The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, Falb AY' 14 OANIK-6; Alta-UST 5,,

the House wflold lA% tObVinced that as far as a Committee
was etkikained, he had blown Captain Warner out of
the water, and that it would • therefore not adopt the

Motion.

Captain PLITAIRIDGIi thought the motion well
worthy of the consideration of the Government and the
House.

Captatfilitnati Was efititifieed that the only ob-
ject Captain Waiter had in iiew Was td make the best
bargain fbi' himself. When engaged in the blockade of
New Lohdoti; le was told hi he on the look out against
the Catamiriiii% Its they were very dangerous; but the
fat tk4A3, tiiby were never used or seen except in still
Miter. In taking these things into consideration, they
must. alw'ays. bear in mind the danger of using them.
Mr. Warner certainly did tell the Hon. and Gallant
Member fur Marylebone that he could destroy a line-ol•
battle ship at the distance of six miles, and that with a
battery erected oh the-Isle of Wight he could destroy
PortAtiouth. He considered this was much of the nature
oh St. John Long's case—(Laughter)—with which the
Hon. Baronet the Member for Wiltshire was well ac-
quainted—(Laughter)—and that he had been advocating
something of the same sort. He approved the course
the Government had taken ; it only proved that the late
Government had acted rightly in the matter. It was a
gross libel on Lord Melbourne to say that he had ne-
glected his duty in this case, since the present Govern-
ment had acted precisely in the same manner. On
these grounds he thought the House would be' perfectly
justified in refusing the motion. What more could the
Committee get Out of Mr. Warner than had been done
before by Sir J. Owen ?
Sir J. COCKBURN said, that since he had been in
office the matter had been referred to two officersz-.
General (late Colonel) Pasley, and Sir T. Hastings, and
when Mr. Warner heard their names he objected to the
inquiry. Perhaps that point ought to be added to the
rest. He must also state to the House for the honour of.
his profession, that though Mr. Warner had been called
Commander Warner, of the Navy, he was not in the navy
at all. He had stated to him (Sir G. Cockburn) that his
late Majesty had promised him high rank in the navy,
but on his asking him whether he (Mr. Warner) had
servedhis time in the navy, he said he had not. After
this he believed nothing more need be added.
Mr. BROTHERTON said he ought perhaps to state
than a friend of Mr. Warner's had denied the truth of
the statement he made with respect to the offer to the
'Portuguese Government.
Sir F. BURDETT replied. He said that nothing had
been advanced against Mr. Warner's statement, and that
all that was required of the Committee was, that it should
make inquiries into the subject, so as to free Mr.Warncr
from the imputations and misrepresentations he had been
subjected to. If an inquiry were allowed, the House
could satisfy itself of the truth of Captain Warner's
statements. It ought to be recollected that several dis-
tinguished persons expressed theMselves highly satisfied
with the invention. If he got the Committee, no harm
could be done if it was proved that no value attached to
Captain Warner's invention ; but if there was, it would be
of great advantage to the country to secure it.
Mr. HUME hoped that the Hon. Baronet would not
divide the House.
The House divided when there appeared—
For the motion 2
Against it
Majority against the motion...
EXCHEQUER BILLS BILL.
Mr. C. BULLER wished to put a question to the Right
Hon. Gentleman, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, rela-
tive to this Bill. He wished to know, in the first place,
when he would lay the Report of the Committee before
the House ; and secondly, what course the Government
meant to pursue, or whether anything was intended to
be done before the close of the session ? . .

