The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-29 00:00:00

EDINBURGH TOWN COUNCIL.

THE NAPOLEON MUSEUM.
We have again visited this very extraordinary and
indeed wonderful exhibition, now open at the Egyp-
tian Hall, Piccadilly. When we consider it as the pro-
duction of the laborious researches of a single indvi-
dual, indeed our surprise has increased on each occa-
sion we have been to look over it, and we have found
the proprietor so ready and so obliging in answering
our various questions as to its formation, that we can
hardly resist the impulse we feel to give our readers
an outline of its origin. It appears that more than
twenty years ago, immediately after the death
of the Emperor Napoleon at St. Helena, which
created, we may perhaps say, a sensation through-
out Europe, the spirited and, indeed, en-
thusiastic proprietor (and in using this last term we
are satisfied from our own experience that nothing of
consequence that requires very extensive historical
research to understand, can be accomplished without
enthusiasm) then decided, in his own mind, that the
two greatest men who had ever existed, taken as a whole,
were our own immortal bard Shakspeare and the Em-
peror Napoleon. It seems he had been for some time
previously collecting all he could of the former, which
we understand is very considerable, and in 18'21 began
in earnest to see what it was possible to accomplish
relative to the latter ; though at times he could not
forget that himself, as well as his countrymen, had
naturally been taught to consider Napoleon in any
other than a favourable position. Notwithstanding,
being determined to read nearly, if not quite all, that
to . him appeared to be worth reading, he tells us in
the preface to his large quarto descriptive volumes
on the tables of his Museum " the result of
his investigations has satisfied him how ground-
less and undeserved the accusations were, with
which the Emperor Napoleon was so generally
assailed; and he feels satisfied that a similar course
would induce many others to form an opinion in
accordance with his own, and to abandon the pre-
judices on the subject which they may have adopted ;
for—

ECCLESIASTICAL CHANGES._

What the Rev. Dr. Hook is endeavouring to effect
by a division of the extensive parish of Leeds into a
number of small parishes, for the improvement of the
parochial ministrations of the clergy, has already been
procured at Oldham by the efforts of the Rev. Thomas
Lowe, the incumbent of the parish church, or paro-
chial district church, Oldham. By a recent order of
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, the ancient paro-
chial chapelry of Oldham is forthwith to be divided
into 14 small parishes, or ecclesiastical districts, the
boundaries of which have been fixed, and other ar-
rangements provided for the ministers of each, accord-
ing to the orders of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.
These important changes will be carried into effect with-
out loss of time, so that the advantages of this whole-
some and necessary creation of new parishes will be
almost immediately felt ; for a clergyman will he
shortly resident in each district, and temporary epis-
copal places of worship will be opened, either in
school-rooms or other buildings, in all the parochial
divisions, as soon as the requisite arrangements can
be made for that purpose. The presentancient paro-
chial chapel or parish church of Oldham will cease to
be in reality of greater ecclesiastical importance than
the rest of the churches in the borough, except in a
few respects, which relate chiefly to the solemnisa-
tion of marriage, and other mii or points, more of a
nominal than of a substantial character. This paro-
chial partition will lead to the erection of eight
additional churches, which, with the six already
in existence in the borough, will render the
number fourteen. Eight additional ministers are to
take up their residences, in a short time within the
new parishes, and they will ultimately derive propor-
tions of their incomes from the partition of the eccle-
siastical sees now enjoyed by the Rev. Thomas Lowe,
the present minister of the parish church, and of the
other clergymen at present officiating within these
limits. Such a measure, envolves no slight sacrifice
of pecuniary advantage on the part of the above Rev.
Gentleman, more particularly than the other clergy,
as he will be most affected by its ultimate operation.
The Rev. Mr. Lowe is, doubtless, actuated by the
sincere wish to contribute to the spiritual welfare of
the great population-60,000—entrusted to his
charge, and by this partition of the parish into
parishes containing from 4,000 to 5,000 inhabitants
each, the several duties of the clergy, religious, cha•
ritable, and educational, Will he, it is to be hoped,
adequately attended to ; and whatever light the sub-
ject is viewed in, whether as a means to promote the
spread of the principles of the Established Church, or
as a method of counteracting the effect of the extensive
diffusion of tenets of Dissent, it must be generally ad-
mitted that the residence of eight additional clergy-
men will produce advantages of such a nature as can-
not fail to have a beneficial bearing on the intellectual,
moral, and physical condition of the population.
Measures are in progress to secure the establishment
of efficient episcopal schools in each of the 14 parishes
in the borough.—Manchester Courier.

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking
makes it so.'
During this every interesting and exciting research
the author's former opinions gradually changed, and
he naturally felt a deep interest in everything relating
to Napoleon, which was increased by the perusal of
the amusing and instructive work of the late Mr.
Barry O'Meara, entitled, ' A Voice from St. Helena.'
Closer investigation deepened the writer's sympathy
and convinced him that the real character of Napoleon
was not so well known in England as that of many
other foreigners, who were far less eminent, or worthy of
notice. In the selection of a subject so interesting, parti-
cularly as an historical point, so vast in its extent, and
so fertile in every kind of illustration, connected with
literature and the arts, the collector did not, even at
the commencement, conceal from himself the many
difficulties necessarily attendant on the execution of
his task, and the absolute impossibility of attaining
completeness ; but he trusts that what, under many
disadvantages he has accomplished, will suffice to
show, that in selecting a special period of history for
illustration, and devoting constant and systematic at-
tention to it, collections of various kinds may
be formed, each receiving additional interest and
value from the other, all of them affording
great gratification during their formation,
and materially contributing to the better ap-
preciation of the subject, as well as the period to
which they relate. The collection herein.described,
includes many MSS., medals, and books that illus-
trate the French Revolution which preceded Napo-
leon's entry into the great field of action ; but that this
could not be otherwise will be evident, if it be re-
membered how inseperably his history is connected
with that of the Revolution of 1789. Not only was
the Consulate and the Empire (the natural conse-
quence of the Revolution) a step onward in the great
series of events which changed the dynasties of Eu-
rope, but Napoleon himself, in all the astonishing and
wonderful features of his character, was the great off-
spring of the Revolution. Everywhere in his ma-
jestic marches the prolific seeds of change and refor-
mation were sown, so that the event which startled us
yesterday, and excited our hopes or our fears for the
morrow, will on examination, be found to have close con-
nection with that important period, when so many old
opinions, and time-honoured institutions so generally
became the subject of fierce and unsparing conflict;
nor does it appear that we have any example of a
reign in which the personal character of the
sovereign is so distinctly and forcibly impressed
upon every act of his government as in that of Na-
poleon. Every event, therefore, which assists our
appreciation of this great man, is important to our
comprehension of his policy ; though he was never
greater, nor did his talents and judgment appear
more brilliant and wonderful, than during the period
of the Directory in France, as General-in-Chief of
the army of Italy, and in Egypt—or as Consul, or
Emperor. No other potentate ever reigned in France
(or elsewhere) with such consummate ability, either
as her ruler, her legislator, or as the head of, and di-
rector of her armies."
We seem as if we had imbibed some of the pro-
prietor of the Napoleon Museum's enthusiasm, and
shall take some other opportunities of informing our
readers of our researches in this matchless collection,
which we would most certainly advise them to lose
no time in examining for themselves.

