The Sun. — London, England, 1842-03-02 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY. GLOBE—Sir R. Peel's reply last night to. Mr. Hutt's question—as to whether Lord Ellenborough would re ceive the annual compensation for the sinecure he held, Since abolished by Act of Parliament, would continue to b e enjoyed by him while in the receipt of his sa lary as Governor-General of India, forcibly re , 'minds us of the days when Tory Ministers regarded the public revenue as their legitimate inheritance, to be portioned out ,among themselves and their supporters, with reversions and remainders to their heirs and sac .7vessors. the facts, as admitted, are few, but forcible. , LOrd Ellenborough, who has been selected to fill the '''heriuurable and lucrative post of Governor-General of 'lndia, is in the receipt of a pension of 3,202/. annually, '• as 'compensation for a sinecure office, since abolished, to which he was presented by his father when Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench. Was the - • Noble Lord to receive both the pension and the salary sVith one hand was he to receive upwards of 3,0001, from the British revenue, and with the other 20,p00/. a year from the East India Company ? What is the 'reply ? The first thing which strikes us, on rea din g irremier's answer, is the struggle between cupidity. and t .shame which appears to have taken plac e In the :.of Lord Ellenborough, on having the Government of India pis/I:used to,his acceptance— , When he (Sir li. Peel) piOposed to his Noble Friend, then a Cabinet Minister and President of the Board of ontrol, this appointment, his Noble Friend pointed out to his notice the Act of Parliament, and said it would be hard, in the performance of a public duty, in accepting the office which he (S ir R. I'eel) p roposed to him, that big compensation; together with his office as President of °fthe Board of Control , should be forfeited. " flow much is Lord Ellenborough to be pitied, that he,eould not retain the Presidency of the Board of Tr e, and appoint a deputy to perform its duties, while pu ad blic duty called him to the honours and emolu ments of Governor-General of India ! His Lordship had'; been so long familiar with salary without duty, thafit seems to have been regarded as somewhat bard that,be could not retain his place in the Govern enent,.at l!eine, or at least its salary, while governing in another and distant part of the globe ! The pension, however, it was hoped, might be se cured; although the post in the Government at home must be relinquished. " The compensation received for ,the (Ace," said Sir Robert Peel, " must be continued. lie had looked at the-Act, and he apprehended the Trea sury oculd not stop the compensation." We should have been surprised if compensation-pension could have been suipended under such circumstances. That which jns ticeito the public and a respect to the suggestions of com mon sense alike prescribe, is generally disregarded in all such arrangements. S'TANDAR D.— The conversation that passed in the House`of Lords last night, holds out a hope that the country. may at length have an important step in law reform, beginning at the right end. A cheap and simples process for the recovery of small debts and the redress of slight injuries —if not rendered too prompt and, peremptory in Operation (the error into which law reformers have often fallen, but a very serious one)—will be of itself a very great benefit. But the good effect of such a process will not stop with plaintiffs and defendants in such inferior actions. If the erection of tribunals for the recovery of small debts , and trifling' damages be accompanied, as of couoe it will be, by a new arrangement of the law of Casts, throwing the burthen Of expense upon all whO unduly make demands in the courts of higher ju risdiction, the consequence will be to put an end to those grossest abuses of the law—speculative actions. Suppose, for example, the jurisdiction of the .new courts fixed at debts and damages of 401. or 501.—and the re forn/ will be worth but little if it goes much lower—and suppose, also, that .a party bringing an action for 'no matter what sum, iu the superior courts, 115 recover less than 40/. or 501., or whatever the limit of jurisdiction may be, be rendered liable to the costs on both sides, few excessive demands would be heard of in the supe rior courts, and there would be almost a perfect secu rity against the vindictive and extortionate proceedings, and against those which are approbriously called " attorneys' actions?' Men would think twice before they would incur' the risk of heavy costs, in order to persecute, or to bully into submission, an unfortu nate defendant'`; and . attorneys would tee the dan ger Of speculating in cases like those in which, at present, par,tlea are put to the expense of hundreds of pounds, with a moral certainty that the damages will not be assessed at more than a few shillings, because " what ever party wins the day, their booty is secure." The relief afforded to the superior courts, too, by the with drawal, of the 'vast multitude of petty causes from their jurisdietian, must have the best effect in putting an end to the ruinous delays that now occur in weightier causes, properly coining under their cognizance. We are not, however, ighorant, that a great deal of the benefit of any reform like to that which the nation has reason to expect, must depend upon the details of the change, and, neon the qualifications of the new judges to be appoint ed. We have already_ hinted at the danger of precipita- - ting process in the matter of small mini and small damages. • COURIER.-The brief dismission last night in the Lords oq the introduction of a bill for the establishment of Local" Courts, coupled with ihe assurance given by the Lord Chancellor that he was about to lay on the table of the House a measure having a similar object in view, fully satisfies us that at length something really substantial is about'te be done with respect to the recovery of small debts, and the administration of justice, by means of local and comparatively inexpensive courts. It were, indeed, a work of supererogation oh our parts to show by specific instances how many have been deterred from the search for justice by the enormous expense attending upon every step of their progress, or bow many the search has irretrievably ruined. This mainly arises from the fact of being compelled in almost every case to resort to -- the courts .at Westminster, and their cumbrous and costly 'machinery. In Ireland and Scotland the case is very different, each of these portions of the State having the• advantage of efficient County Courts, *Where the process of recovering small debts is simple, economical, as well as regular and speedy in its operation. The Irish Quarter Sessions, pre sided over by a Barrister of not less than seven years standing, are yearly rising in public estimati on; a pp ea l s from the decisions given are as a consequence yearly de creasing in number. One great blunder of the late Go vernment was the making Assistant Barristers 'also revising ones. The power of determining actions on civil bill . process bad nothing whatever to do with the business of registration, and .the effect of mixing them up has been to give in many instances a partisan character to these Courts ; but although the Whigs had, so far as the operation of the Reform Bill went, done their utmost to prejudice the public mind against them, they were not able to impair their effici ency or lower their character for sound and impartial decisions. We see no reason whatever why analogous courts, with analogous functions, shonld not be esta blished in this country, but a variety of forceful and cogent ones for their establishment.' EXPLOSION IN LAMBETH WALK LA'TES'T PARTICULARS. Numerous reports were in circulation' during yester day, relative to the origin of the late calamitous fire on the premises - of Mr. D'Ernst, in Doughty-street, but pending the inveStigation about to be institutf2d before the Coroner, it might, perhaps, be improper to embody them in, the form of a newspaper paragraph. One however has been stated upon credible authority, and that was, that the. boy Tebbet said, when passing through the Lion brewery, that he was sent to get a light, as Mr. D'Ernst was about sealing.a. parcel. Mr. Hepburn, the beadle - of Lambeth parish, has been inde fatigable in his endeavours to procure evidence necessary to enable the Coroner-and Jury , to pronounce some de cision as to the cause of the combustion ; but owing to the fact of all those , who were upon the premises baying been killed, his exertions have as yet been almost in vain. Mr.. Carter, . the Coroner for Surrey, has ap pointed the inquest- to be holden on the bodies this day, at two o'clocic_, at. the John ' Bull public-house, Tyler strJet, Lambeth. • The excitement in the neighbourhood last evening seemed as great as at the moment after the explosion, the place being crowded with persons eager to see the ruins, of which scarcely a brick is now standidg, the greater part of the tide-wall having fallen in in the 'early part of the day. FROM LAST NIGHT'S GAZETTE LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, FEB. 28, 1842. Notice is hereby given, that. her ;Majesty will hold Levees at St. James's Palace, on the following days, at two o'clock : Wednesday, March 16;. Wednesday, April 1J; Wednesday, May 4; and WedneSday, Juno 1. REGULATIONS TO BE OBSERVED AT TINE QUERN'S LEVEES, . AT ST. JAMES'S PALACE. The Noblemen and Gentlemen, who propose to attend her Majesty's Levees at St. James's Palace, are requested to bring with them two tards 'with their names thereon written, one to be left with the Queen's Page in attendance in the Presence- Chamber, and the other to be delivered to the Lord in Waiting. who will announce the name to her Majesty. Those Gentlemen . wlia are to be presented arc hereby in formed, it is absolutely necessary that their names, with the name of the Nobleman or Gentleman who is to present them (not that of the Lord in Waiting), should he sent to the Lord Chamberlain's-office, Lefore twelve o'clock on the day but one previous to each Levee, in order that they may be submitted for the Queen's approbation ; it being her M jesty's command that no presentation shall hereafter be made at the Levees, but in conformity with the Above regulations ; and farther, that no ' person shall be ,admitted, on any pretence whatever, who has not been sopreseiated. It is particularly requested, that gentleman who are to be presented at the Levees will have their names distinctly written upon the card to be delivered to the Lord in Waiting, in order that there may b e no mistake in announcing them to the Queen. The state apartments will not be open for the reception of company coming to Court, until half-past one o'clock. Notice is hereby given, that all persons. having petitions or addresses to present to her Majesty at the Levees, are to write on two cards, with their names, a statement of the object of such petitions or addresses, and of the persons from whom they come; one card to be delivered to the. Page in the Ante- Room, and the other to the Lord in. Waiting, who will read its contents, at the time of presentation, to her Majesty ; and, on t h ese occasions, no other statement is to be addressed to her Majesty. i A Deputation, to present an address, is not to exceed four persons. LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, FEB. 28. Notice is hereby given, that her Majesty will hold Drawing. roums at St. James's Palace, on the following day s , a t 2 o'clock : —Thursday, April 7 ; Thursday, April 28: Th urs d ay, M ay 19, to celebrate her Majesty's birth-day ; Thursd a y, J une 16. N.B. The Knights of the several rders are to appear in , 4heir &fins tsttl* g- Majesty's Drawinroom on Thursd a y t h e n rEMI etaLablesiz--- t,.., GOMT Ns, Bfr'soßSEß DAT THE QUEEN'S DRAw. yllt• ; 1, ~ T 9 - :',IN - G- v . x ooms. rz - The Ladies, who pt4o 4 f attending her Majest - ; ,i Drawing *llooo4fiare.rested to bring with them two ord.,. with their k-i?rliefOijObly written thereon, one to be left !vial the Queen s 041:taitt in a .