The Sun. — London, England, 1831-03-01 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ROUSE OF LORDS, FEBRUARY S. The Loan CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool lack at Five o'clock. Petitions were presented by the Earl of Radnor, from Bridge-end, Gisborough, Marlborough, and several other places, praying for Parliamentary Reform, and from a place in Roscommon for the repeal of the Union ; by the Archbishop of York, from several places in Yorkshire against slavery; by Lord Kenyon, from Carmarthen and eight other places in Wales against slavery ; by Lord Spencer, praying for Parliamentary Reform ; by Lord Durham, frost the free holders of Durham, and also one from the city of Durham, praying for Parliamentary Reform ; and by Lord Morley, from Plymouth, in favour of Reform. Lord WARNCLIFFE presented a petition front %he pa rishioners of St. George's, Hanover-square, complaining of the expence of the new police in that parish, which the Noble Lord trusted Government would take under its con sideration. Lord MELBOURNE observed that an efficient force mould not be kept up in a large parish like the one referred to by the Noble Lord, who, he was glad to find, did not complain of the new police, without some expense. Every exertion would be used by his Majesty's Ministers to re duce every expence as much as possible. Lord ELLENBOROUGII considered the parish of St. George had no great grievances to crmplain of. Petitions were presented by the Bishop of Chester, front Wigan, Stockport, Manchester, and several other pins, against slavery; by the Duke of Devonshire, front Water ford, Armagh, and Bellchurch, in favour of Par liamentary Reform ; by the Marquis of Londonderry, from Sunderland, complaining of the proposed new duty on coals exported, and praying that the proposed measure may not take effect—(ln consequence of some irregularity, the Noble Marquis withdrew the petition)--by the Marquis of Clanricarde, from Galway, praying for an extension of the elective franchise; by Lord Deere, from Urris, in the county of Mayo, complaining of distress. Lord TEYNHAM bore testimony to the distress that was existing in Mayo, and trusted his Majesty's Ministers would take it into consideration. Earl GREY observed that the distress referred to had attracted the attention of his Majesty's Government, Who were always willing to du every thing they could to alle viate the distress under which th,t country laboured. MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. Sir A. GRANT and others brought up the Exchequer Bills Bill, the Bristol Regulation. Poor Bill, and a private Bill. Leave was given for the Duke of Richmond to attend the Committee of the House of Commons for enquiring iuto the Salaries of Public Officers. The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a petition from Devon, earnestly praying for Reform. The whole of the petition was as moderate and temperate as it was possible to be on a subject of such great import ance. The petitioners adhered to the principles of the Con stitr tion in its original purity, and earnestly prayed of their Lordships at all events to secure a more adequate representa tion of the people in Parliament, and that they would shut that door which was now too wide open to corruption and expense. He (the Lord Chancellor) did not conceive it pos sible for any one, except these who considered the present reprehentation as every thing that was perfect, to complain of the manner in which the petitioners addressed their Lordships. 'he Noact LORD also presented a petition from Liver. pool, praying for Parliamentary Reform and vote by bal lot. The petitioners (the Noble Lord observed) might be Tight on this subject—at least their sentiments were respectfully worded. His (the Lord Chancellor's) opinion on ►ote by ballot was well known, yet he had been very much misrepresented as treating it with contempt. He admitted that the feelings of the people were growing much stronger on this subject than he expected; perhaps for this we might thank certain individuals whom he would not name. He should reserve his opinion until the fitting time. He was however unconvinced, and he did not think the ballot would be that effectual remedy which it was generally supposed it would be. Lcrd ELLENBOROUGH postponed his motion, which stood for to-morrow, relative to the new timber duties, in consequence of the resolution not being as yet morel in the other House. Lord TEYNHAM begged to know if be could be favoured with sopies of the reports and papers lately re ceived from Governor Stirling, with respect to the Swan River settlement. Viscount GODERICH said there was no objection to the production of the papers, and he was hiippy to say they could disprove the erroneous impression which had been made with respect to this colony, and show that it Was in a pro.perous state. Lord tEINHAM gave notice that he would move on Monday for some papers connected with the expense of bu.hlings at Sheerness. The Esti of GLENGALL prevented a petition from a parish in Kilentty, for a repeal of the Union. Lord KING presented a petition from Greystock, pray ing for an amendment of the tithe system. The petitioners complained that they had been for thirty years involved in litigation with their rector, and that they had lost many thousand pounds in endeavouring to support their ancient customs and moduses; that they had been dragged into all the Courts at Westminster, and into the Ecclesiastical Courts at York and Carlkle; that at one time forty or fifty suits were pending against different persons; and that, although Lord Eldon and Lord Lyndhurst had decided in favour of the petitioners on the subject of moduses, still the rector persevered in opposition to their decisions.— The Noble Lord reael an extract from the report of the Real Property Commissioners, giving their opinion that there ought to be a limitation to the claims of the Church in this respect. If the Lord Chief Justice had been in bis place, he should have taken the opportunity of asking that Noble and Learned Lord whether he intended to bring in a Bill relating to tithes, which ho was understood to have in contemplation, as there was a Learned Gentle man in the other House who had a measure prepared on that subject which he had delayed only on the supposition that the Chief Justice was about to introduce a Bill relat ing to the subject. Earl GREY said that no man could be more fully convinced than he was that inconveniences existed, and that a speedy remedy was necessary. He did not rise, however, to discuss the question, but merely to answer the question which the Nob'e Lord was desirous to ask of the Lord Chief Justice if he had been present. That Noble and Learned Lord had intimated his intention to bring in a Bill for the purpose to which the Noble Lord alluded. As it related to Ciown property it was necessary to apply for his Majesty's consent, and as soon as that consent should have been obtained he had no doubt that the Noble and Learned Lord would be prepared to in+roduce his measure. The Poor-rate Bill passed through a Committee. Lord TEYNHAM rose to submit a motion which he thought necessary fi om the present circumstances of the country. He was happy that order was restored, but still it was to be lamented that much distress existed. That