The Sun. — London, England, 1831-09-13 00:00:00

-- r Inane Hon. i Gave' Chosen a a t it 0. 01 Hone He ° ,g the,. refore, wrable aiv ag it it bad pitATei he Gi very 'est la diti 7 • )ove ea 0 1 Or a C ° i 6 o , ' ) l teq u Fora C°" 3 a and b3 ,1:ol l ' t v ittite ill'' , to i n ted g ra- tbe j . e of Ingdiana t ~(1 aP‘ol ' 1 1 , undeists"co, La the b e ' t the 000', the We't GI I s to Wtte, ased PM" I I eas s vat to this cafta was more than could ho = awned • • , • • ,an we wer e obli g ed to export it, that instant the price of sugar on the Continent determined the prices in our mark ets. But the sugar sent to the Continent was raisedat a muchlower rate than the sugar of our West India colonies ; thus the sugar of these colonies, raised at a greater cost, was actually sold for no more than what paidg the cost of production of the sugar raised at a much V est "Pence. At preSent the Legislature compelled the Indi ans to raise their sugar at the increased cost ; at t e " t it augmented the difficulties, and this evil ought to be ,„ t , -- e in l ediately obviated. If that were done, a considerable , 'ef would b e a ff or d ed to t h e W est I n di ans . Th e ditninu 4illii nn ofduty w ou ld not a ff or d r e lief to any extent. If it • to "et so increas e th e h o me consumption as to have none e xport, lie doubted whether it would do any good. The l e . ) ° ;a;3finwi raising sugar i n th e W e st Indies would be lowered l e ng them to get all their supplies free. The Legis nre ought to take off the absurd restrictions on the tra de of the colonies, and allow them to buy their timber, their lumber, th e i r f oo d, a s cheap as they could. In fact, r ev est Indies were sacrificed most unjustly to the policy "{sporti ng C ana d a, an d t h e W es t I n dies were taxed to it l rieh C ana d a. There was a system o f con ti n u a l protec t"; and i n or d er to compensa t e the West Indies for the ta xes le v i e d on it in favouring of C ana d a , t h e E as t I n di es We re h taxed. W e h a d go t in a vicious system of pro tecting all interests one against another, and the conse quence Was, the general distress of all. They were all dist ress. Why did not the House legislate on sound and :, 1 4 tn Pl t e prin c i p l es , an d avo id those interferences with the ec l a Machine that kept up continual friction ? After aci ng all the duties on their supplies of lumber and °ta li and after allowing them to import their food from n"re they please, why should they not be permitted to I ;!une the sugar th• y grow ? Formerly several Colonies flourished by that process, and why should the Legis a ere refuse that benefit to the West Indians? There p s :, : n e nt o liin s g but a miserable system of restrictions and ti n which were only obstructions; and it w as v to allow the people to get what they could at the e t • "Pest rate, and not increase distress bv laying restric oltf arol their industry. Another cause of the great cost tote West I n dia sug ar was the restrictions on the impor uttiot, n of slav es , w hil e the foreign sugar growers had a f t ee importation of s laves. The Government ought to use t exerti on to put an en d to t h e f ore ign slave trade, and that u would gi ve re li e f t o our own planters. As to the Bill ender cons i deration, be thought t h e re fi n i ng o f f ore i gn a g ar in this country would do no good. That was the i nduc e of slave labour, and we ought to discourage the ~' °nsu mption of sugar grown by slave labour. The Go rrnment ought to settle a colony at Fernando Po, and o a ke it a large depot ; and from there we ought to send d at agents up all the African rivers, endeavour to intro yiu "Commerce into every part of that continent, and con , nee the native chiefs that it would he for their interest ° put an end to the slave trade. If that were done, a ean siderahl e relief would be afforded to the West Indies, Whil e i th e measure for re fi n i ng f ore i gn suga r would only Go vernm en t a tend ency to enco urage the foreign slave trade. The ought to revise the whole West India system, and legislate for the colonies on sound and simple principles. N s A ir• G. ROBINSON thought his Hot , . Friend, the ,' er nher for D um f r i e s-shire, was justified in bringing on I t he dis cuss i on then, because no ot h er t i me cou ld b e f oun d 0 ! it s and it was difficult even then to attract attention 1, t i; i lt . The H on . Member who spoke last, seemed to ni t it would he very easy to remedy all the evils of the colonies. He recommended Government to adopt the system of free trade, and throw open our colo- I nes to all th e wor ld. B e fore he did that, he would n i se it t o cons id er, as our co l on i e s could be supplied C "A per from other countries than from our own ; that it °rald transf e r th e whole commerce of those colonies to r Sign countries and transfer with it all the shipping now he lPloyed in the colonial trade. The Hon. Member, he i eved, was exceedingly mistaken. The measure of free trade had been tried, and had not answered expecta !P`nas• It had failed to give relief to the West Indies. T he Mark e t s t h ere h a d b een partially opened, and what Wa s t' the cons e q ue nce ? Why, from having supplies from tw 0 sources, the market was uncertain, worse supplied t tha n before, and prices were higher than before a direct made Was allowed to the United States. The West t ln- Were no benefited by ths trade because th United C it es would take nothing in i return, , and would e be paid I T their ca rgoes in specie. The Hon. Member took , he l-° ught, a superficial view, when he supposed, that by elt,blishing a free trade in one country , he would neces 4rilY produce a free trade in another. I t would do no such thing, and his free trade scheme would be at „, 4 d vvith none of the expected advantages, unless he e, t i" indu ce o ther nations to establish reciprocity trea scia:lwith us . If we were to equalize the duties in N o e rth w est Indies on the commodities brought from our th e • American Colonies, and from the United States, tro en nsequence would be that the whole benefit of the em tr e would belong to the United States, unless the Go er, sh e ns. - nelat first established a reciprocity treaty. By opening ade to foreigners, we should only destroy our own C c mial trade. He was sure that the system recommended te Ron. Member far Ashbu rton, would not onl y de p rive o h f colonies, and commerc e, or at least, leave us e barren honour of possessing colonies, and the burden Of Providin for their security, but would transfer all the ! ths tantial g advantages of having colonies to other nations. Th e reduction of the duty on sugar—and it should be re. tp -e rnber e d that there was a war duty, which the people et ,e entitled to have repealed, and the Government was il u Y of a breach of faith by not reducing it — the reduc isn.n-n of the duty would, by promoting consumption here, Wit the surplus to be sent to the continent, and raise the w est both there and here, and confer a great benefit on the t 'S est Indians. If tbe Government withdrew its protec tajrom the colonies, it would be better at once to allow s' to withdraw their allegiance, and seek protection seWhere. Th Ai r• HUME had expected to hear, but had not heard, s 'n e F s e arguments from the Hon. Member for Worcester, to tr i ;'te th e statements of the Hon. Member for Ashburton. old e l ion. Member had contented himself with repeating his p r as sertions about the necessity and advantages of reel s. , h aci tY treaties, and had not shown