The Sun. — London, England, 1840-05-30 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION. doubt Whether Mr. P. Thomson had not used the means placed within his power in a manner somewhat unsparing and unjustifiable, and as a p roof of that he would call upon Hon. Members to read a pamphlet, lately published i by Sir Francis (lead.—(A laugh.) Ile would net allude further to that pamphlet at present. but he would call the attention of the House to a speech made by Mr. Hager- Man, who, for a long period, had filled the office of At torney-General in that Province, and who had lately been promoted to the Bench. In a speech delivered in the-- Session of 1840 be said—" So strongly do I feel the inevi table and fatal consequences of this measure, that were I permitted to approach my Royal Mistress on my beaded knees I would implore her to withhold her Royal Assent to it." He would do no more than simply allude to Mr. Sallivan and others, who last year had made speech against the union, and had this year recanted those opini and supported the measure but he considered that rued sudden changes proved that Governor Thomson h:. „seed strong means to overcome the objections of those gc utle men. He had now stated his great object -. to the measure, and entertaining them, it was impress, s for him to support the Government on this question. lender those feelings, if he stood alone, he must enter his strong protest against the measure, which he considered one that would lead to dismemberment. If be were errierg it was in good company—it was in conjunction with soroe of the ablest and beat living authorities, and he implore the Home to pause before it gave its sanction to a - sure so condemned. Under these feelings, he moved that the House go into Committee on the Bill that (ley sit months. No Member rising, and there being loud cries of " Di vide," strangers were ords ell 'o withdraw. No division, however, took place, an r retura we found Mr. GLADSTON sling the House. He said concurring in a ore ' wtat had fallen from the Hon. Member - he. still he was not prepared to vote with feat •mself constrained to support the prop r : the Government, ho felt himself called upon explain .is reasons for taking that course. In his mind, it was eery suecenstlhie of doubt whether the union of these provinces would !ead to good and peaceful results, but whew the question eerne before the House, backed as it was by great authorities on both sides of the water, be thought it well deserving the attention of the House. tae was disposed to give more weight to the opinion of the Special Council of the Lower Province than his Hon. Friend, and when he found that the union was acquiesced in by them, also by the Legislative Council of Upper Canada, as well as by the House of Assembly, he could not refuse to give it his consideration. He would read the pamphlet published by Sir Francis Head, and he agreed with his Hee. Friend that to that Gallant Officer thanks were due for his zeal, his faithfulness, and his ability is the discharge of his duty under circumstances of great dif f iculty, and his opinions ought to be received with great respect. Still he could not think that the assent of those bodies had been at. trained by any peculiar or unfair means.—( Hear, hear.) Lie was afraid, however, that they could not reasonably expect that there would for any lengthened period be harmony between the United Legislature and the Legis latare of this country, and he attributed a great many of the difficulties whica would arise lo the Report of Lord Durh am . Responsible government had been the con stant cry of the French in Lower Canada, and the Republicans in the Upper Province—of all who with tutioe were suspected of having but a weak allegiance o this conntry.—(Hear, hear.) Throughout that Re port, however, it is treated as a claim which it is impos sible for us to deny ; and the consequence was, that all who were influenced by feelings of ill-will towards this country nOW, would continue to make the demand the mean; of facilitating their own views. In the British House of Commons it might appear strange, familiarized as they were both with the name end practice of respon sible government, that he should make use of a term in itself so objectionable. Responsible government, he took it, meat nothing more-.-certainly noting less—than an independent Legislature. He was perfectly willing to be bound by the manner in which the subject had been treated by the Noble Lord opposite in a late despatch. He there took a view of the question which did him honour, and throughout that despatch it was treated in the moat admi rable manner. The power which the House of Commons eajeyed of controlling the choice of the servants of the Crown, was the safeguard of the liberties of the country ; but if a Colonial Assembly were to have the same power, why should that Legislature be called Imperial, and what security could there ever be in the unity of the empire. He lamented that this most , visionary notion had been propounded in the Report of Lord Durham, it being wholly incompatible with the unity of the empire ; yet the Noble Earl had treated it throughout as the means of maintaining and strengthening the connection between the Canadas and Great Britain. He trusted that he might not be a true prophet, but he was afraid that that principle would lead to a severance of the connection altogether. o.nticipating that we would goon be in a state of feud with this United Legislature upon the demand of responsible goverment, he felt bound to say that, in his opinion, the union of the provinces was not the best step that could have been taken, but ho was, at the same time, bound to state that he fully believed the Government was acting in good faith—( Hear, hear)—and also, that he knew of no other plan that could be substi tatted. Colenial subjects, in his opinion, ought never to be made matters of party dispute.--(Cheers.) He had never consented to join in such a course except upon one occasion, and he would merely refer to the case of Jamaica, and that only for the purpose of saying that those upon his side of the House acted, upon that occasion, conscien tiously, and, as they fully believed, in a constutional neanner.--4 Hear, hear.) After this plan had been reeom mended, so strongly by the parties interested on the other side of the water, he thought they should put aside all party feeling; for, with reference to such a colony as the Canadas, it was most important that they should present themselves as a united Legislature. No abstract difference of opinion ought to prevent a practical arrangement.— (ii jar. ) Therefore he should be willing to go into Coin. znittee, and even if not, as he hoped it would bo altered materially there, be should not vote against the Bill, as it was now framed. It certainly was a most difficult problem to maintain the connection in the Colonies, the societies of which were only politically and net socially linked to ours--( Hear)—and having predilections, feelings, habits, associations, utterly at variance with ours.—( Hear.) Above all, it was most difficult to preserve the connection between a country like ours, all its leanings aristocratical, and Colonies with many tendencies republican.—(hear.) It was much easier and much better, and more satisfactory I to treat our connection with these Colonies on a view of duty, than of mere balance of profit and advantage.— ( Hoar.) So long as we preserved the Canadas as recep tacles for oar surplus population, a sacred duty was Imposed upon us of doing all that in us lay to secure for our fellow-countrymen, who thus left our shores, the protection of institutions as much as possible resembling those of the land to which they would always fondly look back.—( Hear, hear.) Nothing, however, eouid be more pernicious than an attempt to presume supremacy over the colonies against their own wishes and feelings.—(Hear, hear.) Our best hope was in preserving a liberal system or Government—( Hear, bear)—in mak ing non-interference the rule, and interference the rare exception—( Wear, hear)—by showing unity among our selves—( Hear, hear)---yet at the same time asserting the , supremacy of the Imperial Legislature and its title to ex ercise it when required. (Mr. C. Buller here whispered " Jamaica.") On the whole, no other course seemod open, except the ono proposed by the Government. While supporting it, he must however repudiate as absurd the idea that responsibility of Government in the colonies was consistent with perpetuating the connection with the mother country. —( Cheers.) Mr. PARINGTON shortly explained. Mr. C. B U L L E R began by saying that he heartily ap proved of the Bill. He proceeded to observe that he re joiced sincerely in the evideuce that the question would be treated with no regard to party feeling—which evidence bad been furnished by the lion. Member for Newark. This approval, however, he must qualify by an expression et regret that his Hon. Friend should nave pronounced such unqualified censure on Lord Durham. The Noble Earl's report had been prepared with the greatest care and ability—(t• Hear, hear," from Mr. Gladstone)—and was founded on the plain. straightforward, common.sense truth, that to govern colonies well we must govern them on principles, and by men of whom they approve.— ( Heor.) If any other mode of governing them were at tempted, the result would only be eternal dissensions and disturbances.—( Hear.) This had been, in fact, the his tory of all our disturbances in our North American pro vinces. Ile (Ur. Buller) advocated the union of the Cu nados then, because he believed the result of it would be, sooner or later, the establishment of a responsible Government.—( Heel-, hear, hear ) It was indisput able that if there were collected together the representatives of 1,100,000 freemen, they would exercise a great influence on the executive Government; and it was necessary to bring the executive is harmony with the Legislative body.--4 hear.) Now, when the Hon. Mem ber for Droitwich, confidently and contemptuously spoke of Earl Durham's repart as worthless, he (Mr. Buller) could not help lau g hi ng , f or w h en b e t h oug h t o f t h e re lative position of the Hon. Member to that which the Noble Earl occupied in this country, and of the talent and the investigation comprised in that Report, be could not help thinking that the Hon. Member would have acted in Letter tast e by abstaining from such denunciations, utterly unaccompanied by the smallest proof, for the upshot of the Member's Hen. Mem,r's cha rge was, that Earl Durham's opinions were sot his. But in spite of that heavy censure, per haps the Noble Earl w ould be consoled by reflecting that his Report would b e admired by t c h e e l e world . a ( s h it e a h r a . d already been by the North American forward ) But when the Hon. Member came to oppose a t and sanctioned by plan recommended on such high auth o rity, bis assented to the Colonies, adopted by the Governm en by the leaders of his own party, what was Simply, that there would be danger in its adoptien g l ro \ u V n h d ? what sane Minister would pretend that under present (e y e' eurn4 a nces the adoption of any plan for the C ana d a; wou l d be totally free from danger ?