The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-02-19 00:00:00

Emperiii parliament. HOUSE OF LORDS. . THURSDAY, FEBRUARY, 14. The Duke of SUSSWC took the oaths and his seat. • Leril KiNti presented a petition, front the Wesleyan Dissenters of Athridge, against Negro Slavery ;—:ilso from a place of which the u:sme - was nut. heard in the gallery, for the better observance of the a TUIt:II . IKE AOADR._ Lord TPXYII.I3I wished to know from the noble lords, members of his Majesty's government, whether it was the intention of the government to take into its own hands the management of turn. pike roads. The Duke of RICIDIOND said he was not aware that government had the sl'g'itest intention of taking into its own hands the inatt,q• alluded tu. When the returns which he had moved for in the last Session were laid on the table, he would move for a select committee to Inquire into the subject. It required serious consideration. lie re greted to anlit that the debts dne on account of the mats of England Lad Wales amounted to 1:8,001.),000 sterlin e l ' and that in many in stances . the exiienditare greatly exceeded the receipts. Earl (many laid on the table papers relative to the separation of ,Holland and Belgians, stating that the documents now presented cim ainei outs a portion of the information required on the subject, and that further information would be given at as early period. The Bishop of BATH and WELLs presented a petition from a num ber of the clergy of his diocess, against the existence of beer shops, es highly detrimental to the morals of the people. Amongst all the reforms that were going forward, none could be so valuable as a reform of the public morals. To show to what an extent these beer shops had increased, there were in the city of Bath alone no less than 143 of them. The rh.rl of Itonss said, that he had several petitions to present, calling upon their lordships to compel a due observance of the Sab bath • bet the subject he (teemed to be of so mach importance, that In the absence of members of the right rev. bench, he would defer presenting the petitions until to morrow. FRIDAY. Earl Grey's motion for leave to bring in a bill for the suppression of the disturbances at present existing in Ireland being fixed for this day, the gallery wa s titled with stran g ers at an early hour ; and the number of persons eongregrated about the lobbies of the house showed that considerable curiosity was excited to know the nature of the measures to he proposed. The space below the bar, as well as that around the throne, was crowded with members of the other house of Parliament ; 'and in the latter place we observed Mr. Stanley, Mr. O'Connell, and several other prominent members connected with Irish adhirs. 1.1:13.1 Grey entered the house precisely at five o'clock, decorated with the order of the Garter, au, t sat for some minutes in conversa tion with Lord Holland; who was rolled into the house in a wheel chair. At ten minutes past five o'clock, there being then a large attendance of Peers iu the house, particularly on the nmiLsterial side, the LORD ClitricELLon. took his seat on the Woolsack. A petition from Atherstone in Warwickshire, for an alteration of the Poor Laws, presented by the Earl of Waxwiek. The Earl of NV EsrSIORLAND presented a petition from Carlow, for pone legislative provision to enforce the better observance of the Sabbath.—Similar petitions were presented by the Earl of RODRN from Brechin, Dundee, Long Preston, Yorkshire, Balbriggam, and the Scotch eongregration of St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin ; also by the _Bishop of LONDON, from three different places. The Bishop of LONDON moved that the House of Commons be r.sioested to communicate to the Lords the report and evidence of the Commons' Committee for the better observance of the Lords' day. The Earl of IioDEN wished the attention of their lordships to be particularly directed to this most important subject, anti expressed Ids satisfaction at seeing the middle classes in the towns of England sad Ireland taking so strong an interest in it. The petitioners stated, that in order to render the laws for the observance of the Sabbath ef f.:etive, it was necessary that a good example should be set by the hi Sher classes in obtecin,g them. -Lord C iaiN evany said he was most anxious that the Sabbath should he dilly observed, but he also felt desirous that its observance should noL be converted into a source of discord, and, above all, that the law tould be generally understood and impartially enforced. He com plained that some magistrates in Ireland, who were no doubt actuated by good intentions, but seemed to have taken an imperfect view of the *object, exerted themselves to stop the canal boats on the Sabbath, fur the avowed purpose of causing a better observance of that day. Now, as noble lords might e aware, Sunday VI - 3.4 a day on which the clouts were in full ail& ity,,aud the Irish footmen, being for the most part Catholics, were aecustorned to stop for an hour or more in the zooming, for the performance o f t h eir reictious duties, and then pro ceed with their boats. The may referred to (he. had two gen tlmen more particularly in view„ `probably not aware of the Catho lic mode of obsery he , the Sabbath, stopped the boats in their progress, and the boatmen, instead of going to church, resorted to the nearest public house, leaving their boats to be plundered. This was a great etil. The law authorised persons boing summoned before Magis trates for the non-observance of the Sabbath, but it did not sanction the stoppage_ of boats in this manner. He compl ained that the law hid been broken by men who were sworn to uphold. it ; and, that while cattle were stopped in their transit to Ow steamers by the canal opt Sunday, the servauts of the individuals who resisted their passage were, on the same day, allowed to drive their master's cattle to the Dublin market. The Earl of Rom,' called upon the noble lord to name the magis trates to whom he had alluded. Lord CLONCI7RItY declined mentioning names, not wishing to ex pose the parties to popular odium, in the present excited state of ambiic feeling in Ireland. COERCIVE MEASURES FOR IRELAND. Earl GREY moved, that the King's speech be read as far as it related to Ireland, and then addressed himself to the painful task of describing the violence that exists in Ireland, the inse curity to life and limb, and the uncertainty of property through -crimes which the law could not reach, and which made it requi site that additional power should be granted to the executive, that the local, peaceable, and industrious, might be protected against the . foily and violence of the disorderly. A committee was usually called for before such power, was asked ; but in the present case the evils of the country are too notorious to re quire a