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    COURT OF EXCUEQUER. JUCHABDS AND ANOTHER...

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    v MASSACRES AT THE SANDAL WOOD ISLANDS. ...

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    p J s j { g •! « DBAm or Loan Dunboynb. ...

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    „ . , $m„ fttai - Bartfotnettt

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    MONDAY, Jolt 8. HOUSE OF LORDS. - Thb Te...

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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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    Court Of Excuequer. Juchabds And Another...

    COURT OF EXCUEQUER . _JUCHABDS AND ANOTHER V . GLADSTAJJBS . — _IXStTRASCE . .- ¦ ' . This was an action by Mr . John Richards ana sir James M'Gregor , as directors of tbe Eagle Assurance Company , to recover from the Albion Assurance Com pany the amonntof a policy of assurance effected on toe 20 th of May , 1845 , by tbe plaintiffs onthe life of Mr . William Capel Clayton , who was an officer In the Coldstream . Guards , and died in the month of June , 184 S , in the Queen ' s Bench prison , at the age of thirty years . The question was whether Mr Clayton , who was son o f Sir William Clayton , Bart ., _vras , at die time tbe policy in question was made , and _Tjrevjouslvthereto . of drunken andintemperatehablts ; '

    plaintiffs having stated inthe usual declaration made oy insurers , that he was of" sober and temperate Labits . The claim was resisted by the defendants on the ground that be was addicted to habits of intoxication _, and it was alleged he ultimatel y died of . delirium tremens . After much conflicting evidence on the subjectthe court was adjourned . —On Monday _Jfx . Peacock briefly addressed the jury far the _defendants and _cabled several witnesses . —John Warner examined : I am an engineer , in the employment of Mr . Clarke , optician , ef the Strand . " In 18411 was in the habit of seeing Captain Clayton . De was _mosily in his laboratory when I called , and he was always muddled . He spoke thick . Inever saw bim before twelve at noon . He was always drinking

    brandy and water . He was generally muddied from drinking and smoking . "When I went there I mostly found him in the laboratory . He generally was _amoving himself with a cigar in his _mi-uth . I assisted in _setting np the scientific apparatus for him . _—Crossexamined : He always appeared muddled , and sometime _^ I saw him more irritable than at others—Sir ¦ F . Thesiger : Should you consider a man muddled because he was irritable . ( Laughter . ) What do you mean by muddled ? —Witness : Out of temper . { Great laughter . }—Sir F . Thesiger : But thatis being intemperate in one _seuse-Klaughter}—but from what symptoms did you judge that he was muddled ?—"fatness : He wa 3 out of temper , and spoke thick . — Sir F . Thesiger : Dow did he walk ?—Witness : Why

    the same as other men ; upon his legs __ ( Loud laughter . ) I considered him of drunken habits . —Margaret Carter : I live in Bath-street , Peckham . I lived with Captain Clayton as a cook , when another left him at a " nonplus . " My nephew , whowas then in Lis _service , recommended me . I remained with bim four or five months , up to the latter end of April , 1844 . During that time I always _considered him a very intemperate man . Miss Pitt was living with him . I saved bim one night from murdering her in a fit of Intoxication . This occurred ons night after he returned from TJxbridge , where he had been fishing . He brought two gentlemen with him , who thought sbe was Mrs . Clayton , his wife , and as there was in the laboratory a gentleman who was aware that she

    was not his wife , she refused to go in lest it might be discovered by the others who she was . He seized a carving-kidfe out of the cupboard , and rushed npon her ; I caught him b _^ the arms , and prevented his hurting her . lie was then under tbe influence of liquor . He was out very late every night , except when be bad his supper at home on Saturday night He would sometimes return borne at three in the morning , and then he often used to make Miss Pitt come down stairs , aud play him the music . He was ? err different wben not under the influence of liquor . He drank , to very great excess , brandy and water , coloured liquors , and wine . When he got up in the mornbifi be was much depressed , and would drink spirits and soda _waterv I recollect another occasion

    on which at supper be fancied Miss Pitt had been too familiar with one of his guests . She was exasperated at the accusation , and struck _bim on tbe head , and knocked his hat , wbich is commonly called bonetting . ( Laughter . ) She went up to herbed-r-om . He followed her , and knocked her down . I with difficulty persuaded him to sleep on tbe couch in the sitting-room that night . After bis snpperhe _* as always intoxicated . I have seen him knock the stems off the wine glasses . I have seen him do it with the poker . ( Laughter . ) In fact his habits were— " drinking" ( Laughter . )—Crossexamined : 'My _neahew left before I did . I was mostly i'i the kitchen , but it was on a level witb and facing the room they dined in . Nine or ten

    times while he wag there he made Miss Pitt get up and p lay the music . Rumfit lived there at tbe time , and several complaints were made to him about the noise of the mu-ic—Sir F . Thesiger : Did he dance' ? ( Laughter . )—Witness : I do not think it _necessary to sar whether a man dances to show he was an " intemperate man . ( Laughter . ) 1 kuow nothing ef this case , —( laughter)—for I was only subpoenaed yesterday . ( Much laughter . ) I never went to bed till he came home , though he had a latch-key . Sometimes be turned off the gas and sometimes I did . —Sir F . Thesiger : How did he show his intoxication ' —Witness : Why , you have seen persons in every stage of intoxication . ( Laughter . A man intoxicated , you see , is a man

    intoxicated . iL _^ ughter . )—Sir F . Thesiger : I perfectly agree to _that;—( _Iauahter)—but you say he was very different when drunk and sober ; sow bow was he different?—Witness : When he was sober he would go u-j aud down stairs like a reasonable man one step at a time , but wben he was drunk he would run up three or four step 3 at a time , hallooing and crying out " Let , let . let . " In fact , a drunken man is a drunken man . I told you he was a drunken man , and I do not think I have any reason to say more . ( Liugbter . )—Sir Frederick : You have to satisfv me . —Witness : That is quite unnecessary . ( Laughter . ) He _v : as very " _oostropolous . " I call any man " _obstropoloas" who strikes _^ an innocent woman . —Thomas Lambert , the nephew of tbe

    preceding witness , gave evidence of a very similar character . He said that be often went to fetch the captain from the Cider Cellars . lie gave a very distinct account of the intemperate habits cf Captain Claj ton . —Henry Hembrey , head-waiter at the Cider Cellars for eleven or twelve years , examined : 1 knew the late Captain Clayton . 1 first became acquainted with him in 1842 or 1843 ; he frequently attended the Cider Cellars . I used to wait upon bim at bis lodgings in Castle-street . He was there every evening while in town . He would play a game or two of billiards . He used to come there at seven or eight in the evening . He used to leave at all hours , seldom early . While there he used to have brandy and water , sherry and water , hollands and water ,

