The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-03-25 00:00:00

HOUSt OF COM&IONS_Moxu4Y In repl "--"- ord LIDT said it was the Ft _n entiono the g a in the present sys On the motion for the house resolvnig Itself into a c mittee of ways and means, Mr. F. M AULS appealed to the right hon. baronet ai bead of the governmett as to the propriety of giving tin the people of_ Scot the propo imposition of an in Sir R. PEEL, in reply question from Mr. C. Wood 1d be proceeded with, said that to of tl is rend red it very d Mr. C. ROLLER 8&' lic bus that the right hor )wn hand, for he had only to ion of the income tax resolution, and his intention of taking the acome tax at every possible the house. remedy for this difficulty in h postpone the cc proceed with the corn bill Lord J. RIMAELL arm( opinion o! stage during i The house Mr. HAWE use upon the rogress throng resqlved itself into committee 1 that there were sources of revenue !sorted to befor mued come tax, v calculated to injure the temptingtoperjur, Alderman TH 0 M -P97( vernincut. but expres consider his declarati( supported tae proposal of the go hope that Sir R. Peel would re- between various that he would make no distinction is of income, according to their propor 3tice demanded that such a distinction Sir W. CLAY said that this' income tax was the price to be paid for monopoly—the price, in fact, to be paid for the sliding scale. Direct taxation, however, was the resource of barbarous times, and it was found that more enlightened rated the principle of indirect taxation. It was ab .:—, to call the right hon. baronet's plan a commercial reform, when the article of sugar was omitted to please the West India interests, and when the article of corn was omitted to please the landlords. The hon. gentleman concluded by saying that he would give the measure in every stage his most decided opposition. Sir G. CLERK insisted upon the necessity of an income tax as the only means of placing our revenue and expenditure upon an equal footing. The object of the hon. gentlemen on the opposition side appeared to be to re-introduce the budget of last session, which the house had already repudiated. He did not think the landed proprietors would think they had made a very good bargain in acquiescing to the income tax in consideration of obtaining the sliding scale. He hoped that the chief objection to the income tax, its inquisitorial character, would be materially removed by the modifications which Sir R. Peel would introduce for that purpose. Lord DALS(ENY thought the statement of Sir R. Peel was unrivalled for clearness and precision as a financial state ,ent. but as the rigi ' his in— times ado surd, he cont( Out a ,at hon. baronet proposed his income tax in order to sustain monopolies opposed to the spirit of the age he should oppose it. Mr. C. WOOD said that, obnoxious as an income tax was, he would not hesitate to vote for it if he saw an imperative necessity for it. Mr. Acartr.Err said he should vote for the tax, on the ground that it was necessary, and that the country would support it. Mr. P, SCROPE, after putting several questions to Sir R. Peel, as to the way in which the tax would affect different classes, proceeded to contend that the measure was one which ought not to be adopted by the government of such an en terprising and commercial country as England. Mr. W. WILLIAMS said he was opposed to the income tax, but he still thought the government had proposed a bold and manly course in avoiding a resort to the issue of exchequer bills, or to a loan. Instead, however, of proposing this tax, he would propose that a reduction should be made in salaries —not only in those of ministers, but in those of parties far above them and descending very far below them. It would be well for the country if the government would adopt - the excellent advice of Sir James Graham, given in a pamphlet published by him in 1835 ; but he much feared the right hon. baronet had outlived the opinions which he then promulgated. Hon. gentlemen on the ministerial side advocated an income tax on the ground that it would fall only on the rich and not on the poor, but would they carry out that principle ? They had not shown themselves so disinterested when they levied a heavy tax on the transfer of personal property, allowing real property to go free. Sir G. GREY commented on the silence observed by hon. members on the ministerial side of the house, but presumed it was only part of the discipline imposed by the right hon. baronet, who required their votes without risking having his measures marred by their speeches. He wished to know why those gentlemen. who were so profuse in their expres sions of confidence in the right hon. baronet a little while ago, should now hold back from avowing to their constitu ents their approval of his measures, now that they had an opportunity of judging of them. He feared the right hon. baronet was calculating upon the ignorance of the present generation of this odious and inquisitorial tax ; and in this calculation he was right, and he would carry the tax with a triumphant majority, but ere long in operation its odious character would be felt, and a feeling as strong as that of 1816 would force parliament to repeal it. They were told it was to continue but for a limited period; but this was said with respect to the former income tax, and the result was known, and it was easy to predict that there would be a simi lar reluctance to abandon this if once agreed to. He took his stand upon the ground that there was no necessity for imposing this the most objectionable tax that had ever been levied in this country. Colonel SIBTHORP said the right hon. bart. (Sir R. Peel) was obliged to resort to extreme measures in order to correct the enormous evils in which the late ministry had placed the country Mr. - BLEArrrr said that this measure was, in the opinion of the country, pressed in such an aristocratic and despotic manner, that he' should move the chairman do report pro gress and ask leave-4 sit again. After some short discussion, in the course of which Lord J. RUSSELL and MrrPROTHEROE opposed the motion of Mr. Blewitt, the committee divided, and the adjournment was negatived by a majority of 328 to 51 . A warm discussion on the question of adjournment again ensued, in the course of which Mr. F. M PLULE announced his intention to vote again in the minority for the adjourn ment, determinedly for the purpose of delay, because the people of Scotland had had no time to have any knowledge Of the bill, which knowledge he was resolved to procure for them if he could. Mr. V. SMITH said the Government were treating the country with contempt, by forcing such an important mea sure forward while only one cabinet minister had spoken upon it Sir J. GRAHAM said the hon. member should be more ac curate in his statements, for more than one minister had spoken upon it. There was no danger that the measure would not be fully discussed after the notice Lord J. Russell had given that he would take the sense of the house upon every stage of the bill to be brought in. Sir B. HALL said that they were justified in availing them selves of the forms of the house to prevent the rig,ht hon. baronet forcing a resolution upon the house before the people could have an opportunity of petitioning the house upon the subject. Sir R. PEEL said he had not wished to treat the house with any want of courtesy by remaining silent, hut the truth was. he had said all he had to say upon the measure. He had, to complain that it was only half-past eleven o'clock when the motion was made for adjournment, and at that time it did not appear that any other hon. member was desirous of con tinuing the debate. Lora WORSLEY said his constituents were to meet upon the subject of the income tax on Thursday, in order to trans mit their sentiments to parliament, and he therefore hoped this resolution would not be forced on until after Easter. Mr. BROTRERTON made a similar statement as to his con stituents. Mr. DUNCOMBE announced that it was the intention of the minority to go on dividing, and the right hon. baronet would save time and trouble by consenting to the adjourn ment, instead of using such indecent haste in urging it for ward. On a division the motion for adjournment was • negatived bya majority of 241 to 91. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE again moved the adjournment. Sir R. PEEL said he would not be a voluntary party to the postponement. If the sense of the country was against the measure, it could be effectually declared in the future pro gress of the bill. If compelled to postpone the discussion, he should again resume it on Wednesday evening. He should offer no further opposition to the adjournment, pro testing, however, against it, thinking as he did that the house was then in a condition to come to a decision upon the subject. After some further discussion, the CHAIRMAN was allowed to report progress, and ask leave to sit again. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAY Mr. C. WOOD attempted to present a petition against the income tax, upon which he was informed by the Speaker that no petition could be received against any tax which was under the consideration of a committee of the house. John Ashworth, who had been committed for interrupting the proceedings of the Clitheroe election committee, was, on his expression of regret, admonished by the Speaker and discharged. Sir C. NAPIER drew the attention of the house to the state of the navy, with a view to its improvement. He referred tothe exercise of government patronage under successivevari ous administrations, and more particularly to that of Lord Minto, nephews and who had not only ransacked Scotland for Cape of Good friends to promote, but even went as far as the Hope for that purpose. The gallant officer contended that the pay and pensions to the navy should be better, and that the ships should be better manned, and concluded by should b e a movin g naval resolutions to the effect that there getter at the head of the Board o f Ad miralty, and that oettei: provision should be made for the service generally . Sir J. GRAHAM d enied the absolute n e cess ity f or h av i ng a naval offic er at the head of the Ad m i ra l ty Board. To lay down any rule of the kind would b e to limit the choice of the crown within the narrow circle of the few naval officers fitted to direct that im nt branch of the public service. Independent of this obj ec ti t : section, there was another of a seriohs character. If a naval office': at the head of the board, he would be likely to allow his f ee l ings old brother officers with whom hAlliugs of affection for leis old served to interfere to an extent that migt be unfaierq,uan d l erate inju r i ous ly t o th e promotion of other officers, meritoriou s , with whom 11 said th a t Eng he might be unacq uainted. It had been o w