The Sun. — London, England, 1839-06-11 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION. PROFESSOR ALBITES' LECTURE ON FRENCH LITERATURE. Professor A. Albites delivered a lecture on the sub ject of the Literature of France from the time of Ra belais up to the present period, to a fashionable and crowded audience, at Willis's Room's, King-street, St. James's-square, lately. He commenced by stating that in the rapid sketch that he was about to give of the rise and progress of the Literature of France, of course none but authors of first-rate merit could find a place. Before, however, 3ominencing on this part of his subject, it might be as well, perhaps, to make a few observations on the rise, progress, and history of the French language itself. Gaul, at the time of the Conquest of Julius Caesar, was peopled by tribes of the Celtic and Cimbra, and the inhabitants of course spoke the language of those tribes ; after the conquest of Caesar it became Roman, and many of the ornaments of Roman literature were by birth Gauls. The Latin language had declined in Gaui upon the fall of the Roman empire and the romance language, as it was denominated, bad arisen ; Charlemagne had endeavoured to revise and improve this language, and had ordered the celebrated Alciun to undertake the task ; but his endeavours to improve the language proved abortive, and with the fall of his Empire these endeavours ceased. About the tenth century two dialects were spoken in France, the Langue d'Oui, which partook more of the nature of Teutonic, to the north of the Laire, and the Langue d'Oc, which was the softer dia lect, being spoken by the inhabitants of the countries situated south of that river. These languages were thus denominated from the words used to signify yes. Oui being the northern, and Oc the southern word sig nifying assent. The Langue d'Oc was the most harmonious and the most polished, and was the language of the troubadours, notwithstanding which, it had now become a mere patois, and the Langue d'Oui was the national language of France. Various causes had contributed to bring about the result. The Langue d'Oui was the language of the men of Iron, the conquering race. The war against the Albi genses, who spoke the Langue d'Uc, was another great cause of the supremacy of the Langue d'Oui, and the fall of the language of the Troubadours. The conquest of England by William, the Norman, who spoke the Langue d'Oui, also contributed to the supre macy of that language, because he commanded it to be made the legal language throughout all his dominions, and to be taught in all schools, in preference to every other. In consequence of this, it might naturally be supposed, that many of the earlier writers in the pre sent national language of France, would be subjects of William, and accordingly this was found to be the case. Robert Ware flourished in the Norman court in the 121 h century, and in his writings may be recognized the germ of the present French language. In the 13th century the Roman de !a Rose may be taken as a specimen of the then state of the French language and litera tun?, while we find a specimen of the progress h . ch it had made in the 14th century in the works of the Sieur de Joinville, the friend and companion of Saint Louis. In the 15th century the chronicles of Froissart fur nished a specimen of the prose, and the poems of Charles Duke of Orleans, who had passed many years in Eng land, having been taken a prisoner at the battle of Agin court, showed the state of versification in that age. The historian Philippe do Comities, was a favourable speci men of the prose writers of the 16th century, and Cle ment Marot was the principal poet—Marot wrote like his Predecessors, but was more elegant in his verifica tion. Boileau, in speaking of him, says, " Imitons de Marot !'elegant badinage ;" but we meet with some thing more than mere badinage in Francois. Rabelais, who immediately followed him, the celebrated author of " Gargantua," was brought up in a monastery near Lyons, anby histricks frequently annoyed the monks and was punished severely in consequence. On one occa sion, wishing to travel from Lyons to Paris, but being absolutely destitute of means, he adopted the following ingenious plan :—Having procured some ashes, he di vided them into three portions, and wrapped up each carefully in paper. On one packet he wrote " Poison for the King ;" on another, " Poison for the Queen ;" and on the third, " Poison for the Dauphin." Having done this, he left the packets where they would be sure to be perceived, and the consequence was that he was immediately arrested, and carried to Paris strongly guarded. On his arrival there the trick was explained, _ _ and he thus obtained his object. Montaigne flourished immediately after Rabelais. Montaigne and Amyot, the translator of Plutarch, may be considered as the last representatives of the old naivete of Gaul. The lan guage and style underwent a great change after the time of Montaigne. This change was in a great measure brought about by Ronsard, who was de sirous of changing the character of the French language, and of assimilating it more to the clas sic tongues of antiquity. But he imitated these to such an extent, that his style became exceedingly harsh in consennv.sa t u.....tissaisiaLhaia,, no t deficient in be forgotten that the pernsin Of the works of Ronsard was one of the great conso lations of the unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots, during her long captivity. In the seventeenth century, the French language and style became much more pure, This was owing to the writings of the great Malherbe. whose verses were the most polished of any that had yet appeared. Boileau speaking of Malherbe, said— " Enfin Malherbe vint, et le premiere en France Fit seater dans les vcrs une juste cadence D'un mot:mis en su place ensigna le pouvoir, Et reduisit la muse aux regles du dcvoir, Par ce sage ecrivain la langue reparee N'offrit plus rien de rude a I'ureille epuree." This judgment of Boileau was perfectly correct. The French language under Malherbe may be said to have been completely formed : while he was en gaged in r e f orm i ng the language, his contempo raries Bacon and Descartes were engaged in re forming philosophy, by doing for it what Luther had pre viously done for theology, insisting on the right of reason in opposition to authority. Blaise Pascal who as a child was celebrated as a mathematician, followed Malherbe : his " Lettres Provinciales," may be considered a model for French prose. Six years after the death of Shak speare 111oliere was born. The French, although Cor neille had given them tragedies, had no comedies until the time of Moliere. His " Precieuses Ridicules," in which he ridicules pretensions to fashion, was one of his earliest works. His best comedies are his " Misan thrope" and his " Tartuffe." Repeated obstacles were thrown in the way of the representation of the " Tar tuffe," in which he satirizes the hypocrites ; but these were all overcome through the intervention of Louis XIV. In his " Marriage Force," he ridiculed the ab surdity of old men marrying young women, a fault of which he himself was shortly after guilty, by marrying at the age of fifty-eight a young girl of seventeen. This unfortunate marriage occasioned him subsequently great unhappiness. Moliere was an actor as well as an author : his last work was the " Rlalade Imaginaire," in which a hypochondriac becomes such a victim to his imaginary ail ments as to determine to be admitted a physician himself. Moliere, although at that time in an exceedingly preca rious state of health, determined to act this part him self, but in the scene of his examination previous to his admission, he became so ill as to be obliged to be car ried home, and in a few hours he had ceased to exist. Boileau was asked by Louis XIV., who of all the great men of his age was the one who had done the greatest honour to his reign—" Sire, c'est Moliere," was the reply. This great man was not of the Academie Fran caise, as there existed some jealousy with regard to his admission in consequence of his being actor ; but after his death his bust was placed in a conspicuous part of the Hall of the Academy, with this inscription— " Rien ne manquait asa gloire : it manquait a la notre." Pierre Corneille, the father of French tragedy, was was born before Moliere, and died after him. The tragedy of the " Cid 'is his chef d'oeuvre. Cardinal Richelieu, not content with being a great statesman, wished also to be considered a great poet, and on the first appearance of " Cid," envious of the fame of Cor neille, he desired the Academie to criticize the tragedy, but " En vain centre le Cid un Ministre se ligue " Tout Paris pour Chimene a lea qeux de Rodrigue.' C.)rneille's favourite author was Lucan ; the favourite of Racine was Virgil. Racine's tragedy of" Andromaque," the model of classical tenderness, had recently been revived, and all Paris had been enchanted by the acting of Mademoiselle Rachel. It was difficult to determine which could be considered the chef d'oeuvre of Racine, and Voltaire was right when he said that at the end of each piece should be written Beau! admirable! mygnitique ! La Fontaine, the Moliere of fable. flourished at this period. Ho had