The Sun.
London, England, 1825-06-30 00:00:00

PARLIA Ai ENT,
HOUSE OF LORDS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29.

Mr. BnoGDEN and others &oil; the Commons .brought up
the Merchant and Factors' Bill, and several-other Bills, with
the amendments made by the I,orcls.
On the motion of the Earl of ILIVERPOOL4 the Committee
on the Judges' Salaries Bill was postponed till to-marrow.
On the third reading of the Bubble Act Amendment Bill,, a
clause -was added, on the motion of the' 140&D CAIANCEL Lott,
declaring that nothing in the present Bill altered the conitrKm
law with regard to Joint StOtiu-Companies._—The Bill was
then passed.
The Writs of Error Abolition passed _through a,Com•-
mittee, in which an amendment of the clause relative to com-
pensations _was agreed to on 'the motion of Lord ELLEN-
BOROUGH.

On the motion of Lord SorrsEr.n,-the Apothecaries' Com-
pensation Bill was read a secotui time.
The Customs' Consolidation Bill, the .Irish Linen Bounties
Bill, and the Irish Roads anti Bridges. Bill, were committed.—
Adjourned.

.110 U F; OF COMMONS
117. HUME prcsented'a petition 'from William Spencer
Norton, proprietor Of the Free Press, a—weekly newspaper,
published at Glasgow,.:comPlaining of the liberty given to
others to publish advertjsernents in nnstamped papers, to the
detriment Of those which are compelled to pay a starrlp-duty.
The CLIANCELLOII'of the EXCEITQUER said that Go-
,
vernment• were adyised that the persons publishing advertis6-
ments in the Manner "alluded to were not exempt from paying
duty, and they would take ere to enforce the law.

COMBINATION CA

Mr. IMBlMUSE'presented a petition from a large body Of
mechanics, couiplaining that they were not heard before the
Cominittee on the COmbination Laws: 8o- Moderate were the
views of the petitioners that they determined hot to offer any
opposition to the Bill,' if modified by one or two verbal ahem;
tions. They complained that the mode of serving and proVing
the-service of summons upon them, placed them in a worse si-
tuation than that of the midnight felon. He had Tend the Bill,
and found that it struck at the root of delegation; which, with
respeeCto this class of interests and persohs, was like the safety'.
valve of the Constitution. He represented 'the. danger of in-
ducing the operatives to assemble in larg bodies by means of
this law, instead of coming.down,by a delegation ot-fiVe or six
quiet Reople, presenting a piece of paper 'in the lobby. There
Was not any thinglike fair time to gather the opinions of than of persons who were the most interested.
Mr. WALLACE said, that it was utterly impossible to hear
the multitude of persona'Who offered 'original opinions .on the
nature and probable effects of the Bill. The Committee, there-
fore, proceeded upon a few cases of fact, which were more likely
to satisfy the House. The evidence was taken immirtially from
both sides, and so far the allegations of the petition.were not
true. He would not enter info discussions upon the merits of
the Bill, which would come in a more regular- way before the I
House.

. General GASCOYNE was in favour. of,ank alightalteration-
which would :sooth the agitated and terrified feelings-of -the ope-
ratives. '

Mr. HUME deprecated the readiness with tedch the Com-
mons of England consented to consign the operatives, bound
hand. and foot, over to arbitrary and oppressive Crib No
class of men had ever been subjected to oppression so .partial as
that which would be set up by this Bill over the labouring
people.