TUESDAY, MARCH 26.
SLAVERY IN AMERICA.
Baillie Urquhart having called the attention of the
Council to the case of J. L. Brown, who had been sen-
tenced to death by a judge in South Carolina, for helping
to liberate a female slave, a short discussion touk place
on the subject, in which all the members who spolsede•
precated the sentence as most inhuman and unchristian.
Reference was made to a meeting which had been called
by the Anti-Slavery Society on the subject for Thursday
evening next ; but it was thought that a meeting called
under the auspices of the Corporation would have much
more weight. It was accordingly agreed that, in order
to afford the inhabitants an opportunity of expressing
their opinions on a proceeding so very revolting to
humanity, it should be remitted to the Lord Provost's
Committee to make the requisite arrangements for holding
a public meeting on ss early a day as possible. The
meeting has since been fixed for Friday next, at two P.M.

PAYMENT OF MAGISTRATES'

CLERKS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—This subject having been brought before Go-
vernment in both Houses of Parliament by Lord
Worsley and the Marquis of Lansdowne, and it having
been stated by Mr. Manners Sutton that a Government
measure is now in preparation to provide for the pay-
ment of magistrates' clerks by a fixed salary out of the
county rate, the ground for such change from the pre-
sent system being that the "costs" attending a convic-
tion in petty sessions, owing, as it is obviously intended
to be inferred (for this can be the only argument from
the oppressive fees paid to the clerks) are frequently
most disproportionate to the penalty inflicted ; and two
instances, amongst others, were cited by Lord Worsley
on his motion, where a fine of one shilling was inflicted,
accompanied with costs in one case to the amount of
11. 7s. 6d., and in the other to 2/. This, at first sight,
appears marvellously hard. How enormous are the fees
to these magistrates' clerks ! no doubt the credulous
public exclaims ; whereas the fact is, and this fact for
some reason or other is kept back—and it is for the pur-
pose of bringing it forward that I venture to crave the
insertion of this letter in your columns—a very small
portion of these " costs" (as is known to every practical
man, but of which Lord Worsley appears not to be cog-
nizant) is composed of fees to the clerks in petty sessions.
In this riding (West Yorkshire) their fees are more mo-
derate than otherwise : the maximum amount they are
allowed to receive on a conviction is 7s —viz., 2s. for the
information and summons, 4s. for preparing and en-
grossing the record of conviction, and returning and
filing it with the clerk of the peace, and Is. for the com-
mitment. All these matters in their preparation require
considerable skill and attention ; the rest of the costs,
and by far the greater bulk of them (and I pray you,
Sir, mark this) are composed of the constable's charges
for the service of the summons, for his attendance at the
hearing, and of the sums allowed for the witnesses and
complainant for their loss of time. Is it intended to
burden the county rate, not only with the salaries of the
clerks to the justices, but with these, the heavier items
in the "costs" also ? If not, how can the proposed end
be obtained, and how is the professed objection to the
present system to be obviated by merely paying the
clerks by a fixed salary ? But I contend that there is
not the slightest occasion for charging the salary of the
clerks on the country rate ; the magistrates now, before
inflicting the fine, invariably ascertain the costs incurred,
which are as invariably considered as part of the tine in
inflicting it ; and hence it is on this account that it is
often small or nominal. If they wish, from the trivial
nature of the charge, to inflict no penalty they can, and
in practice often do, dismiss the summons, besides which,
as was well remarked by some Honourable Member on
Lord Worsley's motion, the clerks (whose high character
is universally admitted) can issue no summons of them-
selves, as the magistrate hears the complainant's state-
ment, and he alone can issue the summons.
Having some practical experience in petty sessions
business, I write for the purpose of setting the facts in
their true light, which I think will at once render the
advisability of burdening the county rates on the
grounds stated, with the salaries to clerks to justices,
much more than questionable ; besides there are many
other duties performed by the clerks, such as examina-
tions for settlements, removal orders, and overseers'
business generally, which are now equitably paid for by
the townships, or parties requiring them, and surely
these are not to be made a burden generally on the
county rates under the "improved system." If any
change is made—and here I request the attention of my
Lord Worsley and Sir James Graham—give the magis-
trates in petty sessions the power, where they think the
circumstances of the case require it, to make an order for
the payment of the costs of a conviction before them out
of the county rate, as at present they have the power to
do in cases of felony. This will effectually answer every
purpose proposed, and prevent all necessity for charging
the salaries of the clerks on the county rates, which
measure, as I have demonstrated, would not have the
effect that is contemplated, and would be obnoxious to
the rate-payers.—l am, &c„
AN ACTING MAGISTRATE,

VACANCY IN THE PARISH OF CURRIE.
Sir JAMES GIBSON CRAIG appeared at the Board, and
presented a petition from the heritors and a large num-
ber of the parishioners of the parish of Currie, praying
the Council to appoint the Rev. Thomas Barclay, of
Peterculter, in the Presbytery of Aberdeen, to the vacant
charge.
It was agreed to fill up this vacancy at next meeting.

THE ROYAL MINT.—The workmen at this im-
portant establishment have been busily engaged this last
week in striking off a considerable quantity of the new coin-
age for the Bank of England and the Government, for the
payment of the approaching April dividends, and the guar,
ter's pay, half-pay, and pensions of the army, navy, and the
Government officials of the different departments—Post- office,
Stamp, Excise, Customs, &c. A notice has been issued by
the Royal Mint that the exchange of the old for the new
legal money welglils will be cgll lilllE d rft tlo? Mint Omni-
ing to the a nditions published in the London gi.zrgtto in
May, 1843) until Saturday next, the 30th instant ; but that
on and after the said day the exchange will cease, and no
money weights thereafter will be received at the Mint. The
1 number of light sovereigns and half-sovereigns received at
; the Bank since the Royal Proclamation of her Majesty on
the light gold currency, which came into operation on the
Ist of January, has been far below what was generally
expected, and the panic, which at first existed, has now
spbsided. _ _

• •
SLR W 414., OF EDINBURGH.—On Friday night
a part of the old wall of Edini4prgii? forms one side ol
Leith- wyncl, fell down, owing, it is sapppsed, to thp utio4 641
the rain on Friday night on the'old and ruinous •

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 29, 1844.

PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS.
MAIL COACHES-POST-OFFICE-POST-

AGE—FRANCE.
At the close of the month of August last, various
returns, under these heads, were moved for by Vis-
count Ebrington, Sir Charles Douglas, Dr. Bowring,
and Mr. Hutt. They were presented, ordered by the
House of Commons, on the 24th of August, to be
printed, and have just been issued (No. 602) from
the Vote-office. They are very curious :
No. I. is a Return of Stage Coaches, or other Pub-
lic Conveyances, that have been used by the Post-
office authorities, as mails in England and Wales, not
having been so originally, &c. From the detached
list here given, it appears that the number of these
coaches, &c., is 79 ; whereof the earliest, so used (the
StatnfUra and Cottersworth), was taken up in March,
1828. In 1837, also, only one (London and Bir-
mingham " day" mail); in 1838, eleven; in 1839,
thirteen ; in 1840, eleven ; in 1841, twenty-one ; in
1842, sixteen; in 1843, five. Of these seventy-nine
coaches and conveyances, sixty-four were accompanied
by guards; fifteen were not.
No. 11. gives a Return of the number of applica-
tions made at the General Post-office in London, for
letters stated to be missing, as distinguished into two
classes ; viz., " Containing inclosures of value ;" and
" Not containing inclosures of value." In the first
class, the number stated to be missing was 332, the
number found 129, in the two months October and
November, 1839 ; in the like months of 1841, they
were 1,389, and 397 ; and in two months, ending
sth July, 1843, they were 1,192, and 340 respec-
tively. In the second class, the number stated to be
missing, 256 ; number found, 95 ;-609 and 195 ;
—6OB and 180, in each of the same three periods.
Thus the total number of letters stated to be missing
and the number found, were for the same periods
severally these: 588 and 224; 2,058 and 592;
and 1,800 and 520. The number of applications
" as to delay of letters ;" in October and November,
1839, 175 ; same months, 1842, 316 ; in two
months, ended sth July, 1843, 260. The num-
ber of letters delivered in the United Kingdom,
from 24th of November, 1839, to 21st of May, 1843,
was 14,020,423.
No. 111. is a Return in columns of the Number of
Letters which have been forwarded monthly, through
France to the East Indies or other countries, by way
of Egypt, from the earliest period of our postal conven-
tions with France ; Amount of Postage paid thereon
in England, and Amount paid to the French Govern-
ment; also similar Retur..s of Letters received from
the East, through Egypt; also similar Returns of
Newspapers. These accounts are stated so much in
detail that an abstract of them is almost impossible.
The largest number of letters " received from India"
is entered in October, being in the second month of
the 1839 scheme of transmission. It was 16,285 ;
and the greatest sum paid to France on account of
such postage, was in the year 1842, namely, 8,2961.
sterling (199,124 francs). The largest number of
letters " sent to India," during the same interval,
was 7,398, in July, 1840 ; and the highest amount
paid to France, on account of such outward postage,
during the same term, was in 1840, namely, 4,4571.
(or 106,972 francs). The extraordinary fluctuations
in the amount of this correspondence, inwards and
outwards, it seems difficult to account for.
It is noted in this Return that " the amount of
postage received in England cannot be ascertained."
The amount of newspapers "sent to and received
from India shows an equal extent of fluctuation.
The greatest number sent was in 1841, viz., 100,064 ;
but the largest amount paid to France, on account of
newspapers (outward), was, in 1842, viz., 2201., or
5,271 francs. The account of letters out and home
via Egypt, to and from India, shows us the highest
number from 1826 and 1827 to 1843, in the month
of April, 1843, no less than 29,772, on which the
amount of postage received was 1,269/. Homewards,
the greatest number of letters received by this
channel, between 1827 and 1843, both inclusive (for
the latter year the amount being brought down to the
month of August only) was 23,473.
No. IV. (1.) LONDON GENERAL PosT.—Number
of chargeable letters which have passed through the
London General Post-office (inwards and outwards)
since the first general reduction of postage on the sth
of December, 1839, dividing the time, as far as prac-
ticable, into four complete weeks each, and distin-
guishing, as to each period, the unpaid, paid, and
stamped, and total number of letters; also a return
of the estimated average, &c., for four weeks of the
year, immediately preceding the reduction dis-
tinguished in like manner. This account is made up
to the four weeks ending 28th January, 1843. The
total estimated average for the four weeks of
1839—immediately preceding the new plan—
is stated at 1,821,386. The total for the
first period of four weeks after the " Stamps"
had been issued for use, stands thus :—Four weeks
ending May 23, 1840—Unpaid, 410,399 ; Paid,
2,630,895 ; Stamped, 419,984 ; Total, 3,461,278.
The gross totals were, at the beginning and closing
periods taken from each of the following years, these,
viz.:—

OXFORD CH?C Ul T.—Monmoeth, March 26.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron PARKE.) •
James Wynyat d, aged 22, a fellow of extremely forbidding
appearance, was charged with maliciously cutting and stab-
bing James Berry, with intent to do him grievous bodily
harm. _

Mr. Greaves prosecuted; the prisoner was de:ended by Mr.
Skinner.
On the 2d of last September the prisoner and same ethers
were drinking at the Golden Ball, at ➢lonmouth, and after-
wards sat down to cards ; a dispute arose amongst them, and
the prisoner made use of some opprobrious epithets towards
the uncle of the prosecutor, which he resented, and a challenge
to fight having been given to the prisoner, he struck Berry
in the side, who fell with Wynyard upon him, and, while
down, the prosecutor received so many severe kicks from the
prisoner, that his chest remained black and blue for a month
after. The landlordthen interfered, and separated them ; but
the prisoner, watching his opportunity, struck at Berry, over
the head of his mother, who was sitting at the fire, and with
a clasp-knife stabbed him nearly to the heart. Fortunately
he recovered, the wound not proving very serious, although at
first presenting a dangerous appearance
Mr. Skinner called a witness, who gave a somewhat different
version of the occurrence ; but the jury did not seem to place
much reliance on his story.
Wynyard was convicted, and sentenced to transportation
for fifteen years.

DUTY ON WINES.
EXPEDIENCY OF MAKING A GREAT REDUO.

