The Sun. — London, England, 1842-06-14 00:00:00

brr osrS. fsow tr of ie 9 h ' her )11P - Or' rtfy ecti t4 stT 113 d 7 d 3 7 GROWTH OF SUGAR IN INDIA, Ine of indl,l, tile ieiLlity tiic the cheapness of food and labour, and the certainty hat the best cotton, sugar, &c., can be produced there, has long been admitted. Many other articles of, ex tensive consumption in Great Britain and foreign Eu rope have long been shipped from India ; and we are continually adding new staples to our imports from • thence, such as tea from Assam, linseed, tallow, &c. Of all East India produce, the article which most decidedly takes the lead in British ai.d European markets, classed with the same article the produce of other countries, is indigo and is this to be attributed to mere chance? No; for we find (with a very few exceptions), that it is only the indigo from factories under European management which may be classed as fine, whilst the quality of that under native mark is generally very inferior, and almost always falsely Packed ; the best being placed at the top of the box, ::.'whilst the bulk is inferior and rubbishy. In the growth of sugar and cotton there are only solitary instances as yet of Europeans being concerned. Hitherto the principal consumers of sugar in India have been the Hindoos themselves • it is impossible to ,Say what i s t h e consump ti on Of 130 millions of - People, all eating more or less, according to their Means, from the raw cane of the poor to the refined :sweetmeats of the rich. The quantity of sugar daily eaten by a Hindoo would sicken an Inglishman, and rating the exports of Bengal at 60,000 tons, I should say it was a small amount in comparison with the con sumption of Indian grown sugar in India. But the high rates ruling in England have been s uch as to cause very high prices to rule in Calcutta, .„" d, during the time when the bulk of the crop was filling upon the Calcutta market, in June to Septem . - .7r , 1840, Company's rupees 11 to 15 per maund were e prices current for fine white Benares, which cost "se native grower not more than 6 to 7 rupees per I nP-und to lay down at Calcutta. These high rates induced a decrease of native con - s Umption ; for a greater portion of the year's crop Was shipped to Calcutta than was ever known before. Mil en prices rapidly fell in England, there was no • Correspondi ng e ff ec t i n C a l cu tt a , though prices did not Rive way, in consequence of less eagerness to purchase r export t o G rea t B r ittain ; but it afforded the Bom bay merchants a n opportunity of buying, the native in land bazaars were better supplied; and even those who Were large holders in Calcutta clearly saw that the great accumulation of shipping (requiring sugar for ret urn cargoes), with English crews, officers, and commanders, would take more injury in being ex- Posed to the heat of a tropical sun than their sugar % ,," . , 111 d, stowed away in their godowns or warehouses ; ' an d even in theface of discouraging advices from Great r i ttiin, the prices which had fallen, in May, 1841, ; 9 , 43 low as C o mpany's rupees 11.8 per maund, - c ranced to 13 rupees, whilst freight declined from Ms. to 21. per ton of 20 cwt. There are perhaps no- Wher e to be found cleverer salesmen or buyers than t e i ti 2° l.l gst the native dealers of Calcutta ; and though "e - growe r could afford to sell fine white Benares agar at Calcutta at from six rupees to seven rupees t e r Maund, it is not likely he would do so as long as tce, could by any means obtain eleven to fifteen rupees i rl r ,,,it• Mer e ly because such rates have been ruling It `Alcutta, it would be an unfair inference to suppose ~,,9 4 a nnot be produced for less : indeed, the following , b at of the cost of growing sugar at Gazepore . Will entirely do away with any such idea T qn Rups. ploughings, at four annas each 2 8 ihartering on ce , a t one ru p ee p er b ee g a lls ee ploughings, at five annas each 0 15 teen bundles of cane for seed, at five bundles Rper on e rupee utting, cleaning, and sowing the above 0 6 v ., o at ering for two months, three times 3 0 Z tt e lik.,P . nnine tim es , at three annas each time 11.e!il:q urin g 0 8 t ut ' the canes, in August 0 5 tt ng tho cane for manufacturing, including Parrying 0 12 . tat of land Z r . e ssil?g the cane, and reducing it to ghoor (or Lied juice) lO 0 29 9 T h lPense of manufacturing the ghoor into sugar:— ftY maunds of fire-wood, at 25 rupees per 100 `mtund s 7 8 njel. v an t s employed , .!:„war"rthd Vass' used for the purpose of claying 1 0 en Pans 0 8 Qare for boiler 3 0 45 9 P roduce 7 a 3 ui'uttnods fine white Benares, at say 5 rupees 46 8 4 3 ditto di grey ditto ditto 3 ditto ditto iliolasses i drt, C. • " Butut to be iw ell 8„ within bounds, we will suppose fine • W hite Benares sugar to cost the grower seven rUpees, laid down at Calcutta, which, with freight • it t AL, and insurances 205., would stand in 255. 6d. i:17, 1 cwt. landed i n bond i n E n gl a nd ; but which the rates ruling at Calcutta, from 11 to 15 rupees (aye : i l t P 13 rupees), costs 41s. 6d bonded in England, with same freight and insurance. The high prices of .h . began to rule in Calcutta in 1840 had the effect l'-i a 414 nediately brin g i ng a vas tl y i ncrease d quan tit y o f 1:4, 1 )41- under sugar cu lti vat i on ; b ut t h e resu l t o f t h at h ,... e4 Tas;ed cultivation will only appear in the Calcutta 741 tet in 1842, and here in the fall of this year, as the 11,1ktkings take one year in coming to maturity, and, . 'liege price s which have been ruling there since May, ar, 6,•`-`',iuP - to the date of the latest advices received, peen such as to yield a profit to the native grower 25 . to 100 per cent., the . probability is that • .li7 c ulture of the sugar cane is still rapidly increas lrg.; for it will continue to increase so long as the t t W er can make even a small profit by it. The cul th7e of the sugar cane, and the manufacture of it in Tharnative way, by which the finest white Benares 'te r is now produced, requires very little capital. b t ; Poorest farmer, with the smallest portion of land, the y g .t. °w and manufacture it, and secure to himself silk P r ofit of his labour; whereas, in the production of bei indigo, much capital is required, the profits - Plo il v ° , 3 "sorbed by the capitalist, whilst the many em `he a re ~ are oppressed. Part% a dvantages which mark Bengal, and other ur, of India in growing sugar, are these—cheap la . ehe a ,; 4 , 141 an almost inexhaustible supply of labourers ; th e ~r _ •`° ° (l, and the means of producing that food on o d e rti to a l most any ex t en t f or w hi c h t h ere may b e Whi - Z 414 ; frugal habits and sobriety ; a climate in fr• on .,• the chief requisite for a dwelling is protection 111 Q, , h e sun, an d w hi c h i s affo r d e d a t th e cos t o f • elod i :lg together branches and leaves ; little or no •:„f il b,)tg re qu i s i te, and that l i tt l e of l i ght and cheap 'e . o ' l4 : 4e di sadvantages under which India labours in ' '''. ar lson with our colonies in the west are, that /167 more distant from Europe, and that mecha .. . % t .a 0 and ch em i ca l s kill h ave not b een app li e d i n t h e ; t . • :i fully as in the west. tered discriminating duties which artificially fos -404„ Production in the west have been for some time 1 3e v ,„: - away with, and this the natives of India are just Tc,lting to find out and feel the effects of. rea d e Mechanical and chemical skill which has al . been applied to the cultivation of sugar in wheal is almost en ti re l y con fi ne d t o C a l cu tt a ; e ki many think that such establishments should -terected in the heart of the district in which the tit s . 4 grown, that such skill may be applied in the t !coiling of the juice, under less atmos rie P' and consequently with less L, that there may be an easier granula pare °f the sugar, and less molasses. It is .ap -44110,14 that, if the sugar manufacturing establish ' 1 ,: - .*.ts are erected at Calcutta, the expense would be ~ e tr b i r• great of transmitting the canes (if at all practi '4oo6) t ‘c 4ll such districts as Benares and Gazepore, ,irtilles distant. thf`lle juice will not keep unless immediately boiled ; -s is done in all earthen p o t s , and after this first process done ghoor, and in this state will keep good for • until months, and consequently may be kept in stock tu tin s uch time as may be convenient for manufac ,rbg it into sugar. th e e great benefit which will accrue to the mass of i 3fBl l l } eople, by the continuedincrease of the production In an YP• in India, will be in selling the ghoor to the Ilati.._tactilrers or dealers, who purchase it through -w ar „,`: , agents in any quantity from one pot up- , tsliale" that th e pro fi ts arising from growing the W ealt h a Y be reali se d b y the poor as well as the t x _ tent y t ;. and it i s i mpossible now to foresee to w h at Potts his benefit will be felt. In 1838-9, the ex ir, 184o 'ere 30,000 t ons ; in 1839-40, 63,000 tons ; h e 56,000 tons ; in 1841-42, will they not 430 ,000? n p upulat . ot merely that some portion of the immense „. t ent, ." of India will by this means find employ ;he which the poorest may secure for themselves remuneration of their toil, but it is found Pement to introduce 33r. the 4n or application of which a larger proportion of -th an ban, the 1e taken from an equal quantity of cane, t e tle t present rude and imperfect native system. e „, ta T s ablisments do find employment at Cal i 4 E e ' r ,many native artisans; and will eventually th- e „, nl P. l° Yment for them in many districts where ietiis grown, far remote from the presilency. rano, 1 , P ro moting the growth of sugar in India, ver___inodwledge and scientific skill will spread ostan, not written in a foreign language, d-- " 1 11 • Pwr, helpless ignorant_ . Hindoo cannot un "stand ; or, if written' in his own language, so ex developed that he an d uncertain benevolence of the ra , ctice before his eyes— ten not er th se e nt f i a m ll e it n lg .. t aliSt being properly but the profits arisin g from his own exertions directed to some useful object, in the littanihs meet o which the employed benefit as well as tnployeis, the country,and the public at I. g A\ls thus that commerce is the pioneeiutolcivilisaatrioeri. itilhlistianity, or that motives to industry go hand 4 Vilth these blessings. It has long been a matter of surprise that India beconc 111:1 - :0 extensive nrark - .4 our that ._sere is a sr.aitil —l3O millio."s. Is it that they prefer to go naked to being clothed ?. Certainly not ; for the higher classes are well clothed, and take much pride in a neat and clean appearance, and in the extent of their ward robes. Then, why is it that so large a population