The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-02-06 00:00:00

imprriat Varltament HOUSE OF LORDS.—THURSDAY. Parliament was opened by the Queen in pe, son, with the usual formalities. Her Majesty having arrived at the House of Lords, and taken her seat on 'the throne, read the following most gracious speech : THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. " My Lords and Gentlemen, " It affords me great satisfaction again to meet you in - parliament, and to have the opportunity of profiting by your assistance and advice. " I entertain a confident hope that the general peace, so necessary for the happiness and prosperity of all na tions, will continue uninterrupted. " My friendly relations with the King of the French, and the good understanding happily established between my government and that of his Majesty, with the continued assurances of the peaceful and amicable dispositions of all Princes and States, confirm me in this expectation. " I have directed that the treaty which I have concluded with the Emperor of China shall be laid before you, and I rejoice to think that it will, in its results, prove highly advantageous to the trade of this country. " Throughout the whole course of my negotiations with the government of China, I have uniformly disclaimed the wish for any exclusive advantages. " It has been my desire that equal favour should be shown to the industry and commercial enterprise of all nations. " The hostilities which took place during the past year in Scinde have led to the annexation of a considerable portion of that country to the British possessions in the East. " In all the military operations, and especially in the battles of Meanee and Hyderabad, the constancy and va lour of the troops, native and European, and the skill and gallantry of their distinguished commander, have been most conspicuous. " I have directed that additional information explana tory of the transactions in Scinde shall be forthwith com municated to you, " Gentlemen of the House of Commons, " The estimates for the ensuing yearwill be immediately laid before you. " They have been prepared with a strict regard to eco nomy, and at the same time with a due consideration of those exigencies of the public service which are connected with the maintenance of our maritime strength, and the multiplied demands on the naval and military establish ments from the various parts of a widely extended empire. " My Lords and Gentlemen, " I congratulate you on the improved condition of se veral important branches of the trade and manufactures of the country. " I trust that the increased demand for labour has re lieved in a comsponding degree many classes of my faith ful subjects from sufferings and privations, which at former periods I have had occasion to deplore. " For several successive years the annual produce of the revenue fell short of the public expenditure. I con fidently trust, that in the present year the public income will be amply sufficient to defray the charges upon it. " I feel assured that in considering all matters connected with the financial concerns of the country, you will bear in mind the evil consequences of accumulating debt during the time of peace, and that you will firmly resolve to up hold the public credit, the maintenance of which concerns equally the permanent interests and the honour and repu tation of a great country. " In the course of the present year the opportunity will occur of giving notice to the Bank of England on the subject of the revision of its charter. _ _ _ "It may be advisable that, during this session of par liament, and previous to the arrival of the period assigned for the giving of such notice, the state of the law with regard to the privileges of the Bank of England, and to other banking establishments, should be brought under your consideration. " At the close of the last session of parliament, I de clared to you my firm determination to maintain inviolate the Legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland. " I expressed, at the same time, my earnest desire to co-operate with parliament in the adoption of all such measures as might tend to improve the social condition of Ireland, and to develope the natural resources of that part of the United Kingdom. " I am resolved to act in strict conformity with this declaration. " I forbear from observations on events in Ireland, in respect to which proceedings are pending before the proper legal tribunal. " My attention has been directed to the state of the law and practice with regard to the occupation of land in Ireland. " I have deemed it advisable to institute extensive local into a subject of so much importance, and have appointed a commission with ample authority to coaduct the requisite investigation. " I recommend to your early consideration the enact ments at present in force in Ireland concerning the regis tration of voters for members of parliament. " You will probably find that a revision of the law of registration, taken in conjunction with other causes at present in operation, would produce a material diminution of the number of county voters, and that it may be ad visable on th*t account to consider the state of the law with a view to the extension of the county franchise in Ireland. " I commit to your deliberate consideration the various important questions of public policy which will' necessarily come under your review, with full confidence in your loyalty and wisdom, and with an earnest prayer to Al mighty God to direct and favour your efforts to promote the welfare of all classes of my people." The eniclrerse in reply tettc epeoela from the was moved by the Earl of Eldon, who observed that he occupied a more favourable position than had fallen to the lot of his predecessors on similar occasions, for they could do little more than express hopes of better times, while he had to touch on matters which were almost en tirely subjects of congratulation. In reference to Ire land, which, though the last topic referred to in her Majesty's Speech, must almost of necessity be the one uppermost in their lordship's thoughts, he was delighted to find that her Majesty was resolved to persevere in ex tending strict justice to that country, and be hoped, what ever way the pending trials might terminate, should it be found necessary to arm the executive with additional powers in order to preserve the peace of the country, that Parliament would not hesitaie to give them. Amongst other topics touched upon by the noble earl, he alluded to the omission from the speech of all notice of the corn law, from which he inferred and believed that the protec tion which they now received would be long extended to the agriculturist. He also referred to the melancholy death of Colonel Fawcett who had fallen by the hand of another officer in the service of her Majesty, who had, however, been since obliged to quit that service, and ex pressed an opinion that some measure ought to be, if possible, adopted to secure the country from the loss of valuable servants, to which it was constantly liable. Lord HILL, in seconding the address, expressed a hope that her Majesty's Government would be supported by Irish proprietors in sifting to the bottom the real state of that country, with a view to measures for the ameliora tion of the condition of the people, and for giving stability to its Protestant institutions. The Marquis of NORMANBY said he should feel it his duty, as soon as the state trials should terminate, to sub mit for their lordships' consideration a general motion upon the state of Ireland. If the promise contained in the speech from the throne, respecting a registration bill, should be fulfilled in a fair and equitable spirit, it should have his full and hearty support ; but with respect to the landlord and tenant commission he must express the greatest fears, being decidedly of opinion that government should, upon its own responsibility, have brought in spe cific measures to remedy specific evils, instead of ap pointing a commission unrestricted in the nature of its inquiries, and which could only operate as a convenient reason for the government in resisting any measures pro posed by others for the benefit of Ireland while declining any attempt at legislation themselves. Lord BROUGHAM said it gave him great satisfaction to have lived to see the day when an address could be agreed to in reply to the speech from the throne, in which, with out any violation of truth, there was nothing but congra tulation from beginning to end. He thought it was wise to abstain from discussing the affairs of Ireland while the trials were pending, for in such a debate they would be necessarily hampered and restrained by a sense of justice both to the crown and to the traversers, whom they were bound to •believe innocent until found guilty. If, how ever, it should be found necessary to arm the government with new powers in order to suppress disturbance, he had no doubt but that parliament would do its first and most sacred duty, and give any supplementary powers that might be wanting. The only question would be as to the necessity; and though willing to give the power, if requi site, he would rather arm the government with the power and the disposition to better the condition of the people of Ireland—to gain them over rather by paternal mea sures than by a display of force, and thus to rescue them from being the dupes of impostors and deceivers. In re ference to the commission of inquiry respecting the state of land tenure in Ireland, the noble and learned lord al luded to the observation of the late Mr. Drummond, that " property had its duties as well as its rights," and while admitting its truth, said it was not to be forgotten that though the rights were of perfect the duties were of im perfect obligation ; and however one might regret that a rich man would not perform his duties towards the poor, yet it could not be remedied without trenching upon the inviolable rights of property', which, if once sanctioned, would totally unhinge society. The noble lord next ad verted to our relations with France, warmly eulogising M. Guizot, as warmly condemning the French opposition, and that portion of the French press which was endeavour ing to fan into a flame the slumbering embers of antipathy to this country. As regarded America, be condemned the repudiators who were by their conduct casting discredit upon popular or republican governments, and related an anecdote showing that since the repudiation of her debts by Philadelphia and other states of the union, Americans in France were ashamed of their country, The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said that if the Speech contained nothing but, topics of congratulation, it was be cause the most important topics were not at all referred to. He was convinced from the speech that government had no measure in contemplation for the benefit of Ire land during the present session, and he regarded the commission for inquiring into the state of Ireland as the most pitiful clap-trap imaginable, for the purpose of do lay • while it bad the mischievous effect of disturbing men's minds in districts which had hitherto been perfectly peace- I able. Lord CANIPBELL said that when the state trials should have terminated, he would have much to say respecting the manner in which they were instituted, and the man ner also in which they were conducted. He complained of the omissions in the speech, and that no promise was made of the law reforms which had been under discus- Lord LYNDHURST said it was his intention to introduce an Ecclesiastical Courts Bill, and also a Small Debts Bill. Ile would add that those were not the only measures of reform which he would introduce to their lordships' consideration. After some desultory conversation, the addre ss was agreed to, and their lordships soon after adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-THURSDAY. Lord OLIVE moved the a dd ress i n answer to the royal speech. T he noble lord p asse d i n rev i ew the various topics on which her Majesty had dwelt. He congratulated the house on the det erm i nat i on expressed to use every exer tion to improve the condition of the people of Ireland, and felt assured that the hone would approve of his ab• staining, under existing circumstances, from a more direct allusion to the events that had recently occurred in that country. Mr. CARDWELL in seconding the address, followed the noble lord over the chief topics of the royal speech, dwel hng particularly on the improved condition of the people in the manufacturing districts. He felt assured that our manufacturers had nothing to fear from competition ; on the contrary, they had never been more prosperous than when stimulated by competition. (This declaration was followed by loud cheers from the opposition.) Mr. Card well added that the manufacturers, grateful to Providence for returning prosperity, felt a confident belief that the point they had already reached was but a preparatory step to a more extensive sphere of activity. On sitting down . the hon. gentleman was warmly cheered by both sides of the house. Mr. HUME, after complimenting the noble mover and the hon. seconder of the Address on the able and most unobjectionable manner in which they had both spoken, complained of being obliged to come to a hasty vote in answer to a Speech of which members wet e not yet even possessed of a copy. He was prepared to go even farther than the Address in congratulating the house on tue re newed friendly relations with France. He had prepared an amendment on the subject of Scinde, but as that ques tion was so soon to come before the house he should not now press it. What he complained of most in the Royal Speech was the absence of any announcement from which the country might gather the intentions of the government with respect to the corn. laws. If the present system of governing Ireland was persevered in, he believed he should himself end by b coming a repealer. The hon. gentleman concluded by moving amendments, expressing a regret that the attention of parliament had not immediately been directed to the state of the corn-laws, and expressing a conviction that, with a view to the relief of the people, large reductions ought to be made in the civil and mili tary establishments of the country. Mr. S. CRAWFORD wished to move an amendment pledging the house to inquire into the just grievances of the people before the supplies were voted. One of these grievances was the inadequate representation of the people in that house, whence arose class legislation, and many attendant evils. Lord J. RUSSELL said he never could give his sanction to any proceedings by which a minority might attempt to force certain measures upon the majority by a succession of obstructive proceedings. With respect to Ireland, he wished to secure himself against being supposed to ap prove of the conduct of government in that country. He had already given notice of a motion on the subject of Ireland. On the day fixed for that motion, the trials now going on in Dublin would probably have been brought to a close. If not, he should postpone the motion till after the conclusion of those trials. With respect to China, he could not now but rejoice that the English government had not submitted to the ignominy of suffering English men to be imprisoned with impunity. He rejoiced at the friendly terms existing between this country and France. They (the whigs) had sometimes been reproached with attaching too much importance to a French alliance. France was for a time diverted by some Egyptian idol from her ancient policy of supporting the integrity of Turkey ; but he rejoiced to find France had returned to that policy. He had heard with much pleasure the state ments of the hon. seconder respecting the improved con dition of the manufacturing classes, and he believed him self there was no doubt that some solid improvement had taken place, owing to the reduced price of bread. This improvement was quite independent of the corn-laws. On this subject the noble lord said, that in making a change great caution ought to be observed, and he thought that those who expressed a much stronger distrust of the right hon. baronet (Sir R. Peel) than he (Lord J. Rus sell) had ever felt, were acting very unreasonably in now expecting the right hon. baronet to come forward with a distinct declaration on the subject. He (Lord J. Rus sell) should give his cordial support to the Address, and should vote without hesitation against the proposed amendment. Sir R. PEEL, after passing some handsome compliments to Lord Clive and Mr. Cardwell, for the ability they had shown that evening, deprecated strongly any attempt on the part of a small minority to obstruct the business of the house by repeated motions for adjournment. That power ought to remain with the minority, but those would assume a very serious responsibility who attempted to re sort to it on a trivial occasion. He thought it advisable that the address should be drawn up in such general terms as might make a division unnecessary. A contrary prac tiee might give a very unfair advantage to a minister who, relying on a strong majority, might feel disposed to extort an important pledge from the House of Commons. On the subject of France, he believed the house was unani mously of opinion that the greatest value ought to be at tached to a good understanding with that country, not merely so for the sake of the two countries themselves, but it was for the interest of humanity and civilisation that that good understanding