The Sun.
London, England, 1835-05-20 00:00:00

TAXES.

stances. He gave notice that on Friday, the sth
of June he would bring forward his motion, and he begged
Hon. Members to understand that he would take the sense of
the House on the measure he proposed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER requested
the Hon. Member to reserve his determining on any particular
day for submitting his motion, until his Noble Friend (Lord
John Russell) would be in his place, which, as he said before,
he expected to-morrow.
Ei Mr. ROBINSON acceded to this request.
..,1145 LORD'S DAY OBSERVANCE BILL.
Mr. POTTER presented a petition from the market gar-
deners of Tottenham, against the Sabbath Observance Bill.
Mr. ROBINSON presented a petition from the clergy and
inhabitants of Worcester, in favour of the Bill.
Mr. T. DUNC 0 MBE had a petition to present from Fins-
bury, praying that certain clauses might be introduced into the
Bill, and that they might be heard by counsel at the bar of
the House in favour of those clauses. The petitioners went
on to state, that having reason to believe that many of the
supporters of the Bill were the very worst observers of the
Sabbath-day—(Great laughter)—and that in the parishes of
St. George, Hanover-square, and St. James, Westminster,
card-playing and games of chance—( Renewed laughter)—
were carried on in the houses of individuals of rank and
fashion, whereby not only the Lord's Day was profaned,
but the servants had a bad example set before them,
and were induced to pursue similar practices—that they dis-
approved of gamesiof chance for money on the Sabbath-day--
( Continued laughter)—and those who would prohibit chuck-
farthing, the petitioners could not help thinking, with the
poor men whose only day of cessation from labour was the Sab-
bath, such men should not be permitted to profane the Lord's-
day with impunity.—( Hear, and laughter.) They therefore
prayed there might be introduced into the Bill a strict enact-
ment against the playing of cards and games of chance in private
Houses on the Sabbath-day—(Great laughter)—and they fur-
ther prayed that if the House doubted these statements, they
might be allowed to prove them at the Bar of the House.
Sir A. AGNEW—If the Hon. Member would move for
the introduction of the clauses referred to in the petition, he
would have great pleasure in seconding the motion.—(Great

laughter.) -
The petition was then laid on the table.
Mr. F. SHAW presented petitions from Skibbereen and
other places in Ireland, in support of the Sabbath Day Bill,
. .