committee, and nothing could be more indicative of the state of Ireland than the necessity which ministers felt of omit ting tnat preliminary. It was no secret conspiracy, no subtle sowing of the seeds of mischief, but a system of associations and organized combination defying the government. (Hear.) They threaten, indeed, the peace and safety of the • community, the amity and equanimity of the empire, and they must be repressed or the most lamentable consequences will ensue—(hear, hear) a system of violence, of turned bodies acting apparently under a system of organization, committing the most atrocious out rages, violating all the rights of property, inflicting the penalty of death for the double object of intimidation and vengeance,— deterring prosecutors from proceeding before courts of law, wiaresses from appearing, juries from doing their duty, and rendering the law itself impotent for the protection and safety of the community. (Hear, hear.). All these call • for measures severe indeed, and inconsistent with the ordinary principles of the constitution, but necessary, and it is, therefore, the duty of ministers to propose them. As far as the causes of this state of things could be reached by legislative relief, the government would sedulously struggle to relieve them, but there were causes of another character; and first, the association, new in name, but old in construction, called the Volunteers of Ireland, the avowed object of which was the repeal of the union. It was vain to hope that the redress of grievances alone would restore peace to Ireland. No one had hoped more than he did, that die effect of the Catholic Relief Bill would have been the restora tion of tranquillity, but that hope was disappointed. He knew that that bill alone was merely a fundamental measure ; but he did hope that such a manifestation of attention on the part of government would have enabled ministers to have proceeded to other improvements undisturbed by popular violence. Did he desire to undo what was then done? Certainly not ; but he felt disappointed at finding that the wish to conciliate had done nothing, that agitation was preferred to peace, and that the agi tators were resolved to continue their work—not till church ccss, grand juries, and the establishment, were reformed, but until a repeal of the union was effected. (hear, hear.) 'fill the two countries were placed in deadly hostility to each other, there was to be—in the threatening emphasis of the great agitator—agita tion, agitation, agitation! It was vain to hope any thing from remedial measures; (bear) authority must be restored. (Hear.) The objects might be gathered from the word volunteer itself— the model chosen from 1782; the extent of the organization; the central association and its delegates, three to each parish, whose duty it was to enlist an d enrol the farmers,. tenants, &c.l to assemble with the quarter sessions, to serve instead of police; to establish a national guard; and, lastly, to supersede the go vernment. The association does nut bind by oaths nor meet in secret; it has been framed by a person ingenious in the law, so as to keep within the reach of penalties, but to be ready for the most desperate purposes. Its al owed object is to pacificate Ire laud, but the breath of one man can* bring this immense organi- Eation into action. Mr. Steel had set forth on the mission of pacificatica, declaring that none but a fierce agitator could be a pacificator (laughter) a nationally characteristic union (a laugh) like a man in a lair, dealing blows on all sides, and then crying peace and good will to all. (Hear, and laughter.) This man tells the volunteers, as he told the peop le of Clare, that if such a crisis shall arise in Ireland as that of 1798, Daniel O'Connell requests them to Inive recourse to arms, and have recourse to blood, if necessary. He thought no more need be said to justify the necessity of the first part of his bill, which would go to put down this association. (Hear, hear.) But there were other causes of anxiety; in many parts of Ireland the state of things . approached to rebellion. Large bodies as sembled at the ringing of' chapelbells, at the sound of horns, and the lighting of signal fires. Ail these meetings of armed persons had hitherto defied the power of government. It is said, that these bodies have nothing to do with the association of volun teers; but when they were seen to watch the meetings of that association, and think as it did, was it not more than probable that they would graft.themselves on that association? (Cheers.) In the collection of tithes every official person was threatened with death.' The people were told that government was their worst eneinY,.and that the law was made to oppress them : could It then be wondered at that the people defied the law, and that - c9tifusiou should ensue ? There exists, iu consequente, armed associations, organized against the law, and which the law of. itself is incompetent to encounter and suppress. Thus it was with the whole province of Munster. In ttie province of Con naught, the Marquess of Sligo had been obliged to demand in creased force for Mayo, because these associations supported a candidate for the county who was pledged to the repeal of the union, and in his support, endangered the lives and property of those who would preserve entire the kingdom. " I have no doubt," said the noble earl, "that (like those pernicious writers who address themselves to the inflammable passions of youth for the purpose of raisin. , an excitement, and then think by some cold mural to quench' the flame) these exhortatious to pursue this end only by legal means, are intended to palliate and ex cuse those who addressed them. They do this with the intent to protect themselves from the consequences to which they are not unwilling to expose those who are their dupes. (Hear, hear.) "These armed associations," said his lordship, "pervade the country—by night and by day, directing themselves against all ' classes of tne cominunity—for the purposes not only of public but private vengeance. They prescribe on what terms land shad be let. Anybody disobeying their mandates is subject to have his proper destroyed—even the penalty of death indicted on him. They prescribe how, and by whom, persons shall be employed; thsy forbid labourers from working for persons ob noxious to them; and they forbid those who employ labourers from employing those whO are not completely subject to their orders. All this is enforced by acts of the greatest cruelty . and outrage—by spoliation—by burnings—by murders—by invas sions—by attacks on houses at dead of night—by setting fire to them—by bringing the inmates out—by cruelly beating them, even to such an extent that death ensues—or by intlictnos the lesser evil of immediate death. (Cries of "Hear.") Now it will be necessary that the second