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
in answer to the first question of the Hon. Gentleman,
he had a copy of the Report of the Committee on the
Exchequer Frauds Bill in his hands ready to place be-
fore the House. He would take care they should be in
the hands of Members as speedily as possible. He had
not yet read the Report, and he certainly would not offer
any opinion until he had carefully studied the Report
and the evidence..
Mr. C. BULLER said the Right Hon. Gentleman
had misunderstood the purport of his question. He did
not wish the Right Hon. Gentleman to give an opinion
until he had read the Report, but he wished to know
whether, before the prorogation of Parliament, the
Hon. Gentleman would be prepared to state what course
the Government intended to adopt with regard to this
matter ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would
have no difficulty in answering that question when he
had read the Report, which he would do with the greatest
diligence. •
Mr. C. BULLER said the Right Hon. Gentleman did
not understand his question. It was reported that Par-
liament was to be prorogued on Thursday. Now, as so
many persons were interested in this question, and as
many of them had their fortunes and characters at stake,
he thought he had a right to ask the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman to pledge himself to state, sonic day before the
close of the session, the course which the Government in-
tended to pursue.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought
he had an equal right to ask for time to make himself
acquainted with the facts of the case. He would be
ready to give an opinion so soon as he should have read
the document which he had laid on the table of the
House, but before he had read the document which he
had just laid on the table of the House, he would not
p!edge himself either one way or the other. If the Hon.
Gentleman would ask his question when he (Mr. C.
Buller) should think that he (the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer) had had sufficient time to make himself ac-
quainted with the *contents of the Report, he would
answer him if lie had read it.

111 r. C. BULLER thought that possibly the Right
Hon. Gentleman might have made up his mind by Mon-
day. If on that day no communication was made to the
house on the subject. he (Mr. C. Buller) would repeat
his question on Tuesday.
Dr. BOWRING hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman
would not think it an unreasonable request, considering
the great number of individuals interested in the deci-
sion of the Government, if he asked him to come to a
determination as speedily as possible, so as to enable
them to legislate on the subject before the termination
of the session. It was of the utmost importance that the
matter should be settled with as little delay as possible.
Lord ASHLEY moved the tbllowing address :
" That her Majesty will be graciously pleased to: direct,
that the Commissioners appointed in answer. t^6 an
address of this House on the 4th day of Augskt
for inquiring into the employment of children, in mines
and various other branches of industry, be desired to
make further inquiry as to the number and ages of chil-
dren and young persons employed as apprentices to
miners of coal and of iron (whether owners, lessees, un-
dertakers, or workmen, however designated) ; also, as to
the manner of their apprenticeship, whether by regular
indentures, or by what other forms of agreement ; as to
the terms of such indentures or agreements ; and as to
the manner in which such indentures or agreements are
observed or enforced." In the year, 1840, as the
House was aware, he had moved an address
for a Commission to inquire into the state cf
the children employed in the mines and' collieries.
They had reported to the House, and the House
had legislated on their Report. The House was aware
that in all cases of parish apprenticeship, it was neces•
sary, to constitute the apprenticeship a legal one, that
the consent of two Justices should be obtained to the
binding, and that the indenture should be drawn up on
a pound stamp, in every case in which the premium was
under 301 Now, he had reason to believe that in the
majority of cases of apprenticeship the law had not been
observed, and it was with a view to ascertain that fact
that he had proposed the present motion.
Mr. BROTHERTON seconded the motion.

Sir J. GRAHAM said that the inquiries of the Com-
missioners had closed, and they were about to make a
second Report to the House. No doubt the Commission
was already in possession of the information required by
the Noble Lord, and therefore he should move as an
amendment that the Commission be desired to report on
the subject. The labours of the Commission were closed
—the funds appropriated for their payment had been
expended, and there was no stuuto pay the expenses of
any further inquiry.
Lord PALMERSTON suggested that the Commission-
ers should be directed to report or to make further inquiry,
for it was possible they might not be in possession of
the information required by the Noble Lord. He thought
that any additional expense that might be incurred could
with propriety be defrayed out of the vote for civil con-
tingencies.
Sir ti. GRAHAM did not think the expense could with
propriety be defrayed out of the civil contingencies. if
this expense were incurred in consequence of an address
from the House, it would be foreseen, and to defray such
an expense out of the civil contingencies, would be a mis-
appropriation of that vote. He should be unwilling to
take upon limself the responsibility of keeping these 24
Commissioners in pay without the direct sanction of the
House. They ought to be in possession of the informa-
tion required by the Noble Lord. If they were not, they
had neglected their duty, and the inquiry ought to be
committed to other hands.
Lord PALMERSTON suggested that an addition
might be made to the
_motion, pledging the House to
&nage good the expense.
The SPEAKER said that • could only be done in a
1 Committee of the whole 'House.

