The Sun. — London, England, 1833-05-04 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS With our knowledge of the engines which have long been in activity for the noble end of perpetuating the dependence of the Irish poor upon their landlords, we augured no immediate success from Mr. Richards's motion of last Thursday evening, yet that motion was far from being precipitate or imprudent. It was for a resolution declaratory of the opinion of the House that a poor law for Ireland " 071 the principle of the 43d of Elizabeth, with such alterations and ii nprovements as time and circumstances may require, is expedient and necessary to the in terests of the United Kingdom."lt is to the credit of Mr. James Grattan, that he, a Member far an Irish county, seconded Mr. Richards. However, we expected nothing from the motion beyond the restatement of a multitude of im portant facts, all bearing powerfully upon the aiccessity for poor laws, and of almost an equal tunnber of doubts, assumption', interrogatories, deprecations on the part of those who have made up their minds that poor laws are no more want ing for Irish peasants than for Irish pigs, end ing, perhaps, in a proposal for a committee or commission to be authorized by Parliament " to inquire." We were not disappointed. The ostensible head of that department of „which Mr. Spring Rice is Secretary—to wit, Lord Althorp,—concluded a cold and discouraging speech by moving an address to the Crown for such a commission to inquire into " the condi tion of the poorer classes of his Majesty's sub jects In Ireland, and into the various institutions iestablished by law for their relief." We like not this,—it looks like evasion : coupled with the 'bias of Lord Althorp's mind upon the subject, as indicated throughout his prefatory speech, there is great room to suspect, either that the result of the commission will be a report de cidedly unfavourable to the establishment of poor taws in Ireland, or that the attention of the com missioners will be directed to points but re motely allied to the immediate question of poor laws. There is no recipe for losing sight of a given subject so sure to be successful as that of opening out an indefinite field, and starting a variety of game. Had Lord Althorp meant altogether fairly by Mr. Richards, it would have been easy and natural, even in rejecting his reso•ution, to propose a commission for inquiring " into the expediency of extending to Ireland the provisions of the 43d of Elizabeth." This would have met the motion frankly, and would have produced a report which could not have let the poor-law question slip away. But what does Lord Althorp ? Ile plunges into " the con dition of the poor of Ireland" generally. You might as well talk about the " the condition of mankind generally—and in respect of what ? how many thousand heads of speculation are embraced under that one word "condition !" Such an inquiry, if skilfully managed, may last until the millennium, or even through that in teresting interval. Then, we are to have a report upon the charitable institutions " at pre sent existing "in Ireland. What a voluminous business is here, and how little to the purpose ! There are, of course, in Ireland as well as England, a great number of private and local charities, sufficient, if they were not overcrusted with abuse, to cover some portion of the emer gencies arising out of the wretchedness of the population in certain of the towns of Ireland ; but the purification of these charities, and their recall to the purposes in which they originated, would be the work of twenty years at least ; and suppose it accomplished, how far would it go ? 'ro one-tenth, perhaps, of the cases of town distress, leaving nine-tenths unprovided for, and the whole mass of rural and agricultural misery without an attempt at mitigation. Three or four years ago a committee was got up, pro fessedly to examine into the state of the poor of Ireland. Mr. Spring Rice was the chairman. Suspicions were somewhat pre valent at the time, that as the subject of Irish poor laws had begun to be familiarly talked about, and a belief to spread that no other remedy would prove effectual for the ills by which society in the sister island was afflicted, the Irish land lord interest concocted that expedient of a com mittee, that a report on its authority might be produced to discountenance all endeavours, in or out of Parliament, for the introduction of a system of poor laws. The landlords gained their point,—they had then an active, brisk, and willing organ ; they have now, in lord Althorp, an instrument of higher rank, not, perhaps, quite so conscious of the uses for which he is employed. But we cannot help anticipating from this com mission manceuvre consequences by no means propitious to the well-being of the poor of Ireland. The " inquiry" into the state of the wretched factory children, acceded to by Ministers, instead of a Bill for their protection, has roused the mingled resentment and astonish ment of every humane mind throughout the kingdom. It has created a not unnatural dis trust of the earnestness and energy of the King's present Government in the rescue of suffering in fancy from gross and sordid oppression. So this appointment of an " inquiry" into the existence of a fact notorious to all mankind-- namely, the helpless destitution of the Irish poor —has already recoiled upon the Ministers who proposed it ; for on all sides we hear nothing but echoes of one and the same charge against Lord Althorp—viz., that he has got up the com mission (at whose bidding is also pretty generally hinted) for the purpose of delay in the first in stance, and finally for that of shuffling off the poor laws altogether. Let his Lordship look to it; every name in his commission will be scanned and canvassed; not an Irish landlord must find room therein ; not one individual who has been recently known to deliver an opinion hostile to the institution of poor laws; no preceptor, partner, nor pupil of Matthew Maculloch ; none of those economists who can lecture calmly on human starvation, and who lay it down as a maxim, that