provision of this measure shall be calculated to put an end to these night meetings and night marchings." Any person assisting to enforce the taw as a witness, is denounced; and one instance his lordship said he must relate. Tnere is one case in which a mandate of pro scription was issued against an unfortunate female—an orphan child—whose mistress was ordered to dismiss her from her ser vice, because her mother had given evidence on one occasion on a trial for a capital offence. (Hear, hear.) This mandate, was, of course, issued under a threat of death. (Hear.) And documents of similar cases, sufficientli numerous to cover the table, had been forwarded to the government. In Cashel, so late as January, 29th, five armed men entered the house of an old man, aged seventy years, who had been warned to give up land he had held for two vears—he refused, on which the ruffians forced him to the 'door, and shut him through the heart. His own son was witness on the trial, and he was in timidated from giviug evidence against the murderers of his father. What further proof was wanting ? At the Kilkenny assi ses, on one trial the jury did not agree—considerable excitement prevailed--considerable apprehension of danger was entertained, and within half an hour after the jury were dismissed, a placard ap peared, stating the natoes,of those who were for the acquittal, and those who were for " blood"—as it was stated; for their names where actually headed in the placard, "blood—blood." The con sequence was, thatevery one of those who were for the conviction, and who were plaeardedas desirous of spilling blood, were obliged to leave the country. In another case, a gentleman, a—" I am really afraid," said Lord Grey, " to mention his name ; although on the point of asking your lordships for a measure under which names may be mentioned without danger—(hear)—a gentleman, whose father-in-law was murdered, wrote, in reply to the subpoena, that he would rather pay any . penalty than give evidence, for iu so doing he would be signing his 'death warrant. The most conscientious witnesses and jurors have done so, and prisoners boast that juries dare nut convict them. The murdered parties are generally poor persons, and tithes are not the cause of the dispute. The Attorney-General reported the following frightful list of crime, committed between the Ist of January, 1832, and the December of that year : homicides, `241; robberies, 1,179; burglaries, 431; burnings, 568; houghing of cattle, 290; serious assaults, 163; riots, '231; rescues, 353; illegal notices, from which I have just stated the csnsequences, 2,0 W; illegal meetings, 427; injuries to property, 796; attack on houses, 72.3; firing with intent to kill, 202; robberies of houses, 178; illegal administration of oaths, 164; resistance to legal process, 3; . resistance to tithes, 50; turning up the land, 20; taking forcible possession, 2; making alto gether a list of nine thousand and two . crimes committed within one year; and these crimes are on the increase from month to month. All these crimes, be it remembered, were committed in one province (Leinster) in the silo' t space of time already stated. Catholics as well as Protestants are murdered." He (Earl' Grey) felt not the least alarm that their lordships would think he came too early to ask this power. It was now probable that he should be blamed (and justly) for not listening to the strong appeals made from the opposite benches last session; but he was wilting to try all, and his hope had been bitterly disappointed. He had used all the power of law, backed by the most efficient army that Ireland ever saw—four times the number that quelled the rebellion there—(hear)—till it was clearly demonstrated that these could not support the law, he did not feel justified in going beyond the law. If his neglect of the advice offered from the opposite bench had aggravated the evils of Ireland, he de plored it as a neglect of duty, but it would show the necessity of acting now. His lordship now came to state the provisions by which he meant to remedy these evils. The bill to be pro duced included the spirit of several acts, both of the Irish and the English parliaments. In that part of the bill which relates' to the suppression of the Volunteer Association, the provisions are taken from the act of the Bth George the Fourth, chapter 1, commonly known by the name of the Proclamation Act. By this act, the Lord Lieutenant will be able to suppress, by order, the meetings of every assembly . deemed by him to be dangerous to the pubic safety, or inconsistent with the administration of the law • and all suppressed, or adjourned, or continued meet ings of the same, under any name or pretext whatever. Offences against this act will be misdemeanour at common law. Alio ther part of the act gives power to proclaim certain districts in a state of disturbance. la these districts new courts will be established, and a different form of trial had. Offences in these districts will be tried in the new court, and punished by the new regulations. Prisoners will hot be allowed to postpone or de lay their trials, for such offences against the public peace ought to subject those who commit them to such treatment as felons are now judged to be deserving of. By the proclamation of the Lord Lieutenant, announcing any district as disturbed, all the inhabitants are to be warned to abstain from seditious and other unlawful meetings, and to continue iu their houses from sunsettiug to sunrise. For since these midnight gatherings are able to elude the military, some power like this must be granted.. The provision is taken from the Insurrection Act. No meetings of a political character to be allowed without ten day's notice, and the Lord Lieutenant's permission; of course this only ap plies to the proclaimed districts. One clause followed, which nothing but necessity could prompt. 