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    • Birmixgham.—Rvtraordinaru Meetaia at the Public
    • muted.ty BOTy&Mi M-GOWAN, o£ II, Break Wiita-ai
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      R, M * T» March 1, 184 - The Northern St...

      r , m * _t » March 1 , 184 _- THE NORTHERN STAR . H ;¦ >

      ***¦——-—^ ¦ Lirqimal F Aritammk

      _***¦—— - _—^ ¦ _lirqimal f aritammk

      \-Oose Of Iobds, Isasma. Feb-M. I Jvaxtv...

      _\ _-OOSE OF IOBDS , _ISasma . _Feb-M . I _JvAXtVOS , introduced abill , ofwhich he had given » r * '¦ . list session , for the abolition of deodands , a species " _f — : 7 _= on which he characterised as most ahsurd , _capridoiA , _i _^ _Qinsntfiment Tie _Lobd _Chauceiloe hy no means disputed tlie _jnstfet . of these epithets as applied to the sys _' tem of deodands , hut suggested that , as they formed a part ofthe _casual-j-evenue of the crown , it was expedient that the Bojal assent should be obtained before the bill was further - _anm-Sri with . _Theprivilegcsof the House of Commons were H * o ia some measure affected , and it might be doubted whether thoie corporatioiis to which deodands acerr . - ' would not have a claim for compensation .

      I * --- _-jij _^ _nE _* . _** . admitted that theBoyal assent would be zcJesary , hut denied the " force of the two other objections to his hill , vr _. _iu-li was ultimately read a first time . _L-o : * i _Vavhovsu- _jJUcji presented the report of tlie Board of _Traae upon _« _-ve : _r : il railways , upon which a conversation -ensued , in _-tihich Lord _Fitzwilliain and Lord Campbell T * jo _* fc jxsrL Ti .: Ir I > nil > idps then adjourned .

      Tcesdat , Feb . 25 . T -. -. <> _i . r . _CilASCEttOK gave notice that , on Friday lie ** .. - - _> -. > -.: id move the second reading of the Bail in Err * . * , - * . ; . Lon Bkocgham gave notice that on Thursday week he _wouhi _j _^ y upon the table a bill to transfer the jurisdiction in divorce cases from their lA > rdslups * House to another _sril'u : _- ? :. _Se-: * _.-. petition * were presented , after whieh the _llouic _a'iyrc-r- _?! .

      Iuvksday , Iieb . 27 . In reply to questions put by Lord Beaumont , in refer-•• nce to the unfortunate expedition from Corfu to Calabria , a-jd the degrading suspicions to which the British _'Govtr . _ciucut was in consequence exposed , Th * - Sari of _Abesoees said , that owing to the state of - Clair ? in Italy represeutatious were made to the British _Govei- _jiu-iit which led to the issue of a warrant to open ilie _ier-.-ft- of Mr . Mazzini Thev were sent to his office , and hi - . - . _nuivdiately determined tliat no agent of a foreign _Cove-iait-tit should cither see the letters or know that they ** _ur in _crisicnec . and in his _eoiiumiiucations he nam- ; 2 . *• . _«'• writer , and iook care not to compromise the _safety •* ' any individual . These precautions prov-ed siiccasr . il , and not a angle individual had suffered iu * - <& ns = < j - _* uici * of the information so communicated . In

      fad , _H _** . _Mazzhii had induced his fiiends to abandon tlie _tnterr-rie c- _'ntc-mplated . With respect to Uic conspiracy at _C-.-rfir , Ik had _coiinnitiiicated no information _whatever . _KjSfh « - 'had not the _nu'st distant idea that any sue ! : siter ; _Tisc was in contemplation . One of the Bandieras arriveu at _Cvrfa , where he expected to find his brother . _Kailir . _£ in this , he went to Malta , and from thence to Greece . From Greece In ? once more arrived at Corfu , on the & t ~ : ' _.. f -Jnne , and the whole ofthe enterprise was _ar-•*!« - « -:: !? between that day and the 12 th , only one week , » he * i < s _* jj- left for the coast of Calabria . There was , therefore , 20 _possibiUty that the British Govermnent could havi- _i-. n . jwn _anytlmtr abu . it it . He believed it to hi : * . v " _-i- " 'U- _untnit * tliat liiihcr the Austrian or

      Jieapoiitr : ; -, Government liad taken any steps whatever to i **< 5 uce the parties to embark in the enterprise . The isnnediate application to Lowl Seaton to send the _Mcdes steamer sifter the conspirators , was a proof that they ware anxious to prevent any such enterprise , and he -, alv -eeretted that Lord Seaton had not felt it to be his duty w so . nply with tlie request , in which case the unhappy meu would have been rescued from the _consc--jucsif-vs of their own misguided rashness . He felt these accos _.-i ! _ons keenly , however groundless they might be ; hot - •; _-,-jilr hoped , when the day should come when he _woitst rave to answer for every action of his life , that any chErrt- - " . thick _-ml-jlit then be made against him , would be -I * whaly _groimdhss a _$ those to which the Jfoble Lord _hadalhided . Led BEAeMOKT exjiressed himself perfectly satisfied will ; is explanation , and tlie House soon after adjourned .

      House Of Commons, Monday , Feb. 24. On :...

      HOUSE OF COMMONS , Monday , Feb . 24 . On : £ c motion that the House should resolve itself into * _Ciimniitee of ways and' means iu order to consider of the _s' _-vrar duties , . Mr . : s _«? iji * - os moved as an amendment , " That no _arra _*^« nent of the _< ngar duties wUl he satisfactory ami _jM-rcraaeut which does not involve an equalisation of duty m - " _-. _r-aij -n and colonial sugar . " The Hou . Gentleman -J > bs * _a---5 < 1 , that iince the Act ' _.-f last year the sugar trade had been in a most unsatisfactory state of suspense . It was rrac that the sugar duties were voted annually ,- hut . till psarfies purchased largely upon the implied _understanding- that the trade was not to be exposed to continual e _* -ie _2 si- _* e fluctuations . The great qucstion , * however . was , ** _-he : ssr the whole of the community was to be heavily ! a _ - * t « , z . t » tfor the benefit of die revenue , hut of the West

      India _v-ik-nisi _? . By the protection of ifls . given to them , the _Eri : ish community was compelled to pay no less than -6 _* 2 _, _* i < X' _,- _* oO ou the 230 , 000 tons of colonial sugar estimated ¦ _o he consumed iu the ensuing year , and this for the _promo & _c-n of private and not of public interests . This _anao-s * . of protection actually _exceeded all tlie value of _theia-b-. ur expended on the production of sugar iu our West >; 'l : a colonies . He had no wish to do the slightest injur- ' _.-i the colonies , hut he firmly believed tliey would _prosr-r _. _* ' more under a system of free aud open competition . K-cm if he w < -re wrong in this belief , he would Still stand _! ion the justice of his case . He called upou the _llousf *> . » abandon a system of legislation so injurious , and zo free theinselve _ : from the domination of the _monofKilii-. classes , to the lasting beuefit of the country . Mr . Swakt seconded the motion .

      iir . 'jibson s amendment was supported by Mr . Jiicar _^ _o . 3 _U-. _VUliers , Lord Howick , Mr . Cobden , and ilr . Biiij 2 _=- - and opposed hy ifr . . Tames , Sir G . Clerk , 31 r . Mile :, Mr . _Gladstone , Mv . _lahuncheie , the Chaneellor of the _XJM-htquer , aud Lord Sandoa . The House divided , _wrbtti Mr . Qibsou _- _sanu-niiment was negatived by a majoritv « f : ' I 1 to > t .

