The Sun. — London, England, 1834-06-10 00:00:00

the hon. member opposite ( Mr. Hume). He did not think the hon. member for Oldham, who had just ad dressed the house, would be found to turn out a true prophet. That hon. member had prophesied that the present bill would not be carried into operation, and that if it should it would be the cause of destructive consequences. Now he would say in contradiction that not only the bill would be carried into operation but that it would be seen in the course of two or three years that it had worked considerable good. The public would then see who was the true prophet—he or the hon. member for Oldham. He had never seen more wisdom and good advice contained in any thing than he saw in the report of the Poor Law Commis- sioners. Mr. HODGE S said that if the house should be pressed to a division he would divide with the hon. member for Oldham, but after what had fallen from the hon. member for Middlesex he thought it would be more advisable to withdraw the motion. Mr. SL A NE Y—The hon. member for Oldham had said that taxation was the great cause of the de pression of the poor. Now taxation was spread over all parts of the kingdom. How came it then that the poor were differently circumstanced in different parts of the country ? How came it that the poor of some counties were more depressed than the poor of others ? If taxation were the cause they would be all equally depressed, whereas it would be seen that the labourer of Northumberland and Yorkshire was very differently situated from the labourer of Sussex. His opinion Was, that the present bill would place the labouring peasants of the southern counties on the same footing With those of the northern counties, and that it would save them from the depressed and degrading situation they were now in. He should oppose the motion. The house then divided, when there appeared— For the motion S Against it Majority against the motion —132 On our re-admission into the gallery we found the house in committee on the bill. The 33d clause having been put, Colonel TORR ENS expressed his satisfaction that the noble lord (Lord Althorp) had so altered the clause that ratepayers should be entitled only to one vote. He• thought - it desirable that the clause should re ceive further alteration, and that the holders and owners of property should not have more than one vote. The more the poor laws were left in the hands of the lower classes of ratepayers the better would they be administered. It was for that reason that they sho u ld be put on the same footing with the owners of property, and that both classes should have but one Vote for their several parishes. He should therefore move that the 33d clause be omitted, and that another be proposed and moved for containing the principle he mentioned. Mr. HUME seconded the motion. He thought there was another reason why the noble lord should concur in it, namely, that it would be making the bill More acceptable in the large parishes of the metropolis and of the great towns. There was no part of the bill so much disliked and opposed in the large parishes of Middlesex as that which gave the right of having accumulative vot' s. There was a very good reason for this dislike. The ratepayers at vestry meetings could be borne down by those persons who had more than one vote. He had a lease of his house for seventy or eighty years, yet he had but one vote, whilst the owner of that house had three or four votes. Now that owner could come down to the vestry and give his three or four votes, whilst it was evident that for the !Pace of seventy or eighty years he could not have that interest in parish affairs that he (Mr. Hume) had, who had notwithstanding but one vote. Proprietors could not have the same interest in parish rates that tenants had, since it was the latter who paid them. It ap peared to him, therefore, most monstrous that the tenants, who paid the rates, should have but one vote, Whilst the proprietors, who did not contribute to them, should have several votes towards the making of them. He hoped the noble lord would equalize the right of votin g , and not allow the proprietors to override the tenants. Colonel E VANS objected to the accumulative vote, and said that the inhabitants of the parish of St. Martin considered that their Vestry was an open one ; but that whenever they endeavoured to try the case in Vestry they were outvoted by those who voted accord ing to Sturges Bourne's Act. Lord ALTHORP said that two new principles were involved in the clause, viz., allowing proprietors to Vote and v o ti ng by p rox y. O ne o f thos e principles d epended on the other and was the consequence of it. It therefore, it was thought desirable to admit one, the other ought also to be admitted. That the "nen of property should have an accumulative vote Was the necessary consequence of the other pr i nc i p l e. The expenses of the poor fell on the occupiers of the land. This question should be discussed as a general one, and not so far as it regarded o n ly th e occupiers o f houses. The question should be taken in general and a 3 it applied to the whole country, and as so the in er3ase or the diminution of the poor rates affected the occupiers of land materially. The owners of pro perty s hould have a right of influencing the vestry, and if that right should be taken from them it would be doing them a very great injustice. It seemed to him quite clear that the owners of property should have a right of voting as well as the occupiers. He would now go to the right of voting by proxy. In Political matters voting by proxy was a different thing, and might be disputed. (Hear.) But in Parish matters, if the right of voting was given at all to a person, he ought also to have the power of au thorising his agent t o vo t e by p rox y f or hi m . If suc h was not the case, what would be the use of a person residing in London having a vote in Cornwall, or vice t'er sa? According to the original clause, not only the ciwriers of property but the occupiers were to have t he accumulative vo t e . G rea t o bj ec ti ons were ma d e t o the occupiers having it; and, in compliance with those o bjections, and in order to make the measure more ac ceptable to large parishes in towns, it was resolved th a t the occupiers of property should not have the ac cumulative vote. In the country, on the other hand, and particularly in the parishes of Lancashire, objec tions were raised to taking away the right of having tte accumulative vote. What was done in the clause it now stood was a fair compromise between the two °ejecting parties. Let hon. gentlemen look to the elect of the bill, and they would see that if the owners ;,,,Property made an improper use of the accumulative they would be the greatest sufferers themselves. The owners of property had the greatest interest in the Pro per administration of the poor laws ; they should th erefore have the accumulative vote. If they had 4:1 ' 11 Y one vote they might