The Sun. — London, England, 1839-04-30 00:00:00

Letters were read— From Aberdeen—. That so soon as the fate of the peti tion shall be known, the Convention shall prepare an address to her Majesty, expressing the loyalty of the people, their extreme suffering, their great love for peace, but at the same time their calm determination to obtain their rights, declaring their conviction that the conduct of the Gevernment, in withholding their just demands, is calculated to endanger the peace of the country and the stability of the throne ; public meetings to be held in every county town in England, Wales, and Scotland on the same day, that day so be the 24th of May, the birth-day of Queen Victoria; copies of the ad drees to be submitted to the meetings, and if approved of, the names of the members attending such meetings to be appended to the address and presented to her Majesty in which way the Convention may think fit." Since this re solution has been passed they heard that Mr. Feargus O'Conner bad introduced this question, and they begged te submit the foregoing suggestion to the consideration of the Convention. As thus seen there was a difference of opinion amongst the Conventionalists as to the proposition for holding them simultaneously. From Sirline—lhe Committee of the Association in that ,Place had discussed the propriety of rendering assis tance to the Ministers, and they had resolved that the Convention did wisely in not giving countenance either directly or indirectly to the factions in Parliament in the late struggle for political ascendancy. " Were of opinion that the Committee should employ the time between the presentation of the petition and the bringing in of the Charter, in getting up the proposed system of agitation as general as possible. That so far from approving this being the last petition for the obtaining the people's politi cal rights, they deem it advisable and proper that the Convention take it into serious consideration the pro. priety of backing the bill of rights on its introduction to Parliament by a second petition, requesting and de manding that it be passed into a law. This they do from knowing that such a course of proceeding would strengthen the hands of the supporters of the Charter in the House of Corruptions, and tell with double effect that the people of are in earnest in their endeavours to obtain the political rights which have been so long and so unrighteously withheld from them.—( Hear, hear. We are impressed with the conviction that public opinion will progress, not withstanding any coercive measure that may be directed against it from the citadel of tyranny, having for its object the suppressing the same. They recommend to the Conven tion the necessity of impressing on the Missionaries the use of temperate language in their addresses at public meetings, as without which it would be an arduous and difficult tack to obtain a decided majority of the nation in favour of the principles laid down in the Charter." From Kirkaldy—They were sorry for the resignation of Mr. Mathews, and those others who had resigned, but they (the people of Kirkaldy) thought that those gentle. men should wait to test the Convention as to the line of conduct they would pursue hereafter before they resigned. They regretted the Convention did not enter into a de claration of principles at the commencement of their sittings; if this were done they would be in a more prosperous condi tion. They deprecate all allusion to physical force in the present circumstances; they ought to strive to con vince those opposed to them of the justice of the cause by by sound and temperate argument, and not by fear.—( Hear hear.) They were determined to abide by their first principle of peace, law, and order, and that so far as they were concerned th e y had neither the means nor the in clination to purchase arms. The conduct of some of the Delegates is alienating many of their best friends from their cause, and deterring many from joining their ranks. The failure of the Corn-law agitation has done much to con- THE POTTERIES. vince many that an Extension of the Suffrage is necessary, Mr. Ricnaatns, the Missionary from the Potteries, then and is the only means of obtaining a redress of grievances. rose for the purpose of giving an account of his mission. (Rear, hear.) And they felt convinced that only for the Ile trusted the Convention would bear with him while he violent language used by some of the members, nearly all shortly stated the course he had pursued in the Potteries, the Corn-law agitators would have joined them before this especially as the first part of his statement. would be far in their demand for Annual Suffrage.—( Hear, hear, from from pleasant. Prior to his coming up on the 4th of the moral force delegates,) They had a public meeting February to meet the Convention, a deputation bad been to get up petitions against the Corn-laws, and ail other selected to visit the Potteries—a deputation of what was ! oppressive enactments. The meeting was very large, the called the National Rent Committee of Birmingham. largest ever held there, and was attended by many Anti- That deputation had made a collection of 101, but which sum Corn-law men, and moved an amendment to their resolu. was not acknowledged at the time at which he was requested tints; the resolution was discussed for two hours, and the to return among his constituents. That money, though it amendment was put, when only 24 hands out of upwards had been paid to the Convention, bad cot been handed over of IA e . n) were held u p f or i t. --( General cheers.) A by those who had rece i ve d it, if h e was rightly i n f o rm e d, e resoluon of confidence in the Convention was also passed, but had beer paid by another source. He would now come, after some opposition. They trusted the breach caused after making these observations, to tee object he had in by the resignation of the members would soon be filled up. view, which wus to relate to the Convention the result of They were getting numerous signatures to the general his mission. After spending nine or ten days with his con petitien. They sent Missioilaries through the villages, stituents, he was sent out in combination with several and had established an Association in Kinghorn, which friends to agitate the Potteries and the surrounding dis promissd to do well. They considCred that the Convention tricts. The first place lie visited was Leek. The people were c•ily to superintend the getting up cf the ,petition. there were reduced to almost the lowest possible ebb. Ile In a postscript they state that they had just heard tnat Mr. found the greater part of the people there, especially the Matthews, the Delegate who had la•ely resigned for Perth- ribbon weavers, could not earn more than 84. a week, shire, had consented to resume his duties, at the invitation and distress prevailed there to a great extent, and many of his constituents. From the Westminster Radical As- praise. worthy individuals were actually starving. Not aociation, containing a resolution passed last week—" That withstanding this, he had succeeded in forming an Associ the Association, viewing the proceedings of the Conven- abort there, and he hoped it would be productive ef benefit, tion, as reported from time to time, beg to express its not only to themselves but the cause in which it had been full eoufidence in the integrity and ability of the Members fi rated. The next place he had visited was Congleton, of teat body to carry out the business delegated to them by the principal mart for the silk trade. He had found the their various constituencies, and further hops that people there in a rather better situation than is Leek. At their hands may be strengthened by judgment and that place he had met with .some opposition from two determination in their endeavour:; to obtain a just excisemen, a constable, and two drunken men. He sue and responsible Government. From Shaftesbury stating eeeded in silencing the Excise officers, but it was with the shot the) had forwarded the petition sheets ; that greatest difficulty that he had prevailed upon the meeting they had founded an Association, and requesting rules f ro m at which he had attended nut to bundle the constable down the Convention fur their government, as they were deter- stairs. He ens happy to say he had succeeded in forming mined to stand by the national cause—also requesting a Radical Association there. lu Sandbach, in Cheshire, more signature-sheets, as those which they had were filled. where the shoe trade was principally carried on, he found many persons who were willing to sign not having vet the people ready prepared. At Naatwich also he had met :-igned. The Tories and Vs hies were doing their best to with a roost cordial reception , but he found the people suf.. ere.veet. the people signing the National Petition. And from fering - under the effect of unjust leeishition which had caused Canterbury contributing to the rent, in the collection of which the necessaries of life to be excessively high, while the prices much progress h a d b een ma d e .—( Hear.) A letter from off labour were greatly reduced. Th e last place hehadvnid 81roud s i g n e d Th omas Fenn he fou jun., d e tailing the spread of sited wes Cheadle , whe r e , he was sorr y to sa y , Chartist principles in th a t neighbourhood, as evidenced by the people sunk in ignorance and steeped in misery. It was , the formation of an A s s oc i a ti on in Nailsworth, Hampton, true that some of the workmen there were in the reception Eaetinston, and Stanley, and the formation of a Central of good wages, but the generality of the people were the Association i n con j unct i on with Gloucester, Cheltenham, most i gnorant t h a t h e had oar met with. —( Hear, Cirencester Worcester, Sc.—which deemed it advisable hear, hear.) The consequence was that they were i_oeudeavour to get up a county dernonsiratien on Whit- easily led away, and he must confess that he had .. k .. u r ea_d_,y, and soliciting the attendance of John Frost, E sq ., little or no hopes of t ffecting any good there under such 0 - !. , his arduous and Feargus O'Connor, Esq., if the nature circumstances.