should exist in the most perfect form. A cordial good feeling between the two countries however could be maintained only so long as neither were called on to make any unfair concession. If there was to be an English party and a French party in every country, England and France would become a curse to the world. Passing to the subject of the corn-laws, the right hon. baronet intimated that her Majesty's go vernment had no intention to propose any alteration in the existing law. Had such an intention existed, it cer tainly would have been announced in the speech from the throne. The total abolition of the corn-laws, he felt sa tisfied, would lead to much suffering and distress in the country ; and if a fixed duty were laid on foreign corn, for purposes of revenue, it would be found very difficult to resist the call that would be made for a similar duty op home-grown corn. The pressure under which a large portion of the labouring classes were lately suffering had, he rejoiced to say, been converted into comparative prosperity, and the revenue had been so far improved that, where a deficit very recently existed, there was now a surplus. Lo . rd PALMERSTON denied that a fixed duty on foreign corn must be followed by a similar duty on corn grown at home. Such a principle had never been applied to any other article of trade. He rejoiced as much as any man could, at the existence of a cordial good understanding be tween this country and France, and it was certainly not the fault of the government of which he had been a mem ber, if any interruption had taken place in that good feel ing. If on the eastern question they had differed with France, they had done so in common with the other great powers of Europe. The good understanding that existed between the two countries from 1830 to 1836 had led to satisfactory results in the Netherlands, in Portugal, and in Spain, and to the conclusion of a treaty by which the mutual right of search was conceded. The result of the present good understanding had been most unsatisfactory in Spain. and should the right of search be abandoned, the slave trade would immediately revive under the French flag. The Message of the President of the United States on the subject of the Oregon territory awakened serious apprehensions on his mind, lest undue concessions might again be made. Rumours had prevailed of an intention on the part of the goverament to propose large alterations in our criminal code. If such intention existed, it ought to have been announced in the Speech from the Throne. The Address he approved of as it stood, and he should certainly vote against the proposed amendment. Mr. ROEBUCK expressed surprise that the present state of Ireland should be possed over in complete silence, when such imminent danger existed of a dissolution of unity of the empire. Such a course of proceeding could not but excite a strong feeeling in Ireland. Lord Howrcx thought the very importance of the Irish question made it desirable that it should not be discussed on the first night of the session along with a number of other topics. When the trials now pending were over he trusted his noble friend would bring the question fully before the house. The corn laws also were too important to be discussed incidentally. A fixed duty would be a compromise between extreme opinions, and perhaps the time for a compromise was not yet gone by. If, however, the right hon. baronet resisted all compromise, the only question that remained would be whether the existing law should continue, or whether foreign corn should be entirely free; and if that was to be the only alternative, then he had no hesitation in declaring himself in favour of free importation. In the sentiments with respect to foreign policy to which the right hon. baronet had given expres sion, he (Lord Howick) cordially concurred. Mr. WYSE, after what bad occurred, would not allow the debate to close without declaring his dissatisfaction and indignation at the situation in which Ireland had been placed ; and he considered it the duty of the house, at the earliest opportunity, to take this question into considera tion. Mr. M. GIBSON considered the amendment of Mr. S. Crawford well deserving of support. He thought the right hon. baronet bad done right in making no declaration pledging himself to the maintenance of the existing corn law, for the significant speech of the right hon. baronet could only be understood as an intimation that he was not at present prepared with any bill on the subject. He (Mr. Gibson) defied any minister to rise and declare in the name of the Cabinet a determination to maintain the existing law. Sir R. PEEL thought it hardly necessary to protest against the interpretation put upon his words. Mr. P LUMPTRE b e li eve d that the declaration of the right hon. baronet would give great satisfaction to the country. Mr. ! 3 ROTIIERTON protested against any attempt to stop the business of the house by vexatious divisions , but in voting against the amendment he hoped he should not be understood to vote against an inquiry into the grievances of the people. He distinctly understood the right hon. baronet to have declared himself this evening in favour of the existing law, an d i t was b etter th a t this intention should at once be declared, than that the delusion should be kept up that it was likely government would do any. thing. Mr. VILLIERS thought the debate had elicited from the right hon. baronet an acknowled gm e n t that he could not, In hts p r esent situation, abandon the corn law. The fact was, the government was not the government of the crown or the people, but of the landed aristocracy, and the government did not dare to a c t o th erw i se th an as that landed aristocracy' permitted. The lion. gentleman read long extracts from an article in the Foreign and colonial Quarterly Review, aaa . cutumented upon the Article at considerable length, intimating his belief that the article make the sentiments of the Right Hon. the President of Mr. GLADSTONE assured the house that he bad never read even a line of the article referred to. Sir J. 11 ANMER earnestly hoped the right hon. baronet would follow up the policy of treating our colonies as in tegral parts of the empire. • Mr. SCA RLETT spoke strongly in condemnation of the proceedings of the Anti-Corn-Law League. Mr. H UME was then understood to withdraw one of his amendments, and the other was thrown out by 235 against 49. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDA.Y. Some conversation was elicited, by a question put to Lord Stanley respecting the administration of Sir Charles Metcalfe in Canada. The noble lord announced that Sir C. Metcalfe, in what he had done in that colony, had the entire concurrence of her Majesty's government. Ma. WALLACE, p ursuant to not i ce, move d t h at t h e order or the house, by which discussion on the presenta tion of petitions is prohibited, be rescinded. Dr. Bow RING secon d e d t h e mot i on. Sir R PEEL pointed out some of the inconveniences attendant on the ancient practice of discussing petitions on presentation, an d i nstance d the fact that 25,000 peti tions had last session been presented, as a proof that the people at large had not been discouraged by the present practice born addressing their petitions to the house. It could not be said that the petitions presented last session, on the subject of education, had been without their effect. The present practice did not preclude members from raising debates on petitions; but it was required of them, when they entertained such an intention, to give a regular notice ; and such a discussion had infinitely more weight than a mere incidental debate, for which the house was wholly unprepared. The present practice had been adopted and repeatedly confirmed by large majorities of the house, and he hoped that the house would not now be prevailed on by the arguments of the hon. members opposite to re scind the order. Mr. BROTH EATON said that petitions were dealt with much more fairly now than at a time when only one or two petitions c.oild sometimes be presented on the same evening, the time of the house being occupied by a few hon. gentlemen, who got up debates regardless of the con. venience of the house. Mr. WARD, though he had formerly been in favour of discussing petitions on presentation, was now convinced that he had been in error. Mr. FIELDEN supported the motion. If the hon. mem ber for Greenock went out alone in the division, he (Mr. F.) would go out with him. (A laugh.) Mr. WALLACE found his motion would be attended with some technical inconvenience, and he would, there fore, beg leave to withdraw it. Mr. WILMA ms expressed regret that orders should be retained which were habitually violated, and which the house had not even the power