The Sun. — London, England, 1834-05-07 00:00:00

tranquillity to Irelane. (C:icers.) One word with refer ence t° l td bill itself. How could the house expect such a bill to allay disturbances in Ireland, when, instead of re moving the cause of those disturbances, it held out the pro spect o f a constant continuance of the same burdens? press(lle_,ar hear. ) The burdens were shifte but they still "' on the shoulders of the people. You now propose to take th e f i fth of th i s property from the church, and give it to the landlords by way of purchasing their consent to the measure. (Hear, hear.) He saw no very great difficulty 11 _ entirely a b o li s hi ng thi s com pulsory payment. First, they themselves had admitted the principle of taking one -fifth from the church. Then to provide for an ther fifth. Would this country, he should like to know, ',se to come forward with an advance of a second fifth we wie hundred and twenty thousand pounds a year dead larht, diminishing annually? (Hear, Would Eng- Di n ; 'would that house, consider this too great a sum to r e to pacify Ireland? ( Hear, hear.) You gave 2,000,0001. ° the Chartered sch .) oo'i_s Was the pacification of Irelan of less You gave 1,300,000/. to the King's o krn lY in Ireland exclusive of police. Would that be ne ; -ess arY if the war tithes were extinguished i ' h,, an ti? Who would object to it? No one . ; not even t .„7 l °n• member for Middlesex himself; and if any over argous economist were to call the grant into question, '''at a triumphant answer would that minister have, who could rise and sa " True ; I have given 120,0001., but ~,ziave pacified Ireland." (Cheers.) He forgot to add the ant of 20,000,000/. for the negroes. Of course, he had , -°t the vanity to compare Irishmen with negroes ; but the nation which refused not 20,000,0001. to strike off the lo' a 'ns of West Indian slavery, could not refuse 120,0001. trestore peace to Ireland. The third fifth he would sr . ge on the inheritance of the land, as a debt, paying ' „Per eent. interest where the landlord would not 'buy L t ..IP . There would be no difficulty in this, and even —. melts in tail would not stand in the way of such an t ar h ra ng„, ernent. The remaining two fifths he would lay on Lan d, with a ower of redemption at twenty years' ' a rehase. This was hi s plan (Hear, hear) ; and if the e r r l e f t !Y iii gave up one fifth, there certainly would be enough ron ,„, the remaining four fifths, for every possible and could be h' hecclesiastical revenues of Ire from the wle;timate the ly adopted, whilst it would take r People all sense of the burden. On the con t a rY, the effect of the present bill would be merely Put the landlord into the Agrarian war, in which the clergyman tendedw engaged. (Hear, hear. ) Every r oan who had to the ominous aspect of affairs in Ireland, must have observed how nearly the Agra :lan disturbers in that country had approached the refusal a Pay r en t as we ll as tithe. (Hear. ) As far as the land lords were concerned, the bill would be ruin to them, for it „would come into operation just as the Agrarian war had, theits_ own accord, come to their door ; and would t utp it ly ," o "last, and perhaps only motive t requ te ired th t e o carry 4 . e,1 . quarters. Once more he en rea a house to look ' 4 . 1 his proposition. He did not propose to attack vested ti ghts ; on the contrary, he would preserve to every in eurnbent his full advantages and emoluments. (Hear, e ar- ) But, after the decease of all existing incumbents, he thought some alterations might with fairness and justice be made. For instance, in parishes where there was no Protestant, he thought no Protestant clergyman ought to lie paid. (Hear.) In that case his hon. friend (the mem ber for Roscommon) would wholly escape. Nor was the !se of hi s par i s h a s i ngular one. Wherever as many as e - fourth of the inhabitants were Protestants,_ there he e lcuild not object to continue the emoluments to Protestant th er gYinen as fully as they enjoyed them now. This he po(uight most moderate. (Hear.) Why, if it were pro 41_ in England, that in every district, one-fourth of th e le u were dissenters, the whole inhabitants should pay for would of the church, of that minority of a fourth there th _ 'o instantly be a mutiny ; but he would engage that C ape People of Ireland, from the Giant's Causeway to ( 5: Clear, would with one accord ratify his proposition. I 1-' ead r ouurse, as these items fell in, they would relieve the ntew eight. But it might not be unwise to seek some titabpocation ; and if part of it were bestowed for cha th:Pw-13, 'tiese, he did not think it would be a perversion sap - n°. And when upon works of charity, he would e tNa l i stmind he asked not for it—but if they were wo u i d Y desirous with himself to conciliate Ireland, he Brat„ s uggest wh e th er any thi ng wou ld tend more to feel the that great object, than some trifling provision, as by gi o erehase of sma ll g l e b es f or t h e ministers of that reli (qe 0 which they were devotedly and fervently attached. tniseral crie s o f " Hear, hear, hear.") Let him not be Ne r ke n. This was not ' made by authority—it was a los s - of s uggestion of his own—it might even cost him a ready to ; but there was no popularity he was not aatii'„" ° , sacrifice for the pacification and advantage of his 1e / I , n. - 'and. (Hear, hear.) He had spoken at greater Fee, : l4 t han he intended,. and he . hoped . th . at he had suc- Irtit. f .' as he was anxious to do, in avoiding all topics of Part n. (Hear.) If he were irritated in the earlier (e h °f . the evening, he expressed his sorrow for it. atiti h ee e 9 He never in his life retained an angry feeling; Aould.press to his heart his greatest enemy, if he h e but join him in any scheme for the pacification of he h .d. He ent rea t e d them to t hi n k o f th e plan which whi e lt hastily sketched out to them. If it were one of lect ed. " reflection they did n ot approve, then be it re raile 0 But if it appeared to be a plan which reason eotrun eo ll i t hem to adopt, and which pure Christian charity der at i on ( ed, then he implored them to put out of corm- Propos e d an Y feeling they might entertain towards him who ticators it, and to assume to themselves the office of paci but of Ireland, with the full assurance of his humble, i, in:st cordial support. (The hon. and learned gentle t7se a ), t down am id s t l ou d c h eers from all parts of the "„ air. SHAW objected that the bill took away from the r a Zeo one-fifth o f a property already valued at too low a 1 1 , - „ ° • As to the principle of the proposition made by the h - q. and lear n ed member for Dublin, it was the same as , t at of the bill. He (Mr. Shaw) attributed the evils faieli had recently taken place with respect to tithes in eland principally to this circumstance, that when the '4 l its of the tithe owners had been vindicated by the law, I, es !l When that tithes were in most instances on the point of i b ly` paid, the noble lord opposite, no doubt with the best ti t r i :mns possible, had stated in that house that no more of 0 : were to be collected in Ireland. The consequence me,,Z t • declaration was inevitable. The hon. and learned tore had f . 0 . 