the*. cumstances related in the petition, to only a few of which he (Mr. Hume) would allude then. ' He stated that in 1836 he was accused of plotting 2gainst the British Government.. but his whole life ought to have been a sufficient answer to such an accusation, that the Governor of Bombay was empowered to procure evidence against him, as having violated the treaty which he had entered into, but he referred to Residents Dutl; Bing, and Robinson, in testimony of its faithful observance ; that he was accused of conspiring againt the British Government, and entering into a treaty with the Portuguese Government, to procure three thousand troops from Goa ; that an inquiry was instituted, which was kept a secret from him; and that, notwithstanding, the whole evidence against him was declared to be worthless. He stated that his princip.tl servant was seized and imprisoned; - that he was kept for twenty-two months in prison, •in a state of torture, till he signed a document to save his life ; that the charge of procuring 30,000 troops from Goa was so ab surd that the House could not give it credence; that he never I had more than I,soo.troops. and that to attempt any I such proceeding as he was charged with, was totally at variance with his character ; that his brother was placed in his stead on the throne, who was proved, under his own handwriting, to have conspired to , injure the interest of the India Company ; that he (the Raja of Sattara) had private property to the amount of . 350,000/. taken from him ; that he was seized by the orders of Sir J. Carnac, in his palace, to which he was never after allowed to re turn, and that he suffered all these losses upon the vague charge of bringing troops from Goa, whilst he was never heard in his own defence. He, therefore, solicited from the House a consideration of his case, and an investigation into the treatment which he had received'; that the vast power of England need fear no alarm, and that it would tarnish the glory of her Majesty's reign if an individual, once her Majesty's faithful ally, now her prisoner, did not receive her protection. That was the petition which he had received, and as it was one of importance he begged to bring it up, and to move that it be printed. • NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr. HUME said that, on Thursday next it would Le his duty to bring the subject of the petition which he had just presented, before the House. Dr. BOVVRING gave notice that he would move early next session for the re-appointment of the Select Com mittee appointed in 1837, to inquire into the mode in which the accounts of the colonies were kept, with the ♦iew to some alteration. The Hot. MEMBER also gave notice, on the part of the Hon. Member for Greenock, that he would move for a Select Committee to inquire into the official duties of the Lord Advocate. Mr. HUME gave notice that ke would move for a re turn to show how 60,000/., granted to those engaged in the battle of Navarino, was distributed. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE gave notice that he should, on Monday, move to refer the petition of Dr. M'Douall and the inhabitants of Deptford to a Select Committee, and that the Committee should report thereon to the House. PUBLIC MONUMENTS. Mr. HAWES gave notice of his intention, on the motion of the Hon. Baronet the Member for Wiltshire being submitted to the . House for the erection of a mo nument to Sir Sydney Smith, to move that the names of Watt, Herschel], and Davy, be added._ _ SOUTHAMPTON ELECTION. Mr. MACKINNON stated that, agreeably to the notice he had given, it had been his intention to move for the new writ for Southanipton ; but in consequence of it having been intimated to him that it would be more convenient that the. Committee of Supply should be first disposed of, he would postpone his motion till after the Committee of Supply had been gone through. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE hoped that the Hon. Member would name some specific day on which to make his motion. He had a petition from Southampton, praying the suspension of the writ, which he would now present. The Hon. Member having presented the petition, Mr. MACKINNON observed that he would bring the subject forward after the Committee of Supply had been disposed of. . . Sir J. EASTHOPE wished to know whether it was competent for the Hon. Member to fix his own time to bring forward such a motion ? The SPEAKER said that it was perfectly competent on the part of any Member to move, at any time, the issue of a writ. NOTTINGHAM ELECTION. Mr. S. CRAWFORD said that he had also a motion on the paper for the issuing of a new writ for Notting ham. But as it appeared to be the wish of the House that the Committee of Supply should be proceeded with first, be would postpone the motion till after the Com mittee of Supply. Mr. V. SMITH wished to know what course the Go vernment intended to pursue after the disposal of the Committee of Supply ? Sir R. PEEL said that of course those Hon. Mem bers who had postponed their motions, in order that the Committee of Supply might be proceeded with, would have the preference of bringing those measuses forward after the Committee of Supply had been gone through. Mr. O'CONNELL trusted that no measure of import ance would be allowed to be brought forward at a late hour. Mr: SHARMAN CRAWFORD said he found that se veral Hon. Gentlemen