    sodas and brandy . He frequently had neat spirits in the bar . He used to come in the bar and have a glass _» -r lwo of sherry when he first came in , He continued drinking and smoking till he left . I mean , as soon as one glass was empty he would order another . ( Laughter . ) Jn tbe coarse of an evening he , on one occasion , was charged fourteen glasses . He objected , but ihe waiter , 1 think , was correct . He usually of a night took nine or ten tumblers . He mixed his spirits mostly . He was wben be left tbe house generally in a state of intoxication ; he could walk . When he bad a party be would leave us at twelve ; bnt his general habit was -smoking , playing at billiards , asd drinking . When I attended at his house he used to have friends with

    him ; he used to drink a great deal more than they did . 1 used to leave before they retired ; but he was never sober . He was not a man of sober and temperate habits . —Cross-examined : Mr . Rhodes was landlord of the Cider Cellars . I am now speaking oi tlie laUer end of 1643 to May or June of 1844 . He was absent during portions of that period . He played billiards with any one in the room . I used to play with him . I am the marker . He played a middling game . He was principally in the billiard room . 1 used also io drink . It was play _an-i pay . ( Laughter . ) He paid for me . I was fond of brandy and water . I used to drink with other gentlemen as well as Captain Clayton . I cannot say I was always steady . I do consider

    myself a person of drunken and intemperate habits . I generally g _» home pretty comfortable . ( Laughter . ) —The Lord Chief Baron : Shall I take that down , that you are of intemp erate habits ? ( Laughter . )—"Witness nodded assent amidst much laughter . — Cross-examinatinncontinued : I attend the captain and friends at Jail-en ' s mask ball . —Mr . Peacock ; In what state were they ?—Sir F . Thesiger * Disguised of course . ( Laughter . ) Witness : Captain Clayton was certainly not a temperate man . —Major Broom examined : I reside at Uxbridge , and knew the late Captain Clayton . In May , 1844 , I first knew him . I could judge of his habits from 3 fay to August . _^ He -was certainly not of sober and temperate habits . 1 have freouentlv seen him drink to

    excess . "We Went out to fish at ten , and he would drink nearly a pint 0 f brandy before dinuertime . He _waseUted before dinner , ihat is rather intoxi" _^ j * j _pH _^ eut to bed perfectly sober . He nsed . _J _? "Pints neat in the morning . —Cross-™ uiMi-L « n iaifa Militia . I volunteered in 1813 to the Second _Provirioral Battalion . I am a _^ _MnM _^ - _¦ * " _*»• - l _nsed to meet _aociety .-Sir F . Thesiger ; _EsS hl _er- > * . ? another ' s expense . ( ll _»* teS ! _SiS en » _-it continued : We went to play . _W _»^ _* , nat , on . V «» rtAthP . l 1 _rfiv _» r _« . _nntformnnL _^ tterel y " > rthe beer to tbehelperanotfor tnonev _™ r _= reiy »« _««

    , , . —Elizabeth Nobbs examined : I j _££ * ent fishing . Captam Clayton ' _sservice . Miss ? Ut W C 00 _X m Mrs . Clay ton ) _enpased me in 1844 . Life , ?} 1 1 for five years and fonr _monOm . Ga , _^™* Lim _Kceas to sobriety of M . habits . 1 _^* " * his Hampers for him ; two bottles of _Aug ™ _»* brandy , one of gin , three or four bottles of iflh ? and as many of ale , and three or four bott \ eg of Q * 3 _mter . B _*^^&**^^ _p _£ _& _Vi cause he was so far gone m baupr . At dinner he used to drink soda and brandy , and sometu » % U Z of sherry . After dinner he had sherry , Eodv brandy . Hewenttobedbpfy five or six times in J _S _^ _ross-exarnined : Wben the _basket can * SSttSi _^ l had trouble in _nnp _^ _kiug _fc ( _Ster . _) _Sh-F . Thesiger : Did he _tabehU Lioffwitb a jack ? -Wtoess : _^ Jtoohjiem « _S . ( LaughterO-Sir f . Thesiger ; You Wire ha .

    Court Of Excuequer. Juchabds And Another...

    w ? re " c _^ ing -Th _? CbT _^ p pam re SUmed o « Kg _mornevfdencJ _i l * l _** r ™ Proceeded to . _sora up the _bSmahnnttr _^ K Whlch _Occupied the learned _SelulJX _™ M ° _£ ' _f _« eventna » y left it to SS _w , dCT _^ _* the time that the n 25 S _?« _r b _T _, made and D P ° which the E £ % l _\^ es n ba been ultimately effected , the ™ C „ a tal _» _Ctyton had so far indulged in internperance astbatit had become what was denominated and regarded as a habit .-The jury retired irom court , and , after a very brief absence , returned with a verdict for the _plaintiffe—Damans , £ 339 , the sum of £ 40 being added to the amount Of the policy for interest . boot-jack ; _., Lan » hiPr _. _\ -g . 7 ~ T ~ ' : -

    BISHOP OP . EXETER T . GORffAM . Chief Baron Pollock delivered the written judgment of the court , on Monday morning , which occupied his lordship in reading nearly three-quarters of an hour . The effect of the jud gment was tbat the rule be discharged , with costs .

    V Massacres At The Sandal Wood Islands. ...

    _v MASSACRES AT THE SANDAL WOOD ISLANDS . ( From the IMart Town Herald ) An account was given iu the _Herald of the voyage of the Elizabeth schooner to Ne * Caledonis , and ih « accounts brought by that vessel , led to the supposition that not onl y bad the narty at Mr . Fitzgera'd ' s beche-la-raer fishing establishment , at tbe north end of tbe island , _bei-n driven away or massacred , biv that the French Mission establishment , atYengiil or Beladeh , had shared the same fate . Ui « vary Anne schooner , lately arrived brought further accounts which we regretto state are of a most melancholy character . The superintendent of Mr . Fitzgerald ' s establishment , Mr . David W . Miller , arrived by the Mary Anne , and by him we have learned the following particulars :

    " Feejee Islands , 1819— Oii the 10 th July we sailed from Banta ' _-oHarbrar in tbe Mary , cutter , for Balade Harbour New Caledonia ,, in . company with the schooner Minerva and the Sir John Frauk-Ku . We arrived there after a passage of twenty-one days . On the 12 th of September , tbe -Mary returned to B ilade , to look for the Sir John Franklin , which vessel she expected to find T > ad returned there from Sydney . - On arriving there , Captain Roby . of the Mary , sent a boat with Robert Hall , an American , and a native of Rotumah ; to procure water . On getting up the river tbey were attacked by natives and killed . After this , two natives came on board the Mary , under pretence of _s-elling fish ; the cook went down into the bold ,. to bring np some yams to

    exchange for the fish ; and tbe captain ' s attention having been drawn to the fish in ( he canoe _belonging to the natives , they split his head with a _tomahawk ; they then killed tbe eo > k as he was coming out of the " hold . ' The only man now left alive on beard the Mary , was a Rotumah man , whom the natives would not . eat , because of disease in hiB eyes which rendered him almost blind . They cooked the bodies of . the captain and crew ashore , after which they burnt the _vessel to the water ' s edge . This is the statement ' of the Rotumah man , who managed to make his escape froni the canniba ' s to Tengin , and who related the facts to Mr . Miller , who now take * up the narrative in person , and who writes from Mr . Fitzgerald ' s establishment :

