The Sun. — London, England, 1844-05-15 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY. STANDARD.—The Factory Bill was last night read a third time and passed in the House of Commons; Lord Ashley's amendment (limiting the hours of labour in factories of young persons to ten) having been rejected, after a long debate, by a majority of 297 to 159. The greatness of the majority, by which the House has, within a few days, rescinded its solemn de cision, three times repeated, will come by surprise upon the public. We confess that though we anti cipated a decision against Lord Ashley's proposition, we werenot prepared for such an adverse majority as 138 ; and now we can account for it only by two causes : —First, the distinct and unequivocal declaration of the Ministers that they would resign office if defeated ; secondly, the occurrence in the debate of menaces against the corn-laws, introduced into Mae debate by Lord John Russell and some others of the new converts to the principle of limiting the hours of labour. These two considerations co-operating—the fear of losing a Ministry that had proved the faithful protector of agriculture, on one side—the fear of that Mi nistry being succeeded by another, the leader of which 2t the very moment threatened to repeat the desperate and ruinous attempt made in 1841, would naturally alarm the agricultural Members of the House. As regards the first of these two considerations, there can be no doubt that if Ministers appreciate, as we believe they do, the magnitude of the change that Lord Ashley s proposition would ultimately produce, and fear the effect of that change, they were right to give it a determined opposition, and, if unsuccessful in that opposition, to release themselves from the responsibilities of office. For an Administration to prosecute the routine of Government without the power to govern—to submit to defeat after defeat, as was the practice of Lord Melbourne's Cabinet, or to merely :evade defeats by abandoning to the majority its own conscientious judgment, is of the worst pos sible example. And, indeed; the present Minis ters had precluded themselves, and we hope all future Ggvernments, from pursuing -this unworthy course, 11; the memorable resolution which closed the first session of 1841. They who think with us, that the Cabinet is in error respecting the short time ques tion, must nevertheless approve, on constitutional grounds, of the course which they have taken re specting its decision. But though the Ministers themselves are perfectly clear in the matter, we are not quite sure that the fears of many who supported them last night Were not unreasonable. Our own belief is, that though Sir R. Peel should resign office on the Ist of June, he would be no less Prime Minister on the Ist of August. A Whig Admi nistreion is what, while a remembrance of the ten years from 1831 to 1841 shall remain, the country will never bear ; and there is, even among the Conservative party, no man in whose genius, wisdom, prudence, temper—in a word, in whose • consummate statesmanship the country has so much con fidence as it has, most justly, in the qualifications of Sir Robert Peel. The gentlemen who sacrificed their own opinions, upon an important and deeply interesting ques tion rather than deprive the country of the services of such a Minister, acted no doubt conscientiously, and paid to Sir Robert certainly the highest compliment that could be paid to a public man ; but ought they ,not to have given the people credit for the same feeling; oight they not to have remembered, that though the gret;:t majority of the nation differ from the Right Hon. Baronei upon this one question, that same majority gratefully appreciates his value as a Minister, and after defeating him, even with the effect of render ing his resignation necessary, would restore him to office as zealously', and with even a more cordial affection, than they placed him there in 1841? The second consideration—the Apprehension excited by the Anti-Corn-law menaces of the new converts — ought to have been of even less weight than the fear of disturbing the Ministry. Without wishing to detract from the value of any recruit to what we believe to be a good cause, we must still remember that the converts in question are party men. They may not, and we trust not, come over to us with party motives, but they cannot help bringing with them their party incumbrances. One of these is hostility to the corn-laws; and as it is too much fur even the most unscrupulous of politicians to get rid of two d L.inct sets of political principles at one and the same time, they' must try to reconcile their old enmity to the protection of agricultural, with their new zeal fel- the protectini of manufacturing labour. Between the corn laws and the limitation of the hours of labour there is. however, no natural connexion except this—the competition of foreigners, of which we have heard 50 much, as necessarily en;;;Teing long hours of' labour, would be infinitely increased by a repeal of the corn-laws. All that the f,seigner in habiting a leis encumbered, a less taxed country, with s population long familiarised to starvation, and an abundance of water power, cheaper than steam as 21 is to 12, and working much nearer than we to the great Continental markets—all that the foreigner wants in . competing with u 3 is capital ; and a few years of a free trade in corn would hand over to him the capital of this country. " Were it not (said the late Mr. Rothschild) for occasional bad harvests, all the money of the world must flow to and settle in Nngland ;" and we have little doubt that the recent active competition which has excited so much apprehension raigkt, with little difficulty, be traced to the effect pf the successive bad harvests from 1838. The Inquiry, though an important one, scarcely falls in with our immediate subject, and therefore we dis miss it for the present. We can, on the whole, find no valid reason for the votes of the majority of those who opposed Lord Ashley last night, though we are very far from imputing improper motives to any considerable number of them. And now to come to the most im portant question. The fate of the short time propo sition having been decided for a session, how are the friends of that proposition to act ? to pre pare a strong force and a strong case against the next session, when, or at least in the succeeding session at farthest, they must carry their point, if they only act with prudence. The principle of limitation has been established, and it was strongly, though somewhat inconsistently, urged by some of Lord Ashlety's most distinguished opponents, that every such principle must in the nature of things be progressive. How, then, is its progress to be aided and accelerated ? by an g ry agitation and violent speeches, and , as was obscurelyriot hinted, by " strikes ? Oh, no; none of these things ever forwarded any but a bad cause and have never been employed in a good one without retarding or injuring it. The way in which the strength of the factory labourers is to be augmented, is by the preservation of that noble character which they have achieved for themselves. It is in rooted repose that the . forest oak acquires its magnificent dimensions ; i t its in repose from violent agitation that large bodies of men acquire a great and noble character. Next, information adapted to the new phase of the question smut be diligently sought for and accurately prepared. Enough is known of the suffering of the factory la bourers by direct testimony—more than enough for those who are by experience acquainted with the con ruption of human nature, and know that all responsible power which men can . profitably abuse, will be abused by those who possess it. GLOBE.—A motion stands on the order-book of the House of Commons for this evening, the discussion of which will open the eyes of the public to the enormities perpetrated by Lord Lyndhurst's Chancery Reform Act, for the passing of which the session of 1842 will be dis tinguished in the history of Parliamentary credulity, indif ference, and idleness. When Tory Lord Chancellors endea vour to lull suspicion asleep by extraordinary professions of regard for the public interests, then is the time for legislators to be more than commonly on their guard :against deception. The motion we allude to, which will lbe brought forward by Mr. Watson, Q.C., is for "A Select Committee to inquire into the orders for scompensation made by the Lord Chancellor to the _persons filling the offices of Clerk of the Enrol ;nents, Comptrollers of the Hanaper, Riding Clerk, Six CfCrks, Sworn Clerks, Waiting Clerks, Agent or Re cord ir.eeper in the Court of Chancery, under the Act 5 and 6 Vic. c. 103, and to inquire into the nature, duties, and emoluments of those offices before the pass ing of that Ant, and their' right to compensation (and if any, to what amount), during their life, and for seven years after the death of such person ; and to inquire ' into the taxation Oc suitors in courts of law and equity, and the application of moneys raised thereby, and the propriety of continuing the same." The Chancery Offices Abolition Act was frareeeilly, or under the immediate in structions of, LordLyndhurss, and was introduced to the House of Peers by the Noble and Learned Lord with a corn placency of demeanour, and a blaielness of tone, which - tended to allay suspicion that any misehief to the public - interests could lurk under so fair a form. The legal pro- Jession concurred in denouncing the Six Clerks'-office 0 1 - B .lie principal cause of the reproach which the public agreed I o cas t u po n the Chancel:3r Court ; the vet ) , name of whi c h was s ynonymous in the public ear withinterminable delay and ruinous expense in litiga tion. Until Lord Lyndhurst undertook the Herculean task, Oat Augean stable reposed in security. The dread of izsterfering with e . rested interests," and the horror of touching the time-honoured_ e institutions of the ,country, were alternately pleaded as hanieheoxpcpurseessefodr, j aot abolishing tilt , monster-grievance s l ise assed, and frequently destroyed es thew in the Chancellor's Court. Lord Lyndurst hapless suitors the arduous undertook Chaneelljsous and—it was boasted—completed el l e abour ! It was not until the Lord orders were issued in December last, that celebrated orders t which the benefits of the Chancery Offices price Abo lition Act had been purchased became known. Whether the framers of the Act had any idea that compensation which it gave would amount to a roximating to that which it is now ascertained su n't aPP pro v isions, we do not undertake to be' paid under its Certain, however , is it, that a s um pro se x tince. 