The Sun. — London, England, 1840-03-18 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE DAILY PAPERS OF YESTERDAY. (From the Globe.) Ultra-Anglican, and Ultramontane Roman Catholic bigotry, resemble each other so closely, that it would seem surprising they cannot agree better, if bigots ever agreed the more for resembling each other closely. The Rev. Messrs. Wilberforce, and the most Rev. Dr. M‘ Hale, smell so completely to one nosegay —held so completely the same language and pre tensions—that it is really a pity they cannot make a joint-stock concern of it. Assuredly it is fortunate for the Melbourne Administration, that such formidable adversaries Cannot combine their forces. And perhaps it may be regarded as in some degree providential— the sort of mutual repulsion existing between such very fiery particles, which would, doubtless, blow us all up, if they did not waste so much heat on each other. Archdeacon Wilberforce says very truly, though we do not see how it serves his purpose— "lf Christianity be true, it must, like the God from whom it comes, be all-present everywhere. It is the aim, the object, the manner, the tone of teaching, which makes it religious or secular. Dogmatic theology has been, alas ! too often made most secular instruction. Ciphering may be made religious. This is the great principle at issue. Education is a simple body ; it cannot be resolved into the elements of secular and spiritual. The attempted separa tion of its fancied parts can lead only to its absolute anni hilation." Archdeacon Wilberforce imagines these sentences tell against the views of Government. To us they seem to tell more against " dogmatic theology," when a aimated (" alas too often I") by a secular spirit. (From the Standard.) We have just received the return of the Irish corn mittals during the year 1839. After all that the pablic i i has lately heard o f the tranquillity oF Ire land, i t may naturally ex p ec t a considerable diminu tion n the committals, particularly in the• com mittals for the class of offences accompanied by violence. We are sorry to say, however, that such expectation will be grievously disappointed. The committals for murder and manslaughter, in 1839, amounted, according to the return, to the frightful num ber of six hundred and eighty-seven ; the largest annual amount, we believe, even in the black catalogue of Irish crime. The committals for murder and manslaughter, in the first year of Whig government 1831, reached no farther than 010, and on the average, of the twenty years preceding, years of Tory misgovernment and Orange ascendancy, they did not pass 100. They have multiplied, however, threefold, under the benign influence of Whig Administration, and we are told by men who do not laugh in our faces, though they must laugh inwardly when they utter the audacious false hood, that the tranquillity of Ireland has prodigiously improved. They tell us that there are no faction fights now ; perhaps not—the populace are better drilled, and now know whom to murder. (From the Courier.) It is the people, and not the Clergy, who should re medy the: defects of which Mr. Baines complains. We have never fora moment entertained a notion of in flicting ra mischief upon any portion of the community, and th erefore we have not said a word about the proprioty of restoring to the Clergy the funds, small or la' rge, which are collected from them under the name of First Fruits and Tenths, because they ar© devoted to the improvement of the cire umstances in which the more indigent of the body are placed. We would not injure these indigent p 'rsons, and therefore have left untouched the justice of t he foundation on whi c h Qu een Anne's Bounty is placed. There are far more equitable means of increasing the -value of unrequited exertions without resorting to the measures proposed by the opponents of our national es tablishments, and elaborated by the gentlemen who have kindly interested themselves in a matter in which they are in no sort of manner concerned. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT ROUSE OF LORDS, MARCH 17. Their Lordships met at Five o'Clock. CHURCH PATRONAGE (SCOTLAND). The Duke of ARGYLL presented petitions against Sie existing system of Church patronage in Scotland. POOR-LAWS. Lord SEGRAVE presented several petitions from Stroud, and other places in Gloucestershire, in favour of an amendment of the present Poor-laws. INTRUSION OF MINISTERS. The Earl of GALLOWAY complained of the de lay on the part of the Government in bringing forward a measure to conciliate the dissensions which were agi tating Scotland from one end to the other. He had, in deference to his Noble Friend behind him, abstained from proposing any measure himself, and he was willing to leave the matter in the hands of the Government, if they would undertake it. But he assured their Lordships that it was necessary for the Legislature to take some steps for the purpose of reconciling the authority of the Courts of Law, and the rights of the proprietors with the interests of the Church, and the proper exercise of cle rical authority. He regretted to see the clergy of the ,Scotch Church resorting to the same unworthy means of agitation by which the Roman Catholic clergy had acquired- so much notoriety and importance. Tae Marquis of LANSDOWNE said he could not allow the observations of the Noble Earl to pass with out stating that neither he nor any other person was justified in supposing that, because the Govern ment had delayed to bring forward a measure on this important subject, there had been any delay whatever in its consideration. On the contrary, that consideration was given to it at an early period ; and it was only that great importance of the question to which the Noble Earl had referred, and the very circumstances he had stated, that had pre vented the Government from bringing a measure for ward, and he (Earl of Lansdowne) would much rather incur, on the part of the Government, the reproach of de lay than that of launching precipitously upon it before they had made themselves acquainted with the opinions and circumstances connected with the transactions in Scotland on the subject. This was not the time for him to refer to the assertion of the Noble Earl that the Scottish clergy had borrowed the practices of the Roman Catholic clergy because it would invite dis cussions on the subject that had better be deferred until it came more formally before the House, and he should therefore defer making any observations on those which fell from the Noble Earl on that subject. The Earl of GAL LOWAY was glad that what he had said had elicited a more explicit declaration of the intentions of the Government than they had before given. He was far from making against the Scottish clergy generally the imputation the Noble Marquis had attri buted to him ; on the contrary, he had specially stated there were exceptions known to him. If the Noble Marquis had spoken the honest intentions of the Government, he the Earl of Galloway) must be most unreasonable not to be perfectly satisfied. The Earl of ABERDEEN suggested that in taking ample time to consider the nature of the measure (if one were to be proposed), the Government would re member an important event with respect to the fate of any measure, would take place in the month of May, when the General Assembly met, and it was of essential importance that the measure, if it were to be introduced, should be considered before their meeting. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE explained that he had not stated the Government had decided upon bringing forward a measure, but that they would speed ily decide whether or not they would do so. Lord REDESDA LE presented several petitions against any alteration in the Corn-laws, against the Irish Municipal Corporation Bill, and against any farther grant to the College of Maynooth. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY' presented peti• tions from Scotland against the intrusion of ministers. Lord FITZGERALD presented a petition from the town of Galway, praying that that town niay be excepted from schedule A of the Irish Municipal Re form Bill ; also a petition from the Corporation of Drogheda, against the same Cord MELBO URNE, in answer to a question from a Noble Lord, said that an address from the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada had been forwarded to the Government relating to the subject of emigration, and that the address would receive their consideration. The Earl of GALLOWAY presented a petition from a parish in Hereford, and another from the town of Lingharn in Norfolk, against the Irish Municipal Corporation Bill ; also petitions from the same places against any further grant to the College of l‘laynooth. The Marquis of WESTNIEATH presented a peti tion from a parish in Berkshire against any alteration in the Corn-laws. Lord ELLENBOROUGH moved that the Regis trar. General of deaths, births, and marriages in London (as we understood), should present a report of the num ber of persons who had died of the small-pox in the year 1839. Loyd's Divorce Bill was read a third time and passed. THE EXCHEQUER RECORDS. Lord MONTEAGLE said that, in answer to a question which had been put to him on a former night, by a Noble Lord opposite, he was able to state that none of the Exchequer records which had been destroyed by order of the late Comptroller of the Ex chequer were of the least importance. They were papers of a class which, having been used as temporary records, had usually been sold as waste paper. That practice was put an end to, and it was considered pre ferable to destroy the documents when they were no longer useful. Lord REDESD ALE regretted that the papers were destroyed, because, although they might be of little Ivalue to the Comptroller of the Exchequer, many people would be desirous of possessing them even at a ' higher price than waste paper. Lord MONTEAGLE replied, and the House ad journed at Ten Minutes before Six. HOUSE OF COMMONS 1114 Rem 17. The SPEAYER took the Chair shortly before Four o'Clock. The Protestant Dissenters' Assurance Company Bill, and the Freethorpe Enclosure Bill, were severally read third time and passed. 