The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-14 00:00:00

PRICE OF SUGAR.

The Average Price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, for the
week endingJune'll, 1844, is: 345. 10. per cwt., exclusive
of the Duties of Customs paid or payable.thereon on the im-
portation thereof into Great Britain.

COURSE OF EXCH.
Amsterdam CF. • 12 6
Ditto, at sight l2 4
Rotterdam 9 U l2 6i
Antwerp 25 90
Elamburgh 51.8. 13 14
Altoila l3 14i
Paris, 3 days' sight 25 65
Ditto, 3 months 25 85
Marseilles - 25 90
Bourdeaux
Frankfort on Maine 1211;
Petersburgh, 3Us 37
Berlin

A.NGE.—(THIS DAY.)
Gibraltar
Leghorn 3O 45
Genoa 25 90
Milan
Venice 47
Naples 39
Palermo, per oz ll7
Lisbon 54
Oporto 54
Rio Janeiro 23
Bahia 23
Buenos Ayres
NewYork,2ldys sight
Philadelphia
PRICES OF BULLION, PER OZ.
Foreign Gold, bars. £3 17 9
Portugal Gold Coin 3 17 5
New Doubloons 0 0 0
New Dollars 0 4 10
Silver in Bars 0 4 114

Vienna, etree. ii. 3 M
Trieste, ditto

Madrid

3%
5
1154
66%
223
100
122

CatliL
14ilbao

Barcelona .

Seville

9 53
9 54

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.

24411,4
46
111

R 74
216
2434
es%
18%
105%

265%
23
119%

(From the London New Price Current of June 14.)

SUGAIL-To-dad there was more business doing in West
Judia by groceri as v.-ell as refiners; 550 hinls were sold, but
at easier rates, mAiitg the decline since this day week Is per
cwt ; 57s to 58s 6%1 atvepted for a parcel of strong grey St.
Kitts. The total purchases for the week are 1,650 hhds and
trcs. The market is well supplied with all qualities. •
ItEnxt-b.L---To-day there was rather more business tran-
sacted in I:ethied goods fur home consumption, but at lower
rates ; brown Lumps selling at 75s to 758 6d, and Standard
Lumps 76s to 76s 6fl per cwt. Bonded Crushed Sugar is
selling steadily at former rates; Loaves are still wanted, and
prices remain firm.
ISlAuitruius.—liiilders have refrained from offering any at
auction, and the limited business transacted privately has
been llpo.l rather lower terms.
EAsT INDIA.—Thus afternoon, of Bengal Sugar two parcels
amounting; to 3,697 bags were offered at auction and a part
mike sold at rather lower rates • fine white went at 63s to
63s 6d, gocd his to 61s 6d, middling 59s 6d to 608 Gd, mid
yellow 57s to 58s, and damps 56s to 62s Gd per cwt.
FoßEtc;x.—lmporters of yellow Havannah Sugar have
been desirous to realise, but submitting to a reduction on
former rates of 6d to is per cwt has occasioned a considerable
business to be transacted; of white some parcels have been
sold, but upon rathe: lower terms.

