The Sun. — London, England, 1827-03-20 00:00:00

Macgregor gave him some laudanum, and after some time he he cerae-more composed, and fell a4lcep. I learnt early in the morning of the 30th, from Mr. Macgre gor that his Royal Highness had had some sleep at intervals, but that he appeared much weaker, and that there were other indica tions of increasing danger. His Royal Highness had determined not to "quit his bed-room. - He sent for me at half-past ten, and I remained with him for more than an hour, until Sir H. Halford came. I was extremely -shocked at the extraordinary change which had taken place in .one night, or rather since the preceding morning at the same hour. He appeared extremely feeble and under great uneasiness from pain, but otherwise composed, and although suffering so much he uttered no complaint. He asked me when I had come, and I told him I had slept in the house. He did not seem sur • prised, or displeased, but said he concluded he was considered much worse, for Mr. Macgregor had been three times to see him in the night. But that he felt quite equal to business. I therefore • brought forward a few subjects, and received his very clear instruc tions, though. his voice had become so feeble that I could with dif ficulty hear him. - His. Royal Highness saw the Dukes of Clarence and Sussex, and Sir William Knighton, who was going to Windsor, and through whom he sent an affectionate message to the King. To the Dukes of Clarence and Sussex he spoke cheerfully on the state of Portugal and other matters of public interest. The Princess __Sophia was also with him for a considerable time. - Between nine and ten be expressed a wish to see Col. Stephen son and me, and we went to him, but be said little and wished us good night. He passed a restless night and appeared much weaker on the _ following morning (the 31st Dec.) but continued perfectly sensible, took nourishment when offered to him, but chewed no inclination to speak, unless spoken to. His medical attendants apprehended from the increased weakness, the rapid approach of dissolution. I went to him by desire of the physicians between one and two. He took my hand and received me most kindly. He said, " here I am, I feel weaker but not worse, and I do not suffer pain." He moved his lips occasionally but I could not distinguish what he said, he appeared quite sensible, very composed, and twice looked _at me, the first time seriously, the second time with a placid, al most a cheerful smile, and I came away perfectly satisfied that his mind was freefrom anxiety and uneasiness. The Princess Sophia came in, and the manner in which be roused hi mse lf when s h e was announced was very striking. Her Royal Highness staid • , with him about twenty minutes. He continued very quiet throughout the rest of the day, and at half past seven desired s "Sir A. Cooper, who was going to Windsor, to give his affec tionate duty to the King, and to tell him he was very comfortable. . On the let January I learnt that his Royal Highness had Rased i Very quiet night, with four hours' good sleep, and that no material change had taken place in his state ; that he conti nued perfectly sensible, took sufficient nourishment, and spoke whenever roused; nor were the legs in a worse state ; on the contrary, their appearance had become more favourable. Upon the whole, the Physicians thought he might linger on longer than they had expected, such was the extraordinary resist ance which his constitution opposed to the progress of the disease. The Dukes of Clarence and Sussex again saw him, and he re ceived them affectionately, but did not speak, and they left him -immediately. The Princess Sophia then went to him ; he kissed her, and said—" God bless you, my dear love—to-morrow, to morrow," and she left him. He continued in the same quiet and composed state throughout the day, and occasionally told his me dical attendants that he felt no pain, and was very comfortable. •I did not see him. The report on the following morning, the 2d January, was, hat the night had been quiet, and that he continued free from pain, and perfectly sensible, though he seldom spoke. Soon after ovine he had a shiveriug . attack, which was very alarming, and his pulse was hardly perceptible, but he rallied. He had been moved nearer to the window, was quite himself, and asked whether the day was not a frost, which was the case. He be- Came slightly delirious at twenty minutes past one, and other 'symptoms had become more alarming. Still he was quite sensible' at intervals. The Princess Sophia was with him for a short time, and he knew her. ' The Dukes of Clarence and Sussex, who came in the afternoon, did not sea him. His Royal Highness continued nearly in the _ tame stale, except that his pulse had been gradually lowering, and his breathing becoming very short, and his situation ap peared so critical, that I and other attendants in the house deter mined not to take off our clothes. The street was crowded with _ people throughout the day, not apparently assembled from curio sity, but •• from anxiety, extremely quiet, and hardly speaking, except to inquire, in a subdued voice, what was the state of his Royal Highness. I learnt at six on the following morning (the 3d), from Mr. Macgregor, that notwithstanding a restless and uncomfortable • night, his Royal Highness had rallied, and appeared then stronger, more inclined to talk, and to take nourishment, than he had been on the preceding day, and that it was impossible to calculate when the crisis would arrive. His pulse had also become more steady. The other medical attendants confirmed this at a later hour, and observed that his Royal Highness's extraordinary powers of con stitution and tenacity of life, dened all calculation. The Princess Sophia, being unwell, could not come this day ; the Dukes of Clarence and. Sussex came at twelve, and staid until six, but did ' not see their brother. s Sir :Wm. Knighton, having come from Windsor, and been 'jigged - to