The Sun. — London, England, 1840-01-17 00:00:00

14:1V IN 1 FMITION. 1 the power was incomplete , for it was quite evident that during the recess their powers were incomplete, which still further beset the question with difllculties. The Sheriff had not ye:, bcce heard, and be belie ve d that all threegh that officer had a strong impassion that the House of Com i mons would interfere. Th ere f oee , see in g t h e Sh er iff had e ' taken that course they could not let assist him, so far as the House of Commons could do.—( Hear.) Admitting their powers to he incomplete, he, for one, would exercise those powers, incomplete as they were; and he should be ex ceedingly sorry if he shoald be obliged to charge himself with being a party to proceedings which would interfere eith the privilege of free publication, and which priviliges he believed to be essential to the performances of their du ties as a deliberative assembly, and one branch of the Con stitution._( Hear. ) Mr. FITZROY KELLY next rose, but from the great noise which ensued from several Members leaving the House, eve could not hear him for some minutes. We understood him to say that this was a question which must be decided one way er the ether. If the Noble Lord was contented with calling Mr. Hansard to the bar of that House, this prolonged discus sion would not have taken place. In the name of justice, do ' not attempt to curtail the liberty of the Sheriff by calling upon him to account for his conduct in this transaction, be could not I do otherwise than obey the law, for it is the first and pare mount duty for a Sheriff to obey at once the Queen's writ. f All the Sheriff has done in this transaction was, in fact, in strict obedience to the Queen's writ which issued from the Court of Law. Before you allege that he was guilty of any i conduct contrary to the privileges of this House, 1 entreat you to consider what po wer the Shriff had to act in any other way than what h a - h as d one. If he disobeyed the writ he was ! liable to have a severe punishment inflicted on turn ; he was, in fact, liable to fine and imprisonment. And i vet what are you about to do? You would call upon the :Sheriff to appear before this House to excuse himself for what 1 he was obliged to. It was not my intention to enter upon the 1 discussion of this subject, but for some observations which were thrown out by my Right Honourable Friend the ttorney i General. He has asked, if you submit to the Queen's Bench E in this case, must you you not in like manner admit the like power in every other Court of the realm. I admit this must feliow, but if it be so, is it an argument that your privileges are riot to be respected. Let the Attorney-General consider i the progre ss o f a caus e in an action of libel. When t arrives to a certain point, the Judges cannot do anything else than ad judicate. A subject sues for justice ; he brings an action (into a. Court, and if that Court have the power to entertain the question, it must also do its duty in adjudicating ; upon it. If an action for libel . is brought in one of the lowest (Courts of the realm, such Court is bound to pronounce 'judgment upon the case, if no defence he taken. Suppose the defendant set up the defence, that the publication was no i libel—that he published it as a privilege, founded upon an order of the House of Commons—this would make a different case. ri but I assert, if my Learn e d F r i en d t h e Attorney-General sat es Judge himself upon this case, he would be obliged to eater i tain it, and to adjudicate open it. If, therefore, this House, 1 when their privileges are put forward against an action in a ! Court of Law, complain against such interference, they can only prevent a similar occurrence by altering the law. It is in i vale for you to say your privileges are invaded. If you allow ; the Courts to decide in a case of law, they must have jurisdic f Hon to carry that law into effect. There was one observation masse by Om Right Hon. Baronet, Sir R. Peel, which I cannot I help observing on; he said that this House would naturally look to the Courts of Law to protect them in their privi lerss, when this House had not power to protect y .. y ltsself, as during the recess, when this House would not be assembled. I agree in that observation, but 1 would ad( how is it possible for the Courts of Law to protect any of i pew leivilege s , u n l ess t h ey knew what those privileges were ; they certainly have a protective power over your privileges. y This House is in that respect united to the Courts of Law for I. the protection of those privileges which they now enjoy, as the C i ruction:. of the press, an ; the freedom of arrest"to any of itslklem here,' The Courts of Law have no right to entertain whether ieeeb and such p r i v il eges are the pr i v :leges of this House or not. New, supposing a case, where some Members of tl,is House 1 }.ad been arrested, and had claimed the privilege of Parliament, 1 but by this House at that time not being assembled, he vas i unable to claim his protection. I would here ask have the Courts of Law ever been "Jackward in granting protection to I eine of those resolutions which has been made the law of Par ; iiament ?—( Hear, hear, hear.) It is a contempt for the Court r, to entertain the question of privilege, or what is no' privilege. I would ask by what authority would the Courts of Law dis char;e 6 Member of this House from arrest? If a Member of Parliament be arrested, and he applies to the Court for his 1 ri roteet ion, ihe Judges listen to the application. Now if he ha , e tin rowsr, how can he entertain or inquire whether the Mem i, be; of that House has a privilege from arrest ? The Courts of Law, therefore, give effect to the privileges of this House, and this U.,use is much indebted to the Courts of Law for this sup i port. I have already said much more on the subject than I in tended, and my purpose was not to anticipate by any lengthened observations, the discussion which must shortly arise on it. The Attorney-General has asked what course the House meant to adept. Whenever the whole evidence was before the House, t ie will be Mond that those who deny the right of the Courts of taw to act as they have done will be quite unpre pared to state the course this House should pursue. Han sard acted under the orders of this House, and for this he is fully entitled to all the protection this i thitise eau give him, and I s h ou ld b e very anxious to propose, at the proper time, a resolution to this effect : •• That. inasmuch as the Messrs. Hansard have acted con formably to the rules of this House, and in obedience to its realm, this House deems it their bounden duty to hold him completely indemnified." I would venture to say. for the future, that if an action be brought against the printer or publisher, or any other officer of this House, the Government should instruct their law officers to defend them, and after wards report the proceedings to this House. In the case of Burdett, this !Luse had the undoubted right to act as they had done. But, by the law, he was delivered from the charge by to appeal from this Horse. And I would remind :his !louse, in conclusion, that it is not too late to correct this sole take. it has been said by the I-lon. and Learned Attorney , ( - ;,,neral, by his colleague, the Solicitor-General, that the judgment of the Coax t of Queen's Bench is wrong. i I would beg leave to ask, does he assert, as a lawyer, ( that they were wrong? If so, bring your writ of error._ r ( hear, hear. ) Let us see whether that which you assert is the law, or that which the Court of Queen's Bench alleges, is right. The time is not yet passed for bringing your writ of error—( Hear, hear)—if you believe the judgment of the C',urt he wrong, but let the question be tried by the legal and 1 constitutional tribunals of the country. i Lord JOHN RUSSELL was in hopes that the motion which he had made would have been consented co by the House, re serving the general discussion on this subject to a future occa sion. when the parties were called on to appear at the bar. Although there had not been so much discussion on this subject as there had been on former occasions ; yet some assertions had been made n hich he could not omit to *notice before the conclusion of the debate. With regard to the general argument he was content to rest his opinion on the speech of the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth ; ) but there had been many statements made which the Right Hon. Gentlemen had not noticed, and which if they went to the public uncontradicted, might create an erroneous impres sion and a false notion of the position in which they were i placed with respect to this question. The Noble Lord the Member for Hertford, had as erted that the privilege which it was the object of the present motion to protect, had only existed about five years, and that it had been generally maintained against the opinion of the Judges of the Courts of Law. Now ei what was the real fact ? why that before theßevolution of 1688 the votes of the House were printed by the authority of the Speaker, with the evident intention that the people at large should know the course their representatives were pursuing, and the very first Act of the House of Commons, after the re volution had been effected, was to print and publish the Decla ration of Rights which was, no doubt, the ground upon which the House of Commons appealed to the people. So that so far from this privilege of the House printing and circulating. its proceedings being only of five years duration, it had existed prior to and since the glorious Revolution.—( Cheers.) It was true that for a considerable time the Speaker received certain sums for the sale of the papers, but it was no ground for saying that the privilege had been abandoned because the papers of that House had been distributed at a much lower rate. So far as to the first assertion ; then it was said that they were proceed ing against the decision of the Courts of Law. Now what was stated in the judgment delivered by Lord Denman? Wh y , i t contained reflections on former Judges for the decisions they had come to on the question of privilege ; that showed, in his (Lord J. Russell's) opinion, two things ; first, that they could not depend upon a uniform decision of the Judges of the Courts jof Law on this subject, and that five year s h ence , if the House abandoned the privilege, it was very lik e ly they might have Judges who would express a totally different opinion on the subject to that expressed by the Judges of the present day. The Noble Lord then proceeded to read several parts of the judgment of Lord Denman, and proceeded to say that in that judgment he had the authority of Lord Denman himself for saying that the opinions of Judges might be given sometimes in the spirit of partizans, sometimes under excitement, and very often extra judicially.