take so small a proportion of our manufactures ? The bulk of that population are nearly naked, simply because they cannot afford to purchase a covering for their bodies. In all countries it is necessary that the inhabitants should be fed ; but in India, where many do perish for the want of food, especially in times of famine, they will never, or very seldom, be much inconvenienced for the want of clothing. A more general and extensive consump tion of our manufactures must wait upon a more ge neral clothing of the Hindoo ; a more general cloth ing of the Hindoos must wait upon their being in a position to afford it ; and how are they ever to be in a position to afford it until they can secure to them selves the full value of their own labour in producing more extensively some articles of general consumption both in India and throughout the world—such as sugar and cotton ? We want not the emigration of labour to India, but that of skill and capital to control and direct the natural acuteness of the Hindoos, .liussulmans, &c. A fixed land-tax, as in Bengal, should be instituted all over India, varying according to the capabilities and position of the land, which should be held, not merely on a short lease, but as long as the fixed an nual rent is annually paid. No one accustomed to travel in the interior of India can fail to observe the want of roads. Excepting the neighbourhood of the Presidencies such means of com munication are unknown. We cannot see any imme diate likelihood of their being instituted except by Government. The natives know not by experience the value of such communications ; and the residence of Europeans in India is too uncertain to induce them to sink capital there, in an undertaking requiring constant attention and superintendence. LLOYD'S SHIPPING. Lownow, RINE 13.—Wind this day at noon, Easterly. DEAL, JU NE 11.—Wind N.N.E., model ate.—Arrd. Salaam, northward, and sailed for Valparaiso. Arrd. from the River and sailed Essex, Madras; Mary Ray, Cape ; Christopher Rawson, and Asia, China; Spartan, Sydney ; '!'alma, Cuba ; Cqriolanus, New York ; Mary, Quebec ; Brothers, Odessa ; Dash, Alexandria. GALWAY, Ju NZ s.—Sid. Lively, Quebec WATERFORD, Juxic 10.—Arrd. Catharine, Potter, Genoa. Si!. Mariner, Quebec. CORK, JUNE 10.—Arrd. Madonna, Aiton, Monte Video. OFF CAPE CLEAR, China, Phillips, Charleston. Powrsatouni, JUNE 11.—Wind E.N E. to S.E.—Arrd. Christopher Rawson, London for Hong Kong; Essex, ditto, for Madras. PLYMOUTH, Juars 12.—Arrd. Telegraph, Altona. FALMOUTH, JUNE 11.—Wind, variable and light—Arrd. Arena, Constantino, Trieste; Galatea, Finlay, Palermo; lstaganza steamer, from Gibraltar, left 2d inst., Cadiz, 3d, Lisbon, 6th, Oporto, 7th, and Vigo, Bth. Sid. Penguin packet, Brazils. JERSEY, JUNE 7.—Sld. Belus, Labrador. SWANSEA, JUNE 11.—Arrd. Codan, Esham, Valparaiso, in eighty-seven days. PENZANCE, JUNE 9.—Arrd. Reward, Young, Ancona, and proceeded to Falmouth. The Harmonic, Tesklin, from Cette to Dunkirk, took tine forty leagues off the Coast of Portugal, 24th ult., and sunk ; crew saved. SHIELDS, JUNE Albert, Demerara. CLYI E, JUNE 10.- Arrd. Claudine, Elliott, Trinidad. Sld. Thalestus, Demerara; Pactolus, Quebec. LIVERPOOL, JUNE 11.—Wind S.E. 12. Variable and light. —Arrd. Milo and Veloce, Odessa; Anna Caroline, Ancona; Susannah Collings, White, Mauritius. Sld. Eleanor, Bom bay ; Cur de Lion, Montreal; Robert Kerr and Conqueror, Quebec ; Curlew, Halifax ; Pasha, Constantinople; Shannon, Aden ; Lady Worsley, I\la►anham. Arrived off John and Elizabeth. AMOY (CHINA).—Arrd. Frankfield, Hong Kong. VESSELS SPOKEN WlTU.—Johanna, Hanney, from North America, out 11 days by the Patriot, arrived at Cork. Lady Mary Fox, of Belfast, 24th ult., lat. 41, lon. 42; Britannia, London to Quebec, 28th ult, lat. 44, lon. 29; Campbell, Alonte Video to Cork, 28th ult., by the China, arrived off Cape Clear. Royal Tar (steamer), 4th inst., off Cape Esyichel, by the Bragenza, arrived at Southampton Andromache, Gua deloupe to Nantes, 26th ult., lat. 43, lon. 33, by the Louis XIV., arrived at Havre. Mary Ann, Limerick to St. John's, New Brunswick, 17th ult., lat. 45, lon. 38 by the Ac tive, arrived at Figuera. RESCUE OF A BOAT'S CREW DRIVEN OUT TO SEA.— A letter has been received at Lloyd's from her Majesty's acting Consul for the Azores, dated St. Michael's, 25th May last, stating that Captain. Walter, of the Samuel had, on the 2d May, .in lat. 37 deg. N. and long. 17 deg. 30 W., about 400 miles from land, saved' a boat's crew, consisting of ten men, natives of St. Michael's, who had been driven out to sea in their attempts to pass from that port to another, and who had nut tasted food or fresh water for the space of six days. Captain Walter landed them at St. Michael's, and his humane and honourable conduct towards these prior fellows who, probably, but for his timely assistance, would have perished under circumstances peculiarly agonizing, had created a great sensation amongst all classes at St. Michael's; so much so, as to call forth a proclamation fram the Governor to the inhabitants, calling on them to rai-e a subscription to testify the high regard they entertained of his conduct. 111 pur suance of which, a subscription was afoot at the date of the letter, •25th May, winch amounted to 150 dollars, and it was ii.tended by the authorities to present Captain Walter with a piece of plate through the Portuguese Ambassador in London. The Kiss; or, Bertha's Bridal, a new musical fairy romatvie, from the pen of Mr. William Collier, with en tirely new music by Mr. Clement White, was produced last night at the English Opera House. The principal characters were sustained by Misses Gould, Crisp, and Hughes, and Messrs. Barker and Clement White. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—II Barbiere was again brought out en Saturday with the same ca st as on th e preceding Tuesday, viz.—Lablache the Padre, and Ronconi his colleague. In addition to Madame Viardot end Grisi, Persiani is the third excelleat Rosina whom we have of late years seen in London and Paris. THE IRISH POST-OFFICE.----A paragraph lately ap peared its a London paper, in which it was stated that a sum of 29 Wu/. was due to the Irish Post-office, which was totally irrecoverable. Having been under the impression that this establishment was worked in an efficient manner, we have taken some trouble to ascertain the real facts, which are these : —A sum, nearly as large as that stated, is due, but it hat beers accruing for a period of upwards of fifty years; but, taking the past ten years, the irrecoverable debts are but two—one against a Postmaster in Connemara, amounting to 35/. 55., the second in Tipperary, amounting to 81. 3s. There is always a floating debt due by provincial Postmasters, who are fur nished every three months, and in a few days after the receipt of their accounts, they invariably 'pay them with promptness and satisfaction.—Dublin Pest. THE UNEMPLOYED IN PERTH.—On Wednesday a meeting of members of Council, manufacturers, and others, for the pureose of inquiring into the present state of destitu tion, arising from want of employment, now existing in Perth, was held in the Council Chamber. Provost Sidey in the Chair. It was stated that the number of weavers had decreased to 18 or 20, but that labourers were rapidly on the increase, and now numbered 150 ; which amount was to be increased the next day by 30 carpenters, who were then to be idle, from the re pairs on the dredging-machine being completed. After some discussion a Committee was appointed to raise funds by public subscription, and provide work, and to commence its labours immediately.—Paisley Advertiser. THE YEOMANRY.--The state of the country is be coming every day more alarming, and it is evident that this is the opinion of the Government. The Yeomanry at Burnley, in Lancashire, have obtained orders from Government to hold themselves in readiness for immediate action. The people ask for bread, and again they are to have steel and bullets. A FAT LIVING !—The annual value of the Pre bend in Wells Cathedral, which has lately become vacant by the death of the Rev. T. Escott, is 3/. ! • We have heard, from good authority, that Govern ment are in possession of information from Jellalabad, three days later than what has been given to the public, by which the gratiiying fact is knows', that General Pollock had effected a junction with Sir R. Sale, and that the united force would be competent for offensive operations.—Hampshire Telegraph. DOVER, JUNE 12, 1842.—Arrived the Britannia steamer from Boulogne, with his Excellency Aaly Effendi, Ambassador from the Sublime Porte to this country, with his suite. GRAY'S INN, JUNE 11.—Joseph Pollock, Esq., was this day called to the degree of Barrister-at-law, by the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn. SUICIDE AT 13RIGHTON.,—BRIGI1TON, SUNDAY, JUNE 12.—Last night a distressing suicide was committed by a lady of weak intellect, who had been residing for the benefit of her health, at 14, Crescent-place, Brighton. It appears that the unfortunate lady was Mrs. Mary Cumberland, the mother of six children, and the wife of Mr. Richard Cumberland, a gen tleman said to hold a high official situation in the Tower of Lon don. Far some time past she had been left in the care of the land lady of the house, and according to custom for protection slept between two females. Last night they retired to rest soon after ten, and about eleven o'clock Ann Leifer, one of the ser• vents, was surprised to hear the outer door violently closed s e immediately proceeded up stairs to ascertain the cause, and found the unfortunate lady had left the bed, her two attendants being fast asleep. The prslice were alarmed and a search com menced without effect, until about two o'clock this morning, when two of the coast guardsmen, named Joseph Grist and Thomas Robertson, perceiving s ,mething white washed up on the beach, went to the spot and found it to he the body of the unfortunate lady quite dead. The cause assigned for com mitting the rash act was an idea she had entertained for some time past, that she was about being removed to a lunatic asylum. Mr. Wilson, before his departure from town to fulfil some provincial eng gemeuts, wall give but three more evenings' entertainments at the Music Hall in Store-street — viz., this evening, and on Mondays next and following, the 20th and 27th inst. Of his se.eral performances there is none more populsr than what is called his " Charlie nights," wherein are comprised the principal sesigs written in espousal of the cause of an exiled prince, who sought to restore the fallen fortunes of his family, which will come off to-night. What are to be the subjects of his two following nights' entertainments has not at present transpired. The King of Song, the inimitable Rub:ni, is again with us. Ije makes his re-entree to-night in the Sonnam intla. He appears only for a few nights, when he takes leave of the stage. FATAL ACCIDENT.