The Sun. — London, England, 1827-06-16 00:00:00

Oeutletaan to serral subjects connected with the sill, and had rentvied his inquiries in every stage of it, but could obtain ric! information. Many merchants were not aware, 'what were the provisions of this Bill, so little was ke.own upon the subject. The Bill appeared to him at variance with all the principles laid down by the Right Hon. Gentleman; for he had promised, when the Custom and Warehouse Bills passed, that all future legislation would be to separate, and not to jumble them. He should, therefore, submit to the House, that if there were not very urgent reasons for the Bill being carried through the Committee, it should be postponed until the public should be aware of what was intended by Government. Mr. HITSKISSON said, that the course pursued by the Hon. Member for Aberdeen appeared Co him the most ex traordinary. In 1825, after much inquiry, all the laws of the Customs were consolidated and brought into five or six laws. Of these, the Law relating to Smuggling was one, the Navigation Law Was another, the Registry Warehouse Law ar.zother, and so on. In the year 1826, it was found r.cessary to consolidate these laws. In that year a Bill, exactly corresponding with the Bill now under consid:::ration, was brought into the House, and passed.-- It was of the nature of an addenda to the Consolidation Pill, and in the margin of it was stated the different heads under which all the Laws of the Customs were at present divided. The Bill was itself the moat simple and cir cumstantial mode of referring to the alterations which had been made. He could conceive no method so simple or so satisfactory as that of bringing all the alterations into one Bill s with a reference to each of them in the margin. It was solely with this view, and for this object alone, that he Lad brought in the Bill now before the Committee. He had thought it right to bring it in at this late period of the Session, when it was likely that all the alterations would be made that were desirable to be made, and the Bill could then be debated by Parliament as an addition to the Law of Customs, with a marginal direction or reference to every Act which it altered. Mr. HUME felt convinced, that neither the public nor the Members of that House were sufficiently aware of the nature of the present Bill, to make it proper for Ministers to Inc'es it through the House in the present Session. No bee' y suppose that it related to smuggling, and such subjects as it would be found upon investigation to embrace. At each stage of the Bill, his (Mr. Hume's) side of the 'oes:• had required to be furnished with information of what were the plane and intentions of Ministers, and all intelligence h a d b een w i t hh e ld . I t had, neve rtheless, been promised at the first, second, and third reading, to produce a table or schedule referred to in the hill, showing what every law was, and what alterations were intended. Mr. HERRIES said, it was very easy for any Member to convey such imputations in general terms, but he denied the justice of their application in the present instance. Mr. HUME disclaimed any wish to cast an imputation of any sort upon the Ministers concerned in the measure. Mr. HERRIES had called the Hon. Member to order, considering that his statement did convey an imputation, and he was confirmed in that opinion, althOligh, from what the Hon. Member had just said, the imputation was not of that invidious nature which be (Mr. Herries) had con ceived. If the Hon. Mero'Jer would attentively look at the provisions of the Bill, he would find that Government bad no intention w/V.:teyer but to amend that which essentially wanted amendment. As to the charge or complaint which the Hop. Member had made, respecting Ministers not hay ing laid before the House the schedule or table of compa rative duties, which he woaid allow had been promised, he (Mr. Herries) could give what he trusted would be a very satisfactory explanation. He had in fact given directions that the schedule should be made out and printed, in order to its being laid before the House ; but it did not happen to be so easy an operation as he had conceived, to supply the information in the way which he thought desirable. lie had wished to draw it up in the shape of two columns, opposite to each other.—ln order to present a comparison of the duties in their former state, and as they were intend ed to be put. But diffieulties existed in this arrangement, for the duties were not specific in their rates, but depended on the mode of taking them, and it was found almost im possible to set them correctly in opposition. Mr. Alderman THOMPSON said there were several clauses of the Bill to which he objected, and others of which he highly approved, and which he deemed essential alterations in the present Laws. The Bill was an amalga mation of the Custom, Excise, Navigation, Registry, and Salvage Laws. He thought they ought to be brought for ward separately, which would admit of their being dis cussed with more advantage; but he hoped the Hon. Mem ber would not resist the Bill altogether. Mr. IRVING was extremely sorry that a Bill contain ing so many clauses of the highest importance should have been suffered to remain so long in abeyance. There were some of the clauses upon which he should make a few ob- 4 servations in the progress of the Bill through the House ; but to the general principles of the Bill he should give his hearty concurrence. Mr. WARBURtON wait not surpr:eed that the Hon. Member who spoke last should approve of the principles of the Bill, as, upon more than one occasion during the pre- sent Session, he had expressed himself hostile to the princi ples of free trade ; and he (Mr. Warburton) would be able to show that there were many clauses of the Bill totally at variance with those greatprinciples of free trade which the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Huskisson) was the ad vor.ate. _(Laugh ter. ) The CHAIRMAN then pat the question for reading the Bill a second time, which was carried. Upon putting the Salvage clause, Mr. INARBUR TON said that this clause exhibited a certain degree of rapacity in Government, and the Bill ought to be brought forward in a. future Session. He wished to say one thing in favour of that principle which save Government a common risk with the owner where they were to derive a common advantage in salvages. The three things to consider were the duty, the cargo, and the freight. The common principle of justice was, that where a sum was paid to save the ship, each party should bear his loss in proportion to the risk. The Government, he thought, could have no