The Sun. — London, England, 1830-07-10 00:00:00

land would engage, the atten. .ICK denied that there was fisting in any pit of Ireland ,ad spoken of, The riots at he Noble Earl had alluded, ruffians, and he had great any danger arising f rom that le hand of charity had re ...e people, and as prices were now falling, there was a better prospect for the people, The distress which existed in Ireland, and , he did not deny that some distress existed, was caused by the want of employment. The middle classes had been suffering, and as they could not ' 'find profit for their capital, the poor were destitute of employment. The Bail of ELDON said a few words in sup port of the petition, and Ft The Marquis of LONDONDERRY denied that there was general distress in Ireland, and stated that it was never better off than it was now. I The Duke of WELLINGTON wished to state that it was not the intention of his Majesty's Go vernment to propose any grant for the relief of Ireland. The Earl of DARNLEY should have been glad to hear of some substantial relief for Ireland, but he did not think the emission of paper money would give that relief. He was happy to be able to inform their Lordships, that the price of potatoes had lately fallen considerably, and that there was a chance of the people of Ireland obtaining relief. Earl STANHOPE and the Earl of DARNLEY mu tually explained. Lord TEVNHAM begged to inform their Lord ships, in corroboration of what bad fallen from the Noble Earl, that there was great distress in Kent. Lord LAUDERDALE called the Noble Lord to order; there was no question before the House. The Earl of ELI)ON supported the same view. • Lord DURHAM thought that as the petition came from Kent, the introduction of the distress of that county was quite relevant. Sir A. GRANT, and others from the Commons, j brought up the Appropriation Act and the Vote of Credit Bill, the Exchequer Bills' Bill, the Fisheries Acts' Amendment Bill, and the Disembodied Mi. lids (Ireland) Bill, which were read a first time. • i / re of hell j i l t* tr, 4ith" is tr 4 - • hi MOW th _ )), .aytKrthat a I t 41 415i)040. Thy .; . hared the distress of the APPROPRIATION BILL Lord DURHAM moved that the Appropriation Act he printed, That Act was the only constitu tional meant by which their Lordships could ascer tain in what manner the revenues of the country were applied, and therefore he thought that it was fitting the Act should be printed. Doing so was warranted by tradition, though not by the late prac tice of the flouse, and he did not see why that practice should not be again had recourse to. The Earl of LAUDERDALE had never heard of suet; a course. lie had in his time been us much in opposition as the Noble Lord, but he had never thought of moving for the printing of that Bill. , Lord DURHAM said he did not do it for the In of opposing the Government, but that he might, us a Peer of the realm, make himself acquainted with its contents in the best possible way. The Earl of ELDON said that he had never heard of the Appropriation Act being printed. Lord Duttmot'a motion was then negatived without a division. The other Bills brought up from the Commons were then also read a first time and ordered to be printed. The second reading of the Court of Session (Scot land) Bill was put,off till Monday, on the suggfstion of the Earl of LAUDIMDALIi. EAST ,RETFORD. After s conversation, in which the Marquis of Salisbury, Lord Durham, the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Eldon, Earl Grey, and the Duke of Welling ton participated, it was agreed that their Lordships should be summoned for ten o'clock on Monday, in order to forward the examination of the witnesses on this Bill. Counsel and witnesses were then called in and heat d; after which the House adjourned. lIOUSE OF COMMONS.-.(LAST NIGHT.) Bayley's Divorce Bill went through a Committee. Report ordered to be received on Monday next. Mr. Alderman WOOD brought up the report of the Committee on the Bill for the prevention of ca nine madness. Mr. Alderman WOOD, in the absence of Sir F. Burdett, presented a petition from the copyhotders. leaseholders, and householders of south Lambeth and vicinity, setting forth that the South London Water-Works Company take their principal supply by means of a large main land drain or sewer, culled the Epbra, into which , the tide flows at Vauxhall Creek, 'flat Ephra drains the lands and roach; about Dulwich, Brixton, Kennington, and neighbour. nand. It is also stated that the South London Water-works have a tunnel of communication into it about one hundred yards from. its mouth, so that any dirty and foul water is pumped into their reser voirs; also, there is considerable danger of the neigh bourhood being overflowed at high tides, as the openings of Londor..bridge are enlarged for want of flood gates on the mouth of the Creek next the Thin i ree, It is therefore prayed that the said Creek he taken out of the hands of the Waterworks Com pany, and restored to the Commissional; of Sewers, to whom it properly and originally belongs. Sir TT. PARNELL brought up the report on the ifotyhead Road Bill. Mr. S. RICE presented a petition from Leeds against negro slavery. .Mr. BROUGHAM said as he was anxious to immures a measure relative to negro slavery, he wished to ask the Chancellor of the► Exchequer on I what day Ministers intended to propose an adjourn. mrnt of the Rouse. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER spoke in so low 4 tone of voice that what he said not be , distinctly beard in the gallery. We undorstood the Right lion. Gentleman to say that the tie. of adjournment must depend upon the state of business in the other House of Parliament, Mr. 111110MIAM expressed a hope that he should be able to introduce a resolution on the ant). jest by Monday or Tuesday, he knew it would be quite impossible to carry every Mil through Parlia ment in the present Session. The CLIANCI4.I.OII. of the EXCHEQUER. made 40414 observation, which was totally inaudible. GEVERAL DARLING. Mr. O'CONNELL, after swing the ease to be one of great hardship and severity., moved that an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, pray ing that he would be graciously pleased to order that there be laid before the House n copy of the deptssitions and other proceedings against Dennis MiCue, prisoner of the Crown in New South Wale& Mr. HUMZ took the opportunity of rising in consequence 00 1 tritat bad occurred in the House yesterday on the subjeet of :New South Wales. The opinion which he had formed of. General Dar ling was founded not on the case to which his Hon. Priend the Member for Clare had just called the in- , tendon of the House, nor on the ease of the pai -1 tioner of yesterday, but on what appeared to be the general tenor of his Rotoluct. From every quarter he bad heard of charges against biro. indeed be submitledi whether the bare fact that u Governor of a colony found it necessary to have retains° to prosecutions for libel against himself, the unfortu- MIN editor aharged with which was tried by a Jury seven officers ticketed by the Adjutant, ought I,ot. to open the ey es of the Right lion Gentleman awl coneince him diet there was something not right, which it was atterepted to stifle? These pretended Mode .:were read in the Rouse the other evening, and he was persuaded that not even the Attorney-aerteral Of this.coontry, with all his tena. I city on the subject, would consider them deserving o f notice, When he saw General Darling, h ow „ ever, prosecuting for libel every - newspaper irr th`• colony, - it we-, in his opinion, at least priina facie o id ouee th a t there was something wrong in his con. duCt. The Right lion, Gentleman might refuse to cell the Governor back, to ansiger for his conduct; bet, in the next Parliament, it would be indiSpen sable to bring the subject again under the considers lion of the House. He hoped, however, that care would be taken to retain the individual hose peti tion was received yesterday, that he might be a wit ness on the case, and not be sent out of the wily to some distant settlement, as his evidence must be of considerable importance. He had been requested to state by his lion. Friend who presented the pe tition yesterday, that the petitioner had considered it unnecessary to mention any of the circumstances which had occurred at Chatham, and which had occasioned his , imprisonment. The serjeaut there bud ordered him to receive some coffee instead of soup; he refused, as it was contrary to the regula tions-of the army, and because he would not pay for the coffee, he was declared guilty of. what wits termed insubordination, and remained in the guard house nine weeks waiting for the decision on his case of the Commander-in-Chief, when he was con demned to two months' imprisonment and hard labour, a sentence which was not carried into execution, as it was declared to be contrary to law. It was singular that the officer who took the most active part against the petitioner at Chatham was Capt. Grey, who was Adjutant at Sidney when the petitioner's original punishment took place. There might be nothing in it; but the unfortunate petitioner found it difficult to separate the two circumstances. He would now advert to the Address which had been presented in the colony to General Darling, a copy of which he held in his hand. It was sagned by 115 persons out of a population of 30,000. That Address was prepared by the Colonial Secretary, and was carried round privately for signatures. If General Darling bad been conscious that his Go vernment deserved approbation, he would have called a public meeting, such as that in February last, when four or five hundred persons assembled to petition for an extension of their rights. Of the 115 persons who had signed the Address, 45 were Magistrates (out of 150 in the colony); 22 were persons who had not been six months in the colony; twenty were persons who were peti-1 tioners for lands and other benefits at the dig posal of the Governor. Such was the way in which this Address had been got up. He was prepared to prove that an official officer who had refused to sign it had been since sent home. In fact, the power which the Governor possessed in the colony was much gieater than that of the King of .Eng lund. He could grant a thousand or two thousand acres in any favourable spot. He could grant to any individual as manyservants as he chose. He could create Magistrates. He could give importance to any one. With so much influence the wonder was, that there were so few signatures to the Ad dress. He understood that several of those who had signed the Address had since received grants of land. if the Right Hon. Gentleman o pp os i te ' would look at the list of grants, and then at the list of the signatures to the Address, h e w ou ld find among the latter the names of several per suns who bad recently arrived in the colony, and who had since received grants of land. It was a singular thing, that out of 115 persons who had signed an address declaring that the Governor ' had been traduced by the Press, ninety-six took in the identical papers, the conductors of which, they declared, bad behaved so extremely ill. The means which the Governor had resorted to for protecting his character were such as must destroy every paper in the colony. In the next Session he hoped that the subject would be brought fairly forward, and that justice,would be done to the colony. If Governor Darling should be able to give the lie to all the charges preferred against him, he (Mr. Hume) should be most ready to allow that he had been deceived. He was at present, however, satisfied in his own mind that such was not the case, and that the interests of the colony of Now South Wales re quired the removal of the Governor, and the placing of the colony under the influence of the English laws, so that no man should be allowed to promul gate what law ho pleased. Sir M. W. RIDLEY defended the conduct of General Darling. Sir G. MURRAY said that the Hon. Member for Aberdeen stated the information, which he hail probably derived from some of the most violent and prejudiced persons in the colony, as if he had re ceived it from the most authentic sources. That Hon. Member, as well as the Hon. Member