The Sun.
London, England, 1840-01-20 00:00:00

SEED MARKET.

There was great dulness, and no description of seed can be
quoted in good demand. Prices of many sorts were hut no-
minal. Linseed is 38s. to 425. per quarter, and Rape at the.
per last. The arrivals small.
HOPS.

The holders were very firm, and purchases could not be
made, except at extreme prices. Very little doing.
TALLOW MARKET.

There was but a moderate business done, and prices were
fully supported. P. Y. C., 495.
TEA MARKET.

There was a good business done in most descriptions of this
commodity, and Saturday's advanced prices were supported,
with a strong tendency to advance, the hollers being confident
that they shall get much more money yet for tea than the. pre-
sent current prices. This is the only market in which there is
any briskness.

S U N
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LOITERINGS OF TRAVEL. 3 V.
London, Longman, 1840. • dv • SM./Ik.
Speaking incidentally in his preface of the pre-
sent volumes, Mr. Willis, the author, says, " I have
trusted things to Time which I hoped would not_ •
wear out in his pocket ; but this is not one of
them." He is right. " Loiterings of Traver are
unquestionably not destined to survive their season.
They may have—indeed most probably will have-
a certain degree of popularity ; but the fall of the leaf
will assuredly find them as much forgotten, as if
they had never existed. The book, indeed, is of
the lightest and most ephemeral character possible.
Short, sketchy tales, wherein there is little or no
attempt at graphic portraiture of character; per-
sonal recollections of certain fashionable and
literary lions of the metropolis ; details of visits to
great men's houses in town and country, which,
by the bye, Mr. Willis notwithstanding his
republicanism—is very fond of chronicling ; small
poems, which have no other recommendation
than smoothness of versification ; details of a visit
to the late Tournament at Lord Eglinton's, which
will not bear reading after the clever and pictu- •
resque account of the same visit in " Tait's Maga-
zine ;"—such are the heterogeneous materials of
which these volumes are composed. Yet though, -
as a literary production, we think indifferently of
" Loiterings of Travel," inasmuch as a very limited
portion of intellect indeed will enable any prac-
tised literateur to manufacture just such a work,
yet we cannot deny that it is entertaining. Its
perusal demands not the slightest exercise of -
thought ; its gossip is lively and good-humoured ;
and it handles a common-place with.such adroit-
ness, as almost to give it an air of novelty. Above
all, the style is easy, flowing, and unclogged by
epithets; and one may travel over the pages at
railway speed, and yet miss • nothing that is worth
remembering. Occasionally, we perceive, Mr.
Willis, not content with short and sprightly de-
scription, in which his chief excellence lies, essays
a sentimental view of reflection ; and then nothing
can be more lamentable than his failure. Here
is a specimen. He is speaking of London at early ,
dawn.

EVENING EDITICti

LITERATURE.

" Hyde Park at daylight seen from Piccadilly through
fog and rain, is perhaps of all contrasts, to one who has
frequented it in its bright hours, the most dispiriting and
dreary. To remember that behind the baricaded and wet
windows of Apsiey House sleeps the hero of Waterloo—
that under these crowded and fog-wrapped houses lie, in
their dim chambers breathing of perfume and luxury, the
high-born and nobly-moulded creatures ik h o preserve for
the aristocracy of England the palm of the world's beauty;
to remember this, and a thousand other associations linked
with the spot, is not at all to diminish, but rather to deepen
the melancholy of the picture."

Why so ? Why should the fact that the Duke
of Wellington is lying fast asleep, snug and com-
fortable, in Apsley House, and that all the " high-
born and nobly-moulded" inhabitants of Hamilton
Place are in the same pleasant predicament, make
Mr. Willis melancholy ? His mind must be
strangely constituted to he able to find the materials
of pathos in such a reflection. Had he bestowed
his kindness on the poor pauseless wretches who
may be frequently seen at day-break creeping and
shivering along, the broad pavement of Hamilton
Place, there would have been some propriety in it;
but as it is, the passage is mere maudlin scritimen-
tahty, without rhyme or reason.