of enforcing. There was no law, for instance, to prevent papers from interfering with elections, and if they did so interfere, the house had not the power of proceeding against the offender. A somewhat desultory conversation followed, the result of which was that the sessional orders were agreed to, no amendment having been moved. Mr. S. CRAWFORD objected to the paragraph referring to the Repeal of the Union. He had never joined the Repeal Association, but he would not pledge himself against supporting such a measure as repeal at a future time; and he thought that all to whom the rights of Ire land were dear ought to be extremely cautious of giving such a pledge. He should move the omission of all those words that referred to the Repeal of the Union. Sir R. PEEL expressed surprise at this objection, after the general satisfaction expressed on the preceding evening with the manner in which the speech from the throne had been framed. He certainly could not accede to the pro posed omission. Mr. BLEWITT highly approved of the amendment. It would be just as reasonable to call on the house to pledge itself against ever repealing the corn laws, as to demand a pledge such as was now demanded. The conduct of England towards Ireland had often made him blush to think he was an Englishman. (A laugh.) Mr. ROBED mc rose to put a question to the right hon. baronet opposite respecting the conduct of the gentleman now conducting the state trials in Ireland. A gross breach of law and decorum had been committed by the Attorney General for Ireland, and he (Mr. Roebuck) hoped that public officer would not escape the indictment to which he had rendered himself liable. Mr. Roebuck drew a com parison between the public conduct of the Irish and the English Attorney Generals, and while he looked with pride to the manner in which the latter had conducted state prosecutions, he could not but condemn in the strongest terms the " desecration of justice" of which the Irish At torney General had been guilty. Sir R. PEEL deeply regretted that the hon. gentleman had been induced to make these observations, but nothing should induce him (Sir R. Peel) to depart from the rule he had laid down for himself of abstaining for the present from all remarks on the trials now going on in Ireland. He must say, however, that the remarks which had been made were much more severe than the case at all called for. It was impossible for the house to judge of the nature of the irritation which led the Attorney General into a moment ary forgetfulness. Her Majesty's government had cer tainly no intention of taking such notice of the occurrence as might lead to the dismissal of the Attorney General. Mr. WYSE supported the motion for the omission of the words objected to. The hon. gentleman admitted that the attacks on the Attorney General had been such as must have severely tried that gentleman's patience. Lord ELIOT spoke warmly in defence of the character of the Attorney General for Ireland, though the momentary indiscretion into which he had allowed himself to be be- trayed on the occasion alluded to was certainly not to be vindicated. Capt. BERNAL looked upon the Attorney General's. conduct throughout the whole of these trials as calculated to show his utter uniltuess fur the tyffiue hc held; and that was the opinion of the friends as well as foes of that gen tleman. Lord STANLEY had listened with pain to the able but needlessly bitter speech of the hon. member for Bath. No one attempted to vindicate the infirmity which the Attor ney-General had shown, but he (Lord Stanley) confessed that he had often himself felt the greatest difficulty in governing his temper when remarks were made in that house of a much more moderate character than those to which the Attorney-General had been subjected. A systematic attack had been carried on throughout these trials with a view to provoke that gentleman into some indiscretion ; and though that might not vindicate a pub lic officer, whom the Government could not hold to be entirely blameless, yet he (Lord Stanley) hoped the House of Commons would not, upon the information now before it, sanction the severe censure to which expression had been given. _ _ Ser3eant MURPHY attacked the general conduct of the Irish Atorney-General, and maintained that for the act to which more direct allusion had been made, that public officer ought to be ignominiously dismissed. He would appeal to the English Attorney-General on the subject, whose conduct in the prosecution of state trials presented so strong a contrast to what had lately occurred in Ire land. Sir JAMES GRAHAM reminded the house that her Ma jesty had forborne all comment upon the state trials now going on, and he had believed that a general feeling pre vailed in the house that a similar forbearance ought to be shown there. In a very short time all these matters might be freely discussed, when the hon. and learned gentleman would have an opportunity of meeting in person any attack that might be directed against him. Under great provocation, the Attorney-General for a moment departed from that prudent conduct which he had pre scribed to himself; but it was not for a popular assembly to take upon itself to pronounce on the conduct of a pub lic officer in his absence, when the court of justice where the occurrence had taken place had already declared itself on the subject. He (Sir J. Graham) would certainly never consent to be a party to that ignominious dismissal which had that evening been called for. Mr. 'WARD was glad that no attempt was made to excuse the indiscretion of which the Attorney General had been guilty, and which that gentleman would probably ac knowledge himself if he were now in the house; but that would not remove the impression which had been pro duced, that a public officer had been guilty of conduct that proved his unfitness for the charge he held. Mr. SHAW could not have believed that so ungenerous, unjust, and unjustifiable an attack could have been made by one gentleman, or one lawyer, on another. Was the hon. gentleman (Mr. Roebuck) the man of all others the most qualified to censure the Attorney General for Ire land for the occurrence referred to ? The Attorney Ge neral was an honour to his profession • and considering the trying position in which he was placed, he bad acquit ted himself most creditably in the discharge of a very dif ficult duty. Dr. STOCK, in answer to an appeal from Mr. Shaw, said that the Attorney General throughout a very trying course, up to the unfortunate occurrence which could not but he regretted, had acquitted himself in a most exem plary manner, though it must be admitted that the selec tion of Mr. Smith for the office he held had been a most unfortunate one. Mr. BROTHERTON said that he should be glad to see the house come to some resolution in condemnation of duelling. At the same time he thought many of the re marks that had been made that evening ought to have been reserved till the Attorney-General was present. Sir H. BARRON made a violent attack on the Irish Attorney-General, for the whole course of his proceed ings in these state trials, and dwelt particularly on the exclusion of every Roman Catholic from the trial, as an insult to all the Catholics of Ireland. If that gentleman was retained in his present office, Ireland never could be governed in peace. After some observations from Dr. BOWRING, in sup port of Mr. S. Crawford's motion, the house divided, and the amendment was rejected by a majority of 142 against 35. — On our return, after the division, we found Mr. FREE cif complaining of the appointment of Englishmen to the most important offices in Ireland. Sir R. PEEL with some warmth vindicated the appoint ment of Lord Devon as one of the commissioners for in quiring into the law of landlord and tenant in Ireland. The noble lord was appointed as an excellent Irish land. lord, and as one, at the same time, well acquainted with English law on the subject. Mr. S. CRAWFORD passed a high enlogium upon the commission, for the appointment of which the highest credit was due to her Majesty's government. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE, after a few brief remarks, moved the amendment, of which he had given notice, in the last paragraph of the Address. Sir R. PEEL said, there was nothing in the Address to pledge any gentleman on the subject of the registration of voters in Ireland, and therefore he hoped the honouratle gentleman would see there was no necessity for pressing his amendment. The government were about to bring in a bill on the subject of the franchise in the counties in Ireland, and it would be much better to postpone all dis cussion till that bill was before the house. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE consented to withdraw his amend . ._ FOREIGN 4- COLOAIAL IN7ELLIG.ENCE. NEW ZEALAND. New Zealand papers to the 21st of September have come to hand, according to which the excitement caused by the late fearful massacre in the Wairon country, near Cloudy-bay, had in a degree subsided. It appears that no steps were to be taken against the natives till the will of the Colonial Secretary, through the new governor, Captain Fitzroy, was made known; and his arrival is therefore most anxiously looked for. A committee of public safety had been formed, and other plans of protec tion adopted to resist any incursion that might take place ; but no alarm is expressed on the subject, and it seems that the magistrate who accompanied the expedi tion to capture the offending chief, Rhangataita, is blamed for some conduct or other, which is supposed to have oc casioned the unfortunate result of the journey. Of the four missing persons alluded to in the previous accounts, one had returned to his settlement, one was found dead in the bush, and the other two remained absent. This unfortunate massacre seems already t o h ave pre j u di ce d the minds of the public, since the papers allude to the re fusal of emigrants to leave Hobart -town and Sydney, as they had at first intended to do, for permanent location in the Bay of !slands, after receiving the news of the conflict ; and the hope is expressed that this affair will not be allowed to influence settlers respecting the general security of the colony. The most interesting information received by this ar rival is the commencement of the export trade of the colony, the Nelson, the vessel bringing the se p apers, be ing the first ship coming home with a full cargo of oil, whalebone, and flax. The manufacture of the latter article has been resumed by the natives, with the pros pect of getting a better price for their labour than previous endeavours yielded ; and many hundreds of them were employed in preparing it on the snores of Cook's Straits, while as many thousands, it is said, may be employed, should proper encouragement be afforded. The estimated value of the flax is £2O per ton, and some small parcels had sold at Hobart-town for £26 per ton. The whale fishery had also been very successful, and five or six ves sels were expected to be despatched to England with its produce. A complaint is made of the lack of supply of proper casks to carry out the intended shipments. It is hinted that this want may for the present be satisfied by parties in England taking every opportunity of sending goods, as far as possible " in first-rate London oil casks.' BUENOS AYRES.—The last accounts from Monte Video depict the situation of that unfortunate city in the most gloomy colours ; and to add to the distress of the im poverished native families, that cruel despot Pachero y Obes, afterithe failure of Vasquez's financial scheme, had devised a plan for robbing them of the wrecks of their for tunes, by calling upon them for voluntary donations of their jewels and plate. The manner in which Pachero y Ohes got up the voluntary donation was quite dramatical. When Vasquez reported the rebuff he had met with from the merchants, the War Minister, as fruitful in expedi ents as Frutos himself, ordered his horse immediately to be got ready in his best array ; then, mounting his charger thus superbly accoutred, he galloped off to the lines, and, ordering the troops to stand to their arms, be commenced a spirit-stirring harangue, in which he dwelt most patheti cally upon the pecuniary distress under which the govern ment laboured ; and wound up by recommending to his hearers that every one who had any article of silver in his possession should make an oblation of it at the shrine of liberty. And to show his own patriotic disinterestedness, he forthwith stripped his steed of all its precious finery, and surrendered it for the public use. After this display he gracefully retired, leaving the troops thunderstruck. The news from the army under the command of General Urquira, announces the infliction of two severe blows on the main body of the forces led by Riviera in person ; whilst General Servando Gomez bad driven the remnants of Fortunato Silva's division into the territory of Brazil, where it was expected they would be disarmed by the Im perial authorities. The late orange crop in Portugal is said to be one of the finest that has been seen for a quarter of a century. They are now sold in Lisbon market, of excellent quality, at eight a penny. The French Charge d'Affaires in Switzerland has deli vered a note to the president of the Federal Union, in which he requests that no public honours may be accorded to the Duke of Bordeaux, in case of his arrival in Swit zerland, because of late he has conducted himself as a real pretender to the throne of France. NEW ZEALAND THEATRICALS.—On the 31st of July last the first stone of a theatre called the " Victoria" was laid at Port Nicholson by Mr. Alderman Lyon, who made rather an eloquent speech on the occasion, remarking that the spot on which the theatre was to stand was but a de sert three years ago. By a playbill which is in London, headed " Royal Victoria Theatre, Manners-street, Te Aro," it appears that this theatre was opened for the se cond time on 3he 19th of September. This is quick work, but probably the theatre is constructed of light materials. The bill, however, states that it is lighted with gas. DR. WOLFF'S MlSSlON.—Letters have been received from Dr. Wolff, by the Committee of the Stoddart and Conolly Fund, dated Erzeroum, in Armenia, December 18th and 19th. The Doctor was detained by a heavy fall of snow, but expected to start on the 21st, to reach Ta breez on the 7th of January, and to arrive at Teheran about the 20th. The Pasha of Erzeroum gives him let ters, provides guards, and pays his expenses to the fron tier. Dr. Wolff has received every assistance from Col. Williams, the British Commissioner, and from Mr. Brant, the Consul. Intelligence has also been received from Constantinople, dated 2d instant, which states that some people had arrived, who left Bokhara within three months. Stoddart was alive, in high favour, and no pub lic execution of a Prank had been beard of. A. statistical account of the number of vessels of all nations that have entered the port of Alexandria during the year 1843 has been furnished, from which we give the following particulars :—Of British vessels, 204 arrived and 215 sailed ; of Austrian, 196 entered and 185 sailed ; of Greek, 172 arrived and 175 sailed ; of Syrian vessels, the numbers returned are, 112 arrived and 103 sailed ; of French, 40 and 36; of Tuscan, 34 arrived and sailed; of Sardininian, 27 arrived and sailed ; of vessels belonging to the island of Samos, 12 arrived and 6 sailed ; of Rus sian, the numbers are 9 and 5 ; of lonian, the numbers in both instances are 9 ' • of Prussian, 5 and 6 ; o f A mer i can , 2 vessels arrived and 2 sailed ; of Neapolitan, 2 and 1 ; of Norwegian, 2 and 1 ; of Danish, 1 arrived and 1 sailed ; of Dutch, 1 and 2 ; of Wallachian, 1 vessel entered and 1 sailed. The total results are 829 vessels arrived and 905 sailed. MEPHAM, THE INNOCENT CONVICT. (From the Maidstone Journal.) The friends of this ill-fated youth had the grateful satis faction last week of seeing all their efforts in his behalf crowned by his return to his country and his family, re stored to liberty, happiness, and, above all, to the posses sion of an unsullied character. Mepham arrived in Lon don on Sunday se'nnight, by the ship Eudora, in which vessel he had been provided by government with a free passage home, as well as supplied with a comfortable and abundant outfit. He reached Maidstone on Monday night, and next day gladdened with his presence the hum ble family circle in his father's cottage. We have had an opportunity of seeing him, and feel happy in saying that he appears in robust health, none the worse for his mental sufferings and bodily hardships, and we trust little injured by the wretched society, of which for the last two years he has been an unwilling and most unsuitable member. The following is a brief narrative of his misfortunes :—A fortnight after his conviction he was removed to the For titude hulk, at Chatham, where he was ironed on the leg with a ilb. shackle, clothed in convict dress, and em ployed in dragging timber with other convicts in the dockyard, not being allowed to speak to any freeman. After being here five months, he embarked with a party of 250 on board the Surrey transport, for the place of his banishment and slavery. Nothing particular occurred during the voyage. They hove in sight of Hobart Town on the Ist of August, and on the Bth the convicts were landed, placed in the gaol, and afterwards drafted off to different parts of the country. Mepham, with a party of 