The Sun.
London, England, 1836-04-28 00:00:00

Fk

whether it
.sh.ould be applied to the beer or th
was a questionbnt it being the opinion of the Govehrenment of the day
e
more generally
melt
eeplication to the beer tax . would
that its --Th poorer classes, while it would be nearly as ad-
- fel to - earticular interest for whose benefit the
rise sous to rho p
oert, e-was originally contemplated, the preference was given
the arrang-ement which eventually took place. We
a ace of that reduction being that of Nell,
Tell], the e„°llsuse lend n of malt has increased very considerably,late
t'''' 5 the ee-- lii• whenO the Noble Lord asserted that the late
year tended that,.
1,, coo. .1., taxation had not been productive of any relief to
xtrlnuaegtireicnulitural interest, he took a much too narrow view of
the
case4arquis
of c HA ND 0 S observed that he hifa,clineocnofipnseed_
The 1 •ons to the last five years.
his observaths
RUSSELL—True ; but surely,
Lord Jr% measure which passed in the jearitlihmgedcolautlidY
ce 0' -
commencement of those five
(loco-cling. the period to which the years,b Lord's ob
piece . A during the w
that
co apply, the agricultural interest had been de:
se";r tions '
ag
onsiderable advaotages,. he wash fully entitled, for the
riv,e4his argument, to incluhch, i in is computation.- ( Hear
sal'e e• But he contencld t. at the Noble Lord had lik ," '
as
partial view of the question, in sayinge"thisaet
hear.)
Isom of certain.. particular taxes applied more
* taker:, the
hca-saeParNreweinertain particular interests, the great and pre_
eeculiarly to
yelin, interests of a.griculture. did not share and participate
resulting from it. He alluded more particu_
jyrr;be'beebefitsreduction of the duties on candles and soap.
say that
.the agricultural interest derived no
Couldtc, t,t• oene
any these reductions? Could it be contended that
duty upon an article of great and general
benefit frew
~ciafsthneot calculated to serve an interest so wide-
tcbhoceonsrlicAll"dlsucttitii°Onnat of agriculture ?—( Hear, hear.) He believed
Sp 5 now but one article upon which a remission would
great advantage ; that was the article
there
be malt, article with reference to which the Noble Lord
ydiactive of any
totroaola"r brought forward a motion. Now, why was it that the
.. Lord upon the present o_ccasion, instead of his general
NoVi' lien, did not
was
that the t. ax upon this article should
It was.epden he did not bring it forward be-
be
ersltted ?
Ile knew the opinion of the House was made up against
cailseiligar.) No
.doub! the Noble Lord brought to mind
it.---k it of the discussion of last Session, and no doubt he
tire resti in tO call forth the speech which the Right Hon.
feared ag,?;l. Tarnwo which,e in opposition to h
.I‘fgmbertcat
speech not only had the effectisoraP°.
site ;those who were predisposed against the motion, buetnnof
firoPrpiog. many of those members who had given pledges
contlritlie hustings to support every measure having for its ob-
olleli relief of the agricultural interest.—( Hear, hear, and
ject theh.) No doubt that these and other cogent reasons pre-
a lat 4 with the Noble Lord, and prevented him from making
oiled .ye /notion for the remission of the malt-tax, and therea_
wassobstartti that he had no resource left but to submit the gei?e_
ore Ufa; itin that in any repeal of taxes the agriculturalnc,t. in..
ra Pr4o°,sght to be considered. This was a prop
tere: 'I; it was evident there could be no opposition, but'hemcn to
eloed I:, was utterly at
_a loss to see what advantage the Nonlinl-
fessed expected to re,ptfirnommmenatkininngingit
tahtethteaxpersesgeenntemraolimyeanfte.
Lortiear, hear.) "
,( the country, the Noble Lord had alluded specifically
taxes more immediately affecting the agricultural.
to sever One of these, and the most considearlbrTliechut!ilsftutthraaeallisnat.st
iaterl" tax relative to the relief of the poor.
sras whet dly one of the greatest burdens the
todou--ed to bear. It drew a great sum from it annually, and
onan
subject, ha d
terest h;ity weighed upon it much more than us
p other
it certat 10-
t the country. But in respect to ?
of eresesent Government neglected their duty What already
the, Phrpen the result of the measure which, with a view to the