objected to his moving for the Not tingham writ . after the Committee of Supply. He had no desire to do anything hostile to her Majesty's Ministers, but it was important, under the circumstances, that he should proceed to move for the writ then. Sir ROBERT PEEL said the motion would take the precedence of other business. DUNCOMBE said he hoped that his Hon,. Friend would persevere in the motion. The Irbil. Metr ber opposite (Mr. Mackinnon) had consented to postpone 'his motion, and now it was to be postponed again. Sir R. PEEL thought that no Member had a right to bring forward a motion without notice. There was no notice of the motion for the Southampton writ. Mr. MACKINNON—I gave notice a week ago. Sir R. PEEL—Then it was not on the. paper. An Hon. Member might certainly give notice..at four o'clock that he intended to bring forward a motion. He could do that of right, but it was not in conformity with the practice of the HouSe, and he should be exceedingly sorry to see that right often exercised. He thought these notices were for mutual b nefit—Hear, hear)—aad he did not think that it would be for general convenience that motions should be brought forward without notice. He hoped his Hon. Friend would give notice for Monday next for the Southampten writ. The SPEAKER said the Right Hon. Gentleman had misunderstood him. The question which had been asked was, whether the Hon. Member could move for the writ. He (the Speaker) said it was perfectly competent for any Hon. Member to move for a new writ at any time without notice. He did not think it was competent to a Member to give notice at four o'clock. That would not be a notice. If he gave notice it must be for a future day, and not the same day. Sir R. PEEL said it appeared that notice had been given for the Southampton writ, but it did not appear on the paper. He was referring to the matter as a dropped order. Mr. MACKINNON thought it right to explain one circumstance. On Monday he postponed the Southamp ton writ, and he did not think it was necessary for him to renew his notice. He was not aware that it was ne cessary. But he most distinctly stated on Monday last that he should bring on the Southampton writ this evening. He did not wish to interfere with the public business in taking the writ previous to the Com mittee of Supply. If the Right Hon. Gentleman wished him to postpone the writ to Monday, he would have it dis tinctly understood that he should bring the motion for ward at half-past four on Monday. • Mr. R. YORKE hoped the discussion would take pre cedence of all other motions on Monday, as it was a matter of great importance. DANISH CLAIMS. Mr. HUTT rose, but he was rendered almost inaudible from the noise occasioned by Members leaving the House. He said he would detain the House a very short time. He could assure the House that it was with considerable reluctance that he had been led to bring on a new subject at so late a period of the session, but the parties who had en trusted the case to his hands; felt that their interests would be prejudiced by delay. The Danish claims had existed since i , 1807. In that year an expedition was fitted out, for the purpose of guarding the Danish fleet, by this Government. The Danish Government naturally felt exasperated by such a proceeding, and reprisals took place, and the Danish Government confiscated the book debts of certain British subjects ; and, proceeding further, they seized all British vessels and British cargoes, which they were en abled to lay their bands upon. In regard to the first of these, compensation had beta granted ; but the Crown had refused to make compensation to the other parties, on the ground that they were involved in the same situation as the subjects of all other nations, whose property fell into the hands of enemies at the first outbreak of a war. , On the other hand, these parties said this was not a true description of the case, as the war had not taken taken place at the time of the capture of their property, and they were not apprised whether they were reprisals. That was the view taken by the claimants themselves, and that was the light in which he looked at that subject. The point for the consideration of the House was, whether or not the course that had been pursued was a declaration of war.—(Hear, hear.) It had been maintained that the Government of Denmark was, at the period to which he alluded, at war with the Government of this country ; that the Danish Govern ment had seized upon British property by way of reprisals, and that therefore war had commenced be tween the two States. The late Attorney -Gene ral the Member ,for Worcester, who had made the most elaborate and complete defence of this case, was of opinion the war had actually com menced. But, unfortunately for his Learned Friend's argument, no such document as had been alluded to had been found in the office. It was true that a document had been found in the office which was considered as a declaration of war, but the document was not looked upon by the Sovereign of Denmark, or the people of that country, as such a declaration. That document emanated from a small town in Denmark, and it was signed only by the authorities of that town. It was therefore with great astonishment that he had heard his Learned Friend the late Attorney-General describe that document as a declaration of war, It was not con sidered so by Denmark nor by the