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

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. The fierce struggle w - ch has been going on for the last four or five months in the Court of Madrid between the party of the Queen, who sought her supporters among the liberal portion of the nation,. and the party of the King, which, though opposed to the Carlists, was equally averse to constitutional improvements, has, for the present, been decided in favour of the latter. The star of M. Zea Bermudez is thus in the a scendant. He has been able to dismiss the three Ministers opposed to his views, and to supply their places by his own partisans. A com mercial courier (of a respectable house in the city) who left Madrid seven days ago, has brought us the Gazeta de Madrid of the 26th ult. In that Ga zette appear three Royal ordinances dismissing Don Encima y Piedra, Minister of Finance ; Don Ferd nandez del Pino, Minister of Justice; and Don Francisco de Ulloa, Minister of Marine, from their departments; and appointing in their stead persons of opposite sentiments—namely, Don Antonio Martinez, for Finance ; Don Juan Gualberto Gonza lez, for Justice; and Don Jose de la Cruz (at present Minister of War), for the provisional post of Ma rine. Besides these three Ministerial changes in the higher and essential offices of the state, the Court has dismissed from their employments the Marquis of Casa Irujo, Secretary to the Council of State and to the Cabinet, sending him into honourable esele, as Ambassador to the United States of Ame rica, and the Superintendent-General of Police, Don Josef Martinez de San Martin. This last ser vant of Ferdinand is the only official character to whom any harshness is shown beyond that of dis missal from office. He is ordered immediately to be transferred to the fortress of Badajos, as a kind of state prisoner. His successor is Don Mettles Herrero Prieto. Lest there should be any mistake either in the nation itself or among the foreigners, on the object of this strange Ministerial revolution, Don Jose de la Cruz, the Minister of War (and now also of Marine), has appended to the five- Royal ordinances above referred to, a circular letter, addressed to the captains and commandants general of provinces, denouncing equally the sedi tious movements of the " conspirators of St. Ildefon so," who endeavoured to overturn the fundamental laws of the kingdom,by disinheriting the young daugh ter of the King during his Majesty's illness— and the opposite or Constitutional party, who, affecting to support the legitimate succession to the Crown, convert their loyalty into an engine of fac tion, and " threaten political innovations for limit ing the rights of the throne, which they pretend to protect and uphold." The captains-general are desired in this circular to watch over the intrigues and unions of both these factions—to restrain them from any attempt at disturbing the public tran quillity, and to prohibit all armed persons within their districts, unless they belong to the regular army, to the royalist volunteers, or to the reserve, " whatever be the authority or title on which they may pretend to rely." There can be no doubt that the body of volunteers lately formed under the patronage of the Queen's party, and called after her name Oa-Winos, are here designated, and are thus denounced as contingent disturbers of public order. We have, therefore, no doubt that the Spanish Ministerial revolution has been complete— that the re-action against the Movement, or Queen's party, has been, (for the reoment at least) decisive and fatal—and that the Prime Minister, supported by the King, has succeed in arresting every prepara tion for a constitutional change. M. Zea Bermu dez is a man of talent and firmness—capable of forming a system, and resolute in pursuing it to all its consequences. He was placed at the head of the Ministry by the King, because, while he had evinced an ardent zeal for the anti-salic order of succession, and therefore was hated by the Carlists, he was equally zealous for maintaining the despotic power of the Crown, anti was therefore feared by the Constitutionalists. He has succeeded in send ing Don Carlos, his wife, and the Portuguese female disturbers of the palace, on their travels to Portugal ; and having thus vanquished one faction, has turned his power with effect against the other,'having per haps convinced the wavering mind of her Majesty that her daughter's rights are safer against the former than her husbaud's or her own against the latter. M. Zea Bermudez has been brought up in an arbitrary school of politics, and has formed many sinister predilections. He resided long at the Court of Sr. Petersburgh, and ever since his return hits looked more to absolute monarchs than to free governments for the friends of his master. If King Ferdinand survives, he will therefore do all he can to restrict the duties of the approaching Cortes to the simple recognition of the young Queen's title, and will resist all attempts at political innova tion. If he can thus satisfy the church and the pri vileged orders that they will be as safe under a female and a minor as under an aged bigot or his fana tical heir, he may induce them to change their poli tical idol while they adhere to their ritual of political despotism. The consequences of this change of Cabinet and of system are already perceptible, and must soon become more striking. It must paralyse all the efforts of England and France to bring about an arrangement of the Portuguese question by pro curing the aid of Spain in favour of Don Pedro. To his circular in November last, M. Zea Bermudez still obstinately clings, and even the number of the Gazeta de Madrid which contains the Ministerial changes affords us a proof of the leaning of the Court and the Cabinet to the side of Don Miguel. It ostentatiously announces the loan for the Dey of Lisbon, contracted for in Paris and London, and says, that as he is on the eve " of a final triumph," the subscribers are justified in their highest antici pations of security and reimbursement. The 'Ministry of Zea Bermudez, though relieved from their liberal colleagues, will be too wise to attempt any military diversion against the Constitutional force in Oporto, but they will assuredly enter into no terms to pro mote its success.