The Sun. — London, England, 1840-03-14 00:00:00

at alc z'..l-w, • I.II 7 I4:N_NG EDITION. wts at that moment the rule, and to what extent it. Was acted ou? The very essence of publication, so far as the warld was concerned, . was that no pettron whatever had a right to publish, or even to ba present at their proceedings, and unless it could be shown tilew was some order of the House to enable B them to do so, the preamble of the M was inconsist ent with fast. He should suggest tho omission of the 4 .20 th line of the retrospective words of the first clause. Str BDWARD SUDDEN proposed to add words before those which his Honourable Friend pro posed to omit; The object of his amendment was, that any defendant or deteadants, whether the original publisher or publishers or not, or whether a Member of the House or not, should be able to make the de fere* given by the Act. The Right Hon. Gentleman then moved that words to that effect be inserted in the cause. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL begged to ob serve, although it was not his intention to support any part ~ f the Bill—(Laughter, and hear, hear)—that this amendment appeared to go very much beyond the ob ject which the Noble Lord stated when he introduced his Bill. The Bill; as he understood, was framed only to meet a particular evil. That evil was, that persons meting under the authorityof the House might have action brought against them during the recess, and be put to ineonvedience and loss before the House could meet. In order to meet that special case the present Bill was brought forward, and the machinery of the Bill was ealculate4 only to carry that object into effect. In "Jews of actions brought against the servant of either House, for any publication made by order of the House, the certificate of the Speaker of either House of Par- ant or of the Clerk of the House of Commons, that such publication had been made in obedience to the orders of the House, was sufficient to put a stop to such action. In granting these certifi cates the officers of the House were exercising little than merely ministerial functions ; but if they rent in any respect beyond that, they would be called tpat to discharge duties which he did not think that 13 ouse would choose to impose upon them. It. might be pw.sible that persons republishing these reports might Au so in such a manner as to show that they were ac tatted by express malice ; while with regard to the of- Niers of the House, acting under the orders of the Reuse. no malice could be predicated of them, but the mu:lent they went beyond those officers they might he under their protection persons and publications rtlaiez circumstances plainly showed were actuated by gra ll u . c . The proposal of his Right Hon. and Learned T l ric43 , l was not within the scope and original object of the and called for a more wide and extended consi -11.,4•2tien. He would therefore submit that they would uct ezpetiite the object of this Bill by suffering these lat`tx-mtisni to be made ; if tbat object were, as he sup -oscti, to the defence of the servants of that cus Ter publishing matter in obedience to the orders • of that House. 9ir EDWARD SUGDEN would grant that it itx(l4l4 'De necessary to have other machinery if amlndistect were carried. The object he Mil in view was merely to correct the principle. 1.1 2 r (mid, therefore, without pressing it to a division, h:s amendment put, and he hoped the Noble Lord would consider whether a Bill could not be "I"e<mght to effort that proper object. The Richt lion. Member concluded by moving that the same pro tectina should he given to other parties as the officers of ....be House. The amendment was then put and negatived with o;:.t a ditis'on. Sr R. H. INGLIS moved that the retrospective word. the elan oe shou!.l be left nut. Mr. I-1 CI E opposed the amendment. No objec tion hAd beun unite on the other side of the House to the Hoise raeiut B , h, which was also retrospective, and hr (Mr. Hume) could not now coincide with the Eon. 131-onet. Kr R. INGLIS said that the retrospective clause in the Hum-raeing Bill did not affect the interests of' inditAmtk, which ecad not be said of the present BR St:an4ers were ordered to nithdr3w, and the Com -,n4t f:•3 when therm appeared— For lir! amenOment Agsnast Majlrity against the amendment... —1 . 70 c..d: ;uhoission into the gall , ry, w e found Mr. PECBEATON on his legs, mov i ng. the adduion of Four.: u,-ords to the clause, which he dol not press, at the soZT." - -'iov of the Solicitor-General. WILLIA M FOLLETT objected to the am the tort's referring to the parties to be pro tacte,t the Toe EOL IC ITO GENERAL proposed a further amend:cent to rerneo) the objection ahudod to. Lord STANLEY considered that the words as they stood lvpsared sufficient to 'protect ;Inv person. After a few words from Sir W. FOLLETT, the S'o'icitur-Getvirars amendment was agreed to. Mr. G BORN E, in a further part of the clause, olidsztAzil to the words " Houses of Parliament," and taid ..,u'ess he heard good reasons for their being re -..tin,•4 he should move their omission, for the purpose of ftet , -r:; 4 - 14 the a oAls •• Commons House of Parlument." not see why that House shou!d give a protec tr, the Lords which, for aught he knew, they might • t..st be iniilmed to give to thee,. BERT PEEL thought it perfectly correct 179 asst the flons, of Lords should be included in t! - .e b-et.:visc if they alopted the practice of selling r-;theati ,its they would he sulj, , ,ct to the same 4 14i i k; t io it as that. House had laboured ur.der. I I M.-. A RCOU Wl' VERNON male a few oh -1 st , rvatrflos which were tit the gallery. rtir. t-t-IS BO RNE did not press his amendment. ;Av.! J. RUSSELL rnovA the insertion of words to (cL rt entire cessation of proceedings in any case tie Speaker's certificate was filed: and notice in wets:2l4 of that fact having been served upon or at the Itsr4t ttef the plaintiff or his solicitor. Altar a few words from Sir W. FOLL6TT and the 4>kAt,...vvort-GE,T.K4I., the words were inserted. Attu:. ! , ereral other verbal amendments, thd clause was ordered to stand pat', of the Bill. t O el ,nse 3, being proposed, • air E. SUGDEN rose to move that it be ex- punged. Ile had been in 'tepee that the Noble Lord would have withdrawn it, as it did not form any part et thy. original trill. Some weeks ago he had asked the Noble Lord whether any actions had been brought ng.:iast the Sergeant or his Deputy. and the :tamer eras tlist he was not then prepared to answer the question ; and it was not until that Bill had been in -1 treduoad that they had had any intimation of the ac : tient; et al,. He could not consent to the clause, which troold put an end to the actions against the officers of the House on this plain ground. Ntl man would or tesuld;detibt the vedelity of the Speaker's warrant, and it might he legally executed ; but the officer might exer rise it with undue violence, and if so, he must be liable its damages. In former times, under the Convention Parliament, an officer of the House in the service of a warrant extorted 30/.—ot course he knew nothing of what hail been done in this case—the House knew nothing of it—their officer might have misconducted ; ls'neself, and tf so then the plaintiff had a right to re ; <over, and the officer must pay the damages. He ei ought th clause was contrary to the law, and against •the aciund, at principles of the Constitution. He tlaerc :, lore moved that the clause he omitted. i Lord I. RUSSELL said if the action had not been 1 c n - .e.ited wall the question of their publications he I should act have thought it advisable to introduce an Act of Per:iiiment on the suhject. It appeared to him, Ihowever, ti , qt they were all one and the same transac • tion, and a part of the series of vexatious actions that had been taken, and he thought it was expedient to put an end to them in as summary a way as possible. If the:: did not do so they might depend upon it that time v:hiJh had be - yn commenced would not be the i 43t. Id: believed the fact was, with respect to Mr. Steckdale, and Mr. Howard, and the whole of that s. , stel persons, that they had received no damage or iniury whatev , r, and that the whole object these persons had . in view wits the attahl.nent of notoriety.—(Hear, hear.) He trusted, therefore, the Committee would permit the elatise to stand. iiir R. PEEL did not think any particular injustice i weals', be done by putting a stop to the act on to which the clause referred ; and he thought a great public ad . eutage would b e ga i ne d h ) doing so. But what he fearefearedwas, that th e y m i g h t b e prejudicing thprivi ; loges of the House by th e i ntro d uction of a clause so ' 4rarned. It appeared to him that a Court of Law would frinsider the warrant of the Speaker of the House of Commons a sufficient justification of the pro- Nadine of the Sergeant•at-Arms, unless an improper i degree of violence had been resorted to. It was not impaiale he doubted the abstract justice of the clause, ' lint that ho doubted the expediency of legislating to ... t t t aFt e d ett eet toion e any objection bthejneStinenrgetann it.t in He this particular betweenease, kilo pressent time and the third reading of the Bill the Vaestim would be maturely considered. Sir IfDWARD SUGDEN said he would adopt the suggoslion of the Right Hon Baronet, and withdraw ; Ma moton for the present, but he should certainly bring t - it forward on the third reading of the Bill. After . few words from Mr. JONES, 1 The SO4ICITOR-GENERAL saw no objection to their putrng a stop to the action then pending, by tile elate' before them. It was to be presumed, as in the cases of Stockdale and Hansard, that the Sergeant at-Argis had in the execution of the warrant merely &Dellis duty. If there bad been any excess of autho rity or uanecessary violence, Mr. Howard had the op , 7ortunity of brin g i ng t h at b efore the House.' If they . did-not ~ow show a determination to put a stop to the i notion of Howard, they wou ld be involved in a sries of vexations proceedings similar to the present. He was entillfied that the introduction of the clause would not in any way damage the p r i v il eges of the House, and l should therefore support it. Mr. GOIJLBURN apprehended that when the Bill cent before the House of Lords, if the present clause was permitted to remain, Mr. Howard would present a • ! tition setting forth in an aggravated f orm the griev to -"warrant, and praying to be heard by counsel ,V: . l . 