— Yesterday morning a yotath of the name of Charles Lock lost his life under the fol . lowing distressing circumstances :—lt appears that the unfor tunate lad was bathingia the Thames opposite Messrs. Goding's brewery, about half-past twelve o'clock, with several other persons, when all of a sudden he was observed to sink in the water. An alarm was raised, the drags procured, and the river searched, but we regret to state without avail, as the body was nowhere to be found. On the first alarm bring raised, a gentleman, who was passing near the spot, plunged into the water, and nearly lost his own life, for he was instantly seized with cramp in the chest, and was obliged to be pulled out of the water by another person. The deceased was only 11 years of age ; his parents reside at No. 92, W ebber- row,. Blackfriars. The General Steam Navigation Company's vessel, The Giraffe, from Rotterdam, arrived off the Custom House at eleven o'cluck . on Sunday, with the Dutch mails. it is said that General Rodil is to have the forma tion of the New Spanish Administration, and that General Saone is to succeed him as Commander-in-Chief of the army of the North. HAMBURGH MAIL. HamannGil, JUNE B.—The ReLet* Committee (HuWye na, publishei its list report of its proceedings to the end of the month In which it was formed. It ha 4 received, up to the end of May, 90,224 marks currency (about 16 marks to 1/. sterling), 197,027 marks banco (13 2-fifths to 1/. sterling), and 1,000/. sterling. The General Relief Committee appointed by the Senate has likewise begun the publication of the sums received. It com mences with the gifts of several kings and sovereign princes, and then gives those received from the different places in al phabetical order, beginning with Anslam, and ending (that is, so far as published in the Hamburgh Borsenhalle) with Ko nigsburgh. The sum total is not yet given, nor is the list com • plete, many contributions having been received since it went to press. A special committee has been formed to promote the rebuilding of St. Peter's church. BERLIN, JUNE 3.—M. Van Rochow the Minister of the In terior, has issued a circular to all the chief Presidents of the provinces of the kingdom, in which he states that it has hitherto been supposed that copper-plate, iithographic, or other prints intended for sale, were liable to the censorship, and that this opinion was founded in the 4th act of the edict of October 18, 1819 ; but that on mature consideration he is convinced that there is no legal authority for subjecting prints to the cen sorship. DUTCH FUN 135.—.A.MSTER LUM, JUNE 10. Money. Bills. Actual D.r.ht, '2% per Cent Jitto, ditto 5 per cent. A moat S , adic, 14 per cent 93 95% Ditto, ditto, 33; 1 per cent 764 76% Commercial Company, 4!:, per cent 151% 1524 Ditto (V,':35 anti 1837) 5 per cent. Loan 1637, 5 per cent. 5O 994 Exchange on London, One month l2 15 Two months Hamburgh, One month 35 70 Two months 35 50 Dutch Papers, June 11. , c.:,61Aal .• U NDS—Baussus, JUNE 11. Actual Debt, 2i. per Cent. Rothschild's Loan, 5 per Cent IO2J Loan of Thirty Millions, 4 per Cent. 94 --------- 3 per Cent. ----. Thirty .seven--- 7 2 1,4 —(1540) 104% Lean of City, I'-'32, 4 per Cent 1 ,3 Soclet) et Commerce, 4%per Cent 66 dank of Belgium, 5 per Cent 76%, National Society Exchange on London (short) ... - -Brussels Papers, Jane 11. AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—VIENNA, JUNE 3 five per Colts. Metalliques Foe r per Cents Three per Cents. Sank 'hares HAMBURGH BORSENHALLE, JUNE 10. Bills. Money. Austrian 5 per Cents. Bank Shares Anglo-Russian Loan llO 109% Russian 5 per Cent., Ist series, Certificate 10.14 1f!3% Inscriptioo, Ist series Russian 5 per Cent. Hope and Co., 3d and 4th - -- - —• Series . , IN Wi3. Ditto in Certificates New 4 per Cent. (1540). S.).. Stir,' ' Dutch Actual Debt, .34 per Cent. ......... Ditto a per Cent. Polish Bonds. New Tickets ... l7O Anglo. Danish Loin, 3 per Cent. ;B% 78% Spanish, New 5 p .r Cents. EXCHANGES ON LONDON. HAMBURGII, JUNE .1.-13 S 4, Two months I i 6%. PETERSBURG, 11i A v 31.—Three months, 38% pence. RIGA, JUNE 4. —Three Months 35%. SERIOUS ACCIDENT.—On Saturday last, Mr. B. Baldwin, M.P., had a very narrow, and we may add, a very miraculous escape of his life, whilst riding a highly spirited horse to the fete at the Horticultural Gardens, Chiswick, as, within a mile of the place, in passing a gig, a Richmond om nibus bore done upon him with great velocity, and so closely as to cause the step of the vehicle to cut his right leg through his trousers and boots, and pierce the right flank of his horse, which made him rear and fall back upon the Hon. Member, who was taken up and carried into a neighbouring house, but who, we are happy to say, made his appearance in the gardens at a late hour with his right arm in a sling, and limping in his walk, so that we hope no serious consequences will tollow. We understand it is probable that the noble animal will be rendered entirely useless. Surely some law ought to be passed to regulate these lawless drivers, who care no more about the life of an individual than that of a reptile —[We copy this graphic account from our respectable Contemporary the Standard, and think that these lawless drivers should be punished for caring "no more about the life of an individual than that of a reptile. "1 The main cause of the diminishing trade of our merchants, and the diminishing employment of our population, is to be found, not so much in the duties on foreign wool, as in the Corn-laws, which keep up the price of food, and pre vent exchange with foreign nations ; and in the immense load of taxation we have to bear, which renders production of all kind so much more expensive in this country than on the Con tinent of Europe. Unless we have cheaper bread, cheaper Government, and perfect freedom of exchange, we must go on declining as a manufacturing nation, and our millions of arti sans must be thrown out of employment by our more fortunate continental rivals. Already, in consequence of the distress thus occasioned, has the position of affairs in this country be come frightful ; the amount of dist. ess is quite unprecedented, and there is no prospect whatever of relief. We understand that the aristocracy are becoming alarmed. and that even many of the more benevolently disposed of the Tory party are willing to re-consider the Corn-laws, and give up their present " pro tection," if they see no other prospect of relief for the com munity.—Leeds Times. . MODE OF ENUMERATING THE UNEMPLOYED AT PAISLEY.—From a scrutiny which has been carrying on for the last fortnight, it appears that the data made use of in as certaining the numbers on the unemployed list have been erro neous, and have shown the numbers on the list, considerably higher than facts warranted. In regard to males the enume rators of the relief bommittee, who made up the lists, went on the assumption that the dependents on each amounted to 24, AThereag, in reality, they amount only to 2i ; and that the de pendents on females amounted on an average of two to each, while in reality they amount to very little more than one. The result of the whole is, that the total number of unemployed, stated officially in our last at 10,427, ought to have been con siderably under 8,000. The number is still formidable, but it is so far satisfactory to find that the case is not so bad as dependence on erroneous data made it.--Paisley Advertiser. SINGULAR INCIDENTS.--A few days ago a series of casualties, which we should be disposed to term whimsical, were it not that one of them at least was attended with some degree of danger to life, took place at Greenock quay. A smart, cleanly-looking servant girl, about to enter upon a " new place, appeared at the quay with a large and heavy trunk, for the purpose of going on Wad a steamer, which was about to cross to the Gairloch. The trunk, while being hauled on deck, by some means or other, got out of the hands of its custodiers, and tumbled into the sea. This was casualty the first, and steps were promptly taken to remedy it. The trunk was raised out of the water, and while slowly ascending by the steamer's side, its owner eagerly stretching out her arms to clutch it, the lid suddenly gave way, separating from the body, and the trunk once more floated in the water. With the same promptitude as before the devoted chest was seized, and again it was in the act of being swung on board, when, as easualty the third, crash went the bottom, and into the sea tumbled, in " most admired disorder," the body habiliments of the unfortunate serving wench here a gown and there a petticoat, here a shoe and there a dashing Sunday shawl, with aprons, caps, stockings, and shifts of every variety—while a large catalogue of small articles were covered by a huge blue umbrella, which un furled itself in all its amplitude, as if to protect them from the rain above, deeming them, no doubt, wet enough below. By dint of exertions, for which the half-frantic maiden felt she could never be sufficiently thankful, the scattered arti cles of dress, including the blue umbrella aforesaid, were gathered up, and with the bottomless trunk, put safely on board. It was now hoped by the bystanders that fortune had done her worst, at least for that occasion, on the ill fated girl; but no, a disaster more serious still was in store for the hapless Abigail. The steamer was about to sail, and our heroine was standing on one of the wings adjoining the paddle-box, speaking to a friend on shine, when a sudden jerk of the boat threw her, in imitation of her trunk, right into the water. This most unfortunate of all the casualties which had occurred changed the current of feeling from laughter to alarm, and those who had been most amused at the former mishaps were now the most active in rendering assistance when life was at stake. Providentially, the poor girl was got out of the water more frightened and wet than seriously injured, and here, so far as is known, did her misfortunes for this day terminate. The circumstances, as may be supposed, caused no small amusement on board; and those who witnessed them will not soon forget the scenes enacted by " the woman with the trunk," which almost equal, in point of ludicrous effect, the more famed adventures of the " man with the carpet-bag. Glasgow Argus. INCOME-TAX.—It is reported that the schedules for extracting this grinding and tyrannous tax from suffering trade, have been in the town some days. There is also a ru mour that Mr. Thomas Burbidge, (formerly town clerk) will be the Chief Inquisitor for Leicester.