for Chine, had talked of the danger of an abuse of power in the colonies. But might there not also he abuse of power by a Member of that House ? Might not an Him. Member of that House throw out imputations upon a public officer, derived from sources' unworthy of credit, but which received im portance from the distinguished station of the person who uttered them? He confessed that be could harshly conceive a more indiscreet use of power; . especially where the individual (barged was at such a distance that he had no immediate power to reply. The lion. Member for Aberdeen had, for instunce, read the statement of the soldier himself, as if it could be considered authentic. As to the Address which had been alluded to, he (Sir George Murray) had no doubt of the respectubility of the individuals by whom it had been signed. But it was not for him to be influenced by any consideration of that nature, By the evidence, and by the facts alone, must he be guided. At present, he felt perfect confidence in the Governor; but if, on strict investigation, it should appear that his conduct had been improper, he would certainly not defend it. But he must strongly object to such statements as that which had been made by the Hon. Member for 'Aberdeen. It had been imputed as a crime to General Darling, that the Juries in New South Wales were military; but that was in conformity to the regulations of the Act of Pediment. Mr. HUME said be WWI willing to produce evi dence at the bur in proof of the charge. The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER said, that to produce the evidence of the accused in proof of the charge he himself made, was:tot what he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) called satis, t ory proof. Mr; fIUME said he would also produce other witnesses to substantiate the charge. General GROSVENOR could not believe a permit of so mild a disposition as General Darling could have been guilty of the charges alleged against him, Sir R. VYV VAN wished to ask the Right lion. Secretary for the Colonies whether it was true, us stated in the publics papers, that the system of the New Police had been introduced at Gibraltar. Sir G. MURRAY said there had been such an establishment formed at Gibraltar prine:pally for the purpose of protecting the health of the inhabitants, but that it was not the intention of Government to extend it to any of the other Colonies. _ _ Lord 14011,PBTEI presented ft petition in favour of the Northern Roads Bill. LATIOUIMRS' WAGES DILL. Mr. LYTELETON stated, it was not his in tention to proceed farther with the Bill this Session. He felt deep regret at being obliged to do so, not from his private disappointment, but tram the great injury wine!: would be inflicted on the manufac turing districts by the postponement of the measure. tie then moved that the House rezolvo itself into a Committev on this question that day month. Mr. BROUGIIAM concurred in the feeling of regret that the measure must necessarily be post poned, and expressed his determination to support it next Session. Mt% WAnnunTozi, Mr. OURNIIY, and Mr. 110- BiNsON expressed their satisfaction ut the Din not being passed without further consideration. Sir IL PEEL did not think the principle of the 13111 was opposed to the sound doctrines of com mercial Wei course. The Consolidated Fund Bill was read a third time, and passed, after Mr atvENvoRT had recom , lii !nded a system of reatitr economy in all branches of public expenditure. >ilr 4.. MACKINTOSH in reference to his umPPed Ora et respecting the Danish Claims, gave ' - notice that lie would bring the question under the consideration of Parliament early next Session: Sir J. MACKINTOSH tnoved fora return of the amount received by the Crown on account of the Droita of the Admiralty, from the years 1792 to 1815.—Agreed to. LIBEL LAW AMENDMENT BILL. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the Order of the Day for the third reading of the Libel Law Amendment Bill, upon which Mr. HUME rose to put a question to the Hon. and Learned Gentleman. He had understood that the clemency of the Crown had been extended to various capital offenders under sentence. He thought there were some minor offenders to whom mercy might also be advantageously extended, without any detriment to the administration of justice. He wisliel to know whether pardon was likely to be given Mr. Alexander, who was in confinement for libels published in the Morning Journal newspaper ? He really thought that when murderers were par doned, he might well become an object of clemency. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL made two or three observations, only one of which could be heard. It was understood to be to the effect, that he had nothing whatever to do with the subject to which the Hon. Member for Aberdeen had called atten tion. He had only to add that his own opinions were unchanged. Sir ROBERT PEEL said that when the Hon. Member for Aberdeen spoke of murderers having been pardoned, he must have been misinformed—. indeed the whole of what he said appeared to have been founded upon very imperfect knowledge of the facts. Mr. lIUMT said that several persons convicted of capital offences had been pardoned, and lie un derstood that some murderers were amongst the number. Sir H. PEEL resumed—lt happened that on the first occasion on which a report hud been made to his Majesty since his accession, his servants had thought it their duty to advise his Majesty that the capital sentences should not be carried into execu• lion. But they should have been guilty of a very improper exercise of the discretion entrusted to them if they had advised the Crown to remit any punishment except such as, from the circumstances, warranted such a remission. The Hon. Member was not to suppose that they had advised the course of the laW to be suspended in any case wherein it ought to have taken effect. On the question that the Bill be read a third time, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL proposed an amendment; but its purport could not be caught, owing to the inaudible manner in which it was read. Lord