— Cheers.) As an example of the manner , i ! F atten d ance of some other popular and powerful speaker.— State that upon one occasion, after he had visited the place, ; torn Kirriemuir, a letter directed to Mr. W. G. Burns, it became necessar to have a Chureh - rate ; the peop l e 1 signed by the Secretary o f t h e U n i on of that p l ace, re- were against it, but upon the Minister and Churchwardens turning him their thanks for his general conduct as a telling them that the y had better be careful what they were Delegate te the Convention, more particula r ly f or hi s d o i ng, for i f they did not pay Church rate they could constant attendance to his duty, and expressing their sym_ not be buried in the churchyard, they instantly consented pefliy for the troubles to which he was exposed when tra- to pay the rate.--( Hear.) He had Uwe endeavoured to selling as a missionary. The letter further stated that the give an account of his mission, which he trusted would meet cause was still progressing, and that 1.679 additional sin- with the sanction of the Convention, and he productive of natures bad been obta!ned to the National Petition, which some good to the great cause they had at heart. had been sent to Mr. Lovett, together with a statement of Mr. O'CONNOR, in moving a vote of thanks to of their physical, mental, and moral condition. The state- Mr. Richards, begged to unreel a report that had gone ment above alluded to was then read. It stated that abroad that the mission of Mr. Richards extended to Hedley the principal if not the only work carried on in the place and its neighbourhood. was the manufacture of coarse linens or Osnaburghs ; the Mr. Svvete, who was introduced by Mr. Pitkeithley, average wages which a working man could earn did not presented a subscription of 101. from Mr. Pena, of Lewis essseed 63. Id. a week ; that if he were married, his wife ham.—( Cheers.) A more worthy roan in the cause of by toiling from morning till night, might eke out the reform did not exist. He was what might properly sum to about 7s. 6.1. It must therefore be evident, that be denominated a property man, and being so after paying for house rent, coals, and soap, there could b e he gave the lie to those who stated that men Cube left for food and nothing for clothes. The food was, of of property considered the proceedings of the Contention course of the meanest description, oat-meal forming the calculated to injure the rights of property. Mr. Penn bad principal part of it. The children were required also de,ired him to present a second 2/. to the fund to as to be put to work long before khey were able, gist ire the defence of Mr. Stephens, stating that he was owing to their parents being so steeped in poverty ; ready to g ive more if it was necessary.—(Cheer s .) as regarded their intellectual condition, nine-tenths of them Mr. O 'CONNOR moved a vote - of thanks to Mr. Penn, had the elements of education, and, as a sort of stigma which was ultimat e ly withdrawn upon the suggestion of was affixed to those who were unable to read and write, Mr. Neesorn, that it would form a bad precedent. After a the pooeest parents endeavour to send their children to letter had been read from the Chairman of the meeting school. Their morals were not retrograding, although on Kennington Common, much immorality abounded, the principal cause of which Mr. BUSSEY rose to bring forward the motion of which was the want of the physical comforts of life, and a want he had given notice, " That the C onvention having de of tasse for scientific pursuits, all owing to the abject state cided that simultaneous meetings shall be held in various of poverty in which they were doomed to toil, as when parts of the kingdom during the early period of Whitsun rersons are strieken with poverty an d i n d e bt, without week, it therefore becomes necessary that this Convention means of extrication, they lose respect for themselves, and resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consi fall into vices they would otherwise have avoided. The der what advice shall be given by the Delegates at the time to letter concluded by stating that at a meeting of the Male the various constituencies respecting the conduct to be Pus and Female Political Unions, a vote of entire confidence in sued by them in case the People's Charter be rejected by the theConventionhad passed. From Forfar, urging the necessity 1 House of Commons. The condition of the people of the of agitation, and stating that a person accused of being a spy, country had been so often brought before the Convention, and who refused to give any explanation, had been expelled that it would be a waste of time for him now to enter into the Union. The Union of Forfar had passed certain re- it. It was sufficient for him to say that it was despe solutions, declaratory of their determination, by all possible rate, and that they were determined not to be played or means, to carry into effect the principles contained in the trifled with.—( Cheers.) The entlre hopes of the people People's Chart e r, and would recommend to the Members were centered in the Convention, and they had no of the C onven ti on to a dj our n f o r a limited period after the hopes in any other body.—( Cheera.) It was to the Con presentation of the petition, to give an opportunity of agi- vention, and the Convention alone, that they looked for a tating their different localities, previous to the introduction redress of their grievances. Had it not been for the Con of the Charter into the House of Commons ; and that, while vention, the condition of the people was 2116 that they ' shay agree to continue moral agitation, they declare that would have resorted to acts of violence, and yet the Govern should the Government make any attack upon the people ment had done *thing to ameliorate their condition, but in course of that agitation, they recognize the right of had pursued a course that was calculated to oppress, espe `,l, People to repel force by force. They also recommend daily with reference to establishing a rural police, which ' ai r regOective t o Uni ons to exert themselves to the utmost he was sure the people would not submit to.—( Cheering.) ithsAeneasconctation into their respective districts, and Mr. O'CONNOR seconded the motion. the n.i. I _ ...gate. At the conelusi the Rev. J. R y expressing their confidence in Mr. Burns, Dr. FLETCHER, thinking the matter of the motion should I come before the Convention in a well-areanged shape, would move that a Committee of seven should be appointed. R. St°enphoefnthse reading of this communication . was introduced into the Conven- I Mr. DUNCAN seconded 'the motion. He thought the ;ion, and was received with the most enthusiastic cheering, ; Committee should be formed of m en f r om the middle which lasted some mi nutes. i counties, the North of England, and a l so f rom S e etLind, The reading of the correspondence I with. was then proceeded the latter of whom had taken gr ea t i nterest i n u l ter i or i measures.—( Cheers.) EVENTING EDITION. NATIONAL CONVENTION. (YESTERDAY.) Mr. MILLS in the Chair. After the names had been called over, Mr. NEESoM begged to know if the name of Mr. Wil liams, the newly elected Member for Kennington, was cn the list. He did so from not hearing the name called over tue Secretary, and from seeing that Delegate seated at the table among the Members.—( Hear, hear.) WILLIAMS would beg to speak a word. CIIAIRMAN—Mr. Williams would feel the necessity he (ire Chairman) bad of strictly adhering to the rules laid d.evn by the Convention, one of which was, that he (Mr. Williams) should, before be took his seat, produce his cre do,tials. Mr. FEARGUS O'CoNsoe said that on the former dis cussion on this question he had done his best in order that Mr. Williams should take his seat, and for what he did do then he was not at all sorry. But now that the Conven lien bad come to a conclusion that Mr. Williams should produce his credentials before he should taka his scat, he woald not be acting in a manner consonant with his duty, it he did not do everything to support the character and rtiguity of the body. He therefore called on Mr. Wil liams not to persevere in wi , hing to take his seat without eornplying with the rules adopted for their government. If he would do so, he would only be insulting the body of which he claimed to be a Member. And he (Mr. O'C.) e:,alci not allow himself to be a party to any insult offs red to the Chairman or the Convention.—( Hear ) He would rot he wanting in rendering to Mr. Williams every assis tance in obtaining his seat in a regular manner.