first of all taken Malherbe as his model, and afterwards devoted himself to the study of the ancients. He was a man of such simplicity of character, and so . subject to fits of absence, that he was absolutely incapable of taking care of him self, but Madame De la Sabliere provided for him an asylum in her residence. Madame De Sevigne also flourished in the age of Louis XIV. ; she could not be considered as an authoress, as she never wrote with a view to publication, but her letters were models of the epistolary style. At the commencement of the eighteenth century lived Bossuet, Bishop of Meaux, the eloquent preacher and historian, and Boileau Despreaux, who took Horace for his model. Fenelon, the author of Telemachus, and Massillon, celebrated for the harmonious suavity of his style, also flourished at this period, and with these great men terminated the period of Louis XIV. Under the Regency of the Duke of Orleans every sphere of society became agi tated, and literature partook of this universal feeling of agitation. L e S age, w h o li ved at the commencement o f the Regency, could scarcely be said to belong to this publicationperiod l ofo h nte i s s luieu n ow a tt rac t e d at t ent i on by th e Lettres Persannes," which resembled in plan Goldsmith's Citizen of the World ; but he did not continue the pursuit of light literature. His family had long been con nected with the administration . of the laws ; be travelled to improve his mind and on his re t u rn published his " E ssai sur la Grandeur et la Decadence des Romain s ," a work not unworthy the pen of T.acit us. T his was f o ll owed by his great work, " Sur l'Eiprit .Des Lois." Buffon, th e naturalist, also flourished at th i s period, but kept aloof from the fashion of his time. Voltaire, whose style was so piquant, ap peared at this period. He passed his life in waging war against what he considered abuses. His " Henriade," his " Zaire," his " Alzire," his " Tancredi," his " Siecle de Louis," his " Histoire de Charles XII., are all remarkable for that perspecuity which is the great characteristic of the style of Vol taire. Rousseau was his cotemporary ;in his " Emile" he has developed his ideas on education, but his " Con tract Sociale" was the work which had exercised the greatest influence on society. In this work he ex plained the nature of the social compact, and declared the soverignty of the people. Then came the tempest of the Revolution, on the subsidence of which, when Napoleon had re-established order, the Muses again began to show themselves. But although he re-esta blished order, he did not re-e,tablish liberty, the resto ration of which was delayed until his fall. Literature felt the benefit of the return of liberty, and at this pe- Hod the literary world was divided into two parties, the the Classicistes, or followers of the models of antiquity, and the Romantiques, or followers of the modern school. These divisions were, however, fast disappearing. There prevailed is England at present a general dislike of modern French literature, and a great degree of ignorance on the subject,in consequence of the disgust felt at the im morality ofsome of the modern French novels. But France still possessed writers worthy of the admiration of every age. Delille, Bernardin St. Pierre, the author of " Paul and Virginia," and Madame de Stael were no more, but Chateaubriand still remained. In poetry he might mention the names of Lamartine, who was beau tifully fine and elegant, and of Beranger, the poet of the people. In works of imagination there was Victor Hugo, while Casimir Delavigne and Scribe were cele brated as dramatists all over Europe. As historians, Guizot, Sismondi, Michela, Miguet, and Thiers, stood pre-eminent, while the history of Literature itself had been admirably illustrated by the pen of Villemain. M. Cousin had devoted his time and talents to the sub ject of education, and Odillon Barrot and Berryer shone pre-eminent in oratory. In the physical sciences it was sufficient to mention the name of Cuvier. The Lecturer having thanked his auditory for the attention they had paid, concluded his lecture amidst Loud applause. THE RIVER SEVERN.—It is painful to look on the low state of our river, the navigation being almost wholly impeded, more particularly when we reflect on the efforts which have been made to have it improved, and which efforts were defeated by an unjust, selfish, and dis graceful opposition. The scene daily of vessels being aground on nea-ly all the fords, when with scarcely a third of their estimated cargoes, will, we hope, arouse the dormant energies of the friends to this national improvement. On Saturday last five vessels were aground for several hours on Diglis Ford ; and we arc informed there is only a flow of 18 inches of water over Deethurst, and scarcely so much at the Red Stone Rock.—Worcester Joarnal. ADOPTION OF TIIE PENNY POSTAGE.—The Manchester postmaster has received an intimation from the Postmaster-General to take such preparations and arrange ments as he may deem necessary in order to carry into effect the penny postage. The ships James Pattison, Captain Cromatty, and the Alfred, Captain Flint, both from London and Ply mouth, with numerous passengers, and arrived safe at Syd ney, New South Wales, prior to the last dates from that colony. RAT CATCHING EXTRAORDINARY.—On Tuesday se'nnight a pike was caught with a line in a pit belonging to Mr. Samuel Shaw, Gailey, which on being opened was found to contain two full-grown water-rats. The fish did not weigh quite three pounds.—Wolverhantp ton Chronicle. TIIE BEER BILL.—The sale of beer, like the sale of bread, ought to be free, and the cure for the evils at present existing, will be found in ameliorating the con dition of the people by the increase of the rate of wages ; and their consequent ability to bare more of the comforts of life about them in their own homes, and not in shutting up the beer-shops. The abolition of he malt tax, by put ting it more in the power of the labourer to brew his own beer, would do much towards the improvement of the so cial condition of the people, which would quickly lead to the diminution of crime.— Wilts Independent. . ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—The general monthly meeting was held on Thursday afternoon. Viscount Bray brooke, Vice-President, in the Chair. The Report for the past month, which was read by the Rev. John Bar low, the Secretary, stated the balance in hand at the last Report 1,110/. 9s. Bd.; the receipts of the month 1,8441. ss. 6d. ; the expenditure on the gardens 893/. ; the museum 381., and the general establishment 96/. ; leaving a present balance of 1,927/. The Council had the day previous ordered the investment of 1,0001. in Exchequer Bills. The number of visiters to the museum was 409, and the sum received 3/. 4s. ; and to the menagerie 27,458, from whom 9111. 12s. was received. A donation was announced from Sir Thomas Reade of a young lioness, which, with one just purchased, made two pairs of lions in the possession of the Society. A contract for a new monkey house had been entered into for 1,2391., which would be finished in two months ; and it had also been re solved to sell the remaining portion of the farm for 7501. The Council expressed their regret that it would not be possible to throw open the museum to the public, as the rk es I a ufli.jantiy. safea to ad it moie 1h44 under the pressmat, his was much. regret ea oy Vigors, M.P., and several members, as public expectation was looking forwards with anxiety to the subject. Colonel Ackborn brought before the notice of the meeting the propriety of having open areas for the carnivora dens, a plan which was adopted in the menagerie at Munich, with great advantage to the health of the animals. This plan was recommended to the Council for experimental trial ; and after the election of a Committee of Accounts, the meeting adjourned. THE CROPS IN IRELAND.—There has been at length a most favourable change in the weather, and all ground for alarm on account of the growing crops may be considered nearly at an end. In the course of Sunday night rain commenced falling in Dublin and the neigh bourhood, and there is every appearance that the parched soil will be relieved by plentiful showers. Throughout the country we rejoice to learn the rain has been very plentiful.—Dublin Evening Post. BRUSSELS, JUNE s.—The average prices of wheat and rye in the last week were 24 francs 28 cents, and 15 francs 70 cents ; the regulations for importation and exportation remain unchanged. The number of travellers on the railroad, in, the month of May, was 105,520, and the receipt, 240,045 francs. June 4.—A Cabinet mes senger was despatched to-day from the Foreign Office to London, with a considerable mass of papers supposed to be the duplicates of the treaties of the 19th of April. Several of these papers were signed by the King this morning. It is stated to be the intention of a body of the electors of Newcastle-under-Lyne, in the event of a dis solution of Parliament, to invite Sir Robert William Horton, to offer himself as a candidate. Sir Robert repre sented this borough previously to his appointment to the Governorship of Ceylon.— Wolverhampton Chronicle. SUPPOSED INCENDIARY FIRE.