The Sun.
London, England, 1827-03-29 00:00:00

LAW OF DEBTOR AND CREDITOR.

Mr. HUME presented a petition from a person confined
in Whitecross-street prison for debt, who stated that he
had been ruined in consequence of the injustice of the Law
of Debtor and Creditor, and who prayed that that Law
might be amended, so as to lessen the expense attendant on
recovering debts. The Hon. Gentleman said that he per-
fectly agreed with the petitioner as to the necessity of some
amendment of the Law; but to-morrow he shmild call the
attention of the House more particularly to the subject.

CHARITY AT RUGBY.
Mr. HUME presented a long Petition from three poor
men, belonging to some Charitable Establishment at
Rugby, complaining that the Trustees of that Charity,
instead of allowing them seven shillings a week, the sum
which the Lord Chancellor had declared they were entitled
to, limited their allowances to five shillings and sixpence.
They prayed that the Trustees might bo instructed to pay
them the other eighteen-pence a week. The Hon. Mem-
ber touk the opportunity of presenting this Petition to re-
commend that a Committee should be appointed fur the
purpose of ascertaining bow far the recommendations
and representations contained in the Report of the Com-
mittee on Public Charities had been attended to.

An Hon. MEMBER, whoa© name we could not learn,
but who was one of the Trustees of the Charity at Rugby,
said he recollected the circumstances attendant on the case
of the Petitioners; and that it was after much considera-
tion that the Trustees determined that the sum of five
shillings and sixpence a week was an adequate allowance.

INVENTIONS.
Mr. ITUINIE presented a petition from Mr. Samuel
Fletcher, stating that after great labour and the expence
of much money, he had discovered various highly useful
inventions, and among others the means of preventing or
detecting the adulteration of flour, and praying for remune-
ration. The Hon. Member observed, that this invention
might be ►ery advantageous to the Commissioners of the
Navy, who had lately complained of such extensive adulte-
rations in the flour supplied by the contractors.

GAME LAWS.
Mr. LITTLETON presented a petition from the Mer-
chants, Manufacturers, and other Inhabitants of the Tow❑
of Wolverhampton, stating that they paid largely to the
poor-rates out of which the unfortunate ♦ictims to the
Game Laws were prosecuted, and complaining of the hard-
ship of not being themselves allowed to have any game,
The Hon. Member observed, that he had in the last Par-
liament voted for an alteration in the Game Laws. He
certainly thought that it was hard on those who oceepied
so large a quantity as ninety-nine acres of land not to be
permitted to kill the game upon it; and he thought that
those who wished to purchase game should be allowed to
do so. He admitted that the landlords should be legally
secured in the possession of their game; and he could not
concur with the petitioners in calling the poachers victims.
On the contrary, he thought that they were a very dan-
gerous and injurious class of the community; but he main-
tained that those who fed the genie ought to he permitted
to eat it.

Sir J. SEBRIGHT concurred with his Hon. Friend in
the necessity of protecting the landowner ; but also con-
curred with the petitioners in terming the persons im-
prisoned in consequence of the Game Lawe, the victims of
those Laws. They were the victims of that provision in
the Laws, which prevented game from being brought to
market like ether articles. This provision held out a temp-
tation to the poorer classes which they were actable to
resist. He appealed to the Hon. Members present who
were, Magistrates in the country, if the:evil attendant on the
present Game Laws was not a greatly increasing one, and
if it had not already arrived at such a height that some le-
gislative interference had become imperatively necessary ?

Sir CHARLES BURRELL observed, that the persons
who were imprisoned for offences against the Game Lawe
were victims not of those laws but of their own conduct in
violating them. He agreed with the Honourable Mem-
ber for Staffordshire in the necessity of preserving the
game. With respect to the alleged hardship suffered by
the tenants, in not being allowed to kill game on the land
which they occupied, it ought to be recollected that when
they obtained their leases, they were made aware of that
circumstauce.