Mr. HUME agreed with the Right Hon. Baronet, that
it would be improper to continue the twenty-four Com-
missioners for the rest of the year. He would suggest to
the Noble Lord to leave out all that related to the Com-
missioners, and to call upon the Government to furnish
the required information.
Mr.. S, WORTLEY doubted whether the Commis-
sioners had inquired into the validity of the indentures of
apprenticeship: It was quite a distinct matter from an in-
quiry into the treatment of the children.
1)r. BOWLING suggested that the Noble Lord

t.)
should merely move for a retarn of the number of
children, and the manner of their apprenticeship, which,
while it secured the requisite information, would leave
the Government at liberty to obtain that information in
any way they might deem fit.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM was desirous that the infor •
!nation should be furnished, but he was also desirous that
it should, be distinctly understood that. that Commission
was not to be a standing Commission.
Lord-ASHLEY was only anxious to obtain the infor-
mation. lie doubted whether the Commission would be
able to furnish it, for they had been so exceedingly scru-
pulous not to exceed the bounds of the Commission that
they had at first refused to inquire into the treatmem of
persons above thirteen years of age, because they were
only authorised to inquire into the treatment of children.
They had applied to him in the September, and in
the February of last year he had moved an address, em-
powering them to inquire into the treatment of young
rersons under eighteen years of age. From the scrupu-
osity exhibited he doubted whether they would not
have considered they were exceeding their powers by.in-
glaring into the legality of thejadentwe. of apprentice!

sh.p. Certainly he had had no idea of causing such an
inquiry to be instituted when he moved the Address
praying the appointment of the Commission in 1840.
The motion. as amended was then agreed to.
BOROUGHS INCORPORATION BILL.