    —On the 8 fh of Sept ., we not having be < ird ofthe loss of the Mary , Mr . . Fitzgerald sailed for Sydney , I being left in charge ofthe Beche laMer expedition —the party consisting of John Blake ( an American ) , nineteen Feejee men ; one Rotumah man , « nd Abraham Silver ( an East Indian ) . On tbe morning of Sept , 20 , the natives brought me some grass for thatching , and appeared on very friendl y terms . About noon , from 300 to 400 of them assembled , and rushed upon us with spears and clubs . We took to our arms , with which we were enabled to keep them offtiil about ffur p . m ., and two being Wlien and a number wounded , they retired , John Blake , the American , refusing to fight , and holding a correspondence with the natives , I took his gun from him

    and gave it to one of the Feejee men . The na'ives continued quiet until the 11 th of October , when a large body of 800 or 900 natives assembled and commenced an attack on our settlement , which they maintained with great determination from eleven in tbe morning until sunset . One of the Feejee men was wounded with a spear , and I had several narrow escapes . The natives bad surrounded our hut , and were calling out to John Blake to set fire to it . Several of the natives being killed and a number wounded , we made a rasb et them and shot their principal chief , on which _thty all ran away . On the following day , finding that our Feejee natives had lost heart , and were constantly crying , we thought ii was best to prepare to leave , as we could not have

    stood another encounter with the natives , our amuniiion being nearly expended , and on the 14 th of Oct . we took the boats and started for Yengin . Having yams and water we pulled up the coast , followed by about 200 natives , until ve arrived . at Balade . We then landed on a sand bank to recruit , where the natives attacked and obliged us to retake to the boats , one of wbich being very leaky we left behind . We then pulled to the south-east , the wind being contrary and blowing strong ; during the night I missed one ofthe boats , and ran to the lee side of a small island where there were no natives . We were obliged to remain here for four days , it blowing and raining very hard . The weather having moderated , we pursued our course to Yengin , and during

    the passage picked up two natives from the missing boat , the others having most likely been cast ashore and taken to the bush . On tbe 25 th of Oct . we arrived at Yengin , after being eleven days in the boats , and were kindly received by the French missionaries , and remained with them until , the . arrival of the schooner Mary Ann . when the bishop granted us a passage to Anatatn , from which place Captain Padden was kind enough to give me a passage to Sydney . I do not think the natives would have attacked us had they nut been encouraged to do so bvthe man Blake , who : stole a boat and deserted from the schooner Vanguard , a short time previously , and had been living with the natives since . " Cook ' s Bay _Ebromakoa . —Extract from the log

    of the Rover ' s Bride , dated Hth December 1849 : " Light breeze ; schooner Rosetta in company . At 7 a . m . lowered the boat , and sent the first and scond mate to trade for sandal wood at Mallaby and Bunkett , tbe vessel cruising between those places . At 2 p . m . Mr . Banner , first mate of the Rosetta , came on board , aud stated tbat he bad some suspicions tbat one of ray boats was taken by the natives , be having been trading at Effoo , a place about two miles distant from Bunkett , and tbat . about noon the natives of that place gave over trading , and informed bim that the . Bunkett tribe had taken a boat and killed the crew of five men . The Effoo natives tben went in tbe direction of _Blnnkett , taking with them their tomahawks and otber weapons . On

    which Mr . Banner returned to the Rosetta , and informed Captain Edwards . In the meantime Mr . Dill , who bad been trading at Bunkett , and had seen the Rover ' s Bride there trading with the natives on very friendly terms , went back . to the Rosetta for more trade , and on his return to Bunkett found no natives but two , who brandished their spears , and said " No wood to day . " The Rover ' s Bride ' s boat was gone , and Mr . Dillhavhv * returned to the . Rosetta , and informed Captain Edwards of bis trip , that gentleman immediately sent Mr . Banner to inform Captain Bell of the Rover ' s Bride Captain Bell immediately made a signal to his other boat at Mallaby to return to the ship , and ' on ber arrival he despatched her with two exlra bands , in company with the Rosetta ' s

    boat , to ascertain the facts . On tbeir return at 7 p . m . they made the following statement : When the boats arrived at Bunkett tbe crews landed , leaving one man in charge of each . On examining the beach they found it strewed witb portions of hair and patches of blood ; tbey tben proceeded up the river as far as possible in the boat , and , on landing , discovered one ton of sandal wood besmeared with bloed , near which was tbe stomp of a tree literally covered with blood , _portions of flesh , hair , . & e „ and whicb from its _appearance seemed to bave served the purpose of a block for this human butchery . Near the stump was found a pistol belt and canvas pistol bag ; no natives were seen , and not a vestige of the boat save tbe anchor-buoy . Finding that nothing further

    could be ascertained they took the sandal-wood and returned to tbe vessel . Captain Bell then consulted with Captain Edwards , and it was deemed best for the Rover ' s Bride to proceed to Anafam , and the Rosetta to continue cruising about Cook ' s Bay for five days , in case anything further should transpire . On the Sunday prior to the massacre the chief of tbe Bunkett tribe was on board the Rover ' s Bride , received some presents , and appeared on tbe most friendly terms . Bunkett is a small boat harbour and creek , on tbe south entrance of Cook ' s Bay , Erromanga . The following is a list ofthe names of the men killed : —Mr . Wm . Jordan , first mate , of Rerwic k-on-Tweed ; John Allen , of Liverpool ; Frederick Gardeuer , of London ; John Burrows , of Glasgow ; and Edward Ward , of Bristol , seamen .

    P J S J { G •! « Dbam Or Loan Dunboynb. ...

    p J s _{ g « DBAm or Loan Dunboynb . -TIhs nobleman expired on the 6 th instant at the Chateau Echingen , Pas de Calais , after a protracted illness , in his ie 48 . - « To rrafesor nolloway , Sin-I w » » * J * _J _gratitudeto jou for my almost miraculous cure by the use _rt _sour Ointanent and Pills , after seven vesM intenseisutfermg , caused by exposure to wet and cold , when 1 com . _fenced _uiing jour remediesI bad already expended £ 200 tt

    1 \ , i _^ _Atones and advice , without any benefi ., anu S _^ _-8 _™ _•**„ on various par ts of my body , and i _^ aM orer me ; but your Ointment and Pills bave cure d ' _f _ ?? . - am . enjoying excellent health . " tnem t _^ E M r . Tonatt , in one of his orations to the _\?* « _SttZ _} _Veterinary College , observes :- ' That by _i _^ _nwemSf _> n , 0 aern chemistry , the medical prol _^ f _* _en _^* . _wicceswveVy to treat diseases which i uf _^ r _* W _ _iFP ? «« not within the reach of medii \ ttiB VE ****** $ _*? r *? _» Mafestea for many years , but \ " _Ottcoterj « __!?*? _» _importance to manWnd than by _****» Gout and Bheumatie Pills .