`"MorAsss.—For West India the rates accepted are rather
under those of last Friday; low St. Kitts and St. Vincents
made at 23s per cwt.
Cocos.—For Bt itish Plantation holders have refused to
further give way in price; Trinidad, fair grey at 42s to 435,
good 444, anti good dark bold red 45s 6(1 to 47s Gd per cwt.
Foreign has been taken sparingly, and holders are more in-
clined to sell.
Rust, BaSsi,v, AND 1101.1. ANDS.—Leewards proof smoker
at 2s 1,11(-1, 3 per cent over do 2s 2d, and 10 over 2a 20,
proof of clean quality however cannot be purchased under
•4:12(1. For Demerara 3s 31 taken for 37 over. Jamaica 30
to 32 per cent over proof 3s 2d to 3s 4d, 33 to 36 over as 5d
to 3s 7,1, good 3, 84 to 3s 10d, fine 4s to 4s 64, and
superior 4s 84 to 5s per gallon. Calcutta Rum of proof
strength, with certificate, Is lid to 2s per gallon
there are several purehasers at Is lOid per gallon.
For Brandy prices rule as follows:—Cognac best brands of
the vintage of 1838—hltds at 5s 54, puns 55 311; ditto, 1839,
hhds 5s ‘3,1, puns 5s 1(1; ditto, 1840, lihds 5s 2(1, puns ss;
ditto, 1841, hhds 5s 14, puns 4s lld ; dittO, 1842, lihds 4s Ild,
puns 4s 94, mid and good middling qualities 3s to 4s 3d, and
low 2s 84 to 2s lid per gallon. Geneva for shipping at
Is 94 to Is 104, line tier home consumption has fetched 2s 4(.1
to 3s per gallon At previous rates the market is firm for
English Corn Spirits.,
Smio.—Pearl, tine small at 235, middling greyish 18s to
198 Gd per cwt ; African Arrowroot 2Ad to 3(1 ; line West
India is Ad to is Gd ; Bermuda 104 to Is Id. This after-
noon Sago Flour taken in at 22s for good quality, being
above the value ; there were buyers at 19a per cis t.
ColiFEE.—Tilti demand has been brisker for West India
Coffee this Areek, and the rates .previously established have
been supported. This afternoon the market was better
'lll,l,lied with Coffi.T adapted for home consumption. Ceylon
good erd trent at 48s Gd to 495, real good ord 49s 6d to
; triage to 151; East India, fine old colory Singapore
mat.nits to 40s, and Sumatra ord 265: Mocha was taken
in—yellow Mysore sort at 70s, triage sold at 28a 6d to 3256 d ;
Pa clang fetched 32s for sound ; Jamaica at 86s for mid, 78s
for low nod, Os to 715 for fine and fine fine ord, 57s for good
ord, and 25s to 47s Um- triage; Dominica fetched 70s 6d for
low mid, 601 tor line ord, and 40s tbr triage •
TEs.—To-day several purchases were made in Tea, and
prices are firmer ; it is difficult to purchase common sound
Congou under 114, and T w ank ay is 3d per lb for cash. The
trade generally are inure inclined to do business, and mer-
chants less disposed to press.sales,

RlCE.—Bengal Rice at lOs 9d to 11s for middling
white,
and 11s 3d per cwt for good mid. Madras and Java of vel-
low quality at 8s to 9s per cwt. Patna at 13s to 16s. Caro-
line at 26s for first, 24s for second, and 214 per cwt for third
quality.
OM.—Olive Oil, prices are still going down; Gallipoli at
5019 Spanish 47/ to 48/, and Barbary 461 to 461 lOs per tun.
Rape Oil firmer; pale 38s to 38s 6d, and brown 37s to 37s 6d
per cwt. Linseed Oil at 25s 6d to 25s 9d per cwt on the
spot. Palm, fine quality at 27s 6d to 28s per cwt. In Seal
Oil prices are firmer, pale at 331 lOs to 34/. Cod at 331 to
33/ lOs. Sperm Oil at 73/ to 761 per tun for British. This
afternoon fine cocoa Nut Oil tillieu w at Ns per cwt.

TALLow.—Russian on the spot at an advance on former
rates of 6d ; Petersburgh Yellow Candle at 40s 6d to 41s per
cwt. For delivery for the last three months of the year at
41s 6d to 42s per cwt. Town Tallow at 39s 6d to 40 per cwt,
nett cash. American at stiffer rates. This afternoon Peters-
burgh Yellow Candle at 40s 9d to 41s on•the spot, and 41s 9d
to 42s for the last three monts of the year. Odessa Yellow
Candle partly sold at 40s; New South Wales 37s 9d to 40s
per cwt.

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY).
OLD COUR7:
THE MURDER AT BATTERSEA.

(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of this day.)

