The Sun. — London, England, 1842-02-24 00:00:00

creased—but you argue that you cannot compete with the foreigner, in , conseqUonee of his command of a cheaper supply of his home consumption of provisions. —( Hear, hear. 1 Now here is a statement contained in a pamphlet which I believe is c msidered a high authority, for it has been quoted by several lion. Gentlemen opposite—it is the pamphlet of Mr. Greg, and he here gives an account of the quantity of cotton manufactur i ed in this country in each year since 1824; then states the quantity exported bothingoods and yarns, and then adds the quantity reserved for the home de mand, Now, during by far the greater _portion of that period the Corn-laws were in operation. Now I think it is admitted that to select any particular years of that period is hardly fair, but that to judge of their effect, and to make a comparison, it is better to take three or four consecutive years, in order to judge of the effect of any law or system of laws. 1 have never said that the price of provisions has nothing to do with the home consumption of manufactures; for if I take as an imetanee ' the year 1840, during which the price of corn was very high, I find that in that year there was a greater consumption of manufactured cotton in this country than in any one preceding year. But you say to me, that the high price of provisions prevents the consumption of manufactured artictes—that the people must buy corn, and there fore they have nothing to expend in the purchase of clothi, g, and this accounts for the depression that has been felt in our manufactures. But wl at do I find here? It is stated that in 1824 you consumed 6-1,000,0001 be. of cotton by the herne demand ; in 1827 you consumed 78,000,0001b5, an I, you went on advancing till you came to 1840, when the consumption was 175,000,00011a5. of co t t on grods.—( Hear.) You begin, according to Mr. Greg, with 64,000,0001b5., weep on to 78,000,0001b5., and 175,000,0001b5. But last year the consumption fell to 103,000,0001b5. But how let us t.ke the average of .the last four years, during which ' you say that trade was the most prosperous. 1 recol lect that the Manchester Chamber of Commerce pre sented a return to a Committee of this House, in which th e y stated, that up to the end of 1836, both commerce and manufactures were in the most prosperous state. fhcy considered that there wag never a period of four consecutive years during which the cotton manufacture Lad been more prosperous,; during three four years there was little or no importation of foreign corn. Now, is it not remarkable that if the inq °dation cf foreign corn • that is, the exchange of foreign grain for your manufactured goods— is necessary to manufacturin,z prosperity, that during the four years, which or, your own showing were more prosperous than any others,- there was the least amount of importation ? --(Loud cheers from the Ministerial benches.) From 1833 to 1836 inclusive, the whale amount of foreign wheat imported into this country, did not exceed 130,000 quarters on the average.—(Cheers ) Tine, that the manufacturing interest was then prospering ; it is true that then, also, there was no foreign importation . but you prove that the advantage of a cheap comrnatuto7 provisions is of importance to the manufac turer, by selecting. these four years, because the price of wheat did not then exceed 475. a quarter. That is your argument—and you are obliged to abandon your argument, that the importation of foreign corn, is essential to your manufacturing prosperity—(Loud Tory cheers')—for the Manchester Chamber of Commerce shows you that the four years of the greatest prosperity were the four years of the least amount of importation. —( Hear, hear.) But then you say to sue, and apparently with great force, that this is true, but that you did not want such an importation of foreign corn during those years, because in 1835 the price of corn was only 395. 2d. a quarter ; and though there might then be great agricultural distress, yet still the cheapness of rain supplied the deficiency of the foreign importation. Now let rite meet ',he argument that as corn is cheap, so is the increase in the consumption of internal manufactures. I will • take from .111 r. Greg's pam phlet the years 1533, 1834, 1835,., and 1836, and compare these years of cheapness with the last four years, during which the price of corn h s been extravagantly high. During these last four years three has been no such increase in the population as to warrant any great increase in the consumption of manufactures on that ground, so that nothing can be more fair than such a cernparison.—( Hee', hear.) I therefore take these four years of cheap provisions, and I find, on the average of those years,- there were manufactured 279,000,000 lbs. of cotton ; there were exported 160,000.000 lbs, and reserved for home con aump'ion 190,000,010 the.. —( (mast cries of "Hear, hear.") Dm trig the last four years, during which provisions have ben high. there were manufactured instead of 27 , 4,0(10,000.b5.1 369,000,C001b5 (Cheers)—there have been ex pnrtett, hist ead of 160,000,0001b1., 227,000,00011a5. —( Hear.) And now I come to the important question of home consump tion; and I find that during the cheap years there were 1t9,000,000110. of cotton reserved for home consumption, while in, , the last four years there have been re.erv e d f or h o me consumption 142,000,00011. e.—( Loud Tory cheers. ) In eaclt.year the quantity was as follows:—in 1833, there were reserved for home consumption, 116.000,0001b5. ; in 1634, 108,00D,000:b3. ; in 1835, 21,0C3,0001b5. ; in '1836, 131,000,00f11b5. I will cow read the home cstoumption of the last four-years ; in 1a33, there were reserved for home con sumption -173 000,00:)lbs of cotton; in 1639, 117,000,00011 as .; in 1341, 103,000.00011 re., or 142,000,0001b5. on the average, as compared with the years of cheap provisions. Mr. Greg. also, says that the intern -I consumpti n-does not bear a proper proportion to the external export —but is this a fair test ?-- ( Hear.) I show that the exports have been great, but that you say is not the question ; but is not the progress of the home consumption a far test.? Ira those years Ido not find that there has been an annual inerea-e in the population to account for the annual increaae the consumption.; but do we not find, from the documents before us, that taking the . average of two, three, or four - years, the consumption of cotton goods has greatly exceeded the p oportionate increase of the population? It is true that last year it has fallen off to 103,500,0001 W., to a certain exert fortifying the argument that an increase in the price of provisions may have led to a diminished consumption.—(Cries of " Hear,' and cheers.) But you must bear, in mind what the ordinary consumption was before 1840, 175,000,0001b5., and let them make allowance for that effect which always follows an extraordipary or more than usual demand, which always leads to a depression in the years following it; 1.33 and 1840 were the two greatest years of consumption of. foreign cotton ever known ; in 1838, it was 173,000,Qt albs... but in the next year it fell to 117,000,0001 b,. In the next year there was again a sudden rise, and it again reached the enormous amount of 175 ; 000,00u •lbs., but in the following year it was again diminished. All I can say is tha• by a reference to these papers, as far as documents are concerned, while 1 a,huit the distress that pre vails, w hile I s'eplore that distress—while I deplore it, above all, on account of the state of the labouring classes, they may blame me a; they will, they mry burn .me in effigy if ihey please, but all these Manifestations of opi nion Will not in the slightest degree abate my deep sympathy for their sufferings, nor my sincere wish to relieve them. Sir, it is on their account that I take the course which they so violently condemn ; but allow me, Sir, just to read what the ChaMber of Commerce of Manchester says of the effects of over-oroduction. In the paper signed by the President of that Chamber, I find the assertion that over-excitement had occasioned speculations in that district to a loss of more than 40,000,0001.—(Hear,hear.) Can we say to what amount -of national loss over speculation may have led us in the vast number of railway and other undertakings in which our capitalists have plunged, if, in one district alone, 40,000,00'/. have beets injudiciously expended]?—( Hear, hear. ) I come now, Sir, - the most painful part of this 'discussion, but 1 Or e Itound by a sense of duty to say that it is - a itecessary conditions for a high state of prosperity in a raahtffacturing country like this, that a great demand for labour and great employment should be con current with great partial distress. Gentlemen have referred to the condition cif hand-loom w eavers. Now take their con dition in - 1836; when there was, as acknowledged upon all Mods, se much prosperity in almost every part of industry. In that year it was announced in the Speech from the Throne that the state of trade and manufactures was in the highest Prove n rity. The mover of the address, Sir J. Wrottesley and Mr. Parker, the Member fur Sheffield, both bore testimony to the nourishing state of trade. Sir J..Wrottesi.ey said that never was a‘period of greater prosperity, and Mr. Parker added that never was there a more cheering state,of trade, and that - such were the prospects of manu'act urea, that to complete the orders already received, it would be necessary, in the next . few ,years. to construct additio nal en g ines to the amount of 70,060 horse-power to meet the demand. Now in:that year there was, Sir, a very huge extent of partial and local distress, and my proposition is that concurrently w ith great gene-at -pros perity such distress may and will - co-exist. But. Sir, at the same time, it is my opinion that any attempt to interfere with the progress of ingenuity would be futile and mischievous, and I am not one of. those who would be parties to such interfe rence.—( Hear, hear.) I think that the greater the prospe rity of rnanufactures--the greater the development of skill— the greater the improvement in' machinery, the greater must fie the demand for manual labour.—( Bear, hear.) If you take into account the immense trades and occupations which derive indirectly a benefit front any improvement in machinery, it mw-t be allowed that the aggregate of human labour ems ployed is increased by every improve Bent; but it is no answer • to my assertion tha t there may be the greatest possible partial suffering, anti that great n umbers mayr general prosperity. be involved in the deepest distress during such a period o Take the case or the hand-loom weavers In 1835, which was • a year of great proaperity. I find this melancholy account, that great nunere of them were unable to provide for themselves and their fatuities the means of sustaining life—that they were • rhyhed in rags—that they were unable to send their children to Sunday schools flout want of decent cloth ' although their labour was ex c es sive, and man y of trig ; them worked for 16 hours and. more, and were driven to have 'recourse to ardent spirits to recruit their bodies.—( Hear, • hear.) Now, Sir, this was at a period .when corn was cheaper •' than it had been for 20 years.—blear.) This leads me to think that - I cannot encourage the delusive hope, that by reducing the price of corn we shall increase the demand for manufactures.