1: Dublin, arguing upon the fact that the legisla ehureh e :' f en to Scotland it wished—an established the Peopleuor able to the opinion of the great majority of die ney of that country—urged upon them the expe t4bb.,le to t il y ing to Ireland an established church conform opinion of the great majority of the people of hzieountry—of gthe Catholic religion the esta kea:d c hurch of Ir ' elan n d. (No, no.) Why that was the le arn n'g, and that would be the result of the hon. and orp, 4 member's propositions. Let the tithes be made estahli si t l he Catholi c church, and then that would be the ed religion. n Oetula.,, See r ery STANLEY, in common with other hon. uori. el — e ; beta Perhaps from circumstances, more than any t w h it e ie ll th rnner, was struck with the tone and manner in ob s r, on. and learned member for Dublin had made For tha e , -ations which he had submitted to the house. au • L ton e and for that manner he (Mr. Stanley), as °ll. the h ua l member of that house, and as one who, wh . Inter e , t 4, 01 1. and learned member might suppose, toos no ear ned m t he welfare of Ireland, returned the hon. and his sinc er :bTher his best thanks. (Hear; hear.) It was w ould on Zmviction, that if the hon. and learned member sa me ' a " oe • rnih ines _ occasionsfollow up his arguments with the th s, Wi th r , s, with the same temper, with the same calm e he same abstinence from irritation,not only would "tard,, y \ and learned member never hear from him (Mr. }if Politie'_,a sin he sllable which could bear the character e nicr , al bitterness, but the hon. and learned member, cois,,St conscientiously believed, would, by such conduct, t e , es 'at and to an incalculabl e degree cond to i n-I,,,!'ts of his own country. Hear, hear. )Not h eten, crer, the able and eloquengtheech which the hon. and (` fi ned gentleman had that night ‘.lr. Stanley) to accede to his made, would induce him Ned, that the temper and the proposition.cad th But he re l'u• and learned member had treatedrtiAl. ,s s ub w j h ec ie t h , d th e- e I t talided that the hon. and learned member argumentst I,tertild be dealt with in an equally conceded dtur e spirit. The hon. and learned member had said that 1 4 4 g the last seventy-four years the ti . the system in Ire lie ( I nd been productive of every description of calamity. 4..11 th \ "r• Stanley) would not attempt at that time to trace he ) ;,; : ,.. e evils at the period in question to those sources ; but fror o — „ out too deeply sensible that many of them had arisen was ' n n: tithe system - . That was no new opinion of his ; it and le,rnwhich he had frequently expressed. The hon. eetnp os . t ed roember contended, however, that the tithe th 1 1 04 at the effected by the last act was one-sided ; and Would ar aount was so unreasonably high, that the people ,\l'9t attend at the proper periods prescribed by the o rated th ° w, as a proof how highly he (Mr. Stanley) esti ti'en th e tone which the hon. and learned member had 1: 4 of theit he would not say one word in reprobtape ° Ale means which had been used to induce h t a t o t ), th at . et as they had done. Nay, further, he would . t ' ' ' l „ a u an }' reasonable prospect were held out of coming h e -faule settlement of this great and important gues s j' for ever cease to look on the past. ( Hear. ) I, l4 ' t e fs a/7„iifwilli.ngly close with any proposition of that na ts „,ge pa rt; ' 4 l inducement could be successfully held . out o s ' es who had not obeed the law to obey it, he ir p kt port, t a tl T , let there be a locus penitentia'—let a further 11„ ° ,. th e t Y be allowed them, and let no inquiry be made ca use noi r ' ' 4 th e of their former disobedience. (Hear.) o b i (nit P r oposition of the hon. and learned member the th e s ueh prospect ? Would it tend to the great hae lio °ll . and l l a eification of Ireland ? What was it which . - -tencq tr , ear n„ ed gentleman proposed ? He (Mr.. S.) to theeno. and that proposition with the deepest anxiety. au ar :nv an 'earned gentleman's first proposition went W 4 1 , 41 p ou ;tial land-tax over Ireland—to throw over it tf t iv l 'ePar e ,frg c--and the hon. and learned gentleman trie t , e arra o , take the present composition as the basis 4,04-ment, subject to alterations in certain dm- Atli; 40 0. a , n g to circumstances which he had specified. o per from 411" learned gentleman proposed to deduct me an(' . tiori o f e t , i ncome of the clergy, which would be the t h e ear oed "e b i ll of his right hon. friend. The hon. p be adg, entlemau then proposed that another fifth 1141 d travanced by this country, in order to secure the 1 1 th e equality of Ireland, in which peace and tran °ll' anti learned gentleman stated that this Country had a deep interest. Of that fact no man in the house was more sensible than he (Mr. Stanley) was. But this propositon was GZIc t , ) which he (Ali% Stanley) could not listen, neither ch. !air ilord nor the tenant in Ireland having a claim to sit. .sacrifice, unless, of which he was by no means at pre,nt persuaded, he could be quite sure that the peace and tranquillity of Ireland would be ulti mately secured by it. The bill of his right hon. friend dealt with the remaining four-fifths of the tithes, by char ging them prospectively on the landlord, and affording him the means of either redeeming that charge by a fixed payment, or by making it an annual rent. The proposition of the hon. and learned member was, that after deducting one-fifth from the clergy, and after the advance of another fifth by this country, the remaining three-fifths should be laid, one-fifth on the landlord, aud the other two-fifths on the tenant. Mr. O'CONNELL—That one-fifth should be immedi ately raised on thelandlord, and the other two-fifths remain on the tenant. Mr. STANLEY—Yes, and that was the proposition against which he (Air. Stanley) must contend. The house had been told over and over aga►n, that it was not the amount of the tithes that was objectionable, but'that it was the principle of paying them at all. Mr. SHEIL—That is the whole case. Mr. STANLEY—If that was the whole case, why was the house to be amused with the prospect of pacification, which depended merely upon a diminished amount of pay ment? If that was the whole case, it was hardly necessary that he should say a single word more on the sub ject. It was quite clear, that by multiplying the number of paymasters, the difficulty of collecting the tithes would not be lessened ; but, on the contrary, would be greatly au,,,crmented. He grieved to say, therefore, that the hon. and learned member's proposition for securing the tran quillity of Ireland by a great sacrifice on the part of the people of England, appeared to be a perfect fallacy. No man could say that the amount of tithes was at present unreasonable. The real point then was, would they main tain the established church in Ireland, or would they abandon it? (Hear, hear, hear.) Much as the subject tempted him, he would not enter into it. Nor would he touch upon the question of appropriation, which was one for the future consideration of parliament. But, per suaded as he was, that the bill of his right hon. friend provided a system of collection much more easy than that at present existing, and afforded the parties the means of reducing the charge upon them on fair, and equitable, and indulgent terms, he must certainly prefer it, modified, as in some respects it might be in committee, to the proposi tion of the hon. and learned member for Dublin. He thanked the house for the patience with which they had listened to 'him, and he assured the hon. and learned member for Dublin, that although he could not assent t o his proposition without being aware that the ultimate views with which that proposition was made would be realized, he had spoken without one feeling towards the hon. and learned gentleman except that of sincere gratification at the tone and manner in which the hon. and learned member had that night addressed the house, and of earnest desire, both for the hon. and learned member's own sake, and the sake of Ireland and of the empire, that that tone and man ner might be continued. If so, he would assure the hon. and learned member that the feeling would be reciprocated on his (Mr. Stanley's) side of the house ; that it would render the hon. and learned -member's future parliamentary career in the highest degree valuable, and that it would add to that distinction