      _Ibxsiur . Fr . ii . i _' .: > . iir . ' _. _Vallace ai . » v < -d for leave io bring iu a bill to repeal si . much of ihe Act 1 Wm . IV ., c . 69 , as provides that there d _. f . l ! be thirteen _judges in the Court of Session in _Scvd-rid ; and to extend the jurisdiction ofthe stipendiary _cotnir _juthwi , called _= ? . i-i- * i & , hy g ivin g litem the power Of _awsuXug the _punishuieul of _tran--- portation , in the event oithe ;' _-j'lges of the Court of Session being reduced below the _n _'^ aber of thirteen . Ti = motion was opposed by the Lord Advocate , and alter £ ; ine discussion Mr . Wallace withdrew his motion . _Srii _Isclis moved for various papers rela « ing to the new _regulations for the _narroes captured hy our cruisers , _andi-a-dtd at Sierra Leone ; and drew the attention oi the _H-j-jft to the hardships which were inflicted bv those

      regulation- ' . A proclamation was issued by the governor of that colony on the 12 th of last June , in pursuance of an _crdsrfrom the Colonial Secretary-, for the purpose of encoura _^ ng emigration to the West Indies , and by that proclamation all those liberated Africans who declined to emigrate were deprived of all the allowances usually granted , and left in consequence without food , clothing , _orias-skincnts of husbandry—in short , amongst strangers , and utterly unable to help themselves . The regulations fell s * severely on the children that they were easil y induceu to emigrate , while the adults had no alternative _betweLiiemi _^ Btien and starvation . This was , iudced , ronferxnig a 6 oon on the West India planter , but a at _tcrisble -ixrifice to the negro . These regulations , he feared , would lead to the revival of the slave trade between the eoas : - ; c Africa and the Mauritius .

      _assr : c oiscusaon billowed , and the motion was agreed to . Dr . Bowaixo moved for a copy of correspondence relative to the issue and withdrawal of an ordinance of the Governor of Hong-Kong , dated the 21 st of August last , t 3 r ihe registration of the population of that colony , and for establishing-a pell tax on the inhabitants to cover tlie expenses of the said registration . Great dissatisfaction was excited amongn both the British and uativeresideuts by this attempted inquisition , and it was ultimately withdrawn . The _^ notion was opposed by Mr . Hope on behalf of the Govercmenl , and after some _discussaou was withdrawn .

      ¦ air 3 axeb Graham moved for leave to bring in a bill forthe better regulation of medical practice throughout the united kingdom . The first object of the bill would be , to havo a central _establishment of a council of health which would iave the superintendence of medical and surgical education , and which would be accessible to the Government for consultation upon matters having reference to the public health . . The second object w _^ s , Jo secure for all medical practitioners equal facilities of practice , and to secure for the public general equality of attainment . The third object ofthe bill was , that these _attainments having been ascertained by" examination , then

      should he such a _refistration as would give public notoriety -: 1 a t the parties examined had come up to the _reqnirc _£ _standard . The Right Hon . Baronet then entered into a _statement ol * the points in which his present bill -difier .-I from that of last year , together with the reason _? _whk- ' n ¦ ' . dr ' _.- e'l him to adopt the alterations , amongst tin . princ . _*^ : ' - ' * . luch were , tliat he did not propose to repeal die _M-.-. 1 _I-- ries' Act , except so far as related to the p 3 r _.= - _-jr ' _i-r _. _-Toulfi he registered under his bill ; and lit pR .. ] - ¦ - - ' _) : it 5 hv > uld be a misdemeanour for any one to prd _. - - - _nhjsician . surgeon , or other _medical practirlcL - - - -ss not duly qualified . Leave was given to brine < ...

      Th-. I ; ,, : i « _iu- Baronet then obtained leave to bring in a i- ' •;— -. bleher Majesty to grant new charters to crn - >' .. ¦ - IV' .- of Physicians and Surgeons . si :. ; :. ii . j- . i - movid for copies of the correspondence which _&• - -. _j . ! ace relative to the'dismissal of the Earl of tacanfi-ar .. and subsequent restoration to , tlie magistracy ; and also for a copy of the commission appointing the said Earl of Lucan Lord lieutenant of the county of Mayo . Motion _agreed to . The rciiiaining business on the paper was postponed , SUB the House adjourned .

      _WEDXESDAT , _FlUJ . 26 . Sir F . Egebtos wished to draw the attention of the Bight Hon . Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department to a _ihin-l uiig circumstance which came out in evidence before a police magistrate . It appeared that , in some of the crowded church yards of the metropolis ( one was instanced' in the neighhourhooa of Clerkenwell ) , it « _8 S the _cn _^ _mtointeihebooiesywtfl _apw-e , and shortlv afterwards toi Irani them .- . He wished to know if the Bight Hon . Baronet intended to adopt any measur _prevent tins desecration ?

      House Of Commons, Monday , Feb. 24. On :...

      Sir J . Gbaiiasi said he had only been aware ofthe facts _stiitt-d through a newspaper of this morning . The case , if made clearly out , was one in whieh he should he inclined , certainly , to interfere—( loud cheering ); but , as the law stood , he apprehended there would be great difficulty found to stand in the way of an effectual interference upon the part of tlie executive . On the motion for the House resolving itself into a committee of ways and means on the sugar duties Lord J . _RussELi contended , that at least one-half of the differential duties was appropriated by the planter ; and that it was impossible hy artificial distinctions to heep out slave-grown produce , as was apparent from the amount of importation from Venezuela . He would admit that tlie principles of free trade could not be immediately

      applied to the West Indian colonies , owing to obstacles of a temporary nature arising from the Act by which the negroes were emancipated . One of these obstacles was a deficiency of labour , which was sought to be corrected by the introduction of free labourers from the coast of Africa . Xow , a gradual introduction of labour would be beneficial , no doubt ; but the importation of large numbers of negroes from the coast of Africa , with the view of suddenly lowering the value of labour , might he attended with many disadvantages , and more particularly with the fearful oue of creating a dangerous preponderance of the black over the white population . He could not perceive the wisdom of tlie financial plan proposed by the Bight now . Bavouet _, which _reiuteved it hopeless to get rid of the income tax at the end of three years . They were _sat-riScing revenue to the extent of _£ 2 ,-500 , 000 which might have been applied to the reduction of the silk and spirit duties without any loss to the

      revenue , while commerce would liave been cxtenslvcly benefited . He thought that they should gradually approach towards free trade principles by imposing for a limited period a moderate _dift'erential duty , until they should be at length in a position to abolish it entirely . ¦ The Noble Lord concluded by moving . " That it is the opinion of this House tliat the plan proposed by her Majesty ' s Government in reference to the Sugar Duties professes to heep up a distinction between foreign free-labour and foreign slave-labour sugar , whieh is impracticable and illusory ; and , without adequate benefit to the consumer , tends so greatly to impair the revenue as to render the reiuovid of the income and property tax at the end of three years extremely uncertain and improbable . " The motion was opposed by the Chancellor of tlie Exchequer , Mr . Gladstone , Sir James Graham , and Sir R . Peel ; and supported by Mr . Lahouehere , Mr . Macaulev , Mr . C . Wood , Lord Palmcrston , and Sir C . Napier .