—Times. The report of the Commissioners on the poor laws, to which allusion was made in Parliament on Tuesday night, and a printed copy of which was laid on the table of the House of Commons, con tains merely a part of that immense body of infor mation which the members of this Commission have been enabled to collect on the subject of its in quiries. The printed portion is entitled " Extracts from the Information received by his Majesty's Com missioners as to the Administration and Operation of the Poor Laws," and is contained in an octavo volume of 430 pages. The separate reports of the assistant commissioners, together with the ge neral report of the central commission, will probably occupy a space of 600 or 700 folio pages. But these " extracts," though from their very title ad mitted to be incomplete, will probably be allowed to contain more information on the subject to which they refer than all the reports of Parliamentary com mittees hitherto framed ; and are destined, unless we are much mistaken, to produce a more striking effect, or to lead to more salutary changes, than any official notices on the administration of the poor laws ever published. Indeed, even to those who have read all former official reports, and who have perused the most interesting pub lications on pauperism which have late l y a pp eared, this extraordinary volume must give new light, or afford fresh interest. Though we have been loud and persevering in our demand for the establishment of poor laws iu Ireland, we have never been blind to the terrible consequences of their mal-administra lion in this country ; but if we had before been in different to the progress of the evil, this astounding book would have awakened us to a sense of its enor rni!y, irresistible evidence is here brought forward to prove the tendency of the poor laws, as at Pre sent administered, to destroy the resources o f the i cou ntry ; and, while they ncrease the numbers to be supported on a common ft . ind, to paritlye that and main in- dustry by which the fund 13 feproduced tained. The most direc t and irresistible evidence is likewise afforded of their tendency to discourage prudence or foresight,—to confer a premium on pro fligacy and improvidence,—to render economy a use less incumbrance on poverty,—to a nnihilate all the relations of kindness and sympathy between the deb and the poor,—to dissolve domestic ties' among the poor themselves, and to convert our rural parishes into West India plantations, peopled with harsh masters and refractory slaves. Three alarming facts are established in these extracts which demand immediate attention :-1, in some places intimidation is carried to such an extent that neither the vestry nor the overseers are left any choice in fixing the amount of pauper allowances, in adjusting the claims on the parish fund to its amount, or in extending relief even where labour is refused. In the second place, we find numerous in stances in which labourers, being left sums of money, have been compelled to squander these legacies or gifts in order to re-establish their claim for indus trious employment—all employment being considered as a parish charity. Could the ingenuity of man invent a better device to destroy economical habits— to stifle every idea of independence, and to encou rage vice and profligacy? In the third place, it is proved in many instances that cultivation is posi tively going backward from a deficiency of labour expended on the land, while supernumerary la bourers are increasing. In. one parish the paupers have banished the farmers, and are supported by a rate in aid from another parish ! ! But we must defer to another opportunity the statements of facts necessary to establish these and other points to which we shall advert.—Times. Mr. Plumptre had the courage last night, on pre senting a petition for the better observance of the Sabbath, to say, that " he trusted, that notwith standing the clamour that had been made against the Bill introduced by the Hon. Baronet (Sir A. Agnew) both in and out of that House, it would be persevered in, and passed into a law." Mr. Wilks hoped " that the Bill would be allowed to be read a second time, and then referred to a Select Committee, in order to make such alterations in it as would promote public morals, without the insti tution of a tyrannous system, which would only create the deepest disgust." The better way would be to throw the 811 out at once. It would be far easier to draw up a proper Bill than to mend such a monstrous one as that introduced by the pious Scotch Baronet. We have already observed that a Scotchman, who can know little of the habits of the people of England, ought not to take upon himself to legislate for them in such a matter as this. We meant no disrespect to the Scotch when we made this observation. Every country has its cus toms, which prudent men will observe. At present, no stage-coach enters or leaves even the capital of Scotland on a Sunday; and if we are not mistaken, steam-boats dare not leave any of the ports of that country on that day. The Scotch have taken it into their heads that they cannot better please Heaven than by abstaining from all manifestation of signs of pleasure or satisfaction on a Sunday. To hum a tune, or whistle, in any town on a Sunday, might endanger the life of the person making the attempt. In Ma elaurin's Criminal Cases, there is a report of a trial of an English gentleman, who, not aware of the dancer, had a dinner-party on a Sunday, being the King's birthday, which gave oc casion to a riot. We remember a case of an English gentleman, of some note in the literary world, who, during his temporary residence in Edinburgh, took up a flute on Sunday, and played a bar or two b-e -fore his landlady had time to parley with him on the subject. A neighbour cited the landlady before the Police Court for keeping a disorderly tertise, and the English gentleman appeared before the Judge of Police (then a Mr. Tait), and pleaded his ignorance of the customs of the country, on which the case was dismissed, after a suitable caution from the Magistrate. The puritanical system took thorough root in Scotland. The people are de lighted with it—they conceive a gloomy look a ne cessary part of the Sunday's devotion. We find no fault with this ; we merely mention it to show how little suited the Scotch are to legislate for England in such matters. The Puritans never made any great way in England; at all events, their opinions are not so prevalent as to justify any attempt to en force them by law. We are assured, that in many parts of England, cricket and football continue to he played on Sunday after service is concluded. We have the best authority for stating that this is the case in the North Riding of Yorkshire, and we believe it is also the case in other agricultural dis tricts; for Puritanism has mostly been confined to towns. Under these circumstances, it requires some tact to legislate in such a way as shall secure the co-operation of the people. The English are neither disposed to make the Sunday a day of mer riment as on the Continent, nor to shut themselves up and look as if they were to be hanged on the Monday morning, like the Scotch.