The Sun. — London, England, 1827-03-16 00:00:00

against the return for the Boroughs of Crail and Pittenween, &c. The Committee decided, that James Balfour, Esq. was entitled to take his place as the sitting Member, and that the Petition of Sir W. Rae was not frivolous or vexatious. NAVIGATION LAWS. Mr. LINDSAY presented a Petition from the Ship owners of Dundee, _complaining of the present state of tke Navi gation Laws. CORN LAWS. Alderman THOMPSON presented a petition from Mr. James Williamson, an indigo-broker, praying that the duties on the importation of foreign corn may be regulated by the price which grain may bear at the time. Mr. CUR WEN moved for a Return of all Corn, Flour, Barley, and Peas import4d into Great Britain from Ire land, between the 10th of October, 1825, and the 10th of Octo ber, 1826; and also for a Return of all Grain of the same de scription, exported from Great Britain and Ireland, during the same time. Sir J. SHELLEY presented a petition from Rush manden, in Sussex, against any alteration in the Corn Laws. WAKEFIELD AND FERRYBRIDGE CANAL. A great number of petitions were presented from towns in Yorkshire and Lancashire, in favour of the Canal to be con structed between the Calder and Hebble Navigation, at Wake field ; and the river Air, at Ferrybridge. Lord 'MILTON, in moving the second reading of the Bill for carrying the projected Canal into effect, observed, that the unusual number of Members in attendance at that early hour, must be ascribed to canvassing which had been resorted to by the opponents of a very necessary and salutary improvement in the in tercourse between the inhabitants of the North of England. That canvassing had been carried to a great extent with both sexes ; but when he informed the House, that the length of the whole Canal was only twelve:miles, and that the owners of the land of ten of those miles were favourable to the measure, and subscribers to the undertaking ; that all the opponents were proprietors of the Air and Calder Navigation Company, whose interests, it was said, the Canal would affect, except one individual, and that person was of that sex the most likely to be easily influenced by representations. The yearly income of the Air and Calder Company was 120,0001., and after paying a large dividend they were enabled last year to invest 25,0001. in the funds by way of Stock. Looking at this fact, he did not think that the alarm raised by the opposers of the Canal, with respect to the injuries likely to be done to those who held settlements or other obligations on the faith of the Air Navi gation property, was well founded. The Canal would, he was con vinced, be a ' great benefit, without injuring the profits of the Calder Company, and he therefore hoped the House would permit the Bill to be read a second time, in order that the plan might be thoroughly examined in a Committee. Mr. RIDLEY COLBORNE opposed the motion, and moved that the Bill be read that day six months. He declared that the Calder Company were about to make alterations and im provements in the navigation of the river, which would render the Canal wholly unnecessary. Mr. STUART WORTLEYsupported the amend ment under the faith of the promise held out by the Hon. Mem ber. If, however, that promise of improvement was not fulfilled be would feel himself next year bound to support the proposition for a Canal. Sir JOSEPH YORKE thought the Calder Com pany were not to be much depended upon for any improvement. He perceived they had, in a few years, received 1,200,000/., and they could not, therefore, complain they had no funds for purposes which they now declared necessary. Sir JAMES GRAHAM strongly supported the second reading of the Bill, and the Inquiry in a Committee. M r . AVILMOT HORTON opposed it. Mr. WY `'ILL supported the proposition for going into a Committee. Mr. SYKES approved of going into a Committee, where the practicability of the measure proposed by the Bill could be best discussed and determined upon. The pledge that had been given, that the enterprize would be taken up by those in whose hands it was, was no satisfactory pledge to the House, as the House had no power to enforce those persona to carry it into effect. Lord NORM ANBY concurred in the opinion, that the practicability and propriety of the plan would be best ascer tained in a Committee. Mr. G. BANKES said, that he was induced to vote against going into a Committee, for, on the face of the proposition itself, there was a reason why the Bill should not be committed, namely, the interference which the Bill would have in its ope ration with the Air and Calder Navigation. It would interfere in most important points too ; viz. in diminishing the waters re quisite for that N a vigation.—(Cries of no, no.)—The Honoura ble Member proceeded to contend, that from a passage in the Bill, it appeared, that such would be its effect. He was therefore unwilling to saddle the parties with the expences of the Com mittee, when there was not a prospect of the Bill being ulti mately passed. Sir THOMAS LETHBRIDGE, Lord MIL TON, and several other Members, approved of going into the Com mittee, reserving to themselves perfect freedom as to what ulterior proceedings should be adopted ; but contradictory statements could be explained and reconciled by a Committee, and would be the most satisfactory course both to the public, and the parties more immediately affected by the Bill. The House tiaen divided, and continued in discussion for nearly half an hour with closed doors. For the Bill I3o—Against it 139—Majority against it 3. On the suggestion of an Hon. Member, whose name we could not learn, Mc. MARTIN withdrew his motion, for the present, which stood for to-night, relative to the proceedings of the Mar quis of Clanricarde, at the last Galway Election. Mr. MAURICE FITZGERALD postponed his motion recommending the adoption of measures to carry into ef fect the policy of the Union, until Tuesday, May 8. Mr. CALCRAFT gave notice that, in consequence of the indisposition of his Right Hon. Friend (sir John Newport), the motion respecting the state of the law for rebuilding and re pairing churches in Ireland, which stood for to-night, woiild not be brought forward until the 20th inst. Mr. ROBERT SMITH presented a petition from the thread-lace manufacturers of Buckingham, praying for a re peal of the law respecting the duties imposed on the sale of thread lace. The Hon. Member seeing the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his place, begged leave to call his attention to the petition, and hoped that the prayer of it would be com plied with. The revenue, he said, arising from the duty, was exceedingly small, yet it pressed heavily upon the petitioners. