The Sun. — London, England, 1834-02-28 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS A pamphlet, very season:Ode and useful at the present time, entitled " The Law of Debtor and Creditor," has been republished, in the form of a second edition, by Ef fingham Wilson and Cochrane and M'Crone. As we en tered into its merits in detail at the period of the first edi tion, and as the purport of ir,--namely, the aholition of the law of arrest,—is one which the Morning Advertifer has never psssed any opportunity of urging, we feel it un necessary on this occasion either to repel' , our arguments, or our review, at any length. The self-defeating absurdity of this law, on the one hand, and its social mischievousness on the other, are now become so obvious to all classes of thinking men, that-there is very little doubt that a hill for its abolition will be carried through the present parlia ment. Nothing but the ignorance of a semi-barbarous age, or the rapacity of the half-civilized Norman freebooters, from whom it originated, could have suggested such a means of extorting payment from a debtor as that of manacling his body, debasing his health, and crippling his future means of exertion. That it is a violation of tl e old Saxon common law we have no doubt. On the other hand, the argument that modern extravagance requires some .such iron curb as this to repress its aggressions on commercial and trailing industry has been so repeatedly shown to be unfounded, that it is scarcely necessary to oc cupy our columns with the elaboration of any detailed or formal reply. As a means of teaching honesty, and faci• litating payment, the law of arrest has utti rly failed. The dishonest man laughs at it, but the honest is prevented frem paying his debts by it. The only other results that tradesmen derive from it are a general rise of prices, by which they suffer as well as their neighbours ; large esta blishments and expenses in keeping accounts, which might be saved ; ledgers filled with delusive fortunes in fictitious book debts, which vanish, like a" baseless fabric," in Whitecross-street, or " leave not a wreck behind" in the Insolvent Court. The fact is that the law of arrest has been the great charter of swindlers for the last fifty years. It is a positive premium for the contraction of bad debts. More tradesmen have been ruined by trusting to the insidious and hollow protection of this law than by any other cause. They would look narrowly into the charac •er and property of the person whom they trust, were it not that the imaenary power of grasping the person of the debtor, by means of the law of arrest, and of extorting pay, by threat of bodily torture, whenever t' eir necessi ties, or their caprices, may require, has led them to run the perilous risk of trusting unsubstantial characters with their goods, sweetening that risk by an association with larger and more usurious profits than ready money would submit to, or sound credit would allow. The social re sults of this great legal crime, or rather great legislative blunder, which amounts to the same thing. is that com mercial morality is stained ; that humanity is outraged and degraded ; that our gaols are crammed with individuals rendered criminal by their incarceration ; and that there is a waste of money in law-suits, of no use to any party whatever, to the amount of two or three millions annually. We subjoin the author's sketch of the various streams of evil, domestic, social, and moral, flowing from this perni cious fountain head, becau-e they are exhibited in a form at once brief, serviceable, and admonitory : "My Lord,—l have, within the brief space of about seventy Pages, shown— " 1. That arrest for debt is a violation of our ancient con stitutional law. " 2. That it is to the last degree iniquitous. " 3. That by the tyrannical power given to one creditor, it transgresses nefariously on the rights of others. "4. That by favouring the swindler, and irretrievably in juring the honest debtor, it is destructive to all principles of honour and integrity. " 5. That by first inducing dealers to give credit, and after wards inv. - .!ving them in fruitless litigation, it is injurious to commerce. " 6. That the actual, expense it imposes on the community amounts to a most inordinate taxation. " 7. That by the evil passions and perverted energy which it excites, religion and morality are outraged, and the national character is degraded. " 8. That by ruining and rendering destitute many thou sands of persons annually—by depraving and corrupting thou sands more, it is a fertile source, not only of misery, but of disaffection to government, and every species of crime. " 9. Notwithstanding this enormous load of it is proved that the rights of creditors can be guarded, and commerce carried on without any such measures, consequently this hydra headed and pestilent demon of the law is worshipped for no better reason than because eight millions annually are depo sited on his altar, which income the high priests fail not to appropriate, and will not easily resign."—Morning Advertiser. EXTRAORDINARY TRIAL IN FRANCE. The Court of Assize at Paris was last week occupied for several days with the investigation of a case of alleged robbery and adultery, which involved some extraordinary circumstances. The prisoners were three in number,— Champes, a married woman named Ruidiaz, and a lock smith named Gilbert. According to the indictment, it appeared that M. Ruidiaz, the prosecutor, was a merchant in an extensive way of business, and Champes was charged not only with committing adultery with his wife, but also with robbing him of a sum of 54,000 francs, a bank-note of 1,000 francs, and several objects of value, a gold watch, tar. Ruidiaz, it appeared, having fallen ill, was desirous of finding some confidential person to look after his busi ness at Bordeaux, where be also had an establishment. Champes pretended to be very much attached to his mas ter, and with this hypocritical pretence, he watched over him while he was ill in bed, and while so employed, as it was alleged, be administered to the patient a soporific be verage, under the operation of which Champes was en abled to procure the key of the chest in which the money was deposited. He then had a new key made, and the old one was replaced without its being discovered that a model bad been taken. The wretched woman, it seems, aided Champes in his criminal projects, and not only assisted in the robbery of her husband, but also disho noured him. Gilbert was charged as an accomplice in the robbery. Several letters were read from Madame Ruidiaz to Champes, which, if not conclusive as to her