The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-05-15 00:00:00

Lord BROUGHAM said, that seeing the first lord of the ad miralty in his place, he begged leave to ask him a question on a subject which bad given him very considerable surprise, and which he believed had excited much astonishment in the public mind also. He alluded to a very great outrage said to have been committed by a captain in the navy in respect to a gentle man who was a passenger on board his ship, then on the Medi terranean station. Nothing was imputed to this individual be yond bad temper; that bad temper, however, it was alleged, had caused him to act improperly, but nevertheless no court-martial was held on him. Now, when he recollected that Lord Bru denell, one of the most gallant and deserving 'officers in his Majesty's service, was, by the sentence of a court-martial, dis missed from that service, to which he was an ornament, and to which his whole heart and soul and life had been devoted, it did appear to him (as in this case the complaint likewise arose from some infirmity of temper) that it was extraordinary why the same course was not. pursued in the one instance as in the other. Why, he asked, was not a court-martial held in the one case as well as in the other ? If the facts were not true—if the rumours were founded on fiction—he should be greatly delighted to find it so ; but if they were true, then that inquiry should take place which had taken place in the case of an ordinary captain, who was not protected by powerful friends, on the principle of strict impartiality. Lord AUCKLAND said, he had received no clear and distinct knowledge of the circumstances referred to, and which were said to have occurred on the Mediterranean station. The whole of the case, as he had heard it, rested on vague rumours and newspaper reports (hear, hear); he would say that it rested on the most vague grounds imaginable. (Hear, hear.) If the circumstances were brought before him in a inure regular and a more tangible shape, he should consider it to'be his duty to act upon the advice \of those with whom he should feel it necessary to consult. (Hear, hear.) Lord BitouGtra st said, the statement of the noble lord gave hiin great Satisfaction, so far as it went. (A laugh.) It was a sort of confirmation of the truth of that which he suspected— namely, that there was no real foundation for these rumours. Still he thought that the noble lord ought to direct inquiries to he made in the proper quarters on this subject; because, whether these rumours were well founded or not, they were very pre valent out of doors, and the mere negation. of proof in that house, and their lordships' disbelief of them, would not lead the country in general to discredit them. Viscount MELV ILLE said, the transaction alluded.to had oc curred on the Mediterranean station, where a flag officer corn mantled. The person, therefore, who felt himself aggrieved had a right to apply for redress to the admiral, and to call on him to summon a court-martial to investigate the case. The admiralty could not, in the first instance, take the matter up. The matter was in the hands of the flag-officer. Lord Brun AM said, that doubtless the course pointed out by the noble viscount was the proper one; but that course not having been pursued, he conceived that the admiralty ought to have instituted an inquiry. Viscount BERESFORD expressed his surprise that this subject should have been brought forward by an individual who;;;;e be lieved, was totally uninterested in the proceeding referred to. ( Hear, hear.) He knew both the parties very intimately, and he knew that they were now perfectly satisfied with each other. (Hear, hear.) The matter was solely of a private nature, and he never before heard of a third,person coming forward (in the name of whom he did not know, and on behalf of.whom he could not tell) and interfering in a case of,this nature. (Hear, hear.) The whole affair had been amicably . and cordially settled (hear, hear,) and he knew not on what principle the noble and learned lord got up in his place and interineddled with it. (Hear, hear.) After some conversation the house adjourned to Thursday. Imperial varliament. HOUSE OF LORDS.--TuEsbAys Barons, Ashhurton (Mr. Baring) and Glenelg, jMr. 'Charles 'Grant) were introOliced with the usual forraakt4es, 'by Lords Farnborough and Wharncliffe. • Several petitions were presented, praying for arrant of public ;money for further church accommodation in Scotland. IRISH CHURCH 1311.L.—APPROPRIATIoN BILL, The Duke of Iticlistoxb presented a petition from the Pro 'testant inhabitants of .a parish in the county of Meath, praying 'that out of any surplus of church property in Ireland that might - remain under the system contemplated by the other house of parliament, a portion Might be allotted to them, to enable them to emigrate to some foreign land, wtei e they might, unmolested, -- Worship God in accordance with the religious principles which lad been handed down to theta by their ancestors. PRISON DISCIPLINE. The Duke of Rrctmorin brought up the report of the Com_ =Wee appointed to inquire into goal discipline. The Duke of Ru-mom) then moved, "That the select .committee on prison discipline be empowered to extend their inquiry to the state of prisons in Scotland."—Agreed to. The noble duke next moved that au address be.presented to His Majesty, praying that the returns relative to prisons made under the .sth George IV., cap. 85, be laid befure the house.-- Agreed to. Viscount DUNCANNON wished to know from the right rev. prelate (the Bishop of Exeter) when he intended to present the petition from the Rev. William Story, complaining of the con duct of certain of the commissioners of the commission of public instruction, the presentation of which he had. postponed till after the Easter recess ? The Bishop of EXETER answered, that it was not his inten tion to present the petition alluded to until Government laid before their lordships the report of the commissioners of public instruction. He had hoped that a report from the commission would have been made by this time, and as he did not think that the report of the commissioners could be much longer de layed, he should abstain at present from bringing the subject before their lordships. Having waited so long, it seemed to him that more justice would be done to the case by waiting a little longer for the production of the report of the cominis sioners. Viscount DUNCANNON said he was anxious that the petition should be presented immediately, as the persons to whose con duct it referred, and who wished to answer the charge made against them, were now in town. He saw no necessity for waiting until the report was presented, since the matters con tainedin the report would not affect the allegations of the petition. The Bishop of EXF.TER hoped the noble viscount would for give him when he said, that he could not come to the conclusion -.that the petition would not be affected by the nature of the report. Knowing the importance of the petition, he was anxious, before he presented it, to see the report of the commissioners. A complaint had been made as to the conduct of certain-com missioners, and he wished to know how that conduct was no ticed in the report. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT RETURNS. Lord BROUGHAM said, that as several charges had lately gone forth against the learned judges, in which it was alleged that under the criminal court bill a very small proportion of cases were tried by them, although the object.of the bill was to give to the country the benefit of their labours in criminal cases, he would, in order to show - how utterly groundless those charges were, move for a return of the number of cases tried before the cite judges (the recorder and common serjeant,) and the judges of the land respectively, for the sit months ending on the sth of April last, and a similar return for -each of the six months ending on the sth of April, 1831, 1832, 1833, and tsat. NEWSPAPER STAMPS. Lord BROUGHAM gave notice, that he would on Thursday next plesent to their gave a petition from the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons, of the city of London, in Common Council assembled, upon the subject of newspaper stamp duties. LONDON UNIVERSITY. Lord BROUGHANI asked the president of the council (Lord Lansdowne) what steps had been taken with reference to the _grant of a charter to this university. The Marquis of LaNsoowNe said that no steps had yet been taken with reference to the settlement of this subject. His noble and learned friend must be aware that circumstances had ' recently taken place which rendered it quite impossible to pro ceed with this question. He would, however, assure his noble and learned friend that due regard would be paid to the vote come to by the House of Commons, and that no ,unnecessary time should be lost by the privy council in making their report on the subject. Before a decision was come to, it was necessary to have the assistance of the noble secretary for the home de partment. BREACH OF NAVAL DISCIPLINE. HOUSE OF COMMONS, TUESDAY, MAY 12. The Speaker took the chair at half-past three o'clock. Mr. BROTHERTON presented a petition from 5000 farmers and graziers of Northamptonshire, in favour of the Islington market bill. • • THE MINISTRY. The following mmbcrs of the new government, at the call of the Speaker, proceeded up the house in a body, amidst cheers from the ministerial benches, and took the oaths and their seats: —Mr. S. Rice, Sir J. Hobhouse, Sir H. Parnell, Sir J. Camp bell, Mr. P. Thomson, Colonel Leith Hay Mr. W. H. Ord, Mr. Rolfe, Mr. Labouchere, Sir T. Troubridge, Sir R. Donkin, SirG. Grey, Admiral Adam, Lord Seymour, Lord Dalmeny, and Mr. R. Steuart. • Major Beauclerk presented a petition from a place in Surre against some parts of the Chelsea water works bill. NEW WRITS. On the motion of Mr. E. J. Stanley, the following new writs were ordered to be issued :—For Stroud, in the room of Colonel 'Fox', who had accepted the Chiltern Hundreds • for the county' • of Kildare,' in the room of It. More O'Fe rra tc, Esq., who had been appointed one of the Lords of the 'Treasury; for the southern division of the county of Stafford, in the loom of the Right Unit. E. J. Littleton, who had been called t o th e Ho use , of Peers; for Maltori, in the room of Sir C. Pepvs, who had been appointed cum of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal ; -and for Poole, in the room of Sir J. Byng, now Baron Strafford. .Mr. I..ABouctiE-RX gave notice that on Wednesday he would , moveithe appointment of a select committee to consider and -report the best place for snaking a harbour in the vicinity of Edinburgh, with due regard to the public interests and accom modation. Sir J.