objection to such a regulation. The Salvage clause was then withdrawn. After a few words from Mr. Alderman Thompson, Mr. Irving, and Mr. Warburton. Mi. P. THOMSON said that it was with the utmost Segret and diffidence that he offered opposition to a proposi. tion of the Right Hon. Gentleman, but really when he censidered the clause before the House, he knew not whether he-should regard it with feelings of greater regret or surprise. The list of enumerated articles was formed in the reign of Charles 11., and was one of those laws by which it was thought advisable at the time to give what was called Protection to British Shipping. The number then amounted to 28. On the consolidation of the law, in 6th Geo. IV., the list reduced, however, to 22 articles, was contained in the Statute Book, although contrary to the principle contended for by the :Right. Hon. Gentleman opposite (as he felt sure he would have the c dent' to admit), more in compliance with the prejudices of the ship owners, than from any other cause. It was not now the question whether it was wise to do this or not; perhaps it would he advisable to accommodate our prejudices, and when the object was of little importance, to compromise a principle. But it was now proposed by this clause, to increase the number of enumerated articles, or in other words, in the delicate language of the clause, to ex elude from the protection it afforded six articles, and restrict thirteen in lieu ; that is to say, that six articles of no sort of importance whatever were to he freed, and tii:rte•en articles of the greatest importance to the trade , :ere to be brought under restriction. Let the House only examine the articles—amongst those freed are rosin, pitch, vinegar, sugar, potashes, and salt, not one a which, except pitch, came in any quantity what ever ti any part in Europe. What were the articles to be placed under restriction ?—He would venture to say, the most important articles of any imported into this country of the kind. And upon what possible grounds was this alteration proposed ? Was it an alteration in the law upon principle ? If the Right Hon. Gentleman told Lim that he had changed his opinion upon the principle, that the doctrine which Le held in 1825, on the subject of the " enumerated articles," he no longer held, he should be sorry for it, but he should understand the introduction of the clause—but the Right Hon. Gentleman would do no such thing. The only argument he offered was, that the intention of the Act in Charles the Second's time was to include bulky articles, and the bulky article of import being now changed, it was necessary to change the articles—but if it were so, it wile not necessary to increase the number but he wisheil to make a strong distinction between not disturbing a right (though founded on a wrong principle), which had existed for a long period of time, and acting anew upon a principle allowed to be innocent. And he would ask what other grounds the Right Hon. Gentleman had for the alteration ? He could not say, that it was to further the interest of the Shipowers, because he himself, the other night, had demonstrated in the clearest manner, that so far from the Shipowners having suffered by the alteration in the Navigation Laws, by the Reciprocity Treaties, they had gained by it. And what case had been made out with respect to the articles? Could the Right Hon. Gentleman shew that the articles were imported in foreign ships ? Had any returns been laid upon the table of the House to show that they had ? He could yeature to say, that, with one exception, bark of oak, which came into this country in foreign ships, because British ships would not load it, it paid so bad a freight, that there were no instances of any importa nce o f th e o th er art i c l es b e ing brought in in foreign ships ; other than the ;hips of cowl tries producing them. Now, the Right Hon. Gentleman would allow that the proposed restrictions, inasmuch as they were beneficial to the shipowners, must be injurious to the consumers—and if they were not injurious to the consumers by raising the price of the article, could be of no benefit to the shipowner. With regard to the greater part of these articles, therefore, all indeed with the excep tion of bark, no advantage could arise to the shipowner, and the law, as far as he was concerned, would be a mere dead letter. With regard to bark, however, it would be most injurious to the manufacturer and consumer. He had conversed with individuals acquainted with the trade, and their opinion was that the measure of the Right Hon. Gentleman would raise the price of bark ten shillings per ton nearly. In fact, this measure did little for the ship owner, for the British ship could not afford to load such a miserable article as hark, at a rate which would not almost permit its importation. And let the Right Hon. Gent. look to the consequences of this measure : let him consider to what a charge of inconsistency and vacillation it laid us open. What must foreign nations, to whom we were addressing our liberal policy, think of us ? Would they not naturally say that our pretensions to a more liberal system were absurd, when to-day we were making protestations which to-marrow we acted in direct opposition to ? Upon this ground alone, if on no other, he would intreat the Right Honourable Gentleman to withdraw this clause; or, if he would not withdraw it, on the ground of decency that he should postpone it, at least, until the sentiments of those interested in the question could be fairly heard. It was with the utmost regret that he opposed the Right Hon. Gentleman, who knew that there was no man in the House, or out of it, who more admired his talents or vene rated his principles; but it was because he did so, because he felt that the character of the Right Hdn. Gentleman was intimated in the question, because his firmness in re iisting the clamour of his opponents was not less admirable than his courage in introducing reforms, and because he knew that this clause would be hailed by all the opponents of the Right Hon. Gentleman as a triumph for them, and a proof of weakness in him, that he entreated him to withdraw it • but, at all events, he called upon all those Members who had supported the Right Hon. Gentleman's liberal policy, as they wished to avoid the charge ofincon sistency, and upon all those who had constituents in the commercial and manufacturing classes to unite with him in opposing it. Mr. HUSKISSON—Our ancestors had, for the pro tection and encouragement of British shipping, wisely pro hibited the importation of certain articles, except in British vessels, or else the vessels of the