The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-08-22 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS-THURSDAY.

The royal assent was given, by commission, to veveral I
bills, including the Liverpool Docks and Harbour Bill.
Lord IIn.ouGRAM presented a number of petitions on
various subjects. The noble and learned lord said that
15,800 names had been sent to him, many of them most
respectable ; they had been subscribed to a petition on
some subject or other in twenty-four hours in the town of
Liverpool ; but unluckily for the parties they had forgotten
to send the petition. (A laugh.)
Earl STANHOPE said it was a very common thing to
remove the heading of a petition while it was being signed.
The Marquis Of CLANRICARDE, Earls FORTESCUE and
GLENGALL, and Lords MONTEAGLE and CAMPBELL,
also again delivered their opinions on the remedies neces-
sary for the present state of Ireland, after which the bill
passed through committee.
The Foreign Jurisdiction Bill also passed through com-
mittee.
Several bills on the table were forwarded a stage, and
the house adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY.
A number of bills were advanced a stage. The Law of
Evidence Bill gave rise to some discussion.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said one of the provisions
of the bill wls to render persons not now allowed to give
evidence to be competent witnesses on any trial. There
was a strange anomaly in the present law of evidence.
He would natice one, for instance, of a man who was in
Newgate, or any other gaol, suffering imprisonment for
an offence against the law ; he could not give evidence
to-day on any trial, but if his imprisonment expired to-
morrow he would be a competent witness. (Hear, hear.)
Now it was the crime that affected the character of the
man and not the punishment; consequently a person, if
convicted of an offence, ought for ever to be rendered in-
competent, or not only so during the period of his impri-
sonment. A man in prison to-day could not give evi-
dence, his imprisonment might expire to-morrow, and he
was at once a competent witness—could there be a greater
absurdity ? (Hear, hear, hear.) The same absurdity
existed as regarded preventing parties interested in a suit
from giving evidence.
Sir J. EASTHOPE presented a petition from an indivi-
dual named Campbell, against the pension granted to the
daughter of the Duke of Cambridge. The petitioner sta-
ted that he used the words " honourable house " from
courtesy, but not of his own conviction. (Hear.)
Mr. WARD moved for a return of the actual amount
of the revenue of the Protestant Church in Ireland at the
present time.
Ordered. . .

Mr. CHRI ST I E gave notice that to-morrow he should
ask the right hon. bart. the Home Secretary, whether
next session the government intended to bring forward any
measure for the suppression of duelling, or to advise her
Majesty to direct any steps to be taken on the subject.
(Hear.)
Captain Pot.nim, gave notice that early next session he
should move for the appointment of a select committee to
consider the best mode of regulating the price of bread
in the metropolis.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM and Sir Rowr. PEEL did not think
any legislation on the subject would be beneficial to the
public, or afford any check on the trade. The most ef-
fectual mode would be not to deal with those bakers who
charged too high a price—that would be the means of
putting an effectual check to a practice of taking an ad-
vantage of any temporary opportunity to raise the prices.
(Hear.)
Mr. WYSE postponed his motion on the subject of edu-
cation until next session.
Adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—FRIDAY.
After a somewhat animated discussion uponLhoorwdeLvetyr:
CAN'S complaint against Sir E. SUGDEN, which,
produced no result, the house proceeded, upon the motion
of the Duke of WELLINGTON, to consider, in committee,
the Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE lamented the mis-
management of parliamentary business, which, having
left their lordships nearly idle throughout the session,
now produced a flood of bills at a period when time was
not left to discuss them. A hope had been held out that
this bill would be referred to a select committee, but as
that was now plainly impossible, he proposed that in the
next session the state of the poor law in Ireland should
I be taken into consideration, with the object of diminish-
ing mendicancy, of adopting a better provision for the
relief of the aged and infirm, and of relieving the country
from the oppressive taxation necessary to carry out the
present system. He quoted several instances to prove
how difficult it was to collect the enormous rates that
were required, and the entire inefficiency of a law which
among other anomalies prohibited any Christian minister
from meddling with charity ; and declared, that if per-
sisted in, it would be a fraud upon the Irish proprietors,
who had been told that it would suppress mendicity. It
had been tried in other countries, and had universally
failed; in England it did not succeed even with out-door
relief, which, if granted in Ireland, would amount to a
confiscation of all property. He generally approved the
present bill, but feared that the principle of collecting
rates from the rich alone would be laidehold aofll such
cahrgaurgmees.n t for absolving the poor from taws and
The Duke of WELLINGTON thought, thHe reedsoelfuentidoendptrho;
p
°Bed unneceolary and objectionable