that the system re• s () „'",tnended by the Hon. Member opposite (Colonel Tor -4,4) would be disadvantageous. He thought it was time If h l of the Government to explain its views ; and the f i n ' Memb er wh o spoke first had some reason to find t with it for not having done so. The Right Hon. sh en tfernan hid not understood that Hon. Memb r, and overnment owed it to the West Indians to give a r4her explanation. The Government ought also to 4, man Committee of Inquiry ; but the Right Hon. Gen s,,,Tan wished to pass his Bill first, and inquire after kh,"a• There was a difference of opinion concerning the L e - ,"able effect of this measure, and therefore it ought to "'nuired into. He was not one of those, though lie t o es friendly to the abolition of slav,,ry, who was willing r uin th e W es t Indians by' a sudden emancipation. so e wished to do justice, and the Government ought justice. The reduction of the duty on sugar was t ° all parties; and he believed it would have a oo the consumption would be much increased, anti the st Indians benefited as well as the consumers. After \ v at, th e Navigation Acts ought to be modified, and the est Indians allowed to provide themselves from what r a rzers they pleased. Government ought also to Z s i and the fulfilment of those treatie s relative to Lit aboliti on o f the foreign trade we had purchased a t a Price. At present the foreigner p urchased a slave i l s „" r 40/. who cost our planters 801. In the foreign co anies fifty slaves out of the 1 00 were wo rkers, while in Our col on i es t h ere were n ot above thirty-five out of the ?. It wa s impossi le that our planters could c om p ete k t o ' a mst such disadvantages. The Hon. Member for Worces 1' 'aid, that the Intercourse Act had done no good ; loathe treceived a letter fom Ttinidad that day, which gave u lfferent account. 'lie barrel of flour, which bad cost twenty dollars, now cost sixteen dollars; and at the same y;i' e the barrel of flour bonded at Liverpool cost only 1/. ; and what prevented that from being sent, for the Yage was only, as it were, a few days, to where it was 4 6r ,th 3/ 4s. ? The Government ought to allow a per netlYht free importation of food into the colonies , and i t ti gto put an end to the foreign slave trade. is 4 rd ALTHORP said, the question had been thoroughly Ilivestigated before the Board of Trade, and he was of opi to°in, from all he had heard there, that the only substantial f t ime West Indians could look forward to without a injury to the interests of the mother country, em u ld be f ; -mum.; in a bounty on the exportation of sugar, 1 1 th e effectual putting down of the Foreign Slave t s ' ,, ue . As long as the supply of sugar continue d e q ual ta r i:n e demand of - this country, it was obvious that the t>l could not be affected by anything but the increase tl, t rtie quantity sent to the foreign market, and to V 9 - t he West Indians must look for relief. He s ke m quite ready to admit that the British West Indies %L e r " entitled to the entire and coinplete monopoly of h f h "le market, and the effect of the measure now l e °r e th e House would be, Le believed, to make that n 'i r 4 , ol y more secure ; any plan for the admission tb a ; °r eign sugar, although refined, should not leave ev e ; ° beet unsecured. He must candidly admit, how eat,.' with respect to time facts brought forward on the nsi iee ', that they did not leave the question wholly with sac, "'rrie doubt. The Government were not altogether '",ed, amid it was for that reason they proposed the A ct °l44d be in force but one year, in order that they might not 0 " re .._ ou ,j TheouTdY:tt the in be able to acquire further knowlethze by the experiment. It was, in his opinion, quite clear that the West Indians could not hope for relief from any thing hut a reduction of the quantity of sugar brought to market; and he slid not think that the reduction of the duty would produce any material effect in that way, while it must be accom panied by a material diminution of revenue. With respect to the refining of sugar by the West Indians themselves, he had no objection; but when an offer of that kind was made to them, they replied, the construction of machi. nery for that purpose, after so long a prohibition, would be so expeHsive, that they could not hope to receive any relief from a permission to refine. The Noble Lord con cluded by observing, that he agreed with the Hon. Mem ber for Middlesex in his expressions of abhorrence of the continuance of the slave trade by Foreign Powers ; but, he trusted, that the negociations which were now going on would terminate in the entire destruction of a traffic so disgraceful to humanity. Mr. BURGE contended that the measure now proposed would be a boon to the foreign alive trader, and that Go vernment were guilty of the gross inconsistency of prcu. fessing to desire the termination of slavery, and yet at the same time encouraging, by every means in their power, the productions of the colonies where the slave trade was carried on to the manifest injury of their own colonies, where it was wholly prohibited. He challenged the Go vernment, or any Member of that House, to point out a single instance of the violation of the orders of the Legi slature by the West Indies since the passing of the Act which prohibited the continuance of the slave trade ; and yet, at the present moment, and for many years past, the slave trade had been carried on to an extent greater than ever by France and all the countries which professed to have abandoned it. The West Indians had, it was said, received a great favour by the repeal of the Non• intercourse Act between the West India islands and America. But what was the real state of the case ? It was an illustra- tion of the course pursued by the Government of this country towards the colonies. They first passed Non-in tercourse Laws, which proved most ruinous ; and then, when they discovered their error, they admitted the inter course to take place. Trade bad, however, in the mean time, passed into new channels, and those whom they intended to restore to their former situation were unable to avail themselves of the advantages pre sented to them. After observing on the extraor dinary course pursued by his Majesty's Government in forwarding the interests of foreign colonies while they neglected their own, or remembered them merely to burthen them with imposts which they were no longer able to hear, and which they would not continue to bear, the Hon. Member adverted to the opinion expressed by the Noble Lord (Althorp), with respect to the re auction of duty on sugar, and remarked o❑ the strange anomaly which such a state of things would present in commercial affairs. In the article of coffee it was well known that a reduction of the duty had the effect of doubling the con sumption and introducing it into every hovel in the em pire. On what principle then could it be contended that the same result would not attend the reduction of the duty on sugar? He would recommend his Hon. Friend to •withdraw his amendment, for the purpose of substituting one which he (Mr. Burge) would in that case move, namely, that the Foreign Sugar Refining Act be referred to the consideration of a Select Committee, for the purpose of inquiring how far it could he renewed with a due regard to the interests of our West India colonies. . Mr. K. DOUGLAS said his object was to bring the matter under consideration ; be would, however, willingly withdraw his motion, and give way to that of the Hon. and Learned Member. _ . . Mr. BURGE then put his amendment for the Select Committee. . . Mr. P. THOMSON said, his object had been altogether misunderstood. He had not gone into any statement of what Government intended to propose, reserving that until the House went into the Committee. He was surprised, therefore, the Hon. Member should have mis taken what he had said. The most exaggerated state ments had gone forth on the subject ; and Members had been requested to come down to the House to prevent the utter ruin of the West India interest. The measure which was now proposed had been introduced year after year, by three successive Governments, and passed almost sub silentio. He was, therefore, not a little astonished at the sudden outcry which had been raised against the measure on the present occasion. He denied that the measure would prove beneficial to the foreign slave colonies, The object which Ministers had in view was to afford British refiners an opportunity of refining foreign sugar with a view to its exportation afterwards. The principle of this proposal was that of making this country the work shop of the world, where the raw produce of other countries might be manufactured by British skill, and afterwards sold in the different markets of Europe. The only question was, whether the details of the measure were calculated to reduce the price of West India produce in the market. It was proposed that foreign sugar should be underwritten on its importation 3s less than its usual value, instead of 2s. less, as at present. This, therefore, gave the advantage of an additional shilling to the West India interest. If our ports should be shut against the importation of foreign anat., the article would be refined abroad, and afterwards come into competition with West India sugar. Another circumstance should be taken into consideration. A very large capital was invested in the sugar refinery business. It was the duty of Government to protect the interests of those persons who were engaged in that business, if it could be done without injury to the West India interests. He would now state a few facts which would prove that the apprehension of injury to the West India interests from the proposed measure was unfounded. In 1828, after the first Bill passed, the quantity of foreign sugar refined in this country was only 4,000 cwt. In 1829, when the Act was in full operation, the quantity of foreign sugar refined here was 9,072 cwt. The same year the total quantity of sugar the produce of British colonies re fined in this country was 8,000 cwt., and the quantity of British colonial sugar consumed here was 4,013,000 cwt. In 1830 the total quantity of foreign sugar refilled in this country was 42,000 cwt., whilst the consumption of sugar the produce of British colonies in this country was 4,604,000 cwt., and the quantity of British colonial sugar refined and exported was 1,032 000 cwt. He thought he had stated enough to show that there was no ground for the alarm which had been expressed on this subject. With respect to the proposed measure, the advantage was all on our side, the sugar would be refined by British labour in stead of foreign labour. Colonel TORRENS thought that Ministers had not made out their case that this Bill would not inflict an in jury on the West Indian interest; but he could not help thinking that in fairness to the parties concerned, the Act ought now to be continued. Mr. STEWART objected to the Bill, because in his opinion it tended to encourage the foreign slave trade. He thought that the subject was a very proper one for the in vestigation of a Committee of Inquiry.—(Herr.) Mr. F. BUXTON said, that if it could he shown that the foreign sugar, which, under the operation of this Bill, was introduced into this country for the purpose of being refined, was also consumed here, he should be disposed to oppose the Bill. But be believed that the foreign sugar was net consumed in this country, but expor ted to other countries for sale. He thought that the Bill would tend to diminish the demand for staves, because, under its opera tion, raw sugar, instead of being refined by the labour of slaves in the colonies, would undergo that process, with the assistance of free labour, in this country.—(Hoar.) Mr. THOMSON thought it impolitic to allow foreign sugar to be refined in this country, becauss that permission gave the fore gn planter all the advantage of Bt itish capital and ingenuity. He thought the question ought to be investi gated, for the state of the West Indian interest had grown worse and worse since the Act had been passed.—(Hear.) Mr. C. FERGUSSON was inclined to think that material injury would be inflicted on the West India in terest by this Bill, and he should therefore vote for the aniendrsent.—(Hear.) Sugar could be refined in this e'tintry better and cheaper than any wh e r e e l se; an d if the House allowed the foreigner to refine Lis sugar here, they gave hiss the opportunity of competition in the market with the West Indian planters.—(Hear.) Mr. CRESSET PELitAM and another Hon. MEMBER spoke in favour of the amendment. An Hor4. MEMBER said that the understanding was, when the Act was introduced, that it would continue in oneration ; he should therefore vote for the original motion. The gallery was then cleared, and the House divided-- For the amendment 73 Against it ............. .. : Majority for Ministers —4 On returning to the gallery, we found Mr. ROBINSON on his legs, urging Minist ers not to proceed with the Bill in opposition to so strong a mino rity.—(Hear, hear,) Lord ALTHORP said that no satisfactory inquiry could be gone into at the present period of the session ; tend he should have considered that the measure had been lost if the amendment had been carried. The SsEaKEis then left the chair, and the House re solved into a Committee. Mr. P. THOMSON moved as a revolution, " That it was the opinion of the Committee that it was expedient further to continue an Act of the first year of hie present Majesty, to allow sugar to be imported into this country to be refined." Mr. HUME said that Ministers bad neglected their duty la not having instituted an inquiry into this subject before the 13111 expired. In hie opinion, every man who agreed to the Bill, - did nothing less than agree to promote the slave trade.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. P. THOMSON informed the Hon. Member, that the reason why Government had not inquired into the subject was, because no information of frauds being com mitted in the mode of taking sugar out of bond (the only way in which the West Indian interest could be injured) was communicated to them before the let of July. Mr. BURGE was surprised that Ministers, with only a majority of four, should refuse to inquire into the subject. He felt that the professions of regard for the colonies made by the present Ministers were nothing but professions ; for this measure would give an advantage to the foreign planter, and thereby directly encourage the slave trade. (Hear.) He begged to be understood, as not asking the Government to discontinue the Act, unless the result of inquiry should prove it to be a pernicious measure. Lord ALTHORP did not think that he ought not to persevere in the measure, on account of the smallness of the majority, for the Committee should recollect that the division had taken place in a very thin House, and upon a very alluring motion—a motion for inquiry. He did not think that the Bill would injure the West Indian or pro mote the foreign slaver, because the foreign sugars if not refine,l in