r (; uer d if sh e on l y k ept land had no occasion to fear the wholeeqw well fill e d. S he h er navy well manned and her ea c h had now her navy well manned, and it only into alp rosper se vere in endeavo urin g to g et the exchequer l emai ned to per- con dition. The rig ht hon. baronet conc luded by movi ng , ous as an amendment, the previous question. Captain BERKEL EY contended that a naval officer must know more of na val affairs than a civilian, and therefore more the more likely to be comp etent to the situation of First Lord of the Admiralty. There were so very few appointments in the navy, that those which fell fairly within its sphere should be appropriated to those who dei..erved well of their country. R e should, under all the circumstances, vote for the motion of Sir C. Napier. Lord INGESTRE said he should vote for the resolutions of the gallant commodore, thinking them well worthy of the consideration of the house Captain PECHELL Sip pier 'ted the resolutions of Sir C. Na- Sir R. PEEL took the same v;evir of the resolutions as that laid down by Sir James Graham, and protested against lay ing down a principle which would restrict the ehoice of the crown, an d, h owever valua b le m i g h t b e the serv i ces . of a civi han,prevent the co un t r y f rom ava iling itself of s uch a person as First Lord of the Admiralty Th e c omparison between naval lords an d c i v ili ans, in the former . history of our country, would not bear out the argument that our navy would Lei likely to be bett er equipped ° under the former than under the latter. He concluded by expressing a hope that Sir C. Na. pier would not press his motion to a division. Mr. C. WOOD defended Lord Minto's ad- mini the affairs of the Admiralty. tration of Sir T. TROUBILIDGE thoughtit would not be wise to con fine to the navy the selection of First Lord of the Admiralty. Sir H. HARDINGE, in reply to some observations which had fallen in the course of the debate, said that no undue pre ference had been given to the military over the naval profes sion. Indeed, if a preference were to be given to either ser vice, considering the insular positionof this country, he would wish to see it given to the navy. Sir C. Nartea replied, and said he would not press his first resolution, relating to the office of First Lord of the Admiralty to a division, but he would take the sense of the house upon the remaining resolutions. The first resolution was then negatived without a► division, arcliot aria _ ner at an .inquest held on the last, on the death of James Flanagan, at 3i7e4 tot _ It', _ o'l3 s taken by the co n the Kir s Count subsequen. also for co pies of all cor- taken place between the went and various parties relative to the death of It appeared that, at a party, sonic .ed Flanagan with turpe id then to have set fire to him. The coroner's jury returned t the inc verntnent to i nquiry, which, howev case he would elspr vernment to make was denied 3y inqu . iry had tended to convince this ously doubtful that Fla Lord ELIOT would not oppose the motion. When he first saw the account of the occurrence he ordered inquiries to be made, and the result was an opinion on the part of the govern ment that the coroner's jury had come to a proper verdict. That jury consisted of twenty-one persons, and a stipendiary magistrate was present during the whole period of the in- quest. The noble lord then - stated the facts of the case as they were communicated to the government, and added that the gentleman at whose house the occurrence took place (Mr. Magan) had brought an action against Mr. Dunlop for libel, it being in his paper, the Dublin Monitor, that the accounts of the transaction first appeared. Mr. C. POWELL was of opinion that it was the duty of the government to have the matter thoroughly sifted. Mr. V. STUART thought that as far as they had gone, the government had appeared to pay every attention to the un fortunate occurrence. Mr. WAIELEY said he had seen the whole of the papers in the case, and was surprised that the parties who felt dissatis fied should not have preferred an indictment before the grand jury, taking no notice of the coroner's inquest. The motion was then agreed to. Mr. T. DONCOMBE moved for copies of all letters and communications that have passed between the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the chief constable, or any magistrate of the county of Norfolk, or city of Norwich, from October last to the present time, relative. to the con duct of the rural police of that county in the apprehension of a man of the'.name of Smith on a charge of vagrancy: The hon. member, as the groundwork of his motion, gave a history of the treatment of Smith, which appeared to have been unnecessarily severe. Sir 3. GRAHAM thought the case one which required in vestigation, and would therefore not oppose the motion, if it was only in justice to the parties who were concerned in these transactions, actil whose reply should he heard to the e„c parse statement of the hon. gentleman. The motion was then agreed to. Captain PEcuaLLinovealor, a return of each parish and township in. England and Wales, in whi( :a Gilbert the poor arc !orge I 11., cap. shins whether incorporated in any union or governed separately; and stating the population of each parish or township, and of each union respectively, according to the last census. Also for a return of each parish and township subject to the provisions of an) local act, for the management of .its poor, wit' the amount of population. according to the last census Sir - J. GRAHAM had no objection to the motion, but sug gested the addition of the return of the population according to the census of 1831 also. The returns thus amended were then agreed to. Lord STANLEY moved for a select committee to inquire into the state of the British possessions on the west coast of Africa, more especially with reference to their present rela tions with the neighbouring tribes. Also for a select com mittee to inquire into the state of the different West India colonies, in reference to the existing relatidns between employ ers and labourers, the rate of wages, the supply of labour, the system and expence of cultivation, and the general state of their rural and agricultural economy. The noble lord stated that it gave him great pleasure to be able to state to the house that in every colony in the West Indies the emancipation of the slaves had been attended with the best results. Their mode of living was wholly altered, their comforts largely increased, their moral character much im proved, marriages much more frequent, more attention paid to the education of their children, and, in fact, much mote independent and free from oppression than the working classes of most other countries. It was still more gratifying to find that their prosperity had led to increased habits of industry, and to prudence, in turning the results of their in dustry to the best account, in the purchase of estates. Still the planters were labouring under great loss and suffering, and therefore it was that he felt it necessary to m3ve for a select committee to ascertain the cause of that suffering, and to devise, if possible, a remedy. There were two means of doing this—one by ascertaining if there could not be adopted a less expensive mode of cultivation ; the other by an exten sive system of immigration, in order to lower the rate of wages; but this immigration must not take place from Eu rope, for the suffering and destruction of life amongst the European immigrants was found to be so fatal in Jamaica and Demerara that those islands would not permit it to take place. He thought if a more extensive intercourse could be adopted between the negroes of Jamaica and those of the west coast of Africa the difficulty might be obviated ; and it was to inquire into this that he proposed the appointment of a select committee. Dr. BOWRING suggested that the committee should extend its inquiries to the east coast as well as to the west coast of Africa, and also into the causes of the failure of the late Niger expedition. He hoped, as high wages were the reward that the negro received for his industry in the West Indies, that care would be taken not to allow immigration to go to such an extent as to destroy the prospects of the working classes in those colonies. Mr. V. SMITH thought it was most important that the growing prosperity of the negroes in the West Indies should not be interrupted by too extensive a system of immigration. This would be a difficult subject for the committee ; but it was one of the utmost importance, and which he hoped would not be overlooked in their very proper anxiety to afford relief to the planters. Mr. WAKLEY was afraid that the contemplated interfe rence would be injurious to the negroes, who were now pro gressing to prosperity. It was said that the planters were unable to provide labour to cultivate their estates ; but then they had received compensation in the shape of twenty mil lions of money. , .. . . After'a few words florn 'Mr. HIITT and Mr. DICKENSON, the motion was agreed to for the appointment of both com mittees. '" , The other orders of the day were disposed of, and the house adjourned. HOUSE OF LORDS.-WEDNESDAY . The royal assent was given by commission to the Conso lidated Fund Bill, the Loan Societies' Bill, and several others, which had previously received the sanction of par liament. Their lordships subsequently adjourned until Thursday, the 7th of April. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-WEDNESDAY On the proposition for the house resolving itself into a committee of ways and means, Mr. BLEWITT objected to the Speaker leaving the chair, on the ground that the pro jected income-tax was pressed forward with most unnecessary haste. Ultimately, however, the house went into committee, and Lord H. GROSVENOR contended that the chief objection to an income-tax was, that it fell heavier on the landed pro prietor than upon the trader, the annuitant, or the profes sional man. Mr. C. BULLER complained that Sir R. Peel had exhi bited more than usual of party feeling in bringing forward his present measures. His measure of finance was undoubt edly a bold scheme, such a one as could never have emanated from a narrow-minded man ; but boldness seemed to be its greatest merit. He did not disapprove of a property-tax, but he strongly objected to an income-tax, on account of its amazing injustice, its . inquisitorial nature, and the demoral ising consequences to which it was calculated to lead. He contended that the imposition of such a tax at the present time was wholly uncalled for by the circumstances of the country, and that a tax, which however obnoxious to the people, would have been borne patiently in time of war, never would be submitted to in time of peace. Dr. BOWRING was a friend to direct taxation, but would prefer a legacy duty, or a tax on property, to an income-tax. The new tariff, he admitted, was a great improvement, but he regretted that a more liberal system of duties was not adopted upon the admission of French produce. Mr. S. O'BRIEN acquiesced in the general principle of an income tax ; but they ought not to tax in the same ratio in comes arising from trades and professions, as incomes ari sing from property. As a whole, however, he was willing to give the proposition of the right hon. baronet his support, though if any hon. member would, in committee on the bill move for a lower rate of tax upon incomes from trades and professions, he would support such a proposition. Mr. R. PALMER said no one could feel a greater objection than he did to an income tax, but he felt that a time had come when a great exertion was necessary, and when great sacri fices must be submitted to. He admitted, however, that it appeared to him that it was not just to tax in the same ratio incomes arising from trades and professions, as incomes arising from real property or from money in the funds. He suggested that only two per cent, should be levied on trades and professions, which would only diminish Sir R. Peel's es timate by the sum of £400,000, an amount that might be otherwise provided for. Mr. T. D'EYNCOURT said, that the right hon. baronet (Sir R. Peel) bad no right to designate his proposition a pro perty tax. Its true and proper name was an income tax, and the country was called upon to pay it, in order that the West India and corn monopolies might be sustained. Sir J. REID said, that although he disliked as much as any man the payment of the income tax, yet, in the emer gency of the country, he should lay down his quota, with reluctance, certainly, but . .still readily, in order to relieve the nation from its.,diflieutieSi Alereautile.,men were quite in • favour of the right hon., baronet's proposition, from which he sincerely . hopekhe would not recede. Mr. `YARD said he should prefer to have a tax of five per cent. than almost rob the poor by taking articles of consumption to the extent to which they were taxed in this country while wages were falling from competition stimulated by numbers and by commercial inactivity; but it was not a property tax that the right hon. baronet pro posed, or ha would have hailed it with the utmost gratifi cation. It was an unjust, and odious, and unequal income tax, the inquisitorial nature of which was such, indepen dent of many other serious objections, that it was hateful to the country. Mr. M. AITWOOD was of opinion that the propositions of the government required much more time for consideration than had yet been given to them, and this applied more par ticularly to the income tax. He was himself a government annuitant, and could therefore speak accurately of the injus tice of an income tax falling as this would fall, upon capital •as well as profit. Still, if the government was resolved to carry it in its present shape, he would support them, because whatever it migtft cost them, he reflected that the emergency was great, and he would not abandon the party with whom he had alw a y s po li t i ca ll y acte d . N ot hi ng, h owever , could induce him to support the proposed duties on coal, and the alteration of the duties on timber, for he must oppose any party which attempted to interfere with the commerce car ried on by the thousands of British ships which covered every sea in the world. The hon. member then contended that an income tax was bynot necessary, for they might have merely referring to the fact increased the revenue other tba means, as was proved by £80,000,000, and by additiona t when the right hon. baronet t d axation of on th a e rt commenced his career the taxation con sumption, might have been raised its amount was only £4B (700 ,0 t 00 0 ;C o r 10 4: 0 :5 0 0 ( ,10( country icles ot. was. had never reached the extent of indirect tax 6 i o i Ci t o ; country ; the more they taxed the more the people 0 0 0 1 0 , 1 a O w t c h it : Theyl.taeiiai and they !should have resorted to taxation before visiting the idtproposition tax. A ic. with cthe bo of the ri g ht h on . baronet was plain, straightforward, and country Roo a c n x income s ota The house had now before it two plans — one , t h at of the n l e a s s t t . govrnment, the other that of the right hon. baronet, to which he wou ld re ive and bhensroved for g ive his ineed of approbation, as a t once cm i n telligible. Still he. must say that the mode by he p r oposed to levy that direct taxation h entirel entirely zsap corn of. The people were taxed indirectly, in their the b en efit of the landowner , and then when the income of the country came to he taxed for the support of government , the landowner paid back as his share what he received by means of the corn law, from the people, and thus escaped the in come tax altogether. The injustice of taking labour in th e same ratio as property was so monstrous, that disguise it as they might, nothing could conceal its deformity. It was a gross and cruel injustice to perpetuate such an oppression, for no other reason but because the parties so oppressed were weaker than the landed proprietors who legislated for them. ' , inlet' Mtn t 9 tesiiiita op that putt; t tIIPY • a hon. gentler:l:l4h ted to the failure of the middle classes to keep the conservatives in check, unsupported by the labouring classes of the people, tram which they might see how necessary it was once more to win the confidence of those whom they had betrayed. Sir R. PEEL said, that in submitting his proposition to the house, he had endeavoured to avoid everything which could give rise tol arty feeling, and he was told that his measure would be considered upon its merits, and without any refer ence to party. .Notvvithst: riling this on the second night's debate, he must say thtt he never heard a more bitter party attack than was made upon him by the late chancellor of the exchequer. Under these circumstances, he_had vindicated his measure; and . canvassed the motives which influenced - those by whom he was opposed. The right hon. baronet then proceeded to show there was such a degree of financial difficulty as called for the imposition of a property tax, for the measures proposed by the late government would never have raised a sufficient tax to meet the pressing emergency. He then proceeded to contend that it would not•be fair to exempt professions and trades from the income tax, or tax in more than its fair proportion the lauded property of the country. If they thought that any distinction should be made according to the nature of the source from whence the income was derived they had better abandon the tax altoge ther. The tax, if not equally levied upon all kinds of in come without distinction, should, as was said by Lord Al thorp, not be attempted at all. He could not, there fore, consent to make any difference -on account of the source from whence the income was derived. The right honourable baronet then proceeded to defend the proposed alterations in our commercial tariff, and said that, if valid objections should be raised against any portion of it, instead of feeling ashamed to admit that he had fallen into error, he should feel proud at endeavouring to repair it. He was quite cli conscious of the diffi ` yof the task he had undertaken in assuming the governm tof the country at a time when it was involved in circums races of considerable embarrassment. The government bad, however, applied itself diligently to the task ie had undertaken ; and he had no hesitation in stating, that the government staked its existence upon the success of the financial measure which it had thought it right to submit to the consideration of the house ; and if it should be over ruled by the House of Commons, he should retire from office quite contented that he had proposed a measure which, in the words of one of his opponents was a bold, a direct, and an honest proposition. The right hon. baronet resumed his seat amidst loud cheers. Lord J. Itusscee contended that any warmth of feeling on his side of the house was drawn forth by the tone and temper which t":.e right hon. baronet hid shown when he formerly spoke upon the subject. The noble lord then said, that he thought the - right hon. baronet was right in not attempting to remedy the unequal pressure of the income tax. If there were but one inequality it might be remedied, but there were so many that it would be impossible to deal with them, and they must therefore consider the proposition as it now stood. The noble lord then pioceeded to contend at considerable length that there was no necessity for an income tax ; and that it would be far better to resort to the assessed taxes which had been repealed upon two and tour wheel carriages, ' riding horses, servants, &c., from which a revenue of £700,000 had formerly been derived: He believed the opposition to the income tax was not likely to succeed, because the country • was not aware of its nature, was ignorant of the.inequality of its operation, of its inquisitiveness, and in short of all the evils which inevitably attended its infliction. • Mr. B. Woon condemned the inequality with which the income tax must press upon different kinds of income. He stated the case of a friend of his, who, while the former in come tax was in operation, had in one year derived a profit of £25,000 from some mines. In the same year, he lost by mercantile speculations over £25,000; so that be wus a loser on the whole ; and yet he was called upon to pay the tax upon the £25,000 gained from the mines; and that tax, amount ing to £2500, he (Mr. Wood) paid for him. Mr. COBDEN moved the adjournment, it being nearly one o'clock. Mr. V. SMITH hoped his honourable friends below him would not persist in the adjournment. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said the reason for adjournment was as strong as ever, that reason being to give time to the country to understand the nature of the measure. Lord Howlett lamented the course pursued by some ho hourable gentlemen on his side of the house, and which, in his opinion, was calculated to weaken the opposition to the measure. . Mr. \VARLET thought the opposition one of such enor mous magnitude, and so pregnant for good or evil to the country, that it was only just and reasonable that time should be given to the country to understand it. Mr. CURTEIS supported the adjournment, in consequence of a letter be received from an agriculturist, who stated, that the whole of his neighbourhood were panic stricken at the proposition of Sir R. Peel. On a division, the motion for adjournment was negatived, by a majority of 200 to 87. A second adjournment was then moved by Mr. BERKELEY. Mr. CURTEIS intimated that he would continue dividing all night upon the adNurnment, unless the right hon. baronet gave way. • On a division, the'adjournment was again negatived, by a majority of 225 to 'B4. Sir R. PEEL protested against the, justice of thus forcing adjournments, but said he knew, if persevered in, he must give way, and he would not, therefore, again divide the house. The CHAIRMAN then reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again. THE ATTEMPT AT MURDER AT STOKESAY.