The Sun. — London, England, 1831-03-17 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF VIE PUBLIC JOURNALS. The county of Essex meeting in support of the ;present Bill of Reform takes place on Saturday ?next at Chelmsford,; and an Essex county meeting is a proceeding very far from devoid of interest. We have heard that a measure hostile to Reform is in contemplation in this county, and in the strength of that information we do most earnestly recom mend to the friends of the great measure to congre gate in such numbers on Saturday, and to evince then such temper, mixed with zeal and resolution, as may show to their adversaries themselves that their plottings against Reform are futile and and ab surd. What would the enemies of Reform have ? Rotten boroughs still? The thing is impossible. They are destroyed now already. Ruinous ex penses at elections ? We should have thought Essex had had enough of these already. They pre vent the people, too, from having the o*ct of their choice. They prevent honourable men of moderate fortune, whatever ,their talents or capacity may be, from offering themselves as candidates. They prevent even the Aristocracy—that body in which the only opponents of the present measure are to be found—from coming forward to serve their friends, their neighbours, and their country, and leave the field clear for strangers and adventurers. The Bill, therefore, must pass, unless reason and common sense, as well as a just estimate of public rights, be lost in E7gland. We now find out, how ever, the kind or opposition which is to be got up to the approaching Reform meeting at Chelmsford. There is advertised a future meeting at no fixed time, though the second reading of the Reform Bill takes place on Monday next. And this second meeting is to consist of the nobility, gentry, and clergy only! Where are they to meet ? In a milliner's shop, the counter perfumed with berga mot, and each one wearing kid gloves ? Dear Jemmy Jemmies ! Nobles, gentlemen, and clergy men, of that soft county of Essex ! We hope no rain will fall as you go to and fro, and are not under shelter ! This after-meeting of the privileged enemies of Reform reminds us of a scene we once witnessed in that same county of Essex. It was at a badger-baiting. Several terriers were sent in to attack the savage, and displayed various degrees of spirit; till at last one pet-spaniel, with the slavish collar round his n.clc, was pressed forward. It is remarkable that this animal went in, never once gave tongue, and name not out again When the sport was finished, a curiosity was excited to know what had become of the pet-spaniel. The earth was dug up, and there he was found trembling, having crept in behind the badger, and sitting, unmolested, back to back. The badger being withdrawn,the spaniel immediatelybegan to snarl and bark, but his posthumous demonstrations of courage were received with such peals of laughter - by all the bystanders, that off he started, and ran home yelping all the way like an " ill-used" animal. This pet-spaniel is the very emblem of the after meeting of the Nobility, Gentry, and Clergy, of the county of Essex. No, no, gentlemen, draw the badger if you please, or else let us hear nothing of your after-barkings. Saturday next is the day for the badger-bait.-- Times. A letter from Manchester, and a clause in our city article, both on the subject of Reform—or rather of the spirit of the people who support and •oppose it—present a singular contrast. The upper class of capitalists thought of a meeting in the City to oppose Reform, and relinquish their project! What is meant by an upper class of capitalists The flowers of 'Change-alley and Bartlemy-lane ! Ye Powers, what dignitaries ! Not in Church or State, to be sure ! The moderate capitalists—we presume of Lancashire—subscribe (the deed almost before the word) their hundreds to assist in the re jection of those 'Members, on a future conflict, who shall have unworthily voted for rotten boroughs and corrupt Parliaments! Sir Charles Wetherell sur prised the House to which he belongs last night, by an insinuation that the members of municipal bodies in Scotland might not petition for an extension of the elective franchise, because they had sworn to maintain the rights of their several corporations! Plain common sense revolts at the quibble ! Sir Charles Wetherell is a man catching a lion in a cobweb ! By the way, is he quite sure that he ever sat in the chair of the Goddess of Reason ? It must have been some other chair.—Times. There are a class of persons opposed to any ge neral plan of Reform in Parliament, who admit that such a modified change in the representation is ne cessary as would allow the elective franchise to great towns at present unrepresented, like Man chester, Leeds, Birmingham, and a few others. But to allow these towns to send representatives to Parliament without disfranchising an equal number of rotten boroughs would increase the number of Members in the House of Commons, which every one admits to be at present sufficiently large; so that to prevent great public inconvenience, even the most moderate plan of Reform must include the principle of disfranchisement to a certain extent. As far, then, as the disfranchisement of boroughs con• stitutes a part of any plan of Reform, it becomes a question not of principle, but of d e g ree ; for, if it he not unconstitutional to disfranchise five or ten rotten boroughs, it is not unconstitutional to dis franchise sixty. The number can make no difference in point of principle. They who admit that there is a power in Parliament to deprive but one borough of its elective rights, admit that there is a power to disfranchise one hundred, if an effective Reform cannot be accomplished without such an exten sive exercise of that power. But, though we would not have the number of Members in the House of Commons increased, we are of opinion that diminishing the number of which the House is at present composed is rather a questionable policy. It may be drawn into a precedent to sanctionthe Legislature in further diminishing the number on future occasions, and thus making what should al ways be a popular representation too confined and select to adequately represent the mind of the nation, and be a sufficiently capacious depository of its vari ous interests. If numbers were only to be regarded in reference to the " despatch of business," then much fewer than the House will consist of, in the event of the present plan of Reform being carried, would be sufficient. But a House of Commons must be numerous enough to constitute a popular assembly, or it will not be what the Constitution intended—a fair epitome of the different classes, opinions, and interests of the country. The details of business are always best managed by a few; and, therefore, matters