The Sun. — London, England, 1836-02-10 00:00:00

_ TEIE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1836. were now subject were enormous, and such as no man who had not a large fortune was able to bear. No man could be a Member of that House without incurring an expense of at least 1,0001. a year over and above his ordinary expenses. sere r ought not td borne. The ind us t r i ous c l asses cou ld be properly represented ftt that Hou se , un til men w h o understo o d their interests should be enabled to sit there with out r u i n i ng themselves by the expense. If the Hon. Member for Middlesex brought forward a motion to pay the Represen tatives of the people, say three guineas a day—( A laugh)—he ;would support Hear, hear, and laughter.) The present o uter which tl.le Hon. Member f or Middl esex h a d b roug h t forward was so very small that he (Mr. Attwood) could not !ndure to ste the time of the House occupied with it. If the Ulancelle,r of the Exchequer was prepared to say that he would undertake to protect the vested i n t eres t s o f th e parties con (erned in these resolutions he (M r . Att woo d) would support Wo the n; but if otherwise, he should certainly vote against them. ' l ee parties h a d em b ar k e d the i r l i ves—(Laughter)—he ?id say they had obtained their situations for life ; and they l ight to r ece i ve ample compensation. Unless, therefore, he clad the assurance he required from the Chancellor of the Ex quer, he should vote against the motion. Colonel SIBTHORP, without going into any particular dl Con sideration of the resolutions of the Hon. Member for Mid esex, sh ou ld ta k e the liberty of giving himself full power a? rem unerate the pers ons i n t eres t e d as muc h or as littl e as h e "'Ought proper.—( A-laugh .) M r. O'C 0 NNE L L said that on the second resolution being Put, he s h ould move that the word " ample " be introduced, as re ferring to the compensation to be given. „, House th en di v id e d on t h e fi rst reso l ut i on , w h en t h e •itualbers were— For the resolution Against it . Majority —7B o , Th a returni ng to the G a ll ey we f oun d , • , lbe CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER e x p ress i ng il.'loPe that ti le Hon Member for Middlesex would not press Is second resolution, and that the House would not throw u itz Pen the Treasury the unpleasant difficulty of providing for its cer s ; 'but that the House itself would keep in its hands th e ui l uent. of it s own servants . ` t ' 4l. ` HUME was ready to withdraw the second resolution ; s u e i 'gave notice that on Th u rsday next he should move f o r a to ,ect C ommittee, to inquire into the compensation that ought 84 given to the pers o ns in question, and the best mode of PPlying that compensation. T he Hon. Member then withdrew his second resolution. STEAM-BOATS ON THE THAMES. Alderman WOOD rose, pursuant to notice, to ask leave to e r n, En , In a Bill f or th e better regulation of steam-boats nevi t"ag the River Thames. It must be known to every Gen :e'en who read the public papers the hazard to which life and "h -e PertY were daily exposed by the racing of steam-vessels on l b -e r iver, and he should there simply con fi ne himself to asking ' e rn), ission to introduce his Bill. 'qr. WARBURTON did not rise to oppose the motion bringing in the Bill ; but he must say, at the same time, t 7 t be thought it would better become the city of London , vo 7. Pay some attention to th e crow d e d state ,of the river, t i th the shipping, and the numerous b oa ts bel ong i ng t o ent, which impeded the navigation, so as to make it almost "Possibl e for the steam-boats to ply up and down without an ACeideßt. eeh. Alderm an WOOD sa id t h at t h e o b servat i ons o f t h e u• Memb er were rat h er un h app il y app li e d , b ecause i t was pe e i ectly well kn own th a t th e acc id en t s i nvar i a bly occurred in s : lower part o f th e r i ver , b e l ow th e s hi p pi ng , where the k e na-boats h a d room to race one aga i nst t h e ot h er. Th ey t i:evi their own i nterests b etter t h an to h azar d a race amongst e shippin ti r • P. THOMSON observed that the laws and regula sLl erecting the port of London generally much needed re ii and alteration. to Ong a f ew wor d s f rom Si r C. BURRELL, l eave was g i ven '''"ng in the Bill. x r CABRIOLETS, HACKNEY-COACHES, &c. f ar le• Alderman WOOD also obtained leave to bring in a Bill 411 est lue better regulation of hackney-coaches, omnibuses, and Nage coaches. ;‘,; TAXATION OF THE COUNTRY. ti v -4 . r . ROBINSON rose, in pursuance of a notice be had i t h: 4l, to lay upon the table of the House certain resolutions t h T eb he had framed with reference to the general taxation of thecountry. He should not then go into any discussion upon eZe t esolutions, but merely moved that they be read and laid 1 7 11 the table, with a view to their bein , * taken into conside gn;ell on a future day, when he should b b ring them under re ar discussion before the House. be Y i e CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that r na , ‘ "ad, no objection to the Resolutions of the Hon. Gentl ber„ u eing laid on the table, but he should not agree to thei e r er,:g entered on the votes. The Hon. Member might, how kkii,r_une his own day for bringing them under consideration, "e (the Ch ance llor of the Exchequer) would agree to at d ay. to l tROB IN SO N did not desire to have the resolutions on the votes, but merely laid on the table. The Hon. taper then laid his resolutions on the table, but did not ~'l „ ry day for bringing them before the House. I+ I 47, 4 FENCE OF PRISONERS BY COUNSEL. a11n . ,. ; " . %WART moved for leave to bring in a Bill to enable '..' B , e 'ners to make a full defence by Counsel. be . 1 1 . t E. WILMOT asked if the present Bill was intended to .1„ ue same as that one which was rejected by the House of t la last year? 1 ) .`" EWART said that the present Bill he intended should t .,`" i n every respect the same as the Bill which passed that House Inst year. Sir E. WILMOT believed the Bill of last year was car ried by a majority of one in that House. But what had Lord Denman and Lord Brougham said of it ?—( Order, order. He did n o t mean to oppose the bringing in of the Bill, for there there were many clauses of it to which he should give his sup port ; but he could not agree to the principle of allowing four speeches to Counsel in defence of a prisoner, and thus unne cessarily occupying so much time of the Court. Mr. E WART denied that the Bill of last session gave the privilege of four speeches to Counsel ; the utmost that could be necessary in most cases of Counsel would be to make two 7 eche. ; and even that would depend upon the course pur sued by the prosecuting Counsel. He denied also that the tile " w as only carried by a majority of one. The fact was that gill was carried by a large majority, and it was only one I t T;se of it t o w hi c h th e ma j or i ty o f one applied. Aftor the sea l. i havi ng passed that H ouse i n the last session, and in the ar ` 4o ll before it, it surely could not be said that be had not :w a locus sta n di. The other House of Parliament had never H ven any decision on the Bill, and how therefore, could that co r e e be qu o t e d as a n argument against it ? It s h ou ld b e re-' ti ot . et ed, too, that the Bill had passed the House of Commons, Wi thstanding. the opposition of the Attorney-General. ti k l4 l; O'CONNELL supposed it was not the intention of bri o ` 3 n. Baronet to divide the House in opposition to the ems in of the Bill? tee 11 . WILMOT had ne such intention. He had already m t bat he s h ou ld not oppose t h e b r i ng i ng i n o f th e Bill. C o nt O'CONNELL did not think the time occupied by , "'.el in defending a prisoner should be at all considered. din old principle, that "wretches hung that Jurymen might e hoped was l ong s i nce ex pl o d e d. After a few inaudible observations from Sir E. K NATC BU LL, leave was given to bring in the Bill. H THE ARTS. M r E WART moved for the appointment of a Select mremit tee to inquire into the best means of extending a e .wledge of the arts, and of the principles of design, tk e e ug the people, and to inqui re int o the co n st i t u ti on , & c ., o f had in atitutions connected with the arts in this country. He p ost 'Tamed up on th e C omm itt ee suc h a num b er as h e t h oug ht e. likely t o ensure a f u ll atten d ance, f or t h e purpose o f all ceding with the inquiry, and bringing it to a close with halltlevrable despatch. With this view (as we understood) he '.!ieleett,d between thirty and forty Gentlemen. ap R. PEEL (who was scarcely audible) did not think the at t t° lll truent of so large a number was the most likely way to t t l l the object proposed by th e H on . Memb er . A; EWART had no objection to reduce it. feejl_ P• 4. PEEL—By reducing the number Gentlemen would %2.at the responsibility was increased, and would be thus if likely to give their attendance. ILI . ' ROEBUCK thought the best mode to secure atten 'would be to require a pledge from each Member. Q r . WARBURTON did not attend the Committee of last s,eu - regularly. He hoped his name would be struck off. ue motion was agreed to, and a Committee appointed. POOR LAWS FOR IRELAND. 