authorities iuthis coun try. Now, with respect to the facts of the case. A Danish vessel, called the Orion, was captured in the year 1807, and the subject of the legality of the capture was brought before the Admiralty shortly afterwards. Lord Stowell had decided that any vessel taken previous to the month of November was not a prize of war. Neither the Danish Government nor the British Go vernment had ever considered that we had been at war previous to the declaration of war by the Govern. C l~teml . - justly entitled to the vompi3nsation v iit y sought. But even though they had not such a title as could be strictly enforced, the House would recollect, that the equitable right of the parties had been admitted by themselves upon various occasions. He really thou:At they would now be hardlyjustified in reversing -their own repeated decisions. And after the Heist lid :ilinve , .the claitns, it .would no: b,come the G-iv,rnin of this great country to shelter them elves unler for or technicalities, in refusing. them. They s:iould con sider what was due to the dignity of the House of Gen • mons, and not decline,to accede t•i the repeated mod festations of its wishes. He would aot press the subject further upon that occasion. He • should. only sti , that if compensation were 4 .ili-nied to these pariie,. such a course would be discreditable to the Go vernment, unworthy of the character •of Yariittin~ o;. and would remain a scandal on the tumid, of this country. lie would say no more npvii the sub ject, and would not press any motion ctingt it. 11:• should not have brought the matter under the consuls ration of the House that evening, in the midst of thy many public questions which called fir their deliberation, and in the present unsettled slate or • their finances, were it not that the parties interested felt that their case might be pri-judiced observing a total silence. He had introduci:d the subject, principally for the purpose of reserving th, rights of parties; and in order that 'it might not be sup posed upon any future occasion that they had abandonei their claims. Mr. HUME was glad that his . Hon, Friend did not intend to press his motion. In seconding that moth), he was anxious to make one or two observations. This question was one in which the natitnial honour was concerned, and it had been longer • before the House than any other. Twenty-three year,, ago he (Mr. Hume) had first divided in favour of these claims. Then the whole of the claims were refused. Since then, after a lapse of twenty years, two-this tls those claims had been granted, and one-third only 11(11V remained. After three decisions of the House in favour of those claims, faith ought to have been kept with the claimants. He thought that both the late Government and the present Government iet refusing justice to these claimants, were wrong. If then, were any error in regard to dates, that ought not to stand in the way of their doing justice. In the estimates for the present year they had voted a sum of 10,0001. to settle some Portuguese claims, which were due in 1810. Therefore, the length •of time which had elapsed ought not. to prevent justice from being done. Her Majesty's Government were willing to pay away money where there was no claim, but they refused to pay a just claim. This obstinate denial of justice was discreditable to the Government. They had voted a sum to liquidate the claims of M. Sampayo, which had accrued from 1808 to 1814. There had been no objection made to pay' the foreigner, why should there be any objection to pay the English claimants? He hoped that the .Government would see the pro priety of taking the question into their serious consi deration before the next session, and would pay the last third due to the Danish claimants ; who would, even if that was paid,' suffer severe less, inasmuch as they - would -only have been paid the princi pal, and have lost the interest for thirty•five years. The CHANCELLOR of :the EXCHEQUER, un derstanding that the Honourable Gentleman had brought forward his motion merely with a view of entering his protest, thought discussion unne cessary at present, and would therefore not enter into the merits of the case. He (the Chan cellor of the Exchequer) had already expressed his opi nion on those claims, which expression'of opinion had not been given merely since he sat on that side of the House, for when he had sat on 'the other side he had supported the then Chancellor of the Exchequer in his opposition to these claims. He agreed with the Hon. Member for Montrose, that if a claim was a just one, length of time could be no bar to its admission, but he could not agree - that because they had voted a sum of money to M. Sampayo, that, therefore, they ought to vote a sum of money to the Danish claimants. - The claim of M. Sarnpayo was admitted; ; the only question in debate was as to amount, in the ascertaining of which time of course had been occupied. The discussion of the Danish claims rested upon a dif ferent footing. He could not admit the justice of those claims. The concession of them would involve the country in incalcUlable expense on. some future occasion. —(Hear, hear.) He could not find anything in the law of nations to justify these claims. When the Hon. Gentleman brought the subject before the House, he would go fully into it ; but understanding that the Hon. Gentleman did not mean to press his motion, he would not go further into the question, which could only be further discussed to the interruption of other business. The motion was then withdrawn , : - SINGING CLASSES. Lord PALMERSTON wished to ask, in refeence to what had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet the other evening,. whether it was his intention to propose any grant in, the supplemental estimates ,for the singing classes in Exeter Hall. Sir It. PEEL would repeat the observation he had made on a former occasion, in reference to these classes, which were principally for the: instruction of schoolmasters in 'singing.