The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-26 00:00:00

THE SUN. LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1841.

INSURRECTION IN THE TURK-

ISH PROVINCES,

The Augsinfrg Gazette publishes a letter' dated from the
frontiers of Turkey, the 10th inst., which states that the mail
from Constantinople of the 28th ult. had been overdue several
days, which was considered the more extraordinary, the Pasha
of Nissa having so positively asserted that the roads should be
kept free for couriers. One report stated that the Turks who
were escorting the mail had surrendered to the insurgents, or
that he had taken the road through Widdin.
In general the intelligence from Bulgaria is confined to de-
tails of the atrocities committed by the Turks on the Chris-
tians. The fugitives had related the particulars of the cru-
elties of which they had been the victims so circumstantially
that there could be no doubt of the truth of their statements.
This conduct may therefore be assumed as the cause
of the late insurrection in Bulgaria and the other Turkish
provinces. The report that the revolt had extended to Ma-
cedonia is not confirmed. The latest letters from Bitoglia and
Salonica (to the 21st ult.) make no mention of such an occur-
rence. The number of fugitives taking refuge in the Servian
territory continued to increase, but the armed men occupy the
mountains. They have much want, however, of arms ; scarcely
one man in ten possesses a gun, the others having only hooks,
scythes, and hayforks for their weapons. It is now evident
that the population of Servia were concerned in the revolt,
although the Government wishes to keep it secret. In Bel-
grade itself considerable excitement prevails, which has been
increased by a remarkable appearance of the holy cross, said
to have been observed by several of the inhabitants on one of
the towers of the fortress.
The same journal publishes a letter, dated Vienna, 15th inst.,
which alludes also to the nen-arrival of the Constantinople
mail of the 28th ult., and states that the insurrection in Ru-
melia had extended to the country between Adrianople and
Nissa. This letter adds, chat " the last accounts from Servia
throw no light upon the state of the upper provinces of Turkey
since the victory obtained by the Turks at Alexinissa, which
the Pacha of Nissa appears to have made the centre of his ope-
rations, in order to prevent communication with the insur-
gents of the other provinces." It was expected at Vienna that
the next Turkish mail, which it was supposed had taken the
road through Bucharest, would put an end to the state of un-
certainty with respect to recent events in the Turkish pro-
vinces, and which was becoming every day more alarming.—
German Paper.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF QUEENS BENCH, May 25.

CARRETT V.

MAULEY, AND OTHERS.

The COURT gave judgment in this case, which was an
action of trespass brought against the defendant Manley
and six others, being the Commissioners, and Home, an
officer of a: certain Court of Requests, for the recovery of
small debts. It appeared that Manley brought an action
against Carrett for the recovery of a certain sum due to
him, and although Carrett did not live within the juris-
diction of the Court the Commissioners heard and deter-
mined the case, and issued a warrant directing that Carrett
should be imprisoned for 60 days unless the debt and costs
were paid. It was for that imprisonment the present action
was brought, and the question was whether the plaintiff
in the Court below was liable to an action for merely
stating his case. The Court was of opinion that he was
not ; and then another question arose of whether the officer
by whom the warrant was executed was liable ; but the
Court was of opinion that the warrant having been issued
on the authority of the Commissioners, they alone were
responsible for the imprisonment. The rule for a non-
suit as against the Commissioners, therefore, must be dis-
charged.

BAIL COURT, May 25.
GREGORY V. COOK.

Mr. BUSBY and Mr. HUMFREY for the plaintiff, stated
that the plaintiff in this case was the inventor and patentee of
a ladder which consisted of a series of ladders fitted above one
another with guys, and which was much used by builders and
painters having to operate upon very high buildings. He had
also invented a safety fire-escape ladder, which was also much
used. The defendant having some extensive work in hand at
the West India Docks, applied to him for the use of two lad-
ders at 21s. each per week. No doubt they were very useful
to him for he had paid the hire. The action was therefore
not for the hire of the ladders, but in the course of the opera-
tions by some mismanagement one of them was allowed to fall,
arid got broke, the damage to which amounted to 201., and for
that sum the action was brought.
The hiring of the ladders and the payment of the hire was
proved by a servant named Chin, who had been in the employ
of the plaintiff for twenty-one years.
In his cross-examination, the witness said he was sent along
with the ladders for the purpose of superintending them. He
had been in the habit of going out with them. but on that
occasion he was lent by Air. Gregory, but was in the service
of the defendants so long as they had the ladders. He had
been twenty-one years in the plaintiff's service, and for that
long service Mr. Gregory, on giving up business in April last,
gave these ladders to witness.
. . _ _

Re-examined—When Cook's men wanted the ladder moved,
it was their duty to have applied to him. He had not seen the
ladder fall, but there was not enough of wind on that morning
to hare blown the ladder down.

By the Jury—Had never known one blown down.
Mfr. PLATT put it to his Lordship that the will-less was at
the time of the accident in the employ of ➢ir. Gregory, who
would not lend his ladder without at the same time lending his
man. It was a case perfectly analogous to the case of a postmaster
who lent out his horses to be driven by his own servant. Yet
the postilion was always paid by the party in the carriage.
Now if the post-boy was to throw down a horse, or break a
wheel, or do any other damage, who for a moment would sue
the person hiring the post-horses. There was no case to go to
the Jury.
Mr. BUSBY contended that the original hiring imposed upon
the defendants the duty of taking due and proper care of the
ladders.

His LORDSHIP refused to stop the case, but reserved leave
to Mr. Platt to move the Court to enter a nonsuit.
Mr. PLATT theu addressed the Jury for the defendants,, and
put it to them 'whether the defendant would have employed
the witness they had seen, he knowing nothing of their
business, unless he had beer, put upon them ; it
was evident that Chin was sent to the docks to have the
care and surveillance of these ladders. But I.‘ as the
case proved? Who from the docks had been called to give evi-
dence of the manner in which the accident happened ? They
called only Chin—only one witness--one who had an interest
in the matter, and he only conjectured how the mischief arose.
Some persons in the docks must have seen such a machine
fall. Why, then, not produce him ? He would prove that the
ladder was rotten, and therefore unsafe, and that. the attention
of Chin had been called to its dangerous state, and that would en-
title him to their verdict. The foreman to the defendan t proved that
when the contract fur the ladders was entered into, the plain-
tiff said he never allowed those particular ladders to go out
without his own man to attend them. Chin came and put
them up and shifted them. He was paid 30s. a-week. The
men then complained of the state of the ladder, which was rot-
ten and not fit for use. A round of one of the ladders broke a
few days after. The man who was up fell and hurt himself
much.

Some of the men employed gave a similar account of the
affair, and the accident arose when three men were moving it
with the utmost care. It all arose from the want of a lynch
pin, which had been pointed out to Chin several times.
The evidence was closed yesterday, but his Lordship having
to attend at Chambers, the case was adjourned.
This morning Mr. BUSBY replied.

His LORDSHIP having summed up, the Jury, after having re-
tired for some time, returned into Court, with a verdict for the
plaintiff.—Damages, 121.