7 - - ,- - -- -- - t, -,--- rilt ~ , _ el, 4, .-.`') / i' The South Eastern Railway Company Deviation Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com mitted. _ _ Lord G. SOMERSET presented a petition from Monmouth against the Taff Railway Bill. Mr. LOCKHART presented several petitions from places in the county of Lanark in favour of the prin ciple of Non-intrusion ; and one from an individual in Strathaveu, prayinc , for Universal Suffrage, Annual Parliaments, and Vote ' by Ballot. It was almost un necessary for him to say that he could not support the prayer of the petition. Mr. FRESH FIELD presented a petition signed by 757 solicitors, expressing great regret at the pro ceedings of the House in the late case of Stockdale v. Hansard, and praying that attorneys might be protected while acting legally under the direction of the Courts. Also one from a parish in the diocese of Oxford, pray ing for Church Extension. On the motion of Sir E. KNATCHBULL the South Eastern Railway Bill was read a second time. Mr. CODRINGTON presented four petitions in favour of Church Extension, and one from the solicitors of Stroud, praying for the enlargement of Mr. Howard. Captain ALS A.GER presented a petition from Rich mond, in Surrey, in favour of Church Extension, and one from Sawley, in Derbyshire, against the Ecclesias tical Duties' and Revenues' Bill. Mr. CARTWRIGHT presented petitions from Towcester, and 14 other parishes in Northampton shire, in favour of Church Extension, and one petition against any grant to the College of Maynooth. An HoN. MEMBER presented a petition from Bever ley in favour of Church Extension, and two petitions from the county of York, against any alteration in the Corn-laws. Mr. CHICHESTER presented a petition from Norfolk, against the Corn-laws. Mr. PLUNIPTRE presented several petitions from various places against any further grant to the College of Maynooth ; also a petition from Suffolk, against the Irish Municipal Corporation Bill. Mr. W. DU NCOM BE presented forty-five petitions from the county of York against any alteration or repeal of the Corn-laws. Also two petitions against further grants to the College of Maynooth and in favour of Church Extension. Mr. M. PHILLIPS presented a petition, signed by 5,144 hand-loom weavers of Manchester, praying for the repeal of the Corn-laws. The 'Hon. Member said he was specially requested by the petitioners to have the petition read by the Clerk, which was accordingly done. The HoN. MEMBER. also presented a petition signed by the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Manchester, on behalf of that body, praying for a total and immediate repeal of the Corn-laws. The petition directed the attention of the House to the great increase which had taken place in the cotton manufacture, and more particularly to the fact that only one quarter of the quantity of cotton manufactured was consumed in this country, and they drew from that fact an inference, that the time was past when it could be said that the home customer was the best one. The petition also exposed the fallacy of the arguments for the Corn-laws, which were based on the assumption that it was detrimental to the interests of the country to be dependent upon foreign countries for a supply of food, and prayed for a total and immediate repeal of the Corn-laws. Also a peti tion with a similar prayer, from the agricultural la bourers of some parish in the county of Warwick. PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Sir R. INGLIS held in his hand a petition, to which lie was desirous of drawing the attention of the House. It was from the Times and the Morning Post, and stated that the petitioners had notice of a bill, which was progressing through that House for the protection of the printers of that House. The petitioners stated that it was indispensably necessary that they should report and republish the reports pub lished by order of the House ; and that the utility of such reports was derived in a great measure from the circulation which they received through the medium of the daily press—that they would be unable to publish these reports henceforth, and to give them such useful circulation, without subjecting themselves not only to indictments for but to actions for damages from individuals, who might think them selves aggrieved by such publication, if pro tection were exclusively granted to persons printing such reports by order of the House. They therefore prayed that no Bill might be permitted to pass into a law granting exclusive protection to the printers of the House, and which did not also grant similar protection to persons republishing those reports. He did not intend moving to have this petition printed, but if some Hon. Member did not, before the third reading of the Bill alluded to, take up this question, he should certainly direct the attention of the House to the subject. Mr. WADDINGTON presented a petition from some parish in Suffolk against any alteration in the Corn-laws. Mr. ELLIOT presented several petitions from dif ferent places in Scotland in favour of a repeal of the Corn-laws. Mr. C 0 LQU 110 U N presented nineteen petitions from different places in Scotland against the non-intru sion of ministers in the Church of Scotland. Also a petition from Kilmarnock against any alteration in the Corn-laws. Also a petition from the Commercial As sociation of Glasgow in favour of an equalization of the duties on East India produce. The Hon. Member moved that the latter petition be referred to a Select Committee on East India Affairs.—Ordered. Lord DALMENY presented several petitions from various places in Scotland in favour of a total and imme diate repeal of the Corn-laws. Sir J. GRAHAM presented a petition from the pa rish of St. Thomas, Glasgow, against the intru s ion o f ministers into the Church of Scotland. Mr. CRAWFORD presented a petition from per sons engaged in the trade with China, praying for an inquiry on the part of the House on the subject of the seizure of opium in that country in March last. The pe. tition was ordered to be printed and circulated with the votes, and the Hon. Member stated that it was his in tention to found a motion presently on the petition. Mr. ELLIOT presented a petition from Kelso, against Church Intrus'on in Scotland. - Lord JOHN RUSSELL presented a petition from certain inhabitants of Prince Edward's Island, in favour of Church Extension in the British Colonies. Mr. lIU ME presented various petitions from parishes in Devonshire in favour of the repeal of the Corn-laws, also five petitions from Glasgow, praying for Universal Suffrage and Vote ►,y Sir G. STRICKLAND presented two petitions from parishes in the West Riding of Yorkshire, pray ing for a total abolition of the Corn-laws ; also a peti tion to the same effect, from a parish in the East Wding of Yorkshire, signed by 278 individuals, all agriculturists. Mr. STANLEY presented a petition from a parish in Cheshire, again3t the Beer Bill. Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT presented petitions, we think from Shropshire, in favour of Church Ex. tension. PRACTICE OF SURGERY. Mr HUME presented a petition complaining of the absence of effective regulations to prevent the practice of unqualified persons in surgery. CORN-LAWS. Mr. GROTE presented petitions for a repeal of the Corn-laws. Lord MORPETH presented a number of petitions to the same effect, from various parts of the counties of York and Lancaster, also (we believe) from a parish i❑ Ireland, which, the Noble Lord said, had one peculiarity, that it was written, not in plain prose, but in verse.