GATHERINGS FROM GRAI'E YARDS,
By G. A. 117.11.K.F,11, Surgeon.
Longman aid Co., Loiwon, 1839.
This is a hook with a very repulsive title, and
the greater portion of the topics on which it treats;
are still more repulsive. It is not, like Hervey s
" Meditations among the Tombs," adorned with
beautiful imagery, or useful moral lessons ; but,
with the exception of the introductory part, con-
sists in afflicting details of the fatal effects of pu-
trid emanations, and of the deadly exhalations
from church-yards and burying-grounds, producing
malignant and putrid fevers, and increasing almost
every malady with which the human body is af-
flicted. The history of the burying-places among
the ancients shows great research. It gives an
account of the mode of sepulture among the Jews,
Greeks, Romans, and early Christians, and proves
that the abominable practice of burying in churches
and town churchyards commenced with the Chris-
tians, and was continued, notwithstanding many
edicts ae,ainst it, chiefly from the cupidity of the .
Church in raising money by church fees. The, 1
Jews were careful to remove the dead from their 1
dwellings. The whole religious doctrine and ray-.
thology of the Greeks were in accordance with
the laws which directed the bodies of the dead i
to be rerric veff from the habitations of the living,
and among the Romans one of the Twelve Tables i
expressly forbids the burning or burial of any i
dead body in the city—" Hominem moituum in
urge e n
oe n tsans up to the time
si enjui eeliiit o a
iiiiieLeg ucr i
ht or i" The same practice
vtiof Constantine, who was allowed the privilege
of being buried in the vestibule of achurch he had
,a
built, and the same honour was at terwards conferred
c
on many of his successors, till at length, from vene-
ration and superstition, and finally, general custom,
the abuse was carried to its present extent. To
the great credit of the French, from the days of
Charlemagne to the time of the Republic when
the catacombs were formed, and the reign of Bona-
parte when Pere la Chaise was consecrated, all
Governments have alike discouraged the abo•r,inabie
practice of burying the dead among the I,',ving. In
1790 the National Assembly passed a law com-
manding all towns and village% to discontinue the
use of their old burial P- 1
Ree:;, and to form others at
a distance from their habitations. An imperial
decree was issued in 1804, and another in 1811 to
the same effect, and four cemeteries were in conse-
quence laid out in the neighbourhood of Paris.
We have followed their example slowly, as the
following extracts will show. In the neighbour-
hood of London there are also four new cemeteries,
but the dead, notwithstanding, are buried in the
heart of the City in thousands, polluting the at-
mosphere, and spreading fevers, poison, and death
among our numerous population. The subject is
not the most interesting, but the evil has arisen to
such a height that we make no apology for pre-
senting it in its most disgusting forms. Two ex-
tracts will suffice :
ST. CLEMENT'S CHURCH, STRAND,—There is a
vault under this Church called the " Rector's Vault,"
the descent into which is in the aisle of the- Church
near the communion table, and when opened the
.pro-
ducts of the decomposition of animal matter are so
powerful, that lighted candles passed through the open-
ing into the vault, are instantly extinguished ; the men
at different times employed have not dared to descend
into the vault until two or three days have elapsed
after it had been opened, during which period the
windows of the Church also were opened' to admit the
perfiation of air from the street to occupy the place of
;I d..u.te,.a
the gas emitted ; thus a ;.son is;:
p— given in ex-
change from the dead to the living in one of the most
frequented thoroughfares of the metropolis. The other
vaults underneath the Church are also much crowded
with dead. From some cause, at present doubtful,
these vaults were discovered to he on fires upwards of
fifty years ago ; they continued burning for some days,
and many bodies were destroyed.
ENON CHAPEL,—This building is situated about
midway on the western side of Clement's-lane ; it is
sarrounded on all sides by houses, crowded by inhabi-
tants, principally of the poorer class. The upper part
of this build* was opened for the purposes of public
worship about 1823 ; it is separated from the lower
part by a boarded floor ; this is used as a burying-
place, and is crowded at one end, even to the top of
the ceiling, with dead. It is entered from the inside
of the chapel by a trap-door ; the rafters supporting
the floor are not even covered with the usual defence—
lath and plaster. Vast numbers of bodies+ have been
placed here in pits dug for tire purpose, the upper-
most of which were covered only by a few inches of earth ;
a sewer runs angularly across this " burying-place."

* This is not a very unusual circumstance ; the vaults
underneath St. James's Church, Jermyn-street, many
years since were on fire.
From the most auihentic information, I have reason
to believe, that since the establishment of this place from
ten to twelve thousand bodies have been deposited here,
not one of which has been placed in lead.

FAMILY LIBRARY, No. LXX., LXXI.
Teo, London, 8840.

These volumes are from the pen of Mr. Charles
Bucke, and contain general and particular accounts
of the rise, fall, and present condition of the most
remarkable cities of antiquity, selected, as the author
observes in his preface, from some of the best mate-
rials that the British Museum could furnish. The
volumes are embellished with several engravings,and
are penned in an easy and animated style.

GILFILLAN'S POEMS AND SON(JS.
Blackwood, Edinburgh, 1840.
A republication, in a neat duode6mo form, of
the poetical productions of Mr. Gi.tfillan, several of
whose songs have obtained ('leserved popularity.

(Continued from our Paper of Saturday. )
Did you think of making any special return to the writ of i
deli facias?—i do so invariably.
You knew that the execution was contrary to the rules of ,
the House of Commons ?—I was perfectly aware of that.
You told us that a rile had been obtained from the Court of
Queen's Bench to show cane why the money hag not been
paid to Stockdale?—Yes.
You will have an opportunity of laying before the Court any
\ facts which may be considered as an excuse for not paying
over the money to Stockdale? That depends on the pleasure
of the House, and whether I am detained, or not, here. I
Suppose the rule did not come on for several days, will you
have an opportunity of making an affidavit, and of laying before 1
the Court any facts that now exist, or which may hereafter exist
before cause is shown, wrath may be sufficient to induce the
Court to discharge the rule, instead of making it absolute.
Mr. KELLY said he would object to that question; and the
witness was ordered to withdraw.
Mr. KELLY objected to the question of his Right
Hon. and Learned Friend the Attorney-General, because no
question should be put which could tend to the injury of the
party. The witness might answer, that be should have such
as opportunity, and he might instruct his law agent to proceed
I accordingly. It is a rule of the Court of Queen's Bench that
nothing new can be stated in affidavits, after the day for making
the rule absolute has passod.--(.. No, ns," from the Attorney-
General.) He (Mr. Kelly) would beg leave to differ from the
Attorney-General, and to state that there was such a rule, and
that no party had a right to make any affidavit to the
Court after the first rule had been made. If the Attorney-
General undertook to state to the House, that it is the right of
parties showing cause against a rule to make affidavits of new
9 matter, after the day appointed for showing cause against the
rule had passed, he (Mr. Kelly) begged leave to stiffer from
him ; but he would make no further observation on the matter.
Sir J. CAMPBELL thought himself called en to defend
the question en these grounds--that the question might be one
of great importance, and, because there could not be tke
slightest doubt that the Sheriff could not be injured by his
answer, when ha was merely asked as to the practice of the
I Court.
Mr. CRESSWELL thought tint it would be unnecessary
to put the question. He was certain that the House would
rather take the law upon the subject from the Attorney-Ge-
neral himself than frosa the witness. He hoped the Attorney-
General would withdraw the question.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL was only desirous that the
House should be in possession of a fact wisich he thought was
material. The practice of the Court was a mere matter of
fact, and he was anxious the House should get that from Mr.
`, France, who was competent to give it.
Mr. O'CONNELL thought the fact bad much better be
taken from Mr. Franco, who was an intelligent man, and as
I oendid awitnessashe had ever heard examined.