which the hon. and learned gentleman had already gained by those talents and that eloquence of which no one was a greater admirer than he (Mr. Stanley) was. (Hear, hear. ) Mr. O'CONNELL explained. Mr. CUTLAR FEAGUSSON should support the bill, which he considered calculated to afford a great relief to the people of Ireland. There had been a good deal said about the appropriation of tithes, but he looked upon that as a matter of subsequent consideration. (Hear, hear. ) The first object was to secure the payment of this und, and this object could not be better effected than by the plan contained in the proposed measure. (Hear, hear.) There was one important point he would remark upon, which was that part of the bill which regulated that the proceeds arising from the redemption of the land-tax should be in vested in the purchase of land to be given to the clergy. (Hear, hear.) He had very strong doubts about the policy of this regulation. Lord JOHN RUSSELL expressed his gratification at the conciliatory tone adopted by the hon. and learned member for Dublin. If mutual advances such as those he had been delighted at witnessing that evening were adopted for the future, there would never again be heard any complaints by Ireland that her interests were not at tended to with the same care as those of England and Scotland. There would be no more of those unhappy collisions between hon. members, very often on details of 1 the most insignificant description, which had hitherto been so mischievous and productive of mutual recrimina tion and hostility. (Cheers.) The two great points in the question of tithes were their amount and their appro priation. With regard to their amount, it did not appear to him that Ireland had any great cause of complaint. With the exception of a few cases of peculiar exaction, it appeared from the report of the tithe commissioners that Ireland had not much to complain of, as to amount (Hear), and whatever particular cases of hardship there might be would be put an end to by the present bill, which was adapted to establish one uniform mode of collection; and to facilitate redemption. (Hear, hear, hear.) The ap propriation of the fund was quite distinct—the object of the present bill was to secure the payment of the fund—its appropriation was kept open for future discussion. (Hear. If it were found that the present mode of appropriation di not answer the intended purpose, then it would be for the house to consider the propriety of instituting another mode of appropriation. (Hear.) On a former occasion—when in office he would premise—he had declared that the amount of the revenue of that church in Ireland was too large for the instruction, &c., of the pe rsons w h o b e li eve d in its doctrines, and for the stability of that church establishment; and the more he reflected on the subject, the more his opinion was confirmed. (Hear.) He did not think it would be wise or politic to mix up the question of appropriation with the present question, which was simply one of the amount of tithes. (Hear, hear.) But when Parliament had vindicated the right of this revenue, then he should be prepared and ready to give his opinion as to its appropriation ; and even if that opinion should force him to the ungrateful necessity of withdrawing his support from those men with whose political opinions he had had most connection, and for whom he had the kindest private feeling,. yet should he consider himself pledged, not only as a conscientious representative of the people, but as one who had assented to the resolution passed the other day, in which the house pledged itself to give their best attention to the just complaints of Ireland—in both these capacities should he feel himself bound to give his conscientious vote, whatever pain or sacrifice it might cost him. (Cheers.) What that vote was would be seen from the declaration of his conviction, that if ever a just complaint had been made by a people, that complaint was a just one which the people of Ireland made against the present appropriation of tithes. (Immense cheering from the Irish members.) He should deeply lament, as a matter of private feeling, any such decision which he might be called upon to make ; but at the same time, considering that having resisted to the utmost of his power all projects for a repeal of the legisla tive union—having to the utmost of his ability supported this and former bills for the maintenance of tithe, or, in other words, for the defence of the rights of property against those who endeavoured to resist them—he should feel it his bounden duty to give his strongest support to any measure which he considered the most calculated to do justice to Ireland. (Renewed and long-continued cheers. Sir F. BURDETT had never seen a prospect of pour ing oil into the wounds which had so long been rankling in Irish breasts ; and of making the Union not merely a legal Union, but a union of hearts and fellow-feeling. (Hear, hear.) This object once attained, one of the dearest wishes of his heart would be gratified. He was most delighted to see the mutual advances which had been made : the measures which were now brought forward would have-the glorious effect of putting an end to the un happy discontents which had agitated Ireland and vexed England from time immemorial. If the proceedings in committee were carried on in the same conciliatory spirit, he augured the best succesl to this momentous question. It would be an honourable distinction for this age, that the noble, fine-hearted Irish nation had become our friends. cniwopulaildnhtsas w ' He cons id ere d t h e id ea o f prov idi ng f or th e C at h o li c C t lergy a very l um i nous one : h a d it b een ac t e d upon b e f ore , i have had h a a n d a b p e p e y n e m ffe ad ct e i . n preventing much of the o Major IIEAUCLERK said that the sentiments delivered by the P aymaster of the'Forces had done him more honour than any h e h ad uttered since the discussion on the Reform I t t h e wag happi ness of Ireland that at Bill. (Hear, h e r e i s n e d in present p appropriation t heef tithes there should be altered. Mr. BARRON could ass u re one who wished to se e the tit h es to be house that he was not go into the pockets of the landlords. besaved by this measure Ireland only could get this question Well, th a e nd people of receive justice at the hands of the British Parliament, they would not seek the sTration of the two countries. Mr. D. ROC,HE hoped that as the house had granted the sum of 20,000,0001. to the West Indies, they would not refuse the trifling sum of 120,0001. to Ireland. Mr. LITTLETON would not detain the house two mi nutes. The plan of the hon. gentleman could, if adopted, have the effect of perpetuating tithes ; 1 Site the object of his (Mr. Littleton's) plan was to aboli: 1 them entirely. This, therefore, was one objection to the plan of the hon. gentleman. Another objection was, that it could only be accomplished by a grant of public money; and he (Mr. Littleton) thought it rather strang e that, under the cir cumstances, the revenue could be exp ected to submit to greater sacrifices. Another great objection which he en tertained to the plan of the hon. gentleman was, that it would of necessity force on the house the question of ap propriation. Mr. SHEIL rose amidst loud cries of " Oh, oh !" and groans. He wished to put one question to the right hon. gentleman the Secretary for Ireland. (Cries of " Oh, oh !") The right hon. gentleman had said that the time had not yet arrived for the discussion of the question of the appro priation of tithes ; and therefore he did not agree with the noble Paymaster of the Forces. Now, let hon. members gay " - Oh !" to that. (Loud laughter.) Now came hi' question. (Loud cries of " Question, question!") He was speaking to the question. It was a question which touched