The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-02-16 00:00:00

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Emperiat Varliamtnt.

HOUSE OF LORDS—THURSDAY.
NEW BOROUGH MAGISTRATES.
Lord WHAIINCLIFFE gave notice that on Monday next he
should move for a copy of the names of the gentlemen recom-
mended to the Secretary of State to be appointed magistrates,
on the part of the respective town councils of the kingdom. -
NATIONAL EDUCATION (IRELAND.)
The EA lit, of RODEN asked ministers whether they were now
prepared to supply him with the information for which he had
applied last session with respect to the application of the sums
voted at the recommendation of the commissioners on education
in Ireland. The return he wanted to see was one which would
have shown the number of children attending the national
schools in Ireland, distinguishing the religion of each. This
was, he conceived, a most valuable return, which would support
him greatly in his belief, that the system of religious education
adopted never could be satisfactory to the feelings or the princi-
ples of the protestant population of that country.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE replied, in substance, that the
return could not be produced, because the government was not
possessed of it, the commissioners not having deemed it neces-
sary or expedient to prepare any such document. His Lord-
ship justified the opinion of the commissioners, upon the
ground that such a return could only be obtained through an in-
quisitorial investigation respecting religion. The wish was to
allay feelings of animosity, and to merge all difficulties and dif-
ferences that stood in the way of promoting education gene-
rally in Ireland.
The Bishop of EXETER contended that the documents were
absolutely necessary to enable the parliament to judge of the
soundness of the conclusions and the propriety of the recom-
mendations on which the government had resolved to act.
Lord PLUNKET entered at some length into the question, de-
fending the conduct of the government and the commissioners,
and vindicated the system as calculated to produce the most be-
neficial effects. '

After some further discussion, in which Lords Cloncurry anc
Melbourne took part, the discussion terminated with an ex•
pression of dissatisfaction on the part of the Earl of Roden at
the continued refusal of the government to afford the informa.
tion for which he had Asked.—Adjourn-ed.

FERREJRAY X6.18..6

that for that sum of money he contracted that a member should
obtain a seat. Distinctly that is the charge against him; and
whether he applied that personally for his individual advantage,
Or politically for means of public corruption, is equally discre-
ditable to him, and equally rests on him as a charge of indivi-
dual pecuniary advantage. I did not intend to say one wood
upon this subject. I declare on my honour, as a gentle:nan, I
had no intention until the learned gentleman provoked me to
do so, by saying that I denied by a cheer that I considered him
exempted from the allegation of Pecuniaryadvantage. I pro-
nounced uo sentence—l expressed no opinion ; but this 'I said,
that the hon. and learned gentleman was not justified; and still
more am I astonished that my right hon. friend opposite, by a
loud and vociferous cheer, should show that he considered this
a light and trivial imputation on the character of a member, or
on the character of this house, as a thing which was rather to •
be laughed away, and treated as a ridiculous charge, than a
matter demanding the most serious and deliberate investigation
of parliament, which had pronounced itself determined to do
away with corruption as it existed under the former system,
and, most of all, requiring investigation from those who_ had-
been foremost in denouncing that corruption; but I hope I mis-
understood the cheers of my right hon. friend opposite (no, no).
I heard hint most loudly cheering the assertion which fell from
the hon. and learned member for l3ublin, that this was a charge
so truly ridiculotis that it was to be treated with contempt—
that it was one which the house was taking up as a matter of
mock solemnity,- and that for that reason it was a matter of in-
difference on what day it should be brought forward. I think
that this can be no matter of mock solemnity. The house has
instituted so many proceedings in cases of corruptions in vari-
ous boroughs—in Liverpool, Ipswich Yarmouth,—nay, even
into alleged corruption in the case of Chatham—that it must be
a matter of deep and vital importance to the independence this
house, whether there is or is not a member in it who is capable.
of exercising that influence which can introduce to a county in
Ireland a man or whom he expresses the lowest and meanest
opinion—(cheers)-=a man who is utterly unknown to the con-
stituency of the county,—and that the member possessing, that
influence is prepared to receive for the exercise of that influ-
ence, for whatever purposes, the sum of 122000. If there be
anything in reform, if there be anything in a desire to support
the purity of election—if there be anything in a desire really
to maintain those principles to which I am and ever have been,
sincerely attached, the last charge that can be brought on this
occasion is that it is a measure of mock solemnity, and, on that
account, of its indifference to be brought forward
on this day or
that. I care not on what day it is brought forward. The hon.
and learned gentleman says he prefers Tuesday. Tuesday then
let it be. 1 know not why not to-day. The hon. and learned
member tells us he conceives it-to be a fitting case for inquiry
before a committee. The honourable member moves for a com-
mittee. He says, give us three days. It is not for me to say
how that time is to be employed (cheers). It is not for me to
say why a delay of three days is necessary or desirable. I free-
ly confess that I cannot enter into his feelings. Ido not un-
derstand them, and 1 never have participated in them ; hut this
I know, that if I sat in this house under such a charge as has
'been repeated over and over again, supported by documents—
the facts hardly denied, or at least much of the facts adMitted
upon both sides, and such an issue were pending as this, whe-
ther I had used my influence upon the receipt of money, cor-
ruptly to procure the election o, a member of thiS house,, I say
that twenty-four hours of the session would not have elapsed be-
fore I would have met the charge. Ido remember one occasion.
when the hon. and learned gentleman founo it convenient to
take five days of an adjourned debate (I shall never quarrel
with him fur taking as much time as he thinks necessary) to
answer some observations that fell from me. Ido not quarrel
with his taking time to make a defence against an accusation.
I say that in my case, rather than move for the postponement
of a single hour (had not a motion been made), I would my-
self have called on the house to express their judgment.—
(cheers.)
The discussion was not closed until Mr. O'CONNELL had made
another attempt to address the house, iu which however he was
called to order by Lord Howicx. Mr. HUME and Mr. SiiiEr.
also spoke. it was finally agreed that the business shotild bet
resumed on Tuesday, (this day.)