-., ! Deg in the Presence-Chamber and the other to gOli , • - . ~4 1, . • 'Lord in - Waiting, .who . 1;41 announce . the e-fidt •,. yi- •v, tc.') :...1 ' And those Ladies, who are to be presented, are hereby in formed, it is absolutely necessary that their manses, together with the names of the Ladies who are to present them, should be sent in to the Lord Chamberlain's-office, before 12 o'clock on the day but one previous to each Drawing-room, in order that they may be submitted for the Queen's approbation ; it being her Majesty's command, that no presentation shall take place unless the name of the Lady presenting, together with that of the Lady to be presented, shall appear on the card to be delivered, as be fore directed, corresponding with the names sent in to the Lord Chamberlain's-office. Commission 11 the Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshi re . Edward Miller lundy, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant, Feb. 22, 1842. Commissions by the Lord-Lieutenant of Salop. South Salopian Yeomanry Cavalry —The Hon. Edward James Ilerbert, commonly called Lord Viscount Clive, to b e Lieutenant, vico Smythe, deceased ; Beriah Bollield, Esq., Al. p. to be Cornet, vice Viscount Clive, promoted. WHITEHALL, FEB. 25. The Lord Chancellor has appointed William Gray, of Wis beach, in the county of Camb r id ge , G ent . ; John Harvey Boys, of Margate, 11 the county of Kent, Gent. ; and John Hawkey Bingham Carslake, of Bridgewater, in the county of Somerset, Gent., to be Masters Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. DECLARATIONS OF INSOLVENCY. JOHN ALFRED WOOD, chemist, Bromsgrove, Wor. cestcrshire. JOSEPH BARLOW, ironmonger, Lichfield. HENRY ROBERT MARCUS, tobacconist, Liverpool. BANKRUPTS. EDWARD GREEN, tailor, Bond. street, to surrender March 11, at eleven, and April 12, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Alsager, official assignee, Bircbin-lane ; Brom ley, South-square, Gray's Inn. EDWARD BAILEY, upholsterer, Mount-street, Gros venor-square, March 11. and April 12, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Turquand, official assignee, Copthall-build ings ; Bailey, Shaw, and Smith, Berners-street. JOHN HUTTON, merchant, Fenchurch-street, City, March 11, at half-past one, and April 12, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Gibson, official assignee, Basinghall street ; Sharpe, Field, and Jackson, Bedford-row. JOHN' CRIGHTON, sen., cotton-spinner, Manchester, March 16 and April 12, at eleven, at the Commissioners'. rooms, Manchester. Hadfield, Manchester • Johnson, Son, and Weatherall. King's-bench-walk, Temple, THOMAS MASON, miller, Hartord, Devonshire, March 12 and April 12, at eleven, at the Roy,l Hotel, Plymouth. Surr, Lombard-street, London; Lockyer and Bulteel, Plymouth. JOHN BROWN, merchant, Sheffield, March 19, at twelve, and April 12, at one, at the Town-hall, Sheffield. Rodgers, King-street, Cheapside, London ; Rodgers, Sheffield. SPENCER ROGERS, earthenware manufacturer, Dale hall, near Burslem, Staffordshire, March 16, a t twelve, at the Swan Inn, Stafford, and April 12, at one, at the Sheet Anchor, Whitmore. Milne, Parry, Milne, and Morris, Har court-buildings, Temple, L ondon; Slater and, Hoene, Man chester. WILLIAM THOMPSON, hat-manufacturer, Spitalfields, March 10, at half-past twelve, and April 10, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Alsager, official-assignee, Birchin-lane; Crowder and Maynard, Mansion-house-place. GEORGE POULTON TIMBRELL, worsted-spinner, Philip.lane, Addle-street, City, March 9, at one, and April 12, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Lackington, official assignee, Coleman-street-buildings; Reed and Shaw, Friday-street, Cheapside • Bunting, Manchester. WILLIAM RUPERT' PIGGOTT, carpet-warehouse men, Goldsmith-street, Wood-street, Cheapside, March 8, at half-past two, and April 12, at eleven, at th e Court of Bank ruptcy. Groom, o ffi cial assignee, belaureh.lane, Lombard street ; Nias, Copthall-court,Mrogmorton-street. DIVIDENDS. At the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall-street. J. C. Gummer, wine merchant, Hart-street, Mark-lane, March 15, at one—E. Whitmore, J. Wells, J. Wells, jun., and F. Whitmore, bankers, City, March 24, at eleven—E. Bayly, straw bonnet dealer, Exeter, March 24, at one—T. Winter bourn, hotel keeper, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly, March 23, at eleven. In the Country. W. Gilburd, wine merchant, Brighton, March 26, at twelve, at the Town-hall, Brighton—D. Little and D. Chalmers, drapers, Great' Yarmouth, March 26, at twelve, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, Great Yarmouth—D. W. Morris, draper, Tredegar Iron-works, Monmouthshire, March 24, at twelve, at the Office of Prothero and Towgood, Newport--W. Spence, grocer,. Dewsbury, Yorkshire, March 16, at four, at th e Com missioners'-rooms, Leeds—Mary and H. Clayton, drapers, East Retford, Nottinghamshire, March 23, at eleven, at the George Hotel, Huddersfield, Yorkshire—D. Edwards, miller. Pem broke, March 24, at twelve, at the Dragon Inn, Pembroke— J. 'W. Green, ship builder, Dartmouth, D evons hi re , M arc h 28, at one,at the Royal Hotel, Plymouth—J. Wilson, timber mer chant, Leeds, April 15, at three, at the tomsnissioners'-rooms, Leeds—C. Webster, sen., banker, Hulme, Lancashire, April 21, at eleven, at the Commissioners'-rooms, Leeds—W. Wil liams, brewer, Bridge, Kent, March 28, at three, at the Guild hall, Canterbury—H. Nicholson and T. Baylis, coal merchants, Canterbury, March 28, at three, at the Guildhall, Canterbury —T. Atkinson, druggist, Lancaster, March 26, at twelve, at the King's Arms Inn, Lancaster. CERTIFICATES —M Aitc ri 22. A. T. Harwood, lodging-house keeper, Streatham—W. and J. Wilson, linen drapers, Boston, Lincolnshire—A. F. Hem ming, elastic surgical instrument maker, Chiswell-street, Fins bury—P. P. Thorns, printer, Warwick-square, City—D. Ste venson, sen., patent safety paper maker, Compton-street, Brunswick-square—H. Brownrigg, coal merchant, Liverpool— J. Topley, grocer, Greenwich—W. Amos, sponge manufacturer, Walbrook—J. Rainey, innkeeper, Spalding, Lincolnshire—E. and A. Evans, painters, Birminghum—R. Robsrs, wine mer chant, Goger-street North. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. R. and T. Crips, harness makers, Windmill-street, Hay market—C. Asprey, sen. and C. Asprey, jun., ironmongers, Mitcham, Surrey—J. Horner and J. D. Shaft°, spirit mer chants, Barnard Castle, Durham—R. Lonsdale, E. Lansdale, and S. Lansdale, hosiers, Regent-street (so far as regards E. Lonsdale)—J. and T. Watson, linen drapers, Nottingham— T. Radford, R. T. Hunt, and J. Bryden, surgeons, Manchester —R. and J. Sanders, timber merchants, Warwick—W. Mort ley and R. Millard, drapers, Wedmore, Somersetshire—S. Wa terfield, C. Waterfield, and E. Waterfield, straw kat manufac turers, Dunstable, Bedfordshire—J. Longbotham and R. Hn gill;-draPers, York—J. Taubman and 0. Thomas, joiners, Li verpool—W. Gist and. A. Holdane, common brewers, Devon port—R., and W. M. Hayes, pawiabrokers, Liverpool—N. Athertol; E. T. Clarkson, and E. E. Whitaker, attorneys-at law Calne, Wiltshire (so far as regards N. Ath er t on ) — J. Lees and F. Bailey, cotton spinners, Banktop, Lancashire— G. Wragg and 11. 0. L. Long, merchants, Sheffield—T. Hollings, sen. and I. B. Hollings, worsted spinners, Bradford, Yorkshire—G. Shepperley, W. Pearce, and E. Broadhead, watch makers, Belper, Derbyshire—Js. and Jn. Smithies, worsted manufacturers, Thornton, Yorkshire—Js and Jn. Tucker, coal merchants, Newport, Isle of Wight—T. and G. Monk, oilmen, Broadway, Westminster—S. H. Angier and W. Rayner, ship brokers, Philpot-lane—W. Fison and W. B. Leather, stuff merchants, Bradford, Yorkshire—J. Morley and W. Alderson, letter-press printers, Symons-street, Sloane square—E. Kelsey, A. Paget, and A. Kelsey, schoolmistresses, Reigate, Surrey—Jn. and Js. Ingham, worsted stuff manufac turers, Thornton, Yorkshire—T. Wilmshurs., jun. and N. Batho, machine makers, Manchester—J. Horswell and J. Distin, millers, Stoke Damerel, Devonshire—J. and M. Tully, millers, Bovey Tracey, Devonshire—J. and I. Knight, ac countants, Manchester. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS. JAMES CRAWFORD, builder, Kingston, Glasgow, March 3 and 24, at twelve, at the Office of J. Monteith, Glasgow. ALEXANDER CAMERON, cotton spinner, Johnstone, March 3 and 24, at one, at the George Inn, Paisley. GRAHAM ANDERSON, merchant, Dundee, March 5 and 24, at two, at the Royal Hotel, Dundee. ROBERT. INGLIS, grocer, Wishawtown, Mar c h 7 and 28, at twelve, at the Commercial Inn, Hamilton. ADOLPHUS MEIKLEJOHN SCALES, coal merchant, Edinbnrgh, March 5 and 25, at one, at the Royal Exchange, Edinburgh. OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE. CORN DUTIES . . Whitehall, Feb. 22, 1842. Sir,—l am d;rected by Sir Robert Peel to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 19th instant, transmitting a copy of the resolutions adopted at a Public Meeting held in (ork with reference to the proposed Corn duties. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, Charles Sugrue, Esq. W. 11. STEPHEN SON. Whitehall, 22d Feb., 1842. Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your letter of the 19th inst., communicating certain re solutions which have been passed at a Public Meeting of the merchants and others at Cork, on the subject of th - : duties proposed to be levied upon oats under the re solutions now before Parliament. I beg to state in reply that the attention of her Ma jesty's Government has been, and will be, carefully directed to the consideration of the relation between the -various kinds of grain, and of the protection affOrded to each ; and the Government are most de sirous that no one description of grain should be placed in a situation, so far as the law is concerned, of compa rative disadvantage.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, It. E. GLADSTONE. Charles Sugraei Esq. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (Frain the London Mercantile Journal of :March 1.) - - SUGAR. —There was not much dcinand for West India Alus coradoes Sugar to-day, owing to the time and attention of the buyers being occupied with the pablie sates of Bengal and Mau ritius; but the market remained firm, and last Friday's cur rency was fully maintained. The transactions did not exceed 150 hhds and tees; Idouarrius.—Three parcels were brought to public sale to day, comprising 7,387 bag s, which went at full r a t e s, an d a ll sold, middling to tine yellow at 62s to 68s, and good brown 57s to 58s per cwt. ass.r Isinra.—The public sales of Bengal consisted of 3,484 bags, which sold briskly at last week's rates ; middling to good white at 65s Gd to 695, brown at 42s to 47s per cwt. FortElGN.