Sir JAMES GRAHAM obtained leave to bring in a
Bill, to confirm the incorporation of certain boroughs,
and to indemnify certain parties that might sustain loss
thereby.
The Bill was read a first and second time, and ordered
to be committed on Saturday next.
CHARTIST LECTURERS.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said it was with extreme regret
that he felt himself obliged to call the attention of the
House to the imprisoment of Mr. John Mason, and seven
working men, now confined in Stafford Gaol. But he
really felt the case of those unfortunate individuals to
be such that he should not be discharging his
duty either to them or to the public it he
allowed the session to pass without' calling
their attention to that which he must call a most
important subject, for as long as those individuals re-
manned in prison, so long the political rights of the sub-
jects of this country would remain in abeyance. He had
on a former occasion explained the circumstances of the
case. He contended that if Mason had been killed by
being knocked off the form by the policeman, that the
latter would be liable to be tried for murder. Why, he
asked, if the doctrines laid down by the Right Hon. Ba-
ronet, the Secretary for the Home Department, were cor-
rect, were not policemen sent to interfere with the pro-
ceedings of the Anti-Corn-law League, which was sit-
ting just beside the House? No, no, iey would not in-
terfere in London, but in a remote district in Staf-
fordshire they sent their constables to intermeddle
with the proceedings of a legal public assembly.
Under all the circumstances of the case, he thought he
had a right to call on the House to express its opinion on
the subject. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving
for an address to her Majesty, praying " that her Ma-
jesty will be graciously pleased to take into her Majesty's
merciful consideration the case of John Mason and seven
working men, confined in Stafford gaol, with a view to
their immediate discharge."
The SPEAKER having put the question,
Sir J. GRAHAM said he regretted the Hon. Gentle-
man should have thought it his duty to bring this sub-
ject again under the notice of the House, more espe-
cially in its present form. He contended that the Hon.
Gentleman had no grounds for impugning the conduct
of the Magistrate who presided at the trial of those men,
and the Hon. Gentleman ought not, therefore to appeal to
the House to control the criminal jurisdiction of th-!
competent authorities, which was in effect the nature of
his motion. With respect to what the Hon. Gentleman
had said as to the conduct of the policeman, he (Sir J.
Graham) must say that, if the summing up of the pre-
siding Magistrate, and the verdict of the Jury, were cor-
rect (and he had no reason to doubt the correctness of
either), and had death ensued on the flinging of Mason
from the form by the policeman, a verdict of justifiable
homicide would have been returned by a Jury, if the
case were brought to trial. The• man Mason was a lec-
turer—a kind of lecturer—not belonging to the place,
and his conduct was such as to render the assembly an
unlawful one. Time, mode, and circumstances must be
considered, that justice might be done ; he believed the
circumstances were such as to justify the proceedings of
the Justices. He (Sir J. Graham) could not compromise
the unfettered discretion of the Government, with refe-
rence to the circumstances • he could not give the Hon.
Gentleman the assurance he desired, and he hoped the
majority of that House would join with him in resisting
the motion of the Hon. Member.
Mr. HAWES understood that the meeting, which had
been characterised as an unlawful assembly, was not an
illegal meeting of itself ; and if anything contrary to the
law did arise to render it objectionable, it arose from cir-
cumstances; there was no premeditation; end he did think
that fact entitled the case to their favourable considera-
tion. The fact of Mason's being a paid lecturer certainly
ought not to raise a presumption against him.—(Hear,
hear.) He (Mr. Hawes) did hope that it was not con-
templated to put down the practice of holding public
meetings, where the people might express, and express
freely, their opinions on the politics of the day. Such
meetings had always been considered as a kind of safety-
valve, and he was sure the practice of sending in the
police and putting down these meetings would both bring
the police into contempt, and increase the angry feeling
and discontent of the people.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HUME said, if the police were to be respected,
and to be of service to the country, they must direct
their attention to the preservation of the peace, and not
the occasioning of a riot. He (Mr. Hume) always had,
under considerable odium, upheld the Metropolitan
police force as a body. The case, however, which the
Hon. Gentleman the Member for Finsbury had brought
forward with so much temper and moderation, did ap-
pear to him (Mr Hume) to be the very worst case which
had occurred since the metropolitan force had been ap-
pointed. He did hope that public meetings would not be
attempted to be put down. Let the people speak as much
as they pleased ; allow them to complain. He (Mr.
Hume) did not care what they said about him, so long
as they kept their hands off him —(A laugh)—and he
thought that Hon. Gentlemen would do well to look to
that rather than to attempt to put a stop to the
complaints of the people at a public meeting. Thoso
complaints never did any harm. After the remarks
which had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet, which
he (Mr. Hume) construed rather favourably, he should
rather recommend his Hon. Friend not to press his mo-
tion to a division. _ _ _

----
Mr. VILLIEIIS rose to correct an error into which
the Right lion. Baronet had fallen into. Mason was not
a stranger to the place, nor was he a paid lecturer ; he
was, on the contrary, a resident in the borough of
Wolverhampton, he was a shoemaker, and a man of
good character. He was an enthusiast, and volunteered
these lectures. He (Mr. Villiers) did not approve of the
strong language which Mason had employed, but, at the
same time, he was-of opinion that such language never
did any harm.' lie did request that the Right Hon.
Baronet would consent to give this matter his consi-
deration.