—(Hear.) In his opinion it would be a great public advantage to afford increased encouragement to the education of those persons in singing ; but he was not prepared to move any specific vote for that purpose during the present year. There were various claims from different parts of the voutitrylm 42,1q13itvt : it was one that required inv er ti gation 'eoniiiireAqion, and the Government would not Iv prepart'd to pr'npose any grant this y e a r . • AERICAN CORN. Mr. THORNELY said he had received statements from several merchants connected with the American trade. It seemed that they had learned from the reports of the debates in Parliament, that the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Peel) had lately asserted, on the autho rity of Mr. M'Culloch, that no great amount of corn could be imported from America, and that the principal importation into this country would be from Dantzic. These merchants stated they laboured under great disad vantages from the operation of the sliding scale. They also wished the Government to be reminded that there was a paper laid on the table of the House in February last, from which it appeared that the _exports of the United States, from the year 1790 to the year 1838, of wheaten flour alone had been 1,100,000 barrels per annum ; and they state that if they were exempt from the operation of the sliding scale they could supply this country with a considerable quantity of provisions. One of these gentlemen stated that he would_ import corn if there were a fixed duty, but that now not knowing whether the duty would be Bs. or 18s. per quarter, he did not venture to import it. It had been said, on the authority of. Mr. M'Culloch, that America herself had imported corn, but that occurred only in the year 1837, and then it imported only 500,000 quarters; that was an unusual circumstance, and even at that time exportation .. was going in many of the American ports. He had thought it right to make these statements because many gentlemen had been under the apprehension that the Government had not properly considered the subject. He was sure that the Right hon. Baronet at the head of the Govern ment must be as anxious as any to increase our trade with the United States of America. Sir R. PEEL said of course he could only answer for himself, and this would be admitted by the Hon. Gen:,le man, that supposing in any one year, from particular cir cumstances, there should be a failure of the harvest in America, and 'they should import corn to any great extent, no inference could be drawn from this casual circumstance. It was of great importan c e that they should extend their trade with the United States ; but there was this inconvenience in dis• cussing these questions in the House of Commons, that when any one corrected what he considered an exagge rated statement, he was supposed to entertain an opinion the very opposite to it. Thus, because he had doubted some statements of the probable amount of the importation of corn from America, it was thought he had been represented as believing that no corn would be imported at all from that country, and that he had told the agricultural interest that no such importation would take place He believed the statement to be an exagge-. ration, and that was all the observation he had made. He did not entertain the opinion that had been as cribed to him, for be believed that. flour would be brought into this country.from the United States under the existing law, and in considerable quantities ; and he should be sorry if the law should interfeie with the trade in flour and provisions between the two countries. Mr. EWART said lie had understood the Right Hon. Baronet to say that considerable quantities of eorn and flour would be imported from America under the exist ing law. Now if the law (lid not have that effect, they should have a claim on the Right Hon. Baronet for the re-consideration of that law. lie should bear in mind the declaration the Right Hon. Baronet had made this day. Mr. WILLIAMS said that from what he had seen of the country, he believed that a considerable quantity of flour and provisions, the produce of the western States, would be brought in. But of course the cost of the transit would be very great. It was not generally known that the Americans were the largest consumers of articles of clothing in the world. They were the best clothed people he ever saw, and he had been through most of the countries of Europe. An American would deprive himself of almost any comfort rather than not be well dressed according to the average opinion. There never was a more favourable period for their entering into a commercial treaty with America. America was on the eve of making a change in her tariff, but there was a strong party there most anxious for an increased