The Sun. — London, England, 1834-07-23 00:00:00

4. 1 frittered away. Though he seconded the motion, he did not believe that the Hon. Member who now brought it forward expected that a Committee should be granted ; but still it was to be hoped that the Noble Lord ( Althorp) would see the necessity of instituting some inquiry between this and the next session. Lord ALTHORP concurred with the Hon. Member for Middlesex, and admitted that there appeared to be more time than necessary spent - by some Commissions in carrying on their inquiries. In his opinion, the best mode was not to pay for these Commissions by time, but to give a certain sum as a remuneration for the inquiry, and that was the course acted upon by the present Government. It was true that the Cor poration Commission expended more time than had been cal culated on ; but then it was an extensive question, and it was desirable that their report, which would be returned against "the next session, should be as full and satisfactory as possible. Some of the other. Commissions had subjects as extensive to enter upon ; but even so, it still was desirable to make it the interest, as well as the duty, of the Commissioners, not to spend unnecessary time in their investigations. Colonel EVA NS hoped that when the report of the Com mission of the Corporate Inquiry was laid before them, that any measure founded upon it would n o t b e h urr i e d through the House ; but that Members should be allowed to make them selves acquainted with the details. Sir HENRY HARD INGE thought it would be well that any future Commissions which might be appointed should be more carefully selected, as regarded those who formed them. Some complaints had been made of improper persons having been placed on these commissions, and as it appeared by some of the reports, these complaints seemed not to be ill founded. The value of the reports must, in a great degree, depend upon the character of those by whom they were made. Mr. O'CONNELL was of opinion that there was another ingredient still more necessary to render these'commissions effective, and that was the vesting them with greater powers than they possessed at present. They should have authority to examine on oath. At present their authority was of a very doubtful nature, and if this want had not baffled their efforts, it had at least detracted much from their efficiency. Greater powers were peculiarly necessary for this commission to enable them to meet the connivance and contrivance by which corpo rate bodies were known to be characterized, and that of which the Hon. and Gallant Member complained, or rather the com plaints to which he alluded, were owing to this want of power in the Commissioners on th e one h an d, and the capability of concealment by the corporations on the other.—( Hear, hear. ) To prevent this the Commissioners should have authority to examine on oath, and to commit for contempt. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL had the honour, when the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth was Se cretary for the Home Department, to be appointed as the head of a Commission, which for the last three years, had acted without any remuneration. He could state that the Commis sion of Municipal Inquiry had been most carefnlly selected. To be sure, notwithstanding all the pains which bad been taken in making the selection, it was impossible but th a t some persons not duly qualified may have been chosen, but as a body they were unexceptionable. The labours they had to perform were very extensive, and the inquiry such as had no parallel since the making of the Doomsday Book in the time of the Con queror. Sir R. PEEL considered the motion a very proper one, and though it could not be proceeded with in the present, be hoped the Hon. Gentleman would renew it in the next session. He thought the proposal for inquiring into the services ren dered by the Commissioners was too vague. If he were to sug gest an instruction to the proposed Committee, it should be to ascertain what practical improvements they recommended, and what would be the best mode of carrying them into effect. With regard to the appointment of Commissioners, it was a matter which should be always undertaken with great caution. The House should avoid contracting a habit of referring mat ters too frequently to Commissions, lest it should throw the duties that ought to be performed by itself upon others, and Members would find themselves, when they came to legislate upon those matters which had been the subject of inquiry, less competent than if they had themselves entered into the investi gation. It was difficult to frame any general rule by which they could be guided as to those Commissions ; but it was to be hoped that the House would not indulge in them too fre quently. It was better for the purpose of legislation to mix up with the principle a knowledge of the details. Mr. WILK S said that the slow manner in which these commissions proceeded, had produced great dissatisfaction. Mr. KENNEDY, in withdrawing his motion, said that the only object of the Building of Churches' Commission, was to people the country with architectural abortions.—( A laugh.) With regard to the Law Commission, he had nothing to say against its efficiency. Leave having been granted to withdraw the motion, Mr. LITTLETON moved for leave to bring in a bill to continue the several acts relating to the importation and keep ing of arms in Ireland. In answer to a question from Sir R. PEEL, Mr. LITTLETON said that it was intended the proposed Act should remain in force until the end of the next session. After a few words from Messrs. Ruthven, Peel, and O'Con nell, leave was granted. Mr. HUME moved that copies of the report of Messrs. Villiers and Bowring on Foreign Commercial Relations, and of the reports from the Commissioners of Inquiry into the Excise, be laid before this House, for the use of the Members of the House. Mr. POULETT THOMSON said the reports were printed, and would be circulated amongst the Members. On the motion of Mr. HUME, an order was made for re turns of certain papers relative to the arrest of Mr. Peter Gordon, at Ramnad ( East Indies), on the 27th Dec. 1827. Lord SANDON moved for copies of all correspondence between the Board of Trade and the Board of Customs or Excise, on the subject of extending to inland towns the privi lege of bonding or warehousing. Sir R. VYVYA N seconded the motion. Mr. P. THOMPSON said the subject would be brought fully under the discussion of the House to-morrow night. The papers would not elucidate it, as it was a question of principle, independently of which, they were not papers of a description - which the Noble Lord was entitled to ask for. After a short conversation, on the recommendation of Lord A LTHORP the motion was withdrawn. Mr. O'DWYER moved the appointment of a select com mittee to inquire into the case of Colonel Bradley, and report thereon. Colonel Bradley . yas, in his opinion, a much injured man Lord A L THORP said it was useless to appoint a committee at this period of the session, as it would be most improbable they would report in due time. Mr. O'CONNELL concurred that it would be more advis able to postpone the subject to on early day next session. Mr. HUME and Mr. O'DWYER thought that no further postponement should take place, and that any committee to be appointed would make a report at a short day. Mr. Secretary RICE said, that independently of the period of the session, there were twenty-six committees now sitting, and it would be most difficult to procure a sufficient attendance. Mr. ELLICE allowed that there were hardships in the case of Colonel Bradley, but was apprehensive, that as for twenty years, during various Administrations, it had not been thought practicable to give him any relief, that the appoint ment of a committee at present could not be productive of any advantageous result. If, however, the Hon. Gentleman would withdraw his motion, he (Mr. Ellice) would look into the cir cumstances of the case, in order to ascertain whether there was any one of which a favourable view might be taken. Mr. O'DWYER consented to withdraw his motion, and re commended that at least Colonel Bradley should be reinstated in his rank. Mr. ELLICE (as we understood the Right Hon. Gentle.. man) did not dissent from the recommendation. . COURT OF CHANCERY IN IRELAND. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, after some observations .which were totally inaudible, moved that the House should re solve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of compensation to officers of the Court of Chancery in Ire land, for the losses they might sustain by the Bill for the amendment of the practice of that Court. Mr. HUME was of opinion, that before the House consented to go into the proposed Committee, they should have some information laid before them as to the amount of compensation which it would be reasonable to adjudge. Mr. O'REILLY supported the motion. Mr. O'CONNELL described the Bill for the Amendment of the Practice of the Irish Court of Chancery as a most im portant measure, and one calculated to diminish expense and delay ; and maintained that those who suffered by that Bill were entitled to compensation. Mr. F. BARING stated that inquiry should be made of the Lords of the Treasury as to the amount of compensation which was due to the officers in question; and that when that amount was ascertained, it should be laid before Parliament. Mr. H. GRATTAN supported the motion, and hoped that no delay would be allowed to take place in compensating those who were sufferers by the Bill for the Amendment of the Irish Court of Chancery. Colonel PE RCEVAL supported the motion, and adverted to the case of a friend of his, the Examiner of the Court of Chancery in Dublin, who had given a large sum of money for his office, and ought to be compensated for the loss of it. Mr. F. O'CONNOR was opposed to all compensation; for he was of opinion that a Reformed Parliament should resist all undue taxation, to which he considered that the present proposition would lead. Mr. LYNCH observed, that the subject for the House to decide upon at present, was not the amount of compensation that ought to be granted, but to consider whether there should be any compensation at all. Mr. O'CONNELL, in further maintenance of the motion, stated that one individual paid down no less a sum than 10,500/. for his situation. It would be too bad if such a per son should be deprived of his office by an act of the Legisla ture without compensation. The House then went into Committee, and the resolution v: as agreed to. The report was ordered to be brought up to morrow. Mr. HUME suggested that as those offices were useless, they should be bought out and out, and abolished altogether. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said their object was to diminish emoluments rather than to abolish offices. SUPPRESSION 01? DISTURBANCES (IRELAND) BILL. Lord A LTH ORP mOved the order of the day for the House going into Committee on this Bill. Mr. BARRY wished to take that opportunity of present ing a petition against the Bill, from a parish in the county of Cork. 'Mr. HUME. said that t. he Bill m ili tated so much against the general principles of civil liberty, that he felt it his duty raOst strongly to protest against it. Certain cla.m.e-.; took away all-responsibility, than which in his (pram nothiks could be ' more dangerous. Accountability was the best, in fact the only sure, guarantee of human conduct. After a few words from Mr. O'CONNELL, Mr. GRATTAN, and Mr. ROCHE, the House went into Committee. Mr O'CONNELL said that there were two causes, one of which re-enacted, the other of which repealed. As far as he was concerned, he proposed to let these two clauses pass without opposition, and then to bring up certain clauses which would enact what he considered necessary, and repeal that which he looked upon as unconstitutional and obnoxious. Mr. FERGUS O'CONNOR cared not what others might propose to do, he would oppose every word of every clause of the Bill.—(Laughter.) Mr. O'CONNELL said, supposing the Ist clause, a re enacting one, to pass, his Hon. Friend would not surely op pose the second, which went to limit the powers of the act.— (Loud laughter.) Mr. BARROW said he should heartily support every pro vision of the Bill which went to suppress agrarian distur bance, but he must oppose that part of it which interfered with the right of petition. This he never would assent to. Dr. Doyle, and some of the best and purest men of his per suasion, had all of them inculcated the necessity of a measure for suppressing prmdial disturbance. The present, with the exception he had alluded to, was a protective, and not a coer cive measure. Mr. F. O'CONNOR observed, that if Dr. Doyle (greatly as he revered his memory), and all the Catholic Clergy of Ire land, were to approve a measure which his conscience told him to be unnecessary and unjust, he should still oppose that measure as vigorously as he now did.—( Hear, hear.) On the question being put, that the first clause (which re news the Bill for one year) be agreed to. Mr. RUTHVEN protested against any renewal, even for a day. Mr. F. O'CONNOR said he would divide the House. The gallery was accordingly cleared, and the House divided, when there appeared-- For the clause . 9O Against it Majority —69 On the question that the clause stand part of the Bill, Mr. RUTHVEN proposed that the Bill then in force for the suppression of disturbances should be read, clause by clause. He was sure that many Honourable Gentleman were not aware of the objectionable nature of the clauses which it was pro posed to re-enact. Mr. F. O'CONNOR supported the motion. Mr. O'CONNELL said he should bring before the House all the objectionable clauses, and he therefore thought it was unnecessary to read the whole of the Bill. Mr. RUTHVEN then withdrew his motion, and it was agreed that the clause should stand part of the Bill. On the second clause being put, Mr. O'CONNELL said that he should propose an altera tion in that part of the 11th clause of the Bill now in force, which provided that no meeting to petition Parliament should be held in any proclaimed district, without ten days' notice to the Lord Lieutenant, and without his express sanction. That provision was not only unnecessary, but plainly unconstitu tional. He did not object to the giving of ten days' notice, but he saw no necessity that such meetings should have the sanction of the Lord Lieutenant. By the Ist and 2d of Wil liam I V., which embodied all the Whiteboy Acts, it was pro vided that a person making use of inflammatory language, to excite any one to th e commission of disturbances, or any White boy offence, should be liable to transportation. They had, therefore, a very good safeguard against the introduction of exciting topics at meetings convened to petition Parliament on subjects connected with the Church and State. By the pre vious notice of the meeting the Government would be enabled to send their policemen and note-takers to the assembly, and the law left the power of adopting a legitimate course for punishing any one who was bold enough to make use of in flammatory language. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving the repeal of that part of the 11th clause which related to the holding of public meetings. Mr. LITTLETON thought it inexpedient to agree to the proposition of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman. No practical inconvenience had been hitherto experienced from the opera tion of the clause. Although no public meetings had been held in Kilkenny, yet numerous petitions had been signed, and sent up to Parliament. It would be dangerous to allow meetings in proclaimed districts, without the approbation of the Lord Lieutenant, as it was clear that declamatory language might be used, for instance, on tithes--which would tend to sanction the outrages which it was their object to repress. Mr. O'CONNELL observed that petitions which were not agreed to at public meetings were considered of little value. Lord A LTHOR P said that the discussion of political sub jects in disturbed districts would increase the prevailing ex citement to a more alarming degree. With regard to the punishment of a person usin g inflammatory language at a meeting, it must be recoll ec t e d that it would frequently be a matter of great difficulty to procure a conviction. Mr. RONA YNE supported the motion. Mr. SHE IL said that the Tories bad never proceeded so far in their arbitrary measures as the present Government. The Government was now about to introduce a clause of such severity as the Tories, when in office, did not think necessary to adopt. The argument used by the Right Hon. Secretary for Ireland, in which he said the suppression of meetings was no hardship, as petitions could be sent round for signature, might as well be extended to the suppression of all meetings. The Government had declared that they not only would not, but could not get the three first clauses of the Bill passed ; would the English Members then allow a clause which would have the same effect as those clauses, to pass