—It is with grief we record a supposed incendiary fire at Kirkmichael Mains. On the morning of Wednesday last, one of the servants of Mr. William Scott, the tenant, had occasion to rise at four o'clock, and on looking out, was astonished to observe flames blazing in the straw-house, where, along with that inflammable material, a good deal of grain in sacks was deposited. He at once gave the alarm, and by prompt exertion, saved the building, and also, we believe, a portion of the corn. As no candle had been used in the straw-house for days, it is not easy to get rid of the impres sion as to the origin of this malicious act. A reward of 50/. is offered for the apprehension of the perpetrator of this diabolical act. What renders the occurrence more re markable is that Mr. Lyon and his steward, who occupies the offices, are both remarkably well liked, and give much employment to labourers in the district.—Dumfries Courier. The Court of Queen's Bench, Dublin, on Mon day, pronounced sentence against Yore and his co-con spirators, for having feloniously enticed away and married the daughter of Colonel Tucker. The principal, Yore, has got nine months' imprisonment, and his assistants three months' imprisonment each. A valuable horse, the property of Mr. John _ . . . argus, of this city, which was at grass at Mr. Higwell's arm, Charlton, was on Friday morning last, found lying dead in the field, having been caught during the night by some miscreants, and stabbed through the heart. We perceive that a reward of thirty guineas is offered for their apprehension.—Bristol Gazette. THE LATE MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT AT KINGSWOOD.—We last week gave some particulars of this very melancholy affair, and we have now little to add, for though during the interval unremitting exertions have been made to clear the pit of the water and get out the bodies of the sufferers, little has yet been effected towards that object, the water flowing in almost 03 rapidly as pumped out. It seems that the workmen had broken into an old pit, which had been closed for nearly 100 years, and the first intimation of danger was the extinction of the candles from the foul air, which preceded the water. The men nearest the pit's mouth rushed to the rope, and clambered up in a cluster, two of them in a state of nudity. Twenty. five were thus saved from impending death, but the num ber before stated, the greater part of whom had been em ployed in a lower part of the work, perished, Wm. John son, left a wife and four children. This poor fellow had his arm broken ten years since, when a somewhat similar accident occurred in the same pit (called Causeway pit), one man losing his life.—Bristol Gazette. CENSORSHIP IN AUSTRIA.—I have lately seen some instances in which the censorship is executed at Vienna. The author of a novel introduces a person born at Cologne ; the censor blots out Cologne, and writes over it Nuremberg. In another place he quotes a passage from Rousseau, beginning the sentence with the words " Rousseau says ;" the sa,)ing of Rou , seau not being agreeable to the censor, you would naturally believe that he struck out the sentence along with the quotation ; no such thing, he left in the quotation, " Rousseau says," anti put words into the mouth of that author directly opposite to those which the novelist had cited The Council of King's College, anxious that an Hospital should be attached to their Medical School, have lately concluded an agreement with the parish of St. Cle ment Danes for a long lease of a building in Portugal street, Lincoln's-inn Fields, which has been hitherto occu pied as a workhouse, but is now no longer wanted for that purpose. This building has been inspected and found to be capable of containing at least 250 beds, and to be well adapted to the purpose. As, however, the College does not possess any funds applicable to the es tablishment and support of the proposed Hospital, the Council have issued a circular, calling on the public and the friends of the College to come forward and supply the means of carrying into effect so benevolent and useful a design. It is now arranged that the opening of the Great Western Railway as far as Twyford shall take place in the first week in July. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1839 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, JUNK 10. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool sack at the usual hour. The Earl of HARE WOOD presented a petition in favour of a penny postage. Lord FAVERSHAM presented a petition to the same effect. The Duke of RUTLAND presented a petition to the same effect ; also a petition from the Derby Church Auxiliary Society against the Government system of education. Lord DURHAM presented a petition from Hough ton-le-Spring, prayiny,ifor an alteration in the Poor-laws. The Noble Lord presented a petition from a place in Scotland against further endowment to the Church of Scotland. The Noble Lord presented petitions from Glasgow, Belfast, and other places, praying for a penny postage. BEER BILL. Upon the motion of Earl SHAFTESBURY this Bill passed through a Committee, was reported with amendments, and ordered to Le read a third time to morrow, upon the understanding that any debate upon it should take place to-morrow. The Earl - of RIPON presented a petition from, as we understood, merchants in the City of London, pray ing that means might be taken for the establishment of a colony in the South-eastern part of Africa. Lord LYNDHURST presented a petition from three cotton spinners in Glasgow, complaining of an evasion of the provisions of the Factory Bill. The peti tioners stated that they had been examined last year before a Committee of the House of Commons. and asked certain questions upon this subject. They stated that since that time Mr. Stuart, the Factory Superintendant, had published a Report, in the course of which he stated that the petitioners were not wor thy of credit. The petitioners repelled that insinua tion—alleged that they had always maintained a gond character—that their statements were as much entitled to credit as Mr. Stuart's, and Spraying for the appointment of a Committee to investigate the statements in Mr. Stuart's R e p or t. The Nole and Learned Lord had also another petition from the inha bitants of Glasgow, agreed to at a public meeting, con vened for the purpose of taking into consideration Mr. Stuart's Report. That meeting had found, that the evidence given by the witnesses whose petition the Noble and Learned Lord had just presented was correct in all respects—that the statements in Mr. Stuart's Report were, utterly unfounded —that the characters of the three individuals which he had attacked were free from all re proach ; and the petitioners prayed for the appoint ment of a Committee to the same effect as the prayer of the last petition. The Noble and Learned Lord merely meant at present to move that the petitions be laid on the table, because he understood similar petitions were to be presented to the other House of Parliament, which would probably appoint a Committee. and be did not think it necessary there should be two Committees sitting on this matter. Lord STRANGFORD wished to put a question to the Noble Viscount opposite. He had seen from the printed votes of the other House of Parliament, that an Honourable and Learned Mem ber of that House, had given notice of his inten tion to bring in a Bill, the object of which was to enable persons professing Popish doctrine, to practice in the spiritual offices of these Realms, and to hold the office of Lord High Chancellor. He had heard also that that notice had been received with a cheer by those to whose support the Noble Viscount's Govern ment was mainly indebted for its existence.—(Hear.) He wished to know whether that Bill wasto be introduced with the concurrence and sanction of any of that section of which it was said the Noble Viscount's Government was composed ? Whether in short it was what was termed a Government measure ? Lord MELBOURNE said certainly not ; nor was it with the approbation of her Majesty's Government. Lord STRANGFORD was extremely glad to hear that statement. Lord BROUGHAM certainly understood that as far as regarded the office of the Lord Chancellor, that Bill was intended to be confined to the Irish Chancel lorship ; and for his own part he thought a more harm less or absurd Bill could not be introduced.--(" Hear," and laughter.) The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said the Noble Viscount opposite, notwithstanding he was always denying his connexion with an Hon. and Learned Member in another House, seemed to keep exceedingly closely connected with him, No doubt the Noble Viscount had read the speeches of the Hon. and Learned Mem ber for Dublin which he had made throughout Ireland, and in which that Honourable and Learned Mem ber stood guilty of the most base, unmanly, and infamous accusations against the party to whom he was opposed. He could compare her Majesty's Ministers and the influence exercised over them, to nothing but the influence which Mr. Van Amburgh exercised over his lions.