The Sun. — London, England, 1842-02-25 00:00:00

had omitted allusion to the argument that the corn purchased abroad under the operation of the sliding scale was paid for in bullion, not in manufactured goods. The operation of the Corn-laws was to prevent deficient harvests inflicting any injury on the agricultural classes, whilst they made a deficient harvest Inflict a severe injury upon the commercial classes. They had heard a great deal re specting the operation of the Corn-laws on wages. Hon. Gentle men had endeavoured to impress upon the minds of the working classes an opinion that if the Corn-laws were altered the rate of wages would come down. He took a different view of the subject. The would not deny that in all over-peopled countries the price of wages depended upon the price of corn. But was this country over peopled ? If it were so, it was in consequence of their own fault. Why slid they not allow themselves to have the use of the rice land of America, and the Americans to have the use of British industry, by permitting a free interchange of commodities ? If that were the case, they would find that the country was not over-peoPled- The over-population of which they complained so much was en tirely owing to the operation of the Corn-laws. The Right Hon. Baronet had alluded to the grea t i ncreas e in machinery as one of the causes of the existing distress. Now his (Mr. Hindley's) great objection to the Corn-laws was, that they gave an artificial stimulus to the use of machinery. Every improvement in machinery was made with a view of superseding the employment of dear labour, and it was the operation of the Corn-laws that forced on this process. The machine did not eat bread, and the manufac. turer who, by employing machinery was enabled to make one man do the work of four, saved the tax upon bread which was paid by Wee persons. They had forced the poor hand loom weavers to compete with power-looms, and also with the (reign labourer, who did not eat taxed corn. It was vain to say that the price of labour could be kept up by the good.will of the masters ; they could not, how desirous soever they might be to assist their labourers, they could not pay them a greater amount of wages than the prices at which the goods were sold in the market would allow them to pay. In 1835 the Hon. Member for Oldham and himself had drawn the attention of the Right Hon. Baronet, who was then, as now, at the head of the Government, to this subject. At that time commuuications had taken place between some of the manufaoturers in Lancashire and the Poor-law Commission. ers with a view of distributing the surplus labour in th e agricultual districts among the manufacturers. With that view. Mr. Muggeridge had gone down to Manchester, and had appeared there every market day on the Ex change, asking every manufacturer how many families he would want to.day, and disposing of the agricultural labourers as persons from Liverpool disposed of their cottons, or as the Manchester manufacturers themselves disposed of their cotton goods. The Hon. Member for Oldham moved that the correspondence of the manufacturers with the Poor-law Commissioners should be laid bef ire the House; and he (Mr. H.) seconded the motion; but it was opposed by the Right Hon. Baronet, though he did not speak against it, and it was lost by 123 to 3; and now, after five years they were told that whatever the state of the country there would be some cause for complaint, and some individuals would be distressed. —(Cries of " Divide.") The Hon. Memoer for Stockport had said, and he (Mr. H.) agreed with him, that if they took the quality of the articles into consideration they would receive from the English labourer more than from any other. Hon. Gentlemen opposite must remember that if they had no machinery and no mills—much as mills were derided—there would be no necessity for a Corn-law.—(Hear.) Why, they might, if they pleased, ex port their corn, but if they had no mills they would not get the price they now obtained fur it, and which he (Mr. Hindley) wished they would continue to receive. —(" Divide, divide.") He presented a petition the other day from a hand-loom weaver who stated that he could not now obtain by six days' labour what he formerly received for one, and that he could trot even now obtain 2s. 3d. for the employment he hid formerly. That was the de preciation of the poor man's property, and if 'the property of HonourableGentlemen opposite was depreciated to the same extent, and theyhad now only 5,0001. a year from the property which 14 years ago yielded them 45,0001. a-year, how soon they would make the House of Commons legislate on the subject for them. The working classes looked to them for justice, and hoped they would not make such a depreciation of their property. He did not wish to find fault with machinery, and he thought, when properly re gulated, it conferred the greatest benefit on society. He would now suppose that a machine was invented which would supply England with corn in any quantity, and that sueh invention was announced on the Ist of August last ; and in such a case he would ask, would the Right Hon. Baronet be allowed so many months for deliberation as was granted to him in the case of the manufacturers ; and would not his own snip. porters call on him to legislate on the subject at once ?—(Divide_) They would not object to such a machine, and yet there was no difference in that case from that of machinery producing goods which they might exchange for foreign corn to be brought to this country, and on which depended the welfare or misery of 8,000,000 indivi Orals. He would say, therefore, that the Corn laws inter fered with a principle that was sound in itself.—(Divide, divide.) But it is said that there were peculiar burdens affecting the agriculturists which rendered protection necessary. (Cries of " Oh, oh:") The Right Hen. Baronet might, perhaps, recollect that he (Mr. Ilindley) volunteered a declaration for merly on the subject, which gave off.mce to hit constituents ; he then thought the agriculturists were affected by peculiar burdens, but he had since been asked what those burdens were, and he confessed he could not tell. He knew that the Poors rate and Land-tax were mentioned, but he never heard it proved that the agriculturists were affected more than other portions of the community. He asked now to have these burdens proved. He did not believe they could be proved, and yet it was in consideration of such burdens that the Noble Lord the Member for London advocated A fixed duty of Bs.—( Cries " Divide.' ) But he did not state what ought to be called, or what ought not to bo called, burdens. They did not apprehend the arithm :tic of the case--they did not understand political eco nomy enough for the subject ; and yet, in passing a Corn-law, they should understand the peculiar burdens which affected the agri culturists.—(Cries of " Divide, divide.") He eou Id neither get from the Right lion. Baronet, nor from the Noble Lord an ex planation of those burdens. And when he went out of the House, the first authority that met him was that of Mr. M'Culloch, who says the land bears peculiar burdens, and he there fore advocates a fixed duty of ss. The next was Mr. Tooke, who stated that the utmost the land could claim was Is. per quarter, and lie thought he cou'd get the Anti-Corn League to make them a present of that.—(Loud cries of " Divide, divide.") The Hon. Member proceeded (amidst loud and persevering cries of " liar, bar," " Order, order," " Hear, hear," •' Read, read," Ice.) to contend that a fixed duty would enable fo reign growers-to anticipate the wants of the country, so that, corn should never rise to an excessiveprice. tie concluded by declaring that he had been reared In a respect for the aristocracy, and he should wish to see them show themselves as the friends of every great popular measure which tended to advance the rights and liberties of mankind "—(Cries of " Oh, oh," and " Divide," amidst which the Hon. Gentleman sat down. Mr. GILL, who sp..ka amidst the greatest confusion, said that after seven night's debate, he xsas unwilling to occupy the House, but he was bound to say that he thought it would be Injustice to the agriculturists to do away with the protection all at once Whiff he mad, these observations with reference to the immedi. ate and total repeal of the Corn.laws, he could assure the Hon. Member fir Wolverhampton that he had made them from no want of sympathy on his own part for the 38,000 he represented in that House. They felt great sympathy fir the distress that had been so feelingly pourtrayed in that House, but he believed that the community would not derive any advantage from a total re peal of the Corn-laws, It uas his opinion that they would derive an equal benefit from a duty of ss. Ile thought if the lion. Member fur ‘Volverhampton had confined himself to a low duty, he would have carried the voice of the whole of that bide of the House with him.—(Cries of " Divide, divide He preferred a fixed duty to a eliding scale, because he thought the former would benefit the people by ensuring the steadiness of price. Ile admitted that the scale proposed by the Right lion. Baronet would be better than the one at present in exist. ence ; but having paid that tribute to it, he should not feel justified in saying anything further in its favour.—(Hear.) He wesi'd not trouble the House, because he would have another opportunity of addressing them when the Bill was before the House. —(Loud ironical cheers, cries of " Order, order," and considerable confusion.) He believed that the constituencies that had sent the Hon. Member to that House, would regard that House not in the most favourable light. It appeared to him that they were degenerating from the character of legislators. —(lmud ironical cheers.) He hoped that when the Bill was before the House that the plan proposed by the Right Honourable Baronet would be modified. Mr. FIELD EN rose arnitlst load cries of Divide, divide, followed by ironical cheers and " Order." The Hole Gentleman spoke i s an extremely low tone of voice, and said that if }lore Gentlemen would but listen to him, he would not detain them for more than five minutes. He was one of there who, notwithstanding the many speeches that had been made in favour of it, did not think that the Corn-laws were a benefit to the country, for he was convinced that it would be better for this count. y if a free trade was opened in corn, which would cause pro. visions to be low. They had had protection for o 6 years, but they had not grown sufficient corn for the people, therefore they were not entitled to protection. Ii it was necessary that protection should artist, he should be wining to grant it, but they must give an assurance that they would grow sufficient corn for the people.