—( Hear.) What plan, however, did the Hon. Member propose? The continu ance of the present arbitrary system of Government. Did the Hon. Member suppose that oven the British popu lation would submit co that? Was the Hon. Member aware of their character ? They were as turbulent and as liberty-loving a set of British-born as over were known.— ( A laugh.) They would not be disposed to endure the privation of constitutional government, and they would not be worthy of their name and origin, if they submitted pa tiently to despotism.--e Hear, hear.) It was obvious that the Hon. Member for Droitwich, after all his denuncia tions of Earl Durham, admitted his authority on one point, just because it happened to support his views. --( Laughter. ) Ihat was, as to th e an i mos i ty b e t ween th e two races. Now he (Mr. C. Buller) did not rate the danger from the French race near so highly as the Honourable Member. So long as they continued their absurd and mischievous e ff orts at Fr French nationality and sepa ration from Britai n , we must tbecharacter of the French be opposed to them. He appealed to all who knew "tinier arbitrary governments , and he ti appealed knew the character of th e French anadia to all u s, wh o knew ho Canadians, whether they were not a people inclined to make a bad use of sue. ergs, or whether they ever knew a people more inclined to imecumb, when once the majority declared afawinaset shownthem . Ile had not the slightest doubt, when once i that there would be a majority of the English, speaking t h e E'pglish language, in the United Assembly, they would at once a' :don all hopes of nationality, and his only fear I was, :hey would become the too pliant tools of the ; Geyer - The Bill, whatever its other enactments migh . .e, provided for a majority of the British race A if, as was asserted by the Honourable Mem ber, the people of Upper Canada were opposed to tne British Government, was there no apprchemion of their obtaining a majority during the present summer ? He hsd never seen any just ground for that dread of the oeopie of Upper Canada, or of their being hostile to the • Briti - connection. He thought they were bound by eve cling of local attachment to Great Britain, arid he we eto know why these imputations were thrown upon the .ayalty of the Reformers of Upper Canada. When he eeard the language that had been used a short time since to one of the most respectable gentlemen of Upper Canada, he must say that he treated all attacks of the kind as mere ebelitions of party feeling.—( Hear, hear.) With the exception of one or two violent papers in Canada, he believed the lion. Gentleman was the first person to assail the character of Mr. Baldwin, the present Solicitor-Gene ral...4 Cheers. ) With respect to the observations of Sir Francis Head, he (Mr. Buller) ocver accused him of any consistency of ideas for two years.—( A laugh.) And although he chose now to lift up his hands and his eyes, and metaphorically his book, against Mr. Baldwin, it was only last year that he took great pains to separate him from his father Dr. Baldwin, who was really a very respec table old gentleman, stating, that although Dr. Baldwin was a dangerous and desperate character, Mr. Robert Baldwin was a moderate and unexceptionable man, and that he himself had put him into his Executive Council.— (Hear, and laughter.) There was no use in entering into discussions in that House upon parties with whose names they were hardly acquainted. lie would venture to say, however, that throughout the insurrection, and during those troublotts times, there had not been the slightest aspersion on his character for loyalty, and the only fault that he had was that he was toe sensitive upon the sub jeet.—( Hear, bear.) The other argument which had been, used against the union was one which, Ise had hoped, would not have disturbed the debate, and that was the proportion between Protestants and Roman Catholics. They could not alter their proportions ; no matter what arguments they used, and whatever attach ment they might exhibit towards a particular Church, they might depend on it that it was better to leave those ques tions to be settled by the parties themselves, and not to carry their opinions into a country which was totally dis similar from theirs, and introduce the horrid bane of re ligious dissension in a Colony which had hitherto been free from it. —( Hear, hear.) If they left the people of Canada to settle the matter quietly among themselves no difficulty would occur. If the union were to split upon that rock it would be a rock their folly had placed in its way.— ( Hear.) Little versed as they were in the state of society in Canada it was impossible for them to prognosticate the results. They must look at the question in a large and comprehensive way. There bad great and impending dangers to guard against, and no trifling remedy would do. They had these great arguments in favour of the union, that it would give a majority to the British nation—that it would give a Legislature with British feelings preponderating in its; and, what was far more important, it would create in the colonies a general national spirit, inspire them with a con fidence in the stability of their own institutions, and in. duce them to exert themselves for their maintenance. He would refer the House to what Lord Durham had said on the subject of the strong feeling of nationality which ex. isted in Canada, and which was stronger than anything he had ever seen in England.—( Hear, hear.) Hav ing on the frontiers a great and powerful people, there was a feeling of pride at their connection with England, which became an almost absorbing and powerful passion. Throughout the whole of the province from the Nova Scotia to the extremity of Upper Canada, they had seen that feeling called into existence during the late disturbances. He asked of them and implored them to rely on the loyalty and nationality of which the people had given such strong proofs, and not raise up suspicions so injurious to their characters, and which ne believed to be wholly imaginary. They ought not to be scared from their present purpose by every petty obstacle that met them. The plan now before the House was not precisely what Lord Durham had proposed ; because, anticipating those evils to which the Hon. Member alluded, he thought it would be better to adopt a larger and more comprehensive scheme for uniting all the British provinces together. He could excuse the Government for not adopting so novel and extensive a plat]. (Lord John Russell said Lord Durham did not recommend it.) He believed the Noble Lord was right, that he had only suggested it as the better of the two plans. In his opinion the union of the others would follow if the present measure were carried. The idea had already made some progress there, and Lord Durham had had deputations from the different colonies for the purpose of discussing such a proposition. On these grounds he cordially and heartily supported the measure before the House. There might be some danger in it, but in his opinion no other plan had a semblance of honour or safety in it —( Cheers.) Mr. HUME said as it was his intention to vote for going into Committee ho would not trouble the House at any length. Ho would state, however, that resolutions had emanated from every county in Upper Canada ex pressive of their approval of the union. He understood, however, that the majority of the people had agreed to the union, in tho belief that Lord Durham's Report, which held out the hope that a responsible Government would be conceded to them, would be adopted. Nine -tenths of the people of Upper Canada supported the union on that principle alone. He did not well understand the argu ments of the Hon. Member for Newark with respect to the governing power and responsibility divided between the colonies and the mother country. His (Mr. Hume's) complaint against the Bill was that it did not hold out that security to the popular branch which they had all along promised. They wore about to take from the people, by that Bill, the management of their revenues. But he hoped in Committee the Noble Lord would see the necessity of making an alteration on that point. There would be no security unless they gave to the people of both Provinces a governing power, nor would they be able to keep those colonies much longer unless they conciliated their good will. The colonies had always been a source of patronage to the Crown ; and the Civil List proposed by the present Bill would be the means of extending it. If the Noble Lord expected to keep the people of Canada in a state of tutelage by the present Bill, he assured him he would be disappointed. It was, better, however, that the attempt, imperfect as it was, should be made; and he should vote for going i.ito Committee, in order that the Bill should be made perfect. Mr. COLQUHOUN said the Hon. and Learned Member for Liskeard had stated that if the Canadians were united they would have a responsible Government. That was no very gratifying prospect for his side of the House. He would remind the Hon. and Learned Mem ber that Lord Durham had stated that a large section of the people in Lower Canada, namely, the French party, were filled with the deepest hatred towards the English nation. He would beg to remind the House of a passage in Lord Durham's report, in which, speaking of the Ife formet'e of Upper Canada, he said, they had a great de sire to assimilate their institutions to those of the United States. Many persons said this was a most partial report.—( Hear, hear.) He did net say that, but merely that he had heard a report of Lord Durham's being partial to the Canadians. But what said Sir G. Arthur?