Richard Taylor, 203 D, examined by Mr. BODKIN—I
opened the door for the prisoner, and afterwards was placed in
the same cell. I offered him some bread and cheese, but the
prisoner said he was so agitated that night that he could not
eat any. He then said that if a reward were offered he should
choose his man to give himself up to.
Superintendent Bicknell, of the V Division, proved some
papers.
William Daniel Andrews, deceased's brother, said that his
sister's boa was so saturated with blood that he destroyed it.
He had, likewise, for the same reason, burned her white straw
bonnet. Her age was 45 years and three months.
Police-constable Langton produced the shawl and dress
worn by deceased on the evening of the 29th April.
William Connor, M.D., Battersea, proved the female's
death, and the cause of it. He should think, from the situ-
ation and appearance of the wound, that it was not inflicted
by herself.

The jury requested leave to retire, and they also begged
that the papers produced in court might be handed to them.
The jury then retired, and had not returned their
verdict when we went to press.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Their Lordships assembled at Five o'Clock.
Several petitions against the Dissenters' Chapels Bill
were presented.

THE STATE TRIALS.

In answer to a question from the Earl of WICKLOW,
The LORD CHANCELLOR said there was no
foundation whatever for the report that the circuits of
the judges in this country had been postponed until after
the writ of error in the State trials had been disposed of.
PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS (SCOTLAND).
The Earl of MINTO wished to ask whether it was
the intention of the Government to propose any measure
for assisting parochial education in Scotland. The
minimum income of the schoolmasters was lOyla week,
and the maximum was 361. a year. It was evident that
for this remuneration the services of gentlemen of
snperior education could not be obtained. lie begged
therefore to ask whether it was to be hoped that
at some future day the Government would take this
subject into their consideration.

The Earl of HADDINGTON would not go into any
'discussion upon this subject, and would confine himself
to answering the question put by his Noble Friend. The
attention of the Government had been turned to the
subject, and although it was not in his power to say
that the Government would introduce a measure this
season, he believed that it would be done next session.
Lord BROUGHAM said that the remuneration was
so scandalously inadequate that he wondered how men
of education could be found to fill the offices. He
thought their efficiency would not be impaired by
giving them adequate salaries.
The Earl of GALLOWAY agreed with the Noble
Earl Minto, that .this was a subject worthy of the at-
tention of the Government. In some counties the
schoolmasters were paid reasonably, and were respect-
able and competent persons. But in other places their
psition was much to be pitied. There was an Act of
1823, which a as a disgrace to the statute book, providing
that the house of the schoolmazter should not have mare
than two apartments, one of which should be the
kitchen.—(Bear, hear.)

After a few words from the Duke of RICHMOND and
Lord CAMPBELL in favour of an increased stipend to the
schoolmasters, and alterations in the law respecting their
Mice,

Lord MINTO expressed his gratification at hearing
that the Government were disposed to introduce a mea-
sure upon the subject.
TILE BROTHELS BILL.

The Earl of POWIS presented several petitions in
favour or the Brothels Suppression Bill.
[LEFT SITTING.I

