The Sun. — London, England, 1840-01-20 00:00:00

(Continued from our Paper of Saturday. ) Did you think of making any special return to the writ of i deli facias?—i do so invariably. You knew that the execution was contrary to the rules of , the House of Commons ?—I was perfectly aware of that. You told us that a rile had been obtained from the Court of Queen's Bench to show cane why the money hag not been paid to Stockdale?—Yes. You will have an opportunity of laying before the Court any \ facts which may be considered as an excuse for not paying over the money to Stockdale? That depends on the pleasure of the House, and whether I am detained, or not, here. I Suppose the rule did not come on for several days, will you have an opportunity of making an affidavit, and of laying before 1 the Court any facts that now exist, or which may hereafter exist before cause is shown, wrath may be sufficient to induce the Court to discharge the rule, instead of making it absolute. Mr. KELLY said he would object to that question; and the witness was ordered to withdraw. Mr. KELLY objected to the question of his Right Hon. and Learned Friend the Attorney-General, because no question should be put which could tend to the injury of the party. The witness might answer, that be should have such as opportunity, and he might instruct his law agent to proceed I accordingly. It is a rule of the Court of Queen's Bench that nothing new can be stated in affidavits, after the day for making the rule absolute has passod.--(.. No, ns," from the Attorney- General.) He (Mr. Kelly) would beg leave to differ from the Attorney-General, and to state that there was such a rule, and that no party had a right to make any affidavit to the Court after the first rule had been made. If the Attorney- General undertook to state to the House, that it is the right of parties showing cause against a rule to make affidavits of new 9 matter, after the day appointed for showing cause against the rule had passed, he (Mr. Kelly) begged leave to stiffer from him ; but he would make no further observation on the matter. Sir J. CAMPBELL thought himself called en to defend the question en these grounds--that the question might be one of great importance, and, because there could not be tke slightest doubt that the Sheriff could not be injured by his answer, when ha was merely asked as to the practice of the I Court. Mr. CRESSWELL thought tint it would be unnecessary to put the question. He was certain that the House would rather take the law upon the subject from the Attorney-Ge neral himself than frosa the witness. He hoped the Attorney- General would withdraw the question. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL was only desirous that the House should be in possession of a fact wisich he thought was material. The practice of the Court was a mere matter of fact, and he was anxious the House should get that from Mr. `, France, who was competent to give it. Mr. O'CONNELL thought the fact bad much better be taken from Mr. Franco, who was an intelligent man, and as I oendid awitnessashe had ever heard examined. Mr. DARBY did not think any man could answer the ques tion. How could any man say he could state matter which would induce the Court to discharge the rule.—( Hear, hear, and laughter.) Mr. KELLY said, that after what the Attorney-General had stated, he would withdraw his objection to the question. Mr. France was then recalled, and in answer to the question which was again pet by the Attorney-General, said—lt' the rule is not argued for some days the affidavit can be made, and will be made, by myself. An lioN. MEMBER—The question is will the Court receive it.—(Lauglver.) Mr. Sergeant JACKSON--On entering office are you sworn to pay obedience to all the Queen's writs ?—I have a copy of the oath in my pocket, and I will read it to the House. Witness then read the oath taken by the Under Sheriff on entering office. j You have spoken of injunctions from the Cols •t of Chancery, have the , e injunctions been made to the Queen's writs ?—Yes. Have you taken any oath to obey the orders and resolutions of the House of Commons?—No, this is the only oath I have taken. Mr. WARBURTON—Have you ever received the Queen's writi to levy execution against privileged persons ?—I have. When they are such do you consider yourself bound to pro ceed to levy execution, knowing them to be privileged persons? —Certainly not. Bv Lord J. RUSSELL—What course do you then take? —I make a special return. By Mr. KELLY—With respect to the answer you have ' just given as t, the execution of writs against privileged per sons, is there not a notice to the Sheriff and Under- Sheriffs in all w, its for the art est of privileged persons to beware of ar resting privileged persons?—lt is at the bottom of all warrant., 1 according to the Act of Parliament. You stated, in answer to the Noble Lord, that under certain circumstances, telien a question of privilege arose, a return is wade by order of the Court, by which in due course of law the question is bron;ht before the Court for its consideration, of whether the party is privileged or not ?—Yes. And does the Court then, by slue course of law, proceed to adjudicate upon the question thus brought before it?—lt ari tate, the question. NWhat do you mean by that ?—lt considers whether o r n ot the party is e ntitled t• privilege, and if not, then a motion is made that the Sheriff be directed to amend his return, or an action may be brought against the Sheriff for making a disc return . In either case the question of the party being privileged, or n ot being privileged, comes before the Court for its consider ation?—That's my conception of it. 1 You sai4 you have ocioionally received injunctions from the Court of Chancery ? Yes. I And that for a long time you have been acquainted with the duties of the Sheriff's Office ?—Yes ; for twenty-live years. Did you over know till the present occasion of anv inter ference on the part of the House of Commons in the mei tiou of any writs or processes sued out of your office ?—Never in my life. Is the writ of injunction a common mode of interference i by the Court of Chancery, and one recognised by the Courts of Law ?—lt is. -. ...... . __ _ You have stated that you applied to the Court of Queen's Bench—at what stage of the proceedings did you make that application "s —lmmediately after the lodging of the writ of in quiry in my effice which was the first notice the Sheriff had of the estien. se's 501111 afterwards as affidavits could be made eel application was made to entarese the rule. Had vou in the mean time received notice on behalf of the moors. Hansard that if you preseeded on that writ you would b e • 'silty of a 'breach of the privileges of the House !).--I had, and embodied it with the resolutions of the House in my atli eaeis. Yrom the beginning to the end of the proceedings he had taken no step, or acted otherwise than in strict and due obe dience to the orders of her Majesty's Judges. In common cases I would not heve required a peremptory rule to return the writ, but that being in my opinion a case of much import ance, he had done nothing until compelled. Had the She riffs not obeyed the rule made by the Queen's Bench, they wield have been in contempt, and liable to punishment accordingly, but they had interposed every delay they legally could. If the Sheriff refuse el or neglected to pay over money according to the exi geney of the writ, he would be imprisoned for disobedience. unless there was a special endorsement. In the present case the Sheriffs made a return to the writ of venditioni expones, that they had the money, and if the rule now pending were to be made absolute, the Sheritf must pay over the money or be in contempt. By Sir E. SUGDEN hat never known any conflict between the Court of Chancery and Courts of Common Law in conse quence of injunctions to stop proceedings ; the authority of a Court of Equity was submitted to, and he, for one, would never advise any client to dispute it. By Mr. O'CONNELL—The memorandum of caution he had spoken of was on the foot of the warrant to the officer, as it was his ditty to make inquiry as to the privilege of any person against whom a warrant was directed. By Sir R. INGLIS—The warrant was in the same form, whether the person was privileged or not. By Mr GODSON—In an ordinary case the money would have been paid ever to the plaintiff en the 20th December (we understood. ) By Mr. BLEWITT—The injunction from Chancery was a warning to the Sheriff not to do a certain act, and it was no breach of his duty or against his oath to obey that warning, because the injunction was a writ from h-r Majesty. He had never known, in his experience, a writ come in after an injunc tion had been served. Sir C. GREY then asked what were the exact words of the oath ?—The words are " I will truly return and serve all the Queen's writs." Sir C. GREY requested the short-hand writer to read the question put by the Hon. Member for Bandon as to the oath taken by the Sheriff and Under-Sheriff. Mr. Gurney read the question as follows :—Were you sworn on entering office to execute all the Queen's writs to you directed ?--We were. Sir C. GREY—It does not appear quite clear whether the memorandum as to not resisting the privilege was endorsed on a Agri facial, or on the warrant. Answer—On the warrant. By Mr. LAW—In your experience has an injunction from the Court of Chancery ever come in contest with a writ of Common Law ? —No. Mr. LAW—It only stays the proceeding ?—Just so. By Sir R. PEEL--'lhe words " shall truly return and serve" are shortly, that you aro willing to execute ?—Yes ; to to serve is execute. Sir R. PEEL—Should you obey an injunction from the Court of Chancery? Mr. France—That is equal!? a command from her Majesty, as well as the order from the ‘Ption's Bench. Sir R. PEEL—If you have a writ from the Queen's Bench, and an injunction from the Lord Chancellor, should coil not dis regard the first ? Mr. France—The second overrulesi the first. By Sir R. PEEL—Are you not also sworn to duly and dili ratty execute all the good laws and statutes of this . realat ? Yes. New if in ease this privilege should be considered part of the law of the land, should not you consider that the order of' the House stood in the same situation u the injunction of ti t le Court of Chancery ? Sir R. INGLIS objected; and the Right Hen. Baronet withdrew his question. Sir E. SUGDEN—The first writ of execution you site commanded to serve ; the next, that of injunction, comment Is you to stay the service ; now in fact you really execute both- - that is, yon execute the one till it is stayed by the oth er — you exec ute the one till it is countermanded by a higher authority ? —y e s. I consider the Coen of Chancery is superior to the Common Law Courts. By the ATTORNEY-GENERAL—I constantly have obeyed the order for the injunction, without the writ itself being ill -rued. 1 By Mr. LAW—But then I know that the six clerks con sider the order as equivalent to the writ, and will make the writ out upon the order. Sir C. GREY—Do you consider the arrest of a party men tioned in the writ of capias to be the execution of that writ ?