hie Royal Highness, he desired to see him, that he might inqsaire after the King, and requested hien to assure his Majesty of hiketffectiOnate duty. Towards the evening his Royal Highness chewed symptoms of returning strength, and the physicians reported to his Majesty, that he continued in the same state, without appearance of im mediate dissolution, but without hope. Between ten and twelve he was very quiet and inclined to sleep. The assemblage of people in Arlington-street was the same as on the preceding day, there was the same propriety of conduct, the same manifestation of affectionate interest, free from curiosity. His Royal Highness passed a very restless night, with occasional attacks of faintness and spasm. His breathing had become more difficult, his pulse more feeble and irregular, but yet there were no symptoms of rapidly approaching dissolution. Sir Astley Cooper had sat up with him to relieve Mr. Macgregor, and when the latter went to his Royal Highness, he desired him to thank. him, and say he was very kind. Shortly after he saw some one near him, and Mr. Macgregor told him it was Mr. Simpson, and his Royal Highness said Mr. Simpson is a good man. He took some slight nourishment oc casionally, and towards ten o'clock he had a serious attack of 1 faintness, during which his pulse was hardly perceptible, but he rallied again. Sir Wm. Knighton saw his Royal Highness, but Ile did not speak to him. Between one and two, Mr. Macgregor came to tell me that hie Royal Highness had named me frequently, and at last_made them understand that he wished to see me. I immediately went to him. I found him dreadfully changed, very feeble, much op presied, and evidently unable to distinguish objects clearly. Batchelor nained me to him, and I sat down close by his right side. He looked at. me with a kind smile, took me by the hand, and I told him I had not left the house since I had last seen him. He asked me with difficulty, anti in a faint, though steady voice, whether Colonel Stephenson was in the house. I said he was, and asked whether he wished to see him; he nodded assent, and I immediately sent for him. Colonel Stephenson went to his left side ; but, as his Royal Highness could not see him, I beckoned to him to come to the right side, and I moved bank, so as to enable him to come close up, while I supported his Royal v Highness, by placing my hand against the pillow, behind his back. He then gave his hand to Colonel Stephenson. After some in terval, during which his Royal Highness breathed with great dif ficulty, and was very faint, and during which, Batchelor bathed his temples with Cologne water ; he collected his strength, and said in a steady, firm tone of voice, but so low as to be hardly audible to Colonel Stephenson, whose head was further removed than n ame," I am now dying." After this, he dropped his head, and his lips moved for about a minute, as if in prayer. He ' then looked t us againt and appeared to wish to speak, but an attack of faintne; e came on, and his respiration was so difficult, and he seemed so wie'lc and exhausted, that I thought he was dy ing, and expressed that NT rehension to Colonel Stephenson, who partook of it. Batchelor biethed his temples again, and he rallied, after which he again took Colotiel Stephenson's hand, and nodded to Batchelor, who told us he meant we should leave him. The scene was most affecting and trying, but yet in some re spects satisfactory, u it chewed that be was perfectly aware of his situation, and we concluded that he had seen us together, as being his executors, and meant to take leave of us. I heard afterwards that he had appeared much exhausted by the effrt, but subse quently took some chicken broth and became composed, with out having any return of faintness. Towards the evening, h rallied again, and had some sound and comfortable sleep, and his attendants separated under the impression that his Royal Highness's life would he prolonged at least another night. In the course of the night he had so serious an attack of faint ness that Mr. Macgregor thought he would not have recovered from ; but he rallied again towards the morning of the sth, and had taken mune nourishment. The breathing had, however, be come extremely difficult. About II Mr. Simpson came to me to say that the symptcons of apprpaching death had came on, and that the medical attendants wished me to be in the room *djoining to that in which his Royal Highness lay. I brought in the Duke. of Clarence and Sussex, and Colonel Stephenson, ar,d we conti nued in the room, expecting every moment to be called in by 46; medical attendants (who were all with his Royal Highness) to witness his death. Sir Henry Halford came to us occasionally, and stated that his Royal Highness's pulse was hardly perceptible, his extremities were cold; he was speechless, and had with diffi culty swallowed a little milk and rum, but nevertheless appeared to retain his senses. Of this, indeed, he gave proof at 12, for Mr. Macgregor came in to say that his Royal Highness had in isted on having his legs dressed (which they naturally wished to avoid at such a period,) for he had looked at him several times, hid pointed at the clock, then at his legs, and had pushed off the covering, thus showing his determination to go through all that was required to the last moment. When be found that he was understood, and that Mr. Macgregor was preparing for the dress ing, he signified his thanks to him with a kind smile, threw back his head, and hardly noticed anything afterwards. The pulse became more feeble, the attacks of faintness more frequent, but his Royal Highness struggled on, and between eight and nine this state appeared so likely to last for some hours, that the Duke of Clarence was persuaded to go home, and I returned to my room to answer some inquiries. At twenty minutes past nine, Colonel Stephenson called me out, and told me that he was in the last agonies. I hastened down, but my dear master had expired