interoourse with this country, and if her Majesty's Government encouraged that disposition they could establish a favourable treaty of commerce. THE POTTERIES. BIRMINGHAM, WEDNESDAY EVENING. —The intelligence from the Potteries is highly favourable, Many of the colliers lave already resumed their work, and in spite of threats and ether means of intimidation it is thought that in the course of a few days many of the pits will be in full employment. The turn-outs in some neighbourhoods attempted to 'recent the workmen from going to work, but the determination of the in dustrious artisan, and the protection afforded them by the mili tary force in the neighbourhood, it is hoped will speedily put an end to this system. The works of Lord Granville are closed, and, as far as his Lordship's immediate connexion with them is concerned, it is said, for ever. The injury done to the industrious and well-disposed artisans of the Potteries and their families by the recent outbreak and unlawful combination, may be judged of by the following state ment of the average wages paid by Copeland and Garrett at their extensive manufactory at Stoke. Average wages paid by Messrs. Copeland and Garrett the week ending the 16th of July inst.: —Slip-makers, 245.; plate makers, 245.; throwers, 265. 6d. ; turners, 225. 3d. ; handlers, 295. 2d. ;• dish-makers, 2es. ; pressers, 28s. ; saucer-makers, 28s. ; saggirmakers, 355. ; biscuit firemen, 255. ; gloat fire men, 30s. ; engine -men, 245. ; wareheitiemen, 245. ; packers, 265.; labourers, 15s. The same establishment—the conduct of which maybe taken as a test and example of all the rest of the most respectable housei in'the Potteries—for the week end ing the 9th of July, paid 180 colliers 2241. is. 4d., indepen dent of engine-men and boys, being at the rate of 25. per week per head. s, In Walsall and the neighbourhood affairs have also taken a favourable turn, and the " turn-out" may be considered at an end. The far-famed races of Goodwood, with their b us y , scenes of excitement, are gone by for a season, and the next race we .are likely to have to report will be at Lord Lichfield's seat in Staffordshiye, Shugborough Hall, where, it is antici pated,_ vast numbers will go in the hope of obtaining some portion of the costly and valuable contents of this celebrated mansion. Mr. George Robins will commence his official la bours there on Monday next. The sale will continue through a period of sixteen days (Sundays excepted). During the pre sent week the visitors have been very numerous. The report is exceedinglY favotirable, especially in respect to the inestimable collection of pictures and statues. The wines are announced to be incomparably fine, particularly the splendid Cabinet Cham pagne, of which there is still forty dozen remaining, of Cun ningham's Sillery. There is altogether more than 10,000 bottles of wine. The library is as valuable as it is extensive, and will occupy the three first days of the sale exclusively. At Brighton, and other places along the coast of Sussex and Hampshire, on Wednesday night, the weather was beautiful; while one of the most awful thunderstorms on record visited London, and a considerable portion of Middlesex, Surrey, and Kent. __ MISS ADELAIDE KENIBLE, A BRIDE.—The banns of marriage between " Adelaide Kemble and Jahn Sartoris," were proclaimed in the city churches here on Sunday last. The gentleman, who is about to lead this highly -accomplished lady and distingnished•vocalist to the temple of Hymen, is styled Count Sartoris, and is reputed to be possessed of considerable wealth. The lady, we believe, although generally known in this country by her maiden patronymic of Kemble, is a widow, and, we have been informed, has two children by her first hus band living at Milan. Glasgow Chronicle. TIIE WEATHER AND THE COUNTRY.—Notwith standing the unsettled state of the weather during the earlier part of last week, in this neighbourhood, the greater portion of the hay' then out has been secured, and anticipations of the corn harvest are beginning to haunt the mind of the farmer. Last night the air was exceedingly close, with indications of a high state of electricity. Fine weather is now desirable for the ripening both of corn and fruit, theiatter of which .was never more abundant throughout the country. Considerable num bers of Irish labourers have already arrived, and may be ob served persevering in a smith-eastern course.— Sheffield Iris. "CURIOSITY AT WINDSOR CASTLE.A.' very inte resting natural curiosity has lately arrived at Windsor Castle. where it has been placed upon a large pedestal in the grand vestibule (leading to the Waterloo Chamber), to which the public are admitted. It was recently in the Royal Conserva tory at Kew (having been sent as a pre s ent to the Sovereign o( this country, from China), whence it has Iseen transferred to Windsor Castle, and evinces, in a peculiar manner, the extra ordinary perseverance and ingenuity of the Chine,e, who, dur ring the progress of the growth of plants, have discovered the means of so transforming or training their roots, as to make them assume the shapes of various animals. The singular curiosity referred to, is supposed by some to be the root of the large Chinese dog-rose, and by others to be the rootof the vine. It is about three feet in length, and of a.. proportionate height, and beam a close and extraordinary re semblance to