80, together with 20 men who had been tried at the set tlement, and sentenced to be sent to the place of punish ment, Port Arthur, for misconduct, were placed on board a schooner, and sailed for the latter station. In the night the vessel drove on the rocks, and a dreadful scene en sued. For some hours, while efforts were made to get her off, the convicts were locked down in the hold, where the water was rising upon them, and the utmost terror prevailed—some crying, some praying, some swearing, but all vainly struggling to escape. At length the hatches were opened, and they rushed on deck, and thence, some in boats, but many by swimming, they got ashore. Here they remained without food or shelter till the evening of the next day, when by throwing the cargo overboard, the schooner was got off. The prisoners were then sent on board, and proceeded to their destination, where the party was divided into several gangs—Mepham being sent to a place called the Cascade station. The convicts were employed in clearing the forests and burning the timber, or dragging it to the creeks for transport. After being employed in this way for twelve months, he heard of the efforts that had been made in his behalf, and of their suc cessful result, by a Maidstone paper, which had found its way to the colony. Nine weeks after, while mustering with the gang, as usual, one Saturday evening, an official letter to the superintendent of the station confirmed those joyful tidings, by announcing a free pardon. He instantly stripped off the badges of crime and conviction, tore the hated garments into shreds, and joyfully clothed himself in some old but honest-looking apparel, kindly contri buted by the chaplain and the superintendent. He made his way for Hobart Town, where (there being, strange to say, no provision for persons in such a situation by the authorities) he got work to maintain himself till the ne cessary preparations for his return to this country were completed, and a ft er an i n t erva l o f a week was provided with a free passage home, as before stated, in the Eudora, where he was well treated, and had a very pleasant pas sage, earning a few shillings on the voyage, to enable him to reach his home on landing, where his reception may be far better imagined than described. In conclusion, we trust, by industry and good conduct, he will continue to merit the bene vo l en t i n t eres t th a t h as been excited on his behalf, and justify those humane efforts which have ended in his restoration to freedom, and to a respectable stand ing in society. THE CONVICT CHARTISTS, FROST, WILLIAMS, .►ND JONES. The lad Mepham, of whose return we give an account above, reports that he saw Frost the day before he re ceived his pardon. He was at the Cascade station, about 60 miles from Hobart Town, in the bush, and acted as. schoolmaster, on which account he was exempt from la bour in the forests. Williams bad the misforturic to break his leg by a tree falling on him three days before Mepham left. Jones was employed as a constable to watch the workirg party in the bush. He told Mephatu on the eve of his departure he would give ten thousand pounds, if he IRELAND. THE STATE TRIALS. At the opening of the Court on Monday, after their lordships had taken their seats, Mr. John O'Connell, one of the traversers, rose and addressed the Court and Jury. Something, he said, had dropped from Mr. Shiel, in his speech on Saturday, which might convey the impression that he was disposed to accept an occasional or an annual visit of the Imperial Parliament to Dublin, as a satisfactory concession to the present agitation for repeal. He was not of such opinion. 'Whatever might be the consequences of the avowal, he would not allow it for a moment to be supposed that he gave up the inalienable right of his country to a free legislature. (Considerable sensation v , as excited by the above declaration.) Mr. MOORE, Q.C. then proceeded to address the court on behalf of the Rev. Thomas Tierney, and remarked at great length upon the alleged unanimous resolve of the Irish people in favour of repeal and the harshness with which the defendants had been pursued by the Attorney_ General. Mr. Hatchell then rose and said, that he appeared as counsel for Mr. Ray. He admitted that Mr. Ray was a repealer, and the paid secretary of the association, but the jury were not to try him as such, but whet her or not he had in conjunction with the other tray rsers entered into a preconcerted plot to excite discontent against the govern ment and constitution. The learned counsel proceeded to argue at some length against this allegation, and closed his address at two o'clock, when Mr. O'Connell, who had been present in the course of the morning at the Con ciliation Hall, had the Court adjourned until Tues day morning, assigning as a reason the illness of Mr. Fitzgibbon, of counsel for Mr. Tierney, and the hon. and learned traverser forthwith transported himself to the scene of agitation. On Tuesday Mr. Fitzgibbon commenced his reply for Dr. Gray. In the course of the day an extraordinary scene took place, which may be briefly stated as follows : Mr. Fitzgibbon, in the course of his speech, gave ut terance to the following observations with reference to Mr. Smith—not in his professional character as Crown prosecutor, but with a direct bearing upon his motives as a private individual : He (the Attorney-General) feels it to be a momentous case in reference to the effects it will have on his own po sition, with his own party—in reference to himself (said Mr. Fitzgibbon) I have not a doubt; and it is because he thus feels it a momentous case in reference to himself, that all this want of candour has stolen upon him, as it ever does, and has done, and will do, when the party is himself the litigant. The prosecutor here is not acting merely as counsel, on the motives of counsel : be is here acting for himself and his own credit with his party." When the court and the jury retired for the purpose of taking refreshment, as has been the habit since the com mencement of these trials, Mr. Fitzgibbon took the op portunity of leaving the court also, for a little rest after his labour, (he had been speaking from the morning,) and the better to enable him to proceed with his statement when the court should resume its sitting. In the interim a note was addressed to him, which, on his return, he showed first to the Solicitor-General, and then to Mr. Sergeant Warren ; subsequently to which he applied to the court, claiming its protection, and stating that the Attorney-General had called upon him in writing to re tract and apologise for the personally offensive language he had used towards him ; and bad required, in the event of his declining to do so, that he (Mr. Fitzgibbon) should name a friend with the view to an adjustment of the in jury complained of. The Chief Justice made some strong remarks on the impropriety of the conduct of the Attor ney-General, and the latter gentleman withdrew his note, when Mr. Fitzgibbon said he meant nothing personally offensive to the honourable gentleman. At a few minutes before five, the court adjourned. Mr. Fitzgibbon resumed his address on Wednesday, and occupied the whole day in bringing it to a close. At the end of it he made a frank and full amende to the wounded feelings of the Attorney-General. Mr. Fitz gibbon's address seems distinguished by more practical talent than any of its predecessors. It is much more to the purpose than that of Mr. Sheil, whose speech, though it has been so much lauded by the radical press, was ra ther an appeal in mitigation of punishment than anything else. At the opening of the court on Thursday, Mr. Henn took an objection to the jurisdiction of the court, on the ground that the term be d closed. The Chief Justice took a note of the point. Mr. Whiteside then commenced his address, in the delivery of which he occupied the whole of Thursday and to the adjournment of the court on Friday. On Saturday Mr. M'Donagh addressed the court on behalf of Mr. Barrett, and Mr. Henn on behalf of Mr. Steele. During the day Mr. O'Connell applied to the court that his address might be adjourned until Monday (yesterday,) and the court complied. The Chief Justice has, on several occasions during the addresses of the counsel for the traversers, expressed himself very strongly on the impropriety of such demonstrations of feeling as had on various occasions been indulged in by the audi ence and by a portion of the bar. MURDER OF MR. WALLER.—Andrew Whelan was re moved from Dublin on Saturday to Nenagh gaol, and, being fully identified, was committed. EXTRAORDINARY .ABDUCTION.