•CAseea rs, presented several petitions from Edinburgh * against the Leitli Trinity Harbour bill. Mr. OSWA LD presented some petitions from Scotland praying the house not to grant any money for the endowment of churches in Scotland. Lord S•rsist.o presented several petitions from Ireland and Scotland praying for 4irotection to the established churches of those countries, Sir 0. Moscky presented a petition from a parish in Staf fordshire, expressing the alarm felt by the petitioners at the late proposition adopted by the House of Commons for applying the surplus revenue (if any such existed) of the established church of. Ireland to purposes neither ecclesiastical no: exclusively protestant, stating their conviction that such a Measure was fraught with danger to the civil and religious liberties of both . countries, and praying the.bouse therefore not to adopt it. The hon. baronet, after expressing his cordial coucurtence in the sentiments contained in the petition., gave notice that to-morrow he would present a petition from StafforAlshire, signed by .5400 persons, ou the subject of county-rates, Captain ALsscßii presented a petition from (as we under stood) Merton, in Surrey, expressing the alarm of the petition era at the resolution adopted lately by the House in reference to the Irish church—a measure that they conceived pregnant with the destruction of the established church in both countries, praying' that the House would, upon reconsideration, adopt no such proposition. Mr. ComevoN presented petitions to the same effect from Ringwood, Portsea, Farnham, and other places in Hampshire, • . . THE rO . O,R,'LAW AMENDMENT DILL. Mr. CODBETT .(who spoke in a very low tone) presented pe titions from High ,Wycombe and another place for the repeal of the poor law bill. Referring to the statement contained in one of those'petitioris, he said that it was true that the landed aristocracy of England had made encroachments on the rights of the people, and that he should be glad that, rather by an act of parliament than by their own act, their rights should be restored to them; but if not by an act of parliament, he wished to see them regain them by (heir own act. The honourable member then presented a petition from the inhabitants of Hounslow, praying for a repeal of the poor law amen d ment act. The petitioners set forth several instances of barbarous and cruel treatment of poor persons under the operation of this bill, and adverted to the results of several coroners' inquests in the neighbourhood ofLondon held upon the bodies of infants, and in which it has been determined that child murder has been the consequence of that measure. The hon. member, who had Mr. D. W. HARVEY asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the three learned judges who had been appointed lords-commissioners of the great seal had been permanently ap pointed, and whether, in consequence of this appointment, they were to receive any addition to their present emoluments. THE CH ANCF.LLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that it was not intended that the appointment should be parmanent. With respect to the second part of the question, he was prepared to state that no new or increased charge would in this respect be thrown upon the public. Mr. ,HUME gave notice that he should to-morrow move for a return of the number of ex-Lord Chancellors now receiving pensions, and of the amount of the pensions paid to each.— (" Hear, hear," and a laugh.) Mr. G. BERK T.EY postponed his motion for the setting apart a portion of the strangers' gallery fur the accommodation tiun of ladies. spoke in so low a tone as almost to beicholly inaudible, was then understood to advert to the situation of a parish in Sussex, and to the conduct of the Duke of Richmond in respect to that parish, in which it was proposed to make an addition to the workhouse at an expense of .f.:2,000, with a view to the preven tion of bastardy. '1 he noble duke ought nut, however, to for get that the fminder of his family, now ennobled, was himself a bastard. (Loud cries of "Chair," and "Order.") The Speaker rose, and we believe, called the hon. member _ for Oldham to order. • Mr. CORBETT said, that if he transgressed the usual decorum of the House, he was sorry for it; the case to which he had ad verted was such as of necessity, he thought, excused him. The hon. member then presented a petition from the borough of Great Yarmouth, praying for the immediate repeal of " the horrible poor law bill." • Major BEA UCLERK wished to repeat a question he had before put to the hon. and learned attorney-general. A question bad arisen as to the power of the guardians of the poor to separate in their workhouses the husband from the wife, and when he had before alleged that such power was given by the poor law act, he had been contradicted by the hon. and learned member for Bath. He now wished to know from his Majesty's attor ney-general whether or not such power was conferred by the provisions of the act? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said it was impossible for him to give a deliberate answer to such a question without notice, Major BEA ()CLERK hoped that some explanation of the ques tion would be given early in the course of the present session. Mr. S. Rick inquired whether it was the intention of the hon. member for Oldham to bring forward the question of the repeal of the poor law act? If the hon. member did mean to do so, and fairly to take the opinion of the house upon it, he ought to refrain from any observations in deterioration of the measure on the presentation of a petition, an occasion upon which it was impossible the opinion of the house could be fairly taken on such a subject. He must say it was not unite decorous so to treat an important question, but he should not have troubled the house with any observation, except to guard against the pos sibility of his silence and that of the government being con strued into an acquiescence in the charge which had been made against the measure. Mr. CORBETT said that he had given notice of his intention to move for the repeal of the poor law bill for Thursday next. He should, however, defer it until the government had some chance of being more firmly settled than they were at present, and he therefore now gave notice that on Thursday, the 22d of July, he should move for the repeal of the cursed poor l aw act. The hon. member also gave notice that on Thursday, the 9th of July, he would move for a repeal of the act which imposed a duty on malt not made for sale, and for leave to bring in a bill to restore the law to the state in which it stood prior to the pass ing of the act of 23d George III; that on Tuesday, the 14 th of July, he should move for leave to bring in a bill for the repeal of the stamp laws, unless in the mean time he heard from the Chancellor of the Exchequer that it was his intention to intro duce a bill upon the subject, which upon a former occasion he had shown to him ; and that on Thursday, the 16th of July, he should move for the appointment Of a select committee to con sider an equitable adjustment of the national debt. TILE CANADAS. Mr. HumE said that he wished to put a question to his ma jesey's government of great and pressing importance. A con siderable period had elapsed since the Canadian affairs had come under the consideration of the legislature, and since any ac counts had been received from the Canadas, the state of which demanded immediate attention. He wished to know when the noble lord who had been appointed to go as lord-commissioner was to proceed on his mission, and also how far any measures had been adopted with reference to the present governor of that colony ? Sir G. GREY said that in answer to the question put to him by the hon. member for Middlesex he could inform him that the first subject which occupied the attention of the present go vernment, on their accession to office, was the condition of the Canadas, and he confessed that the arrival of the statute recent ly passed by the House of Assembly did not give them a more favourable impression as to the state of affairs in that colony. The government had felt it to be their duty carefully to pursue the instructions prepared by the Earl of Aberdeen for the guid ance of Earl Amherst and the governor. The subject in all its bearings had been most anxiously considered, and in the re sult the government felt that the personal situation and condi tion of Lord Aylmer in respect to the House of Assembly was such that (without meaning to cast an odium on the character of that noble individual) it was considered that it would not be satisfactory to the noble lord himself norlikely to lead to a satis factory result in the colony in question if the noble lord should remain as governor-general after the mission of Earl Amherst had been fulfilled. The government had therefore advised the crown to recall Lord Aylmer. 