    „ . , $M„ Fttai - Bartfotnettt

    „ . , $ m „ fttai - _Bartfotnettt

    Monday, Jolt 8. House Of Lords. - Thb Te...

    MONDAY , Jolt 8 . HOUSE OF LORDS . - Thb Ten Houbb _Act .-Petitions in favour of the principle of the Ten Hours Act werepresented by the BiBbop of _London from certain operatives in Lancashire ; by Lord Feversham ( 20 ) , from operatives in the 'West Riding of Yorkshire , in Lancashire and at Dundee ; by Earl Grey from . the corporation of _Newcastleupon-Tyne ; aud by the Duke ot Richmond , from the operatives in the employ of . George Slater , Burnley , and from the females-in the employ of Major Fielden , of Todmorden . On the presentation of the latter petition ,

    Lord Brououam observed , that ho had always been an enemy to legislation of this character , considering it to be a mischievous interference with capital and labour . Still , he thought their lord : ships were bound to correct the slip whicli _hmlbeen made in the Ten Hours Act . He could have wished that there bad been no such bill as that now before their lordships , but , as they had intended to do a certain thing by . the Ten Hours Act , ho thought that the parties interested would have good reason to complain if the Leg islature took advantage of the slip which had been recently discovered . ' ' Mas . Hall ' s Divorce . —Lord Brououam said that he bad now a petition to present on a subject of great importance and of very rare occurrence . The petitioner in this case was a Mrs ; Georgina Hall , a lady of birth and fortune , residing at

    Bayswater , who had contracted a clandestine marriage with her present husband in the month of- September last _..- Her maiden name was Foley , and her marriage was unknown to her parents . It took place at the parish church ; and at the church door the parties separated . No consummation bf the marriage had taken , place since , and nothing criminal had taken place between the parties before . The lady was , therefore , in the unfortunate position of a "maiden wife . " After two months had passed in ; the hope of obtaining the consent of her parents to . her marriage—for with that object shehad postponed its consu mniation—her husband went and cohabited with : a young woman of education , a milliner in Bond-street , and in less than four months . after his first manage took bis mistress to France , andthereintermarriedwith her at the bouse ofthe British Ambassador . The first

    marriage was in every respects , a valid , marriage * though consummation , had not ' ' _followed it . This was proved by a case which bad been before their lordships , and which was known as the case of . . ( We did not hear ; the : name . ) Mrs . Georgina Hall had , already , obtained a divorce d mens & etthoro _, in consequence of the adultery ofher husband , and ahe now prayed for a divorce d vinculo matrimonii ; This was of all cases the hardest ho had ever known . He would take time to consider

    the course which he would adopt ; at present he would only move that the petition be laid on the table . . f ' . ' ..:. The recent Post-office arrangements formed tbe subject of some discussion , in the course of which the Bishops of London and Oxford approved of the stoppage of the Sunday deliveries . ; which Lord Brougham , the Lord Chief Justice , and , other peers , condemned , as leading . to a worse desecration than they were designed' to remedy , in addition to a very cousiuerablo amount of public incon-¦

    venience . - ¦ . The General Board of Health , Bill went through committee ,, on the motion of the . Earl of Carlisle . After some discussion and a division upon an amendment proposed by tbe . Earl of Lonsdale for referring the measure to a select committee , the amendment was negatived by a majority of 47 to 18-29 . The Court of Chancery ( Ireland ) Bill was read a second time , on the motion of Lord Brougham . Factories Bill ' . —Earl Granville , moved the second reading of this bilL As there was no objection to the principle of the bill , he thought any discussion on its provisions might be more conveniently taken in committee ,. which he sbould propose should be fixed for Monday next .

    The Duke of Richmond bad no objection to postpone the discussion to Monday next ; but he must observe tbat , if the amendment of which he had given notice were not agreed to , he must contend thatthe factory operatives would not obtain that which was intended to be assured to them by the bill of 1847 , Lord Wiiarncijpfb observed , that there were three parties to this . measure—tbe masters , tho operatives , and the Legislature ; and he considered , under all . the circumstances , that the proposition of the government Was the most practicable one that conld be suggested . Thei noble lord was understood to object to the intervention of a week before the measure was brought on for discussion .

    Lord Fevbrsuam should consider himself guilty of a dereliction of duty if be did not declare that there existed but one . feeling throughout the manufacturing districts , that unless the provisions of the ori g inal bill Were strictly carried out ,. ' a breach ' of faith towards the operative classes would be committed by the Legislature . He had presented a great number of petitions from the working classes upon the subjecb _, and tbey considered the responsibility of establishing the principle of the Ten Hours Act to rest with tne Legislature . They felt that it would be unjust that , because an error was found to exist in the Act of 1844 , and which error was not

    corrected by the Act of 1847 , therefore Parliament should pass a bill in 1850 which should increase their period of labour two hours a week instead of passing a mere declaratory Act . Lord Kissaird was understood to express a hope that when the discussion came on a decision would be come to which would be satisfactory to all parties . At the same time , he believed that there prevailed a feeling among the people that , rather than lose the behefitfof the -measure altogether , they would prefer the present bill to pass . ' After a few words from Earl Granville the bill was read a second , time and ordered to be committed on Monday next .

    _Cooxir Courts Extension Bill , —Lord Beaumont moved the second reading ' of this bill , Lord Brouoham announced several objections to the working provisions of the measure ,: which he should bring forward in the shape of amendments in the committee . Lord Campbell apprehended , many evils from extending the jurisdiction of the County Courts over actions involving questions of tort , nnd wished that more time had been allowed for its : consideration , as well as to ase & _vUvm the . results-of working the present courts . As the general feeling of the country was , however , in favour of extension , he contented himself with this warning of , possible mischief . . : The bill : was then read a second time ..

    _, Benefices in Plurality Bill , —Upon the motion of Lord Littleton their lordships went into committee on . this bill . The clauses were agreed to , and the house resumed ;' On the motion of Lord Langdale , the Registration of Deeds ( Ireland ) Bill was read a second time . ¦ ' '' ¦'¦ - Their lordships rose at a quarter past eight . HOUSE OF _COMMONS . — On the order for going into committee upon the Mercantile Marine ( No . 2 ) Bill , Mr . Moffatt moved to defer its committal for three months , urging that , as the shipping interest had not been relieved , as had been promised , in the matters of light-dues , pilotage , manning of ships , and registration of seamen , they had not been fairly dealt _wfth _.