—that he had all along informed the Government the Reformers of Upper Canada were un friendly to this country. Was that party inconsiderable ? Sir G. Arthur said they were very considerable, and that he was desirous of police to penetrate the intentions of this hostile party. What said Lord Seaton ? That in Lower Canada responsible Government was the watch word of every rebel, and Sir G. Arthur said the came of the Reformers in Upper Canada. He put it to the Hun. Member, if this were so, what would become of the harmony of the United Legislature? But as the Noble Lord de clared through Mr. P. Thamson he was not prepared to concede a responsible Government, it was plain he would not do so unless he were compelled to Hear)_ therefore the Hon. Member appeared to him to be looking to that numerous party in the Canadas who would force this responsible Government. He took the Hon. Mem bar's own admission, and drew from it the conclusion that they must be prepared for an event which would prod-ace the severance of Canada from this country. There was another remark to which he would advert, namely, that all these important improvements in the Province would be suspended if they established such a preponderating majo rity in the Assembly, as he feared they would by this Bill. His Honourable Friend adverted to the feeling towards the Province that Wes manifested in the Bill. He (Mr. Colquhoun) had, some time ago, held some conversation with a member of a large mercantile house in Quebec, and had asked him what were the feelings of mercantile men with regard to the proposed I union of the Canadas. His statement was that they were decidedly favourable to the union, and on being asked on what grounds they were thus favourable, he stated, as the petition which Mr. P. Thomson had sent home stated. They did not pretend to enter largely into political ques tions, hut they were told by Mr. P. Thomson, a great authority on commercial matters, that if they agreed to the proposed union it would lead to increased emigration, in creased investments, and the improvement of the rivers, roads, and canals—that he had held out to them the hope of the whole chain of these magnificent lakes being thrown open to steam navigation, so as to supply them with the produce, not only of cne soil, but of Michigan and the United States, and of the whole of that mighty ran g e.—( Hear, hear, from the Government benches, ) If Hon. Gentlemen would wait a few moments they should hear the rebound. He entirely agreed with all this, but his ( Mr. C.'s) question to him, and which he now put to the House, was, What security had they for a stable Government? What security had they,',during these wretched squabbles about responsible governments and at tempts at organic changes, which the Hon. Member for New ark told them would infallibly result, that the whole strength of the province would not be engrossed by them? Then what became of the stability of Government—of com mercial improvement ? They would have a majority in the United Assembly who were called reformers, or tpo h na er those ins French Upper party enthey tod m a men desirous of responsible government, but whom he called republicans, but whether so or not, who would act on the same principles they had hitherto done in the local assemblies; they would put together these two parties, which andiLowerth chro regard askedmaa r n ed a r Canada ati commercial anti feudaltt wouldeh r e rßeformingtenures they What h w e o q u u ld est t i e co n nu i cl t di u l r b e pe , ap u rot n sy t s iilbwlteoh would Iu n and g thesegoi ito not ridpar agree provinces? ehtsi to their into wasimr removal 0 00 v wv e an - 1 1 but then the reforming party would. Were they sure of that ? Did they not know of compact alliances founded on the abandonment of certain principles to carry their own? Hear, hear.) One part of the reformed party in upper Canada were opposed to the law of primogeniture rtnPirreei t°Fgwr while the others were in favour of it. Then were not terms easily made between the two parties? oWe will join you in destroying the law of primogeniture, and you shall join us in destroying feudal tenures." If the Govern -1 ment were sure of this, he hoped they would be provided for it. Now, what was the case with respect to emigra tion ? There had been the strongest opposition both 1 , among the reformers in Upper Canada, and among th e 1 French party against the introduction of emigrants in either Tlll 4 l SUN, LONt province. Such was the state of the Legislative Council that they sought to obtain Crown lands in Loper Canada un der their own control, in order, as Sir Francis Head, to purchase them cheap for themselves, and sell them again to others. With regard to the roads, there were certain parties in Lower Canada who agreed in the con struction of roads. Lord Durham said there was the most profligate jobbing on this subject, and that the money voted for that purpose served only to line the pockets of the Commissioners, or their political partisans. He ( Mr. Colquhoun) found a provision in the Bill which was one of the most atrocious instances of jobbing he had ever heard of. It was that which created a District Council, which would consist of about thirty members, who were to have power to assess lands at what rate and to what pur pose they pleased. Who could tell what serious conse quences might not result from this? Would not the in. fallible result be that which had been asserted—to swell the fortunes of political partisans, while the roads would be neglected. And if the object of the Reformers was assimilation to the United States, it seemed to him their natural course would be to obstruct all .public im provements—to wear out all parties—to continue the struggle for a responsible Government between the As sembly on the one side and the Government on the other, till all parties would agree at last that it was the result of the baneful domination of the Mother Country, and desire to be separated from that which they supposed to be con sequent on Monarchical Government, and take refuge in that which was first called responsible Government, but aimed at last at complete severance from Great Britain. lie confessed it seemed to him infinitely wiser to continue to Upper Canada the representative Government which now belonged to it, to continue Lower Canada as it was till they had identified the people, and improved them by education, removed the tenures, and repaired the roads, canals, and rivers, and made them sensible, by these great commercial advantages, of the benefits they derived from the mother cousory, which, if they acted wisely, would not take long ; that it would be an infinitely better and more statesman like course, to press on these practical improvements under the present Government, which, though it was called des potism, was no more so than that which was practised in the East and West Indies, than to urge them into a state which the Hon. Member for Liskeard called a responsible Government, and the Hon. Member for Kilkenny one of strife and disunion, but which he (Mr. C.) could look forward to with no other feelings than those of apprehen sion and alarm.—( Hear, hear.) Lord HO WICK said the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down, had given them a conversation which had taken place between himself and a gentleman, who seemed, he thought, much better to understand the condition of the colonies than did the Hon. Gentleman. He wished the Hon. Member had felt the force of the arguments he had so well repeated, because, when he came to what be was pleased to call the rebound of the argument he (Lord H.) confessed he was at a loss to feel the force of it.—( Hear.) The Hon. Member had offered some reasons against the measure now before the House, and having done so had proceeded to lay before them a plan of his own. He thought the objection to it was simply this —that no man who had taken the trouble to read the va rious papers which had been laid on the table of the House could form any other opinion than that it was utterly and altogether impracticable.—( Hear.) Neither Upper Canada nor Lower Canada would consent to the system of Government the Hon. Gentleman proposed. With respect to Upper Canada, he could not allow the ex istence of those differences which they were told coutinued to divide the people of the colony, and to induce them to seek union with the powerful republic near them. With respect to Lower Canada the case was *till more striking. The Hon. Member for Liskeard stated the utter impos sibility of procuring the people of Lower Canada to submit to the continuance of the form of Government which now existed among thorn, and when the Hon. Member asked why, if they called it a despotism, they allowed such a system to exist in the East and West Indies, the answer was, that the inhabitants of those countries in their present state were unfit for any other. With respect to the measure before the House, he wished to make a few observations. He concurred in much that had been said by the Hon. Member for Newark, and it did not occur to him that if they were to consider in the abstract what would be the most desirable system of government in Canada, the union of the provinces would be that which be should prefer. He admitted that there was considerable force in the main ob jection urged to that union—for instance, the great extent of territory was a considerable objection. He considered that the difference of race also was an ob jection to the proposed union ; but this he believed that no system of Government could be proposed for these pro vinces which was not liable to still greater objections. If the French Canadians had pursued a more temperate course, if they bad not broken out into absolute violence, if the unfortunate events of 1837 had not oocurred, then he should have considered that this union of the provinces was not desirable, es being likely to force on the people of Lower Canada the adoption of British habits in a harsher manner than could be perhaps wished. Had the French Canadians, instead of having had recourse to measures of violence, trusted to the justice of the British Parliament, they would have saved themselves much suffering, and the future Government of the Colonies might have been pro vided for in a manner less distasteful to them. But it was now too late; after what had occurred there was no mode of restoring Constitutional Government to the colony, ex cept by the erection of an Assembly, in which the French race should be in a minority, and the only fair mode by which that result could be produced was the one proposed by the present Bill. Both the Hon. Member who had just sat down, and the Hon. Member for Newark, had stated that they anticipated great difficulty in carrying the mode of Government proposed by the Bill, because it went to establish responsible Government. On that point be differed from both the Hon. Gentlemen. He had ob served that throughout these disputes great inconveniences had arisen, and great dissensions created from the unfortu nate use of general words, without any clear definition being given of their meaning. This had been the case as regarded both parties in Canada, but the principles laid down in the recent dispatch by his Noble Friend would, he thought, go far to put an end to that evil. If by respon sible Government it were meant that the Executive Go vernment of the Colony should be directly resposible to the Colonial Assembly, he was of opinion that responsible Government so dsfined would be incompatible with the maintenance of Colonial Government. But he be lieved that if the Government at home, as well as the au tuorities in the Colonies, were to pursue a system of Pro tective Government, guided by a conciliatory spirit, and a desire to consult the wishes of the people, then such a form of Government would answer the object that those who were loudest in their clamours for a responsible Government had in view. The Hon. Gentleman had said that a great majority of the people, while they called for responsible Government, were only anxious to throw off all connexion with British Government. If the majority were desirous of throwing off the British connexion, it would be impossible to carry on any Government against the wishes o f the great majority of the people, and even if it could be so carried on, it would not be desirable.