to prevent misery from being pro pagated, misery must never be relieved ! but men of independent circumstances, of general acquaintance with society, of sagacity, humanity, and knowledge of Irish character, who will neither be flattered, nor frightened out of their convictions, --men on whose word implicit reliance may be placed, —men who will not consent, even should the license be granted them, to issue garbled ex tracts of their official proceedings, like those " extracts" from the information received by the English poor law Commissioners, from which such partial and very mischievous inferences have been, if they were not intended to be, drawn. All the objections brought against the application of the poor laws to Ireland have been most absurdly founded on their abuses in this country, superinduced abuses, modern abuses, perversions of the old Act of Elizabeth, w hi ch, as is well stated by Mr. Poulett Scrope, went more " to prevent" pauperism among the people than to support,it. The fact is acknowledged that England never began to thrive until the poor laws were established, and the same of Scotland. But both . in England and in Scot- Gild one alleviation of poverty existed, even in dependently of poor laws, which has. always in Ireland been unknown,—that is to say, a rela tion like that of patron and client between the landower and the small occupants of his estate, which was some, however an insufficient, guaran tee against their entire destitution. The whole sale driving off of Irish tenants, previously mul tiplied as they had been for the landlord's own selfish purposes, is a thing elsewhere without ex ample, and of itself abundant reason for a poor law. Into the details of the question we shall not now proceed, leaving only this memento ready for our resumption of the subject—that there must be no allowance system in Ireland ; and that no able-bodied pauper is to receive parish support at all, save as the price oflabour. —Times. The battle, of which note of preparation was given some time ago, between Mr. Cobbett and Mr. Spring Rice, was fought last night, The former submitted his resolutions to the House on the subject of the severity with which the stamp duties pressed on the poor, as compared with the rich. In endeavouring to prove too much, Mr. Cobbett materially injured his cause. Mr. Spring Rice availed himself dexterously of the openings given to him by his opponent, and without defending the fairness of the principle on which the stamp duties were imposed. exerted himself to show that Mr. Cobbett understood very little of the matter. Mr. S. Rice is a crafty opponent ; but, notwithstanding all his inge nuity, we are not satisfied that a Legislature of landowners derive any honour from exempting the successor to landed property from the bur dens to which the successor to personal property is subject, to say nothing of (heir resist a n ce t o the attempts to ev a de the payment of simple contract debts, &c. The exemptions of our aristocracy are, no doubt, less offensive than those of the French aristocracy before the revolution ; but without dwelling on corn laws and other indirect attempts to escape burdens, resorted to in this country, the French Noblesse were mere tyros compared with our aristocracy in the arts of fleecing the people. The manage ment of the finances, and, indeed, most gainful pursuits in France before the revolution, were left to the people. The Noblesse confined them selves to the church and the army.—Morning Chronicle. In the discussion on the subject of the Irish poor laws, on Thursday night, Mr. flume is re ported to have said—" He would suggest that the inquiry should be extended to Scotland—. that a commissioner should go there, to inquire into what had been done in that country. He believed it had been proved, by a report of the general assembly, that in the south western counties of Scotland, just in proportion as the English system had been introduced into them, the people had rot demoraliz e d. Th e reverse was the case in that" part of Scotland where he came from. If the English system were carried into effect there, it would make the people there quite as demoralized as in England." Mr. Hume has here confounded the south-western with the south-eastern counties of Scotland. In the south-eastern district of Scotland there are regular assessments to the poor ; and in the report to which Mr. Hume alludes, and in some of Dr. Chalmers's Treatises, there are vague declamations about the drying up of vo luntary charity, by giving a claim for relief to the poor. But the General Assembly said nothing of demoralization ; and it would have been strange if they had, for the south eastern district of Scotland is not only the most industrious and prosperous, but the most moral part of Scotland—much more moral than the part whence Mr. Hume himself comes. If' Mr. Hume will take the trouble to consult the returns to Parliament, he will find that fewer persons are tried at Jedburah where the assizes for the shires of Roxburgh, Selkirk, and Ber wick are held, than in any other district of Scot land, compared with the population—that there arc fewer persons in proportion in prison, either for crime or debt (witness the gaol returns, and the returns of persons imprisoned under decrees of of the small debt courts)—and that the agricultural labourers (it is an agricultural district) are held out for their industry and good conduct as mo dels to the rest of Scotland. In Sir John Sin clair's very elaborate General Report of the Agricultural State and Political Circumstances of Scotland, vol. iii., p. 235, published in 1814, three or four years before the date of the report of the General Assembly, he expressly re commends the system of labour of this district to the rest of Scotland. "In East Lothian, Berwickshire, and Roxburgh shire (he says), the greatest proportion of farm servants are married men, who are hired by the year. They receive their wages generally in kind, and are in a much more comfortable state than those who receive the same rate of wages in money as in other places. Perhaps there is nowhere to be met with