--( Loud cheers. )—Now if he was to believe Lord Denman, that the Judges were liable to make these mistakes, and to be swayed by such motives, iii what situation, he would ask, would that House be placed, if it etas to leave to Judges who might be so influenced—and the Judges of the present day were certainly not influenced in favoer of the House of Commons ?—(Cheers.) In what situ -1 ution, he would ask, would the Hou se b e pl ace d, if it was to !cave the question of all its privileges to be disposed of by the I Judges ?—( Cheers. ) He had shown that from the glorious period of the Revolution these privileges had been enjoyed by the House of Commons, and the question now was whether it was to give way upon such a privilege as that of printing its !, proceedings, and if not, in what way they were to assert it. With respect to giving way, he must say, that if they once aban doned this privilege, and assented to the doctrine of the pri vileges of that House being thereafter judged of by Courts of Law, they must not lull themselves into the belief that other Judges would pursue the same course that the present ones had done.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) If the privileges of the House were to be judged of by Courts of Law, what he would ask, would become of the treedem of speech asked from the Throne as the right of the Commons of Englard?— (Cheers. ) It was stated by the Lord Chief Justice that there could be no doubt that the House of Commons might order at y person to print or publish for them; hut it was not to be ' allowed that individuals were to be injured by calumnious state ments. Now, with respect to that, was it not a fact that there were far more attacks on individuals in the debates of that House than in its papers? For instance, when the inquiry took place with regard to his Royal Highness the Duke of York, the speeches that were then made reflected greatly upon individuals. What would the Judges have said with respect to them, if they had to judge of the privileges of that House; why, they would have said, " True it is you have the privilege to make those attacks, but you must not admit strangers into you . Courts r gallery, otherwise you will give the of Law j ' diction."—( Hear, hear, hear, and cheers.) With re uris spect to the manner of asserting the privilege, without entering into the question of what should be done hereafter, the first course that could be properly adopted was to assert it in the manner proposed by the motion, namely, to have the parties who had committed the breach of the privilege of the House at the bar.—( Hear.) The Hon. and Learned Member who ha I spoken last had stated his intention to move that the loss of the Messrs. Hansards should be made good to them by that House ; now what would that do ? why it would be giving to Jur.es an encouragement to give higher damages, and pro bably enable Mr. Stoekdale to obtain an annuity of 5,0001. or 6,0001. a year from the House of Commons.—( Hear, hear. ) What would the House of Lords say to that House if it went there ? Why this, you have privileges of your own, ' and surely you can uphold them without our interference. In short, he ( Lord J. Russell) did not see, until the House of Commons had proved that it had no power whatever, how it could go to the House of Lords.—(Cheers.) In such a state of things was not the best course to be pursued that which was regularly recognised by the House ?—( Hear.) He felt with the Hon. Member for Tamworth that they were placed in great difficulty, and the Courts of Law were not at all inclined to assist them, but rather to throw difficulties in their way. It ; was true that the House of Commons had the power of calling the Judges to that Bar, and impugning their conduct, but tho adoption of such a course would be an extreme public incon venience, because there could be no doubt that the Judges had acted conscientiously. In conclusion, the Noble Lord ex pressed a hope that the House would adopt the motion he had submitted for its considefation, and he felt convinced the House would give up son.e of its most valuable privileges if it snb in:tted to the present one being taker, away.—(Hear, hear. ) Strangers were then ordered to withdraw. , 286 1 167 The Home divided, when there appeared-- Por the Motion Againist it Majority in favour of the M0ti0n..... -- 119 On our re-admission to the gallery we found Mr. KELLY on his legs, exnressing Noble Lord had succeeded ' bar of the House,in calling the Sheriffs to the that they should brin g he a hope that as the would with t which they had acted in this case. If the Noble italipartofhri'.:t l 3 .o in r u d oet l io g n not do so he should certainly propose an amendment to that effect. make e m The ATTORNEY-GENERA L said that the Sheriffs • o wn accord, all writs and other could bring with th e m, of their documents under which they had acted, and such writs would in some measure constitute their defence and justification. The case of the inferior officers wa s different—the y had acted under the authority of the Sheriffs . The Sheriffs mi g ht brin g the writs if they chose so to do, but he did not think it any part of the duty of the House to order them to do so. Mr. LAW would ask if the argument against calling upon the Sheriffs to produce the writs under which their acted, was not equally valid in the c a se of the inferior officers being called on to produce the authority under which they acted at the Bar of the House? He trusted the Home wouldbe consistent, and if they required the inferior officers to produce the authority under which they had acted, the House would also force the She riffs to produce their authority, and thus face the real point in dispute manfully. He trusted they did not :]ready begin to flinch. A short time ago they were afraid of the Judges, and now they were afraid of the writs. Either the Ncble Lord should abandon so much of his motion as required the inferior officers to produce the authority under which they had acted, or they should make the Sheriffs pro duce the legal authority which they were bound to obey, the writ of her Majesty. The House should say honestly whether or no they were about to supersede the first legal tribunal in the country, the Court of Queen's Bench—they should be prepared to say if the Sheriffs, in the execution of her Majesty's com mands, as they were bound to do by their duty and their oath, were to be held responsible to this House or not ? The autho rity under which the Sheriffs had acted was compulsory, and he hoped that the Noble Lord would either abandon that part of his motion calling on the inferior officers to produce their authority, or call upon the Sheriffs to produce the writs, in order that those who supported her Majesty's Ministers in their measures might know what they really were doing, which was, in fact, superseding the authority of the Court of Queen's Bench. Mr. KELLY then moved, as an amendment, that the Sheriffs be ordered to bring with them to the bar all writs, rules, and other authorities under which they have acted in the case of Stockdale v. Hansard. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he would not object to the introduction of the words moved by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman as an amendment, directing the Sheriffs and Under- Sheriff to bring any notices or documents under which they had acted. Mr. KELLY understood the Noble Lord did not object to his moving for all rules, writs, and authorities under which the Sheriffs had acted. Lord JOHN RUSSELL would not object if the Honourable and Learned Gentleman moved their production by way of amendment. The amendment of Mr l _Kelly was then put and agreed to. THE ADDRESS. The SPEAKER then announced to the House, that the House had that morning been to the House of Peers, where her Majesty had been pleased to deliver a most gracious Speech, a copy of which be had procured. The Right Hon. Gentleman then read the Speech. Mr. CAVENDISH then rose to move that an humble Ad dress be presented to her Majesty in answer to her most gra cious Speech. The Hon. Gentleman spoke in so low a tone of voice that not a single sentence was fairly heard in the gallery. We understood him to say that the House must have heard with lively joy and satisfaction the gracious intimation which her Majesty had that day made to them. All would hail the auspicious event with joy, as the high character of the Prince would insure the happiness and peace of her Majesty, and he had no doubt all would join with loyalty and at tachment in assuring her Majesty that they would make such suitable provision for her august choice as would enable him to maintain with dignity the high statism to which she had called him. In relation to the affairs of the East, he said the honesty and good faith of the Turkish Go vernment deserved the best offices of the European powers, and he trusted the House would support that line of policy which had secured the integrity of Turkey—a course which would preserve peace in Europe. In speaking of the war in India tie passed a high eulog;um upon the army engaged, and said, when the noble and gallant warrior, the Duke of Wellington, prophecied an attack upon Guzhnee would lead to fatal results, he forgot, for the moment, his own glorious exploits in tht• same country, which were left for an example.—( Cheers. ) The outbreaks in Wales had been put down by the firmness of the Magistracy, the gallantry of the soldiers, and the noble con duct of the peaceably disposed inhabitants. The people of the Principality ought to be educated, and then they would barn that they were not mere machines, but deeply interested in the welfare of our common country. The Hon. Gentleman eon_ clued an inaudible, but, in many places, a well cheered speech, by moving the adoption of an Address„ which, as usual, was an echo of the Speech. Sir W. SOMERVILLE then rose, and in a most inaudible tone begged to second the motion. Tie assured the House that he most cordially coincided with the sentiments contained in the Address. He congratulated the House on the signal ex ploits of our army in India, and of the prospect of a settle ment of the civil war in Spain. The Hon. Baronet then prog nosticated well of the state of things in Ireland, and trusted that the long agitated questions of the Municipal Corporations and tithes would no longer create party strite.