—(Cheers.) If so large a majority were averse to any connection with this country, it was utterly unimportant what system of Go vernment we might establish there, or what sort of mea sure the House might pass ; because, be that measure what it might the result must be the same, and connexion be tween the two countries must inevitably cease to exist. But if this was not the case—if the majority of the people of those colonies, alth oug h p er h a p s t h e y were d es i rous of going much farther in the introduction of democratic institutions than the Hon. Member or himself, or the House generally might be inclined to approve, were yet anxious that the connexion between the two countries might continue—in that case he believed that the connexion would continue to the certain benefit of this country, and of the colonies themselves.--( Cheers.) In carrying on the Government of Canada we must be prepared to give them a Government differing in many respects from that which was established among ourselves, and we must ex hibit a disposition to go to great lengths for the purpose or conciliating the people of Canada.—(hear, hear.) He was disposed to agree with the Hon. Mem ber for Newark in the distinction which he had drawn between the passing cry of the moment an d the deliberate sense of the people. When the delibe rate sense of the people was ascertained it ought not to be opposed—( Cheers)—and if that feeling were in favour of a more democratic form of government he saw no reason why in the management of their internal affairs the wishes of the people should not be acceded to as long as they did not produce a clashing with the authority of this country. —( Cheers.) He did not anticipate all the dangers from this measure which the Hon. Member seemed to expect. It was bad policy when any portion of the people of a co lony were desirous of any reform which we might deem it inexpedient to grant at once, to turn round upon them and say, you wish to separate yourselves from the mother coun try When they imputed such ideas to persons who were asking for reform, it not unfrequently happened that the imputation itself was the cause of such persons ultimately entertaining the very ideas which, in the first instance bad been unjustly imputed to them.--( Cheers.) The fair mode of conducting such discussions was to patiently listen to the complaints of the colonists, to argue the point calmly with them, to state the objections to the proposed reforms ; but let not either party impute motives to the other. Let the colony avoid accusing the Government of ty ranny, and the Government avoid accusing the colony of the desire for separation. If colonial differences were discussed in this temper, they would find very few but what might ultimately be settled in a satisfactory manner— ' (Cheers.) He greatly rejoiced to are the sound principle of Government adopted by his Right Hon. Friend who was now the Governor-General of those Provinces. He was glad he had not adopted the tone of the Hon. Member far Droitwich, and excluded from office every person who held opinions of which he did not altogether approve. If he had done so, over/ Gentleman must admit that it would be impossible to continue the connection with this country.—(Hear, hear.) He -was inclined to ads vocate a general oblivion of the past, although with regard to the appointment in question, he believed perfectly the statement of the lion. and Learned Member for Lis keard was perfectly correct,. that the appointment of Mr. Baldwin was one which on no one principle could be dis approved of, but wa: .n a n n ld a n p o p t o d int t m ai e n n t t he wh il i o ct u i se waslonger than •the B' to state that he entirely concurred in . Bill of his Noble Friend, which he anxiously hoped might pass into a law, j a u n s d t li fr n o d m il : i l l g e : pe r e le. ch of the Hon. Member for Newa r k, h e was happy to find that all parties concurred in a des ire to bring this Bill to a satisfact or y termination, so as to put an end to those troubles which had too long afflicted that country.—( Cheers.) Mr. O'CO N NE L L would only detain the House a few moments. His object was simply t o p rotest against the Bill. He would not wish to speak.? Bill because it with anything like emphasis, but he protested against this con tained two distinct principles of injustice—first, on the ground of the unequal representation of the people of t i Lower Canada as compared with the Upper Province. That portion which was the most populous had only the same share in the representation as that portion which was the least so. The second injustice of which he complained was a pecuniary one. Lower Canada was une ncumbered, Now, by the proposed union, it was intended to spread the debt of Upper Canada, which was exclusively its over the entire of the united country. But the worst of all was, that they were about to do this without consulting DAY, MAY 30, 1,444. the wishes of the people. It might be said that the Legislature of Upper Canada had consented, and so far they had the semblance of popular approval; but this was done at a most unfortunate time. The country had not yet recovered from the insurrection into which it had been pluneed—he believed solely by the folly and absurdity of Sir Francis Head.—(Cheers.) So far from the pres.rva tion of Canada being due to him, as had been said by the Hon. Member for Droitwich, he believed if Sir F. Head had not been as destitute of common sense as any man who ever filled a public situation, they would not have had any insurrection at all —( Cheers.) With regard to Lower Canada they had had no assent whatever, as this measure had been brought forward at a time when there was no Assembly representing the people in existence. He much deplored the folly and wickedness of the Lower Canadians when they were in the possession ' of the Legislature, to resort to arms and appear in treason against the Crown, and, by treason, against the country, by open insurrection. The party who actually broke out into rebellion were deserving et the worst punishment ; but the people were not all guilty, and he thought they had already been sufficiently punished by what they had suffered from that time to the present. lie would briefly advert to Lord Durham's Report, which, after giving every possible virtue to the French Canadians, stating they were a mild and benevolent race, possessed of good qualities as men aed as Christians, recommending that they should be swamped by the people of Upp er nada, and annihi lated as a people. They had not been consulted on this proposition of the Government, and the petition which had been presented by the Right lion. Gentleman that even ing was the only effort made by them to get their opi nion expressed to the House. The consequences must na turally cause disaffection, arid a weakening of the tie be tween the two countries. He would say, restore the Go vernment of Lower Canada before you carry this Bill any further. They did not know what the effect of doing jus tice might be. He believed that his objections to the Bill would be re-echoed throughout Canada. All they wanted was good government. The soil and climate was the same as that of the United States ; an imaginary line only separated the two countries, and yet on one side of that line an acre of land was worth ed., and on the other side it was worth 10/. The acre of fivepenny land was aris tocratical, the acre of 101. land was under democratic in stitutions. On the aristocratic side of the line was a desert, on the democratic a garden. Could they be sur prised if the people, seeing those things were favourable to democratic institutions? They talk of the dissension produced by differences of race and re ligion. On the other side of the line the same differences existed without producing any dissensions. He would sit down protesting against the Bill on the ground of its injustice. Lord JOHN RUSSELL believed that the Goverment were under great obligations to the lion. Member for Droitwich, for having shown on two occasions that the decided sense of that House was in favour of the union of the provinces.