as well have no vote at all, f_f trtthey would have no power in conducting the affairs he pari s h For these reasons he wished to main tida the clause as it now stood, an d th a t th e accumu allve vote should be taken from the occupiers of pro- Per . ty. pr. GROTE considered that the noble l or d d rew :Furnents in support of the accumulative vote from what he had observed in country parishes. He sub tnitted whethe r it would not be better to allow the ac- I !emulative vote to extend only . to rural parishes, and ' !0 restrict that species of vote in the large parishes of t he., metropoli s and other great t owns . A s regar d ed t ie vote by p roxy, he thought t h a t it was qu i te objec tistable, for if the owners of land were to be allowed t n, vote at all they ought to have the right of voting by their agents. He hoped the noble lord would take some ar a ndment o f thi s kind into consideration. Lord same of hi t AL THORP admitted that he had drawn rural distri— guments for the accumulative vote from inquiries in l a But, on t h e other hand, he had made rnulative vote,rgitne Narishes as to the effect of the dif ferentau- from what it he found that it would be very instance, the fact of would be in country parishes. For lative vote in the p ar t Portman having an accumu rro great influence i n me et . Marylebone could give him Mr. BRINES thtehat there were great con stitutional objections to con the power of election in the clause. It would place 4 argo property, and have the ands of the owners of vlt tions classes of small voters. e ffect of injuring the principle were n __ 44l orted it would tend to preve , nt w t h b i e c e h am h endment in a(rministration of these laws He did not knowpo an pt u y l t a eh r ymw e g l e e rm c e t o io rs n oe ;T a lus to improve. th i iii`ut?3 - to the great principle of . of gMng accumulated votes to absentee proprietors t re soil. ...." 11 % HAWES did not think that it was necessary to Iftaa-• Bourse's Act any iong67lll-the p r i nc i p l e o f St ur ges place s as i T hat aft had been most mischievous in many were best :blended to keep from the vestry those who noble lord wouldattend to parochial business. If the trusted that h e ther he not give up the clause altoge as to exempt to: uld Mr. M. PHlat least so far modify the clause L t from its operation. Lord SAND 0 N th w Su a ld l sobjected to the clause. voting% e question of haove al b een left out of the bill, as been better pleased if if th he was quite sure, Present form, that it ivouhVause was agreed to in its thttughout the country. Nvi x le cite invidious feelings Beat- • eat- in the parish sent five or n gentlemen not resi slz votes in right of their property, it - would give rise to those feelings which, under no circumstanc,?s, it t•'a ileFirahlo to excite, and still less in conneetina tho a,l ni ,, :s:;ration. Under all circumstances, he should be glad it the clause was omitted altogether. M r. JERVIS said that in the city which he repre sented, the old system of election prevailed. Sturges Bourne's Act had never been brought into operation there, and the poor laws were administered in a most admirable manner. The clause under consideration, however, was not constructed in the spirit of Sturges Bourne's Act. It went much further than that, as it gave to the absentee holder of property the right of voting. Again, the principle of Sturges Bourne's Act was optional, and not to be forced on any parish, but only adopted where a large majority of the rate payers demanded it. The present clause, however, left no choice to parishes. Lord HO WICK reminded the committee that the owners of property were not to have votes in the or dinary and daily proceedings connected with the poor laws. The only occasions when they could vote would be, first, in the election of guardians of the poor ; and secondly, as regarded the adoption of regulations re commended by the Board of Commissioners. None could be more interested in making a good choice of guardians of the poor than the owners and occupiers of the land. He thought it was desirable to hold out inducements to landowners to take part in these mat ters. Mr. CRIPPS was most anxious that the noble lord should persist in the clause, as it would generally be found that it would be much more just and equitable —he would not say popular, because he did not care for mere popularity ( A laugh)—than the adoption of the amendment. He hoped the noble lord would not be influenced by any fear of the loss of popularity from proceeding as he had begun. Mr. SL ANE Y also defended the principle of the clause. Mr. HARDY thought that the noble lord ( Althorp) was perfectly right in the course he bad taken, and that he had only promoted a just extension of the principle of voting. He (Mr. Hardy) would ask who paid the poor rates in England ? The whole amount fell on the landlords. (Hear.) He would let his land at a much lower rental than he would if there were no poor rates. The landlord had a permanent interest in the well-being of the district in which he held property ; he therefore should have the right of control. Mr. GISB 0 RNE was willing to give the owners of the soil the right of voting under certain restric tions ; for instance, if the property was not let for a long term of years, for if that were the case the occu pier had a much greater interest than the landlord. Mr. BENE TT contended that in all the country districts the landlord had the deepest interest in the good administration of the poor laws, and it was ab solutely necessary that he should be allowed accumu lated votes. He trusted that the noble lord would not give up the clause, which he looked upon as one of the best parts of the bill. Mr. CARTER thought the clause might be so modified'and improved as to obviate many of the objec tions that had been urged against it. He wished to remind hon. gentlemen that persons with a small rent charge would not be allowed to vote, for the clause stated that it was necessary that the landlord before voting should prove that he did not let his land at less than two-thirds of its actual value. Mr. C OBBE TT said that if the bill was to pass he hoped that the clause would remain in it, as it would tell the people of England that its object was to enable the landlords to receive more than they did at present, and to take from the poor a portion of the pittance they at present received. (Cries of " No, no.") Hon. gen tlemen might deny that this was the case, but such was the obvious object, and would be the effect of this clause. During the riots in Sussex and other parts of the country, who were deemed more obnoxious to the people than the overseers of the poor ? They acted under Mr. Sturges Bourne's Act, and they were the first laid hold of, so that it was Mr. Sturges Bourne's Act which gave the offence and occasioned the riots of 1830. That act gave a plurality of votes; and now they proposed taking the accumulative vote from the tenant to give it to