The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-12 00:00:00

E SUN, LONDON, Flap .% y, FRB

he felt very strongly at! to tie 'cr't!ndtlet of the Portu-
, oes° riroiierbinciit ; and he believed it would probably
be found that the whole of the delay of six years was
attributable to the want of good faith on the part of
that Government. He thought it duo to the claimants
to make Oat obsOliiation. if the I''.4loble Lord the
Secretary for Foreign Attain, shoUld find bt and hie,
*hen the investigation WAS PfeEbecled with, that these
delao anti. these cruel and arbitrary proceedings towards
the claimants were distinctly to be traced to the Por-
tuguese Government, it was to be hoped that he would
support, not the right to an ordinary compensation for
the delay and vexation they had suffered, but the most
ampt.e compensation for every loss and inconvenience
dig had sustained.
The papers were then ordered to be granted, with
the exception of the two first moved for.
DESTITUTION IN THE HIGHLANDS.
Mr. HENRY BAILLIE, in rising to bring forward
the motion of which he had given notice, for the appoint-
ment of a Se:ect C4oinmittee to inquire into the condi-
tion of the population of the Islands and Highlands of
S _totland, with a view to affording the people relief by
means of emigration, felt the deep responsibility which
every ono must incur who brought. forward a motion in
which the future happiness of so many of his fellow-
countrymen must depend, and if he did not feel that the
cause itself was so just as not to require any artificial
advantages from the manner in which it should be
pressed on the attention of the House, he should have
hesitated in presenting himself to the House on the pre-
sent occasion. He was no enthusiast in the cause of
emigration ; he was not one of those who thought the
Government bound to bring forward an extensive system
of emigration for the benefit ofof all the population of the
United Kingdom. On the contrary, ho believed that un-
less an urgent, peculiar, and special case were clearly made
out, the Government would not be justified in interfering,
and unless he succeeded in making out such a case, he
should feel that the House would not be bound to sup-
port his motion. It was hardly necessary to enter into
details regarding the kelp manufactory, as it had existed
on all the coasts of the Islands and Highlands of Seot-
land. That manufactory had existed as far back as the
seventeenth century, and hed been fostered and en-
couraged by a protective system. The encouragement
had been withdrawn, the manufatture had declined, and
now had nearly ceased altogether, in consequence of
the reduction of the duties on salt, sulphur, and be-
rilla. The duty on sulphur had been reduced, and the