countries of which those articles were the growth and produce. These articles were generally articles of bulk, which came from a distance, and were ranked under the head of " Enumerated Articles." All other articles were allowed to be imported in whips of all countries. In the course of time, since the reign of Charles II:, it was not surprising to find that fire or six of these enumerated articles had ceased to become articles of importation. Vinegar, for instance, by having a high pro tectiug duty, bad ceased to become an article of importation, or next to it. The other five articles about to be omitted were of a similar description, and were no longer articles of im - portation to any extent. Finding it right to take these from among the enumerated articles, he found, on looking round, that there were several other articles not imported under the Act of Navigation, but which were largely im ported at present. Now he Would ask, whether, if it was right to exclude the one article from the " enumerated ar- tides," because it had ceased to become an article of import to any amount, it was not equally right to include another article, or number of articles, because their importation had greatly increased ? This, he contended, was no departure from our general system of commerce; on the contrary, it would only have the effect of rendering it more perfect.— (Hear, hear. )—When men entered into a discussion of the general commerce of a nation, and the means of improving it, they were bound to consider how far that commerce ought to be sacrificed to the commercial marine of the country.—(Hear, hear.).—But let him inquire for a mo ment how this bakers' dozen of the Hon. Member had been made out? First, then, among the 13 articles about to be made " enumerated," there were lemons and oranges, which, though mentioned separately for the sake of clear ness, came properly under one head. Then there mentioned " hemp-seed, rape-seed, and clover-seed,", though strictly, they ought to come under the general he of "seeds ;" again there was " madder and madder roots," though the articles being used for the same purpose might fairly he considered as one, so that the number of articles was reduced from thirteen to nine. —(Hear, hear, hear.)---But these articles of lemons and oranges, barilla, madder and madder roots, came from considerable distances, and from countries who had no shipping of their own, and, therefore, when it was said that such articles must be im ported, either in British ships or those of the countries where they grew, and were produced, it was, in point of fact, confirining the traffic to British vessels alone.—(Hear, hear, hear.)—He did not object to foreign vessels import ing their own produce here, but vessels from a third State importing, were to be looked to with jealousy, and if we were to interfere at all, it would be more just to do it at once, and before foreign vessel,: had become established in this carrying trade. After alluding to the importation of bark from Holland, the Right Hon. Member went on to observe again, that where the interests of commerce rain. into collision with our Navigation Laws, the interests of commerce must give way, and those of navigation prevail. —(Hear, hear.)—He felt the difficulty and delicacy of his situation in attempting to regulate any general commercial question ; he knew that there were always to be found persons opposed to his plans, and ready to point them out as injurious. But in every case he tried to steer clear of those objections and conflicting interests, and to act as impar tially, and as much for the general benefit as well of the parties concerned, as of the community at large, as it was in his power to do.—(Hear, hear, hear.)—He cared not, though he should be represented as a political economist lie cared not though lie should be again, as he had been before, accused of having abandoned his political principles and changed his opinions upon this subject.—(Loud cries of hear, from all parts of the House.)—He would still persevere in giving his best attention to the commercial interests of the country ; and while he kept the great prin ciples of commerce in his mind, he should endeavour so to modify them as to meet the circumstances of the times, and the peculiar circumstances of different branches of our trade.—(Hear, hear, hear.)---It was with this view he proposed that the Clause in question should not coins into operation before the Ist of January next. He maintained that our Commercial and Navigation Laws were more liberal than those of any other country.—(Hear.)—ln the United States—a Government held up by many as a model to all others—no importation was allowed by foreign yes- sels, unless those carrying the produce of their country; while here we had only 28 articles which might not be openly imported by all foreigners. He wished here to add, that the next clause he meant to propose was one for the relief of the Shipping Interest. By the present Act, every ship was bound to carry at least one apprentice upon etch hundred tons, and to enter into regular articles with their seamen. Now he proposed to do away with the heavy tax at present paid upon the indentures and articles used on such occasions._..(Hear, hear.) Mr. W. MARSHALL asked a question, which was not quite audible in the Gallery. Mr. HUSKISSON, in a reply almost an low, was un derstood to say, that it certainly was net his intention to postpone the alteration of these laws, day after day, or week after week; but he would attend to the measure, and propose such alterations as should appear absolutely neces sary from a change of circumstances. Mr. BERNAL thought, that in the present state of the Shipping Interest, we could not afford to throw away, in favour of the6llloiott States, our chance of the general car rying trade. , Mr. ataIdeturai.; , TIIOMPSON "hoped that the Right Hon. Gentleman would withdraw the Clause. Mr. WARD also opposed the Clause. Mr. HUSKISSON said, that he trusted he should not be accused of any wish to sacrifice the interests of any par ticular body of men ; but he really could not consent to withdraw the Clause, believing as he did that it was neces sary for the support of the best part of our Navigation System. It was almost impossible to legislate on some subjects, without appearing to interfere with particular interests. Mr. HUME was sorry he could not agree with the Right llon. Gentleman, whom he had supported in all his plans regarding free trade, and whom he had assisted as far as he could in resisting the idle and interested clamour which those plans bad occasioned. Ile must, however, oppose the present clause, as he thought