The Sun. — London, England, 1832-08-09 00:00:00

quite different to that determined on by the Finance Committee. In that Committee there was not a dissentient voice on the impropriety of making charges as for the army, when in fact the parties were filling civil offices. If the proposed plan was acceded to, all the officers of the army and navy who, since they had taken holy orders, bad been deprived of their half pay, must be restored. In his opinion the measure would effect no saving, but the public accounts would become exceedingly con fused. He should, therefore, object to the clause being brought up now. Lord ALTHORP said that there had been a saving to the country of 34,0001. a year, by evading the regulation, and he did not think its adoption at all simplified the public accounts.—(Hear, hear.) With respect to his Hon. Friend the Member for Queen's County, he had certainly told him he was opposed to the alteration, but he also said he would leave it on the responsibility of Government, and would not come down to oppose it in the House. The Hon. Gentleman had charged his Hon. Friend with courting popularity with the army, by bringing forward this measure, but he ought to have known his character better by this time. He was not a man to go out of his way to court either the army or the public. Mr. WEYLAND supported the clause. Sir A. DALRYMPLE fully concurred in the clause. Colonel SIBTHORPE expressed his cordial concurrence in the clause. Mr. HUME had no wish whatever to bar naval and military officers from holding civil appointments, as he thought them fully qualified for such appointments. In deed, he should wish to see officers selected for such ap pointments, in order that their half-pay might be saved to the country, which was the intention of the Finance Com mittee in its recommendation in 1828. After a few words from General Phipps, Sir C. Forbes, Mr. Cresset Pelham, and Sir F. Trench, in support of the clause, Mr. WEYLAND asked whether the Right Hon. Gen tleman would have any objection to allow officers who had served 10 years, and who had since taken holy orders, to continue to receive their half pay? Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE, in reply, could not concur in the suggestion, as such officers could not be called upon to serve. The Right Hon. Baronet then defended the prin ciple of the clause against the objections of the Hon. Member for Middlesex. Many cases had occurred, with reference to the subject of half-pry, involving circum stances so piteous, to which, if he had followed the dic tates of his own feelings, instead of performing the strict duty of a public officer, he must have given way. The effect of this clause would, he hoped, be to lessen the number of such cases in future. The question between him and the Hon. Member for Middlesex was a question of economy. Now he (Sir J. Hobhouse) contended, that this clause did not involve an infringement of economy. The country, notwithstanding what the Hon. Member had said, would give him as much credit for his motives, as they gave the Hon. Member for his. Sir J. GRAHAM, on the score both of justice and economy, was prepared to support the clause pro posed by his Hon. Friend, but not without restrictions. In answer to an observation from Sir A. DALRYMPLE, Sir J. GRAHAM said, that the benefit of employing half-pay officers to perform civil duties was, that if they were executed by civilians they would on retirement, superannuation, or the abolition of office, be entitled to a retiring allowance, whereas, in the other case, the officer would fall back upon his half-pay. The clause was then agreed to.—report to-morrow. CASE OF PRIVATE SONIERVILLE. Sir J. HOBHOUSE said, an inquiry had been made, by the Hon. Member for Coventry, as to what was meant to be done with respect to the proceedings in the ease of private Alexander Somerville. Thoe proceedings had this day been laid before the King ; and he bad stated, that when his Majesty's pleasure was taken thereon, he would be reedy to give every information on the subject. He had now to inform the House, that it would be his duty to lay the proceedings of that Court of Inquiry—the report they had agreed to—and the opinion of his Majesty thereon, before P rliament —(Hear, hear.) CROWN COLONIES (WEST INDIES) RELIEF. Lord ALTHORP moved the order of the day for re ceiving the report of the Committee on the relief to be afforded to the West India Crown colonies. Mr. HUME asked whether the Noble Lord had re ceived any information with respect to the Order in Council of the sth of January, 1031, having been acted on by any of the West India colonies ? Lord HOWICK answered, that all the information which had been received on the subject was lying at the bar, and would be presented in the course of the evening. Mr. Bt RGE expressed his regret that the information alluded to bad not been laid before the House at an earlier period. At the proper time he would state the grounds on which many of the colonies objected to these Orders in Council. The expense that would be incurred in car rying them into effect would be exceedingly heavy. Lord HOWICK said, the information required had been produced as speedily as possible. Mr. T. COURTENAY objected to the mode in which, as he haul beard, Ministers meant to carry this measure. They intended to tack it to another, which, although it related to the West Indies, had no connection whatever with the particular subject of the proposed grant ; and, 9 , by that means, they hoped to prevent the other House of Parliament from exercising than proper interference, which otherwise they would most probably do. Mr. IRVING said, that as to the Orders in Council, to him they appeared exceedingly objectionable, and he en tirely condemned them. With respect to the reward to be given to those colonies which obeyed these Orders in Council, he was certain, that while it would entail a large enpense on this country, it would not be productive of beneficial consequences. The Hon. Member expressed his doubt as to the right of the Crown, by its prerogative, to enforce these Orders. He then adverted to the wretched state to which, under regulations formerly agreed to, the island of St. Lucia (as we understood) was reduced ; and concluded by observing, that though the measure about to be proposed was conceived in a good spirit, he was far from believing that it would be acceptable to the colonies. Lord HOWICK said, that as the Order in Council had been attacked by the Honourable Member, he would trouble the House with a very few observations upon a subject which had been already so fully and com pletely discussed. Measures of a similar description for the amelioration of the condition of the slaves, had been brought into operation in Trinidad and St. Lucia in 1824 and 1825, and they had there produced the atost salutary effects towards attaining the object which they bad in view. It was upon the satisfactory and suc• cessful operation of those measures that the order in coun cil of 1831 was founded, and it was in accordance princi pally with their provisions that that order was framed. Yet such was the measure which had excited the indignation anti provoked the attack of the Hon. Member. He was asto