tax on salt had been abolished at the close of the last
war. A new manufacture from these two articles had
been then established, called British alkali, which was
found to be in almost all cases an efficient substi-
tute for kelp. This was the first blow the kelp
manufacture had received, still it had continued
to exist until the further reduction of the duty on barille,
when it ceased to exist altogether as a profita'ole specu-
lation. It was, however, he believed, still carried on,
but only small quantities were menufacturcd, at a great
loss to the manufacturer, merely for the purpose of giv-
ing employment to the destitute population. The con-
sequences of this reduction had been roost ruinous to
the landed proprietors. Some who had vast posses-
sions had been able to struggle against it, but the smaller
proprietors, and those whose estates were burdened
with family settlements, had been absolutely and com-
pletely ruined. He might mention many cases of hard-
ship, but he did not appear there as the advocate of
the landed proprietors ; they did not complain, because
they knew that private interests must yield to public
good. They called upon the House, in fairness and
justice, to assist them in removing the super-
abundant population from their estates, who, from
no fault of their own, but in consequence of the legis-
lation of that House, had been deprived of all means
of subsistence. He was aware that he might be told
by some Hon. Member his motion was partial and
restrictive, and that it ought to include Ireland ; but
be would beg to observe that the distress which existed
in Ireland did not arise from the iocapabilities of the
soil, but from other sources. The highlanders, how-
ever, had no expectation that their condition would
ever be improved. No influx of capital, no ingenuity
of man, could devise means by which the mountains
and glens they now inhabited could be made capable
of affording sufficient support to the population. In
fact, they had merely a choice of two alternatives—
either to remain where they were, to perish by those
diseases which unhappil; had latterly appeared amongst
them, engendered by unwholesome, improper, or in-
sufficient food, or to remove to some distant
country, where, by industry, they might obtain
the means of existence. And, painful as might
be the alternative of going far from their
native country they were prepared and ready to adopt
that course ; they would receive it as a boon, and all
they asked was that the House would afford them the
means of doing so. It was not his intention to occupy
the time of the House in reading many of the communi-
cations he bad received ,on the subject, because such
evidence would more properly come before a Committee.
There was ono letter, however, from one of the largest
manufacturers of kelp in the north of Scotland, which
he should read a few passages from to the House. Tire
name of that gentleman was Mr. Duncan Shaw. (The
Hon. Member here read an extract from the letter, in
which it was stated that the people were suffering under
the greatest distress, and that the proprietors, having
lost two-thirds of their incomes, were unable to assist
them out of the coua try.) The only remedy, in his opi-
nion, was emigration, and the country he proposed to
send them to, as being the moot appropriate, was Canada.
—(Hear, hear.) First, with regard to expense, it ap-
peared that they could be sent there for one-fourth the
charge of sending them to the remote colony of Australia.
He was informed they might be conveyed at the cost
of 31. a head by families. According to the best cal-
culations on the state of the population in the High-
lands, there were about 40,000 persons inejan utterly
destitute conditioe, who must be removed In order to
afford those who remained a chance of olitaining sub-
sistence. The removal of these at 31. a lead, would
cost 120,0001., but it might be divided iria period of
three years, and 40,0001. a year would cif all he re-
quired from the Government. In the cond place,
though these people were willing to emigre to Canada,
it
there would be great difficulty to persuade hem to emi-
grate to the distant colonies of Australia. In Canada
there were many of their relations and blends already
settled, whole districts of Highlanders, speaking their
own language, and retaining their manners and customs.
In that country, their own Church was established by
law, and that was a matter of great consideration to
them. Lastly, he thought the Government ought net
to neglect so favourable an opportunity of infusing into
Canada a sound, industrious, British, and, above all, '
loyal population. It should not be forgotten that it was
to some Highlanders, from the districts of Glengarry,
we were lately indebted for the preservation of that
noble province as a portion of our empire. Nor should
we neglect the further opportunity of adding strength to
that loyal body of men, who on all occasions had come
forward so nobly and sacrificed their lives and fortunes
to maintain the authority of the BritishtCrown, and
the supremacy of the mother-country. He was aware
the Government had stated serious objections to Cana- 1
dian emigration. It had been stated that emigrants
sent out from this country to Canada were in the habit
of going over in large numbers to the United States,
where they found a good market for their labour. But ,
he contended this objection did not apply to these High- I
landers. It must be remembered that they went out
from particular districts, with their wives and families,
and those other tics of relationship and clanship which
were known to be so' peculiarly binding among High-
landers ; and he appealed to any in the least acquainted
with the character of that people, whether under these
circumstances they were likely to forsake those with
whom they had left their native country, provided
they were able to obtain the means of subsistence ?
He wished to remind Hon. Members that those people
had peculiar claims on their consideration. He would
remind them that in spite of all the misery endured
by these people—in spite of all their distress, Hon.
Members heard of no outrages—no violence—no
Chartism amongst them ; they only heard of the most
patient endurance on their part of the worst and most
intolerable evils. They were therefore entitled to the
most favourable consideration of their case. He had
no doubt that the people of England, who sanctioned
a vote of 20 millions sterling for the purpose of better-
ing the social condition of the negroes of the West In-
dies—he had no doubt that the Government, who
only last year obtained a grant of 60,000/, of the public
money, to be appropriated to the civilisation of the Afri-
cans, would not, in the case of a portion of the British
people who were enduring the most intolerable hard-
ships, show themselves opposed to the measure now
proposed. Not only the Government but the people
of England ought to know that the portion of their
countrymen to whom his motion referred had
been reduced by the legislation of that House—
however necessary—however advantageous that legisla-
tion might have been to the rest of the country—to a
state of misery and destitution far greater than those to
whom concessions had been hitherto made. The Hon.
Member concluded by expressing a hope that the House
would acquicse in his motion.

