The Sun.
London, England, 1832-03-09 00:00:00

BRUSSELS PAPERS.

BRUSSELS, Matto' 4.—A Royal ordinance, modifying
that of the 17th August last, prescribes for arrivals which are
placed under the regulations of the patente suspecte, a strict
quarantine, varying from six to twenty days, and those under
the patente brute from ten to thirty days, leaving it to the local
Boards of Health liberty to use the powers given to them by the
35th article of the said ordinance of the 17th August, in cases
which either at the first, or after the time of quarantine has been
fixed, shall give grounds for a greater degree of suspicion.
Vessels are allowed to perform quarantine in the canal of
Nieuport.
The Independent gives the following article, dated the Envi-
rons of Maestricht, March 1 :
" The day before yesterday, several carts, loaded with corn,
and going to Maestricht, were stopped at the Belgian custom-
house at Keer, on the right bank. Gen. Dibbetts hearing of the
circumstance, sent to the place a battalion of infantry and
two pieces of cannon. The custom-house officers, left to them-
selves, of course made no resistance. The Dutch troops con-
tented themselves with surrounding the custom-house, without
doing any harm to the officers. The Commander made the
carts to pass before him, and having politely saluted them, took
the road to Maestricht, with the carts and his troops.
"Yesterday, a cart with stock fish, was stopped at the custom-
house at Riempst, on the left bank, on which some Cuirassiers
came from Maestricht, arrested the chief officers (whom they
released in half an hour), and returned with the stock fish

to Maestricht."
The King has caused letters to he written to the Governors
of the provinces, to inquire whether the grand reviews, which
lately took place in the environs of Hecle, have done any in-
jury; and in such case has given orders, as we hear, to indem-
nify, from his private coffers, the proprietors of the lands which
may have been injured.
A letter from Ostend, of March 1, complains of a consider-
able diminution in the number of ships arriving at that port.--
Many vessels, ready to sail for England, wait for a revocation
or modification of the quarantine regulations; or go to Calais,
and other French ports, where ships and passengers from the
Thames are subject to a moderate term of quarantine.
BRUSSELS, MARCH (S.—The remains of General Belliard
will be transferred to France this week.
On the 2d there was some skirmishing between the Dutch
and the Belgians at the Capitalen Dam. There were some
wounded on both sides.
Reports of war are again circulating here; they would indi-
cate that we are on the eve of another invasion by the Dutch :
there is no ground for this news. The mission of Count Orloff
to the Hague affords, on the contrary, additional grounds for
believing that our differences with Holland will be amicably
adjusted in a short time.
An English Cabinet messenger left this city yesterday after-
noon with despatches for the Hague.
A Royal ordinance has been issued relative to the calling out

of the first class of the civic guard.
BERLIN, FED. 22.—Though some persons have positively
contradicted the report that the Emperor of Russia was ex-
pected here, it may be affirmed, on good authority, that Gene-
ral Count N— very lately received orders to go to Breslau
to receive the Emperor there, and, if possible, to go to meet
him ; but that counter-orders were sent after the Count, who
has accordingly returned to Berlin.
The purpose of the mission of Count Orloff is not officially
known, but it is reported in the highest circles that he was to
mak,- a last attempt to dissuade the King from his resolution,
which was communicated to the Russian Court, to ratify the
treaty with a few modifications. This object has failed, and
our Cabinet abides by its resolutions ; and it is said that the
Count has now declared that his Court will accede to the reso-
lutions of that of Prussia.