this country, would still he refined abroad. . Mr. BURGE said'ti few words in explanation. Mr. ROBINSON said, that if Ministers were satisfied as to the result of inquiry, the House was not. Mr. CRESSET PELHAM hoped that the Noble Lord would be induced to put the matter under the investiga tion of a Committee. Mr. K. DOUGLAS . spoke in favour of inquiry. Mr. GOULBURN said, that the measure had been in troduced as an experiment by the late Government, and he should not consider himself as precluded, by the part he had taken in promoting it, from delivering his opinion freely on the subject at some future occasion. The resolution was then agreed to, the House re sumed, and the report was ordered to be received to-morrow. TRUCK SYSTEM. On the motion of Mr. LITTLFTos, the Money Payment Act Repeal Bill went through a Committee. Mr. LITTLETON then moved that " the House resolve itself into a Committee on the Money Payment of Wages' Bill." Mr. CRESSET PELHAM opposed the Bill, on the ground of its imposing restrictions on trade. He thought that a great deal of unnecessary excitement and delu , ioti had been created among the working classes on this subject. _ _ _ Mr. HUME reeretted that the Hon. Member for Staf fordshire had allowed himself to be driven from his prin ciple by a senseless clamour. The Bill was against all principle, and he was sorry to see the present Government support it. He looked upon the measure as a monstrous innovation. It was considered that they had made great improvements in the system, but lie thought tie present Bill was calculated to excite discord between the masters and their men, and if any mischief should accrue, the blame would rest with Ministers. Such laws might have been passed 300 years ago, hut were inconsistent with the spirit of the present age. He should like to know, if the principle was a good one, why it was not extended to every el ass of the labouring people? Why wzs an excep tion made in favour of agricultural servants? No doubt Hon. Members would wish to extend the principle to do mestic servants. There was this injustice in the Bill, that it gave the master a power to supply articles to his men, and likewise enabled him to set his own value on those articles. He looked upon the Bill as wrong in principle; he would not, therefore, propose any amendment upon it in the Committee ; he would leave it to its fate, but would divide the House on the principle of the Bill. He could not approve of unnecessary interference in the concerns of the working men, and had too high an opinion of the arti ficers of this country to suppose they were not perfectly competent to take care of thems 'lves. He objected to the restrictions which this Bill would put upon the con duct of the masters, convinced that they would prove highly injurious, and if any mischief should hereafter arise, it would be fairly attributable to that Bill. Mr. O'CONNELL said, that the Bill extended to Ire land as well as to England, with this difference, that a. , 1 former laws relating to the subject in England were re p-sled, while those in Ireland were left in fu'l force. He thought it but fair, if the House resolved to extend the anti-truck system to Ireland, they should adopt the same course with regard to that country as to England; and should repeal those laws which were now in force in Ire land. The reason lie would support the Bill was, that it would legalize the truck system. The master might open a shop; lie might pay his man at one side, and sell him what articles he wanted at the other. If the workman should go out without purchasing those articles, the stew ard could give him notice that he should have no work, so that the man would have no alternative but to purchase the articles from his master, or to lose his employment. He thought it would be as absurd to revive the acts against witchcraft as to revive the anti-truck laws. He should oppose the Bill as far as it regarded Ireland, while the laws now in force in that country were unreplaced. Mr. HUME moved, " That the Bill be read that day six months." Mr. PAGET rose to second the motion of his Hon. Friend (the Member for . Middlesex.) He said he would give the measure his most strenuous opposition, upon the ground that it would fail in putting down the truck-system. Mr. STRICKLAND wished the Bill to go into Com mittee; but thought some of the clauses too severe. Mr. LITTLETON said, that the Billabad been so fully discussed, that he should consider it unnecessary to oc cupy much of the time of the House. He said he could not admit that the Bill had been introduced to favour monopolists. The fact was, that the measure was called for by the working men themselves, which was evident from the numerous petitions which were presented to the House front all the manufacturing counties. The Hon. Gentleman then briefly replied to the arguments which had been adduced against the Bill. With respect to what had been said by the Hon. and Learned Member for Kerry, he was certainly anxious that there should be an unifor mity of legislation in the two countries, and therefore he could not Object to the provisions of this Bill, were it ne cessary, being extended to Ireland, but unfortunately very few of the manufacturers to which the measure more im mediately applied, existed in that country. As to the statement of the Hon. and Learned Member for Kerry, that the provisions of the law might easily be evaded by the master paying over the money to the workman, and afterwards receiving it from him, the law would effectually guard against much a system, because it could easily be proved in evidence, if complaint were made, that the pay ment was fraudulent and artificial. He trusted that, un der all the circumstances, the Bill would be allowed to go into the Committee. Lord G. SOMERSET would oppose the Bill, because it appeared to him that it would be an improper inter. fe:ence with good and well-intentioned manufacturers, while it would not prevent ill-disposed individuals from proceeding in their old course. Mr. RUTH VEN supported the Bill. Colonel TORRENS was of opinion that the Bill ought to be tried, although it was at variance with principles to which he was attacked. Mr. LEADER expres , ed his opposition to the Bill, and in support of his argument instanced a case which had occurred in Ireland, where a manufactory was totally de stroyed by an interference of this kind. The gallery was then cleared for a division, when there appeared— For the original motion Against it Majority —44 On our return to the gallery, we found the House in Committee on the Bill; 11lr. J. CAMPBELL in the chair. After a few verba' amendments the clauses were agreed to, the house resumed, and the report was ordered to be received this day. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter before Two o'clock. LONDON MARKETS. PRICE OF BREAD. The highest price of Bread — in the Metropolis is 10d. fot the 41b. Loaf. There are others who sell from ;id. to 13d. below that price. COAL MAR Adair's 265. Od Beaumont 24 6 Bensham Main...,......... 23 9 Charlotte Dean's Primrose . 25 0 25 6 HolywelL,—;... 26 0 Killingworth '46 9 Montague Main Newcastle Beam.-- 19 0 Pontop Windsor 24 6 l'antield :E'l'.—Sept. 12. Walls End Riddell's-- 293. 6d. I)itto Walker 29 6 Lanibton Printroe 32 9 Walls End Hetton 32 6 Walls End LandKon...... 32 6 Walls End Lyons 30 0 Walls End Stewart's —. 