distress was attended with many lamentable circum stances ; and amongst the causes which deteriorated the condition of the peasantry, the malt and hop duties had biterto a principal and injurious effect. The petitions which had been presented for the last two Sessions proved the general existence of the distress. In another Hoes it was usual to print such petitions. The object of his present motion was to found upon those petitions a pro ceeding which might lead to an alleviation of the misery, which was too prevalent. He moved fir a classification of the petitions which had been presented fur the last two years, complaining of agricultural distress, stating the names of the counties or [laces from which such petitions came, the number of signatures which each contained, the prayer of the petition, and other particulars. He called for this classification with the view that resolutions might be founded upon the petitions, such as the circumstances of the ease required. Earl GREY said that this motion appeared to him a most extraordinary one ; and the mode which the Nob'e Lord bad adopted for introducing it no less extraordinary. He admitted that the distress which prevailed deserved all the attentio n which could be bestowed upon it ; but he was glad that the condition of the people was improving. The Noble Lord had referred to a practice in the House of Commons, wh ich he (Earl G re y) s h ou ld b e sorry to see adopted i n their Lordships' House. It was the practice in the House of Commons to print lae titions at great incon venience and expens e - to the country, - and he thought that that example ought rather to h e avoided than followed He knew of no similar duty b e i ng imposed upon the officers the House of Commons, but he w as cm -tab , that no such duty devolved upon the clerks of that Rouse as to classify these petitions, to which the y . must devot e a p or i t i on of ti m e, which would be impossible consistently with their other duties. The Noble Lord could at any time refer to these petitions, in the library of the House, or lie could hay. tkesn produced upon the table for any occasi on f or butting motion, if nut alt oget h er whim. ae required them ; impossible to be complied with, would at least occasioit. such an expense, and waste of time, that be was sure their Lordships would n ot co nsent to it. He believed that i n the instance of the C a th o li c R e lief Bill a list was made out, by order of the House, stating what petitions were for, and what against the measure. Tbat was the only pre cedent, - and it would not answer the purpose which the Noble Lord had in view. He (Earl Grey) was not ;A -clinett to consent to the motion. Lord TEYNHAM said that, t.s it Appeared the motion was attended with gret.4r difficulty than lie had supposed, he would withdraw it, and he• hoped that, in calling the attention of their Lordships to the petitions, he had done all that he ought. The London. bridge Approaches' Bill was read a second time. Lord WYNFORD said that, in consequence of the absence of Noble and Learned Friend, he was induced to postpone until that day se'nnight his Bill, which stood in the paper for that day; and he hoped that his Noble and Learned Friend on the Wools ic y .: would have no objection to adopt a ':)arse with his measure regarding lunatics, 'The LORD CHANCELLOR said he willingly acceded to the request of his Noble Friend, particularly as it would not occasion any material delay. He proposed to go into the Committee to-morrow, in order to fill up blanks, and for other formal purposes, and should then have the Bill reported, intending to re-commit it when his Noble Friend, and his other Noble Friend, who ryat absent, would have an opportunity of speaking tpon it. Their Lordships t.d3ourned at Seven o'clock. 10 USE' OF COMMONS, FERRUAXY 28. The Gallery was not opened this day until Four o'clock, in consequetwo of there being an order for a call of the House. The call, however, we understand, was not proctkded with. The House was crowded in every part. Mr. O'CONNELL, in presenting several petitions, said he would take that opportunity of asking the Right Honourable Secretary for trelind a question in reference to the late prosecutions against him.—(Hear.) He wished to ask the Right Hon. Gentleman if he had stated that some person applied to him on his (Mr. O'Connell's) be half, to compromise the prosecutions, and if such were the facts, he wished further to ask the name of the party, for he most distinctly denied giving authority to any person so to do. He therefore expected that the Right Hon. Se cretary would give a distinct answer 'to the questions. Mr. STANLEY said applications had been made to him in writing by the Earl of Glengall and Mr. Bennett, of Leith, the latter of whom stated that he was requested to make the application by Mr. Maurice O'Connell, and Mr. Maurice O'C,Onnell said he was authorised to make such a request by his fathei.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Mr. O'CONNELL—The questions had been an swered to hie satisfaction. He admitted that, in the month of January last, Mr. Bennett did make him a proposal, calling upon him to submit to certain terms, which were to be dictated to him by the Government, but he positively refused to do so, and on Feb. 5, wrote him a letter, not only declining, but forbidding all further mention of the subject. He immediately afterwards addressed a letter to his son-in-law, informing him of the determinatien he had come to, and that gentleman it was who, unauthorised by him (Mr. O'Connell,) had submitted to the Government the document to which the Right Hon. Gentleman now referred. The Hon. and Learned Member then read the letter of his son-in-law on the subject. It went on to re present the Honourable and Learned Member as having stated that he had been so often deceived and deluded by the present Government that he placed no confidence what ever in its promises, and, therefore, wished to see its per formances, while, in the meantime, he called for "a with drawal of the prosecution in a manful way, without any equivocation."—( Loud cheers from the Ministerial benches.) He (Mr. O'Connell) knew not the meaning of those cheers; be had offered no compromise; for even if the proposition had come from him, still the withdrawal of the prosecution could not be regarded in that light. The letter further stated that the preliminary step to any ar rangement must be the withdrawal of the prosecution ; and the writer added, " my father says his advice is every thing fur Ireland, nothing for ine."—( Hear. ) He (Mr. O'Connell) had always looked upon the repeal of the Union as the end, and not as the means of promoting the interests of Ireland ; anti he still professed himself ready to give up that measure if Government would undertake to adopt pans of solid and substantial amelioration for that country. How could he possibly be charged with offering to make any compromise, when the very first condition insisted upon was, that the prosecution should be wholly aban doned ? The Hon. and Learned Gentlemen next read the letter of his son (Mr. Maurice O'Connell), one passage of which stated that the Hon. and Learned Gentleman had " twice made a bridge of gold for Lord Anglesea to pass over ;" but that he must now see acts performed before he did any thing more. What he (Mr. O'Connell) was now prepared to say was, that neither had the Govern ment entered into any compromise with him nor he with the Government.