—( Hear.) Mr. WILLIAMS—Mr. Chairman, I would, with the per mis-ion—(" Order, order," uproar, and " Chair, chair.") The CHAIRMAN—Mr. Williams will see the propriety of withdrawing from the Members' table. Mr. Williams then withdrew. COARZSPORDENCE. The next letter read was from the Secretary of the Association of the Working Men and Industrious Classes ' of Dundee, submitting a resolution and amendment p , o posed at a meeting of that association. The resolution proposed was as follows : " Resolved—That we are of opinion that for the pro tection of life, liberty, and property, every man ou ! ,.:rt to possess fire-arms ; and aware that a great number do not, we recommend Radical Reformers, and particularly the advocates of the People's Charter, to possess themselves of arms as early as possible." To which it was proposed as an amendment and carried unanimously, " That the Secretary be directed to write to Dr. John Taylor, one of the Delegates now in London, to lay before the National Convention, in order to obtain their decisive opinien together with his own, regarding the legality of passing such resolution in Scotland, with the intention that their views on the subject may be laid before the Asso ciation at their first meeting." _ _ _ The neat was a letter from Mr. John Hindus, contra dicting a statement i❑ the Brighton Guardian of Wed. nesday last, which stated that be had lost his pension for keeping a disorderly house, and stating that he had seen the Editor of that paper, who pretended he had been mis informed, and that he had waited on the Collector of the Customs, and asked him if he would be so good as to inform him what he was ordered to suvend his pension for, and his answer was—that the Lords of the Admiralty had given him an order to suspend it on account of his taking the chair at a seditious meeting held at Shoreham, which was corroborated by the Comptroller, but at the same time he stated he wished Mr. Hindus not to agitate the Shoreham people any more on the subject, more es pecially seafaring people, as there was no doubt he would obtain his pension again ; but he (fir. Hindus) bad told him he never would recant his opinions. He explained the report alluded to, by stating that two years since he took the Durham Arms, Shoreham ; and, being a seafaring man, allowed fiddling and dancing at the house, with the sailors and their girls, as is generally allowed at most seaports, and at this house before he took it—that a party headed by the journeyman Parsons, whom he had opposed on joining the Poor-law Union, indicted him for keeping a disorderly house, although his predecessor had not been inter fered with—that he run it to an Assize trial, which cost them 76/. ; since which time he had been a marked man, and to prove the Editor's false hood, he would remark that he had received three different quarters' pension since that period. He bad great plea sure in reporting the progress the cause was making in Shoreham. A letter was then read from Bradford, stating that Mr. Vincent was doing much good in that neighbour hood. A memorial from the Smithfield Charter Associa tion was then read, stating the confidence of the memoria lists in the Convention, and their conviction that the ma- jority of their too long oppressed countrymen were de cidedly against the disbanding of that body under any pre tence, and recommending that, in the event of the rejec tion of the Petition, the Convention should set about achieving their objects by all the means in their power ; and in order to obtain the increased exertion necessary for carrying this into effect on the part of the members of the Convention, they suggest the propriety of enforcing a daily call of the Convention ; that they recognize but one party, and urge the Convention to continue their sittings,in Lon don after the 6th May. That they recommend their fel low countrymen► to organise themselves into one indisso luble union, and trust they will notify to the Convention their opinion as to what would be best to be done in the event of the rejection of the National Petition, A letter was read from Mr. Richardson, stating his ina bility to be in London before Monday, and requesting leave until that day. Mr. F. O'Comsopt asked if any communication had been received from Birmingham. The SECRETARY replied in the negative. Dr. FLETCHER asked if any letter had been written to Mr. Wood, of Bolton, respecting the charges he had brought against the Convention. The SECRETARY had understood that the publicity al ready given to the proceedings of the Convention on this subject had precluded the necessity of his writing. Dr. FLETCHER thought it important that a letter should be written, which was directed to be written accordingly. MR. RICHARDS'S REPORT. Mr. WHITTLE called on Mr. Richards to make hie re port to the meeting of his town. Mr. COLLINS presented a petition from Newbury, signed by upwards of 1,000 persons, one of whom was a cordwainer, who no sooner than it was known that he had a petition in favour of the People's Charter, received a notice from his landlord to quit a house in which he had lived for 14 years.—( Cries of " Shame.") Not daunted, however, he had persevered in his agitation, and obtained no less than 1,000 signatures. Mr. LOYaTT, in answer to a question from Mr. Pit keithley, said that no satisfactory answer had been received from Messrs. Muntz and Douglas of Birmingham. Mr. PITKEITIILEY— Then a person ought to be sent to Mr. Douglas to request him to give up all the letters he had received. He thought, if Dr. Taylor was not in town, he might be requested to perform that duty. Mr. F. O'CoNNou thought the better course would be that some communication should take place with the Se cretary. With regard to Mr. Muntz, he ought to state that he had never acted as Treasurer, and was, therefore, not responsible. With respect to Mr. Douglas, he thought he ought to be written to. After a few observations from Mr. LOVETT, the subject dropped. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1539 Mr. NREION thought it would be better to-have a Select Committee, but his great object was to prevent delay. Mr. O'CoNNoR thought that the objects of Mr. Bussey would be best accomplished by a Select committee. He felt bound to state that he was convinced that but for the Convention, the people would have resorted ere this to acts of violence --(Cheers. ) it was the duty of the Con vention to assume a positive position, it had reeked the cradle long enough of the infant—(Laughter)—and it had now come to maturity.—( Cheers.) They bad not yet digested the Charter, although that was the first work they ought to have taken in hand. He hoped that the Convention would now form itself into a Committee, in order to form the groundwork of the Charter.—( Cheers.) Notwith standing the advice of some portion of the Press, he must say that the Convention did not sit there for the purposes of revolution. Before one system was destroyed, another should be discovered —(Cheers ) The French revolu tion, and those which had been the consequence of it, al though intended for good, bad ended in evil, because no preparation had been made to ctrer to the people the sub stitution of a good Government for the bad one which had been destroyed, and the first thing that occurred in conse quence was, that advantage had been taken of this state of negligence. Mr. SANKEY rose to order. _ _ _ Mr. F. O'CONNOR-If he were out of order, he would content himself with saying that the suffering people of Manchester and the North would not wait any longer; and if M. Bussey would persevere in pressing his motion, he would second it. HETHERINGTON said that he considered it extremely desirable that this question should be referred to a Com mittee of seven. Mr. O'Connor had complained of the Charter being indefinite, when the fact was, that the Charter, as far as principles were concerned, was the most definite thing ever brought before the country. If anything could put in a claim for finality, it was the Charter—( Cries of " No, no," from some of the mem bers)—because it gave all the people the right to have a voice in the choice of their representatives. There had been a talk of new constitutions. He was for the Go vernment of King, Lords, and Commons, but when he said this he meant all the Commons, and if all the Com mons were such fools as to uphold a useless system of Government, he was but one of the Commons, and must submit to the will of the majority. He did not like the language of Mr. O'Connor, that the Charter was based in fiction—there was no fiction either in its principles or its details. They had nothing to do with new consti- tutiuns. Mr. O'CONNOR rose to explain. Ho had been misre presented. He had said that the principle of the Charter would stand, but that its details were bad, and that on that point they would be attacked. Mr. WIIITTLE was not prepared to go into Committee this morning; he wished that every Member on going into Committee, should be prepared to state his deliberate opinions, so as to make the report of the Committee as perfect as possible. There was no reason for haste, as they had time enough before them. Mr. BUSSEY would adopt Dr. Fletcher's suggestion, if the Committee were called on to report in two days. Mr. ROGERS thought two days not long enougb, con sidering how important this step was likely to prove ; he would suggest that it should be an open Committee, in stead of a Committee of seven. Mr. PITICRITHLRY suggested to Mr. Bussey that he should state what he proposed to be done, in the event of the petition being received. Mr. Lower said that if they discussed ulterior measures before the presentation of the petition and the intro duction' of the Bill into the House of Commons, they would break through the rules laid down for the Convention. He would agree to the Committee of seven, and suggested that they should state their report to the individual Members, but not to the Convention itself until after the 9th of May. A long conversation ensued as to whether the Com mittee should be an open one, when Mr. CARPRNTER rose and said that a Committee of seven was too small a number for the discussion of a ques tion of such importance. He should prefer &Committee of twenty-five ; and when it was considered that the ulterior measures to be agreed on by this Committee might put in jeopardy the personal liberty, and perhaps the lives, of the Members of the Convention, he thought seven too small a number. He thought, the Committee having come to a decision as to the ulterior measures to be adopted, should not announce them publicly, until the approach of Whit-Monday, in order to take advantage of the enthu siasm which would be excited, as it might prevent the Government from adopting measures calculated to frustrate their intentions. He concluded by moving as an amendment, the appointment of a Committee of twenty with directions to report this day fortnight. After a few observations from Mr. &WIRY and Mr. CARPENTER, Dr. FLETCHER replied, and the Committee was then balluted for. Upon which the following seven gentlemen were elected by ballot to serve on this Committee : Messrs. Frost, Bussey, Mills, Hetherington, Duncan, Fletcher, and O'Connar. Mr. LOVETT handed in one pound rent from Tewkes bury. The letter which contained it stated that the mid dle classes were in general favourable to Chartists, and that they hoped to be soon enabled to send numerous signatures to the petition. Mr. COLLINS handed in ten shillings, which be received for the national rent under the anonymous signature of R. Berkshire, and from Oxford 11. ; this was indicative of the fears of a great many persons to become openly their advocates.