Mr. ESTCOURT contended, that the Game Lawe were
a fertile source of the demoralization of the people. In the
county of Wilts, out of 232 prisoners, no fewer than 100
were poachers.—( Hear, heir.)
Sir J. %VROTTESLEY declared, that the evil had
grown to such a magnitude, that it was essential that some-
thing should be done to endeavour to remedy it. What had
been already done on the subject? A Noble Lord,
lately a Member of that House, had three yearn ago intro-
duced a Pill for the purpose of amending the Game Laws ;
but he had mixed up so many other things in the Bill,

tLat it was impossible to agree with him]. Vlt had been
said that a Bill had been introduced elsewhere ; but that
was a circumstance with which the Nouse of Commons
had nothing to do. The evil, lie repeated, was of such ex-
traordinary magnitude, that some step must be taken to put
an end to it. He was quite persuaded that if the Hon.
Gentleman opposite would bring in a Bill upon the subject,
he would ha✓e the support of the House. Such a Bill
ought not to be encumbered with any matter which might
render it objectionable. The first thing that ought to be
tried was simply a repeal of the laws prohibiting the sale
of game. That might be followed by other regulations
tending to correct the various evils of the Jaw.
'Mr. LITTLETON said, he must dissent from the opi-
nions held by hie colleague. He thought that making
game saleable would be the reverse of an improvement of
the Game Laws.

Mr. PEEL thought it desirable to try the experiment by
a partial operation, and to ascertain the effect of making
game a saleable commodity. He was far from meaning to
say, that if game were made:saleable, the Game Laws ought
to continue in their preceut state. He had long felt that a
great change had taken place in society, which absolutely
required the Game Lawa to be revised, and placed upon a
different foundation. It was very inconvenient to let the
idea gut abroad, that because the House of Lords enter-
tained different views upon the question from those adopted

in the Commons, that the House of Commons was there-
fore not disposed to view with lenity offences against the
Game Laws. The House had no wise to interfere with the
privilege of private property, the owners of estates, and of
game preserves, would naturally defend their rights. All
that was desirable wee, not to withdraw the protection from
game, but to put the Game Laws upon a better and more
practicable foundation. At preeent the sale of game was
confined to poachers, and it was desirable, he thought, to
let the owners of game come in competition with them.—
In Scotland, the love relative to the game were of a much
better description than those of England. He was of opi-
nion that the right of selling game ought to belong ex-
clusively to those who had the right of shooting or
possessing it. The Laws of Qualification were at present
in the most imperfect state. He did not at all enter into
the fears of those who thought that if the right of shooting
wore extended, the man of three acres would materially
diminish the game of his neighbour possessing 3,000 acres.
On the contrary, a compromise would generally take place,
in which the person of such small property would be glad,
for a trifling sum, to agree not to shoot at all. To say
that the man whore few acres contributed to the food of
the game, should not have the privilege of killing game—
the very birds that devoured the produce of his field, was
monstrous. Gentlemen would find it perfectly fruitless to
attempt to eoutinue the laws in their present state ; such
was the altered condition of society, that the Gauss Laws
could not remain ten years without the most material uno-
dificatioret.
Sir JOHN SEBRIGHT explained, and the Petition
was ordered to be printed.
The Marquis of I3LANDFORD moved for a Return of
all persons killed by spring guns, in England and Wales,
within the last five years,
Mr. WARBURTON presented a petition from Man-
chester, against the Corn Laws. The Hon. Member acid,
he understood that it was the intention of the Country
Gentlemen to oppose the warehousing of corn, in the se-
cond reading of the Bill. This would render the trade in
corn so precarious and perilous, that not a grain would be
imported, unless additional securities were given to the
merchant that he should deliver his corn at a fixed duty.
Mr. DENISON presented a petition from the inhabit-
cots of Tooting, praying for an alteration in the Poor Laws.
Mr. SYKES gave notice that, on the oth of May, he
would make a motion relative to an Inquiry into the Quali-
fications of certain Voters iu the County of Cornwall.

Sir H. PARNELL presented a petition from a parish in
souse part of Ireland, in favour of the Catholic claims.
Mr. HARRIS moved for a Committee of the whole
Mime, upon the Ways and Means, on Friday neat.
Tlll3 Conte on Dilit3.o6 Dill went througlt a C4Dunnitte.,

and the Report was ordered to be received to-morrow
(Thursday.)
Mr. MAXWELL presented a petition from the Sawyers
of Rochester, praying that the Houee would refer to the
consideration of a Committee, the effects which time uee
of machinery had in reducing the wages of the working
classes.

