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HOUSE'OF LORDS-Mokdat , Feb . 10 . Lord JIpM ^ EACLE , in moving fur some papers relating to the income and other taxes , entered into some financial si _ t £ nients and calculations , which lie toped would meet ^ fdue consideration from the Chancellor of the ExcbeQocr ..., ' . '"'" , The D'iike . ' of TOarxisGios said he was willing to affora every information ; on the subject ; but he thoug ht tne FoMeXoidiKQuMmot expect that any statem ent should be made'byhim until the financial measure had been brought forward By the Government ^ the other House of Parliament . , . ; - i - Tuesday , Fbb . 11 . The ^ jose sat > r a diort time , but no business of importance wai broug ht uudcr consideration . Tjrusdat , Feb . 13 .
Xord Staheei having been summoned by writ to the House a ' f tbrds , under the title of LorS Stanley , of KnowsJey , was introduced to-day by Lords Bcdesdale and ¦ Wharueliffe , and took the oaths andfcis seat lord Cawbell introduced two Bills , the object of wlritSjwere when persons who were indebted to parties iu -: 1 . 1 s country lef t It and resided in foreign parts , J pKk - ^ i nikrht be served upon them , judgment obtained agair . s : them , aiid ^ their property secured for the benefit of th Sir . reditors . '' ¦ . '¦ , The -iarquis of Norjiaxbi , after presenting a petition in fevour of the Government Medical Reform Bill , gave notice : hat in a few days he should present a petition , agreed to at a public meeting held at Exeter Hall , praying the House to take measures for the improvement of drainage in large , towns .
The subject of the recent gambling transactions in Railway shares on the Stock Exchange , and the imputed coiHisaaicafion of improper information , by some one belonging to the Board of Trade , iwas brought under the attention of the House by LordDalhousie , who defended himself and his colleagues of the Board of Trade , in a manner , from the imputations cast on them . The charge principally affected 3 Ir . D . O'Brien , and Lord Dalliousie's explanation was . very similar in import to that given by Sir Jiuses Graham on Tuesday evening ' , in answer to Mr . Wak } c 7 , Lord Brougham and Lord'Lausdowne joined in the conversation , and when it was ended , the Hoaae adjourzed .
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HOL'SE , OF , COMMONS . —Thursday , Feb . 6 . The business of the House ef Commons commenced at kih ^ ast four , o ' clock by the reception of her Majesty ' s answer to the Address , which the house presented to her Majesty in person in the course of the attorroon .
- LAW OF SETTLEMENT . SirJ . Ghaham said he had already intimated his intention to bring in a bill to alter and consolidate tiic l . vss of settlement . If the house would not object , it would be most convenient if he took an early opportunity to introduce that bill ; he , therefore , proposed to introduce it on Tuesday next . He had also mentioned yesterday that it was his intention to move on Tuesday se ' nnight , for leave to introduce a bill for the regulation of medical practice . ~ _ A long discussion took place on a motion made by Lord G-. Somerset , for leave to bring in a series of bills for consolidating the clauses of different bills relative to companies , lands , and railways . Leavewas siren to bring in the bills .
Mr . CoBnEK complained of the omission ofall reference to agricultural distressln the Queen ' s speech . He believed that legislation was at the bottom of that distress ; and therefore he proposed that on this occasion , as on all former occasions , there should be a committee to inquire into the cause of it . If the Hon . Member for Somersetshire * , to whom he had communicated his intention of proposing such a committee , would agree to support his proposition , they could compel the Government to grant it , as the gentlemen on the Opposition side of the house who had Toted for such a committee last yearwould , if joined by the Hon . Member for Somersetshire and
his Parliamentary friends of the Protection Society , be too strong for the Bight Hon . Baronet opposite to resist them ; allhe-wanted "was the fullest , the fairest , and tie most impartial inquiry . He would give the Hon . Member a week or a fortnight to consider of bis offer : and in case the Hon . Member should refuse it , he should feel it to be his duty at the end of that time to renew his motion of last year . Mr . Miles acknowledged the courtesy of Mr . Cobdep , but feared the kind concert which he proffered , and therefore must be permitted to decline it . His agricultural friends had no intention to apply for such a'committee .
