The Sun. — London, England, 1827-03-29 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOC SE OF LORDS, MAacia 28. Sir A. Grunt, and others from the Commons, brought up the Indemnity Bill and the Bills of Exchange Regu lation Bill. They were read a first time and ordered to be printed. NAVIGATION LAWS. The Duke of RUTLAND presented a petition from the Ship-owners of Scarborough, in Yorkshire, praying for an alteration of the Navigation Laws. CORN LAWS. The Duke of RUT-LAND presented a petition from the Landowner• of the parish of Brisbridge, in Suffolk, praying that the principles contained in the Corn Act of 1515 may be preserved in any alteration of the Corn Laws, except that part of the Act which relates to the system of averages. Lard ROLLE presented a petiticn from the Millers of Exeter, praying for protection against the Importation of Foreign Flour. The Earl of LAUDERDALE presented petitions from the County of Ross, and from the Commissioners of Supply and Landholders of Forfarshire, against any alteration of the Corn Laws, or, at all events, praying for an alteration of the proposed scabs of duties. The same Noble EARL presented a petition to the same effect from Banffshire; from the Rape of Hastings, in the County of Sussex ; from Fareham, i• Hampshire ; from Chester-le-Street, in Durham ; from the County of Elgin; and from Woodbridge, in Suffolk. Earl STANHOPE, in presenting a petition to the same effect from the town of Dartford, in Kest, observed, that there was an important circumstance attached to the peti tion ; the petitioners had come to the Resolutions con tained in it, since the time when his Majesty's Government had proposed their Resolutions to the consideration of the Parliament ; and he had no doubt that their petition would be followed by numerous other petitions from every part of the kingdom, expressive of the strong disapprobation with which these Resolutions were viewed by every one con nected with the agriculture of the country. The system to be carried into effect by the present Corn Bill would, ho was satisfied, prove ruinous to the farmers, by laying the market open to operations of speculators, whose exertions must produce the moat destructive fluctuations. His LORDSHIP, i❑ presenting several other petitions to the same effect from Whitsuntry, in Bedford ; from the Hundred of Henstead, and from the Hundred of Hineeforth, in Norfolk; and from Abergagley, in the County of Den bigh, signed by nearly every proprietor and owner or farmer of land, in their vicinity, took occasion to defend petitions which were signed quietly, and with deliberation, from the imputations which had been taut upon them by a Noble Lord, when he called them hole and corner petitions. Those petitions, signed by those who were made acquainted with the object to which they wished to call the attention of the House, were much more deserving of their Lordships attention, as speaking the sense of those from whom they came, than that other class of petitions, which were agreed to at great Public Meetings, under the influence and authority of great public speakers or writers, but which were generally signed without any proper attention to the subject on the part of those assembled. These petitions were signed by men who had calmly considered the effect upon their interests of the measures in contemplation, and he repeated, that they were well worth their Lordships' attention. Lord TEYNHAM, in presenting a similar petition from the Farmers and Corn-dealers assembled at the market of the town of Ipswich, in Suffolk, observed, that the mea sures with respect to the Corn Trade, now proposed by Government, were the result of a series of experiments, which had been engendered from the French Revolution ; and he could only say, that if they were persisted in, they would place the farmers and landowners of the country in a situation which they could not anticipate, and which they had never before known. The petitions were then laid upon their Lordships' table. ROMAN CATHOLICS. The Duke of RUTLAND presented petitions from the inhabitants of the borough of Leicester, and from the in habitants and rector of the parish of St. Mary's, Leicester, praying that no further concessions may be made to the Roman Catholics. . . ----- The Bishop of CHESTER presented a similar petition from the Vicar and inhabitants of a parish iu Bedford shire. Lord KING, in presenting a petition from the Catholics of Ireland, relative to the Test Oaths, +said, that the peti tioners complained, and lee thought most justly complained, of the cruel slanders east upon them and upon their faith, by that law which requires every person Galled upon to Take a seat in the Legislature, or to perform the duties of a public office, to take certain oaths, by which every Judge, Bishop, or Sheriff, was obliged to declare the Catholic re ligion was an execrable superstition, and the Caboli4.3 themselves to be base idolatoes. This proceeding the pe titioners state most truly to be wholly unjustifiable. That House had seen many petitions presented by various per sons against the calumnies Leaped upon the Catholic reli gion by the Protestants. Those petitions were presented principally, however, he ought to say, by the Reverend .fseech, and from their own Clergy, and he would say, that they stated any thing but that which might be called in accordance with Christian charity, or likely to aesist in the promotion of harmony and union lee tweeze the sects. They, however, who thus com plained of the calumnies of the Catholic++, had shown their discretion in the method of retaliating, or ra ther, he ought to say, their total want of discretion, and much good might it do them. He had lately been reading esome German Papers, and felt extreme gratification to o bserve that the King of Prussia had expressed himself pl eee eed with the conduct of a Protestant Pastor and a Ca tholic who had exerted themselves to promote liar many and pease between the sects; and when he read the account of the ia,!euarch's approbation having been be stowed upon them, he conid not help exclaiming, Oh, happy people, and happy country ! where nothing is to be gained by the profession of higoti7 And intolerance,—where you are not called upon to sacrifice every other considera tion to please the advocates of Protestant Ascendancy--and where the road to power is not through the presentation of pestilential petitions from Protestant Parsons, nor from the ' scrutiny of pamphlets, still more pestilential, to be after wards preached as sermons in a chapel not very far from that House, in order to tickle up the Noble anil Learned Lord who sat not far from him. --(Hear, hear. Pruasia there were no attempts to make proselytes by mischievous and mistaken zealots, or uncandid and aspiring politicians —men who would not suit their own views—declare a crusade against the Catholics, and declars the finger of God to be visible in every movement. Enthusiasts in religion s a y think, and artful politicians may be ready to say, whether they think it or not—that the Almighty favours their