clause opposed by the noble Marquis, but confessed that
the system was not perfect, and promised that the subject
should be duly considered during the recess.
After a few words from Lord WINCHILSEA, Lord CAR-
BERT, and Lord MONTEAGLE, the Archbishop of DUB-
LIN expressed his regret that a committee had not been
granted early in the session, It might then at least have
said, "We have inquired into your case." Those who
knew little of Ireland or of the working of a poor law were
sanguine of its success ; in proportion to increased know.
ledge did apprehension increase, and those whose know-
ledge was most extensive disapproved the system most of
all.

Lord CHARLEVILLE thought that so long as out of
every shilling collected 81d. was spent in administration,
and only 31d in relief, opposition was to be expected.
The resolution being, however, withdrawn, the bill
went through committee; and the Irish Arms bill was
read a third time and passed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY.

On the order for the third reading of the Chelsea Pen-
sioners Bill, Mr. BRIGHT complained of the government
for having instituted no measure to relieve the working
people. He understood that many of them were in so
emaciated a state from want and suffering as to have been
incapable of accepting employment offered to them.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE took a good-humoured farewell of
the bill, as one which had been carried, against his own
efforts, by an overwhelming majority, he would not say a
subservient one, but an independent majority of officials.
On the question for the third reading of the Defamation
and Libel Bill, Mr. ESCOTT proposed to restore the third
clause; but the ATTORNEY-GENERAL having satisfied
the house that such a clause was inexpedient, the bill
passed in its present state without a division.
The order for going into committee on the Slave-trade
Suppression Bill was opposed by Mr. T. DUNCOMBE and
Mr. FORSTER, who charged it with folly, and complained
that it had come from the Lords as a surprise upon the
Commons. Mr. Forster laid the blame of it upon Lord
Brougham's inconsiderate precipitancy.
Sir T. WILDE defended Lord Brougham, and the main
principle of the bill, which was to prevent the employ-
ment of British capital in encouraging the slave trade.
This principle was no new one, and could not be said to
come upon the house without ample notice ; for the house
had always recognized and affirmed it.
Sir R. PEEL supported the motion for going into com-
mittee. It was a dangerous doctrine that no important
measure could be considered in August. Notice had been
given in the last session that the attention of parliament
would be called to the question whether British capital
should be permitted to employ itself in the encourage-
ment of the slave trade. The prevention of such traffic
was just in itself, and due to our own colonists, who ought
not to be placed under a disadvantageous competition with
countries growing sugar by slave labour. He felt, in-
deed, that the subject was one in which parliament ought
not to legislate precipitately, but it was fully entitled to
consideration.
Mr. BERNA.L and Mr. BROTHERTON supported the bill,
which at length went into committee.
In committee, Lord SANDON said, he was anxious to
understand clearly the bearing of the clause which it was
proposed to amend ; owing to its length, it was difficult,
unless some time were given for consideration, to alter it.
He understood that the object was to extend the provi-
sions of the Consolidated Slave Act, which was now ap-
plied to British subjects • either at sea or in British do-
minions, and to British subjects in foreign countries. He
quite agreed that, if it was practicable to do so, without
inflicting gross injustice, and even more serious evils than
those which it was proposed to remedy, it was right that
they should prevent the employment of British capital in
connexion with the slave trade or slave labour; but he be-
lieved, since the enactment of the clause of the Consoli-
dated Slave Act, which it was proposed to extend the
operation of, had been the law of the land, no British sub-
ject had been connected with the slave trade. At all events,
there was nothing in the evidence taken by the committee
to prove the contrary, so far as the coast of Africa'was
concerned. Another committee, which was composed of
many gentlemen who were deeply interested in putting
down the slave trade, were generally of that opinion.
They did not say that the practice of employing British
capital in the slave trade did not exist, but that there was
no evidence brought before them to show that it did.
Then, with regard to the high seas and our own domi-
nions, the provisions of the Slave Act had been effectual,
and the question then was, could they make them equally
effectual in places not within the British jurisdiction? He
thought this was the first attempt that had been made to
carry our municipal laws into countries under foreign
jurisdiction. How could they make such a principle
effective ? British subjects were charged with contravening
one of the provisions of the Slave Act by employing slaves
within the dominions of the Emperor of Brazils, and by
what means could they bring that charge under the cog-
nizance of British tribunals? What opportunity would
the defendants have to disprove the charge, or what autho-
rity would the court have to go to the heart of the Andes
to obtain evidence for or against the charge? He con-
ceived that the bill was going beyond the proper limits of
the British Legislature. It was not sufficient in matters
of legislation or in private affairs that the object was good,
but it was also essential to foresee that greater evils were
not created than those proposed to be remedied. (Hear,
hear.)
After some discussion, _ _