'With respect to the appoint• ment of a commission specially to the colonies, the present government had thought whether or not it would he more de sirable, and calculated to lead to more satisfactory results, to associate with Earl Amherst, as chief commissioner, one or more commissioners to receive information in the different pro vinces, and to inquire into the state and condition of each. This was thought to be the most satisfactory means of settling the question pending between the Canada s and thi s country. With this view Earl Amherst had been invited to continue at the head of such a commission, and to give this country the be nefit and advantage of his services; but the noble lord, feeling that the mission would occupy his attention for too long a pe riod, and occasion too long an absence from this country, had declined to proceed upon it. The noble lord at the bead of the colonial department was now in communication upon the sub ject, and he (Sir G. Grey) trusted that in a short period com missioners would be appointed ready at once to proceed to Canada. (Hear, hear.) Mr. G. F. YOUNG withdrew his notice for leave to bring in a bill to repeal the reciprocity duties' act. COMMiSStoNCRs OF THE GREAT SEAL. _ NAVIGATION OF THE SHANNON. The Earl of KERRY, • after a few prefatory observations, which, from the low tone in which the noble lord spoke, and the noise occasioned by members quitting the house, were inaudible, moved pursuant to his notice, "that an humble ad dress be presented to His Majesty, praying that he would be graciously pleased to give directions to the Irish Government to take such steps without delay as would appear to them advisa ble for the purpose of carrying into effect the measures recom mended in the report of the select committee appointed during the last session of Parliament to inquire into the state of the navigation on the river Shannon." - Lord SANDON was undersood to express a hope that the Go vernment would carefully consider the various reports which had been made on this subject before they did anything in the matter. After a short discussion the motion was withdrawn. SLAVE TRADE. Mr. F. BUXTON, in bringing forward his promised motion on the subject of the slave trade, observed that no person who had not witnessed the atrocities of that abominable traffic could have an adequate conception of the crimes, miseries and cruel ties to which it gave rise. IJ e recuested the attention of the house to facts which he should lay before them from Parliamen tary documents—facts that indicated the extent to which the slave trade was now carried on. He held in his hand a list of importations of slaves into the Brazils. The return from the British Consuls from the first of January, 1829, to the 311th of June, 1830, a period of oue year and a half, was as follows— viz.:— Slaves Ships. Died on the passage " 30 Para .. 779 Maranham 1,Z2 Pernambuco 8,079 Bahia .. 22,202 Rio de Janeiro 81,956 .. 26 • . 70 .. 200 308 768 6,912 114,288 315 8,107 In three years and a half 150,537 slaves were introduced into Brazil through the single port of Rio de Jeneiro. But this did not include the whole number deported from Africa ; it only ex • tended to the number introduced alive : we knew nothing of the amount of mortality that occurred among the slaves on their passage. In 1830 the slave trade had been legally abolished, notwithstanding which, however, be was sorry to say, it now proceeded with almost as much activity as ever. This he gathered from the report of the Minister or Marine to the Le isla:ive Assembly, which was as follow s :—" Ri o d e J e neiro, June 17, 1833. Well known are the tricks resorted to by speculators, as sordid as they are criminal, to continue the dis graceful traffic in slaves, in spite of all the legislative provisions and orders issued respecting it, which have been most scandal ously eluded. It, therefore, appears necessary to the Govern ment to have recource to the most efficacious means, which are, to arm a sufficient number of small vessels to form a sort of cordon sanitaire, which may prevent the access to our shores of those swarms of Africans that are continually poured forth from ships employed in so abominable a traffic.' Among many causes of the present extent of the slave trade, one was an ap prehension (which he hoped was well founded) that the Euro pean powers would soon exert themselves to put an end to the abominable traffic; another cause (which be trusted might prove ill touhded) was, that it was thought the experiment re cently Made in the West Indies would fail, and consequently that there would be art increased deinand fcr Brazilian sugar. Another cause of the extent of the slave trade was, that the Brazilian mines were worked by slaves by means of the application of British capital. To show the extent to which the trade was carried, he might state that there sailed from the port of Havannah alone, as slavers for the coast of Africa, in the years 18'22, 1823, 1824, 1825, and 1826, 96 vessels, and from the Ist of January, 1827, to the 30th of October, 1833, 264 ves sels, in a period of si years. It was impossible to state to what extent mortality took place on board of such slave vessels as were not captured, but in the vessels which were captured the mortality was known with accuracy, and it was most dreadful in degree. He would mention the case of the ship Midas, which sailed from the coast of Africa in the month of May, with 562 slaves on board, and was captured by the British cruisers in June following. At the time of its capture 162 slaves had already been lost; 40 more threw themselves overboard at the moment of their liberation; 79 negroes died before the vessel reached the Havannah—making the total loss not less than 281 slaves ; and b e t ween t h e t i me w hi c h e l apse d a ft er the . vessel was brought to th e coast, and the period of its adjudication, the number of the surviving slaves was still further reduced to 253. The hon. member proceederl'to notice other cases of a still more aggravated nature, with which he had not been supplied by means of private information, but which he had collected from the public and official documents on the table of the house. The following was an account of the mortality on board 106 ships condemned between the Ist of January, 1827, and the Ist of January, 1833, at Sierra Leone : Vessels. Slaves. Emancipated. Spanish 3I 8,322 7,426 Portuguese . . Netherlands 8 1,573 1,381 Brazilian .. 36 7,596 6,143 21,162 18,237 Emancipated 925 Left at Fernando Po, ill 2' 61 *2,764 The next point of importance to which he desired to direct the attention of the house was the crowded state of the slave vessels. The hon. member here read the following document, descriptive of the condition of two slave vessels, the Maria and the Caro lina:--" Havannah, Jan. 25, 1831.—The Maria, being only 133 Spanish tons burden, and having on hoard, in addition to her slaves, 40 seamen, making a total of 545' persons, gave the almost unprecedented small space of one ton for the accommo dation of four souls, and the quantity of provisions, water, &c. required for their support during a voyage, probably of 40 days, to the Havannah. State of the Carolina, captured by the Isis, Captain Polkinghorne :—The effect produced upon all the gal - - lant boarders by the miserable appearance of the slaves could only be alleviated by remembering that they were the means of their being rescued; but it was still very affecting. A vessel of only 75 Spanish tons was crammed with 350 human beings, 180 of whom were literally so stowed as to have barely sufficient' height to hold themselves up when in a sitting posture. The poor creatures crowded round their deliverers with their mouths open, and their tongues parched with thirst front want of water. they inesented a perfect ghastly spectacle of human misery; ten of them died soon after. The crew of the vessel consisted of 14 Spaniards, who were landed at Prince's Island." He thought be had now stated enough to prove the necessity of in troducing some measure for the purpose of putting a stop to the odious slave traffic • and then the question arose, what kind of measure ought to be adopted with that view ? It had been sug gested, that an enactment requiring that all slave-vessels when captured should be immediately broken up might be in some degree effectual. This war, not an unimportant suggestion, be cause it was a fact, that vessels, after being condemned, were bought up for the purpose of being'again employed in the slave trade. It had also been thought that some good might be done, if, considering the hardships which the men employed in sup pressing the slave trade had to undergo, they were to receive promotion in proportion to their services, and if the prize-money were granted, not in reference to the tonnage of the vessels, but to the number of slaves liberated. But these were minor regulations compared with what the house ought to do in the shape of treaties. Those which were already in existence had been most shamefully violated by foreign powers- , There were four points to which it was necessary to attend in the formation of a perfect treaty for, the suppression of the slave trade. In the first place, the slave trade ought to be declared to be piracy ; 2diy, the mutual right of search ought to be established; idly, that right ought to extend along the whole coast of Africa, where the slave trade existed; and, 4thly, vessels being equipped for the slave trade should be subject to capture and condemnation, though having no slaves on board. Now it so happened that in all the treaties hitherto drawn up for the suppression of the slave trade one or other of these points had invariably been omitted. It was most important that there should he one unifoim treaty on this subject. He was happy to believe that no difficulty would be found in inducing France to concur in some effectual treaty to put a stop to the traffic in slaves • and he did hope that with regard to Spain and Portugal a better feeling began to prevail on this subject than had been entertained by former governments of those countries. But, whatever might be the disposition of Spain, England had a right to demand the effec tual co-operation of that country in the suppression of the slave trade. Nothing could be stronger than the language of the treaty concluded with Spain, and England had in fact paid E 400,000 to Spain for the suppression of the slave trade. Before concluding he would mention one fact, which had made a greater impression on his mind than almost anything else. In addition to the desolation which this shameful traffic created in Africa, it , was the cause of the destruction of not less that. 100,000 persons year by year; and this large number of Lipman beings were sacrificed for the purpose of enriching miscreants, the acknowledged enemies of the human race, who, if justice had been done, would undoubtedly have died the death of mur derers and pirates. (Hear, hear.) The bon. member con cluded by moving an address to