MORPETH said that though the Hon. and Learned Gentleman might have found it per fectly satisfactory to himself not to explain more particularly the nature of his amendment, yet it was scarcely decorous to the House. He should not, how ever, then enter into any discussion of the question. Lord HO WICK professed that he did not know the nature of the proposed amendment. Lord MORPEtIi adverted to the former debate upon this subject, and to his having succeeded in a motion for preventing the increase of the recogni anew; to be entered into by Newspaper Proprietors. He understood the motion of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman was to restore the Bill to its original state. Lord NORMANBY observed that the manner in which the Bill had been introduced perfectly cor responded with the whole conduct of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman in office ; and for his own part, he declared that Hon. and Learned Gentleman was one of the last to whom he should agree to intrust any additional power over the liberty of the press. He was the more anxious to make that declaration as throughout the country he and his Hon': Friendi around him shared much of the unpopularity of the Whig Attorney-General. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he would not give expression to any feelings of resentment which the attack just then made on him might naturally be expected to occasion. He had seer? no reason to repent or retract any part of what he had said or done, though he by no means felt himself accountable to the Noble Lord for the course of his official conduct, yet he professed himself ready, at a proper time and place, to vindicate the whole of that conduct to the full satisfaction of every im partial man. In making that observstion he begged to assure the Noble Lord, that what had occurred would not in the slightest degree alter the sentiments he entertained towards his Lordship. in the manner in which he had brought forward the amendment he certainly meant no disrespect to the House; and be must be allowed to say, that the application of the words " not decorous" was undeserved. He should now more particularly explain the nature of the amendment which he meant to propose. His object was to restore the Bill to its original shape. hen the Bill was committed be expected nothing less than a division on it in so small a House. To remedy the effects of what he would call a surprise, he wished again to take the sense of the House upon the question, observing, that there was then a fug attendance. lie wished it to be understood, that, with his consent, the Bill should not be cm , vied, unless it were restored to the form in which he had introduced it. The object be had, in view was to enable individuals libelled to recover such damages as might be awarded them, and such costs as they might be entitled to. He wished to put an end to the systeM by which die real parties con cealed themselves behind men of no substance or responsibility, of whom they made scape-goats. It had often come to his knowledge that publishers of newspapers were not able to pay either, when de feated in actions for defamation, and to remedy that evil was his sole object in bringing for. ward the clause; end he' hoped that for the manner of doing so, he should not be held amenable to the Noble Lord, or to any of his Right Honourable Friends—his sole wish was to protect individuals from the effects of private libels. He had even known instances where there were publications of debates in that House, which were mere matter of invention, and which were calculated to do injury not only to the parties against whom they were directed, but against the speakers, into whose mouth language might have been put which they never uttered. His further object was to put an end to some portion of the private slander of which there was so much and general reason to complain, anti in doing that, he felt that he did not deserve that reprehension to which he had been:ex posed. There was no one who had the slightest acquaintance with eases of the nature in question, who must not feel the necessity of a change in the law. Ile instanced the case of the Age newspaper, as furnishing a striking illustration of the principle for which he was contending. lie concluded by re peating, that his object in b r i ng i n g f orward the Bi l l —an object which he hoped was no crime—was t o give any person who brought an action a fair op portunity of recovering his costs, Mr. POULEr I.` THOMPSON was anxious to put out of view any muff of is merely personal na ture, and merely look at the Bill as it stood. He acquitted the Hon. and Learned Gentleman of any desire but that which lie professed —namely, that of giving relief to the parties concerned frqm the chill culties to which they were at present exposed in the recovery of damages and rests. The course of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman went to increase the recognikances from 3001. to 4001, To that alteration in what was previouely alluded to, he certainly could not give his assent--he conceived that power enough was possessed without the extension proposed by the present Bill. • Lord 110 WICK said that the Hothead Learned Gentleman had brought forwarsl no proof—no fact, to show the necess=ity of such a change 114 be pro. posed to make—it was, therefore, that he (Lord li.) could not acquiesce in the amendment—the effort of the change would be to double the amount of t be security. TheATTORNEY-GENERAL 'Was Understo od L to deny tout assertion. Leta HOWICK repeated that there was no feet, no proof of the necessity of the change. The Noble Lord then referred to the debates on the iubject of the law of libel in the year 1819, and then adverted to the case of Mr. Alexander, observing that there it was found that the law proved powerful enough to overwhelm an individual. What he wished to resist was any attempt to increase the power of the Crown, but he was a friend to every reasonable pro tection which individuals might require. Mr. WARBURTON complained of the clause as likely to discourage the establishment of new Jour nals—the old were of necessity in the possession of great capitalists, as a well-established newspaper in great circulation was worth 100,0001. Now, he contended that their duty was rather to give en couragement to new journals than unduly to favour those already established. Sir M. W. RIDLEY would vote against the amendment, but he should do so entirely on prin ciple—he was not .influenced by any motives of a personal nature. The House then divided—. For the amendment........ . Against it 47 Majority 2l On our re-admission we found, Mr. HOBHOUSE saying that this was another manacle placed upon the liberty of the press. In his opinion it would be quite time enough to punish the offence when it had been committed. The Bill before the House would produce no detrimental effect to men of capital or power, but merely do injury to persons of small pecuniary means—it would not make persons of wealth or influence conduct their papers in any respect better than they had done—it would affect no great paper ; but it would merely operate - against journals of minor influence and cir culation—it would not operate as a restraint upon any newspaper at a formidable rate. He was, how ever, willing to admit that something had been at tempted by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, and for the attempt he deserved some credit; but it was to be regretted that he had contented himself with allowing the vote of the House on a former night to remain undisturbed. It was likewise to be re gretted, that not only the clause in question but parts of the Bill operated to the disadvantage of persons engaged in the business of publication, who were only possessed of small pecuniary resources— persons already exposed to no inconsiderable hard ship. In the department of pamphlets alone, he was enabled to state that there had been no fewer than 147 prosecutions within a short period. The Bill of the Hen. and Learned Gentleman, if meant us a boon, was certainly not understood as such and though powerful for bringing about evil, it would be totally ineffectual for the production of good. Sir ROBERT PEEL—I am sorry that this dis cussion--I mean the earlier part of it—should have been distinguished by any reflections of a merely personal nature, and I shall not say any thing likely to renew them further than to observe that the course adopted by my Hon. and Learned Friend will, by all well-judging people, be considered to have reflected honour upon him.—(Cries of Hear, hear, hear," from the Opposition.)—Yes, I repeat— it does reflect honour upon him.—(Cheers from the Ministerial Benches.)—His object was not to culti vate the favour of the Press or of the'people—his object was to do what he conceived to be right. indifferent in the first instance as to, what might be thought of his conduct, for he cannot but be confi dent that the time will come when his motives will be justly appreciated. In the state of the law of libel, as it stood, there were two grounds of com plaint. The first was, that banishment for the se cond offence was too severe, and there was no one who reflected upon the state of the law, who was not perfectly aware that it was not valid for the pur pose of deterring persons from the commission of the offence, and there were those who thought that the extreme infliction of such a punishment amounted to nothing less than the perpetration of injustice. The other complaint was against the li centiousness of the Press in its publication of ed lumnies affecting private individuals. Can any man deny that the prevailing evil of the Press at the pre sent day is the prurient examination of the conduct of private individuals, from which not even females are protected. Now I will call upon the House to say ought not the law to afford a remedy for that evil— ought fictitious characters to be allowed to be entered in the Stamp-office, for the purpose of screening the calumniators of men in private life, and of femalrs who have hitherto looked in vain for that redress to which they are justly entitled, and which, I think the House will agree with me, the Legislature is bound to afford. It has been said that the present Bill is directed against persons of small capital, or little er no pecuniary means; but theie are the very parties most likely to be guilty of the offences against which this Bill is directed. Papers like the Times tire not at all likely to indulge in the publication of private libels • the character which such a paper has to support affords abundant security against the com mission of those offences, but minor publications, are not likely to be restrained by similar considerations. True it is that we may despise those publications, hut females, and many men, too, are placed in situa tions which will not permit them to despise calum nies of that nature. Whether the measure b e , a boon or not, it will be for the public in time to judge, but I consider it a decided improvement to diminish undue severity, and at the same time to take security against the publication of private libels. Mr. LENNARD considered those who patronized publications of the nature spoken of were the parties most to blame. As . to Mr. Alexander, he did net thick him a legitimate object of clemency—his libels were most atrocious, and, if possible, his defence was more culpable. As to the Bill under consi deration, he thought it insufficient to effect the ob jects at which it was aimed, while it was likely to prove highly inconvenient to persons of small means. It would have been really a valuable measure had it been confined to the mere repeal of the penalty of banishment. Mr. HUME was willing to give the Hon. end Learned Gentleman opposite credit for sincerity, but he would put that sincerity to the test of asking him to confine the increased security to cases of pr - vote libels, since he merely profeased to have in view the suppression of that class of publications. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL explained that his object had been to obtain additional security for private individuals in their actions for libels,and in no respect to increase the po wer o f t h e owe in its pro3ecutions. He was well aware that an At torney-General was seldom popular, and whenever an opportunity offered there were many in the House ready to press him ha he did not blame them for it--and he always Feceived their attacks with the most candid interpretation. It was not his wish by this I id to cajole any person; but while re pealing the punishment of banishment he thought he could increase the security of private parties. What uver might be the case with the respectable part of the press, there were persons who founded their whole claim to the circulation of their newspapers upon the belief that they regarded no decorum, and violated all the decencies of private life. This practice he had been desirous of checking, although he could not hope to change the public appetite, gratified as it was, and would be, by scandal and slander. All en joyed attacks, even upon their best friends; and it was obvious that personal questions in Parliament always excited much more interest, and procured a fuller attendance than any topic of general principle or national finance. The disadvantage of the law a 4 it before stood was, that parties who recovered du fringes by verdict could never obtain them, us mere adventurers were sometimes put forward as the pro prietors of newspapers. Ks design had been to remedy this defect ; he thought he had done so; but if not, he trusted that he merited, and should receive no blame. Mr. O'CONNELL pointed out some defects in the present Law of Libel beyond those noticed by the 'tight lion. Secretary of State. One of th em was, that what was or %as not a libel was nowhere defined; and a Judge who stated his opinion that a publication was a libel, was sure to find a very aim plitisunt Jury; accordingly, it had been found a libel upon an Earl, before the late Lord Ellenborough, that he was called' a sheep-feeder from Cambridge. shire ;" and another man had been convicted of a libel upon the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, for saying that he was " a stout-built special pleader." He agreed that the libel of which Mr. Alexander had been found guilty was most gross ; it was false and scandalous; but, had it been true, the verdict must have been the same; and this was another flagrant defect in the existing Libel Law. It was equally a libel to publish truth of a corrupt Lord Chiincellor, as falsehood of a pure one. Mr. H. BATTLEY expressed his disapprobation of the Bill. On the question that it be passed, Lord MORPETH said that, in bidding adieu to this measure, he neither wished, nor had a right to find fault with the motives of the Attorney-General. All he objected to was, the principle of his legisla. tion. This he must add, that the Hon. and Learned Gentleman never seemed , disposed to do anything agreeable to the people,. without doing somethi ng disagreeable to the m a t the same time. The rßill was then passed, and ordered to the Lords. STAGEt6ACII PROPRIETORS BILL. Sir T. AULAND moved thithirdieading of the Stage Coach Proprietors Bill. Mr. Alderman WOOD wished some chime to be introduced, giving a poor man a . summery remedy against a coach proprietorifor the loss of a parcel. Mr. SPOTTISWQODE objected to the whole principle oft he'Bitl, which gave a premium to stage. coach proprietors for carelessness. Colonel TRENCH proposed a clause, afterwards withdrawn, limiting the time for commencing the action to six months after the loss of a parcel. After a few words from Mr. HUMS and Sir T. ACLAND, the Bill was read a third time and passed. MADRAS REGISTRY BILL. Sir J. MACKINTOSH gave notice that be would move the re-commitment of the Madras Re gistry Bill on Tuesday, and as he intended to ex punge all the parts that were objected to, he hoped that the measure might be allowed to pass through the rest of its stages on the same day. An order was made to this effect, after a few in troductory remarks from Mr. Locu, Mr. HUM; and Mr. A STELL. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave notice that on Tuesday it might be necessary for him to bring in a Bill to remedy a formal error in some Bills that had recently passed both Houses, and received the Royal Assent, in which certain re cited Acts were spoken of as Acts of his "present Majesty," whereas, at the time of receiving the Royal Assent, they were in fact Acts of his late Majesty. SESSIONAL ADDRESSES. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER reported the King's Answer to the Sessional Ad dresses, for giving the Chaplain preferment, and for paying the Clerks, &c. It was entered, as usual, on the Journal. On the motion of the CIIANCELLOR of the Ex cfluguEß, the [louse adjourned until Tuesday. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF COMMONS. NOTICES or MOTIONS, AND ORDERS OF THE DAY, WI:Ili:if STAND IN THE ORDER•BOOK TOR TOE ENSUIN4 WEIR. OF MOTIONS, TUESDAV JUL 9. 1. Mr. Brougham NOTICEM —Motion on the subject , of C o l onial Slavers'. S. Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer—Bill to remove. doubts touching certain Acts of this present Session of Paths. ment, which were introduced during the his of his late Majesty, and have received the Royal Assent since the Accession of his present Majesty. a Mr. Tennyson—Bill to provide for the application of the Surpluses, and for the ultimate extinction of the Orphans' Fund of the City of London, alter payment of all existing charges theron. ORDERS OP TOE DAT. 1. Bayley's Divorce 13111—Third Heading. 