Mr. DARBY did not think any man could answer the ques-
tion. How could any man say he could state matter which
would induce the Court to discharge the rule.—( Hear, hear,
and laughter.)
Mr. KELLY said, that after what the Attorney-General
had stated, he would withdraw his objection to the question.
Mr. France was then recalled, and in answer to the question
which was again pet by the Attorney-General, said—lt'
the rule is not argued for some days the affidavit can be made,
and will be made, by myself.
An lioN. MEMBER—The question is will the Court receive
it.—(Lauglver.)
Mr. Sergeant JACKSON--On entering office are you
sworn to pay obedience to all the Queen's writs ?—I have a
copy of the oath in my pocket, and I will read it to the House.
Witness then read the oath taken by the Under Sheriff on
entering office. j
You have spoken of injunctions from the Cols •t of Chancery,
have the,e injunctions been made to the Queen's writs ?—Yes.
Have you taken any oath to obey the orders and resolutions
of the House of Commons?—No, this is the only oath I have
taken.

Mr. WARBURTON—Have you ever received the Queen's
writi to levy execution against privileged persons ?—I have.
When they are such do you consider yourself bound to pro-
ceed to levy execution, knowing them to be privileged persons?
—Certainly not.
Bv Lord J. RUSSELL—What course do you then take?

—I make a special return.
By Mr. KELLY—With respect to the answer you have '
just given as t, the execution of writs against privileged per-
sons, is there not a notice to the Sheriff and Under- Sheriffs in
all w, its for the art est of privileged persons to beware of ar-
resting privileged persons?—lt is at the bottom of all warrant.,
1 according to the Act of Parliament.
You stated, in answer to the Noble Lord, that under certain
circumstances, telien a question of privilege arose, a return is
wade by order of the Court, by which in due course of law the
question is bron;ht before the Court for its consideration, of
whether the party is privileged or not ?—Yes.
And does the Court then, by slue course of law, proceed to
adjudicate upon the question thus brought before it?—lt
ari-
tate, the question.
NWhat do you mean by that ?—lt considers whether or not
the party is entitled t• privilege, and if not, then a motion
is made that the Sheriff be directed to amend his return, or
an action may be brought against the Sheriff for making a
disc return .
In either case the question of the party being privileged, or
not being privileged, comes before the Court for its consider-
ation?—That's my conception of it.
1 You sai4 you have ocioionally received injunctions from the
Court of Chancery ? Yes.
I And that for a long time you have been acquainted with
the duties of the Sheriff's Office ?—Yes ; for twenty-live years.
Did you over know till the present occasion of anv inter-
ference on the part of the House of Commons in the mei-
tiou of any writs or processes sued out of your office ?—Never
in my life.
Is the writ of injunction a common mode of interference
i by the Court of Chancery, and one recognised by the Courts
of Law ?—lt is.