a lion, having the legs and feet, head, tail, and bad) with its thaggy mane, most rudely periect„ SUPPLY. The House then went into a Committee of Supply, Mr. GREENE in the Chair. On the vote of 70,000/. for the civil contingencies being proposed, Mr. WILLIAMS said that there were many of the items which composed this sum, which he could not pass by without notice. The first item he objected to was that of 961., for defraying the expenses of the Bishop of Exeter to the Scilly islands. The passage, at the ut most, would not take more than twenty-four hours, and here was a sum of 481. a day to defray his conveyance, whilst, he believed, he received 6,0001. a year from his see. He thought it would be well for the Bishop to read the Scriptures, and see how the A'post .acted. He next objected to 68/., for the entertainments to the DucheSs of Kent, who received 30,0001. a year from the country. There was next a sum of 201. 55.. for the con veyatiee of the Bis op of Jerusalem to Jaffa ; which was, however, a small sum, compared with . that paid for the short passage of the Bishop of Exeter, The next item was 2351., tor certain voyages on the Lakes of Ca nada, performed by Lord _Sydenhant, who received 7.0001. a year. By doing away with the .Embassies to Sardinia arid Tuscany. a saving of 5,000/. would. be effected. There was then a charge of 871. 105./' tor ePtertaittiug \ *-~ t'vti prii, r !1 . ~t ,i-• ,ii . . i i"„ ‘-s .... lie ;lid 1 , ... . ~ !I ; la . t•. 11- ' f ih.i.- eceeellete try should be te ..1 ..,.. ti, ,iii..rainthiNit efe such a Prince. There . was then another charge;' of 3341., fur defraying the expenses of Mr. Roherr Stewart, her 'Majesty's Charge dc; Affiires fee N ,40 1 ; Grenada, from Liverpool. NOW, he hail gone that . dietitere# / himself, and h e cou ld no t conce i ve h o w .such an 'e 7 XiA a had been incurred. M an y o f t h e oilier items were ,OA to extravagant and un ca ll e d f or . H e found an item Otee ,i tt s allowed to eir George Arthur for the expenses rd . his" ` sage home from Canada. Now he (Mr. Williates) !co.!1.:-.4 tended it was impossible that Sir G. Arthur could hive Seer; such a sum. A sum of 4221. was allewed for the etitee*"23 collars of the Knights of the di ff erent Orders. NO' , contended that that was a charge which should O'A have been borne by the public. There was in itetisla", 55i'1. allowed to Mr. Walker for works connected with`tS Caledonian Canal. Now he certainly thought that that lt should have been paced among the expenses connectecFeeit, the Canal, and not among the present estimates. ln the Fat" way he !mind in those estimat.s an allowance for carte tog ifft., effect the arrangements. connected with the eenny.postae: • which should be placed under the head of the Post. tfee i't partment. He found that a sum of 9231. was allowed to L i t,lt Campbell for the expenses of his outfit to Ireland as '.,,,• Chancellor. Now he ( Mr. Williams) contended that the"Y ee e lie' had no right to. be saddled with such a charge as . tne`',,_,' There was one other item, with wh ch he did not intend to m fault, but he thought there might be some new r eg ulation "wt respect to it. The item was e4(l. to Sir Thomas Richerl had no objection to the item, as it was deserved by Sit Thin; 4 Richer, for his services to the public ; but. he (Mr. Willtdrel thought that there should be offices for such persons to fill. e i Colonel SIBTHORP said these things were the of the late Government, and the Honourable Gentleman l f s l supported them in and out of office. Look at the expense ., tn7l had caused. He had often complained of theireetnninteren, Commissions. He had a great objection to 'he Nriliit; Of th e . 4 Commissions, and he could wish to see them bine - I:Was s oce;en them had been. He never saw such a profligatOCrovernnOl e l and he hoped he never should see another. ileiWai surprise d that the Hon. Member for Coventry should'stallit i behinci 1 Government when they were disgraeed: —( Latigliter. ) 7 Hon. Gentleman had missed one item of their work, and 07 was the imperial penny postage job.—(t anglver. ) The! there was the item to Mr. Rowland Hill of 1,5001., and 11 1 item to Mr. Cole. But the greatest of all was - the Meal' eagle job, added to the Campbell job—a pretty pair. With re; Bard to the outfit for Lord Campbell,'he thought that dr, articles purchased with that money ought to be returnee and sold.—( A laugh.) They would produce but little, 17 1 in the present exhausted state of the Treasury the sm alle 'r donation would be thankfully received—( A laugh )--, e l they might be kept as an exhibition, to , s how tp job which had been perpetrated. If the Hon. Gentleman well lJ divide the House against that vote, he would divide with him' Doubtless. he should be told, as he had been when h e had 07 jected to the' vote of 16,0001. to the Member for Bolton for expenses in his travels, that the money had been paid. 1 " 7 grant was a gross and unpardonable grant, and he looked something better from her Majesty's present Government. ~ they did net do better, they should not have his support (Opposition cheers.) He was not for a low, niggardly nomy, but he was for a proper economy . This expense l's( been incurred after that House had come to a vote of +/cant' confidence in the late Government, and it was disgraceful. Sir C. NAPIER said he - could nottst all understand the al lowance of 961. for a visit to the Scilltlslands: He had c arrie d Governori and Commissioners on various 'occasions," and q, always found the sun alloyed most ample. 