—(Hear hear.) He had obtained no thing from the Government, and given up nothing. But though no compromise had been entered into, still a sort of voluntary arrangement took place, which. however, had not emanated from the Attorney- General of the Crown. He would now state the nature of that arrangement. The indictment against him contained 31 counts, the first 14 of which were under a particular statute. The first 14 counts charged him with evading the proclamations of the Lord Lieutenant. The other seventeen charged him with offences at common law. They charged him with sedition, moral turpitude, and wishing to bring the Government of the country into contempt. Now he would say that these 31 counts formed two distinct indictments ; the first part of which, he meant the first 14. counts of the indictment, charged hint with an offence againt the Statute only; the second, or remaining 17 counts, charged him with sedition. Now, how did the case stand ? Why, he pleaded guilty to the first fourteen counts, and the Government had withdrawn the others, and by so doing they admitted that he was not guilty of sedition. He had made no conces sion. —(Hear, hear.)—lt was true the Government might call him up for judgment on the first day of next term, if they should think prudent so to do, but if they did so they would have no right to go on, until he had obtained the judgment of the twelve Judges of Ireland on the writ of error which the Attorney-General bad been obliged to allow, and then if that decision should be against him, he could appeal to the House of Lords; and before their judgment could be obtained no sentence of the law could be executed against him. It had also been said that he had made stipulations respecting punishment. He could boldly assert, without the least fear of contradiction, that no such thing ever took place. If, however, he had acted wrongly, he alone ought to be punished, for the other seven gentlemen in cluded with him in the indictment being no lawyers had left their cases entirely in his hands. Therefore he alone ought to be punished.—(Hear.) That part of the indictment which charged him with sedition had been given up, but in doing so, he would contend Government had given up nothing. They never could have substan tiated the charge. If he had gone to trial on the first fourteen counts and been convicted, he still should have bad the same appeal to the people as he before mentioned. But be bad preferred pleading guilty, he would tell the House his honest reasons for so doing. The excite ment which would have been created by the trial would have been such that the streets of Dublin would have been thronged, the trades would have been out with their banners, the shops would have been closed, thousands would have come to his house and accompanied him in procession to and from the Court, and the population of all the adjoining counties would have been pouring into the capital, and as the trial no doubt would have lasted five or six days, he felt anxious to avoid such a eauss of excitement.—(He tr.) The e were his honest reasons, and notwithstanding all that he felt for the amelioration of Ireland, notwithstanding all the trouble be had taken for the amelioration of that country, he would sacrifice all, rather than purchase it by the shedding of one single drop of human blood. A stranger in the gallery, with an orange sash over his shoulders, here called out in a most stentorian voice, " It's a lie, it's a lie." He was immediately taken into custody by two of the officers of the House. During this proceeding great excitement prevailed, in the midst of which Mr. O'Connell sat down. As soon as order was restored, Mr. O'CONNELL proceeded. He would repeat that the reasons he bad stated, were his only objects in plead ing guilty. Mr. STANLEY thought that his statement on a former occasion, respecting the non-compromise on the part of the Government, had now been fully borne out by the satement of the Hon. Member for Waterford. As to the indictments, he (Mr. S.) was not lawyer enough to enter into a discussion upon their technicalities, but the Hon. Member oppesite conceiving that the Government were wrong in the first 14 counts, demurred to them on that ground ; then, finding out his error, he thought proper to withdraw the demurrer, saving that he should go upon the fact. Before, however, his plea of not guilty under the demurrer in point of law could be discussed, he withdrew his plea of not guilty as to the fact, and judgment was obtained against him for a misdemeanour. Judgment baying been thus obtained against him, and the extent of that judgment being in the discretion of the Court, the Crown bad gained all it wished, and felt.that by not proceeding further the Government would avoid what they wished to avoid, the appearance of poli tical Paseention. The Hon. Member had said that the reason for shrinking from his trial before a Jury was his unwillingness to create agitation in Ireland.--( Hear.) Was glen ea individual h be found in Ireland, in London, or in the world, who 61 ever heard or read a word of the declamatory speeches and letters that bad been cir culated by the Hon. Member throught Ireland who would &sive him an atom of credit for saying he did not wish to agitate Ireland.—(Loud cheering.) The Hon. Member, with all his extraordinary anxiety that the public should not be the least etched, with the earns breath then told the Route he was afraid of the conduct of the people—the very people whom he himself had ex cited.—(Hear.) He (Mr. S.) had 3 considerable number of the lion. Member's inflammatory speeches before him, parts of which he should take the liberty of troubling the House with; every one of which were only calculated to ex cite and exasperate the lowest and most illiterate persons to be found in Ireland. The lion. Member had said hi one of these speeches, that in Ireland .lone wits slavery still predominant; but he hoped to see the day when she should be flee, and though that time might be distant, it would be the more secure, and the triumph would be with greater certainty bloodless. He had alluded also to the people of Belgium, Switzerland, France, and Poland; but could any body believe that his allusion to them was for any other purpose than that of holding their conduct up to Ireland as an example for her ?—(Loud cheers.) Was this the mode in which the legislative union between the two countries was to be dissolved ? He (Mr. Stan ley) did not know what the Hun. Member thought, but he certainly confessed that he did not by any means envy him his feelings, when he could stand up in that' House, and declare he Was a'raid of the excitement in Ireland which his own conduct had occasioned. He aheuld not enter much further into details on the present occasion. Whenever the Learned and Hon. Member should think fit to carry into effect the threats he had made of bringing his conduct more formally before the House, either before or after the time when be (Mr. Stanley) should, as the Hon. Member for Water ford had been kind enough to tell the population of Dublin, stand like another Polignac, with uplifted hand at the bar of that House, and when there should be a Reform in Parliament, which he most sincerely hoped- in one little week, or a very short time more there would be, he (Mr. S.) should be per fectly prepared to meet him. Before be sat down, he begged to say a wind respecting the hurlers of Kil kenny. The Honourable Member had invited them, if they had a vote, not only to vote for the return of his friend, but ' urged them to use all their influence in returniug that friend—if they had any influ ence..