of detail are usually referred in Parliament to Committees, whose reports guide the House in deciding upon principles, which are always hest discussed where all varieties of opinion have the opportunity of contributing to their elucidation ; and where reason and prejudice, in every shape, have their several advocates, that all which can be urged for or against public measures may be fully stated, whereby every question may undergo the ordeal of free anti popular discussion. We are, therefore, not desirous of seeing the numbers of the House of Commons made so select as to be more consistent with the character of a close Senate, than a popular repre sentative of a 'great people. There is one point which we consider a defect in the present reP re' aentative system, whi c h i s not touched upon in the present plan of 'Ministerial Reform—we mean the occupation of seats in the H ouse of Commons by the sons and hers of Me m b ers of the House of f Lords. It comes to t h e sa int thing as if th e Noble man in possession of the title had a seat i n both Houses; for there is su rel y too muc h of political iden tity between a Noble . Lord and the h e i r o f his title, particularly if that heir be his son, not to ma k e it inconsistent with the principle of popular represen tation that the latter should have a seat in the House of Commons. We believe the eldest sons of Peers in Scotland cannot represent Scotch counties ; and we think this principle ought to be universally re cagnised.—Aforning Herald. We are glad to perceive that the attempt to de feat the Bankrupt Reform Bill, by stratagem in the Roust of Lords on Monday night, is every where viewed in the proper light. The trading world have long complained loudly of the present system; and the petition presented against the Commis sioners, signed by between four and five thousand bankers, merchants, and traders, in short, every good name in the city, sufficiently indicates their opinion of the necessity of change. Important and neces sary as are most of the Reforms proposed by the Lord Chancellor, the Bankrupt Bill is unquestion ably the most called for. Even Lord Wynford, who lent himself to the stratagem, was evidently ashamed of the part he played, for lie carefully abstained from all denial of the necessity of the Reform, and from all discussion of the Bill on its merits, and confined himself to misrepresentations as to the expense of the new arrangements, and the nature of the source whence the means of meeting it were to be derived. When we see the Duke of Wellington, Lord Aber deen, and the rest of the ex-Ministers, leaguing with the Duke of Cumberland and his adherents, to de feat so beneficial a measure by a pitiful trick, we cannot find terms sufficiently strong to express the disgust we feel at so heartless a display. Lord Wynford did not possess the assurance to maintain that in this Reform the Lord Chancellor, while pro fessing to divest himself of patronage, was really seeking to add to his patronage. This, however, has been said with a view, no doubt, that the inex pecienced should be the dupes of the misrepresenta tion. Thus, for instance, in the John Bull of Sun day last, there is the following passage : " Our readers will, perhaps, recollect a speech delivered by Lord Brougham, in the House of Peers, in which, at immense length, his Lordship descanted upon his own intentions as to reforming the Bankruptcy jurisdiction, hy abolishing, at one fell swoop, all the seventy Commissioners —many of them highly respectable men, with little else to live upon—which overturn of existing institutions was to do something—everything—for the suitor and the bank rupt, and the creditor and the country. ' I shall,' says my Lord, by this measure effect an immense reduction of official patronage : I shall sweep away seventy offices in the gift of the Great Seal, and leave only ten ! I have also,' added his Lordship, ' cut off 7,0001. or 8,0001. a year from the Chancellor's income.' Cries of ' Hear, hear, hear resounded through the_ House, and Lord Brougham graciously received the tribute of applause. " A Bill, founded upon his Lordship's schemes, has made its appearance, and we find, in lieu of the seventy Commissioners, having about three hundred a year each, the following list of new Officers, all in the gift, and at the immediate disposal of the Lord Chancellor for the time being ! " Chief Judge," salary . 3,000/. per annum.....£3,000 3 " Senior Judges," salaries of each 2,0001 6,000 6 " Junior Judges," ditto 1,5001 9,000 10 Judicial offices in the immediate disposal of the Lord Chancellor lB,OOO salaries Second :- 1 " Registrar," estimated salary 1,0001. per annum l,OOO 2 " Deputy Registrars," ditto salaries of :each 5001 l,OOO 7 " Chief Clerks," ditto ditto 3001 2,100 10 Inferior offices in the immediate disposal of the Lord Chancellor 4,100 Third: -- 6 " Chief Assignees," estimated emoluments 8001. per annum each 4,800 24 " Official Assignees," ditto 600/. ditto 14,400 30 Important offices in the immediate disposal of the Lord Chancellor 19,200 salaries. " Now observe the surrender of patronage which the Lord Chancellor so literally makes:—Of the seventy Com missionerships, which average something like what we have just said, 3001. a-year, two or three—seldom, if ever, more—become vacant annually; by the present ar rangement Lord Brougham will have immediately, and at once, fifty offices to dispose of, the salaries of which amount to the nett sum of forty-one thousand three hundred pounds per annum. " This is something upon the principle of his proposed augmentation of the retiring salary. ' A short life and a merry one'—' Make hay while the sun shines'—and then retire to his well-merited ' Odium cum dignitate upon seven thousand a-year instead of four !" The writer of this might just as well have thrown into the account the appointment of all the Judges of England. The Judges, Registrars, and Clerks, are not in Me immediate disposal of the Lord Chancel lor, but are all to be appointed by the Crown. No doubt, as a Cabinet Minister, he would have a voice in the appointment, as in other judicial appointments; but this is a very dif ferent thing from immediate patronage. Un like Lord Chancellor Loughborough, Lord Brougham will not accept the patronage of the country Commissioners—they are named by the Judges who go the Circuits. The only patronage which can be said to be in the Lord Chancellor, is the appoint ment of the official assignees. This; patronage, however, is far from being coveted by him. His Lordship wished to have nothing to do with the appointment of the official assignees; but the citi zens look upon this part of the arrangements as es sential to the prevention of abuses in the manage ment of bankruptcies, and insist on his taking the patronage. Indeed, from the nature