Star.
London, England, 1831-06-29 00:00:00

TRUCK STSTRIId.
__ _ _

Lord SHELDIERSDALE presented a petition from a
numerous body of workmen and others, at Wigan, Lan-
cashire. against the Truck 'plum. Also r similar petition
from 700 persons, called monerlaying masters, in Great
Bolton. he petitioners described the practice of paying
wages in goods to be destructive of trade and unjust to the
workmen.—Bath petitions were read and laid on the table.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE laid on the table two bars on
the subject of paying wages to workmen. One bill was
nearly the same as that introduced to the Commons by an
hon. friend of his last session, and in bringing it forward he
only acted in concurrence with that honourable friend, and
the resolutions of the House of Commons. He should not
trouble the House with the details until the second reading.
—The bills were read a first time, and ordered to be printed.
Viscount NIELBOURNB brought in a bill to regulate
the office of Lord Lieutenants of counties, and moved it be
read the first time.

The Duke of WELLINGTON asked whether the noble
Viscount intended in that stage of the bill to give any expla-
nation of the principle ?
Viscount MELBOURNE, in compliance with the pra.2-
tice of the House, deferred a statement of the details of the
measure vigil the second rending.
Toe Marquis of LONDONDERRY asked whether the
provisions of the bill would interfere wish the duties 6f the
office of cumin mtulorum in Ireland ?
Viscount 3IELBOU LINE said it would not interfere with
the duties of that office in Ireland.

THE POOPAR PETITION.
The Duke of BUCe LEUGH presented a petition from
the noblemen, freeholders, and heritors of the county of
Forfar, against the reform bill,
Lord DUNCAN did not rise to oppose the petition, but
Paving a knowledge of the proceedings which took place be.
fore the petition was got up, he felt desirous of giving some
explanation. In May last, a requisition was signed for a
meeting in the county of Forfar, on the subject of re-
form. At that meeting, resolutions were proposed which
had since been embodied in the petition presented by the
noble duke. The meeting was held, remarkably enough,
the day before that fixed for the election—and the noble
lord wasof opinion that the object was to prevent the return of
the gentleman now sitting in the House of Commons. There
was present at the meeting eighty-four persona. The house i
would remember that county meet:ngs in Scotland were select,'
but not numerous. To the resolutions adverse to the re-
form bill he (Lord Duncan) moved an amendment approving
of the whole Bill, and thanking his Majesty's Ministers for
what they had done. That amendment was carried by 60
against 24, a majority of 36. That being the state of the
case, lie could not call the petition presented by the Noble
Duke the petition of the county of Forfar (hear, hear) but
the petition of a few individuals who were outvoted. Those
'individuals had first attempted to get the sanction of the
county, and failing in that scheme they came forward with
the petition presented by the Noble Duke. He was proud
to say the county of Forfar stood distinguished in Scotland
for having voted in favour of the Bill. The Noble Lord
could not avoid saying a few words on the subject of violence
and improper language said to have occurred at elections in
Scotland. He could say those election irregularities had
been exaggerated. Those who read of sanguinary feelings
and revolutionary expressions might suppose the people of
Scotland were on the eve of revolution. No such thing.
Their only plan was to pass the Reform Bill, and support
his Majesty's Alinisters with a view to the accomplishment
of that object. •He was sure they would endeavour to get
the Bill passed, and they certainly had an undoubted right
to exercise their partiality for a measure which they con-
sidered would be beneficial to the country at large.
The Duke of BUCCLEUGH said it was not the petition
of the county of Forfar, but of 46 persons in the county. It
did not purport to be the petition orthe county. :he Noble
Duke, on the subject of violence at elections, alluded to
placard which attacked the anti.reformers as being opposed
to the King, his Majesty's Ministers, and the Reform bill.
The Earl of HA DDINGTON thought his Noble Friend
should point out instances in which the election violence in
Scotland had been exaggerated. He had no doubt the elec.
tions in Scotland had displayed a spirit of violence. In
Dumbartonshire and Ayrshire scenes had occurred which
could not be exaggerated. The Noble Earl admitted that
the people of Scotland had a constitutional right to support
any measure which they might consider advantageous, but it
must be by legal and constitutional proceedings.
Lord BELHAVEN said, the account of violence at an
election In Scotland, which he had witnessed, he knew to
be exaggerated.
The petition was then laid on the table.
The House soon after adjourned.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The LORD ADVOCATE, OiTti;e—Srzairrit taking the
chair, said he had to mention that there had been an undue
return respecting Mr. Vere, the member for Newport, in the
Isle of Wight. He was returned as John Joseph Hope
Vere, whereas his name wu James Joseph Hope Vere.
The SPEAKER mid, all tl'e house wanted was evidence
of the identity of the party. If that were established, all
there would be to do was to amend the return.