in this surrepti tious manner? The Government would have passed all the three clauses, but for a discovery more fortunate than fortui tous. In his opinion, it would be better for Government to look to the Six Acts, which had passed in 1819, for the sup pression of the disturbances which then prevailed in England, for a model, than to the work of their own creation in 1833. But this clause was more severe than anything ever attempted in England, and would give the greatest discontent. - Mr. F. O'CONNOR opposed the clause, as being the most obnoxious in the whole bill. His Learned Friend had said that it would be a subject of discussion during the recess, and he pledged himself that it should be so. He was sure the clause would give the greatest dissatisfaction, and he should give it his hearty opposition. Sir ROBERT PEEL said, that considering the important omissions made in this Bill, he thought it would have been better to have brought in a new act, containing those clauses it was meant to retain. The omission of one half of some clauses, and the whole of others, led to the greatest absurdities. The preamble, for instance, was now the same as it formerly was ; but on referring to the body of the Bill, it would be found that three-fourths of it referred to disturbances which were brought out of the operation of the Bill. He was convinced that it would be unintelligible. It was introduced for a spe cific purpose, but when one-half of the clauses were omitted, he was sure it would be quite impossible to carry it in a manner which would be satisfactory to themselves or credita ble to them as agitators. He contended that it was doubtful, contracted as the clause was, whether the Lord-Lieutenant had the power to prevent political meetings, even in pro claimed districts. You have a clause in this Bill, which, ac cording to your own opinion proves that agrarian disturb ances are connect e d w ith political agitation, and yet (here the Right Honourable Baronet was interrupted in the middle of his sentence by cries of " No, no.) Why then, he ( Sir Robert Peel) would ask, did Government seek by the Bill to suppress meetings to be held for the purposes of preparing petitions on political subjects, to be held in disturbed dis tricts ? He did not think that his ( Sir Robert Peel's) Right Hon. Friend (the Secretary for Ireland) adhered to the old Whig doctrine on the subject of the right of the people to meet to petition, when he gave the preference, as was done in this Bill, to the hawking about the petition from house to house to receive signatures, instead of getting it prepared and signed at a public meeting.—(A laugh.) He :( Sir Robert Peel) must support the Bill as it now stood ; but he must say that he wished that his Majesty's present Government had followed the example of Lord Grey, and adhered to the clauses which were now intended to be left out. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, that the Right Hon. Baronet was certainly entitled to great credit for the inge nuity he had shown in perverting the clauses of the bill. If judges were to proceed in the same way which the Right Hon. Baronet had done, this clause wo u ld never certa i n l y b e carried into effect • but happily no judge w ou ld ever procee d i n the way he (girßobert Peel) had done. The judges would put a fair construction on this, and the other clauses, and admi nister the law accordingly. The Right Hon. Baronet had complained of the brevity of- parts of the bill. He (the Attorney- General) thought it was a matter of great importance' to have as much brevity as possible in Acts of Parliament. No man who wishes to understand the clause in question can have any doubt as to its meaning. The Right Hon. Baronet was altogether wrong in the observations he had made respecting the power of the Lord Lieutenant to prevent political meetings in disturbed districts. The clauses bear a quite different construction from that which he had put upon them. He (the Attorney-General) wished to know whether the Right Honourable Baronet approved of - the 11th clause ? If he did, he did not see how he could put the construction on the clause in question which he had just done. With regard to the power of the Lord Lieutenant to put down disturbances, he (the Attorney-General) thought that his Lordship's powers were by law so great, that he might almost, with the concur rence of the King, proclaim martial law in those districts.— ( Cries of " No, no.") He maintained that he was right in the observation he had made. If political meetings were to be allowed in proclaimed districts, the worst consequences would result from such toleration. But where there were no dis turbances, the matter was very different. There the people had a right to demand that they should be allowed to meet, so long as nothing dangerous to the public peace was likely to occur. lie (the Attorney-General) would only say, in con clusion, that it would have been far more honourable, and cer tainly far more candid on the part of the Right Hon. Baronet, to have attacked the Bill openly, than to pursue the course he had done.—( Cheers.) Mr. O'CONNELL wished to ask the Honourable and Learned Gentleman one question :—ln what respect did he (Mr. O'Connell) pervert the clause? He thought it was im possible, or at least unlikely, that he should pervert the clause, when he put the same construction on it as the Hon. and Learned Gentleman himself did. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL denied having accused the lion. and Learned Member of having perverted the clause. O'CONNOR DON objected to the clause as unconstitu tional. Sir R. PEEL explained. The lecture which the Hon. and Learned Gentleman had read to him, he took in perfectly good part ; but in he must still a dh ere to the op i n i ons he had express. ed ; and the view he took of the clauses in question, he was supported by the most distinguished authorities on mat ters connected with Ireland. He thought the whole bill was drawn up in the most blundering manner he had ever seen.— ( Laughter). Mr. O'RE ILL Y concurred with the Right Hon. Baronet in the construction he put on the clauses in question. Minis ters would get no'credit for what they had done in the altera tions they had made in the measure ; but all the odium which they incurred by the old Coercion Bill, would still adhere to them. Mr. C. BULLER contended that there was not any clause in the Bill which would render political. meetings legal in proclaimed districts. He agreed with what had fallen from the Hon. and Learned Gentleman (the Attorney-General) on this pOnt. Any person attending a political meeting, not sanctioned by the Lord Lieutenant, would be guilty of a mis demeanour. Though he should vote for these clauses, he had not thereby the slightest wish to prevent the continuance of agitation in Ireland ; for while the Church Establishment there was kept up, he thought that so far from agitation being reprehensible, the absence of it would be so ; a more abomi nable institution never disgraced any country. Mr. SINCL AIR said a few words, which we could not catch. • Mr. BARRON thought it would be very mischievous to prevent meetings for the purpose of petitioning Parliament in any part of Ireland. Mr. O'CONNELL said he should divide the House. No two things were more utterly distinct than political and pre dial agitation. To suppose any connection between the two, showed the most utter ignorance on the subject. The Committee then divided on the amendment, when there appeared—. For the amendment Against it 38 121 Majority for the clause —B3 On returning to the gallery we found the Committee disett sing the 28th clause. Mr. O'CONNEII, opposed the clause and proposed that it should be enacted that nothing contained in the act should exempt officers or soldiers who did any action in furtherance of the object s o f th e bill, f rom b e i ng amena bl e to t h e jurisdic tion of courts, civil or ci iminal. The clause being read a first and second time, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL defended the original clause, and said it had not been introduced as a sequel to the courtsmartial clauses, but only to carry the bill into due effect. The military could not he expected to do their duty if some such protection as this were not thrown over them for their ac tions done in pursuance of the act—the protection extended to them in no other ease. Mr. O'CONNELL said he had no objection to a clause to provide that in cases brought before a criminal court, it should be a good defence that the action complained of was done bona-fide in pursuance of the act. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the clause was intended to protect parties who should innocently go beyond the law. As for instance, if an officer in a misty morning or dark evening arrested a party after the sun was risen, or before it was set, this clause would protect him, if he were acting bona .fide ; but without this clause he would not be protected. The reason why he preferred retaining the words of this clause to adopting any such as those suggested by the Hon. and Learned Member for Dublin, was that they were words which had been b e f o r e use d, and upon the meaning of which there had been judicial adjudications. It was much safer to use them than new words, which were liable, there fore, to have an interpretation put upon them which they could not so certainly foresee. But even with this clause, an action might be brought by an aggrieved party in any of the Courts of Dublin against a soldier abusing the powers of the act, and then the question would there arise as to whether he had acted bona fide, though mistakenly. This would be the course in case civil proceeding was adopted against a de fendant. In similar manner, if an aggrieved party chose to proceed by indictment, he would merely have to make out a prima, facie case of assault, and it would be thrown upon the defendant, to show that he was bona fide acting under the powers given him by the act of Parliament. Mr. C. ROM IL L Y said that there was nothing in the Bill to call for such a clause as that. Mr. SHE IL contended that there was no precedent in any former act for a - protection of this kind. _ _ Mr. O'REILLY asked, if with this clause in the Bill, a party should still bring an action, or prosecute an officer, of what use would this be as a protection to the latter ?- The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the clause would give no protection to a wanton or mischievous act, but would protect an officer against an innocent mistake. Mr. O'CONNELL argued that this was not law, and that the clause would protect soldiers acting wantonly. He was ready to agree to a clause protecting them where they acted bona fide. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that to introduce such words as the Hon. and Learned Gentleman suggested, viz., that parties should not be liable for anything done in pur suance of this Act," would not prevent them being taken be fore a Court, to see whether what they had done was in pur suance of the Act. To introduce such words in lieu of this clause, would merely be losing the protection it afforded to the public. The question of bona fide must with this clause come before a judge and jury, and its extension was simply the extension of an additional protection. Mr. O'CONNELL could not think the Hon. and Learned Gentleman meant to maintain this proposition seriously. Mr. Sergeant PERRIN begged to remark that the mean ing of the clause was not suc h as h a d b een ascr ib e d to i t b y the Learned Attorney-General ; for it provided that no officer should be " questioned," except by courtmartial.—( Hear. ) Mr. O:CONNELL said he' would withdraw his clause for the present if the Government would take it into consideration. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL called the attention of the Learned Sergeant who spoke last but one to the words preceding those that he had quoted, and he would find that an officer was only to be questioned by courtmartial for anything . done "in pursuance of this Act." Of course if he did any thing not in pursuance of the Act, he might be questioned for it in a court of law. Mr. C. BULL E R said that the clause would then be use less; for without it a party accused might plead that what he had done was done in pursuance of the Act. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, that no doubtbut he might ; but if he happened, ever so innocently, to exceed the powers of the Act, his plea would be good for nothing. The clause was meant to protect those who should inadvertently arrest a man a few minutes too early in the evening, or a few yards beyond the boundary of a proclaimed district, or other wise innocently exceed their powers. Mr. RONA YNE thought that one o'clock in the morning was not a fit hour to proceed with a discussion like this, and should, therefore, move that the Chairman do report progress. The amendment having been put, Mr. LITTLETON said, he thought that after the discus sion they had had, they were ripe for the decision of this clause. When they employed soldiers in a service of this kind, they were bound to give them every possible protection against acts of inadvertence. The bill, as it stood, would do that, whilst it would not protect them in any wanton exercise of power. Mr. O'CONNELL begged to call the attention of the Committee to an expression which gave courtsmartial " the exclusive cognizance of all matters" objected to officers. What became of the power of appealing to a judge and jury with such an expression in the Act ? Lord ALTHORP observed that it would be an unusual course for the Chairman to report progress after they had pro ceeded so far in the discussion of a clause. Mr. J. GRATTAN thought the proposition of the Hon. and Learned Member for Dublin, to let the matter stand over for the present, a fair one. Mr. SHEIL said, that all they wanted was to give the Go vernment au opportunity of changing its mind, which he thought it could not help doing after what had been urged from his side of the House. He granted that the clause had been both attacked and defended by legal subtleties, but were they to sacrifice a constitutional principle to the spirit of so phistry ? Lord ALTHORP did not pretend to the knowledge of the law possessed by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman who had conducted the discussion on this clause ; but he would adopt the view taken by the Attorney-General, more especially as it appeared that the clause did not partake of the objection which lay against courtsmartial. Tjae objection against courtsmar tial was, that civilians would be tried before them ; whereas the present clause only subjected the soldiery to the jurisdiction of this court. Mr. RONA YNE having moved that the Chairman do re port progress, the House divided, when there appeared— Ayes 29 Noes BO __ Majority -59 On our return to the gallery, we found Lord ALTHORP agreeing to postpone the further consideration of this clause to the bringing up of the report. Mr. O'CONNELL, on the consideration that a full dis cussion would then take place, consented to withdraw his amendment, and at the same time stated, that•the only other clauses to which he would object were the 27th and 31st. The House then resumed, the CHAIRMAN reported pro gress, and obtained leave to sit again. The Prisoners Counsel Bill was read a third time and passed. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDA Y, JULY 23, 1834. BATTLE OF NAVARINO. - - Mr. LABOUCHERE hoped he might be allowed to bring up the report of this bill, in order that the poor men who were to obtain the grant might receive their shares im mediately. Mr. G. F. YOUNG objected to the grant being treated on the principle of the Proclamation Act. There was no analogy between it and capture or prize-money ; it was an act of bounty, to which former precedents would not apply, and ought to be distributed so as to afford larger shares to the poor men who took part in the battle. Mr. H. HUGHES objected to the proposed distribution. Out of 60,000/. the Commander was to get upwards 7,0001., the sailor but 41. 10s%, and the boys only 11. 