-. ...... . __ _
You have stated that you applied to the Court of Queen's
Bench—at what stage of the proceedings did you make that
application "s
—lmmediately after the lodging of the writ of in-
quiry in my effice which was the first notice the Sheriff had
of the estien. se's 501111 afterwards as affidavits could be made
eel application was made to entarese the rule.
Had vou in the mean time received notice on behalf of the
moors. Hansard that if you preseeded on that writ you would
be • 'silty of a 'breach of the privileges of the House !).--I had,
and embodied it with the resolutions of the House in my atli-
eaeis. Yrom the beginning to the end of the proceedings he had
taken no step, or acted otherwise than in strict and due obe-
dience to the orders of her Majesty's Judges. In common
cases I would not heve required a peremptory rule to return
the writ, but that being in my opinion a case of much import-
ance, he had done nothing until compelled. Had the She-
riffs not obeyed the rule made by the Queen's Bench, they
wield have been in contempt, and liable to
punishment accordingly, but they had interposed
every delay they legally could. If the Sheriff
refuse el or neglected to pay over money according to the exi-
geney of the writ, he would be imprisoned for disobedience.
unless there was a special endorsement. In the present case
the Sheriffs made a return to the writ of venditioni expones,
that they had the money, and if the rule now pending were
to be made absolute, the Sheritf must pay over the money or
be in contempt.
By Sir E. SUGDEN hat never known any conflict between
the Court of Chancery and Courts of Common Law in conse-
quence of injunctions to stop proceedings ; the authority of a
Court of Equity was submitted to, and he, for one, would never
advise any client to dispute it.
By Mr. O'CONNELL—The memorandum of caution he
had spoken of was on the foot of the warrant to the officer, as
it was his ditty to make inquiry as to the privilege of any person
against whom a warrant was directed.
By Sir R. INGLIS—The warrant was in the same form,
whether the person was privileged or not.
By Mr GODSON—In an ordinary case the money would
have been paid ever to the plaintiff en the 20th December
(we understood. )
By Mr. BLEWITT—The injunction from Chancery was a
warning to the Sheriff not to do a certain act, and it was no
breach of his duty or against his oath to obey that warning,
because the injunction was a writ from h-r Majesty. He had
never known, in his experience, a writ come in after an injunc-
tion had been served.
Sir C. GREY then asked what were the exact words of
the oath ?—The words are " I will truly return and serve all
the Queen's writs."
Sir C. GREY requested the short-hand writer to read the
question put by the Hon. Member for Bandon as to the oath
taken by the Sheriff and Under-Sheriff.
Mr. Gurney read the question as follows :—Were you sworn
on entering office to execute all the Queen's writs to you
directed ?--We were.
Sir C. GREY—It does not appear quite clear whether the
memorandum as to not resisting the privilege was endorsed on
a Agri facial, or on the warrant.
Answer—On the warrant.
By Mr. LAW—In your experience has an injunction from
the Court of Chancery ever come in contest with a writ of
Common Law ? —No.
Mr. LAW—It only stays the proceeding ?—Just so.
By Sir R. PEEL--'lhe words " shall truly return and
serve" are shortly, that you aro willing to execute ?—Yes ; to
to serve is execute.
Sir R. PEEL—Should you obey an injunction from the
Court of Chancery? Mr. France—That is equal!? a command
from her Majesty, as well as the order from the ‘Ption's Bench.
Sir R. PEEL—If you have a writ from the Queen's Bench,
and an injunction from the Lord Chancellor, should coil not dis-
regard the first ? Mr. France—The second overrulesi the first.
By Sir R. PEEL—Are you not also sworn to duly and dili-
ratty execute all the good laws and statutes of this.realat ?
Yes.
New if in ease this privilege should be considered part of the
law of the land, should not you consider that the order of' the
House stood in the same situation u the injunction of title
Court of Chancery ?
Sir R. INGLIS objected; and the Right Hen. Baronet
withdrew his question.
Sir E. SUGDEN—The first writ of execution you site
commanded to serve ; the next, that of injunction, comment Is
you to stay the service ; now in fact you really execute both- -
that is, yon execute the one till it is stayed by the other—you
execute the one till it is countermanded by a higher authority ?
—yes. I consider the Coen of Chancery is superior to the
Common Law Courts.
By the ATTORNEY-GENERAL—I constantly have
obeyed the order for the injunction, without the writ itself being
ill -rued.
1 By Mr. LAW—But then I know that the six clerks con-
sider the order as equivalent to the writ, and will make the
writ out upon the order.
Sir C. GREY—Do you consider the arrest of a party men
tioned in the writ of capias to be the execution of that writ ?—s
(A laue.)
Sir C. GREY—When you receive a writ of arrest, what d, p
you consider its execution ?—The caption.—( Laughter. )
Sir C. GREY—If he is a privileged person, do you return
that?—Yes.
Is that serving or executing the writ ?—No ; the writ is not.
executed if he is privileged.—( Laughter. )
Mr. CRESSWELL—Were you served with any order
emanating from or purporting to emanate from this House,.
not to execute the writ in question ?—No further than that
certain papers were delivered to me like those that were so
treated, although they, did not bear the Speaker's signature,
nor were there any other means of testine their genuineness.
I did not mean whether you were served with any papers by
the persons acting as solicitors to the Messrs. Hansard, but
' were yon served with any order coming from or purporting toe
cmie from this House ?—Certainly not.
Mr. France, in obedience to the orders of the Speaker, the a
withdrew.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, that after having heard the:
Sheriffs, and the Under-Sheriff, he was of opinion that:
the House would not consider it necessary to call Mr. Bur--
chell before it, as it appeared that he had acted merely as an.
ageat of the Under-Sheriff, but considering the great lengtl'
of the examinations which rendered it hardly to tie expected
that the House could carry the whole of the examination; its
their minds, and recollecting the importance of those examin
ations, and also the fact that many Members were absent, V9N;
were not aware of the importance of the proceedings 'or
that day, he was not prepared to ask the House to agree to any.-
further proceedings to-day, but he would state on Monday next:
the course which he thought it most advisable the Houseidiou al.
under all the circumstances of the case pursue. ,
J
Sir E. SUGDEN—Cannot you state it now?
r Lord J. RUSSELL—If the House would permit him 'ee
would now move that the Sheriffs be again called in and is eked