—The prices of all kinds of Foreign Sugars remain precisely the same as last week, and little or no business has been done in the market. White Havannah is neglected, while yellow is scarcely inquired after. Bahia sold at 17s 8d for brown, and at 22s 6d for white, deliverable at Liverpool. Brown and grey Surinam Muscovado Sugar for refining at iSs per cwt. REFINED.—The market for the home trade goods has been exceedingly dull ; standard, lumps 79s to 79s 6d per cwt. Fo reign Refined Sugar in bend—crashed is flat at 28s 9d to 29s per cwt; in Hamburgh loaves there has been considerable business done, and they have become rather scarce--101bs, are held for 335. per cwt. WlsT INDIA MoLassrs.—There has been little inquiry for this article, and sales are with difficulty made even at reduced prices ; gord Demerara has sold at 25a per cwt. TEA.—The market has become somewhat firmer, and Com pany's Ccmgou has advanced to is ilia per lb. cisb. 'there was a good attendance of the trade and the sales opened with considerable firmness on the part of the merchants, who withdrew a large propertion ; the remainder sold with fair spirit, fully supporting the prices of the last public auctions, indeed, in some instances rather higher prices were realised for Congou and Pouchong. Congou, but mid flat and h ea t e d so ld a t i s lld to is II ad, mid blksh If rather strong at 2s to 2s Id, good mid blksh If at 2s 2d, and Twankly fine 2s 2 3 4 d to 2s 3d, but mid at 2s lOid to 2s 100 per lb. The cash price of Company's Congou was firm at Is I lid per lb, but we (lid not hear of any sales of consequence ; a p arc el was, however, sold for a prompt of three months, at !2s Oid per lb. COPFEE—The only parcel brought to public sale'consisted of 466 bags Padang, which sold at 36s to 40s for common and fair quality, being the full value. Cocoa.—ln the absence of public sales of West India the market remains quiet ; small lots only have changed hands, but we do.not quote any further variation in price. PXPPER. — There has not been a public sale of black, and very few transactions have taken place by private contract, but no variation can be quoted in prices ; shippingsorts of Sumatra have sold at 24(1 per lb. White pepper is steady, 47 bags offered at public sale boldat 7d for fair even bold, and at 4ad for very ordinary. PIMENTO—In the absence of a public sale, no variation has occurred in prices, and but little business has 'been done. Holders remain firm, and the stock continues to decrease. CASSIA LlGNEA.—Orders from the Continent continue to be received for this article, and as the stock is still very low, holders mostly show firmness, and the purchases can with diffi culty be made at former rates. Gnecart.--There are still feW buyers of East India, and prices continue very low : 1,435 pockets very ordinary small Bengal, put up at public sale, went at 9s to 9s 6d per cwt. RICE.-3,510 bags of Java were put up to public sale, and sold at 9s to lOs 6d, with a few lots at Ils for middling to good white, being full rates. FRUIT.—At publi: sale damaged Valencia Raisins sold at 25s to 335, and Imperial French Plums at Si. to 61. 10s ; 11 casks Dates bought in at 45s per cwt. SPIRITS.—The prices of all kinds of Rum have been fully maintained this week; indeed, Jamaica has brought a slight advance; demand good from the home trade and the shippers. and the sales amount to 150 puns Jamaica, 25 to 30 overproof ordinary quality at 4s 3d to 4s 6d, 31 to 35 over at 4s 84 to 53 3d, and similar strength but good quality at 5s 6d to 5s 94 ; about 100 puncheons Demerara 30 to 38 over at 3s 94 to 4s 2d; about 150 puncheons Lrewards, proof to ordinary i quality at 2s Id, proof to 3 over, good quality at 2s 211 to 2s 34, 4 to 7 over at 2s 44 to 2s Bd, 9 to 14 orcr at 2s 6d to 2s Bd, and small parcels of proof Bengal. with certificate, at Is 94 to Is lld per gallon. Brandy con tinues dull of sale, and prices are barely supported. Other articles without alteration. OILS,-The mai ket generally remains in a very quiet state, and price* for most descriptions are depressed. Common Fish Oils have met with very little attention, and the few transactions have been at rather lower prices for Cod and Seal Oils, while Southern has brought previous rates. Sperm Oil dull at former quotations. Linseed Oirhas declined to 34a to 34s 3d on the spot. Rape Oil quiet at the reduced prices of last week. Palm Oil at 324 to 32s 6d per cwt. Spanish. Oil at 511 to 521. Gallipoli 601 per tuti. TALLOW.—The market has remained firm during the week at about 46s 3d per cwt on the spot. On Friday there were brought to the hammer, 232 casks ibrail Tallow, and 567 pipes 124 hhds 48 barrc's 49 serons 64 casks South American Tal low; the - sales went off heavily, and a large part was bought in ; pricei ranged from 43s 9d to 45s 6d for Ibrail, and from 40s to 4 6d, one lot at 45s 9d, for S o uth American. The iv rket was inactive to-day.; fine Petersburgh Yellow Candle o the spot 48s to 48s 3d p er cw t. 1 -' .. PitICE3 OF SEF:DS. Per Cwt. I Per Quarter, li Ren C10ver...65s 80a St. Foin ..... .. ..... —s Ws 50s Titro .... ~..—s —s —s'ltye Gass —s 2t 8 tti 11 D1it0...,..—s 75s 92s Pacey Grass 8 —e —e MI tO —a —I —s Linseed, for feeding ~.—s 52e 56s Myer 54s Nis 65e Ditto, for sowing .—s Ms 64s )itto .... ..... —• -s —e Ditto, for crushing ,.—s 47s 52s 1 —s 20s 40i l ilernp .—s 4fis 52s —e 20s ffis Canary ... s 84612 Us • ...3 ..-Si Per Bathe!. 'way -.6 50s 52s,White Mustard...los Od to I3s Cd 1 •• 46s 50s'Brown Ditto 12s Od to 14t 1 d —s —s—,!Tares ss Cd to 70 61 New Engli Old Pitta New Forel Old Ditto New Whit Old Ditto I New Trebi Old Ditto ~ Fret°num., English Cal Foreign Dii Coriander . Per Quarter, Carlisle Hexham slorpeth Penrith Sheffield Winchester Per Bushel. Carmarthen Cowbridge, Swansea __ ' B. to s. b 9 73 4i 72 bt (0 I. to 8. a t to s. a. to B. 46 3n 33 'A 34 3 28 1$ 24 40 42 60 it, a. d. a. d. 69 76 80 78 84 26 30 s.d. a d. 00 40 00 40 98 44 20 20 e. d. 00 19 0.0 30 20 38 40 42 s. d. a.d 5:6 00 50 53 56 60 Per 8011. Barnardeasll 14 0 1/ D 8 9 9 0 4 0 7 4 9 6 II 0 Durham 140 15 0 76 90 50 60 00 ]O6 Richmond 12 0 IS 610 0 11 0 6 0 7410 0 12 0 Stockton....e. 15 0 190 90 9060 70 90 II 6, NEWCASTLE CORN EXCHANGE. Red. Whie. Wheat, Northumberland s4t. 624. Bss. t ay..' Norfolk and Suffolk . ....... 535. 644 . 621. 66. Berwick and Scotch... .... ... 50s. 56s to% - Foreign Rye, Norfolk and Suffolk ......... 20s —e. —s. Foreign ... . . ... 321. 3i 6 —a. —s. Barley, Milting, Norfolk andSufelk... 316.34 s —s. —s. - Grinding and Feeding ..... ".66. 3es. —a. —r. Malt, Norfolk and 5uff01k............... 51s. 51s Beans, tir*ll -- Tick .........«.....» ..... os .......... •••• 386.4" s s —s. Pease, White 4os 42s —s —s. Gray 326. 343 —s —S . Oats, Northinnberland, Potatoe ......„ 248.25 s —s --8. Feed 2os. 22s —s. —s. 20s. 22s —s. —s 4fts. ay. —B. —5. —Foreign Flour (per :tack) .RKETS. Wheat, Barley. Oat,. Beans. O atmeal 33 to 35 33 36 28 22 1 41berdeen 60 to 70 128 to 30 15 to 91 —to Befwick : 25 43 15 22 It 17 21 24 Coldstream ' 4o 5i 22 24 17 19 28 31 Cupar (Fifel `t 48 65 26 91 18 29 22 26 I Dunbar ' 50 64 22 CO 19 21 27 20 37 38 Elgin '7O 72 3;) 31 22 25 38 50 1 Inverness I GO 70 29 31 22 23 42 331 Kelso ~.....- . 7.0 47 17 23 16 18 30 30' Kirkaldy ,546029352025 25 48 I 43 Perth ;606739 40 .25 15 41 44 —.— Cr Tho stzo of the measure varies thoug out the country. HADDINOFON CORN MARKET. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Beat a Pease. First ..104 Od :5; Od 3118 04 I 45, Od —s i'd Second 69% nd 281 I d 24, Od CO; Od .—. I d Third LO.t (k 1 26s Od 23s Od 2ei 0,1 —s I d ,Average 2/. 18s. ed 9.l2ths. GLASGOW CORN 1111 EKET. Wheat, per'94olb. s. d. s.d. Oats, per 2f4lb. s. d. s. d. British, old., ...... .... 330 t 035 0 Irish —.—... new .... ..... British l7 8 190' Cen.sda, free ' 0 . 0 Beans, per 2(011,. Irish Barley, per 32011,. . Scottish English ....... . ... ....... 250 27 0 Pease,Seottish Scottish ' 230 250 Oatmeal, per 1!.01b. 166 Irish ........... ..... 4..- 22 0 23 0 Flour per 28011, 44 0 t DAL/LEITH CORN MARKET. I Wheat. Barley. Oats. Pease. Beans, 67s Oa 33s 6d 22; 4d 4'23 Od 42s Od 58s Od 27s 6d 22s Ed 394 Od 39i 05 Cs Od Lie Od 13a 42 33s 61 33s 61 BDINBUREI/1 CORN MARKET. 1 Wheat. Barley. Oats. deans. 715.0 d 345. ltd. 318. 04. 425. Od. tin 0 30 0 ‘..6 0 ea e 50 o 28 0 20 0 3; 0 ..verage price of Wheat PRICES OF PROVISIONS, AC. Beef,per to. .:.......,.. Us. Ed. to 02.8 d. Freshßutler, It. Is Od to le. Iti A1utt0n...................., 0 5 0 7 Salt Ditto.--.., 010 011 Yea 1.....—...............— 0 7 010 Ditto, per csst....S6 (1 PO 0 Pork.— 0 5 0 7 Eggs, per d 05.... 0 9 1 0 Lamb, per qr. ........ 3 0 4 0 OatStraw(kia.)... 7 C 10 0 fallow, cwt......... 30 0 42 0 Wheat Ditt0...... r 0 11 43 Quartern L0af..... 005 010 Batley Ditto ........ 7 0 9 0 otatocs.l4lb. —... 0 0 0 5 Hay, tier5t........ 0 10 1 0 EDINBURGH MEAL MARKET Per Sack of 2801 b. Imp. • Per Stnne o 1 141 b. tint, First Oatmeal Second ditto._ FilrleymeAl. ... ..... 1 10 0 flarlep...eal ....... ............ 0 1 10 Pelset- sal I 8 0 Pelsemeal 0 1 Pot Barley from 30s. to *s. per sack First Second First tiscond Third 200 19 0 .22 186 Pease. 421 Oti 36 4 94 0 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, MARCH 1. The SPEAKER took the chair shortly before Four o'clock. STApHOPE AND TYNE RAILWAY. On the 'potion .of Mr. LIDDELL, the Stanhope and Tyne Railr9ad bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. Mr. WILLIAMS presented a petition from Coventry, signed by .7 ; 300 persons, stating that they viewed with feelings of deep indignation, the plan proposed by Sir Robert Peel for the alteration of the Corn-laws, and praying for their total repeal. Mr. ELLIS presented petitions from Bethnal Green, and several other parts of the metropolis, praying for a total repeal pf the Corn-laws. Lord DUN C AN presented a petition from the whole sale and retail dealers of Covent-garden, praying that some measpre, might be' adopted for throwing open Waterloo and Southwark Bridges. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented five petitions from the Ministers and Members of the Remonstrant Congre gation of Ballymoney, in the county of Antrim ; of Holly wood, Dronlore, Killinchy, and Newtownards, in the county of Down. These petitioners, after referring to the practical evils whiCh must necessarily arise from the late decision of the Judges on the subject of marriages by Presbyterian Ministers, pray that your Hon. House will pass a law. rendering valid all such marriages which have already taken place in Ireland ; and also a law with reference to future marriages, founded on the basis .of religious liberty, affording equal advantages to all sects, and conferring on Ireland an assimilation and equality of privileges in this respect with England and Scotland • they also pray fo r a sys t em o f regis tration of births, deaths, and marriages. Also one petition, from the .Minister and Congregation of Ramoan, in the county of Antrim, in connexion with the General Assembly,'praying- that all marriages heretofore celebrated, or which may bo hereafter solemnized by Presbyterian Ministers between a member of their own sect and a member of any other sect, shall be declared valid in law ; and one from the minister and congrega tion of,Renvcra, county Down, joining in a like prayer, and also praying for a system of registration of births, deaths, and marriages. Captain TAYLOR presented a petition from M ea th, , praying that;in any alteration of the Corn-laws a suf ficient protection would be afforded to Ireland. Mr. ;JOHNSTONE presented a petition from Lanark. against the measure proposed by Sir B. Peel, and pray ing for a total repeal of the Corn-laws. The lion. Member also; presented a similar petition from Ayr. PRIVATE BILLS. Mr. STANSFIELD then moved, pursuant to notice, that the Chairman of Committees on opposed Private Bil*, should be always chosen from the selected Members,. and also that the chairman of such Committee should be empowered to order the attendcnce of short-hand writer:, at the expense of the parties pro moting the Bill, if requested by the majority of such Committee. At the suggestion of Lord J. SOMERSET the Hon. Member withdrew the latter part of his motion, and the former part was agreed to. An 110 N. Mimeta presented a 13etition from Scot land, praying that a measure for the amendment of the disturbances in the Scotch Church, similar to that brought in by the Duke of Argyll in the House of Lords,. may be adopted._ . icir. WALLACE presented a petition from Paisley, signed by 3,4147 persons, stating th at t h e Government proposition would not relieve th e i r distress, and praying for a more extended alteration of the Corn-laws ; 'also a petition from the St. George's Emigration Society of the same town, praying that a wise system of emigration may be adopted. Sir C. NAPIER presented a petition from certain naval officers, praying that all masters and mates of, merchant ships should be subject to examination before their appointment. Mr. E. TEN TENT presented two petitions from the county Lsown,'On the subject of Presbyterian marriages. CORN-LAWS.. Sir A. LEITH HAY presented a petition from Elgin, praying for the total and immediate repeal of the Corn laws. Sir GEORGE STRICKLAND presented a .petition from the Anti-corn-law Association of Quecnshcad, in the West Riding of the county of York, signed by the Chairman. The petitioners stated it as their opinion that it was highly unjust to tax the food of the poorest for the benefit of the richest class in the world.—(Hear.) They viewed with indignation the measure of a sliding scale ; and they prayed that the House would not waste its valuable time—(Hear, hear)by going into the con sideration of any measure short of total repeal.—(Hear.) Mr. VlLLlEpSpresented a large number of petitions against the Government measure relating to the laws On corn, and praying for an immediate and total repeal• ; among them were petitions from a • Friendly „So : Cletyin Cheshife, Loin the inhabitants of Manchester, COUNTRY CORN MARKETS. NV h eat . Barley. Oata. Beans, ITCH M from a place in llerefordshire, from Shropshire, from Hamilton, from the Cloth-dressers of Leeds, and from -two thousand inhabitants or St. George's-in-the -East. Mr. F. FRENCH presented a petition from the Grand Jury of Roscommon (Irel an d), p ray i ng t h at i n altering the duties on the importation of grain, the Go vernment will not remove the present amount of duty levied on oats, which the petitioners represented as most essential to the welfare of large districts in Ireland. EXCHEQUER BILL - FRAUD. Sir G. CLERK laid on the table of the House papers connected with the fraud in the Exchequer bills. CORN LAWS. Mr. GILL presented two petitions, numerously sign ed, praying that the proposed Ministerial measure with respect to foreign corn be amended before it was passed into a law. Sir WM. SOMERVILLE presented a similar petition against the Corn-laws. EGYPT. Dr. BOWRING gave notice that he would postpone until thii day fortnight, his motion for copies of letters and correspondence which had taken place with the Foreign-office, on the subject of a claim brought forward by the British Consul at Alexandria, for the right to navigate ; the internal waters of Egypt under the British flag. EXCHEQUER BILL FRAUD. Mr. BLEWITT gave notice of his intention to move for a return of the total number of forged Exchequer bills issued, their respective amounts, and a description or statement of the defects or irregularities in each of such spurious bills. Sir A. LEITH HAY gave notice that on this day fortnight he should move for copies of any correspon dence from the Home-office .since the Ist of July last, relative to the appointment of a minister to the vacant parish of:Elgin. THE COMMERCIAL MEASURES OF THE GOVERNMENT. Mr. WALLACE said that he wished to put a ques tion to the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government, for which he hoped the Right Hon. Baronet would excuse him. He had been much pressed by his own constituents and other parties to endeavour to elicit from the Right Hon. Baronet, now that the resolution on the subject of Corn-laws had passed through Com mittee, a declaration upon his part as to the pro bable time at which he could bring before the House the proposed commercial measures of the Govern ment. He was afraid he was pressing upon the Right Honourable Baronet, by putting such a question ; but he trusted he would be excused for the course he was taking, as the subject was one of the deeuest importance. Sir IL PEEL said that, from the position of the Hon. Gentleman, and from circumstances relating to the county with which he was connected, he need have put forward no claim to indulgence for urging the question. He was afraid, however, that he could say nothing in answer which he had not already stated. It was true that the resolutions relating to the Corn-laws had been passed at a late hour. last night, or rather at an early hour this morning ; and he had hoped that these resolutions would be reported to-day. He had fixed the estimates for Friday next; but it appeared from the course of the discussion last night that various motions would be brought on in Committee on the subject of the Corn-laws ; and as there was other motions on the notice paper for to-night, he was afraid that he might be obliged to defer the further consideration of the Corn-laws until another evening. If gentlemen persisted in pressing their motions, he feared that he should not have an opportunity of bring ing up the report before Friday. Dr. BOWRING inquired whether it was the inten tion of the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of her Ma jesty's Government, that the Corn-laws should takepre eedence of the Exchequer bills? Sir R. PEEL said, he meant steadily to adhere to the course which he has declared his intention to pursue.—(Hear, hear.) He would interpose no public business whatever, except the Act relating to Marriages in Ireland, until the resolutions with respect to the Corn laws had been reported. SYRIA. Sir C. NAP4R was sorry to give the Right Hon. Baronet so much trouble ; but he could not refrain from repeating his question to the Right Hon. Baronet, whether it was true, that the Emir Bechir had been arrested and sent to Constantinople, and that a Turkish Bashaw had been appointed to assume the Government of Lebanon ? lie thought the people of that country had been very, cruelly treated. ► Sir R. PEEL could assure the Gallant Officer that no apology was necessary for asking such a question ; knowing, as they all did, the distingished part which he had performed in the war with Syria, and the interest which he took in all the affairs of that country. When the Gallant Officer had before asked the question, he had no means of furnishing an answer. Despatches had since arrived, and he could now state what were the facts. It was true that the Emir Bechir had been deposed ; it was true that he had arrived at Constantinople ; and it was also true that an officer, who was formerly in the Austrian service, had been appointed to the government of Lebanon. Sir C. NAPIER said he was extremely sorry to hear it.—(A laugh.), LOCAL MAGISTRATES. Mr. YORKE wished to put a question to the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government. It was necessary, in order to make the , question intelli gible, that he should first state the circumstances upon which it was founded. About six weeks or two months before the accession of the late Ministry,'4. representa tion was made to. them of the inadequacy of the local magistracy in the city of York, and in consequence of that representation, gentlemen were chosen to replace those Magistrates. Among others, a gentleman named Milnes—a man of irreproachable character, and of large independent fortune, was specified in the Commission. In the Commission which was duly sent to York, this gentleman, whose real name was " John Ro bert Milnes," was described only as " John Milnes," He believed the commission had been sent to York, and that the persons appointed were Mr. Hutt, Sir W. Clerk, and Mr. Butler, who were. all Conservatives. There was also some informality with regard to the appointment of Sir W. Clerk and Mr. Butler, and the question he wished to ask was, why there should be the same informality in the one case as in the other, and why the one should be decided to be informal, and the -other not ? • _ Sir J. GRAHAM said that he heard the circum stance for the first time, and, perhaps, the Hon. Gentle man would wait till to-morrow, and he (Sir J.Graham would, in the meantime, make inquiries on the subject INHABITANTS Oi INDIA. Mr. BAILLIE wished to know whether the House were aware that inhabitants of the East Indies were accustomed to be brought to this country and then left in a state of destitution "; and whether the Board of • Control referred the subject to the Indian Government, with a view to their being taken back to their own country. • • Mr. BINGHAM BARING made a reply, but with his back to the gallery, and, in so low a tone of voice, that we could not catch its purport. . CHURCH EXTENSION. Mr. HAWES wished to knoW if it was the intention of the Right Hon. Baronet opposite (Sir R. Inglis) to bring forward his Bill for Church Extension before Easter. Sir R. INGLIS said it was his intention to bring the subject before Parliament during the present session, but it was not his intention to bring the subject forward before Easter, and he would give timely notice when he would bring it forward. IMPORTATION OF FLOUR FROM AMERICA. Sir R. PEEL said that with regard to the question put by the lion. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Thornely) last night, and which he was not then able to answer, he had now to state that. he held in his hand a paper which stated that a cargo of corn was shipped from New York on the 3d of August, and arrived at Liverpool on the 13th of September. Mr. THORNELY said that he also held in his hand a letter from an individual, who stated that he left New York via Halifax with a cargo, on the 4th of August, and did not arrive in Liverpool till late in the following month. lie had been fifty-one days on the voyage,•and he missed the 11s. duty by being one day too late. FRENCH POSSESSIONS IN AFRICA. Mr. SHIEL begged to ask the Right lion. Gentle man, Sir Robert Peel, if "he could inform the House whether• the account given by M. Gaizot in the French Chambers of Deputies of a conversation alleged to have been held by him with the Earl of Aberdeen, in reference to the possessions of the French in Africa, were correct or not. Sir ROBERT PEEL thought that the Right Hon. Gentleman ought to have known that questions should not be put on subjects of so, much importance without previous notice.