more active, respect able, and conscientious servants, more faithful to their employers, and at the same time more attentive to the interest of their own families than this class. Not an instance occurs of any of these people soliciting relief from the public, unless when by some accident they are disabled from labour, or overtaken by the infirmities of age. The wages of such serv an t s , w h o are usually called hinds, are somewhat different in these counties, and even in the same county. In some cases they are paid altogether in kind; in others, they have a certain quantity of oat meal, and so much money ; and in all they have other perquisites to be afterwards mentioned." If there be any demoralization in Scotland, it is confined to the great manufacturing towns, and the places where the labourers are oppressed by the influx of Irish. Fortunately for the people in the district which Mr. Hume singles out as demoralized, they do not suffer from the Irish ; and the freedom from crime may arise from the absence of temptation and the constant nature of their employment, which leaves them no time for dissipation. But it is curious that Mr. Hume should have pitched upon the least de moralized district in all Scotland as the most so. —Morning Chronicle. We have now a commission to inquire into the state of the poor of Ireland, as well as a com mission to inquire into the state of the factory children. Truly this reformed Parliament pro ceeds cautiously. Its favourite pace seems to be the slow march, and hence the interposition of committees, and commissions, and inquiries of all sorts between it and the subjects on which it is called upon to legislate. The question of poor laws for Ireland has been completely thrown overboard by the success of Lord Althorp's amendment to the motion of Mr. Richards on Thursday night. A commission seems to be the favourite expedient of Ministers to obtain delay, and it seems the more feasible as it looks like an anxiety to acquire information. There was not, however, in the proceeding of Thurs day night, the same hypocritical affectation of seconding the object it was intended to super- sede, which was so manifest in regard to the factory question. It was evident, from the ge neral ton e o f t h e d e b ate , t h at t h e prevention, and not the introduction, of poor laws was the object of Lord Althorp on the occasion to which we allude, and of those who supported him. INlr. O'Connell plainly avowed his hostility to any system of poor laws for Ireland, at the same time that he seemed to rest his objection chiefly on the report of another Commission, which disclosed a frightful picture, it is true, but a picture of abuses that might be, and ought to be, avoided in the new arrangement. Mr. O'Con nell showed himself above the influence of na tional or se c t ar i an p re j u di ce , i n preferring the opinion of Doctor Chalmers, which was against poor laws, to the opinion of Doctor Doyle, which was in their favour. But it was some what strange, after all, that he should prefer the man wbo knew little or nothing of Ireland, to the man who knew much, as an authority re specting a measure which was chiefly to affect that country. There appears to , us to be a fallacy i n c h arg i ng upon t h e poor laws the de gradation of the people of England. If they he degrad e d, it i s p overty , an d no t th e relief of poverty, that has degraded them. They would be more degraded, if they had not such relief. Are the hordes of beggars who ask for alms in the streets of Dublin less degraded by the system under which they live, than those who in London knock at the workhouse gate, and de mand support under the sanction of law? Again, as to the apprehension of interfering with the spirit of benevolence, where, is there more benevolence than in this country ? Certainly not in Ireland. The tender mercies of the Irish landlords are, one would have thought, sufficiently known to prevent any great effort being made to preserve them in their original purity. It was an instance of what is called tact in debate to charge the poor laws, as Mr. O'Connell did, with giving to one man a right to another man's property. But it was a nar rowing of the question to represent the right of every human being to live as a mere question of law or property. The right was derived from Heaven ; the precepts of benevolence are a con firmation of it; and morality and religion unite to favour the institution, as well as the virtue under whose auspices that right is guaranteed. We hope that the indications of a disposition to favour the adoption of poor laws in Ireland, which lately displayed itself both in that country and this, will not be dormant now. With what ever prepossessions the commissioners may go to work, it is not probable that they will en tirely disregard any strong demonstration of public feeling on the subject. We consider it a part of our duty to take care that the subject shall not be forgotten.—MOrri ing Herald. What Ministers are to do in the crisis which now pends, respecting the abolition of the house and window taxes, we are really at a loss to determine. 14y have not, indeed, irretrievably pledged themselves against their repeal ; but they have shown, by their conduct, that they do not mean to repeal them, and that they do not wish the financial scheme which thry have brought forward to be altered. On the other hand, the people seem determined that these taxes shall either be repealed, or that they will repeal them themselves ; and who can blame them ? Are not the imposts most impolitic, and most burdensome, and most unequally distributed ? Are there not many who pay nearly a fourth of the taxes on houses and windows which are paid by the Duke of Northumberland, and other overgrown proprie tors, who do not possess even the thousandth part of their wealth ? And is not this reason suf ficient for the repeal of these taxes, whether other taxes are to be imposed in lieu of them or not ? With every desire that the present Government— the best intentioned which the country ever possessed—should stand well in the estimation of the community, and