guilt, left little doubt of highly criminal conduct. In one of these she admitted that she was pregnant, and hinted that the pregnancy had arisen during the absence of her hush Joel. Madame Ruidiaz, when introduced into court, excited con siderable sympathy from her personal appearance. She stated that she was only 22, and possessed great beauty as well as youth. The counsel for Chemises endeavoured to show that the charge of adultery ought to be removed from the indictment, on the ground that since the accu. sation had been made, Ruidiaz had received his wife on the same terms as before. The Court, however, decided that the whole case should go to the jury. In the course of the evidence it was stated that there were some grounds for believing that Madame Ruidiaz had bad an improper intimacy with her cousin, M. Drouin, when a mere boy; but no proof was offered in support of the inculpation. The only evidence to connect Gilbert with the robbery was that a person answering his description had ordered a key like that of Rnidiaz's chest, M. Ruidiaz deposed to the state of destitution in which Cbampes, was when he first met with him, and also to his having missed the sums stated in the indictment, under circumstances of strong suspicion against that person. He also deposed to his having accused his wife of adultery, which she bad scarcely denied. He, however, strongly denied that be bad ever said be would be reconciled to her. The cousin Drouin (whose appearance excited much curiosity) deposed that Madame Ruidiaz had told him to get a key made like that belonging to her husband's money-chest, and that he had ordered the prisoner Gilbert to make it. Drouin ad mitted that he had formerly resided with M. and Madame Ruidiaz, and that the reason he left them was because M. Ruidiaz thought his bed was too near to Madame Rui diaz's parlour. The counsel for the prosecution in the course of the proceedings insinuated that a writing-master who had instructed - Madame Ruidiaz had been secretly introduced into her bed-chamber, and that he had been ex pelled from the house by M. Ruidiaz : upon which the counsel on the other side insisted that the person who had made the statement should be called. That person having been sent for, the question was put, but the witness un• equivocally denied the statement. When this further ac cusation was made Madame Ruidiaz fainted, and the evidence was frequently interrupted by her sighs. Champes preserved the utmost silence, and seemed quite unmoved. After the whole of the witnesses bad been examined, counsel was heard on the part of Madame Ruidiaz. He contended V•at though her levity might be great, M. Ruidiaz was also t °blame for having allowed her too much liberty, and to imbibe licentious ideas. Champes denied both adultery and robbery, but his counsel, curiously enough, endeavoured to show that be was guilty of the former crime, but that there was no proof of the robbery. At midnight the jury retired, and in half an hour acquitted the female prisoner and Champes of adultery, but found Champes guilty of knowingly receiving the sum of 1,000 franca. He was however, acquitted of the charge so far as regarded the 54,000 francs. Gilbert was acquitted. Cnaropes was sentenced to a year's imprisonment, and was besides condemned to restore the sum of 1,000 francs. The Court did not rise till 3 o'clock in the morning of the third day. ENGLISH WOOL.—The farmers in the neigh bourhood of Bromyard, Ledbury, and Worcester, have nearly all bargained for next year's clip at 2s. per lb. and have received part of the money in hand.—Hereford Times. EXPRESS FROM FALMOUTH. (Private enrreepondence from the Times.) LISBON, FEB. 15. Since my last, under date the 9th inst., Don Pedro went to the army, and returned again yesterday, not in the very best health, having had an application of leeches this morning, although at 10 o'clock this evening he is much Fetter. A lard detachment of infantry and some Lancers went np from hence to the army yesterday, and on Tues day they will be followed by the 800 Belgians who came from England the other day, and who are very fine troops. The state of Don Miguel's and Donna Maria's forces on the Bth inst. was as follows, viz.:—.. DON MIGUEL'S. Infantry. Cavalry. Santarem 42 field pieces, 36 battering cannon. South of the Tagus 3,000 800 North of the Tagus 7,000 300 Coimbra 2,000 300 A brantes Total 20,400 2,250 DONNA MARIA'S TROOPS. Infantry. Cavalry. Count Saldanha's, the Duke of Ter ceira's corps, round Santarem Oporto, including volunteers 8,500 200 The lines remain studded with artillery. Castle of Leyria l,OOO 100 1,000 volunteers. Setübal Almada 550 10 Faro Lagos Marvao On the way from Lisbon to the head quarters before Santarem Belgians going up Troops, volunteers at Lisbon 3,800 160 Total 36,850 1,425 From which you will perceive that the Marvao people are increasing their numbers rapidly. Miguel's troops in the north, to the amount of near 4 000 men, under the com mand of Count or Baron D'Almer or D'Elmar, came down to Coimbra, and from thence uniting with their forces already there, they made a movement, for the pur. pose of joining the folks at Santirem, which was, how ever, prevented by Count Saldanha. The headquarters of the Liberating army are now at their former places. It is true, as you will have seen by my former letter, that there seems to be a very great dislike amongst many people here to all Englishmen; but this to a great extent may arise from jealousy ; but not so with the Aliguelites: their dislike to us is genuine, and well rooted—they ima gine that but for us Donna Maria's cause would never have succeeded, and it will be some time before this im pression is removed from their minds. From the above considerations, I am induced to think that every other means of putting an end to this unnatural and sanguinary contest should be resorted to before we determine upon an armed interference; and I cannot but feel persuaded that the immediate recognition of Donna Maria as Queen of Portugal by the Spanish government would go a very great way towards it. I am happy to inform you that this Govt rnment having at last been convinced of the importance of such an event, determined on sending an official agent to Madrid, in the person of M. De Moraes Sarmento, who goes, after tomorrow, to Cadiz, on board a steamer. Lord Howard de Walden, our new Minister, arrived yesterday, and a French corvette, reported to have on hoard the Fr'nch Minister, the Marquis or Baron Mortier, arrived this afternoon ; and a very great number of vessels, sa d to contain more troops and the long expected stores from England, are said to be off the bar, and will, in this event, be in to-morrow morning. The mail of the 7th from London is just in, but I have mot yet received my letters. FEB. 16.