The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-02-24 00:00:00

At length, however, 1

his eyes, glaring

upon the object of his fierce de-

, in a deliberate tone, pausing upon each

word, pointed out the right hon. gentleman as "personally
and individually responsible for the present state of the

country's aj

timent in a different

and shortly afterwards repeating the sen-

ct of the language, and of the mode and apparent

animus in which it was uttered, was electrical. The house—
both sides, for, in despite of the paltry attempt of Lord John

convinced that it was perfectly understood on both sides of
the house I—was in a moment hushed, until a low, buzzing
murmur broke the silence, as member turned to.member to
communicate, by words, or to look the sentiments of his

heart. The eyes, too, of the whole house were fixed upon

the changing features of the Premier, who, startled and
amazed at first, gazed at length with a look of dignified
scorn at his opponent ; and when Mr. Cobden resumed his

--
although a cry was raised by a few members for— Mr.
.ge Bankes, it was to the Premier that the house turned

reply to an attack so disg

;raceful

The sensation which followed the first few sentences of his

mpressive reply, it is impossible to describe. For the first

time within my experience of his character—and I have seen
him often confronted during his various platform and other
displays—the member for Stockport absolutely cowered be-
neath the storm of disgust which smote him on every side;
and seemed, inorefthan all, abashed at the cold looks which
met his appealing eye from his own side of the house. He
rose to explain, but the contempt which pursued him was
only deeper in intensity; and he sate down at length, sulky
and looking almost ferocious, whilst the fellings of the entire
house followed the progress of the impressive and able reply
of Sir Robert to the main question under discussion
F

3ut if disgust the most unqualified was the reward of his
• .. _

, nat disgust was in-
finitely increased in degree by the exposure of his dictatorial
threat by Mr. Roebuck. The league advocate was absolutely
overwhelmed by the cutting, though somewhat eccentric ad-

dress—in manner at least—of the honourable 'and learned
member. A shout of indignation from all parts of the house,
mingled with laughter at his attempted explanation, which
must ring for ever in his ears, rewarded him for this impu-
dent attempt to defend his dear friends, " the dissenting
ministers " ; and if it is possible for a man so insufferably
vain to form, at any portion of his turbulent career, a cor-
rect appreciation of his own character, I should say that he
must have formed it at that moment. It was painful even
to a political opponent to gaze upon the writhing agony of
his features ; and, for myself, I trust never again to be com-
pelled to look upon a spectacle so humiliating and utterly
revolting to the feelings.

HER MAJESTY'S ACCOUCHMENT.—It is rumoured that
the wet-nurse engaged to be in readiness to foster the forth-
coming scion of royalty will probably be selected from the
rural neighbourhood of Banbury. The person named as
likely to succeed to the appointment is Mrs. Willifer, a
farmer's (laughter, one of a large and numerous family.
Mrs. W. is a fine healthy young woman, the mother of two
children ; and having always lived in a retired country village
has been strongly recommended to Sir James Clark and her
Majesty's medical advisers by Dr. S. Wise, of Banbury, as
remarkably eligible for the office. The husband of Mrs. W.
is a small farmer, and son to the bailiffof R. Cartwright, Esq.
M.P., Aynhoe Park.—Evening Paper.
MORE MATRIMONY.—We shall astonish and amuse our
readers at the same time by apprising them of an alliance in
high life about to take place, the preliminaries of which have
been adjusted. Who does not know the ex-Private Secre-
tary to Ireland's ex-Public Secretary—the political Pplades,
Mr. Norman Macdonald, to the oratorical. Orestes, Lord
Viscount Morpeth ! Who does not know that he is a plea-
sant, intelligent, and as good a fellow as ever sailed between
Holyhead and nowth, and who will deny that he is entitled
to select a wife in every way worthy of him ? So much for
the bridegroom. Now then, for the bride—Who does not
know the, the, the Dowager Countess of Essex? And who
does not know that she was the charming Kitty Stephens,
first vocalist of her day—a lady of unsullied virtue, fascina-
ting manners, and of great personal attainments. Well Mr.
Norman Macdonald and the Countess Dowager of Essex are
forthwith to be united in the bonds of Wedlock. We wish
them, as all the world must wish them, every imaginable
happines"

THE ALLEGED MURDEROUS ATTACK ON THE REV. MR.
RENNETT.—The hopes entertained of the ultimate recovery
of this gentleman are somewhat shaken, his mind having,
within the last few days, exhibited symptoms of wavering.
The following are some further particulars connected with
the occurrence :—A crisis had evidently arisen in the family
affairs of the unfortunate gentleman. What had hitherto
exhausted itself through the safety valve of a brawl had begun
to concentrate itself for something more decided. On Friday
week, the day previous to the unhappy occurrence, Mrs.
Rennett and her son, " Young Clarke," as he was called by
the neighbours, applied to a neighbouring magistrate for pro.
tection against the alleged violent disposition of Mr. Rennett ;
but, as they declined to swear that their lives were in danger,
the justice could not take cognisance of the complaint. A
policeman, however, was directed to keep an eye upon the
household, lest mischief should arise. On Saturday, Miss
Clarke, the daughter, left the house, and proceeded to the
residence of a friend. One of the servants caused a writ to
be served upon her master in the course of the day for a
balance of wages, and she and her fellow-servant declined to
remain longer in the family. The horses had been parted
with some time before, and not a single domestic animal re-
mained. About five o'clock in the evening Mr. Rennett
called at the public-house, and had a conversation with Mr.
Gramshaw, the landlord. He asked for a biscuit, and then
for another, and was of course supplied. He complained of
being cold, and the landlord recommended him to take
a glass of brandy and water, to which he agreed. Mr.
Rennett then complained of having in vain asked for dinner
at home. He ordered something, he said, to be prepared for
him at two o'clock, as he intended to go to Gloucester on
business, but his wishes had met with no attention. He re-
mained talking over his domestic grievances till betwixt eight
and nine o'clock, when a respectable parishioner came in
and entered into conversation with Mr. Rennett. Some ad-
ditional refreshment was called in, and the party broke up,
all sober, shortly before eleven o'clock, and Mr. Rennett
must have reached his house by that hour. The landlord of
the public-house went instantly to bed, and was just about to
fall asleep when his daughter called to him in great alarm,
and asked him if he did not hear a fearful noise ? He said
that he did not, and, believing that the girl had been dream-
ing, he endeavoured to quiet her, and went again to bed.
Shortly afterwards, however, he was called up by a police-
man, who told him that Mr. Rennett had been shot. The
officer, accompanied by the landlord, instantly repaired to
the house, and, on the way, the policeman told him that, in
compliance with his instructions, he had kept watch upon
the house ; that the quarrel began the moment the reverend
gentleman entered the house; and that, on hearing a shot
fired, he had forced his way into the house. When they en-
tered the room they found Mr. Rennett lying on the floor,
but quite collected, and be pointed out the positions in which
his wife and son stood when the shot was fired. MediCal