—At the Shrewsbury assizes, on Tuesday, John Jones was indicted for stabbing and cutting with intent to murder Diana Briggs, at the parish of Stokesay, on the 9th of February. He was also indicted for attempting to commit a rape on the said Diana Briggs. The prisoner pleaded guilty to the latter of fence. The facts were reported in the STANDARD at the time. It will be remembered that the prisoner knocked at the door of Mrs. Briggs, and asked for a drink of water, but, on bearing that her husband was not in, proceeded up stairs, and was guilty of the most brutal and indecent conduct. He was found guilty, and sentenced to be transported for fifteen years. lIIGDWAY ROBBERY AND SINGULAR RECOVERY OF Noyes.—On Thursday night last, a clothier from Idle, who had been at Bradford market, was returning home, and was attacked a short distance from the Spotted House by seven men. He had that day got a bill for £lOO cashed, and after paying an account hatt £7O in notes, four sovereigns, and some_ silver left. Whilst scuffling with the men, he contrived to take the notes out of his pocket and drop them on the ground, with the exception of four, which he thrust into the hedge bottom ; and when they had obtained the £4 and sil ver, they left him. He then picked up all the notes from the floor, but could not find the four which he had put into the hedge bottom, and went to call the people at the Spotted House up, telling what had happened ' • but they, thinkin g i t a hoax, took no not iet, and at length the man went away. One of the servants, however, searched the hedge next morn ing, and found the notes, which were claimed by the owner. —Bradford Observer. THE CHIRAC MERDER. — At the Shrewsbury assizes, on Monday, John Williams and Joseph Slawson were indicted for the murder of Emma Evans, on the 16th December last. The particulars of the case appeared in our columns at the time. The jury found Williams guilty, and he was imme diately sentenced to death. Slawson was acquitted of the murder, but afterwards tried and found guilty of the robbery, and sentenced to seven years', transportation. The follow ing is an extract from Slawson 's voluntary confession :—" It was on the 15th, the day before I met with Williams at the bottom of the town-end in Wrexham, and we made the bar gain to go and rob the house of Emma Evans; so we agreed we would see one another again at night; so I met with Wil liams about five o'clock, at the bottom of York -street, in Wrexham ; and he said he would go home for his tea, and then we would start about six o'clock. I think it was on the Wednesday evening we started out of Wrexham ; so we wen t on till we got to Rhuabon, and from there we went to Chirk ; so we went on till we got to Bronygarth—whe n we got there we thought it was too soon to do anything at the house ; we proposed to go and lie down somewhere for an h our or two ; we went into a barn belonging to a farmer there, and slept till three o'clock the next morning ; so then we thought it was too late to do anything; we came up to the lod ge a g a i n and went into a stable talent and slept till night ; we got up about fire o'clock in the evening, and went on towards Bronygarth again, and we went up to the house of Emma Evans ; so we stood a little in the road, and Williams went up to the kitchen door and me lust behind him, and he ' knocked at the door, and he asked her if she had got any tobacco, and as the woman was going to the shop, I suppose, sir, he caught hold of her, threw her down, and shouted tome to come on, and I went in'and shut the door and locked it; and he was holding her down on the ground, and I began to search for her pockets ; so Williams could not hold her quiet—she began to scream out; so with that I jumped up to the door again and unlocked it to hear if anybody was coming, and Williams still had her on the ground, and I could hear him as I was by the door either knock or kick her ; I could not tell which ; I could hear the blows ; so he quieted her; with that I got over the rails and went into the garden ; Williams came outside the door and closed the door after him, and he got into the garden, and hearing every thing quiet he went into the house himself, and he came out again in two or three minutes, and he came to me and he said—" I have finished her," at the same time drawing the blood off his knife with his finger and thumb ; hearing every thing quiet, we both went into the house again and we fastened the door, and Williams went to her pockets and took out two sixpences, and we both went into the shop ; we found from four to five z•lallings in copper ; I cannot say which ; and we got no re Ai- money ; we then bundled those things up you seed in Criti: place ; we then began to search the house and we found nothing but them silver spoons and a pair of shoes, and what yeu saw in that bundle—that was all ; so then we ti ATROCIOUS' ATTEMPT --AT MCRDER.—One of the most daring and extraordinary attempts at murder that ever we had the painful task of recording, occurred in the neighbourhood of Whitehaven, on the afternoon of Saturday last, between one and two o'clock. The unfortunate man who had so nearly fallen d victim to the shot of an assassin, is Mr. Wm. Irving, of Arlecdon, the overseer of the extensive iron mines of Messrs. Tulk and Ley, situate at Friziugton. The assail ant is a person who had hitherto moved in a respectable sphere of life,. named M a tth ew R ussell, a stonemason, well known in this town and neighbourhood. It appears that Mr. Irving had, on Saturday morning, come down to White haven, as usual, for the m oney to pay the men their wages ; and when on his return, at no great distance from Acrewalls, encountered Russell, who, there can be no doubt, had been lying in wait for him. Wh e th er the assassin was concealed at this place, or had. followed Mr. Irving for some distance, ; but the latter was first made is as yet a matter of conject ure aware of his presenc4 y hear ing a f oot behind him, and, on ae t a , f i e s w that se co y n o d u s turning round, perceiving Russell walki ng sw if t l y up to him ?' a ' fterward s as the two , Matthew, however' said , made o W answer Matthew, ; tbtluiw continued walking on in silence, di sc h arged a ho, as at his unfortunate victim, and lodged the contents in the upper part of the back and neck. Mr. Irving, being a powerful man, though staggered by the shot, was not prostrated, and, turning round to his opponent, he demanded the reason of so monstrous an outrage , . Rusrll's o n l y answer was, that it was " a d—d bad job ; ' meaning, of c ourse , t h at h e had n ot killed his victim outright, and immediately proceeded to re-load the pistol. On seeing this, and suspecting his in tention, Mr. Irving sprung upon his assailant, and after a struggle succeeded in wrenching the weapon f rom th e hands of Russell, who immediately leapt the wall, and fled to the adjoining moor. With great difficulty, and with the assist ance of a neighbour whom he met on the way, M r . I rving succeeded in reaching home in n. Intorma a state of gre a t ex h aust i o tion of the outrage having been sent to Whitehaven with all despatch, Mr. Clarke, surgeon, with praiseworthy alacrity • • led to Arlecdon, and, on probing the wou n d, soon 'moire( ascertained the pistol to have been loaded with she's, which were afterwards found to be pieces of lead and the heads of horse-shoe nails. Mr. M itchell, surgeon, in com pany with Mr. Tulk, soon after arrived; and, unde r th e ju dicious and able treatment of these two medical gentlemen, we are happy to hear that the wounded man is not likely to suffer any serious or permanent injury. The offender was traced to Scotland, and was followed by police-officer Wood; who was so close in pursuit, that, oil one occasion, theoth cer entered a house in A nnan almost immediately after the fugitive h tad quittedit. H ere the officer appears fora short time to have been thrown off the sc ent , . which, however, he again recovered at Dumfrie s , 15 miles beyond which the fu gitive was finally captured by Wood. There seems little doubt that plunder was Russell's object, as he well knew that it was Mr. Irving's custom to come to Whitehaven tor the workmen's wages, On Saturday ; but it is hard to be lieve, that a sane man would have made such at, attempt in the broad face of day.— Whilehaven Herald could go MAIM TithhlM ‘,m - gizt( LATEBT FROM CARTIIAGE), , ZA.---(4 way of perniutia) —The following are particulat-s of the capture and destruc tion of the Carthagenian fleet by the British man of wur Charybdis. A Colonel Gregg nod some other British sub jects, either for some real or imaginary offence, were incarce rated by the Carthagenian government. The colonel, having applied to the British consul resident there for protection, that functionai y interested himself on his behalf, but in tercession proving unsuccessful, he communicated the parti culars to Lieut. de Courcy, of her majesty's brig Charyb dis, then in the neighbourhood. Lieut. de Courcy des patched a messenger with a letter to the commodore of the squadron at anchor in the port, demanding the release of the colonel and the_other British subjects. This letter; because it was not written in Spanish, was treated with contempt, and the bearer with much hauteur. On the officer's return to the Charybdis and reporting these circumstances to his commander, Lieut. de Courcy immediately entered the port, and when proceeding to an anchorage he was fired into by the commodore's vessel, a corvette, and the forestay of the Charybdis shot away. Lieut. de Courcy then took up a po,. sition, however desperate such a proceeding may have appeared orkhis part, in so small a vessel against so apparently overwhelminta force, he did not overrate the bravery of bis little band, fokafter a short fight, the corvette surrendered, the commodorelind 25 of his men having been killed. A brig and three schooners, that came to the assistance of the corvette; were attacked in turn by the Charybdis. In five minutes after the Charybdis brought her guns to bear on the brig she was sunk, and the schooners soon after surrendered. The Charybdis carries but three guns, one long one amid ships, and two carronades,.and her full complement of offi cers and men is but 55. The cause of the tight above alluded to was, that the brig Jane and Sarah, while lying at Sapote, in company with the sloop Little William, was, on the 6th ultimo, boarded by Gen. Carmona's squadron, both vessels plundered to a large amount of gsof t ls and specie, crew imprisoned, and Col. Gregg and taw other , passengers of the Jane and Sarah shot. UNITED STATES The New York packet-ship Oxford, Capt. Rathbone, arrived off this port on Tuesday night. She brings intelli gence to the 3rd of March, three days later than the accounts by the-Garrick. The Orford has encountered severe iweather, but would neverthelesAe rrcade"the passage in sevente en d a y s , b u t for the head * ds whiCh she has met with since her arrival in the channel. Among her passengers are Sir Allan M'Nab, and Dr. Rolph, recently appointed Emigration agent for the Canadas. , In the money market, on.the 2nd, there bad been a good disposition to sell, and Prices had given way under it. De laware and Hudson fell 4 per cent.; Indiana bonds I; Illi nois bonds 1; Farmers' , Trust ; Mohawk I ; Harlem s ; Long Island rose 3. . Sales of bills on Philadelphia 51 per cent. ; Baltimire 3 ; Mobile 15 ; New Orleans 6. The steanttbw-boat Mohican, on the 19th February, whilst engaged with the tow-boat Star, in towing the British ship Edward Thorn (inward-hound), across the bar at New Or.