—(Laughter.) Who were the individuals called hurlers? They were a set of persons whom the Hon. Member opposite himself had declined to meet, persons act ing illegally, and contrary in every respect to the law of the country; and yet the Hon. Member was the very man who bad solicited and invited them to come forward and assist in :the return of his friend. He was sorry to have detained the House so long, but he felt called upon to state thus much, in consequence of the Hon. Member having made a flourish of his anxiety for the preservation of the peace of Ireland. The SPEAKER said that before the House proceeded further, it was his duty to inform the House that the per son who bad committed the outrage was now in the cus tody of the Sergeant at Arms. Mr. O'CONNELL rose and said, in referring to the speech which had been just made by the Right Hon. Gentleman, he should be excused in trespassing upon the House :—a speech self-assured in its mode, and he (Mr. O'Connell) thought utterly destitute of any rational foun dation in argument.—(Hear.)—The Right Hon. Gentle man need not be told that the second indictment, or 17 last counts, charged conspiracy and fraud upon Govern ment. This was a charge amounting to a moral guilt, but the first 14 counts only charged the violation of a Statute. The Right Hon. Gentleman had spoken a great deal about his (Mr. O'Connell's) denying that he had been in favour of agitation. Now be begged to assert that he never asserted any such thing, but just the reverse. What was it but agitation that was about obtaining Reform of Parliament in England.—(Hear.)—And it was by agita tion that he wished to see the repeal of the Union effected. It was solely by agitation that the great question, the Ca tholic question, was carried. He trusted that by agita tion the repeal of the Union would he effected. With re spect to what he would call the unconstitutional letter of the Right Hon. Secretary, addressed to the Magistrates of Ireland, he should, on some future occasion, bring the subject before the House, should there be a Reform in the House of Commons—a letter, of the composition of which, in point of matter and in point of grammar, he would not now say one word. The letter called upon the Magis trates to disperse meetings which were never, in point of fact, held. He would accuse the Right Hon. Gentle man of causing agitation and excitement in the course he bad taken ; but he (Mr. O'Connell) was anxious, most anxious, to avoid a crisis. When he heard of the great events which had occurred in Belgium-- when be heard of the movements which had taken place in Poland—and would that, by the morrow's sun, an account of a glorious victory obtained by that brave people over their despot may reach England—(Hear) —when lie learnt what bad transpired in Switzerland, he felt, in calling the attention of his enslaved countrymen to those glorious events, he was only doing that in which he was fully justifi d. If the good people of England would take his advice—(Loud laughter)—yes, he would repeat the phrase, if the good people of England would take hie advice, they would avoid violence, they would avoid a crisis. Ile felt that he stood in that House, notwithstand ing what the Right Hon. Gentleman had asserted, tri umphant.—(Laughter. )—Let Hon. Members laugh if they please, but he was triumphant. Had the Right Hon. Gentleman shown that those who had assembled to agi tate the question of the Union were guilty of one particle of violence ? Had he shown that a single assault had been committed, or that the law in any one respect had been disregarded ? There was, he would admit, great excite ment, there was great agitation, but not one single breach of the peace. Alter these facts, had he not a right to assert that he stood there triumphant?—(Hear. and a laugh. )—Having stated what had not taken place when the people assembled to discuss the repeal of the Uniou, but which the Government would not allow, having shown what he load not done, he would now proceed to state what had occurred. He understood the laugh and the taunted cheer, which was something bordering upon insult, that occasionally met his assertions, but he was not to be deterred from his course. The House would proba bly recollect that the present Lord-Lieutenant was re ceived in Dublin by an assemblage of persons. He (Mr. O'Connell) did not see the procession, but he understood it was a miserable exhibition. It was proposed that the trades of Dublin should meet, and preparations for that purpose were made ; but the Lord Lieutenant, with the Act of Parliament at hand, forbad the trades from meet ing, and he was obeyed— " Hoc volo, sic jubeo, sit pro ratione voluntas." Why was this meeting prevented? Why did the Lord Lieutenant interpose and declare that the loyal tradesmen of Dublin should not assemble ? What injury to the city was meditated ? Well, the trades gave up the meeting, and 100,000 persons who had assembled opposite his house separated, on his requesting them to do so, with as much decorum as the House of Commons itself separated. He would, however, maintain that Parliament, in passing that Act, which empowered one man to prevent an as sembly from discussing measures which they deemed essen tial, was an act of despotism. He called upon the Eng lish gentlemen to aid him in obtaining freedom from such oppression for his fellow countrymen, and if they were like their sires of old, who would have sacrificed their lives in the cause of liberty, he should not invoke their assist ance in vain. The last Administration, he must declare, was infinitely better for Ireland than the present. The late Government of Ireland canoe forward with no prosecution of the kind with which be hail been attacked. The Anti- Catholic Ministers did not think proper to have recourse to such an Act of Parliament, but it was reserved for the Whigs. It was reserved for my Lord Anglesea to issue his proclamations. Ile first discharged a procla mation against the trades ; then he discharged a second against the public breakfasts. People were not to assemble to take tea and coffee, lest they should be guilty of agi tation. After dinner they might possibly be excited, but, after breakfast, no such apprehension could be en tertained. He would again assert, that the letter of the Right Hon. Gentleman was an illegal and unconstitu tional composition, and he should bring it before the consideration of the House. The Hon. Member then proceeded to justify the course he had taken in address ing the letters alluded to to the population of Kilkenny pt H iao e rnt was oe sfaB,sHe aware murbl lee t rd h s n , a i an n ds t 1 uitenh day, a c t ou l ti h t Ne y vyh o o f ht K aodo i l k k e t x , t n hp n re y e , sBd n ee d u n o m mt e h r iea l selves in favour of a repeal of the Union, and that the feeling was