Lord 'FEIGN MOUTH, in seconding the 'notion,
observed that if a Committee were granted he was of
opinion that such a strong case would be made out
respecting the miseries endured by those people as, he
had no doubt, would induce the Government to deport
from that course of economy which the present state of
the revenue seemed to indicate as indispns tbly neces-
sary. With regard to Canada being selected as the
place for emigration, he thought that its climate was
far better suited to natives of Scotland than to the
hand-loom weavers of England or to the inhabitants of
Ireland. He thought a very strong case had been made
out, at least for an inquiry into the destitute condition
of these unfortunate people.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL would be sorry to have
it supposed that because he did not ohj,et to the ap-
pointment of a Committee, that he agreed to the ar-
guments of the Honourable Gentleman and the
Noble Lard. As he had said last year,
he did not think the reasons stated made out
case for t ire grant of a large sum
of moue), for the purpose of soI(LITg the dligli-
landero to Canada, lie did not think it could be

made out that the distress which existed was owing en-
tirely to the change of the duties on barilla. Even if
that were the case, be doubted whether Parliament
ought to allow a grant of money for the purpose of re-
lieving those whom the landlords might find a burthen
tin their hands: He should be sorry to admit such a
ti,sides, it was a question whether, if 12A,600i.
w .re granted for the relict of the Highlanders, they
would not have claims from the lowlands of Scotland—
from districts of England where particular branches of
industry were greatly depressed, and from parts of Ire-
land where distress and famine had been peculiarly
painful.—(Hear, hear.) Then there were very grave
considerations with respect to sending them to Canada.
The question was not a mere transfer of persons from
this country to Caned', and it would be difficult to
make provision for the infirm and aged and their
families without burthening the Canadians. Be-
sides would it be judicious to follow such a
course without the assent of that Assembly which had
been just called into existence, and whose opinion upon
matters which so deeply concerned them and the fi•
nances of their country, ought to he treated with real
respect and regard ? Without going any farther into
the discussion, he should observe, that it seemed to
hint that there wcra many reasons against the conclu-
sion to which the Hon. Gentleman wished to come ;
but, at the same time, lie (Lord J. Russell) should not
refuse the proposed Committee of Inquiry.
Sir R. H. INGLIS concurred in the general views
expressed by the Hon. Mover.
Mr. WARBURTON objected to the motion. He
thought it would be much more difficult, after the Re-
pert was made to the House on the state of those indi-

„..
viduals—that Report being probably favourable to the
grant—be thought it would be more difficult to resist
the grant of money in that case, than it would be to
reject the motion for inquiry itself. He believed, too,
that if an inquiry were to be instituted, it would be
much better conducted by a Commission sent to the dis-
tricts in question than by a Committee sitting in the
House. He should certainly object to the inquiry for
this farther reason, that it would lead to expectations
on the part of the individuals which might not after-
wards be realized.

Sir ROBERT PEEL said, that on the whole he
had hoard with satisfaction that it was the intention of

the Noble Lord opposite to acquiesce in the motion.
He thought that, considering the sufferings of the in-
dividuals in question, who bad found so fi:ting an advo-
cate in the Hon. Member—(Hear, hear)—who had
in so simple and becoming a manner, stated their ease
without misrepresentation or exaggeration. He thought
that, considering the extent of those sufferings, and the
manner in which they had been borne, it would he
her: h on the part of the House to refuse the proposed
inquiry. He did not anticipate from that inquiry the
result apprehended by the Hon. Gentlemen opposite
( Mr. Warburton). He did not think that expectations
would be encouraged by the appointment of the Com-
mittee which could in any way injure the parties.
He felt, however, that there was great difficulty
in the way of an extensive scheme of emigra-
tion, but he thought it would be well to point
out. to the parties the nature of the relief, if
any, which would be in the power of the House to ex-
tend to them. Let them see what happened in the case
of the handle= weavers, whose distress no one denied,
and whose condition he (Sir R. Peel) looked upon much
in the same way as he did on that of the inhabitants of
the Highlands who had lost their employment in conse-
quence of fiscal regulations, or of new scientific discove-
ries. On the appointment of a Committee of the
House the first impression of the handloom weavers was

that emigration was a ready resource for their griev-
ances. They thought that nothing could be more just or
advantageous than that the State should interfere to pro-
vide for their emigration ; but they had afterwards been
in some measure disabused of that opinion. Tne fact
was, that when they showed the artisan or the labourer
that his condition, when transferred to a distant colony
without capital, would be one of a very precarious na-
ture, he would be more ready to acquiesce in the deci-
sion of the Legislature than he would before any inquiry
had been instituted. He thought tha:., the inquiry would
show that the sum proposed would be insufficient. They
might undoubtedly transport the parties to Canada, hut
they might thereby b't doing very little for them. He be-
lieved that if they could prove to those individuals