--(Hear.) The address having been read from the Chair— _ _ Sir R. INCILIS said he felt it a duty, he hoped he could say a painful duty, to say a few words. He would have wished her Majesty had been advised to open the Parliament by a Coin mission. —(Cries of " Oh, oh," :rom the Ministerial benches. ) He would further observe that there was a remarkable omission in the Speech, he could not think it was an unintentional or na accidental omission—that the nation would not be assured that her Majesty was about to ally herself to a Protestant Prince—(Opposition cheers)—an assurance which could not but be most important to the best interests of the empire.— (Hear, hear.) Ile knew it would be said that the precedent of Ueorge 111. had been implicitly followed—( Hear, hear) — but then it should be recollected that circumstances might not have required an assurance which would now be highly de • sirable.—( Hear, hear.) And moreover, the House of Com - mons, at the former period, had not been contented with merely echoing the Speech, but had introduced the word " Protestant" most emphatically in their congratulations.— Ifear, hear.) Although there was no reason to doubt that the Prince was a Protestant.—(Ministerial cheers)—yet he con sidered the Government should have made a most explicit declaration of Loud Opposition cheers. ) In respet to the allusion to the Spanish con•est, be regretted to hear, from the mouth of his Sovereign, an unqualified appro bation of a pacification which he believed had been effected by atrocities calculated to awaken the disgust of every English gentleman.—( Opposition cheers.) He had heard the mover of the Address but very imperfectly. And he would only further allude to the subject of China, upon which he could not forbear expressing his regret that a cry should be raised for a war with China for the prohibition of an introduction into that Empire of a_pestilent poison.--( Hear. ) Lord PALMERSTON said he thought it would have been universally unders ood that no Honourable Mem ber would pledge himself by agreeing to the Address. Nor should he have found it necessary to rise did he not feel that his silence might be considered an acquiesence in the in ferences and conclusions the Hon. Baronet had drawn on some points adverted to in her Majesty's speech. In the first place, with regard to no mention being made of the religion of the Prince, who was about to be allied to her Majesty, the House would at once see that it was wholly unnecessary for her Ma jesty to declare to Parliament a fact, which fact being esta blished by the law of the land would not be different. It was unnecessary for her Majesty to state that Prince Albert was a Protestant, because not only was that fact notorious to the world, but the marriage would not have been contracted had he been of a different religion. With regard to the statement of the Hon. Baronet that no English gentleman could express satis faction at the termination of the civil war in Spain in conse quence of the circumstances which had led to it, he (Lord Pal merston) begged to say that he stood there ready, ether in his private or public capacity to express his unfeigned satisfaction at that event.—( Cheers.) He thought the termination of the civil war by an arrangement—( Laughter from the Opposition benches)--by which the subjects of their righteous Sovereign were induced to return to their lawful obedience, and by which the Sovereign secured to them privileges to which they attached well merited value—he thought such an arrangement honoura ble alike to both parties, and that it was one which might be viewed by all the friends of peace and good order with most sin cere and unmixed satisfaction.—( Loud cheers.) They had heard on former occasions great anxiety for the suffering Basques, and the necessity for their attaining the enjoyment of their fueros.—( Hear, hear.) The peace between the itasque Provinces and the Queen of Spain had been established upon the enjoyment of their fueros, and it was certainly not from that side of the House that he would expect to have heard any expression of dissatisfaction, or that such an arrange ment should be termed treachery, when it consisted in the return of subjects to their allegiance. That certainly was not his understanding of the word treachery, and he could not expect such an interpretation from Gentlemen holding the opinions which they did upon other points. With regard to the events that had lately taken place in . . IChina, the House would feel that it was unfitting for him to enter on the discussion of the question. This he could say, that in advising her Majesty to state what was contained in the Speech from the throne regarding transactions in China, her Majesty's Miniver, had no intention to dispute the right of any Government to prohibit the importation of any foreign commodity which that Government might think it expedient to prohibit, and of enforcing that prohibition by every means in its isower.—( Hear, hear.) He had only risen because he felt that if he had been silent he might be supposed to acquiesce in the definitions which the Hon. Baronet had given of the affairs in Spain and China. Col. SIBTHORP thought the omission of the word " Pro testant" came with a very ill grace from her Majesty's Mi nisters. There was no man entertained more profound respect for her Majesty than himself, but he entertained no respect for her Government. Sir R. PEEL thought there was a general indisposition on the part of Members to rise for the purpose of commenting on the Speech from the Throne ; indicating a general desire that they should be enabled not only to concur in the Address with out amendment, but also that they should be enabled to agree to it without the introduction of any of those topics which were likely to produce acrimonious feelings. He participated 11 that " 11 " he collected to be the general feeling of the House.—( Hear, hear, hear.) Of late the polio.) , of the Government had generally been to avoid the introduction of any topic likely to call for an amendment, while the policy of opposition had rather been to discourage amend ments.—( Hear, hear.) He should not, under ordinary oirenm siesloftrcii thatst an c thees , consider present mere him bou n d by that rule ; but he did feel yircumstances. When they had met to consider a speech w hi c h ing nuptials of her Majesty, that a pp ear edannounced the approach ing him to be a rea son for not making the present speecha of late years introduced. He should, the refore ore, be extremely exception to the rule unwilling to disturb the unanimity of the Ho amendment.—(Hear, hear.) He was bound also m to n s v a i ) n,g th a a n t n t l; e t naturehea ddresses of Speechthe Hon.fro mmtehseerTahnrdonsee,enaendderst o h d c i t tia,na character far as possible, take away all ansiety for any am, ndinent, dimi nished the temptation which existed in limes of gr ea t excitern ent and political feeling, to have questions of public intere s t fully dig. cussed. He agreed entirely with his Hon. Friend, that h e was not precluded hereafter from the free discussion of all the topics contained in that Speech, and separating the conduct of the Queen's Government from the announcement in her Speech, he should reserve to himself the right of expressing his opinion of their conduct on public affairs. He cordially par ticipated in those congratulations which had been addressed to her Majesty.—(Opposition cheers.) He entirely entered into those heartfelt wishes which had been expressed for her Ma jesty's happiness in her apprutching nuptials.—(Cheers. ) Her Majesty had been able to contract a marriage under circumstances which did not always attend Royal mar riages, where it too frequently happened that personal feelings were sacrificed to political influences. It had been her Majesty's good fortune to reconcile political influences with her own private feelings, while she consulted the wishes of her own heart, and he cordially and sincerely hoped that it would have the effect of securing her Majesty's happiness, and extend ing the virtues of connubial felicity. With respect to the other parts in the Speech he was rather surprised at the omission of one point ; considering the important discussions that had taken place during last Session on the Constitution of TILE SUN, LONDON, 'FRIDAY, J . NUARY 17, 1840. been received that the Assembly of Upper Canada had also agreed to that resolution. He did not now wish to enter into a discussion whether the union was advisable or not, but he wished merely to state wh.4 had been done. There was another subject on which he wished to state the intentions of the Government. The Right Hon, Baronet opposite had pat some questions to hi. Noble Friend (Lord Palmerston) with respect to Portugal ; connected with that was the melan choly fact that notwithstanding all the exertions of this country he address of both Houses of Parliament, and the treaties which had been framed, for the purpose of putting down the Slave Trade, up to the present moment, it was in the most flourishing condition in that country, and he v as afraid that he might say hundreds of thousands of human beings had been sacrificed by it. It was not his intention now to discuss other measures upon that subject. He trusted that it would be found that her Majesty's Government and the Lords of the Admiralty had neglected no means by which the slavers might be inter cepted, and he trusted that the time was not far distant when her Majesty's Government would be enabled to put an end to so distressing a sacrifice of human life. Mr. WALLACE said that he represented a commercial dis trict, and he trusted that due attention would be given to the monetary system and the Corn-laws, which he believed were intended to be alluded to in her Majesty's speech. The Address was then agreed to without a division, and the House adjourned at Thirty-five Minutes pact Eleven o'Clock. the Speech ; which was seconded by Sir W. SOMERVILLE Both these gentlemen made speeches, which were efier wards complimented for their moderat'on. Sir R. INoras found fault with