The Sun. — London, England, 1839-02-18 00:00:00

Mr. G. A. YOUNG was anxious to state on this occa sion that some misapprehension existed as to the object of the motion of which his Noble Friend Lord Nugent had given notice. He felt assured that his Noble Friend did not by that notice of motion intend at all to com promise the cause - of total and immediate repeal. He gave that notice of motion because he thought he should thereby be enabled to convince the agricultural interest how erroneous were the views which they entertained on this subject. He thought it was an act of justice to the Noble Lord to make this statement, had he enter tained any other views than these, he would not repro sent the feeling which was general throughout the parish of Marylebose on this subject; in proof of which he would state, that a Committee of the Vestry had been appointed to assist in circulating the questions which the Delegates had drawn up, they had endeavoured also to convince their Tory Member, although he (Mr. Young) feared Lord Teignmouth would vote against them ; however, they had represented to him that Mr. Villiers's motion being for inquiry merely, it was not at all incon sistent for gentlemen who were favourable to a continu ance of the existing system to vote in favour of that motion. Mr. Villier's motion was merely preliminary, and might be acceded to by all who were open to argu ment on the question of the Corn-laws. Indeed, he (Mr. Young) could not understand how any Members of Parliament who were anxious for the cause of truth esuld object to inquiry. Mr. STURGE wished to say a few words in support of what had fallen from his friend Walmsley, and in refer ence to a report that it is probable a majority of the Commons of Eogland would decide that they should not be heard at the bar'of their House, and that it was still more probable, should Lord Brougham press a similar motio n in the House of Lords, he would be left in a mi nority. In the interview with Lord Melbourne last week, he vent ure d to state that the advocates for the repea l o f the Corn-laws would be satisfied with havir ° r their evidence t a k en at the b ar of e i ther House. Should there be a ple a se t u p th a t i t wou ld o b s t ruc t pu bli c business in the Commons, this excuse can hardly be made in the House of Lords. He should not be convinced that a request so reasonable on a question admitted to be so momentous even by those who op posed their views, would be refused by a majority of the British Senate, till it should be proved by the division itself:—(Hear, hear.) If, however, this should be the case, they (the Delegates) of course could be no parties to the production of evidence before any inferior tribu nal.—(Hear, hear.) He had had a little experience of what was to be expected from the examinations of Par liamentary Committees, and he had no hesiaation in saving that it might be taken for granted those who vote against their being heard at the Bar of the House hive made up their minds also to vote against the aboli:ion of the Corn-laws, however strong may he the evidence of the evils they inflict upon the country. He took a deep interest in this question, not because he wished to support manufactures and com merce at the expense of agriculture, tor he believed they must stand or fall together, but because a deli- Lerate examination of the subject had led him to the conviction that if the Corn-laws were not shortly abolished, all these great interests must be irreparably injured, and the result would be an extent of suffering to our labouring population which it is fearful to con template. If the motion on Tuesday night should be lost he (Mr. Sturge) hoped a division w ould be taken in the House upon the total repeal of these, laws, this and every succeeding Session, till they are swept away At a great meeting at Birmingham, for the purpose of petitioning for the abolition of the Corn-laws, the fol lowing was the first resolution proposed :—" That this meeting views with alarm the successful competition of the continental manufacturers in the productions of the Cenntry, and more especially in the articles made in tins town and neighbourhood ; being convinced, that n otwithstanding the peculiar faculties possessed by Great 1 c D ' i tain, the absurd and unjust laws, prohibiting the importation of the food of the people, " tending towards the destruction of the manu •=acturing interests of this country, a result which must I nvolve every class ofthe community in one common ruin;' to which t h e f o ll ow i ng a dditi on was moved and c arr i e d b y the Chartists : _" , And a t t h e same t i me t h a t w e are perrectly aware of tae dir e effects of the food laws, and fully alive to the dreadf u l consequences wh i c h wou ld b e th e result of co ntinuation of them we feel it incumbent on ourselves ! ill o i, s cat,,e, that, taking into ' consideration the preponderat 41yttnence in both Houses of Parliament, of what is o , jr n o nulY termed the landed interest—the general entirelyn of . the agriculturists, that property is almost Independent of trade and manufactures, not. ' ) r ) Parently understanding that the destruction of one of the'th rec would inevitably be the ruin of all—taking also into consideration the very small minorities that have hitherto votesl for the abolition or even the modi n rif the food laws, and more than all, that t' Band Jury by 'whom the questioo-4 - uld betrieT, are pers ona ll y i n t eres t e d i n t h e decision.. the opinion Sir GEORGE STRICKLA 'ND could not help rising to address the meeting on account of something that had fallen from the preceding speak( r. He agreed with him that there was nothing more unwise:than our considering there was any possible advantage to be derived from send ing this most important subject to a Committee above stairs, because our experience was that, although most questions mightbe decided fairly, and useful results might be produced by a Committee above stairs, that questions of megoitude like these, when sent up stairs, were always Burked—(a laugh)—till some great event com pelled the Legislature to bring them forwetd. He was one of those who was for putting on a bold front in their application to the House of Commons, if lie thought it possible to abolish those laws through that medium ; but he %e: as one of those who thought they had better spread their net wider, for the purpose of getting an increased majority of supporters. This was, however. what we ought to guard against, His friend Mr. Sturge had sail. if he was defeated on this occasion he should truly despair of ever obtaining his object, but would go home and go to sleep. He (Sir George) was of a very different opinion. He might meet with a check, but he would try again, and if the cause was a good one he ought never to despair of suc cess. He put it to Mr. Sturge's own experience whe ther we ought to dsspdr of this great qtsesion. How long had that gentleman himself worked in attempting to suppress the slave trade ? How many times had that question come before the House of Commons? Mr. Sturge, however, with others, virtuously and energetically persevered, and had now, at length, gained the cause. He knew he had a good case, and persevered till he carried it through, He (Sir George) was certain they had very many lamicreners amongst the friends of this great and important question. He would make this ob servation, that, in consequence of letters which had been received, it was thought to be of no use to put into the petition the expression that they should despair if its prayer were not granted. The Government of Eng land might fear to interfere with these laws, but they might not feel in the same way a few years hence. Like Reform in Parliament, although_ it had not satis fied all, yet they could not forget that it bad been effected by the prayers and petitions of the people. Let them take the example of that dreadful abomi nation, Negro Slavery, and there was no occasion to despair. He thought, in the main, there was a majority of the House of Commons in favour of the question. Many landowners, he was cer tain, were coming round to the opinion of this meeting ; many who were opposing their en deavours were themselves in favour of a fixed duty. His own opinion of a fixed duty was this, that it would eventually promote a total repeal, and that the esta blishing of such a duty would be the road to the total abrogation of the Corn-laws in a few years, but still his opinion was that they ought to go on struggling for a to tal repeal. His course in the House of Commons would he this ; he should vote for the total repeal of the Corn laws, and if he could not get that he should vote for a fair inquiry by evidence before the bar of the House ; if he faded in all that then he would vote for a fixed duty. He was one of those who, if he could not get all he wanted, would take what he could get ; and if they did this they would eventually, in his opinion, abolish all those laws and imposts which pressed against the good of the peo ple, in order to fill the pockets of the rich. Mr. STURGE explained, and expressed a dis inclination to pursue the course pointed out by Sir George Strickland, on account of being pledged to total repeal. He agreed with all that had fallen from the Hon. Member, with the exception of what he had said about a fixed duty. He had rather remain as they were that consent to a fixed duty, on the ground that it would be no check to the decay of manufactures. Mr. BOULTBEE, after stating his conviction that Lord Nugent was one of the firmest friends to the repeal of the Corn-laws, doubted if sufficient pains had been taken by framing a document in such a shape as to bring over many agriculturists to their side. Many of them appeared to be favourable to a repeal, and amongst them Lord Breadalbane, who was brought over to us. The peti tion read to-day wished for a total repeal, but wished to give them as much time as possible. The immediate abolition of the Corn-laws would not have the sudden effect expected. No man would be able at once to double his produce, which would be a work of time, attended with the employment of many additional labourers, and the expenditure of much money. If, on the motion on Tuesday, the House decided in favour of hearing evidence, they would be prepared to prove, beyond contradiction, that the Corn-laws were more mis chievous to the landlord, than any other bur then whatever, and that repeal would be of the utmost benefit to that interest. They were any thing but an advantage to the landlord, and if they -could once be made to understand this, they would be brought over to the opinions maintained by this meeting. Mr. HALL entirely concurred with what had fal len from Mr. Young, respecting the intentions of Lord Nugent. He was sure no person was more sincere an anxious than himself for the repeal of those laws. Looking at the present constitu tion of the House of Commons, and their course on this question, he thought they would come to no satisfactory result on Tuesday evening, but he thought they had put the question in the best shape in which it would be put. He agreed with Sir G. Strick land, and was by means anxious for its being referred to a Committee up stairs. If defeated as they might be on Tuesday, all they could do, was to exert themselves in their respective counties, and bring on the question Session after Session till their objects were in the end obtained. As for a fixed duty they had only to ask themselves whether it was most likely to lead to a repeal. It was a bad state of things, and he was not sure whether he would not be a suf ferer by such arrangement. He bad presented peti tions against the Corn-laws, from the borough be repre sented, one signed by twenty-three thousand inhabitants, another by threethousand, and another by two thousand, a pretty decisive proof of the opinions entertained there; and ssas fully enabled to say, that in the county of Monmouth where he resided,the same feeling prevailed. Mr. EWART said that when first the question came before them how they should proceed, he felt no hesita tion whatever that the best course was the boldest course—that they should bring the matter to a crisis ; and instead of being deluded by any inducement to lay their cause before a Select Conn - ranee, where it woull shortly hat e expired under that stifling - process which was so easy of application in the House of Commons, they should demand nothing less than full inquiry. To that resolution he still most sincerely adhered. He believed that several gentlemen who had doubt ed whether they ought not to proceed by more dilatory marches, would not come round to the conviction that the best course was boldly to mount the breach and assail their enemies in their stronghold. In the course of these proceedings the conduct of the delegates, while it had been firm and resolute, had yet been resollute and conciliatory. He de fied any one to lay to their charge anything like hastiness or rashness, while it was impossible to charge them with imbecility or pusilanimity.—(Hear.) The people could not understand why the Legislature should re sist this inquiry—an inquiry the most obvious antece dent to justice. They heard, on one side, that it would take up the time of the House of Commons, but he should like to know whether the time of the House of Commons ought not to be devoted to questions of national importance—whether the time of the House of Commons was to be measured by the House of Commons' clock, or the wants of the people. If the question of time was of importance, might not the House meet at regular hours, and devote two or three hours a-day to hearing and receiving the ' most irrefutable documents and evidences on this great national question. The House had met at early hours on less important subjects for the public, on mere per sonal m there, such as that of the Duke of York for . instance.—( Hear.) This involved a more mighty principle. If they refused an inquiry on this question in the House of Commons, did not the House trench on the great question of refusing attention_ to the national grievances at all ; for what grievance would be entertained if this should be rejected ? If justice was refused, the result must be thai a vast number of persons who were now moderate in politics would be come infinitely more ultra ; and many persons would feel themselves precipitated towards Chartism by the refusal of the Legislature to listen to the voice of the people and the justice of their cause. These things de served to be seriously considered by those who assumed the awful responsibility of refusing the prayers of the people ; those Members would be held up to the re spectful veneration of their constituents, even though they did not entirely agree with all the points that were urged for the total repeal of the Corn-laws, who did not withstand inquiry ; while those who did Would invade a great principle of our Parliarnentaiy Constitution, and would be deservedly held up as not only injuring the AN'TI•CORN LAW DELEGATES. The Delegates assembled on Saturday afternoon as usual at Brown's Hotel. J. B. SMITN Esq., in the Chair. There were present besides the Delegates, Sir B. Hall, M.P., Mr. G. W. Wood, M.P., Sir George Strick land, Mr. Tancred, Mr. Mark Phillips, and Mr. Horsman, M.P. It was stated to the Committee that petitions had been received from Lancaster. and Yarmouth. The Mayor of LANCASTER stated that the petition from that place, was to be placed in the hands of the • Delegates for their disposal, and requested that Mr. Villiers would present it. Mr. EWART suggested that it was always better to confide petitions for presentation to Members connected with the place from which the petition emanated. The Mayor of LANCA S TER stated that Mr. Green was out of town, and Mr. Martin refused to present it. Ho also stated that in the absence of the Earl of Derby, the petition to the House of Lords would be presented by the Earl of Fitzwilliam. The CHAIRMAN reported the arrival of Mr. Thorpe the delegate for Halifax. Mr. THORPE said, it was perhaps due to this Com mittee, as well as to the town of Halifax, to state that a very lively and anxious interest is felt by a col sideralde and influential portion of its inhabitants in the success of the cause in which this Committee is engaged. By some of those engaged in manufactures the influence, the injurious influence of these laws, has been felt in no inconsiderable degree. Some facts in corroboration of this statement he hoped to lay before the Committee. They sought for a repeal of th es e laws with no unkind feeling towards the landed inter lost, but because they believed it to be essentially neces sary to the existence of the manufacturing interest and the prosperity of the nation at large—(Hear.) The CHAIRMAN reported that he had received a lettxr. from Maidstone, stating that a petition was in course of signature there in favour of the existing system of Corn laws, which had not been agreed to at a public meet jag, but was hawked about from house to house for signature by some retainers of the Conservative party. It was suggested that if a lecture on the subject were to be delivered at Maidstone, and a meeting held, a counter petition might be easily got, which would obta'n a majority of signatures. It was remarkable that none of these petitions in favour of the Corn-laws were agreed o at public meetings, and that whenever a meeting was held for that purpose the Corn-law Atiteocates were out. votA . Tile Chairman then releed the circumstances attetydiejg the meeting?, at Newark, as had been stated Y.-stertlay by Mr. Swart. He also reported that at Noratch a petition is egreed to end will be here in due course. At Yar;outli also, with two dissentients only. At Ipswich all the wards are about to meet and sign a requisition to the Mayor for a general meeting. At Lynn, in Norfolk, symptoms of a desire to meet and petition have been apparent, and seem to require some aid in order to be proceeded with, The CETAIRMAN read a communication that he had received front the Society for the Encouragement nf Industry, meeting et the King's - Head Tavern, in the Peultry,'stating that that Society had come to a reso lution, suggesting the following modification in the Corn laws, viz.:.-,-" That where the - price of wheat per quarter is at or trader 405., a duty should be . levied on importa tom ef 10 per cent., to continue for two years. After witlela the said duty, under the same circumstances of price, to be five per cent., to continue for two years fel k'vulg, from which time a free trade in corn to com mence." They had also resolved that this resolution should be communie.ated to the Anti-Corn-law Dele gates, and that they should be invited to attend a meet ing of the Society on an early day. Mr. WEIR. considered, that having been sent here as a delegate to demand a total and immediate repeal of the Corn laws, he was; by the very terms of the dele gation, precluded from entering into a negotiation with aoy one who was not in favour of a total and immediate repeal.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. WALMSLEY had learnt with surprise, as well front Hon. Members as from the remarks of those journals which have so ably and so zealously advocated the cause of the people, that there were differences of opinion amongst the delegates as to the expediency of pressing for a total and immediate repeal of the Corn laws, and that some of the delegates were satisfied to tender evidence otherwise than at the bar of the House. `lle knew not how such reports had originated, and could only attribute them to the invention of their opponents. It was meet, however, that they should receive the most unqualified contradiction. Nothing less than a full hearing at the bar, either of the -House of Lords or Commons, was calculated to elicit the truth of their averments, and to give that publicity which the import ance of the case demanded. Nor would any other mode give satisfaction t:, those great commercial manu facturing communities which they represented. For his own part, were he irrespective of the misery which a perseverance in the present system would inevitably in flict upon the people, he should rejoice in the refusal of justice on this one subject, as he was satisfied other and important changes would be the result. The flood of intelligence and light which was now dawning on the people of this country could not fail to sweep away every legislative enactment not based upon equal and impartial justice. THE SUN, LON DON, MONDAYS-EVENING EDITION,-FEBRUARY 18, 1839 cause, but as making a great innovation of the principle Parliamentary justice.