—( Hear, hear.) ILLEGALITY OT TUE CONVENTION. Mr. O'CONNOR stated that he perceived from the in dictment sent up to the Queen's Bench against the Rev. Mr. Stephens, that the jurors of our Sovereign Lady in Lancash ire had declared on their oaths that this Conven- tion was an illegal body.—( Hear, and sensation.) A motion of Mr. O'Connor's which stood next on the list fur discussion was called on by the Chairman—" That the Convention shall, after the presentation of the petition, become a perambulating body, and that it shall hold its sittings at Birmingham, Manciester, Newcastle, or at such other places as to the Convention shall seem fit, with a view of eliciting public opinion in those several localities for the purpose of enforcing the People's Charter." Mr. O'CONNOR hoped the Convention would allow him to postpone the consideration of this resolution until to morrow. His motive for making the request was that it was necessary to have the report of Mr. O'Brien, who had been among his constituents in Lancashire, as to what was the state of feeling at this moment among the masses in the manufacturing districts.—( Hear.) Mr. O'Brien would return by to. morrow, and as he had attended nineteen great public meetings he would have much valuable information for the Convention re lating to the opinions of the Lancashire people -information which would tend much to elucidate the discussion on the resolutions, w hich he begged leave to with- draw.—( Hear.) Another motive he bad in claiming this indulgence was, that Mr. Whittle's motion relating to Mr. Williams and the election for East Surrey might come on without delay. the consideration of a resolution then before the Meeting.— (" No, no," from Mr. Sankey.) On that occasion, if the Chairman was not right, a circumstance which was a matter of opinion, the Meeting put a stop to any irregu larities that might have occurred. He did not think there was one word in this resolution. more con firmatory of the line of conduct, which the Chairman was to adopt, than in the rule which it was seeking to enforce. ( Here Mr. Carpenter read the rule from the minute-book, which went to say that no motion could be entertained by the Convention unless it had three days notice, or that it arose from some subject under dis cussion.) Now, surely there was nothing more in the ono produced by Mr. Sankey ; here is the law, and it only re mains for the Convention itself to enforce it, without hav ing recourse to another resolution, which does not give any further powers for carrying it into effect.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. Roam supported the motion. From Mr. Car penter's admission, the discussion on a former day did not arise from the consideration of any question then before the meeting, but as the Chairman thought it did, it was allowed to go on. —( Hear, from Mr. Hetherington.) lie Was of opinion that as their Chairman was changed every day, it would be necessary that his line of proceedings should be marked out for him. If they had a permanent Chairman, it might then be prudent to leave him to his own discretion.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. HF.THERINGTON contended that the Chairman had the right to give his dictum on a disputed point, and that the Convention should abide by that dictum.—( Hear, hear.) He should consider the opinion given by the Chairman was as infallible as that of the Pope ; and that like the Pope's opinion it should be implicitly obeyed.— ( Hear, and laughter.) It was the duty of the Convention to decide on the eligibility of the individual before they called on him to fulfil the duty—but when they had once done so he took it that they were completely in his hands. —( Hear, hear.) He was almost afraid that this resolution was introduced from personal motives, as be had put down both Mr. Sankey and Mr. Rogers in the course of the debate on the day alluded to.—( Hoar.) Mr. SANKEY replied. Upon which the question was put and negatived. Mr. Cauno postponed the report of the Petition until to morrow . LONDON AGITATION. The following Delegates were drawn by ballot to serve on the London Missionary Committee :—Messrs. Whittle, Knox, James Taylor, Skevington. Sankey, Rogers, O'Brien, Loury, Cardo, Hartwell, Mills, and Burns. FINANCIAL. Mr. RoGERS read the statement of the funds, by which, it appeared the balance of rent in hand was 1,0341. 10s. 10d. and announced TIIE RENT RECEIVED THIS DAY. Radicals of Canterbury £1 0 0 Radical Association, Rotherhithe 4 0 0 Radical Association, Greenwich Samuel Emsly Houghton, near Blandford Monkton, near Blandford 0 9 0 Blandford Workmen in Mr. Marshall's timber-yard 0 6 0 Workmen in Belgrave-square Mr. Penn, Lewisham Thirteen. Men (R. Benham) 0 10 0 Tewkesby Radical Association 1 0 0 Oxford Radical Fund Upon which the customary vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman. The meeting then dissolved. LEITH ELECTION.-" FINALITY." On Thursday last, pursuant to public advertisement, the electors of Leith met in the Trinity.houre, to hear the Lord Advocate declare his political opinions, and the grounds on which he claimed their suffrages. Bailie Timm having taken the Chair. - The LORD ADVOCATE addressed the meeting at considerable len g th, exp l a i n i n g his opinions with refer ence to all the great political questions of the day. He declared himself to be a disbeliever in the fact that any statesman or body of statesmen could uphold any such doctrines as " finality." No man, he said, ever imagined that at no future time, no matter what change of circumstances or of public opinion —no matter whatever may be the effects of time and change —no motter what may be found to be an actual failure i n the existing Constitution after a trial for a l eng th of time—that notwithstanding all this, that there should be no amendment of the Reform Act, as if this system of the Constitution should for ever be " the be all and the end all." No one was ever foolish enough to imagine that such was possible. And how could it be so ? for it must be obvious to every person of sense that the same moral force, the same pon er of public opinion and of the country, agreed as to the ex tent of the evil, and unanimous as to the remedy, would obtain, if necessary, another victory for the people.— (Hear.) The Lord Advocate then stated that he had not yet come to a determination as to whether he should support the Ballot. He was not so satis fied with the arguments he had heard upon that subject, as to say that the Ballot is the best and only means to secure the freedom and purity of election ; but he pro mised that if the study of that question shall enable him to come to a different opinion, or if there is no other course to obviate the evil, he should have no objection to yield. As regarded the Corn-laws, he expressed himself in decided terms in favour of free trade. Mr. CRAWFORD-Will you support a measure for the extention of the franchise ? The LORD ADYOCATZ-1. say that at present I am not prepared to support such a measure. The 10/. franchise has only been tried for seven years, and you remember what prodigious interests were touched, when that became the law of the land. Surely the country is not to be involved every seven years in revision and recast of a measure of such immense magnitude. I want to try it longer, and after these abuses are remedied—as I believe they can be remedied—by means which would leave the principle of that great measure entire and perfect. Mr. JOHN CRAIG referred to his long acquaintance with the Lord Advocate—to the classical acquirements he displayed at an early age—his studious habits—his knowledge of the constitution of the country, and, gene rally, his intimacy with the science of legislation ; and concluded by moving that he was a fit and proper per son to represent the district in Parliament, which motion was warmly responded to by the meeting. The LORD ADVOCATE briefly returned thanks for the reception he had met with, and expressed an anxious hope that, if returned as their representative, he might be able to show he deserved something of the too flat tering eulogium of his friend M r . C ra i g . Mr. GLEN JOHNSTON moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and the meeting separated. In the evening the Lord Advocate addressed a nume rous meeting at Newhaven. He was received there also in the most enthusiastic manner. His speech and answer to the different questions were well received, and resolutions, similar to that adopted at Leith, une:ni mousiy agreed to.—Edinburgh Observer. REPRESENTATION OF LEITH.—The Hon. James Erskine Murray's address to th e e l ectors of L e i t h , a s• signing his reasons for not offerin h himself as a candi date at this time, reached us last night (Friday), but at too late an hour for insertion in this number.—Scolsinan IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ROUSE OF LORDS, APRIL 29. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack at Five o'Clock. The Duke of RICHMOND presented several petitions from tradesmen in London in favour of Mr. Hill's plan of penny postage. The Earl of BANDON presented a petition from the county of Cork against the proposed plan of a Provincial College, without the instruction being founded upon the religion of the country. Also one from Bandon in favour of Mr. Hill's plan of penny postage. Lord PORTMAN presented a petition from the Corporation of Gloucester to the same effict. The Earl of HARD WICK E presented a petition from Wisbeach, praying for an alteration in the manner of licensing beer shops. He would take that opportunity of asking the Noble and Learned Lord opposite, whether he intended to proceed with his Bill upon the subject, and if ao cc hen. Lord BROUGHAM had been actually prevented from proceeding with his Bill. He thought with the Noble Duke opposite, that the initiati.m of such a measure should be in the other House. A Noble Friend of his in that House had given notice of a motion upon the subject; but the measure be proposed was so ut terly inefficient, that it would be necessary for hifn to precced with his Bill, and he begged leave to give notice that he would move its second reading one day next week. The Earl of HA RD WIC K E said' the law relative to beer-shops certainly required alteration. He, as a magistrate of the county of Cambridge, had con victed a beer-shop keeper—he used the printed form of conviction which was used by every Magistrate in Eng land ; yet a clever attorney got hold of the case, and brought an action against him ; the case was so full of difficulties, that the Judge reserved points for the consideration of the Court above ; and though that Court certainly had a leaning in favour of Magistrates, still he was cast in heavy damages, and mulcted of the expenses. The Earl of RIPON presented petitions praying for protection and encouragement to the Church iu Canada ; also one from Leeds against any passage of letters through the London post-office on the Sabbath. Lord G L ENE LG presented several petitions in favour of Mr. Rowland Hill's plan of penny postage. Lord BRO UG HAM presented petitions from Dunferm line, Milgarvi, Kilpatrick, Monmouth, and Forfar, in favour of Mr. Hill's plan of penny postage. Also petitions to the same effect from Auchtermuchty, Islington, Walworth, and Morpetk. The Earl of RIPON gave notice that on Tuesday next he would introduce a motion to their Lordships relative to the removal, of certain officers of Malta. He would take that opportunity of asking the Noble and Learned oppo site the nature of the motion he intended to submit to the House to-morrow. Lord BROUGHAM said that he intended to move an address to the Crown praying that the ordinance might be re-considered with a view to its alteration. Lord H A RR INGTON presented a petition from Dum fries, in favour of Church Extension in Scotland. The Bishop of LAN DAFF presented a petition pray ing for protection and encouragement to the Church in Scotland. MOTION POSTPONED. Mr. WHITTLE moved in a tew words the rescinding of the standing order of the Convention, which compelled " three days notice of any resolution to be proposed for adoption," in order that they might go into the question of the East Surrey election. Ile said it was necessary that the sense of the Convention on this question should be ob tained in the shortest time possible, as it was one involving the future rights of both the Convention, and the numerous bodies which it represented. He would nut trouble them with any remarks in this stage of the proceedings, as he would give his opinion, if the question was allotted to Le proceeded with. Mr. SxEVINGTON seconded the proposition of Mr. Whittle. ,Mr. COLLINS thought that they should not give the question as it now st9ed any further consideration, as Mr. Williams had agreed to stand the result of a new election. Mr. BeaNS tZias of a similar- opinion. Mr. DUNCAN, seeing that it vas of that pressing nature that they could not wait, he thought they might depart from the Standing Order. 'fit was, as it was said to be by some of the Delegates, of the last importance to their cause that Mr. Williams should take his seat—( Ironical cheers)—he (Mr. Duncan) would be willing to afford him every opportunity of making good his claim.—( Hear.) Dr. FLETCHER—There is no use whatever in going into this question at present, as Mr. Williams has decided on waiving his claim to a seat at their Board unless he should be re.elected.—( Hear.) Mr. ROGERS felt the ne:essity of giving the utmost eon sideraion to the matter. Under extraordinary circum stances it might be necessary to suspend the Standing Oi'der, but in this case there was no such necessity,—' ( Hear, hear.) If a dis'cussion was to be had on it he thouglv the more time for consideration that was given to it would be the better. The reasons given for hurrying it on were the best that could be given in support of delaying its consideration. He would oppose tho rescinding of the Standing Order. After some few more remarks the Chairman put the question, upon which it was negatived. In reply to a question put by Mr. Hartwell, the CuAla. MAN said, as one of the Committee appointed to take charge of the presentation of the National Petition, it was riot intended that a public Frocession should accomp any that document to the House of Commons. DUTIES (5? TIM CHAIRMAN! Mr. SANKEY moved the following resolution :—" That the Chairman be instructed under no circumstances what ever to permit any motion, of which previous notice had not been entered on the order book, to be brought forward, unless the consent of the Convention be first obtained. He said his motives for bringing forward this resolution were from the conviction, after what had passed on a late debate, that some defined plan should be laid down for the Government of the Chairman ; and from a feeling that the Standing Order relative to this part of their duties was required to be strengthened by a resolution such as the present.—( Hear, hear.) That Standing Order was many times interfered with, and then were the Convention entirely under the guidance and rule of the Chairman only.—( Hear, hear.) At the same time that his resolution went to explain and effectuate the Standing Order, it did not prevent that rule from being set aside when extraordinary circumstances occurred to recommend its being so temporarily repealed.•—( Hear.) Mr. DEEGAN seconded the motion. Mr. CARPENTER had much pleasure in listening to Mr. Sankey; but notwithstanding the manner in which that gentleman argued for the introduction of this resolution, he must say that he was not at all convinced of tho propriety of crowding the books of the Convention with resolutions which were not necessary.—( Hear, hear.) He had an aversion to the passing of resolutions which at best were but of doubtful utility, and which were not actually tending to promote decision. As they bad already a resolution which made it imperative that three days notice should be given, he could not see the use of bringing this in to amend or confirm that which, if not car ried into effect on its own merits, would hardly get assist ance from the one proposed now for their adoption. If this resolution was passed, he could see nothing in it he was afraid of, but a something that tended to imply censure on a former Chairman, for using his discretionary power in allowing a discussion to proceed, which arose merely from EASTERN NEWS. The French Papers received the this morning, brine. the following intelligence from Governorreceived East:—" Letters 'from Constantinople of the sth inst, an nounce that a courier from theby express, brought intelligence that the Persian of Bayazid had Curds, with whom 40,000 and 50,000 strong, besides the s:a C n the Shah had entered into trea li t r y e , c w ed a i s n about - tO w e l omm w en o c ni e its march at the end of the notwith standing several of the King's councillors had i. rt i l e o w n. en dcavourud to deter him from this new w lors e hadd. .It is not said whether Herat is the object l i p n e These letters confirm the previous accounts of the . expected arrival of HAz Pacha at Constantinople. The Sultan has evidently sent for him to ascertain to what ex tent he may rely upon his army in Anatolia. Some well informed persons think, that, although numerou6 and well appointed, it runs great risk, in case of a war, of being beaten, as it is composed chiefly of new recruits ; but this chance does not frighten the men who are urging Mal,moui to take ill-judged steps, promising him succour under all events that may happen. The mission of some noble Tcherkesses to Constantinople has excited the jealousy of M. de Boutenieff, .who cells upon the Porte to take -strong measures; and among others the arrest of some Polish officers who are going to the Caucasus, to keep up a kind of police a t the p orts of the Black Sea, &c. The cavalry sent from Sivas and Malatia to the extreme Syrian frontier, having attracted t o this point sonic of Ibrahim's battalions, have probably given grounds for a belief that hostilities have com menced. Nothing of the kind is as yet known to have taken place." A letter of the 3d, quoted by the Augs_ bur g Gazette, says that " peace in the East is not to be too much coueted on—that the Ottoman fleet was to sail in a fortnight from this date, composed of seven ships of the line, twelve frigates, arid various other vessels—destina tion not known." The correspondent of the Curlsruhe Gazette estimates the Turkish army under Haft Pacha on the Syrian frontier and in the Taurus at 50,000 men. / The following from Alexandria of the 7th inst., is taken from a leter in the Sad, of Marseilles The apprehen sions of war, excited by the armaments of the Viceroy, have been completely dissipated ; the Consuls of France and England having convinced Mehemet Ali that the result of a resort to arms, however successful, could not be advan tageous to him. Mehemet Ali has given a formal promise not only that he will make no agg ression upon the army of the Sultan, but also that if attacked, he will keep as much as possible upon the defensive ; and a dispatch to this effect has been sent to Ibrahim Pacha. Mehemet Ali has declared that he cannot act upon the treaty of August 16, until he receives orders from the Sultan. Colonel Campbell has had another conference with Me. hemet Ali, as to the passage of English troops through Egypt into I n dia, in cote of nec essit y , and ho does not object t o it. Sh ou ld this take places it is said, th a t t h e British troops, with the exception of their officers, will march with ou t th e i r ar ms. M. Ca rdin, Chance llor and Interp re t er o f t h e F ren ch Consulate in Egypt, is d ea d, The bank of Messrs. Defontclaire and Co. has just paid a first dividend of 33 per cent., and is expected to pay 20 per cent, more. 4-44rmage A clerk, named John Gabriel Lindguist, a n a . tive of Sweden, in the employment of W. Thompson, merchant, of Newcastle, has forged the name of his em ployer to a cheque of 1631. 