that they would have to struggle with any great dif-
fleulties in Canada in consequence of the want cf ca-
pital, and the competition they would have to contend
with, as well as of the severity of the winter, they
would give much more satisfaction to the sufferers than
it they were at once to reject an investigation into their
case. He should observe that emigration, in order to
be beneficial to the emigrants, should be conducted
on the most cautious principle. He was not quite
sure but that a Committee of the House of Commons
was a preferable means of inquiry to a mere local
Commission. The Right Hon. Baronet concluded with
expressing his admiration of the character of those
people, and his sympathy with their sufferings.
Mr. HUME thought that a Commission would be
the best means of inquiry. If a Committee of the
House of Commons were appointed it would hold out
an inducement to various localities to send up persons
to prove the existence of distress. If no other person
opposed the motion, be would do. so, on the ground
that, if agreed to, it would be taken as a pledge
that public money should be advanced for the
purpose of emigration in Scotland alone.—(Hear.)
When there should be a settled Government in Canada,
he admitted there would be a fine field for emigration,
but until this were the case he thought it would be an
useless expenditure of public money. He thought if
there was great distress in Scotland there .was also
great distress in England, and that if a grant:of public
money were made for the purpose of emigtation it
should be a general grant for the whole kiN.,vdorn.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHWIER said
the observations of hie Hon. Friend- with kekAence to
the wordieg of this resolution were-vverthyof4tention.
He thought instead of saying " with the view-of afford-
ing relief by means of emigration," it would be better
'to say " to ascertain the practicability of affording re-
lief."—(blear, hear.) He should not have risen but
for the obiervations of his Hon. Friend with 'reference
to sending an officer to Scotland to afford assistance in
cases of great distress. The course which had been
adapted, and which on the whole had been found the
best, was not to come down to Parliament in such cases
for a vote of money, but to send an officer in whom
they had confidence, with power to give relief at discre-
tion out of the public funds. The present distress in
Scotland was not temporary, but of long duration, and
had been borne patiently. On these grounds the Go-
vernment did not oppose the motion for a Committee,
but it must not be thence inferred that the Govern-
ment would be prepared to afford this relief should the
Committee recommend it.

Mr. S. O'BRIEN altogether denied and repudiated
the statements respecting the removal of Canadian
emigrants to the United States. Of 25,000 who emi-
grated last year, if a few went over at least an equal
nu:nber returned to Canada. Should a Committee be
granted, and that Committee recommend to Parlia-
ment a grant of public money for this purpose, he should
cheerfully contribute his vote in support of that propo.
sition. All he regretted was that the principle was not
carried farther.--(Hear, hear.) It was his intention
to bring forward a motion every Session for the pro-
motion of emigration, not to one colony, or from one
diitrict alone, but to all our colonies, and from the
United Kingdom in general.—(Hear, bear.)
Mr. MARK PHILLIPS cordially agreed with tho
motion, if the judicious alteration in the wording pro-
posed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer were made.
Tau result of the investigation would he looked to with
great interest by another class, to whom feeling allusion
had been made by the Right Hon. Member for Tam-
worth—he meant the handloom weavers. He had been
frequently solicited by the handloom weavers to bring
forward some motion of this sort in their behalf, and in
answer to such solicitation he desired them to wait until
the Report of the Commissioners of Inquiry should be
published, to see if they would not recommend some
such plan of relief. With regard to the expense, he
trusted that the House would never let a matter of
pounds shillings and pence stand between them and an
attempt to procure some alleviation of such extensive
distress.—(Hear, hear.) He agreed with the Hon.
Member for Bridport in thinking that a Committee was
not the best mode of investigating the subject. But if
the Committee should. find any difficulty on account of
the number of the witnesses, or the distance at which
they resided, in properly investigating the subject, then
he hoped the Government would issue a Commission of
Inquiry. The Committee on the subject of the hand.
loom weavers had experienced that difficulty, and the
Government had very properly issued a Commission.
He cordiallylLLlE supported the motion.
Medre. to A
the
,in reply, stated his willingness to
cc
alteration proposed by the Chancellor of
a
the Exchequer; and the motion, so altered, was
B
agreed. to.