the Cabinet to its core. He wished the house to recollect that a cabinet minister bad just come forward, and in the most solemn and deliberate manner had declared one thing, while the right hon. gentleman came forward and declared another. He (Mr. Sheil) had therefore a right to put the question—whether, as there was such an extreme contrast between the opinions of the noble lord and the right hon. gentleman, what were the opinions of the rest of the cabi net on this subject? The house wished to put him down on this occasion. He only asked for a fair field, and no favour. (Laughter, and cries of "Oh !") He would not be put down. The house would not hear him, but the country would. (Oh, oh !) One word more, and he had done. The bill contained a clause, securing the appropria tion of the tithe money to the clergy. Would the noble lord agree to vote against that clause in committee ? Lord ALTHORP said, that the hon. and learned gen tleman had said a great deal about the question ; but he had not spoken to the question, but to the cabinet. (Laughter. ) He (Lord Althorp) did not intend to sit down without answering the question of the hon. and learned gentleman ; but thought it proper, before doing so, to make one remark. The bill now before the house was to secure the collection of the revenues of the clergy, which all must admit were not at that moment in a very secure state. It also provided, that when those revenues were secured, means be taken for the redemption, the entire cessation of any annual payment of this nature. It was necessary that this should be done first, as a measure of justice to the clergy ; and secondly, as a measure of justice to Ireland. The hon. and learned member for Dublin, in a speech which had been commended in very warm terms for its calmness and good sense, and in which eulogiums he (Lord Althorp) fully concurred, said, and in that he agreed with him, that if in his plan the peace and security of Ire land were insured, it ought to be adopted, though it might cost the country a trifling sacrifice of revenue. But before he (Lord Althorp) assented to the plan of the hon. and learned gentleman, he must be satisfied that it would give peace and security to Ireland. If once assured of that, he would at once adopt it (Hear) ; but as yet he had no such assurance. On the contrary, he thought that the propo sition of the hon. and learned gentleman would give no greater satisfaction than the plan, of his right hon. friend (the Secretary for Ireland) ; and, therefore, he did not think the house ought to support those proposi tions. Another proposition had been made by another hon. gentleman, that the system of tithes ought to be uni form in England and Ireland ; but that was a proposition which he was sure the house would not adopt. The two countries were not only unlike, but there was such a dif ference in the amount of tithes collected in one part of Ireland and that collected in another, that the proposition ought not to be adopted by the house. The house had adopted one principle of composition, and he (Lord Al thorp) thought that in the meantime they had better not disturb it. For these reasons he could not agree with either of the propositions which had been submitted to the house, and he trusted it would adopt the plan of his right hon. friend. He would now come to the question of the hon. and learned member for Tipperary. The hon. and learned gentleman seemed to be surprised to discover that there was a difference of opinion in the Cabinet on the question of the appropriation of tithes. Why, he must have been previously aware that such a difference of senti ment existed; for he (Lord Althorp) had on former occa sions heard him read extracts from the speeches of his col leagues, to prove that such difference of opinion did exist. There was certainly a difference of opinion among Minis ters on that question, but all of them certainly agreed in one point—namely, that when the revenues were secured, that would be the fit time for the house to consider how they should be appropriated. (Hear.) Mr. WARD recommended the hon. and learned gentle man to withdraw his amendment. Mr. A. LEFROY said that there were many of the de tails of the bill in which he did not concur ; but he sup ported it, in the hope that it would effect the peace, good will, and happiness of Ireland. Colonel CONOLLY addressed the house under consi derable excitement. He said that when he announced his determination to support this bill, his impression was that the funds with which it would deal were to be applied to the purposes for which they were originally intended. His Majesty's government had since gone from that ground. (Cries of " Hear, hear.") They had abandoned the distinct proposition on the face of the bill, and he now claimed to be released from the engagement that he had made at a time when he was grossly deceived. ( Shouts of " Hear," and cheers.) When the bill was first introduced, he stated it to be his conviction that there was not an honest man in Ireland who would not give it his support, and he himself was determined to assist in carrying it through. But when he saw that there existed a determination on the part of his Majesty's government to avail itself of his credulity as the means of advancing such a principle as the house had heard avowed, could he stand there as the represent ative of a large county in Ireland, and see, without resist ance, so outrageous an attempt at felo de se ? (Great laughter, and hear.) He repeated that this would be an act of felo de se; and in justification of his remark, he would refer to the difficulty his credulity had led him into. He had fancied that ministers meant to do what they said they would do (Hear, hear, hear)---that they would con sider themselves pledged to what they had originated. He for one had been shocked to a degree not to be described when he heard announced the intention of go vernment. He had considered that he had to deal with gentlemen and men of honour. (Loud cries of " Oh, oh," and " Order.") It might be supposed that he was led away by his feelings on the present occasion ; he denied that it was so. He, however, did feel strongly on hearing that the church revenues were to be applied to other pur poses than that of the support of the church. His Majesty's government having taken up this new ground, he would only say that he never would support them in it. Mr. Secretary LITTLETON said, that in the defence of his own character, and in the defence also of the church and his Majesty's Government, he must ask the hon. and gallant officer if he was in the house when he (Mr. Little ton) submitted that resolution to the house, on which the bill was founded? And if the hon. and gallant gentle man was in the house, he would ask him further, if he did not remember, as nineteen-twentieths of the house no doubt did, that he (Mr. Littleton) then stated that the question of appropriation was a separate and distinct ques tion ? (Much cheering .) And if the hon. and gallant gentlemen did remembr this, on what principle could he reconcile to himself the language that he had used (Cheering,) when he stepped forward and told them that he thought, up to this moment, he had been acting with gentlemen ? (Cheers repeated.) The hon. and gallant gentleman having so expressed himself, he (Mr. Littleton) would declare that, whether the hon. and gentleman sup ported the bill, or whether he withdrew his support from it, was to him (Mr. Littleton) a matter of the most per fect indifference. (Reiterated cheers. ) Mr. WALLACE opposed the bill. Lord EBRINGTON considered the question of appro priation to have been left an open question ; if he had not so understood it, the bill would never have obtained his support. Mr. LEFROY, as a sincere friend of the church of Ire land, felt bound to support the bill, because