'the Insurrection Act leaves the trial of ofiendets to magistrates and courts of law; but magistrates, even the most upright, are too much intimidated to act boldly, and it has been seen that witnesses and jurors dare not observe the sanctity of their oaths through fear of death. "All these timings," said the noble earl, "appear to his Majesty's government to render it absolutely necessary that Ireland should, to a certain extent, be subject to martial laiw. The court mar tial will be enabled to try ail offences desciibed in various acts by the name of Whiteboyisin and other names, as well as of fences committed under this act. They will have the power of trying those offences and pionouncing in the same man ner as 'other courts-martial. (Hear ' hear, hear.) My lords I know that this is a substitution of unconstitutional courts for the ordinary courts of law ; and I feel all the pain that any oue can ,possibly feel in its adoption ; but then, to make law effectual for the suppression of all those evils, there seems to be no possibility of stopping short of what I have proposed. Courts-martial under this act shall consist of not less than seven or more than nine members, all of full age, and each of whom has held a commission in the army for two years, and they shall not have the power to try for death ex cept on the special direction of the Lord Lieutenant. This security, added to that aflbrded by the character and conduct of British officers, would make the law, which he acknowledged to be unconstitutional, but absolutely necessary, as safe as pos sible, especially as every court-martial must have as judge ad vocate, a King's counsel, or sergeant-at-law. Any person been out of his house from sunset to sunrise will be liable to punishment. Any person distributing seditious papers may be imprisoned for twelve months on conviction, unless he give tip his employer. If any one shall injure the character or endan ger the person or property of a witness or juror, he shall be transported for seven or fourteen years. Wear.; Officers on the court-martial to be free from prosecution for any discharge of their duty, but for any abuse of their power they may be tried by a court-martial, according to the articles of war. 'there will be thus established a limited martial law in the proclaimed districts, and - any person suing out a writ of habeas corpus within three modals, the answer to the writ shall be held suf ficient if it state that the person detained is so under this act. This is to prevent the danger of persons suing out their Habeas Corpus to evade the courts-martial. There were other subordi nate points which his lordship would not "then press." " Such, then,. my lords," said Eari. Grey, "is the measure which i have brought forward. It borrows some of its provisions front the Insurrection Act, and it particularly suspends the Habeas Corpus Act. hese arc powers which, in the ordinary exercise of justice, are absolutely iuscompatible with the British consti tution. But they are powers %theft the necessity of the case appears to me most loudly to call for, and which the state of Ireland can alone justify. On the maxim—"sales hvpuli, su previa her," it has been the practite of all governments, when the state of the country threatened public tranquillity—when order was destroyed—(hear, hear) and the liberty of the peo people in danger, to resort to the parliament of the catintry to give these extraordinary powers. My lords, the foundation of all true liberty is public order, and the moment that public order is destroyed, liberty ceases to exist. Under a .govern ment possessed - of arbitrary power, liberty could not exist; but under a government wanting power to controul such violence as I have described, the security of society would be at an end. I have stated to your lordships what have been the endeavours of government to enforce the law; how they have attempted to put au end to these illegal associations. Illegal they are, though by cunning devices they may be kept within the strict letter of the law. 1 have shown your lordships in what man ner the outrages which have been committed in Ireland, have affected property, and even the lives of the peaceable subjects of that country. (Hear, hear.) And in this extreme dilemma, my lords, with entire confidence I throw myself on your lord ships, and propose those measures which, I trust, will have the effect of putting an end to these associations. (Hear.) There is another pilot which I wish to mention, and which I forgot in the early part of my speech. ( Hear.) I mean a measure to change the venue in all cases where intimidation shall be prac tised, so as to enable the crown, if a fair trial cannot be had iu the neighbourhood of the place where the offence may be com mitted, to remove the trial, and to fix any part of the country, for the purpose of having a more fair and impartial jury." His lordship concluded by moving that the bill be laid on the table. (Great cheering.) Lord LONGFORD would support the measure proposed by the noble earl, but he would take that opportunity of saying, that while the present nobleman ( Anglesey) held the reins of govern ment in Ireland, no confidence would he placed in the govern ment of that country; and it was with no little astonishment that lie found his Majesty's ministers recommending this noble man to be continued in office in Ireland; for he it was who desired the people of Ireland to "agitate, agitate, agitate;" with respect to the measures proposed. He contended that coercion in this case meant protection, and it was in this view of the matter that he would support coercion. If coercion had been adopted a year ago, the state of Ireland would now be very different from what it is. _ _ The Duke of WELLINGTON would give the measure his best support., Had such a bill been carried into effect when he and others recommended its adoption sometime since, the case would have been very different in Ireland. They ought to have con tinued the Proclamation Act two years ago. The measure before the House did not strike at the root of that great evil, the perpetual conspiracy between the priests and the dema gogues. (Hear.) It was not strong enough to reach them. 'rhe noble earl must know that courts martial could only con vict upon evidence given upon oath; but if the intimidation which now existed was still carried on, the object for which courts martial were to be created would be defeated, for no evidence could be brought forward by which convictions could be obtained. He thought that when persons were arrested under this act, a magistrate should be present; for it would be too much to make military officers not only executive officers, but also to act in the capacity of police. (Hear.) He thought, too, that before the sentence of the court-martial was carried into effect, that it should have the sanction of the Lord-lieuten ant. The noble duke then observed, in reply to the noble earl, that the late government did not concede the measure of Catholic emancipation from the fear of civil war in Ireland. He denied that that measure had been forced from the government. In conclusion, he would support the measure before the House. The EARL of Lixatutinii complained of the attack made upon his noble relative by the noble lord (Longford.) Ile denied that his noble relative was the cause of agitation in Ireland; and the words " Agitate, agitate, agitate," had not the signifi cation put upon it by the noble lord; for the word agitate was meant in a legal sense. He would not say that his noble rela tive had the confidence of the country; but this he would say, that if his noble relative was so dangerous an individual as the noble lord had stated him to be, the noble lord had not done his duty as a peer of Parliament in not bringing his conduct before Parliament. Lord