—(Hear, hear.) For these rea sons he had thought it requisite to address a ff w words to the meeting, because he felt some responsibility as being one of those who had urged them not to tamper with this mighty question,but that they would find their best refuge in bold councils, that they wouldbest do their duty by combining moderation with firmness, and taking a stand firmly by the part which they had first taken. It was agreed that an answer slrould be returned to lir; letter from the Encouragement of Industry Society, in. farming them respectfully that the delegates cannot, consistently with their duty to those whom they repre sent, enter into any communication with persons recom mending any compromise on the subject of the Corn laws, to the total repeal of which the delegates consider themselves bound, and transmitting one of their funda mental resolutions expressive that determination. Mr. CLOSE said he could not believe that any Ministry would have the firmness to propose a fixed duty, at the present price of wheat.—(Hear. hear.) Mr. RAWSON said he conceived the delegates were bound to ask for nothing short of total repeal.—( Hear.) • The CHAIRMAN hadreceived letters from . Bristol and Liverpool, in one of which it was stated that the eallen manufacturers were permitted to be heard at the bar of the House against certain of the provisions of the Act of Union. It was graifying to fin.i that such a deep interest was taken in all parts of the country in the proceedings of the Delegates.—(Hear.) Mr. EWART said he had received a communication horn Coventry, stating that a meeting had been 'held there on the 18th, when a delegate was appointed, and a petition, signed by the Mayor. aereed to. At Glou cester also, a meeting had been held, when a petition was prepared, to be presented by Mr. Phillpatts ; and Mr. Hope was to be requested to support it. Mr. EWART then stated that the address to the ng;-if culturists, demonstrating that it was their interest to have a repeal of the Corn-laws, would be ready on Monday. Mr. WALKER said he had received a letter from Manchester, informing him that the cotton manufac turers 'were only working for three or four days - a-week—occasioned by an overstocked market. The trade was very . . indifferent. He had also heard from a farmer in Norfolk, who expressed his beiief that the Corn-lasts, like all prohibition, were unnatural ob.tru - ttif - ns to trade.—(Hear, hear.) It was from such a state of things that the oppo nents of the Corn-laws wished to free the country, In 1815 the farmers said that corn could not be grown . is England under 80s. a-quarter ; But Since then it • had been found that corn could he grown for 50s. or 60s. a-quarter. He (Mr. W.) believed that the farmers of this country could compete with the foreign grower, if they made greater improvements in their farming.— ( Hear.) As to the effect of the repeal of the Corn laws being likely to lower wages it would have just the contrary tendency, for it would give a stimulus to manu factures and commerce,which would prevent the necessity, and indeed the possibil:ty; of a reduction in wages.— (Hear, hear.) Lord Raleigh, in a letter to the Chair man of a Corn-law Meeting in Essex, bad spoken of En land being oblige l, if those laws were repealed, to apply, Ike paupers, for relief to Boards of Con tinental Sovereigns. But such was in fact the case now. We had been forced to apply for corn to Boards of Continental Sovereigns," and had, either through incapacity or unwillingness, been refused re lief.—(Hear.) The Corn-laws were not less injuri ous to the foreign grower than to the home farmer ; they were as oppressive in their operation a 3 they were false in principle.—( Hear, hear.) Mr WEIR said, after the discussion which had taken place it was desirable that it should become generally known that they met in that room as a body of Dele gates ; that they had applied to the House of Commons complaining of a grievance, and claiming permis sion to give evidence at the bar in proof of their allegations. Of course their future proceed ings would be determined by the - decision of the House upon the question on Tuesday next. But he wished it to be generally known that it was their fixed determination and that of those who had sent them there, to put up with nothing short of a total and imme diate repeal of the Corn-laws—( Hear, hear)--and that they would not cease their agitation until they had ob tained it.—(Cheers.) Adjourned. NATIONAL CONVENTION. (THURSDAY.) Mr. MOIR, of Glasgow, in the Chair. At the time the list of names were called over some twenty members were absent. The SECRETARY read a letter from Rochdale, enclosing three pounds towards the national rent ; he also read a letter from the Chartists of Todmorden, saying they had forwarded their petition. A long conversation took place between Mr. Cobbett, Mr. Sankey,Dr. Wade,Dr. Taylor, Dr. Fletcher, &c., on the great delay that bad taken place in the production of the report of the " Rules Regulation Committee," which Mr. Cobbett said was not yet ready, owing to the absence of those Birmingham gentlemen who were members of that Corn mittee. Mr. COBBETT, in bringing forw a rd a string of resolutions, said he had to congratulate them on there being neither a Liberator nor Precursor Society, those blessings they left for the enslaved inhabitants of another part of the empire. His motive for proposing these resolu tions, was the necessity of having some defined plan of operation for the government of their principles, in order that there may be no misconception in the public mind as to how far they are responsible as a body for the acts of indivi duals. With regard to the two first resolutions it is neces sary that we deny the name of National Convention. This name has been attached to us without our eJusent. We are not the National Convention—we are, to all intents, " A General Convention of Delegates from the Working Classes," and this name only will we assume. And also the second of these two first resolutions will bind us to a line of conduct, as a body, which will prevent our responsi bility in that capacity for the actions of individual members. With regard to the two last resolutions, could an) thing prove more their utility than the motions brought forward the other day for the purpose of sending Mission aries throughout the country, and that relating to ulterior measures. All who listened to the very lengthened debates on those questions must feel with him that seine perfectly defined system was necessary for the purpose of steering us clear from all difficulties raised by the introduction of subjects not relevant to the purpose for which we were delegated. Our business is to forward the interests of those who sent us, by taking their directions, not to recommend what measures are to be adopted by the people. We cannot recommend the people to do anything but to petition. This only would be lawful. How can we be answerable for any other recom mendation ? What other duty but to recommend the people to petition? To tell them to refrain from petitioning is not our duty, as some of the members of this Convention have recommended. Will any gentleman say that if we only came here to wait on Members of Parliament that our mission has been futile ? I submit, that if we do this we will have discharged the most important object of that mission, arid as yet we are unauthorised to do more than superintend the presentation of the National Peti tion, and I maintain that we ought not, as a Conven tion, to offer any advice to the people as to their conduct in future. We are not yet pledged to give this this advice before you decide on this question ; reflect on it seriously. It will be found, if wo_adopt these resolutions, our course will be successful ; if not, we may have reason to repent. Mr. WAGE, in seconding the resolutions, said that their business was to receive advice from the people, not to dictate to them, what ulterior course they should pursue. We have no authority to advise them to any future course. Our object is to l eave no stone unturned to obtain for the people a consideration ; our business is to wait on the Members of the House of Commons, and strive to induce them to allow the claims of the general mass of the people, not of the 101. class in particular. Let us not trifle away our time, let us go to work at once, and endeavour to procure for the people the restoration of their liberties.—( Cries of " Hear, hear.") Mr. PIERCE said that the first resolution of Mr. Cobbett prevented the necessity of the others. If we did not choose to do the work of the people, no matter what the term used may be as to our designation, what they were sent for ? Can it be thought that 1 was sent from Birmingham onl) to superintend-the presentation of the petition.—( Hear, hear.) That was not our object in coming here.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. Pierce concluded his observations by saying that be regretted the necessity he was under to move an amend ment against the resolutions of the Honourable Member Mr. Cobbett—( Hear, hear)—but his duty, and the know ledge he had of the feelings of the people on this subject, compelled him to do so.—( Hear, and cheers.) Mr. VINCENT opposed the resolutions of Mr. Cobbett in a of speech the length, in wngtliteicdh up p le b u y rg re e s d ol t u h t e io n n e s c w es h s i i c t h y Convention ofsome not went to take from them the functions with which they were entrusted by their constituents. He be gg ed leave to second the amendment of Mr. Pierce . Mr. COLLINS said that he did not wish to do any thing that would draw down on any one the terrors of the law. He had a wife and family, he did not wish, very far from it, that those whom he held SO dear should suffer; but for him self he did shrink from the fate of a Fitzgerald, or any of those who suffered in a righteous cause—( Hear, hear). He did care for what could happen to him from the ma chinations of the " Attorney- General," the " Solicitor- General," or the " Mayor-General" ( Hear, hear, and long continued cheers), he would be very sorry to return to Birmingham, and have to say ;to his constituents that he bad voted for Mr. Cobbett's resolution—( Hear, and cheers). Mr. SANKEY supported the amendment. Mr. HETHERINGTON said, that their friend Mr. Cobbett in proposing ;hese rrsolutions was insti gated by motives that would be was sure claim their gratitude with respect t') to the first t resoiution there was nothing in a tome. with respect to he others, he was of opinion with Mr. Benthetnitsat the laws are a heap of rubbish, from which any man may pick out that which answers his purposes. Our business is is, not to mind what the Attorney-General, who is a paid officer, ! and for whom he held a very contemptuous opinion, does, we are bound to do our work without looking to the consequences. If we are to be trammelled up by legal phis eology, we may as well break up. It would be non• sense to do so. In some case in which he was concerned, on a trial concerning some