it in fact did appropriate the revenues to that church. After a few words from Mr. O'CONNELL in explana tion, the house divided, when the numbers were For the original motion 248 For the amendment 52 Majority in favour of the second reading —196 Mr. O'CONNELL was giving notice, on our re-admis sion to the gallery,"that on Thursday next he would take the sense of the house on two points. The first related to the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the whole subject ; and the second was to give an instruction to the committee to provide for the spiritual wants of the Protestants of Ireland, and after that to apply the surplus to such purpose as Parliament might think fit. Mr. O'DWYER obtained leave to bring in a bill to re strict persons from proceeding in the superior courts of Ire land, for sums of a less amount than 101., except in special cases. Mr. PARROT obtained leave to bring in a bill for the purpose of exempting lime intended for manure from toll at turnpikes in England, unless especially charged with toll by some local act. Mr. SLANEY obtained leave to bring in a bill for the purpose of facilitating the exchange of small portions of entailed property, without having recourse to an act of parliament in each case. Mr. N. FITZSIMON moved for copies of any corre spondence which may have taken place between the lieu tenant and magistrates of the King's County and the Irish government, relative to the necessity of appointing sti pendiary magistrates to act in that county. Mr. LITTLETON defended the appointment of sti pendiary magistrates in the barony of Balinevoy, on the plea of necessity. The district was in the heart of a country which was admittedly in a disturbed state, and though the district of Balinevoy was not so disturbed as the rest, still it could not be exempted on account of its pecu liar position. After this explanation he did not think it necessary to accede to the motion of the hon. member. Mr. FITZSIMON withdrew his motion. Mr. LITTLETON obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the Irish Valuation of Counties Act, and to pro vide for the more effectual levying of the grand jury cess. Mr. SINCLAIR moved for the appointment of a select committee .to consider how far the salaries of the judges of the Supreme Court in Scotland are commensurate with the importance of their station, and the nature and extent of their duties. Mr. GILLON moved, as an amendment, a reduction of the salaries, to meet the alteration which had taken place in the value of money, as compared with that of the pro ducts of industry and the necessaries of life. Mr. MAXWELL seconded, and Mr. C. Fxacussow sup; ported the motion. The house then divided, when there appeared-- For the original motion Majorit ......... .37 Against it . . ... .................................... 12 y...................... —25 The committee was then app o i nted, the other orders of the day read, and the house adjourned at half-past two. A deputation from St. James's parish had an interview on Monday with Viscount Althorp, at his residence in Downing-street. FROM LAST NIGHT'S GAZETTE. WHITEHALL, MAY 3, 1834. 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, conferring the honour of Knighthood upon Rear-Admiral John Ferris awonshhe, of Alwington-house, in the county of Devon, K.C.11. FOREIGN-OFFICE, MAT 6. The King has been graciously pleased to appoint Tho mas Wathen Waller, Esq. (late attached to his Majesty's Embassy at the Sublime Porte), to be Secretary to his Majesty's Legation in Greece. OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, MAY 5. - Corps of Royal Engineers—First Lieut. H. Sandham to be Second Captain, vice Catty, resigned; Second Lieut. C. E. Ford to be First Lieutenant, vice Sandham, May 1, 1834; Second Lieut. J. F. A. Symonds, with tern porary rank, to be Second Lieutenant, with permanent rank, Aug. 1, 1833. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Huntingdon. W. H. Fellowes, jun., Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant. Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Oxford. E. Simeon, Esq., to be Deputy Lieutenant. Oxfordshire Militia—J. E. Churchill, Gent., to be Ensign. CIRCUITS OF THE COMMISSIONERS FOR RELIEF OF INSOLVENT DEBTORS. SUMMER CIRCUITS, 1834. MIDLAND CIRCUIT. J. G. HARRIS, Esq., Commissioner. Hertfordshire—Hertford, July 15. Essex—Chelmsford, Thursday, July 17. Essex—Colchester, Friday, July 18. Suffolk—lpswich, Saturday, July 19. Norfolk—Yarmouth, Tuesday, July 22. Norfolk—Norwich and City, Thursday, July 24. Norfolk—Lynn, Saturday, July 26. Suffolk —Bury St. Edmunds, Alonday, July 28. Cambridgeshire—Cambridge, Tuesday, July 29. Cambridgeshire—Ely, Wednesday, July 30. Northamptonshire—Peterborough, Thursday, July 31. Huntingdonshire—Huntingdon, Friday, Aug. 1. Bedfordshire--Bedford, Saturday, Aug. 2. Buckinghamshire—Aylesbury, Monday, August 4. Northamptonshire—Northampton, Wednesday, Aug. 6. Leice s t ers hi re —L e i ces t er' Thursday, Aug. 7. At the City of Coventry, Saturday, Aug. 9. Warwickshire—Warwick, Monday, Aug. 11. Warwickshire—Birmingham, Wednesday, Aug. 13. At the City of Lichfield—Thursday, Aug. 14. Staffordshire—Stafford, Friday, Aug. 15 . Shropshire—Shrewsbury, Monday, Aug. 18. NORTIIERN CIRCUIT. T. B. BowEN, Esq., Commissioner. Rutland s hi re —O a kham, Tuesay, June 17. Lincolnshire—Lincoln and City, 'Wednesda June 18. Nottinghamshirez—Nottingham and Town, Friday, June 20. Derbyshire —Derby, Monday, June '23. Cheshire—Chester and City, Wednesday, June 25. Lancashire—Liverpool, Friday, June 27. Lancashire —Preston, Monday, June 30. Lancashire—Lancaster, Tuesday, July 1. Westmorland —Kendal, Tuesday, July 8. Westmorland—Appleby, same day. Cumberland—Carlisle, Thursday, July 10. Northumberland—Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Town, Sa turday, July 12. Durham—Durham, Tuesday, July 15. Yorkshire—Richmond, Friday, July 18. Yorkshire—York and City, Monday, July 21. At the Town of Kingston-upon-Hull, Friday, July 25. Yorkshire--Wakefield, Monday, July 28. Yorkshire—Sheffield, Friday, August I. SOUTHERN CIRCUIT. W. J. LAW, Esq., Commissioner. At the Town and County of Southampton, June 11. Hampshire—Winchester, Thursday, June 12. Wiltshire—Salisbury, Friday, June 13. Dorsetshire—Dorchester, Monday, June 16. Devonshire—Plymouth, Thursday, June 19. Cornwall—Bodmin, Saturday, June 21. Devonshire—Exeter and City, Monday, June 23. Somersetshire—Wells, Thursday, June 26. Somcrsetshire—Bath, Saturday, June 28. At the City of Bristol, Monday, June 30. Monmouthshire—Monmouth, 'Thursday, July 3. Herefordshire—Hereford, Friday, July 4. Worcestershire—Worcester and City, Monday, July 7. Gloucestershire—Gloucester and City, Tuesday, July 8 Oxfordshire—Oxford, Friday, July 11. Berkshire—Reading, Saturday, July 12. Sussex—Horsham, Monday, July 14, Kent—Dover, Friday, July 18. At the City of Canterbury, Saturday, July 19. Kent—Maidstone, Monday, July 21. BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED. THOMAS SIIA W, cotton-spinner, Cl:arlesworth, Derbyshire. BANKRUPTS. _ STEPHEN GODSON, wine-merchant, Devonshire street, Bishopsgate, to surrender May 12, at twelve, and June 17, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Aston, New Broad-street. ROBERT HARTLEY and RICHARD SMITH FARR, chymists, St. John-street, West Smithfield, May 14, at twelve, an June 17, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Aston, New Broad-street. JOHN BACON, plasterer, Greenwich, May 17, at eleven, and June 17, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Marson and Dadley Newington Butts. RICHARD DODGE, saddler, St. Austle, Cornwall, May 17, at eleven, and June 17, at twelve, at the Com mercial-rooms, Bristol. Hicks and Braikenridge, Bart lett's-buildings, Holborn, London ; Greville, Bristol. SAMUEL FORSTER, LUKE SMITH, and JAMES