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M be hahleatthed.S cretion ofthe court b...
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MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. Tuesday, Mat 22.-The...
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IMPORTANT DECISION UNDER THE FACTORY ACT...
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Gexesal Posi-Oitice, Mat, 1819.—Many new...
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" v "" " A •»¦»" xuuu nUAUSKlS. • The Hu...
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SURREY ADJOURNED SESSIONS. These session...
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Pernicious Isfluexce or Privileges.—The ...
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imtjm-tal aaarft'ambt
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MONDAY, Mai-21: S 0 M SE °? LORDS. ~riBI...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Daring Outrage On Eer Majesty. On Saturd...
M be hahleatthed . S cretion ofthe court before which the said person shall be so convicted to be transported beyond the seas for the term of seven lahom- V ^ lm * T ° > ^ WSouthard labourer may period not exceeding three years and during the period of such imprilonment to he xnS ^ n 7 f ' ately W ^ > » often ^ nd in such manner and form as the said court shaU order and direct , not exceeding three " ™ 5 ^ ^ Us fin that if the sentence of trans portatioius passed , the flogging cannot be carried into execution ; to inflict such a necessary punishment , the court must pass the minimum sentence wlri . 1 . « . ro „ ;/ "l ! f ^ f , ^ noftbe court brfmrl
M Be Hahleatthed.S Cretion Ofthe Court B...
May 2 d 3 1849 . Is ¦ , "" ' __' . _ '
Middlesex Sessions. Tuesday, Mat 22.-The...
MIDDLESEX SESSIONS . Tuesday , Mat 22 .-These sessions commenced th « morning at IGcksX Hall , ClcrkcnwSKen oefore the usual authorities . The calendar contains a list of sixty-eight cases ior tnaL of which fifty-seven axe indictments for lelony . Lxdecesi Assault bx a Policeman , ^ -d Per-? cbior o-ve OFnisTViixEssEs . —TVilliam Jcnninirs . apohee-constable , who , at the last sitting ofthe court , was convicted of having committed ° an indecent assault upon a little girl named Win < rove was brought up for judgment . ° The court had deferred passing sentence on the prisoner , m order that the police might make inquiries as to what connexion , if any , had existed between linn and
_ a witness named James Lane , who was called for the defence , aud who swore that the prisoner was an entire stranger to Mm . His evidence was , that he was near the spot where the "to said the offence was committed , having been to visit a niece of his who lived in Wellington-place , Victoria-grove . He said that he asked the prisoner who was on duty there , the way to his residence ' and it was by that means the prisoner found him alter the charge was made against him . Inspector Tarltox , K division , said that lie had instituted inquiries , and he had ascertained that the witness Lane had not visited his niece in Wellington-place at all for the last eighteen months , and that on the Tuesday preceding the trial of the prisoner ( who was bailed ) they were seen together in the Ticioria-gro ve exaniing the locality , ant ? measuring the ground , so that the witness might be able to describe it on the trial . Lane was also at the police-court when the prisoner was bailed , and a
very intimate friend of Lis ( Lane ' s ) was brother-inlaw to the prisoner , and was bail for him . The learned Judge said the result of thc inquiry was very much like what he had anticipated that it would he . The witness it was" now proved had committed gross and wilful perjury in this case . 2 Cow , looking at this faek-that the defendant at the time he had committed this assault was one ofthe policeforce , and , moreover , that he was also on duty , and that he had called a perjured witness to speak in his behalf , with the full knowled ge that what that witness was about lo swear was altogether false , it was impossible , under such a state of circumstances , hut that the Court should visit the defendant with a punishment of some severity . The sentence upon him therefore was that he be imprisoned for the period of three months in the House of Correction , and that before his liberation he find security for his future good behaviour .
Bobbery . —William Langley , a well-known member of the " swell-mob , " was indicted for having robbed a lady of the name of "Webber , of a purse containing three sovereigns , a half-soverei gn , and three half-crowns . It appeared that the prosecutrix and a female friend were walking in the neighbourhood of St . John ' s Wood on the evening of the 23 th of April , and upon arriving at a lighter part of the road than they had just been traversing , the former observed something glisten by her sidcT She looked round with quickness , when she saw her purse , which was worked with steel heads , in the
hand of a person whom she fully believed was the prisoner at the bar . ^ As soon as she turned round the man ran off , leaving the purse behind him , but he was pursued by her friend , and eventually the prisoner was overtaken and secured by a young man who joined in the pursuit . The identity of the prisoner was proved , and the jury thereupon returned a verdict of " Guilty . " Thelearned Judge , in passing sentence , stated that the prisoner was a wellknown incorri g ible thief , and was one of those whose practice it had been to lurk about dark corners aud avenues on the watch for ladies . He was
Tcry much too perfect , and too much accomplished in his avocation tobe allowed to remain in this country and therefore the sentence upon him was transportation for ten years .
Important Decision Under The Factory Act...
IMPORTANT DECISION UNDER THE FACTORY ACT . A bench of magistrates at Dewsbury , in Yorkshire , have given a unanimous decision against the relay system . The adjudicating magistrates on the bench were 3 Ir . Ingham , of Blake-hadl , chairman ; Mr . J . H . Greenwood , and Mr . W . 11 . Wheatley . Colonel Pollard aud Mr . Ralph , both West Hiding magistrates , were also present , but took no part in the proceedings . The court was filled with millowners and others Interested in the p"int at issue . The parties charged were Messrs . "Wilson and Pick , cotton-spinners , of Liversedge , and the offence laid against them was preferred by Mr- Bate ? , sub-inspector of factories , who charged them with employing a young woman , named Ann Flint , under eighteen years of age , for more than ten hou ' s , on the 27 th of April last . Mr . Saunders , theinspector of factories for the Yoikshire district , conducted the case on the part of the prosecution ; Messrs . Wilson audPink were defended by Mr . Walts , solicitor , Dewsbnry .