'apit. Now he did not know the precise for ms o f r':i':' .41 se of Lords in such a case, or whether an indi- vidual coming forward in such a way would be entitled to be heard but if tint were so, they had no record of document to produce to show what had really occurred. That was an objection which the Noble Lord would do well to consider. Sir C. GREY said he thought the clause should he made universal and permanent. Sir E. SUG DEN explained. The House had never assumed the power of determining the amount of damage that might be occasioned by the illegal acts of its officers, and he trusted it never would. Lord JOHN RUSSELL was glad the Right Hon. Geneeman had postponed the clause, and the more so, as the Attorney-General, who was then upon circuit, would attend the third reading. The clause was then agreed to, and, Kith clause 3, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Sir EDWARD SUGDEN rose to propose an other clause. The House never before had the power invested in them by the Bill, and it should be guarded by preventing the House having in custody the person who hal brought actions after the action was discharged by the Act, The Hon. and Learned Gentleman then proposed the clause contained in his speech in the early part of the evening. Lord JOHN RUSSELL opposed the clause, which he thought altogether inconsistent with the principle of ' the Bill, and a direct limitation of the privileges of the House.—(Hear, hear.) After a few words in explanation from Sir E. SUGDEN, the motion was negatived. Mr. JONES moved a clause to subject persons giving false evidence before Committees of the Housc of Commons, to the pains and penalties of perjury, though such evidence be not given on oath. The Hon. Member, after illustrating, by several instances that occurred within his own knowledge, the necessity for this provision, alluded to a remark made on a former occasion by the Hon. Member for Dublin (Mr. O'Connell), that the persons who opposed the privileges of the House were Ultra-Tories or Chartists. This was unfair : he was not an Ultra-Tory, and certainly he was not a Chartist ; and what would the Hon. Member have said, if he (Mr. Jones) had accused all who supported the power chimed by the House, of seeking those unconstitutional powers and the exercise of that tyranny which the House had exercised at former periods Mr. M. ATTWOOD hoped that no technical ob jection would be taken to the clause, the necessity for which was illustrated by the case of Mr. Polack. He differed from the Noble Lord the Member for North Lan cashire, and emphatically denied the right of the House to publish libels by wholesale. If this were permitted, witnesses migi.t offer themselves before Committees for the purpose of slandering their neighbours. Instances had been known in which witnesses had corrected 'their evi dence after having given it before a Committee, so that the evidence as published by Hansard differed most materially from the notes as taken by Mr. Gurney This House took evideuce affecting private character in the loosest manner, and then it Ives published to the world, and the persons affected by it had no redress. Evidence was frequently printed as having been given before Committees, which had never been given at all—and to protect this loose sort of evidence, Sheriffs, plaintiffs, lawyers, nay, even children, were to be committed for contempt of the privileges of the House if they dared to question the right of the House to publish this loose evi dence. Ile thought the privilege ought to have been examined into as it stands at present, with a view to de termine what portion of it ought to be abandoned, and what maintained, instead of the vigorous coercion support of it which had been exercised. The SOLICITOR GENERAL objected to this clause, first on the ground of form, which had been most properly raised by the Chairman. Forms might in some instances be had recourse to with a view of unfairly de feating a proposition, but when rules were made for the purpose of preventing matters being brought forward in cidentally in a discussion, which could not be fairly expec ted to arise, as was the case on this occasion, he thought it perfectly fair to call for a strict application of the rule. It could not base been conceived that in a discussion on this Bill such a notice would have been brought forward. —( Hear.) He would submit to the Hon. Member himself whether he had fully considered to what his proposition would be likely to lead. It certainly did not address itself to the preamble of the Bill. The object of the Bill was to give summary protection to the officers of the House ; the clause proposed . oy the Honourable Gentleman had no relation whatever to this subject. ( near, hear)—and it would produce an eff,:ct it,finitely more extensive than the Hon. Member seemed to appre hend. Persons seldom avended Committees of that House voluntarily, and when they were called upon to give evi dence, it was not, as in Courts of Law, evidence merely as to circumstances in which they themselves had borne a pa. t, and which, therefore, strictly came within their own cog nizance. But if they were examined much more at large, they were in general little apprised of the questions which would be put to them—the extent of those questions was limited by no legal rule, but frequently extended even to matters of hearsay. If the witness had the option of declining to answer any questions that might be put to him, there might h , , some ground for I.roposing such a provision ; but if he attends compulsorily, how could it be fair tm subject him to the iisks of an indictment of this nature? Attusion had been made to the case of a person connected with New Zeeland Now, in that case the witness had been wited his opinion as to the character of an individu,.l. In such a c,se he vrcuild ask how was a witness to proceed? Was he to give his honest opinion lor not? Would they compel him to give an opinion, and ,I then tell him that he should be subjected to toe penaltie I of indictment for perjury for having so done—that he must be subj2cicri to the expense of sending to New Zea land for witnesses to testify to the correctness of his opinions ? (Cheers.) They compelled witnesses to come before that House togive evidence, and they proposed to place them in the situation of defendants to - an iodic - ment for perjury—and it should be remembered that in dictments for perjury were frequently found in instances in which the evidence given was not talse. There were as frequeNt instances of malicious indictments for pet jury as of perjured evidence, and they would subject eve,y j person giving their information to this peril. If it were correct—that it was true, could be easily proved— there then might be some reason for the proposition of the I Hon, Gentleman. But all those who had to defend persons accused of perjury were aware of the difficulty of provin7 that which was strictly true. There were no cases which inflicted more torture on the advocates who had to defend them, and it frequently happened that it was not until a witness actually came into the box that they were furnished with the means of showing that the charge of perjury was itself founded on the grossest perjury. They called a witness before them, tuey asked him a va riety of questions of a most various and extensive nature, and ho must answer those questions at the peril of his ruin, for he might not have the means of defence, he might, in tlse first place, be too poor to go to the necessary expense ; he might be deprived of the means of proving the truth of what he had stated by the death of witnesses, and they would subject a man to all these perils because they had called him fur public 'imposes. The alteration proposed was calculated to impede the inquiries, of the House. What had fallen from the Hon. Member for Viihitchaven was very important as regarded the puts- cations of that House. Undoubtedly it might be right to hear many things before a Committee which it might not be right afterwards to publish ; it was necesary to exercise caution, but the House had a right to publish whatever it might think fit for the information of the people. Sup. pose they were investigating some case of gross abuse— they must, of necessity, publish defamatory matter, 'more especially if they were desirous of knowing the misdeeds of persons abroad, with a view of making that knowledge the foundation of subsequent legislative enactment. Unless they published this, they would not publish the foundation of their legislation. Were the people of England to l'sc the right to the exercise of the efficient privileges of that House? Who, he would ask, were the people in whose behalf the lion. Member was standing up as against the privileges of the House of Commons ? Was it the great body of the people of England who had aright to the in formation possessed by their representatives ? No ! it was for the few whomight be the subjects of that information.