the crown, which was read by the Speaker, but in a tone of voice almost inaudible. We be lieve that the object of the address, which was of considerable length, and embraced most of the topics alluded to by the hon. member in his speech, was to pray his Majesty to take steps with the view of inducing foreign powers to co-operate with him for the effectual suppression of, the slave trade. Mr. HOME entirely concurred in the propriety of expressing some strong and decided opinion on the absolute necessity of putting a stop to the slave trade. Mr. S. Rice was understood to say, that the important object of the address before the house had been communicated to the foreign-office, and he understood that with respect_ to it no ob jection was entertained in that department. With regard to the recital of facts contained 'n the address, that had been com pared with public documents, and found to be correct. Whe ther it would be advisable or not to adopt a shorter address than the one just moved, appeared to him to be rather a question of form than of substance; but he knew of no subject more befitting the attention of that house and of the government than that to which the address had reference ; and he should be sorry to see the tone which the house ought to adopt in the discussion of such a matter any way lowered. The British government were not only bound by the obligations of treaties to put a stop to the slave trade, but were also bound in justice to the West India proprietors to see that they were subject to no unfair com petition on the part of foreigners. Thus not only humanity, but the interests of the West India colonists, called on the govern ment to omit no step calculated to put down the slave trade. With respect to the objection taken by the hon. member fot Middlesex to the length of the motion, he begged to state that he certainly did recollect that on a former occasion an address to the crown had been opposed on account of its length; but it should be borne in mind that that address consisted not of facts extracted from public documents on the table of the house (as the present one did) but of the reasoning of the bon. member who moved it. With respect to the suppression of the slave trade, he believed that France was willing to co-operate cordi ally with this country; and he expected that Spain and Portu gal would be found ready to enter into some satisfactory ar rangement for the same purpose. To effect this object no means had been left untried by successive governments, and he was sure that they could not be fairly accused of neglect of duty. This address would not impede any negotiation pending at pre sent, nor was it inconsistent with an accurate statement of facts. He asked his hon. friend, the member for Middlesex, whether he thought that any inconvenience would arise from withholding the assent of the house from this address to night, and from re viving the discussion upon it on a future occasion ; He put it to the house whether, in the present state of parliamentary bu siness, his suggestion ought not to be acceded to. Mr. COB[IETT next addressed the house, but was, from hoarse ness, almost inaudible in the gallery. We understood him to contend, that until they could prevail on the government of the United States to grant the right of search, they never could put an end to the traffic in slaves. He objected to the length of the address. Nine pages of address carried to the ears of a king was a monstrous absurdity. (Hear, and a laugh.) Mr. F. BuxroN after admitting that the address was too long, withdrew his motion. BOROUGH OF PENRYN. A petition was . presented from Williams, of the borough of Penryn, complaining of the retain made from that borough at the last election. The house then adjourned at a quarter to eight o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS—WKDNEsDAy. 'The SPEAKER took the Chair at half past nine o'clock. Petitions on various subjects were presented to the Haase, but the greater portion of them were on subjects of no particu , lar novelty or interest. THE DORCHESTER UNIONISTS. Mr. EU'ART presented a petition signed by 15,000 inhabitants of Liverpool, praying for a remission of the sentence passed on the Dorchester labourers. The punishment of these unfortu nate men had excited very great sympathy, as it was generally understood that they had sinned through ignorance of the law. It was much to be lamented that the criminal law was not more ►enerally known, and its anomalies explained away, and be knew`of no case in which the House of Commons would be more justified in acting as the advisers of the Crown than the present. He trusted that the Commissioners appointed to in quire into the state of the Criminal Law, would see the ne cessity of establishing a code which would be better understood, and mole generally known among the people. SPIRIT LICENSES. Mr. EWART presented a petition signed by nearly 2,000 inha bitants of Liverpool, praying for a repeal of the duty imposed last Session upon Spirit Licenses : also a petition signed by nearly 4,000 inhabitants of Liverpool, praying for some legis lative enactment for the suppression of crime and drunken ness. - - - ABOLITION OF IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT BILL. Sir R. PEEL rose to present a petition, very numerously signed by a most respectable body of persons, calling them selves merchants, traders, and others, of the city of Westmins ter, against certain parts of a bill which had been brought in by the present Attorney-General, entitled a bill for the facili tating the recovery of debts, and abolishing imprisonment for debt in certain cases. He believed the bill had been referred to a select committee, and that committee had not yet made their report. Under these circumstances, to enter into anydis cussion upon the bill, or upon its general principles, till that report was made, would be premature. Therefore, without saying a word that could promote any discussion upon the pre sentation of this petition, but merely calling the attention of the house to the fact that the petition emanated from a body of prac tical men deeply interested in the bill, he would call their attention again to the allegations of the petition, when it was printed, as containing the opinions of those who were enabled to form an opinion well worthy . of the consideration of the house. (Hear, hear, hear.) The petitioners considered that the bill would delay, rather than facilitate the recovery of debts; they stated that the honest debtor, under the existing laws, had little difficulty in obtaining all the relief to which he was justly en titled. - He considered that the bill deprived the petitioners of their main security; and that the abolition of arrest and impri sonment for debt, without substituting some equivalent for the recovery of debts, would be ruinous to the petitioners. Under these circumstances they prayed the house not to give their assent to the bill; and they prayed to be heard by their agents, and to have' their witnesses examined before the committee of the house. Without expressing any opinion upon the bill, he begged leave to present the petition. Sir F. PoLLocx was not disposed, in a matter of importance like the present, to legislate without strict inquiry. To the de tails of the present measure he had great objections, but with its principle he was disposed fully to concur. He iad heard with great satisfaction that the bill was to be further considered, as he would be sorry to suppose that any thing connected with the report of that committee should not be open to general in quiry. From all he had heard and seen, and as far as his ex perience served him as a guide, he should say that he would be sorry if the bill did not undergo the fullest discussion in that house. By this means the honest debtors and creditors would be secured in obtaining that justice to which they were entitled. He begged to apologize for trespassing on the house; but, as one of the commissioners, he wished to place his sentiments on record as regarded the probable operation of this bill. (Hear, hear.) SCOTTISII CHURCH. Sir R. Peel presented petitions from different parishes in Scotland in support of the established church of that country; also a petition from a place in Forfarshire against the appro priation of the church revenues to other than ecclesiastical purposes. HIGHWAYS BILL. The house then resolved itself into a committee of the whole house upon the highways amendment bill, Mr. Plyme in the chair. The preamble having been postponed, the clauses of the bill up to 13 were agreed to without comment. On clause 14 being proposed, Mr. BENNETT wished that it should be amended by making the guardians of the poor the guardians or inspectors of all the roads in all parishes joined under that bill. After a few words from Mr. Lefene, the clause as it stood in the bill was agreed to. The several clauses of the bill down to the 47th were then agreed to with some verbal amendments, and the house was left in committee The Hon. Mr. Irby is shortly to be united to Miss Galwey, daughter of Lady Harriet Galwey. A little incident occurred at the Glee Club on Saturday last which may be taken as a " sign of the times." A toast and a glee are given in succession; and Lord Melbourne having been proposed as a toast, a wicked wag immediately called the round of " Let's have a Peal." The application was received with bursts of laughter and applause. The weight of the new "Great Tom" of Lincoln, recently put up in the cathedral, is 5 tons S cwt., being ,exactly 1 ton heavier than its predecessor, which was cast in 161 U. It is a curious circumstance that Lord Glenelg (Charles Grant) may spell his title either backwards or forwards. Is t here any hidden meaning in this ? Lord John Russell will, it is believed, appeal to the very in dependent electors of Totness, way being made for him by one Mr. Parrott, whose con-sid-er-a-tiou for resigning his seat is an Assistant Comraissionership under the new Poor Law A ct.