spreading around, especially in the counties of Carlow and Wexford. He therefore addressed a letter to them, cautioning them against meeting for political pur poses—telling them that although the meetings were not illegal in themselves, they would become so were they to meet for those purposes which he had named. He admitted having called upon the freeholders of Kilkenny to use their " influence" for Colonel Butler. He had said snore —he had told them that Colonel Butler's expenses of elec tion must be paid. The Hon. Gentleman next noticed the next proclamation which had been issued, and begged to ask whether the law of libel was not sufficiently strong, without having recourse to such an Act of Parlia ment as that which he had denounced ? At all the meet ings which he had attended, two persons on behalf of Go- . veroment were accommodated with seats. He had al ways, however, crowded as the meeting might be, taken care that the note-takers had sufficient accommodation. If ..here bad been seditious intentions on his part, or on the part of any of his friends, was it likely that they would have uttered such setitimettts at those meetings ? He bad been accused of creating agitations. He begged to say that they who had issued the three proclamations bad themselves been guilty— " Mutat° nomine, dote Fabula narratur." He was well persuaded that he wearied the House with his remarks—(Bear) --but he hoped to be excused. Slaves indeed would his countrymen he, if they did not .endeavour to obtain that legal relief to which they were so justly en titled. Ile thought that the Belgians, the Poles, and the Swiss, had acted nobly. There were two parties in Ireland whom he was anxious to instruct. There was, first, the Government to teach in their duties ; then, secondly, the people, the means of obtaining their rights. After com plaining of the manner in which the Jury had ben struck in his own case, the Hon. Gentleman said, that such a course of proceeding would not have been allowed in Eng land, and he again adverted to what had taken place in Ireland, declaring that no injury had been done by the people, that no law had been broken, and that they had been most unjustly treated. He then declared that he looked upon the Whig Admini-tration as being leas friendly to Ireland than the preceding one, and, in conclusion, said he would ever endeavour to obtain for his fellow.country men those natural rights to which they were entitled. Lord ALTHORP—From the habitual legal subtlety of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, he seemed to attend merely to the letter of an Act of Parliament, and to think that if the letter were not infringed the spirit was quite immaterial; but he would find it difficult to persuade the House to accord with him in opinion. He had contended that the excitement had been produced entirely by the con duct of Government; but was there no agitation before the proclamations were issued? He (Lord Althorp) had thought that it had been the pride, boast, and triumph of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman that he had produced agitation.—(Hear, hear.) It was very well to call the meetings in Dublin breakfasts ; but that name had only been adopted for the sake of evading the law, and every body of common sense must know these breakfasts were mere pretences for illegal assemblies. His Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Stanley) had laid the case fairly before the House, and the only answer to it was, that no instance of outrage could he quoted. Was it to be believed, or was it in the nature of things, that such meetings should have been permitted, and continued, without in the end pro ducing tumult and disorder? It was said that the hurlers were respectable farmers of Kilkenny, but had not the Hon. and Learned Gentleman himself avowed that their real object was the abolition of tithes. This was not the mode in which respectable men set about the attainment of honest ends; and if such assemblies were to be permit ted, what would the Hon. and Learned Member consider unlawful meetings? As to the " influence " which these hurlers were called upon to exercise, what was to be un derstood by the word but terror and compulsion? It was not necessary for him to say more the House had heard the statement of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, and of his Right Hon. Friend, and it might safely be left to time and the country to judge whether the Hon. and Learned Member was so extremely cautious and unwilling to pro duce excitement in Ireland as he had represented.—(Hear.) Mr. O'GORMAN MAHON observed, that the discus sion bad not at all enlightened the House upon the main point by whom and in what way the communications had been made to Ministers relative to the late prosecutions ; all that had been elicited was, that both sides were anxious to disclaim the originating of these communications. Al though the meetings were decidedly an evasion of the law, that evasion had been permitted until this law, which made the Lord Lieutenant a Dictator. There was no real Union between Great Britain and Ireland—no community of bless ings and advantages ; but all suffering on the one side, and all tyranny on the other. The charges of sedition came with an ill grace from the Noble Lord, who not long since was rejoiCing in the triumphant display of the tri•culoured flag. The hearts of the Irish people were fixed upon the repeal of the Union, and nothing would satisfy them but the accomplishment of their wishes. He was proud to think that his name would be associated with the agita tions for the repeal of the Union, that Ireland might be restored to the situation in which she stood in 1782. Mr. STANLEY said a few words in a low tone, as to the nature of the prosecutions, and the comparative degree of punishment that would have followed them. Mr. S. RICE challenged the agitators and friends of the repeal of the Union to a full and free and calm discus sion of the merits of the question in the Imperial Parlia ment, which seemed to him a much fitter arena than be fore the hurlers of Kilkenny. All rational men must be satisfied that a maintenance of the Union was essential to the welfare of Ireland, and that the repeal of the Union implied usurpation, ruin, bloodshed, the overthrow of the Constitution, and the establishment of a Republic of the worst character. After a few words from O'CoNwou Dow, the petition was read and laid upon tlse table. COLONIAL TRADE BILL. ---...