— He had said that the House ought to revise its privileges. The people knew what those privileges were when they sent them there—they came there to exercise every one of those privileges for the public benefit. They were trus tees for the people of every privilege which they pos sessed.—( Cheers ) They had no power, after having received these privileges from the people, of resigning any single one of them.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) They would be unfaithful stewards if they were to do so, as it was impossible to foretell how soon an occasion might arise in which the exercise of that very privilege so resigned might become of the utmost impor tance fer the public welfare.—( Loud cheers.) On these grounds, he should certainly oppose the bringing up of the clause. o n si r d e e a r mb l e of the Bill, edt that hi s proviso and w s striMctr.actOorNdaEnScesawid he co p with the calculated to raise the dignity of the proceedings of that Hou se . With regard to one of the objections, the House could at any time prev ent proceedings for p er j ur y , b y re fusing the short-hand writer's notes. extract from a s p e ech of Mr. Brougha m ( now Lord Br M ou r g . h H am A ) LFORD supported the cl ause, and read an in support of his views. Mr . M. ATTWOOD spoke in favour of the clause. Ile could not but look with apprehension on the dangerous the Sol course recommended by the Hon. and Learned Gentlemen, The Committee then divided, and the numbers were— Fi A c: g t: a tr i b n - e s ° : e 'I motionll the motion 2O was then ordered to be brought on 120 The Report w Mon day, anpdEtThelTHloousNe resumed. PETITION MESSRS. HANSARD. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he wished to call the n non attention of the House to th e petition of oethe Mess rs . Han card.e tpi toi s s d e t r served d t he 9th of on those gentlemen, A n notice c i e t of ap p a e n a e te w d a r e r t o i m on th h e ad p March last, by Stockdale, and he p ro same course on the subject as that whi c h they hiLluradopted the in the case of the former notice of the 27th of February The Noble Lord then proposed a resolution to the effe.t that by this new notice John Joseph Stockdale had b een Guilty of a contempt and of a breach of the privileges of the House ; and that all Sheriffs or others who might act, aid, or assist in the said action would also be guilty of a violation of the privileges of the House, and would subject themselves to its severe displeasure. Sir R. H. INGLIS opposed the resolution, as he did not think that whatever plausibility there might have been in the course they had formerly pursued on the subject, there was any reason for their having recourse to so violent a proceeding now. Lord J. RUSSELL said that by passing the resolution the House would be merely acting in conformity with the rule they had already laid down. He did not see anything in the new Bill to prevent them from doing so, as there was a special provision in that Bill declaring that they did not THE SUN, LONDON, SATITRpAY, MARCH 14, 18401 surrender any privilege they had hitherto enj-yeela His Hon. Friend, the Member for Oxford, was consistent in opposing the resolution, but he could not expect that the majority of the House would imitate him in that course. The Bill would give greater facilities for supporting the privilege, and would not in any degree surrender it. Mr. LA W said he should support his Hon, Friend in opposing the resolution, for he entertained the same objec tions as formerly to such proceedings on the part of the House ; and he never could concur in any subsequent measures for the commitment of parties who might oppose the resolution. Mr. DARBY was against the resolution. The House divided, and the numbers were— For the resolution Against it Majority -65 CHINA. Lord PALMERSTON—Sir, since I answered the question put by the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Pembroke in the early part of the evening, I have received despatches from China, which I shall have printed by Monday.—( Ministerial cheers.) On the Noble Lord's rising, there was a rush of Mem bers to their seats, and then a bushed silence of expecta tion ; and, when the Noble Lord sat down without giving any information, there was evident surprise, and no small merriment created. LAW INTELLIGENCE. TROOPS AGAINST CHINA. It is stated in a t'.,tt?f_*,.ita of the 20th of January, written for the chance of ica.',liif`pift 13.orTil'my in time for the steamer, that the expedition prep;:ri'ht fket , China would consist of the following troops : —From Bengal her Majesty's 21st and 26th Regiments, with two Regiments of Native Itilantry. From Madras one of the Queen's, and four of Native Infantry, with a Regiment of Artillery and one of Engineers. From Ceylon one Queen's Regiment. The whole were to be commanded by Gene ral Arbuthnot from Ceylon, and Generals Oglander and Walker to command divisions. Shipping to the extent of 4000 tons had been already taken up at Calcutta. Salt provisions were likely to he required t , ) a considerable ex tent in China. The market for piece goods and yarn was said to be extremely dull, although light of stocks. Sir J. GRAHAM immediately rose and said—Cannot the Noble Lord state the nature of those despatches? Lord PALMERSTON—I have received two des- patches. The first, dated the end of October, states the agreement between Capt. Elliot and the Chinese Com missioner, by which the trade was to be recommenced, the merchant ships remaining outside the port, not being obliged to sign the bond required (as we understood). The second despatch is dated in November, and states, that in consequence of a ship going in, the arrangement was broken off, and discussions took place, which led to the action, of which accounts have been received. One of the despatches (we believe the Noble Lord added) contained enclosures. THE ARMY ESTIMATES. The House - having resolved itself into a Committee of Supply on the Army Estimates, Mr. MAC AUL AY moved the sum of 3,511,3701. for her Majesty's Land Forces during the ensuing year. Mr. HUME said as the number of the forces had been carried, though against his opinion, he should not trouble the House by opposing the sum necessary for the support of such a number.—( Hear.) But he wished to observe that the dead-weight, half-pay, &c., had not, strange to say, diminished during the last few years. He also begged to draw the attention of the Right Hon. Gentleman to the subject of baggage carriage, as to which a case of hardship had occurred to his ( Mr. Hume's) knowledge. He further expressed an opinion that the depot system increased expense without adding to the efficiency of the Army. Mr. MAC AUL A Y said he did not think the returns would bear out the Hon. Member's statement, that the dead-weight had not decreased lately. As to the carriage of baggage, it was arranged by the Mutiny Act. Un doubtedly he agreed in the principle, that if, from posses< - - ing any particular kind of property, any of her Majesty's sub jects were burdened with the task of aiding in the carriage of some of her Majesty's muniments of war, thoy should have as full an indemnity as possible, in some other way. If the Hon. Member did not think the Mutiny Act provided for this object, let him propose amendments. Should any cases of hardship come before him ( Mr. Macaulay) they would have his best attention. But as yet none had been brought under his notice. He did not think it would be convenient to enter on the extensive and important ques tion of depots. After a desultory conversation, in which Sir Adolphus Dalrymple, Mr. Macaulay, Mr. Hume, and other Hon. Members took a part, the vote was agreed to. The next item was for 464,7401. for the maintenance of the General Staff. Mr. HUME obiected to the vote, on the ground that the officers in this department had nothing to do. When the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite was cffered the reins of Government, he refused to take them, unless lie should have the appointment of every man upon the staff, and every woman too.—( Laughter.) The mode in which the patronage of the army was dispensed was disgraceful to every Government be knew of, and especially to that of Lord Grey. The Queen had six Aides-du-eamp; he thought it would be better for her to have six ladies' maids.— ( Laughter.) He understood that the situation of Lien tenant of the Tower had been vacant by a recent decease, and that the place was filled up. lie understood that it was a sinecure, and that it was only in compliment to the Duke of Wellington that the office of Governor of the Tower was permitted to remain. Mr. MA CA ULA Y begged to correct the Hon. Mem ber for Kilkenny. The office to which he alluded was not a sinecure, it was that of Deputy-Lieutenant of the Tower, and the duties required the residence of that offic. - if within the walls, and his constant superintendence. The Hon. Member for Kilkenny was wrong in supposing that the office of the Noble Duke who governed that fortress was given to him merely as a compliment. It was of the highest importance that the fortress should be preserved, and that constant guards should be maintained there to prevent its being surprised by mobs. The Duke of Wellington had himself stated in Parliament that it was necessary on this account to keep up the subor dinate offices. Sir A. DALRYMPLE defended Lord Hill from at tacks which had been made upon him as to his discharge of the duties of Commander it.-Chief. The Noble Lord's political feelings had never influenced him in the distribu tion of his patronage. ..---. Mr. HUME had no objection to the employment of officers when off duty and when they had nothing to do. but he did think it was too much that the country should pay n.r eighteen equerries to the Queen. and seventeen grooms, and what she did with them God only knew.