DRAMATIC WORKS IN RUSSIA.—Under
date of the 2d of May, from St. Petersburgh, it is stated that
the censor of that city had seized and publicly destroyed all the
edition of a drama entitled Temtoriski, written under the sig-
nature of " Iweljen," and further, the advertisement sheets of
another dramatic work which announced the publication of
this drama. The cause assigned for this measure was, that
subsequently to the examination by the censors certain offen-
sive allusions to the Russian army had been introduced into
the work.

Monday, about one o'clock, the passengers pass-
ing along the Chalk-road by the New Model Prison, leading
from Pentonville, were attracted by some little boys bathing,
to a pond which lies by the road side, and while viewing them
the head and hair of a human being was discovered floating on
the surface of the water. A policeman, N 404, was soon on
the spot, and with the assistance of a boy who hadbeen bathing
dragged the body of a man to the shore, wko appeared to be
about 46 years of age ; he was respectably dressed in black,
his legs were tied by a piece of cord, and several bruises about
his face. Information was forthwith conveyed to the Islington-
green station-house, when the inspector on duty immediately
sent a stretcher, and the body was taken to the vaults at
Islington Church. _ _

SUDDEN DEATH.—On Monday an inquest
was held by Mr. Payne, at the Woolpack, Horselydown, on
the body of Mr. Richard Butcher, a carver and gilder, aged 67.
From the evidence it eppeared that, en Sunday morning last,
the deceased was returning home after attending chapel, when
he was suddenly seized with a fit and almost immediately ex-
pired. Verdict—" Natural death."
We are happy to learn that the artists of Glas-
gow have formed themselues into an academy for the
advancement of the Fine Arts in the west of Scotland,
upon the same principles as those by which the London,
Dublin, and Edinburgh academies, are regulated, and
under which they have risen to such eminence.—Herald.
_ _

NOT BAD.—The Cincinnati Daily Ne tus tells
the story of an editor who recently got married, and being
somewhat confused, he headed the marriage notice with—
" Dreadful calamity." The next day his wife gave him. a
proof of the mistake by boxing his ears, and nearly knocked
his'form into pie.
SUDDEN DEATH.—Mr. Higgs held an inquest
on Monday evening at the Crown, Green-street, Leicester-
square, on the body of Thomas Simcock, aged 37, formerly a
hackney-coach proprietor. On Saturday night last deceased
was found oppotite to the Admiralty, sitting on the pavement,
and resting against the railings. At first it was thought he
was intoxicated, but a police-constable, examining him more
closely, discovered that he was seriously ill, and with as-
sistance took him to a surgeon's, where, though restoratives
were administered, be died in a few seconds. Since de-
ceased had been reduced in circumstances from having
been a very extensive coach proprietor to driving occasionally
a coach at the Golden Cross, "h est Strand, he had been neg-
lected by his relatives, who refused to attend the inquest or
come forward to identify the bOdy. Mr. Tayleure, one of the
overseers of St. Martin's, said deceased bore an excellent cha-
racter, and that it was not through misconduct, but misfortune,
that he had become reduced in circumstances. He hoped that
the enmity of his relatives would be dissipated by the hand of
death, and that they would bury him decently at their own ex-
pense, and not allow the parish to do so. Verdict—Natural
death.
PERSIAN COURTESY.—Duplicity is SO deeply
impressed upon the Persian character, that the greatest
adept in it has the most honour. The game of conversa-
tion is kept up with an overwhelming politeness. Thus
the master of the house tells the guest that he ," looks
as brilliant as the sun, and as placid as the moon ;" to
which he replies, " his ears are now regaled with the
tones of the nightingale, and may the roses of happiness
ever bloom in the garden of his destiny ;" with other
compliments quite untranslatable ; and the thousand
and one nothings come out of their mouths so glibly,
and so unmeaningly, that they seem glad when it is
over, and laugh at each other, On taking leave there is
a great deal said about zhamet." I was long ignorant
of the meaning of this word, which implies by the visitor
what a deal of trouble he has given ; the other doubles
it with " kali zhamet"—it is he
owin that has given the
trouble ; and so they go on bg out each other with
their " zhamets " innumerable.—Fowkr's Three Years
in Persia.
The Count de Survilliers (Joseph Bonaparte),
with his son-in-law, the Prince de Canino, and his son
Lucien, Dr. Stokoe, Messrs, halliard and Thibaud, se-
cretaries, and a numerous suite, embarhed at the Bruns-
wick 'Wharf, Blackwall, yesterday afternoon, on-board
the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's
ship " Iberia," E. Cooper, Esq., Commander, for Genoa.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.

• ( Front tk London Mercantile Journal of May 25.)
SUGAR.—There was little demand to-day from either
grocers or r ifiners for West India Muscovado Sugar, and
the private :.aleS were only about 160 hhds and tierces,
without, ho'vever, any change in prices from Friday
last.
A public sale of Barbadoes, consisting of 124 hhcls and
4 tierces, went off steadily, one or two lots went rather
above the valuations, but upon the whole prices were
considered unaltered; low middling greyish yellow sold
at 62s 6d, and good middling to fine bright yellow at 67s
to 71s 6d per cwt.
The present stock of West India Sugar is 2,262 hhds
and trcs more than at this period in 1840. We have also
a surplus stock of 62,749 bags Mauritius and 101,501
bags, &c. Bengal.
EAST INDlA.—Several large parcels of Bengal were
advertised for public sale to-day, but two only were
brought to the hammer,- consisting of 1,411 bags ; the
remainder being postponed. There was not much desire
on the part of the grocers to purchase, but the whole
sold at steady rates ; low middling to fine white at 63s
to 69s per cwt. .

MAjamus.—The only parcel brought to the ham-
mer to-day consisted of 605 bags, which sold at barely
former rates ; brown went at 58s to 595, low to good
middling yellow 60s Gd to 64s 6d per cwt.
FOREIGN.—The market remains dull for all descrip-
tions, and prices still appear inclined to recede. At
public sale 449 hhds Porto Rico were bought in, with
exception of two lots, at from 21s 6d to 23s 6d for mid-
dling to fine yellow, and at 19s to 20s Gd for good and
fine brown, which prices are full is per cwt below the
general valuations.
Refined Sugars for home use have continued in active
demand, and prices have again risen, standard Lumps
now bring 955. In Crushed made from goods refined in
bond for shipping there is not much doing at present, but
a good deal has been sold for forward delivery ; present
price of first quality 31s. Hambro Loaves are held for
higher prices, viz., 33s to 39s according to size.
MOLASSES.—At public sale 80 puns and 18 hhds New
Barbadoes were taken in at 29s for fine.

COFFEE.—The same heaviness that pervaded this mar-
ket last week, continued to-day, the trade being very un-
willing to purchase even to meet their wants. Scarcely
any business was done privately, and the public sales
which comprised only 400 bags Ceylon, and 16 barrels
Mocha went off very heavily ; the former nearly all taken
in at 70s for good ordinary, and country damaged at 67s ;
the latter shared the same fate at 110 s.