2. Registrar at Madras Bill—Committee. NOTICE GIVEN YESTERDAY. Mr. Fyler—Blll to regulate the mode of taking Apprentices. (Next Session.) ANECDOTES OF THE LATE KING. So averse was the late King to be seen during his rides in the parks at Windsor for the last two or three years that out-riders were always despatched while his pony-chaise was preparing, to whichever of the gates he intended to pass, across the Frog more road, driving from one park into the other; and if any body was seen loitering near either gate, the course of the ride was instantly altered, to escape even the passing glance of a casual observer. His late Majesty seldom drove across to the Long Walk from the Castle, because lie was there more likely to be met by the Windsor people. His most private way was through a small gate in the park wall, opposite another small gate in the wall of the grounds at Frogmore, at the Datchet side. He there crossed the road in a Moment ' and had rides so arranged between F rogmore and Virginia-water, that he had between 20 and 30 miles of neatly planted avenues, from which the public were wholly excluded. At certain points of these rides, which opened towards the public thoroughfares of the park, there were always servants stationer! on these occasions to prevent the Intrusion of strangers upon the King's privacy. The plantations have been so carefully nourished for seclusion around the Royal Lodge, that only the chimneys of the build ing can now be seen from the space near the top of the Long Welk. The King caused the same rigid exs elusion to be enforced, while engaged in fishing, from his grotesque building at Virginia -water; and also when visiting the various temples which he had erected on the grounds. A great deal of money was laid out on these edifices ; but it was only by stealth and the connivance of servants these were at any time to be seen. With the exception of the ruined temple which is ornamented by the casts from the Elgin marbles, these structures are deficient in real taste; they are full of caps end bells, end Chinese frippery, with a great deal of gorgeous and tawdry decoration. His Majesty was so little aware that the fatal result of his indisposition was so near at hand, that up to a very late period of his sufferings his Majesty occupied himself a good deal with the progress of some additions which he was making to the Royal Lodge. He was particularly anxious to have a new dining- r oom finis hed by his birth-day, on the 12th of August—not dreaming that a month before that day his remains would be gathered into their tomb. He was also, up to the same late period, occupied by th e improvements in Windsor Castle, and used to have himself rolled through the apartments in a chair, which was constructed for his Majesty's use. Notwithstanding these anticipations, it is known that the King's health had been for nearly two years declining. Hip old suffering from the gout had given way to an occasional " embarrassment of breathing," (the ex pressive phrase of the Bulletins), and at times great depression of spirits. His Majesty was often found apparently lost in abstraction, and only relieved by shedding tears. At other times, however, the King took a great interest in the works which were carry ing on in the Lodge and the Castle of Windsor, particularly those which he intended for his private use, and spoke of a long enjoyment of them. It is said that for some time before Sir Henry Halford and Sir M. Tierney were last culled in, his late Majesty was under the domestic Elmira treatment of two gentlemen who were of his household. Hi. Majesty had for a long time evinced a great it:- disposition to exercise of any kind—the least exertion was attended with faintness, and his Majesty's usual remedy was a glass of some liqueur. He had a part euler kind of cherry brandy,Which he thought to be of medical use, when he felt these symptoms of debdi v, and to which be resorted to a late period of his lift . Until the bursting of the blood-vessel oil the rhit before his death, the King did not. think his ca.; absolutely hopeless,—even then, the slight refresh ment of sleep rallied his spirits a little. The decora tions of the interior of the late King's suite of spar t merits wet e entirely conducted under his own eye. His Majesty would have no pattern of furniture which was to be seen anywhere else, and he had an utter disregard of expeller, either in his original orders, or in their subsequent alteration, which often heppeaed to be indulged in at a costly King's suite of apartments occupied th of the wing of the Castle, which there was a beautiful orangery planted windows,and a convenient descent into Formerly the numerous persons w Windsor Castle and its precincts, t retires) functionaries, had convenient to the grounds, or slopes (as they are mediately beneath the Castle ; but person having pointed at the Morelli ham, while she walked within the locks were instantly changed at all the from that time all were excluded b' private party. (Prom the Spirit of Litcrui The following letter, without a " Te Mrs. Robinson, Ship Inn, Brigl apparently by hand to that lady, was, years ago, sold at an autograph sale at auction rooms:— " Dear Mn.s Robinson,--I have letter, and it really quite overcomes of distress you so pathetically paint. tainly wait. upon you, but I am afraid before I can come to the Ship, as . l with me. Should it be within the' Meani to rescue you from the abyss that is before you, and for which y Brent, I need not say that the tern! fying others, and at the same time, means, making oneself happy, is too neglected a single moment. Ho! allow me to be thus explicit and can , in a great measure depend upon the will be necessary to be done for yo , how far my funds may be adequate, powers villal to allow that object. time, only rest assured of my good intentions. I am, dear Mrs. Robin, your, Mrs. Robinson, as the reader is was the object of his late Majesty's taehment. The above letter would coldness of its expressions, to have after that attachment had ceased, Prince must have been then in the 2 11 t of his age. The late President Je tier firm, that in his youth " the-Prince, tural abilities, was extremely ignorant knowledge." The excessively Iv : grammatical style of this letter furmlitiell dence of the truth of this statement. • • • • George IV. must, no doubt, have from his early Whig associates, that who sets foot on British ground bee( that it matters not, as regards public ther a man is white, black, brown, low; but though such is undoubtedly _ . the British Castitution, it was rit in practice by our late Sovereign. His the antipathy of a Virginia nigger-'l' and would not even admit persons slight India-ink into his Royal presence. A P by ee a