— ( Great laughter.) He wished to come to a par. Ocular question, at the same time that he wished to avoid impugning the character of any officer, but he thought it hi, duty to ask whether Colonel Garwood Tiai really fit to perform those important du'ies which were said to attach ' to the office of Deputy-Lieutenant of the Tower. Mr. MACAULAY briefly replied, and his answer was not understood in the gallery. The vote teas then agreed to. The vote of 60,1461., for defraying the charges and allowances to the officers of the different military departments of Great Britain, was agreed to after a few observations from Mr. Hume. Upon the vote of 16,701/. being put, for defraying the charges of the Roy al Military Asylum and the Hibernian Military School, Mr. HUNIE said that he considered the latter esta blishment required revision, for he found that, for the pur pose of attending seventy little girls, there was paid a go vernor, chaplain, and surgeon. What they had to do with the little girls, he was at a loss to know.—(Great laughter.) Mr. MA CA ULA Y said that the reason the present ar rangement had been made was, that it was found extremely inconvenient to hare the little boys and girls brought up toge:her.—( Increased laughter.) Mr. HUME believed that the children brought up at this school cost as much as the children of naval officers. His opinion was that the present system ought to be abolished. A vote of 92 9931., for defraying the charge of the Vc lunteer Corps. was agreed to after a few obseivatizns from Mr. THORNELY and Mr. HUME. 15,8151. was voted for defraying the expenses of the War-office. 22 000/. for defraying the pay of General Officers of her Majesty's Forces, not being colonels of regiments. 53,5001. for defraying the charges of Full-pay to Re tired Officers. 505 500/. for defraying the charges of half-pay and mili tary allowances to retired Officers. 63,7081 for half-pay and retired allowances to officers in foreign service. 142.9841. for pensions to widows of officers. 127,3001. for allowances on the Compassionate L'st of her Majesty's Royal Bounty. 1.274,6331. for defraying the charges of Chelsea and Kilmainbam Hospitals. 42,000/. for charges of allowances, compensations, supetannuations, retired allowances, &c. The CHAIRMAN then reported progress and obtained leave to sit on Monday next. MUTINY BILL. On the motion of Lord JOHN RUSSELL the Mutiny Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed on Monday. The Marine Mutiny Bill wis also read a second time and ordered to be committed on Monday. HORSE RACING BILL. The Horse Racing Bill was read a third time and passed. DESIGNS COPYRIGHT BILL. Mr. EMERSON TENNENT then moved to dis•.. charge the Order for referring the Copyright of Designs Bill to a Select Committee; and to withdraw the Bill ; and to move, That the House resolve itself int o a Com mittee of the whole House, to consider the Acts 34 Geo. 111., c. 23, 2 Vic. c. 13, and 2 Vic. c. 17, relating to the protection of the copyright in designs for articles of manu facture. After a few words from Mr. Williams, Mr. Mark Phil lips, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. PHILIP HOWARD thought there was nothing in the present Bill to affect the trade of the country, but it would be desirable to have the opinion of the Speaker on the subject. The SPEAKER, thought the House was bound to ad here to the Standing Orders, and the only question was, whether the present Bill related to trade, and came within the Standing Orders. He thought, however, the proper course would be to originate the Bill in a Committee of the whole House. Mr. WARBURTON suggested to the Hon. Member to withdraw the Bill, and in the mean time allow evidence to be taken on the subject before a Select Committee, and the new Bill might be framed on the Report of that Committee. Mr. TENNENT had no objection to withdraw the Bill for the present. The order for referring the Bill to a Select Committee was then discharged. Adjourned at Twelve o'Clock. ----- BRUSSELS, IVIARCH 11.—The averageprices of wheat during the last week was 2.21. 3c., and of rye 15f. 81c., The regulation of the duties on importation and exportation remains unchanged. FRONTIERS OF TURKEY, FEB. 23.—For some day s past a very serious difference exists between Prince Ghika and the English Consul, Mr. Colquhoun. One reason assigned is, that the Consul has offended the Prince by fre quent correspondence with Colonel Campinians, who is nccused walls of high t reason , an d o th er persons opponents cf the Govern inent.—Allgemeine Z e it un g, March 8. the 1 Buonap arte ' s h ouse a t Longwood is now a barn —the room h e di e d i n a sta bl e — an d where the imperial corpse lay in st a t e , may be see arc c overe d w i th multitu di nous names . The oak he planted now shadows na library.inae The Marchioness hinHeisfobratgrinhisdnsitigil cinorn. the e new e hou se'welissicohha nev er li ve d t o en t er . Hi s c hess-board is in the possession of the officers of the 9lst, which regiment is sta tioned on the island. e arrived o f at the Brunswick Hotel, Queensberry and Lady Georgians Douglas hia over-squar e , from a v tour. have SHERIFF'S COURT, SURREY, MARCH 13. (Before R. HEDGER, Esq., Chairman.) CRIM. CON.—ROBERTS V. BRUNSKILL, Mr. Ssirrit, Barrister of the Inner Temple, stated the case for the plaintiff, Mr. Henry Boyden Roberts, solici tor, of No. 1, Child'ssplace, Templesbar. The defen dant is William Brunskill, who is a private in the Horse Guards. The declaration charged the defendant with having de bauched the. wifs of the plaintiff, and thsrelly deprived him of her society. The defendant had offered no defence to the charge. In the month of October last the plaiaff went into the country, and it was during his absence that the defendant contracted an acquaintance with the plaintiff's wife, which terminated in her ruin and disgrace. On the return of the plaintiff to town he was apprised of cir cumstances which left no doubt on his mind of the guilt of his wife, and he immediately sent her to her relatives, but he was in total darkness as to the per son who was inculpated with her. Weeks of fruitless labour were spent in endeavouring to ascertain who the individual was, and the plaintiff's mind began to waver lest he had acted hastily, when he obtained possession of several letters from his wife to her para mour, which at once confirmed her guilt and led to the discovery of the defendant. The defendant, being an illiterate man, was unable to understand the high-flows and romantic strain of his unhappy correspondent, much less to reply to her ; he therefore employed a person fn the same troop of the name of Jackson as his amanuensis. Jackson's wife, feeling disgusted at the conduct of the parties concerned in the affair, obtained possession of the letters and handed them over to the plaintiff. A number of letters from Mrs. Roberts to the defendant were then read. They were written in the most approved style of the Minerva Press novels. The following are ex tracts from one written after the discovery of her guilt:— " From Mrs. Roberts toWm. Brunskill, E Troop, B. H. G., Regent's Park Barracks, London, dated Bedford Cot tage, Spalding, Oct. 29, 1839. "My dearest William—l am so perfectly convinced of your deep sincerity for me, or I should not have ventured to have written to you without paying the postage; but the fact is lam at the present penniless. From the ad. dress you will in some measure conceive that something particular has occurred. " Oh I protect me, Heaven ! How am Ito live through it, God, who has hitherto sustained me, only knows. My pas sion for you has got such possession of my heart that both reason and principle are silenced. You are my beloved William to me, a being beyond mortal, fraught with every thing that is generous and exalted. The sole possessor of my all. The human heart oft stands in need of some kind and faithful partner of its cares, in whom it may re pose its weaknesses, and wita whom it is sure of find ing the sincerest sympathy. If your; heart be like mine it will never waver ; love the most enthusiastic that ever entered woman's bosom binds me irrevocably to you. Thine I am, and ever will be unto my life'a end. * r * Whatever pittance he (Mr. Roberts) allows you shall have half. I now only work and toil for you, my much beloved William. Pray write to me, for I would sooner forfeit my existence than your love and esteem. Remem ber the words you uttered to me ; that you would never marry until you did me. I questioned you you swo;e you would sweet—never forsake me, what ever the result. Then, now is the time to prove your sterling value. If he will divorce me, will you marry me, and make me once more happy ? My happiness or misery depends upon your deci sion. My feelings arc now bordering upon hope and de spair—hope, that you will conform to your promise, and still, as you have before loved, love your Eliza ; despair, by retracting from your word and honour. Oh !do not forsake me, unless you wish me to bury all my troubles in the grave. Do write by return of post; sympathize in my feelings, and forgive a fallen woman. I would sooner die than lose you. I cannot exist without you. The sr rection you gave me is my bosom friend. My life I would sooner forfeit than it. Adieu in tears." Ths following is from another letter, dated December 11, 1839: " I must, I will come to you, and cling round your neck as though I would cling for ever. No course of time, no change of place, no alteration of circumstances, can erase or lessen the passion I have for you. It will, I trust, never experience the least decay. I will, indeed, dear William, make the most important sacrifices to your happiness, console you under every affliction, and ever remain your faithful Eliza in dire ad versity or domestic sorrow