—Morn. Chron. The division on Mr. Hume's motion on Corporeal Punishment in the United Kingdom must be con sidered as expressing the opinion of the House of Commons so unequivocally against that kind of pu nishment, that we may consider the ques'ion to be carried as completely as if the clause had been added to the Bill—nay, perhaps even more so; and we doubt not that the military authorities will act ac cordingly. Although there were only 295 Members in the House, it is understood that neither party had made the smallest exertion to have tht it sup porters present; and it may be considered as the fair expression of the public opinion in that House. Sir R. Fergusson and several other stanch sup porters of the Ministers went away and did not vote, (kerning it, doubtless, best not to add their votes to the majority, as their opinions were against the Ministers. The number of the Ministers' ma- jority was only 153; and if 18 or 20 actual Mem bers of the Government voting in that division are deducted, there will remain only 133, being seven less than those who voted for Mr. Ilume's clause. The following Members of the Government were in the majority of 153, viz.:— Althorn, Lord Grant, Rt. Hon. R. Rice, Rt. Hon. T. S. Baring, Francis T. Grosvenor, Lord R. Russell, Lord J. Bernal, Ralph - Howick, Lord Spencer, Hon. Capt. Duncannon, Lord Labouchere, H. Thomson,Rt. Hon I'. Fox, Colonel Maberley, Colonel Kennedy, Thos. F. Graham, Sir J. Palmerston, Lord Lamb, Hon. Geo. —Morning Chronicle. The reformed House of Commons, which refused to inquire into the causes of public distress and the state of the currency—the reformed House of Com mons, which refused to substitute a property tax for the taxes on productive industry—the reformed House of Commons, which gave martial law to Ireland as a sequel to " Catholic Emancipation"— which also rejected a motion for the abolition of military and naval sinecures, has given a further " taste of its quality" to the public by supporting the Ministers and their Tory friends in refusing to allow even a partial abolition of the barbarous,diF,- gusting, and wholly unnecessary practice of military flogging. It is some time ago since the Ministerial papers induced the public to expect that flogging, both in the army and navy, would be speedily abolished, and that his Majesty had a decided aver sion to that species of punishment. In the first session of the first reformed Parliament, Mr. Hume takes the opportunity of putting the sincerity of Ministers on this important subject to the test. He moves the introduction of a clause into the Mutiny Act, providing that " it shall not be lawful to inflict corporeal punishment by flogging on any private sol dier, corporal, or non-commissioned officer, in the army or militia of the United Kingdom within the United Kingdom." This motion Sir Francis Bur dett, the once indignant and uncompromising de nouncer of flogging in all its varieties, prevails upon the Hon. Member for Middlesex to soften down to something very unlike a "radical reform" of the system—viz., a qualified amendment, stating that " the Mutiny Act shall confine this punishment to open mutiny, thieving, and being drunk on guard." This mitigated reform of the military system of punishment the reformed representatives ' of the people refused to sanction. It is true, Mi nisters had a very small majority. But it is enough to say that, in a House of Commons where no be ougmonger any longer holds dominion, there was a majority in favour of military flogging ! It is worth observing that the philanthropy which stretches forth its arm to rescue the black slave of the sugar islands from the lash of the driver did not raise its voice to save white men and Britons from undergoing the degrading punishment of the whip galled slave. We, too, have raised our voice for the deliverance of the West Indian negro. We would not see his flesh torn by the 39 stripes of the driver's whip. But, whether this feeling be a virtue or a weakness, it is not one which we exercise exclusively in the case of a negro's wrongs. When we hear of a British soldier undergoing the " mitigated " complement of torture which consists in the application of 300 or 500 lashes to his bare back, with an instrument that makes nine lacerations at every stroke, we cannot in common consistency but appeal to the Legislature to wrest the instru ment, only worthy of the spirit of Russian discipline (which, by the way, Lord Palmerston adverted to as an authority on the subject of military torture), from the hand of British power, whether in our army or navy. We have said this mode of punishment is as unnecessary as it is barbarous. We believe it is not only unnecessary, but that it does great mis chief to the British army. Wherever cruel and de grading punishments are used, whether in military or civil life, they lower the tone of morality—they prevent the great object of punishment, which ought to be not vengeance, but reformation, and harden and brutalise offenders. That flogging is unnecessary to military subordination we are forti fied in saying, not only from the example of culti• vated nations, such as the Romans in former times, and the French of the present day, but from the opinion of one of the greatest authorities on all mat ters relating to the science of the camp that the world ever produced. We allude to the opinion of Napoleon Bonaparte, which is recorded in Mr, Barry o'3leata's work, the " Voice from St. Helena." The Ex-Emperor, after paying a compliment to the personal bravery of the British soldier, goes on to say, " I would alter the system; instead of the lash, I would lead them by the stimulus of honour. I would instil a degree of emulation into their minds. I would promote every deserving soldier, as I did in France. After an ac tion I assembled the officers and soldiers, and asked who have acquitted themselves best ? and pro moted such of them as were capable of reading and writing. Those who were not, I ordered to study five hours a day until they had learned a sufficiency, and then promoted them. What might be expected from an English army if every soldier hoped to be made a general if he behaved well ? Bingham says, however, that the greater part of your soldiers are brutes, and must be driven by the stick. But surely the English soldiers must be possessed of sentiments sufficient to put them, at least, on a level with the ' soldiers of other nations where the degrading system of the lash is not u-ed. Whatever debases man cannot be service able. Bingham says that none but the dregs of the canaille