'consider:lVY more than a million sterling is awarded :as compensation to the holders of the offices abolished ',by the Aet.. IT the Lord Chancello r knew that such ;would be the effect of his first experiment in law reform, 'he ought to have stated the fact. If his Lordshiewas. ignorant of that which is now mad e manifest, it will go i.ar to convict him of neglig ence in the discharge of his istiblic duties. It will also cause suspicion of the Noble sm.! Learned Lord's other reforms in the administration cf i t :istice, which he 'has engaged to effect. 111 frst grand experintent has entailed a gross amount of charge` on the suitors of the Court, in the shape of compensati on to the holders of useless offices, to the .gfietcnt of J 3518,4241. 3e. 50.! This is more than enough for NE I 41Net • leidgfat That the Bill was pressed through _ ramie rapidity, will be seen by a reference , - gs of Parliament. The Bill was introduced e';; kt)101 of the session of 1842. It was brought s on the 11th of July, 1812 ; and passed a mmons in eight days, nearly set, ~,iLtittie. "."U;raceivect, Royal Assent on the 10th of A u gust fol . r being on Circuit and the L on d on attor :4 kirs %e ns y wholly uninformed of the meas ur e. I n :ti t i - Z:eoutrnens it moved two stages after midnight. Han bare. Debate i mord not ono lln9 Of discussion in Par. is J `. liament on the Bill. There is yet some hope for the country from the inquiry which Mr. Watson seeks to obtain by his motion. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current of May 14.) SuGAIL—To-day the market for West India Sugar pre sented a very dull appearance, and the trifli. g parcels dis posed of were at prices ratker under those of Friday ; the total sales are only 150 hhds and tierces ; there is a better show of samples in the market ; a vessel has arrived with a cargo of new Barbadoes. The parcels of Bengal and Mauri tius offered at public sale were again very large. REFLNED.—To-day few purchases were made in Refined goods for home consumption, brown lumps are 775, and standard lumps 78s per cwt. Bonded Crushed Sugar is wanted at 25s 9d to 26s per cwt. Loaves in good demand ; Turkey Double Refined 2i to 41bs at 35s to 38s ; Hamburgh 6lbs 345, 9to 101bs 30s 6d to 31s, 13 to 141bs 30s ; Tittlers 20 to 301bs 26s 6d to 27s ; Prussian 40 to 451 b 26s 6d.: Pieces are wanted at 21s to 235. Bastards yellow at 19s to 20s, and brown 17s 6d to 18s. Treacle in fair demand at lls. In Dutch Crushed Sugar not much doing ; 22s 6d to 23s 9d per cwt is the value. MADRITIUS.—This afternoon buyers purchased with cau tion, at prices Is per cwt under those of this day week ; fine yellow sold at 64s to 65s 6d, good 62s 6d to 63s 6d, mid 60s to 625, low 58s 6d to 59s 6d, ord foxey brown 52s 6d to 545, good 56s 6d, fine 57s to 58s, and common to good grey 58s to 63s per cwt. EAST INDIA.—In Foreign East India Sugar little business has been transacted privately, but holders remain firm. This afternoon there were four public sales of Bengal Sugar, con taining 7,583 bags 6 casks ; white was all bought in at pre vious rates ; the few lots of brown and yellow sold went at a further reduction of Is per cwt ; strong yellow sold at 60s 6d to 62s 6d, middling rather soft 58s 6d to 59s 6d, damp 56s to 58s, brown 52s 6d to 54s per cwt. FOREIGN.—To-day yellow Havannah Sugar was sought after, and a floating cargo of 800 boxes of low quality was disposed of, for a port in the Mediterranean, at 20s 6d per cwt. Maroim Sugar, at public sale, sound all taken in at 22s to 24s for mid to good white, good brown 18s 6d to 19s, and ordinary 17s per cwt, being above their value ; a few lots washed were sold at 21s to 22s for white, and 16s to 18s for brown. Bahia were taken in at 18s for sound brown. MOLASSF.S.-In the prices of West India there is no alte-. ration ' • Antigua at 27s per cwt. Small parcels of Bengal' 15s to 17s per cwt. Cuba Honey was taken in at 19s per cwt. COCOA.-Prices for West India rule 2s per cwt under those of last Tuesday ; Trinidad, good dark red at 49s to 49s 6d, middling 47s 6d to 48s, middling to good grey 43s 6d to 465, very low 365, and good sea damaged 44s 6a per cwt. For Foreign in small parcels very full rates have been paid. COFFEE.-Prices are still on the decline for West India, and rule 2s to 3s per cwt under those of this day week. This afternoon Mocha good mid yellow long berry clean garbled at 82s to 85s, mid green 74e to 74s 6d, tine ord.7ls 6d to 72s 6d, broken 52s Gd to 655, sea damaged, first class, 68e to 69s 6d. Ceylon good ord 5:3s : Plantation fine bold middling coloury at 86s to 86s 6d, fine rather greyish 85s (one lot 79s 6d), pea berry 94s 6d, sea damaged, first class, 85s, second ditto 765, third ditto 695, and black 51s; other sorts at 53s per cwt for good ordinary quality, and 47s to 52s for sea da maged. Costa Rica taken in at 59s to 60s for fine fine ord, and 54s for good ord, excepting a few lots which sold at 50s 6d to 52s for good ord, and one lot inferior 49s Gd per cwt. TEA.-Although there have been further arrivals of Tea, still merchants show firmness, and none has been brought to public sale. To-day green was much in demand, but of the finer sorts the supply is scanty, and prices are still on the advance. Of black, several parcels were sold at full rates; common sound Congou is Is to Is OAd, Hyson ord 2s 3d to 2s Gd, and Twankay common is to is 3d per lb. lIICE.-There has been a much better demand for Bengal, and the parcels disposed of by private contract have brought rather higher rates. Madras at 8s Gd to 9s, and Java 8s 6d' to Ils per cwt. Cleaned Rice is more in request, Patna at 13s to 17s, and Carolina 21s to 24s and 26s per cwt. To-day Bengal Rice at lOs 6d to Ils per cwt for mid white. Yellow Foreign East India is 8s Gd per cwt. SmEs.-This afternoon white Pepper sold lid per lb. under former rates, good bold but din;.y went at 5d to sid, good middling 4id to 4/d, middling 4d, and one lot 343 per lb. For Cassia Lignea, holders refusing to sell at former rates • checked business. Suinatra Pepper at 2.1 1 (1 to 3d per lb for common. Pimento at rafter Iglier prices. IteM, BRANDY ' AND IIor..LANDs.-Jamaica Rum at rather: higher rates. Leewards at 2s 2d to 2s 3d for proof to 3 per cent overproof, and common almost black at 2s Id per gallon, proof; strong Demerara, 35 per cent overproof, 3s 2d per gallon; Calcutta Rum at 13 Ild to Is 11 1 per gallon, proof strength. In the better qualities of Brandy few pur chases made, but low descriptions have been in good request by exporters at 2s 9d to 3s per gallon. For other kinds prices are drooping, and ride as follows:- Cognac, best brands of t i.e vintage of 1838, 5s 7d, puns. 5s ; ditto 1839, 1111(18 5s 53, puns 5s 3d ; ditto 1840, hhds 5s 3d, puns 5s 1d; ditto 1841, 'Aids 5s 2d, puns Sc; ditto 1842, blids 5s Id, puns 4.s 11 , 1; and middling qualities 3s 2d to 4s 6d per gallon. Geneva for exportation at Is 8d to Is 9d, and several parcels of tine take' by time home trade at 2s 2d to 3s. English Corn Spirits at lOs 2:1 per gallon, cash. To day Calcutta Ram was mach s;-,ught after, and the Dobah Company have sold all they hot at is 11 d proof. Leewards proof 2s 2 3 / 4 d to 2s 33, 9 per cent over 28 sd. Demerara 36 to 37 over sold at 3s 25 to 3s 4d. Jamaica at 3s 3d to 5s for 26 to 37 over. OILS.-Linseed Oil at 266 9d to 278 per cwt on the spot Rape Oil, brown at 3Ss to !rs tid, and pale 39s to 39s 6d per cwt. Olive Oil is much wanted. Gallipoli at 52/ lOs to 53/, Sicily 521, Spanish 51/ to 511 10s, and Barbary 50l to 501 10s per tun. Palm bought in at 26s to 27s for good and fine quality. For Cocoa Nut Oil 28s to 32s is the value of common to fine. Sperm Oil firm ; 75/ to 76/ per tun paid for British. Pale Seal is 33/ 5s to 33/ 10s, Cod 341, and Southern 25/ to 291 per tun. Tarnow.-There are sellers of P Y Candle for delivery in the last three months of the year at 41s 3d to 41s 6d per cwt. on the spot 40s to 405 95 par cwt accepted. Town Tallow at 39s to 40s per cwt, net cash. South American Tallow at 34s to 39s Gd for mid to fine, 28s to 33s 6d for low, and 3s to 9s • per cwt for scrapings and pumpings. New South Wales fetched 38s Gd to 305 od for good and fine, and Italian at 39e to 40s per cwt. To-day 1' 1 Candle on the spot at lower rates, 40s to 403 6d being accepted. For delivery 41s to 41s 3d are the quotations fur the last three months of the year. INDIGO.-Holders of East India remain firm. Some small parcels of Spanish have brought Stiff prices. This afternoon Guatemala Indigo taken in at 3s 8d to 4s 3d per lb for mid dling and good. Sacco.-At rather higher rates. 13s is the lowest price of sound Pearl. Fine small Pearl at 20s Gd per cwt. Sago Flour taken in at 21s per cwt. Jamaica Arrowroot sold Bd per lb. This afternoon Pearl ?•ago sold 2s under former rates good ordinary small brown Pearl at 118 to 12s per cwt. MR. BARNARD GREGORY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sra,—l take the liberty of handing you a copy of the petition presented on Monday night to the House of Commons, by Mr. Roebuck, on the matter of the im prisonment of my father, and the privations to which he is subjected by the rigor,ais system now in force as affecting persons criminally proceeded against for libel. Every allegation in the petition can be substantiated on oath, and nearly every word uttered, or reported in the public papers to be tittered, by Sir James Graham, on the presentation of the petition, and in reply to Mr. Roebuck, refuted by the like means. My father, after conviction (if it can be called a conviction where a jury has not pronounced a verdict) for the alleged libels for which he is now paying a heartless and cruel penalty, at the time of passing sentence was not permitted to say a single word, much less, as Sir James Graham has as serted, to ask to be placed in the first class of misde meanours. My father was ignorant of there existing any such law, and so it is presumed were his counsel and his attorneys, for n 1 application was made to the Court, as stated by Sir James Graham, consequently no " deliberate refusal" by the Judges could have been given to that which was not asked, nor would, probably have been asked even if it had been known, for the mea sure of injustice and persecution should be filled to the brim, that malignity may drink the deeper ! Again was Sir James Graham in error, or the re porters have made him so, in stating that my father " was better now in health than when he was first con fined." If to he in a perfect state of physical prostra tion—to be attenuated and haggard in looks, and to be enfeebled mentally from the long deprivation of literary occupation to which he had from early life been accus tomed, are signs of an improved state of health, then is my father better—much better than he was when he first entered his present loathsome domicile. The nine medical certificates (the principal and most appalling one having been corroborated in all its details by the chief medical officers of the prison) are pretty con clusive as to the amount of credit to be placed on this part of the "reported" statement. Sir James is aware of the imminent danger of my father, or why give directions to the Government medical officer to report every fortnight the state of my father's health ? That medical officer knows the opinion of the eminent physicians who have seen and attended him ; he cannot deny the facts as set forth in those certificates ; and those certificates place an awful responsibility on the heads of all those who, to gratify private feeling and personal malignity, have subjected an almost dying man to the cruelties intended only (if for any class of offenders) for those guilty of the most heinous offences.