The Sun. — London, England, 1836-05-12 00:00:00

SPIRIT.• OF T HE I'UBLIC JOURNALS Notwithstanding the violent rage affected out of doors at the presumption of the House of Lords in venturing to alter the Irish Municipal Corporation Bill from the form in which was sent up by the infallible House of Commons, we find that the Minis ters in the Upper House would themselves have been willing to admit a very great alteration. They would "nave been but too happy to have saved their credit by a compromise. It was no doubt considered a magni ficent stroke of conning to get the Duke of Richmond -to propose this compromise. The House resounded -with Ministerial el - .eers while the Noble and Gallant but not v.7)-7/ sagacious, Doke proposed to leave corpo rations, upon the Ministerial plan, in the la7qc towns of Ireland, but to n...)olish them, according to the plan of the Opposition, in towns where there was only a =ail population. Nor was the cheering at all abated whil e the Noble Duke declared lie was confident the House of Como - inns would receive the measure so altered with avi , lity, and would say, " We than!: the House of Lords for destroying the one, and arc much obliged to them for leaving the other." If his Grace were right in his confident anticipations—and we do not doubt h e h a d goo d Ministerial authority for them—the House of Commons must he very accom modatingly pliable under certain influence ; for, before the Bill went to the Lords, not even the smallest abate ment from the ridiculous catalogue of new Corpora tions would be allowed, neither was there even the most shadowy symptom of a disposition to he thank ful to their Lordships for anything. Their Lordships have, then, at least thi s grat if ying ev id ence of the g ood effect of their firmness, that a more cordial and respectful feeling on the part of the Commons' majo rity is conditionally proposed to them. We really look upon the proposition which the Duke of Rich mond was induced to make, and which his Majesty's Ministers supported with all the small force of elo quence and numbers which they possess in the Upper House, as a mere trap. But the good sense and ex perience of the Conservative body in the Lords are not to be so easily caught napping, as some adroit Ministers may, perhaps, imagine. Had the propo sal been acceded to, it would have become a two edged weapon in the hands of the O'Connell party. It would have been made the source of fresh exaspe ration in all the small towns. The priests would have harangued upon aristocratic partiality from the altars of the chapels, and all their Maynooth logic would have been put in requisition to demonstrate the in consistency of legislators who first go upon a general principle of distrust, and then admit in the principal places of the kingdom a system to be established ill contravention of these principles. This would, doubt less, have been the course in the smaller towns, while in the larger, advantage would have been taken to create Municipal Agitation Societies in the places where their action would be most formidable. In Dublin, as Lord Haddington pointed out in his ex cellent and convincing speech of Monday evening—. in Dublin the effect of the Bill brought in by Mini sters, would be to create "a Parliament for agi tation—in fact, a permanent Catholic Associa tion." There is no one in the least acquainted with Dublin and the influences which prevail there,- who can doubt of the perfect truth of that statement ; and yet that is the very first place which, according to the Duke of Richmond's amend ment, would be left open to the operation of the Mi nisterial Bill. We can easily believe that were the Lords so simple as to leave Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Belfast, and a few other towns in the hands of Mr. O'Connell, that mild and moderate gentleman might be prevailed upon to allow his Majesty's Minis ters to consent to the rest of the Bill being altered 'ac cording to Conservative views. For a session or two, at all events, he might be prevailed upon to content himself with that spoil. He would, doubtless, take the round of the whole of them, as chief magistrate, beginning with Dublin, in order to fulfil a prophecy of his own, or something like it, to the effect that he would yet appear among his metropolitan friends as Lord Mayor. Again, it is in these large towns where the tyrannical power of taxation, so forcibly alluded to by the Duke of Wellington, would most power fully operate. They who would elect the tax leviers ' would not be the payers of the taxes, or, if they were, would be so in a very small degree, while persons of property, who would be forced to pay whatever the whim or the animosity of a hostile and democratic municipal assembly might levy upon them as local taxes, would have no redress, nor means of in ttrference to check the evil. In the large towns, where the property is chiefly held by the Protestant gentry, this tyranny would be almost intolerable, and would probably drive many of the most respectable inhabitants away from those towns. There are, perhaps, some who have turned their attention to the points of dif ference between the Ministers and their opponents upon this Bill, and who consider that the latter attri bute too much to the probable working of political and sectarian feelings in such affairs as municipal bodies would be called upon to manage. But it should be borne in mind how exceedingly different Ireland is in this respect from England. We know that even here party feeling is very apt to intrude itself into concerns with which it seems to have no natural connection ; but our intemperate zeal in this way is perfect calmness and impartiality compared with the storm of religious and political bigotry which arises in every popular discussion in Ireland, and carries everything before it. Nothing but the ignorance of idiocy, or the perverseness of faction, or the selfish misrepresentation of individuals grasping at power, which truth and justice must deny them, would venture upon the statement that equal privileges may with equal safety be confided to similar classes in Ireland as in England. There is no affair, private or public, which the Roman Catholic Priests of Ireland do not by their peculiar means of intelligence become prgfes sionaily acquainted with, and very few in which they do not think it politically expedient to interpose their influence. If that influence he at all thwarted, then arises the slow fire of enmity which they well know how to kindle, and which they can blow tip into a flame of vengeance and fury when they are so minded. This was known long ago ; and England was told to give Catholic Emancipation as the cure for evils so monstrous. " You will thus take away from them," it was said, " the source of their hatred, and the ma terials of their power." Well, it was given them, and we find the change is not for the better, but for the worse. We are now told to give more ;to give the government of towns to those who may he elected by a class of society over which the Priests exercise un limited controul. Shall we again consent, and be again deceived?,,." No ; we have bought our expe rience dearly enOgli, and it were the extreme of heed lessness or imbility to neglect the lesson it has taught us.