14 6 R. MUSGRAVE rose to move for leave to bring in a i ne I for the R e li e f of the Poor of Ireland in certain cases: A Measure similar to that which he meant now to propose was tight under the consideration of the House last Session. iq o u nderstood th a t t h ere was no objection to it on the part of I , Z e nment. Allusion was made in the Speech from the Hon lin to the state of the Irish poor, and he believed that eo t ;i;„ lV lernbers bad every possible desire to ameliorate their R e Z . . The Irish Poor Inquiry Commissioners had made sri k w:, in which it was stated that numbers perished daily in 4 0t from destitution and want. Such being the case, he did tip ut ilan• notwithstanding the intimation given by Government la %bon The ive up his jntention of proposing some measure liti tur e Rouse. Bill for which he would now ask for leave to Ne' ~„.'n ,was drawn up by a gentleman of great legal knowledge th e ,. - r`nenee. There could be no harm in introducing this Bill iiiinotice of the House, whatever might be the intentions of Mi- Iv er ;`•• When he introduced this subject last Session, Gentlemen tea t , n ot gene ra ll y so well acqua i nte d w i t h i t as t h ey were a t pre te,,,t The Report of the Irish Poor Commissioners was now be hi w , t4 e House, and no document that was ever laid upon their table w a greater amount of seffering, misery, and destitution. He ke pt not d eta i n the House by reading any extracts from it. The ,auswcal part of the Report was, perhaps, the most important, be- Th e „rdedical men had the best - opportunitie of witnessing, in r „discharge of their professional duties, the s e xtent and nature teri Te distresses and sufferings of the poor. The scenes they de natrd were most melancholy and appalling. Indeed the wretched Irei:l°! the poor could not be unknown to any person residing . in e n _ Id. Ile himself lived in an atmosphere of misery, and, being ,;':!l)elled to witness it daily, he was determined to pursue the sub .t. see whether any and what relief could be procured from alu2inent. Suppose the whole population of Middlesex, of Kent, ah !: S ussex were at one instant to be deprived of parochial relief, th .",turned out upon the highways to die by hundreds of starvation, House would not hesitate a moment to adopt, not merely such 017eleasure as he meant now to propose, but a much more effectual but The poor of I re l an d s hould not merely rece i ve present relief, b _ Cane should be taken to secure future employment for able ,rled labourers. There were very ample means of affording ern r2Yrnent there, by instituting a steady and vigorous course of im ,viTement. The Report of the English Poor Law Commis -a,,Ters was highly honourable to their judgment and industry, the measure founded on it no less honourable to Ministers, bu t doubts were entertained whether a similar system of poor uwsto that now acted upon in England could be bene fi cially te ndedex to Ireland. A poor law here was of long standing ; its onperation, whether for good or evil, was well known ; but it would ! ,. ot b e so i n I re l and. No person would propose for that country a _tystern simila r i n a ll respects to that of England. The establish ment of workhouses in Ireland would not be a benefit to that coun ry, for great numbers of the Irish poor were drawn over here from the fear of absolute starvation. Some means should also be devised to give employment 'to able-bodied workmen. It ap pears from the evidence on the state of the poor that these per sons are actually driven from home by starvation. If these dis tressed persons were offered admittance into a workhouse, they would accept this or any other mode of obtaining food. Before the experiment of workhouses is tried in Ireland, let the mode of carry ing on public works be improved, and let other means be adopted in order to extend employment for the able-bodied. Last session I ventured to introduce a Bill, by which public works would be ex tended, and this Session I have given notice for renewing that measure. The best practical engineers assert that ample employ ment might be afforded by a proper extension of such works. Let something be done to improve the distribution of landed property of Ireland. It is a fact that the occupiers of the soil, those who are tobe considered as the people of Ireland, are prevented by the nature of their tenures from effecting permanent improvements. And this, after all, is the greatest evil of Ireland. In this respect Ireland differs from every country where the people are in a state of comfort and happiness. By the Bill before the House, it is in tended to provide relief for the helpless, who are unable to work— and on extraordinary occasions, for other classes also, by levying a rate in aid of subscriptions on such occasions. By the first clause, the duty of executing the Act primarily devolves on a Committee, who have power at discretion, to afford relief. This Committee is to consist of ratepayers, who possess a certain qualification described in the Bill. IL has been thought necessary to attach a qualification, because, if all ratepayers were allowed to vote, many of the poorest class would have to decide on cases of their own relations who ap plied for relief. Seven Committee-men are required to constitute a Committee. At their first meeting, the Committee is to divide the parish into sections, and is to appoint a sub-committee of ma nagement, assigning to ea.th sub-committee-man the superintend ence of one or more sections. In the appointment of the sub-com mittee a continued rotation is to be observed. One of the sub committee is to be guardian, and another to be deputy guarditn Of the poor, filling the office of Chairman at each meeting of the sub committee. As I mentioned, on a former occasion, the appoint ment of a superintendent for each section of a parish was found to answer admirably at Glasgow, as described by Dr. Chalmers in his evidence. This regulation was also successfully adopted in Ireland during the prevalence of the cholera. The sub-committee will have to draw up a list of the helpless poor, confining the list under that denomination, to aged persons above sixty, orphans under fourteen, the maimed, sick, blind, deaf and dumb, lunatics and idiots. And in this roll are to be mentioned the age, birthplace, and other particulars relating to each person named therein, together with the amount of allowance required in each case. This statement and the roll of the poor is then to be laid before the General Committee for their decision. The statement of the determination of the General Committee will then go before the Grand Jury of the county, by whom it may be altered, on appeal. When a valuation has taken place, every party having paid rates directly or indirectly, may, out of the rent next payable by hiM, make a deduction not exceeding three-fourths of such poundage on the annual rent thus payable as shall have been used for ascertaining the rates. If the Treasurer of the county states in his warrant that a poundage of is. is to be levied, as rates, on the annual value—the occupier paying Is. per pound, may deduct from his landlord's rent 9d. per pound of rent. This clause is so drawn as to make every person having an interest in land pay according to the amount of that interest. On occasions of extraordinary distress, such as prevailed last year in Mayo, it is proposed to levy a rate equal to the amount of private subscriptions raised for the relief of the able-bodied. By another clause power is also given to the General Committee to assist mendicity institu tions, by levying rates on the parish. The Bill also proposes to give the Lord Lieutenant authority to unite parishes, on memorial being presented to him for that purpose. I have thus briefly explained to the House the principal clauses of the Bill. Many blembeis may wish to proceed farther, and to extend relief to other classes, by a compulsory law. I beg these Hon. Members to consider that the , investigation which must take place under this Bill will prove bene ficial not only to the helpless poor, but also to other distressed per sons. I now have to move that leave be given to bring in " a Bill to authorise the Relief of the Poor of Ireland in certain cases." Mr. S. O'BRIEN had given notice of a motion on the same subject. Ithad always appeared to him that it was the duty of the Government to originate a measure of relief for the Irish poor, having first received and well considered any suggestions made upon the subject by those who had the means of forming a judg ment on it. He had given the greatest attention to it since 1832, and he hoped he would be permitted to submit a Bill he had pre pared to that House in the course of next week. Mr. J. GRATTAN thought it would be better if his Hon. Friends did not press their Bills, unless they saw a disinclination en the part of the Government to submit any measure upon the subject. Mr. SHAW could see no use in bringing Bills of this kind be fore the House if Ministers had determined to take up the subject. It would be highly desirable that some of his Majesty's Ministers should come furward and state, at least generally, what was the nature of the measure they meant to propose. He would, there fore, put that question to the Right Hon. Gentleman the Chan cellor of the Exchequer. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the question put by the Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman was a very strange one. The view entertained by Ministers was already communi cated in the Speech from the Throne. How was it possible that Ministers could now announce the nature of a measure which must be founded upon reports of a Committee which were not yet re ceived ?