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, MARGARET GREGORY. North Audley-street, May 9, 1844. The following is a copy of the petition presented by Mr. Roebuck on Monday se'unight " TO THE HON. THE COMMONS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM -OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED. " The humbly petition of Barnard Gregory, a prisoner in her Majesty's Gaol of Newgate, " Sltoweth, " That your petitioner was, on the second day of December last, at the Central Criminal Court, holden at the Sessions house, Old Bailey, sentenced by Mr. Justice Coltman to twelve months' imprisonment in the gaol of Newgate, for alleged libels on the characters of the Duke of Brunswick, and of his attorney, Mr. Henry Wellington Valiance; being four months for that on the Duke of Brunswick. and eight months for that on his attorney. " That the gaol of Newgate is a prison chiefly appropriated for the imprisonment of felons committed to be tried at the Central Criminal Court, and, after trial, for prisoners under sentence of death, or waiting to be removed for transporta tion, or sentenced to be imprisoned in other gaols or houses of correction. . "That upon he was placed un d er th e ru l es, regulations, ' and discipline of the said prison, the same as if he had been of the class of the most atrocious criminal offenders, having assigned to him a cell with9nt, rope matto slevp., u 0 ajly other turn:Lure than that of a small table back, a narrow in n bedstead, with a Al!ow. and a seat without° cover ing, without -either' „ U e i t) : , ind three horse-cloths for a cover- t i o " ii T o l f t a t t i h le i his surgeon e (until f ;El altered by the recommenda portion of meat consisted of water-gruel,' anal nrk, potatoes. That being obliged to varied by a small lie is deprived of the use of a I,lif id l'iled such ami books as 'oed himself, like an uncivilised in — , priso r n ; wherebv il at night, Aved, also, of th e use of pen, ink , eua,-.:iictllieli I lli a s pe h r i:g a er n s d ,• i t l i e i; ~eading of newsparrs, or any hooks ire permitted by the chaplain of l t i l 6. le ht, 'le is not allowed the use of any your peti tioner has been coirpilled to pass his time iu so'litary dark aess 15 hours out of the 2-1-. "That, in addition to the above privations, your petitioner is not allowed by the mks of the said prison to have a n y i ~i e m r si o i I;ii a l n i t i l i te fi r i e e (;.: i r s s , e e ‘ x vi c l t ii pt hi ::pil i,l ; lrdaughter or any of hi s the especial written order f a magistrate or tine of i lie s1;:;illS, which your petitioner icknowledges with gratitHe th('y !lave freely t7ante(r. "That the said ga,l 60 1),.in: a pri, , ,a, t:u . c: iniinal olli , nders, he has had no alternativ:! but ~ i , Oct. to love ror his associates persons of that class, or su!;olit Liinself (as he has done) to solitary confinement. " That your petitioner shortly before his commitment to prison ruptured a blood-vessel in the lungs, being the fifth time of such an occurrence within four years, and he was upon his said commitment, and is now, in a very infirm and precarious state of health. " That for more than the last four months your petitioner has not left his cell, and, being deprived of his accustomed air and exercise recommended by his medical advisers, he is now reduced to such a state of mental and bodily debility as to excite the apprehension of medical men that his life will be sacrificed by a longer continuance in the said gaol. "That, in proof of your petitioner's statement of ill health, certificates of the precarious state of it, signed by six eminent physicians, and three general practitioners, have, with a me morial from your petitioner, been presented to Sir James Graham, her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home De partment, but witheut procuring for your petitioner any al teration in the restrictions complained against, or any remis sion of his sentence. "Your petitioner, however, gratefully acknowledges that, from the visiting magistrates of the said gaol, and also from the sheriffs and the governor, chaplain and surgeon of the prison, he has received every humane attention consistent with the orders and regulations laid down for their govern ment by the said Secretary of State for the Home Depart ment, and the prison inspectors, and your petitioner is now permitted the use of a chair with a back to it, and also a feather bed, but without sheets or a pillow, and is allowed a partial alteration in the prison diet, without which his life must ere this have been sacrificed ; and he is also permitted to read the works of Shakspeare ; all the other restrictions, as against convicted felons, continuing to be enforced against your petitioner. " Your petitioner humbly prays that your honourable house will be pleased to take his case into your humane consideration, and obtain for him such immediate relief as will obviate the fatal effects of his imprisonment, which are anticipated by himself, his family, and his medical advisers. " lour petitioner also prays (if not contrary to the rules and orders of your Honourable House) that he may be al lowed by himself or counsel to appear and be heard at the bar of your Honourable House in support of the allegations and statements in this, his petition, did against those re strictions being longer enforced against him. " And your petitioner likewise prays that persons hereafter convicted of libel may not (like your petitioner) suffer the same and the like prison discipline and privations as persons convicted of criminal offences. " And your petitioner will ever pray, &c., " B. GREGORY." MR. MACAULAY. It will probably be in the remembrance of our readers, that, a few weeks ago, at a large and influential meeting of the constituency of Edinburgh, it was resolved, that when ever another election take place for that city, anti-corn-law candidates shall be started for its representation, should the 'present Members not before then give in their adhesion to the cause of total and immediate repeal. The resolutions adopted at this meeting having been transmitted to Mr. Ma caulay, as well as the other Member, he has addressed a long and elaborately-written letter to his constituents by way of answer. The Hon. Gentleman avows himself an immediate and entire repealer, and as a consequence intimates his inten tion of voting for the coming motion of Mr. Villiers. Ne vertheless, his letter in different parts betrays the deepest mortification that the corn-law repealers of Ediriburgh should have presumed in any way to interfere with the course which he might deem it proper to adopt on the corn-law question. Such interference is, by implication, denounced as an unjustifiable attempt on the part of the constituency to ty rannise over and dictate to Members. Mr. Macaulayis mistaken. Such an interference with Members is perfectly justifiable. When a majority of the electors of any place, whether borough or county, have made up their minds that the adoption of a certain line of conduct, on any great question, is essential to the well-being of the country, they have a clear, undoubted, constitutional right to call on their representatives to give effect to their views. Adopt the opposite opinion, and what follows? Why, that the terms member and representative, instead of being, as they are conventionally supposed to be, synonymous, are, or may become, as opposite in their import as the words black and white. To apply the term repre sentative to a man setting at defiance the wishes of his con stituents, is a glaring perversion of language. It is to dis regard the obvious and legitimate meaning of words. The Nlember who sets up his own views in opposition to those of his constituents, on any of the great questions of the day, does, in effect, insultingly tell them, that they elected him to be his own representative, not theirs. Are the constituencies of England prepared to submit to this attempt to seal their lips against all further remonstrances with those Members who venture to set at nought their well-known views and wishes? Are they to be put to silence by the supercilious sneers or open insolence of those very men who on the hustings protested that it would be the end and aim of their legislatives lives, to give effect in Parliament to the principles which their constituencies entertained ? If Mr. Macaulay's notions are to be adopted, political elec tions will become a mere mockery. There was at least more consistency, if less virtue, in the old nomination borough system, when a man, if he purchased a seat, was considered the represesst,stive of his breeches pocket, or if he received the seat as a ;61't from some Peer of the realm, considered himself bound in honour to represent the views and wishes of Isis noble patron. But good is often educed from seeming evil. We anticipate much benefit from that portion of Mr. Macaulay's letter in which he advocates the right of Mem bers to act according to their own views, however much their notions may clash with the views of their constituents. The effect will be to make the electoral body more careful hereafter as to the kind of candidates on whom they bestow their suffrages. The electors, as regards the future, have the remedy in their own hands. If persons presenting them. selves as candidates, refuse to carry out the views of a par ticular constituency, let them be summarily ordered about their business. No terms must be kept with such persons. If the electors are not to have the right of taking all needful precautions for the effective representation of their prin ciples in Parliament, why, we beg to ask, did the Legisla. ture confer the franchise on them ? With the construction which Mr. Macaulay thinks proper to put on the duties of the constituent body, the framers of the Reform Bill, in ex tmding the franchise, offered a gratuitous insult to the new constituency which that measure created. If Members are not prepared to give a practical expression to the principles of the electoral body who elected them, it is a piece of un warrantable impertinence to solicit the suffrages of such electors. To prevent all misconception in future, as to the relative duties of the constituencies and the candidates who ask their votes, let the