— ( Hear, hear, and cries of " Read.') And the petitioners had doubtless adopted that novel mode in order, the more surely to attract notice to their painful statement (which unfortunately was too well borne out by letters he had received) as to the distress prevailing in their part of the country. Thy Noble Lord also presented petitions from Presbyterians of Ulster against intrusion in Scotland. Also petitions from Yorkshire, for alteration in the bastardy clauses of the New Poor Law. Mr. J. LOWTHER presented a petition from York, praying for measures to settle the disputes with China. INDIA. Mr. GOULBURN presented a petition praying (we beli eve ) t h at no f urt h e r alteration might take place in the relation of the duties between East and West Indian produce. S. O'BRIEN presented a petition from Ireland against the repea l o f t h e C orn -l a ws, and against the Bill for the importation of foreign flour into Ireland. Mr.,e9UNTY CONSTABULA RY. MAIJLE presented the Bill for County Constabulary, which was ordered to be printed. NEW WRIT. On the motion of Sir THOMAS FREMANTLE a new writ was i ssued for the County of Inverness, in the room of Francis William Grant, Esq., younger, of Grant, deceased. CORN LAWS. Mr. THORNELY, in the absence of his Honourable Colleague, Mr. Villiers, which was occasioned by a domestic loss, gave notice that on Tuesday, the 31st of March, Mr. Villiers would move that the House resolve itself into a Com mittee of the whole House, to take into consideration the 9th of George IV. regulating the importation of foreign corn. BANKS. Mr. WODEHOL:SE said that in the dropt notice s of yesterday, there was a notice of the Chancellor o the Exchequer for the nomination of the Bankin g C o mmittee, and another in his (Mr. W.'s) name on th e same subject. He trusted it would not appear pre sumptuous in him to state that it was his intention to move an amendment to the notice of the Chancellor of the Exchequer fbr nominating the Committee, which the House was aware had reference only to those banking establishments issuing notes payable on demand. The amendment he should move would he, that the Committee " should also inquire in what manner the industry and the productions of the people were connected with and influenced by the cir culation of internal bills of exchange." Lord JOHN RUSSELL rose to order. The no tice was irregular, inasmuch as the Committee had been appointed for certain purposes. He begged to ask the Speaker whether these words could be now added to that resolution. The SPEAKER apprehended it was not competent for the Hon. Member to move that amendment, the House having already sqtled the question upon which that Committee was to be appointed. All the House had to do was to name the Members who were to form that Committee. CHINA. Mr. CRAWFORD gave notice that on the `34th of March he should move that the petition of the proprie tors of opium delivered up to Captain Elliot, her Ma jesty's Superintendent, for the service of her Majesty's Government, be referred to a Select Committee. Mr. HUME gave notice that he should move the names of Sir Henry Parnell and Mr. Thornely be added to the Banking Committee. Mr. RAIKES CURRIE gave notice that he should move Mr. Warburton's name be added to the same Committee. CONSTABULARY. Mr. GAL LY KNIGHT gave notice that on going into Committee on the County Constabulary Act Amendment Bill, he should move an instruction to the Committee to introduce a clause to provide that one fourth of the expense of the constabulary be paid out of the Consolidated Fund. IRISH MENDICANCY. Lord MORPETH gave notice that on Thursday the 19th inst., he should move for leave to bring in a Bill for the suppression of mendicancy in Ireland. CANAISA-CLERGY RESERVES. Lord JOHN RUSSELL observed that on a former day a question was put to him with respect to a Bill which had been received from Canada, and which had passed the Legislative Assembly of Up per Canada, with regard the Clergy reserves. He wished to give notice that ho should lay that Bill on the table on Monday next ; and that, at the same time, he should move the consideration of the pa pers which had been laid on the table with re gard to the affairs of Canada, and that he should propose on that day to ask leave to bring in a Bill for the re-union of the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada. Mr. PAKINGTON wished to know whether the Bill for the arrangement of the Clergy Reserves met with the sanction of the Noble Lord opposite (Lord J. Russel') and her Majesty's Government. Lard J. RUSSELL said he would give an answer to the Hon. Member's question on Monday next. Sir J. GRAHAM moved for certain returns relative to China.—Agreed to. Lord G. SOMERSET moved fo? certain returns re lative to the County Constabulary Force.—Agreed to. Sir H. HARDINGE wished to know when the returns he had moved for relative to the Barrack De partment would be laid on the table? Sir H. VIVIAN was in hopes he should be able to lay them on the table of the House in a few days. CHIEF JUSTICE OF UPPER CANADA. Mr LEADER wished to ask the Noble Lord at the head of the Colonial Department, by whose permission and by what authority the Chief Justice of Upper Canada had been absent from his post for the last year and a half, by whom his duties had been performed during his absence, whether he had received his Canadian salary, during his residence in this country, and whether it was his intention after so long an absence, to resume his duties in Upper Canada ? Lord JOHN RUSSELL, in answer to the length ened question put to him by the Honourable Mem ber, bad to state that the Chief Justice of Upper Canada had obtained leave of absence from the Secretary of State from time to time, first of all from Lord Glenelg, and latterly from Lord Norrnanby. that leave had expired, and he (Lord J. R.) had gis en notice to the Chief Justice of the necessity of his re turning to his duties. In answer, that Learned Person informed him that he would be ready to return about the middle of April, his duty, as a matter of course, had been performed by the remaining Judges in Upper Canada. With respect to the salary received by the Hon. Gentleman, be (Lord J. Russell) was not fully informed, but he knew that his case had followed the same rule as other official persons, who, upon being absent from their duty on leave of absence, received half salary. From what he had already stated, the Hon. Gentleman's last query had been answered. In answer to a query from Lord G. LENNOX. _ . Sir H. VIVI AN said he could not say whether it was the intention of the Naval and Military Com mission to meet again or not, that would depend upon the Duke of Wellington. It was in consequence of the lamented illness of the Noble Duke, that the Report of the Commission had not been laid upon the table. He trusted that it would be soon ready, and laid on the table. In answer to a question from Mr. GORING, Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he had already given notice of his intention to introduce the Poor-law Com mission Bill before the Easter recess, and to have it printed. PRINTED PAPERS. Lord MAHON inquired when it was intended to bring up the Report on the Printed Papers Bill, which was now a dropped Order from yesterday. Lord J. RUSSELL—When the dropped Orders were considered, it was his intention to ask leave of the House to bring up the Report then. It was his intention to propose the third reading of the Bill on Friday next. . _ Sir E. SU GDEN hoped that an opportunity would be reserved to him for bringing up his clauses. Lord J. RUSSELL understood the Honourable and Learned Gentleman intended to bring up his clauses on the third reading of the Bill. Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET had moved for certain papers connected with the case of Mr. Ste phenson about ten days ago, and he wished to know when they were likely to be laid on the table. Lord J. RUSSELL was not aware of the situation in which these papers were. Colonel WOOD begged to ask the Honorable Member for Finsbury when he intended to bring for ward his motion relating to the Coroners of Middlesex. Mr. W AKLEY—This evening. NON-INTRUSION. Lord CASTLEREAGH begged to ask whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to bring forward any measure on the subject of non-intrusion ? Lord J. RUSSELL was not then prepared, but would give the Noble Lord an answer in the course of a few days. The dropped Orders of the Day of Monday were then read over. On the Order of the Day for the second reading of the Ecclesiastical Duties and Revenues Bill being read, Lord .1. RUSSELL said it was his intention, if the House had sat yesterday, to have stated that he did not intend to move the second reading of the Eccle siastical Duties and Revenues Bill at present. He had received within the last few days a proposition for cer tain persons who had been long engaged in the ma nagement of deans and chapters, and as the Bill in its present shape was not likely to meet the approbation of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other dig nitaries of the Church, it was his intention to submit it to them before it was again brought forward. He should therefore postpone the second reading till Fri da), se'nnight. _ PRINTED PAPERS. Mr. STEWART brought up the Report on the Printed Papers Bill. Sir EDWARD SUGDEN rose for the purpose of moving that a clause be added to the Bill, of which he had given notice on a former evening: it was to the effect that if any process of law should he put an end to under the provisions of that Bill, any person or persons who might have been committed by either House of Parliament as guilty of con tempt for having brought, or having been concerned in bringing, such actions should, on such actions or processes being put an end to under the provisions of the Bill, be immediately discharged by the House by wlich such individual had been committed. The House had exceeded the powers which it had hitherto been understood to possess, and it now sought by legislation to obtain a greater power than it had ever hitherto enjoyed. The House, if this proviso were not introduced, might, under this Bill, put an end to the action, and yet keep the person bringing such action in custody. The clause he proposed would not interfere with the House, as long as it abstained from having re course to the provisions of this Bill. If the House thought it possessed the necessary power for putting a stop to any proceedings without having recourse to this Bill, the clause would not affect that power. But if they had recourse to the Bill, he thought it proper that some such clause should be introduced as a safeguard to persons committed by the House. The clause was then brought up and read a first time. On the motion that it be read a second time, Lord JOHN RUSSELL opposed the second read ing of the clause as directly interfering with the privi leges of the House. Wishing to maintain the privileges of the House, he should opposf.' the clause.