COCOA.--The market for this article yet remains
in a very dull state and prices continue their downward
course ; they must be quoted again Is to 2s per cwt
lower, and a large proportion of 512 bags (chiefly
Trinidad) offered by public auction was bought in—
the prices ranged as follows—viz., Trinidad, fair and
good fair red at 46s to 49s 6d, fair grey •at 42s Gd to
435, and St. Lucia ordinary and middling red at 40s to
44s Gd per cwt. Foreign is yet very scarce, and in con-
sequence orders are with difficulty executed ; a sea da-
maged parcel of Guayaquil was brought to the hammer
on Friday, and disposed of at from 23s to 32s per cwt.,
which were considered to be good prices.
TEA.--The market was steady to-day, and prices firm.
Free trade descriptions of Congou and Twankay were
inquired after by the trade, -the strong kinds of the for.;,
mer especially, and a fair business was done—common
Congou at is 74d, blksh if and strong at is 8d to is 84d,
and ord Twankay at is 74d per lb. cash.
Company's Congou in fair demand, and the cash price
firm at Is 84d per lb buyers.
PROVISIONS.—Foreign Butter has been taken off
freely at rather higher prices : fine has brought 98s to
100 s per cwt. Of Irish Butter we have sortie small
arrivals, but the high prices asked prevent much being
bought at present : Waterford cannot be shipped un-
der 102 s to 104 s free on board—Liverpool taking the
principal part of the small quantity yet coming into
the Irish markets ; the weather is very favourable for
the make of the article, and we may shortly expect
better supplies and lower rates. The dulness which
has prevailed in the Bacon market has diminished ;
rather more business is doing, and holders are firmer
as to prices. The high price of butchers' meat, and the
abundance of all kinds of vegetables assist, this article
very much, and will doubtless very materially increase
the consumption ; prime and superior Waterford size-
able may be quoted at 57s to 60s, landed and heavy
weights 2s to 3s less. Morton's cure brings the
extreme prices. Thelmports have been more this year
in quantity and weight, while the stock is on a par with
that of last year; this proves an increased consumption.
Lard steady, at former rates. Irish Hams go off steadily
at former prices—prime Belfast and Limerick bring 68s
to 72s per cwt.
RICE.-The demand for the inferior qualities of Bengal
Rice continues extremely limited, and prices very loiv ;
the good sorts are, however, inquired for, and 1,364 hags
good white bold, offered at public sale, were sold at 13s
to 13s 6d, being full prices.
SAGO.—At public sale 100 bags Pearl was sold at
6d to 19s, which is rather lower, and 100 bags Sago
Flour at 14s for good fair.
FRUlT.—There continues to be good demand for ex-
port, and a good business is doing, chiefly in Currants
and Red Smyrna Raisins, at about the prices quoted.
PEPPER.—The public sales comprised 270 bags black,
and 30 bags white ; the former sold at 3d to 34-d for low
to good Sumatra, which is id lower ; the latter sold at
60 to 81 d per lb.
SPIRITS.—In the Rum market the greatest heavi-
ness continues to prevail ; scarcely any inquiry has
been made after West India sorts, and so limited are
the transactions that they are not worth enumerating,
and prices must be considered nominally the same as
last week. A little demand has existed for East India
for export, but at rather lower prices ; the sales amount
to 150 casks Bengal at from is 44d to is 54d per gallon
for proof strength, the' proportion at the former price is
said to be of indifferent quality. In Brandy or Geneva
no new feature has occurred—prices steady.
There is a very sluggish trade in rum, but. prices are
unaltered to-day: proof Leewards are difficult to be had
under 2s 14d per gallon.
SALTPETRE.—Prices of East India Rough are not
maintained, with a dull demand ; a part only of 2,369
bags Calcutta offered at public sale was disposed of at
26s to 27s for refraction 44 to 7 per cent, which is 6d to
is lower.

INDIGO.-150 serons Guatemala at public sale were dii-
posed of at from is 7d to 7s, according to quality, which
prices are about former rates, except for the best lots,
which were a shade dearer.

METALS.-225 tons Spelter have been bought back at
281, and 100 tons sold at 281 lOs per ton, at which latter
price the market is fiat. East India Tin dull, and rather
lower ; 15 tons Straits sold privately at 70s per cwt.
OlL.—There were brought to the hammer this after-
noon 83 tuns Sperm Oil, ex Massasoit, a Boston ; the
whole sold at from 911 to 911 15s per tun.
TALLOW.—There was very little business doing in
Russian Tallow to-day, but the price was steady at
about 46s 9d for Yellow Candle on the spot, and at
47s 6d for new to be delivered in the last three months of
the year. At public sale 290 pipes 81 hhds 7 barrels
South American were offered, the whole of which found
buyers at from 37s 6d to 43s per cwt.

IRISH MARKETS.
DUBLIN MARKET NOTE for the Wcek ending MAY 21..

219 %Vheat,per barrel 20 alone
0 Dere ......... ..... ..... 16 stone
381 Barley l6 stone....
42i Oats '4 stone..."
ii Flour, per cwt 8 5t0ne......
303 Oatmeal...-- 8 stone
Sold to Bakers only.
9,326 Cwt. F10ur.... ... . . 1 10 0 I 24 0 I 21 2
Average price of Wheat and lour 51. 8d per sack
',7437 /Seeon la ....... from 17s. ed. to 21s .ocl
Firsts from 2's. Od to 24; Od
Receipts of Flour,
fkilaa of Do. 10,164 Thirds from 10s. Od. to 155.0 d
Pittcit or BREAM
Quartern Loat ')d.l Hall Qt.uutern .....414d.
CORK MARKETS —May 22.
Wheat (per 2031...)2rs Od. to33s. o.l.trats (per 145t....11, Od. to 12s. 6d
Barley (per 16.5t.)11 0 12 6 Illovr (per cwt )...11 (1 :14 0
Oatmeal [per cwt.).........it Od. to Rls Od
Reef, 4d. to 7d.—Mutton, sd. to 6d.—Veal, 4d to 6d
rcrk, 4j 1. to sd.—Fresh Buttes, 10d. to lid per lb.
PRICE OP BUTTER.
To the Merchants. To the Country
First c. aality. WI • ....... •••••••••• 975................... ..... •••••• 1034.
See.). A 1 ll4/ 95 .......... ............. 1.5
Third
Fourt ii
Fifth ......«.....68 ..«•..•«.......•.e.•• 59
Sixth
CLONMELL MARKETS—May ':2
Per (wt.
ii, d. a. d. I
I a. d, a. d
New Butter ..... ...95 0 toloo 0 tildes (raw)......... uto 24 0
Oatmeal .. .. ...12 0 14 3 Bacon P1ga..........42 C 43 0
Rendered Lard. 0 32 0 Head5................26 0 C
Per Bag.
flour, Second ...... ..-- 0 n ~. lkiouri'Llirds... ..,... 0 27 0
---Household...— 1) 06 01--Fourths,.... 20 0 0
Per-Barrel.
Rapeseed...." ... ... 20 0 0 Barley .......".......12 0 13 0
I
Bere lO 0 Gull .................-- 0 0
KILKENNY MARKETS.
Wheat,per barrel)2Bl.od.to 355. Od. Beef :.3cr11'..... Os. Od. to Os. 01
Barley .12 0 15 0 Mir.teit.......... 0 5 0 8
(rats .. ....... .........14 0 15 11 Pork .. ...... .... ft 4 o'7
t'lour (pier bag)....20 0 h 8 0 Veal ............4 0 6 07;
Butter(pc) ewt.)...20 0 100 0 e rah Butter..... 0 0 1 0
Bacon Pig.; 38 0 42 6 ',hit Ditto ......... 0 6 010
Coals , 1 0 1 2 Potatoes(pct at.) 0 9 1.. 0