—(Hear, hear, from the Ministerial Benches.) However, as lie happened to be prepared to give an answer In the present ease, it was not of so much inconvenience as it might be on other occasions of similar importance.—(Hear, hear.) His • Noble Friend the Earl of Aberdeen,. did not admit the accuracy of M. Guizot's account of the conversation alluded to—(Hear, hear)—in reference to the occu pation of part of Africa by the French. What the Earl of Aberdeen said was, that he' " had no observation to make upon that subject then ;" and not that he " had no objection to that occupation."--(Hear, hear.) COLONIAL PASSENGERS' BILL. Mr. GLADSTONE moved the postpo nement of the Colonial Passengers' Bill ; and in answer to Mr. La bouchere, stated that the Bill was postponed, not fur the Purpose of any material alteration, but to consult the personal convenience of members. After a few words from Lord JohN RUSSELL, the Bill was postponed. PRISON DISCIPLINE. ue Mr. T. DUNCOMBE rose to bring forw ard his mo tion for an i nqu i r y i n t o th e ru les, regulations , and dis cipline o f th e severa l pr i sons an d houses of correction in England a nd W a l es . He said he regrette d that he di d not aia feelof relating, j sti fi deferringad in ndth House hise motion, e pa in of hearing those only save the ti me o f th e H ous e, but spare him the p statements of sorrow and di s tress which he should have t as it would not to make, and which could be but too well verified.. He could not entertain a doubt but the House would accede is to the moti on . L oo ki ng a t t h e v ast importance of the subject,he had a ri g ht t o ca ll o n the House to agree to his motion. tion t q . he Bu u t esti in ons cal i l t involved,ing,onthe House to he thought agree to it, he hoped, at all events, that whatever might be their difference on other matters, as he had brought forward the question with no hostile feelings to any one, so he trusted that it-would be received without hostility, that no party feeling would enter into the dis cussion, or influence a single vote in its. consideration. He was well aware that any who 'called the attention of the House to the prison discipline of the country, whe ther he censured the present sys t e m as too severe, or'Said n, d a was, o not that in some p o i nts it- was not seve re enough, he must susceptible thy with cn rice, oug be exposed to th e re p roac h o f h av ing-too great a sym pathy li to humanorontfieostuhftererlitan g that. nddid he v. tmake allowances enough f o r hwia t a frailty. The question- Pease. s. to s. 46 33 3. -43 35 38 s.d. s.d 0 0 uC 0 6 U 0 58 00 90 100 00 80 9 0 'lO 0 8 0 10 0 ~ M r ~~ thht he was about to bring under their notice was one that had excited much' attentio,n in consequence of those re ports Which had been made during the last five years by those individuals who were appointed by the late Govern ment, under the authority of Parliament, as Inspectors of Prisons. He wished not to say one word against those Reports ; ho thought they were drawn up with an accu racy and an ability which did the greatest credit to those individuals. But there was another reason why this sub ject excited so great an interest in the country ; during the last two or three years the House would recollect that some 300 or 400 persons had been confined in our prisons for what they called political offences. They were a different race of men from those who generally filled our prisons and houses of correction; They were men of more intelligence and great ability ; they had seen, felt, and w it nesse d the deplorable scenes which occurred in many of our prisons ; they had called the attention of a great portion of the com munity to what they saw, and they insisted on a strict and rigid investigation into the government of those prisons. He (Mr. Duncombe) should be doing the present Legislature great injustice, and former governments great injustice, and to the parties great injustice, if he were not to say that great improve ment had been made in our prison discipline during the last twenty years. When he looked back to those days when such great philanthropists as Mr. Howard exerted themselves ; when he looked back to those days when every sort of disease reigned in those prisons, and terminated the lives of the inmates in greater numbers than on the scaffold; and when he looked at the small number of kath which now occurred, he had a right to think that a great improvement had taken place in the government of prisons. For the Committee for which he was about to ask there were precedents without end. In 1822 a Committee was appointed in con sequence of great complaints of the administration of the law ; the result of which was, the passing of what was called the Gaol Act, which introduced great improve ments in prison discipline. In 1832 the House thought proper to appoint another Committee to inquire into the state of the prison discipline of that time ; that Commit tee reported that a greater uniformity of discipline should be carried out in the whole of the prisons of the country Nothing ever was done on that point ; but, in 1835, a Committee was appointed by. the House of Lords, and that Committee came to the following resolu tion : " That it is expedient that one uni form system of prison discipline be established in all the gaols and houses of correction in Eng land and Wales, and that it is expedient in order to the carrying out of this, that the plan proposed be sub mitted to the Secretary of State for his approval." The importance of this question arose principally from the great increase of crime which had taken place within the last ten years in this country. Surely her Majesty's Ministers were well aware of the amount of that crime ; but he (Mr. Duncombe) did not believe that the House or the public were aware of the extent of that crime ; and therefore he would, with the permission of the House, repeat what the Reports of the Select Committees upon Prisons had stated. By the Report of the Committee in 1832, it appeared that the commitments for the seven years from 1817 to 1824, in one particUlar prison were 56,308, averaging 8,044 per annum. For the seven years suc ceeding 1824, the commitments amounted to 92,848, averaging 13,264 per annum ; and in the seven years ending 1831, the number increased to 121,000, averaging 17,285 per annum. He then referred to the Reports of the Inspectors of Prisons for 1838, 1839, and 1840 ; in 1838 the House should remember that for the seven years, preiioug to 1831, the committals were 121,918 ; in 1838, they were 112,515 ; in 1839, 112,812, being only . a difference of 297 between 1838 and 1839 ; in 1840, which was the last Report 'laid before. the House, the number amounted to 129,237, being 16,722, over 1838, and over 1831, 10 years preceding, at the rate of 600 or 700 per cent. per annum ; surely that was an alarming state of crime for the country to he in. It was increasing every day, and it must certainly be worthy of the consideration of Parliament.—(Hear). With that increase of crime of course there was a proportionate increase of expense ; the expenses, as appeared by the last return for 1840, were 64,4071. more than for 1838. What was the reason for this vast increase of crime ? It had been. attributed to various causes, but he was inclined to attribute it, in the first place, to a general want of education ; in the next place, to the want of employment which produced great poverty and distress, and forced the sufferers into the commission of crime, and in some fewinstances to the vice and intemperance of the persons theinselves who had been committed to prison. The general want of education was proved 'by the returns made by the Registrars of Births, Marriages, and Deaths.—(Hear.) From those re turns it appeared that 131,000 marriages had been contracted last year, and that of the persons mar ried, 40,500 males, and 58,999 females could not write. It was rather a remarkable fact, that the inhabitants of Lancashire and Wales were the best educated, and that in Devonshire 55 per cent. of the males, and 66 per cent. of the females were unable to sign their names. That want of education was one great cause of the increase in the criminal population was proved from the returns of the commitments. Out of the whole number of persons committed ih the year 1840, amounting, as he had be fore' stated, 'to 129,000 persons, 35,552 could neither read nor write, and of the 60,000 persons summarily convicted in the same period, 26,338 could neither read nor *rite, 13,344 could read only, and 21,000 could writis but very imperfectly. Many of these persdns had been committed under the provisions df the Vagrant Act, and there was one offence for which, in his opinion, if the House did its duty,' persons ought never to be committed to pri son—he' alluded to the offence of insubordination in a workhouse, and many persons committed for the offence of insubordination in a workhouse had, when in prison, been treated in a most severe, cruel, and brutal manner. (Hear, hear, hear.) ' The offence itself was a very venial one; and from the Commissioners' Reports it ap peared that many of the persons committed had been treated with the utmost severity. At Ipswich it appeared that one mats, convicted of misconduct in a workhouse, had been shtit I.lp in a refractory cell for a fortnight. The Ron. Gentleman next referred to the severity of the treatment of several children in Salford Gaol (as we un derstood) wbo suffered solitary confinement, and received but the scantiest supply of food. The Magistrate who had committed the parties—he did not know who he was— took care that their friends should not visit these unfortu nate persons; and he should certainly say that the powers given by the Act of Parliament had been violated in these cases. The name of the Magistrate should be given in order that if his con duct could not be justified, he might be held up to merited reprobation. He' would next refer to a most interesting report made by the Chaplain of the Lewes House of Correction. That Gentle man had taken very great pains to ascertain the descent and origin of those persons who inhabited the gaol in question. He said that the result of his in vestigations convinced him that those parties were objects rather of compassion than subjects for judicial regulations. He found that out of 949 felons and vagrants, 57 were children of paupers ; 28 Were illegitimate ; 232 were or phans under nine years of age ; 133 were or phans between nine and sixteen years old ; and 27 had been deserted both by father and mother. Those children should not be made inmates of gaols, where they were exposed to constant contamination. If they took Capt.' Williams' report, they would not be surprised at the great extent to which crime prevailed in Manchester. He stated that in walking through Manchester, he found the public-houses 'open at a quarter past one in the morning, and they were only closed on the appearance of the police. They were crowded with men and women ; many of the latter had infants in their arms. On descending into a cellar he vests struck by what appeared to him the unusual sight of 'the. room being papered, but on holding a lantern to the wall he discovered that it was covered with an innumerable quantity of bugs, which presented the appear ance of paper. Such was the 'state of the manufacturing districts ; the case ' was equally bad in the rural districts. Let them look to