electors, before giving any candidate their support, obtain from him a written pledge that he will vote in a particular way on the great questions of the day— these questions, and the manner in which Members are ex pected to vote on them, being stated in a way which can leave no room for doubt, evasion, or equivocation. While Mr. - Macaulay intimates his intention of voting in favour of Mr. Villiers's motion for the immediate and total re peal of the corn-laws, the sole object of his letter seems to be to persuade the country that it ought most thankfully to accept of a fixed duty. This is Whig-like. Whoever yet knew a Whig that was in his heart,. whatever he might be in profession, in favour of any truly popular mea sure? It is clear, that if Mr. Villiers receive the support of the Member for Edinburgh, it will be from expediency, not from principle. It is equally clear, that were Sir Robert Peel to sacrifice his sliding-scale and propose to substitute for it a moderate fixed duty, Mr. Macaulay would at once abandon the cause of immediate and total repeal (to which he has, with evident reluctance, conditionally given in his, adhesion), and support the Tory Premier. All such time serving Members ought to be marked men—persons who are' to be suspected. They are black sheep, who do immeasur ably more mischief to a cause than if they had never pro-, fessed to identify themselves with it. Hollow-hearted friends are always more to be dreaded than open enemies. The letter' of Mr. Macaulay is not only calculated, but is manifestly in-. tended, to do irreparable mischief to the Anti-Corn-law agi tation. He labours hard to underrate the influence of the League. He affirms that its power is exceedingly limited. We trust that it will join issue with him here, and furnish such a proof of its influence as even he shall not be able to resist. Let the League put forth its energies, and convince' Mr. Macaulay of what it is capable of doing, by turning him out of the representation of Edinburgh whenever an election' for that city take place.—Advertiser. ESCAPE FROM FIRE.—On Friday morning, at three o'clock, a person who was passing through Beech street, Barbican, observed an appearance of fire in the kitchen at No. 37, and upen his giving information at the Whitecross-street station, in the immediate neigh bourhood, Mallet, the resident engineer, instantly got out a small engine and rolled it to the spot. Flames were then distinctly seen through the kitchen window, and, admission being obtained, it was discovered that some shavings and wood, left by a carpenter who had been at work in the kitchen on Thursday evening, had by some means ignited, and the flames had communicated to the furniture and "woodwork in the kitchen, and were spreading so rapidly that the upper part of the house, where the whole of the inmates were in bed, would in a short time have been in a blaze. Considerable damage was done in the kitchen, but the engineer had been so prompt in his arrival that he was enabled to prevent any further mischief. The house, a millinery ware house, in the occupation of Mr. Todd, is insured in the Sun-office. MURDEROUS ATTACK.—On Wednesday evening a most diabolical outrage was committed by a bargeman at Diglis, near this city, under the following circumstances : Two men, named Hailey and Bentley, employed on board the Prince Charlie, a barge plying between Ironbridge and Glou cester, had been quarrelling in coming up the river. The cause of the dispute has not yet been ascertained ; but on the arrival of the barge at Diglis, the quarrel had become so warm that Hailey knocked the other man off the deck into the river. With some difficulty he scrambled to the bank, completely covered with mud, when he picked up some pieces of turf and threw them at his assailant. Hailey in stantly went below deck and fetched up a gun, took delibe rate aim at Bentley as he was on the bank, and discharged the contents at him. Bentley was struck in the eye, and immediately fell to the ground ; on partially recovering, however, and, with the assistance of another person who came up, he managed to proceed towards the bridge, notwithstand ing considerable hemorrhage was taking place. On being taken to Mr. Orwin, surgeon, of Bridge-street, it was dis covered that, although the eye-ball had not been forced out, the sight was irrecoverably lost ; he was then taken by some policemen to the infirmary. The brute (Hailey) was shortly afterwards taken into custody, by Sergeait Saunders, after an ineffectual attempt to escape by steering his vessel to the other side of the river. The wounded man remained in the infirmary all night, and on the following morning, at seven o'clock, a man came, and having been permitted to see him, after some time they left together, and have not since been heard of. On Thursday morning the case was investigated at the county magistrates ' office. The prisoner was remanded. iVorcestershire Chronicle. The town of itedditch has this week been thrown into a state of great excitement by the disclosure of circum stances leading to the suspicion that a female servant in the house of Mr. J. Warrin, needle-manufacturer, had on Sunday last clandestinely given birth to a child, which she after wards destroyed ✓ by burning it. The w•man is now in cus tody, and has undergone an examination by Mr. Royston, surgeon, which leaves no doubt of her recent delivery; and the appalling rumour has received further confirmation by Allday, the constable, after a diligent search on the premises, having succeeded in discovering the head of an infant ! Worcester Herald. CONSCIENCE MONEY.—The following letter, with 21. 10s. enclosed, was delivered to Mr. Dowion at his house is Houghton-le-Spring, on Saturday evening last :—" Sir, — The enclosed is a restoration for property destroyed in the garden belonging to the late Mr. Elliott, by a person then living near to him. The real value of the property is un known, but the enclosed will more than meet A.—Yours respectfully, GULIELMUS —To the heir of the late Mr. El liott, surgeon, of Houghton-le-Spring.-4th of May, 1844." —Durham Advertiser. THEATRICAL S IN TROUBLE.—The Rev. Joseph Ridgeway, rector of High Roothing, attended at Dunmow, to prosecute a charge against John Wm. Star, of No. 11, 'fhomas-street, Wat er l oo - road, London, described on the charge sheet as a wagoner and comedian, for conducting his properties and vehicles through the parish of High Roothing on the Sunday, being on their way to Dumnow fair. Fined 11.; costs 4—.F.'ssex Herald. THE SUN, LONDON,_ WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 15, 1844. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 14 Their Lordships met at File o'clock. MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS. Mr. GREENE and other Members brought up the Factories and other Bills from the Commons. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE gave notice that, on Friday, he should present a petition on the subject of the Poor-laws in Ireland, and he should take that oppor tunity of asking the Government what progress had been made by the Commission appointed to investigate the state of poor-houses in Ireland. Several petitions were presented praying the House to legalise Presbyterian mixed marriages in Ireland.. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from Edin burgh, in favour of the North British Railway. Earl SOMERS presented petitions from occupiers and owners of land in the city of Hereford and its vicinity ; in the districts of Kingstoo ; town and vicinity of Ledbury, county of Hereford ; parish of Mathan, county of Worcester; parish of Bromsberrow, county of Glouces ter ; parish of Shelton, county of Hereford ; parish of Canon Frome, ditto ; parish of Colwah, ditto ; parish of Pultey, ditto ; parish of Little March, ditto ; parish of Eggleton, ditto ; parish of Munsby, ditto ; district of Packhold, ditto ; parish of Aylton, ditto ; parish of Ashperton, ditto ; parish of Castle Frome, ditto ; parish of Pixlly, ditto ; parish of Coddington, ditto ; parish of Boslury, ditto ; all praying for the same degree of agricultural protection as at present exists. Lord COTTENHAM moved for returns of the num • ber of persons who were eonfined in prisL at the pre sent time, distinguishing the duration of their impri sonment, the amount of their debts, and the sums ex , pended in their support. The LORD CHANCELLOR said he had not the slightest objection to granting the returns moved for by his Noble and Learned Friend. In reply to a question from Lord CAMPBELL, The LORD CHANCELLOR said that in the mea sure respecting imprisonment for debt now before their Lordships, the sum named in it for the support of a class of prisoners amounted to exactly 300 shillings a year, and not to 365, as he seemed to suppose. Lord BROUGHAM moved for a return of the num ber of separations, a mensa et thoro, which had taken iilace during the last ten years. TjIE SPY SYSTEM IN IRELAND. The Marquis of NORMANBY, in moving for the production of the papers of which he had given notice, would make a few observations on a topic which had recently created a great sensation in Ireland. No one could deny that that revolting and odious employment, which was commonly called the spy system, was one which met with the reprobation of all good men in every country. In former periods the ramifications of that sys tem had spread through every quarter of the lower or ders of society in Ireland. Although they had not heard of it during recent years, yet the recollection of it still produced most disastrous effects upon the well-being of society in many parts of Ireland. He would not allude to its probable re-introduction, but it was a notorious fact that the system existed at present to a greater extent in Ireland than it had recently done. He would not al lude to any particular cases which might at present be under investigation. The Skibereen case, he believed, was at present under inquiry. It was notorious that the system was extenling. He would allude to a pamphlet which must be reg arded as some sort of authority, as it had been quoted by the Prime Minister in the other House of Parliament—it was entitled " A Cryfrom Ire land," and there it was stated, that in the gaol of Kilkenny, persons had been placed in the same room with persons under criminal charges, for the purpose of worming themselves into their confidence, and obtaining confessions to be given in evidence against them. The system extended even to tampering with witnesses, and an affidavit of a boy had been given, in which the deponent described the process by which he had been led to recognise a party as guilty of an offence, whom he had previously sworn that he did not know. He took it for granted, as the Prime Minister had quoted this pamphlet, that he had directed inquiries to be made into these cases. As a proof that this system was not necessary, ho would refer