Mr. WARD trusted that his Hon. Friend would not
allow this subject to drop, unless he got some assurance
from the Right Hun. Baronet that he would give it his
consideration. He believed that nothing had been said
more than had been often stated in that House. It was
better to allow the people to speak out, and give free ex-
ession to their sentiments. If that were not allowed
them, they might have recsurse to violence to redress
their grievances. When there were great grievances-and.
great.suferinft, the people would hold meetings and use
strong language; and if the doctrine which had been
laid down by the Right Hon. Baronet, and which he
Was glad to find was not repeated by. him that night,
were put • into practice, the most serious results would
follow.— (Hear, hear.) .Constables would interfere in
every meeting, and all free discussion. would be put
an end to if such a doctrine was enforced. He should
therefore support the motion if it was pressed to a
division.

Mr. R. YORKE thought that serious evilswould result
it a constable upon his own responsibility were to inter-
fere in public meetings. He would not have the least
hesitation to repeat the language which had been used
by those persons. He did not think the conduct of the
Magistrates could be justified, because they proposed a
compromise and then confined the prisoners.
Mr. BROTHERTON hoped that the Hon. Gentleman
would not press the motion to a division. He thought
it better not to force the Right Hon. Baronet to an ex-
pression of his opinion on the subject. .
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE replied. He did not think
that he heard the Right Hon. Baronet say anything
which should induce him to abandon his motion. It
was 1,0 light matter that these persons should be con-
tinued in gaol. He contended that it was a violation of
the right of free discussion to have those men confined
in gaol. He denied that the strike in the Potteries
was a consequence of the meeting, for which those men
were put into gacil. He believed that if they were tried
anywhere else than at the Quarter Sessions, and by pre-
judieed Magistrates, that they never would have been
confined. He would not consent to withdraw the motion.
The 'House divided, when their appeared—
For the motion
Against it
Majority against the motion
RAJA OF SATTARA.
On our admission to the gallery we found Mr. HUME
moving, pursuant to notice, for the copy of a letter from
the Hon. Mount Stewart Iphinstone, Governor of Born-
bay, dated the 17th day of February, 1827, to his High-
ness the Raja of Sattara, and a copy of a letter dated the
Bth day of May, 1835, to his Highness, from Colonel
Lodwick, Resident at Sattara, respecting the Jageeers
held under his Highness ; also an Act of the Legislative
Council of India, published at Calcutta on the 29th day
of April, 1842, annexing to the British territory certain
villages belonging to the late Nepanee Jageer, such Ja-
geer having, as alleged in the Act, lapsed to the British
Government, although by the terms of these explanatory
letters, the Jageer ought to have reverted to the Raja of
Satara ; and also that an humble Address be presented to
her Majesty, that she will be graciously pleased, in con-
formity with the prayer of the petition presented to this
House by Purtaub Shean, the deposed Raja of Sattara,
now a State prisoner at Benares, to direct that a full
investigation of the charges preferred against him be
made before her Majesty's Privy Council, upon the evi-
dence taken in India and sent to the Court of Directors
of the East India Company, which evidence the Raja
has never bad an opportunity of seeing or answering, in
order that he may receive that justice which, as
he states, " had his lot been that of a pea-
sant, he would have had a right to claim
from the laws of the British realm." The
case that he had now to bring forward was not an
ordinary one, but one that occupied a great deal of
public attention both in India and England. He was
sorry that in this country the case of the Raja had not
met with that consideration which it deserved, but be
trusted that it would meet with tardy justice. He
thought that the present case was one in which the
Hume of Commons might interfere with propriety. The
Raja had had charges made against him which he had
answered. Ile asked for inquiry, and that was refused
him ; redress had been denied him ; and when he 2p-
I plied to the Secretary for the Colonies, his claims were
{ met with the utmost harshness. There could be no