nished to hear the Hon. Member question the prerogative of the Crown in enforcing the order in council in the Crown colonies. The Hon. Member, in doing so, had especially referred to British Guiana. Now, it so hap pened, that since the capitulation of British Guiana. not a year had ei2psed in which some order in council had not been introduced there, and enforced by the Crown. The Hon. Member was misinformed, too, when he stated that the Government were ready to submit the question as to the prerogative of the Crown to the decision of a court of law, by having it tried by what was called a feigned issue. It was only a fortnight ago that he (Lord Howick) had addressed a letter, by the direction of Lord Goderich, to the persons connected with the Crown colonies, informing them that his Majesty's Government would not submit that question to a feigned issue, as they had no doubt whatever with regard to the prerogative of the Crown on the sub ject, but that the parties themselves might, of course, if they pleased, appeal to a court of law on the subject. As the Hon. Member's speech embraced no special details, he was not called upon to give any special answer to it, and he should not at present trouble the House with any fur ther observations. inorrow. Sir A. DALRYMPLE objected to the late period of the session at which this important subject hail been brought before Parliament. Mr. BURGE said that the Noble Lord had betr iyed his ignorance of the constitutional law relative to the colonies, when he insisted on th.; prerogative of the Crown en forcing the Order in Council in the Crown colonies. So far from the power of the Crown being undoubted on that point, some of the first law authorities beat acquainted with the subject were at variance with the Noble Lord ; and it was a fact, that when the Judges in Trinidad were called upon to enforce the Order in Council, the whole of them left the Court, with the exception of the Chief Justice. Lord ALTHORP remarked, that the object of the Orders in Council was to improve the condition of the slave population of the colonies, without effecting any in jury to the interests of the planters. He did not see that any argument had been used on the other side to in duce the House to refuse its acquiescence to these reso lutions. Lord SANDON, as he had already so fully stated to the House his reasons for pursuing the conduct he had followed with reference to this subject, should not now trouble the House, nor further oppose this vote, though the Noble Lord opposite had not afforded that information which might have been expected from him. Mr. F. BUNTON observed, that the Orders in Council wore intended to benefit the slave population, without hay- 4 ~ ing any reference to tyre planters themselves. He hoped that his Majesty's Ministers would avail themselves of the opportunity afforded them in the approaching recess, in devising some measure for the utter extinction of the abo minable system of negro slavery. Mr. EWART supported most cordially the Orders in Council, under the consideration that they were a pro gressive measure towards a general relief of the slave po pulation of the West India colonies. Mr. FANE condemned the entire policy of Government with regard to the colonies, as absurd and impolitic. Mr. HUNIE could not hesitate in thinkin.; that the conduct of the Government of this country with reference to the colonies, had been, and was, most absurd. In deed, it appeared that according to the system pursued, scarcely one Order in Council bad been issued, and had ar rived in the colony to which it was directed, when with out time being allowed to that colony to adopt it, however willing it might be to do so, another Order in Council followed, which went to mitigate or modify its predeces sor. He maintained that the prerogative of the Crown should only he exercised for the benefit of the public, and he was prepared to contend, that it was not in the power of the Crown to interfere with those rights which England possessed by any Order in Council, and on the same princi ple, lie was of opinion that it was improper in such a way to interfere with the colonies. He beld it to be a great thwarting of the Crown colonies so to interfere, or that they should not be maintained in that sys. tern or constitution established in 1763 by the Orders in Council of that date, and by which it had been ordained, that every colony subject to the Crown of England should not only govern themselves, hut have also the power of taxing themselves. These rights ought to have been pre served, instead of the colonies being made subject to the arbitrary issuing of Orders in Council. He did not doubt that Government meant and intended that the colonies should be properly governed, but at the same time he did not hesitate to sly that their efforts towards this object had failed of success. In the Mauritius, the refusal to re ceive a certain individual sent out as judge in that colony, and even the Orders in Council themselves had been almost , the object of an insurrection in that colony. In short, the system pursued could only tend to the weakening, and not to the improvement of either this country or her colonies. He more particularly objected to the period when the sub ject had been brought forward—a measure, fraught as it was with importance,—at a time, and with an assemblage of Members in the House, when the progress of pressing public business might be interfered with in a manner ex tremely unpleasant. He, therefore, would anxiously suggest the postponement of the consideration of the pre sent subject, until it was satisfactorily known in what manner the Orders in Council had been received in the colonies. Such information was not now before the House, nay, he held in his hand the protest of the residents in Trinidad, and also of the colonists i❑ Demerara, declaring that they could not and would not concur in the carrying those orders into effect. He should also he glad to know from the Noble Lord who had attempted to answer the questions which had arisen in this respect, whether the accounts from St. Lucia or the Mauritius tended to show that they would support this project. On the whole, it appeared to him that the measure was premature in the highest degree, and he therefore hoped the Noble Lord opposite would wait until he had information of the practical re-ohs arising from the receipt by the colonies of these Orders in Council. When this informa tion had bee❑ received, he (Mr. Hume) should be ready to assist the Noble Lord in carrying those Orders into effect, or to accomplish an amelioration of the condition of the slave population. With respect to that subject, he hesitated not to call upon the Hon. Member f r Weymouth (Mr. F. Buxton) to come forward with some measure, and suggest to the Government some plan, which would accomplish that object. However, the planters had as much right to complain of the loss of property, as much their own as that of any individual in this portion of his Majesty's dominions. When this was done, then let the Government take 57,0001. a.year, or thrice that sum, for the purposes of compensation and the abolition of slavery. Mr. SADLER was ready to applaud Government for the line of conduct