70. 63. on the' Newcastle, Shields, and Sunderland Union Bank, and succeede'l in getting the cash. It has been ascertained that he and his wife quitted Newcastle on Sunday week, by the Victoria coach, for London. The forgery was not discovered until Tuesday, when intelligence was sent to the Lon don Police. --Sunderland Beacon. The HON. MEMBER also gave notice, that on Friday next he should re. introduce a Bill which had on a former occasion passed that House, but had been rejected by the Lords, for the purpose of rendering the Registry of Elec tors final.—( Cheers.) Lord J. RUSSELL, in moving the Order of the Day for going into Committee on the District Prisons Bill, said that he did not intend to bring forward the Factories Bill to-night. Sir R. PEEL asked if he should have an opportunity of proceeding with the Election Petitions Bill this evening. Lord J. RUSSELL said, that if there were time after the District Prisons Bill had gone through the Corn mitteee, he should not object to the Right Hon. Gentle man proceeding with his Bill this evening. Mr. MARK PHILLIPS wished to know when the Factory Bill would be brought forward. Lord JOIIN RUSSELL'S answer was inaudible in the gallery. DESIGN COPYRIGHTS BILL. Lord DUNG A NNON, in moving the second reading of the Design Copyrights Bill, and the Design Copyrights Extension Bill, said that the first of these Bills was intended to grant protection to those engaged in the arts of design. Under the present system no sooner had a manufacturer brought forward a design which met with the public ap. probation, but it was immediately violated. Every person claiming the protection of the present Bill would be re quired within a limited period to register his design, and the time of protection would be computed from the day of re gistration. This Bill would apply to all designs, except those of silk and calico, which were protected by special Acts of Parliament. The Bill also contained clauses for the protection of the public. The second Bill extended the provision to certain articles not mentioned in the other Bill, and also extended the provisions of the whole of these Bills to Ireland. Lord. BROUGHAM said that he spoke the sentiments of his Noble Friend ; at his request the second reading of these Bills had been deferred, as well as his own opinions, in stating that these Bills were well *.vorthy the attention of their Lordships. He considered they were most important in supplying a defect of the pre sent law, and affording protection to those deserving and ingenious persons who were engaged in inventing designs. He thought they were calculated to produce great good effects, and his only objection to the Bill was that they did not go far enough, that they protected drawings only ; and he should wish that the same protection should be extended to models as was extended to designs. He should offer no opposition to the measure, but reserve to himself the right of proposing any improvements that he might think necessary. Both Bills were then read a second time, and ordered to be committed. The Marquis of BRE ADA L BANE presented a num ber of petitions relative to Church E x tension in Scotland. The Church Discipline Bill was read a second time, and the discussion ordered to take place on Tuesday week, on going into Committee. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, AlpßiL 2g. The Sr&AKER took the Chair shortly before four o'clock WIGAN ELECTION. Mr. CHILDERS brought up the Report of the Com mittee appointed to try the merits of the return of Mr. Ewart for Wigan. The Committee reported that the elec tion of Mr. Ewart, was valid, and that the petition against his return was neither frivolous nor vexatious. Mr. HOPE brought up the Report of the Bristol and Gloucester Railway Bill. _ _ _ Mr. B. WILBIZAHAM obtained leave to bring in a Bill to extend the line of the Birmingham Railway to Stone. Mr. NI. PHILLIPS presented a petition from a person residing in Manchester named Hume, against the Leeds and Manchester Railway Bill. On the motion of Mr. WILSON PATTEN the Bury and Haslingden Roads Bill, and the Clitheroe and Black burn Roads Bill were severally read a second time and ordered to be committed. Mr. LUCAS presented a petition from the Great Central Irish Railway Company praying for the extension of time for bringing in their Bill. _ _ _ Lord G. SOM ERSET moved the third reading of the Rhymney Iron Company's Bill. Mr. BAINES felt it his duty to oppose the motion. The Bill was most objectionable in principle, inasmuch as it was appropriating the funds of the Company to the build ing of a Church—a purpose not contemplated by the persons subscribing to the funds, and even against the wishes of some of the subscribers. He must oppose the third reading of the Bill, and if he was defeated in that object, he would pro pose a clause to protect the interests of those who ob jected to such an application ,of their funds. Lord G. SOMERSET complained of the lateness of the opposition which had been got up against the Bill. It was one of a most laudable nature. The Company had a population of 8,000 souls, and they were nearly unani mous in providing the means of religious instruc tion. He believed that out of 10 000 shares, 9,985 had assented to the proposition. He could not conceive that the House would negative a Bill a reason able in itself, and he should therefore press the third reading. Mr. BAINES said he was reluctant to divide the House on the third reading. If the Noble Lord would let the matter stand over a few days, he hoped such an ar rangement would be made as would prevent the Bill being endangered. If the Noble Lord refused to comply with this reasonable demand, he should certainly divide the House. The gallery was then cleared for a division, when the numbers vrere--- For the Bill passing Against it Majority for the Bill -64 The Sheriffs of London appeared at the bar with a petition, which, according to the usual custom, was read at the table by the Clerk, but the difference of reading a petition by a Member and by the Clerk is, that by the former it is nearly inaudible, by the latter it is quite so. Mr. ORMSBY GORE presented a petition from the county of Salop against the bastardy clauses of the New Poor-law Bill. Sir W. SOMERVILLE presented a petition from Donegal, praying for Corporation Reform and Extension of the Suffrage in Ireland. Mr. RICMARDS presented a number of petitions against the Ecclesiastical Duties and Revenues Bill. I%Jr. D UFFIE LD presented a petition from Abingdon in favour of a unif,rm rate of postage. Mr. KINNAIRD presented petitions against any fur ther endowment to the Church of Scotland; also two pe titions in favour of the Snatch Prisons Bill. Lord FRANCIS EGERTON presented a petition from Frome, in favour of the rating of Small Tenements Bill. POSTAGE. Petitions were presented from two parishes in Surrey by Mr. Dennison; from the Town Council of Leeds, by Mr. Baines; from the Universal Life Assurance Company by Mr. Raikes Currie ; by Mr. M. Phillips, from the Cham ber of Commerce, Manchester; and by Mr. Dundas, from several parishes in Yorkshire, all in favour of Mr. Hill's postage plan. Mr. M. PHILLIPS presented a petition from the Chamber of Commerce of Manchester, praying for a re duction of the duty on cotton. Mr. WYNNE presented a petition from Montgomery shire, against a repeal of the Corn-laws. Mr. ANDREW WHITE presented a petition from the Mechanics Institution, Sunderland, in favour of Mr. Rowland Hill's plan of postage. Mr. WAKLEY presented a similar petition, from the inhabitant householders of Finsbury. WIGAN ELECTION. Mr. EWA R.T ea►e notice that he should to-morrow present a petition from the borough of Wigan, complaining that certain electors of that borough were seized and put in confinement during the late election, and that certain electors, by the administration of narcotic drugs, were ren dered insensible, and conveyed away to other parts of the county, in manifest violation of the freedom of election. _ _ REGISTRY OF ELECTORS. BARBADOES. Sir ROBERT PEEL asked if the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite had any objection to produce the message of the Governor to the House of Assatnbly of the Nand of Barbadoes, communicating to them the Prisons Bill. Mr. LABOUCHERE was undestood to say, that the message would be found among the papers laid on Vac table of the li:)use this day. ECCLESIASTF;AL REVENUES BILL._ Mr. LA1S;i;!;;(1 toascto ;lat day the Noble Lard opposite intended postponing the Ecclesiastical Duties Revenues Bill Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, he intended to post pone it to that di) , fortnight. .METROPOLITAN POLICE BILL. Mr. LAW wished also to kn:iw aunt course the Noble Lord intended to pursue with respect to the Metropolitan Police Court Bill, and the Metropolis Police Bill. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he would answer the question to morrow. SIR F. B HEAD. Mr. NPLE AN said that before Sir F. Ili?ad went out to Canada he was one of the Assistant Poor-law Commis sioners. As he bad been recalled, he wished to know whether it was in the contemplathn of the Government to take into consideration his services with a view to remune. ration.. Lord JOHN RUSSELL was understood to say that he could not at present give an answer to the question. DISTRICT PRISONS BILL. On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, the House went into Committee on this Bill. Clauses Up to 37 were z , ,greed to without any discussion. Clause 3S was agreed to, with a few verbal amend ments. Clauses 39, 40, 41, and 42, were ar;reed to without any discussion. The remaining, clauses were then agreed to. THE PRISON DISCIPLINE BILL. Mr. GL A DSTONE presented petitions against the' 14th clause of the Bill, on the ground that it provided for the establishment of Popish ch.tplains in Ireland. Captain WOOD suggested to the Noble Lord that it would be imprudent and unjust to put the rate-payers he represented to the expense of the separate system. He therefore hoped at least that the measure would be post poned until the evil alleged to prevail in the present sys tem should be proved.' Lord J. RUSSELL said he should be quite ready to alter any clauses which should be found defective, or of too compulsory a character as respected the Justices of their relative districts. At the same time, it was fit that the legislation of prisons should be improved. The Noble Lord was understood to say that he should be reluctant to force upon Magistrates the separate system, when the present regulations should be found effective ; but it would certainly be unjust in him to prevent Magistrates, vilio should desire to adopt the improved system. He should wish to enable Justices in the latter ease to carry out the necessary improvements in the classification of prisoners, according to the separate system ; and in the former case he should wish as Secretary of State to have the power of appointing Inspectors of Prisons. Mr. G IBSON asked the Noble Lord the Secretary for the Home Department whether any provision had been made for promoting the emigration of persons who were discharged from prison after punishment for light offences, or for their employment at home, and also for sending discharged culprits boys to sea in the mercantile marine. Lord J. RUSSELL said that many recommendations had been made to the Government about providing for the emigration of prisoners, and also to establish an asylum for the employment of discharged prisoners at home, and to institute a system whereby boy culprits should be sent to sea. He was ready to admit that those objects were re spectively desirable in a great degree. He felt, at the same, time, that it would to a certain extent be reversing the order of law and of society, for the Government to provide for criminals, while innocent respectable persons, though poor, were permitted to make their way through the world as well as they could. —( Hear, hear.) It certainly would be particularly gratifying to him to see some mode of preventing our discharged criminals from being driven back, he might say, by necessity into the com mission of crimes for which they had just been punished. But bad as their present fate might be, either as regarded themselves or society, it would not be fair that the State should take better care of them than of those persons who had transgressed the law in no manner whatever. The same remark applied to the proposition of sending dis charged boy criminals to sea—for it was a fact that thou sauds of respectable parents were anxious to send their children to sea—and surely they ought to have a better chance than guilty children. However it was likely Go vernment would propose some measures founded on those propositions. Mr. HUME hoped the Government would turn their attention to affording the means of emigration to young of fenders, and then they might afford them a temporary asylum. Mr. CRESWE LL complained of the Bill, because it gave a power to Justices to tax a county for building a new prison when they chose. He did not think the House ought to part with their power of taxation without grave consideration. He hoped the Noble Lord would not press on the Bill then, but give time for mature deliberation. Mr. EWA RT begged to impress upon the Noble Lord the necessity for taking the suggestion of Hon. Member for Kilkenny into consideration, with a view to allow young criminals to gain a new character in some of our colonies after they had undergone the punishment awarded to them in this c3untry. The House then went into Committee on the Bill, Mr. BERNAL in the Chair. . --- Mr. Alderman THOMPSON complained of the power proposed to be given to the Inspectors of Prisons. It was proposed to make them supersede the Magistrates.. He proposed that the Bridewell of the City of London and House of Occupations be exempt from the operations of the Bill. After a short conversation, the clause was agreed to. Clause 2 was also agreed toi Clause 3 was then proposed, and was opposed by Mr. PA K INGTON„: on the ground of the injury inflicted on the human constitution by long periods of confinement, more particularly solitary confinement. He would divide against the clause. Mr. HAWES drew a distinction between solitary and separate confinement, and controverted the statements of the Hon. Member on the authority of Howard, and the experience of the American prisons. C.lptain POLHIL L considered they were discussing .one of the most important principles of prison discipline. The last Report from the New Penitentiary of Philadel phia was most unfavourable. He had seen that Peniten tiary, and should regret to see the introduction of that system into this country. Ile believed it impossible to bring this system into operation without affecting the mind as well as the body. Ho should divide against this clause giving the power of inflicting separate confinement without any restrictions. He should move that the clause be struck out of the Bill. Mr. II A WES explained, and said the Official Board of Philadelphia had reported favourably of the system. After tt few words from Captain Polhill, Lerd John sell, and several other Members on both sides of the House, the Muses divided, when there appeared— For the clause .. ... 117 Against it Majority The House then proceeded with Clause 4. In reply to an objection, Lord JOHN RUSSELL explained, as well as we could understand from the low tone in which he spoke, arid amidst the general conversation, that the object of this clause was to separate prisoners before trial from those who had been tried. After a few words from Mr. C. Wynne. Mr. O'Con nell. and Mr. Wakley, the clause was agreed to. Clause 5 was agreed to, with some verbal amendments, after a few observations from Lord G. Somerset, the So. licitor-General, Mr. Hume, and Mr. Hawes. Clauses 6,7, 8,9, 10, 11, and 12, were agreed to, after some discussion. On clause 13, relative to the superannuation of chaplains and other officers, being proposed, Mr. HUME objected to the clause, and the House di vided, when the numbers were— For the clause.. Against it Majority in favour of the clause 123 On our re-admission we found Mr. BLACKSTONE objecting to the establishmet of Popish Priests in gaols. If they were admitted to gaols how could thcv be kept out of workhouses.—(Cheers. ) Mr. JONES supported the clause. He saw no reason why the Catholics should not have the benefit of their own pastor's instructions. Mr. O'CONNELL moved that the Chairman report progress, and ask leave to sit again. That was not a proper time of night to dipeuss such an important question. Lord TEIGNMOUTH resisted the proposition, as being one pregnant with danger to the Establishment of the country. The CIIAIRMAN reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again this day (Tuesday). The Sediti o u s S oc i et i es A ct A men d ment B i ll was com mitted pro . furma, and ordcred to be printed. The Metropolitan Police Courts Bill was fixed for a second reading on Friday so'nnight. The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter to One o'Clock. For nearly two months we have had, almost without interruption, a real winter temperature, and un fortunately the cold increases, in place of diminishing, as the season advances. To-day ( Saturday) the thermometer during the night, was two degrees below freezing, with a north wind. Vegetation has suff2red much in consequence. —Paris Paper. The Editors of the French Journals, L'Europe and L'Esti i Ptte, charged before the Court of Assizes of the Department of the Seine, on Friday, with having pub lished articles, tending to bring the Government of the Kieg into contempt, were acquitted. NON-INTERCOURSE ACT.—The landed gen tlemen, it is said, are so much alarmed by the importation of foreign fruits, by cur steam ships purchasing provisions, &c. in the ports of Holland and Germany, and introducing them into England, and by the various substitutes which high prices make the people use ineead of wheat, such as rico, that they intend now that the landed interest is in such full vigour in both Houses to pass a Non-Intercourse Act. They allege as they can feed the people, and as everything else besides home-grown wheat is leather and prunella. o,:ly making us dependent on foreign nations for the gratification of all idle vanity, that it is far more pa triotic to have no communication with other nations, and that a Non-intercourse Act is now the only policy for Great Britain. Some of the elderly landlords alluded to wine, but they were silenced by a reference to the many advan tages, particularly as to health, which the tee-totallers have experienced from abstinence. If their ladies, when they hear of this project, do not put in a word for silks and teas, whatever they may say for wines, their lords will no doubt cp.rry it into effect. Everybody with whom we havo sinlan en the sub j ect sa y s a Non - Intercourse Act is so clearly and re cess:rily the consequence of the Corn-laws, that the landlords must enact it. EV o!NING EDITION . TURNPIKE TRUSTS COMMITTEE, HOUSE OF COMMONS. MONDAY APRIL 29. The Committee met at one o'clock. Mr. Mackinnon in the Chair. The CHAIRMAN said there were three subjects of inquiry which he would recommend to the consideration of the Committee,—first, whether the monopoly usurped by the r;,ilroads was the cause of the distress complained of by the Truster s ? whether any legislative remedy could be pro vided? and whether the public had not in their own hands means for counter-actin. , the evil. In the year 1831, a Committee , of which' he was a Member, reported that steam carriage upon common roads was fully ea tabli.died as regarded practicability, safety, an d eco nomy, However, at that time the Trustees of the Turnpike roads could not be made to understand their own intere;ts, and instead of encouraging steam•carriages, wi.ich would have enabled