11013110 USE replied:— If Government determined td:
go through with this precipitancya he would put every obstacle
in the way of the Bill consistent with the.forma•ef the,house.
Mr. PEEL depended upon returning coolness and good
sense of the Hon. Gentlernap
.oualify his reatibition just ex-
pressed." lie was astonished at t'hiS new opposition, considering
that on the !second reading no objection was-taken to the prin.
ctpleof the rill'.' —The circiimStanees oldie country 'at the time
must have been since overlooked. There was itearcery a single
trade which was not out in combination. Government had
adopted -the mildest possible course ; but as to the hearing of
evidence upon every particular case, it would have taken seven
years. , And to what purpose? The.facts were the same; the
• principle had been admitted ; the parties who offered new infor-
mation did not deny combination ; they only wished to justify
their own combination.
Mr. HUME spoke of the danger of allowing Government
totally to subvert the rights and lite:l-ties, of the, operatives.—
lie had a list of 101 cases in which they had applied to be
heard for relief on particular points, and their. prayer had been
refused. While, upon representations 'of alarm and danger
totally unfounded, since not one case of real violence had oc-
curred, this Bill so formidable to the liberties of the operatives
was to pass, all inquiry was denied to the millions who were
chiefly interested. The lion. Gentleman concluded by saying
that he would afford all such opposition to the Bill as the forms
of the House would permit. . . .
Mr. PEEL in explanation said, that the lion. Gentleman's
misrepresentations.compelled Itins-. to restate what he.had said
before. lie then repeated the substance of his former observa-
tions. If the Hon. Gentleman's intention to oppose was so
strong, he begged to ask hint why he had agreed to the second
reading of this Bill ? This Bill was intact founded, not upon
his (Mr. Peel's) opinion, but on the Hon. Member's resolutions.
No longer ago than Friday last, the lion. Gentleman had ex-
pressed his perfect acquiescence in, the Bill. A military force
had been resorted to in. the neighbourhood of Stroud, it was
true, not for the protection of the masters, but to preserve the
lives of men who had-refused to obey the orders of such of their
fellow-workmen as had entered into combinations.
eMr. CRIPPS thought no weight 'ought to be attached to the
numbers of petitions that might be presented, because he knew
how easy it was to procure such petitions signed by workmen,
under the pretext that it was to preserve their privileges. He
denied that the mechanics were even fiejudges of their own in-
terest, as the bill of his Right lion: Friend respecting the ship-
ping trade sufficiently proved. The violence which had been
practised towards some of the men in Glocestershire had .endan-
gered their lives, and justified the calling in the military and
the provisions in the bill before the House were calculated to
prevent future outrages.
Mr. H. GURNEY spoke shortly from under the gallery, in
SO low a tone of voice as rendered his observations inaudible.
Mr. JONES rose to allude to the great change which find
taken place in the opinions expressed by the lion. Member for
Montrose (Mr. Hume) at the early period of, the session and
those which he now avowed. He thought that the language of
the Hon. Gent. was calculated to excite discontent in the minds
of the workmen, by representing that they were oppressed, and
about to be deprived of their privileges.
Mr: WHITMORE expressed his intention, on the third
reading of the bill, to propose a clause giving a power.of appeal
from the decision,,of the liagistratea.
Mr. W. SMITH thought that such a clause was highlyne-
cessary, and he would aopport it when it should be peopoSed.—
At the same time he thought it better that the bill with 811 its
faults should pasS than that the country should be left without a
.protection against the disgusting outrages'. Which had lately
taken place. The shief object of the bill, Was to enable men
• who did not join the combinations to go to Work, lie had re-
ceived ma petitiona from the town he repeesentedeemd he re-
gretted to hear there were so many fronts other plaCes.
Sir P. MT DErr said he was opp&zed to the principle of
the Bill, and thought that to repeal all laws Upon the subject
would be the best course. The common law was quite enough
toledress any, evils that might arise, and the workmen would
then be tried fairly by their Peers, instead of being handed
over only to the decrees of Magistrates who might haye an in-
terest against them. The old laws had the effecrof keeping up.
a sYsion otitippression against the poorer.classes—that oppres-
sion which It was said Would drive a ais man mad, and which.
would therefore be likely to produce excesses aneotier the people
exposed to it. Sufficient time bad net yet been '"given to the
experiment Which had been tried, and he thought it hard
since the cases of the workmen had not heeti fully examinetf,'
that so precipitated conclusion should he come to against ih6rn.
Ile knew that die workmen; had been grateful for the relief thea7
had enjoyed, and he wished that it should therefore be tried at
least One year longer. lie ihoughi that, cOnsidering the im-
portance of the subject, and as the interests of a valuable 'and
numerous elaSs of the Community were involved in it, R much
more extensive investioation should have been gone inbi'before
the Committee. Evidence had net been taken upon Many ma-
terial points, and yet; the Bill went upon apresumption that all
which loabeen alleged against the w6tkmen ads proved. A
great d-al was said about 'th ,lence they had raetised, and
.
attempts to assassinate, and other outrage,S. which, if' they were
really committed, could net- be sufficiently tiltrrned, but he de-
nied that there was a tittle of evidence before the Centinittee to