luta e- .i.,, of this grievance the present Government had
anevil-ed in passing through the legislature? wouldf take
eucee.beerty of reading to the House a few figures taken
toll which he had caused to be prepared by the Pooro-mlawa
retore . &tiers, with a view to ascertain the expenditure in the
Cerenrearishes of England for the support of the poor during
evera.l:t-er terminating. on the 31st of December, 1835.gTivehne
tbe clea of which in this document the commission
rarisheosont (ad he would observe that these pariesrhsuehst
a)bhd, ea ecia un
wereso et
ae acsepiected be.eause of any particular reductions, b
beeo, inruiation in respect to them was more cOmPlete
Of these, the whole ex,?)senBdoitouorie. during
of .tihn round
the 'amber 9290.
in eu•1834, and 1835, averaged the sum of 1
samehe
033 L r. Now the estimated annual expenditure'
by_ the result of the quarter whichtob
0015;s, comPutel
had
glided, name y, that ending the 31st of Dec
haaotaiated to but 639,0001., making a reduction ofe6ml9e,OroolBL3os;
ant
,:oz at the rate of 49 er cent.--( Hear, hear. ) Now
aon the as of this document alone be contended that
, por!,',. Law Act had already proved a real practical measure
iih'e 1,°,-ito ilie landed interest, whether landowner, farmer or
1 re'l" and that when carried out to its full extent,a it would
laheare_r'sa% in, of money far greater than was
en,taienidpantnedt .1-;
°effect a hear.s It was by measures such as thetsi
(flearal resolutions moved year after year, the agri-
genet 1 interest must expect to receive benefimtt; and if, in_
„nitara king to have any particular boon granted to them
vteadil:ftlii°,° chanced to be strong in any bran h of the Legis_
applied themselves to the suggestion
bee3-ethev
wire, raf practical good, they would far "minonreefeffectuall measures
r gene . cause than it was probable they would do by foly.
isv aadsopting.
ci. eir
—( Cheers. )
allusion, one which
tn
ser'e, me the courscieuethsteiyouw
oerfetitihme
lovriab,s'pect to the
With r,s before Parliament, he wouldmakerittrhiwttales
tin: settlementthan
merit of the plan proposed fo
Was 11(-f the should
hmuapkeed no
Parliament ob se rva •
it• stio he
wouldfnr i
tereits
object, 1 o n g
this clabent he anxiously
so, measure, having, like thatplan,
thi--tto
reecing of a permanent charge upon the land, instead
the Pi gliarge depending upon the industry and capital
of a ormer.--( Hear, hear, hear.)
of t"- pb.rates he had also but little Upon the subject
at present to observe.
of
ceaseChUr-urse of the last year, it would e recollected that it
Ja the ed to levy a contribution upon the consolidated
was Prorerrthe cost of prosecutions. That plan., though eit
foci lbw and
a relief to the amgraiicnuldtural interest, was
woeldd,,ted, and the question still re
rans3oi it
adi
si du then,
over for decision
hich
rot 't",jun which must mainly depend e
..„.. dceloi-rris of the details of the several proposals
Thiso
nmnuncuhn
thy e_
on thewtiy to be unfolded to the Housea
were - that while serving on the Com.mittee
oust saa)biernittee of which he had the honour to be chai
appeared to him that one of the causes ,of
xatckt gicarlY
expense, and one of the c
ds
sis, amount i ut ion
ntae' 1 at causes more par-.
,erY rc caning for Legislative notice •
rates, as the gross neglect and cajrneletshsene
ticolarlY
of tbreoct to indifference, with which those who had the ma-
ig ailll -.. g them attended to their valuation and expendi'u •
men, t. ) There were exceptions to this neglect, it' was
11,....370ear,hheeay asere very few. In consequence of this discovery
butt be conclusion then,
greater_
true, . gd at t
be arriv ought to be empowered to exercise
that thicyand interference over the management at
mohti!.ethhe rates
.t is. means,
control resent
.they possessed.--( Hear.) Bn
to
nbjection in which,
than
haitePtign raised by Lord Althorp_asan
the e,"4-te observe, he fully concurred—
.now defrayed
the proposition
he 0"e in, some portion of the ex en
for chariig ce'County rates upon the pConsessolidated Fund—
out ply;
1, t the managementl have no means of exercising
eonrot
t"eag the of the expenditure, would be
eootrel,eivv removed. Having troubled the House with these