-3/orning• Post. In alluding once more to the plan of the Chancel• for of the Exchequer, for I . estrieting the "diffusion of knowledge " through the Press, by means of a fiscal limitay.on of the size of newspapers, we need not re peat in terms cur objections to that plan, because they base been already stated in the fullest and most ex plicit manner. It may, indeed, be necessary for us to go into th e quest i on again, and to argue it de nevo, when it cornes on for di scuss i on i n Parliament ; at present, we confine ourselves to expressing a hone that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will re-consider the subject, and that, if be will not abandon the objec tionable principle, he will, at least, so far modify the details as to limit the practical operation of that prin ciple, to ktture extensions of size, so as not to inter fere with any existing interests. An effective copy- Tight protection for our foreign correspondence, and other original articles and intelligence, we also claim, and if the proposed reduction of the stamp duties receive the sanction of Parliament, have a right to expect. If to established newspapers the means of preventing or punishing piracy, without much delay or expense, be not given by the Legislature, the literary property of such establishments will be com pletely at the mercy of unprincipled and pennyless ad venturers, whose predatory genius will supply the place of every other talent —whose dishonesty will fear no law, and whose larcenies will incur no punishment. But more of this another time. We also demand and expect that the Government will enforc e the law against the u . ef_l t Press, and no t b y rem i ssness or con k ' ' u . e the system o f f rau d w hi ch conspi -; i law now t' extensively ca rr y on , to . the injury of the taxed Press, as well as to the seri ous detriment of the revenue. It is also our wish that there should be a distinct stamp for each news paper, in order to prevent the public from .bring de ceived, in regard to both the po s iti ve an d relative circulation of newsparr, as represented upon fac. of Parliamentary •returns. Now, in referei, to a matter rather personal -between the Chancelio. of the Exchequer and the parties who signed the petition to Parliament on behalf of the Time,;, Post, Standard, and Herald, let us say a word or two, explanatory of our own part in that transaction. We expressed our astonishment the other day, on finding that the Right Hon. Gentleman had stated in substance that those parties, and mir , :elves of course, had beep • frequent communication with him respecting posed measure, and tkl.t. t:e change of the 112 , 7517, size, from the dimension.-; a curtain Ministerial Pape. to 1,530 superficial was adopted with their and our privity and concurrence. On our part we distinctly and unequivocally denied that statement ; and to that denial we still adhere. In fact, a measure so ob viously detrimental to our own interests we could not have assented to, without being totally bereft of under standing. But while we repeat that the specific modifi cation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's plan concern ing the maximum size of newspapers was not adopted with our concurrence or privity, we feel ourselves bound to acquit the Chancellor of the Exchequer of any inten tion to mislead Parliament or the public on that sub ject. An explanation has taken place which satisfies us that the apparent misrepresentation was the result of mistake—a mistake for which the Right Hon.,Gen tleman is not responsible. Avoiding any more de tailed statement, unless it should become necessary, and being now convinced that the whole of this unplea sant affair originated in misconception, we hasten to render this act of justice to the Chancellor of the Ex chequer. Of his financial plans and political prin ciples our opinion is unchanged ; but no political con siderations would ever induce us for a moment to allow any public man's personal character to suffer from an imputation which we believed him not to deserve.—Morning Herald. All must sympathise deeply with the sufferings of those of our brave countrymen who have been wounded in the recent assault of the Carlist works at St. Sebas tian, and with the affliction of those families who have to mourn their lost relatives among the slain. Still, • for the nation collectively, there is the redeeming conso lation that a battle has been fought by our brethren as Britons are wont to fight—gallantly—nobly—trium- phantly. The loss was dreadful. In the Legion only, the amount of killed, wounded, and missing, will not turn out, we understand, to have been short of 1,000 officers and men—a full fifth, if not more, of the entire British force at St. Sebastian. The Spaniards, itwould appear from General Evans's letter, behaved most resolutely, and from other accounts we learn that they suffered an equal loss. So that the Carlists must have made an obstinate defence, putting hors du combat in a single day about 2,000 of their enemies. This, however, but enhances the merit of the troops, who defeated them in the face of such tremendous carnage, and drove them from so formidable a position. Fears, however, have reached us that little positive has been gained beyond the field of battle. It is said that Colonel Considine, one of the best officers in the British or any other service, has on this occasion been dangerously wounded. The main point is, will General Evans be enabled henceforth to command from certain quarters a more harmonious and absolute co-operation than he is said to have ex perienced hitherto ? Without perfect union, the Queen's troops may now and then wrest a military trophy from the Carlists, but will hardly drive the Pre tender out of Spain.—Times. No act of the House of Lords, within our recollec tion, has created so strong a feeling of hatred against the Tory section of that assembly, as their denial of municipal reform to Ireland. The opposition in the Upper House to Parliamentary Reform and English municipal reform, did that branch of the Legislature considerable detriment ; it forced the people to think that in the hereditary Peerage consisted the sturdiest foe of their rights and privileges, and produced a very general feeling that public liberty could not be secure, while the House of Lords continued unreformed. Still, though the acts of the Peers were condemned, the motives of the majority were not impugned. How different the case now ! The last pernicious act of the Tory Peers has not only estranged from their House the affections of the great body of the people, but it has removed all doubt with respect to the mo tives by which their Lordships were indueed to adopt a different course on the two former occasions. The universal remark now is, that the Peers yielded to fear alone when they conceded .those reforms in her insti tutions which Great Britain demanded, and that they now play the Bobadil, under the impression that they are safe this bout ; in short, that they evince the cruelty of cowards towards