assistance was forthwith procured from Tewkesbury,and
young Clarke was removed to the station-house. On Sunday
he was committed to the county gaol at Gloucester, and on
Monday his mother followed him. Her committal is said to
have arisen from something having come to light tending to
show that the assault had been premeditated by the mother
and son. The young man bears a wound on his head, which
he says was inflicted by his step-father with a life-preserver,
and that the blow was the cause of his firing. Mr. Rennett
g, on the other hand, that the blow was not given till he
• be had been wounded by the shot. Clarke was no
with the neighbours, his disposition being mis-
and, as to the mother, she seems to have been re-

chievou

garded with something like fear. Mr.,Rennett, on the Co-
ntrary, was beloved and pitied by all. He officiated every
Sunday at Norton Church, and discharged his duty in a most
acceptable manner. Neither his wife nor any of her family
were ever seen within the walls of tke church in which he
officiated.

Parliatinntarp lottittebinlst

HOUSE OF LORDS..--MONDAY.
The Duke of WELLINGTON moved that the thanks of the
house should be given to the Governor-General of India, and
to the officers and army engaged in the war with Affghanistan
The noble duk

ave a history of the transactions in Affghan-
istan, and concluded by observing that the strongest proof
that could be given of the energy of all the parties on whose
behalf he addressed their lordships was the fact, that the first
orders issued by the Governor-General of India, in order to
repair the disasters at Cabool, were on the 16th of March,
and all the objects sought to be attained were accomplished
by the 26th of September.
Lord AUCKLAND entered into a short defence of the course
be had pursued immediately after the disaster at Cabool. He
had three months previously sent in his resignation, and his
successor being already on the seas, he could only exert him-
self to place affairs in the best position he could, in order to
enable the new Governor-General to grapple with the diffi-
culties of his position. He cordially concurred in the vote
of thanks proposed by the noble duke.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that worded as the re-
solution of the noble duke was, he should not offer to it any
opposition. It was confined entirely to military services, and
as it did not pledge them to any approval of the political pro-
ceedings of the Governor-General, he was content to sup-
port it, more particularly as it would be unjust not to ac-
knowledge the brilliant efforts of the military chiefs who con-
ducted the war to a successful close.
Lord FITZGERALD made some observations in defence of
Lord Ellenborough, and warmly eulogised the conduct of all
who were engaged in the recent transactions in India.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE did not mean to oppose
the vote, but felt it necessary to read some extracts from the
papers in order to show that he could not approve of the
course pursued by Lord Ellenborough. He complained that
the papers were meagre as to the occurrences on the retreat
of the army, some of which seemed to him to merit strong
animadversion.
Lord BROUGHAM defended the conduct of Lord Ellen-
borough, and said that no man ever undertook the
government of India under circumstances of greater diffi-
culty ; and if he had displayed great caution, extreme cau-
tioa, even caution .amounting to hesitation, was it not too
much to charge him with being vacillating and irresolute?
For three months Lord Ellenborough had been exposed to
abuse, the gentlest terms of which were " base, ' " un-
English," " recreant," " cowardly," but the parties resorting
to this species of vituperation were like superannuated vipers
—they had the bag of poison, but they wanted the perforated
teeth through which to spurt it forth. All the grounds of
abuse against the noble lord were, however, at once removed
by a perusal of these papers.
The Bishop °LS ALtsntinY, in reference to the proclamation
of Lord Ellenborough, described it as a most unhappy oc-
currence

Bishop of CHICHESTER gave a similar opinion as to
,elamation.

Lord BROUGHAM said if the proclamation were to be
brought under the consideration of their lordships, he would
pledge himself to make it clear that it was entirely and purely
a political document, having no reference to giving any one
heathen mythology a preference over another.
Earl Minto acquiesced in the vote of thanks expressed as
it was, but wished to guard himself against being supposed
to approve of anything beyond the ability displayed by Lord
Ellenborough in the application of the resources of India to
the purposes of the war in Affghanistan.