breach of the Stamp-office laws, be bad employed as a counsellor one who, having been paid, said its his behalf all the law allowed him to do, but not so much as would ensure the gaining of his suit, although contradicted by his counsel, he persevered in his own course, and made an appeal to the Judge, who said there was no precedent for his taking on himself to address the Court. He then introduced the case of Mr Wakicy, in the King's Bench, which instance was allowed. by the Judge. He then addressed the Court on the facts of his case ; and, by the statement he made, he gained the object fur which he contended. This was sufficient, be was confident, to make those admit who, with Mr. Cob bett, are willing to be bound by legal difficulties, that there is not much to be thought of the technicalities of the law. He therefore hoped they would be unanimous in the vote they would give for the amendment of Mr. Pierce. Mr. M'Dowant. and Mr. BURNS supported the amend ment. The latter said he conceived that if Mr. Cobbett was sent by a constituency that had to weave thirty yards of cloth for 6d , or a dozen of sheets for 10d.. if he was he would have other notions oe the t vent of our mission. Ile would find that we were not sent hero to superintend the petition only, but also to advise the people as to what they should do hereafter if their petition was unsuccessful. —( Hear, hear. ) Mr. FROST said, that for the consolation of his friend Sankey, he could be sent to any prison in London or through the kingdom but what be was acquainted with. He could tell him the best prison in the country, or the softest tread-mill—(Loud laughter.) Their beds, it was too true, were not to he beds of roses. It was by reason clone they could hope to obtain the object of their request, a weapon would not have any effect on the gentlemen who on quarter day took such pleasure in receiving their salary, are we to suppose that we will have little trouble in obtaining our rights from persons who have all their lives lived on the public, unle.s we depend on our assn individual exertions for the attainment of the liberties of the people, we may as well give up at once. Mr. Burn and Mr. Neeson supported the amendment, as did the Rev. Dr. Wade, after a protracted debate, the amendment, which stated that are resolutions should be postponed until the decision on the petition by the House of Commons, was carried, Dud the resolutions of Mr. Cobbett lost by a large majority. Mr. COBBETT.—As this question had been decided in opposition to Ir!s views—views which he did not take up without mature consideration, he must say that his mind was mind was made up to take Ohne of conduct, which although it might not meet the approbation of his consti tuents, yet in justice to what he thought would be prudent to adopt he would therefore give in his resignation as a member of this Convention, and would not consider hirnself a member of this body any longer.—( Hear, hear.) PETITION COMMITTEE. .Mr. PIERCE moved that Mr. Moir, of Glasgow, and Mr. Jones, of North Wales be added to this Committee. ADDRESS COMMITTEE. Dr. TAYLOR said, that he was happy to have it in his power at last to be able to bring up the Address to the ro p:e of G:eat Britain; he would refrain from making any remark on it at present. He would read it and leave it in the hands of the Members for consideration. He then read the Address, which was as follows : ADDRESS To THE PEOPLE OF GREAT BRITAIN, FROM TIIE DELEGATES ELECTED BY THE INDUSTRIOUS CLASSES, IN GENERAL CONVENTION ASSEMBLED. " Men of Great Britain and Ireland. —The day Iris ar rived We, the representatives of your wishes and your sufferings have met—assembled from all parts of the coun try—bound together in unity of object we feel it right in the discharge of the important trust you have reposed in us to address you as to your present situation and your fu ture hopes. " We naturally waited, however, till the speech from the Throne, and the responding addresses from Parliament, should put us in possession of what might be the inten tions of the Government as to the great question of Universal Suffrage, which, as it alone can meet the jus tice of our demands, so it alone will satisfy the expectations of the people. " In vain, however, have we looked for any indication in the opening speech to give us hopes that the Mi nistry or the Legislature have at length began to ap preciate the true situation of the country and the wants of the people. " While the mind of the Sovereign has been axiously directed to arrange the terms on which the separation of Belgium from Holland, began by physical force, may be completed and established by negotiation—while a like concern has been manifested in the affairs of other coun tries—only a few lines are given to the internal affairs of our own. These few lines, however, are enough. They declare war against the Dissenters ; they intimate a deter mination to support the unchristian connexion between Church and State ; but, above all, they intimate an inti tention of striking at your liberties—of establishing a rural police, an unconstitutional power, and subversive of Bii tish liberty, under the false pretence that you have dis obeyed and resisted the law. " Such is not the language which the Queen of Eng land should be mace to address to the people. Such is not the policy that should be pursued by the Ministers of Great Britain. It calls upon the people to prepare for that Constitutional resistance, which is the last argument of freemen. " Your demand is for Universal Suffrage, it is your right by the mere fact of existence, a right of which no human power can justly deprive you, a right upon which all con stitutional power is based, a right of which you have been foully cheated, and which you must regain at any risk, peaceably if' you may, forcibly if yon must. " If the display of physical force which accompanied the Queen to the opening of Parliament be the emblem of moral power, it is a power which we do not approve of; but if forced to the contemplation of it by the foolish ex travagance of our rulers, if forced to a resort to it in self defence, even to that last tribunal we are prepared to ap peal rather than to continue in bondage, and rather to lay our heads upon the block as freemen, than rest them on the pillow as slaves. " Appealing solely to the laws and Constitution of our country we are prepared before any tribunal, and against any opponent, to argue the justice of our cause, to prove our fitness for the exercise of the rightS we demand, and to work out our redemption from political bondage and social suffering by peaceful means alone. We know that there exists in the country sufficient moral power to secure to us all that we require ; and if not interfered with in the legiti mate exercise of it, to that means alone we intend to trust ; such interference, however, depends not upon us; and if the infatuation of those in power prompt them to have re course to it, so sure as in the exercise of it, they dare to trench upon the liberties of Britons, so surely shall they be met with that stern resolve which prompts men either to conquer or to die. " What the dangerous and illegal practices, referred to in the Speech from the Throne, maybe, we pretend not to know; but well we are assured that nothing can be more illegal than for any Government to trample on the rights of a once free people, and well are we assured too, that nothing can be more dangerous than to outrage wantonly their feelings, after having deprived them of their liberties. Not having succeeded in drawing off your attention from the question of Universal Suffrage, by a pretended anxiety for a repeal of the Corn-laws, that question will no more be heard of ; but similar attempts will be made from time p a i s lnaohtty l a htor n e eew e mes n enhpv taeat attempts r o: e ft a tooo d cf y ha sinnl. lead ada o tr t mce i fiyhne your nhrmibsmfeyanicatnt facto ries. odts_fl t t th o T en t d i A m e rc e i , an and relatingo Secretaryn e o toof of them thset aet em h , everyries. o l t t h e w r i l s l u c h h e i o n u s r i d i o u u t y s , from the contemplation of the only subject which is worthy of your consideration. What are to be the measures necessary to secure your happiness will pro perly occupy your attention when you are fully and fairly represented ? to secure that representatation must be your first object, and that it may be secured with the least possible amount of suffering to any party, and by such means as to carry with it the respect of every class for the people who so obtain it, we urge you to be calm, indus trious, temperate, but still determined, and to press on with untiring spirit towards the mark of the high calling of free men, which is in Universal Suffrage. I " n politics, as in war, the post of honour is the post of danger. That post you have confided to our charge. To us you have entrusted the recovery of all the rights you have lost, the defence of all that remain; and by our zeal, our perseverance, our courage, and our prudence, we are resolved to show that 'we are fully alive to the :nsgnitude of the interests committed to us, and determined to assert, as we are prepared to defend, the rights of the people. Bet, as in the continuance of your confidence in us lies cur whole power to serve you, we have a right to expect that it be manifested on every occasion, and by every means ; and as you require from us individual attention to the most ar duous duties, so from you we demand prudence of conduct, firmness of language, determination of purpose, and energy cf action." After it bad been read, The CRAIRMAN hoped that the gentlemen of the press would not take any notice of it, as it was yet a document which had not received the sanction of the Convention.