—s (A laue.) Sir C. GREY—When you receive a writ of arrest, what d, p you consider its execution ?—The caption.—( Laughter. ) Sir C. GREY—If he is a privileged person, do you return that ? —Yes. Is that serving or executing the writ ?—No ; the writ is not. executed if he is privileged.—( Laughter. ) Mr. CRESSWELL—Were you served with any order emanating from or purporting to emanate from this House,. not to execute the writ in question ?—No further than that certain papers were delivered to me like those that were so treated, although they, did not bear the Speaker's signature, nor were there any other means of testine their genuineness. I did not mean whether you were served with any papers by the persons acting as solicitors to the Messrs. Hansard, but ' were yon served with any order coming from or purporting toe cmie from this House ?—Certainly not. Mr. France, in obedience to the orders of the Speaker, the a withdrew. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, that after having heard the: Sheriffs, and the Under-Sheriff, he was of opinion that: the House would not consider it necessary to call Mr. Bur-- chell before it, as it appeared that he had acted merely as an. ageat of the Under-Sheriff, but considering the great lengtl ' of the examinations which rendered it h a rdly t o tie exp ec t e d that the House could carry the whole of the examination ; its their minds, and recollecting the importance of those examin a tions, and also the fact that many Members were absent, V9N; we re not aware of the importance of the proceedings 'or that day, he was not prepared to ask the House to agree to any.- further proceedings to - day , but he would state on Monday next: the c ourse which he thought it most advisable the Houseidiou al. un d e r all the circumstances of the case pursue. , J Sir E. SUGDEN—Cannot you state it now? r Lord J. RUSSELL—If the House would permit him ' ee wo uld now move that the Sheriffs be again called in and is eked The SPEAKER then ordered the Sheriffs to be called in, and on their appearance at the bar, he asked them if there was anything they wished to state further to the House ? Mr. Sheriff Evans—We certainly wish to have an opportunity of expressing ourselves, that if we have, in the exeeution of our painful duty, done anything to incur the displeasure of this House, we deeply deplore it. The Sheriffs then withdrew. Sir R. INGLIS then moved that the Sheriffs, Under- Sheriff, and Bailiff, he discharged from further attendance on this House. Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved, as an amendment, that the/ be ordered to attend on Monday next. The Srisexsta having put the question, Sir E. SUGDEN rose to ask his Hon. Friend, the Mem ber for the University of Oxford, to be so good as to with draw his motion ; and then if the Noble Lord opposite ( Lord John Russell) withdrew his amendment, the matter might proceed regularly. The time had not arrived at which the House could decide whether the Sheriffs should be discharged or not. He (Sir E. Sugden) wanted above all things to to know what the Noble Lord, who was conducting this in vestigation, which was to defend the privileges of the House, had to propose. He understaod the Noble Lord to say he had not yet made up his mind, and that he would state his motion on Monday next. Mr. LAW would certainly support the motion of his Hon. Friend, the Member for the University of Oxford, un less the Noble Lord signified to the House the course he would be prepared to propose to the House, on Monday next. The rapidity with which that House was invited to come to a determination on the previous examination of Mr. Stockdale—the omission of the form of calling that person into the House for the purpose of asking him at the time whether he would state anything by way of explanation, afforded a most painful contrast to their proceedings with regard to those re spectable gentlemen the Sheriffs. Unless the Noble Lord was prepared to state the course he intended to pursue on Monday next, he thought it was the duty of the House to relieve from all further anxiety those gentlemen, who had, in their exami nation, conducted themselves with such perfect eindour, and who had shown that if they had, in the course of their duty, done anything which called for animadversion, it arose front a too great facility to treat as an order of that House matter that was not formally brought to their attention under the authority of that House, but who, if, in their anxiety to stand well with, and to respect the authority of, that House, they had overstepped that duty at all, it bad been in their conde scension to the supposed wishes of that House.--(Hear.) The only observation made by those honourable and distinguishedpersons when called to the bar to know whether they had any explanation to offer, was to assure that House that what they had done was in discharge of what was a painful duty, but that they deeply deplored if, in the execution of that duty, they had been so unhappy as to fall under tee displeasure of the House.—(Hear, hear.) ►ie thought the House emelit to signify to those Gentlemen that, so far as they were concerned, they were absolved from all criminal animadversion, and that they were now at liberty to consider themselves acquitted by that House.—lf the Noble and Learned Lord had some other pur poses or objects to gain in connection with this motion, or desire to get further information on this painful subject, he ought to be prepared to state his views at once to the House. He (Mr. Law) could not but allude in most complimentary terms, to the conduct and demeanour of those Gentlemen who had just left the bar of that House, and this conduct he thought invited such information to be give❑ by the Noble Lord. It the Noble Lord should refuse to comply, he (Mr. Law), would feel himself obliged to sustain the motion of the Honourable and Learned Member for the University of Oxford. Unless the House is put in possession of the grounds of the Noble Lord's application, he would decidealy call upon the House to Support the motion of the Member for the University of Oxford. He did not wish to say more than in a word to say, considering the precipitation with weliell the vengeance of this House had been carried forward against Mr. Stockdale, they ought to seek every opportunity in their power to adept wilh equal rapi dity the resolution of informing the House of what the Noble Lord's intention would be, or to admit those gentlemen who were recently examined to be absolved from further attendance upon thie house.—(Hear.) He again repeated that he should he obliged to sileana the motion of the lion. Member for the University of Oxford. unless the Noble Lord gave the required information, which as a Member of this House and a Member of the Legisla. Lion, he (Mr. Law) considered he was bound to do. Sir It. PEEL said in this case also there were two questions perfectly distinct—(Hear, hear.) If the House were to be called upon to decide what course they should pursue with respect to the Sheriffs he (Sir It Peel) should may, judging from the evidence they had just heard, that no men could have conducted themselves more honourably.--'sHear, and cheers.) Seeing that there were conflicting authorities with which they had to deal, and unwilling to offend either, but to take that course which on the whole was most consistent with justice and honesty, they acted in the most straightforward and honourable manner--(Hear.) That was his opinion of the conduct of the Sheriflk, and was there any person in that House who did not see the peculiar difficulties in which they were placed. Therefore, when the Sheriffs left that House, they would leave it with the con solation that there was a unanimous admission of the difficulties of their position with the somewhat more important unanimous admission, that so far as the House could judge of the difficulties of their position, they had comported themselves as honourable men.— ( Much cheering.) That was the answer he would give to that part of his Hon. and Learned Friend's speech, with reference to the con. duct of the Sheriffs, and if he (Sir H. Peel) thought that it was any indignity to ask the Sheriffs to attend on Monday, he should be very sorry to be a party to it. He was perfectly certain that the Sheriffs themselves felt that it would be no discredit to them to be asked to do so.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord had been asked to tell them now on the instant, what course he intended to pursue on Monday. Suppose he did so—he must be taken to have determined upon it before he heard the evidence. He had asked the wit nesses to attend at the bar, for the purpose of hearing evidence in the case, and it was now proposed that the Noble Lord should make an admission, which would show that he had already determined upon the course he meant to pursue.—(Ministerial cheering.) Having heard the evidence for now three hours would it not be better, as they had been assured that they would be in the same position on Monday as they were now, in conformity with the ordinary proceedings of the House, to reserve to themselves twenty-four or forty-eight hours for the: mature consideration, of the question. His Hon. and Learned Friend ;Mr. Law) had complained of the rapidity of their decision in the case of Stockdale, and he was surprised to hear him now urging the House to teke the very same course with respect to the Sher ifs.—(Hear, hear.) Suppose they had decided too ra pidly in the case of Mr. Stockdale, ought that not rather to be a bea con and a warning to them, rather than an example which ought to be followed.—(Hear, bear.) But he could not admit the inference of his Hon. Friend in the case of Stockdale, because the House had in that case that person's open andcandid acknowledgment, and he fairly admitted that he intended to try the question by com mitting a breach of the privileges of the House.