— On the motion of Mr. P. THoMPsoN, and after a re mark from Mr. Hermits, the Committee on the Colonial Trade Bill was postponed until Friday, in order that he might prepare a schedule of the duties by which the measure ought to be accompanied. PETITIONS FOR REFORM. Mr. LITTLETON adverted to a number of petitions in favour of Reform in Parliament that still remained to be pre-ented, and to the three ballots which were fixed for to-morrow. He suggested, therefore, that the petitions ought to be now presented, before the House proceeded to other business, Lord ALTHORP agreed that it was highly proper that the petitions should he presented. Mr. BENETT said that he had a petition to present from Wiltshire. Colonel DAVIES wished to proceed to the business of the day. There were no less than twenty-seven Orders of the Day, and thirteen Motions—enough of themselves to occupy the House for a fortnight. Mr. BENETT expressed his surprise at the objections of the Hon. Member for Worcestershire. He (Mr. Benett) had come down to the House before ten o'clock for the pur pose of entering his name upon the Speaker's paper ; but even at that early hour found a great number of gentlemen were before him. _ The Marquis of CHANDOS was understood to favour the reception of the petition, and put a question to the Noble Lord opposite, respecting the Game Laws' Amend ment Bill. Mr. J. WOOD confirmed the statement of the Hon. Member for Wiltshire. He himself also had come down to the House before nine o'clock, and at that hour found thirty names on the Speaker's paper before his. He re gretted that there should have been such an accumulation of petitions unpresented upon a subject at this moment the most important and interesting to the public. He recom mended Hon. Gentlemen to allow the petitions to be pre sented immediately. An Hox. Mimosa, whose name we could not learn, and who was not distinctly audible, recommended that a Committee should be appointed for the purpose of receiv ing public petitions. Mr. CALVERT was quite inaudible on aCconnt of the noise. From the few words which reached us we under stood him to approve of the suggestion of the Hon. Mem ber who preceded hi.n. _ Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN was also inaudible, on account of the noise. Mr. VENNAN T, amidst much noise and coughing, at tempted to address the House. Mr. LITTLETON said that unless the petitions on the subject of Reform were then received, the only course left for the Hon. Members to whom they were entrusted would be, to present them at an hour of the night when there would be no one in the House to hear them. He considered it highly improper that the House should not hear the petitions of the people on a subject of such im portance. The SPEAKER then put the question on the bringing up of the petition. Lord ALTHORP said, that if the public business were interrupted for the sake of pretientinet petitions, it would e,tablish a precedent whi c h might be a attended with very great inconvenience; yet he admitted that it was very true, that if the petitions on Reform could not be presented that night, the Hon. Members who held them would find it very difficult to have them received before the motion of his Noble Friend upon the subject of Reform. He w i s hed, therefore, to gratify time feelings of those gentlemen, and he certainly should not object to the reception of the Reform petition s , if Hon. M em b ers would not unneces sarily occupy the H ouse an d d e l ay t h e public business in presenting them. H e was d es i rous o f correcting, before he sat down, an error into which a Noble Lord opposite had fallen. He had not acquiesced in the proposition of the Noble Lord respecting the Game Laws' Amendment Bill. He did not think the Bill of so much importance that he would voluntarily consent to its having precedence of the public business of the Session. Mr. CALCRAFT considered the subject of Reform the most important that occupies the House and the country at present. He thought it inexpedient for the House to hear the statement which was proposed to be made to-morrow, of the intentions of his Majesty's Ministers on that im portant question; before it should have heard the prayers of the people on the same subject. If the petition!, should ~~ be deferred until to-morrow, their presentation would oc cupy so much time that the motion of the Noble Lord could not conveniently be brought on. Should even dis cussions arise upon them that night, so that all could not be presented, the few that might remain would not take up so much time, as to interfere with the Noble Lord's im• portant motion. He thought the House ought to deviate on that occasion from its ordinary rules. The Marquis of CHANDOS said, that although the Noble Lord (Lord Althorp), and other lion. Members opposite, might not consider his proposition, respecting the Game Laws' Amendment Bill, to be of great import ance, they would allow him to hold a very different opinion on the subject. He should act, therefore, on his own opinion, and if the Noble Lord was disposed to let the measure drop off, he (the Marquis of Chandos) would bring in his Bill on Monday next, no matter at what hour of the morning he should find an opportunity of doing so. Lord JOHN RITSSEILL agreed with the Hon. Member for Worcester, that it was expedient that all the petitions on the subject of Reform should be presented before the measures of Reform, contemplated by his Majesty's Mi nisters, be submitted to the House. He wished that there should be a proper understanding as to the hour in which his motion would he brought forward, and, therefore, he took that opportunity of mentioning that he should pro pose it at six o'clock.—(Hear, hear.) General GASCOYNE would infer, from what had been said upon the other side of the House, that the Noble Lord anticipated the !ejection of his Bill to-morrow night. —( Hear, laughter, and cries of " No, no.") As re garded the petitions, he would recommend that the same mode should be adopted for their reception as had been adopted, respecting the petitions on the Catholic qua stion. --(Hear, hear.) Before he sat down, he wished to call the attention of the House to what he had heard respect ing a person who had been guilty of extremely disorderly conduct in the gallery, which seemed to have been passed by entirely without notice. It did not become the dignity of the House to allow the Member for Waterford to he insulted with impunity. He (Gen. Gaseoyne) had had the honour of sitting in that House for nearly thirty years, and in all that time lie had never witnessed so insulting a breach of its privileges.—(Cries of "Move, move.") It was not for him to make any motion on the subject. It was the deity of the Noble Lord, the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, to take the opinion of the House upon the breach of privilege as soon as it was communicated to him. The SPEAKER said—lt is always important that I should set an Hon. Member right when I perceive him to in error. On this occasion it is the more necessary that I should set the Hon. and Gallant Member right, as, if there bad been any error in the omission of which he complained, the fault would be attributable to me more than to any one else. When I made the communication to the House, that the person who had violated its privileges was in custody, the Noble Lord (the Chancellor of the Exche quer) came to me, and inquired whether it was the proper course to bring the individual to the bar ? I thought it more becoming the dignity of the House, that, whilst its business was going on, the offending person should be kept in custody ; and that, after the House had gone through its own business, they the individual in custody should be brought to the bar, to be dealt with as the House may think proper. The Hon. and Gallant Member must be aware that a person being in custody by the order of the House cannot he liberated until he shall have received its judgment —( Hear.) General GASCOYNE explained. Sir R. PEEL, as he understood the Noble Lord to say, that the public business would not be seriously impeded by the presentation of the petitions nu Reform, did not think any inconvenient precedent could be established by their being received.