--( Hear.) Sir, 1 cannot hope that a re daction in the price of corn - will exempt this country from 'occasional and most revere suffering amongst some portion of the p0i...1a-ion. Sir, let us take the case of the United ' • States, where 'the demand for labour is great, and wages are generally high. ' Even there, there is occasionally severe suffering. Sir, let us take the statements of Mr. Buckingham. That gentleniaa says that is n the state of New York he was suri.rised to meet with numerous cases of M destituti ham kion, and a states ven of ahisctua surprise at ss of life fro starvation. r. Bucng h m • • the number of charitable' i ns titutions, and at t e vast extent • of distress which rendered them necessary, and this in a country where there wag no restriction upon corn, and,. the necessaries • of life were cheap. —( Hear ) Therefore, air, I must still retain the opinion which I have ex p ressed alrea d y, that th e Corn-laws have attributed to them an undue Aare in producing the distress which unquestionably ex ists.7— [The Right Hon. Ba ronet then paused for some time, and, looking over some papers, put into his hand by an Hon. Member said)—Sir, my - Right lion, friend behind me has found the passage in Mr. Buck . iegharn'sboek to which I have referred, it is this, " I was surprised to fi n d so much indigenes., and so many instances of ale.th from destititutiort; they were mere numerous than I could hate thought possible, and they would be unaccountable,. hut for t hmLeti that the cultivators of the soil had g ive n up their occupation s fur spreulationein railroads and canals, and wasted theta in so much of the national capital, that, the country being neglected, its nit ii cultivators were obliged to import coin , instead of supp'ying other countries." Sir, 1 have been charged with believing, which 1 utterly k e y, that no toed eau result ft's to the measure I proposed. " I felt nn su it thing. .1 deprecated extravagant expe, tations that any immediate ,benetit : would t c,nlt from it. I depre cated such expectations becau se I es little expected them fa be realised as ie a treat • repeal ; but I eiS tined/ ~ tated• that I expected tte s e beucfits would result — Brat, that agriculture would be exempted from thin ill effects of having en r norruoue quantity t.f ce rn poure d i n a t a * mi t ten I rate ; and s stated "also .- that the none of England would be less sutject tit a de •and for Lonny% as the demand f o r corn would be mo re regular under my pl an than it was under the presen t system . It-was, tharefore, rnet.tust t o s t a t e t h a t. I h a d brought in a inea , ere that would elf, et no real meant. 1 have • been told that it would itryo good as far as American trade because while the sliding scale existed, there Wit concerned, tees e n of t ade. N ew a could be no a cony. rsation - Dosa g e", tleman with whom - 1 h nas that the averages " whit: remedy to me, • that Gentleman said e s should be. take ev, ry twelve weeks , i ns t e ad of six, because, shall twelve weeks' , averages be Unitid"States, Wait a k now. I will . the first then be able to bring corn rro k m en i the ledge of the six weeks' average; he, said, alteration in that id, weeks' e average, there will be no material . time, and- I shall be able to bri n g corn from A An or merica der had Those statenierts have been .proved by facts teen sent to the United States foi a thousand barrels of flour, Tat orde rt off on the Ist of August , and 111 rived at Lies _, was smut VC )0 1 on the 13th of September, while an order sent to Stettin on the 20th of July, which was shipped on the 13th of August, did not arrive at Liverpool till the 13th of Sept. Hull had an advantage over Liverpool in the importation of corn from Dantzic ; but corn could be sent from America to Liverpool in less time than from Dantzie. Now, that justly defines the propositrou of the gentleman who spoke to me— namely, it was possible to bring flour from the United States in six weeks. The Honourable Gentleman the Member for Edinburgh, whose absence surprises me— ( Hear, hear) --made an attack on me ; the whole of his peech was an attack on the statements I made in bringing forward this measure. That Right Honourable Gentleman commenced his speech, by stating, that he represented so peculiar a constituency, that it was incumbent upon him to speak. He assurai that House that his constituency was swayed by no personal inte rests—that they were corrupted by no prejudiced views—but, as they were the concentrated esience of the intelligence of Edinburgh—(Laughter) —it was incumbent upon him to state his views to the House of Commons. It was unfortunate for the Right Hon. Gentleman, considering the peculiar , position in which he was placed, and considering, also, the intelligence of his constituents, and the weight their opinions were calculated to have in that House—it was unfortunate for him, and it was much to be lamented, that when they ap proached the division he should have retired to his repose in stead of being in his place in that House.--( Great laughter.) What aid, I would ask, has the Right Hon. Gentleman given , us on this question ? lie voted with the Noble Lord, but he could not assent to my plan. Then the Hon. Member for Wolverhampton brought forward a motion for a total repeal ot the Corn-laws, and the Right lion. Gentleman has decamped from the House because he will not vote.—(" Hear, hear," and laughter.) The Right Honourable Gentleman has not the manliness to say no to the proposition of the Hon. Member for Wolverhampton ; he says, I object to the imme diate repeal of the Corn-laws—the word now is a insuperable objection, but if I give my vote according to my opicion I shalt be liable to misconstruction, and, therefore, it is 1 absent myself from the division.—( Hear, hear, and laughter.) Why did he say that he considered the measure precipitate, and that he was prepared to vote against it? He relieves himself from any possibility of misconstruction, but he leaves others, who come exactly to the same conclusions as himself, to take the more manly part of voting against a proposition they cannot agree to,_( Hear, hear.) The Right lion. Gentleman stated that I maintained that cheap food was no advantage. I maintained no such thing. What I stated was that I thought it unwise and unjust to sow discontent and dis affection among the people by telling them there were others who had their provisions at a much less charge. I said I thought the relative amount of the cost of food was not the test of enjoy,rent, but the demand of different countries. I also said, but nit abstractedly, thct I thought it was ill advised, and would be productive of evil consequences, to produce cheapness of provisions by a sudden disturbance of the relations between landlord and tenant. I did state that they might p. sudden cheapness in provisions ;, but they could not remedy the evils under which the country laboured, by having - fresh causes of disturbance, or by bringing distress among the great body of agriculturists. It was with these qualifications I said that I thought you were bound, in introducing cheap food, to regard the interests that had grown up under protection, and to regard the different laws relating to agriculture. I also said that it was not wise that the substantial supply of this country should be derived from other countries. One word, and one word only, with respect to the motion upon which 1 trust we are now about to divide. It is sn absolute declaration of the opinion of this House that the Corn-laws ought to be instantly repealed. The Hon. Gentleman has not moved—so deeply impressed was he with the policy of immediate repeal—that he has not moved any protective measure. The resolution he submits to tha House is that the Corn-laws ought at once to be repealed. The Hon. Gentleman says that he can acquiesce. He says if they can to repealed they ought.—( Hear. )s The Noble Lord -has come forward and distinctly stated that in his opinion, agriculture has no claim to protection, that it is for the purpose of mere revenue, to levy duty upon the im port of foreign corn. I put it to him whether, if you levy duty for that purpose, it wined not be as legitimate to levy excise duty; on corn, the produce of th s country ?—(Cheers.) And instead of the Noble Lord advocating a fixed duty of Bs. ou foreign corn, I think it would be well to consider and propose a duty of 45., with a view to its being applied equally on corn the produce of foreign countries, and corn the produce of this ; because corn the produce of this country having no claim to protection, it plainly would carry out the Noble Lord's views. and he will see the advantage of an inland duty in England.— ( Laughter.—( Lord Palmerston made some remark across the table. )—ls it possible the Noble Lord can dispute that doc trine ? It is utterly impossible for him to deny that if it be le gitimate to the mere purposes of revenue to extinguish all protection, and to lay a duty on the importation of foreign con that he cannot resist the argument that a like duty should be taken on corn the produce of this country. But there are those with the Noble Lord who cannot vote with the Hon. Gentleman any more than those who. in consequence of disturbing the relations with respect to Ire land—of those who consider agriculture, and who are alarmed now at any reduction of the duty on oats—all those who dread the consequence to Ireland of a sadden, unlimited, and immediate importation of foreig oats into this country—those who hesitate on this subject, cannot vote with the Honourable Gentleman. Those again who think there ought to be an interval of time between the present and a total abrogation of these laws, cannot vote with the Hon. Gentleman. The Hon. Gentleman has even given a vague intimation that he would possibly consent to something, if he was certain of carrying his motion; but hi. motion for which you must vote is, that the Corn-laws should be repealed. Thsse who are unwilling to incur that risk, cannot vote with the Honourable Gentleman. It is needless for me to say that, with my views, it is impossible for me to assent to the proposition. Sir, whet, I look to the proposal which I have made, and when I heard the speech of the Hon. Member for Liskeard, who told us that he thought that those who voted against the agricultural in terest ought to be cautious--that he thought we ought not to excite undue apprehension amongst the agriculturalists—that the consequences would be dangerous to the existing interests of the country, by causing a diminution of the cultivation et land—how the Hon. Gentleman can refuse to vote with me and against the Hon Gentleman, 1 can hardly comprehend. Mr. C. BULLF.R—I shall vote with you. Sir R. PEEL—I believe the Hon. Gentleman wishes for an ultimate repeal, yet he wishes them to act with caution, era, not excite apprehensions in the minds of the agrieulturt.ts I knew that my proposition would not hay. that effect ; and it the Honourable Gentleman had seer the communications I have received, I think he woulr think that I have advanced as far as I possibly could without raising those apprehensions. It was therefore on this account that 1 anticipa.ed his vote to-night in opposition to the Hon. .Gentleman. lam sure that if I had gone much further thou apprehensions which the Hon. Gentleman fears would hay. been fulfilled. Sir, when I recollect what Mr. Ricardo's views were—and Mr. Ricardo was no particular friend to the agricultural interest—he thought the present system ot Corn-laws were difficult, that you ought to pave the way for a better system—but he thought that when you