10s. Mr. Secretary RICE said that the grant was made by the House in consideration of there not having been any prize money ; the House stepped in and supplied that deficiency, and he thought that the mon e y oug h t to b e distributed in the same proportions in which it would have been had it been dis tributed as prize-money immediately after the battle. Mr. SHE IL considered this a mere act of honesty on the part of the House ; and, under all the circumstances, the grant ought not to be subject to the Prize Act. • Mr. LABOUCHERE said that a considerable part of the sum of 7,000/. would go to Greenwich Hospital. Mr. HUGHES, to afford his Majesty's Ministers the op portunity of considering a more just distribution, begged to move as an amendment, " That the 'further consideration of the report be postponed till next Monday." Mr. LABOUCHERE said all that was asked was that it should be left to the Crown to distribute the money in the manner that it might consider most advisable. He ought to add, however, that the Crown would most likely act on the recommendation of the Lords of the Admiralty, who had given their attention to the subject, and who were of opinion that the money ought to be distributed in the proportions in which the prize -money was distributed after the battle of Algiers. Between that battle and the battle of Navarino, there was a great resemblance, and the distribution in the former case gave perfect satisfaction. Mr. Secretary RICE would remind the Hon. Gentleman that the object of his amendment was to give time to his Ma jesty's Government to consider the matter, but it was proposed by the Hon. Gentleman to give only until Monday next for that purpose, whereas if the Bill were passed, inasmuch as it left the distribution entirely to his Majesty's Government, they would have as much time for consideration as could be de sirable, and a much longer period than the Hon. Gentleman himself contemplated. Mr. H. HUGHES was much obliged to the Right Hon. Gentleman f or hi s i nstruct i on , w hi c h h e was always very ready to afford to Gentlemen sitting on that (the Opposition) side of the House ; but he (Mr. Hughes) begged to inform the Right Hon. Gentleman that he moved the amendment he pro posed to instruct his Majesty's Government to reconsider the subject between now and Monday, and then to report the re sult of their re-consideration to the House. He would press his amendment to a division. The House then divided on the amendment : Ayes Noes Majority against the amendment... —l6 The Bill was then reported, and the Resolutions agreed to Mr. BARING brought up the Report of the Newspaper Postage Bill. The Highways Bill was read a third and passed. Mr. Secretary RICE presented an Election Petition from Wexford. . 30 The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at Three o' Clock. FROM LAST NIGHTS GAZETTE. At the Court of St. James's, the 19th day of July 1834, PRESENT, The King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council. His Majesty having been pleased to appoint the Right lion. Lord Duncannon to be one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, his Lordship was this day, by his Majesty's command, sworn one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State accordingly. WHITEHALL, JULY 22. The King has been pleased to direct letters patent to be passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, constituting and appointing the Right Hon. Sir John Cam Hobhouse, Bart., William Dacres Adams, and Sir Benjamin Charles Stephenson, to be Commissioners of his Majesty's Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works, and Buildings.. WHITEHALL, JULY 14. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Arthur Hare Palmer, of the city of Bristol, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. OFFICE OF ORDNANCE.-.JULY 19. Royal Regiment of Artillery—First-Lieutenant A. 0. Moles• worth, to be Second-Captain, vice Hough, deceased ; Second. Lieutenant S. B. Hornby, to be First-Lieutenant, vice Molesworth. July 10. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Cornwall. W. 11. P. Carew, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant, April 30. Ist Cornwall orps of Yeomanry Cavalry. G. S. Borlase, Esq., to be 'Major-Commandant, vice Grills, de. 'eased, July 2. Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Ayr. Ayrshire Yeomanry Cavalry. Lieut. J. Campbell to be Captain, vice Oswald, deceased ; Cor net A. Cunningham to be Lieutenant, vice Campbell ; Cornet C. Lamb to he ditto, vice Farquhar ; J. D. Boswell, Gent., to be Cornet, vice Cunningham, July 9. DECLARATIONS OF INSOLVENCY. ROBERT TURNER, licensed victualler, Kensington. HENRY FREEMAN, d ra p er , R oc hf or d Essex. BANKRUPTCIES SUPERSEDED. JOHN SEMPLE, timber-merchant, Commercial-wharf, Re gent's Canal, Hampstead -road. TIMOTHY SMITH, hosier, Edgeware-road. BANKRUPTS. JOHN HADWEN, cotton-spinner, Lockwood, Yorkshire, to surrender July 30 and Sept. 2, at eleven, at the White Horse Inn, Huddersfield. Lake, Cateaton-street, London ; Battye and Clay, Huddersfield. WILLIAM HAYTON GIBSON, hatter, Liverpool, Aug. 6 and Sept. 2, at one, at the Clarendon-rooms Liverpool. Mawds ley, Liverpool; Adlington, Gregory, and Faulkner, Bedford-row, London. HENRY WALKER, glove-manufacturer, Worcester, August 11, and September 2, at eleven, at the Hop Market Inn, Worcester. White and Whitmore, Bedford-row, London ; Holdsworth and Finch, Worcester. JOHN BUCKLEY, merchant, Hollingrove, York, Aug. 9, at ten, and Sept. 2, at twelve, at the Commissioners'-Rooms, St. James's-square, Manchester. Milne, Parry, Milne, and Morris, Temple, London; Whitehead and Barlow, Oldham. JAMES COLLIS, tailor, Fleet-street, July 30, at two, and Sept. 2, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Baylis, Basing hall-street ; J. Clark, official assignee, St. Swithin's-lane, Lom bard-street. JAMES BROOKS, mercer, Wells, Somerset, Aug. 4 and Sept. 2, at ten, at the Mitre Inn, Wells. King and Whittaker, Gray's Inn-square, London ; Robins, Wells. JOHN JONES, grocer, Liverpool, Aug. 8 and Sept. 2, at eleven, at the Clarendon-rooms, Liverpool. Willis, Watson, Bower, and Willis, Tokenhouse-yard, London; Mason, Liverpool. TELEALACHUS SAMUEL MOORE, crape-manufacturer, Calvert-street, Norwich, August 4, at ten, and September 2, at one at the White Lion Inn, Norwich. Freestone, Norwich, or to White and Bonnet, Frederick-place, Old Jewry. WILLIAM OLIVER, chemist, Houghton -le-Spring, Durham, August 8, at the Black Bull Inn, Gateshead, Durham, and Sep tember 2, at eleven, at the Half Moon Inn, Nine Elms Durham. Samuel Baynes, Norfolk-street, Strand, or to H. and I. E. Mar shall, Market-place, Durham. CHARLES CUE, beer retailer, Blackfriars-square, Glouces ter, July 29, at one, and Sept. 2, at eleven, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. P. H. Abbott, Ki ng ' s Arms-yard, Coleman-street, offi cial assignee ; J. B. Smedley, New Inn-buildings, New Inn, London. DIVIDENDS. D. Stalker and A. D. Welch, slopsellers, Leadenhall-street, Aug. 14, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy—B. and T. Sweetapple, p a per - manufacturers, Godalming, Surrey, Aug. 12, at half-past twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy—J. Dilworth, R. M. Arthing ton, and R. Birkett, bankers, Lancaster, Aug. 16, at ten, at the King's Arms Inn, Lancaster—T. Groom, wharfinger, Welshpool, Mo ntgomeryshire, Aug. 15, at eleven, at the Royal Oak Inn, Welshpool—E. Prodgers, banker, Ludlow, Shropshire, Aug. 16, at twelve, at the Angel Inn, Ludlow—J. Fletcher and G. F. Pat tison, hosiers, Manchester, Aug. 18, at ten, at the Commissioners'- ro oms, Manchester—R. Atkinson, woollen-cloth-manufacturer, Huddersfield, Aug. 13, at twelve, at the George Inn, Huddersfield. CERTIFICATES.—Auc. 12. T. Scarne tavern-keeper, Brighton, Sussex—J. Mercer, joiner, Liverpool—H. Perkins, corn-dealer, Reading, Berkshire— J. Fisher, maltster, Ipswich-2J. Barclay, shopkeeper, Pembroke "righ Haynes, licensed-victualler, Trinity-street, Southwark—U. t, carpenter, Bury-street, Westmnster. - PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED: 11 . Etherington and E. Watson, common-brewers, Newcastle ul3oll-Tyne —W. Berey and F. Chapple, shipbrokers, Liverpool— Tilston and F. Holt, Liverpool—J. Pattison and E. Simm, st one -merchants, Gateshead Fell, Durham—S. Emerton and Co., sc hoolmistresses, Grosvenor-place, Camberwell—T. Rignway an d T . R. Bridson, bleachers, Horwich, Lancashire—G. Holt and J. Grover, coach-spring-makers, Dean-street, Oxford-street— T. Threlfall and G. Holden, timber-merchants, Liverpool—W. Chapma n and W. B. Lilly, edge-tool-manufacturers, Upper Wit ton Aston juxta. Birmingham, Warwickshire—C. Williamson and H. Garrard, wine-merchants, Berners-street, Oxford-street W Poole and J. Stewart, sugar-brokers, Commercial-sale-rooms, M incing -lane—M. Edwards and E. Carr, linen-drapers, Harlow, .Essex —W. F. Mould and T. J. Bishop, accountants, King's-road, Grays Inn—H. Badcocke and J. W. Webb, grocers and drapers, Axbridge, Somersetshire—W. Albin and C. Cap e , auc ti oneers , Spalding, Lincolnshire—H. Lyas and J. Taylor, tailors, Holborn hill—W. White and A. Morris, stone-merchants, Rainhil, Lanca shire—B. Bi e l e fi e ld an d M . Knapp, papier-machee-manufacturers, New-road—W. Cowsill and Co., Salford, Lancashire—R. and G. H. Tinker, sand-dealers, Manchester—B. Molineaux and E. Malley, glue-size-manufacturer, Warrington, Lancashire —G. Crawhall and Co., lessees and occupiers of Callerton Colliery Farm (as far as regards W. Hcdley.) WEXFORD ELECTION.