—Three men and two women were committed to our gaol on Friday, charged with having broken into the house of Michael Connery, near the Silvermines, assaulted the habitation and the in mates, and' forcibly taken out of it Timothy Ginane ; whom they brought to Father M`Grath's house, for the purpose of forcin g him to marry Judy Ryan, who was there waitin g for the man of her heart to be married to him ; and Sally Ryan was also in waiting to act the bridesmaid to Judy.—Nenagh Guardian. DISGRACEFUL PROCEEDINGS.—The house of Michael Maher, of Scaraduff, near Brusna, was " visited" some nights ago. The windows were broken in with stones, and a notice posted, threatening him with death if he in terfered with the Whelans' farm. On the night of the 22d instant, a grave was dug in the above lands. A pole was planted in the grave, to which a notice was attached threatening any one with death who would attempt to plough the land. The notice was signed " Robert Waller," intending, it i s suppose d, that the fate of the late Thomas Waller, Esq., would await any one who would act contrary to the notice.—Lein,ster Express. ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION.--At ten o'clock on the night of the 22d instant, as Mr. Thomas Power, agent, was returning from the post office at Killlorglan, to his residence in the same street, and immediately opposite, some miscreant shot at him with a gun or blunderbuss, but through the merciful interposition of providence, the ball did not take effect on the intended victim, but entered the kitchen of the house where Mr. Power lived, and had its progress stopped by the window shutter—else fearful might have been the result, as three or four persons were seated round the kitchen fire, iu the direct line which the ball would have taken.—Cork paper. ROBBERY OF ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-FIVE Pourrns.—Last week, the house of a widow named Hacket, within a quarter of a mile of Newcastle, was en tered at night by two fellows, who proceeded diligently to search the house. After a fruitless search for some time, one of the fellows climbed up a mud wall which ran across the house, when the poor woman foolishly exclaimed " I'm done for now." This incautious exclamation put the robber on the right scent, and he discovered buried in the centre of the wall 86 sovereigns, 28 half-sovereigns, and 11 old 7s. pieces, with which they decamped. There has been no clue as yet to either the thieves or the money. —Tipperary Constitution. THE AMNESTY ADDRESS. — The Lord Mayor has re ceived a letter from SirJ.Grahaw, acquainting him that the Queen will receive the celebrated Amnesty Address from his lordship on Friday. In consequence of this intimation their honours held a meeting this day, at which, we un derstand, it was proposed by Alderman George Roe that the Lord Mayor should not wait upon her Majesty ; but that a letter should be written to the Home Secretary to request him to present the Address. This view was gene rally dissented from, and it was strongly put to the ex-Lord Mayor, that he at least should not refuse to do the polite thing upon this occasion. He flatly refused, however, to accompany his successor into the dread presence of Ma jesty. A deputation, consisting of some half-dozen mem bers of the council, was ultimately got together, and it was determined that they should proceed to London forthwith.—Dublin paper of Monday. EXPENSES OF THE DEFENCE.—The Banner of Ulster, whose editor is at present in Dublin, makes the following estimates of the cost :—" There are twelve councillors engaged for the traversers, of whom, seven are paid the highest fees. It was said on Saturday that £1,900 had been divided amongst them as a retaining fee, and £l9O was paid each morning for " refreshers." Large as the latter sum is, there can be no doubt that some of the coun sel would be losers during the term time by anything un der their proportion of the money named. There are several attorneys with a host of clerks, entirely occupied by the case for the traversers ; and it is confidently said that the expenses will not fall under two thousand pounds weekly. At one time they confidently spoke of extending the trial from thirteen to fifteen weeks; but they might find difficulty ere that time elapsed in meeting the bill. Mr. Steele, with his usual gravity, hints that it may run for years, but the source from which the payment would has likewise been attending the trials from the fi:st, l c a o r n g i e e siUstnU,nayPePtatrheenct.o'n'duTewtoor thousandthe Northern pounds T '4 V . e / e t i k g l , y w i s h o a cal culates the expense at a higher figure. He alleges that it reaches £5OO a day.—Derry Sentinel. READY Wir.—During the State prosecutions an in stance of ready wit, which occurred during the examina tion of Mr. Charles Ross, deserves to be noticed. The witness stated that he attended the Donnybrook meeting as a newspaper reporter, concealing the fact that he was secretly employed also by the Government; in giving this evidence he used a phrase, which excited no little laughter, as it seemed to suggest unwittingly the fit place for a spy. The laugh was more than averted by the quick retort of the accomplished Counsel for the Crown. The dialogue ran thus :—Mr. Sergeant Warren.—Where were you placed at the meeting ? Witness.—On the Scaffold Mr. Sergeant Warren.—Was that on the same place with Mr. O'Connell? A circumstance less creditable to the bar occurred the same- day, a few minutes afterwards. The Court, after argument, had deliberately decided, that on grounds of public policy, the witness should not be asked what member of the Government employed him to report the meetings. Mr. liatchell, one of the traversers, Counsel having been absent from the court during this discussion, was induced, on his return, at the suggestion of a member of the bar, to question a witness respecting a Cumberland election, and then to glide into an inquiry w h e th er lie was .known to Sir James Graham. Being answered in the affirmative, 111 r. 11 atebel I instantly asked, " Did you see him in June last I"—the month in which Feb. 6, 1811 prohibited ; but the object of the traversers was already gained. The barrister who made the suggestion was Mr• Shiel ; and the learned Privy-Councillor was quite unable to conceal the merriment with which he chuckled over the success of his trick. REPEAL ASSOCIATION.—The usual weekly meeting was held on Monday. The " Lib rator" announced that he would be able to remain, "as the Attorney-General had adjourned the Court of Queen's Bench to accommo date him." This was making rather too good a stalking horse of Mr. Pitzgibbon's catarrhal inconvenience, pur suant to advertisement ; for a Mr. Keon. who seell l9 , some matter •of-fact R e p ea l er , ( a rat h er rare commodity) complimented the Attorney-General on his " condescen sion in adjourning the court for the convenience of the Liberator." So Mr. O'Connell had to explain that his joke was a joke, and not a fact. Either the joke or Mr. Keon must be dull affairs. Perhaps both. The chair was taken by Mr. Caleb Powell, M.P. for Limerick, and 6 long speech was made by Mr. Smith O'Brien. The rent of the week was announced at £372 14s. 11.—about, or scarcely, one day's tees and expenses of the defence in the Court of Queen's Bench. Who will say hereafter that the " people of Ireland" are not excellent friends of the law. A Mr. Wallace, from America, was introduced, and was proceeding to announce himself as speaking for the New York Repealers, when Mr. O'Connell, rising sud denly with some irritation, said,—l must interfere. Does this gentleman mean to say that he has come here as delegate ? (Cries of " No," from Mr. Wallace, his friends, and the meeting.) Then he must avoid any phrase that locks like it. The Chairman said that he was about rising for the same purpose when he was anti cipated by Mr. O'Connell. He sat there as chairman of a legal and loyal meeting, and he would not retain his position for one moment if any sentiments inconsistent with that character were uttered at it. (Hear, and cheers ) Mr. O'Connell said he had no objection to any gentleman making a speech, but the present was a time for work, and they had speeches enough of their own. With out desiring to stop Mr. Wallace, he would say that he thought it better for the association to thank him for as much of his speech as be had made. Mr. Brennan said that repeal owed much to Mr. Wallace, that if he had committed any fault it was through inadvertence, and he (Mr. Brennan) was alone to blame; but if the prudence of the Liberator-- Mr. O'Connell (interrupting).— We are not here for speeches; that word " prudence" decides it. I insist upon my motion. The abashed Mr. Wallace here made some appeal to Mr. O'Connell, which was answered by an angry " No, Sir !" The motion hay ing been passed, and three cheers given for America, Mr. O'Connell asked was there any repeal rent ?