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

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FmnAy

The Farnham Rectory bill was the first question which
was discussed in the Commons. After a long and somewhat
angry conversation it was ultimately decided by the casting
vote of the Speaker that the final debate should be adjourned
till Monday.
Sir J. 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 superintendants 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 JOHNSON 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
froni a ministry which was itself the child and champion of
sedition ? . .

LOW 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 popnlar 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 recommended it to Mr. Fielden to withdraw
his motion, and Mr. M. PHILIPS 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
fa ctoryact.

HUMS 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, out 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.
!rating 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 intelli4
genre. There might be a fair doubt whether the factory

officers were the fittest instruments for obtaininiit ; but the
selection of the parties was a mere question of expediency.
He did not believe that either the present or any former
government had 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 he had yet to learn that a man,
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 that—but he employed agents, and
those agents were the immediate spies.
Mr. BROTHERTON regretted the imputations advanced by
Mr. Fielden.
Mr. MUNTZ 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. EWART 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. ArrwooD objected. The Government continuing
to press the third reading, Mr. W. ArrwooD 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 Wast 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.only 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 fur a considerable time under a burning sun. On
his arrival at Apsley House he 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 Apaley-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.—Standard 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 disease similar to those which
on' ormer 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 chitfly to the absence
of that care which his Grace's age and constitution require.
On Wednesday afternoon, a little after five o'clock, the noble
Duke returned home, after walking for a considerable time
under the influence of a hot sun. On attempting to write a
note, he found himself unfitted 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 progressively 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.

TILE 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