JEWITT, cotton-spinners, Manchester, May 16 and June 17, at ten at the Commissioners'-rooms, Manches ter. Clarke and Medcalf, Lincoln's Inn-fields, London ; Leaf, Manchester. SAMUEL RILEY, clothier, Farnley, Yorkshire, May 12, at ten, and June 17, at twelve, at the Court-house, Leeds. Richardson, Leeds ; Richardson and Co., Poultry, London. ROBERT MAKIN, sen., ROBERT MAKIN, jun., and WILLIAM MAKIN, corn merchants, Liverpool, May 19 and June 17, at one, at the Clarendon-rooms, Liverpool. Heyes and Pemberton, Prescot, Lancashire ; Adlington and Co., Bedford-row, London. SANIUEL ELLIOT WALTER, printer, Madeley, Shropshire, May 16 and June 17, at eleven, at the Tem porary Shire Hall, Shrewsbury. Clarke and Medcalf, Lincoln's Inn-fields, London; Collins and Co., Much Wenlock, Shropshire. FRANCIS IVESON, dealer, Beverley, Yorkshire, May 22 and June 17, at eleven, at the Beverley Arms Inn, Beverley. Lambert, John-street, Bedford-row, London ; Shepherd and Byers, Beverley. JOHN BRINDLEY, colour-manufacturer, Alton, Staffordshire, May 19 and June 17, at eleven, at the Royal Oak Inn, Cheadle. Barbor, Fetter-lane, London ; Blagg, Cheadle. DIVIDENDS. T. Hobson, bookseller, High Holborn, May 26, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy-T. Curtis, wholesale sta tioner, Budge-row, May 29, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy-J. F. Smallman, Blackwell-hall factor, Ba singhall-street, May 27, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy-J. Lane, cheesemonger, Strand, May 27, eleven,atb y.a ti o ar at o the s h o Court psgat of a t r ß e e a t n , l u a p y t Bankruptcy-J. the Court of Bankruptcy-A. B Adams, linen-draper, sli eleven,Robinson, at Mare street, Hackney, June 2, at twelve , at the Cou r t o f Bank ruptcy-J. T. Übsdell, Tunbridge-ware manufacturer, Tunbridge-wells, May 29, at twelve, at the Court of Bank ruptcy-H. Hughes, builder, Henry-street, Hampstead- ' road, May 28, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy-D. B. Hole, victualler, Acre-lane, Brixton, May 29, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy - J. W. A. Snuggs and J. Walley, merchants, Lime-street, May 28, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy-E. Stringer, publican, Strand, M a y 28, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy-T. Bishop, glover, Cheapside, May 29, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy-G. Milne, merchant, Broad-street, May 28, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy-R. Johnson, brass-founder, New-street-square, May 27, at half-past one, at the Court of Bankruptcy-W. Barnard, under writer, Lloyd's Coffee-house, May 27, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy-W. Morgan and Co. merchants, Liverpool-street, May 29, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy-H. Schnelle and W. Prehn, dealers, St. Dun stan's-hill, Tower -street, May 29, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy -W. Morgan, retail brewer, Cheltenham, June 4, at eleven, at Liddell's Hotel, Cheltenham- W. Collecott, grocer, Plymouth, May 31, at eleven, at the Royal Hotel, Plymouth-R. Hall, slate-merchant, Bir mingham, May 30, at twelve, at the King's Head Inn, Worcester-street, Birmingham-R. Horner, nurseryman, Thornton-le-Clay, Yorkshire, May 28, at eleven, at the New Talbot Inn, New Mahon, Yorkshire-W. Moss, c arpenter, Monk Sherborne, Southampton, June 28, at eleven, at the Crown Inn, Basingstoke-A. Hickson, grocer, Horneastle, Lincolnshire, May 27, at eleven, at the New King's Head Inn, Louth-W. and J. Maunder, wool len-manufacturers, Morchard Bishop, Devonshire, June 2, at twelve, at the George Inn, forth-street, Exeter- S. Mace, grocer, Norwich, May 30, at twelve, at the White Lion, Norwich-J. Wakeford and Co., bankers, Andover, Southampton, June 16, at ten, at the Star and Garter Inn, Andover-R. G. Roberts, timber-merchant, Liverpool, May 28, at twelve, at the Clarendon-rooms, Liverpool-J. Knibb, bookseller, Worcester, June 17, at one, at the Guildhall Coffee-house, Worcester-H. Thomas, bookseller, Bath, May 27, at one, at the Castle and Bull Inn, Bath-J. Barron, maltster, Tarleton, Lancashire, Juno 2, at one, at the Town-hall, Preston-A. Booth, shopkeeper, Bury, Lancashire, June 4, at eleven, at the Eagle and Child Inn, Bury-J. Brierley, woollen manufacturer, Redvales ' Lancashire, June 4, at twelve, at the, Eagle and Child Inn, Bury-W. Baxter, printer, xford, June 4, at eleven, at the Lamb and Flag Inn, St. Giles's, Oxford. CERTIFICATES.—MAY 27. G. Bayley, ship-broker, R , )therliithe—J. Jones, liquor merchant, Worcester-4. Wliito, auctioneer, Shrewsbury —T. Ely, commission-agent, Mark-lane. ._; PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. J. Catchpole and J. W. Issitt, hardware men, Wood bridge, Suffolk—A. and J. Scherman, dealers in fancy goods, London—T. and W. Batten, carpenters, Glouces ter-place, Walworth—M. S. Crawford and J. Smith, silk mercers, Regent-street, Oxford-street—R. T. Barker and W. Scott, lace-agents, Nottingham—R. Ashton and J. Walmsley, Liverpool—E. R. M'Gaa and W. Currie, wine -merchants, Liverpool—C. and W. Hughes, cheese mongers, Crawford-street, Marylebone—J. Crankshaw and Co., woollen-manufacturers, Flax-Moss, Haslingden, Lancashire—W. Moore and T. Cheetham, calico-printers, Manchester—T. Cocks and Co., grocers, Oldham—W. and W. R. Barlow, surgeons, Writtle, Essex—E. Dixon and M. Hall, haberdashers, Pontefract, Yorkshire—J. F. Lamplugh and J. B. G. Bellard, soap-boilers, Bridlington, Yorkshire—J. Bridgett and J. Rushton, stonemasons, Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATION. PETER PETERSON, writer and builder, Glasgow, May 9 and 23, at twelve, at the George Inn, Glasgow. AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT IN- STITUTION. A very praiseworthy association under the above name has lately been formed for allotting small portions of land to the deserving poor, for cultivation during their unemployed time, in the parishes where they reside. The appeal to the public is so forcible that we cannot do bet ter than to quote it here, earnestly recommending the objects of the institution to the considera tion of those who have the means and the dis- . position to promote them. ".The general distress which has overspread the king dom for a considerable time, and the consequent increase of wretchedness and crime, are apparent to every individual. Vast numbers of our fellow creatures, from the want of employment, are suffering the most severe privations, without the hope of amelioration ; and many are unhappily , led to violate the laws of their country, and become out casts, or miserable inmates of prisons; who, had they been trained to habits of industry, and furnished with the means of employing themselves in useful labour, would, in all pro bability, have become valuable members of society. " THE OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INSTITUTION ARE- " To afford a remedy to these evils, by giving to the destitute but industrious poor, useful and profitable employ ment; to enable them to support themselves and their fa milies with credit, and to bring up their children in habits of honesty and industry ; and thus, in a great degree, to re lieve parishes from the dreadful burden of the existing heavy poor-rates, and to diffuse the blessings of content ment and happiness, unknown among the poorer classes of this country for many years. " To obtain land by gift, grant, lease, or purchase ; to divide the same into smaller portions where advisable; and, by letting it to the poor, to bring it into a state of pro fitable cultivation, whereby all expenses, whether of outlay or otherwise, may be gradually repaid, and a small rent charged upon the occupier, leaving a comfortable subsist ence for himself and his family, until the outlay and cur rent expenses are satisfied : and to furnish implements, in struction, and other means to the occupiers, to attain these desirable objects. " It is not intended to prevent the labourers from work ing for the neighbouring farmers, or others, whenever they can obtain such employment. " By Order of their Lordships, and other Members of the General Committee, " HENRY F. RICHARDSON, Secretary. " REPORT. " The Committee beg to inform the subscribers and the public, that they have purchased a great part of the land in the parish of Cholcsbury, Buckinghamshire.