to the evidence taken before their Lordships' Committee in 1841, from which it ap peared that such a system was unnecessary to se cure the proper administration of justice in Ireland. That evidence showed that between 1835 and 1839 there was a greater proportion of committals to offences, and of convictions to committals, than at any previous period ; and in the entire of it he defied their Lordships to show the use of such means as were now had recourse to in Ireland. Though this was an evil, it was no reason why individual injustice should be inflicted on any party charged with participating in such offences. The Go vernment refused Mr. Grey any further investigation into his case, and they said that all correspondence with him must be closed. When those documents which he held in his hand came into his possession, he thought it right to submit his case to the House. He had no acquaint ance with Mr. Grey. When that gentleman arrived in London he called on him (the Marquis of Normanby), but he did not think it right to receive any information from him of which the Government were not in possession. Mr. Grey was one of those persons who w ere removed at the accession of the present Government. When Mr. Grey was employed in Kilkenny, and when it was rumoured that he was removed, he received from the magis trates, in all parts of the country, testimonies of regret at the prospect of his removal, and a memorial had been presented to the Lord-Lieute nant by the High Sheriff, signed by persons of all politics, praying that he might be allowed to remain. Mr. rey laboured under the imputation of having been the parent and originator of this odious system which was now acquiring new force. Now, how did the facts stand ? Two men were arrested in Thurles in November, for hawking a seditious pamphlet or ballad, the name of which was called the " Tories' downfal." He (the Marquis of Normanby) never saw that ballad, and, therefore, he was not aware whether it was objec tionable in execution or in its topic; nor did he know whether it was one of those cases whi c h were described by the Noble and Learned Lord (Bro u gh am ) last night, as " fond and fantastic p ro ph ec i es ." was considered s e diti ous by Smith. It appeare d t h at arrested, Mr. Jennings suggested that they should be tried at the quarter-ses si Mr. Grey consu lt e d themT h r e . b A a t personstl o a r d n , e yh.having ie nnge however,ra Len th subject, and he said, it was q u it e r i g ht t o o Te u h s Ae o t f bt ao T lrl h na u edy r i l .s e G s y , ee t nr h ey e r en ie g d o oi ogu theso ,n a nd; commit the parties for trial; the only difficulty is whether they ought not to be tried at the assizes, as we are not quite certain that the jurors at the sessions would be likely to do their duty. Now he (the Marquis of Nor manby) would not pause to comment upon the doubt which was here thrown upon the jurors in petty sessions. The Attorney-General's opinion having been obtained the parties were committed for trial. Mr. Grey, not wishing to strain the law so as to operate unnecessarily hard upon the prisoners, again wrote to the Attorney- General and stated that Osborn had expressed his , readiness to give information respecting the printer of the ballad, and he wished to know whether, under these circumstances, the prisoner could not be admitted as a witness against the printer of the ballad, and the Attorney-General replied, " I have no doubt that similar ballads may be purchased from Moran, and therefore he can be prosecuted inde pendent of Osborn's evidence. I therefore see no reason why Osborn should be discharged unless he can obtain bail." It appeared that Falvey, a sub-constable, went to the house of the printer with manuscripts in his pocket, immediately after which Inspector Jennings took them to Grey, and the printer was immediately appre hended. Now, Mr. Grey distinctly denied that he gave any instruction upon this subject. The Noble Marquis then read a statement detailing the circum stances attendant upon the arrest, and recommending Fal vey to the consideration of the Government as an active and efficient officer ; also a report from the sub- inspector to the Government to the same effect. This was altogether a most extraordinary case, for con stable Falvey fully bore out the assertion of Mr. Grey, with respect to not having issued any instruction to Falvey, yet Mr. Grey was dismissed, while Falvey was retained in the constabulary. What had Falvey said when he was asked what did he imagine would have been his duty if no ballads had been printed? His answer was, he supposed he should have to get them printed, but he had received no instructions. Now the Government had received these reports on the 30th of November, and if the Government had not interfered, the sellers of the ballads would have been prosecuted. Now, it appeared that Mr. Grey was anxious that these parties should not remain in gaol, and he applied to the Government to forward the pro secutions. He applied to have Osborn discharged, and to be permitted to avail himself of Osborn's evi dence against the other parties. No, said Mr. Brewster, there would be no necessity for that if proper means were taken. Now, what were those proper means ? Why, evidently it was meant to send a policeman in disguise, they could hardly send him in uniform, to procure these ballads. Now, the Government knew as much about this case on the 30th Nov. as they did at the present moment. They had received both the reports, and had had an opportunity of comparing them. These papers were not returned by Mr. Brewster until December 12th, when they were returned by him to Mr. Grey This did not rest on his testimony alone. Reports were transmitted from day to day by the Inspector-General to the Chief Secretary, and the most important were selected by the Chief Secretary, and brought under the notice of the Lord-Lieutenant. Directions were given on those reports, which were sent to the constabulary. If blame rested any where, it must be with the Under- Secretary, for he was aware that the Inspector-General was most punctual in sending reports to the Castle.— (Hear, hear.) The fact of the printing of the ballad was known to the Government on the 12th of November. He did not think there could be the least doubt of that.---(Hear, hear.) It did not rest on the silence of the parties, for on the 12th of December Mr. Brewster returned them to Mr. Grey, saying that no further directions seemed necessary in the case. What interpretation was Mr. Grey to put on this but that the previous directions had been adopted. From the time that those unfortunate men had been in gaol, till they had been discharged, from the Go vernment refusing to prosecute them, which was four months, Mr. Grey had no reason to suppose that he had not fulfilled the instructions he had received. It was not till the matter became notorious to the public any steps were taken. and he thought that Mr. Grey and the Irish people had reason to complain that the inten tions of the Government were not clearly expressed before the matter had become so public and notorious. He apprehended that it was but just to Mr. Grey that a I full explanation of the circumstances under which his dismissal took place should be laid before the public ; and with this view he had brought the subject under the notice of their Lordships. Lord WHARNCLJFFE thought lie would be enabled to show that no blame was to be attributed to the Go vernment with respect to this matter. The circumstances of this case undoubtedly had been detailed with great accuracy by the Noble Marquis, and it was very true that Mr. Brewster gave direetions that means should be taken to purchase copies of this ballad from Moran, who was the printer, according to the information which had been given by Osborn. The Noble Marquis must remember that when Osborn gave his information he was placed very much in the position of a common in former, and, therefore, his evidence was not entitled to much weight, and ought not to be relied upon if they could get better evidence by proper means. A man dressed as an itinerant ballad-singer was therefore sent to Moran's house, to purchase one of these ballads, and lest Moran should have none printed in his possession the man took with him a manuscript copy of the ballad in his pocket, with directions that in such case he should order Moran to print some more copies from that manu script. It was ascertained that there were no printed copies in existence, but he produced the MS., and pro cured others to be printed in his presence, and pur chased eighteen dozen of them. He said, further, that when Moran received the MS. he asked if it had been procured from Ulver, and was answered in the affirmative. Now he had produced the MS. to Mo. ran, had got it printed in his presence, and had pur chased the copies. That was a different case from sending a person to a printer's house to purchase publications which had been printed previously. He believed that that was a course which was every day adopted in this country without objection, but if no printed papers were found, and a MS. was taken to the printer, and he was induced to print it, such a course of conduct was perfectly unjustifiable. Now, Mr, Grey at all events, knew of this transaction, for Falvey said in his evidence that he had told Mr. Grey of all thathad occurred. Mr. Grey had reported en this tran saction to the authorities of tit e Castle,and yet he had never mentioned one word of this circumstance. The gist of the whole transaction consisted in his having sent to Moran to get these ballads printed. The accusation against the Government was that they had employed a policeman as a spy—they had furnished him with a manuscript to get printed, and had prosecuted the printer. Now he could not acquit Mr. Grey. Mr. Grey said he could not recollect the circumstance, that it had escaped his memory ; but the other said that he had positively given directions that those orders should be given to Falvey, and Foote said that he was not sure if Jennings or Mr. Grey mentioned it, but that the two had been consulting together, and that Mr. Grey was in the room, when the orders were given ; therefore, Mr. Grey knew all the circumstances, and yet had not reported the facts to the Castle. Jennings afterwards said that Falvey went to Moran disguised as a ballad-singer, and desired Moran to print the ballads. Besides that of the other witnesses, they had the evi dence of a person named Cooke, who swore that he came into the room where Falvey and Moran were, and saw the manuscript produced ; that he understood Falvey was acting under orders, and further, that on his return from Cashel he informed Mr. Grey of all that had passed. Under all the circumstances of the case, he thought Mr. Grey's friends were acting unwisely in moving for the pro duction of those papers. Of all other situations there