Mr. G. J. SMITH said, that the country could not
have borne the expenses, of the last war, bat for the wealth
which had been created by machinery. In Scotland,
writers have explained to the people the true prineiplee of
the introduction and use of machinery ; and the result of
their works was, that one half of the people of Scotland
wale frisadly, instead of adveree, to the substitution of
machinery for manual labour. He thought that a Com-
mittee ought to he appointed to inquire into the subject.
Mr. G. SMITH presented a petition from certain inha-
bitants of Hatton and Great and Little Bolton, praying for
relief relative to the low state of wages.
Mr. PEEL said, it was impossible for the Government
not to sympathize with the petitioners, bet he did not think
that they would be advancing their own interests by in-
ducing the House to accede to the prayer of their petition.
They prayed that the Legislature should pass a law to pre-
vent a master employing any man at leas than a fixed rate
of wages. The first effeet of such • law would be, to make
every master tarn out all the inferior workmen, the women and
children, and employ none but the very best hands. All those
who, in en open market, would not be able to earn so much,
would necessarily be deprived of employment. It would
not be proper to give the petitioners the opportunity of pro-
clueing their arittments in support of their case. There
had already been a Committee appointed upon this very
subject, and which had taken into consideration the argil-
, uaents urged by the Bolton Petitioners and others, upon
the propriety of fixing a minimum of wage'. The Com-
mittee had come to the Resolution, that they were " una-
nimously of opinion, that the proposition stated in the peti-
tion, relative to fixing a minimum of prices of labour for
cotton manufactures, is wholly inathuietible in principle, in-
capable of being reduced to practice, and if put into prac-
tice, would he productive of the most pernicious results."
Mr. HUME referred to the number of petitions which
had been presented to the House for some time back, by
the artisans and operatives of the different parts of the
country, complaining of the distresses under which they
laboured, and attributing the low wages which produced
that distress, to the operation of the Combination Laws.
Upon that occasion, a Committee had been appointed
to inquire into the grievances stated in these Petitione,
and 33 persons bad been deputed from different parts
of the country to sustain the allegations of the petitioners.
These persons were examined before the Committee, and
not one of the 33 returned into the country without being
perfectly convinced that their distresses were to to:attributed
to causes very different from those to which they had been
ascribed. He thought, therefore, it would be good policy
upon the prevent occasion, again to allow the petitioners,
by the appointment of a Committee, an opportunity of see-
ing the error under which they laboured in this respect.
After a few words from CURTEIS,

Mr. ABERCROMBIE observed, that he would most wil-
lingly agree to the appointment of small a Committee, if he
thought the slightest good could result from it, but he felt
that it would have a contrary effect, as it would excite in
the minds of artisans a hope which never could be realised.
In his opinion, the best way to remove the delusion under
which this class of persona laboured, would be the circula-
tion of the extract read by the Right Hon. Secretary for
the Home Department, from the Report on the Combina-
tion Laws, and rendering the evidence, upon which that
Report was made, accessible to them.
The petition was brought up and read.
On the question that the petition be printed, Mr. J. SMITH
made a few observations which were inaudible in the gal-
lery.—The petition was then ordered to be printed.—Ad-
journed.

JOURNAL of a VOYAGE to RICHMOND.

TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Slit—As the navigation of the Thames seems

likely to be brought into fashion by the late account
of the Lord Mayor's Voyage of Discovery to Ox-
ford, I have been induced to transmit you a narra-
tive of a somewhat similar Voyage to Richmond,
drawn up and attested by three city friends of mine,
who ►ere shipwrecked on the uninhabited island off
Kew. It is really lamentable to think how many
vessels are cast away between Westminster Bridge
and Richmond (especially during the tempestuous
seasons of the equinox), by the ardour of their crews
for discovery; the present journal is intended to act
as u warning to such adventurous navigators, and if
its tragic details serve but to save one life, the
writer will ask for nothing beyond the satisfaction
resulting from a good conscience. Virtue, says
the poet, is it's own reward.
I am, Sir, your's respectfully,
7, Fish-Street-liill. NATHAN JENKINS.