32 6 W. E. Russell's Hetton 3d 6 Ditto Russell's Lyon's.,, 6, Walls Adelaide-- 27 9 Walls End 'rees--- 29 6 Norwood's Iletto - u-- 25 9 Walls End Butter Knoll !) ti 24 3 27 25 0 W. E. Old Etherley— Ve3 0 West Hartley --- 25 6 Barnsley New v 2 l Willington— 27 6 Cowper) :10 0 Walls End 801 l & Co.. 23 6 Graigola —3O 0 Dittoßell,Robson,&Co. '26 9 Hartley 27 0 Dittq Bewicke and Ca. 29 9 Halbeath-- 0 Walls End Brown's— 26 3 LlangenneCh 35 0 Ditto Burraton ---- 26 9 New Elockton, Walls End Call,rton —24 0 and Co. 23 l Walls End Carr and Co. 25 6 -Old Haigli Mbor 20 0 Walls E.d ri eaton--, '29 9 Sou! h Hetton Seam.-- S 2 0 e.nd Hilda ..--- 27 0 Silkstone Field and Co. 26 3 Walls End H itspur— 27 0 Silkstone Popplewell —2l 3 Walls End Newinarch.., 27 9 Silkstone 'Thorpe 21 9 Ditto Northumberland 27 3 Whitchaven----- 21 0 Ditto Peareth --- 25 6 Shiiicote small -- 18 0 Ditto Perkins and C 0... 27 0 Cal:erton small --- 16 6 Slops at market, 143,'i---Shipl 5910, e4X Unsold, 20,A. SECOND EDITION. SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock•. THE LONDON GAZETTE OF THIS EVENING. LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S-OFFIE, SEPT. 13, 1831. Notice is hereby given, that his Majesty will hold a Levee at St. James's Palace on Wednesday, the 21st instant, at Two o'clock; and on every succeeding Wednesday unil further orders. The 21st instant being a Collar-day, the Knights of the several Orders will wear their Collars. WHITEHALL, SEPT. I. 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, granting the dignity of Baron of the said United Kingdom to Valentine Brown, Lord Cloncurry, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the name, stile, and title of Baron Cloncurry, of Cloncurry, in the county of Kildare The King has also been pleased to dnect letters patent to be passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, granting the dignity of Baron of the said United Kingdom to Admiral Sir James Saumarez, Vice-Admiral of Great Britain, Bart. and G.C.8.; and the heirs male of his body lawfully egotten, by the name, stile, and title of Baron De Saumarez, of he Island of Gurrnsey. WHITEHALL, SEPT. 10. The King has been pleased to order a conge d'elire to pass the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, empowering the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Worcester to elect a Bishop of that See, the same being void by the death of Doctor Folliot Herbert Walker Cornwall, late Bishop thereof ;. and h!s Majesty has been also pleased to re commend to the said Dean and Chapter, the Right Reverend Father in God Doctor Robert James Carr, now Bishop of Chi chester, to be by them elected Bishop of the said See of Wor: center. DECLARATIONS OF INSOLVENCY. SA MUEL KEBBY, umbrella-maker, Bath. NATHANIEL LAIGHT STANGER LEATHES, wine merchant, Mincing-lane, London. BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED. WILLIAM NORCOTT, James-street, Covent-garden, wine merchant, _ . RANKRUPTBY ENLARGED. JOHN REDFOORD DAVIS, Liverpool, merchant. from Sept. 13 to Nov. 2. BANKRUPTS. THOMAS NEIGHBOUR, sen. and THOMAS NEIGH BLUR, juts., King-street, West Smithfield, wine -merchants, to surrender Sept. 22, at one, 24, at ten, and Oct. 25, at eleven, at the Court of Commissioners. Wadeson, Dingwall, and Duke, Austin-friars. SAMUEL CROCKWELL, Torquay, Devonshire, builder, Sept. 27, 28, and Oct. 25, at twelve, at the Court.; of Commis sioners. Bell, Ely-place, London. WILLIAM MILLER, Walcot, Bath, grocer, Sept. 28, 2 , and Oct. 25, at twelve, at the Three Cups Inn, Bath. Harvey, Barnard's.inn, London ; Hellings, Bath. RICHARD PRICE, Manchester, grocer, Sept. 28, 30, and Oct. 25, at eleven, at the Palace Inn, Manchester. Johnson and Weatherall, Temple; Hitchcock, Manchester. WILI,IASI SHAW, Aston, Staffordshire, china-manufac turer, October 11, it, and 26, at two, at the Union Hotel, Lane- End. Young, Lane-End ; and Barbor, Fetter-lane, London. ROBERT ROPER CLARKE, High Holborn. victualler, Sept. 20, at ten; 27, and October 25, at eleven, at the Court of Commissioners. Parnell, Spitaltiel,:s. JOHN ROPE, Ray-street, Clerkenwell, butcher. Sept. Hi, at twelve, 23, at eleven, and Oct. 25, at twelve, at the Court of Commissioners. Denton, Barker, and Choppin, Gray's.inn. THOMAS ROBERT BLAYNEY, Newtown, Montgomery shire, flannel-manufacturer, Sept. 21, 22, and Oct. 25, at eleven, at the Bear's-head Inn, Newtown. Jones, Furnival's Inn, Hol born ; Bandstrom and Jones, Newtown. WILLIAM HOPEFUL LEREW, Great Portland-street, Marylebone, surgeon, Sept. 20, 27, at twelve, and Oct. 25, at eleven, at the Court of Commissioners. Reynalds, University street, Tottenham-court-road. ALFRED WYATT, Bankside, Southwark, Roman cement manufacturer, Sept. 16, at twelve, 23, at eleven, and Oct. 25, at twelve, at the Court of Commissioners. Grimaldi and Stables, Throgmorton-street. EDWARD HAWTHORN and WILLIAM EDWARD LLOYD, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, linen-drapers, Sept. 20, at ten, 27, at eleven, and Oct. 25, at ten, at the Court of Commissioners. Hardwick and Guest, Lawrence-lane, Cheapside. JOHN BOTHA M, Derby, builder, Sept. 22, 23, and Oct. 25, at two, at the Tontine Inn, Sheffield. Ryalls, Sheffield; Flewker, Derby; Rodgers, Devonshire-square, Bishopsgate-street. 131 PERIAL PARLIAMENT THIS EVENING. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER. did not take his seat until Twenty Minutes to Four o'clock. On the motion of Viscount INGEsratE, a new writ was ordered to issue for the county of Dorset, in the room of the Right Hon. John Calcraft, deceased. Mr. MAXWELL presented a petition, signed by 278 Protestants, and 312 Roman Catho'ics in the county of Kerry, in favour of the grant to the Kildare-street Society. The Hon. Member then moved an humble Address to his Majesty, praying that there be laid before the House copies of the depositions taken at Newtownbarry before the Coroner, on the bodies of the unfortunate individuals killed there on the 18th of June. The Honourable Member said that if the affidavits he had produced on a former evening were not sufficient to induce the House to believe that what had been said respecting the death of Mary Mulrooney, and tile premature birth of her child was incorrect, he had now the affidavit of Mr. Boyce, a most respectable practitioner, who attended the Woman till her death, and he swore that she had no other wound than what was ordinarily caused by a bullet, that tht-re was no child protruding, and, in fact, that she was nut pregnant. On the motion of Mr. Alderman Noon the petitions which be hni presented in favour of the Steam-boats Re gulation Bill, on former occasions were referral' to the Steam Regulation Committee. THE LAW OF LIBEL. Mr. HUME I;esentelCa petition from Joseph Townsend Holman, who had been sentenced by the Court of King's Bench to six months irnprisonmenton an indictment for libel. The Hon. Member strongly reprobated theexistence o f a law for punishing individuals for writing what they could prove to be the truth, and stated that in his opinion a man who dared not resort to a civil process, in which the truth of the matter might be put in evidence, should not be allowed the privilege of proceeding criminally, unless the law were altered so as to allow the truth of the matter of complaint to be put in evidence. —(Hear, hear.) The petitioner stated, that in giving judgment the learned Judges stated that the Court had not the power to entertain for a moment the truth of the mat ter, although he had affidavits to support every thing he had written. He therefore prayed for an alteration in the law, s,) that in all prosecutions for libel the truth of the subject might be put in issue. The Honourable Member said he fully concurred