coalPe-als, it remained for him but to propose to the House
few "Int
tithe Noble Lord's resolution Hear,p ) ment for pass-
ccoleto the Orders of the Day.—(, hear
iogle Earl of DARLINGTON supported the original mo.
a go fully c.orroborated the observations ohfthe Neble
tiee'i and
with reference to the working
foewt e Poor Law
Lord k
Act and expressed his conviction that, when
measure came into full pperation, ,the beneyfietairts' would
the von the agricultural interest would surpass all
gofer , r
was anxious to take an opportunity of showing
icuEltural, although they might have equal, bad no
e x p3ei ethe
gt i
al;
.n.
tr; .i
sttpateiier claims
t.to
Lthe otherthe landed interest
41.-on as to demand a relaxation of the currency whic was not
tie-olicable to the other classes of the community -0 He was of
art ion that it was not. The evidence taken befcre the Agri-
c°llllteural Committee proved that there had been
gradual mi-
nt in the condition of the agricultural labourer.a
justify
And
prover" the situation of theiandlords which
what was . • i i
.11 claiming- tie monopo. of exemption from
taxation ?
them 'nalready been relieved to
mil-
The} had the amount of many •
.(1";'' There was not a single tax bearing bee 'I mil'
Stveiup.on them
‘,l-icsir had not been taken off in consequence of their influence
i 'that House. The Poor Law Act had relieved
Arie burden of a large portion of poor's rates. He hicemhl fromap
,-- ,ed of that measure; but it was certain that while itY • -
Prres•ed the condition of the great body of the people,
. im-
Peeav'ed the landed interest to the amount of a million altndre-
, Up to the present time the relief might be estimatedca
half,to per cent. This. he stated from the returns, which he
at d seen and examined. They would also derive e, re at relief
(bra the settlement of the tithe question. The Hon. G t
,a-1 here referred at considerable length to the evidence beforeene"
man Committee, to show that the complaints of the
different.
rite opposed one another, and that no person could
any specific remedy for the evils that were alleged.—
°3lt out
war.) The Hon. Gentleman then entered into a variety '—f
(alculations, founded on the population returns and the aven
c „e prices of grain, to show that since 1829 the agricultu-
Istts England had derived at least an equal share of advan:
r rre with die other classes of the community, by the general
°reduction of taxaion. He maintained that too much stress
ova laid upon the supposed imp.ortance of the landed inte-
t. Landed proprietors imagined that the country could
do without them ; the fact was, that they could not do
rest'
illcithout the country.—(A laugh.) For his own part, he be-
lieved that if in this country we did not grow a single grain
of wheat, of oats, of barley, or of rye, England would still
be as great and as flourishing a nation as it was at present._The greatness and wealth of the country depended
(Oh 0
,I, its manufactures —( Hear.) In the cotton manufacture
-rioTi, there was constantly employed a mass of capital amouut-
ire. to not less than 34,000,000/. ; and of the whole pro-
"(rcte of this enormous manufacture, the agriculturists con-
sumed only one-thirteenth. The rest was exported or con-
tned by other classes of the community. The agricul-
England paid less in the shape of direct
tirists of
tt a aticn than the agriculturists of any other coun
t- ;i Europe. He held in his hand a list of not less than 90-
Jr*ticles, on which a protecting duty to the agriculturist was im
aposd, independent of that greatest and least defensible of all
"protecting duties—the Corn Laws. Beef, butter, cheese,
wine, in short, every thing but horse-flesh
'eider, eggs, sheep,
was prohibited from importation in order to protect the farmer.
iforded to the landed interest a very unfair monopoly,
This a .of
and enabled them at all times to keep up the price their
But independent of this monopoly, it must not be
produce.
forgothat since 1816. taxesUiearing immediately upon the
land lied been repealed to the amount of 12,829,0001. The
of the taxes on farm-houses and farm buildings
reductionarnounted alone to not less than 5,000,00a50/.usual, The
of the Malt
Noble Lord
(Chandos) complained a great deal,