From To
29 0 N 0
00 0 0
13 3 16 6
11 ti 14 0
—0 0
12 6 14 6

Average
33 2
0 0
15 7
13 2

13 5

COURSE OF EXCHAI
Amsterdam CF. 12 6
Ditto, at sight
Rotterdam .........2 U l2 6i
Antwerp
Hamburgh M.B. 13 13i
Altona
Paris, 3 days' sight
Ditto, 3 months 25 75
Marseilles
Bourdeaux 25 80
Frankfort on Maine... 1501
I'etersburgh, 3Us ... 371
7 0
Vienna, effec. 11. 3 M lO 0
Trieste, ditto
adrid
Cadiz 354
Bilboa 3si
Barcelona
Seville

4GE-(YESTERDAY):

Gibraltar ... ••• ...... 46
Leghorn
Genoa 25 85
Milan
Venice 47
Naples •• •• 39i
Palermo, per oz 119
Lisbon
Oporto 594
Rio Janeiro 27
Bahia
Buenos Ayres
New York, 21 days sight 46i
Philadelphia 46
PRICES OF BULLION, PER OZ.
Portugal Gold Coln £0 0 0
Foreign Gold, bars... 3 17 9
New Doubloons 0 0 0
New Dollars... .....' 0 4 10i
Silver in Bars 0 5 0

EXTRAORDINARY LEAP.—On Tuesday last
a medical gentleman of Abingdon, while visiting one of his pa-
tients; whose residence is close to the line of the Great Western
Railway, at Steventon, left his horse and phaeton in the care
of a man, who took off the curb to give the horse some hay ;
shortly afterwards the horse took fright at something, and
darted off with impetuous fury, and being obstructed by one
of the railroad side gates, between five and six feet in height,
leaped at and cleared it cleverly, dragging at its heels the
phaeton, the fore wheels of which cleared the gate, but the
hind wheels coming in violent collision with the top rail, ar-
rested its progress. The horse was thrown down, and the con-
cussion thus caused fortunately enabled some persons who
witnessed the occurrence to seize him, and thereby prevent se-
rious consequences, as one of the trains was at the moment
about to start from the station. The horse received little
or no injury ; and, strange to say, the vehicle none.— Oxford
Journal.
A meeting of the merchants, manufactureri, and
shipowners of Dundee was held
the measures eldin
mthee'rhis
stleHal
Wednesday, when it was resolved to petition Parliament
in favour of, Lord John Russell's notice for the abolition
Corn-laws, and
aduties, . •
introducedl o I
111 efot;-.taher.epvirseiseonnt n
of
fCothrie
import

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS, May 25.
The Earl of SIIAFTESBURY, in the absence of the Lord
Chancellor, tcok his seat on the Woolsack shortly- before
Eve o'clock.

The North of England Railway Bill, and several other
Private Bills, were read a third time and passed.
Several Private Bills were read a second time.

FREE TRADE.
The Earl of ROSEBERY presented a petition from
the Town Council of Linlithgow, and also a petition from
the inhabitants of the borough of Linlithgow in favour
of the Government measure for reducing the duties on
corn, sugar, and timber ; also a petition from Stirling to
the same effect, but stating in addition the -opinion of
the petitioners, that until corn was admitted free of duty
the measure would not give satisfaction to the country.
In the latter part of this statement the Noble - Earl
stated he did not concur. The, petition was subse-
quently withdrawn on account of some informa-
lity. Also a petition from the members of the
Scottish Church in Manchester against patronage.
The LORD CHANCELLOR then entered the House, and
took his seat on the Woolsack. •,
_ MESSAGE FROM THE COMMONS. _

Messengers from the Commons brought up certain Bills
which were respectively read a first time.
_ WHITSUN HOLIDAYS.

The Duke of WELLINGTONasieT from what day
to day it was intended to propose the adjournment of the'
House for the Whitsun Holidays.
Viscount MELBOURNE—From Friday to the Thurs-
day following, according to the usual custom.
Lord REDESDALE presented petitions from the
Inverness burghs in Scotland ; from certain parishes in
Westmorland, in Suffolk, in Kent, and in Lincoln-
shire, against any alteration in the Corn-laws. Also a
petition from two individuals named Forester residing
in Kirkcaldy, praying the House to agree to any mea-
sure for a diminution in the taxation on articles of
food. In the prayer of this petition he did not concur.