—cHear.) Mr. O'CONNELL thought the object of Ministers had already been made sufficiently distinct. It could do no harm to have Bills of this kind introduced, in which different modes of relief were suggested by Gentlemen who had given their attention to the sub ject. Some information might be obtained in this way that would prove useful in the preparation of any future measure. The time was come for introducing poor laws into Ireland. There was a machinery of centralisation in the English poor law, as amended, which worked well. The tribunal composed of Commissioners was a great benefit, and in any plan that may be proposed for Ireland a similar tribunal would in his opinion be desirable. It would tend greatly to prevent those local prejudices and party feelings which might arise in parishes and districts when any measure of relief began for the first time to come into operation. The sooner the subject was taken up the better. Any measure of relief ought to embrace some provision to facilitate emigration. To give relief to able-bodied labourers from the poor fund would do far more injury than good. One mode of relief might be found in the allocation of unimproved lands. Some caution, however, would be necessary in the application of such a remedy, because, if carried too far, it would have the effect of increasing the number of poor in succeed ing generations. When Ireland was in full possession of equal rights he had no doubt that a general amelioration of the condition of all classes in that country would, before long, manifest itself, and that much of the distress which now called for a measure of this kind would disappear. It was his wish that relief should be pro vided for the actually destitute, without at all interfering with the wages of labour, a practice that had been found so injurious. An HoN. MEMBER on the Oppositlon benches made an obser vation that was quite inaudible. Mr. SCARLETT was surprised that Government was not now prepared to declare what it was they meant to do. If their plan was to be founded upon the 43d of Queen Elizabeth they ought to proceed with great caution. All the Acts which had been passed since were merely expedients to patch up that one. It seemed to him that what Ministers had in contemplation was merely a pro ject to injure the landlords of Ireland. (" Oh, oh," from the M inisterial benches.) If it were not so, no man would be more ready than himself to concur in a measure of relief. Mr. WYSE denied that there was any project of the kind al luded to. He did not suppose that it was intended to make the 43d of Elizabeth the basis of any measure of relief for the poor of Ireland. Government acted wisely in receiving suggestions upon the subject from year to year, before they proposed any Bill them selves. With this view he moved for leave to bring in a Bill last Session, and he should make a similar motion this session, solely with the view of affording to Government any aid he could in the preparation of a general measure Mr. S. FRENCH was friendly to a poor law for Ireland, and would support any measure that might appear to him effectual for the relief of the poor. He hoped any plan that should be proposed would be submitted to the consideration of Irish gentlemen, without reference to politics. Leave was given to bring in the Bill. On the motion of Mr. F. BUXTON, the Committee of last ses sion on the Aborigines was renewed, and several returns connected with the slave trade ordered. , Mr. HUME, notwithstanding what had fallen from the 'bd. , : Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, felt it his duty to take t he sense of the House to a certain extent on the subject, as to which he had given notice of a motion, as it was one of considerable im portance. Since the time when the subject was last before the House many persons had become convinced that the situation which had been selected by the Committee was a bad one for many rea sons, from its being too local, not having the benefit of openness and proximity to the general business of the metropolis. One ob jection to the site, more particularly, which he (Mr. Hume) h a d pressed upon the Committee, was, that, while in such a climate as that of England, where during a considerable portion of the day and of the year the atmosphere is dark and murky, it was most desira ble that those actively engaged in the most importance business of the country should have the benefit of free air and open space— the situation selected by the Committoe was, on the contrary, so fixed between Westminster Abbey on the one hand, and I,st minster Hall on the other, as to preclude those necessary ad vantages, and deprived Honourable Members of an hour or an hour and a half of 'daylight. The proximity of Westminster Hall might be very convenient to gentlemen of the legal profession who were at the same time Members of the House r but when the small number of Honourable Members so situated was compared with the vast majority differently placed the reason became as nothing. He (Mr. Hume) was in fact for the removal of the Courts of Law from Westminster Hall to Lincoln's Inn-fields. A place so in the neighbourhood of all the lawyers as that it would enable them to feed altogether—(A laugh)—and one which was, moreover, central to the whole metropolis. With re spect to the situation he (Mr. Hume) would propose as that of the new houses, he certainly thought St. James's Park a much better one than that which seemed to have been fixed on by the Commit tee. There the atmosphere was not confined, and the situation was open. Indeed, there could scarcely be any comparison between St. James's Palace or Marlborough House, and the proposed con fined spot between Westminster Hall and the Abbey ; and that the fOrmer would be more convenient to five-sixths of the Members of that House. Another situation, however, he thought would have been still better, if the National Gallery had not been commenced ; but there was still room at the back of that build ing, if the barracks were removed, and they were already com plained of by most of the-neighbouring inhabitants.—(Hear.) At all events there were still two other situations between which a choice could be made, both of which he (Mr. Hume) thought better than that chosen by the Committee ; and as to the objec tion, that trouble and expense had already been gone to, he thought that the employment of the artists was rather a benefit to them than otherwise; and that the 3,0001. (which he conceived to be the utmost expense that had been gone to) was not worth considering in comparison with the greater objects he had in view. Time and experience too would be gained by giving room for deli beration on the subject. The only objections to his proposal which bore to him the semblance even of validity were that the change of the situation of the Houses from that which they at present occupied would be uprooting the historical recollections of many centuries, and that which he had already referred to—the necessity for the proximity of the Courts of Law. He had already said what he thought as to the latter objection, and as to the former he feared that the late fire had gone tar to obliterate most of the historical recollections. He therefore begged to move that it be an instruction to the Select Committee that they do consider the si tuation to be fixed on for the new Houses of Parliament. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose to entreat the House to resist the proposition of his Hon. Friend, and he would state in a very few words the facts on which he founded his objection to the motion, and the argument which he should offer in support of his objection. The Committee was appointed speci fically to consider the whole of the question. There had been no complaint against them of want of diligence or of due care and attention in the performance of the task assigned to them, and they had expressly negatived this very proposition.—( Hear, hear.) His Hon. Friend, however, had said that he regretted not having taken the sense of the House on the subject when left in a minority of two ; but the fact was, that the sense of the House had already been taken on the question, and that lin a manner more express than even the assent to a Report ; for when the estimates were under discussion last Session, he (the Chancellor of the Exche quer) had been especially urged to draw money for the purposes of the new buildings, which he accordingly did, and the Hon. Member for Middlesex, on that occasion, when it was mooted in the House whether or not certain land in Abingdon-street should be pur chased, himself said that the expense ought not to interfere with so important an object, and thus contributed his approval to the very measure which it was now his object to oppose. He (the Chan cellor of the Exchequer) really did not see any reason why the HouSe should again come to a decision on this subject, and alter the whole of the arrangements, on the basis of which the House of Lords as well as that House had procooded, especially as there was no certainty that afterwards some other Hon. Member, or even, perhaps, the Hon. Member for Middlesex himself, might not come down to the House to propose another alteration. Sir F. POLLOCK observed, with reference to what the Hon. Member for Middlesex had said on the subject of the convenience of the Barristers at Westminster Hall, that it was a matter of entire indifference to them where the House of Commons was situated, though he for one would never allow any personal convenience of his own to interfere with that of the public. There were many reasons, however, why it was desirable that the Law Courts should be near the two Houses, but those had more reference to the con venience of suitors and attorneys than to that of Barristers, which was entirely out of the question. Mr. KEARSLEY said, that after what had fallen from the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reply to the Hon. Member for Middlesex, it must be evident to every one that the observations of the Hon. Member were nothing but humbug—sheer humbug.—(Much laughter, and cries of " Hear, hear.") With the pretensions of that Hon. Member on all occasions to a peculiar desire for economy he (Mr. Kearsley ) must say that when the Hon. Member talked about the loss of 3,0001. being a matter of no im portance he certainly was not acting an honest part.—(Cries of " Oh, oh," " Chair, chair," and renewed laughter.) The SPEAKER said that the Hon. Member must be aware that it was not right for him to apply to any other Hon. Member the terms of which he had just made use.