Weeks ending Jan. 4, 1840 2,102,281
Dec. 5
gt Jan. 2, 1841 4,355,237
Dec. 4
C 4 Jan. 1, 1842 5,207,297
Dec. 31
Jan. 28, 1843 ... .5,716,898
Note.-The fourpenny rate came into operation on
the sth of December, 1839. The penny rate on the
10th of January, 1840.
k 2.) A similar Return as to the London District
Post, exclusive of all General Post Letters. (Note-
" The penny rate came into operation as respects this
post on sth December, 1839.') Estimated average
for four weeks, 1839, &c. (as above). Total
1,022,386.
(3.) A comparative statement of the number of
letters, including franks during the existence of the
franking privileges, delivered in the United King-
dom in one week of each calendar month, from Dec-
ember 1839 to the present time.
The total for the week ending 24th Dec. 1839, is
thus stated in country offices, 764,938 ; London, Ire-
land, Foreign, and Ship, 229,292 ; London District
Post, 256,747. Total, England and Wales, 1,252,977;
ditto Ireland, 179,931; ditto Scotland, 153,065.:
Grand total, United Kingdom, 1,585,973. The last
total given in this return is also the highest, and re-
markable, as showing the greatest increase for each
division of the United Kingdom.
(4.) " An Account of Gross and Net Post-office
Revenue, and Cost of Management for the United
Kingdom, for each of the years ending sth January,
1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, and 1843," &c., is classed as
under. We give the results of the first, second, and
last years :-
In the years 1839, 1840, and 1843, respectively,
the statements of gross revenue were severally these :
-2,346,278/. ; 2,390,763/. ; 1,578,146/. 1 • and of the
cost of management therein, 686,768/.; 756,999/. ;
977,5041. The postage amounts charged on the Go-
vernment departments, pending the same years were
successively, 45,156/. ; 44,278/. ; and 122,161/. Thus
the net revenue, exclusive of these charges on the Go-
vernment departments, was for 1839, 1,614,354/. ; for
1840, 1,589,486/.•' for 1843, 478,480/.
(5.) Payments by Post-office made during each of
the years ending sth January 1839 to 1843 (inclu-
sive) for conveyance of the Mails by Railway in
Great Britain, &c., 1839, 12,380/.; 1840, 52,2301.;
1841, 51,301 ; 1842, 94,818/. ; 1843, 77,5701.-Note.
These " totals" include " payment for work done on
preceding years" of the following proportions : viz.
the total as above of year 1839, 132/. ; of 1840,
4,355/.; of 1841, 358/. ; of 1842, 9,175/. ; of 1843,
2,387/.
(6.) Return of the Number and Amount of Money-
orders issued and paid in England and Wales in the
several quarters from that ending sth April 1839 to
ditto sth January 1843.
(7.) Similar Returns for London.
Quarter ended April 3, 1839.-Money-orders
"issued," England and Wales, 28,838-their amount,
49,4961. Ditto, London, 3,891-amount, 7,1611.
Money-orders "paid," England and Wales, 25,785-
amount, 43,238/. Total number of Money-orders,
England and Wales, " issued and paid," 54,623. Total
amount 92,734/. Ditto, London, 9,423-amount,
17,402/.
Quarter ended January 5, 1843.-Money-orders
"issued," England and Wales, 494,757-their amount,
1,031,992/. Ditto, London, 73,520-amount, 146,000/.
Money-orders, " paid," England and Wales, 486,437
-amount, 1,023,200/. Ditto, London, 143,065-
amount, 320,798/. Total number of Money-orders,
England and Wales, " issued and paid" (passing
through the office), 981,194-amount, 2,055,193/.
Ditto, London, 216,535-amount, 466,795/. "issued
and paid."
The two quarters which we have selected for the
purposes of our abstract, as above, will sufficiently in-
dicate the sudden and enormous growth of this " mo-
ney-order " accommodation ; and the eagerness with
which people have availed themselves of it both in
the country and the metropolis.
(9.) A Return as to Registered General Post Let-
ters, &c., states that the number of letters registered,
gratuitously, in London, in June, 1839, was 7,666.
Number of ditto which would have been registered in
London, in June, 1843, had the plan of gratuitous
registration been continued (and letters actually regis-
tered are not ineluded in this number), 30,880. Num-
her of letters actually registered in London in June,
1843, 8,112.