attempt to im prove you must not destroy. The proposal Mr. Ricardo made was, theta fixed duty at 205., should be imposed upon the importa tion of foreign corn, and that a gradual diminution should take place each year by Is., and remain fixed at 10s. eta duty on fore . gn corn. That was fifteen years ago, and the same argument in dealing with the Corn-laws would apply now. It Mr. Ricardo thought that absolute benefit would result from a sudden tampering with the Corn-laws, would he not have expressed that opinion ? He proposed, therefore, a fixed duty of 205., to continue for one year, and gradually diminish till it arrived at 10s. Compare the scale 1 have prepared with the proposal by that stated friend to free trade, Mr. Ricardo. Compare my scale with that of Mr. Whitmore in 1828, and then say if I have not proposed a material relaxation. Sir, let me express an earnest hope, that if the decision of this question shall be taken as a decisive mark against the motion of the Hon. Gentleman, coupling that decision with the decision which was given against the motion of the Noble Lord in favour of my plan—let me entreat the House to bear in mind, that as the commercial and manufacturing interests of this country are not to be tampered with, nothing can produce so much mischief with respect to the Corn-laws, as ignorance of those proposals which her Majesty's Ministers may have to make. Let me express an earnest hope that in reference to the public weal, you will proceed with the utmost expedition as connected witl , a proper deliberation of those important measures, and I believe this Bill will be a material and beneficial relaxation ot , the law of the land. _ Mr. HASTIE then rose to address the House amidst loud cries of " Divide, divide," " Question, question," and great confusion, which rendered the Hon. Gentleman's observations totally inaudible in the Reporter's gallery; after reading sonic documents which were supposed to be with reference to the difficulties which arose in China in 1839, the Hon. Membt r re sumt d his place, when the cries of " Divide, divide," and" Ad journ, adjourn " were renewed. Mr. JO HNST ONE rose to address the House, but was un able to obtain a hearing. The resolution of the Honourable Alember for Wolver hampton, was then read by Mr. GREENE at the Table, and the question having been put— Lord JOHN RUSSELL rose, and said : Sir—l know not whether there is any reason. why the debate should not be brought to a conclusion on the present occasion,— ( Hear,' hear, and cheers from the Opposition benches)—but it the debase ought to conclude.to-night, every attention should be given to the suggestions of Hon. Gentlemen, who thought it necessary to address the House.—( Hear, hear ) I rise, Sir, for the purpose of protesting against the doctrine propounder to-night by the Right Hon. Baronet, and of protesting against the inference which will be publicly drawn from the speech of the Right Hon. Baronet.—( Hear, heir.) The Right Ho nourable Baronet tells us that there was a proposition upor. which there should be a division of this House, and when that division was made, the House has nothing to do but to pass into a law, as quickly as possible, the Bill which the Right Hon. Baronet meant to bring in.—(lronical cheers from the Opposition benches and counter cheers.) Sir I say that that is a question for the consideration of Parliament. —(Loud cheers.) The Executive Government were bound to give their best attention to the proposition which they were to make—it was their duty to consider it maturely.—(Hear)— and it is the business of Parliament to appro.. e or pass that motion into a law if Parliament thinks fit.—(Cheers.) What the Executive Government had to propose was merely to con sider what was best to be done; and it is for Parliament to consider whether they will agree to that measure, and in what shape they will have it passed into law.—(Cheering. ) That which Parliament has now to decide is of the utmost importance to the interests of the country, but what time did the Executive Government take this measure into considera tion? what time did they take in considering,that which we are now told the Parliament should hasten to pass into law ? During all uncertainty as to the price of corn, all uncertainty as to foreign commerce, all uncertainty as to whether that measure should or should not relieve or mitigate the distress of the country. The Executive Government took five months to consider what. that measure should be. Having taken that time, - and having taken on themselves at last to bring forward a sliding scale, differing only in detail from the present scale, which they took five months to consider, surely the repre sentatives of the people in this House, the representatives of the agiieultural itderest, the representatives of the commercial interest, and the representatives of the manufacturing interest, are bound to give every attention to such a measure, and a'e not to be told that they should hasten the matter oven— ( Loud cheers.) 'think of how great consequence your deCision will be. We have heard in the course of this discus sion, that there will be nothing of finality in the decision; that, Sir; I must say, is nut the view the agriculturists take of the measure. The Right lion. Baronet has told us of the great apprehensions entertained by the landed interest; they I:ave been dispelled by the Right Hon. Gentleman, and I think they would have been dispelled if a much wider n easure had been proposed. When you have passed this, they will say " These are the terms you required us to submit to, these are the changes to which we itssented ; but having made them, we y o u, the Government an d t he Pa rl iament , to abide by i :i .' l ' on That will be the language of the landed interest. That being the case, it is more incumbent . en you to consider what is t io in n. the law you are about to pass— e i H t n i n s m i% o ie re mb i e n r c s um n be hn nton you to give every attention to their ! . . have to I vi w " ill s ont e he re g s u pe es c t the _Right Hon. Membr for Edits- There is only one other topic _ allud e , g address the llouse, and to he t a o r whieb an Hon. Friend of mine, burgh. The course of not" voting is not the course I mean to adopt myself, I inean to vote against the proposition of the Hon. M e there are use's w h en a man may feel mber- . for Wolverhampton, but I think that 4fde. —(ll ear , an d l aug ht er .) Does the that it is his duti - notlto Right Hon. Gentle• min think that the present Members of the Reformed House would now sit here, had it not been that certain of the Mem- THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY gVENINCT, .FEBRUARY 24, 184 k. bers of the other House, who were opposed to the measure, who had thought fit to absent themselves—(Hear)—were entirely absent from the division, and in consequence allowed the measure to be carried.—( Hear, hear.) The greater number of the present Cabinet being Members of the House of Lords, were those who absented themselves I do hope, therefore, that if the Right Hon. Gentleman has any further censures to pass on those who may be absent on a particular division, he may have some mercy on these very considerate persons who are now his colleagues.—( Cheers. ) Sir R. PEEL said- the Noble Lord was good enough to lay down some propositions very difficult to understand. He told us, first, that it was of more importance what the Legis lature should determine, than what the Minister should desire.—( Hear, hear.) He was also good eaough to state that no measure can become the law of the land till it be enacted by Parliament.—( Hear, hear, and laughter.) Ex cellent information ! But it is information which those who have sat in Parliament for some time do not require. —( Cheers.) In the attack the Noble Lord made on me for expressing a hope that the House would proceed to consider the question, he conveniently omitted the parenthesis which I used, to the effect that it should be considered with all the de liberation which is due to the question. I was speaking after seven nights' debate, and when the consideration of the resolution had not been entered on, and I expressed a wish, which I believe to be in conformity with the public wish -( Hear, hear)—that the House should, as far as is consistent with the deliberation . due to the question; approach to the set ilement of the question.—( Hear.) I am sorry that I should have excited the Noble Lord's indignation.— I was not aware that the Noble Lord would think it convenient to vindicate his friend, by the example of the House of Lords.—(Hear, hear.) I laid down no general principle, that an Honourable Member was bound to vote on every question, but when a Member comes forward, and ex presses his opinion on the question, and says--" the Corn laws ought now to be repealed," I thought he ought to have given his vote in conformity with the principles which he expressed.—( Hear, hear.) Sir C. NAPIER was not sure 'whether he rightly under stood the Right Hon. Baronet or not, when he said that a merchant in Liverpool wrote a letter to America fors cargo o I corn, and that it arrived in six weeks ; sad was he correct ? Sir R. PEEL—It was a cargo of flour.—( Hear.) Sir C. NAPIER would admit that if a merchant in Liver pool wrote by steam, to America, for a cargo of cern or flour, it might arrive within six weeks if the ship had a fair wind ; bat he would ask the Right Hon. Baronet, supposing the ship had a fair wind how long would it take her to reach Liverpool?—( Roars of laughter for some minutes.) • He (Sir 'Charles Napier) had crossed the Atlantic Ocean many times, and he never remembered that a fast-sailing ship had ever perfot med the voyage in less than a month. He did not mean to Say that ships had not done it in lees time ' • and if the Right Hon. Baronet meant that the cargo came by steam, he (Sir Charles Napier) would at once agree with him. But if the voyage were to be made by a sailing ship, nine times out of ten she would be much longer. The Right Honourable Baronet tatted about corn com ing from America, now if an order were sent to Alex andria to bring a cargo of corn to England, how long would it take to come ? Not less than two months. From Odessa it would take three months ; nor could a cargo come from any port in the Mediterranean in a deep laden merchant -hip in less than two months.—(Cries of " Withdraw, ques tion, divide, and adjourn.") Sir R. PEEL seeing that other gentlemen wished yet to speak on the question, had no desire to ask for a division that night. He was perfectly ready to accede to the pleasure of the [louse, either to go on with the debate, or to adjourn it.— Cries of " Adjourn," and " Go on.") Mr. JOHNSTONE, on behalf of himself and other Mem bers, anxious to speak on this most important question, would move that the debate be adjourned.—(Cheers, and " Go on.") The gallery, alter some confusion, was cleared for a division on the question of adjournment ; but the motion of the Hon. Member was agreed to without a division, arid the debate was accordingly adjourned to this evening. EXCHEQUER RILL FRAUD. In answer to a question from Mr. HAWES, The CHANtELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that 'bough he could not bring forward to-morrow his motion re lative to the Exchequer Bill F;aud, he was deeply sensible of the importance of the subject, and he should take the earliest opportunity of submitting to the House. motion with regard to it. He had postponed that motion hitherto merely from a conviction that the question of the Cot n-laws should take precedence of all other business. IMPORTATION OF AMERICAN CORN INTO CANADA. sr- Mr. LABOUCHERE wished to call the attention of he Government to a subject connected with their proposed policy with respect to articles of foreign produce. He thought it was very desirable that the House should know what were the intentions of the Government with respect o the duty to be imposed upon American corn imported into Canada ; and when they were made acquainted with the inten tions of Ministers on the subject of the importation of core nto this country from the Colonies, he hoped the Govern iient would inform the House as to their intentions Upon the .