    Sir "W . Clay , denied thatthe bill was unpopular amongst the shipping interest of London , though a portion might be averse to it . He believed that no measure could be more beneficial to the shipping interest , " it being notorious that the character of the officers of our mercantile marine was not such as befitted the first mercantile country in the world . Mr . Clav opposed the bill . He agreed with the principle of a compulsory examination of . masters

    and mates , and be did not object to giving _COHV _manders increased power ; but he dissented from the other principle , of affording protection to seamen by interference between the employers and tho emp loyed . He thought the whole subject ahould be referred to a select committee . Lord J . Manners likewise considered that there were many matters of detail in the altered billsuch as those relating to local boards , and the system of examination where there wero no local boards—which would be better considered in a

    select committee . Mr . _Laboucuerb distinctly and explicitly denied tbat tbe measure was unpopular with the shipping interest generally . At Liverpool , Glasgow . Bristol , and otber ports , there was an almost unanimous concurrence with the bill ; Mr . Gilmour , of Glasgow , the largest shipowner in the world , and Mr . Green , of London , had assisted him in framing and warmly supported its main provisions . He defended those provisions , and , with reference to that upon which most difference of op inion existed—the establishment of recognised shipping agents—he observed' that it was likely to conduce not only to the benefit of the sailors , but to that of shipowners . It would have been impossible to engraft the provisions of this bill upon a general measure that could have passed this session , but he had promised to lay before the house at the end of the session a consolidation bill for consideration

    next year . Mr Derbies . believed that a large proportion pf the shipping _intorest ' was not favourable to this measure . His main objection to jt was , that the conditions imposed upon the Legislature , when i r passed the measure of last year-tbat the mercan-Sle marine of this country should be relieved as much as possible of their burdens , , so as to enable _U to sustain a competition with foreigners-had been foS en . He did not desire , however , to _ob-SSSEKpw of this bill , but would go into _sirucs w _« v b . _perfect as possible , nnd he S 5 & _ttSftSd " £ He _glyfu to tin _tfio

    Monday, Jolt 8. House Of Lords. - Thb Te...

    wore deepl y interested in it to consider the effect ol its provision s before it passed into a law . ' ' Mr . ' Cabdwell was decidedly in favour of the measure in its altered state / If tho ' timo allowed , itwouldbe most important to consider the other subjects connected with it , but this not being the case * the only question was , whether the bill should be passed in the present session . Tho shi pping _infwest of Liverpool'had been at first opposed to tbe bill , but Mr . Labouchere had met the propositions iLu Cnamher ° f Commerce in a becoming spirit . Without , therefore , denying tlie importance of tbe subjects excluded , ho was bound to rosist the deteat of the measure by time . Mr . M'Gregor having made a few remarks in support of the bill , Mr . Moffatt withdrew his motion . ¦ ¦ ' . ' " Lord J . Manners then moved that the bill be referred to a select committee . _. _.... ,

    This motion was upon a division negatived by 120 against 34 . After some observations by Mr . Wawn , in opposition tothe bill , the house went into committee ; but it being three o ' clock , the Chairman reported progress , obtaining leave to sit again this morning The sitting was then suspended until five o ' clock _. Oh the house re-assembling , : Mr . F . O'Connor presented a petition from merchants , brewers , distillers , proprietors , factors , householders , dealers in exciseable liquors , and others , residing in the city of Glasgow , against a bill introduced into the House of Peers , which imports to impose greater restrictions upon the system of licensing spirit-dealers in Scotland . ' On tho house resolving itself into committee on the _Ecclesiatical Commission Bill ,

    Mr . Horsman rose to move" his amendment to clause 1 , relating to the appointment of Church Estates Commissioners . He proposed that tho whole commission should be limited to three paid and responsible officers , ' and that the . fifty-two present _ex-officio members of . the . board should bo removed . Tho judges , cabinet ministers , and bishops of which it was composed , had ; he observed , their own important duties , which were incompatible with the due exercise of their functions in the board . He thought that this was especially true of the bishops . ' He quoted Scripture to prove tbo

    inconvenience of ecclesiastical personages being distracted from the spiritual calls that awaited them in tbeir own dioceses , in order to take part in questions affecting the temporal interests of the Church at large . He admitted that lie had oftenbad occasion to speak against existing bishops , but tbat was because be conceived . them tobe more than other men opposed to the " reli gious instruction of the peop lo- Lord John Russell preferred to adopt the suggestion of the committee , which wis , that . the most important questions should still be left tothe board at large , but that a smaller bod y should bo appointed for ordinary , matters , f

    After a caution to the house from Sir Robert Lvolis , against placing confidence in Mr ., llorsman ' s facts ,. and a retort from that gentleman , _, Sir Benjamin Hall said that lie agreed in thinking that the bishops should form no part of the commission ; because their , conduct had proved how intent they were on using every means to aggrondise themselves to the neglect of their parochial clergy . Tho . bishops only attended tho board when tbey wanted to borrow from the fund . Upon these grounds , which he illustrated by a variety of instances , he should support Mr . llorsman ' s amendment .

    Sir G . Grey observed that many of the charges laid against the bishops by tho hon . baronet only betrayed his ignorance Of the duties really reposed in them as commissioners . For instance , they were not competent to deal with questions of pluralities , as had been suggested by Sir B . Hall . Mr . Gladstone observed that the faults of the commission could bardly . be charged against the bishops , unless it were shown that tne lay members divided in a minority against them . The committee subsequently divided , when Mr . Hbrsnian ' s amendment was lost by a majority of 60 to 22 ,

    Mr . E . Denison then proposed that three of tbe commissioners' should be paid ; but after a short conversation , this and the following clauses up to No . 6 were agreed to . Several clauses having been passed , after some miscellaneous conversation and a division , a prolonged discussion ensued upon the clause introduced in the House of Lords for providing the gradual appointment of a series of suffragan bishops , who were to receive a reduced scale of income , and enjoy no parliamentary privileges , but were to fulfil a minor and auxiliary range of episcopal duties . Lord J . Russell moved an amendment , whereby tho operation of this clause was considerably restricted . The committee then divided , and the government amendment was carried by a majority of 163 to 111 . Majority , 52 . Clauses up to fifteen having been agreed to the chairman reported progress and ' the house resumed . '

    The Corporation of Boroughs Confirmation Bill went through committee . The Population ( Census ) BUI a \ so went through committee . Mr . MAcanEo ' oR moved the addition of schedules providing a variety of minute statistical returns regarding the employments , productions , possessions , and religious tenets ofthe dwellers in agricultural districts . ';¦ '•' . Mr . Cornewali Lewis and SirG . Grey opposed the proposition , which would encumber the returns , and must delay the completion of the census . After some lively discussion the motion was withdrawn . A similar bill for Ireland was afterwards carried through committee . . .. .,

    The committal of the Home Made Spirits in Bond Bill having been put , the Chancellor of the Exchequer without any further remark , moved that it be committed that day three months . The house

    divided—For going in committee 120 Against .. ; ......... „ ... 121 Majority ..,,. „„ ......., „„ ...... — -1 The house adjourned at ii quarter to two o ' clock . TUESDAY , July 9 .. HOUSE OF LORDS . —Death of the Duke or _Caiibrioge . —The Marquis of Londonderry , after enumerating tho virtues of the late Duke of Cambridge , proposed that the house should show its respect for . the illustrious deceased by an immediate adjournment . The Marquis of _Lansvowsh , while he entirely subscribed to-all that had fallen from the noble Marquis , still must object to the motiorifor an ad journment , partly because it was unusual , but more especiall y because it would deprive the house of an opportunity of condoling with her Majesty and the Duchess ot " . Cambridge , by voting an address of sympathy ih tho bereavement which had befallen the Royal Family . .

