Star.
London, England, 1826-05-12 00:00:00

CASE Of COLONEL BRADLEY.

latter no alternative ; he arrested Colonel Bradley, hut instead of
detaining him under arrest for ten months, as hesaid,be *as onlj
kept for two months, when he was liberated, and suffered to re
main under arrest at large, until the order for his dismissal came
from England. And with respect to the statement made by the
Petitioner, that this dismissal was occasiotied by false representa•
tions of Colonel Arthur, so tar was this from being the fact, that
the terms of dismissal were, " that his Royal Highness the Duke of
York, having, (tom the Petitioner's own letter, been convinced of
the impropriety and Inconsistency of his conduct, had felt it his duty
to recommend to his Majesty his dismissal from the army." He
should, on these gaounds, oppose the Motion that the Petition be
received by the House.
Colonel DAVIES thought the conduct of Colonel Arthur, In not
sheaving the authority of which he was possessed, in the first in-
stance, was exceedingly improper. He thought, too, the case alto-
gether was one of extreme hardship; and notwithstanding the
strong language of the Petition, he was convinced it ought to be
received.

Lord PALMERSTON said, he had read the Petition, and
should oppose its being received, on the ground that it did not coo-
fine itself to the Petitioner's case' but contained grossly libellous
charges against Sir Herbert Taylor and Sir Henry Torrents, two as
honourable men as any in the kingdom. Colonel Bradley had evi-
dently been guilty of an act of gross insubordina:ion, nearly ap-
proaching to mutiny, and had only suffered the penal consequences
of such conduct. He bad sought redress (on the general question
of seniority), without success, in the Courts of Law ; and what was
it, then, that he expected from that House? He contended that had
&lone! Arthur acted otherwise than he had done, he would have
proved himselttotally unfit for the command to which he had been
appointed. The Pstition, he petceivrd likewise, stated, that Col.
Arthur's defence on the trial, when damages of 1001. were awarded
to Colonel Bradley, was made at the public expence. He (Lord
Palmerston) conceived that nothing was more just than that the
investigation into Colonel Arthur's conduct should not be made
expensive to him, after it had obtained the approbation of the COM-
nunder-in-Chief.
Mr. BROUG lIA Id said, the utmost charge proved against
Colonel Bradley was that he had acted under an error in judgment
He admitted that the petition contained a charge that the commis.
sion was an after tbought—(not directly a forgery, as the Noble
Lord had said)—but he begged to remind the House, that the re.
ceiving even a libelous Petition was not a publication of it ; for
us one but the House Printer was authorized in that House to
print what be should bear of a libellous nature; and if he did so,
be was liable to the consequences or libel.
Irir. Secretary PEEL agreed with the Learned Member, that it
would he most absurd to reject petitions because they contained
charges against official persons, who were most liable to have such
charges made against than. In this case the petitioner had not
imputed forgery in express terms, but he had said that a commis-
sion was sworn to have been signed before it was in existence. It
was rather improbable that those respectable persons would be
guilty of perjury. Ile did net think it fair, that persons should
use their right as subjects to present petitions containing charges of
/hat nature, without being prepared to substantiate them fully.
He would have no objection to the petition being brought up, but
be thought that the House would be warranted in refusing a motion
t have it printed.
Mr. HUME wished to know whether it was not the law. that
all commissions similar to that given to Colonel Arthur, should be
published? As this had not been done in this instance, be thought
the petitioner was absolved from those charges of mutiny and In-
subordination, which the Noble Lord opposite laid to his charge.
er Colonel Arthur set about inflicting what Colonel Bradley thought
unjust punishment on his (Colonel Bradley's) men ; and was only
natural that the latter should ask for the authority o which
this was done. He had done so; be had written to tbe Horse
Guards, he bad applied every where and received no answer ; and
at length bad felt himself obliged to dispute the power which be
etas not commanded to obey.
After some further observations from the Corineu.t.oi of the