Ireland, conceiving that impunity is secured to them by the want of a cordial sympathy between the people of England and their Irish fellow-subjects. Can a more favourable con struction be put upon their Lordships' conduct ? The dunces who feed upon their favour will deny the appli cability of this charge to the Tory Lords, and the pro fligate bravos who are hired to pander to their pas sions, and to defend their vices, will swear it is flat blasphemy. Unfortunately the deed is recorded, and the circumstances leave no room to doubt the unwor thiness of feeling that gave it birth. The Tory Peers have laid their ruthless hands upon the Irish Mu nicipal Bill, and destroyed that wholesome mea sure, because they loved injustice, and flattered . themselves with the- notion that England would not espouse, the cause of freedom in the sister country, and resent their malversation. Their hope has told them a flattering tale. Events will shortly bring conviction to their minds, if they are not so panoplied in bigotry and pride as to be impervious to the light of reason or the force of facts, that Englishmen cherish the principle of liberty, and abhor cheats, cowards, and oppressors, and will not, consequently, be parties tacitly assenting to the infliction of wrong, by a junta of titled factionists, upon any portion of their fellow-subjects. Moderation itself has been shocked by this outrageous proceeding of the destructive patricians. Men who in the warm est periods of party warfare have preserved a cool temper and a calm demeanor, are roused into indigna tion by the denial of equal rights and equal laws to eight millions of people, and by the flagitious reasons that have been assigned for the contumelious refusal. The truth of our assertion is instanced in the petition of Sir John Newport, which will be found in another part of this clay's Morning Chronicle. Than the Right Hon. Baronet—venerable alike for his years, his patriotism, and his virtues—the empire never pos sessed a more 'prudent, discreet public character. For thirty years Sir John Newport had a seat in the House of Commons, and during that long period—the prolific sotirce of mighty events—he con trived invariably to retain the confidence and esteem of his own party, without for a moment forfeiting the respect. of his political opponents. Covered with ho nours arid with years, even he is forced once more into the field. He raises his voice against the foul injus tice which the Tory majority in the House of Lords are doing to his native land, and against the felon blows they arc striking at the ligature which keeps the two islands in connection. Will the destructive Peers —these worst foes of the integrity and happiness of the empire—will they hearken to the warning and sup plicating voice of one who has never exhibited violence in his long political career, and who cannot now be suspected of wiworthy- motives ? We fear they are too much the creatures of passion, too much the victims of fatuity, and too much the instruments of infamous renegades and reckless charlatans, to listen to the solemn voice of reason, and recal, while yet there is time, an Act that threatens, if persisted in, to lead to the prostration of their own House, and the dismemberment of the United Kingdom. In that House there are, and at all times have been, men whose wisdom, whose talents, whose varied acquirements, and enlarged and dignitydada benefitrk t contrast n - t o ra n s the Peerage, andmankind. B enlightened views, have co s n livg f i e ln r aa r t e l the picture, and and presented. There There we behold those whom the Consti tution has invested with immense and extraordinary power for the good of the mass, shamefully abusing their sacred trust, glaringly perverting their privileges, Ills pro, THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1836. ' turning against the people that power which the people themselves; the fountain of all power, have put into their hands ; men whose days are devoted to grovelling intrigue, and whose nights are wasted in revelry and dissipation—who prostitute their intellect to the basest sycophancy and the most ignominious ends, and who, !laving by turns joi ne d and' betrayed all parties in the State—despised and cut off bv those in power—dis trus!eil, yet as Wiant instruments used by those who aim at office—with - mili!ushing front push themselves prominently forward on all great occa sions ; and from beneath their robes strike dag gers at public liberty, and claiming the while that they are true friends of freedom and the British Constitution ? Is it in these polluted hands the des tiny of .the nation is to lie ? Are these the men to whose guardianship the interests of the State are to be committed ? Will religion be secure, %rill liberty be safe in such keeping ? Are the feelings, the hopes, the rights of an important member of the empire to be insulted and trampled under foot, that such characters as we have feebly pourtraycd may riot in the mischief their turpitude and malignity have caused ? We shall not insult our countrymen by supposing the possibi lity of an affirmative reply to these questions. The .national character is a pledge that the people will not submit to be ridden rough-shod over by a rapacious faction, whose plunderings have not appeased their appetite, but rather stimulated their voracity. The pe riod of compromise has rolled over. Further conces sion on the part of the representatives of the empire would be ruinous to their own character. If the Tory Peers will have a crisis, the Commons cannot, must not shrink, from the collision. They must be now thoroughly convinced that past concession has but emboldened the corruptionists, and that if they are to be an independent legislative assembly, they must at once take a decisive stand against the arrogant en croachments of the other House. It is manifest that the " lofty Lords" seek a triumph. An ovation which the Commons have already unwisely granted . them, will not satisfy the patrician vanity. Bein g no longer able to rule the C ommons , b y means of their liveried lacqueys, their L9rdships propose to reduce that House to a state of vassalage. Let the nefarious "amend ments" which the paltry Irish Representative Peers being utter imbeciles themselves—allowed Baron Lynd hurst to frame for the purpose of stopping a measure of justice towards their country—let these iniquitous " amendments " be accepted by the Commons, and then the triumph of the Tory Lords will be complete ; then will a handfull of hereditary corruptionists have succeeded in degradind to the lowest level of disgrace the representatives of the twenty-three millions of people who inhabrt these islands. Will the House of Commons permit, or will the people of Great Britain and Ireland submit, to such a result ? It cannot, it shall not be.