—(Laughter.) The Marquis of LANSDOWNE rose to order ' The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said that if he was ont of order, almost every Noble Lord In the House was out of order weekly and almost daily. Lord BROUGHAM said that this was certainly not regular. It was not the first time either the Noble Marquis or other Noble Lords were out of order in that House. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY—Nor is it the first time you have been nut of order. Lord BROUGHAM—No, certainly not. I confess I have followed your example before now.—(Laughter.) He had read the speeches very attentively, and he did not see any thing like what the Noble Marquis had stated. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY appealed to the House whether he might not be permitted to make a speech as well as the Noble and Learned Lord, more especially as there was no question before the House. Lord BROUGHAM—But there is a question. I understood the Noble Marquis to move the Orders of the Day.—(Marquis of Londonderry—" No.") I think it but fair, however, when it is stated that a person has said something which I happen to know was not said, to correct it. lam particularly anxious, in consequence of a recent correspondence, that there should be no misunderstanding about it. It was not correct to say that the Hon. Member for Dublin had used the same license of language as others ; on the contrary, he had veiled his language much more than others who spoke there. It was also right to state, that the Hon. Gentleman to whom allusion had been made did not deny having used the language attributed to him, but he denied having used certain coarse expressions ; but he neither admitted or denied the language, and he could not, therefore, be charged with having eaten his words. He regretted that he had been obliged to make any allusion to the Hon. Gentleman, more especially as he owed more obligations to that illustrious family than almost any other. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY What family? Lord BROUGHAM—Th e late Mr. Grattan's. He did not think it was quite regulai to call upon any Member of that House to explain what he had said in commenting upon matters that had occurred out of that House. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY hoped the Noble and Learned Lord did not mean to defend the expressions of the Hon. and Learned Member for Dublin. Lord BROUGHAM—Quite the contrary. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY would state to their Lordships what the expressions of both these Honourable Gentlemen had been. In the speech of the Honourable and Learned Member for Dublin he found it stated, " Mr. Grattan has said that the Queen would not live six months if that event took place. They would remember that English Kings and Princes before now had been removed. The Duke of Buckingham had put his two nephews to death, and his prototype the Tories might do as atro cious a deed. The Queen's cup might be drugged with something which would persuade her not t o live. H e did not charge the Duke of Welling ton or Sir Robert Peel with being guilty of such a deed, but their low adherents would commit any degree of human baseness and ferocity in their anxiety to bring in the Kin of Hanover." Now he asked the Noble Lord whether that langurge was more to be approved of than what had been stated by Mr. Grattan, and with regard to the allusion to an illustrious personage, who was not there —he meant the King of Hanover, he thought it his duty to declare his solemn c onviction that than that illustriou s personage, her Majesty had not, in her realm a subject more devoted, or one who would more readily sacrifice the last drop of his blood in sup , port of her dignity.—(Hear, hear.) And yet they found that statement made at a public; meeting in Ireland —the most inflammatory people in th e world—and they found moreover that at that very moment, through the agen cy of that Honourable Gentleman, if report spoke true, the Noble Marquis opposite (Normanby) was endeavouring; to thrust out of power the Noble Lord near him.--(Hear, p- and a l aug h . ) G ood God, he should like to see such a Gove rnment.—(Laughter. ) If the Noble Visco unt was disposed to yield his sceptre to the Noble Marquis, let hi m d o so, and they wou ld mee t him in a straight forward an d d eterm i ned manner , andthielacvoeuhnad an op portunity country would soon see w h et h er suc h a m i sera ble association, and h e influ ence, no c t ou us ld e s th ta e nd ex . pre l s ie sionwaps happyersonal to personally—(Great laughter) but mi sera bl e i n point of po li cy , a nd in point of portunity of expressing his sentiments on these most base and infamous speeches that had been made in Ireland and he was glad that although he had clothed himself with the shield, under which no honourable man could attack him, yet in that House they would protest and publish to the world the infamy of those accusations, and the horror and contempt with which all those who allied themselves with all those statements were viewed. The Marquis of NORMANBY could assure the Noble Marquis that he bad no intention of gratifying his wishes by assuming the reins of Government. CONVEYANCE OF PARCELS TO AND FROM IRELAND. The Earl of WICKLOW had to put a question to the Noble Lord at the head of the Admiralty, with re gard to the conveyance of parcels between Ireland and this country. In consequence of the completion of the Liverpool Railway, there had been a great increase in the demand for such conveyance, and the Post-office had therefore given the power of conveying parcels to the Government packets, running between the two coun tries. To superintend the business in Ireland, they had appointed Mr. Purcell, a gentleman who, at the time he was appointed, was one of the prime agitators in that country, though he had since offended that individual, who had greatest influence there. He (the Earl of Wicklow) however, did not complain of the appointment, but of the monopoly which that gentleman exercised, of imposing whatever charges he thought fit, and whatever conditions upon the conveyance of parcels ; a power not delegated before to any private individual. Did the Admiralty mean to persevere in this arrangement? The Earl of Al INTO said it had been found conve nient to permit the conveyance of parcels by the Go vernment packets, and necessary to appoint a person to superintend the arrangements in Ireland. The plan adopted by the Admiralty did not create a monopoly, but it was the destruction of one, for any person might send his parcels either by the packets or the Company's boats. The Admiralty held them responsible for the safe delivery of the mails. The E.;rl" of WICKLOW said the Noble Earl evidently did not know any thing of the matter, and he was not surprised at it, for such matters must, of neces sity, be attended to by inferior officers. The agent of the Admiralty charged just what he pleased, and re quired every package to be sent to his own office. - The Earl of MINTO would assure the Noble Earl that any complaint would instantly be attended to by the Admiralty, and even by the superintendent of packets at Liverpool. Lord BROUGHAM presented petitions from Ros common, Greenock, Beverley, and other places, in favour of Mr. Rowland Hill's plan of penny postage. Also one from the Magistrates, clergy, bankers, and other inhabitants of Blackburn, praying for the repeal of the Beer Act. YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND RAILWAY: On Wednesday this important and commercial un dertaking was opened from the terminus at York to the junction with the Leeds and Selby Railway, near South Milford, which forms an uninterrupted railway commu nication between York and Leeds, and York and Selby, and the several intermediate places. We shall notice a few facts connected with the origin and progress of this important branch of public conveyance. In 1835, great efforts were made by wealthy and influential parties in London, Newcastle, Darlington, Leeds, and other towns, to form a con necting link from north to south ; and in April of that year the Great North of England Railway was pro jected, with a capital of upwards of three millions of pounds. It was immediately found necessary to have a connecting link at Leeds with the North Midland, which was then forming—and many merchants and manufacturers in this town were anxious to promote the undertaking. A scheme was devised by which York would have been left entirely out of the railway line from London to Newcastle ; this caused a promptness and determination on the part of the citizens of York to have a direct line from that city to Methley, a dis tance of 24 miles. On Tuesday, October 13, 1835, a great public meet ing was held at the Guildhall, in York, which was pre sided over by the Lord Mayor (then Mr. Alderman Wilson) in pursuance of a requisition numerously signed, "to adopt such measures as may be ex pedient for furthering the formation of a railroad from York, to join the Leeds and Derby Line." That meeting was addressed by the Recorder, City Counsel, Mr. Alderman Meek, T. Price, Esq., Mr. Horner, Mr. Cooper, T. Barstow, Esq., Dr. Wake., T. Back house, Esq., and other gentlemen ; and resolutions were adopted for the immediate formation of a Company to accomplish that object, under the title of " the York and North Midland Railway Company." An Act of Parliament was shortly