the landlord. But was this just ? It might be, as a noble lord had said in another place, only a march in conformity with the spirit of the age ; but he (Mr. Cobbett) must deny that such a step was in accordance with the feelings or wishes of the peo ple of England. The project, however, was too ab surd, too monstrous, to stand ; but if it should pass, his earnest hope was that this clause should remain in it. He was opposed to the whole measure, from be ginning to end. He regarded it as a studied piece of tyranny, and as taking from the poor, who were al ready too hardly treated, to give to the rich—to the landlord. The hon. member for Bradford said that it was the landlord who paid the poor rates, but he should like to hear the hon. gentleman make that out. It was, however, a great mistake, and he was fully prepared to show that it was so. If the house chose to be blind to the effects of the measure, the country would see through it; but, he repeated, if they passed this bill, he hoped the clause would remain, for then it would be innoxious. Mr. HARDY, in explanation, contended that in point of fact it was the landlord by whom the poor rates were paid. Mr. PEASE thought that the owners of property ought to be allowed to vote by proxy, and therefore he should support the clause. Mr. C. FERGITSSON should give his vote for establishing the accumulative system of voting. Mr. ROBINSON said that although that system might be an advantage in rural parishes, it most clearly would be an injury to the metropolis and large towns. He therefore begged to suggest to the noble lord whether it would not be better to make the clause applicable only to rural parishes, and exempt the me tropolis and large towns from its operation. Mr. HALCOMB considered it only just that the owners of property should have the privilege which this clause intended to confer on them. Mr. TOWER concurred in the suggestion which his hon. friend the member for Worcester had thrown out, and hoped the noble lord would give it due con sideration. Mr. LLOYD agreed that the clause should be mo dified in the manner proposed. Mr. CLAY said that unless such a distinction was made with respect to rural and town parishes the mea sure could only produce distrust and dissatisfaction. Lord ALTHO RP said that although it might be true that the accumulative system of voting would be more beneficial in country parishes than in town parishes, yet the advantage which would be gained in one case would more than counterbalance the disad vantages in the other. In a country parish the land lord had clearly a right to exercise the privilege of voting either as to the union of parishes with a view to settlement, as to the election of guardians of the poor, or as to the building of workhouses. It was only right that in such matters the owners of property should be allowed to possess the right to which he was entitled; and although there might be some disad vantage in adopting the system in town parishes, the disadvantage would be more a matter of feeling than anything else. He therefore felt disinclined to with draw the clause. Mr. GROTE thought the distinction proposed be tween town and country parishes ought to be made. Sir T. FREMANTLE said that it would be im practicable to effect any such distinction. The attempt had been made before now and failed. Instead of in creasing the number of votes the measure would rather diminish them, and therefore he thought the objections to the clause had been unfairly exaggerated. It was quite right that the landlord should possess proper in fluence in the parish where his property was situate. Mr. COBBETT said that the measure was one of grasping, grinding tyranny. (Cries of " Oh, oh.") Colonel EVANS said that voting by proxy was a most aristocratic proceeding, and, in his opinion, it would tend only to open the door to jobbing of the grossest kind. After some further observations in explanation by Colonel TORRENS, Mr. BROTHERTON, Mr. Hums, and others, the committee divided : Ayes Noes —93 Majority On our readmission to the gallery we found Mr. JERVIS on his legs, making some objections to the principle of voting by proxy ; which being pressed to a division, the numbers were— Ayes Noes Majority —9s Clause 33, as amended, was then agreed to. Clause 34 and 35 were carried, after a brief con versational discussion, which was totally inaudible to us. On clause 36, being put, Mr. P. SCROPE moved, as we understood, an amendment to the effect that n o poor h ouse s h ou ld b e considered as such if a certificate to th a t e ff ec t were not signed. by two justices. (From the noise in the house and in the gallery we could not hear the hon. member's remarks.) Lord ALTHORP said a few• words, which were inaudible. _ Mr._ H A L COMB contended that workhouses could not be conducted with decency if the sexes were not separated, and the separation of man and wife was an insuperable objection to the clause. Mr. HODGE S thought the clause the most impor tant in the bill. He wished to know if these work houses would be like the present workhouses, or whether they would be houses of correction, and whether they were to have treadmills or other means of punishment and coercion ? Lord ALTHORP said that the hon. member need not be under any apprehension on this score. The Gaol Act prevented the erection of treadmills in any places except prisons ; and the proposed workhouses would have no restraints except what were necessary to prevent the consumption of ardent spirits, the creation of riots, or anything that might disturb the sick, the aged, and well disposed. Mr. BENETT objected to the discretionary power given to the Commissioners to send persons to the workhouses. If the poor were to be sent by com pulsion to the workhouses they would never be able to get out again. They would be deprived of their fur niture, other people would be put into their hovels, and they would have no place to return to if released from the workhouses. He had the greatest objection to the workhouse system. Colonel DA VIES supported the clause. The object of all gentlemen in the country where there was a redundant ',:population was to destroy cottages, and not to fill them when the previous tenants had been sent to the workhouse. After some conversation Mr. &ROPE consented to withdraw his amendment, and the clause was agreed to. Clause 37, after a good deal of discussion, was post poned. Clause 38 was agreed to after a short discussion. Clause 39 was agreed to with a verbal amendment. Clause 40 was also agreed to. Clause 41, with a verbal amendment, was agreed to. Clauses 42, 43, and 44 were agreed to without op position. On clause 45 being read, Mr. S C ROPE proposed as an amendment that the guardians of the poor should retain the power of re lieving impotent poor, such as widows and children and old persons, out of the workhouse. He wished the commissioners not to have the power of interfering with this species of relief. He did not see any objec tion to his amendment. _ Lord ALTHORP said there was nothing in the bill as it stood to prevent the guardians of the poor from affording the relief. Mr. SCROPE said his object was to deprive the commissioners of the power to restrain the guardians from giving such relief. The clause, on account of the lateness of the hour, and as it broached a new subject, and was likely to lead to a lengthened discussion, was postponed till to morrow (this day). The house resumed, and the chairman reported progress. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. On the motion of Lord ALTHORP, it was agreed upon that for the future Orders of the' Day should be taken at the morning sittings from twelve to three o'clock ; that on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Orders of the Day should precede petitions and mo tions, but that on Tuesdays and Thursdays petitions and motions should have precedence ; and that when the house had on Orders of the Day business before it, Select Committees should be suspended. FOUR PER CENTS. ANNUITIES BILL. Lord ALTHORP moved the order of the day for going into committee on this bill. His lordship said that he had stated on a former occasion that the four per cents. annuities amounted to something about ten millions, and that his proposition, though perhaps it was not considered advantageous to the holders of this sort of stock, would be found beneficial to the country at large. The number of dissentients to his proposi tion was greater than he had formerly contemplated, for they amounted to 969, and the amount altogether of the stock the dissentients held was 4,600,0001. He was, however, prepared to meet this number of dissen tients, and indeed he would say any number of dissen tients, no matter how great it might be. He had for merly stated the regulations whereby he was to pay the amount belonging to the dissentients, and he was happy to say that he could find means of paying them off without any difficulty. He had nothing more to say than to propose the following resolution : " Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee that the commissioners for the reduction of the national debt be authorised to pay off the holders of four per cent. annuities who dissented to the resolution of the 12th May, 1834, and that they be paid according to the said resolutions on ac count of any money in stock, exchequer bills, or on account of money in banks of savings now in the bank of England, and that the stock of such holders so redeemed be vested in the said commissioners." The resolution was then agreed to. The house resumed, and the report was ordered to be received to-morrow (this day). POLISH EXILES. Lord D. STUART moved the order of the day for going into committee, in order to move an humble address to his Majesty for a grant for relief of the Polish exiles now in this country. After the remarks he had made the other night on this sub ject he did not think it necessary to take up the time of the house. It was well known that there were se veral Polish exiles in this country in a state of extreme distress, and he thought that Government ought to afford relief to those unfortunate strangers. As the house had already agreed to take the subject into con sideration, the only question that now remained related to the amount of money that was to be granted. The number of Poles in this country was four hundred and sixty, and a great many of them were officers in the army, men of acquirements, and gentlemen of family. The amount of relief he intended to propose would be, he was sure, considered by every gentleman in the house as extremely moderate. It would merely afford them a bare subsistence. The sum he proposed that the committee should vote was 10,0001. Other coun tries had voted sums considerably larger. He would therefore move—" That it is the opinion of this com mittee that an humble address should be presented lo his Majesty, humbly praying that a sum not exceed ing 10,000/. be granted to the Poles now in this country, and assuring his Majesty that the house would make good the same." Mr. T. ATTWOOD thought that the grant was too small, and recommended that it should be in creased to 16,0001. The question having been put, Lord ALTHORP considered that the proposition of the hon. member for Birmingham was very extra vagant. The sum the house ought to allow was what would be necessary for the bare subsistence of these strangers. He begged to state to his noble friend that he ought to calculate on the sum for twelve months only. If any of these exiles should leave the country before that time the whole amount would not be required. 10,0001. would only give them a bare subsistence, merely what was sufficient for their exis tence. He hoped that gentlemen would use their influence to find employment for these unfortunate exiles in order that the house might be relieved as speedily as possible from the grant. Sir E. KNATCHBULL said that his only object in rising was to express a hope that the vote would not be made an annual one. Lord ALTHORP said it was not his intention to make the vote an annual one. It was only the state of extreme destitution in which the Poles in this country were that justified the present vote, and it would be only applied to the persons now in this country. Mr. C. W. WYNN was glad to hear the noble lord's explanation. Lord D. STUART said a few words in reply. Mr. E. DENISON asked whether there were any arrangements made as to the distribution of the grant ?_ Lord ALTHORP said that at present no such arrangements were entered into, but that they should be made before the sum was granted. Mr. BEAUMONT said that he was connected with a society which had for its object to get employ ment for the exiled Poles, and that they should not be kept in this country longer than was necessary. As a member of that house, he begged to thank the noble lord for this first act of a liberal administration. The address was then agreed to. The house re sumed, and the report was received. The second reading of the Civil Courts (Ireland) Bill was postponed to Thursday next. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE BILL. Lord HOWICK moved the third reading of this bill. Mr. Alderman WOOD said that the clause affect ing the privileges of the Vintner's Company should be let out. Lord HOWICK opposed the recommendation of the worthy alderman, on the ground that persons got licenses from the Vintners' Company to keep open disorderly hones, and set the orders of the justices at defiance. After a few words from Mr. Alderman Woon, C(1. WILLIAMS, and Lord HowicK, the Bill was read a third time and passed. LORD'S DAY BILL (No. 2)._ Mr. POULTER moved the committal Of this bill After a few words in opposition from Mr. WARBITII TON and Mr. M. PHILLIPS, the motion was postponed until Wednesday. REGISTRATION OF VOTERS. Lord J. RUSSELL said he rose to move for leave to bring in a bill for the more effectual registration of voters for members of Parliament. Although it would be necessary to alter a great many clauses in the Reform Bill on this subject, the object would be to facilitate the working of that bill. He intended to propose that, instead of leaving the making of the list of names to the overseer, as it had been in many cases greatly neglected, and particularly in Somersetshire, a system of machinery might be adopted somewhat similar to that under the Jury Bill. The clerk of the peace would have to issue his warrant to the constable, who would make out lists. He also proposed with regard to the borough voters that the town clerk, in stead of, as at present, posting up , the names of free men and the list of persons claiming to vote, should only be called upon to make a list of the new claimants, as the overseers at present had to perform for the county voters. Another object of his bill would be to put a stop to a state of things prevailing to a great extent at present. He intended to propose that where persons claimed the right of voting without proper grounds, and made objections to names with out probable cause, the barrister should have per mission to assign costs against them. Again, an alteration had been made in the Reform Bill in the other house by the insertion of a few words which had led to numerous complaints. As to the abuse of the right of voting—that was, that persons in boroughs had erected sheds and other small buildings, and had thus been able to make a number of nominal voters— he therefore intended to propose that they should de fine the value of the buildings to entitle to the right of voting. While, however, he should propose that the right of voting should not be granted on the plea of occupying sheds or other outbuildings, it would be allowed in cases of brewhouses, granaries, or other similar buildings. There were a number of other clauses in the bill he wished to introduce which would tend to render the interpretation of the Reform Bill clearer than it was at present. He would not tres pass upon the time of the house at greater length, but merely move for leave to bring in a bill for the more effectual registration of voters for members of Parlia ment. Mr. C. W. WYNN expressed his regret that some measure of the kind had not been brought forward a long time since. A measure of the kind was promised last year, but had not been brought forward. He trusted the bill would be passed during the present session. Mr. PRYME wished to know whether there was any clause in the bill to enable a person moving from one house to another in a borough to have the right of voting' continued to him ? This had been a ground of complaint in many places. Mr. WALTER was anxious that some means should be adopted to punish persons who made ficti tious claims to the franchise. He had been exposed to much expense and trouble in the contested election he had stood in withstanding such claims. Mr. EVVART thought that great advantage would be derived by having the poll taken in one day. After a few words from Mr. AOLIONII 2 Y Mr. C. W. WYNN, Mr. W ASON , M r . C URTE IS, and Mr. JERVIS, Lord J. RUSSELL shortly replied. The motion was then agreed to, and Lord J. Rus sell was ordered to bring in the bill. Mr. LITTLETON moved for leave to bring in a bill to renew the Insolvent Debtors' (Ireland) Act. Leave given. Mr. LITTLETON gave notice that he should to morrow move in a committee of the whole house that a certain sum be granted as compensation to one of the Commissioners of the Insolvent Debtors' Court (Ireland). Mr. C. P. THOMSON gave notice that he should on Wednesday week propose in a committee of the whole house certain alterations in the Customs' Duties Bill. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the house adjourned at half-past two o'clock. PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, IRELAND. COPY OF COMMISSION FOR INQUIRING RESPECTING THE STATE OF RELIGIOUS AND OTHER INSTRUCTION NOW EXISTING IN IRELAND. William the Fourth, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith : to our right trusty and well beloved Councillor Henry Lord Brougham and Vaux, our Lord High Chancellor of that part of our said United Kingdom called Great Britain, our right trusty and well-beloved cousin and Councillor William Vis count Melbourne, one of our principal Secretaries of State, our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor Edward John Littleton, Chief Secretary to our Lieu tenant-General and Governor-General of Ireland, and our trusty and well-beloved Thomas D'Oyley, Sergeant at Law, Thomas N- Lister, John Wrottesley, George Barrett Lennard, Edward Carleton Tuffnell, Daniel Maude, George Conwall Lewis, William Henry Curran, William Tighe Hamilton, Acheson Lyle, and William Newport, Esquires, Barristers at Law, greet ing : Whereas we have thought it expedient for divers good causes and considerations us thereunto moving, that a full and correct inquiry should be forthwith made respecting the state of religious and other in struction, and the means of affording the same, now existing in that part of our said United Kingdom called Ireland, and other circumstances connected therewith: Know ye, that we, reposing g rea t t rus t an d con fid ence in your zeal, ability, and discretion, have authorised and appointed, and by these presents do authorise and appoint you the said Henry Lord Brougham and Vaux, William Viscount Melbourne, Edward John Littleton, Thomas D'Oyley, Thomas N. Lister, John Wrottes ley, George Barrett Lennard, Edward Carlton Tuf nell, Daniel Maude, George Cornwall Lewis, Wm. Henry Curran, William Tighe Hamilton, Acheson Lyle, and William Newport, or any two or more of you, to visit every parish in that part of our said united called Ireland, an d t o ascerta i n on t h e spot, kingdom by the best evidence which you can procure there or elsewhere, the number of m em b ers o f, or p ersons i n com munion with, the united Church of England and Ireland in each benefice or parish, distinguishing in the cases of such benefices as comprise more than one parish, the number belong ing to each parish separately and to the union collectively , and also to state the dis tances of the pa rishes in each union from each other respectively ; to state the number and rank of the mi nisters belonging to or officiating within each benefice, whether Rector, Vicar, or Curate, and whether resi dent or non-resident, and whether there is a church or glebe-house thereon ; to state the periods at which divine service is performed in each parish church or chapel, and the average number of persons usually attending the service in each, and to state generally whether those numbers have been for the last five years increasing, stationary, or di m i n i s hi ng; to ascertain the number of the several other places of worship belonging to Roman Catholics or Pres byterians, and other Protestant Dissenters, and the number of ministers officiating in each, the proportion of the population of each parish belonging to each of such