- leans, burst all her boilers, by which from twelve to fourteen lives were lost. The Mohican caught fire immediately after the explosion, and was entirely consumed. The deficiency of water in the boilers is said to have been the origin of the accident. In Canada all was looking favourably. Sir Charles Bagot had arrived, and was receiving a most flattering welcome from the inhabitants of both provinces. The public works were to be commenced in spring. The greatest consterna tion prevailed on account of the non-arrival of the Caledonia, no tidings of her return to this port having of course been received, and twenty-four days having elapsed since her day of sailing. From Texas we learn that a meeting had been held at Gal veston, and the following resolutions adopted : " Resolved,—That in the opinion of this meeting it is ex pedient for the executive to acquiesce in measures for offen sive war against Mexico. " Resolved,—That a committee of nine be appointed to correspond with the executive, and recommend the following measures for immediate war : " Ist. That our navy be instructed to molest the commerce of Mexico on the high seas, to ravage the towns and country on the coasts. " 2nd. That commissions be granted to private armed ves sels, under the flag and authority of Texas, to do the same. " 3rd. That invitation and encouragement be given to vo lunteers from abroad to come under our flag, and join with an army in the invasion of Mexico." DREADFUL STEAM-BOAT EXPLOSION (From the Greenock _Advertiser of Tuesday) Yesterday, between twelve and one o'clock, a most cala mitous accident took place at the quay at Helensburgh. The Telegraph, a steam-boat propelled by engines on the high pressure principle, arrived here from Glasgow, about noon, and took on board a number of passengers for the opposite shore. She had landed at the quay of Helensburgh those whose destination was that town, and was just setting off for the Gareloch, whp . the boiler burst with a tremendous ex plosion, which waVdjoinctly heard in this town, a distance of four or five milettikom the spot. With the least possible delay, two steamersNne belonging to the Old and the other to the New Clyde Shipping Company, set off from our har bour to ascertain what had taken place, and to render what assistance might be needed in the circumstances. The return of these vessels was waited for with the moat intense anxiety, not only by those who knew that they had relatives and friends on board the Telegraph when she left this port, but by vast numbers who had heard the explosion, or been told of it, but who were ignorant of the extent of the fearful calamity which all were persuaded had taken place. At two o'clocliOrieOfihe 'steamers returned, With the mournful intelligence that 13 human beings had been killed on the spot, and that all the others who had been on board at the time were more or less injured. It was added that the greater number of those who had lost their lives were so dreadfully mangled and mutilated, that their identific a ti on i n some instances was difficult, if not impossible. By the boat that leaves this at half-past two, a number of medical gentlemen proceeded to Helensburgh to render as •tistance tb the survibrs. Their brethren in Helensburgh were also very attentive. About a quarter to three another steamer arrived from Helensburgh ; and the intelligence brought by her showed that, in this instance, the first reports of the calamity, in stead of, as is usually the case, giving an exaggerated account of the mischief done, had fallen considerably below the truth, for it was now ascertained that no fewer than sixteen dead bodies had been found, while several persons who were known to have been on board when the explosion took place were nowhere to be seen, either dead or alive. Among those dead are — Captain Evdng, the master of the unfortunate vessel, and who was well known in this neighbourhood, having formerly commanded the steamer Kilmun. He died shortly after the explosion. Mr. Hedderwick, of the firm of Hedderwick and Rankine, ship-builders, Kelvinhaugh, whose head was dreadfully mangled. Mrs. Dow, wife of Mr. Dow of the Old Clyde Shipping Company, and daughter of Mr. Malcolm Keith, clothier in this town. She was married within the last four months. Robert M'Auslan (one of the crew), Helensburgh. Daniel Boyle, tailor, from Greenock. Robert M‘Gregor, do. do. John M`Millan, do. do. James Johnston, Greenock. Robert Cadenhead,..Govan. John M‘Dairmid, pilot. • Jacob Laird, painter, from Edinburgh. William Muir, painter, from Glasgow. Peter M`Lintock, painter, from do. John M`Queen, painter, from Dundee. A person supposed to be the engineer; and Three bodies not identified. Of the above, the bodies of Peter M`Lintock and John M`Queen had not been found at the date of the last advices. They, together with the other two painters above-mentioned, had arrived from Glasgow, and were on their way to Gare locks to work at the large steam-vessel the Precursor, which is now lying there. In all sixteen bodies bad been got, which, with the tw•o painters noticed above, make a certain loss of eighteen ; but it is feared the mortality may be more exten tive. A woman and child are known to be missing. Besides those killed, there are a number who were bruised and scalded. Among these are— Mrs. Keith, who is much scalded. Miss Keith, who is not expected to survive (these are the mother and ,sister of Mrs. Dow, whose death is mentioned above.) Miss AV Kellar (a young lady who was with Mrs. Keith), slightly hurt.. John M'Neill (workman with Mr. Napier), serioitsly in jured. - Richard Anderson (foreman to Hedderwicic and Rankine), who is so much injured that his life is despaired of. James Stenhouse. much bruised. Alex. 111'Coll, fracture of both thighs, and much injured. George Leck, compound fracture of the leg. David WAlpine, severely burned. John severely bruised. The four last-named persons were brought over by the Royal Tar, at half-past four o'clock, and taken to the In firmary. The distance at which the sound of the explosion was heard will give the reader some idea of its loudness—of its force we have no less decisive proofs. Not to speak of the number of individuals hurried by it into eternity in a tam ment, or injured to an extent from which they will never recover, the engine and part of the boiler of the boat was propelled through the air and landed on the quay at the dis tance of a hundred feet from where the explosion took place. The boat was-split-froth' stem, to stern, and the deck lim ber blown to fragments and scattered all arou nd. An express having been sent to Dumbarton, the Sheriff and Sheriff Clerk of Dumbartonshire were very soon on the spot, and proceeded to take a precognition from such of the survivors as were in a situation to give evidence. The result of their investigation has not transpired. The corpses of the dead, and the larger proportion of the injured survivors, were removed to the Tontine Inn, Helens burgh, where Mr. Liddell, the landlord, and his family, did all in their power to alleviate the sufferings of those to whom their attentions could be of any avail. • The following are extracts from the Edinburgh papers on the cause of this dreadful calamity : The shocking occurrence, which our readers will peruse with painful interest, of the steam-boiler explosion at He lensburgh, ought to compelthe attention of those responsible for the safe working of that tremendous agent—steam, to the real cause of such accidents. We have again and again given our reasons for attributing such catastrophes to the ineffi ciency of the safely valve as a protective against the exces sive generation of steam i❑ the boiler. We have explained that this inefficiency consists in what is called "the gag"— or the tendency of the apparatus to become locked at the very moment when its action is really required.—when the engine has been stopped, and the steam continuing to be ge nerated, has no means of escape, unless the safety valve is lifted up, and the'pressure relieved through its orifice. Now it is a fact of awful importance, that the safety valve cannot be depended upon to do this. but, on the contrary, will re main fast, and unless immediately put right by the engine man, prevent, instead of allowing, the escape of the steam. Hence so many explosions, attended with such dreadful re sults. The attention of government ought to be drawn to this subject, and a sufficient inducement given to scientific men to discover a safety apparatus, which will not be liable to failure. Should such a substitute be discovered—of which we have no doubt—the present apparatus ought to be pro hibited in all high-pressure engines, and thus the lives of the public secured against such fearful casualties in future. The construction of the Telegraph was . quite a novelty, even in the Clyde, the cradle of steam navigation. She was of a light yacht-like build, 120 feet in length, by 14 of beam ; was considered of 32 tons, and used a locomotive engine. In the centre of the vessel there was a high elevation, on which was placed the wheel, and station of the steersman, enabling him from his position to keep a good lookout; and the helm was moved by a chain running along the surface of the bul warks on each side to the stern. Below this elevation, in the stern of the vessel, the _cabin was situated, and the steerage was similarly placed forward. The'lords of the treasury have refused to sanction Captain Elliot's appropriation of a part of the Canton ransom to the payment of the demand of Messrs. Dent for opium sold to Captain Elliot in his necessities, when called on to give up a certain qu an ti ty to the Chinese government. ORTlitS§ll4o gtimag pi= THE rum or (NOM bit? 40444 Siiindard if Monday. !t is our painful duty this d a y t o recor d th e mclan4oly