that he had heard rules laid down on the other side of the
House, which we're not followed by. Noble Lords on that
side.—(Hear, hear.) The other night he was told that
he had no right to allude to a paperwithout giving notice
of it.—(" No, no," from the Duke of Wellington.) He
referred, not to the Noble Duke himself, but to the Noble
Earl behind him (the Earl of Wicklow). He had
seldom seen the rule observed. With respect to the
pamphlet of Lord &dm Russell, the Noble Lord had
quoted that to show how little reliance was to be placed
upon;political economists. The Noble Lord had, a few
years ago, complimented the Government for establishing
a professorship of political economy.—(Hear, hear.) The
Noble Lord had changed his opinion since that period.
In the Report of the Commission on Handloom Weavers,
wages were shown to depend upon the demand forlabour,
not upon the price of corn. •
The Earl of RIPON said the Noble Earl was en-
tirely mistaken. in supposing that he had denied
the existence of distress in the manufacturing dis-
tricts, as well as in assuming that he had omitted
all reference to the declared value of the manu-
factures exported in the last year. What he had stated
was, that in considering the distress which existed, they
should take into account all the causes which could combine
to produce it ; that the distress was such that any rea-
sonable and prudent man would pause before he come to
the positive conclusion that the whole of it was to be at-
tributed to the Corn-laws. The Noble Lord had repre-
sented him (Lord Ripon) as referring to the declared
value of the last year, as not being considerably less than
that of the antecedent year ; and, as leaving the House
underthe impression that the declared value had increased
in the same proportion with the official value. That
would have been an absurdity of which he did not think
the House would be willing to accuse him. He had not
only not so represented, but he had specifically mentioned
it as less than the antecedent year, and that the only proper
way to judge was by the average of several years. He
said there was not a correspondent increase in the price as
compared with the official value, and there never was. The
only reasonable way to judge was to take the average of se-
veral years. There was no analogy or proportion whatever
between the real and official value. The farmer was affected
by the laying on, or reductian of, duties, the improvement
of machinery, and the consequent reduction of the cost of
production, and the variation in the price of the rawma-
terial. All these formed important elements in the price
of the article, and, added to these, they were to take
into consideration the state of the currency. He
would seriously and earnestly implore the attention
of their Lordships to these matters before they
came to that House with a proposition which
would: unsettle one particular branch of indus-
try, and produce distress which it was impossible
to foresee. The more he looked at the subject the more
the difficulties with which it was beset presented them-
selves. He thought any system of Corn-laws was pro-
ductive of difficulty ; but then it was only a choice of
evils. He had been charged with the introduction of a
law to fix the price of corn at 80s., and to grind down
the poor man. But he always had maintained, and he
did maintain, that it was to make 80s. the maximum and
not the minimum price. What was the fact ? That the
average for the seven years following was 695. 11d.—
(Hear, hear.) In 1822 the law was altered, and 70s.'
substituted, and the average price for eleven years after
that period was 58s. 9d., and since the adoption of the
present law the average price, instead of being, as was
anticipated, 635. or 655., was only 575. 7d. He had
given his consent to the alteration because he thought
it would be beneficial to the working classes. He would
add that, so far as he was concerned in the management
of his own property, from the date of that Act he had
always proceeded upon the presumption that corn could
never reach 80s.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord ASHBURTON thought the speech of the Noble
Earl had been so ably answered that he would not have
said a word had it not been for some personal allusions.
He did not mean now to defend a life of twenty-six
years, but lie would refer the Noble Earl to those Noble
Lords around him, whose change had been much more
recent than his own. Even the Noble Earl below him
(Earl Fitzwilliam) was then a high protector of corn.—
(" No, no," from Earl Fitzwilliam.) He might be wrong,
but the conversion of the Noble Lord at the head of the
Government was of only a few weeks.—(Hear.) He denied
that the distress in the manufacturing districts was
attributable to the existence of the Corn-laws, and re-'
ferred to Mr. Fielden's intended-to-be-spoken, but
printed, speech, to bear him out. In 1815 the consump-
tion of cotton was 80,000,0001b5., it was now
480,000,0001b5., while the wages of the labourer had
fallen 75 per cent., but this was attributable to the
greatly extended use of machinery. He never for a
moment thought or said we could ever be independent of
foreign countries, but he said we should be so, as far as
we reasonably could, by giving such protection to the
producer of food as would enable him to supply' the
country FO far as possible, not for his own advantage,
but in order to protect the masses from periodical star-
vation. The laws of the country ought not to tumbled
about upon every trivial or temporary distress.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, having been intrusted
with many petitions on the subject of the Corn-laws,
would take that opportunity of saying that he trusted
the question would be calmly and fully discussed at one
period or another. He must deny that the increased
exports showed that the manufacturing interest was flou-
rishing. Machinery was greatly employed, and it must
be kept at work, although the goods had long ceased to
be profitable ; the true criterion to be taken was the '
value of mills. Their Lordships were deeply interested
in the success of the manufacturing interest, therefore it
was right for them to know that during the last eight
years the exportation of machinery had been steadily in-
creasing. Our neighbours were taking our machinery
for the purpose of rivalling us in manufactures ; it was
right that their Lordships should know that during the
last two years the amount of machinery exported was
2,100,000/. Their Lordships might say, why allow the
machinery to be exported ? The answer was, if it was
prevented, the men who made it would export them,
selves.—(Hear, hear.) It 'had long been said that we
were so rich in iron and coal, and other minerals, that
we must always have the advantage over other coun-
tries but we had all those advantages during the
last few years, when foreign countries had made
such rapid strides towards rivalry with us.
We had great advantages in that respect ; other coun-
tries had less ; and without saying to what cause it was
attributable, there was a loss of power on the part of the
manufacture of this country in the general markets of
the world. No person who knew the Noble Earl (Ripon)
could doubt the purity of the motives which actuated
him in proposing the system of 1815, but the fact that
experience had led to the modification of his system, and
the effects produced by the present system, might have
induced him to re-consider the whole subject. He im-
puted the bad workingof the present law to no man as a
reproach, but he contended that a greater fluctuation„to
the amount of 40 or 50 per cent., had existed under that
Corn-law than in countries where no Corn-law existed.
The system of averages had had the effect of putting the
power of the Legislature into the hands of other and in-
terested parties, the worst persons in whose hands it
could be placed. Noble Lords talked of a fixed duty as
a delusion ; there could be no greater' delusion than to,
call the present sliding scale a protection to agriculture,
Samples of corn in 1839 had been brought into the market
a few clays before the averages were struck, for the pur-
pose of controlling the averages, and parties, by sacrific-
ing 60,0001. or 70,000/. had made 200,0001. or 300,0001.
at the expense of the revenue.—(Hear, hear.) The evil
was not only inflicted on the farmer of having foreign
corn thrown into the market, but much derahgement
had been occasioned in the currency which had reacted on
the bank, in consequence of the export of the precious
metals to pay for the corn thus suddenly thrown into the
market. This would have been innoxious had it taken
place gradually and regularly, as it would do under the
operation of a fixed duty. But under the present system
it came like an inundation, and deranged not the corn
market only, but the whole system of our commerce.
The same thing had occurred in 1840. At that period
persons friendly to the Corn-laws, millers having stocks
of corn on hand, had come to the Board of Trade and
had represented what was taking place ; and the Board
of Trade had convinced them that such was the state of
the law, so inoperative was it, that it was im-
possible to afford them any redress, the duty of
that Board being merely to administer the law,
and these being evils inherent in the law itself. He
thought then that a case had been made out against tlre
operation of the law, and calling for the interferer_;* of
Parliament to protect the interests of the whole corn-'
munity, and he believed that this subject ought not to
be discussed except as one affecting the interests of the
whole community, and that the lauded proprietor, manu-
facturer, the farmer, and the labourer were all equally
interested in having the question settled upon its proper
basis, and that any error would be attended with great
mischief to the whole. In 1829 the• system had been
altered because it had failed through over-protection,
which had proVecl so mischievous. to the farmer by its un-
due stimulus, and the consequent over-production, that it
had reduced prices to such an extent as to be
ruinous to the farmer himself. his Noble Friend
had last night alluded to the return of Mr. Cunin Gri-
daine relative to the supply of Paris with food, and had':
spoken of the inadequacy of that supply, and of the mise.-.
rable lean state of the oxen on which the inhabitants of
that city were compelled to feed ; but those lean oxen.
were the creatures of protection. It had been stated in
the French Chambers that it was a duty they owed the
graziers of .France to prevent the people of Paris ob-
taining fat oxen from other countries, and they were
told to eat on, in the confidence that the ultimate result
must be that after an indefinite number of years the
graziers so encouraged would produce fat oxen.—
(A laugh.) It was a fact worthy , of notice that those
countries which were dependent on a foreign supply
had never suffered from scarcity. Such had been the
case with Holland for the last two hundred years, 'under
every political vicissitude. Such was the case with:
Switzerland, where there were no Corn-laws,. and which'
contained a greater proportion of poor land than any
other country in Europe, and in which not only mum-
' factures but agriculture was increasing, He geuld not,
in supporting the present measure, take to himself the
virtue of snaking any sacrifice, although the whole .othis
property was in land,
.for it was his sincere opinion' that'
the proposed measure of a fixed duty would have the
effect of increasing the prosperity of the landed interest,
The present system had been tried during three experi,
meats, arid had failed in each, and he thought they were
justified in abandoning it.
The Duke of WELLINGTON agreed with the
Noble Marquis that it Would be most desirable .to
,contine the discussion of this subject to the -effect it
would be likely
to produce on the
irritating and
of the country, and to avoid those and ex-
citing topics which were brought forward every night
on the presentation of petitions, apparently merely for
the purpose of still further exciting that state of hostility
which it appeared to be the intention to excite on
that subject throughout the country, and he hoped the
Noble Marquis would recollect the sentiments lie had
tittered that night, and discuss the subject not as
it . related to one class only,' but to the whole
esentry.—(Hear.) With regard to the frauds:. in
the averages, he hoped the_lcolihit Marquis would take