—(Hear, hear. ) Mr. KEARSLEY—I cannot speak differently from what I think.—( Roars of laughter from all parts of the House, in which Mr. Hume joined.) The SPEAKER again interposed, and said—The language made use of by the Hon. Member is not such as ought to be heard within the walls of this House.—(Hear, hear.) I feel that it is my duty to interpose, and submit it to the judgment of the House, whether or not such language should be allowed.—(Hear, hear. ) The Hon. Member has imputed dishonesty to another Hon. Mem ber, and that certainly is not a fit term to be used here.__( Cheers. ) Mr. KEARSLEY_I trust I shall be permitted to say that I think that if I had acted as the Hon. Member for Middlesex has done, I should not have been acting an honest part.—( Renewed laughter, and cries of " Chair, chair.") The SPEAKER—Am I to understand that the Hon. Member means to retract the expression of which he has made use ? Mr. KEARSLEY again rose and said—" I cannot say what I don't think," and was going on when he was interrupted by re newed shouts of laughter, and calls for the interposition of the Speaker. 11.1 r. T. ATTWOOD here rose, and observed that if the Hon. Member had used unparlinmentary language he (Mr. Attwood) was quite sure that he had meant nothing towards the Hon. Mem ber for Middlesex personally, although the word " unfair" might have been used as applied to the course of conduct pursued without any infringement on the rules of Parliamentary procedure. The phrase used by the Hon. Member was certainly one not fit for a society of Gentlemen, and he hoped that an explanation would be afforded.—( Hear. ) Mr. KEARSLEY—My remark was intended to apply to the argument of the Hon. Member, and not to himself.—(Cheers and laughter.) I know very well the point I wanted to come at, and did not want the Birmingham bridge to carry me safe over.—( Roars of laughter. ) Mr. ATT WOOD was very happy that the discussion had passed off in this pleasant and convivial manner. With respect to the sub ject under discussion, he (Mr. Attwood) said that he was opposed to the motion of the Hon. Member for Middlesex, because he thought that the historical associations of six hundred years ought not to be disregarded in the choice of a situation for the new Houses of Parliament, not that any unnecessary departure should be made from a spot so intimately connected with the liberties of the people of England as the present. Earl GROSVENOR said, that however favourable he was to the proposition of the Hon. Member for Middlesex, he must admit , that it came rather too late. There could, he thought, be no deny ing that a more central position might be found for the new Houses of Parliament than the present. The free circulation of air was a matter of the utmost importance in a city . like this, and nothing could offer greater obstruction to the circulation of air than erecting a lofty building on the banks of a river such as the Thames, in a neighbourhood so choked up with houses as that part of Westmin ster was. The original intention was that Westminster Abbey should open to the River ;and for his part he should prefer seeing that done, with the removal of St. Margaret's Church, which was almost an eye-sore, and the restoration of St. Stephen's Chapel, to having the new Houses of Parliament erected on the present site. Another situation might easily be chosen for the purpose, which would not be liable to the same objection, and he must say that they should not be deterred from placing a building intended for national purposes in a position which would be free from all defects, merely because of the trifling additional outlay of money which it might entail. Sir R. PEEL thought that, without some very satisfactory and conclusive reason were shown for it, the House should not adopt any such proposition as that of the Hon. Member for Middlesex. They were bound to adhere to the decision to which they had come, having in the last Session referred this matter to a roper tribunal, and that tribunal having by a large majoritydetermmed on adhering to the existing site. The plans which had been received were founded upon the site intended for the newbuildings, and if a change were made in this respect, it was clear that new plans would be in dispensable, and that additional delay would be the conseq uence. He did not think the Hon. Member for Middlesex had adduced any very cogent reason why they should depart from that which was the consistent course ; at all events, the Hon. Gentleman had not convinced him that a change of site would be desirable.—( Hear, hear.) He was not in the habit of cheering the Hon. Member for Birmingham very often, but he could not at the same time help cheering a sentiment which he had expressed in the course of his observations that night. If the matter was to be balanced by a re ference to the past and the future, certainly historical recollections ought to have some weight.—(Hear, hear.) It was not a mere difference of prejudices, but he thought it would always be a satis faction to the feelings of the English people, to know the site of the ancient Palace of Westminster, and where the British Parliament had for so long a time sat. Let them just consider the weight of the arguments of the Hon. Gentleman. The Hon. Gentleman said that by erecting a large building in the present situation they would intercept the air, and lose an hour's light every evening ; but what was his proposition? Why, that the new Houses of Parliament should be placed in the rear of the National Gallery, with that build ing to the south.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) The Hon. Gen tleman proposed to benefit them in point of air ; but he ( Sir R. Peel) must be permitted to doubt whether placing them in the mews, near the National Gallery, would be any improvement.-- ( Hear, hear, and loud laughter.) But the Hon. Gentleman com plained that the present situation was unhealthy. Had it ever been found so ? He did not think it had ; and what was more, he did . not believe that the history of the plague, the cholera, or any other of those contagious diseases which had visited the metro polis furnished any authority for supposing that the banks of the river were unhealthy.—(Hear, hear.) It was said that the currents of air induced by the tide were healthy, and if so, why should not Members of Parliament have the advantage of it "? Another objection was, that the Houses of Parliament were too remote from the residences of the Members; but, instead of regarding that as an objection, he considered it as an advantage, inasmuch as it not only insured them exercise, but the House an attendance, which, in all probability , could i: o fee obtained if their residences were at hand. There was some advantage in having the Houses of Parliament near Charing cross, a spot described by Dr. Johnson " As the great confluence of human existence ;" but he doubted whether it would be advisable to remove them to any of the leading channels of public communi cation. The present site was, in his opinion, preferable to the centre of one of those channels ; and, that being his opinion, he thought they should not disturb the investment of property which had already . taken place for this purpose. He also considered it of the utmost importance that the Courts of Law should be contiguous • to the Houses of Parliament ; for otherwise it would be impossi hie to get the assistance of leading Barristers in Election Com mittees, and as he did not think the Hon. 'Member for Middlesex had made out a case, he felt it his duty to vote against the proposi tion which he had made to the House. =Mr. HAWES would be sorry to have the site changed, if it could possibly be avoided. He suggested that the whole of the plans given in should be exhibited to the public, and said that such a course would not only be satisfactory to the artists themselves, but to the Government, as well as the public. The number of the plans received was 97, and had eabt 25,0001. The public had, therefore, a clear right to an inspection of them. Mr. ROEBUCK thought that a new site should be chosen for the new buildings, as the proximity of the present to the river, and the gas manufactories in the neighbourhood, rendered it par ticularly unhealthy. For his part he did not think past Par liaments had left any recollections that could be endearing to the people.—(Cries of " Oh, oh.") This was his own opinion —(Laughter)--and he should therefore vote for the motion of his Hon. Friend. Mr. EWART was not at all convinced by the Right Hon. Ba ronet opposite that the present site was preferable to any other they could select. The House then divided, when there appeared-- For Mr. Hume's motion 42 Against it Majority On the motion of Sir R. INGLIS, the Library Committee was re-appointed, and the annual returns under the 10th Geo. IV.— ( Roman Catholic Relief Act. )—Ordered. Mr. R. GORDON moved for leave to introduce a Bill for vest ing the office of Constable of St. Briavel's in the First Commis sioner of Woods and Forests, and for vesting the office of Keeper of the Forest of Dean, in the county of Gloucester, in the Commis sioners of Woods and Forests.