before I could reach his room, and I had the comfort of learning that he had expired without any struggle or apparent pain. His countenance indeed confirmed this, it was as calm as possible, and quite free from any distortion, indeed it almost looked as if he had died with a smile upon it. The medical attendants, the Duke of Sussex, Batchelor, and another servant, were in the room, looking at him in silence, and with countenances strongly expressive of their feelings. Such was the end of this amiable, kind, and excellent man, after a long and painful struggle, borne with exemplary resolution, and resignation, and I am confident, that the details into which I have entered of the last circumstances of that struggle, will not prove uninteresting to those who were sincerely attached to him. I feel that I owe it to his Royal Highness's character, to aid some general observations, which may serve to place it in its true light, and to confirm the opinion of those who view his loss as a national calamity. It may be necessary to premise that from the moment that I had received the alarming report from Brighton, I ceased to en tertain any sanguine hopes of his Royal Highness's recovery, and that my expectation of it became gradually more faint, al though they varied occasionally, as the symptoms of the disorder i fluctuated. This impression led to my keeping the minutes, from which I have extracted theforegoing statement, my object in so doing, being that I might be better able, from such accurate source, to do jus tice to his Royal Highness's character and sentiments. The 30th December was the last day on which I submitted any papers, and he was then quite equal to any business, for al though his state varied in the course of the day, yet, there were hours when physical causes, or the effect of medicine, did not interfere with the clear application of the powers of the mind. It has been already shewn by the details, I have produced, that almost to the latest hour his Royal Highness was anxious to dis charge his official duties, and the interest he took in them was at no time weakened by the pressure of bodily disease or pain. In further proof of this, I may state, that on Saturday the 9th Dec. I received from Lord Bathurst at his office, secret instructions respecting the force to be prepared for embarkation for Por tugal, and that I communicated them in the same evening to his Royal Highness. He was then in great pain, but he became indifferent to bodily sufferings, and immediately drew up the heads of the military arrangement (which paper in his own writing I now possess) from which were framed detailed instruc tions approved by him on the following day, and issued,on Mon day the 11th Dec. This measure naturally produced the necessity of other arrange ments connected with kome service, and the Adjutant General and Quarter Master General will bear me out in the assertion that these were entered into and directed by him with the same intelli gence and attention which he had manifested on previous occa• sions, when we are bound to state that every arrangement was made by him, and that the execution of the details was alone left to us. It may not be irrelevant here to observe, that this had at all times been the case ; his Royal Highness had been at the head of the army more than 32 years ; during that period various officers were successively employed fiy him in the situations of military secretary, and at the heads of departments at the Horse Guards; and they possessed his confidence and exerted themselves zealously. But the merit of rescuing the army from its impaired condition, of improving, establishing, and maintaining its system, of introducing that administration of it, in principle and in every detail, which has raised the character of the British service, and promoted its efficiency, belongs exclusiiely to his late Royal Highness. The work was progressive, but his attention to it, his able superin tendence of it were constant. He guided and directed the labours of those subordinate to him ; their task was executive. He gave the impulse to the whole machineryand kept the wheels in motion, and to him, I repeat it, the credit was due. An arrangement for the promotion of the old subalterns of the army had long been the object of his solicitude, but it was one of difficult accomplishment, as it was understood that no measure en tailing extraordinary charge on the public, would be admitted.--L Hence the delay in bringing it forward ; but his Royal Highness entered into every detail of it on the 26th of December, and the King having paid him a visit on the 27th, he ordered me to submit it to his Majesty on that day when it obtained the Royal signature; and the communication of his Majesty's gracious approbation of this arrangement nig received by his Royal High ness with a warm expression of satisfaction. Of the resolution and resignation with which His Royal High ness submitted to protracted confinement and a painful disorder, my statement offers ample proof; but I have not stated, that during all this period, during this serious trial, his excellent tem per and kind disposition to all who approached him, continued unimpaired. I appeal to his medical attendants, I appeal to his servants, to those who transacted business with him, official or personal, whether at any time he betrayed a symptom of irrita bility, whether a sharp word escaped him, whether a murmur or complaint was uttered. Every attention, from whatever quarter, was kindly received, and gratefully acknowledged. Great anxiety was shown by him to avoid giving trouble ; and, at the later perio • ds of his illness, that which seemed to distress him most teas is being reduced to the necessity of requesting others to do for him that which he had ceased to be able to do for himself. Of the kind attention of his medical attendants, and their anxiety to afford to him the utmost benefit of their skill, he ex pressed himself most sensible. And it is due to