suicide of the Earl of Munster; son of his late Majesty Wm, IV. This distressing event took place last night at gal -palst seven o'clock, at the new residence of the late earl, No. 13, Eaton-square, Pimlico. His lordship retired to his bed-room shortly after 11 o'clock , and soon afterwards the inmates of the house were alarmed on hearing a great noise proceed from that direction. It was iminediaterdiscovered that the noble aerl had comtnited suicide. We hear that he placed the end of a pistol barrel in his mouth, and so effectual was the discharge that he died almost instantaneously. Several reports of the details are in circulation, but as the inquest will be held this evening, we refrain from noticing them.. We may ; however, remark, that the unfortunate nobleman has left behind him a young family of six children to deplore their loss, and that he had only taken possession of his late residence in Eaton square five weeks ; since which time he had been in a very low and desponding state of mind. His lordship was created Earl Munster in 1831 ; he married the daughter of the third Earl of Egremont. Second title Viscount Fitzclarence, a colonel in the army, Governor of Windsor Castle, Aide-de- Camp to the Queen, Lieutenant of the Tower of London, and Colonel of the Ist Regt. of Tower 1 - lamlets Militia. He was also a Privy Councillor, and F.R.S. • - The late earl was in his 48th year, having been born in 179,1. Thi._ above distressing intelligence was forwarded at an early hot'? this morning to the members of the Royal Family. THE INQUEST On Monday the coroner and jury assembled to inquire concerning the death of the noble earl. They proceeded to view the body, which was lying in a large pool of blood, which had flowed partly through the right hand, which was shot through, and partly from the head. We merely give the principal features of the evidence. Robert Snooks, footman to the deceased, deposed as fol lows :—On Sunday night, about half-past 11 o'clock, while I was preparing for bed, I heard the report of a pistol. imme diately afterwards the library bell rang, and his lordship came out of the library and called for Mr. Miller, the steward. He called out, " Miller, Miller ; here here ; I have shot my hand." He then ran down into the pantry, and said to me, " Go for Mr. Hammerton directly, I have met with an acci dent and shot my band." lie then asked for a light, and I followed him up into the library, when he again desired me to go for a surgeon. I saw his "hand, which appeared one mass of blood. I went out of the room in order to go for a sur geon, but first went to Mr. Miller, and then to the pantry for my hat, and while down stairs, I heard another report of a pistol. I had no idea on hearing the first report that his lordihip had shot himself. The second report was not more than two minutes after the first. Mr. Miller, myself, and the under butler ran up to the library, and saw his lordship lying:as seen by the jury. There was a , great deal of blood around him, and there was a pistol.on the floor near his tight hand, but I do not know if the one produced is the , same. He was bleeding when we went into the room, but almost im mediately expired. I then ran for Mr. Hammerton. His lordship has been unwell fot the last fortnight, and appeared in a very desponding state, which is the only cause I can as sign for thy et)mmission of the act. I never saw pistols in his .possession till §unday night. When I took the candle into his room he said, have done a pretty thing for myself by play ing with pistols ; .1 have shot my hand." I have no doubt he committed the act himself. Dr. Chambers said he had been sent for to attend the de ceased professionally on Sunday evening. He found him very excited, and his answers were hurried. Witness did not consider it necessary to put any restraint on his lordship, though he gave directions that he should be watched. Mr. Haunerton, a surgeon, stated that he had examined the body minutely, and found that the roof of the mouth was shattered, and the bones of the head extensively fractured, which he had no doubt are the effects of a shot. There was the mark of a ball on the ceiling directly over where deceased was lying, and close by a patch of hair. He had no doubt the deceased fired into his mouth, and that the ball took an up ward direction. Both eyes were forced outwards, as though the ball had passed immediately behind them. There was a wound in the right hand, in which a ball was lodged. The deceased appeared to be very much affected by the late news from India. He often spoke on the subject, expressing him self in strong terms about the females who had been taken as hostages at Cabot. He was on these occasions much excited. He appeared deeply interested in the fate of the women. These things no doubt increased the depression. He fre quently said, " Suppose one's own family had been in such a situation, what a dreadful thing to reflect upon." Witness had not the least doubt that deceased had committed the act himself. A gentleman who was present said, that so much did the deceased appear to feel with respect to the repulses that our troops had lately met with in India, but more particularly in the fate of the captured women, that he was very depressed by it, and there was but little doubt in the minds of his friends that that alone had been the cause of his despondency, which had terminated in so melancholy a way. The jury consulted for a few minutes, and then returned a verdict that " Deceased destroyed himself by his own hands while labouring under temporary mental derangement." [The pistol with which this act of self-murder was com mitted was one of a pair presented to deceased by George IV. when Prince of Wales, and had the Prince of Wales's crest inlaid in gold in the handle. They are what are used for practice at the target, having a flat surface on the stock to rest upon an object, for the purpose of steadying the hand. The other was a small pocket pistol, and did not appear to have been used.] EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF SLANDER At the Leicester assizes, on Friday last, the following sin gular case was heard. One of the parties who is spoken of as having resided in this town was very well known here, es pecially amongst the officers of the customs. DEMPSTER 'HEMMING AND WIFE V. POWER. Mr. Balguy, Mr. Sergeant Goulburn, Mr. Hill, and Mr. Waddington were for the plaintiffs; Sir W. Follett, Mr. Daniel (both being specially retained), and Mr. Mellor were for the defendant. • The present action was brought on account of certain de famatory expressions alleged to have been used with refer ence to Mrs. Hemming by the defendant, the facts as de tailed in proof. being as follows :—Mr. Hemming, a gentle man of fortune, living at Caldecott-hall, in the county of Warwick, was bred to the bar, and for a short period went the Midland Circuit ; he subsequently prcceelled to India, and having made a large fortune returned to his native county and purchased the estate on which he now resides. Some time in the year 1839 he met, at the house of Mr. Roberts, who is a magistrate of the county, a Miss and Mr. Alleyne, who were introduced to him as brother and sister. The lady was possessed of great personal attractions, and ultimately Mr. Hemming married her. We believe the marriage was solemnised towards the latter end of 1839 or the beginning of 1840. It would appear that Mr. and Miss Alleyne were strangers in the county, and how they got acquainted with Mr. Roberts did not precisely appear. The plaintiff, Mr. Hemming,. is about 60 years of age, and what is generally termed an old bachelor ; the lady is 28, or it may be 30. It being known that this marriage bad taken place, many per sons were curious to ascertain who Miss Alleyne was, and the defendant (Mr. Power), who is a very respectable at torney, living in the neighbourhood, had stated to certain professional gentlemen, whom he had met on business, that it was suspected they were not brother and sister, but stood in the relation to each other of man and wife. The persons to whom this was said expressed their entire disbelief of such re ports, and, ultimately, Mr. Alleyne was informed of what had been said by Mr. Power, and wrote to that gentleman. Mr. Power, in answer to this communication, admitted he had stated such rumours were current, and gave as his authority Mrs. Roberts, of. Witherby. Some communication took place between the parties, and at last the present action was brought for- the words so spoken. On the part of the plaintiffs, the learned counsel contented themselves with simply proving the words to have been uttered by Mr. Power, refraining from putting Mr. Alleyne into the witness-box to say who or what he or. Mrs. Hemming (his pretended sister) were. This fact was indignantly commented upon by the Solicitor-General, who, failing to nonsuit the plaintiffs upon certain objections which he took to the declarations, pro ceeded to state who Mrs. Hemming and Mr. Alleyne (as far as the exertions that had been used by his client could show) really were. With regard to Mrs. Hemming, they had not not been able to trace her origin, and therefore the Solicitor- General stated he would assume the description she gave of herself, when married to Mr. Hemming, was the correct one : that description was Rhoda Mary Alleyne, daughter of Henry Alleyne, gentleman•. With regard to her pretended brother, it had been discovered that his father had been a shipwright in the town of Lyme Regis—that his name was Chard ; he he had been unfortunate in trade, and been bankrupt. This Henry Alleyne, then, was the son of this shipwright, and was traced to have lived at Liverpool, in the humble station of tidewater ; that while a very young man he was placed on the superannuation list, and received his pension quarterly or half-yearly, all these facts being proved by evidence, and Alleyne's own hand-writing, giving receipts for the pensions, which writing was distinctly sworn to. Those documents were signed " Henry Chard," and that was done during the whole time he was down in Warwickshire, at Caldecott Hall, living upon Mr. Hemming. It was also proved that in 1838 this Alleyne was living with Mrs. Hemming at Finchley or Hampstead, ostensibly as brother and sister; he had also gone by the names of Captain Alleyne and of Dinham, in which latter name he appeared to have been a dealer in butter. Sir W. Follett contended that if he proved these circum stances, and others of a similar nature, it would be quite clear Mrs. Hemming and Alleyne were mere adventurers, and that Mr. Hemming was their dupe ; that Mr. Power had not uttered the words in question other than as the reports common in the neighbourhood, which were in everybody's mouth ; and that under these circumstances the verdict should pass for the defendant. Mr. balguy contended the jury had nothing to do with Alleyne. _The, aetion was- brought 1 y•Mr. Hemming- -and his wife for words reflecting upon her ; and the learned Judge, in summing up, inclined to that opinion. The jury retired, and ultimately found for the plaintiff, with one farthing damages. TILE QUEEN "V. HENRY LEIGH ALLEYNE This was an indictment at the Warwickshire assizes against the defendant, charging him with challenging Henry Power, solicitor, of Atherstone, to tight a duel. Mr. Daniel and Mr. Mellor were . counsel for the prosecutor, and Mr. Sergeant Goulburn - and Mr. Hill, Q.C., appeared for the defendant. It was a special jury cause, A. F. Gregory, Esq., being the forcman.