Mr . Saunders , in stating the case , said—The second section of the act commonly called the Ten Hours Act , directs that no ypung person shall be employed more than ten hours in any one day , except in certain cases as prcvified . There arc two clauses in the 7 th Yictoria , chap . 15 , to wliich I beg respecfully to call the attention of the bench—viz .. the 2 Cth and 52 nd sections The words of the information are , " that Ann Flint was employed for more than ten hours ; such space of more than ten hours being reckoned and computed according to the mode prescribed bv the said act , " and this mode is laid down in the two sections to which I have referred . The 2 Cth section provides , " that the hours of work of
young persons --= hall be reckoned from the time when any child or young person shall first begin to work in the morning in such factory ; " and tlic 52 nd section provides , " that the time of beginning work-in the morning , which shall be stated in any notice Sied up in the factory , signed by the occupier or his agent , shall be taken to be the time when aU persons in the factory , except children beginning to work in the afternoon , began work oa any day subsequent to the date of such notice . " This exception is important , because it expressly excludes from the operation of this notice lhe only class of persons who insy work as a relay class in the afternoon—viz ., children under thirteen years of age who have attended school in the forenoon . He
called—Mr . Bates , who said , that he was at "WIIsmi and Pink ' s factory on the 27 th of April last , and found the notice now produced hung up ^ in the mill . He knewit again from having put his initials upon it . They were then there . He saw there the notice as to the hours of work of all young persons employed on that day aa follows :- " Friday- From six to eight ; from half-past eight to one ; from two to half-past five . " JohnAshworth , in the emp loyment of Messrs . Wilson and Pink , proved . " that Ann Flint worked at their factory on the 2 / th " of April ; that she came at eight o clock in the morning , went out to dinner atone o clock , came ba ? k at two ; worked till four ; came back at half-past four ; and worked till eight at night . .,
Mr . Watts then addressed the bench at considerable length , contending that the witnesses bad proved that his clients had employed Ann Flint no more than ten hours on the day in question , aud that was the time allowed by thc Ten Hours Act Mr Ingham ( the chairman ) said—This is a case as to the construction of an Act of Parliament ; and it is not as to whether any person really worked more than ten hours , but whether any person working certain hours is to be deemed to have worked more than ten hours in the opinion of the justices . Therefore , if there is anything false in our conviction , it is in the law , not 0 . 3 ; we act as we think the law requires Tis to do ; we are quite agreed , unanimously in fact , all three of us—and we deemed Ann Flint to have worked more than ten hours in one day , and therefore we convict these parties in the penalty of A . 3-
Gexesal Posi-Oitice, Mat, 1819.—Many New...
Gexesal Posi-Oitice , Mat , 1819 . —Many newspapers addressed to New South Wales and JSew Zealand , having recently been posted unpaid , it has bscomc necessary to repeat the announcement that the packets heretofore conveying the mails between this cosntry and Sydney , New South Wales , have heen discontinued , and " that all newspapers for the colonies above mentioned , being now transmitted jfj private ship , are liable to a postage of one penny each , which postage must he paid in advance , or the newspapers cannot be forwarded . Bad Health ron Twexit Teaks . —Immediate Hehef by Hollowat's Pnxs . —Extract of a letter from the Kev . Gftiiwl'rior curate of-Mevag h Letterrkenny , Carngari , £ S £ M & ^ 3 ^ "ToWcssor HoTlowav . Dear sS-Wi thin a short distance of my house , resides a small
Merged abox of your pHlsfor him ^ h ^ dlum somudh sood that I Heard him say that «» twenWOT Searspreviously he never ate ** * £ ** £$££ much as since taking your puls . -fSigned ) Geokce ; rwo * THETEEra-Theseorgans ^ re alike ««^* ^ w and beau t * Itis therefore to be regretted that they arc so IMdeto decay . Yet it is a fact which cannot betoo vr idely known , thatif , directly a black , speck is seenin a loo & fit be filled with VzasdJs Esamh , the decayanilb & arrested , pain escaped , andftetottpresei ^ to rroe oltt age . IfpiorSe allow their teeth to decay unta the nervous pulp is whom ? exposed , it gannot be wondered at that they find it difficult to ease or cure that temMe pan , the tooth-ache . «« A stitch in time saves mne" - ^ nd upon this prinripfe , the use of Bbxsde ' s Buanu . will prove 1 a red blessing to aU who give it a triai where decay has madi its appearance lathe teeth .
Gexesal Posi-Oitice, Mat, 1819.—Many New...
ADULTERY AXD ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE IX PARIS . Several weeks ago a case of adulterv , accompanied by three attempts at homicide , tobk place in the house of a gentleman named Carabv 2 fo 80 Hue d'Anjou St . Honore . The three * principal actors in the drama—M . and Madame Caraby and * i . de Coetiogon—were arrested , and after an ' ini \ DTTTTrPT , ¦ ¦ ¦
. vau uy juuiuiui auiug nues , were ordered for trial before the Court of Assizes . The trial commenced on Monday last . Madame Caraby was the first to enter the dock She is twenty-eight years of age . very handsome ' with brilnant black
eyes ; she was fashionably dressed Her husband was placed beside her : he is of middle stature , with large moustaches . De Coetiogon came next ; he is good looking with mou--taches , and was attired in black In answer to the usual questions , the female prisoner said that she is twenty-ei ght years of 5 and was bom at New Orleans ; the husband said his &? iW * ? ab liis a Se thirty-six , his JJS tion in life that 0 f a rentier , and his place of birth J ^ ew Orleans ; the other prisoner said his name is ilippolyte E . A . de Coetiogon , his age twenty-niue , and was formerl y an officer in the army .
The indictment set forth that the Carabys were married in 1 S 39 , and had four children ; their marriage was one of inclination—indeed , it was a runaway match . In 1843 they went to live with the wife ' s mother at Chalons-sur-Saone ; but in 1847 returned to Paris and took an apartment in the Rue d'Anjou St . Honore . The husband thought his wife ' s conduct in society was not becoming , and this led to dissensions between them , which ended in their living separate , though under the same roof . Caraby did not suspect his wife ef being unfaithful to him until the 27 th of February last , when he heard Annette Fernet , the cook , say to her ' " 1 can hold up my head , and you cannot . " The next day the bonne of the children , Louise Becu , in
reply to some observation he made to her respecting his wife , said , "MonDieu ! I wish to say something to you , but I dare not ! " When pressed by him to explain herself , she stated that she had often seen a man in her mistress ' s bedchamber ; and she added , "If you would wish to surprise him there , you must take precautions , for he is aimed 2 " Carabv , in a state of great agitation , went and purchased a brace of pocket pistols , and caused them to be loaded in his -presence . Caraby then went to his mother ' s house , and begged his brother Eugene to accompany him home . lie told him his suspicion . Eugene went to the Commissary of Police to get him to go to the house to obtain formal proof of the commission of the adulterv ; hut , as that
functionary was not at home , he knocked up the concu erge of his brother ' s house , and told him to be on the watch . Eugene then joined his brother , who at that time had with him another brother , named Etienne . The three brothers arranged with the servant Louise that she should watch her mistress ' s chamber , and give a signal when she should see the lover enter it . The apartment occupied by the Carabys was on the fourth story of No . 80 , Rue d'Anjou , and it had a balcony on which the window of Madame Caraby ' s room and of two other rooms opened . At about a yard from one end of the entrance was the window of a garret , which garret De Coetiogon rented . It was from this garret that he was in the habit of passing bv means of a gutter .
