The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EvENINii. JUNE 28, )644.

Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from Paisley
against tile Dissenters' Chapels Bill.
SUGAR DUTIES BILE:.

The Earl ofIiiLHOUSIE moved the first reading
of this Bill, and gave notice that In should move the
second reading of the Bill on Monday.
The Bill was then read a first time, and ordered to he
prir ted.
OPENING LETTERS AT THE POST-OFFICE.

The Earl of RADNOR presented a petition from Mr
Mazzini, complaining that his letters had been opened at
the Post-office, and praying for inquiry. The Noble Earl
said he should on Thursday call the attention of their
Lordships to the subject of the petition as moving fur a
Committee to inquire into it. He wished now to ask
whether a warrant had been issued by the Secretary of
State for opening ‘l. Mazzini's letters.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said he was unable to
answer the question.
Lord BROUGHAM said the power of opening letters
at the Post-office had existed since the time of Oliver
Cromwell. A few nights ago it was stated that the
practice was established in the reign of Queen Anne.
After a few words from the Earl of RADNOR,
Lord CAMPBELL said it was not intended by the
original act that letters shou'd be secretly opened and
sealed up again.—(Hear' hear.) The act provided that
suspicious letters should be seized, and might be used as
evidence in a court of law. The act also provided that
every letter opened or detained, should be opened under
a warrant, in such case, from one of the principal So
cretaries of State. General warrants could not, there-
fore, be legal.
The Lord CHANCELLOR said that if' a warrant were
issued to empower the Postmaster to open all letters of
A. B. within a certain time, that was a warrant for each
letter to be opened. The Act of Parliament would be
quite nugatory, unless they put this construction upon it.
Lord CAMPBELL did not find fault with the law,
but with the manner in which the law was carried out.

Lord BROUGHAM thought the gravamen of this
case was that of opening the letters, and not the seal-
ing them up again and forwarding them.
Lord DENMAN thought that, when this subject was
brought fairly before their Lordships, they would see
that it was not a question of antiquarian history, but a
question affecting the liberty of every subject of the
realm. He felt convinced that if it were not, that he
would thereby overthrow a colleague—the Noble Duke
himself (the Duke of Wellington), who came down with
a measure to modify that Act which gave the power of
opening letters.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said, that his Noble
and Learned Friend (Lord Campbell) had referred to
the original Act ; perhaps he would read to them the
words of the existing Act.
Lord CAMPBELL said it provided that a warrant
should be issued in each case when a letter was to be
opened.
The Lord CHANCELLOR said that, to do that the
Secretary of State would have to go to the Post-office,
and put his finger on a letter, arid say " Open this."
Lord DENMAN thought there was another mode.—
(Cheers.) They established a system of espionage at
the Post-office. A spy might write to the Secretary of
State, and say, " You will receive a letter from Ports-
mouth on such a day. He felt that the Secretary could not
conveniently exercise this enormous power, unless he
stopped every letter on a certain day. If the Act of
Parliament was difficult to be carried into opera-
tion, so much the better. Such Acts ought to
be difficult in being carried into operation.
The circumstances of this particular case which had
come to the knowledge of their Lordships made it most
imperative on the Government to introduce some new
measure, to render the law clear on the subject.
Lord BROUGHAM agreed that they were not
bound to make intelligible every Act of Parlia-
ment ; but, for the last hundred and fifty years, by
all Governments, this law had been acted on in
one way, and now his Noble and Learned Friend
came forward and suggested that the proper way to
carry the law into execution was one which it was
almost impossible to adopt. His Noble and Learned
Friend assumed that they must have a spy who knew
the handwriting, whereas all they knew was, that A. B.
was plotting against the State. This reading of the Act
of Parliament would reduce it to insignificance, and he
thought they were bound to place such a construction
upon it, borne out as they were with the practical sense
of the words as would signify. that a general warrant for
opening all letters was sufficient to justify each indivi-
dual opening.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said, the words of the
Act were that the Postmaster-General should swear
that he would not open any letter or letters except by
express warrant from the Secretary of State—that in-
cluded the plural as well as the singular.
Lord CAMPBELL—That is n9t the enacting clause.
The LORD CHANCELLOR—It was the oath the
party took, and if there was any doubt about the con-
struction of the Act, they must go to the oath to exem-
plify it. It had been supposed that a Tory Government
had brought forward this Act.— (Cries of " No, no.")
The words which had been left out in the Consolidation
Act had been left out by the Whig Administration.
Lord CAMPBELL had before declared that the Act
had been introducEd when he was Attorney-General,
and he was responsiole for the words of it.

(LEFT SPEAKING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
Sir J. Y. BULLER presented a petition from Brix-
ham against the llibsenters' Chapels Bill.
Major RIACNAMARA presented a petition in favour
of the Bill.

Mr. BIiOTHERTON also presented a petition in fa-
vour of the Bill from a place in Lancashire.
Mr. EVANS presented a petition from Beale, in
Derbyshire, against the Bill.
Col. VERNON presented four petitions against the
Bill.

Captain PECHELL presented a petition from the
Brighton Railway Company against the Bill relating to
railways, which has lately been introduced. '
Lord SANDON presented a petition from the wood-
sawyers of Liverpool, praying for protection.
Lord ADARE presented a petition from Somerset,
against the Dissenters' Chapels Bill.
Mr. ROEBUCK presented a petition from the parish
of Forest, in Guernsey, complaining of the proceedings
in the Royal Court of Guernsey, and praying l'or inquiry.
The Hon. Member gave notice that he should, on Tues-
day, move that this petition be printed, with a view to
his founding a motion thereon.
Mr. FERRAND presented a petition from the opera-
tive wood sawyers of Manchester and Salford, praying

for protection.
Mr. BUCK presented seventeen petitions, praying for
agricultural protection.
JOINT. STOCK BANKS.

Mr. GLADSTONE moved that the Joint-stock Bank
Regulation and Reghtration Bill be recommitted, for the
purpose of introducing two alterations tending to relax
the stringency of the provisions of the Act. He pro-
posed that the Registrar of Joint-stock Banks should
not be obliged to satisfy himself of the legality of every
act to which he attached his name ; another alteration
went to prevent the auditors of these banks from taking
part in their management.
The House went into Committee, and the amendments
were received.
After a few words from Sir THOS. WILDE,
Mr. GLADSTONE said they had arrived at a period
of the Session at ‘s hich it was necessary that a great
economy of the public time should be gradually effected;
he should propose, that on Wednesday next the House
do sit at 12 o'clock ; he should try the experiment of
the early sitting on the present Bill, which, he pro-
posed, should be recommitted on Wednesday next.—
Agreed to.
JOINT-STOCK COMPANY'S REMEDY AT LAW
AND EQUITY BILL.
Mr. GLADSTONE moved that this Bill be recom-
mitted pro forma, for the purpose of stating an altera-
tion he intended to introduce, making the provisions of
the Bill applicable to existing Companies generally.
The House went into Committee, and the amendment
was received.
CANAL COMPANIES BILL.

On the motion of Mr. GLADSTONE the order of the
day for going into Committee on this Bill was read, for
the purpose of postponing it till this day week.
On the motion et the same HON. GENTLEMAN the
Customs Duties (Isle of Man) Bill was posponed till
Wednesday next.
Mr. YOUNG presented petitions from the north of
Irelard against the Dissenters' Chapels Bill.
OPENING LETTERS.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from the
inhabitants of Camberwell and Walworth, complaining
of the system of opening letters, which the petitioners
considered interfered with the liberty of the subject and
the freedom of thought and expression. They stated
that it struck at the root of domestic intercourse,
and they prayed the House to take immediate
steps to repeal the clause in the Act of Parliament
conferring this power, or such other steps as would pre-
vent the social intercourse of her Majesty's subjects
from being placed at the mercy of any of her Majesty's
Secretaries of State ; also petitions to the same effect
from Carlisle. Somers-town, Lambeth, Dumfries, Not-
tingham, and Bethnal-green.
DUTY ON IRON.
Dr. BOWRING begged leave to put the question, of
'
which he had given notice, to the Right Honourable
Gentleman at the head of her Majesty's Government,
respecting the renewed intention of the Zollverein
to place a higher duty upon British iron, and particu-
larly on pig iron. He had seen that communications
had taken place between the different deputies and the
States they represented, and that the concurrence of those
States had been obtained to discuss this question. He
did not understand that any peremptory instructions
had been given to the delegates to insist on the rise of
duty, but they were to assemble in September next, when
this topic would be again introduced. The question he
wished to ask was, whether her Majesty's Government
had taken any measures on the subject, or made any
representations to prevent such a disastrous result from
taking place ?
Sir R. PEEL said that her Majesty's Government
had not received. any direct official information with
regard to the steps to which the Hon. Gentleman re-
ferred, but private communications had been received
which Jed them to believe that there was a strong desire
to raise the duty on iron. Representations had
.been
made by her Majesty's Government, giving their own
sense of such policy, and it was stated to her Majesty's
Government that there might be increase of duty for a
certa:n limited duty. It would be difficult to answer
what might be the result of the assembly which would
take place, for they had every reason to think that there
would be a strong opposition to the measure.
COL. STODDARI' A.ND CAPTAIN CONOLLY.
Mr. B. COCHRANE wished to know from the Right
Hon. Gentleman whether he had received any direct
account from Dr. Wolff respecting the fate of Colonel
Stoddart and Captain Conolly, and helalso wished to
know whether her Majesty's Government had given guy

support to Dr. Wolff on his mission to Bukhara, and
whether he went into that country with the sanction
her Majesty's Government.
Sir R. PEEL said that Dr. Wolff did not undertake
his journey to Bokhara with the direct sanction of her
Majesty's Government, because those means of working
on the Governor of that country were very ineffectual,
but they told Dr. Wolff that, if he undertook the jour-
ney on his own responsibility, he would receive
every assistance that her Majesty's Government
could aff r d ; and they had an acknowledgment from
Dr. Wolff, thanking her Majesty's Government for the
assistance which he had received in his journey from
British agents. Communications had been received
from Dr. Wolff, and Col Shiel, her Majesty's represen-
tative at Teheran. The letter of Colonel Shiel was dated
so recently as the 6th of May, and the letter of
Dr. Wolff was dated the 12th of April, at
which time he was within three days of Bokhara.
The two officers were in prison at the time that this
person made his communication to Colonel Sheil. The
officers had been two years in prison, and he had not
heard of any public execution. Colonel Sheil had stated
to the Government in his communications that it was
difficult to collect from the conflicting testimony whether
the execution had taken place or not : it certainly had
not taken place in public. -
Mr. B. COCHRANE wished to ask how these officers
had been employed by her Majesty's Government ?
Sir R. PEEL said that Colonel Stoddart was em-
ployed upon a minion to Khiva, and when that mission
was extended to. Bokhara:he was allowed to avail him-
self of the services of Captain Conolly.
THE IRISH REGISTRATION BILL.
Lord HO WICK begged to ask the Right Hon. Gentle-
man, the First Lord of the Treasury, what were the in-
tentions of the Government as to the Bill for amending
the law with respect to the registration of votes in
Ireland.