it a return to that system of restriction which the Right Hon. Gentleman had for merly deprecated. lie must say, that he regretted exceed ingly to see the Right Hon. Gentleman thus yielding to clamour, and forsaking those principles which he bad hi therto so ably supported. Mr. HUSKISSON trusted, that after the speech he had recen tly delivered in that House, and after the conduct he had uniformly pursued, no one would accuse him of yielding to idle clamour. Mr. C. GRANT defended his Right Hon. Friend from the charge of yielding to clamour, and contended that the present Clause was necessary, in order to assist in maintain ing that which bad been the great object of our Navigation Laws, The alterations which had already been made in those laws had been made openly ; but if this Clause was not carried, those alteration!, without hating been so in tended, would go to deprive the shipowners of advantages which they now believed they possessed. Mr. P. THOMPSON wished to leave the shipowners as they were, and not to give them any fresh privileges. He denied that his opposition to this measure had been in the least degree influenced by private interest. The Clause was then agreed to. Mr. lIUSKISSON was about to propose another Clause, the introduction of which, he was sure, would lay him under no imputation of a wish to injure the shipping interest. In the dontinent of South America there were some very valuable mines of copper ; but from the want of fuel, the want of capital, and the want of skill, the opera tion of smelting it was difficult, if not almost impossible. Now this country happily possessed those advantages of fuel, capital, and skill, which would enable us to make the smelting of that ore a profitable branch of industry. With 'the view of ascertaining whether this could be advantage ously effected, the Government had for some time allowed the importation of copper ore, for the purposes of being smelted and then exported, The innovation thus made by way of experiment having been hitherto successful, he wished to legalise it ; and he therefore proposed to intro duce a clause permitting the importation of copper ore for the purposes he had mentioned, with this advantage to the shipping interest, that these importations were only to be made in British bottoms. Sir R. VIVYAN opposed the clause, as he thought it would injure the interests of the owners of copper mines in Cornwall. Mr. PENDARVES also opposed the clause. Mr. HUSKISSON did not think that the measure pro posed would injure the interests of the persons mentioned; but even if it should do so to a small extent, he thought the general benefit ought to be preferred to the interests of any particular class. The effect of the clause would b e t o establish a new and profitable branch of industry ; and he wished to remind those Hon. Members who bad opposed it, that the importations of ore were not for the purpose of home consumption ; but with a view of being smelted for exportation. Mr. Alderman WOOD made some observations with re ference to the time at which the proposed Claude was in troduced, although he had no particular objection to the Clause itself. After a few words from Mr. WARBURTON, the Clause was agreed to ; as were all the others severally. The House having resumed, the Report was brought up and ordered to be printed, and taken into further considera tion on Monday next. FRIVOLOUS ARRESTS PREVENTION BILL. On the Order of the Day being read for the House going iuto a Committee on the Bill for preventing Arrests on mesne process under 20/., _ _ . Mr:HOBHOUSE objected to the further progress of this Bill at that hour of the night. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL saw no reason for delay. The question was simply, whether the power of arrest should be limited to debts under 20/. Surely that was not a question which could admit of much discussion. Mr. HUME, though friendly to the Bill, wished it to be fully discussed, as the only piohable mode of removing the prejudices against it. Mr. Secretary BOURNE was apprehensive, if any further delay took place, that the Bill could not be passed this Session. Ile was anxious for its success, because no Bill could more intimately concern the liberty of the subject. The House then resolved itself into the Committee. Mr. HOBHOUSE opposed the Bill as unnecessary and unjust. He gave notice that he would propose the reduc tion of the sum fixed by the Bill to 151. Mr. Alderman THOMPSON agreed with the Hon. Member for Westminster. Lord ALTHORP approved of the Bill on its introduc tion, and was confirmed in his approbation of it the more he considered it. Mr. D. W. HARVEY opposed the Bill, which he said might as well be entitled " a Bill of Indemnity to all Deb tors under 201." What the country really wanted was a cheap and expeditious mode of recovering small debts. Mr. HUME wished to see arrests on mesne process alo-• error particularly with regard to femalea wh o , eM'lnor of this process, were very liable to be im- %sal upon. He urged the expediency of substituting at tachments on property, according to the course of the law of Scotland. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said the whole question was, whether the power of arrest before the debt was proved should be raised from 151. to 20/. One reason for this change was the great proportion of the costs compared with the debt. The ordinary charges on the debtor were not much less than ten pounds, which on a debt of twenty pounds was nearly one half of the sum originally due. An other reason was, that the number of arrests for debts un der 201. constituted almost a fourth part of the whole, be ing 500 out of 1,800. He wished it was in his power to extend the protection still higher, in order that Tally indi viduals might he relieved from the misery to which they were liable to be subjected. Sir J. SEBRIGHT panegyrised the speech of the Soli citor-General, and supported the Bill. The Amendment for filling up the blank with the words " twenty pounds" was agreed to. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, with a view to prevent vexatious arrests, proposed a clause restraining Sheriffs from granting warrants for arrest, unless the process should be delivered and attested by an attorney-at-law. As the law stood at present, process might be sued out by persona , who had no claim whatever against the party arrested. A person in the City had recently been arrested for a sum of 60,0001., where no one answering the description of the plaintiff could be found. Mr. HUME suggested the expediency of taking the security that the attorney should prosecute the suit. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL observed, that the name and address of the attorney would be sufficient ; taking se curity by bond would only lead to an increase of litigation. The clause was agreed to. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL next moved a clause, that no process should be sued out by special original, unless the debt amounted to 1001., except in cases where it might be necessary to proceed to outlawry. The proceed ing by special original greatly increased the expenses of the suit, and led to frequent abuses. The expenses upon an arrest for a debt of 601., for instance, had amounted to no less than 23/. This and the remaining clauses were then agreed to, and the Report was ordered to be received on Monday. Thellouse then went into a Committee on the CANADA CLERGY RESERVES' BILL. Mr. W. HORTON raid the object of this Bill was to allow 100,000 acres of the Clergy Reserves in Canada to be gold yearly,'without giving any pledge as to the specific appropriation of the funds arising from the sale. By the Act of 1791, a certain portion of land in Canada was ap propriated fur the support of the Protestant Clergy, and this land was made inalienable. Although several million acres of land were reserved for this purpose, they never netted more than 400/.. per annum, and Parliament was annually called upon to contribute SUMS for the mainte nance of the Clergy in Canada. The object of this Bill, therefore, was to take these lands out of mortmain, and remove the obstacles which had so long existed to the im provement of the Canadas. Applications hail been made to the Government to appropriate a part of the - proditei of these reserves to the support of the Scotch Clergy. There was no indisposition whatever, on the part of the Govern teent, to accede to these applications, but it was obvious that, as these reserves produced little or nothing under the existing system, the funds were not, at present, available. Mr. WARBURTON thought it would be better not to appropriate any portion of the produce of these lands, until the Committee, which was to inq u ir e into the state of the Clergy Reserves in the next Session, might determine in what proportion they should be divided among the different sects. Lord BINNING concurred in the suggestion of the Hon. Member who had just sat down. Mr. STANLEY was glad to hear from the Right Hon. Gentleman, that these lands were intended for the ad vantage of the Presbyterians, as well as the Protestants, although it was in the teeth of a declaration made by the Right Hon. Gentleman in reply to a question of the Mem ber for Cailington (Mr. Baring), when he affirmed that they appertained solely to the Established Church. He did not intend to offer any opposition to the present Bill, but the state of the Church Lands required examination, and he was determined, at an early period of the next Session, to move for an inquiry into the state of Church property. After a few words from Mr. ESTCOCRT in support of the Bill, Mr. WILMOT NORTON briefly replied. Several Amendments were then proposed and agreed to, and the Report was ordered to be brought up on Monday next. The Bankrupt Act Amendment Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Friday next. On the motion of Mr. TENNYSON, the further con sideration of the Report upon the Sale of Game Bill was postponed till Monday next. COVENTRY MAGISTRATES' BILL. On the motion for the third reading of this Bill, Mr. objecting to a decision upon this sub jeet, i a iE t so late TE t i e C a ° nl: our, and when other measums, of much less importance, were postponed, moved, as an Amendment, that the third reading be postponed until Monday next. After a few words from Mr. FYLER, in support of his Hon. Colleague's proposition, Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the debate was continued for some time with closed doors. On a Division the numbers were-- For the Amendment 19—Against it 4 4—Majority 25. Strangers were not again admitted, but we understand, that on the Motion for the Third Reading being put a se cond time, Mr. lIEATHCOTE moved that the House do now Ad journ. During the exclusion of strangers, we understood that Messrs. HEATHCOTE and FrLER pressed an amendment for the adjournment of the House, and threatened to exercise the privilege of dividing the House, if the Bill were not postponed until Monday. On our return to the Gallery, we found Mr. HEATHCOTE on his legs, threatening to enter into a detail of all the evidence given before the Co:nmittce. After the Hon. Member had read a part of the evidence, a fresh discussion arose on the amendment for adjourn ment. It was finally agreed to postpone the Bill until Monday next, on which night, at whatever hour the dis cussion should come on, it was understood tbat the Bill would be disposed of. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, after which the House adjourned at Three o'Clock this morning until to-morrow (this day). 4 . 0„ rt 4-**,4e}ggt ' A WI; tetk, COURT OF ALDERMEN. ELECTION OF AN ALDERMAN FOR THE WARD OF VINTRY. Yesterday an especial Court of Aldermen was held for the purpose of " determining upon a petition of sundry in habitants of the Ward of Wintry against the return of E. A. Wilde, Esq., as Alderman of that Ward." The LORD MAYOR, on taking the Chair, inquired whether Counsel attended for the petitioners, when he was answered by their Attorney in the negative. The petition was then read. It complained of the man ner in which the poll was conducted—of the determina tion of the Lord Mayor not to allow questions to be put to the voters when they come to the poll—and of the deci sion upon the scrutiny, whereby the votes of the petitioners (14 in number) were not allowed. After hearing professional persona, Alderman WAITH.. Maw rose.—He would not, he said, take up the time of the Court in discussing the merits of the petition which had been presented, as it must appear to them that had all the allegations in it been proved, and had not the Learned Counsel been heard against it, there were no grounds whatever to induce the Court to entertain it for a moment. He therefore should moved that it be dismissed. After a few words front Aldermen WooD, GARRATT, and THOMPSON, the nnanimons feeling of the Court being against entertaining the petition, it was dismissed without a dissentient voice, and Counsel and the petitioners were called in and informed of the result. Alderman Avjaes (as soon as the Court was again cleared of strangers) rose, and moved that Mr. Wilde should be sworn in. —(Hear, hear.)