persuasions respectively, the periods at which Divine service is performed in each of their chapels, and the average number of persons usually attending the service in each, and to state generally whether those numbers ha ve b een fo r th e l as t fi ve y ears in creasing, stationary, or diminishing; to ascertain the state of each parish, with reference to the means of education, the number and description of schools, the kind of instruction afforded therein, the average at tendance at each, and the sources from which they are supported, and t o s t a t e gene rally wheth er th e num bers attending the same have for the last five years been increasing, stationary, or diminishing ; to inquire ge-, nerally whether adequate provision is now made for the religious instruction and for the general education of the people of Ireland ; and to report such other cir cumstances connected with the moral and political re lations of the church establishment and the religious institutions of other denominations dissenting from the established church, as may bring clearly into view their bearings on the general condition of the people of that part of our said united kingdom called Ire land; and, for the better discovery of the truth in the premises, we do by these presents give and grant to you, or any two or more of you, full power and autho rity to call before you, or any two or more of you, such persons as you shall judge necessary, by whom you may be better informed of the truth in the pre mises, and to inquire of the premises, and every part thereof, by all other lawful ways and means whatso ever : and we do hereby give and grant unto you, or any two or more of you, full power and authority, when the same shall appear to be requisite, to admi nister an oath or oaths to any person or persons whatso ever, to be examined before you, or any two or more of you, touching or concerning the premises. And we do also give and grant unto you, or any two or more of you, full power and authority to cause alland singular the ministers and others attached to or con nected with the said parishes or benefices, having in their custody any rolls, records, orders, books, papers or other writings relating thereto, to bring and pro duce the same upon oath, before you or any two or more of you ; and our further will and pleasure is,that you, or any two or more of you, upon due examina tion of the premises, do and shall, as often as you, or any two or more of you, shall finish inquiring of any parish, report to us, under your hands and seals re spectively, what you shall find touching or concerning the premises upon such inquiry as aforesaid; and we further will and command, and by these presents or dain that this our commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and that you our commissioners, or any two or more of you, shall and may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof, and of every matter and thing therein contained, although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment, and we do hereby direct and appoint, that you, or any two or more of you, may have liberty to report to us your several proceedings from time to time,as the same shall be respectively completed and perfected ; and we hereby command all and singular our justices of the peace, sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, constables, officers, ministers, and all others our loving subjects whatso ever, as well within the liberties as without, that they be assistant to you and each of you, in the execution of these presents ; and we do hereby appoint our trusty and wellbeloved Matthew Barrington, Esq., to be your secretary, and we do further authorize and em power you, or any two or more of you, to nominate and appoint four clerks for your aid in executing this commission. In witness whereof, we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witness ourself at Westminster the 4th day of June, in the fourth year of our reign. By the King himself, BATHURST. COURT CIRCULAR. The Duke of Cumberland left town about half-past ten o'clock yesterday morning, attended by Sir John Slade, for Oxford, to be present at the Installation of the Duke of Wellington as Chancellor of the University. During his residence at Oxford, his Royal Highness will reside in Christ Church College. The Prince and Princess Hohenlohe Langenburg left Kensington Palace yesterday afternoon, on a visit to their Majesties at Windsor Castle. The Duchess of Kent and the Princess Victoria drove and walked in the Parks yesterday. The Duke of Gloucester honoured the performance of the French plays with his presence last evening. Prince Talleyrand and Baron Bulow, the Prussian Mi nister, visited Viscount Palmerston yesterday, at the Foreign-office. The Duke of Richmond had an interview yesterday with Viscount Althorp. The Dukes of Bedford and Devonshire sat to Mr. Haydon last week, for the completion of Earl Spencer's collection, at Althorp. Lord Holland entertained select parties to dinner yester day and on Sunday. - - TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—The following statement was sent some days since to the Lord Chancellor to prove to him how disadvantageous it is to the landed proprietors that they should have no control over the poor rates to which their lands are assessed. One or two of the largest proprietors in this neighbourhood have endea voured to find constant employment for the poor by offering to the vestry marsh land and shingle, for the purpose of cultivating potatoes, which would better the condition of the paupers and lower the rates. rhe farmers have an interest in keeping the paupers rom work, because they should hire the pauper abourer cheap during harvest time : " A magistrate of East Bourne, to relieve the burden of he poor rates, employed four paupers at spade husbandry, or growing potatoes, till requested by the great tenants t a 3 ship off the produce that, as they said, the sale of these potatoes might not lower the price of their own. Dr. 'hately, now Archbishop of Dublin, seeing paupers drag useless carts on the road, which they called convict work, proposed their removing marsh soil to the shingle, which would have drained the marsh refused by the steward and tenants. A proprietor purchased marsh land, and offered it at * peppercorn rent, with a remunerating lease of the shingle to the vestry, which if done, by measure, might, as at Cook ham, have reduced the rates three quarter parts, by indu- Cing fishermen to return to their former crafts, but refused by the vestry of tenants. " A proprietor (March 20, 1832) offered to the vestry, in writing, five sh Rings a rod for all fifty-four paupers could do in four days and a half.—Refused by the vestry, composed of tenants, though the pay was double the value, as an acre has been done at two shillings a rod, and a pauper offered, in writing, if he might do this work for twelve months, instead of standing still, at two shil lings a day, and then could rent the land he made at twenty shilling an acre of the vestry, he would thenceforward cease to be chargeable to the parish with his wife and children.