prove theme He thought that the more workmen wereleft Wilson) -was. -afraid. to repeat it, Teat ..he thouldtun the risk of
to themselves, the more werwthey.likelw to act properly, .wldle doing serious injury.to the country.
tuhned
fuller s t oeotx it'ebnyt n; :oaf
hy :o:
labour,had asnu
dp
the interference of the Legislature Was calculated to have a
.on/.161,:u131dR,I1(3:1-iyatt'hadtfil:Tortytwhionrkk.nthianat..otluteghpt7tosenbtehirliew.wardase...Wdetlilf
supported
noit; tr. .obreipieevnea'.
dire9tly contrary effect. lie hoped,.. at this laic period of .the ifo
Sessron, that the RightelioneGentlem.n would permit' the 13iit
to be printed, and then to stand.over until 'the next assembly
titiotnie and his exertions.- Now, .
of Parliamer t.
oo procuref
a r a;lti ehi ientnt swit valvel,
iou calculin .do 1
pcoronctauirneetdhaat
porbojvecisti,olnie, agrgTentod:
shouldbeinflicted on him: for endeavouring, by proper•metorse
Mr. lIUSKISSON said, that be was quite convinced, from
' thatlle'cii
what the Hon: Baronet had said, that he had neither read the
evidence nor .the Bill, which he recommenced to be printed, to it.
precedent, and :Which. Might be effectually employed ewainet
and. which, had, in fact, been printed More than -a fortnight. ing summary processor jurisdiction, for which there was, no
If the Hon.. Baronet 'had read the evidence, lie would have •
done better than to adopt as true.the assertions which had been the JourneYmenhy.the • masters, to such a provision be freest •
Wnade with respect to it. He would, tben.have .known that the strongly objeca - - • a • . „
• evidence of the assassinations to which he alluded did trot rest PEEL--.The Hon. Gentleman-objected to this billelte.
-
upon any statements before the Committee, but upon the cause,- as he alleged, there was no precedent for the sumnfary..
, that in a bill pasSed about x.
trial and conviction of the perpetrators before the". highest. process; But it did su happen
legal tribunaltribunals, -He would have known that it must have month ago, for. the regulation of the labour of children in cotton.
been worse than idle to call before the Committee-evidence, factories, 'there was -a summary •process, by which witnesses
whether' on one side or the other; respecting such .a circuit-le were compelled to attend; and if they disobeyed the order.; they
Atarree.. It was,, however, worthy of the Honourable fliernior were liable to imprisonment for a certain time, without-bailor .
for 'Montrose (Mr. Hume) to put forward an objection thaoevi- main Prize•• That very bill,. he-hotel& be observed, was brought.
dence respecting those matters bad not been taken before the in by the Hon. .ionmber for Westminster (Mr. Hohhotrse.)--,-
Cl,intunittee. It required no answer • from him ; it could not (Hear 1).
Mr. BRIGHT said, that a bill which was in existence only
..awgageehr a moment theaattentien of. the House, because the
+louse was at least so well informed and so. fully satisfied UpOr• a month, formed a very inadequate precedent.
p , •
the subject, that it- had actually passed EL law inflicting severe M r.. C. ORA N T said, that the clause which was. thus oh-
penal ties" • upOn -the crime (before without a punishment, but .iectcd to was, in its mainointesupported by the Hon Alettr.
which had of late become frequent in Scotland) of throwing oil .bet for Aberdeen in his bill of lastyear—(hearl), and was •in
•of vitriol upon persons with intent to do them bodily harm. The perfect accordance with the resolutions of the former. Worn.
course which the Hon. Bart. had adopted seemed the strangest mittee.—(Hear! )L--Theßight Hon. Gentleman then took- a
in-the world for hint, to follow. Statements had been made in brief review of the mischiefs arising. from combinations ; and-
that 'House from time to time, not only upon good authority, alluded partictihnly the conduct of the workmen-in HIM,
but what was.even still more in favour of their veracity—with.- when 400 master -Manufactures were obliged to write to their
out. an attempt at contradiction, respecting the outrages corn, correspondents at harne and abroad, requesting that they would,
mnitted by the_workmen belonging to combinations against all untlei the existing circumstances, give then; farther time for tie:
:whp happened to offend them. A..short • time ago a case was completion of their orders, lie inverted to the outrages Whie:t
stated of a poor man„in the collieries of Scotland, who, niiscon- had !wen recently; comnrnitted, and appealed to the :House wh e.
ceiSing the rules of the Union to which he belonged, thought ther it was proper that this state of things should be suffered to
he had permission to return to his worke and. as the ,pittance continue.
they.allowed him Was not enough for the support of his.frunily, Mr. PENMAN said, the Right. Hon. Gentleman liad.Put •
he did so. This fault, which was merely a misconception of this subject on its lair ground. He (Mr. Denman) wee.
the meaning of the tyrants of the combination, who assum- anxious that tranquillity and good-will should subsist between
ea the right to rule over him, -gave thecae so much offence, that the workman and the employer; and •then the question was;
upon finding him at work, they cut off one of his ears t— whether the law propoied Was,likely 'to produce, that effect ?
(Hear, hear, hear !)—Was it necessary for_ the Committee to ,It was said that cruel oppression had. been inflicted by work-
°Well witnesses to prove this fact 'before they agreed upon a Men 'upon workinen, who . would nut come into their-way
remedy for such outrages in future? With the knowledge of thinking, and it was then argued that the existing law
which the Hon. Member for Montrose had on these subjects, could •not • put down this abuse. This, however, he denied.
•he was.astonished at hearing him make use of the unjustifi- Bludgeons, it was said, had been used, and vitriol bad been
able and inflammatory language which he had now indulged thrown over persons. These offerees•were certainly atrocious,
in. His (Mr. Hoskisson's) course, when masters or workmen and ought to be visited with severity. But was there. at pre-
had
.applied' to hint, had always been .to tell them to make sent pp remedy'? The law did already mark such: conduct -as
their statements to the Committee, who, if they thought fit, illegal, and proYided /mlts punishment. It was said. that they •.
would then call witnesses. He would tell the Hon. Member fur ought to protect the workmen against themselves. It was very
Montrose,' that it' would have been well for the men whose ad. proper that there should be•aucli protection.; but he would also
vocate he. represented himself to be—it would have been well protect the masters from the delusion which was produeed•by
foi the peace of the country—it would. have been well for him- the• introduction of measures 'manifestly in their favonr, and
self if he had followed the same course.—(Cheers.)—The Hon. , which he believed frequently led them knowing that ,thee were
!Member would not then have done what he had this evening armed with a cevain, degree of.powe.r, to act with more hart:l-Chess •
permitted himself to•do—lie would not have made statements than they otherwise wouldelo. He would not use language to
which the subject did not justify ; he would not have used in- irritate any person—Meat waS•not desirable to. use it—.
flemmatory language, which could have no other effect than (Hear !)—but he would say, that lie was quite convinced those
that of exciting discontent in the minds of the nien—(hear!)— who objected to parts of this measure, were only anxious that
and for whichhe could not even give tile Hon. Gentleman the no unfair advantage should be given to either side.—(bear !)
erediwof -originality, for he found the very same language, the His advice was, that the 'bill should be recommitted,. and that
very same sentences, the very same phrases, in letters which lie all those parts of it which interfered whim the common law should •
(Mr. fluskissort) had received. font the Committees of these .be struck out. It would then be adequate to every purpose .of -
combinations.--4Lond cheering.)—The Hon. Baronet said he justice.
• wished to have the operation of the Comnion Law restored. Did The petition was then laid on the table. On. the motion
-the Hon. Baronet know that-all the complaints made before the. " that it be printed," • . . . • .
Chnunittee had: been founded upon the injustice of that Corn. Mr. IIQI3IIOLISE took the opportunity of correcting. an
tn'on Law.? and`that the Hon. Member for Montrose had him- error. into which the Right Hon Secretary fats the:Home De-
self proposed a sum-Unary statutory punishment, instead of that partment had fallen. •}l•e:had alluded'io.a clause in the l'az-
inflicted .by. the Common Law ?—that he had passed by time tones Hill which authorised a summary process. • That snm-
trial- by jury to vest in the hands of a magistrate the power of mary process, however, applied only to • the attendance of •
punishing such outrages as might occur? As his (Mr. H witnesses.' 'flicre WAS no summary process to compel persona
kieeon's) only Object was to provide a remedy for the disorders accuseda-the offenders themselves—to appear, as was the case
which had lately occurred, he would even. be content to accept in the present bill. Much had been said about the atrocities
the Hon. Baronet's proposition,' to repeal all the laws upon this which had been committed,. and which, he believed, bad beep
subject, and to leave the Common Law in its former force; but • niOst grossly exaggeltited. The alleged outrages in Dublin
be could tell him that one consequence of that would be, that and GlasgoW had been particularly alluded to. He-was • not 'a
the Hon. Member for. ;Montrose. would make,-- if possible, a member of the Committee ; but he had' been informed, 'the't.
more inflammatory speech titan he had done this evening.— when individuals came forward to contradict the statement re-
(Cheers.) lative to those outrages, they w,...re not alloWed• to do so:• Had
Mr. ELLIS said, that to let-loose the force of. the common any of them been heard flume, ".Not
law on -the workmen of this country, who combined only to most unjust to legislate against a whole body of indiihduals,