voluntarily enlist as soldiers. This disgraceful punishment is the cause of it. I would remove it. I would substitute err fine ment—bread and water—the contempt of his com rades, and such other punishments, for the lash. What honour can a man possibly have who is flogged be fore his comrades ? He loses all feeling." Napoleon also giVes a remarkable instance of the beneficial effects of substituting the moral treatment for the lash, in Italy. He says, " When the Austrians had posn.ession of Italy, they in vain attempted to make soldiers of the Italians. They either deserted is fast as they raised them, or else, when compelled to advance against an enemy, they ran away at the first fire. It was impossible to keep together a single regiment. When I got to Italy, and began to raise soldiers, the Austrians laughed at me, and said that it was in vain—that they had been trying for a long time, and that it was not in the nature of the Italians to fight or make good soldiers. Not withstanding this, I raised many thousands of Italians, who fought with a bravery equal to that of the French, and did not desert me even in my adver sity. What was the cause? I abolished flogging and the stick which the Austrians adopted. I pro moted those among the soldiers who had talents, arid made many of them Generals. I substituted honour and emulation for terror and the lash." We suspect this sort of promotion is not likely to come in favour soon at the Horse-Guards; yet might our Whig Ministry, both in the wisdom and humanity requisite for the judicious and efficient government of an army, take a lesson from the despotic con queror Napoleon—a warrior who raised the most Powerful armies the world ever saw, and whose le gions that perished in the snows of Russia had planted the standard of French dominion in every capital from Mad,id to Moscow. It was stated by Sir F. Burdett, that he was certain Sir J. lloblionse would have proposed a clause against flogging if he had continued in office. Why, then, did he riot con tinue Secretary at War a few days longer, in order to redeem a character a good deal tarnished on this point ? If he wished to escape the opportunity he could not have sounded a more timely retreat ! Morning Herald. The iniquities and cruelties of the factory system formed the chief object of discussion last night in the House of Commons, upon a motion of Mr. W. Patten for the appointment of a commission to col- lect further evidence upon the subject, as a neces sary antecedent to legi-lation. It was repeatedly asserted, and we think satisfactorily proved, in the course of the debate, that this proceeding, whatever might be the intention of the proposer, would have the effect of postponing, at least till the next ses sion of Parliament, the application of any legislative remedy to an evil of which the existence was not denied by any party in the House. The mill interest even admitted, in the most distinct and intelligible manner, the existence of a state of things which is a foul disgrace to the character of the country, when some of their leaders alleged, as an objection to the proposed Bill of Lord Ashley, that to limit the labour of children to ten hours in the day would be thtrimental to their prosperity. Had they said that the unprotected infants employed in the factories, were now kept to work only nine, eight, seven, or six hours a day ; and that, therefore, the proposed measure of protection was necessary, that would have spoken to the purpose, in opposition to its enactment. But when they set up their pecuniary advantage in com petition with the loud and urgent claims of huma nity—when they state that if forbidden to work children of tender age more than ten hours out of the twenty-four their profits will be reduced—what did they supply but the strongest conceivable al-- which will appear in the lists of the majority and gument to establish the necessity of the imme diate interference of the Legislature? From the proceedings of last night the labouring classes of the community will be enabled to dis tinguish their enemies from their friends. They will see, wh en t h e y come to s c a n the names minority upon this occasion, that men may be zealous or noisy poli t i ca l reformers, without having in their character the least tincture of ju , tice or humanity. Th e y w ill p erce i ve t h e l i beral reform ing Ministers of the Crown lending their aid to prolong a system of b n in barous and revolting op pression, order to conciliate powerful interests in a reformed Parliament. It must be evident to every man who is neither a mill tyrant nor a reforming Minister of th e C rown t h at t h e pro crastinatinginquiry which a majority of taro de cided to be necessary was demanded upon false pre. tences, and for a dishonest purpose. The factory masters must have the opportunity of repelling the calumnies contained in the evidence given before Mr. Sadler's Committee, under which calumnies they have manifested exemplary patience for a ‘viiole year, and up to the very moment when a Bill to protect the lives, and health, and morals of children was to he defeated or delayed. The case must be more thoroughly examined, although every word they utter conveys a full admission of much more than can ever be required to s h ow t h e necess ity of all the restrictions which the measure they thus im. pede is intended to enforce. The evidence now be before the world is ex-parte, although, if it be so, it is only because they despaired of rebutting it, and therefore never thought of ma ki ng the attempt until they now find it expedient for the purpose of delay and evasion. The Bill of Lord Ashley is required, not because a large volume of revolting evidence has been published, but because master manufacturers and their representatives in the House of Commons get up in their places and say that it is essential to their interest that infants should be compelled to labour more than ten hours in the day. We can afford now to burn the volume of evidence, and yet insist with unimpaired force on the necessity of the protective measure. The evidence was required to draw public attention to the subject, but, having effectually accomplished the object, it may now be entirely dispensed with. The best possible evidence now is the course pursued by the master manufac turers, and the liberal Ministers who carry on with them a traffic the most brutal and corrupt, in which the commodities given and taken in exchange are the lives of children on one side and votes in the House of Commons on the other. The master ma nufac'urers require the appointment of a Commis sion for the redemption of their characters. We should say, let them have it by all means, provided only that Lord Ashley's Bill be not delayed pending its progress. It is a notion which none but a re formed Parliament could have entertained that to afford one class of human beings the chance (a hope less one we fear it is in this instance) of redeeming their character for humanity, another and more nu• merous class shall continue for a whole year exposed to a system which has been shown to produce into lerable wretchedness, fright ful depravity, excru ciating disease, lingering and cruel death.