—The jury found a verdict of guilty, and it was recorded against the defendant ; but no sentence was passed, as the case is expected to be further heard in the Court of Queen's Bench. UNSEEMLY CONDUCT IN A SCOTCH KlRK.—Such has been the conduct of certain parties in the Steeple Church on Sunday evenings of late, that it has been considered neces sary to introduce a body of police to keep order. We un derstand that whiskey is carried thither, and tobacco is smoked ; in fact all the practices common in the tap-room. —Glasgow Advertiser. CURIOUS.—D. E. B. T. are the initial letters of " Dun Every Body Twice." C. R. E. D. I. T. are the initial letters of " Call Regularly Every Day—l'll Trust."—New York Herald. HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO LAMBETH PALACE, ON SATURDAY.—Hi S Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury re ceived the Queen and his Royal Flightless at the grand en trance in the quadrangle, on their alighting from the royal carriage, when Miss Beaumont, the youthful granddaughter of his grace, presented her majesty with a bouquet of beauti ful flowers. Her Majesty then took the arm of the arch bishop, Prince Albert at the same time offering to Mrs. Howley, and the illustrious visitors were then conducted up the flight . of steps leading to the corridor, and thence to the boudoir, and afterwards to the principal drawing-room, where the whole of the guests were assembled to receive the royal visitors. After going over the ancient and interesting rem nants of the original palace, her Majesty and his Royal Highness returned to the grand drawing-room, and directly afterwards repaired to the dejeune'in the grand dining-room. The luncheon was of the most sumptuous description. In the centre of the table, on an ebony pedestal ornamented with silver, was placed the massive silver candelabrum, as the in scription stated, to be " the gift of her Most Gracious Ma jesty Queen Victoria, to his Grace the Most ,Reverend William Archbishop of Canterbury, on the occasion of her Majesty's marriage with his Royal Highness Prince Albert, Feb. 10, 1840." The dessert was of the must recherche-cha racter, the strawberries and other fruit being of the choicest description. The service used was gold. At a quarter to four the Queen and Prince Albert took their departure, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs. Howley accompanying their illustrious guests to the royal carriage, followed by the Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, &e. ri ti,24IOIFAL, , w LI iTA MION.Ecti.TA ttr e 'vg )400 Vi;', ba pravto 1,1 for the first time its Liverpool, Shakipeare'g MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, With entirely New Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, Decorn- tions, and Appointments; l'receded by Mendehishou s celebrated Overture, The :Musical Arrangements by Mr. Aldridge. The Scenery by Air. C. Parker, Mr. Johnson, Mr.°Kelshaw, an►l Assi.stant6 The Decorations and Appointments by Mr. M'Crutr. The Machinery by Mr. Willmore. The Dresses b Coombe, Mrs. Hall, and Mrs. Watson, The Dances by Mons. Schmidt. The whole under the direction of Mr. W. J. Ilannnonl Theseus .. (Duke of Athens).. Mr. Mude. Lysander.... (in love with fierrnia).... Mr. Nantz, From the Theatres-Royal, Bath and Birmingham, his first Quince appearance on this stage. V .. (the Carpenter).... Mr. Baker. Bottom (the Weaver) Flute.. (the Bellows-mender).. Mr. Slaiter. Snug Hermia .. (M love with Lysander) Miss Cleaver Helena.. (in love with Denietrius).. Miss Jiilia Bennett. FAIRIES. i el, Oberon . (King of the Fairies)...,. i Ties Gardner. Titania.. (Queen of the Fairies).. Ails* Hen Chaplin, From the Adelphi Theatre, L ndon. Puck, or Robin Goodfellow.... (a Fairy)_ .... Miss Webste r ~.. First Fairy Second Fairy Aiiss E. Lionner, Mrs. Barton. The Scenery will represent Colonnade in the Palace of Theseus; the Terrace, Statuary, Gardens, and distant View of Athens.—Robm in Quince's Cottage.—Fairy Haunt, and Titania's Bower.—Wood near Athens, by Moonlight and Sunlight.—Grand Hall in the Palace of Theseus.—With temporary Stage for the Representation of the most Lament able Comedy and Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbe.— Prologue by Quince (the Carpenter.) Pyramus by Bottom (the Weaver.) Thisbe by Flute (the Bellows mender.) Wall by Snout (the Tinker.) Moonshine by Starveling (the Tailor.) Lion by. Snug (the Joiner.). Concluding with an Illuminated Gallery ! Oberon and Titania assemble their Fairy Troop to bless the Nuptials of Theseus and Ilippolyta. The Evening's Entertainments will terminate with the - Farce of A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER. Sir Mark Chase.. Mr. Baker I Alfred Highflyer.. Mr.Nantz Fixture.... Mr. W. J. Hammond. Darilngton.. Miss Julia Bennett. The Box-Cace will be opened daily, when Places may be taken of Mr . ..,CooKE, from Ten until Three o'clock. No Places can be secured unless Tickets are taken. Doors to be opened at half-past Six, and the Performances to commence at Seven (,)clock precisely. Lower Boxes, 4s. ; .Upper Boxes, 3s. 6d.; Pit, 2s. 6d. ; Gallery, Is. SECOND .PRICE will be taken at the end of the Third Act of the Midsummer!Night's Dream. Lower Boxes, 2s. 6d. ; Upper Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, Is. ; Gallery, 6d. A limited number of Season Tickets, not transferable and not admissible on Benefit Nit:its, may be had on application to Mr. COOKE, at the Box-office. R 0 Y AL AMPHITHEATRE, GREAT CITARLOTTE-STREET. THE AMERICAN COMPANY! fAN MONDAY, TUESDAY, and WEDNESDAY next, kl the 28th, 29th, and 30th instant, the Evening's Enter tainments will commence with a GRAND WALTZ AND GALLOPADE, By a number of beautiful Horses, handsomely/Caparisoned. Mr. Sweeney will introduce a number of Negro Songs, accompanying himself on the Banjo. Master Smith, the Juvenile Perform , ill appear on a Single Horse, and take many surprising aps, §4c. Wonderful VAULTING, by the Aer . Troop. A Grand Classic Act of the POLL. I GYMNASTICS, by Mr. Sands and his Pupil, Master Burnish. The WARRIOR of the WILD PRAIRIE, by Mr. J. Buckley. Mr. C. Rivea, Mr. F. Rivea. and Master R. Rivea will appear in their GRAND GROUPINGS. 1,2, 3, 4 FIERY STEEDS, rode, drove, and managed by Mr. R. Sands. Mr. Derious will exhibit his wonderful feat of LA FRANCA HISPANIOLA. The Indian Pony. OCEODA, will likewise perform. CORDE CRESCENT, by Master Smith; HORSE MANSHIP, by Mr. Buckley; WIRGINNY MELODIES and BREAKDOWNS ; and a variety of other Performances. The whole to conclude with the MILLER and COAL MAN! Doors open at a Quarter-past Seven, and the Performance to commence at Eight o'clock. Admission throughout the Performance—Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, ls.; Gallery, 6d. ROYAL LIVER THEATRE, CHURCH -STREET, LIVERPOOL, MAGNIFICENTLY DECORATF‘D. E ASTER MONDAY and TUESDAY 4O Karch 28 and 29, MRS. R. M. RAYMON S Farewell Benefit. The Entertainments will comtnenc ith the Romantic Drama, cal ed - THE FLYING D HMAN; OR, THE THANT SHIP. Lucy After which, SIGNOR STANISLAUS, The unrivalled Fire Ling, will go through his wonderful and extraordinary performances. To which will be added a new Interlude, entitled TUE CARD CASE. Barney Flinn Mr. R. M. Raymond. Jenny Rosebud Mrs. R. M. Raymond. To conclude with THE SPANISH BRIGANDS. Gil Blas Tickets and Places for the Public Boxes to be had of Mr. J. FOGG, at the Box Office, from Eleven till Three; also for the Private Boxes for Full Dress Parties. . 35.-- Pit, 2s. Gallery, thl..(to which the number will be limited), Second Price.—Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, is. Doors to open at Half-past Six. Performance to begin at Seven. Second Price at Half-past Eight. This THEATRE to be LET for Concerts, Lectures, Meetings, &c., after the 9th of April, on which day it closes for the season. IT I I WI COLLEGE, ENGINEERING, A 1 1 11 T ''.ll:E—Cll.l' . l : jI.Z7_,RTAMIT ando f MAN UFACTU RF,S.—This DEPARTMENT, under Pro fessors Hall, Moseley, Daniell, Wheatstone, Husking, Dace, and Ansted, and Mr. Bradley, Mr. o wner , M r . T ennan t, ;li r Mr. A. Moseley, and - Mr. Castle, 3, ' be REOPENED after the Easter Vacation, (which will egin on Thursday, the 24th instant,) on TUESDAY, the 5 i April. The JUNIOR CLASS for PUPILS, not under the age of 14 years, will also be REOPENED on the same day. Further information may be obtained at the Secretary's Office. J. LONSDALE, Principal. March, 1812, TO PROFESSIONAL GENTLErN AND OTHERS. jB. HEW ITT, SHORT-HAND WRITF AND PRINCIPAL • REPORTER TO THE LIVERPOOL ANDARD, begs to offer his services to Legal Gentlemen nil others who may wish to obtain SPECIAL REPORT f any Cases for Trial at the ensuing LIVERPOOL ASSI S. Standard-office. TO CORRESPONDENTS We are reluctantly compelled to withdraw a notice of the Rev. Robert Montgomery's able poem of Luther, ( which we had prepared for our present publication. it shall ap pear, however, if possible, in our next. " E B" makes rather too much of the cause of his complaint, though there is some ground for hi; censure. GOOD FRIDAY. The STANDARD will remain on sale this morning at the Office, until about Ten o'clock ; and it may be ob tained afterwards at WILLMER and SMITH'S, Church-street, AYLWARDS, Lord-street, ARNOLD'S, South John-street, Pucit's, Marybone, and at the usual places. ebr kibrrpool &tanbarb. FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 25, 1842 It will be seen from our parliamentary report that the debate upon the financial propositions of govern ment, by the factious course adopted by the opposition, has been adjourned until after the Easter recess. At present we have, however, neither time nor space for any remarks upon_ it. Amongst the recent arrivals by the packet-ship Ox ford from New York, we observe the names of Sir Allan M'Nab and Dr. Thomas Rolph, from Canada. The latter gentleman has long been favourably known to the people of the united kingdom, in connexion with his zealous efforts in the furtherance and promotion of emigration to that valuable andinteresting portion of the British dominions; and it will afford great satis faction to the friends of that cause, to know that he has again crossed the Atlantic, with the authority and