The Sun. — London, England, 1832-06-20 00:00:00

cut cff the best incentives to industry. tie did not ob ject to a provision for those who were unable to work,— neither would he object to relief being afforded, under cer tain circumstances, to those who were able to work, but could not obtain employment, provided the relief should be afforded by way of employment and not money payment. The former mode would be a criterion of honest want, while the latter opened the door to fraud and idleness. Colonel CONOLLY was anxious to see a provision made for the poor and infirm, but the extension of the whole system of poor laws to Ireland would deteriorate the condition of those whom it was intended to benefit. Mr. RUT HVEN supported the motion. The Hon. ember took occasion to condemn the cruel selfishness o f t`le Irish landlords, and stated that one of these persons who had a rent-roll of 12,000/. a-year is the county of Mayo, had refused to give a farthing for the relief of the people on his estate during the famine which prevailed in Ireland a few years ago, and they were only saved from starvation by the subscriptions which were sent from England. Mr. J. SMITH said, that it was proved by evidence which was removed beyond the possibility of doubt, that in 1522 a great number of individuals perished by hunger, and that a much greater number from insufficient nourish ment were attacked by t),phas fever and other lingering disorders, of which, in the end, they died. The lion. Member who last addressed the House stated that a person of large property in the county of Mayo, having no feeling for the poor destitute peasantry in his neighbourhood, re fused to subscribe one farthing for their relief, but left them to perish, as they would have done, if assistance had not arrived from England. That fact he knew.—(Hear, hear.) He would not mention the name of the indivi dual,—it would not be fit to do so ; but he knew the fact. This was not a solitary case. He knew many others like it. He was not one of those who undervalued the Irish character. On the contrary, be very highly estimated it, from the experience he had had of the good qualities of the lower classes of the Irish. In the course of his life he had had in his employment many poor Irishmen, whom he had found in a state of dreadful destitution, and who remained with him for seven, twelve, and some eighteen months. These poor men bad but one fault,—to him in dividually it was a great one,—excess of gratitude. He heard strong language used in this House on the subject of slavery—stronger than he thought ought to be employed, —but the most highly-coloured picture of the wretched. ness of the slaves in the West Indies could not exceed the reality of the misery of the Irish peasantry. If that House shuuld suffer their Irish fellow-subjects to languish longer in their horrible state of destitution, they would participate in the crime of those of their own country who barbar- ously refused to afford them any relief. There had been a great deal of poverty in England, particularly of late years, but there were no instances of assassination—of shooting magistrates—of setting houses on fire for the purpose of burning the inhabitants, or any of the other dreadful atrocities which were constantly occurring in Ireland. The reason for this difference in the conduct of the people of the two countries was to be found in the system of poor-laws, which in this country rescued the poor from starvation; but in Ireland there was no such resource. From the turn which the discussion bad taken, it might be supposed that his Hon. Friend had submitted a proposition for introducing the system of poor-laws at present existing in this country, into Ireland. No man could oppose such a proposition more strenuously than be would, but the fact was, that his Hon. Friend only pro posed that the House should declare the expediency of pro •iding for the relief of the poor in Ireland by an imposi tion on the land in that country. He thought that it would not be very difficult to frame a plan for as sessing the land, in Ireland, for the relief, not of able-bodied peasantry, but of wretched, helpless indi viduals, children, aged, sick, and perishing mortals, of whom England occasionally heard such disastrous accounts. In 1822 an enormous sum was subscribed by the people of this country for the relief of the Irish poor, and he would take the liberty of asserting, in contradiction to some statements which bad reached hi, ear, and which were entirely destitute of truth, that the wholt of the money so subscribed was honestly and fairly distributed. Since that period another famine had taken place in Ireland, which though not so afflicting as the for ioer, was, nevertheless, the cause cf great sufferings. On that occasion be exerted himself in order to raise a sub scriptio.l ; but, with few exceptions, he found the hearts of the pecyle of England closed against the distresses of their Irish fel:ow-subjects, and the sum obtained was tri fling in amount compared with that to which he had be fore adverted. If the calamity of famine should a third time visit Ireland, it would be in vain to appeal to the people of England. Nothing would be obtained from them. Often was he told by those to whom he applied for subscriptions. "We have poor enough of our own." The Bank of England contributed liberally to the first subscription for Ireland, but refused to give any thing to the second. Other wealthy companies, who were liberal on all occasions, acted in the same manner. He repeated, therefore, that if Irish distress should again oc cur, it would not be again alleviated by English benevo lence. If Hon. Members knew one-fiftieth part of the scenes of horror which occurred in Ireland at the pe riods to which he bad alluded, they would, in spite of every consideration, fly at once to some measure of relief. Children perished by the road side, multitudes subsisted on the weeds which they picked up on the sea shore, and others sold the clothes off their backs to purchase a morsel of food. He did not wish to say anything disrespectful to Irish Gentlemen, but he must declare that he thought he observed amongst them less sympathy for the poor than was evinced by persons of the same rank in England.—(Hear, hear.) Perhaps this might arise from the Irish gentlemen not seeing much of their poor countrymen in consequence of nut living amongst them. --(Hear, bear.) If some regulations for the relief of the p c 1r should be enforced in Ireland, they might perhaps have :he effect of inducing the z entletnen of Ireland to re side at bony.. He also desired to see a system of relief for the Irish poor established, in order that they might not be driven to the necessity of coming over to this country to beg, for that he would maintain they did. The presence of a band of poor Irish iu this country often led to serious dis turbances, for they were viewed with a jealous eye by the English labourers. These men pretended to seek for em ployment, and perhaps they would work if they could get anything to do, but begging was their trade, and they were exceedingly expert at it. In conclusion, he thought that the establishment of a system of relief for the poor would tend to tranquillize Ireland, and to benefit the whole empire. Mr. SINCLAIR—Sir, I wish to record, in a very few V 70111;:.