      The gallery was then cleared for the division , when tlio motion of Lord John Russell was negatived by amajority of * 23 ( i to 14 '

      TnmtsDAT , FiiB . 27 . The Speaker took tlie cbair at five o ' clock . Lord Sakdon presented a petition from the sugar refiuers of Liverpool , complaining of the hardship they would undergo if the Government plan for the reduction ofthe sugar duties should be carried iuto efteet , iu consequence of tbe large stock of sugar which they had on hand , and praying the House . to give them relief . They also prayed tliat no duty might be imposed upon molasses , and thatahigh duty might be Imposed upon foreign and colonial refined sugar . Mr . MiLV . s presented a petition from Somerset against the poor-law clause iu the law of settlement . Mr . U . Palmer presented a petition , signed by 1-5 * 0 fanners of Bucks , against the malt duty .

      POST-OFFICE ESPIONAGE . Mr . Waexet presented a petition from the inhabitants oi Finsbury , agreed to at a public meeting . The petitioners stated— " That they learn with mortification and disgust that tliere exists at the General Post-office a secret spy system , under which letters are broken open , seals couuterfcited , aud post-marks falsely imposed , in order to deceive the persons to whom such letters are directed , and to whom they are afterwards forwarded , while the information thus obtained has , in some cases , been used to promote the despotic interests of foreign Governments . They also state that they had read with indignation , the statement made by their representative in his place in Parliament , that his correspondence had been

      _clandes"finely intercepted and secretly opened , uuder Government authority , at the Post-office . That the only excuse for thcexcerciscof such power towards Mr . Duncombe , would be that the Government had good reason to deem him capable of conduct which , if true , would , in tlieir opinion , render him totally unfit to continue the representative of a free and independent constituency ; that they therefore feel it due to themselves , as well as to 3 Ir . Duncombe , to demand from the House of Commons such an investigation into the proceedings toward him as should either justify tlie implied suspicions of the G overument , or fully establish tlie innocence ofa long-tried and faithful representative . " ( Hear , hear . ) In answer to a question from an Hon . Member ,

      Sir R . _Peei , said , that he was in communication with several persons connected with banking in Scotland , and lie thought he could not he prepared to bring in a Bill on the subject , or to state the intentions of the Government , until after Easier .

      GAME LAWS . Mr . _Biiight presented petitions , numerously signed h _}" _fanuers and landholders in Horsham , Sussex , Alnwick , in _Sorthumbtrland , from the western side of the Severn , ( _flouccstci-shirc , andlluislip , in Middlesex , all praying fur the abolition of the game-laws . The Hon . Member thtii _sjud , tlie inotioa wliich lit- had given notice of _bring" lUg Oil Ihat evening , was a motion for the appointment of : i Select Committee to inquire into the operation of the game-laws ; and in bringing the motion before the House , he acknowledged that he was fully sensible of the importance and difficulty of this question . He regretted extremely that it could not have all the weight in the House from his advocacy which it might have had in other hauds . IJuthewas so convinced ofthe importance of the

      question , and of the necessity of some alteration in the laws respecting game , that he considered he should be neglecting his duty , if he had hesitated for a longer period to bring the question under the notice of the House . He had observed tliat for several years past a considerable portion ofthe convictions which had taken place at petty sessions , more especially in tht- agricultural counties , were for offences agaiust tlie Game Aet —( hear , hear , ) and thousands of the poorest ofthe population had been fined and imprisoned for such offences . It frequently happened too that violent outrages , and ferocious encounters , took _placcbehveenjfaniehcepersandpoaelierSjCndingfrc-qututly iu tlieinniction of serious injuries , and notunfrequentlyin death . He found also that the last sentence of the law - had been frequently put into operation on unfortunate

      individuals whose calamities had been brought upon them through the laws for the preservation of game , it was because he had a deep sympathy for the poorest classes of the people , and because he had a deep reverence for the sacredness of human life , that he asked the attention of tlie nouse to the motion which he was about to propose , and he felt certain that no considerable number of members would refuse to accede to such an inquiry . Looking back to foiiner legislation on this subject , he felt justified in making tliis proposition , as there had been frequent instances of late years of the appoiutment of committees to consider the game laws . In the years 1816 and 1 S 23 , Select Committees had been appointed to inquire into this subject ; aud in 3828 , there had been a Select Committee of the House of Lords , appointed for

      the same purpose . The Committee of 1816 appeared to have been appointed for the immediate object of obtaining such evidence as might induce the Legislature to abolish the qualification then existing , which was the possession of a considerable portion of lauded property , and of throwing open the right of killing game to all persons who should purchase a Government certificate . Jn 1823 the object of the Committee was to obtain such evidence as should induce the Government to legalize the sale of game , and hi 1828 the Select Committee of the House of Lords was ap pointed with the same object . Though the immediate objects of these Committees were such as he had stated , no one who had read the evidence adduced before them could fail to he convinced of the tact tliat the real cause of

      their appoiutttieut had _hceu the prevalence ot poaching , and the frequent recurrence of those disastrous encounters between gamekeepers and poachers , which they had of late years so deeply to deplore . ( Hear . ) Mr . Bright then gave a number of cases of hardship under the Game Laws , aud referred especially to a case of a man detected with a snare in his hand on the grounds of the Rev . Geo . Chetwode , who had been sentenced to six weeks * imprisonment for tlio same , during wliich his wife and children had suffered the greatest hardships . Itwasawell known fact , that thekilliiigof game was held to be no disgrace in the rural districts . He was in possession of a number of facts that illustrated in a remarkable degree , this state of pubhc opinion . There was a person near Aldborough , in the county of Suffolkr a most noted

      poacher , who carried on a large trade in tliat way , and employed , frowi thirty to forty persons . The men thus employed were all regular poachers , while the head of the l « dy , to keep up appearances , bad a regular game _certifii-ate , and had a connection with several noted sellers of game in London , to whom the supplies were regularly dispatchrd . The depredations of tliis party were principally earned on upon the estates of Lord Rendlesham and the Earl of Hertford , and they had a regular protective association , and subscribed funds for the purpose of defending any of them that might happen to be prosecuted for an infringement of flic Game Laws . The head Of this party was considered a respertable person in the neighbourhood where he resided . There was another striking instance showing this state of the public mind . He bad lately read in a Yorkshire newspaper , a Doneaster oue he believed , in the obituary column , that a person had just died , who was described as a noted poacher , hut in all other respects an upright and respectable man .