maintain its position against all comers, our pulic duty imposes upon us the necessity of saying, that if' they do not yield in the matter of the assessed taxes to the oudly expressed wishes of the public, they will ose that influence with it, which is the great source of their strength, and the only means by which they can carry into effect the various plans of which they have given notice, for the remedy of more important abuses. The metropolis is all but in arms upon the subject, and the coun try, we doubt not, will re-echo its cry in a voice of thunder. In Marylebone, the people have determined not to pay any more taxes to the King, until the assessed taxes have been repealed. In ,Westminster similar resolutions have been entered into. In Southwark, not only are the same sentiments embraced, but an attempt i s being made to unseat the brother of the Lord Chancellor, because he voted against the repeal of the assessed taxes on houses and wind6ws—in almost every other parish, or metropolitan district, similar proceedings are about to be taken; and even at the moment we are writing, we have received a requisition, of which the following is a copy, and which we understand was signed, in a few hours, by several hundred of the most respectable and influential electors of Marylebone : " To Sir Samuel St. Switbin Burdon Whalley, M.P. " Sir,—We, the undersigned electors of Marylebone, having witnessed with indignation and regret the mode in which the question for the repeal of the house and window duties was brought under the consideration of the House of Commons, and the recent division thereupon in conse quence of its admixture with other subjects, not imme diately connected with it, feel justly apprehensive that a question of such vital importance to the middle and trading classes being thus unfairly disposed of, will lead to a fearful conflict between the Government and the people. " We are deeply anxious, therefore, that this important question should be discussed upon its own merits, and for this purpose we earnestly request that you will take the earliest opportunity of bringing the question of the repeal of those obnoxious duties again under the consideration of the House, in any shape th a t you may d eem most lik ely to conduce to their immediate repeal." The requisition is conceived and worded in the greatest moderation. The question of the assessed taxes had not assuredly fair play, as we have more than once intimated ; and it is but proper that it should again be brought before the public, on its own merits, and without being mixed up with matters with w hi c h i t h as no ne cessary connexion. But what are th e Mi n i s t ers to do ? To resist is to gai nsa y a ll t h e i r prev i ous practice and promises—to yield is to give up 2,500,0001.; but great as the difficulty is, there appears to us to be a simple, and a very e asy mode, both of giving satisfaction to the public, —of maintaining the budget in its entirety, so far as it goes, and of saving the credit of his Majesty's Ministers. If the 2,500,0001. cannot be spared by the Government, and if the people will h ave it deducted from the income of the country, why not reduce the obnoxious tax, and take a vote of credit for the supply of any defi ciency which may occur ? Such an arrange ment appears to us to be not only practicable, but to be highly expedient. It would give em ployment to that capital which is said to be in capable of finding bidders for its use in the city ; and it would assuredly prove a great relief to all classes of the community. We wait with painful anxiety for the decision of his Majesty's Ministers—for decide they must, and that on an early day.—ltibrning Advertiser. The borough of Westminster is' looking for a representative. Sir John Cam Hobhouse and Lieutenant-Colonel Evans are candidates for the favour of the electors. The first is a man who has forgotten his principles ; the second is a man who never had any principles to forget. The one has fearfully abused his vastly overrated abilities ; the other may abuse without much compunction talents which it would be difficult to underrate. The Baronet has just told the world that he is unable to discharge the duties which his friends would impose upon him, and the world believes him ; the soldier has been telling the world for a long time past that he is the only man by whom those duties can be ade quately performed, and the world has shaken its head. These two persons are yet the only suitors for the smiles of Westminster—a trader in tropes and a trader in campaigns--an adven turer in a red coat and an adventurer in a blue. We desire to see another candidate in the field, and we will enumerate in a few words the qua lifications by which we think he would be best recommended. He must not be a Member of the late Government, for the time is not yet come when the hones:y and prudence of the Duke of Wellington's Administration can be appreci ated inWestminster; nor a Member of the present Government, for the time is already come when Westminster can perceive and detest the perfidy and imbecility of the Administration of Lord Grey. He must not be a Lord, for the shopkeepers of Westminster will dream of dic tation and tyranny if they see a coronet on the carriage that stops at their doorS ; nor a tailor, for the shopkeepers of Westminster, when they have chosen their representatives with the worst conceivable judgment, have certainly selected them with a very tolerable taste. He must not be a coward, for he will have against him brick bats and bludgeons, assassination and the Times ; and, above all, he must not be a knave, for he is to rely upon the steady support of all to whom knavery is loathsome and contemptible. Let a man come forward who has not offended the prejudices of the people by fighting for the Cornish boroughs, nor mocked their distresses by praising Lord Althorp's budgets; who is not so patrician as to be above the sympathies of his constituents, nor so plebeian as to be beneath their respect ; who has courage enough to defy the violence of a mob, and probity enough to despise the cajoleries of a Minister. Let such a man come forward, and we are con fident that Westminster, knowing by bitter ex perience of what poor stuff her patriots are made, will, at last, intrust the interests of her industrious population to an advocate who will not betray them.