—The ex treme wretchedness to which this parish was reduced, was the reason which induced the Committee to select it for the commencement of their labours; justly conceiving that if successful here (of which they entertain no doubt) they would be certain of success in every subsequent effort. " The destitute condition of this parish, it is hardly pos sible to describe. The whole of the land was lying waste and uncultivated, the occupiers having abandoned it, in consequence of the poor-rates absorbing the entire rental and profits of the land. The labourers were thereby wholly dependant on the poor-rates for support, which in 1832 amounted to 325. in the pound, at a rack rent. No funds could be raised at Cholesbury, and they were main tained by rates in aid from the adjoining parishes; from the precariousness of which they were often totally destitutt of all relief for weeks together, as intervals necessarily elapsed from the period at which one rate was exhausted until the next could be obtained. A more detailed account of the state of this parish will be found in the first report of the poor law commissioners. " The Committee can with confidence appeal to the pre sent state of Cholesbury, to exhibit the benefits already re sulting from the operations of the society ; and they trust that the public will benevolently assist them in their im portant undertaking, and enable them to extend their sphere of usefulness throughout the kingdom. " Subscriptions will be thankfully received by the trea surers, the various Bankers ; the agents ; and the secretary, at the office, 35, Abchurch-lane, Lombard-street ; where prospectuses, and every information relative to the institu tion may be obtained. Office hours, 11 till 4. EARTHQUAKE IN COLUMBIA, AND DE STRUCTION OF THE CITY OF PASTO. From Bogota Papers received last night, we gather the following details of this awful occurrence :—Pasto was a place of considerable extent, remarkable for its manufacture of a curious imitation of japanned goods in wood, and was at one time very flourishing. In consequence of the civil wars, it has, however, been a great sufferer before this last visitation. It is but a little way from the equator. " OFFICIAL DESPATCH FROM THE GOVERNOR OF PASTOR TO THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR. " At seven o'clock on the morning of the 20th instant, this city experienced a most horrible shock of earthquake, which continued without the interruption of a single hour up to three quarters past four o'clock on the next morning, every fresh shock being more violent. Several bodies were taken out of the ruins of houses, and up to this date they amount to fifty and upwards. Nearly as many have been bruised or injured, some more severely than others. Of the whole of the churches only one remains; this is not much injured, except in the tower of the chapel of Jesus del Rio and San Andreas. But the rest, the cathedral, the churches of St. Francis, St. Dominick, of Gratitude, of St. Augustin, with their respective convents; the churches of St. Sebastian and Santiago, the whole have been reduced to fragments. With the exception of three or four houses, which were only partially damaged, the rest suffered the fate of the churches and convents. The whole population, in a state of perfect consternation, are now suffering severely from the heat of the sun, the burn ing power of which is quite unprecedented, and also from the moist atmosphere at night, in the places where they collect to implore the mercy of God ; and before them is the hourly prospect of being swallowed up in the earth. The verdure of the plains was quite destroyed by this at mosphere, and the powerful heat of the sun. " The nuns of the Conception inhabited a placebelong ina to the congregation of St. Philip de Nori, but were obliged to leave it in consequence of there being no room for the bodies to be buried in the remains of the church and convent. The churches in the suburbs were also tum bled into fragments. The road to Quito and Cuitara was blocked up in one of its most dangerous places, and that of Popayan has also suffered in several places. The office of the treasury was protected with the edifice where it is placed, and the place where the archives are kept, was put into a condition in which it cannot any longer be used. Great risk threatens the house where it is. In fact, there is no place to perform the duties appertaining to the office, and the shocks still continue. In order to communicate in detail the whole of these unfortunate events, I have peti tioned the authorities for information respecting the parti cular facts. As soon as lam able, I shall send the results. " tAMAS ESPANA " Pasto, Jan. 22." Another despatch, from,.the same authority, of Feb. 5, says : " The authorities instituted an inquiry into the origin of this earthquake, and some intelligence has been obtained which throws considerable light on the cause. It appears that on the right side of a lake near the city stands a low hill which has poured out a considerable quantity of stones. It is true also that the deserted place called Bordoncillo, presented very large and very deep excavations, and even half the desert, with other portions of hill, were tumbled down, and covered a large extent of space, overwhelming roads, and forming marshy grounds, that they diverted the course of the river Balsayaco, the stream at which form - ing a large current, destroyed the land and crops of Santi ago, carrying its waters as far as Putumayo." (From El Cachaco de Bogota of March 2.) The earthquake which was felt in this capital on the morning of the 20th of January last, has occa sioned the almost total ruin of the city of Pasta. The details of this awful occurrence, and the consequences which led to it, as set forth in some private letters, are enough to make the heart bleed. The greater part of the churches, all the convents, and a vast num ber of private houses have been levelled to the ground, in too many instances the inhabitants of the latter being buried under their ruins. Up to the 22d of January there had been dug out fifty dead bodies, be side a great number so badly wounded that it is doubt ful whether they will survive. In the midst of the consternation occasioned by this event, humanity will be consoled by learning that the Government has taken the earliest and most effectual means for assisting the suffering survivors. It imme= diately ordered 2,0001. to be distributed amongst th e most necessitous, and has ordered a general subscrip tion throughout the Republic on their behalf. This grant would have been larger if the Government had not been pressed by other claims. We hope the Con gress at its next meeting will take the matter into its consideration. The province of Pasto, so long a sld ferer from the horrors of civil wa., and now from na tural causes, well deserves compassion and consi deration. We cannot conclude this article without making one. _ observation. There was a time when some malevolent fanatics used to say that earthquakes occurred in IC, , w Grenada because the convents were suppressed. But in the devoted city of Pasto it appears that the con vents had not been suppressed ; but still the place was not, therefore, the more respected. Who, then, shall: in future presume to attribute these phenomena to the anger of a God whom