—Leicestershire Mercury. The General Steam Navigation Company's steam packet Rainbow, Captain J. Fife, arrived yesterday from Antwerp, with several families of distinction on board, among whom were the Countess Ranfurly. The passage was performed as usual by this ship in 16 hours. Mr. Charles Kemble has engaged Walter Lacy for light comedy, next season, at Covent-garden. ADDRESSES TO THE QUEEN. —Meetings have been held throughout the country fer the purpose of adopting Ad dresses to the Queen, on her Majesty's providential escape from the hand of the assassin, which has called forth one unanimous expression of loyalty and attachment to the person of our be loved Sovereign. THE HAY HARVEST.—Haymaking is becoming pretty general and the crops are good, although the drought of the last fortnight has to some extent diminished them, and in many parts of the country the want of rain is beginning to he felt severely. AWFUL VISITATION. —Yesterday morning, about 1 o'clock, Mr. Robert Wright, of the Harrow public-house, Primrose. hill, Salisbury-square, Feet-street, suddenly expired at his residence, under the folowing melancholy circum stances:—lt appears that yesterday Mr. Wright took an excur sion to Richmond, from whence he returned home at about twelve o'clock last night, apparently in full health and cheer ful spirits, and having superintended the closing of the house, he sat down and eat a very hearty supper; after which, he discovered that the ale was " off, ' and after ex pressing his disapprobation to his ,rife of the circumstance, went himself into the cellar for:the purpose of performing what was requisite, but being absent a longer time than was necessary he was called to, but no answer being returned, the waiter was sent to the cellar, when the unfortunate man was discovered lying upon his back and life quite extinct Medical aid was procured with all possible dispatch, but without avail. The deceased has left a wife but no family. PAISLEY, JUNE S.—SINGULAR CASE OF SUICIDE.— A Mr. Wilson, who kept a hat shop in High-street here, put a period to his existence in the following extraordinary manner. Being in embarrassed circumstances with regard to business, a meeting of his creditors had been called, which took place on Monday last, at which, as a matter of course, his attendance was requisite. At some particular stage of the meeting he was requested to retire to the door for a short time, and it seems that the unfortunate man had walked thence straight to the canal, and deliberately plunged himself in, near the West Re lief Church. About two hours afterwards the body was dis. covered, and carried to his home. The amount of his debt, it is reported, is scarcely 701., upon which he had offered a com pensation of 13s. in the pound. The Hon. Miss Hamilton, who has been appointed one of her Majesty's Maids of Honour in Waiting, vice the Hon. Miss Cavendish, on the eve of mairiage with Lord Em lyn, is youngest daughter of Lady Charlotte Hamilton, and sister to Capt. C. Baillie Hamilton, M.P. for Ailesbury, and cousin to the Earl of Haddington, First Lord of the Admi ralty. The salary of Maid of Honour is 3001. per annum from the Civil List. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.—We are enabled to give the most unqualified contradiction to a rumour prevalent in this city for the , last two days, to the effect that a collision had taken place between two trains on the above line, and that, in consequence, a number of lives had been lost. The mail train, Thursday night, was detained for some time at Slough, owing to the immense number of passengers returning from Ascot races, and shortly after leaving that station it ran into some empty waggons, but no damage whatever occurred either to the carriages, engine, or passengers.—litistol Mercury. 11111: SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORNiNtG, JUNE 14, ISA PORTUGAL. FALMOUTH, JUNE 11.—The steamer Braganza arrived this morning with the Penin•u!ar mails and the following passen gers :—Messrs. Smith, Davenport, Parsclleir, Williams and child, l)elcampo, Holston. Thup, J. Ade Agreda and two sons, Stewart, St. Clair, Gat-land, Vidal, Plummer, Hyland, Murphy and servant, Felix Murtor, A. Alves, Graham and daughter, Gelerat, and D. J. Chase ; Captain May, sth regi ment ; Miss Dumford, Miss Noble, and Miss Harris ; and aptain Tesdall. The dates are—Gibraltar, 2d inst. ; Cadiz, 3d inst. ; Lisbon, 6th inst. ; Oporto. 7th inst. ; and Vigo, Bth inst. The Penguin packet, Lieut. Leslie, sailed yesterday with the Brazil mails. Passengers—St. Ribeiro da Silva, with de spatches, said to be respecting the approaching marriage of the Emperor of Brazil with the daughter of the King of Naples; St. Sielre, and M. Theremin, Prussian Consul. LisnoN, JU NE 6.—1 regret to say that at the last moment, when it was understood that by the decision, both of the Council of State and of the Ministry, every difficulty had been overruled, and nothing remained but to copy out the treaties, sign them, and transmit them home for ratification, au ob stacle to the prompt conclusion of the business has been raised by the Duke of lamella, who, it is stated, now requires some distinct admission of the principle of a future revision of the slave-trade treaty, which Lord Howard's instructions do not allow him to accede to, and which, therefo-e, necessitates an other reference home. It is greatly to be regretted that these repeated delays are allowed to take place. I have the strongest reason to believe that the Government here is sincerely anxious to settle both Treaties. The difficulty presented by the piracy question had been over come— the Gov. rnment resolving to take upon itself the responsibility of issuing a decree drawn up in a way to meet our views. The guarantees sought by us against the abuses that might result from the abolition of the Conservatorial Court, and of the other British privileges, would hav e b een afforded by special laws to be introduced by the Goveinment in the Cortes, em powering a mixed commission to levy the assessed taxes on British subjects, with an appeal to the tribunal of the Treasury. A Jury of half British and half Portuguese was to be formed fir trial in criminal cases, and British subjects here were also to have the same rights as to bail, &c., which Portuguese sub jects have in England ; so that all the security that could be given, consistently with the abolition of exclusive privileges would have been given, and until the bills had passed the Cortes and been sanctioned by the Crown, the present privi leges would have continued. With respect to the tariff, also, it is said that the Commissioners have presented a Report recommending great reduction on many articles. This ques tion would, however, necessarily require some time to discuss, yet. as the home Government is understood to have signified its willingness to take off 2s. 9d. a gallon from wine, thus reducing it from Ss. 9d. to 33., and to reduce the duty on brandy to 15s, per gallon, provided a sufficient compensation were gi4en in return, the question might have been immediately and advantageously entered upon. But now three weeks more must elapse before the Slave-trade Treaty can be signed, and until that be signed the other treaty will not be. '1 he time, however, will not be entirely lost, as information and arrangements respecting the tariff may go on, su as to bring the while business to a speedy conclusion after the an swer from home shall have arrived. Still the delay is calcu lated to be mischievous, and can se: ye no good purpose. In a former letter I exonerated the Duke of Palmella from causing delay, and did not do so on light grounds; but it appears that my information, however confidently given, and backed by evidence that at the time seemed indisputable, was too favourable to the Duke. It is shrewdly surmised that the object of the latter is to get the negotiations trans ferred to England, and himself appointed on a special mis sion to negotiate both treaties. A residence at the Court of London is a very pleasant thing to a man with the large fortune the Duke has now at his disposal; and should the delay lead not immediately to the transfer of the negotia tions, but to the present Government being broken up, no doubt the Duke of Palmella is a person of sufficient import ance to induce any Ministry likely to be formed, to be willing to conciliate hint by the offer of the London mission, which is known to be the object of his desire. The elections commenced yesterday. It is difficult to say how they will go on in Lisbon itself, which will probably be a closer run than at any other place. The Miguelite interest is very strong in the outskirts of Lisbon, and, added to the Sep tembrists, will doubtless give the coalition a majority in some of the town parishes, but as not only Lisbon and neighbour hood, but the whole province of Estramadura, including the districts of Santarem and Leiria, are included in the same elec toral circle, which returns twenty four Deputies, the Govern ment, there is little doubt, will carry the day. The present elections are of one to two or more Delegates, returned by the votes tat the qualified parishioners, and who, added to those of Santarem, Leiria, &c., will have to elect the Deputies. A great struggle is going on, and each party puts forth its most conspicuous characters.* The Diario claims to have carried the election of Delegates in 18 parochial districts in Lisbon, and acknowledges having lost in 10. The Nacional claims 12 fo: the Opposition against 10 cat tied by the Government, the rest being still doubtful. The Correio publishes particulars of 12 parochial districts in which the Government candidates have the majority, and of 8 in which the Opposition candidates have the lead. It has generally been a very hard run here. The Alban, Government steamer, is here, and leaves for England to-marrow; and I shall probably be able to give you the ac count of the Lisbon returns by that vessel. The funeral of J. M. Oneill, Esq., took place on Tuesday last, and was very numerously and respectably attended. The body was laid in the Encanaeo Church, where the funeral ser vice was performed ; it was subsequently conveyed for inter ment to the cemetery of Prazeres, near Comps" d'Ourique. The pall was borne by the Danish Minister (Count Lackner),: M. Dietz (the King's Secretary), and Mr. Smith (the British Consul), on one side; and on the other by Conde de Villa Real, and Senhors J. Da Silva Carvalho and R. F. Magalhaes. 