Cambridge, the seat of all that was orthodox and of all that was learned. It was a disgrace to the country that there should be a gaol in that town in the condition in which it was described by the in spectors. He knew that there was a Chancery suit pending, but though that might be a good reason for closing the doors, it was no excuse for the state in which the prison was actually found. The Uni versity made no provision for the religieus instruc tion of the inmates. A clergyman of King's Col lege had• formerly attended, but had discontinued for private reasons, since which no religious service had been performed. There was no efficient discipline observed, The prisoners passed much of their time over the fire, engaged in obscene talk. One striking fact was, that ac cording to the return for 1834,there were three commit merits Eor each individual. The only provision which this University had made con s i s t e d o f re ligious tracts. These statements were contained in the inspectors' reports. He thought that, if true, they proved the necessity which there was for inquiry. They proved that there was no uniform system in the discipline and management .of the prisons, and that the recommendations of the House of Commons, in 1835, had been in no respect attended to. It was impossible that there should be uniformity under the present system. Under that system the Visiting Magistrates had the power of drawing up certain rules ; those rules were submitted to the Secretary of State for his approbation, and different sets of rules were . _ approved for different parts of the country. He did not blame either the Secretary of State or the Magistrates, but he blamed the Legislature, who allowed such a system to be pursued. He blamed that House, who did not grapple with the difficulty, and lay down one general rule to be observed throughout all the prisons in the country. He believed that such a rule would be of great advantage both to the ends of justice and to the prisoners themselves. It was totally impossible, at present, that any Judge, in passing a sentence upon a prisoner, could know precisely what amount of punishment that prisoner would undergo. There was, in fact, a total want of uniformity, both with regard to labour and diet. When an individual was put to the treadmill, the amount of labour which he performed must depend upon the number of hours, the height of the step, and the rap:dity of the rotation of the wheel. But if one in dividual was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour in Devonshire, and another received a similar sentence in Northumberland, there would be a great inequality in the punishment inflicted by the two sentences.—( Hear, hear.) In Exeter a prisoner was kept at the wheel for eight hours and a half; the height of the step was eight inches, the number of steps taken in a minute was twenty-four, snaking altogether an ascent of 3,120 feet by that individual. In Newcastle-upon- Tyne the number of hours was six, the height of the step was ten inches, the number of the steps in the minute fifty-two, and the prisoner performed altogether an ascent of 13,066 feet. In Worce s t er , i ns t ea d o f b e i ng six hours atthe wheel, the priso ner was kept there ten hou:s and a quarter, the step was seven and three-quarter inches, the number of steps per minute forty-eight, and the ascent was 12,000 feet. It was quite clear, then, that though the sentences were the same, the punishment of one would often treble the amount of punishment of another; this ought to be investigated. Then, how did they stand with regard to diet? In some Place , ' where the labour was the hardest, the diet was the steeliest and the lowest. In the Bedford House of Correction, the Aylesbury, and the Spring-field, the diet was very low, they bad neither meat nor potatoes. In the Bedford House of Cor- , rection the allowance was only 224 ounces of bread and eight ousices of cheese, and three pints of gruel per week. In some other ; prisons Abe diet was much better. Take Worcester for example, where, though the labour was hard, the diet was 'very good—there the allowance was 172 ounces of bread, 24 ounces of meat, 2lbs. of potatoes, four pints of soup, 14 pints of gruel, and 11b. of suet-pudding, per man per week. If the diet at Bedford were right the diet at Worcester must be wrong.—( Hear ' hear.) The diet at Aylesbury was very lo w , and a complaint had been made relative to the treatment of females with children at the breast. The inspector stated that when a woman went in with a child'at the breast she had no more than the ordinary allowance, out of which she had to support herself and infant. The females in these prisons were subject to the most severe privations; and the quantity of diet was extremely small. The Hon. Gentleman then referred to a statement or the quantity and nature of diet given to female prisoners in the Coldbath-fields prison. But it might be said that the surgeon had a power to increase the quantity of food. Why the surgeon had always that power—but why was not a regular rule adopted for individuals in such circumstances. In the inspector's report it was stated that though a small quan tity of food might not be immediately injurious, yet it would operate slowly, and come against the individual at some remote period of time. He would now call the attention of the House to the prison discipline of theaUnited States, and there they would find a much better system in operation. In the Eastern Penitentiary the prisoner had a pint of coffee and three-quarters of a pound of bread for breakfast, for dinner he had meat and soup, and for supper he had Indian corn and molasses. The same, or as good a system prevailed in the other prisons of the Union.—( Hear, hear.) If the House were to introduce the American system, he hoped that a better dietary than the present should he also intro duced. There was likewise not only a want of uniformity in labour and diet, but there was also a great want of uniformity with regard to the religious instruction which should be afforded to the inmates of prisons in this country, and he thought also that the power which the gaolers possessed, and the manner in which they used it, was most objectionable. He had got statements here in the House from individuals who had suffered greatly in consequence of the arbitrary and cruel con duct of gaolers. In one instance, with the particulars of which he (Mr. Duncombe) had been furnished, a boy was put into a refractory cell in the depth of winter for quarelling with an other boy—he was kept there for three days without fire, and with nothing on him but a rug—at the end of that time he had actually lost two of his toes from the excessive cold he had suffered, and he ultimately became a cripple for life.—( Hear, hear.) All that punishment was inflicted for a very trifling offence indeed. An Host. MEMBER on the Ministerial benches—What is the name ? Mr. DUNCOMBE said the name was William Griffith; the boy had suffered so much that he was not able to be tried' when the Court sat, and the result was that he was kept in prison for three months longer than he should have been kept, in order that he might be sufficiently recovered to be taken from the cell to the place of trial. There were several other instances of equal hardship in other prisons—there was the case of John Riley, who was confined in the Wakefield House of Correction. The fact had already been represented to Lord. Normanby. It appeared that when the prisoners were in the yards at work, they were not allowed to turn their heads to the right or to the left—much less to speak. However, to that he ( Mr. Duncombe) did not object, as the silent system was ap proved of. This man Riley was affected with asthma. He was told when in the yard that he was not to move or turn his head, nor yet to expectorate. Now, as Riley was affected with asthma, it was necessary for him to expectorate. He was not allowed to expectorate for twelve weeks ; arid the consequence was that his throat and chest swelled in such a manner that his life was despaired of.—( Hear, hear.) When the case was first related to him (Mr. T. Duncombe), he almost felt inclined to doubt whether it could be true. He laid the case before the Marquis of Normanby. The Home-office instituted an inquiry, and Lord Nermanby directed, if the allegatiors should turn out to be correct, that the prisoner should be imme diately released. He (Mr. T. Duncombe) at the same time, wrote to a gentleman, living in the ne i g hbo u rhood of Wakefield, to inquire if this could possibly be, true. The next post brought the man's release. What had been stated in rela tion to this poor man was but too true. The gentleman to whom he (Mr. T. Duncombe) had written, replied that the statement was true, that the man had been prevented from ex pectorating for twelve weeks—that since his release, as he was enabled to expectorate, his health had been better, but that the swelling in the throat still continued, and that it would be a long time before he recovered from the effects of the torture he had undergone in the Wakefield House of Correction.— ( Hear, hear.) Now, with regard to the spiritual instruction of the prisoners. He would relate to the House what was the practice in the prison at Salford; and his Hon. Friend the Mem ber for Salford was ready to corroborate his statement. It ap peared that there were 131 Roman Catholics among the pri soners in that prison. The Visiting Magistrates had made re gulations which at first sight appeared well calculated to secure to the Roman Catholic prisoners the right of seeing their priests, and receiving spiritual consolation from them, but these regula tions were rendered of no effect by the conduct of the officers of the prison. It was with great regret that he (Mr. T. D.) said anything that could be considered as casting any reflec tion on the chaplain of that prison ; but it seemed that that Rev. Gentlemen was actuated by hostile feelings to the Ro man Catholics—in fact, his feelings almost amounted to per sonal antipathy to persons of that religion. It seemed that the Rev. Gentleman was in the habit of preaching contro versial sermons in the chapel of the prison—sermons in tended, not only to show the superiority of the Protes. tant over the Roman Catholic faith, but holding out indi viduals professing the Roman Catholic ;religion as persons to be avoided ; and there was one instance of a prisoner, a Protestant, saying to the turnkey, at the conclusion of one of these controversial discourses, "Do ask the chaplain to preach that sermon over again, for it makes our Roman Ca tholic fellow-prisoners as mad as blazes."