—]ho rning Post. A few evenings ago, Mr. WILSON PATTEN went into the House of Commons with his brother, who was to remain under the gallery during the debate. It chanced that Mr. COEBETT joined the party as they entered the House—" Do you see old CORBETT ?" said somebody, in the lobby ; " I hope they'll indict him for a breach of privilege—he's just gone into the House with a pair of Pattens." PRIESTS SOLDIERS SOLDIERS PRIESTS.- It is no uncommon thing in Russia to unrock a priest and make a private soldier of him. We have heard of a Preobazinoki grenadier who was made a priest because he had a fine voice, and was likely to look well in vestments. The Ministre des Cultes, it is said, was a subaltern in the army.—New Court Journal. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF GOOD MINDS.- The parts and signs of goodness are many. If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world, and that his heart is no island cut off from other lands, but a continent that joins to them. If he be compa , sionate towards the afflictions of others, it shows that his heart is like the noble tree that is wounded itself when it gives the balm. If he easily pardons and remits offences, it shows that his mind is planted above injuries, so that he cannot be shot. If he be thankful for small benefits, it shows that he weighs men's minds, and not their trash.—Bacon. A riTKINS S ELEPHANT.—Mr. ATKINS ex hibited his menagerie at Mansfield on Saturday and Monday. On the latter day it was discovered that his well-known large elephant, which is universally admired for his docility and intelligence, was incapable of travelling. and that to give him a chance of recovery, an immediate removal to a place of quietness was necessary. He was accordingly taken to a very commodious barn. On inquiry ; we learn that he bas what is caliel the foot•rot ; he is in capable of standing, and appears to suffer intense pain. His position is changed by means of pullies; and the quickness he displays in adapting himself, as much as he can, to give aid to the machinery by which he is removed, excites great astonishment. Our readers will not be sur prised at his having the foot -rot, when they are informed that he has been confined in caravans for 20 years, with out ever setting his foot on terra firma. By the death of this noble animal (and we think he will not leave Mansfield till he has " thrown off this mortal coil"), Mr. ATKINS will sustain a loss of about 1,000/.—Not tingham Journal. LABOUR RATE.—The system of providing work for those who are capable of doing it, has been practised at Thaxted, in this county, and appears to have operated much to the satisfaction of the parishioners. It is the plan of this parish to obtain a rate for the surplus labour only; in so doing a 4d. or 6d. rate may be sufficient, whilst to provide for the aggregate labour would require a 4s. or ss. rate, which will excite opposition. The question making a rate causes a great stir at Dedham. On Friday a public meeting was held in that town, when the Rev. M. Huatocx moved a resolution that no labour rate for the parish be acceded to, as such a rate was inapplicable to the parish. This was seconded by the Rev. Dr. Hi:a tom Mr. DOWNES moved as an amendment that there being a great number of able-bodied men out of employ, belonging to the parish—to remove serious evils arising from that circumstance, it was expedient to come to an ar rangement made in accordance with an Act of Parlia ment, passed in the. 2d William IV., cap. 96, " for the better employment of labourers in agricultural parishes." This was seconded by Mr. MASON. On a division the numbers for the amendment were 44, against it b 2. The motion of the Rev. Mr. HUALOCK was accordingly car ried.—Essex Herald. KING'S COLLEGE.—On Tuesday, the annual meeting of the proprietors of shares in the King's College was held in one of the theatres of the institution, to receive the annual report. The Marquis of BUTE and Lord BEXLEY were among those present. The Archbishop of CANTERBURY took the chair. The report of the com mittee adverted to the steady success which had marked the progress of the College, and to the increase in the num ber of students. The total number was 934 ; last year there were 764. The income from the students, from Michaelmas 1831 to 1832, had been nearly equal to the expenses for the same period. The principal topic of interest was the necessity of raising immediate funds for completing the river front. 6,339/. had been already sub scribed ; but, according to the estimate of Sir B. SAIIRXE, a further sum of 8,0001. will be required. There were subscriptions unpaid to the extent of 13,000/. The Com mittee had used every means to obtain payment, but only 6851. bad been received. The report was adopted. The Secretary then read the balance sheet of receipts and ex penditure from the Ist of January to the 31st of Decem ber, 1832. It stated that the cash balance in hand at the last meeting was 193/. ; received in donations, 1,095/. ; by instalments, 1,670/. ; by sale of Exchequer Bills, 5,0171. ; by fees from students, &c., 8,922/. ; which, with other items, make a total of receipt of 21,493/. ss. 4d. The principal items of expenditure were these :—For College buildings, fittings, &c., 6,658/. ; expense on the river front, 3,2511. ; salaries to professors, masters, &c., 5,000/. • which, with other items, make a total of expen diture of 20,5161. 