• my sentiments on the present question. It is not my i n te,:tion to enter upon the general subject of a com pulsory pri:vision for the relief of the poor, a system against which, I am well aware, that many plausible ob jections and powerful arguments may be urged. lam willing to admit that, as administered in England, it is productive of very serious evils ; but the state of Ireland is so appalling in point of distress, and so anomalous in most of its bearings, that many plans, which it would e'sewhere be superfluous or even hurtful to introduce, may in a country so circumstanced be expedient, or even in dispensable, and the system will, I trust, be so modified as to obviate all the mischief which arises in England from its abuse. One consideration, which has great weight with me, is the injury which is annually inflicted upon the industrious classesi n Scot'and by the inordinate influx of Irish la bourers, whose ruinous competition tends to diminish the amount of wages, and lower the standard of comfort, both in rural and manufacturing districts. This hurthen is becoming every year more grievous and more alarming, and if the present system be permitted to continue, our Scotch and English labourers will (to use a phrase of mo dern notoriety) soon be altogether swamped by the shoals of Irish, who come over to our coasts at a small expense, absorbing the resources and deteriorating the habits of out people. Sir, I think that the introduction of a well regulated poor-rate will affect the pecuniary interests of those absentee landlords who grind the faces of the poor, and dissipate the income extorted from a famishing tenantry in foreign luxuries or at English watering-places. Any measure must be conducive to the welfare of Ireland, which causes the gentry to reside on their estates, to make themselves acquainted with the circumstances of the indi gent, to provide employment for the industrious, and thus render it unnecessary for them to seek their subsistence in other countries. For these, Sir, and other reasons, into which I shall not eater at so late an hour, it is my inten tion cordially to support the motion of my Hon. Friend. Mr. G. KNIGHT also supported the motion. Mr. CURTIES also said a few words, which were inaudible. Lord OXMANTOWN opposed the motion. Mr. BLACKNEY would have supported the lion. Member who moved the resolution, had he brought for ward a Bill upon the subject. In his opinion many of the evils of Ireland were to be attributed to absenteeism. Ile would instance the case of a Nobleman possessing a ge neral income of 60,000!. a year, who bad a large property in his neighbourhood. This Nobleman visited his Irish tenants for one month in the year, not with the view of improving their condition, but of receiving his rents—and he managed his visits with such economy as to spend only 100/. among them on each occasion. —(Hear.) Mr. SADLER replied. After which the House divided, when there appeared— For the Resolution Against it. 77 Majority MILITARY FL9GGING. )Ir, HUME presented a pettion from the mensbers of ,he Political Union of Shoreditch, relative to the flogging of Somerville, a private soldier in the 2d Dragoon. Guards. The Hoc. Member then presented the following petition on the same subject from the editor of the London Techly Dispatch : TO THE RIGHT HON. THE COMMONS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. " THE PETITION OF SAMUEL SMITH, OF 139, FLEET-STREET, IN THE CITY OF LONDON, EDITOR OF THE WEEKLY DISPATCH NEWSPAPER,— _ " Humbly Showeth,—That your petitioner, on the 24th of May last, received from Robert Bell, the printer and publisher of the Weekly Despatch newspaper, of which your petitioner is editor, a letter which had been addressed to him by a private of the 2,1 Dragoon Guard+, commonly called the Scotch Greys, now stationed at Birmingham, And franked by Major Wyndham, the officer in command of the regiment. " That from this letter your petitioner published in the Weekly Despatch of the 27th of May the extracts which follow As a private of that regiment I have certainly the means of knowing fully the opinions which pervade the rank in which I serve. It was surely true that a few sent their names to the roll of the Political Union; but let no man think that those who refrained from doing so cared less for the interests of their country.— I, for one, made no such public avowal of my opi nions—for I knew it to be an infringement of military law ; but I was one who watched with trembling antici pation the movements of the people of Birmingham. We knew well the position in which we might be placed should events require the physical action of the community ; for while we ventured to hope that any collision between the civil and military forces would be prevented by the moral energies of the former, we could not help betraying a fear that the unprincipled and lawless, who are ever either more or less to be found, might take the opportunity of the turning of affairs to commit outrages on property, in which instance we would certainly have considered ourselves, as soldiers, bound to put down such disorderly conduct. This, I say, we should certainly have felt to have been our duty ; but against the liberties of our country we would have never—never—never—raised an arm ! The Scotch Greys have honourably secured a high character in defence of their country, and they would be the last to degrade themselves below the dignity of British soldiers in acting as the tools of a tyrant.' • * * The Duke of Wellington may, if ha sees or hears of this, assure him self that military government shall never again set up in this country.' That on the arrival of the Weekly Dis patch, containing these extracts, in Birmingham, a report got abroad that the author of the letter from which they were taken was a private in the Scotch Greys, of the name of A. Somerville; and, as will he presently seen, this re port had immediately reached the ears of the commanding officer of the regiment, Major Wyndham. " That in a day or two after, this man Somerville was picked out from the ranks and directed to perform with an unbroken horse an exercise which, even with the best trained horses, is one of difficulty; and that, having failed to perform it, he was ordered to try again, which, consi del ing the thing to be impracticable, he declined ; for which act of disobedience he was immediately placed in confinement. " That shortly afterwards he was sent for by Major Wyndham, and privately subjected to a series of interroga tories with respect to the letter which he was reported to have written to the said Robert Bell ; that Major Wynd- barn demanded of him whether he was not the author of 4 the libel on the Scotch Greys, which appeared in the TVeckly Dispatch,' to which Somerville at once frankly answered that he was the author of the letter alluded to, but that he did not consider it any libel. " That on this Major Wyndham broke out into a strain of great abuse of the letter, declaring the sentiments it con tained to be abominable and inflammatory—calculated to encourage the Political Unions, which he said were illegal, and the mob to break the peace, which it was the duty of the military to preserve ; that Somerville had, in writing it, been guilty of treason to the King, by whom be was paid ; that soldiers had no right to form opinions on any political subject whatever, and that their only duty was obedience. " That Somerville replied, that he could not see how there was any treason in saying that the Scotch Greys would never fight against the liberties of their country; that he considered soldiers were not paid by the King. but by the people, and sworn only to be faithful to the King, in his capacity of head of the people; that he thought it had been admitted by his Nlajesty's Ministers that there was nothing illegal in the Political Unions, constituted as they had hitherto been ; and