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that he had no desire whatever to retain the duties which were impoael on the sellers of thread-lace, and that he would look into the details of the Act. The grounds upon which the duties were imposed he apprehended were, to prevent the fraudulent sale of foreign lace. If, on examining the detail?, he should discover that they pressed on the petitioners, and were not beneficial, he would himself bring in a J3ill to repeal the law, as the duties now obtained from the measure were very rinall.--(Hear.) POLLS AT COUNTY ELECTIONS. Lord ALTHORP rose pursuant to notice, to sub mit to the House a motion for the appointment of a Select C 011:.. mitten to consider the mode of taking polls at County Elections. The inconveniences which his isizition sought to remove would re quire the intervention of the Legislattn.:, He need hardly call to the mind of the House, bow great were the expenses attending county elections :--those expenses were, he bad na, hesitation in declaring, a great grievance.—(Hear.)—No man even sfter he was elected for a county, in which there was a contested election, could feel assured that he should retain his seat in that House, for it was impossible, and the fact was universally admitted, that a person elected for a county, could avoid infringing on the 'Treating Act.—(Hear.) —For how could it be expected that forty-shilling freeholders \residing at a distance from the county town, where the election was carried on, wottld go thither entirely at their own expense, and without having refreshment when they arrived? He would now state one instance in which a county Member lost his seat by an infringement of that Act to which he had alluded. At a Middlesex election, Mr. Mainwaring was deprived of his seat for the county, be cause it was proved before a Committee of that House on an election petition, that he had provided meat and drink, not in any extravagant degree, for his voters at the Castle Tavern, Brentford. He (Lord Althorp) was aware that arrangements were frequently entered into between candidates that they wonld not take advantage of any thing that each might do, in respect of refreshments given to the voters ; nevertheless, it might happen, that although the rival candidates did not proceed by petition, complaining of the law being violated—yet, some freeholders might, and thus displace a Member because he had paid for the refreshments of his voters. Just such a case as this occurred in the Norfolk election in 1806, when Mr. Coke and Mr. Windham were candidates. In consequence of the expenses attending county elections, he knew that many gentlemen were deterred from coming forward, although solicited by a vast body of free holders. He begged permission to call the attention of the House to a recent instance of the enormous expense attending the pre sent mode attached to an election in an extensive county, he meant the county of York. That election, although it never went to a poll, cost the enormous sum of from 120,0001. to 150,000/.—(Loud cries of hear, hear, hear). Was not this a case under the existing law which required a remedy ? If that election had gone to the extent prescribed liy AsA of Par liament, it would have cost the parties an immense sum. Had the election lasted fifteen days, half a million of money would not have covered the expences of the parties. It was said, but he thought not with much reason, that the Members for the counties should be men of higher rank and larger fortune, than those representing cities and boroughs. He saw no particular obligation in such a distinction. He need not say, however, that no one ought to be elected a Member of that House, for a county or a city, or borough, who was not highly respectable. But it was carrying the thing too far if a man could not be elected for a county unless he expended 100,000/. in his election. Without intending any thing irksome to the feelings of his Noble Friend (Lord Milton) or the other Hon. Members for the county of York, for all of whom he entertained the highest respect, he yet might be per mitted to state a fact connected with the last election for that county. A gentleman of great respectability, one who stood high in the estimation of a vast number of the freeholders of that rich and populous county, on the day of nomination was named among the other candidates to represent Yorkshire, and had actually a show of hands in his favour, yet from motives of prudence, determined not to offer himself, solely on account of the enormous expences which must have followed had a contest been carried on. The free holders of the county of York had thus been deprived of a Gentleman whom they had selected to represent them in Parliament. He (Lord Althorp) thought that he had now sub mitted to the House such grounds, to prove that a Committee ought to be appointed to see whether or not a remedy could be de vised to remove the great evil of expenses attached to county elec tions on the present mode of taking polls. The principle, or something like it, upon which he founded his motion, had been acknowledged in the House of Commons so long ago as 1774. On the Journals of Parliament of that year, he found a resolution framed by a Committee to the effect that, with a view of obviat ing the inconveniences attending polling at county elections, dif ferent places in the county might be appointed to which the free holders should resort to give their votes, besides the county town. The Bill, he found, was brought into the House on the following Session, and read a first and second time and committed ; what became of it afterwards he had not discovered, but he believed that it was lost, owing probably to some difficulties in the detail. His motion for a Committee he hoped would be carried : and he well knew that when a Committee of that House ap plied themselves to any measure, they always succeeded.