Indeed, dear William, you do misjudge my feelings, or you would not, I am certain, nay sure, withhold that kindness which solely supports my sinking fortitude. Oh, my William, e cannot resolve to tear ourselves from those we so fondly love. Time, it is said, extinguishes love, but solitude re news the fire, and calls forth chow agents which lie long concealed, and only wait a favourable moment to display their powers. We feel in the tranquillity of solitude that irresistible impulse which the God of nature has so strongly implanted in the human breast. Ido beseech you send me an early reply." Three other letters, written in the same strain, directed to the same person, were also read; after which the lb - - lowing epistle from Mrs. Roberts to her husbanii was then read, dated " January 26, 1840. " My. dear Henry—ln what terms shall I presume to address you, or how deprecate the first indignation you must feel at me ? I wish not to extenuate my guilt, bu to implore that your malice will extend to no one else but me. Shun those insidious disturbers of domestic concord, who seek to interfere in family affairs or disputes, and whose interfccence is equally unwarrant.ble and mischievous stillpe iustice and mercy will be shown me—that I shall find a lenient Indge in you, my once fond husband. I know you are too generous to retaliate, and shall eagerly expect a line by the next post, to assure me that you for , give " ELIZA." " H. B. Roberti, E q., 1, Child's-place, Middle Temple." This was followed by a quotation fe,,m " Byron's Farr vreil," commencing viith— And when thou wouldest solace gather," &e. The witnesses were then called, who bore testimony to the plaintiff and his wife having lived upon the moat kind and affectionate terms previously to the unfortunate oc currence. The Chairman, addressing the jury, said the plaintiff had refrained from proving my of the criminal circum stances of the case. That, however, was immaterial, ex• cept as to the amount of damages, inasmuch as the defen dant had not attempted to deny the charge. Had they, however, been put in possession of the whole of the facts, they would have bern better able to judge as to the degree o' turui'ude to be attached to the defendant. The eonduct of the plaintiff's wife, as appeared even from her ovtn letters, was most disgusting ; and, considering the res pectable station of her friends, the liberal education she had received, and the station of life of her husband, the case was most distressing. The damages were laid at 1,0001. This, however, was a question for the jury. The jury retired for a short time, and returned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 5001. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, MARCR 11. (Before Mr. Commissioner NIERIVALE.) MR. GEORGE GLENNY'S BANKRUPTCY. Yesterday a meeting of the creditors of the bankrupt was held, pursuant to adjournment, for the purpose of choosing assignees. The Court was crowded with parties who had been losers by the Royal Union Association, of which, it sill be ictnembered, tile bankrupt was managing director. Nu merous, however, as was the attendance, it was supposed that many more would have been present had the usual notice been given in the " Law Notices" of the day. The CommissioNEß inquired whether any property had come to the hands of the official assignee since the last meeting of Glenny's creditors, and was answered in the negative. An indescribable and most painful scene took place the moment the Commissioner had opened the bus'ness ; veral very respectable females, many of them widows, bursting into tears, and bitterly lamenting the irretrievable ruin in which they had been involved. One lady said, that in September last she la,d bought an annuity for 4001, on which she and her aged husband, who was 72 years of age, alone relied fur support. Another said that she was a widow, and had sunk the whole of her property for the support of herself and four orphan children. The cases of the unfortunate females were not the most deplorable, as among those of tha other sex there were several who had lost a limb and two were quite blind. One gentleman had paid 1,1001. for an annuity of 601. per annum, and had not received one farthing, and many more had paid from 500/. to 8001. for the like purpose. Alter a lengthened examination of the bankrupt, and the claims of every variety of classes of annuitants having been heard by the Court, Mr. Commissioner Maalvm.,2 denied that the claims put forward by the annuitants could not be admitted as against the personal estate of the bankrupt, he being, ac cording to the rules and regulations of the Association, only one of its officers, though what the extent of his in terterence in its management might be, and might as fairl) give reason to others to believe, the Court was not called upon at present to characterise. A difficulty next ensued as to th e appointment of a cre ditor's assignee, and no one bei n g found wit ing to under take that office ether proceedinva were adjourned. the fu. LADY. BULWER.—In the Seconda'jes Court, y ester day , an action was brought by Sir E. L. Bulwer and his wife against W. Thomas, the publisher of the Court Journal, to obtain redress for a libel inserted in that journal on the 19th of October. The damages were laid at 1,000/. Sir F. Pollock was engaged for the prosecution, Mr. Platt for the de fence. All the peculiarities of the case have a pp eared in the it newspapers, and is therefore unnecessary to repeat them. It will be sufficient to quote the libel from the Court Journal, which is in these words : " A scene took place a few evenings since at Lady Aylmer's soiree which has afforded the Parisians much food for gossip and comment. Mr. H enr y Bulwer, who represents Lord Granville during his Lordship's ab sence, was passing through one of the elegant saloons, when he encountered Lady Bulwer, who has been re siding at P ar i s f or some time, to whom he politely bowed. Her Ladyship, w h o , it i s sa id , h a d gone t o the soiree for the express purpose of insulting her husband's brother, made a dead stop as he passed, and, placing her arms a-kimbo,' comme nced a series of g r i maces that have scarcely been equalled sinter the days of Grimaldi, and continued her vulgar gestures until Mr. Bulwer had passed beyond her sight. The affair has created a feeling of disgust in the minds of all persons here, and it is pro bable that her Ladyship w ill not have another o pp ortunit y of displaying her grot e squ e per f orma nces either at Lady Aylmer's or elsewhere . " Speeches were made i n a gg ravation, and other s in miti ga ti on, of this enormous offence, when, after the usual formalities, the Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff—Da mages, 90/. THE LATE HON. EDWARD PERCEVAL.— This lamented gentleman was the second surviving son of the a ve ied ner i a n b l le B2 : l d e i r n d g e . n n , o a i n ss d ue w . as born 30th July, 1795. Mr. Pcreeval was a widower, having married his first cousin, Jane, eldest daughter of the late Right Hon. Spencer Perceval, First Lord of the Treasury, who was shot by Bellingham. This lady CHANGES IN CANADA.—The Hon. L. P. Sherwood Judges, retires with a pension, and Mr. Hageman takes his place. Mr. Draper is to be Attorney-General, and Robert Baldwin, Solicitor-General. Wm. Baring, A.D.C. to Governor Thomson, is to leave immediately for England with the Union and Clergy Reserve Bill. --New York Herald. THE FIRE AT DEVONPORT. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) PLYMOUTH, MARCH 13.-1 am happy to inform you that the damage done to the ho'el is not so great as at first reported. The beautiful ball-room and tea-room, with the rooms in front of the house, have been saved ; but a vast quantity of valuable furniture has been completely spoiled. Mr. Elliott, the proprietor, is not insured; and the loss he has sustained must be very great. The fire was discovered about four o'clock by a woman who sells coffee, and the alarm instantly given ; but as a considerable time elapsed before water could be procured, the flames made rapid progress. It is imagined to have originated in the room of the gentleman ,bom I mentioned as having lost his life. His name is said to be Major Hornby or Horndon, an old retired officer. He was very infirm, and is supposed to have set the bed clothes on fire, and, being unable to give any alarm, was soon suffocated. Ile slept in No. 10, a room in the western end, the whole of which side is totally destroyed, together with the beautiful dome, which fell in about a quarter past five with a terrific crash. The Major's remains were dug out of the ruins yesterday, the legs and thighs being burnt to a cinder. This awful visitation has caused a melancholy sensation in Devonport. Mr. Elliott's loss is much regretted; be is greatly respected here. It is hoped, however, that he will soon be able to resume his business, as the workmen will proceed forthwith to rebuild the part destroyed. HELSTON ELECTION. (FROII OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Helston, March 12, 1840. The election for this borough, in the room of Lord Cantelupe, took place this morning. There was no oppo sition to Mr. Basset, who is a Whig, and who came forward to break up the old system of nomineediip which has for so many years prevailed in this borough. Tim proceed ings of the day were ushered in by a band parading the town, and afterwards the hells rang merrily. At eleven o'cl( ck, the Mayor, John Kendall, Esq., opened the busi ness in the Corn Market, where there was a large body of people assembled ; and the Town Clerk read the neces sary formula previous to proceeding to the election. C. W. POPHAM, Esq , proposed that John Basset, Esq., the nephew of the late Lord de Dunstanville, was a fit and proper representative to serve them in parliament. The Hon. speaker observed that this was the first time that he had ever been able to support, either by his vote or his interest, any candidate for the representation of that borough, as they had never before had one in whose prin ciples he could coincide. P. V. RonissoN, Esq., seconded the nomination, and lauded the Hon. Candidate for his possession of sound constitutional principles—of principles which would lead him to oppose, on the one hand, all organic changes ; and, on the other, would prompt him to support all such im provements as were necessary for the safety and welfare of the state. Mr. BASSET then addressed the electors at some length, dwelling upon his intention to follow the example set him by his revered and excellent relation, Lord de Dunstan ville. He next addressed himself to two or three public questions, saying that he would oppose the Ballet, a further extension of the Suffrage, and any attempt to disturb the present constitution of the House of Lords, by making it elective. He would, if he had been in Parlia ment, have given his support to the me.tsure recently in troduced into the House of Commons, for the Reform of the Municipal Corporations in Ireland ; and he would ,t all times support those propositions which were calculated to remove the rust from our time-honoured institutions. The MAYOR then declared that Mr. Basset was duly re turned us their representative. 