they would impiously represent as a vindictive being, to the shame of a religion of peace and charity ? These events take place because the invariable order which the Creator establiihed in nature directs them, without reference to the actions of men, and those who pretend to connect them with the proceedings of government are interested knaves, wanting in principle, and who wish only to impose upon their fellow-creatures. ( From the Gaceta of Feb. 23.) Having stated the - probabilities that the earthquake in Pasto had its origin in the volcanoes of the province of Inebabura, we looked forward with great anxiety for the arrival of the courier from the south to this capital' of the 17th ; but the advices received by it prove that no damage had been done in the districts of the Ecu ador. A letter from Popayan of the 4th contains the following : " We are relieved from all apprehensions as to the shocks having reached Ecuador. Letters from Quito of the 21st of January are silent upan the subject, and those from Paste assure us that the earthquake had its origin in a volcano, called Patascoy, situated in the interior of the Cordillera of Mucca, whence erup tions had already taken place. Some accounts state that the damage done has been so great in the dis trict of the Lagurio, that the whole surface of the dis trict has disappeared. This is, no doubt, an exag geration, but the ruin of Pasto is very considerable. Besides the deaths already reported, it is thought that there are some more under the ruins of. St. Sebastian, for after four days they dug out a man who was saved by some beams falling in a favourable manner upon him, and he affirms that he heard the groans of others from beneath the ruins. The Cordillera of Alma guer has also suffered greatly, the churches were shaken, and some houses were also so shaken as to be torn down. In Cruz sixty persons died from violence. It is said that the river of Mayo was completely stopped up by a hill, and that if the water had not been expeditiously let off the people of San Pablo would have perished. - - - SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. The comparative numbers of the majority and minority on Mr. Strutt's amendment of Monday evening, ought, considering the state of parties in the House of Comnions, to be regarded as a triumph on behalf of the liberal interest, whose sole object was the investigation, and so far as possible, the correction, of flagrant, though past, abuses. The ministers divided 311 votes, and the opposition 230. But if the Tories, amounting to above 100, with Sir R. Peel at their head, be deducted from the supporters of Government, the total strength of the Whig ministry on that occasion will be found to have fallen short of 210, including all their adhe rents ; in other words, they wereleft in a minority as regarded the liberal party, and owed their salva tion as a Government to the disgraceful reinforce ment of Sir R. Peel and his friends ! Now, under the plain and well-known facts of the case, can any thing be imagined much more humiliating to an administration professing to found itself on public opinion, than the circumstance of its being actually outvoted by the bulk of those members of Parliament who really represent that opinion ; and being indebted for what we may fairly term a factitious majority over them to that very party against whose corrup tions the motion for inquiry was in a manner ex clusively directed, and whose voice is seldom or ever given but for purposes hostile both to the will and the welfare of the community ? In truth, from this hour the fate of the Whig ministry is in the hands of the Conservative leader. At any hour of any day when a contested motion is looked for, the Tories need do no more than join the Liberals, and out the Whigs must go. This is not quite as . it ought to be. A reforming ministry ought not to be in danger from its natural friends, and main tained in office only by its natural enemies. A re- . forming ministry should not despise the loud re monstrances of the people, and listen only to the whispers of the Court. Why was it that Sir Robert Peel strained all his efforts of decla mation, invective, and ridicule, to detach as many votes as might be practicable from the support of each of Monday's anti-pension motions. Why, obviously because the right hon. baronet felt that it was not the Whig but the Tory battl e w hi c h h e was bound_ to maintain,—because the strenuous at tack of Mr. Whittle Harvey, and the feebler one of Mr. Strutt, were levelled at abuses of which a Tory governMent, or a succession of such, had been the perpetrators,—that any disclosure of corrupt or unworthy practices in relation to that astounding list would have lighted on Tory reputations,—that any curtailment or revocation of grants from that extraordinary list would fall upon the pockets, not of Whig, but of Tory connexions,—that, in short, the Whig ministers were no more than auxiliaries (subsidized, must we say, by their enemies to re main pro tenzpore in office ?) for the sole purpose of fighting through this essentially Tory conflict, and that the becoming place for him, Sir R. Peel (thiit Tory chief), was at the head of the allied troops, and in front of the general onset and wen did he play his part, and skilfully did tlA s sur vivor of many defunct colleagues s:astain the character and genius of their coAmon policy. pensions, forsooth, were vested rights, and no indi vidual pensioner could be legally molested ! There was this difference between Sir R. Peel and Mr. Strutt that the former personage swaggered and flourished—nay, revelled in the daringness of his own assumptions ; while Mr. Strutt, less self-possessed in his game—less clear-sighted as to his object—with double, treble, nay multiple invo lutions in the enterprise which had ber, l n confided to his half-experienced hands, hesitc,ted, murmured, asserted, retracted—now made a step towar d s " vested rights," then one irk the opposite direction towards the right of rurliamentary inquiry,"— then sidled off towards a " solemn compact" with the Crown,—and, finally, so managed his argu ment on behalf of a committee, as to rest, its prin cipal recommendation on the assurance that even tually it could lead to nothing, for that in his opinion no pension already granted ought to be touched by Parliament ! Such was the partnership exhibited by the motion and the speech of the hon. membe r fo r D er by— s uch their con sistency, and such their practical tendency, that hardly anything is so surprising as the notion con ceived by Ministers, that a proposal which its own author had so industriously and succfssfuly neutra lized could have done their Tory friends and 'pa trons the slightest imaginable harm. But, for vested rights—does mere e "possession of any p ro p erty be stow a vested right Is there no su c h t hi ng as a title being tainted ab mato by som e i n d e libl e vice in the mode and o ri g i n of the. Acquisition ? Can a wrongful possession become legal by the lapse of a few short years ? jf the constitution declares that the dispensers Or public money —of the pension fund, for example, which is but one form of pub lic.money—shall be at all times responsible to Par liament for the conformity of each pension to certain conditions which the legislature has prescribed as those according to which it shall be invariably granted, can any honest man call that a vested right which *has set at defiance one or more of the above known regulations? Suppose the Crown, on the lapse of a um-4 17 of pensions, should have been advised, ten or a dozen years ago, to grant a pension of 20,000/. per annum, and that without exceeding the groSs amount of the pension list, to some one who as little deserved such a mark of favour as one-half of those whose Ilalltea now figure on the return--.would