LONGFORD said, that he would have done what the noble earl had suggested he ought to have done, but that circumstances stood in his way. Lord ELDON was of opinion that the law should be respected, and to have it respected was to have it fairly administered. (Hear.) He gave the present measure his unqualified support, but he thought that the law should be so framed as to give it a coeval existence with the evil which it was intended to remedy. Earl GREY said that the noble earl (Longford) had laid dow:U the principle fairly of those measures intended to be proposed; that they were to be persevered in only as long as the necessity for them existed, and he hoped that period would be of short duration. So anxious were his Majesty's ministers for the limi tation of that period, that they had left a blank in the bill to be filled up hereafter. No person would hail with greater delight than he would, that the period during which the necessity for the continuance of this measure should exist, should prove to be of the shortest possible duration. (Cheers.) And he could assure their lordships that the proposed measures would not be allowed to remain in force longer than the necessity of them existed. (Cheers.) With this view it was that he intended to propose that they should continue in force till the termination of the next session of Parliament. It was impossible, under existing circumstances, that a shorter period could be named. The LORD CHANCELLOR said he concurred to the fullest extent, iu the motion of his noble friend, and he trusted that Parliament would see the necessity that justified his Majesty's Ministers in calling for extraordinary power—(hear, hear) and that such measures were absolutely necessary. The ne cessity of affording protection to the orderly and peaceable was a sufficient ground for their taking upon themselves the responsibility of this measure. Such protection was the first law of a State. The legislature had no right to claim obedi ence to its laws. The Crown no right to demand allegiance, if the legislature and the Crown did not afford in return for both protection of person and property.—( Hear, hear.) He would not trespass on their lordships with a detail of those facts upon which his Majesty's government claimed extraordinary powers, but he felt confident that no apprehension ought to exist of any undue exercise of such powers, for they would be confided to the hands of the noble marquess who now presided over the government of that country. In the wisdom, the firmness, and the humanity . which accompanied wisdom and firmness in a brave nature,—in the firmness and promptitude, —in all the sterner, as well as all the milder qualities of his nature, he had the most unbounded confidence ;—he had the fullest confidence that in such hands none of the powers to be conferred by this act would be abused, arid that on no occasion would they 'be called into action unless it were found to be ab solutely necessary. With this feeling of confidence were mixed up his knowledge of the affection of that noble lord for the people amongst whom he had so long resided, and to whose interests he was so warmly attached; and the conviction, that whenever it should be found necessary to carry those powers into action, firmness would, on all occassions, be tempered with mercy.—(Hear, hear, hear.) Lord LLLENBOIiOUGH thought their lordships should pause before they granted such powers, as no documentary evidence had been laid before them to show that any necessity for them existed. The Marquess of LANSDOWNE said, that the protection of the lives and properties of alb peaceable and industrious portion of his Majesty's subjects in Ireland, loudly called for such mea sures as were now proposed; and the very circumstances which had been stated by his noble friend who had brought them for ward, as forming the necessity on which the application for them was founded, were in themselves a sufficient answer to the noble baron's call for documentary evidence, which, by dis closing names and persons, would only have the effect of denouncing some of the best friends of order and just govern ment iu that country, to the vengeance of the breakers of the laws. The bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday. HOUSE OF COMIYIONS. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13. PETITIONS were presented—for the total extinction of tithes, by Mr. F. O'Consoli, from Youghal—for a reform of the Corporation of Scarborough, by Sir G. CAYLEY, from certain housekeepers and other inhabitants of that town—for a repeal of the duty on soap, by Mr. J. OSWALD, from the soapmakers of Glasgow, and by Mr. PATTEN, from Rochdale—for the house to proceed immediately to take measures for the extinction of colonial slavery, by Mr. PELHAM, from Conin„osby— for a repeal of the duties on malt, by Mr. PATTEN, from Rochdale— for a revision of the poor-rates, by Sir J. B. WILMOT, from Ather stone—for the better observance or the Sabbath, by Mr. ESTCOURT, from Tetbury—ognitol the assessed taxes, by General PALMER, from Bath—for the relu'al of the house and window tax, by Sir F. BURDETT, from the parish of St. Ann, Westminster. Mr. CORBETT said, that these taxes were odious on account of the notorious partiality that at tended their imposition. Laws, though severe, might be just, but they cannot be just where they are partial. The hon. gentleman re peated his former observations on the house tax, and said, before a penny was granted in a committee of supply, he hoped he should be able to persuade the house to inquire into the subject of taxation ge nerally. A MEMBER, whose name was not known inthe galleg, said the smaller branches of the assessed taxes were more annoying and degrading than the house and window taxes. The higher orders shel tered themselves from this by compounding for their assessed taxes. In answer to a question from Lord G. SOMERSET, it was stated by Lord ALTUORP that two bills were in preparation for newly regulat ing the Court of Exchequer. On the motion of Mr. WARM!, a return was ordered of the number of persons thst had been lost by shipwreck in the royal navy from the sth of January, 1816, up to the present period. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. IRISH CHURCH. Mr. O'CoNNELL said that upon the motion of the la Cambridge a return had been last night ordered of a Ireland in which divine service accordin‘ , to the forms churches of England and Ireland has not been celebrat three years ending the 12th of February, 1833." Nw frequently consisted of two or more parishes in Ii O'Connell) would move fur an amended return, by • turn of " all the parishes in Ireland" in which divine . celebrated within the period specified, so as to obtain thin whith it was desirable the house should have upon Mr. GOULBURN said, that such a return would afford cious species of information, as in the case of two unite tached to one benefice divine service could be only pert of them, though the parishioners of both parishos had attending it. As he understood the proposition.of the night, it was that where in the instance of a benefice no performed during the last three years, it would be in- the tain commissioners to - suspend the appointment to such it was for the purpose of obtaining accurate informati , tioint that he (Mr. Goulburn) had moved for the return ered. He did not understand the noble lord to apply hi to liarishes. Mr. O'CONNELL said, that the result of the two retuf would be that they would have correct information both formance of duty in the benefices and in the different knew himself of one benefice which was more than twe in extent. There were about sixty Protestants in the extreme point of it, and in the other parish of which it was neither a Protestant nor a Protestant church. Lord ALTHORP said, that his proposition certainly frees, and nut to parishes, and there could be no doubt or three parishes were united under one benefice divir be, as he believed was usually the case, only perfoi. them ; therefore, it did appear to him that the return the learned gentleman would give a fallacious view of the might occur such extreme cases, just such as that whir.' learned gentlelnan had mentioned, hut the return he _ would not point out such cases, while it would enumerate which divine service had nut been performed, but the which had full means of attending divine service in the to them. Mr. O'CONNELL said he would withdraw his motion for and give a notice of it for the purpose of shaping it in that the information which he desired should he laid bef THR EMBARL4O. Sir ROBERT Pext said he had meant to avail himself t. tunity of the question fur the house resolving itself into a of supply to make some observations upon the order in by his Majesty to prevent British subjects trading with authorizing the forcible detention of vessels helongim but as he saw neither the noble secretary for Foreign A. Attorney-Generalnor the learned civilian, the member ft Hamlets (the last of "whom had spoken with great contid legal and constitptional nature of the measure), in thw would pospone Ills remarks to another opportunity, whit would present itself on Friday. He wished it to be that it was not his intention to enter into any discussion to the general foreign policy of the government; he himself to the order in council authorizing the forcible vessels, THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CHARTER. Mr. BARING seeing the right hon. President of the 11.31. in his place, wished to know when he thought it likely t be able to bring the question of the East India Cor under the consideration of the house. He ventured the great importance of the question to every part of the k the great interests connected with it, rendered it ni subject of such magnitude should not be brought forw period of the session. lie was aware that there were tions before the house which would prevent this subject brought forward at present • but he was desirous of e: objection to have a subject of such vast importance broui, at a late period of the session. The noble lord had stated not his intention to move for the re-appointment of the mittee, and he (Mr. Baring) must say it appeared to him that was already in possession of sufficient information upon the the East India question ; indeed, his objection was rather to dance than the scantiness of evidence on the subject. Mr. C. GRANT said that the importance of the question the hon. member had referred could not be overrated. It 0 sent under the consideration of the government and the directors. The introduction of the subject into the .house would not be deferred to a late period of the session : inde , his intention to bring it before them at no distant period present time. Of course he could not pledge himself to moment, but he expected it would be before Easter. Mr. WARBURTON observed that a large portion of the taken before the committee in the last Parliament was not hands of members, and desired to know when it would be Mr. C. GRANT replied that the report of the cm been furnished to members a fortnight since. With res, evidence and the appendices, they were so voluminous tru been found impossible to complete the printing of them. 1 .4 ever, was not owing to any want of exertion on the part of the for he had been indefatigable. The house then resolved into a Committee of Supply, and a tion for granting a supply to his Majesty was agreed. to. The house then resumed. USURY LAWS. Mr. J. KENNEDY asked whether the Chancellor of the S t did not think that the question of the repeal of the usury hal had on former occasions been brought forward by the riP member for Manchester, might not with propriety be introda l government measure Lord ALTRORP answered, that it was not the intention of to bring forward any measure for effecting an alteration of referred to. He had never brought forward the question though he hail frequently suppoited it when it was agita learned gentleman, formerly a member of that house (Mr. Onslow.) THURSDAY. . PRIVATE BILLS were I;oughtin--; enable the trustee: A " Royston roads to arneud and improve them, by Mr. To w."'" amend an act fur the better employment of the poor of a Suffolk, by Lord HENNIKP.II—for a railway between London min hem, by Sir Grey SKIPWITII—to amend and improve. a Rochdale, by Lord M o LYN EUX—to repair a road in the parish o' brook, by Mr. Rinse—to light the town of Congleton, with Mr. WILBRAIIAN—for the better assessing and collecting ,_° l rates in the parish of St. Giles, Camberwell, by Mr. Hawns —ti ,'' castle-on-Tyne waterworks bill, by Mr. llonosoN. PETITIONS were presented for the immediate abolition of slavery, from a congregation of Protestant dissenters at Idle. in shire, - by Lord Morpeih—for some legislative provision for the.„ observance of the Sabbath, from Ewell, by Sir J. R. Itsin--fro .