übject of the duty to be imposed upon corn imported into Ca nada fr4m the United States, in the fir,t instance. Sir R. PEEL thought the request of the Right Hon. Gen leman perfectly reasonable, and he should certainly accede to it. The House then adjourned at a Quarter past One o'Clock. MR. AINSWORTH'S MISCELLANY, ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE CRUIKSHANK. Price Eighteenpence. The Second Number of AINSWORTH'S MAGAZINE. CONTENTS. THE MISER'S DAUGHTER, By W. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Esq. Chapters 111., IV., V., and VI. With Two Illustrations on Steel, By GEORGE CRUIKSHANK. Proverbial Philosophy : Second , A Day and Night on the Banks Series. By Martin Farquhar of the Euphrates. By W. Tupper, Esq. No. I. In- Francis Ainsworth, Esq. troductory. _No. Gifts'. The Gravedigger. “ A Tale for ... fhe Virginny Pirate. By Uncle l Sam. March. ffi - C. Oilier, Esq. Science and Good-humour. By Co the Crown Prince. By C. Laman Blanchard, Esq. ST R AWBB With Ten' By W. ALFRED Ile Lady's Page. No. 11. With an Illustration by Geo. Cruikshank. I. The Sofa at Sea. By Miss Pardoe. FL Matrimony. Stone. 111. Queen Isabella of Spain By the Hon. Julia Augusta 3laynard. Cony Johannot. By Charles Montray, Esq. The Awake Ler in the Desert. By John Oxenford, Esq. 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. RRY HILL. illustrations, DELAMOTTE. The Gentleman's Tiger. No. I. With an Illustration by Geo. Cruikshank. I. A short Chapter on Beards. By Captain Medwin. 11. - Brighton. By Charles Hervey, Esq. 111. Ode to Saint Valentino. The Drama. A Note of Music. Our Library Table. With an Illustrat ion by George Crnik shank. By Mrs. London, Hugh Cunningham, St. Martin's-place, Trafalgar square. THE WEATHER.—NooN, FEBRUARY 24. - LOYAL GALLERY OF SCIENCE, ADELAIDE-STREET. Chermometer... 44 1 Highest 4B 1 Lowest 37 Barometer 29.38.—Wind S.—Freezing Point 22 Deg. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW. Morning. 48 minutes after 1 I Evening odbit ~uflj iTronb7Zbition SUN OFFICE, Three o'Cloch. The Duke of BUCKINGHAM and the Members of the agricultural Association, of which he is Patron, or nore properly, Dictator, are determined to keep up the 'arce, and denounce the small measure of Sir ROBERT PEEL as one ruinous to their interests. A numerous neeting of the Aylesbury Association was held yester lay, at which the DUKE presided, with closed doors, iven the reporters of papers favourable to their interests being shamefully excluded. The talkers, how iver, it was ascertained, made a terrible noise, inveigh ng, in strong terms, against the new scale and the new i'remier, and when the DUKE spoke he was, of course, cheered to the top of their voices. After mature deli beration, they at last came to the following resolutions— " Resolved,—l. That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the sliding, scale respecting the duty on corn should be adhered to. " 2. That it is the opinion of this meeting that the farmer should be protected to the amount of 60s. per quarter, whilst the proposed scale of Sir R. Peel's Government extends that protection to only 565. per quarter. " 3. That the,thanks of this Association be given to the Duke of Buekingham and Chandos for the manly, firm, and consistent course he has taken in the defence of the agricultural interest, and that this resolution be entered on the minutes." ‘.ll this looks very hostile, and a Tory paper, to keep up he joke, Makes a serious matter of this secession, and counsels the Corn-law Duke and his followers to keep ;he peace towards Sir ROBERT PEEL a d all his Cabinet. After the secret meeting there was a public dinner at he inn, where the talk was renewed, and to such an extent was this mock rebellion carried, that the.Bucx iNGHAM nominees for the borough-of Aylesbury were se .-erely blamed by his Grace foe voting with Sir R. PEEL, 13 if they were not well aware that in him they live, n n 00 lace.vn e s and aTd haveh weßill, when nil their , iotf rez,c l : i hs n : being, s e s l prLaeosprsrdet Lords e r t n ohu t e a g t h i s v at e of that same ee Cg a t omin a e.. .vill be played; strong speeches against the measure will ' ) e made by BUCKINGHAM, and possibly also by Ricn .loND, about the ruin of agriculture, and the 'yeat boon given to a discontented, ungrateful, tnd troublesome manufacturing population. When he scene closes they will secretly rejoice that they have made such a good bargain, knowing well that he new sliding scale will protect them as much as ever. ['he people, however, are not to be deluded by such bare -ed mockery, and will continue the agitation till a tho cough reform is effected, and a measure of relief granted which shall give them the substance, and, not like this .'ollow scheme, the mere shadow. With reference to - the question put by Mr. O'CoN NEL,L, in the House of Commons, last night to the goble Secretary for the Colonies respecting a mas ,acre of the coloured population of Jamaica, we have seen extracts from a letter addressed to Mr. .losErit STunGE by a resident in that island, upwards of 150 y ears it detaili ng a ll the particulars of this very horri ble affair. Th e acco unt is too long 'for insertion in our co l umns , b u t in substance it is . to the following effect;-For had been Customary in t h e I s l an d o f J a maica to permit the black population to celebrate - the festival of Christ mas with a degree of license as unbounded as that which .prevailed in Pagan Rome during the Saturnalia. They . were in the habit of traversing the streets with musical instruments, dancing, singing, and disguising them selves in ridiculous costumes. This license tl.e Mayor of Kingston determined to put a stop to, with a view to annoy the blacks for having so strenu ously struggled for emancipation, and afterwards proving themselves so worthy of that boon. He accordingly directed the police to disperse the musical proces sions, seize their drums and other instruments ; and if they met with resistance to seize and imprison the ring leaders. These orders were carried into effect with all the brutality of which a licensed police force are capable. They beat and insulted the unresisting people, broke their drums, and compelled them at last to have recourse to missiles in their own defence. The Major had everything in readiness for such a state of things ; he read the Riot. Act in a corner, where not a dozen per sons could hear him, and instantly the word was given to fire upon the defenceless crowd I Four persons were killed at the first discharge, of whom two were respectable young men who were mere specta tors, and two young women, one of them far advanced in a state of pregnancy. Ten or twelve were wounded, some of whom died within a few days. Fright ful atrocities followed, which the writer states he wanted time to recount, and for which he declares it would be , absurd to look for justice, except at the hands of the British Legislature. From Madrid the papers received direct are of the 15th inst. They state that the Regent had received des patches from the revolutionary Government of Portugal, declaring that the QUEEN entertained the greatest friend ship for his Highness„ and that no measure would be sanctioned by the Cabinet opposed to the established Government of Spain. On :he Madrid Bourse the Five per Cents. were at 29 for cash. The right of search question is the only political topic of any interest in the French papers. The Opposition Journals are not content with the conduct of the Govern ment, in declining for the present the ratification of the Treaty of the Fve Powers. They now demand a decla ration from the Government, that the Treaty will not be ratified at any future period by France, and that the country will get rid of the Slavery-suppression engage ments of 1831 and 1833. They contend that to ratify the Treaty would provoke a war with the United States, in which the navy of the only Power, capable of enabling France to beat England, would be destroyed. Every consideration of justice and humanity gives way before considerations sug gested by anticipations of a war with England. Were we as vain as we are a great people, the conduct of France would supply ample food for the gratification of our vanity.- We can propose no great object to our selves for the amelioration of the miseries of the human race, in which we desire the co-operation of our neigh bours, without awakening their fears and exciting their jealousy. If our missionaries seek to diffuse a know ledge of the Gospel among the heathen, a cry is raised that we are seeking to extend our Colonies. No allow ance can be made for religious enthusiasm—none for an apostolic sincerity of purpose, however mistaken, on the part of British propagators of the Gospel. It is known to all Europe that the Anti-Slavery Society in England was long oppposed by the Govern ment and the Legislature ; that it was after long struggles, and overwhelming force of public opinion, that the - Government was driven to discountenance slavery, yet now the French Press Rill have it that the right of search is only sought for the dishonest purpose of extending the maritime greatness of England. France refuses to ratify the Treaty of the Five Powers, solely because her people are jealous of the superiority of our navy. It is to no purpose that our Government offers that the number of cruizers, exercising the rights given by this Treaty, should be equal on the part of France and England. They will listen to nothing but the sug gestions of their unworthy fears and groundless appre hensions. The Ministerial Journals are endeavouring to discre dit the reports of a CHRISTINO rising being contemplated in Spain. There is not, however, the shadow of a doubt of the fact. Still there is a possibility that it will not take place, owing to the strong opinions upon the atro city of such a "proceeding expressed in the English House .of Cornmons. We have received the following letter from St. Denis, Isle of Bourbon :—" We have' taken possession of the island of Nos.Be, which will eventually becoriie a good military post, but it is a most unhealthY one. Out of a detachment of fifty infantry we lost thirty. four in two months, and eleven artillerymen have died out of thir. teen. This island is not so large as Bourbon; it contains 18,000 innabitants, who are half savage, it is true, but who were perfectly willing tO submit to the. dominion of France. Ido not know whether we shall be able to retain it; but, at any rate, as we have established a garrison there, we shall at least adopt the sanitary precautions prescribed by prudence."— Temps. BOURSE—Pius, TUESDAY, FEB. 22. First Hlkhest Lowest Price giee Prig Prie... erenen 5 Dee Cents ll9 25 ... in, 50 ... 1 9 10 ... 119 10 4% per Cent,. 3 pet Cent, BO 20 -. EC 25 ... 81 20 ... SO 25 Loau O Ink 01 France L 05377 -5280 LaMtte Bank 1.001. Si ares Iciii, ...11 05 _me ...Ire2 5 „ 5,0001. SA9res 5 015 ...5020 ...tOl5 ...50 750 Belgian Bank .... ........ 