—(Hear.) Sir R. INGLIS said he concurred in the clause, and he wished to draw the attention of the Noble Lord to a petition which he (Sir R. Inglis) had pre sented at an earlier period of the evening, from the Printers of the .illot nin , 4 - Post and the Times, praying that the protection of this Bill afforded to the p r i n t er o f the House might be ex tended t o th e pr i n t ers o f newspapers, a claim which certainly app eare d t o b e groun ded in justice ; for if the publications o f t h e H ouse were t o be protected from actions, why of th e House • ' bona fide c o pi es o f t h e should publications which were only proceedings of the House Profeexposedssingby to be injured the proceedings because it was not the blue books, l et i t b e observed, whi c h were read by the public,transcripts but the of them published in the d a il y papers. Upon the third reading of the Bill he should, if no other Member took the question up, move a clause to carry out the prayer of the petitioners. The clause was then negatived without a division, the Report was agreed to, and the Bill was ordered to be read a third time on Friday. Sir E. SUGDEN said that he had received a letter from Mr. Howard, stating that he had brought the action against the officers of the House for excess in the execution of the orders of the House. Mr. HUME wished to know whether it was the in tention of the Government to proceed with the Supply to-morrow. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was not his intention to proceed with it tomorrow. MUTINY BILL. On the motion of Mr. MACAULAY the House went into Committee oa the Mutiny Bill. Clauses up to 5 were agreed to without any amend ment ; on clause 6 being put, Lord ELIOT wished to call the attention of the Secretary at VVar to a circumstance that was greatly complained of in his part of the country. By a change which had taken place in one of the clauses of the Mutiny Bill, persons enlisting in the army were taken from the jurisdiction of Magistrates, so that when a man de serted his wife and family, and enlisted in the army the country obtained the benefit of his ser vices, and his wife and family became chargeable on the parish. Mr. MACAULAY observed that a married man who deceived the officer on enlisting by re p resen ti ng that he was unmarried, was liable to puiaishment under the present military law. Sir H. HARDINGE said, when a regiment was ordered on foreign service, only six wives were allowed to follow each company, while it was well known, that the married men were six times that number. The women and chi:dren then had to go to their parishes, so that he saw no difference between the case ofa married soldier and one who enlisted after his marriage. After a few words from Lord SOMERSET and Mr. HUME as to the inconvenience attending the present sys tem of carrying baggage on marches, the clauses were agreed to. The House then resumed, and Mr. BERNAL brought up the Report. The House then went into Committee on the Marine Mutiny Bill. The several clauses were agreed to and the House re sumed. The Report was ordered to be received to-morrovf. UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW. Mr. WALLACE then rose to bring forward the motion of which be had given notice. His ob ject was to show that for three or four years past a practice had prevailed of havine political - clubs established in the University of' Glasgow, which were encouraged by the professors and at tended by them. He believed such a system to be extremeiy dangerous to the youth, who were sent to the University for the purpose of education, and that it was also most unwarrantable and impolitic. He had himself been applied to to become a member of the Liberal Association of the University of Glasgow ; but he refused, because he thought it inconsistent, and unbecoming the character of that Institution to convert it into a political ,arena. He was aware that a very able public person, who was now no more (Sir D. K. Sandford), presided over the first meeting of the Uni versity Peel Club ; and gentlemen who belonged to his country, and especially to the west part of Scotland, must know that in respect to the junior classes espe cially, the colleges might more properly be designated Grammar Schools, as a large proportion of the lads were no more than fourteen or fifteen years of age. He would put it to the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Tamworth. whether it was a course which he could defend in the face of the country, to induce youths of the ages he had mentioned to congregate for political purposes, or to go to convivial meetings, to sit there for hours, to be excited by speeches and toasts, and to indulge in wine ad libitum —(A laugh)—in which the Right Honourable Baronet knew very well they were in no ways restrained. He hoped to have the support of Hen. Members op posite, and that they would think it their duty to assist him in putting down this nuisance, as he would term it. He found no less than five Professors of the University were in the habit of attending these Tory con vivial meetings, but he had letters from three Pro fessors declining to become members of the Liberal Association, which was instituted in opposition to the Peel Club, and expressing their disapprobation of per sons in their situation lending themselves to any such societies. He would not waste the time of the House by reading those letters, but would mention the names of the writers. They were Professors Nichol, James Thomson, and Thomas Thomson. Having read these names, he would read the names of those Professors who belonged to the Peel Club. They were Jeffery, Flaming, Members of the Club, and Principal Mac forelane, Dr. Cowper, and Mr. Ramsay. He trusted he was not misrepresenting any of these gentlemen, for he believed he had received his information on good autho rity. School-boys required more care than those who had sttained more mature age, until which, fortunately, in England and in Ireland, youth were not permitted to resort to the Universities.—(The Hon. Gentleman hero having occasion to stop for a few moments to re fer to some documents, there were cries of " Question" from the Opposition, on which he remarked that he could not read so well by the wax-candles as he could have done by the nude light. The Peel Club was chiefly employed in nominating the Lord Rector. That the students should desire to elect to that high office sonic leader of one or other of the two great political parties, was quite natural. But the question was one of prin ciple—whether such things were advisable and benefi cial for a seminary of learning ? He would just state to the House the two last toasts which were drank at the meeting of the Pe& Club—the one was " the Ope rative Conservative Association of Glasgow," and the other was " the Progress of Conservative principles in the University."--(Hear, hear.) He did not find any thing in this Club which bore the least resemblance to an association established for literary purposes ; it was established solely for the purpose of securing the election of a Lord Rector of Conserva tive principles—and when he looked at the state of wrangling which must in co nsequence b e esta bli s h e d among th members of the College he thought he was justified in asserting that the formation of such a club must lead to their neglecting their studies. He felt he should have no right to ask for such a return as re garded a private club, but as the University was a public establishment, supported at the public expense, he hoped that the returns would be granted, so that the public might know whether or not any of the Pro fessors of Glasgow were members of those political , clubs. He asked for these returns with a view to ,`eund ulterior measures, so as, if possible, to put do wn this nuisance. The Honourable Gentleman con clueled by moving for a return showing in columns the namcs and status of the Office-bearers and Professors in the University of Glasgow .who have enrolled, or are now members of the political club call the University Peel Club, together with the names of those of the above who have held or now holy honorary offices therein, or who attend the convivial or other meetings thereof, with the name of the offices held by each, to gether wi,..11 the whole number of students, and that of those from each class of the University in the said Club, and the probable age of the youngest students be longing to the Logic, Greek, and Latin classes ; also the