The votes of thanks were then put and agreed to seriatim,
and their lordships adjOurned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MONDAY

- -
Sir ROBERT PEEL proceeded, in pursuance of his notice,
to move the thanks of the house to the Governor-General
of India, and to the officers and men, both British and na-
tive, for their services in the late military operations of Aff-
ghanistan. He began by disclaiming all intention of casting
any political reflection, even in the remotest or most oblique
way, upon the course previously pursued by Lord Auckland's
government ; and, after alluding to the general character of
wild and romantic interest attaching to those distant services
and scenes, he explained the position of affairs at the acces-
sion of Lord Ellenborough. He related the outbreak of the
rebellion, the movement of Sir Robert Sale from Cabul to
Jellalabad, and the attack then made upon the British, in-
cluding the murder of Sir A. Burnes ; the preparation of a
military force by Lord Auckland, the news which reached
him of further disasters, and his subsequent orders to Gene-
rals Pollock and Nott for the withdrawal of the forces. It
was but just to say, that with the discretion thus exercised
by Lord Auckland, Sir Jasper Nicholls's opinion had coin-
cided. It was easy to criticise that discretion, at this dis-
tance, and after the event ; but in the judgment of Sir R.
Peel, the resolution taken by Lord Auckland was justified
by the circumstances under which it had been adopted. The
state of affairs, however, at the arrival of Lord Ellenbo-
rough, being undoubtedly very discouraging, he adopted a
new policy, of which the objects had been all accomplished.
True, he had, on the 19th of April, directed General Nott to
retire from Candahar ; but Lord Ellenborough had then re-
ceived neivs of the surrender of Ghuznee, and of the failure
of General England in the attempt to relieve General Nott ;
and, meanwhile, General Pollock and General Nott had been
writing to the Governor-General to represent the difficulties
of their respective positions. The loss of beasts of burden,
indispensable for securing a supply of foody•had amounted in
a few months to the number of 30,000 animals. These cir-
cumstances were an ample justification of Lord Ellenbo-
rough's first order of withdrawal. The Governor-General
had been charged by Lord John Russell with offering such
au insult to Mr. Amos, an eminent lawyer, as compelled
that gentleman to resign his situation. But Mr. Amos's
wife had written a letter, in consequence of the report of
Lord John's speech, stating that there was not a word of
truth in the report; that he had always intended to resign
at that time; and that Lord Ellenborough had treated him
with the utmost politeness and courtesy. Sir Robert Peel
then proceeded to specify the services of Generals Pollock,
Nott, and Sale. General Pollock, on arriving at the scene
of his duty, had visited the hospitals—had provided for the
care of the sick, as well as for the comfort of the effective
troops—and had brought them back from a state of unplea-
sant feeling to a zealous and loyal spirit, as it appeared from
Quintus Curlius that Alexander had done, in those very
regions, more than two thousand years ago, when discontent
had crept in among the Macedonian forces. Sir R. Peel
recapitulated the successive military achievements of General
Pollock, terminating with the capture of Cabul. He then
traced the victorious progress of General Nott; and after
paying a tribute to the-services also of the captains and lieu-
tenants, did justice to the high English spirit which breathed
in General_Nott's letters. Lastly, he eulogized the many
and great tservices of Sir Robert Sale, his fortification of
Jellalabad, interrupted as it had been by the shocks of an
earthquake, its gallant defence of that city, and his success-
ful attack onlkhbar Klan, checkered only by the loss of
the brave and lamented Colonel Dennie • and he, in passing,
alluded to the heroism of Lady Sale, and of the late Lieut.
Sturt, whose valour she has touchingly commemorated. It
was impossible to describe al. these services without feeling
were an earnest that further efforts, when
occasion s
pride in the British name ; those services had proved that it
was a name which the along interval of peace bad not im-
paired; and they
Lord J. RUSSELL said that, considering all the circum-
stances, he was not disposed to blame Lord Ellenborough for
whiotunldtriornph.
require,
would continue to be made with
glory and
the order of withdrawal he had issued on the 19th of April,
though he was of opinion that his share of the direction of
the military operations ,displayed neither steady nor sound
judgment, and that be was not, therefore, specifically entitled
to a vote of thanks. He would not, however, take upon
himself the invidious task of opposing it.
Mr. BANKEs vindicated the conduct of Lord Ellenborough.
Mr. HUTT regretted the excesses committed by our troops
on their retreat from Affghanistan, and expressed a fear that
their conduct on that occasion would defeat any expectations
which might otherwise have been anticipated of an extension
y, by the destruction of every
eeiNGE said he did not credit the reports which
had gone abroad of those excesses, and believed they would
mofasoriturrbHceoy.moHnmdAentrhnc
Itondtuhsa.t countr
turn out to be incorrect, and that on the contrary it would
appear that after the storming of Istalif the soldiers had dis-
, played the gFetest humanity to the women and children.
He regretted the burning of the bazzar, but it had adjoined
the mosque, at the door of which Sir W. Macnaghten had
been barbarously murdered, and it was generally considered
that an example was necessary,
Sir E. COLEBROOK did not believe the rumours of those
excesses.

Sir R. INGLis approved of the Governor-General as well
as to the officers and army.

Mr.flirsii was much gratified by the explanatons given
by Sir H. Hardinge, though he exceedingly regretted the
destruction of the bazaar. He censured the whole policy of
Lord Ellenborough, which was altogether for withdrawal,
there being no less than nineteen orders to that effect. The
hon. member concluded by moving as an amendment that
the vote to Lord Ellenborough should be deferred until
fuller information was before the house.
Mr. B. BARING read from the papers directions by Lord
Ellenborough for the troops to advance.
Lord EBRINGTON said that as the vote of thanks was con-
fined to military operations he would not support the amend-
ment.

Mr. HOGG expressed a hope that Mr. Hume would with-
draw his motion. He then entered upon a lengthened
defence of Lord Ellenborough's conduct, and observed that
Mr. Hume must have some correspondence with India, for
he bad stated matters not to be found in the blue book, and
his credulity appeared to be equal to his discretion, for he
believed everything he heard. The forts destroyed in the
retreat were, he said, garrisoned by land pirates, and there
was no hope of keeping them in check except by razing them
to the ground.
Mr. MANGLES sought to impress upon the house the fact
that from March to July Lord Ellenborough was continually
writing to General Nott, advising him to withdraw, and this
before a single step had been taken to retrieve the national
honour. Evealke-otder .he had sent—to advance was only
permissive, allowing General Nott to advance if he thought
proper to do so, thus shifting the, responsibility from his own
shoulders, where it ought to remain, to those of General
Nott.