LONDON MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.-A
quarterly meeting was held last night of the members of this
Institution, at their theatre in Southampton-buildings. C.
Toplis, Esq. in the Chair. The minutes of the preceding quar-
terly meeting were read and confirmed, and also those of two
special meetings held during the quarter. The report of the
Committee was then read and received ; from which it appeared
that the affairs of the Institution were in a very flourishing con.
dition, the receipts amounting to 504/. 15s. Sd., and the dis.
bursements to 451/. 13s. 10d., leaving a balance in favour of the
Institution of 53/. Is. 10d. There has been an addition of
many members, the present number being 1,126; and 501. had
been paid to Dr. Birkbeck, in part liquidation of a debt incurred
to him at the building of the theatre. Among the lectures an-
nounced for the ensuing quarter, were a course on the drama,
by Sheridan Knowles, Esq., and a course on human anatomy, by
Dr. Birkbeck. Thanks were then voted to the donors, gratui.
tons lecturers, and teachers to the Institution, Dr. Birkbeck,
Esq. (the President), &c. Basil Montagu, Esq. was announced
during the evening on the list of honorary members, and one of
the Vice-Presidents. Thanks were then voted to the Chair-
man, and the meeting separated.
DARING OUTRAGE AND HIGHWAY ROB-
unkv.—On Monday night, the Rev. Mr. Ashmore, of Wey-
bridge, in Surrey, was attacked and robbed by two villains,
who beat him in the most cruel manner. It appeared that the
Reverend Gentleman had crosses! the Thames to dine with his
friend Mr. Barras, at Shepperton ; on hie return home, about
half-past 11 o'clock, he had again to cross the ferry, from the
Middlesex to the Surrey shore, and he had then to walk about
a mile and a half to his own house. The night was dark, and
he had his lantern with him ; he had not proceeded more than
about 200 yards from the ferry when a man jumped out from
behind a hedge, and struck him a violent blow on the mouth,
which knocked him down ; another villain came out from the
hedge and placed his hand on his mouth, and held him down
while the other rifled his pockets of eight sovereigns and a half,
a valuable gold watch, and a check on Messrs. Barclay and
Tritton, for 141.
The villains having got all they could, imme-
diately ran away, leaving the unfortunate gentleman in a sense-
less state, and bleeding profusely from the injuries he had re-
ceived• It was a considerable time before Mr. Ashmore came
s
to himself, and it was with some difficulty he reached home
Thi dastardly outrage has created
great sensation in the neigh-
bourhood, and officers from London have been sent down to
race out the villains, and, from information received, there is
but little doubt that the miicreanta will be brought to juatiee,

(PRICE

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, MAINZ 8.
The Bill for widening and improving the London-road,
and certain other streets in Manchester, was read a fi, at
time. . . .