them to say, that if he had been their nearest and dearest relative, they could. not have devoted their time, care, and attention to him with more affectionate zeal than they did. Nor did he ever betray any want of confidence in their skill, or the least desire to resort to other advice. I must add, that I can positively state, having been admitted freely to their consultations, that no difference of opinion pre vailed among them ; they acted together cordially, and their only object seemed to be the welfare of their illustrious patient. During the progress of his illness his Royal Highness received the most endearing and affectionate attention from the King, and from his brothers and sisters; and they never failed to be acknow ledged with satisfaction and with gratitude ; the Princess Sophia especially, whose near residence admitted of more frequent inter course, never missed coming to him in the course of the day, unless prevented by indisposition ; and I have already stated that her Royal Highness, by his desire, took the Sacrament with him the 28th December. The visits of his Royal Highness's numerous and attached friends were frequent ? and' they were invariably received with sa tisfaction, and with an expression of his sense of their attention. Upon these occasions lie exerted himself to meet them cheerfully, and to suppress the expression of pain or bodily uneasiness, and they often left him with the belief that he was free from both, al though this had Isy no means been the case. Nor did his Royal Highness's bodily suffering or the contem plation of his critical state diminish in any degree the interest which he had ever taken in the state of public affairs, and in the welfare and prosperity of his country. These were at all times uppermost in his mind, and I am convinced that they often en gaged it in a much greater degree than did his own situation. H. TAYLOR. M. Camacho, the Mexican Minister to this country, is about to proceed to Paris immediately. In his passport, which is signed by the French Ambassador, he is designated by his full title of " Miniater Plenipotentiary of the United States of Mexico." It is said that this concession was not at first granted, but M. Camacho was firm, and would have declined going to France, had not his diplomatic character been declared on his passport. The French Government are too well aware of the importance of the commercial intercourse with Mexico to stiffer a mere form of this nature to s:.sz„nd in the way of it.. advantages. The letters from Naples express high gratification at the departure of the Austrian troops, the charge of supporting whom ha., been an intolerable weight ou the resources of the country. It appears by letters from Milan of the 4th inst., which have been received to-day, that an Austrian army of observation, amounting to near 25,000 men, is to be formed in the neighbour hood of Milan. The garrison of Milan, which was to have marched on the arriyal of the first division of the troops from Naples has received orders t , ..) remain, and instructions have also been sent to the corps in other places, to aseemble on that point. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, MARCH 20. CATHOLIC CLAIMS. The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a peti tion from the Congregation of Protestant Dissenters, meeting at Grove Chapel, Camberwell, against any further concessions to the Roman Catholics. The Duke of RICHMOND presented similar peti tions from certain Dissenters of Chichester, and from a parish in Carnarvon. Petitions to the same effect were presented by the Bishop cf GLOUCESTER, from the Clergy of the Archdeaconries of Wilts and Berks, diocese of Salisbury.—Laid on the table. Petitions, praying for Emancipation, were presented by the Earl of CLARE and the Earl of ROSSLYN, from the counties of Limerick and Mayo.—Laid on the table. The Bishop of BATH and WELLS presented a petition from Frome, Somersetshire, against any further conces sions to the Catholics.—Laid on the table. Lord KING had to present to their Lordships the petition of a Roman Catholic, named William Calaghan, who stated that his ancestor bad been a Dragoon in the Army of Gen. Sarsfield, and the petitioner therefore prayed, that as a Catholic, he might he held entitled to all the benefits secured to persons of his religion by the treaty of Limerick.—Ordered to lie on the table. Lord DUFFERIN presented a petition from Bangor, county of Down, against any further concessions to the Catholics.—Laid on the table. The Noble Lord had to present a similar petition from Donag hadee, same county. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY complained of the mode in whieh those petitions were got up. The person who was most active on the occasion was not a resident of the North of Ireland. He could state from his own knowledge, that in the part of the country with which he was more immediately connected, the decided feeling was in favour of concession. Lord DUFFERIN said, that both petitions were fairly got up, and respectably signed. He had himself been asked his opinion on the subject of the Catholic Claims, and his reply was, that if concessions were made, it ought to be only on suffi cient securities being obtained from the Catholics. The petition was then withdiawn, in consequmee of an informality. CORN LAWS. The Earl of MALMESBURY presented a peti tion from certain Agriculturists of Banhury, in the county of Oxford, against the proposed alteration in the Corn Laws. The petitioners did not think that the • price of '6os, with a duty of 20s. would afford sufficient protection to the agriculturalinterests. —Laid on the table. . . _ Lord ROLLE presented a similar petition from South 'Mahon, Devon.