EICIIIIIO2II, Lord PALMIIIITCI, Mr. Baouonast, and the ATMS.
ney-Gestaam., the Petition was withdrawn.
SLAVERY.
Mr. BROUGHAM, not seeing a Right Hon. Gentleman whom
it was desirous should be present in the discussion, rose for the
purpose of postponing his motion until Friday the 19th of May.
He trusted that upon that day the importance of the motion would
give it precedence of all other business.
• •
MR. BUCKINEHAM.S CAS&
Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved that the Select Committee,
appointed to take into consideration Mr. Buckingham's case, should
be empowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.
Mr. WYNN opposed the motion, on the ground that the Noble
Lord should have given notice to the House that it was his inten-
tion to have made such a motion. It was taking the House by sur-
prise. The original question bad been carrlei, only because the
proper persons were absent from their post.
Mr. 111ement:1r and Mr. CALCIUM supported the motion.
The Cuancia.Los of the EXCNIQUOL, the Soiscrroa-Gineast.,
and Mr. Secretary Pau. thought notice ought to have been given.
After a desultory conversation, in which Mr. Scoots::. Mr.
Tame:, Lord Maros, Mr. Huns, and the Arronszv-Gzszaat.,
took part, the motion was agreed to.

the question extremely objectionable. The introduction
of the measure v this time showed. a great iniensistency
~n the pan of Ministers. What, he would • ask, had
occurred since the 18th of April, when the anise carne
to a decision on the question? Ministers had at that
time no apprehension of a scarcity, but it seemed that
Ministers had brought an eaverly wind to their
,sibtaince—
" FA esujurati valiant ad elassiea vent)."
What did Ministers expect from this measure? In
what degree did they expect that the liberatiun 9f the
bonded corn would lower the price of the markets?—
Was it Bs. or 10s. per quarter ? If it were lowered 10s.
dr even 20i. per quarter, would it off ird any relief to
the manufacturing di,tricts ? If it would not, how
could Ministers lend themselves to a delusion so perilous

as the present was in every respect? Did they-not see
that those who were without money, and also without
employment, could n buy corn even at the most re•
dated rates? ‘V..uld they tell bim how those unfor-
tunate inlividuais could be benefited by the present
measures ? Let them answer this question plainly, and
not talk to him about such solemn nonsense as moral
effect.—(Hear, hear!) Another great objection which
he had to this plan was the time at which it was proposed, and
the mode in which it was to operate as relief. " Prohitas laudatur
et alget" was an observation of some antiquity, but one which had
been completely verified in the present instance. He gave credit
to Ministers for the alterations which they had made in it—but
they were no: such as to reconcile him to it ; and he should there-
fore conclude by moving, that this be read a second time this
day six months. ,
Sir WATK IN WYNN thought it advisable to let the Itat he
read a second time, and object to the details in the Committee. lie
need not say that he kad some interest at stake on this question;
but his duty to the public was greater, and, therefore, he did not
object to the proposed measure.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER felt
great satisfaction in observing, that athough many'
Gentlemen bad, in the course of the present discussions,
expressed themselves with warmth, yet no undue eager-
ness cr vio!ence had been manifested on the subject.—
The Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Bankes) had enumerated
some in,uperablis objections, although he allowed that
the measure had been well modified. The first objection;
' of the Honourable Member was, that the conduct of
Government was inconsistent; but that was rather an
argument against Government—it was an argumentans
ad honsinela ; but although the conduct of Government
were inconsistent, yet the measure Might be a good one.
He would, nevertheless, deny the alleged inconsistency
of Ministers. The discussion of so important a question,'
in the last Session of Parliament, could not lead to a
sal isfactory result: the temper in which it had been ta-
ken up was often manifested ; many petitions on the Corn
Laws had been presented on both sides of the question,
which had frequently led to bye battles in an angry spirit.
But some had said it would be better if his Majesty's
Ministers had done nothing ; that they ought to take
the responsibility on themselves, and use what he was
astonished t.) hear some Hon. Gentlemen call the Royal