enterprise ; but, unless these modern crusader' posseee a greater degree of inspiration than their prede cessors of old, the advance they have yet made must be taken as a very bad omen of the future success of their attempts upon the idolatrous and benighted Irish :(hear) ; attempts which—to quote the expressions so happily used by a daily paper, when speaking of the success of coneer sion—are likely to be quite as feasible as a plan for bottling the Atlantic. (Hear,) They had an authority of the highest kind, against this attempt at conversion, delivered in a public charge to those moat intimately connected with those who were to be the objects of their exertions, and therefore well worth their attention—he meant the Charge of the Archbishop of Cashel to his Clergy, ie which he de c.4ares it to be his opinion, that the attempt to convert the Irish to be doubtful at any time, but that, under present circumst.2aces, he considers it not only unedrisable, but fraught with danger to religion, and even to Christianity itself. (Hear, !war.) He might indeed, to the attempt et conversion in the present titres, apply the same illustration which had been forrneely used iu affairs of finance, that they were not to endeavour to !eY up a few pepper-corns, at the expence perhaps of millions. The converts had been few, and the attempt to extend them he considered futile, whatever might be the political process to be adopted by those performers on the polemical stage, who were ready to cry woe, aye and to indict woe when they met with op position, or when inatters were not agreeable to their par ticular views. He had no doubt, howeeer, that they were ready, in defence of their own principles, to undergo all the martyrdom of promotion, and to disport themselves in the flames of gratified ambition; there Ins sees for the present very ready to leave them. Upon the petition bring read, Earl STANHOPE observed, that his Noble Friend, in the o. heer n made he ade with respect to the state of the sec*, !sesia, and the treatment they received from the State, ent i l ;ely overleeked the fact, that in Germany there we re no popuLar Con s ti tut i o ns..(Hear.)—lf there were no elements of a popular Conatituflon in this country, he would be as as the Noble Baron to concede to the Roman Catholics the whole of their d e ma n d s ; but in a countr where all th e instindtions are d ec id e dl y an d yen tirely P ro t e stant, he we e convince 4 no further powers could with safety be gran ted to them. H e was not at that moment about to elite into the question, re he ap- Preheeel e e be would have an 6 pportunity of stating is opinion more at larg hereafter : te st he could not help g , observi n - e nt . Ireland, that remedy must be 3 pp liod to the state evils under whi.a T t ould strike at the very root of those present suffered. strong Bishop ' :STER, notwithetant ling the very • '_ dir ect peison 1 allusions of the Noble ;WWI 0 17; 9 " ° ( ' .9t4 Xing), alli r siou. vhitia Le had dads in language extended far beyond the usual Parliamentary li cense, would have been contented to listen to the Noble Lord's observations in silence, and to have practised that lesson of Christian charity which he seemed not yet to have learned —a lesson which taught him never to apply hard words to the innocent and unoffending - , had he not felt the sub ject which gave rise to those observations of an import ance too paramount to permit him to let the Noble Lord's remarks pass unanswered. The Noble Lord had been pleased to express himself in terms of very great contempt of the idea of Reformation, and to give to the language lie had made use of respecting an interpretation, very hostile to its true claming. and very much at variance with the spirit of Christian charity. If they were to believe in Re formation at all, or in the accounts of those events by which the moat remarkable Reformations were preceded, they must be prepared to admit that some signs were to he shown when Ireland was to be enlightened—that some symptoms must be manifest to point uut the time when the work was to be undertaken. And if there were at present in Ireland some of those symptoms apparent, whether forced forward by the premature encouragement of individuals, or the effect of the approach of the time when they were to be enlightened, was it not, he would ask, the duty of • Christian teacher not to cast re proach and rebuke upon those appearances of the reception of truth, but rather to foster and encourage it by pre cept and by exertion ? With reference to the observation which he had made in that House upon the hope of the conversion of the Catholics, and which the Noble Lord had made the subject of so much comment, the expression that "he thought he saw the finger of God in the recent con version of the Catholics of Ireland, and that woe would be to these who should presume to lift up their hands and voices in rain and impotent attempting to stem the flood of Gospel light that was bursting over the country," he begged to say most distinctly, that he did not intend to declare spi ritual or temporal woe to those who opposed the will of the Meat High. But he would repeat, that if any man did attempt to stand up against the will of God, and oppose his puny efforts to the will which was thus declared, woe would be to him sooner or later. He had only one word more to add in speaking words of encouragement to those who were engaged in the work of reformation ; he had endeavoured, as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, to speak in terms of prudence and caution of those evils which in such an attempt were to be avoided, and to guard against that kind of hostile opposition which nothing but the union of great worldly wisdom with the most devoted piety could possibly counteract, and he hoped that in doing so he had not made use of any expressions or indulged in any hopes which were averse to the profession and to the practice of a Minister of God—(Hear, hear.) Lord HOLLAND did not wish by any means to prolong the present conversation, which he thought could not tend to any useful purpose, which he knew was moat irrelevant to the petition then before the House, and which he could not avoid declaring to be altogether unconnected with the great question upon which they had been so frequently called tw decide. He could not, however, suffer the matter to terminate, without observing, that the Reverend and Learned Lord who, if he would permit him such an ex pression, was, to borrow one of the Learned Lord's own phrases, one of the most polished weapons of the Ecclesias tical armoury in that House, had begun by rebuking the Noble Lord for having introduced his petition by the use of hard words, while the Rev. and Learned Lord :seemed to have forgotten, that the whole proceeding was founded on the use of hard words—(hear,)---and that the very matter of complaint on the part of the Catholics was the application of those hard words which it was contended ought to be exer cised against those who used them in return. The whole mat ter reminded him of a little anecdote which, he believed, he had once before mentioned to their Lordships, and which he had found in an old Spanish Jest Book. In Spain, the flock, of sheep are often in danger from the wolves, and the shep herds, as a protection, arm themselves with a long spear, tipped with iron at one end, and, at the same time, avail themselves of the assistance of a large dog. Now it hap pened that one of these shepherds and a dog had a quarrel, and the shepherd, in defending himself against the dog, killed him with his spear. The shepherd was seised by the owner of the dog, and carried before the Alcaida, to be tried for the offence. Why, said that Magistrate, did you kill the dog ? The shepherd replied, because he ran at me with his mouth open to bite. And why did you strike him with the spear of your stick ? why not rather strike him with the butt end, and beat him off? Because, said the shepherd, he came against me with his mouth foremost, and not with his tail.