TION IN THE WINE DUTY.
(From the Scotsman.)
The folly of abridging our own comforts because
our neighbours abridge theirs, is well exemplified in
the absurd restrictions which our fiscal laws impose
on the use of wine. It is well known that wherever
wine is the common beverage sobriety prevails •
and not a doubt exists that if the article could b
procured here nearly as cheap as in those parts of
France where no wine is produced, more would be
done to promote temperance than if a thousand mis-
sionaries like Father Mathew were kept traversing the
kingdom from January to December. It is equally
certain that if the obstacles created by our revenue
laws did not intervene, wine could be purchased as
cheaply in Britain as in Normandy and Picardy ;
and its use might be even more common here than it
is there, because a much larger proportion of our
population are able to pay for imported articles. We
do not mean that wine should be exempted from duty.
Far from it. But we think that, if the duty were
greatly reduced, the article might come into universal
use among the middle classes, superseding spirits and
ale to a large extent, to the great increase of temper-
ance, and to the benefit of health and morals ; and all
this without any loss to the revenue.
Those who are familiar with chronicles, family me-
moirs, and narratives, written before the union, are
aware that the " stoup of claret" was common in the
houses even of the smaller gentry and merchants.
The light palatable French wines, which females may
drink in moderate quantities with perfect safety,
were then in pretty general use among the middle
ranks. We learn from an excellent authority that in
1700 the wine consumed in Britain was very nearly
one imperial gallon for each individual of the popu-
lation. In Holland where the duty is trifling, it is as
much at this day. In Denmark, it amounts to three
gallons per head. In Britain at present, when
the number of persons able to indulge in the use
of luxuries is proportionally six times greater than
in 1700, the consumption is only the fourth part of
a gallon !* The wine consumed previous to the union
was chiefly French; and the expense of indulging in
such a beverage must not be judged of by the price
paid at this day for Burgundy and Chateau Margaux,
since, owing to our high import duty, none but wines
of a recherche quality are brought in. It was the
ill-judged Methven treaty in 1703, which banished
the produce of the French vineyards from the tables of
the middle classes, and forced the strong, harsh,
and comparatively deleterious wines of Portugal
into general use. For many years during the war
and afterwards, the duty on French wine was as high
as 13s. Bd. a gallon. In 182.5, it was reduced to 7s.
; and on the expiration of the Methven treaty in
1831, to the present rate of ss. 6d., or 11d. per bottle.
To judge of the effect of such duties, we must bear
in mind that there are wines in France, purchased in
the wood at ls. 6d. or 2s. a gallon, which English-
men do not disdain to drink when they cross the
Channel.
The consumption of wine in France, says Mr.
Porter, amounts to 19 gallons for each individual, or
more than 70 times the consumption of the United
Kingdom.
But Paris will afford a better standard of compari-
son. Its consumption in 1834 was 877,000 hecto-
litres, or 19,300,000 imperial gallons ; and the popu-
lation being then about 850,000, this is equal to 22}
gallons for each individual, man, woman, and child.
It thus appears that Paris alone consumes three times
as much wine as the British isles with a population
of 27,000,000.
Some will object that the Parisians live in a
wine-producing country, and obtain the article
duty free ; but both objections rest on mistaken
notions. The vine is largely cultivated in the
vicinity of Paris, but chiefly to afford grapes for
the table. The wine made is small in quantity,
and too bad in quality for the dainty palates of
the metropolitan citizens. The yin ordinaire of
Paris comes chiefly from Burgundy, performing a
journey of 150 or 200 miles; but much of the wine in
common use is brought from Bordeaux to Havre by
sea, and thence by the Seine to Paris, a voyage of 800
miles. Of the wines extensively consumed in the
capital, the champagne is raised nearest to it; but
even this comes chiefly from Rheims and Epernay, a
distance of 100 miles. In the second place, the arti-
cle is not untaxed. Wine in cask pays an octroi, or
municipal duty at the gates of 21 francs the hecto-
litre, which is equal to 94d. per gallon, or fully three-
halfpence the bottle. The duty on wine in bottles is
twice as much, that is 6 sous, or threepence, the litre,
which rather exceeds the contents of our quart bottle.
This applies to all the champagne, and probably to
some of the more choice wines of Burgundy and
Bourdeaux.
It is evident, then, that in everything but the rate
of duty, the situation of London is nearly parallel
with that of Paris. Both stand in corn-growing
countries ; both import their wines; and, so far as
respects the produce of the southern vineyards, those
of the Gironde, Charente, Loire Inferiur, &c., it could
reach London at a less expense of conveyance than
Paris, by probably 10 or 15 per cent. Wine at
Paris pays lid. per bottle to the municipality • wine
at London pays I Id. to the Government. Need we
seek any farther for the cause of the smaller
and poorer town consuming fifty times as
much as the larger and more opulent ?
If a duty of 11d. were levied at the bar-
riers of Paris, it would shut out all the wine
retailed at prices from 6d. to is. 6d. per bottle, that
is, most probably nineteen-twentieths of the whole.
" There is a great deal of excellent French wine (says
Mr. Porter) better adapted to the English taste gene-
rally than the finest wines of Medoc, which could be
sold with a profit to the importer for less than sixpence
per bottle, independent of duty. If the rate of this
duty were fixed so low as to admit of the sale by the
retailer at one shilling per bottle, it cannot be doubted
that the consumption would be very much increased,
and a great addition would be made to the innocent
enjoyments of the people."
A small abatement of the duty would effect no-
thing, because there is the habit of a century's dura-
tion to combat. Even a reduction of fifty per cent.
would be insufficient. When we consider what the
consumption was in Britain 140 years ago, what it
is in Holland and Denmark, and still more in Paris,
Rouen, and Boulogne, which would really have no
sensible advantage over London or Leith in procur-
ing the article, if our preposterous tax were removed
—we cannot help believing, that if we had a financier
bold enough to reduce the duty to something near
the Paris standard, say to twopence a bottle, the con-
sumption would increase tenfold in a few years, while
the revenue would ultimately gain by the change.
In the the five years from 1789 to 1795, the wine
annually imported was fully as &Teat as at present.
Now, the population has doubled in the interval ; and
from all we have observed and heard, we are satisfied
that the habit of wine drinking has increased in a
higher ratio than the population. Is it not then evi-
dent, that one-half or more of the stuff sold as wine,
must be a factitious compound, made within the king-
dom, from herbs and drugs, and which probably few
would taste if the ingredients were known to them ?
* Porter's Progress of the Nation, vol. iii. p. 62.

NORTHERN ClRCUlT.—Liverpool, March 26.
CROWN SlDE._(Before Mr. Justice CourbfAN.)
Thomas Cashmere, aged 20, was indicted for cutting and
wounding Robert Middleton, with intent to do him some
grievous bodily harm.
Mr. Hutton conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was
not defended by Counsel.
It appeared that there had been some previous grudge be-
tween the parties, and meeting accidentally on the day in
question, the prosecutor addressed the prisoner tauntingly by
the title of Mister Cashmore. The prisoner being offended at
this, addressed to the prosecutor a query, the exact applica-
tion of which did not appear, namely, " Who killed Isaac
Cutts ?" The prosecutor, who is a much more powerful man
than the prisoner, was much irritated at this, and, seizing the
prosecutor by the collar, shook him violently. The prisoner,
in return, threw a stone, and then ran into the shop in which
he was employed in his trade of joiner. The prosecutor fol-
lowed and kicked him repeatedly. A struggle ensued between
them, which lasted for some little time, and on its ceasing
the prosecutor found that he was wounded on the left side,
and waitleeding copiously, The prisoner had then a chise
in his hand, but at what time of the contest he had procured
it, or whether he had the chisel ;,n his hand when it com-
menced, did not appear. On The person of the prosecutor
being examined, it appeare(l, he had received two wounds,
evidently inflicted with 0-,e chisel, which had been struck
from below upwards, erne was just above the hip bone, and
the other higher up.
They were of a serious nature, and his
life was for some tintr, in peril.
The prisoner in his defence declared the prosecutor had
beaten and kicked him very severely, and that he had struck
in self-defence., without reflecting that he had the chisel in
his hand.
Verdict—Guilty of a common assault. To be imprisoned
for six calendar months.
Catherine O'Brien,, aged thirty, was indicted for cutting and
woundit-ig her hus'jand, John O'Brien.
Mr. Whigham conducted the prosecution.
It appeared t'nat on the evening in question the prosecutor
was sitting in his house half asleep, leaning his head on his
hand. His, -wife,
the prisoner, came in, and he waking up,
thought
she seemed under the influence of drink, and accused
her of /Jeing intoxicated. She was at that time cutting some
brewj with a knife. She retorted his accusation with some
irr',tating words, and the prosecutor finally struck her. A
'o:scuffle ensued, *hen the prof ectttor received a wound in the

Taxa BANK or FRANCE.—The National observes
that the obstinacy of the Bank of France to continue the
rate of discount at from four per cent. is producing its fruits.
We have before us some returns which demonstrate• that,
whilst the value of all public securities have risen, the Bank
Shares have fallen in one year 220 francs per share, or 22 per
cent, on their original cost, and everything leads us to believe
that this fall will continue. Now, if we compare the value
of Bank shares with railroad shares, we And a sensible dif-
ferepee, as the first have fallen 22 per cent., whilst the latter
have risen from 10 to. 45 per cent. We shall have occasion
to Muni to the inlbect of rulz944