• tings, by Mr. P. Nor:nu—from Dumbarton, by Mr. Co LQU itoO ey Brighton, by Mr. Wins ev--at;ainst the grand jury laws, ti!b church cess, from Ed., , worth's-town, (Ireland,) by Mr. 1 against the duty on soap, from the soapmakers of Kilmarnock. DUNLOP. Major BP. tUCLE RE. presented a petition from certain indi, complaining, as was understood, of the incarceration of the Rc bert Taylor, on account of his religious opinions. Mr. CORBETT took that opportunity of observing that a d i . measure of justice appeared to he dealt out to different indit, Mr. TAYLOR was imprisoned for endeavouring to unchristias v country, but a petition which had been presented in favour of th e a few evenings since, had, to his great surprise, been receivedj. something likd cheers. That petition called for a removal of'/ disqualifications under which the Jews now laboured. Such sure would enable them to sit on the bench,—to act as justices ; peace,—in_ short, to do every thing that Christians could 1 1 °, Whenever a proposition of• that nature came before the Inisj should oppose it, as well as every other attempt to unchristianw country. - - Mr. Hume said he was sorry to hear the sentiments to will hon. member for Oldham bad just given expression ; and he 4 , that his Majesty's Government would immediately take the es) the petitioner into consideration. Mr. O'CoNNELL thought that government would not overlon • petition. Ile was no friend to blasphemy, but still he was of 0; that the persecution of men on account of their religious op was not in accordance with real christian feelings. The WO learned gent. alluded to the case of Cathie, and observed that 01 secutions instituted against him had increasad his profits: bpi moment that the system of prosecution was abandoned, his t 0, blasphemy . decreased. In his opinion, the best way would treat such individuals with silent contempt. Lt Mr. PRYME said that, as a member of a number of mles t e iti societies who were constantly sending out individuals to cone the christian faith nations which had long followed other desesti l of worship, he knew not bow he could, consistently . with free , YA opinion, punish any person who happened to argue in favour ofil gsous principles Ouch were opposed to those generally adoP t ` - i the community. Lord ALTHORP said that the prosecution of Taylor was not a g °‘ ,l meat prosecution. He thought nothing could fie more unfair °p christian than any attempt to put down fair argument, but .; christianity was attacked by ribaldry and the grossest exhibitio n ', question assumed a different character. AGRICULTURAL LABOVRERS. Sir THOMAS FRRIIMANTLR moved for some returns connected the p oor laws. On which Mr. CORBETT observed that if they would compel farmers to re a certain number of unmarried labourers into their houses, as used to do, much of the distress and misery of that class of Pe would be relieved. hear.) It was t h e k nown p r a c tice of f. P arliament to receive the affirmation of Qui bills, and bills of Divorce. The 22nd gyred, went the disabilities under which on to enact " that in all cases, what acts of Parliament now in force, or hereafter oatha Is, or shall b e allowed, authorized, or _ cr eation of a Quaker is to be taken—in al therein excepted." The right hou. the pit alon, Ar. Pease to make his affirmation at their 'LT, hear, hear.") He would not detain ,;' ik ellf begged to move " That it is the o; 'B " a t J. Pease Esq., is entitled to take h , on his so l emn ' asseveration and declaratt Ith taken at the table." (Loud cheering.) . e. Bout: ITOR-GENERAL said, that after havin very closely, he had come to the clear et tr ) 4 / se was foil)? entitled to his seat in that h os ' e ' l .e . had that right accordino . to the coma] ;i ti , m 2eki bear in ilind that tßere existed data in that house before the act of the stl co „, ore that time land;emers took their seots - ' l4o a law of the and all acts which w ' 1 ,' 10 . 1 1 law, might, had been, and ought QaJealousy, and in all cases ought to 1 ~Whatever might have been the feeling tiev e atholics in farmer times, the loyalty o h e - I; ueeu doubted. Under all these maims Ani nio 49 and trusted that the house wool n u d ec e i n s e io e n an in d fa sa v t o i u sf r a o et f to th a e to m s o o ti g o r t at, (h s e o i I:lls'etsetilion was and aotr then putoaft their from f t e h ll e ow e - h s a u t b r j , m a i ,41 Ti e s LAW REFORM. 'I ~." ' I c ITOR-GENERAL moved for leave to 1 a ll ,i ru edy abuses iu the law. The first was al Ira ; r ecoveries, and to make a simple deed su ri at „" a general limitation of twenty years, and ressession of that duration, all - claims shou that a father should be entitled to inhe a ~; ,Oer to his brother. The next was, that , - 4 .Plt of dower, out of real property, she shou ` e `,that of which her husband died siesed, ; uispose of by will. Lastly, that the husban; Mx u., his th Om wife's estate, whether she had chi e yf she had had children by a former marria t!1, 134 ,i).' hall Mr. O'Connell begged to e °ins should be made to include Ireland. I CORPORATION REFORM. , C HANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, the: ',l:ft Complaints of malversation in corporations Complaints of and hostilities ; so that, in cas mischief. (not assisted by the community) wer i l s , e llief- (hear, hear.) On the present occi lid not propose to bring in a bill on their ow they thought it best to submit the subject to :Yerinnitte e would not only have a laborious, to perform ; but the advantages which wouli cours e of proceeding more than counterbalanc rl ee• It was not his custom to trespass on 'Peaking, when he did not apprehend au 'ar,” and a laugh.) The inquiry into the cc 4 should be made conjointly with that into ; ,. °f England a n d Wales, that the institution rtes should be a ss imilated as much as possil b ecause, if the committee consisted entirely 0 ther e might be a feeling in it which would . re not quite so impartial as if the committee w; moved of th e U nite d Kingdom. (Hear, hear Vved f or t h e appo i ntmen t o f a committee. ' 't• A r ivrA N (11,istol) was amazed that, when ad such important business pressing for the relln uenl, it mould nevertheless, at so early It notice, have thought proper to charge a oe use with a matter ot such vast importance a ne tts details as the inquiry contemplated resp . 011 Ti . to us , 'se thought it would be better, as the get ca much i tse lf tile ca„... ." on upon other occasions, it it it s ov ," a the reform bill, to . propose anieas . ure . 10 _ it responsibility. Ile did not consider it ri d o ne Vejudiced against corperations—meni %Li i t :). rarliament during a period of extreme , r , , e elected into a tribunal to pronounce judge .wruese eorporations. hitt; Cisw ALD (Glasgow) moved an amendment, was to extend the inquiries of the committe ot tliti ` of leaving that kingdom to the abused and ith - „, k 1 11 °f a Lord Advocate. Great as might be itar ge - d 'uic a h the English and Welsh corporatio: rer e h , lose of Scotland were not a whit info pe tt ,), eY inferior to the iniquities which the hon. 14,. e 41br Dublin stated to prevail in the corporatic Th e ;,_ usia seconded the amendment. Kis t ,; - 04 ?uo ADVOCATE said he had prepared a me ttai i ii, ' the Scotch municipal corporations, wt. attorward at an earlier period and in a simpi ti nt :'meh would emanate from the committee I Vilo t . l.Y l which was the duty of the committee for ::I),,ai.n...,intna:tis, in f een done in 1793 for Scotland. In I !)r;,.,gLeat number of differently constituted and Th ee h ,„nus, therefore no one measure could appl 4,- fills Was aSncniiritllialantde,d.theThwilsioNl‘e,asiibeeffie• a t ! ,t effected n b s ) t . i qp4) . `"Y its hateful operation the whole form and l ot , 4 , 1 ' elections was smitten and laid prostrate. 