her MAJESTY going in person to open Parliament; protested against the omission of the epithet " Protestant" before the name of Prince ALBERT; objected to the allusion in the Speech to the pacification of Spain, which he said was brought about by means which no gentleman could defend; and spoke strongly against the opium trade with China. Lord PALMERSTON said that the pacification of Spain was brought about by conceding the Fueros to the Basques, for which the Opposition had contended, and he did not expect to hear that arrangement censured by gentlemen on that side. He could never call a return to obedience under a legitimate Sove reign treason ; and was prepared, both as a gen tleman and a public servant, to defend the arrange ment which restored peace to the North of Spain. As to China, the allusion to that subject in the Speech was not meant to imply that the Government of China might not prohibit the importation of any commodity it pleased, and enforce its prohibition by its own authority. Colonel SIBTIIORP made a few observations which ex cited no laughter. Sir ROBERT PEEL cnrdially concurred in congratulating her MAJESTY, and, in obedience to what he saw was the wish of the House, acquiesced in the Address. He ad verted, however, to the question of Jamaica being omitted from the Speech, and said Ministers must now congratulate themselves on not being allowed to have their own way. He also adverted to no notice having been given of a vote of thanks to the army in India. He also asked Lord PALMERSTON for some ex planation as to a note from Lord HOWARD DE WALDEN, lately published by the Portuguese Ministry. Lord PALMERSTON gave the explanation, which con sisted in stating the fact, that the note was written about a year and a half ago, while negotiations were in progress, and the papers on which he had moved for his Bill to sup press the Portuguese Slave Trade were of a much more recent date. Sir. R. PEEL did not express any opinion as to the explanation. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that he did not congratulate himself that the Jamaica Bill was not passed, for, if it had, justice would have been better administered in Jamaica than it now is. The Noble Lord also gave a very favourable account of the progress of the work of conciliation and Legislative Union in Canada, and praised the energetic measures adopted by the United States to prevent irruptions into our terri tory. He also stated that it was the intention of Go vernment to move for a vote to employ steam-vessels to put an end to the Slave Trade ; and that the President of the Board of Control would n.ove a vote ,of thanks to the Indian Army. Mr. WALLACE adverted to PEEL'S Bill and the Corn laws as the causes of the commercial distress. The Ad dress was then agreed to with much harmony, all parties seeming anxious to please her MAJESTY, and the House adjourned. Having more than once stated that in our own opinion the condition of England question ought, above all other questions, to occupy the attention of Parliament, we cannot be otherwise than pleased with the forcible manner in which that subject was last night brought under the notice of the House of Lords, by Lord BIIOUGHAM. The wide-spread and deep-seated discontent of the people was the basis of his Lordship's discourse. He. finds its most alarming features in the alienation of the lowe r from the middle classes, and the determined hos tility which exists between them. As a proof ,of the altered disposition of the latter, he mentioned that in former times it was hopeless to expect a conviction for a seditious libel from a common jury ; and that now a common jury was sure to find one of the lower classes guilty, if prosecuted for such an offence. The whole of Westminster-hall has re marked the difference. We repeat the observation here, because it is a confirmation of the opinion we have frequently expressed, that in the present exas perated state of public feeling, the lower classes cannot expect justice from the class from whom urors are taken. Lord BROUGHAM quoted, as a proof of the hostility of the lower classes, that although they are as much opposed to the Corn-laws as the middle classes, and have as strong an interest in getting rid of them, they would not coalesce with them to obtain the repeal. On the contrary, to gain their own ends they opposed the repeal, and no meetings can be called to give effect to the wishes of the middle classes, because the lower classes overrule them. All this we have already mentioned to our readers, and we are personally gratified by having our re marks confirmed by such an able and skilful states man as Lord BROUGHAM. At the same time, we hope that this alienation and hostility are at an end. The noble meeting at Manchester is, we hope, the dawn of a happier day, when the clouds cf mistrust will be wholly dissipated. Lord BROUGHAM is well aware that the avowed object for which the Chartists have opposed the re peal of the Corn-laws is, to force their own claim s for universal suffrage on public attention. It will be some encouragement to them to proceed in the same course, to observe, that they have found a friend and advocate in his Lordship. The exclusion from franchise was, he said, the source of this lament able hostility ; the extension of the franchise is to be its cure, to restore harmony between the lower and middle classes, to save the former from being duped, and place the whole of the people under their natural leaders. We can no longer say —not being ourselves enemies of the extension of the suffrage—but having thought it of less value than the people think it of, and that they were not going the best way to obtain their ends--that their course has not been prudent, and is not justified, since it has induced so powerful an advocate as Lord BROUGHAM to espouse their cause. His Lordship pointed out the folly and the im possibility of attempting to coerce the bulk of the nation by a small minority. But on this point his observations were opposed by the Duke of I.llcti- MOND, who, remarking the small military force which sufficed to suppress the Newport outrage, jumped to the conclusion that the military, the Ma gistrates, and the gentry, would always be sufficient to keep in check the lower classes, who know they are doing wrong. But if his Grace count on the conscience of the people being always on the side of authority, he reckons without his host. The con duct of the Parliament, especially of the Peers, will soon deprive the coercionists of that powerful auxi liary. His Grace at once broke ground against the repeal of the Corn-laws, and talked boldly about not yielding to agitation. Last Session his Grace and his friends would not yield to reason, and asked for agitation _and compulsion ; now they defy agitation. On no account will they give up the Corn.laws and supporting them. We beg leave respectfully to tell his Grace conscience will soon be driven on the side of rebellion. By what means his Grace will then coerce the na tion, he did not explain ! and, indeed, we believe neither he nor his friends are prepared for the contingency. There seems, however, no want of alarm amongst their Lordships. The active Earl of WlNcutL- SEA declared that the country was on the brink of a convulsion. The Earl of STANHOPE held the same opinion. It was in vain that the somewhat conventicle tone of the Duke of RICHMOND be sought their Lordships not to be alarmed ; it was plain by their silence, by their not pouring forth their souls in loud huzzas, that the bulk of the Peers share the alarm of the EARL, and we be lieve that their Lordships' consciences are the sources of their fear. We need hardly call the attention of our readers to the correspondence between Mr. HORSMAN and Colonel GURWOOD, or point out the conclu sion to which every well regulated mind must come on the subject. The conduct of Mr. HORSMAN de serves the highest pra;se ; but what must be said of the other party, even by the most rabid Church men, and the most disloyal Tories ? He first at tempts to frighten Mr. HORSMAN for resenting an insult offered to the QUEEN. Finding he had mistaken his man, he authorized Colonel GURWOOD to state that he had no intention to allude to her MAJESTY, but to her MAJESTY'S Ministers, and finally admits that he had made use of expressions Jamaica--he was surprised that the Government had not congratulated itself on the effects of its legislation. It did appear that by pursuing the course which he had recom mended they had been enabled to preserve the ancient and free constitution of Jamaica, and that his predictions on that point I had been fully rea li ze d . B y g i v i ng t i me f or their feelings to cool, by pursuing a conciliating instead of an irritating course, they had, without making any compromise whatever, induced the Assembly of Jamaica to adopt those measures which were required by the exigencies of the colony. Of course, he had no information on this subject, but such as he derived from the public newspapers, but he could not help thinking that even her Majesty's Ministers themselves were of opinion that they had cause to congratulate themselves that the Opposition had succeeded in overruling the measures which they had originally proposed. One word with respect to the ope rations in India. It was impossible for any one to withhold his tribute of approbation and admiration from those who had been engaged in conducting the military operations in that country. 'they had fully supported the ancient glory of the armies of this country, and there could not be one dissent ing voice in acknowledging the obligation which the country was under to those gallant men. He trusted a early opportu nity would be taken to present to these gallant men a manifes tation of the gratitude which the country felt for their services ; indeed he was; surprised that a notice to that effect had not been already given. But while he expressed his perfect appro. bation of the manner in which the military operations had been conducted, he was not to be considered as intending to imply the same expressions of perfect approbation in regard to the political measures of which those operations were the result, but should reserve to himself the right of expressing his opinion of those measures at some other opportunity. The Honourable Gentleman who moved the Address seemed to imagine that the Duke of Wellington had predicted the military failure of the operations in India. He apprehended that in this respect the Hon. Gentleman was in error. He apprehended that the Duke of Wellington had predicted that the military operations would probably succeed, from the knowledge which he :possessed of the skill of their commanders, and of the value of the troops engaged in those operations. But if he apprehended rightly the Duke of Wel lington had expressed an apprehension that their difficulties would commence after the military operations were ended. Thus it would appear that that the Duke of Wellington had not anticipated any failure in the military operations ; but he must confess that his apprehensions as to the consequences of those operations had not been lessened by what had since oc curs d. He would only refer to one other circumstance, and that less with a view of provoking discussion than for the purpose of asking for explanation. He alluded to the question of the Slave Trade, as carried on by Portugal.