sanction of the Canadian government, to prosecute his efforts in that hallowed and patriotic work. Sir Allan •M`Nab, who visits England for the first time, proudly and honourably distinguished himself by his gallant conduct in the outbreak of 1837, and the invasion from the United States frontier in 1838. At that pe riod, it will be remembered, Upper Canada was with out a British soldier to defend the regal authority then so violently menaced, and by the timely assistance af forded by that gentleman at the head of the unrivalled militia of that province, British supremacy was sus tained, rebellion crushed, and the daring invaders of British soil taught that the authority of Great Britain was too deeply rivetted in the hearts and affections of the people of Canada to be overthrown by such efforts. We believe that he has been for many years a member of the legislature of Canada, and was Speaker of the House of Assembly at the interesting period we have referred to. For his meritorious services her Majesty rewarded him with the honour of knighthood, a n d every legislative body in our North American colonies passed the highest commendations on his fidelity and worth. We doubt not he will receive a warm and hearty welcome from all the friends of the colonies throughout the united kingdom. After the close of the Easter recess Sir Robert Inglis will bring before the House of Commons the impor tant question of Church Extension, and the result of appot to a COPINAIi kcivecntimin And rug* korw4tivo r4i - f Jority 4; that *W b 1(44.44.430wi1a to with iiii4ifity o'erY friond of a and religion. We can have no knowledge, of cothite, of the particular measure which it is the intention of the honourable baronet to propose, and we cannot, therefore, at present speculate upon the amount of support which he will receive. A large demand upon parliament cannot possibly be granted under the exist ing circumstances of the country, and ought not to be A recognition, however, of the principle of church extension at the expense of the state will not, we think, we unfavourably received ; and we do trust that the Conservative majority in parliament will not shrink from asserting that principle, and will rally to the support of the honourable baronet who has made for years past such noble efforts in its behalf. We do not ask, and the friends of church extension throughout the country do not ask, that the state should be dragged into a Quixotic attempt to supply at once the large deficiency of church accommodation which has accumulated during past years. We do not propose that the state should take wholly from off the shoulders of the people the responsibility of prOviding the means of public worship for the masses who at present are destitute of those means. The wealth of the supporters of our holy church must still be drawn upon largely, to enable her to extend her fostering arms and bring into her fold all her children. Indivi dual benevolence must not be permitted or encouraged to lock up its sympathies and sink into apathy. We ask no measure from the state which can have these tendencies ; but, on the contrary, we desire such an interference only as would stimulate rather than dis courage contributions from individual wealth. We wish only to see the state going hand in hand with those amongst the supporters of our established reli gion whose efforts are, even now, contributing so largely to supply the spiritual-destitution which- exists amongst us ; and we think there are few men so bit terly hostile to our church who would object to see the state occupying such a position towards her. It is not solely upon grounds of expediency—not solely because by so doing it would be promoting the happiness, tetnporai and eternal, of the people—that we wish to have the aid of the state in the important work of providing spiritual instruction to our destitute population. We urge such a course rather because we desire to see the state doing what is its strict and impe rative duty. A Conservative government, we contend, is bound to look this duty fairly in the face. We trust that they will boldly recognise it as binding upon them ; and it this be done—if the principle is once assented to that it is the duty of the state to watch over and provide for the spiritual safety of the people, as it already provides for their temporal safety—we care little for the extent of the aid in the first instance to be conceded. We know that it is urged by some even of the friends of our established religion and of the cause of order, that, by strenuous efforts, all which is required will ultimately be done for the church from within her own pale. We should be glad indeed if we could sa tisfy ourselves that any well-grounded hope exists of such a result. Time indeed may do much in some places to supply the deficiency of church accommoda tion which exists throughout the country. In the large manufacturing towns which have sprung up within the last few years the wealth which successful industry has accumulated will in time be devoted to provide the means of religious instruction for the po pulation, Slowly, it is doing so at the present mo ment ; but in the mean time we must bear in mind that the constant movement which our commerce is making over the entire face of the land is daily creating the very destitution of which we complain. Large masses of population are constantly being settled down in some particular localities ; and it is in• tbeee cases, where no realized wealth exists upon which to draw, that the assistance of the state is most wanted, and, indeed, is imperatively called for. It is with feelings of sincere regret that we notice the course, which has been determined upon by go vernment, with respect to the distribution of the funds set apart for the promotion of national education in Ireland. Upon this subject a question was put to the Secretary for Ireland, on Monday night, by.the Re corder of Dublin, requesting to know from his lord ship " whether it was the intention of her Majesty's government to make any proposal for extending the schools in Connexion with the Established Church in Ireland, and to give them what they had not in fact enjoyed since the establishment of the board of edu cation—a due proportion of the funds annually granted by parliament " for the purpose in question ; and the reply, which was received with acclamations of delight from the opposition benches, was distinct and direct, that no alteration would be made in the existing system of distribution;—that the schools belonging to the es tablished church, the conductors of which are not ready to place themselves under the control of the education board, will continue to be excluded from the enjoyment of aii;ky share in the grant provided by the liberality of the -nation; in fact, that education in the tenets of Popery, amid in semi-infidelity, is to be favoured with the sunshine of ministerial favour, whilst instruc tion in the principles of our established religion, and the teaching of the unadulterated word of God, are, so far as the influence of a conservative government can effect that object, to be discountenanced and put down. In common with every sincere Protestant, we deeply regret this determination on the part of Sir 'Robert Peel's government; but we are very far from feeling any great surprise at its existence. Bold and firm as has been the conduct of Sir Robert with respect to his financial policy, we have bitter cause to remember that a firm adherence to a great principle, when placed in antagonism with ,merely temporal expediency, forms no part of the characteristics of this great statesman. By the concession he has made to liberalism upon this question, he has, we have no doubt, done that which will secure to him the approbation of a few of the luke warm members of his own party ; but he will be mi serably disappointed if he supposes that he has conci liated one member of the party which is at this moment ready to engage in a factious opposition to every mea sure of his government. By this untoward step, we hesitate not to express our perfect conviction that he has made no fast friends in any portion of the empire —not even in Ireland herself; and that, at the same time, lie has shaken the confidence in his administra tion which the Protestants of that country, and of England as well, were inclined to accord to it, and thereby gone far to alienate from him the hearty sym pathies of that great party whose zealous support, in the hour of struggle, has always been the firmest safe guard of the throne, the altar, and the constitution. The present, Sir Robert Peel may depend upon it, is not a time when the affections of such a party should have been wantonly thrown to the winds, in the vain hope of conciliating the dark, unappeasable spirit of Popery. But we will not at this moment press a sub ject so painful. THE BOSTON AND HALIFAX MAIL SHIPS It will be found by the following extracts, that alarming apprehensions were entertained at New York for the fate of the Caledonia, which put back to this port after being some days out, in consequence of damage to her rudder,—the Acadia, which took her place, not having arrived up to the latest advices. The apprehensions would, we trust, soon be dispelled by the due arrival of the latter vessel. It will be found by the other quotations (from the Boston paper) that the steamer Unicorn had, in the absence of the Caledonia, or any other vessel of the line, been sent from Halifax to Boston to take up the mails and passengers ; to return to the former port ; arid, in the event of none of the mail-ships turning up, to proceed with them to England. As it is stated in these accounts that she would leave Boston on the afternoon of the 2d instant, the inference drawn by many parties on this side the water is, that she would leave Halifax on the sth of this month, and that, considering the quick passages recently accOMplished by sailing ships from America to this port, she is noy more than due. Considerable dis cussion has consequently arisen, and no little anxiety is ex pressed as to the cause of her detention ; but we are glad to be enabled to supply some facts, from unquestionable autho rity, showing that, from the probable time of her sailing, (on the supposition that it was finally dispatched with the mails,) she is not yet due, and that any fears that may be entertained for her safety are altogether premature. The Acadia sailed on the 19th ultimo, and giving her the same average outward passage accomplished by these vessels at this season of the year, namely, seventeen days, she might be expected to arrive at her destination (Halifax) on or about the evening of the Bth instant ; and this, we shall show, would be in time to supersede the Unicorn in bringing the mails to England. The Unicorn, it was said, was to sail from Boston on the 2d instant, and would reach Halifax on