Sir ROBERT PEEL said that he did not think the
Bill could be carried further than the second reading in
the present session.
Mr. B. COCHRANE said, before the House proceeded
with the Dissenters' Chapels Bill, ho wished to make a
few observations with respect to the course adopted on
Government nights with reference to the business of
the House. The House had generally understood that
the question of the poor-laws was to be brought
forward that night. He did not want to annoy the
Government, but there must be some reason for
postponing the poor-law, and that reason, he had no
hesitation in saying, was that the Bank Charter had not
been sufficiently praceeded with last night. Now the
postponement was a great inconvenience to Hon. Mem-
bers who had stayed in town for the purpose of attend-
ing the discussion. The question of the poor-law caine
on first in that House on the Bth of February. Week
after week had been named for further pro-
ceeding with the measure, but nothing had
been done in it yet, and they were exactly in the
same situation now as they were before. He thought
the Bank Charter Bill should be postponed, and the
Poor-law Bill taken that night, after the Dissenters'
Chapels Bill. It would be far more convenient if the
Govern.-nent would keep to the particular measures ap-
pointed for each evening.
Sir R. PEEL had the greatest sympathy for the un-
fortunate Members who were kept away from the coun-
try.—(A laugh.) He was as anxious to get there as any
one—(Wear, hear)—but Hon. Members should recollect
that the members of her Majesty's Government had at-
tended that House, for some time past, each day from
five o'clock till half-past one, upon the average. Their
only desire had been to take that business that was most
conducive to the public interest. With respect
to some measures the Government had no dis-
cretion ; that was the case relative to the sugar
Duties Bill, which expired on the sth of next month, and
he would put it to Hon. Members whether the Bank
Charter Bill was not a measure of great importance ; it
was necessary that measure should he carried in order to
put down commercial speculation. He thought it a
measure quite as important as the Poor-law Bill. He
admitted there was great advantage in pro-
ceeding with the measures appointed for the day,
but that could not always be done. It was
much better to proceed with measures at once
than to postpone them, for after an interval of four or
five weeks they returned to the subject like giants re-
freshed, and the subject was debated over again. He
and his colleague sat there nine hours every night for
the purpose of forwarding public business, and he
thought it was most important to dispose of the Dis-
senters' Chapels Bill, the Sugar Duties Bill, and
the Bank Charter Bill, before proceeding to other
measures.—(Hear, hear.) He had given a rash pledge
with regard to the Irish Registration Bill, in order to
meet the convenience of Irish Members. He had found
that pledge so inconvenient to redeem, that it would
make him exceedingly cautious how he gave another.—
(A laugh.) He admitted the claims of the Poor-law
Amendment Bill to immediate attention. The Irish Re-
gistration Bill stood for Monday. The Bank Charter
Bill had to go through Committee. The Dissenters'
Chapels he hoped would be disposed of in two or three
hours, and then they would be at liberty to fix a day
for the Poor-law Bill.
Lord HOWICK agreed with the Right Hon. Baronet
in opinion that the Bank Charter Bill, the Sugar Duties'
Bill, and the Dissenters' Chapels Bill ought to have pre-
cedence of other measures, but he would suggest to him
whether in order to expedite that happy release to which
they all looked forward—the end of the session, as he
had informed them that the discussion of the Irish Regis-
tration could lead to no userul result, he would suggest the
propriety of discharging the order for the second read-
ing of the Bill. If it bad been intended to persevere
with the Bill. he should have attended to give his reasons
for his vote, but as the discussion could lead to no useful
result he should not like the trouble to take a part in it.
By persevering in the course which he had laid down the
Right Hon. Baron .t could only give rise to a long,
angry, and useless debate, which would most probably be
adjourned. By discharging the order he would be enabled
at once to proceed with public business, and he doubted
not but that the Irish Members would be perfectly satisfied
with the Right Honourable Baronet giving up the
Bill, and would release him from his pledge and
thus spare the House a vain and fruitless discussion.
This would enable the Right Hon. Gentleman (Sir R.
Peel) sooner to meet the wishes of the Hon. Gentle-
man (Mr. Cochrane) and it would also enable him
sooner to fulfil the expectations of the country with
respect to many measures then pending.
Mr. M. O'CONNELL said it had never occurred to him
that the Right lion. Baronet (Sir R. Peel) would have
put him in the situation of returning thanks to him, but
he certainly felt called upon to do so after what had
fallen from him with respect to the Irish Registration of
Voters Bill. And most happy should he be to renew
and add to his thanks, if the Right Hon. Baronet would
give the same assurance of delay with the Irish Munici-
pal Registration Bill.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir ROBERT PEEL said they had brought forward
the Irish Registration Bill with the full intention of
passing it into a law. It should be recollected that it
was at the urgent request of Hon. Gentlemen at the
Opposition side of the House that he had postponed
the second reading of it.—(Ministerial cheers.) Ho
still adhered fully and entirely to the principle
of that Bill—(Hear, hear)—but in the present
state of public business, and seeing that, even if the Bill
were carried into a law, it would not effect the present
year's registration, he saw no use in unnnecessarily
pressing it beyond a second reading. At the same time,
he thought a discussion of its principle—and he saw no
reason whatever why it should be an angry one—would
be very desirable. Such discussion could not be other-
wise than advantageous to the Government, and might
the better enable the country to form an opinion upon it.
As to the discussion being of an angry and acrimonious
character, that, of course, rested with the Noble Lord
himself (Lord Howick).
Mr. ROEBUCK said the Right Hon. Gentleman
(Sir R. Pc:1) had forgotten one thing in his category—
a Bill called the Ecclesiastical Courts Bill.—(Laughter.)
He should wish to know whether the Government in-
tended to abandon that measure also?
Sir R. PEEL said he could not answer then as to all
these Bills separately ; the Noble Lord opposite had
suggested that he (Sir R. Peel) should state what mea-
sures the Government had a prospect of carrying, and
what measures they did not expect to pass into laws. He did
not at the time comply with the Noble Lord's request,
but on an early day in the next week he should be pre.
pared to state what Bills would be proceeded with, and
what abandoned.
Mr. ESCOTT said it was very desirable, if it suited
the convenience of the Government, that the Ecclesias-
tical Courts Bill could be one of the incasures to be post-
poned for another session. It was certainly not one that
could be brought to any satisfactory settlement.
Lord J. RUSSELL said there was another measure—
(Laughter)— the County Courts Bill, which he under-
stood from the Right Hon. Baronet lied been deferred,
in consequence of a measure being under consideration
in the House of Lords, for the abolition of imprisonment
for debt, which it was supposed would materially alter
the provisions of the County Courts Bill. At that time
it appeared the Government highly approved of the
measure brought in by Lord Cottcnham, but since then
other circumstances had occurred. He (Lord J. Rus-
sell) understood that this Bill and another were referred
tv a Select Committee of the House of Lords, where it
would probably remain for the remainder of the session.
He should be glad to know what the views of the Go-
vernment were with respect to this measure, and whether
it had changed its views since the former answer was
given.
Mr. P. BORTHWICK complained of the postpone-
ment of the Poor-law Bill on several occasions for two
years past. He hoped that if brought forward, reason-
able time would be afforded Hon. Members for discuss-
ing it.
Sir J. GRAHAM said that on an (may day next week
he would fix those measures, which it was the intention
of her Majesty's Government to press, and the order in
which they were to come on. He could assure the lion.
Gentleman and the House that it was the intention of
her Majesty's Government to press forward the
Poor-law Amendment Bill, and to take the
earliest opportunity for that purpose. Had the Dissen-
ters' Chapels Bill been read a third time last night, he
would have brought on the Poor-law Amendment
Bill that night, but more inconvenience would result
from not proceeding with the Dissenters' Chapels
Bill than from postponing the Poor-law
DISSENTERS CHAPELS BILL.

On the motion for the reading of the order of the day
for the third reading of the Dissenters Chapels Bill,
Mr. COLQUHO UN rose, and was
(LEFT PE A KING. )

A grand fige and morning concert for the Royal
Dispensary for Diseases of the Ear will take place to-morrow
in the grounds of Colonel Mites, in the Regent's-park. The
lovers-of music, by patronising this fete, will ensure an
ample fund of delightful amusement for themselves, at the
same time that they are contributing to the support of an
institution, which, during its existence of nearly thirty 'years,
has been the means of curing or relieving upwards of 13,000
peesons, from a class of diseases of all others the most dis--
treging,

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)
CLERKEN WELL.

CHARGE OF ARSON.—Mr. John Cape!, formerl any
extensive woollen merchant in Basinghall-street, City,
was placed in the felons' dock, charged with feloniously
setting fire to a bed in the house of Mr. William O'Brien,
a tradesman residing at 47, Charlotte-street, Islington,
where the prisoner lodged. Tile prisoner was singularly
attired and wore:an eye-glass; he seemed to regard the
proceedings with the greatest indifference, and laughed
vacantly once or twice during the investigation.
Mr. O'Brien deposed, that a Tew days ago, the prisoner
came to lodge with him, and, gate a most respectable
reference: he had furnished_lodgings. The morning
after he arrived, the prisoner tote at 3 o'clock and began
to walk about the house in a `fiery strange manner, and
had since continued to do so. '-tiometimes lie arose in the
middle of the night and commenced his perambulations.
His bed-room was filled with the most mis-
cellaneous and extraordinary description of commodi-
ties. There was every description of perfume there that
could be named, both animal and vegetable, and several
costly plants, remarkable fur the delicacy of their odour.
In one corner of the apartment was a heap of maccaroni
in a state of decomposition; in another a quantity of corn
and sugar. His general employment during the day was
chopping wood, and there was a pile of lucifer match-
boxes in his room. On the previous evening, about
seven o'clock, without having received any provocation
whatever, he threatened the life of Mrs. O'Brien, whom
he met on the stairs, told her die would kill witness, and
presenting a dagger, swore he would stab aay one
that attempted to come into his room ; he
threatenel to stab Mr. • Kewett, a gentleman who
happened to be in the house. (The dagger
was produced. The scabbard of it was curiously em-
broidered, and it smelt strongly of musk.) About half-
past nine witness and his family were alarmed by cries
of " fire!" and soon after the flames and smoke burst
through the window of the prisoner's apartment. The
two parish and three other fire-engines soon arrived.
and an immense crowd had assembled, numbers of whom
rushed into the house, and with their assistance the fire
was speedily extinguished. The curtains and a portion
of the bedding were entirely consumed.
Mr. GREENWOOD inquired what proof there was that
it was done by the prisoner?
Inspector Thatcher said, from the appearance of the
room after the fire, it seemed that the lighted candle had
been placed under the bed, for it was the canvas under-
neath the bed which was first ignited. He believed the
prisoner was a person of unsound mind. He had acted
in the same manner in .a house in which he previously
lodged, in Edward-terrace, where he made several in-
effectual attempts to burn the premises.
The prisoner's brother, an ironmonger, residing in
Islington, deposed that lie believed the prisoner was la-
bouring under a delusion of mind. His wife died about
a year and a half ago, since which time the deceased had
suffered from diseased limbs. He was under the care of
Holloway, the pill doctor, and witness had been in-
formed that the disease in his legs, which was now very
serious, might be the cause of the derangement of his in-
tellects. The prisoner spent an immensity of money in
purchasing perfumery.
Dr. Taylor, the police-surgeon, had examined the
prisoner, but could net yet positively state that he was of
unsound mind.

The prisoner made a very ingenious defence, and de-
nied the charge. He said the fire was accidental; but
when asked about the threats and the dagger, suddenly
became most violent and excited in his manner, and ap-
plied the harshest language towards Mr. O'Brien with-
out the slightest apparent reason.—He was remanded.

William— Baxter,.it labourer, residing at 3, Brook-row,
Clerkenwell, was charged with threatening to murder
his wife.

The prisoner escaped from the Clerkenwell Work-
house, in which he had been confined as a lunatic pauper
fnr some time, and on the previous morning seized his
wife by the hair with one hand, and brandishing a knife
in the other, swore he would cut her throat. She was
however rescued from her perilous position, and he was
arrested.

Evidence was produced to show that the prisoner was
a person of unsound mind.—Remanded.

COL. STODDART AND CAPTAIN

CONOLLY.

"Merve, in the Tent of Ameer Sarog the Toorcomaun,
230 English miles from Bokhara, April 15, 1844.
" To all the Missionary Societies, all the Philanthropic So-
cieties, the Societies fur the Abolition of Slavery, and all
Scientific Societies in England, France, Germany, Aus-
tria, Prussia and Russia, Sweden, Denmark,_ Hindostan,
and America.
" My dear Friends,
" Since I left Teheraun the prospects of my finding well
and alive and free my friends Stoddart and Conolly become,
with the progress of my journey towards Bokhara, dimmer
and dimmer, and daily more cloudy. I find everywhere, it is
true, people who tell me that both are alive—and it is also a
fact that no public execution has been witnessed at Bokhara
and it is also true that the Khaleefa, the holy dervish of
Mowr, whose hospitable tent I left yesterday, escorted by one
of his relations and other Toorcomauns towards Bokhara, tells
me that Stoddart certainly was alive ; but it is also certain
that if they are alive, they must sigh in the miserable prison
called Harum Serai—a room which is close to the room of
the harem of the Lmeer, so that there is no possibility for
them to communicate their condition to any living soul. I
therefore address to you these lines from here, where I am
detained to-day by the snow, that I shall be at Bokhara in
five or six days, it the Umeer does not send an order to stop
my progress to Char-Joo, the first frontier place of Bokhara,
and whgre I shall arrive after to-morrow.
"In case that you should not learn after my arrival at
Bokhara that both Gamily and Stoddart are dead, and even
my own head has fallen by the hand of the ruler of Bokhara.
I beseech you, then, to exert all your powers for some higher
purpose, for some more noble purpose than avenging the
death of those excellent and gallant officers and other
Europeans—l mean, exert your powers, then, for the purpose
of ransoming 200,000 Persian slaves, and several Italians, as
Giovanni, the watchmaker, &c., who have been brought
there from Khorossaun and Persia; and many thousands of
those Persians have' been sold for the most immoral, unmen-

tionable use to Bokhara and its neighbourhood. They are not
black slaves, but white slaves. And I also beseech you to
learn, should you hear of my own execution, that there was
a Jew who has been enabled, by God's grace, to expose his
life for the purpose of saving the lives of Gentiles.
"And you, noble relations of my beloved Georgiana, should
you hear that my head has fallen at Bokhara, be kind to iny
wife, and to my dear son, Henry Drummond Charles Wolff.
" Your affectionate friend,
"JOSEPH WOLFF, LL.D., D.D.,
"(late Curate of High Hayland, in Yorkshire).'