IXPORTA VON Ol MACH I N EAT.
Mr. HUME moved for leave to bring in a Bill to allow of the
Exportation of Machinery. The lion. Gentleman thought that
in the present state of manufacturing distress, the objects of his
proposed Bill were deserving peculiar attention. Ile then went
into a detail 9f the intentions of his proposed Bill, which he hoped
would meet with the concurrence of the President of the Board
of Trade, and that that Right Hon. Gentleman would give it his
concurrence and support. A most prominent feature (at the present
time) of the proposed measure wasio place the produce • of British
artisans upon a par with their fellow labourers abroad.
Mr HUSKISSON, though he did not oppose leave being given,
suggested that the present was a time every way unfit for touching
upon the subject. It would certainly be attended with better effects
if the Hon. Gentleman withdrew the motion for the present.
Mr. BIRCH said he should oppose the measure—it was a most
imprudent one, and called for particular and minute investigation.
Mr. Secretary PEEL agreed in the necessity of postponing the
measure.
Mr. HUME seeing the disposition Odic House towards his Bill
upon the present occasion' begged leave to withdraw his matins],
though should he have the honour of a seat in Parliament in the
next Sessions, he would bring the subject forward at its very onset.
—Motion withdrawn.

CORN IMPORTATION BILL.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the second
reading of this Bill.
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE could not agree in the principle that a
measure, though good, ought to be postponed in deference to the
feelings of any class of the people—but U the principle were good,
it would favour his opposition to the present Bill, as this Bill gave
dissatisfaction to both corn dealers and the growers of corn. There
was a great quantity of corn in the country, and this abundance
rendered the measure unnecessary. He could not agree in leaving
un Ministers the responsibility of fixing the import prices.
Sir W. VirYN N would divide with Ministers in support of the
Bill. The measure would do credit to the House, and would
prove that they felt for the sufferings of the manufacturing people.
The of - in bond was but This tea-

prerogative. That power of suspending the law was
viewed by him with nefh snore dread. But suppose
that events similar to those which took place in the
year 1816 were now to take place—the corn rose to a
high price, and that Government used the power al-
luded to—would not their conduct be arraigned in
cnncequence ? What would Hon. Gentlemen say ?
Would they not complain that Ministers had called
them together to afford them indemnity, and to discuss
the whole question of the Corn Laws, after they had
been found inadequate to meet every emergency ? His
Hon. Friend said then, that he wished Ministers to shew
how the measure cculd be productive of any good.
Ministers had never brought forward this measure as a
panacea ; they never said that the distress arose out of
the Corn Laws ; in fact, it could no more arise from the
Corn Laws than from a common road Bill; but at the
same time, while there were thousands living on a
scanty subsistence, and many more who had not even
this slight resource, but were supported by the Poor

Laws, was there any one who would say that the price
of corn was of no intere.t, or that this measure might
not avert a great deal of calamity and distress? (Hear).
No oyie would say that it was Indifferent whether wheat
was at 80s. or 90s. or at a moderate price, such as was
sure to follow the present measure. The people were
driven to excess by misery, but he ventured to
assert that there was no bad feeling about them; and
he thought it would be the extremity of fear, a proof of
cowardice in Ministers, if they abstained from adopting
some measures to mitigate the sufferings of the people,
nor did it appear to him that Ministers had manifested
any undue apprehensions. The military force employed
had been first adequate to give confidence to the pos-
sessors of property, and to cause the quick subsidence
of tumult and disorder. His Hon. Friend had talked
sneeringly of the phrase " moral effect." He (the
Chancellor of the Exchequer) did not know who had
made use of that expression; but at the same time be
could not see why it was ridiculous to endeavour to

relieve the distresses of the manufacturing poor, to
soften their feelings, and to prevent others from
working their minds into a state of exasperation,
so as to bring about dangerous political combina-
tions. If in this endeavour he could convince the
people, through the medium of their feelings, that
Government did not disregard their happiness and
comfort, he would not shrink from adopting the expres-
sion, nor would he deny the influence, of " moral effect."
After an attentive consideration of the Corn Laws,
though obliged to lament the necessity of them, yet he
Admitted their nece.sity. But there would be found