—Motion granted. Mr. BROTHERTON rose to move the adjournment of the House, but was requested by Col. Sibthorp to allow him to pro ceed with a motion the notice of which was upon the list. Mr. BROTHERTON having acquiesced, Col. SIBTHORP moved that, there be laid before the House " a return of all the Commissions that have been issued, the num ber and names of Commissioners, secretaries, clerks, and other persons attached to each, and, if employed individually in more than one Commission, in what number so employed ; the places and periods of official duties and sittings, the number of days and hours of each sitting since the commencement of duty ; the sala ries and allowances of each officer or person, the expenses already incurred, and the amount paid already on each Commission ; the return to commence from November, 1830, and extend to the pre sent period." Mr. F. BARING said th tt there was no objection to the mo tion so far as it was possible to procure the information. But he would suggest to the Hon. and Gallant Member to add, after the number of days and hours of each sitting, the words " as far as it is possible to ascertain the same," or words to that effect. Colonel SIBTHORP had no objection to the insertion of the words proposed. The reason he had wished to introduce the word " hours " into the motion, was that those Gentlemen were called to perform very important duties, and at a very considerable ex pense to the public. It was not his wish to impeach the integrity of those Gentlemen, but when he found it stated that the hours for the discharge of their duties were from ten until four, and when they had no knowledge of how the remaining part of their time was disposed of, he certainly was of opinion that, so far as referred to the portion of their time devoted to their official duties, the pub lic had a perfect right to be informed, as far as it was possible to ascertain correctly, whether those Gentlemen had discharged those important and expensive duties with fidelity and integrity. He sup posed he must be satisfied with any return in the power of Govern ment to pi-Ake, but certainly no return would be satisfactory to him which diant afford information on this point. The motion wis agreed to. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at a quarter-past twelve o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY SUMMARY. In the LOADS' yesterday, the Marquis of Londonderry put off, till Friday, the motion relating to Spanish affairs of which he had given notice. The Commons then had a conference with the Lords, on the subject of providing for the more effectual promulgation of the statutes. On the motion of the Marquis of Salisbury, a Return of the names and residences of those gentlemen who have been inserted in different Commissions of the Peace, &c., after some conversati* on the subject, was ordered. A list of Commissioners, &c., pointed since January 1, 1830, was also ordered. Lord Ashbur ton, in presenting a petition, which complained of a particular grievance arising out of the operation of the new Poor Law, offered his testimony to the beneficial working of the Act generally. In the COMMONS' were presented petitions by Mr. Bucking ham for leave to bring in a Bill for Compensation from the East India Company, for injuries sustained; from the merchants of Hull for a revision of the Timber Duties; from an a snciation in Leices tershire for agricultural relief. Mr. D. W. Harvey gave notice that, on Friday next„ he should move for a Committee, to whom should be referred ill petitions for Bills for Railways,. terminating within, seven miles of the Royal Exchange, to report whether the best line had been named with reference to public convenience and safety, and with due regard to private property. Lord John Rus sell then moved for leave to bring in a Bill for the Commutation pf Tithes. The leading outlines of this measure will be seen in the speech of the Noble Mover. In this place it will be sufficient to state, that to carry the Commutation into effect, it is proposed to appoint Commissioners, who again are to nominate sub-commis sioners, to act in different parts of the country. The amount Of tithe commutation, as we understood,is not to continue tobe paid as no w,but to be in the nature of a rent charge, and to be payable by the landlord. After a short discussion, which indicated a favourable reception (excepting only Sir R. Inglis's opposition) leave was given to bring in the Bill. Lord John Russell moved for leave to bring in a Bill for the Registration of Aliens. Dr. Bowring, Mr. Hume, and other Hon. Members were of opinion that registration was useless, and might be dispensed with altogether. Mr. O'Connell spoke in favour of the Bill. Mr. Hume, by a majority of 78, carried his resolution for discontinuing gratuities to officers of the House, &c., and gave notice that on Thursday he should move for a Committee to consider what compensation ought to be awarded. Mr. Alder man Wood obtainedleave to bring in Bills for the better regulation of steam vessels, cabs, omnibuses, &c. Sir R. Musgrave moved for leave to bring in a Bill to afford relief, in certain cases, to the poor in Ireland. Mr. Hume's motion, that it be an instruction to the Building Committee, to reconsider the propriety of removing the site of the new Houses of Parliament, was resisted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and, on a division, was eventually lost. Leave was given to Mr. Ewart to allow prime's kill defer a: by Counsel and Attorney. The Library Committee was re..p • pointed, when, it being twelve o'clock, Mr. Brotherton, adhering to his laudable determination in favour of keeping good hours, moved the adjournment of the House. Colonel Sibthorp, however, in sisted on first moving for a Return of all the Commissions, &c., since 1830. The House then adjourned. BOROUGH OF STAFFORD. Mr. DIVETT moved for leave to bring in a Bill to disfranchise the borough of Stafford. A Bill for this purpose had passed that House three times. The subject had been carefully investigated by a Committee, and the conclusion to which both the Committee and the House came was, that nothing but disfranchisement was the remedy in a borough so corrupt. Such being the case, he felt it his duty now to move for leave to bring in a Bill to disfranchise that borough. Captain CHETWYND said that, after the almost unanimous expression of assent which the House had given to the motion of his Hon. Friend for leave to bring in the Bill, he should not now offer any arguments against it, but should avail himself of the practice of the House in order, on the occasion of the second read ing, to offer to the Bill his most strenuous opposition. Leave was then given. Mr. DIVETT then moved, pursuant to notice, the suspension of the writ for the borough of Stafford until after Thursday, the 21st of March.—Agreed to. REGISTER A f ELECTIONS AMENDMENT ACT. Mr. ELPHINSTONE moved for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the register of elections in England and Wales. It was not his object in any way to clash with the Bill of the Attorney-Gene ral, but he thought it desirable that the Bill of which he now gave notice should be printed, that the suggestions it contained might be brought under the consideration of the House.—Leave was given. Mr. ELPHINSTONE also moved for leave to bring in a Bill to render the register of electors final. His object was to remedy such absurdities which had crept into the practice of the registration sys tem, particularly in the cases of removal from town to town. An other object to which the proposed Bill pointed, was the making Committees of the House of Commons Courts of Appeal in every case where the question had been an open one before the Revis ing Barristers. The other object was the amendment and expla nation of certain parts of the Registration Act, which related to tenements held by divers persons. A notion had prevailed that rent was not devisable ; and therefore it had been held by Revising Barristers, that if there were a hundred joint-occupiers of a farm, each one was liable for the rent, and to be put on the register of electors. For this the Bill, for leave to bring in which he now moved, proposed to apply a remedy. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in the absence of his Noble Friend the Secretary for the Home Department, was bound to say that considerable objections were entertained to the proposed Bill.—( Hear.) It was not his object to raise a discussion on an important question at so late an hour. but at the same time every Hon. Member must see that the Hon. Mover proposed by his Bill to affect very considerable and extraordinary alterations in the privileges of Parliament ; such as ought not to be assented to without ,very grave discussion. Under these circum stances he thought it necessary to protest against the House being supposed to be bound to the principle by their assent to the motion. _ Leave was then given to bring in the Bill. REBUILDING THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then rose to move the renewal of the Select Committee which sat last session to consider the subject of the rebuilding the two Houses of Par liament. It would be in the recollection of the House, that the Committee in question was appointed last session, and that the ob ject to which its attention was more particularly directed was the examination of the plans submitted by artists for the new buildings. They were to select not more than five from a number of ninety seven ; and they accordingly selected four as most fit for the pur poses of the House. It was now necessary for them to resume their functions. The Hon. Member for Middlesex had given notice of his intention to move that certain instructions be given to the Com mittee in question; but he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) thought that the question of the appointment of the Committee ought certainly to have pricrity of the question of instruction, and that the one should not be mixed up with the other, to which he still most strenuously objected. He begged also to move that the Committee be the same as regarded the Hon. Members appointed, with the exception of the substitution of the name of the Hon Chairman of the Ways and Means for that of the present Lord Hatherton. COMMITTEES. The following are the Members who constitute the Committees appointed last night : Puetac PETITIONS.