The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-03-13 00:00:00

THE STATFSMAN

The House met at 10 o'clock in the morning, and pro-
ceeded in Appeals.
The Duke of RICHNIOND presented a petition from
King's Lynn (Norfolk) against the Insolvent Debtors'
Acts.—Ordered to lie upon the table.
Lord ORANTHANI presented a Petition from
Farmers, &e. in the neighbonrhood of Pontefract (York-
shire), against the heavy toll imposed by the tieneral
Turnpike Act of last Sessions upon carts with narrow
wheels.—Ordered to lie upon the.
Upon the motion of the Eal of LIVERPOOL, an
Account was ordered of the number of Appeals up to the
present time.
The Assessed Taxes llertal (Ireland) Bill was read a
second time and committed for to-morrow.
DLARRIAGES.
Upon the question of Adjournment moved by the Earl
et SHAFTESBURY,
Lord ELLENBOROCOFI tuck the opportunity of
calling the attention of the House to the present Hate of
the law regarding marriage. One Bill had paved both
Homes, and had received the Royal Assent for making
valid those marriages which had been solemnised under
licenses granted by surrogates who had no legal power to
1.1,11 C them, but who at the time were not aware that their
power oat taken from them. Another Bill had pissed
their Lordships' House, and was now in the House of
Commons, where it bad not yet got to a second reading,
for the purpose of repealing all the prospective part of the ,
Marriage Act of last Session' with the exception of the
tactility clause, which Bill was intended, to bring again
into operation the Law regarding Marriage as it stood
previous to the passing of the Act of last Sessions (with
the• exception of the nullity clause) during the interval
between the present period, and the final arrangement of
the Law, which was the object of the debberations of their
Lordiships' Committee. It unfortunately, however, hap-
pened that much trilsappreliension had gone abroad upon
this 'object, it being supposed that the Marriage Act of
last Sessinn was alresdv repealed. and the old law restor-
ed, and it appeared that several ckrgyinen were, in conse-
grufore in doubt hoe to act. It was of importance, there-
()re, th it it should be generally understood that at pre-
sent the new Marriage Act passed last Session was
ot repealed, but WAS in full operation. It was
of the more importance that this should be generally un-
derstood, as otherwise parties, by contracting marriages
Without the forms required by that Art, would incur
rumerous penalties, many marriages might be rendered
illegal. and the utmost confusion might arise. it was
to b. I sinented under these rirciimstances that the Bill
for the repeal-of the prospective clauses of the Marriage
Act of last Session had yet advanced no further in the
House of Commons. He certainly did not mean to make
any charge against the House of Commons, but merely
noon this point to state that their Lordships had done their
duly in applying a remedy at speedily es possible to the
evils which had arisen from the prospective operation of
the Marriage Art of last Sessions. The inconvoniences,
indeed, which were at present experienced, were of a
na•nre deeply to he ',merited. The number of marriages
had decreasid, and many partici, to avoid the forms re-
spiked by that Act, had, to use a common expression,
takeo each others word for it, promising to marry when
thise forms were got rid o'; a in vie which, however it
might snit the male party, was not always (particularly
after much lapse of time) the hest fur the lady, and
which undoubtedly tended very much against the in-
terests of morality.—The Committee appointed by their
leordthips to investigate this subject had met as often as
• it was usual for Committees to do, mad bad certainly sat
more hours than was usual with Committees ; but not-
withitstiding every diligence and attention, it would be
impossible (with the due deliberation which the import-
ance of the sohject required) for any measure finally
settling the law with regard to marriage, to be carried
into effect is a lees period than four or five months, • le
,111 a inean'time, therefore, it was of importance, that as
coon as posslble the forms required by the Marriage Act
of last Sessions should be got rid of, but it was very ma-
terial that Abe public should understand, th it at pr sent
(until the Hill passed by their Lordships had passed the
House of Commons and received the Royal Assent) the
• Islaretage Act of last Session was in full operation.
Adjourned till to-morrow (this day). •
HOUSE OF COM NIONS —.WEDNESDAY.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at four o'clock, and
proceeded to count the House. There being only thirty-
' six Member piesent, the House was adjourned till to-
morrow.