date of the origin of the Club, the place or places of the meetings of the aforesaid Club, and whether they are held within or without the College walls ; and similar returns as respects the Glasgow University Li beral Association. Mr. HUME seconded the motion. On the question being put, Mr. COLQUHOUN said that among the motions of the Hon. Member for Greenock, the one then be fore the House appeared to him to stand without a pa rallel. What, he would ask, had the House to do with the p.roceedings of the young gentlemen of the Uni versity al Glasgow? Among the duties enjoined on them, was there not that of choosing a Lord Rector by popular election ? And yet, because these young gentlemen bai.. 4 formed themselves into an association for the purpose o.r arranging how that Rector was to be chosen, th e y hAd incurred the censure of the lion. Member f or G ree tiock, who had always p ut himself for ward as th e a d v oc a te for popular righ t s an d p o p ular elections,—( H ear , hear.) At the meetin g s of the club in questio n , speec h es h a d b e en made by him self, and b y Hon. F r i en d s aroun d hi m , and he thought that the Hon. M em b er , if h e w i s hed to be consistent with himself, should have moved for a return of their names also. Toasts had been proposed at these meetings, and he thought that the Hon. Member would have done well to ha‘'e moved for a return of these in addition. He trust e d the House would give no countenance to the motion, otherwise they might just as well move for similar returns from the Union of Cambridge, from the Debating Society of Oxford, or from the Fox or Pitt Clubs.. —(Hear, .and laughter.) Mr. HUME oi:served that the lion. Gentleman who had just sat down appeared to think it was of no im portance how the youth of the country conducted thms , :lves.--(01 i and laughter.) Instead of moving simply for a return, his Hon. Friend the Member for Gr eenock ought to have moved for a Committee of In, The Hon. Gentleman opposite had alluded to the Union of Catniwidge, and to other private clubs, but he ivould..ask was the. public money voted to su pp ort those private clubs? Tile Professors of Glasgow mere pan,' by the country to set tvn example to students, and ne,t to became political leaders, distracting society, and defeating the object for which they were appointed, namely, educati . on. Those Professors, instead of de voting their time to the promotion of education, had devoted it to t f. , e propagation of political strife. He knew th a t a Liberal Association ha d been formed, but that w as on l y est. %bindle(' as a counterpoise to the Peel Club. P o li t i cal s tr if e ou ght not to be allowed to enter within w a ll s t h at were intended for the diffusion ofeduGclaatsigono,w, praying for and w h en a petition had been p resente d from inquiry, be thought that it was but right th a t an i nvest ,. ca tion should take place. Sir J. GRAHAM had very' much doubted whether it was ins duty to address the house one such e leo tion.—( Hear, hear.) He thought the British public would regard with amazement that discussion—that they would believe the House did not duly appreciate the vast national interests now at stake, and the value of their precious time, when they were called upon to consume it in a debate of that description.—(Cheers.) But considering the connection he had with the Uni versity of Glasgow at the present moment, be could not help saying a few words. In the first place, he begged to call the attention of the House to one or two mis representations of fact (unintentional, no doubt) which had fallen from the Honourable Gentleman opposite. It had been imagined by the Hon. Member for Greenock that these institutions were held forth as literary institutions. It had been frequently avowed that the institutions mentioned in the motion were political institutions with political objects. Instead of the Peel Club being the first club of a political charac• ter, founded by the University of Glasgow, the fact was directly the reverse. The Campbell Club had existed for some time, and its avowed object was to influence the elections of Lord Rectors, and it was in consequence of certain parties having been re-elected by their own casting votes, given in their own favour, that a strong political feeling was created in the University against that monopoly of distinction in connection with party politics. In 1836, upon the election of the Right Hon. Baronet, the Member for Tamworth, for the purpose of counteracting the influence of the Camp bell Club, which then existed, the Peel Club was founded. But he would ask whence arose all this coyness and unwillingness to have political subjects dis cussed. They had it from the highest authority, that permanency was given to institutions by agitation, but it appeared that the dissemination of political prin ciples emanating from those societies gave alarm to Hon. Gentlemen opposite.—( Laughter, and cries of " Hear, hear.") Two Hon. Gentlemen sitting oppo site—members of the Government (Mr. Fox Maule and Mr. Robert Steuart)—had recently returned from a Scotch election.—( Laughter.) They now knew what were the political sentiments of the county of Perth. The Hon. Member for Greenock appeared to be very uneasy about the dissemination of those principles— had they already begun to produce some effect ? ( Hear, hear, and laughter.) Probably there would be a change En the representation for Glasgow.—(Hear, hear, and laughter). Whence all this coyness and ap prehension? While the Campbell Club alone assisted. and while there was a monopoly of political power and patronage, not a word of complaint was heard.—( Hear, hear.) But since the system of open election, the party of Hon. Gentlemen opposite had been defeated three times, and then, and not till then, was a complaint, which he must call trumpery, made.—(Cheers.) He really felt for the Speaker when he put the motion —( Hear, and laughter) for he observed that Right Hon. Gentleman almost ashamed that a question of that description should be brought before the House. He (Sir J. Graham) scouted it altogether.—( Hear, hear.) But then the Hon. Gentlemen opposite rested their motion upon the ground that the public supported the University. Now among all the desires of her Ma jesty's Government to promote education, he did not observe they had been inclined to sustain that valuable institution by a grant of public money. Last year there was a grant withheld—withheld on grounds entirely in explicable, and quite insufficient.—(Hear, hear, hear.) At that moment no connection whatever existed be tween the Treasury and the University of Glasgow.— (Hear, hear.) Although her Majesty had been advised to exercise her power of granting additional Professor ships, yet her Majesty had not been advised as yet to endow them.—( Hear, hear.) They had been created but they were unendowed. The public did not contri bute one shilling to the expenses of the University, and if arguments were wanting to oppose such a motion as this, he would add, that while they withheld all aid from an institution of that description, they were seeking to inquire into the political sentiments and political pro ceedings of those who were not so young as had been described, but who were between eighteen and twenty, and quite as competent to form political opinions as the Hon. Member for Greenock.—(Cheers and laughter.) Mr. DENNISTOUN would not have risen if the Right Hon. Gentleman had not informed him that the city he had the honour of representing was about to change its representative. That Right Hon. Gentle man ought to have been the lest person to have made such a statement, although he doubted he spoke feel ingly upon the subject ; for if he (Mr. Dennistoun) remembered rightly, the Right Hon. Gentleman at one time represented a great northern county.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) The same majority that returned the present Member for Perthshire turned the Right Hon. Baronet himself out of the great northern county.— ( Hear, hear, from Sir J. Graham.) But Hon. Gentle men opposite had stated that it was too bad to take up the time of the public with such a motion as this.—(Hear, hear.) For himself, he must say that during the last week he had attended three days in that House at four o'clock, and had been unable to make a House, and upon no one of those three days had he seen either the Right Hon. Gentleman (Sir J. Graham) or the Hon. Member for Kilmarnock present. —(Laughter, and cries of " Oh, oh," from the Opposi tion.) They might make the most of it. They com plained of the public._ time being taken up ' - but why did they not attend to their duty and make a House ? (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He must protest against the doctrine that had been laid down, that it was a right and proper thing for the youth of the Universities to be instructed in political partisanship. There were a greater number from 14 to 18 than from 18 to 20. He himself entered the University at the age of twelve and a half years, and was not older than a great number of his fellow students. The Liberal Association was formed in consequence of the Peel Club, but one of the fundamental rules of the Liberal Association was, that the instant the Peel Club was dissolved the Libe ral Association should he at an end, and he promised that that would be the case.