—( Hear, hear, and a laugh.) Now he (Mr. Duncombe) would ask if that were the way to administer spiritual instruction ? And was it pos sible to anticipate any reformation from such bigotry and in tolerance ? The Reverend Mr. .111‘Carthy, who made those statements, added that no Roman Catholic priests were ad mitted to see the prisoners in the prison in question. They bad repeatedly made a request to that effect of the Governor to the gaol, to the turnkey and to the chaplain, but in only two cases had they succeeded ; and they were then told that they should not have had access to the prisoners, were it not that they had said that they wanted to consult their clergyman as to their de fence. In his opinion no governor or chaplain should be en trusted with the power which had been thus abused. There was another subject, and it was one of a most painful nature, to which he wished to call the attention of the House—he meant the infliction of corporal punishment.upon criminal offenders. He thought that if he could succeed in obtaining a Committee that would be a proper subject for its inquiry. He did not ask the House to express an opinion as to the expediency of abolishing corporal punishment altogether; be only asked them to institute an inquiry into the subject. He believed that most persons admitted that that was a. description of pu nishment which ought never be inflicted upon adults ; while all practical men of the highest authority were in favour of its complete abolition. Perhaps the House was not aware of the number of eases in which corporal punishment had been inflicted of late years. In the year 1838 there had been 939 of these cases; in the year 1839 there had been 1,026 cases; and in the year 1840—the last year for which there had been any returns—the number of cases amounted to 1,207. It appeared, however, that in the year 1828 there were but 222 cases of' corporal punishment; in 1829 there had been 336 cases; and in 1830 there had been 384 cases, making for those three years only 942 cases, which was less than the number in the single year 1840. It appeared from the report of Inspector Williams, that in some pri s on s a scourge was use d s i m il ar t o that used in the army ; in others it was a scourge similar to that used in the navy ; in others, it was a simple rod ; but he had in some prisons found scourges of a very improper descrip tion. In Swaffham, where the handle" of the scourge consisted of whalebone, the keeper himself inflicted the punishment. the number of lashes was not specified, but the sentence was, that the person "should be whipped until his back was blooded." No medical man was in attendance. Now wills regard to that case at Salford, where an individual had been taken out of his bed and lashed. On June 2d, he was taken out of his bed and his sentence carried into effect, pre vious to his discharge the next morni ng . C ou ld it b e right to keep a prisoner thus in suspense ? Instead of going to bed re joicing in the expectation of being released on the following morning, he thinks only of the punishment he is to undergo previous to quitting his place of confinement. Could he leave the prison with any other feeling but revenge ? If he (Mr. Duncombe) were to take the opinions of those who were deeply and well acquainted with these matters, he should take the opi nion of the Chaplain of the Devizes House of Correction, as de livered in his report to the Chairman of the Quarter Sessions. In that report he commenced by saying that he trusted he should not be considered out of order, or as going beyond his duty, when he stated his belief that the punishment awarded to discharge confinement was prisoner's m so o n s e t rs p e r s e se v o ir ia s ily to b t a n d e ; ir confine ment, he might perhaps have been • made aware of the sin and folly of his former course, and his heart might have been softened ; but previous to his leaving the prison, his flesh must be torn and lacerated by the lash. The report went onto state that the writer had many times noticed the countenances of the people to be cast down and dejected for some days previous to their dismissal, and all his efforts to reels' them to a conviction of their duties had bean ineffectual, and the man leaves the prisons degraded and a hardened sin ner. The report concluded by expressing the greatest horror at all corporal punishments. There was only more instance with which he should trouble the House on this part of his address. It took place in- the gaol of Lan caster, for insubordination, and breach of prison discipline. The case was as follows :—The prisoner objected to 'his hod, and called on the gaoler to send for one of the Visiting Magis trates. This the gaoler did not do, and paid no attention to his complaint; the prisoner said he would not be locked up unless his food was improved, or a Visiting Magistrate was sent for; great confusion took place in the prison, in consequence of which the Visiting Magistrate arrived the next day; the ' gaoler reported the case of the prisoner, and he was sentenced to receive twelve dozen lashes on his bare back. Then came that account of the punishment. He was punished in the in specting-room, in the presence of all the prisoners of the ward. Previous to the day fixed for the punishment the chaplain had been conversing with . the prisoners, requesting them to act with propriety during the, ceremony of which they were about to he the painful spectators. When the culprit was brought forth, and the prisoners ranged round the room, the most perfect order and tran quillity prevailed, every eye was intently fixed upon the unfortunate culprit, and tears were observed to course down the cheeks of many of the beholders. It was said that such punishment- was inflicted for the benefit of the Crown pri soners, but he would ask whether such scenes were to be per.. mated, or whether they were likely to be causes of reforma tion?.—( Hear, hear.) He had a return from Warwickshire of persons confined in the Houses of Correction there, from the age of twenty years and upwards, and from the 'lst of Fe bruary, 1840, to the Ist of February, 1842. By that return he found seven persons were flogged in Warwick Castle, five in Warwick gaol, of whom four had been sentenced by a Re verend Gentleman. He would ask if it were right that a single Blagistrate, and he a minister of the Gospel, should have the power to order such punishment ? If a Committee were appointed he would like that that gentleman should be' exa mined as to the motives that inducedhim to award such punish ment.—(Hear, hear.) No doubt he had reasons, and he might convince him (Mr. D.) of the utility of corporal punish ment ; but until he heard such reasons 'he would consider that so brutalising a system should be abolished.—( Hear. ) He now begged to refer to the principle of solitary confine ment, and he found that system recommended by two of the Inspectors, and condemned by the third. It was recommended by Inspectors Crawford and Russell, and condemned by Mr. Williams, and he (Mr. Duncombe) thought that, however well it might look, the system of solitary confinement was one that wouldnot be acceptable to the people of this country. (Hear, hear.) There was a model prison in the Milbank Pe netentiary for the purpose of carrying out the principle of soli tary confinement, but the result was, that they were obliged to relax the regulations, in consequence of eight persons being. attacked with insanity. That model was erected upon the principle of that which existed in Philadelphia, in the United States ; but the Report of the Commission instituted by the Legislature of Lower Canada in 1836, to investigate the diffe rent system 3 in operation th ere, decided against the system pursued in Philadelphia. The Hon. Gentleman then quoted the opinion of Dr. Parsons, who stated th a t, th oug h i n many of the cases the prisoners might be predisposed to insanity, yet the cases were too numerous to justify him in saying that all whO were attacked had b een . predisposed to it. The Hon. Gentleman then referred to the testimony of Captain Hall against the system of solitary' confinement. He trusted that her Majesty's Government, before they decided on such a system, would institute an inquiry into its merits and demerits. He had trespassed on the attention of the House longer than perhaps he ought, but he had such a body of evidence, and so many . complaints on the subject, that he did not know where to begin or where to end, and he feared he had not said enough to induce the House to agree to his motion.—(lean ) He trusted lie might suc ceed in inducing the House to grant him a Committee of In quiry, but whether he succeeded or no in impressing on the House the necessity of inquiry into the present system, and showing that the cruelty with which it was attended ought to be redressed, he was at least satisfied that they would have ample consolation in having engaged to take into their con sideration a subject of such importance and such humanity.— (Cheers.) The Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving fur a • Select Committee to inquire into the rules, regulations, and discipline of the several Gaols and Houses of Correction 'in . England and Wales; to report what alterations appear to be necessary in the laws now in force for the government of Prisons, in order to insure a more uniform system of discipline throughout the whole ; and further, to report upon the expe diency of abolishing the infliction of corporal punishment upon criminal offenders. On the motion being put, Sir J. GRAHAM said he gave the Hon. Gentleman wise . had just sat down, every credit for the humane motives which induced him to make thei present motion, and for the calm and temperate manner in which he brought it forward. He most cordially agreed is the sentiment with which he opened his ad dress, that this was not a party question, nor one which s hould be considered in such light.--( Hear. ) And looking upon it without any such feelings, he must declare to the House that he was opposed to the appointment of a Committee. • He was glad to see the Noble Lord, the Member for London, in his plate. because he had devoted great attention to the subject, and had rendered considerable service to the Government by the attest tion•he devoted to it. By the Act Of 1835 inspectors were ap pointed, and he (Sir James Graham) having an official intercourse with the persons appointed to discharge the important duties of that office, could state that it was impossible for a more judicious selection to be made than the gentlemen who were appointed.---( Hear, hear.) He would now point out the course of proceeding under the Act of 1835. Four times in every year every gaol and house of correction was visited by responsible officers of Government;` : nd reports of . a confidential nature were made to the Secre- . tary of State. Every year, moreover, a full report was pre pared by each inspector, in reference to each gaol and house of correction, giving details of everything discovered contrary to the Act of Parliament, and these reports were laid on the tableof both Houses of Parliament. What was the consequence .of such a practice ? It was . that the utmost publicity was given to everything connected with the gaols and houses of correction ; and light was not only thrown upon their working. but the greatest publicity was given, and discussion, if news., vary, ensued.—( Hear, hear.) The House should recollect that, in consequence of that publicity, a check existed upon the proceedings that might arise within the prison walls. The consequence of the absence of direct enactment was the ' want of uniformity in the proceedings of these gaols. The Noble Lord opposite, when he was Secretary of State, with infinite care, assiduity, and labour, framed one general mod e of regulation, which, after consulting the prison inspectors, he thought on the whole would be most conducive to the good re gulation of the gaols throughout the kingdom; and he must • say he thought the course adopted by the Noble Lord in eon formity with the decision of the Legislature, was that which was most expedient and practicable. The Noble Lord as .