6s. 5d., leaving a cash balance in hand of 9761. ISs. 4d., independently of 7,0001. in Exchequer Bills in the Bank of England. The Auditor's report stated that attout 14,000/. in subscriptions and donations, re in tined unpaid. Several proprietors remarked upon the necessity there was for the supporters of the College to do (heir utmost to obtain funds for the completion of the river front by April, 1834, to which the Council were pledged to the Government. Thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the meeting adjourned, POLICE INTELLIGENCE. B OW-STREET. A decent-looking man, who appeared to have seen better days, was charged with having attempted to commit suicide. It appeared from the statement of a police ser geant, of the A division, that be found the defendant, at three o'clock that morning, lying on the steps under the piazzas of Covent-garden, leading to the boxes of that theatre. A rope was tied around his neck, the other end of which was fastened to the railings above. The defendant moaned very much, and appeared• to be nearly insensible. He was con veyed to the police station in Bow -street, when he stated that his name was Collins, and that he lived at No. 8, Red Lion-passage, Red Lion-square. He declared that he had no intention of committing sui cide, and that he knew not how the rope came round his neck, having no recollection of anything that passed until he found himself in the station house. ft appeared, however, that he was in a slate of great distress, his landlord having seized his goods for rent. Sir F. ROE ordered him to be taken to St. Giles's workhouse, with directions that he should be kindly treated, and visited by a medical man, in order to as certain the state of his mind. T HAMES-P OL ICE. _ Yesterday Thomas Scrivens was brought before Mr. BALLANTINE arid Mr. BRODERIP, for final exa mination, charged with defrauding numerous trades men of goods to a large amount. During the re peated examinations which have taken place before Mr. Broderip, not less than fifty charges have been preferred against the prisoner by tradesmen who had been induced to give the prisoner credit for goods on obtaining high testimonials of his respect ability, integrity, and good character, from a gang of confederates, named Thomas Whittingham, Thomas Cornish Broad, Gibbons, Hicks, Bemis, and }llk, who lived in various decent houses, from which they disappeared when the period named for payment, and the bills given as security by the prisoner, and accepted by them, became due. So adroitly, how ever, have the gang carried on their swindling prac tices, that the Magistrate has been only enabled to commit the prisoner for trial on one case—that of defrauding Mr. Thomas Butt Burford, a paper hanger in Ratcliff Highway, of paper-hangings to the amount of 71. 10s. Mr. BRODERIP said there was no question as to the nature of the transactions ; but the.thing hid been so well managed that no criminal proceedings could be taken; the prisoner could only be sued for !he debts. He would now resume the investiga tion of the case of forgery, in which Gibbons and Co., ostensibly, but, in reality, Coster and Smith, the convicts, were mixed up. In this case it appeared that Mr W. Wedge, a grocer in Store-street, Bedford-square, had given credit to the prisoner, who had represented that he had opened a shop in Waterloo -street, Hammer smith, for goods to the amount of 371. 10s., and re ceived a bill payable three months after date, drawn by Thomas Scrivens and accepted by Messrs. Gib bons and Co., No 6, Great St. Helen's. It was for 501., and previous to Mr. Wedge delivering the goods he inquired in Great St. Helen's, and dis covered there was a firm of that name, though he could never find them at home. A witness was sent by Mr. Wedge to the office of Gibbons and Co., when the bill became due, to present but they said it was a forgery. Mary Chapman, a widow, was housekeeper at the house in Great St. Helen's, and was so in Sep tember, 1831, the date of the bill. A gentleman came with Coster when he took the offices, who said his name was Gibbons. Mr. BRODERIP said there was a failure in the attempt to prove there were no such persons as Gibbons and Co., and the charge of forgery, in which he hoped to have sent the prisoner for trial, had broken down. The law required absolute proof, but it would be impossible to convince a jury there were no such persons as Gibbons and Co., in the absence of legal evidence. He had no moral doubt Coster was concerned in this shameful transaction. Several persons here complained that the witness, Chapman had told them, before she entered the office, that Coster was the person who always re presented himself as Gibbons. Mr. BRODERIP said that would not alter the case The prisoner was committed for trial. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. LONDON MARKETS. (From the " London New Price Current" of yesterday ) • SUGAR.-We have had a very firm and improving Sugar market ; the estimated sales this week are 2,800 hhds. and trs. ; the late prices are fully supported. The Refined market has been very firm ; there are few parcels of low goods left on sale ; brown Lumps now sell at 61s. 6d. and 625., and for Crashed 295. 6d. has been refused ; small Lumps have been taken off extensively at 655. a 675. for the home consutnirion of the country, the latter are Is. higher. Although there has not been much business done this afternoon, the Refiners have been firm in demanding higher prices, and have succeeded in obtaining a small advance, 61s. and 61s. 6d. having been given for low, and 625. for good large Lumps, and there are now scarcely any offering at the lowest quotation ; the fine qualities, entitled to the bounty on double refined, are held 295. 6d. a 305., but there does not appear to have been much busi ness done upon those terms; the grocers have been taking off these descriptions for the home trade mere freely at the long price. EAST INDIA Suamt.—.There are few transactions in East India Sugar to report ; the holders do not appear inclined to accept the present prices, on account of the advancing prices of every other description of Sugar. The Manilla and Siam offered this week have been all withdrawn. Alnumnus SUGAii.-The sales have gone off this week with much briskness, fully recovering the prices of Friday last, and the market is very firm at the im provement. FOREIGN SUGAR.