— There was one objection made against having polls taken in dif ferent parts of the county, which was this :—it was said that such a system would tend to destroy those feelings and spirit which gave an influence to the whole transaction. His answer to this objection was, that on the day of nomination at the county town, the freeholders should be all invited who chose to attend free of expence, and on the conclusion of the election at the chair ing of the Members, the same thing might take place. He would now very shortly state the two modes which he intended to submit to the Committee for their selection. The one was to have inferior officers to the Sheriff appointed at different places in the county to take the votes of the freeholders ; and the other to have the Sheriff go the circuit of the county to receive the free holders' votes. Having stated his view of the subject, and the re medy to the evil, he would not trouble the House further than submitting his motion, which was, " That it is the opinion of this House, that a Select Committee be appointed to take into consideration, and report to the House, whether any measure can be devised to diminish the expences incurred by county elections." The SPEAKER having put the question, _ _ _ Mr. BATLEY said a few words, condemning the mode of taking the poll in cities and boroughs. Mr. WM. SMITH was conscious that the objec tions urged by the Hon. Gentleman who had just spoken did lie against cities and boroughs, but in them the system could be more easily altered than in the case of counties. He was convin ced, that the shortening the time during which the poll should be kept open, and some new regulation of the out-voters, would get rid of all the inconveniences. He had no doubt that great reformation was practicable in the system of regulating elections. He (Mr. Smith) had the honour to represent a city (Norwich) in which there were 4,000 voters, and yet the poll was always over (for all the purposes of ascertaining the successful candidate) in a single day. He was therefore anxious to see the same improvement extended. He had no doubt but the Committee would be able to devise some means to remedy the defects of the existing system, and he thought it would be highly expedient that a similar reform should be introduced into cities and boroughs. Mr. LEADER MABERLY could speak to an instance of a very opposite nature to that mentioned by the Hon. Member for Norwich, with regard to the polling of 4,000 31( a:- hers in one day. He (Mr. Maberly) had the honour to represent a town (Northampton) in which there was not half that number of voters, and yet he did not recollect a single instance in which the poll had been finished in less than eight or nine days, and on one occasion it was known to have been kept open for 41 days. He was sure that every Gentleman who represented a popular Borough would be glad to concur in the measure of the Noble Lord. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed, that he did not see any insuperable objection to a plan . . for shortening the time of elections in Boroughs and Counties.— There was, however, one part of the Noble Lord's proposition which he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) considered liable to a very serious objection—he meant the suggestion as to taking the poll in differeit parts of the same county at the same time. It had always been considered, and no doubt justly considered, of great advantage to the purity of election, that candidates should bear to be badgered about (if he might use the phrase) by the electors.—(A laugh.)— Now if the poll were to be taken in dif ferent places at the same time, the candidate would be deprived of the opp.ortunity of answering the questions of the freeholders in those parts where he should not be personally present. How ever, as he before stitte4, he had no objection to the appointment of a Committee. _ _ Lord MILTON was of opinion that it would not be advisable to engraft upon the measure of his Noble Friend any ulterior mea§ure. Sir JOHN WROTTESLEY said that there were two points of eittrerne importance. The first, the time during which the poll was to be taken, and the other, whether the poll should be aajoutTed from one district to another, or be proceeded with in various hundreds, at the same time, fle (Sir John Wrottesley) would vote for the Committee without pledging himself to any particular line of conduct, when the report should be received. Mr. DICKINSON said a few words, which were inaudible in the gallery. Mr. WYNN expressed himself anxious to promote an object which be considered most desirable ; namely, the dimi nution of the expense of elections. But he would recommend that the question should not be canvassed at present, inasmuch as it would be likely to affect the question of several Irish county elections, the merits of which were still under discussion. He did not deny that the subject of the Noble Lord's motion was a very important one. He also felt the mode of taking the poll in cities and boroughs to be a matter well worthy of consideration. Sir T. LETHBRIDGE thought there could be no obje,ction to a Committee. Lord NUGENT considered that nothing could be more desirable than the proposed measure, but he would be glad to see it confined to counties, for he thought that the Committee would have quite enough to employ them in that sipgle inquiry. Lord LOWTHER supported the motion' for a Committee, and hoped that their labours would be successful. Sir W. W. WYNN spoke a few words, in which he gave his cordial support to the motion. Mr. C. PALLMER congratulated the House upon the auspicious spirit which had Manifested itself in this first Ses. sion ,of a new Parliament. It was highly desirable that the ex pence of elections should be diminished, and that the elector should be able to give his vote unbiassed, and free from the influence of any pecuniary consideration. Lord ALTHORP replied.