--- ------
The LORD ADVOCATE said, be could bear testimony
to the fact.

The SPEAKER replied, as that was the case, the only
thing that was required was to desire the Clerk of tl,e Crown
Office to rtend.

Mr. HUNT presented a Petition from the National
Union Association, complaining of the Castlereagh Acts.
Mr. POYNDER read an extract from the " Poor Man's
Guardian" of Saturday last, which condemned Kings, Lords,
and Church, and avowed his determination to resist the acts.
The Honourable Member wondered that the writer (Mr.
Hetherington) had not been prosecuted for blasphemy sod
sedition. He also read an extract from the " Republican,"
a work by the same author.
Mr. HUME said that the publication* read by the bun.
gentlemen had befrre been read Sy one or two hundred;
but after the publicity given to it by the hon. gentleman It
would be read by many thousunds. (Hear. hear.) Did the
hon. gentleman know that the laws on which he now calla
.on the government to prosecute, were condemned by all his
'_Majesty's present Ministers when they were passed; and
be did not think they would be in effice one month before
all those Acts would be repealed. The Acta were passed
against the liberty of the people after the massacre of Man.
• cheater ; and it was surprtsitig that they were so long allowed
'to disgrace the Statute Hook. The day wail gone by when
',the honourable gentleman could have ignorance for his sup-
porters. If the honourable gentleman would read the de.
bates when those bills werepassed he would probably form
a better Opinion on the subject than he appeued. at present
to entertain. What should be the object of all discussion
but to elicit truth ? If all restrictions on publications ware
removed, then every erroneous opinion might be answered
and refuted. The Duke of Wellington's Administration.
'had not 'disgraced itself by any prosecution against those
small publications under the Six Acts. He held hi his
hand much worse publications than the hon. member had