which they had in this instance pur sued with reference to the slave p pulation of the co lonies; at the same time he regretted that they had not directed their attention to another system of slavery which prevailed. However great the sufferings of the slaves i❑ the colonies might be, admitting all the statements which had been made upon the subject to be true, yet he would submit to the Government, and the Noble Lord opposite, that the condition of the children labouring in factories in this country was one equally deserving of attention. He thought he was justified in embracing the present fitting opportunity of bringing before the Government of the country the condition of the white, the infant slaves of this country, who laboured fifteen hours a-day, and that, too, in a manner which had excited the sympathies of the people of this country. Mr. WEYLAND thought the Session should not be allowed to pass without making some provision as to in. fant labour. The Resolution was then put and agreed to, and the question having been put that it be an instruction to the Committee to provide for carrying the Resolution into effect, Mr. COURTENAY said his voice should ha given against the instruction. Af er a few words from Lord ALTHORIP, Mr. BURGE, and Mr. WFYLAND, the instruction waa agreed to. CIVIL LIST PAYMENTS BILL. On the motion of Lord ALTHORP, the House went into Committee on the Civil List Payments Bill. Mr. COITR.TENAY protested against the Bill as being of a republican tendency. Lord ALTHORP said, there was no foundation for the Right Hon. Member's objection to the measure, which had been adopted with a view to economy, it bring considered that that object would be hest promoted by placing the salaries of the great officers of state under the supervision of Parliament, without whose approbation it was impos sible for any Ministry to carry on the government of the country. Mr. HUME asked whether it would not be proper, with a view to the relief of suitors, to abolish all fees hi therto received by judges and other law officers, especially as the salaries of the judges had been increased. Lord ALTHORP said, there could be no objection to abolish such fees as on inquiry might appear objectionable ; but he did not think it desirable to put an end to all fees indiscriminately, o❑ a partial and imperfect view of the subject. The remaining clauses having been agreed to without amendment, the Chairman reported progress. Report to- THE LORD CHANCELLOR'S SALARY BILL. Lord ALTHORP moved the reading of the order of the (lay for the House to go into Committee on the Lord Chancellor's Salary Bill. On the question that the Speaker do leave the Chair, Mr. SADLER said, that though it was very possible his observations on this subject might lay him open to . . retnark4 which would not be at all agreeable, still he thought his duty and his regard for consistency called on him to express his sentiments, and that in justice to his own opinions he could not adopt any other course. When the Right Hon. Baronet opposite was out of office, and proposed certain resolutions relating to the salaries of the higher officers of State, he (Mr. Sadler) had supported those resolutions, as he had done all reconitnendations that had for their effect to diminish the public burdens. He saw no reason to depart from that principle of conduct on the present occasion. He thought that the office, the salary of which was now under consideration, was one that ought to be maintained with becoming dignity, and certainly he should not stand forward to refuse the neces sary allowance for that purpose. He must, however, say, that he objected to granting the salary now required. It had been found necessary to diminish the duties which the Chancellor was called on to perform, and he had been accordingly relieved from a part of his labours. Those labours were thrown upon the shoulders of others, but those who were called on to perform them received; compensation from the public purse. That fact ought to be taken into consideration in declaring the amount of this salary. It was alleged that much valuable patronage had been taken away from the Lord Chancellor. That might be; but still, in his opinion, enough remained to satisfy any reasonable person. It had been stated, in 1821 , , that the average income of the Lord Chancellor amounted to 120001. a year—a sum which was occasionally much increased by the emoluments derived from his acting in the Court of Bankruptcy when bankruptcies occurred in great numbers; but surely a time of more than ordinary distress, which produced an increase of the emoluments of the Chancellor's office, ought not to be taken as the standard by which the usual profits of that office ought to be aßcertaineti. The circumstances of the time, the altera- tion in the value of money, were things that showed the salary ought not to be kept at the same amount as be fore. In February, 1822, Mr. Brougham proposed a resolution, declaring that it was the duty of that House to obtain such a reduction of the taxes as was required by the change in the value of money, and in that manner to afford substantial relief to the industrious classes of tl e country. At the time the Home Secretary stated that the salary of the Lord Chancellor did not exceed on the average 12,0001. a-year. It was with surprise, after all this, that he heard such a sum as 14,0001. a-ycar pro posed fur the salary of the present Chancellor. He was fully convinced that there was no individual who was le,s influenced by a lore of sordid gain than the Noble and Learned Lord, and he was sure that the present proposal was not dictated in that spirit. Indeed, he believed that the Noble and Learned Lord would not have fixed the salary at so high a sum, had the settling of its amount been left to him. Still, however, he believed that the sum itself would be thought an extravagant sum by th e people, and he, therefore, called on that House to do what public duty required in reducing the amount of it. Lord ALTHORP must say that he was himself a little surprised when he heard the Honourable Member talk of surprise on tieing informed of the amount of the salary now proposed. One of the first acts of the present Go vernment had been to refer to a Committee the salaries of the higher officers of the State, and that Committee re ceived instructions to declare in what manner and by what amount they could be reduced. When was it that this surprise had come upo❑ the Hon. Member? That Com mittee had recommended the sum of 11,000/. a year as the amount to be fixed for the salary of the Lord Chancel lor, so that that sum was not now proposed for the first time to take the Hon. Member by surprise. He had no doubt that the country would approve of the present pro posal, which, so far from being an increase of the salary of the Lord Chancellor, was a positive reduction.