    After some discussion it . was agreed that the Marquis of _Lansdowne should propose two addresses of condolence—one to her Majesty , the other to the Duchess of Cambridge , and that the Marquis of Londonderry should withdraw his motion of . adjournment _, f The two addresses were accordingly voted nem . eon ; , and the motion withdrawn . The report on the ParliamentaryToters ( Ireland ) Bill was received , and the . tliird reading fixed for "Friday . The Metropolitan Interments Bill passed through committee , the Elections ( Ireland ) Bill wns read , a second time , a number of other bills were forwarded a stage , and their Lordships adjourned . '

    ROUSE OF- COMMONS , —This house was occupied during the morning sitting , in Committee , with tho , details of the Mercantile . Mariho Bill , until past tliree ' o _' _elock-, when tho Chairman reported progress _; to sit again on Thursday morning . An adjournment then took place until five o ' clock . ' When the house re-assembled , The National Land Company . —Mr . F . O'Connor pvesented a petition relative to the affairs of this company , nnd moved that it be read by the clerk atthe table . The Clerk had commenced reading tho petition , which purported to be from Mr . Feargus O'Connor and others , directors and shareholders in the National Land Company , when -. ' Mr . Roebuck asked if the hon . member was competent to present a petition from himself ? The _Spbaker intimated that ho was not , but said he mi ght give it to some other member to present .

    Mr . F . O'Connor . — Thank you sir ; then I'll ask the hon . member for Rochdale to present it forme . .. . Mr . S . Crawford subsequently presented tho petition , whicli prayed tbo house to give leave to bring in a bill to dissolve tho company , notwithstanding that the period fixed by tho orders ofthe house for presenting petitions to bring in private bills bad elapsed . Death of . the Duke of _Cambridge , — Lord J . Russell paid , a similar compliment to the deceased prince , as that passed in the Peers , and the house agreed to addresses of condolence to the Queen and tho Duchess of Cambridge .

    The County Franchise . —Mr , L . Kino then rose for leave to bring in a bill to make . the franchise in counties in England and Wales the same as that in boroughs , by giving the right of voting to all _ooou-, p iers of tenements _. of the anuual . valuo of £ 10 . IIo was awnro that miiny hon . gentlemen on that side of the house were as anxious as he was for a considerable measure of Parliamentary reform j and the hon . member for Montrose - had , year after year , brought forward a most comprehensive measure of reform , which had . been supported by increasing minorities ,, but ..-which had been opposed onthe ground thaft in its main features it resembled what was called fi the Charter . ? ' He ( Mr ; King ) considered that _the _ipeace and tranquillity this country had enjoyed during the Inst two years was in a great measure owing to tho reform adopted in 1832 , and to the fact that the people looked forward with con . _fidobce to the accomplishment of further reforms .

    Monday, Jolt 8. House Of Lords. - Thb Te...

    house must change their prejudices ; theyniust amend their laWs and alter their system , because the ideas ofthe people had greatly changed nnd improved . The Reform Aofc had given to £ 10 householders in certain towns the right to exercise tho franchise ; and it had now como a grievous anomaly and injustice that persons paying arentul something short of £ 50 , but not residing in a borough town , should not be represented at all . It was tho great principle of our constitution that no man should be taxed ; unless he was represented ; , and yet persons in this situation were taxed , and that heavily , too . without ucing represented . Many men who had good houses in the country , worth somewhat less than £ o 0 a-year , who kept taxed servants , taxed

    _norses ano carnages , and who contributed largely to the expenses of the State in the shape of incometax , window-tax , and other assessed taxes were not allowed the privilege of a voto ; while a man who held freehold property of the annual value of 40 s . a-year in forty different counties would possess as many _different votes . Why , ho would ask , should a £ 10 householder in Andover be en titled to vote for two members for that borough , while a £ -10 householder at Basingstoko would not be entitled to voto at all ? Why should a £ 10 householder at Reigate have a 198 th share in sending a member to parliament , while a person living in a larger and better kouso at Croydon , but paying something short of £ 50 a-year , was not allowed to have

    l-6 , 000 th share in returning members for tho eastern division of Surrey ? He had a list of twenty-two boroughs , each of which , with two exceptions , returned . two members to parliament - , and in no case did the electors amount . to 400 . The total number electors in those boroughs ' was 6 , 885 , 60 that , onthe _average , one member was returned by 163 electors ; while in the West Riding of Yorkshire 30 , 000 electors had enly two representatives . Surely the £ 10 householders who lived in populous but unrepresented towns had just as much pecuniary stake , and were likel y to possess as much political wisdom as their neighbours who lived in small boroughs _, lie must also remind the , house of the undue influence whicli mi ght be exercised by a few large proprietors in the smaller boroughs . It had been

    _proved by the reports of election committees ! that a few hundred . shopkeepers in certain boroughs iri the south and south-west of England , by soiling their votes , neutralised the effects of the franchise which had been given to such large towns as Manchester and Birmingham . He thought the house ought to give their assent to his proposal , which would destroy a great anomaly , and would remove a sense of injustice whieh now existed in the millds of hundreds and thousands of people . This measure would , at all events , test the sincerity ofthe hon . gentlemen opposite who still clung to protection , and who boldly asserted that the great body of the people were in favour of a bread-tax , for it would give them the means of trying that question in those vevy districts where they alleged that distress

    existed to " the greatest extent . ¦ ( Hear , hear , ) For his own part , he was most willing to submit the question in that manner to the great body of the people , and he had no doubt the verdict of the people would be one by which tho causo of plenty and prosperity would be permanently established . ( Hear , bear . ) : Mr . Hume in seconding the motion , said that as bis opinions on the subject of reform were very well known , it would be unnecessary for him to detain the nouse at any length . The noble lord who introduced the Reform Bill had admitted he wasprepared to carry it still further , but ho bad not said to what extent , although the noble lord had certainl y declared against the measure to which he ( Sir . Hume ) had advised tho House to assent , if