that, so far from wishing to encourage the mob to violence, he had said, in the letter complained of, that he and his comrades would, under any circumstances, consider it to he their duty to put down all outrages on property. " That Major Wyndham still persisted in pronouncing Somerville to have been guilty of most unjustifiable con duct, and dismissed him with these emphatic words : But, my lad, you are now where you will repent of it.' " That five minutes after this preliminary interroga tion, Somerville was arraigned before a Court Martial for the disobedience of orders before mentioned, and being found guilty, was sentenced to receive 200 lashes on his bare back. " That two hours after, 100 of the number of lashes awarded were inflicted upon him, in the presence of the assembled regiment, and that he now remains in confine ment, awaiting the infliction of the remainder of this most cruel and ignominious punishment. " That Somerville had never before been tried or pu nished for any offence whatever, having always before con ducted himself with unimpeached correctness and steadiness. " That your petitioner conceives it to be clear, from the facts before stated,—some of which he knows to be true, and all of which he believes can be fully substan tiated,—that the man has been thus punished, degraded, and disgraced, less on account of the act of insubordination of which he was found guilty, than of the political offence he has given to his officers by writing the letter before mentioned to the said Robert Bell. " That it appears to your petitioner, the man was pur posely entrapped into the offence which he committed against military law, in order that he might be punished for what was no offence against any law, either military or civil, and that the conduct of his commanding officer, in extracting from the man while in custody, and on the point of being tried for a disobedience of orders, a con fession that he bad been guilty of something else, which, in the judgment of that officer, amounted to treason, was infallibly calculated to produce on the mind of Major Wyndham, and, through him, on the minds of the other members of the Court Martial, an impression against the prisoner which must have bad a great, though most unfair, influence in determining the measure of punishment he should receive. " That your petitioner begs to submit that there was no thing in the published and before-recited extracts from So tnerville's letter which ought to have thus marked him out for vengeance, or which it was not perfectly becoming in a British soldier to have written ; that it has been long settled law that the character of citizen merges no further in that of soldier than is absolutely necessary for the purpose of good discipline, and that there was nothing subversive of good discipline in Soniervillt's expressing an earnest wish that a measure which the King, the King's Ministers, the House of Commons, and a vast majority of the people bad pro nounced to be necessary to the welfare of the country, should be carried by peaceable means, and still less in his announcing it to be the determination of himself and his comrades not to lend themselves to any attempt that might he made by any faction to put down by force of arms the sense of the King, the King's Nliniisters, the House of Commons, and the people on the subject; that were it to be held that a man, by enlisting into the army, gives up all right to think for himself, and all care for the welfare of his country, the citizen soldiers of Great Britain would be degraded to the condition of a set of wretched mercenaries, whose existence might be useful to a tyran nical government, but would only be attended with dan ger to the rights and liberties of their fellow -countrymen ; and finally, that the conduct pursued by the aforesaid Major Wyndham towards the said A. Somerville is such a gross perversion of authority—such an invasion of the right of freedom of opinion possessed by British soldiers in common with all th• rest of their fellow-subjects—and i s of a tendency so injurious to the character and efficacy of the British army, as to deserve the most serious considera tion of your Honourable House. " May it therefore please your Honourable House to cause inquiry to be made into the case of the said A. So merville, and to do otherwise therein as, in your wisdom, you shall deem fit. " And your petitioner shall ever pray, &c. " SAMUEL SMITH." Mr. HUNT rose to bring forward his motion relative to the suspension of the punishment of flogging in the army for one year. For many years be had heard with disgust and abhorrence the treatment which priiate soldiers expe rienced in the British army. He remembered full well that in the 15th Light Dragoons, then commanded by his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, two private soldiers had, to avoid the punishment of flogging, put themselves to death, the one by drowning, and the other by cutting his throat.—(Hear.) To exemplify the evil consequences which resulted from this species of punish ment, he referred to a letter addressed to Sir F. Burdett by a soldier who had served upwards of forty years in the British army, who, though he bad subsequently risers to the rank of Lieutenant, bad originally been a dratnnter, and who stated that he had himself inflicted this torture three times a week upon his comrades during the eight years which he remained a drummer. That letter had been written to Sir F. Burdett (who he was sorry not to see in his place that evening, for the Hon. Baronet must have been an able advocate of his motion), by a Mr. Shipp, who had risen from the ranks to a Lieutenancy in the ser vice. It was entitled, " A Voice from the Ranks, by John Shipp, late a Lieutenant in the 87th Foot." He (Mr. Hunt) was prepared to bring Lieutenant Shipp forward to substantiate the facts in that letter, either at the bar of the House, or before any Committee that might be appointed. There were many officers, Members of that House, who could speak to the gallantry of Mr. Shipp, but unfortunately they were not present, as they deemed Ascot-heath Races better amusement than listen ing to a speech from him (Mr. Hunt.) Sir John Malcolm, and several military officers who had served under his command had, he believed, read every word in the very instructive yet entertaining volume which he then held in his hand. Mr. Shipp expressed himself in the following manner:—" It is sonic consolation to me to be able to say, that my present views are not induced by the remembrance of personal castigation ; but from the prac tical observation of its effects on others, I can most solemnly affirm that, in my opinion, flogging is, and always will be, the best, the quickest, and most certain method that can he devised, to eradicate front the bosom of a British soldier his most loyal and laudable feelings. During the whole of my career, which includt d a period of upwards of thirty years, and the length and nature of which afforded me opportunities for extensive inquiry, and accurate information, I never knew but one solitary instance in which a man recovered self-respect and general reputation, after having been tortured and degraded by the punishment of flogging." This islocated case was as follows :—" When I was regimental sergeant-major in the Light Dragoons, the regiment was one evening paraded, for the purpose of seeing punishment inflicted. The delinquent was a private soldier, who had, on pre vious occasions, received, altogether, some thousands of lashes. Since his first flogging, his name had been con • stantly in the guard reports, and he