Mr . M . Gibson said , it would be remarkable if the house , after all its experience , should reject this proposition for a committee . A corn law was not a corn law without a committee on agircultnral distress . There : was at ; present a new corn law . There was distress consequent on it . Why was there not , as on all former occasions , a committee on agricultural distress ! Mr . G . Baskks declined theeoalition with the Anti-Corn law League which had just been proffered to tin by its founder , Mr . Cobden , and assured him that ke would oppose the appointment of such a committee as he had proposed . Mr . Bright asserted that the speeches made b y those gentlemen who called themselves the defenders
of the agricultural interest must convince every one Jhat they were but hollow supporters of that interest which they undertook to defend . They said that our recent legislation was the cause of agricultural distress . . They were themselves , however , parties to that legislation which had produced that distress . They ought , therefore , either to enter upon inquiry and retrace their steps , or else go home to their estates for the purpose of reducing their rente to meet the distress which had resulted from their own unwise legislation . After a bitter attack on the conduct pursued by the landlords , he proceeded to attribute to our present restrictive laws the wretched and impo ? verished condition of our peasantry , and the wild and uncultivated condition of the land in
many parts of the country . In his recent visit io Buckinghamshire , the first thing which met Ms ; Tiew was land on which you could not employ a sythe for the number ] of ant-hills , and the sext was the multitudinous chimnies of the linion workhouse at Aylesbmy . All classes of agriculturists were coming to a condition in which they would soon spontaneously come forward to demand a repeal of the Com Laws . The farmers were scarcely able to pay their rente , and the labouring population was increasing so fast , that employment could not be afforded them . Even now there was a fierce competition for that employment at scanty wages ; and , though the landlords would do nothing io protect tne labourers against- that competition ,
they came forward in that haven and asked for protection for themselves against the competition of ftreigners . Mr . S . O'Bstkn observed , that he was prepared not only to vote for such a committee as Mr . Cobden had recommended , nut also to serve upon it , if it were appointed . He reminded the Hon . Member for Durham , that to get into a passion , and to employ a- bullying tone , was not the mode to convince the gentlemen of England of the truth of his doctrines . If Mr . Bright thought that , by such language as he had used that night , he could set the labourers and tenantry of England against their landlords , he would soon find that he -was lamentably mistaken . Mr . Vilukrb expressed big surprise that the
gentlemen opposite should have refused the option which bad been given them that evening . He contended that it was owing to the intervention of Providence , and not to any relaxation of the restrictive system , that we were now safe from the dangerous consequences which that system always produced . Sir R . Peel declared that he would not be drawn into this unexpected discussion upon the Corn Laws , which had been brought on without any regular notice . The conduct of Mr . Gobden , and of the gentleman who followed him , was full of courtesy , and therefore be listened with the more regret to the vituperations and . taunts which Mr . Bright had thrown oat against the landlords of England . It
eomd not be stated with truth that the agricultural interest generally was suffering distress . Different districts in England , Scotland , and Ireland might be in : different degrees of comfort ; but , even -where there was distress , it was not occasioned by there cent alterations either in the Corn Law or in the tariff . < That distress could not be relieved by legislative interference . A return to the protective system would not cure it , and even if it would for a time , he would not be the man to re-introduce it . Lord J . Maskers asked Mr . Bright to consider how much fiercer the competition for employment among the labouring ^ classes would become , if , in addition to the competition in the home market , there was a fresh stock supplied from foreign countries .