Minority of 0 who supported the motion of Mr. Hume, on
hringing up of the Report on the Army Estimates, to re-
duce the great for defraying the charge of the Royal Mili-
tary College from 11,Gsgl. Ids. Id. to 8,51591. Ris. Id. on
.Moudoy. Match 10.
Altliorpe, Visct. lion. 11. G. Bennet, R. Berne), Sir F.
Blake, Sir J. Booghey. Bright, Chas. Calvert. N. W. it.
Colborne, P. Corbett. S. Graded, Thomas Creerey,
Curwen. T. H .Davies . Visa. Dttncaunon, Ches. Hondas,
Vise. Ebriugton.Win. Evans,} Farquharton, J. Grhi Mae,
attan,
P. Urentall, Sir B. W. Guise, A. . linidintand. JOY.
C. Hotchiuson, Wm. James. J.U. Latnliton, Jat.:es
Martin, J. B. 'Monet, Viset. Normanby, Lord P. G. Os-
borne, C. F. Palmer, Thos. Pares, W. S. Poyntz, Pryse
pryse, I). Ricardo, James Scott, Rob. S=ith.Edw.Webbe.
Jeo. Wharton, William Williams, Sir R. Wilson, Matthew
Rood. M. Wyvill.
Which motion was opposed hy one hundred and seven,
whose names we regret being mole to give. The House
ilifterwards divided aglio, oa as being tooled to resolve it-

--- - ------
self into a Committee on the Assessed Taxes Bill, on the
motion of Mr. Curwen. that it he an i struction to the Cogi-
mince to take off the house Tax entirely, from Houses of
not m•re than N. a year; and the Window Tax from all
houses having not more than six windows, which ino•ion the
Honourable Nlemher urged hp stating that it would effot♦
relief to 14,401 runilies, without producing more than an
ageregate diminution of 0 ',WO/. per annum In the Revenue.
This motiou was supported by 28 out of the 42 who support-
ed the motion of Mr. Ilume. and the six foliowinz, viz.:—
Hon. W. fiordon, 11. Monteith, Sir J. Shelley, Earl Sefton,
R. Price, A. Roberts. Making a total of 34.

ELECTION OF THE LORD RECTOR OF MARL
SCIIAL COLLEGE, I,tiecit 1, 1e.23.

When our paper last week issued from the press, we
had received several communicationsconcerning the Elec-
tion of a Lord Rector of Marischal College, to take place
that day at noon. It was known, that a great majority
of the Students had agreed to vote for Mr. flume, and
that of the four Nations theilngusiani,Mredoncolses and
Moravienses, bad appointed Procurators instructe 1 to vote
for that eeirtleman. The Buck/menses were divided, but
the majority were in favour of the Earl of Fife, who was
the only other candidate in nomination. That the pro-
posal, to elect Mr. Mine to that honourable offive, had
excited a great sensation among some Members of the
Senatits Aeadentieus, was well known ; but as sine of the
mast active of his opponents had (lodated that
tliell—weA nine the Professors—could not interfere (we
presume direct/y), arid as the Students op to the brew of
election entwined unshaken in their purpose to elect
Hume, no effectual opposition was anticipated. It may',
be necessary here to observe, for the information of the
public, that, according to the practice in Merischal
lege, the fo nr Nations declare their Procurators, in pre-'
si-nce of the Professors, the Election having previously
taken place, according to their own uninfinenced judg-
meats, unanimously or by a plurality of voices, as may
happen. The Elections .had already taken place, hut
upon a Professor's entering the Class Room, where the
Angusiani were assembled, and inquiring whetner they
hail agreed upon a Procurator—a Student answered No,
while others said, that the majority had elected a Procu-
rator, and mentioned his name. The Profesoar, however,
inquired whether there was any other candidate? And
one was immediately mentioned for the first time, and a',
division immediately took place, under the direction of 1
the Professor. However impartially the Professors (for
another had now joined) way have acted upon this occa-
sion, it is aerertamed, that some of the younger Students,
who had previously yeteil for the Procurator in favour of
Mr. Mime, were prevented by their presence from divid-
ing in his favour, as one of them very artlessly said,
when reminded of his former promise and vote, "
hlow
could I diride in favour of Mr. flume, when the Protes-
tor teas just looking at ore?" The cuipeq. ence 1‘23,
that the hitherto unheard of candidate tur the office of
Procurator was declared duly elected, and proceeded to
the discharge of his expected duty, without any instruc-
tions from his constitirente.
The Moravienses being equally divided, a student was
openly solicited by a Professor to change his vote, which
he did ; and consequently, the Procurator of that nation
also was changed. The ibredonenses stood firm, and
the Buelianenses were not attended by any Professor on
the occasion. By this arrangement, a majority of the
Procurators declared its favour of the Earl of Fife, a ma-
jority of the Students still adhering to their original des
cision in favour of Mr. Hurne, the numbers being, accord-
ing to the statements we have seen :
Fur Mr. II nue 93
For the Earl of Fife, including the votes of
Four Private Students .• . . 94