— DINNER TO SIR ROBERT PEEL. A dinner was given on Monday, at .Merchant Tailors' Hall. by some of the most eminent merchants, bankers, and trades of London, in honour of that distinguished statesman Sir Robert Peel. About four hundred persons were present. The chair man, John Masterman, FA., was supported on the fight by Sir Robert Peel, the Lord Mayor, Earl de Grey, Viscount Sandon, Lord ,Lyndlittrst, Lord Wharncliffe, Lord AbinFer, E. DrUm imind, 14e secretary to Sir Robert Peel, l'hoirias Vena bles, Esq., late "secretary to Sir Robert Peel, Rev. W. Wilson, chaplain for the occasion, John Masterman, jun., Esq.; and on the left by the Duke of Wellington, Marquis Camden, Earl of Aberdeen, Viscount Canterbury, Lord Francis Egerton, Lord Ashburton, Right Hon. Sir John Beckett, Bart., ALP., Right Hon. Sir George Clerk, Bart., M.P., Right Hon. Sir Henry Ilardinge, K.C.8., John Horsley Palmer, Esq., late Governor of the Bank, W. Ormsby Gore, Esq., M.P., Right Hon. Frederick Shaw, A1.P.,• Right Hon. G. R. Dawson, and the Right Hon. W. Yates Peel, M.P. After the usual toasts had been given, the Chairman proposed the health of their distinguished guest, Sir Robert Peel, a toast men than that which may be suili , •ient for securingintegrity and competence in the diicharge of important official duties. (Cheers ) We deny that we are separated by any line of interest, or by any other line of demarcation, from the raid ing classes of this country. (Cheers.) Why, who are we, 9r at least nine-tenths of those who are here assembled, that any one should tell us that we have an interest separate from those of the middling classes of society ? (Cheers.) If we don't be long to the middling classes of society, I want to know how wide the interval may be that is presumed to separate us ? (Cheers.) Speaking in behalf of nine-tenths at least of those assembled within these walls, I say we disclaim any separation from the Middling classes of society in this country (loud cheers), and if circumstances may appear to have elevated us - above them,. to what, I venture to ask, is that elevation in our case owing? (Cheers.) Either on our own part or on the part of our immediate forefathers, it is owing to nothing else but to the exercise of those qualities of diligence, the love of order, of industry, of integrity (cheers), which secure to every member of the middle classes of society the opportunities of elevation and distinction in this great community (cheers) ; and it is because we stand in our present situation—it is be cause we owe our elevation in society to those qualities to which I have alluded, and because we feel that the same elevation may still be secured by the same means, that we feel our interests identified with theirs, and, by the blessing of God, are determined to keep open to them those same avenues that have been opened to ourselves (cheers.) nor will allow their course to be obstruct ed by men who want to secure the same advantages bz dishonest means. (Loud and long continued cheering.) Gentlemen, while on this subject, will you allow me to recall to your recollec tion what was the grand charge against myself—that the King had sent for the son of a cotton-spinner to Rome, in order to make him prime minister of England. (Cheers.) Did I feel that by any means a reflection on me ? Did that make me at all discontented with the state of the laws and institutions of the country? No; but does it not make me, and ought it not to make you, gentlemen, do all you can to reserve to other sons of other cotton-spinners (loud cheers) the same opportunities by the same system of laws under which this country has so long flourished, of arriving by the same honourable means at the like distinction. ( Loud cheers.) We are charged with having some interest in the perpetuation of abuses. Why, can there be any one with a greater interest than we have that the public .burdens should be as much lightened as can possibly be con sistent with the maintenance of the public engagements? We are represented as fattening on the public income. Looking to this company, and to those associated with it in feeling, is there any motive, I ask, connected with the increase of the pub lic revenue that can c mnterVail the interest we have in the re duction of the public burdens? (Cheers.) We,. therefore, I say, have a direct, a superior interest to any other in the correc tion of every abuse and the application of every just and econo ' inical remedy; but, consistently with those feelings—consistent ly with that determination to correct abuses, and to consult real economy, we do not disguise that it is our firm resolution to maintain to the utmost of our power tIM limited' monarchy of this country, (cheers,) to respect the rights of every branch of the legislature, (cheers,) to maintain—inviolate the united church of England and Ireland, (loud cheers,) to maintain it as a. predominant establishment, (renewed cheering,) meaning by predominance, not the denial of civil rights to other classes of the community, but maintaining it in the possession of its pro perty and of all its just privileges. (Cheers.) Such it is our firm resolution to preserve it, submitting to no compromise, (cheers,) and exercising every privilege which the constitution as intrusted to us supplies for its legitimate maintenance and support. (Loud and long continued cheering.) We make that appeal to the middling classes of the community—we make that appeal to those who are the depositaries of the elective franchise. We tell them that it is not only our determination to resist any direct attack on those institutions, but that we are also resolved received and drank with great enthusiasm Sir Refuter Peat, in returning thanks, said that he was not using commonplace lauguage when he assured the company that he felt overpowered by their kindness, and unable to ex press his feelings of deep gratitude to them. Sir Robert then continued as follows :-1 have not been so misled by the sug gestions of personal vanity as to attribute to myself, or any de serts of mine, the origin of this meeting, or the feelings which you have this evening expressed. I agree with our worthy chairman in thinking that the deputation which I received from so large a body of the merchants, bankers, and trailers of this city was quite sufficient for me. It asserted the pried* . by which I was animated : it bore with it, in the approbation of my fellow-citizens, my reward. (Loud cheers.) I wanted nu other demonstration of public feeling, (hear, - hear;) and, if I could regard this meeting as merely a demonstration of personal com pliment, I should feel little satisfied. (Cheers.) No, sir, I re gard it as a demonstration of public feeling from London. (Loud cheers.) Ido think that public principle may be pro moted by this meeting. (Cheers.) I do think, sir, that the impulse which has been given in this centre of the commercial world—(cheers)—the vital impulse must thrill to every ex tremity of the British empire. (Cheers.) I repeat, sir, that the throes of this mighty heart must as they act send the whole some life-blood of sound doctrine and good principle to every atom of the corporate body of the united kingdom. (Continued cheering.) Gentlemen, I understand that by assembling here to-day you have shown an attachment to the ancient institutions of the country, and a firm resolution to maintain those princi ples which are interwoven with the safety of those institutions and the security of prosperity in this empire. (Cheers.) I un derstood that it was in some degree incumbent upon you to come forth in this manner, because you do not happen to have any pibiicly recognised organ through whom your senti ments may be expressed. (Loud and•lOng-contimied - cheering,) When }consider that this great meeting, abounding as it does in wealth—abounding in intelligence—abounding in respecta bility—there is not one single member out of the - 18 allotted for the metropolitan districts to represent your opinions I certainly am much grieved, and I confess something astonished. (Cheers and laughter.) I might speak too even of your numbers. The hall has been taxed to the utmost extent of its accommodation, and if there were room for ten times a greater number of gen tlemen within these walls we should have had them present. (Great cheering.) And yet you and your friends had not the good fortune to secure a single representative to yourselves out of the -whole 18, by . whom your opinions could be spoken, through whom your just and legitimate influence could be ex ercised. (Loud cheers.) In order, therefore, that there should be no misconstruction of your silence, you feel it necessary to speak through other organs than those which the new repre sentative system has provided for you (cheers) ; and in the ful ness of this conviction it is that I come forward to lend my bumble countenance to this meeting. (Great cheering.) And, gentlemen, it is because this is a public occasion, and because we are met to promote a public object, that I am disposed to detain you by some further observations, by some allusions to the state of public affairs (cheers) ; and I am sure, considering the nature of our assemblage, you will pardon me for so doing, notwithstanding the approaching meeting of parliament. (Con tinued cheers.) And, gentlemen, what I shall say will be spoken by me as one of yourselves (cheers)—not as one anxious for conquest as a party man—not as a candidate for office (loud and continued cheers) ; I shall speak to you as a British subject, feeling a tenfold greater interest in the good government of the country generally than in any emoluments he could possibly derive from office, (great cheering)—a man" who has a tenfold greater desire for the maintenance of the opinions he professes and conscientiously believes and fancies he clearly understands, than for any advantages which adverse individuals may dream he could have by . the acquisition of office. (Enthusiastic cheering.) I believe indeed that there is no greater mistake than that people situated as I happen to be are so very anxious for office. (" Hear, hear," and lauglter.) Some fancy that the wholesome rest of every politician is broken by his feverish longing for office. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.) If I were to speak from my own experience, I should tell a different tale. (Hear.) There is to me nothing in office abstractedly to compensate for its labours and incon veniences, its annoyance, and its deep anxieties. (Cheers.) Away, then, sir, with the presiimptuous assertion that men who are tit for office would not at any time rather decline it than con sent to any sacrifice of opinion, toany compromise of character. There has been a great deal said about court intrigue and court favouritism. It is quite as ridiculous as this morbid anxiety of honest and independent men for office. (Cheers.) The fact is, that to an individual like myself office imposes nothing but the heaviest sacrifices which a man can make—sacrifices for which it offers no compensation. (Cheers:) That office holds out great advantages to the ambitious mind I will not deny; but are there not without office, equal if not greater means of- distinc tion in public life? (Cheers.) For myself, in taking office I was urged by nothing but a sense of public duty, and from the desire not to shrink from that which it is incumbent on every British subject to do to serve his King when called upon to the utmost of his ability and power. (Loud cheers.) Whilst I de clare the inconveniences of the public service, I at the same time hope and' know that his majesty has not a more devoted servant than I. (Cheers.) I am ready to give, and I have given his majesty as sincere and as independent support, and as liberal services as any other man in any other capacity can have possibly given him. (Loud cheers.) The chief advantage, per haps, arising to me from office is, that I have had the goOd for tune of being connected in power, I should say in civil life, with that great military man whose fame exceeds - that of any other conqueror (cheers)—a man from whom I have never been se parated by . any'difference on political subjects, and with whom my connexion has never been embittered by the slightest touch of paltry jealousy (loud cheers) ; and if I thought that, connected as I have been with him in civil appointments, I should have the happiness to have my name transmitted with his to after ages, it would be the chief pride, the dearest gratification of my heart. (Enthusiastic cheers.) But I feel that I have been straying from the subject immediately before us—the present state of public affairs. Allow me to speak to you not as a party man, but as one of yourselves, and to submit to you plain opini ons in plain language. (Cheers.) I prefer this and lam sure to will you, to that elaborate concatenation of phrases which is sometimes called eloquence, in which you have the smallest pos sible quantity of common sense enveloped in the greatest multi tude of equivocal words. (Cheers and laughter.) In one word I say to you there is at present danger to the institutions of this country (great cheering), danger to the form of government under which we have lived and prospered. (Continued cheer ing.) But it is in your power, and that of those who think with you, and fill your situations in the country, to avert the danger. (Continued cheering.) It is in your power by exertion and by the exercise of those functions which the constitution has left to you to mitigate, if not altogether to remove the evil. (Loud cheers.) My opinion is, that the danger can be only met by your gaining an effectual influence in the popular branch of the legislature. (Hear, hear.) We shall only aggravate the evil if we attempt to deceive ourselves. Let us not indulge in any useless lamentations. Let us waste no time in regretting that which is beyond our remedy. (Cheers, and hear, hear.) 'cilia is quite idle. But if we cease to take a desponding view of public affairs, all will be yet well. Though you may not be able to exercise that influence to which you are legitimately en titled, yet hesitate not to strain every nerve in using all the pri vileges which remain to you. (Cheers.) Act like Englishmen, and if you will only do so, I am confident, from ycur national spirit and indomitable resolution, that the country will be rescued from the dangers by which it is at present so closely enveloped. (Cheers.) I warn you that you must not place a firm reliance upon the prerogative of the crown—on the influ ence or authority of the House of Lords. The prerogative of the one, the authority of the other, are constitutionally potent in controlling the powers of the lower house, hut you must not now. a-days depend upon them as bulwarks which are impass able, and which can be committed without apprehension to the storm and struggle of events. The government of the country, and the mode in which it is conducted, allow me to tell you, must mainly depend upon the constitution of the House of Com mons ; I again' say the royal prerogative, the authority of the House of Lords, are most useful, nay, necessary, in our mixed and balanced constitution. But you must not strain those pokers. You do not want to see a government conducted con currently with a series of disputes between the several branches of the legislature. (Cheers.) You would rather see them mov ing in that harmonious manner which insures the utility of each, and the efficiency of all. (Loud cheers.) 1 ask you, then, to take means to assert in the House of Commons those principles which we believe to be just. and to exercise that authority to which you are fairly entitled. (Cheers.) On taking office I avowed my determination to abide by the reform bill. - I trust I have redeemed that pledge. (Loud cheers.) On this broad constitutional principle my friends and I acted. We acted in the spirit of that reform bill. When we found that we had not the confidence of the House of Commons, although the array against us was miscellaneous in the extreme, although the ma jority-was small, we felt it our duty to 'resign. (Cheers.) How ever strongly we might have opposed the elective system before, we now adhered to our pledge; we not only gave the reform bill it fair trial. but we regarded it as a constitutional settlement of a great question. (Loud cheers.) We did not entertain the idea of governing the country against a majority of the reformed House of Commons. (Cheers.) Allow me then to recommend you all, in common with myself, to refrain from flattering our ' selves with any distant hope of altering the present system—let us not seem to threaten, even in thought, those who have ac quired new rights with the forfeiture of that acquisition. Let us stand by the constitution as it exists at present. (Cheers.) Let us never hint at alteration, or raise a secret doubt by our conduct, even in the mind's of the most suspicious. I may venture to prophecy to you that the proposition for change will come from the other side. (Great and continued cheering.) If it should come, it will never come from anybody excepting some one of those who were themselves the authors of that re form bill. (Great cheering.) Ay, it will come from them, and the moment perhaps is not far distant,—the moment they have ascertained the bill is not likely to answer the purposes they had in view—the moment they see it is not potent to ex clude the influence of what we call conservative Principles. (Continue/1 cheering.) Allow me to Say to you, gentlemen, that your duty will be to use every just constitutional influence which you possess. There must be no laziness—no apathy — and above all, no despondency. (Cheers.) Do not agitate the minds of men by new discussions as to the foundation of the principles of government, and, so forth. Do not af fect the feelings of those who who have acquired new privileges either by direct threats, or by the more sinister and unmanly mode of intimating an intention to fritter down these privileges hereafter. (Great cheering.) But I have said enough upon this subject : I do not despair that if we continue to exert our selves here, if we set an example to the empire, it will, in all its parts, he before long animated by the kindly, constitutional, and truly English feelings which are - here displayed. (Loud cheers.) You must try above all things to regain your influence in the House of Commons, not as your enemies would say, by bribery and corruption and unworthy means,. but by going forth and giving a frank exposition to your principles (cheers) and by showing there is nothing selfish in your support of institutions under which ire live, and the rights which we enjoy. We of course avow this,-1 apprehend that we are not interested in the maintenance of any abuse—(cheers,) —that we are willing to correct every abuse (cheers), and to concur in the applica tion of the best remedy which can possibly be devised for that purpose. Loud cheers.) We hold, I apprehend, that no pub lic office ought to be maintained for the purpose of patronage (cheers); that they can only be vindicated on the ground of their being necessary to the public service. (Cheers.) We want no sinecures. (Loud and long. , continued cheering.) We want no more amount of salary for the reward of any public that we will not permit the ancient institutions of this country — (cheers) —the mitigated monarchy, consisting of three branches of the legislature—we are determined that we will not allow it to be changed by specious propositions of reform (loud cheers) into a democratic republic. (Loud cheers.) We will not al low, if we can prevent it—we will not allow, by any the most plausible pretext, such an infusion of democracy into the insti tutions of this country as shall essentially , change their theory, and by slow degrees deprive us of the advantages we have so long enjoyed under our limited monarchy and ancient institu tions. (Loud cheers.) Now, gentlemen, that is what I appre hend by the conservative principle, (loud cheers,) and such is the .round on which we make an appeal to the country at large for the maintenance of our principles. (Cheers.) We tell all, in whatever class of life they may be, that they ought to feel as deep - an interest in the maintenance of those principles as any of the politicians or men of property who are now within my hearin. (Cheers.) The encouragement of industry , depends on the maintenance of those •principles. (Cheers.) 