'l'hc return was signed —thanks were given to the Mayor, and the meeting separated. In the afternoon, many of the electors dined together in different parts of the town, and all went off with the greatest quietness. MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS (FRIDAY EVENING.) TIMES.—The principal head- of the Chinese news of to-day having been anticipated by the extraordinary ex press of Wednesday, no new effect was produced in the English Stock Market by the state of affairs in Chins. Consols arc quoted at 90 to 7 for Money, and 904 to j for the Account. Money has been more in demand, and is worth 5 per cent. This, perhaps, may occasion a little legs firmness in the price of Exchequer Bills, which arc at 19s. to 21s. premium. POST.—The news received by the overland mail from China was of very great importance to the commercial interest, and has caused throughout the day an amazing deal of speculation in the tea market. The report so l(•nerally spread on Wednesday of the Governor-General of India having declared war against China proves, as wa s t o have been expected, for the most obvious reasons, totally unfounded, and the consequence bas been a serious d2cline in the price of tca. HERALD —The Stock Market has closed heavily this afternoon, the elf ct chiefly of an increased demand for money, which has prevailed in the latter part of the day. The amount of business transacted was very trifling, either in speculation or in real bargains The principal holders of stock in the City, as well as the speculators, do no , . appear to anticipate that the affairs of China will affect to any extent the value of the public securities. SUN.—There was not a very animated market for Su ,,:ar or other Colonial produce to-day, but Tea was in a very unsettled position, being flat, with a tendency to de cline in the morning, and rather firmer in the afternoon, when Company's Congou brought 2s. 71,d. to 2s. Bd. for cash, and Free Trade Teas 2s. Gd. for Congou, cash, and 2s. 7d. per lb. for common Twankay. The issue of tie large public sales on Monday will offer the best criterion of the actual feeling entertained by the trade with regard to the existing state of affairs at Canon. The Foreign Exchanges were steady this afternoon. Bills on Paris were negotiated at 25f. 55c. to 60c., on Hamburg at 13. 9 to on Amsterdam at 12. and on Antwerp at 12. 2. The Funds closed rather better this afternoon, Con sols for present transfer being quoted 90i to and for time WI to ; Exchequer Bills remained at 203. pre mium, and the New Three-and-a-half per Cents. in consequence of one or two sales, dropped from 99 to WI '4 - - - ,„ parnsh Bonds were not so firm, and the Actives re ceded from 2871 to 28, but Portuguese, on the con trary, were rather better ; the New Five per Cents. having touched 34i, and the Three per Cents. 24k ; Mexican closed at 29-i to 2% , , and Colombian at 25 to 251. The Railway Shares were more dealt in at previous rates. POLITICAL SUMMARY OF THE MORNING JOURNALS. The Times of this morning, alluding to the question of a war with China, observes :—" A Royal message, call ing for the judgment of both Houses of the Legislature, is due to the nation, before the actual collision has occurred and the mischief has been rendered irretrievable. But what has been the Parliamentary course of Lord Palmer ton on this important opportunity ? Precisely that of do kg and saying nothing, at a time when both declarations and actions had become a paramount duty."—The Morn ing Post thus alludes to the currency question t—" No thing deserves more to be inquired into by Parliament than the question whether the experience of the country for the last one-and-twenty years tells in favour of the currency principle adopted in 1819 or does not. We believe that experience shows the step taken in 1819 to have been a wrong one. We think tnat to restrict this country to a currency of gold, or of paper legally converti ble into gold, of the same money value, is a fearful error." The Morning Advertiser, speaking on the Chinese ques tion, says :—" A summary of news from the East, which we publish in another place, will at once reveal, not only the vital importance of the interests there involved, but also the promptitude and energy with which, not withstanding the charges made against the Govern ment, measures have been taken to vindicate and uphold British interests, against the outrages lately perpetrated on them by the Chinese authorities."— The _Morning Chronicle observes, in a leading article on the subject of Mr. Baines's Bill for raising poor church livings to 2001. per annum ;—" The party that clamours about upholding the Church, and affects a monopoly of attachment to its interests, does not want to see a repect ably-supported working clergy. It is not from that class that the auxiliary clerical corps of faction is best recruited. To take from the fat to feed the lean, is an approach to wards equalization, which they hold in abhorrence. The pampered pluralist and the dependent curate are much fitter materials for party purposes."—The Morning He rald thus expresses itself on the hacknied question of Pri. vilege :—." The Privilege' Bill, with which the House of Commons was busied last night, is confessedly, a clumsy and imperfect instrument for removing the difficulties into which the tyrant majority ' has betrayed itself. Its di rect tendency, moreover, is to legalise pretensions quite as monstrous as those which, when recently urged by the ho nourable House, have excited the disgust of all England." THE HON. MISS MACKENZIE.—On the 24th of last month, died at Rome, after a short illness , the Hon. Frances Mackenzie, youngest daughter of the late Lord Sea forth. This lady was endowed with delicate taste in all the fine arts, which was nourished by her familiar intercourse with the most distinguished artists resident in that great city, with that fine sense of humour, which Charles Lamb humorously denied to all her countrymen, and with unbounded generosity and kindliness of dispoition ; —her death will be widel y an d deeply lamented. Numerous tr-vellers in Ital) will, like the one who now records this sad event, long retain a lively and sorrowing re collection of the gratification afforded to her guests in the social parties which assembled in her hospitable dwelling. In the ab sence of any male relation, as an old friend, Sir Frederick Adam has taken possession of her effects. The Earl and Countess of Wilton had a dinner party last evenin , , at their mansion in Grosvenor-square, when the Marquis and'Marchioness of Londonderry, Eail and Coun tess of Jersey, Lord and Lady Lyndhurst, his Excellency Baron Brunow, Si; Robert Gordon, Mr. Irby, and Mr. Bentinek, were among the guests. CHURCH ESTA BLISHMEN TS. The Rev. H. M‘Neile delivertd, yesterday his third Lecture, at the Hanover-square Rooms, His Royal FL:gh- iTeEI the Duke of Cambridge made his appearalwe, and wut , tery Tarrnly greeted. There were several Members of both 11,2u50., Parliament, and various, other distin- guished pe-sonagcs present, and the audience was, as usual, very crowded. The Reverer4 Lecturer argued, that the instrumentality of an Established Church was calculated to do essential service to the State, by training the people in those sound principles which were the only basis of social and national welfare. He proceeded in detail to vindi cate the various elements of our established form of wor- ship. He especially eulogized the prescribed constant reading of the Scriptures. He also applauded the devo tion, and the excellence of the Liturgical services. He reprobated the notion that preaching was the most impor tant part of Divine worship, and spoke of prayer and praise as the highest and the noblest. He contended for the superiority of forms o prayer and praise, on the ground that extemporaneous effusions must necessarily, by those who had a just sense of the spirituality of true wor ship, be carefully watched, in order that they might be satisfied that they could sincerely, and with the heart, par ticipate ; and that this necessary caution and reserve were not calculated to produce that warmth of devotional feeling and fervour of worship which might be en joyed, when the prayers were beforehand known to he perfectly orthodox and exquisitely beautiful— and might, therefore, be heartily responded to. More over he said, many candid Dissenters had admitted that as they, in singing the same hymns—that is the same forms of praise over and over (to the same tune also) — were not necessarily formal, so neither did the constant repetition of the same forms of prayer in the Established Church necessarily produce formality. And another ad vantage, too, he said, arose, from the forms and articles of the Church—that the orthodoxy of the Church was thus, as it were, hedged round and secured against the effect even of occasional error, in the ministers. But he deeply regretted, and strongly reprobated, the indifference and coldness with which too often (though, he added, not so generally as formerly) congregations went through the forms of worship in the Establishment, and the listless, unimpressed, and unimpressive manner in which clergymen sometimes read the excellent formu laries of the Church —( Cheers.) He went on to say that the early Non-conformists (quoting Dr. Owen especially) held to Ow doctrines and forms of the Church in their main features, and had thus preserved their ortho doxy, but that the departure from these salutary guards of the faith among later Dissenters had opened the door for Socinian infidelities, and philosophical scepticisms.