—Morning Post. COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. (Concluded from The Sun of yesterday.) The Loam MAYOR having laid before the Court the requisition for a petition to Parliament relative to the slave trade, the Court decided to receive reports from the Committees previous to considering that subject. Several reports for granting leases were read and agreed to. The Court then proceeded to consider the requisi'ion introduced by Mr. TAYLOR, who moved a resolution for a petition to both Houses of Parliament, which was seconded by Mr. Deputy WEsToN. Mr. DIXON moved an amendment to the resolution, by adding that a fair and just remuneration should be made to the owners of the slaves. Mr. Jorni Dixoti supported the amendment. Several members having spoken, a motion was made for adjourning the consideration of the question, and on that motion being put the LORD MAYOR declare , ' the ad journment carried. A division was then demanded and granted, when the adjournment was negatived by a majo rity of 1, the numbers being 31 to 30. The amendment moved by Mr. DixoN was then put and negatived, and the original motion agreed to (for which see advertisement). Petitions to both Houses of Parliament, founded on the resolution, were then adopted, and ordered to be presented in the usual form. After which the Court broke up. NEWCASTLE AND CARLISLE RAILWAY COMPANY. The General Annual Meeting of the Company was held at the Assembly-rooms on Wednesday last, and fully attended. A highly-satisfactory report from the Direc tors was read, from which we learn that during the past year those portions of the works have been anxiously pressed forward which are likely to be most productive to the shareholders, namely, the lines between Hexham and Newcastle and between Crossbank and Carlisle, in both of which great progress has been made. Those two portions include the most formidable works of the whole line. On the easter portion the tunnel at Farnley Scars, 170 yards in length, is in course of excavation, and it is hoped will b , completed within twelve months from this time. On the western portion the passage through the Conran hills, which was originally intended to be a tunnel, has been made an open cut, and proceeding so suc cessfully that there is no doubt it will be completed by March next. The bridge over the Eden, another expen sive part of the work, is also nearly completed. The Report also states that very favourable contracts had been made (before the late advance in the price of iron) for 6,000 tons of malleable iron rails, with a suitable quantity of chairs and keys, delivered in twelve equal parcels every two months, commencing on the Ist of May, at Newcastle Quay and Carlisle Canal Basin. The Directors conclude their Report by expressing a confident hope that the por tions of the line between Hexham and Newcastle, and between Blenkinsopp, or Milton and Carlisle, will be open for general traffic before the end of next year ; and by an assurance that the favourable opinion which they have hitherto entertained as to the ultimate benefit of the under taking to the shareholders is in no degree diminished.— Newcastle Journal. The subscription for the Irish Clergy already exceeds 40,0001. The passage from St. James's-place leading to the Green-park has been stopped, by order of the Com missioners of Woods and Forests, upon a petition of the proprietors of some of the houses adjoining thereto. Yesterday a Court of Directors was held at the East-India House, when Captain RICHARD Armw, of the ship Prince Regent, took leave of the Court previous to departing for China direct. Tuesday a traveller proceeding from Arbroath in a gig to Dundee had reached the harbour, when the horse became restive and suddenly made to the shipping. The gentleman, seeing his danger, threw himself from the gig, when the horse jumped right into the hold of a brig, and hung suspended by the harness and shafts of the gig. The harness was immediately cut and tackling fixed to the animal, when he was again landed on terra firma without the least injury being done to him.— Caledonian Mercury. " AIMS AND ENDS."—These volumes (ob serves the editor of the Times), are from a female pen, and it is not, perhaps, too much to affirm that they display at once the acuteness and vigour of a male understanding, with the depth of feeling peculiar to a woman. They are deserving of attention from the young, as containing a useful and effecting lesson on the objects which they pro pose to themselves in that great scheme of Life's Lottery, Marriage ; and cannot fail to interest all ages, from the knowledge of society, power of observation, and quiet yet sarcastic humour evinced in its pages. The Eighth Report from the Select Com mittee on petitions has been printed. From it we learn that the number of petitions for the vote by ballot this Session has been 9, with 5,317 signatures ; for the repeal of the Septennial Act 3, with 2,830 signatures. The number of petitions for a better observance of the Sab bath amounts to 333, and they have 72,844 names at tached ; against the present system of lay patronage in the Church of Scotland, the number of petitions has been 39, with 16,301 signatures attached ; against tithes in England 13 petitions, 4,021 signatures ; against tithes in Ireland 37 petitions, 13,042 signatures ; against the re maining disabilities under which the Dissenters labour 10 petitions, 1,920 signatures ; in favour of Jewish emanci pation 1.5 petitions, 3,564 signatures ; against the conti nuance of slavery 99 petitions, 59,419 signatures ; on the same subject, conditionally, 63 petitions, with 13,321 signatures; against the Disturbances in Ireland Bill 523 petitions, with 344,312 signatures; for the repeal of the Union, 14 petitions, 4,845 signatures; for altering the Beer Act 34 petitions, 3,143 signatures ; in favour of the Ten Hours Bill 41 petitions, 67,389 signatures ; for a reform in Corporation: 44 petitions, 20,476 signatures. The total number of petitions on public matters presented to the House since its sitting amounts to 1,515. The names of Members presenting the petitions are now printed with them. . MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHES—The