raise their wages, would
.be cruel and unjust. lie had trans- who had not been fairly heard.--( Hear !)=Time surnruary-pw-
omitted to his constituents copies of the Bill. and they informed cess had not been introduced by his Hon. Fric,d (MK' Humes,
him that no-inconvenience bad been felt in their neighbourhood i though lie was so broadly charged • with it. COmpluints-had
front the law as it stood. Still he had reason to believe that the • been made of violent language, but no violent language could •
Bill.before time House ought -to pass, as a precaution against i do mischief in this country, except when individuals felt that
evils which would in all probability hereafter arise if the law . their wrongs justified it. All the-workmen wanted was
were left in its present state. fairly heard ; audit' they were not. that violence was likely to
• Mr. PEEL said that he could not listen to the speech of the j ensue which lead been so frequently deptecated ill the courseew
Hon. Baronet.who had thought it necessary to defend his Hon. this discussion.
Friend the Member for Montrose, withoiit offering some ex- HUME said, as very. serious charges had been snide
planation, which seemed to him -necessary, in order to the right ' against him, he felt himself called upon to give such kr ausWer
understanding the present state of this subject. fie would in. I with respect to them as' the circumstances warranted. it :was
locust the Hon. Baronet, that it was the Ilon. Member for alleged that his tone and manner had been inflammatory. , lie
Montrose who, upon all occasions in the Committee, was most denied the charge altogether;-:(" 'Hear !"- from thwAlinistert4l.
strenuous in objecting to the effect of the common law; and benches.)—He had stated nothing but the truth ; anti in spit!
that it was upon his resolutions that the present Bill was formed of the absurd dogma on this subject, he would maintain ties,
and founded._(Hear !)—llere were those resolutions on re. i truth was no libel. He was prepared to prove all that 'he ikitt
cord ; there could be no doubt or denial of thenr. He would ! advanced. He had thrown no personal •retlectionori any ,ititfe,-.
not refer to the speeches. which the. Hon, Gentleman had been It was a course of proceeding lie had always avoided-(lieek)'-i-
-heard to make in that House, but to the resolutions proposed ! because no good could be expected- from it. Gentlemen. said,
by himself,- and which lie (Mr. Peel) was quite sure the Hon.. " Let the masters and the men be protected, and let the nierWhe
Baronet had never read, or he would not have risen to support prOtected•agatinst each other."' He Would say the same thiwee
the flonaMember's opposition on thepresent occasion.—(Hear ' but this object would not be effected. by the present t
The Bth resolution--the Hon. Menaber's favourite resolution_ every instance the masters were protectedeand iitevery
and•which had' been moved by himself, was; "'That the statute , time interests' of the men were neglected: It waseasserted by
laws then in existence ought to be repealed, and that the corn- Gentlemen opposite, that every dispute, thee everwoutrage witieh
mon law, which :Made a peaceable meeting of masters or work- had occurred, was caused by time repeal of the. Comltioatitn
men an illegal conspiracy, ought to be altered." This Was I Laws and the enactment ofshe Bill of last Seseion.S They Wcie
exactly what had been done ; the. course - here pointed out had told that the On-ninon Liviof- the:land wae.by that Bilbiibro.
been exactlyfollowed.—(Hear !)--:But time 11tH resolutibn went I gated. Now, the country was suffering under a'deltikitne. on •
Still further, for it said," That it was necessary, in repealing that point; and no persons had done' more to cr'e'ate teat
the statute, and altering the common law, to enact in the:rstead delusion than the :Bight 11-tmourable the,Secreftary-Thr the-
Such a law as should, by an efficient and summary process_ ! Home Departnieneamilhe Right Hon. President of the Board of
(hear!)---provide against all directs, intimidation, and Ceti of Trade. The Coenmort Law •was still in force. It wasonly
violence which should be in any case resorted to, for the par- rative with refecence to peaceable meetings of a few.avorknmen
pose of interfering with the perfect freedom of' each party to whO might aeseirmble to regulate. -the rate of wages; but itr. was
employ their labour .or capital in such way as they might pirfectly in fotee' where' thieats,' ihtimidatiOrr,• 9r-violettoe,,h4i
choose." Ile wished that before any neniber gave his vote on curred. The•i7eat•objeet in Sietnappeared to be to prevent the •
this occasion, he would read the evidence respecting what had Workmen from exercising any judgment its matted; of a ages :
taken place, and then say whether this perfect freedom was, en- than 'which a more'abstird or preposterous, doctrine cot/1434A
joyed.--( Hear !) In that evidence WAS contained the name of be 'advanced.. By a summary prOcess•,-tthe.rdastsi, op.; •
every individual who had been assaulted, with all the partial. i poittinity of sending a workman-lot three,thoriths to -dretreidit,
laes.of time several outrages. The instrument with which they I mills-ea proViefon to which he could never sconsent; • uales!e• the
had been cornmitted in Dublin was produced. He did not. workmen enjoyed art eeituaqiiatection.•- eAtlonied that- th,le•
.mean to say thataltese disorders had been the 'result of the lion.. was any- necessity tor-this additional 14istatioii•:, The-couritly.
Gentlernatl's resolutions; but that the 9 had taken place was a was peaceable and did not require But -it,•was.•suid, wini-
.sufficlentseason_for thejlouse.Provitling a protection against a Much appearance Of' synipattry and: candour; -4.• tritit wd
:tyranny . which was unparalleled in the history of the, whole c Protect the men agair;sc one • another." 'What 'fiarneffitien hat( •
world.. For this reason he trusted'the Hill woad pass ; for lie -the Right Hon. President of theltoard of Trade ferintroti two-
was sure that no man could be respOnsible, for mime tranquillity any such-protecting provision ? One solitary' instaniteilrati bora:
of the; country, if Session were allowed to close withoot some aildueccr-:•-one' solitary petition had- been -peeserited4 •o4:111
enactment oit the subject. Ile Was sure those who opposed it point. It appeared that a petition had beem:prest'ited. by.cer-a
were not consulting the interests of the Workmen. He besought • tain sawyers, complaining of the treatment they ad receitleir
the Floes. Baronet to consider, for Ged's sake, that if the events from the Thames Union ; but, when two indiVideatseatrie tint-=
which tiecoulti not 1)34 anticipate should occur, their -conse- ward; and, -on • time part of the sawyers "of prayed'
quence must be the enactment. (If a law in which the lion. that they Might be heard, as no such thing, as- that-complained
Baronet could rot conCuy, but,Whieh Would have become neees- of had•-occurred, • they were told to•go and procure: 4 taunter...
nary for the purpose-of. arresting disor.lers which-then watild petition.' The' masters throughout these ptoceedings.had•
• baffle all other remedies. He repeated, that he believed any evidently the ears of Minis/trs.. The. interests (II the, Meu.
attempt to 'obstruct the paiiing this Bill would (if it Atonic' sue. ; had been • negleete4 -and every thing bad
teeth he fatal to the tranquillity of the country.—(Hear !) throw more power -into the hard S of the' already. poweiferta....
r Mr..T. WILSON expressed his sentiments in favour ortheAfter system which had so' long eonfintied bad been .stie-Wpt
Bill, because it tended to Protect the workmen against them- away, of course it• was to be expected that iorne little reeaewiniA
selves ; and no men could he worse enemies to themselves than would take placer- but, surely, :instead of adopting new.. Moe
they would be, if they were permitted-tip check and controtil sittes; they•ought to hike time to see how theenewayitem.lVOlSia
their employers as they haul recently craleavourett to do. If ultimately woik Then, and not until-then, could theyeCorewew-
they compelled ehe.niasters to withdraw their capital, by such its inWaerfectioiii. More facilities had been nfliirded for
.teste..*Y..•
unlawful proceedings, it would destroy the commerce of tire ing'cornbinatidiatinAlielast'years than in.•tne•-• ten- prietetAtc
and consequently draw down ruin on themselves. yeers.—Plr. Peel—That was the consequente•ofthe suiniriaiV
W.cs'it not niottunjust, that manufacturers, who had. enlcred procesp."-L( car !)-That sinninaty :proetiti •-was iritromittee'tl
into certain contracts for the supply of goods, should be obliged last year, to Meet the then state of the. country.—( Heat !)::21.4f
tcm fOrfeit the penalty attached to non-perfOrmanCe, or else to they ivoirld leaVe the ittinmary process as It:stood .laiatr.; the
gratht. wages disproportioned to their protinsa ()pool which the, workmen •would .be content -td take it. But•plany'alteiation'a
workmen in employ under those circutnantrices, accumulated hail been 'Made, which Completely changed;'/hCiratare of the
funds, to support others who had ebandomed their: employers, 13W. Ileproposed to-tiliew that cornbinatiopt .wtregreater,'Vol
beranee the latter could not, in justice to themselves, comply their .Orgardiation ram Ore lewoPleteOmefcreeliks...Bill was brought.
with their demands, Such a system
.fliwit be ruiirrouf, not only in, than they brid - beim at any trliseqtrefit..-Perfed;' and' tlika; •
to tliip-hiiiiders, to weavers,- or to shoe-ntakers,,pftt.to all the. no;.withiitanding. the imputatitis•Whith had beta' east upon?working classes in time community. Ile, therefine, Would sup= by the. Iti;,ht. Ilou. Gentleman, ; •- • • < r,!; - •
port the arf,Tuments adduced by Gentlemen on that (the :11 int- MY. P 1: protested diet the'lleno embe-itilniatepresen.
sterial) side of the Ilouee. lie.cpuld not consent fq range him- tatiOno'-wpre so greisa• that lid nittwigke to coffees
self under the banners of the llon. Member Abe/14.er'; 'Wllo (Hear 'Peel) had' siatede bYete,onds'irir.er'iagstin,
bad used language of so inflarprratory a natare, (Sir, hundiedi of tittles, that he had never attributed the Ibrnintion