in the prayer of the petition, and hoped soon to see an alteration in the law. The petition was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed. Mr. HUNT presented a petition from the Eastern branch of the National Union, sitting at the Pitt's Head, Pitt -street, Bethnal-green, expressing the sorrow of the petitioners at the sentence passed upon the Rev. R. Tay :or, and praying for a repeal of the law imposing punish ment on persons for expressing their religious opinions, -- Tile judgment on Mr. Taylor was in his (Mr. IL's) opinion vindictive and cruel, and greatly aggravated by the priva tions which that individual was compelled to suffir in prison. Lord G. LENNOX presented a petition from a lady named Maria Harding, residing in the parish of Westbourne, in Sussex, stating, that during the disturbances in November last, she bad a thrashing machine broken, and upon her applying to the Magistrates fur compensation out of the county rate, she was informed that thrashing machines were not within the statute of 7th and Bth Geo. IV., she therefore prayed for compensation. Mr. HUMS said, he understood that Lord Melbourne, in November last, sent round circulars, expressly stating that thrashing machines were within the statute, and he suggested that the Noble Lord (George Lennox) should read that circular. If that were so, then it was a &re liction of duty in the Magistrates to rel Use compensation ; but if thrashing machines were not equally protected as other property, not a moment should be lost in bringing in a Bill to remedy the evil. Mr. lIUNT said, if such a Bill were brought in., he hoped one would also be introduced to compel the farmers to employ all th e l a b ourers. H e very muc h regrette d to see thrashing machines used while so many labourers were out of employ. Mr. S. RICE observed there could not he a possibility of doubt that thrashing machines were under the saute protection as other property.—(Hear, hear.) It might b e necessary for the injured party to adopt certain pro which p er h aps t hi s l a d y h a d not a d opte d, b ut b e ‘ c s e -a e s dings satisfied that thrashing machines wer; i;cluded in the Act of Parliament the same as other property. He r egretted to hear the observations of. the Hon. Member for Prec,ton (Mr. Hunt) against thrashing-machines, which were certainly of great service in the country. Mr. C. FERGUSON was sure that there was no doc ti ine more dangerous than tlitai Uttered by the Hon. Mem ber for Vrest,on s o plain that all mac hi nes w hi c h s h ortene d l a b our i ncrease d There was no point in political economy the means of employment. Lord G. LENNOX rea d some port i on of the, petition, to show that th e pet i t i oner bed taken the btst mode of her claim before tire Magistrates, and observed, that be knew an opi n i on prevailed with some magistrates, that thrashing machines certainly did not come within the Act of Parliament. Mr. HUNT saki the best mode of giving employment to the PooV Was to lower the rents and taxes. He denied tse statement of the Hon. Alember for Leicester (111 v, C. Fer guson), that thrashing machines would: give employment t., the poor. Mr. HUME deprecated the first statement of the Hon. Member for Preston, as calculated to encourage any bad leering that the labourers might entertain against machinery. Mr. HUNT explain e d, H e : did not w i s h to throw any thing either to instigate or Justify the breaking of thrashing machines, but would only ag tin state to th House as a matter of fact, that where the machinery IP , been done away with the labourers were now all em ployed. Lord INGESTRIE said his attention had been particu larly called to this subject, in consequence of having late] had occasion to pass through the county of Wilt where extensive fires had taken place. On one occasha a farmer had erected on Saturday evening a thrashin ichine, and brought it into action on Monday inornim and his property wa , in consequence destroyed, so that tl t man was completele'y reduced to ruin and want. Ht (Lord Ingestrie) would take that opportunity to offer two or three remarks by way of friendly advice to tin farmers, and he would tell them that whenever there was a great preponderance of labourers they would lo well to abstain from the use of machines as much as pos sible ; while he would admonish the labouring class them selves on no occasion to attempt to gain with violent , what would be secured to them he knew without it,—the maintenance of their just rights and privileges. Mr. ROBINSON thought the matter demanded the prompt and judicious consideration of the Legislature ; and if they could not do away with machinery, some other means ought to be devised by which a growing and a pregnant evil in the country would be diminished. The plain, and obvious, and only remedy, in his opi • nion, was to facilitate, by reduction of taxation, and an alteration in the Corn Laws, the means of gaining sub sistence to the poor. He had received information from a quarter in the county of Kent to the effect that burnings had again commenced, and he hoped, therefore, that stn mediate attention would be given to the subject by Govern ment. Mr. HODGES was understood to say that although he was connected with the county of Kent, he had received no such information respecting a renewal of the disgraceful scenes of last year. Mr. PAGET said, that another subject brought under the notice of the House by this petition respected the qua lification for Magistrates and Justices of the Peace. Very complicated matters were frequently submitted or their determination, and as the present qualification ‘‘ as only 100/., he hoped that the Government would require some more-considerable, if not legal or judicial, qualification. Mr. C. PELHAM was inaudible in the gallery. Lord GEORGE LENNOX hoped that, as the ques tion was now proposed whether thrashing machines should be as much under the protection of the law as any other species of property, some definite answer would be given by one of the law advisers of the Crown. Sir R. VYVYAN said the petition related to a subject on which a considerable variety of opinion had prevailed. Whatever might he the advantages of the present increase of machinery, and he was not disposed to under-rate their value ; certain he was that the poor had not derived all the advantages therefrom which they ought to have had. Whatever the remedy might be, or whether it was in the competency of the Legislature in the existing state of things, to devise one which he could not well divine. His opinion was, that if the present generation might some way or other suffer from the increase of machinery, the next would enjoy all its advantages. After a few observatiors from Mr. PAGET, the peti tion was ordered to be printed. Mr. SPRING RICE brought up papers coon cted with the Irish miscellaneous estimates. The Right Hon. Gentleman also moved for a new writ for Flint-h re, in the place of Sir Edward M. Lloyd, raised to the Peerage. Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN presented a petition from several individuals on the subject of the Reform Bill. Sir H. HARDINGE gave notice of his intent-on to move for Papers on Thursday next, relative to the promo tions in the Army, and the reduction of the Half-Pay List. Lord INGESTRIE presented a petition from the crab. meters of Dublin, praying for compensation for the loss of their fees. Mr. CRAMPTON (the Solicitor-General for Ireland) though he would not say the coal meters of Dublin bad a legal claim to compensation, yet could not but think they had an equitable one. Mr. SPRING RICE could not conceive what right these individuals had to compensation. He thought it rather too hard to say, when Government had re pealed a tax fur the gond of the public, that the parties who had never been employed by the Revenue should he a:lowed to set up a claim for compensation. Mr. LEFROY considered the petitioners entitled to what they prayed for. Sir JOHN NEWPORT could not see on what ground Hon. Members held these parties entitled to what they asked, being persons who had received no wrong by the repeal of the coil duties. Mr. SHAW contended that the coal-meters were the servants of the Government, for whom their exertions had saved upwards of 12.0001., and that therefore they were entitled to compensation. After a few words from Mr. O'CorrNELL, who could not agree with the Recorder of Dublin, the petition was ordered to be printed. Mr. ROBERTSON, previous to submitting the motion to the House of which he hid given notice, and which be feared he should be obliged to do in the absence of the Secretary for the Colonies, wished to present a petition from Waterford praying the House to take into considera tion the state of the island of Newfoundland. The peti tioners stated that some years ago their business was ex• ti emely extensive with that island, but that in con.equeace of its present state, that trade had been considerably de cr. ased. Petition ordered to be printed. The Hoz.; MEMBEit then begged the attention of the House to a statement he was compelled to bring forward in consequence of the unsatisfactory answer which the Nuble Lord opposite had given him on a former night, when he stated that he was about bringing to their consideration the interests of one hundred thousand of his fellow-subjects, who, having no local Legislature of their own, were obliged to seek redress of injuries from Parliament, he felt confident he should receive patient hearing. He had for three Sessions endeavoured to bring this subject forward, but the pressure of business of great importance prevented him, and if he consented to postpone it now, it would be an abandonment of the subject for another Session; he could not, consent again to postpone it, it was well known that Newfoundland was one _ . of the most ancient possessions of his Majesty ; and al though it certainly was not his intention to charge the present, or indeed any former Governor, with improper conduct, he must say, that, if it had had a local Legislature of ifs own, it ,c=ould have now become one of the most useful and flourishing colonies.—( Hear, hear.) In the early period of its history this colony wqs treated merely as a non-resident fishing colony ; and the object of the few Acts of Parliament relating to it, was merely to encourage persons to go there in the spring for the purposes of fishing, and to return home in autumn, without.. encouraging any permanent residence there. At length, in spite of the severe laws which existed, one of which prevented persons building houses in the colony. Many persons went to reside. there. The Governors, who were generally Admirals, living but three months in the summer time in the ,-..010ny, went so far as to pull down some of the houses, end pull the roofs off others , . The Hon. Member said, he could read to the House, a memorial addressed to the Governor, by a highly respectable individual, praying to be allowed to build a pig-sitie, and he had the answer of tic Governor's , Secretary, in which the Governor's, pumission was given. This colony had been always considered an Admiralty colony, the Governo;a being appointed by the Admiraltry; hence some difficulty arose in effecting ao improvement in it. Subsequently two Acts were passed of a tempo rary nature, namely the f\ th of Geo. IV., cap. 51, for the encouragement of the fishery,, and in the same year, cap. 57, for the better administration of justice. It would have been supposed that previous to the expiration of those Acts the Government would have inqnired how they had operated with a view of extending or altering them, but notwithstanding the retnoostrances that had been made, showing the bents that :would arise from variooa alterations, a short Act was introduced tq ehtend the two former for a period of three years and a half, and would the limo believe that such had been the languor of the Government that the colony had been without any law to govern it for the spacx of six weeks.—(Hear.) The Hon. Member then ' read a memorial which had been addressed last year by the inhabitants to hie Majesty, praying to be placed on the Caine footing as the other colonies, by having th e privilege of n local legislature. He knew from, personal comrounication with his Majesty, who stated, that he re collected having been once in Newfoundland, that his Majesty sincerely sympathized with the inhabitants...-. He (Mr. Robertson) asked the Hon. House in what sta'e they would expect this island to be while it was ex • aiuded from the advantages possessed by the other colonies. —(Hear.) It was his intention to move an address to the Gown on this subject, The Noble Lord opposite he knew objected to giving a local legislature, from the fear that, as be thought there was but one town of importance in the island, namely, that of St. John's, that town the b at, l i e s :p a d ; t. T j h o e b n iN , s o bl e wouldL o Lord w would possess advanta ges over a ll e th er parts o f possessS ae mistaken apypreponderance i e pondertahnacte for n r there were other towns whi c h ren d ere d it highly impro bable legislation. He was of opinion that the Government was bound to Mahe up their 11444 at once, for there Yyc 6 „...,. i.. ... : : :„ . ,, , : - ",_.:,,,.., ~,,:.: „..„....- . 6 ,, . . r.„,..;., ,Q,,,, • ...• •• .....,, vas no alternative i otv lois 'o give 'hr 1414 Loh , . It til o this island as wan pitesess,d by tie 0-her colonies. I'ne present state of the colony was one of peru iar hard ship ; and although the land was capable of extensive cultivation, imports, to a large amount, of potat oes i id been made from the neighbouring provinces of Prince Silivarils' Island, Nova Scotia, and even lrelat.d. An other very great disadvantage under which the people here laboured, was the proient uncertainty if the 1:14'. inch was their situation, that the officers were legislators old Judges to make, and then decide upon the law.— knottier part of the proposition he should submit, was to 1 hring, the long disputed question as to the rights ,if fishery in that colony belonging to British subjects, •oncurrently with the French. might be settled. This vas certainly of very great importance to that colony end the inhabitants anxious for i•s settlement, had, at their •xpetire, fitted out a vessel to determine tl'eir rights. The Commander received instructions to persevere until forced o ,t, ,ndon, what was called, the French coast. lie failed, t o French officer of authority was found in the port, but the French fishermen considering that they hail, the exclusive right of fishery would permit him not to fish there by courtesy. He stating his commands, that his ibject was to establish that right, was afterwards •jected and compelled by a French naval counnataLr to quit the station and proceed to Labrador. This colony was of very great value to this country ; so much so that the great Lord Chatham used to say it was worth go ing to war for. He did not say so, but it was of consequence and it was one of the articles of our treaty with France that Great Britain should hold that colony. He hoped the