ba e,
tpoO. point he hvee_-diffeired from
because Tax.
always didhel
held
not t mean tao dreyfeenhd. e
ct.ht
iaota
at
manyo ne.—o(r Iheiasr, ,
friends;h ear . ) Up on that
opposed to the tax, not be-
causeuPonthe.
with great
but
he thought it bobreutuinlefairvla;
ohle.
of
fuigt hhtailnobreetno
to the community at large. But
fw n corn-
because he thought it might be repeialedtiwleitnNoghrleeatLaoarvdan t age
plained so much of the
forget that since 1816 not
c were tax?
of the . community,which
by other portions
which were borne Preles-nehaort 48,a0t00ta,0x0
landed interest, particularly the
reduced. But it should be remembered that there
did not at all press upon the
pro
which the landed interest predominated would sanction
bate and legacy. duties. No Parliament but one, in
these duties. No less than 49,000,0001. had been paid to
the revenue as a tax upon personal property, to which the
landed interest did not contribute anything ; and if to this
sum were added the 13,000,000/. of taxes which had lately
been taken off, exclusive of the 5,000,000/. house duty, it
would appear that not less than 67,000,000/. of taxes had
been actually paid by the personal property of this country
more than had been paid by the landed interest. —( Hear.)
The Hon. Member then read a variety of statements in support
of this proposition. Among other articles he particularly pointed
out to the gentlemen of the landed interest in that House the
reduction that had taken place in the price of wines. The price
of brandy had been slightly raised ; but even that was for the
benefit of the agriculturists, which would clearly appear when
he stated that in 1835,1,315,000 gallons of French brandy were
consumed in Great Britain, on which a duty was paid amount-
ing to 1,446,000/. Now, if instead of an extra duty being paid
on foreign spirits the ordinary duty were paid, what an enormous
saving to the consumer would be effected. The Hon. Gentle-
man next adverted to the subject of wages, and showed by te-
turns which he had obtained that wages (with the exception of
hand-loom weavers) had by no means fallen in proportion to
the reduction of the prices of manufactures. It was this cir-
cumstance which made the people of this country so quiet and
satisfied with their condition. But if the corn laws were
to continue, either a reduction of wages, or a reduction
of profits must take place; and he protested against the
maintenance of those laws at such a cost to the industrious
classes of the community. But lie might ask, was there no
other interest to be regarded besides the landed interest ? In
legislating for a country, all the interests of that country ought
to be consulted ; but he had shown that the landed interest
had been peculiarly favoured. The agriculturists had main-
tained their prices, while the prices of all other articles of
trade had been reduced. The shipping interest was materially
affected by the operation of the corn laws. Although a very
great reduction had taken place in the amount of freightage,
still the prices of every necessary article to the shipowner,
were kept up by means of the laws enacted for the protection
of the landed interest. There was one other branch to which
he would allude before closing his observations on this subject
—he meant the monied interest. The profits upon capital
vested in the different public securities had been very consi-
derably reduced. The Hon. Gentleman then entered into a
detailed statement in proof of this position ; and this reduction
of the interest of money had taken place, although the rents
had been kept up till within the last two or three years.—
(No, no, no.)