Several petitions were presented for and against the Bill.
On the motion that the Speaker do leave the Chair,
Mr. B. HAWES would preface the few observations he
had to make by expressing his regret that any petitions
should have been presented to throw over this subject the ap-
pearance of ridicule. He was willing to admit that
that there should be a day set apart for rest, and that encou-
ragement ought to be held out for the due observance of the
Sabbath ; but the Hon. Member for Shaftesbury had objected to
the original Bill of the Hon. Baronet, the Member for Wigton-
shire ( Sir A. Agnew), because he thought its effect would be
to hand over soeiety at large to the tender mercies of infor-
mers. He feared very much that such would be the character of
the present bill, and he regretted that the Hon. Member had ob-
jected to its being referred to a committee upstairs, as he thought
that public discussions, upon subjects like the present, .by no
means tended to advance the interests of religion. He thought
that a Committee was the proper place for discussing this sub-
ject, as there were already sixteen or seventeen Acts for the Bet-
ter Observance of the Sabbath, all of which had become obsolete.
He was aware that there was such a feeling abroad upon the
subject in the country, that he knew the time had come when
s ;me:measure must be passed upon it, and therefore it was that he
was anxious to know what was actually necessary to be done,
which could only be known from the enquiries of a se-
lect committee. The Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Pout-
ter) said, that he only wished to put an end to
Sunday trading, but if such was his intention, the words he
u-ed in his Bill went much further, and would put an end to
all travelling on Sunday. If the Honourable Gentleman
was not afraid of an inquiry, if he (Mr. Hawes) had
not read the words aright in the Bill, and if it was
not intended to give other persons the opportunity of
reading it in the same spirit, he would at once agree
to its being referred to a select Committee. If the Hon.
Gentleman would take that step, he, (Mr. H.) would pro-
mise him all the assistance that lay in his power,
but if not he would feel it his duty to give it all the
opposition consistent with the rules of the House. He had
the authority of the Hon. Baronet opposite (Sir A. Agnew),
and of another great authority, Dr. Pye Smith, for saying
that the lower orders were now in the habit of keeping
th Sabbath much more religiously than in former years ; then
if such were the case, he would say, allow that feeling to go on,
and he believed it would have a much better effect than the
introduction of any new law on the subject.---( Hear, hear. )
It was upon these grounds that he felt himself called upon to
move that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee.
Mr. POTTER said that it was with pleasure that he se-
conded the motion of his Hon. Friend. He had always
b'cn opposed to any legislation upon the Better Observ-
ance of the Sabbath, and he did not see any reason now
to alter that opinion. The present Bill he objected to,
because it would affect only the lower classes. Let the
Hon. Baronet opposite ( Sir A. Agnew) attempt, if he must
legislate upon the subject at all, to stop the mails.—(" Hear,"
f.om Sir A. Agnew.) He ought even to go further, and
shut up Hyde-park, and the other resorts of the higher classes,
aid then he (Mr. P.) would think he was in earnest.
Mr. PO U TER called upon the House to assist him in car-
rying this Bill, which was so far from being objectionable,
that if it was passed it would be called the " Poor Man's Biil."
Ii the ordinary traffic of the Sunday was suspended, it would
be a great blessing to the working classes.
Mr. HUN! E said that the interest of many classes would be
endangered by this Bill if it were passed in its present state,
especially the market gardeners. He thought that the merits
of the Bill aught to be discussed in a Committee up stairs, in
order that the views of all parties might be known.
Sir A. AGNEW thought the Bill had much better be
discussed in the House than in a Committee up stairs.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was op-
posed to referring the Bill to a Select Committee up stairs.
The House was then in as good a condition to discuss the
clauses of the Bill as it would be after the proposed reference.
Delay would be the only result of such a proceeding, and as
the House had affirmed the principle of the Bill, it was unne-
c scary to refer it.
Mr. WA RBLT RTON considered that the tendency of this
Bill would he to bring legislation into disrespect, and
consequeatly the observance of the Sabbath itself.--( Hear,
hear, hear.) He differed from the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, in his argument supporting the motion. He was
convinced that the Bill would become a dead letter,
and he would ask the Honourable Gentleman if the ge-
neral terms in which his Bill was couche•l would not interfere
with the comfort• cf the people, and totally prevent them from
enjoying any relaxation on the onl.y day permitted to them felt it.
Sir ROBERT PEEL said that no man in the House
felt more of the importance of observing the Sabbath
than he did, for he was convinced that no one had a right
to shock the public feeling by violating it—( Hear, hear)—
hut he would say he entertained very serious doubts whether
it could be prevented by acceeding to this measure, and
whether it would not be better to trust to the in-
fluence of measures, and thus check by the force
of public opinion any violation of the Sabbath that
course would be better than to have its observance de-
pendant upon a new law that will be difficult of exe-
cution, the tendency of which would only be to bring
the law into disrepute, and the sacred object for which that
law would be enacted. From his own judgment, he thought
it would be better to trust to the influence of public opinion,
than to legislate at all upon the subject, for his own short
experience convinced him that the Sabbath was now
better observed than . formerly. If that effect has
taken place, while the laws referring to the Sabbath were per-
mittted to remain in the statute-book as a dead letter, it was
easy to show that that result was owing to the influence of
manners. The enactment, though in force, were not observed
and by introducing new measures on the subject, the
tendency would be to bring legislation into disre-
pute, he was satisfied that one of two alternatives
must be adopted, either leave the law as it is, or sim-
plify and consolidate that which he proposed, so that
everyone may understand it.—Cries of " Hear, hear, hear."
This Bill assumed that the act of Charles 11. was in operation
and the title of his bill was to render ,that act more effeetive.
Now the enectments of the bill were totally at variance
with its title. (Loud cries of Hear, hear.) It seiected
one single offence from the Act of Charles the Second's Act,
and rendered it more penal.—(Hear, hear.) He was at
a loss to know how any man could understand what
this Bill really was. They had better have the law as it was,
or else consolidate the whole of the laws into one Act. He
was at first inclined to support the motion for a Committee,
but he thought it better to meet the question fairly, and
defeat it upon principle. He had, however, no objection
to allow the Bill to go into Committee, and make it as per-
fect as possible, and then he would feel himself at liberty to
vote for it or oppose, as he should think fit.
Mr. POULTER rose to explain, and was left speaking.