30
53
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doubt, from all that had taken place, that &Thaia:was
not,guilty of the acts with which he had been el:arge,l
for 17 years the course he had pursued had met with he
approbation of .the Court of Directors. Now, what
were the facts of the case ? In 1836, a 0 mmis.ion
was appOinted consisting of three individuals. to consider
the conduct of the Raja, attempts had been made to show
that the Raja had conducted himself improperly, but
those attempts had been ineffectual. He was perfectly
convinced, for his part, after a minute examination of the
evidence, of the innocence of , the Raja. The lion.
Gentleman concluded by proposing the motion of which
he had given notice.
Dr. BOWRING seconded the motion. He should do
so with great brevity. it was to be regretted that sub-
jects involving the welfare of distant millions, re-
cayedso. little, attention.—(Bear.) . (There were
not thirty Dderabers present). lie had arrived at

t'ie conviction, that the Raja was an injured
man. Though his case might receive but little attention
now,- he believed it would return to them again, and in
spite of the determination to repress all evidence on his
behalf, and to receive every thing against him, the sense
of justice that was awakened in the English people would
ultimately bring him through all his difficulties. Nothing
more affecting than the prayer of • the Raja's petition
could be well conceived, and he did hope that it
would he listened to and justice done him.
Mr. HOGG was about to addresS the House, when,
An HON. MElitnEn moved that the House be counted,
and there being only thirty-six Members present the
House adjourned at a Quarter to EleVen, till Twelve
o'Clock this day.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.
Yesterday a Special Court was held. for the purpose
of considering a Report of the City Lands' Committee,
telatiire to the law courts at the Guildhall, of which nu-
merous complaints' have been made by the Judges, the
counsel, attorneys, suitors, &c.
The subject being considered one of gre .t importance,
the attendance of members was numerous, although the
Corporation vacation has already commenced, and very
short notice had been given.
Mr. HALL, the Chairman of the City Lands Com •
mitten, brought up the Report, to which he particularly
requested the attention of the Court. It stated, that
in pursuance of two orders of the Court, whereby they
were authorised to make various alterations in the
building appropriated to the Courts of Law in the
Guldhall Yard, and to ventilate the same at the esti-
mated expense of 8,6001., the Committee had 'directed
the Clerk of the Works to prepare specifications of the
neecssary works, and apply to the following parties ,to
tender for the performance of the same ; viz., Mr.
Cubitt, Messrs. Lee, Mr. Grimsdell, Messrs. Baker,
.Messrs. Grissell and Pete, Messrs. Piper, and Mr.
B::rton ; and on the 2(1 instant, they received the tenders
in the amounts following, viz., Mr. Cubitt, 11,340/. ;
Messrs. Lee, 12,3811. ; Mr. Grimsdell, 10,6361. ; Messrs.
Baker, 12,1361.'; Messrs. Grissell and Pete, 11,302/. ;
Mi•ssrs. Piper, '13;702/. ;. and Mr. Burton, 13,6731.;
and the lowest tender received, namely, that. of Mr.
Grimsdell, being 2.0361. above the estimated amount re-
ported to the Court, the Committee had recommended
the same, subject, to the approbation of the Court being
obtained to the incurring of that additional outlay. The
Report further stated that the expense of adopting Mr.
Day's patent of ventilation to the Courts would amount
m the sum of 7001., that portion of the work not being
included in Mr. Grimsdell's tender.
Mr. HALL made some observations on this altered
state of the circumstances, the tenders being so much
I rger than the estimate made by the Clerk of the
Ciy's Works. That the expense would exceed the
extra tender which the Committee recommended, there
could La( but little doubt, considering the complicated
mature of the operations. The question whether so
large an outlay should be made in effecting alterations,
he would leave to the decision of the Court.
Mr. R. L. JONES said the question certainly was,
whether they ought not to build new courts altogether.
—(Hear, hear.) The sum required to make the alte-
rations was so large, that it appeared to him most ad-
visable to send back the Report to the Committee for
the purpose of re-consideration, with a view to ascertain
whether it would not be the most judicious course to
build a new edifice, with accommodation suited to the
necessities and the times. The Guildhall itself was a
splendid building, and why not make the Courts of Law
attached to it in unison with it ?—(llear, hear.) He
was sure the Committee could obtain fresh plans for new
courts. li the proceeded to make the alterations re
quired, they might expend 13,0001. or 14,0001., and it.
they adopted the alternative of erecting new courts,
they might accomplish that most important object for
15.000/.—(Cheers.) He moved an amendment, the echo
of his speech.
Mr. ORRARD seconded the amendment.
The result, it is expected will be, that a set of . new
courts presenting every possible accommodation, will be
very soon substituted for the present incommodious
apartments.
MODE OF ADMINISTERING RELIEF TO THE CASUAL POOR.
Mr. HEPPELL presented a petition from' the inhabi-
tant ratepayers of th e parish of St. Mary Woolchurch Ilaw. '
The petition stated that the parish was suffering
severely from the burdens occasioned by the late mode
of adminisistering relief to the casual poor, and from the
circumstance of the Mansion-house being situated within
the limits of the parish ; that the quarterly official ex-
tracts of the expenditure of the City of London Union
showed that from the establishment of the union to the
25th December 1838, there was one classification of
paupers under the head casual ' poor ; that the
whole number of poor of that description
was very limited, and . up to that period was
generally considered and treated as vagrants, and that
the expenses of their support, with all incidental charges,
fell upon the Corporate fund ' • that it was owing to an
alteration in the system, adjudicating upon the cases re-
ferred during the mayoralty of Alderman Wilson, that
the burdens became transferred to the parish of St.
Woolchurch Haw, and that the said parish, which con-
sisted but of twenty-nine rateable houses, independent,
of the Mansion-house, was debited out of the total charge
of 4,900/. 2s. (for the maintenance of such poor for the
space of three years), with the sum of 1,122/. 12s. I Id.,
oeing nearly one-fourth of the entire burden, leaving
the residue to be borne by the remaining ninety-seven
parishes, out of the ninety-eight which constituted the
City of London Union ; that the petitioners had largely
increased, in some instances doubled, the amount of their
(Nun' rates, and were still unable to satify the heavy de-
mand entailed upon them ; that notwithstanding such
means, there was a balance of about 600/. due from the
parish to the Union ; and that the petitioners entreated
the Court to take the circumstances into consideration,
in the hope that assistance would be afforded them, by
the direction of such a grant as, in the wisdom of the
Court would seem just and reasonable.
Mr. KEPPELL wished to have the petition referred to
the Committee, to which, in the course of last year, a
petition relative to • the casual poor had been submitted,
and that instructions should be given to the Committee
to report upon both.
Mr. HARRISON declared that nothing was to be got
..)y referring the petition, unless the Court were prepared
to vote a rortion out of the funds fur the relief of the