—Laid on the table. The Earl of LAUDERDALE presented petitions to the same effect from certain hundreds in the county of Warwick. Similar petitions were also presented by Lord Maynard, from the hundreds of Dunmow, in Essex ; and by Earl Stanhope, from three hundreds in the county of Bucks, and from the Agricul turists of Towcester and Northampton, county of Northampton. —Laid on the table. NAVIGATION LAWS. The Earl of LAUDERDALE presented a peti tion from the Shipowners of Glasgow, praying for an alteration in the Navigation Laws.—Laid on the table. The Army and Navy Mutiny Bills were read a third time and passed. Mr. Crafer, from the Treasury, presented certain returns of wheat and flour imported from the North American Colonies of Great Britain.—Laid on the table. A person from the Trinity House presented an account of the Pilots' Fund, for the year 18,26. A person presented the annual account of the Receipts and Dis bursements of the East India Dock Company. Adjourned at half-past Five o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MARcu 19. Petitions for the protection of Agriculture were presented by Sir J. Mackinnon, from certain Landowners in the county of Ross; by Sir Christopher Cole, from Landowners in Glamorgan shire ; and by Mr. Fane, from Landowners in the neighbourhood of Banbury.—Laid on the table. " Mr. VESEY FITZGERALD presented a peti tion from the proprietors of Flour Mills, in the county of Clare, in Ireland, for the protection against the importation of Foreign Flour.—To be'printed. CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION. Mr. WIGRAM presented a Petition from the inhabitants of New Ross, against any further concession to the Ca tholics. ABERCROMBY held in his hand a Peti tion from the Catholic inhabitants of a parish in the county of Waterford. He did not think that, notwithstanding the recent vote of the House, he ought to withold the petition, nor would he be justified in withholding the information it contained from the House.—The petition was then brought up. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT gave notice of his intention of bringing forward a motion relating to the conduct of Water Companies. Mr. CHARLES DUNDAS presented a petiticin from Wallingford, complaining of corrupt practices in that bo rough at the late election. _ kr. PALMER supported the petition, which was laid on the table: Mr. CAREW brought up the Report of the Com mittee appointed to inquire into the validity of the return of John Gladstone, Esq., for the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. The Report stated, that the Committee had heard Counsel for and against the allegations set forth by the petitioners against the re turn, and had determine 4 that neither of them were right, but that the election was in the Burgesses cf the borough, who had been regularly sworn in ; and that Mr. Gladstone not having been elected by them, his return was informal and bad. Mr. LIDSEY presented a petition from the Town and Council of Perth, praying for an alteration in the Corn Law.—Laid on the table. Mr. H. HUTCHINSON presented a petition from the millers of flour-mills in the parish of Shallaghan, county of Tipperary, against the Importation of Foreign Flour. Mr. JAMES GRATTAN presented a petition from the Catholic Bishops of Ireland, on the subject of the edu cation of the Catholic Poor. The Honourable Member com plained that the poor of Ireland did not receive the benefit of those grants which this country annually made for their use. The Hon. Member then complained of gross mismanagement and misapplication. in affairs of the Kildare-street schools. He instanced, that within the last year alone, a sum exceeding 8,000/. had been expended in adding - to the buildings of the Society, and this he considered as being a total perversion of the grants made in this country, in favour of the Catholic poor. He could show that since the Union, large sums of money bad been annually voted to this Society; and as it was a grant of public money for a specific purpose, it was not dealing fairly by the Ca tholics to apply it to any other. The Hon. Member, after enu naerating other instances where he alleged the Catholic interest had been made subservient to the ruling power, concluded by giving the petition his most cordial support. Mr. HUME also considered that the grants to those institutions had been applied to the use of, not the poor Catholics, but the rich Protestants of Ireland. Mr. HENRY GRATTAN, in giving his support to the petition, said that if England and Ireland were to go on toge ther, which was a question the Ministers by their late conduct had made doubtful, the English people must snake up their minds to this—namely, to allow the Irish people eo be Catholics if they pleased. Mr. JOHN SMITH was fully impressed with the necessity of applying some remedy to the great grievances com plained of. Mr. Secretary PEEL was satisfied the Irish Go vernment had pursued a proper course with respect to the alleged abuses. He was exceedingly desirous of seeing that bitterness of religious feeling which existed in Ireland, banished, and he thought that one way to contribute towards that end was to have the Roman Catholic youth and the Protestant educated together, leaving each party on a Sunday to receive their religious instruc tion from their pastors. A Member, whose name we could not learn, shortly addressed the House, but was inaudible in the gallery, Mr. ABERCROMBIE said that nothing could be more admirable than the principles which the Right Hon. Gentleman (the Secretary of State fer the Home Department) had laid down with respect to education in Ireland ; but the country, he feared, was in such a lamentable condition, that they could not be acted upon. Sir JOHN NEWPORT said, that when the esti laatea for the Kildare-street Society were before the House, he should oppose the grant, with a view of proposing a better appli cation of the money. 