—(Cheers.) With respect to the extracting an admission from Mr. Stockdale, it would certainly have been a better plan if they had produced his letter and proved the handwriting, and then without any admission from him they would at once hove had complete proof that Mr. Stockdale had been guilty of a breach of the privileges of the House; and that he intended it. On the whole, therefore, considering tire im portance of the question on every ground, he thought they might well be charged with precipitation if they proceeded to determine hastily upon the case.--(Loud cheers.) He should, therefore., give his cordial support to the Noble Lord's amendment. Mr. LAW and Sir R. PEEL mutually explained. Sir R. INGLIS briefly replied. Mr. OWEN thought the House hail taken illegal and tyrannical step s; he should therefore vote in favour of the motion of the Bight Hon. Gentleman, the Member for the University. Mr INGHAM opposed the motion. The House then divided, anii the numbers were— For the motion d4 Against it Majority .. -102 Mr. LAW understood that the examinations which had been taken were to be printed, not so much for the use of those Members who had been present but of those who had been absent who w ere to have the high privilege of adjudicating upon evidence they had ■ot heard. He would move as an amendment that the exami.,a tions be printed for the use of Memhera only.—(Oh, oh.) Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the amendment would come more properly when the notion was made th at the examinations be printed. Captain BOLDER° hoped the Noble Lord would allow Mr. ;.Rockdale to be called to the Bar on Monday, so that he might ex er rise the undoubted right of every Englishman—the right of being .heard in his own defence. Lord J. RUSSELL said Mr. Stockdale was now in the custody •f the Sergeant at Arms, and could not be released without a distinct vote of the House. The motion was then agreed to. Messrs. France and Hemp were ordered to attend the House on Monday. Lord J. RUSSELL moved that the petition of Messrs. Hansard be further considered on Monda g A r eed to urcell inconvenience.coul d Sir E. KNATCHRULL wished — to know w hether the attendanc e of 7.,1 r . li h notl di spense d with—his attendanc e lei to muchpublic Lord JOHN RUSSELL did net intend to require the attendance Lord J. RUSSELL then . of the gentleman on Monday moved that the examination tak en at stise Bar to-day be printed and delivered Mr. LAW begged to move as an amendment the am e with the votes.timent o _ a mination taken to-day, but that t hat* House committed Mr. Stock dale e am an d , . that the publication of such a e be also printed, d i that not only tho examination in which n fo at r io t n his be rea c s o n l n i: t i ne d to the use of the Members. He did so that it 'was the ordinary prohib itio n o f Courts of i pe nding trials, and until the pr o c e ed in gs had terminated.or they ho appre hended topar tie The s same reason would apply to the House of Commons, the House of Commons did not intend, before to a decision , to a pp eal to their constituents as to whethercarnee u carne h a d alre...dy lone right in adjudicating on the P ' offence of a p art y brought to the bar.—(A laugh.) He did wish to give unnecessary trouble to the House by way of dividing,"t but he submitte d it would be a garbled and partial publication of the proceedings on which they had acted, and would be disgrace. i fu .1 to any body of men assuming for a time the functions of a Court i ofj'aistice, and the power of commitment, if they allowed the evi. jdente to be published generally. I Mr. INA KLEY observed that if the Hon, and Learned Gentle ' man had 'swished to have obj,cted to any thing done in that House, 1 he should htve objected at the commencement of the proceedings of that day ; because he would find when he left the House that !the greater portion of the evidence taken there to-day would appear in the Evening Papers, and thousands, and tens of thousands would have read what had passed in that House to-day, before the Hon. I 1 Gentles-:n would he able to gratify his taste by eating his dinner.— (L a ughter.) For the reasons he had just !:,iven he thought there [) would be no use in the Hon. and Learned Gentleman's persevet ing in his motion. ti Lard JOHN RUSSELL said that he thought the amendment un necessary. A tier a few words in explanation from ?Jr. LAW, his amend_ The motion was then agreed to. PENNY POSTAGE. Sir R. PEEL said that it appeared the Right Hon. the Chancel. for of the Exchequer had anticipat-d his suggestion with regard to making a partial experiment of the use of stamped covers. He held one of them in his hand ; it seemed they were not confined ex. clusely to the use of Members only, but they might purchase two or three hundred of them, and distribute them among their friends, the only regulation being that all such letters should be posted at the }louse. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that legally speaking the covers alluded to had no power of franking letters at the Post office. The Librarian of the House had taken upon himself the charge of all letters in those covers, and there was an account opened against him at the Post-office. It was open, certainly, as the Right Hon. Baronet said, to any Member to purchase a number of such covers, and distribute them among his friends, but he did not apprehend any evil consequences as the sale mast be made in the House by persons who were acquainted with the Members, and the sale could not take place except to Members. It was not a Posteoffice arrangement at all, but was merely for the convenience of Members; he had sug gested that each Member should sign his name on the cover, which was by some mistake omitted tobe required, but such had been his Intention, and he had no fear of any forgery being committed in the House of Commons. Sir R. PEEL wished to know if, it being the intention that the use of these covers should be confined bona fide to the Members of the House, they would not be at liberty to take the covers home and write their letters there, and then post them at the House ? It did not appear that any restriction was imposed except the posting of them at the House of Commons. If the use of them were not confined exclusively to Members it would be found that extensive forgeries would take place. Sir R. INGLTS wished to know what was to prevent a printer from striking off several of these covers, and selling them, and afterwards, they might be posted at the House. He wished to ask the Right Honourable Gentlemen if he would have any objection to having a return ordered of the amount received for postage during the first 18 days of 1839, and a similar return of the amount received during the first IS days of the penny postage, and also during the first 18 days of the fourpenny postage. He wished to know whether the Right Hon. Gentleman would have any objection to allow him t• move for returns of the result of the various experiments of the Fourpenny and Penny Postage, and to contrast it, say for a period of lli days, with the revenue under the former system. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was most anxious to meet the wishes of Honourable Members with regard to these returns. At the same time he was most anxious to be allowed to obtain the returns which he had directed to be made out, with the object of giving the fullest details on the question. When that was done Hon. Members would be able to see whether any further returns were required. He feared it would be very difficult !o procure detailed returns from the country post offices. With regard to the issue of stamped covers to the Members he thought there was very little fear of any usurpation of the pri vileges of Parliament in that respect. The covers would be issued by one party who would have directions to deliver them only to parties known to him, and there was the farther check, that, if any covers were improperly printed, having the issue only from one place, and the number of cevers issued being likewise known, any letters improperly sent in would be very soon detected. If Hon. Members would be good enough to indorse the covers, lie be lieved that a ould be the best protection they could have. Sir I'. PEEL would strongly recommend the Right Hod. Gen tleman to issue a Treasury Minute, addressed to Members ; and as the issue was intended for their exclusive benefit, they ought not to abuse what must be considered a very important privilege. He would advise them to make it one of the conditions of the privilege, that Honourable Members should write their names upon the covers, otherwise there would be no protection. suppose twenty of these covers were sold for a shilling it would be no forgery in a bookseller to print them. — (Hear, hear.) Unless Hoe. Members distinctly understood that they were not to lend these covers, to a certain extent forgery would be committed. He hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would take these suggestions into his consideration. The. CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, said there being only one place of issue and only one place of reception, there ..could in his opinion be sufficient check upon either fraud or forgery. Mr. IJERRIES thought it would prove no check at all. Sup pose a Membe: were to purchase one pound's worth, he would not use them all in one week ; where t hen was the check ? Mr. R. STUART—The great cheek was that there was only one place, the House of Commons to post these letters when they were put into a bag and sealed up; no forgery to any extent could take place without being instantly detected. Sir R. PEEL, as soon as the House was up, bad intended to purchase 9.40. Now, suppose twenty Members were to do the , ame merely for a stock, there would be a large quantity out, end before the Members usei them all there might be a forgery to the amount of '2,000 cove. s. Mr. ELLIS hoped there would be a Treasury minute upon the sulject, for, but for that conversation, he would have purchased '240, and would have given any to a friend when asked, and not have thought that he was doing wrong. Mr HUME hoped the Speakar would request that every Member should write his name in the corner of the cover. That would be a sufficient check. The SPEAKER said perhaps it would be better that he should give directions to the Librarian to sell the covers to none but Mem bers, and that he should receive none that were not marked with the Member's name in the corner. Mr. JOHN JARVIS said he thought the only security against fraud would h by obliging the Members to pest the letters them selves. What was to prevent him buying 500 of them, and dis_ tributing them among his friends. He thought that the Member writing his name on the corners of the covers would be also a guarantee. Sir It. PEEL thought the system would be open to endless fraud, for might not another's name correspond with theirs ? Unless you have an understanding that they will be solely for the personal use of the Members. Mr. BRISCOE suggested that the number issued per day should not exceed the number of franks issued formerly by the Members. Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN said he could not see any great reason to apprehend fraud, for it gave the Members no advantage beyond the public, save that of having their letters posted at the House of Commons, with the understanding that Members would put their signatures on the corner of the covers. Colonel SIBTHORP begged leave to give notice that he would ask the Noble Lord (John Russell) on Monday next what amount he intended to propose on Wednesday as a provision for Prince Albert, in order that the House might be able to consider the proper course they should pursue. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in answer to the question of the Hon. and Gallant Colonel (Sibthorp), observed, that his Noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies had already stated his intention of communicating on Monday what he intended to propose on Wednesday. The Public Petition Committee and Printing Committee were then appointed, and the House adjourned at Twenty minutes past lock. 'our o'Cl FIRES IN LONDON LAST YEAR -- From the annual report of the fire brigade establish ment, made by Mr. Braidwood, the superintendent to the different fire offices, on Friday last, of the fires that happened in the metropolis during the past year, 1839, it appears that the number has been much greater than in any former year since 1832, and although there have been many of a very serious character, the number of houses totally burned down has very much decreased. The following are the largest fires that have taken place : On the night of the 2d of January a heavy fire took place in High-street, Islington, and totally consumed the premises of Mr. Jackson. hair-dresser, No. 21, and se riously damaged several houses adjoining. On the 11th of the same month a portion of the caoutchouc mills, at Tot tenham, was destroyed by tire ; the property was insured, On the morning of the 20th of May a dreadful fire took place in Bucklersbury, Cheapside, and four lives were lost. The premises destroyed were Mr. Unvvin's, printer. Other houses were damaged. On the 6th of June another dreadful fire occurred in Smith's-buildings, Long-lane, Bermondsey, and one life was lost. A great fire broke out on the evening of the 12th of July, at the rick-yard cf Messrs. Okey and Sons, basket-makers, Quaker-street, Spicalfields. The same were wholly destroyed, with three houses, and seriously damaged twenty—the dwel lings of poor weavers and their families. On the 15th of the same month, the premises of Mr. Manders, pawnbroker, Upper East Smithfield, were partially con sumed. On the 7th of September a large fire took place in Bere-street, Butcher-row, Ratcliff, and several houses were burnt down. On the 29th a life was lost at a fire on board of the Duke of Clarence, an Indianian, lying in the East India Docks. On the 2d of November eight persons perished at a dreadful fire in William-street, Pimlico. Oil the 12th of the same month, another fatal fire broke out in Widegate-alley, Bishopsgate, and eight lives were lost; and on the 12th of December part of the extensive tar and turpentine distillery of Messrs. Pigou and Co., at the Isle of Dogs, was de stroyed. The number of fires that took place in the year was 584, and the number of lives lost was 22. The re. port cor tained a statement of the fires that have happene,l in London since the formation of the fire establishment, which took place in the year 1832. In 1833 the number of houses burnt down was 31 ; the houses seriously damaged by fire, 136 ; and houses slightly damaged, 292. Total fires, 451. In 1834, 28 houses burned down ; 116 seriously damaged ; and 338 slightly. Total fires, 482. 1835—Houses destroyed, 31 ; seriously damaged, 125 ; and 315 slightly damaged. 1836-33 destroyed ; 134 seriously damaged ; and 397 slightly. Total fires, 564. In 1837 —destroyed, 22 ; seriously damaged, 122 ; slightly, 337. Total fires, 501. In 1838—destroyed, 33 ; seriously damaged, 154; and slightly, 381. Tot.il fires, 568. And last year, 1839—destroyed, 17 ; se riously damaged, 165; and slightly, 402. Total, 584, Gross total : Houses destroyed, 195 ; seriously damaged, 961 ; slightly, 2,482; and fires, 3,628. The principal large fires which have occurred in the seven years are the following . In 1634, Destruction of the Houses of Lords and Commons, on the night of the 16th of October. 1835—0 n the 2nd March, great fire in Sil ver-street, Golden-square. 1536—0 n the 211th of March, destruction of the Western Exchange, and part of the Burlington-arcade. In the same year, on the 30th of August, great fire at Fenning's wharf, London-bridge. 1837—0 n the 28th of December, great fire at Devi,'s wharf ; and in 1838, the 10th of January, burning of the Royal Exchange. The Southwark nomination takes place on the 2-)d, the polling the day after, Thursday. STATE O TRADE IN HAWICK.—We regret to anno unce that the trade of this place is now feeling th e gene r a l depression of business which at present L paying itsunwelcome visit to the country. The mid owners generally ate running their engines short time , to the great inconvenience and privation of the opera tives. The only chance of a sudden revival is in tl.e complete destruction of our Corn-laws, which are the grand radical cause of our present commercial ember rassments, and until these are r emoved there is no other prospect but a rapid retrogression of our manufacturii!g industry and prosperity. It is, therefore, the paramon::t duty of the labouring orders to unite in one impene trable phalanx for their abrogation, for they may test assured that high markets and good t rade are never coe temporaneous ; besides hi,2l) m arkets and lo w wages am invert ably conjoined.—Kelso Chronicle. EVENING EDITION. IMPERIAL PARLIAMEN T. HOUS.II OF COMMONS, JaN. 18. if they wished to state anything further. With regard to the I question of the Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman, he was of opinion that in a matter of this importance it would be more respectful to the House not to state until Monday the course he should think advisable they should pursue, and they might do so the more safely now, that they had heard from the evi dence that it was scarcely possible the rule calling on the She riff to make payment of the damages could be made absolute for several days. Sir E. SUGDEN said that if the Noble Lord had not made np his mind as to the coarse which he thought it advisable to pursue, of course there could be no okjection to acceding to his proposition for delaying his statement to Monday ; but if a the Noble Lord had made up his mind, he thought it would be d. visable tkat he should state at once what was the course that he intended to pursue, in order to give Members time, if it were in accordance with their views or not. Sir R. INGLIS hoped the Noble Lord would have no ob jection to the motion he intended to propose which was, that the Sheriffs, Under-Sheriff, and Bailiff be discharged from any further attendance in the House. Mr. CHRISTOPHER said he would second the motion of the Hon. Baronet. Lord J. RUSSELL —If they are ordered to attend on Mon day that will be tantamount to their being discharged from further attendance at present, but at present the motion before the House was, that the Sheriffs be called in and asked if they wished to state anything further. Did the Hon. Baronet ob ject to their be , ng called in? Sir R. INGLIS had uniformly objected on all occasions to the Sheriffs' being called in , but as the House had decided to have the Bailiff called in and asked if he had anything further to state, he could not .object, in justice to the Sheriffs, to the same course being pursued with regard to them. Sir EDWARD SUGDEN hoped his Hon. Friend (Sir R. Inglis) would not now persevere in his motion for the imme diate discharge of the Sheriffs, as in that case he should be com pelled to divide against him, although perhaps he should not do so if it were broucht forward at the proper time. The SPEAKER understood the Hon. Baronet did not in tend to press his motion now. Sir R. INGLIS —Not now. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, J iNITARY 20. 1840. ment was negatived without a division, and the original motion of Lord John Russell was agreed to. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved that, on Monday next, the House do resolve itself into a Committee of Supply. Mr. HU ME objected to such a question being put on a Saturday, and without notice, as he had several observations which he wished to make before that part of her Majesty's Speech was read. The SPEAKER said the question was among the Orders of the Day, and that the Hon. Member would have an opportunity of making any observations he might wish on Monday. Mr. HUME, in that case, would not object to the motion. QUEEN'S MARRIAGE PROVISION FOR PRINCE ALBERT. Lord JOHN RUSSELL would take that opportunity of stating that it was his intention, en Wednesday next, to direct the atten tion of the House to that portien of her Majesty's speech which related to the making a provision for Prince Albert. CASE Or LOVETT AND COLLINS. The following correspondence has been published. 21, Brompton-square, London, Jan. 10, 1840. have but just now read a copy of your letter t:) Lord Normanby, respecting the case of Lovett and Collins, and although a stranger, whose name even is unknown to you, I take the liberty to address myself to you, necessari:y at considerable length, but as concisely as the case will permit, and to request you will do me the favour to read it to the end. I would not have thus occupied your time were it not that the tone as well as the substance of your letter has led me to suppose that it will not be disagreeable to you to receive a communi cation. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, FRANCIS PLACE. Sir John Eardley 'Wilmot, Bart, M.P. NARRATIVE. On the commitment of Lovett and Collins, after tlic;ir conviction, to the criminal side of the gaol at Warwick, two Members of the House of Commons, Mr. Joseph Parkes and myself, took such means as we thought were likely to induce Lord John Russell to cause the prisoners to be removed to the debtors' side of the prison, where persons convicted of " seditious libels" bad on all former occasions been confined. Our applica tions, which were several, were useless. At this time Loth the prisoners were, in consequence of the sudden change of diet, in the infirmary. Application was there fore made and urgently pressed upon the attention of Lord John respecting the 'state of the prisoners and the provious delicate state of the health of William Lovett, his immediate friends having concluded that his life was in danger, and Lord John was earnestly solicited to Cause both the men to be allowed, at their own expense, a change of diet ; but it was not until after much time had passed that the accommodation which you, Sir, have witnessed was allowed. • To most respectable, and, I may add, reasonable ap plication for further accommodation tending to pre serve the health of the prisoners, his Lordship at length replied, by the hand of Mr. Phillipps, " that his Lord ship does not consider that he has the power to order them to be transferred to the debtors' side of the prison." Lord John now left the Home-office, and Lord Nor manby took his place, and much time passed away be fore any further application was made. It being the rule of the prison that Lovett and Collins should be per mitted to see one person for one hour in the presence of a turnkey at the expiration of three months, and the time approaching when Mrs. Lovett could see her husband, she sent a memorial to Lord Normanby, in which, hav ing stated her husband's case, " she most urgently implores his Lordship to be pleased either to give her or procure for her an admission to the prison, with such accommodation for seeing her husband as may be uccessary for her to learn from him the actual state of his health and his expectations relating thereto, that .}.e may be thus enabled, so tar as circumstances will peripit, to render him the assistance necessary for the preservation of his health during his imprisonment, itild thus prevent the fatal consequences which will otherwise ensue." No reply having been received, and he day on which alone Mrs. Lovett could see her hus band approaching, Mrs. Lovett went to Warwick, and muerte saw her husband in the presence of a turnkey, but so distressing and degrading was the interview that Mr. Lovett requested his wife never to come again to the prison while he should be subjected to his present restrictions. Give me leave here to observe that Mr. LovQtt is a most respectable man ; that his manners are calm and gentlemanly ; that his moral feelings and his integrity iIFC of the highest order, and that he is consequently re ,pected by all who know him, and that his wife is in every respect worthy of such a man ; that they are consequently far removed from the class of persons so correctly described by you in your letter to Lord Nor rnanby, and for whom alone the regulations of the prison were made. Further communications were now had with Lord Normanby. Mr. T. S. Duncombe, M.P., acted on the part of Mr. Lovett, and had several interviews with Lord Normanby. Mrs. Lovett now limited her re quest to a small allowance of animal food to her husband, and at length Lord Normanby consented that a medical gentleman should be permitted to see and examine her husband, and Dr. J, H. Black went to Warwick, and oa his return, addressed the following letter to Mr. Duncombe " Sir,—According with your request, I reduce to writing the substance of my communication to you yes terday. I saw Mr. Lovett on Saturday last in Warwick goal. I was accompanied by Mr. Wiltnhurst, the sur geon to the prison. I found Mr. Lovett without any specific disease and without any complaint of diseased s tisation, excepting a slight uneasines s occasionally f, - om flatulence, but he was much thinner than he was Lefore his imprisonment, with a yellow dry skin, and great fullness of the small blood vessels of his eyes. To any one not acquainted with his constitution, be would ari -1 ,ear in tolerable health, as indeed he thinks he is. To tie, however, though certainly in a better st ste of health than I expected to find him, his condition appears to be one of peril. About four years ago, when his health did not per mit him to work regularly at his business, I investigated his case with great care, seeing him two or three. times a week during several months. Tile debility under which he then suffered was so much increased by privations end anxieties consequent upon its interference with his work, that the only chance of preventing him from sinking rapidly to decay depended upon a total change of habits by his removal from the workshop ; this was effected under rather favourable circumstances ; but not withstanding this, his recovery to his previous state of health was so slow that no decided amendment mani fested itself for more than a year, ,end it was not until within the last twelve months that his health was really restored. He now appears to me to hi; fast at.proach ing the same delibitated condition from which he was No long recovering, and, consequently, I consider his life endangered by a continuation of his present course of treatment ; and a second sinking after his recovery from his first may render it imposssible for his system to rally again. " His daily diet consists of 141 b. of excellent bread ; 11b. of bad potatoes with salt ; tea, morning and after noon ; water. " I have great pleasure in saying that I was met by Mr. Wilmburst. the surgeon of the prison, in the most frank and gentlemanly manner. His conduct during my visit to Mr. Lovett was of the most attentive and delicate description. When I went to examine Lovett's cell I saw Mr. Collins, whom I had once before seen. Tile great alteration in his appearance, with the child like thinness of his voice, made so strong an impression on me that 1 cannot refrain from mentioEing it, though iny mission had nothing to do with him. I am your's truly, "J. ROBERTS BLACK. " Thomas S. Duncombe, Esq., M.P." On the 19th of December Mr. Duncombe read the report of Dr. Black to Lord Normanby, and left it with him. Mr. Duncombe was so well pleased with his it terview with Lord Normanby, that he concluded some better diet would be allowed to the prisoners, and ho hoped that candles would also be allowed to them. No communication on the subject baying been received for several days, it was concluded that the expected allow ances had been made ; but on the 29th day of Decem ber, in the evening, a letter was delivered to Mrs. Lo vett, of which the following is a copy : " Whitehall, Dec.2B, 1839. " Madam,—The Marquis of Normanby having made particular inquiries of the visiting justices of Warwick th e with surgeon di rectionsgaol, to whom a copy of Dr. Black's report on the state of) ur husband'stbat itmight e ,. a t o t e r has eo m been rilo o i e a t communicated to transmitted, of the prison, I am desired by his Lordship to inform you th the is assured by the Magistrates every that at tention is paid to the health of all persons who are con fined therein. The surgeon also reports that your hus band is in good health, and that an increase of diet is not called for at present. " I am, Madam, your obedient servant, " Mrs. Lovett. " S. M. PHILLIPPS." I have purposely refrained from every thing not di. rectly pertinent to the matter contained in your letter to Lord Nortuanby ; but I beg to state, that Lord John Russell having made no distinction respecting she wide range which the word " misdemeanour" is sometimes made to embrace, and under which wide range be included Lovett and Collins, reference was made in the correspondence which took plac e respect ing misdemeano ur to as great an extent as seemed needful. Among other m atters it was shown that the definition of the word given by Jacob in his Law Dic tionary was the correct one ; and has been so consi dered, as it had been reprinted in all the subsequent editions of that work. Jacob says, " Misdemeanour is a genus containing many species, almost as numerous as human actions." Examples were also given of the pu nishment for misdemeanour,from a fine of 15. to transpor tation for life. It was also shown that " seditious libel" not being a statutable offence, nor likely to be committed 1 by the class o f p ersons f or whom the gaol regulations I were made, persons convicted of " seditious libel" had ! hitherto been treated in a very different way from com mon misdemeanours ; that seditious libel had not been defined by any law ; that what was a libel one day might not be a libel either the day before or the day after ; that no writing was a libel —that is to say, a crime, until it was found so by a Jury, and that it differed in this respect from all other crimes ; that it had been committed by men who were scholars and gentlemen of the highest characte r s, a nd of every sect and p art y ; punished that they who were "f o r it did not generally I lose caste in consequence thereof, and that a very great distinction had consequ=ently been made in the treat ment of persons who were imprisoned for this offence and those who had committed the more co-nmon offence ! of high " misdemeanour" in the more common accepta tion of the word, for the conclusive reasons contained 1 in your letter to Lord NJrinanby. I ain, Sir, your obedient servant, FRANCIS PLACE. I beg to add, that the proceedings alluded to in this letter have been without the knowledge of Lovett and Collins, but that, like your letter to Lord Normanby, they have been based solcly on the merit, n(.. thc.: Copies of the papers have ear :•, CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN LORD NOR MANBY AND SIR EARDLEY WILMOT. Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2d instant, in which you inform me, that at the late Quarter Sessions of the county of Warwick, a motion was made by Counsel on behalf of the prisoners Collins and Lovett, for some indulgence with regard to diet ; and on which occasion the Court decided that the application must be made to the Secre tary of State, and that they were satisfied with the de cision of the visiting Magistrates, and left the decision entirely to them. After referring to the conduct of the Magistrates in administering the law with reference to the treatment of these prisoners (of which conduct you entirely ap prove), you observe—" It is quite clear that neither the Visiting Magistrates nor the Court of Quarter Sessions ought to interfere, except on the application of the surgeon ; and that the only quarter from which any indulgence can proceed is the Secretary of State." I am not aware that the Secretary of State has the power to enforce or prescribe the observance of prison diet in the case of the prisoners. I can not find, upon inquiry, that such authority has been ever exercised by the Secretary of State ; and it must be obvious to you, that the exercise of such au thority would be subject to much inconvenience and objection in various points of view. I believe the power given by law for the regulation of the diet of prisoners is vested in the Magistrates at Quarter Ses sions, as appears to me clear from the 10th clause of the Gaol Act, 4 George IV., c. 64, articles 13, 14, 15, to which I request your particular attention. lam not aware of any alteration of the law upon this subject by any recent statute ; or of any power vested in the Secretary of State by which he can, in the case of the prisoners before-named, reverse or control the regulations adopted by the Visiting Magistrates at Quarter Sessions. With reference to the latter part of your letter, in which you observe on the unequal and disproportionate effect which the general regulations, as to diet, may be expected to produce on individual prisoners, in conse quence of their former habits of life ; and inquire of me whether, in the case of particular prisoners, I might not relax some of the hardships of the diet regulation, I beg to inform you that I entirely con c ur in th e g e n er al ob servations made by you, and hope you pressed them upon the consideration of the Magistrates at Quarter Sessions, when application was made on behalf of the prisoners. In the case of Lovett more especially, whose general health has been reported to be delicate, I should have thought that some relaxation might have been reasonably made, and a better diet allowed, without prejudice to the prison discipline, or to the general regulations of the gaol. I request you to make known this communication to the Visiting Magistrates, and to any other Magistrates who attended the quarter sessions, with whom you may wish to confer. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, N ORMAN BY. To Sir E. Wilmot, Bart., M.P. London, Jan. 10, 1840. My Lord,—As you have been so obliging as to di rect my particular attention to the 13th, 14th, and 15th articles of clause 10 of the Gaol Act, it is with great submission to your Lordship's better judgment that I am compelled to say, that my opinion as to the quarter from which any relaxations of punishment to Messrs. Collins and Lovett should proceed is strengthened and confirmed. The 15th article declares, " That no prisoner. &c., shall receive any food, clothing, or necessaries, other than the gaol allowance, except under such regulations and restrictions, as to the justices at general or quarter sessions assembled may appear expedient, with reference to the several classes of prisoners ; or under special circumstances, to be judged of by one or more of the I, , siting justices." In obedience to this direction, the justices at quarter sessions drew up a dietary, which was signed by the Secretary of State for the time being, which dietary was with reference to the different classes of prisoners, and is the only law of the prison. It never was or could be intended that the quarter sessions could from time to time vary this dietary in each class, accord ing as the prisoners in each class might consider themselves uhjistly- treated ; and thus have the power of ordering as many different dietaries in each class as there were real or imaginary shades of criminality in each prisoner. What the Quarter Sessions may, should, or will do, in revising the present dietary, or making a new one,,is another question. But till this is done and signed by your Lordship, the present dietary must continue the rule of the prison. The special circumstances under which the Visiting Magistrates are empowered to make exceptions to the rules of the prison must mean as regards the health and safety of the prisoners, and the discipline and good order of the gaol. It never could have beta intended to invest them with the power of mitigation of punishment, or diminution of the gall ' ing effects which the sentences of 4 Court of Law have entailed upon them. Their duty is to put in force the : law, and see the proper execution of it, if it can be done without physical injury ; but the attribute of merciful relaxation of punishment, or a mitigation of those hard , ships which their sentences have imposed, is alone the prerogative of the Crown. It was because I felt convinced that the Quarter Sessions had no power, by the 15th article, to make a distinction between one prisoner and another in any par ticular class of offenders, and that the Visiting Magis trates, through their humane and intelligent surgeon, re ported that no alteration of diet was necessary, that I ab stained from pressing upon the Court of Quarter Ses sions those observations in which your Lordship does me the honour to say you entirely concur. When the present dietary shall be revised, and the one class of misdemeanants which now prevails shall be further sub divided, then will be the time for urging the propriety of a further distinction of offenders. I am, my Lord, your Lordship's obedient servant, E. EARDLEY WILMOT. The Marquis of Normanby, &c. COMMISSION OF LUNACY. Monday a Commission of Lunacy was opened at the White Hart Inn, Clapton, before Mr. Commissioner Winslaw, to inquire into the state of mind of Mr. Robert Long Kirkman, an artist, formerly of How land-street, Fitzroy-square, and now an inmate of Dr. Munroe's Lunatic Asylum, Clapton. Mr. Rogers, who attended as counsel in support of the commission, said the subject of the Commis sion had not completed his twenty-sixth year, and was brother to Mr. Kirkman, pianoforte manu facturer, in Soho-square. He was exceedingly clever in his profession as an artist, and previous to his being deprived of his reason was a young man of a lively :and amiable disposition, and of steady habits. In the course of his studies he went to Paris, and there he remained for some time, and on his return a change of a decided character was observed in his manners and conduct. The circumstances which gave rise to that change his friends had not been able to discover, and up to this moment they remained ignorant of them. Several witnesses were called, and among others Dr. Munroe, when the following dialogue took place:— Mr. Winslow—Does he ever use his pencil ? Dr. Munroe—Yes ; sometimes he will sketch horses' heads, but very indifferently. Mr. Rogers—l presurne,if he showed great skill in drawing, it would not alter your opinion of his insanity ? Dr Munroe—Oh dear, no ; we have several inmates in Bethlem Hospital that are most excellent artists, and I may mention that one of them some years ago drew a plan for the erection of the new building, which was exceedingly clever, and was laid before the governors, and very nearly adopted. The evidence was conclusive, and was confirmed by the demeanour and answers of the unfortunate gentle man himself. Without troubling the Learned Commissioner to sum up, the Jury found that " Robert Long Kirkman had been a lunatic since the 17th of August, 1838, and was incapable of managing himself or his affairs." EXTENSION OF THE METROPOLITAN Po- LICE.—The final arrangements having been completed, on Monday last the Metropolitan Police took posses sion of the whole of the district comprised within a circle of fifteen miles from Char'ng-cross. On Satur day Mr. Mercer, the Mayor of Kingston, received a communication from the Secretary of State, informing him the police would come on duty on Monday, and he im mediately suit for Cook, the superintendent of the Kingston police, and told him that neither his services nor those of his men would be any longer required. The whole of the men were discharged at this short notice, and none of them have been considered eligible for re-ap pointment in the new establishment. At Croydon the magistrates received a similar communication, and twenty-five men belonging to the P division arrived in the town on Saturday and commenced duty. Cal lingham, the late superintendent, and most of the men have been re-appointed. 'lt is said that the old plan of holding petty sessions once a week in those places has been done away with, and that there will be a police sitting every day. The greatest secrecy is, however, observed upon the subject, and the inhabitants and the authorities of the different towns were entirely ignorant of what was intended to be done until they received the notification in question from the Secretary of State. The general impregsion is, that the Government intend to follow up the present (-flanges by the appointment in the police district of a stipen4iary magistracy. PUSEYISNI.—The Bishop of Chester has pub lished an address condemning as highly improper and indefen sible the " new light doctrines" of Dr. Pusey and others ; which he designates as an attempt from within the Church to assail the Reformation, and to introduce the worst and most destructive doctrines of the Romish Church. The Bishop of Exeter advocates apostolic succession, regeneration by baptism, and the Divine right of the priesthood. The clergy attend political dinners, and declaim against the Government. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, Ja.v. 18. ( Sittings in Banco.) BUSINESS OE THE COURT. Sir F. PoLLocK said that he had been requested by his Learned Friend, the Attorney-General, to request that the Court would continue to him the indulgence they had before shown to him, by not taking any case in which he was engaged, as he had been detained very late last night, and his presence was indispensably necessary else where this day. Lord DENMAN said that under those circumstances the Court would grant the application. In the course of the morning one or two cases were, in consequence of this arrangement, passed over, and others called on, in which the Counsel were not prepared to pro ceed. In one of these cases— Mr. ALEXANDER said he had been engaged at the trial, but had received no instructions to oppose the rule; but if the Court would allow him, he would make some inquiries on the subject. Lord DIN MAN —Our whole term will be spent in mak ing inquiries , parties ought to be more attentive to the business of the CCIli t. Mr. ALEXANDER—I hope, my Lord, I have done no thing disrespectful to the Court. Lord DENMAN—By no means; my observation was not meant to be addressed individually to any person, but was intended to be general. All this .erm the Court has shown the utmost willingness to accommodate all parties who come before it, but I have been sorry to observe a growing disinclination to accommodate us from persons whom we know positively not ti be engaged elsewhere. Several cases were than called on and struck out, where neither side attended, or decided in favour of the side which attended. Among other cases struck out, was that of the " Queen v Muntz." Shortly afterwards— Mr. Sergeant ADAMS came into Court, and said he was sorry to hear the last case had been struck out. Lord DENMAN—Yes, Sir, ! am happy to say that case is struck out, and if no other benefit is obtained by our proceeding, we have at least got rid of that case. Mr. Sergeant ADAMS— I have but this moment received my papers, therefore I am not individually to blame. Lord DEN MAN—I did not even suppose you were. KILRUSH PETTY SESSIONS. " Pretty wig making, and no hair on the block !" Sheridan acknowledge' himself "over head and ears in debt" when he had not paid for his wig; Larry O'Leary appeared before their worships in a similar predicament, for with a head as bare as that of the " Bald Coot bully, Alexander," he came forward to answer a charge of having unlawfully made his own of and subsequently demolished a wig, the property of " little Siny Scales," who bad manufactured the Calton for said O'L-ary, in consideration of the sum of 6s. 6d., which moneys Mr. O'Leary declined paying, and managed to demolish the wig in the scramble that ensued " Arc you a wig-miker ?" said his Worship. Siny Scales coloured and looked down; then hemmed, and looked up. " Why then lam an' lam not," he re turned; " I do be thryin' me hand at id for work ov an odd time, bekase you see, Sir, I spint three months ov a time in the house wid an aunt's brother o' mine that was a wig maker be thrade, an' be dad 'twould surprise you sometimes the nate fit I give."--( A laugh.) ‘. Oh, don't be wiggin the gintleman, Siny, dear," said O'Leary facetiously ; see, your reverence, that I may be cut up into four-pound pieces, but 'tis more like a thrush's nest what that little excuse for a man manefacthers, than a real wig; but the times are bad, be gonnies, an' thim that has no hair—' you understand me, Sir, there's an ould sayin'. Iss, indeed, 'tis only the hoight o' distress id make a poor man put his skull undher the like ov a hedge hog's skin or the kind."—(Great laughter.) Magistrate—" When did you last demand payment for the article, Scales?" " Be dad only ere istherday, Sir," replied Siny, " I met Larry as consated as you plaze, houldin' up his head like a recreutin' sargint, an' his hat 'pen three hairs. ! I must have money or marbles, Misdr O'Leary,' says I. Don't spake to me, you little botch,' says he,' sure 'tis in dbread lam to turn me head,' says he ; so it is, or this example ov a wig will fall o' me.' Yid that he was passin' on, an' well an' good ov he was, I med a spring, thru off his ould hat, grabbed me wig, an' away I skirriss'd."—( A laugh.) O'Leary—" Arra, Siny, eroo I why don't you mention the headache you gel, me, from the polthogue in the side of the head I got from your own purty fist." "Oh 1 God love you, and give uz pace," returned the cranium-thatcher ; " be all that's lovely, gentlemen, he never waited to pick up his caubean, but followed meself hut fut an' gev me a thrip, that I'll be bail soon upsot me. Dickons Noise you, you schemin nagur I' says he, dhraggin the wig from me ; ' bad luck to you, what a show you make o' the people !' then he gave me a fist in the pit o' me stomach, an' tore the wig into fifty-nine pieces. There now I' says he may be you'd wait 'till twou'd be convanient to your customers to pay you, ever- more." His Worship inquired if a portion of the wig yet re mained ? " Alileu I be Jepurt it's just so, Sir," exclaimed Larry O'Leary, banding up something like a singed fragment of a furze-bush, " put on the gloves, your Reverence," continued Larry, with is significant nod, " an' p• asarve that for the barristher as a pattern ; I'm not joking, Siny Scales, though 'tis a could bare skull you left me this day." " You never ped a lawful debt yet," growled little Slay. "Thine for you aragal," returned Larry, pocketing the specimen of the little friseur's skill, " an' more shame for me, whin I had you down, that I didn't settle the balance between uz, afther you openin' an account on the side o' me head." After a few more jocose observations, and a solemn pro testation on the part of " little Siny Scales" that he had received five shillings each for wigs of a similar pattern and manufacture, at the last Ballyket fair, Mr. O'Leary was directed to pay three shillings and the casts, which lie did rather reluctantly, remarking that " now let people say what they liked, 'twas a dhroll world they lived in." POLICE INTELLIGENCE. Q UEEN- SQUARE. THE FRACAS AT THE KEI;SINOTON THEATRE.—Mr. John Valentine Bowes, late stage-manager at the Kens ington Theatre, and at present one of the corps drarnatique of the Queen's Theatre, appeared on a summons charging him with having embezzled divers sums received by him on account of the lessee, Miss Vivyan. The circumstances which led to the summons being granted are these :—Miss Vivyan opened the Theatre on the 26th ult., but in a few days discovered that it was the very reverse of a good speculation. On last Monday week Jack Sheppard was announced for representation, and not choosing to " waste her sweetness on the desert air," she deputed Mr. Bowes to receive the money at the doors, and apply it in paying the several salaries, or, in other words, it was what is termed "a sharing company. " Indepen dently of his post as stage manager, Mr. Bowes was cast for Jonathan Wilde; and at the conclusion of the third scene, after the audience had been " gagged" for ten minutes, in hopes that he would make his appearance, Jonathan Wilde had played the part true to nature by decamping with, as was alleged, the money received at the doors. The remainder of the company, fearing the indignation of the audience, followed as soon as they could huddle on their clothes; and the seats of the theatre were immediately torn up, the windows nearly all broken, and the company were followed to a public-house, where they had taken refuge. A complaint was made by Miss Vivyan at this office on the Wednesday following, but as the case was not set off in a way by her to induce the Magistrate to consider he was justified in granting a warrant, she was recommended to apply to her soli citor. On Wednesday Mr. Bowes, who had been met at Lambeth, and given into custody, was brought to this office, and, on the undertaking of his solicitor that he should be forthcoming at any time, and in the absence of Miss Vyvyan, was discharged. Mr. Flower, the solicitor, was put in possession of the facts, and on his application last Wednesday a summons was granted, on which Mr. Bowes on Saturday appeared. Mr. Flower stated' that his client, in the capacity of lessee of the Kensington Theatre, had engaged the de fendant at the salary of IL ss. per week, and having oc casion to go to town on Monday week, she deputed the stage manager, Mr. Bowes, to take th e money. Althoug's various sums had been given, he was only in a situation to prove the receipt of 155., and he put it to the Magistrate, whether, if be called the witness who paid that money, there would not be a sufficient case to justify him in send ing the prisoner before a Jury. Mr. GREGORIE observed that Mr. Flower was lawyer enough to know as well as he whether his case was strong enough to go before such a tribunal. The charge was ultimately withdrawn. A WORKING CURATE.—Extract from a Cler gyman's diary:_" In the last year I have performed Divine Service 178 times, and preached 144 sermons, besides 32 cot. tage lectures. And in ad& ion to numerous marriages, church lugs, baptisms, and funerals, I have spent 145 hours in the Sun day and day-schools, and paid 1,940 pastoral visits, and to pay them have wa lk e d 1,350 m il es , an d em pl o yed 1,030 hours. ' ,~_ ~ `' iNTELLIGENCE. ROLLS' COURT, JAN. lb. LEms V. CHAPMAN AND HALL---.INJUNCTION. Mr. PEMBERTON applied for an injunction to restrain the defendants from publishing a work called " Gorton's To pographical Dictionary," which work they contend is a piracy of " Lewis's Topographical Dictionary." The Learned Gentleman read several of the articles contained in the defendants' work, and compared them with the arti cles under the same heads in the plaintiff's dictionary, with which they in substance agreed. He stated that out of 600 articles on English topography alone there were 134 piracies, and that had the plaintiff had time, he doubted not that many more could have been found ; be also put forward as strong proofs of the plaintiff's work being made the source whence materials for the books complained of were taken, that thirty-five errors since corrected in a second edition had been copied into Gorton's Dictionary. Mr. RICHARDS and Mr. MILLER argued that the articles cited were in all their original writing different from each other, and that they only agreed in those portions that were taken out of works of general reference, to the use of which every person had an undoubted right; in proof of this the Beauties of England and Wales, the E7clesiasti cal Register, and various works of antiquity, were re ferred to. The MASTER of the ROLLS said that the defendants had an undoubted right to the use of the sources whence the information in Lewis's work was drawn, but they should show that they had not used his labours in the collection of those materials to save themselves the trouble of the search. Mr. MILLER contended that that had been done, and produced afficavits that Mr Gorton (who is now dead) and those employed under him had always sent their copy in manuscript, and that it was the result of their own re searches, together with information especially derived from the larger towns ; he, therefore, contended that the motion must be dismissed. The reply will be beard this day. The Rev. "Trnottas SPENCER, who was at the Chair man's table, to the extreme ieft, asked a blessing in the following terms:-0 God, the Father of all mankind, of thy bounty it is we partake of the nourshing fruits of the earth; of thy goodness it is tha we have all things richly to enjoy. We bow our hearts to thee with thankfulness for ourselves, and sympathy for those of our fellow-creatures for whom nothing is pre pared. 