ELECTION PETITIONS.
Sir GEORGE CLERK, with a view of obviating
hpLiyueser,oft:laien)-p•
the technical difficulty which bad arisen, in the ease of
the Ludlow electionbepaetdintiloitnteltaisatsyarapr,arptyrotpoosdeedfetnhde
afonly-
lowing resolution :—" That on or before the day on
Which
any
election petition, or any petition praying that
election petition,
etitioner do lodge
in the office for election petitions the name of the agent
or any other person upon whom, and the
place where,
may be served the notices required to he served on the
:Ilitii,:tnu petitionerrbne,
presentedto may
opposeto thet le
Petitioner by the General Committee of Elections, pur-
suant to the Act passed in the third year of the reign
of her present Majesty, intituled, ' An Act to amend
the Jurisdiction 4 the trial of Election Petitions.'''
He had had twodffesolutions on the paper, but it had
been suggested to him that the one resolution, with the
alteration he had made in it, would effectually accent.
pli:di the object he had in view.
Mr. HUME considered it was the duty of the
House to remove every merely technical objection. He
thought, however, that the better way would be to
rcfcr the resolution to the Committee on Standing
Orders.
Mr. GRELNEaaid that the subject had already been

VARY 1.2, 1841

! under the consideration of the officer of the House,
and he had decided that it was not within the scope
of that Committee.
Too resolution WPS then agreed to.
ORDNANCE SURVEY.
S—r HUSSEY VIVIAN then rose to move for
leave to bring in a Bill for executing the ordnance
survey of England and of Scotland, on a scale to be
specified, After a few words, which were inaudible in
the gallery, the Hon. Baronet proceeded to state, that
in 1825 a surrey was made in Ireland on a scale of six
inches to the mile. That scale had been found most
advantsgeous, and it had long been a source of regret
that the English surveys were not conducted on the
same scale. Great inconveniences had been suffered
which would have bees avoided by adoptieg such a
scale, and many representations had been sent from
public bodies in its favour. The Hon. Baronet then
read some statements made by persons whose opinions,
he said, were entitled to great weight, recommending
the adoption of the Irish scale of survey. Mr. Dawson,
of the Royal Engineers, in a letter to the Tithe Cern-
. missioners, stated that a scale of six inches would be
highly beneficial, end supply to the Legislature the
means of judging as to the propriety of encouraging
railroad speculations, instead of being imp .sod upon,
us was often the case at present, by the representations
of inter( sted parties. Mr. Chadwick, the Secretary of the
Poor-la wCommissioners,hadgiven his testimony dechiesily
in favour of the propesedscale. The testimony of the Pui-
losopli cal Society of Manchester had also been given most
unequivocally in its favour. These opinions having been
forwarded to her M ijesty's Government were forwarded
by them to that distinguished individual, whose opinion
upon every subject was entitled to so much weight,
namely, the Dukc of Wellington ; and ho had stated
most distinctly that he thought the survey in this coun-
try ought to he carried on upon a similar principle to the
survey of Ireland. He (Sir Hussey Vivian) was
quite certain that if the scale of six inches to the
nide were adopted great benefit would result.
In Ireland, a henever any new rules were laid down they
could be easily added to the ordnance maps, which the
House would see was a great advantage. He should
be sorry to propose any increase of the public expendi-
ture unless there was an equivalent for it. Ha hoped
Hen, Members would see that the present was not a
demaad of the public money for warlike preparations,
but one that was essentially necessary, and which would
be not only beneficial to the present generation but to
posterity, and would promote the welfare of the 1 inch
owner, the manufacturer, and the merchant. Under
these circumstances he trusted that no objection would
be given to his motion for leave to bring in the
Mr. WARBURTON had great pleasure in second-
ing the motion, and he bad no doubt from the rapid
sale of maps upon that extended scale, and the recent
discoveries which had been effected by the electrotype,
that the cost would shortly repay itself. It MIS well
known that by the recent improvements that had been
made that exact copies could be taken of the plates at
any sage, and in that manner they Might be applied to
tithe composition, or any other subject that might re-
quire it.
Mr. SHAW bore testimony to the great benefits
that had been conferred on Ireland by the manner in
which the Ordnance survey had been conducted in that
country.
Mr, HUME was ready to acknowledge the courtesy
of the Right Hon. Gentleman in having considerably
reduced the price of the maps to the public, and he had
no doubt the result of the recent discoveries to which
his Hon. Friend had alluded would reduce the price to
one-third or one-fourth the present cost.
Mr. MARK PHILIPS said, that he expected
great benefit would arise from the passing of the Bill
now sought to be introduced—the more so as the po-
pulation was so rapidly increasing, and the construc-
tion of railways, and the operations of canals, carried
on to such an extent.
Leave was then given to bring in the 13'11.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
then moved the re-appointment of the following Com-
mittee on Banks of Issue :—Mr. Chancellor of the
Exchequer, Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Hume, Mr. Lsbou-
chere, Mr. Goulburn, Mr. Mark Philips, Mr. O'Con-
nell, Sir James Graham, Mr. Clay, Mr. Gisborne, Sir
John Rae Reid, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Charles Wood, Mr.
Rickford, Mr. Warburton, Mr. Pattison, Mr. Herries,
Mr. Ellice, Mr. Sergeant Jackson, Mr. Hector, Mr.
Grote, Sir Tnomas Fremantle, Mr.-John Abel Salith,
Mr. Strw, Mr. Matthias Attwood, and Mr. Morison.
Mr. HUME wished to ask the Right Hon, Gen-
tleman what were the objects of that Committee. He
(Mr. Hume) was perfectly unaware of what were its
objects; however, he understood that the Right Hon.
Gentleman was not prepared to make a statement of
that nature, and though he (Mr. Hume) did not think
the question premature, he would not press it. He
hoped, however, that the Right Hon. Gentleman
would take the first opportunity of bringing the matter
before the public when it would be in iris power to do
so.—Motion passed.
IRISH TURNPIKE ACTS
Mr. PIGOTT moved for leave to bring in a Bill
to continue the Irish Turnpike Act, expiring at the
end of or during this or tire next Session of Parliament.
—Granted.
COURT OF EXCHEQUER (IRELAND) BILL.
On the motion of Mr. PIGOTT the Court of Ex-
chequer (Ireland) Bill was read a second time and or-
dered to be committed.
TITHE COMPOSITION (IRELAND) BILL.
Mr. PIGOTT moved the second reading of the
Tithe Composition (Ireland) Bill.
After a few words from Mr. SHAW, the Bill was
read a second time and ordered to he conenitted.
Tho House adjourned at a Quarter past Eight
o'Cock.