-Mr. Oswald, Sir Robert Peel, Mr. O'Connell, Sir Robert Inglis Sir Richard Vyvyan, Mr. Wilson Patten, Mr. Hume, Sir Edward Knatchbull, Mr. Clay, Mr. Tooke, Mr. Greene, Sir Charles Lemon. EXPIRING LAWs.—Mr. Baring, :Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. Solicitor-General, the Lord Advocate, Sir George Clerk, Sir Thomas Fremantle, Mr. Edward John Stanley, Mr. Ord, Sir Henry Hardinge, 111 r. Charles Wood, Mr. Hume, Mr. Jervis, Sir John Wrottesley, Mr. Ewart, Mr. John Benett, Mr. Guest, Mr. Bernal. PRINTING.-Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Hume, Sir Robert Inglis, Sir Thomas Fremantle, Mr. Francis Baring, Lord Viscount Lowther, Mr. Vernon Smith, Dr. Bowring. Auoulcirris.—Mr. Fowell Buxton, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Hawes, Mr. Bagshaw, Sir Rufane Donkin, Mr. Holland, Mr. Charles Lushington, Sir George Grey, Mr. Pease, Mr. Baines, Mr. An drew Johnston, Mr. Findley, Mr. Plumptre, Mr. Wilson, Colonel Thompson. Houszs or PARLIAMENT.—Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Robert Peel, Lord John Russell, Marquis of Chandos, Lord Stanley, Sir John Hobhouse, Sir James Graham, Lord Francis Egerton, Sir Richard Vyvyan, Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Hume, Sir Harry Verney, M r . Ridl e y Colborne, Sir Charles Burrell, Sir Robert Inglis, Mr. Williams Wynn, Mr. Tracy, Mr. Warburton, Sir George Clerk, Mr. Hughes Hughes, Mr. Bannerman, Lord Granville S omerse t, Lord Viscount Howic k, Mr. Bernal. LIBRARY.—Sir Robert Inglis, Mr. Chancellor of the Ex chequer, Sir Robert Peel, Sir Henry Hardinge, Dr. Lushington, Mr. Goulburn, Mr. Shaw, the Lord Advocate, Mr. Williams ' Wynn Mr. Warburton, Lord Viscount Clive, Mr. Stewart Mack enzie, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Tooke, Mr. Fazakerley, Mr. Gaily Knight. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. LIST OF THE MINORITY On the motion of the Marquis of Chandos that the Earl of Dar lington be added to the Agricultural Committee. Agnew, Sir A. Fleming, J. Palmer, R. Alston, Rowland Forbes, W. Parry, I . J. P. A ngerstein, John French, F. Peel, Edmund Archdall, General Frestiliekl, J. W. Pemberton, Thomas Astley, Sir .lacob Gaskell, J. M. Perceval, Colon I Attwood, M. Gillon, W. D. Plumpt.e, J. P. Bagot, Hon. W. Gore, W. 0. • Pollington, Viscount Baillie, Joseph Goulburn, H. Praed, J. B. Baillie, Colonel Goulburn, Mr. Serjt. Price Richard Barclay, Charles Greislcy, Sir R. Pringle, A. Barneby, John Grimston, Lord Richards, J. Bateson, Sir It. Halford, H. Rickford, W. Beckett, Sir J. Hall, B. Ross, Charles Ross Borthwick, Peter Hall)burton, D. G. Rushbrook, Robert Bradshaw, James Handley, H. Sanderson, R. Bruce, C. L. C. 'lardy, J. Sandon Lord Brudenell, Lord Harland , W. C . Scarlet', Hon. R. Bruen, Colonel H. Harvey, D. W. Scott, Sir ED. Bruen, Francis Hay, Sir J. Scourfleld, W. H. Buckingham, J. S. Henniker, Lord 1 Shaw, F. Buller, Sir J. Y. Herbert, lion. S. Sheldon, E. R. C. Burrell, Sir C. M. Hogg, J. W. Sibthorp, Colonel Campbell, Sir H. Holland, Edward Smyth, Sir G. H. Cayley, E. S. Hope, Hon. J. Somerset, Lord B. Chisholm, A. Hotham, Lord Somerset, Lord G. Churchill, Lord C. S. Houldsworth, T. Stormont, Viscount Clerk, Sir G., Bart. Hoy, J. B. Stuart, Lord D. C. Clive, E. B. Ingham, Robart Sturt, H. C. Clive, R. H. Inglis, Sir R. H. Trevor, A. Codrington, C. W. Irton, S. 'Twiss, Horace Compton ' H. C. Johnstone, J. J. H. Tyrrell, Sir J. Conelly, E. M. - Jones, Wilson Vere, Sir C. B. Corbett, T. G. Kearsley, J. H. Verner, W. D'Albiac, Sir C. Knatchbull, Sir E. Verney, Sir H. Darlington, Earl of Knight, J. G. Vesey, Hon. T. Dick, Q. Knightley, Sir C. Vivian, John Ennis Duncombe. A. Lennard, T. B. Walpole, Lord Eaton, Richard J. Longfleld R. Weyland, Major R. E ger ton, Sir P. Lowther, C. Wilbraham, It. B. Elley, Sir J. Lygon, Colonel Wilson, Henry Elwes, J. P. Maclean, D. Wodehouse, Hon. E. Eii twistle,Jchn Manners, Lsrd C. Yorke, K T. Estcourt, T. G. B. Maunsell, T. P. Young, J. Ewing, H. D. Mordaunt, Sir J. Young, Sir W. L. Fector, John Minet Morgan, C. M. It. Young, G. F. Feilden, W. Neeld, Joseph TELLERS. Fieldep t J- Nicholl, J. Attwood, T. Finn, W. F. O'Brien, W. Smith Chandos, Marquis of LIST OF THE MINORITY Of 51 who voted for Mr. Ewart's motion for Adjournment at Ele• ven o'clock on Monday night. 1 Gillon, W. D. Palmer, C. Grote, G. Potter, R. Hardy, J. Roche, W. Heathcoat, J. Rundle, John Hector, C. J. Sinclair, Sir G. Hindley, Charles Strickland, Sir G. Hume, Joseph Tailored, H. W. Lennard, T. B. Thorneley, Thomas Lister, E. C. Tulk, C. A. • Maher, John Turner, W. Molesworth, Sir W. Wakley, Thomas Musgrave, Sir R. Wagon ' R. O'Brien, W. S. Wilks, J. O'Connell, Morgan Williams, W. A. O'Connell, J. O'Connell. Maurice O'Connell, M. J. Ateherley, D. F.: Attwood, Bagshaw, John Baldwin, Dr. Barnard, E. G. Barry, G. S. Bish, T. Bodkin, John James Bowring, Dr. Brady, 1). C. Brotherton, J. Butler, Hon. P. S. Callaghan, 1). Crawford, W. S. Edwards, Colonel Elphinstone, Howard Fielden, J. Fitzsimon. C. TELLRES. Ewart, W. O'Connell, D. , RITY it be referred to the iety of transferring the Northern side of St. LIST OF THE MINO . Of 44 (Tellers included), who voted that Building Committee to consider the propri site of the Houses of Parliament to the James's Park. Against the motion For the motion 143 Acheson, Viscount Aglionby, H. A. Baldwin Dr. Majority -99 Handley, H. Roebuck, J. A. Hindlev, C. Scholefield, J. King, B. Strutt, Edward Lennox, Lord A. Thompson, C. B. Lennox, Lord G. Thompson, Colonel Marshall, W. Tulk, Charles A. North, F. Verney, Sir H. O'Brien, W. S. Wakley, Thomas O'Brien, C. Wallace, R. Oliphant, L. Wigney, 1. N. Pease, Joseph Williams, W. Pattison, James Williams, Sir J. Potter, It. TELLERS. Pryse, P. Hume. Joseph Roche, D. Ewart, W. . _ Bateson, Sir R. Bish, T. Bownng, Dr. Brocklehurst, J. Brotherton, J. Buckingham, J. S. Dillwyn, L. W. Feator, John Minet llon, W. D. Glynne, Sir S. E. Grosvenor, Lord R. Grote, G. IRELAND. CLONMEL ELECTION.—There can be no question as to,the re turn of Mr. Ball. Mr. Bagwell will not contest the election ; and should Mr. F. O'Connor, as is rumoured, be desirous of the honour, he most assuredly will fail. The Register repudiates Mr. Feargus O'Connor in terms by no means flattering. Mr. John Power, father to the Member for Westmeath county, it is believed will be created a Baronet. ABSENT MEMBERS.—The Orange Mail says:—" As far as Ireland is concerned, we have to record the absence of five Conser vative Members only on the division : Lord Claude Hamilton, of Tyrone ; Mr. Cooper, of Sligo ; Mr. Kerr, of Downpatrick ; Mr. Kavanagh, of C ar l ow ; L or d F o rbes, of Longford. Of these we can account for the following :—Mr. Kavanagh is ill, and abroad. Lord Forbes, though still suffering from the effects of recent severe indisposition, was in London, where he had come up ; but did not go down to the House. 111 r. Cooper was shut out of the division, having been, contrary to all his calculations, detained by the snow. Of Lord Claude Hamilton and Mr. Kerr we profess to know no thing, but we think their constituents have a right to make some inquiry touching their " whereabout." The Register, in order to show the shallowness of the pretence by which the Tories try to hide their defeat on the Amendment, says :—" We need only mention that the Tories from Irel and were 33, though the Reformers were only 44. It is curious that even Colonel Conolly remained for the division, though he was called back to Ireland by the death of his father. Five of the Irish Mem bers (Barry, Baldwin, Butler, Callaghan, and Musgrave) were de layed on the r oa d b y a f a ll o f snow , and were only a few minutes late. Altogether there were 16 of the Irish Liberals absent. Yet the majority was 41. We belie ve that 11essrs. French, DI Namara, Winston, Barrow, Fitzstephen, con stituents have a r i g h t to expec t th e ir attendance in London , at a period when measures o f so muc h i m portance to Ireland are before the House. and Col. Westenra, are still in Dublin. Their Lord Verulam, yesterday, took the oaths And his seat for the first time since the death of his father. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. THE AYLESBURY STEEPLE CHACES. AYLESBURY, TUESDAY EVENING. Never within the memory of the oldest inhabitant has this town assumed a more animated appearance than on the present occasion ; men of all ranks, and horses of every description having been pour ing in from all quarters for the last three or four days, and at the time we write numbers are still making their way ; as a necessary consequence the place is qUite full, not a bed or stall is procurable at any price, and no small portion of the anxious visiters have been driven six or eight miles from " head-quarters" for accommoda tion, for themselves and their cattle. Time will not permit us to give a full list of the arrivals ; and we can only give the names of the Earl of Errol and Sir Seymour Blane (the Stewards) ; Earl of Uxbridge, Marquis of Waterford, Count D'Orsay ; Lords Alfred Paget, W. Lennox, W. Beresford, Nugent, A. and F. Fits.la rence ; Messrs. Lamb, Shakerley, Vyse, Bainbridge, Crommelin, D'Oyls', Fairlie, P. Thomson, Learmouth, Baring, Charritie, Har court, Sheddon, Peyton, Stubbs, &c. The first event of the week was the Heavy Weight Steeple- Chase, which came off this morning at ten o'clock, the Stewards having appointed so early an hour in order that the King's Stag Hounds might afterwards meet (at half-past twelve) at Lillies, the seat of Lord Nugent. The race took place for a Sweepstakes of 15 soya. each, 10 ft., for horses of all denominations, carrying 12st. 71b. each, over a line of country, not to exceed four miles, to be marked out by flags, 100 sovs. being added to the stake. To these conditions 15 horses were named, the only one drawn being Mr. Firth's Lanrestina. At nine o'clock the parties interested quitted the George Inn, headed by the Stewards, and several other Noblemen and Gentle men ; the ground was then pointed out to them, and by ten o'clock they had assembled at the starting post. The start was composed of the following horses and riders :—Lord Waterford's The Yel low Dwarf (owner) ; Captain Lamb's Vivian (Captain Becher) ; Mr. H. Bainbridge's Crusader (Captain Sheddon); Mr. T. Bain bridge's Speculation (Mr. Field Nicholson) ' • Mr. Armitage's Sa ladin (Mr. G. Powell); Captain Fairlie's Wing (owner) • Mr. D'Oyly's Fugleman (ditto); Mr. Dickins's The Stranger (ditto); Mr. Anderson's Rochelle (Mr. Bean) ; Mr. Anderson's The Flyer (Mr. Galloway); Mr. Bryan's Red Deer (G. Rice); Mr. Elmore's Grimaldi (Mr. J. Mason); Captain Willan's Redman (Bradley). Betting.