—He observed that there were no grounds whatever for keeping the Ward of Vintry without an Alderman, while every other Ward in the City of London had its representative in Court. The gentleman whom he considered highly entitled to the gown ought in fact to have had it months ago. He had been elected by an undoubted majority, and in every respect his title was unquestionable. Sheriff Winchester had set the Court completely at defiance, and had denied its jurisdic tion in a matter in which they had long enjoyed the power of adjudication. Mr. Winchester had set up in decided opposition to that jurisdiction, and then he had the con science to ask them to postpone their decision in order that he might have time to dispute their right, and supply him self with materials against it. Alderman CROWDER seconded the proposition, and ob served that it was the duty of the Court to swear in Mr. Wilde without further delay. Alderman WA ITH MAN strongly advocated the propo sition, and urged the necessity of coming to an immediate decision in favour of Mr. Wilde's claim, which was now acknowledged by every one to be substantial. In proceed ing to carry the motion into effect, they were only main taining that right, now for the first time disputed, which they had immemorially exercised, and which was one of the most beneficial kind' to the citizens of London. He trusted that the very favourable light in which the proceed ings of the last Court had been viewed by the public, as furnishing so marked a contrast to those of the preceding one, when so contemptible an effort was made to annul the act of the great majority of the Aldermen, would not be dimmed by the result of this day. That effort had been indeed stultified by the indignant rejection of the resolu tion which had been introdueod by-so signal a manoeuvre. —(Hear.) Alderman Wool) maintained the opinions delivered by Alderman Waithman, and declared that the Court could not, without manifest and inexcusable injustice to Mr. Wilde and the Ward, refuse to put the oaths to him at once. If they delayed, it would appear as if they were of opinion that the Ward of Vintry did not require or deserve an Alderman.—(Hear.) Sir RICUARD CARA GLYN objected in the most de cided tone to the motion, as he considered that so serious an act ought not to be performed by the Court, pending the proceedings in the Court of King's Bench. He did not consider that the right of Mr. Wilde had been by any means established, nor had he seen how Mr. Winchester de nied the Court's right of adjudication. Alderman Tito:Arson contended against the motion.— The Court would, be said, by swearing in Mr. Wilde, throw upon itself a responsibility the effects of which would be long and deeply felt. Instead of at once obeying the mandamus of the King's Bench, and getting rid of a most troublesome charge, they were identifying themselves with the antagonists, and would entail upon themselves a vast expence and endless trouble. He denied that Sheriff Winchester had at all questioned the Court's right of adju dication. Alderman LUCAS entertained similar opinions to those which had been just uttered by the last speaker. It was quite a mistake to say that Mr. Winchester had questioned the jurisdiction of the Court. Alderman GARRATT declared that the right of the Court to adjudicate had been most resolutely denied by Mr. Win chester, and referred to the memorial of that gentleman in testimony of that denial. Ile then quoted the words, which distinctly questioned the power of the Court to adjudicate, and called upon the law officers to state their opinions upon the subject. He warmly advocated the motion for swearing in Mr. Wilde, and expressed a hope that the Court would sustain the character which it had a day or two recovered. The RECORDER stated, that Mr. Winchester had alto gether denied the right and jurisdiction of the Court. Alderman BIRCII strongly protested against this mode of proceeding, and said that the Court were doing Mr. Win chester great injustice in not affording him time to call his witnesses, and to be heinl by counsel. _ _ Alderman Woon ridiculed this assertion, and in contra diction read an extract from Mr. Winchester's memorial. If all his allegations were proved, they would not affect the ease. The question was then pu' !notion 8, and against it 8. and there appeared for the A scrutiny then took place, and the following Aldermen For the motion. Alderman J. J. Smith noted Against the motion. Alderman Sir R. Carr Glyn Wood Atkins Thorp Waithman Garratt Venables Crowder Ansley Birch C. Smith Lucas Thompson Sir Peter Laurie Farebrother. The LORD Maxox, therefore, was obliged to vote, and the Court were as silent as the grave while he stated his determination and his motives for it. His Lordship de clared, that he felt he was placed in a most delicate situa tion. He thought it was clear that Mr. Winchester had wholly denied the authority of the Court, and his petition could not be entertained ; but as the Court had on a former occasion refused to swear in Mr. Wilde on account of the proceedings depending in the Court of King's Bench, he did not think they could, on the same account, swear him in now. The motion thus is negatived. Neither Sir J. Shaw nor Alderman Key were present, although they had declared themselves favourable to the motion. Great dis appointment was expressed. The depot of the 71st Highland Light In fantry, under the command of Lieut.-Col. WATsoN, em barked yesterday on board the Lord Suffield transport (No. 33), for Hull. Major-General Sir JOHN CAMERON has expressed to Lieut.-Col. WATSON, the officers, non commissioned officers, and privates, his thanks, for their correct and orderly conduct while under his command, and his best wishes for their welfare.—Plymouth Journal. An American paper states that from the esta blishment of the Government of the United States, to the present time, the whole amount of money coined at the mint, did not exceed 23,000,000 dollars, whilst during the amount coined i n go ld and silver at was to the v a l ue of s i x m illi ons and a half sterling,t British or e r m 28 60,000 d o ll ars , near l y s i x m illi ons o f dol the the l last year s'ie v' dol lars more than has been coined by the United States since their Union, a period fast approaching to half a century, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JUNE 16, 1827. Our Readers will perceive that the House of Lords took no notice last night of the unfortu nate Corn Bill. It was confidently expected that the Duke of WELLINGTON would have moved the third reading, but some of his Grace's artful advisers have probably dissuaded him from a step that might terminate in the passing of a Bill which they were resolved should not pass, and in their opposition to