1811 - 1. 50 ...IMO ...115 0 ...1051 Belgian 5 per Cents. 5 pet Cent:., 1840 11.6% ... MIA ... 116% ... 11. G% Spanish Active ......... .. Passive ... 5 34 ... 5 3 Dutch 2 3 per Cents. Neapolitan ..... R man.... . RAILWAY SHAMES. St. Germain ..N....««..••• « 825 825 Versa'lite, b 3 ' 7 50 357 50 ... 357 50 ... 357 50 2 L.B 2O .. 220 217 50 217 50 Rouen ........«.......«..•..... 513 75 513 75 ... 510 ... 510 (Mem, ............ 566 25 ... 566 25 ... 562 50 ... 51;3 75 Stralburgto Hal , . .............•• 2 48 75 ... 248 75 245 ... 245 HAMBURG BORSENHALLE, Fes. 19 . - Bills. Mosley Austrian 5 per Cents. ••••• 000000 ••••••••••• 0000000000 • 10934 109 Bank Shares 1690 Anglo.ltussian Loan llO% 1C9% Russian 5 per Cent. Ist series, Certificate I nscr iption, Ist Series, lO4 Russian 5 per Ccnt. Ho pe and C o . 3d an d 4th Cent Pe pe; Cent Series Ditto in Certificates —. 9 ' , 14 99 94 1 4 99 New 4 per Cent. ( 1840 ) 60% i. 9 14 5i% 51% - Ditto Polish Dutch . .. ........................ .. ....... . ..... 157% New tickets Anglo. Vanish Loan, 3 per Cent — 10% N wegian Loan, 1834 , 4 per c..,. • 76% 78 A. Spanish, New 5 per Cents... , li f.% 102% 18% 18 The Times thus lectures the Duke of Buckingham and the Aylesbury Association :--" They ought to be made aware that they have not yet experienced the full force of the feeling which exists against the pro tective laws. Many persons, with ourselves, nave hesitated to express their views in this respect, in their entire strength, from unwillingness to dis turb the unanimity of the Conservative party. But if it is found that by the act of the agricultural party that union can be no longer preserved, those who at present hold back will no longer have any reason for suppressing their entire opinions, and Sir Robert Peel will then perhaps find, even among his own friends and supporters, a pressure for further concession, which will be, at least, as likely to be effectual in increasing, as the farmers' movement in preventing, what has been already promised." MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS. CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK. LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET, FEB. 23.—More business has been done in cottons to-day than was anticipated yesterday. 'rhe sales number 2,500 bags 'of , all descriptions, of,which ex porters have taken 200 bales ; prices are firm, but no advance in the quotations. LivEttroot SH.ARE AARET, FEB: 23.—The market is quiet to-day, the following are the only transactions up to 4. 30 r.at. Grand Junction, half share, 921; Liverpool and Manchester, 1901] ; London and Birmingham, quarter shares, 34i. MANCHESTER STOCK EXCHANGE, FEB. 23.—The Market to-day has been heavy, with a drooping tendency in prices, and very little business transacted. Liverpool and Manchester, 191; Manchester nod Leeds, 73 ; Ditto, Quarter Shares, 31. 17s. ; Manchester and Birmingham. 28 28i : Lancaster and Preston, 29/ 4 291; Midland Counties, 79 79} ; Manchester arid Liverpool District Bank, 10i. The English Market opened firm ti.is morning, the business however doing is principally confined to the adjustment of ac counts. This being settling day in Consols, the quotation for Money is 8921*, and for the next A. count (14th April) 89} a ; Three-and-a- Halt' per Cents. Reduced. 99a ; New Three. and. Stock, 1691 1701 , Exchequer Bills, 20 22 p rem. a-Half, 984 ; Three per Cen ts. Reduced, 139 i ; Bank In the Foreign Market, Spanish Stock opened heavy, with present s r eils doing.el a decline upon the close of yesterday, being now 24* ; D e _ t r C e pricen t In Portuguese Stock there is De terred ; Passive, 5* a. no alteration, the Five per Cents are 32% / and the Three per Centsl9i ; Mexican Stock hoafrebyuaetdstvreiat_rntdlceaeiblutsfhiunel; upon the opening quotations being 35i 36 ; there is. however, PRICES OF SHARES THIS DAY A r ONE. R. ILWAYS. Paid. Per Share 86i to Great Western ...................... 65 50 Ditto New ............ ..• 50 ...... 35i....., to LOndon ant' Brighton ......... .-• North Midland ............... ...100 4 O 15 Ditto Thirds ..................... t 471 to York and North ...... 50 2ig3guing Otffoq-uietly, HALF-PAST ts.Reduc O ed N , 90 E. i ; b a e n e d n announced. f or the JOINT STOCK BANKS. lonian State ..................... ..• 25 The settlement of the Consol en and up to the present time no defal eati " B, ha i s l, Reduced, 100 ; New Three- Account The markets continue to advance, 'with but a moderate busi• ness doing. Ac count Consols , i t hfe of r 3 A I opnrei April, are now noW Th fi r r e rn ere a r t Dutch 1 wo-and-a iariation. Spanish Stock is Half, Three-and a-Half per Cents , and-a-Half per Cents., c 9. In the Foreign Market but little business has been trans acted, and we do not notice any 24 to 24} ; Mexican Stock, 354 ; 52} ; and the Five per Cents., /6 2 11 ; Belgian Bonds, 103 to 103 1 ; Bi azilian, 59. . In th e Sh are M ar k e t wen o tice an improvement i n G reat Western, whi c h were yesterday done at BIA , an d to-day have reached 861 ; the New Shares are 61i. In other Shares we notice no alteration, and scarcely anything doing. The following notice is just posted at the Bank of England : " The Governor and Company of the Bank of England are ready, until further notice, to receive applications for loans, upon the deposit of approved B in s of Exchange, not having more than six months to run, Exchequer Bills and East India Bonds. Such leans to be r epaid on or before the 20th April next, with interest, at the rate of 4 per cent. p er annum, and to b e f or sums of not l ess than 2,000/. each._ Feb. 24,1E42." ASTLEY'S AmrinTuEAT RE.—Mr . Batty has ob tained a lease of the site from Mr. Cobbold for 63 years, and has already commenced the new theatre for equestrian performances. VIUE-CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY.) (Before Vice'-Chancellor WIGRAM.) CRAWFORD •. FISHER. Hie HoNova was engaged throughout the day in hearing the further argument in this part.heard cause. The points in dispute between the parties present no feature of public interest. NSOLVENT COURT-(THIS DAY.) RE THOMAS RUCILTON. The insolvent, who described himself as a japanner, carrying on business in Castle-street, Leicester-square, applied on his petition to be discharged. Mr. COOKE, who appeared on behalf of the insolvent, stated in explanation of a large debt which appeared in his schedule as due to Messrs. Jackson and Graham, that the insolvent's trade required the use of large quantities of combustible matter, and some short time back his house was burnt to the ground. Not being insured, he was left almost pennyless, when the Duke of Portland very kindly presented him with 1501, to help in rebuilding the house; and Messrs. Jackson and Graham advanced him the ba. lance necessary for the purpose, taking a warrant of attorney on the lease of the site of the house. Un fortunately just as the building was finished, it was again burnt down, and Messrs. Jackson and Co. levied judgment and sold the lease for a sum far less than the amount of their debt. Mr. Commissioner Harms said he was perfectly satisfied with the state of the insolvent's accounts, as described in his balance sheet, and he should consequently order him to be discharged forth with. LAVST IN rfkLLIGENCE Chapman Harrison asked similar questions, and said that they • had been dining out with a party, and it was probable it might have been some of the party, but certainly it was not themselves. Mr. BALLANTINE said Price had again convicted himself; and as it was his duty to protect the public from such &Predations, he should floe Chapman Harrison 5/. for having unlawful possession of the knockers, and should require Thomas Price and George Michael Harrrison to find sufficient sureties for theirgood behaviour for six months. The fine having teen paid, and the required sureties entered into, the young men were allowed to depart In the care of their friends. LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DAY.) LONDON, FEB. 24.—Wind this day at noon S.W. DEAL, FEB. 23.—Wind S. to S.S.E.—Arrd. the Victoria, Johnson, Vera Cruz. Arrd. from the River the Jannet, for Mauritius; Don Giovanni, Jamaica; St. Christopher, Sierra Leone. Ski. Henry Wortley, Singapore ; Charlotte, Madras; Nichola, Odessa. LIVERPOOL, FEB. 23.—Wind S. S. E. to S. S.W., fresh.— Arrd. John Marshall, Baltimore ; Conquest, Smyrna. Ski. Wilberforce, Trinidad ; Brene, Havannah ; Medford and John Cumming, New Orleans ; Frances de Pau, Mobile. Arrd. off, Blake. The Alleghany, Michael's, bound to Philadelphia, has put back leaky. OFF DOVER, FEB. 21.—Saxon, Charleston for Amsterdam. PORTSNIOUTII, FEB. 23.—Wind S.S.E. to S.—Arrd. Sir Jol.n St. Aubyn, London for Algoa Bay. Ski. St. James, New York. Cove - es, FEB. 23.—Arrd. Odessa, Thorne, New York, decks swept, &c . OFF THE WIGHT, FEB. 22.—Acteon, Demian, Lima, with loss of sails, &c. OFF THE START, FEB. 22—Carl, Rio for Hamburgh. FALMOUTH, FEB. 22. —Wind S. W., strong breezes. —Arrd. Spencer, London for Demerara; William, Weems, Cardiff, with loss of jib-boom, &c., having been in contact off Padstow, 20th inst., with a barque. BRISTOL, FEB. 23.—Sid. Essex, Richmond, United States. CLYDE, FEB. 22.—Arrd. Fanny, Adams, Demerara. KINSALE, FEB. 20.—Arrd. Terrier, Swansea, and sailed for Cuba. Sld. Cantab, Rio Grande. SHIELDS, FEB. 22.—Sid. Carro, West Indies. YARMOUTH, FEB. 23.—The James, of Southampton, was on the Scroby Sand, but got off without assistance. CORN AVERAGE: GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN, Far the Week ended Feb. 18, 1842, made up from the Returns f the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in England am , Wales, per Imperial Quarter, Wheat 69s. Od. Vats I 28s. 51. I Rye AVERAGES OF THE LAST SIX WEEKS. IN RE LOUIE MARIE DELPLANQUE. The insolvent was a dancing master, and was opposed by a hotel-keeper at Richmond. His petition had already been heard in Court about three weeks ago, when the particulars were reported in The Sun. On that occasion the further hearing was postponed to this day, to produce certain documents, and fcr the attendance of a material witness. This person being unable to attend through illness, the case was adjourned to the Ist of April. IN THE MATTER OF CHARLES THOMPSON. The insolvent was opposed by Mr. Hughes, on behalf of Messrs. Heber and Son, for a debt contracted in 1833. The Learned COMMISSIONER said the opposition could not be supported, as the debt was debarred by the statute of limitation. No other creditors appearing in opposition, the insolvent was discharged. RE JAMES EDW•RDS. Mr. CooKE opposed the discharge of the insolvent, who was de scribed as a farmer and hop-planter at Lewisham. He was sup ported by Mr. HUGHES. The Learned Counsel said the grounds upon which his opposi. lion was founded were, that in the month of August last the insol vent received a sum of money out of the Court of Chancery, not one farthing of which went to his creditors; and that his wife was entitled to property under the will of his father, of which there was no account in his schedule. There were also two creditors left out, and a total omission of debts amounting to upwards of 300/. He (Mr. Cooke) contended that, under those circumstances, the insolvent could not be heard until he filed a new schedule, and gave all his creditors fresh notice. Mr. Commissioner HARRIS said he should dismiss the order for hearing, and as it was evident the insolvent's conduct had been fraudulent, he should refuse to enlarge his bail until the next day of hearing. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. BOW-STREET.--(THIS DAY.) A buckishly.dressed young man, arrayed in a cut away green coat, a most magnificent satin stock, with union.pins, and the other addenda necessary to the making up of a buck, was charged with robbery, under the following circumstances : _ . The prosecutor, whose name did not transpire, said that about four o'clock this morning as he was going home, in company with two friends, with whom he had been spending the evening, feeling rather dry they stepped into a public house at the bottom of James-street. Whils, there they had a friendly bit of a joke together, in the course of which the prosecutor was thrown down, and in the act of falling his money, to the amouut of 10s. fell out of his pocket, " which," said the prosecutor, " the prisoner at the bar picked up. With that I says, says I, You're got my money. He then hands me over 3s. Says I, that's not all you're got ? " Yes, it is," says he. Now afore that he hadn't much money I know, 'cos he axed the barmaid to trust him for a pot of porter, but she would not ; she said she didn't know nobody. He then, however, when she wouldn't trust him, did pull out 6d. and paid for the beer, and I cer'nely drunk out of the pot with him ; I eer'nely did, as he put himself for'ard into our company, and made himself wot yc u may call werry agreeable, certainly werry. When he said he had'nt got no more money I got a policeman, who took him to the station-house, where he pulled out half-a-crown and a sixpence, which I think belongs to me." The MAGISTRLTE—I was pet fectly sober, 'pon my honour; I was as sober as 1 am now. The MAGISTRATE—You had been out all night, spending, what you call the evening with these two friends of yours, and then this practical joke going on. It certainly does not look like great sobriety. Another witness corroborated the statement of the prosecutor as far as the scuffle, the display of the money, and the returning it were concerned, but he added, " that the whole lot on 'em was jest half and half between drunk and sober." Another strange, dirty-looking man, with a moustache, next ascended the box, and we were much struck by his apparent affa. bility and excessive politeness ; there was a kind of idiotic expres. sive manner about his owl.like eyes, with a lowering of the under jaw which excited our attention ; when he was pronounced to be quite drunk however by the inspector, and the Magistrate threatened to fine him ss. if he did not quickly make himself scarce, our surprise at his appearance vanished. The MaoisTasTE, addressing the prosecutor, said he could place no reliance whatever on his testimony; it was quite evident from the testimony of the second witness that he and his friends were drunk, and it was not likely he knew what money he lost. Under these circumstances the prisoner was discharged. The next charge on the paper was against Robert Rouen, for stealing a quantity of paper from Mr. Bradley, his employer. The Inspeetor announced, however, that this charge could not be pro. ceeded with at present, as the unfortunate young man had seriously wounded himself by cutting his throat with a razor whilst on the way'to the station-house. He had in consequence been conveyed to the Charing.cross Hospital, and the house-surgeon had given it as his opinion that it would be highly dangerous to remove him at present. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. (THIS DAY.) SPUILIOUR CIIAMPAGNE.—KarI Frederick' Marmite, a Pole, was placed at the bar charged with stealing a thermometer and other articles, of the value of :31. and upwards, the property of Mr. Ber nard Signes, the landlord of the Grapes public-house, in Old Compton-street, Soho. It appeared that the prisoner was recoil'. mended to the prosecutor about three weeks ago, as a lodger, and having run up a score, and no money being forth coming, he stated to Mr. Signes that he had made the dis. covery how to manufacture a liquor, which the most pro ficient judge would not be able to tell from the best genuine champagne, and that the cost would be a mere trifle compared with the extraordinary high price at which that wine was sold, and that, consequently, the secret would be of great value to wine -merchants, and that if he only had the means of producing a sample, he had no doubt but that " some gentleman " would give him a very handsome " gratuity" for the information. He then prevailed upon Mr. Signes to purchase the apparatus he required for his experiment, and among which were the articles he was charged with :stealing ; also a quantity of quicksilver, tinfoil, &c. Mr. Signes being dis appointed from time to time of the prisoner's producing a " sample," was at last inclined to examine the apparatus, and then discovered the deficiency. Mr. H•anwlcx—What was the tinfoil and the quicksilver for ? The Prosecutor—The foil was to cover the neck of the bottle, as is usual with champagne wine, and the quicksilver was, as I suppose, to give the wine strength. Mr. HARDWICK—At all events it seems that a very gross fraud was intended on the public. The prisoner was remanded till further inquiry should be made. UNION-HALL-(THIS DAY.) Elizabeth Holbein, a young female of interesting appearance, was charge with deserting her infant, by leaving it at the door of the reputed father. . Mrs. Mary Sutherland Stated that she lived at Dockhead, and that on the previous afternoon the prisoner knocked at the door, and without uttering a word, placed an infant which she carried in her arms, on the floor of the passage, and then ran away. She (witness) pursued her, and gave her into custody. In reply to the Magistrate, the witness said that her son was ac quainted with the prisoner, and that she said he was the father of her infant ; that her son lived with her (the mother), and that was the reason the young woman left the child at her door. The accused, who wept during the examination, said that Mrs. Sutherland's son was the father of her child, but he refused to con tribute to its support, and she kept it as long as she could, until being reduced to the greatest distress, she was at length compelled to act in the manner she bad done : repeatedly applied to the father on the subject, but he peremptorily refused to give her the slightest assistance. Mr. CovriNoliam said she was not justified in acting as she had done, but ought to take the infant to the workhouse of the parish in which the young man resided, and the parochial officers would proceed against him, and compel him to maintain his offspring. WORSHIP-STREET-(THIS PAY.; SEDUCTION AND REVENCE.—A young man named George Smith was charged before Mr. Bingham with having committed a violent assault upon John Blake, a journeyman silversmith, in the employ ment of Mr. Mordon, the patent pencil manufacturer in the City- Road. The Complainant (whose eye was frightfully swollen) stated that he was returning home on the preceding evening when he met the prisoner, who, without the slightest provocation, commenced a violent attack upon him, and struck him several severe blows on the face and body. Witness offered no resistance, but called a policeman and gave the prisoner into custody. He had sustained such serious injuries that he would be unable for some time to attend to his employment. In his defence, the prisoner admitted the assault, but said, that he considered himself justified in committing it in consequence of the complainant's having seduced his sister, who was now with child by _ _ The prisoner's mother, a respectable looking woman, confirmed her son's statement, and added that the complainant before be suc ceeded in effecting the ruin of her daughter, had promised her marriage, but, on being subsequently called upon by witness, to fulfil his engagement, he refused to do so, and told her that her daughter and herself might both be d—d. --- ihecomplainant was recalled by the Magistrate, and after con siderable hesitation, he admitted that the charge alleged against him was well founded. Mr. litNomast said, that he would make every allowance for the excited feelings under which the prisoner had acted, but no degree of provocation could justify him in taking the law into his own hands, and assaulting the complainant in the violent manner he had done. He must convict the prisoner, but he should impose the least penalty he dared to do, which was five shillings, and the prisoner must also find bail to keep the peace towards the complain. ant for three months. THAMES POLICE.-(THIS DAY.) Three stylishly dressed young men, who gave the names of George Michael Harrison, Chapman Harrison, and Thomas Price, the two former residing at Stepney.green, and the latter in Beau mont-square, Mile-end, were charged by the police before Mr. Ballantine, with having indulged in the very gentlemanly pas time of wrenching divers knoaers from the doors of the peaceable inhabitants of Blackwall, Poplar, and the Commercial.road, between the home of two and four o'clock this morning. From the evidence of the police, it appeared that the two Har risons were heard knocking at a door very loudly in the Commer cial.road, and when the police made their appearance, they ran sway and joined their companion. They were overtaken, however, in Salmon-lane, and all three taken into custody, when three knockers were found upon Chapman Harrison. It had been since discovered that as many as six knockers had been forcibly removed in Blackwall, Poplar, and the Commercial-road. Mr. BALLANTINE said there did not appear any evidence to im plicate Price in the:wrenching off the knockers, and lie might be discharged. The knockers were then severally identified as having been taken in the course of the night, and Mr. BALLANTINE asked the defendants what they had to say to the charge, whe n Mr. George Michael Harrison addressed the Magistrate, and questioned the policeman, for the purpose of proving that he was not one of the party who were seen to run away, and called Mr. Thomas Price, who had just been discl.argad, to show that they were together. BEANS. I PEASE Weel ending WHEAT. BARLEY.' OATS. Jan. 14 21 £8 6O 7 28 3 20 1, 37 4 :33 4 34 2 Eeb. 4 6O 6 28 5 20 1 36 1 ::3 4 33 II 11 18 6O 0 29 5 19 8 37 1 132 5 33 11 IMPERIAL AGGREGATE AVERAGES OF THE SIX WEEKS Wheat 60.. 10.1. I Oats ......... 20s. ld.l Beans 'l4. 51 Barley,. 283. 6d, i Rye DUTIES OX FOREIGN CORN. Wheat "6s. Bd. Oats I Barley lBs. 106. Rye THE MARKETS.-(THIS DAY.) COLONIAL MARKET. There was little business done ; but holders were firm. The imports were fair, and many ships are near at hand. TEA MARKET. The public sales went off at full rates, for both Black and Green sorts. Company's Congou Is. 100. cash. TALLOW MARKET. The Market was firm, and the demand good for parcels on the spot, at 48s. 3d. per cwt. For delivery little done. SPIRIT MARKET. The price of Rum was firm, with a fair demand. Proof Leewards, 2s. Id., fine Jamaies, ss. 10d. to 6s. 2d., and proof East India, is. lid. per gallon. Brandy dull of sale, and prices declining. Geneva in fair demand at is. lid. to 2s. Id. per gallon. Corn Spirits in slow request at 9s. 9d. per gallon. MONEY—MARKET und CITY NEWS. FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. CHRONICLE.—There have been one or two failures an nounced to-day in the City ; houses of some standing , c hiefl y connected with the Cape and Hamburg trade. A rumour has t got abroad again that the Bank directors contemplate a reduc- tion in the rate of interest. We do not give it as authentic, , or as to be depended on, but there are several circumstances ehich would tend to justify the Bank parlour in adopting such, a course. They are, of course, desirous to give the Govern ment a lift in their present difficulties ; and any course calcu- -.