CHURCH PATIWNAGU (SCOT-
LAND).

On the motion of Mr. Fox Maule, a return has been
laid before the House of Commons, of presentations by
patrons to parishes a ithin the Church of Scotland, and
of cases in which the veto has been .aexercised between
August 1834 and April 1840. The veto had been exer-
cised in about thirty instances, creating in some parishes
violent disputes, and leading to tedious and expenlive pro-
ceedings in the Ecclesiastical and Law Courts. The de-
tails arc interesting, as showing the working of the Veto
Act, and the extremely small numbers that are entitled to
vote under the Church-law, made by the men who say no
candidate shall be appointed in opposition to the will of
the people. The largest number of communicants given
in any of the returns is 86 for the parish of Abernethy,
containing, according to a census made ten years ago, a
population of 2,092. Of these 18 refused to sign the call,
and 28 signed it, thus only 46 persons out of 2092 came
forward to exercise the veto. In the parish of Glenelg,
containing a population of 2,874, only 40 arc entitled to
vote, and of these but 6 exercised the veto. Tons in a
parish containing, at a moderate calculation, about 800
heads of families and males above twenty-one years of age,
but 40 were allowed to vote, and of these 6 usurped the
patronage. Can there be a greater mockery of what is
called by the hypocrites " the popular voice ?" In the parish
of Inch, with a population of 1338, the roll of communi-
cants contains twenty-three names, only twelve of whom
were present at the moderation of the call, six signed the
call, and six declined ; the first six, according to the veto
act, carried the election. In the parish of Daviot (where
the presentee was rejected about two years ago, the dispute
still remaining unsettled) there are just five communicants
for a population of 1788 I The Presbytery Clerk of Alford,
thetefure, might well reply in answer to the,question, " For
what reason was the veto exercised?" " Reason 1 the veto
is neither founded on reason, nor does it admit of reasons."
The Presbytery Clerk of Langholm, in reference to the
veto being exercised, but without effect, on the presentation
made by the Duke of Buccleuch for Eskdalcmuir, writes
in a similar strain. " The veto was exercised for no
reason, but from a perverse, turbulent spirit and hatred to
patronage ; any presentee, there is reason to believe,
would have been vetoed unless an absolute choice had been
given, and in that case the very man so unjustly opposed
would in all probability have been proposed in preference
to any other. The presentee is now exceedingly well
liked in the parish." The Presbytery Clerk of Mull
makes this return. " The veto was not exercised in any
of those cases, but all were contested to an extent which
caused heats and animosities," So much for the famous
specific of Dr. Chalmers.