1 Mr. PLUNKETT entirely concurred with the principle of having a common education . for the Protestants and Roman Catholics of Ireland. There were plans in agitation to have oue common religious instruction in those establishments— not the Bible itself was proposed to be read, but extracts selected from it. This system of instruction, it was well known, had been approved of by the Roman Catholic Bishops of Ireland, and it now only waited for the approbation of the heads of the Pro testant Church. This approval, he hoped, would not be denied. After a few observations from Mr. MOORE, which were not distinctly heard in the gallery, Mr. Secretary PEEL rose for the purpose of call ing the attention of the House to the Report of the Committee re lative to the object of the school, and which Report had been some time on the table. The Gentlemen, he said, who formed that Committee, were exceedingly well qualified for the t.,sk ; one of the four composing that Committee was a Roman Catholic.—(Mr. Blake.)—The Right Hon. Secretary then read an extract from that Report, which was to the following effect:—" That objec tions bad been frequently made to the Kildare-street Society Schools, on the alleged ground that the object of them was to en deavour to persuade the Children of Catholics to become Protest ants. But not one fact of such a case had there come to the knowledge of the Committee." It had been stated that a priest had spoken against the schools, and had caused not a little irrita tion in Ireland—but let it not be forgotten, that for one individual who disapproved of it, there were fifty-nine of his religious pro fession, who wrote letters signifying their concurrence in the mea sure of the Commissioners. Mr. S. RICE said that it was not now the time to enter into a discussion, on the Kildare-street Society's Schools, but he trusted that when his Right Hon. Friend the Member for Waterford (Sir John Newport) brought forward his resolutions, the House would indulge him (Mr. S. Rice) with a patient hear ing on that subject. He did most earnestly hope that a common system of education would be established, with religious tolera tion to each. Mr. Sec. PEEL and Mr. ABERCROMBY mutually explained. Colonel TRENCH hoped, that, through mistaken zeal, there was no attempt: in the Schoois to produce proselytism. —The petition was laid on the table, and.ordered to be printed. Sir J. GRAHAM in presenting a petition from the cotton spinners of Carlisle, praying that certain machinery might not be exported, took leave to ask if any plan were in agi tation by Ministers to regulate the law on the subject. Mr. C. GRANT, in the absence of the President of the Board of Trade, said that there was no intention on the part of his Right Hon. Friend to introduce a Bill on the sub ject.—The petition was then read and laid on the table. Mr. HUME said that he should feel it his duty to bring the subject under the consideration of the House on a fu ture day. _ _ A petition was presented from Kingston-upon-Hull (by whom We did not hear), from the rope-makers of that place, respecting the Navigation Laws.—To be printed. _ _ Mr. - CUR TEIS presented a petition from the oc cupiers of land in Hastings, against the Corn Bill now in progress through the House. Colonel Al ABE RLY gave notice that on Wednes day, the 11th of April, he should submit a motion to the House respecting Corporal Punishment. Mr. C URWEN presented a petition from the Ship-owners and Ship-builders of the port of Sunderland, com plaining of the present state of the Navigation Laws.—Ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed. Sir T. LETHBRIDGE presented a petition from the Committee of an Agricultural Society at Dartford, against the prposed alterations in the Corn Laws.—Ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed. Alr. ROBARTS presented a petition from an in dividual named John Wright, against any alteration in the Corn Laws.—To lie on the table and he printed. Mr. KEKEWICH presented a petition from the millers of Exeter against the importation of foreign flour.—To lie on the table and be printed. Mr. J. WILKS (Sudbury) gave notice of a mo tion, the purport of which did not reach the gall er y. Mr. WESTERN presented a petition from the landholders and persons engaged in agriculture in the Hundred, of Dunmow, in the county of Essex, against any alteration in the Corn Laws.—Ordered to lie on the table, and to be printed. The SPEAKER begged permission to take that opportunity of calling the attention of the House to two petitions which lay on the table concerning the Denbigh double return.— The question to which he was desirous to draw the consideration of the House was, with respect to the wording of one of those two petitions. Both petitions had been presented to the House under the authority of the Act of the 29th of George the Third, which stated that if, before the day appointed for taking into considera tion a contested return, the Speaker of the House of Commons should receive a written declaration under the hand of the Member whose return should be complained against, intimating to the House of Commons his intention not to defend his seat, notice of such declaration should be given to the electors ; and it should be lawful for any person or persons, claiming a right to vote, to pre sent a petition to the House within thirty days after such notice, praying to he admitted to stand in the room of such Member, and that they should be admitted accordingly, and be so considered to all intents and purposes. The petitioners, in the first petition, prayed that they might be let in by virtue of the provisions of this Act, to stand in the room of Mr. Ablett, who had signed the ne cessary declaration, declining to defend his return. Upon this petition, which was in every respect conformable to the statute, he (the Speaker) had no observation to make. But the next petition contained a grayer similar to that which he had recited, and in addition, proceeded to pray that the House should declare the election of Mr. Frederick Richard West null and void, and pronounce the said Joseph Ablett duly elected. Thus the second petition prayed not only that the petitioners should be ad mitted to stand in the room of Mr. Ablett, but also protested against