into Madame Carab y ' s bedroom . At about eleven o ' clock on the night of the 23 th of February , Louise being , as just stated , on the watch , heard a bell ring in the room of Madame Caraby , which was responded to by another bell in the garret ; presently she saw a man pass along the balcony into the bedroom of her mistress , and close the window . She immediately informed the three brothers ; they waited for about a quarter of an hour , and then Caraby , putting on his great coat—in the pockets of which were his pistols—went by the balcony to thc window of his wife ' s room . He was followed by his brother Eugene and Louise ; Etienne went to the door of Madame Caraby ' s chamber . Caraby saw that two lights were burning on the table , but the
emotion he felt prevented him from distinguishing anything in the room . Eugene , however , saw a m : in lying in bed by the side of Madame Caraby , and reading a newspaper . Caraby ran for his National Guard musket , to break open the window . On his return , almost at the same moment , he broke two panes of glass . ' and cried " Open ! " The man who was in bod jumped out , and advancing to the window , said , " Give me time to dress myself !" He then returned to consult Madame Caraby . The husband heard her distinctly say , " Take your pistol and shoot him . " (* ' Arme toi , el tire sur lui / " ) Coetiogon disappeared for a moment behind the curtain , and then opened the window ; but as soon as Caraby made a step to enter , he discharged a
pistol at him and wounded him in the arm . Thereupon Caraby pulled one of his pistols from his pocket , and discharged it full in Coetiogon ' s breast , seriously wounding him . Coetiogon stepped on the balcony , but , owing to the darkness , Caraby could not distinguish him . Presently the latter heard another report of a pistol , and rushed into a room to avoid his assailant . Louise saw the man pass from the end of the balcony to the garret . Caraby ' s brothers finding that he was wounded , sent for a doctor . Caraby , his brothers , and the doctor descended the staircase . Oa arriving at the foot , a young man named Borgognon , who had been passing the evening with an English family residing in the house , was descending the staircase . The wife
ofthe concierge , on seeing him , cried , " There he is —the assassin ! " and Eugene Caraby exclaimed , " It is he ! I recognise him 2 " Borgognon was immediately roughly seized by the brothers , and all his remonstrances were disregarded . At length Caraby , excited to fury at the si g ht of the man ho considered the accomplice of Ins wife , discharged his pistol in his face , whereby his jaw was smashed . Borgognon was then dragged to the office of the Commissary of Police , and was subsequently conveyed to the Hospital Beaujon . It was only the next day that his innocence was proved . Whilst this was passing Madame Caraby had disappeared and followed Coetiogon from the balcony to the "a rret , and thence to his residence in the Rue de
rUniversite . The next day she went home to her family . Thc indictment concluded by stating that the charge against the woman Caraby was that of adultery ; against Coetiogon of being an aeeempliee in the adultery , and of having on the 28 th of February committed an attempt of homicide on the person of Caraby ; and against Caraby of an attempt at homicide on thc person of Borgognon . In the course of her examination by the President , Madame Caraby admitted tliat a criminal intercourse had existed between her and Coetiogon ; and in reply to other questions , replied as follows : Had you not a signal to summon Coetiogon to a rendezvous ? I rang a bell , and M . Coetiogon reidied in the same way . —On the 23 th ' of February
you notified to him in that manner that he could come ? Yes , Sir . —What time was it when he came to you ? Half-past eleven o ' clock . —You were in bed ' ? Yes . —By the side of your child , aged two years ? Yes ; he was in the little bed which I made for him whenever M . de Coetiogon was to come . I made this bed with a pillow on two arm-chairs . —De Coetiogon got into bed to you ? Yes . —You hoard vour husband cry on the balcony , " Open , open ! I have witnesses * ? " M . De Coetiogon had been 20 minutes with me when I heard —( here the accused paused for a moment , and then , bursting into tears , exclaimed)— " But I beseech you , M . President , to spare me this recital . " The statement she had made to the examining magistrate was accordingly
read . —Did you pronounce the words , " Take your p istol and shoot him ? This is infamous ! " IfM . de Coetiogon had wished to kill my husband , he might have done so . He had a four-barelled pistol , and mv husband fled before him . Coetiogon had told me that he had p istols , but that they had no percussiou caps . I did not see hio pistol oil the 2 Sth Of February . It is false that I said " Take your pistol and shoot him ! " Coetiogon asked me what he was to do . I said " Do what- you will . How can I tell!—how can I tellI" He cried , " Wait until I am dressed . " When he went towards thc window he had the pistol behind his back , and it was pointed towards the ground . I heard a report when his pistol was still in that position . I did not remark that Coetiogon was wounded . Ho fired in
the an * . The answers of M . Caraby to the questions put by the President were in accordance with tho facts stated in the indictment . The third accused , M . Coetiogon , acknowledged that it was not till after a long and persevering pursuit that he had succeeded in seducing Madame Caraby . De denied that he had been the first to fire . He declared that he had not fired at M . Caraby at all , and that his wound must have been occasioned by thc rebound of the ball after striking thc wall . * Witnesses were then called . . __ _ .
Annette Fernet , the cook , said that M . Caraby had struck and kicked his wife in her presence . Thev did not live happily together . M * Borgognon described how he was wounded on descending the staircase of Caraby's house ; but he asserted , to the astonishment of the Court , that it was not the accused Caraby , but his brother Etienne , who had fired on him . On this Etienne cried , " I solemnly swear to God that this is not true . " Another brother , Eugene , declared that the pistol was really fired by the accused . Several other witnesses were examined , but their testimony added nothing to the information already given . After speeches from the publie prosecutor and the counsel for the prisoner ,
The President summed up , and , after about an hour ' s deliberation , the jury returned a verdict of " Guilty" on the charge of adultery , and " Not guilty" as regarded all the other charges . M . " Caraby was consequently immediately set at liberty , and ' the Court condemned Madame Ciraby and Coetiogon , for the adultery , each to ' -two years" imprisonment , and the latter to l , 000 f . finet
" V "" " A •»¦»" Xuuu Nuauskls. • The Hu...
" "" " •»¦» " xuuu nUAUSKlS . The Hull vessels sent to Greenland this year have been very unfortunate in their fishing : but this is unimportant contrasted with the intelligence we hav e to convey ofthe total loss of tho" William Ward and the Pledge ,. of this port . The former was a barque of 205 tons , and a crew of forty-five men ; the latter , a smack of thirty-one tons , and a crew of nineteen men . A letter has been received bv Mrs . Gravill wife of Captain Gravill , of the William ' Ward , which contains the further details of the loss of that vessel . It is dated the 7 th instant , on board the Dublin of Peterhead , " ht . GO dcg . 21 . The writer states that the loss of the William Ward occurred , on the 24 th March , in a tremendous gale from the * . £ ., amongst heavy icein lat . 47 deg . 30 min . If .