—(Hear, hear.) In the year in which the present Lord Chancel lor had been paid according to the old system, his income had amounted to 11,6007., after all deductions had been made; but the income was generally higher, and in seve ral instances it had exceeded 18,000/. or 20,000/. a-year. It was said that the sunk which ought to he taken as the proper standard for the amount of a salary was that at which the services of a man fit to fill the office could be obtained. Taking that as the rule, he did not think the present amount too high; for at a less sum it would be impossible to hope to obtain in this office the services of a leading man at the bar, who could never return to the practice of his profession, and who must take the chances of a short tenure of office.—(Hear, hear.) He shod, now only say one word as to the retiring pension. IL thought that that pension ought not to take effect till al the sinecure offices attached to the Great Seal were abo lished, and when the proper time came, he should propose a clause to that effect. Mr. HUME said, it was certainly true that the sum of 11,0001. a year had been recommended by a large majo rity of the Committee to which the Noble Lord had re ferred—by a majority in fact of fourteen to two. He was, however, one of the two.—(A laugh,)—and he still preserved his opinion. It was true, also, that when Lord Eldon was Chancellor, the emoluments of the office had ex ceeded 17, 18, and even 20,000/. a year; but the Commit tee did not found their calculations on that income. They took the income of Lord Lyndhurst, which had averaged 14,0001. and a few hundreds a year. But part of that sa lary had arisen from the fees in Bankruptcy. Now the Bankruptcy jurisdiction had been taken from the Lord Chancellor, and along with the fees went the labour. It therefore did not appear to him fair that the Chancellor should receiv, the lull amount of fees which he would have received had the duties of the Bankruptcy jurisdiction been continued. This was the only office that bad not been reduced ; and he thought it ought not longer to form the ext:eptir n. He wished, too, that the duties might be further diminished, and that the Speakership of the House of Lords should he divided from the Chancellorship, and that a portion of the salary should be reduced on that account. He should be ready to support any proposition for reduc ing the salary to 12,0001. a year. The House went into C , mmittee. Mr. SADLER moved, as an Amendment, a reduction of 2,0001. a year (as we understood) on the Chancellor's Salary. The Committee divided__ For the Amendment li Against it 52 Majority — 46 The other clauses were agreed to; the house resumed; report to be received this day. GREEK CONVENTION BILL. Lord ALTHORP moved the second reading of the Greek Convention Bill. Mr. BEST repeated his objections to the Bill, and con tended that it was highly injudicious for this country to guarantee this loan in the present state of our finances. He wanted to know what security there was that we should not finally be called upon to pay the whole of the money? He knew that it had been said that it would be the means of putting down piracies, but, in his opinion, those piracies might be put down much more cheaply and much more creditably, by this Government, in another way. Under these circumstances, he hoped that the Noble Lord would consent to postpone the Bill to another opportunity, when they might be better able to discuss it. The Honourable Gentleman concluded by moving, that the Bill be read a second time this day six months. Sir P. VINCENT seconded the Amendment, because he thought the Convention would prove onerous to this country, and that it was not calculated to secure the ob ject which it had in view. Col. EVANS said he understood that the bargain con tained in this Conventio❑ was almost confirmed before the present Government came into office, and therefore it might, perhaps, amount to a breach of faith if the terms of the bargain were now infringed. He was, therefore, quite prepared to support the Bill. Mr. HUME said this was an act of the Holy Alliance, of which we had the honour to be one. The specula tion now, with respect to Greece, was to send them a King, for which they had never asked. To him it seemed a most Quixotic arrangement, and one to which our Go vernment had been seduced by the wiles and artifices of Russia. Mr. RUTIIVEN considered the guarantee the same thing as absolutely giving the money; and he thought that this country had already sufficient loans of its own at home, without meddling with any foreign one. He should, therefore, oppose the Bill. Mr. COURTENAY thought that we had gone too far in this transaction now to recede. He, however, did con ceive, that in voting for this loan, he was voting a sum of 800,000/. ; for he certainly had no expectation that a farthing of it would be repaid. Why were we to send a boy to be King of Greece, when we were sending a man to govern the lonian Islands?—(A laugh.) A very full grown man, too.—(Loud laughter.) He believed he was correct when he stated that that Noble Lord (Nugent) had royal blood in his veins much more ancient than that of the House of Bavaria, and therefore he saw no reason why the Noble Lord should not be transmitted to the Greeks as their King, instead of little Prince Otho.—(Laughter.) Lord PALMERSTON contended that this country was so far pledged to this guarantee, that we could not recede ; and he most sincerely believed that the security offered in return for our guarantee was quite sufficient to guard England against any loss. He believed that the intervention of the three Powers was absolutely necessary to secure the pacification of Greece, and to prevent a continual recurrence of cruel and bloody wars between the Turks and the Greeks. The Hon. Member for Middlesex called this scheme Quix otic; that language might do in 1832, when all was neatly settled ; but if they looked back to the time when Greece was struggling day by day with her enemies, they would find that the universal sense of Europe was, that it was advisable for the three Powers to interfere for the pur. pose of preventing the continuance of that warfare. If ever there was a transaction not only honourable to Eng land, but calculated to conduce to its interests, it was the course which this country had pursued with respect to Greece, releasing it from its bondage, and establishing its right to rank among the independent states of Europe. With respect to the choice of the Sovereign, he thought that that of Prince Otho was, under all the circumstances, the most judicious that could' be made: and, in addition to other points in that Prince's favour, it might be well to state, that Otho would be accompanied to Greece by three persons (he did not feel himself at liberty to mention their names, though he believed that the selection was finally determined), who were men of such ability and character as to hold out the happiest presage in favour of the future fortunes of Greece. He also begged to add, that several of the most influential of the Greek chieftains had signi fied to the three Powers their concurrence in the selection that bad been made, and had expressed the greatest anx iety for the speedy arrival of their new Monarch. The House was cleared for a division, but none took place, and the Bill was read a second time. PARTY PROCESSIONS (IRELAND) BILL. On re-entering the Gal ery we found the House in Committee on the Party Processions' (Ireland) Bill. Mr. SHAW protested against proceeding with the Bill at that time of the Session, when so many