— Refused by the vestry of tenants, who said, ' If we let that man maintain himself others will wish it, and then where shall we pet workmen? The Poor Law Report, the same year, printed the names of 174 men belonging to this parish, not infirm, who received 1,978/. 12s. from the ves try of tenants. " The five valuers of the parish this Autumn agreed there would not be one hand out of employ if the land was profitably tilled, therefore all the parishioners voted for the able bodied paupers being paid and employed by the rate payers, after each farmer had engaged three men per 100/. parish rental, except four of the principal tenants, who, after refusing their county member, a magistrate, and son of the proprietor of more than half the parish, consented on a proprietor engaging to maintain their share of men, and being told a statement would be transmitted to Govern ment tracing to its source the cause of the diminished pro duce of England, and the distress of all classes ; and pau pers without exception rejoiced when they were allowed to work for the same sum as for standing still, and the vicar's letter to the vestry on Dec. 19, also stated their growing disaffection at being sent back in three weeks to the roads by tenants, consequently it is not unwillingness of the poor to work that occasions the high poor rates, but pro prietors having been excluded from the vestries by tenants who dispose of the rates in the payment of workmen who they formerly kept all the year round on their farms, for want of whose work labourers prove between seed time and harvest, in cleaning and draining the land, and stall feeding cattle, to produce manure. The land of Eng land yields, as the Agricultural Report to Parliament says, less and less ; and at East Bourne, from whence corn was exported by sea, foreign barley and wheat landed and ground at Newhaven are sent up the river to Lewes, and thence by land carriage 15 miles, with ss. tolls per load to East Bourne, whilst tenants who lose the profit on growing their grain are behind hand with their rent, and four principal tradesmen, among whom the farmers' profits would have circulated, are recently sunk from rate payers into rate receivers, and the manufacturers who sup plied their shops are also losers. " Can any one point out a single advantage from tenants being empowered, under the denomination of ' Occupiers,' to levy and dispose of rates which they say it is evident we do not furnish, as we cannot hire land that does not leave us a livelihood after all rates have been al lowed for before we could agree. " Tenants, therefore, only pay the rates in the same sense for the rent as servants pay their masters' bills, and the profuse disposal of the fund they levy on others is ac counted for. " Why, then, should tenants have more the levying, paying, or disposing of the rates? It was claimed as the right of Englishmen to be taxed only by themselves. Why does law exclude landlords unless also occupiers? " If the right were transferred to proprietors, landlords need not attend more than at present, for they might safely leave the administering relief to the infirm to the smaller proprietors, who would be interested in encouraging the able bodied to work, like Mr. G n at East Bourne, who has given up all relief for his family, on renting one acre, and having one more acre cost free. Similar proofs of the effects of tenants voting are ready to be brought forward ; and if the word occupier was only changed for one session, it would appear if the burden of the rates did not lessen, incendiarism cease, paupers become industrious and contented labourers, and farmers thriving, if they only paid, as in Scotland, rent, and the wages of labour, with a sure home market for manufactures. Is it not worth trying, before a costly machinery of Commissioners is introduced, without the individual in terest the owners of houses of even 51. a year would have in preventing the waste of rates they themselves contri bute to ? I am, Sir, your obedient servant, East Bourne, June 7, 1834. A Landed Proprietor. MEMOIRS OF MARSHAL SUCHET, DUKE D'ALBUFERA. WRITTEN Dl' HIMSELF.—Asa pendant to the narrative of our English military historian, Colonel Napier, these memoirs are invaluable. Marshal Su chet's career in Spain, his position as commander-in chief of the army of Arragon, and his active concern in the direction of local administrative measures, opened to him the most extensive view of Spanish affairs, and must constitute him one of the most im portant chroniclers of the stirring and memorable in cidents which marked the struggle in Spain. - : - FATAL ACCIDENT. ;4\ . - OVERTURNING OF THE "CRITERION" BR 11414150 . , TON COACH. INQUEST ON SIR W. COSWAY, BART. 3411" •ila Yesterday afternoon a jury assembled at the resi dence of Mr. Lines, the surgeon, Bridge House place, St. George's, for the purpose of holding an inquest on the body of Sir Wm. Cosway, Bart., who was killed on Saturday last, in consequence of the overturning of the Criterion Brighton coach. The jury haA ing been sworn, proceeded into the surgery to view the body, which was laid out there. The deceased appeared to be a very fine, stout, portly man. William Jones, a paper stainer, of Spencer-place, on Saturday last, about four o'clook, was passing Stone's-end, in the Borough, when he observed a stage-coach coming along at a rapid rate from the direction of London-bridge, the coachman on the box with the reins in his hands, and he was endeavouring by all means in his power to check the speed of his horses. At that time there was a gentleman sitting on the box by the coachman, two other gentlemen be hind them, and a lady on the dickey. Shortly after wards witness observed the pole of the coach was broken, and that some portion of it was striking against the hind legs of the off-wheel horse, which made him kick tremendously. At this moment so:ne persons r ail , towards the heads of the horses, with the v;:w..t° 1 1 . 6 1 1 them, but the coachman desired them, for G o d ; sa ke , to keep off ; adding. at the same time, that they won:: stop of themselves before they reached the Elephant and Castle, if they were left alone. The fie,f§titis luded to, notwithstanding the entreaty of Oh!? Eoieti-: man, still endeavoured to seize the reins, and, 04 this, frightened the horses the more, and the veMAI•e" had not proceeded much farther when the witness sa!V it overturn, and the passengers and coachman thrown off. The witness added that, upon seeing the acci dent, he immediately ran to the assistance of Mr. Tadhunter, who was lying on the road with his thigh broken, while other persons hastened to the a;gleflitice, of Sir W. Cosway, who was carried into the house' Mr. Lines, nearly opposite to that part of the roan where the accident happened. By a Juror—l think the horses, when I first saw them, were going at the rate of ten or twelve miles ; perhaps, however, I might be mistaken as to the exact speed. Mr. James Stringer, surgeon, of Kennington, was passing up the borough, when he saw the Criterion coach, and the broken part of the pole striking against the horses, which were exceedingly restive. Saw a man, dressed like an hostler, lay hold of the off-wheel horse by the reins, which he held on by until he was at length compelled to let go to save himself, and im mediately afterwards the coach overturned and the outside passengers were thrown off. 