, , and long . 10 deg . W . "Every precaution , " observes Captain Gravill , "had been used for her safety , having sent down topgallant yards , and struck mizen-topmast , and close reefed the topsails , on the morning of the above day , while it was calm . The gale commenced about three a . m . most terrific , for we bad to stow away all but the closoreefod mam-topsails . The frost was very severe , with constant thick weather . Tho Traveller of Peterhead was in company . Wc had all hands on doek attending to the braces which we could scarccly Inud through the blocks f or the frost ; many ofthe mens faces were frost-bitten , and although not above the deck , it was impossible to make the men hear without the trumpet . The ship being amongst heavy ice , with a tremendous sea . about three n . m .
hove down upon the weather side of a heavy ' stream' ( of ice ) with no possibility of getting clear . Wo were , therefore , compelled to let her go into it . Her larboard side was soon stove fore and aft , and , before we got through , the water was up to the hold beams . Our situation was now most alarming , there being no ship to be seen ; we had lost sight of the Traveller some time before . Our condition was aggravated by the continued severity of the frost , and many of our men suffering under its inflictions , but we got the ship s head to the eastward , and all hands were employed at both pumps . We cut away the mainmast to keep the vessel from turning on her beam ends . In this condition we continued until two days afterwards , when , in the morning , there was a crv , fore
and aft , 'The ship ' s going down head first . ' . 1 Save orders to cut . way the foremast , which being one eased the ship greatly , and every exertion was made to keep her above water , the men dropp ing off from the pumps daily , through fatigue and having their feet frost bitten ; and so we remained , from the 24 th until the 29 th , constantly at the pumps , and with the water sometimes in the cabin . On the morning of the 29 th we could onlv muster twenty-eight at the pumps out of forty-five hands , but , through the intervention of an ever-watchful Providence , a ship hove in sight , and , with difficulty , made us out to be a wreck , as we appeared to be like alargc heap of ice , but the mizen-mast being still staffing , convinced the other ship ' s crew that it was a vessel in distress . They , thereforebore
, down to us , and nroved to be the Fairy , of Dundee , Captain Robert Rer , who with the feelings of a father and a friend , sent his boats immediately to our relief , and took us all from the wreck . The weather proved moderate that morning , but as the sea ran high , we were compelled to keep to the pumps up to the last moment , until his boats got alongside for us . We then got all thc sick up as well as we could , amounting to eighteen at that time . Some we were obliged to carry on our backs to the side , and lower into the boats , their feet being very much frost-bitten , and their legs wrapped up in pieces of blankets . It took the greater part ofthe day to get us allout , and the Fairy had only time to save three boats after we were all on board . The ship ( the William Ward ) was filling fast , and a
gale increasing , before midnight the Fairy was obliged to come under a close-reefed main-topsail and foresail , so that had wc not been ty . ken off before that storm I greatly doubt whether any of us would have been left , as the poor men were giving up every hour . Both myself and the crew will never forget the kindness to thc sick , and the attention paid to us all by Capt . Ker and his ship ' s company . I left the Sarah and Elizabeth a little more than a week ago , to come home by the Dublin , Capt . Mackie . He has about 8 , 000 seals , about 115 tone . He had given up all hope of ever getting out of the ice , as it is a heavy ' pack , ' and there is no ' young ^ ice' to shelter them . Many ships are stove , and those that have escaped consider it a miracle . The smack Pledge is lost , but the crew
saved . Some of them are on board the Dublin . I am afraid there is another vessel lost , as 1 have been told of a main boom that was picked up . It appears to have been a brig . Thc smack Turk , Brown , had about 400 seals , but she is stove . I know very little about the Hull ships , but heard they were all badly off . The Sarah and Elizabeth had 150 seals when I left her , but I hope they will all do well . The Traveller is very much stove , as are also the Resolution and many more . I am sorry to say many of our men have lost the toes off their feet , and I am afraid some of them will lose their feet . Poor Arthur had lost five toes last time 1 saw him . I intend landing at Shetland , as I think wc shall bo better able to get home . Young Lee , Smith , lather , and Robinson arc with me . " A letter has also been received from the mate of thc Pledge , and is , we believe , thc only communication which has arrived from that vessel . The master is still at Greenland . It is dated as thc
above , and , after briefly stating thc loss of tho Pledge on the 2 Sth ult ., contains the following particulars addressed to the owner : — " Sir , I have to inform you of the wreck of the Pledge in Greenland . On the 12 th of A pril it was blowing a heavy gale , and we were completely disabled , having no seam from ice-knees down to keel , no mainboom , no mainsail ( thc mainsail having blown to ribbons ) and water by this time in the lower bed cabins , and gaining on us . The Traveller of Peterhead , being m company with us , was under close-reefed topsails . We hoisted our ensign to the Traveller , and the captain sent two boats and took us on board . On the 2 Sth of April we came onboard the Dublin of Peterhead ( mate , second mate , cook , aud rest of the crew ) , leaving the master and two boys till morning . It was then blowing fresh , and , coming on thick during the night , wo lost sight of the Traveller , and left the master . —Your obedient servant , Hexiiv Tkoit , late mate of the Pledge . "—Hull Advertiser .
Surrey Adjourned Sessions. These Session...
SURREY ADJOURNED SESSIONS . These sessions commenced on Monday at thc Sessions-house , Ifcwington-causoway , before Thomas ruckle , Esq ., and a full bench of magistrates . Ixcuease ok Chime axd Waxt or Education . — The calendar contained thc names of seventy-nine prisoners for trial , thirty one of whom could neither read nor write , twenty read and write imperfectly , twenty-five road imperfectly , aud only three could read and write well . A Lucky Escape from Transportation . —Henry Lee , 24 , was indicted for stealing at Lambeth a coat thc property of William Webb . —The wife of thc prosecutor said on the morning of the 21 st ult . she was standing at thc parlour window , when she saw the prisoner pass the house several times . The hall door was open , and suddenly she heard some one leaving the hall . She then " saw the prisoner run past with thc coat under his arm . Siie instantly gave the alarm , but the prisoner escaped . —Mr .
Robinson , on behalf of the prisoner , contended that the witnesses must be mistaken as to their identity , as he was instructed to deny the charge . —The jury , after a few minutes' consultation , returned a verdict of " Guilty . "—The prisoner was afterwards indicted for stealing two coats , the property of Thomas Hawkine , a tradesman in the borough . This was a case similar to the above , and the jury found him" Guilty . "—Mr . Kecne , the governor of the gaol said the prisoner had been four times in . his custody , for re-examinations , but to his knowledge bad not been convicted . —The chairman told the prisoner that he had been a lucky fellow ; had he been only twice summarily convicted he would have been transported , as there could be no doubt that he was an old offender . Prior to thc passing ofthe new act , such , no doubt , would have been his fate , but as a warning to him , the court would sentence him to twelve months' hard labour in Brixton House of Corretion .
Pernicious Isfluexce Or Privileges.—The ...