—(Cheers.) On the first occasion the Hon. Gentleman had refused to go at great length into the question, but had stated his general hostility to the measure, and in the course of the short debate which had ensued, the Right Hon. Gentleman the Mem ber for Tamworth had declared his intention of voting for the union. —(Cheers.) On the present occasion the Hon. Gentleman had gone at greater length into the question, but ho bad not produced such an effect upon the House as would induce them to accede to his views—he had, on the contrary, produced a speech from the Hon. Member for Newark, more entirely in accordance with the plans and views of the Government than even the speech of the Right Hon. Member for Tamworth on a former occasion. The chief opposition to the present Bill, in addition to that of the Right Hon. Gentleman, had pro ceeded from the Hon.and Learned Member for Dublin, and be did not imagine that the Hon. Gentleman opposite would concur in the views of the Hon. and Learned Gen tleman on that subject. With regard to the first objection of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, namely, that the representation was unequal, as compared with the popula tion of the two Provinces, his answer was that it would be found that the representation was founded on the principle usually adopted on the American Continent, which was to found the representation not on the exact state of the population at the time the Constitution was granted, but on what it was likely to be in the course of a few years ; because if this were not the case in a country pos sessed of large territory, and in which a considerable in. flux of people was likely to arrive—if it were not so based, the very injustice would be committed which it was wished to avoid. With regard to the debt, that debt had been incurred by Upper Canada, at no gratuitous and un necessary expense, or on charges for the sole be nefit of Upper Canada ; but in public works, which if continued from the Upper Province, so as to open a communication with the St. Lawreuce, could not be con sidered for the sole benefit of Upper Canada or Lower Canada, bet for the benefit of the United Province. He would refer to the conversation narrated by the Hon. Member for Kilmarnock, as to the value of those works ; and he agreed with his Noble Friend, that that was the only part of the Hon. Member's speech in which he showed any acquaintance with the subject. —( Cheers and laughter.) The Hon. Gentleman spoke with considerable ability, and he believed the only reason why he had not exhibited the same ability in speaking on the subject, was, that he had not studied it, or paid any attention to it whatever. Had he done so he would surely never have recommended the government of a portion of the Continent of America in a manner suited only to a despotic Government, and which would never be submitted to by Englishmen, who always, sooner or later, would, wherever they might be placed, insist on having the benefits of those institutions which they were used to have the benefit of at home. With regard to responsible government; having expressed himself upon that subject so decidedly on an another occasion, be did not deem it necessary to say more about the subject at present. He would only say that when an Assembly considered that certain institutions and objects would be for the benefit of the country, and that these ob jects were not incompatible with imperial interests, that it must be considered a folly not to accede to their wishes rather than refuse them on account of any supposed incompatability with their own peculiar notions.--( Hear.) On the other hand, he never could admit that where the dignity of the Crown was concerned, and the interests of the country were involved, any opinion of a Colonial Assembly was to overbear the opinion of the United Par liament. He conceived that the proposed measure would lead to a general spirit of harmony and conciliation be tween the inhabitants of the two provinces. The lion. Member for Kilkenny, in his speech, had alluded to the events of 1837, but he (Lord John Russell) was certainly surprised that the Hon. Member was not by this time con vinced that he had been mistaken in the views which he had advocated et that period. It would be allowed, lie thought, that it was desirable to keep up the connection between the Canadas and this country ; but if this Govern ment had yielded to the suggestions of the Hon. Member for Kilkenny in 1837—if they had allowed Mr. Papineau to govern in the Lower Province, and Mr. Mackenzie in the Upper, he was persuaded that the connection to which he had alluded would be dissolved, and that the tics between the provinces and the mother country would immediately be broken. It would nut be necessary for him to enter into any argument on that tubject, and he would say no more about it. He wished to allude to the case of an individual whose name had been intro duced in the course of the debate; he meant Mr. Bald win, who had been placed in a very important situation by the present Governor-General of Canada. The Gover nor-General had transmitted an account of the gentleman in question, in which he stated that Mr. Baldwin's senti ments, though popular, were perfectly compatible with principles of allegiance and devotion to the Crown. He would not detain the House a:ay longer from going into Committee, and he felt exceedingly rejoiced that on a sub ject which involved so many difficulties, and after so much discussion, and so many dangers, they should be in a condition which manifested so little of excitement, and so complete an absence of party feeling. rho Noble Lord concluded by reading a passage from a despatch of Sir George Arthur, received a few weeks before, to the follow ing effect :—" There is a natural excitement felt here for the result of the union on the Clergy Reserves Bill ; but there is otherwise no general excitement in the country, and the community at large seem more desirous of repose than of further agitation. Ido not, therefore, know a more auspicious moment than the present for carrying the details of the union into effect, if that measure should be agreed to by the Imperial Legislature." Mr. E WART gave his support to the motion for going into Committee. He was persuaded, however, that the inhabitants of either province should be treated in a spirit of conciliation. He believed that this country would fail in any attempt to govern Canada by coercion, while its dominion would be secured by an amicable course of pro ceeding. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, but Mr. PA K ING TO N immediately rose and said, that as lie found that a majority of the House was for going into Committee, be would not press his amendment to a division. The question having then been put and carried without a division, the House resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill, with Mr. Bernal in the Chair. Clauses up to 3 were then agreed to without any obser vation. On clause 4 being put, for the appointment of a Legis lative Council, Mr. HUME wished to ask the Noble Lord if the Bill would give any security that the New Legislative Council would be a better one than either of those which existed in the provinces before ? Se far as ho could judge, that object would not be attained by the Bill. His own opi nion was, that a certain portion of the Legislative Council should be chosen by the people, and the remaining portion by the Government, as was the case in Trinidad. Lord J. RUSSELL said that in Trinidad there was no representative Assembly, which would not be the case in Canada, and the example would not consequently bear out the proposal of the Hon. Member for Kilkenny. With regard to the appointment of a Council, it appeared that men of all parties in both provinces were favourable to such a measure. The present Governor-General of Canada had expressed his conviction that the plan would be an efficient one. Mr. lIUME wished to know if the Noble Lord was prepared to propose a similar measure with respect to Nova Scotia ? Sir CHARLES GREY said that the case of Nova Scotia was an entirely different one, as the Executive Council there was composed of individuals who were liable to be changed at any time. Mr. S. O'BRIEN wished that the Council, instead of fifty individuals, should be composed of twenty-five, ac cording to the plan proposed by Sir J. Colborne. Mr. 14: W ART supported the clause. Mr. HUME thought that the Canadas would not be contented with the proposed Council, inasmuch as it ap pointed Members for life, and would thus form a sort of House of Lord s i n t h e provinces. Mr. C. LUSHINGTON rose to propose the amend ment of whi c h h e h a d g iven notice. His reason for pro posing th at amen d ment wa s, that clergymen were to tally unable t o di scuss po litical questions with forbearance, more especially that incap where the predom i n ance or wealt h of the Established Ch urc h were co ncerned. The Clergy, in his opinion, w ere notor i ous f or t heir incapacity as statesm en ' and as l eg i s l ators. Th ere w as a recent instance in whi c h incapacity was manifested in a most deplorable man. , ner. in the year 1838, a Bill for the Improvement of Church Discipline had been introduced into another place, which had the sanction of the Archbishop of Canterbury and of the majority of the Bishops. It was distasteful, however, to a Right Rev. Prelate notorious for his politi cal pugnacity.—( Hear.) That Right Rev. Prelate had declared in his place in Parliament that if the Bill should pass :nto a law, he would require his clergy to act on the old law, and that if they disobeyed him he would first re priniand them, and on a repetition of the offence he would excommunicate them.--(The Hon. Gentleman then read a passage to the above effect from a speech attributed to to the Bishop of Exeter in the Mirror of Parliament ) What was that but setting an example to the people to disobey the law ? He had never heard anything similar to it from a lay Lord, and he believed the language was unequalled. He certainly had never heard or read of any thing equal to it, except the audacity of Thomas a' Becket. When the Clergy Reserves Bill was brought before tho House of Lords, the Prime Minister was not allowed to finish his description of the Bill, but was inter rupted by the highest Ecclesiastical Peer, and another Right Rev. Prelate, whose temerity was obscured by his intolerance, expressed his indignation that the measure should he discussed dispassionately. It was all very well that a Turnpike Bill should receive a fair discussion and calm consideration, but any thing relating to the clergy was only to be controverted by clamour.—( Hear, hear.) The cases he had mentioned showed the want of temper on the part of the dignitaries of the Church, but he would mention something even worse than that. The Bishop of Toronto gave the most viru ',.at resistance to the Bill for the settlement of the Clergy Reserves—not only did he enter his protest against it, but after the Bill had received the sanction of both Houses and the assent of the Governor-General, the Bishop published an inflammatory address to his clergy, calling upon them to sign a petition against it, and endeavoured to revive po litical and religious animosity. His conduct had not only been refuted to the Home Government, but he had re ceived a reprimand from the Secretary of State. The Hon. Gentleman, after mentioning that the Bishop of Australia had requested to be relieved from his duty as a Legislative Councillor, moved as an addition to the clause, " That no spiritual person should be summoned to the Legislative Council in the province of Canada." Lord J. RUSSELL could not agree to an absolate exclusion of the clergy from the Legislative Council, although no doubt it might be a question, whether in par ticular cases, it would be advisable to appoint ecclesiasti cal persons. The Honourable Member appeared rather to bear in mind the fate of the motion he made a few Sessions ago relative to the Bishops in the House of Lords, than the Bill before the House.