—(Hear, and a laugh.)—So it was with the Roman Catholics. The Protestants called them idolatrous and superstitinue—they loaded them with the most opprobrious and insulting expressions; they goaded them on to violence, and then they affected or felt sur prise, when the Catholics attempted to retort upon them any portion of that language, or that insult, which they themselves had provoked. With regard to the other question, the conversion of the Catholics, or the New Reformation, as it is called, what that had to do with the question of Emancipation he had yet to learn. Either it must be admitted that it has nothing to do with the question, or else it must be meant that the Penal Laws are meant to assist the work of conversion, aad to force forward the work of reformation—(Hear.)—lf that be so, then he would call the proceeding persecution.—(Hear. ) To *lake use of a temporal weapon for spiritual purpose., was, to all intents and purposes, persecution. (Hear, hear.) If, however, it be conceded, that the work of conversion hes nothing to do with the qeestiou, then they were equally subject to tee reproach of making use of spiritual weapons for carnal and temporal purposes, and equally guilty of per secution. In either way, therefore, what they were now doing meant nothing, or it meant to give countenance to persecution. The Reverend Lord had, however, gone further, and denounced woe to all those who should at tempt to lift ap their hands to stay the doud of light. The Bishop of CHESTER interrupted the Noble He did net say any thing of the kind. He said, when the time of that Reformation begins, woe be to him, who should attempt to stem the flood. Lord HOLLAND continued. Well, the time when the Reformation begins was a saving clause certainly—(Hear ! and laughter.)—But in what way the woe might be ap plied, he apprehended there might unhappily be found some who were not unwilling to Ilse it. But there was another point to which he wished to call their Lordships' attention. When the question of Catholic Emancipation was discus sed in that House, lie recollected perfectly' well, that the merits and demerits of the Catholic religion termed with some Learned and Reverend Lords one of the most promi nent and imp scant topics—the merits of the Catholic re ligion discussed among Protestants—(Haar), --and where 40g, but Protestants were present. He would not say how such a proceeding might be considered in that House, but in private society, the discussion and the decision of a question in which two parties were interested, and only one present, would have been considered ungentlernanlike and uncharitable—(Hear, hear. )—He recollected, too very well, that one of the topics dwelt upon most strongly as a ground of hostility to the claims of the Catholics, was the command and,thelanxiety to make proselytes, which was said to characterize those who professed the Catholic faith (hear.) Now be would say that the House must snake choice of one of two things. They must either say that it is not right to blazon forth the deeds done in the cause of Reforma tion, and to harangue upon the interposition of God on behalf of the purer and better ftith, or else they must admit that they, the Catholics, are also to be commended for their real to produce reformation—(hear,hear.)—aud they must, perhaps, even go further, and judge of both by the effects of their labours, declaring that religion to be the purest which produces the meet abundant proofs of the truth of their faith.—(Hear, hear.)—He would ask, was any man disposed to go time far, and place the truth of the faith of Protestants upon such a trial ; and place the purity of its doctrines, and its favour and acceptance with the Supreme, upon a constant alternation of temporary triumphs.— (Hear, hear.)—He concurred in opinion with the just and exemplary Archbishop of Cashel—whom he was sorry not to see in his place, and whom he would be proud to have the pleasure of knowing personally, and whose near rela tionship to the wig. and comprehensive-minded Dr. Law rence left no surprise upon his mind that he had fol lowed his steps. :He concurred with that wise and virtuous Prelate in the Charge which lie had published, and which he had read with pleasure. When he said that, however anxious he might be to spread the truth• of the Gospel, end however zealous he might be to call unbelievers to the faith, the attempt would, at the present moment, be attended with many lied effects, by ex citing a s,;;irit of the same description among the Catholics; and he finally conelqded by declaring, that whether Pre testeetissn could gain any thirig by the efforts at conver sion, was dubious, while that Christianity itself would suffer, was certaiee—(Hear.) Lord CARBERY said, the Noble Lords opposite seemed to think, that all the hard words should be used on the one side, and none periniteed on the other. The Catholics were gill more inclined to make use of strong expressions than the Protestants, and even declared that no Protestant was entitled to salvation. The petition was laid upon the table, and ordered to be Print*i.--Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF CONINIONS, 51Ancli 2S. WEST LOOE. On the motion of Mr. H. CLWE, a new writ wai or dered to be laud for th e Borough of wtst Looe, in the room of John Buller, Eiq., who, since his election, has accepted the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds. CORN LAWS. Sir WM. INGILBY presented a petition from the Owners and Occupiers of Land in the parish of Kesteven, in the county of Lincoln, praying that the proposed altera tions in the Corn Laws might not pass into a law ; but that a more adequate protection might be afforded to Agri culture. DUTY ON COALS IN IRELAND. Mr. O'HARA presented a petition from the Merchants and others composing she Chamber of Commerce at Galway, praying for the repeal of the Duty on Coala in Ireland. LAW OF DEBTOR AND CREDITOR. Mr. HUME presented a petition from a person confined in Whitecross-street prison for debt, who stated that he had been ruined in consequence of the injustice of the Law of Debtor and Creditor, and who prayed that that Law might be amended, so as to lessen the expense attendant on recovering debts. The Hon. Gentleman said that he per fectly agreed with the petitioner as to the necessity of some amendment of the Law; but to-morrow he shmild call the attention of the House more particularly to the subject. CHARITY AT RUGBY. Mr. HUME presented a long Petition from three poor men, belonging to some Charitable Establishment at Rugby, complaining that the Trustees of that Charity, instead of allowing them seven shillings a week, the sum which the Lord Chancellor had declared they were entitled to, limited their allowances to five shillings and sixpence. They prayed that the Trustees might bo instructed to pay them the other eighteen-pence a week. The Hon. Mem ber touk the opportunity of presenting this Petition to re commend that a Committee should be appointed fur the purpose of ascertaining bow far the recommendations and representations contained in the Report of the Com mittee on Public Charities had been attended to. An Hon. MEMBER, whoa© name we could not learn, but who was one of the Trustees of the Charity at Rugby, said he recollected the circumstances attendant on the case of the Petitioners; and that it was after much considera tion that the Trustees determined that the sum of five shillings and sixpence a week was an adequate allowance. INVENTIONS. Mr. ITUINIE presented a petition from Mr. Samuel Fletcher, stating that after great labour and the expence of much money, he had discovered various highly useful inventions, and among others the means of preventing or detecting the adulteration of flour, and praying for remune ration. The Hon. Member observed, that this invention might be ►ery advantageous to the Commissioners of the Navy, who had lately complained of such extensive adulte rations in the flour supplied by the contractors. GAME LAWS. Mr. LITTLETON presented a petition from the Mer chants, Manufacturers, and other Inhabitants of the Tow❑ of Wolverhampton, stating that they paid largely to the poor-rates out of which the unfortunate ♦ictims to the Game Laws were prosecuted, and complaining of the hard ship of not being themselves allowed to have any game, The Hon. Member observed, that he had in the last Par liament voted for an alteration in the Game Laws. He certainly thought that it was hard on those who oceepied so large a quantity as ninety-nine acres of land not to be permitted to kill the game upon it; and he thought that those who wished to purchase game should be allowed to do so. He admitted that the landlords should be legally secured in the possession of their game; and he could not concur with the petitioners in calling the poachers victims. On the contrary, he thought that they were a very dan gerous and injurious class of the community; but he main tained that those who fed the genie ought to he permitted to eat it. Sir J. SEBRIGHT concurred with his Hon. Friend in the necessity of protecting the landowner ; but also con curred with the petitioners in terming the persons im prisoned in consequence of the Game Lawe, the victims of those Laws. They were the victims of that provision in the Laws, which prevented game from being brought to market like ether articles. This provision held out a temp tation to the poorer classes which they were actable to resist. He appealed to the Hon. Members present who were, Magistrates in the country, if the:evil attendant on the present Game Laws was not a greatly increasing one, and if it had not already arrived at such a height that some le gislative interference had become imperatively necessary ? Sir CHARLES BURRELL observed, that the persons who were imprisoned for offences against the Game Lawe were victims not of those laws but of their own conduct in violating them. He agreed with the Honourable Mem ber for Staffordshire in the necessity of preserving the game. With respect to the alleged hardship suffered by the tenants, in not being allowed to kill game on the land which they occupied, it ought to be recollected that when they obtained their leases, they were made aware of that circumstauce. Mr. ESTCOURT contended, that the Game Lawe were a fertile source of the demoralization of the people. In the county of Wilts, out of 232 prisoners, no fewer than 100 were poachers.—( Hear, heir.) Sir J. %VROTTESLEY declared, that the evil had grown to such a magnitude, that it was essential that some thing should be done to endeavour to remedy it. What had been already done on the subject? A Noble Lord, lately a Member of that House, had three yearn ago intro duced a Pill for the purpose of amending the Game Laws ; but he had mixed up so many other things in the Bill, tLat it was impossible to agree with him]. V lt had been said that a Bill had been introduced elsewhere ; but that was a circumstance with which the Nouse of Commons had nothing to do. The evil, lie repeated, was of such ex traordinary magnitude, that some step must be taken to put an end to it. He was quite persuaded that if the Hon. Gentleman opposite would bring in a Bill upon the subject, he would ha✓e the support of the House. Such a Bill ought not to be encumbered with any matter which might render it objectionable. The first thing that ought to be tried was simply a repeal of the laws prohibiting the sale of game. That might be followed by other regulations tending to correct the various evils of the Jaw. 'Mr. LITTLETON said, he must dissent from the opi nions held by hie colleague. He thought that making game saleable would be the reverse of an improvement of the Game Laws. Mr. PEEL thought it desirable to try the experiment by a partial operation, and to ascertain the effect of making game a saleable commodity. He was far from meaning to say, that if game were made:saleable, the Game Laws ought to continue in their preceut state. He had long felt that a great change had taken place in society, which absolutely required the Game Lawa to be revised, and placed upon a different foundation. It was very inconvenient to let the idea gut abroad, that because the House of Lords enter tained different views upon the question from those adopted in the Commons, that the House of Commons was there fore not disposed to view with lenity offences against the Game Laws. The House had no wise to interfere with the privilege of private property, the owners of estates, and of game preserves, would naturally defend their rights. All that was desirable wee, not to withdraw the protection from game, but to put the Game Laws upon a better and more practicable foundation. At preeent the sale of game was confined to poachers, and it was desirable, he thought, to let the owners of game come in competition with them.