-5 to I agst Vivian (taken); sto 1 agst Yellow Dwarf (taken); 6 to 1 agst Rochelle (taken); 6 to 1 agst Saladin; very little said about the others. The line of country selected commenced in a field near Aston Abbott's Hill, and, after a slight descent, traversed a vale for nearly the whole of the remaining distance, the winning flags being placed in a field belonging to Mr. Reed, on the Layton road, within a quarter of a mile of Aylesbury, the last half mile being a gentle rise ; the fences were numerous, and some of them severe, not a few being double hedges. The river was crossed about a mile from the start, and was not more than 10 or 12 feet wide, about half the width of the part chosen last year. With the exception of two very heavy ploughed fields, within three or four of home, the whole was grass land—the line, indeed, was selected with admi rable judgment. A few minutes before eleven o'clock the horses were started by Mr. Davis, his Majesty's huntsman. Vivian sprung off with the lead, the others close at his heels or his side till after the second fence, when Wing went in front at a strong pace, followed by Vivian, Yellow Dwarf, Rochelle, Grimaldi, and Redman ; Saladin and Harry were also forward, but laid more to the right in a line of their own; Harry, however, fell at the third fence, and Red Deer was knocked down at the next, and without any other material change they reached the brook, which, narrow as it was, proved a teaser. Wing was the first in and the second out ; Vivian cleared it with all but his hind feet, and was first into the next field; Grimaldi was next in, and stopped there for a mi nute or two, nor did any thing . clear it in style except The Stran ger and Rochelle, the former certainly performing the jump in a most finished hunting-like manner. Saladin and Yellow Dwarf were out almost at the same moment, and Redman in time to keep his place. Vivian now resumed the lead, Wing, Yellow Dwarf, Saladin, and Rochelle lying well up with him, all looking well, and so they continued without any important change until about five fields from the finish, where Vivian hesitated at a double fence, Saladin being thereby enabled to get first over it ; Vivian cleared it instantly after, and almost at the same thoment the Yellow Dwarf and Rochelle were into the next field; these four got into the ploughed field almost together, Saladin a trifle in advance, but each looking well, Rochelle, perhaps, better than either ; Redman, Gri maldi, and Wing, were behind, but had no chance. In charging a fence from the last ploughed field into a lane, Rochelle swerved against a tree and was knocked down, his rider receiving a severe contusion on the small part of his leg, and being completely put out of the race; Lord Waterford was knocked down in the lane, and was also put hors de combat, although he recovered ground enough to obtain the third place. Saladin had the lead at this time, kept it to the end, and won cleverly by three or four lerfgths. Vivian beat Yellow Dwarf about the same ; Redman was fourth ; Grimaldi fifth, and Wing sixth, the last two close together, but all beaten off some distance from the winner—the others were " nowhere." The distance was nearly four miles, and was done in something under 13 minutes. The race, on the whole, was ex ceedingly interesting, and went off without wrangle or difficulty. The winner was extremely well ridden by Mr. PowelL EQUESTRIAN FEAT EXTRAORDINARY.—The lion. Craven Berkeley determined to proceed to London on horseback, on Wednesday last, when the stoppage of the Berkeley Hunt Coach, at Andoversford, seemed to render his journey imprac ticable in that way. He completed the whole distance from Northleach to London on one post horse in six hours. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. VESSELS ENTERED INWARDS AT THE CUS TOM-HOUSE, FEB. 9. The Pale Tender, Vivian, from Havre; Commerce, Lefe bore, Calais; Rosalind, Danstone, Terceira; Neptune, Haacks, Ostend; Eliza, Danpas, Memel; Walsingham, Hamilton, Jamaica ; Pegagee, Hawlett, Singapore; Retseys, Jongs, Odessa; Rapid, Patrick, Fara ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING, FEB. 9. The New Grove, Brown, for Sydney; Reliance, Luckie, Demerara; Eliza, Davidson, New York; Brockelbank, Grant, Boulogne; Saracen, Pickdy, Lisbon; Medora, Ser geant, Cape Coast. CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO, FEB. 9. The Doris, Thompson, from Demerara; London Merchant, Nlorfee, Rotterdam; Columbine, Stranack, Hambro'; Mary, Nelsey, Bermuda; Brockelbank, Grant, Boulogne; Rosco Castle, Murray, Constantinople; Matilda, Cousens, Cape of Good Hope. CLEARED OUTWARDS IN BALLAST, FEB. 9. The Peace, Brickon, for Antwerp; Ace of Trumps, Drakc, Lisbon; Latona, Mann, Cuba. ARRIVED AT LIVERPOOL, Fut. 8. The Scio, Teasdale, from Simprina ; Tom Tough, -, Charente; Mary, Bell, Tink's Island; Colonist, M'Master, St. Andrew's ' • Robert Watt, Martin, St. Andrew's ; Edward, Strang, St. John's, New Brunswick ; Fanny and Jane, Cocker hill, Galipoli ; Sarah, Thompson, Dublin ; Mary, Dublin; Ailsa Craig, M'Keller, Glasgow • John and Mary, Cowan, Glasgow; Clown, Marshall, G lasgow; Vigilant, Thorpe, London; Science, Baker, London ; Confidence, Phillips, Bristol ; Lord Exmouth, McQueen, Sligo ; Louisa, Ross, Sligo; Prince Regent, Jones, Drogheda; Echo, Da vies, Holyhead ; Dasher, M'Nair, Tobermory; Comet, Mo niat, Dundalk ; Antelope, --, Ayr ; Lyra, Orr, Galway ; Alexander Forbes, Goudie, Waterford ; Union, Houlean, Wexford; Hercules, Wilson, Cork; Dispatch, Wall, Wick low ; James Bryce, Davies, Ballyshannon; Janus, Irwing, Ballina ; Comet, Phillips, Dublin, with the mail. CLEARED OUTWARDS, FEB. 8. Th e Pocahontas, West, for Philadelphia; Virginian, Harris, • New York ; James and Jane, Williams, Barbadoes ; Flora, Rooderskirk, Rotterdam ; Roman, Weeks, New York ; St. Andrew, Garrison, Savannah. -- COMMISSION OF LUNACY.— A commission dc lunatico inquirendo was held yesterday at the Freemason's Tavern, Great Queen -street, to enquire into the state of mind of the Viscountess Kirkwall. After evidence had been ad duced at some length, the further hearing of the proceedings was postponed till to-day. The Lords have decided, regarding Private Bills, that they will recei ve no petition for a Private Bill after Friday, 26th February; and no report from the Judges upon such petitions after Wednesday, 20th April. We are glad to hear that a performance for the benefit of the Polish refugees will take place at Covent- Garden on S a t ur d ay n i g ht. A s th e cause of charity is always a popular one in E ng l a nd, and the entertainments announ ced are of the most various and amusing character, we have no doubt, that the House will be thronged. ^_.. Z rr,~ , /3. ENCOURAGEMENT to REFORMERS TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sir—The Parliamentary campaign has opened were. The majority—under the circumstances—the glorious inajvrity of FORTY-ONE, boldly belies the calumnies, day after day re,neatcd in the soi disant Conservative Journals, and again shop A -s the people the necessity of rallying round their own banners, and declaring war to Toryism—" war ! war even to the knit "e The glove so insolently throws down by faction, and so trio: -n -phantly taken up by patriotism, conveys a lesson that the n& - tion must get by heart, and be prepared to put in practice. it' the Liberal Members of Parliament have answered the unpa— • ralleled slanders of their opponents by swelling the Ministerial ranks, and taking the first opportunity of adhering more closely than ever to Government, the electors of England must also stand to their post, and, by their determined attitude, show that the pestilential breath of Toryism has bat re-inspired them with nobler and higher purposes. During the time of the passing of the Reform Bill, the agitation into which men's minds were thrown, was, unavoidably, too much partaking of passion to be called genuine patriotism : but.kow the cloud of angry emotions has rolled away, we must legislate in tha spirit of calmness, but of undaunted resolution. Our ene mies must constantly be put in the wrong, and the surest way of succeeding in this, will be never to imitate them ourselves. Our object, be it remembered, is not the transient triumph of party, but PERMANENT GOOD GOVERNMENT. Whatever the Tories may say, we know they cannot be honest reformers. They have been so rolled in the mud of cor ruption, that St. S within himself, in his compassion, could not wash them clean. Their principles are so diametrically opposed to enlarged views, that to expect from them anything worth having, would be as idle as to look for charity from the harsh sectary. Individually we may • respect and love them ; but, as a body acting in a public capacity, who so limited in understanding—so vindictive in temper? Wrapped up in swaddling-clothes, and never getting beyond leading-strings, with what proud scorn do they " deal the deep damnation of their Bah I" against all who dissent from their monkish tenets ! What we want—nay, what we will have—is that broad philan