—Morning Chronicle. The graver business of the House of Commons has been lately varied by several public topics of an un usual charcater, in point of political legislation, which have been brought before it. Of these some have been carried contrary to anticipation ; some have failed at a critical period of their progress, through.the con venient or inconvenient accident of the House being counted out ; and some remain on the notice-book for the ensuing week. The class of Bills to which we refer are distinguished by being devoted to the regula tion of the amusements, the moral habits, and the manners of the people. We may at once name four of these Bills, all of which may be said to be speci mens of the extraordinary class to which we refer. First, there is Sir Andrew Agnew's Bill, for regulat ing Sunday trading ; next, Mr. drantley Berkeley's measure, carried by an unexpected majority in the House of Commons, last week, in spite of- the resist ance of Lord John Russell and some of his Ministerial colleagues, for the admission of ladies to hear the debates in the House of Commons ; next, there is the Public Walks Bill, prepared by Messrs. Brother ton, Potter, and Company, which failed last Thurs day through the House being counted out, and which is expected to be brought forward again by Mr. Buck ingham this week ; lastly, there is a Bill prepared by the same Gentleman, in conjunction with Messrs. Wyse and Tulk, which deeply interests the intellectual and literary class of society. It is a Bill "to facilitate the formation and establishment of public institutions for the diffusion of scientific and literary information, including libraries and museums, with commodious halls, or places of meeting for business or entertain ment, within such cities, boroughs, or towns, as may require them for the use and accommodation of their nhabitants." To all these Bills, which belong rather o social economy than to politics, there is one prima fiicie objection. Th e y i n t er f ere unnecessarily in some cases, prejudicially in others, with matters which are beyond the proper province of the Legislature. There would be no end to the multiplication of legis lative interference-4 the well-meaning design of every philosophical speculator were to be al lowed to stretch or l o p away t h e f rame of society on the Procrustes bed of his visionary beau ideal of what it ought to be. The same objection as would be made to a sumptuary law would apply to each of these measures. Laissezfaire is as good an axiom to be adopted with regard to public amusements and social manners as with regard to trade. With regard to the first of these measures—Sir Andrew Agnew's Bill—we have ourselves said sufficient, and we believe the English public are inclined to dismiss it with a good-natured smile of pitying contempt. People are not disposed in this country to make re ligious feeling, which is essentially full of kindness and of charity, a means of morose and carping hostility between man and man. Sir Andrew will find him self addressed like Malvolio by the British public : " Dost thou think because thou art virtuous there shall he no more cakes and ale ? Aye, by my troth there shall be, and ginger shall be hot in the mouth too." As for the regulation for admitting the ladies, we should be sorry to see the English frame of society, which depends essentially upon the domestic and re tiring habits of its female portion, broken up by any visionary or petit-maitre plan 'for its improvement. However, if the ladies have a desire, as we rather ex pect they will not have, by availing themselves of Mr. Grantley Berkeley's gallantry, to be stifled with bad speeches. and a hot atmosphere at the same time, we can have no possible objection. To the Bill for Pub lic Walks, creditable as it is to the intentions of the mover, there is, we think, a strong objection. It would subject every town in the country to a tax of sixpence in the pound whenever fifty persons chose to petition for the creation of public walks. There is the stilt more fatal objection to it, and which gives it the character of a sumptuary law. In order to catch the votes of the Temperance Society, people are to drink nothing but tea and coffee in these plantations. The statement of this clause is sufficient to show the prevailing vice which runs through the whole Bill. With regard to the Bill for the fo rma ti on o f pu bli c institutions, 170 p ersons primaryc an b e more willing tocoincide than objectofthe propounders t of theourselves ni e asu measure. diffusion as widely as possible of sound scientific in formation, by philosophical societies and literary institutions, is an object to which we may proudly say that no journal has contributed with greater perti nacity and zeal than the Morning Advertiser. But the supply of those institutions should be left to public demand, and their formation to public spirit. Th e Legislature have nothing to do with them except to encourage, by charter or otherwise, such as have proved their necessity and merit by th e i r establish ment. We object to public institutions being placed under the " centralizing control of a Parliamentary Committee. Leave us, at le a st, T as Buonap arte said, "la Republique des Lettres. All tyrannies are abo minable—whether of science or the kirk —of title or money. We object to be made wise by Acts o f Par liament, as well as to be made sanctimonious. The independent spirit of science revolts at being invested in the uniform, muffin-cap, and badge of an endowed educational institution. The schoolmaster is a very useful and desir a ble personage ; but grown m en may like his book, w hil e they object to his muster-roll and his ferrule. As Falstaff objected to be made honest on compulsion, we o bj e ct to be made lit era ti and phi losophers on comp u l s i o n. " Not on compulsion , Hal —an' ye love me."—Morning Advertiser. Last week, in the neighbourhood of Toulon, the the mountains were covered with snow. This tad not been witnessed in the month of May, within the memory of man; and great fea rs were en t er tained for the olive trees, vines, and fruit trees, which may perhaps be destroyed. DUBLIN ELECTION •COMMITTEE The Committee met yesterday at 11 o'clock. Mr. HUTTON proceeded to object to the vote of James Baldwin, on the ground of bribery. The evidence in this case was read at length, and after some deliberation the Committee came to the following reso. lution " That from a careful review and comparison of the evidence, notwithstanding the unprincipled character of some of the witnesses, and the suspicion thrown on the case by the sup pression of the voluntary affidavits so reprehensibly made, and the fact of Payne and Murray having been summoned, but not examined by the agent for the sitting Members, the Committee are still of opinion that it is sufficiently estab lished that James Baldwin voted under an expectation of re ceiving money, and that money was subsequently paid, and his vote must therefore be struck off the poll." • This restored Mr. O'Connell's majority, and Counsel on behalf of the petitioners proceeded to object to one of the voters for the sitting Member for arrear of Wide-street tax. T. W. Beaumont, Esq., M.P., has ordered a bridge to be built across the river Tyne, at By well, which is to be of stone, and will be free for all kinds of passage. —Sunderland Herald. SELF ACCUSATION OF MURDER.