--,His object was to have the votes taken at different places. With respect to the qua lification of voters, he agreed that the land-tax as a criterion was daily diminishing in excellence, and that some other mode ought to be adopted. Great expences arose from bringing all voters to the county-town ; for instance, at the last Yorkshire election one ‘,l-,,i;•4 of the expense arose from the carrying of voters to the county-10w.m.:--The motion was then agreed to. CORPORATION OF LEICESTER. Mr. SYKES, in rising to MOW.; fora Select Com mittee, to take into consideration the conduct of the Corporation of Leicester at, and previous to, the late general election, said that be was influenced by no hostility to the Corporation, but merely wished to bring the circumstances before the House on Constitu tional grounds. He charged the Corporation of Leicester with an undue exercise of power, in making honorary freemen of the borough; and also with misapplication of the public money. He further charged the Corporation with instituting a compulsory mode of obliging the candidates to take the polls in a way favourable to some and unfavourable to others. He complained of the illegality of this proceeding. The Honourable Member went into a detail of the Constitution of the Corporation, which, he said, consisted of a number of Aldermen, Bailiffs, and Common Councilmen. The right of voting at elections was vested in the inhabitants paying taxes. The Corporation had the power of making freemen, which was exercised to a great extent, and in a most undue manner at the late election. This had the effect of reducing the town of Leicester to the state of a rotten borough. On former occasions, one of the Members of this borough was returned by the Corporation, and one by the inhabi tants. The voters amounted to 5,000. In the year 1822, the Corporation resolved to draw the whole' power into their own grasp, which they endeavoured to effect by the increase of the freemen. He did not mean to prove this from argument, for he had, from under their own hands, documents to prove the creation of a number of honorary freemen. At the conclusion of the year 18722, when a General Election was expected, the Corporation of Leicester had offered the freedom of the borough to no less than 2,000 persons. He held in his hand a paper containing a copy of a letter to gentlemen, soliciting them to become freemen of the borough. The letter was to this effect:— Sir,— I have the pleasure to acquaint you, that the Corpora tion of Leicester have unanimously elected you an honorary free man of the borough. They are anxious to increase the number of freemen by an additional number of gentlemen ; and they trust you will do them the favour of accepting the freedom of the bo rough, with their concurrence. The Corporation will defray all the fees and charges, amounting to 21. 3s.—a sacrifice to which, in support of the cause, they willingly submit." This was a most unwarrantable and fraudulent application of the public money. There were no less than 104 clergymen and other persons influenced by the nobility—there were some of the nobility inrolled in the list of freemen. There were SO3 persons who took the freedom of the borough on this mode of application. At the last election, two gentlemen set up for the representation of the borough—Mr. Evans and Mr. Otway Cave. The Corpo ration having 800 voters at command, in addition to the 5,000, determined to look out for somebody else. The expenses of the contest were, by this means, greatly increased ; and to those who carried the election, the expense amounted to 50,0001. Having adopted this determination, the Corporation found it necessary to transmit a circular letter to their friends to the following effect : " Sir, I ant directed by the gentlemen of the Corporation to take the liberty of representing to you the present state of affairs in the Borough of Leicester at the approaching election. Sir C. Hastings comes forward on the interest of the Corporation—the True Blue interest. He is the avowed enemy to what is called Catholic Emancipation, but what we call Popish ascendancy. He is opposed by Mr. W. Evans, who stands on the low and radical interests--a friend to Reform and Catholic Emancipation. The other candidate is Mr. Otway Cave, whose family is staunch Blue. He says he has not made up his mind with respect to Catholic Emancipation, but in other respects he professes to be Blue ; though an admirer of the old light, in preference to the new, he is more Blue than otherwise." He read these papers to show the House the unconstitutional means to which the Corporation had resorted. They borrowed money from individuals, members of the Corporation, who were repaid out of the funds of the Corpo ration. He complained of the means taken by the Corporation for taking the polls, which was favourable to one candidate and not to the other. Whatever manner of taking the polls was agreed to, it should be open equally for the voters of all the candidates, and not tied down to any particular moment-- A Bailiff waited on Mr. Evans to show him the plan of taking the polls, which was by pens, the way which the Corporation had adopted. Two pens in succession were taken for Sir C. Hastings, and the other candidate, of persons who voted for both, while one only was taken for Mr. Evans. By this means forty persons voted for Sir C. Hastings, while twenty only voted for Mr. Evans. The House would perceive that this was most unfair as regarded Mr. Evans, for it tended to damp the popular feeling towards the latter gentleman, in consequence of the great majo rity of his opponents. Mr. Denman was put in nomination for the representation of the borough, and when a pen was demanded it was refused, in consequence of not being set up at the begin ning. He thought it right that some Parliamentary notice should be taken of these transactions. The petitioners could not obtain any redress in a Court of Equity, for there the proceedings were immortal—and the Chancellor was immortal! It was much the same in a Court of Law. There was no relief to be obtained but by means of the House, (The Honourable Mem ber cited a passage from Smollet, the purport of which we did not hear.) He should move,—" That a Select Com mittee be appointed to take into consideration the allega tions of the petition of the Freemen of the Borough of Lei cester, and report thereon to the House." He hoped that by these means some measures would be adopted to pre vent the gross and scandalous practice of manufacturing- votes.