0 God, when the Saviour of mankind was upon earth, he went about doing good. He blessed and multiplied a few loaves, so that the multitude did eat, and were filled. Enable us, 0 Father, with our feeble ability, to follow in his steps I May we first invoke thy blessing, and acknowledge thee in all our ways ; may we ask of thee, with sincerity of heart, and with an understanding of what we ask, to " Give us this day our daily bread;" and in that compr , :hensive prayer may we include all our brethren. And, when we offer that petition, may we, in consistency there with, use all fit and lawful means to accomplish its purpose. May we consider the call of the poor and needy ; may we regard the wants of the industrious, and take such steps as shall better their condition ; so that the labourer may enjoy the fruits of his labour, and that the diligent man msy eat his own bread. 0 God, may the sovereign of these realms, our beloved and gracious Queen, Victoria--may she reign long over us ; may her reign be happy and prosperous ; may peace and order prevail in her day ; may peace and plenty dwell within our borders ; may she rule in thy faith and fear ; may she seek to promote thy honour and glory, and the wealth, peace, and godliness of all her people I Bless, 0 Lord, the great Council of the nation, now about to assembie in Parliament, and direct their councils ; may the) rise to the dignity of their exalted station ; may they sink all personal feel ings and party animosities, and rise above all self interest and all desire of worldly power and pre eminence; and may they seek to do justly, to love mercy, and to govern the nation righteously,—always remembering the strict and solemn account which they themselves must one day give before the judgmynt-seat of Christ. And at that awful day, may the curse pro nounced upon those who withhold corn from the people, never be visited upon them. At that dread day may it never be said to any of our legislators, " Depart from me, ye accursed; for I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat." But may they take such steps, and adopt such measures, that the labourer may obtain nourishment suited to his labour. And now, 0 God, bless this assembly of men gathered together to do a great work. Do thou work with them, and for them, and by them. Do thou give success to their noble endeavours. Do thou hear the prayers of the millions whose eyes are directed to this vast assembly, and do thou in thy good time crown all their labours with most abundant success. And to thee shall be ascribed all the honour and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The silence which pervaded the vast pavilion during this supplication was immediately succeeded by the din of knives and forks, and the ringing of plates and glasses. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. VESSELS SPOKEN WITH.—The Victoria, Bonavista to Rio Plata, 11th ult., lat. 4 S., long. 21 ; Black River (packet), London to Jamaica, 22d, lat. 20, long. 31; Essex, bound to St. Michael's, 4th inst., lat. 38. long. 22, by the Tweed, Lawson, arrived at Liverpool. Susan, for Bristol, 28th inst., lat. 36, long. 58, by the Parker, Rieson, arrived at Liverpool. Memnon, Bapote to Liver pool, 30th ult., lat 48, long. 40, by the Henry, Purer, arrived at Liverpool. Dromo, Boston to Rotterdam, lat. 48, long. 23 ; William, bound to Cork, 6th inst., and sup plied with provisions, by the Governor Firmer, arrived at Liverpool. Henry Hood, Liverpool to New York, 10th inst., lat. 50, long. 16, by the Champion, arrived at Liver pool. Elizabeth, London to Calcutta, lat. 49, long. 17., by the Hull, Cropper, arrived off Dover. EVENING Ein rioN. ANTI-CORN-LAW GRACE MANCHESTER, MONDAY, JAN. 13 When all had taken their seats, the CHAIRMAN said— On the present occasion, instead of the usual grace, I shall call upon the Rev. Thomas spencer to ask a bless ing ; and I request you will observe becoming silence. SLIP OF PAPER FOUND IN A BOTTLE ON THE COAST OF IRELAND, NEAR CORK. The following is a copy of a letter, received at Lloyd's, from the Inspecting Commander of the Coast Guard, dated Castletown, Berehaven, County of Cork, Jan. 14, 1840: " beg herewith to enclose a paper which has been brought to me by a poor man, by name Patrick Mead, who found it this morning on the coast, I think it proper, to transmit it to you, for the information of those whom it may concern, and I beg you will have the goodness to ac knowledge the receipt of this letter, for the satisfaction of the party abole mentioned. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, THOMAS POLE HARDY, Commander R N., Inspecting Commander of the Coast Guard, Berehaven. Win. Dobion, Esq., Lloyd's. The slip of paper referred to has on one side the follow ing, written in pencil in the German language, " Brig Margaret, Capt. Probst, from Bremen to St. Thomas, Dec. 25, lat. 49 ;" on the other side " E. Trinidad, Aug. 6. Schutz', Pasiagiere." TI-rEMARKETS. COUNTRY CORN MARKETS DURING LAST WEE Wheat. I Baripy Oat.. Bean;. Pease. s. to S. b. D. 41 Per cur!^r. Morneth Penritl, Winchester Per Ens hel. Carmarthen— Swan sea S. t 0 S. , to P c. 65 36 26 L 6 fIS 32 38 22 34 42 58 24 36 20 26 fti 40 24 61 33 1 — 25 66 80 34 45 h 23 27 s.d. s.d. s.d. s.d. 011 90 00 40' 0 0 44 00 9 6 0 0 3 0 0 0 29 100 11 000 56' 0 0 40 8 10 9 4 8 52.2 Et 3 4 126 21 0 8 0 93' 7 0 8 8 9 0 12 01 130 170 7 0 8 0 6 0 8010 0 1301 160 21 0 7 0 9 0 5 0 8 0 9 0 11 01 130 168 90 9 9 6 0 80 76 8 G ;CASTLE CORN EXCHANGE.—Jan, is. Red White, Wheat, Northumberland 49s. 725. 7ls 765.' Norfolk and Suffolk 67s. 71s 73s. 78, Berwick and Scotch 613. 64s . s 68>. Foreign 65;. 715..—... 695. 765. Rye, Nerfrslk and Suffolk 403. 428 Foreign 12s 33s Malting, Norfolk and sn mot, 48 40 36 40 42 45 Cd. 0 0 001 5 6 001 50 5 a 6 60, 35 38 s. d. s. d. 00 0 0 00 00 00 . 00 0 t Per 8011. Oarnardeastle Durham .....--.. Richmond.....' Stockton ..—....... NEV 76 00 86 90 90 00 00 0 Barley, Malting, Norfolk and Suffolk 345. 445. —s. — I T. ' ---- Grinding and Feeding ns 345. ' —s. —s. Malt, Norfolk and Suflidk 63 s . 73s .. .8. .....s. Beans, Small 3b4. 405....... —5. —5. Tick 424 445,...... ___. B. .„ . Pease, White 42s. 43g. .... ....,,. . Gray —s —5....... —5. —8 I Oats, Northumberland, Potatoe 305. 31 5....... —s. • Foreign Flour (per sack) 101 :pet 0 WAKEFIELD CORN MARKET-Jan. 17. Wneat, Red, Norfolk and Suffolk s, ( Os. to 655. fine 78s. Lin. and Cam. -s. file. to 665. fine 60a. - Yorkshire -a. 50s. to 625. fine 653. _ V)hite ..---- Foreign, Bed -a. 60s. to 655. fine 765. White -s. -s. to 745. one 8:s. Barley, Norfolk and Suffolk Lincolnshire -- Yorkshire Wok! Foreign Beans, New ---- old Oats, Potato ....s to 328. 611.2 :3ff - .- Poland -s. -a. to :its. line VC* --- wriezland and Small --Ir. z"aling Shslling Malt . ....5. 468. fine 528. per I oad, aapeseed SCOTCH MARKETS. Wheat. Barley, kberdeer 70 to 80 Berwick 3O 50 Coldstream Cupar (Fife) 48 65 Dunbar 4B 68 Elgin 6O 61 Inverness Kelso .. . , 35 47 Kirkaldy 62 67 Perth ra.- Thu siz, of the HADDINGA I Wheat. 27 to 30 20 28 24 26 26 31 26 49 35 37 30 36 23 26 30 46 measure vi ".)N CORN Barley, 42s Od ns Od 32s Od First BBs Od Second 50s Od Average DALKEITI - eat 70. 6{b Od 48s Od CORN Barley, 39$ thi 354 Od ocl First Second Third Oats. Beans. Oatmeal. 24 to 27 —to 15 18 33 35 17 18 30 IS 22 2.1 26 23 27 40 42 23 32 48 58 24 25 32 33 19 23 32 34 33 45 48 25 35 41 44 ries throughout the co M ARKET. --Jan. 1 . Oats. l'oase. 29, Od 44, Od 27s Oct Od 24s Od CO, Od 31. 18.2 d, 6.l2ths. IA RKET.—Jan. Ili Oats. ' ice. 2S, 4(4 41s 25s Od 40, Od , 63 0.1 32 , 0.1 3ti to 40 40 43 40 42 43 .. , entry. Beaflb 43s Oa 40, Od 32s Od 3i•An:. 41 , Od 40d Od Od SETS of PLATED CORNER DISHES, with or without Warmers. The p r i ce o f th e S et o f F our Di s h e s and Covers, without War mers , var i es f rom Ei g h t to T en Guineas. The Warmers are f rom Fi ve to Ni ne Guineas the Set. Engravings of the v ar i ous patterns will be f orwar d e d, i f application is made, p os t p a id. Th e di s h es are complete in themselves without wa rmers , an d th e h an dl es take off , the covers thus forming four ex t ra dishes when requ i red. T. COX SAN ORY , Silversmith, &c., 47, C orn hill (S even doors from Oraee church-street), London. HORIZONI kL GOLD WATCHES, £7- 7s jeach. Ilizhiv- finished Horizontal Flat Gold Watches, ewelled in f our h o l es, with enamel dial, hand to mark the seconds, and mai n t ain i ng power to continue going whilst being wound. Seven Guineas each. These elegant waistcoat-pocket Watches are recommended for great accuracy and durability, the horizontal escapement being peculiarly suited to eombine these important requisites in a fat watch.—_A written warranty giyen A. B. SAVORY and SONS, Watchmaker s , N o. 9, Cornhill, London (opposite the Bank.) On the 16th inst. BIRTHS. , at Swanscombe-cross, Kent, M. Ben jamin Ranyard, of a son. On the 16th inst., at the Break, near Halifax, Yorkshire, Mrs. Robert Stansfeld, the wife of Lieutenant Robert Stansfeld, of a son. On the 16th inst., at Blythe, in Lancashire, the lady of the Hon. Richard Bootle Wilbraham, M.P., of a daughter. .MARRIED. On the 16th inst., at All Saints, Southampton, by the Rev. George Tyndall, M.A., Rector of Lapwerth, Warwickshire • Captain John Francis Du Vernet, of the 82d Regiment, yi}ung es t son of the late Colonel Abram Du Vernet, of the Royal Artillery, to Clara Ann, youngest daughter of Charles Pilgrim, Esq. ' of Kingsfield, S out h ampton. On the 9th inst., at Bath, the Rev. William Addington Taylor, Rector of Litchborough, Northamptonshire, to Anne Catherine, eldest daughter of the late Rev. William Church, of Hampton, Middlesex. .3 (P 7.0 On the 12th inst., at the parsonage, Keswick, Fanny, the wife of the Rev. Frederic Myers. On the 13th inst., Robert Tunno, Esq., many years a re spectable member of the Stock Exchange, aged 92. On the 15th ;nst., at Dawlish, Sophia I'dary, third survivir4 daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Yelloly. aged 7 On 3, the 15th inst., at Chiswick, Ch arles Whittingham,Esq-s London; Printed and Pon shcd by AMMO YOUNG, e No. 112, Strand, at The Sun Of f ice, No. 11') .Strand, county of Middl esex . —M onday, January 20, 1840. in the 4 qs 1 I