✓
The letters were then put in and read. (Such portions of
those letters as are fit for publication have already appeared
in our report of the examination before the Magistrate at
Wandsworth).
Mr. lirnairss then addressed the jury in a most effective
speech. He said, that in rising on behalf of the prisoner, he
was encountering a fearful responsibility, partly in conse-
quence of the fair, straightforward, and impassioned manner
In which his Learned Friend, her Majesty's Solicitor-General
had stated the case; and more, in consequence of the wit-
nesses called into that box (the brother and sister of the
deceased.) In consequence of the mental suffering, they
appeared to feel, it was quite natural that they (the jury)
should turn with a feeling of overwhelming indig-
nation, to the unfortunate man at the bar whom
they were given to understand was the cause of all that
suffering. But he (Mr. Wilkins) trusted that they would
bear in mind that the evidence produced had been wholly
circumstantial, and though the case as advanced for the
prosecution was barely possible, yet he begged to re-
mind the gentlemen appointed to examine into those
circumstances, that they must not judge of the inno-
cence or guilt of the prisoner from mere possibilities. Let
them examine the case, as stated by his Learned Friend.
The Learned Barrister then dissected the evidence in detail,
and contended that the words spoken by the deceased were
merely the unconnected ravings of a mind, weakened by
loss of blood, and mechanically uttering sounds which, be-
cause spoken by those around, vibrated upon her
ear also ; for was it at all likely that if she had been
cut and injured by the man with whom she had
been passing the evening, her exclamation to
Hall, the toll-keeper, and to other persons, would have been,
"See, how some one has used me." He thought that great
caution was necessary in admitting the evidence of the coal-
porter, Cooke, who had so positively sworn to the identity of
the prisoner with the man who called, "Police, police on
the night of the murder. He wished particularly to
call their attention to this part of the case. The
little boy, Evans, who ran for the surgeon, to
the Chelsea Old Church, did not observe the witness
Cooke at the place he stated that he was standing at. He
did, indeed, see one young man whom he had never seen
again. How did this harmonise with Cooke's evidence?
He thought the simple fact was—that Mr. Mullins, who
had also ran to Chelsea for a surgeon, and who wore
a dark frock coat and a broad-brimmed hat, was the very
man who called "police," and whom the witness Cooke sup-
posed to be the prisoner. They knew that it was a feeling
with the lower classes to overrate and exaggerate
facts, where they were supposed to militate against
a man placed in the same situation, and charged with a
henious crime, as the prisoner was. The Learned Gen-
tleman concluded a powerful address, by imploring the
jurymen to lean towards the side of mercy—to remember
that though their erring judgments might fail, yet an
all-seeing eye would, if the prisoner were guilty, pursue
him, and an omnipotent and an all-powerful and unerring
arm would punish his secret crime ; but that if they had
reason afterwards to repent of a too severe verdict, it would
be when repentance would be too late.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL waived his right of reply:
Mt. Baron GURNEY summed up. In this, as 111 very
many other cases, they had only circumstantial evidence be-
fore them, on which to found their judgments. It appeared
that the deceased had been for many years on terms of the
warmest friendship with the prisoner. The last act of Ler
life was the going with the youngest daughter of
the prisoner to her mistress's house, arid the
first evidence they had was that of the person who
first observed her on her return home; and after the wound
was inflicted. The Learned Judge then read over and com-
mented upon the evidence. They must consider that the
account given by the prisoner of himself was that of a man
who had time (for several days had elapsed) to prepare a
Wory. It was for them, however, to weigh all the circumstances,
and he could only say, that if they had a fairand reasonable
doubt that the prisoner had committed the offence with which
he was charged, then it was their duty to return a verdict of
acquittal.

I Mr. COLLETT briefly replied, and the motion was
agreed to.
I RAILWAY FROM DUBLIN TO CASIIEL.
. .