—(Hear) They would not allow them to go into foreign countries for coin, while the people were starving for the want of it. If this was the case, how could the Corn-laws be a benefit to the country? In one pelt of the British dominions there were 1,700 inhabitants perish. ing of hunger, and yet they would not prevent those 1,705 people .front famishing. Was it not a disgrace that 1,700 people—the manufacturers of Paisley, who were engaged In the manufacture of fabrics of the most beautiful workmanship, to grace the per. sons of their wives and slaughters, should be now in a state of want of the actual necessaries of life, and that three Ministers of the Crown should rise in their places, and beseech Hon. Members of that House to pass no law which would afford the starving thousands any relief ? —(Cries of " Divide, and order." The gentlemen had been called on year after year to turn their attention to the sufferings of the working people, and afford them some relief. They had refused to do this, and in his (Jlr. Fielden'e) opinion, they were not worthy of The sympathy of the country: He should vote for his Hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, and he should do so because they had thrown the poor on their own resources. They were no longer entitled to protection, and whatever might be the sentiments in that House, they might depend upon it, that the mighty interests of the multitude out of doors depended upon the repeal of the Corn-laws, and that they would never rest till they obtained their repeal. If the Hon. Baronet had now the moral cougagc to take the bull by the horns, and deal fairly by the people, there was no doubt of his success in carrying a useful measure for the regulation of the corn trade, and the result would be that the country would be con. Siderably improved. General JOHNSON rose to address the House amidst loud cries of " Divide.") Silence having been after some time obtained, he said that were it not for the peculiar. situation in which he was placed by living in an agricultural district, and representing a very large borough, he would not have trotefed the House at all. He had listened with the utmost etteation to the debate, and he then rose merely to explain why he gave his vote in favour of the motion of the Hon. Member for Wolverhampton, he had given the subject a great deal cr consideration, and nothing' that he had heard could satisfy iHh po im it. that f the food ' of the people should be t axe d f or th e sup _ the realm ; he could assign other reasons why he had voted against what might be considered his own interest, but he thougnt it was but justice, and therefere he would vote in favour of the motion of the Hon. Member for Wo!verhamp.on ; there was merely one other observation which he Would make, that was withreference to what had fallen f rom th e Honourable M ember for D onegal, who stated that th e agricultural interests of Irela nd would m aterially injured by the repeal of th e Corn - taws, He (General b Johnson merely ask the on. Gmtleinan wheth er he thought it would \ possible Chet any law could be enacted that could place the agricu l tural interest of Ireland in a wor se cond i tion than they are no w. Mr. VILLIERS said that he would not intrude upon the Heese at that late hoer, but he w s sure he would net preeeet a cool consideration of the question, after the speech of the Hon. Member for Knaresborough. The Hon. Gentleman who delivered that speech could not be blamed, and he was con. sulsed with pleasure and satisfaction at the delivery of that speech—a speech which seemed to cast the most se. vere censure upon the manufacturing classes—(Hear)— which censured most grossly the objebts and motives of those who .brought fer ward this question, and whirls seemed to him (Mr. Villiers) to include, in its censure, all the manufacturing and I I agricultural interests of the country. That speech was received With a degree of satisfaction he bad never witnessed in that House, and he was of opinion that so striking was that speech, that it gave a decided character to the question now under their considers. Lion. He defied any person who had witnessed the manner in which that speech was received, was cheered, and applauded, with_ out seeing that it * met with the entire approbation of Ho iurnirable Gentlemen. Therefore, those who had cheered and encouraged the Honourable Member for Knaresborough, strictly identified themselves with his views.—( Loud cheers.) However, there were two statements made by the Hon. Member for irstaresborough, which, I must say decidedly and distinctly,are wholly !din fact.—(" Hear, hear," and " Order, order.") One of al .9**l-4 4altilieents was , that the petitions presented to this House n-law; had been paid for.—(Loud cries of "No, declared positively, that what he said was the fact("No,''no.) He no.") Hon. Gentlemen might now deny it , but he (Mr. Villiers). —. took dawn the words which were distinctly, " That all the petitions which were brought before that House against the Corn.laws had been procured by money."—(" No, no," from the Opposition.) He repeated it in the presence of the Hon. Member for Knaresborough; again he said that that Hon. Member distinctly stated that the pe titions against the Corn-laws presented to the House had been procured by money.—(Several Members on the Opposition, amongst whom was the Hon. Member for Knaresborough, then rose from their seats, and repeated their dissent from the assertion of the Hon. Member for Wolverhampton.) The Hon. Gentleman then said--Well, then, as the Hon. Member for Knaresborough denies that he has said so, it amounts to an acknowledgment that those petitions had not been procured in that way.—(Hear, hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentleman said the working classes were not opposed to the Corn-laws. He (Mr. Villiers) said many of them were. —(Laughter and "Oh.") His own constituents were—many others were. He had not mooted this question so many years without knowing the feelings of the people on it; and therefore he now affirmed that a large body of the working classes were as in. tensely opposed to the Corn-laws as any other cla-s of person could be.—(Cheers.) As for the charges which the Hon. Mem. ber brought against the manufactnrers accusing them of plunder, robbery, and fraud, he supposed the Hon. Gentleman was pre pared to prove them ? Mr. FERRAND—Decidedly.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. VILLIERS—It must be obvious to the House and the country that the charges brought against the manufacturers sub. scribing to the Anti-Corn-law League oouhl not stop here. The name and circumstances of every one bf these subscribers were known, and an investigation must take place. They must see whe ther the Honourable Member could establish his charge of fraud and robbery, after having stated it amidst the accla mations of the House; for he (Mr. Villiers) could hardly see a member on the other side who had not cheered the Honour able Member for Knaresborough, and of course those who cheered him, would insist upon his making his case good.— (Cheers,) Notwithstanding this imputations against those who agi. tated this question, he (Mr. Villiers) affirmed that he was justified in bringing forward his motion. Justified by his knowledge of the evils caused by the Corn.laws—by his knowledge of the feelings of the people—and justified even by the plan of the Right Hon. Baronet—for that measure was in reality a concession, and the feelings and opinions of those who opposed the Corn-laws—(Cheers) —for, otherwise, why should the Right Hon. Baronet bring for werd a measure which would please none—would relieve none — and was not even satisfactory to the Government itself?—(Cheers.) This, therefore, was a sign to the people that they must persevere. —(Cheers.) Let them see from this that if they continue to agi tate for a repeal of the Corn.laws, they must be successful.— (Cheers.) As for his opponents, they had opposed his motion by repetitions and stale arguments.—(Cheers and laughter.) There was nothing new in what they said. —(Cheers and laughter.) Some Hon. Gentleman said, only convince me that it is good for the people to have bread enough, and I'll rote for you."—(A laugh ) This was all that could be urged by those who contended that less was better than none. This was all that the Hon. Member for the West Riding of York. shire could say.—(Hear, hear.) There was another point to be no ticed. This was an assertion that there were vested interests in agriculture, and connected with it, which he disregarded. Now if the minority were small, it would be seen that this argument had weighed with many. Now he was not so dishonest as to disregard any vested interest; but he would ask where was this principle to end ? But every such argument against the repeal of the Corn-laws applied equally to the plan for their modification.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Would not even the adoption ef a moderate fixed duty disturb much of the capital invested in agriculture; for it would threw bad lands out of cultivation, and it was in those lands that the most capital was sunk? (Hear, hear, hear.) If the protection was withdrawn from land, they might expect that some would be thrown out of cultivation ; but what consolation would it be to the owners, to find that if the measure had been more extensive, some others would suffer as well as themselves ? The argument of the Noble Duke, who had now left the Government, was the only straightforward one ; either the public had a right to repeal, or they had a right to protection, and if they had a right to protection, why abandon it ? If the people have a right to re peal, why not grant it ? However, he might differ from the Noble Duke, he could not but respect the sternness and consistency with which he maintained his prin ciples. This question stood entirely by itself, it was a question between protection, and total and immediate repeal. He contended that the people had a right to repeal, and they had not shossln any right to protection. He, therefore, considered that this measure was founded in justice. He could not yet understand the argument of those Gentlemen who said they could not vote with him, and yet agreed !with him in principle, In the beginning of their speeches they had the most violent ti rades against the Corn-laws; that they were founded on injustice, and maintained for the benefit of a particular class. They say everything that could excite the people against the law, yet all of a sudden they stop short, and that industrious and useful as it is, they cannot vote for a sudden suppression of injustice. The time had come when the law ought to cease, and he pro posed a resolution declaratory of its ill effects, and that its conse. quences to the country no longer warranted its continuance. They wished the House to declare that they ought not to be coutinued, and that was the reason he had proposed a resolution declaring that the duties called Corn-laws should now cease and determine. He was sorry to hear the Noble Lord below declare that he intended to vote against him. But he certainly understood the position of that Noble Lord. He came forward as an arbitrator between the community and those who wished to maintain the Corn-laws, and he understood that he still wished to be the arbi. trator, and to settle the claims of the contending parties. But before another year he might find himself completely mistaken. There would be the same unreasonableness in thak 1 who maintained the law, and he would perhaps see more clearly the justice of the claim of the people to a total repeal. ;Cries of Divide.") The foundation of his motina was neither unreasonable nor violent ; and he might justify it'hy the course of proceeding in other measures. The claims of vested in terests might just as well be stated on other occasions. They had been so, and had been disregarded, The just principle on all occasions was to balance the good and the evil, and on which ever side the good preponderated, to select that. When the trade was set free between Ireland and this country, the same arguments were used for the interests of those wlyo had vested capital in the old system ; but the measure was passed because it was for the good of the country. Another measure was the restoration of the cur. rency, by the Right Hon. Baronet opposite, and the placing it on the proper basis. If ever there was a measure which required more care and more time to be allowed, it was the Bank Restriction Act. It was certainly only passed for a year, and was always re-enacted, but it had been re.enacted so often that no one expected it would ever be repealed. He had no doubt some • mischief was done, yet even the purists in politics, the strict political economists, one and all, agreed that a more justifiable measure was never passed than the Bill of 1819. Sir P,- PEEL intimated that it was not a sudden measure. Mr. VILLIERS said whether the measure was sudden or not, it was certain that people were not prepared for it when it did pass ; yet it was never said that it could not be enacted, because under the old system debtors and creditors had relative interests which could not be disturbed. The Reform Bill might have been resisted on the same grounds ; under the old system of representation, certain boroughs became a species of property, yet they never considered those who had vested their money in pro. perty of that kind. What regard was paid to vested interests when the Pcor-law was passed ? The only argument was that the old sys tem did more harm than good, and some reform ought to take place. The discussion upon that law did not last three months; and yet he would venture to say that it made a much greater change in the circumstances of the poor than a change in the Corn.law could make in the circumstances of the rich. The Poor-law case was a case of vested interest, and he appealed to it now in de fence of the motion he had submitted to the House which he had been told was a violation of vested interests. He was only sorry for having brought forward the motion upon one ground, namely, that he was afraid from all he had seen and heard, that there would be a very large majority against him on a division.