After a few words from Mr. HEPPELL, the petition was
ordered to lie on the table.
POWERFUL APPEAL OF THE COALWHIPPERS OF LONDON.
Mr. STEVENS presented a petition from an immense
"umber of the poor, hard-working, ill-used men
called coal-whippers, praying for the protection of
the Court. The petitioners were the men whom
people, as they passed up or down the river,
sawmaking machines of their bodies, and raising
coals from the holds of ships and delivering them into
barges. They- sought the protection of the Court from
the vice and infamy anl abomination to which they
were exposed in their endeavours to get employment, for
the more drunk a coal-whipper became the stronger were
his chances of constant occupation, the parties to,whom
the power of appointing to the work belonged being, for
the most part, publicans at the water-side, who required,
as an indispensable qualification, that the greater por-
tions of the earnings of a candidate should be spent in
drink..—( ear.) The coal-whippers were satisfied with
the pay ulTotted for their labour, but etey considered it
dreadful slavery to be obliged to drink them-
selves into employment, and, after three weeks' toil,
to be able to take home no more than four or five
shillings to their wives and families.—(Hear, hear.)
Whether • the petitioners were teetotallers or temperance
•:ociety men he did not know, but he well knew that
they not did wish to be the victims of the tap7room,and to
sec those who ought to be dear to them naked and starv-
ing about the streets.—(Cheers.) They came before the
Court of Common Council because the Corporation re-
ceived considerable addition to their funds from the coals
which were brought into the Pool, and because they
knew the Court abhorred the odious oppression which
made drunkenness the only recommendation to the
favour of those who had. the power of giving
the employment they sought.—(Hear and cheers.)
All these poor men asked was that the Court would
provide an office for them, in which they might be ap-
pointed to work in regular turns in unloading the
cargoes, and the expenses attending which they would
themselves pay. By such an arrangement, 1,200 or
1,400 respectable men would be sure of employment, in-
stead of being completely superseded by 500 or 600
drunken vagabonds.--4(Hear, hear.) The Court, he was
convinced, would look kindly upon the efforts of theSe
poor men to relieve themselves from • the execrable
thraldom in which they were bound; more especially
when it was stated, as it could be proved, that at the
present moment upwards of 800 families of coal-whip-
pers were starving. He had made particular inquiries
into the facts he had stated, and he had ascertained that
nakedness was in innumerable instances added to the
went of bread.--(lfear.)
The petition, which detailed the sufferings of the
petitioners in a very airectino• manner, was then read,
and referred to a Committee by a very great majority,
Mr. JOHNSON, the member for Bishopsgate, having
warmly seconded the motion,
Mr. STEVENS then moved the suspension of the stand-
ing order of the Court in order to vote a grant of 501.
to the Lord Mayor to divide amongst the petitioners in
aid of their immediate necessities.
Mr. COPE—WiII the Lord Mayor take charge of 50/.
to divide amongst 800 starving families?
The Loan MAYoR—I would much rather divide 3001.
or 4001. amongst the poor creatures.—(Loud cheers.)
A considerable discussion took place upon the subject
of suspending the standing order, but the motion was
lost.