Mr . Beoihkbtox contended that we had now an increasing population— -that that population must be fed , asd that it could not be fed much longer without the removal of our restrictions on com ¦
merce . ' . * Thft Queen ' s speech was then taken "into consideration , " and after some business of mere form the boose adjourned . Fbtoat , Feb . 7 . The Speaker took the chair at the usual hoar . After the presentation of some petitions , and the giving of notices of minor import , the following conversation emued on
rOST OFFICE ESPIOXAGK . Mr . T . T ) tnrcoK 3 E , seeing the noble Lord the Member for Liverpool ( Lord Sandon ) in his place , wished to pnt to him a question with reference to the appendix to tbe report of a committee of which the noble Lord was chairman last session . He referred to the secretcommittee that investigated the practice ef opening letteraatthe Post Office . Thatcommittee tad annexed an appendix to the report , and . that appendix . waa ordered to 1 > e printed' with the report . The latter had been prated shortly after it tad been drawn np , but to the presentfnWtfcej had not got the appendix . He Jjiad sent" several tones to the printer ' s to obtain it , and also the report ; bat be was told that the report could not ke had , because it was waiting for the appendix ,
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and tiat the appendix . . could not . be . had , because it . was waitingior tue proor , wnicniwas mthaniiudsoi a member of the committee , to be corrected . Now he ( Mri Duncombe ) insisted that afterthc . cpmmittee laid this report on the table their functions ceased , and theyhad nothing ; more . to do with the report or the appendix . He was in possession of the appendix by special favour of the . Speaker , but he wished to know from the Noble Lord why it was kept back , and in whose hands it was ? Lord Sandon said that the committee had entrusted thetask of arranging and . classifying the documents which constituted the appendix'to the Hon . Member forlvendal , who had taken great pains with the subject . Those documents still . remained in . the bands of that Hon . Member , and he ( Lord Sandon ) was sure that whatever obstacles remained in the way of the publication of the report would soon be
removed . . . . . . Mr . yr . S . DnKcoMBKexpressed ahope that no further time would be lost in presenting these papers to the house . : Lord Sandon said that as . far as he was concerned certainly no tune should be lost . GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL STATEMENT—THE INCOME TAX . Sir R . Pi-EL rose and said ^ Sir , it may be convevient for me now to state the course which I intend to pursue on Friday next . I believe it will be competent for me , without moving for a committee of wavs and means , to take the course of moving a
resolution to continue for a further period the laws which impose a tax on income . But . ' as that isnot the usual course of late years , I propose on Wednesday to adopt the followmgproceediug—viz ., to move fora committee of-ways and means , and then in the committee of ways and means , on Friday ilext , I shall propose a resolution to the effect , that the laws which impose a tax on income in Great Britain , and the law which imposes an additional stamp duty in Ireland , should be continued for a further limited period . That is the nature of the resolution I propose to move in committee of ways and means . '
Mr . Hume . —Will the Right Hon . Gentleman explain to the house what are the taxes he intends to remit ? : ; . . . ; Sir R . Peel . —I propose on Friday to enter into a general review of the subject , when I will state what course I intend to take , but I cannot enter into any explanation now ; I will give the fullest statement on Fnday next with respect to the nature of the proposals her Majesty ' s government intend to adopt .
pooh law unions . Mr . M . SunOS moved that a ^ select committee be re-appointed to inquire into the administration of the law for the relief of the poor in the unions formed under the Act 22 Gw . III ., c . S , eec . 83 , the ; Gilbert Unions , and to report to the house their opinion ¦ whether it was expedient that the said unions should be maintained . The motion was agreed to , and the following Hon . Members were appointed to serve on the committee : —Mr . Barneby , Captain Pcchell , Mr . Thomas Duncombe , Sir R . Heron , Mr . Col-Ville , Sir Wm . Heathcote , Mr . Beckett Denison , Mr . TFrightson , Viscount Barrington , Mr . Manners Sutton , Mr . Strutt , Viscount Marsham , Mr . Labouchere , Mr . Wakley , and Mr . Protheroe . After ordering some returns as to the attendance of the Poor Law Commissioners on their duties , and passing a number of resolutions respecting the conduct of private business , the house adjourned at six o ' clock . .
HOUSE OF COMMOIfS . —Mondat , Feb . 10 . The GaiHCELLOB . of the Exchevjesl g&ve uottcfc that on Wednesday he would move that the House should resolve itself into a committee of supply , in which he would move for a vote of Exchequer Bill , in order , to enable his Sight Hon . friend SirK . Peel to move for a committee of ways and means on Friday . llr . J . Young moved for a new writ for Lewes , in the room of the Hon . Henry Pitzroy , "whobas accepted the office of a Lord of the Admiralty . The other business was of a routine character . Tuesdat , Feb . 11 . Sir T . Fbemantle took the oaths , and his seat for the borough of Buckingham .