—(Hear, hear.) It could not be doubted that all parties interested in manufactures—all parties in commerce—all the working classes, and the great mass of the community, were de. sirous that the Corn-laws should be repealed.—(Hear, hear, and cries of" No.'') He was sure that this was the reflection which they would force upon every one, that that which all the great and prominent interests of the country wished, had been refused by the House of Commons. He had only to submit his motion, with this observation with respect to its purpose. He had heard several interpretations put u,on it, and he wished to give his own. The Right Hon. Ba ronet seemed to fix upon him a disposition to attach great import ance to an instantaneous repeal. But, as he had said before, all he proposed was, that there should be a declaration of the House to the effect that the time was come when the duty upon corn should cease. Ile had not, however, the least objection to take into consideration the particular claims of the landed interest ; and the declaration to which he was anxious they should come was, that they wished for a total repeal of the Corn-lawii.—(Hear, hear.) Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the House divided, when there appeared— For the Amendment Against it 90 393 Majority against the Amendment -- 303 The CHAIRMAN then reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again. The House then adjourned at Two o'Clock. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 24. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat at Ten Minutes past Five o'Clock. • EXCHEQUER BILLS. Lord WHARNCLIFFE suggested to Lord Mont eagle the propriety of his Lordship deferring his motion relative to the Exchequer bills, in con sequence of the absence of the Duke of Wellington. Lord Monteagle consented at once to postpone his motion till Thursday next, on the understanding that' the postponement took place not at his own desire, but at the request of Noble Lords on the other side. CORN-LAWS. %Earl RADNOR, presented petitions from the inhabitants of the ro)•al burgh of Banff, fur the immediate and total repeal of the Corn-laws ; and similar petitions from the United Session of Mon trose ; from nomford, in Essex; from Taenon, Ken; ; the printworkers of Crayford ; two from the county of Lancaster ; from Leeds, signed by 3,000 or 4,000 indivi duals ; and many others from townships in the town of Birmingham and elsewhere. Lord KINNAIRD presented petitions from Mus selburgh, praying for the total and immediate repeal of the Corn-laws, 34 petitions from the workmen em ployed in Dundee, another from the congregation of Newport Chapel, Dundee, and various others from the same neighbourhood with a similar prayer. CORN-LAWS. Lord BROUGHAM presented petitions from the in .habitants of Perthshire, Stone in Staffordshire, Jethon, an 1 St. Mary Whitcchapel, in favour of the total repeal of the Corn Laws. PRESBYTERIAN MARRIAGES. The NOBLE LORD also presented petitions from the Ministers, Elders, and other members of the em . gregation of Presbyterians at Ballymuir, Dromore, Downpatrick, and Alvanley, praying that some alteration might be made in the law with reference to the marriage of Presbyterians. since the Noble Lord last addressed their Lordships on the subject, he had seen an accurate note of the decision of the Judges in Ireland upon the subject.. lie believed that great doubts were entertained upon the subject, and those doubts were not confined to himself. Ile greatly regretted that there was no form of proceeding competent to that House "of reviewing that decision ; he deeply regretted that, though he would not venture to suggest what the result of that revisal might be. The 31arquis of CLANRICARDE, in presenting two petitions on the same subject, said that this was not the first time this question had been mooted, because so long ago as the year 1815 a petition was presented by Sir Samuel Romilly on the subject of Presbyterian marriages. Lord CAMPBELL wished to call the attention of his Noble Friend on the Woolsack to the subject to which the petitions which had just been presented to the House referred. His Noble Friend was aware of the intense anxiety which was felt by a large class o f per sons upon the subject. He (Lord C.) had lately received several comnrunications relative to the painful situation of parties affected by the decision of the Irish Judges. No doubt had existed for many years but that marriages contracted under the circumstances in question were per fectly valid. Now he wished to express a hope not I Only that the Government might at the earliest opportu nity introduce a Bill to remedy the evil, but that his Noble and Learned Friend on the Woolsack would introduce the Bill into that House in the first in stance. It appeared that the House of Commons were engaged, night after night, with subjects of great public importance, which prevented them from turning their attention to the subject. He was of opinion that it would be found much more convenient to introduce the Bill immediately into that House, and lie earnestly hoped that his Noble Friend would adopt that course. Lord BROUGHAM said that he wished to unite with his Ncble a:ld Learned Friend who had preceded him, in recommending to his Noble and Learned Friend on the Woolsack, to introduce the measure of Governmmit imme dia:ely into that House. He would remind his Noble Friend that he had often joined him in expressing his disappro bation of the late period at which measures of import ance were brought;under the consideration of that House. During the first part of the session, no business came before their Lordships, while they were after wards compelled to harry over matters of the greatest moment with inconvenient expedition. Ile was sure that there never was a subject more appro priate fin- the consideration of the House than the sub ject to which he was then referring ; and he thought that it came peculiarly within the range of their Lordships' deliberation. The LORD CHANCELLOR said that it was not his intention to say a single word in re ference to the observations thrown out by his Noble and Learned Friends with respect to the law upon this question. All he would say was this, that the Irish Bench was never filled by lawyers more emi nent for their legal knowledge, than those who filled it at present. The question had been deliberately argued be fin-e them, and at very great length ; much consideration was given to the subject, and he was therefore bound to entertain the greatest respect for the decision which had been come to under those circumstances.--L(Hear, hear, hear.) With respect to the question put to him by his Noble and Learned Friend, the Bill of the Government had already been prepared under his direction.;, and it was now before the law officers of the Crown. The Government had not turned their attention to the comparative convenience or inconvenience of bringing the ; measure before their Lordships in the first instance. But for his part he should have had no objection to follow such a course. E CA RLISLE presented a petition from Carlisle, complaining of the distress of the town, and praying for the repeal of the Corn-laws. POOR- LAW COMMISSION. The Bishop of EXE I'ER said he was sorry to say that the petition which he had the honour to present to their Lordships was one of such length that he should not move that it be read to their Lordships. He should, how ever, attempt to give a brief abstract of it. The pet;- tioners having made most serious and grave charges against the Poor-law Commissioners for England and Wales, he (the Bishop of Exeter) had adopted that course, which he was sure their Lordships would have expected. He had taken care that the petition should go into the hands of the Commissioners, that they might examine the contents. He had done that, and he was satisfied to kno.v that their case in answer would be stated by a Noble Lord high in office, and higher still in talent and qualifications. It was a matter of satisfaction for him (the Bishop of Exeter) to think that public officers occu pying such a station as the Poor-law Commissioners, should be sure of being protected as they ought to be by the Government. When their couduct was called in question, it was the duty of Government to presume beforehand that they had acted right, and while he was sure that no Government would sustain them in acting wrong, he rejoiced to think that they would use every means to protect and defend the petitioners. Unless the allegations contained in the petitions were contradicted, there certainly was much that required investigation ; he, however, would abstain from making any comments, and would come at once to the facts. It happened that in January, 1810, two pau pers died in the workhouse of the Crediton Union, in Devon, under circumstances which excited great public feeling. Ru mours of the most sinister kind went forth against the cenduut of the guardians of the Union. These reports had been widely spread, had arrived at the ears of the guardians, and had been considered at a meetine• of the Board, and xere con sidered to have been answered. The voice of the public, how ever, was still heard, and an attorney of great practice and probity, felt it his duty to inquire into the facts, and he Wean by disbelief, but evidence came on him so thick, and with such force, as extorted from him some degree of cre dence. In April 1840 he addressed a letter to the Chairman to the Board of Guardians, Jami•s Wentworth Buller, Esq., a gentleman known to many of their Lordships as a most ho nourable, benevolent, and active friend to the poor. To him Mr. Tanner addressed a letter on the 13th of April, 1840, in the fallowing terms :—" A very serious report having been much circulated relative to the death of a pauper by the name of William Locke, who perished in a cold, damp shed, belong ing to Crediton workhouse, where he had been placed whilst labouring under severe illness, I have taken pains to lark into the matter, and I fear that the statement is true and can be substantiated." He then proceeded in his letter to request an open and impartial inquiry into the fae..s of the ease. This letter, written on the 13th of April, was submitted to the Board of Guardians on the 3d of May, when it was opened by the Vice-Chairman, and no notice was taken of it. As he couid not induce the guardians to pay any attention to h•s complaint, or to institute any inquiry, he determined to ap ply to the higher powers, and accordingly wrote to the Commi ssioners, enclosing the letter to the guardians, and expressing a hope that they would cause a searching inquiry to he instituted. This was on the fith, and on the 9th Mr. Tanner received a letter stating that his communication would receive the imme diate attention of tile Commissioners. On the 12th