—The packet is going in about an hour's time, and I have further to say, that I understand, frem very good authority, that after the victory obtained at Leyria, when Count Saldanha was still there, he received orders from the Minister of War, Friere, to advance upon Coimbra; and having r presented that it would not be convenient to take that position, Friere ordered him to come immediately to Lisbon. As soon as the Count received this order, he wrote to ask the Duke of Terceira to take the command of his division. The Duke imm, diately sent Mozinho d'Albuquerque to Lisbon, to point out to tee Emperor the danger of Saldanha's giving up the com mand of his division. When this became generally known throughont the army, the commanding officers the dif ferent corps went in a body to the Count, to insist on his retaining his command, and to menace that they would put him under arrest if he attempted to give it up ; and they even offered to send two of their number, with two com panies of grenadiers, to Lisbon, to put an end to (acabar) the Minister of War. The official letters that passed be tween the Count and the Minister of War are really curi ous. Friere tells him that it was the Emperor that wished him to be deprived of his command. It is well known that Saldanha's and Friere's views on a very delicate ques tion are widely different. The Miguelites have nearly evacuated Figueira, having only left in garrison a few militia men. These people might now take it with very trifling, or, perhaps, no loss at all, if they thought proper ; but I dare say that they will neglect to do it. General Macdonnell was still at Figueira on the 11th inst., without being able to get away for England. It is also reported that Napier has taken Salvatierra, and made some prisoners ; but if General Lemos did actually cross and reach Santarem, I know not what Mignelite troops ►,here could be at Salvatierra. The Emperor has again intrusted a command to the Duke of Terceira, who will have 5,000 men with him, and it will be called the right wing of the Liberating army. Count Saldanba will command the left, an d General Stubbs the centre. This was de:ermined upon last evening, as well as that a simultaneous attack on Santarem should very shortly be made. We shall see. Since writing the above, I have seen an English gentle man who has just come up from Santarem, a man by no means likely to say more than what is actually the fact, and be assures me that the Miguelites have during the last six days been losing in their hospitals from 85 to 90 men per day, one day as many as 102, from the prevailing fevers there, which went very materially to discourage them. A 9 a proof of the high opinion which Don Miguel and his men have of the courage and daring of the Duke of Terceira, as soon as they found out that he had as sumed the command of the forces before Santarem, their guards and patrols were doubled. The moment that he left the command they resumed their former practice. BRIGHTON.—There is a meeting to be held at the Town hall here on Monday next, with a view of ascertaining the feeling of the inhabitants as to the pro posed incorporation of this borough. It is expected that a very strong opposition will be made to any alteration intended on this subject. COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.—A Court of Common Council was held yesterday for general busi ness. The Remembrancer reported sundry applications which had been made to Parliament likely to affect the City's interests, upon which they were referred to sundry Committees. Several reports and petitions for leases were agreed to. It is not commonly known to what a prodi gious extent money has been invested by foreigners in United States loans and other undertakings, owing without doubt to the very high credit enjoyed by that Government, as well as to its being placed out of the reach of disasters which in Europe are contently disturb ling public credit. The debt of the United States being now nearly all redeemed, the same preference seems to have been established in favour of the stock and other securities of the separate states of the Union, in all of which much foreign capital will be found to have been placed. We have seen a list of the amount held by fo reigners in the various securities issued by the state of Pennsylvania, consisting of loans and canal undertakings, under the guarantee of the local government. The total quantity of stock thus created forms a capital of 16,463,660 dollars, of which 9,301,711 dollars (much more than one half) is held by foreigners. Of the other states we have seen no precise return, but the proportion is no doubt very great, though the northern states, as longer established and better _administered, appear to ob tain a decided preference. BLACK SWANS.—These beautiful birds, which are known to be natives of New Holland, are dif ficult to be procured even in their native swamps, and can only be secured alive when young. They are then sent down to Sydney on the backs of natives—a journey which often proves fatal—and as much as ten pounds a piece have been refused for them on the spot. A gentleman, who has recently returned, took charge of four, one of which was killed in a storm off Cape Horn. The other three were brought alive to the London Docks, but unfor tunately they were permitted to swim in the waters of the Docks, for the purpose of clearing their feathers from the salt water. The poor animals drank the water, which is impregnated with copperas and other deleterious matter, and the consequence was that they all died the ensuing day, after having survived the perils of a most boisterous voyage. The most acceptable present to the aristocracy of New South Wales would be a pair of white mane. COURT CIRCULAR. The King gave audiences yesterday to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Earl of Belfast, Earl Howe, Sir J. Kempt, and Sir James Cockburn. The Queen honoured the performance Of the Revolt of the Harem, at Covent-garden Theatre, last evening, with her presence. Her Majesty and suite arrived in two carriages soon after seven o'clock, at the private entrance, where a Guard of Honour (of the Foot Guards), were on duty. Mr. Lee, the High Constable, and Messrs. Smith and Gardner, the principal officers of police, were in attendance. Her Majesty was attended by the Earl of Denbigh (Lord Chamberlain to the Queen), Earl and Countess Brownlow, Viscount and Vis countess Falkland, and Miss Hudson. The Duke of Cumberland, the Duchess of Gloucester, and the Princess Sophia, visited their Majesties yesterday. The Princess Augusta and a select party dined with their Majesties on Wednesday.evening. The Duke of Cumberland honoured Sir Colquhoun Grant with his company at dinner on Wednesday evening. Th ere was a select party to meet his Royal Highness. Monsieur Van de Weyer, the Belgic Minister, arrived in town on Wednesday. His Excellency had an interview yes terday with Viscount Palmerston at the Foreign-office. Prince Talleyrand and Baron Bulow, the Prussian Minister, had interviews with Viscount Palmerston at the Foreign-office yesterday. The Chevalier de Mattos, the Brazilian Minister, visited the members of the Royal Family yesterday, to take leave. Hi s Excellency was accompanied by Senhor A. Ribeiro, the new Brazilian Minister. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. ARRIVALS AT CHELTENHAM, Right Hon. Lord Seagrave ; Countess de Wal4rstorff; Ladies Cockerell, Cromie ; Sir William and Lady Hi c k. ; Colonel and Mrs. Hopkinson ; Majors Hodgson, Cadogan and family, Montgomerie, Bragge; Captains W. H. Penny, Tinling, Pettat, William Baker; Rev. Messrs. S. T. Gully, Winniatt ; Messrs. and Mesdames Kennedy, Guy Eve_ red, Grange and family, Roughton, Somers; Messrs. Green away, Strafford, John Forbes, Neyler, Wood, Thomas, Daly, Spurrell, Brown, Domville, Mereweather, Bristowe, Clayfield Holford, Mant, Watson, Croome and family, Barnard, Beevi; Cowrie, H. Bromley. Douglas, Huddlestone, B. Maurice, H ar: nage, Beamish, Rogers, Hopner, Barrie, W. Jones, Burbridge; Mesdames Crickett, Anderson ; Miss Hampton, &c. &c. ARRIVALS AT BATH. Lady Fielding, Capt. and Lady Elizabeth Wathen, Col. Harding, Col. Matron, Col. Phillips, Lieut.-Col. and Miss Watt, Mr. Watt Ormsby ; Captains Conyngham, Hughes, Mainwaring, Seward, Elton, Gould, Morris, Norris ; Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Theobald ; Rev. Messrs. Jones, Leslie, Ogle, Wilde, Robinson ; Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, Ahmuty, Henly, Mortimer, Morgan, M`Lean, Vezey, Welsh, Browne, Gough, Mayne, Mitchel ; Messrs. Craven Berkeley, M.P., Affieck, Fox, Hay ward, Hyot, Kennaway, Lane, Lee, Loder, Percival, Ramson, St. Newton, Claguiere, Ensor, Niblet, Weare, White, Ashe, Hall, Seymour, Wainwright, Saunders, Entwistle, Horne, Impey, Carroty, W. S. Parsons, J. Kepling ; Mistresses Ayns, England, George, Lord, Sheppard, Stickhall, Norris, Thring ; Misses Barnham, Browning, Johnson, Hood, Willis, &c. UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. CAMBRIDGE, FEB. 27.—The Rev. Thomas Stewart Lyle Vogan, M.A., has been collated to the vicarage of Potter Heigham, Norfolk, in the gift of the Lord Bishop of Norwich. The scholarship in the disposal of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, for candidates from Bedfordshire, has been adjudged to J. R. Wardale, of Oakham School, son of the Rev. J. R. Wardale, formerly Fellow of Clare Hall. The undermentioned gentlemen were ordained by the Lord Bishop of Lincoln, at Buckden, on Sunday last, the 23d instant : DEACONS. George Heathcote, 8.A., St. John's College, Cambridge ; John Kent, 8.A., Wadham College, Oxford; John Grant Lawford, 8.A., ditto ; The Hon. Augustus Frederick Phipps, M.A., Trinity College, Cambridge; Thomas Hans Sotheby, 8.A., New Inn Hall, Oxford; John Cheetham, 8.A., Jesus College, Cambridge ; with Letter Dismissory from the Arch bishop of York. PRIESTS. John Wolvey Astley, M.A., Fellow of King's College, Cambridge ; Thomas William Carr, 8.A., Merton Cellege, Oxford; John Durban, 8.A., Queen's College, Cambridge; William Wigan Harvey, 8.A., Fellow of King's College, Cam bridge; James Hildyard, 8.A., F€llow of Christ's College, Cambridge; Arthur Gore Pemberton, M.A., Trinity College, Dublin ; John Crosby Umpleby, 8.A., Queens' College, Cam bridge ; Joseph Underwood Ventris, 8.A., St. John's College, Cambridge; West Wayet, 8.A., Queen's College, Oxford; John Baillie, 8.A., Trinity College, Cambridge, James Deans, 8.A., St. John's College, Cambridge, Francis Hastings Stuart Menteath, 8.A., Magdalen Hall, Oxford, William Musters, 8.A., Corpus Christi College, Oxford. With Letters Dimis sory from the Archbishop of York. Augustus Fitzroy, 8.A., Trinity college, Cambridge. Wtth Letter Dimissory from the Bishop of Norwich. The Bishop of Lincoln's next ordination will beheld at Buck_ den on Trinity Sunday, the 25th of May. Candidates are re quired to send their papers thither to his Lordship before the 13th of April. COURT FOR THE RELIEF OF INSOL- VENT DEBTORS. The Matters of the Petitions and Schedules of the Pri soners, hereinafter named (the same having been filed in the Court) are appointed to be heard at the Court house, in Portugal .street, Lincoln's Inn-fields, on Tun- DAY, the 4th of March, 1834, at Nine o'clock in the Forenoon. Baker, J., Houndsditch, merchants' clerk. Burgiss, J., North-place, Hampstead-road, clerk to a solicitor. Gale, J., Dean-street, High Holborn, clerk. Hardy, G., Brixton.place, Waterloo-road, beer retailer. Lawrance, E., Edmond-street, Camberwell, fishmonger. Middleton, S., Carlisle-street, Bethnal-green, silk.weaver. Merriott, R., Worship-street, Shoreditch, coach-painter. Morton, J., Harrow-on-the-hill, dealer in coals. Nichols, W., Brentford, ship-owner. Olton, .1. A., Crisp-street, Poplar, gentleman. Theakston, J. F., Ebury-square, Pimlico, mail-coach guard. Trigwell, J., Tavistock-place, Tavistock.square, collector. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. OXFORD CIRCUIT.—READING, FEB. 26. The business of these assizes commenced at the town of Reading yesterday, when the commis ion was opened by Mr. Justice Park and Mr. Justice Patteson, after which the grand jury were charged. The courts were opened for trials at 9 o'clock this day. The came list is very light, there being five cases, of which two are spe cial juries. _ THE KING, ON THE PROSECUTION OF THE BANK OF ENG- LAND, V. WILLIAM WILLIAMS. The prisoner was indicted for uttering a forged Bank of England note with intent to defraud the Bank of England. Mr. Justice PArrEsorr summed up the case to the jury, who found the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to he transported for life ; the learned Judge stating that lie had no discretion in this case, but was hound to pass that sentence upon him. The legislature had remitted the ca pital punishment, but had fixed a certain punishment in stead. That bad not yet produced the beneficial result which was expected, but he hoped that in a shott time it would be found that the alteration had been successful in the repression of the crime of forgery. THURSDAY, FEB. 27. The grand jury have returned a true bill against several Eton scholars for a riot, in breaking the windows of a hair-dresser at Windsor on the last Windsor fair-day. NORTHERN CIRCUIT.