CRICKET.—The wetness of Tuesday prevented the
renewal of the match between the Marylebone Club and
around v. the West of England, with A. Mynn, Esq., and
three players, but the fineness of Wednesday caused the full
muster of the parties at Lord's at an early hour. It will be
remembered that upon the first innings the West of Eng-
land headed the Club by sixteen runs, and that four of tlit
wickets of the former were down at the termination of 04
play on Monday evening for a very few runs; amongst then,
those of Pilch, Mr. Mynn, Martingell, and 11. Kingscote,
Esq. The play was resumed on Wednesday, when tbt
Marvlebone Club won by two wickets.
STEAM-BOAT PIER AT \TAU XIIALL-BRIDGE.—A
steam-boat pier is now in course of erection -at Vauxhall
bridge. It is on the city side of the bridge, and will, project
from about the centre pier. It will be similar in most re
spects to the one erected at Southwark-bridge, but the pas-
sengers instead of descending through the bridge to the pier:
will approach the latter by a circular staircase, built on th 4
outside of the structure, and supported on piles. It is to be
opened in the autumn, and its cost will be 8001. The bridg,
will, as is the case at Southwark, be toll free to passengers.
STASISTICS OF CAB DRIVERS, &c.—From some do-
cuments recently prepared for the home Missionary Society,
' it appears that there are in the metropolis 347 watermen em-
ployed upon the various cab stands, 1,793 omnibus conduc-
tors, 1,662 drivers of cabs, and 4,546 drivers of hackney
coaches and omnibuses, making a total of 8,348 men, or with
their families, 20,000 persons, living by the conveyance 01
passengers in and around London. One of the cabmen ha•
recently endeavoured to reform the character of his brethren.
and, in the manner of a missionary, has visited 178 stands,
has had religious converse with 2,156 drivers, afforded spi-
ritual and temporal relief to 106 sick drivers of various
vehicles, and distributed 3,010 tracts.

THE ROYAL MlNT.—Since Monday the employ&
of this establishment have been busily engaged in striking oil
a considerable quantity of new sovereigns and half-sovereign-
on account of the Bank of England, preparatory to the pay-
ment of the July dividends, which will be in the course of
settlement in the Rotunda on the Bth of July. A very large
amount, both in gold and silver, has also been struck for Go-
vernment during the last fortnight,
THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON HAMPSTEAD
HEam.—Yesterday Mr. Mills, Deputy Coroner for Middle-
sex, held an inquest at the Yorkshire Grey, Hampstead
Heath, on the body of a young man named Benjamin
Preston, who was drowned in one of the ponds near the above
place on Sunday last. From the evidence of the parents of
the deceased, it appeared that on Sunday last he went with
a pic-nic party to the Vale of Health, Hampstead, and dined
there at one O'clock. The deceased, who was in the highest
spirits, then saw some men and boys bathing in one of the
ponds, and expressed a wish to go into the water himself
His friends endeavoured to induce him to remain with them,
but he was determined he said to have a bathe, and leaving
them to walk about and amuse themselves on the heath, he
undressed and went into the water. Suddenly he raised a
cry of distress, and sunk before the slightest available assist-
ance could be rendered. A young man advanced towards
him a few yards, but like the deceased was unable to swim,
and was afraid to venture farther. His body was not found
until nine o'clock, when it was pulled up by means of a rake
drag. Several of the jury commented upon the indecency of
bathing in a place so public, and where so many females are
constantly passing. A great many persons had been drowned
in those ponds, and they thought that the " Vale of Death"
would be a much more appropriate name for such a place,,
than the "Vale of Health.-'—Verdict, " Accidental death."

INCREASE OF TILE SMALL-PDX.—The progress r.l'
this direful disease has lately been much on the increase. II
is stated in the .statistical report of the health of the me-
tropolis that, during last week, the number of deaths aris-
ing from small-pox in the metropolis alone amounted to ru,
fewer than forty-seven. This extensive mortality is gpite.
rally prevalent amongst infants under two months old. The.
Poot-law Commissioners have addressed circulars to the
parochial officers of the metropolitan parishes, calling upon
them to give every publicity to the provisions of the Act of
Parliament, which requires the vaccination of infants and
children in order to prevent the progress of the infectious
disease, and for which purpose medical
gentlemen are al,_
pointed to various districts of every parish, who perkm), the
vaccine operation gratuitously. The increased ;:prea)l of tbe
disorder can only be attributable to the lax manner in w hit It
the legislative enactment is obeyed.
The letters and papers received from the provinces
yesterday remove all apprehension about the further conti-
nuance of drought. The rain has now visited every part of
the country more or less copiously, and the impulse given to
the previously parched vegetation is described in many eases
to have operated like magic, The barley crop, which was
considered in the most imminent danger of almost total fail -
ure, will, in many districts, not only be saved, but in all pro-
bability will yet reach an average. As to the wheat crop
there was at no period any ground for alarm, as has beim
manifest by the cautious proceeding of the houses engaged in
the foreign corn trade, who have the most extensive means of
procuring prompt and correct information. The alarmists
have, therefore,- but faint . hopes of their predictions being
realised, that before the end of the year the money market •
would be deranged by the Went of foreign importation.

• FLANDERS MAIL.
IlitussEr..s, JusE 26.—The average price of heil".iit-theLl;
week ending the 22d of June was 17f. 68c., at -that--of
101. 48c. per hectolitre. The import duty the efore remains
on wheat at-37f. 50c., and on rye at 211; 50c. r 1,000 kil-
logrammes. ;
The Senate met yesterday, and after some eliminary
business received several messages from the Chat er of lie-
presentatives, accompanving so many projects of laly already
agreed to in that Chamber. The president then proptised the
appointment of several committees.
BOHEMIAN FRONTIER, JOSE 19.—Letters from Prague an-
nounce that there has been a rising of the workmen in the
manufactories of Smichow, near that city, in consequence of
a reduction of their wages, which made the interference of
the military necessary. When the account came away, mos:
of the ringleaders were arrested, but the mass had not given
up the idea of attempting to rescue them by force.
AUGSBURG, JUNE 22.—We have just received letters from
Athens of the 10th of June, which say that General Thomas
Grivas had not obeyed the summons to repair to the capital,
and had been, therefore, declared a deserter, and orders
issued to deliver him up. He, however, with seventy of his
partisans, defeated a division of Government troops, under
Stralos, and penetrated to Karavassara, on the Gulf of Am -
brachia, where he had intrenched himself, and burnt part of
the houses; some gendarmes are said to have joined him. On
the 10th of June, 300 men were sent from Athens with orders
to bring him either alive or dead. Some orders to arrest dif-
ferent persons had been issued.—Allgemeine Zeitung, June 23.

THE NEW POST-OFFICE STAMP.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sitt,—As you are always ready to notice in your excellent
journal any suggestion likely to promote the good of the
community, I take the liberty of recommending that means
should be taken to induce the Government to bring out a new
Post-office stamp, which might be charged an extra penny,
and be labelled " Warranted not to be opened by Sir James
Graham." This would raise a considerable. revenue, and re-
store in some measure confidence with the public, which the
Post-office has lost by recent exposures.
I remain, Sir, yours,
A CONSTANT READER.
Sheffield, June 26, 1844.

IMPEittAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, June 27.
POOR-LAWS (IRELAND).
(Continued from our Third Edition last night.)
The Duke of WELLINGTON said there was no ob-
jection to the production of the papers for which the
Marquis Clauricarde had moved. With regard to the re-
ports to which the Noble Marquis referred, respecting the
working of the poor-law in Ireland, he thought he might
say that they fully justified the complaints which had
been made in Ireland respecting the poor-law. In con-
sequence of the report of Mr. Penethorne, a Committee
had been appointed in the other House of Parliament,
and as soon as the report of that Committee fhould be
made, her Majesty's Government would be prepared to
adopt some measure with respect to this subject, and
their Lordships would then have the whole matter before
them.

The Earl of MOUNTCASHEL said that the com-
plaints of want of water in the workhouses of Ireland
were very general throughout the whole country, and
he instanced several cases which had come under his own
knowledge.

,The Aiarquis of CLANRICARDE expressed his gra-
fication at hearing what had fallen from the Noble

Duke, and expressed a hope that early in the next ses-
sion some steps would be taken to alter the present law.
The motion was then agreed to, and their Lordships
adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 27.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.

STATE OF THE LABOURERS IN NORFOLK
AND SUFFOLK.—INCENDIARISM.
Sir W. JAMES wished to ask the Right Honourable.
Baronet if there was any truth in the reports
which he had seen in the Times newspaper, that, in
the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, it was customary
in cases in which able-bodied labourers applied
for relief from the boards .of guardians, to require
him to produce a sort of round-robin from all the farmers
of the district, stating that they had refused him work.
This, he considered, was giving the magistrates and
guardians too great power over the poor labourers who
were bound to the soil by the land of settlement, and he
wished to know if it were correct.

Sir J. GRAHAM could not give any answer as to
the accuracy of certain statements which had appeared
in the Times newspaper ; but he was prepared to answer
the question of which the lion. Baronet had given notice.
rhe Hon. Baronet had given notice of his intention of
asking whether it was true that a system of denying
relief altogether to able-bodied paupers prevailed in
certain parti of the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk,
more particularly in the union of Ratherley, utileEs they
could produce a certificate from , all the farmers in the
union that they had refused them work. He had caused
inquiries to be made into the subject, and he did not be-
lieve that the system prevailed to any great extent, in the
counties of Norfolk and Suffolk: There was no such
union as the union of Haverty. .There was a parish of
Haverly, in another union, and he believed that the prac-
tice complained of did prevail in that parish. He could
assure the Hon. Member that the practice had been un-
known to him, and he extremely regretted that it should
have arisen. As soon as it became known, the Poor-law
Commissioners had directed the Assistant-Commissioner
to inform the board of guardians that they must discon-
inue the practice, and he believed there was no proba-
bility that it would become general.
Mr. M. GIBSON wished to. correct a misrepresen-
tation of what had fallen from him last evening. He
had been represented as saying, in reply to the Right
ilon. Gentleman opposite, that the waces in Suffolk
:were sufficient. He had said no such thing. lie had
.aid that it was useless to call upon individuals to raise
vages, as if individual farmers could give what wages
they pleased. lle thought it was an unfair attack to
cake upon the farmers of Suffolk. Ile wished to put a
pestion to the Right Hon. Gentleman on the subject of
he incendiarism. The Right Hon. Gentleman had
tated that he believed the peasantry were, to a great

•xtent, free from the charge Of incendiarism; but There
-ere persons perambulating the country setting fire to
!arm buildings. He wished to ask if the Right Hon.
Baronet would have any objection to issue a Commission
-o inquire into the cause of the incendiarism prevailing
in the three counties, and if he had none, he (Mr.
3ibson) would move an address to her Majesty for that
purpose.
Lord J. RUSSELL wished to ask if there were many
prisoners in the calendar for the approaching assizes-
!barged with the crime of incendiarism.
Sir J. GRAHAM was obliged to the Noble Lord for
:laving interposed the question. It was quite true that
here were many prisoners in the calendar for those
:,hree counties charged with incendiarism. Their trials
.vould take place at the next assizes in the regular man-
.ler, and the evidence on those trials could not fail to
throw light on the causes which had led to the late un-
happy incendiary fires. The Hon. Gentleman had mis-
inderstood what he (Sir 11. Peel) had said. He had
,aid that he did not believe the peasantry of these coun-
•ies committed these crimes, but that they were perpe-
l-ated by neighbours of the sufferers through pique and
ill-will. With respect to the Commission, he thought it
gould be unadvisable, as the assizes were approaching,
4nd the trials would shortly come on, when all the cir-
mmstances would be made public.
Mr. AGLIONBY asked whether it was not the duty
,f the Assistant-Commissioners to prevent such illegal
dractices as the Right lion. Baronet himself had con-

lemned ?
Sir J. GRAHAM believed the attention of the Assis-
tant-Commissioners had not been called to such a
practice%

THE IRISH STATE TRIALS.
Mr. WYSE wished to state, that having received a
prothise from the Right lion. Baronet at the head of the
Government, that if he would postpone his motion re-
peeting the recent trials in Dublin until after the coun-
,el fin- the Crown should have made their statement
upon the writ of error in the House of Lords, he (Sir R.
['eel) would allow the motion to come on upon a Go-
vernment day. Upon that understanding he was willing
to postpone his motion.
Sir R. PEEL assured the Hon. Gentleman that he
should keep faith with him.

