Star.
London, England, 1831-09-02 00:00:00

Oa I)

SPIRIT OF THIS DAY'S JOURNALS.

CHRONICLE —A ve-77—nponant altaation in the
twenty-third clause of the reform bill was announced last
night by Lord Althorp, whom we are glad to find again
in his place—namely, the appointment ofliamentary
commissioners, instead of the privy council, to proceed
through the country, and make the necessary inquiries
with regard to the divisions of counties, and the sir-
'ranging the boundaries of boroughs, /cc. and to report to
parliament. The report is to be submitted generally to the
house, to avoid a repetition of the endless discussions on sche-
dules A and B—between the pawing of the reform bill and
the confirmation of the report by parliament, no new
election could take place, as the old Election Laws would
be repealed, and the labours of the Commissioners necessary
to the election of the new parliament—the number of the
Commissioners to be 3!, a few only go in one direction, by
which division of labour the period occupied will be con-
siderably shortened. No decision, however, to be taken
unless confirmed by a majority of the Commissioners, that is
by sixteen at least. The following Is a List of tee Coin.
misslooers :

itighilien.- lax Abercrombie, R. Dawson, Esq.
Chief Baron of Scotland H. Drummond, Iraq,
IL J. Littleton, Esq. J. E. Drinks/star, Freq.
Davies (filbert, Esq. T. F. Ellis, Esq.
W. Counsel, Esq. H. Cart, 6.q.
H. Martin, Esq. Master in T. B. Leonard, Egg.
Chancery W. tied. Junior, Esq.
W. Wingfield, Esq. ditto J. Itomitly, Esq
Sir J. W. Gordon, Bart. R. J. Saunden, Esq.
H. lialram, Esq. Reverend It. Sheepshanks
F. Beaufort, Esq. R.N. W. `.. Talent*, Esq.
La Baugh Allen, Esq. H. Tanaed, Esq.
H. Gawky,J. Wrottesl.y, Esq.
T. Birch, Es2isq W. Wild, Esq.
W. Leake, • F. Martin, Esq Royal Ea.
B Annesley, . gluten.
J. J. Chapman, Esq. El Scott, Esq. Royal Stat.
It is understood that the labours of the Counuoa.oners will
be completed in throe months. The plan seemed to be ge-
nerally acceptable. Sir Chas. Wetherell, indeed, had .. great
deal to say, but his observations arc hardly deserving or IN*
Sous consideration. Mr. Hughes Hughe. made wine ob-
servations, which may serve as a key to those who still
fail to understand the object of his former motives. Mr.
Hunt, of course, agreed with him. Like draws to lake.
TI3IE-S. Toe journal published in French at the
Hague, to support Du.cit intense and the Down character
against the Belgic writers in their own language, contains
in hs number of the 27th ult. a long letter hum London,
aseloaing a speech of the Honourable Member fir Kerry,
against the King of the Netlitrlands, and a refutation of its
calumnies or misstatements, one by one. The Dutch cot-
respondent finds 17 articles in Mr. eflettnell's bill of indict.
meat, and answers each of them in detail. Without having
any right to as counsel for his Dutch Majesty, sod
without pretending to acquit him of obstinacy in sane
eases where concision would have promoted his interests
without violating his conscience, we have repeatedly pointed
oat the falsehood or the exaggeration of the charges brought
against him by such persons as the member for Kury. But
we wonder what interest any resident in London could have
to answer the speech of the learned gentlemen in a foreign
paper. It could produce no effect in this country, and was
not likely to disturb the gravity, or temper, of the Dutch.
Its statements might impose upon those who neither know
Ma Dutch Majesty nor the member for Kerry; but the
people of Holland could not be Ignorant of the former, and
we are perfectly acquainted with the latter. This coosidera-
don saves us the trouble of transcribing theasuck.and ought
to have saved our Dutch contemporary the trouble of cont.
posing it.

The expenses of the approaching commies are aid.
mated at 80,0001. Those of the last coronation, when
there WWI no Queen to be crowned, and which was, is feet.
notwithstanding the edat which it was endeavoured to
give it, only half a coronation, amounted to more than
rive times that sum,.—. to upwards of a quarter of •
million of money ! We know not that 60,11001. ex-
tracted certainly from the pockets of the people, but
Distributed to the people again in re-payment of bd s
for sort done (which is much better than gratuitie.),
is any great evil; but we really do blush at tag
programme of the nonsensical ceremonies which are to
rte performed on this otherwise solemn occasion, and
in a solemn place ! How much better to have taken me
necessary oaths, with all the due ceremonies ()fan unostents-
nous religion, and then to have suffered his Majesty to
retire and meditate oa the important duties wincn ne had
undertaken, and the tearful respoosibilides of his situation.
Protestants speak with scorn of Cathode ceremonies and
Catholic fooleries. Is there any thing in the Catholic
church more childishly absurd than the greater pert of tut
solemnities to be observed on the Bth of September ?