was none which should be more clear from any suspicion than that of the stipendiary magistrate. He considered that the evidence which had been adduced in the inquiry instituted before Mr. Martley, Q.C., fully justified the course adopted by the Government. Mr. Grey saw the report which had been made after the investigation, the accuracy of which he did not deny. Under those cir cumstances he did not think that the Government would be justified in retaining Mr. Grey in the commission of the peace. With regard to the papers he would say at once that it was not necessary the Government should in all cases lay before the House all the confidential papers that might pass on any subject ; but if the Noble Marquis persevered in his motion, he would not object to all the papers being given. The Marquis cf CLANRICARDE said that he had heard the speech of the Noble Lord with great regret. were G re a m Grey, ,egh er ree ee had ge culpable. l e p s at showni b o l n e. t between hTaht e l the l r. Government fault, roery was crime, f tofoar considerable d this r . it was nothing less than crime, of Mr. Grey he had no doubt was from want of judgment, or excessive zeal, and as such it was fit that he should be removed, but he did not think that the Noble Earl had shown that the Go vernment were not at fault. He did not think that the Government had taken the proper steps to know what was going on. He had not explained how it happened that from the Ist of December till April no notice had been taken of the conduct of Mr. Grey, or of Jennings. If practices such as were disclosed in this case were allowed, and there were unfor tunately many similar cases, the confidence of the people in the law and in its administration would be very much shaken. The Government ought to be particularly careful in watching over the police force of Ireland. That force was totally different from any force in this country. It was a most excellent and useful force in Ireland, provided it were well governed ; but if the force should get into abuse, and should not be properly go verned, it would reduce Ireland to a state of slavery. Earl FORTESCUE thought it would be well if their Lordships were to suspend their judgment upon this matter until the papers were before the House. He had seen Mr. Grey for the first time that morning, and he distinctly stated that he gave no direction whatever that copies of the ballad which had been referred to should be printed. In what he had done, he had acted upon the instructions of the Law Officers of the Crown. It was in consequence of the suggestion of the Attorney-Gene ral that he became a party to the course which had been pursued. The course he suggested was to obtain the evidence of Osborn against Moran, and, upon that evi dence to send a search warrant to Moran's house, as he had no doubt that copies of the ballad would there be found. The Earl of WICKLOW said it was quite clear that if Mr. Grey had directed a person to get copies of the ballad printed, in the manner stated, that he was guilty of an offence for which he deserved to be dismissed. If a Conservative magistrate had committed such an of fence, and the Government had not dismissed him, he could imagine the clamour that Noble Lords opposite would have raised. Yet now, after a culpable act had been committed—(Cheers from the Opposition benches) —an outcry was raised because the person committing it was discharged from his office. After a few words from Lord WHARNCLIFFE and the Marquis of CLANRICARDE in explanation, The Marquis of NORMANBY rose to reply. The police had been employed as spies. The Government had refused to prosecute, and they had dismissed Mr. Grey without giving him an opportunity of explaining his conduct. Now nothing of all this would have oc curred if it had not been for the loose opinion given by the Attorney-General for Ireland as to the conduct of sessions juries in Tipperary. He was by no means sa tisfied with the defence which had been made for the Irish Government ; and if ever the realisation of that fond and foolish prophecy, as the Noble Lord had called it, o f; the Tories' downfal was to take place, the con duct of such officials as Mr. Brewster and Mr. Lucas was more likely to occasion it than a thousand ballads. The Earl of WICKLOW explained. The Earl of WINCHILSEA said it was certain that had een from the employedo t Government gt e the ba fact ads printed, that ir. Greythe andhadwhether police he had ordered him to do so or b not he deserved his dismissal for concealing the fact. The Government had acted as soon as they became ac quainted with the facts of the case, which was not until Mr. Scott had read the depositions. Mr. Grey had kept circumstances from the knowledge of the Government with which he was acquainted, and that was sufficient to justify the Government in dismissing him. He should, however, reserve his judgment until the papers were before their Lordships.—(lronical cheers from the Oppo sition.) Noble Lords opposite had brought forward this motion in order to do everything in their power to make her Majesty's Government as odious as they could in Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) They were no true friends to Ireland who acted in this way. Those who had to ad minister the law in Ireland had a very difficult task to perform, and ought to be properly supported. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said it was at all events not necessary for his Noble Friend to appeal to the people of Ireland to ask whom they con sidered their best friend. He would not deny that what he had said was meant as an attack upon the Government. Nothing had been said to satisfy him why this magistrate had not been dismissed four months be fore. They would, however, when they had the papers, see the date of the appointment of his successor, and they would then, in all probability, find that nothing had been done in this affair until after public attention had been drawn to the subject. Lord WHARNCLIFFE was understood to say that the date of the new appointment was the 18th of April. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE—Not until after public attention had been called to that subject by the speech at the assizes. The Duke of BUCCLEUCH rose to order. It was impossible that the order and regularity of their proceed ings could be observed if Noble Lords made more than one speech on the same subject. The Marquis of NORMANBY would not be prevented by the lecture of the Noble Duke from replying to the attack of the Noble Earl, who ought to have spoken in the course of the debate, instead of waiting until after his reply. He should undoubtedly exercise the right of bringing the conduct of the Irish Government under their Lordships' notice whenever he thought it neces sary- ; and he would do so even were the Noble Earl himself a member of that Government, and were he in that capacity to renew his visit to Ireland, where a vivid recollection of him was retainedlby sounds not so articu lated, but possessing quite as much meaning as anything the Noble Earl uttered in their Lordships' House—he meant the Kentish fire.—(Hear, and laughter.) The Earl of WINCHILSEA explained. Lord WHARNCLIFFE said the assizes were held on the 20th of March, and the new appointment was made on the Bth of April. The motion was then agreed to. HER MAJESTY'S SHIP QUEEN. The Earl of MINTO, in moving for a return of the services of her Majesty's ship Queen, stated that the Queen, a three-decker, built on. a new principle, had been sent out to Malta, where she was the Hag-ship. Hi s complaint was that she had not had a fair and proper trial. A voyage to Malta under easy sail, and a few holiday trips from that island, were not sufficient to test her powers. He had no wish to cast any imputation on the conduct of the Gallant Admiral commanding at Malta, as he considered that the Mediterranean station was so near home, that whatever was done there had been done by orders from the Admiralty. The Earl of HADDINGTON agreed that it was de sirable that every opportunity should be taken of testing the powers of trial ships, and although the powers of the ships in question had not been tested to the extent that he wished, yet they had been tested to a much greater extent than the Noble Earl seemed to imagine. On the voyage out she had been tried against the For midable ; since she had been at Malta, she had been tried against the Vernon, but they had been separated during a tempest. The Admiral reported very favour ably of her. It was not always in the Admiral's power to go to sea when he wished. The affairs of Greece, Syria, and of Spain had obliged him to keep his ships together, so as to be enabled at once to send them in any direction, which the exigencies of the service might re quire. The Government had latterly thought it inex pedient to keep up such a large force in the Mediter ranean, and there had only been two or three line-of battle ships there during the last year. This rendered the presence of the Admiral at Malta almost constantly necessary. Ho objected to granting the return, because it cast an imputation on the Government, for which the Noble Earl had laid no parliamentary ground. The Earl of MINTO thought the reasons of the Go vernment for refusing the' returns insufficient. He had heard from a na va l officer that the Queen had remained in Malta harbour until she had almost grounded on her "beef bones." The trials to which she had been sub jected had been nothing to the purpose for testing her qualities as a ship. After a few words from the Earl of HADDINGTON the motion was negatived without a division. RAILROADS. Earl FITZWILLIAM moved that a message be sent to the Lower House of Parliament, requesting them to furnish their Lordships with their reports on the Com mittee on Railroads. The Noble Earl then alluded to the contest now carrying on between two railroad com panies in the north of England for the formation of a third, or junction line, each :company claiming a right of property in the making of this third line, as an illus tration of the necessity for some interference on the part of the Executive to prevent the wasting of such great sums of money as would be spent in carrying on con tests of this nature before Committees of the two Houses of Parliament. The Earl of DALHOUSIE assured the Noble Earl that the Government were alive to the importance of the subject. At the commencement of the session, the head of the department, which had a limited control over railroads, had moved for a Committee to consider the subject ; that Committee had furnished several reports, and would soon complete their labours. Perhaps it would be better to wait until then, and have all the re ports together.____ Earl PITZWILLIAM wished at once to have the re ports which had already been presented. The motion was then agreed to ; and the Bills on the table having been forwarded a stage, their Lordships adjourned till Friday. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 14. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'Clock. NEW WRIT. Lord MARCUS HILL moved that a new writ be ordered to be issued for the election of a burgess to serve for the borough of Kilmarnock, in the room of Mr. A. Johnstone, deceased.—Ordered. Mr. TIfORNELY presented a petition from Toxteth, near Liverpool, against the Dissenters' Chapels Bill. Mr. WYSE presented a petition from the Art-Union of London, praying that Art-Unions might be legalised. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented petitions from Pres byterian congregations of Bangor and Ballygilbert, near Ijilmore, in the county of Down, in favour of the Dis senters' Chapels Bill. Sir GEORGE STRICKLAND presented a petition against any alteration in the law of mortmaiu. SHEFFIELD. ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, AND MANCHESTER RAILWAYS BILL. Mr. PARKER moved the further consideration of the report of the Committee upon the Sheffield, Ashton under-Lyne, and Manchester Railways. Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET said that, as the relative merits of the two lines could not be understood by Hon. Members who had not had the reports of the two Committees in their hands, he would move that the consideration of this report be adjourned till Thursday next. Mr. LABOUC HERE would not object to the adjourn ment ; but he would say that the Committee upon this Bill had sat for nine days, and had unanimously agreed on the report. Mr. GLADSTONE hoped there would be a general acquiescence in the proposal of. his Noble Friend, 'to adjourn the debate. After a short discussion, the debate was adjourned till Thursday next. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr. CHRISTIE postponed till this day fortnight his motion on the subject of education. DISSENTERS' CHAPELS BILL. Sir R. INGLIS begged to ask his Right Hon. Friend, the First Lord of the Treasury, a question with respect to a measure to which both sides of the House, attached great importance—the Dissenters' Chapels Bill. At pre sent that Bill stood first on the paper for Friday ; he wished to know whether it was his Right Hon. Friend's intention to press it forward on that day, the Bill not having been in the hands of Members more than one week? Sir R. PEEL said that he thought a week was a very ample allowance of time, ctnsidering how much public attention had been excited to the Bill. However, he would not bring on the measure that night if it had not a fair chance of being discussed.—(Hear.) It would be absolutely necessary for his Right Hon. Friend to bring forward—first, his resolutions respecting the customs ; after which his Hon. Friend the Lord- Advocate of Scotland would bring forward the Scotch Parishes Bill ' • and if he were not able to bring on the Dissenters Chapels Bill before ten o'clock, he would not then proceed with it.—(Hear, hear.) Sir R. INGLIS said he ought to have stated that, though the Bill had been before the house for a week, it had not been during that time in the hands of Members. IRISH REGISTRATION BILL An HoN. MEMBER inquired when the Irish Registra tion Bill would be brought forward?—(Laughter.) Sir R. PEEL said he must bring forward the Bank Resolutions on Monday, and, as we understood, it was not likely that the Irish Registration Bill would come on before the holidays. Mr. FERRAND said that the Right Honourable Baronet (Sir Robert Peel) had, on the previous evening, quoted a document which set forward the claims of the coal miners during their unfortunate strike. As he was informed that that document also set forth their grievances, which were of the most oppressive kind, he wished to know whether the Right Hon. Baronet had any objection to lay it on the table of the House ? Sir R. PEEL said he believed it was not consistent with the forms of the House to lay on the table a hand bill ; but he had a copy of the printed hand-bill from which he quoted, and if the lion. Gentleman wished to have it for the purposes of debate, he should be happy to furnish him with it.—(Laughter.) — Sir ROBERT PEEL postponed, till that day fort night, his motion for leave to introduce a Bill to define and regulate certain rights of the Duchy of Cornwall. EXTENSION OF THE SUFFRAGE. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD, previous to bringing forward his motion for leave to introduce a Bill to ex tend Parliamentary suffrage, and to secure the free representation of th e p eop l e , presented petitions from Leicester, the Tower Hamlets, and Leeds, signed by upwards of 10,000 per sons, in favour of his motion. The Hon. Gentleman then proceeded to state, that on former occasions he had brought before the Ho use p ro p os iti ons s i m il ar to th at which he now advanced, and had entered into different arguments in support of his views which he would not then reiterate. He should only state his general views on the question, and explain as shortly as he possibly could, the principles he desired to see in operation. If they considered the principle of all government, they would find it to be that the great body of the people gave up their natural rights, and entrusted them to others to exercise them for the benefit of all. This principle was consistent with his proposition that every man should have a share in the appointment of those who were to make the laws which he was bound to obey. He would not maintain universal suffrage in all its details, but the principle of the Bill he would in troduce to the House was, that all male adults of twenty-one years of age should be entitled to vote for Members of Parliament ; but that principle should be limited by registration laws, which should confine the exercise of it to a residence within the locality where the election took place. He would exclude from the right of suffrage all those who were under sentence for any crime, or who were insane, but he would have no class of the community subjected to limitations to which every other class was not. He would also propose a new ar rangement of the electoral districts, for he could not think it fair representation, if a district having 100 voters should have as many representatives as a district having 1,000 voters. His third proposition was the in troduction of vote by ballot. He considered it impossi • ble to extend the suffrage with safety to the people unless voting by ballot was also adopted ; nor did he think that vote by ballot would be safe unless it was accompanied by extended suffrage. He had thus stated the three principles to which he wished to draw the attention of the House ; first, the extension of the franchise ; secondly, a new arrangement of the electoral districts; and, thirdly, the vote by ballot. He did not wish to trespass on the time of the House by going into the detail of the argument which bore upon those three points ; but he would read the petition which he had formerly presented to the House from the delegates at Liverpool, and which contained a summary of those arguments. (The Honourable Member then read the petition, but could not possibly be followed correctly in the gallery.) Perhap s gen tl emen m i g h t admit the principles which he had alleged, and yet differ from hien as tosome of the details ; and if so, they ought not to object to going into a Committee, where the details might be examined. The great body of the people wer e , by the present system, excluded from the representation, and the advocates of that exclusion should show that it was wise, expedient, and just. He had been challenged by the Right Hon. Baronet opposite io say why he excluded females from universal suffrage. But, although he did not include women in this measure, he was not prepared to say that women should not in some cases possess the suffrage. Ile did not think that the working classes were represented in that House or that their interests were sufficiently attended to. Nor did he think that it was right to re fuse the franchise to a poor man, because he was poor and unlettered. The poor man without learning was still capable of judging of his own interest, and he was the person who most required protection. To show that the working classes required protection, he need only refer to the recent divisions upon the Factories' Bill, when the House of Commons twice decided by a ma jority, that women and children ought not to be required to work in factories more that ten hours a day. Then on a third division the same House divided that they ought to work more than that time, and afterwards, on a fourth division, by a large majority, that they ought to work twelve hours. It was evident that in those divi sions the House had not acted as a body that represented the working classes, whose almost unanimous opinion had been expressed in favour of the measure; in fact, the House was the representative of the Government and not of the people. There were other points besides those which he had enumerated, which were included in the demand for full and fair representation. Amongst them was the reduction of the duration of Parliaments. No man could say that there could be free representa- 1 tion so long as Parliament sat for so many years. lie was aware that many sincere Reformers disagreed se t 4; the extent of the reduction which should be made, but all agreed that there should be some reduction. would not say that there could be no due representation, for the people unless all these points were carried , b t !, / , in bringing this question before the House he had fea it his duty to state what the demands of the people ware. That House relied on its power as a means of resisting popular rights; but he warned Honourable Members that there was an amount of discontent existing which would lead to effects of the most disastrou: nature on the constitution of the country, and e e society at large, if the grievances of the people redressed. It was not his intention to trespass at ei further length on the attention of the House. He '! s already stated that those who voted for the introduction of the - Bill would not thereby be considered as pledgi n i themselves to its details. The Hon. Member conclud by movinc , for leave to bring in the Bill. were n ot Dr. BO WRING said he had great pl eas ure in secon d : ing the motion of his Hon. Friend. He thought that 11 that moment especially, when great discontent ale r t; among the people, those who looked at public opini on the only safe foundation for general legislation, werh; bound to give some evidence that they were willing allow it to have due influence upon the deliberations v; that House. He believed that public opinion sometim es erred—he believed that it had erred greatly on a lat e v ‘' casion—but he thought that the greatest adrant es i. would be derived from allowing public opinion to hes on the discussions of that House. He did