which they have evinced a charming latitude of conscience. From what we have heard the same parties declare about Mr. PITT'S being an enemy to the Catholic Claims, we make no doubt they will very shortly find out that the Earl of LI VERPOOL was not favourable to this Bill as introduced by himself; but that he looked to some securities, as Mr. PITT did about the . C atholics, which they alone have had the shrewd ness to discover. Of this, however, we are sure, that they will find the odium of the country vastly disagreeable, and will endeavour to back out of it by some such manoeuvre. But though nothing was said of the Bill yesterday, the order for the third reading not being discharged, we presume that it is still competent for any Noble Peer to bring it on. We ventured yesterday to estimate the probable amount of injury resulting from the DUKE'S Amendment ; and, if we were not wrong in the view we took of it, we must again say that we would rather see the Bill pass, though clogged with such a rider, than have the whole question left open for a period, to be limited only by the probability that the plebeian vice of selfishness will diminish amongst the pa trician order. We are confident that some of the crafty persons about the Duke of WEL LINGTON have made a cat's-paw of his Grace, to defeat the Bill by a flank movement ; but, on mature consideration, we cannot see that the evil arising from that clause extends farther than the depriving the Corn Trade of the benefits of the Warehousin g System enjoyed by several branches of our commerce. It will evidently prevent Corn being kept here in bond, where the duty would not be called for till a purchaser was found, but taking the duty at 205., and supposing the quar ter to remain a year unsold, the whole injury would be that the importer would have to pay the duty, a year before it would be called for under the warehousing system. At five per cent. this would be a detriment of ls. per quarter. But the duty being once paid on importation, private granaries may be established to any ex tent, and foreign corn may be then taken out of them as freely as out of a barn-yard. We may, however, be entirely mistaken in our view of the case. At all events we are certain, that the duty and interest of his Majesty's Ministers will lead them to consult the best interests of the nation, and even their enemies cannot charge them with being slow of perception. The Paris Papers of Wednesday, and the Etoile, dated Thursday morning, reached us last night. The latter contains afflicting intelligence from Greece, which, if true, destroys all hopes of the independence of that gallant people being achieved by themselves, and excites fresh sympa thy for their misfortunes, and a deep feeling of regret that the Christian Powers of Europe have s o long delayed their intended interference on their behalf with their merciless oppressors. Ac cording► to these accounts, which the Etoile copies from the Augsburg Gazette, the SERAS KIER having received considerable reinforce ments from Constantinople, about the middle of May, attacked the army which had been collected for the relief of Athens, and completely defeated it in a great and decisive battle. The Greek army was surrounded, and could not open for itself a passage till 3,000 men had perished on the field, amongst whom was the brave General KARAISKAKI, and the greatest part of the Missolonghiots. The result of this battle was considered as fatal to Athens, the garrison of which, according to one account, intended to blow themselves up in the Acropolis, while the other account states that a treaty for its capitula tion was on foot. Alas !in either case, the cause of freedom in this devoted country seems to have received an almost irrecoverable blow. The French Funds have again ratheradvanccd. We give the following extracts : (From the Etoile, dated Thursday, June 14.) " PAItIs, Joitz 1 3. —The German Papers give the most afflicting news from Greece. We have not yet had any thing of the kind in the letters of our private correspon dente ; but the Augsburg Gazette has received it by two different channels. " TRIESTE, JUNE 2.—A vessel which sailed from Syra on the 29th of May, brings us the melancholy news that the Greeks have experienced, under the walls of Athens, a defeat, in consequence of which that bulwark of Greece would be infallibly loot. 3,500 Greeks fell On the field of battle, and Karaiskaki perished with the greater part of the Missolonghiots. The garrison of Athens intended to blow itself up in the fortress. The Greeks are in a conster nation which is not to be described. (From another Correspondent.) Letters from Syra of the 19th of May leave no doubt that the army which was collected for the deliverance of the Acropolis, and which contained all the warriors that Greece could furnish, has been completely beaten. The Seraskier having received considerable reinforcements of new troops, scut to him from Consbautiuople, about bile middle of the preceding month, surrounded the Gret i 4 who were not able to open to themselves a pag e after a sanguinary combat, in which they lost above Ply; men. Among the dead is the brave General Karstioo°' The Acropolis still held out, bat a capitulation viasl foot. In the roads of Athens there were a French 1 10 an English frigate, and the Caroline Austrian 40":etth which had gone thither, that by their mediation Del t I " - o f t terms might be obtained for the garrison, their and insured. _ . t Lor A d le c tt o e c r hr f a ro n m e , S ra m s yr a n c a tiv o e f ly th e e ng S ag d e o d f i f acyr;aanyei;i e ; 0g t Greek Government on the European footing, as well is putting an end to piracy ; he was but ill seconded loot, undertaking. The marine, however, appeared to I .° o f his orders, and to be disposed, on the invitation Miaulis, to share his glory." The King will honour the city of Lille with his po le° in the month of September next. fist The Mayor of that city announces to the citizen his Majesty has signified to him his gracious intontiontsig that this favour is owing to their constant .‘ttoc h ), :° „ ell „ n stil the King and his august house. The Mayor' ‘•"* . " . ,,tia. Muyssart) invites his fellow-citizens to prepare a C w '' worthy of his Majesty's affection to the city of Lille. 1 (From the 3.foniteur of Wednesday.—Non-official Pt( " STOCKHOLM, MAY 25.