Mr. ANDERTON, as the Court was breaking up said, he
would most willingly subscribe for the poor men who
made such a virtuous struggle.—Adjourned.

SALE OF-L-ADIES'WOR—K, &c. FOR
'TIE BENEFIT OF THE WESLEYAN MISSIONS.
It has not often been our lot to record feelings of plea-
sure and gratification such as we experienced upon vi-
siting the Sale of Ladies' Work and other articles, at
the Centenary-hall, for the benefit of the Wesleyan
Missions, during the last few days. Our readers are
doubtless aware, that several Christian ladies, animated
by a desire to promote the missiona'y cause, have been,
for several months past, zealously devoting their time,
money, and influence, to procure articles for sale on
this occasion. The sale commenced on Friday, and
was continued on Saturday, Monday, and yesterday.
thir expectations, though raised beforehand to a high
pitch,were more—far more—than realized. We never saw,
upon any similar occasion, so many specimens of rare,
useful, and beautiful workmanship; as were presented
on visitintr this scene of true zeal and benevolence. Nor
can we refrain from expressing our entire and unqualified
approbation of the courtesy and deportment displayed
by the ladies whe undertook the fatiguing task of pre-
siding at the different stalls. The gentlemen assisting
th m were also exceedingly attentive and polite to. the
numerous customers.

Such has been the liberality displayed in contributing
goods for sale,---and a large quantity of valuable articles,
intended for exhibition at the Missionary Table, having
arrived only yesterday, which, consequently, itive not
yet been displayed,—it. has been resolved to afford addi-
tional gratification to the friends of Missions by re-
opening the sale on Monday and Tuesday. The ladies,
whose exertions in this matter are beyond all praise,
have .kindly consented to give their attendance on the
days above mentioned. We refer, for particulars to our
advertising coltimns ; and we earnestly hope, that those
who are interested in Missions generally, and especially
in one of the most promising missionS undertaken in
modern, days, we mean the mission in Ashanti, will, by
their presence, and by employing, their infittence to ob_
tainthe attendance of-their friends upon the occasion,
contribute to the success of this philanthiwic etfort, and
thereby increase the Miseiobary fund.— atchtnan,