The SPEAKER then ordered the Sheriffs to be called in,
and on their appearance at the bar, he asked them if there was
anything they wished to state further to the House ? Mr.
Sheriff Evans—We certainly wish to have an opportunity of
expressing ourselves, that if we have, in the exeeution of our
painful duty, done anything to incur the displeasure of this
House, we deeply deplore it.
The Sheriffs then withdrew.
Sir R. INGLIS then moved that the Sheriffs, Under-
Sheriff, and Bailiff, he discharged from further attendance on
this House.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved, as an amendment, that
the/ be ordered to attend on Monday next.
The Srisexsta having put the question,
Sir E. SUGDEN rose to ask his Hon. Friend, the Mem-
ber for the University of Oxford, to be so good as to with-
draw his motion ; and then if the Noble Lord opposite ( Lord
John Russell) withdrew his amendment, the matter might
proceed regularly. The time had not arrived at which the
House could decide whether the Sheriffs should be discharged
or not. He (Sir E. Sugden) wanted above all things to
to know what the Noble Lord, who was conducting this in-
vestigation, which was to defend the privileges of the House,
had to propose. He understaod the Noble Lord to say he
had not yet made up his mind, and that he would state his
motion on Monday next.
Mr. LAW would certainly support the motion of his Hon.
Friend, the Member for the University of Oxford, un-
less the Noble Lord signified to the House the course
he would be prepared to propose to the House, on Monday
next. The rapidity with which that House was invited to
come to a determination on the previous examination of Mr.
Stockdale—the omission of the form of calling that person into
the House for the purpose of asking him at the time whether he
would state anything by way of explanation, afforded a most
painful contrast to their proceedings with regard to those re-
spectable gentlemen the Sheriffs. Unless the Noble Lord was
prepared to state the course he intended to pursue on Monday
next, he thought it was the duty of the House to relieve from
all further anxiety those gentlemen, who had, in their exami-
nation, conducted themselves with such perfect eindour, and
who had shown that if they had, in the course of their duty,
done anything which called for animadversion, it arose front
a too great facility to treat as an order of that House
matter that was not formally brought to their attention under the
authority of that House, but who, if, in their anxiety to stand
well with, and to respect the authority of, that House, they
had overstepped that duty at all, it bad been in their conde-
scension to the supposed wishes of that House.--(Hear.) The only
observation made by those honourable and distinguishedpersons when
called to the bar to know whether they had any explanation to offer,
was to assure that House that what they had done was in discharge
of what was a painful duty, but that they deeply deplored if, in the
execution of that duty, they had been so unhappy as to fall under
tee displeasure of the House.—(Hear, hear.) ►ie thought the
House emelit to signify to those Gentlemen that, so far as they were
concerned, they were absolved from all criminal animadversion,
and that they were now at liberty to consider themselves acquitted
by that House.—lf the Noble and Learned Lord had some other pur-
poses or objects to gain in connection with this motion, or
desire to get further information on this painful subject, he
ought to be prepared to state his views at once to the House.
He (Mr. Law) could not but allude in most complimentary
terms, to the conduct and demeanour of those Gentlemen who
had just left the bar of that House, and this conduct he thought
invited such information to be give❑ by the Noble Lord. It the
Noble Lord should refuse to comply, he (Mr. Law), would feel
himself obliged to sustain the motion of the Honourable and
Learned Member for the University of Oxford. Unless
the House is put in possession of the grounds
of the Noble Lord's application, he would decidealy call upon the
House to Support the motion of the Member for the University of
Oxford. He did not wish to say more than in a word to say,
considering the precipitation with weliell the vengeance of this
House had been carried forward against Mr. Stockdale, they ought
to seek every opportunity in their power to adept wilh equal rapi-
dity the resolution of informing the House of what the Noble
Lord's intention would be, or to admit those gentlemen who were
recently examined to be absolved from further attendance upon
thie house.—(Hear.) He again repeated that he should he obliged
to sileana the motion of the lion. Member for the University of
Oxford. unless the Noble Lord gave the required information,
which as a Member of this House and a Member of the Legisla.
Lion, he (Mr. Law) considered he was bound to do.
Sir It. PEEL said in this case also there were two questions
perfectly distinct—(Hear, hear.) If the House were to be called
upon to decide what course they should pursue with respect to
the Sheriffs he (Sir It Peel) should may, judging from the evidence
they had just heard, that no men could have conducted themselves
more honourably.--'sHear, and cheers.) Seeing that there were
conflicting authorities with which they had to deal, and
unwilling to offend either, but to take that course
which on the whole was most consistent with justice and
honesty, they acted in the most straightforward and honourable
manner--(Hear.) That was his opinion of the conduct of the
Sheriflk, and was there any person in that House who did not see
the peculiar difficulties in which they were placed. Therefore,
when the Sheriffs left that House, they would leave it with the con-
solation that there was a unanimous admission of the difficulties
of their position with the somewhat more important unanimous
admission, that so far as the House could judge of the difficulties of
their position, they had comported themselves as honourable men.—
( Much cheering.) That was the answer he would give to that part
of his Hon. and Learned Friend's speech, with reference to the con.
duct of the Sheriffs, and if he (Sir H. Peel) thought that it was any
indignity to ask the Sheriffs to attend on Monday, he should be very
sorry to be a party to it. He was perfectly certain that the Sheriffs
themselves felt that it would be no discredit to them to be asked to
do so.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord had been asked to tell
them now on the instant, what course he intended to pursue on
Monday. Suppose he did so—he must be taken to have determined
upon it before he heard the evidence. He had asked the wit-
nesses to attend at the bar, for the purpose of hearing
evidence in the case, and it was now proposed that the
Noble Lord should make an admission, which would show
that he had already determined upon the course he
meant to pursue.—(Ministerial cheering.) Having heard the
evidence for now three hours would it not be better, as they had
been assured that they would be in the same position on Monday as
they were now, in conformity with the ordinary proceedings of the
House, to reserve to themselves twenty-four or forty-eight hours
for the: mature consideration, of the question. His Hon. and
Learned Friend ;Mr. Law) had complained of the rapidity of their
decision in the case of Stockdale, and he was surprised to hear him
now urging the House to teke the very same course with respect
to the Sher ifs.—(Hear, hear.) Suppose they had decided too ra-
pidly in the case of Mr. Stockdale, ought that not rather to be a bea-
con and a warning to them, rather than an example which
ought to be followed.—(Hear, bear.) But he could not admit the
inference of his Hon. Friend in the case of Stockdale, because the
House had in that case that person's open andcandid acknowledgment,
and he fairly admitted that he intended to try the question by com-
mitting a breach of the privileges of the House.—(Cheers.) With
respect to the extracting an admission from Mr. Stockdale, it would
certainly have been a better plan if they had produced his letter
and proved the handwriting, and then without any admission from
him they would at once hove had complete proof that Mr. Stockdale
had been guilty of a breach of the privileges of the House; and
that he intended it. On the whole, therefore, considering tire im-
portance of the question on every ground, he thought they might
well be charged with precipitation if they proceeded to determine
hastily upon the case.--(Loud cheers.) He should, therefore., give
his cordial support to the Noble Lord's amendment.
Mr. LAW and Sir R. PEEL mutually explained.
Sir R. INGLIS briefly replied.
Mr. OWEN thought the House hail taken illegal and tyrannical
step s; he should therefore vote in favour of the motion of the
Bight Hon. Gentleman, the Member for the University.
Mr INGHAM opposed the motion.
The House then divided, anii the numbers were—
For the motion d4
Against it
Majority .. -102