of the office, it is necessary that the appointment should be with the Chancellor. A clamour is rising in some quar ters against the official assignec , ; but this clamour will receive no countenance among those whose in terests the Bill is intended to protect—the mercan tile world, who know how often, for want of such a check as that provided by this arrangement, the estates of bankrupts have been withdrawn from the creditors. Even if Lord Brougham were to have the appointment of the Judges of the new Court, this is not the sort of patronage that is valuable in the way of corrupt traffic. A man in this country cannot be made a Judge, as he is made a parson, because he is fit for nothing else : he must have proved himself beforehand possessed of the necessary qualifications. But a Commis sionership is given to a young man possessed of the necessary interest, without reference to qualification, as a sort of annuity on which he may subsist him self. He has yet to prove to the world that he is fit for anything, and this proof he may never give. Lord Coll;ngwood was fairly killed by the Ministry of that day, by being kept at sea long after his health required that he should be on shore, because there was a want of officers to whom a fleet could with safety be confided; but all the while patro nage was as busy as possible in crowding the navy with useless officers ; the relatives of men possessed of Parliamentary interest, who were promoted for the sake of the living they thereby obtained at the expence of the public. " The difficulty (says his Lordship, in a letter to Lord Badstock) in getting officers, is such, that the subject has been much upon my mind. Few line-otbattle-ships have more than two or three officers who are seamen. The rest are boys—fine children in their mothers' eyes —and the facility with which they get pro moted makes them indifferent as to their qualifica tion." "Offices in the navy (he says in another letter) are now made the provision for all sorts of idle people." It is the same in every department of service, civil and military. Inefficiency skulks in the positions which are withdrawn from or beneath observation. Art inefficient General, who loses an army, or a be sotted Admiral, who places a fleet in jeopardy, may drive a Ministry from their places; and, therefore, for their own sakes, they will be anxious to make a tolerable selection for important commands. In like manner, an improper elevation to the Bench excites so much indignation, that the value of the patronage is more than neutralised by the damage such an ap- 1 pointtnent does to a Ministry. The abuses are in quarters which require only that a man should have a head and limbs, but do not require that he should have brains. Lord Eldon, the founder of the exist ing system, was not slow to perceive how much might be made of the bankruptcy jnrisdiction in the way of fees, by connecting it indissolubly with the Chancery, and subjecting it to the same tedious procedure. Impartial persons who are corn pe tent to judge are of opinion that nothing will tend more to simplify our bankruptcy jurisdiction than its almost entire disjunction from the Chan cery, now in contemplation. The attempt to throw discredit on the measure, by charging its author with a selfish desire to increase his patron age, is a piece of impudence beyond the usual measure allotted to individuals in this country. It would not be difficult on that account to discover the paternity. The Duke of Wellington has sunk very low in general estimation since his famous Anti- Reform declaration. Still there are many persons who will feel astonished that he should, without re gard to the interests of the commercia l world, join an attempt to defeat this beneficial measure by sur prise. Indeed his Grace was in rather an awkward dilemma, for he had expressed his approbation of the measure. When reminded of this , he did not claim the benefit of any new light o n the subject; but coolly observed, that though he might approve of the measure, he should vote against it. Can there be a better proof of the necessity of Reform which shall rescue the property and population of the country from a certain number of families who make the wealth and industry of the nation subserv ient to their separate interests, than the sp ectacle which has been afforded us at a conjuncture like the pre sent ? Here we have the whole trading world petitioning for the measure which Lord Brougham has proposed. There is not a merchant, .a banker, or vender in the city, who se nam e i s worth anything, who has not expressed himself in favour of the measure. Yet with a measure for Reform introduced by the Government, founded on the necessity for administering the affairs of the country without regard to any o ther consi deration than the public interests—with the eyes of the public, in consequence, critically turned to the conduct of the oligarchy, who tray be said to have every motive for hypocrisy, at least as a substitute for the virtue which they cannot be expected to have—the nation has been outraged by the de grading spectacle of a body of Peers, indifferent to the wants of the people, and alive only to selfish interests, clinging to these 70 places, like so many hungry wolves clinging to their prey. They know that there is not one good reason for the retaining the Commissionerships; but they view them as so many good livings which their sons, brothers, and young nephews are to hold. They have hitherto been given away in this manner, to the extinction of the independence of the Bar, and the grievous in jury of the traders of London; and they cannot bear theidea that a change should deprive them of this mode of providing for their kindred at the expense of the public, and in detriment to its interests. Can there, we repeat, be a stronger motive for Reform than this shameless effrontery, at a time when the eyes of the nation are upon them, and important interests are concerned ? Let us benefit the higher ranks in spite of themselves; let us withdraw from them the means by which they may be induced to deprive themselves of the respect of an enlightened nation; let us secure our pockets from their fingers, and compel them to provide for their dependents out of their own estates. There are many honour able men among them, who, like Lord Suffield, are anxious to be freed from the obloquy the selfish con duct of a part of the body throws on the whole. These are not times in which a nation will patiently tolerate such gross abuses of power to the further ance of base and selfish ends. " The time is come (to borrow the elegant language of a contemporary, The Scotsman) for ending this odious system. In future the Crown must be placed above the necessity of courting an insolent and selfish oligarchy. It must receive its supplies from the Commons of England at large, who have no sinister interest to serve, no caprice to gratify, and who will give cheerfully what the dignity of the Crown and the real wants of the State require."