r, n L a o t r t d em T p — t to, n :m lfl u e g t g a l rd e e a irr x e y t: from Calcutta, of the name of B malities of presentation; and Cramer, nearly lost his situation of leader of the, by a similar piece of imprudence. regards Cramer, runs thus :—The 1 1110 ralissimo was bent on having a black l l the kettle-drum ; but, aware of b:s pathy to the sable tribe, he was in desPs' ever able to accomplish his wishes, wile° chance with a native Englishman of so 4. that ut a short distance he might easilY 13 , 1 for an importation f rom th e coast of " 1 , 11 mer had the man fo r th w ith installed in t,' l kettle•drummer; and now came the try his introduction to the Royal presence. O il . ; entering the music -room, he started, 1 :' much displeased; but after approseb i l l nearer, and applying a glass to his eyer t i Cramer to him—" I see, Sir," " you wish to accustom me to a black wr degrees." When the late Lord Erskine 09 2 General to the Prince of Wales he w": j,l l l Thomas Paine to defend him on bill , i `. l. 3fi fishing the second part of his KrVil l , ` l „} it was soon intimated to him, by ' ll 'l, l that such advocacy was considered to fi ' tif tible with his o ffi cial situation; and the J o self, in the most friendly manner, 11 6 .., u that it was highly displeasing to the he ought to endeavour to explain his co" . 0 Mr. Erskine immediately did, in a letter 1 11 jesty himself ; in which, after expressito; attachment to his person, and to that Aa k t which was attacked in the work to be u' b i t took the liberty to claim, as an iove lul b t that Constitution the unquestionable rt o subject to make his defence by any rest' own free choice, if not previoustY engaged by o ffi ce from the Crown, r a t was no other way of deciding whet° AI or was not consistent with his situation 11 General to the Prince, than by refel l to ing to custom, the question to the bar'," perfectly willing and even desirous to de' bro l days afterwards, Mr. Erskine received , late Admiral Paine, a most gracious in ° is the Prince, expressing his deep regr et himself obliged to accept M r . Brskinea r ; which was accordingly sent. A few Y i wards, however, his Royal Highness 011 t , t Erskine to Carl ton-house, whilst he we' under a severe illness, and, taking h it° h ciously by the hand, said to him, that 1 11 1 4 not at all qualified to judge of retainer', preciate the cor rectness or i ncorr ectness O t to duct in the instance that had separated ot that, being convinced he had acted from ifr motives, he wished m os t publicly to r" dn e opinion, and therefore directed him thately to Somerset-house, and to briq llrt for his execution, the patent of Chain Royal Highn e s s ', which he said he 100 signed for Mr. Erskine. SPORTING-(RECEIVED Ti ll LIVERPOOL RACES. TOURSDAY, JULY B.—The Free liandi o P6 of 30 so". each, 10 ft., with 20 added, f o r and upwards, once round and a distances w ls a head by Sarah (D ar li ng ), beating Jupiter , Seven drawn. The Stand Cup, or Piece of Plate, value I 0 , 0 „ 1 to a Subscription of 10 sovs. each; for a i l ' wiles and a half. .. Colonel Y ates's Boli var ,. 4 yra . ........ ...... Mc. Dingle narned „ Lord Cleveland's Tamboff 4 yrs. ....... Guido, Pelion, and another started, but v.- and 35 were drawn..—The betting we evt i to I agst Boliv ar , 6 to I ags t Sarah, 6 w it olii` buff, and 8 to I agst Pelion.—At the stilt! t W good one, Guido took the lead s , which he 14 10 ,1 1 mile: Pelion passed him on coming u p t 0 first time, a n d k e p t hi s pl ace f or nearly a 01,0 bottom strong running was made by Guid o :b o g :o'a followed c l ose b y t h e rest o f th e ' o rses. '7,06 of a mite from the end the horses were all scene was beautiful, interesting, and impooP.,,p Ong was severe, Guido was the fist horse t"% 4 and Pelion was with him: Bolivar, Sara h ' I' llo ran very cl o s e u n til they. came to-the stand, %' shot ahead, and won cleverly by a length. ,t) The Know s l e y Stakes of 100 sous. eueb, t i s 6 three yrs. old colts Bat 71b. and fillies v s second horse to save his stake. One mile. 10 0 Sir T. Stanley's sister to Spectre . ....... . teyemP ..... Sir W. Wynn's Convoy .................. ...... Two were drawn.--Won A Plate of 50 soya. was won in two c ol 1,-, br. c. by Figaro, beating font others. Bell's Life in London of to-inorrow„j rain a print of his MAJISTY being proclainwe St. James's Palace. The price of Beirs P: l f e and Sporting Chronicle Sevenrnre only . the ti ° sicia n n ) ; I ses n iff u tl e .e ° bo i d t y l,leali l the diseases of the mind..--Jortim -dam lige(' in at a costly tst4_ meats occupied the iteei ;antic, which faces Ds. orangery planted btU' nient descent into tbsf .ous persona who rei its precincts, the Clef had convenient arcesik lopes (as they are A a Castle ; but owing a I at the Marchioness Al Iced within the solo' :hanged at all the uvro , vere excluded but tl° Spirit of Literature.) ter, without a data , Ship Inn, Brighton," that lady, was, tsfoef; autograph sale at S o9r4 linson s —l have re ctifd uite overcomes ine ; tu t lathetically p 'aint. I " but I am afraid it w 0 the Ship, as I bolo" be within the compel' from the abyss you sl , l' id for which you mere that the temptation di he same time, and by,e'' if happy , is too ulluosio noment. flowerer, 10.6 xplicit and candid , thatK pend upon the extent of se done for your 0( 0 r be adequate, as well /' qv that object. In th e of my good Wis .0 bet °4 r Mrs. Robinson,strs GOO re “ m t e h i e y - the reader is doubtltseeT late Majesty's first you,t . e letter would seem, 0 !salons, to Lou bee t had ceases!, and if: n then in the 21st or 1 . President Jefferson nod xcessively aw k wsid its letter furnishes strael this statement. • no doubt, have dos I associates, that We ish ground becomes ft° regards public freedohd black, brown, olio is undoubtedly the eht 4 ion, it was not ft. Or; Sovereign. his Mojotl: rginia nigger-driver legi Pigrinijoeseoiaw tolf 541; wit persons slightly till ral presence. A cer ta ', D ., incurred irretrieriN" nuggle a wealthy tan. me of B—i, tiong b n; and Cramer, Ole mu! in. A.. of the It