Colonel T. WOOD denied that Lord Ellenborough had
shifted the responsibility from his own shoulders by giving an,
indispensable discretion to General Nott.
Captain BERNAL requested Mr. Hume to withdraw his
amendment, as every word uttered on that motion was so
much detracted from the value of the vote itself. He was
of opinion that Lord Ellenborough was entitled to this vote
of thanks, and he was not disposed to give it to him in a
niggardly spirit. He hoped the officers who conducted the
war would get something more substantial than this vote of
thanks.
Sir H. DOUGLAS expressed an earnest hope that the vote
of thanks then before them would be agreed to unanimously,
and in expressing his full assent to the proposition of the
right hon. baronet he did hope that the vote of that house
would not be less acceptable to his gallant-comrades in arms
from the circumstance of its being supported in the house by
an old officer who had served many years, and who at least
had acquired sufficient experience to appreciate the merits of
those distinguished services which it was the object of the
present motion to mark with a strong expression of grati-
tude. The circumstances in which Lord Ellenborough found
India were so fully explained and so clearly laid down by the
right hon. baronet who brought forward the present motion,
that it became unnecessary for any one else to enter into fur-
ther detail; but thus much he might, at least, be permitted
to observe—that the intention of Lord Auckland was, that
the British army should retire within the Indus with as little
discredit as possible, while the determination of Lord Ellen-
borough was that our forces should retire with the utmost
possible credit. If Lord Ellenborough had been so rash as
to have directed armies to advt.nce at one and the same time
from Jellalabad and from Candahar—if the noble Governor-
General had given such an order, then most assuredly the
House of Commons would never be found giving its thanks
for anything so rash and ill-considered. But Lord Ellen-
borough did nothing of the sort. He took a course infinitely
wiser—he acted upon the prudent maxim of receding in order
that be might more efficiently advance. By holding these
two positions he was enabled to issue clear and precise direc-
tions for the combined movements which subsequently took
place, and which were attended with such signal success. It
was clear, from the despatch of General Nott, and from the
other papers which had been laid before parliament, that as
both those posts were occupied by British troops, the atten-
tion of the insurgents would be diverted, and our ultimate
olic
success rendered safe from the assaults of our enemy. The
p y pursued by
Lord Ellenborough and the manner in
which he had supported the military operations carried
min
India, appeared to him (Sir H. Douglas) to merit the highest
enconiums, and it afforded him the greatest possible satisfac-
tion to bear testimony to the
merits of his government and

the wis.lom of his plans. Once more he begged to express
an earnes=t hope that the house would concur unanimously in
the vote of thanks thus proposed to them. (Hear, hear.)
Captain LAYARD warmly supported the motion.
Mr. C. Wool) said he had read, with the greatest satis-
faction, the orders given by General Nott, General Pollock,
and Lord Ellenborough, respecting the conduct of the troops,
and, if irregularities had taken place, they could not be at-
tributed to those orders, which were everything that could be
wished.

After a few observations from Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN,
the resolutions were severally put, and agreed to.
The Forged Exchequer Bills Bill went through committee.
The Sudbury Disfranchisement Bill was read a second
time.

The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and th
house adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—TUESDAY.
In reply to a question from the Marquis of CLANRICARDE,
Lord WARNCLIFFE said that it was not the intention of
he architect of the new Houses of Parliament to finish any
one of them before the other. He was proceeding with both
houses pari passe.

. .
Several noble lords complained that the house intended
for their accommodation should not be expedited. They
had given up their house to the House of Commons, and
having very bad accommodation at present, while that which-
the House of Commons enjoyed was very good, they felt that
active steps should be taken to finish off their new house as
speedily as possible. Under this feeling
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved the appointment of
a committee to inquire into the progress made in the erection
of the new Houses of Parliament.
The motion was agreed to, and the committee appointed.
The Bishop of CHESTER presented a vast number of pe-
titions from various places in Wales against the union of the
sees of Bangor and St. Asaph.
Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAY

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE moved "That petitions having. been
presented to this house complaining of the conduct of Lord
Chief Baron Abinger when presiding as judge upon the ex-
cution of the late special commission executed in the counties
of Chester and Lancaster, this house do summon witnesses
to the bar for the purpose of ascertaining the language used
by the said Lord Chief Baron Abinger in charging the grand
juries, and in summing up the cases to the petty juries, who
were impanelled under such special commission, and also in
passing sentences upon prisoners convicted under the same
commission." He charged the nobly lord with having acted
in an unconstitutional, malignant, and oppressive manner
towards the prisoners whom he tried, and quoted the opinions
of the Morning Herald and other papers upon the course
pursued by the noble lord on those trials. Some of the
jurymen at Liverpool had, he said, expressed themselves dis-
gusted at the language used by Lord Abinger, for that
language would implrby inference that it was treason to ad-
vocate the ballot, annual parliaments, or universal suffrage,
a doctrine repudiated by the Attorney-General at the chartist
trials at Newport. The conduct and language of Lord
Abinger in trying and sentencing the prisoners were to the
last degree indecorous, and the subsequent treatment of the
prisoners was equally oppressive and unjust. If the govern-
ment intended to crush any inquiry, he hoped they would at
all events let the public know that amongst the members of
the government there was not one who felt any sympathy
with the language made use of by the Lord Chief Baron.
The ATTORNEY.GLNERAL said he should ask the house
to meet the motion of the hon. member by a direct negative.
The language of Lord Abinger was not directed against the
right of discussing the charter, but against that system of
intimidation and insurrection which, directed as its move-
ments were by a committee of public safety, which, in the
exercise of its power, gave licences for the execution of any
work that might be deemed of absolute necessity, was calcu-
lated to destroy all the relations of society. Lord Abinger
had ❑ot gone the unconstitutional length of denouncing every
attempt to effect by argument an alteration in the existing
state of things; he had only pointed out the illegality and
criminality of such tumultuous assemblages as had taken
place, got up, as they were, not for the purpose of delibera-
tion, but for the disturbance of the public peace, and com-
mented properly on the dangerous language resorted to at
these meetings. The sentences passed by Lord Abinger, and
which were said to be severe, were the result of the united
deliberations of the three judges in the commission. The
hon. and learned gentleman concluded by eulogising the
character of Lord Abinger, whom he was anxious to shield
in his old age, after a life of honourable service, from the
mortification which such an enquiry could not fail to bring
with it.