CHURCH HOURS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SU?v.

Sta,—During ti.e past five years I have frequently
been inconvenienced on Sundays by not being enabled
to learn at the hotels the hours of Divine service at the
several places of worship in towns where I stayed. I
have no doubt that many persons similarly engaged
have been equally annoyed, and yet a very simple
remedy might be adopted, which would prevent many
questions being asked the waiter or boots on Sundays.
Let there be placed over the chimney piece in every
commercial room, each Sunday morning, a card con-
taining the name and situation of every church and Dis-
senting chapel in the town, and the hours when public
worship commences at each ; the card might be removed
in the evening, and if kept clean would last a long
while. The necessary information could be readily
obtained.

"1. he wide circulation of your valuable paper in com-
mercial rooms induces me to hope that you will spare
a corner for this letter.

I further hope th.it the proprietors of commercial
hotels may accommodate some of their customers by
adopting the suggestion of__

Yours respectfully,
A COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER.
Feb. 9, 1811.

DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM JOHNSTONE,
BART.—Died at his residence, 32, l3rvanston-square, Sir
William Johnstone, Bart., in the 76th year of his age, of
Gilford Hall, Downsbire, Ireland. He was descended
from the House of Annadale, and succeeded his father, the
late Sir Richard Johnstone, the 231 of April, 179. Sir
William dying without issue, the Barone!cyibecomesextire:.
We have again received complaints of the great
delay and inconvenience experienced by passengers at
Calais. Both the mail and passengers arc constantly de-
layed, by the Post-office .authorities at Calais neglecting
to keep a steamer in readineis for the arrival of the
Times.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday a Court was held for the dispatch of
public business.