—1 t is affirmed thaw o d have been given for a ship of the line of 74 gu,...bi frigates, and some smaller vessels, to be ready for w",io the middle of June. It is conjectured that they are toLt, the Russian squadron, which is fitting out at Cr'o e l i s and which is to go the Mediterranean. According ° g o reports in the diplomatic circles, England and RL$ t ie resolved to terminate the affairs of Greece, and to force Porte to recognize the independence of that ut c 'hlo. country, and of the principal islands, such au s py Cyprus, &c. It is not doubted here that Austily France will co operate. in this expedition to attain an n ", 08 universally desired by all who respect the doctrines 01 Gospel." FRENCH FuNne, JUNE 13.—Five per Cents. 100 75c. ; Three per Cents. ex. div. 89f. 60c. ; Bank 0'69, 2,0451. ; Neapolitan, 75f. 55e. ; Spanish Lottli , , hri e Exchange on London, one month, 25f. 40e. ; months, 25f. 25e. bi Accounts have been received this morning from P ri gu l ret v one of the first' houses in the City, stating that the it u. o i o g have issued a declaration to the Allied Powers, deS 0,0 their interference to ma k e p eace b e t ween them Vl' Turks, as they feel confident in their own strength. ... m e Since writing the ab ore , we un d ers t an d the re"; fe t)„ which the Greeks are said to h ave suffered are not b e ' e f in the City, as letters have been received from Trieste i hst t later date than June 2, which do not mention the 7 s to near Athens, but, on the contrary, state that no later had arrived from Greece. Every Bill which is brought into ParH ° o respecting Game meets with the same fate : r is invariably rejected by one House or the ell% A few weeks only have elapsed since V / he WHARNCLIFFE'S Bill was thrown out, and /- 41 ' " Sale of Game" Bill, since introduced , likewise, last night, on the motion for ite this reading in the House of Peers, consigned t° th " tomb of all the Capulets." It is strange that, upon a question .which deeply interests a very large portion of the MO; hers of both Houses of Parliament, and in scht the nation at large take also so great an inte r ; as that relating to th e G ame L aws , and /- effect of which, in their present state, is d er°° : ralizing the lower or d ers o f th e people too t , extent which cannot be contemplated with, alarm, it should not be found possible to fo n ' some Bill which would meet the existing cir eulli ct , stances of the times, and place the laws resP g ing Game on a just and liberal footing. 16 • because this subject has been hitherto Pnn pally left to Noble and . Honourable Person; whose early- habits and vested interests 14ini: them against the ofadopti e o on i f : etp. h eeregulationspresent v s f at e ; h3 c oief ri th i o g s l e st e l o av7s e , et a t t he the ev e il xp s portion of their field enjoyments ? But ; t r .. subject has now become one of such great por t. a o ff f ec th ti e ng lower an ce classes as attention of those who direct the affairs of tu ct . Country. It should, therefore, be taken on t 66 the hands of the Country Gentlemen, and 0 treated by Statesmen of intelligence as a quest involving deeply the interests of the nation• this view of it, we trust that another Session not be allowed to pass without the introducti° by some one of those enlightened and able 11 1d 1 . 1 0 who form the present Government, of a Ge n/ ptleulopmleo,resal ctoondeiatnionfoorf tree Bill, which may reconcile, as far as practicable' conflicting opinions and interests on this subi 66 and be consistent with the general condition 0 Society in the present times. There is n° reas° 11 to doubt the possibility of framin g such a Bi ll ' the wisdom of our Statesmen should be devote to the subject. It is stated that Letters have been received town from La Guayra of a late date, via ( I . sle ro York, by the Sarah Ann, in 22 days 111) I , thence, which vessel has arrived off Dadra° t, bound to Hamburgh ; and that they contain th e intelligence of BOLIVAR being then on t,l, eve of his departure for Carthagenal tending to proceed to Bogota, on his j oorne ' c i 5 to Peru, with the view of putting an eil'o to the troubles in that Country ; it is l'd added that the LIBERATOR had discovere that General SANTANDER had been the part who had fomented th e disturbances in Peruf, in consequence, meant to call the VicP . r l" l ' pr , F, SIDNT to a severe account when he If 1 1 01 • 6 rived at the Capital of Colombia. little prove a correct statement, it leaves L'"", by hopes for any reply to the application m ow • dei ' s the deputation from the Colombian Bond iol relative to the unpaid dividends. Our City Correspondent informs us, that sg " 1 ; i 8 the superabundance of money at the pre moment, that a loan of TWO HUNDRED 111° at SAND POUNDS may be had for six m onths , o f two per cent. S ure ly thi s i s the golden Ago liberality, when a man may get rich so reaciVi; The ten per cent. men will stare at seeing exclusive bonus reduced to afifth• Accounts from St. Sebastian to June 4, mention tris.eit, Express had arrived there from Bilboa , statin g that err alarm prevailed, owing to a Colombian ship of war ale„rrt, in g in sight, watching the merchant ships in that eo The Aorities immediately gae orders for a &toe"! 0 , of troops uth to proceed to the coast, v to prevent a &haricot° - There will be a CABINET COUNCIL he' afternoon at five o'clock. A report, which has gained considers ; g round at Falmouth , that the p ackets are to be rear ct • has caused a great sensation at t h e forro itioorPt.l—Yruon ply tl: l , 10uth Journal. 'rich A martin cat, measuring three feet o ne 1.- a from the nose to the tip o f the tail, and ten inches the body, was shot last week on Mr. Fznausores estate 01 Raith. The gamekeeper s a y s that he had never heard ° one of those animals being in the country.before. mess OF IRISH Rank Stock Consols, 3 percent.. B2U Gov. Stock, 334 percent BB5, 9 Ditto, New 8974 9 4 per Cent. 98% Gov. Deb. 3% per cent. ... - Royal Canal Stock Grand Canal Stock City Deb. 4 per cent Ballast Office Deb. 4 p. ct NGE YESTERDAY. COURSE OF ZECH/ Amsterdam ....... ....C.F 12 4 Ditto, at sight l2 1 Rotterdam. 2 U l2 5 Antwerp l2 5 Hamburgh 2% U. 37 2 Altona 2% U. 37 2 Path, 3 days' sight Ditto 2 U. 25 80 Bordeaux 25 80 Berlin Frankfort on Maine, Ex. M. 154 Petersburgh, rble... 3 Us. 9% Vienna, effective fl. 2 M. 10 10 Trieste do. Madrid 3 3 ,X Cadiz 34 Bilboa 34 Barcelona '33% Seville 33% Gibraltar 45 Leghorn 4l9i Genoa 23 81$ Venice 46 Malta Naples 37,1 Palermo per oz. lle. Lisbon 49!,i Oporto Rio Janeiro 3l Bahia 4l Buenos Ayres Dublin, 21 days' sight Cork l% BULLION, PER 07- s. d. Portugal Gold, coin 0 0 0 Foreign Gold, in bars 3 17 3 New Doubloons New Dollars 0 4 gi Silver, bars, standard 0 1 111 STOCKS, JUNE 12. St. Patrick Insur. (per sh.) Royal high Ditto , National Ditto Patriotic Ditto Hibernian Bank Provincial Ditto Royal Irish Mine Imperial Mine Mining Co. of Ireland Commercial Buildings