had scarcely ever done a day's duty. His offence, on this occasion, was being drunk on guard, and his sentence was 300 lashes. The court-martial was read, and even before it was finished he began to undress with apparent and sullen apathy. Ile knew the heiousness of his crime, and he was well aware of its certain consequences. When he was tied, his naked back presented so appalling and frightful a spec tacle that his kind-hearted commanding officer, on viewing it, turned his head instinctively from the eight, and stood absorbed in thought, with his eyes in another direction, as though reluctant to look on it again. Thus stood the commanding-officer until the adjutant informed him all was really. These words roused the colonel from his mo tionless position, and he started when the adjutant addressed him. I can well imagine the struggle between duty and mercy by which his benevolent heart was assailed ; but the latter was always his motto, and thus kindly predis posed, he walked slowly up to the prisoner, and viewed more closely his lacerated back, on which were visible large lumps of thick and callous flesh and weals which were distressing to behold. The colonel viewed his back for some seconds unknown to the delinquent, and when he at length turned round (more from surprise that the flogging did not commence than from any other motive) his commanding-officer addressed him in the following words : C—, you are now tied up to receive the just reward of your total disregard and defiance of all order and discipline. Your back presents an awful spectacle to your surrounding comrades, and for my own part I would willingly withdraw it from their sight, but I fear that your heart is as hard as your back, and that I have no alternative but to see that justice administered which the service require.. What possible benefit can you expect to derive from this con tinual disobedience of orders, and disregard of the regu lations of the service ?' Thus addressed, in a mingled tone of benignity and firmness, the poor fellow seemed touched, and he wept bitterly. For a time he could say nothing; but at last he exclaimed, I wish to God I was dead and out of your way. lam an unfortunate fellow, and I hope this flogging may be my last, and put me beyond the reach of that cursed and vile liquor which has been my ruin.' The Colonel anti the whole regiment were now much affected, and many of the soldiers turned away their beads to hide their emotions. Seeing this, the Colonel called the attention of the offender to the commiseration of his comrades. The unhappy man looked round as he was directed, and seemed much distressed. The Colonel then said, I cannot bear to see your brother soldiers so much affected for you without removing the cause. Your sentence, therefore, for their sakes, I will remit, and in stead of the chastisement which has been awarded you, and which you so well deserve, if you will pledge yourself to me, in the presence of your commiserating comrades, that you will behave well in future, I will not only pardon you. but promise, when your conduct shall merit it, to pro mote you to the rank of corporal.' The astonished cul prit called on his comrades to bear witness to his words, while, in a most solemn manner, he protested his firm reso lution to amend. A short time after this man was pro moted, and proved one of the best noncommissioned officers in the service. The unlooksd for mercy which had been extended towards him, and the totally unex pected turn which the affair had taken, raised the feelings of his heart far above the level to which disgrace had plunged them, and every ex ertion was made by him to merit the kind consi deration with which be had been distinguished. This man would often speak to me, on this happy event in his life, with feelings of ineffable pleasure." Mr. Hunt then proceeded to read other extracts from Mr. Shipp's letter. Mr. Shipp mentioned another case which had taken place under his own eyes. It was the case of a man who had been sentenced, for some military offence, to receive 300 lashes. The man received them without a groan ; but, as be marched out of the square, said, on passing his com manding officer, " The devil a day's work will you ever get out of Paddy again." After stating that the man kept this promise with the most religious fidelity, Mr. Shipp proceeded to say that, when he was orderly-officer at Cawnpore—(A laugh)—Hon. Gentlemen might laugh, but, if they had not hearts as hard as a stone, he would make them laugh, before he had done, on the wrong side of the face.—(Hear.) Yes, when Mr. Shipp was orderly officer at Ciwnpore, a soldier was flogged for some mili tary offence, and, from the day of his flogging, he was never sober for two hours together. He entered the army at 19, and died of a broken heart before he was 26. Mr. Shipp also recollected a case in which two soldiers were ordered to be punished. Their punishment was 1,400 lashes. One of them bore his punishment without a mur mur. This irritated the commander of the regiment against the other, and in consequence he received 1,400 lashes also. Mr. Shipp also mentioned the case of a man who had shot himself in the barrack-room after he had undergone the ignominy of this punishment. He also mentioned the case of a sergeant of distinguished bravery, who, for some offence, had had his chevrons stripped from his shoulders, and had been sentenced to be flogged. The man had not received more than five lashes, when his wife, in a state of distraction, burst through the ranks and flung herself between her husband and the drummer who was torturing hint. The woman was soon forced away, in a swooning state, from her husband ; the punishment was then inflicted on hint, and within a few months this brave soldier drooped and died of a broken heart. Mr. Hunt continued to read the letter of Mr. Shipp for some time longer ; but on symptoms of weari ness appearing in the House, stopped suddenly, and said that he was serious in bringing the motion before the House, and offered to prove all that he had hitherto stated, by competent witnesses, at the bar. It was better, he thought, for the House to have this statement from those who could prove it by their own testimony, than to take it front hint who had never seen a punishment of this nature. No, be never had the courage to see a single blow inflicted on a military man in all his life. This was a matter well deserving the most serious consideration of the House, for when it was recollected that a soldier of the name of Somerville, belonging to the Scotch Grey's, bad been sentenced to be flogged for an offence which he had never committed,—when it was recollected that he bad already received 100 lasheg, and was now lying in the guard-house to receive another 100 lashes, as awarded by his sentence— Mr. R. GRANT (interrupting)—That cannot be. By law it is impossible.—( Hear, bear.) Mr. HUNT was merely repeating the statement con tained in a petitions then upon the table. He was not pre pared to prove the allegations in the petition, but he was prepared opna. t m o i%p p i eh r m o l evbteecrtah, eteen e g in spv a rh t oi i occ proceeded in dveed, very . 