— Morning Chronicle. SECOND EDITION. SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock, IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT THIS EVENING. HOUSE OF COMMONS. In consequence of there being a ballot for three Election Committees, the Gallery was not opened until Twenty Minutes to Six o'clock. Up to the time of our going to press, the House was engaged with private business. HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack shortly after Five o'clock. Sir A. GRANT and others from the Commons brought up several private Bills. Petitions were presented by the Earl of Radnor from four parishes in the West Riding of York in favour of Parliamentary Reform ; also from Ramsgate, to the same effect. 3y the Duke of Richmond, from Joseph Sparrow, in favour of Reform ; also, from a parish in Sussex, praying to be relieved from the New Beer Bill. By Lord Calthorpe, from Bristol, for an increased allowance for the building of churches. Also from Kingston-upon-Hull, to the same effect. By the Bishop of Lichfield and C o . vestry, to the same effect ; from Derby, by the Marquis of Londonderry; from the City of Londonderry, complaining of the misapplication of certain funds by the Corporation of Londonderry. BREACH OF PRIVILEGE. Lieutenant Woodcock, to whom Lord Farnham had alluded some evenings back, as having sent to his Lordship, a threatening letter, was brought to the bar of the House, in the custody of the Black Rod ; and, upon being asked by the Lord Chancellor, admitted writing the letter to Lord Farnham in a moment of irritation, and with a mistaken view of the facta of the case. He humbly apologized to their Lordships for the breach of privilege, and had written a letter of apology to Lord Farnham. - - Lord FARNHAM expressed himself perfectly satisfied with the apology : that it was as full and ample as he could desire. Earl GREY did not doubt that the character of Lieut. Woodcock was just as it had been represented to be. The Noble Lord to whom the insult was offered, had expressed himself satisfied with the apology, and he should, there.. fore, move the House—and had authority for doing so in the case of a gentleman named Ross, who had committed a breach of privilege in 1811—to declare that it was a breach of privilege, and that Lieut. Woodcock should be reprimanded by the Lord Chancellor at the bar. The LORD CHANCELLOR then, in eloquent terms, reprimanded Lieutenant Woodcock, who was afterward s discharged. THE LORD CHANCELLOR. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY, seeing the Noble know whether what he was about to state was true ; if Lord (the Commander-in-Chief) in his place, wished to so, he must express his wish, that the power, civil, as well as military, should be pr e served. He made these re marks in consequence of a statement which had appea red in the Papers, that the Lord Ch ance ll or , a t th e l as t drawing" room had forced the guard at St. J ames ' s P a rk. li e wished to knew whether this was cor r e c t, w h e th er the con duct of the Lord Chancellor arose from mi s t a k e , an d thirdly, whether the officer had been taken i n t o cus t o d y . Lord HILL had inquired into the matter, and believed it originated in mistake. The LORD CHANCELLOR felt obliged to the Noble Marquis for bringing forward the subject. He wished it could have been brought forward on any other day than that on which a military officer hail been reprimanded. The reason for his wishing to go through St. James' s Park was in consequence of having sat late at the House of Lords in order to finish an appeal. On arriving at the gate the carriage was stopped , and he was told that no one was allowed to pass through there bnt the Speaker of the House of Commons, and the Earl of Shaftesbury. He thought there might be some mistake about this. He informed the officer that he was the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Lords. He had passed through on the Queen's 'birth day, without interruption, and wished to know whether he could or not pass through now. On being told that, he could no t, h e sa id, " W e ll, th en , we must go b ac k. , Instead, however, of doing this, the coachman turned round and dashed through ; and he (the Lord Chan cellor) never felt more surprise than when he found himself (so unexpectedly) through the gates of the Park. After this had taken place he thought it ridiculous to turn hack, the offence having been committed , and thought it better to explain the matter at a future period. As to his forcing the guard, with his mace, or his purse, he thought one would have as little effect as the other. He entirely acquitted the officers of blame. (LEFT SITTING.) JUDGMENT. The LORD CHANCELLOR and Lord WyNyoRD gave judgment this morning in the appeal respecting the elect ive . franchise of the borough of a ffi rm i ng t h e dec ision of the Court of Session, by which Dundee was deprived of its franchise, thus rendering the return of the Lord Advocate illegal, and null and void. CUMBERLAND COUNTY MEETING TO SUPPORT MINISTERS. A meeting of the Freeholders of Cumberland, convened by the High Sheriff of the County, was held at Wigton, on Tuesday. There was much enthusiasm amongst the free holders upon the subject ; and had the day proved favour able, there is no doubt but it would have been the most numerously attended meeting ever held in Cumberland. But, unfortunately, the day was moat unfavourable. The rain began to fall early in the morning, and at one o'clock, the hour appointed for the meeting, it poured down in torrents. Still, as good Reformers, the people assem bled numerously, and about two thousand persons were present. Soon after one o'clock, the High Sheriff, accompanied by a numerous body of the principal gentlemen of the county, ascended the hustings, and proceeded to open the business of the meeting by reading the requisition. WILLIAM JAMES, Esq., of Barrock Lodge (late M.P. for Carlisle), then stood forward, and in a long, interesting, and most animated speech moved the petition. He said he had been a reformer all his life, and the measure of the present Ministry had his hearty support. It would not be a panacea for all ills, but it would be a panacea for nearly all the evils that now afflicted the country—for that misery under which the people suffered. It was most gratifying to him. The measure had been called revolutionary ; so it was— (Cheers)—and he was glad it was so—it was a revo lution from evil to good.