Mr. Ross, in supporting the motion, said he did not think
the defence of the Attorney-General, concluding as it did
with the argumenturn ad nzisericordiam, at all satisfactory.
Mr. THESIGER condemned the motion as an interference
with the independence of the judges. He entered into a
lengthened defence of Lord Abinger, who had been also
misrepresented in the case of Nicholas Suisse, as well as in
the present instance, for he had never said in charging the
jury that that person was "an invaluable servant." He had
only said that he must have been so considered and described
by his master.

Mr. Sergeant MURPHY said it should have been the care
of Lord Abinger to have calmed the minds of the grand jury,
and to have soothed the excitement natural for them to be
influenced by, and which must have interfered with the jus-
tice of their decisions. This he had not done. On the con-
trary, his speech was calculated to increase that excitement.
If such a speech were proper under the circumstances, how
was it that the charge delivered by Chief Justice Tindal was
of a totally opposite character? In this country we had al-
ways a horror of political judges, and therefore it was that he
deprecated the conduct of Lord Abinger in bringing his high
talents to bear for the purpose of stimulating grand juries
already too much excited.
Mr. J. S. WORTLEY said that if the whole of the charge
had been read by his hon. and learned friend he would never
have called it a stimulating charge. The whole of the outcry
against Lord Abinger arose from a misconception which a
careful perusal by a candid mind of that charge would re-
move. The charges of Chief Justice Tindal were certainly
admirable—they were excellent ; but that learned judge did
not always strictly confine himself to the case before him, for
in one instance he had stated the constitutional law to the
grand jury, and laid it down as to how far a soldier still re-
tained his character as a civilian, that they might judge of the
legality of what had been done in the suppression of a riot.
Mr. WALLACE said he bad not trusted to the newspaper
reports, for he bad purchased the noble lord's own shilling's
worth, and from that he would say that Lord Abinger had
travelled far and wide from his duty.
Mr. SCARLETT said he believed Lord Abinger's fault was
really that he differed in opinion from the Chartists and their
friends. It would not become him to trespass on the time of
the House, but he must say that he did not think his noble
relative had been fairly treated by hon. members on the op-
position side of the house. To whatever party in the country
Lord Abinger had give❑ his confidence at any period of his
life, he had always been firmly attached to the constitution
of the country. The hon. and learned gentleman concluded
his speech by a reference to the' daily press, to which might
be applied the words of a celebrated historian in reference to
the a_e in which he lived—that it was iniquitous without
punishment and without remedy.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL did not think that the independence
of the judges could be compromised by a motion like the pre.
sent, but he was nevertheless of opinion that nothing but the
most important considerations ought to induce the house to
give its acquiescence to such a motion. The fault of the
charges of Lord Abinger was that they entered into political
matter in conjunction with legal explanations, which were
thus calculated to confuse the grand jury. Indeed the uni-
versal satisfaction expressed at the charges of Chief Justice
Tindal was in itself a proof that there must have been some.
thing objectionable in the charges of Lord Abinger, or they
would not have excited such general animadversion. He
had introduced his political knowledge where his legal know-
ledge only was wanting; and perhaps from over zeal for the
vindication of the law, he had introduced politics into his
charges unwisely and intemperately. He should, however,
vote against the motion of the hon. member for Finsbury.
Sir J. GRAHAM concurred both in the practical conclusion
of the noble lord, and also in the general principles he laid
down. In his opinion such a motion as the present should
not be agreed to unless they were convinced that badness of
heart had led to the perversion of judgment. The right hon.
gentleman then proceeded to define the duties of a judge, and
said he had no doubt but that Lord Abinger had honestly
performed his duties, and had done nothing which could call
for the reprehension of the house.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD supported the motion, and expressed
his opinion that the sentences passed by Lord Abinger were
unnecessarily severe.
Mr. WATSON said he felt it his duty to vote for the in-
quiry, on the simple ground that a grave charge was made
against Lord Abinger, and the house was therefore bound to
hear the evidence. There were many things contained in
the noble lord's own pamphlet which were deserving of re-
probation.
Mr. CARDWELL believed he was the only member of that
house who happened to be present when Lord Abinger de-
livered his charge, and he therefore was entitled to make an
observation. (Hear, hear.) The present was a motion for
inquiry, and he would venture to prophecy that it would not
be granted ; and he hoped neither the hon. member for
Finsbury nor the hon. and learned member who had last
addressed the house would imagine for a moment that any
supposed identification with that noble lord in political
' opinion would tempt him (Mr. Cardwell) to rise up and bear
false testimony. He hoped he should not give either biassed
or exaggerated testimony of what he had witnessed on that
occasion, and he hoped and trusted he had sufficient regard
for the honour of that profession, of which he was an un-
worthy member, not to be peculiarly sensitive regarding the
honour and character of one of the ornaments of that pro-
fession. (Hear, hear.) He recollected one expression which
had made the great gravamen of the charge against Lord
Abinger—he meant the occasion on which the noble lord had
told the prisoners at the bar, that in his opinion the govern-
ment had exhibited too much leniency, and that he should
have passed, had he been there, a much more severe sentence.
If the house divested the case of its political and party bear-
ings, and tried Lord Abinger's caution and observations to
the prisoners and to the jury by the test which might be
fairly applied—namely, that of any other crime against so-
ciety, it would at once be seen that his language was exactly
that which best befitted the circumstances under which the
persons upon whom he was passing sentence were situated.
He had heard the noble lord's manner on that occasion
described as superinhuman ; and would observe, that it was
a difficult task to describe correctly, or with any propriety,
the manner in which any particular charge or other discourse
might have been delivered, and which might have excited
admiration in those who heard it. But he would say that
the acumen. the judgment, and the correctness of legal
knowledge which distinguished the noble lord's conduct to
the prisoners, whilst it was his duty to give them every
facility for proving their innocence, and the just and forcible
manner in which, when they had been pronounced guilty of
the crimes laid to their charge, Lord Abinger expressed his
abhorrence of their conduct, and pointed out its dangerous
tendency, were such as to command his highest respect; and
he was convinced, that had his honourable and learned friend
heard the noble lord utter those sentiments, he would have
thought as he did, arid have voted as he would do on the
present occasion.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE replied, and said he had heard nothing
to induce him not to take the sense of the house upon the
question he had brought before them. The hon. gentleman
amused himself and the house at the expense of Sir James
Graham, whose former attacks on Sir James Scarlett, when
he called him a recreant whig, he contrasted with the praise
he had lavished on him that night.