--(Laughter.) Sir C. GREY hoped his Hon. Friend would not divide the House upon the motion, because it might create a bad feeling in Canada. It would be infinitely better to leave it to the discretion of the Governor than to put a prohi. bition against any spiritual persons sitting in the Legis lature. Mr. C. LUSHINGTON hid not taken up the matter lightly, and was determined to divide the House upon it. Lord JOHN RUSSELL, in voting against the mo tion, begged to be understood as not affirming that it was desirable spiritual persons should sit in the Legislature. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the House divided, when there appeared—. For the motion 29 Against it B3 Majority against the motion The clause was then agreed to, as were also clauses 7,8, and 9, with a few verbal amendments. . . On clause 10 being put, Lord II °WICK begged to state, as those clauses re lating to the Legislative Council had just been agreed to, that although ho concurred in the Bill as it stood, yet he considered these clauses as the most defective part of the measure. The House should bear in mind that there were great and practical difficulties with respect to the constitution of the Legislative Council. It was impossi ble to forget that the establishment of a Legislative Council, on the principle adopted, was first intro duced into any British Colony by the Act of 1701.—( Hear.) In the older colonies the Councillors held their situations only during pleasure. Of late years certainly the practice had somewhat varied, but he did not belive it had advantageously varied. In Canada, for the first time, by Act of Parliament, the Legislative Coun cillors were allowed to hold their office during life. He was bound to say he did not think that experiment was altogether satisfactory. It was impossible to create a Council, and give them the weight which the House of Lords bore in this country. The Council had not in Canada that stake in the country, nor that responsibility to public opinion, which the House of Lords in this country might be supposed to have. The House of Lords, indeed, in this country, had shown that it was responsible to public opinion. He felt confident his Right Hon. Friend the present Governor of Canada would not appoint any one of the Legislative Council that might not be fairly relied on, but if hereafter any question should arise in Parliament with respect to altering the Act, he should not consider himself bound by the present arrangement, which he treated as essentially provisional.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. C. BULL ER thought the Government bad done right in proposing no alteration in the Legislative Council. At the same time he concurred in what the Noble Lord had stated, that it was impossible that the Council could have that weight in Canada which the second branch of the Legislature had here. The Legislative Council might in a few years become a subject of great practical diffi culty, and the Government must make up its mind to effect some alteration as had been suggested by the Legis lature of Canada. Mr. HUME said, that if the clause was intended to be merely provisional, he should not so much object to it • but he did not see h o w th ere wou ld b e an opportun i ty o f altering it hereafter. The clause was then agreed to, as was also the 11th clause. Upon the reading of the 12th clause, Mr. S. O'BRIEN objected to the equalization of the number of representatives for the two provinces as unjust to the inhabitants of Lower Canada, in which province the population was so much more numerous than that of the Upper Province. Sit:l - i. H. INGLIS objected to the clause upon very different grounds from those stated by the Hon. Member for Limerick. He objected to it because it did not give a preponderance to Upper Canada, the inhabitants of which were English, in race, language, religion ; and affections. Lord J. RUSSELL said that be had given his reasons for equalizing the representation when he brought in the Bill, that he did not think it necessary to trouble the Committee, by going now into any further discussion of the question. The clause was then agreed to. The 13th clause was agreed to, without discussion. On the reading of the 14th clause, Lord J. RUSSELL said that it was his intention to pro pose, at another time, that the county of Lincoln should be divided into two districts. Mr. S. O'BRIEN thought it was not desirable to create such small constitumcies as the Noble Lord proposed. In the agricultural districts, the constituoncics of the towns ought to be enlarged, by admitting a portion of the sur rounding districts. Mr. ELL IS differed from the Hon. Member for Lime rick, in thinking that the towns were more likely to furnish independent representatives than the rural districts ; and when they came to the 17th clause, he would propose that the town representatives. instead of being diminished should be increased,:by giving two representatives to To ronto and Kingston. He had no objection to increase the representation of the county of Lincoln ; but he thought that the town of Shelbrook, in Lower Canada, was also entitled to a representative. Mr. C. BULLER agreed in the propriety of giving additional representatives to Toronto and Kingston; and he thought that Quebec and Montreal ought, in conse quence of their population, wealth, and importance, to have each two representatives. Sir C. GREY thought that each of the four towns was entitled to have two representatives. The clause was then agreed to, as were also the lath and 16th. On the reading of the 17th clause, Lord J. RUSSELL said that with respect to this clause he did not mean to propose any alteration now ; but he thought there was a great weight in the suggestion that the towns should be adequately represented. The diffi culty which he saw in carrying out the suggestion was, that it would involve a departure from the principle of equalization, which it was the object of the Bill to effect. Mr. ELLIS said that the giving too representatives to each of the four towns, Quebec, Montreal, Toronto, and Kingston, would not be rei,Parded in either province as an infraction of the principles of equality, but that it would, on the contrary, be hailed by all parOes. Clauses 15, 19, PO, 21, and 22, were agreed to without discussion. On the reading of the 23d clause, which related to the mode of taking elections, Mr. HUME asked if it was intended that the elections should be taken by ballot ?—( A laugh.) Lord J. RUSSELL'S answer was not heard in the gallery, but the clause was agreed to. Clauses 24, 25, and 26, were agreed to with a few verbal amendments. _ On clause 27, the qualification clause, being put, it was proposed to fill up the blank with 5001. Mr. HUME objected to the amount of the qualification, and proposed the omission of the clause. The Committee divided, when there appeared— For the omission of the clause. 27 Against it 94 Majority in favour of the clause The clause was then agreed to. Clauses 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 were agreed to with a few verbal amendments. Clause 37 was agreed to with an amendment. Clauses 38 and 39 were also adopted. On clause 40 being proposed, Mr. C. BULLER said that although he approved of the principle of the clause making the legal language of public documents in Canada the English language, yet he thought that in certain cases considerable hardship might . arise towards some of the members, who might not under stand the English language. He suggested, therefore, that there should be a translation of printed documents for the benefit of the French Members. Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S object was that the legal record should be in the English language, but he did not object to a translation being made for the benefit of those who did not understand that language. The SOLICITOR.GENERAL defended the clause. Sir C. GREY suggested a proviso allowing French translations to be printed. Lord HO WICK said the clause was needlessly minute legislation. Sir R. INGLIS said the clause as it stood was one of the few he approved of. A laugh.) He wished to en courage English language, English laws, Engli s h man ners, Engli s h c ustoms, English religion. On the question that the words "or printed," be struck out, Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he would consider the subject. Mr. COURTNEY pressed upon the Noble Lord the adherence to those words. It was most difficult to trans. late correctly from one legal language to the other. Which was to be the original—the English or French ? Look at the subtlety of lawyers.—(Laughter.) Clause agreed to, subject to further consideration. Oa clause 51, providing f3r the Civil List, being put, Mi.. HUME moved that it be reduced from 45,000 i. to 43 000 !. Lord J. RUSSELL said a few words in support of the clause, but was inaudible in the Gallery. Lord HO WICK wished the salary of the Governor- General were removed to another schedule, and that it should be paid out of the Consolidated Fund of this coun try, and increased. The charging a high salary for the Governor on the colony would lead to considerable incon venience, because the discontented in the colony would be continually drawing comparisons between the Governor of the colony and the Prezidcnt of the United States, without considering the great sacrifices made by the Governor- General in accepting the appointment, and the great ad vantages enjoyed by the President of the United States independent of his salary. A high salary was necessary to secure the services of a person of high attainments. Mr. EI U E was surpthed that the Noblu Lord should advocate such an enormous salary for the Governor, and such a large civil list, considering the reduced state of the Crown revenues of the colony. He would propose to reduce the grant by 20,0001. Lord JOHN RUSSELL opposed the reduction, and denied that the revenues of the colonies were in such a re duced state. After a few words from Captain BOLDER() and Lord HOWICK, Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the Com mittee divided, when the numbers were— For the clause For the amendment Majority 8S -74 The clause was ordered to stand part of the Bill. The remaining clauses were then agreed to, the House resumed, and the report was ordered to be brought up on Monday next. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he should propose to proceed with the Bill immediately after the Customs Bill on Monday. The Frivolous Suits Bill want through Committee. The Church Building Bill was read a second time. On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL the In demnity Bill was read a third time and passed. RATED INHABITANTS EVIDENCE BILL. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that the House do resolve itself into Committee on this Bill. Captain PECHELL moved an instruction to the Com mittee to add the following clause :—Nor shall any per son called as a witness on any trial, appeal, or other pro ceeding, in any Court in which any parish, or union of parishes or district, shall be a party, be disabled or pre vented from giving evidence by reason of any such person being an assistant-overseer, relieving officer, or other paid or salaried officer to any such parish, union, or district. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL hoped his Hon. and Gallant Friend would postpone his motion. It was the Lord Chief Justice's Bill, and he should like to con sult that Noble and Learned Lord upon it. If the lion. and Gallant Member would allow the Bill to go through Committee, he would move the addition of the clause upon the next stage. On the suggestion, however, of an HoN. MEMBER on the Conservative side of the House, the Committee was postponed till Monday. Mr. ALSTON moved that the petition of Augustus Smith and Benjamin Martin, relating to the Berkhamp stead Charity Schools be referred to a Select Committee. Mr. G. W. HOPE opposed the motion. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the motion Against it 2 Majority.. -11 The Speaker left the chair and the House adjourned. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. PRICE O 1 BREAD. The highest price of Bread in Lo4f. Good Bread may be had at :he Metropolis is 10J. for the 41b PRICES 0: SEEDS. Per Cwt. Per Quarter. New English ltcd C10rer...503.805. St. Foin -s. 50s lOs Old Ditto Ditto -8 -8. -s. Rye Grass -1 "qs OW New Foreign Ditto ...-s. 60s. 90s. Lacey Grass -s. 455. 60. Old Ditto Ditto.... .... .-s. -s. -s. Linseed, for feeding -s. 4,5. Ms New White Clover ...50s. OW. 7W. Ditto, for sowing -s. lOs. 70s Old Ditto Ditto -s. -s. -s. Ditto, for crushing...-s. 425. 40a New Trefoil -s. 16. 345. Canary -a. 100 s. 105 s Old Ditto -s. 16s. 955. Hemp -s. 335, 40s Trefoil= 3. 303. 365. Per Bushel. English Carraway -s. 488. 52:. White Mustard...lls. OA. 14s. Od. Foreign Ditto -s. 508. 563. Brown Ditto l6s. Od. 21s. aid Coriander -s. 144.205. Tares Os. 0.1. 9s. Ocl Rapeseed, English fine (per Last) 24/.26/. Foreign 211. 251. PRICES Ol HOPS. Farnham Pockets (per cwt.) Ol Os. 01. Os. to 01. Os. East Kant Pockets Mao Bags 3l. IN. 0/.: Os. to 41. 4s. Mid Kent Pockets 3l. 10s. 41. 10s. to 5/, 19 , , Jitto Bags 91. 10s. 01. Os. to 4;. Os. S issex searlings O/. Os. 31. 38. to Si. 10s. Old f/lds PRICES OF LEATHER Per lb. d. to d. Per Ili. cl. to d. CropHldes,3oto4olb.each 11 14 Horse Hides, (;ermaia... 12 22 ---40 50 l2 16 -- Spanish ... 13 24 --50 60 ..... Bull Hides Butts, Vitriol English ...... ....... 15 24 Foreign .. Foreign Hides Dressing Hides ........... 11 14 Kips Shaved... 13 17 Basils G 11 Best Saddlers' H ides... .. 14 15 Bellies Horse Hidcs, English ... 11 IS Shoulders lO 1:i Calf Skins, if rounded 2d. to 4,1. por b. more. PRICE OF OIL. RapoOil,brown, per ton, 35/. 10s.—Refined, 37/.os —LinseodOil, 21;1. Linseed oil Cake at the Mill (1000),13/.13s.—Rape lake, pe t0n,61/. PRICE OF TALLOW, SOAP, &c. per 11.21 b. Town Tallow Yellow Russia 3os. rid. Mottled White Soap Ditto Melting Stuff Ditto Rough PRICE OF RAW FAT, per stone of 8117. Price of Tallow (as stated by the Tallow Melters) is. 970. PRICE OF CAN DLho. The price ot good Store Candles in the Retail Shops is as follows Candles, per dozen, Bs. Od. ; inferior, 7a. Id. ; Moulds, Vs. W. Sixpence per dozen discount for cash. COAL MARKET. Skips arrived since last inarket.day, 70. s. ' Adair's Huddle's West Hartley 2'l 0 Chester E. d. Walls End Hetlon ... 22 0 Walla End Stewart's %V 1G Acrid Whitwell Carr's Hartley 2O 011 Va .s End Hartlepool 22 Holywell Ilain 2O (I Walis End Kelloe 2O 9 Walls End Bewicke and Co. 20 0 l'ennant's Hartlepool 2l 6 Walls End Clennell Walls t•'nd Heaton Walls End Hotspur Walls EndßradOyll'sHetton 21 0 (From the London New Price Current of May 26.) Suomt.,--For British Plantation Sugar the prices paid are fully equal to those of this day week, Fine yellow Jamaica and Antigua selling at 74s to 755, good middling 723 to 73s 6d. Jamaica middling grey 703 6d; Nevis 703 ; I3erbice, with as much colour but loss strength 69s 6d, rather inferior Demerara 683 6d, no lower price than 65s 61 to 665 fur very ordinary brown Sugar can be quoted. Fine yellow went at 73s 6.1 to 74s 6d, good 72s 6d to 733, middling 71s Gd to 723, and 4 hhds good brown 685 6d, the bulk sold at 73s to 73s 6d per cwt. _ _ This afternooon the trade came forward more freely ; for grocery purposes there was a good and general demand, the refiners were buyers to a fair extent, and the prices paid are fully equal to those of this day week for all de scriptions ; the sales amounted to 600, making the quan tity sold for the week 1,800 hhds and tierces. The mar ket closed with a firm aspect. REFINED.-Refined Goods at a further advance of 6d to Is per cwt ; standard lumps at 883, good and fine brown lumps 85s to 87s, none of low quality under 81s 6d ; Com. mon Treacle at 35s ; patent and the best old make at 35s 6d to 383. Pieces at former rates. Bastards at full prices. Bonded Crushed Sugar at 34s 6d to 34s 9d. Loaves 101hs at 37s 6d to 333, and 14lbs 37s per cwt. Treacle at 13s Gd to 13s 9d. Bastards at 18s to 203, and Pieces at 223 to 275. For Dutch Crushed Sugar 32s en board at Amsterdam. MAURITIUS.—This afternoon there was a good business doing, and 1,129 bags at public sale went at very full prices ; low to good greyish yellow fetched 68s to 695, good and fine brown 66s to 675, low 61s 6d to 63s 6d per cwt. EAST INDIA.-The home trade have purchased freely of all white descriptions of Bengal, and the pries paiJ are fully equal to those of this day week. This afternoon the public sales consisted of 672 bags Bengal, and 3,607 bags Siam ; the former sold at stiff rates, viz., stroll; bright yellow at 69s Gd, soft 67s Gd to 695, damps 67s to 695, low damp brown 59s 6d ; of the latter about one-halt' was disposed of rather under forme' rates, good middling to good strong white sold at 263 to 275, middling 25s to 25s 6d, ordinary greyish white 24s to 24s Gd, fine yellow 245, good damp white 23s Gd to 255, washed 183 to 23s 6d. per cwt. COFFEE.-This afternoon the trade show little desire to buy Coffee for home consumption ; in fact, there was an increased dullness in the market, and the operations were confined to the public sales, consisting of 782 bags Java, 120 casks 5 barrels Jamaica, 118 casks 15 barrels 20 bags Berbice, which went off with much heaviness, and at reduced rates, good bold Java sold at the low price of 63s to 63s 6d ; the West India was nearly all taken in, the few lots of common quality sold went at a further reduc tion of 3s to 4s per cwt. FOREIGN.-White ilavannah at 39s a 40s for good and fine new strong quality. For yellow a slight reduction has been submitted to. Brazil at rather lower rates. White Pernams at 25s ; Bahia at 253 a 263 for good mid dling grey to middling white; new Rio good white went at 25s a 265, low to middling 22s Gd a 245, low to fine fine brown 20s a 21s 6d, good yellow 223 per cwt. Porto Rico in hhds low brown to good greyish dry yellow went at 22s 6d a 265, in brls middling brown 235, and one lot 2336 d per cwt. MOLASSES. For West India since this day week, prices have advanced Gd to Is; Antigua fine at 383 Gd to 393: St. Vincents ordinary and middling 3-te to 36s ; and Dominica 35s per cwt. TEA.—To-day in consequence of the accounts from China there was less business doing in Company's Congou and prices have declined Ild per lb, 2.; Ali having been ac cepted for cash, and 2s 3d for a three months' prompt. In Free trade there was not so much business doing, but in prices there was ,little variation, in some cases rather lower rates have been accepted for Congou and Twankay. This afternoon the market for Free Trade Tea was in a very dull state, and the nearest prices were 2s Id for common Free Trade Congou for cash, and Twankay 24 lldto 2s 2d. Company's Congou are dull, and closed at 2s 10 for cash. RCM, BRANDY, AND HOLLANDS.—Previous rates have been maintained for both Jamaica and Leeward Island Rum, but the demand has been very limited ; the arrivals have been again large. The operations in Brandy have been for actual consump tion, and there is no speculative demand ; prices however remain firm. Cognac first brands of the vintage of 1836 at 5s 6d in hhds, 5s 4d in puns ; do 1837, 5s 4d in hhds, 53 2d in puns; do 1833, 53 2d in hhds, in puns 5;; do 1839 puns and hhds 43 10d to 5s per gallon. Geneva has sold steadily at Is lld to 2.; for common shipping quality, and fine for home consumption at 2s 4d to 23 6d. In British Corn Spirits only a limited business has been done, but the EVENI NG I,IDITIONI dist Wets are unwilling to make emtracts under 'Cs 2d per gallon. RICE.—The demand for Bengal has been limited+ and at the public sales of 4,157 bags, prices gave way 6d Fi er cwt. for all qualities ; the chief part was, however, so good middling white at 133 to 13s 6d, middling 12a low lls 6d to 12i ; the common qualities are still the most difficult of sale. For Java there are a few buyerh and former rates have not been maintained by 6d to is Pe r . cwt ; at auction, nearly the whole of the sound of 3, 24 , bags was taken in at-11s for middling clean whit e, an" middling broken, and dusty, 9s to 103 ; a few piles were disposed of for 10s 61 for middling, and 95 for low q uality; sea damaged was all sold at 61 6d te 93, and very inferior 3s to 6s per cwt. The arrivals have again been larger and several vessels are near at hand. Carolina has bee ° in brisk request for home use, 36s paid for new, a nd 341 for old quality. This afternoon there was no improvement in the demand° for East India, and 3,359 bags Bengal at public s ale 'a r t newly all taken in at former rates, viz., good wh ite 2, B 13s 6d, low yellow cargo 103, a few piles middling wu"" sold at 12a 6d per cwt. SticEs.---For Cassia Lignea former rates have bee maintained ; Manilla taken in at 76s for low quality, false packed, Pimento at 3d to 3id for c oarse t, good shipping quality, ordinary 91d. There are no seller , of black Pepper under previous rates. West India Ging o e i d -at late rates ; Malabar taken in at 21s 6d for good fai r b quality ; 57 chests fair bold scraped went at 593 to 625 tit per cwt. Nutmegs at 3s 8d for good middling first s ° r Amboyna. Cloves at previous rates. TALLOW.—For P. Y. Candle on the spot, 3d for first quality; South American ordinary and serf soft went at 41s to 45s 3d, middling to good 46s to 4 per cwt. For delivery in the last three months there s ru , no sellers under 49s 3d, and some parties will not sceP' less than 49s 6d. ta to Oms.