he again wrote to the Commissioners to say that he understood, from private information, that an investigation would take place in the workhouse on the 16th, and he requested to be permitted to attend there and bring forward the persons upon whose autho rity his statement was founded. On the 14th he received an answer to the effect that the Commissioners had received from the Assistant Commissioner deposit ions negativing his statements, so that the Commissioners would not feel justified in pursuing the investigation any further upon his general statements, but that if he should furnish them with any other specific facts, they should be inquired into. Now what did they mean by specific facts ? Had not Mr. Tanner communicated to them specific facts in the letter which their Lordships had just heard, that people had died from cold, and hunger, and neglect ? —(Hear, hear.) They were informed that this gen tleman could bring forward witne sea to establish all the cases which he alleged, and several others. But without giving him the opportunity of substantiating his charges, with out communicating with the relations of the deceased, Locke ; they allowed a secret inquiry to take place in the workhouse, and they rested satisfied with such a partial investigation. Mr. Tanner again wrote to them. the otter was dated May 20th, and stated that having received the Commissioners' letter, he was of opinion that a further investigation of the subject was necessary, and he feared, the depositions being on one side, would not be considered satisfactory, or tend to allay the feelings which the report excited previously to his first addressing them. He (Mr. Tanner) further stated that not a single witness was examined by the Assistant Commissioner, and asked how it could be known whether such statements could or could not he substantiated, or how they could decide that the depositions taken could not be satisfactory ; and he sincerely hoped that the evidence would disprove the statement of Locke and his wife. That was the letter of Mr. Tanner, and that was the state of things up to the 20th of May. The next stage in the proceedings was somewhat more startling. It appeared that Mr. Tanner, in consequence of no notice having been taken of his complaint, informed the proprietor of a newspaper in Exeter, and who was one of the most respectable in'sabitants there, having been distinguished among his fellow-citizens al a perion recommended by the Commissioners, who disagreed with him in politics, to the Secretary of State to di:- charge the office of a Magistrate. That geutlem-in's name was Mr. Woo'.mer ; and he having considered the case, gave it insertion in his paper. He the ( Bishop of Exeter) read the article, and it detailed most grievous facts, and it sta'cil that. 11:: was prepared to insert any contradictions if they were offered, and it also stated that he was willing to believe the fact could not be true, and yet for that article legal proceedings of a very grievous an I serious nature uere taken against him. Mr. Tanner said that those legal proceedings were instituted at the instigation of the Assistant Commissioner, and that was important in can sidering his conduct. Ile for one should not criticise the conduct of private individuals in seeking to protect them selves from alleged misrepresentations, but when it was sought to bring the vengeance of the law on individuals who calmly, but strongly brought the fact before the public, it was hard they should promote vindictive proceedings; and when the Poor-law Commissioners were invested by the Legislature with powers that were oppressive, and whose proceedings it was necessary for the good of the country should be anxiously watched. In consequence of this, proceedings were taken in the Court of Queen's Bench against Mr. Woolmer, for having inserted that article in his newspaper. The Earl of RADNOR—Who was the prosecutor? The Bishop of EXETER—The guardians ; but Mr. Tanner the petitioner, stated that he was informed and believed that it was the guradians, at the instigation of the Assistant- Com misioner. They would recollect that he (the Bishop of Exeter) was only quoting the averment of the petition. When this case came before the Court of Queen's Bench, the de fendant prepared several affidavits to show—he had prepared upwards of twenty affidavits—to show the truth of the alleged statement, and that the facts which had been alleged had hap pened. But the attorney who had prepared the prosecution made some unfortunate blunder. He said unfortunate, because he believed that great mischief was the effect of He be lieved that if the case had been gone into then, their Lord ships would not have been troubled with the subject. An un • p in lo is y t e a i k l e i , n n g d e t i t h in e g o up nn n s etlhe for prosecution. s a i T d h e i r t e w w a a s fortunate bl un d er was comm i tte d by the parties who were em 16th inthosif rule obeing d th 6 a in t is t s h e e eas d.T e h c is ou w l a d s go o on, an n the 'a perfectlylegal impossible t June,ed u p a o n n d t h i n e the course of that month be believed a mfurther commu nication took place on the part of Tanner with the Commissioners in Lond on ; and % also of Mr. Woolm er on t h e 2d of July. mr.w oe i the part that course which h e wou ld say was a eomer took of the earin t s gof that gentleman's views. He r d i k l ing p roo f a t addressed the Commissioners in this way, an d t h e i r Lordships w leet this was a gentleman sm ar ti ng under the r ociou en d t Fecol tion of a very gross prosecution a ga i nst him in theCo l u nil rt ic of Queen's Bench. This letter was dated July 6, 1840. (The Right Rev. Prelate then read the letter, which stated the writer's readiness to put the parties in possession of every in formation, and enclosing the briefs delivered to counsel to gether with the affidavits.) He begged to call the attention of the House to the following paragraph :—" Of caurse it must be understood that I forward the brief to you merely as a loan, without prejudice to myself, my partner, or any other person. I beg to implore you, for the sake of justice to the parties con cerned, to cause a fair and public investigation to he made." This was answered on the 7th of July by I a statement that the letter had been received, and that t h e sub- I ject should be attended to by the Commissioners. What fur ther communications took place he did not know, until the sth of August, and on that day Mr. Gilbert addressed a letter to Mr. Tanner, stating that he . should sit in the Board-roo m of the Crediton Union on the 14th of August to hear evidence." " Solicitors or copnsel will be allowed to attend to watch the proceedings, and to suggest sue th questions as they thought proper on the subject matter of the inquiry." Now nothing appeared to be fairer than that. This _gentleman chose to attend as his own advocate ; and, on the 14th, immediately after Mr. Gilbert had determined to summon Mr. Tanner, who was thus made a complainant and who was to a d voca t e the case in person, im mediately be fore this inquiry Mr. Gilbert summoned this gen tleman as a witness. Mr. Tanner was there, of course, and_ lie was required to submit to an examination that lasted the whole day, soda great part of the day folowing ; and because lie made an affidavit for Mr. Wo Amer in the Queen's Bench, he Was made a witness, and his mouth was shut. Such conduct was most unaccountable. He hoped the Noble Lord would be able to • pre soma sort nf answer. He did not say the Noble Lord would be unable to do but their Lord- Tanner so, hips must admit that some sort of a nsw er required. Mr. Tanner had made his affidavit soielforth w e as of show ing that Mr. W I - c`o-mer, introlueing the p a u rtiele se alluded to into his newspaper had beer, billuenced by no hostile feeling, THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 25, 1842 but that he had done so upon th e representat i on of Mr. Tan ner, who knew nothing of the circumstances of the case from his own knowledge, but, having heard of the circumstances, he had been induced to investigate the case, aed h a d communi cated the result of that investigation to Mr. Wo diner. Mr. Tan ner had been subjected to a most rigid examination and cross examination. On the second day it had been arranged that on meeting again an advocate should appear IT Mr. Tanner. The inquiry was then adjourned, and on the 26th of August. Mr. Tanner received an intimation from Mr. Gilbert that the inquiry would be resumed on the 27th. Mr. Tanner was asto nished at receiving such an i n ti mat i on, b ecause i t had been l e f t doubtful if the inquiry would be resumed ; and he complained, and justly, that he had not had longer notice given to him; at the same time he handed in a list of witnesses to be exa mined, requesting that they might be called in the order in which their names stood on the list. On the day of the meet isle Mr. Tanner was surprised to find that Mr. Gilbert was assisted by ano.her Learned Gentleman, Mr. Parker, also an Assistant Poor-law Commissioner. In consequence of the understanding which had been previously corns to with Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Furlong, a respectable attorney of Exeter, attended as the advocate of Mr. Tanner. When Mr. Furlong attempted to act as Mr. Tanner's advocate, he was interrupted by Mr. Parker, who said, " We want no advocates here;" and he refused to let that gentleman a c t. Thi s course was con sidered very extraordinary, and excited the indignation of the Chairman of the Beard of Guardians, Mr. Buller, and a gentle man of equal worth and respectability with Mr. Buller, though his name was not so well known—Nß-. Sillifant, the Deputy Chairman of the Board. They both expressed their strong indignation at the coarse pursued. They told Mr. Tanner that he ought to be heard by his advocate. But the matter did not end there. When they saw that justice was refused, though the complaint was made again s t th e b oar d o f guar di ans, an d the course of the Commissioners seemed to be in their favour, yet they would not accept it, but resigned their posts as Chair man and Deputy Chairman of the board. They considered that justice was yisulted, when a person coming to coreplain, even though against themselves, was not permitted to take the course that was always adopted. He did not mean that they actuelly said this, but this was what they virtually said by their aet of resignation. Two days before this the board of guardians met and resolved, that the made of conducting the inquiry was wholly unusual; that public justice would not be satis fied with it, nor would the Board be able to maintain the con fi fence and respect of the public. The guardians, therefore, approved of the step taken by the Chairman and Vice-Chair man, and also resigned their seats. A long letter was then sent down by the Poor-law Commissioners, defending the mode of the inquiry, which was conlueted in a private room, theugh he should state that the reporters of the Exeter newspapers were admitted. But neither the complainant, nor any person on his behalf, were allowed to appear ; no person to examine evidence, or direct how it should be taken, or any one ac quainted with the circumstances. In consequence of this a second resolution was passed, stating that the withdrawal of the Assistant Commissioners from the public room was not rendered necessary by the conduct of the persons p. esent, and that the only interruption arose from the refusal of the Assistant Com missioners to pursue the course of inquiry they had themselves laid down at the commencement of the proceedings. The mas ter and surgeon of the workhouse were present, so were Mr. Parker and Mr. Gilbert. The witnesses were examined and cross examined, as it was stated, in a most vexatious manner. At any rate Noble Lords would see that the parties against whom the complaints were made had the advantage of cross-examining all the witnesses brought forward. and on the other hand there was no power given to the com plainants to re-examine them. Nor was that all, the Court itself did not know what they were examining about ; the Corn.nis sioners knew nothing of what the principal witnesses brought be fore them were brought to prove ; they heard something of what they had to say, but that was a very small portion of the charges. When the witnesses were proceeding to relate the facts in their own way, they were told that they should answer certain questions put to them and those only. There was no doubt that the parties who instituted the complaint were treated most harshly and unjustly, at the same time he (the Right Rev. Prelate) should say be believed there was no intention to ins peach the character of Mr. Gilbert or Mr. Parker—he believed they were gentlemen of high respectability and irreproach. able character ; at the same time, whether they meant to do so or not, they acted most unfairly and harshly to wards those parties. But he must say even that was not all. The course which they pursued was, as he would show, an outrageous violation of decency and fairness. The brief sub mitted by Mr. Woolmer to his Counsel, for his defence in the Q teen's Bench, was obtained from his attorney, and the confi dential notes in the margin were communicated to the persons accused, contrary to the express agreement with the attorney, and notwithstanding Mr. Tanner's repeated protest. It was net surprising the inquiry terminated in the acquittal of the accused. He would show their Lordships upon what es-id-nee they were acquitted.