afterwards applied for, which, through the exertions of the City Members, and several influential citizens, was obtained with but trifling opposition ; the Directors were then chosen, and the works were proceeded with as soon as the land could be purchased, and the requisite contracts entered into. We may here mention, as a gratifying circum stance, that, with three or four exceptions, the Company have obtained the whole of the land and premise: re quired for carrying out their Act, by amicable arrange ments with the owners, without the necessity of empa nelling a jury. This certainly shows, in some measure, the entire acquiescence of the public in the formation of this railway. It would be tedious to enter into the various parti culars connected with the operations of the Company, Suffice it to say, that at the last half-yearly meeting of the Directors, held in January, they announced their intention of opening the line from York to the Leeds and Selby Line in May ; and that hereafter they would join the North Midland at Methley. The whole line is intended to be completed by the time the North Midland, the Leeds and Manchester, and the Great North of England Railways (of which it will form the connecting link) can be opened. The Fairburn and Altofts contracts, which comprise the heaviest works on the whole line, are let to be completed in the spring of 1840 ; and the Directors state " there is no doubt, from the well-known talents and experience of the contractors (Messrs. Craven and Sons, and Mr. John Stephenson), that they will carry on the works with all possible energy and skill, and complete their respective undertakings in the time stipulated by the contracts." Many of our readers will be aware, that a tunnel had been formed into York through the walls and ramparts. It appears that the Directors of the York and North Midland Railway first determined to have their station for passengers outside the walls. It appearing, however, to them, as well as to the Directors of the Great North of England Railway, very desirable that the two Com panies should have ajoint passengers' station, which was considered to be impracticable, except within the walls, a negotiation was entered into between the parties, and satisfactorily concluded. The station will be in the garden lately occupied by Messrs. T. and J. Backhouse, No one can doubt but that this agreement will be of great additional benefit to the city, and materially con duce to the comfort and convenience of passengers going forward to the North. By means of this railway, and the others now in pro gress, a direct communication will be opened next year from Newcastle to London ; and from a highly influ ential meeting lately held in the former town, it is pro bable that very speedily the line will be carried through to Edinburgh—thus forming a complete chain of rail way communication from the metropolis of England to the metropolis of Scotland. On Monday the rails being laid throughout to the junction with the Leeds and Selby Railway, an experi mental trip was taken on the same afternoon, when the York and Leeds engine took down a train of carriages I.nra Mayor.. Sir Jahn _Smnson, Alderman Meek, and several other of the Directors, were of the party, in the first-class carriage ; a second and two-third class carriages were filled with respectable persons who happened to be on the line when the train started. Wednesday last was a propitious day for the open ing. In the morning the sun shone forth brilliantly, and thousands of both sexes issued forth to view the processions, &c., by which it was intended to celebrate the important event. A breakfast was given by the Directors in the Guildhall, which was kindly lent by the Lord Mayor (himself the Chairman of the Direc tors) for the occasion, and which was decorated with evergreens, hardy plants, &c. After the breakfast, to which about 400 persons sat down, the company formed into line, and marched through the city t o th e depot, followed by several carriages and omnibuses, in which were many ladies, who were treated by the Directors with the trip. A band of music headed the procession, and also went first in the train. On the arrival of the company at the station, they took their seats in the carriages, and about five minutes past one they slowly moved off amidst the cheers of assembled thousands, who densely occupied the banks, bridges, and every part where it was possible to obtain a sight of the train. After bidding the city adieu, the engine went along at a more rapid rate, and arrived at the place of its destination in about thirty-six minutes, and, after staying about half an hour, returned in forty-six minutes. Every person expressed his high gratification with the beautiful scene, to which the fineness of the day contributed not a little. We are happy to state that no serious accident occurred. At four o'clock the Directors, accompanied by the Mayors of Leeds and Hull, George Stephenson, Esq., and other distinguished individuals, sat down to dinner in the Guildhall. After the removal of the cloth, several patriotic toasts were given, and appropriately responded to by the gentle men present. The dinner was followed by a ball, given by her Ladyship the Mayoress ; and we need scarcely add, that the dance was kept up till a late hour, when every one retired highly delight e d w ith th e d a y' s festivi ties.—Leeds Mercury. HORRIBLE CASE.—A poor shoemaker at Edinburgh had nearly all his face eaten away by a dread ful bleeding cancer ; the disease had began to destroy his right eye; in this condition be was frightful and hideous to look at; of course not the least hopes of a cure could be expected. But however astonishing or even miraculous the circumstance may appear, he has been cured by the use of Holloway's ointment. This wonderful and extra ordinary remedy cures nearly all external diseases, and it may be procured at any chemist throughout the kingdom, or at the establishment of Mr. Holloway, 13, Broad-street Buildings, City. THE LATE LORD LANGFORD.—OH Saturday the mortal remains of the late Right Hon. Hercules Langford Rowley, Baron Langford, were deposited in the catacombs of the Harrow-road Cemetery. The funeral, in consonance with the wishes of the deceased, was strictly private, the only connections whom we ob served present were, Lord Langford, a fine youth about fourteen years of age, the Honourable Hercules Langford Boyle Rowley, the Hon. Richard Rowley, and Charles Egan, Esq. The burial service was most impres siv:ly performed, in the chapel of the Cemetery, by the Chaplain, the Rev. Joseph Trigger, M. A. By the demise of the late Baron, the following, among other noble famili,s, will be placed in mourning, the Marquis Welles ley, the Duke of Wellington, the Earl of Longford, and the Marquis of Headford. EXECUTION OF SEVEN MEN.—Yesterday morning, the seven teen convicted of the murder of the blacks, at Liverpool Plains, suffered the last sad penalty of the law on the drop, in the jaq yard, Gorge-street. Four of the men were Episcopalians, and were attended to the scaffold by the Rev. W. Cowper and Mr. T. Hyndes. The remainder being Roman Catholics, were attended by the Rev. Mr. Murphy, of St. Mary's Church. The unfortunate men, Kilmaister especially, seemed deeply dejected. Having severally shaken hands with Mr. Keck, the jailor, and kissed each other, they resigned themselves to their fate, and were speedily launched into eternity. The Colonist, Dec. 10. The Ayr Observer gives some distressing details of the death of a lad, who, in April last, was attacked and sadly bitten by a bull-dog. No idea had ever occurred to the boy, or to those around him, that the dor-, was in a rabid state, a n d unt il M on d ay, t h e 27t h M ay - last, he en joyed as good health as he had ever experienced. Having been hired as a farm-boy by Mr. Craig, in Burton, he went home to his service on the evening of that day. On Friday, upon approaching the Doon, it is said, he became violently a g it a t e d, and "felt such an extreme aversion to the sight of it, that he requested his friend to tic a napkin about his eyes, which was done, to prevent the possibility of his catching even a glimpse of it. A slight shower of rain occurring during his progress homewards, and some of the drops happening to fall on his hands, he manifested such a dislike to the liquid, that he thrust his hands into the coat-pockets of his acquaintance, at the same time suffering severely from convulsions. These paroxysms lasted about a minute, and the interval between them about three minutes. Whilst they continued, even the sound of water poured out, although not in his presence, seemed to cause him excruciating pain, and threw him again into fits." He died about ten o'clock on the evening of Friday—the paroxysms having so weakened him, that he seemed to pass away without much apparent pain, and it might be said he died without a struggle. BEER BILL. Lord BROUGHAM wished it to be understood that it was the Report of the Beer Bill that was agreed t) be put off till to-morrow, for the purpose of accommo dating a Noble Marquis who could not be in the House to-night, that he might have an opportunity of pro posing- certain amendments upon the bringing up of the Report. He was not in the House when the Bill passed through a Committee at the sitting of the House, otherwise he would have made this statement at the time. EDUCATION. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from a dissenting Baptist place of worship in Oxfordshire, against any system of education which should favour any one particular doctrine. The petitioners expressed their disapprobation of a statement that had gone forth, of a desire on the part of those representing the Church of England, wishing to have the exclusive education of the children. Tne Noble and Learned Lord felt that he should render a service to the great, question of education, and to the country at large, by abstaining no longer from bringing forward his Bill upon this subject. He should, therefore, bring forward the' same Bill he introduced last Session with an additional clause to it. The introduc tion of that measure would afford ample scope to the discussion of the whole of this question. He should therefore to-morrow, or in a day or two afterwards, pre sent that Bill, with a view to having it reprinted, and have the discussion upon it upon next Thursday week. The Bishop of LONDON said that, for his own part, he disclaimed all intention of ever having had a notion of the Church of England taking upon itself the exclusive education of children, but the claim the clergy put forward was to the right of the exclusive education of the persons connected with the Church of England. The Right Rev. Prelate presented a petition from Derby against any system of education contrary (as we understood) to thesystem agreed to in the Privy Council. Ths Marquis of L ANSDOWNE was quite satisfied that the clergy had never put forward a claim so wild and so absurd as that which had been just adverted to. Yet in addresses and in resolutions moved out of that House, the plan for a partial education of schoolmasters had been objected to by persons in high authority and connected with the Church of England, upon grounds utterly untenable except that monopoly which had just been disclaimed. Lord ZETLAND presented petitions from Biggles wade and a variety of other places, praying for the adoption of a penny postage. Lord MELBOURNE presented petitions from the Beer-sellers in Derby, Lewes, and one or two other places, against any alteration in the Beer Laws. The NOBLE VISCOUNT presented a petition in favour of a penny postage. The Marquis of WINCHILSEA presented peti tions from places in the counties of Bucks, Lincoln, Southampton, and Kent, against the proposed system of national education. The NOBLE LORD presented a petition from the Arch deaconry of Sudbury against the Church Discipline Bill, and a petition praying their Lordships to take into consideration the state of the Church in Canada. The Marquis of NORMAN BI" laid on the table copies, extracts, and correspondence relative to the affairs of Canada ; also returns relative to establish trien4.s for Religious Instruction in the Colonies, and likewise returns in reference to the emancipation of slaves in the Colonies. The Noble Marquis would take this opportunity, in relation to the last return, of informing the Noble and Learned Lord that although he had not received an official despatch from the Mau ritius, yet that a newspaper had been this day put into his hands, from which it appeared that the Order in Council for the emancipation of the slaves there had been received, and that the emancipation of the slaves was proclaimed to take place on the 31st of March. Lord BROUGHAM was extremely glad to hear that statement, although he must say it was an ex tremely cruel thing that in that part of the world where half of the slaves at least, were there by the felony of others, that they should have been six months later in obtaining their emancipation than the slaves in any other part of the British Colonies. The Bishop of EXETER presented petitions from several Deaneries against the Church Discipline Bill. The Right Rev. Prelate would take this opportunity of saying that his habit had been, when any great measure affecting the Church was introduced into Parliament, to write to his Clergy through the Archdeacon, request ing to know their opinions upon the subject. In the pre sent instance he had authorised a letter from himself to be addressed to his Clergy on the subject by way of ascer taining their opinions. Since the Clergy had not an opportunity now of meeting in Convocation, he consi dered this a very proper course to be adopted on the part of the Bishops, because he knew very well that the clergy of this country were able to give very sound and important information upon spiritual affairs, even to that House. CHURCH DISCIPLINE BILL. Upou the motion of the Archbishop of CANTER BURY, the House did not resolve itself into a Com mittee upon the Church Discipline Bill, but the Bill was referred to a Select Committee up stairs. The Bishop of EXETER concurred most warmly in this proposition. He considered the subject one infi nitely more calculated for cool deliberation up stairs, than for the heated debate of that House.—Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Java io. The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour. Mr. ALCOCK took the oaths and his seat for Ludlow. The Tyne Dock Bill was reported. On the motion of Sir M. WOOD, the Bethlem Hospital Estate Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. The Bury Small Debts Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. The Report on the Peterborough Gaol was brought up. Captain PEC HELL brought up the Report on the Brighton Cemetery Bill. On the motion of Sir E. WILMOT Mills's Estate Bill was read a third time and passed. On the motion of Mr. W. PATTEN Hulme's Estate Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr. INGHAM moved that the Report of the Com mittee on the Birmingham and Manchester Extension Railway Bill be ordered to be brought up on the 24th June. Mr. BROTHERTON brought up the Report of the Committee on the Bradford Improvement Bill. The Rmport of the Committee on the Croydon, Mer sham, and Godstone Iron Railway was brought up. On the motion of Mr. EDWARD ELLICE, the Saw-mill Ford Bridge and Road Bill was read a third time. Mr. HURST presented several petitions in favour of an uniform rate of penny postage, and also in favour of the Government system of national education. Sir F. TRENCH presented a petition in favour of a uniform system of penny postage. Mr. BROADLEY presented several petitions from various pieces in Yorkshire against the Government plan of education. Mr. PLUMPTRE presented petitions against any grant to the College of Maynooth. Mr. LASCELLES presented petitions from the West Riding of Yorkshire, against any business being done at the Post-office on Sundays. Mr. BAINES presented a petition from Leeds, in favour of a uniform penny post. Sir E. CODRINGTON presented a petition from certain Seamen, complaining of being taxed for the sup. port of Greenwich Hospital. Mr. E WART presented a petition from the Borough of Wigan, complaining of the conduct that had been pursued at the last election towards certain electors of that borough. The first case to which the petitioners adverted was that of John Riley, who had been taken to Liverpool, confined up stairs there, and not allowed to go out until after the close of the poll on Saturday afternoon, when ho was put down in a stupitleci state in the streets, about mid night. The next case was that of Thomas Riley, who had been similarly used and wounded with a knife. EVENING EDITION. was at their service ; to which the person replied that he never read it, and if it was put into his hand he would throw it in the fire. In the course of the day a person unknown brought a paper into the room, and put it in the hands of Mr. Brown, who read it aloud. Mr. The third case was that of Thomas Hartlepool, who had been taken >to the Eagle and Child, public-house, where he was given some stupefying liquor to drink, after which he was taken seventeen miles from Wigan in a post-chaise, and was not brought back till one o'clock the next morning.—(Hear, hear.) The next case was that of John Worship and William Wague, who stated that as they were stepping into a chaise to go to the polling place, they were forcibly seized and carried to a loft, where they were compelled to remain till after the poll had closed. The next case was that of John Brierly, who was a relative of the Mayor of Wigan, and who had signed the requisition to Wm. Ewart—a mob assembled in front of his house, and he was obliged to steal away privately during the night. Col. PERCIVAL rose to order. He had on Friday night attempted to read a petition and was immediately called to order. He hoped, therefore, the same rule would be enforced towards the Hon. Member for Wigan. The SPEAKER said the Hon. Member was only entitled to state the substance of the petition. Mr. EWART said he was merely stating the mate rial facts. Colonel PERCIVAL felt bound to insist upon the same measure of justice being observed towards others as towards himself. The SPEAKER said the Hon. and Gallant Mem ber was certainly out of order when he had proceeded to read the petition. The rule was " that any Member offering a petition to the House should state the place whence it came, the number of signatures, and the material allegations of the petition. Mr. EWART proceeded to read the other cases re ferred to in the petition, which prayed that the House would take immediate steps to vindicate the privileges of of Parliament, and prevent such undue interference with the freedom of election, and the liberty of the subject. Mr. HALFORD presented two petitions from Lei cester against the Government plan of education. Mr. G. BERKELEY presented petitions from Roe hampton, and two other parishes in Gloucestershire, in favour of a uniform rate of penny postage. Mr. G. W. WOOD presented a petition from Kendal against the Government plan of national education. Mr. GROTE presented five petitions from Oxford in favour of a general system of national education without religious distinction.