Irish Members were out of town, relying on the Bill nut being brought forward this Session. Mr. STANLEY expressed his determination to pro ceed with the Bill. If the Irish Members conceived the Bill was ❑ot to come on, the misapprehension was their own. There was no understanding that the Bill should be dropped. Mr. SHAW moved that the Chairman do report pro gress, and ask leave to sit again. On this question the Committee divided— Ayes ............... t. Noes . :is Majority 31 The Committee subsequently divided on a similar mo tion after the Gallery was cleared._ Ayes Noes ..................... Majority After an absence of an hour and a half, (luring whcb, we understand, 2 divisions took place upon the question of postponing the Bill, and upon the different clauses, the BM went through the Committee. The Report was or. dered to he received this day. Mr. STANLEY said, that after the delay which had taken place, he felt he could not proceed with the motion of which he had given notice; but he gave notice that early in the next Session be should move for leave to bring in a Bill to change the venue in certain cases in Ire land, with a view to the better administration of criminal justice in Ireland. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter past Three o'clock. Last night was a sort of duodecimo edition of the me morable seven o'clock devision on the Reform Rill. Mr. Sbaw, the Recorder of Dublin, have registered a vow not in heaven, like his great political opponent, Mr. O'Con nell, but at the door of the stage coach which bore his Learned coadjutor in Orangeism, and Mr. Lefroy, to the Isle of Wight, to this effect, that should the Bill for the Abolition of Religious Processions be brought forward during his (Mr. L.'s) absence, he (Mr. Shaw) pledged himself to oppose it in every stage, which pledge he most religiously redeemed (by dragging the House through no less than twenty-four divisions,) in spite of all remon strance by his adherents and opponents to the contrary. The subjoined is a corrected List of the Members of the Majority, who remained until past Three:— LIST OF THE MAJORITY AND M PARTY PROCESSIONS' (IREL MAJORITY. Hodges, T. L Irving, John Jefftey, Rt. Hon. F. Kennedy, T. F. Labouchere, H. Lamb, Hon. G. Leader, N. P. Maherly, W. L. Mackenzie, J. A. S. McNamara, W. N. M•Leod, It. Musgrave, Sir R. Macaulay, T. B. MINORITY. I Shaw, Sibth, NORITY ON THE AND) BILL. Anon), Viscount Baring, F. T. Bentinck, Lord G. Calcraft, G. H. Cramptln, P. C. Denman, Sir Thos. Duncannon, Visc. Dixon, J. Forbes, Sir C. Graham, SirJ. R. G Gordon, R. [ t ., I Horne, Sir W. 11 Hughes, W. H. O'Ferrall, R. i\l. Palmerston, Visc. Petit, L. H. Penlease, J. S. Ponsonby, Hon. G. Russell, Lord J. Rice, T. S. Ruthven, E. S. Thomson, C. P. Walker, C. A. Wood, C. Willoughby, Sir H. Wrightson, W. B. Best, Hon. W. Courtenay, T. kOrpe. C. D. L. NATIONAL POLITICAL UNION. The weekly Meeting of this Union took place last even ing at Saville-house, Liecester-square. Mr. Mongred dieu in the chair. The SECRETARY read the minutes of the last meeting, which were confirmed, and the several Reporters stated what they had done since they had last met. Mr. TAYLOR moved three resolutions, to the effect— " That the late attempts of the Germanic Diet were a violation of the faith of treaties, and of the common rights and interests of men in society ; that it was an aggrava tion of the atrocity that they should be enforced by the Sovereigns of Austria and Prussia ; and that it was with reprobation the prostitution of the name of Great Britain was viewed by the adhesion of the King of Hanover to them ; that admiration and sympathy were due to those brave patriots who had struggled against the degradation of the Germanic people, and who were still struggling in the great cause of liberty and humanity." He trusted that the importance of the occasion would justify his refer. ring to foreign politics. It became him, he deemed, to do so, as a member of one of those Unions which had been such mighty engines in passing the Reform Bill, and placing Lord Grey on the summit on which he now stood. The worthy Gentleman said the ob ject of the two Monarchs of Prussia and Russia in forming the Diet, was to put down Reform. He then alluded to the King of Hanover's adhesion, and said it was a striking mark of inconsistence, or something worse, to see one and the same individual giving his adhesion to this most atrocious document, at the very moment he was giving his assent to the English, Irish, and Scotch Re form Bills. What, lie asked, would be concluded from this, but that he was forced to it by public opinion --as kept alive by the Unions ? Let nobody then talk of dis solving the Unions until the results of those Bills were known. He concluded by asserting that the people of England should support, by every possible means, the Germans in their glorious struggle against despotism. The Rev. Mr. Fox seconded the resolution. Measures, he said, had been taken not exactly to cut down human life, but to sabre human intellect. Nothing could be so formidable, so terrible, so much to be dreaded, if the foul conspiracy that had dictated those diabolical measures suc ceeded. They were equally important and nefarious.— The debt that this country, above all others, owed to Ger many, was immense. It owed it information—it owed it all the advantages derivable from great example, as set forth by the wisest and most learned of men. But there was still a stronger reason to interfere—it was that the name of Great Britain had been tacked to the acts of the Diet. What ! the mighty influence of this country thrown into the scale of the party we most abhorred ! It was France—it was Belgium—it was Poland—it was Reform, that stung them to the quick. All this was the heel that bruised their head, and now they pour their poison where they may. Poland had bled and perished ; Germany had been crushed—what next ? Why, the Russian bayonet would again glitter in the valleys of France, should the people of this country be barbarous enough to look on without making an effort. There were hopes, however, for society was no longer what it had been. Intelligence was now with the oppressed, and nothing but brute force was left to the oppressor. There was an in vincible mind in Germany, that would never succumb to the sword of the tyrant. Mr. LAWLESS came here to claim the assistance of a powerful body, to enable the Germans in London to es tablish a newspaper in their language. He held i❑ his hand a resolution to that effect. The CHAIRMAN said, that the resolution could not be moved until the busintss before the Chair was disposed of. Mr. ROGERS—Though this Union was formed for do mestic purposes, as it were, he thought it might interfere in foreign matters, when liberty was upon the point of being attacked in her very citadel. It was upon this ground alone he assented to the resolutions. The original resolutions were then put from the Chair, and carried unanimously. Mr. TAYLOR moved that the resolutions be published in the Morning Chronicle, Times, and several other papers. Mr. ROGERS would oppose advertising if the papers did not circulate in Germany. The Rev. Mr. Fox could answer, that the proceedings of the first