4 i' ) ,,.. lll ,agistrates had originally been in the peoi SelC'u ni this statute, that, to prevent turnul t o , (a laugh) were no longer to have a part in th hem th enceforward the existing magistrates sh; ta r successors Well, then, here was the gy p „ 9iet remedy? Simply to abrogate that emu ril t - oin.popul ar constituencies in the boroughs. statN e et of the committee would be, first, te ie itd 1 ,0 the evil—next, to provide the reined - ! ;11 4 y r il l h both those cases with respect to the Sc. A. lll ear.) i t . h il ,dment withdrawn. Nit e -`,. W. RIDLEY (Newcastle -on-Tyne), as ie,. te r c iT' to denotmee a committeebefore its men 4 1)( . • For himself he rose, as one connecte krt e , t a ,tion, to state upon behalf of that corpora kto ;CI ready to Meet the inquiry of the lions m'''eir ma'nagement t're a i ° 'CO'NNELT. must take the opportunity of . 1 : lir , 4 . 11 0 g r to Englandtl i l e r e n la o n b ad l l e i i and e o li‘ r n d , ,g, lhises. includedex n tr e em f e c nt g mt r h a oe t r i e t i s tia tmr t i ; tipiitlet because he trusted that they were no h ear l,:til 1 1 ) . a h t e e ri t, eriaq existence enquiry - t but fn t determined othweacomrpo rn more ati serious o to l s c o i n r g r e rt e ihe t evia : atiq, ° P,e of haying these evils abated would gt or e g et turs to Ireland. The post which announ itu e ,; e ward-tranquillizing Ireland than the aril rs u ; il . The present condition of the Irish c s h i lment of the ingratitude of the English 4-0-'' subjects. Catholics there wer ex , clup o n ,. , 'eve n , ', limier the same pretence as in Scotia sp d i t tumult s The Stuarts gave the prod ( 0:y m ' i utenan't the force of law. They mad; !4;;,, nl ent alt powerful. Thus were ( he Ca iee e `l'tbeir lives and fortunes to the house I tl ;,, Ir uus the corporations, which were throw ,Aft e , ug ? , such as, he trusted, they would no' Rr l i i i - ' l :?mwellia . Ili, who fought against them. 41 . . p - a few words from Sir F. BURDETT, M Pl'enk t d itE, the motion was put and carried, ar Mr , r NAVAL AND MILITARY SINECURI 4 ' n MT . •` i umE then brought forward, in a long (erred respecting military and naval sinj Ptit te i ti lu the parliamentary proceedings t of I e'er` Ise then recognized by a eonnun ee, 1 Ilut au ranch of the üblic expenditure was a g he c „ t Y, and that sinecures in civil departm( akt4ltinned. lie was against payments whel P , tic 8 . °rv ices. He moved two resolutions; tl titi on 'Tssity of economy ; the second, reconu 11 1 ,: gilaial and military sinecures. izit, po L - ,-,, HANcELLoa of the n E XC HEQUER sa II " the first resolution ; but the second he :l e iit e „ vi uus question. These offices am:lmill he n:' " Pailiamcnt, and, therefore, the hou ult rper to check abuse; but, eveu . , as _rt.ga. i e I.,!ntents were in progress, particularly We; O s ; n aut-uovernors of some of the We; en e Z l T t. w „as. to be one Governor for several islai i 1 4 -k. overtior at each island was , to be z a_ th s would effect a saving of £16,01) or l ' . 4 : l. : _,departnients, as in that of the Admiiall ,;-erable reductions, so that the sentiment ;LJ• Graham, and others, when in oppcsi I 'nu now they were in °Rice i' ;:,71°"‘ WitAAA NIS addressed the house in 1 e ' , Peculiar circumstances. . lie had neve : 41 ber of that assembly. He had been sen . "'sent. Wear ! and laughing.) lie had u tuents (immoderate laughter) until he we] e at fofthe confidence they had reposed ii ear.itets 0 r bear. f L ~ Purliainel itnis ~..re bills a ti r ti :t rnso , i N Re itier r aerd,. e )fleavinsern ' e:ti ire, selarvita oath is, ho ttst e a ffirmati, ,on v"" tberei oil :X:lllelt ts i on, rtitool4llnit Air p erfo if ~ , • a d tb , i ot„ &Lear, 1 he no;i4ber, but no tig.ouse th at the ?lolls; on 13 aell blie oath tak natiotuThe ~.0 torn j t d, ;e , Lo iy In3ri t io iit Vet ) Cith Olonse lie, , nt pa,akic, " 1 tvrenti—th.,l gifts he P7.he Co 1.01 it eon' that co I:Qui 10 .t'ac ap i plie:t i 11 Nai l , it t tat, berall • inc seTto it t , J. oracdpiad net ti i irn ill fore, h ell f the rO ili , eh t t i e h tto , 11 , ani ttt 1 ! had 'g i ve ind crate 80 ,eati:tt ..-t pa .., 1 Ih e i',. e pan ' to eo zei n for t i t 7 1. in sac , ' b. - ue s e/ olls ae10 , .. , .- - sue ~0 ret elf of thlexl rod t tit° ait er was a in co i , 8e p c rich as i t t : i u wa A , ging tl, II ~ a b rot a Arra. - a. a r i„, ler for out ~,SEI itiden .id notui th 1 thoir c hina (lb which cal u p , t that . 0 he 0 , at If ;ion w , 4e oti on' th ible it ' e b i ll i Th. " R. ~.,' lift Board pry cot •ly that,, `, dim., =pan) rparatrill 1 to so.? e ~n : .. he kin , : , et 7t . th neces.- , ... t ~ did i )rwara ', ; the, re acre ' 'at con i bjeet f ' ay toA 1)( If eXPr . . Li b fetis r at( o tt.htiret u hoe: : inaoe h ntt h t stti: : l erliit i he te c , r int:sa t I cielf ere : e : .s 1. 10 0 " d bee; ad the e 6 e rB 5 the; howe _A 01A n, R : iade7 hie, period 1., •,-, _ 1 711.) self to tts sv. ' ot or it . of the e e , 'h ar t vas not 1 ovei rl uld be P. Lhoat comini e h 111 noun ihr, t • di . oo ;h resve_l u°g THE CASE OF Ml. PEASE. Mr. C. W. WyWN, who was loudly called for, rose asi e ,i great and long continued cheering. lie said he had now t° the attention of the house to the case of the hon. me mber refused to take the oaths usually administered to membersy taking their scats in that house. He conceived that this purely a judicial question—(hear,)—and that they were aef in a judicial, and not in a legislative capacity. (Hear.) 4t select committee had found it necessary to look into se% acts and regulations. The first act relatino• to Quakers intituled "an Act for preventing the Mischlefs and D an which might arise, by certain persons elated Quakers, refl.') to take lawful oaths." The first and only case which the L. 4 mittee found to have arisen as to the question of admissibn of a Quaker to sit in that Valise, was that of John Archl elected for the borough of Chipping Wvcomb, who, on U`j elected in the reign of William 111. - , refused to take the and was, in consequence, prevented from taking his se 3 ,i parliament. The statute of the 7th and Bth of William, ever, intituled an Act that the solemn Affirmation and Dec`a tion of the people called Quakers shall be accepted inste 4 , an Oath in the usual form, goes on to say that such should, instead of such oath, affirm, in the presence of Ala", God, the truth of their statements. Now, he considercui terms of this act as clear and distinct as possible ; that It down, in the broadest and most distinct terms, what wer e , intentions of the legislature at that period. (Hear, l' e ,, From this there was no doubt in his mind that the indulg' thus extended, to give his affirmation to all cases where an was otherwise: necessary, extended to his inning in that 1 , ~ ,