in habitants of the town of Moretonhampstead, were thrown into a state of the utmost confusion and alarm, on the morning of Sunday week list, by the following melan choly, and, we may almost sly, diabolical circumstance. It appears that a lad, about 17 ye trs of age, son of Mr. HATWARD, a shopkeeper of Moretonhanipstead, has la boured for some time past under a disease of the eyes, to relieve which an issue had been made in his neck. A girl, about 15 years of age, had been accustomed to dress t, and was doing so on the morning in question in the kitchen of the house ; when she had finished the opera tion, she observed to the lad, HAYWARD, " What wry faces you make up while I am dressing your issue," at the sa me time imitating him. To this he replied in a surly tone, "If you mock me again, I am cursed if I don't shoot you ;" the girl repeated her mimicry, when he instantly took a loaded pis of from his pocket and shot her. The ball entered the poor girl's head at the corner of the eye, and lodged in the back part of the skull ; she lay in great a gony for seine hours, when death put a period to her sufferings. The scoundrel was permitted to he at large on the Sunday and Monday, not having been taken up until Tuesday, when a coroner's inquest was held on the body of the unfortunate girl, by Mr. GRIBBLE, of Ash burton ; and the jury, after an investigation of four hours, returned a verdict of Manslaughter ; he was accordingly committed to the Devon county gaol on W e dnesday, whence he has since been liberated under a bail of 1,0001., in two sureties of 5001, each.— Western Luminary. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HO USE. _ - - - FORGERT.—A young man named Parker was brought before the LORD MAYOR, charged with baying uttered a forged note, purporting to be a Bank of England note for 101. Mr. Andrew Ewart, tea..dealer in Old-street, stated that a person, whom he believed to be the prisoner, called at his house and purchased six pounds of tea, the amount charged for which was IL 12s. 4d., stating at the same time that be was just going to open business at Edmonton. The prisoner paid for the tea with a forged 181. note, and received Si. 7s. fild. change. Some days afterwards wit ness was in Smithfield, and saw the prisoner, who, upon observing him, took to his heels. Witness followed him, crying " Stop thief," and the prisoner said to him in an imploring way, upon being apprehended, " For God's sake don't discover me, or I am undone." A police officer stated, that the prisoner, as he ran along with the cry after him, called out, " Let me go along ; it is only for a bastard child." Mr. Freshfield tendered the following additional evidence in proof of the guilty knowledge. Mr. Child, of Compton-street, Clerkenwell, refiner, stated, that a person, whom he believed to be the prisoner, but who was at the time very differently dressed, called at his house and said he wanted one ounce of refined gold and two ounces of refined silver, and he pulled out several notes, and handed to witness one, which proved to be a forgery upon the Bank of England. The LORD MAYOR-Are you sure that the prisoner is the man who passed the forgery ? Witness—l cannot positively swear that he is. _ _ . Prisoner—Swear that ere gentleman. Me the man It is quite a mistake. Mr. John Comtnins, tl • owner of a public-house in the neighbourhood of Bedford-row, stated that the prisoner called at his house and asked him whether he had any good wine. Witness answered in the affirmative, and the prisoner said he wanted a few bottles, and that he came from Little James-street, Bedford-row. What number, said the witness? "Why, No. 25," replied the prisoner. That can't be, observed the witness, for there's no No. 25 in Little James-street. It must be No. 25, Great James•street, Mr. James Holmes's, an old customer of mine. " Aye, aye" said the prisoner, " that's the very place, sure enough."—(Laughter.) The prisoner here burst out into a laugh. The LORD MAYOR—Why, prisoner, you seem to enjoy this matter ?—Prisoner—Yes, my Lord. I never saw the man afore. Witness—l then handed him over nine sovereigns and six shillings i❑ change for a 101. note, which proved to be ❑ot a good one.—(Laughter.) The prisoner—l wasn't the man at all. Witness—lf you wasn't, you must be his brother; 6:r I never saw any one so like him in my life.—(Great laughter.) The LORD MAYOR desired the prisoner to put on his hat, and the prisoner jerked h7s hat upon his head, and looked over towards the witnesses. Mr. Commins—l really do believe that's the man,-but I should not like to swear it. Ile prisoner seemed to enjoy this as well as the witness, who was very good humoured, although so seriously plundered. An Inspector of the Bank declared that the notes pro duced were all forgeries. . . . . The prisoner was fully committed for trial. G UILDJIALL. A smart young mulatto footman, who gave his name Philip Fortin, attended before Mr. Alderman WINCHES TER, to answer a charge of assaulting S irah Gaywood, a sprightly young housemaid, who bad lived in the same service with him until about two months ago. The complainant said, with some show of maiden diffi dence, that while they were together in the service of an ex-M.P. at 'Westminster, the defendant wished for her company, but she would not give it up to him, and he then so pestered her with his attentions that she was com pelled to leave her place. Still, however, he pursued and annoyed her. At the next place she obtained, her mistress was very particular in preventing her maids from having any male followers; and the defendant having the bold ness to call upon her twice in one day, she necessarily lost her situation. His affection had turned to hatred since she had refused her company, and he now scandalized and endeavoured to injure her whenever he met with her. On Saturday he saw her in Fleet-street, and got down from behind the carriage. She was alarmed, and to avoid his vi'dence she ran into a tea•dealer's, but he succeeded in catching hold of her gown and pulling her about. This was the assault she complained of, and unless the Magi strate bound him to keep the peace she should not be able to keep any situation. Mr. Alderman WiszcittEsTxß said the defendant's con duct was rather strange. " Yes," said she, " there is a little jealousy in it." Mr. Alderman WINCHESTER—Of ? How is that? —Sally was non-plussed. Mr. Alderman WINCHESTER—Did you ever promise him anything ? Complainant—No, Sir, he never de served anything. The Alderman asked defendant how he came to behave so rudely to the girl in Fleet-street. The footman (who had a lock of the damsel's hair in his waistcoat-pocket) protested that he had no ill-feeling towards her. They shook hands, and kissed each other, when she left his master's house.