    they wished to give contentment to the people . He ( Mr . Hume ) maintained , that the more the people were trusted , the more-faithfully would tlipy . net towards their country , and the more likely would they bo , to resist any attempts that mi ght be made to interfere with institutions that were really valuable . Uc asked the noblo lord in what way any progress or advance towards reform could be made with less risk and danger , than in tho mode proposed by his honourable friend ? He thought it was only an act of justice to extend to £ 10 householders in counties the same privilege that was possessed by £ 10 householders in boroughs . There could be , no danger in such , i measure , for persons occupying £ 10 houses in the country were , in many cases superior , to those who occupied houses of tho same value in towns . He considered that an extension of tbe number of the constituency , so far from affording any cause for alarm , would increase

    the safety and security of the country . What was tlm state of the suffrage at this moment ? lie was sorry to f ind , from a return laid upon tlio tablo a few days since , that during tlio years 1849-50 there bad been a decrease , in the number of county electors in England and Wales of between 5 , 000 and 0000 , althouirli in the boroughs there had been an increase of 15 , 442 , IIo thought the motion of his honourable friend was extremely well timed , and be hoped the honourable nnd gallnnt member for Westminster ( Sir D . L , Evans ) would allow the House to take a division simply upon the question , fie approved tho amendment of that honourable and _galhi / it member , but he feared it might endanger the success of tlie motion of the honourable member for East Surry ( Mr . King ) , and he would thercfovo advise tbe honourable and gallant member to postpone his amendment and to bring it forward on a future occasion as a substantive

    motion . Sir , De L . Evans said if he thought the amendment of whicli ho had given notice would interfere in the _leaet _decree with the division on the motion of tbo hon . member for East Surrey , ho would readily comply with the request of the hon . member for Montrose . But ho wished to remind bon . gentlemen that though-he-bad now placed his motion in the shape of an amendment , it had been submitted to the house in the form of an _original motion two or three months before the hon . member for East Surrey gave notice of his proposition . Ho would , however , lcavo himself , with regard to the withdrawal . of tho amendment , entirely in the hands of his hon . friends . In bis opinion , the motion ofthe

    hon . member for East Surrey . did not go by any means far enough . He must remind tho house that the measures of reform which were adopted eighteen years ago were not accepted by the Reform party as a complete and . adequate reform , but purely , as a compromise , to prevent any disturbance of the peace and tranquillity of the country . Those measures were accepted merely ns nn instalment ; and - ho ' considered that the intellectual and moral improvement'which had taken place among tbe people , andespecially among the humbler classes , since that period , had peculiarly qualified them to bb entrusted with constitutional rights . He cautioned thorn not to pursue the same course that was taken in France two years ago _. where , in consequence

    of the refusal ofa gradual extension of the franchise , a revolution bad broken out , and universal suffrage had been obtained by the people , though they would have been satisfied with less if it had been conceded to them in timo ; What , then , ho would _pvopose was , firstly , "to render tho payment of any income or property tax a qualification to vote for members of- Parliament for tho county or borough in , which such payment shall have been made , provided tbat no person shall be so entitled unless - lie shall have been resident for the space of twelve months preceding within tho said county or borough and shall have been duly registered ; " secondly , " to render the payment of poor-rate as occupier of any . premises rated as of the not annual value ol" £ 5

    or upwards , a qualification to vote for members of parliament for the county or borough within which s ' uch . poisons are situated , provided tbo person paying suoh rate shall havo occupied such premises for twelve months preceding , and have been duly registered ; " -and , thirdly ,- " to render deposits in savings banks of a certain amount a qualification to vote for members of parliament ; , with the provision of twelve months preceding residence and of registration , and of twelve months' preceding duration Of such deposits . " . Under thopresent system taxation _pressedunequallj ' _, and the greater burden of it fell upon the poor ; : but redress' had never been obtained by conviction or argument—reforms had , never been made until there was dancer or

    alarm of nn insurrection in the country ; but that was not a satisfactory state for tho Legislature to be in . Ho rejoiced , indeed , that tho reforms of tho last few years had been made , for otherwiso , in the present excited state of Europe , a revolution mi life have occurred here . Thero was a greater necessity that the House of Commons should be made a just equipoise to the Bouse of Lords , fov tho latter was decidedly hostile to any measures of reform , so that the . two branches of . tho Legislature were always in danger of a collision . From the constitution of the House of Lords thero was always a majority in it against a reform Ministry , but that was an unsafe and insecure state of things , and it behoved the house to prepare for occurrences that had taken

    plaoe elsewhere In tho memory of hon . members . Eveu that . house was so aristocratical as hardly to represent : the - feelings of the people , and constituencies i were under the influence of largo landed proprietors . He remembered ' an advertisement of : the late Mr . Robins , in which , speaking of the advantages of l a " magnificent estate , " ho numbered'amongst them the " political influence extending over 1 ; 200 independent voters . " ( A laugh . ) "With theso observations , he would propose an amendment embodying the propositions to whioh he had referred , if bo understood from the right hon . gentleman in tbe chair that be could moveitwitnoutpreventing a division on the original motion ;

    The Speaker said , the question whether the hon . gentleman could'move his amendment without preventing a division on the original motion must depend entirel _y on the opinions of the house . . ' Sir , Da , L . Evans thought there would'be no chance of a division in favour of his amendment , and would therefore not trouble tho house by moving it . k Mr . Alcock complained of respectable persons , particularly medical men , who , ia consequence of

    Monday, Jolt 8. House Of Lords. - Thb Te...

    residing in houses at a rental of not quite £ 50 ayear , had no vote for the county ,.. _'In the towh ot _lipsom inthe county lie . represented , there were slx ,, m

    turned fifty-three members . There were also thirty boroughs , with constituencies between 500 and 1 , 000 , and sending forty-threo members to Parliament , in which there was no contest , and ho might assert , without fear of contradiction , that those boroughs were the private property of peers and wealthy proprietors , and that the people in tbem had no voice or share whatever in the elections . But let him compare thoso seventy-one boroughs with fifty of tho largest . The gross number of electors , in the seventy-one boroughs was 3 ( 5 , 767 , whilst in the fifty largest , returning only _ninetynme members , the number of electors was 270 , 247 . riio people knew well that in such a state of things there was no vespomibilitv on tha Trcasurv bench

    to the country at largo . They had had Ministers dismissed from large constituencies , but still they were not dismissed from office .- If thev wero ejected from _W estminister they came in for Harwich . ( A laugh . ) The return to which he had before referred showed that the fifty larger boroughs returned no more members than the seventy-one smaller ones , although the former contained seven times as miiny electors , seven times aB many bouses rated to tho relief of the poor , and six times as many inhabitants as the latter . Of the ninetymno members for the seventy-one _boroughs seven voted for the bon . member for Montrose ' s last motion for extending the franchise , forty-three voted against it , and forty-nino were absent from tho

    division . Of tho members for tho fifty boroughs forty-seven voted for the same motion , twentys < _-ven against it , and twenty-five were absent from the divisions . _Amongst those' who voted against tho motion were twelve occupants of the Treasury Bench , namely , the First Lord ofthe Treasury , tbe Attorney and tiie Solicitor General , the Chid Poor Law Commissioner , the Second Poor Law Commissioner , a Lord of the Admiralty , a Secretary of tiie Treasury , and other holders of office , whose total salaries amounted to £ 25 , 000 a-year . Taking two groups of fourteen boroughs eaeh , one from the top and the other from the bottom of the list , it appeared that each group returned tbe same number of members , although one contained f <; rty-one

    times as many electors , and thirty-one times as many inhabitants , as the othor . In 1847 the registered electors of the Tower Hamlets numbered 19 , 350 , There wero sitting in tlio heuse and voting on all questions affecting the rights , interests , prospects , and destinies of tbe masses of this country , eighty-two members , representing fifty-eight boroughs , whoso united constituencies amounted to only 19 , 382 voters , being sixtyeight fewer than the constituency of tbe Tower Hamlets . ( Hear , hear , ) According to the census of 1841 , the population of the Tower Hamlets was 419 , 730 , _Kinety-three members of the house represented boroughs whose united population was 419 , 259 , being 471 less than that of the Tower