—(Much and loud cheering.) He spoke at greath length, and was cheered throughout, the crowd frequently crying out, " Go on, we don't mind the weather ! you are the real cock of the north, and we'll listen to you for hours." He then moved the petition, which prayed the Parliament to pass the measure now be fore it. It was received with three cheers. WILFRED LAWSON, Esq., of Brayton-hall, seconded the motion, in a short but energetic speech. The meeting was then addressed by the Rev. E. Stan ley, W. Wybergh, Esq. of Isell Hall, W. Crackanthorpe, Esq., of Newbiggin Hall, W. P. Johnson, Esq., of Wal ton House, W. R. Walker, Esq., of Whitehaven, &c. in favour of the measure. The petition was received most unanimously, and carried amidst much cheering. The rain poured down the whole time, and the re porters were unable to take a single note. A meeting took place, on Monday, at Car lisle, when a petition to Parliament and Address to the KING, praying them to pass the present measure, were unanimously agreed to. About 3,000 persons were pre sent. Joint Dixorr, Esq., of Knells, in the Chair. The Radical Reformers join heart and hand in the measure. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HO USE. An old Irishwoman, named Margaret Leary, was hrought,before the Loan MAYOR, charged by a man, named Patrick Callaghan, with having committed a violent as sault upon him. The statement of the complainant was, that he and the defendant's husband went into a new beer-shop to drink, for fear, if they went into a public-house, they might quarrel with somebody. They were not, however, long drinking when they quarrelled with each other, and whe ther it was the heavy wet or the wet weather, or because they were within a day or two of St. Patrick's day, they began to fight like two devils. After having whacked at each other for some time, with equal success, they agreed to postpone the fighting till some convenient opportunity, and as they could not sit idle, they called for another pot and a couple of short pipes. While they were carousing in this manner, in walked the defendant, and eat down to enjoy herself along with them. " You're welcome, Mrs. Leary," said the complainant, " won't you try a sup or two ? It's good lively stuff, I assure you." The invita tion was accepted, but the defendant, instead of taking a modest drink, emptied the pot, and then cut open the un fortunate complainant's head with it. " Yes," said she, " it is very lively, Paddy, and that will show you how." The woman was taken into custody, and kept in the watch-house all night. The LORD MAYOR asked the defendant why she had acted in so brutal a manner? Callaghan—" Oh, please your Lordship, it's only a trifle. She only first touched me, and I don't feel it ; 'tis'n't above an inch or two long, and she has got a matter of six or seven children." The Loan MAYOR said, that a blow that would only take the skin off the heed of the complainant, might break a skull of common thickness, and he could not think of discharging the assailant. The defendant—" Please your Lordship, it's I that wouldn't strike a worm if I didn't see the mark of his fingers and thumb in the face of my darlint."—(A laugh.) Callaghan thought that if they had all three gone into a good regular public-house tap-room, they might have drunk together till all was blue; but, somehow or other, the devil himself lately got into the pots by Act of Par liament. The Loan MAYOR—But this woman must he bound over. Callaghan—"Arrah then, my Lord, suppose I had the boldness, saving your presence, to give you a clink be fore my Lady, don't you think she'd break my head with a quart pot ?"—(Laughter.) The Lou) MAYOR (laughing)—Well, if you are sa tisfied, so am I. You may go away together, but don't go to a beer shop. UN I 0 N-H ALL. A genteel-looking female, named Jane Bible, was charged with committing an assault on a well-dressed man, named Perrier, residing in King's-place, Crosby row. The complainant, in a very effeminate tone of voice, said, that on Thursday last he was married at St. Saviour's Church, and gave a party to a select number of friends ; in the height of their enjoyment, however, be tween ten and eleven o'clock at night, and while he was reclining on a sofa after a dance, with his head on his wife's lap, the defendant, Miss Bible, pushed in the door with violence, and rushing towards the sofa where he lay struck him several times with her clenched fist over the head and face with such force as to make his nose bleed. The fright my wife sustained on the occasion, added the complainant, was such as to throw her into strong hyste rics, particularly as she is now heavy in the family-way, and the act of the defendant might have been attended with fatal consequences. Mr. Illualtav here expressed some surprise, saying, " You were only married on Thursday last, and you now state that your wife is near her confinement." Complainant--That is the case, Sir, I don't deny. The defendant stated, that the complainant and his bro ther had introduced themselves to her family one as Cap tain, and the other Lieutenant, in the East India Com pany's service. The Lieutenant paid his addresses to her sister, but in a short time it was discovered, that instead of being military men, one was a police constable, and the other a labourer in the East India House. The latter per son she also found was married. Feeling persuaded that his object was to ruin her sister, she proceeded to the house to rescue her, as she had been invited to the en tertainment.—The Magistrate dismissed the case. STANDARD NOVELS.—We are requested to state that the first volume of this work, containing Cooraies story of " The Pilot" complete, price six s hillings, was published on the Ist of March, by Messrs. COLBURN and BENTLEY, and may be had of all Book sellers in town and country. Thu public will, in this edition, be enabled to procure the most celebrated modern works of fiction, beautifully printed and embellished, so as to range with the Waverley Novels at the price of only six shillings per volume. 'DOE TUILERIES.—Speaking of this new a nd popular work, the Spectator says " The Tuileries" is an historical romance of the French Revolution. The story is very interesting : it is that of• a virtuous and exemplary l a dy of the court, the wife of a nobleman who was sacri ficed to the popular fury at the time of the escape to Vt rennes. The spirit of it is favourable to the cause of the people. Vie can recommend the principles of this ro mance ; and the skill with which the details are worked up do honour even to the authoress of the " Hungarian Tales." THE BETIINAL-GREEN MURDER.—The examination of all the witnesses in attendance having been go ne through, the CortoxEn., addressing the Jury, said ' t ' hat if they were not satisfied with the testimony before them, he would compel the attendance of any other wit nesses they thought necessary. The Jury expressed them svlves perfectly satisfied, end after a deliberation of three hours, they returned a verdict of " Wilful murder against some persons or persons unknown." ELECTION FOR THE BOROUGH OF LAN CASTER.