—(lronical cries of " Hear, hear" from the Opposition.) Mr. WARBURTON said that if the object of the motion of his Hon. Friend had been to prevent politi cal discussion, he would not have agreed with it; but the question was, whether it was advisable the youth at that University should separate themselves into dis tinct parties, assisted by Professors, and carry on dis cussions upon political subjects with all that acrimony which belonged to the meetings of those of a greater age. The Hon. Gentleman read extracts from the evidence given by Principal Macfarlane and six Professors of the University of Glasgow, from which it appeared that the average age of the students in the Latin and Greek classes was 14 years ; that many entered between the ages of 11 and 12, and some of them had known stu dents under 10 ; yet the youngest boy had the same voice in the election of Lord Rector us the most emi nent member of the University ; that the elections were frequently tumultuous and riotous, and led to great insubordination on the part of the students. These were the opinions of the whole of the Professors who had given evidence, excepting one, and if such were the results of the elec tion for Lord Rector, which occurred at different pe riods, what results might they expect to flow from the constant existence of these political clubs ? He did not think that it was a question upon which they ought to come to a vote, or to engage the labours of a Commit. tee, but as it was before the House, let them meet it honestly, for no man could approve of the Professoss and Students being mixed in such clubs. Sir R. PEEL—When the subject is before the House, let us act honestly by it, said the Hon. Mem ber for Bridport, and what was his own conduct ? He had been in possession of the evidence which he had read to the House for a period of nine years, and until the present time it had been allowed to slumber on their shelves. Why was that ? The reason was obvious—at that period, and for a long course of years, the office of Lord Rector had been held by gentlemen of the same party as the Hon. Gentlemen opposite.—(Cheers.) But now when a turn had taken place in the political feelings of the youths attending that University, when the office of Lord Rector has become Conservative, then Hon. Gentlemen come down and say let us act honestly, and. complain of that practice, of which so long as it benefited themselves they never heard a word.—(Cheers.) Would the Hon. Member not have acted quite as honestly if he bad not contented himself with quoting the evidence given by the Professors, but have gone on and put the House in possession of the opinion of the Commissioners upon the point. The Professors were against the power of election being lodged in the students of the University, but the Com missioners reported that great advantages arose from the election of the Lord Rector being vested in the young men. The right had existed from 1727 ; ever since that period the young men had been invited to take part in the election, and they had exercised that right in a manner satisfactory to his mind. When he saw them elevate to the Rectorship such men as Mr. Cockburn, Mr. Jeffrey, the Marquis of Lansdowne, and other eminent men, he would pause before he would consent to that right being taken away. To come doer' to his own election in 1836, who opposed him upon that occasion ? Why the Attorney-General, a most eminent Scotchrnan, holding the highest legal rank which could be held by a Member of that House. The friends of the Attorney-General did not think with the Professors quoted by the Hon. Member fur Bridport ; they were not afraid of creating tumultuous assemblies and riots by a contested election. However, the Attorney-Ge neral was soundly beaten, and the club was instituted, He frankly acknowledged that it was a political club, formed for the purpose of supporting Conservative can didates and the spread of Conservative doctrines. Would a majority of that House descend so low as because a turn had taken place in the public mind, when a re action had set in against them, to establish such a pre cedent as would be set by the inquiry called for by the Hon. Member for Greenock ? The Hon. Member for Glasgow had offered tht, upon the dissolution of the Peel Club, there would be an immediate dissolution of the Liberal Association ; but he at once told him that he would not have the apportunity—for the mem bers of that club knew that they had got the vantage ground—they would not yield a foot's breadth—for they felt that the offer made, if accepted by them, would be exchanging th e i r go ld for copper.—(Laughter and cheers). It ouid not ee Li' 't ' into such an inquiry—if they did, where were they to end ? It might be said that the Church ought not to interfere in elections ; but he would go no farther, for the House must see that the inquiry, once en tered upon, must be interminable—it was one of the distinguishing marks of a free country, that they must permit the exercise of free discussion. Nothing could be more intolerant than for the House to set an example of interference with a convivial body. He was glad the debate had arisen, for it had recalled to his mind his visit to Glasgow, and his connection with its University. Of no part of his political life was he more proud than of the reception he there met with, and he never heard it mentioned without feelings of pride and satisfaction, and with an earnest desire of doing all in his power for its prosperity. His Hon. Friend behind him had suggested that the motion ought to include the toasts given at the club. Now, the character of a toast might depend much upon the song which followed it. He found one toast in the book ; it might be a political one, but he confessed he could not see it ; it was that of " the Treasurer."—(A laugh.) The song which followed was " Money in both pockets"—(Loud laughter)—so that if the song were true, the club was in a very flourishing condition. He called upon the House not to begin such an inquiry ; it would end in being a most odious inquisition upon opinion —a censorship of sentiment and political feeling, which he hoped the majority of the House of Commons would not set up. Mr.- F. MAULE, ever since he had seen the mo tion upon the paper, had endeavoured to persuade his Hon. Friend to withdraw his motion.—( Hear, hear.) But it was to be remembered that the Hon. Member for Greenock was not a member of the Liberal Association, and that that association had not an opportunity of measuring its strength.—(Cries of " Last year.") He for one objected to the power of election residing in the youth of the College, and how ever little objection there might be to the boys meeting and holding such disquisitions as they pleased, he believed that was the first instance in which professors mixed in political clubs with stu dents.—( Hear, hear.) The Professors might carry those political feelings into the class room— , ,hey might show great partiality and interest in the advancement of those belonging to their own clubs, while they neglected those belonging to their opponents. He trusted that that discussion would induce the Professors to withdraw themselves from their respective clubs, and abstain from taking any part in them in future. Mr. WALLACE replied, that although the Right Honourable Gentlemen opposite who were Lords Rectors of the University of Glasgow, had no hesita tion in finding fault with the time of the House being occupied in bringing forward this motion, they had un scrupulously indulged in wasting its time far more than he had done, as the length of time each had taken would manifest. But they had not only wasted the time of the House with frivolous and irrelevant matter, for each had studiously avoided speaking to the points which he had submitted as matters of complaint, deserving of being put put an end to. Not one of them had said a word of Professors at the head of the University leading the tender youths committed to their care into the mazes of political controversy and the orgies of political convivial meetings.—( Hcar, hear.) Their friends, the professors, with the Principal at their head, were care fully left out of sight, as were the places of mectir.g within the walls of the college.—(Hear.) These were the points of which he complained, and nothing which had fallen from either of the Right Hon. Gentlemen had in the slightest degree altered his opinion. The Greek class-room exhibited the first meeting of the University Peel Club, and its late distinguished professor (Sir D. Sandford) was the first chairman of that political asso ciation ; these were facts undenied by those who op posed this motion.