— In Scotland, the love relative to the game were of a much better description than those of England. He was of opi nion that the right of selling game ought to belong ex clusively to those who had the right of shooting or possessing it. The Laws of Qualification were at present in the most imperfect state. He did not at all enter into the fears of those who thought that if the right of shooting wore extended, the man of three acres would materially diminish the game of his neighbour possessing 3,000 acres. On the contrary, a compromise would generally take place, in which the person of such small property would be glad, for a trifling sum, to agree not to shoot at all. To say that the man whore few acres contributed to the food of the game, should not have the privilege of killing game— the very birds that devoured the produce of his field, was monstrous. Gentlemen would find it perfectly fruitless to attempt to eoutinue the laws in their present state ; such was the altered condition of society, that the Gauss Laws could not remain ten years without the most material uno dificatioret. Sir JOHN SEBRIGHT explained, and the Petition was ordered to be printed. The Marquis of I3LANDFORD moved for a Return of all persons killed by spring guns, in England and Wales, within the last five years, Mr. WARBURTON presented a petition from Man chester, against the Corn Laws. The Hon. Member acid, he understood that it was the intention of the Country Gentlemen to oppose the warehousing of corn, in the se cond reading of the Bill. This would render the trade in corn so precarious and perilous, that not a grain would be imported, unless additional securities were given to the merchant that he should deliver his corn at a fixed duty. Mr. DENISON presented a petition from the inhabit cots of Tooting, praying for an alteration in the Poor Laws. Mr. SYKES gave notice that, on the oth of May, he would make a motion relative to an Inquiry into the Quali fications of certain Voters iu the County of Cornwall. Sir H. PARNELL presented a petition from a parish in souse part of Ireland, in favour of the Catholic cl a i ms . Mr. HARRIS moved for a Committee of the whole Mime, upon the Ways and Means, on Friday neat. Tlll3 Conte on Dilit3 . o6 Dill went througlt a C4Dunnitte., and the Report was ordered to be received to-morrow (Thursday.) Mr. MAXWELL presented a petition from the Sawyers of Rochester, praying that the Houee would refer to the consideration of a Committee, the effects which time uee of machinery had in reducing the wages of the working classes. Mr. G. J. SMITH said, that the country could not have borne the expenses, of the last war, bat for the wealth which had been created by machinery. In Scotland, writers have explained to the people the true prineiplee of the introduction and use of machinery ; and the result of their works was, that one half of the people of Scotland wale frisadly, instead of adveree, to the substitution of machinery for manual labour. He thought that a Com mittee ought to he appointed to inquire into the subject. Mr. G. SMITH presented a petition from certain inha bitants of Hatton and Great and Little Bolton, praying for relief relative to the low state of wages. Mr. PEEL said, it was impossible for the Government not to sympathize with the petitioners, bet he did not think that they would be advancing their own interests by in ducing the House to accede to the prayer of their petition. They prayed that the Legislature should pass a law to pre vent a master employing any man at leas than a fixed rate of wages. The first effeet of such • law would be, to make every master tarn out all the inferior workmen, the women and children, and employ none but the very best hands. All those who, in en open market, would not be able to earn so much, would necessarily be deprived of employment. It would not be proper to give the petitioners the opportunity of pro clueing their arittments in support of their case. There had already been a Committee appointed upon this very subject, and which had taken into consideration the argil , uaents urged by the Bolton Petitioners and others, upon the propriety of fixing a minimum of wage'. The Com mittee had come to the Resolution, that they were " una nimously of opinion, that the proposition stated in the peti tion, relative to fixing a minimum of prices of labour for cotton manufactures, is wholly inathuietible in principle, in capable of being reduced to practice, and if put into prac tice, would he productive of the most pernicious results." Mr. HUME referred to the number of petitions which had been presented to the House for some time back, by the artisans and operatives of the different parts of the country, complaining of the distresses under which they laboured, and attributing the low wages which produced that distress, to the operation of the Combination Laws. Upon that occasion, a Committee had been appointed to inquire into the grievances stated in these Petitione, and 33 persons bad been deputed from different parts of the country to sustain the allegations of the petitioners. These persons were examined before the Committee, and not one of the 33 returned into the country without being perfectly convinced that their distresses were to to:attributed to causes very different from those to which they had been ascribed. He thought, therefore, it would be good policy upon the prevent occasion, again to allow the petitioners, by the appointment of a Committee, an opportunity of see ing the error under which they laboured in this respect. After a few words from CURTEIS, Mr. ABERCROMBIE observed, that he would most wil lingly agree to the appointment of small a Committee, if he thought the slightest good could result from it, but he felt that it would have a contrary effect, as it would excite in the minds of artisans a hope which never could be realised. In his opinion, the best way to remove the delusion under which this class of persona laboured, would be the circula tion of the extract read by the Right Hon. Secretary for the Home Department, from the Report on the Combina tion Laws, and rendering the evidence, upon which that Report was made, accessible to them. The petition was brought up and read. On the question that the petition be printed, Mr. J. SMITH made a few observations which were inaudible in the gal lery.—The petition was then ordered to be printed.—Ad journed. JOURNAL of a VOYAGE to RICHMOND. TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Slit—As the navigation of the Thames seems likely to be brought into fashion by the late account of the Lord Mayor's Voyage of Discovery to Ox ford, I have been induced to transmit you a narra tive of a somewhat similar Voyage to Richmond, drawn up and attested by three city friends of mine, who ►ere shipwrecked on the uninhabited island off Kew. It is really lamentable to think how many vessels are cast away between Westminster Bridge and Richmond (especially during the tempestuous seasons of the equinox), by the ardour of their crews for discovery; the present journal is intended to act as u warning to such adventurous navigators, and if its tragic details serve but to save one life, the writer will ask for nothing beyond the satisfaction resulting from a good conscience. Virtue, says the poet, is it's own reward. I am, Sir, your's respectfully, 7, Fish-Street-liill. NATHAN JENKINS. Sailed away from Chelsea, September 25, MI, in company with Joseph Tomkins, Nahum Stubbs, and Ezekiel Gubbins, in all four souls. At eleven o'clock, A.M., came in sight of Battersea-bridge, with strong gales from W.N.W. Hove to, took in a reef, and dropped anchor in Battersea Bay. At twelve a.m., weighed anchor, took in a second reef, stood off on the larboard tack, and bore away towards Barnes Common. Fresh breezes from W.N.W. At half past twelve, P.M. shipped a heavy sea which washed overboard six bottles of porter, a Dutch cheese, and Gubbins's Sunday coat. At 1 P.M. carve in sight of Putney Bridge, lying in lat. 54. 