read, but 1.. could not be the n taus of spreading the polsei t'
by reading them in that house. (Hear, hear.) There were
at this moment 32 illegal small publications, many of which
contained excellent advice to the working people—som o
them undoubtedly bad ; but the reason they w.r not an -
awned was because no onecould reply without subject *ng im •
self to the lash of the law. He and others had been atta lee I
for attempting to repeal the Combination lA's; they wishe I
to set up a small publication to answer the c!igarges mad,
against them. ,They took the opinion of Mr. Tyrilal, the
Solicitor-general, on the aubjest, and that op niun was. that
they should tiolate the six Acts if they del to. When
Carlile was prosecuted, one of his publications increased its
circulation from 1,000 to 20,000. Af et he was libeiated
the sale of his publications so fell off that he was in a state
of distress. Lately e government prosecution was instituted
against him. Some gentlemen made a representation to go:
vernment on the subject, for the purpose of preventing it.
Carlile heard of it, and wrote to them in a rage at their hi air-
ference. The prosecution went on,and the jury wete vatted i. -
to a verdict of guilty. Mr. Carlile's publications imaeiseel in
sale tenfold, and had gone on increasing ever since ; and .:n a 1-
nuity of 501. a-year was settled on him, and a sin.i'at one on
h's wife. Charlns the Tenth attempted to pot dawn the
liberty of the Press by an ordonnance; the House of Corn.
mons attempted to put it down by those A.t.. It it was
glorious for the French people to drive tit.: K ng from his
throne, then wouldit be glorious for the p opl: et' England
to drive the Six Ake from the statute bsok. I • the Ga.
vernment put the Editor of the Poor 3f.th's Guar .ian in
prison, there was another ready to take his plav ; and the
same would be the use every day in the year • so that it wan
qu t: impossibie to prevent such pu'ilicatiot slayi prosecution.
and he was glad of it.
Mr. TREVOR said it was owing to the licentious' ess of
the press that die prisms were ailed with oilet.dera, and he
' should be sow tout any of the reeteictions by _ehicli it wa.
protested removed.
Sir F. BURDETT thought the act' complained of ought
to be immediately repealed He thought the retaining the
Six Acts could never be productive of any good. He thought
the publication read could mile excite disgust, and believed
it to be an invention of the enemy to endeavour to cast ob-
loquy on the popular cause. He read some of the small
publications with great sailsfactioa, and tholigi,t it was a
matter of great importance that the subject slotted speedily
be brought before the house, and every restriction re.ntat d ;
though he could not think it right to bring thrword the Iwo-
ject till the all-absorbing question was happily dtspreed ot.
Mr. O'CONNELL thought the writer of the publication
which had been quoted courted proSecutien, hut Itopcil the
Attorney-Ueneral would have too much good senac to in-
dulge.: hint : (hear.) No opinion was put down :at ruse-
cotton ; it always broke out again with increased energy.
In America the press was perfectly free. and the eons:quo. e
1 was there were no blasphemous publications. The nod e
taken of the Poor Alan a Guardian. would make the pot r
man that published it a rich man : (hear hear.)
Alt. C. WYNN said the argument used would g' to the
extent of saying, that no incitement to crime published
through the press should be prosecuted.
The ATTORkEY-GENERAL •aid, there had been a
very sparing exercise of the power of government in prose-
cuting libellous publication& There bad been no exo flieio
prosecution. and but two prosecutions instituted, and cer-
tainly no government could give up the right of prosecwing
publitations inciting to crime; hut that was a power which
shou:d he exercised with the greatest d ocretion. He believed
the libels alluded to had been confined to the knowledge of a
very few, and it was better to leave them to public disease
than give them publicity by pros. cution ; but if they could
be put down by a stamp act, lie thought it'anse:f fully jiesti.
fled in resorting to that act fur their oupprtssior. He should
not enter into the question more itarticuLarly at p cure, es
there was a prosecution now pending which would be cond.
mull. He was quite sure that many anonymous I.tters we e
sent to him fur the purpose of provok Mg him to give diem
the puff of a prosecution.
Sir R. PEEL was sure the house must have heard stilt
great satisfaction the hon. and learned genth man condemn
publications instigating to the commission of crime, which
deserved to be prosecuted ; and he perfectly agreed that such
prosecutions should be entered on with great caution. It aal
lOW painful to appear to connive at Mr. fertile's publiea•
Lions; but he thought that better than nerretual prosecu-