of theae alarmiog eombinations to the effect of the lion. Gen
sietnan's Bill. Ile had said this, till he was tired of saying it.
--.sitar !)
F. BURDETT safti, he could certainly bear testimony
so the correctness of the Right Hon. Gentleman's statement.—
But his lion. Friend (the Member for Aberdeen) was not to
be supposed to have been altogether under a misapprehension
in imagining that auch a mischievous operation had been attri-
Lased to his bill. If he (Sir.F. Burdett) was not mistaken,
something of the kind hael,heen said by the Right Hon. Presi-
tiara of the Board of Trade.'
Mr. BUSKISSON disclaimed having expressed himself to
* such effect.
;alr. WA LLACElikewise.disclaimed any such accusation.
Ha. PEEL, in continuation, admitted that he did not know
sass for many years past—he meant not to as ~merely, since
die Renewable Gentleman's bill was passed workmen had
sonabined and associated together, acting under the influence of
their peculiar views and feelings ; and that the result of such
aosubmations had been of the most injurious kind as regarded
Me welfare of the working classes generally. On the present
ciaion , he did not ask the House to strengthen the hands of
the Government--(cheers);--neither did he care for the masters
to the exclusion of any other set of men—(cheersah—but he
wonted the House to pass some Act which should effectually
ses.,st the lawless efforts and proceedings of these who had as-
sociated for the most unjustifiable purposes—which should pro-
/at: the poor and defenceless, but industrious man, frotn be.
:inning the victim of combinations which sought by every
akcles of cruel vexation to prevent him from availing himself
of that employment which they themselves declined.—( Hear!)
—And was the House called upon to make provisions of that
kind without any authority to prove the necessity for their en-
actment ? Why, in the printed evidence it would be seen, that
Kr, Archibald Campbell himself, the Hon. Gentleman's own
:keen witness, from whose testimony he had that evening read
so ;argely---M r. Archibald Campbell expressly declared, that
only remedy he could suggest for the practices that had pre-
sailed in his part of the country, of wounding and disfiguring
people, anti deatroairsea clothes and property by means of
throwing oil of vitriol over them, would be the enactment of
1-"Pne measure like Lord Ellenborough's Act.—(Hear, hear !)
-in the city of Dublin ithvonld appear, by the same evidence,
taat in one division of the Police Office, there had been 16 cases
of such mutilation of person or destruction of property in the
short space of nine months, by these combinations.—(Hear !)
if he (Mr. Peel) had not before adverted -to what followed
in the evidence of the House, and the Honourable Member
himself (Mr. Hume), ought to give hint credit for what he
Joust call his own forbearance, in not having quoted it when the
Hon. Gentleman had so repeatedly challenged him with having
rude those charges against the bill of last session that he had
jest disclaimed. 'The next passage imported, that in the same
department, and in the same space of time before that act of
the Hon. Gentleman's was passed, there had been only three
such cases (hear), the other sixteen having occurred since it
passed. Again he (Mr. Peel) implored the House before they
shparated, and Hon. Gentlemen returned to their homes, to
Wve that protection to the defenceless anti industrious poor
hich this bill was calculated to affbrd them ; and which pro-
tection they deserved at the hands of the Legislature, in return
for their loyalty and peaceable conduct.—(Hear !)
Mr. H 1/31E asked what the cases deposed to by the Magi-
stracy of Dublin, who knew little or nothing of the journey-
men as of their own knowledge, or by means of any communi-
cation which they had held with them, what could any number
of such cases prove?
Mr. HUSKISSON—Prove? They were judicial proceed-
ings against the parties.—(Hear, hear !)
HUME—And what if they were? What could these
judicial proceedings prove, if the parties were not heard ?
( Laugh ter.)
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL confessed, that the course
which had been that evening taken by the Honourable Gentle-
man on this question filled him with surprise—(Hear!)—be-
cause after this Bill was printed he happened to have some
communication with the Hon. Gentleman himself on the sub-
ject of the Bill. The Hon. Gentleman told him 'on that occa-
sion, that heapproved of the principle of the Bill, but that
there were some faults in it that he could wish to have amended.
And he (the Attorney-General) had now, in his pocket, a
copy of the Bill as corrected by the lion. Gentleman himself
f." Cheers" from the treasury bench.)—The first of the altera-
tions suggested was in that clause which regarded the informa-
tions upon oath ; and that clause now stood amended accord-
ingly. The other retarded the clause relative to the absconding
of witnesses ; which clause, he admitted, was still retained in
the bill in its- original state., The. only other objection, how-
ever. that Wats then urged by the Hon. Gentleman was as to the
word " solely" in relation to the ohjeCts of these meetings ; and
he remembered that the Hon. Gentleman asked him—what if it
should turnout that such meetings assembled not " solely" for
the purpose Meant to be adverted., to ? These were all the
alterations recommended at that time by the Hon. Gentleman,
who did vot-intend then, as he (the Auorney-General) under-
stood him, to oppose this Bill.—(Hear !)
Mr. T. WILSON thought the Hon. Member for Aberdeen
hoold thank hint for enabling him to correct another mistake
hato whicli' he had fallen relative to a petition front upwards of
shiowrighis. In alluding to three of the subscriptions to
the lion. Gentleman had stated that the parties were ready
as depose Wore the House that they had never signed it at all.
The men; however, had beervreferred to, and had confessed that
two of them signed their own names to it ; and a third, who
could not-write, had procured some Tate else to sign his name
for him.'''The mess had subscribed an affidavit to this effect,
voluntarily-Made by them, and drawn up in the hand-writing of
the Hon.lflaronet. the Member for Newcastle.