'He' thought t , - sum required explanation: 10 Sir GEORGE CLERK said the charge was one * , b , / was made in 1838. He believed the Bishop, accompanied ,i, several other persons went to make a visitation to the Sel% Islands. It was not fair to say that he vent merely 6 ,e . ,, voyage which would occupy two days. It was perfectly e!` o3 , that the expense .must depend greatly upon the length of no, during which the Bishop was engaged in performing his fl e a tation. With regard to the payment of '5OOl. to Cal' Pringle, that officer accompanied Lord Sydenham to Calm; at his Lordship's particular request, and having remained that a year, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, certifie d . in his opinion 500/. was a fair compensation, for. his 5ee 41 ,.10 With regard to the part of the vote for . the menagemeat c e r Post-o ffi ce, he stated that the fi rst agreement wsth Mr. 11° , 0 land Hill to superintend his system .of postage Res ''for ' of years; the present Government renewed that engagemen t e o one year more, which would expire at the end of the Pre',ic quarter, when Mr. Rowland Hal would be informed th a ebe was not necessary that his services should be continued.. ' t ie system was now so perfect that the authorities; both s t e Post-office and the Treasury, were quite competent to earl on without his superintendence. 8. After a. few words from . Colonel SI B THOR P and. Dic - WALL, which were inaudible, . The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, tbst, ib be e late Government thought it fit that a steam-boat ohottl:iiii provided for conveying the Bishop of Exeter to the Islands. " on' Mr. HUME believed that no individual who was eve r ployed in the public service had been worse paid than bi 9 1 , 1 t ie Friend,' the Member for Bolton. 'He was only paid 0- 00 1 same rate as ether Commissioners, but,, contrary to the ew ! practice, he never was paid a shilling except when en ' ne e duty ; and he (Mr. Hume) knew that there was a hslanc i e ,ery due to the Hon. Gentleman, who never had been Pitiaiete much, as he (Mr. Hume) thought, to the discredit - of th aey Government. (The Hon. Member then objected to a n e sy 4„ of of items included in this grant, and requested an expla!s' , lor certain of them, more particularly the sum of 20, 4 y 7 :','se postages, and the extra expenses of the Foreign Ministees!fee Sir GEORGE CLERK explained, but was inaudible%iegre Lord PALMERSTON said if .Hon. Members 'were ' l d-fief of the practical utility of civil missions they surely vo u ril ieg object ' to any expenses - that might be incurred in es , ~g i ft them out.—(Cheers.) ,With regard to What had 1)11 was relative to the claim . of his , Hon. Friend for Bolto,°; . -e , b e eo lithe true that there was I sum' due to him which ir e 7, - ye e s on paid by the latoGovernment. He was not aware e d Tgoverd for not satisfying the- Hon. Gentlethan's c:aim. 14',. „ e yet e et. Palmerston) for one should support any vote foi;o7erittethe —( Hear . hear.) The "House was probable' ssa laries of the amounts ' fixed on the civil list were only th e z sr Ministers, and did not include any incidental exPense i s iron ) messengers, carriers, postages, Sce. He (L r oo',P a in, t e p ee} 00 had, when in o ffi ce, reduced the salaries oft bee airiP 4o ,7 '• the diplomatic service considerably, and he belieiddith,ir .0.1 ries were now quite as low as those of the Mini.ters of FOOT Austria, and other` parts. .Be e.. was firmly conven with regard to - our. diplomatic services, that no 43 7 yernment in Europe—no Government in the In s i was so well served as the Government of this countr,t, had been during the time he had a knowledge of the inanvees 'in which they had performed their services. I'be expe l° of postage were also fixed according to a certain regtdistion. .. 0 Dr. BOWRING wished to call the - attention of therfi eu he to the importance of having direct communication "Oh, . t e Turkish Government. He believed, at that moment, they n' ent no means of holding any intercourse with the Sovereign, es c r o f by the agency of strangers, and be thought that-wait a )ta ts 0 things which ought to be remedied. ' The state Of &l ic e present was very unsatisfactory. Many of the families* froth r yire , the dragomans were taken, had reached a state of o p u ' e rs and the interests of the country, and one or two others, " entirely in their hands. Sir R. PEEL said circumstances had lately occurred Wh,leci:, " showed that an improvement had taken place, and th at country was net now entirely dependent on the dragoman ere Dr. BOWRING was convinced if English feeling! A„,t represented by English manners in oriental countrieslos""" , ... results would be effected. ' dotes la° . Lord PALMERSTON believed that the foreign ea , who had been in the service had performed their Oft' most proper manner. - * si Sir C. NAPIER said he observed that a sum of 1,600 1 . ,k, set down as an allowance for the Commissioners for the setb e l ment of Portuguese claims. It appeared to him. that i t `` O o hs be better to allow those gentlemen a certain sum in cal e , claims were finally adjusted than to grant them a yearly a"etie ance. He would also suggest that captains ' of - steS so boats generally at anchor in