      So trustworthy was he considered , that ou more than one occasion he was , on being convicted , sent to Wakefield with bis own commitment in his pocket , and he never failed to deliver lumself into custody . [ Great laughter . ) Mr . Bright then proceeded to discuss the " right of property" in game . He could not conceive how any wild animal " could he considered property . No one could identify a hare or a pheasant , as he eould a pig or other domestic animal : yet , to claim property in anything , it was considered necessary that its ' owner should be able so to establish his right . But if game was property , why had there existed a former law , denying the right of either buying or selling game ? It was generallyheld that that which was considered property should be that which was recognised to he an object of hatter , the Game Law of 1831 , proMbited the sale of game ; and the fact of such a law baring existed was an admission that game was not " property . " Butif game was property , then wild animals , he maintained , ought to be protected at the public expense , the

      House Of Commons, Monday , Feb. 24. On :...

      same as were the wares of a shopkeeper ; and the public ought to be rated to support a police for that purpose . To show tho effects which flowed from the operation ot the Came Laws , he would refer to a -return which he hail moved , for last year , and also one furnished on another motion of an Hon . Friend . From these returns it « _j > - peared , that , during the year previous , tliere had been brought before various assizes and sessions for _ponelm .-, ' above -1 , 500 cases . Of those tried , 40 had been transported , aud 113 hnprisoncdfor various periods ; while the remainder were fined in various sums to au average of about £ 2 each , punishments monstrous and cruel . compared to the offences committed . It was further shown , that , from 1833 to 1 S 43 , there had been no less than forty-two gamekeepers killed , some by accident ; but in twenty-five

      instances with deliberate wilfulness . . This was a dreadful state of things and one that ought to he put an end to . From returns furnished from the manufacturing districts respecting the number of deaths occasioned by machinery , it was shown that the annual deaths from this cause were , in Lancashire , one in every 80 , 000 employed ; wliile in proportion to the number of gentlemen who liad game licenses , ( about 60 , 000 he believed ) , the number was four , or double the proportion . ( Hear , hear . ) Sueh _WCl'C the results , which lie was sure he understated . It was one of these murders whieh had called his attention to the subject , that at Knowslcy _, where a gamekeeper had met a poacher and exchanged shots , in which the gamelieepcv Ml the victim . Of the five engaged in Ibis transaction , one was hanged , and the other four were transported . It was this case that had led him ( Mr . B . l

      tothe consideration of the . whole question of the Game Laws , and induced him to bring the subject before the House . The system of game-preserving was a system of terrorism , inimical to both farmers and labourers , and one which should be put an end to . The Hon . Gentleman then made a pointed reference to the member for Gloucestershire , Mr . Berkley , who had published a pamphlet in which he recommended poachers to be met with " punches on the head _nnii blows before words ; " and expressing himself that he did not expect much opposition to his motion for inquiry unless it came from that quarter . After shewing up the battue system , in describing which lie occasioned much merriment , the Hon . Gentleman sat down by moving for a Committee to inquire into the operation of the Game Laws .

      Sin J . _Gsaiiam , who spoke in a very low tone of voice , said he had listened with great pleasure to the speech just delivered by the Hon . Member for Durham , He was pleased at its tone and temper . He was sure that it would be met in the same spirit by the House , and that the result would be a full and dispassionate enquiry . Tha fearful circumstances that liad transpired durhuf tin last few years had convinced him ( Sir J , Graham ) thai enquiry was necessary , an inquiry , which , he hoped , when gone into , would be conducted in an honest and impartial spirit . After referring to the recent

      alterations in the law , winch he described as removing all the feudal restrictions that had formerly existed in reference to the killing of game , conferring the right to destroy them upon every person ,- without regard to their position in society , providing that they took out a license , lie expressed himself that it was not the intention of the Government to offei' any opposition whatever to the motion ofthe Hon . Member . He thought that if the motion did not lead to a change in tlie law , it would at least lead to a better understanding among * all classes .

      Mr . Vernon Smith approved of the motion , and went on to show that the convictions under the present Game Laws were nearly double to those uuder the law of 1 _$ H . Mr . D . & RBT said that Sir James Graham had done well in acceding to the motion of Mr , Bright , though he did not expect so much good from it as that gentleman might expect . Mr . V . II . G . _BJE'tKE . Hsr said it was not his intention to oppose the appointment of the Committee ; though he did think that the agitation whieh had been occasioned since it was known that the present subject was to be brought forward , was not at all creditable . The landlords

      had been called "tyrants , and the Hon . Gentleman who introduced the motion pretended to he the " far . nier ' _s friend . " He denied that the Game Laws tended to produce crime more than the other laws that existed relating to the protection of property . He placed poaching on the same footing as smuggling , aud thought the law might be improved in SOmu l _' eSpOetS , though he hold it io be beneficial In the whole . The laws wero not more stringent here ' than in other countries : as the United States of America fov instance , where very severe laws existed , against lulling wild animals under particular circumstances .

      Mr . Aclionby expected great good from a full iiifpdry into the subject : and that the exaggerated statements whieh had gone abroad with respect to the preservation of game would be set at rest . Col . Sibthohpje said , lhe speech of the Hon . Member fov Durham seemed to encouvage the depredations of tlii : poachers : but he supposed this was part of the system pursued by the Anti-Corn Law League , a class for whom . thank God . ' he entertained no high opinion . , Mi-. _Giuntlev BEJtKEtEr maintained that the farinci always took his land with the knowledge that there w . » game upon it , and that allowance was made on thai account . The poacher , generally speaking , was a man who was receiving good wages , and not , as had -been represented in that House , a person borne down by distress . He read a statement to show that _ei-iiiu abounded more in tliose districts -where game was rn > : preserved , thau iu those were it was rigidly _n-tami-mitd . Mr . B . Escoti thought the existing law severe , am . that there ought to be an alteration .

      Messrs . n akley _, Cobden , and _ftewdegate having _oi-icfly addressed the House in favour ofthe committee , Sir H 0 BE 2 T VhEL said he was glad at the spirit wine ! had been exhibited in the discussion ; and though he tli * not sec the Game Laws could be very well interfere . with , without touching upon the rights of property still he thought good would be produced by such m enquiry being gone into . If it produced no _otht-i result than an improvement in the proceedings o landlords in relation to the preservation of game _, it would indeed be something . He thought the practice of _gainu-presti'viug was carried much too fur . If gentlemen would abate In this respect , greater _goot would be produced than by any course that the Houst could pursue . Several other members having spoken , the rnotioi Was put _' . llld Unanimously agreed to . The House havliif disposed of the orders of the day shortly afterward * adjourned ,

      FRIDAY , FEB . 28 . Gaptain Pechell presented a petition _rompl-iining ofthe opening of Mr . Buncombe ' s letters , and praying for a Parliamentary inquiry . Air . Milsku Gibson * presented a petition from a foreign gentleman resident in this country , but whose naine , from the noise in the House and iu the gallery , it was impossible to hear , praying the House to interfere with the powers of the Executive Government when exercised in co-operation with foreign Governments in their endeavours to control the actions oi foreigners resident in this country . He stated thai if the proceedings of foreigners in this country * were

      to be regulated by the rules adopted by the Austrian Government , it must put an end to all freedom ol discussion on political topics , and of that liberty which was the peculiar boast of England , That it would further the cutis of foreign espionage , and would render nugatory all the eftbrts to promote freedom in the world , and would convert that which was merely intended for legitimate efforts for the 'improvement of a country into a colourable act of conspiracy and high treason . He , therefore , prayed the liouse to interfere / and in some way modify the use ofthe powers of the Executive Government in their control over foreigners , and eollusic-ft with foreign States .