—(Hear.) But there were other facts still more important, viz., the open declaration by the two Lords Rectors opposite of the Glasgow University Peel Club being ostensibly for the purpose of promoting political principles, and these Right Hon. Gentlemen, whose bounded duty it was to advise by precept and ex ample the mere children, which very many of the stu dents deserve to be called, unblushingly admitted their encouraging and approving University political disputa tion, and their attendance at convivial meetings. These facts would now go openly before the public—(Hear, hear)—and enable the citizens of Glasgow, and the pa rents and guardians of youth generally, to learn what sort of intermixture of political excitement and acrimony the students of the Universit7 would receive along with their studies. The Right Hon. Baronet had alleged that the Peel Club had made itself happy to the tune of " Money in both pockets," and they had a good right to do so, for the Professors, who patronized and encouraged them, had one pocket filled from the State purse, and another from the parents of the youths who were sent to the University for far different pur poses than becoming political partizans in support of the views of their professors in the choice of Lords Rectors. It was true that at present these Professors, in conse quence of a dispute, had no public money in their pockets, but their present Lord Rector had intimated his intention of again placing them as recipients of pub lic money ; and when the estimates came forward would be the time for him (Mr. Wallace) to move certain resolutions, to the effect that no Professot who to con ducted himself should receive public pay. He would only - express his belief of great injury being likely to be done to the University of Glasgow from the promulga tion made this night of the manner in which politics were encouraged.—(Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Pembroke, had said that the Campbell Club was a political one ; he (Mr. Wallace) begged to set him right, that it never had been, nor was it so now—it was a literary club, and had never been held in the Greek clash-room, nor anywhere else within the College walls. The Hon. Member then with drew his motion, assuring the House that he would not neglect his duty when the estimates came on. After a few words from Sir J. GRAHAM the mo tion was withdrawn. THE lONIAN ISLANDS. Lord C. FITZROY rose to move for a copy of the despatch to the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands from the Colonial-office, conveying an order for the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly of those islands in October last, on account of a difference be tween that body and the Senate, relative to the Bth article, 3d section, chap. 6 of the Constitution, under which the Legislative Assembly claimed a right inde pendent of the Senate. Mr. VERNON SMITH said in the present thin state of the House he should not enter into a discus sion of the question to which the Noble Lord's motion referred. He had no objection to the production of the copy of the despatch, and should reserve his reply until he had ascertained whether the Noble Lord meant to found any specific motion thereon. The return wa: then agreed to. Mr. P. SCROPE obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend and explain the Parochial Assessments Act. Mr. SLANEY moved that the following gentlemen be appointed to the Select Committee on the health of towns :—Lord James Stuart, Lord Viscount Sandon, Mr. John Ponsonby,Mr. Greene, Mr. Richard Walker, Mr. Wilson Patten, Sir Harry Verney, Mr. Baines, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Tuffnell, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. log. ham, and Mr. William Smith O'Brien. GERMAN COMMERCIAL LEAGUE. Mr. WODEHOUSE begged to withdraw the motion of which he had given notice, the copy of Dr. Bowring's Report having been that day placed in the hands of Hon. Members. He thought the thanks of the House were due to Dr. Bowring for the able man ner in which that Report had been prepared. CORONER OF MIDDLESEX. Mr. WAKLEY said it would be in the recollection of Hon. Members that previous to 1837 the expense of the Coroners of Middlesex had been paid out of the Poor's-rate. It was then stated that it was inconsistent with the objects for which these rates were levied, to defray the 'expenses of coroners, and the Solicitor-general introduced a bill to remove the defects. By the, next act, the Magistrates had very 'extraordinary powers conferred on them. They were empowered to alter and vary the schedule of expense ; but it gave the same power to rescind what had been previously done. In the County of Mid dlesex, however, the Magistrates had thought it their duty to rescind some of the provisions of the consta bles and beadles, who telt themselves unjustly deprived of certain fees they were entitled to recover. Under these circumstances, feeling that it was necessary that some new enactment should take place, he thought it advisable, not being aware that any opposition was in tended, to move the appointment of a Committee, in order to bring the facts fully before the House. The Honourable member concluded by moving for a Select Committee, to inquire into any measures which have been adopted for carrying into effect, in the County of Middlesex, the provisions of the Act 1 Vic c. 68, and also into any proceedings of the Justices of the Peace in relation to the office of Coroner in the said County ; with power to send for persons, papers, and records, and to report thereon to the House. Colonel WOOD begged leave most decidedly to oppose the motion. In the first place, the inquiry should be general, and not confined to the county of Middlesex. He was not aware of any complaint the Hon. Member had to make against the Magistrates ; they had framed a schedule of fees under the Act Ist Viet., which had not been objected to by the other Coroner. He thought the Hon. Member ought not to make use of his station as a Member of the House to institute inquiries for his own particular purposes ; if he wished an inquiry, he should make it a general one, and not as to those Magistrates alone whose duty it was to see his accounts were correct, ' Mr. HUME agreed with the Hon. Member that inquiry should not be confined to the county of Middle sex, and would suggest to his Hon. Fiiond to make it a general one, which should be agreeable to all parties. Mr. WAKLEY said he should accede to the sug gestion of his Hon. Friend, to extend the inquiry gene rally. (The Hon. Member altered his motion accord ingly.) Sir THOMAS FREMANTLE said he was pre pared to object to the original motion—he objected to it stiil more strongly as amended—for the Huu. Member uo wouud6 viever wou1:1 jusrliy House .in acceding to it , the true grounds for the mo tion ought to be stated to the House. The Hon. Gentleman stated that the magistrates had exceeded their power in rescinding the table of fees, but be found the Act of Parliament gave them the power of altering and varying it, which he thought was equivalent to the power of rescinding. Hr should divide the House, on the ground that no sufficient reasons had been given for the motion. Alderman WOOD thought a Committee should be appointed, as a change would take place in consequence of the adoption of the new Rare' Police Act. After a few words from Lord Palmerston in support o! the motion, and from Colonel Wood in explanation , and Mr. tremble against it, Mr. 1V AK LEY replied. He thought he was not treated fairly by Hon. Gentlemen opposite. He asked, was that House to be detained by any lengthened statement? Again, ought he, when moving for a Com mittee of Inquiry, to have attacked the character of t hose who were not there to defend thernselves- 7 -4 Wa S not to be supposed, if a Committee ►were to be ap pointed, that he could influence it. He was ready, if desired, to go into a general inquiry—but he believed such a one was not called for—he had not moved for the Committee in an invidious or hostile spirit, but be cause he believed matters of great importance would he elicited by it. It was true there were parties with whom he was contending, but not in that House, and he was ready to contend with them out of it, and be lieved they would be defeated. He should be glad if the Hon. Members opposite would be of that Commit tee. He believed the Magistrates misconstrued the law. The office of Coroner was greatly calculated to prevent the increase of crime, and it was of the utmost importance that it should be properly exercised. After a few words from Mr. Cripps and Sir Thomas Fremantle, in explanation, the House divided, when there appeared— For the motion 3l Against it l7 Majority in favour of the motion —l4 TITHE COMMUTATION ACT AMEND- VENT BILL. On the motion of Sir EDWARD KNATCH BULL, the House resolved itself into Committee for the further consideration of the Report of the Tithe Commutation Act Amendment Bill. The Hon. Baronet proposed some verbal amendments in the Ist clause, which were agreed to. The remaining clauses were agreed to without a di vision. The House resumed, and the Report was or dered to be received to-morrow. Mr. WOODHOUSE -gave notice of his intention to put a question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer prior to the nomination of the BAnking Committee on Thursday next. The Hon. Gentleman, however, omitted to state the nature of the question he intended to put to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The House rdjourned at a Quarter before Nine o'Clock. LATEST NE 11 S FROM AMERICA. By the packet ship England, Captain Waite, which arrived at Liverpool yk iterday evening, we have received New York Papers to the 23d, and Canada Journals to the 11 th ult. inclusive Messages from President Van Buron and Governor Porter, and a speech of Mr. P. Thomson to the Legislature of Upper Canada, will be found below. The