ThE VICTORIES IN SYRIA.
Mr. WIRE, who made his appearance in Court for
the first time since his return from the Je.wish mission
to Damascus, and was heartily greeted by the members,
gate notice of the following motion :—" That the thanks
of this Court be given to Admiral Sir Robert
Stopford, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the
Bath, to Commodore Sir Charles Napier, Knight
Commander of the Order of the 13 itit, and to
the.several captains, officers, seamen, and Royal Ma-
rines under command of Sir Robert Stopford, for the
zeal and bravery displayed by them during the operations
on the coast of Syria, terminating in the brilliant and
decisive attack on the foatress of Acre, on the 3d of
November, 1840. Also, that the thanks of the Court
be given to Major-General Sir Chas. Frederick Smith,
and to the officers and detachment of the Royal Artil-
lery and Engineers and Royal Sappers and Miners, who
served under his command in the fleet employed in the
important operations on the coast of Syria. That the
freedom of this city, with a sword of the value of 200
guineas, be presented to Sir Robert Stopford, as a tes-
timony of the admiration this Court entertains for the
zeal, talent, and bravery displayed by him during his
services on the coact of Syria ; and that the freedom of
this city, and swords of the value of 100 guineas each,
be presented to Commodore Napier and to Sir C. F.
Smith in testimony of their services."—( Hear.)
BILL IN PARLIAMENT AFFECTING TIIE CITY OF LONDON.
The REMEMBRANCER having signified to the Court,
according to custom, that several measures likely to
affect the interests of the City were to be brought into
Parliament,
Mr. R. L. JONES, the Chairman of the London-
bridge Committee, took occasion to observe, that there
were Clauses in the Bid for Draining Buildings, which
would be exceedingly injurious to the City of London,
and interfere most materially with the existing arrange-
ments. He suggested, under such circumstances, the
propriety of requesting a conference with the Marquis
of Normanby on the subject.
Mr. STEVENS said that the Commissioners of Sewers
entertained the opinion expressed by Mr. Jones.
A deputation was then appointed to request a confe-
rence with the Secretary for the Home Department on
the subject.
Mr. ASHURST asked the Remembrancer whether the
measure about to be brought into Parliament relative to
County Courts, was calculated to affect the interests of
the citizens of London ?
The REMEMBRANCER replied that the County Courts
Bill would, as far as he was able to learn, ride over the
City as well as other places.
The subject of the County Courts' Bill was then re-
ferred to the Parliamentary Committee.
SUPPLY OF WATER TO Tries METROPOLIS.
Deputy CORNEY asked whether any application had
been made to Parliament by parties who proposed to
supply the metropolis with water from the vicinity of the
Colne? The subject was one which affected the citizens
of London as to the navigation of the River names,
which was indebted to the Colne and other tributary
streams in that neighbourhood in no slight degree.
The REMEMBRANCER said that there had not as yet
been any application made to Parliament en the subject.
Deputy GURNEY said that a great deal had been men-
tioned about the instituting a new Water Company,
and he apprehended that if their object succeeded,
one of the mischiefs would be injury to the na-
vigation of the Thames, to say nothing of the
other evils which would spring from the speculation.
He begged to call the notice of the Remembrancer to
the subject if it should be mentioned in Parliament.
The REMEMBRANCER intimated that he should com-
municate any information he should receive to the
Court as soon as possible.
Mr. STEVENS presented a petition for assistance to
an institution for teaching the Blind to read. It was
an institution, be said, possessing powerful claims upon
the humanity of the Court. On the motion of Mr.
Stevens, the petition was referred to the Coal, Corn,
and Finance Committee.
ELIGIBILITY OF JEWS TO CORPORATE oFricF.s.
Mr. ASHURST presented the following petition from
Mr. David Salomons
" The humble petition of David Salomons, to the
Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Coun-
cilmen.
" Showeth,—That your petitioner had the honour of
serving the office of Sheriff of London and Middlesex,
in the years 1835-6, and received the unanimous thanks
of his fellow-citizens for the zealous discharge of his
official duties. That your petitioner was also elected
an Alderman of one of the wards of the City, but was
not admitted to the office in consequence of his being
unwilling to make the declaration contained in the
9,11 Geo. IV. cap. 17, prior to his being sworn into
cflice. That although your petitioner has occupied,
and still holds many important stations of honour and
authority, yet he is debarred from corporate office
unless lie subscribe the above declaration prior to
his acceptance of such office. That your pe-
titioner would readily afford every guarantee for
his maintaining all the institutions of the country
on acceptance of office, but he humbly submits that he
should be permitted to do this without in any manner
infringing on any religious or conscientious scruples he
may entertain, or leaving himself exposed to the sus-
picion of hording office by the practice of any evasion.
That your petition would readily subscribe the declara-
tion contained in the Act passed in the Ist and :.?el year
of the reign of her present Majesty, and solicits the in-
terference of your Honourable Court to obtain such a
modification of that Act as may include your petitioner
amongst those classes who are allowed to subscribe the
declaration contained in the statute."
Mr. Salomons, Mr. Ashurst, and Mr. Per:tress ad-
dressed the Court, when the petition was agreed to,
there being but one hand held up against it.
GRAND IMPROVEMENT AT ST PAUL'S.
Sir MATTHEW WOOD rose IO move " That. it be re-
ferred to a Committee to consider the plan of improve-
ment at the west end of Clieepside, with power to confer
with the Postmaster-General or any branch of her Ma-
jesty's Government. It was, he said, necessary to come
to some arrangement as soon as possible with respect
to the ground at the west end of Cheapside, where an
improvement calculated to do honour to the age could
be effected with the assistance of Government. He
merely meant at that moment to ask fur the reference
of the subject to a Cornmitee, as until that point could
he accomplished he could not consistently ask for a con-
ference with any officer of the Government.—( Hear,
hear.) He had been told that Lord Litchfield and
others of the Government could be conferred with
speedily upon the reference to the Committee.
Mr. HALL seconded the motion.
Mr. HOLT expressed a wish to know the particulars
of Sir Matthew Wood's plan.
Mr. R. L. JONES spoke in favour of the motion.
Sir M. 'Wool) said that when he first brought forward
the plan of the Post-office, he had a plan, and a most
splendid plan it was, for throwing open the space be-
tween the two building, but the caprice of one person
by some means or other, completely frustrated it. '['he
object in the present instance was to ascertain whether
the Government were willing to adopt anyimprove-
ment, and if they were a pan would soon be forthcom-
ing.—( Hear, hear.)
After a few observations from Mr. Anderton, Deputy
Hicks, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Lott, Sir Matthew Wood's
motion was agreed to, and the reference was made to
the Loudon Bridge Committee.—Adjourned.