--A petition has been pre sented to the House of Commons from Peter Murphy, and other freeholders, complaining of an undue election and return for the county of Wexford. There is to be a ballot for a Com mittee on Tuesday, August 12. Accounts have been received from Gibraltar to the tath of July. The cholera, we regret to find, was making great progress there. The number of deaths, from the com mencement of the disease to the 7th of July, was 70, and on that day the number of cases remaining was 151 ; and there were 34 new cases admitted, and five deaths. From that day the following is the official account : July 8 admitted 70 9 • 66 _ _ 52 12 Making the total of deaths from the commencement 156. On the 12th of July the Board of Health had reduced the quaran tine, to be performed by vessels from Malaga, to seven days. Extract of a letter dated Cadiz, July 1 :—" Yester day the election of Deputies to the Cortes for this province took place, in a manner highly satisfactory to the inhabitants. Among them was the respected Admiral Valdez. The elec tion has fallen on the following individuals :—Don Pedro Juan de Zulueta, Deputy to the Cortes of 1823, and at present set tled in London ; D. Francisco Domecy Victor, a landed pro prietor; D. Zapata, a landed proprietor; the General of Nlarine D. Francisco Javier Ulloa, who was Minister of Fer dinand VII., and the same who proposed to the Queen the re-establishment of the Cortes ; D. Jose Manuel Vadillo, for merly Deputy to the Cortes, and Minister to Ferdinand VII. during the Constitutional era. The other candidate was D. Juan Alvarez y Mendizabel, now in London, who had the same number of votes as the one last mentioned, but on the scrutiny the election fell on the latter. He had the honour of being proposed by Admiral Valdez—a testimony to his merit and • services which has caused the greatest pleasure to his fellow citizens. On the night of the election, a large band of music was assembled, and, accompanied by the most respectable per sons, visited the houses of the successful candidates. On the following day a great dinner was given to the electors and to such of the elected as ar e h ere, at which the g: and proofs of th e p urest patriotism were displayed. There reatest joy pre sided, was also a grand spectacle at th e t h eatre, at which the elected were present, occupying the Governor's box, and received the greatest applause. Ad m i ra l V aldez, in all • inese events) ap peared an ancient patriar c h i n the roidst of his family. We have the gratification to k now t h at he r'itl still remain among st us, the Government having g i ven raers that the Proceres who hold the military comm an d present continue at their posy - . 4D Ji * the prov inces shall for the their places in the Upper and not - be obligati to occupy 4.; „ ftamber. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TA TTERSALL' S. GOODWOOD GOLD CUE, P.P. (THURSDAY WEEK). Towards the close of the afternoon a good deal of business was done. Nonsense was backed eagerly at 9to 1, and Carnaby at a point more, but not so heavy a sum. Mr. Forth took a thousand to a hundred and twelve to one to fifty pounds aboilt Marpessa, without producing any alteration in the price, the last-mentioned odds being currently offered at the close of the room. The Liston gelding and Glencoe were at Bto 1 each and plenty of layers. St. Giles was backed at 16 and 17 to 1 about a hundred and fifty pounds, but did not advance. The closing odds were :- 5 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Colwick. 8 to 1 agst Mr. J. Day's g.—Liston's dam. 8 to 1 agst Lord Jersey's Glencoe. 9 to 1 agst Colonel Peel's Nonsense (taken). 10 to 1 agst Hon. S. Herbert's Carnaby (taken). 12 to 1 agst Mr. Forth's Marpessa. 12 to 1 agst Mr. Osbaldeston's The Saddler. 12 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Glaucus. 13 to I agst Air. Theobald's Rockingham (taken). 16 to 1 agst Mr. Kirby's St. Giles. 25 to 1 agst Dlr. Forth's Famine. 300 to 5 agst. Mr. Bristow's Languid (taken). 6 to 5 laid on Colwick, Liston's dam, Carnaby, and Nonsense, against the field. DRAWING-ROOM STAKES, P.P. (TUESDAY NEXT 5 to 2 agst Sir F. Johnstone' s M er li n fill y ( ta k e n . 3 to 1 agst Sir M. Wood's Charivari. '4 to 1 agst Mr. Forth's Louisa. Even on two agst the field (taken). GOODWOOD STAKES, P.P. (TO-MORROW WEEK.) 10 to 1 agst Lord Jersey's lot (taken). 12 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Bon Ton (taken). Liston was backed once at 20 to 1, but the last offers did not ex ceed 13 to 1. GOODWOOD RACES (NEXT WEEK). The following Free Handicap are proposed for the first and second days : FIRST DAY. Sweepstakes of 25 sons. each ; if only two accept, to be a match of 50 each, h. ft. One mile. The Saddler, 6 yrs., 9st. 111 b. Malibran, by Muley, 4 yrs., 7st. Diana, 6 yrs., 9st. 41b. 41b. Rockingham, 4 yrs., 9st. 31b. Shoveler f., 4 yrs., 7st. 111 b. Liston, aged, Bst. b. Patapan, 3 yrs., 7st. St. Giles, 5 yrs., Bst. 91b. Bon Ton, 3 yr s ., 7 s t. Achilles, 6 yrs., 7st. 131 b. Mouser, 3 yrs., 6st. 71b. The Witch, 6 yrs., 7st. 121 b. L angu id, 3 y rs ., 6 s t. 21b. Emir, 4 yrs., 7 s t. 10lb. Maid of Underley, ayrs. , sst. 121 b. The Second Class . of the above. Glaucus, 4 yrs., 9st. 101 b. Caldicott, 4 yrs., 7st. IMb. I Carnaby, 4 yrs., 9st. 41b. Musquito, 3 yrs., 7st. 41b. Little Red Rover, aged, 9st. 31b. Nottingham, 4 yrs., 7st. 41b. Revenge, 4 yrs., 9 s t. 11b. lAltamont, 3 yrs., 7st. 21b. Cecilia, 5 yrs., Bst. 91b. 'Rebel, 3 yrs., 6st. 61b. Baleine, 4 yrs., Bst. 21b. Pigeon, 3 yrs., 6st. Cinderella, 4 yrs., Bst. 11b. SECOND DAY. Sweepstakes of 50 sons. each, h. ft. ; if only two accept, to be a match for 100 h. ft. T. Y. C. Rubini, 6 yrs., 9st. 21b. Louisa, 3 yrs., 7st. 21b. Colwick, 6 yrs., 9st. 21b. Lacerta f., 4 yrs., 6st. 131 b. Messenger, 5 yrs., Bst. 41b. Defensive, 3 yrs., 6st. 121 b. The Whale, 4 yrs., Bst. 41b. Nell Gwynne, 3 yrs., 6st. 71b. Non Compos, 5 yrs., 7st. 81b. Skimmer, 3 yrs., 6st. 61b. Ketchup, 4 yes., 7st. 51b, Second Roadster, 6 yrs., Bst. 101 b. Gab, 6 yrs., Bst. 31b. Shylock, 4 yrs., Bst. 31b. Tutor, 4 yrs., Bst. 21b. Changeling, 6 yrs., 7st. 121 b. Deceiver, 4 yrs., 7st. 61b. To accept at Goodwood by six Class. Nisus, 3 yrs., 6st. 31b. Faunus, 3 yrs., 7st. 21b. Sister to Baleiue, 3 yrs., 7st. lib Pincher, 3 yrs., 6st. 121 b. Ilolkar, 3 yrs., 6st. 21b. o'clock on Monday evening. CHELMSFORD RACES, July 22. His Majesty's Plate of 100 gs. Heats, two miles. Sir M. Wood's Vespa, 4 yrs Mr. Mew's Infatuation, 2 yrs 2 dr Sweepstakes of 5 soya. each, with 25 added by the Members of the Southern Division of the County. Heats, the new mile. 5 subs. Mr. Mathew's Mimosa, 3 yrs Mr. Willis's Guildford, aged 1 dr Mr. Reigate's Slim, 4 yrs 3 dr BLYTH AND SEATON SLUICE RACES. Tit unsnAy.—LA Silver Cup, value 501., was won in four heats by Mr. Winship's St. Peter, beating Mr. Armstrong's Mermaid, Mr. J. Jobling's Celeste, and Mr. M. Jobling's Alice Gray. The first was a dead heat, beating Mermaid and Alice Gray. The Blyth Stakes were won by Captain Potts's Cornet, beating Mr. Watts's Guy Faux after three heats ; the first a dead heat. FRIDAY.-Cornet walked over for the Silver Salver. The Delaval Stakes were won in three heats by Alice Gray, beating Mermaid and Guy Faux. ' A Plats was won by Guy Faux, beating Celeste and Mermaid in two heats. MANSFIELD RACES. Prizes were severally won by Mr. Milner's Pilot, Mr. Lamb's Fitz Fulke, Mr. Cocking's Deceiver, and Mr. Lamb's Little John (twice). KNUTSFORD CUP. Betting-5 to 2 agst. Ratcatcher (taken) ;sto 2 agst. Bird catcher ; 7 to 2 agst. any other. GRAND CUTTER MATCH. The Cutter Match of fours amongst the pens de peu came off on Monday for two Silver Cups and Covers given by Castles, a publican of Wandsworth. The following were entered to contend for the match : • FIRST HEAT.—C. Barrett, J. Tinker, C. Laskin, S. Chetten den, and J. Correll, of the Clarence ; J. Middleton, G. Atkins, J Oackley, C. Parsons, and G. Sterck, of the New Diana; R. Allen, T. Warrener, D. Dixon, J. Winsbury, and T. Bowler, of the De fiance ; G. Cernick, D. Adams, H. Taylor, J. Adams, and W. James, of the Undine. At four o'clock the first heat was started. The Undine was first. and the Clarence second. At ten minutes to six the following were placed for the SECOND HEAT.