tion. The hon. hart. (Sir F. Burdett) supposed that other
persons were at the bottom of these pubticatiors; in the
seine way it was said, when wirdoes were b oken, that hey
were broken by other persons than those whom the pubis
supposed. Tate hon. member for Middlesex sal the se's on
die statute book were the came se the ordannances issued by
the late King of France ; but he only preposed the safe node
of redress, by driving them from the statute book.
Mr. HUNT rose to ropy .—(Cries art •• 0.1 ! oh !" and
coughing became very genets%) He should wait with con.
siderable patience till it was the pleasure of the house to hear
Lint. The Hon. Member for Illiddle•ex was nut quite so
wise as the Hon. Member for Tamworth coed wish the
House to believe. It was true the House of Commons had
agreed to the Six Acts, but the Reform Bib declared the
truth, that they were passes by a tioroughmongere Perla-
ment. If no other Member did it, he would move for the
Repeal of the Acts before the end of the present Session.
Sir R. PEE!, said, if, on the Ilon.urable Gentleman's
return (rpm the House, an assault was committed ea his
person, or a farthing was taken front his rocket, he would
not suffer without complaint, because the Acts to punish
assault and theft were passed by ;.Borough. Parliament.
Sir. 11UNT said lie always understood that assault sad
theft were punished by common law.—(A general laugh.)
Sir 11. PEEL presented a petition from British subject,
Hoiden at Canton, praying for the protectiou of their po-
rous and properties, from the Chinese autheri les, and that
a British resident should be kept at the t ours of the Emu-
reror of China. .
Mr. )P t.ROVSON said he should not oppae any atamipt
to conciliate China, but he believed it would be o billref of
great difficulty.
Mr. C. GRANT thought the petition was entitled to
pcattlar attention, and he was confident it would receive
it.—(Hear, hear.) .
Sir GEORGE STAL'N I'ON made a few re.rarks which
were inaudible in the Gallery.
Sir JAMES MACINTOSH defended the tenor of the
petition, and said, that any inaccuracies it contained ought
to be overlooked in consideration of the importance of its
object.
Sir. W MIT MORE said that he was convinced great ad.
vantage would be derived from a perscn being delegated as
resident Consul appointed by Government authority.
Mr. ASTELL hoped that tee question would not in this
way be discussed piecemeal, nor be brought before the
House incidentally, but that it would in proper time be dis-
cussed with that care which its importance intitled it to.
Mr. EWART was not of opinion that the approbation
of the East India Company should be held of so much im-
portance in the consideration of the question as some hon.
members would seem to infer. He approved of the soggier-
lion of a resident Consul being appointed. He alluded to
the evidence that had been produced before a former Com-
mittee, and aided that from that it was evident that the
commerce of Britain was capable of being eery mach ex-
tended in the East.
Mr. BARING coesldered that any attempt to destay the
alleged monopoly would be followed by some great miceir.
tune, if indiscriminate adventure's were permitted to enter
that country, which would before long call upon the Ilt.uso
fir some other remedial measure ; some distinctive p:ov'.
si n might be made for :brewing open one department of the
in do, uhieh was rot profitable to, nor was it canied on by,
the East India Company, and which be (Mr. Baring) knew
was capable of being profitably pursued by Individuals.
Mr. WARBURTON thought, that if this country would
o the utmost encourage smuggling by individuals, that it
w.uld ultimately lead to the throwing open of that tam-
n.erce to individuals which was at present monepolistd by a
pow. 'fel company.
Mr. STEWART %WORTLEY thought discussion in this
menisci would be much better deferred in the present state of
the question.
Sir C. FORBES spoke in opposition to the petition, and
gave it as his opinion that no alteration of our laws could
protect those residing in Canton from the causes of complaint
se: forth in the pe.ition.
The petition was ordered to be laid 00 the table.

TiaDE WITh CIIIIIA.

Mr. C. GRANT ninreii for a 14:1;:t Committee to be
appointed on the &fain of tiwijaet India Cowpony, and to
enquire into the state pf t with China and the East
Indies.
Mr. WHITAIORE seconded She motion. lie thought
that ea due fume somion dholooddied Widish who
were mewls§ Olt dithesise, ind.trAo ewe la it service of
the East I. Ocoprey, had an arms healed as they
might have dew al& hdoccestina. Thipenshe set to best
stood spots teehnicalities, sad that sow; be *dram stk..,
the Company might te_peeltian w 4howl The evidecce
'Wm"' at the Illinutiminseinse 41. *Witt.
tory as it eight lihave bein, nieniche onsecy hod s right
to expect.