Sir JAMES GRAHAM could not better illustrate the in-
convenience of bringing the question forward at that moment,
than by stating that the impression which the evidence adduced
before the Committee had made upon his mind was precisely
the reverse of that which it had produced upon the mind of his
Noble Friend. With the single exception of the article of
wheat, he found that all the staple conirnodities of agricultural
produce, including oats, beans, barley, wool, and meat, had
risen in price.—( Hear, hear.) It was notorious that the most
abundant harvest ever known in this country was that of 1834.
The growth of wheat in Ireland had increased not to the
same extent, perhaps, as in Scotland, but there was evidence
to show that it was greatly increasing, and that the imports of
flour had also greatly increased in quantity. It was perfectly
true that neither the Scotch nor Irish farmer paid poor-rates,
and also that they paid lower wages than the English far-
mer, but while the union was maintained it really was useless
to attempt to counteract these varying circumstances. It
might be a question for subsequent consideration whether a
system of poor-laws should be applied to Ireland ; but at all
events, the subject must be considered with reference to the
ctate of that portion of the empire, and not upon any other
onsideration.—(Hear, hear.) It was only possible, in his
opinion, that prices could be affected by one of two causes—.
either by diminishing the price of the article, or increasing
the value of the money in which its price was measured. It
had been admitted by the Noble Lord that it would be highly
inexpedient to discuss the state of the currency on that occa-
sion; he would, therefore, throw aside the latter cause, and
refer only to the former as an illustration of the wisdom of
letting these matters alone. He might mention that it was
clear to demonstration, from the evidence taken before the
committee, that the farmers of England, finding oats, beans,
and barley a more profitable crop than wheat, had raised
them and diminished the growth of wheat to an almost un-
precedented extent. It was apparent that they would endea-
vour to restore the balance between the two kinds of articles,
by lowering the price of the one, and raising the price of
the other. How stood the fact ? Why the Committee
had it in evidence before them that since the commence-
ment of their inquiry, wheat had risen in price from between
10s. to 495. or 505., and he had no doubt it would reach
a fair remunerating price--to use a term to which he ob-
jected—before that inquiry terminated. He rested upon the
policy of leaving the local burdens which were chargeable
upon the land to be managed by the local proprietors. If
this arrangement were departed from, the agricultural interest
would lose a far greater safeguard and defence than any they
could obtain from the proceedings of that House. The inquiry
of the Committee had been directed, first to the poor-rates,
and secondly, to the county-rates. With regard to the first
point, he felt proud to say—having had the honour to be a
party to the introduction of the measure—that the evidence
had completely proved the triumphant success of the Poor
Law Amendment Bill. It showed that in those parishes to
which its provisions had been applied, a reduction had bean
effected within the last twelvemonths, to the extent of 49 per
cent., or a sum no less in amount than 1,200,000/.—( Hear,
hear.) With reference to the second point, it appeared, that
one of the principal expenses thrown upon the county rates
was the institution of prosecutions, and the administraoon of
justice as connected with clerks of the peace and clerks of the
crown. His Hon. Friend the Member for Kent was at the
head of a Commission on the subject of county rates ; they had
made one report, and he confidently anticipated that the
adoption of the recommendations contained in the second
report they were about to make would effect a great
saving in this respect. The Noble Lord who brought
the motion under consideration had advocated the re-
duction of the duty upon malt. He (Sir James Graham)
considered that the reduction of that impost would have so
injurious an effect upon the whole system of taxation of the
country, that if it were carried, the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer would be reduced to the necessity, either of substituting
other taxes, far more objectionable in their nature, or of re-
sorting to a property tax.—( Hear, hear, hear.) The Noble
Lord claimed for the farmers the privilege of wetting their
barley, and drying it for the use of their cattle. Why, if the
were not very much mistaken, there was an excise regulation
in existence at the present moment, which allowed them to
subject their barley to this process.--( Hear, and " No," from
the Marquis of Chandos.) He now came to the main objec-
tion to the motion—the time at which it was brought forward.
His Noble Friend had justified its introduction at that moment,
by representing that it was indispensably necessary to bring it
forward before the budget was submitted to the House. Now
he (Sir James Graham) was prepared to contend that until
the budget had been brought forward, and until the House had
had an opportunity of ascertz.ining the amount of the
available fund, and considering the claims of the different
classes of this great community upon the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, they could not fairly or advantageously
take the case of any particular individual interest
into their consideration.—(Hear, hear, hear.) There were
many imposts which demanded the attentive consideration of
the House. There was one tax, immediately affecting the
landed interest, and that part of it which was in the greatest
degree distressed, the revision of which was strongly recom-
mended in the Report of the Board of Excise Commissioners,
over which the Treasurer of the Navy presided, and which
had been adverted to by his Right Hon. Friend the Member
for Tamworth, in his speech last year—he meant the auction
duty. The Commissioners had reported in the very strongest
terms, that it was a tax of the worst description, pressing
hard upon the poor proprietors who were driven to sell their
land for any price it would fetch, and not at all upon the rich,
who could afford to wait for a favourable opportunity of dispo-
sing of it. The land tax, again, was originally charged upon
the landlord and the tenant jointly, but it had now fallen upon
the landlord ; and, instead of being charged upon the real
and personal estate, pressed exclusively upon the latter.
Again, the Church rate. The Church rate, as it now stood,
was a burden of 550,0001. a year, falling chiefly upon
the land. Of this 450,0001. a year, 300,0001. (more than a
moiety) rested on abuse.—( Hear, hear.) Lord Althorp,
when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer, had proposed to
remedy this abuse, and to effect an immediate saving to the
agricultural interest of 300,0001. a year. It was the duty of
a Government, if there were to be an Established religion, to
maintain the edifices in which its service was performed ; but
he was of opinion that they should be maintained out of the
public funds, and that this abuse should no longer prevail. He
again entreated his Noble Friend not to press his motion to a
division. He well knew that he was a zealous and sincere
advocate of the agricultural interest; but, with all due defer-
ence to his judgment, he would beg to remind him that these
desultory and premature discussions had a strong tendency to
generate the evils they were intended to cure.—( Cheers.) It
was his strong belief that they placed the agricultural interest
in a very invidious light.—(Renewed cheering.)