Mr. PI:AMMER also begged to correct another misappre-
hension tethe Hon. Gentleman's, who had said, in speaking
at the petition just alluded to, that there had only been one
from thaiTiart of the kingdom on the same subject.
Mr. LIME really begged the Hen. Gentleman would un-
d;..ratanci.that he ssid.at the time he spoke, only to the best of
his knotvletige.
Mr. PIXMIIIER merely wished to add, that in point of
fact therewas a second petition from the calkers.
Mr.' HUME, in reply to what had been stated by the Hon.
Member for the City. remarked, that the, petition of the parties
in question was on the table of the House.—(bear, hear !)
They prayed to be allowed to prove their allegations, which
were to the effect that he (Mr. H ume) had stated. Now, under
these circumstances, he must beg to leave it to the House to
decide which of the two statements was the correct one. It clearly
did not lie with him to do so.

r. JOHN MAXWELL here presented, with the leave of
the House, a petition from the journeymen weavers of Ayr and
Renfrew against any re-enactment of the Combination Laws.—
.I"bey likewise set forth the expediency of binding to their trade
by indentures, which 'would have the effect, as they conceived,
of raising good workmen, and preventing the present constant
tocession of inexperienced hands, And they prayed that the
indetitneetlnty; which who now asi high as 2.55. might be lowered
tort; sAil tinge. -
Mr. WALLACE then moved the ()vier of the Day for re-
ceivinobe Repast. on the. Combination of Workmen Bill.
Air. HUM E was still' decidedly opposed to the bringing up of
$3 is ort. In regard ta what had, been stated by the Attorney-
' ;lie begged to. observe that he had given a differently
cortitated,,,Bill-(as we 'understood) subsequently,. to a Right
Ilorti'Oentletrurn, with whom the Hon. and Learned Gentle-
rnass•-oppeared to have exchanged his. He (Mr. Hume) had
proposed, undoubtedly, that every offence not punishable under
his own Bill, but which it yet appeared expedient to punish,
ohould now be excluded; and he had said that he would support