Pernicious Isfluexce or Privileges . —The human character could not have been more effectually degraded than by g iving a man absolute power . Birth , riches , and all the extrinsic advantage that , without any mental exertion , exalt a man above his fellows , sink him in reality , below them . In proportion to his weakness , he is played upon by designing men , until he loses all traces of humanity . That tribes of men should quietly follow such a leader is trulv extraordinary . Where shall we find men who , educated in slavish dependence , and enervated by luxury and sloth , will stand forth to assert claim the privilege of moral
the right of man , or to bein 4 . who should have but one road to excellence ? Servility to monarchs and ministers , whose deadly grasp stops the progress of tho human mind , is not fet instinct . Let not men , thcn , in the pride of bower , imitate the arguments of tyrannic kings and venal ministers , and assert that woman oasht to bo subjected to man because she has always Twcn so . When man , governed by reasonable laws , enjoys his naturalfreedom . lethim despise woman if she do S hare it with him ; but , till that glorious period arrives let him not , in descanting on the folly ofthe other sex overlook his own .-J /« ry Wollstonecraft t Riahts of Woman . cuyiwj
" . nnTTWTtjv rmrrarnYAUD . * EMTATil K 1 COUNTRY cnURCHTARD . « « As you arc now , so once was jug ; As I am n ° > * ° y ° ? V , 8 t be ; » Therefore prepare to follow me . Below winch a wag had written—« To follow you I ' m not content , Unless I know which w you went .
Imtjm-Tal Aaarft'ambt
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Monday, Mai-21: S 0 M Se °? Lords. ~Ribi...
MONDAY , Mai-21 : S M SE LORDS . ~ riBIXGATTHE . Q «/ EE ! f . IheAlaiquis of Lansdowne called attention to tne unfortunate occurrence'' which had happened on Saturday , when , said hjs lordfillip , " an OfliOUS auudisgustrng , but at the same time an absjirdand contemptible attempt had been made upon thc person ofthe sovereign . " The inquiry wliich had followed clearly est . Wished that there were no circumstances which would justif y in this instance a commitment tor hljjh treason . He therefore should not propose CO the House to go up to the throne with anv exnrfis .
sion ot sympath y for the Queen , or of abhorrence of thc attack . He should leave the law to take its course , believing that the act of 1842 would be fount ! singularly applicable to ' the case , and trusting the wretched culprit would receive the desradin" and contempt inspiring punishmenthe so richly merited . Lord Stanley expressed his approval of this course , and Lord Knouon ^ M observed th . it , under any circumstances , be should have objected to an address , because the culprit had not been fried , and any address must assume his guilt . But as to this , Lord Lassdownb . said that an address would have referred to the character of the offence and not to the person ofthe offend er ; and the subject dropped .
Works of Art is Rome . —Lord Brougham said that lie had receiVed a ietter from Manzoni ) „ ho w-as in this country , and who would have petitioned their lordshi ps if such a course would not have been informal , SC-lemnV stating , in the most positive and distinct terms , that the reports in the French and English newspapers , as well as in private letters , that he had brought atvay works of art from Rome , was entirely without foundation . He thought it due to M . Manzoni to take the earliest opportunity of making this statement . The Land Improvement and Drainage ( Ireland ) Bill was read a second time ; and the standing orders ofthe House having been suspended , it was also passed through committee , so that it may be read a third time and receive the " royal assent immediately . . ¦ ¦ ¦¦ - . Nav ig ation Laws —The House then went into committee oa the navigation laws . Lord Stanley rose to brine forward amendments
of which he had given notice , and the House , wliich was noisy at the time , was immediately hushed into silence . He observed emphatically that he considered " reciprocity" for our own trade ought to be preliminary to any advantages which Great Britain bestowed on the " trade of foreign countries . The principle ofthe government was to abandon the navigation law and then to retaliate on other nations which did not follow the example . His principle , on the other hand , was to maintain the navigation law , but to reciprocate the advantages which othsr nations might be anxious to extend to us . This distinction embodied the line of policy adopted by Mr . llaskisson . He denied that , without reciprocity , they should surrender no more than was absolutely required by the exigencies and for the advantages of
commerce . The country cried out to them to take this course . All the naval men , all the commercial men , and all who were connected with shipping throughout the country werenrging them to avoid th >> rash step they were at present taking . Ministers were acting against the sense of the country , and they knew it . " ( Loud opposition chers . ) He protested against the principles of " retaliation" wliich they proposed to adopt . It would be a difficult principle to carry out ; it would be an invidious , hostile , anduncourteous policy ; it would be a policy under which we must make sacrifices without the power of resuming our ri g hts , lleleft it to the House to decide , then , between " reciprocity" and " retaliation , " and concluded , amidst loud cheers , by moving his amendment to Clause 1 .
Earl Grey commenced by observing that the altera'ion would make nonsense of the whole bill , and was evidently only proposed in its present thape in the hope of catching the stray votes of noble lords who felt the difficulty of again taking a division on a question of principle which had already been decided , Lord Stanley shrunk from comins to close quarters . ( Ministerial cheers . ) He wanted them to adopt a principle of " icciprocity . " But would " reciprocity" answer the objects of the British merchant ? By a system of reciprocity , instead of the trade of the world being open to us , we should only have open to us the trade of some particular nations , and then only in articles the produce of those countries . The question ,, therefore , lay between absolute restriction or a free system . If we continued to insist upon the former court of policy , it was matter of certainty that other nations would follow thc example , and a great benefit would be lost , not only to ourselves , but to the world at large . He
reminded them of the fable ot the dog and thc shadow , and urged them not to throw away their own trade while "rasping after that of others . Lord Stanley had refrained that night from referring to the colonial trade . He had done wisely . His proposal . with regard to the colonial trade was futile . He was absolutely going , by his amendment to clause 6 , to create a protection , in favour of the United States as regarded the trade of the St . Lawrence . ( Hear , hear . ) This was not what Canada wanted . Canada wanted the European vessels which brought out emigrants to be able to take back corn and timber . And whilst the noble lord permiited United States ships to convey the produce of Canada to Europe , he afforded no single inducement for United States ships to go to Canada to get it . ( Hear , hear . ) The noble earl concluded by expressing his belief tint the opinion of tho country was not a-. ainst this measure , and by urging the House not practically to rescind their vote upon thc second reading . ¦ .
„ Lord Wharncijfke , from the cross-benches , expressed his intention of supporting the government . The amendment of Lord Stanley was entirely at viriance wi h the whole spirit and purpose of the bill , and it was impossible for any one who had supported the second reading to vote to-night in favour of the alteration . He dissented altogether from the clause affecting the Canadian trade ; and with regard to foreign trade ; Lord Stanley ' s policy seemed to make restriction the rule , and relaxation the exception . One great evil of the present navigation law was its extraordinary complexity : Lord Stanley , instead of simplifying it , would make it more complex .