We recommend togeneraiiiiention the speech of the Lord
Chancalor yesterday, on terminating the sitting in his court,
and withdrawing to • short and imperfect intermission et
labour, which can hardly be called repast. The business of
the cutest is &dolled, and there is not a single came ready
cue bearing which has not been beard and decided. And can
this have been done summarily, or, to use a hard word, per.
frinetorily ? Let It be markid what his lordship said wiih
repo to one part of the business. Tne appeals which hare
Mirdilleliad of within a few months are 1110, of width num.
Mr Mises been decided, and Use overage of Shim occupied
hilkoriay *coma hours! Tne mind of Lord Brougham
roseepiad upon any question for several boors, we should
Chihli, would leave 14.1.: to be apprehended with respect to a
t decision, and the administration of substantial pastier-
Ws ban no doubt that the improvenienu of the court' which
he cautiously meditates, will keep pace with his Lordship's
pnetice.
___
POST—That

. France will propose any thing to the la.
beiges who conduct at the present manta the stain et
Great Britain, rich a view to reconcile them to het coati.

~~

n o«1 occupation of Belgium, we do not believe, for it is of
no importance to France that they should be reconciled to
that or to any thing eke upon which she may have deter.
mined. The Ministers of France must know that no mi-
viietry of which Earl Grey is at the head, dare make a
remptory demand upon her without being previously
eeere of her disposition to acquiesce in it. They are
aware that FA Grey entered into office with
the declaration upon 1k lips of respect and partiality
to the revnlutiona-y Government of France, and of his de-
termination to «titivate its friendship as a national object
paramount to every ether consideration of foreign policy ;
and they cannot but he aware that a quarrel with France
would open the eyes of the Brittsh people, and open them
the more completely in proportion as the quarrel on the part
of Engl oel was a just one, to the einem me folly of that
declaration. Hence they know that they arc sure of Earl
they and his colleagues, ned that they have nothing to appre-
hend from the resistance of Great Britain, whatever may
be their purpose., so long as the present Ministers re-
tain office. The British 'Ministers who have given proof by
the above ;declaration, and bare rorrohnrated the disgraceful
evidence by looking on in silent apa,he ehile,without the least
pretence of justice or reason, the Pct of Portugal has been
rowed to Brest as prizes of war. when there was no war, and
have confirmed the tiller aeefel evidence be tolerating a
French army in the etc:option of Belgium, that no
ray of political intelligence ever ptectrated their dull
and empty heads, that no seerk of manly or patriotic
feelirg ever warmed tlttir cold eed selfish bosoms, would
not, and of this the French Government is well as-
sured, either feel rettentmeat, or offer resistance, should it
suit the policy of that Government to obtain pnesestdon of
Gibraltar, or to conquer both the Indies. A quarrel with
France would be foal to the tricolour Administration of
England ; and what are Pottegal, or Belgium, or Hol-
land, or Gibraltar, or both the Indies, or national faith,
or national safety, or patriotism, cr honour, that they should
he weighed in competition with so great a calamity ?
HERALD.—That treason is at work, and deeply and
exomsively at work, in Poland, to ruin by sap, and under-
mine, the great cause of that heroic nation, which the co-
lossal power of Russia has been unable to crush in the field
of open warfare, there can be no doubt. The return of
Dembinski to Warsaw, with his little corps of heroes,
after cutting their way through masses of the enemy
with a gallantry that has never been surpassed, has con-
firmed the accounts of the treason of the Generals
Gielguil and Chlapowski, who, it now appears, do-
troyea by their infamous conduct the brightest pros-
pects in Lithuania, and rendered abortive the valour of
the devoted troops who were under their feud commarel.--
Though we should be extremely reluctant to entertain any
doubt of the patriotic firmness of the Generalissimo, who in
the commencement. of the war gave such decisive proofs of
courage, skill, and cneri.7, yet it does appear to us strange
that since the battle of Ostredenka he has not signalised
himself by striking a single blow of any moment against the
enemy. Ile did not even take advantage of the consterna-
tion which prevailed in the Russian army on the sudden
loss of its General. Diebitsch—though shortly after that
event we were told that the Polish army, having recovered
from its fatigues and repaired its losses, was about to
march and take advantage of rite dismay into which the
enemy were thrown by the death of their Chief, and the
mortality and privations which about that time had dread.
folly ?binned their ranks. Day after day, and week after
week, passed away, and nothing was done. In the mean
time a new General arrived, the Russian army was re.
organized, and fresh masses of harbatians poured in with-
out molestation to join the main body of the savage
banditti that ravened for the blood of Warsaw. It is
true General Skrzvnecki may be able to account most
satisfactorily for his conduct during all this time.—
He may be able to show that his apparent quiescence
was but part of a well-conceived and comprehensive
plan for the eventual deliverance of his country. The
Polish army has been weakened, as several detachments
cave been cu: off in detail, while the Russian force has
been considerably increased by the accession of nume
cons reinforcements. Still the scanty intelligence which
arrives from the seat of war is not sufficient on which
to form a decided opinion, one way or the other, as to
the conduct of the Chief to whom Poland intrusted, in
an awful crisis, the sword of her most righteous cause.
Jr does seem to us that the salvation of Poland rather
deoentied upon the heroism of her troops than upon the
cautious tactics of her Generals, and that the true policy
cf such a war was not to allow the moral confidence of
the Poles to decline, or the enemy to recover from the terror
and dismay which the first great successes of the Polish arms
inspired ; but we admit that this opinion may be the result
of not being in possession of all the circumstances which
may have guided the conduct of a man whose fame we
should he glad to see cleared from the doubts that ob-
scure it. and restored once more to the conadence,of his
country. In the mean time deplorable consequences
have followed in Warsaw the distrust and suspicion which
recent events have inspired. Traitors have been taken
itt della°, and attempted to be screened from jus-
tice. The results have ensued which are always the conse-
quence of a brave population being rendered desperatesuch
as would happen in London itself if beleagued by barbarian
foes, raging for its blood and spoil, and traitors in high
places were detected holding communication with the enemy
—revealing every plan of their brave countrymen in arms,
and waiting the opportunity to open the gates of the doomed
city to these who brought the " übomination of desolation "
with pestilence and the sword. Humanity laments all such ex-
; but where is the humanity of the civilised nations of
Europe, who allow the extermination of a whole people to
be the pastime of a tyrant ?