—(Laughter.) When he ran after her in Fleet-street he only wanted a little civil explanation why she bad said she lost her next place through him. He would beg that she should be bound down never to annoy him. Alderman WINCHESTER (to complainant)—Well, you will promise never to annoy him He! (exclaimed the girl with an air of the utmost dis dain) No ! if ever I run after a man it will not be one of his colour, indeed, Sir. The defendant was very anxious to speak, but the Ma gistrate cut the matter short, by binding him in his own recognizance of 201., to keep the peace towards her. UNION-HALL. The Magistrates were yesterday occupied for a conside rable time in investigating various charges of extortion from licensed victuallers against several officers of the establishment. Mr. Lounds, a licensed victualler, having proved his case, the Magistrates stated that Gill, the messenger, had been guilty of compromising an informa tion, according to the evidence. Gill made no defence. Other cases were gone into ; but as the officers have not entered into their defence, the Magistrates requested that the evidence might not be published. LAMBETH-STREET. A JUVENILE HUSBAND AND HI4 FAITHLESS WIFE. Yesterday, a diminutive, beardless youth, about nineteen, waited on the Magistrates, and most earnestly entreated them to interfere, and restore to him his dear wife. Fifteen months since, lie married "a nice young woman," named Charlotte Dyer, and they lived very happily until a month since, when she left his home, and he had dis covered, after much fatigue, that she was living in hand. some apartments at Stepney, under the protection of a gallant captain. He said, " Your Worship, lam very wretched, and you know bow very shocking it is that she should live so very winked, while I am so very unhappy." Mr. lannwicK—Are her friends respectable?—Ap plicant—They are, Sir, though she was hut a servant when I had her. But, oh ! she is such a nice girl. My poor Charlotte; that she should leave me—and be living so— Oh, what a shocking thing. Mr. HARDVVICK--1 should have thought it fortunate to get rid of such a wife. Applicant—Oh ! your Worship has no feeling for the affection I have for her. Perhaps your Worship will be se good as to send an officer with me to get her back ? Mr. HARDWICK--1 said before I have no power to in terfere in the business. Applicant—Your Lordship, Prendergast, one of your officers, some time since got back the wife of my brother in.law, who had run away from him. Mr. HARDWICK—He might have prevailed on her to return to her husband, but he had no power whatever to compel her. The applicant, whose manner and boyish a ppearance excited much laughter among all present, then withdrew, and on reaching the outer office, he offered one of the con stables a liberal sum if he would accompany him, and en deavour to restore to him his wife. How TO DETECT ADULTERATED COFFEE. —Put a spoonful of coffee in a glass of cold water; if the coffee is genuine it will swim at the top, anti the water remain clear; if adulterated , the chicoree or sue cory will immediately separate from the coffee, and thicken the water. SHOCKING ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday after noon, about five o'clock, JOSEPH BRUNTON, Esq., of No. 12, P a rk-crescent, Regent's Park, was crossing the road, within a few yards of his own house, when a spi rited horse, having gig harness on, came along at a rapid rate, and before Mr. B. could move out of the way, he was knocked down, receiving at the same time a dreadful kick on the head and breast. The unfortunate gentleman was taken up in a state of insensibility, and carried to the nearest surgeon, but he died in a few minutes, and from thence was taken on a shutter to his own house. He was the brother of JOHN BituNTorr, Esq., of the firm of J. and J. BRUNTON, chain cable patentees, carrying on an extensive business in the Commercial-road. MALT. ---.42.--- de 2jli A RETURN of the Total Quarters of DIALT In' ; bo ili Ttphouetstaeyl in Duty a ec h c s h u a kn r ii g n e gf d l t 1 n h e e , a r c i f q lri , on Kingdom,m; the w ro 10th October, 15.32 ; and also showing, in Total Quarters, and Total Duty, for the United P r* A "lTt• and distinguishing the Quantity made in Scotland 0 .t, " pi land from Bere or Bigg, with the Rate of Duty uP ° ' ' 11) 1 the Acts under which the different Rates of D' wit h the ratty charged.l ENGLAND.—For the year ended Oct. 10, a l ni t 4 1, , t eti . quarters of malt, at 20s. Bd. per quarter ; 4,260,010/. 3s. Bd. quartersg u S a C t 0 r T s L oo ffA maltmNa SCOTLAND.—For malt from . ff — rr oo inFmo barley,br e t r h e e . year • a e tb a r i:g e s : n 8 dd:di6Os c . t. per 1 0 , 0 L 3 c , 013' • i oa y: 1 : : quarters of malt from barley, at 00s. Bd. per quarter ; • " quarters of malt, 464,153 4-8; amount of duty, 457,11';‘,004' quarters of malt from bore or bigg., at 16 p s e . r q IRELAND.—For the year ended Oct. 10, 032, 'AO g tl i t h O e c t oTbcetral, 'l,-Q11::: quarters of malt, 259,084 ; amount of duty, 2-58, 9°51 ',TA . Oct' l' , THE UNITED KINGDOM—For the year en.'" 94 l, tot' 1830, 4 845 8.8 , . , - total quarters of malt , 4,976,69 V. 19 '' .„ amount of duty. , tieD'' Note.—By Act 6 Geo. IV. C. 58, the duty granteutie foirs.fox.m:bacadroulmetyymiosifslsO/iso..nl73edsr..s4c:lnf.lhyfiosirs:seicavhjeaerrsygtyel,doos.Tgraelaslounrs,y,bdeaitnedg 3 10 0 t , Lo - r , s d . &I. perbushel ; but in consequence of a warrant lop, etl o4' The duty of Os. per bushel on bere or big malt in Iv . c, , ' charged under the authority of recited Act of 6 Ge ° ' and in Ireland under the 11 Geo. IV. C. 31. peilagritiearr:erl:A°l, r AT,I7t; An ACCOUNT of the Number of Quarter s of 3A— , Distillation in each Kingdom, from 10th Oc tober' e° . 10th October, 1/332. N u mber: 9 ge _ _ England • Scotland Ireland 44015° CCA United Kingdom Ist G. H. COTTRELL, Excise-office, London, March 15, 1833. fr . 2 , LIVERPOOL MARKETS, A PI " - co' ! fl at' CoTrox MARK ET. —Until our late heavy o[4 to t : fairly on the market the trade will continue to eclP u" O ci " ; from a fear of meeting the arrivals too fr 1 ,0 thousand bales are all that have been done to-daYlici all American descriptions, at 7d. to 7-ad. per lb. 1,8 ports.