— T 6• .matter had been partially considered, and had given "rise to the Durham Act. The preamble of that Act stated, that whereas great abuses had been committed in making freemen of corporations, and to prevent such practices for the future, be it enacted," &c. This case came precisely within the purview of that Act. The Act was passed for the purpose of preventing the mischief of making freemen of corporations in order to influence the election cf Members to serve in Parliament. It had been treated as a matter of perfect indifference by this corporation in what county of England they made their honorary freemen ; for they were brought from considerable distances to vote at the elec tion. The expence would not fall far short of 50,000/. Under these circumstance he thought he had made out a case well enti tled to the attention of the House. Mr. WYNN came to the consideration of this ques tion with a mind perfectly unbiassed, not having heard one word of the circumstances, except what he had read in the petition, therefore not knowing how far they were denied ; but he must say he was not at all inclined to adopt the course proposed by the H on . Member. Assuming every fact in the petition to be cor rectly stated, nothing illegal had . been d one . Th ere cou ld b e no doubt that if the refusal to admit Mr. D enman b ecause h e h a d been proposed on t he third day had been persisted in, that would have been a good ground to call on a Committee to set aside the election. If any thing at all illegal had been done, it would be a sufficient ground for a petition for a Committee, or for an applica tion to the Court of King's Bench against the Corp ora ti on , f or having abuse d their powers. Wh a t w e re the allegati o n s ? It was stated that the right of election was in the Aldermen, Common Council, and freemen ; the freemen to he elected by the Corpora tion. The Corporation exercised the power which they legally b a d. Whether they exercised it to a greater or less extent there could be no offence. If Gentlemen th oug ht thi s power had been exercised to an inconvenient degree, and that the number of voters was objectionable, a Bill might be brought in to limit the number ier the future ; but there could be no doubt that, at present, ft was the exercise of a legal power.—(Hear, hear, hear.) — He was yet to learn what objection there could be to any Corpo ration sending round the kin g d om f or e l ectors , w h o agreed with them in their opinions. But the gravamen of the complaint was, " That Members of the Corporation had actually paid, or engaged to pay, di ver s sums for various expences attending the election, and it was well known they had borrowed the money on the bonds of the Aldermen and the other leading Members of the Corpora tion." This was the only part distinctly c h arge d. W as it t o b e said that the elective body had not a right to defray the expences of the candidates? In the very city of Westminster, where they now were, it had been held out as the perfection of purity of elec tion that the candidate had been brought in free of expence ; so entirely, that a deputation had been sent to him to repay him the sum of two shillings, which he had paid on signing Ids name at the table pf the House. There were great panegyrics upon this in all the newepapere, as being the perfection of purity of election. It was somewhat hard that the Aldermen of Leicester should be considered as criminal in doing that which was highly meritorious in the citizens of West minster. The alle gation wet on. Who, as the petitioners believe, are to be indemnified ant of the funds belonging to the Corporation." Was the mere belief of the petitiopeTs to be a ground for the House instituting an enquiry ? The next thin; was, the 4circular, specifying the different shades of blue worn as colours by the parties, and begging the freemen to give their support to a particular party. Would th e Honourable Member show why tile Corporation were not at full liberty to testify their wish in favour of any candid a t e Who agreed in opinion with them? Admitting every syllable of the petition to be true, he did not see that any relief could be granted. As to the Durham Apt, that was passed to prevent freemen being made merely for the purpose of voting. If th ere was any i rregu l ar it y as t o th e mode of making the voterr, that might be a groun d o f a s p ec ial proceeding against tile returning officer ; but as t h e matter was now brought forward, th ere was not tire slight es t gronn a f or en tertaining it. Sir CHARLES HASTINGS said there was not a more honourable or more independent body of men than the Corporation of Leicester.—(Hear.) He contended that sufficient grounds had not been stated to support the motion. Mr. CAVE defended the course which had been pursued by his friends at the election, and bore testimony to the anxiety of the assessors to perform their duty with impartiality. Mr. PEEL said th 4 this was a case which he trusted the House would meet with its signal reprobation, for that other wise they would be preparing the way to supersede altogether the provisions of the Grenville Act. He thought that it would be extremely undignified in the House to enter into an inquiry con cerning the local politics of borough electors, and that it was a very unsuitable occupation of their time to be employed in pe rusing the letters, the statements, and the poetry, which the heat of a contest might give birth to. What was it to them whether one candidate rejoiced in the colour of indigo, or another made choice of sky-blue ? Let the Corporation encourage the advocate of what politics they pleased—they were at liberty to do so. What, indeed, could be thought of a case, one of whose gravamina it was that, forsooth, Sir Charles Hastings was brought in pro cession to the Town Hall ? And then the Hon. Gentleman re ferred to Smollett's History, and, after confessing that no prece dent for such a case could be found in the annals of Parliament, then he cited something, but whether it was from Peregrine Pickle, or from Roderick Randrom, he really could not tell.