—(Hear, hear.) One of the physicians stated that the room: was remarkably small, and contained a small stove, which was no', in his opi nion, sufficient to warns the room. The temperature ought to have been nom 65 to 70. Another physician was called, who stated that the room was warmed not' by a common fire-place, but by a plate. He tin 'tight that Otte would produ ce an in jurious heat ; th ere was an o ff ens i v e smell in the room. Mr. Tucker said that the mem was calculated for persons in good health, but this opinion was expressed in August or September. Ile further stated it was only fit for one or two people He further thought that the ventilation was unsuited to an incle ment season. He thought it was totally unsuited for persons suffering under decease. Another surgeon was called, who cor roborated this testimony. 'I heir Lordships must recollect that this room was occupied by two persons in this state for several days. In September last two eminent medical men were called in on the part of the guardians to depose to the fit- Tit , SS of the room. One was Mr. Barnes, an cm'nent surgeon This gentlemen sail there was no offensive smell when he was there, bet that the room was cheerless—and cheerless was tie best name that could be given it. It was kept sufficiently warm, and was well qualified fir the purposes to which it was applied—namely, an idiot ward. That it was very well adapted for such persons in a state of health, but it was not at all suited for sick persons, because if sick persons were allowed to remain in it, it would become close and un wholesome. That was the testimony of tho person. called in to prove the fitness of the place. Another physician, Dr. Miller, gave a more favourable opinion ; fur he said he did not consider the rooms too small, and that the mode of heating them was not had. The house-surg on gave a more favour able opinion than either; but as he was not known in th e county, his testim o ny was no t so valuable or so much to be relied on. The inquiry was very protracted, and lasted for 14 or 15 days, and when they came to a close many individual, were not ex mined ; and he thought it very surprising_ that 23 wit nesses were not examined at the investigation. He also thought it matter of surprise that more witnesses were examined fir the defence than for the complaint, as was stated in the petition. On the 17th of October the Commissioners ma le a report, in %! . 11i , :h they ann , uneed their decision, and gave an entire acquittal to all the parties concerned. They stated that they had examined the evidence of the inquiry at Cre diton, and they considered the treat men t o f t h e deceased pa tients could not be complained of, hut that, on the contrary, the care taken of th in was highly creditable; and that the master performed his difficult task of taking care of the pa tients with great satisfaction. The Commissioners concluded their Report by stating that they would, if the guardians wished, give the fullest publicity to the documents in the case. The answer to that letter was that the Board felt that it would be desirable that the utmost public ty should be given to the deteiled statements made by the Poor--law Commis sioners. Subsequently a letter hal been received from Mr. Chadwick, stating that they had no objection to have the whole correspondence published. After all that he had said, and in which there was a good deal that w as surpr i s i ng, t h e i r L ordships would no doubt be astonishes' at what he was now about to bring before them. Though the Commissioners sent these demi rsGuardians, and though they had e x p resse d a ehopen t sto the be made publ e, y e t s till w h en t th t a h t e the boards documents of they came to the Board, it. was at the express desire of the Board of Commissioners in London, returned te them, and no copy was permitted to be taken. Whil e h e fully acquitted the Com missioners of any intention to do injustice or behave with cruelty, yet he thought that in their conduct there was that which showed they were un fit to be t rus t e d w i t h t h at extent o f power which their Lordships an I the other House of Parlia ment had given them- He was not surprised at the prayer with which this gentleman conchided ; he prayed them to take the subject into their grave coasideration, or that. they would select such portions of the case as they might deem requisite fir inquiry ; or if they did not thick fit to make and inquiry, then that, unless these facts were answered, their Lordships would not concur in any Act of Parliament which should con tinue uncontrolled the unprecedeated power of the Poor-law Coniniissioners. He moved that the petition be laid on the I Lord WH A RNCLIFFE was sure their Lordships would give the Government credit for not wishing; to defend any case unless they thought it was a realty defensible case, and that the case attempted to be made out against them had failed. In almost all these cases there were some parties more or less worthy of blame, and he was far frora saying that in th e present caoe he did not see things which ought not to have occurred, and as he proceeded he should not Spare those whom he thought worthy of censure. The Poor-law Com missioners were called upon to perform a most arduous and a most disagreeabl e duty, and it behoved their Lordships to be cautious how they threw on gentlemen so situated a degree of blame which they did not deserve. In all cases of this nature the first thing to be considered was the circumstances under which the accusation had been made, and secondly, the con duct of those whobrought . forward th e accusa ti on . Th ey ought to come into Court with clean hands ; there should be no evidence of anything like a contrivance, or of any thing like an attempt to get up a case; no cir cumstances to show that the case had been got up by the accuser for the mere purpose of making himself notorious, and of advancing himself in his profession. NoW, it did appear to him, on looking at the history of this case, that the great ob ject of Mr. Tanner throughout the case had been to acquire notoriety for himself, and probably to derive from it the means of assisting himself in his profession. In the first place, the transaction itself, of whatever cha'acter it might be, occurred two years ago, and two inquiries hail taken place, which ended in August or September, 1840, yet this was the first time anything had been said about it in either House of Parliament. The House of Commons was open to Mr. 'fanner, and there were Noble Lords who would have brought the case for him before this House. But he never availed himself of these opportunities until now, when he saw that a new Poor-law Bill was about to be enacted. However, it could riot be denied that it might be very reasonable for him to take these means of showing the House they ought to be cautious in giving such powers to any Commissioners again. But, at all events, he had slept on this ease since 1840. The first inquiry took place on the 30th of April in that year. On the 2d of May, Mr. Tanner wrote to the Chairman. It hap pened that he was not at the Board on that day, arid it was not surprisin g that the guardians did not think it right to take any notice of the letter until he s hould be present. It might, per • haps, have been better if they had a cknowledged the receipt of the letter. But, at all events, Mr . Tanner knew that the Chairman to whom his letter was addressed was not present, and he m i g h t reasonably expect an an swer after th e next meet rn- ing• de wrote thi s l e tt er era t he 2d, and on the. bth h e wrote to the Commissioners. Now, h e did not get an answer from '4f them unt il the th. But, upon th e Bth, the l etter which ap p-ared o n the 9th' in the Exeter paper must have b een co an implicat e d t o t h e e di tor. T hat v.-as the letter u p on w h ich the crimin a l i n ' ormat ion was l a id, and there was little doubt th a t i t was written by Mr. Tan ner hi mself. In th e l etter addressed to the C om missioners, thi s gentleman did not s t a t e one, even one, mate-ill fact with refe rence to the case. It w as true, he said those po or men di ed , but he nev er stated wh a t they were, or how they d ied. On e of them wa,, i n point o f f act, an idiot, and the other was a p oor man, subjectro epilepti c fi ts, He said the ow they were kept in was improper place : the medical p e rsons connected with the in stitution said that these poor men were kept in a ward which wa ppropriated to l una tics. as N ew h e ( L ord Whar ncliffe) thought that suc h con d uct on she part of this gentleman wy. nfla a, matory in the extreme. Th e newspaper represented the place in which these paupers were kept as a filthy place, with out windows, and that it was unfit to be inhabited. On look. kg at the evidence of the m edical gentleman there was no such thing stated ; on the contrary, the medical men said that the place was well ventilated and warm. Now, suppose this were stated to the Commissioners, and that they, on sendin g down th e i r Assistant-Commissioner, f ound that the place was quite differe n t f rom what it was repres en t e d to be, it would not be necessary to seject the parties to an inquiry into the matter. It was, however, ascertained, that instead of the place being f il t h y and empty, there was straw for bedding, and ample means for ventilation. In fact the de scription of the place was totally different from that which was given in the newsp a p ers , The Poor-law Guardians were not MADEMOISELLE DEJAZET AND THE NOVEL OF FascirsaTtort."