Mr. NUMB presented a Petition from Colonel Bradley, tom-
plaiaing.of the arbitrary manner in which he had been deprived of
his commission, as lAeut.-Colonel of the 2d West India Regiment,
then in the Honduras. The Petition *rated, that Colonel Arthur,
who was an Oificer ea the half-pay of the 7th West India Regi-
ment. and Civil Superintendaat of the Honduras, bad, without
*hewing him any authority to that effect, attempted to aesunme a
military superiority over him ; for his resistance to which, be had
been arrested for ten months, and finally, in consequence of misre-
presentations made to the authorities at home by Colonel Arthur,
been deprived of his rank. and dismissed his Majesty's service,
without inquiry or court-martial. After the letter of dismissal bad
attired at the Honduras, the Petitioner had recourse to a coon of
Jaw is order to obtain redress, and had obtained 1001. damages
against Colonel Arthur for the illegal arrest; but he was sent out
of the country before he could recover them. The Hon. Member
earnestly suptorted the Petition, which he thought presented a case
of uncommon hardship. It was one of those Instances in which
that arbitrary power left at the discretion of the Crown to be exer-
cised with respect to naval and military regulations bad, be con-
ceived, been applied under a very erroneous Impression. Colonel
Arthur being on half-pay could not justly assume the right of com-
mand over the Petitioner, an Officer on full-pay, and at the bead
of a Regiment, and it was the rightful resistance of the latter fo
such assumption, that had drawn on him the consequences, from
which he IIOW sought redress front the House. Colonel Arthur
stated, to be sure, that he had received a Commission from General
Fuller, to entille him to that power; but the Petitioner said, that
this Commission was not received at the time alluded to, and was
got up as a subsequent plea to screen Colonel Arthur (ron, the eon-
sequescos of investigation. The Petitioner therefore prayed, that
the premises of his case might be taken into consideration, in order
to the affording him adequate compensation.
Mr. BUTTK lt WO Will viewed the proceedings in a light dif-
ferent from that in which the Hon. Member saw them. Upon the
trial the Jury gave aou t. damages, because Col. Bradley appeared
to have been detained longer in confinement than be should. This
was a mere error of judgment on the pan of Colonel Arthur.
The Arl'Olt N EY-GENERA L saiJ, that a Petition accusing
a man of a forgery ought not to be received by that House. The
use was simply this—Colonel Arthur, in the year 14314, had a
Commission from General Fuller to act as commandant at the
Honduras. He had continued in that office until 111t7, when CoL
Bradley refused to acknowledge hint as such. On this Colonel
Arthur sent Colonel Krut well to him to request that he would at-
tend a meeting, at which the matter 'should he decided. This Cob
• Bradley declined to do, saying that be had rather be put under
turret than have any thing to do with Col. Arthur. this left the

1113,000 quarters.

. quantity corn .
deredthe measure necessary.
Colonel WOOD was sorry that the Hon. Member
for Somerset intended to divide the House on the ques-
tion ; those repeated divisions would. do harm to the
country, both iii the House and out of it. He (Colonel
Wood) would certainly vote for the second reading of
the Bill. As to tke Right Honourable the Foreign
Secretary's assertion, that he would produce many of
the country Gentlemen as his compurgators—(a laugh)
he (Col. Wood) could say that he him.ell was not one
of them. He had not altered his mind on the Corn
Laws. He approved the principle of them as the best
for all interests, but would modify it by proposing,wben
the Bill should go into Committee, a protecting duty
of 655. when the price of corn should rise, the fixed
duty would be repealed, for Mr. Jacob's report chewed that there
were not 500,000 quarters of corn to be got on the Continent;
neither a flied duty, nor any reduced scale of pikes would answer;
nothing, in fact, but the Corn Laws. modified by the introduction
of protecting duties. He would propose a protecting duty in the
Committee.

by a reference to the Reports of the Committees of
1821 and 1822, on the Corn Laws, several hints and
recommendations, evidently contemplating a final and
total revision of the whole system of Corn-Laws. The
landed interest could not take a course more likely to
prejudice the question than that which they had shown •' yet be
was sure that there were many there who would take the passible
advice of his Hon. Friend, the Member for Brecon, who tbss
be had a deep interest In the question, declared that he woold'vote
for the second reading, and 'eke an opportunity afterwards of
considering the modifications of which it was susceptible. He hoped
tist the House would follow. the example of his Hun. Friend and
Ise the Hon. Baronet (Sir Watkin Wyun) who sat behind him.
Ile hoped they would um refuse to place in the hands of Ministers
what might be the means of doing much good, and which co uld
net be productive of say imaginable mischief.
Lord CLIFTON feared the measure would only serve to unction
the vulgar opinion that the distresses originated in themselves. He
knew the difficult situation of Ministers. They had a choice of
evils. On these grounds he would vote for the measure.
Mr. BEN KIT was surprised that when the distresses of the pee-
-were so often adverted to, no attempt was made to explain their
causes; but he considered that they might all be referred to the
tampering with the currency. The relief which was intended to be