IRISH MAGISTRATES.—MR. O'DRISCOLL.
Mr. ROSS wished to put a question to the Noble Lord
the Secretary for Ireland. Some time ago Mr. O'Driseoll,
a magistrate of Cork, was convicted of an assault, and
after his conviction he insulted the magistrates who had
found him guilty. Afterwards Mr. O'Driscoll was in-
vited to tender the resignation of his commission, on the
ground of infirmity. Mr. O'I)riseoll resigned. He
(Mr. Ross) had been informed that Mr. O'Driscoll had
been reinstated. He wished to know whether such was
the fact, and how it had come to take place ?
Lord ELIOT had received no communication from the
Lord Chancellor of Ireland that would enable him to
answer the question ?
Mr. ROSS said he would put the question upon an-
other occasion.
ROCHDALE YEOMANRY.

Mr. BRIGHT said that last night he had presented a
petition with respect to the formation of a corps of yeo-
manry at Rochdale, and had given notice that it was his
intention to put a question to the Right Hon. Baronet,
the Secretary of State for the Home Department, upon
the subject this evening.
Sir . GRAHAM trusted that' tho Hon. Member
would give notice of his question for a future day, as he
must confess that be was totally unaware that it was the
intention of the Hon. Member to put any quet.tioa
to him.

Mr. BRIGHT would give notice of his intention to
put the question on Monday.
ORANGE PROCESSIONS.

Mr. WYSE postponed his motinn with respect to
Orange processions till Monday next.

SUGAR DITTIES BILL.

On the question that the Sugar Duties Bill be read a
third time,
Mr. HAWES rose to adlress the House. It was not

his intention to detain the House at any length, but since
the discussion had taken place he had sought informa-
tion as to slavery in Java, and that was the only sub-
ject to which at the present moment he intended to ad
dress himself. The object of the Government in intro.
during the present Bill was or war; not' to increase the
supply of sugar. ' Whatev, r the extent of the importa-
tion of sugar under the Bill might he, it was to be im-
ported distinctly as the produce of free labour, and not
tainted with slavery. Now, he (Mr. Hawes) thought
he should be able to show the House, upon
authorities that cotild not he questioned, that
very little sugar could be imported from the east
that was not more or less whited with slavery or the
slave-trade. In 1814, it was calculated by competent
authority, Sir Stamford Rafts, that there were in Java
27,000 slaves, and the Chinese not only countenanced
slavery, but were actually slave dealers themselves. Sir
George Staunton, in his able work, showed that slavery
existed to a very considerable extent in China. The
Hon. Member then read several extracts from Sir e? eoqe
Stauntou'o work, totrove that slavery existed ut the