—( Cheers.) He felt it was absolutely necessary to ask the Noble Lord opposite for some explanation. The House would recollect that in the course of last Session measures of an extraordinary character were proposed to the House by the Noble Lord, with a view of making propositions to the Portu guese Government for the suppression of that slave trade, or, if they refused, to compel them to adhere to the terms of the Treaties already enter entered into with them on the subject. After some discussion a Bill had been passed for the purpose of giving effect to the propositions of her Majesty's Alinisters Copies of correspondence on this subject had been laid on the table of the House by the Noble Lord during the last Session, explanatory of the relations between this country and Portugal. It was stated as one of the grounds of this proceeding, that the Portuguese Government had positively refused to make the act of trading in slaves an act of piracy, and in the correspond ence laid on the table of the House, he found a document ad dressed by her Majesty's representative in Portugal, Lord Howard de Walden, to the Portuguese Government, requiring that Government to declare the act of trading in slaves an act of piracy. This paper was an official document signed by Lord Howard de Walden, and dated Lisbon, May 28, 1838, and stated that he, the undersigned, had taken this, the ear liest, opportunity of applying to the Viscount Sada Bandeira, to whom the glory was due, of haysng been the first to declare the slave-stradc illegal in Portugal, to urge on him the necessity of taking into his consideration the propriety of acceding to the wishes of Great Britain, and declaring the act of trauiug in slaves an act of piracy, which must be regarded as a sine qua non in any treaty to be entered into between Portugal and Great Britain. This public dispatch, therefore, stated that it was a sine qua non that the act of trading in slaves should be declared an act of piracy, on that declaration Great. Britain tsok her stand. But the Portuguese Government had recently published a correspondence with the Noble Lord or. this subject, and in that correspondence appeared a copy of a letter signed Howard de Walden, addressee to the Viscount Sada Bandeira, and marked " most confidential. " It began, " My dear Viscount," and then proceeded to state that thei e was a note on which he might make his declaration with regard to declaring the slave-trade an act of piracy. First, he might state the difficulty of proving such an enactment. Next he might state that no European nation except the English had as yet declared the act of trading in slaves an act of piracy. Then he might state the willingness of Portugal to accede, in conjunction with the other Powers of Europe, to any measures for the better suppression of the slave trade ; and he might conclude with a general expression of the detestation in which the slave trade was held by his Government. Now he wished to have it explained if this letter was genuine or not, and if it were, how the private note could be reconciled with the public was Lord comply ing em matte r r o dispatch ?—(Cheers)—because it the public dispatch stat e d th a t tca the making the slave trade an act of piracy was a sine qua non, and the private note suggested grounds for n ot a with for re explanation, dthheepuwbilsihceddisthpae Nobletch,it dis avow the genuineness of the private note, or to reconcile it with the public dispatch.—( Hear.) He had gathered from the general silence that it was the wish of the House to bring this debate to an early close, and in obedience to what he be lieved to be the general feeling of the House, he had abstained from entering on any topics that were likely to give rise to discussion, but, at the same time, he reserved to himself the right, in respect of those measures which occasioned so much anxiety, and also as to the state of the country, fully to question the conduct of her Majesty's Government on some future oc caslon.—(Cheers.) Lord PALM ERSTON stated that in fespect to the corres pondence alluded to by the Right Hon. Baronet, it was neces• sary he should explain to the House that the negociations with Portugal, for the purpose of obtaining a suppression of the slave trade, extended over a period of four years, and had been di vided into several stages. The note alluded to had been written in an earlier stage of the negociations than that upon the failure of which he had felt it his duty to apply to the House during the last Session. It was about a year and a half ago that the publicdispatch had been written, and it was probably about the same time that the private note had been written He would state the circumstances of the case. About that time he hai sent out the draft of a treaty to be proposed to the Government of Portu gal, by which they were required to declare the slave tradepiracy. The Portuguese Ministry stated that it was impossible for them to make the slave trade piracy. That Ministry alleged the dif ficulties connected with public feeling in Portugal, and the ne cessity of obtaining Legislative enactments for such proceedings. The result was, the British Government felt that they could not obtain that compensation which they required. The Eng lish Minister in Portugal had previously received leave of t e Ministry that if Lord Howard de Wal den would enter into a ne g otiation ab sence, and the Portuguese Ministry sta ted that the y could not outline e his f t t le h m e demand. ll transaction. The was now giving Portuguesehm mere they would try to come to s ome a g reement with him. Lord Walden, however, was not authorized to accede to this proposal. The principal condition which the Portuguese Minister insisted on was, that Great Britain should guarantee the possession of the Portuguese Colonies. Lord Walden said he would not un dertake to do this. He said he would fairly tell the Portuguese Ministry that he:was not authorized to accede to that proposition; but if they agreed on other points, he would commence a treaty which would contain the condition they mentioned; and as he was going home he would submit the entire to his Government. One of the points which the Portuguese Ministry would not agree to was, with regard to making the slave-trade piracy, and the note which had been read by the Right Hon. Bart., was a note written by Lord Howard de Walden. suggesting the least objectionable mode of signifying, or arranging the differ ences of this country with the Minister of Portugal. Lord de Walden in that note did what any body engaged in negociations might do--he selected for his Court the least objectionable means of stating the refusal of the Portuguese Government ; and he suggested the arrangements which, in his opinion, came the nearest to the point to which he expected to bring the matter. He said" If you will not now declare the slave-trade piracy, state that you will attach to it the severest secondary punish ment, and state also that you will declare it to be piracy when any other power in Europe will have done so." So far, therefore, from their being in that note anytla..ng inconsistent with the professions of Government, he (Lord P. ) contended that it was written entirely in the spirit of those instructions which Lord Walden had received. 'The English Ambassador merely said, I will agree with you, provided you agree with me; but you must agree to my conditions before a given day. Lord Walden was then on the point of leaving Portugal. That day, however, he arrived; but before it came, the Portuguese Government made objections to other points—Lord Walden returned home without bringing anything to a conclusion. That, however, was not the transaction on which he (Lord P. ) called on the House to come to certain resolutions. Ha sent, also, another draft of a treaty, calculated, as he thought, to meet the objections of the Portuguese Ministry, but securing sufficiently, in his opinion, the powers which he wanted on the occasion. If the Right Hon. Baronet looked farther into the papers, he would find another draft of a treaty, which he (Lord P.) sent after that period, in which, without in sisting on making the trade piracy, he wished to get a moral sanction, denouncing and stigmatizing-the crime, though he knew he could not, at the time, obtain a legislative enact ment on the subject, which the Cortes only could give. The Right Hon. Baronet might see that, not only had Ike Portuguese Government refused to make the slave trade piracy, but that they even objected to declare it piratical. The grounds on which he (Lord Palmerston) claimed the Act of Parliament, asking for those powers which were afterwards granted, were net that part of the negociations to which the papers just read referred, but subsequent stages of these ne gociations, when the Portuguese Government deliberately re fused to agree to that modified draft which he sent out after Lord Walden returned, and in which draft it was not re quired to make the slave trade piracy, but merely to denounce it as a piratical offence. He recollected that, in the draft, a stipulation was made, that vessels should be broken up before they were sold, after they had been condemned, and that he distinctly refused to Insert that guarantee on which the Portuguese Government laid so much stress ; viz. that he would foe a time insure to them that por tion of Africa which they chose to denominate their Co lonies. These were a vast region on the coast of Africa, of which they had merely a nominal possession. That treaty was to have been