to recover Ekes the Treasury the dedeepaid en bonded ma. tip
the production el the necessary certidates. (Hear, hear).
Sir g. YMATCH BU LL said, he did net new 'with to enter into
any lengthened discusdon on this subject, althongb, after all be had
heard, his objections to the proposed measure remained onalterel
His principal view, however, in riaing, Was, to state his coincidence
with the suggestion of his lion. Friend. and be hoped his Majesty's
Ministers would net be inattentive to it.
Lord MILTON said, the very proposition of this
measure was-a distinct proclamation by Government
that the Corn Laws were in their nature too irnp,,litio
to be permitted to be permanent—that they were only
fitted for fair weather, and that, as soon as the storm
arose, it was necessary to the safel v .)1 the vessel of the
state that they should be reconsidered. He was ,%nt
absurd enough to suppose that the Corn Laws were the
sole cause of the existing distress in the manufacturing
hesitation

districts, but be had no . _. in saying that in one
respect they had a great effect in producing it, and
that was in the interruption which they gave to the
commercial interests of our manufacturers with foreign
countries. Hon. Gentlemen might depend upon it, that
the Corn Laws would be settled in one way or another
before long: in his opinion they only could be settled
in one way, and that was upon the principles of free
trade. With respect to the measure more immediately
heft), e the House, he did not think that it would be of
any effect, except in preventing any aggravation of the
existing dastress--( Hea►, hear, hear). Minis ers en r.t,
however, give him leave to 'say, that the time
at which they had proposed this meirsur-, had
led, in certain quarters, to the opinion that they had
other views than those which they professed in propo.ing
it. He Was bound in justice to say that he did not en-
tertain such an opinion; be gave M nisters credit for
the views which they profes.e.l to entertain; and hoped
that :hey did not intend io let the present measnres be
merely temporary. He co .tetidea that in wha•ever view
this question was taken, it resolved itself at la•t into the
amount of the burdens which the different classes of the
community bore. Now he maintained that the landed
gentlemen formed that class of the community which
had the least cause to complain of the burdens imposed
upon them. (Hear, and cries of No.")• He tilt'
" Yes," for who were the chief cause, who the great in-
stigators, who the main supporters of the late wa-,
who had imposed such a weight of taxation on the
nation, but the country Gentlemen? (Cries of "hear,"
from various quarters of the House, which was re-echoed
back for some time, accompanied with cri s of i• No,
no.") He should not be put down by cries of " No,
no." He said it was " Ay, ay," and he defied and chal-
lenged the other side to prove that he was incorrect—
(Cheers.) The country Gentlemen were the causes, the
instigators, and the promoters of the late war—(Hear.)
He did not say that in so doing they had acted w•ongly
—he knew that members of his own family had sup-
ported it as strongly as any person, (hear); but he re-
peated that it was the country Gentlemen, who had
pledged themselves to expend life and fortune in support
of that war, (Hear' Now what was the ease?—

•When the fortune became really affected,—he said
nothing of the life,—by the diminution of two shillings
or even one shilling in the rent of the acre, they decl tred
that they had already paid for that war its the direct
'shape of taxes, and ought not to suffer any further
'diminution of their income. Now he cold chew that
the corn laws, which were the creature of the war,
added 10,. a quarter to the price of every quarter of
wheat grown in this country ; and at the consumption of
the country amounted to 14,000,000 or 15,030,000
annually, they inflicted a taxation of 7,000,0001. an-
nually •n the people of England, for the benefit of the
landowners and of the landowners alone—(Hear, bear
Let the landowners controvert that position if they could; and when
they could, thee, but not till then, they might say that they had ex.
peeded their fortunes in support of the war. (Hear.) The plain
fact was, and it was Impossible to disguise it, that they bad raised
their fortunes instead of having spent them in the war, and they now
endeavoured, by the operation of the Corn Laws, to keep up the
high rents which they bad contrived to get from their tenants during
that period. (Hear, bear.) In bpite of all the opposition he might
would