—The election took place on Monday, at twelve o'clock, but to the great disappoimment of the " Worthy and Independent Freemen" no rival candidate appear e d i n the field, and Mr. STEWART, who was proposed by Mr. HORNET and seconded by the Rev. Mr. BUTLER, was de. dared duly elected. The Hon. Member, who avowed himself the friend of retrenchment, Reform, and non-in tervention, was afterwards chaired through the town. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSEOF LORDS, MARCM 16. The Bishop of WORCESTER took the oaths and his seat. Lord MANSFIELD presented a petition from Clack mannan, and several other places, for the repeal of the malt duties ; also from the distillers of North Britain to the same effect. Lord DACRE presented a petition from Chesham in favour of Reform, and several others from different parts against tithes. Mr. DUGDALE, and several other Members of the House of Commons, brought up the St. Martin's, Birmingham, Burial Ground Improvement Bill, and several private Bills. The Census (Ireland) Bill was read a third time and passed. The Bills on the table were forwarded a stage. Earl GREY presented a petition from Mayo for Reform of the Grand Jury Laws; also from Carlow in favour of Reform. The Earl of ROSEBERY presented a petition from Edinburgh and Stirling against the proposed tax on steam vessel passengers. Earl RADNOR presented petitions from different parts of Kent against the malt tax, and the punishment of death in cases of forgery ; also from places in Yorkshire and Marlborough in favour of Reform. The Marquis of CAMDEN presented a petition from the Roman Catholics of a parish in Galway, praying that the right of voting may be extended to them.—Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, MARCH 16. Th 3 SPEAKER took the Chair precisely at Three o'clock, at which time there was but a very thin attendance of Members, and only six persons in the gallery. ATHLONE ELECTION. Lord FORBES brought up the report of the Committee on the Athlone election, which dechred the sitting Members duly elected, and that the petition against their return was neither frivolous nor vexatious. PONTEFRACT ELECTION. Mr. LITTLETON reported that the Committee on this election had decided that the sitting Members were duly elected, and that the petition against their return was neither frivolous nor vexatious. MAIDSTONE ELECTION. The Marquis of CHANDOS brought up the report of the Committee on the Maidstone election, which declared the sitting Members duly elected. Several private Bills were forwarded a stage. A new Member took the oaths and his seat. REFORM PETITIONS. Mr. HUNT brought up the report of the Committee appointed to investigate and classify the various petitions praying for Parliamentary Reform. The report was ordered to be printed. Mr. Alderman 'WOOD moved for several returns con nected with the duties on malt—Ordered. Also for a re turn of the number of brewers, and those licensed to sell beer, during the year 1830—Ordered. And also for the number of barrels of beer which had paid the duty during the year 1830—Ordered. Mr. Alderman WOOD presented petitions from Broad street Ward, Aldgate, Cripplegate Within, Cripplegate Without, and Bishops.ate Ward, all in favour of the plan of Reform; and another similar petition from the Ward of Langbourn, which was signed by the Lord Mayor, and all the principal inhabitants of the Ward. 'I he names of defaulters, at the ballots yesterday, were called over, some were ordered to attend to-morrow, and others were excused. _ _ Lord VIM. GRAHAM presented a petition from the Chamber of Commerce, in the city of Glasgow, against the renewal of the East India Company's Charter. Mr. CAMPBELL (Member for Argyllshire) presented petitions from merchants in the West of Scotland, against the proposed reduction of duty on barilla. He expressed a hope that his Majesty's Government would do something, if not to reinstate the growers of kelp in their former prosperous situation, at least to prevent the aggravation of their present distressed condition by the reduction in barilla. . . —....-. Mr. S. RICE sympathised with the distressed condition of the inhabitants of the Western Islands of Scotland ; their distress, however was not to be attributed to the re duction of duty in foreign barilla, but to the introduction o t them e out am new a o rt r ic t l i e ie of m ß a r r i k t e is t h . m if nu th fa e ct c u i r , e a , n w ce h ll i i c ,r h of the had ddriEvexn chequer were enabled to reduce the duty on glass, the best relief would be afforded to the kelp growers. Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET said he would take that opportunity of asking his Right Hon. Friend (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) what his intentions were as to the proposed tax upon passengers by steam. Lord ALTHORP observed it was not his intention now to impose the tax upon passengers, but upon the tonnage. Mr. WILSON PATTEN presented a petition from Wigan, against the renewal of the East India Company's Charter ; also a petition from Warrington, with between eleven and twelve thousand signatures, in favour of the Ministerial plan of Reform. Mr. CHARLES TYRRELL presented a petition from a parish in Suffolk, praying fur a reduction of taxation; also one from Stowmarket, for Reform. Mr. STRUTT presented a petition for Reform from Belper, Evesham, and Swanwick. Sir RONALD FERGUSSON presented similar pe titions from Haddington ; from the Corporation of Ilatn mermen in the borough of Dundee ; and from Finhorn. In presenting these the Hon. and Gallant Member took occasion to advert to what had fallen from the Hon. Mem ber for I3oroughbridge, when he described the Bill now before the Ilouse for effecting a Reform in the representa tion of the people as nothing short of corporation robbery. The petitions which he had then to present afforded the most satisfactory reply that could be given to that remark, for it was corporations who petitioned in favour of the Bill. Sir CIIARLES WETHERELL inquired if the pe titioners bad not sworn to defend the rights and privileges of the corporation? Sir RONALD FERGUSSON—The sooner they break such oaths the better.