The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-07-21 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.-FRIDAY

Lord ABERDEEN, in presenting a petition from the holders
of Spanish indemnity bonds, observed, that although mini-
sters had promised some time since to use every exertion in
procuring a settlement of the claims made by the petitioners,
'nothing had yet been done for their relief. The whole sum
for which the bonds were granted amounted only to £300,000,
but the interest due upon them had ceased to be paid since
1836, and the holders had of course suffered considerable in-
convenience. An attempt had been, indeed, made last year
to effect an arrangement, but the bills which were issued for
the purpose had, when they became due, been protested. As
the claims of the petitioners rested on a treaty entered into
specificaly for the purpose of securing. payment,tbejr they
the petitioners.

Lord MELBOURNE hoped that the time would soon arrive
when the claims in question would be liquidated, but he
thought that the ernimassed circumstances of the Spanish
government furnished a sufficient reason for the delay which
had taken place, without any blame being attached to her
Majesty's ministers. The sum was indeed a small one, but
the resources of the country were in the same proportion. He
believed that the government of Spain would act fairly in
all their engagements, and that the arrears would he paid up
with as little delay as possible.
Lord WICKLOW moved for a copy of the instructions given
to Sir G. Arthur, on assuming the government of Upper
Canada, but Lord Melbourne declining to produce it, the
motion was withdrawn.

The LORD CHANCELLOR then moved the second reading
of the Scotch law of evidence bill, which would abolish the
rule at present observed in Scotland, by which witnesses
within a certain degree of consanguinity with the parties
concerned were excluded from giving evidence. Such a rule
must obviously tend to the frustration of justice, and he could
not anticipate any opposition to so rational a measure.
Lord HADDINGTON, however, thought that the bill should
meet with more attentive consideration than it could receive
in the present session, and moved accordingly that it should
be read a second time that day six months.

A short conversation afterwards took place, but when the
gallery had been cleared for a division, the amendment was
withdrawn.

The sale of beer bill was-then read a second time, and re-
ferred to a select committee ; and the report on the settled
estates drainage bill having been brought up, their lordships
adjourned.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY.

The Farnham Rectory bill Nvas ihe firstque;iion which
was discussed in the Commons. After a long and somewhat
angry conversation it was ultimately decided by the easting
vote of the Speaker that the final debate should be adjourned
till Monday.

SirJ. GRAHAM gave notice of a motion for Thursday next
on the report on the railways bill.

Sir ROBERT PEEL asked a question respecting newspaper
stamps, but did not explain his object in his usual perspi-
cuous manner.

A new writ was moved for West Surrey. '
On the order of the day for going into committee of sup-
ply, Mr. FIELDEN moved for a committee to inquire how
far the inspectors and superintendents of factories had been
employed in other than their appropriate business, and par-
ticularly in the business of Government spies. From the
evidence given before the committee on mills and factories,
and particularly from a letter addressed by the London su-
perintendent to an inspector in Scotland,- Mr. Fielden de-
duced a complaint, that these officers had been unduly and
unconstitutionally employed, by the authority of the home
department, for the purpose of watching the meetings of the
working people, and reporting upon them to Government.
The greater part, however, of his speech was quite inaudible.
General JOHNSOIN seconded the motion, expressing a
strong disapproval of the spy system.
Mr. Fox MAULE could not imagine how the letter, which
was strictly confidential, had come into Mr. Fielden's pos-
session ; it could scarce have come to him fairly ; and if not,
the house would be very slow to sanction the use of it. As
representing the home department, he had no difficulty in
stating that the inspectors had directions from government
to add to their factory returns some reports upon the condi-
tion of the labouring people, and upon the prospects of the
harvest, subjects which could not, and ought not, to be in-
different to any ministers ; but he could not conceive how
such instructions could be misconstrued into an employment
of the inspectors as spies. Upon Mr. Fielden's principle.
public functionaries should learn nothing from their subor-
dinates ; and thus the best government would be that which
should be the least informed. Much responsibility would
attach to Mr. Fielden, if his misrepresentations should lead
to the ill treatment of any of the persons thus held up by
him to public odium as spies. The real friend of the work-
ing classes was not the man who inflamed them, who taught
them to regard the government as their oppressors, and who
yet left them unprotected and unemployed in the hour of
excitement and distress. With these feelings he must op-
pose this motion for a committee.
Mr. DISRAELI observed, that the Under-Secretary of
State had distinctly confessed the inspectors to be employed
on duties other than those devolved upon them by parlia-
ment. He ridiculed the phrase confidential," as applied
to a letter like that which had now been read. It might be
true that spies were employed in troubled times by every
government, but the present was the only administration
which had disguised such acts under the hypocritical and
pharisaical pretext of solicitude for the harvest. The Under-
Secretary had lectured those who inflamed the people, hav-
ing first, however, looked behind him to make sure that Mr.
O Connell was not in his place. Was not this too much
from a ministry which was itself the child and champion of
sedition ?