sneer- with in ;saki sech-a declaimtlon, he contend that the
effect oldie Corn Laws was to infikt a heavy taxation on the peo-
ple of England. (Hear.) It was not, however, in that view of the
question that be considered the Corn Laws most impolitic. Their
great impolky was in their acting as a non-intercourse bill with the _
country. He would gladly support any measure that was calculated
to relax the fetters which this Bill imposed upon the country ; and
conceiving that the present measure would have that effect, be
gladly and willingly gave it his support. (Cheers.)
Mr. Secretary PEEL could not but express his regret
lon hearing the observations which had fallen from the
Noble Lord who had just sat down. The introduction
of inflammatory topics into a discussion, which had
hitherto been conducted with great good temper, was
I a course which he seriously deprecated. While the
House was occupied in investigating the best mode of
affording relief to the distresses which were admitted
to exist, he could not but look upon a declariition of
sentiments, calculated to excite recrimination as badly
suited—such was the ill-timed speech of the Noble
Lord—(Cries of No, no, front the Opposition, and of
I Hear ' - The Gentlemen entertain

, heir). _ _ opposite might _
their opinions, but they would allow him to express
his. He thought upon what he had sail, and he was
convicted of it, when he heard the Noble Lord
making a charge against the country Gentlemen of
having supported the country in times of great difficulty
Lord MILTON I made that no charge against
them.']-,—Was not the conduct of the country Gentle-
men praiseworthy in having supported England in the
arlent struggle in which she had been engaged, and to
which they could now look with conscious pride, while
with satisfaction they regarded the height of glory they
Noble

had acquired? He was bound to remind the
Lord, that the agriculturists had, four or five years since,
suffered the greatest disttess ; and that they had not
until within that period recovered the effects of the
change which had occurred in 1814. He now came
to the general questions, to the alteration of which, as
they had been proposed, the House was bound to give
its serious attention. Two propositions of amendment
had been submitted, one by the Honourable Member for
Brecon, and another by the Hon. Member for Wotton
Basset. The former was to the effect, that the power
of importation ought not to be left in the hands of his
M.jesty s Ministers, unless when the price of corn
should be at sixty-five shillings per quarter. To this
proposition the only addition whichcould be requiredwas
the specifying the amount of the duty at which the im-
portation ought then to take place. If the Hon. Member
would state the duty, hii amendment would then he
'complete, and could be entertained ; otherwise, not; for
the House could not investigate half-formed
The Hon. Member bad to decide upon the

Mr. BANKES said that the measure, as it now stood, . -
given by the Bill before the. House to the manufacturers, would tions.
was differe..t from that which had been first introduced. amount of the duty. Supposing the importation price
be effected
b without paper money. The cheapness of corn was no
The alterations made were certainly improvemerits ; uwanotoputhieitTswieliseii they
thathabend
ewnoouwldargstesurestssoinpluprcshivaaneseil..
sup. to be 65, and the duty specified also—what would be
for had the tirbt proposition been carried to open the lUsur.the real state of the case? The Corn Laws would be
ports at a duty of 125. there was no doubt, whatever port to the propoddou of the 11
the Bill to be read a second time. Any objecti tot
the
detail prejudged, and, instead of the temporary measure now
Hon. Gentlemen might say to the contrary, that that required by his Majesty's Ministers, a permanent de-
lls beilmoscbmore conveniently urged in the Committee. (Hear)•
vision would be made prematurely. 'To the first amend-
would continue to be the duty, whene%er the question G". Mr. siiierAisiNuLEY said, he principally rose with a view
might be discussed hereafter. Bat, notwithstansli .g to state, that when :arta a Committee, be intended moving orient the House, he was certain, could not give its sp-
thc alterations that had been made, he still thought ,a cialaN elillmrcrinli Los utum.* fur renewing thy distressed, prubation. The second amendmeht was,- to alb* the