Mr. H. ROSS had two petitions to present, regarding
the Bill for regulating the hours of labour in factories.
They had been agreed to, not only by the artisans, but by
the masters ; all of whom expressed their approbation of
the Bill, although they expressed an opinion that the hours
might be extended to eleven hours instead of ten.
The petitions which were from Arbroath and Dundee
were read and ordered to lie on the table.
The HON. MEMBER then said he had a petition to pre-
sent from certain manufacturers of hemp in Forfar, praying
that the duty upon that article might be taken off. In
that part of the country from which the petition came, there
were considerab'e manufactories of that article, which had
been enabled to prosper, and compete with foreign manu-
factures, by having a bounty granted to them ; but the
bounty was now taken off, and, in consequence, it was
found impossible to compete with the foreign mar-
kets. The petitioners had very strong claims on
the attention of his Majesty's Government, and they
complained of a breach of good faith, for they had been
given to understand that when the bounty ceased, the duty
would also cease. The has to the revenue by taking off
the duty would be so trifling as to create no incon-
venience; for at present it produced hut about 60,00001.
or 70,0001., and if the drawback upon the hemp which
supplied the navy were deducted, the real amount of duty
would not be found to exceed 4 5001.
An Hose. MEMBER, whose name we could not learn,
supported the prayer of the petitioners. Hemp was
still subject to a duty of 41. 13s: 4d. per ton—a tax that
was highly injurious to the interests of the manufacturers.
It was an axiom of political economists that all taxes
on the raw material of a staple manufacture were
injurious in principle. The tax upon hemp manufactured
in this country afforded a premium on foreign industry to
the neglect of our own interests. He would merely refer
to those articles, such as sails, cordage, &c., in which a
portion of hemp was introduced, and for which the duty
of 41. 13s. 4d. was charged, and to the other articles made
with hemp upon which the duty operated as a double
tax for this reason, viz., that as rough hemp underwent
a process by which one-half of its weight was got rid
of, and as that article was imported in large quantities
free of duty, the article manufactured in this country in
fact paid 41. 13s. 4d. duty for only half a ton. The
result of this was that the manufacturers were almost
entirely precluded from the use of hemp, and were
obliged to substitute an inferior article called tow, The
manufacturers of Russia and Germany consequently ob-
tained a great advantage over those of this country. There
was another reason for taking off the duty, viz., that, as
hemp in this country was wholly manufactured by hand-
labour (machines not having been yet introduced to
rna itifacture that article), if the duty were taken
off, much employment would be afforded to a very large
class of persons, and particularly to aged females.
He begged pardon for having detained the House so long ;
but had his Majesty's Ministers been present, he should
have impressed upon them the extreme importance of the
subject. The petition was then read, and ordered to lie
on the table.
Mr. H. ROSS then presented a petition from Dundee,
signed by nearly 3,000 persons, in favour of the Bill for
shortening the hours of labour of children in factories.
The Hon. Member also presented a petition from the
corporation and guildry of Arbroath, in favour of the
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Bill.
Mr. WELBY presented a petition from the free-
holders and proprietors of land in Grantham, against the
General Registry Bill.
Ordered to be referred to the Committee.
Mr. THICKNESSE presented a petition from a place,
the name of which we could not catch, against the Facto-
ries Regulation Bill. The petitioners stated that the la-
bour of children in cotton-factories was not severe, and
that if their hours of labour were shortened, there must he
a correspondent reduction in the wages, and, of course, of
their comforts.
Mr. H. GRATTAN moved for returns of the different
suits instituted by the Charitable Commissioners in Ire-
land, and an account of the costs incurred in them ; also
the salaries of the registrars, and other expenses of the
establishment.—Ordered.
The Hou. MEMBER also presented several petitions
from parishes in the counties of Meath and Mayo, against
the present existing tithe system.
Mr. D. BROWNE supported the prayer of the petition.
Mr. JONES presented a petition from Londonderry
against the system of education proposed by his Majesty's
Ministers to be introduced into Ireland. The Hon. Mem-
ber presented a similar petition from the Magistrates of
the county of Londonderrv.
Mr. HOPE presented a petition from the manufac-
turers of Fife against the Factory Regulation Bill. The
petitioners stated that such a measure was peculiarly un-
called for in Scotland, as in that country there were no
parish apprentices, and therefore no compulsory labour.
The Bill would operate very severely on all manufacturers
in Scotland. They accompanied the petition with docu-
ments to prove that the children's state of health, and in-
tellectual and moral improvement, were equal to that of the
surrounding agricultural population. There was a certi-
ficate too from the Clerk of Session, showing that the poor
children thus employed had received no parochial support.
They impressed upon the House the great inconvenience
of any legislative interference, especially as there was no
necessity for it, and they suggested that if the House
did interfere, the provisions of the Bill would be as
simple and as plain as possible, and the duration of labour
should not be limited beyond 72 hours per week.
Mr. WATSON presented a petition from the inhabi-
tants of Canterbury and the neighbourhood, in favour of
the Factories Bill.
Mr. WILKES presented a petition from the Friendly
Society of Loyal Britons in the Isle of 'Wieht. Also a
petition from the Carpenters' and Joiners' Friendly So-
ciety, meeting at the Hole-in•the-Wall, Fleet-street, rela-
tive to the provisions of the New Friendly Society Act.
The petition stated that by the provisions of
that Act they were required to be enrolled before
next June, and that those provisions were wholly
inconsistent with the objects of their benevolent institu-
tions. They suggested that the matter should be
taken into consideration, for the purpose of extending
the provisions of the Act, and making such other
amendments, as convenience might require. The Hon.
Member then gave notice that on Tuesday next he
would move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the
Friendly Society Act, by extending the time when these
Societies should conform to its provisions.
Mr. MACKINNON gave notice that on Tuesday the
10th of April he should move for leave to bring in a Bill
for the partial abolition of the usury laws.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT moved for a return of personal
property unadministered in Ireland.
Lord G. LENNOX moved the order of the day for the
House to resolve into a Committee on the remedies
against the Hundred Bill.—The Bill went through Com-
mittee, and the House resumed.—Report to-morrow.
Lord ALTHORP had expected, when he agreed to
set apart to-morrow for the second reading of the
Factories Bill, that the Reform Bill would have by that
time been through the Committee ; but as he had been
disappointed in that expectation, he had now a
request to make of the Honourable Member for
Aldborough, which, if acceded to, would be of conside-
rable convenience to the House.—(Hear, hear.) He
proposed that the second reading of the Factories Bill
should be postponed till some day next week ; and
by devoting to-morrow and Saturday to the Reform Bill
it might then, he hoped, be through Committee.
Mr. SADLER acceded to the proposition of the Noble
Lord, on condition that a day might be fixed next week
for his motion.
Lord ALTHORP fixed Friday next for that purpose.
GREENWICH HOSPITAL.