—(Loud cheers.) Mr. O'CONNELL said, that no oath of that nature, and in direct contravention of the law of the land, could be binding. They had merely sworn to defend the legal rights and privileges of the Corporation. Sir CHARLES WETHERELL said that it was a jesuitical definition of the obligation of the oath ; such casuistry led so unavoidably to the introduction of false hood and demoralising doctrines, that they could not be passed by without notice. The persons referred to, members of corporations. were not yet discharged by law from their oaths—those rights had not yet been destroyed, and, therefore, the petitioners were bound by their oaths to protect them. Unless men's consciences were to be re formed, as well as the Constitution, he must ever hold that those oaths ought to preclude corporations from origina ting any interference with their own rights or those of their brethren or successors. Mr. Alderman WOOD—Those corporations were per haps sworn to protect their own privileges respecting the election of Mayors, Sheriffs, or other officers of that class ; but the election of Members of Parliament was matter for Ste legislature to deal with. As to the Hon. and Learned Member for Boroughbridge, he probably was unacquainted with what might be the oaths of the members of Scotch corporations. Sir R. FERGUSSON believed the oaths referred to were not inconsistent with a support of Parliamentary Reform. As to what had been said with respect to the procession of the Goddess of Reason at Nottingham, he believed that much of it WAS without foundation. Sir C. WETHERELL said, that a figure so attired was certainly carried in procession. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL also denied that such occurrences had taken ploce in the manner stated. Sir C. WETHERELL had sat in the chair in which the female was carried who personated the Goddess of Rea son, when the chair was produced to the Committee who sat on the election petition in 1800. Mr. O'CONNELL defended his previous remarks upon the subject of the corporation oath.. If it was meant to convey that his observations were marked by Jesuitism or casuistry, he must describe such a reply to him as distin guished by bigotry. It was perfectly natural that the bi gotry which opposed the concession of civil rights to a large body of men, merely because they worshipped tbeir God according to the dictates of their conscience—it was perfectly natural that such a feeling should impel people to call an innocent expression by libellous appellations; but he abhorred and despised the prejudice which supported such feelings, and he rejoiced to see that they had been put down. Sir R. FERGUSSON presented a petition from the manufacturers of Stockport, in favour of the Bill for re gulating the hours at which apprentices were to work. Lord MORPETH presented petitions from Sheffield in favour of the Reform Bill, signed by 13,000 persons in two days ; from Huddersfield, by 7,500 ; from Leeds ; from the Freemen of York resident in Leeds; from Whitby; from Tadcaster, and other places. Mr. SYKES, Mr. BLOUNT, and Sir J. JotiNsrox sup ported the prayer of the petitions. Lord MORPETH also presented similar petitions from Bradford and Eccleston. Likewise one from the Sessions to W w a s k . efield, praying that the Assiz es mi g ht b G e ra h n e d ld J i u n r Jurythat of of KILDARE-STREET SOCIETY. Mr. Serjeitnt LEFROY presented a petition from a pa risk in Roscommon, in favour of the annu al g rant to ttld clergy, Kt dare-street ciety. Mr. MAXWELL presented a similar p e tition from th e continuance of the grant to the Kildare-stree t Society. Mr. SHAW present e d a similar petition fr om Donegal' in the county of Donegal. gentry , and freeholders o f Cavan, in favour of the REFORM. e tition from the Mr. THOMAS DUNDAS presented a p Mayor and corporation of York, in favour o f the Refortn Bill. Mr. Ald er m an WAITHMAN presented a similar pet bon from the Li ver y o f L on d on in Common Hal l asgrri were bled. Th e wor thy Alderman said, that th ere wards of 3,000 li ver y men a t thi s meeting, wh o were m?usin favour of th e measure; and even thos e most I.ert , uneal to Reform in f ormer ti mes were now it s most st e nuous advocates. Mr. Alderman. Alderman WOOD supported the petition/ ore d served, that although the con oration of London . mg from the Bill, they g were willing to abandon their rig - . for the advantage of the country: Ner After a few worth front Mr. HUNT, the pc6k-i°-n ordered to be printed. me A ro ld u e o r y ma s n ig W ne A d, lT fr H om lllA th N e pr p e a s r e i n sh ted o a f si s m t. ila n r u p n et st it a i r r i lid: from the inhabitants of the Artillery theGroun ° a worthy Alderman also pr e sent e d petitions from „of rative rope-makers of L o nd o n, against the iroporlati7iith foreign cordage ; and from the inhabitants of t he P The of St. Pancras, in favour of the new Vestry Ac t ' latter petition was referred to the Committee on the IRISH BANKRUPTCY LAWS. Mr. O'CONNELL having presented a petition fre.. fri n a k! individual, complaining of the operation of the Iris h P..- ruptcy Laws, Mr. HUME asked the Right Hon. Gentleman • Stanley) whether it was the intention of the G ( i ve me t ment to redeem the pledge given last session with reicii, t , ) these laws ; and whether it was their intenti on t° :.‘ , l t of milate the laws of England and Ireland on the Bohr- bankruptcy a 0- Mr. STANLEY had quite enough on his hsn 0 ready, and did not think himself bound by all the Pint of the former Government ; but he believed the 1 35° 1 1 1, Laws were under the consideration of the Irish Att nint General, and that some measure on the subject vi cl°- brought in as soon as possible. _ I A the Mr. LEFROY had lately some conversation w'''" Solicitor-General for Ireland on the subject, and Ivatioeer abled to say, that it was the intention of that 11°L., 13 "' ~ ad tleman to propose the assimilation of the laws of P°° and Mr Ireland. . HUME said, this was always the way--P rt:/ "., 1 , te every session, but never performing. He had arc somet Mr.hit* bet ter. RICE suggested to the Hon. Member for ,bilep sex whether it would not be better to wait a little "ra to ascertain the extent of the alterations about to be P ibei posed in the Bankrupt Law of this country, before .sbt attempted to do any thing with Ireland ? Th e Y fs w the alter this year only in order to alter more extenellegris' next. He was, however, as much in favour of the P ciple of the alteration as the Hon Member himself' IRISH VESTRY ACT. a Pe t Mr. presented O'CONNELL then C 6° 1113° °° parishin Ireland, against the Irish Vestry Act, a the occasion to observe that the new Bill, introduce d "/ fir Right Hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Stanley), °.°,01 from being an improvement, was merely an alterrtut!