—A peculiar interest attaches to the novel of Fascination," which has just appeared, edited by Mrs. Gore_ A clever dramatic piece founded on the story, has been selects I for the debut of the celebrated Mademoiselle Dejaset at the Fr, ench Play : in order to appreciate which, it will be necessary for al 1 the frequenters of that fashionable entertainment to peruse the mei! .nce, a work of the most original and piquant nature. satisfied with Mr. Gilbert, and they were determined to insti tute a criminal prosecution against the newspapers for a libel. Accerclinglv, they moved for a rule in the Court of Queen's Bench. They obtained liberty to file a criminal leteenation, fhey did so, and the Editor employed.Jr.l fanner to defend it. They came into the Court ,if Queen's Bench, and the very first thing done was to take a technical objection, which upset t'ae whole proceedings. Mr. Tanner had, of course, instructed his counsel to raise that objection, and the result was it pre vented that publi c i nqu i ry which he affected to desire. Mr. Tanner must have given directions in this case, because no counsel would have acted without it. It. appeared that Mr. Wooliner consented to deliver up to the Commissioners his briefs, as stated by the Rev. Prelate. These briefs were accom panied by the affidavit which Mr. Tanner had prepared for showing cause against the rule in the Queen's Bench. The moment they received the briefs and affidavits they felt it their duty to make further inquiry into the matter, and again sent down their Assistant Commissioner to make that inquiry. They were now arrived at the case—the question of these in quiries. A great deal had been said upon this subject, and with perfect truth, that these inquiries, from the nature of the thing, could not be impartial. However that might be, the Act of Parliament gave power to the Commissioners to make inquiries an I swear witnesses, and he apprehended that it was sufficient if the. Commissioners believed that an offence had been committed, and they had thesanction of the Govern ment that it would be their duty to institute a prosecution. But the inquiry the Commissioners had to make was an inquiry for a special purpose, of obtaining information, and not for the purpose of convicting individuals of crime. Now, it was very true it would be much better if those inquiries could be con ducted before a jury, as it would be the more satisfactory. He hoped that when the Bill came before that House some means might be devised that would give the Commissioners power to have a real, substantial, and impar tial inquiry whenever it was called for. But, as had been said by the Right Rev. Prelate, it was improper in Mr. Gil bert in calling upon Mr. Tanner to give evidence upon the ground of• his having introduced certain affidavits in the Court of Queen's Bench. If Mr. Tanner had wished to conduct the case, and produce witnesses for examination, it would have been proper for him to have said they had prevented him, by making him a witness, and he would have had just cause of complaint against the Commissioners. _ It had been deter mined that counsel and attorney should ha admitted on both sides, and that the investigation should be conducted in such a manner as to he satisfactory to the public. Now two statements had been made with respect to that investigation. Mr. Tanner first said that his advocate would not be permitted to speak, whilst the Commissioners represented Mr. Tanner to have used very strong expressions. There was no place where a man was called upon to show more patience, and absence of any ebulition of temper, than when sitting upon the bench of Justice. Now he held that the language used had been rash, to use the mildest expression. The Guardians, like honest men, who were conscious of their innocence, wished to have a fair investigation, in order that any imputations which could be cast upon them might be removed. In his opinion, and contrary to the opit ion of the Commis sioners, he was free to confess that the expression of opinion on the part of the guardians ought to have induced the Assistant- Commissioners to revise their opinion, and satisfy the public by continuing the inquiry, no matter what abuse they received from Mr. Tanner. The Right Rev. Prelate had stated a part, and only a part, of the evidence of the medical persons. And in the first place, the averment in the paper that the persons died of want of proper treatment, was not true. It was said the place was not warm, but the medical evidence proved that there was a means of warming it, and it was clear that it could be made sufficiently warm. They spoke of the impurity of the place and the smell, but it was not surprising that wren the T'r'ends of the patients went to see them they found the air im. pure, and a not ‘ery agreeable smell. He had no doubt at the time the air was impure, but the evidence showed tbat the per sons were not ill, and the air was not impure. They spoke of the non-pavement; of the ceiling, and cold, but the evidence showed that the place was such as was esed for persons in their state, and in point of fact pains were taken to make it so. He con fessed from the manner in which Mr. 'fanner spoke in his pe tiion he was induced not to attach much credit to it. The' Right Rev. Prelate had stated that they promised to publish this, and that after all they would not allow it. Now, that struck him at the moment as a. most curious circumstance, and since the Right Reverend Prelate had made the statement he had inquired into the subject, and found that the Commissioners wished it to he published, and that for that purpose they sent it to the guardians but they refused to publish it. Another point which was stated in the petition, but which the Right Rev. Prelate did lilt refer to, was an assertion that the witnesses for the charge and against it were paid in different ratios. Now that was not the fact—all that had been done was to adopt the course that was constantly pursued in Courts of Justice ; the witnesses were paid according to their station in life. Now such an ac cusation as that was calculated to taint the petition, and his firm belief was that the petition was got up by Mr. Tanner, while he stated that he felt bound to admit that there were several things done by the Commissioners which he could not sanction. Lord CAMBPELL did not intend to go into the merits of the question. His intention in rising was to give their Lord ships some information which might be useful to the forming an opinion as to one part of the case. In his petition, Mr. Tan • nor stated that he had had no opportunity of bringing the case forward in the Court of Queen's Bench. Now he (Lord Camp bell) could assure their Lordships that Ifr. Tanner had had ample opportunities of bringing the case under the cogniz ance of the Court of Queen's Bench. The petition stated that the prosecutors had either intentionally, or unintentionally, made a flaw in the proceedings, thereby clearly intimating that the flaw had been purposely introduced by the prosecutor, for the purpose of preventin g investigation. Now he (Lord Campbell) could assure th e i r Lordships, that there was not the slightest foundation for such an insinuation. The rule had been moved for in a regular manner. All the materials neces sary were furnished to the Court by the prosecutor. The affidavit on which the rule had been moved, was filed, and the newspaper containing the alleged libel, wis attached to it; but it so happen that in drawing up the rule, the officer of the Court had omitted the words, "On the reading of this affidavit and of the newspaper annexed thereto." The counsel for the defence, acted under the instructions of Mr. Tanner. They were honourable men, and he was sure they would never have taken the objection if Mr. Tanner had urged them to abstain from doing so ; and he also felt assured that if those gentleman had placed any great reliance on their affidavits, they would have advised Mr. Tanner not to take the objection, but to let the case go before the Court upon its merits, so as to have the rule discharged with costs. That objection had been taken volun tarily on the part of the defendant, and he (Lord Campbell) was su .e it would not have been taken without his instructions. The Court had felt bound to yield to the objection, and it had only been owing to the defendant's own objection, that the merits of the rule had not been gone into. Therefore it was improper for Mr. Tanner to say that he had had no opportunity of bringing the merits of the q u e s ti on tin der the consideratio n o f th Court of Queen's Bench. He (Lord Campbell) regretted exceedingly that the affidavits on both sides had net been placed before the Court, who would have decided the case upon its merits. _ The Bishop of EXE f ER, in reply, said that the merits or demeri's of Mr. Tanner had nothing to do with the question, .. and contended that the P oor -l aw ':ominissioners had shown themselves unfit to be trusted with the powers confided to them. The Noble Lord had asked why, a, the subject-matter of the petition had occurred two years ago, the case had not been brought forward before. He explained that it was because the petitioner wished to present it when the measure for renewing the power of the Poor-law Commissioners came before Parlia ment. He believed also, that Mr. Tanner was a man of honou's and above bringing forward the case from any unworthy motive. The Right Hon. Baronet, the First Lord of the Treasury, said last year, in reference, to this subject, that it was the duty of the Commissioners to stand between the poor and the Guar dians.—( Hear, from Lord Wharncliffe.) Then it was their duty in this case to have examined and inquired before they gave their judgment ; and if their Lordships desired, he (the Bishop of Exeter) would be prepared to prove, at the bar of the House, the truth of Mr. Tanner's statement. But in consequence of the contradictory character of the evidence be fore the Assistant Commissioner, he had not read any part of it but that of the medical men ; nor had he read soma very strong harts of it. The Commissioners were satisfied wi h the apart ment 3 for the sick. Now experiments were made, from which it appeared, by the testimony of the medical officers, that whilst the thermometer was 78 Fahrenheit, in a room in Exeter where there was no fire, it rose only to 74 in the sick room of the workhouse, although th fire in the stove was kept up so high that the bars were red-hot. lie (the Right Rev. Prelate) said the Poor-law Commissioners were guilty of the grossest disingenuousness—the charge against Mr. Tanner sunk into nothing when compared with the conduct of the Com missioners. The only reason why he was anxious to refer to the evidence of the witnesses was merely so far as hi 3 (Mr. Tanner's) honour was entrus'ed to the Right Rev. Prelate in bringing forward the petition before the House, and the more ingenuity, the more praiseworthy ingenuity the Noble Baron had shown in endeavouring to exhonerate those officers front the charges brought aeainst them, the plainer it was brought to his (the Right Rey. Prelate's) mind, that no real answer had been given, and no real answer could be given, to the complaints made in the petition. The Bishop of EXETER shortly afterwards rose again and said, if the Noble Baron (Lord Wharncliffe) wished to see any of the documents, they should be laid on the table of the House. Lord WH A RNCLIFFE sa id h e di d not want to see any do: cuments ; he was perfectly satisfied to leave the matter where it was. The Bishop of EXETER thought what he had done was trite enough, and he would therefore beg leave to lay the peti tion on the table of the House. The petition was then laid on the table, and the Hoe ad journed at Eight o'Clock. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S—YESTERDAY. The betting did not commence in earnest until four o'clock, and even then was not remarkable either for its biiskne,s or foe its effects on the prices. We may observe, however, that 11 and 12 to 1 were hid outright against Chatham, 10 to tin conjunction with other horses, and that the feeling towards him was far from favourable. Wiseacre was also in the shade, ' 30 and 33 to 1 having been betted three or four times, followed by offers to go on. Palinurus was in high favour, at 1,000 to 15, taken two or three dozen times, but slid not advance. The Dirce colt, Mr. Batson's Acacia colt, and Mr. Forth's lot were supported with some show of spirit, and may be looked upon as rising favotrites. We have no other changes to record. DERBY. 