permanent. These were the demands of the British Government which claimed the right of extending its power to all parts of the world, instead of being centined to any particular quarter. The Right Hon. Baronet is mistaken in thinking that when he ( Lord P.) came before Parliament last year to ask a Bill, he made the refusal of the Portuguese Go vernment the foundation of his request. He acquiesced eight months before in their refusal to make the slave-trade piracy, but he wished it to be attended, at least with a moral stigma. Lord J. RUSSELL was very indistincty heard, in conse quence of the low tone in which he spoke, and of the noise which prevaiied in the llcuse. There were very few topics, he said, which he felt himself called on to notice, as most of the questions to which he m i g ht wish to allude, had alread y been very ably discussed by the Mover and Seconder of the Address. There were some subjects however, to which he wonld advert. Notwithstanding what had been stated by the Right Hon. Baronet he was far from satisfied with the administration of justice in Jamaica. He would not allude to particular cases, as they had already a pp eared in the papers. There was another of our Colonies wi th res pe ct to which allusion had been made in her Majesty's Speech, viz., Canada. Be thought it was due to the American Government to say that having formerly had a good deal of r eason to complain of the outrages on the frontier, the measures ta ken b y the Government of the United St a t es h a d been of a far mor e ener g etic character than they had formerly been. The officers had acted with great good faith, and in the Courts of Law in the United States convictions had taken place of the most notorious robbers and brigands.—( Hear. ) He thought this much w as d ue t o th e Government of t he United States. With respe c t t o anot h er par t o f the subject , the internal state of Canada, he might sa y that up to the p resent moment there had not been rece i ve d any accou nt of the breaking out of any fresh disturban oes , an d it was the opinion of all persons in that country now, and of Lord Seaton, who had just returned from that country, that the winter would pass away without disturb ance. With respect to the future measures being proposed to Parliament, there was likewise a prospect of a better agree ment with Canada than might have been expected. The Go vernor-General, after lie arrived, convened a special Council, and they passed a resolution approving of the union of the two provinces. Information had latel' ' ROYAL HOTEL, SOUTH BEACH, GREAT TAR MOUTH. WILLIA WI BIRD with gratitude acknow ledges the liberal patronage he has received during the short period he has conducted the Royal Hotel, and hopes the superior accommodation with moderate charges and efficient domestic arrangements, will enable him to secure to. his Friends and Visitors all the comforts of home. TERMS FOR THE WINTER SEASON. Board and Lodgings, with private apartments, 2!. per week. Gentlemen using the Coffee-room, I!. lOs. do. Superior Stables and Coach Houses. Posting in all its branches. This day is published, in 3 vols. post Bvo., CA.PTAIN NIARRYATS DIARY IN AMERICA. The Second Part : with Canada, and the present Co n dition of the Indians. With a Map of Aboriginal America, and of the Seat of War in Florida. Also, CAPT. MARRYAT'S POnR JACK, No. 1, price Is London : Longman, Orme, and Co. CAPTAIN CHAMIER'S NEW NAVAL STORY. Now ready at all the Libraries, in 3 vols., T HE SPITF I R E. A NAUTICAL ROMANCE. By CAPT. FREDERICK CHAMIER, Author of "'[he LiP of a Sailor," "_Ben Brace," &c. ife;;;; -- COlburn,Publi;her, 13, Great Marlborough-street. Now ready, in post Bvo. bound, price 10s. 6d. S A . M SLICK'S LETTER-BAG OF THE GREAT WESTERN. " Aeute, observant, shrewd, and humourous, it is impossible to have aught from the pen of Sam Slick which is not pun gent and entertaining."—Literary Gazette. " There is rare fun in Sam Slick's Letter-bag. We re commend our readers to send for this pleasant volume at once, for it will cheer their long winter evenings, and gladden their firesides.''—Athenaeum. Richard Bentley, New Burlington-street. THEATRE ROYAL COVENT GARDEN. UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF MADAME YESTRIS. THIS EVENING, JAN. 17, Will be performed Sheridan's Opera of THE DUENNA. Don Jerome, Mr. W. Farren ; Den Ferdinand, Mr. W. Harrison ; Don Carlos, Madame Vestris ' • Isaac Mendoza, Mr. Keeley; Father Pavl, Mr. Bartl e y; Clara, Miss Rain forth ; Louisa, Miss Middleton (her second appearance on this Stage); Duenna, Mrs. C. J ones. To conclude with the New Grand Comic CI-Astmas Panto mime, entiiled HARLEQUIN AND THE MERRIE DEVIL OF ED MONTON ; OR, THE GREAT BED OF WARE: _ _ Wtih entirely New Scenery. Machinery, Drer,es, and De- coral ions. Har.equin, Mr. C. J. Smith; Clown, Mr. T. Ridgway ; Pantaloon. Mr. Morelli ; Merrie Devil, Mr. Gibson ; and Co umbine, Miss Fairbrothcr. Dress Boxes, is; Second Price, 3s. fd. ; First and Second Circles. ss. ; Second Price, 2s. 6d. ; Pit, 3s. ; Second Price, 2s. ; Gallery, Is. Doors to be opened at half-past Six—the performances to commence at Seven o'clock. Tickets and places for the Boxes to he taken of Mr. Notter, at the Box-office, from Ten till Four, wh re Season Tickets may be had upon application. Private Boxes to be had solely of Mr, Andrews. bookseller, t 67, New Bond-street. ROYAL SURREY THEATRE. The Grand Comic Pantomime, universal:y allowed to be the best in London. is attracting the most brilliant overflows ever witnessed, and will be repeated every evening. The Three Nevr Pieces have also been pre-eminently successfal. THIS EVENING, J. 17, Will be repeated, an entirely new Legendat v Drama, called THE LAPIDARY OF LEYDEN. After which, the:New Romantic Drama, called MICHAEL EARLE, THE MANIAC LOVER. Characters by Messrs. Saville, H. llughe s , I\ eville, John s,m, and Smith ; Mrs. Vining, Mrs. Day, and Miss Martin. To conclude with the New Grand Christmas Pantomime, called THE QUEEN BEE, OR HARLEQUIN AND GOODY TWO SHOES. The splendid Scenery by Mr. Brunning—The magnificent Diorama by Mr. P. Phillips. Columbine, Miss Sharpe ; Harlequin, Clown, Pantaloon, and Sprite, by the Bolero Family. Messrs. Sams of St. James's-street ; Andrews. Ehers, and Mitchell, Bond-street ; and Seguin of Regent-street, Book sellers, are appointed to let Private and Public Boxes during the run of the Pantomime. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Those Correspondents who wish to ace their communi cations inserted, must send us, in confidence, their names and addresses. Without that we have no guarantee of the accuracy of the communication. Owing to the great press of matter, we fear we shall not be able to find room for the lines of J. S. B on Circassia. HIou.WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE To-v RRO W. Morning 35 minutes after I i Evening.... 7 minutes after 2 --..- J .4„) t o , . 04 ci ,_-_ r.:... , 7 - -At_„„- ,: ; -. t.t , ;0'1 ~,i - - -,1 l'•u, V,'., - , '49) -. c - '..,-.4> :...-; : t:-,0...t„k . „-__, . . ( qr 41t3,4+ LONDON : FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1840. Parliament was yesterday opened by her MAJESTY. She looked extremely well, though rather pale, and seemed in excellent spirits. She was loudly cheered both in going to, and returning from, the House of Lords. The Speech is short, and like most Royal Speeches on opening Parliament, is drawn up to tell as little as possible, and so give the least handle to discussion. The Duke of SOMERSET moved in the House of Lords, and Lord SEAFORD seconded the Address, which was as usual an echo of the Speech. The Duke of WELLINGTON joined the Noble Mover and Seconder in heartily congratulating her MAJESTY on her marriage. His Grace, however, falling in, we regret, to say with the howl of the Times, proposed as an amend ment to the Address, the insertion of the word " Pro. :estant.” before the name of Prince ALBERT, so as to ex press the pleasure of the House that her MAJESTY was going to ally herself to a Protestant Prince. Viscount MELBOURNE opposed the amendment, and jus tified the omission of the epithet by the precedeet followed by GEORGE 111. He declared that the Act of Settlement rrquired that the Consort of the QUEEN should be a Pro testant, and it would not make the case either clearer or stronger by so describing him. The Earl of WINCHILSEA exaggerated the objections of his Grace. supported the amendment, and announced his intention at a future day to bring under the considers tion of the House the conduct of Ministers. Earl FITZWILLIAM turned some of the other Noble Earls' observations into ridicule, and adverted to the commercial distress of the country, which he declared was greater than at any period within his recollection ; and he hoped that an investigation would take place into its cause. Lord BROUGHAM made a long speech, in which he ridi culed the importance attached to the word " Protestant;" expressed his general concurrence in the Address, re serving his opinion as to the political part of thi India question till the consequences of it were fully developed, and expatiated with great earnestness on the peculiar and alarming public discontent which the Noble Lord as cribed chiefly to the people being excluded front the franchise. Earl STANHOPE agreed with the Noble Lord as to the situation of the country, but differed from him as to its causes, which the Noble Earl said were the Reform Act, the Poor-law, and Peel's Bill. The Duke of RICHMOND expressed his confidence in the Magistrates preservin g the peac e of the country , recom mended their Lordships to m ix with the p eo p le, and pro tested warmly against the Corn-laws being meddled with. The Duke of CAMBRIDGE bore a very flattering testi mony to the virtues of Prince ALBERT, and said he was qualified not only to make her M AJESTY happy, he be il,icervediviAb J u E t sT to y, b s e p e o o p ie u e la p ri o t p y ular in this count r y , and add to Finally, th e amendment was, we believe, agreed to by Lord MELBOURNE, as unimportant, and their Lordship's adjourned at Half -past Eig ht o'clock. In the C OMMONS, Mr, GREG and Lord C. HAMILTON took their seats. Several new writs 'were moved, on which Mr. D'IsRAELI took the opportunity, amidst much merriment, to inquire what were to be th e political prin ciples oldie re-constructed Cabinet. Notices were given on the part of Ministers for Bills to give effect to the recommendations