°l, is details which were a matter of indifference, "'" ' „ e irr everything really important, it aggravated, to a 11 04 ,`;off ful extent, the mischiefs which the Irish comPl3l%as and which formed the continual source of uneasines s discontent. in shit Mr. STANLEY denied that the Bill was open imputation, as the Hon. Member would find when "'oat examined it attentively, for he could not beli ev , e eCt' he had done so, when he heard such observations ry,nierse ing it. lie conceived, however, that the proper ;Or would be to discuss the principle when they calve iti to it s second reading, and he would not, therefore, ente r details on the presentation of a petition. r /ig Mr. S. RICE said, that the object of the - -t i° f ilft to throw the burthen on the property of thei°ll",itio° and take it off the poor tenantry. That was the iore of the Bill and of its framers, and if they had r t , °t o tb e seeded, the Hon. Member could exert himself 1111e,that Bill came into Committee, to make it effective to purpose. t" After a few words from Sir JOHN NEWFO— petition was laid on the table REPEAL OF THE UNION. 0 0 13 Mr. O'CONNELL presented petitions from rheA%bir of Munchin, Limerick ; from the lathmakers an -tbe wrights of Dublin ; and several others, in f avour Repeal of the Union. bi ' Mr. O'CONNELL also presented a petition,..s4 3,000 persons, from Drogheda, in favour of ReWriclerg Mr. MAXWELL presented a petition ftora r `; e n s B e' and inhabitants of a parish in Cavan, praying neral fast. o, Oe ro Mr. SHAW presented a petition from th e sbiP of Dublin against the new timber duties. Ijopß f Mr. C. DUNDAS presented petitions from be ford and Farting.lon, in Berkshire, in favou r of r form Bill. i M P BHA Oht ir ta"l 2 b thal lll3 tl.t 4_ 4 1 D 42 Hen vr ard , 4 %0 el jj' tta H 1 1,04,1 Saft Qor toti c . e 10°Y-da: Or Or ti Z i e :alB 44li g n1 ; 4 3Or ' kir a bit e t i l tn 4iIEL jilt folk k la Petit I:heellotuti Ll:hat the by I t tt _ of f 47Prok t,9iuti 4L—,nat thif '' r elted th e a tiv., prim 0 the ta throu i tt e . 1 l'I'1:1111'°Iit a r tszto‘iubt Y loons. tt. l. . T,..at the ;t t h e l i e , liesolut I li bp oved b ) ZKLIA3 L,hatthe thia able O N Li'''TCo -ED IN THE - ] 1 , 110 RO --"at you ;e!ti u n John ] s , r oat yo u ' t 4 4 1ef ul se )1 44 ' Maje! Refc whey qtlted C 'Yar a ace ' d gr ; 4 your tXTII k Full r , I ings k / e l t ''housf So*- 1, at '4ll (rani, of kratti n Ytid, 3 I,,,' l ath , N 1 , am , 11, 4 'rEft , 'S,,, 4 full a 'lt aly • a, 1 ~ a. , yti ez T he °f Britt , (4 size , tt t 1 ., , :i 1 0,,, NOT! ( COAL DUTIES. 0' 1 / 4 1 1 4 1C1 i bri f tity Mr. FRANKLAND LEWIS moved for leav e '°,,, in , I , t,', of Y in a Bill to alter and amend the laws affecting the o rl ,It,,'• s , i portation and sale of coals in London, and the diets 1. k llo r4 n A; jo ill distinctionilnrg. * BELL between took the w at du op ty o la r itdunoitny theto as ex k por it tti e . k_ r :s lib; 4. 41‘ . 1 , 114 7 44 .0 e : tt1i t it h e coal, and ratni A ndAd h o l Ll i fa o rrr r tgi p i whether it was his intention t - j e t , I 0,, ~.44 O f I i lal e harl es 60, ' t Air. yg 1: LEn e l rte o c oe o ß b a s l i rh l i : nl r lg e i ipliglnisetdah,nedßthsilaixlt.pietnwceaso the n i a Government to propose a duty of two shillings n a l ,411;„° 0 0f Leave '• ' c Utta th ereof L s A m W o v e o d F fo rSIEe leave L t o E b i‘ r l i E n N g. T in. a rig v iiet i e . c cei r: :; ra l ti t '. o li ti t itt t ; b i o d :hr asi ,: t a ° : l ll Bl the Law of Settlement, as far as respects apprO l e t ili t ' le 2 5th the sea service. first o ' ll 4 4 a,:',,r by I Leave given, and Bill brought in and read 3 ,7 ) .41 05 : 0 llf t ' by t On the motion of Mr. PAULETT THOW",iipen ' 1 1 , 411 ey "„" was given to bring in a Bill to compel printers 0 ' - p t th at mark their names on the linens they print- Nu ) h 1 4 ,.. are, PREROGATIVE COURT (IRELAI4I2I: 0 , 0: ' " °4 of lanSd:ronJOthHeNsub:EctWofPtOheßPTretrnoogvaedtivethat the ' ..1 10 I t ' 4,t ft ß eirn e Ar, p ,keer o dfr r tio t rt-E o oma f Lao t bL h rsrri e ioecelw C feEed. o t tn iicocs m uu i sl s ns s im i o o n n i,t e te rs e. of Judicial Incla il l, be r ' ~!(. 1 2 . . T Motion agreed to, and Committee apG3poiurntteil°:ber" 'iIIINE Bill ''' oti broughtGA SUGAR the DUTIES.' ~.1 oeco bieb k 4l :\1 01 Sugar - A 0 was read a first time, and ordered to be r eiv " A $ electedh,l rev" "3 at t ti 1 The Waterloo Bridge New Street Bill ° lag It4l s' l4tlth I second time, and referred to a Select Committee' ,; 4 0 , 1 Aet CANINE MADNESS BILL. .isoill4s k„::;ueal Petitions in favour of th t e he ß C efo ln un m postponed to April 13. , pre eti oa ‘t4tll. in by Mr. HoncEs, from Chatham d Te nter d '* m an so by Mr. WEBB, from Gloucester. ea to, The other Orders of the Day were then agreed the House adjourned at Half-past Eight o'cloc1(' itilteielloeiroetrh:jen ; 0 tt,, 4ttiiti:,d 01 , I ,Vi''' -- - 9(1 , f BIRTHS. On the [7th inst. in Merrion.square, C. STer ai ' a son. f A. th e On the 7th inst. at Geneva, the lady 0 tli 0. of a daughter. n-squ Aoc i. f C° On the Ilth inst. - in King-street, Portina dati ght r wly ' i .,, T. Bainbridge, Esq. of Croydon-lodge, o f a .ch, the ticio7 On the 12th ir.st. at Croom's-hill, Green' ! " ~.i, A , mander Popplewell, R.N. of a son. , e lady °` —of e r, al t On the Bth inst. at Boulogne.sur.Mer, t... nn , he p o ol- Esq., henegal Medical Establishment, of ~sre , ter, I 'd I , „Or On l4th inst. at Mollington, near '", o ntY - ,i KV H. Fazarkeley, Esq., of Gillibrand Hall, ' ~..1131 ' 6,11, of a daughter. Sir P'" 'ell' • On the 11th inst. at Brighton, the l a dy of .-• j, I+ ll- Bart , of a son. • of fir . On the 14th inst. at Islington, the lad) of a (laughter. Dublin, , pet, i Herr, t E h s e q. lB ,o tl bi i o in f st t . he at la S t t e . i tte i r o t c r i lt f a e r l d ' E s, rl }{ . '' u n t °lcr.Sci o L Fl CA , V e rt Plt3l' ;: 5 . th o Ito Sr. the Isle of Wight, to Mary, Countess of Stra r. , a tc On the 12th inst. at St. Andrew's Holborn,of o e t ley, to Miss Caroline Labrow, third 'daughterS' 'entitle Labrow, of St. John-street, Londo n. ~ Al pe? ch .str h e c e ,lte ~ 10 DIED. On the 13th inst. at her son's, Nov C lo r w 0 1 ,, t ioh c ,.7,d elri road, Mrs. Elizabeth Cowcher, aged 85, n re , al $.. " ,i, Cowcher, Esq. of Alfred-place, Bt...dford-90. ini rgh , of 01. Ldirl On the 10th inst. in Queen -street, Estoq;n: the e e d B l2 t B t h s h inst. t n s t t MarthaAd Brighton,e lin a , lough ter o' l a te - i . t he . q i Grove, East Barnet, Esq. ict 0, Ann , rei %Dy ll, d C lo 3 g rl h °t'l George Bevan. , , e Vali e on On the 13th inst. at Pulborough-P3—' a nd 5 to re. o - 9 4 Foxon, the wife of Mr. W. H. 510rd:stint, _..,,,..,,rit of C. Becke, Esq. of Devonshire -street, T.i.ii - z. . if 0 4 On the 9th inst. at West Hill, Wandsvb r" in his 70th year. .. If ire , '7'1;0 6.1 ' ' ~ On the 9th inst. at Brockhurst, CaP.• ~e o f '' t he v• On the 10th inst. aged 72, Jane, the wl. A ll d ' r I ' a of Camhenvellgreen. n os •- ni Oe.- a On the llth inst. in Sloane-street, Fran of T. Hoblyn, Esq. josh 4.' or On the Ilth inst. Lucy, wife of Henri street, Soho. ____ 4 it e t b , 4l ah e , It*4 l, fu '4,,nktt‘t" t:Thta r t tii Rix WLet salk x - 0 P RI NTED AND PUBLISHED 151( MURDO .., 14 0 S UN OFFICE, 1 12, STRAND, 1 i 0 59°.