t

celestial Empire. Some of these extracts went to state that the Legislature should interfere to protect interests
that a slave in China, who wilfully and seriously injured which might prosper better if they were not protected.
his master, should be put to death with slow torture ; The Right Hon. Gentleman, the Chancellor of the Ex-
those slaves who etruck their master should beput todeath ; chequer, had stated to the House that the West Indies
the slave who accidentally killed his master should be had a claim for protection, and a just claim, on the
killed, according to the same law, by strangulation; and ! ground that the system of slavery under which their
a master might punish a slave to any degree short of ; grounds had been cultivated was abolished, and that
death without incurring any guilt. How could the Bri- ; there was a great scarcity of labour, although their lands
tish Government prevent the slavegrown sugar from were exceedingly fertile. Now, he would ask the Right
coming. into this country from China, once they agreed ; Hon. Gentleman what claim had Mauritius, and the
to receive Chinese sugar? Certificates of origin would other colenies in the East, where there was scarcity of
be no guarantee. It would be ludicrous to suppose the ] labour, to a protective duty of los. ? lie asked what
like. The Hon. Memberthennuoted an extract from a re- reason could be given for this most unjustifiable pro-
port of Sir Fowell Buxton, to show that slaves were teetion ?
largely exported from the territories of the Imsurn of Mr. BORTHWICK (who rose amid loud cries of
Muscat, both to Java and Zanzibar, and from other • " Time, time," and laughter) said that he would only say
authorities, to prove that slavery existed in both 'dices. i one word on this question.
After these authorities, how could the Right Hon. Be- i Sir ROBERT PEEL—One, one.—(A laugh.) Mr.
ronet expect that no slave-grown sugar, consistent with Borthwick considered the measure as dangerous and
the provisions of the Bill, would be admitted into the injurious to the West India interest ; and he was sur-
country? If the Government really entertained the desire' prised that no pers in connected with that interest had
of discountenancing slavery-by this measure, they would opposed it in the Committee. It was, therefore, left to
most assuredly fail in it. But how could the country him, and to those who thought with him, to defend that
expect that the Government was sincere in its object, neglected interest. An lion. Member opposite had said
seeing that so many of the members of it were decidedly that the question was as plain as that " two and two
optased to the abolition of slavery ? make four ;" but there was no analogy between this
bir JAMES GRAHAM—Who? question and abstract arithmetic : for two and two fools
Mr. HAWES thought the Right Honourable Baronet would not make two wise men.—(Laughter.) He was
himself had not been a very strenuous advocate of the prepared to contend, that the planters had not gained
abolition of slavery. Neither had he ever heard the by starving, but were the victims of it. The slave-trad
Right Honourable the Chancellor of the Excheqtax, in in the British colonies was the own child of the British
all the long discussions on the abolition of elavery. lie Legislature. He venerated the names of Wilberforce
would not further intrude on the time of the House. and Clarkson, as much as any man could—(A laugh)—
Mr. GLADSTONE said that after the very full dis- but he could show from the history of the colonies, that
• cussion this question had already received he would not traffic in slaves in the first place, and the continuance of
long trespass on the time of the House. Regarding the slavery afterwards, were matters of reproach to the
question of slavery in Java, to which the Honourable British Legislature rather than to the colonists.
Gentleman chiefly confined his arguments, there was very Much had been said about the twenty millions that had
little slavery there, and that only dome ,tic slavery ; the been raised for the extinction of slavery. Why, the
inhabitants of Java were as free as the People of this fact was, the planters had lost a hundred millions. The
country. Hon. Member, after going at some length into the de-
Mr. P. M. STEWART was sorry to hear the Right fence of those who had voted with Government, con-
lion. Gentleman repeat the statement he had made the eluded by stating his determination to support the third
other day; he would leive it to the Dutch authorities to reading of the Bill.
say whether slavery existed in Java or not. The Right Lord JOHN RUSSELL would not assert that he
lion. Gentleman said that slavery did not exist in Java, was going to say only one word, but he would endea-
and that the slave trade did not exist. Now, he re- your to make the remarks that he was about to address
peated again that the whole of the labour of Java was a to the House as short as possible. Before, however, he
forced labour; and that the whole produce of that island spoke to this particular measure, he must make some re-
was the result of that labour. Was this a system of free ference to the statements made by the Noble Lord the
labour, according to the plein sense of the word? Forced Secretary of State for the Colonies. In what he had
cultivation, and foreed deliveries, were enforced by the stated to the House, therefore, was one remarkable mis-
Dutch Governor, and within ten years the quantity of take. He stated that there was a measure brought in
sugar thus raised had been increased twenty-five times, by the late Government, in 1838, which sanctioned the
Was that a kind of Mem. as free as that of the peasants introduction of labourers into the colonies, but that it had
of this country? It would require sum thing more than been found that such abuses existed is consequence of it,
at French pamphlet to prove that this was free labour. that the Government withdrew the measure. Now, there
The coffee of Java was another article which still more happened to be a few remarkable facts connected with
strongly proved the fact that labour was forced. Every it, and the most prominent was this, that there being
householder having six acres of land was compelled to abuse, the question was brought forward, according to
cultivate I,ooe coffee trees, and was also compelled to the history given of it by Hansard, by an eminent op-
,deliver the pr. duce to the Dutch Government at 6s. 6d. ponent of the Government in the House of Lords, and
per cwt., the market price being 40s. Could this be at that time Lord Glenelg stated that it was his object
.called free labour? Of the Bill itself, he might say that to permit the introduction of labourers into the West
no measure had ever inflicted so much injury and ruis- Indies for the purpose of producing competition and
chief on the great West Indian interest as this Bill. preventing the natives from falling into a state of bar-
But passing by all this, it appeared that the sugar of bedsits. He stated that it was likewise his intention to
Siam was also to come into this country. Now, of all continue the Order in Council of 1838 till 1840. It
.systems of slavery that of Siam was the worst. It was was, therefore, in the contemplation of Lord Glenelg and
"'outrageously bad, and was supported by the worst kind his Government to continue the emigration, and to en-
'-of slave dealing and kidnapping. The Bill had deranged deavour to prevent the abuse which might take place
the .whole trade, had thrown it into confusion, had les- under the Order in Council. The Order in Council was
sened consumption, and injured the revenue, while in the to continue till 1840, for the purpose of seeing whether
manner in which it had gone through the House, it had emigration from England to the West Indies might not
ne no credit to the strong Government. On many be safely continued. It was then agreed that
points the Government hal been co:npletely out-argued the measure should be withdrawn till further
and on one almost out-voted ; and the measure had inquiry could be made. This course was adopted
created. a most unfavourable impression out of doors, in consequence of the opposition that was made to the
.mausing serious misgivings as to the judgment and, he measure. When he (Lord J. Russell) was at the Colo-
:feared, the justice of her Majesty's Government. nial-office, he endeavoured to promote emigration to the
Mr. GLADSTONE ageeel with the Hon. Gentleman Mauritius, and he was told that the best way to do that
diet a very severe system of slavery did exist in Siam ; would be, instead of advising her Majesty to issue an
'but the Government had not decided that its eitear was Order in Council for that purpose to introduce certain
tacome in ; it had not been included in the Bill. clauses in a Bill for that purpose. Such clauses were
-Mr. MANGLES could not let the Bill pass without introduced, and they were defeated by the political oppo-
peat-a:Ain against it. He was always glad when the nents of the Government. He thought, therefore, that
sesaanures of the Government partook of the principles of the Noble Lord could not take much credit to himself for
ifreie trade ; but he felt that there was something more having resorted to the allowance of the emigration of
;precious still than free trade—that waajuttice. lie did labourers. No doubt the Noble Lord had well attended
not think that the colonial interest hod been treated to this subject, but it was much to be regretted that he
• with common justice. Neer • had the interests of their had not attended to it before.—(Hear, hear.) With
East Indian possessions been at all considered. He de- regard to the particular measure now introduced, he
preested this measure of the Right Hon. Gentleman be- could not but remind the House of what its history was.
cause it would tend to injure the cultivation of sugar in It was introduced upon the ground, that there was not a
India. It threw the sugar groAeri there open to new sufficient supply of sugar in this country.—(Hear
competition ; and though free trade was a very good hear.) Those who represented the West India
thing, there was something better, and that was justice interests said that there was no falling off in the prodee-
land fair play.—(lronical cheers.) lie now cane: to the tion of sugar, and they objected to the introduction of
case of the West Indies. He considered that great in- the Bal. lie (Lord J. Russell) did not agree with them,
jury was done to the West Indian interest by not allow- for he stated a greater supply was wanted. The Noble
ang the emigration of free labour to the Mauritius and Lord then referred to the different supplies of sugar for
Vest Indies. The Noble Lord the Member for North the last three or four years, and observed that during
leencashire and the Right lion. Gentleman opposed the the last year there had been a falling off of the number
introduction of free labour, though they now favoured it. of tons imported. That was very likely in consequence
But what was dene now might have been dune ten years of the uncertainty that had prevailed with respect to the
:ago. The circumstances were precisely the same. The present measure. He (Lord J. Russell) thought
Anti-Slavery Society were fighting the battles of the that it would have been most desirable, if any measure
:slave states of America when they opposed this on the subject of sugar was to be introduced, for the
ancnoure. They not only did injustice to the West Government to review the whole subject, and bring for-
:lndies, but to the hill-coollies themselves ; for ward a permanent system, and not one of the present
they would matte their fortunes if they were fluctuating character. It seemed to him that the maxim
'allowed to coals to the M turitius. At home of the Government was to give the greatest possible dis-
-they made scarcely anything, and they existed in a state turbance to the interests of the producer, without giving
'of barbs trism which would be considerably removed if any advantage whatever to the consumer.—(Hear, hear.)
'they wk-re allowed to emirate. Ile did not believe there Much discussion had taken place about free and slave
would be any good derived from their colonies unless a labour. The present measure left that subject as un-
moral ploughshare was driven over the Colonial-offiee. certain as it had ever been. The statements of his Hon.
That was the great obstacle to '.denial improvements. Friend near him with respect to slavery in Java vo-
ile hal the sincerest respect for the Noble Lord who inained uncontradicted. It was true that the Noble Lord
preside] over that office, and for the ability which he at the head of the Colonial department had said that the
:always displayed ; but if he had all the heads of Cer- slaves in Java bore a small proportion to the inhabitants
lberus, and all the hands of' Briareus, he would not be of the place. That might be, but that was no ground
:able to manage the large and numerous interests coin- whatever for adopting the course that was now pro-
anitted to his charge. He would oppose the measure of posed. With respect to the protection of the sugar-
the Government, r,catt .e he thought it was unjust. growers, he thought it ought to be equal over the whole
Lord STANLEY sai;l lie would not have spoken on world.—(Hear, hear.) He had on a former occasion
this subject at all were it net for the allusion which had made a motion to that effect, but he had failed in carrying
been made to him by the Hon. Gentleman who hal just it. Then came the proposition of the lion. Member for
sat down. The Hon. Gentleman gave another pro if Bristol, and he must call the attention of the House to
that however strenuous an advocate one might be for free the situation in which it placed itself upon that
trade, he s on found out th t there were some p ir- subject. That proposal was given notice of long be-
Caller questions to which free trade was net applicable. fore it was brought on. The Bill was read
—(Heer, hear.) He therefore hoped the Hon. Gentle- a first and second time ; and it was not until the men-
enan would talk no more about those who advocated free sure was in Committee that the proposition was brought
trade in the abstract.—(liear, hear.) Now, with regard forward in a full House ; and that House decided in
to the case of E ist India sugar it appeared to him m ist favour of the proposition by a majority of twenty. This
enenstrous to consider that the East India body were was on the Friday. Upon the Monday, without any
`linelly dealt with.—(Hear, hear.) They were place lon notice, that decision was reversed, and the proposition
a foeting of equality with the West IrLes, and in ad-ti which was affirmed on the Friday was negatived on the
Rion to this they had the cheap labour of tae hill- Monday. It had been said that the course the House
'coo:les for 2d. it day, which the lion. Gentleman had pursued was sanctioned by what had taken place
thou slit so necessary to the West Indies. And when Lord Althorp was Chancellor of the Exchequer,
yet with those advantages toil the additional advan when a motion was made and carried for the repeal of
tages of British capital and machinery, the the malt-tax. Now in his (Lord J. Russell's) opinion,
lion Gentleman says that with a duty of lOs. in their fa.• the decision of Monday night was nothing like the de-
'sour, they could not compete with the sugar-growers of cision on the malt-tax. The decision on that question
eTas-a and Manilla. The East Indies hal abundance of was not taken in a very full House. It was a question,
time to compete, and with an almost unjust advantaae likewise, that affected the whole finance of the year ; and
over the West Indies, with the suear of Java and Ms - Lord Althorp said that it was but just that the House,
milli; and yet they complained and desired to keep up having come to a decision, of the importance of which
the monopoly they had. The Hon. Genilernan, who was Members were not aware, that they should have an op-
so great an advocate of free trade was the man, the only portunity of maturely considering the whole question,
=an, who put himself forward to complain of the hard- and of determining whether they would have a milt
ship and injury done the East Indies by the admissi in tax or a property-tax. He (Lord J. Russell) thought
etrJava and Manilla sugar.--(Hoar, hear.) The Hon. that on that occasion it was but right that the House
Gentleman then referred to the way he (Lord Stanley) should have an opportunity of reconsidering the subject,
!had acted with regard to the admission of free-labour but in the present case there was nothing resembling it.
from India to the alauritit and the West Indies. The The first decision was taken after long notice ; and the
Bon. Gentleman used the same arguments which (Lord next after no notice at all. For himself; he (Lord J. Ruse
• Stanley) urged in 1842 for the admission of hill-coolies. sell) when he came down on the Monday, was not aware
'The first step which he took, when he was appointed to that was to be done, and it was not till he heard the
the Colonial-office, was to bring forward a measure for determination of the Right Hon. Baronet, that he knew
'the admission of the hill-coolies into the Mauritius, and the course that was to be pursued. It was true they
he was opposed to bringing forward that measure by the hal heard of meetings at the Carlton Club on Sunday,
lion. Member for Northampton, and the lion. Member and rumours were rife upon the subject ; but the Right
for Beverley, who had so much practical experience on lion. Baronet, without any notice whatever, came down
Lite subject.
on the Monday, and proposed that the House should
-Mr. MANGLES—He was never beyond Calcutta. undo what it did on the Friday. New what was the
Lord STANLEY -Yes; . but it was in Calcutta that course that had been pursued by the House upon
the use of kidnapping was resorted to to such an extent— that occasion ? Why many Hon. Members who had
(Cheers)—and that such frauds had been committed, actually voted for the amendment of the lion. Member
while the vessels were passing down the river. He for Bristol on the Friday night actually voted against it
(Lord Stanley) objected in 1840 to Vie removal of the on the Monday night ; other Members left the House,
restrictions on emigration to the Mauritius, till the report and ultimately the proposition of the Hon. Member for
of the Governor-General on the subject had arrived. Bristol was rejected. Now it was to have been expected
From the time when the Government came into office that upon the rejection' of that proposal some other
in 1841 they had kept this question steadily in view. proposition would have been brought forward by some
In 18-42 they introduced the system of immigration into Hon. Member for the purpose of rejecting the propo-
the Mauritius; and after its' success there they would sition of the Government, but nothing of the kind had
take measures for extending it to the West Indies. If taken place—no further step had been taken, and they
they had acted more hastily, they would have been were now reading the Bill a third time, and not a single
charged with imprudence. If the failures which had Member had been found to oppose the introduction of
formerly occurred had been repeated, it would have foreign sugar in the manner proposed by the Govern-
created an insuperable obstacle in the minds of the meat. The fact was the Right Hon. Baronet had told
people of this country to the extension of the emigration Hon. Members that he would not remain in office
to the West Indies. The Government were sensible of the unless the vote of the Friday night was rescinded,
importance of pouring a supply of labour, safely and and that threat had had its due effect. He
continuously, into the West Indies; but they were an- agreed with what had been stated that it would not have
tottsto do it in such a manner as to promote the best been wise in the Government to have introduced the
,einterestsof the colonies themselves, and to avoid those Sugar Duties Bill again, without any alteration, but that
which would be the most serious obstacle to a con- he (Lord J. Russell) saw no reason why they should not
tinuons supply of labour,
have supported the proposition of the Hon. Member for
Mr. WARBURTON aaid he was sorry that the sup- Bristol. The question that was to be decided on the
port which free trade had at one time received from the Monday night was between the character of the House
lVeit Indies ha I been so short-lived and that his ilon. of Commons and the Prime Minister, and the character
Friend below was now one
of thewarmest combatants of the House of Commons was sacrificed to him.—(Hear,
in favour of exclusive principles, The Hon. Gentleman hear.) Such was the state of things to which the Go-
below him co:nal:tate,' of •iraustice to the West Indies. verument hail brought the House. Such a state of things
He said that free trade was a good thing, but justice he was confident could not last; for of this he was sure,
was a much better thing. Let them compare the injus- that if the House of Commons was unmindful of its own
lice done to the 'West Indian proprietors on the one character, dignity, and privileges, the country would
hand with the intustiee ,lone to the labourers on the form a most indifferent opinion of them. lie
other. In. Engle 3d they talked of the moral and social believed Hon. Members to be mindful of the declarations
condition of the Labourers, but who gave any thought to ' they had made at their elections, and the pledges they
the moral
Macondi) ion of the hid
-coolies ?
Pagans of all on Friday night consistent with their pledges, or the
kinds from di/Ile-eat pares of the world to the West character of that House. Why the country would at
Indies, without. any regard to the effect on themselves? once see that Honourable Members, instead of keeping
--(Hear, hear.) Now, be hal a suggestion to make to their pledge, were supporting measures because they
the Governmens in reference to the meessuse wore the were agreeable to the party in office. The people, they
House. It proposed to give the West and East I might depend upon it, would not tolerate such proceed-
.lndians a protection of not less than a million and a half i ic,s, and it was but due to the character--to the cha-
racter of Members themselves, whatever their pledges
it year. Now:, would it not be better that the people of !
might have been—vvhatever their politics might be—
this country :should pay 500,000 t a year in the shape of
annuity to the West Indian proprietors, than that this ! whether Conservative, Whig, or Radical—to take care
protection should continue? lie believed that that would 1 that the Acts of that House should be the solemn de-
b,: the cheapest course, and the one most advantageous, elarations of its opinions, and that those opinions, when
in the long run, for the West Indians themselves. I once formed, should not be changed or altered. The con-
Lord SANDON totally disagreed with the Hon. Gen- ' sistency of the House of Commons was of far more im-
tlsman in reference to the question eef immigration. He I portance than any particular measure, and in parting
believed that, if labourers were not provided for the ; with this Bill he must enter his solemn protest against
Vest Indies, the colonies, would be thrown out of mil- 1 the course that had been pursued by the House with
tivatien, and they would thus be left entirely depenlent respect to it.—(Hear.)
.on Cuba and Brazil. Whether, in the present state of Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS was anxious to say a
jDOW. countries, this svas desitestde, he left the House to ! few words in order to defend his consistency. When
udge.
'ne nofied determination vote nd
Mr. BRIGHT said that, if lie came to that House mti
ent of the his
Hon. Member forto Bristol, agheainst statedthe thameat his
ncmplainieg that lie could not sell his manufactures at a opposition to the Government measure was unabated, and,
sufficiently
tigh price, and :'skin for a law to giae bins in order to show that he had been consistent, he had come
a higher, the language which would
be applied to to the House that night for the purpose of voting against
would lie seereel; Parliamentery.—(Hca)•, hear.) 1 the measure if any division should take place.(Hear.)
-Be thought that nothing %Ore monstrous could be thin ilia would 'lie his vote, aye or no, for eery proposition