Mr. LAW understood that the examinations which had been
taken were to be printed, not so much for the use of those Members
who had been present but of those who had been absent who were
to have the high privilege of adjudicating upon evidence they had
■ot heard. He would move as an amendment that the exami.,a-
tions be printed for the use of Memhera only.—(Oh, oh.)
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the amendment would come more
properly when the notion was made th at the examinations be printed.
Captain BOLDER° hoped the Noble Lord would allow Mr.
;.Rockdale to be called to the Bar on Monday, so that he might ex-
er rise the undoubted right of every Englishman—the right of being
.heard in his own defence.
Lord J. RUSSELL said Mr. Stockdale was now in the custody
•f the Sergeant at Arms, and could not be released without a
distinct vote of the House.

The motion was then agreed to.
Messrs. France and Hemp were ordered to attend the House
on Monday.
Lord J. RUSSELL moved that the petition of Messrs. Hansard
be further considered on Monda g A reed to
urcell
inconvenience.coul d
Sir E. KNATCHRULL wished— to know whether the attendance
of 7.,1 r . li h
notl dispensed with—his attendance lei to
muchpublic
Lord JOHN RUSSELL did net intend to require the attendance
Lord J. RUSSELL then.
of the gentleman on Monday
moved that the examination taken at
stise Bar to-day be printed and delivered
Mr. LAW begged to move as an amendment
the
am
e
with the votes.timent
o_amination taken to-day, but that
that* House committed Mr. Stock
dale
e am
and,. that the publication of such a e be also printed,
di that not only tho
examination in which
nfoatriotnhisbereacsonlni:
tined to the use of the Members. He did so
that it 'was the ordinary prohibition of Courts of i
pending trials, and until the proceedings had terminated.or
they ho
appre-
hended topar
tieThes
same reason would apply to the House of Commons,
the House of Commons did not intend, before
to a decision, to appeal to their constituents as to whethercarnee
u carne
had alre...dy lone right in adjudicating on the P
' offence of a party brought to the bar.—(A laugh.) He did
wish to give unnecessary trouble to the House by way of dividing,"t
but he submitted it would be a garbled and partial publication of
the proceedings on which they had acted, and would be disgrace.
i fu .1 to any body of men assuming for a time the functions of a Court
i ofj'aistice, and the power of commitment, if they allowed the evi.
jdente to be published generally.
I Mr. INA KLEY observed that if the Hon, and Learned Gentle-
' man had 'swished to have obj,cted to any thing done in that House,
1 he should htve objected at the commencement of the proceedings
of that day ; because he would find when he left the House that
!the greater portion of the evidence taken there to-day would appear
in the Evening Papers, and thousands, and tens of thousands would
have read what had passed in that House to-day, before the Hon.
I
1 Gentles-:n would he able to gratify his taste by eating his dinner.—
(Laughter.) For the reasons he had just !:,iven he thought there
[) would be no use in the Hon. and Learned Gentleman's persevet ing

in his motion.
ti Lard JOHN RUSSELL said that he thought the amendment
un necessary.
A tier a few words in explanation from ?Jr. LAW, his amend_