43. N., and lon. 23. 57. W. Country savage but agreeable. Hailed a wherry bound for Red House, Chelsea Reach. At 2 P.M. strong gales with a heavy swell, dewed up the foresail and hove to, head to the South ward. At half -past 2 P.M. came in sight of Barnes Common, and anchored close a-head of breakers. Saw three pigs and a jackass walking along the shore, driven by two savages in smock frocks; asked them the name of the place, and they asked us in return for a pot of beer, a proof, said Stubbs, that they must be Christians. At 3 P.M. weighed anchor, took in a third reef, clewed up the jib, and stood off for Richmond; waves moun tains high, so kept the ship to the wind, took down the mast, and took to our oars—there not being a skull in the boat. At 4P. M. wind increased to a hurricane, provisions washed overboard, and every man put on short allowance. Came in sight of Kew Bridge, anchored off the island, to despatch our few remaining sandwiches, and named it, in consequence, the Sandwich Island. At 5 P.M. com pletely water-logged, Stubbs's coat-pockets, and Gubbins's top-boots containing a pail-full:each ; suf ferings dreadful. At 6 P.M. night drew on, gales from W.N.W., with mixed rain and sleet. Mem.— Stubbs cut a crab, fell back with his oar, and knocked Tomliins's eye-tooth down his throat. At 7 P.M. sprung a leak, so swum to land with Stubbs, followed by Tomkins towing along thibbina, who made fast by his coat flaps.—Afern. Tomkins's coat broke and poor Oubbins, with the flaps in his hand, sunk overhead. At half-past 7 reached laud and hoisted signals of distress ; hailed a barge bound for Battersea, but the crew bore off and left us to our fate. At 8 P.M. a homeward bound wherry (Captain James Dobson,) by good luck espied us, picked us up, and within an'incredibly short space landed us at Barnes Terrace, where we received every attention from the politeness and hospitality of the natives. — , It is to tnem we owe our lives. (Signed) JOSEPH TOMKINS, Shoreditch, his cross. NAHUM STUBBS, St. Mary Axe, his v, crow. EZEKIEL GUBBINS, Easteheap, his >< ernes. AMOS HIGGS, Tbroadneedle-at,, his cross. THE FALL OF PAciANrsm.-11e triumph of Christianity was come. Theodosius, a statesman, a soldier, and a man of virtue, Was called from obscurity to the empire. The lingering reluctance of the throne to re press the ancient superstition, was suddenly changed for a wise and bold activity. A succession of decrees, like suc cessive flashes of light from the sword of the Spirit, smote the worship of the idols, closed the heathen temples, and established Christianity as the religion of the Roman world. Thus fell Paganism ; the great antagonist of truth, purity, and wisdom ; the pamperer of human passion and pride-- splendid and stately to the eye, but made to be the op pressor and the murderer. At this distance the mind still contemplates it, like the ruins of one of its own temples,_ and, wonderiug at its stupendous extent, the depth and age of its foundation, the grandeur and costliness of the embellishment lavished upon it by the genius of antiquity, may well doubt that it was e ither raised or overthrow n the strength of man. But it was the house of darkness-_. vice and blood were the offerings on its altars ; its fall was the freedom of na ti ons , th e beginning of a day which shall know no end; and load and lofty be the thanksgiving for that fall whi c h I„ it in light upon ulankiud,.... Cray. k , Olll3iCiN IA'IELLIGiENCE, FRENCH PAPERS. (From the Pilate, dated Monday, March 26. ) MADRID, MARCII 15.—(Private Correspondence.) —An Aid-de-camp of General Monet has just brought to the Government despatches, containing the circumstantial details of the manner in which that General disarmed the Portuguese rebels, at the moment of their appearing on the frontiers to enter the Spanish territory. General Monet had cantoned his troop on the • roads of Arganin, Carvajales, and Cedes; on the arrival of the refugees he ordered them to lay down their arms, or to turn back and enter Portugal ; but, us they were closely pursued by the Constitutional army, necessity compelled them to submit to the order of General Monet; and, stripped of their arms, they filed off before the Spa nish army and proceeded towards Zamora, where they were to continue their march to the interior of the Province of Old Castile. The number of the rebels who have been disarmed amounts to about 4,000 men ; there are several Generals among them. Their arms were immediately given up to the Con stitutionalists. The ill success of this enterprise is ascribed, as it seems, to the dissention which has for some days prevailed among the insurgents ; it was a perfect anarchy; the soldiers no longer regarded the restrictions of discipline; and, in the midst of this frightful disorder, a reward had been offered for the heads of several, who escaped the danger only by The last disaster of the rebels has caused a consi derable number of persons, of all ranks, to emigrate into Spain, especially Monks and Priests, who pre sent themselves at all parts of our frontiers. Seve ral rebels have asked for passports to go to Francs. Don Nareiso Heredia, Count d'Ofalia, is oss the point of leaving this capital to proceed to France, and thence to England. M. Estefani, Director-Ge neral of the Lottery, set out on Monday last for Paris ; our Government hastened his departure, M. Estefani being commissioned to contract a loan, if he can succeed in doing so. (From the Constitationnel. A circumstance which has attracted a great deal of public attention, and of the truth of which I can assure you, is, that the orders which were sent on the Sth to Gen. Monet, were repeated to him on the 10th, in a very peremptory way, and that the day after (the 11th), Mr. Lamb went to Pardo, invited by a Note, signed by the King's own hand; that he had there a long conference with his Majesty, in presence of the Prince and Princesses, and different persona of the Court ; that the Confer ence turned exclusively on the affairs of Portugal, and that Mr. Lamb was heard repeatedly insisting on the inutility of our Government's keeping on foot in future, so considerable an army. As a consequence of this Conference, and of the visible changes in the management of our affairs, the report of a revolution among the Ministers, assumes every day more con sistency. M. Calomarde was, at first, the only one mentioned as likely to be dismissed, but now it is asserted, the whole will be dismissed, with the ex ception of Salazar ' Minister of the Marine, who is also President of the Council, and who is to be re tained, it is said, in consequence of the private adrices of Mr. Lamb himself, to whom these changes in ex pectancy are attributed. (From the Etoile.) " ODESSA, MARCH 5.