—and on the production of some small sums, inquired if there was any more, to which there was no response. THE ORATORY OF MR. SHIEL Mr. Shiel is the Queen's officer, and the rebel's de fender. He touches Protestant pay for place, and Papist gold for talking. He is Demosthenes in a gossamer hat and a York wrapper; and his sayings are as brilliant, graceful, and winning as if they were all true, and every one to the point. However ambiguous the phrase may be to many of our readers, there will be little ambiguity in our reminding them that Mr. Shiel was once at a meeting on Pennenden Heatb, at which be was not present; where he delivered a speech which was not spoken ; but which was printed in the Globe or Sun, and was more talked of than read. The wonder lived its usual nine days, and then expired. But Mr. Shiel's power to perform new ones are by no means passed away. He has ceased to write tragedies since he has discovered the little likelihood there is of his making posterity forget the illustrious triad of two-thirds sober, and one-third tippling Greeks, who have made the earth vocal with their numbers. Even Parlia ment he frequents less than he was wont to do before his sparkling novelties were found out to be more glass than true diamond. But in oratory Mr. Shiel still possesses his old faculties, untouched by age, and while he was os tensibly defending John O'Connell he addressed a mon ster meeting at which the three kingdoms were present, wondering, applauding, and finally vexed with themselves that they could be so moved at so infinite a deal of no thing. _ _ For nothing it was, when his speech is viewed as the defence of a client. It noticed him by the way; he was reduced to a mere passing incident ; but it was, in fact, a brilliant magazine article ; a lecture that might have been read before a learned assembly, or a Dorcas Society; it was a paper for an Encyclopaedia; a sketch for an illus trated newspaper ; it was the shilling number and a sup plement of a forensic Dickens—it was each and every and all of these ; and there was as much reason in its being de livered where it was, as there would be in Mr. Adolphus advocating the cause of a petty larcenist, by reading to the jury an essay on the Differential Calculus. And when he did speak to the point, what was his ar gument? That O'Connell ought not to be punished, be cause he had been his (Mr. Shell's) benefactor; that the law ought not to visit a man who had emancipated the Catholics. Why, Dr. Dodd was hanged in spite of his many excellences ; and Richard Turpin's lawyer would not have saved his client from the gallows, by advising him to plead his charitable propensities towards the de serving poor. But these, after all, are but follies; the wickedness of the speech consisted in telling the jury that he hoped they would not return a verdi c t o f guilty— " for their own sakes!" What does such a phrase mean? We would charitably take it to signify for their conscience sake; but in Ireland every one knows that the true read ing would be, for their bodies' sake; if they valued their lives, in short. _ _ _ As Mr. Sheil is nothing if he be not poetical, as he talked in blank verse of protestants having risen from dre th e eir d! o in ngkn hexameters, eelin that t they did n the necksof papists, live ists, ogantdhetehwer ason- brethren. He himself knows well Why they do not- s not John O'Connell s a y i n open court that he would never consent, as Mr. Sheil in his speech was inclined to do, to the periodical sitting of the Imperial Parliament in Dublin,—that he would have all or none? It is this spirit prevalent throughout the Popish population of Ireland, that prevents Protestants from living with them in unity: they will not have brethren, but slaves; they will not be friends, but masters ; they will not even accept, they will snatch ; they hate Protestants, with the hatred of men designino evil ; nothing from that party but subordination, and not that alone, would satisfy them—they scowl at all, and, like the Hidalgo in Laxerilto de Toames, they are angry even with those who pray God to bless them.— Church and State Gazette. LAW INTELLIGENCE. In the Bail Court, on Saturday, Mr. Atherton moved that an attorney might, at his own request, be struck off the roll, in order that he might be more entirely at liberty to pursue " philanthropic occupations." The application was granted. On Saturday Mr. Forbes M`Neil was sentenced by the Court of Queen's Bench to three months' imprisonment, for an assault on Mr. John Abel Smith, in Belgrave square. Mr. Justice Patteson, as senior Puisne judge, pronounced judgment. In the Court of Queen's Bench, on Monday last, T. L. Holt and G. F. Brander, two of the proprietors of the Age newspaper, were sentenced, the former to twelve, the latter to three months' imprisonment, for a series of atrocious libels on the ex-Duke of Brunswick. PAGET v. CARDIGAN.—In the Court of Common Pleas the rule nisi, in the case of Lord William Paget v. the Earl of Cardigan, for entering up judgment as in the case of a nonsuit, was discharged on Wednesday, on the terms of a peremptory undertaking to proceed to trial. The witness Winter still keeps out of the way. In the Court of Bankruptcy, onFriday, assignees in the case of William Bromley, solicitor, of Gray's Inn-square, were appointed. Not less than £47,274 were proved. Dr. Lushington and Archdeacon Brymer proving for £20,340, and Mr. Blair, of Bath, for X 26,833 14s. which amounts were for trust moneys placed in the hands of the bankrupt for investment on mortgage or otherwise. STATISTICS OF INSOLVENT DEBTORS.—It appears that under the new insolvent debtors' act of last session, that from the Ist January, 1843, to the 3lst December last, no fewer than 2325 persons petitioned the Court of Bankruptcy. The following is a list of the several districts : Bristol, 165 ; Birmingham, 246 ; Exeter, 60 ; Leeds, 425 ; Liverpool, 172 ; Manchester, 262 ; Newcastle, 31 ; Lon don, 962. It has been ascertained that in the business of the Insolvent Debtors' Court the total deficiency in 1842 and 1813 was 892 cases. HOT BLAST CASE.—The proceedings in this long-liti gated case have been finally settled by compromise —the Messrs. Baird, the last of the parties with whom an ar rangement had to be made with the patentees, having agreed to pay £lOO,OOO for the use of the patent, and a farther sum of £6,000 in name of expenses. We learn that had the original demand of the patentees, viz., ls. per ton, been acceded to, and had no attempt been made to break the patent, the whole amount to be paid would notinthe case h haveexcee a d dp exceeded £7,000. previously to theTheot above herpartiesiuterestecl arrangement, Compromised for ss. a ton.—Glasgoze paper. - - BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY. —It is rumoured in the profession that a measure will be speedily introduced into Parliament for the purpose of giving the insolvency business to the Insolvent Debtor's Court, by the removal of that branch of the law from the Court of Bankruptcy, where it has been exercised under th e N ew Insolvent Debtors' Act of last session. A great number of indi viduals have availed themselves of the new provision, and it is feared that the principle of th e new law, wh i ch was conceived in the spirit of humanity, has been abused. Upwards of 2,000 people, principally in the country, have petitioned the Court of Bankruptcy, but it is calculated that not more than 600 of the parties would have ap plied to the Insolvent Debtors' Court. It is admitted that the Court of Bankruptcy has no machinery to work the measure, and the Learned Commissioners have re peatedly declared in Public their anxiety to get rid of the duties imposed. on them. Th e rumour i n the profession is, that a bill is in a state of preparation to remove theoperation of the new law to the Insolvent Debtors' Court. There are provisions in the two acts which could be amalgamated, and out of their ashes a measure framed having regard to the ri ,, hts of creditors as well as to the consideration of debtors. The principal question seems. however, to be whether the Court of Bankruptcy or the Insolvent Debt ors ' Court shall have the exclusive juris diction in the matters mentioned.—Standard. ATLAS PRIZE ESSAYS.—The Arbiters have decided that the write r o f t h e E ssay b ear i ng the initials " S. L. " is intitled to the first premium of 1001.; that the writer of the Essay bearing the initials " B. C. E." is entitled to the second premium of 501. ; and that the writer of the Essay bearing the initials " L. T. S. R. P." is entitled to the third:remiutn of 25/. It will be re mem b ere d th a t these prizes were offered some time since by th e proprie tors of the Atlas newspaper for the best essays on the