Sir M. W. RIDLEY brought forward his motion for
leave to bring in a Bill to alter so much of the 20th Gen.
11. chap. 38, as imposed the tax of sixpence on the mer-
chant seamen towards Greenwich Hospital.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM felt it to be his bounden duty
in this early stage of the business to oppose the motion, and
he was persuaded the House weuld not grant the leave prayed.
The Right Hon. Gentleman was of opinion that this mo-
tion, which professed to consult the interests of the mer-
chant seamen, was a question which, in point of truth.
affected only the masters of those seamen; for he was
quite certain that if this impost were now to be removed,
no addition would be made to the seamen's wages ;
the difference would be pocketed by their employers....

'The removal of this Impost would have a more striae.:
,ffect in some way or other ; aid the question was,
•in whom the burden of this great national isetis.
tution ought to fall. From the time of William
the Third this tax of sixpence had existed ; and unless the
House were prepared to sanction a diminution of the esta-
blishment, no reduction could he made in tie sources
from whence the establishment derived its support. The
sixpence was a very fair and reasonable tax, and be was
quite prepared to defend it in every respect. It
imounted to 22,0001. a year, and if it were now
to be removed, that amount of 22,0001. a sear
would either have to be provided out of the public
purse, or the establishment would have to be tedneetl.--
With respect to the reduction of the establishment,
it so happened that a very great eduction of the
men would be productive of but a very small saving in
the expenses of the establishment. If many of them were
turned out of the establishment at this moment, they

would be entitled to _ a pension in consequence

of the wounds they had received ; many of them
to twelve pounds a year as out-patients ; while the
whole cost of supporting them within the eatablithment
lid not amount to more than the sum of twenty pounds
per man a year. So also with regard to the officers
of the establishment—the greater part of them, if
they were not in that establishment, would he
entitled to halfpay, and the difference between that Leif-
pay and their expenses in ate Hospit was com-
paratively very little indeed. It was to herr call. cted that
there was a great pressure at present upon the funds,
not only in the metropolis, but in other parts
of the country ; and there was likewise a great
pressure on the Greenwich funds, but which, in a
abort time would be considerably removed. By a
change about to take place, in five years Vh•re would
he an increase in the Greenwieh 11,spi!.11 reve-
nues in one instance of no less than 9NU a year.
There was also a change about to be made of .ecutitioe
into land, which would likewise be prodtvtive of a Meat
increase of the revenue, and ther.hy rnateria'ly ben,fit the
Hospital. He did not think it neces'sry to go into the
details of the reasons why he deemed a reth:ction or dim'.
notion of the establishment inemle client. There wes nothing
that raised the estimation of the King', service
more than the establishment of Greenwich Hospital, and
the certainty that men, entering into the service, had
of being admitted into that Hospital as a last resort,
after having been wounded or injured in any action.
The establishment had gone on as it now existed for a cen-
tury and a half, nor had any remonstrances ever been made
against this tax of sixpence until within the last tour or flee
years, and that remonstrance which proceeded both then and
now from the masters of the seamen, :aught not at
present to be attended to by the House, even if
it were only for the protection which the merchants
had received from the King's ships in the war, and
which, indeed, they continued to receive whenever
the least difficulty arose among them and their men, in
consequence of any stand for an advance of wage., or from