--The news from Constan tinople, of the 25th of February, states that M. de Ribeatipierre had, immediately after his arrival, pre sented an energetic note, which corroborated the pro positions submitted by M. de Minsiacki, in favour of o t n il m r rega rd gathe Greeks; so that the attitude taken by Russia, rN i ) c s , r a d l t t o o n u t g li t a s ( t i l e i e h question,syv M. de ihoheelaocuonpigt longer ranite matter a ao t r t fe e rnt the commute doubt. known, it is quite certain mot only that they agree with those of the English Ambassadur, but that they have been put in a more categorical manner, than could have been expected at Pere. M. de Ribeau_ pierre had a conference, on the 19th, with the Reis Effendi, in which, it is said, the preliminary articles of the convention of Ackerman were made the sub ject of conversation. It is certain that these articles, as far as they regard Walachia and Moldavia, have not yet been published in those principalities, still loss have they been carried into execution there. It may well be presumed that the Porte has not hur ried itself to fulfil the other articles. We wait, with curiosity, the result of these negociations. " MADRID, MARCH 15.—The report is renewed that the basis of an accommodation, between Spain and Portugal, has just been agreed upon, and that, in consequence, the Portuguese _Miguellists, the remnant of the army of Silveira, who expected hourly to re-enter their country, have really been disarmed, and sent into the interior. This is cer tain, that the Count D'Ofalia has received from the Treasury 60,000 of francs, and that he is, at length, to depart for England.—Bordeaux Journal." (From th© Quotidianne.) PARIS, MARCII 25.—When the Etoile announced that three thousand Portuguese Royalists had been disarmed on the frontiers of Spain, we expressed our doubts respecting the news. We were right ; f t u he rnim ishe posture is pro o n f o N itself v tto-day, ydemonstrated. being That d Jo t rnal ad mit that on the 10th they were ignorant at Lisbon of that news which on the 11th was pretended to be known at Madrid. It is remarkable that the Portuguese Regency, so much interested in denying the advantages obtained by the Royalists, has not dared to advance in its despatches lies similar to those which a Ministerial paper of France hesitates not to publish. DISTRESS IN DROGIIRDA.-The total stag. nation of trade in this town has produced the most appal ling state o f di sea s e and famine amongst the rnanufactering poor, and tho u gh the inhabitants contribut e wi t h a libe rality not exceeded in any part of the ki ng d om , and we believe, to the tits:lost of their ability, yet, at, e xt e nsive is the distress, that all their exertions are inadequate to meet the appeals hourly made to their feelings. Hundreds of starving wretches, many of them just risen from a bed of sickness, surround our doors, and clamorously demand food ; at the came time uonumunicating fever and dysen tery, which have in many instance,' proved fatal to the better order of the inhabitants, and the number of deaths ainonget all clams in the town and suburbs, we aro cre dibly informed, average* twenty a day. What renders this state of things the more distreecing is, that scarcely a prospect appears of better times.—Dublin Morn:my Register. MURDER AND SUICIDE.---(From an Ame rican Paper.)—Re... (Pa, 17.—We learn front a source which we believe not to be doubted, that oil the 4th inst. a certain miserable creature, named John Eckel, who resided in Phlegmy* township, in our sister county Schuylkill, cruelly murdered his sister, abo ut 21 years of age, and then committed s uicide in a horrible chid sanguinary manner. He had evinced strong hatred to wards her for upwards of a year , (no doubt occasional by a diseased mind) the proofs of which were so strong, that the poor woman was compelled to leave her father's house. —ilcr parents were taken sick last fall with the prevailing f eve r ; upon hearing which, she informed them that if ,her brother would suffer her to be at peace, she would return and administer to their wants--this be promised. A few weeks previous to committing the crime, his unna tural hatred returned more formidable than ever. He kept a gun constantly loaded, and carried a butcher's knife about his person. lle declared to her the evening pre vious to committing the act, that they both must die with in an hour. He was restless the whole night. At day break be told her to he at refit, for he would not injure her, and went out of the house, but returned in a short time, picked up an account-book and threw it on the floor, stating, that there were several entries against persons who owed him money. As the father was in the act of picking it up, the brother seized the gun, cocked it, and discharged a ball into his sister's breast. She shrieked, her father attempted to catch her in his arms, but she fell streaming with blood, and was a corpse in a few hours. The murderer retreated a short distance from the house, and instautly another' shot was heard. Ile was discovered shortly afterwards, about 60 yards from the dwelling, sus pended by a rope to the limb of a tree, with hi s knees nearly touching the ground, part of his jaws and n ose were shot away, and his throat partially cut. llis gun was found reloaded, leaning against a tree, and his knife, coat, a n d wa i stcoat , an th e ground tlea r it. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINC-15. HOUSE OF COMMONS. NOTICES O' MOTIONS FOR THIS DAY. 1. Sir Henry Parnell—Debt due by the Government to the Bank-' The balance of the public money in the hands of the Banti. And the sum paid in 1825 to the Bank for the management e , the National Debt. S. Mr. Brownlow—Correspondence between the Irish Goverp ment and the Magistrates of Lisburne. 3. Mr. Henry Grattan—Repert of Commissioners directed b/ the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to inquire into the state ef the Richmond Penitentiary in Dublin. t Sir John Newport—To refer the Irish Estllnstee to a Select Committee. 5. Mr. Mum*—Select Committee to inquire into the state of the Fleet and other Prisons for the confinement of Debtor, ; the operation of the Laws of Arrest arid Imprisonmeut Debt. 6. Mr. Spring Rice—Bill for regulation of Market Tolls (Ireland). Mr. Spring Rice--Bill for raguintion of Petty Sessions Ireland). S. Mr. Robinson—Returns, Exports and Imports(Newibundland)• ORDERS OF THE DAY FOR THIS DAY. 1. Iledon Election Petition—Ballot for Committee at three. 2. Westmeath County Election Petition—Ballot for Committee at half after three. s. Named of Memhers absent to be set aside. 4. Defaulters absent at the Ballots (2lst, '.22d. and 27th March) to attend. 5. Distresses (Ireland) Bill—Committee. 6. Jameson's Divorce Bill—Committee, Counsel, and Witnesses 7. Costs of Distresses Bill—Report. 