Colonel SIBTHORP, amidst great confusion, supported
the motion.

Mr. CA YLEY said, no class more required relief than the
agricultural interests.
Colonel THOMPSON'S observations were also rendered
almost inaudible in the gallery by the vehement cries of
" Question !" " Withdraw !" which were almost without re-
mission kept up. He said he must utter a few words or lose
caste, for the pressure from without was thrown upon him.—_
(Laughter.) The landed interest was doubtless in a distressed
condition, but their distresses were brought on by their own,
acts, and were a consequence of that just dispensation of that
providence—(oh, oh,)—which had enacted that those who in-
fringed upon the rights and comforts of their fellow-citizens,
should in some way or the other, have the mischief eventually
fall upon their own heads.—(oh, oh, and great confusion.)
Had these parties not done all in their power to limit the com-
merce of the country? Had they not mischievously limited
the extent of our manufactures ?—( Hear, hear, and continued
confusion.) They had all their own way for ever so long a
time, yet now they came forward, and in lamentable tones ad-
dressed the House and the nation, saying they were starving.

, The Hon. and Gallant Member's further observations were
rendered quite inaudible by the confusion that prevailed.
Sir R. PEEL said the question was simply whether or no
it wonld be advisable for the House, by coming to such a reso-
lution as this previous to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's
financial statement, to hold out expectations to a particular
class of relief from taxation, which expectations might not be
realised. Deeply as he was interested for the welfare of the
agricultural interest, and much as he respected the motives,
and valued the services of his Noble Friend, he could not con-
sent to be instrumental in raising hopes which might not be rea-
lised. With his views of. public credit he could not consent
before the exact amount of surplus was ascertained to involve
the House in any promise as to its application. He did not
deny for a moment that there was much agricultural distress ;
he believed that there was a great deal ; but ho did not con-
ceive that it was of a nature to be relieved by the removal of
taxation, at least to any such extent as appeared to be contem-
plated, or as was within the capacity of the probable surplus.
Very unfavourable changes had taken place i❑ respect to whole
districts of land in this country, particularly clay lands, by
the influence of competition which was at work not only here,
but in all the countri:a of the globe. The greater part of the
advantage which had been derived from cultivation in Jamaica
and other West India islands, had been transferred to the
richer lands of Demerara and South America, and legislative
interference could do little or nothing to alleviate the conse-
quent distress. of the Jamaica cultivator.--( Hear.) The ap-
plication of steam-power in lieu of physical strength had made
a great revolution in this respect as well as others, a revolu-
tion which could not be counteracted by any reduction of taxa-
tion. He did not mean to deny the eventual claim which the
agriculturist might have to a remission of taxation. When he
should be made acquainted with the amount of surplus, and ,
with the nature of the taxes which it was proposed to remove,
then he should claim a perfect right to contest the policy of
those remissions, and to propose the substitution of the clairr s
of the agricultural interest. With the exception of the
malt tax, there was no other tax of a public nature which
bore exclusively on the agricultural interest, and tho oc-
cupying tenant would give small thanks to the House for
any relief which did not wholly or in part do away with
that tax, a proposition which he (Sir Robert Peel) was
not prepared to support, because he felt that it must be
substituted by a property. tax, to which he could not assent.
—( Hear, hear.) He trusted the Noble Lord would withdraw
his motion—( Hear, hear)—but if it were pressed he should
conceive it to be his duty to vote against it, for the sake of the
agricultural interest itself. —( Hear.) _