—( Hear, hear.) Also two petitions from the City of London in favour of a uniform plan of Penny Postage. Also a petition from John Holmes, High Bailiff of Southwark, complaining that his emoluments as President of the Court of Re quests would be materially diminished by the County Courts Bill, and praying compensation. Also a peti tion from an eminent solicitor of the City of London complaining of the multiplication of vexatious pleas in actions to recover debts by merchants and traders. Petitions against the Government plan of National Education were presented by Mr. Cartwright ; Mr. Maunsell, from 18 parishes in the county of Leicester ; Lord Eliot, from various parishes in Cornwall ; and Mr. Mackinnon from two parishes in Leamington. Lord A. LENNOX presented a petition from a parish in the county of Argyle, complaining of the want of Church accommodation. Mr. MAUNSELL presented a petition from Lei cester in favour of Mr. Hill's plan of penny postage ; also one against any further grant to the College of Maynooth. Mr. LEADER presented a petition from the West minster Reform Society, complaining of the abandon ment of the Government plan of education. Also one praying for the establishment of a police force throughout the country, but they prayed that the appointments should be vested in the local authorities ; and one from Josiah Parkes, a proprietor of a Canadian paper, stating that he sometime ago was put into prison—that after being there for several weeks he was told to walk out, and though he had frequently inquired, as to the charge which was laid against him, of Sir J. Colborne, he was yet in ignorance of it ; and as he could not obtain redress in Canada, he was compelled to appeal to that House. In order to show the manner in which business was done there he moved that the petition be printed. Mr. GILLON presented a 'petition from the pro vost, magistrates, and town council of Linlithgow, in favour of a cheap and uniform rate of postage. A similar petition from the inhabitants of Larkhall, in the county of Lanark. A petition from the inhabitants of Boness, in the county of Linlithgow, representing that the present high duties on foreign sugar tends to impair the commerce and prosperity of this country, and pray ing for a reduction of that duty. A petition from Lin lithgow in favour of the Scotch Prisons Bill. A petition from Larkhall against any further endowments to the Church of Scotland. A similar petition, most respect ably and very numerously signed, from the inhabitants of Leith ; and a petition, to which only two names were affixed, but which emanated from a body representing the sentiments and opinions of at least one-third of the popu lation of Scotland. It was subscribed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Central Board of Scottish Dis senters, and it prayed that no monopoly of the right of printing the Holy Scriptures might be confined to any individual or corporation whatever. This petition, from the respectability, weight, and influence of the parties from whom it came, was deserving of the highest con sideration. Mr. STU RT presented four petitions from the County of Dorset against the Ministerial plan of national edu cation. Hine soon found that this was a petition against the Government plan of education, and knowing that the people of Bedford knew he was a Dissenter, and possessed strong political feelings, be thought that this paper, to which he did not see a single signature attached, had been sent in as an insult to him. He therefore tore it to pieces and made use of some strong expressions, but not those in the petition. The words that had been ascribed to Mr. Hine were— ‘‘lamnation to the petition, the parsons, and the Church." Now, be (Mr. A.) had seen Mr. Hine, and he had assured him that those words had never passed his lips, and that he should have been ashamed to have used them. Conceiving, however, that the peti tion had been sent for the purpose of insulting him, he tore it, and in doing so he used the word—" damna tion."—(Great laughter.) Mr. Hine had been in the office, he now filled, since 1803, and he (Mr. A.) be lieved a more honourable man did not exist. No officer had ever performed his duty more to the satis faction of the Board than Mr. Hine had done. Mr. Hine regretted as much as any man that in a moment of irritation he should have made use of the expression he did. These were the circumstances of the case, and he would confidently ask, whether the subject was one worthy the attention of the House. Mr. BARING bore testimony to the high character of Mr. Hine as a public officer. He would put it to the House whether, under these circumstances, they ought to go into the case farther. NEGRO SLAVERY. Dr. LUSHINGTON, seeing the Right Hon. Gen tleman the Under-Secretary for the Colonies in his place, wished to ask him whether or no negro appren ticeship was abolished in the island of the Mauritius ; if abolished, at what period ; and if not, wby that abolition had not taken place ? Mr. L ABOUC HERE said that from the official despatches received at the Colonial-office, he had ne knowledge whether or not negro apprenticeship bad been completely put an end to or not in the Mauritius. He had however, that day, seen a newspaper of the Mauritius, dated 11th March, from which be felt no doubt that the Orders in Council had been received in the Mauritius and that the Governor had proclaimed them, and fixed the 31st day of March as the termination of the system of appren ticeship. He had no reason to doubt, that from the nature of the instructions which had been sent out, the Governor; had issued the Proclamation, and that negro apprenticeship had ceased in the Mauritius from the 31st of March last. Lord MAHON hoped the House would allow him to advert to the circumstances of the petition for I moment. As Mr. Hine did not attempt to justify his conduct--as he merely wished to palliate it, he would not pursue the case any further.—(Cheers.) He con sidered however, that the petitioners were quite satisfied in bringing the case under the notice of the House (Hear, hear)—and the petition having been put in his bands, he would have neglected his duty had be not taken steps to bring it before the House —( Hear.) Lord ASHLEY begged to ask the Noble Secretary for the Home Department whether it was his intention to move the proposed grant for National Education on Friday next ? Lord J. RUSSELL—Certainly, supposing the de bate on Canada does not extend beyond Thursday. Lord ASHLEY—The new proposition was, in his mind, as bad as the former one ; and he must leave his notice for a call of the House on the book, as ho wou ld feel it his duty to take the sense of the House upon the vote.—( Hear.) Sir H. HARDINGE begged to ask whether the widow of Lieut.-Colonel Moody had got a pensio n ' as he had been killed in the late rebellion ? Lord HO WICK could not answer the qu estion! 0. 11 he had not been aware that the officer had been married, MEDICAL aEFORM. Mr. WAKLEY wished 'to put a question to ,the Noble Lord the Secretary for the Home Department. In the winter of 1834 a Committee of that House was appointed to inquire into the state of medical education in this country, of which the Honourable Member for Bridport (Mr. Warburton) was Chairman. That Committee sat the whole of that Session. A. g reat deal of valuable information was elicited, and three or four Reports of evidence given before that Committee.. were printed and issued ; but the remaining portions 01 the evidence had not been printed. This was a s ubject that created a great deal of interest among a very large class of professional gentlemen ; they were aware the papers had been deranged by the fire that took plaec in 1834, but as so much time had now elapsed they were extremely anxious to learn if there was any chance of their obtaining the evidence that had not been printed during the present Session. Lord JOHN RUSSELL replied that the Hon. .elinferib.eilti,dport knew more about the matter than he did. Mr:WAKLEY—He is not here. • Sir R. PEEL suggested that it would be better to ascertain whether there was anything reflecting on the medical profession in that evidence.