08 evreeraSedh punishmentsi p fromp' s et : % t e l r. r . had been inflicted upon private soldiers to the injury of the service, and to the destruction and not to the amend ment of the parties punished. After be had occupied the attention of the House for more than half an hour with reading the facts of this pamphlet, and was commencing to read the arguments which Mr. Shipp built upon those facts, Mr. ROBINSON rose to order. The House had listened with the greatest forbearance to the statement of facts which the Hon. Member for Preston had just read to it, but he could not help submitting to the Speaker, that when the Hon. Member proceeded to read voluminous ar guments on those facts, out of a printed pamphlet, he was violating, to a c ertain de g ree, th e orders of the House. The SPEAKER said, it was difficult for him to draw the limits, within which an Hon. Member could be justly entitled to read ettracts from printed book. as part of hly speech. This, however, he would say, that never, since Le had enjoyed the honour of filling that chair, had he heard so long an extract as that which the lion. Member for Preston bad just read to the House. Mr. Hu yr would forbear, as far as was practicable, from reading the arguments of Mr. Shipp to the House, and would confine himself entirely to his fads. He re colleeted, however, that on one occasion, when he was a mere listener in the gallery, he had hoard the late Sir J. C. Hippisley reading a pamphlet—and a pamphlet of his own too—for two hours and a half, against Catholic eman cipation. Hn Hon. MEatfaxa—" In favour, you mean." Mr. HUNT—No matter for that : it was on the sub ject of Catholic emancipation. The Hon. Member, after reading further extracts, for which we have not room, from Mr. Shipp's pamphlet, proceeded to notice another abuse, which deserved the attention, not only of the Se cretary of War, but of all his colleagues in the Administra tion ; for he believed that the practice, to which he was alluding, was as illegal, as it was in a moral sense tyranni cal. He understood that it was not macustomary for com manding officers to give an offending private the choice of receiving a certain number of lashes, say 50, in secret, or of abiding the sentence of a court-martial. Now, there could be no doubt as to the illegality of this practice, and therefore he trusted that orders would be issued immedi ately for its discontinuance. The Hon. Member then proceeded to read Mr. Shipp's descriptio❑ of the military punishments inflicted in 1808, in Jersey. At that time the ordinary punishment was 1,000 lashes. As a stated interval elapsed between each lash, the punishment gene rally lasted three hours and 20 minutes. As there were three knot. in each tail, and as there were nine tails to the cat, 27,000 knots were struck into a man's back during that geriod of protracted agony. Many of the soldiers fainted away during its infliction from the intensity of their bodily sufferings ; but not a drop of water were they allowed to cool their parched and burning palates. Gen tlemen who recollected a certain book, would recollect what an individual there offered for a drop of water to cool his palate. Colonel DAVIES—Ay, but that was the rich man. Mr. HUNT—" And I am speaking here of the poor, and wretched, and tortured private soldier." The Hon. Member, after reading other extracts, said, that the infe rence which Mr. Shipp drew from all the facts which had fallen under his notice, was this—that no good was ever derived from flogging ; or that, if any good was de rived from it, it was only the despair which induced some few soldiers, who had suffered under the lash, to ruch madly upon the enemy's bayonets in the field, in the hope of ridding themselves of a life which the ignominy of this torture had rendered intolerable. He, therefore, protested against the inutility as well as against the inhumanity of this practice. He had long been anxious to get rid of it. He knew that flogging was inflicted now much less fre quently than it was formerly. He recollected that at the period when their excellent Speaker was Judge Advocate, the amount of flogging was reduced to a standard much lower than that at which it stood when first he came into office. It then became the fashion with several officers in the command of regiments to report that few corpora punishments occurred in their regiments. He hoped tbs this fasision still continued , but when he heard of such a flogging as had recently occurred at Birmingham, and when he heard of the floggings which occurred so fre quently in the Bird-cage-walk, he was afraid that it did not, and therefore he must appeal for support in his mo tion to the Right Hon. Baronet opposite (Sir J. C. Hob house), who had formerly been so strenuous an advocate fur the abolition of this mode of punishment. Sir J. C. HOITIOUSE and Mr. HuME rose together. Sir J. C. Hostronsr, however, gave way. Mr. HUME proceeded to state his determination to support this motion. He had himself read with no less pain than pleasure, the able pamphlet of Mr. Shipp. He had conversed with Mr. Shipp upon it, and it appeared to him that Mr. Shipp's statement was worthy of serious attention. Mr. Shipp was not unknown. He was one of the most gallant soldiers in the East India army.— (Hear.) He had led no less than five forlorn hopes, and was now in the receipt of a pension from the East India Company. He believed Mr. Shipp's statement to be per fectly correct, and he believed that no man could rise up, from its melancholy details, without feeling that many brave men had been destroyed,—he had almost said,— murdered by the flogging system. Mr. Shipp had ad mitted to him, that when he (Mr. Shipp) left the army— Mr. R. GRANT—When was that? Mr. HUME—About eight or nine years ago;—but Mr. Shipp admitted to him that when he left the army, severity of punishment was beginning to disappear. The The Hon. Member observed, with reference to the case of Somerville, with whose petition he had been intrusted, that there were very recent instances of severe punish ments by courts-martial. Sir J. HOBHOUSE did not think he he had any rea son to complain of the manner in which the Hen. Member had brought forward his motion. At the same time be must confess that the details which he had read front the pamphlet were made up of facts connected with the previous practice of the army, and could not be connected with the present practice. There bad been a very great change in the discipline of the army ; and it was no doubt the general feeling, not only of the country, but the service, that it would be advantageous to abolish, or at least to suspend, corporeal punishments there. With reference to the op tion of receiving corporal punishment without a court martial, instead of a chance of a greater punishment with a court-martial, he could assure the House that that did not take place at all. As to secret courts, there were va rious courts in the country whose proceedings were secret, so far as the public were concerned ; but reports of courts martial were always transmitted to the Horse Guards, and of course the proceedings might, on a proper occasion, be forthcoming, and be laid before the House. The Hon. Member for Preston knew his (Sir J. C. Ilobhouse's) sen timents on the subject ; for when he alluded to the matter i❑ the debate on the army estimates, he had told him what they were. It was a mistake to suppose that he (Sir J. C. Hobhouse) had changed his opinions; he had not changed them. With regard to Somerville's case, be had inquired at the Horse Guards the moment he had received information of it. With respect to the possibility of inflicting corporal punish ments by instalments, it could not be done, and the peti tioner was mistaken if he thought this was the practice of courts martial. As to the proposed address to the Crown, he was not sure that the King was able to carry into effect the abolition or suspension of corporal punishments. It was a novel thing. He begged to say that he (Sir J. Hob house) in conjunction with his Right Hon. Friend (Mr. R. Grant) and with the sanction of the Commander-in- Chief, bad, in framing the Articles of War, been able to reduce the number of lashes from 300 to 200 inflicted by regimental courts-martial, and by garrison courts-martial from 500 to 300.