House would concur with him in the address he should move to his Majesty, although there was a party in his country who, though anxious to make all they could from trading thither, bad nosympath)with the colonists. The colony had not hitherto given much trouble to this country-, and did not look, like Canada and others, for any particular of its produot. He hoped, therefore, that they would hare legislation given to them over their own affairs. The Hon. Member concluded by moving an humble address to his Majesty, praying that he may be pleased to grant to the ancient and loyal colony of Newfoundland, a Con stitutional Legislative Government similar to those enjoyed by his Majesty's North American colonies, and as nearly ax possible, in accordance with the principles of the British Constitution. Praying also, that the right of the British subjects there, under existing treaties, might be ascertained Mr._DICKSON seconded the address. Lord HOWICK complained of the embarrass ment in which he was placed in consequence of the inop portune manner in which thismotion was brought forward, and the lion Member hid expressed himself dissatisfied with the answer which he (Lord H.) ha given to him a former occasion, it was satisfactory to find that a public meeting at Poole most intimately connected with Newfoundlad, bad expressed itself completely satisfied vitb that answer. The Government, lie bail stated on a former occasion, were convinced that a chauge :should take place, but there were great difficulties about the question. (Lrrr SPEAKING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. At Five o'clock the LORD CHANCELLOR. took MR Seta on the Woolsack. Lord RADNOR presented two petitions, praying for the introduction of Poor Laws into Ireland, and one in favour of Reform, which the Noble Lord read at 1-ngth. Lord KING sail that the petition expres•ed the opi nions of a great mass of the people in this country, and that it would be well for their Lordships to consider of that opinion, and not go on in such a manner as to bring these masses of the people to inquire into the use of that House, and give a colour to those who said that that llouse had no character to lo,e.—(The Noble Lard was here interrupted by loud cries of Order, and several of their Lordships rose at once. Lo: . (IKEIsfYON spoke to order, but such a noise pre vailed we could not catch what he said. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY rnov(d that the o ords of the Noble Lord (King) be taken down, but he almost immediately withdrew it. Lord KING did not mean to give offence to any of their Lordship., but mrrely advice. When he said that this House had no character to lose, he only meant_ (Order, order.) The Marquis of SALISBURY moved that his Lord ship's words should be taken down. The question was then put, and the LORD CHANCELLOR rose. and said the No►le Lord Lord (King) was only explaining when he for the second time used the words which had given offence, and he (the Lord Chancellor) considered that be bad a perfect right so to explain. In his opinion, the Noble Lord did not say that this House had no character to lose, but only it their Lordships did nut do so, and so it would give a colour to the representations of those who were of that opinion. The Marquis of SALISBURY did not mean to stop the explanation of the Noble Lord, but he wished that the words should be taken down, in order that the House might have an opportunity to take such a course as it might think Sr. At the present moment, when many persons were trying to inflame right-minded people against their Lordships, he thought it very improper that such offensive words should fall twin a Noble Member of that House, and therefore he thought it his duty to persist in his !notion. Lord KING explained—He said the words were not his own, and he merely used them, in giving their Lordships a piece of advice. Lord WHARNCLIFFE did not think that this count r y was so near the brink of such a precipice as the Noble Lord would warn them of. If when the Reform Bill came up to that House, it should be thrown out, it would not be that their I. , rdships wished to keep their ntluenee in the House of Commons, but that the Peers saw danger in the new Constitution. The Marquis of SALISBURY—The Noble Lord (King) having stated that he did not mean any thing disrespectful to this Clouse, he woulsl withdraw hi s mo ti on . The motion was withdrawn. The Archbishop of CANTERBURY presented a peti tion against the Beer Bill. The Duke of RICHMOND moved the second reading of the Game Bill ; read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Moaday. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY wished to ask the Noble Earl (Grey) when the Portuguese papers__ which had been promised for a considerable time, would be laid upon the table of the House ; also where there would be any objection to lay the opinions of the Judge Advocate, respecting the seizure of the Portu guese ships by the French, before the House. He would also take this opportunity of asking the Noble Earl where the present English fleet was destined—whether to the Tagus to take what was left by the French ? Earl GREY said the Noble Marquis was perfectly aware that these papers could not be made out in such a very short time, but as soon as they were ready they would be laid on the table. As to the opinion of the Judge Advocate, he at present saw no reason for withholding it but would consider of it. As to the third point on which the Noble Marquis touched he did not consider him elf • bound to answer the surmises of the Noble Ma , quis. The Alarquis of LONDONDERRY then give notice of a motion on the subject for to-morrow. (LUT SITTING.) MANUFACTURING SKILL of RUSSIANS. —A Russian merchant visited in 1827 the warehouse of A silk-merchant at Leipsic, who had also a house of kind ness at Lyons. The Russian purchased a dozen pieces of French silk, and with these obtained many patterns of various kinds of fabrics wrought in this material. At the fair of the following year the astonishment and niertifica tion of the German merchant were sot a little excited, on finding his ex-purchaser converted into a competitor, and offering a complete assortment of silken stuffs manufactured at Novogorod, from the identical patterns which he had himself unwittingly furnished.—Dr. Lardner's Cabifiet Cyclopedia, Vol. XXII. GALT'S LIVES OF TIIE PLAYERS, OW published.)---" Undoubtedly there is not in the whole range of biography any class characters at all to hr e, tn pared to that of the actors. They command our best sym pathies, because they have afforded us entertainment by the exercise of their talents, eliciting the exquisite tear, or the loud laugh, as the scene varied from grave to gay, and leaving upon our minds impressions not easily to be re moved. The style of these volumes is precisely what it ought to have been, fluent, lively, and devoid of all einem loeution."—Monthly Review. CONDITION OF FRENCII ARTIsAN3.—Si- DIOND has described the poverty of the silk-weavers, resi dent in and near the city of Lyons, as being m ore abject than any thing within the experience of our own artisans. Th?re, as with us, the rninulteture is in s c rest degree do oestic, most of the weavers exeeoti,,g- thew labour in their own dwellings. The abodes of the French weave,. are, however, wretched in the extreme, one room, twer_ r y feet -quare, not unfrequent l y 'er ring every purpore, twth iDr. Lardaer's Cabinet yds? cedia Vol. XXIL. as a dwelling and NVOt k.hop for three 'min' fattiaitf, !ow" Auld,