The house then divided, and the motion was negatived by
a majority of 228 to 73.
...

On the motion of Lord ELIOT leave was given to bring in
a bill to empower justices of the peace in Ireland to act in
certain cases relating to places to the rates of which they
were chargeable.

Leave ;as also given to bring in a bill to amend the bill
relating to pawnbroking in Ireland.

--~►- -

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-WEDNESDAY

Mr. S. CRAWFORD gave notice that, on the first night of
supply, he should move that the voting of the supplies should
be postponed until the estimates of expenditure should be
considered with a view to their reduction.
On the motion of Mr. LIDDELL, the house went into com-
mittee on the Personation of Voters Bill.
After some conversation,
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said, he did not think the offence of
personating voters prevailed in England to such an extent as
to call for an alteration of the law, and if the bill passed at all,
it ought to be made applicable to the whole United Kingdom.
It was the intention of the Government to bring in a Regis-
tration Bill for England and Ireland, but he could not

Elberptiol otanDart.

FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 24, 1843

On Monday evening a question was put to the
Home Secretary, by Mr. Ferrand, the reply to which
is, we rather think, significant of something more
than the mere words outwardly imply. The enquiry
of Mr. Ferrand was, " whether the government had
made any investigation into the causes of the late out-
breaks in the manufacturing districts, or whether they
intended to make such investigation." The reply was
as follows :—" On a former occasion a gentleman had
been sent down by government for the purpose of col-
lecting and marshalling the evidence upon the subject
to which the hon. gentleman's question referred. That
evidence had, in part, been brought before a compe-
tent tribunal; parties had been convicted upon it, and
some were undergoing the punishment of the law.
Another portion of that evidence was still to be investi-
gated. But true bills had been found upon it, and the
parties would he tried upon it on the 4th of April. He
was of opinion that all the facts of the case would be
brought beforJOat tribunal; and that the question
would then be really brought out who were the parties
responsible for the dangerous disturbances which had
taken place."

Of course, Sir James Graham referred to the trials
of Southam, O'Connor, and others, which, it may be
remembered, were traversed, and are to come on at
the ensuing Spring Assizes at Lancaster. If such be
the case, we firmly believe, with him, that all the facts,
as to the origin and the causes of those " dangerous
disturbances" will come out—that much more will be
disclosed than will he convenient and pleasing to some
people who are at this moment hugging themselves in
fancied security, and sufficient to convince the world,
if it even do not convince the legislature, of the dan-
gerous character and incendiary working of a certain
body which it is quite unnecessary for us to mention.
Up to this hour, the recent disturbances in the manu-
facturing districts are boldly set down to the account
of the Chartists alone. It will be in tke memory of
most of our readers, that the only case in which there
was any probability of a complete investigation into
the whole question—the case of Hutchinson—was
quashed by that party being prevailed upon to plead
guilty. The evidence, therefore, in the hands of go-
vernment has only in part been brought before a legal
tribunal. There is " another portion" still to be in-
vestigated—the connection of Chartism with the dis-
turbances in question; and we are much misinformed
if that investigation does not " bring out" the con-
nexion with them of another kind of agitation, and a
somewhat different kind of agitators, to those to be
placed at the bar of justice. Perhaps we may be
treated with a little information as to the movements
and deliberations, during the turnout, of those parti-
cular friends of the Anti-Corn-law League—the "

senting ministers" !

The Manchester Guardian, we observe, has stepped
forward as the apologist of Mr. Richard Cobden, and
treated the world with a laboured essay upon the pro-
per interpretation to be put upon the language recently
directed by that personage towards Sir Robert Peel.
Mr. Cobden, he informs us, only meant by the "indi-
vidual responsibility" of Sir Robert Peel, his respon-
sibility as premier. Why, so the man told us himself.
But why, we ask, at such a time especially, whilst one
misguided man is already waiting his doom for a
murderous attack levelled at Sir Robert—at the man,
and not the mere abstract idea of the Prime Minister—
labour to impress upon the national mind that it was
his hand which alone kept immersed in poverty and
wretchedness an entire people Of course it was "as
a minister" that Sir Robert was to be held " individu-
ally responsible ;" and it would be as a minister only
that an assassin would dream of directing his weapon
against him. Unfortunately, you cannot shoot the
minister without depriving of life at the same time the
man himself.