The motion was then agreed to.
PENNY POSTAGE.
Sir R. PEEL said that it appeared the Right Hon. the Chancel.
for of the Exchequer had anticipat-d his suggestion with regard to
making a partial experiment of the use of stamped covers. He
held one of them in his hand ; it seemed they were not confined ex.
clusely to the use of Members only, but they might purchase two or
three hundred of them, and distribute them among their friends,
the only regulation being that all such letters should be posted at
the }louse.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that legally
speaking the covers alluded to had no power of franking
letters at the Post office. The Librarian of the House had
taken upon himself the charge of all letters in those covers,
and there was an account opened against him at the Post-office. It
was open, certainly, as the Right Hon. Baronet said, to any Member
to purchase a number of such covers, and distribute them among
his friends, but he did not apprehend any evil consequences as
the sale mast be made in the House by persons who were
acquainted with the Members, and the sale could not take place
except to Members. It was not a Posteoffice arrangement at all,
but was merely for the convenience of Members; he had sug-
gested that each Member should sign his name on the cover, which
was by some mistake omitted tobe required, but such had been his
Intention, and he had no fear of any forgery being committed in the
House of Commons.
Sir R. PEEL wished to know if, it being the intention that the
use of these covers should be confined bona fide to the Members
of the House, they would not be at liberty to take the covers
home and write their letters there, and then post them at the
House ? It did not appear that any restriction was imposed
except the posting of them at the House of Commons. If the
use of them were not confined exclusively to Members it would be
found that extensive forgeries would take place.
Sir R. INGLTS wished to know what was to prevent a printer
from striking off several of these covers, and selling them, and
afterwards, they might be posted at the House. He wished
to ask the Right Honourable Gentlemen if he would have
any objection to having a return ordered of the amount received for
postage during the first 18 days of 1839, and a similar return of the
amount received during the first IS days of the penny postage,
and also during the first 18 days of the fourpenny postage.
He wished to know whether the Right Hon. Gentleman would
have any objection to allow him t• move for returns of the result
of the various experiments of the Fourpenny and Penny Postage,
and to contrast it, say for a period of lli days, with the revenue
under the former system.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was most anxious
to meet the wishes of Honourable Members with regard to these
returns. At the same time he was most anxious to be allowed
to obtain the returns which he had directed to be made
out, with the object of giving the fullest details on the question.
When that was done Hon. Members would be able to see whether
any further returns were required. He feared it would be very
difficult !o procure detailed returns from the country post-
offices. With regard to the issue of stamped covers to the Members
he thought there was very little fear of any usurpation of the pri-
vileges of Parliament in that respect. The covers would be
issued by one party who would have directions to deliver them
only to parties known to him, and there was the farther check, that,
if any covers were improperly printed, having the issue only from
one place, and the number of cevers issued being likewise known,
any letters improperly sent in would be very soon detected. If
Hon. Members would be good enough to indorse the covers, lie be-
lieved that a ould be the best protection they could have.
Sir I'. PEEL would strongly recommend the Right Hod. Gen-
tleman to issue a Treasury Minute, addressed to Members ; and
as the issue was intended for their exclusive benefit, they
ought not to abuse what must be considered a very
important privilege. He would advise them to make it one of the
conditions of the privilege, that Honourable Members should
write their names upon the covers, otherwise there would be no
protection. suppose twenty of these covers were sold for a
shilling it would be no forgery in a bookseller to print them.—
(Hear, hear.) Unless Hoe. Members distinctly understood that
they were not to lend these covers, to a certain extent forgery
would be committed. He hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would
take these suggestions into his consideration.
The. CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, said there being
only one place of issue and only one place of reception, there
..could in his opinion be sufficient check upon either fraud or forgery.
Mr. IJERRIES thought it would prove no check at all. Sup-
pose a Membe: were to purchase one pound's worth, he would
not use them all in one week ; where then was the check ?
Mr. R. STUART—The great cheek was that there was only one
place, the House of Commons to post these letters when they were
put into a bag and sealed up; no forgery to any extent could take
place without being instantly detected.
Sir R. PEEL, as soon as the House was up, bad intended to
purchase 9.40. Now, suppose twenty Members were to do the
,ame merely for a stock, there would be a large quantity out, end
before the Members usei them all there might be a forgery to the
amount of '2,000 cove. s.

Mr. ELLIS hoped there would be a Treasury minute upon the
sulject, for, but for that conversation, he would have purchased '240,
and would have given any to a friend when asked, and not have
thought that he was doing wrong.
Mr HUME hoped the Speakar would request that every
Member should write his name in the corner of the cover.
That would be a sufficient check.
The SPEAKER said perhaps it would be better that he should
give directions to the Librarian to sell the covers to none but Mem-
bers, and that he should receive none that were not marked with
the Member's name in the corner.
Mr. JOHN JARVIS said he thought the only security against
fraud would h by obliging the Members to pest the letters them-
selves. What was to prevent him buying 500 of them, and dis_
tributing them among his friends. He thought that the Member
writing his name on the corners of the covers would be also a
guarantee.
Sir It. PEEL thought the system would be open to endless
fraud, for might not another's name correspond with theirs ? Unless
you have an understanding that they will be solely for the personal
use of the Members.
Mr. BRISCOE suggested that the number issued per day should
not exceed the number of franks issued formerly by the Members.
Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN said he could not see any great reason
to apprehend fraud, for it gave the Members no advantage beyond
the public, save that of having their letters posted at the House of
Commons, with the understanding that Members would put their
signatures on the corner of the covers.
Colonel SIBTHORP begged leave to give notice that he would
ask the Noble Lord (John Russell) on Monday next what amount he
intended to propose on Wednesday as a provision for Prince Albert,
in order that the House might be able to consider the proper course
they should pursue.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in answer to the
question of the Hon. and Gallant Colonel (Sibthorp), observed,
that his Noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies had
already stated his intention of communicating on Monday what
he intended to propose on Wednesday.
The Public Petition Committee and Printing Committee were
then appointed, and the House adjourned at Twenty minutes past
lock.