3 to 1 agst Scott's lot 28 to I agst Mr. Forth's lot—taken 7 to 1 agst Col, Ansen's Attila 11 to 1 agst Colonel Peel's Chatham 30 to 1 agst Mr. Dixon's Ballinkeele—taken 30 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Dirce colt 33 to 1 agst Mr. Wreford's Wiseacre 40 to 1 agst Lord Westminster's Auckland—tk, and aft off 45 to I agst Mr. Greenwood's Lasso —taken 50 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Joanna c.—tk, and aft off 50 to 1 agst Mr Pettit's Espartero —taken, and aft offd 50 to 1 apt Mr. Dixon's Policy—take 1000 to 15 1000 to 15 agst Sir R. Goodricke s Palinurus—taken 1000 to 15 agst Mr. G. Clarke's Witham Le Gros—taken 1000 to 15 agst Mr. Batson's Acacia colt—taken 1039 to 100 agst Chatham and Artful Dodger—taken. 10 to 1 agst Chatham and Barrier —taken 10 to 1 agst Chatham aid Defier —taken OAKS. 8 to 1 agst Mr. Etvrall'a Pas!ion 15 to I agst Lord .Jersey's Adela filly—taken CHESTER CUP. 14 to 1 agst M r . Plummer's Alice Hawthorn—tak e n 20 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Rhodanthe 30 to 1 agst Mr. Payne's Johnny—taken 30 to 1 agst Col. Cranford's Diselo•ure—taken 35 to 1 agst Mr. Greville's Rory O'More—taken COURSING. BARTON-UPON-HUMBER, FEB. 15, 16, 17, AND 18. —The Great . St. Leger Stakes were woo by Mr. Hutchinson's Grasper, the Cup by Mr. Hutchinson's Violet, the Dci by by- Mr. W. Richardson's The Doctor, the Oaks by Mr. Brarkill's Magic, the Aucholine Stakes by Mr. Richardson's Roller, and the Ninterton by Mr. Foster's Classic. FRENCH PLAYS, ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. EVENING, FEB. 23. The Performances will commence at half-past Seven with LES DEUX FRERES. After winch, L'HOMME SOIX ANTE ANS.—Le Chevalier de St. Julien. M. Perlet. To conclude with LE BENEFICIARE.—Le Beneficiaire, Mons. I'erlet. Private Boxes and Stalls at Mr. Mitchell's Library, 33, Old Bond street;Mr. Seguin's, 12 Regent.streei ; Mr. Sams's, St. James's_ street ; and at the Box-othee uf the Theatre, hich is open dai( from Eleven till Five. Admission to the Boxes, 6s. ; Pit, 3s. ad ; Gallery StaUs, 3s. ; Gallvry, 2s. 13: , .N, proved to us, by their acquiescence in Mr. FERRAND'S rinark, .that they were willing to tolerate anY which could for the mome: t hide item from themselves, supposing, probably, there" :)y, that they should be equally hidden from the public. But Mr. COBDEN'S remarks will be read as they were heard, and we can with all sincerity assert, though the impression which he made on the landlords was pro' bably immediately .effaced by the misplaced buffoonery on such a subject which followed it, it wilt not speedily • Oe effaced from the public mind. - The public will probably conclude that the confusion created was the proper element for perpetrating n gr eo wrong. It will serve for an excuse. Mr. ViLLign i very appropriately, therefore. placed the division 0n• Mr. FERRAND'S speech, and as appropriately and. justly asserted, from the support it had received, that.: the majority of those who opposed his motion .4° 4 .. the sentiments so unfavourable to our mercantile ebn' meter which Mr. FERRAND had pronounced. More than a majority of the whole House have now declared for: the maintenance of the law which deprives -the labouring. cluis?.s of abundanCe of food, on no better groUnd rently-than that the manufacturers treat them ill, an that the landowners are in debt. For their sins, th e Legislature inflicts the punishment of starvation on th e . labouring classes, who thus, like slaves of the olden times, are immolated for the vices of their masters. • if The Shareholders of the Edinburgh and Glasg ° Railway have acquitted themselves like men. 5° . .„, 111e . months ago the Directors resolved that it was exr, dient to run Sunday trains, morning a nd evening, referred their final decision to a meeting of the Sha re ' holders, which . was appointed. to. be held on TitestitT the 22d instant. In the meantime the Scribes and r ll ° P ; sees were not idle, and the mode in whi c h they a ttempt e " to defeat the rational, and in fact the necessary, c (4l ',, s : proposed, was in keeping with the ch arac t e r which t" race acquired at' the very commencement of Ch ris : tianity. Deceit, falsehood, p ersecut i on , a nd , 1°13 .7, prayers, were the weapons they employed to carry W I : selfish purposes into effect. Scarcely one petition w9i presented which did not abound in fl)rgeries. these petitions were all written in the same hand. fie-; rants, children, nay paupers, were practised -upon. P e a the Commissioners of the General Assembly at this Nt holesaie system of forgery, and apP9" l o c one of th it numb?r, the Reverend DAVID EicAs: a Doctor of Divinity, to appear as their represent:it/0i and enforce the earnest cry and prayer of the PoP le : s "We have lifted up," said he, "our he°' in prayer privately, and called upon our congrega ti ;", 1 s tl6 in supplications publicly, that GOD W01.11(' I ni l it into the hearts 'or our countrymen to abstain 1.1 " ) 1 , 1 what would bring the judgments of Gov 1. our beloved country." What right has , tl / 4 i; worm of the earth to divine the ' i; uf the ALMIGIITY, and declare that our W er n e y. ul CREATOR will bring judgmen ts on - . li t :2 , people for performing works of necessity and lu e 4 re :a ? Does he wish to see his horrible predictions Ireni l `` to l Would it be a consolation to him to learn,,as he 10 0°13 ; he the pulpit in the West Church next Sunday, th at ;,4i train had run off the line, and that twenty human brf had fallen victims ? We cannot think so i ° l o a Minister of Peace ; but what then d°e s if mean by the judgments of Gop ? And eve° i t such an awful calamity were to occur, what W Oul fe ll prove-7 Were those on whom the Tower of Siiooo sinners above all others ? He knows the a ns '. e o Sir ANDREW AGNEW `vas present on the oc ca l i j but he said nothing about judgments, or the comre, to keep the Sabbath holy. No. He threatened the ' l '%,; holders with an action for controverting the statutes of the realm by running trains on St l , Did the ancient Scottish legislators then . P 7 -71 the second sight, and make laws ag° ins ;;lj. mode of travelling whi c h h as b een di eco veted , within a few years ? But it is in vain to reaso n- w itb such knaves and madmen. The only way to dea t° l th iit them is by deeds; and this the Shareholders, too • great honour, have done with goad effect, for they t he rejected the prayer of these fictitious petitions by enormous majority of 571 votes and 4,113 shares. COURT CIRCULAR. o'4 ..., ut e Batourom, THURSDAY.—This morning, at twenty nu" ,ed " Ps eight o'clock, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, accoro d Duke Ferdinard of Saxe.Coburg, the Princes Augustus an pold of Saxe-Coburg, left the Palace for Bursted Park, Su sse , e ;o ol seat of the Earl of Liverpool (Lord Steward), with theiu` of returning again this evening to the Palace to dinner. the His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was taken ou t Pavilion Grounds this morning for an airing. 00 0 The Princess Royal was taken for a carriage airing this in at one o'clock. o'6l The Earl of Liverpool left the Palace this morning f for o'clock, for the purpose of ma ki ng the necessary prePars.fill her Majesty and Prince Albert. t e P ° ; :, The Royal carriage was ord ere d at twelve o ' c l oc k, for -11 t pose of taking her Majesty to the Earl of Liverpool's sea r 'wjegi consequence of the unsettled state of the weather, be t countermanded the order. ors the Mr. Hayter has taken a portrait of his Royal Hig bn Prince of Wales for his picture of the Royal Christening' P 4e Yesterday was the birthday of his Royal Highness e „ A O . ' of Cambridge. His Royal Highness received a visit of Ono of lotion from her Royal Highness the Duchess of Glouccsier4er a s Royal Highness paid visits to her Majesty the Queen D e Marlborough House, and to the Duke of Sussex at g cn ` g l Palace. Many of the Foreign Ministers, ittelu din 'vei r 7 Bavarian Minister and the Baroness de Cetto, Monsicumrioistcri the Netherlands Minister ; Count Potion, the Sardinia,. ' i s , f ; Baron de Moncorvo, the Portuguese Minister; Baron d e :vet the Russian Minister; Count Kielmaniagge, the I i° , 11 00 0 0 e " Minister ; the Grecian Minister and Madame Tricoupi ; le - „,en, deur Marques de Lisboa, Brazilian Minister ; Chevalier / 3° " - gsm Prussian Minister ; Baron Gersdoff; the Saxon Minister; sfig! Koller, Austrian Charge d'Affaires ; and Baron Rehou se : l' o l° j dish Charge d'Affaires, called during the day ~3 , 1 0 1 i, bridge House, to make their inquiries after t"1" Duke, and to leave their names for his B c ' x ,d ne ° : s l ness. The Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Norfolk, 31 '. IV; all the Nobility in town also left their names for h is A Highness at Cambridge House. In the evening his Royal Highness's tradesmen in stv their hous:".s. e ° "2. Prince George of Cambridge visited her Majesty r -h • Dowager at MarlborJugh House. Ireland. 0 : l o,tl. A Deputation of the Millers of . r;ngland and of Mr. Watney, Mr. Kidd, .Mr. CrosEeld, Mr. White. ""; °%, too, Mr. Stanborough, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Mercer, Mr. Sil t : n . 41c pe Mr. A Illiams, on behalf of the English Millers ; and Ain If ° I, , ; A t ander, Mr. Malcomson, Mr. Russell, and Mr Davis, on be ; t 3 0 0,10 Irish Millers, had an interview with the Earl of Ripon do theoffice of the Board of Trade, on the subject of the r° l4 `;„,g X . ,e 1 on wheat and flour. They were accompanied by the folleur''coloir, hers of Parliament and Gentlemen :—Mr. G. Bymg. lMI 14 „0 Wood, M.P., Lord Sarlon, M.P., Sir Howard Do u vi Mr. Keinbie, M.P., Mr. Antrobus, M p Colon In• 00 M.P., Colonel Conolly, M.P. , W. johob e :' WO 0 , Mr. Morris Reade, M.P., Captain Taylor, M.P., ,: g „ r ior Patten, M.P., Mr. Fitzstephen French, M.P, the 0 1 1, 10 0 1 P ? 0, M.P., Mr. Ffolliott, M.P., Sir Charles Coote, M.P.. 311. ,; fr , M.P., Mr Blackburn, M.P., Mr. C. J. Round, M.P. , , / ,' 1 , 0 0. 0 ,,i0 M.P., Mr. Branston, M.P., Mr. R. Gore, M.P., Si r or. f l s ic' monde, M.P., Hon. Colonel Dawson Darner, MY. M.P., Mr. James Power, M.P., Mr. P. Scrope, house, M.P., Sir David Roche, M.P., Captain A rc " - ;1. f','„,c 4 Mr. Gill, M.P., Mr. Wilshire, M.P., Mr. Master:ll', r . , - 0 0 Edmond Hayes, M.P., Hon. Mr. Liddell, KY, ;N i _ fo o• M.P., Mr. Murphy, M.P., Mr. Christmas, M " 1 , 0 0 ,1 Wortley, M.P., Mr. Hamilton Lindsay, M.P., M r ' wll''' . Colonel Acton, :M.P., Colonel Jones, M.P., Hon. V. M.P., Mr. Irton. M P., Mr. Young and Mr. Dryden . Sir William Gomm has errived in town trent J a ; f , William had an interview yesterday with Lord St °l°- 'th the Loid Adolphus Fitzelarence had an interview r t e Haddington yesterday, at the Admiralty. sa lic't° r, 01 The Chairman of the Excise; and Mr. DehaneJ' o ters' s. the Excise, had an interview with the Earl of lIIP° n 1 the office of the Board of Trade. th eir • binsA SIGHT AND HEARlNG.—ratrollil e t heir phi!' Majesties the King and Queen of Hanover, an", e • ofc 6 Highnesses the late Princess Augusta, the ri i ,, n ; -° Pr ilic y;o l : her Serene Highness the Princess Esterhail , t "" of a ow Mary and Rosa, her Grace the Dowager il i u , c i t e :rl. ford, and their Graces the Archbishop of Can — p i a rl o " Dukes of Norfolk, Devonshire, Manchester, an d ~„,,,oe'yciCg ' Marquises of H e Londonderry, Sligo, arid T fo rd, O of Shaftestniry, Tankerville, Harewood, Fowls, Or w sc ioe o ;yoro , low, Verulam, Harrowby, Buckinghamshire, Al eat , ll ,: i . 013 ,. n e A C ' ford, Lisburne, and Ferrers, Bishops of El e ,,; y, Lincoln, Cork, Elphin, and Kildare, Lords HO, e t he In addition to the above distinguished patronsfi e T er Invented Spectacle Lenses and Sound MaSa w st ,; is ore ( V It Operative Voice Conductor, Messrs. S. and ° s ilo" Albemarle.street, Piccadilly, opposite the York a . '_ . . en tioa King William.street, City, state that their valuableinovi sbov,efoirc also gained the sanction and unqualified a pprobat i°ll oo ;on. ' ve fO ct : 'hundred of the principal members of the medical P rt ' e ptsee d 0 .11 1 diately these Newly.invented Spectacle Lenati. Br oirei s .,. c t extremely imperfect vision, that mist am' 014 :',DtP", appear before the eyes is at once removed, e we 0. 