thropic reform which, at the same time that it duly respects what expediency may have established, breaks down the ig noble barriers placed between man and man t by ignorance and tyranny. We want the pulverization (nothing short of that will do) of every fetter that hangs upon the limbs of En glishmen for their religious opinions—may the iron press but with the weight of a thread! A healthy political stream must flow unimpeded through the country to irrigate our soil, and sweeten our atmosphere. Such were the ideas of the National Assembly in France in 1789. Weak and wicked men arc for, ever referring to the catastrophe which happened at that pe riod, in the childish hope of frightening us out of our wits, and consequently out of our cherished Reform. But the pa rallel cannot for a moment be maintained. The rush from the extreme of slavery to the extreme of liberty, was too much for a people steeped in ignorance, and bowed down by tha aristocracy. The taking of the Bastille taught the masses they were strong—that strength was not, could not be tem pered by moderation. Excesses were committed, and the sun of the eighteenth century set in an ocean of blood. Reverse the picture ; —behold a population wise by experience,. and guided by humanity. Behold the " glorious three days." In 89 the people were not free, for they plundered and mas sacred. In 1830, the people were free —for they neither plundered nor massacred. The tricoloured flag was the em blem of Ord; e et Liberte Publique ! But is the English nation situated as France was at the close of the last century ? Is it governed by a deceitful Prince, overrun with hordes of public robbers, and threatened with the horrors of universal starvation ? Is the principle of freedom alien from our natures and habits ? Has it but hovered like some fair vision over the bosoms of a few chosen men— the Mirabeaus, the Lafayettes, the Baillys, the Bariares of our time? Has the whisper of liberty gone the round only of some midnight club—or rather has not its very spirit breathed through all our institutions ever since the days of Alfred, and so engrained itself in our dispositions as to produce certain national peculiarities that can exist nowhere but in the freest state ? We, at least, need have no fear of liberty in its widest sense. We have not to contend (as the illustrious men I have just mentioned) against a vacillating Court on the one hand, and an ungovernable mob on the other. When men talk about the horrors of the French Revolution, they forget the long train of circumstances that ended in the fatal explosion. The novelty of the scheme ; the wildness of some and wicked ness of others, amid the intrigues of the rich and the starva tion of the poor, created a commotion of which we can form no idea, because nothing similar has ever happened to us in our worst times. A loose was given to all kinds of evil imagi nations ; edifices were shaken and shattered by hands that had never dared to approach them save in the attitude of supplica tion ; and the spirit of revenge, joined to an appalling sense of power, leaped forth in complete armour from breasts that had hitherto slumbered in the inertness of servitude. We, I repeat, broach no new theories ; we excite no' strong pas sions ;we make no rash experiments. Away then to the nursery with the cry of Revolution ! Happily we cannot have any of the terrible elements indispensable for one. If any man were mad enough to raise the cry, his voice would be lost amid the shouts of millions of peaceful citizens for a safe and CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM. The road leading to this is before us—broad and smooth. The Ministers are with the people—who, then, can possibly snatch away the blessing ? During one of the ittings of the National Assembly, a diecussion arose relative to a recent large arrival of troops in Paris, and a deputation was in consequence sent to the King, bs"g ging their instant removal, on the ground that public libert,v was in danger, Louis XVI. dissembled, as he unfortunately always did, and assured the members that the soldiers were. stationed at their different posts to ensure general tranquillity and protect the Assembly in its deliberation. When this answer was announced a vehement debate ensued, and the Count de Crillon proposed to cut matters short by trusting at once to the word of a "King—an honest man"—"La parole d'un Roi honnete homme," replied Mirabeau with his wonted fire, " est un mauvaise garant ; notre confiance aveugle dans nos Reis nous a perdus it faut insister encore et sans relache," Of the same nature exactly must be our confidence in Go vernment. The people must urge and press it forward, and trust implicitly no man or set of men. Let them repay honest acts with generous gratitude, but still be themselves on their guard ; alert, disinterested ; staunch to their own colours, but without the disgusting uncharitableness inevitably attached to low-minded party feeling. Above all let them be suspicious of professions and confide only in deeds. Much has been done, but much remains undone. Il faut insister encore et sans reldche. MILO. AN IMPRUDENT MAoRIAGE.—In that excellent novel, "My Aunt Pontypool," the leading circumstances of the story consist of an imprudent marriage, and the miseries of a supposed disinherited son. The characters, and they are numerous, are admirably drawn, and they are placed in situations of great excitement, both abroad and at home. The author seeks not to fix attention by calling to his aid the charm of fiction, but making the present time the scene of action, he introduces us to persons, with some of whom every body is more or less acquainted. My Aunt Ponty pool is no stranger to us all. The pheasant shooting closed on Monday, with a brilliant day's sport, on the Earl of Coventry's property, when about 200 head of game were killed, with only 10 rabbits to swell the return. Of the above number there were 150 phea sants, 45 hares, and one woodcock. The day was cold and stormy, or the suantity might have been doubled with the greatest ease. The party afterwards partook of the hospitality of the Noble Earl at his beautiful seat, Severn Bank.— IVor cester Herald. MR. BURKE'S HISTORY OF THE LANDED GENTRY.—In common with the public at large, we have witnessed with much satisfaction the gradual progress, and noticed the promised completion, during the Present yeorar,t ice i of this very original and interesting publication, svhich, first time, will exhibit a complete genealog ical history. of the great landed gentry of the United Kingdom—who Y ,lll now possess a work to which they may refer with pride ana satis faction, as being, in the most peculiar sense, their own; eto l l prising the record of their honours and achievements--th‘e copious details of their bright and long-derived lineage—the incidental particulars of their connexions, and collateral alli ances—and numerous curious anecdotes and traditions con— cerning their families, which have been assembled with infinite pains and immense cost, from the most authentic documents, and other sources of information. OUTRUNNING THE CONSTABLE.—On htli:.suaY a constable, from Huntly, arrived at. Donaldson's with thi:ee prisoners in a gig, on their way to Bridewell—when, while ho was looking after his horse, two of them, who were hand cuffed to each other, took to their, heels and got off ; and, though pursued, fairly outran the constable. —AberdeenHerald. THE FOUNDLING'S SEARCH AFTER HIS F.A.'" THER. —Captain Marryat, always original, and always happy in his subjects, has proved in his new work, " Japhet in Search of a Father," that his wit belongs to no particular element, and that it is quite as racy on shore as it is at sea. For sly humour there is no writer that equals him. Japhct is a foundling in search of a parent: this search is his dream and his passion, and leads him into all kinds of scenes; his adventures are detailed with a vividness of description so near akin to reality, that the reader is actually lulled into the ima gination that be is perusing the events of actual life. It is a most humorous and a most entertaining book. By the decease of Benjamin Roche, Esq., his vast property descends to David Roche, Esq., M. P., to whom it has been bequeathed, with the exception of a very small sum to a near relative of the deceased gentlemaii.---Ltmerick Times. FUSELI THE PAINTER.—It is not generally known, we believe, that the new e dition of the works of this celebrated artist, lately published by his Executor, John Knowles, Esq., contains six additional lectures on painting. These new lectures are equally worthy with the first, of the fame of Fuseli, and of the study of the artist, to whom they to the c t n ter a t dTr ie merits of variou s dc g ress and q ualities o f excellence."-- will afford the most valuabl e instruction. To the student th ey throw a stronger light up on the g lorious achievements of the g ba re si a s t , a m nd ast a ers nre masters, l o whi l l o e ft t y hey afford d standard, b ywhich o n o o appreciatesu Spectator. lated i • Inquiry is c ontem p nto the circumstances at tendant upon the death of a person learned Vince, at his lodgings in this city, as far back as February, 1833. The exhumation of the body will take place as soon as the party who has arrived here from Ireland to promote an investigation into the matter, has satisfied the proper authorities by affida vits, that he is ent.t.e.., to their sanction to the proceedings, and Mr. Herepath, the erainevirchemist, of Bristol, is to be employed, we understand, in the examination of the corpse. The Jury, as well as the Coroner, w ere satisfied that the de ceased died by th e Vi s it a tion of God, not only from the evi dence given before them, but also from the skeleton-like sp. pikarance presented by the body.— Worcester Herald. ,4