--Dußibilf, FEL 25. John Weir was put to the bar charged with having on the night of Tuesday, the 18th of February, feloniously and burglariously broken and entered the dwelling-house of Andrew Stodhart, at South Shields, with intent to commit felony therein. The learned Judge summed up the case to the jury, who, after a short deliberation, found the prisoner— Guilty. He was then called upon to say why judgment of death should not be recorded against him, which was accord ingly done. The learned Judge said his life would be spared, and he would inquire into the case, and if . any mitigating circumstances a pp eare d, t h e pr i soner s hould have the benefit of them. HOME CIRCUIT.--.HERTFORD, FEB. 27. Lord LYNDHURST prtsided in the Nisi Prius Court to day for the trial of common jury causes, none of which were of the slightest interest, except to the parties. There are 12 cases on the list for trial. Thomas Smith, alias Salisbury, alias William Hud son, was indicted for stealing a mule belonging to a farmer at Warbys, in Huntingdonshire. The jury returned a verdict of acquittal. A little urchin, aged 14, was found Guilty of stealing aid. from a child who was returning from a shop whither he had been sent on an errand. The Jury recommended him to mercy, on account of his age. The learned Judge should carry the recommendation into effect by transporting him for seven years, care being taken, under the proper authorities, that he was sent to some school, where his morals would be attended to. The child was committed in January last. Recent letters from Turin describe the doings at the en bassy there as very gay. Lady Foster had given a magnificent Bal Costume; Some of the characters were from Quentin Durward. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, FEB. 27. The house assembled shortly after five o'clock. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY reported that the com mittee appointed to regulate the journals of the house, had the fifth volume ready for delivery. The Bishop of LONDON presented petitions from Stanley and Winchampton, in the county of Dorset, and from the parish of St. Peter, Cornhill, praying for the introduction of some measure for the better observance of the Sibbath. Lord POLTIMORE presented petitions from the Pro testant di , sentTs of Biddiford and East Bewdley, in the county of Devon, praying for relief from the disabilities under which they laboured. Lord KING presented a petition from the ratepayers of a parish in Surrey, praying for the continuation of the Labour Rate Act. Lord LITTLETON presented petitions from the Pro testant dissenters of Worcester, Evesham, Hatesowen, and Stourbridge, praying for relief from the disabilities under which they laboured. The noble lord observed that one of the petitions complained that the chapels of dissenters were not protected by the same laws as those which pro tectedr the church, and also contained an allegation to which it was not in his power to give an assent, namely, that the protestant dissenters were as numerous as the members of the church of England. The noble lord also presented petitions from the minister, churchwardens, and householders of the parish of Hagley, and also from a parish in Stafford against the further con tinuance of beershops. The petitioners stated that they felt nodoubt that the measure which hail been introduced for the establishment of these houses had been brought forward with the best intentions possible, but while they admitted that, they could not but state that they had been productive of great mischief. The noble lord fully concurred in the statements of the petition, and expressed a sincere hope that the session would not be allowed to pass without some effectual remedy being applied to the nuisance. MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS. Mr. BERNAL, and others, from the Commons, brought up the Exchequer Bills' Bill and the Extent in Aids' Bill, which, Oa the motion of the Earl of SHAFTESBURY, were severally read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time tomorrow. _ _ _ Lord FOLEY presented a petition from the protestant dissenters in the county of Worcester, praying for relief. Lord DACRE presented a similar petition from Saw bridgeworth in the county of Hertford. The Duke of RICHMOND presented petitions from Wigton and Kirton, in the county of Lincoln, in favour of the Labour Rate Bill. On the motion of the NOBLE DUKE, the Marquis of Lansdowne was added to the committee on the county rate ; and Mr. Charles Lawson, the cleik of the peace fur the county of Surrey, and Mr. Allen, the clerk of the peace for the county of Middlesex, were summoned to give evidence before that committee. The house then adjourned until to-morrow at half-past three. HOUSE OF COMMONS, FEE. 27. The SPEAKER took the chair at a few minutes past five o'clock. The Marquis of CHANDOS slid be had a great many petitions to present from places in the county of Bucks, complaining of the distress under which the agricultural interests laboured ; one from Gloucester, praying for a repeal of the malt duty, and several from places in York shire, complaining that the agricultural classes were labour. ing under very great distress, and praying for relief. Lord GEORGE SOMERSET brought in a Bill rela lative to the Mumbles Lighthouses, which was read a first time. . . Mr. J. MAXWELL presented a petition from Dun fermline in Scotland, against church patronage. Col,}nel CONOLLY liegked to ask if it was the inten tion of his .Maje,ty's government to alter or amend the Grand Jury Bill introduced last session ? The more he heard of that bill, the less likely he thought it to work well in Ireland. The SPEAKER said there was no question before the house. Mr. LITTLETON said he had no objection to answer the hon. and gallant member's question ; it was not the intention of Ministers to make any alteration in that bill. It bad only been passed last session, and surely they should have at least one year's experience of the mode of its opera tion before they adopted any measures for its amendment. Mr. GUEST moved for returns of all the houses occupied at the public expense, as residencies for public officers in London and Westminster, with the amount paid for rent, repairs, and furniture, from the year 1828 to 1833 both inclusive. The same How. MEmixit moved for returns of the expenditure for the amount of the furniture supplied to the officers and courts of law at Westminster for one year, ending the sth of January, 1834. The same hon. mem ber moved fix returns of the different lunatic asylums in England and Wdles, which have been erected wholly or in part at the public expense, together with a list of the di rectors of such establishment,, and the amount expended b, them for furniture, repairs, &c., together with the largest numbers of male and female lunatics confined at any one time in such establishments. REDUCTION OF THE MALT TAX. Sir W. INGILBY rose for the purpose of bringing forward a question which he, last year, had bad the satisfaction of bringing before the house.