-- ( Hear. ) Dr. TAYLOR said that that recommendation would be inoperative, as the gentlemen of the press, he was sure, had taken a note of the document while he was reading. MR. FROST AND LORD JOHN RUSSELL. Mr. VINCENT moved the resolution of which he had given notice yesterday, " That Mr. Frost be requested to lay before the convention the correspondence which had passed between himself and the Secretary of State." Mr. HETHERINGTON seconded the resolution. After it passed, Mr. Frost said he had no objection to produce it, he therefore laid it on the table ; upon which the Secretary was ordered to read it. Accordingly it was read, and those parts of " Mr. Frost's Letter to Lord John R usse ll" which were most remarkable were vehe mently cheered, and on its conclusion there war a distinct round of applause when this had ceased, Dr. TAYLOR gave notice of a mo tion for Monda y , for a vote of thanks to Mr. Frost for the manly and spirited rebuke he had administered to the Ministers. Upon this notice being entered on the book the thanks of the Meeting were given to the Chairman and the meet ing dissolved. The f o ll ow i ng i s a co py of the correspondence referred to by Mr. Praed in the House o f Commons, on T uesday night, a s having ' taken place between Lord John Russell and Mr. Frost, a m agistrate of the bo r o u gh of Newport, Monmouthshi re , and a delegate for that count y to the above named body ~ Whitehall, Jan. 16, 1839 , " Sir—l am di rec t e d by Lord John Russell to request you will i n f orm hi s L or dship whether it is true tit you are a del egate to a b o dy calling itself the National Con. venti9n, and whether, on the Ist instant, you attended a meeting at Pontypool, at which violent and inflammatory language has been used. Lord John Russell wishes to kt:')w thy correctness of these reports, which, if true, will render it incumbent on his Lordship to recommend to the Lord Chancellor the erasure of your name from the Com misiion of the Peace for the county of Monmouth. " I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, 4' Frost, Esq , Newport. " F. MAUL E." " Newport, Monmouthshire, Jan. 19, 1839. "My Lord,—ln your Lordship's letter of the 16th, there 13 a mistake. I am not a Magistrate for the county of Monmouth, but for the borough of Newport, in the county of Monmouth. " In the spring of 1836, the Council of the borough re commended me as a proper person to be a Justice of the Peace. I was appointed, and I believe that the inhabitants will hear honourable testimony as to the manner in which I have performed the duties of the office. Whether your Lordship will retain my name, or cause it to be erased, is to me a matter of perfect indifference ; for I set no value on an office dependent for its continuance, not accord;ng to the mode in which its duties are performed, but on the will of a Secretary of State. " For what does your Lordship think it incumbent to t my name erased from the Commission of the Pere ? For attending a meeting at Pontypool on the 1 t of January ? If the public papers can be credited, your Lordship declared that such meetings were not only :egal, but commendable. But ' violent and inflam matory language was used at that meeting.' By whom ? Not by me. I deny that violent and inflam matory language was used, and I call on your Lordship ea prose the truth of the charge. I will go fie-tiler, and say Out at no meeting at which I was present was violent and inflammatory language used. There was a time when the Whig Ministry were not so fastidious as to violent and inflammatory language uttered at public meetings. " By what authority does your Lordship assume a power over conduct of mine unconnected with my office ? liy what authority does your Lordship assign any action of mine as a private individual, as a justification for erasing my name from the Commission of the Peace ? Am I to hold no opinion of my own in respect to public matters? Am I to be prohibited from expressing that opinion, if it be uepleasing to Lord John Russell? If, in expressiug that opinion, I. act in a strict conformity to the law, can it be an offence? If I transgress, is not the law sufficiently stringent to punish me ? It appears, from the letter of your Lordship, that I, if present at a public meeting, should be answerable for language tittered by others ! If these are to be the terms on which her Majesty's Commission of the Peace is to be holden, take it back again, for surely none but the most servile of men would hold it on such :erms, 13 it an offence to be appointed a delegate to convey to the constituted authorities the petitions of the people ? Why, my Lord, have we not had for many years dele gates sitting in London during the sessions of Parliament, to supttrintend the presentation of petitions to enact, alter, or repeal laws ? Can it be a crime for a person to be ap pointed at a public meeting to get laid before the House of Commons a petition praying that the Legislature will re store the ancient Constitution of the country ? I know of no body calling itself a Convention. Your Lordship is aware that a Convention existed at one - time in this country. Your Lordship is aware what that Convention did, and that its acts are called glorious ! `• I was appointed a Justice of the Peace to administer the laws within the borough of Newport. Was the appointment made that the inhabitants might benefit by the proper ex ercise of that authority entrusted to me ? Or, was it made to be recalled at the will of your Lordship although the inha i)itants might be Tifectly satisfied with the performance of she duty? Your Lordship receives a very large sum of money for holding the office of Secretary of State, paid in part out of the taxes raised on the inhabitants of the borough. Does your Lordship owe them no duty ? For ',hat is your Lordship invested with authority? To be ..xereised merely at the caprice of your Lordship, regard less of the effects that may . follow ? I have se, ved the in habitants for three years zealously and gratuitously, and the opinions which I have formed as to the exercise of public authority teach me that they, and not your Lord ,hip, ought to d•-•eide whether I ought to be struck off the Commission of the Peace. " Filling an humble situation in life, I would yield nei ther to your Lordship nor to any of your order, in a desire to see my country powerful and prosperous. Twenty years' reading and experience, have convinced me that the only method to produce and secure that state of things, is a restoration of the ancient Constitution. Deeply impressed with this conviction, I have laboured to obtain the end, by means recognised by the laws of my country—petition ; and fOr this your Lordship thinks I ought to be stricken off the Commission of the Peace 1 Violent and inflammatory language, indeed lam convinced that in my neighbour hood my attending public meetings has tended to restrain violent language. Does your Lordship wish that peace should be preserved? I have always been a preserver of the peace, and of this your Lordship may be convinced by t.pplying to the Duke of Beaufort and Lord Grenville Somerset. " Probably your Lordship is unaccustpmed to language of this description ; that, my Lord, is a misfortune. Much of the evil 3 of life proceeds from the want of sincerity in those who hold converse with men in authority. Simple ni:n like those best who prophecy smooth things. " I remain, your Lordship's obedient servant, "JOHN FROST. " To Lord John Russell, &c. &c." " Whitehall, Jan. 24, 1339. Sir,—l am directed by Lord John Russell to acknow !edge the receipt of your letter of the 19th instant, in reply to my letter of the 16th instant. • You appear entirely to have mistaken the import of Lord John Russell's communication, when you attribute it to an objection to your individual opinions. With them, whatever they may be, he has no desire to interfere ; but he does consider it to be his duty, as responsible for the peace of the country, to see that no man carries his opinions info practice to the danger of that peace, and with the risk of spreading alarm through the community. "If felt it his duty to act so towards an individual uninvested with any official responsibility, how much more is he called upon to notice such conduct in a Magistrate ? And it was under this impression that my letter was, by his direction, addressed to you. " By your answer, you disclaim all intention to excite the people by inflammatory language to violent and dan gerous courses. You should have done more, in Lord John Russell's opinion ; it was your duty to have discou raged to the utmost of your power its use by others. But he trusts that, by your example, you will act up to your assertions ; fur he holds that not less benefit is conferred upon the people by a wholesome example on the part of the Magistrates tban by their strict and impartial dispen sation of justice ; for if they, whose duty it is to admi nister the law, are amongst the first to trench upon its limits, they cease to enjoy the confidence of the people, and afford encouragement to the evil-disposed portion of the community. " With such opinions, Lord John Russell considered himself bound to call upon you for an explanation of your attendance on the various meetings to which he alluded, and likewise as to the fact of your being a delegate to a body calling itself a National Convention, of which he is glad to hear the existence denied, except as a Committee to watch over the fate of certain petitions intended to be presented to the Legislature. " In these circumstances no immediate steps will be taken with respect to your position as a Magistrate, and Lord John Russell trusts that you will abstain from coun tenancing any violation of the law, and assisting at meet ings where others assemble for such disorderly purposes. " I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, . , " " F. MAULE. " John Frost, Esq., Newport, Monmouthshire." LAW INTELLIGENCE. QUEEN' S BEI% CH, Feb. 16 THE QUEEN V. THE LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY COMPANY The Attorney-General, Sir F. Pollock, and Mr. Hoggins, ap peared for the prosecutor ; Sir W. Follett, Mr. Alexander, and Mr. Channell, were for the defendants. The ArroaxEy-GENCItiL said this was a complaint ofthe inhabi tants of Pinner against the London and Birmingham Railway Company, for not having complied with the terms of their Act of Parliament. Previous to the passing of the Railway Act, there was a road through the hamlet of Pinner which led between Uxbridge and Stanmore, which had been set out under an Inclosure Act, and was forty feet in width, there being an excellent footpath on each side of it. It was one of the best frequented cross-roads in the kingdom, along which great quantities of cattle and sheep were in the habit of travelling. It was also very much frequented by the inhabitants of that part of the country. The Railway Company, by their Act, obtained power to carry their railway across the road; bat the 67th section provided, that where a road was taken, another good and sufficient road should be set out, as convenient for passengers and carriages as the road to be cut through. Having to cross this road, it was necessary that a viaduct or bridge should be constructed. The road should have been 40 feet wide, but, for one-third of a mile, it was only 97 feet wide; and for the space of 156 feet it