such insertion. But he would not support the creation of any
iadeffnite power to punish individuals, under any circumstances,
fee rietbnee*- not specifically defined., -The measure which
< dieilottse ought to have considered, should have been a prori-
vino in respecter such other offences as were not included in the
bete list Session, and had subsequently been committed. He
thought; however, that none such had occurred.—(Hear
There WM bat one solitary explanation to-which, so far as he
kneel. he had acceded. It was represented to him, that where.,
as under the former bill, two witnesses were necessary to obtain
a conviction, and. great inconvenience "and difficulty were ex-
perienced in most instances in obtaining two witnesses ; it was
eesirsuggested that the words "one witness" should be sub-
stituted; and to that he felt no objection at all. Upon the
opposed as he was to this bill, and despairing, after the
manner is which his observations had been reet, of inducing
Glantlessea on the other side to take the same view of the sub.
jamas he had adopted, his only course was that which heshould
new adopt—of moving that the House be counted—(Loud cries
ot:"Islo, Dor and "Hear !")
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL really thought, after the
Noir ICS with which the House had listened to the speech of
Illu.iimiourable Gentleman, that the Honourable Gentleman
cesi4 hardly be serious in pressing this motion.—(Heat !)—lf
Moves weasionett by any thing which had fallen from him (the
MCirany-Oemal), be could only say, that he bad merely stood
utt/tOlgetit .faCt thsfseerned to bear on the speech of his Right
Ilionottrahle Friend.
*leathers were ordered to take their places, and strangers to
iehillfraw.• On our return, we learned that the House having
beetilound to etutaist of 44 Members, the discussion was pro-.
ceedeiletith.
M. HUMEwan on his legs contending that this proposed
BM did:Whit -go to do equal justice between the masters and
the men ; and ought not therefore to pass. The numerous
• petitions that had been presented against the-Combination
Laws since the appointment of the Committee ought to
have been duly considered and examined into. As it was, the
vetitionert-might as well have kept their petitions to them-
selves. bif it were shown that by reason of any defects in liis
of (fie last session any disturbances had happened in the
may, he would not object to such alterations as might be
fettleaed inthe way of remedy. Out of 97 petitions that had

been presented ta the House on the general subject of the Com-
bination Laws, there were seven from masters calling for an ex-
tension to them of a power to coerce their workmen. Into those
petitions and allegations, the whole of them, he must repeat
that it was the duty of the House to have entered. .The other
90 lie had at one time intended himself to have read to the
house.—(:laugh.)—This Bill, in its present shape, could not
fail to work much injustice, and conduce to much Oppression-
The Hon. Member then proceeded to argue, that the masters.
might at all times prevent combinations • against working, by
contracting with the journeymen for a certain period. He knew
that men who had been engaged in this manner had never
quitted their work whilst combinations were existing all around
them. The masters, then, had the remedy in their own hands,
and had no right to call upon Parliament to support them with the
strong hand of power. He then read a long petition from certain
journeymen of Leicester, asserting their right to obtain what
they considered a remunerating price for their labour. He
agreed with the petitioners in the view which they took
of the subject, and he was surprised that those members who
advocated the principles of free trade could bring themselves to
vote for this Bill, the object of which was to reduce the rate of
wages. He had heard it said that low wages were a good thing.
That he denied. Low wages tended to degrade the labourer.
It was the high wages which the English artisan received, con-
trasted with those received by the Irish artisan, which made the
former so superior in energy and independence of spirit. It
appeared to him to be extremely inconsistent, that at a moment
when Mechanics' Institutions were rising in all parts of the
country, and artisans were encouraged in prosecuting pursuits, a
legislative enactment should be determined on which would
limit their means of gratifying their newly acquired taste for
study. The Hon. Member again protested against the power
given to Magistrates by the Bill to punish men for what was
called molesting their fellow-workmen. He could not define
molestation. Any act, however innocent, might be considered
molestation. The House, perhaps, might consider that he was
molesting them at that moment.—(Loud cries of"
That cheer convinced him that his objection to that part of the
bill was proper ; for an act of right and propriety on. the part
of a workman might be construed to he molestation just as it
was in the present instance with respect to him; for he ;n_
questionably was performing a praise-worthy act in opposing
an unjust measure. He thought that the Flon.. Memb:-:r for
Galway, whom he saw near him, and who deserved great praise
for his exertions in behalf of the brute creation, would extend
his protection to men as well as to the bear and the bull.—
(" Hear!" Irons Mr. Martin.)—Perhaps the Hon. Member
meant to express by that cheer, that the bear and the bull could
not combine.—(A laugh.)—He trusted, however, that he should
have the Member's vote against the Bill. The lion. Gentle-
man sat down by declaring his intention to resist the Bill with
his utmost endeavours through every stage.
The House then divided, when the numbers were—
For receiving the Report - 501
Against it 2
Majority
__ - - —54

On our return to the Gallery, we found
31r. JONES proposing that a power of appeal to the Quar-
ter Sessions, in cases of conviction, should be added to the Bill.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, that he was disposed
to introduce a clause to that effect on the third reading.
31r. S. WORTLEY was glad to be informed of that. in-
tention.