—G. Shepard, J. Gilson, H. Green, T. Davi son, and T. Saunders, of the Rover's Bride ; B. Crouther, T. Green, J. Clark, J. Springet, and W. Pulin, of the Old Diana ; J. Christy, W. Thomas, J. Andrews, A. Cummins, and J. Jones, of the Unknown ; W. Lambert, W. Richard, W. Jones, W. Webb, and A. Jones, of the Brilliant. The Rover's Bride was first, and the Old Diana second. At half-past seven the two first cutters of the first heat and the two first of the second heat were started for the grand heat, from the White Horse Tavern, Wandsworth, down round a boat off Sir G. Wombwell's, up the Surrey shore, round a boat moored off the White Horse, twice round, and finish at the White Horse. On starting the Undine took the lead, the Rover's Bride had the second place, and the Old Diana was third ; in rounding the boat the Old Diana was second, but was cut off by the Clarence, in consequence, in our opinion, of the bad steerage of the Old Diana. The latter boat and the Rover's Bride showed some beautiful rowing until the conclusion of the wager, where the Old Diana, by real game and stamina, kept the third place. The Undine was first and the Cla rence second. THAMES ROYAL YACHT CL ÜB. The annual above-bridge match for a Silver Cup and Cover, given by the above Club, to be sailed for by yachts belonging to its members, will take place on Thursday, the 24th inst. The Lady Emma, Nymph, Water Witch, Fortitude, Oberon, and Haide, are the contending boats. The match will start from the Temple Gardens, round the flag-boat at Wandsworth Meadows, and return to the place of starting. The Lady and Witch are backed at sto 4 against the field. PUTNEY REGATTA. The contest for the numerous prizes given by the Ladies and Gentlemen of Putney and Fulham takes place this day. It is a double-scull wager; and from tke known goodness of some of the six Cobbs who are t o row in it there can be no doubt that it will prove a pretty contest. OARS WAGER. The patrons of the River sports are anxious to effect a match between Campbell and Noulton against Williams and Godfrey, from Westminster to Putney, but the backers of the men have been some time disputing the terms, nor is it certain that an arrangement will be made satisfactorily. Campbell and his partner prefer sculls, and the opposing pair fancy oars, and in addition require odds in the stakes. If it can be got up it will afford a rich treat ; but we think that Godfrey's recent defeat and resignation in the Randan Wager have put him considerably in the shade. HAPPINESS.—it would form perhaps one of the most amusing, if not the most instructive chapter in poetic history, to compare the 'various opinions expressed by the in spired respecting happiness. He who dwells in a lonely valley believes happiness resides in the crowded city among company and books ; while he who sings amid the rattle of other men's chariot-wheels, and the smoke of ten thousand chimneys, fixes the abode of happiness by the side of some purling brook— beside a green hill, where the wind is ever fragrant, and the voice of nature alone is heard. The high-born bard, sick of the hollow courtesies of polished society, sighs for pastoral solitudes, where flowers never fade, and flocks never stray, and beauty is never out of blossom : the shepherd bard, on the other hand, who has to wander over moors and mountains, half choked in winter with drifting snow, and half scorched in summer with burning suns—who has to smear and clip his flocks, as well as keep them from the fox, and save them, too, from smothering in a snow wreath, envies the opulent, and longs to be a lord. There was some sense in the remark of a Scotchman, who, in reading the saying of Solomon, "Snow is beautiful in its season," exclaimed, " Ay, nae doubt it was beautiful to you, sitting with rich wines and the lasses o' Jeru salem aside you : but had ye been a poor stane-mason, ye would hae said no such thing."—Cunninghain's E d it i on of Burns. MUMMERIES OF PAST AGES.—About a mil e from the town they overtook a company of beggars, strangely attired. On their near approach, one of the group, who car ried a small tree, laden with red fruit, planted it in the middle of the road, and sat down beside it. A little urchin, dressed to resemble a crododile or serpent, clung to the tree by his legs and one arm, at the same time a girl with long loose hair approached • this interesting figure. An old man in black, with a wig and beard of moss, stood aloof at a short distance, and by his side a boy in white, bearing a sword. When these vagabond actors considered the two travellers near enough to witness their manoeuvres, the little wretch, who played the part of devil, began to chaunt, or rather squall, a kind of song. The page and his companion at once perceived that this expedition was intended to represent the history of the seduction of Eve by the serpent. The monk in passing asked the old man if he belonged to the party, and what character he supported in the mystery. The miserable being replied calmly that he was " God the Father," and that, if they would stay a few minutes, they should see him, and his little sword-bearer, who was " Michael the Archangel," play their parts. The page threw a groat into the midst of the poor wanderers, and laughed long and heartily at the scramble which ensued of these sacred personages to possess them selves of his bounty. Adam and Eve, Devil and Angel, were all rolling in the dust together, while the tree of knowledge, with its tempting fruit, fell into an adjoining ditch. Such were the sacrilegious mummeries of past ages.--M a y „p a i r , Four Centuries ago. COURT CIRCULAR. The Duchess of Kent, the Princess Victoria, and th e Prince and Princess Hohenlohe, rode in the Parks yesterday morning. Mons. Tricoupi, the Greek Minister, transacted business yesterday at the office of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. A deputation ' includin g th e Bi s h op of Barbadoes;;Sir Robert Inglis, Mr. Fowell B ux t on , an d M r . M aca uley, ha d an interview yesterday with Mr. Secretary Rice, at the Colo' nial-office ' on the subject o f m i ss i ons . The Lord Chancell o r h a d an interview yesterday with Viscount Melbourne, in Downing -street. - Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial -offi ce, from the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands, from the Lieutenant Governor of Malta, from the Consul at Tangier' and the Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar. Dispatches were also received from the Lieutenant Governor of New 8r01..., a ; wick, from the Govern or o f B ermu d a , and from the Act i ng Governor of Nova Scotia. Earl Bathurst became Worse on Monday, and continued seriously indisposed yesterday. The Marquis of Lansdowne came to town on Monday from Richmond. Mr. Hume, M.P., Mr. M. O'Connell, and Capt. Robinson' had an interview yesterday with Mr. Secretary Rice. WINDSOR, JUNE 22.—His Majesty, accompanied by th .? Princess Aug us t a , ro d e ou t on S un d ay afternoon in an op o ,'' , carriage through Wi n d sor an d Et on , an d t h ence to Sloug h ' &c., returning to the Castle to dinner. The King took a n t airing yesterday i n th e G reat P ar k. Di spatches from Visconi! Melbourne were brought by a messenger to the Castle tins morning from t own . Si r Ch ar l es Cl ay G rant h as h a d 6 5 honour of dining w ith th e Ki ng , at the Castle ; Sir Cha rle s and family reside at the house belonging to the Hon. Rev. Mr. Stopford. His Majesty, accompanied by t Princess Augusta, left the Castle at half-past three o'clock this afternoon, in a pony pha e t on , f or an a i r i ng i n the Gre at Park. THE EAST INDIA TRADE. Yesterday there was a numerous assemblage of the M e i r chants and others connected with the Indigo Trade, at the g India House, in consequence of the commencement of the Il e system as re g ar d s th e sa l e o f E ast Ind i a produce, wh i c h 11 ' w been matured by a committee of East India merchants to ceed the sales of the East India Company, whose eommee e , a l. operations have been brought to a close by the late India „ The Committee of Indi a M erc h an t s have, in order to facili ta- d mercantile transactions in the produce of the East Indies, 41 , 1 with the consent o f th e E ast I n di a C ompany, made WB4'; ments for continuing the periodical sales of Indigo, confornnev as near as possible to the mode so long followed at the W i s ; House, and yesterday, the first sale of Indigo, under the Il e system, took place in the new sale-room of the India-Hous e. a The Company's sale of Indigos, including the licens e trade, having conc l u d e d on M on d ay , yester d ay was fixed •y the commencement of th e new s y s t em , an d t h e tota l quall ti o l of Indigo declared as belonging to private merchants, 5,700 chests. An old auctioneer, who has been long in t the East India Company' s serv i ce , h av i ng b een appointed - preside