— (A laugh.)—He trusted that the House would make a stand against such an attempt as this, and would reject it by a great majority. Sir F. BURDETT, when he saw Gentlemen endeavouring, by the most strange perversions of what was stated, by the most palpable misrepresentation, and such as they must know themselves to be unfounded, to embarrass a case, was then convinced that such stratagems were the last resource of those who felt that there was something in the accusations they attempted to answer, which they felt they could not ex plain. He could not conceal his surprise, that the Right Hon. Gentleman should so far lay aside his usual candour, as to sub stitute the novels of'Peregrine Pickle and Roderick Random, for the work which had been really referred to. His Hon. Friend had quoted the authority of an historian of some credit, and of credit in this instance only inasmuch as he had rested on the Journals of that House. And wherefore it was that his Hon. Friend should have been ridiculed for doing so, merely because the same historian had written two novels, it was difficult to say : he, for one, could only declare that he could not forbear to smile at those persons who could mistake such a perversion for wit.— (Hear, hear.)—The case of his Hon. Friend was, that the Cor poration had misapplied their funds to election purposes. Th• Grenville Act could not reach that—it was a fit and proper case for the investigation of the House. Mr. V. FITZGERALD defended the course pur sued by his Right Hon. Friend.. Lord MILTON was of opinion that the case de manded investigation. _ _ _ Mr. LEIGH KECK bore testimony to the high respectability and integrity of the Corporation, particularly in their distribution of the charity funds. Mr. S. RICE spoke in favour of the motion. Mr. GOUEBURN opposed the motion, consi dering that no case had been made out to go to a Committee. Lord RANCLIFFE supported the motion. Mr. H..GURNEY spoke from under the gallery, n a low tone of voice ; but he was understood to support the motion. Sir F. BURDETT (in reply to Mr. Goulburn) was about to read an extract from the petition—but The SPEAKER called the Hon. Baronet to order, reminding him that he had already addressed the House. Lord HOWICK (Sir F. Burdett having handed the petition to him) then read the extract, which charged the borrowing of money, &c., for the purposes of the election, the parties " to be indemnified out of the funds to be supplied by the Corporation."—(Hear, hear.) Mr. C. PALLMER supported the motion. Mr. SYKES replied, observing that he could well understand the reason of the resistance of the Hon. and Right Hon. Gentlemen opposite ; they feared that, if inquiry were al lowed here, it might proceed further. The gallery was then cleared for a division ; when the num bers were— For the motion, 68—Against it, 91---Majority against it, 24 The announcement of the large minority was received with cheering. SOCIETY FOR THE REFUGE OF THE DESTITUTE. Upon our return to the gallery, we found Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN upon his legs, ob serving upon the management of the funds of the Society for the Refuge of the Destitute. He admitted that the objects of this Society were most laudable, and it was, therefore, the more to be regretted that that economy had not been observed in the adminis tration of their funds which might have taken play. It appeared by the returns whieh he (Mr. Alderman Waithman) held in his hand, that the expenditure of the Society was from between 10 to 12,000/. a lear ; whereas there were only 60 inmates of the establishment. A grant of 5,0001. a-year was made by Parlia ment towards the support of this Society, and it was desirable to know how that large sum was expended. He therefore moved for Returns of the Receipt and Expenditure of the Society for the Refuge of the Destitute for the last seven Years—the greatest Number of Males and Females in the Establishment—and the Number of both Sexes, which had been received and discharged within that time. The Worthy Alderman meant no imputation upon the Directors or the Subscribers of this institution ; but the establishment was too large, and had very much degenerated. Mr. FOWELL BUXTON saw no objection to the production of those papers. If the Hon. Alderman's state ment was correct, the expenditure of this establishment was on the most extravagant scale. Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN assured the Hon. Member that his statement was borne out by the documents. Mr. Secretary PEEL said the principle upon which this establishment was founded was entitled to respect, but he was afraid there was some reason to apprehend that its funds had not been managed as economically as they otherwise might. It was proposed to reduce the grant for this year from 5,0001. to 4,0001. He was himself very friendly to the principle, but he should feel his duty to look sharply after the application of its funds. He was clearly of opinion that the government of it was too ex pensive. Mr. Alderman ATKINS thought that calling for the accounts was an imputation upon the conduct of the Directors, who were unimpeachable. Mr. W. SMITH thought the public were entitled to see the accounts of every public institution. Mr. HUME doubted, from the example of public charitable e stablishments in Ireland, the policy of supporting such institutions by votes of public money. Such grants were sure to be abused. Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN, in reply, referred to the accounts in his hands, by which it appeared that the ex pence of this establishment, for three years, had been 1 0 ,000/., and last year it was 18,0001. ; but in that was included a sum of 2,500/. laid out in the purchase of some building ground. Mr. PEEL suggested that the notice should be worded so as to call for a return of the greatest number of inmates of the establishment, at any one given time, within the sphere of the notice, and with this alteration the notice was agreed to. THE CORN LAWS. The Committee on the Corn Acts was postponed to Monday. The other Orders of the Day were then dispoNed of. Adjourned at Half-past Eleven. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS• HOUSE OF COMMONS. ORDERS OF TIIE DAY FOR THIS DAY. 1. Scots Creditors Bill—Second reading. 2. Copyhold Estates Bill—Committee. 3. New South Wales Act—Committee thereupon. 4. Duke and Duchess of Clarence Annuity Bill—Committee. 5. Canada Clergy Reserves Bill—Second reading. 6. Marine Officers Widows Pensions Bill—Committe e. 7. Supply—Committee. 8, Ways and Means—Committee. 9. Ounce Thread Bill—Committee. 10. Public Works (Ireland) Bill—Committee. Constabulary ; viz. the n y tM A e c n t , o f f o for the 11. Annual Duties Bill—Second reading. NOTICES OF MOTIONS FOR THIS DAY. Waterford Memorial of the 1. Mr. Villiers Stuart—Papers connected with the A re sidentc eDistricttStipendiary,aot efoKfmheaeti omMagistrates Magistrate, as, t the ihnaedp apply u t f h on e r7 C ao o nf n d s County against, t h at Appointment, 2. Mr. Banker — Bri tish Museum Estimates Committee of Supply). 3 :Mr. Alexander D a wson—Petitionfrom the Roman Catholics of the County of Lowth, in favour of the Roman Catholic Claims. 4. Mr. Herries—Annual Indemnity Bill. NOTICES GIVEN YESTERDAY. Tuesday, March 20. Sir John Newport—To bring under view of the House the state of the law for rebuilding and repairing Churches in Ireland. Tuesday, April 10. Lord Nugent—A Return of the persons qualified :to vote for Coun ties, Cities, and Boroughs, respactivaly, in England and Wales ; dis tinguishing resident and non-resident, together with the different rights in respect of which they vote. Tuesday, May 8. Mr. Maurice Fitz Gerald—Motion recommending that the House of Commons shall take such coarse as may be best calculated to realise the policy in which the Union of Great Britain and Ireland was re commended to the Legislatures of both countries. IRON TRADE.—In the Iron Trade an expectation is held of a reduction in the prices of bars, &c. at quarter-day next. We consider this to be probable, the demand for home con sumption, having fallen off considerably for some time past. The prices of manufactured iron remain as last week. Bars still at p/. per ton ; but pig iron - , we are informed, is something lower ; the purchasers and sellers are alike shy of each other, in a similar manner with the bears and bulls of the Stock Exchange, the for ma', in both cases urging a descent; and the latter a rise,—Bir mingham Chronicle. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. FRENCH PAPERS. (From the Etoile, dated Wednesday, March 14. ) " PARIS, 111.Ancx 13.—A German Journal affirms that the Hungarian Diet will be adjourned as soon as it has terminated its deliberations respecting the pecuniary relations between private persons. " It is announced that the Austrian troops returning from the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, will reinforce the garrisons of Lom bardy, which are at present occupied by Hungarian regiments.-- Those that have been embarked for Zara will take up cantonment. in Dalmatia, and the neighbouring provinces. The Italian regi ments, which have long been stationed in Hungary, are consider ably reduced in the number of men, and it is in contemplation to make a new levy to complete them. " LIES OF THE DAY. " The Constitutionnel.—The Infant Don Miguel is going to leave Vienna and repair to Madrid. " The Courier Francais.—The Duke of Wellington has been nominated Marshal of France *. , (From the Journal de Paris of Tuesday.) (Facm A PRIVATE LETTER.) "VIENNA, MARCH 3.—We have this moment received letters written from Pera, which announce that a new communication made to the Reis-Effendi, by M. Minziacky, relative to the affairs of Greece, was drawn up in such peremptory terms that it gave occasion to an extraordinary meeting of the Divan. " On the 19th of February a report was current at Constan tinople, that the Emperor Nicholas, being absolutely determined to cause the effusion of blood in Greece to cease, will send, in the spring, a squadron of observation to the Mediterranean, if the Porte should persist in its refusual to accept the intervention of the great Powers. (FROM A PRIVATE LETTER.) " MADRID, MARCH 1.-A new change in the Ministry je spoken of; and yet, Count Offalia, who was to make part of it, as was said, is preparing to depart for London. " A million and a half of francs have just been placed at the disposal of the Inspector-General of the Royalist Volunteers, to be employed in equipping and clothing those whose Communes are unable to defray the expense. It is said that the Portuguese Charge de Affaires has just announced to M. Salmon, the occupa tion of some of the Portuguese frontier fortresses by the English troops. It is also affirmed, that, in consequence of the last de spatches which he had received, the Russian Minister has joined the English Ambassador, to induce our Government to undertake nothing against Portugal which may endanger the peace between the two countries. These despatches have given rise to the re ports of a change in the Ministry. Permission has just been grant ed to the Duke of Frios, Ex-Councillor of State under the Corte', to return to Madrid. Gen. Sarsfield is to remove his head-quar ters from Valencia d'Alcantara to Cases: it seems that this change has begun to be carried into effect. " Some disputes had arisen between the Portuguese General Count de Villa Flor, and General Eguia, to whom the former complained, that the Portuguese Refugees had continued to fire upon troops after they had re-entered the Spanish territory, but the explanation given by General Eguia, showing that it was im possible for him, all at once, to stop the firing of the soldiers, who were spread over too great an extent of country, have completely satisfied the Portuguese General, and the correspondence has ter minated without any unpleasant results." (From the Quotidienne.) (PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.) ALCANTARA, Fzn. 24.