8. Last India Half Pay Bill—Second reading. 9. Innkeepers Bill—Second reading. NOTICES GIVEN YESTERDAY. Tuesday, April 3. 3lr. Horne Drummond—Bill to regulate the prosecution 01 fraudulent Bankrupts in Scotland. Friday, April 6. Mr. Macquaten—Law of Settlement. Wednesday, May 9. ifr. Sykee—Seleet Committee to inquire into the defective state of the Representation of the Freeholders in separate District i or Counties Corporate. PRICES OP STOCK") THIS Bank Stock per Cent. Rect. S per Cent. ..... 314 per Cent. Ditto Red. 4 per Cent. New 27Fc Ditto, 18S5 Bank. Long Ann. India Stork Ditto Bonds CS pm. I DAY ♦T ONE O'CLOCK. South Sea Stock Old Annuities New Ditto Ex. Bills, £l,OOO 2(1. 40 41 pU' Ditto 3OO Id. 40 4210' Ditto Small Ditto Commercial P t ' Bank for Account India for Account Cons. for Account ...82.1aiii;4.% PRICIES OF FORILIGN FUNDS Austrian Bonds, 5 percent. Brazilian Bonds — Buenos Ares Bonds. Chilian Bonds, 6 per ct. Colombian Bonds — Ditto, ltii24 40 1 , 4 Danish, 3 per cent. Greek Bonds — Ditto, :926 15.", Guatiniala — litexicark Bonds 5'7A Do. 1115 70% )I.‘ ....—._.__ MIS DAY AT ONE ®'CLOCK• Neapolitan, 1524 Perurian:Bonds 5-46 4 Portuguese Bonds Prussian, 5 per cent. Ditto, New Russian, New, 5 p. e. Spanish, 1821 110 1 1523 French Rentes, sp. c --t -- Exchange —f. — 4 . S per cent —f. — 4 . Exchange —t. PRI , X3 or MIRK STOCrli, MARCH 26. lank Steck St. Patrick Insur. (por eh.) •"' Consols, 2 per cent ...... — Royal Irish Ditto Giov. Stock, 2}i, per cent. 57%A National Ditto - Ditto, New Patriotic Ditto ...- 4 per Cent ...... 96% Hibernian Bank Gov. Deb. 2% per cent ....EC % Provincial Ditto Royal Canal Stock ..«...... -- Royal Irish Mine. ..., Greed Canal Stock -- Imperial Mine' City Deb. Deb. 4 per cent. Mining Co. of Ireland ...... Ballast Office Deb. 4p. et Commercial 13tuldings PORIIOX XXCHANOIS OW LOW2)ON. AmErratruu, }hike* 23-11 P. 17734—Tw0 months, 11f. TlAmßuiton, MAtcH tO-37.—Two month*, Pirnutasuauu, MARCH 6.—Three month., 10. Due. !Arrived Arrived. U America U 0 Guernsey&Jersey. 0 O Brazil U 0 liarnburgh 9 O Buenos Ayres 0 1 JamaicaHo l l a nd ......... ... . . . 41 U Donagliade• 1 Dublin O Flanders 0 1 Lisbon 0 1 France O Oottenburgh 1 1 Waterford 0 NIGH WATM 1T LONDOX BLIDGI TO-MORROW. Morning —43 minutes after C. I Evening ... 3 minutes after t TO CORRESPONDENTS. We are much obliged by the kindness of G. W., but W e cannot insert his Communication. rtr Str 40 Cf1 4 . :!`-e, 401 -44. r,.. LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH VI, ISV7. Dispatches were received this morning at t! Foreign and Colonial Offices, and at the Muir ralty, from Lisbon, by his Majesty's cutter the Vigilant, which sailed from the Tagus on the 19th inst. We understand they do not contain any cell' &illation of a report which occasioned consider ble alarm this morning in the City, originating a letter received at Lloyd's, from their Agent, et Falmouth, which stated that the Vigilant 11$' brought accounts that an army of 24,000 Spa' wish and French troops had entered the Porto' guese Province of Alenteje. - The despatches from Lieut.-General Sir 'CC' CLINTON, are dated the 19th instant, at whiel l time the Head-quarters of the British Arnif were still at Coimbra. We received, at an early hour this mornitig t _' Lisbon Paper s t o t h e 18 t h i nstant, f rom w hich we make th e f o ll ow i ng extracts. While it evident from the contents of these Papers tll O the Rebels have been defeated and dispersed every direction, it is also evident that the re pre' plantations from Madrid, in the French Paper' have been greatly exaggerated with respect to the , numbers of th e R e b e l troops w h o have retreated into Spain, and been disarmed by the Spanie l ' Authorities. Instead of 3000, these Papers stag' that they know for certain that not more than 1000 entered Spain (From 0 Portuguez.) 44 LIABDX p MARCH 11.—By the accounts brought b)( the poet this morning , we learn that the rebels, who vier ° t A at 13r le ag llo andanza' are retreatin g to Mi ran d a. G enera l C or ti l the Cou n t d e V i lla Flor were marching t'Y the Bum" Place, the latt er b e i ng at M oncoryo on t h e Vb. Colonel Serpa Pinto was at Villa Real on the sth, with t 44 militia. The spirit of the inhabitants is improving CO siderably. the tr"EuLoves, Melte!" 3.—The Apostolic agents contine' their machi na ti ons to promote the i r w i c k e d plans, and ha'' lately rec e i ve d f rom Spa i n a l arge sum o f money to le,let4 Ps, At which they labour incessantly. At Bade? three Englishmen, coming from Pertugal, though the, had r ege l ar passports, were arres t e d un d er t h e pretex t ° i t easing them from the fury of the people. The troops ° the Army o f Ob se rvation have been withd r aw n ra th er r oof ° into the interior, on account of desertion. • " The Apostolic part) breathes only war and revezie and a great quantity of atimmuition has arrived sits these few days at Olivenca. 4, L inoDN , 3iAscert 12, Evening,.—General Correa d g Mello was at Val de Nogueira on the 3,1. The rebe l ` co n tinued their flight. Our van-guard had a skirmish 5 Quintella with the enemy's rear, in which the brave l'''' checo, Captain of the 9th Cavalry, was wounded. Th l rebels suffered sonic loss, end retreated in confusion. T iii deserters) confirm the misunderstanding that prevails a roo+i them, and that they openly say they are going to Spain. '‘ It is reported at Oporto that another English tree port has been wrecked a league to the north of Villa 41‘' Conde. The troops on board that wr ge e n c t k to ed ol7t a liz t gea V rn i er it bt ua lsa al eo do rived there on the title. The Vigelaid lingiish sehoonc 4 arrived to-day. " Lissox, Maize's 14.—The rebels entered Spain 0 the 70 , , by Aleangas. The Count de Villa Flor was on tl , sth in Argued°, having joined General Mello at Find°, ti' which place the latter had pursued the rebel.. og f re tl a i t e m re a be ny ls co La n v ee e a d l e ed live in red the th p e r e e t h h i e :l; e7 T o th n o t e i ° , C i s , teu N i v tri h t° i' e d h teo , as ' 3\ll' a isl c e lle arY d se e t i : h . te ti : h r r l es e t in as i tt so y r gv , s oe i gl im a n y t: t w h a a r t d ins a th ny e south' had entered Spain by Aleancaa. wseliyl l' esd T ou h p i a •e oa e , hundred men t as Er th e i g e an re e a s r 4 e a vince. March 8, says, the rebg l : were flying in the utmost confusion, and that not roo f " Lisnox, MARCH 15,—...A despatch from General Of; rea de Mello, dated from his head-quarters at Braganca, I I ", sth of March, gives an account of his pursuit of the relic', ue adds a list " A letter dated Argulelo, of 24,4, prisoners, among whom are 01 ,, than SOO men Lieutenant-Colonels and two Majors. A despatch COI Count Villa Flor, dated Arguzelo, the Bth, contains Sy the same particulars as mentioned in the preceding art " Liseox, MARCH I6.—An official article, dated ft"f the office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, give. a 6: 1 0 or t 4 comutulicatioa made by the Spanish Atiaktry to