any other cause.
Mr. WRIGHTSON agreed that this tax did not fall
upon the seamen but upon the ship-ow errs; but he
thought it peculiarly unjust upon that class to impose a
tax upon them whitish ought to be borne by the community
at large.
Mr. HODGSON spoke in favour of the motion.
Mr. SCHONSWAR praised the establishment of
Greenwich Hospital, as a refuge tor those who were
wounded in the set vice of their country ; but he knew of
no reason why that establishment should be supported at
the expense of the merchant seamen, who were denied any
benefits from it. It was a gross act of injustice. The
country at large ought to pay the cost of the establishment.
Sir G. COCKBURN denied that the payment of the
sixpence was an act of injustice. The first Act of Parlia-
ment which imposed the tax laid down the principle that
it was not only for the benefit of the naval service, but
for the protection of the merchant service. It was also
provided, that if a merchant ship got into an action with
an enemy, and any of the crew were wounded, they thereby
became entitled to the same benefits as those in the naval
service. He was sure, and would at all times maintain,
that it was a very unwise measure to abolish the sixpence.
He recommended the Hon. Baronet to withdraw his mo-
tion for the present.
Lord W. LENNOX thought it an act of injustice that
the merchant seamen should be taxed for the support of
an hospital that ought to be supported by the country.
He should vote against the Government.
Mr. HUME had no objection to the arrangement pro.
posed by the Hon Baronet, but what he did object to
was, that the payment should fill on the merchant-seamen
If the thing was right and proper let the public pay for it.
Sir G. CLERK—The fact was, that this was neither
more nor less than a tax of 20,0001. a year on the ship-
ping interest of the country ; and be should be very happy
whenever the moment arrived that Greener ich Hospital
had a surplus reveuue, so that the Right lion. Baronet
might be able to relieve the shipping interest from
that tax. Now that he was on his legs, he begged to put
a question relative to the Keswick estates of Greenwich
Hospital. The other night &question was put as us the sale
of some of those estates; and he had understood the Right
Hon. Baronet then to say, that only a small portion of them
was to be disposed of in that manner. He now, however,
saw by an advertisement in the newspapers that two or
three of the estates were offered for sale ; he, thet sfore,
wished to know, whether it was in contemplation of the
Government to dispose of the larger portion of those estates?
Mr. BARING admitCd they were not taxing the sea-
men by this, but the commercial marine of the country ;
and certainly, if it could be got rid of, it would be very de-
sirable. He thought, however, that he oluld suggest
means of saving enough out of the funds of Greenwich
Hospital to pay for this expenditure. According to a
paper which he held in his hand, explanatory of the gross
rents and disbursements of the Derwent Water estates, it
appeared that the disbursements had frequently been as
great as the receipts. In this he was speAtiog only of the
estates, and not of the mines; and he fancied that as most
gentlemen understood something of the management of
estates, they would be a little surprised at the statement
which he had made. The amount of the rents last
year was 25,0001., and of the disbursements 17,0001. ;
but this was comparatively low, for in some years ti.e
expenses had risen to upwards of 40,000/. He, there •
fore, really thought that, with proper management, a sav-
ing on those estates might be made equal to the amount of
the bealnen'a expenses.
Sir J. GRAHAM—The expenses of the Derwent Water
estates had not escaped the notice of the present Board of
Admiralty nor of the last. But his answer to the state-
ment of the Hon. Gentleman must be, that tee expense
was already incurred, and there was, therefore, now no
help for it. The estates, however, had been placed in the
highest state of culture, and the consequence was, that
they would be highly productive without incurring any
great outlay for some considerable space of time. With
respect to the sale of the estates, he had certainly thought
it right to direct that some of them should be sold, for the
sake of ascertaining their value ; th sale, however, had
been confined to the outlying estates, and t'.e main body
of the property had not been at all dismembered. As the
thing had only been done by Isr.,y of experiment, it was
impossible for him to say whether any further sale would
be deemed advisable.
After a few words from Mr. GOULBURN, Mr. Wit-
LAND, and Sir M. W. RIDLEY, the =tiers was, by leave,
withdrawn.