meeting, with respect to German affairs, as re ported in th e Morning Chronicle, were translated into German, in Germany, in consequence and that one hundred thousandof b ctopei paper es had been circulated itself being stopped on the frontier. Mr. KNIGHT moved the resolution Mr. Lawless had brought respecting a German newspaper. He also moved that it be published, together with the resolutions already passed. An amended resolution, purporting to support the pa per, and every other publication that tended to promote liberty in Germany and on the Continent, was afterwards put and carried. Mr. PLACE then read a Report that be had drawn up at the request of the Business Committee, in explanation of the details of the Reform Bill. If the Learned Gen tleman's calculations and deductions were correct, the Bill, instead of being a good, was an incalculable evil. It was understood that the same gentleman is to draw up a petition, which, when adopted by the Council, will be presented to the King, praying him to prorogue Par liament for a short period, in order that, in a new and short Session, the clause relative to rates may be ab scinded. His MAJESTY has granted an annuity of Soo/. to the widow of the late Mr. FAIRLES, the Magis trate, who was murdered near South Shields.—Neweastle Journal. THE STRAND TIIEATRE.--Last night, after t he performance of Wooing a Widow, in which Mrs. WAYLETT sustained the principal character with her usual ability, a new piece, in one act, was produced at this theatre, under the title of Six to four on Me Colonol. 'The plot turns upon the perplexing situations in which Ledger, a rich old merchant, is placed, in consequence of his unreasonable desire to add to his already immense wealth. The piece, which was well performed through out, is pleasantly written, and will nu doubt have the usual run of similar slight productions. Mr. WILLIAMS performed the part of the money .courting merchant. It is said that the lucrative agency of Colonel ARBUTIINOT fur the management and distribution of the Deccan priza.money was obtained for him, while yet a y o uth, by the Duke of WELLINGTON, the matter in ques. tion having, in the first instance, been left to his Grace's decision. We are sorry to mention, on the authority of a private letter, a fact which even the Miguelites of this country will be slow to believe, and we hope, for the sake of the character of the nation, to approve. It will he seen , by the despatch of Colonel Honces, that a British officer, Lieutenant BOULGER, was killed in the action of the 23d. A short time previously to his being interred with military honours in the British burial-ground of Oporto, the Commander of the corps to which he had be longed received a communication from the British Consul, Mr. Calsrtri, commanding him not to observe the usual military practice of firing over the grave of the deceased. To this insolent communication a suitable reply was ma d e , and the injunction was not, of course, obeyedg FRENCH PAPERS. (From Galignani's Messenger of Tuesday.) The Republican, a Swiss journal, asserts, that " all the foreign Ministers have had a conference at Berne, to con sult upon the question whether, in consequence of the lamentable progress of democratic principle in Switzer land, it would not be proper to address a note to the Diet. They all replied in the affirmative, except France, who called their attention to the unfavourable impression that such a note would make in consequence of the spirit pre valent in Switzerland. This observation calmed the ar dert desire manifested to interfere i❑ the affairs of the country." The Augsburg Gazette of the 3d inst. contains the following, dated Berlin, July 29 :—" Letters from the frontiers of Poland state, that the insurgents, who keep their ground in the forests and waste lands of Bialowitz, have attacked 5,000 Russians, who were escorting the Poles on their way towards the interior of Russia. The latter consisted of about 1,000 Polish prisoners and re cruits. The Russians were completely defeated, and the Poles joined the ranks of the insurgents. Strong bo dies of Russian troops were afterwards sent against the insurgents, but as it is impossible to penetrate into those thick forests, intersected by defiles, and willed with caverns, they are endeavouring to establish a line of troops on the waste lands, for the purpose of cutting off the sup plies which the insurgents receive from Lithuania. This project appears impracticable, as it would require too great a number of men for such an extent of territory, and as the bands of insurgents, in bearing upon one point, could easily break the line. Prince Z iba and Colonel Koss, an officer who had a post in the expedition of General Giel gild, carry on almost a regular warfare ; they have cavalry and infantry well-armed, and some cannon. Like the Spanish guerillas, they suddenly disappear from one point, and show themselves on another at a great distance. The chiefs every where proclaim liberty for the serfs—a measure which the Polish Nobles had unfortunately neg.. lected. The peasants are rising in many parts of the countty, and it is not impossible that this movement among the serfs on the Russian frontiers may be propagated into Russia." A letter from Vienna communicates the following pa - ticulars on the last moments of the Duke de Reichstadt:— " On the day preceding that of his death, the unfortunate Prince said to his mother, who, since her arrival, had at tended him with the most tender solicitude—' The dream of life will soon be at an end. Do not weep, my dear mother ; my life has been of short duration, but I have no enemies. My name will be transmitted to posterity." The Prince then gave Maria Louisa a portrait of Napo leon, i❑ which he had mingled some of his own hair with that of his father. The Duke de Reichstadt was also anxious to give to his mother some writings, which she took to please him, but soon after she sent them off by a confidential person to the Emperor." The Berlin State Gazette of the Ist instant quotes Prussian Four per Cents. 931; ditto Five per Cents. (1822), English Loan, 1021. A letter from Cassel states that the censorship of that town has forbidden the editors of journals to translate most of the reflections made by the English newspapers upon the protocol of the Diet of the Germanic Confede ration. Letters from Poland state that fresh persecutions have been added to those which already oppressed the inhabi tants of that kingdom. Hitherto the estates of the re fugees and those of their wives were only under seques tration, but this is now converted into confiscation, in the eight palatinates, as was formerly the case with the old provinces united to Russia. FRENCH, FUNDS.-PARIS, Aug. 7.-Five per Cents., 991. 65c. €oc. 55c.45c 50c. 45c. 50c. 55c. 60c. 991. 65c.; Four and a Half per Cents., 901. 50c.; Three per Cents., 691. 50c. 40c. 50c. 40c. 45c. 50c. 45c. 40c. 45c. 691. 40c. 45c. 50c. 55c. 60c. ; National Loan, 991. 85c.; Bank Actions, 1,66711 50c. ; Rente de Naples, 801. 90c. 81f. 801. 95c .; Roman Five per Cents, 79% ; Rente d'Es pagne, 14 13 1 /4 14 13; Royal Spanish Loan, 77 ; Rente Per petual d'Fspagne , 55% 56 55% 56 561,4 56%; Belgic Loan, 78yti 14. Exchange on London-One month, paper, 25f. 85c. ; money, 251. 