The Earl of IIakuowby ( the brother-in-law of the last speaker ) combated his arguments . He thought there were manv peers who had voted for the second reading who were by no means prepared to pass the bill without modifications , or to abandon the navigation law intoto , without obtaining some reciprocal advantages from other countries . He thought the " complexity" referred to was more in his nob ! e friend ' s imagination than it would prove to be in operation . Noble lords ought to recollect the vastness of the step they were taking . This was not a measure from which they could ever retreat . Once passerl , they could . never draw back . Who demanded the merchantsth
the measure ? The people — —e shipowners—the sailors of the nation ? Not one of them ! ( Oh . ) If they did , why did they not say so ? ( Opposition cheers . ) By' hydraulic pressure a petition for the bill had been squeezed out of Liverpool . It had 148 signa ' ures : no more . ( Laughter . ) They had not established that with safety the present system could be abandoned . They proposed to give away a vast trade . Were they to make so great a sacrifice without making an effort to obtain sorse reciprocal advantage ? ¦ He hoped that by adopting thc amendment their lordships would deide that question in the negative .
Earl Gr . anvii . le made a discursive speech , in thc course of which he again defended Mr . Porter and his statistic * from Lord Brougham ' s assaults . Lord Colchester followed , condemning the bill , but adding nothing now to the arguments in opposition to it . . The Marquis of , Clanricardb addressed himself to the-statement of opposition peers that the people were opposed to the bill . When they talked of meetings against the bill , what , let him ask , came of the great meetings in the City , to attend which so many noble dulccs migrated from the west to the east , and found themselves unsupported ? The bill came up recommended by a majority ofthe representatives of the seaport towns , and was not that a circumstance entitling it to consideration ?
The debate had flagged for some time , when Lord Brougham rose to give his reasons , as he said , for supporting the amendment . He commenced by ridiculing Earl Granville , whose speech , he said , made men forget the passage of time , unless they roused themselves to look at the clock . His defence of Mr . Poiter had only one fault , it was too candidit admitted too many of his failings . Mr . Porter ' s life had been one of errors , and the greatest error of all was that he was detected . He was a fallible mortal , and more especially fallible in respect of figures , and most of all in respect ofthe magician . ( Loud laughter . ) He then adverted to the petitions against the bill , and to that presented from Liverpool in its favour . Ten-elevenths of that town had signed against it ; the petition of thc one-eleventh had been got up at a hole-and-corner meeting , upon which he cast ridicule . The noble marquis said that
a majority of the members of seaport towns were in favour of the bill . Was the member for Hull ( Mr . Bair . es ) ? On tho contrary , if not misinformed , he had voted against the bill , although a member of the govenufient . . ( Hear , hear . ) Where was the Lord Mayor of London ? He was as good a Whig as any in England , but he had not voted once with the government on this question . What was the majority ? Last year it was 117 ; this year it had dwindled down to 54 , in spite of all the exertions of the government . The noble lord then entered into an argument to show the advantage of the " reciprocity" project . He begged them to consider what prodigious interests they were placing at stake by this ill-advised and illdigested measure . He saw from the appearance of the House what prodigious efforts had been made ; he saw that precautions had been taken which were more than unprecedented ; he saw peers summqned
Monday, Mai-21: S 0 M Se °? Lords. ~Ribi...
from far and near—from everv quarter of the nation J he saw a right , rev , prelate just . enter , the House ( to vote , he hoped , with the opposition )—( ft liHgh)—who had not heard a word of the debate ; he saw present the representatives of the Sovereign abroad—come , he supposed , to represent the opinion of their countrymen in foreign par ' s in opposition to the opinion of their countrymen at home . It would seem as if the fate of a constitution , and not the fate of a government , was at stake . He then gave a glowing account of the rise and progress of the navigation law , and of the mercant'le and national marine wliich had grown up and been fostered by it . On all occasions an advocate of free trade and an opponent of needless restrictions , he was , nevertheless , with Adam Smith , a supporter of the navigation laivs . more important by far than wealth—nay , more important even than trade itself—was the defence of the nation . ' i
Earl Fitzwiiliam remarked on the discursive character of Lord Brougham '/ speech , and owned himself a convert upon thissubject . With reference o our boasted superiority at s ? a he asked if the nation did not owe more lo the Almighty power that had beneficently arrayed our coasts and havens than to any navigation law that ever was devised . The noble Earl was followed by the Earl of Et-LKNnoROUGn , who addressed himself to the technicalities of the amendment , pointing out what would be its practical operation . Thc Marquis of Lansdowkb then rose and spoke with all the skill of a practised debater . He commenced by reveviin ? to Earl Grey ' s address , which had remained entirely unanswered . He pointed out
that there was a wide difference of principle between the bill and the amendment . Whilst the government sought to remove every possible restriction , retaining none but such ns were ab-olutel y necessary , the noble lord pro ; osed to keep up all restrictions , removing those alone from which he was driven by the force of circumstances . The amendments wliich the noble lord had moved were completely at variance with all the principles upon this subject wliich he had previously laid down . He wished to satisfy Canada : he desired that no favour should be shown to the United States . But whilst he entirely failed in carrying out the first object , his amendment to the sixth clause would effectually accomplish the second . The noble marquu then adverted to the
allegation that the sense of the country was against the bill . It was a matter , he said , of history , that no one measure of commercial reform had ever been introduced into the British parliament that had been popular with thc cia-s , whom it specially affected , It was said that Liverpool was against the bill , but at Glasgow , he learnt from a Tory paper , the merchants were called together last Saturday to petition against this bill , and only 150 persons attended , of whom there were not half-a-dozen connected with shipping . He then told a good story of the pilots of the Tyne , and concluded by adjuring their lordships to adopt the bill and reject the amendment . Their lordships then divided-Contents—for the amendment ... 103 Non-contents—against it ... ... 116
Majoiity for the government ... —13 The majority was considerably larger than appeared to be expected , but it elicited no expression of feeling . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —A new writ was ordered for Sutherland , in the room of Sir D . Dundas , who has accepted the office of Judge-Advncate-General , void by the appointment of Mr . W . G . Hayter as one of the joint Secretaries of the Treasury . FlKING ATTHE QUEEN . —Lord J . RUSSELL , before moving that the order of the day be read , observed that it appeared to him to be desirable , in order to allay apprehension in connexion with the attempt represented to have been made on her Majesty's life , that he should inform the House that , although it
was true that a pistol had been discharged at her Mnjesty , there was no reason to accuse the person who had discharged it of a treasonable attempt on the Queen ' s life , and that the crime was more remarkable for its baseness than its atrocity . Had the attempt been one of a different character , he was sure that he would have had the cordial aud unanimous assent of the House to an address to her Majesty congratulating her on the preservation of so valuable a life , ( Cheers . ) Her Majesty , under circumstances well calculated to inspire alarm , had acted with her usual coolness and fortitude . ( Cheers . ) [ The noble lord , in delivering this brief address , spoke in a tone of voice so tremulous as to betoken considerable agitation . lie was loudly cheered while making his communication to the House . !