-- (Cheers.) The Rev. Gentleman then proceeded to the great question of the union between Church and State. He said it was impossible, but that between the Church and State there should be some kind of con nection ; for, said he, the clergy of the coun try would, as the ordinances of religion were all in their hands, exert such a sway over the consciences and feelings of men, that they would be naturally re garded by the multitude with such awe, and would in evitably acquire such influence, that no body of men would be able to withstand the temptations then held out to them. And that superstition would give, and avarice receive, and ambition abuse, the wealth and power thus acquired, till all empire lay prostrate at the foot of the priest; and the power thus established, would at length seek a central and prevailing force in some modification of a Papal Supremacy.—(Cheers.) Nor, said, he, was this mere imagination—it was history.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) And he referred to Hallam, and Blackstone to show the immense influence and wealth acquired by the Clergy in this kingdom, in the early periods of our annals —to such a degree indeed, that it was predicted that had not Parliament interposed with the statute of mortmain, every foot of land in the country would soon have been ab sorbed by the priesthood.—( Hear.) Now, let it be ob served, he thought that this could never happen again— for human nature was still the same—and as infidelity could never be popular, because supplying no balm to the cots science—nor vital Christianity, because making no truce with sin—some middle system, oscillating with human passions—running parallel with human desires— allowing the grossest excesses of guilt to be atoned foe by the penance of some pecuniary amercement, would infallibly gain such overpowering influence over the people. Neither let it be said, he remarked, that the Dis senters of the present day had exerted no such influence, for, first, he replied that they could nor, seeing that on their principles they need no ordinance which they could withhold or bestow, as necessary to salvation; and, se condly, because the Church was in their way, and persons discontented with their management could obtain, in every parish in the kingdom, Christian ministration. The Reverend Gentleman then urged, that as on these grounds some restrictions must be laid on the clergy—for the safety of liberty required it—the best way to adjust this restrictive influence on the part of the State, was to dis tribute the national endowments, keeping the wholo or nearly the whole, as the Established Churchpa,„ age _in the hands of the State, but leaving entirely to the clergy, the ordination of the ministers, who, when once ordained, were eligible to the pastoral office in any locality. And he threw it out, whether the connection between patronage and ordination in the Church of Scot land might not, combined with the popular voice in the appointment of the minister, have produced the present unfortunate state of things there. The Rev. Gentleman went on to argue, that it was by no means unworthy of the Church to have a fixed settled code of doctrine for her guidance. And to the taunt so ignorantly put forward by some parties, that this Code of Articles bad been set tled by Act of Parliament, he replied that they had been settled by the Bible.—(Cheers.) As to the similar taunt, that they could not be changed hut by Act of Parliament, he would answer, that it was the Chu ch's glory they could not be changed, seeing they were based upon the Bible.—(Cheers.) [As these Lectures are once more bringing under the public notice this long agitated controversy, we purpose giving a few sketches of the principal champions, which, to those who have not seen the originals, may be in teresting, and, to those who have, perhaps not less so.] SKETCHES OF OUR CELEBRATED CON TROVERSIALISTS. Don't let the rei.der be alarmed at a word which at all sounds controversial. We are not about to enter into the field of polemical discussion, or theological contention, so often laboured with painful and profitless zeal, but which we bold in as suspicious and doubtful regard as any the most simple-minded, well-meaning, good-natured haters of wrathful and perplexing debatings. We wish to speak, cot of controversies, but, mark, of controversialists; and to describe, not so much, docrines, as their defenders— ta depict the advocates, not to discuss their principles. We desire, in fact, to convey as true an idea as possible of their style and manner, their oratory and eloquence. We essay, that is, a critique, on living characters—not mute performances—on the masters, as well as their works. And it is not an uninteresting field for criticism—the cha racters of distinguished combatants in a great struggle of opponent intellects—the pourtrayal, not merely of their physical attributes, but their characteristic idio syncrasies, the exhibition of their mental distinctions the analysis of their various qualifications and powers—the dsplay, so to speak, of the weapons of their intellectual armoury. There is always a kind of interest about a rivalry of talent—the bringing to bear, in hostile championship, of varied and first-rate abili ties on some fierce combat of opposed pretensions. Many may take an interest in the champions—who feel little in their principles—much upon that common ground of curi osity with which we enter into the qualities of warriors, by whose victories or defeats we are alike unaffected, But the struggle we are now adverting to is one in which a nation is interested, and which has a people for its spectators ; it is the struggle of opposite principles, in the result of which the constitution of the empire is deeply, vitally, concerned. Must not the champions, then, be objects of interest ? The uncompromising controversy now carrying on, be tween the rival advocates of Church Establishments and of the Voluntary Principle, has broken out—at least into open contest—within the last few years. Who com menced it is not quite clear. We believe, however, that the gauntlet was thrown down—that the tocsin was sounded—by the Rev. Thomas Binney, in an Address on the opening of the New Weigh-house Independent Chapel, London. But the precise manner in which the accredited champions of the two great antagonist principles, were first brought into avowed and decided contention, is not of much importance ;—yet we always feel an interest in the " beginning of strife." Indeed, otherwise, Mr. Binney seems scarcely entitled to be included in our gallery of controversialists —as, although we base good reason to think he precipitated the engagement, he soon withdrew from the field, or, at all events, has not since taken any open part in the contest; still, the beginner of such a controversy naturally calls for notice. There are few men who, from their character and tern peramant, would be more forcibly, nay inevitably impelled to the first outburst of assault in a contest Of principles 1-4 1 NENING EDITia_N than Mr. Binney. Such men gene-ally exhibit the : 0171 - bination of a restless acuteness of thoogl - it with an ex- 1 1 citable energy of - feeling, which drives thrill, on some strik ing occasion, to a startling firce of del une;ation and de fiance : c'r , ithis style of character is impressed on his very countenance', The lofty, stern, intelligence of his o(e•• read, the sharpy the almost harsh sever;ty of his feats the uneasy nervr,usness of his eye, the fitful, restles<,, ap• parertly to himselt" painful, and, in corr.nrnicing, irregular and trembling manner of his delivery, ail betoken that ceaseless activity of i ntellect, that scrutinizing aenter:ess of thought, which, by fie obstruction of a soniewila,t dis agreeably modulated voice, seem irrite.cd at first into, a nervous anxiety to give efficient utterance to their ideas : but which, as soon zs they get firmly into the heart, the spirit of a subject, hurry hire along over all physical isnpe diments with all the impassioned rapidity of an •unadcamed but fiery eloquence. His :vould not bo called, the eloquence of style, but of thought ; that is, the 1 power with which, in spite cf all disadvantages in respect to oratorical attribu %es, a man of mind will carry along with him an audience in the earnest energy of a searching and crager investivation. His style is devoid of ornament, as his delivery is dr:stitut e of harmony. It is, indeed, perhaps, coverely by thought. Intellect in him utterly - t.sh , dues r.nd sub ordinates imagination. And when he is most firrcible, it is the power of deep sincerity of conviction, acting on and exciting the fiery elements of his nature, an d i afluencing more by the earnestness them by the clegan ce of its ap peals. Just the man is Mr. Binney to hat% been the foremost assailant of the very principle of a h ang estah • lished institution—just the man to have been th. 5 first. as. setter of a yet untested, though, uncompromisit sly hos tile principle ; just the man to have utterad the ; startling declaration (as he did on the occasion alluded to, dr. - iibtless in one of those moments of excitement, .not, bo it ob se:wed of mere imaginative warmth, but of the r ~ rdent energy which has been worked to intensity of feelin . g. by the self-convincing impulses of theught) that the Chur ch of England " damned more souls titan it saved," which I log through the count) as the note of a trumpet summer ring to arms, sousing the opposed pude% from the letharg. Of neutrality, and forcing them on to an unshrinking a nd unyielding contest. The next will be a sketch of Mr. Burnet, the distin - guishcd advocate of the " Voluntary Principle," and there will follow sketches of Dr. Ch alrners, Dr. Wardlaw, Mr. Hinton, M. A., and the Rev. k. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen held a Court at Buekin:Tham Palaceyester day afternoon, for the reception of Addresses en the Throne. Shcrtly before two o'clock, the Corny tiissioners of Lieu tenancy for the City of London arrive d at the Palace, at tended by one of the city Marshals on . borsoback. The Address was presented by the General .0 curt, headed by the Lord Mayor. The members of the. Court present were Sir George Carroll, Sir Claudius Hunter, Mr. Alderman John Johnson, Captain Butters worth ( R o yal London Militia), Messrs. Murray, Charles IV 'ills, Edward Lawlor], John Alexander Hankey, Mr. John, Gellibrand Ilubbart, Thistleton J. Petty Muspratt, Thoma: 3 C. Smith, Josiah Wilson, Cornelius Lea Wilson, Richare `, Lea Wil son, Henry Alexander, John Lock Dodd, Rob trt West wood, W. Croft, James Morris, James Anderton, . Yalpy, Henry Prescott, and Thomas Hankey, jun., atte,nded by Mr. Henry. Smith, Clerk to the Court, and Treast 'rer. The Queen passed from her apartments to the 'lhrone Room, conducted by the Lord Chamberlain, her train being borne by Mr. Cowell and Master Byng, the Pages of Honour in - Waiting. The Ministers of State present were the First Lord o f the Treasury, the Lord Privy Seal, the Senretary of State for the Home Department, the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests, and the Chief Secretary for Ireland , The Mistress of the Robes and Lady Barham, Lady in Waiting, and the Great Officers of State, stood on either side of the Throne, and the approach was lined by her Majesty's Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms, com manded by their Lieutenant the Hon. Sir Edward Butler. The deputation having been introduced, the Lord Mayor read the following Address of Congratulation from the Court of the Lieutenancy of the City of London To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, the hurale • Address of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and the mat of your Majesty's Commissioners of Lieutenancy fur the City of London, " MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN, " We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and the rest of your MajeF— ty's Commissioners of Lieutenancy for the Ci ty of Londo r . approach your Majesty, with unfeigned satisfaction, to arer our heartfelt congratulations upon your auspici 0114 nuptial! lately solemnized with his Royal Highness Fie ld Marshal the Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg and Gotha. " mutual We fervently pray that an union founded upo , aff:ction with a Prince illustrious by his descent .fr om a long line of ancestors distinguished in the annals of E and by those mental and personal accomplishments which ennoble the object of your Majesty's cho;ce , will et, Ore the confidence and love of your subjects , and will con d uce loss to the domestic fellcity o f your Ma j est y than to n'ac. 1: your r : t r -n Ne av Majesty'snenretrie interests osu:re r o es t d ' i t u l p i r e aenr ß scoe r ns i British empire. mdle;:ohtioo hoping of the Almighty th e Th rone of theseni t n Rehl be inherited by you r descendants, through many ag es ' it Realms It y m a h l y t y may, t o 3 the to th e welfare and p ros p er i ty o f tha present a n d future gene rations. Her Majesty returned the f.)llowing m ost gracious answer : " I am well pleased that, upon this occasion, you sh ould° found your co n g r a tul a tions upon the illustrious des cent . as well as upon the personal character of the Prince ; ana I cordially thank you for the expression of your wish es, alike for my own happiness and for the pablic welfare.' Ad the Members present had the hot,our of ki3sing hands, and the Commissioners then retired. The Deputation from the Corporation of the C i t y or Dublin, attended by their officers, were ushe red to the presence of her Majesty, to ptcsent a loyal a.nd dutiful_ Address of Congratulation on the auspicious occasion her Majesty's marriage. L The Deputation consisted of the Right Hon. thy' —° Mayor, Right Hon. the Rec rder, Mr. Sneriff Ea,lkner' Mr. Sheriff Tomlinson, Mr. Alderman Drummond, M r. , Ex-Sheriff Moore, Mr. Ex-Sheriff Quinton, Mr. Sheriff Taylor, Mr. George Jones, Mr. John Barrett, ,ur. Butt, Lord Cole, M. P., Colonel Perccral, Mr. Ellis, 11.1 r. Shaw, Rev. T. G. Gregg. The Right Hon. F. Shw a ' the Recorder, read the Address from the Corporation 0. the City of Dublin. Her Majesty returned a most gracious answer. The Members of the Deputation had severally the honou r of being presented to her Majesty to kiss hands. The Court was attended by tile Lord Steward, the Lo rd Chamberlain, the Master of the IlorSe, the Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at- Arms, Lord Hill, Gold Stick in Waiting, the Treasuier of the Household. the Comptroller of the Household, the Clerk Mars ha ' Colonel Wernyss, Equerry in Waiting, Mr. James Bun" Curling, Clerk of the Cheeque to the Honourable Corp of Gentlemen-at-Arms, Captain Seymour Sadler, Exo3 Waiting, Sir Benjamin Smith, Mr. Arthur Backwo'lo Groom of the Privy Chamber in Waiting, and Mr. Ke ll dall, Gentleman Usher in Waiting. Lord Lilford and Colonel Armstrong were the Lord and Groom in Waiting. The Yeomen of the Guard lined the Grand Hall, an d the Queen's Guard of the Foot Guards were on duty in front of the Palace. The Band playcd at intervals during the afternoon. The same Members of the Court of Lieutenancy of th e City, who presented the Address to the Queen, had an salience of Prince Albert, and presented an Address °I Congratulation to his Royal Highness. His Royal Highness Prince Albert was attended by th e following Officers of his Household :—Mr. George 6dw i Anson, Treasurer, Colonel Wylde, Equery, and G.'nc r° Sir George Anson, Groom of the Bedchamber. ••sc , An Address of Congratulation to her Royal Highe• the Duchess of Kent, on the interesting occasion of 0 1 . marriage of her Majesty with Prince Albert, was prescnte° to her Royal Highness yesterday, from the Court Lori Lieutenancy of the City of London, presented by t% Lord Mayor, Sir Claudius Hunter, Sir George Carr;:;.. Mr. Alderman John Johnson, Messrs. Charles Mills 9, ward Lawford, Murray, John Alexander, Hankey Tb' se ri a ton, J. Petty Muspratt, Josiah ilson, John Lock , 1 , 0 other Members of the Court. Her Royal Highness s4 d attended by Ludy Fanny H owar d, L a dy i n Waiting , a s Colonel Cowper, C. 8., first Equerry and Controller of 1 1 .. Royal Highness's Household. Viscount Melbourne had an audience of the Queen Y eP terday. His Serene Highness Prince Ernest, did Mr. 11 q,,, te a r i the honour to sit ye s t er d ay , f or t h e p i cture of t h e O° J - m arriage. The Royal din ner p arty at t h e P alace last evol e in h g e included the E ar l o f E rro ll , Vi scount Melbourn e, ,ki i& Right Hon. Sir G eorge an d L a d y G rey, an d t he 1 Hon. The Henry Labouchere. Gua rds of the C o ld s t ream R eg i men t o f Foot was in attendance at the Palace in the evening. h ay Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, attended by Suite, rode out on horseback in the Parks yester morning. a th e The Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George, a ° un . Princess A ugus t a o f C am b r id ge , h onour ed the Vi` e° b c r tess Palmerston with their company last evening, at Ladysh The ip's residence on Carlton T. Princess Augusta visited the Duchess of Glouces ter yesterday, at Gloucester House. f S t ' A deputation from the Benevo!cnt Society ° , Patrick, consisting of Messrs. M'Garele, flav2;:ierr Burke, and Newton, with the Secretary, had an intc oool e with the Marquis of Normanby yesterday, at the " Office. Mr. Featherstonhaugh and Colonel Mudge had C olo . tervicw with Lord John Russell yesterday, at the nial.office. l‘r. Dunco Norrnanb be and Ayf yesterday, r.Lef a evreht the s a di n terview sw ee i . th MarquistheC ri ai . ) of tain Pringle and Mr. Ramsbottom had in ( with Lord John Russell yesterday. vote r " Lord Adolphus Fitzelarenee had a dinner partyl the day, Lt his residence in St. James's Palace• At_n eoth ( G rg° c ompany present were his Royal Highness Princ' t _ rt, e of Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess of 13eau"-.00,er- Earl and Countess of Chesterfield, Lady A u g usta set, and the Hon. Captain Macdonald. Despatches from the Governor of Ceylon were received yesterday at the Colonial-office. The Duke and D uc h ess o f Roxburgh hoe ta e, k f c o n r Sir John aid Lady Shell e y' s mans i o n, in Belgrare -s q ar the season.