care to provide some legislative remedy for those evils ;
whether the law remained as it was, or whether a fixed
duty was to be substituted for it ; for he understood that
the fixed duty was to depend in some degree on the
averages,—that there was to be a sort of a sliding scale;
and he hoped the Noble Lord would take care not to
leave a door open to the same frauds in his system as
he had complained of in the present one. He had been
in office under the former system, and he could assure
.the Noble Lord that there had been no want of frauds
under that. EnormouS fortunes had been made under
that system, and great frauds had been committed, and
he was afraid that frauds would be practised under
every system ; but he had never heard of any frauds
under the existing • system except those mentioned by
the Noble Marquis. One- argument against the present
system was, the great fluctuation in price which it occa-
sioned ; but he could 'prove that the fluctuations in price
which it occasioned were not so great as in many parts of
the world. The -fluctuations had been greater in Hol-
land than in this couhtry4 and in that country there was
no duty. He held in his hand a return of tlftt differential
price of corn from 1829 to 1838 in different places in
Europe. In England the differential price had been 31s. ;
at Odessa and Memel 555. ; at Dant= 545. ; at Amster-
dam 485., and at Rotterdam 265. Now the' difference
of priCe between Amsterdam and Rotterdam could be
accounted for by the fact that Amsterdam was situated
in a thickly-populated district, where there was a great
demand, and Rotterdam is a district not so densely po-
pulated. Now in this country there was a greater de-
mand for grain than in any other part of the world ; the
people would have the best grain for food, and consider-
ing the consumption of the country, he was prepared .to
contend that the fluctuation was not so great as it was
in other countries, and that ground for alteration failed
entirely. He thought the subject ought to be brought
on for general discussion either in a Committee of the whole
House or on the second reading of a Bill, and he trusted
the Noble Marquis would prevail upon his Noble Friends
to abstain from those exciting topics, in which they were
apt to indulge on the presentation of petitions. Allu-
sion had been made to what had fallen from his Noble
Friend, relative to the increase in the imports on cotton.
It had been said but small profits were made upon the
manufacture of this immense quantity of produce, but
that appeared to him to have no connection with the
question of the Corn-laws. The fact was, the improve-
ments in the machinery and the introduction of steam
had enabled the manufacturers to manufacture with very
little cost. They did not make ,the profit now they did
fifty years ago; but they still made profits, although
those were diminished by competition—not by competi-
tion with the foreigner, but by competition at home.
Other manufacturers, who were aware that profits were
to be made, although not so large as formerly, entered
the field, built new manufactories,established machinery,
and thus introduced fresh competition. He believed
that the lower class of manufacturers were suffering
distress, and that their condition as well worthy the
attention of Parliainem.. The Njlige Lord had alluded
to Birmingham ; now from the official returns, which
showed an increase in the exports of hardware, he
should consider that Birmingham, Sheffield, and other
places interested in that trade were in a state of prospe-
rity, and looking to the declared as well as the official
value of exports generally, he was of opinion that the
manufacturers were not in such a state of depression as
had been attempted to be represented.
Lord ASHBURTON and the Marquis of LANS-
DOWNE mutually explained.
Earl FITZ WILLIAM considered that the most valu-
able part of the very valuable speech of thee-Noble Duke
was that in which he recommended that the House should
seriously consider the subject of the Corn-laws, either in
Committee or otherwise. Now he (Earl Fitzwilliam) had
three times endeavoured to induce their Lordships ti
adopt such a course, but without effect. With respect to
the lean oxen in France, it should be recollected that not
only did the protection to the lean ox prevent the intro-
duction of the fat ox into France, but. it also prevented
the introduction of French manufactures into Germany
and that was his great objection to the Corn-laws, and to
all prohibitory laws, that they interrupted the commerce
between different countries. With regard to the table quoted
by the Noble Duke it was a table of medium prices, not of
averages, for it was made out by the Consuls without any
regard whatever to quantity. He thought the fixed duty
proposed by the Government would give to. the English
agriculturist that to which he was fairly entitled, a pre-
ference over the foreigner in the English market, and
would more than compensate him for all those burdens
in the shape of local taxation, which were represented
as pressing so heavily on the land, although he for-
one did not think the landholder was more burl
dened than any of the other classes. He believed tha
the sliding scale, as at present constituted, offered a very
great temptation to fraud. The Noble Earl concluded
by presenting upwards of one hundred petitions in favour
of an alteration in the Corn-laws, and one from th(
Jewish inhabitants of Edinburgh, praying for a removal
of the Jewish disabilities.

The Marquis of NORMANBY presented ptition-
'praying for a removal of the Jewish disabilities, from
Shields ; also a petition praying for a revision of the Im-
port Duties, from Haddington ; and a petition from some
place, the name of which we could not catch, praying for
the abolition of Church rates.

Lord PRUDHOE presented several petitions against
any alteration in the Corn-laws.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented several pe-
titions praying for a repeal of the Corn-laws.
The Marquis of BUTE presented petitions from St.
Asaph and two other places against any alteration in the
Corn-laws.

Their Lordships then adjourned at Half-past Eight
o'C!Oelz to Thursday next.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 25.
The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four
o'Clock.

G: W. WOOD brought up the Report of the
Committee on the Southwark Improvement Bill.
On the motion of Mr. J. A. YATES the Great Leinster
and Munster Rail Way Bill was read a third time and
passed.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE IMPROVEMENT
BILL.

Upon the Report of the Bill being brought up,
Sir C. GREY moved that the Amendments which had
been made in the Committee, instead of being considered
that day, should be taken into consideration on Friday
next.

Mr. ORD hoped the House would not agree to the
motion of his Right Hon. Friend.
Mr. INGHAM did not see any necessity for the mo-
tion of the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite.
Mr. LIDDLE understood that the tolls were in all
cases reduced, and that was all the petitioners prayed for,
and he thought they would be satisfied.
Mr. HINDE and Mr. BELL opposed the amendment,
and considering what had taken place in Committee,
they were astonished it had been brought forward.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, but no divi-
sion took place, and the amendment was negatived with-
out a division.