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. 1 face. extending from the cheek-bone to the corner of tbb 14
HOME CIRCUIT, Kingston, March 28. month. He now, however, seemed very unwilling to p
CIVIL SIDE.
~,e:Tilid s3tda....:_tedvietitiolibcetltiilb,,e,,luie;ifit;i.at the woundw a t' • -4
(Before the Lord Chief Justice and a Common Jury.)
izziryfoofr causes tv-,even for tile Sa ":4;;; lfo .)"7(4
BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.—BELSON U. and he IN e.t Derby !!st. It has be
WILLIAMS.
ranged that all in the ,ecopd lists after No 60 except
This was was an action brought by the plaintiff, to re- fended causes and special juries, be. tried beft r
cover damages for a breach of promise of marriage by Justice Coltman, after the criminal business shall have a
the defendant. disposed of. v-f M.1)7
Mr. Montagu Chambers and Mr. Knapp were for the v r , -
plaintiff, and Mr. Thesiger and Ur. Platt for the de-
kndant.
Mr. CHAMBERS stated the case, and said the plaintiff
in the present action was a person in a very humble
station of life, and she sought from the defendant com-
pensation in damages for one of the greatest injuries
that could be inflicted upon a woman. The plaintiff and
the defendant were both about thirty-two years of age,
but the intimacy first commenced between them at a
much earlier period of life. They both resided at
Frimley, in this county, and they first became acquainted
in 1831. An intimate connection and affection sprung
up between them, the result of which was, that in 1835
the plaintiff gave birth to a female child. The defen-
dant was the son of a gentleman of some property in the
neighbourhood. He always expressed great affection to
wards the plaintiff, avowed his intention to marry her, and
when the child was born he permitted it to be christened
in his name ; and to show what his intentions were at
this time, he should produce a Testament, in which the
defendant had entered the words " Maria Augusta Wil-
liams, born Friday, July 17, 1835, half-past six, P.M ;"
and, in fact, the defendant always recognised the infant
as his legitimate child, and on several occasions stated to
the brother of the plaintiff that he would rather the
breath should go out of his body than that his sister
should not become his wife. He admitted that an
illicit connection had continued for a consider-
able period between the parties, but it was
alone countenanced upon the representation of
the defendant that he could not marry without
disobliging his father, from whom he had considerable
expectations, and that he would embrace the first
opportunity of redeeming his pledges to the plaintiff.
The father of the defendant died in 1843, and he then
still adhered to his engagement, and expressed his satis-
faction that the period was at length come when he
could carry out the promise he had made, and restore
to the plaintiff that position of honour and respecta-
bility of which he had deprived her. In spite,
however, of all these protestations the defendant
had deserted the unfortunate plaintiff, and had
put it out of his power to do her justice,
by marrying another woman. The defendant,
while in poor circumstances, had always professed great
affection for the plaintiff, and had led her to believe that
she would be raised to a station of comfort and indepen-
dence, but when he became comparatively rich and in-
dependent, he forgot all those professions, and basely
deserted the woman who had sacrificed everything to
him. Under these circumstances the plaintiff appealed
to the jury for damages for the injury she had sustained,
and he was satisfied they would give her such compensa-
tion as she might be considered fairly entitled to under
such circumstances. The Learned Counsel then called
the following witnesses:—
John Belson—l am the brother of the plaintiff. She
is about 32 years old. I have known the defendant for
twenty years, and I believe he was thirty-three last
August. The defendant used to come very often to our
house at Frimley. He used to come courting to my sis-
ter, and was received at any time. In 1835 my sister
was delivered of a child, and I had a conversation with
the defendant before her confinement, when he said " I
shall make your sister my wife as soon as possible." He
constantly visited my sister while she pregnant,and he told
me his father had offered him 50/. to give my sister, and
break off the connexion, but he said he would rather
lose all the breath out of his body than forsake her.
The defendant's father died in January, 1843, and he
then told me that he intended to make Kate, meaning
my sister, his wife, and he would take a little farm in
the country and live away from his brother and sister.
Soon after this we ascertained that the defendant had
been married, and upon my sister hearing of it she be-
came very ill.
Cross-examined—l get my living by labour in an
honest way as well as I can, occasionally by holding
horses. My father never earned more than forty shil-
lings a week. Our cottage had eight rooms. I did not
know before March, 1835, that there had been any im•
proper intercourse between the defendant and my sister.
He used sometimes to whistle, and at others to throw
stones, and she went out to him, and they remained out
for some time. Defendant was not more than seventeen
when he first became acquainted with my sister. She
was not in the habit of dancing at beer-shops. She has
sometimes been with me to a beer-shop, but she never
drank at such places with strange men. The defendant
was of very dark complexion. The child was rather
fair.
Amelia Gurney deposed, that she took lodgings in
Gravel-lane, Southwark, for the plaintiff and the defen-
dant who passed as man End wile ; and she said, that
defendant told her now there was no obstacle to his
marriage with the plaintiff, and that it should soon take
place.
The Testament, with the entry referred to by the
Learned Counsel, was then put in evidence.
Mr. THESIGER then addressed the jury for the de-
fendant, and commenced by entreating them not to
allow themselves to be prejudiced by anything they had
heard stated, but to be guided solely by the evidence,
and the real facts of the case which it disclosed. He
then went on say, that at the time the intimacy first
commenced between the parties, the defendant
was a boy of seventeen just come from
boarding school ; and it was more likely that
at such an age, he should have been seduced by the
plaintiff, than that she should have fallen a victim to
him. He then proceeded to remark upon the conduct
of the family of the plaintiff in permitting the continu-
ance of such an intimacy for so long a period, and he
considered that there was an entire absence of any proof
that he had ever made a promise to marry the plaintiff,
for if he had, when she was delivered of a child her
father must have insisted upon the promise being ful-
filled. He put it to the jury whether this was not
what would be expected from a father under
such circumstances, and whether the absence
of such evidence was not a convincing proof that no
such promise had been given. The only evidence that
had been adduced to prove the promise, was the evidence
of the brother as to certain observations and statements
alleged to have been made by the defendant, and the
production of a Testament, in which there was an entry
of the child's name in the defendant's hand-writing. This,
however, he contended, was no proof that any promise
had been given, and if the jury were to find a verdict
against the defendant upon such slight grounds, it would
enable parties, no matter however abandoned
they might be, to get up cases of this
description, for the purpose of extorting money
from persons who might have an illicit connection with
any member of their family. The Learned Counsel
then proceeded to comment upon the evidence that had
been adduced, and concluded by expressing his opinion
that the jury ought not to countenance a case of such a
description.
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE then summed up, and the
jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict for
the plaintiff—Damages, 2001.
CROWN SlDE.—(Before Mr. Baron ALDERSON.)
Frederick Fox, 50, was charged with a felonious
assault upon John Hammond.
Mr. Clarkson, with Mr. Locke, conducted the prose-
cution.
The details of the case are quite unfit for publication.
The offence was committed in the workhouse of the
Hambledon Union, in December last, at which
time it appeared the establishment was full
of inmates, and in one room there were fifteen
beds, all occupied by able-bodied paupers. A com-
plaint was made to the governor of the workhouse,
but he did not appear to take any notice of it, and no in-
quiry took place until som time afterwards, when the
most disgusting proceedings were disclosed, and the
prisoner and three other paupers were eventually com-
mitted for trial.
Mr. Baron ALDERSON remarked that the conduct of
the governor, in not instituting an immediate inquiry, when
the complaint was made to him, was most scandalous.
The jury found the defendant Guilty, and at the same
time said they thought the governor of the union-house
was very much to blame.
Mr. Baron ALDERSON said he quite agreed with them.
Such proceedings as these ought to have been taken
notice of immediately, and it was impossible to say what
mischief might have been occasioned by neglecting to do so.
The defendant was then ordered to be imprisoned and
kept to hard labour for two years.
George Elderfield, 28, was indicted for feloniously
setting fire to a barn belonging to James Peto Shrubb,
Esq., at Guildford.
Mr. Locke conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Knapp
the defence.
The case was not made out, and the jury returned a
verdict of Not Guilty. --