of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to regulate steam n avigation and inland bonding ; and to reform the Irish Mun ici p al Cor p orations. Sir J. Y. BULLER is on the :18th to move a vote of want of confidence in the Ministers. In answer to Sir E. ENATCHBULL, Mr. F. MAULE said it is the intention of Ministers to bring in a Bill to amend the Rural Police Act ; and in ;answer to Mr. F. KELLY, Lord J. RUSSELL said that the present regulation as to closing the Post Office at an early hour is entirely of a temporary nature. The case of Privilege, involved in the prosecution of Mr. HANSARD by Mr. STOCKDALE, Was brought under the notice of the House before the Address was moved in an. swer to the Speech from the Throne. A petition was pre sented, and papers were laid on the table. Lord JOHN RUSSELL then moved, after giving an outline of the pre sent situation of the case, that Mr. BT , OCKDALE, his attor ney, the two Sheriffs, and Under-Sherif, be summoned to the bar this day. Sir EDWARD SUDDEN entered into the legal and techni nal merits of the whole question, and declared his intention to oppose the motion. Sir ROBERT Lice's took the same side. A debate of considerable length ensued, Sir RODEAT PEEL agreeing with Lord JOHN RUSSELL, which ended by the motion for summoning Mr. SToexDALE and the other persons to the bar being carried by 286 to 167. Mr. CAVENDISH then moved an Address in answer to EVEN:NG EDITION. which were unjust towards his Sovereign. Will the Canterbury parsons now deny the treasona ble language, which over their wine-cups they praised so loudly; or can his Grace of CANTER BURY deny that he has promoted a clergymen who joined with others in cheering language unjust to wards our beloved QUEEN, and towards the su preme head of the Church ? We have sometimes had occasion to blame cer tain Members of Parliament, and more especially Mr. WA K LEY, for showing even greater hostility to a Liberal Government, than to the men that would smother Reform, repeal the Emancipation Act, and create a civil war in Ireland, and we therefore hail with great joy, as a mark of his re pentance, the excellent letter which we subjoin. It is an earnest, we trust, of a better feeling on the part of the Radicals, as well as the Ministry, and a proof that the most ultra-Liberal party, unlike the slanderers of her MAJESTY, prefer the peace of their country to all other considerations. If the Orangemen had their will, and on them Sir Ro- BERT PEEL must rest for support, Ireland would be in commotion, and all the enemies of Orangeism would join with the Chartists in rebellion against the Government. The letter was read by the Se cretary at the meeting of the FinsburyßeformClub on Wednesday evening last : At the Meeting of the Finsbury Reform Club on Wednesday evening last, the following letter from Mr. \Vakley to one of the members was read by the Se cretary : Bedford-square, Jan. 14, 1840. MY DEAR return you my best thanks for your kind communication. The proposal which you have made is a wise one, and I will render every aid in my power to promote its success. UNION, and nothing but union, must be the motto of Reformers everywhere. True it is, that we arc often obliged to complain of the con duct of ministers, and try to urge them on n the right path, snmetimes by entreaty, sometimes by reproaches, and proba bly we are often too forgetful of the nifficulties which beset them. Whatever may be the disputes amongst ourselves, it is still the duty of all Reformers to combine against the deadly and determined enemies of all reform. The Tories are unchanged excepting for the worse. What they were in 1819 they are now. In Parliament they oppose all good measures, and support all bad ones ; and out of do rs they are trying to exasperate and madden the people with cries of intolerance and fanaticism. lam then for giving the present Ministers one more fair and liberal trial, and for that purpose I should be glad to see all Reformers sincerely and faithfully mate. I am, my dear Sir, yours faithfully, THOMAS WAKLEY. Letters from Constantinople, of the 27th ult., received this morning, state that there was then every prospect of a speedy settlement of the Eastern question. They likewise announce the arrival there of the following extraordinary intelligence from Erzeroum :—When HCSSEIN KHAN, the late Persian Ambassador at Paris, arrived at Erze roum, on his return to Teheran, the wife of one of the French officers, by whom he was accompanied, became so ill as to be unable to continue the jour ney. Her husband declared that he would not leave her, but await there her recovery, and his gallant companions told the Ambassador that they could not desert their comrade. This exasperated the Persians, to avoid whose fury the officers took refuge in the house of the British Resident. The Persians broke in the doors, and rushing armed upon the defenceless inmates, murdered four of them, together with three dragomans. This bar barous outrage must lead to important consequences. MEHEMET ALI has caused the Flatti-Seheriff to be proclaimed in Egypt with the greatest solem nity. The old fox never appeared to entertain so profound a reverence for the Supreme Caliph of Islam as at the present moment. The French journals of Wednesday, with Madrid papers of the Bth instant, have reached us. Marshal G IRA RD, Commander-in-chief of the Na tional Guards of Paris, published on Wednesday an order of the day, censuring the conduct of the officers and men of that body, who presented ad dresses to MM. LAFITTE, ARA GO, &c. approv ing of the conduct of these gentlemen as members of the Electoral Reform Committee. The 'Void teur publishes the following despatch from the theatre of war in Spain : " The accounts front Mas de las Matas, of the 7th, announce that Cabrera is actually ill at Herbes. They don't know if he be dead, but they believe he is in great danger." 1 . he Chamber of Deputies was occupied on Wednesday with the 9th paragraph of the Address relative to French Africa. The Ministerial Jour nals are quite at a loss to understand the coldness with which the Deputies discussed the question. We are not so dull of comprehension. The De puties begin to find out that Africa, after all, is but a bad bargain. From the Spanish capital the news is unim portant. Contrary to the Carlist rumours, the young QUEEN enjoys excellent health. The re ported illneSs of CABRERA raised the price o 1 stocks. On the Bth the Fives closed at 282 for cash. BOURSE.-PAKIS, WICDNESDAT, JAN: 15. I list Highest Lowest Last Price Price. Price. Price. rench 3 per Cents ll2 15 ... 112 1.0 112 10 ... 1.2 15 3 per Cents Bl • 31 80 90 ... 80 95 'kink of rrance 3015 ...303‘, ...3015 —.3030 Lattitte Batik I,ooor. Sh lO4O ...1040 —.1140 ...1 40 5,000 f. Sh 5161 ...51id ...5160 —.5170 ilelgian Bank 842 50 ... 86'2 50 ... Ffis ... 8;0 5 per Cents 102% ... 102% 102% ... 102% 3 per Cents 7O 011 ... 70 90 ... 71 United States Bank Loan 974; 97 , 4 ... 97 ... 97 Sponibh Active 25% ... ... 2 5% ... 26% Passive ... ... Portuguese 3 per Cents Don Miguel 4ea l olitati Roman 9,2 102 1011 1 , ... 101 N RAILWAY SHARES. St. Germain Versailles, It. B 495 495 ... 495 493 LB 332 5C 332 50 ... 330 ... 3. 12 50 Orleans . Strasburg to Bale 325 ... 326 25 ... 325 ... 326 25 ASPHALTES AND BITUMENS. Yarn (Maberly's) LLOYD'S SHIPPING.--(THIS DAY LIVERPOOL, JAN. 16.—• Wind W.N. W., fresh breezes. --Arrived the Margaret, from Demerara ; Duclisss of Portland, Kerr, ditto ; Moslem, McLaren, New Orleans ; Northampton, Mann, ditto ; Alleghany, Michael, Char lestOn ; Reis Eff,•ndi, Harvey, St. Domingo ; Coronet, St. Andrews, New Brunswick ; Arid, Robertson, ditto ; New Hampshire, New Orleans ; and Palmyra, Charleston. Off port, the Parker, from Demerara ; Cincinnati, Vir ginia; Columbia, Newfoundland ; and Henry, New Orleans. PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 16.—Wind W. N. W.—Off port, Caroline, Miramichi. DOVER, JAN. 14.—Off port, Pennsylvania, Baltimore. COWES, JAN. 15.—Arrived, [incline Sampson, front Virginia, leaky. FALMOUTH, JAN. )s.—Wind S. W. to W. S. W., strong► breezes and squally.—Arrived, Pigeon, packet, from Vera Cruz. Sailed, Nov. 28, from Tampico, 10th ult., and Havannah 19th, with 200,000 dollars; Janet, Blews, Monte Video, 10th Nov. BRISTOL, JAN. 16.—Arrived Charlotte, St. John's New Brunswick. SWANSEA, JAN. 15.—Arrived, Pandora, Grayson, Cuba. MILFORD, JAN. 15.—Arrived, British Queen, via Prince Edward's Island. HULL, JAN. 16. —Wind, W. S. W.—Arrived, Wilson, Jordan, from St John's, New Brunswick. SMI/1.1)3, JAN. 15.—Sailed, Martha, Sierra Leone. MARRIAGE IN HIGH LlFE.—Yesterday, at St. George's, Hanover-square, by the Lord Bishop of Carlisle, the Hon. Captain Maynard, Royal Horse Guards (Blue), only son of Viscount Maynard, was united to tue Hon. Frances Murray, youngest daughter of the Dowager Lady Glenlyon, and niece of the Dukes of Northumberland and Athol. There were present at the ceremony Viscount and Viscountess Maynard, the Honourables the Misses Maynard, the Hon. Adolphus and Mrs. Capel, Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. Ives, Lady Aenes Buller, the Hon. Captain Pitt, Lord and Lady Glenlyon, the Hon. James Murray, the Dowager Lady Glenlyon and Miss Murray, the Dean of Carlisle, & e . A superb dejeune was given on the occasion by th e Lady Glenlyon, at her mansion in Whitehall gar dens ; immediately after which the bride and bridegroom loft in an elegant new chariot for Wyvanhoc, the seat of the Hon. Mr. Capel in Essex. APOTHECARIES. —The Governor and Com pany of Apothecaries Hall having taken proceedings against John M'Birney, Esq., Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, residing at Castle blaney, for illegally practising as an apothecary, have succeeded in recovering the usual penalty, with costs.— Dublin Evening Post. PENRYN.—A Correspondent informs us that John Charles Ord, Esq., has offered himself as a candidate for this Borough, en the Liberal interest. MON Ev AND COO %I b'RCIALNEWS. CI7 Y WE,I.,VA O'CLO CK. 0 Cir. LIV P EROOL COTTI,N MK ARET, 'l',•tuasnAv.—The sales this day are 3,500 Balers, a , yesterda . %'s price s . We have received Sydney - papers to Cie 27th August. TILE ESTIMATES.