'rite Duke de Terceira and many members of the diplomatic and Consular body attended the funeral. Senor Aguilar, the Spanish Minister, has been summoned to Mad! id, to take part, it is understood, in the formation of the new administration there. He was to leave Lisbon to-day. The French war steamer Pluton, arrived this morning; is be lieved to be sent to take home M. de Varennes, the French Minister. It had previously transpired that M. de Varennes was about to leave, the reason assigned being the dangerous state of his father's health ; how far this may be correct or not I cannot say. The Indus still continues here with the Lynx ; the Alban, Government steamer, arrived from Plymouth on Thursday, bringing 250 sailors, who were transferred to the Indus, which is ordered to the Mediterranean to relieve the Calcutta, which was to proceed home to be paid off, but will be immediately recommissioned, and probably be stationed here. The Malabar, Captain Sarterius, is expected here in the meantime, but not to make a long stay, being destined for South America. The Po-tuguese frigate, Donna Maria 11., is about leaving. for Angola, Goa, Macao, and Timor, taking a new Governor for the latter place, 130 prisoners under sentence of trans portation to Angola, and also a cargo of wine, &c , from Lisbon to Goa and other parts. The Queen and Court will move from the Necessidades to the Palace at Cintra at the end of this week. '" 'thus, on the Government side, the Duke of Terceira is candidate for the district of the Cathedral, and had received 202 votes against 99; Viscount Laborim, for that of Lapa, 165 against 128. The coalition had carried the election at St. Paul's district, where Baron de Villa Nova de Foscoa had re ceived 140 votes against 97. J. A. de Magalhaes and Lionel Tavares, had also been chosen in the same interest; numbers not given. BOULOGNE CIVIL TRIBUNAL. SITTING OF JUNE 10 .---JunGauzN;oFTHE COURT. THE MORNING CHRONICLR, THE MORNING POST, AND THE MORNING HERALD V. THE FRENCH POST-OFFICE. The Tribunal this day gave the following judgment in the papers, against M. Blanqu ar t, D ir ector of the French action o ffi b r e ou a l a g t h B t by o /V Boulogne:—. ,) g I r n . e :Barry,as the agent of the three above named 7 ConSidering that from the facts and discussion in the cause, a letter addressed to Mr. Barry, bearing the Paris postmark of April 2, arrived at Boulogne the next day, was only deli vered to the said Mr. Barry on the 4th inst., as seen by the postmark of arrival of the 4th ; Considering that Mr. Barry, affirming that the delay in the delivery of the said letter has occasioned him a serious da mage, has brought an action against M. Blanquart, Director of the Boulogne Post-office, for compensation ; " Considering that the Director-General of the Post-office has come forward to take upon the Central Department the responsibility, and has demanded exoneration for M. Blan quart ; _ " Considering that Mr. Barry does not oppose this interven- tion ; " Considering that the Post-office pleads that Barry may be declared not to be justified in his demands and conclusions, and to sustain this plea relies on Art. 14 of the Law of 5 Nivose, year 5; " Considering that, according to this law, the Post-office was not to incur any responsibility for the loss of a letter not en tered; that this disposition of the law is sufficiently justified when it is considered that it is difficult to know positively the cause of the loss of a letter, and even the certainty of its having been thrown in the box ; that however this exemption front re sponsibility, exceptional as it is, ought to be confined strictly to the terms prescribed by the law ; " Considering that the delay in the delivery of a letter can in no case be assimilated with the loss of a letter, inasmuch a 3 the ultimate delivery of a letter is ample proof of its having been duly posted; " Considering that considerable injury may result from delay in the delivery of a letter confided to the Post-o,ffice, and that the law prescribes that the person who by fault or negligence inflicts an injury on an individual is compelled to repair it; Considering, nevertheless, that there must be a real damage to be appreciated, in order to apply Articles 1,382 and 1,333 of the Civil Code ; " Considering that Barry has not proved that he sustained personal injury of any importance by the delay in the delivery of the letter of the 51 of April, and that by a fact, to which he was no party, the confidence in him had not been shaken." The Court, after having deliberated according to the law. and judging in premiere instante, admits the intervention of the Director-General of the Post-office, and exempts M. Blanquart from the action ; declares M. Barry's demand ill founded and not receivable in his facts and conclusions, and condemns him in the costs. MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS. TIMES.—It is understood in the city, that the lops on light sovereigns was over-estimated when stated at 6d. in the pound, and that the recent trials of the coin at the Bank of England show that the loss does not really exceed 2d. This average, it is said, was taken upon upwards of 35,000 sovereigns sent into the Bank yesterday. One inconvenience connected with the matter has been much felt, and that is that there are no official scales to be purchased which will actually decide what coin is of the full value, and what is not. It is thought, there fore, that the Proclamation might as well have been attended with some means of really testing the weight of the sovereigns. A circular has been issued by Mr. S. Briggs, the object of which is to state that the temporary suspension of payments by Messrs. Briggs, Thurburn, and Co., of London and Liver pool, will in no degree affect the house of Briggs and Co., of Alexandria, and that with respect to the draughts of this latter firm arrangements have been made with Messrs. Heath, Furse, and Co., to pay them when due. The Committee of Spanish American bondholders have ap plied to Lord Aberdeen respecting the publication in the Gazette of the blockade of the Mexican ports by Texas, and have received an explicit answer that such blockade was in no manner recognized by the publication in the Gazette. It does not appear that the United States Government have taken any notice of the proclamation, and it is said that a Spanish bO-gun ship has been sent from Havannah to protect the Spanish flag in the Gulf of Mexico. It was not, indeed, likely that Spain would permit any interference with her flag, as she does not recognise the independence of Texas. A disturbance took place, a few nights ago, at the theatre of Nantes, in consequence of the theatrical grant by the municipality having been withdrawn, whereby the theatre was prevented from giving operas. The authorities were obliged to call in the assistance of the military. It is strongly rumoured that her Majesty and Prince Albert intend to honour the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos with a visit at his magnificent mansion at Stowe. Forty London tradesmen are coming down to make prepara tions for these illustrious visitants. The Royal Bucks Yeo manry are to be almost entirely new equipped for the occa sion, which will, we believe, take place in the month of August. —Aylesbury News. I IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, June 13. Their Lordships met at Five o'Clock. A message from the Commons brought up the Yarmouth and Norwich Railway Bill, and a number of other pri vate Bills, which were severally read a first time. The Bishop of BANGOR presented a petition from a congregation in Carnarvon, praying for the repeal of cer tain parts of the Act for uniting the dioceses of Bangor and St. Asaph. METROPOLITAN BRIDGES TOLLS. Lord POLTINIORE presented a petition for the abolition of the tolls of the metropolitan bridges. CALLING IN THE GOLD COIN. Lord BEAUMONT wished to put a question to the - Noble Lord, the President of the Council, respecting the late proclamation issued for the calling in of the 1.901 d currency at present in circulation. That cur rency had been, much of it, a long time in use. Many of the sovereigns were of the coinage of George the Third, and their weight had been diminished by actual use, and not by sweating. He wished to ask whether anything could be done to relieve the hardship and inconvenience which numbers of people of the humbler classes were suffering in consequence of the measure ? Lord WHARNCLIFFE was glad that the Noble Lord had put the question, as it gave him an opportunity of allaying the apprehensions of the public. He had been informed that great and monstrous charges were made in some of the public-houses, under the pretence of deficiency of weight ; they charged a shilling or eighteen-pence for changing a sovereign. He was happy, however, to have to state that the average deficiency of the coin which had to be sent into the Mint was found to be no more than 14 or 2 per cent.—(bear.) The Government had turned its attention to some measure which should facilitate the exchange both in London and the country.—(Hear.) Tke Duke of CLEVELAND was glad that the Noble Lord near him had brought this subject before the House. He had heard that the greatest confusion prevailed among the working classes, and that the con fusion and loss woud be greater if something were not done. The Noble Lord (Wharncliffe) had informed the House that the loss of actual value upon all the coin sent into the Mint was no more than 14 to 2 per cent., which would be no more than 2d. or 3d. in the pound ; but what consolation was that to those poor persons who could not get a sovereign changed without paying a shilling or eighteenpence in the pound? —(Hear, hear.) Something should be done to protect those people from SQ much loss. It was very evident that the lightness was not owing to fraudulent deface ment, but to common wear. The best way would have been to appoint a day when the coins should be called in, allowing them to circulate at their full value until that day, but not after. Lord WHARNCLIFFE said he was aware of the hardships and impositions, and he would take measures to remedy the evil. ELECTION COMMITTEES INDEMNITY BILL. Lord BROUGHAM gave notice that he would to morrow, move for the suspension of the standing orders, in order to facilitate the passing of the Bill, which he had proposed for the indemnity of witnesses before Election Committees. The Earl of WICKLOW presented two petitions from pines in Ireland in favour of Scriptural Education in Ireland. PRISON DISCIPLINE. The Earl of RADNOR wished to know whether it was the intention of the Government to bring in the Prison Discipline Bill this session. Lord WIIARNC LIFFE said it was the intention of the Government to bring in the Bill this session. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said that he had received a very important petition from the owners of c a 1 min's in Durham and Northumberland, relative to the employment of childr;_n in mines, and he gave notice that 112 should present such petition on Friday. INCOME-TAX. The Duke of WELLINGTON said that as he under stood that the Noble Marquis, who had given notice of his intention to move certain resolutions upon going into Committee on the Income-tax Bill, was still indisposed, he wished to know whether it would be convenient to postpone going into Committee till Thursday. The Earl of CLARENI)ON said he believed that it would be perfectly satisfactory to his Noble Friend, who intended to move the resolutions, but it would be incon venient to another Noble Lord, who wished to take a part in the discussion, and ho thought, therefore, that it would be better to take the discussion on Friday. A NOBLE LORD suggested that the same course might be pursued as with respect to the second reading—viz., that the Bill be committed pro forma to-morrow and re ported, and then take the discussion on the third reading. The Earl of CLARENDON said that ©a the behalf of the Noble Marquis he certainly had no objection to such a course. lie thought it would be convenient to Noble Lords who sat behind him to take that course. The Marquis of CLANIZICARDE said he hoped if the Bill were allowed to pass these stages, that it would not be supposed that it met with the approbation of those on his side of the House.—(Hear.) Although, the Noble Marquis had given notice of his intention to move certain resolutions, he apprehended that those resolutions would not lead them to give a direct negative to the Bill. In one of the stages of the Bill, he (the Marquis Clanricarde) was determined to give the Bill that .negative—(Cheers)—therefore he only wished that it might not be supposed that the Bill in any way met with their sanction. The Duke of WELLINGTON said the Noble Lord would have an opportunity of opposing the Bill on the third reading. DITRESS IN THE COUNTRY. Lord KINNAIR,D wished to give notice, that he should to-morrow move for the Report of the Commis sioners appointed to inquire into the distress at Burnley, Paisley, and Stockport. He had taken the opportunity -s,utte time ago of laying certain statements before their Lordships, and on that occasion he was particularly anxious not to exaggerate anything, but he had had his attention drawn to one mistake, which he wished to correct. On that occasion he stated that 54,692 pa tients had been admitted to the Dispensary at Manches ter. This he found to be a mistake, as he found the numbers were 14,692. • RELIGIOUS OPINIONS , OF, , WITNESSES. Lord CAMPBELL said that iiv.pursuance of the notice he had given, he begged to call the,-. attention of their Lordships to circumstances which had taken place upon a late trial in Stirling. He had received the stp-.. count of the circumstances from the Judge who presided, and he had not delayed one moment in bringing the sub ject before their Lordships. It was a subject of the greatest importance to the liberty of conscience, and the due administration of justice. If there had been no de parture from the law of Scotland on the occasion to which he referred, it would be indispensably necessary for their Lordships, in their legislative capacity, to remedy the law. But on this subject, their Lordships judicially had no jurisdiction.—(Hear, hear.) The determination of the Courts of Scotland was final and conclusive—not only the High Court of Justiciary, but the minor courts also, unloss a point was specially reserved. He would first lay before their Lordships, the facts as they occurred on the trial, according to the most authentic information he had been able to obtain, and he believed that information might be entirely relied upon. A person of the name of Samuel Henry was indicted for an assault on a constable in the discharge of his duty. The constable's name was William Simpson. The man was likewise indicted for a common assault upon a person of the name of Smart, and the only wit ness who could ;prove the assault upon Simpson was Simpson himself. He was accordingly called as a witness on the part of the prosecution. An ob jection was made to Simpson being a witness, which, if duly established was certainly a good objection. An oath was necessary before a witness could give his evidence, and an oath could be of no binding authority unless the party taking it believed in the existence of an overruling Providence. The evidence of Simpson was objected to on the ground that he did not believe in an overruling Providence. But the belief of the witness ought to have been ascer tained by examining himself upon the subject. Instead, however, of that course being pursued, Simpson was at once put on his trial for blasphemy without one question being put to him. Four witnesses were successively ex mined to prove that he had made statements which, if true, were no doubt very much to be con demned. It was also said that he had some objection able books in his possession—Volney and Voltaire. These four witnesses made statements of which he had no notice, and which he could not have been enabled to contradict. The witness was himself afterwards examined. He then declared that he believed in the existence of a God, in a future state of reward and punishment, in a God by whom he was created, and to whom he was accountable. The oath was then administered to him, and he ought immediately to have been examined in causa. Instead of that, how ever, lie was again examined with the sanction of the Judge, as to his religious opinions ; and in answer to the questions put to him, he again stated that he be lieved in the existence of a God, in a future state of re wards and punishments, and in Divine Revelation. He stated, in addition, that he went to church regularly, but that he did not partake of the Holy Communion be cause he was under scandal ; that is to say, that he had committed some irregularity for which he had not made the necessary atonement. He stated, however, that if that scandal were removed, he should very gladly partake again of the rights of the Church. He denied that he had in his possession the works of Volney or Voltaire. The exa mination was then undertaken by the Judge himself, who while he administered the law conscientiously, no doubt according to his opinion, instead of protecting the wit ness, asked him if he believed in the scheme of Christi anity as disclosed in the Scriptures? He said he did. The Judge was not satisfied, but asked him if he believed in the atonement. The witness said that he did. He then said that he did not believe in the whole of the Scriptures, The Judge having asked him in what part of the Scrip tures he did not believe, he replied that there were parts of them which he could not comprehend. After that examination the Judge did not, as had been stated in the public journals, reject the evidence of the witness, but he did what was more fatal to his reputation—he intimated an opinion that under the circumstances the witness could not be believed, and he recommended the counsel for the prosecution not to proceed to examine him. The Advocate-Depute adopted the suggestion of the Judge, and the witness was not examined. Now he (Lord Campbell) found fault with the proceedings thus taken, in three main particulars. He complained, first, that extraneous evidence was given, respecting the religious belief of the witness; secondly, that the witness himself was not examined in the first instance ; and thirdly, that the Judge, instead of rejecting or admitting the evidence, had taken upon himself to intimate that the witness could not be be lieved. Ho (Lord Camphell) had taken considerable pains to ascertain what was the law of Scotland upon the subject of the reception of evidence, under such cir cumstances as he had detailed. So far as he could learn, the law of Scotland upon the subject coincided with the law of this country, and with what he con ceived, ought to be the law in every civi lised country. He believed that according to the law of Scotland, as well as according to the law of this country, the evidence as to the belief of a witness ought to be confined to the examination of the party himself, The question to be determined was not what the witness believed in past times, but what he believed at the time of his examination. Now what was done here ? William Simpson, without notice, was put on his trial for blasphemy. Now the law of Scotland was very particular in this, that no man should be put on his defence for the most trifling offence, but should be supplied with an account of the charges preferred against him, and of the witnesses ; and it was necessary that this information should be given 40 days before. But here Simpson had no notice, he was at once put upon his trial, and four witnesses were put in against him, and they ware asked as to his professions and belief as regarded the Holy Scrip tures and the Trinity. They stated they had heard him in conversation deny the doctrine of the Trinity, and speak irreverently of 'the Holy Scriptures, and that he had lent to one of them books of Volney and Voltaire. This was contrary to the practice in this country and in Scotland, and in every country where law was a science. If a witness were asked whether he had committed an offence, and if he denied it, no witness could be brought to prove it against him, or he could not be prepared to defend himself. Did not all the reasoning employed in favour of that principle apply a fortiori to the examination of witnesses on their reh gious opinions ? But he now came to another matter of more importance, relating to the examination, which ought to take place as to the religious opinions of witnesses, and he must say if the law of Scotland was the same as was acted upon in this case, nothing like it was known since the Inquisition was put down. What a witness might be examined upon was his belief in a Pro vidence and in future rewards and punishments, but lie could not be required to state his opinions upon theological subjects. They might go so far as to ascertain whether the oath was obligatory on his con science, and in what form it should be put to him. It was his (Lord Campbell's) opinion, with respect to a judicial oath, that an appeal to the Supreme Being was just and necessary. Any per son who had this religious belief as to the existence of Providence and a future state, in which an untruth would be punished, was capable of taking an oath, and ought to be admitted as a witness. But no man had a right to be examined, as to whether lie be an Armenian, or an Arian—whether he be a Socinian, or a Trinitarian—a Puseyite, or a Pres byterian. This was the law of England. A Jew might be sworn upon the Old Testament—a Mahommedan on the Koran, and a Gentoo could be examined