Mr. VE SEY obtained leave to Cring—in; Bill for
making and maintaining a railway from the city of
Dublin to the city of Cashel. The Bill was brought up,
and read a 1;1..4 time, The names endorsed on the back
of the Bil are those of Mr. Vesey, Lord Eliot, and Mr.
Wyse.
On the motion of Mr. MILNER GIBSON, the Man-
chester Stipendiary Magistrates Bill was r( ad a third
time and pased.
On the motion of Mr. BRADSHAW the Canterbury
Pavement Bill was read a,third time, and passed.
On the motion of Sir J. Y. BULLER the Delabole
and Rock Railway Bill (No. 2) was read a third time,
and passed.
Colonel FOX presented two petitions from bodies of
Congregational 1 Assenters in the Tower Hamlets, against
the Dissenters' Chapels Bill.
Dr. BOWRING presented a petition, signed by per-
sons of various religious persuasions, at St. Ives, in fa-
vour of the Dissenters' Chapels Bill.
Lord C. MA NNERS presented a petition from Leices •
tershire against the income-tax.
Mr. 11. BERKELEY presented a petition from Bristol,
signed by regionists of all denominations, in favour of
the Dis,enters Chapels Bill.
Colonel WOOD presented a petition from Brecon,
ag'ainst the Dissenters' Chapels Bill.
DETENTION OF LETTERS AT THE POST-
OFFICE.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE !aid 11e held in his hand a peti-
tion, a copy of which he had transmitted to the Right
Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home De•
partment, informing him of his intention to present it,
and also to bring its contents under the immediate
consideration of the House, as the case was one re-
quiring immediate redress. It was the petition
of W. J. Linton, William Lovett, Joseph Mazzini, and
others, resident in London, complaining- of the de-
tention and opening of their letters at the General Post-
office, and praying for immediate redress. The letters
were written from 47, Devonshire-street, Queen-square,
within the last month, and the petitioners said that
although they were not written for any political purpose
and did not contain anyl treasonable matter, they had
been detained at the Post-office by the Post-office
by Nst-office authorities beyond the usual time,
and - they had been read at the Post-office,
The petitioners said they considered such a practice as
an introduction of the Spy System of foreign states—a
system repugnant to the free system of the British Con-
stitution, and dangerous to liberty. They were pre-
pared to prove the truth of those allegations, and they
prayed for a Committee to inquire into the subject.
The petition was then ordered to be laid on the table.
Mr. THOMAS DUNCOMBE said, the course
which he might pursue would very much depend on the
answer which he should receive from the Right Hon.
Gentleman (Sir James Graham) to a question which he
should now put to him. His question was, then, whether
the Right Hon. Gentleman was aware that the letters
of these individuals had been opened, read, and exa-
mined at the General Post-office, and if so, whether it
had been done by the authority of any one of her Ma-
jesty's principal Secretaries of States?
Sir J. GRAHAM said he had to thank the Hon.
Gentlman for the perfect fairness and frankness of the
course he had pursued on the present occasion. He had
been so obliging as to send him a copy of the petition
yesterday, and to notify to him the precise ques-
tion! which he meant to put; and he had, there-
fore, had an opportunity of consideing the man-
ner which he should give to that question
The Howe was aware that from so early a period as the
reign of Queen Anne, power had been invested in the
principal Secretaries cf State, by warrant, to detain let-
ters, and to empower the Post-office authorities to open
them. That power came under the review of Parlia-
ment in 1837, and by the Act of the Ist of Victoria,
that power continued to be vested in her Majesty's
principal Secretaries of State. With respect to the let-
ters
of three of the petitioners, no warrant had been issued.
With respect to those of one of them, he had, on
his own responsibility issued a warrant, which was not
now in force. Having made this declaration, he must
beg further to add that this power was vested
in the responsible officers of the Crown by the
law of the land—that it was entrusted to them
for the public safety—that the Parliament of the
country placed confidence in those who exercised
it ; and that it was not fur the public good to press for
urging into this particular case.—(Hear, hear.) At all
events, he did not think it arises with his public duty
to enter into any further explanation— he hoped the
House would confide in him to such an extent as not to
dill for any further information. In reply to a question
from Mr. Hume, the purport of which we could not
catch.
Sir J. GRAHAM said he had carefully considered the
subject. He had gone as far in explanation as he con-
ceived it his duty to go. He must respectfully but firmly