Sir R. WILSON strongly reprobated the use of the indefi-
nite term " molest" in the Bill, and •aid that into the debate
on such a measure nothing like party-feeling ought to enter.
Mr. PEEL denied, on his own part, and that of his friends,
the existence of any such feeling. in addition to the clause
of appeal intended to be introduced by the Attorney-Gene-
ral, he was willing to agree to two further amendments--
a limitation of the time within which charges must be
brought ; and a second limitation of the power of confin.
ing contumacious witnesses, to the period for which the
offender against whom • they refused to give evidence, if
convicted, could be confined. For the word " molest," it was
one accustomed to be used in acts of Parliament from the days
of Charles 11. Courts of justice had long been familiar with
its application, and accustomed to act upon it ; and no other
term would serve to prevent those practices which it was the
object of the bill to put down.
Mr. CALCRA FT defended the use of the word "molesta-
tion," without which he thought the bill would be a dead letter.
Mr. S. WORTLEY expressed the same opinion.
Mr. ABERCROMBIE said ihat his objections to the bill
were much lightened by the amendments which the Hon. Gen-
tleman opposite proposed to introduce into it.
In reply to a question from Mr. Honuntrsz,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL informed the Nouse, that
he intended on the third reading of the - to introduce two
words into one of the clauses, which-would make the Bill
apply to combinations of the -masters -to reduce the rate of
wages,as well as to conildnations of-the men to receive it.

gir F. BUR DET'l.' wished, under such- circumstances; to
be informed whether the masters, who, in .4uany. cases were
the magistrates, were to be liable to the sante-summary jurist-
diction with the men. It was bad in his opinion to send the
men to the tread-mill for' such offences as were .contemplated
by this Bill; but it would be still-worse to send the Magi-
strates there also.

Mr. PEEL replied, that the conviction would,-as in the case
of the men, take place before the Magistrates ; and if the sen-
tence appeared too severe, the right of appeal from it was re-
served to all parties.
The report was then agreed to. Several of the amendments
which had been made in the Committee were then read, and
agreed to.
On the amendment which makes it a misdemeanor" to molest
or any way obstruct" any workman nor joining in a combina-
tion,
Mr. HLTME repeated his objection 46 it, declaring that no-
thing could be more vague and uncertain than the terms " mo-
lestation and obstruction."

Mr. DENMAN contended that thia amendment ought not
to receive the sanction of the noose. The words " molest or
in any way obstruct" were not found in any statutes, except
those relating to the revenue, constituting a misdemeanor. On
a misdemeanor so vaguely defined, no Court could ever pass
sentence. _Besides, looks and obnoxious gestures ought not to
he interpreted into crimes by the law of England.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL contended that the words
complained of as vague and indefinite were sufficiently precise
for the purposes of legislation. They were found in more than
twenty Acts of Parliament, on which the Judges of the land
were acting every day. Such a clause was rendered necessary
by the conduct of the journeymen shoemakers of the metropolis
at the present moment. They surrounded the shops of their
masters, and when any workmen left it who did not belong to
their confederation_, they did not assault or threaten him, for
they knew that-to be contrary to law, but they followed and in-
sulted him by every means in their power. Such scenes, if not
checked, must eventually lead to bloodshed and murder and
therefore he maintained that the present clause was not only ex-
pedient, but absolutely necessary.
'rite amendment was then agreed to. The Bill was ordered'
to be read a third time to-morrow:
SPRING-GUNS BILL.
-•On the third reading of the Spring-Gone Bill; • •
Mr. N. W. R. COLBORNE proposed the clause of which
he had given notice, to render it illegal to set spring-guns by
day.
After a short conversation between Mr. Wells, S r John
Shelley, Lord Normanby, Mr. Benett, Mr. Stuart Wortley,
the Solicitor-General, Mr. liuskisNon, 'and Mr. Abercromby,
the clause was negatived without a diviSion. •
Lord BINNING propOscd that gardeni should be exempted
from the operation cf this Bill.
A diviAion took place on the Noble Lord's proposition, when
the numbers were— ' "
For it - 26
Against it - . 35,
• Majority _
While strangers were excluded, we understood that the fol.
lowing words were ordered to be inserted in the Bill Or
any open or enclosed ground, not being a garden or orchard."
Mr. TENNYSON said that the Bill was so:altered since he
had introduced it, he would not support its third reading.
On the question that tbe Bill do pass, the numbers were—
For the Bill - • - 31
Against it - - 33
Majority of one against the Bill.
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at HALF-PAST OIVE 6.1G40CK.

ELECTION OF SIIERIFFS..—The contest ter•
minated almost as anon as it commenced; for until Aldermen
Crowder and Mr. Kelly were proposed by Mr. Butterworth on
Tuesday, no polling of any consequence had taken place.—
Yesterday all was bustle at Guildhall, and at the close of the
poll the numbers were :
For Alderman Crowder 706 For Mr. Hurd - - 2/18
Mr. Kelly 655 111 r. Marten - - 131
Mr. Dove.- - 489 Mr. Woolley - 86
From this state of the poll, Mr. Dove, with the utmost pro.
priety, retired from the .contest; and Messrs. Crowder and
Kelly, in appropriate and most becomink terms, returned thanks
forthsepros p.iud.rcedd!ratifying situation in which they thus found
themselves
•

. • .
The admissions this- year at-Cambridge are less
numerous that usual. This diminution is attributable to the
additional examination, which has lately been instituted, to the
final examination for the B. A. degree being more severe than
formerly, and to the number of those ordained being much
greater than can be provided for by the Established Church,
either as Incumbents or Curates.