the return of Mr. West, the second Member. The point to which the Speaker wished to draw the attention of the House, was whether, in the first place, such a petition could be received at all, and next, if it could be received at all, whether the parties were not hound to have presented it at an earlier period, and to have entered into the usual recognizance!. The House would therefore have to decide the question, whether this second petition could have been presented at all ; and if it could, whether it ought not to have been presented within the usual space of fourteen days. Mr. C. W. WYNN conceived that there was nothing in the case upon which the House had the power of making any order. _ _ Mr. G. DAWSON was of opinion, thatto enable themselves to be heard, the petitioners were bound to have en tered into recognizances. The subject was one of too great im portance, both as regarded the parties concerned and with reference to the privileges of the House, to be thrust upon a Committee, and it called for the speedy decision of the House. Mr. WYNN said that the House had no power to make any order. Mr. SHADWELL was of opinion that neither of these petitions ought to be received. Mr. TIERNEY wished to be informed what the subject was that occupied the attention of the House? The SPEAKER said that the whole conversation arose on the wording of the petitions, and he felt it his duty to call the attention of the House to the circumstance, and the debate arose in consequence. Mr. J. DAWSON said that the petition ought to be reject e d, as ne ith er p ar ty h a d entered into recognizances. Mr. TIERNEY said the whole question then turned on the recognizances, a nd if this h a d b een entere d i nto , there would be no doubt about the matter. If this motion was refused, the effect would be to shut the doors against electors generally. Mr. J. DAWSON said that the petitioners in December last, had reNsed to enter into re cognizances, and having done so, they now have no right to complain if the peti tions be not received. Mr. TIERNEY did not stand up to advocate the cause of these particular petitions, but the general right of the electors. Mr. Secretary PEEL said that the petitioners at the time alluded to, only wished for the time to b 6 enlarged for entering recognizance, but it appears that these recognieances have not been entered into. He did not know now whether any recognizances could be entered into. He would not give any opinion on the question, but would leave it to the Election Com mittee, whose peculiar office it was to take such things into con sideration. The House was certainly not the fit place to discuss them. Sir E. KNATCH BULL presented a petition from the Archdeacon and Clergy of Canterbury, against any further eonce-ssion to the Roman Catholics. The Honourable Member also presented four other petitions from different places in Kent, to the same effect ; also a petition from the Millers of Plymouth, against the Importation of Foreign Grain.—Laid on the table. Mr. HUME gave notice that he should move on Wednesday next for Copies of the Agreements entered into between this Government and that of Portugal, respecting the Undertaking of the latter Government to defray the expenses of subsisting our troops in that country. Mr. DICKINSON presented a petition from Frome, in Sornersetshire, against any further concession to the Roman Catholics. Mr. G. DAWSON postponed the consideration of the Denbigh Election till after the recess. - Mr. BARING presented a petition from Ship owners of London, complaining of the present State of the Trade. He would not enter much into details at present. He merely wished to know from the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, whether it was the intention of the Government that a Com mittee of Inquiry should be instituted. Mr. CHAS. GRANT said, that his Right Hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, was extremely anxi ous to have an opportunity of entering into a discussion of his principles upon the points to which the Hon. Gentleman had al luded, and he hoped to be able to do so at no distant time. He was not authorised at present to return any answer to the Hon. Gentleman, and ho would not undertake to pledge his Hon. Friend as to what course he would pursue. General GASCOYNE, in order to give the Right Hon. President of the Board of Trade, a full opportunity of being present upon the discussion of the motion relative to the Naviga tion Laws, had it in contemplation to postpone that motion till after the recess ; and pioposed the first Tuesday in May. Mr. Alderman THOMPSON, after some diffi culty, had made up his mind upon the present question. There was, no doubt, great distress in the trade, but he did not think it such that Parliament would not be able to find an adequate remedy.—(Hear, hear.)—He was inclined to support a Com mittee of Inquiry. Mr. PEEL suggested that Gentlemen should ab stain from discussion, and not enter into precipitate pledges. Mr. C. GRANT expressed the sense entertained by his Right Hon. Friend, of the indulgence shown to him by the House, and Isis consciousness of the inconvenience which the postponement of the question would occasion ; but he by no means desired it to be postponed on his account, and would attend the House at any hazard.—(Hear, hear.)—He might now as well answer a question which had been put to him by an Hon. Gen tleman, the other night, respecting the conventions. It bad been stated that they had not been laid on the table. He had ascertained they had all been laid on the table immediately after their signature. Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN should have to present, to-morrow, a petition similar to that now before the House. Mr. BARING observed that the encroaches by foreign nations upon our shipping interests were so manifest, that it became absolutely necessary to reconsider the propriety of the alteration of the law. Sir THOMAS LETHBRIDGE observed that the Hon. Member who presented the present petition, was the very Member who, two or three years ago, presented a petition to the House, calling upon Government to put into execution those very plans which he now so singularly reprobated.