80c. ; Three months, paper, 25f. 70c.; money, nr. 65c.-fours Authentique. PORTUGAL. DESPATCH OF COLONEL BODGES TO COUNT VILLA FLORA COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE LIBERATING ABU?. OPORTO, JULY 27. SIR,—In obedience to your Excellency's orders, I have the honour to inform you, for the information of his Im perial Majesty, the Duke of Bragarma, that, following your instructions, I advanced, at 4 o'clock on the morning of the 23d, on the extreme right of the enemy's line, with the following force under my command Third battalion of the 18th Regiment of the Line; a detachment of Foot Artillery bearing muskets; a detach. ment of the Sacred Battalion ; the French Battalion, un der the command of Major Drichar ; the head -quarter de tachment of the British Battalion ; one six-pounder. Owing to the difficulties of the roads and the rapidity of my movements, I was unable to bring this gun into bear ing, and consequently desired that it should join the centre division of our line. Some time before noon I forded the river Ferreira, through which the troops passed up to their middle, and formed the French and British in column, threw out the light company of the French and that of the third batta lion of the 18th, under the command of Major Miranda, of the French battalion, to clear the wood in our front and on the left of the enemy. The force under Major Mi randa executed this admirably well, clearing the right of the wood, while the column of French and British ad- vanced on its left under a galling fire of musketry and artillery ; and, having driven the cloud of skirmishers therefrom, rapidly ascended the enemy's position, and car ried it. We were afterwards reinforced on this night by the 3d battalion of the 18th Infantry, when the French and English took up a fresh position on the left of the wood, the enemy's cavalry having made a rapid charge on its front, drawn into it apparently by the vexatious ardour of some French and English, who had followed a portion of the enemy, which they had driven from the wood, some distance down the plain, hut were unfortunately too few to form the regular resistance to cavalry by square. Re tiring, however, on the wood, they dexterously turned on their pursuers, and repulsed them with slaughter. Not as yet receiving the reinforc emen t I so li c i te d , through Lieutenant an d Adjutant Mitchell and Mr. Seal, whom I despatched, and which I deemed necessary to the maintaining of my position, and finding my left menaced by a body of volunteers and guerillas, while I saw three regular columns advancing on my front, and not knowing at the same time the situation of our forces on my right, I re-crossed the Ferreira, bringing with me my wounded, and took up a position immediately above it, intending to await the required support. Shortly after effecting this movement, the Count de St. Leger informed me that the Ist battalion of the 18th were on the opposite side of the river, where I immediately joined them, and found them briskly engaged with the enemy. We advanced, supported by the 3d battalion of the 18th, turned the hill by its left, whilst the Ist batta lion crowned it, and drove the enemy from it with rapi dity. This position I maintained during the night, and until I received on the following morning your Excel lency's orders to retire. It is a most pleasing part of my duty to state the dis tinguished and gallant conduct of the French and British battalions, and, indeed, I may add, of the troops generally under my command. h h o ill % . vas killed, with csdaithoivaeifetpr l n,ii have great pleasure in saying how much lam indebted to the activity and intelligence of the Count de e S iv t et . od L tf e hr g oem e ir r ao t o etn i rt n o osit; :n i eioia,nei ncndgukawrotnytifihi::tee,ht' acknowledge neee . utied t reo e tne r nrsee i dedt e mnh : tanhi w tort ettet l aig i ncodiakgmoba battalion, loe c ezn e nteo o aso m tl uhwlmvp p e. a hpnu n iodce i rh e htg d as jlelmul served eietcdet gallantry. with Ithroughoutamme that i : m a in A p: ci gn - I regret to have to report the loss of Major Checar, six of his men, in a too ardent advance in pursuit of tt.e enemy on the plain ; nor can I speak too highly of the gallant conduct of his corps. I hope I shall not be suspected of partiality in bringing before the notice of his Imperial Majesty that little band of my countrymen which lam proud to have organised, the British battalion, which was gallantly led into ac tion by Captain Shaw, an intelligent officer of old Penin sular experience. pe many And it aiunwilling deserve st a up nrpraise, Staunton, ledonto individualise any, where so d thea ndutythe plaintomen;tionni the e e name earl it of e. of Ca to state, that Lieut enant nto the wood and pursu e Henry Boulger and two rank and file were killed, and Lieutenant Edward Chatterton , two sergeants, and nine rank and file, wounded. I had repeated opportunit i e s li kew is e of witnessing th e gallant conduct of Lieutenant a nd Adjutant Mitch e ll, an d enemy's c h skirmishers a ffair, i It is regret downmy Lieutenants Burton and Jenkins; and no men are more deserving of praise than Surgeon Souper and A,sistant .;a the per!ortn ance of their duties. .. _ Surgeon Alcock, for their fearless activity And further, in obedience to th e i nstructions received from your Excellency, in your letter of this day's date, I have to transmit the returns sent to me by the officer com manding the Sacre , l Battalion, and the third battalion of the 18th regiment of infantry, Which mention the names of those officers whom they think deserving of any mark of distinction which his Imperial Majesty may be pleased to bestow. The commanding officers of the French battalion and detachment of artillery have not yet sent in the nominal returns of those individuals whom they think thus deserv ing. But I, however, take this opportunity of recommend . ing the:conduct of Captain Bourseau, whose gallantry I personally witnessed, and Major Miranda, whom I have already mentioned. I have the honour to be, Si r , your Excellency's most obedient humble servant, G. LLOYD HODGES, Commanding Left Douro Liberating Ara'''. The loss of the division under my emnmand was three off° rg, and fifteen rank and file, killed; fifteen officers, and fifty-six rank and file, wounded. G. LLOYD HODGES. HIS MAJESTY'S LEVEE. His Majesty arrived in town a little before two o ' c lock yesterday, attended by Sir Andrew Barnard, from Wind sor, escorted by a party of Light Horse. The King was received on his arrival at the Palace by his Royal Brother the Duke of Cumberland. His Majesty held a Levee, receiving those first entitled to the privilege of the entree. Lord Heytesbury was introduced to his Majesty, on his return to England from his Embassy at St. Petersburgb) by Viscount Palmerston, his Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Chad, the — King's Envoy Extraordinary and Minix' ter Plenipotentiary to the King of Prussia, was presented to the King, on his return from Berlin, by Viscount Ps!' merston. His Majesty gave audience to the Field Officer in wait' ing and Colonel of the Guard, who laid before the King the effective state of the three regiments of Foot Guards• The King also gave audiences to Earl Grey, Viscount Pal' merston, the Marquis of Wellesley, the Duke of Devon' shire, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Richmond, Mr. Stanley, Lord Hill, Sir James Kempt, Viscount Mel' bourne, Lord Heytesbury, and the Right Hon. R o bert Grant (the Judge Advocate General), who, it was under' stood, laid before his Majesty the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry respecting the case of the soldier Somerville. There wire also present at the entree Levee the Rucsian Ambassador, the Neapolitan, Bavarian, Prussian, Spanish. Wurtemburg, Hanoverian, Saxon, French, Netherlands. and Brazilian Ministers ; the Sardinian and United States Charges d'Affaires; General Goblet, on a special mission; the Bishop of London, the First Lord of the Treasury. the Secretaries of State for the Home and Foreign Depart ments, the Postmaster General, the Secretary of State for Ireland, the Lord Chamberlain, the Lord Steward, the Master of the Horse, the Captain of the Hon. Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, the Captain of the Yeoman Guard• Lord Hill (Gold Stick in Waiting), the Master General 01 the Ordnance, the Comptroller of the Household, the Master of the Ceremonies, Slr Ralph Bigland (Garter King of Arms), Sir Augustus Clifford (Usher of the Bladt Rod), the Groom of the Robes, Master Graves (Page 01 Honour). At the General Levee were— Loans-Heytesbury, Auckland, A. Fitzclarence, Sal toun. Pocrox—Bernard. REV.—F. B. Grant. SlR—Archibald Christie. MESSIEURS-Kelly, A. E. Knox, Waller Clifton , Powys, Thomas Byron, Baker, Chad, Wombwell, Raiser Browne. ADMIRAL—Sir Charles Ogle. MAJOR—Martin. CAPTAINS—CampbeII, Arthur Ogle, F. C. Eb bar t. COMMANDER —Charles ifiultain. LIEUTENANT—G. W. D. O'Hara. The following were presented : Mr. Powys, on changing his name, by the Earl ofDenbigb' Mr. Waller Clifton, late Secretary to the Yictualling Board, on being granted, in consideration of his sere vices, an extra pension upon the abolition of his office? by Sir James Graham. _ _ Dr. Bernard, on going to Hanover, by Sir H. Halfordt Bart. Mr. Kelly, by the Marquis of Clanricarde. Mr. Thomas Byron, upon going abroad, by Lord Pal' merston. Mr. Baker, on going abroad, by Lord Palmerston. Mr. Arthur Edward Knox, by Mr. D. Browne, M.P. Captain Campbell, Grenadier Guards, on promotion, b 1 Colonel Woodford. Major Martin, Royal Dragoons, by Lord Edw. Somerset' Commander Charles Haultain, by Sir J. Graham. Captain Arthur Ogle, 9th Regiment, by Vice-Admiral SIC Charles Ogle, Bart. The Duke of DEVONSHIRE will leave town on Friday next, for Bolton Abbey, in Yorkshire, to be ready for the grouse shooting, which is now attracting sportsmen to the moors in the north. In the neighbour" hood of Bolton Abbey, and also at Chatsworth, the moor° are very extensive, and grouse this year are in great abund' ance. The Noble Duke himself is said to be one of the best shots in the kingdom. His Grace, during his stay it' the North, will visit Londisborough, another magnificent seat belonging to him in Yorkshire. The departure of the Duke of WELLINGTON for the North is fixed, we understand, for Monday, the 20tb instant. His Grace proceeds for a week to Strathfieldsayr en Monday or Tuesday next, accompanied by Mr. Cit i tztr.l o AanurtiNoT. During his Grace's sojourn in Scotland he will be the guest of the Duke of BuccLzum, at Dalkeitb, Palace. The Marquis of ABERCORN and a select party 01 Sottish Nobility, whose political opinions accord with those of the illustrious ex-Minister, have been invited to meet his Grace at Dalkeith. JOHN SHAW, ESQ. F.R. AND A.S.--We cannot see the very beautiful tower of St. Dunstan's church without alluding to the melancho!y death of the architec t who has reared it, and to whose fame, we trust, it will be an everlasting monument. This gentleman expired from a sudden affection of the heart, while attending the board of directors of the harbour at Ramsgate. He will be log known to the public as the architect of the new ball at Christ's Hospital, and of many other important works; and by his family and a large circle of friends, his n la' will ever be cherished with feelings of sincere affectio o and respect. rfo co r d r m s a e r r k v e a t t conservators o have taken k e proprietorsadvice, andof the n have Th ecr p cchased, e in order to demolish it as a residence, that a bon , " natal: nuisance Charles•court, in the Strand, for rnaq years the abode of wretchedness and the depot of filt h ' The bargain was concluded with the descendants of the well-known JACK GRAHAM, once a kind of mock can didate for the representation of Westminster. The Fur. chase money is about 9,000/. h EAST INDIA COMMERCE, --The numb er of vessels which are reported at Anjeer passing the Strait s of Sunda in 1831, out and home, was 238. Of these 50 were Dutch out, and 54 home; American, 29 out! 29 home; English, 29 out, 27 home; French, 2 out and 1 home ; Russia, 1 out, Swedish 1 out, and Danish 1 home. NEW WORK by the AUTHOR Of " H AJJI BARA."—We are reque s t e d t o sta t e t h a t COLDURN and BENTLEy, N e w Burlington - street. Orders ensure early copi es o f t his zohrab, the Hostige," will b e p u bli s h e d on T ues d a y next, by Messrs. sholid be give n i mme di a t e ly, to Messrs. BELL a n d B i wa- F w t7rE k , Edinburgh;Ageats for and S fort Iri'eland, Mr. JOHNC U MMING; Dublin. A RRESTING ANOTHER C LERGYMAN ."' The Cork Chronicle of Frida y st ates, that the Rev. Mr' B ECIIIN ER, P. P. of Newmarket, h as b een arrested, a charge of taking p art in a tit he meeting. Th e c l er gyman was obliged to give 2501 . bail, whil e 1001. was q uite lan sufficient for Sir GEORGE BINGIIA3I.--Dub/in Mornis 9 Register. A German correspond ent h as sent us the f ° l° lowing communication :--4,*London Aug.7..—We hie' , approve of the plan th a t was yesterday agreed upon in the meeting of the G ermans, to publish a newspaper in h - , g. half of their opp ressed countrymen ; but in our opin'° the distribution of this newspaper will find insurmount able difficulti es i n Germany, as all.post-offices, particula rl y those on th e f ront i ers, have strict orders to confiscate an d to deliver up to the Diet all papers which do not suit the taste of that Honourable Assembly. We are informed by private communications, that the distrust of several Go" vernments in their subjects is at present so great, that eve% letters are supposed to be broken at the post-office by the police —a practice till now only carried on in Austria where the " geheime Policei" has brought it to th e highest degree of perfection. A night crow, a bird of elegant form and plu mage, and but rarely seen in this part of the country, w ag last week shot by the gamekeeper of GRORGE Esq., of Claverton. Lately, a horse belonging to M r. J ASP ER, of Stebbing, died, after suffering, as it appeared, gr eat agony, the cause of which defied the skill of Mr. Toomla HUDSON, veterinary surgeon, of Great Dunmow, to re move. On a post morte m exam i nat i on, six stones were found in the stomach : one of them was of the almost 11 1 " ji credible weight of e i g ht pounds eleven ounces, an d the five others weightd four pounds.