      POST-OFFICE _liSl'IONAGK . On the reading of tho order of the day for goiug iuto a Committee of Ways and Means , Mi * . Duxcombe rose to move , " That certain officers belongiug to lier Majesty's Post-office do attend this House at ite next meeting , for the purpose of informing this House under what authority they had been parties to tlie detaining , delaying , or opening any post letters of Thomas Slingsby Duncombo , Esquire _, a Member of this House . " The lion . Member said lie veiy much regretted that the little progress which had heen made in public business on Tuesday evening last had prevented him from bringing for * ara the motion of which he had given notice . In again callin _* , as ho felt himself compelled to do , the attention of the House to the very grave subject which had already occupied too much of its time ; he thought that he should be able to prove that no blame on

      account of that occupation of time was attributable to himself . Not being able to bring the question forward the other evening , lie had no alternative but to take the earliest opportunity of setting this question again fairly before the public . Now what 0 & - cuiTcd on a former occasion ? He was told in the first place that he had no evidence at all of his letters having been intercepted at the Post-office ; and , secondly , that even if he did possess information enabling him to prove that interception of his letters had taken place tliat information could only have been obtained by corrupting the officers of that establishment . The _iNoble Lord tlie Mcmbev fop Newark ( Lord J . Maimere ) , for whom he entertained a deep respect , said that if what he had stated was true he was a degraded man ; while the Hon Member for the University of Oxford said fhat no innocent man would complain of the opening of his letters , He need not state what was the inference to be drawn

      _hrpm the latter statement . It the House would give him the opportunity—and even after the display of injustice which took place on the previous evening , he still hoped they would not refuse it—he would prove that he was innocent as regarded the imputation which hung over him on account ofthe opening of his letters . Now , he asked , what had occurred in reference to tliis subject ? He did the othor evening , and he did now , altogether disclaim any personal hostility to auy individual on the opposite benches ,

      what he said then he would again state , that whatever responsibility attached to the fact of having opened his letters , must be shared by all of hev Majesty ' s Ministers , that they must all bear an equal share of responsibility with respect to it . —( Hear , hear . ) He was obliged to address himself to tho Right Hon . Baronet the Secretary of State fov the Home Department , because if any person issued a warrant for that opening of his letters , he must have been the person who issued it . Whatever offence lus _ohscrratrona crave to that bench , the whole of the

      House Of Commons, Monday , Feb. 24. On :...

      Ministry must share it among them . ( Hear , hear . ) Now what had occurred in reference tc this question ? When he presented to the liouse the petition of M _^ Mazzini , he _^ certainly then knew nothing at ill oi' liis letters having been opened . As far as he was concerned the House should now know all the truth . When ' he pre 3 cuted Mr . Maz-¦ / nii ' s netition he knew nothing of the openi _no- of his letters , he did not even suspect that the Government would have perpetrated so mean and _b-iso an act ' as that of opening lus letters . That iris on the 14 th of June . Ho said this m answer lo the Hon . Member for Pomfret , because that Hon . Gentleman said that he ( Mr . Duncombe ) must have

      known when he presented M . _Maxim ' s petition , that liis letters had been opened . He knew nothing of that sort . On the 21 th of June he presented the nctition of M . Stolzman , he knew nothing even theu , and did not suspect that liis letters had been stopped . On the 2 d of July he received some information from M . Mazzini iii the interim , with respect to certain parties connected with the Post-office , lie understood there was a general rumour , a- common subject of conversation in the establishment , which was simply this , —that tho clerks and sorters , and sub-sorters , were in the habit of saying , " What is the use of Mr . Duncombe ' s making a bother about the letters of ibreiffners / 'he had _tuuch better look after the villainy that is being perpetrated _tovf arils

      his own . " And he should be able to prove that it they would allow him the opportunity of a Committee . On hearing * this he certainly pricked up his ears —( Laug hter)—he asked M . Mazzini if he could produce the persons who could prove these conversations . He said he couid , but told him that in the meantime , he ( Mr . Duncombe ) had better make a motion in the House for a Committee of inquiry into the worlung of the inner or secret office of the Postoffice . He therefore gave notice of a motion of that sort , and said that if he could only get a Committee of Inquiry , that ho would ascertain tho names of parties which wore notorious in the _Post-oiliee , and that he would have the whole thing out . He gave notice ot n . motion of inouiry into the working in this inner

      office , and into the duties of the persons employed in it , with a view of" asccrtaing by what authority _^ they acted . Well , how was that met ? He Jiail said , in introducing that motion , that the question was no longer between M . Mazzini and the _Goveriinirut—it was no longer between liim and the Itight- Hon . Ba-I'onet . but it was a question between the people of England and her Majesty ' s Ministers , aud that the people wished to know whether these letters were the property of the Secretary of State or not . The Right lion . Baronet then said that he agreed with him ( Mr . Duncombe ) that the question had gone so far chat it could not stop there—that it was a question between the Government and the people of England , and tliat it was quite right that the people of

      England should be satisfied on the point . How did ho propose to satisfy them ? Instead of adopting the proposal made by him ( Mr . Duncombe ) , he moved an amendment that a Secret Committee should be appointed . Tho Right lion . Gentleman named that Committee—ho named his own jury—reserving to himself at the same time , the right of appeal from the decision of that tribunal , and of course he ( Mr . Duncombe reserved to himself equally the right of appeal ; and in exercise of that right he had called the attention of the House as early as he could during the present session ( the report _behn-j presented late in the last session ) , to what he considered the unsatisfactory and evasive character of that report . In doing so he had subjected himself to a number of

      insinuations , and he could get no satisfaction whatever on the subject . Amongst tliose insinuations the Hon . Member _foi-Pontefract had told him ( Mr . Duncombe ) that his name had been associated with persons who had been under the sentence of the Jaw . He asked the Hon . Member to name them , and ho mentioned Mr . Lovett . Well , what was the case of Mr : Lovett ? He ( Mr . Duncombe ) certainly had taken up his cause , and the consequence was , that during the incarceration of Messrs . Lovett and Collins at Warwick , their treatment was modified , and , instead of being treated as felons , they were treated as political prisoners ought to be treated . But would any one say that was a justification of the Government opening his letters . Before that time he had never heard of

      Messrs . Lovett and Collins . Then the Hon . and Learned Member for Bute had stated that he ( Mr . Duncombe ) had been in correspondence with certain persons who had threatened to burn' the town of Sheffield . The Hon . and Learned Gentleman defended those individuals . That Hoii . Member was their counsel , and he defended them with fio much ability , that thoy got four years' incarceration in the House of Correction . ( Loud laughter . ) Was tliere any proof that he ( Mr . Duncombe ) was connected with those individuals 5 He had never heard their names , nor had he ever held the slightest correspondence with them . Was there in that , then , any _ground for opening his letters ? The first , time lie nad ever been connected with the Chartist parties

      > vas in 1341 , just previous to tne general election , ivhen he presented a petition for them , praying foi -in amnesty to , all _politicid prisoners , and signed b > i , 700 , 000 individuals , These political prisoners bail joen imprisoned for political offences committed luring the period that his Noble Friend was in office . Iu the year 1841 , in the month of June or July , he ( Mr . Duncombe ) moved an humble address to hei Majesty , praying that her Majesty would be graciously pleased to order that the case of those prisoner * ¦ iiiotfkl be taken into consideration with a view to choir release . Well , what was the result ? . The douse was equally divided upon the motion , and -ipon the casting vote of the Speaker that address fas _rejected . Was that any reaon why his _letter-s _dioultl have been opened ? ( Hear , aud a laugh . ) flien . again , in the year 1842 , in the month of May ,