Maprity in favour of Mr. Home
And striking olf the Four Private Students
who had no right to vote . • . Fight.
We have been careful to ascertain the farts in this extra-
ordinary case : and, from unexceptionable authority, et'
canasiureour realer that the above statement is correct.
Other circumstances have also come to our knowledge,
no less extraordinary and equally well authenticated, all
tending to establish the fact,that, had the Students been
allowed to conduct the election freely, Mr. Home must
hav been at this time Lord Rector of te University.
nutiee ithstanding the unworthy threat heldh eut, that a list
of all those who should vo.e for Mr. Hume shoulekke made
out, and transmitted to a Noble Lord —as if it were cri-
minal in the Students to douse as their Rector a Gentle-
man whose public service., during the last six or
seven years, have been of more advantage to the,
country than those of all the Chancellors and Rectors
connected with Marischal College for the last century ;
and whose manly and intrepid discharge of his duty'
as a Senator has justly procured him honours never
before conferred upon u Representative of the Com-
mons. The time was, when a distinguished Graduate
of Mariseltal College received much applause for having
written an Ode to INDEVe:NDENCE ; but the " Lord of
the Lion heart mid Eagle eye," has not been in fashion-
able repute in Aberdeenshire for many years; Lords of a
vert dilfe-ent description having fairly ousted him. The
young gentlemen. however, who voted for Mr. Hume,
are nut satisfied that they in so doing did any thing
wrong • although in the present ins•ance, they were not
prepared for the isiantruvres of their antagonists, they have
gained useful information, and wish it to be fatly under-
stood, that they have adopted Mr. Hume's motto—Perse-
verance. They are folly aware of the obligations they
are under to the Earl of Fife, for whom they express the
warmest gratitude ; and they have preserved the strictest
decorum towards them Preceptors of whose conduct they
believe that they have in the present case a right to com-
plain ; hut if we are not misinformed, they have seen
enough in recent circumstances to attach them for life to
the cause of ono:mumble ndependenc, and a seek re-
dress by the legal means within theire reach.— t(Aeterriren
';hronicle.)

SUGAR TRADE.