—Some ex citement has prevailed in the southern part of this county, in conseq i uence of a rumour that an old man at Plumtree, who was dangerously ill, had confessed to a rape and murder com mitted more than thirty years ago. The report is not alto gether void of foundation, as in the afternoon of yesterday (Thursday) an elderly man was committed to the county gaol by Sir Robert Clifton, Bart., for further examination, charged on bis own confession with the murder. The man's name is Henry Rober, aged 61 years, for some time living as a la bourer at Plumtree. He says that about 30 years ago he lived as servant to a lady at Kegworth, in Leicestershire, and that having first violated, he afterdwards murdered her. Whether the whole is the invention of a disordered mind, whether such an occurrence did take place, and in his delirium he has ac cused himself, or whether he is really guilty, there is nothing known as yet to lead to any opinion. On being committed to prison he said he should not h a v e been there but for his ill ness, and expressed a wish to be hanged on Saturday after noon.—Nottingham Review. On Saturday an inquest was held on the body of Mary Ann, the wife of Mr. Samuel Carse, an engraver, re residing at 3, Chapman-street, Islington. The deceased was 23 years of age, very accomplished, and of great personal at tractions. Mrs. Elizabeth Wise stated that the deceased came to her house on Monday, and appeared very uneasy. Witness asked what ailed her, when she burst into tears, and said that she had had a few words with her husband about his brother, who was apprenticed to him. The deceased added, that she told hur husband his brother had said he would spoil some work, but he would not give credit to her statement. When speaking of this matter she was almost choked with rage, and observed that she should feel a pleasure in murdering the lad, and poisoning herself. The nett day witness was sent for by Mr. Carse, and found the deceased retching violently. For half an hour deceased made no ether reply to questions put to her than—" I am dying," " Don't interf ere w ith me ," " L et me lie still." At length she admitted having taken arsenic, and a surgeon was sent for, but she died the next day. An apprentice to Mr. Carse stated that his mistress had sent him for twepennyworth of arsenic, desiring him to tell the chemist it was to destroy rats. Verdict—lnsanity. Two WELL-DRESSED THIEVES.--The respectable lodging-house-keepers in almost every part of the metropolis, but principally in the vicinity of the west end squares, have within the last two months sustained losses altogether amount ing to 6001. or 7001. through the artful and nefarious practices of a couple of stylishly dressed young men, who, notwithstand ing the active exertions of nearly every division of the police to effect their capture, are still continuing to reap a rich har vest by their depredations ; to a few of the robberies of plate, jewellery, &c., committed by these adventurers, publicity has already been given, and it will be remembered that one of the thieves was described as being 5 feet 10 inches high, of fair complexion, and attired in a black coat, buff waistcoat, and light trowsers, diagonally striped ; the other two inches shorter, having a remarkable squint, and usually wearing a handsome black surtout ; they enter houses in the windows of which an intimation that apartments, ready furnished, are to be let ; and while the squinting " gentleman" is in due form ushered into the rooms, his confederate, whose practice it is to feign lame ness, prefers a seat in the parlour until the ceremony of view ing has been gone through by his friend. Reference having been given, they both quit, with valuable property in their possession, which the parlour customer had found time and opportunity to secrete in his pockets. On Friday information was received at the various station-houses that Mrs. Newbury, No. 15, Durham-street, Vauxhall, had been robbed by the same party of a valuable ebony concert flute, with eight silver keys ; and, in fact, scarcely a day passes without communica tions being made to the same quarter of the ingenious thieves' success in every direction, and in many instances to a large amount. It is more than probable that the obliquity of vision alluded to is not natural, but merely employed on certain occa sions by the thief, otherwise he and his companion would long ere this have been taken into custody by some of the consta bles, who, agreeably to instructions given them, have for many weeks past kept a sharp look out. A LONG SLEEPER.—There is living at Mosnil sous-Juriegcs, in the Seine Inferieure, in France, an eccentric being, now in his seventy-second year, who has sequestered himself from the world ever since he was eighteen. At that age he transferred the whole of his property to a relation, on the sole condition of being supplied with board, lodging, and linen. The bargain concluded, he went into bed, and has never since moved out of it, except to perform the most indis pensable functions of life. He has remained perfectly mute, refusing even to see a single person, except those who wait upon him, and with whom he communicates entirely by signs. He has a good appetite, and is in perfect health. He makes his own bed ; when clean linen is necessary, it is placed in his room, and he in return deposits that which has been used. He is sometimes heard to mutter a few - words, supposed to be prayers ; and the strange resolution he bas taken, is attributed to exalted notions of piety. Yet it has been proposed to him to be visited by a priest, and he has by significant signs re fused. The deaths of several of his near relations have been announced to him, but he has never on any one of these occa sions suffered himself to display the slightest token of grief or regret; not even that of the person to whom he had transferred his property. CHARLEMAGNE'S BIBLE.—Last week the manus cripts, books, prints, paintings, and carvings, the property o f Mr. de Speyr Passavant, of Basle, were submitted to sale by auction by Mr. Evans, of Pall-mall. The lots were in num ber only 37, and, with the exception of the celebrated Bible of Charlemagne, were neither very curious nor very costly. This extraordinary volume, perhaps the most extraordinary in the world, is entitled in the catalogue " Biblia Sacra Latina ex versione Latina Sancti Hieronymi. Codex membranaceus swculi VIII., scriptus mane celeberrimi Alcuini et Carolo Magno donatus, die quo coronatus fuit." (This last account was set right by Mr. Evans in a preliminary address to his au ditors, by which it appeared the volume was presented, not on the coronation of the Emperor, but on Christmas-dad, 601.) In the catalogue the genuineness of this volume is vouched by authorities which it would be affectation to doubt; amongst them is the testimony of Cardinal Lambruschini, formerly keeper of the Vatican, Van Praet, th e M essr s. Debure, Du mersan, St. Martin, illenave, Brunet, the Duke of Hamilton, Messrs. Payne and Foss, the Rev. Drs. Bandinell and Bliss, the Rev. Mr. Forshall (who was present at the sale), Sir Frederick Madden, and other living and dead authorities. Mr. Evans, before the lot comprehending this caligraphical treasure was put