—(Hear.) This was an attempt at re gulation, and he could assure the House that there was the greatest disposition in the army to discourage corporal punishments. Mr. ROBINSON was ready to support the motion of the Hon. Member for Preston. Flogging was a most bru talizing and degrading punishment, and unless a better case could be made out for the necessity of continuing it than had been stated by the Right Hon. Baronet, he (Mr. Ro binson,) should be ready to support any measure short of abolition. Col. EVANS supported the motion. The severity of corporal punishments was one of the reasons which deterred persons from entering the army. In the time of war he, as a professional man, would not have recommended the suspension ; but in time of peace he thought the experiment might be made. Mr. KEMMIS suggested that the power of inflicting lashes might be taken from regimental courts-martial, and the power of punishment by hard labour or solitary con finement substituted. , Mr. R. GRANT doubted whether the motion could be entertained, and whether the crown had the option of varying the Articles of War. The Right Hon. Gentle man repeated the statement of the Secretary at 'War, that the practice of the army in respect to corporal punish ments had altered since the time referred to by the Hun. Member for Preston. Colon! DAVIES also remarked that the present system of discipline in the army was entirely different from that described in the pamphlet. The last instance mentioned there was in 1808. He was disposed to concur i❑ the ' suggestion of the Hon. Member (Mr. Kemmis), to take ' away from minor courts-martial the power of inflicting corporal punishments, which might be safely instrusted to district courts. Mr. CALCRAFT during . the short time he had been in the army, had observed that corps in which corporal punishment prevailed were generally inferior, and that a flogged man was a lost man. Sir J. BURKE hoped the House would feel that the present motion ought not to be pressed. Mr. HUNT, in reply, urged the expediency of present , ing the address, were it only to show the disposition of the House o❑ the subject. The House then divided, when there appeared-- For the motion l5 Against it Majority 22 PARTY PROCESSIONS' SUPPRESSION (IRE LAND) BILL. Mr. STANLEY moved the second reading of this Bill, with the underatandlng that ample time Would he given fur its discussion at a future stage. The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be c.inmitted to-morrw (this day). The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter-past Two o'clock. LIST OF Tm OF FIFTY-EIGHT ON MR. PROVISION FOR THE PC TAX ON ABSENTEES. Attwood, M.—Boroughbridge Bentinck, Ld. G.—King's Lynn Blackney, W.—Co. of Carlow Blamire, \V.—Cumberland Briscoe, J. I.—Surrey Buller, Sir Anthony—W. Looe Bunbury, Sir H. E.—Suffolk Burke, Sir J. —Galway Co. Calcraft, G. IL—Wareham Callaghan, D.—Cork, City of Curteis, 11. B.—Sussex Doyle, Sir J. M.—Carlow Co. Ellis, \V.—Leicester Encombe, Viscount—Truro Estcourt, Evans, Col. De Lacy—Rye Forbes, Sir C.—Malmesbury Forbes, J.—Malmesbury Grattan, H.—Meath Co. Guise, Sir B. W.—Gloucestersh. Halse, James—St Ives Hodges, T. L.—Kent Howard, R.—Wicklow Co. Hunt, Henry—Preston James, W.—Carlisle Johnston, J.—lnverkeithing King, E.ll.—Warwick Knight, H. G.—Mahon ? MINORITY ADLER'S MOTION FOR A lOR OF IRELAND, AND A Lowther, Col.—Westmoreland Mackillop, J.—Tregony Mayhew, W.—Colchester Miles, Wm.—Romney Muffins, F. W.—Co. of Kerry Musgrave, Sir R.—Waterford Co. O'Connor Don—Roscom. Co. O'Farrell, It. M.—Co. of Kildare Payne, Sir P.—Bedfordshire Rickford, W.—Aylesbury Robinson, G. R.—Worcester Ruthven, E. S.—Downpatrick Ryder, Hon. G. D.—Tiverton Scott, Sir E. D.—Lichfield Shell, R. L.—Co. of Louth Sinclair, G., jun.—Caithness-sh. 'Smith, J.—Buckinghamshire Strickland, G.—Yorkshire Thicknesse, R.—Wigan Thompson, Alderman—London Tomes, J.—Warwick Tyrrell, Charles—Suffolk Venables, A ld.—London Walker, C. A.—Wexford Warre, J. A.—Hastings Wason, W. R.—lpswich Webb, E.—Gloucester Knox, Lambert, H.—Wexford Co. Leader, N. P.—Kilkenny Co. TELLERS. Sadler, M. T.—Aldborough Grattan, J.—Co. of Wicklow HERS WHO VOTED IN THE [E SAME DIVISION. Lamb, G.—Dungarvon Lefroy, Maxwell, H.—Cavan county Oxmantown, Lord—King's Co. Perceval, Colonel—Sligo Co. Power, R.—Waterford County LIST OF THE IRISH MEM MAJORITY ON TH Bateson, Sir R.—Londonderry Browne, D.—Co. of Mayo Browne, J.—Co. of Mayo Chapman, M.—Westmeath Co. Chichester, Sir A.—Belfast Conolly, C.—:Donegal Ferguson, Sir R—Londonderry Gordon, J. E.—Dundalk Hayes, Sir E,—Donegal TELLERS, ASCOT HEATH RACES. [ Rice, Rt. lion. T. S.—Limerick Crampton,P.C.—MilbournePort ATROCIOUS ASSAULT UPON HIS MAJESTY. Yesterday was the first day of Ascot Heath Races, and it will be memorable from a most atrocious assault which was committed upon the person of his Majesty, while standing at the window of the Grand Stand, in the pre sence of her Majesty, and a brilliant assemblage of friends and guests, by whom their Majesties were attended. The circumstances of this revolting act we shall hereafter de scribe, but shall premise by stating, that from the favour able state of the weather, and the promise of excellent sport, the assemblage of rank and fashion on the course, although not equal in point of numbers to what we have witnessed in former years, was still highly respectable, and distinguished by a long list of persons of the first conse quence, whose equipages, in approaching the scene of attraction, and whose personal appearance subsequently on the promenade, presented a most imposing and gratifying coup d'esil. It was generally known that their Majesties would be present ; and as it is usual for the Royal party to reach the course by one o'clock, all seemed desirous of imitating their punctuality, as well as of witnessing and doing honour to their arrival. To this feeling may be ascribed a display of beauty and fashion among the pedes trian throng, greater than we have been wont to notice at so early a period of the day. The arrangements of the course were similar to those observable on all former occasion —and, under the direc tion of the Earl of Lichfield, the Master of the King's stag-hounds, and the yeomen prickers, the most perfect order and regularity were maintained. The only novelty which we remarked was the presence, for the first time, of a military band, which was stationed close to the Grand Stand, and which continued to play popular pieces throughout the day—thus filling up most agreeably those periods between the races which were heretofore uninte resting and often wearisome. Wiih a view to the preservation of the peace in the immediate vicinity of the Royal Stand, there was, as is customary, a strong muster of the principal Bow-street officers, including the venerable Townsend, Sayers, Ellis, Taunton, Ruthven, Ledbeater, Gardner, and others, under the direction of Mr. Roe, the Chief Magistrate of Bow street, and a strong detachment of the horse patrol dis mounted, under the command of Mr. Day. There were also some county Magistrates and local constables on the spot. Shortly before one o'clock, the Earl of Lichfield, in the costume of his office, set out from the Stewards' Stand, accompanied by a large body of Yeomen pricker., in their scarlet liveries, to meet their Majesties, whose splendid cortege was soon seen advancing up the centre of the