resist any attempt to call upon him for further infor-
mation.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBB said that -as the petitioners
called upon the House to grant the immediate redress,
he should now, as far as he was able, endeavour to give
effect to thispetition.
Mr. TAT rEN EGERTON rose to order. After
the explanation had been given the Hon. Gentleman
could not according to the standing orders proceed to ad-
dress the House.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBB said he was within the standing
Order of the House with respect to the presentation of
petitions, and it was greatly to the credit of the House
that that order admitted of the course which he pro-
posed to pursue in the case of petitions complaining of
some personal grievances, requiring immediate redress.
In the case of petitions complaining of some personal
grievances—
Sir JAMES GRAHAM—I beg to state to the House
unequivocally, that no warrant now exists with respect
to either of the four petitioners.—(Hear, hear )
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said the case required imme-
diate redress notwithstanding that statement ; and he
must say hs was astonished, and he thought the House
must be astonished, that the Right Hon. Baronet should
attempt to blink this discussion.
Mr. r. SHAW rose to order.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said he was not to be put down.
—(Cheers from the Opposition.)
Mr. SHAW said the question now was, whether the
Hon. Gentleman could proceed to discuss this question.
The question was, whether there was a personal griev-
ance involved, and he would submit that as there was
no warrant in existence, the Hon. Gentleman was not at
liberty to discuss the question.—(ob, oh.) He did rot
see how any person was at that moment affected by what
the Hon. Gentleman complained of:
Mr. DUNCOMBE rose, but there were loud cries of
" Chair, chair," upon which the Hon. Gentleman sat
down.
The SPEAKER—The order of the House under
which the Honourable Gentleman claimed the right of
speaking on this petition was to the following
effect :—" That in cases of petitions complaining
of personal grievances for which there was an urgent
necessity of providing immediate remedy, the sub-
ject matter of :..itch petitions might be brought under the
consideration of the House. In this case the Hon. Gen-
tleman bad given notice on the subject, and having given
that notice, it appeared to hint that this was not a case
of urgency requiring an immediate remedy.
Hr. DUNCOMBE said he had no opportunity of
bringing forward the question yesterday, and he took the
earliest opportunity of bringing it forward. What he
complained of was, that the letters of those persons were
opened, and that the spy system of foreign countries was
introduced into this country.—(" Oh, oh,.' and "Chair.")
The SPEAKER repeated that he did not think this
was a matter of urgent necessity, requiring immediate
remedy; and, therefore, could not be discussed then.—
(Ministerial cheers.)
Mr. DUNCONIBE—I move, then, that this House do
now adjourn.—(Loud Opposition cheers.) Now I will
HOUSE OF COMMONS. raise the question.—(Cheers.) The Right Hon. Gentle-
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. man, the First Lord of the Treasury, took that mode the
Lord OSSULSTON presented petitions from North- other evening of speaking:on the main question, and it
ampton against the Dissenters' Chapels Bill. was decided that he could do 'so.—(Hear, hear.) The
ATTENDANCE OF MEMBERS ON COMMIT- Right Hon. Gentleman, the Recorder of Dublin, would
TEES ON PRIVATE BILLS. not, perhaps, like that all his correspondence, relative to
Mr. W. COLLETT moved that the Committee on the the jury lists of Dublin, and the subtraction of certain.
Monkland Railway Bill have power to proceed with the lists, should be opened and read by the House.—
Bill with only two selected Members. It was with dif- (Cheers, . Red ' Oh, vh.") Bat others did not wish
ficulty that a sufficient number of selected Members could to have their family secrets revealed. The Re-
be obtained in the Committee, and the proceed- peelers also would not like to have their correspon-
ings were stopped in consequence. This delay was deuce examined and read, and copies of their letters
attended with the greatest expense to the parties, and communicated to the Recorder of Dublin.—(A laugh.)
he thought the subject deserved the serious consideration What did tilt se parties complain of ? The Right Hon.
and attention of the Committee of Selection. Gentleman had stated that he had issued his warrant for
Mr. WALLACE, in seconding the motion, called the opening and examining the letters of these parties. He
attention of the House to a similar case of inconvenience had no doubt that the Act of Parliament, the Ist of Vic-
which had occurred in the Committee on the Paisley toria, passed in 1837, recognised Writ power in the Se-