•A Meeting of Merchants, Planters, and otLeve, inte
rested in the trade and prosperity of the West Indies, was
held in the City of Lowlon Tavern, yesterday, for the
purpose of petitioning Parliament against the proposed
Equalization of the Ditties upon East India and West
India fingar. About ft) were present.
Mr. C. Ellis, M. I'., being cated to the Chair, proposed
the addition of several :Members to the Standing' Com-
mitter, before the regular business was proceeded in ; and
that bring done,
4r. ELLIS s•ated that the purpose far which the Meet-
ing bad been called, was, to submit to the consideration
of those itsterested in the trade of the West I ndies, a peti-
tion which it was intended to lay before Parliament for
tbe equalization of the duties upon East India and Writ In-
dia sugar. A petition to this cffem Lad been prepared
the standing t7tnnutittee, and he had been instructed to
submit it to their notice. The petition was absolutely
necessary when the nature of the proposal against which
it praj %A.A.; cousitirrel The object of that proposal
being in feet nuthinr; less than to put an end to the cul-
tivation of sucar in the West Indies, and transfer the
whole of the sugar trade to the East. lie would state to
the Meeting what was the existing lair, what the
West India trade had claimed at the time when the
charter of the East India Company was last renew-
ed, and what hors hail at that time ken held out
by his Majesty's Doverurnetit. He would real the
substance of the application. It was this :
"That such an addition shonli be made to the duty
upon all sugar and rale imported from the East
holies
atter the opening of the trade, as shall be eqiiisat
the facilities which %sill be afforded to importation by
such opening, and be suilicieat to preserve to the West

India. Planters substantially the some protection against
the competition of East India Sugar and Coff-e in the
newt state of things as was atfariled to them during the
existence of the Company's monopoly." To which Um
Noble Lord then at the head of his Majesty's Govern-
ment in the Honse of Commons, hail replied—" That the
(love:muter-it had thought it right to have this point, with
nutty other arrangements, to be settled separately in the
next Session; but that they felt the necessity of bringing
forward a measure fur the purpose of protecting the Co-
lonies against the competition which would be created
by the opening of the trade; and-of plaCing the t.vo in-
terests (of East and West India) on the same footing to-
wards each other, as they hail hitherto stood towards
each other; and that an additional duty would with that
siew be necessary." lie had stated this to sliew what
had been asked, and what promised ; and tile object
of the whole was to obtain such duty on Est In-
dia sugars as would protect the interests of the West.
—How far this was done by the existing laws, would
he seen from the great increase of the import of Eat
India sugars—the quantity in 1813 was 13,600 cwt. :
in
1821 it was 11-1,000. Sugars of inferior qu hid thus
been brought into tht- market, and the East India trades
had here able to bring in sugar which had some resem-
blance to clayed moor; and also sugars from Java and
China. The former hail, upon repressntat'ons, been stop
ped ; and the latter had been subjected to the same duties as
sugars from any other toreign country. Such was the
state ut Vie law at present, but he did not tsee to inform
the gentlemen composing the meeting, all of whom
knew the matter better than himself, that it f 11 short
of that protection which the interests of the West Indies
requiseil, shirt of what had been enjoyed when the East
India Company were in complete possession of th it
monopoly. Yet it Was against this that these eng Teti in
the East India trade made their complaint—a complaint,
the dangerous consequences of which it was unnecessary
for him to point out. it would hr fatal not only to the very
existence of the West India Islands as British Colonies,
hot also to all the important interests connected with
them.
The Petition was then read.
Mr. Mueslis said, that in rising to move, that the
Petition be adopted by the meeting, with as few remarks,
and as little minute criticism as possible, be meant no
disrespect to the meeting. It had been drawn up by a
Committee of their own appointing, and though it might
not be perfect, be thought it better to adopt and s gu it,
and leave the additional arguments which might come
out in the course of the day's conversation to those
Members of Parliament by whom it would be supported.
Ile moved that the Pi tition be adopted.
M. CsnaiNGTON seconded the motion. The ques-
tion was, in his opinion, cf greater interest than any which
had been agitated sluice the Abolition of the Slave Trade.—
If it were viewed merely as a contest between the Esst and
the West Indies. it would be a question of more than or-
dinary consequence ; but, as it had been touched upon by
his lilajCsty's Government, it must involve what would di-
rectly injure our interests in the West Indies. There were
various interests opposed to the change projected, and the
opposition to that project was one not of duty only, but
of safety, as, if the &meads were granted, Government
might look to the separation of the West India Islands from
the mother country. He would therefore oppose the ap-
pointment of the Committee of Inquiry—not, indeed, with
regard to the adjusting of the existing laws, but with re-
gard to the equalising of the duty ; he would deprecate any
discussion which would involve the separation of the colo-
nies from the mother country. The colonies were highly
important, and the mother country was in fact by them. The
laws by which their right to occupy the market were secured
were good old laws ; and we ought to resist that monstrous
spirit of indovation which wished to describe every thing
planned by our ancestors as bad—(Applause.) He entered
with diffidence upon this part of the question, as apparently
ranging too wide ; hut he hoped others would take it up,
sad supply what was wanting in so important a cause. He
trusted that the West Indies had a powerful landed interest
in England, and that they would not come to the discussion
of this question as to that of some insulated tax. such as
that upon tailow or soap ; but that they would consider it as
the grand question of whether the West India Colonies
should be abandoned amt lost. It was said, that even though
that were the calk., the East Indies could supply the country
in sugar. He would admit this—nay, he wished to take it
as the ground upon which he Was to stand—that the est
Indians were not able to compete with she East ; butW the
country ought to oonaider that the question was not whether
the market could be supplied in one way or in another, but
whether they were to preserve the colonies. In this light,
he was sure it was viewed by every person at the Meeting,
amid he hoped that Uoverninent would see it in the same ;
that they would not confine it to the dispute about Ss. in the
duty, but put an end to that ferment which would and iu the
destrumion of the colonies, or In the separation of them from
the mother eoontry.
The Petition was then put from the Chair, and carried tins-
nimeisly ; sod a recommendation by the Chairman, that it
be signed individually. agreed to.
Thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the meetlag se-
tarated.