Really, we must suggest to the Guardian, that this
kind of shuffle is very paltry. It matters not at all
whether the " individual responsibility" spoken of by
the Stockport M.P. was intended to imply personal
responsibility or not, except so far as regards the ques-
tion whether the man who used the expression is a
deliberate inciter to bloodshed, or only a madman or a
fool. In themselves, there is nothing very startling. in
long before they
the terms used. All the world knew,
were uttered, that Sir Robert Peel and every other
prime minister of this country is individually respon-
sible for the consequences of their policy. But when
viewed as an adjunct to a fierce agitation, in whc he passions of a suffering people Are studiously sought to be wrought upon to frenzy,—when we have already
before our eyes the dreadful calamity by which the
doctrine of personal responsibility was so nearly exem-
plified,—then, indeed, there is more than folly—more
than mere senseless repetition of an admitted
there is crime in the lightest sign made to poi truth ;
point such
passions to an object upon which to wreak themselves.
Such, we maintain, was the tendency of Mr. Cobden's
speech ; and as such we believe that it is viewed by
every impartial mind in the community.
The Guardian thinks differently, however, and so, it
seems, think the leaguers of Liverpool, Stockport, and
Manchester ; for we see that addresses are to be sent
up from these towns, in which Mr. Richard Cobden is
condoled with as something very like a martyr ! Yes,
this furious itinerant is to be complimented upon this
new proof of his zeal for free trade; and we are
assured by the Guardian, that the disgust which the
proof in question has drawn down upon him from
other quarters has attracted towards him amongst the
League party only "increased sympathy and encourage-
ment"!

mences%
The Liverpool Times of Tuesday last com
report of a case of appeal, against an order for the pay-
ment of parish rates, with the following g uasi-apolo-
getic reason for its insertion. " On these occasions,"

remarks our naive contemporary, it is not usual to
admit reporters ; but as one of the cases was expected
to be publicly interesting, our own and another re-
porter applied for admission, and the appellant (Mr.
Cowgill) being anxious that they should be present, the
magistrates and churchwardens at once consented.
We, therefore, subjoin a report of the case."
Well, what does the reader imagine was the "pub-
licly interesting" character of the case in question ?
This Mr. Cowgill—a busy personage at vestry meet-
ings—was summoned for non-payment of his rates, in
respect to four different properties. Anything "pub-
licly interesting" upon the face of so ordinary a pro-
ceeding as that ? A keen customer must be the re-
porter for the Liverpool Times, to scent the fact that
the case of Mr. Cowgill was different from that of the
hundreds of Jones's and Smiths who are made to un-
dergo the same ordeal, and which cases " it is not
usual" for the keen individual in question to bother
his note-book about. Mr. Cowgill, however, we see,
" was anxious" that the public should look at his case
through the spectacles of our contemporary. Was he ?
No. But he was anxious that his paltry defence, and
the paltry personal attack in which it consisted, should
be made as " publicly interesting" as " liberal" jour-
nalism could make it—that the grounds of a con-
temptible sneer of a contemptible paper (the Mercury)
should be placed before the world; "and hence the pa-
triotic ardour with which the reporter of the Times,
" and another reporter" hurried, pen and inkhorn in
hand, to the Sessions House, out of the proceedings
there

" to tint a moral and adorn a tale"

for all future parish-rate defaulters !

And what was this defence—this " publicly-inte-
resting" defence—of Mr. Cowgill ?We pass over the
pretended plea with respect to the item of £350 Os. lod.
That was a mere stuffed man set up for the occasion—
a " dummy," such as we see in some cigar shops, in
the shape of empty boxes, duly labelled with the
seductive brands " Habana," "Silviaros," "Principes,"
and other mystic words, but not intended to be sold.
That defence was not the commodity to be vended by
our contemporary, or his client Mr. Cowgill. There
was nothing " publicly interesting" in it. The inte-
resting matter for that portion of the public which
reads the paper in question was the paltry personal
attack sought to be made against an efficient and re-
spected servant of the parish—Mr. W. Birkett.

Mr. Cowgill, it appears, had made the amazing dis-
covery, that at the time the summons against him was
issued—at which time Mr. Birkett was sick, and had
as much to do with the issuing in question as the Lord
Mayor of Timbuctoo, with whom, as with all great
men, our contemporary is no doubt acquainted, and in
habits of correspondence—that gehtleman was himself
owing to the parish a portion of his rates. To those
who know anything of the ordinary business of a
warehouse owner, and when it is known that Mr.
W. Birkett and his partners pay annually no less a sure
than three thousand pounds in parish rates, such a cir-
cumstance will not appear surprising. In many cases,
as was explained by Mr. Birkett's partner (Mr. Dover),
" they let parts of warehouses, and the tenants pal
the rates ;" and thus, although Messrs. Birkett appear
on the parish books as the parties owing money, the
tenants are the real defaulters. Moreover, we have
their course of business explained by Mr. W. Birkett
himself : " they regularly commence paying three
months after the rate is laid, and pay up to the end of
the year." There is surely nothing, therefore, very
startling in the fact that such a firm were, at the time
of the issuing of the summons against Mr. Cowgill,
less than one third part of their heavy rate in arrear-
if indeed it could under the circumstances be called
in arrear; and we can only put down the zeal of our
contemporary to proclaim the fact, to the wish of the
party, of whom he is the tool, to make a set at the cha-
racter of the gentleman in question. Our wise bro-
ther, however, we venture to hint to him, has no power
to effect the object in view. The public can Bee
through the manoeuvres of himself and of his party;
and an army of old apple-women might just as welt
attempt to take the Tower of London by escalade, es
the Times, with his popgun, to force an entry for a
mob of praidatory whiglings into the confidence of the
ratepayers of Liverpool. Thank Heaven, we knoll)
the gentlemen !