was contracted to 16 feet 9 inches, and on the east side it rose very rapidly—in fact, it rose: so abruptly, that passengers, coming up on one side, were unable to ascertain what they were to encounter on the other ; and droves of sheep, which could pass this distance along the old road in ten minutes, were now frequently an hour in passing, to the great obstruction and inconvenience of the public. To 'save the expense of an em bankment, the Company had carried the parapets of the bridge to an unnecessary length. In consequence of this an application was made to the Court for a mandamus to compel the .company to comply with the provisions of the Act. To that writ they made a return ststing that they had so complied, and that the road was as convenient for passengers and carriages as the old road This the complainants denied, and that was the question which the Jury had to decide Witnesses were then called to support the statement of the Learned Counsel, and the case was expected to occupy the greater part of the day. During the examination of one of the witnesses, who was called to prove the width of the old road, he was asked by Mr. Hoggins the number of sheep which were in the habit of passing along it. Lord DENMAN—To talk of the number of sheep which pass along a road, and where they come from, and where they go, is certainly a trifling, which we ought not to have. It is impossible that the business of the Court can go on if there is to be no accommodation, but every thing is to be contested at arms' length. We may go on for four or five days if that is to be the course pursued. Sir F. Pouocic—lf that is meant as an appeal to me, that I am to reply, I can only say that there are here three issues, and it is ne cessary that we should show the state in which the road is and was. Lord:DENMAN—Sir W. Follett is:willing that some person shall say what is right to be done with regard to the width of the road, and no one for whom you appear can be placed in a better situation than that. I therefore, strongly recommend that the offer be immediately accepted and acted upon. Sir F. POLLOCK again referred to the issues on which he said it was necessary to have the opinion of the jury. Lord DENMAN—I wish you would attend to what I say, and not refer to everything else. Sir F. POLLOCK—I have attended to what has fallen from your Lordship with every possible respect, and I do not know that there was anything which required your Lordship to address me in that manner Lord DENMAN—I don't know that it is very proper in you to observe upon my manner. Will you be so kind as to answer, if you think proper to attend to the suggestion which I have thrown out. Sir F. Po►.r.ocx—Nothing could be thrown out by your Lordship to which I should not attend with the utmost respect; tut your Lordship has addressed me in terms to which I have not been ac customed. Lord DeNsra N—l am not accustomed to be answered in that man. ner. I threw out a useful suggestion, and am answered by obscr, vations upon every other point of the case. Sir F. POLLOCK-1 wish with the utmost respect to state that my instructions (coin my clients are Dot to refer the issues in question. The Full ct !.as been one of deqi cun."deration to me and my Lean:ea Friends, and I regret that the Attorney. General is not now here. It was arranged, in purtuance of those instructions, that we should I take the verdict of the Jut y. Lord DENNIAN—T:Ien you don't act upon my suggestion.? Sir I% POLLOCK-1 would m, t rfuly, but my clients, who hear your Lordship, do not consent. Lord DENMAN—I am sorry we have wasted so much time. Mr, Hoooms th'en rep attd the question, What quantities of sheep are in the habit of passing along the road ? Lord DENMAN—I will not hear that question—it is absolutely riling with the . t:na - t of the Caurt—it is too bad. The evidence for the proAcutio 1 having be. n gme thrcu;h, Sir W. FoLLarr addressed the jury for the defendants. He said the object of the Company had been to make the diversion of this road as convenient to the public as they could, and they had ex pended many thousand pounds for that purpose—they had erected this bridge when they had the power of crossing the road at a level. The Company had the absolute power under the Act to divert or alter any highway, and the Cad section of the Act rraved that where any brhige should be erected for carrying a public highway over a railway, the road over such bridge should be continued of such width as to limit a clear and open space between the fences of such road of not less than fifteen fect. The Company were justified in doing this, and the conve nience of the highway, therefore, did not turn on the construction of this bridge. This was, therefore, a question of law. Lord DENMAN said that law was made a parcel of this issue, but they wished to make out that the road was narrower in other parts. If there were no inconvenience but the narrowness of the bridge, it would be a pure question of law. Sir W. FOLLETT then contended that no inconvenience whatever had been occasioned by the diversion of the road, because it was at present of ample width for every purpose, and there was no proof whatever that any obstruction had ever been caused. The Learned Gentleman then proceeded to call witnesses for the defence, for the purpose of proving that the defendants had made such a road as was directed by the Act, and that the new road was, in all respects, as good as the old one. Lord DENMA:V Witty summed up, when the Jury returned a ver dict for the Crown in all the three cases. of this meeting that there is little probability of the re peal of the food laws until the people are more equally represented in the Commons House of Parliament ; that this meeting, therefore, deems it useless on that sub ject to petition that House as at present constituted." Now, if their simple request, only to be heard at the bar of the House, be refused, does it not prove every word set forth in this resolution to be true. He was one of those who believe that a resort to areas, under any cir cumstances, is forbidden by Christianity, and he deeply regretted to observe that some who advocate an ex tension of the political rights of the people have shown a disposition to resort to such means ; but he would tell those who treat with contempt or indifference our ap peals for compassion to our suffering countrymen, that the responsibility of the consequences rests, in the sight of God and man, not with those wbo demand, but solely with those who refuse justice.—(Hear, hear.) He ' thought we were more in danger of a fearful convulsion than many even of those who support our views believe, unless it be averted by Providential circumstances. He vjoiced they were united in the determination to make no compromise with this odious system ; and should they fail in their efforts, and their worst anticipations be realised, they would have the consolation of reflecting that the crimes end calamities, which would result to their emintry, were evils we could not have prevented. DESIGNATION OF THE CONVENTION. Mr. COBBETT moved the following resolutions:— " That the Convention calls itself the General Convention of Delegates from the Industrious Classes. " That this Convention will not adopt, but will oppose and pro test against everything, whether in act or in word, which may arise among the members of its own body, and which may in any way be in contempt of the law. " That the whole practical business of this Convention is to superintend the presentation of the people's petition, and by per. sonal communication with the Members of the House of Commons, to obtain in this House as much support as possible to the prayer of the petition. _ . '• That it is no part of the business of the Delegates to this Convention, in their collective capacity, and as now appointed, to offer, under any circumatancees whatever, any dictation or advice for the guidance of their constituencies, or of any part of the people. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. QUEEN SQ UARE. George Duni:, the conductor, and Wm. Johnson, the driver of ono of CI ild's Chelsea omnibuses, No. 2,758, appeared to answer a charge of assault upon Mr. J. Staples, a cupper at St. George's Hos. ;Aral. On Wednesday the complainant got into the Chelsea omni. Lus, at the corner of Agar-street, Strand, a •r,eing to give 6d. to St. George's Hospital. On stopping at the top of Grosvenor place, the conductor demanded Is., which was refused to be given, when the conductor objected to let the complainant out, and pushed him back, and compelled bins to go three miles out of his way. The men then drove Mr. Staples to their master's yard, when the con ductor swore if he did not give the Is , which was demanded of him, he should not get out then. After the driver had come down from the box and used abusive language towards him, the complainant demanded to see Mr. Child, when Durix struck him a tremendous blow on the side and felled him to the ground. On rising the fellow was again about to strike him, when the driver seized him by the throat and prevented it. The conductor followed the complainant to the gate, abusing him, but on seeing a policeman he ran away. The defendants called a man named Wood, a compositor, but his evidence told against them. The Magistrates, after consulting to. •gether, said that the present was a monstrous outrage, and a stop must, for the public safety, be put to the conduct of ruffians like the defendant; the sentence on Durix was, that he be committe,: to the House of Correction for two months, and kept to hard labour ; and, as the other defendant had shown something like manliness, he should be discharged. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. (LLOYD'S.) CUSTOM.HOUSE, FEB. 16. VE3SELS ENTERED INWARDS.—The Zone, Renaud. from Bor. deaux ; Slater Rebow, Sadler, St. Michael's ; Sophie, Lemaire, Calais; Donegal, Elsen.Mesina ; Sophi Elise, Staken, Rostock; Carl Johann, Petersen, Largenund ; Plymouth, Snell, Marens ; Malcolm, Wells, Seville; Giraffe, Strannaek, Rotterdam; Spectator, Moore, Gurnsey ; Jane, Mitchell, Kertch ; Tagus, Smith, Charente; George, Curd, Abbeville; Hype, Jellard, Rotterdam. ENTERED OUTWARDS.—The John Wood, Murray, for Guernsey; City of Boulogne , Tune, Boulogne; Countess of Lansdale, Strati nack, Hamburgh ; Vanguard, Sabeston, Jamaica; William Joliffe, Pashli,y, Calais ; Emma, Whyte, Jamaica ; Sumatra, Harvey, St. J:igo de Cuba ; Campbells, Lobson, Tobago; Malcolm, Bell, Calcutta ; Guess, Perce, Singapore; Claremont, Bagley, Demerara; Europe, Brodie, Mauritius; Montreal, Grilling, New York. CLEARED OUT CARoo.