two first are worthy of the attention of our commer cial readers. Mr Poulett Thomson, we are happy to observe, omits no opportunity of pouring balm into the wounds iuflicted by the civil war upon the Canadian popu lation of every race and party. His Excellency is in the truest Christian sense cf the Gospel text, ipeacemaker-- the character of all others most wanted at present in Canada. Having opposed him so repeatedly during his mismanagement of the Board of Trade, we are happy to do justice to his great ability in a much more exalted and more arduous public employment. We find in the American Journals two Resolutions, which Mr. PICKENS has obtained leave to introduce to Congress relative to our relations with China. These we have thought proper to introduce in a leading article, to which we refer our readers. Business in New YGrk was in some sort stationary for several days before the sailing of the England. The latest accounts from London and Liverpool were oF the 3rd and 4th of January. We copy from the New York Courier and Inquirer of the 22nd, the following money and commercial intelligence : " New York Money Market--Friday Night, Feb. 2l—There was not much business done in Stocks to-day, and prices varied but little. Twenty Shares Manhattan sold at a 2, and though this is an advance on yesterday's prices, we cannot perceive that the current of public opinion is at all turning in favour of the position of this institution. 50 shares Sandusky Bank were sold by auction at 50 per cent cash. Nothing has been doing in foreign exchanges worthy of no tice. Inland exchanges are dull. A report is afloat that the United States Bank is about to make a new issue of pest-notes, and in consequence the rate of discount on Philadelphia is somewhat higher. Very little !fi doing in uncurrent money, and no alteration in rates. SpliF"' comes in faster than it leaves us, and there is but little intiulri for it. American gold and silver and sovereigns are at par; Mexican dollars are at per cent., and Spanish at 3to 4 per cent. premium. _ Flolir is dull and nothing doing. The North River is open from Vorplanek's pint. PHILADELPHIA. rEll. 20, P.M. Stocks have not changed in any material degree to-day ; the few shares of the United States Bank disposed of were taken at SI, cash, and usual way. At the sales of the second board t u li n e ex countenances of the ..en eeo f members friend, r i e e r nd quite in theshe pe o fbay few shales of Delaware and Hudson stock ; it was readily taken at 75k. Sales at the Second Board-50 shares United States Bank, at 81, cash ; 205 do. 81, 12 do. ; Delaware and Hudson, at 754.3 After the board, 27 shares Bank of Kentucky, 834; 1 do. Lehigh, at 534. Prices, United States Bank, 80 to 81 ; Vicksburg, 12 tol3 . MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT. An important message was received from the President of the United States before the adjournment, asking the Senate to consider the peculiar condition of the Treasury in the lee illation of the country. An issue or Treasury notes is likely to he the consequence, as some of the mem bers have intimated. " To the House of Representatives.,— " I submit to Congress a communication from the Secre tary of the Treasury, repeating suggestions contained iu his annual report, in regard to the necessity of an early provision by law for the protection of the Treasury against the fluctua tions and contingencies to which its receipts are exposed, with additional facts and reasons in favour of the propriety of the le gislation desired. " This application assumes that although the means of the Treasury for the whole year may be equal to the expenditures of the year, the department may, notwithstanding, be ren dered unable to meet the claim upon it at the times when thei may fall due. This apprehension arises partly from the circumstance that the largest proportion of the charges upon the Treasury, including the payment of pensions and the re demption of Trea sur y no t es , f a ll s d ue i n t h e ear l y part o f this year, viz., in the months of March and May. while the re sources on which it might otherwise rely to discharge them can' not be made available till the last half of the year, and partly from the fact that a portion of the means of the Treasury con sists of debts due from the banks, for some of which de'ay hal already been asked, and which may not be punctually paid. " Considering the injurious consequences to the character , credit, and business of the country, which would result from a failure by the Government;for even a short period, to meet the en gagements ; that the happening of such a contingency can only be effectually guarded against by the exercise of legislative au thority; that the period when such a disability must arise, if at all, and which, at the commencement of the Session, was com paratively remote, has now approached so near as a few days, and that the provision asked for it is only intended to enable the Executive to fulfil existing obligations, and chiefly by anti cipating funds not yet due, without making any additions to the public burdens, I have deemed the subject of sufficient urgency and importance again to ask for it your early attention. " Feb. 17, 1840." "M. VAN BUR EN." " Treasury Department, Feb. 15. " Sir,—The duty entrusted to this department of supervising the execution of such laws as are connected with the fiscal ope rations of the Government, induces me to make to you the following communication : " In the annual report on the finances, submitted to Congress near the commencement of its present session, I had the honour to state in substance, that if the new appropriation should not exceed in amount the estimates then offered, and if the indebted banks should meet their obligations with punctuality, the re ceipts for the whole year would probably equal the expenditure' " After the lapse of nearly three months, those views remain unchanged, except so far as subsequent events, heretofore com municated to you and to Congrese, may in some degree affect them. But whether those events—vi z ., new cons t r uctions of the tariff laws by the Courts, and increased embarrassmen t s of business in consequence of the suspension of specie , pay ments by the Banks conti nu i ng over a l arge par t o f t h e Unites'. States, will reduce the revenue so much as to render new means on those accounts indispensable, cannot yet be de cided with certainty. But it may be ascertained before Con gress adjourns,and can then, if necessary, be suitably provided for " It was also stated in the annual report, that the uncertaintl of receiving prompt p a y ment f rom the banks, and th e eonre nienee of having a larger balance on hand in the Treasury than was likely to exist, as well as the fact that the greatest deb" due from the banks were not payable till the last half o f the year, while the largest expenditures were charged on the fir st half of it, and particularly in the month of March, required some adequate provi s i on o f means to meet those contingencies and inequalities, and rendered • the earliest attention to nen' legislation on this subject highly prudent, if not indispensabl e, for the effectual security of the the public credit.' " The prompt adoption of such precautionary measure vra' i further urged on g enera l grounds of expediency, considering th e f existing embarras smen t s o f t h e country, the suspens i on specie payments by many o f the banks, and the fluctuations and uncertainties to which our receipts and exp The experience wer e' from vari o u s causes t h en enumerated, constantly exposed. .'" experience a n d occurrences d ur i ng nearly one-fourth of a y ear which has s i nce elapse d , h ave strengt h ened the i mpress i on then ce entertained on this point ; and i n o ffi c i a l commun i ca ti on s made of the appropriate committees of Congress and yoursen . f .... took the liberty t o repeat m y conv i c ti on o f th e cont i n ued j u e ' d gency and import a nc e o f the measure p rev i ous l y recom mende d in relation to it. " But no action having yet taken place con c e rn ing tbia s°b ject, though the period is near at hand whe n th e due it, nonce of the public credit seems most imp era ti ve ly to require 1 shall proceed to state, with more minutenes s than heretot° I _ o some of the circumstances which make su c h a provisiotthi of essential at the present moment. Early as the sth and 7 notes March, a very large amount of pensions and Treasury become due, in addition to other and ordinary d em ands... 1 hey will exceed, in the aggregate, two-and -one quarter mitr n of dollars, and for the payment of which funds are yet to rne 00 (; vanced by the Treasury to the amount of about s l , 4 •'"' " On the 13th of March more Treasury notes fall due, not yet redeemed, computed at " Others fall due and are redeemable in the rest of , D March, April, and May, estimated at ... ------ 2850, " These constitute an aggregate of burdens but little slier' of $3,000,000, beside other payments fur ordinary o bject:. be _ •• From those particulars it will b e seen t h a t, in order able to discharge all anticipated c l a i ms punc t ua lly, and r c e .t ____ on hand the appropriate balan ce o f a b out two m illions for:: mon purposes, a provision of means i s expe di en t t o the ectts T• ar,nig