—(Hear, hear.)—He (Sir T.) had ever entertained but one opinion —that was, that it was impossible to follow up the system of free trade in this highly-taxed country. Sir EDWARD KNATCHBULL said that if it was intended to follow up the motions of the Ist of May, by the appointment of a Committee, it would be better to name some earlier day. Mr. BARING said that if Ministers had made up their minds to refuse a Committee, there was an end of the matter, but if they should think it expedient to allow a Committee, his Gallant Friend had better appoint an early day for his motion, and they could then, with the assistance of the Right Hon. Pre sident of the Board of Trade, examine quietly and dispassionately this important subject. Mr. SYKES trusted the House would come to an early decision upon the subject, considering its importance. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, without, pledging himself to any particular course, his Majesty's Government might think it advisable to adopt, only wished to state on the part of his Right Hon. Friends and himself, that the Gallant General was at liberty to take is respect to the time he wished to bring forward the question, the course most convenient to himself, the petitioners, and all their interests. General GASCOYNE then postponed his motion till Thursday next. The petition was ordered to be printed. Mr. A. CAMPBELL presented a petition from the Shipowners of Glasgow, against the present Navigation Laws. —Laid on the table. Elections was adjourned to Monday next. The Adjourned Debate on the motion respectin g B r ib er y at On the motion of Mr. C. GRANT, the. House re solved itself into a Committee of the whole House on the Corn Laws. The CHAIRMAN then read tlkt resolution--that whenever the average price of rye, pease; or beans, shall reach 359. per quarter, and not exceed 365. the duty on the importa tion of any of those articles shall be 15s. per quarter. Sir JOHN BRYDGES should take that oppor tunity to declare the just indignation that he felt, and he trusted the whole House felt, at the libel upon the Landed Interest of England, uttered by the Noble Lord, one of the Members for the county of York, in the debate upon this question the other night ; and which, to this - moment, he had had no opportunity to pro test against.--(Order, order.)—As a friend to Agriculture, he lamented his Majesty's Government had thought it expedient to propose a fundamental alteration in the Corn Laws. He prefer red the old system to that which it was intended to substitute for it. If there were errors in it, he would have corrected them ; but he would not have destroyed it. The principle of the reso lutionsconsidering them injurious t o agri culture, conviction, from the date of its adoption, thatthe he sun d did not it was approve n would hisnoloenoger shine upon the landed inter es t. of Mr. GIPPS, a f ter a few o b se i vations, proposed an amendment, substituting the price of 40s. the quarter, instead of 355. (This amendment was afterwards modified—the price of 40s. being retained, and the duty of 15s. reduced to 125.) Mr. WESTERN complained that the scale of nru - 1 tection embodied in the original resolution respecting rye, Pease, and beans, did not bear the same relation to the scale of duties adopted respecting corn, as was observable in former arrange moats. Mr. C. GRANT said th a t th e d uty on each arti cle was computed on the average of the last six years. Mr. WODEHOUSE said, that the scale of price and duty should have been calculated, not on an average of the last six years, during which it was known that the crop was A losing one, but on a scale which would have secured a fair remu neration to the grower. Sir E. KNATCHBULL expressed himself to the same effect. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that when for wheat and barley it was considered fair to take the average price of the last six years, he saw no reason why the same principle of calculation should not apply to the other sate of grain. CALCRAFT contended that every case Should stand upon its own merits. Mr. ROBINSON trusted that the Governmeo; would not in this case yield, as they did in the case of barley an d oats, to the suggestions of the landed Gentlemen. _ _ _ Mr. CMPPS said, that the true way of benefitting the manufacturing classes was to find them employment ; and ful l employment was never known to be compatible with low p r ice' Mr. CALCRAFT said the difference proposed 13.1 the amendment was not considerable, though the additional pr o' tection to the growers was important ; it raised the price at whirl' importation and duty were to commence front 355. to 409. ; wbil l it lowered the duty from 155. to 12s. Mr. BURRELL was understood to express thl wish that the discussion might be limited to the resolution imme diately before the House. Mr. W. WHITMORE denied that the change proposed by the amendment was of no trifling amount. Sir THOS. LETHBRIDGE observed that it ivilf said that the lauded interests sought to attack others. The coil' trary was the fact ; those interests were attacked —they w ere he! on their def ence , an d t h e l an d e d Gentlemen w ou ld not do th d duty if th ey did not c 7 ise l y wa tch each item. Colonel WOOD observed, that the importations d the articl es enumera t e d in the resolution now soug h t to .1i amended, had been so very limited durin g th e last 15 years, tV i he th oug ht it cou ld hardly be worth while t o press t h e amen d i d and di v id e th e Committee on it. The r eso l ut i ons , as a w holt i I I, toit aiwere,rliceulntluarientaalionened: calculated to b e f avourable to all parties, 0 Sir T. GOOCH said that the particular species ° 1 0 grain, &c. now enumerate required the protection sought.