them to compete successfully vvit,ll railways, they laid on such heavy tolls on steam car riages as rendered th it mode. of conveyance upon common rods utterly impracticable. On one line of road they raised the tolls from 63. charged to four-horse coaches to 31. for a steam-carriage. In fact, they realised 1 13 °, fable of the man who killed the goose -for the sake 0' the egg. Mr. Gray, cf Earl-street, Blackfriars, Mr. Levy, s farmer of Turrpike-tolls to the amount of 100,00 01 . pe t annum, Mr. Bignold, Clerk to the Trustees of the New cross-roads. Surrey, and Sir Henry Parnell, gave evicle e F i e . to chew that all the lines of road parallel to existing roll ways were injured to an alarming extent. M ou th Mr. Shearnian, proprietor of the Bull and Inn and Coach Offices, gave similar evideooncci and stated that he himself haat lost upwards of 7, . in vainly endeavouring to compete with the Loa: don and Birmingham railway. He attributed a great Parr of his loss to the conduct of the Directors, who would not allow him to send passengers and parcels by their traias• The other railway companies had given him every After the examination of several other witnesses, With respect to the state of the Trusts, The Cearamaar said, the Committee had now sufficiee, evidence that the monopoly of the railways. bad broil: the direct roads of the country into a state of decay. t i ., he thought proper to examine tome witnesses who were , i d attendance, from whom he believed, the Committee aerie elicit facts to enable the public to contend in a very tuf t ; facility.: out manner, with the railway monopoly. lie would b r at call Colonel Maceroni, whom he had requested to atten.; with otln r gentlemen, who were conversant with th e age ject cf steam conveyance on common roads. Colonel Maceroni, was first induced to consider th e soh' ject of steam locomotion, by his assisting Mr. Gurney, w hop plans he found at length, to be utterly hopeless. H I V carefully examined the qualities of various steam b o ilers c e a i c contrived one, of which the efficiency has been fully P e , v a, in various journies, which had been daily made to Nj ili t he sor, Harrow, NiTatferd, Edgeware, and other places in 40 vicinity of London, at a rate averaging from 16 to 24111" per hour. The Marquis of Tweeddale, Captain Fitzgeral d ' l‘ aefl . Leitch Ritchie, Mr. Alexander Gordon, Mr. Hul10n: 1110 and Mr. Concannen, stated that they had travelled ion Ye-it lonel Maceroni's steam-carriage on the softest and roads in England, and they were satisfied that stes ol l - 4 , riage conveyance, by means of Colonel Maceroni's " 1 ,, was capable of maintaining the common roads and succe 9 fully competing with the Railway monopoly. The Committee then adjourned. • NAVAL IN TELLI GENCE. (From the Hampshire Telegraph.) PORTiNIOUTIL APRIL 27.—The Pantaloon, 10, Lieutenant Tryon, sailed to-day for Quebec, witb lunteera from the two flag-ships at this port for 01'1 on the Lakes ; she also took out Mr. Giles, pursers ° Jr. John Pike, boatswain, and Mr. Thomas Brooke. s ilt ; penter, to join the Niagara ; and Lieutenant 11',. Harvey, son of Sir John Harvey, for New Brunsofo; The Waterwitch, 10, Lieut. Matson, sailed on i r hur is day for Plymouth ; whence she will proceed to Abe Ca of Good Hope. She takes out disposable 01 from the Britannia, for the Cape and African stat, i l 6 o 's The Powerful, 84, Captain N a pier, C. 8., Wednesday to Plymouth. The Alligator, 28, with the B r it o m ar t, 10, and i d Kennaway and Orontes transports, we re a t the So l " t he Islands on the east coast of N ew S ou th Wales on 31st October. r 110 The President, 50, and Samarang, 28, were at 01- on Christmas-day last. hour The Curlew, 10, Lieut. Rose, will g o out of bar— on Tuesday. A 40 The Benbow, 74, has selected upwards of 5 " the and boys from the general service men on boar°, t he Britannia, as part of her complement. The baud of 0 ,, e Britannia, usually denominated Sir Philip Dar""i r private band, has not been re-entered, it being th e tention to 611 their places with 17 able seamen- a re The Sapphire and Rattlesn a k e , 28- gu n al* rapidly fitting up as troopers in this dockyard. 00 The iEtna sailed for Liverpool on Moods , '' f o r Tuesday arrived the Cracker cutter from Je ll° Oa provisions, and returned on the following day',tb, Wednesday arrived th e N e tl e y t en d er from P l Y °3O-- r e• and the Quail tender from Deptford ; the latt er turned on Thursday. Ever- Queen resa -,e ty exertion is making to get the for launchi ng . Sh e i s fill e d w i t h wor kmen but ' ° the suspect she will no t b e rea d y to b e l au nch; d e 15th of May, as ordered. Jr Royal M ar i nes —C apta i n S ear l e , an d a aplettul tachment o f men , t o const i tute t h e comp l ement for •-,1 Benbow, 74, have embarked on board that ship Lieutenants J. W. W ear i ng , o f t h e Exce llent, an to G. Alexander, of the Benbow, have been permitt e w exchange ships. The Menai yacht schooner arrived at Gibraltar fro Naples on the 6th inst. Admiral the Hon. Charles E. Fleming struck flag o n Illonday evening, ' and went on leave of sh een el e i the d u ti es o f t h e port, in the meantime, being per forto by Re ar -Ad m i ra l t h e H on. D . P . B o uverie. mit I t ' PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.—Lieutenant -0 p. Waller Otway (late Flag-Lieutenant to Si: C. • 11. Durham), to the rank of Commander, Secretarier'io Hallilay, Secretary to Vice-Admiral Sir R. W. ° l to!' to b e Agent Victualler and Naval Storekeeper ot o r ti eri bowline I s l an d, C or k ; W. Lockyer Freeman , Wt self to be Secretary t o Vi ce -Ad m i ra l Si r R. W• Commanders—Richard L. Warren, Acting r3 blo Captain to C omm od o r e D oug l as ; 11 0 " °n. 11 Gore, Acting to Serpent ; J. James has been P it , l l. on the Out-Pension List of Gr e enwich I t s f t . Lieutenants—P. Haste, Acting to the Chary ho : '; to Holland, Acting to th e Pi c kl e ; Mill e r, Ae L t l'er the Hornet ; J. Bird and W. C. W oo d, to tn e tits' ror ; E. P. Charlewood, from the Excellent t i l e lly Benbow ; H. B. D a vis, from th e E xce ll en t to the the i T. isle ; C. Dawkins, t o the Blenh e i m ; G. Westert oo Niagara. Surgeons—J. Armstrong, to the Vict e 7,: a tit' Miller, from the Victory to the B r it ann ia. is f Surgeons—Dr. Maisel, to the Blenheim ; J• Batr y be Assistant-Surgeon of the Woolwich Div lB e l 141 Royal Marines, vice Chartres, who has emigr i• South Australia ; J. Carter, and J. Paul, to for t tannia. Pursers—T. R. Hallett, to the Terr o Gies', to the Niagara. to Royal Marin e s.—S ec ond Li eu t enan t P. 0 0510 w be First Lieutenant vice Pegus, resigned. ( From the Devon port Indepeudent.) t eal Admiral Sir Grah am M oore , G.C.8., i s exPe e i l i oty l ) arrive here on Monday, and will succeed Admir i t es te Aurelius Beauclerk in the command o f the r.; Station on Wednesday ne x t, I s t o f M a y, when ul itoi r blue at the main, will b e h o i s t e d on board th e Adelaide. itj Her Majesty' s ship R o y a l Ad e l a id e , 104, Cap tS White, will be paid o ff o n T ues d a y. rro te The controul of th e O r di nary i s to b e trano. e Ac ot.- the Port Admiral, from th e Ad m i ra l Superintenu not t° the Dock-yard ; but the officers and men are •vgao receive sea-pay. Orders to this effect were rag e this port on Friday, he CP l r, Her Majesty's ship Impregnabl e , 104, is to ;le Oa niissioned at this port in ro om o f h e r Mer s i,'o o l" Royal Adelaide, 104, Capt. T. White, and wn i ; alongside the jetty from her moorings on Tucsalfitte Her Majesty's ship Calcutta, 74, having b ee dor' S ° P for commis.-ion, was warped t.) he r mo orings 0 " whore In Hamoaze—Royal Adelaide, 104, Captai n White ; San Joser, 110, Captain Taylor ; 1 3211 ,e„ r ebil l i. ► Captain T. Nicol a s ; D ru id, 46, Capt. Lord OA" pO r Racehorse, 18, Com. H. Craufurd ; Dil i g ence' transport ; Aid, lighter. $' EIGHT-DA y 0 :10 to strike the Hours and Half-h ours , Five Guineas eac are in elegant cases, about i inches high, su itable, d, et stand en a bracket or mantel-piec e , a nd are Warrall, Col" COX SAORY'S, Working Goldsmith, Sce. &c " hill, London ( Seven Doors from Graceehurch-streetiiej N.B.—A pamphlet containing drawings and a deta cioc the prices of Silver Plate, Plated Goods, or Watche'o6ps° &e., may be had gratis, or will be fora arded in an swer paid application. O S ' , s the PL A TE.—A. B. SAVORY find ito - 0 Manufacturing Silversmiths, No. 14, Cornbill, (1101 , ,, Bank of England), offer the best rich SHELL-n°: o ,, at ' SILVER WAITERS, of every size, with plain een`,:e, per ounce, or with chased centres, at 9s. 6d. pe r ' , d Price, with Chased Centres. X 0 Dilmeter. Os. 0 s'i A round `liver W.iiter, with shell border, Bin. 12 at 9i. 61 I 0 • A round Silver Waiter, with shell border, 9 17 6 A round Silver Waiter, with shell border, 10 10 18 0 A round Silver NVaiter, with shell border, II 3 0 1 9 0 0 dt round Silver Waiter, with sheilb,rder 15 42 4 0 0 A round Silt er Waiter, with shell border,' 18. F 6 - 58 li e. A round Silver Waiter, with shell border 10 124 , ~re es t te The Plate rooms of this Establishment, w hich. Pis Pil r : sive, contain a large and choice selection of 11 .. t,, aso r' Plated Goods, and every article requisite to eemP l % 1110,, u , vice. List of Prices gratis. A. B. ' Savory and SO" o %ite tr facturinit Silversmiths, No. 14, Cornhill, London , °PP Bank of England. 5..7 rr TiO s° BIRTHS. In Parliament -street, on Sunday ev ening, 3 - -s. et, ° I Wheeler, of a son. On the 22d in s t., M rs . M as on, of Upper Stamf ord a son. - - MARRIED. Greg On the 27th inst., at S . George's, llancser-squar,e.'„„bethr Thomson, Esq., of Lower Grosvenor-street, to E ll `;.k. eldest daughter of the late Henry Eedes , E s q ., of South'," p a it# lED. On the 27th inst., Ann J es se, relict of the late Charle. Esq , of Twickenham, aged 72. Otnqq • London : Printed and Published by MURDO — a ,. - 0 ,0 No. 112, Strand, at The Sun O ffice. No. 11Z 'fis the county of Middlesex.—Tueslay, April 30, ..162. ~` ~~ t; •..