—(ll..ar, bear, hear.) He was a little better prepared on this oc casion than on the last, in consequence of the reply he had got from the noble lord opposite, that it was an improper mode of proceeding for a countryman to come down to the house—(Hear, and laughter)—like a man from his native hills, altogether unprepared with a substitute for a reduction which he asked for, amounting to about four millions of income. —(Hear, hear.) He was quite aware of the difficulty of remitting a large sum in the way of taxation from the Exchequer, without giving some evidence practically of how other sums might be raised in its place. He begged to observe to an hon. member whom he saw in his place, that so far from bringing forward the motion for the purpose of embarrassing Government, he had taken as much uains to support the present ministers as any man in the house, and he altogether, on the present occasion, disclaimed any notions of hostility towards Government. His object was to aid the noble lord with the means of finding funds to enable him to go on.—(Hear, and loud laughter.) It would appear to some ludicrous that he should rise up and propose means of supplying the coffers of the Chancellor of the Ex chequer ; but the noble lord would hear, by and bye, that be had his budget to produce—(Laughter)—and he was confident that that budget would give more satisfaction to the country than any budget produced in that house for the last seventy years.—(A laugh.) It was unnecessary for him to repeat the arguments made use of last session, as well as in the course of the present, short as it had been, in favour of a repeal of the malt tax. Much of the dismay which had been spread throughout the country—the horrible resorts of incendiaries, and acts of violence of various indivi duals, be believed, took their origin from the continuance of this tax. Its removal would be the me ins of abolishing the " tiddlywink" houses, of which he had so many letters in complaint from his country friends. By the abolition of this tax he would enable the country people to do as they did in the good old times of their fathers—drink wholesome beverage; he would get rid of, also, the terrible system of gin and dram.drinking. He would render the greatest service to the noble lord opposite as well as to the country at large, if he scucceeded, as he fondly hoped be should, in getting rid of this most odious tax. He, himself, could not understand a great deal of the argument that had been raised against it ; be had yet to learn that because a tax was once o i m f p j o u s d e g d m , e n it t H s e ! r: therefore hear, t a r: ld continue la u laughter.) h ;1. until Thethe noble day lord said last year that the consideration of removing the h Exchequer this most in this tax might hereafter be brought on the taps, provided supplying weremea l n ie s uofw dev h i a s t ed h o e f ot w he a r a wi h se ou s n u , p f abominable tax.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Not only should he suggest those means, but he would actually enable the noble lord by his budget to see how he might take off also the house and window tax.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He was glad to observe hon. gentlemen op posite in such good-humour; as from that he augured a good result.--(Hear.) He was rather sorry that the gallant colonel who bolted --(Loud cheers) --the other night had left it in his hands to advocate for the inhabitants of Westminster, relief from the house and window taxes. He thought it would have been much better for the gallant colonel to have stood to his post, rather than have deserted it, and left the business to de volve on him, in addition to his own rural duty.-- (Cries of " Hear, hear.") It had been said that no doubt be would stand up for the landed interest ; but the house might depend on his making an equal stand for his brethren in town as well as in the country.—(Cheers.) And if his policy were to be adopted, he would pledge himself that it would be beneficial both to town and country. He bad to propose by his budget, not only to take off the malt duty, but in the end to have the satisfaction of preceding the metropolitan members, by having afforded to their constituents, of the free will and accord of Government, a reducti n of the window duty. and that too without those constituents having to call at his house in Berkeley-square in deputation hear)—or without raising that clamour, in respect of which it had been said they had already obtained a part. He looked on that part of his Majesty's speech which condoled with the state of the agricultural interests as deserving of particular attention, and he should not lose sight of it. He would state that which, if the noble lord would only adopt, would enable him to do justice to that part of his Majesty's speech. He was happy to see in the house the right hon. member far Tamworth, as on this occasion he looked forward to some aid from him.—(Hear, hear, and laughter) He did not understand Parliament quite practically enough yet to know what the cheer he heard from the right honourable gentleman meant. If be supposed that he (Sir W. I.), an ancient Whig, not of hours', but of many years' standing, had joined gratuitously the power of his eloquence—(Laughter)—if the right honourable gentleman supposed that he was going to bring that eloquence to the aid of the ancient Tory camp, he would find himself vastly mistaken.—(Hear. ) Standing there, he acknowledged no distinct party. He had come down, right or wrong, to support the pro. f p o o r s i t t h i o e n r h e l e i e h f a o d f t t a h k e e a n g r u i p e and iti,r a w l ha and c d h e h o e o b on e I i e e r v e e i a d t l o b t e e r e e l: t k s e , and not for the sake of putting a sixpence into his own pocket, or advancing his own private views in any way. The effect of repealing this tax would he to produce a better market for the commodity. It would not lower the rents, and would give relief to the middle and lower classes solely. Were hon. gentlemen aware that the people laboured under two gri e vous necessities—one of drinking water, the other of drinking gin ?..