—" The order of departure of our troops for Caceres has just arrived an hour ago at head-quarters. We march to-morrow at break of day. The cause of this move ment is not well known, but, we believe, that it arises out of the retrogade movement of the Anglo-Portuguese army, who have just thrown a bridge over the Tagus above Abrantes. It appears that the motions of our army are to be regulated by those of the Anglo-Portuguese army. If it removes from the frontier we shall remove, and if it approach we shall approach also. " PARIS, MARCH 12.—We read in the Consiitutionnel the following article According to several letters from Frankfort, received to-day, the events of the Spanish Peninsula are assuming a more serious character. We are assured that, in concert with Austria, and the Government of Ferdinand, and agreeably to the wishes of some other Powers, the Infant Don Miguel is to set o ut immediately from Vienna for Spain.' " We hear from the frontiers of Portugal that the British troops continue to observe their neutrality. It is quite positive that they are equally detested by the Constitutional and Royalist forces.--- Every English soldier who strays from his corps immediately meets with the same fate which the French stragglers experienced during the Peninsular war. (From the Constitutionnel.) PAR., " MARCH 12.—The following i s a copy of a letter written by Lord Cochrane to M. Eynard, at the moment of his departure from Saint Tropez for Greece : " At last lam about to embark. You will hear of me, per haps, sooner than you expect. I shall risk every thing, in or der to accomplish what I have promised ; but if any misfortune hap-- pen to me, I leave Lady Cochrane and my children, who are as dear to me as liberty is to Greece, confided to your care, and that of the friends of the cause.' " We have only to remark on the above, that the French Mi nistry have refused to interpose in favour of the Greeks, along with Russia and England. The Greeks, indeed, are fighting for liberty, under the sign of the cross; but then they are merely Christians, not Jesuits. Letters from Calamos, of the sth Fe bruary state, that the Greeks are closely blockading Missolonghi by land, and they only wait for their fleet to storm it. * This Journal asks, whether he receives any pay in this capa city, and on what fund it is charged?—Note of The Etoile. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE _(THIS DAY.) FROM LLOYD'S. DEAL, MARCH 15.—Wind W.—Arrived from London, the Australia, Elder, from Jamaica ; Planet, Young, from Gibraltar ; Flora, —, from Jamaica ; and Miranda, Dempster, from Gre nada. Also arrived, the Rose, —, from St. Michael's. The Dutch ship Rotterdam, with troops, bound to Batavia, sailed for Ramsgate. Nearly the whole of the outward-bound sailed at 1 P.m., with a fine breeze from the Northward. Sailed, several of the homeward-bound, for the River. PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 15.--Wind N.N.W.—Arrived, the Convivial, Hampton, from Carthagena. Passed, the Leopard, Woodbury, for Boston. PLYMOUTH, MARCH 1 4.—Wind N. W.--Arrived, from Lon don, the Symmetry, Absolom, for Leghorn ; and Premium, Young, for Cadiz. FALMOUTH, MARCH 14.—Wind W. to W.N.W.—Sailed, the Indiana, Kepperholz, for Harnburgh ; and La Zoa, Amia, for Brest. GRAVESEND, MARCH 15.—Arrived, the Arab, Smith, from Coquimbo; Burrell, Metcalf, from the Mauritius; Laurel, Ren ton, from Cephalonia ; and Sarah and Caroline, Price, from Charleston. Sailed, the Corinna, Ordine, for Pernambuco ; Australian, Elder, for Jamaica ; Ellen, Coslar, for St. Lucia. The Wellington, Bell, from Liverpool to Boston, put into Ter ceira on the 22d ult., leaky, with loss of sails, and otherwise da maged, and was blown out on the 24th, and had not returned on the 4th inst. The Goodwill, Stevens, from Falmouth to London, was driven on shore, near Boulogne, yesterday morning, and is expected to go to pieces. THE MARKETS.-(THIS DAY.) CORN-EXCHANGE. The quantities of Grain up this week are moderate. The trade for Wheat is in a very dull state, and barely maintains Monday's rates. Rather higher prices are made of Barley and Oats, but the trade is not extensive. Beans and Pease continue dull at last quotations. ARRIVALS. I Wheat. I Barley. English 3,300 qrs. 4,450 qrs. Oats. Flour. 9 4,000 80 qrs. — 4.93osaki. 400 Foreign SMITHFIELI At this day's market, which exhil each kind of meat met with a dull st D MARKET. ibited a limited supply throughout, apply at Monday's quotations. PRICES PER STONE OF SLBS. TO SINK THE OFFALS. s. d. tor. d. s. d. tor. d. Inferior Beasts 3 6 310 South Down Wethers . 4 8 5 Second quality ditto 3lO 4 2 Large coarse Culver.... 4 6 5 V Prime large Oxen 4 6 5 0 Prime small ditto ....... 5 6 510 Prime Scots, &c 5 2 5 4 Large Hogs ............... 4 ! 4 8 Inferior Sheep 3 6 310 Small P0rker5....... ..... 5 0 5 4 Second quality ditto 4 0 4 4 S uc kli ng Calves...2s. to 38s. each. Coarse-woolled ditto There were few good Mulch Cows to-day in Smithfield, but 301. are said to have been offered and refused for a remarkably fine short horns, to calve in a fortnight, at Islington yesterday. SUPPLY, AS PER CLERK'S STATEMENT. Beasts. Sheep. Calves. Pigs. I 353 3,130 153 100 NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL MARKETS. At per stone, by the Carcass. s. d. to s. d. s. d.to s. d. 0 4 Veal ................ ....... 3 8 5 Beef ... .3 0 4 pork .......... ... 8 5........... 3 Mutton A new kind of carrtage-spring has been invented, and brought into use by Mr. Lacy, a coach proprietor at Man chester, by means of w hich the dangerou s sw i ng i ng w hi c h over sets so many vehicles is avoided.