Lord PALMERSTON deprecated any tenderness to Eng-
lish holders and employers of slaves_,. and exhorted the
house to show to other countries that England was sincere
in her declarations against slavery.
The bill, after some further comments, was allowed to
pass through committee, with an understanding that cer-
tain amendments were to be discussed upon the reportl

THE COURT.

Prince 'George of Cambridge took leave of the Queen,
on Saturday, on his departure for Mecklenburgh Strelitz,
on a visit to his sister and brother-in-law ; thence pro-
ceeding to assume the Governorship of the lonian Islands.
THE KING OF HANOVER.—It is stated in circles usu-
ally well informed, though we are unable to trace the 're-
port to any positive authority, that an illustrious personage
—t'-e. monarch of an independent kingdom, now on a
visit to this country—has it in contemplation to resign
his sovereignty in favour of his son, and once more take
up his residence in England.—Britannia.
THE PRINCE OF WALE,'S " TURN-OUT."—During
the usual early walk of her Majesty and Prince Albert on
Tuesday morning, in the private enclosures and shrub-
beries in the Home Park, Windsor, a pair of beautiful
foreign goats, milk white, and of an extraordinary size,
were taken into the private grounds for the inspection of
the Queen and the Prince. These two goats have been
for the last two or three months, in training to go in har-
ness, to he used by the Prince of Wales, and the infant
princesses, in their excursions through the private grounds.
They were harnessed to an elegantly and lightly constructed
carriage, and proceeded, with the greatest ease, at the
rate of six and seven miles an hour. Her Majesty and
Prince Albert appeared much pleased with the novelty and
compact appearance of the new " turn-out," which was
used by their royal highnesses on the following clay.
BRlGHTON.—lnstructions have just been received at
Brighton, from the Lord Chamberlain's office, to stop.all
orders to view the palace ; so that there is now no doubt
of her Majesty's intention to visit Brighton very shortly,
All the necessary arrangements have been made connected
with the marine excursion of the Queen and her illustri-
ous consort, during the sojourn of the court at Brighton.
The Black Eagle steam vessel will be one of the squadron
which will accompany the royal yacht. There is now very
little doubt that her Majesty will honour Plymouth, and
probably Pembroke dockyard, with a visit during the royal
trip. It is likewise expected the Queen and her illustri-
ous consort will honour the Earl and Countess Cawdor
with a short visit, at their mansion, Stackpole Court, in
the County of Pembroke.

The Right Hon. Sir R. Peel will leave town next week
for Drayton Manor, to join Lady Peel and family. t A
select party will assemble at the Manor next month.
The Duke of Wellington is expected to leave Apsley_
house on Monday week for Walmer Castle, where the
noble Duke purposes to reside until the 2d week in Oc-
tober, and then go to Strathfieldsaye.

THE DUKE'S VISIT TO SCOTLAND.—It is DOW ascer-
tained beyond a doubt that the Duke of Wellington will
visit Scotland in the autumn, and that he will for a few
days be the guest of the Duke of Hamilton. Shooting
being one object of his grace's visit, it is deemed not im.
prcbable that the victor of a hundred battles may cross to
Arran, and enjoy the splendid sport that is to be expe-
rienced on this island.—Glasgow Chronicle.
WILL OF THE DUKE OF SLSSEX.—The will of his
Royal Highness Augustus Frederick Duke of Sussex has
just passed the seal of the Perogative Court of Canterbury.
The executors named in the will are Lord Dinorben,
C. K. K. Tynte, Esq., and Mr. Walker (comptroller of
the Duke's household.) His royal highness directs that
a bond held by his daughter for £lO,OOO be discharged ;
and the whole of his property to go to his wife, the Duchess
of Inverness ; that his plate, jewels, and many other arti-
cles, too numerous to mention, be sold by auction : (they
have since realized the sum of £37,713 Os. 11d.) He also
directs that if government does not purchase his library
within a year it is also to be sold by auction. The will is
very shore, and is written on a small sheet of paper. The
property has'been sworn under £6o,ooo.—Britannia.

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

UNIVERSITY AND CLERICAL NEWS.