'lle pre servation of order depends on this not less than the maintenance of that security which has hitherto led men through honest in dustry to accumulate property in this country. (Loud cheers.) And, now that the feelings excited by a late political contest have subsided, I cannot help . entertaining a sincere hope and belief, disclaiming any intention of interfei ing improperly with the political franchise, there is still that fund of good sense in this community that will enable you, if not to gain a predo minating influence in the Commons House of Parliament, still to acquire that degree of influence that shall control and prevent many bad projects. (Loud cheers.) My advice to you, then, is, not to permit past differences on political subjects now to pre vent a cordial union with those who take a similar view with yourselves on matters of immediately pressing emergency. (Cheers.) There are many questions on which you formerly differed now settled; but there are still many public men, from whom you formerly differed, and who now agree with you that the reform bill is not to be made a platform from which a new battery is to be directed against the institutions of this country, and if they agree with you on that point, if they wish to correct real abuses, still determined to maintain the ancient principles on which the constitution of the country is founder!, to protect the interests of order and property, my advice" to you is not to allow past differences to obstruct an harmonious and real union for the preservation of all that remains. (Loud cheers.) Gen• tlemen, I ought to apologize for detaining you so long, and I shall not now much longer prevent my hon. friend the chair man from proceeding with the remainder of the toasts. (Cheers.) But, in conclusion, let me entreat you to recollect the associations connected with the place where we are now as sembled. From this place a voice issued in 1793 of memorable moment—a voice in support of the ancient principles of the British monarchy—(cheers)—a voice which enabled the minis ters of the day to check the contagion of democratic and French Principles, then in their rage. (Cheers.) I call on you to re member the motto under which you are assembled, Concordia parea res crescuni : however little your influence now may be, by firm union, by determined perseverance, you will overcome all difficulties, and rally around you a thousand arms to fight in the same cause. (Lotid cheers.) Proclaim to the country from this the centre of the metropolis, that, entertaining principles of Moderation, you still will stand by the ancient walls, the an cient landmarks of the constitution—(cheers)—that you will rally round the monarchy and protect it in its just prerogatives, protect the independent exercise of the authority of the House of Lords, (loud cheers,) and maintain firm and inviolable the rights of the established church. (Cheers.) You will stand by, in the emphatic language of acts of . parliament, the pro testant government and protestant religion of this country. (Cheers.) Elevating that voice, maintaining those principles, as I must contend so moderate, so just, so necessary, so rational, depend upon it the voice you raise will be re-echoed from every part of this country, and the pulsation of the heart of this great corporate community will vibrate through every artery of this happy and mighty empire. (The right hon. baronet sat down amidst loud and long-protracted cheering.) The Chairman then gave the health of his Grace the Duke of Wellington, with whose military and political career they were all well acquainted, which required no eulogy from him, and whose services, to the city of London especially, endeared him to every good-hearted citizen. (The toast was drunk with all the honours.) The Duke of Wellington rose and said,—l beg leave, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, to return my warmest thauks for the honour you have done me in drinking my health, especially for the mention, in recommendation of me, of the services in which I have been engaged, but most particularly of those which it has been my good fo rtune to render to the city of London. (Cheers.) But tne question on this day is not the services which I have rendered either to the city of London or. otherwise. (Cheers.) The object of this meeting is to enable you to pay a compliment which it is in your power to bestow, and of which he must be most ambitious-1 mean your approbation. (Loud cheers.) I have no claiM—l have no merit on this occasion (cheers), excepting that of having rendered to my right hon. friend every assistance which it was in my power to give (loud cheers), in the situation which I filled in His Majesty's coun cils (renewed cheers)—l have no claim, except that of a con currence with you in admiration of the great talents, temper, fortitude, and manly discretion manifested by my right hon. friend (loud cheers) during, probably, the most arduous and difficult, even if the shortest, tenure of office that ever fell to the lot of a Minister of the Crown. (Loud cheers.) 1 must say that I deeply regret that the result of the labours of my right hon. friend was not more successful (cheeis), and I be lieve that you who have heard to-night the exposition of his principles and policy, and the advice which he tendered to von (cheers), do sincerely lament that he did not for a longer time carry into execution his measures and plans at the head of His Majesty's Government. (Continued cheering.) But when we consider what the measures were which my right honourable friend had proposed to bring before Parliament, and which he must have completed if he had been so allowed to introduce them (loud cheers),—measures having for their object the satis faction of this country upon many important topics which have become matters of interest since the establishment of the new institutions of the country, and measures the result of which must have been the cessation of agitation not only.in this coun try but in Ireland—l do think we have all reason to regret, as I believe His Majesty does (loud cheers), the result of my right hon. friend's short experiment of office. (Loud cheers.) I beg leave to thank you most cordially for the honour you have done me, and I beg leave to say I think my right hon. friend well deserves the high compliment you have paid him. (Loud cheer ing., which lasted some minutes.) Among the other toasts given were:— " Lord Sandon and the commerce of Liverpool;" and 4i Lord Francis Egerton and the manufacturing interests of the United Kingdom." For which these noblemen respectively returned thanks. The company did not separate until a late hour. Within the last few days an absurd rumour has been got up and industriously circulated, to the effect that Mr. Scholetield has offered to resign his seat as member for Birmingham, in order to make room for Lord John Russell. We need scarce say that there is not the slightest foundation for such a rumour. —Birmingham Journal. DEATH OF BLANCHARD, THE COMEDIAN. Mr. William Blanchard died on Saturday, aged 66. He was thrown out of a chaise in the early part of the week, and that attention was not paid to the injury received which the serious nature of it required. Mr. Blanchard made his debut at Covent-garden the atre as Acres, in The Rivals ' -g and Crack in The Turnpikeate, on the let of October, WI He was a very good actor, but not a provident man,- he has been dependent for his chief sup port latterly on the theatrical fund. SIR ROBERT PEEL.—Tuesday morning a deputation of gen tlemen from the body of conservatives residing in Westminster, waited upon Sir Robert Peel, and stated to him that from the high sense they entertained of his distinguished conduct while holding the reins of government, and their admiration of his po litical firmness during the late arduous struggle against party spirit, they wished publicly to testify their approbation and esteem by inviting him to a public dinner. Sir Robert Peel, who was in high spirits, looked remarkably well, and received them in the most affable manner, replied, that he felt sensibly the kindness intended towards him, which, at any other period he would have been most happy to accept. He considered, how ever, that while parliament was sitting to accept invitations of this nature would seem to be taking a part in political excite ment, for which, at the present moment he had no desire, wish ing rather to avoid all expression of political feelings except what it might be his duty to utter within the walls of parliament. The deputation then retired, deeply impressed by the just and prudent sentiments of the late premier.—Morning Post. Mr. Bedworth Lambton is shortly to be united to the amiable and accomplished Miss Ann Bush. Lord Durham has in the most liberal manner removed the only barrier to their union by pre:Amting his brother with a handsome allowance of £5OO per annum, in addition to his own private fortune. The engagement of Mr. Lambtou and Miss Bush has been one of song standing. FOREIGN INTELLIGE iVCE. SPAIN. of From Spain we have no direct intelligence to lll o§ any moment, except that the .successes of the DetCar .1 are confirmed, so fa . r as relates to the defeats of Ge. ll iboh ` Valdez and Iriarte. The report of the taking of 131 , 4 1 0 however, is contradicted; the Carlists, in fact , 113 "4 even made an attack on the town. The news brtly by the Royal Tar is, therefore, as we suspected, vi the apocryphal. A letter from Madrid, which appea rs in n ish Courier Francais, positively states- that the Spa the government had claimed of the Queen of Porttlebo execution of her share of the quadruple treatyi Ifs binds her to contribute an auxiliary army to Spain• correspondent of the Courier Francais is-to be a ° d• ca . two brigades of infantry,' five or six squadrons ° or• valry, and two field batteries are destined for thisfiPot pose, and will march without delay en the westelp, a r i t i of the Basque provinces. We must - have better anil ° ' before we afford implicit credence to this statement. PORTUGAL. ne' The Pantaloon has brought letters and newsP h a r o . from Lisbon t o th e 4th. Th ere was a m i s take in nouncement of the successor of the Duke of -Palwe' " t be his.ofEce- il"etiretary of state being filled, not by to Count of Linha res , but the Count' . of Villa R e ed whom at the sa me ti me th e war d e p ar tment is coa w ' ci i, Count Linhares succeeds as president of the te rm ie We are not well informed as to what was the Pr, eG v