After a few observations from Sir B VERE (we believe)
in support of the motion,
The House divided, when there appeared
For Lord Chandos's motion
Against it 2OB
Majority
---36
On the motion of the. ATTORNEY-GENERAL, the
Copyholds Enfranchisement Bill was read a second time.
After some discussion, the ATTORNEY-GENERAL
moved that the Bill should be postponed till that day three
weeks. _ _

The other Orders of the Day having been disposed of, the
louse adjourned at a quarter past twelve o'clock.

COURT CIRCULAR.

His Majesty held a Privy Council this day at St. James's,
after the Levee.

The Duchess of Kent and the Princess Victoria visited some
of the exhibitions yesterday forenoon.
The Landgravine of Hesse Homburg, the Duchess of Glou-
cester, and the Princess Augusta, visited Mrs. General Gwyn,
yesterday, in Portman street. Their Royal Highnesses par-
took of a dejeuner.
The Duchess of Kent entertained the Landgravine and a
distinguished party at dinner yesterday.
A numerous deputation of Members of the House of Com-
mons, including Messrs. Hume, Grote, Warburton, Wakley,
Wallace, O'Connell, and Dr. Bowring, had an interview yes-
terday, with Viscount Melbourne and the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, at the residence of the First Lord of the Trea-
sury, in Downing-street, respecting the stamp duty on news-
papers.

The Swedish Minister transacted business yesterday at the
Foreign Office.
Mr. Fazakerly. M. P., visited Lord Glenclg, yesterday, at
the Colonial Office.

The O'COnnor Don and Mr. Grattan had an interview, yes-
terday, with Viscount Melbourne.
The Noble Directors of the Concert of Ancient Music
dined with Earl Cawdor, last evening, in South Audley-street.
Mr. Fitzstephen French visited Viscount Melbourne yes
terday.

CIIEAP LITERATURE.—The approach of every
new month becomes more and more a period of interest
for the lovers of literature, in consequence of the various
interesting and really valuable productions that arc periodically
issuing forth. Among those announced to be ready with the
Magazines, on the Ist May, we observe—l. The New Volume
of Colburn's Novelists, comprising Mr. Bulwer's " Devereux,"
the 3 vols. in one, with two engravings and bound, fer six shil-
lings. 11. The re-issue of " Tremaine," the six numbers of
which may now be had complete in one volume, with embel-
lishments and bound, for 63. 6d. And, 111. The First Vo-
lume of the new and beautifully embellished edition of " Las
Cases' Memoirs of the Life, Exile, and Conversations of Na-
poleon," to be completed in 4 Vols., with twenty portraits, or
other engravings, at only ss. each, bound.
A RUSTY SWORD OF JUSTICE.— At Sierra
Leone, in the year 1830, a man who spoke no European lan-
guage but Spanish, and who was entirely ignorant of English
forms and ceremonies, was placed at the bar of one of the
Courts upon a charge of murder. It was the custom to draw
from its scabbard a large sword of justice—in imposing perfor-
mance. The atmosphere of Sierra Leone is lamentably damp,
and the sword had become rusty, and being rusty was not easily
induced to leave its case. Many vigorous attempts were made.
One stout negro held the scabbard—another tugged at the hilt.
These alarming preparations were narrowly watched by the
trembling prisoner. At last, out flew the blade, and up sprang
the criminal, screaming " Misericordia! misercordia !" and
struggling to escape. lie expected nothing short of instant
decapitation, and some time passed before he could be com-
forted with the assurance that the gallows, and not the sword,
awaited him.— The White Man's Grave.