USPECTED INCENDIARY FIRE AT BROMPTON.
—About one o'clock yesterday morning the neighbourhood of
Brompton and Little Chelsea was much alarmed by a fire,
which was discovered to have broken out in the back premises
of the Admiral Keppel Inn, on the high road to Fulham. The
alarm was given by
.a female, who, as she was passing by, dis-
covered the flames issuing from the extensive inclosed skittle.
grounds at the rear of the premises, which, being pitched over,
burnt with great fury. The Kensington parish engine was
speedily brought to the spot, and, although very scantily sup-
plied with water, the destructive element was subdued about
three o'clock, without extending to the front premises, which
are uninjured. The greatest praise is due to the T and V
division of police for their great exertions in extinguishing the
fire, to which the preservation of the premises of Mr. Collins,
adjoining, is mainly to be attributed. The back premises acre
only finished about Easter, and it is strongly suspected they
were maliciously set on fire, as previous to going to bed
the waiter had inspected them, when every thing was safe.
Mr. Watts, the proprietor, who is in the country, is, we
understand, insured.
TRIESTE, MAY 4.—We have agreeable news from
Athens. The city is daily improving in beauty ; houses spring
up like mushrooms, and at this moment have risen to twice
their value. What may be expected when the iron railroad
between Corinth and Athens shall be completed? A French-
man has undertaken to connect Corinth and the Piraeus by an
iron railroad. He has not only obtained the permission of the
Government, but the ground has been given him gratis. The
money for the execution of the plan is secured by a subscrip-
tion in Paris. The expense is estimated at between two and
three millions of francs. Compared with the usual expense
of an iron railroad among us, this is a small sum, and only to
be accounted for by the circumstance that the rails are made
in England, and that wages are low in Greece,

Mr. ROBINSON begged to ask the Chancellor of the
Exchequer if it would be suitable to his convenience, on
an early day, for him (Mr. Robinson) to bring forward
his motion for the appointment of a Committee to in-
quire into the propriety of commuting and revising the
the public taxes. He had intended to bring forward his no-
tion on the sth of May, but was prevented, as happened to
him, during the last session, by fortuitous circum-

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1835.

THE SILENT CANDIDATE.

A SCENE FROM SHERIDAN'S CRITIC.

DARTMOUTH HOTEL-WEST BROMWICH.
Enter Sir HoLroArs GOODRICKE ; goes slowly to the window
of the Dartmouth Hotel, and looks.
Supporter—Hush! vastly well, Sir vastly well—a most
interesting gravity.
Elector—What, isn't he to speak at all?
Sup.—Egad, I thought you'd ask me that. Yes, it is a
very likely thing that a Tory in his situation, with the whole
affairs of the nation on his head, should have time to talk.
Hush ! or you'll put him out !
Elect.—Put him out ! How the plague can that be, if he's
not going to say any thing !
Sup. There's a reason ! Why, his part is to think, and how
the plague do you imagine he can think if you keep talking ?
Elect.—That's very true, upon my word !
Sir Holyoake comes forward, shakes his head and exit.
Elect.—He's' very perfect, indeed. Now, pray,; what did
he mean by that ?
Sup.—You don't take it ?
Elect.—No, I don't, 'pon my soul.
Sup.—Why, by that shake of the head he gave you to
undertand, that, even though they had more justice in their
cause, and wisdom in their measures—yet, if there was not a
greater spirit shown on the part of the people, the country
would fall a sacrifice to the Weigs and to the hostile ambition
of the O'Connell monarchy, and that, above all, he would be
last on the poll.
Elect.—The devil ! Did he mean all that by shaking his
head?
Sup.—Every word of it—if he shook his head as I directed
him.

Elect. —Ah ! certainly there is a vast deal to be done on the
hustings by dumb-show. Nathless, I'll vote for Anson !
Anson, for ever I

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

traffic ;" and he wished to guard himself from the inference to
be drawn from such a statement, that the present Governments
of Spain and Portugal had not manifested a disposition to act
on different principles from those adopted by their predecessors
in reference to this subject. The fact was that they had, and
that treaties were now in the act of negotiation with both
Powers which, he hoped, would terminate to the satisfaction
of all parties. He disapproved of the proposition for break-
ing up the vessels, but he had no objection whatever that it
should become the law of nations that all persons, taken in
the act of carrying on this trade, should be deemed guilty of
piracy.
Mr. O'CONNE LL said that it was all very well for Hon.
Gentlemen filling official situations to speak with mildness of
the conduct of Spain and Portugal, but for his part, uncon-
nected as he was with office, he thought no language that
could be used, in reference to the course pursued by those
Powers with respect to this trade too strong. He hoped that
the treaties now pending would be carried into effect ; but, at
all events, he trusted that the example which this country set
would have the effect of ultimately putting an end to this hor-
rible traffic.
Mr. ROBINSON said that it was not enough to tell them
that Spain and Portugal had evinced a disposition to put an
end to this trade. Both those Powers, but more particularly
Portugal, were bound to do so; and he, therefore, hoped the
Governments of those countries would be speedily induced
to look into a subject which it was a disgrace to any civilized
nation to tolerate.
Mr. F. BUXTON wished to explain to his Hon. Friend
the Member for Middlesex, and the House, why it was he
wished to have all slave vessels captured destroyed. The
fact was, that, being fitted up in a peculiar manner, they were
unfit for any other employment, and, therefore, if they were
not broken up, the chances were that they would be again ap-
plied to their original purpose.
Mr. PR YME could not see any advantage that would be
gained by breaking up those lessels, since they must become
useless if the trade were abolished.