Course. The Earl of Lichfield, on meeting it, took the lead of the Royal cavalcade, and was closely followed, first, by a body of Yeomen prickers, anti then by his Majesty's led horses. Next came the carriage of their Majesties, an open landau, in which were the King and Queen, the Duchess of Richmond, and the Countess Brownlow. Six other Royal carriages followed, in which were the Duke of Richmond, the Duke of Dorset, Lord Albemarle, Earl and Countess of Errol, Sir Philip and Lady Sydney, Lady Lichfield, Lady Falkland, Lord Brownlow, Sir J. Rennett, Colonel and Mrs. Clitheroe, Miss Boyle, Miss Wilson, and lastly, in a phaeton, Lord Frederick Fitzclarence and Lady Fitzclarence. Another body of Yeomen prickers brought up the rear. The utmost anxiety seemed to pervade the assembled multitude, who formed one avenue from the betting-stand to the top of the hill in front of the Stewards' Stand, on the approach of their Majesties, and the moment the Royal carriages came within observation, all bats were off, and a respectful and spontaneous expression of satisfac tion burst from all quarters; there were repeated cheers, and if not so enthusiastic as may have been witnessed on similar assemblages before, they were apparently sin cere, and were certainly unmixed by any indication of feeling which could give pun to the most fastidious advo cates of Court etiquette. Their Majesties, we were happy to observe, looked extremely well, and were evilently much pleased by the flattering and affectionate manner in which they were received, repeatedly smiling and bowing as they passed along. On reaching the Grand Stand, the cavalcade made the usual circuit to the back entrance, and in a few minutes the King and Queen, with their attend ants, appeared at the front window of the Stand, and were again greeted with loud cheers. The bell now rang for the commencement of the sports ; the course was cleared, and the most respectable part of the throng re tired to their carriages and to the different stands, which were completely filled with elegantly dressed females. The first race, it will be seen in our accounts of the " busi ness of the day, was a match. To this the Royal party was particularly attentive, and at the moment of its con clusion were standing in conversation at the centre window which was thrown up, when the utmost consternation was created by a MOST WANTON ASSAULT UPON 1115 MAJESTY. A ruffian, in the garb of a sailor, of most wreched ap pearance, with a wooden leg, suddenly flung a large flint stone directly at the King ; his aim was as accurate as the effect of the blow was severe ; the stone struck our vene rable Sovereign on the forehead, just above the rim of his hat, which was fortunately on his head at the time. The sound was so loud that the moment the stone reached its destination, it was distinctly heard throughout the room. The King was either stunned, or so much astonished at the moment, as to fall back two or three pace, and ex claimed, My God !! I am hit !" At this instant the same ruffian threw another stone, which struck the wood work of the window, and fell to the ground. Lord Fre derick Fitzclarence was close to his Royal Parent, and, taking him by the hand, led him to a chair, inquiring with the ,utmost agitation if he were injured ? The Queen, Lady Errol, and all in the room, were equally alarmed and horror-struck. Happily his Majesty soon relieved their anxiety, and taking off his hat, and placing his hand on the spot where the blow had fallen declared with a smile that he was unhurt! Providentially his Majesty's hat preserved him from consequences which might otherwise have been most serious. The first moment of surprise and alarm being over, his Majesty received the affectionate congratulations of the Queen and those by whom he was surrounded, while the Countess of Errol (his daughter) burst into an agony of tears, and could with difficulty be persuaded that there was no further danger to be appre hended. While this painful scene wa s exhibited in the Royal Stand, the attention of the populace was directed to what was going on beneath. The ruffian had scarcely thrown the stones (which was the work of a moment) when he was seized by a gentleman, who afterwards prov at proved to WbeinCdaztra,inanSamibtyh, a o n f ot t i li ne e r Royal Navy, resi dentnaamedTurner, who had been a witness to the transaction. The Bow-street officers, who were on the spot, rushed to their assistance, and Taunton and Gardiner conducted the now pissive prisoner to the Magistrates' room, under the Stand, contiguous to that of the King, where he was detained in proper custody till the subsequent examination. The intelligence of the painful occurrence spread in all directions, and a dense crowd was soon c o ll ec t e d i n f ron t of the Royal Stand, all anxi ously inquiring into the state of the King, and asking information respecting the outrage which had been committed. In the midst of this con fusion, and in little more than three minutes after the oc currence, the King rose from his chair and presented himself at the Itinclow: The moment it ing gem hi Majesty was unhurt, a simultaneous shout of joy burst born all quarters, which was repeated when the Quee n and Lord Frederick Fitzclarence also presented themselves at the window. Three distinct cheers were then given with such enthusiasm that the feelings of the populace could not be mistaken; there was a heartiness and since rity in their expression which left no doubt of the horror and indignation with which they viewed the dastardly at" t ,ck which had been made, although they were as yet but imperfectly acquainted with its nature or extent. Similar sentiments pervaded all classes, and repeadedly , during the remainder of the day, the like demonstratioas of loyalty and attachment to the King's peason were want rested whenever he exhibited himself at the window. On the first burst of these natural and loyal sensations the King was deeply affected, and could scarce refrain from shedding tears, while most of the female group by whom he was surrounded could not suppress that testimony of their participation in the joy of his subjects. EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONER. On the public mind being pacified, Mr. Elliott, Magistrate, of Reading, assisted by Mr. Roe, the Chief Magistrate, proceeded to take examinations against the prisoner, who stood in the corner of the room apparently but little affected by his situation. His appearance, as we before stated, was most wretched, and similar to that of those wandering mendicants, who, in the tattered garbs of sailors, are constantly imposing on the credulity of the public. He had a wooden leg of the most rude construc tion ; and in answer to the numerous questions .svhich were put to him, said his name was Dennis Collins, tha t he was a native of Cork, and had been long in his Majesty's service. He had originally served in the Kangaroo, and lost his leg on board the Atalanta. Ile had been admitted a pensioner to Greenwich Hospital , where he had remained eighteen months ; but sis months back had misconducted himself towards his ward's-man, and had been turned out. From tha t period, which was in December, he had been with out pension or means of support. He petitioned the Lords of the Admiralty for redress, but in vain ; he then, on the 19th of April last, petitioned tbs King. This petition he took to Whitehall, and he had reason to believe it had reached the King at Windsor, for it was seat back to the Lords of the Admiralty, gni he was again informed, through their Secretary, that his claims could not be