—Southern Oil at 231 19s to 2-1/15s for 1 0- ., fine quality, establishing an advance on former rates °' e6I t° per tun. Seal, pale of first quality on the spot at - , 26/ 10s, and 251 15s for arrival. Cod at former rae" For Sperm the nearest quotation ;s 971 for first qt' s , li f t n i r ', Linseed Oil at 25s on the spot, and 25s 3d to 255 9°l for, delivery in the next two and three months. Rape , P l ..tel 37s to 37s 6d, and brown 363 to 36s 61. For Olive Pli or are rather lower. Palm 351 asked for small, and 34 ' large quantities. Cocoa Nut at 36s 9d to 37s 3d Per e " 49s to 490 COUNTRY MARKETS --jr"..r. Wheat. Barley. Oats. : Beai.s. ••:::....." ~ --m.......... .--_. --.--- . Per Quarter. s. to s. 15. s. s. to s. s. to 5. ° ..• Bath . .... 70 90 28 46 211 :1.5 : 44 50 .. .... Blandtord ....... 65 sr) 30 40 28 29 48 50 "*" ... Bridport .............• 68 -- -- /i 44 Chard ,M,.,.,,,,.,,, 58 71 32 42 21 82 34 45 1 47 4 0 Gloucester 64 72 42 461 31 as 48 50 ' .... Exe • er ... Guildford Newbury Reading.,,,,,,,,, 5O 83 2,2 44 t 6 35 45 50 _. Salisbury 156 71 3 3.. 44 22 30 40 5 0 Slit rborne ,70 78 39 44 22 28 42 48 Snepton Mallet 52 76 30 46 i 26 32 49 52 Uxbridge , -- — 37 42 28 32 --- " •"' W.inninster ,l 52 77 24 46 27 33 48 5 2 ...- ". Winchester , 61. 76 (cuvil 161 70 i 32 42 124 32 134 38 .".. SCOTCH MARKETS. EDINBURGH CORN MARKET.—May 27. va n?. Wneat. Barley. Oats. pease. 70; 0 2 First BO5. Od. 38s. 6d. 3.5. Ott. 475. Od. 1 1 if Second 7O 0 0 35 0 21 0 44 0 4 ° Third Average price of Wheat 3l. 4s. 2,1. PRICES OF PROVISIONS, &C. t 10 4. Beef, per lb. «.,., Os. ilkl. to Os.tid. Freshßutter, lb. ILO i ." -o 0 ' Mutton ....................... 0 5 0 8 Salt Ditto* 011 , 0 0 0 Vea1...............--.. 0 6 010 Ditto, per cix t.... 99 0 . 1 0 0 font_ ...... 0 5 0 7 Eggs, per d0e..,. 0 7 15 0 Lama, per qr. —.... 4 0 6 0 OatStraw(kpl.).„lo 0 l e 0 , fallow, cwt........ 30 (1 42 0 Wheat 14itt0.,,..10 0 10 2uartern Loaf.... 091 010 Barley Ditto ...... 91 2 1", l'otatoes, 141 b..... 0 4 0 0 Hay, per 5t........... I .' EDINBURGH MEAL MARKET.—Ma) ° l3 : 0 4 Per Sack of 28011). Imp. Per Stone ot 1418. a l li 0 ) 2 First Oatmeal Second ditto 13arleynaeal I 12 6 Barleyweal ......... •••••—'•• 0 1 Peas enasial Pot Barley from 325. to 555. per sack. GLASGOW CORN Mt.7.!KET.—May 2 7 . •4, Ow, Wheat, per 2401 b. s. d. s. d. Oats, per 264 18 . j 0 oto y; )1 old 34 oto4o 0 Ici.b ............ ........" 0 2; )1 -- new 26 0 33 0 British Canada, free — 0 0 Irish ..................... 6 . 0 r 6 l : Barley, per 32018. Scottish ................. ‘24 0 el 46 i English 3O 8 31 0 Pease, Scottish ..... ig 0 0 Scottish 24 0 29 0 Oatmeal,per 1401 b.... 0 " Ir'sh CORNWALL MARKETS. (Calculated at 24 gallons to the bushel.) Wheat. 001 Barley. i to ',4 e 5 5. 6. to 1. ch s. d. to S. 0. i• 6 -. 0 fruro 0 6 0 0 4 0 -- 0 510 Helstone St. Austell 0 810 0 4 3 -- 0 „" 0 Bodmin 0 88— 0 4 4-- 0 4 ' 0 iskeard 8 6 9 0 3 0 4 3 "". 0 " 0 Launcesto 2 8 3 6 Camciford n Penzance..,,., 8 0 8 4 0 5 4 cot 0 ....,. ..,—. ..—..,,,-. Toni! n 0 ,cdrutti last week -4, ' - 7N 10 13 pd. .A verage standard 1081,1 g ll5l A SUMMER IN BRITTANY, EDITED ( TROLLOPE.—We are requested to state that lUr. Coly,u.,roer Great Marlborough-street, has this day published " A,:.,frel in Brittany," by T. A. Trollope, Esq., edited by. I %L l ' &e'' lope, author of " Domestic Manners of the Aroerie._! . 'Z' ic h cad in 2 vols. Bvo., with fourteen illustrations, boom! , w. ti u s , p ub' new be had of all booksellers. Mr. Colburn has aiV i i t ,„ o t the lisped Lieutenant Wellsted's " New Travels to tlie7th Mel' Caliphs, along the Shores of the Persian Gulf an d • a ral terranean ; including a Voyage to the Coast of A raiNa ' Tour on the Island of Socotra," 2 vols. Bvo price 255., bound. lo re' Sight, of all the organs, is one of the ni° s ' ' cions ; when once it tends to imperfection particular ! re , should be directed in selecting spectacles to afford it assis tl :fr These remarks are made in consequence of Mr. E. Soloe 3 c - i a tl, No. 36, Old Bond-street, Piccadilly, and I, Old Jewry. having constructed spectacles of that delightful mineral — ir ber, which far excel all others in modern use. Thef a r , d e -e yes' tifully transparent, soften the light to weak or infl - te e en'' and are better adapted for all persons having anY la s j i - o u rt, theY ployment by day, or lamps or candles at night. hi pe rfection 0 may be considered as having been brought to "" 4- to speet a ' to complete that department of optics apnert.' n ' d ' l t t hi g h en des. The patronage of the Royal FartnlY , a I nd mcientiV miums bestowed on them by the principal medic:a a .o 0 , the ir authorities in Europe, render any furtherpanegyrti ore •s with illustratioah superiority quite uncalled for. The Voice Condo: o n in ' eh '' i a E. Solomons' in,ention measure only . a diameter, and are the most powerful instruments for t re ho er quarter of a _ deafness. By their use musical sounds and the lovres.rweaHrillia, breathed at a public assembly vibrate on the organs 01,t1 &P`'' affording instant relief to all persons whose hear in g u -b Ol tive. It is highly necessary for all persons s o lv f either of the above inventions to mark p a rticularly c 6 mons' address, he being in no way connected with r a o q i , ' Ohl the same name. The disposal is exclusively confined t Jewry, City, and 36, Old Bond-street, Piccadilly. v rj eS' A letter is published in the Pilot of We.! 31r, day, addressed to the Editor of that Paper in Dublin , l it e t a , O'Connell, from London. He says in it—" I will W I t bsi cautien you against giving cretlenc, to those who tell Ye ti ,, Old the Scorpion Bill will certainly be thrown out. scribblers here and in Dublin who assert positively will so—but I tell you it is, to say the least of it, exceediEg;Ybiitefi ful. Can any man point out to me any period of Irish or at which the dominant portion of England hesitated hoP j glected to strike a heavy blow on Ireland whenever thef t, se never I°s es/ in their power? Such an opportunity was tlev do nc- t o never will. There are now the two predominating ''',. ;‘ ,. o oP e national hatred of the Irish people, and malignant un ir eo e i stimulate our enemies, and those that are worse tha n n ° „pre,„ s mies—our false, false friends. We who struggle fo r l t isv; Ireland are surrounded by treachery at every side' t he possible to calculate the result of a contest in which 11 , 4 tility is very sincere and cordial—the friendship. he , - Dela! chill. For my part I have but one hope, and that 1 5 ' ° l There arli and the Irish. The great grievance which the Nation eo'c h nation seeks to redress is, the unjust appropriation °f f t th e e siastical revenues to the Chur c h o f th e m inority 0- b r e v people ; in other words, the exti nc ti on of the tit ,:hst t o f charges, in alleviation of the poo r - ra t es . This v acc es 4 ,, Irish people imperatively dema n d. D oes n ot the t h e "' the Scorpion Bill demonstrate th a t we have net ° or chance of getting relief from th e tith e b urt hen un t " mestic Legislature is restored ? len t: HERRING FISIIERY.—We are glad tO i V that the prospect of an extr aor di nar y h err i ng fisher,' liver „; fine, and all round the coast of the West Highland,' l i e s e o ;:t greater in memory of man tha n th a t o f the Pre se `' . l,oe .A b "to Large whales are daily seen c ha s i ng th e h e rring 61) , s' and the other arms of the sea. Th e fishing is °.' commence immediately.—lnverness Courier. REINING INTE Quantity of Copper ures sold at 11 Average Produce Quantity of fine Copper Amount of sale, 13,894 , . 12.. 5 t -- -- ri ., - r. il , PATENT LEVER WA i sl i i With silver double-bottom cases ..............••• •'6 With silver hunting cases .............. ~ 0 ,,, , This celebrated construction (tilt! most accurate t r o pr oio , a watch can be made) is now offer:-1, with the lates lo ,o bio' merits i. e. the detached escapea,:nt, jewelled i l4 , „,,,I $l, O O/ capped, hand to mark the seconds, hard enamel dia"," t be $ taming power to continue going t•Lle winding up, a' , Ihs prlce A . Ili" printed warranty is given, with fixed terms, 6u ` 4 Watches will always receive any attention needeti• T fit ( id . COX SAVORY, Watchmaker, Silver and Guo - 11...i, 47, Corohill (- eteti from Gracechurch-street), Lontion• „go , , N.B.—Second-hand Watches purcha se d in esch 3 Cu ISti , SHEFFIELD MADE PLATED -1-1 's;°' for 14' VEILS.—A. B. SAVORY and SONS, Goldsrnith s 'boi t i,f , Cornhill, London, opposite the Bank of England , s° f 5 1fr fif', selection, in their show-rooms, a very large variety ° i ',. o ol "sJ FIELD SILVER-PLATED DISH COVERS , ',llo' teen Guineas the set ; they have silver edges and has , silver shields for engravi ng the e/.st or coat of arlnt; e rth Double Dome Pattern." Th e M e l o n l' 3 "-: e. ' A O 1 , • Sir 5 ,i Size..£ s. 0. .„) iii• 4 I n 0 1 Plated Dish Covers, 20 in. 5 13 I', !. ri:.ted Dish Cover, ci4 . ). i , I „ Dish Cover, IS in. 4 76 1 „ Dish Cove% 1 4 ill',/ '2 „ Dish Covers, 14 im. 512 0 2 „ Dish cover. , -- ti ll, )3 1 , Per Set £ls 13 01 Per $ et.,'": Se.',o l Plated Currie or Hash Dishes Seven Guinea Price Current, Stamped as a Newspaper, containi, n ' er or ' t lig and every information relative to the purchase of sii v fo to fit ld plate, may he had on applicat.on, or will be sen t country, free of postage, in answer to a paid letter _ fi l ' __.. MARRIED. Me t ° At Cavan. K. D. Robertson, Esq., to Helen, d au b' late Colonel Fraser, 15th Royal Irish. DIED. di et °I On the 26th inst., at Clic rloy-wood, Herts, Lo ui ti r tt c ti the Rev. R. Coningham, of Rose-hill, in the same 0 , , kilo On the 23d inst., at Scaleby Castle, Cumberland ..,t Mercy, widow of the late R. Fawcett, Eso• On vo , On the 24th inst., at Ilad!eigh, Suffolk, Susanl o 7 o er!) daughter of Mr. W. Fox, late of Cirencester, and fi' pet Lechlade, Gocestershire, aged 69. ~,,,,g.. On a t g h a e d 27th 62. inst., J. Campbell, Esq., York-gate , j* aft, park, On the 27th inst., at St. Anne's-road, North wife of J. Longbottom, Esq., aged 69. ilyae-er On the 28th inst., in Upper Southwick-street , 0 . Pr Caroline, relict of G. I'. Spitler, Esq. , w, On the 24th inst., at Castle-street, Lon lon, 141. * el sington, aged 57. „ k , SO ° On the 24th inst., at the Rectory, Loughtbn, B us- ' ref John, eldest son of the Rev. J. Athawes, aged 8. GOO wif O e n of th .3 7 . 2 G 4t i h im i o n r s e t. , , a a g t ed S s tar . ford-hill, Mrs. Isabella , oi Nw• y011 tr ." 10 , ,l 1 London: Printed and Published by MURDO No. 1 12, Strand, at The Sup, Ottice, No. 112 t 4 ' o. the county of Aliddlesex.—Saturday, May 30, 18 Brixton, lc, I I I I