The motion was then agreed to.
Mr. HUME suggested that it would in a great degree save
the time of the House if long resolutions like those just read
were not read a second time, unless at the request of some
Member.
Mr. F. BUXTON postponed, until the 14th of July next,
his motion respecting the treatment of aborigines in British
settlements, as some papers of importance as regarded the sub-
ject were in the course of being printed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. MAY 19.
EDUCATION IN IRELAND.
Mr. WYSE rose to bring forward the Bill of which he had
given notice, for extending the benefits of education to the
people of Ireland. He thought the subject one of very
great importance, more particularly under the circumstances
in which the House was at present placed. There was
nothing new in the views with which he brought forward this
question, as he had introduced a Bill on the same subject when
he first had the honour of a seat in that House.—( Hear, hear. )
Many of the difficulties had been swept away, yet many re-
mained. Committees were at that moment sitting upon the edu-
cation of the people of England and Scotland. Ireland had had
Committee after Committee, and they had now come to the con-
clusion that the subject was ripe for being acted upon, not
talked of—that the time had now come to bring forward a
system of education agreeably to the wants of the age.
The Protestant Church was turned into a system of pro-
selytism, and it was made criminal for the Catholics
to educate either at home or abroad. A variety of in-
stitutions had established schools in Ireland, but with
the exception of one, they all made a direct attack, and
declared open war against the Roman Catholics.—( Hear. )
In the Bill he would submit to their consideration he pro-
posed to establish a National Board of Education in
Dublin, at the head of which he would place the Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland. He would also appoint a Council
to assist the Viceroy, the members of which ought to be appointed
with impartiality, if it were possible impartiality could be ob •
tained in that country. It was prophesied when the new Board of
Education was established that it would be impossible to get
persons of different persuasions to act together. The fact
that the Catholic and Protestant Archbishops of Dublin have
presided for the last two years without coming into collision
proved how unfounded was that assertion. He proposed to ap-
point the Catholic and Protestant Archbishops at the head of the
Board he contemplated. He would also take a Presbyterian cler-
gyman, so that the religion of the three great bodies of the Irish
would be thus represented. He would also appoint a gentleman
from each province in Ireland, so that the people
would be inspired with confidence in the system.
This might be said to be a matter of difficulty, but
he would appeal again to facts and experience. In
the present mode of education, there is a Noble Lord from
Leinster, and a gentleman from Connaught, and all that would
be required for his (Mr. W's) system, was the appointment
of representatives for Ulster and Munster.—( Hear.) He
would leave the appointment of officers of the Council
in the power of the Lord Lieutenant. This Council, with
a Minister of Public Instruction, should have the power
of building schools, houses for the school-masters, model
schools, and to defray the expenses of giving lectures on sci-
ence. This system prevailed in Prussia and Bavaria, and in
a, great portion of the United States of North America.
He would also give the counsel the power of appointing
teachers, and in order that they might have fit teachers, he
would have a teacher's school established under a proper system
—the teachers also to be subject to strict examination.
The Hon. Member proceeded to point out the advantages
which would result from a diffusion of education among
the great mass of the people of Ireland. It would tend
to further the moral improvement of the rising gene-
ration, and arrest the progress of crime and insubordination.
There was one sort of education totally left out and neglected
by the Legislature, which he would call a subsidiary edu-
cation, which ought to be allowed to this extent, namely,
to the following up early education by the establishment of
schools for adults. All the continental countries of Eur6pe,
from France in the south, to Denmark in the north, had
systems of education analogous to the one lie now proposed.
The system of education now adopted in this country, from
the highest to the lowest, was as had as it possibly could be.
Religion should enter into the system he proposed, for reli-
gion ought to be the basis of every institution, otherwise the
knowledge of evil would be acquired as well as that of good.
If Ireland was to be regenerated it was to be done by culti-
vating the minds of her inhabitants. It was now high time that
that country should not be governed provisionally in all things.
—( Hear, hear.) Though the people of Ireland were re-
formed they were not educated, and a better education should
be given to them—not in words, but in things. Harmony
ought to be introduced into the Government of Ireland, and
she should be legislated for as if she really formed a part of