-1 dated to make money more easy is likely to give an impulse to the dormant state of our labour markets. In the next plate . • there has been a considerable and indeed forced export trade for some time past against limited imports. Our -colonial .; markets have been glutted with British goods, which have been at ruinously low prices, and on .long credits, but those credits are in course of b e i ng realised, while the prites at home for articles of foreign growth or manufacture are so much 0.-- 4 duced, that they do not afford much inducement to foreigners ; to supply us. Hence the exchanges have become favourable. T 1 MES.—It is now some weeks that the Spanish bendy' , holders have been in daily expectation of seeing the proposed. , ' capitalization of the interest on the Active Debt publicly awl flounced, and unfortunately, from one cause or another, theill I.ans been obliged to remain in continual suspense. there were certain formalities in the documents by which capitalization was to be affected, which required to be settled; • then there was a delay in M. Salamanca's arrival; and thetis when he did arrive, they were told that, as it was necessary -t° announce to the French and English bondholders t imultr •••- neously the day of conversion, it was impossible to MOi. the long-desired announcement for a few days longe!; '-'" It was on Saturday last that M. Borrajo r epreseot n 'l to the Chairman of the Committee the necessity this new delay, and then it was commonly earC" . that Wednesday (to-day) would be the day of public announce' , ment. Now, however, it appears that the day of announce' ment is by no means so near at hand as was com monly Or posed; for the chairman of the committee has received M. Borrajo a letter dated Monday last, the contents of Of. are nearly the same in substance with the conversation of • turday, and in which it is said that it is imp os sible to make the announcement for " some da)s" more, on the pretext befOP l ' . . mentioned of doing; equal justice to London and Paris. the delays are much calculated to dqcrease the confidence of holders, and to render them capable of believing any ruts against the Spanish Government, of whi c h th e re are so tos - v • • remaining still to be explained. SUN.—The Funds rallied a little from the slepression vette 0 10 in our last article, money being again rathe r abu n dant. for present transfer were up to h, but before the termins,a,,, of business, and for the settlement to-morrow, were at 89 to also, but never so IoW as 88k, which in the morning was • current rate for money. Exchequer Bill s b roug ht 20s. to 221 i premium, and East India Bonds 7s. to 9s. premium. 13613 „ 6 Stock W3S worth 169 i to 170 i, but I n di a S toc k g ave little, viz., to 2451 and 2451. The Spanish Bonds did not improve upon the news resat; • ing the re-establishment of one o f th ose p es t s o f th e kieg;ir . 4, Juntas of Safety," or, what mi g ht b e more t r uly stP. t . " Persecution Clubs." The Active Bonds were heavy and the Passive at 5i to I. Mexican Stock was at 35 tb and Dutch Five per Cents. realised par for the new loan. • The Railway Shares were, in a few instances, rather 1 0 7, saleable. Brighton were 14%, E as t ern C ount i es 14, O tee s ds -' with 14, Midland Counties 21, and North Midland 3 4 ;iii count. Birmingham and London were 77 to 78, Great wes t 18 to 19i, and Liverpool and Manchester 92 premium. tional Provincial Bank of England Shares were at par. CORONER'S INQUEST. fll r° Yesterday a very protracted inquiry wa s gone into be .o, Mr. Carter, Coroner for Surrey, at the Sir Sidney Se a s! Cheater-street, Kennington, respecting the death of Mrs. t' s :Ass Morris, aged 42, whose death took place under most exlrl y Lo, nary and singular circumstances, which will b e g athered '- the facts detailed below : a Jot Before the evidence was gone into, th e C orone r 8 0 ,0 proceeded to view the body, which was l y i ng at t he rest" of Mr. Morris, No. 11, Chester-street. It presented a 01- deplorable appearance ; the head was f rac t ure d i n a frig manner ; the left arm was broken, the r i g ht s h ou ld e r di5 11 7,7,44 besides other serious contusions on different parts of the r - - It was next pointed out to the Jury where the lad' sisi lea' ed from a parapet of a house th ree stor i es hi g h, an'. sa;sl where she had fallen. al° Mr. T. S. Morris was first exami n ed, an d s t a ted, th a 0 Sunday morning last he left home to accompany a fril o ss• his gig to Hoddesden, in Hertfo r d s hi re . H e : re t u rned t oil about half-past twelve o'clock at ni g ht; an d, as wa s his, 00 custom, first went to his stables to see th a t hi s h or se hau vos or properly attended to. He was a sto n i s h e d t o fi n d the Pro s(•. had not been " put up." He went up - s t a i rs •to WWl' spit his wife how it was there had b e e n so muc h neglet" . o; she would give no answer to his questions. His ' °l befri .s also absent, and he was naturally a nx i ous t o know. - Ott at that hour, he could possibly be, but she would giv e no information. He felt it his duty t o ma k e inqui ri s oo k the neighbourhood, and found his son concealed in 1W4.00., house attached to the premises of Mr. Brett, a bake r ' be. m oth the lad's re a son fo r d o i ng so was t h at hi s othes.e. isi. threatened to stab him, and, t o save hi s lif e, h e had rr . o sOs of the house, Upon finding where his son was. h l ss ies home with him about two o ' c l oc k on M on day s eal ing, and knocked at his door, but whilst in the, r .,';' , doing this he heard a dreadful noise, which to Wt o ,t. , j peared to arise from a heavy fall. He went up ' , dining-room, but his wife was not there, nor...‘ he find her in the bed-room. He wa s th en i n d uc ed to L'-. '' the yard, and there found his wife lyi ng lif e l es s ea ''' ' stones. There was a pool of blood by the side of her which was broken in many places, i n f ac t th ere was """ , part of her body that was not injured. He at once di OA his son to get the attendance of surge ons , se veral ° lb b attended. A neighbour had also been alar me d, and s" assistance the police were sent for. t 0 11 The CORONER—Can you explain how the deceased 15101 4 the parapet of your house ? Mr. Moiris—She Tau! s% gone to the top floor of the house, and a b ove th e landing ",, s is a trap-door which leas!s to the red of the house, l e kri door was fastened by a cord attached to a b eam , and She' taken a very high backed chair in o r d er t o reac h it. S's,.4o not have had a knife with her, for she had set fire to the 5. and then, having placed the candle by the chair, she,g 'Ll' eP ladder by which she got into th e l o f t ; i t was t h en e as Y s the parapet. ,: t. The Conosms—lt is your impression she 1 aped 1 1 ' parapet ? :It is a feat ful height !—Mr. Morris O f '. '' could pot tell ; she had repeatedly taken a raz , r in betty,„.. and attempted to cut her throat; not as he thought , s'' - _... i t intention to destroy her life, but to annoy him. OA: The CORONER next inquired if s h e was in the -oAssi drinking to excess? Mr. Morris replied it was n 't_ ol f„,:" stately so. It was reported in the room that th e d ecease d had d ru 7 . o4 , less than halt a gallon of whiskey du r i ng the Sunday:r when under the excitement caused by spirits she se''' 0 most desperate and det e• mined disposition. f tb S tis Mr. Croft, a neighbour, who h a d h ear d th e noise 0 0 ,6 stated to the Coroner that one of the d ece ased's 91 1;4 0 5,5. found in the next garden, and the other about a yard , • body. - re Ihe CORONER having remarked upon th e shameftd... Ls , that had been circulated to the prejudice o f Mr. Af°'' e t,' there could be no doubt this was the dec e a s ed's own $ 1,05P7.. the only question was the state of her mi n d when s '" ;o mitted it. The Jury, after a very short deliberatio n , returne ds it'l li . —" That the deceased t.estroyed herself while in g . 1 temporary insanity." s) , ' , - .ileiii) if In a recent communication to the Ac" -- . 0 14_, 1 0 Moral and Political Sciences, M. C. Lucas has shown fr°7l, cial reports of the Inspectors of Penitentiaries at rb l ec that mental alienation is on the increase in those twelle o pi ol ments in consequence of the solitary system- Thus, o ut ill, fl rage of 400 prisoners, the number of cases of madness so C: o d 11 in 1835, but had risen to 14 in 1837, to 18 in WS 'W. -, f in 183. Mis 9 s Eliza Spiterstone, a young laksri - 1 1,0 ;;0 111 years of age, residing in Norton-street, Portland-plant,o4? ,attempted self-destruction by taking laudanum and 0 1 0 04,2 f Fortunately the circumstance was discovered in time to ol ' t ar o s of the stomach pump, and it is to be hoped that she w,,s if from the effects of her imprudent act. Disappointed '''' . A .l. cause assigned for this attempt at self-destruction. f f 4l A printer at Caen has just been fined I,Uv v i ,rf, for printing a work on Jurisprudence without making th e dl!, declaration. He alleged that ever since 1830 it had b 0 , 011/ 1 torn to defer the declaration mail the deposit of the rt y WO This defence did not, however, avail. The aecused Fe b p', printer of the Hors of Caen, the Radical journal wh ic sis ft been condemned. o llr 0 A few evenings since, as a CUStOIII-hou s es named Boileau, was returning along the Mers.road t 0 0 Iti Or the Seine.lnferieure, her was assaulted by some p!1; 01 01, 1 0 1 ° undiscovered, and thrown into a trench. When 000! morning, he was still living, but cruelly mutilated , an d s_ d r his wrists broken, several of his ribs beaten in, ~-,40"! wound in one of his thighs. He was carried t "'" - 40 1 expired shortly after. , NO ;IP S Soup Fon THE Poon.—Much anxiety o pt, fr ) , railed in the Court of Alderman for some time Pot , oi tlt4 oppressive tax upon that necessary of civic comf(o --- 0 ;0 0 , 1 ; Anti-turtle.law Association was formed, and leV e r r eo O r 0 gourtnt nds pointed out the dreadful state of di'.. t 00 6 ii s t, many of the freemen were reduced in consequence ° f 0 .0 ,4 P. duty upon this genteel staff of life. We are laPP o ' o ser, their sufferings have touched the sympathies and 5t 0 010 wed Majesty's Government, who, with a praisewortbY o ol i4.: ‘ for the sufferings of their fellow-creatures, have. re nt red e 0 :„. hibitory Imposts. This will be glorious news for n`eos FT" Paisley, who must necessarily feel that, being re' t duty on turtle, they can have no objection to PO bread.—Punch. ___----- P P e le sON'" l ie ti PLATE.—A. B. SAVORY and - 0 0 0 , (0 .. Al facturing Silversmiths, No. 14, Cornhill, Lonoi ss ster" ss ay s s Bank of England).—The best wrought Fiddle-I:wog:So r Spoons and Forks, at 7s. 2d. per ounce. The OW lir s heavierweig as at t ec ti o i m e smaemnedepdr,i price e u p t e r t he ouncearticles : s e d. i i o , t . 6 0 4 oz. , ..../ ,0 12 Fiddle Pattern Silver Table Spoons 30 at ' 2 ~. ~ P i 12 ditto 12 ditto 12 ditto DTeasbsleert Forks ditto 3 2 0 0 s a l 7 , 7 7 s ii ...... i s v i i f : Dessert ditto 20 at 2 .... $ 1 1 0 t . 0 2 ditto Gravy Spoons 10 a s 2 ... . _ 0 1 ditto 4 ditto 4 ditto Salt Spoons (gn-s .. 8 , 0 i ditto Fish Slice... ............ s ... o ls of SSaouucpeLdaidttloe...... 