On the bringing up of the Report on the Newcastle-
upon-Tyne Improvement Bill,
Mr. HUTT—I beg to move the amendment to this
Bill, of which I have given notice, that all such parts of
it as give the Council of Newcastle the power to levy a
toll on flour, meal, and bran, be omitted. The neces-
saries of life are in every community most unfit objects
for taxation. I need not, I am sure, say anything to.
impress such a trite fact on the House. Of all the arti-
cles, however, which constitute the necessaries of life,
bread is that one which ought to be the last affected,
either by Municipal or Imperial taxation. But there
happen to be circumstances which render the toll upon
flour and meal by the Corporation of Newcastle peculiarly
improper. Most of the flour prepared for the con-
sumption of the town and neighbourhood is ground at
mills on the high ground outside the town ; consequently
the wheat which is brought into Newcastle market first
pays a tax as corn if carried out of the town to be
ground ; the grist is then taxed separately on its reintro-
duction as flour, meal, and bran. Surely this is not pro-
per, and will not receive the sanction of the House.
I know that it -will be argued by my Honourable Friends
that this toll has been long levied by the town of New-
castle by Act of Parliament, and that in the present Bill
the - rate of it is reduced. I contend that the imposi-
jun of such a tax on food, which is equally, by persons in
all classes of life, is utterly indefensible on any just or
intelligible principle, and the circumstance of its being
an abuse of long standing is not in my mind an
argument for its continuance. But it is not the
case that by the operation of this Bill the
toll will be reduced—the nominal amount of the toll will
be reduced, but the toll will practically be increased.
Hitherto the millers who reside outside the town have
been permitted a very large rate of composition ; the old
toll has never been really levied. A very respectable
miller has informed me, that whereas he now pays a
composition of 15/. per annum for introducing his flour
into Newcastle, under the operation of this Bill he will
have to pay tolls to the amount of 501. or 60/. I trust,
therefore, that the House will sanction my proposition.
After a short conversation the motion was withdrawn.
and the Report was received.
Mr. GREENE moved, That, in the present Parlia-
ment, all Bills for the more easy recovery of Small Debts
may proceed through their several stages in manner
hereinafter mentioned, in lieu of that prescribed by the
existing Standing Orders:--That there be one clear day
.between the first and second reading; that one clear
day's notice be given of the second reaing; that there
be two clear days between the second reading and the
sitting of the Committee thereupon, and due notice given
accordingly; that petitioners against any such Bills may
-be heard before the Committee on the Bill, on a petitioa
presented at any time before the sitting of the Commiii-
tee.--Agreed to.
The Deanhead Reservoir Bill was read a third time
and passed.
On the motion of Sir J. Y. BULLER., the Exmouth
Market Bill was read a third time, and passed.
Mr:, :LOCKHART moved the third reading of the
Monkland Canal Bill. The Bill was accordingly read a
. third time, and passed.
On the motion of Mr. DIVETT, the Bristol and
and d
E xeter' Railway Bill was read a third time, and passed.
Mr. W. EVANS presented a petition from aappld acei
in
Yorkshire, praying for repeal of the Corn-laws n
revi-
sion of the import duties.
onMinargtalteie
andMor.thPeLr UplAaresTilniEKperner
angateidnsptetailtiiyonasliferroamti
Corn-laws.
nsfrom
eonAgrlnegaSCtillmOisLoEfFßlEnpLtiDstsp
la.ensder4dothesrelie'rraoltepsetatintito
Dissen-
ters in Birmingham, Westminster, and other places,
praying for the abolition of Churchrates.
Mr.ROCHE presented a petition from Limerick,
that the money granted for the improvement of
prayingti
eSlnnon Navigation should be fairly expended ac-
cording to the original intentions of the Legislature.
Mr. G. W. WOOD presented a petition, praying for
certain alterations in the Poor-law Amendment Bill.
Mr. TROTTER presented a petition from Farnham
against any alteration in the Corn-laws.
Mr. EASTHOPE presented several petitions from dif-
ferent parts, of Leicester against the Corn-laws.

EVENING EDITION.

Mr. GREG presented several petitions to a similar 9
effect from parishes in Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Mr. W. I'ATTEN presented seventeen petitions from
different parts of Lancashire-praying for an immediate
and total repeal of the Corn-laws.
Mr. O'CONNELL gave notice that he would, on
Thursday, move that the petition of Patrick Collins,
complaining of a denial of justice on the part of the As-
sistant Barrister of the Queen's County be printed.
Colonel SIBTHORP moved for a return of all the
Bills passed during the last and present Session
of Parliament, and also of the Bills discontinued or
rejected.

Lord SANDON wished to ask a queitiitin of the
Noble Lord opposite. Two most important Bills had
just been brought from the Lords, the Boroughs Im-
provement Bill and the Drainage Bill. He wished to
know from the Noble Lord what course he would pro-
pose to take with them.
Lord J. RUSSELL said they very important Bills, and
he would be most sorry that they should not become the
law of the land. However, he could not upon thnt oc-
casion answer the Noble Lord's question.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from an im-
prisoned Chartist, complaining that his health had ma-
terially suffered in consequence of the harsh treatment
he had received, and praying that the House would agree
to the motion about to be made for his liberation ; also
one signed by 9,820 of the inhabitants of Stocl;port and
its vicinity, praying for the liberation of all Chartist
prisoners, especially Frost, Williams, and Jones, who had
been illegally committed.
Mr. 0 CONNELL presented a petition from a la-
bourer named John Roe, of Nottingham, stating that he
had only 7s. a-week, out of which he had to maintain him-
self, a wife, and four children. He complained of Yr:H(lns
grievances, especially that he and his class were not re-
presented in that House, and'praying that freedom might
be given to all political prisoners.