      . io presented a petition upon the national condition , dgned by 3 , 300 , 000 members of the working classes 1 'liere were great differences of opinion as to the truth if the allegations contained in that petition ; mauy _said that the expressions contained in it were foolish iud indiscreet , and that they could not be proved _, i'erhaps so ; but the petitioners prayed to be called co the bar of this House , but that prayer was rejected - Vext , In the year 1842 an outbreak and strike took v lace in Staffordshire ; and _tue opinion expressed upon that occasion by tlie Itight Hon . Baronet , the Secretary for the Home Department , was , that he thought the whole thing had been very much _exaggerated , and that there was nothing whatever political in it . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , he ( Mr . Duncombe ) apprehended that his letters were opened upon

      political grounds , and in connexion with supposed political offenders—he assumed that such was the case . Well , in 1812 the manufacturing districts were in a frightfully disturbed state ; but at that time tlie conduct of tlie working classes was extremely creditable to them . For three days it had been stated that that town was in possession of what was called the mob ; but _notwithstanding that , such was the respect and regard of the people for private property , that not even a pane of glass was broken . Therefore there could have been no reason for opening his letters then ; yet he was in a position to prove that at that very time his letters had been opened at the Genei ; al _Poel-olfice . He had now with him in the House some letters he had received at

      that time ; but there were no letters of a treasonable character amongst them , so that if any such were sent to him at that time , the Right Hon . Baronet must have kept them himself . ( Great laughter . ) Amongst the letters of a " suspicious-looking character" that he then received —( a laiigh ) , he now held one in his hand , which certainly appeared as if , to use the technical phrase , it had been " operated upon "—( loud laughter ); and if closely examined , he believed there could be no doubt that it had been " operated" upon . ( Laughter . ) This letter he would now read : it was from Mr . Feargus O'Connor —( a laugh ) , and it was written during the Nottingham elecMon , when Mr . Sturge was a candidate for that borough . The Hon . Member then read the letter

      which was as follows : — " My Dear Sir , —Mindful of your great services , I snatch a moment from excitement to enclose you a taste of what we are doing . I never _^ saw a greater scene of mora l excitement ; and had the _Whig _^ ompact been acted upon , Nottingham for evermore would have returned Tory members ; but now I hope to banish the genus for ever . I have discovered that the-Tory leaders took a number of paid men to South Derbyshire to personate not dead , but living voters , " with a view of being beforehand with the real Simon _Pures . I have names and all for you , amount paid , and who voted . I have just returned from a village four miles distant with forty votes all right—am off to another at the other side to make ifc all right—and then back to the

      marketplace for half-past eight , to make that all right . Read theenclosed , * itis worth £ 10 , 000 . Thislctter , though short , should be prized , as I should write many on business , but have not time . Yours , very faithfully , Fkakocs _O'Connok . —P . S . Tell llobhouse that should we be beat by the contractor ' s neutrality , he need never again show liis nose in Nottingham . " ' , ( Laughter . ) That was the govt of correspondence which he had received during the whole of that time . Inthe course of 1842 he had no communication whatever with Mr . Feargus O'Connor ; and , therefore , he should be glad to know upon what grounds his letters were opened . ( Hear . ) If he could prove that they had been opened by the servants of the Post-office , let them show their authority for opening his letters . ( Hear , hear . ) If tuey produced the authority , then

      it would be for them to justif y it . Either the Government had issued warrants for the openin" of his letters , or they had been opened without warrants ( Hear , hear . ) If they had been opened without a wan-ant , then , no doubt , a breach of privilege had been committed . He did not now , nor did he on the former occasion make this a question of privilege . That ' was a question which the House would decide when it heard the evidence After other observations of similar import , the Hon . Member _concluded by moving his amendment as above . Mr . D'Israeli entered into a defence of his conduct against the aspersions which liad been thrown out against him . Improper motives were Invariably imputed to gentlemen on that side of the House , who spoke or voted in support of the Hon . Member for Finsbury . Whatever the nature of the question , arid though it did not involve any party or political principle , yet still the Right Hon . Gentleman at the

      House Of Commons, Monday , Feb. 24. On :...

      head of the Government , notwithstanding his large maiority in the House , expected his usual supporters to come to the rescue , as if the Government were m the last throws of dissolution . Now he protested that the expectation of this thick and thin support on all questions , was neither founded in practice nor fair play . It was in fact , though perhaps unintentional , tvranny ; as degrading to tliose who exercised it as to tliose who endured it . He would refer to a recent case , that of a motion proposed tho other night by the Hon . Member for Finsbury , who called for an investigation into a practice that had been carried on both by the present and the preceding Governments , and therefore not a party question _, nivciimstanees were developed during the debate

      which arose oii that motion wluch showed the temper of the Government ; and how that they conceived a division , unless accompanied by a great majority , would be attended with great embarassment . At this juncture gentlemen were sent for from the country , to come to the rescue of a Government that was never in peril ( laughter ); in order that there might be great party triumphs where no party principle was at stake . Those who did not yield easily to this kind ol Ministerial whipping were of course looked at in the ll » ht of refractory members , and no doubt he had been viewed in * that light . Now he condemned this practice as unworthy of a great statesman ; and he thought the Right Hon . Bavt . at the head ot her Majesty ' s Governmentought to be the last person

      , to make himself a political Martinet . He ) Mr . D'lsraeli ) condemned the tone with wliich Members like himself were met on questions of this kind , seeing that on -all measures involving the political principles of the Government a ready ancl overwhelming majority could be fouad . On all great questions he had given his support to the Government , and never misinterpreted the motives of the Right Hon . Bart , or charged him with _looking to new allies— to " a coalition" for support . After speaking at great length , and in a very eloquent and sarcastic strain , in reference to the conduct of Sir Robert Peel and the Ministry on this question , which he characterised as altogether unworthy of a wise and strom : Government , he concluded a remarkably

      able speech , which was received with great cheering throughout , b y seconding the amendment . Sir J . Graham entered into a lengthened defence of his conduct in the opening of letters , and called upon the House to resist the amendment which had been proposed . lie reiterated his former statements that every facility had been afforded to the Secret Committee to arrive at a correct conclusion . Nothing was kept back , that could in the least degree prevent it from arriving at a proper knowledge , of all that the Government bad done in respect te the opening of letters . The report of the committee had exonerated him from all blame ; and he did not sec any reason why that decision should be disturbed . He entertained no ill feeling towards tlie Hon . Member for Finsbury , and he could solemnly declare

      that in the exercise of the objectionable power , he had been actuated only by a deep sense of duty aiid responsibility ; and that he must say that be entertained the highest respect for the Hon . Member for Finsbury . He could assure him and the House that he ( Sir J . Graham ) had never any reason to doubt that tho Hon . Member was not a " loyal and dutiful subject" of her Majesty . Lord Howick was of opinion that nothing which had been stated by the Right Hon . Baronet who had just sat down , was applicable to the case of the Hon . Member for Finsbury . Nevertheless , he regretted the subject had been again brought - forward . He would much rather have seen a" bill introduced to do away with this obnoxious power , * and then the matter would have been set at rest . The decision of the

      Secret Committee was far from being satisfactory , and the Right Hon . Baronet was wrong in supposing that hewas released from giving any further account . It _ivould he much more to the credit of the Right Hon . Gentleman if , instead of resisting the motion , he would openly and fairly tell the House and the country-whether or not he had issued warrants to open the letters of Mr . Duncombe . Lord Saxoon , as a member of the Secret Committee , briefly defended its report . Mr , Wmwuiwos Sivid a fey * _wmla on the same

      _subject . Lord Joux Russell defended the vote he'had given on a former occasion . In reference to what had been said about the report of the Secret Committee , he stated that that committee was appointed to inquire as to whether the power given to the Government had been fairly and duly exercised ; not as to its validity . The Right Hon . Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department having declared that nothing had been elicited to impugn the loyalty or lower the character of the Hon . Member for Fiusbury , he ( Lord John _llussell ) could not consequently vote for the present amendment . Mr . M . Milsbs shortly _addressciT the House in favour of the amendment .