—The minute of the c , , timate of expen diture for the ensuing year is by no mean.s so clear and compendious as similar documents laid beforo the Council on former occasions. It is also especially remarkable for not ent ;! sta!, - ip , to of the ways and means, from which it 14 prop,,ed to o.c,:t the estimated expenditure; neithcr er contain any estimate of the probable amount the ,ext. year's land revenue, or any statement of tlic i;,0,1e in n'h'ch it is proposed to appropriate that fund, wh , t , ver i's amounts may be. It is remarkable also„ that it contains a distinct estimate of the amount of ex penditure f:r Port Philip. The proposed expenditure. exceeds the estimated amount of the revenue, and the j Governor admits that they niu , t fall short of the proposed expenditure by 100 000/ The Colonial Secretary moved. that the estimates of expenditure for 1840 be taken into, consideration.—Carried. He then moved that certain sums be appropiated. —Agreed to. At Port Philip the transactions in Rum have been con siderable. Gin—the stock of this article appears to be ra ther heavy. Tea stationary. HOBART TOWN ,MARKETS.—The inclemency of the wea ther during the week has had a tendency to relax the re gular supply of market produce at this place, but it has not affected the prices to a considerable extent. Wheat has . advanced from 6d. to 9d. per bushel. Potatoes arc in dr mand for exportation, and sell at 13/. 10s. to 14/. per ton. Fine Flour 44/. ; sicond 42/. ; third 401. per ton. Butcher's Meat—Beef 6d. to 9d. Mutton 61d. to 7id. Veal Bd. to 10d. per lb. The Mexican Mail has arrived, and, we hear, brings 200,000 dollars. We have received the Journal of Antwerp of yesterday's .date, but it is void of interest. The debatvs isst night, both in the House of Lords and Commons, chiefly occupy the attention of the public this morning ; as well as the dispersion of the Chartists, at their meeting place in Bethnal-green, by the police. Yesterday was settling-day in the Britisb Market, and this is pay-day for the balance of the various Accounts. The weekly meeting of the Bank Directoral took place yesterday, which lasted to a late hour ; but the? broke up without any notice being issued of a reduction in the rate of discounts, which was exiected to take place. TILL FUNDS. Consols opened this morning at 91* + for the Account of the 27th of Feb. ; Exchequer Bills, 9 11 prem. ; India I3,,nds par, 2 prem. ; Bank Stock 1781; India Stock,. 249 250. In the Foreign Mirket Spanish, which left off yesterday 251, improved to 251 owing to the report of the dan gerous state of Cabrera's health ; Portuguese, 341 364 ; Three per Cents., 234 24+ ; Colombian, 264; Mexican, 304 ; Brazilian. 74 75 ; Dutch Two-and-s- Half per Cents., 524 ; Five per Cents , 104 101. PRICE: , Of STOCK , THIS [)AY AT ONE O'CLOCK, Bank Stork I7BX, India Stock 3 per Cent. Red. ....... ....VI !ii, N,. : Ditto Bonds -- 3 per Cent. Cons. 4 :; , 4 1 ' South Sea Stock -- 3 per Cent ( Old Annuities •••••••••,. Ditto Bed, _991, % New Ditto New 0!‘ ; ', per Cent..... 99% 8 li, 1)!ii ! 3 per Cent. Annuities. 1751 New 5 per Cent. Bank Long Annuities toexpirc I Ditto 500,,.... 912 pm. Jan; 5, 1860 14 1-16 14 Ditto Small 9 12 pm. Oct. 10, 1859 — Ditto Commercial — ,i2n. 5, 1060 —; Ditto Advertised ...... Jan. 5, IMO — I Bank Stock for Account ... April 5, 18S0. —l India Stock for Account ... Jan. 5. 1870 —l Consos for Acc0unt........ 91 -, l i PRICES OF FOREIGN FU NOS THIS DAI AT ONE 0 CLOCK. Austrian BMWs — Peruvian Bonds — Belgian Bonds atto Account Brazilia 1 Bonds Ditto Account 3iienos'tyres Bonds - Ditto, 3 per Cent......... 28. Ditto Icca's:at I),tt3 TIC Prussian ►3onds Russian Bonds, 1624 Cilarn ian ?! ids t4 Ditto Account — Ditt. 1:,:o. of Columbian . i d 5,1824 I.: i.:3 L J llt — Ditto Account. ......25%% yip ;anis . : Bonds 7 5 34 6 1 4 Passive Ditto ..__.• nt — Deferred ll % .12 Greek Bonds — French, 5 per cent...—. —t. —c. Ditto Bonds, 1825 — 4 per cent. —f. —c. Ditto Account — 3 per cent. —f. —c. Mexican Bonds, 5 per Cent Ditto Account Ditto, 41 per Cent. Ditto Account Keanolitan Exchange. --f. —c. Dutch, 2.Yi per cent. Ditto Account s 2 li Ditto, 5 per Gant .l( 0%34 Ditto Acc0unt........ _ PRICES OF SHARES THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. Paid. Per Share. United Mexican (Issued at 9./. pm.) Ditto Scrip — 314 Groat We,rtern Hallway Company Ditto New ... ...... 27 IS% Australasia Bank 4l Ms, 9 lIALF-PAST ONE. The Sydney Papers gate that the country in the neigh bourhood of Bathurst is in a dreadful state of alarm in consequence of the depredations of a gang of bushrangers, said to be led by a man named Lambert. We hear it stated with some confidence, that Lord Melbourne is going to retire frem office, and the ether Nlinisters will ;email in their places. We have no further arrivals, with the exception of the Mexican packet; letters and papers not received as yet from Falmouth. The bad state of the weather rather damps the spirit for speculation this morning, and their being no Continental information of consequence, very little business has been done in the course of the morning. In the British Funds Consols may be quoted at present rather better than in the morning, 911. for the 27th of Feb. ; Money 90i 91 ; Exchequer Bills, rather improved, 1l 9 11 prem. ; India Bonds 3 ; Bank Stock, 178 k. In the Foreign Market the chief operation during the morning has been in Spanish Active, which reached 2bl, at present rather lower, 25i; Portuguese was 351, at pre sent 34, 1 3 - ; Three per Cents., 23k; Colombian, 26 ; Mexican, 30 ; Dutch Two-and-a- Half per Cents., 521; Five per Cents., 1001 4 ; Spanish Passive, 6/ ; Deferred, I li 12. NARROW ESCAPE.—A few days since a cir cumstance occurred on the Greenwich Railway - which might have had a very fearful and fatal termination. One of the evening trains, having left Greenwich at the usual time of starting, had made a great portion of its journey, when the engineer discovered that he was on the wrong line of rail by observing that a train of car riages was meeting him from the opposite direction. Most providentially for the passengers in each train the discovery was made in time to allow the one to back and the other to slacken its speed. On its arrival at Deptford, after some time, the train was replaced on the right line, but the passengers did not arrive in Lon don until one hour after the usual time. PRISON EMPLOYMEN T FOR FEMALES.-- At the late Gloucester Sessions, a question was brought forward by Capt. St. Clair, one of the visiting Magis trates of the county gaol, on the legality of employing female prisoners in the gaol as laundresses, &c., since the passing of the New Prison Act. The Magistrates decided on applying to Lord Normanby, Home Secre tary, on the subject, and his Lordship has, in reply, left the matter to the option of the visiting Magistrates. The Manchester Guardian, of Wednesday lash alluding to the Corn-law banquets, observes, that " Upon nee point there will be no difference of opinion ;irnongst the parties who attended the operative ban quet last evening ; namely, that, notwithstanding the immense cumbers crowded together in the pavilion, the exciting nature of the subject, and, we are compelled to add, of one or two of the toasts, and some allusions of the speakers, which were perhaps more to be regretted than wondered at,—a more peaceable, orderly, and de corous assemblage was never collected on any great public occasion. One or two circumstances which had produced some little disorder on the preceeding even ing had fortunately been remedied ; and the patience and good temper exhibited by the audience did them infinite credit, and might serve as an example to other assemblages of much higher pretensions. It was be yond all doubt one of the most striking and extraordi• nary meetings ever witnessed in this town." A BIRD'S-EYE VI M.—There is a firm up town, at one of' the corners in Houston -street, who boast the euphon;ous appellation of " See and Bird." When they look at anything they undoubtedly may be said to " take a bird's-eye view" of the matter. LADY'S GOLD NECK CHAINS may be selected from of several patterns, price, weight of four sovereigns, Five Guineas ; weight of five sovereign., Six Guineas : weight of six sovereigns, Seven Guineas. The weight is given by comparison with the weight of sovereigns, being more easily referred to than if stated in ounces and dwts. The quality of the Gold is warranted equal to any that is worked into articles of this description. T. COX SAVORY, Goldsmith, Silversmith, Watchmaker, &c., 47, Cornhill (Seven Doors from Gracechurch-street), London. PLATE.—A, B. SAVORY and SONS Manu facturing Silversmiths, No. 14, Cornhill, London (opposite the Bank of England). The best wrought FIDDLE PATTERN SPOONS and FORKS, at 7s. 2d. per ounce. The following arc the weights recommended, but the articles may be had lighter or heavier, at the same price per ounce. 12 Fid , ile Pattern Silver T a b le Ss oz. s. d. £. a. d• poon 30 at 7 2... 10 5 4 2 ditto Dessert ditto 20 7 2... 7 3 0 I:: d.tiu 'table Forks 3O 7 2...10 lb 0 12 ditto Dessert ditto 20 7 2... 7 3 4 2 ditto Gravy Spoons lO 7 2... 3 11 8 1 ditto Soup Ladle 10 7 2... 3 11 8 4 ditto Sauce ditto lO 7 1... a yi t• 4 ditto Salt Spoons (gilt strong) 1 0 ditto Fish Slice 12 ditto Tea Spoons lO 7 8... 3 16 R 1 pair ditto Sugar Tongs (strong) A Pamphlet containing detailed Lists of the Prices of various Patterns of Silver Spoons and Forks, Silver Tea and Coffee Ser- vices, and of the different articles of Plated Ware, may he had on application, or will be sent into the country in answer to a paid letter ; the Plate Rooms of this Esta blishment contain a large selection of every article requisite to complete a service. BIRTHS. On the 10th inst., at Farthmaftoe—Lodge, Northamptonshire, prematurely, the lady of H. P. Best, Esq., of a daughter. On the 14th in, t., at lver, the lady of J. A. Edwards, Esq., of Berbice, of a daughter. On the 16th inst., at Lambeth, Mrs. John Delane Griffith, of a son. On the 16th inst., the lady of Henry Gilbert, Esq., Dorset. place, Dorset-square, of a son. DIH;I~ At Bevois Mount, on the 14th inst., Sophia, relict of the late Henry Hulton, of Bevois Mount, Southampton, and Lin coln's Inn, Esq., sincerely lamented by her family and friends, aged sixty-eight. On the llth inst ,at Farley-hill Castle, near Reading, Emma, fourth daughter of the late Justinian Casamajor, of Potterells, Herts, Esq. On the 131 h inst., Charles Henry Chimbers, Esq., of the 2d battalion Bide Brigade, aged 25. London: Printed and vuin sricil by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112. ‘ .1 . - atiri. at The Sun. Office, No. 112, Strand, iu the county 01 uliddlosex.—Frkay, January 17, 1640. 1 4 I I