not see flux because a man had a little less of the good things 0 ' life, he should not have a voice in the representatiot of the country. The State took care to take of his earnings for its support, and he ought, there to have a voice in it. Concurring in the general view of Hon. Friend, he willingly seconded the motion. A the Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, an d House divided, when there appeared— For the motion 3l Against it Majority against the motion -6 6k Mr. T. DUNCOMBE postponed to this day wef, v -- motion relative to the petition of Charles P r ice and „ t o" • White Thompson, complaining of the conduct of ea" — Magistrates of arwick. COMPENSATION TO OFFICERS IN CB CERY. r Ol Mr. WATSON presented a petiti on from e to solicitors against granting compensation for salsr l officers in the Court of Chancery. oti° ll The Hosr. MEMBER thee brou g ht f orwar d the Is s „ to of which he had given notice, for a S e l ec t C om mitt'sbe inquire into the orders for compen s ati on ma de el, 0 1 Lord Chancellor to the persons fillin g th e offie e 's clerk of the enrolments, comptrolle rs o f the has, 1) , d 40, riding clerk, six clerks, sworn cle r k s , wa iting eSnst agent or record keeper in the Court of Chancery, t‘ io s the Act 5 and 6 Vic., c. 103 ; and to inquire into the A. ture, duties, and emoluments of those officers beforer o 's passing of that Act, and their right to compensf o r (and if any, to what amount) during their life, as u seven years after the death of such person ; and to Of quire into the circumstances attendi ng the Pas' ; 7oo that Act, and the moneys charged on the suitors ir fund in Chancery, for passing that Act ; and also t° , o o quire into the taxation of suitors in courts of law sa d equity, and the application of money s ra i se d therelsy ss o the propriety of continuing the same. The annual,'7, s t paid for compensation under the abo ve -mentioneaL s . was 78,0001. Out of the six clerks to whom coupe td tion had been awarded, only one was ever found neee i s s er ss to be in attendance on the courts. It was to the of the six clerks he wished particularly to call attesr s s They were in number 60, and they had little or n° the to do. In fact they were rather an obstruction to_Aoi course of justice. The business of the clerks depend; s t, the solicitors who employed them ; and, besides, .9 the Chancellors h a d th e p ower o f a l ter i ng the l or d they willed. They were cut d own i n 1785 hY,...scite, Chancellor Jeffery, aft e r war d s b y L or d Har°"ier and again by Lord Erskine—and the most sot portant fee which they received was, in 1828,.400, off by Lord Lyndhurst. In 1840, Mr. Pei:libel - sr a distinguished member of the Chancery bar_ ta H,i. dared in the House that the system o f f ees was i n, ed tous and enormous, and that the suitors were coter ea r, to pay to those officers no less than 59,8621: in a Yitte for doing absolutely nothing. The only real duty ° b ap six clerks was to transmit to th e so li c it or s for %ail they acted any notices that were entered in c ourt, 000 s the fees upon that alone amounted to Ito, Such having been the n a t ure o f the uj os ? what was the ground of the -comPea si ' jo g Mr. Getty had awarded to him for compensation , as inte d as he lived, the sum of 5,4281. He was also aPltsare taxing master, with 2,000/. a year.—(Hear.) He th e They received 7,4281. without any deduction whatever. ssiss there were others who received 5,000/. a year es i i e pensation for their office, and one of them was , W isu gh.) 2,700/. a year for seven ye ars a ft er hi s d eat h.--( 1 " Neither the naval nor military service received an) ? r e f, like such amounts. He put it to th e Ri g ht Hon. 1 3412° , be who wielded the destinies o f thi s country, whe t s la tO received such a sum ?—(Hear, he a r.) He aPP e '"'" s of the Chair. Did the representativ e o f the Commok i s England receive such a sum ? He put it to P oo Members whether, after various charges, as / of them had a clear rental of 7,0001. aye —(Hear, hear.) The poor u n h a ppy su itors 1 1 , 0 0 pay an increased taxation i n or d er to ma k e up enormous salaries and compensations. But the Jiro however, in its liberality, not on ly compensate d th e bit clerks, b ut their agents received three-fourths of " c ry they had received previously. One of th ese agents A A ceived 900 e a-year. There w as w h at was eillwa; waiting clerk, who received 5001. a-year. There " 7 1 4. clerk of the six elerks wh o received 1,935/. R' daft whilst out of office. In fact all the flesh and blood was found in Chancery-lane was co mpensat e rts ia (Laughter.) He had been very anxious to ase e se bad how the Bill had passed thr oug h Parliament, and ," s red referred to the journal s f or th a t purpose . It aPrisser it was hurried through at a railroad pace. (The Hon' se.) ber then read an ext rac t f rom t h e j ourna l s o f the ' 0 " sl id) There never was a Bill forced through the H°l se t ho 4 , so much indecent h as t e ; an d , two d ays a ft e r vo ti v e' reading in the Hou se o f Lords it received the boa s o assent. No Bill h a d ever passe d throug h Parlittsioaj rapidly. He did not impute any acts of core a irlss what he imp u t e d was acts of omission, in no t M o or into the nature, amount, and appl l'ijos ication of the ef og ilA sation. The Bill was introduced in the month of 5 e just at the very time the law Members of the he COs ii rs of Commons w en t on c i rcu it.—(H ear, h ear .) c 's pensation was n o t ma d e u p on an average o f the b - bot those clerks for the last six years, or ten Ye a:s ite's° the last three years. This Act of Parliament , / el pared with other acts o f com p ensat i on , wou ld s e , e i te s eir, extraordinary indeed. It was mos t un fair an'sts/P -that the funds pl ace d t o t h e cre di t o f t h e se e f u .as t, general in Chancery, and which, for the most 1;0 1° longed to mino rs , an d i n f ants , an d fema l e s, 911 .? e ler A l ° taxed for the compe nsa ti on o f t h e f ees o f t h e se s 'o, and other sinecurists. And it certainly did ses s uj e eon , strange and unjust p rocee di ng , t h at not only 7of I re pensation to those p ersons s h ou ld be p sae aid °l/- a%t fund, but also th e very expenses of p a ssing this Fa t through Parliament.—(C r i es o f "Hear, li elf. ,idt Ar this the charge of 3391. was made to 10 g e se" - e s he had already sa id, out o f t h e f un d of tatogew , i im ls fenceless persons, who were , o f cou rse, d? at the mercy of the Court. There were two is eS cji Chancery —one called the Suitors' Fee Fund, d sviii e from suitors in th e C ourt o f Chancery, : 9 iss n ' s s amounted, in the ye ar 1842, t o 62,0001. Li ll oair" o f 153,0001. There was another fund, called tt e sn ass Fund, which consisted of unclaimed dir o d h t r i s t which there was a sum of 2,800,0001. Ni stoe- s i both these funds the enormous sum of 27,;:ise eats suitors' fees were deducted. It was the ho tt i o rgel s to of the Lord Chancellor to investigate these t f 000 she his and to see that the funds which said she his Court were not malappropriated. It wa s aot, e r Lord Chancellor had no power, but such lee 'he case—he possessed the power, and he should_ kit in g cised it. He was sure the House, thought rks ße r t y in favour of some compensation to these six a 1e , 5 001.41) , life, would think it rather extravagant to ; he i r cf,v7 oo , pension to their families for seven years after r eflee v i sct Neither would Hon. Members, after a ,W e b thiS h ar be at all satisfied with the manner in Wm c o ico, iste passed, without deliberation, without disc o n eirLsed riedly, and e v id en tly w ith a v i ew t o avoid I sle t'sea its objects until inquiry might be useless • for' t beir, the House would grant the inquiry he s°, ll : oo3 eto ass ela if so, he felt convinced that such facts wou l ", :g nent' w ers knowledge that the repeal of this Act of Pars therevaad°' speedily ensue. It was well known tha t Fee s• ays tig Exchequer „f ( 10 what were termed Bankruptcy tesa fes" Now, he did not think it right that the sY s sf • sbese ws tlf or pensioning the o ffi cers of the Court out h a d Pl anit as he should be continued. They ought, as n i nd. stir e ' said, to be paid out of the Consolidated x jt! ought not to be mulcted. There should be,S,...sata. hos s; Mr. Pemberton L e i g h— no m ean authoV iniettise present system of fe es w as enormous ,a;,, st ild, _ w and the House in a c c e di ng to this nsot it Licheers'i one great step in favour of cheapjnsti edil t :l l Mr. JERVIS seconded the motion. _ spa s a lio The SOLICITOR-GENERAL gave Nausesi deft t he his Hon. and Learned Friend for the rthe de! .. . t he exhibited in collecting these details, and,7oo, ford and address he had used in p lacin Von. P a !' cl- House; but he complained that the _ sho idba s Gentleman could stopped short when ne on ' n d e nislf roa rd vanced, because advance would have brou ght 7 s e"' The Hon. and Learned Gentleman ha ht ma u l f ° oj li „ it : very serious charges, but he thoug r ther °- sass could not be sustained; and be waS fu .. st ify tbe,sotle that he could make out a case fully to e `L o ved `f st ireli in resisting the motion of the Hon. nn stat ed he Ho n ey man. In some things which had been tha t tha_tos concurred. He thought, for lith ceu the e j s olish e ; of the offices connected w ueht t ° be :hos ° sl i I Chancery were sinecures, and 0 done by edings o f t From the year 1688 nothing was to the P r°c „, e e of ib t bs clerks beyond signing their names to e rformas's 0 m ow t the Court of Chancery, and to the taking 90 .01: 0 duty they attended in rotation, arranger:,sbers , Y s i to in his turn, according to an i n teu nsaite themselves. Those six clerks air , reDer WS 3 c oif were called sworn clerks. Their of sbis4ned sixty ; but at the time of the passing rose perr i%ng ed to were only twenty-five bees- 's a e in number. ;s s ba lly f • w hich o duties subsequent to 168 8 f writSt fill the six clerks, viz. the issuifnfheo different P r es ort. ti e, ings, making o ffi ce copies . o solicitors 0 g ave . ,o Chancery, and representing . theY s ' s were e ' v- f those duties performance o w h° the sw orn in upon per sons. • - for and they devolved mti nine masterly. and the only duty re . befor e • rs - agents, attending ol i ci to offic e clerks to perform was of the s , t heir fs ey bills Chancery to tax the age °R . PY eu ,,a seld t3ra + tenet employed them. Those y i there wm• eitti4j of practically for life, inasmuch from from their 10 , c o f prospect of their being remov ed a,_„shed they . t yys.ise _ ss and when those of fi ces were U"" iro i tt ed- ihing g for compensation which were au that state oi oo 'j o i s ierso'Z Parliament. Ile admitted that s _ so d e b or. abuse- that those o ffi cer two RCP a great fees for doing next to not hing , eon for eon kit sett