On Tuesday a young lady of great beauty and ac-
complishments, resident at Mansfield, a minor, eloped with
the cousin of one of the Members for North Derby, and was
secured in the bands of wedlock at Gretna-green on Thursday.
All immediate pursuit had been prevented by the declaration
of the young lady oo leaving home, that she was going to visit
her aunt at Sutton-in. Ashfield. She, however, true to appoint-
ment, walked on the road to Chesterfield, and being speedily
joined by her admirer (who was then generally supposed to be
crossing the Atlantic), accompanied him in a gig he hired at
Chesterfield, to that town, through which she, to avoid suspi-
cion, walked. The gentleman having taken possession of his
own gig and horse, which he had previously left at the inn,
speedily overtook the lady, and drove her rapidly to Monsal
Dale, where they came up with a coach going to Manchester,
in which, places having been secured at Nottingham in a feigned
name, the fugitives were quickly seated, and on their arrival
at Manchester started for the border. The gentleman's recent
history is remarkable. Ile had received some Golernment
appointment in Canada, to take possession of which hn actually
set sail, but the vessel in which he was going out encountered
somdof the late severe gales, and was wrecked on the North
of Ireland about a fortnight ago; our hero, as well as other
passengers, swam for his life, and suffered severely, having
been some days without food, besides losing all his property.
On his return to his native county, a renewal of his addresses
took place, and quickly ended as we have recorded.—Chester-
field Gazette.

BRUSSELS, APRIL 21.—A meeting took place
on Tuesday morning between M. Smit, a Lieutenant of the
Horse Guards, or Guides, and a M. Willims, a Sub-Lieute-
nant of the same corps, in consequence of some disrespectful
words used by the former relative to a proposed exchange of
horses. The parties met in a field at the back of Scaerbeck
Church at half-past six o'clock in the morning, when, on the
word of command being given, they drew their sabres and
commenced the attack, which had not lasted five minutes,
when M. Smit received a blow on the right breast which
passed through the liver and entered the lungs. He immedi--.
ately fell to the ground, when M. Willims and the seconds
made a most precipitate retreat, from the field of action. At
ten o'clock, a peasant passing through the field saw the body of
the unfortunate gentleman, and informed the police, who had
it conveyed to the office of the Procureur of the Commune,
where I saw it in the course of the day. In the absence of
proof upon the subject it might be presuming too much to say
that, under proper medical and Christian attention, he might
have been saved ; but from the position and contortion of the
body when it was found, which was the same as when I saw it,
there is strong reason to suppose the deceased must have lin-
gered some time in great agony before death put a period to
his torture. This is only one out of seven duels which have
taken place this week, and not the only fatal transaction
amongst that number ; however, the peculiar circumstances
attached to it, the slight provocation given by M. Smit, the
great disparity in the ages of the parties, M. Willims being
only 28, while his unfortunate adversary was nearly 60 ; his long
military career, he having served many years under Napoleon ;
and, finally, the manner in which this affair of honour was con-
ducted, have given an interest to the case which has prevented
my passing it over in silence.
RATHER, QUEER.—The ice on the river has been
so strong for some time past that the possibility of breaking
through it had about ceased to be considered by those using
it. A case occurred at Londout last week which goes strongly
to prove that, after all, the ice was not quite as solid as the
earth. A sleigh from Troy was laden heavily with fire brick
and left standing on the ice, where it was apparently safe,
while those having it in charge went on shore to feed their
horses and take dinner. Muni they returned, the sleigh,
with its load could nowhere be found, and on examination it
was discovered that inasmuch as the ice was not as strong as
the ground, the sleigh had found its way through it, and from
thence to the bottom of the river in thirty feet water, where it
remains to this day.—American Paper.
We hear of the continued prevalence of cases of
hydrophobia in the neighbourhood of Worcester.
POLISH TURNSPITS.—Bears are very common in
Poland ; the peasants catch them when quite young, and teach
them to perform all sorts of domestic labours. These animals,
possessing great intelligence, and dexterity, particularly with
their fore-paws, many innkeepers have bears who adroitly turn
the spits for roasting meat. It is an extraordinary sight to a
stranger who enters one of the Polish kitchens to see a bear
seated gravely on his hind legs, and turning with his fore, an
immense spit, by means of a handle artistically constructed.—
Le Comeleon.