—Tuesday's public sale 1,617 boxes Havannah white Sugar ord. to good 255. a 2Ss., uncom monly fine was taken at 335. ; the prices may be consi dered Is. a Is. 6d. lower than the last public sale, and 2s. a 2s. 6d. lower than the prices by private contract, or lit what these Sugars had been previously held. This day's public sale 65 chests, 102 brls, 13 boxes Brazil Sugar sold very low, white 225. a 26e. WEST INDIA MOLASSES.-The prices continue to im prove, the late sales were at 21s. and 245. 6d, for fair quality, and this forenoon 251. has been realised. COFFEE.—Foreign Coffee is held with much firmness, and may be quoted Is. to is. 6J. higher than last week, small sales of Brazil 525. to 541., and St. Domingo 565. Foreign Coffee still rates very low in proportion to other descriptions. East India Coffee is about Is. lower, ex- tensive parcels of Sumatra ord. 465. to 495. 6d., and good and fine ord. at 50s. to 555. ; Ceylon good ord. 565. and 565. 6d. British Plantation Coffee is without altera tion as to prices, but the request has considerably fallen off this week. RUM, BRANDY, ♦ND HOLLANDS.The Rum Market has been very steady ; Leeviards, which were apparently heavy, have been well supported in price ; it is difficult to buy proofs under Is. 9d. Jamaica descriptions newly landed, 15 over, have been sold at 2s. 2d , 28 to 30 over 2s. Bd., fine quality 34 over sold this afternoon at 3s. Brandy still dull. Geneva unvaried. TAi.Low.—ln the Tallow Market there has been very tle alteration. IRISH PROVISIONS.—The arrivals since Monday have been, of Foreign Butter about 682 casks, of Irish, 374 firkins, and of Bacon, 4,919 bales. For all articles under this head, the Market continues in much the same inactive dull state as represented in our last, with scarcely any va riation in prices. Some few sales of prime singed sizeable 'Leon landed have been mole to necessitous buyers at 365. a 375., and at 385., according to quality and repute of the shippers, and in a partial instance or two 395. per cwt. has been obtained for what was considered extra superior. RlCE.—Rice is very dull, and lower ; very ord. Bengal has been sold at lOs. 6d., good white 12s. a 13s. IND/Go.-The Market is very firm, and the speculators anxious to purchase all parcels that offer at previous prices, but there are few or no sellers at the former currency. TEA.—The Market continues in rather a languid state. COCOA.—The demand for Gacor continues; about 1,000 packages have been sold within a week ; ord. Grenada and Trinidad 578. 6d. a 593. 6d., good to fine red 61s. a 658. SALTPETRE.-Saltpetre is again Is. higher, owing to large orders from the Baltic ; also on account of extensive speculations arising from the short importations. About 3,000 bags were offered at public sale, 4 to 74 refrac tion, sold 344. a 355. ; 17 retraction at 335. 6d., and 40k at 30s.'6d. There are few transactions by private ed contract to report ; Company's refined is now 91 — not and British 38s. Y' has been a moder ate and moat mend for Cotton from export houses dur inz the 18'.1.0..d1 and prices have continued without alteratiotb.boici 5,885 bales of Sure, 362 Madras, and 65 f t brought forward by public sale ; the general qua:l4,s former was middling, there being little very ordlo 4 no good. The sales were well attended, and watt d. he h follo l ipplpi t .)l l ,lrauo n iiritdic u ccii ee.se s e,sse u slsso d r3 l faudwlt i 1 1 .e n de3;d i .r, tisenfiaad2asns.3tt Bourbon e, e ;af sa w msli aiu o lyLi l . n e e rsgase b ban,e e oeddp i aun n s,d g gisit a do_ s d csobpum a er t i semat P t,e,ossar ;. ricerrr tooki hre r o d ra p o f 1:,1 ill per lb. higher than the previous currency; teuiatio e fair d 99 grounded on the expected wants of the Contin eu kt ori , 411. a : mid. to mid. fair sd. a 5 - rid' ; ' o6d' l Manilla, good clean qd. Madras, good ele3 public ce Average sale.r—aigiPoPse r p 2 p b e r i half ßl a c h k e a p v y ep e Pepper w continue'ent otiro at 4 51 1: th . 44d. ; mid. Cassia Lignea 70s. 6d. a 72.4 6t ` ne f" gs Th Customs higher, good 725. a 725. Gd. PRICE OF SUGAR. s il l thereof into B from ril t i ti s e 33 Re . tti . rn made g G re ats cperaioitdaf .--- - lB rionw the nhoer zieuksc eon, da di no thclubotsice ,,, D y boto te i , e el% In i P °P' Fir. r paHyuanbdlerethdelVeoenign 01 PRICES OF HOPS. —May a 104. N 9r. Kent Pockets 3/ 12s. to 64 F Ke r t:t li P anl ags Syssex Ditto 0,. told 01. Fssex Ditto Ol Ditto, Fine , , 01. 1c O s s. t 0 ,0.." to 1 04 1 ' 01. O. ito Seconds 0/. Os. la."' t o 11. ob • OS. to 01.4 Sussex bitto 01. - 65: pi : 05. to Essex Ditto 0!. 0 a PRICE me OIL. Rape Oil, brown Refined ....• ,46 10 Linseed Oil Linseed Oil Cake at the Mill, per tlousaal Rape Cake, per ton PRICE OF POTATOES.—MaY 3 „; r ot.. 21. 15s. to 3 1 . " Scotch Kidneys e5............."0. Marsh Champions . 3/. 10s. to 4/. Os. d i Re ( d Y 5 0 . rk).... , ........—.......... 0/. Os. to 41. ~,,.: ist,O. Oxnobles and Shaws —........... 21. 10q. to 31. a 0 -OON. WHITECHAPEL HAY MARKNT • o d . to Hay ...—.............. 503. Ocl. to 80s. Od. I (lover ..........6.3„ Straw. .245. Od. to 3 0 s•v"' I. PRICES OF LEATHER. d p i Per lb. d. to d. p e r lb.. 0 ,..,1 1 0 HO 0 Butts, English ............... 141; 22 English 1-forse _,,,,... ~ Uitto, F0reign ,.,,, ..,.,„, 14 19 Spanish Ditto ... 0 7 . - . .4 F. Dressing Ilides--........ , 12 15 p er close". 4. n P Ditt0.,,,..... l3 15 Calf Skins...SO to si tot r i 0 o Ditto ............. ? t o 801 b. fi P, Ditto .......... E 0 tc oodo Small 5ea15,...fr .........0 „, Large ditto Ditto, light ______ Crop Hides, light..—.. 12 12 Ditto 40 to 601 b. 13 161 Ditto . —l5 18 6 1 ' (0. SHEEP SKINS. O , SOAP, 84c, a. Best Polled Od. to Ss. 0,1. I Half-bred.s.-- ss. Middling Polled 5 0 6 6 ner 11 1/P. 00 Yellow 50ap...•••••:„......,),i1 Mottled Whit 1614 Graves Good Dregs P er stone ITO PRICE OF TALLOW, fown Tallow 51s. (id. f Yellow Russia- 47s. Od. 45g. 6d. Soap Ditto. 445. Od. Melted Stuff 375. Od. Ditto Rough 21s. Od. PltlOE OF RAW EJ Price of Tallow (as stated by the White .....-- ~ 11 0. 0 PRICE OF CANDLES. ~.,4 0 4, The price of Store Candles. in th e r e t a il s hops, ,' — p.,' Candles. per doz. 7s. Od. to Ss. Od. I M ou ld s , per do=e 0. f Cu L MARKET.—May a ~ 0 1 s. d. I par T0•.'„,,.... 0 ~.........—. Id 0 I Walls End HotsPu . 