that was brought before him. He thought the measure
of the Government would be most unjust and injurious
to the West India interest. The principle he would
always stand upon was the principle of full protection to
our colonial empire. He considered the prepo-ition of
the Hon. Member for Bristol and that of the Govern-
ment to be opposed to the principle, and he had, there-
fore, opposed both. He thought they ought to maintain
the principle of prohibition against all foreign sugar.
From the year 1831, when they indulged their humanity'
at the expense of the West Indian interest, the produc-
tion of sugar had diminished. It was just beginning to
increase, and now they again attempted to curb it. He
had hoped, after the first division on the question, that
the Government would have thought it advisable to re-
enact the present duty for another year, for in this he
would have heartily supported the Right Hon. Baronet.
Sir It PEEL said that he was unwilling to prolong
that discussion because he was anxious to proceed pith
other business to which he wished to direct the attention
of the House, and nothing would have induced him to
say a word excepting the speech of the Noble Lord
opposite. He must say that he considered that his Hon.
and Gallant Friend was perfectly justified in the vote
which he had given upon this question. His Hon. and
Gallant Friend was decidedly opposed to the measure of
the Government, and he was also opposed to the propo-
sition of the Hon. Member for Bristol. If the Noble
Lord had proposed that the third reading of this Bill
should be rejected, he would kave the support of his
(Sir R. Peel's) Honourable and Gallant Friend:—
(Ileer, hear, from Sir H. Douglas.) He could not see
how his Hon. and Gallant Friend could take any other
course than that which he did, for he would
not have been consistent in doing otherwise.
Ho thought that the Government were per-
fectly justified in the course which they took
in attempting to rescind the resolution to which the
House bad come. There was no distinction between
that course and the course which was pursued on the
malt-tax. Lord Althorp pursued the same course with
respect to the malt-tax, yet he (Sir R. Peel) never heard,
either from the Noble Lord opposite, or any other
Member, that that course was degrading to the House
of Commons. The real object ought always to be the
public interest. He still entertained the opinion that
the proposal of the Government was more advantageous
to the country than the proposition of tha Hon. Member
for Bristol, and he could not help thinking that it was
becoming in the Government to submit the matter for
the reconsideration of the House. He thought there
was great objection to a prospective reduction of duty,
definite in amount, and to take effect on a cer-
tain day. He thought that such a prospective
reduction, definite in amount and time, had a groat ten-
dency to damage the country in the interval. It would
affect the consumer, because there would be no reduc-
tion in price; but an increase, and that increase would
go into the pockets of persons who had no claim to their
sympathy, namely, the pockets of the grocers and the
retail dealers, who happened to have a sufficient quantity
of sugar on hand to enable them to dole out an imperfect
supply. There would be a loss to the revenue without
any corresponding benefit to the consumer, or advantage
to the producer. He still entertained the opinion that
there was nothing inconsistent with the duty of the
House of Commons in their entering into a reconsidera-
tion of this question. The Noble Lord fairly admitted
that it would hare been hardly consistent with the credit
of the Government if they had proposed a con-
tinuance of the old sugar duties. His Honourable
and Gallant Friend (Sir H. Douglas) thought this
was the wisest course to pursue, and no doubt
those of the West India interest who voted with
the Noble Lord thought so too. The Government
thought it desirable, owing to the increased de-
mand, and the tendency to increased prices, to admit
competition with foreign free-grown sugar. They ad-
hered to their opinion, and he must say diet he never
could understand the ground on which the Noble Lord
opposite had opposed the proposition of the Government.
He could not doubt that the Noble Lord had done so
from public motives, but he could not help thinking still
that it was the duty of the Government to resist the
combination which was formed against them, and to at-
tempt to procure the deliberate sense of Parliament ninon
the resolution which they believed to be for the public
interest. lie rejoiced in the course which they had
taken, and he thought no discredit whatever had been
thrown on the House of Commons by their having re-
considered the decision to which they had come on a
former night. The Hon. Member for Durham asked him
why he did not go further with respect to the abolition
of protection. If the Hon. Member had listened to the
debates which took place in that House, he must have
discovered the difficulty which existed to prevent him
from doing so. There were the difficulties arising from
the strenuous opposition of the advocates for protection,
and when they came to deal with details, the most formi-
dable difficulty was to be found in those who were
the loudest in their declarations in favour of free trade.
One Hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Mangles) who was
a purist with regard to free trade, had attempted to
show the House of Commons that it was unjust to
diminish the protection on Eest India sugar, and that it
was unjust to allow Manilla and China sugar to come
into competition with East India Sugar. How could the
Hon. Gentleman advocate the admission of slave labour
produce? How could the Hon. Gentleman make this
consistent with his former doctrine? The Hon. Gentle-
man said he was the decided advocate of free trade and
the admission of slave-grown sugar, and yet, when there
was a particular measure reducing protection, he de-
nounced the authors of it as bring unjust to his friends.
So with respect to the article of cheese. It was pru-
dent to reduce the duty on cheese. If he were called
upon to name the man who was the decided advocate of
free trade, he would say it was the Hon. Member for
Chester. And yet, when there was a proposition to
reduce the duty on cheese, that Honourable Member
said it would be unjust to do so. And so it always
was and always would be in these case=. And when
the Ho ). Member for Durham asked him (Sir R. Peel)
why he did not remove protection, he could only say that
the removal of protection was incumbered with great
difficulties, and among the greatest difficulties was the
opposition of those who pretended to be the advocate of
free trade principles.
Mr. MAN G LES explained.
The Bill was then read a third time, and passed.
BANK CHARTER BILL.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EX-
CHEQUER, that the House resolve itself into a Com-
mittee on this Bill,
Mr. WODEHOUSE wished to put a question to the
Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government, of
which he had given notice yesterday. He felt it his
duty to do so. The question ho wished to put was,
whether it was the intention of the Government to ex-
tend the provisions of the present measure to Ireland
and Scotland?
Sir ROBERT PEEL had no hesitation in saying,
that when the measure now under the consideration of
Parliament had become law, the Government intended
to put itself in friendly communication with bankers in
those countries, with a view to extend the provisions of
this measure in respect to the regulation of the currency
to Scotland and Ireland. He rather thought, however,
that such a measurecould not be brought forward during
the present session.
Mr. WODEHOUSE thanked the Right Hon. Baronet
for his answer, which was perfectly satisfactory. He
would then give notice of his intention to move for the
restoration to the banks of the power of convertibility re•
specting silver, which they possessed prior to the Act
of 1816, to the extent it then existed, but no further.
In answer to a question from Mr. F. T. BARING,
Sir R. PEEL was understood to gay that it was not
the intention of the Government to being in a Bill re-
garding the Bank of Ireland during the present session.
If however they should change their opinion on this
subject due notice of such intention would be given to
the House.
After a few words from Colonel SIBTISORP and from
Mr. PHILIP HOWARD, who presented a petition from a
Carlisle Banking Company, cop plaining of the dimi-
nished powers of the country banks, which the Bill
before the House would enact, and praying for larger
privileges, and by Lord WORSLET from another bank-
ing company to the same effect.
Mr. RAIKES CURRIE, after some prefatory ob-
servations said, that a memorial had been drawn up and
signed by the majority of the directors of the bank of
which he was a member, respecting certain provisions in
the Government measure, but that memorial had not
been presented to the Right Hon. Baronet in deference
to his (Mr. R. Currie's) rogue:4 as he did not wish
to embarass the Government until the measure was fully
before the House. Many influential bankers, amongst
whom were Messrs. Loyd and Grote, and other gentle-
men extensively connected with commerce and banking,
were adverse to many provisions of the measure, and
for whom he might say.
" Malim cum Catone errare quam,
Cum istis hominibus 'dem sentino."
He wished to see a perfect convertibility of the paper
currency ; but the Hon. Member for Lambeth assumed
that this measure was brought forward for the purpose
of preventing those great oscillations of price which had
hitherto occurred. Now, as he (Mr. Bailees Currie) ap-
prehended it was not directly mear.t for any such pur-
pose—that was hoped to be an incidental effect of its
provisions. It was hoped that this Bill would prevent
that intensifying and that spasmodic action which for-
merly used to occur in the endeavour to bring back the
gold to the bank. The advocates of a metallic standard
said that in the abstract the best state of thing,' was a
metallic currency, and they would allow departure from
this to a system of paper money, for two reasons,
and for two reasons only. First, for sake of
economy ; and, secondly, for the sake of convenience.
They hai now got to something which would test men's
opinions. Did the Hon. Gentleman opposite expect any
other advantages from a convertible paper currency
than those of economy and convenience ? There were
those who expected relief from taxation and discount in
addition to those advantages, but the moment they aimed
at those, he believed they endangered the convertibility
which they all agreed was the object of the present mea-
sure. He regretted to hear what had fallen from the
Hon. Member fur Nottingham, with regard to Mr. Jon, a
Loyd, who, ho said, was a free-trader in everything
except what he dealt in himself. The London
bankers could have no interest in the present measure.
To those who agreed in what he had stated, the measure of
the Right Hon. Gentleman must appear a strict logical
sequence. What ho blamed the memorialists for, was
that they admitted his premises, and denied his con-
clusions. The whole principle which the Bill professed
was that of non- interference—that no body of men and
no Government should be able to interfere with the
currency. Whatever private London banker gave his
opinion in favour of the measure, it took away from
them the only remaining monopolies they had, while the
conntry bankers were dalt very leniently with. It was
urged that, when the balance of trade was against them,
gold would leave the country and a great tightness in
the circulations would be the result. But that was neces-
sary, to prevent them from falling into extreme danger.
Ile had supported this measure in all its stages, and ho
thought the Right Hon. Gentleman might look back with
satisfaction to the changes he had brought about in the