Sailed away from Chelsea, September 25, MI,
in company with Joseph Tomkins, Nahum Stubbs,
and Ezekiel Gubbins, in all four souls. At eleven
o'clock, A.M., came in sight of Battersea-bridge, with
strong gales from W.N.W. Hove to, took in a reef,
and dropped anchor in Battersea Bay. At twelve
a.m., weighed anchor, took in a second reef, stood off
on the larboard tack, and bore away towards Barnes
Common. Fresh breezes from W.N.W. At half-
past twelve, P.M. shipped a heavy sea which washed
overboard six bottles of porter, a Dutch cheese, and
Gubbins's Sunday coat. At 1 P.M. carve in sight
of Putney Bridge, lying in lat. 54. 43. N., and lon.
23. 57. W. Country savage but agreeable. Hailed
a wherry bound for Red House, Chelsea Reach.
At 2 P.M. strong gales with a heavy swell, dewed
up the foresail and hove to, head to the South-
ward. At half-past 2 P.M. came in sight of
Barnes Common, and anchored close a-head of
breakers. Saw three pigs and a jackass walking
along the shore, driven by two savages in smock-
frocks; asked them the name of the place, and
they asked us in return for a pot of beer, a proof,
said Stubbs, that they must be Christians. At 3
P.M. weighed anchor, took in a third reef, clewed up
the jib, and stood off for Richmond; waves moun-
tains high, so kept the ship to the wind, took down
the mast, and took to our oars—there not being a
skull in the boat. At 4P. M. wind increased to a
hurricane, provisions washed overboard, and every
man put on short allowance. Came in sight of
Kew Bridge, anchored off the island, to despatch
our few remaining sandwiches, and named it, in
consequence, the Sandwich Island. At 5 P.M. com-
pletely water-logged, Stubbs's coat-pockets, and
Gubbins's top-boots containing a pail-full:each ; suf-
ferings dreadful. At 6 P.M. night drew on, gales
from W.N.W., with mixed rain and sleet. Mem.—
Stubbs cut a crab, fell back with his oar, and
knocked Tomliins's eye-tooth down his throat.
At 7 P.M. sprung a leak, so swum to land with
Stubbs, followed by Tomkins towing along thibbina,
who made fast by his coat flaps.—Afern. Tomkins's
coat broke and poor Oubbins, with the flaps in his
hand, sunk overhead. At half-past 7 reached laud
and hoisted signals of distress ; hailed a barge bound
for Battersea, but the crew bore off and left us to our
fate. At 8 P.M. a homeward bound wherry (Captain
James Dobson,) by good luck espied us, picked us
up, and within an'incredibly short space landed us at
Barnes Terrace, where we received every attention
from the politeness and hospitality of the natives.—
,
It is to tnem we owe our lives.

(Signed) JOSEPH TOMKINS, Shoreditch, his cross.
NAHUM STUBBS, St. Mary Axe, his v, crow.
EZEKIEL GUBBINS, Easteheap, his >< ernes.
AMOS HIGGS, Tbroadneedle-at,, his cross.

THE FALL OF PAciANrsm.-11e triumph
of Christianity was come. Theodosius, a statesman, a
soldier, and a man of virtue, Was called from obscurity to
the empire. The lingering reluctance of the throne to re-
press the ancient superstition, was suddenly changed for a
wise and bold activity. A succession of decrees, like suc-
cessive flashes of light from the sword of the Spirit, smote
the worship of the idols, closed the heathen temples, and
established Christianity as the religion of the Roman world.
Thus fell Paganism ; the great antagonist of truth, purity,
and wisdom ; the pamperer of human passion and pride--
splendid and stately to the eye, but made to be the op-
pressor and the murderer. At this distance the mind still
contemplates it, like the ruins of one of its own temples,_
and, wonderiug at its stupendous extent, the depth and
age of its foundation, the grandeur and costliness of the
embellishment lavished upon it by the genius of antiquity,
may well doubt that it was either raised or overthrown
the strength of man. But it was the house of darkness-_.
vice and blood were the offerings on its altars ; its fall was
the freedom of nations, the beginning of a day which shall
know no end; and load and lofty be the thanksgiving for
that fall which I„it in light upon ulankiud,.... Cray.