recognized ; he then became desperate , he had no means of support, and as he said, " he might as well be shot or hanged as remain in such a state." In this feeling it was he came to Ascot, determined to be re venged on the King. He admitted he threw the stone which struck his Majesty, as well as the one which fol' lowed. He had no accomplices, and acted entirely from his own feelings, and without the suggestion or dictation of any person. He then produced his papers, to shot; thet his story was well founded ; and on being reasons ° with en the atrocity of his conduct, he said he was sorrl for it. His manner was perfectly collected and rational' and be was recognised by some of the Bow-street o ffice as having been before the Magistrates of that establish' ment for some former misconduct. On examining h if , head, there was a mark of a woun d, w hi c h we co ll ec t& from him had been inflicted by a fall. He was not toxicated, but he admitted that he had been drinking bee , which he purchased with a shilling which bad been give°, to him by a gentlem an th a t morn i ng . H e h a d wa lk& down from London, and bad slept in a shed in the neigh' bourhood Windsor the preceding night. This was the substance of his own statement. The following evidence was then taken on oath, by 1 0 Burnaby, the Clerk of the Magistrates:-- Captain George Smith, of the Royal Navy, being Windsor, deposed that he was that day standing in {root of the Royal Stand, on Ascot Heath ; he saw his Majegtl standing at the window, and saw the prisoner threw ° atone at his Majesty, which struck his Majesty on the head ; his Majesty reeled back—put his hand to his bead: and made some exclamation which he did no t h e ar _ L "' the same instant the prisoner threw a second s t one . Vii! ness immediately seized the prisoner, w h o ma d e som e o'r nervation be did not distinctly understand. Mr. Benjamin Turner, of No. 5, Waterloo-terrac e ' Bethnal-green, deposed, that he was also standing is foa l of the Royal Stand, and saw the prisoner fling two stone e ' the first of which struck his Majesty on the head, the other fell to the ground. He saw his Majesty reel bid ' wards, and at the same instant he saw the last witness sei°, the prisoner, who made no resistance, but admitted ti° he had thrown the stones. tfa Lord Frederick Fitzclarence was next examined. produced a large flint stone with jagged edges; he 1 7 that day standing next to his Majesty, on the Royal Ste l e ' and was suddenly alarmed by hearing the sound prodli e w 4 by a stone striking his Majesty on th e h ea d. His jesty exc!aimed, " Oh, God! lam hit !" Witness IS, the stone fall on the floor ; and it was immediately afte'' wards picked up, and handed to him by Lord Brownlocr : , Lord Brownlow deposed that h e lik ew i se was in P Royal Stand. He saw his Majesty st ruc k b y t h e at°,',l; produced, which he picked up, and hand e d it t o the ` j witness. Several other witnesses, including one of the band, W . A picked up the stone that fell from the window, and 1 P; bitter, who picked up . a stone at the foot of the prig° c also tendered their evidence; but Mr. Elliott was of o ,e, nion that there was evidence sufficient of the fact to c° l :', mit the prisoner for further examination; and the to nesses having signed their depositions, a mettimus made out, committing the prisoner to Reading Gaol, an understanding that he should be brought up again , ,„" a second examination, on Tuesday next, at the Petty sions of Workinghatn, in the county of Bucks, on day the witnesses were desired again to attend. fI J Some of the county officers were then called in ; .; 11 1 the prisoner having been consigned to their custody, be taken, in a post chaise, to his destination. tb l The Magistrates did not seem to have agreed u pon , o , character of the crime of the prisoner; but the genera l; pression was, that it amounted to High Treason. ofit e There is no doubt, from the spirit which the pl . ' s ! ) displayed, and the hostility which he expressed, that he been able to procure a more deadly weapon than stone which he used, he would have had no hesitatio n s using it towards the Royal person. That he had no t ,' means, and that his abominable intentions were not seriously carried into effect, must be a source of cone' lation thrnughout the country. _A 1 It was six o'clock before their Majesties goittru ci Grand Stand on their return to Windsor Gastle, , t l O their passage down the course the cheers of the e r r 4 were enthusiastic. All classes seemed to unite in test i : their attachment to the Royal Person, as w e ll as tbe'' , at his escape from the danger of his cowar dly 1 an d tres c roue assailant. . ; Besides the illustrious and distinguished individus',l mediately embraced in his Majesty's suite, who we re sent on the occasion, we noticed the following :--••$1 Duke of Portl an d, D u k e o f R u tl a nd, M arque ss 0' 0 / ter, Marquess a n d M arc hioness of Cl anr i car de, Al a t t ot t , and Marchioness of Tavistock, Earl Wilton, Earl al terfield, Earl Jersey, Lord Villiers, Earl of Uxbridge' 0' of March, Lord Castlereagh, Earl and Countees of S e a 0 ampton, Marquess of Sligo, Lord R. Grosvenor, L' f i,of' Manners, Count Matuscheviiz, Lord G. Bentinck) John Fitzroy, Lord Ranelagh, Colonel and LAY f p Peel, Marquess of Graham, Lord W. Paulett, Sloane, Sir G. and Lady Heathcote, Hon. Colonel - J o e Sir S. Graham, Mr. M. Stanley, Mr. S. Stanley, rr , nHoorn; Hon. Craven, on.ctain l-o R I o n. u., E P Sir irL et e r w e, e. y. Ho Glyn G , e s n i e r ra li F. Stanhope, Lord Lowther, Captain H a ll, M r . l ' lf° Mr. Hawker, Captain Byng, Mr. Greville, Mr. IrbY;iiil, Payne, Colonel Crosby, Colonel Russell, Mr. F. '#P Colonel Th e Udny, ceurse Mr. was S t i n o n eehwxecelelre,n excellent order, S. der, Weworitillegypot;d, great exertions of Mr. Jenner in rolling and bush rowing it. SPORTS OF THE DAY. tP 4 II We shall now proceed to notice the sports of t,",,t` the interest of which was so much diininishe d . painful transaction which we above so fully descriter' fore going into details, 'we should premise, that t,.. h . c e b 1 "d novelty of the Meeting is the Eclipse Hoof, w t ' ii i- 3 110 1 , 1 Majesty has presented to the Jockey Club as a C '", prize, with the annual addition of 200 sovereig i d, vided two ho rses start f or i t. Th e h oo f i s set tghe great value and b eau tif u l wor k mans hi p , and has ibel:if lowing inscripti on :—" Thi s pi ece o f plate, wit' 04 of Eclipse, was present e d by hi s mo s t gracious 05> William the F our th t o th e J oc k ey Cl u b, 5 1 *, 0 t i e' His Majesty's object was, doubtless, to enco urageLc, national amusem e nt ; but it is the opinion of titu - hey s j are most competent to speak on the subject, that strictions by which the gift isaccompan ied are ill cs' o ,st to effect that end. They say, and with reason, flop i 4 promote a national sport the prize ought to be " t r to co l ,l and not confined to any body of men, however ari' ir o f 1 , or influential ; that by the present conditions, o °, l l h° e most respectable Noblemen and gentlemen , J 0 r .. ,), breeders of race-horses, and not members of th e ,ifeoif Club, are shut out ; that the Ascot Cup has Ithat'ij the impolicy of these invidious distinctions ; ;t o oo l,' insure' the popularity of this magnificent price w o • eo til;4 at once to be thrown open to all challengers. .7 ensl fa r o at Jo concur in these objections, which derive from the fact, that the Challenge Cup at Nevi r°3 i n not . on the average produce more than one race . et . eight years; moreover, the entry for the hoof Su