up, addressed the company at some length on its very great importance. The volume itself is a magnificent folio bound in velvet, the leaves are of vellum, and the writing is in double columns. It contains 449 leaves. Prefixed is a richly ornamented frontispiece in gold and colours. It is enriched with four large paintings exhibiting the state of the art at that early period : there are moreover 34 large initial letters, painted in gold and colours, and containing seals, historical allusions, and emblematic devices, besides some smaller painted capitals. This rare book is in fine preservation : it is under stood not to contain the disputed passage at the commence ment of the Gospel of St. John, and not to contain the pas sage in St. Luke " Get thee behind me, Satan." It was put up by Mr. Evans for 7001., after which the biddings pro ceeded as follows :-750/., 800/., 1,000/., 1,0501., 1,100/., 1,200 L, 1,4701., 1,500/., at which last sum it was knocked down to Mr. Siordet, of St. Helen's-place, who was under stood to have bought it in for the owner. It was .confidently expected that this book would have fetched 2,500/., and great astonishment prevailed in the room that no bidder from the British Museum was present to secure for that great national establishment a volume which cannot be matched in any col lection in Europe. HORRID MURDER. —.LIVERPOOL, MAY 7. This morning, about twelve o'clock, a horrid tragedy was per petrated in Rodney-street. The particulars are these :—lt appears that a cook and house-maid were in service together, in a family at Nottinham. The house-maid's father, al though a married man with a family, and between forty and fifty years of age, fell in love with the cook, and annoyed her with his criminal importunities. To avoid these, the cook and the daughter removed to Manchester, where they again got into one family. Thither the father followed them, and to avoid him they again removed and came to Liverpool, where they once more obtained joint employment, in their respective capacities; in the family of Mr. Jones, of Rodney-street. The father again f o ll o w e d th e m to Liverpool, where he arrived during the present week. He went repeatedly to the house, but was refused admission, and attracted the attention of the police, who several times drove him away. This forenoon, about ten minutes to twelve o'clock, having watched his op. portunity, and found the door open, he went into the kitchen, where the two females were employed together. He placed on the table a large purse or rather bag, took from his pocket a bottle of laudanum, drank the contents at one draught, drew forth a pistol, and instantly shot the cook-maid through the head. She died instantaneously. He then rushed out of the house by the back door, and escaped by a lane in the direction of Hope-street, and kot into Falkland-street neighbourh oo d, where he fell, overpowered by the effects of the p o i son . H e was taken to the Infirmary, where the usual means were adopted to remove the poison from his stomach, and administer, ,anti dotes, but at the moment we write not the slightest chance exists of his recovery. In the bag left by him on the table were ten sovereigns and four shillings and sixpence, a silver watch, and a slip of paper written in a good hand, and ad dressed to his daughter, whose name is Sarah. It directs her to go to his lodgings (which are unknown and are not de scribed) to take possession of his clothes and moveables, and send them to her mother, as he was insane, and was deter mined not to live. Such are the particulars, so far as yet known, of this mysterious and horrid affair. •r, i 6,‘ ; r , 1 N .;, ;3 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT, HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour. DUN NAVIGATION. Sir GEORGE STRICTLAND brought up the report of the Committee on the River Dun Navigation Bill. SOUTH DURHAM RAILWAY. Mr. LAM BToN presented petitions from the proprie tors of certain coal mines in the counties of Northumber land and Durham, against certain clauses in three bills now before the House, viz. :—the South Durham Railway, South Durham Junction Railway, and another. CLYDE NAVIGATION. Doctor BOWRING presented a petition from th Town Council of Renfew, against the Clyde Navigation Bill. Mr. HINDLEY moved the further consideration of the report on the . Dunkenfie:d Water Works. HAYLE RAILWAY. On the motion of Mr. PENDARVES, the Hayle Ra way Bill was read a third time and passed. WAKEFIELD AND SHEFFIELD ROAD. On the motion of Mr. PARKES, the Wakefield an, Sheffield Road Bill was read a third time and passed. DUBLIN STEAM NAVIGATIOF. Mr. O'CONNELL brought in the Dublin Steam Na vigation Bill. to empower the subscribers to apply a portion of their funds to the purposes of their contracts, which was read a first time. DUBLIN AND DROGHEDA RAILWAY. Mr. CH APM AN presented a petition from Robert Shaw against the Dublin and Drogheda Railway Bill, pray ing that it might not pass into a law without the compara tive merits of the two competing lines being fully taken into consideration. Lord W. BENTINCK moved that the Clyde Naviga tion Committee have power to send forpersna., papert., aud records.—Ordered. Mr. HINDLEY presented a petition from Ashton. under-Lyne in favour of the Manchester and Salford June• tion Canal. Mr. S. M'KENZIE presented three petitions from in dividuals against the Falkirk Junction Railway to join the Railway and Canal. Mr. TRACEY presented a petition from the solicitors and attornies of Tewkesbury, praying that they might be relieved from the annual tax imposed on them by the Stamp Bill. NEWSPAPER DUTIES. Dr. BOWRING presented a petition from Sunderland against the proposed clauses in the Stamp Act, which would impose great restrictions upon the press, which ought to be left free ; further praying that the House would take steps for relieving those persons now in confinement for the attempt to give instruction in a cheap form to their poor fellow countrymen. Also one from St. Matthew, Bethnel green, signed by a great number of weavers, praying that the Factory Bill might not pass into a law- DISSENTERS GRIEVANCES. Mr. YOUNG presented a petition from the parish of Enfield, praying that the duties on timber and other mate rials used in Dissenters chapels might be abolished. This This petition was signed by a great portion of the Protes tants in the parish, both Churchmen and Dissenters. DURHAM DIOCESE. Mr. LAMBTON presented petitions from Durham, South Shields, the county of Durham, and another place, praying that none of the funds of the diocese might be ap propriated elsewhere. OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH. Mr. SHAW presented several petitions, praying for the better observance of the Sabbath, from Dublin and pa rishes in Tyrone. SPIRIT LICENSES. The Hon. and Learned Member also presented a peti tition from Dublin in favour of the Bill for the amendment of the duties on spirit licenses. He was sorry to see no member of his Majesty's Government in his place, as he un derstood there were two clauses omitted in the Bill, one preventing the sale of spirits on Sundays, and the other pre venting grocers selling spirits in their shops. FIRE INSURANCES. Mr. CURTEIS presented a petition from Rye, pray ing for a repeal of the duties on Fire Insurances. SPIRIT LICENSES. Captain A LSAGER presented a petition from the licensed victuallers of Wandsworth, praying for a graduated scale of duties on spirit Licenses. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. Mr. TURNER presented a petition from Blackburn against imprisonment for debt. SMALL DEBTS BILL. Sir Robert INGLIS presented a petition from the Dean and Chapter of Westminster against the Small Debts Bill, and the Extra-Parochial Places Bill. OMNIBUSSES. Mr. MACKINNON presented a petition from Mary lebone, praying that this House would adopt some course by which omnibusses might be prevented from carrying more than 10 persons inside, and two outside. DISSENTERS' GRIEVANCES. Mr. E WART presented a petition from the minister and congregation of a certain chapel in Liverpool, praying that the drawback upon the duties upon timber used in building churches might be extended generally to other religious sects as well as the Established Church. CRIMINAL LAWS. The same Hon. MEMBER presented petitions from Youghall and from Evesham, praying for a mitigation of our criminal laws. OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH. Mr. C. BRUCE presented a petition from the minis ters, elders, and congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Forfar, praying that the House would adopt some legis lative measure to enforce the better observance of the Lord's Day. - - - - _ COPYHOLD PROPERTY. Mr. R. SCARLETT presented a petition from Yar mouth, against certain alterations proposed to be made in the laws relating to Copyhold Property. SOUTHAMPTON DOCKS BILL. Mr. A. R. DOTTIN brought up the Report of the Committee on this Bill. LIVERPOOL DOCKS BILL. Lord SANDON presented a petition from a Trading Association in Liverpool, in favour of this Bill. LIEERPOOL DOCK. Mr. EWART presented a petition, signed by many thousand inhabitants of Livorpool, in favour of the Liver pool Dock Bill.—Referred to the Committee. COMMUTATION OF TITHES. Mr. HUME presented a petition from certain occu piers of land, praying that the House would adopt some measure for abolishing tithes by commutation. FLOGGING IN THE ARMY. The HON. MEMBER also presented a petition from Hayes against corporal punishment in the army. The pe titioners stated, in which the Hon. Member entirely con curred, that the prattice tended to demoralise rather than improve the soldiers. PUNISHMENT OF DEATH. The HON. MEMBER next presented a petition from Wensley Dale, praying that their Honourable House would adopt some measure for abolishing the punishment of death for all crimes el:cept that of wilful murder. The Hon. Member stated that every day proved the necessity of some such enactment being passed. PROTESTANT DISSENTERS. Mr. HUME also presented a petition from Protestant Dissenters in a:place in Warwiekshire, praying relief from disabilities under which they laboured. ASSESSED TAXES. Mr. HUME presented a petition from Burford against urcharges of assessed taxes. STAFFORD WITNESSES INDEMNITY BILL. On the motion of Mr. DIVETT, the House resolved itself into a Committee on the Stafford Witnesses In demnity Bill. After a few words from Capt. CURTEIS and Mr. DIVETT, the clauses were then severally agreed to, and the House resumed. BRIGHTON RAILWAY. Captain PECHELL presented a petition from 800 in habitants of Brighton for the shortest, cheapest, and best line of railway from Brighton to London. BAND DEPOSITS. Mr. FIUME moved for a return of the average amount of deposits in the Batik of England. By the law as it stood at present, Parliament was entitled to have laid upon the table a return of the deposits every quarter, and he o n ly now w i s h e d to h ave t h e amount i n eac h period specified in tho return. The motion was then agreed. TITHE ON FISH. Mr. PENDARVES presented a petition from Pen zance, praying that the tithe on fish be abolished. SEE OF,DURHAM. Mr. PEASE presented a petition from a parish in the diocese of Durham, praying that any surplus of Church re venue might be applied to the education of the people in that district. Several other petitions were presented, and the House was left sitting. (LEFT SITTING.) IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ROUSE OF COMMONS, MAY 11. - - The SPEAKER took the chair at a few minutes to four o'clock. Lord DARLINGTON, as a Member of the Commit tee, would object to a re-commitment of the Bill ; and he tine marriages a crime highly penal on th e p art of all cler gymen, and if that had been brought int o the Bill before the House, it might have sufficed to reme d y the evil yet unprovid e d against. The clauses appeared to be very past considered, for if a marriage were performed at half c e twelvere m n ' parties ought to be put on an equal footing. T oo T d O o ß ol N y ser T va h t e ion A , no; would o a li c i li b a e p elevene,l,ooidn,lyond the childrenm o nths b e a o s n t s a e r e d r i a z t e e d di P t from Mr. that it did not go far enough.—(Hear, hear, , O'Connell.) But that was no reason for not supportinr.c: objected EY G E AT'T'ORNEY-GENERAL to the all L Bill g as far as it went. At present the most anomalous prac! prevailed in Ireland. A Presbyterian Minister, a Baptist,e. r b ee e d for in e a clergyman of any persuasion, might celebrate marriagoet.b..s the tween any two of h;s own congregation, or between one of his the laHstooub-se r parties tant, and the marriage would be valid ; in short the pa and one of another sect, or between a Catholic and a might marry in any way they pleased, but if they called!: the aid of a Roman Catholic Priest the marriage ivould.oll)r, bad.—(Hear, hear.) He thought that the present s l 0 , which made the validity of a marriage and the right r children depend on the religion of their parents, was . ,101. dec idedly absurd and unjust, and ought to be remedied without further delay. The House then divided, w:ient there appeared— Forotes the third reading ............. 100 Against it Majority ........ 9 Tile Bill was then read a thi r d time and passed. OYSTER FISHERIES PROTECTION BILL. The House then went into Committee on this Bill. „ Captain BERKELEY moved an amendment on the first o; clause, to the effect that, in s t ea d o f th e time of dredging for oysters being limited between the 4th of August and 12th of May, it should in f u t ure b e co nfined between th h e 10th of September and the 30th of April. w hen ther e On this amendment th e C omm itt ee divided, appeared— . For the clause AR _For nmend m oric l4 Majority this Mr. B. OY moved ewe proviso clause, making a reservation that in favour whole of charteredto Conr panies and private rights, be omitt e d. were Mr. BERNAL declared that if th e a mendmen t carried the whole Bill would be r en d ere d worse tha n less, and therefore he should tak e ever y l e gitimate oppor tunity of defeating it. The Committee then divided, when there appeared-- For the original clause 2B For the amendment Majority --13 On the next clause being proposed, Mr. BERNAL moved that cer t a i n wor ds imposing P e ; nalties on fishermen and, others for dredging in IMP re P e times be left out. On this question the committee divided, when there ap peared— For the amendment Against it... Majority Clauses 3 and 4 were then agreed to, with verbal am en ments. LANs Clause .5, which provides that no oyster shall be lA-- under the diameter of t wo i nc h es an d a half, was agree d to. Clause 6 was agreed to. Clause 7 being put, Mr. AGLIONBY objected to the p o wer givenbY and clause . 