The debate in the Town Council, at their specisl
meeting on Wednesday week,in consequence, probably'
of its being short, does not seem to have hitherto at'
tracted so much attention as the importance of the
subject under consideration deserves. This town has
suffered so much from fires, even in the remembrance
of the present generation, that almost any project for
the prevention of future visitations, speculative or
practical, demands investigation ; and it is on this
ground that we accord our sanction to the proposition
Of the Council for asking any requisite powers froln
Parliament.

There was in the debate the appearance without the
.
reality of a difference of opinion upon the propriety
going to Parliament this session. One gentlemen
urged delay on the somewhat original ground that the
people of London were tired of hearing so much 01
Liverpool affairs; just as if because Liverpool had oh'
tained her Improvement and Health of Town Acts in
the last session she therefore needs nothing more. On
this novel principle we might as well consent at once
to place the borough in schedule A, and part comPau/
with Lord Sandon and Sir Howard Douglas, for there
would be very little use in sending representatives to
an assembly unwilling to be moved with our cause;
The dehate, however, as it progressed, gradually worked
a change in the sentiments of the gentleman referred
i
to, and the practical details furnished by Mr. San'
Holme effected his entire conversion. One or in'e
other members objected to proceeding on grounds
equally untenable, but as in the case of Mr. G. P.
Lawrence, they proved themselves open to conviction;
and, eventually, the motion that a bill be applied for
was agreed to unanimously.
The report of the Special Committee was drawn 1.11:,
in general terms ; and, consequently, it laid bare ver;
little beyond the principle on which the measure
proposed to be founded. Under existing circus
stances it appears to be requisite that two distinct hl'er
should be applied for, one by the Council and the otlIA
by the Commissioners for Paving and Sewering.
general bill on the part of either would involve en l,
terference with each others power s, which, in the Pre
iv
sent case, it is extremely desirable to avoid, not nu',
on account of the expense, but for the sake of the Pure
lie welfare. We assume then that the grounds ad
valid and sufficient which have led to the prosPeete,
two bills to accomplish a common object ; and we 'O,O
sume, too, that the execution of the two acts--if to,
acts there should be—will be co-operative and her°

In his speech the Town-Clerk furnished solve de'
tails of the bill to be solicited on the part of the Cottn;
cil ; from which it is evident that all the precanti°o.se
which human ingenuity and forethought can delflor
to prevent devastations by fire, are to be adopted'
instance, iron is to be used where wood has hither 'ofs
prevailed ; protective walls are to be built on the lo
between warehouse and warehouse ; a space of silt re.
yards is to be preserved in the front of any new no
house; certain restrictions are to be
placed on er
warehousing of goods of a dangerous nature ; dalig
ous trades are to be prohibited from being 01°vi ed
00
within a given distance from warehouses, under Orr'
exceptions ; all warehouses are to be registered; toll
ters therein are to be licensed, who, it is proposed'
be deemed guilty of misdemeanour, if any " woost
ful act" or " negligent omission" is proved ag hi
them. These, we understand, are the chief featureste
the bill to be recommended by the Council. .1%-coov
will certainly be part of the bill suggested by the he-
missioners ; it will be of trifling amount, (id. we ad-
lieve,) but we forbear discussing any part of the e
y
tails of their measure until they have been, as th
soon must be, submitted to public consideration: at
In a general point of view we have no objecttrthe
present, to any of the foregoing details, except
old
registration of warehouses, the licensing of porteeore s g
the power to bring men of that occupation het. eut
criminal tribunal for any "wilful act" or a nei-orare'
omission." We disapprove of the registration °ivionld
houses because in the event of any casuality it ail'
Con-
throw some degree of responsibility upon the
ace A certificate of the security of the building, we
orti'
hend, would follow from the registration, which
ex ined
ani
ficate would not be given until it had been • aaa
by the surveyor, or some other competent o—Ace"' ha
his opinion would, to some extent at least, pled

Council. The inspection, too, must be renewed froin
time to time, otherwise the registration and certificate
would become comparatively useless. The system, we
think, would be eventually disregarded ; but if it is to
be commenced at all, we do not see why it should not
extend to private dwelling-houses as well as to ware-
houses; and we have reasonable grounds for thinking
so. We wait, however, to see the language of the
clause on this point. The licensing of porters, if the
object is to prevent pilferage, will be simply inopera-
tive for good, for it will never supersede the necessity
for vigilance on the part of the employer, whilst in the
event of a felony, it will not, of itself, aid in the proof.
Other objections to it might be advanced, but we re-
serve them till we see the print of the bill. As to mak-
ing the warehouse porters liable to punishment as for a
misdemeanour, for any " wilful act," or " negligent
omission," we can only say that we regard the proposal
for the establishment of such a power with no inconsi-
derable degree of jealousy.
The town is deeply and permanently interested in
this matter. Premiums of insurance have risen enor.
mously in consequence of the existing state of things,
(and we fear there is little hope of their ever being
lower,) whilst profits on imported produce have dimi-
nished; so that practical measures of some kind are
indispensable, if the character of the port is to be sus-
tained. It is visionary, to say the least of it, to main-
tain that this is only a question between the merchants
and the insurance offices. We might as well contend
that any capital offence is only a matter between the
criminal and his victim. The public are as much in-
terested in the one as in the other ; and in both cases
a serious obligation is owing to society. In conclusion,
let it be remembered that the practical measures sug-
gested by the public bodies referred to, do not neces-
sarily, and they ought not absolutely, excite contenti-
ous feelings ; and therefore we hope that in the full
discussion which they must undergo, political parti-
zanship will be unanimously waived in consideration
of the grand object to be promoted—THE PROSPE-
RITY OF THE TOWN AND PORT OF LIVERPOOL.