—John Wood, Murray, for Havre ; Bruges, Woodruff, Antwerp; City of Boulogne, Tune, Boulogne; liam Jollifll , , Pashley, Calais ; Tom and Jessie, Henderson, Leg horn; Margaretta, Preston, Cadiz; Garone, Rumba!, New York ; Pink, Merrels, Dunkirk ; Earl Balcarras, Valli, Bombay ; Trini dad, Brown, Barbadoes ; Prince of Saxe Coburg, Ladd, Rotterdam ; Union, Rommens, Ostend ; Royal Sovereign, Hopton, St. Helena. BALLAST.—Neptunus, Voss, for Rostock; Musica, Mackie, Cape de Verd Islands ; Hawk; Norris, St. Michael's. LLANELLY, FEB. 14. The Henry, Lea, of Cork, which was stranded on the 29th ult. on Cornet Mawr Sand, was got off this evening, and brought into the harbour. PWIIELLI, FEB. 13 .—The Ann, Lewis, from the River Dee, to Bristol, which sunk at Port Dynlaen, Bth ult. hasbeen raised and proceeded. ARERAVON, FEB. 14. The Trial. Sterling, from Rouen to Swansea, on shore on Margate Sands, fell over this morning, and it is expected will go to pieces. WORKINGION, FEB. 14.—Last night and this morning it blew a gale from W.S. W. to W. by N. STRANREAR, 15th FEB.— The Glasgow from Lirerpool to: Sligo, put in here yesterday With sails split and rather leaky, and has been put on the bank. CROOKIIAVEN, FEB. 12.—There is a great quantity of timber and deal floating about the coast. The Two Brothers, 011ey, sailed from Yarmouth on the 29th of Dec. for Alloa, and has not since been heard of. VESSELS SPOKEN WITH.—The Hindus convict ship, from Dublin and Abberton, 10th November. lat. 3, N., tan. 2 W., by the Moira, arrived at the Cape of Good Hope. The Kitty barque, olf Cape Aqulhas, by the Addingham, arrived at the Cape. Rosendale, lat. 45, lon. 30, by the Andes, Taylor, arrived in the Downs. The Per sian, Stevens, from London, 19th December, lat. 9 S., ton. 32 W.; Ocean Bride, London to Malta, oth inst., lat. 49, lon. 6, W., by the Fair Barbadian, Ward, arrived in the River, The Pioneer, from Madagascar, going into the Cape, by the Bisson, Soreau, arrived at St. Helena. GRAVESEND, FEB. Is.—Arrived the Espoir, from Gravelines; Slater, Rebow, St. Michael's ; Malcolm, Brown, Seville ; Stag, Figucra ; Tagus, Charente; George, Abbeville; Sophie, Calais, Ply. mouth ; Marans, Balthazer, Copenhagen; Carl Johann, Norway; Jonge Hendrick, Harlingen; Venus, Rotterdam; Speculator, Guernsey. Sailed the Motson, for Tobago ; Iberia, Lisbon ; Cas. sard, Havre; Steadfast, Amsterdam. CORN-LAWS. The Portsmouth Free Press subjoins extracts of letters received last week from the two Borough representatives, relative to the reso. lutions so unanimously agreed to at the Portsmouth Anti-Corti-law meeting, and the petition grounded thereon. We regret that they have avowed themselves only partial repealers : " I have hitherto supported these laws, under the impression that some degree of protection to the agricultural interests is essential to thd welfare of all classes in this country; and because no plan which, in my opinion, was more eligible had yet been submitted to the con sideration of Parliament. " Upon a careful revision, however, of the operation of these laws since they have been in force, as well upon the agricultural as the manufacturing interests, I cannot but look upon the scheme as de. cidedly a failure ; and I shall therefore be rejoiced to see a propo sition introduced into Parliament this Session for their entire re peal, provided it is accompanied by the substitution of a moderately protective duty, rated upon better principles. Whenever such a pro position is made, it will have my cordial support. " G. T. STAUNTON." " That with respect to the petition, I have always felt it my duty to take charge of any petition which my constituents may honor me by placing it in my hands, whether in conformity with my own opinions or not. That so long ago as 1832, at a public meet_ inn at Portsmouth, I expressed myself favourable to an alteration of the present Corn laws, and the imposition of a moderate fixed duty ; and the experience of the effect of the present Corn-laws since that time, has not given me any reason to alter my opinion then ex pressed ; but that I am not prepared to pledge myself ro a total re peal of the Corn-laws, if by that is intended the introduction of foreign corn entirely free from duty. " F. T. BARING." UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. CAMBRIDGE, Fen. 16—At a congregation on Wednesday last, the following degrees were conferred : BACHELORS OF ARTS.—Edward 011ivant, Trinity College; Hans Busk, Trinity College; Charles John Bayley, Trinity College; Bruce Skinner, Trinity College; George Aug. Addison, Trinity College ; Thomas Evans, St: John's College; John Peers Parry, St. John's College; Henry Smith Anders, Caius College; William Henry Glover, Corpus Christi College ; John Gibson, Catherine Hall; Alexander John Rogers, Jesus College; Leigh Spencer, Christ's College; Osman Park Vincent, Magdalene College; Chas. Badham, Emmanuel Collage; William Keown, Emmanuel College; William George Tucker, Emmanuel College. On Monday last Joseph Clark, 8.A., of Christ's College, in this University, was elected a Fellow of that Society, on the Finch and Baines Foundation. The Rev. Jenkin Hughes has been presented to the vicarage of Alconbury, Hunts. _ _ . The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. Arthur Moore, M.A., to the rectory of Walpole St. Peter, Norfolk, and diocese of Norwich, void by the death of the Rev. William Chester. The ltev. Richard Ward, of Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, has been instituted by the Lord Bishop of Ely. to the valuable living of Bran. don-curn-Wangford, Suffolk, on the presentation of George St Vin cent Wilson, Esq.. of Redgrave Hall. On Wednesday week the Rev. Edm. Teller Yates, M.A., was in stituted to the vicarage of Ayl.ham , Norfolk, on the presentation of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury. On the same day the Rev. Samuel Titlow, M.A., was instituted to the Rectory of St. Peter's Hungate, Norwich, on the presentation of the Queen. The Rev. Dr. Buckland has announced to the governors his in. tention of resigning the head.mastership of Uppingham school at Midsummer next. At an ordination held in the cathedral of Worcester on Friday week, the following gentlemen of this University were ordained, Deacons :—G. E. L. Cotton, 8.A., Fellow of Trinity college ; F. S Green, 8.A., Cahn College; G. M. Barrow, 8.A., Trinity college. We observe that the Times, Standard, and other London papers have been hoaxed this week by a pretended account of certain de_ grees of B.A. said to have been conferred Feb. 10, ( Sunday). T he counterfeit list contained 46 names ; and what object the writer could have had in imposing it upon the public we cannot possibly divine. KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON.—The Rev. John Lonsdale, B D., has been appointed Principal of the College, in the room of the late Rev. Hugh James Rose. A subscription has been entered into, on the part of the principal, professors, masters, and students, for the purpose of erecting a testimonial in the College Chapel, commemo_ rative of their sincere regard for the late head of the institution, of their deep respect for his ardent piety and varied attainments, and of their grateful sense of his unceasing solicitude to promote the in terests of the establishment. Mr. T. Steele, as a Brussels correspondent of the Temps informs us, has arrived there with an offer in the name of Mr. O'Connell, to put a complete Irish regiment al the service of the Belgian Government; a proposition upon which some negocia. lions are going on with the Catholic members of the Resistance party in that capital. Mr. Steele is a well-known adherent of Mr. SUBMARINg VOLCANO.-011 the 27th of September, the ship Claudine, from 1-lavre, being on the open sea, in 31 deg. 41 min. north latitude, and 4 4 deg. 30 min. west longi tude, her crew felt a revere shock of earthquake, which lasted three quarters of an hour, by which the ship was violently agitated : two others less strong, then succeeded, interrupted by smaller shocks at intervals of from five to six seconds, frequently repeated. The noise accompanying each resembled that of thunder. The weather was fine and clear, and the sea tranquil, which did not app: ar to re ceive any peculiar impression. On the 9th ol the following October three small shocks were again felt at two in the afternoon, in 27 deg. 37 min. north latitude, and 31 deg. 7 min. west longitude, FATAL ACCIDENT. - On Saturday, between seven and eight o'clock, a poor man, named James Jones ' was crossing Boston-fields, Regent's - p ark, wher e there are gravel-pits in which the scavengers deposit the slush from the streets, when the un f o rtunate man, supposing it to be firm ground , ,re att a e s m sis p t i a e n d c t e o c w ou al ld k over, and sunk instantly over his head. B possibly be rendered him, he was suffocated, lapse of time, got out and removed to th e B. " body y rms was, afterhlic. huese. Sorg assistancoiuL - • allj cilaeay..u,s ic re store auimetion were useless. THE COAL TRADE The overthrow of t ,, e northern combination is of F era' I mount importance ; all , the evils existing i n the o• Elie r branches of the trade, spring therefrom, The combi ex tion i. the source from whence all the mischief flows ; it competition is destroyed, - and without competition it '.of vain to look for any material and continue d reduction of prices. The public, being thoroughly informed of tb e-e facts, must never for a moment forget that it is upon thc O s:lves they must rely for rescue from the oppression of which they so loudly complain. Separate indtvidual ea` er tions, however strenuous and well-applied, will not jag in the cruse, without general and cordial co .opc- ration ; but combined operations, under skilf,ll, directions, will insure a glorious victory. The coalown,irs areal ready looking for the 9th of November, with the• hope that future Chief Magistrates of the city of London will at p follow in the steps of the present L ord Mayor. A.nd this is a very natural expectation — not becau se the inteirnst aot, nd importance of the s ubject will cease with the present r or because the public: can ever close their eyes agetin up a° the main fact which has been clearly ascertained, that, without the overthro of the combination, no pe,rxnanaat v advantage can be secured ;" but because the true source of all the evils of the tratie was never before so generallf comprehended; and if this' knowledge do not now lead to the adoption of effective measures for the immediate defeat and final overthrow of the monopoly, it will be a :n atural, inference that at no future p `ri nd is the p ublic energy I likely to be aroused so as to atts'in these objects, and con' I sequently that no future Lord MAyor would enter upon to truly arduous an undertaking. Many of the great coal owners . - tre now in London, Bad may readily ascertain (if they h a ve .any doubts) with Wha t intense interest the coal trade has be. 