this country. They ought to strike boldly for posterity, and
the best way to regenerate Ireland was to educate the rising
generation. The people of that country would have educa-
tion in despite of all efforts to prevent them, and it was for the
Legislature to consider how far that education ought to ex-
tend, and what was to be the nature of it. The Hon. Mem-
ber concluded by moving for leave to bring in a " Bill for the
amelioration, general diffusion, and permanent support of the
education of the people in Ireland."
Mr. SH A W—That was because it had become necessary
to purchase buildings. and incur other expenses ; but this
could not be construed into anything like approbation.
Mr. SHE I L could not help saying that the Irish friends of
the late Government in that House had observed an accom-
modating silence—an official taciturnity—on this subject
while they remained in power, but this was not the case on
the other side of the water, for there both Sir R. Peel and
Sir H. H. Hardinge were denounced for the course they had
taken in this respect.
After a few word from Messrs. F. O'Connor, Sir R. Bate-
son, and Mr. Lynch, leave to bring in the Bill was given.
THE SLAVE TRADE.
Mr. F. BUXTON, with the permission of the House,
would postpone the motion of which he had given notice re-
specting the treatment of the Aborigines in the British set-
tlements, and proceed with that on the subject of the slave
trade. The resolution which he formerly proposed was ob-
jected to on account of its length ; but he thought that his
present motion would attain the assent of every Hon. Gentle-
man present, ivasmuch as it was not only short, but contained
all that could be desired. The Hon. Gentleman recapitulated
some of the statements which he entered into on the previous
evening, in order to show that the slave trade was as active
now as ever it had been, and he then adverted to the treaties,
for putting an end to this inhuman traffic, which existed on
the subject with foreign nations. Spain and Portugal, in par-
ticular, had weighty pecuniary considerations for adhering to
the solemn engagements which they had entered into ; but,
instead of keeping faith, as they were bound to have done,
those Powers, he was sorry to say, had grossly violated their
treaties, by allowing the slave trade to be carried on under
their respective flags. No one could conceive the horrors of
this dreadful traffic, and, if it were necessary, he could go in-
to details of the most striking and painful nature. The Hon.
Gentleman then moved—
" That an humble address be presented to his Majesty, to inform
his Majesty that this House has learned with deep regret, from the
documen tswhich have been laid before it, that the traffic in slaves
still continues to be carried on, under the protection of the flags of
foreign nations, particularly under those of Spain and Portugal, to
an extent almost as great as at any former period of its existence,
and attended with circumstances of additional cruelty and horror.
" That this House particularly calls the attention of his Majesty
to the conduct hitherto pursued by the Governments of Spain and
Portugal, who are bound not only by the most solemn treaties,
but by the payment of large sums of money, and the remission
of debts due to this country, totally to abolish this nefarious traffic.
" That this House, with a view to put an end to this iniquitous
and detestable trade, humbly beseeches his Majesty to enter into
negotiations with his allies, for the purpose of revising all the trea-
ties having for their object the suppression of this traffic, in order
to reduce the terms and stipulations contained therein into one
solemn league hetween all the high contracting parties, and to in-
troduce it into such general treaty.
" First, An extension of the limit to the right of search to the
whole of the western and eastern coasts of Africa and the Island
of Madagascar, and to such distance from these coasts as shall en-
sure the capture of all slaves ; and an agreement, that this right of
search shall be reciprocal between all the high contracting parties.
" Secondly, That the right of seizure shall be extended to ves-
sels equipped for the purposes of trading in slaves, although not ac-
tually having slaves on board.
" Thirdly, An agreement that all such vessels as may be con-
demned by the mixed Commission Courts shall forthwith be broken
up, or otherwise effectually destroyed; and—
Fourthly, A stipulation that the trade in slaves shall be de-
clared piracy. '
• Mr. HUME seconded the motion.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
the resolution had the entire sanction of his Majesty's present
Government, but as some misapprehension seemed to prevail
on the subject, he wished to assure the House that no effort or
pains had been spared, either by the present Government or
any former Administration, to put an end to this trade, and
thereby carry into full effect the intentions of Parliament.
The second paragraph of the resolution alluded to the " con-
duct hitherto pursued by the Governments of Spain and Por-
tugal, who are bound, not only by the most solemn treaties,
but by the payment of large sums of money and the remission
of debts due to this country, totally to abolish this nefarious