—(Hear.)—For his own part, he was quite disinterested in the matter, as he had but two petitions to present, and of these one was in favour of Reform, and the other against it.—(Hear, and laughter.) After a few words from Mr. Tennant, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Duncombe, and Lord Althorp, it was moved and carried that the petitions be brought up. Mr. BENETT brought up the petition, which was from Wiltshire, praying for Reform and vote by ballot. He afterwards presented petitions from Louth and from several other places, Mr. LEE LEE presented two petitions in favour of Parliamentary Reform—one from Ilminster, in Somerset shire; and the other from the borough of ilintion, in Wiltshire. The petitions were similar in their complaints, and asked for relief from the same grievance=. He sup ported the petition. Mr. LYTTLETON presented several petitions from Staffordshire, in favour of Reform, of which four prayed for• the extension of the franchise to the petitioners them selves. They had been signed by people of all ranks, rich and poor. Pie never knew petitions which had been agreed to more unanimously than these. Sir J. WROTTESLEY supported the petitions. Mr. ADEANE presented several petitions in favour of Reform, from places in the county of Cambridge; from the district of St. Mary, in the Isle of Dy ; from Mel bourne, Fordham, and Wisheach. Sir M. RIDLEY presented a similar petition from Bar nard Cattle, in the county of Durham. Mr. BELL presented a similar petition from the county of Northumberland, and stated, that it had bad been agreed to unanimously irt a great county meeting, at which the High Sheriff presided. It had 3,000 signa tures. He presented another petition, on the same sub ject, from the town of Heithrtm, in that county. Sir R. BATESON presented a petition from the city of Londonderry, praying for Parliamentary Reform and the abolition of useless places. He entirely concurred in the prayer. STAMFORD ELECTION. Mr. TENNYSON had a petition to present, which, although it did not pray for Parliamentary Reform, was closely connected with the subject. It was the petition of the electors of Stamford, complaining of the interfer ence of the Marquis of Exeter with the exercise of their franchise. Tlie SPEAKER reminded the Hon. Member that the House bad came to the understanding that petitions, only praying for Reform, should be presented, until all such petitions should have been received. Mr. TENNYSON, accordingly, postponed the Stam ford petition to a future REFORM. Mr. RUMBOLD presented a petition'from the town and port of 0-eat Yarmouth. Mr. HODGES presented similar petitions from the Eastern District of Kent, and from other places in that county. Lord EBRINGTON presented a similar petition from Exeter. Mr. WILKS presented a petition from Long Sutton, to the same effect. Lord EBRINGTON presented petitions from Newton Abbott sod Shebeard, to the same effect. . _ _ Mr. STRUTT presented a similar petition from Derby. Mr. MILDMAY presented a similar petition from Winchester. Mr. EGERTON presented a similar petition from Mac— clesfield. Sir C. GREVILLE presented one from Harwich. Mr. WILBRAHAM presented a petition from Nant wick. Mr. SHAW LEFEVRE presented one from Basing. stoke. - Mr. JONES presented one from Carnarvon. w S e i e r d. F. A B il L in AK fa E p vour r o c f sen p td one a e rliame from Berwick-on -7 ntaryßeform. Sir ROBERT PEEL presented a similar petition from Banff. The Right Hon. Baronet stated, that he bad then to present a petition of a somewhat different character, though upon the same subject. It was hot very nu merously, bit he understood it was most respectably, signed : it came from the Rector, Churchwarden., Over seers, Landholders, and Inhabitants of the parish of ?die klemarsh, in the county of Southampton. The peti tioners admitted that they had no objection to triennial Parliaments—none to the transfer of franchises from cer tain boroughs to a limited number of great towns—but they deprecated the vote by ballot, annual Parliaments, universal suffrage, or anything approaching what was called Radical Reform. Lord ALTHORP presented a petition in favour of Re• form, from Pembroke. Mr. G. LAMB, a similar petition from Melbourne. Mr. JOHN WOOD, in presenting a petition in favour of Reform, from the city of York, said that if the which the Noble Lord was to bring forward to-morrow did not embrace the large towns, he should feel it his duty to submit to the House a measure on the subject ; for there were many of the great towns that stood as much in need of Reform as any other places sending Members to that House ; as the borough of Evesham, for example. H e professed himself ready to accept what the Ministers might propose or the House agree to; that is, he would accept it for the present ; but the Reformers would not remain inert. The Hon. Member then presented a similar petition from Birmingham. Air. LUNG WELLESLEY presented a county petition from Essex. Mr. WESTERN said a few words, the purport of which could not be distinctly collected in the Gallery. Mr. MABERLY, in presenting a similar petition from Croydon, complained of the insufficient representation of the county of Surrey, the second county in the kingdom for wealth and intelligence. It nominally bad fourteen Members, but eight of that number were not retariwial the people. Gattoc, Haslemere, Bletchiogly, end Gal ano place, the name of which was not audible in the ° were, he observed, all under improper influence. ' d i After a few words from Mr. W.Agatnitogt BRISCOE, and Mr. Alderman WAITHMAS , the P eti " . was ordered to be printed. Petitions to the same effect were presented by r• 311 Petitions herly, from Abingdon; by Mr. O'Connell, from to Yates, Esq. ; by Sir T. ,eland, from Plymouth prayer of which was supported by Lord Ebringtonv Mr. Alderman Wood, from the Ward of CriPPlegete Mr. Alderman Waithman, from the parish of St' L l t il stan, Stepney ; by Sir James Graham, from Left% nark, and Monmouth ;by Mr. Hunt, from the P arl i .. o l Christ Church, in Surrey; Somerton, in Soinerget. r " Haslington, in Lancashire; Yeovil, in So„„r't i Bury St. Edmunds ; London ; Ashford in the 1147.'0 D,rbysliire ; Thome, in Oxfordshire ; Macclesfiel" Chorley, in Lancashire. r at° M BAINBRIDGE presented a petition from to the e effect titi ß o l n r : s am w l . . i i t kßO hth U e CexlicEepßtiEonsuoprpotrhteatd partthe prayer opraitbee4 the ballot. Mr. H UNT supported the vote by ballot. Mr. HUME referred to the cases of Newark an po.d, as calculated to show the use of the ballot. Lord SANDON was a4ain,t the rote by ballot. Mr. O'CONNELL said that the ballot would bribMr. y g. oo l er and canvas%in ah° CALCRAFT thought that the ballot v o , l no t I premipremiumto deceit and roguery, and that it w' the slightest protection against bribery. • 000 Mr. CAMPBELL. said that in the East In cha b where there was vote by ballot, there was as W i fi ip oi vassing as it the vote was open ; and it was as wee"" which way a man voted as if his vote was polled. ts ' Lord NUGENT said that in his opinion the 11 - • ballot would lead to cajoling and deceit. of Mr. WARBURTON objected to the discussi on o baot at that that, a period, there having been a Veit Log standing fter the introduction of the 1 4 °' f o r I motion on Reform, there should be a day filg" question of the ballot. ne frif Lord NUGENT presented petitions in favour ° f „hie' from Aylesbury, and two other places in Biiekin°43lroet Mr. C. GRANT presented a petition from 191" for a Reform of Scotch Burghs. After a few words from Mr. BAILLIR, the P ewut , was ordered to be printed. • ail 10 The Right Hon. Gentleman presented a '°° 3- tion from Peebles. 