Mr . J . O'Conxell begued permission to say , that if anything could aggravate the misery of his unfortunate country , it was the reflection that the miscreant charged with this outrage was an Irishman . During the wildest excitement of popular phrensy in Ire ' and , he believed that no one harboured thc slightest idea of personal insult to the sovereign , and even now he believc-1 that misfortunes would be forgotten in thc general burst of congratulation at the fact that her Majesty had escaped this base attempt . The hon . member ' s observations were also interrupted by loud cheers during their delivery .
Health of tub Metuovolis . —Sir G . Grey replied fr > Sir W . Clay , that there would not be any public health bill introduced for the metropolis during the present session , the first report of the commission having bevii mainly carried out by the consolidation ofthe Commissioners of Sewers , and the general survey . He could not say when the final report would be ready , the labours ofthe commission having been very much increased by thc outbreak of cholera in different parts ofthe country . Agricultural Distress . —Lord John R . ussell answered Mr . Grantley Berkeley , by stating that the government had no special measure in contemplation for the relief of agricultural distress , neither was it intended to reduce the income tax chargeable on farmers .
Kaffir War . —The Chancellor , of the Exchequer , in answer to Mr . V . Smith , stated , with respect to the accoun ' s ofthe money spent in the Kaffir war , which the Commissioners of Audit had pronounced lo bo unintelligible ! that be bad sent them back to the colony for revision , and until the amended accounts were supplied , he could take no further steps in the matter . Encumbered Estates ( Ireland ) Bill . —The House then went into committee on the said bill , some of the earlier clauses occasioning debate , efforts being made to elicit from the government who the commissioners under the bill were to be , but which proved unsuccess ' ul .
The Solicitor General stated the official av * ramicment to be as follows : a chief commissioner with a salary of £ 3 , 000 a year , and two other commissioners with salaries of av 2 , 000 ; a secretary , some clerks , and one or two messengers ; the whole expense , wliich would not be large , to be defrayed out of the public exchequer . That it was not proposed to create any office for the purposes of valuation under the bill ; and , with reference to travelling expenses , should such a necessity arise , which was not anticipated , then only the actual expense incurred to be repaid . On arriving at clause 19 , Mr . Turxer moved a proviso , to the effect that no order of sale should be made on the application of any owner or encumbrancer , the value of whose interest was not equal to the amount of the encumbrance ; nor unless the whole of the encumbrances amounted to two-thirds the value of the estate .
The Solicitou-General opposed the amendment , as it would involve tho necessity of a previous inquiry as to thc respective values of the estate and the encumbrances , which in the depressed state of landed property in Ireland , was perhaps now not worth mare than half its amount , as compared with the period when ths mortgages were effected . After a conversation , Mr . Grogan suggested that estates encumbered to the extent of " one-half" be substituted for " two-thirds , " Mr . TonNun , having assented , tho committee divided , when the amendment altered as suggested was negatived by a majority ot 57 , the numbers 0 to GO . The remaining clauses were then agreed to , the House resumed , and the report was ordered to be received on Thursday . The other business on the paper was summarily disposed of , pro forma , aud the ihnue adjourned at eleven o ' clock .
TUESDAY , May 22 . HOUSE OF LOKDS—Episcopal Church in Scotland . —Lord Brougham presented petitions from members of the United Church of England and Ireland , temporarily settled in Scotland , involving questions of doctrine , as between two bodies and their ministers , both of whom professed the episcopalian religion , but who in Scotland were sectarians ; and who diffcrred with respect to thc use of the liturgy . The arguments in reference to these petitions were purelv of a religious character , and were participated in by Lord Brougham , the Bishop of Salishury , the Earl of Suffolk , the Archbishop ot Canterbury , the Bishop of Gloucester , the Duke of Argyle , the Bishop of Exeter , the Bishop of Cash el , the Earl of Minio , the Duke of Buccleuch , the Bishop of Oxford , the Earl of Harrowby , Earl Powis , and the Earl of Gallowa y .
Lord Brougham , who had originated the discus sion , finally put it to their lordships , whether they had not had quite enough ofthe matter . ( Laughter . ) The real grievance was , that an English clergyman having resided some time in Scotland , ' could not , on his return to England , get a licence to preach , being thus worse off than the Romanist priest , whose ordination was recognised in the church of England . The English clergyman , under such , circumstances , it appeared , being looked upon by certain right rev . prelates as merely a schismatic from tho church of The petition was then ordered to lie on the table . The Navigation Bill . —The Marquis of Lansdowkb said , that at that late hour he would not proceed with the navigation bill , but postpone the committee . _ t . Lord Brougham : To this day six months ? ( A laugh . ) ¦ '¦ ¦ ¦ ' ' m The Marquis of LufflDQWMB ; T ? Thursday n « st
Monday, Mai-21: S 0 M Se °? Lords. ~Ribi...
—with the understanding that there shall be no peti tions discussed .. ( Laughter . ) . Their lij-dsliips then adjourned , at ten o ' clock , to lhursday . HOUSE OF COMMONS .-A new writ was ordered for South Warwickshire in tho room of Mr . E . J . Shirley , who has accepted the Cililtflil Hundreds . Friendly Societies . —Mr . P . ScnorE asked the hon . member for North Wilts whether the Frb-wilv Societies Bill wliich he had introduced v , onW have the eftect which was apprehended in some parts ot the country of depriving a'l such societies of ihe management cf their own affairs , and of takin"
possession of their funds for the use of the govciiimcnt . Mr . SoTHEllON admitted that miicli alarm had arisen among persons not conversant with acts of parliament because in one clause ofthe bill the Commissioners for tho Reduction of the National Debt were mentioned , and that consequently they feared their funds were to be applied to that object . It was hardly necessary for him to say that there was no foundation for thi apprehension . On the contrary , the object of the bill was , to give friendly sooleties proper c . iHrol over their affairs , by einj owerinjf them to call for and examine their accounts whenever they deenird it necessary for the purpose of ascertaining their solvency .
Balli . vaslor Workhousk . —Mr . Eky . voj . ds put some questions to Sir G . Grey on the subject of the poor in Ballinasloe workhouse , referring to the alleged fact of cholera and typhus having carried oft ' 1 , 150 of the inmates , asking whether the commissioners had received instructions to inquire into this frightful system ? Sir GcoiiGF . Grkv denied that there was anything frightful in the system . The mortality referred to had arisen from cholera , and was in no way connected with the workhouse system further than that tho houses were used in the emergency to mitigate the virulence of the epidemic . The Derbt Day . —On the motion ofthe Marouis of Giianby , that the llouse should not sit on "Wednesday ( the Derby Day ) , Mr . Agliosby oppo-ed the motion , and an animated debate ensued , which terminated in a division iu favour of a holiday , the numbers being 13 S to 119 .