'n canvassed and iti vestigated by all classes of society, fron t the man sion oft :: wealthy to the wretched tenement of the ,•noor; and they tor find that at no preceding period was it so well Much as as these Right Hon and Hon. Lords and Gentle rosy affect indifference to the free inquiri . ..`s which h ave lately taken place, they must arrive at the sam conclusil as we have done—lst, That however frequently% he supPlY! coal. occupied attention upon former occasions, ;ts comply cated arrangements were but little understood ; anct;• 2d, tilt never before has the stream of public opinion set so de vide"' into one channel. The waters have risen against the' vet dam of monopoly; they have swelled against it, until at lel 3 t 0 the period has arrived when even the enoineers who ro_ taro it must tremblingly perceive that th e :, slightest atldt: tional pressure must overthrow the artificial boundary, a' IT with their combination, the waters, in returning to tb elt natural channel, will wash away the other i m pedimeta ts which have so long obstructed the free trade and ° Pr competition. Never was a period so auspicious for thiii consu mmation of our wishes, and, if it be not now scc o plisited, the coalowners will, indeed, have good yurid to hope that, although sentence has been dec reed, and flit' death warrant drawn up, it will never receive the sign ature, of the public. For our parts, we have a inm reliance duo, the year 1839 will be recorded in the futur e nistory Lorrdon as memorable for the extinction of a tax upon b et inhabitants amounting to little short of a million sterlinff per annum, which fell with peculiar severity upon the Is' bouring and industrious classes of the community. The owners of collieries not in the combination ate actively engaged. A very superior description of coal Pt; we understand, been supplied to the Mansion House, II way of Liverpool, from the extensive collieries of Messra:i Hilton, of Ince Hall, near Wigan, who have expre° l their determination to compete with their norther n neig t boors. A gentleman from that-firm waited upon his Lor 0 ship, and informed him that they were now raising 59,, tons per day,.but when their arrangements were comPicr i they would raise 1,000, and be able to deliver thew J 1 London at 225. per -ton. r lo t We shall be able shortly to state the extent of the gi t competition which will soon present itself .from diffeel arts of the island to the monopoly.— Observer. THE MARKETS WARM. 2ELD CORN MARKET -Feb 15. oh W.aeat, Red, Nor : olk and Sunblk -a. 68s. to 74L fine _ - Lin. and r,ain. Yorkshire.... - 8. 64 5. to 685. fine. 1. ----- White - -s. 70s. to 741• '_,.. tine .''' --- Foreign, rted ...... .... ' s. Whitt --s. -s. to --s. 1 1, 10, Barley, Norfolk and 5uff01k......• 42s. to 455. fine ,3,. --- Lincolnshire ..- sBs. to 40s. fine '. ._. AD, - Yorkshire Wold 3BB. to 40s. ....• -- Foreign Beans, Small '" ----lick . o.tts, Potato -- Poland _3,2-72(6;s:::::::4241. fine 17 :: : • 11' to "05s fine r' - Vrierland and Sine. -, • ' -' Ston. - 1...: , aling 11 ,- ,lling • 365. to 38k' °d• Per Lose. 11 , .'t -r,. 418 fineP e ", Lot. Rapeseed 1 • Os Vt. Os. 22/. 0..• P e " NEWCASTLE CORN EXCHAGE.-Feb. lfe. , New. 0 0 ' Wheat, Northinnlserland s6s. 75i. ...... 72 1 . 76'• ' ., i - Norfolk and Suffolk 6ss 745. 72s. 7P-'• 1 - Berwick and Scotch 66s. 73s -$. "'' - Foreign ' , Tye, Norfolk and Suffolk - Foreign -s. -s --s• Barley, Malting, ':‘ orfolk and Suffolk... 455. 48s - 8. ""t t 1 -- Grinding and Feeding 3ss. 3,4. -s• - Malt, Norfolk and &Wink ........... ...-.. 61s ti9s -- ---- 4 Beans, Small .. - - Tick .. -s . . -s. -' 43,44 6: '176 ' 16 I' l 50.3. 52s . -4 - ---4 ",_ 1 ' Pease, White -- Gray 42; 455 --s• ---- i Oats, Northumberland, Potatoe 27s. 28a....... 295. 0 , 915. ..---- Feed 248 2.5 s ....... i'6 , - `"" •i, i -s. -5....... - 8 . ''' -- Foreign Flour (per sack) - -^'' [ARKETS SCOTCH MARKETS. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Beans. 0 3t ' d. > thcrdeen 75 to 8C 30 to 36 22 to 28 —to l° Berwick 43 i 4 26 31 20 24 30 4 0 / Ceidstream t 2 55 24 26 17 18 27 28 Cupar ,Fife) 46 65 26 31 18 22 '2l 26 Dundee . 48 1/5 30 33 20 25 30 31 Elgin Inverness - Kelso , . 46 54 2! 27 16 ::13 32, 34 e Kirkaltly 64 'l7 23 31 20 23 45 48 4 ' ) Perth CO' L I . • • r,":?" The siz, of the measure varies throughout the o HADDINGfON CORN MARKET.—Feb. 1 5 • Do e?. Wheat. Barley. Oats. '1 lease. ,t 33 cal t first 76s 04 43s 0,1 36s 04 456 (.l1 Second 66s Od I 40, 0.1 3.6 04 41: Od 1 425 I 'llin 4 Average '31.54 Ild. 1-12th. DALKEITH CORN MARKET.—Feb. 14 00 4.. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Pease. 41 , cfs First Od 41s Od 38s 84 476 Od 4 3. tO • econcl Third EDINBURGH CORN. MARKET.—Fcb. 1 3 .., the , tic' We had a large s upply of all kinds of Grain to -day , and welt rather dull. 5e3_1,64, Bea'; b. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Fma'e„,„' 460:, First 7Ss.od. 433 Cd. 375. Bd. 46::. llu• 45 0 ,cone) Thirst Average price of Wheat ............ ......3/.17f..50• 0 ' PRICEs 01 , PROVISIONS, AC. 10 I S ' roef, ;ter lb. —....... Os. 4d. to 05.7e1 i Freshßutter, .14).'..5... , ' - ' e l l lutC. , n-- -- 0 a 0 7 . ISalt Ditt0"..,—..... 0R) n. 2 r ll kits , l.... --, 0 7 I 0 Ditto, per cu t..,8 t 0 t) 0 ;;i0rk....---,—....... 0 5 0 6 Eggs, per doz.,. ° ',..) 10 A t..atol), per qr. —0 0 2 0 OatStraw(los'.).... S ',„' 10 '.., 1 . - rtllitu, curt............. 42 0 4t. 0 Wheat Ditto —. H 0 o a r 2m.rtern Loa' p I() 0 10i Barley Ditto .—.. 70, 1 r f'otAtoes, lilt,. 0 c 0 II Hay, pier 5t........ 1 ,„" 01 EDINrURGI-1 MEAL MARKET.—Feb. I.•ket,'! "[here was a middling supply of Oatmeal at this day's " ill, sales were bar heay. Pt, Sack rat of 2901 b, (nip I Per Stone of 1•I it, l . ott, fl 4 0 Flist Oatmeal S.cond ditto ~...... B trley meat . Peasem,,ll. - ... i l 1 11 I tt I I. l3 'e :t a r s ie e Y in iA v e rt a l I ; ........ ...•••:::: .. '4tILl - gv • ° eot Barley—No. 1, pet uwt.l2s.--`2.. 1 , 11&-21-1 .10 •-- )• , ,ii, t2d , GLASGOW CORN MARKET.- - Feb• 11 . ,„•' A moderate business doing in Grain ; priz'es steat l ... / 0 .; „ 4 0 Wheat, iter 2 , 101 t.. s. d. a. (1. Oats, per 20 b • i 0 0 ,5 I) Bri•ish, old 27 oto 400 lrish ....... ....... ...... ••.' f„.720 6 ----- new Canada, free 36 0 39 0 .. ~ Beans, pet Vl o) . t, 24 0 0 Irish 0' 5 1 / • -- ••• .46 Scottish ................ :1 ; 3 0 y , p,r 3221 b 33 - 0 39 0 Pease, Scottish .. ••• 2 00 ol N'ott•si , 2O 0 33 0 Oatmeal, per 11011 , ••• +rish (Calculated CORNWALL at 24 gallons M A t ßo o a ß t r h l K e e yi b E . : l o o ' le S_ l ilr. 1 . 1 7 .----": 0;i: ____scri...4 . fruro..„. ...... ------ - -5. "Wo Wheat. Barley. d n . Helstotic s d. to s (1. s. „ a 0 fey 0— 0 92 i o St. Austell — 0 25 6 0 9 6 - -- 8 6 Bodiain Li .card 0 22 0— 0 9 6 -' 6 0 " 0 0 Launceston Cameiford 2l 0 21 0 0 10 0 , o 0 Peurance.. ..... - e b 3l *l4 .11 e''' The People's Charter-men m onvic 0 w dn eods/ beel commenced arming in right plod earnest. Up to •• c b oe -0 in last, we understand, no less than sixty-eight pike° s o '';,,, sold amo..gst them. They are about eighteen inches tong: it t ',, they can be carried in the bosom, with a sort of knife-h.Teipatill'i% end of them for the purpose of cutting horses' reins, a l :: ' m op co , we suppose, that they will come in contact with the r a ~,i 0, s s club is established for the purchase of these, to which e c , 5 0 1 ' 4 , 0 ber subscribes Id. a week. The price is about Bd. or t e ' e to ' they pay for them by their suhscriptions a raffle taiscs P' who is to he first supplied.—Suffolk Chronicle. ...---i. -- i• 7nrase....reers -, "" ,-- 11 j 4.1 0 PATENT LEVER WA T t io ei With silver double-bottom cases ...... ..... ............. 6 l i d With silver hunting cases .......... •'-'. 00 ''ft'' This celebrated construction (the most a ccurate, jo rr ief , a watch can be made) is offered, with the lateo ‘cor be r . ments i. e. the detachd escement, jewelled in l_ t o re' f e carerd, hand to mark he seconds, hard enamel dial i gi ho A O taming pow*: to continue going while winding 11 P , a price, by T. COX SAVORY 1.011(1 009 Watchmaker, Silver and Goldsmith, 47,, Cornhill, (Seven doors from Gracechurch-stre et)• c hog e• N. B. —Sccond-hand Watches purchased in el !Mr el a •• .5...1 ,, ,0470-v.......mair .mo.,l.set.imamiiloo•M. , •. ,, TMCilimirl.......... O ld I? IP. 2'H S. Mrs • On the 15th inst , in Upper Grosvenor - str eet, 00 , Kingscote, of a daughter. al r nel On the 15th inst., at Denmark-hill, Mrs. W. I ( ' il2iao,theldestofOctober daughtere M ARRIE D . o 1 of a son. e Cr °°l' o e , Esq.,At Coalcutta, Georgianaon the Em et° Esq., of Coolbariah. •f , Of mint On the 12th inst, at Maidstone, Mr. Henry Bend', ieu tee street, Maidstone, to Maria, ounl.,est daughter of ' orr Thomas Agar, of the same plate. John rel• On the 14th inst., at Fit. George's, Bloomsbury, e , , Ore ham, Esq., to Miss Julia Ann Ogle, of Hunter-stre t of wick-square. it ,,,kerv ille ;ice , On the 14th inst., at Cheltenham, Henry --,-,-- eil 6er t' tb e )erlast, J a mes Ba r of Georg v Wooley, Wiltshire, and formerly of the Aladra s '-' l • lg te o' to Mary Anna, second daughter of J. Barton, E s q . ' Madras Medical Establishment.dS $t a fter—fo9' theSptinish Chapel,_ Manchester-square, On the 14th inst., at St. Pancras Church, and bog , L . t he of Xerez, in Spam, to Eugenia. Elizabeth , nrig ccon ty,i` We Captain Henry Jackson, 4 Grange, King's— 1'1045 I)IED. Mr Bs' On the 9th inst., at his house in Kimbolton, e, aged so ot Briggs, formerly of Charlotte-street, Portland Oa b ,b c ridge' stl.' On the 11th inst., at Trevor-square, Knig " , heeler , Howdell Wheeler, relict of the late Charles. It a ll_ ed 67 • jftb many years Superintendent of the London Doc; i i i,, inn ey, On the 12th inst., Miss Emily Georgia_n_. i ' esex . *O ,, daughter of Mr. Thomas Finney, of Hadley, 3,l'u '„,torto j" ' house, fano.... 're On the 13th inst., at her brothers li i t the Sophia Cole, aged 76. El i za beth, On the 14th inst., in Brompton-squar e : f of Major Verity. Iti o . , ;r, titer ht e r r .. :1,04 • f L P ondon rinsed and Published b MITRDO do"' Y !"" IR 8 39. the , :ounty tif IN41,;(11p-sx':—/P