NW .
The ArronNEr-GENERAEL movedBILLS for leave to bring in the
following bills :—Bills to facilitate the enfranchisement of copy.
holders; bill to amend the law relating to lands held by copy of
court roll; bill for abolishing customary modes of descent, and
for the commutation of heriots; bill for the amendment of the
law of escheat and the law relating to terms of years to which
persons dying intestate and without kindred shall be entitled at
law or in equity; bill tot ascertaining the boundaries of Manors
and lands when such boundaries are confused or unkntSwn.
Leave given.

Captain PEcnnu, brought in a bill for the better protection
of fisheries on the roast of England and Wales.
Mr. O'CONNELL brought in a bill to amend the law of libel.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES.—BRITISH MUSEUM.
E Mr. STCOURT moved the appointment of a select committee
to inquire into the state of the British Museum.
Mr. EWART complained of the want of accommodation which
the reading public received at the public libraries in London,
and observed that at Paris the case was very different, for the
people at large had constant and daily access to five libraries,
which were open as well on Sunday as on other days. He de-
sired to see the same plan adopted here, and to have the Museum
library open on that day to all classes who were entitled or able
to avail themselves of that privilege.
Lord SANDON was of opinion that' the proposal for opening the
Museum library on Sunday was injudicious, and could never be
carried into operation. The great facility which was afforded
to the Parisian public of admission to the libraries had been re:
ferred to by the hon. member, but he must state one fact which
would at once show the result of such freedom—namely, that the
book-stalls of. Paris were covered with the works which hateibeen
abstracted from the public collections by those who were thus
indiscriminately admitted to them.
After a few observations from Mr. HswEs, the motion was
agreed to, and the committee appointed.
Several bills were brought in, pursuant to leave granted, and
read a first time.

JEWISH DI L [TIES.
- Mr. F. BA RING presented aDISA
petition from the mayor and cor-
poration of Portsmouth, praying for the removal of all disabili-
ties from the.jews.
Adjourned at nine o'clock.

HOUSE OF LOADS.--FaiDAy.
Earl BROWN LOW presented 'k petition from the agricultural
association of Boston complaining of agricultural distress, ankl
praying for relief.