0 -, ' Adair's Per Torn - Beaumont l5 0 Chester Main l3 0 East Percy.,...... Hepburn Main ...—........ 15 6 Holywell Kenton West ..,,,.,M,,,,,,,,. 15 0 Ord's Redhugh .............. 13 6 fantield .... l7 3 Townley l5 9 West Hartley l5 6 Willington Wylam l6 3 Walls End Blake w 14 0 Walls End Brown's...—. 14 6 Ditto (7 hirtonw—...... 13 3 Walls End Callerton —. 13 0 Ditto Clarke and Co— 14 0 Walls End Gostbrth ....... ►7 3 Walls End Hi1da...,.,.,,,... 15 0 Ships arrived since Ditto Killingworth,^, I , I Walls End Newnon, 0 0 Ditt o N or thumberWalls End Walke lso Bells Primrose.....',... Walls End He 1 li Walls End LarnhOn.A," 'S W. E. Russell's He', #1 Walls End Stewart tio",P ! Walls End Gordon I o Walls End Stockton:,, Walls End Tees HO rton/P -ward sNethe I.langenneeh 1 Warde's it market-day, 162. Ships arrived since.last market-daY. 162 Y 1;* Irl CoUNTRY CORN MARKEI'S DURING I go :/peo o. ? Wheat. Barley. Osts• Ashburn. 5054 6600 22 28 32 5 Basingstoke 07 . -2160 r,2, 9 4 35 Per Quarter. Bath Bridgewater 48 58 25 28 19 , 2 9 4 Bristol 48 56 28 32 16 nc " • Chesterfield 44 58 26 32 19 0 1 Pm, 1 Derby 54 62 22 32 16 „ 6 -- Doncaster 48 60 20 32 13 33 D0rche5ter.........„... 49 57 21 26 17 .:;; , 46 62 24 31 14 40 56 23 33 14 5 1, Hungerford 411 58 20 32 14 2 1 yI Leicester — 59 31 Newbury 46 63 23 31 15 0u uomsey 56 62 24 26 17 xu, Shaftesbury 54 25 —1! p Shepton Mallet 48 54 24 32 16 25 50 56 24 28 120 :.„", s, 57 C 3 32 36 22 :11 ri Yarmouth 46 56 21 32 16 AM ) Yeovil 54 56 28 34 18 v Per Bushel. s.I d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. d. 0, 0 Shrewsbury I 8 0 8 9 4 0 4 8 4 0 • BURGH REFORNI. (From the Glasgow Herald.) Letter from Mr. Gillon, M P., to the Eu — Glasgow Free Press— "tions T i h n e g m h it ß te e e f . orm o ß n I ni l h e a e s tin u a nd a e f r t g e o r ne th o e trg re n ci ge ose soo 44 ,, first act of the Committee was to regative toto, which they had previously spent some Ad amending and correcting. To-day the Lc' pol eg n ro brought up the clause in the new form he pg , it should assume. The alteration is pretty evi ee L P oo , 0 1) / members of trades, crafts, or guildries, are tut e lf_ 4l ,'' as well as the general burgesses, and the free e n " l glen. confined in all burghs, large and small, to the ' j i v e') ig I opposed this monstrous limitation of 0 %104 . 4, which will create so much dissatisfaction in Se ° ; io l‘ 4 l":' which reduces the Burgh Reform Bill to m ere- od ° ' a tr A ir I divided the Committee twice—the first time i Ow 101 t j words to substitute the burgesses fur the ro d and the second time adding the burgesses to th e iot hoi , tors. In both these I was left in a minerl e clause, thus limited, is likely to be offered to t bo le I think it right to mention that the Member@ I/ with me were— Johnstone, A. St. Andrews. Murray, J., rxith; ; s tee'Air Hay, Leith, Elgin. Stewart, R., 1-14c1 ; ri ellfre d ' Mr. Johnstone afterwards proposed an 3 1 be giving a right of voting to burgesses in 9 ° ll peoP ha ie ti This also was negatived. It is but fair that the ".0, Scotland should know what is going forwar d ' 0 00 they are likely to be used in regard to the future tion of their municipal incorporations. at, .1 " I • main your faithful serlj a cv " London. April 24. " W. D. G . " William Bennet, Esq." the ivegv: RAILWAY IRON FOR ANIERICA.. W . to e o llo ril b, that a most re s p ecta bl e mercant il e h ouse in this 0(.4. lately received an or d er to sen d i ron t o Ame r Le ' t° use of the extensiv e ra il wa y s now f orm i n e ie :be to the amount of 90,0001. —Liverpool Tiln e r s i iC e . . ° o o THE INFLUENZA.—The Chia 'J .-St lew o f the C : o . c • the King's Bench, the Chief Justice Pleas, the Attorney-General, Mr. Justice Ji5,4611-'ici w W e E r S e T p , r K ev . e e n . t , ,d M fr r o . m ßi a c tt H e A nd a. i n n s g , t K. he C co . , u an o d s sev eiv, . attending e ff toti e leni c i t ed e ir d newgn bed were er their idhredi returned nopct dutie s .— Dublin ps v a. a b— i ye ster° 6l ' o l incapable E n D B b g t y e u i t b n s d lh il i a en y u i n ri z e t c a o v . rani t li h in F n e o :l o B : a i lt r a CORONER'S INQUEST.—SUICIP' 6 10 6/5 .10' DDCAY OF TRADE. —Yesterday evening, se 13 ,., ° : 4 0 1 _,e r Coroner's Inquest was taken before Mr: 1110 ' PIP - A 0 Ship, Charing cross, on the body of Mr. J° ° ;,ty WOOD, bat-manufacturer, aged 54, for above tw e il ; ter" .4 occupant of the house No. 47, Charing•crese, W,cire°i; nated his existence under the following distrcsei%out bd stances :—lt appeared from the evidence the 11 4 10 1,1 o'clock yesterday morning the deceased Was foto 0 . bed•room with his throat dreadfully cut. A o z i .l o doff his hand with which the dreadful deed bad b . : : 1 0 The rash act was attributed by Mr. Gars' , gr a de 0 lived next door, to the circumstance that deceased was not so good as it used to be. F o r tbe r months his depression of spirits had been Per ce r t y, t h e tra 11 6 Oa many of his friends. Verdict—Temporary los an tre of o a n son. the ____.—=.------------- ---------- Ap On the 3d inst., at ChelseaB,ltfeTt of the Rev. * .t. J oe °f SG J. 7 , Ist inst the lady of Caleb Basalt, o ' l ' ~ tar' wood, of a son. vih n 8 On the 2cl inst., at Leamington, the lady of "" Phillipson, Esq., of a son and heir. te MARRIED. 101 MARRIED . On the 2d inst., at Kent, John M inter Holes' _..s.ti:F..stkarePA6 Sarah, youngest uaughter of the late J ohn Neynotr4 . 0. O.- P"Arsin On the 2d inst., at St. George' s, Southwarl_ : , jun.. to Ellen, youngest daughter of the late lur ..,._, of of the War.offi ce . Wif e D Y , On the Ist inst, in Weston-stre lED. et, Benton vil l e , gar ofto Mr. John Brettell, aged 63. f , D a vilo n ' On the '2d inst., Mat garet, wi fe of Mr. T. R. Paragon, Hackney. bir. O wv (hi the 3d inst., Miss Sara h Martin. o f JoOnens,of idg the A 2dit a i t s e t, , , a a g t e H d 2 a o ckney, Mary, daughter B .;PAINTED AND PUBLIALIED BY MU it I) 0 SUN OFFICE, 112,STEAND, "Or"' J v (kit;. i C URT() S HE Esi Will he 011 tbe 4 I nd tre o rthe C don, for 7 nett, t 4 P ered f ree 0 follow; tß etf Lee