--- Secretary of State, recommended the adoption of certain regu lations, though he had no power to enforce them; and even where those regulations had not been entirely adopted they had been adopted to a great extent. A most salutary power had been given to the Secretary of State with reference to prison regulations ; for though be had not the power of en forcing regulations, but could only recommend them for adop tion, the power of recommending had been combined with the exercise of a veto in cases where the recommendation was not adopted, and this double power had had the effect of produeing much greater uniformity than exeisted under the old system. He would state to the House, the counties in which the regu lations which had been recommended were adopted. They were adopted in Bedford, Cornwall, Carnarvon, Cardigan, Chester, Gloucester, Hants, Hereford, Lancaster, Leicester, • Lincoln, Nottingham, Kent, Middlesex, Norfolk, Oxford. Somerset, Pembroke, Salop, Surrey, Suffolk, Wilts, and Yorkshire. In all these countries the code recom mended by the Secretary of State had been adopted without variation. Now, that was a great approximation to uniformity.—(Hear, hear.) The Honourable Gentleman had dwelt upon the state of crime for the last ten years. He bad • 'before him, as the result of a regulation made by the Noble I Lord opposite at the Home-office, a valuable register of the number of persons committed for trial. He would state to the House the number of committals for trial before 1835, when the improved discipline commenced under the Act to which he had already referred, and which had been followed up by subse quent enactments introduced by the Noble Lord opposite. The • number of persons committed for trial in the year 1830 was 18,657, or one in every 744 of the population. The number committed for trial in -1840 was 27,187, or one in every 580 of the population, showing an increase of 45 per cent. The Honourable Gentleman, in order to make out his statement et that crime in the course of the last ten years had increased 600 ,1 per cent. had included summary convictions in his calculation, 0 bat he (Sir J. Graham) had purposely omitted them, because . ' the commitments for trial included all crimes of any magni- ''' tude, and afforded a much more certain base on which to calm- late the comparative increase or diminution of crime, and from ' that it appeared that the increase within the last ten years had been 45 per cent., and not 600 per cent., as had been repro= i sented by the Hon. Gentleman. He now wished to direct the attention of the House to what had been the practical effects of the recent improvements in prison discipline. In 1835 the number of commitments for trial amounted to 27,731, while in 1840 they amounted to 37,187; so that, although there had been an increase of 45 per cent. upon the period of ten years, yet during the last five years there had been a reduction from 45 per cent. 'to 30 per cent. He regretted as much as any man could the increase of crime ; he admitted it, and he re gretted it, but at the same time he thought it was more appa reut than real. He attributed this increase to several causes ; first, to the increase of population, our population having, during -: the last ten years increased 14 per cent ; in the next place. • to the increased . efficiency of our policees tablishments. It -' was beyond a doubt that there were a large number of crimes which formerly' , were committed with impunity in consequence of the difficulty of detection, the perpetratons' of which were now frequently discovered and brought, to '' punishment, in consequence of the increased eatoieenY - of our police force. Those p ersons w e re now frequently detected.-- .: commitment follo we d detection, and conviction followed coo" ' mitment, much s nore frequently than formerly. This he at- - 7 tributed to the salutary effect produced by the m itigation 01 our criminal code, in consequence of which there els n o ,114 longer that unwillingn ess , on the part of p ar ti es i n jured, to ".. prosecute, nor on the part of Juries to convict, for now they felt assured that the prisoner would receive a proper punish ment, and no more than a proper one ; and he rejoiced at the salutary effect thus produced by the mitigation of our criminal code. Another alteration, which had been introduced, some years since, by his Right Hon. Friend the Member for Tam worth, by which one half of the expense of the prosecution was, in all cases, defrayed out of the public purse, had likewise ten ded materially to increase the number of prosecutions. These were the reasons why there had been an apparent increase or crime within the last ten years. The Hon. Gentleman " had referred to the want of education as one of the causes of increase of crime. No man deplored the ignorance , of the great mass o f th e p opu l at i on more t h an h e (Sir lunge : Graham) did. With reference to the public morals,, with rem ,i ference to the public safety, no man could be more strongly . convinced than he was of the absolute necessity for the diffu sion of education among all classes of the community ; and, in any measure which it might be his duty to bring forward ,in reference to the condition of the pauper population, he should consider it his duty not to lose sight of that very important subject. It would be impossible for him to follow the Right Hon. Gentleman into all the cafes to which he had referred- He thought, therefore, that it would be most desirable that he shoUld, with the permission of the House ' point out the general course, both of the L eg i s l a t ure an d the Executive Go vernment, upon that important subject. He would not at tempt to say that some abuses had not taken place, as pointed out by the Honourable Gentleman; but he was quite certain that those abuses were in course of gradual diminution; that effective checks were now applied to them ; and that if the Legislature would but steadily adhere to the course pursued within the last six or seven years of progressive legislation, coupled with the constant check of the executive authoritiett e they would arrive at the most desirable result, an ultimate uniformity of system, and a really effective and well regulated discipline. He should observe that the cases to which the . Hon. Gentleman had referred, had taken place two years age, and were cases referred to in the fourth Report of the prison inspectors. But ahuses had since been of much Tess frequent occurrence, in consequence of the superintendence of the prison inspectors, and the constant vigilance of the Secretary of State for the Home Department. He did not in ;raking that statement, mean to take any credit to himself. He bad - been but a short time in office, and he should say. . that the inquiry he had made into the matter only taught him that upon the present subject be had nothing to do but steadily to adhere to the line taken by his predecessors.—(Hear, hear.) In September last, immediately after he had some into office, the sixth annual Report of the Prisons' Inspectors had been published. The Hon. Gentleman opposite, the Member for Lambeth, who had taken much interest in the subject, had called upon him on that occasion, and pointed out . some improvements in the manner of dealing with the re ports of the inspectors; and upon the suggestions of the Hon. Gentleman he (Sir J. Graham) had acted. . The reports were very voluminous; and he had called upon the inspectors to subdivide their report into three parts ; first, they were to point out any matters to which the Secretary of State should ' 'devote his particular attention ; next, they were to indicate' any matters within his control, upon which. in their opinion, he ought to remonstrate forthwith e . with the Magistrates; and thirdly, they were to point out any matters which, in their opinion required further legislative interference. They had at once, with great ability ' and promptitude, acted upon these suggestions. He had after wards written to the Magistrates, and pointed out to them the statements of the Inspectors ; the Magistrates made a very large and free admission of several irregularities, and in no case was there a refusal, on their part, to adopt the recom mendation suggested to them. They stated, however, that they were unable to carry out at once all that was desired of them upon the subject of prison discipline. A very important portion of the improvement in discipline rested upon the adop tion of tjie separate system of confinement. Now, the Hon. Gentleman opposite appeared, in a good deal of what he , had said, to have confounded the separate system with the solitary system. The solitary system was no doubt open to very great abuses, and required the utmost discretion in its application.-- (Hear, hear.) He agreed with the Hon. Gentleman that the solitary system, if pushed to exc e s s , cou pli ng l ow di e t with close confinement, might operate most prejudicially, or most dangerously, upon many temperaments ; and he was not pre pared to vindicate its adoption by a square rule, without all reference to particular subjects •, and he was sure that the , Le - . gislature had not considered the matter in such ' a light. • The Legislature had decided that in no case should solitary . '''„ confinement be inflicted for more than one month at a time , . . and that th e same p erson s h ou ld no t b e su bj ecte d t o it for raore than three months in the space of a year. The lion' ~ Gentleman had stated that at Ipswich the surgeon had never ,_, visited parties undergoing th e p un i s h men t i n ques tion. No w that was clearly a violation of the law at which he (Sir Jaw's Graham) could not but feel surprised. The law provided or that solitary confinement was inflicted, the governorwas , lla t t , - a, chaplain should visit the prisoner once a day. But be ! e about to point out the difference between separate confinement circulara nil tli e le so tt l e ita r, r s y yr s it s te te n m by li th e e h-e -N id o i ble hi London, in which the distinction between the two puntahment , was plainly and clearly pointed out ; of that letter he w oul d „i s hand Lord, a the m o t s f t ember adm i rable fors be taken when the system was put into operation not to e a ?! read one nr two sentences. It stated that " great care shoould. • , e ,, found separate with solitary imprisonment. It was gener ally understood that solitary imprisoament implied confinemen t T_°,, gloomy and narrow cell, without any occupation, and a n al e ' of bread and water only. Separate imprisonment, o ,t , t ,. . other hand, implied confinement in a large, ,at a r_Y, ~, lighted, well warmed, and well ventilated cell, with nioral. an . 0 religious instruction, and regular employment, and th e ( T Y . N visits of the chaplain." Now, it wag necessary to erect , srt tr stem . . rate - cells in th different prisons, in order to carry each e c they into operation ; and the Magistrates wished that befor ' ofus . had incurred such an expense they should have some pr , 1° eer experience of the operation of these systems. An fl,4 l ''' ber had been appointed by the Noble Lord the pac * orks. o f for London to superintend the erection of . W e ntry. any kind in. the differe n t gao l s o f the C Ho gave them a plan gratuit ous ly, th e resu lt o f his experience P I 4 „ . ~I 4 0 ;o'l ~~:~ ~ po , - , 0 •0 4 ,t^ P 41 , 4 e, ,r-,4' 0' r :0 4 1 ' .401;1 H - • „ I y 'THE StTN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 2, 1842