cause of the change, but it is understood that the u tl ior retires with honour, and is to be appointed aalha' 4 'l,4l to this country. Marshal Saldanha had not on his mission to Paris. It was supposed he w oul e o until after the Queen's second marriage, which it ° d e w is to "follow hard upon."' Her new husband i 9 ' t° i;be teed the last as commander-in-chief of the aralY• a pecuniary affairs of Portugal are said to be rathe r 'di; prosperous state, and the country is generally trang.,' but assassinations and arrests are still occasionally ge l ° forward. profceetio BELGIUM. c hs The Brussl papers of the II th contain many arl b y on their rail-road, which appear to us to be inserteu. be d interested parties. The distress at Antwerp i s desc, i rl op by one. of tleese papers as 'being appalling ; hundreus,s, hundreds of persons, formerly in tolerable circumstaaers_ are said to be actually. in want of bread. Neither the: papers, nor the German papers of the 6th, bring ant p a . litical news of importance. At Vienna a report ciliated of an intended reducing of the Five per u` - to Stock'to Four per Cent., " and much credit is glve ° e d it. This is the reason that the Four per Cents. content is to rise, while the Five per Cents. declined, and other descriptions of Stock little business was done. CONS FANTINOPLE. • of We have news from Constantinople of the 10,8, April, at which time the preparations for the Sultan's parture were rapidly going forward. His destinatie%, Smyrna, but nothing appears to he known as to his othe rior objects. It is possible that he means to renew po war in Asia Min or i n p erson . S e ri o u s disagreem e are said to prevail in his cabinet, which excite the att e by tion of the diplomatic body at the Porte. Lord Pon o. is, we understand, ca r rying on a very active correst dente with the Divan, w ith th e i n t en ti on , it is endeavouring to counteract, as far as in him lies, w e - fluence of Russia. • PERSIA. Intelligence has bee n rece i ve d f rom T e h e ran, d at 4 e{r ir the 18th of March, of a b r illi an t success o bt a ined by '' e Henry Bethune, near Ispaltan, in an action agains t ° , ll be of the insurgent corps, which are ve t i n arms a gains t authority of the new Shah. Sir Hen r y B et h une had u e ,; ( l sent forward by the Shah's government t o occupy tranquillize Ispahan. He had not only succeeded in t`;,, object, but having learned that the troops of Tirm a " er Firmaee, about 5,000 men, chiefly horsemen, under aro, of his brother, Hassen Allee Meerza, and some other ch the princes of the blood, were endeavouring to apPr° 3 ot Ispahan, Sir Henry Bethune instantly marched with at' ° e d 4,900 men and twenty guns to oppose them. By a for e of f march, and a well executed movement, he had cut_ m i their way through the mountains, by which they h°, a", to reach the city unperceived, had forced them to actl ° ., and completely defeated them, capturing their wholae,leoe fantry, with the camp and baggage, while Hasse" v Meerza himself escaped, attended only by fifty borser l3 ,. 1 ,. Thus little or no di ffi culty was apprehended in the sO n '.i.; and, indeed, so far as regards open oppositions m atte a t were goihg on prosperously for the perfect establishrne of the power of Mahomed shah in Persia,. The Augsburgh Gazette of the 7th of May has advi ce : from Constantinople of the 16th ultimo, accordin4,o which, preparations were making for the departure 01 Sultan, who was to proceed to Smyrna, it was thour iv on board a frigate. His departure would have alm a taken taken place had it not been for the existence 0 1 : 1 ; e plague in Egypt, and a dispute which had arise " r ; divan between the Kiaja-Bey and the Reis Effendi, °°"- cerning a point of etiquette. Lord Ponsonby is reP re : sented to be persevering in his opposition to the treq with Russia, and delivering notes on the subject, are not much cared for, as the British ministry are 00 thought disposed to come to a rupture. THE MISIONARY CAUSE IN IRELKI'kIj), TO THE EDITORS OF THE WATCHMAN. of Sirs,—Having accompanied the Rev. Thomas Murray', , Barnard Castle,—(one of the deputation of the North O f . f ir s. e io land, iu behalf of the missious)—to six different places , :be happy to announce to the readers of The Watchman, that ' in interest excited this year, so far as I witnessed it, is grealecd, favour of the missionary cause than it was at any former per The places whose anniversaries were attended were Duuaa ia Newry, Banbridge, 'randaragee, Lurgan, and Portadowu• the first named place, the collection was more than doubled , ; and with the exception of' Newry, therb was a considerab le crease in each of the other places. There is no reason to Or, plain even of Newry, as it was not only as good as the year. OfB fore, but equal to most of the meetings got up for any religetb u e purpose in the town. At Banbridge, the Clergyman 01. efr parish took the chair, and conducted the business of the lug with great propriety and cordiality. Being the first r leyan Missionary meeting be had attended, he was not a surprised and pleased to h e a r o f 177 mission s tations, 240 little,. sionaries, and a gross income during the past year of I.:6 o, us'ii , He expressed his admiration and gratitude and, in conclusi? , prayed heartily for our future s u cc ess. This is as it should ve: the clergy of Ireland are much ind e bted t o the zeal, pers ele d ranee, and influence of Methodism, not only in the sout ba westof Ireland, but even in th e north. It checked th e P r d , gross of popery and wickedness in every quarter of the la?„ a preserved thousands from enemies to the church, by. eaul l r e them to a knowledge of the truth ; and, in the late struggl e . , t fa , Methodist people threw all their influence into the scale In - y your of the Protestant Institutions of the country. The clerltor are not only aware of this, but several of them openlY ° S o l theiigratitude. In Portadown, the meeting was a deligh'efr oneindeed. That town and neighbourhood are, perhaps, a s le fectually Methodized as any in the empire. There the p ol e! shut up their shops, and repaired to the beautiful new cheP b ,, lately erected. It was filled to excess. The chair was taken Col:Blacker, who sliewed 'the greatest interet in the pree ee ,'t ings of the evening, and conducted his uepartment with gr r f ii , ability. The collection there amounted to £2l 17s. s f l . a thing is remarkable, in the case of Portadawn, namely W, s , at each anniversary, some one friend puts a ten pound note 14, the plate. His name is known to the God of missions• each of those places the people were highly gratified with, the interested in the narrative given by Mr. Murray, iespectiug L.Pc, state of Slavery in the West Indies, its abolition and the S tl i, cess attending the measure ;—he was the last missionary wome was imprisoned in Jamaica for the cause of Christ,—an d, te , trust, the last for ever. The several speakers at these t he o resting meetings Were the Rev. J. Nelson, of Portadown ; o f Rev. Thos. Beamish, of Dundalk; the Rev. John Gtte n r '„,.. Armagh; the Rev. David Waugh, of Lurgan; the 1 `;„1 Messrs. 'Waugh and Bennett; the Rev. Messrs. Blone, a , M'Afee, of Newry : and the Rev. Charles Marie; of Moir% withthe Rev. Messrs. Harper and Lucy. On these occasil n there was no resolutions passed expressive of our confidence 1, the Committee of the Wesleyan Missionary Society. Th a9 ,r God, we know of no one on this side of the wa t er who eil ,.. ` t doubts their piety or wisdom, or who feels inclined to col. their measures for the improvement of Society at home °, abroad. It would only have insulted our people to have broae 4 ed the subject.—l am, &c., ALPHA. May 3, 1835, (From the Montreal Herald.) An American editor, speaking of his brother of the Liq n ; root STANDARD, exclaims "Poor fool ! does he not know, tt, that language, which was "Chatham's mother tongue," elsewhere spoken in its purity but in the United States!" - ',purity,/ of "no elsewhere' is respectfully doubted; but be tog only a Scotchman, we may entertain-groundless doubts. St. Francis River in Missouri is, in several places, cotqle,tee,i ly covered by rafts, that have run aground and acctu noo ' such a quantity of soil as to produce living trees. On Sunday the 22f1 Marcb, a heavy snow - storm f ell in th.: neighbourhood of Albany. The Overslaugh on the H udson blocked up with ice, both above the surface and below the boy tom. The New York Commercial Advertiser says, that " It i 5 remarkable fact, that ships and steam-boats named after Genes ral Jackson, are almost certain to be wrecked, snagged , blown up.—" A remarkable fact," truly. at At Quebec, on Wednesday morning, the mercury stood 3° below zero. In the woods, the snow, on an average, about six feet deep. The Spanish pirates, according to the Washington Globe, ice respited at the intercession of the Spanish ambassador, an not from any doubt of their guilt. Such a confession, autben_. ticated by the official organ, is by no means creditable tO tnic President. of NAVIGATION EXTRA.—" A little cutter called the Ciree,,Le only twenty-two tons, has found its way from London to 15 , I Cape of Good Hope, navigated by the toaster and two ho r 3A After leaving Deptloid, which was on the 2d of August, I *l' she had been at Maderia, the Canaries, Cape tie VerdS,,,°. Abrolhes, on the South American coast, Isle de Grand , SebastiN, Elizabeth and Saldanha Bays, and on March, 1834, arrived at the Cape of Good Hope. This is ot so extraordinary a feat as the one performed many ve? rs since by a Down Easter.— Captain Shackford, now of °bi n !, an eccentric man, then living in Portsmouth, N. H. purchase:l! a tobacco boat of twenty tons, and with no companicn but b dog, and no object but to see the world, navigated her in safe . tY to England, where he had an interview with Sir Joseph Bands and thence found his way to one of the West India Islands On his arrival, although his papers were authentic, he was ‘ . ":i rested by the civil authorities and confined as a pirate, anrl,.l_ v:as nnt till a subsequent arrival of some of his townsmen, r the ith were acquainted with his solos voyage, that' he was set at a , betty. THE LIVM.P(X)L STANDARD. Y 15, 1 83.5