0 0 , ; conies clear arid distinct, so that the most aired i ln o P ut hful , comes bright and brilliant, and is brought to its v oice "Iwe and original state. Their Invisible Operative t . er ceP% t rea' Sound Magnifiers for deaf persons, is not the Itss-:-01110e,w.4 uncomfortable ; they give immediate reaf to 010 u; re osera;ie cases of deafness, and the faintest whisper at 39, 40 44 ' heard with exact distinctness. To be had only a. wi olow;001/ street, opposite the York Hotel, and 7 6 , 'Li fe in e, pa r ' City.—No connection with persons of t he eagle P . • 50 in Ireland le .0 °f el w ail ' .o 'i' The General Steam Navigation C° l m he r t i v Yso'll'll°l' the Columbine, from Rotterdam, arrived the at eleven o'clock, We are authorised Robertson, who has been engaged in a Coll e t; „ w ile 141 4 llorthwick,' M.P., is not the gentleman " of Liekss all nected with the City and a Director of the At. oM state wt.h thtehpar tiii,d'e,:cf :01;', ol io London: Printed :aid Published LI MOW ° ' No. I Strap .1, at The Su). O ebruar ffice ? 14 0 . i ll, ;0- the Coßnt cf lOiddlesex, Friday, r y 26, • rt,A. 9a aut.4.44 4 t - , 7 inia\a‘ 4•1 , 4 at . ' • 1 ..;491V. • , ' 0 , EDITED BY THOMAS HOOD, ESQ. The MARCH NUMBER of _ COL 13 IJ N'S NE W MONTHLY M .10 AZINE AND HUMORIST tJOOD, Esq., _ Will contain the following Interesting Articles:— The Schoolmistress Abroad, an Extravaganza, and other Pa- pers. By the Editor. Phineas Quiddy ; or, Sheer Industry. By John Poole, Esq., Author of '• Paul Pry." A Record of a Police Office. By Lan►an Blanchard, Esq. Note. on Numbers ; or, Humours of Arithmetic. Graduates and Under Graduates ; or, The Proctor's Note Book. By the Author of " Peter Priggins." Some Account of the Lite and Writings of that remarkable Child, Miss Margaret Dew. Short Rides in an Author's Omnibus. By Horace Smith, Esq. Mortimer, a Tale. By the late Dr. Inglis. Recollections of Eton. By an Etonian. Diary and Letters of Madame d'Arblay. The Old Maid's Lament. Hydropathy ; or, the Cold Water Cure. L►ves of the Queens of England. Reviews of New Publications, &e. Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street• NEW WORK EDITED BY MRS. GORE. Now ready at all the Libraries, in 3 vols. post Bve., F A SCI'N A TION. EDITED by Mrs. GORE, Authoress of " Mothers and Daughters," " The Man of For- - tune," &c. Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street. Just ready, in two vols. post Bvo, with Illustrations, T . ONDON LEGENDS. By PAUL PINDA R, Gent. Richard• Bentley, New Burlington-stret. NEW ROMANCE BY THE . AUTHOR OF "THE PILOT," " THE PATHFINDER," " THE DEER: SLAYER," &c. Just ready, in 3 vols., post Bvo., T II E TWO ADMIRALS. A TALE OF THE SEA. By J. FENIMORE COOPER, Esq. Richard Bentley, New Burlington-street. MR. AINSWORTH'S MISCELLANY, ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE CRUIKSHANK. Price Eighteenpence. The Second Number of AINSWORTH'S N.AGAZINE. CONTENTS. THE MISER'S DAUGHTER, By W. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Esq. Chapters 111., IV., V., and VI. With Two Illustrations on Steel, By GEORGE CRUIKSMANK. Proverbial Philosophy : Second A Day and Night on the Banke Series. By Ma. tit' Farquhar' of the Euphrates. By W. Tupper, Esq. No. 1. In- ; Francis Ainsworth, Esq. troductory. N o. 11 . Gifts IThe Gravedigger. A Tale for The Virginity Pirate. By Uncle' Sam. March. 13y C. Oilier, Esq. Science and Good-humour. By To the Crown Prince. By C. S. Laman Blanchard; Esq. RRY HILL. Ilustrat ions, De.LA AIOTTE. The Gentleman's iger. No. I. With an Illusttation by Gco. STRI-WBE With Ten By W. AL FIiKD The Lady's Page. No. 11. With an Illustration by Geo. Cruikshank. I. The Sofa at Sea. By Miss Partlce. H. Matrimony. Stone. 111. Queen Isabella of Spain By the Hon. Julia Augusta ' 'Maynard. Tony Johannot. By Charles Montray, Esq. The Awaket.er in the Desert. By John Oxenfot:d, Cruikshank. I. A short Chap•er on Beards. By Captain Diedw►n. IL Brighton. By Charles Hervey, Esq. 111. Ode t. :taint Valentine. The Drama. A Note of Music. Our Lib , ary Table. With an Illustra , ion by George Cruik shank. By Mrs. THE FIGHT OF 'THE FIDDLERS. A Romance of the Reign of King John. By G. P. R. JAMES, Esq. Part. the First.—THE DANCING GIRL. London, Hugh Cunningham, St. 11Iartm's-place, Trafalgar square. eFICE of the GOVERNOR and COMPANY of COPPER MINERS in ENGLAND, Old Broad street, London, Feb. 23, 1842. The COURT of ASSISTANTS of the GOVERNOR and COMPANY of COPPER MINERS in ENGLAND, hereby give notice, that they have made a CALL of 101. a SHARr upon all Shares on which no more than 231 a Share has been pail; the. said Call to be paid on or before the 15th day of April next, at the Banking-house of Messrs. Glyn, Ilallifax, Mills, and Co., Lombard-street, or at the Office of the Company. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. THIS EVENING, FEB. 25, Will be performed a Play in Five Aets, called GISIPPUS.—Titus Quintius Fulvius, Mr.. nderson ; Gisippus, Mr. Macready ; Medon, Mr. Graham; Pheax, Mr Elton; Cheremes, Mr. Hudson; Lycias, Mr G. Bennett; Norban, Miss E. Phillips; Sophro.iia, Miss Helen Faucit ; Hero, Miss I urpin. After which, CATHERINE AND PETRUCHIO —Petruchio, Mr Anderson ; Grumio, Mr. Cumpton ; Catherine, Miss H. Faucit; Bianca, Miss E Phillips. _ _ _ . _ Doors oper at half pat Six, and the Performances begin at Seven. Boxes s., Second Price 2s. (d. ; I'it 3s , Second Price is. ; Lower Gallery Is. td., Second Price Is ; Upper Gallery Is., Second Price fd. THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT-GARDEN. UN )F-11 the MANAGEMENT of MADAME VESTRIS. THIS EVENING, Will be produced a New Comedy called BUBBLES OF THE DA Y.- Lord Skindeep, Mr. W. Farren ; Sir Phenix Clearcake, Mt. Harley; Captain Smoke, Mr. Charles Mathews; Spreadweasel, Mr. BArtley Pamela Spreadweasel . Mrs. Niebett ; Flurentia, Mrs. W. Lacy; Mrs. Quarto, Mrs. W. West ; Guinea, Mrs. Urger. After which, O'Keeffe's Musical Farce of THE POOR SOL DIER.— Patrick, Mr. W. Harrison; oral), Miss Rainforth. Doors open at half past Six, ano Bic Performances begin at Seven. Drees Boxes is., Second Price 3s. 6,1 ; First and Second Circles ss. Second Price *is. 641.; Pit :!s. ' Second Price 2s ; Gallery Is. Tickets and Places for the Boxes to be taken of Mr. Grogan, at the Box-of fice, from Ten till Four, where Season Tickets may be had upon ap. plication. Ptivate Rixes to be had solelyil Mr. Andrews; Book se ler, ;67, New Bond-street. ROYAL SURREY THEATRE. THIS. EVENING, FEB. 2b, Will be acted an eutirely New Romantic Drama, by E. Fitzball, Esq., with extr.tordinary effects, entitled OMBRA; or, the SPIRIT of the ROCKING S FONG. After which, TEDDY ThE TlLER.—Teddy (with Songs), Mr. Collins, the Vocalist and Irish Comedian. - To be followed by MRS. NORMA, with Bellini's Musie.—Mrs. Norma, Signor Neville-i ; Adelgisa, Signor Walton-i ; Polito, Ssg i:ora Added o which, JACK JU K. —Jack Junk, Mr. Walton. To conclude with G. Swine's successful Dr. kna of RAB or, the MOTHERS STATUE. Thit e§ult, LONDON FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 25, 1842. The debate was brought to a close at half past one this morning, when the numbers were—fur Mr. Vile LIER'S motion 90, against it 393 ; majority 303. So end the hopes of the Repealers from the Parliament. The debate was interesting. Mr. HORSMAN made a good speech at the early part of the evening, and Mr. COBDEN made an excellent speech, which terminated towards eleven o'clock. We shall probably hereafter call attention to several passages of it. We must now content ourselves with saying that it was peculiarly happy in extorting from Sit' ROBERT PEEL an admission that by law prices could not be regulated, and in compelling him to admit that he was about to try to do what he said was impossible. We should be well contented to pass over what fol lowed, from some lingering deference to the House of Commons, in respectful silence, but our duty to the public forbids it. The landed gentlemen, we are sure, felt shame and vexation at hearing several of the bold truths which Mr. COBDEN stated. We are not sure that the Ministers did not. share in these sentiments, and not sure that even Lord STANLEY, had he risen to reply on the moment, would not have faltered and stammered. In proportion, therefore, as the landed gentlemen felt the force of Mr. COBDEN'S speech, they felt relief by Mr.FEa- RAND following him, and entering into a long tissue.of per sonal remarks, referring, out of all order, to former de- - bates—of personal and calumnious attacks on absent and present mannfacturers,—of descriptions of the truck system,—of exposures of frauds in trade, and other matters, all well delivered, as if the Hon. Member had rehearsed the scene, but nearly all having as little rela tion to the matter before the House as to the question of the war with China. In one part of his speech the Hon. Membergave a graphic description of a mode of making cloth in Yorkshire out of pestilential "Devil's dust," and from the House of Commons—with what he and the landed gentlemen, apparently, by their cheers regarded as most English and most patriotic feelings—he sent forth to all the world a grand and sweeping accusation against the British manufacturers, who were de • scribed as cheats and plunderers. How that may tell in the foreign markets and on the future revenue of the country, we cannot say; but it was so much to the taste of the landlords that they yelled with delight ; so much to the taste of Sir ROBERT PEEL, that he sat listening with approbation ; so pleasing to Sir ROBERT INGLIS, that pattern of religion and pa triotism, that he too sat and allowed in silence the repu tion of the British manufttettum,, for fair dealing and iiiterity, to be taen away by a Member of the House of Commons. We thought the Guardian of t'te public interests, ;was allowed the privilege of speech to defend not vilitj }old d.-grade the nation. From the time that Mr. FERRAND rose till the close of . _ tele debate, the House, with slight pauses, was one scene of tumultuous hubbub. We suppose that such scenes are incidental to an assembly of 658 gentlemen, most of whom are in th e v i gour of life, and in the enjoyment o f those animal spirits which full feeding gives ; but a. scene more unworthy of a Legislature engaged in making a most important law—a law which con c:iri,s the people's food—we never beheld. The poor young man who originated it was only to be pitied for the errors of a hot and perhaps well-meaning tempera ment but the old and sage counsellors who found relief in his abuse, from the piercing observations of Mr. Con- T NI Lip E Ass iliot Jr,t, n "Inter c; --ter ze professor Acl„ So, , l , ep rolts. 11,10,,,x1 Abv ' t a l a, ANT 4 aecti Pr rd ' I Nji",ritia ether l'oli tktes.Ace, b 11q; S YSten ) Bo ilu Jo the 1 , 0 1, b ,Y eff„ are v as , ta rat `, 4 cluy Cf.: l ,f th .sr e i. Ur; r , " terviZ t 110 meted with the City and a Director or i.- - ....- L, ~, ____ ..._: ..T--------------- ,I4EP;-. DIP roi l ' SILVER. PLATED CORNER - v o 47,- ECG, T. Cu X SA VOR Y, Manufacturing Silversuaith,llL. 000:er hill ' 1-("1"., (seven do., • from Plated,Graceelt..rch-stree C.frog the prices of the followin. patterns of strongly shelifs Dishes, with silver handles and edges, engraving • 0 the crest or coat of arms : 1 0 The Gadroon Pattern. xio Four Strongly and silver Plated Corner Dishes and Covers,: Four Extra Strongly Plated Corner Dishes and j Ig 0 The Flower Pattern. Four Extra Stron l Plated Coraer Dishes an. 1 3 lO wi t t Covers ............. . ... ............................. i. Corers ... g Y dles ' - el NB .................................. bl han rd • . The covers are made with ino.;e..a. ......... . they form extra dishes. Drawings of the above for''s any part of Great Britain or Ireland, potage free. o f _...-.... _ ef) _ i ' 13 4° ' ' .0' r L B L 13