      Mr . W . Watson informed the House that since the last debate on tlie subject , ho had looked more carefully into the law of the question ; yet instead of his former position being shaken it was very considerably strengthened . It was still his decided opinion that the power exercised by tho Government , was an illegal and unconstitutional assumption . He maintained thatthe opening the letters of a subject called for a more calm and dispassionate discussion . As yet there had been no denial of the charge of the Hon . Member for Finsbury , respecting the opening of his letters by the Home Secretary ; and unless some more distinct and satisfactory answer was given to the House , the Government would be disgraced in the eyes ofthe world . ¦

      Mr . Acliomsv supported the amend ment . The opening ofthe letters of a Member of tliis House was not only a breach of privilege but palpably illegal _, it was his hope therefore that the Hon . Gentleman would persevere in his amendment . Some impatience being manifested at this state of of the debate , aud there being several calls for a division , Mr . Hume threatened to move an adjournment if the debate was not allowed quietl y to proceed . Mr . _Jervis thought the speech of the Home Secretary would be far from giving satisfaction to tho country . He believed that all the gentlemen practising in Westminster Hall with the exception of the Solicitor-General , admitted the opening of Members letters to be illegal . He deeply regretted the Right Hon . Bart ; , hud not given a full and satisfactory explanation .

      The Earl of _Lixcotx tiiought the Home Secretary had been foully and unfairly aspersed . Mr . Duncombe's character had been fairly ' cleared of any imputation ; and it would be highly injudicious to call persons to the bar ofthe House . Mr . Beuxal thought all ' would have been settled amicably if the warrants had been produced on which the letters of Mi-. Duncombe had been opened . Mr . Wakllt wasof . opiuionthat his Hon . colleague had . been unfairly treated ; and he trusted it would operate as an example not to put much trust in committee reports , and especially in Secret Committees . The public would never rest satisfied until the whole subject was fully settled . The House was bound to grant the inquiry , unless it suffered itself to lie under the imputation of tyranny as well as dishonesty . Sir R . Peel considered the power of opening- letters ought to be maintained . If the Government were- to acquiese in the request to call witnesses to

      the bar ot the liouse , every person who presented a petition would make out a prima facie case , and claim a similar privilege . Every member ofthe Government was as responsible as his Hon . colleague ( Sir J . Graham ) , in as far as the present charge " was concerned . It was not fronrwant of courage , or from a feeling of dignity , but from a sense of duty , that the Government both last year and now , declined to answer the question about the opening of these letters . If the practice of examining evidence on the question was conceded , it could not be restricted to the case of the Hon . Member for Fiusbury , a dangerous precedent would thus be laid down . After some farther observations of a similar character , the Right Hon . Baronet concluded , and the House divided , when there appeared—For the Amendment of Mr . Duncombe 113 Against it .- . 188

      Majority against the Amendment . 75 On the motion that the House do go iuto a _Committeeof Supply , Mr . Hogg pro-posed an amendment tothe effect of abolishing the discriminating duties on East Indian sugar , not refined , in order to assimilate them to those ofthe West Indies ; or in other words , to put an end to the distinction made between clayed and Muscovado sugars . After Sir Robert Peel , Mr . Haves ,, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer had addressed the House , the motion was by consent withdrawn . The House then went into Committee , and immcdiatelv after adjourned .

      ¦Rf •Ftfitt -Ittttikgtnck

      ¦ _rf _ftfitt _-ittttiKgtnck

      ** ——- -—» — — Rr.R R*-.^*^>^*^^*^.^^*^Y...

      ** —— - - —» — — _rr . r _r _* -. _^*^>^*^^*^ . _^^*^ _yvw , _^^ , _^ , > l _^ , _% _^ . _^ . _^ . _J _.-. _* J _^ Wednesday — Book Stealing . —John Pentland . alias Smith , alias Campbell , described as a medical student , from . Edinburgli , who was fully committed fov trial on a _CliargO Of Stealing several books from the library of the University College , in Gower-street , was again placed at the bar , charged with stealing several volumes of different medical works from tho library of St . George ' s Hospital , the property of the governors and ' directors of the institution , whieh books he had sold to a bookseller in

      Coventry-street _, _^ fr . Henry William Fuller , a member of the council , aud the librarian , identified several valuable books , the stamp being eut out , that had been taken since Christmas last from the library , The prisoner said nothing in his defence , and he was committed , —Serjeant Newman , E division , said , that since he apprehended the prisoner , he had found a great many books that had heen stolen from the Middlesex and King ' s College Hospitals , ' respecting which witnesses would be in attendance on a future day to give evidence . The prisoner was-accordingly ordered to be further remanded .

      _SOUTHS ARK . Mondat . —A _Wolf-hunter . — Richard Cobloy , who formerly carried on extensive business in Tottenhamcourt-road , was brought before Mr . Cottingham , charged with disturbing- the congregation at a dissenting chapel in the Borough-road , called the " Surrey Tabernacle , " and

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      abusing the minister during the service . It appeared that tlie defendant ascended to the gallery during the perform _, ance of the _aftertioou service . He stood up in the most prominent place , and soon rendered himself conspicu ous by launching out into denunciations against the minister , bestowing the epithets "hypocrite" and " blasphemer " on him , and using- other expressions of the most offensive description , The defendant said that the minister - of the chapel was a "wolf in sheep ' s clothing , " and that he knew it . He proceeded to indulge in personal and other reflections which indicated an unsound state of mind ; declaring also , that while he lived he should persist in lilting up his voice against evil-doers . The magistrate said that th » defendant must be restrained by tiie strong arm of the law , otherwise he would repeat the offence . He was then . held to bail , himself hi £ 100 , and two sureties jof £ S 0 eaeh mid in default was committed .

      CLliRKESWELL . Tcesdai- . — _Metkopolita . v _SitiVE-Y _/ _AiiDs . —Hoaaio Abominations at the _Spa-helds Bcbiai ,. giioukj ) , —On , Tuesday this court was crowded with _respcetabUjtradesmea and other housekeepers resiiliugin Exmouth-strcetand its vicinity , iu consequence of its having become generally known that an application would he made to lhe m a is . trate relative to Spa-fields burial-ground . Reports of the most revolting and disgusting character have been circulated for some time back _throughout the neighbourhood , and intense excitement has prevailed in i onsc uience Mr . Watts , pawnbroker and silversmith , residing in Ex . mouth-street , stated that , as tlie representative of a large body of tlie ratepayers of Clerkenwell , many of whom were present , he came forward to beseech the interference

      ofthe court for the suppression of practices ota lnostnbo . ininabk- nature which prevailed iu Spa-fields burial _, ground . The burial-ground was not quite two acres in superficial extent . Such a space was commonly estimated as being capable of affording n decent interment to about 3000 human bodies : but what was the faet ? It had been a . . burial-ground fov the last-fifty years , and the average yearly number of bodies interred , or brought into it , was 150 ( 1 . There had been thirty-six burials in one day , but not a bone was seen on the surface . Ifc could produce evidence which would leave no doubt , horrible as tho thing was , that human bodies had been commonly burnt there . The stench proceeding from what was called the " bone-IiOUSe , " In the graveyard , was so intolerable , that many of the residents in B . _xmouth-stiect , which abutted