--(Hear, hear.) Mr. WAKLEY wished to state that the medical profession desired that evidence might be printed, with, the view that the two Houses might see the nature °' the testimony given, in order that a good Medical ge" form Bill might be founded on it. The Hon. Me mber, for Bridport said that so far as he was concerne d that aeffort should be lost to get the evidence out as soon as possible. An Hoar. MemeEn presented a petition from the Archdeaconry of Essex against the Ecclesiastical Duties Revenues Bill. Mr. HUGH BAILEY presented a petition from Hurston against the Government scheme of national education. Mr. BETHELL presented similar petitions from the East Riding of Yorkshire. Mr. CHRISTOPHER presented similar petitions from Lincoln and other places. Captain A LSAGER presented petitions from Streat ham, Sutton, Croydon, and various other places in Surrey to the same effect. Sir G. STAUNTON presented several petitions from Hampshire to the same effect. Mr. F. BERKELEY presented a petition from Bath in favour of a penny postage. Also a petition from Bristol in favour of the Government Scheme of national education Mr. E. BULLER presented petitions from New castle under Lyne, in favour of national education, and:pe titions against it from the Wesleyans of the same place. Mr. HOPE presented a petition from Gloucester against national education. Petitions in favour of a penny postage were presented by Mr. BROTHERTON from the mechanics of Durham ; by Mr. Pattison, Mr. E. Buller, and Sir R. Peel. Mr. PRYME gave notice that he should, to-morrow, move for leave to bring in a Bill for the more effeetually relieving poor persons from the payment of rates. Mr. EWART gave notice that he intended to move for a Select Committee to inquire into the allega tions in the Wigan petition, the date of which however we could not ascertain. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT(IRELAND). Mr. LYTTON asked whether the Noble Lord, the Secretary for Ireland, intended to bring in a Bill, ex tending the Abolition of Imprisonment for Debt Act to Ireland, and if so, whether it would contain the same provisions as the English Bill ; and also, whether he intended to introduce it during the present Session ? Lord MORPETH thought it desirable to extend the Bill, with some modifications, to Ireland in the course of the present Session. BREACH OF PRIVILEGE. Lord MAHON rose to put a question to the Noble Lord the Home Secretary, with regard to a petition which he (Lord Mahon) had presented from Bedford last Thursday, and which had been printed with the Votes. The petition was signed by several respectable gentlemen, with one of whom be had been long personally ac quainted. It stated in substance that an officer hold ing an employment under the Crown, Mr. Joseph Hine, receiver and inspector of taxes, seeing a peti tion in course of signature against the Government plan of education, had taken upon himself to snatch the petition from one of the inhabitants to tear it to pieces and trample upon it. Supposi ng these facts had been t ru ly s t a t e d, h e (Lord Mahon) was sure the Noble Lord would not attempt to justify the transaction. It was most blameable in any officer holding an office under the Government,—(Cries of " Question.") Mr WALL ACE rose to order. The Noble Lord was not putting a question, but making an argument.— ( Hear, hear.) The SPEAKER said the Noble Lord had first risen to put a question, but subsequently it appeared that he meant to refer to a subject connected with the privileges of that House.----(Hear.) Lord MAHON said this certainly was his object, though he should conclude with putting a question. He trusted the Noble Lord would agree with him th a t a CANADA. Government officer was not justified in taking any steps Lord J. RUSSELL said it might suit the convelLl to prevent a petition against a Government measure. ence of the House for him to state, that it would t! 0 : Now, the question he wished to ask the Noble Lord pend on the exact course which the Noble Lord. i n , was, whether, under the circumstances, he would under- tended to take, whether he should press his resolutionid take to institute an inquiry, and if so, he would put all to a division on Thursday. If the Noble Lord sve.,, the documents into his possession, and leave the case in not agree to the resolution proposing the union of . his hands. He had no personal feeling against Mr. two provinces, he should press the matter to a divisici' ot Hine, but as the petition had been placed in bis,handis, but if he did not dissent from the principle, he did noe he any necessity for so doing. he had presented it to the House, and he thought Government ought to take the matter up ; and e • wor ds Lord STANLEY would repeat the precise be wished to know whether the Noble Lord concurred with he had made use of in giving the notice—That it ;`,. him in this opinion. se nse tta his intention, on Thursday, to take the se Lo L rd or t d ha J t . t l h t e U re SS w E as L s L uffi e n e i r e t n a t in g ly rn a n g n r d ee f d or w i i n tl s i ti t t h n e ti N ng ol a t as to cape inquiry into the circumstances as stated in the petition.of a union between the p Resolution to tl the principle yof pledging the House r b o Y . vinces of Upper and Lower Canada. I BUt he would observe that it did not appear from the petition that either of the p ersons si g nin g it wer e peti- Lord EASTNOR wis h e d to ask whether a.noytc::: tioners, or were present when the circumstances alluded pensation or promotion had been ffi aw arded n from t h to took place. He th ou g ht it ri g ht to m ake inquiry. officers of the Navy who, having withd raw Mr. ALSTON w ould show the House how all this service and settled in Upper Canada as Lu cultivatorsLieutenant' n o t! se Mr. Hine having finished his official duties, was din- land, came for Ward at the request of the aro • ing at a private room at the inn with his private friend Mr. Governor of the Province to informea Brown. During the day seine persons came in to th e the protection of the Province. He bad heel- °no tion room, and asked for the Standard, upon which he said that some gallant officers had received no comp I he had not the Standard, but the Morning Chronicle I for their services. arrange an armament f°r, CANADA. Lord STANLEY gave notice, that on Thurs day next he should take the sense of the House as to th e expediency of pledging itself to an opinion on the union of the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada. PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE. Lord HO WICK brought up the Report of the Col; mittee appointed to inquire into the proceedings w l je d, have taken place in the case of Stockdalc Hansar t which recommended, as we understood, that it was 13° desirable to appear by Counsel pending the wr it Of 'a' quiry. The Rort was ordered to h print. Lord PALMERSTON laid on the ed table Treaties containing the final settlement of the Belgic question..." (Cheers)—and also a Post-office Convention between, Great Britain and France, to facilitate the transport of letters between the two countries. BISHOP OF UPPER CANADA. s it Mr. PAKINGTON wished to ask whether Ws true that Archdeacon Strong had been appointed Ws of Upper Canada : and if so, what income was attaches to the new Bishopric, and whether he was to hold t i b office of Archdeacon along with the Bishopri c ; it ' s° whether any arrangement was in contemplation to re-a lieve the Bishop of M on t r eal from the pluralities be bad hitherto held, and which was the subject of co m P lAnl by the Bishop in his Report to Lord Durham ? Mr. L ABOUC HE RE, in answer to the firs t Q ue s t tion, said that a great desire having been express ed ti le Upper Canada should be erected into a leP ar i A d Bishopric, Government wer e ready to do so, Pr ovide _ no charge was affixed on this country for that purposse; and Archdeacon Strong having accepted it on Och, terms, the Government, with the . consent of the Ar c bishop of Canterbury, intimated their readiness to carry the arrangement into effect ; but they thought it b ardil _ respectful to the Bishop of Montreal to make the ner_ arrangement until they knew his views, and until hl' opinion should be received no find step c ould be ta ken r ; w He believed, however, there would be no diffi cultY the ay of the appointment. In reply to the s eenn`i question he would take that opportunity of stating' tbbae it was not the intention of the Government t o ask t House this year for a larger sum than had be en asks last year fur a similar purpose . SHERIFFS OF SLIGO. Mr. SOMERS asked the Hon. and Gallant 11Iembther opposite whether he intended proceeding with e motion of which he had given notice for to-morrow ? Colonel PERCIVAL was not quito certain whe ther he should be able to bring forward this subject to-morrow, because he ..ad not yet seen the petition in print, and he was exceedingly desirous that Hon. Mem bers should have an opportunity of making themselves acquainted with its contents. He was not quite certain whether he ought to bring the question before the House now, because a similar petition had been prere sented to the other House of Parli ament, and ferred to the Committee now sitting on the state o`. Ireland. But he was quite willing to stato his view' of the facts of the case , as regarded the three 1 0 Sheriffs of the county of Sligo, and of the class frog' which they were appointed. Mr. SOMERS said that, from the course pursue d by the Hon. and Gallant Colonel, he had not though t he had entertained any serious intention of bringing t he question forward.