Duration op Parliament . —Mr . T . D'Evscouut then rose to mo . ve for leave to introduce a bill to shorten the duration , of Parliament , lie trusted hewould not be charged with impropriety if , instead of waiting tho result of agitation , he thought the preferable course was to bring this question before the House now . ( Hear , hear , ) It was a question which at the time of the Revolution of 1 CS 8 occupied a considerable share of attention ; and in the Dill of Rights it was declared to be the right ofthe people of England that Parliaments should frequently assemble . In 1094 the question was brought more into shape , and the Triennial Act passed , though , as ha would afterwards show , uivnce & sssmly repealed . It could not bo said that this question had been pressed unnecessarily ; on the contrary , he
had been blamed for being too lax regarding it . He had suffered two Parliaments to go by without bringing it forward , precisel y for tlic same reason that the people bad during that period not petitioned the House on the subject , viz ., because they did not believe there was any disposition on the part of Parliament to give a favourable consideration to the proposal . Whether the present Parliament would show a more favourable disposition remained to bo seen ; and therefore , after a period of twelve years , he had deemed it his'duty to bring it forward as a question of public right . ( Hear , hear . ) By " publie right" he meant that Parliaments should not continue longer than was sufficient to secure their responsibility to tho people . ( Hear . ) Formerly the people of this country enjoved bv practice and habit
sessional parliaments . That habit ar , d practice continued up to the time ofthe Tudors and Stuarts , when there took place a gross usurpation on tho part of the Crown . In 169-1 , as he had already stated , the Triennial Act was passed , being intended to secure the country from the disadvantages that had flowed from the Long Parliament . The preamble of that bill recognised frequent parliaments as warranted by the ancient law of tlic kingdom . It continued in operation for twenty-two years , and he believed there were no statutes that more adorned the statute-book , or had greater regard to the dignity of parliament and thc liberties of the people , than those passed during this period . But the Rebellion of 1715 was made a pretext for putting an end to the Triennial and passing the
Septennial Act , for it was supposed that at the next election an attempt would be made , on the part of those who supported thc cause of the Pretender , to return men who would endeavour to change the dynasty , and restore the Stuarts . The passing of the Septennial Act , he contended , was a complete coup d ' etat— an act of revolution ; because , nothing could be more outrageous than that a Parliament elected for three years should vote its own continuance for seven years , lie then proceeded to show that the main grounds assigned for its passing were unjustifiable ; viz ., that Triennial Parliaments occasioned more expense than Septennial , and that they were destructive ofthe peace and security of government . These were mere pretexts . The Septennial Act , however , became the law of the land ; and , so
disgusted did the people of England become with its working , when they found the great difference there was between the conduct of their representatives under it- and their conduct under thc Triennial Act , that a motion for its repeal was made in thc House of Commons in 1734 , and supported by _ Mr . Pnltency and others , which motion was rejected in a House of more than 400 members by a majority or only 03 . The Septennial Act continued to ' produce so much mischief , end excited so strong a feeling in the public mind against it , that at length a cry was raised for a general reform of parliament , and the question of shortening the duration of parliaments became merged in that of a general reform in the representation of tho people . The reform which was contended for consisted of two branches ,
the one being the amendment ofthe representation of the people , and the other being an increase of thc responsibility of members by more frequent parliaments . The declaration of the "Friends ot the People , " with Lord Grey at their head , recognised this as the legitimate division . TYell , in March , 1831 , his noble friend ( Lord J . Russell ) , on introducing the Reform Bill , knowing that the whole nation expected botli branches of reform to be embraced by the bill , thought it needful to explain that the question ofthe shorter duration of parliaments had been considered by bis Majesty ' s Ministers , but that upon the whole they thought it would bo better to leave it to be brought before tho House by any members who might choose to take it up , than to bring it in at the end of a bill regulating
matters totally distinct . ( Thc right hon . member here read the passage in the noble lord ' s speech relating to the subject . ) The friends of short parliaments , though naturally disappointed at . the omission of that branch' of reform from the bill , felfc much consoled by tho prospect of having it discussed by itself at a future time . Ho ( Mr . T . TJ ' Eyncourt ) accordingly brought the question forward in 1 S 33 , again in 1834 , and again in 1837 . The noble lord opposed the motion on all those occasions ; but he ( Air . D'Eyncourt ) had never had the benefit of tho noble lord ' s opinion Whether he really thought seven years a fit term for the duration of parliament ; or not . All the opinion thc noble had given was that he would not vote for his motion , because it did not state the term to which parliaments should
he shortened . His ( Air . D'Enycourt ' s ) answer had always been that he was willing to leave that point to the decision of thc House itself , but that , if forced to name a term , he should of necessity adopt that which had boon sanctioned by tho constitution previously . Would the noble lord tell him whether he agreed in that opinion ? ( Hear . ) In 1833 his motion was rejected by a majority of only 49 . In point of fact , it was lost by the weight of the Administration—because , but for the votes of thc Alinistry and its adherents , his motion would have been carried . Ho begged the House to notice , also , that his motion was not mot by a direct negative , but merely by the previous question . In 1834 his motion was rejected by a majority of 50 , and in 1837 by a majority of only nine , ( Hear , hear . ) Tho
question had remained in that position till the present moment . The llouse might rely upon it , however , that the absence of petitions and the want of public meetings out of doors to urge the question upon the attention of parliament afforded no evidence whatever ofthe want of interest in this question on the part of the public . The question was one upon which interest was always felt , and which would continue to be urged upon the llouse at all times of public excitement , until at length they mi g ht be forced to consider it under circumstances which might be painful to deal with . They would therefore do more wisely to consider it now , before any such painful necessity arose . ( Hear , hear . ) Ho asked how was it possible to ascertain public opinion clearl y and satisfactorily unless by means of frequent elections 1 New questions of importance must always arise within the course of throe or four years , upon wliich there could not possibly have
been any previous understanding between repre « sentatives and their constituencies , and when this happened , as it frequently . did , tho consequence was . that many constituencies under thc present system were unrepresented , if not absolutely misrepresented , with regard to . such questions . If the House wished to secure a universal feeling of agreement between the Crown and people , there was no means so sure of effecting this as frequent parliaments . By these means they would at once increase the confidence ofthe people in their representatives , and diminish the corruption and ihnuence which wore at present almost unavoidably and imperceptibly exorcised by government over members . There was no other country in Europe which had so long parliaments as we bad . , Wh y should wo be behind others countries ? If tho noble lord should say ho was in favour of fivoy ears as a good and wholesome term , as far . as he ( -Mr . D'Eyncourt ) was individually concerned ho should be perfectly ready to concur ; but , vmtu irc jieard " wiae prppositwa < rf taat *»« .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), May 26, 1849, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_26051849/page/7/
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