over the sales, Mr. Mattie took his seat accordingly' d The Auctioneer announ c ed th a t severa l w i t hd rawa ls P f , l l , been made; the preambles of the sale having been first re' Among other things it p rov id e d th a t th e deposits on Int ll s - ; purchased should_ b e p a id w ithi n th ree d ays, and that inte r ` b -, e on the deposits up t o th e p rom pt d ay ( t h e t i me fi xe d for t payment of the remainder of the purchase money) would be lowed at the rate of four per cent. - Mr. MOCATTA said, before the sale commenced it was / T i e important, beginning, as they were, upon a new system, th a i le right understanding sh ou ld b e come t o w i t h respec t to t o period when th e money was to b e pa id f or d epos i ts, a nd whom such payments were to be made. ' thc A PROPRIETOR st a t e d th a t f or a ll indigos warehoused in he St. Katherine's Dock s , th e d e p os it s were to be made to t ' Company. Mr. MOCATTA said that it was also provided_that the broker ° should give up their principals within three days from the COg' elusion of the sale. This he considered as extremely s hort. 3 Mr. COOK, of the firm of T ruemaw and Cook, said tha t , t was most important to the trad e o f th e port o f L on d o n, t "; commencing, as there was at p resen t, a ne w era i n the ee' , j i mercial transactions, a perfe c tly goo d un d erstan di ng she% exist among all parties.--( Hear.) He considered it rtl e ot a l important that unde r th e new s y s t em th e d epos i ts s h o uld 11- be paid until the weigh notes were delivered.—( Hear.) l e Mr. LINDO asked if indigos that had passed the present s a o would he allowed to be offered at a future sale ? aii to Wh were the deposits to be made? no Mr. Coots said that it was clear that the d e p os it s ought to be paid until the weigh-notes were delivered. of Mr. JonN HORSLEY PALM ER , on b e h a lf o f t h e C omm ittee 0 , - East India merchants, and the parties with whom he was a ss be ciated, were desirous that eve r y f ac ilit y s h ou ld b e g i ven to t,, trade in East India produc e , by th e pl an f orme d f or es tablis! e ing periodical sales. He could assure the meeting that thecli, was no wish to give an y p re f erence t o any one o f the D e ., , Companies.—( Hear, hear.) It was th e d es i re o f the Co .b l e mittee of East India merchant s t o f o ll ow as c l ose ly as Pessi the plan of the East India Company.—( Hear.) It was decided upon, a ft er some f urt h er cons id era tion, th r e , i the preamble to the s a l e s h ou ld b e a l tere d, prov idi ng that . I deposits should be paid w ithi n th ree d ays , or upon t h e delivecy of the weigh-warrants, The sale then proceed e d i n it s usua l course. Th e w•hol . quantity declared will not be got through until to-morrow tree HOP INTELLIGENCE. MAIDSTONE.— The bines have been generally affected by t h ,° sudden change in the weather, from intense beat to cold rain', The strong and good grounds have rather improved 00 otherwise, whilst those which were before i n a b a d co nditi ° have become worse. t° GOUDIIURST.—The bine is lo o ki ng t o l era bly we ll, an'. pr burr beginning to make its a ppe arance ; b u t some arc , c :', b 11 y foul, and in a lingerin g s t a t e f rom th e d evas t at i on vi“. l , the vermin has produced. On the whole, a slight I t • provement has taken place, .but from the present prospe b, crop cannot be expected in compa r ison t o l as t year ' s grow l At Bearstead some of the grounds are thriving rapidly, e a pr some of the best are calculated to produce from three to tc bags an acre. At Peckham some of the grounds arc rather flourishing , blit others have become worse. In the piece on East Mailing Rocks the bine is exceedillgi l clear, and has escaped vermin nearly through the season. In Town Mailing the bines have improved. At Sat Valiance, during the week, some grounds have s li g htir,r:i provedj others, however, still l oo k very un f avoura bl e . — X° stone Gazette. In the neighbourhood of Marden, some gardens have co b derably improved within the past week, especially those ?fi lle t § have not been injured greatly from vermin, as the young sil °° , f , are looking promising and f as t com i ng i nto b urr. Howellie several grounds still remain i n a mos t d ep l ora bl e sta te, t t , bine being covered with nits and lice, and the leaves dying , , 3 o , tended with fire blast—in fact, every obstruction they can vg counter ; in these cases they cannot recover. The str ° ? bines, in some instances, are looking very black ; and the e t t „ .. . t in this neighbourhood will evidently no t b e h a lf so abtula' as last year. The hops in Ticehurst, and surrounding parishes still,- yes very unfavourable, being full of vermin and very black. those grounds which have hitherto maintained a favourable.lito pearance are giving way ; but as we are now receiving 01 )1 101 showers, and the plant is fast coming into burr, there /0 5 a prospect of their rallying. The accounts from the districts of Tunbridge Wells Pr of a slight improvement in some grounds. The reports from the hop plantations in the vicinity of -arc terbury differ but little from last week. Some grounds e , slightly improved, but in others the vermin is on the increas The following extract of a letter received t b .; week by a lady in thi s t own f rom h er b rot h er (a 10°9-0, builder), dated New Norfolk, Van Dieman's Land, Dee. t , 1833, gives a sad description of the state of society in t hat s c e e, Clement :—" It is now ten years since I arrived at this 'tie and therefore think I can speak from experience. The Ip t i s , property I had I have been swindled out of, and the only 58 10 faction I have is knowing the rascal is now in prison. I 0 - 56 . 0 b you it is impossible to live here, I am so surrounded by OW l ti ot ' lers, cheats, and sharpers, and as soon as possible I will re t fe , to England, being sure of earning an honest lii e lih oo d WV, Mr. 0., a person you know, has run through all his prell cr s e and . is now in prison in Hobart Town, and I mus t sa y the i. s e is too common with many others ; as f or soc i e ty, I think 0 , connot be found in any part of the known world," 84c. Southampton Journal. of There is an old woman li v i ng at t h e N ew ton Monzie who rememb ers th e p l ant i ng o f a woo d i n t h a t n eig t ,, bourhood which is n ow b e i ng cut d own . Sh e says i t i s erg gilt four years old, an d was p l ante d to b eaut if y a h ouse then :kb, for the celebrated Lord George Murray ; the remains Of s"""„" from their extent as well as celebrity of their original pr ° r d is , etor, are still visited by strangers as one of the lions of tile j ol trict. The inhabitants of that quarter inherited the fo lit t be notions of their leader, and for nearly twenty years aft er iar lf last rebellion, the oldest son in every family was reg n named " Charlie," after the Prince.—Caledonian Mercury • FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Friday a ft e rnoon' _ or labourer, employed in blasting rock at Dyleston quarry Barrhead, while stemming the bore after it was charged w et , gunpowder, neglected the usual precaution of using 54 4 40, sand, and took merely a mixture of small stones and which lay near. While driving this home, a spark wa s ec ov lited, which ignited the power, and the poor man was " c i i il' pletely blown up. The feelings of his widow and fou r e yed aren, on seeing the mangled corpse of their guardian con/eil." to their door, may be more easily imagined th a n describ ed Caledonian Mercury. ( too An extraordinary calculus was found in a 0 1 015: horse, the property of Mr. Gallard, at Green's Norton boors near Towcester. The horse had suffered only a fes i v ei iiialil illness, and immedi a tely after death was opened by " Stevens, farrier, residing at Norton. The calculus wa s I , be, in that portion of the intestine called the ececlunt whic -of eci given way from mortification. The calculus, when r enl ro ol from its doubtless long confinement, weighed the e no e 110 weight of 151 b. 20z., and somewhat resembled in shtt a iiis l. size a quartern loaf, its base deeply indented by a fissure, its apex deeply excavated, sufficient to hold e_ ii ,bee glass of water. The calculus is brown in colour, and r to ho in many parts ; the structure of the calculus seeing t ole; , chiefly earthy, though evidently intermixed with some P t ; th of food ; in its structure it is quite firm and eorape c „ D O to circumference is 25 inches, and its girth, from base 26 inches.—Nortitampton Mercury. trw.vvii-01 • % ._,