10 0 : 1 ; 14 11 .. I 1 0 80 . ti 10 at ' g) ,ted 12 ditto Tea Spoons.. /wort 0 e 1 ditto Pair Sugar Tongs s r pis Ais c of stamped every in f a : m a lalt7n on aPP - ' r and price containing current, be bad .., i n allf: dra N w . i ß rig . s A , e v, h i a ll se he of se s n il t ve in r t o o r t S h h e effi co e u ld nt p u la , te ire m e ay of paid letter. patter P3rePlaetive LA P w. •'.-I,' i At Blackheath, Mrs. DBaviiislonTECasm.pbell, of 6 sc) - f .pia - On the 18th inst., Mrs. Henry 0 1 ' Rend-road , of phire• a daughter . On the 19th inst. at Burnham Vicarage, Somers. 'fe of isji Vil _ the ' H. Nutting of a son.th e On the 19th in , t at IF h ' d Ca rdiganshire' , ~,, Captain th e. S inst- :, ig -mea , ofd. or o . avies, of a s•-•n. T..n T', n 2oth ~ at Frederick-street, Gray's '-- - - 7 . t James Boulcott, of a daughter_._ Mal l e t, On sh e pten ~ the 21st inst., at the Parsonage, lady of the Bev. Morden Bennett, of a daughter. .., • CO, On MARRIED. ..,bire , . ,ir n the 19th inst., at Charlton Kings, Glouee,Ster 0 1 0 1 14 Page, a Coburg . D i x B. Riley, 48th Regiment, to Joanna, reli ct j a ptl , Horne, Esq., and daughter of the late V. Gar • - iste 'f, DIED. • On th e 19th inst, at Islington Sarah, relict ef.th op, Ph llll Ps , of Bourn, Lincolnshire , Esq., age d 85 ' ten P er On the 20th inst., at Vicar's -hill, KingsteiguY, . 04 , , Matilda, the daughter of the Rev. Dr. Whilib aill ' Ds' ;jig , P On the 21st lest at Hampstead, Richard litr e ~ ~ • formerly for many lest., 31. P. for the city of Brisl:1, sf•- .d -- 141 , 4 ___--------------- --- ,OV ,$' London: Printed and Published by MURDO a s st ow No•I 12 . Strand, at ?he SU h Office Nn• I -I-';, : . 60' the Count v of Atiddlesex, 'lhur,sday, February k''4 .. - „ DRURY-LANE THEATRE. A new play, in five acts, from the pen of the late Mr. Ge rald Griffin, entitled Gisippus, was brought out last night at this theatr e. It was highly successful, and deservedly so, for it abounds in passages of sweet and graceful poetry ; and the majority of the incidents are dramatic, without being forced or exaggerated, in order to produce effect. Gisippus, we un derstand, was written by Mr. Griffin before he had completed his twentieth year, and was shown to two judges, both of whom pronounced unfavourably of it as an acting play ; fortu nately, however, it was afterwards submitted to Mr. Macready, who reversed this decision, and the reception the piece met with last night has proved the soundness of his judgment. Before detailing the plot we may as well give the cast of the characters. It is as follows :—Titus Quintius Fulvius, Mr. Anderson ; Gisippes, his friend, Mr. Macready ; Medon, the brother of Sophronia, Mr. Graham; Pheax and Chremes, Athenian youths, Mr. Elton and Mr. Hudson ; Lycius, a Phoenician and freedman of Fulvis, Mr. G. Bennett; Davus, an usurer, Mr. W. Bennett ; Sophronia, betrothed to Gisippus, Miss Helen Faucit ; and Hero, her friend, Miss Turpin. Gisippus, in the opening of the first act, is presented buoyant and joyous in the extreme ; he is on the eve of his nuptials with Sophronia ; indeed, the scene repre sents the Parthenon, or temple of Minerva, on the Acro polis, with the hymenial altar, whose sacred fire already blazes, preparatory to the ceremony. Fulvius, it appears, has loved Sophronia, who, however, has promised her hand to Gisippus. Fulvius and Sophronia meet ; they have neither of them understood each other ; Fulvius is all passion, but Sophronia tells him that it is too late, that she is not her own mistress—that, in short, she is betrothed to Gissippus, his friend. Mutual regret is expressed, but Sophronia,. overflow ing with the highest regard for Gisippus, declares her attach ment to him unalterable. Gisippus has overheard this, and, after many and severe struggles, gives up his bride to his friend, her first love, and their marriage is immediately solemnized. Meantime Davus, the usurer, presses certain pecuniary claims upon Gisippus; he cannot meet them, and in his exigency he applies to his richer friend Fulvius.-- -- Athens is up against Gisippus, the popular clamour is, that he has sold his peerless bride for p lf. The usurer is inexorable, Fulvius is summoned by the Emperor to Rome ; Gisipl'us, in agony, has made an appointment with him on the subject of his pecuniary embarrassment; but Fulvius departs without keeping it, leaving Gisippus to deprecate the tfoilowness of his friendship. The claims of Davus are pressed; Gisippus, the scoff and scorn of Athens, is sold as a slave and sent to home. Fulvius has returned, covered with honour fi um his conquests in As menia ; an oration is awarded to him, and he is made a l'rtor. In the sordid garb of a slave, Gisippus meets the Praetor, is struck down by his het ors, and seeks refuge in an adjacent burying-ground. Heic Chremes is assassinated by Lycius, the freedman of Fulvius, between whom there had been anything but goodwill. Gisippus flies to the rescue ; it is too late, however. Weary of life, he gives himself up as the murderer, and is condemned to death. Fulvius just arrives in time to stay the execution, Lycius having ad mitted himself to be the criminal. The result may be easily anticipated. The friends, convinced of their mu tual honour, are reconciled, and the curtain falls. The acting of the piece was excellent throughout. Mr. Macready's Gisippus was one of his chastest, most careful, and most spirited performances ; and not less successful was Miss Helen Faucit's Sophronia. Mr. Anderson was at times toe boisterous as Fulvius; nevertheless. thexe" were many points in his stung that deserve praise. Thescenery was excellent, and the curtain fell amidst loud and general applause. As a spi cimen of the poetry of the play, we quote the disappointed, and world-weary Ciisippus's reflections in a burial-ground, where lie has taken refuge at night : •` This is his court, Here does he hold his reign of stirless fear, Silence his throne—his robe of Majesty, The hue of gathering darkness. Here, his minister-- The night-bird screams, and the hoarse raven iterates His warning from the left. Diseases flit Like spectres through the gloom, clothed in damp mist And tainted night-air—yet the grim slaYer Will send no kindly shaft to me. (Lie leans on a tomb. Will the dead Afford me what the living have denied, Rest for my weary limbs, and shelter ? Here At least I shall find quiet, if not ease, And host who do not grudge their entertaining, Even though the guest be misery. Colder hearts Than those which rest within this sepuichre I've left in all the health of lusty life Informing bosoms harrier than its marble; Then I will be your guest, ye silent dead; Would I could say, your fellow slumberer SOCIETY OF ARTS. It is with very great pleasure that we learn that active exer tions are being made to revive this most useful Society, to re storeank it m onto prosperity, and to enable it again to resume that rant amongst the scientific institutions of the country, which a it had for so many years deservedly held. There is cer tainly no scientific Society in existence which has done so much to advance the interests of the country as the Society of Arts, and it has therefore been matter of deep regret to all who have seen the gradual decline of this Society during the last few years. It in fact arrived at that point which rendered it probable that in a few months it would cease to exist, and it was evident that nothing but the most strenuous exertions on the part of its best friends could save the Society from ruin. By the resolutions proposed and carried at the meeting of last WedneEday, it is evident that there are those yet attached to the Society who are willing and able to save it and we look forward with much interest to the result of their labours. There is, perhaps, nothing that has done more harm to the Society than the manner in which the Wednesday evening meetings have been managed, or rather mismanaged ; in place of scientific and instructive discussion on new and useful in ventions, nothing has been heard but idle and absurd wrang ling and personal disputes; in consequence, those whose pre sence was most to be desired retired from the Society in dis gust, or ceased to attend its meetings. One of the measures brought forward last Wednesday was the appointment of a Committee to superintend and arrange these meetings, to pro vide new and interesting matter, to invite the attendance of inventors, to encourage scientific discussion, and to put a stop to idle talk and personal remarks. if this is carried out, and we feel sure it will be warmly supported by the members Gf the Society, if the members of this Committee will regularly at tend, and exert themselves in the work they under take, ii will go far to raise the sinking name and failing funds of the So ciety. The other resolutions proposed and cart ied on Wedni s lay were likewise for tht- most part vet y good, and highly cre ditable to the members who brought them forward. UNWHOLESOME FOOD.—On Saturday the carcase of a cow, which had been seized the previous night in a stable near to the Old Church, slaughtered and cut up ter sale, and condemned by a jury of respectable butchers as unfit for human mood, was burnt at the usual place at the end of Leeds-road. We have fre. quently had occasion to draw public attention to the nefarious prac :ices of a set of scoundrels, who, taking advantage of the distress of the labouring poor, offer, under cover of the night, such stuff as in reality is not fit for dogs.— York Courant. DREADFUL EXPLOSION OF FIRE DAMP AT BARNS- L ay.—On Tuesday morning a dreadful explosion of fire damp took place in a coal.pit at Barnsley, belonging to Mr. Hopwood, by which awful occurrence, we lament to say, four persons are numbered with the many who have lost their lives in a similar manner at the ill fated town of Barnsley. The catastrophe to which we refer took place shortly alter the colliers had descentied the pit for the pur. pose of commencing work. The names of the unfortunate sufferers are William Gantry, Mary Day, Ann Mallender, and Elizabeth Mallender.— York Courant. On the evening of the Bth instant, as an old farmer, named Gourreges, at Lasseube, in the Basses Pyrenees, was seated by the fire-side, smoking his pipe, four men entered, and demanded his money or his life. Although seventy years of age, he refused to comply, and immediately seizing one of the fire-irons, stood on his defence, while his servant.mmd did the same. The robbers advanced, one wounding him twice with a dagger, while the other snapped a pistol, but it fortunately missed fire. A desperate con. /ha ensued, but the cries of the woman alarmed a manservant who was out of doors, and at the same time put the thieves to flight. The man met them in the passage, and beat three of them severely, but they all effecttd their escape. One of them was re. cognised as a Spaniard. BRUSSELS, I'EB. 22.—The number of robberies at Brussels is increasing in a most alarming manner eh; - the i •• , T laws lobo • ad ot ▪ rub Coa l abst, ' resti e aPiti rcOpl S; POI (teas, la:w s • Pifi 110 of • Six Tamot diitre; Sey ~lure et Y, a, Lipp e , Ip B uo • .aou • Se amitie s Tila 4-11414 ZieWsp i . • All ". " NO; PT. 14, tin rer In d ui : 411 4 " 4 111 li t eti glU -ot l 'nt r ei Pdi Nt 444 1 11 t4t) tte r :.'Z 114 41.7 4 by t.t th ett rh onl I th:.toool e ' pojettorah ‘ Nir ibl e yt,, ,a,ty vierc°, 111,?..4.11e,a,,33a5erit, i tito th lt tt t4ll % g tite 171 e " x ° , 1 c , t h t et ce oCr e , l f Til: s gulue % 1 51 5 t bluie t 44 ti c " I Y. tit t; " Q e 81 :r t l u rtee ; te _r tt 'tied ii hee mr. 4 , 4r it b as uZ 010 att en e ttlit tli e cult ' ' t4 hee ' Part Of th fo j 4t 1 te... 1-1 1LIS• ‘-‘0 0114.1, e x Par. 50. ..4.,, Peo . ob;t; and S e the