11° Ii Mr. HUNT presented a petition from Oldba °l oast Manchester, against an increase of the atandt°g Wit ; for Reform is Parliament, and vote by balleu ter reference to an observation made by the Hon. Sl ot b Middlesex, the Hon. Member observed that it " m , been a ballot at Preston, he should have had 1i7 5 00 votes instead of three thousand. That was the °P the returning officer. MUTINY . Mr. C. W. WYNN brought in AC th T e Mutiny L llll ',o °l was read a first time, and ordered to be read I time to-morrow. --- PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE. be !/ 11 Lord AI.TIIORP was understood to say, th° S . t 0 / was then come when it would be proper to adee peog occurrence of the early part of the evening. l b foo ll who had committed the offence was in custody' would propose, if that were the opinion of tlie je j 0 that be should be called to the bar, and reprin/ 10 ,e discharged. The insult to the House had been °- 0 0 21/ that he could hardly conceive that the person °too l witted it was in his right senses. The Noble Ig° eluded by moving, that - Jacobi shoul d b :j, to the bar of the House , reprimanded, and disehirb 00, An Hox. MEMBER wished that it ;night e r s! rained by what means that individual had ellSe House.—(" No, no r) Abe e rr. The motion was then put and agreed to, ao" brought to the bar. The SPEAKER—What is your name? Alexander Jacob, was the answer. 10 tb' The SPEAKER—Have you any thing to °- House as an apology for your misconduct? Alexander Jacob, speaking from under the , imperfectly heard in it ; but was understood I° ,ol r,i be demanded that Justice which every British / 014 01 ; a right to expect. He could assure the Speak, e „, e Hon. Members, that he was brought to the business, and in coming there he was not gu i "`:o/..il r improper motive, no r did h e con t em pl a te doing — be Imr , , that was prejudicial to his count r y. He thoug bt be 5 right to enter the gall e ry a s an i n di v idual, irl-A ceived that the Hou. Membrr could not eicPee" should remain silent and (Order !) The SPEAKER.—I wish to warn you, 06 " 0 not increase your offence by pursuing such a c oati° you seem to have adopted. Ole o n o Alexander Jacob had seriously c onsidered he had to pursue, and did not need any w arnin t he t him serious. He was proceeding to make sortie ftfor ser!ations on the language of the Hon. Med* terford, when The SPEAKER again called him to order. Cae re „ Alexander Jacob meant to apologise, but if t' of order in explaining— F ah , The SPEAKER told him he was not bre i - v - f te bar to justify his conduct. If he had any sP ele° ' for to the House he might m a ke it. Aot Alexander Jacob wished to apologize beT hod" conduct, and humbly begged pardon fur svbst The SPEAKER told him to withdraw. o de Lord ALTHORP s a id, that Mr. Jacob had a l e es t thing like an apology, but that apology Vi 3 ' 12 %stiri tory.—(Hear, hear.) It was not sufficient to c l Alie d e j ° course he had at first proposed. He must he no ld he , ° ' make a more humble apology before the lle tlgie .„, c old sent to discharge him.—(Hear, hear.) li e kr - ne e fore move that Alexander Jacob, for his ouc - House, should be committed to Newgate. 0 001 Mr. O'CONNELL trusted he might be P e 0 ,0 11 0 , interposing in the case. He was aware that th e he ff not been offered to him individually, hut to ' tie ~/ and for that he had readily asked pardon. therefore move, as an amendment on the i'l"ble born lion, that Alexander Jacob be brought to the rOelle; primanded, and discharged. alo e of Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN seconded the .tio0;1) Sir R. PEEL rose to support the prnejohieh Noble Lord. He could conceive the feeling' ere t'` off ' mated the Hon. Gentleman if the offence to t he roe: but the offence was against the privileges ° te j „ He hoped the House would not be eons" o r manding the individual. a 11 ,1 . 0 j ,b ° After a few words from Mr. C. Wyra ge t 0 - I d •, 1 xnoar, the amendment was negatived Wi th ° op./ and the original motion was carried nen. c- ,ocr Speaker was ordered to issue his warrant to c - A Oi 5• I rio r ander Jacob to Newgat e . 'flgi o r REPORT OF SUPPLY.—NAVY g - d e r a , Sir J. GRAHAM moved the order of tbe ree d r ing up the report of supply, which being I g tb° 04 Sir A. GRANT brought up the report' d01 0 ;1' 0 0 , tion that the first resolution he read a eel 0 1 50 Mr. HUME said, he was anxious to 0 1 0 01 0 0 k I A upon a subject which bad come under, Coe li to oPos Friday,—namely, the appointment of Sirr„ o det t oot ic il lnspector-Geheral of Marines. Ha h" C. is Right Hon. Baronet (Sir J. Graham) " a ro t d , ti duties performed by that officer had bee° 1. / i - he and partly of a military nature. The cc/' die II:4, keep, and the military duties he was n ow ho , 0 ;0 discharge were to be effecteal by raising 0 00,10 1 0 rank in the army, and then' giving 0°,11410 l Marines. The office of Adjutaut-Gen era ;ibe le phi ee c i one to which littl e or no duties attached, se': he 00 General was a n e w offi ce; but besides t h/ 7 to a t to the change, as g i v ing an undue preferetle o n 9 of the army, and o f ca sting some stigniliseo W eo p r i efficient corps—the Marines. He wisifhoen) A ct military duti es thi s o ffi cer (Sir J. Ce c *, ( lo oe. fri` called upon to do, for h e understood be ,jOP, / It any parad e s or milit a ry inspections. t be se a l .ntr e 'i c t Sir J. GRAHAM, after re -stating wh: 10 of l o ot! day on this su bj ec t (fo r which see Th e tA t ir o f l4 ., s 't added, that th o ugh Sir J. Cockburn e' the rec i te d news inspect the marines, as he held only ever si" fi j d e r.e r d in the army, yet it was a fact that he . i .ioesl J, C e ° ,ll the ports or depots without seeing the n l4 f l 'ett° He (Sir J. Graham) had no knowledge iv ° e , r e fiei i burn until he came into office; whe n he t ce Iris predecessor, that he was a most ee „ i o I n o te officer, and that great confidence w as terto t he ° hint b great reliance placed on his retur ns se held in ° i e marines. When the duties of one a n . ° lot l i e " er given up, he thought it right to gte e , oe to „greet e t he could be employed with equal advs11:01 the " s ,Oee t as had b l e ie f l e d a t r h ed e rtlfihacte from m(as hisw understoodead and with this view, he superanztne` A dillo able to discharge with convenience w sl o rso o k onal duties which would fall on t o o t' fel l (root e%c e va nceaseb c ob vp i ri toor od i % a misapprehension of any thingb s _ the (ro ot subject should have given pain tu hoe eye for stri officer (Major-General Campbell) tv t oible he st f i l i v, rese onn he had recommended. He was not TOO' aye but it was in the recollection o f the si r • leave it to the Rouse, or Coy );i°°' diu eui artn y _ ba tn , 4 4er, th r Af b. kr ' °it -. the( if 11141