Lord ASHLEY regretted this motion, Which he thought
was not likely to serve the people labouring in the factories.
They would be great sufferers if a popular cry were raised
against the inspectors employed to protect them ; nor would
it be a decorous proceeding to examine ,subordinate officers
before a committee for the purpose of getting from them a
betrayal of their principals. He hoped Mr. Fielden would
not press the subject further. '
Mr. HINDLEY reeornmended it to Mr. Fielden to withdraw
his motion, and Mr. M. Pumps concurred in that recom-
mendation. He acquitted the government of all blame, and
was convinced that the tendency of such imputations as Mr.
Fielden had advanced must impair the usefulness of the
factory act.
Mr. H uhtz thought that, after the suspicion thrown upon
the inspectors by Mr. Fielden, the subject should be pursued
somewhat further. The letter had surprised him. it directed
an officer to report, not upon factories, but upon certain
questions of a political character, and the subject could not
be suffered to remain where it was. Had this indeed been a
solitary letter, the affair might be of little moment, but if it
was a circular, as it appeared to be, it called for further

inquiry.
Sir ROBERT PEEL referred to his own official experience,
and to the recent events at Newport and elsewhere, as illus-
trating the advantage to a government of accurate and timely
information. He should not hesitate, were he again in
office, to take all legitimate means for procuring such intelli-
gence. There might be a fair doubt whether the factory

officers were the fittest instruments for obtainindit ; but the
selection of the parties was a mere question of expediency.
He did not believe that either the present or any former
governmenrhad ever employed spies for the odious purpose
of leading the people into crime, with the view of betraying
them ; and he hoped that those who were now the ministerial
party, if they should again be in opposition, would remember
what he now said, and give credit to those who might then
be in office for an intention to protect the public peace by
legitimate means.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL observed. that the disturbers of the
peace always gave the name of spy to any man who furnished
information against them, however openly and fairly. These
inspectors being officers of government, could never be per-
sons to whom the seditious were likely to make communica-
tions confidentially, and would not therefore properly deserve
the name of spies. But in 1817 there were men, not osten-
sibly, but secretly paid by the government, who did not per-
haps confine themselves to report what they saw and heard,
but went so far as to instigate the people to insurrection for
the very purpose of betraying them. Those were what might
be justly called political spies—a description of instruments
to be employed only in cases of extreme necessity. He ab-
solved the ministers of 1817 from any base intention, but not
from some imprudence.
Mr. WAKLEY said that be had yet to learn that a map,
paid with public money to do one duty, could properly be
employed in another. The inspector perhaps did not attempt
to attend suspicious meetings himself—his person probably
was too well known for thg—but he employed agents, and
those agents were the immediate spies.
Mr. BROTHEILTON regretted the imputations advanced by
Mr. Fielden.
Mr. Muyrz solicited Mr. Fielden to withdraw his motion.
These were not spies. The government ought to have infor-
mation, and there had been no blame to them in this affair.
Mr. BWAnT lamented that the inspectors should have
been employed on a duty tending to debase their characters,
and impair the confidence which ought to subsist between
them and the people.
Mr. SLANEY vindicated the employment of inspectors,
whom he considered as more suitable agents for the acquisi-
tion of intelligence than the magistrates, clergy, or any other
class he was aware of. •

Mr. FIELDEN declined to withdraw his motion, which was
then negatived on a division.
Lord J. RUSSELL next proposed the third reading of the
Poor Law Commission Bill, but, as it was now past midnight,
Mr. W. ATTWOOD objected. The Government continuing
to press the third reading, Mr. W. ATTWOOD moved an ad-
journment. After some conversation the house divided, and
negatived that motion. Mr. FIELDEN forthwith renewed
the objection against then proceeding with the bill, and ano-
ther conversation arose, which terminated in the postpone-
ment of the third reading to a future day.

The House of Commons met at 12 o'clock on Saturday
last, there being then a few more members. present than is
sufficient to form a house. 'The number, however, rapidly
declined, and in the course of an hour scarcely 30 remained.