• AFFAIRS OF SPAIN.
The Marquis of LONDONDER4Y,in a speech of considerable
length, after referring to the mitice of the Affairs df Spain in
the King's speech, reprobated ,the conduct of his Majesty's
' ministers towards that distraetid-conntry. Speaking of the
butcheries practised by the Carlist's and the Christinos parties,
and of the disgrace attached to our government for permitting
British subjects. to 'be connected with them, the noble marquis
said,—it was in vain to deny thatthe example of those repeated
butcheries was infectious; and he considered it a most unhappy
circumstance that .a number of oar unfortunate countrymen
were induced to proceed to Spain. The noble viscount has de-
clared that they would be protected by the convention, but that
undoubtedly was not the fact. He believed that many atrocities
had been committed by some of the men who were sent out from
the Isle of Dogs. If his information were incorrect, it could be
contradicted by his Majesty's government. A letter upon this
subject, written after the last battle, had been placed in 'his
hands. If he called the attention of their lordships to it, he did
so for the purpose of showing Europe and the world that his
Majesty's government, instead of carrying on war manfully and
boldly, did so in an imperfect and umntelligible manner—in a
manner degrading and disgustful to every Englishman. (Hear,
hear.) Don Carlos had spared the lives of several soldiers of
the British Legion, and how had his humanity been requited ?
The letter to which he referred would answer that question. It
was dated the 21st of February, and contained this passage :
" Last night, a number of General Evans's soldiers, returning
drunk from the battle, massacred 130 of Don Carlos's troops.
The English officers did their best to prevent this cowardly
massacre; the men would not listen to them, but barbarously
gave themselves up to the work of assassination." If, then, the
'officers could not restrain the men from adopting such a course,
what must the state of their discipline be? In another. place the
noble Secretary of State had dwelt on the superiority of the
Queen's forces, and had made an attack on the policy adopted
by Don Carlos, because he sheltered his troops in the mountains
of Navarre and Biscay. Tho noble secretary inferred from that
circumstance that the cause of Don Carlos was desperate.' Now,
this was a proof of no such thing- and, when he made the obser-
vation, the noble secretary could hardly have avoided recollect-
ing what was the conduct of the Duke of Wellington when, year
after year, he retreated, upon the principle of sound military
policy, upon the lines of Torres Vedras. (Hear.) Hii Ma-
jesty's government had expressed a hope, that the firmness,
prudence, and vigour of the Spanish government would soon
restore peace to Spain: He had ventured, however, to give
utterance to a different opinion—be bad given his reasons for
holding that opinion—and he now protested against that part of
his Majesty's speech which spoke of the firmness, prudence, and
vigour of the Spanish government as being likely to effect a
speedy termination of the civil war. The noble marquis con-
cluded by moving, "That there be laid before this house returns
of all warlike stores, clothing, provisions, arms, ammunition,
and artillery, likewise of all naval stores of every description,
furnished to Spain by the British government, stating the value
thereof, and what amount was paid, together with the names and
rank of all officers on half-pay at present serving in Spain."
Viscount MELBOURNE had no objection to the production of
the papers moved for. The assistance granted to Spain was to
be paid for, although under existing circumstances it was not
thought proper to press for the payment of the arms and ammu-
nition which had been granted. The remarks made upon that
part of his Majesty's speech, which had reference to the affairs
of Spain, by the noble marquis, should have been made when
-that speech was under the considelation 'of the house. He
(Lord M.) deplored the ferocious character of the war, and he
had remonstrated against those acts of cruelty in quarters where
he had influence. (Hear, hear.) Don Carlos, however, in
spite of all remonstrances, persevered in his decree. He had
not heard of the excesses which the noble marquis bad spoken
of as having been committed-by the British legion, but would
make inquiries into the subject. He could not say what might
take place in the violence and excitement of warfare, but from
what he had heard he believed those troops were entitled to
praise instead of censure. He admitted, in the
.most extensive
sense, the great importance of establishing peace in Spain, and,
above all, the importance of rendering her independent of any
and every foreign power, and he thought that that result was
likely to be produced by the conduct pursued by his Majesty's
ministers. His lordship concluding by saying that he should
offer no objection to the motion.
The Earl of ABERDEEN expressed his dissent from the coarse
pursued by government. He charged them with having carried
their interference beyond the limits prescribed by the treaty,
and declared his abhorrence of the murders in Spain.
The motion was agreed to.

R.
Lord DENMAN preseMntedBUCKINGHAM a petition from Newport, Isle of
Wight, praying that a compensation might be granted to Mr.
Buckingham for his losses in India.

L BILL.
The LORD CHANCELLORECCLESIASTICA broughtCOURTS
in a bill for the consolida-
tion of ecclesiastical courts. Read a first time, and ordered to
be printed.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.--FRIDAY.
Several petitions were presented and returns moved for. The
former were laid on the table, and the latter ordered to be
produced.

THE POSTOFFIOE.
Mr. WALLACE sai:l, that seeing one of the commissioners
appointed to inquire into the Postoffice in his place, be wished
to put two questions to him. He wished, in the first instance,
to know whether anything had been done by that commission
in the way of altering and improving the system of manage-
ment and the constitution of the Postoffice; in the next place,
he wished to know whether or not there was any truth in the
reports in the newspapers, as to certain irregularities in the
Postoffice packet department, and whether it was likely that,
the commissioners would soon present a report on the subject
to the house ?
Mr. LABOUCHERE said, he hoped the answer he was able to
give to both those questions would be satisfactory. With re-:'
gard to the first question, as to whether the commissioners had
come to any resolminu or decision as to the propriety of re-
commending any chatie in the system of management of the
Postoffice, such as ti:e substitution of some other officer in the