Gas Bill. He did not wish to cast blame upon any per- cretary of State. The power had existed previous to
son. He thought the whole of the inconvenience was that Act, and even from the time of the Commonwealth;
attributable to the system of appointing Committees on but be did not believe that one man in twenty thousand
private Bills which at present existed. He trusted that knew of the lines that had been smuggled into this Act,
some plan would, in the course of the next session of placing their correspondence at the mercy of the Secre-
Parliament, be adopted to obviate the inconvenience tart' of State. It was a power that ought to be
which was so much complained of. Every delay which taken away from any Secretary of State, particularly
occurred through the non-attendance of selected Mem- I from one who exercised that power in an unscrupulous
hers on a Committee on a private Bill, threw an addi-
manner. lie had opened the letters of one of these
tional expense on the parties of between 2001. and 300/. gentlemen. Would the Right Hon. Baronet state which
Mr. ESTCOURM was glad the Hon. Member had of then it was whose letters had been thus opened?
called the attention of the House to the subject, and he Sir J. GRAHAM—Certainly not.
hoped that some plan would be suggested tc• the House Mr. DUNCOMBE—The Right lion. Baronet would
to remedy the inconvenience complained of. Some not state whether it was the letters of Mr. Ma.zzini, of
selected Members had to servein three orfour Committees been told, indirectly, that it was Mr. Mazzini who was Mr. Lovett, or of the other two gentlemen. He had
and, therefore, some of those committees were necessarily
t
adjourned to the great inconvenience of the parties con- thus honoured with the particular attention of the Right
cerned. If every Member of that House would Hon. Baronet. The law made it a misdemeanour
consent to serve on one committee during the session, in any one to open a letter, or detain it
these delays would be obviated, and he tho ught that no longer than necessary, unless it was misdirected,
Member would be called upon to serve more than once.
or returned to the office, the person to whom it was ad-
He was glad to hear the eulogium which the Hon. Mem-
dressed not being able to be found, or being dead. In
ber had passed on the Committee of Selection and on
these cases the letter, if returned, was always marked as
the Standing Orders Committee, and he could assure returned for these reasons, and he contended that the
that House that both those Committees had the utmost Act of Parliament intended that when letters a ere opened
by the authority of the Secretar, of State, that it should
desire to perform satisfactorily the duties allott.ed to them
to discharge. be state d en their cover that they had been opened
Mr. BROTHERTON thought some plan was neces-
by authority. Even in the time of Mr. Pitt and Lord
sary to be adopted to secure the attendance of the se-
Sidmouth this was done when letters were opened by the
lected Members on those Committees. Those Mem •
Secretary of State. Why this system of espionage
bers ought properly to perform the duties itnposed upon should be countenanced
,by. the Secretary of State Le
them, and when once a Member was selected to could not imagine in a time of perfect peace and
serve upon a Committee, he owed it to the public to be domestic tranquillity. He believed that during
punctual in his attendance in order that the parties con-
the last two years letters had been opened at
cerned might not be putt to unnecessary expense and in- the Post-office in a most unscrupulous manner.
convenience. This was a state of things the people would not bear,
~
Mr. SHAW thought every Member ougi'lt to offer i
means or other to counteract this invidious conduct on
himself once in the course of the session and , serve on a ; and he hoped after this exposure they would take some
, the part
dof her Majesty's present Ministers. It was
Select Committee; and if he would not do so ivoluntaril
there ought to be some rule adopted to coma oel his atY-
tendance. 1 France, or the Austrian States, but it would
most isgraceful ; it might do for Russia, or for
Mr. GREENE suggested the propriety of . spreading I
these committees on private bills over the h 1
vv •-.. eof the ; eof proved that the Government did open the letters_ ,
not do for the free air of England. It was
certain persons, and they ought to have further informa- 1.
session in the same manner as election committees. If .
fence cons- , tion on the subjects.—(Cheers.) He would do his best
lion in committee of each bill, the inconven
this were done, and a time appointed for the considers-
to arrest this system of prying into letters on the part of
i ItlviiedSthecermetathryatotfhSistawtearfroarnt;hneo
plained of would be obviated.
Homelo but he did
nger
eDxiespteadr:ment. He