—N.B. Market-day at Manchester . we eks' CORN MARKET. — In the early part o f the trjtiob '' supplies of Grain were light ; subsequently sgrea re se t , of vessels have arrived. and the Irish imports st ile he swelled to a large amount. Besides an itor°veseteoi;: our own and neighbouring millers, since this day o f lr" several thousand quarters of the finer description' friasi! Wheat have been taken en speculation ; an d theredescription though there was no material change in rice , ce P Oen a deci ledly better feeling and an increased coo 4 trs" . the trade. Seven slail.i.igs and sixpence is still' -btsir quotation for Irish red Wheat, but it has bee': or e more freely. The general runs have also beenootir bt spired for, at 6s. 1 Id. to 7s. 3d. per 70 lbs , "7 tse, been less pressed for sale, and has evidently seen 1" there is little Irish now under 38s. 395. , sod ve. ry Qoali parcels have brought 40s. to 41s. ; some o f eltr s held at 445. to 455. per 260 lbs. THE MARKETS. ET.—April 3. Ten. i t p e r Walls End H0t 5 5„„,..... j Ditto KillingiO r JO ; Walls End New.,.ri,tid, 0, Ditto NorthUML,i's 84 CO. a. B ; Walls End rerkl, :10 . dde Walls End lb Walls End Wa t ha n Walls End Het° 01 Walls End Ly0n2,0"7-....., 01 Walls End Larn'ivs.. , 1 0 Walls Und SteWaide 0; Walls End Adela on „„,.. i., Walls End Sto ci ‘ t tiv" W. South P uri > E , Walls End lees , Culm , James an I~ brey Warde's Tantield Trader ast market-daY , ;1. —,go/ COAL MAR. Per Tor,. s. d. &flair's ~......no"nowe***....... 18 6 Charlotte ...--- l7 6 Chester Main . l6 6 Hebburn Main Holywell Kenton West ---.. 18 0 Ord's Itedhugh ----.... 16 0 Pontop Windsor .......... 18 0 Canfield,,,,..,. . 19 0 t'ownley , 18 0 West Hartley Willington . 18 9 Walls End Bell & Brown 18 6 Walls End Bewicke & Co. 21 0 Walls End Brown's...—. 18 3 Walls End Callerton Ditto Clarke and 17 6 Walls End Gostorth—. 20 6 Walls End Heaton 21 0 Walls End Hilda 18 6 Ships arrived since assb. COUN rRY CORN MARKETS DURIN - ofTHE ~Y >) Wheat. Barley. 2f t . !..1., t?, Per Quarter. s. to s. s. to s. s. to 08 30 Abingdon--. 62 81 31 43 12 Andover...-- 73 80 37 41 • 22 Birminghain......... 56 58 30 40 lu, 50 Nridport 56 74 32 36 26 Cirencester —...... 44 56 21 30 ‘..„'" 34 i 54 86 36 40 Guildford 48 74 23 32 - g Henley 54 83 30 35 0 0° 4 '29 Hereford 64 68 28 36 "" • 3 4 38 Highworth ......... 62 80 32 42 • 30 1 Maidenhead 56 68 34 44 "'" 26 54 I Dlonmouth, .. 66 70 36 38 ;, 2 6 56 Reading ....—. 40 66 22 36 , Salisbu—.—. 44 54 24 29 t 30 , 18 Southamrypton 54 58 33 40 , Stroud Tewkesbury6s 74 30 42 „,,,;>v 26 51 Uxbridge 48 74 26 34 r, 0 , 58 80 27 43 27 Warminster 43 58 24 36 ut 22 i Windsor 59 ` 2 2 Worcester—......... 50 57 30 32 0 pril"2 1 . to X ,.. 3 14 0 0 White WheLatE(pWerE 16 Red ditto.. 6, 0 I 6 :4 I 4 0 0 0 1 ,1 Barley—..... Oats Peas, Nw e 1 1 6 3 ,t Oil Cake, New , '' 12 0 0 l' o 1 P 3 H ULL MA RK ET.—AP”' '' . ••"*: ~ ,s • 1 Wheat, Old s. 50s. 56s New . :r .. .... , •,,,..•., Foreign ... ...... —s. 50s. 545. ln b° l ' . ...' 4 ' .A Oats, Poland .. ... 4 ' .....s.,* Small or Feed —s. 12s. 20s ...................... ......s. ,;25 , y Foreign —s. 15s. I6s ......... .. ........ i d ~.-s- :i. Barley, Norf. & Suf. Foreign . ..... / ...s. 30 , ~, Beans s 28s. 30s. Foreign. ....... ,-.4. 504 ,7 Pease, White —s. :365. 395. Grey .......... . ,: 01, Tares —s. 335. 40s. Foreign ...... P. Rapeseed, in Isonel none. ..... ... Free, par la Per '''''''''''''''' E fi Mutton ... Veal ''' ................. Pork ............• ',.p . 0 to ..... Lamb Lo 31. 15, od• per Quarters Le EL:Lilo": 1000:1 -:: h2 l, J . e ' : .KETS.—aiste- 6 6 tVi Butter, l6ox. .......... :: 0 0 4 Mutton ............... ~ _ I 'Veal.-- ............. ~.. 0 A LITERARY AUTO ----------" St ill York, with all the papers upon it, Beef, Eggs p d ell lb. •• . ................................................ selnnight the table of the Commercial P ie- :d il CORONER'S INQUEST.-D in consequence of the snuff of a candle falling ° P r" P c tTal i a n ee: E ice x r30 : 8; . 0 —nay at ra Y Nrf e soe s :r t ewsrchduoraroyrsmesay,en,tbioennhfqoiurtsehe the death be n iaoc , td a h; s A h o ili fecrr.lsfoool el ~:i ii was destre9-00 bit, afflicting circumstances :—lt appeared in e r esid ie e the unfortunate deceased was a pork buteher'itto tct' Brewer-street, St. Pancras. On MondliY 0 , 8 0, 1 f i , home in a horse and chaise cart, for the Pt.' r P he P j r ceding to Greenwich to receive his pension' be l ' s a' served for many years at Gibraltar. ~,„r l ,ol l9e't j t ) ceived his pension, he went to several pouri n tlt 0, at length he became quite intoxicated, ann"",, Ci" e o be drove towards borne. In passing along ‘e'aileaf°o whipped his horse into a full gallop, and, i n _,, e e hi C O e ol to pass through the gate, the off-wheel lam e with the post, and the unfortunate man sv a ' b oat o i a distance of seven yards, and, falling nn I ' l 4, dt ti ll` : e was touch injured, but not fractured ---the'' °. ' flowed from his mouth and nostrils in torren.toe .11 , p L i A ck wi e , d t 1 u,epsurg surgeon, w immediately, here ahned diedea rr carried ta o bo tb ad e teat i ' te t iin 0, 0: ::1 Upon examination, it was found that bie the bun 1;ilf sioned by a rupture of a blood ves sel urn,. four c l i w deceased as a married man, and has le' t _ t it; " The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Deo i one shilling on the horse and cart --- ...._............------ .-., On the Ist inst., the lad house, Suffolk, of a son still-born. Of ber, t On the 31st ult , at Blackheath, Mrs. Ilunloaphadi On the 2d inst., Mrs. William Fie" daughter. Y13,31;85T. 11-I.Silenyon, EA, °I; I L , 1 i e e s u h t a . - w r H . Robert BrownriggitStudillifoilmlenHlEodpgs.on, scl , Y ° 9 012 n VI , alle b ll ll r f On the 30th ult. at St. Mary's Church, , _ t de _ h oar Ballard, Esq., of L'iverpool, to Amelia, youl g'f,,,, bil , r; T s), late James Mailing, Esq., °I Thames 15antlia°rtlies"'11,Xce On the 3d inst., at Brixton Churclla ter of the late John Smith, Esq. of Hatton ' a i n i t o s c . igson, to Selena, niece of Colonel _ 4 ,. r ?if ' , , or t e r/1 King's-road, Bedford-row, to Laureto uretat_adr. ,1 DIED , : i e., , 1 J -eph NNr.g :tore° Oat the 3lst ult., suddenly, IN r. os • mariufw ei J. dT. C. Wrigley and Co., woollen P 7 ton, near Huddersfield. 1 ntgottlerif ..,,, On the Ist inst., at Broadway, near h o _ ~ 04 , Yr wife of Captain Sir Charles Thomas Jones, li-afoo On the 2d inst., of apoplexy, Mr, Thora . Camberwell, aged 65. ..................---- ° PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY MURDO 1-°-,. S UN OFFICE, 1 1 g, STRAND, 1400/1°- Olirtr CHELTENHAM Per Bushel. s. d. to s. d. Wheat Barley 4 0 5 6 Oats 4 0 4 3 Beans Pease 5 0 7 0 Hav 3/. lOs DUMFRIES MAR s. d. s.d. Wheat, Imp. Bush 6 0 to 6 6 Barley Oats Flour, 141 b. Oatmeal Potatoes, cwt. TH 24 1 R AL /341 TA: TH ut be ready Contr act with 111, Purp otet o b e 183T7 Ai Of tine Tend Er of trtat Aeeijt f.YO Rte, and tat Y bf tir o t the „ tt'° l pert, 'N gia (1 t r y , A' Pin y a Year V ot 4 144 :I:1 .„tast o T HE of, atd tott viz„ !; , ~.=,~