currency system. He first brought back the standard in I
1819, and, since that time, he supported the principle of
that measure against all opponents. He gave it his
cordial support, because it recognised a true principle
which was adapted to the present circumstances of the
country, with great practical segacity.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. GISBORNE explained. The expression which
he had used with regard to Mr. Jones Loyd was, that
he was a free trader in everything except that which he
dealt in himself; and to that extent be consi ;erect him-
self perfectly right, for Mr. J. Loyd was an advocate
for free trade except in credit, which was what he
dealt in.
Mr. C. WOOD said that Mr. J. Loyd was not in any
way concerned in this measure, so far as having any in-
terest in it. He believed Mr. Loyd was for the aboli-
tion of restrictions on everything.
Mr. NE WDEGATE said it was difficult to apply the
rules of normal philosophy, which seemed to have so
much weight in the mind of the Hon. Gentlemen who
had just spoken to this question. He thought the pre-
sent measure bore the impress of that difficulty. lie
thought the difficulties of the subject arose from the high
measure of their standard. The pound contained so much
of the precious metal, that it was difficult to supply it.
a purely metallic basis ; and the fact of 14,000,000/
being necessary to carry out the present measure.
justified him in the statement. He had acted
against his feelings and his friends in the views he
adopted upon this question ; but they were his honest
opinions— (Hear, hear)—and ho gave expression to
them. He might be mistaken in his views, but he
thought that there should be a paper superstructure on
a metallic basis. He thought that even the present mea-
sure proved they could not ensure perfect convertibility
with so high a standard. Ho was no opponent of the
metallic standard, but he thought it was not applicable
to the present circumstances of this country.
Sir W. JAMES rose, but such was the noise which
prevailed in the House while he was speaking, that it
was impossible to hear what he said.
The House then went into Committee, Mr. GREENE
in the Chair.
On clause 4 being proposed,
Mr. COLLETT asked the Right Hon. Baronet to give
a clear definition of what was to be considered bullion.
Sir R. PEEL—AII gold of the proper assayel fineness
would be received at the Bank as bullion, at 3/. 17s. 9d.
per ounce, the difference between that price and
31. 17s. 10;d. being just enough to cover the expense
of coining.
Mr. C. WOOD informed the Hon. Member that gold
in whatever shape, except that of the coin of the realm,
and even that, if it was under weight, was considered as
bullion; foreign coin was also bullion if of the standard
value.—The clause was then agreed to.
On clause 5 being proposed, which gives power to in-
crease the amount o securities in the issue department
upon the authority of her Majesty in Council, upon the
application of the Governor and Company of the Bank
of England, beyond the total sum of 14,000,000/e and
thereupon to issue additional Bank of England notes,
provided that such increased amount of securities should
in no case exceed the proportion of two-thirds the amount
of bank-notes which a banker ceasing to issue might
have been authorised to issue,
Sir W. CLAY moved, pursuant to notice, the omission
of these words:—" Her Majesty in Council, upon the
application of the said Governor and Company, to autho-
rise and empower." Upon this he said he should take
the sense of the House, if it appeared that the power to
be exercised by the Crown were to have any further
operation than to fill up the voids that might occur in
the circulation.
Sir R. PEEL said it was quite necessary that the pub-
lic should have full knowledge of any increase of issues
or of security, and the Act required that the same should
be notified to the Council. To a fresh issue of notes on
additional securities the Bill applied the same principles
that it did to issues under the present system, viz , it
permitted the Bank to supply the void, but it required
that there should be an addition to the bullion of the
Bank, in the case which he was supposing, to the amount
of 3,000,0001. He could not conceive that any inconve-
nience would arise from the clause—it appeared to him
to be a security and a precaution that the principle of
the Bill should be carried into effect.
Sir W. CLAY said, it appeared to him to be a dan-
gerous power to place in the executive Government, to
allow them to have any conned over the circulation of
the country. It was a power which might be much mis-
applied and made subservient to political purposes. Ile
should, therefore, move in clause 5, lines 30 and 31, the
omission of the words " her Majesty in Council, upon
the application of the said Governor and Company, to
authorise and empower," and in lines 38 and 39 of the
following words, " the proportion of two-thirds."
Sir R. PEEL said, the clause contained no new expe-
rimental principle—it was merely an additienal check
against the possibility of abuse.
Mr. W. THOMPSON considered this Bill as a warn-
ing to country bankers, that at the end of the eleven
years during which it was to exist there would be only
one bank of issue. The amount of private banks' issues
was to be 9,000,000/, of which the Bank of England was
to supply two thirds. Towards the end of the eleven
years he feared there would be a great void occasioned
by the withdrawal of the country circulation, which
would be prejudicial to the great interests of the country.
He therefore should have preferred that the Bank of
England had power to issue to the full amount of circu-
lation withdrawn by the country bankers.
Mr. C. WOOD was inclined to agree with his Hon.
Friend the Member for the Tower Hamlets, but he did
riot think the point of sufficient importance to take the
sense of the Committee on it, because the danger con-
templatel by the amendment was not likely to arise.
Mr. TURNER. hoped, if it was intended at the end of
ten years to establish one bents of issue, the Right Hon.
Baronet would have the manliness to avow it. He denied
that the losses by the failure of country banks fell on the
lower orders, who seldom had more than a 5/ note in the
bank. They more often suffered from light gold.
Sir R. PEEL would give no opinion on what Parlia-
ment might do in ten years. But, clearly, this Bill would
give a better guarantee for the security of the circula
teen of the country banks than to leave matters as they
were. He was not disposed to enter now into the consi-
deration of the condition of private banks. He had pur-
posely avoided entering into the details of country banks.
Ire did not wish to state the case of the country bank-e
or even the circumstances which had occurred since this
Bill had been before the House.
Sir W. CLAY withdrew his arnendment.
Sir J. GUEST thought it was unfair in the Right
Hon. Baronet thus to inter a general instability of coun-
try banks, because one bank had failed for 17,006/. It
would be better for the Right Hon. Baronet to speak
out at once.
made any such inference.
lleStirholt. thought that d
joint stock banks in
general might be conducted with perfect security ; but
he thought at the same time that it was right to take
countryenied having
banks
an d
securities against abuses. It was the interest of well-
conducted estebli,hments that such securities should be
taken.
Mr. MANGLES said, although the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman had disclaimed any intention to doubt the stabi-
lity of private banks in general, yet he must say he had
spoken in a very significant and threatening tone. He
pointed his finger and spoke in a tone as much as to
say, " I could tell a great many things about you which
you would not like to hear said." Bs spoke in a most
minacious manner.—(A laugh.)
Colonel SIBTIIORP said, at all events he had mere
confidence in private banks than he had in the Exche-
quer bills.—(A laugh.)
Mr. M. PHILIPS said, that his first act in public life
was to express his approval of the conduct of the manu-
facturers of Manchester in declining to have anything to
do with the IL notes of local or private bankers. He
thought it had been a most fortunate circumstance for
the whole of that district that so resolute a course had
been taken on that occasion ; for he felt convinced that
by it the peace of the community had been preserved.
He hoped his Hon. Friend the Member for Truro would
not think, because he advocated this clause, that he was
inimical to well-regulated country banks ; for such was
not the fact.
Mr. MUNTZ asked, if this Bill and its-system was
to regulate the circulation of the Bank of England and
joint-stock banks, why could it not regulate the currency
as well ? What would be the consequence of with-
drawing 100,0001 of local notes and replacing them by
Bank of England notes ?
Sir R. PEEL said, that assuming the circulation of
the country banks to be 9,000,000/. and that of the Bank
of England 21,000,0001, and that the country circulation
of 9,000,0001 was suddenly withdrawn, the case would
stand thus :—They permitted the Bank of England to
issue 14,000,000/. of the 21,000,0001. upon securities, and
assumed that an issue upon bullion of one-third, or
7,000,00 e/ would ensure the whole convertibility of the
21,000,000/. Supposing, then, the 9,000,0001 to be
voluntarily withdrawn by the country banks and sup-
plied by the Bank of England, they admitted at once
that 7,000,000/. would not be sufficient to support the
convertibility of 30,000,0001., and would apply the same
principle to the additional 9,000,0001 which they had
applied to the 21,000,0001., namely, that 3,000,0001. be
issued upon bullion, and 6,000,0001 upon securities. If
the estimate of the total circulation of notes throughout
the country should be 30,000,000/e then there must be a
stock of 10,000,0001 of bullion in order to support that
circulation, upon the same principle that a stock of
7,000,000/ was assumed to be sufficient to support a cir-.
emulation to 21,000,000/. Tun Co:evict. DALMAS.—AII hope of a reprieve is
In reply to a question from another. Hoer. MemBER, now at an end, the solicitor for Dalmas having
presented a
Sir R. PEEL said that the country would no doubt in petition to the Secretary of State, for a remission of the ca-
that case be subjected to the expense of increasing the pital punishment, signed on the ground that great prejudice
supply of gold by about 3,000,0001., but that it would on i existed against the unfortunate man in the public mind, anal
the other hand amply gain by the security which that also that the evidence on which he was convicted was by no
increased supply would give to the monetary transactions means of a conclusive character, and that the jury must
of the country. have entertained great doubt of his guilt, in consequence of
their long deliberations. To this petition an unfavourable
Mr. E. TURNER exclaimed against what he denomi-answer has been d and he 'll undoubtedly
tutted the enormous inaccuracy of the assertion, that theexreet returned,
at,
nine o'clOicker 31Onda ornink.
be carried into
country bankers kept no gold as a foundation for their The convict has been informed of the u, or efforts
issues. On the contrary, he know that in the western made on his behalf in order to save his life, for which he ex-
counties with which he was acquainted, one-fourth or pressed the greatest gratitude to those benevolent individuals
one-third of the issues were on gold, and the wages of who had so deeply interested themselves in his fate, and
the mining concerns in Cornwall were always to be bad merely added that he expected to die, and was resigned to the
of the bankers in specie. Nine millions of notes issued change which so shortly awaited him. It was not until yes-
on no monetary basis beyond their own credit, would, terdaer afternoon that the convict despaired of receiving a re-
rieve, but his firmness and presence of mind have. never for.
indeed be sufficient reason for annihilating the system. P
, oaken him. Up to the present time he still insists on his
It was, however, far °there ise.
innocence, and maintains that the witnesses were mistaken
Sir W. CLAY asked where the gold was to come , as to his identity. He states his motive for surrendering him-
from which was to be the basis of the one-third of self up to justice was, that he felt he was a iwrsecnted
then© issues from the Bank of England ? If ft tali
ESTABLISHMENT OF A STUCK-EXCHANGE IN
the existing circulation, there must, of course, be a GLASGOW.—The share-brokers of Gla<gow•
diminution to that extent of the whole circulation. From formed themselves into a society, under the title of" Tile
the country issues ? That could not be, according to Glasgow Stock-Exchange Association." Th
'
e vest
the statement that the country bankers kept no gold amount of business transacted in this etse in stocks list;
as the basis of their issues—a statement, indeed, cunt a- rendered such an association, more paurticu of late
dieted by the Hon. Member fer Truro but inconsider- years, a decided desideratum ; awl there can be no doubt
ately, for they need not keep more gold than was re- that it wiil prove highly advantageous to the public. An
quired for purposes of convenience, seeing that the 13unk accredited list of prices, founded on the usual transac-
of England notes were a legal tender. Was this eold. then, tions of the association, will be regularly furnished to
to come from the banking department of the Bank ? the members and to the different newspapers, and any-
Why, the Bank, like all other banking concerns, only thing like misrepresentation as to the value of shares, for
kept money enough for current purposes. Was it to dishonourale:e or jobbing purposes, will thus be effee-
come from the issue department of the Bank ? That ; tually checked.--Glasgow Argus.

.atijority in favour of the clause ... —43
Sir R. PEEL stated that he would, to-mornw (this
day), take the Dissenters' Chapels 13d1 first. ant Cr :,n
the Bank Charter Bill, and on Monday proued with the
Irish Registration Bill.
The Chairman then reported progress, and obtained
leave to sit again.
Lord WORSLEY moved for a Select Committee to in-
quire into the expediency of facilitating the inclosure
and improvement of commons, to consist of Lord IVors-
ley, Mr. Cowper, Mr. Aglionby, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Wright-
son, Mr. Bouverie, Mr. Brotherton, Lord Granville So-
merset, Mr. Pusey,Colonel Wood. Viscount Sandon, Mr.
Barneby, Mr. Alderman Thompson, Mr. Estcourt, and
Mr. Robert Clive. The Noble Lord said that if this Com-
mittee were granod, he would to-morrow withdraw his
Bill in reference to that Subject for the present session.
Colonel SIBTHORP asked if the Noble Lord could
expect a Select Committee to sit at that period of the
session with any chance of success ? He thought the
measure had better be put off altogether till the next
session.

Sir R. PEEL thought the Committee was advisable,
as the measure would be improved by it.
The motion was agreed to, and the House adjourned
at Half-past One.

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS

(From the Votes and Proceedings of the Hogue ot Commons.)
THUILSDAT, JUNIE 27.
BANK OF ENGLAND CHARTER BILL.
(IN THE COMMITTEE.)
Fifth Clause (If kny Banker shall cease to issue his own
Bank Notes, her Majesty in Council may authorise the Bank
of England to increase the amount of Securiti s in the Issue
Department, and to issue additional Bank of England Notes,
provided that the increased Securities shall not exceed the pro-
portion of the amount of Bank Notes which the
Banker might issue) :—Amendment proposed, page 3, line 38,
to leave out the words " the proportion of :"
Question put, " That the worth proposed to be left out stand
part of the Clause :" The Committee divided :
MAJORITY—AYES, 83.
Acland, Sir Thomas Eliot, Lord Nicholl, John
Acland, T. I) Flower, Sir James Ogle, S. C. H.
A'Court, Captain Fox, S. Lane Palmerston, Visce.
Adderley, C. B. Fremantle, Sir T. Peel, Sir Robe -t
Aglionby H. A. Gardner, J. D. Peel, Jonathan
Aldain, William Gaskell, James Milne. Philips, Mark
Archbold, Robert Gladstone, W. E. Pringle, Alexander
Baillie, Colonel Gladstone, Captain Rawdon, J. D.
Baring, F. I'. Gordon, Captain Russell, Lord John
Beckett, William Gore, W. Orm-by Sandon, Lord
Roldero, Henry G. Goulburn, Henry "Smith, T. B. C.
Bowles, Admiral Graham, Sir James Somerset, Lord G.
Bowring, Dr. Hale, It Blagrion Stanley, Lord
Brotherton, J. Harcourt, G. G. Stanton, W. Henry
Browne, W. Hervey, Lord A. Strutt, Edward
Bruges, W. H. L. Howard, P. H. Sutton, Hon. H. M
Huller, Sir J. Y. Jermyn, Earl The:iger, F.
Cavendish, G. H. Jones, T. Thornely Thomas
Clayton, R. R. Knatchbull, Sir E. Trench, Sir Frederick
Clerk, Sir irieorge Lincoln, Earl of Vesey, Hon. Thomas
Col'ett, John Lockhart, William Waddington, H. S.
Corry, H. Mackenzie, Wm. F. Warburton, H.
Courtenay, Lord Mackinnon, W. A. Williams, W.
Cripps, William 111`Neill, Duncan Wood, Charles
Currie, Raikes Marshall, William Wortley, Hon. John
Denison, E. Beckett Marsham, Viscount
Dickinson, F. H. Manes, Richard TeLLERI4.
Dotsgla , Sir C. Morrison, James Young, John
Egerton, Su* P. G. Mundy, E. M. Lennox, Lord A.