~ Mx . Wallace called attention to the several reports of Select Committees on llailways , to the appointment of the Railway Board in August last for tbe transaction of railway business , and the effect of its published decision , with a view to the revision ' and amendment of the Act of last session . He complained , that by the present system the people of Great Britain were subject to a monopoly of the most grinding and injurious character . Admitting the courtesy with which he had been treated by the President and Vice-President of the Board of Trade , and all their subordinate officers , he contended that the appointment of the Hallway Board was anything but constitutional , for it was never intended , on their appointment , that the members of the board should interfere with and decide upon all internal arrangements for travelling in the
united kingdom . There were at present 248 railways , either new- roads or roads to be altered and extended , on which bills were to be brought forward this session , and it was recently thought , buthe was glad to say erroneously , that none of these bills could be introduced without a preliminary decision , in their favour by the Kailway Board . He complained also of the expense of transit on railroads , and read some tables of the fares , rates , and speed on two railroads in Scotland , for the purpose of showing that the labouring classes . of England might be carried on their railroads as cheaply and with as much comfort as the same classes were now conveyed in Scotland . It had been shown that in first class carriages passengers could be conveyed twenty-five miles an hour at 3 d . a mile —that second class passengers could be conveyed the same speed in their carriages at 2 d . a mile—and that third class passengers could be carried the same speed at
Id . a mile . He argued that , if such were the . case , and he believed it to be nearly so , the present railway companies had no right to any indulgence from the House ; for they had defrauded the ' public , and were defrauding it still . It was the duty of Parliament to rectify the mistake which it made some years ago , when it gave a monopoly to these companies , and to insist that an open competition with them should be allowed . He thought that great good would be done by adopting the system of tender , which was adopted abroad . The House was bound to make provision that no carriages should be permitted to run on any railroad that was unsafe to the health of the passengers ; and yet it was undeniable that no carriages were so pernicious to health as the second and third class carriages on most , if not all , of our modern railroads . lie concluded by moving for leave to bring in a bill to repeal the Railway Act of last session .
Mr . Bwabt thought that , however well it might answer abroad , the system of constructing railroads by tender would never answer in this country . He thought that the best mode of commencing reform in railway legislation would be by reforming the construction of Parliamentary committees , and by making them independent and impartial bodies . Then a scientific and commercial bod ; might be called in to assist the Parliamentary com . mittee ; but he protested against calling in any department of the Government , as a Government body , to interfere . He thought that experience confirmed the proposition of Mr . Wallace , that it was expedient to reduce the rate of feres on nearly every railroad . .
Lord Howies had voted for the Railway Act of last session , and thought that , though not a " perfect , it was still , a very useful Act . He agreed , however , with Mr . Wallace , in thinking that it was important that Parliament should secure for the public greater facilities and greater cheapness in railway travelling . As a great number of railway bills were about to be introduced this session , Parliament- ought seriously to consider at once what measures it would adopt to accomplish those objects . He thought that the first thing on which Parliament should determine was to do in all cases that which was always done in France on similar occasions—namely , to ! decide between competing companies on the line of railroad to be adopted ; for instance , there were three lines now proposed between London and York . He
thought that on such a point they might trust to the evidence of scientific persons to be appointed by the House . Then , having fixed on the line of railroad , you might call on the rival companies to send in tenders for making it Thofe tenders should contain the terms of travelling , the rates , of speed , and the fares at which the parties would convey , passengers . Thus the House would get rid of the difficulty of - . deciding on competing lines , and would check a spirit of' gambling in railway shares which was absolutely demoralising the country . He thought that this plan would also cause a large reduction in the rate of fares , which at present very much exceeded tie cost of carrying passengers . By laying down by Far . uamentary authority in the railway hills about to be introduced a strict regulation as to the rate of fares to be
levied , they would bring down the fares exacted . by an . existing railroads , as they were now nearly all in union or junction with each other . They would also by such a course moderate the eagerness of enterprise in such speculations , which did not now , as it did originally , require a- stimulant . On the cdhtrary , he was of opinion that there was at present a mania in the public mind on this subject , which required to be modified and checked . It might be said that it would be unjust , when parties had gone to all the trouble and expense of making preliminary inquiries about 3 line of railroad , to take it out of their hands . It would be so if no remuneration were made to tbem . Bat at present those parties had no claim on
Parliament . Parliament might be of opinion that a line should be made , and yet that those parties should not make it . ' He trusted that no railway bill would be passed this session without the committee looking closely at the table of fares , and proceeded to demonstrate the advantage of such an arrangement ty his own experience as chairman -of a Railway Committee last session . He had heard some persons insist on the necessity of deferring all railway legislation during the present session , in order that they might deliberate in the interim on the legislation which they ought to adopt To such a proposition tie could not agree , as it would carry a large amount of capital out of the country to be embarked in the meantime in foreign speculations .