—(Hear.) By some p articular benevolence of his Majesty's government, gin had been rendered so cheap that a man could swan i n it almost for half-a-crown.—(Laughter.) Get rta of the malt tax and the cottager would not be reduced .to the necessity of drinking unwholesome ardent liquor for want of good beer. He would have the advantage of enjoying the same drink now that he had fifty years ago. It appeared in evidenc e g i ven b e f ore a committee in 1821, that there was not a single man in a parish of a Mr. Elmore who had not a barrel of ale in his house. Who had that now ? He would say, not one. The consequence was that the cottager went to the " Tiddy-le-wink" and drank gin. Nothing could be better than the budget he would produce, and he would inform the noble lord an hon. memb-rs that it was quite practical, and afforded more than an adequate substitute for the amount taken from the revenue by the repeal of the malt tax.— (Hear, hear.) The right honourable baronet said last session that be was astonished how persons could come dawn to that house, and propose so great a reduction, without, at the same time, any feasible plan for replacing it in the exchequer. These might not be the exact words of the right hon. gentleman, but it was the subject of his objection. He (Sir W. Ingilby) would not delay the house longer, but immediately produce his budget. It was drawn up by himself, and entit'ed " the budget of the Knight of Linccen, recently promoted to the office of Chance'lor of the Exchequer," and he hoped not for long. —(A laugh.) The amount of the malt tax of the United Kingdom, in 1832, was 4,845,000!., the duty upon malt being 2s. 7d. per bushe:. Now he had stated that the repeal of this tax would go a very long way to increase the comforts of the citizens in humble life and the middling classes. The objections to its repeal were, that the public burdens would not al low it. How was this to be remedied ? The noble lord had not stated that he had any intention to relieve the country from this excessive and tremendous burden. lie (Sir William lngiltty) would have the noble lord to change the course of his councils, and come forward with the liberal measure, to get rid of this burden. He (Sir W. I ) would make up the deficiency. —(A laugh.) The first thing he had to propose was, he knew it was a very odious proposition—he knew it would be very ungracious for the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, to come forward and tax any of his Majesty's lieges, particularly to propose a tax upon men who had been lately relieved from taxation. The brewers had been relieved front the beer tax. Now, he would say unto the brewers, you get good malt for nothing, you have been relieved from the inquisition of the exciseman, from his prying eyes, and the abomination of his visits; it would be but fair, it in return you would submit to a small tax upon every barrel of ale you brew. —(A laugh.) He would ask whether the hon. members who laughed were brewers or not?— (A laugh.) He was well aware that the repeal of the malt tax would not be found so very objectionable if, in stead of taking out, it would put money into the pockets of the brewers, and if it would enable them to off ct a profit of six shillings per barrel upon their beer. Under the circumstances which he had stated, the malt duty, be contended, could Ile easily spared ; but he wished, in his view of the case, to place it as low as possible, and not to levy more upon the people than was absolutely neces sary for thepurposes of the state, and he would therefore pro pose a tax of 6s. on the brewers which would amount to a million and-a-half. The second article to be produced from his budget was a duty on foreign wise. —(Loud cries of" Hear, hear.") He took that fie eign wine which was of a costly and expensive description, such as the members of the House of Commons were in the habit of drinking, rather than that which was drunk by the tnore moderate part of the community.—(A laugh.) It was, in fact, a tax against himself, for he preferred thinking Champagne and Claret, although he might pay a higher price for it. He would propose an additional duty on all foreign wines excepting Cape.—(Hear, and a laugh.) It was quite necessary, although hon. members might laughs, that his budget should not only be heard but clearly understood. He would increase the duty on all foreign wines, except Cape, but not exactly in the same proportion. On Por tuguese and Spanish wines, which were the description generally used by the middling classes, he would make but a small increase, while on the French, the Rhenish, and all the nobler wines —(A laugh)—he would raise it at once from ss. 6d., which was the present duty—he now came to a most awful tax—to 15s.—(Loud laughter.) He knew that was a most grievous tax for the Lords and Commons to pay, but it was rather more courteous to tax themselves a little, in order to let the poor man have his malt cheap. That he considered an ample apology for his proposition, and by the imposition of that tax, the House of Commons would nobly rebut the charge that was generally made against them of being so very jealous of taxing themselves.—(Cries of "Amount.") The amount of that increase he estimated at 237,000!. He hoped the house would consider that to he a proper tax. Another tax he proposed was one which he consi dered worthy of the consideration of the house and the country—he meant the gin tax ; but fearful that some mis chief might occur, or some objections to it might proceed taxf roto shouldthe Chancellorb eraised of 2.6 Exchequer,d. a g he gallon.—(Hear proposedn.— Ha o e ta r y this and laughter.) He might perhaps have proposed to have raised it ss. or 7s. a gallon, but lest that . when the noble lord re-entered upon his office, he might make an objection to it on account of illicit distilleries or the increase of smuggling, he bad taken it at a lower rate—as low a rate of duty as could with any degree of con sistency be allowed. He only proposed to increase the e i ea o r ( t e t Ler offi cer,ce°atuisygde pay of the gin temples from the present duty to one half a crown per gallon.—( Hear, hear, and laughter.) j o em(y Ha_ w t ee h ati a ytr hae a m ap came to intendedet ao a n r 2d e , d slbaoy t u o ir ,h b at )giet raising great national for, the very great accuracy aablnehdi o ghi f ttilaw h Aea i ins s aojouens fi etti g yo u ,sf r t e ago s i — p. almostl fl a u o laughter)—made t emr incredible ) u — c h m thatad e pe happy me lium—(Laughter)— He considered that not to be high enough to permit illicitt tHh eis had saudm t distillationho then n ma otnaxe y ; propose, t was s o s e not e n , smuggling—it n a t d i otnhael benefitgreat g f o o w o r d a t s h t b e a p a t eo h when he resumed his situation again, to do a r • tosvi novel nature. What be was going to propose might ex cite the risibility of that house ; but never mind that—(A laugh),-he meant to let the nation see what that propo sition was.