In Scotland the weather still continues very severe.
Such a snow-storm has never been known before at this sea-
son. The Highland road between Perth and Inverness has
been impassable for five or six weeks, and is not open yet,
there being in many places snow to the depth of eighteen and
twenty feet.
FATAL ACCIDENT FROM MACHINERY.--On Tues-
day morning last a fatal accident occurred at Kingston-mill,
near Hyde, a few miles from Manchester. It appears that
just as the steam-engine was starting, one of the workers,
Elizabeth Inman, discovered that the strap which turned the
machine on which she was employed was off the pulley. She
went to it, as is supposed, fur the purpose of putting it on,
when by some means it caught her clothes, dragged her
round the horizontal shaft several times, dashing her at each
revolutiori, violently against the ceiling. Being early, all the
hands had not arrived, and some seconds elapsed before her
situation was discovered. A young man in another part of
the room, discovering something on the shaft, ran imme-
diately and threw it out of gear, but unfortunately too late to
save the young woman's life ; she was found to be quite
dead, and her limbs shockingly mangled. It was some time
before she could be got off the shaft, and not until her clothes
had been almost entirely cut to pieces.
There are many Individuals, we learn, whose
annual income is beneath 1501, and who for the last year's
stoppages under the Income-tax Act are yet out of pocket,
though they have made the required application for return of
the duty deducted long ago.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, March 28.

Their Lordships met at the usual hour.
- - -

Messengers from the Commons brought up the .l'utiny
Bill, the Marine Mutiny Bill, and other Bills, which were
read a first time, and ordered to be road a second time to-
morrow.

ST. ASAPH AND BANGOR.
Lord DINORBEN presented a petition against the
union of the sees of St. Asaph and Bangor.
Lord KENYON presented a similar petition from the
University of Oxford.
The Earl of EOSEBERY presented a petition from
several Dissenting-congregations in the town of Birming-
ham against the Dissenters' Property Bill, stating
that it was likely to be attended with most injurious
effects.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.

The Duke of WELLINGTON gave notice that on
Tuesday next he would move that the House, at its
rising do adjourn to the 16th April.
IRELAND—THE STATE TRIALS.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said that in pre-
senting the petition, of which he ha,l given notice for
to-morrow, he would not offer any other observations,
or raise any discussion on the state of Ireland. He was
induced to take this course for two reasons. The first
was, that he was anxious to know what was the Govern-
ment plan relating- to the municipal and electoral franchise,
on which sub ect they expressed their intention to
bring in a Bill. He had thought that this plan would be
submitted that evening in the other House of Parliament;
but in consequence of the state of public business there,
. it was not likely it would be brought forward that night.
Lord BROUGHAM—The state Of public business
there is, that there is no House.—(Laughter.)
The Marquis of CL ANRICARDE —That was one
reason, but another and much more serious reason for
his comirg to the decision which he had was, that the pe-
tition alluded to the administration of justice in Ireland
upon which he certainly would feel himself called on to
make some observations. It would be quite impossible
fur him to do so without adverting to the recent trials
which had taken place in Dublin. There was
every reason to suppose that some proceedings
connected with those trials would come before the
House in its judicial capacity. Therefore, to dis-
cuss the question at the present time would be
highly improper, because his Noble and Learned
Friends on either side of the House would be quite
disabled from offering any opinion on the subject. He
would therefore present the petition to-morrow, without
offering any observations on it, but would give notice
that he would call the attention of the House to the pe-
tition immediately after East-r, and would probably
move that it be referred to a Select Committee.
Lord BROUGHAM could not help expressing his
concurrence with his Noble Friend, as to what he consi-
dered his duty upon that important subject, and he
(Lord Brougham) could not but consider that the
same principle would apply to the motion of which
notice had been given by the Noble Marquis near him
(Lansdowne). There was one of two courses open
to his Noble Friend. He could adopt the course taken
by the Noble Marquis (Clanricarde), and postpone
his motion, which he (Lord Brougham) thought would
be the better war ; er he could take the other course of
having it most distinctly understood, that there was not
one word to be introduced into the discussion to-morrow
which could in any way affe( t the pending law procee -
ings, or relative to the pros( nt aspect of affairs in Ire-
land.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE entirely concurred
in the propriety of not entering into a general discus-
sion on the state of Ireland ; but he could not agree
as to the expediency- of putting off his motion with
respect to the challenging of jurors. In answer
to a question which had been put to him (the Mar-
quis of Lansdowne) in that House when lie had
given this notice of motion, he had stated his inten-
tion
was not at all to interfere with any proceedings
that had taken place in the late State trials, but to have a
prospective inquiry as to the course to be taken by the
Government f,r the future in Ireland with respect to the
challenging of jurors. His motion was grounded
solely upon the expediency of making known the in-
structions given by the Government to the officers of the
Crown in Ireland for their future guidance. He should,
therefore, allow his motion to remain, on the under-
standing that there should be no reference to the
conduct of the Government in the late trials.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, said that the result of
the motion of the Noble Marquis would be, that their
Lordships would be informed that the course which had
been adopted by the present Attorney-General had been
precisely the same which had been adopted by his pre-
decessors, and he had no doubt but that such a statement
would be satisfactory to the Noble Marquis.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE was confirmed in his
resolution of bringing forward his motion to-morrow by
what had just fallen from the Noble and Learned Lord
on the Woolsack. Nothing could be more beneficial to
the Government, or give greater satisfaction to the
country, than the announcement that such was the inten-
tion of the Government as to the challenging of jurors.
Lord BROUGHAM would only add, that if his Noble
Friend thought that he (Lord Brougham) was to be
precluded from giving his opinion on the whole sub-
ject, if it should be submitted to their Lordships,
he would find he was mistaken. If any Noble
Lord, in the course of the discussion, should
allude at all to the conduct of the Government in the
late prosecution, or to the conduct of the Court before
which the cause was tried, he should feel it to be his
duty to give his clear opinion upon the subject. If that
subject were once gone into it would be impossible for
any one to say where the debate would end.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE was understood to say that
there would be no objection to the production of the
papers.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that his motion
would not go to the inculpation of the Court before
which the late trials had taken place.
Lord CAMPBELL understood that it was agreed
that during the discussion there should be no allusion to
the late trials, because that subject would be brought
judicially before their Lordships by writ of error. His
own opinion was that the discussion could not be en-
tered en with advantage. There would be great difficulty
in separating the legal from the constitutional question.
It was much more expedient, in his opinion, that even
now they should no further refer to the more difficult
and delicate question which must, from what he had
heard, sooner or later come before them. Let it
not, however, be imagined that because he (Lord
Campbell) and others abstained from giving any opinions
upon the subject now or to-morrow, that they admitted
the recent proceedings to be constitutional, or that they
in any way sanctioned the conduct of her Majesty's Go-
vernment.

ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS BILL.
On the motion that the report on this Bill be
brought up,
The Marquis of NORMANBY said he must take that
opportunity of strongly expressing his dissent from the
principle of this Bill, and also from the grounds on
which it had been proposed. He did not know why the
discussion of such a Bill should be left solely to the
Noble amd Learned Lords in that House ; and having
attentively listened to every word which had been uttered
on the second reading—and he thought he was about
the only Meinber of the House that had done so—he must
say that never was Bill brought forward with so little
title to their support. Why, the only ground on which
it was supported was the not very creditable one that
a better Bill would not be brought forward, inasmuch
as it:would be opposed by the country practitioners.
He would say that he thought the House of Commons,'
had been very much wronged on this subject. Let him
call their Lordships' attention to what was the plain
state of the case. In the House of Commons, previous
to the division, Sir James Graham, after stating all the
authorities for the abolition of these Courts,
and stating his own opinion as strongly as
possible on the subject, wound up a most effective
speech by saying, " Upon principle, then, I cannot yield
to the opposition to this Bill. With all deference I must
say that if the House shall think proper to reject this
Bill, I cannot offer any measure likely to be more accept-
able in its place." Sir Robert Peel, also, at the conclu-
sion of the debate, said the Government were aware
by introducing this measure, they were exposing them-
selves to the opposition of their friends, but they would
not endeavour to purchase a continuance of their sup-
port by shrinking from the discharge of what they con-
sidered their duty. On the division the numbers were
186 to 84, a much larger majority, in proportion to the
Members present, than any which the present " strong "
Government had had since they first came into office.
Now, what became of all that courage and determination
not to shrink from their duty? Why, the Bill was re-
ferred to a Select Committee, and so far from being re-
cognised and adopted by the House of Commons, it was
reported by that Select Committee on the 28th of
May, and from that period to the end of the
session no steps were taken on the subject. He thought
therefore, it was hard upon that House to call upon it to
pass the Bill which was admitted by a!1 to be
the means of perpetuating very great evils ; it
kept up the diocesan courts and perpetuated courts
that had not business to sustain them.
Under all these circumstances, he thought the country
when it judged of this Bill, would believe that the Go-
vernment had pursued a course of yielding to the most
humiliating necessity to which a " strong " Government
was ever driven.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE said that he had no objec-
tion to take his share of the responsibility of bringing in
this measure. He admitted that the Government did
before bring in a Bill that went much further than
the present one. They found that there was a strong
opinion respecting the Bill, not only in the House
of Commons, but elsewhere, not only on the part of
practitioners, but of the public in general. He was quite
ready to take any blame for the part he had had in
bringing in the Bill.
Lord COTTENHAM said the question was not
whether the Government had yielded to pressure or not,
but whether it had acted properly. The question whe-
ther it would be inconvenient for parties to come to
London to transact their business had been a matter of
inquiry ever since the year 1832, and every report
of the Commissioners had stated that the advantages of
removing the courts to London would far outweigh any
inconvenience that would be occasioned by making
parties come to London to attend the courts.
In answer to a question from Lord BROCGIIAM,
as to the standing to be required in a barrister, in order
to be qualified to sit as a judge in the court,
The LORD CHANCELLOR saw no reason why five
years should not be a sufficient qualification. He had
no objection to make the required alteration.
The question that the report be received was then
about to be put, upon which
Lord BROUGHAM rose, and said lie wished to
correct a misapprehension which had arisen out of what
he had stated the other night, upon the presentation of
a petition from certain females in Scotland. He had
received several letters from persons in the country,
and one stated that he for one ought not
to attempt to proeut the labouring classes

from obtaining a limitation of their hours of labour,
considering that he was at present receiving a large
pension for doing nothing out of the taxes imposed
upon the people. Now the pensions which he and
his Noble and Learned Friend received were only
compensations for large incomes they had sacrificed at
the bar. His Noble and Learned Friend behind him
(Lord Campbell) was in a still worse position, for he had
given up a large income, yet he did not receive any

pension.
Lord C_&MPBELL—I often work ten hours a day.

Lord BROUGHAM said his Noble and Learned
Friend had worked ten hours a day, and frequently
worked so hard that he envied the situation of the factory
children. Some of the letters requested him to follow
up the useful suggestion which he had made, that
wages should be fixed at a minimum, and that
manufacturers should be prevented from giving their
workpeople less than a certain amount. What he said
was, that he would prefer a law for a minimum of wages,
unjust and absurd as it might be, to a law for a maximum
of hours. Another of his correspondents asked him, how he
could say that toil was the lot of man, and at the same time
advocate the abolition of slavery. He spoke only of
voluntary toil; all that he required was that men should
not be compelled to work, or prevented from working.