      on the place , had been obliged to leave it altogether . Ono lady was present who had been obliged to leave from the stencli . The custom was to disinter the bodies after they havo been three or four days buried , chop thein up , and burn thein in the * bone-house . — Inspector Penny , of the G division , came forward and stated that a petition signed by 150 of the inhabitants of Clerkenwell , having been presented to the magistrate of this court on the subject , his worship put the matter into his hands . He went there , and in this "bone-house * found a large quantity of coffins broken up ; and some of them burning . The wood was perfectly sound , and some of it appeared to be quite fresh . Had been there several times since , and had seen parts of coffins burning : the smell was shocking , intolerable . There were coffins of

      cverj' Size thoi'c , children's and men ' s . _—lleuben Room , who had been grave-digger in the burial-ground in qucs . tion , but left about two years ago , in consequence of a dispute , stated that he had been there as grave-digger for six years . Had repeatedly dug up dead bodies Interred but a short time , to make room for others . Had frequently dug up twenty corpses to make a grave of seven feet deep . The bodies that had been interred eight feet under grouud were a few days after rooted up , and just covered by'the surface ; the stench was intolerable , —A lady , who lived in a house- abutting ou the graveyard , stated that she was obliged to leave , from the iutolernul « smell proceeding from the bone-house . They burnt tho bones at sight , and sometimes they began lo burn at

      eleven o ' clock at night , and continued at ic idl night . The smell was frightful . —Catherine Murphy : Lived in a liouse from the rear _officii there was a view of the graveyard , Had seen the grave-diggers throw up parts of a huniaa body , and then chop it up with their shovels . Saw one of them _seize-the upper part of a corpse b y the hair of the head . On this occasion she could not refrain from crying out , " O , you villain , to treat the corpse so , " upon wliich he threw it into the grave again , aud threw Uic- clay on it . The smell was horrible . —Mr . Combe advised the parties to lay a full statement of the matter before tliis Board of Guardians , who would , he felt convinced , living the parties under his-jurisdiction . —The parties thanked the magistrate , and left the court .

      Birmixgham.—Rvtraordinaru Meetaia At The Public

      Birmixgham . _—Rvtraordinaru Meetaia at the Public

      Office Of. The. Workmen Engaged In The "...

      Office of . the . Workmen engaged in the " Wire-drawing trade of Birmingham and fae District , —On Monday evening , the _Uith inst ., a special public meetim . ' of the operative Wire-drawers employed in Birmingham and the district was held in the Public _Olliee , forthe purpose of discussing and udoptin ° * measures to redress tho grievances whieh , through a long series of years _. havc boon gradually introduced into their branch of trade . By the hour announced when ilie chair should be taken , the Public Office was completely crowded , and every one seemed to fool the inline-lets of the just and sacred purposes for wliich they had assembled . At the hour appointed Mr . Tennant , on the motion of Mr . Ivco , was unanimously called to

      the chair . Mr . Ivee , iu opening- the business , said ii would be his duty to relate the origin-of the _grievance which they hail met to- consider—a grievance that had become & o seriously - injurious to their interests as workmen , that if not redressed , would go on increasing , whenever the employer could find a pretext , until they might become as great _snfierei-s as some of their less fortunate fellow-workmen in other branches of * trade . The ceil whieh they now contemplated removing was the practice of tlie employers deducting 10 per cent , off their wages every Saturday night . This practice was not only most unjust and oppressive , but- it was deeply aggravated from the fact , that it was continued during a time of the most unparalleled prosperity of their trade .

      lucre was no ground , nojustiheation , no excuse tor the employers continuing to impose this grievance ; and he believed that they did not desire it , provided it became a general rule that each employer would pay his workmen their duly earned wages . ' ( Hear . ) The highly favourable condition * of the trade , and the unanimity and discretion wliich characterised thsfc meeting' , assured him that no employer whoknew his duty would ever present an obstacle to the accomplishment of their just claims . This practice was first introduced by a foreman in 1822 . lie deducted by way of comiiieneement five per cent , from the wages of the men he superintended , on the ground that he _hadlx-en reduced in his _arrangeracuta with the master . It soon was introduced in other factories , and in a few years it was raised to ten pet

      cent , ot deduction . But that was not all , then-wages had been reduced within fifteen years thirty percent ., so that their just remuneration * was being cut down _, by a double process . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) It was not merelv to obtain the redress of this evil they now aimed at , but the societv hoped by its influence to encourage habits of " temperance throughout the trade , and to improve cquallv their moral and social condition . The following gentlemen then severally proposed the subjoined resolutions : —Mr . Cornforth , Mr . Evans , Mr . White , Mr . Ivcc , and Mr . Smith .- — "l . Regolvcd , that we , the workmen >> _n-e Drawers of Birmingham and the district , convened m the Public Office , Monday , Feb . 24 th , 18-15 , for the purpose of redressins our grievances , _havins

      seriously and deliberately taken into our consideration the present prosperous condition of the Wiredrawing trade , consider our employers are fully able to remove thejdiscount now made upon our waccs , which has . long been felt a general grievance . " " " 2 . Resolved , that being desirous of promoting a feeling of mutual respect and confidence between us and our employers , we respectfully require that from and after Monday , the 10 th of March . 1 S 45 , thev will _cc-tse to make the deduction of the ten per cent , now made upon the wages of vour workmen , being a practice neither just iu itself , nor a custom in other branches of trade . " " 3 . Resolved , that the chairman of the meeting be instructed to _forwa » d to the employers tho _forecoinir _l-eKoliitinns . with . _roannctful

      intimation that a deputation will wait upon hem for their reply , on the day set forth in the preceding re-• olution . " The speeches of Mr . White and Mr . Ivee embodied sentiments , and were expressed in a manner 7 " ? l _. J' _* have done credit to men in any rank of lite . Mr . White observed , " we never can command the respect of our employers if we submit to wrongs , which we liave the complete power to remedy whenever wc unite . Nothing could resist their exertious if tempered with discretion . It was the interest of the employers to consult the welfare ot those in their employ , and to make every concession which justice required . " Mr . Ivee said lie had struggled many years as a member of the wire-drawing trade , _\ . bnt lie never be fore Witnessed SO powerful and unanimous a gathering . With firmness of purpose , sobriety , and prudence , every grievance must give way before tlieir

      combined exertions . The chairman , when all the resolutions had been adopted ; said , that now their business had been gone through , he would take the liberty on behalf of the meeting to ask Mr . Mason to address them . Mr . Mason had rendered great services to the Trades of Birmingham , and had attended on that occasion , at tlio desire of the committee , at great inconvenience to himself . Mr . Mason then rose and . ' addressed the meeting at some length , pointing out the causes which had defeated the former struggles of the Trades in their contests for wages ; and also shewed the immense advantage ! which each branch of trade would acquire by a general combination . Mr . Mason concluded amid universal applause . The thanks of the meeting having been given to the chairman , the meeting broke up , every one appearing confident of success .

      Muted.Ty Boty&Mi M-Gowan, O£ Ii, Break Wiita-Ai

      muted . _ty BOTy _& Mi _M-GOWAN , o £ II , Break _Wiita-ai

      Street, Haymarket, M The City Of Westmin...

      street , Haymarket , m the City of Westminster , at the Office in the same Street and Parish , for the Preprietor , FEARGUS _O'CONNOB , Esq ., and published bj WlUUM HEWITT , of No . 18 , Charles-street , Brandonstrcet , Walworth , in the Parish of St . Mary , _Newington , in the County of Surrey , at tlie Office , No . 34 » Strand , in the Parish of St , _Mai'y-le-Strand in th « City of Westminster Saturday , March , IMS

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 1, 1845, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns4_01031845/page/8/