    Ham-Jets _, in a house so constituted what chance was _t" , _™ of any Liberal measures being carried ? Would the noble lord at the head of the government be . frank enough to explain how , in the present state of parties , he meant to maintain his position , and to secure forthe people the benefits of past legislation ? He had bad opportunities of testing the feeling of the country , and found it in favour of extending tbe franchise to tho labouring classes . If the noble lord should not divulge a serious intention to improve the representation of tbe people , he and thoso about bim must give way to a stronger party , and the friends of reform would support any party wliich would secure the people something like beneficial legislation in that house .

    Government could not adopt a wiser course than to occupy themselves during the recess in maturing some great measure of reform . By declaring tbat to be their intention they would unite their dissatisfied supporters into a phalanx . The noble lord at the head of the government well knew that the support be at present received was reluctantly given , aDd that many members had been censured by their constituencies for . the votes tbey had given to maintain the existence of the government . ( Hear , hear , ) If ministers sbould still preserve silence on the subject of reform , tney wou \ u do more than destroy their official existence , and prove themselves recreants to the principles they once avowed . They would betray the Liberal cause into the

    hands of its enemies , and do all in their power to reverse the policy to which they bad so often declared their intention of adhering to , and , instead of earning tho gratitude of tho country , by following out the work in which they nobly engaged twenty years ago , tbey would receive and deserve the condemnation ofthe people for trusting rather to patronage and the eleemosynary support o f gentlemen on the other side of the house than to the justice and grateful attachment of tho British nation . ( Vncers . ) Mr . Henry DucMMond said , he had so often advocatedi _m his own county the resolution submitted to tlio house , that he felt it impossible to avoid supporting it now ; but in so doing he was more ai aious

    to separate _iiimselt from all tho arguments which had been urged in its favour by hon . gentlemen opposite . ( Hear , and laughter . ) The motion in itself was very _Bimple . It could produce no harm ; and , as the bill could not pass during the present session , under any circumstances , he would be sorry if government should think it worth while to oppose it . ( Laughter . ) The bon . member who spoke last said he bad tested the feeling of tbe people all over the country . That was a slip ofthe tongue . The hon . member meant to have said , not that be was a tester , but an exciter of feeling . ( Hear , and laughter . ) He had read accounts ofthe hon . member ' s proceedings whilst following that buidablo occupation . It was impossible to doubt the fact of excitement prevailing in tlieconntrv , because the party to whom the hon . member said the noble lord at the head of the government owed his position had avowed that the whole of these reform

    measures were proposed with a view to the establishment of a republic , ( "ifo , no , " from the Ministerial benches . ) "Yes , " continued the hon . member , "you know very well that it is so . " ( A laugh . ) One of the hon . members opposite had declared that he always went to a public meeting with extracts from the speeches of tho hon . member for Buckinghamshire , which served bim as a sort of pocket pistol , ready to be discharged if occasion served _^ _Kow , ho liked to follow a good example , and he was prepared with his pocket pistol , which he would discharge at hon . members opposite if they ventured to challenge him . ( A laugh . ) If he were driven to quote , tbo Reformers might find themselves somewhat embarrassed by tbe extracts he would read : — " That eagle ' s fate and mine aTO one , Who , on tbe shaft that saw bim die , Espied a feather of his own ,

    With which ho wont to soar so high . ( "Hear , " and laughter . ) Tbo inequalities inthe representative system which tho . hon . member for tlio Tower Hamlets bad pointed out , formed the ground on which reform had always been advocated in tliis country . The arguments now employed by tho hon . member were used by . reformers in old times , and were answered by Mr . Canning in this way—tbat what you call representation , that was to say a certain number of persons returning a certain number of members , was never the constitution of England . ( Hear . ) It was the constitution of the present French Republic , but it never was the constitution here . Tbe members returned to the English House of Commons were _alwavs the

    representatives of interests , and thus the voters for the representatives of land in the counties and of trade in the towns possessed different qualifications . It must be granted that the Reform Act had destroyed that original princi ple of our representative constitution , and looking at the principles on which tbe Reform Act proceeded , lie did not think it was possible for tno government to avoid adopting the scheme of electoral divisions , but if they should adopt it it would be utterly incompatible with the existence of every one of the institutions of the country . ( Hear , hear . ) Establish electoral divisions and all power would at once be _iodsed in the bands of the shopkeepers , for they

    were tho most numerous class . " Thehon . members over the way announced it to be their intention to keep up continual agitation , which they thought essential to the oxistenco of tho government . Indeed , they seemed to _supposo that the use of a government was to agitato . ( Hear , hear . ) They also talked of the necessity of Ministers introducing wbat were called " large and liberal measures / b y which it was conceived they would succeed in giving stability to the government . How a government could be _stablo which was always engaged in l agitation , he did not know . _(¦ ' Hear , " " and laughter . ) _Nor ; was it easy to discover what was meant _; by the word " liberal'' unless it w » 9 employed to > keep the word " Republio" out of sight , ( near . ) >

    Ihe plivase , "large and liberal measures means ; nothing else than placing all power in the hands of f the people , to tho exclusion of tho Crown , the } House of Lords , and all those classes wbich hon . . members opposito called the " aristocracy . ( Hear , hear . ) Thero was no doubt about the s matter-the honest portion of the p t . y avowed 1 that to be their object . The hon . memW _^| Mto B Tower Hamlets seemed to think _w 5 _CT _^? g _™ _gyf \ f \ Parliament should always vote _gP _^&^ f _^^ J & nJ , pleasing his constituents . It _^ V _^ mL _^ _T _^ i' _^ _% f mond ' s ) belief that no man _^^& _m _^^ _WS _* j ? JPj _, oharge his duty as a member ° _P $ _lJKi _28 § a §§ 3 looked to pleasing h _« _oonstttuenwi ™ . _^*^ S _^ i _tw _^ HMM :

• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 13, 1850, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_13071850/page/7/