according to the form of an oath which was binding on his consci ence. This was decided in the time of Lord Hardwicke, who thought the question of such importance that he called in the assistance of all the Judges, and they all were of opinion that the Gentoo could be sworn by lay ing his hand on his foot. As far back as 1812, it was decided in the Court, of Session that a Jew could be examined, or a Mahommedan. In the case which was at that time before the Court of Session, the Jew was ad mitted as a witness sine note. Those who knew the law of Scotland were aware of the difference between a wit ness cum nota and sine note. In that House (the House of Lords) the decision of the Court of Session was confirmed, and a negro boy, who was a heathen, was received as a witness. The Noble and Learned Lord quoted various authorities to show that in all the Looks and decisions on this subject, the law was laid down, that if a witness believed in a Supreme Being, and in a future state, he was admissible. The laws of Scot land and of England were perfectly harmonious in this respect. In the trial of Queen Caroline, that great Judge, Lord Tenterden, then Chief. Justice Abbott, laid it down, that if a witness considered the oath binding on his con science, his testimony could not be rejected. The wit ness in that case called God to witness that what he said was true, and he imprecated the Divine vengeance if what lie said was false ; and he (Lord Tenterdon) considered it perfectly irrelevant to ask any other question. Such was the opinion of that great Judge, and all the books laid down the law in conformity with that decision. The witness declared at this trial in the most solemn manner that he believed in the existence of God and in in a future state, and that he was accountable to that God by whom he had been created. But he was then questioned as to his opinions with regard to disputed points of Christian theology. The Judge himself asked him whether he believed in the atonement, and further questioned him as to particular passages of the Bible, in which he said he did not believe. And not only were witnesses examined as to his general professions of scepticism, but also as to whether. he had not denied the doctrine of the. Trinity, and whether he had not in his possession the hooks, said. to be profane, of Voln e y an d Voltaire. NoW, if that precedent were to be followed, in what situation would any witness be who was called upon to give evidence in a Court of Justice ? Some of the most learned and conscientious Christians had at one time been heterodox. Was every witness who was called upon to give evidence to have questions put to him as to whether he had doubted during any period of his life ? Suppose the case of Sir Isaac Newton, him self the greatest philosopher, and one of the most sincere of Christians. It was well known that he had peculiar notions with regard to some of the doctrines of Christian theology. Ought he to have been examined, when called upon to give evidence as to his opinion of the Arian controversy, as to whether he himself was an Arian, or as to what was his opinion respecting the second person in the Trinity. ? Such a proceeding was monstrous. But see how the mischief was aggravated by admitting the evidence of ! other persons as to what had been said by the party at any post period of his life. If this practice were to be allowed, a prelate of the greatest piety and learning—an ornament, it might be, to the Church— might be called as a witness, and some malicious person might give evidence as to what he had said at school or at college fifty years before. In such a case the party could not always come prepared to vindicate his belief. If these investigations were to be permitted, trials would be endless, and persons might be brought to prove the irreligion of a witness, and then another person might be ' called to prove the irreligion of the person so called, and so on ad infinitum. Another reason alleged against the credibility of the witness was, that he had Voltaire in his library. That was denied. But if it had been the case, it did not follow that the witness would have been 'incompetent. They all knew the case of Algernon s y thi6y, who had been illegally convicted because a manuscrilit'ifork on Government had been found in his library, which had been seen by no eye but his own. There was also the case of Archbishop Laud, whO Was I acctied ' of having been a Papist because certain Popish liturgies had been found in his library. The Archbishop said it was true that they had been in his library, but that he had procured them for the purpose of refuting their errors. He had also, he said, had Greek liturgies in his possession ; and also the Alcoran, but it would not hadsurely be contend e d th a t b ecause h e the Alcoran in his library, that therefore he was a Mohammedan. What right had they, he would ask, to assume that be cause William Simpson had Voltaire in his library that therefore he was an infidel? He had heard it said that Simpson's evidence had not been rejected, but that it had been suggested to the counsel for the prosecution by the Judge, that it would be better that he should not be examined. That was the worst feature of the case. In point of law the Judge was bound to reject the wit ness's testimony or to admit it. He had no right to cast a stigma on witness. It was the office of the Judge to de cide as to the competency of the witness. It was for the Jury to determine what credit was due to him. What would be the consequence to Simpson of the con duct of the Judge ? Why, he would be infamous for life. He would be considered as a person guilty of blasphemy. He (Lord Campbell) knew the religious feelings of his country, and he believed that from the time that Simpson withdrew from that Court, he would be pointed at as an object of abhorrence up to the hour of his death, and that when he should be dead, the opin ion of,the people would be, that, like a suicide, he ought to be buried in the sand by the sea-shore . It had been said that Simpson had a competent remedy, that he might bring his action against the four witnesses if they had given false evidence, but he could not bring his action. Those witnesses all deponed to conversations with Simpson alone ; he could not be a witness in his own 'case ; he. was entirely , without remedy, and would sink into degradation and infamy. Instead ofdetermining what the law was, and deciding at once against the com petency of the witness—instead of admitting his evi dence, and leaving it to the Jury to decide upon its cre dibility, the Learned Judge threw out a suggestion to the young gentleman conducting the prosecution, which he could not well resist, that under the circumstances it would be advisable to withdraw the witness. If they punished parties who were suspected of holding scep tical opinions, in what state would persons be who de pended upon their testimony? Why the whole of the estates and property of many Noble Lords might de pend upon the testimony of persons thus situated. If a person of sceptical opinions were the only person who could give testimony as to a murder, was it to be con tended, therefore, that a murderer should go unpunished? It was important that the question should be settled. He did not believe that it was the law of Scotland. If it were the law, it was defective, and ought to be remedied. He should, therefore, move that there he laid before the House a copy of the records of the trial at the late assizes at Stirling of James Hendry, for an assault. He meant no disrespect to the Learned Judges in making this , motion. He did not impute to them any bad motives, but he considered that they had acted with incaution through excess of religious zeal. The LORD CHANCELLOR considered it irregular in his Noble and Learned Friend to bring forward such a motion without notice. He had no intention to follow his Noble and Learned Friend through his discursive in quiries, in fact, he acceded to almost everything that he had stated. There could be no dispute or doubt as to the law of England on the subject, but the question was what was the law of Scotland ? He could not but re gret the course his Noble and Learned Friend had thought it right to pursue. If he had any complaint to make against the law of Scotland, it was competent for him to propose a resolution on the subject, or to bring in a Bill for altering the law. But he must protest against the course which his Noble and Learned Friend hid thought proper to pursue, as a course calculated to degrade the course of justice by making the conduct of the Learned Judges a subject of discussion and com mentary in that House. Instead of making his_ statement upon the auth or ity o f v ague rumours, and on that autho rity making an attack on the Learned J ud g es, wou ld not his Noble and Learned Friend ha ve been better dis charging his duty by applying to the Learne d J ud g e s themselves for the purp ose , of learning the real circum stances of the case ? e (the Lord Chancellor) would, ou the authority of the Lord Justice Clerk, state to their Lordships the real circumstances of the case, which would be found to bear no resemblance to the exagge. rated statement of his Noble and Learned Friend. Of the two Learned Judges who had presided on that occa sion, one had practised at the bar of Scotland with great , credit to himself for a long series of years. He had been Solicitor-General for Scotland for the last 15 }ears, and had had more practice in the criminal law of Scotland than any other Judge on the Bench. The other was Lord Medwyn, who had been one of the ornaments of the Bench in Scotland for many years. Was it likely that these two Learned Judges could have misunderstood that law which for years they had been engaged in administering, in a plain and simple case like the one which had occurred at Stirling ? A person had been placed on his trial for an assault; a person had been been called to prove that assault, who was the Chief Con stable of Kinross; an objection had been taken to that person, that he was not a competent witness, because he did not believe in the Deity or in a future state of re wards and punishments ; that objection had been taken by the Counsel for the prisoner; the objection was a legal one, and the Judge was bound to entertain it ; witnesses were called to sustain that allegation, and two of them distinctly swore that not only had Simpson, in conversa tion with them, denied the existence of a God, but that he had supported that denial by arguments, and endea voured to convert the two witnesses, who were young men of not more than twenty years of age, to his opi nion. Two other witnesses had been called, and their Lordships must be aware how difficult