On the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, the oyster
fisheries (Scotland) bill, was read a second time, the Gaol
of Newgate (Dublin) bill and the Caledonian Canal bill were
then read a third time, and the Irish insolvent debtors' bill
navin afterwa.ds passed through committee, the Chancellor
of the Exchequer moved a resolution to the effect that all
sugar manufactured in this country should be subject to the
same duty as is levied upon that made from beetroot. The
resolution was agreed to, and the \Vast Indian relief bill
having been read a third time, that relating to court-houses
in Ireland went through committee.

After a short conversation on the subject of the Caledonian
canal bill, which had been just passed, the CHANCELLOR of
the EXCHEQUER obtained leaVe to bring in a bill-for regula-
ting the postage, a power which at present rested wily with
the treasury. The bill was read afterwards a first time, as
were also two others introduced by Lord Palmerston, the
one on the slaue trade treaties, and the other on the linen
manufacture in Ireland.
The house then adjourned.

INDISPOSITION OF THE DUKE OF

WELLINGTON

Our readers will learn with deep regret, that the Duke of
Wellington has had another attack of illness, similar in cha-
racter to those which have already occasioned so much alarm
and anxiety respecting him, and arising, we are assured, as
on former occasions, from over fatigue, and an inattention
to those earnest injunctions which his medical advisers have
so frequently imposed upon him. It appears that on Wed-
nesday afternoon the noble Duke returned home after walk-
ing about for a considerable time under a burning sun. On
his arrival at Apsley House lie found himself so unwell that
he was unable to write a note which he was desirous of
despatching at the moment; and, feeling that symptoms of
his last alarming indisposition were coming on, he was in-
duced to send for Dr. Hume, who, with Sir Henry Halford
and Sir Astley Cooper, has been in close attendance on him
ever since, though from the first they were of opinion that
there was no danger. Fortunately, the attack was much
slighter than on former occasions, and yielded immediately
to medical skill ; so much so, indeed, that after passing a fa-
vourable night, the Duke was sufficiently well yesterday to
leave his bed, and would have attended the House of Lords
on the occasion of the introduction of the Regency Bill, had
not his physicians imperatively forbidden his incurring such
a risk. '

The answer to inquiries at Apsley-house this (Friday)
morning was, that his: grace bad nearly recovered his usual
health, and was so much better, that it was expected he:would
be able to attend the House of Lords this (Friday) evening.
His grace's physicians say, that their illustrious patient only
requires a few days of rest and quiet to restore him to his usual
health.—Siandard of Friday.

We knew that the Duke of Wellington had been indisposed
on Wednesday evening, but knowing the attack to be slight,
and not willing to alarm our readers, we did not allude to the
fact : now, as it is published in every paper, we make known
this gratifying addition, that his grace was last night entirely
recovered.—Times of Saturday.

We regret to state that the Duke of Wellington experien-
ced on Wednesday an attack of disOase similar to those which
oti former occasions have excited the deepest anxiety of the
British people. It is satisfactory to know that the present
is slighter than the former attacks experienced by his Grace,
though, like these, it is to be ascribed chid-1y to the absence
of
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threequire.
noble
....yam rumen untittea for the task, and the symp-
toms of his former indisposition became so apparent that it
was thought necessary to send for Dr. Hume, who, in con-
junction with Sir H. Halford and Sir Astley Cooper: has
since that time paid unremitted attention to his Grace. Dr.
Hume slept at Apsley House on Wednesday night ; but yes-
terday the illustrious Duke, after passing a tranquil night,
was so much better that he was desirous of rising from his
bed, in order to attend the House of Lords on the occasion
of the introduction of the regency bill. This, however, his
Grace's physicians absolutely prohibited. The reply to our
inquiries at Apsley House, at twelve o'clock last night, was
that his Grace's health was piogressively and rapidly im-
proving. The Marquis of Douro spent the greater part of
yesterday at Apsley House, but did not remain there during
last night. We need scarcely add that yesterday the inqui-
ries as to the state of the illustrious Duke were numerous and
anxious.—Morning Post of Saturday.

On Saturday evening, on enquiry at. Apsley-house, Picca-
dilly, as to the state of the Duke of Wellington's health, the
answer was, that his grace continued better. The answer in
the morning to the numerous applications of the nobility and
gentry was, that " his grace passed a good night, and is much
better this morning."---Times of yesterday.

THE PRINCESS AUGUSTA.—On inquiry at Clarence-house,
St. James's, on Saturday evening, we were informed that her
royal highness was no better. The bulletin issued in the morn-
ing stated, that " her royal highness has not,passed a good
night, and remains much the same." In the course of the
day the inquiries made by the nobility, &c, at Clarence-
house were most numerous, and several members of the royal
family visited her royal highness in the afternoon.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, LONDON

WEDNESDAY