'our o'Cl

FIRES IN LONDON LAST YEAR

--
From the annual report of the fire brigade establish-
ment, made by Mr. Braidwood, the superintendent to the
different fire offices, on Friday last, of the fires that happened
in the metropolis during the past year, 1839, it appears
that the number has been much greater than in any former
year since 1832, and although there have been many of a
very serious character, the number of houses totally burned
down has very much decreased. The following are the
largest fires that have taken place :
On the night of the 2d of January a heavy fire took
place in High-street, Islington, and totally consumed the
premises of Mr. Jackson. hair-dresser, No. 21, and se-
riously damaged several houses adjoining. On the 11th of
the same month a portion of the caoutchouc mills, at Tot-
tenham, was destroyed by tire ; the property was insured,
On the morning of the 20th of May a dreadful fire took
place in Bucklersbury, Cheapside, and four lives were lost.
The premises destroyed were Mr. Unvvin's, printer.
Other houses were damaged. On the 6th of June another
dreadful fire occurred in Smith's-buildings, Long-lane,
Bermondsey, and one life was lost. A great fire broke out
on the evening of the 12th of July, at the rick-yard cf
Messrs. Okey and Sons, basket-makers, Quaker-street,
Spicalfields. The same were wholly destroyed, with
three houses, and seriously damaged twenty—the dwel-
lings of poor weavers and their families. On the 15th
of the same month, the premises of Mr. Manders,
pawnbroker, Upper East Smithfield, were partially con-
sumed. On the 7th of September a large fire took place
in Bere-street, Butcher-row, Ratcliff, and several houses
were burnt down. On the 29th a life was lost at a fire on
board of the Duke of Clarence, an Indianian, lying in the
East India Docks. On the 2d of November eight persons
perished at a dreadful fire in William-street, Pimlico.
Oil the 12th of the same month, another fatal fire
broke out in Widegate-alley, Bishopsgate, and eight
lives were lost; and on the 12th of December
part of the extensive tar and turpentine distillery of
Messrs. Pigou and Co., at the Isle of Dogs, was de-
stroyed. The number of fires that took place in the year
was 584, and the number of lives lost was 22. The re.
port cor tained a statement of the fires that have happene,l
in London since the formation of the fire establishment,
which took place in the year 1832. In 1833 the number
of houses burnt down was 31 ; the houses seriously
damaged by fire, 136 ; and houses slightly damaged,
292. Total fires, 451. In 1834, 28 houses burned down ;
116 seriously damaged ; and 338 slightly. Total fires,
482. 1835—Houses destroyed, 31 ; seriously damaged,
125 ; and 315 slightly damaged. 1836-33 destroyed ;
134 seriously damaged ; and 397 slightly. Total fires, 564.
In 1837—destroyed, 22 ; seriously damaged, 122 ; slightly,
337. Total fires, 501. In 1838—destroyed, 33 ;
seriously damaged, 154; and slightly, 381. Tot.il
fires, 568. And last year, 1839—destroyed, 17 ; se-
riously damaged, 165; and slightly, 402. Total, 584,
Gross total : Houses destroyed, 195 ; seriously damaged,
961 ; slightly, 2,482; and fires, 3,628. The principal
large fires which have occurred in the seven years
are the following . In 1634, Destruction of the Houses
of Lords and Commons, on the night of the 16th of
October. 1835—0 n the 2nd March, great fire in Sil-
ver-street, Golden-square. 1536—0 n the 211th of March,
destruction of the Western Exchange, and part of the
Burlington-arcade. In the same year, on the 30th of
August, great fire at Fenning's wharf, London-bridge.
1837—0 n the 28th of December, great fire at Devi,'s
wharf ; and in 1838, the 10th of January, burning of the
Royal Exchange.

The Southwark nomination takes place on the
2-)d, the polling the day after, Thursday.
STATE O TRADE IN HAWICK.—We regret
to announce that the trade of this place is now feeling
the general depression of business which at present L
paying itsunwelcome visit to the country. The mid-
owners generally ate running their engines short time,
to the great inconvenience and privation of the opera-
tives. The only chance of a sudden revival is in tl.e
complete destruction of our Corn-laws, which are the
grand radical cause of our present commercial ember-
rassments, and until these are removed there is no other
prospect but a rapid retrogression of our manufacturii!g
industry and prosperity. It is, therefore, the paramon::t
duty of the labouring orders to unite in one impene-
trable phalanx for their abrogation, for they may test
assured that high markets and good trade are never coe-
temporaneous ; besides hi,2l) markets and low wages am
invert ably conjoined.—Kelso Chronicle.