1M PER lAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, SEPT. 1.

The LORD ADVOCATE was heard at considerable
h ngth in a Scotch appeal, further proceedings in which were
postponed till to-morrow.
The Lord CHANCELLOR gave notice, that to-morrow
or Monday. he should bring in a bill for the purpose of re-
gulating proceedings in Ecclesiastical Courts, which at pre-
! ent are .4.qt:five.

The Ni ble and Learned Lord moved an address to his
31ajesty. tor a copy of the third report of the Commission.
ers appointed fur inquiry into the practice of the Courts of
Common Law.
The motion was agreed to, and the house adjourned.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Mr. Alderman WOOD presented a petition from the
Lighternien and IVatermen of the Themes, complaining of
the rapid speed of steamboats.
Sir C. FOR BES presented a petition from the principal
natives of Bombay, praying to be admitted to serve on Grand
Juries, and to act as Justices of the Peace in conjunction with
Europeans.
Sir J. 31A LCOLM supported the prayer of the petition.
The petitioners were distinguished for high character and
great wealth.
Mr. HUAIE hoped his Majesty's Government Lad come
to a determination to accede to the prayer of the petition.
After five years' experience of their conduct as petty Jurors,
they should be permitted to act as Grand Jurors.
Mr. O'CONNELL supported the petition, which stated
that the inhabitants of the interior of India had no adequate
protection to property or person.
Mr. GRANT said, he was glad to see such petitions ad-
()tressed to the House of Commons, because it allowed that
the petitioners looked to Parliament for protection, and he
hoped they would never be disappointed. It was his in.
mention at the commencement of *the Session to introduce a
Bill to admit the natives to serve on grand juries, and also
to juries on the trial of Christians. He was only prevented
by the manner in which the Session was occupied, butt
biped the time was not distant when such a:measure would be
be s.treed to by Parliament.
Mr HU3IE presented a petition, signed by 4,000 inha-
bi:at.ts of Bombay, including persons of all religions, com-
plaining that they were governed by regulations made by
the F.ast India Company, which were incessantly changing;
and praying that they might be governed by laws made by
the English Parliament. The administration of what was
called law in India in many cases amounted to a denial of
justice. There were more appeals to:the:superior courts than
could he decided during the life of the longest liver in
Irdia ; ar.d iu the province' there was no adequate protec-
tion for property or life. The Governors might imprison
a-y man they pleased ; and the Judges were the chief in-
struments of wrong. lie had met with as much honesty
in India as in England, and those who gave unfavourable
opinions of the natives, were deficient in information or can-
dour. They prayed to be admitted to all honourable
others, judicial, territorial, and financial ; and that the
Erglisli language might be introduced into all legal pro-
cuttings in India. He fully concurred in the prayer of the
petition, which he considered most important.
Mr. GRANT was perfectly convinced of the great im-
portance of the petition, and it was a satisfactory proof of
• --itionen to look to this country foe the

improvement of their condition, which would certainly form
an imporant part of the duty of Parliament.
Sir JOHN MALCOL kl said the last advices from India
shewed that all the civil suits between natives of Bombay
had been tried by native judges. He had an address pre.
sented to him by the inhabitants of Poonah, expressing
dick grief and dismay at hearing that the jurisdiction of
the Supreme Court of Boinhay was to he extended to
that province, which, if it were done, would he die ruin
of the province, as lawyers would then come and devour
their substance. (A laugh.)
Sir CHARLES WETHERELL said when the Reform
bill should pass, the people of India would not only not be
represented in the house, but would not ho beard.
Mr. GRANT said he was confitltnt when the Reform
bill should pass, there would be more rather than less in
that house who would take an interest in India affairs than
at present.

rum..., VI nlc pcm.v..,
Il.e &etre of the petition