MINORITY-NOES, 38.

Bailey, Joseph, jun.
caring, 1 homas
Barnard, E. G.
Baskerville, T. B. M.
B'ocklehurst, J.
arby, George
D'Eyncourt, f. C.
Etwall, R.
Forman, T. S.
Fuller, A. E.
Henley, J. W.
Hatt, W.
Kemble, Henry;
Mangles, B. D.

Maaterman. John Sibiliorp, Colonel
Mildmay, H. t..lllin stew,rt, P. M.
Miles, illiain Tan»,imon, Aid.
Mitchell. I'. A. 'froHate, Sir John
Morris, Davit Turner, k_Mmund
Muntz, O. F. Vivt.in, J. H.
New(legate, C. N. • Wallace, Robert
O'Brien, A S. Wawn, J. I'.
O'Connell, M J. worlehtnise, E.
Pechell, Captain Woreley, Lord
Pluinptre, J. P.
Plumridge, Captain
Pusey, Philip
Seale, Sir John H.

TFLLE RB
Clay, Sir W.
Gisborue, Thomas

MEDICAL TESTIMONIAL-SIGHT AND
HEARING.

From T. J. Pettigrew, Surgeon, F.R.S. to Messrs.
S. and B. Solomons, opticians, 39, Albemarle-street,
Piccadilly,—Gentlemen, I have no hesitation in replying
to your inquiry as to the results obtained by the use of
your Improved Spectacles ; being in the constant habit
of reading and writing for many hours together by lamp-
light, it is but justice to say that your newly invented
Spectacle Lenses have afforded me the greatest comfort.
When I employed the ordinary pebbles, I never failed to
experience in the morning a great irritation in the eyes.
Since I have used your admirable glasses I suffer from
no inconvenience of the kind, and my vision is much im-
proved. I shall ever feel grateful to my good friend,
Dr. Blundell for having drawn my attention to the sub-
ject.—Believe me to be yours, very respectfully. T. J.
PETTIGREW, 8, Saville row. Also, newly invented
Acromatic Waistcoat-pocket Telescopes and Opera-
glasses of the same kind of Lenses.—Every kind of Te-
lescope of larger size and increauing powers for shooting,
sea purposes, and upon stand for astronomical observa-
tions the powers are so great and the lenses so bright
and brilliant that minute objects at an extraordinary dis-
tance is brought completely under the eyes. Sportsmen
tourists, and sea-side visitors will indeed here have a
great treat. Acoustic instrumeas of every description
for deafness. Caution.—Messrs. S. & B. Selomons, opti-
cians and aurists, are not in any way connected with a
person of the same name in their immediate neighbour-
hood, nor in any part of the country. To prevent mis-
takes, be cautious, and observe—Only to be had at 39,
Albemarle-street, Piccadilly, opposite the York Hotel.

• .
.
would be but taking out of one hand to put into another. f THE BANK CHARTER.
The eff:ct of the requiring, then, one-third of these 1 (From the Morning Herald.)
Bank issues to be in gold must be to cause pro bat,. al An erroneous impression having prevailed in some
diminution of the currency.—(" No.") It was agreed quarters that the intentions of the Government in respect
the circulation was not now in excess. If it should be t., that part of the Bank Charter Bill which relates to
hereafter se, the present measure was designed to cure : the issue of Bank of England notes upon securities had
it. Where was the principle geth-red thee a paper cur- undergone a change since the introduction of the mea-
rency should be on one-third gold and the other two-
thirds securities ? It was a bit
sure, this subject is adverted to in the accompanying
purely arrary rule, de- correspondence which passed between certain of the
rived neither from principle nor experience. The oelY London bankers and Sir Robert Peel:—
rule to go by was the amount of drain from
.iihro td, as .6
the measure of the bullion we roirti,ed ;.• ~:s !.', e: ef .ro THE RIGHT HON. Slit ROBERT PEEL, BART., M.P.
our circulation. Under a sound sys.,,il ii). t., :_,,v:Li.t be 6,
" Lombard-street, June 7, 1844. siß._wee, the undersigned bankers of London, are
no such drains as 7,000,0001 or 10,000,0001 The real induced, by the importance of the measure and our in-
security was not the amount of bullion. With these con-
terest in its success, to address you upon the subject of
victions, and feeling that a defalcation in the circulation
the Bank Chimer Bill now beore Parliament.
to the extent of 3,000,0001.. the amount alluded to by the ...We were led to believe, when the measure was first
must re i
understood throughout the country, that although it was
Sir It. PEEL could not altogether understand the , the inteneion of her Maiesty's t4overnireet that the
Hon. Gentleman's objection to a measure of' which he ; paper circulation of the Bank
of England in their issue
approved in principle. The effect of the measure would department should be limited to an amount not exceed •
be not to diminish the note circulation in the slightest • ing teurteen millions upon securities. yet that in the
degree, but to preserve credit by sccurieg convertibility.: event of any particular crisis erising, a power was to be
Mr. GISBORNE thought that there was no way in ! reserved by the Bid enabling the Bank of England,
which this country coul 1 secure gold but by offering ! with the consent of the First Lord of the Treasury, the
more go ids in exchaege than other nations could give, 1 Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Master of the
which would have the effect of lo.verine prices, and that 1 Mint, to extend their issue upon securities beyond that
was his ground of objection to the measure, such a prig- i amount.
ciple being inconsistent with our engagements and in- "It is with considerable surprise we find that the Bill
yelling loss to the public creditor.
now before the House of Commons does not contain an Sir R. PEEL contended, that if the Bill passed in its yprovision for an extension of the .issue beyond fourteen
present shape, the Bank of England would be able to millions upon securities excepting uncial. the special cir-
conduct both the operations which he had previously de- cumstance named in the sth clause of the Bill now be-
scribed. There were 16,000,0004 of gold in the Bank, lore Parliament.
but 10,000,0004 would be sufficient to work out his plan. eWe are apprehensive that the absolute limitation of
Mr. GISBORNE sail he had as much right to appeal the issue to fourteen millions, without any power of ex-
to a time when the Bank had only two millions of gold pension being reserved, whether that amount be in itself
in its coffers, as the Hon. Baronet had to appeal to its a proper amount or not, will create a general feeling of
now having sixteen millions.
uneasiness throughout the country, and by preventing
Sir R. PEEL said he wanted to avert the paroxysms the satisfactory reception of the measure, will deprive
of credit that led to such a result.
the scheme of many of the advantages it possesses, and
Mr. KEMBLE supported the amendment, interfere with its success.
Mr. C. WOOD was also inclined to support it. " We respectfully submit that the effect of such an
After a few words from Mr. S.•WORTLEY, and Col. absolute limit ition will be to restrict the business of the
SIBTHORP,
Mr, T. BARING said, in the present state of the
country by leading to a general withdrawal of legitimate
accommodation, unless some power be reserved by the
Bank there would be no necessity for this clause. In a
Bill ter extending the issue, with the sanction of the
g
few years, however, there might be such a chane of authorities above alluded to, in cases of emergency, to be
trade as would produce an efflux of gold, and then re- made apparent to such authorities.
course would be had to the clause, and the effect would
be to diminish the circulation by three millions. The (Signed)
" ROBARTS, CURTIS, and CO.
Bank itself had no interest whatever in asking for
MASTERS,
and CO.
issues.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL begged to ask of the Right lion. BARNETT, 110 ARES, and CO. _ HANBURY, TA YLOR, and CO.
Gentleman, how he could explain the advantage to be
. gained by the Bank of England in their issues by the BARCLAY, BEVh N, TRITTON, and CO.
substitution of their notes for country notes ? SPOONER, ATTWOOD, and CO.
Sir It. PEEL GLYN, HALIFAX, MILLS, and CO. said that the country banks were obliged WH,TAS, PERCIVAL, and CO.
asked to regulate their issues by those of the Bank of England. - WILLIAMS, DEA.CON, and CO.
The Noble Lord what inducement the Bank of
England had to substitute Bank of England paper for HANKEY end CO.. ..
country paper, that it would have no profit from ; that SA PT, BANBURY, and CO.
was all very true, but they would by that means guard SMITH, PAYNE, :end SMITHS.
against loss. Bank notes would be appreciated, and the FULLERS and CO.
,
consequence would be an influx of gold for notes, by PRICE MARRYAT, and CO.
means of which the Bank would make a profit. H STEVENSON, SALT, and SONS.e BROWN. JANSON, and CO. knew it would be impossible to introduce this measure
without causing some clamour, but lee trusted the House LUBBOCK, FORSTEIt, and CO.I3O4ANQUET, PRANKS, and CO.
would allow the measure to have a fair trial. lie
trusted the House would not adopt. the amendment of CURRIES and CO.I3ARNARD, DIMSDALE, and CO.
the Honourable Baronet. He believed if the House
ROGERS, OLDING. and CO.
adored the Bill, it would be found to work well. He
trusted, therefore, that the House would support him in IVESTON and YOUNG.
adhering to this clause. - R. TWINING and CO.
Mr. P. BARING would support the clause, and the DIXON, BROOKS, and DIXON.
Bill generally. COUTTS and CO.
After a few observations from Mr. MILDMAY COCKBLRN and CO.
,
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the Commit- HER ItIES, FARQUHAR, and CO. ,
ee divided, when there appeared— - RANSOM awl: CO.
For the amendment
STRA HAN, PAULS, and CO.
-
Against it .
M-

'• Whitehall, June 13, 1844.
" SIR,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of yesterday, transmitting to me a com-
munication on the subject of the Bank Charter Bill,
from several of the bankers of London.

" They remark that they were led to believe when the
measure was first brought forward, and they are confi-
dent that it was generally understood throughout the
country, that there was to be a power reserved to the
Government of sanctioning an increase of issues upon
securities beyond 14,000,0001. in the event of any par-
ticular crisis arising, and that they observe with consi-
derable surprise that the Bill now before the House does
not contain any provision for an extension of the issues
beyond 14,000,000- upon securities, excepting under the
special circumstances mentioned in the sth clause of the

" I beg leave to observe that,. with the exception of
the substitution of the authority of the Privy Council for
that of three members of her Majesty's Government,
the clause referred to is in conformity with the statement
made by me on the introduction of the Bill, and with
the communications addressed by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer to the Governor and Deputy-Governor of the
Bank, previously to its introduction.
" In moving for leave to bring in a Bill, I referred to
the circumstances under which an increase of notes on
securities would be justifiable. Those circumstances
were the withdrawal of a portion of the circulation
issued by banks other than the Bank of England. I
added (I quote from the report of th© Times newspaper)
the only circumstance I can foresee justifying the in-
crease of issues beyond the ordinary amount is the ne-
cessity for ifilling up a void.' I made a similar state-
ment in answer to a distinct question put to me on this
subject on the same evening.

"In the letter of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to
the Governor and Deputy-Governor of the Bank, dated
April 26, 1844, and presented to Parliament on May 7,
the day after the introduction of the Bill, are the follow-
ing observations :---‘ The void created by the withdrawal
of any existing private or joint-stock bank circulation,
either voluntarily or under the circumstances adverted
to, should be supplied, if necessary, by the substitution
of notes of the Bank of England ; and in such a case
the Bank, acting in concert with the Government, as pro-
vided for in a preceding paragraph, might be authorised
to make a proportionate increase in the amount of those
securities which constitute the foundation of the issue of
paper.'
. _

I must, therefore, remark that not only has there
been no changein the intentions of her Majesty's Go-
vernment with regard to the circumstances under which
an increased issue of notes would be allowable, but that
the public declarations of the Government on the an-
nouncement of the measure were clearly explanatory of
their intentions, and are in conformity with the pro-
visions of the Bill.

" In respect to the policy of the enactment referred to,
her Majesty's Government regret to learn that the bankers
who are parties to the communication which you have
transmitted to me entertain apprehensions as to the practi-
cal operation of it, but her Majesty's servants do not con-
sider it to be consistent with their- duty to apply to
Parliament for a discretionary authority to be vested in
any public department of the Government to sanction
an increase :of issue by the Bank upon securities, ex-
cf.pting under the circumstances provided for in the sth
elause of the have the honour to be, &c.,
"To J. Misterinan, Esq., M.Y. " ROBERT PEEL"