8 t o p o li ce o ffi cers , b ut t h at an d t h e rein o , clauses were, aft er some di scuss i on , agree d to , it bele! l e a derstood that s ome suggest ed a l terat i ons s h ou ld be pi - a for circulation, an d th a t t h e Bill s h ou ld b e su b seq uel4 re' committed for their consideration. ; toes The Spirituous Liquors S a l e Bill, t h e S p i r it L'e e- g (Scotland) Bill, and th e I nns , 'Al e h ouses, and Victil,7Ah o o - r ed . .Houses Bill, were severally read a second time and er" to be committed. orderc IiFISHERIESE that t L movedcertain t alterationsbß e I committal,LL . of this Bill, P in E The Bill was then committed pro forma, and ordered be re-committed. The Public Walks Bill and the Public Institutions 01/1 were severally read a second time. m erbe f ea• -° ,: e. POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. t: „ e Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN, in moving the second reda,"wi of this Bill, had been induced to bring it forward beta:f it seemed probable that the Government were desiron s c ; delaying their meas ure on th e su bj ect as long aspe e i sib as and that when they did b r i ng i t f orwar d t h ey woulcigL e little as possible of e ff ec t ua l re li e f to t h e poor of Ire' t s The Hon. Memb er was p rocee di ng t o sta t e t h e en aettnee o f of the Bill, which he stated was founded on the RePe rt i he the Irish Poor Law C omm i ss i oners , b u t was i n t err upted cries of " Move, move," and he moved accordingly. The Bill was read a second time. POOLE CORPORATION BILL. Mr. POULTER moved the second The SOLICITOR-GENERAL objected to P the ciple of a measure which was to legislate on a ma tter 5 in a course of litigation in a Court of Law. Mr. POULTER d e f en d e d th e i ntro d uct i on o f the in el i i ; sure in its pre sen t s t a t e , on t h e groun d t h at the wh e as Corporation of Poole was based on fraud, and that tho there was n o i ns t an t reme d y un d er t h e ex i st i ng lair, f 0 only course was to apply for the legislative interferen ce the House. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL would not divide tile House on the question at the present stage. be The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to committed on Wednesday. On the motion of Sir R. MUSGRAVE for the see ° nd reading of the Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill, pal e Lord MORPETH, in all ow i ng t h at an d similar to on the same subject to be r ea d a secon d t i me , was , 110 , t .01e be understood as pledging th e G overnment t o the pris e ' of those Bills. The Bill was then read a second time. On the motion of Mr. P. SCROPE, the Poor Aw lief (Ireland) Bill (Mr. P. Scrope's) was read a second tie °. In reply to a question from Sir R. INGLIS, ft fa- Lord MORPETH was understoodthat at - to say . tor ture time the Government would be prepared to bri n g ward a well-digested measure on this subject. TI. T, CIVIL BILL COURTS (IRELAND) 13 . 1 m - h. a The Civil Bill Courts (Ireland) Bill went throng..o Committee, up to the thirty-ninth clause, and was rep accordingly. of, The other Orders of the Dthen disposed , ay were ter and the House, on the motion of Mr. Brothetton, journed, at a quarter past 12. INcENDlAnsm.—Early on Friday morn— _Al . 0/ , ;„ c r lest a s farm house, belonging to Henry Porter. ,at yu -- near Bridgewater, was maliciously set on fir s :, and the Pre mises consumed.--Bristol Journal. The burgesses and inhabitants of Leeds have P re ; rented a splendid gold chain to their popularly elected Ma r and Corporation, to be worn on all public occasion!: by.l " 0:14 Chief Magistrate. This valuable chain is made of stay the gold, weighing 21bs. troy, and cost 200 guineas. It beams. in., following inscription :—" P resen t e d by the burgesses an° the habitants of Leeds to their reformed Corporation as o f official insignia of the Mayor, in token of their approbatic_oll:4 representative municipal government, and to remind the WI; Magistrates that their powers and honours, conferred bY!i; people, are to be held for the public welfare. George Gu" - Esq., first Mayor, elected Ist 3 1n riisl January, TOF L F A O T R E s H k l e B p t B e . portion of which may be had for the use of Parties, Di0n5,5,170; at a very moderate charge, from T. COX SAVORY'S, w°r . 2- xcl A usive L ly A fo ß r N G . o ß ld . sm A it p h a , m S ph il i v e c t rsz a i y tl b i, e and Watchmaker, gratis, c m o a n k ta e i r n , i 4 n 7 g , aCLorisuthoilflt, hLso.„..:rnndln* of Plate. Plated Goods, Watches, Clocks, &c. GILEBE3:DA'I'Zit.,OI: On the 10th inst., the lady of the Hon. and Rev. Samuel Best, of a daughter. ' daughter. On 9th inst., at Woolhampton House, near Newbury, 13eqs' the lady of Henry Thor°ld, Esq f Cuxwold, ld Lincolnshire, ° o uxwo , On the 9th insf. 1 at Rolvenden, Kent , the lady of R. J. pony' penny, Esq., of a son and heir. On the 10th inst. Stoud-green. of a son. ter. On the 29th ult., , the rs lady of S. G. r 11 Gardom, Esq ., of street, Brunswick-square, of a son. of St• On the 9th inst., the wife of R. G. Whitfield, 5(1., Thomas's Hospital, of a son. On the 9th inst., in Fitzgibbon-street, Dublin, the lady of D. M'Causland, Esq., of a daughter. MARRIED. Ki ri ,stonuP7" On the 10th inst., at the Holy Trinity Chur e ''' °Eliza, on Y Hull, Joseph James Forrester, Esq., of Oporto, to daughter Cramp, Esq., Collector of Excise. f e- At St. Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, f Sisters - vizes, to Sophia, youngest daughter of J. Grant, FA' , ° cottage, Stoke-Newington Mr. Thomas north, Sisters DIED. On the 9th inst., at Brighton, Thomas Swinnerton, E g g " Qf Butterton Hall, Staffordshir funO:knseuvtuehreuefilitlhWtehiliiminisgotht.,tsiHint:W.nei.iil.leunr-dcrvesecreunutu,. George Charles, th e ill. On the 10th inst., at Stainsby, Derbyshire, age— rA 87 Plwar d Sa On the 10th h i st ,in Upper Grosvenor-street, Elizabeth, the On the 11th inst. at the (l E . bast India College, wife of Rowley Lascelles, Es David Shea, Esq. ' hiontg°' On the 7th inst ,at 3lorben-lodge near Alachynleth, ,a..„bter Bert* abed 65 ' meryshire, aged 99, 11Iargaret, youngest and last surviviung ( 0 1 . 1 hi , of Edward Williams, Esq., and of Jane Viscountess B IK LeY wife. co O n n t t h h e e 8 7 t t h h inst., ihst. astupPhoioulec, Charlotte, tt6e3;01‘1111 only . d Ni au ri g ll h ia t r e tt r Longley, Esq., of Cambridge. uare• On the 6th ult., Mr. Pettit, of King-street, Portmall:sqwillion On the Ctli inst., at St. John's 'Wood-road, aged Y. 5 Winkworth, Esq. Bofrethweeleet London Printed and Published WI WIRD° YOUNG, of 112, Strand, at The Sun Office, No, 112, Stran d n the cottusi of Middlesex. 4