any port shouldebe allowecee additional sum for the increased expenditure' to which 0 position necessarily subjected them. Sir ROBERT PEEL had heard many complaints of derel°)., and dilatoriness. He had requested his Noble Friend the S c o , tary of State for Foreign Affairs to snake inquiries on th e s te r ject, and he believed that no unnecessary delay had been ie b el posed. In fact he was satisfied that the utmost diligenc e of been used by the Commissioners. The claims were, sonleot them, of a- very peculiar nature. Some most extr avage demands had been made. It was but just, both to the claitna.",,e themselves and to the Portuguese Government. that these elate're should be strictly examined and scrutinized before they ` t o , admitted. He was not inclined to interfere with the Go missioners. t 4 ' After afew words from Sir G. COCKBURN and Sir C. NA I to Colonel SIBTHORP expressed his surprise that the 11-0 Member for Montrose had not 'objected to the additional ' fo r of money which it was proposed to pay to the Hen. Member _O, Bolton. He (Colonel 'Sibthorp) elide not wish to derett'tj from the merits of the Hon. Gentleman; but he had eltie c tio t to the former grants, and as the 'late Uoveniment had „ e t brought the grant forward last year, he hoped r the re,-, 1 ,, Government would Object to it, 'and' leave-the Members o . o ly late Government to pay it themselvet: He *Whitt .cern° oppose the grant. . ' ile!' Mr. WILLIAMS objected to the vote for the passagstn e of the legal advisers of ambassadors. After a short discussion, - Mr. HUME wished to know if ever there was such an al l f ance made to any Chancellor of Ireland as to Lord Camp ell,. Lord PALMERSTON said it was theutual allowance. The vote was then agreed to. in The sum of 10,000/. was proposed for public educatet e Great Britain. - el' Mr. EWART wished to know if this vote was to be tli ' buted between the National and British and Foreign Scho°' 4 Sir G. CLERK answered in the affirmative. be ef' n A t i ; . i 3 ns i t a ru i x iedio i nr o f.ts n hetchniis i eta n ijosintin s e i soc n ownre g f.e i ot n raeF g orytT . roeierf a bnez n din d taketh lt hnae l etd r n.to . iiiir H topmb u reoeocea ll f a i h enbtid s 7rartg e t ) ‘ : , ; .4l. : oooo. l : : Dr. BO WRING wished to know, as a good deal had e,, said d eth ab e o r thatt h e l lannoun c emen t r it. waHUMSs n o t the sa the Mr. matter this session. 'Government ha d ' , bi d COWPER regretted that thed dune more than make a promise on .this subject; he ent e hoped that a gran t wou ld ha ve bean i e:nide towards the e ° ' - ragement of singing. • riefr Mr. HOWARD complained that whilst the Catholic e t ben daily voted large sums of money to exclusively Pre t e s 'her purposes without opposing them. HJO. Members on the et a! 1 side were constantly complaining of the small sum awn °l e voted to Maynooth. The Catholics formed by no Ine atl- bt inconsiderable portion of the community, and their claims oeg not, in his (Mr. Howard's) opinion, to be overlooked. h i e !' Mr. O'CONNELL said that this was a pan t •to 44 t e every individual in the commmunity was called on to co o c r s , but., and from which, as it was at present distributed , a°, to tholic could bene fi t. There were two Societies authorizee,toi superintend the distribution of this grant, the Nat i : te e School Society and the British and Foreign School Soctebeet The first was a Society connected with the Estah hs e t Church, and the • second was connected with the Pr otesua r Dissenters. The Catholics were, therefore. necessarily eti eluded from deriving any benefit from this grant. not by. :e a direct rule, but because they could not conscientiously s e o f their children to the schools under the superintcndenc vo these Societies. The want of a participation in this geante, jo e felt most severely by the Catholics in England—a large eere. a , of the lower orders were Catholics A great many poor Irish y le , tholics who came to England for employment were a bsolutelY -4 0 rived of the mean. of educating their children. It was not fair l just, nor reasonable, that the benefit of the grant s fined to Protestants, it ought to be for the education of i t hee ie dren of the people of England generally. He had pressed the ' _ n d Lord, late at the head of the Government, en this subject, .., ' t 10° ° he believed that Noble Lord had been as ready to rests eo f gentlemen on the Other side. Some years ago, in the Sit,s t !, n „ New York, the educational grant had been given to g a vta i l is tary Society, constituted on somewhat similar princieeate U Society ; and in consequence the Catholics had been a s d be et passed, putting all Chtistians on a footing told be ch i;, participate in it ; but during the last session a law b Ta t example ought to be followed. He hoped th o a f t e fr a t i h it e Y. T a .1 ;:. portion of the grant would be devoted to the Catholic !f.. r e° , They did not wish to escapefrom -uperintendence; nn, ! . .!7,, to trary, they invited the utmost vigilance. ' ht be laid down an a ' rte conform to any regulations that mile asked was. ties' of literature, moral, and manners. All they as .. Catholics should-be educated iii their own- reheat? The grant was then agreed to. and were ststiime _., Pubfi bot the 'boy s Suei, Rag • The tha n Calla seein 3`,1,1a11t A , 4 ' 4 4, tkr 141 i r. .814 1 444:1 1 4114 " • ati .(t 1 3=,- :i `'~ 1