POLITICAL OFFENDERS.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said, as the principal object
sought by the numerous petitions he had to peesent would
be fully detailed in his address on the motion on the paper,
he thought he would best consult the feeling of the
House by merely asking the House to receive
the petitions, and stating the numbers by which
they were signed. The large petition was signed by
rather more than 1,300,000 of the indugtriOus chisss.
The others were signed by—from Manchester, ;
Newport, 5,300 ; Chorley, Stockton, Congleton, Gate-
house, Cardiff, Holt, Montrose, Newcastle, Dublin, Nor-
folk, Chester, Derby, Ripon, Northampton, and 23 plaePs
in the neighbourhood of London. These were • sign,'
by 48,884, making, in all, the signatures 1.348,848.,
The first prayer of these petitions was this:—" Your pe-
titioners therefore pray that.your Hon. House will permit
a humble address to her Majesty, praying that she may I e
graciously pleased to give immediate directions for the
liberation of all prisoners now confined in the several
gaols. of Great Britain for political offences." The
second prayer was:—" That your Honourable House
be graciously pleased to present another humble ad-
dress, praying that her Majesty will be graciouslypleased
to grant a free pardon to J. Frost, Z. Williams, and W.
Jones, now suffering the penalties of expatriation in a
penal settlement." The third prayer was, that this
House, having done these things, would adopt the prin-
ciple of the Charter.(Laughter.)
Colonel SIBTHORP said he thought it would be but
fa'r and satisfactory to that House and to the country
that the 'Ton. Member who had presented these petitions
should allow the prayer of the petition to be read to the
House. He would, thterefore, Move that that •be
'done.—(A laugh.)
The Clerk then read the prayer of the ',.,t;tion,
Colonei olbrilUtir said he was entitled to - why
the prayer was not annexed to. tue peut,ol, W4Ch was
the usual mode, instead of having the pray,. s,pu. ate
and distinct, as in the. present instance.
Mr. DUNCOMBE said that if the Hon. and Gallant
Member would take the trouble of unrolling the petition,
he would find that the prayer which had been read ma;
a fac-simile of that attached to the petition. The peti-
tion which he (Mr. Duncombe) now presented came from
the female operatives of England, Scotland, and Wales.
The SPEAKER said that it was the larger petition .c.f
which the Hon. and Gallant Member wished to hear the
prayer read.'
Colonel SlBTHORP—Certainly.
Sir ROBERT PEEL said that he understood the Hon.
Member for Finsbury (Mr. T. Duneombe) had sated
that the prayer of the petition which he held i i his
hand was identical with that attached to the large peti-
tion on the table, and there was therefore an opportunity
of learning its substance ; there would be moreover gr fat
difficulty in unrolling the latter petition on account of its
great size. Under those circumstances he trusted his Hon.
and Gallant Friend would withdraw his motion.
Colonel SIBTHORP said he had no wish to obstruct
the presentation of the petition. It was his desire to see
the petitions of all classes duly considered ; he would
therefore do as his Right Hon. Friend suggested.
The petition was then ordered toile on the table.
Lord JOAN RUSSELL thouifht the Right. lion.
Gentleman had suggested the adoption of the best course
that could have been pursued. He was glad that the
Gallant Colonel had yielded to that suggestion, as other-
wise it would have appeared as if he wished to make
some jest of the petition.
Colonel SIBTHORP said, with some warmth, that ha
did not require the admonition of 'the Wile Lord, an.l
that he should treat it as he did his public conduct with
sovereign contempt.
Sir R. INGLIS was sure that his Gall.mt Frieni
did not wish to cast the slightest disresp&ct upon those
who had signed the petition.
Col. T. WOOD thought that whatever became of the
petition, however it might to treated 'by tha! Ti rt.e,
would be found no subject cf merriment for her MajeOty's
Government.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said that the Hon. and Gallant
Member having disavowed any intention of treating the
petition with levity, he and the House were .bound to
believe that such was the fact. But this he felt compelled
to say, that he never in his life saw anything more
like levity than the conduct that had just been adopted
by the Gallant Officer opposite. Whatever might become
of the petition, he thought it would be admitted
on all sides that it would ill have become him to have
presented such a petition without having its prayer
stated and its allegations discussed. It WAS for
this purpose that he intended to Call- the
attention of the House to the petition. He was wellnware
of the delicacy of the question, and he knew that he.might
be told that he was trenching upon the prerogative of
the Crown. But there were times when it became
that House to advise the Crown in the exercise
of its prerogative. An instance of this occurred in
the case of Sir M. Lopez when he was accused of bribery.
In the case of Sir Manasseh Lopez, sentenced to two
years' imprisonment by the House for bribery, a motion
had been made for a mitigation of his punishment; Sind
in the course of the debate it was acknowledged.by
Mr. Wynn and others that cases might exist in Which it
would be proper to petition the Crown to exercise the
prerogative of mercy. Sir- Manasseh, though con-
victed of a gross violation of the laws of the land,
found his punishment at an end after eight months' im-
prisonment. He (Mr. Duncombe) begged to state, there-
fore, that he was not altogether unwarranted by precedent
in the course he was taking. He maintained, too, that
that was a fit' subject for the interference of the House ;
and that the iiGovernment could not of its own impulse,
any more than in the case of Sir Manasseh Lopez,
well liberate the prisoners without an address to the
Crown. The petitioners had at first sought for redress
also for Frost, Williams, and Jones, as well as for an
adoption of the principles of the Charter. When
they had done him (Mr. T. Duncombe)
honour of asking him to take charge of the petition,
he had told them that if they mixed up the case of
Frost, Williams, and Jones, and the case of the
Charter, with the main object of the petition, they
would greatly prejudice the cause they had so Much at
heart. Last year, when his Hon. Friend the Member
for Westminster brought forward his motion for the re-
lease of Frost, Williums, and Jones on a point of law,
the House negatived the motion by a large majority-
not more than five, •he believed, voting tbr
He had told the petitioners, therefore, that
there was no hope of the release of Frost, Williams, and
Jones, or the adoption of the principles of the Charter,
during the existence of the present House of Commons.
and that the House even thought that no further
Reform whatever was necessary. His motion was con-
sequently entirely confined to the case of the home
prisoners, and on the merits of that case alone, he
-hoped the subject would be discussed. The petitioners
alluded to the treatment of prisoners in high life tie' the
purpose of showing the difference with which they
individuals in humble station were treated. I lex
stated that whenever an industrious man mailf! asedi-
tious speech the net of the law was spread around Mm
leaving no chance of escape. They had seen a Peer of
the Realm acquitted, and justly acquited they said, by a
Jury of his Peers on a charge of felony,e
petitioners also
my, because that
charge had not been substantial.
Th
alluded to the sentence passed en Lord, Waldegrave and
Captain Duff. Now Che (Mr. Dunenawc) had Sur expla-
nation to offer on the last subject. It appeared that
Captain Duff, whose name was in -tha t
which the sentences on
with
ram]. prisoners had beta
petition, and
guilty passed against: him.
some of those
sentence of
trasted, had the
He had, ll:i
however, within the last hour received a In
a relative of Captain D,Duff,witohn:
ce u
requestieli-
randune from .
that he would read it to the House. rho Irn
inan t.hen, proceeded to read the communication in ques-
tion, in which it was stated that Captain Duff had been
sentenced to six months' imprisonment, and it fine of rd.
for the alleged offence of being a party to a brutal assault
on a policeman. His entire innocence of the charge .was
now well known, but that innocence was not made known
on the trial, from his unwillingness to expose other par-
ties to punishment. Captain Duff admitted his being
present at the commencement of the disturbance, bet no
violence was then used by any party. In the see: ad dis-
turbance Captain Duff had taken no part whatever. He
separated from the parties, and proceeded on foorwith a
gentleman whom it was not necessary to name,' towards
Salisbury Hill." He (Mr. Duncombe) thought. it just,
under these circumstances, that Captain Duff's name
should not be mixed up with that of the other party.
But let him pass to the treatment which the political of-
fenders had experienced during their confinement. He
found that 444 individuals in all had been convicted of
political offences, of whom 398 had been released princi-
pally on account of ill health. One of those parties, Mr.
Cowan (as we understood), who had been sentenced to two
years' imprisonment in the Wakefield llonse of Correction,
one year of which he had undergone, having then been
liberated, stated in a letter the many hardships he' had
endured dining his confinement. The Hon. Gentleman
then read the letter, in which it was mentioned, among
other things, that the prisoner was released in eonse-
quence of an ulcer in his leg, brought on by severe pri-
vatioes, and which would leave him an invalid for the
remainder of his life. He had been obliged, with. the
other prisoners, to rise at half-past five o'clock he the
moe„ieg ; they then washed themselves in a butt of
water, which served fifty individuals ;. and the towels,
after having been used by one or two, became so wet,"aS