6 itEEC E.

The Journal dcs De?pats, received since our last, con.
.dins the fulluwiug aliitionaland gratifying intelligence
from Greece:—

" Zante, February 14, 11.40.
" After the memorable victory gained on the 6th
this month, by the inhabitants of Alissolunllii. who re-
pelled six successive assaults given by the 'lurks to the
fortified head of the causeway leading to the town,
Omni. Ilrionis, Paris s of Joannina. retirei, leaving
1,5110 killed and wounded on the field. It was nut
known daring two whole days which direction he had
taken, and scouts sent, both to the bridge of Primicos
and to the greet causeway of the Lake of Soudi, baring
ammonited that the enemy bad disappeared, and aban-
doned his c,unp filled with huts and tents, wi hoist du,
ing to enter it, fur fear of some ambuscade, it was de-
cided to push a reconnoitring party beyond the Zygo..
Intelligence was received at the same time that a cbrps
of 1,8110 Greeks from the coast Lf the Mores, had
landed opposite Trissonia, and was advancing through
the defiles of Mount Corakos towards the Falaris
whilst Markos Rot:ads was marching at the head of
1,5110 men through Lepenon, towards Vrachori. The
movement from Missoltinzlii having been calculated on
this bask, the first object was to reach the camp of
Omer Brinnis, which was really abandoned, and in
which sixteen pieces of cannon, a great quantity of
ammunition, aid of provisions, together with the sna,l-
niticent tent of Chanrschill Paella, were found. Al
these objects fell into the hands of the Christians,
who soon after learned that Omer Pacha bail inuenchee.
himself at Vrachuri. The last letter from that quarter
announce that he was surrounded in that position,
and th it news of his complete nun was momentarily
, expected."
by

I NDIA7C Pain NIONEY —We- have already laid before
onr readers the result of the Deccan Prize Cause. .I.he
whole money being adjudged to the Bombay portion of
his Majesty's Indian army, neither Lord listings nor
his force arc allowed any sh;:re. For the ihfortnatioa of
the numerous per; ms ii:terested in this event, we now
have it in our power to state, that the following remuunts
are those entitled to the largest share :—the 47th Reel-
meat (still in India); the 67th, also there; the 656,
I jest lauded in Enelaml from lloinhay ; the 17th Light
1 Dragt-ons (tooting ho e)m. The 'Dcaecn Prize Money is
the la:gtst rapture ever made in India, very far surpass.
I ing the prize made in the Persian Gulph two years ago'
by the same regitnehts.
1 The late investigation into Lord Portsmouth's sound-
ness of mind cost seven lA:mired poems a 41/—in the
whole about twenty that sand pounds!