—(Hear, hear.) He was perfectly sure that there was no gentleman in that house, or indeed in that town, but was aware of the enormous , profligacy that was • carried on in many bad houses within it.—(lm mense laughter.) He was going to take a deliberative walk through London, in order to see the number of those houses that existed within it.—(Heate hear.) In sumitoat would make e he would not vouch the immediate neighbourhood of the house, he puuld find many such houses as the Athenaeum. He would speak the awful word, he meant to let fly at the hells of Lon don.—(Laughter.) He did not know why they should escape contribution to the revenue, when it wes found that the kw was not strong enough to put them down.—(Hear, hear.) ft was well known, that they did exist, therefore he saw no reason why some source of revenue might not be derived from them. Why should a pair of the greatest scoundrels in Europe be al lowed to play night after night in order to entrap the youth fresh from Oxford into the same exciting game ? Why should a pair of mountebanks in masks, and pretending to throw dice for thousands, and no stop being put to it— wby should they not contribute to the resources of the coun try laugh.) If the law of the land was not strong enough to put down these pestilential shops, surely it was worth the consideration of the exaninister, when he resumed his office—(Much laughter)--how far that hint might that 1 0151 be acted on. He was willing to give - it was very strongly oppce,ed.—(Much Ira Certainly he would give it up with. more g ao s i c e o , temper than some honourable gentlemen._ and lords had • done upon another occa sion (La go, but when he found that there ere..3.°Y__,,oo thieves having the next door to the Bishop _teb°o7. thought it was high time something sho so methi n g they could not be put &m it", let them , do oiled; I benefit of their fellow subjects He fore, that each of those tion How many houses there were of that d f thiPem hi not know, never having been in any o rhaps he police when no r o iruhad magistr ates g u t hisn coming forward with his present object, pe u.. an have inquired how many there were --be sho r ld n for a license the small sum ovfagla,bo°o°eoiids/r:;bl%auuldf the In the police.o ffi ces, or the magistrates, thato De; office.—(Hear.) He believed, however, there was nothing of their real number knott deficiency in the ex. Chancellor the Horne-office or at the police-offiees. He these vagabonds down at 50/., and therefore ftfl be a revenue of 50,000/. a ye it from the bells o (Hear and laughter.) His next proposition to In was this.—(Hear, hear.) He came now to th as they were celled, who attended those houses know why the gentleman who went there for ew thr a o n a Y t th cu in t g, ment should not be taxed, or should pc a license as he did to go a s hooring•- - (" " He did not know why he should not take also to go to hell.—(Tremendous laughter.) Sir R. INGLIS rose to order. He did in an assembly of Christians such expressii used.—(Cr es " Oh, oh Sir W. INGILBY resumed. He admit :b nd o uht bell,t h n rr was not such as ought to be addressed to He did not want the honourable baronet of the Excheqeu license.—(Laughter.) He would calcu tlemen, or what were termed gentlem legs, and the complete omnium Bathe quented those places, he would put 5,000, and that would make 50,000/. (An Hon. Gentleman —Only 10/. ane wa s only the first specimen, or outli but it would serve to show that a e of this description could be obtain , the accounts for the noble lord.—( He hoped the noble lord liked the prog in the means of raising money for the (Hear, bear, and great laughter.) a mere touch of what he inte the subject of taxation. He stood ! a system of taxation, that would outr s notorious and Right Hon. Wil liam laughter.) He stood pledged pro! to meet she exigencies of the state The noble lord opposite, when he aga of the Exchequ e r, need not ge under difficulty about the 1,200,000/. li the other night, a he (Sir Win. him an equitable and ju s t way of r fur any expense, and that too witho lion. member for Middlesex, wit' he would point out a mode of red: would be satisfactory to the greater' —(Great laughter.) Before he cm al this he would give tie noble le he should relieve the lower c tur l cr a dpa u :, vv,agenent Chancellor (Hear.) With what he had alrea a little risibility upon the counter but he now came to a monstru question as to finance, and i him in this, it would show a r l , lor h o a f d the to Ex p c a h y equ a er, t In bringing forward this point, lord opposite (Alth o rp), who h travels had to pay a tax ; a to er.) itles should not Marquises and yanilwdiet(hinioosuitn travellers in their way, be als Tue duke, viscount, baronet should be taxed. All honou taxed ad valorens.—(GreAt 1 templated in this way was n to the knight the scale of It ended with the knight, It exempted ladies ; no mat in their own right, or for tu any sort—it excepted them to this tax that any pe need not du so—(Great I they should relinquish t hardship, 1001. or 501. a • the consolation that this that is, if lie wished to re A duke was put don ought to be 1001. A was unnecessary to go the house that an known sue—it was put upon th pay it, and the grea' people that they could p a•half would be the prom tax laid on them. The produce of all the• lected being 4,976,00( thus leaving a balanc not in this sum includi leave him, or rather surplus of 4,500/, 1 sum. This was to I peal. The gallant minster) might sa' was taking great to do good to t they, the men of t gallant colonel has place and leave (Sir William log' a budget for the say to Lord Althoff over to the metrop ask—take this sr window duty, h it. He would in civil and n not going to for shops, nor to it thing. He hop great calculator, had proposed and window tai he would levy the transfer of tacking public a tax upon tht then from the means to get r as well as eve' the Governr He contende bad alluded there could tax.--(Heat and it was There we u he was nr reciprocity dis ti ncti on s taies pr ess in gt anti shoes and He thoug' functions up the w in introdi the desir who hie a substiti made hi' a fit sub Filially, cher tro to prop noble I , —(A ! him w it for hear.) " Thi purpt tially T' tion, in ti —( muir tru the del in ( 1 li it It ...