it was to limit these inquiries strictly to the points at issue. The Learned Judges, both the Lord Chief Justice Clerk and Lor'd Medwyn, from time to time, interposed for the same object. But it was impossible, as their Lordships must be aware, so to restrain the witnesses, who gave accounts of the transactions which took place, as to render them, in strictness, objections to the competency of witnesses. They might make declarations upon the articles of religion, on the person of our Saviour, and many other circumstances, which he would mit state in that assembly or any other, or pollute the ears of his hearers, by repeating to their Lordships. Well, %hat was the course pursued by the Learned Judge ? Not the course pointed out by the Noble and Learned Lord, but directly the reverse. The Counsel for the Crown in sisted upon an examination of the witness, in contradic tion to his testimony. He had a right to do so. If a witness chose to oppose the testimony offered against him, he had a right to be heard. What did the Learned Judge do ? He did that which, by the law of Scotland, he was bound to do—direct the oath to be administered to the witness. The oath was preceded by that question whioki he was bound to put, before the oath was administered, " Do you believe in the importance of an oath ? Do you believe in a future state of rewards and punishment ?" He answered, " I do." The oath was then administered to the witness. He was examined, for the parties who produced him as a witness, by the Advocate-Depute ; not a single question was put to him by the judges. The whole examination was conducted by the Advocate- Depute ; the Judges had no right to interfere, unless a., question was improperly put. But ho did admit, in the. course of the inquiry, that he was ready and willing to communicate to the Learned Judges something with re ference to the subject. He replied " Surely you don't mean to say you are willing to communicate, when you say you do not believe certain passages relating to the life of Christ?" He paused for a moment, and said, in • answer, lie did not understand. That was the only in terposition as he was informed, and there the inquiry terminated. The Learned Judges consulted each other, and they decided that the objection to the testimony or the witness should be over-ruled. Now then, such was the impression made on the minds of those present, that the Learned Judge said to the Counsel for the Crown, "do you mean to press this witness," and the advocate answered, that he had already made up his mind not to do so. The person accused was found guilty, he be lieved, of an assault, and was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment. That was the whole case stripped of the false colouring that had been thrown upon it by his Noble and Learned Friend, and stripped of the repeated. sweepings of the witness, which were stated to have pro ceeded from the Judge. Now, supposing the law of Scotland to be that which it was stated to be,. was any blame to be imputed to the Learned Judges who tried the case ? He was quite sure their Lord ships would say, they had acted in strict con formity with their duty, and with what they considered to be the law. And were they there to argue what was the law of Scotland ? He had felt it his duty to write to those learned persons, and they had forwarded a memorandum, stating that such was the practice of the law of. Scotland. He would not enter upon the general question as to whether the law of England was better than that of Scotland ; he would not be withdrawn from the subject by such considerations. It was the law of Scotland, as laid down by Lord Stair and Lord Erskine, and be was also authorised to state that such was the law of Scotland laid down by Lord Medwyn, in , addition to the authority of the Lord President. Then what was the charge brought before these individuals ? On the trial an objection was made, and they were bound to listen to that objection. He would not, there-,;. fore, be driven from the subject by the argument, ad iu convenieritiarn, that it was a bad law ; it had nothing . to do with the question. He should take the opinion of the legal men of Scotland, and contrast their reasoning with that of the English lawyers, and then consider whether he could support the measure of his Noble and 'Learned Friend. All he was anxious for was to do his . duty to the learned persons who had entrusted their case to his hands. Ile put it to his Noble Frieed whe. ther a charge of this kind ought to have been brought, forward without communication with the Learned Judges who were the object of it. Lord DENMAN would only trepass for a few tato ments upon the attention of the House, not for the pur pose of defending a charge, a supposed charge, against the Learned Judges in Scotland, but to bear his testi mony. to the correctness of what had bee] stated by hie Noble and Learned Friend, relative to the law of Eng land. his practice in Westminster Hall, had always been to examine the man himself, and not any Witnesses; he had no notion that according to any principle of Eng lish law, any other course could be adopted. With re gard to the law of evidence, he was of opinion, that any general principle of proceeding could hardly be right in one country, which was not considered to be so by thinking people in other countries.—(Hear, hear.) They would all feel a great interest in inquiring, whether, supposing the law to have been properly administered on the late occasion, as the Noble Lord on the Woolsack said it had been, they ought not to re-consider a law ,which might operate so very unjustly as it appeared to him it did, upon witnesses. He was sorry he should_ not be able to remain and hear the debate, but he had merely risen to bear his testimony to the truth of what had been stated by his Noble and Learned Friend. Lord WYNFORD was understood to say that, in his opinion, the Learned Judges in Scotland, had acted quite consistently with the law of the land. Lord ABINGER did not 'think that the law of 'Eng. land had anything WhateverttO do 'With the matte': under the consideration of the House, and he should rot there fore express his opinion upon the present occasion as to what the law of England was upon the subject. That House had not the power, as an assembly, to pass a cen sure either upon Scotch, Irish, or Enghsh Judges upon suggestions taken from the newspapers.—(Hear, hear.) Their Lordships sat there as a legislative body to pass laws, which were submitted to their consideration. They sat occasionally as a judicial body upon appeals. If his Noble and Learned Friend had thought fit to bring the present question before their Lordships in their latter capacity, it would be right for them to discuss it, but in their legislative capacity it was:otherwise. He entirely protested against any attempt to bring censure in that House upon the Scotch or Irish Judges merely on account of some miscarriage. Lord BROUGHAM said that the course adopted by his Noble and Learned Friend was that, if the course adopted by the Judges in this matter were according to the law practised in Scotland, he gave notice of his in tention to proceed legislatively for the purpose of alter ing the law. There was no person who held higher opinions relative to the sacredness of the judicial office than he (Lord Brougham), nor was there any persou_ who more constantly, habitually, and peremptorily dies,. countenanced anything like a light atttack upon the conduet of , those who presided at the judicial tribunals, and he should have been the first to reprobate the con duct of his Noble and Fearned Friend, if he considered it was an attack on those learned p ersons, the Judges, who tried the case which was now brought under their Lerdships' attention. He (Lord Brougham) held the e a the conduct of those learned persons stood unimpeacb, —he would add, unassailed on the present occasi• en _ They had not mistaken the law—there had not bee n a miscarriage in the trial of the indictment accordin g the authority of those Learned Judges (as report4ed by h!s Noble and Learned Friend from the Woolsaclx) wh o said that the law of the pra c ti ce was w h a t they had de clared it by their proceedings to be, and that they were bound by their oaths to administer that law which was intrusted to their charge. Many might think that the arrangements on the subject of the law of evidence which prevailed in this country were preferable to those whiab prevailed in Scotland, but that was not the question which they had then to consider. The only questio! was as to whether the Scottish Judges had rightly admi nistered the law of their country. Now the House ha' the deliberate statement of those Judges of what th Scottish law was, and that statement was confirmed b their Learned Brethren on the Bench. Their opinie was also corroborated by the high authority of ti President of the Court of Session. The See tish Judges had never doubted as to the stet of .the law in their own country upon the subjec then under the consideration of the _ House. The Lordships ate v e r in over that the s ll c o o u tt s i e sh h c ad our n t o s ainppeclrilamteinjaul mattersrisdicucvrh and by no possibility could such cases come before the as a Court of Review. The present question was 01 into which they could not enter. The only doubts whit felt upon the present subjel • operation, and to the fact that it was so rarely acted upo chlelie(fli).47drefel3rrerdugtici)artnh)e mo rality of the practice now that it could not be said that any course of preceden was established in the matter. It was also, he Amu say, totally irreconcileable with all his ideas of what t course of procedure ought to be, biassed, as he pi b a bly was, by the habits he had himself acquired um the law of this country. Their Lordships might hei atter consider, if they thought proper, whether it wtn be advisable to make any alteration in the law of Scotia] When the proper time came he should be disposed to g the question the attention it well deserved, from great interest—the high interest it involved—and a h s itsi t mic he eob e iN s (:, t h a t b ,nr li i s e h n ed tdheo ; n aw thtew o viro f to wlsae t i l t a hk nd , great delicacy which s h ou ld b e o b served if it were fov remember wo tn thoughtt such that a v Ie Ellenborough and the Noble Lord who presil now in the Queen's Bench, were attending to trial in a foreign country, and were stn with an anomalous rule of law which prevailed there. a child below the age at which it could be supposed know the nature of an oath was to be examined thee] . might make the statements out of Court, in the prese of adults, who would be allowed to swear that they heard it make the statement, and that was evidenFe. ai tild ace had Bus