'Witness had Sir William Cosway conveyed into the house of Mr. Lines, who being absent at the time, he (witness) remained with the deceased until he expired,which event took place in about an hour and a half afterwairdt. The deceased was insensible from the time he firsf Met with the accident, and when brought into the hoittO the blood issued in torrents from his nose and ears, and they were compelled to place him in nearly an upright position to preserve him from suffocation. The witness here described the nature of the injuries the unfortunate gentleman received, which were chiefly confined to the head, the skull at the base having been fractured to such an extent that the brains protruded from both ears. In reply to questions by the jury, Mr. Stringer said that the coachman appeared to him to have done every thing in his power to avert the accident. He did ob serve the deceased in the act of getting over the roof of the coach. Several other witnesses were examined, who corro borated the statements above detailed. The Coroner here briefly addressed the jury, showing that no evidence had been adduced to prove where, or how the pole had been broken, which appeared to be the chief cause of the accident, and the inquest was adjourned until next Friday, for the purpose of making inquiry as to who was the driver of the dray which first caused the startling of the coach-horses, and of in suring his attendance. General Mina, we are glad to learn, has completely recovered from his late dangerous illness, and is about to return to his native country, as soon as he has acquired sufficient strength to endure the fatigues of travelling. The permission to return home, which was too long delayed by the presence of some of his enemies in the Cabinet of Madrid, was lately notified to him in the most handsome manner by the Spanish Ambassador at this Court, but, from his known character and eminent services, we might have expected, not only a permission to terminate his exile, but an invitation to resume his honours and emolu ments, under the Queen's government. There is so much gossip afloat at present in Oxford, that it is a very difficult matter for a stranger to distinguish between what is true and what is false. Of this, however, I have no doubt, from every thing I hear, that the Duke of Cumberland, notwithstanding his having taken the Church under his special protec tion, is not the greatest favourite in the world at Ox ford. I have been told—and from the quarter from which I received the 'information I believe it—that after the Duke of Cumberland had written to the au thorities of the University, stating his determination to decline an honour which it had not declared its readi ness to confer upon him, a letter was sent to him, in forming him, that if he came to Oxford the University needs must confer a doctorship upon him. This was conceived to be a hint which the noble feelings of Royalty could not misunderstand. But his Royal Highness of Cumberland practises as well as preaches the duties of Christian charity, and forgives those who are not inclined to be so indulgent towards him. His reply again was that he must decline the honour that was intended him ; but that such was his regard for his illustrious friend the Duke of Wellington, he must be present at the signal honour with which his life of glory was now to be crowned by the University of Oxford. His Royal Highness arrived in Oxford this afternoon about 3 o'clock, and from the distinguished place which he holds in the affection of Englishmen, it is unnecessary for me to say how many hats were thrown up in his honour, how many voices cried, " God bless him." His Royal Highness takes up his abode with the tutor of his son, the Rev. Mr. Jelf, canon of Christ Church.— Times. A STOP TO EPSOM RACES.—We under stand that an action has been commenced by John Ivatt Briscoe, Esq., M.P., as lord of the manor, for trespass committed in running races, and erecting booths on the Epsom Downs—the lord contending that there is no prescriptive, or other sufficient title to do so. Messrs. Everest and Harding, solicitors, of Epsom, are engaged for the defence, and no pains or expense will be_spared in resisting the claim thus made.— Essex Mercury. COUNT JOSEPH MAZZINGHI.—The ac knowledgment by the Pope and the Grand Duke of Tuscany of the " hereditary" claim to nobility by Mr. Mazzinghi, the eminent composer, and the grant of his bearing the title (long in abeyance), has been fol lowed by the investiture of the " Order of Christ," which his Holiness Pope Gregory X VI. has been graciously pleased to confer on the Count, accom panied by many flattering expressions of satisfaction and approval. TA STE.—A gentleman from the city, having visited the British Museum during the holyday week, asserted that there was anything but an agreeable odour in the cabinet of Egyptian mummies. Alder man —, who was with him (having also determined to give his science an airing), observed, " It was only another instance of the extravagant waste of the public money in laying it out in the purchase of mummies which was not fresh." DR. DOYLE.—A letter from Dublin, dated May 31, has gone the round of the London papers, in which it is positively announced that Dr. Doyle died at Carlow on the day previous. The Carlow Morn ing Post of to-day remarks, in reference to that an nouncement, 66 We are sorry to say, that though the above statement is premature, th ere are li tt l e h opes e ntertained of the right rev. prelate's recovery." Last week a servant girl in this city at tempted to poison herself, which was happily frus trated by the very commendable conduct of the as sistant in a druggist's shop, where the infatuated female applied to purchase a quantity of laudanum under a pretext which led him to suppose her real object ; fearful she would procure the fatal drug else where if he refused to supply it, he gave her some tinc ture of bark, which the foolish girl swallowed as soon as she reached her master's house, observing to her fellow-servant she had taken that which would very shortly put her out of this world ; the family were in stantly apprised of the circumstance, and skilful medi cal assistance immediately procured, when an inquiry was very properly made at the druggist's, and the poor girl soon learned the obligations she was under to the young man, whose discretion had probably saved her life..—Hereford Journal. .~