Colonel SiBTBoar approved generally of Lord Ilowick'e suggestfons ; bnt why had he not suggested them before , instead of deferring them till the present , the eleventh hour ! In the short period of time during which the House sat , it would be quite impossible' to investigate feirlj into the merits of the 248 railway bills which were coming before it . Mr . Gibbobhs said that arrangements bad grown up tinder the Wl of lastsession which it would now be extremely impolitic to interfere with , and therefore he could not support the motion of Mr . WaUftM .
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V "' Mrl"S . VTokt ' let had great doubt as " to ; the-policy . of pubHsh ' ing in / tlto < jrtf « Mo the ' decisions 'of ttie ^ Riiilway Committee 6 f the Board of . Trade-befonfthe reports of the committee were laid before Parliament ; , The mischief ,, however ; was already'done , ' and it " was" too late now to attempt aremedjy' He suggested' the propriety of appointing a committee to ascertain the bestmbdo of eeltms through the immehscpress of railway business which was likely to be forced on the consideratori of the House . ; * Mr . WABBPBTOir considered , that Lord Howick ' s suggestion of a modification of the French system would be found impracticable in this country , where towns rose into importance or sunk into insignificance in a lesser number of years than that for which themonopoly would be granted . ' ' ¦ ' ; .. ! 1 .- After some observations from Mr . Bankes , respecting the way in which the public interests in some parts of the country , were sacrificed tj the overwhelming-influence of competing lines of railway . : ' '¦'•' ' : ¦ ¦ : « ' :
Sir R . Peel hoped that the debate would not lead to a discussion on the reports of the Railway Board . ¦ He protested against any precipitate condemnation of that board ; which liad been created under the sanction of tlieHouse , and which some gentlemen wanted nevertheless to abolish before it had made its'first report' to Parliament . That board had been censured for publishing its decisions in the Qazette . So far from thinking their conduct in that respect eensurable , he thought that after they had come to a decision they were bound , to publish it . In the course of two or three days the report of the ^ Board of Trade on the first class bfrailways would . b ' e ' publishe'd . That would ' enable the House to judge of the pviuCipleB upon which they acted ; and surely it would be advisable for Hon . Gentlemen to postpone their judgment till they
had perused that report . He hoped that the House would not abandon the principles on which if had hitharto proceeded with regard to railway bills until they were convinced that those principles were erroneous . ' They had been told that 240 railway bills were to be presented to the House in the . course of the present session ; . but he had ho , doubt that discussion would considerably diminish that number . The wisest course would be to appoint a committee to consider the subject , under the assumption that there would be an unusual number of such bills ; An HonY Friend of his had procured . the assent ' of the House to a committee ' on private ' bills , which consisted of perSOHS the most . conversant in the' House with the conduct of private business . He hoped that that committee would not apply itself in . the first instance to
the consideration of private . bills getferauy , -but would proceed to ' that ' of railway bills before all ; others , and would reflect on the manner in which the House should deal with the 150 such bills that were likely to come before it . It . might be necessary to constitute a number of committees , of five or seven members each . The report of such committees , if the members would give continuous attendance , would . have weight with the House j and , if so , the ; evil would not' be of that magnitude as to induce them to despair of- overcoming it . ; Supposing'there were 200 such bills , why should they not sacrifice their time to the consideration of them ? If they could not get members to serve , spontaneously on such committees , they must adopt the principle adopted in election committees , and compel them to serve in some way or other . He had never heard of LordHowick ' s plan before that evening , but he
thought that if the House undertook to consider it , it would lead to great confusion . His plan was that Government should undertake a' new survey of all the railways now projected , and which had already been surveyed by the Board of Trade . ; That might be a good plan , but at any rate it would lead to the suspension of every railway for a considerable time . If this were a res integra , ; Oovemment might perhaps iindertake'to produce a revenue by undertaking . to make a railroad ^ though ie did not know what effect such a proceeding might have on the constitution of the country in the multitude of subordinate officers in the pay of Government to which ' it would give rise . Besides , even if you had . a Government ' board to decide which was the best of the three competing linoB between London and York , mentioned by Lord Howiek , it would still be open to all the suspicion ! to which the present Government board was exposed . ' : :
Mr . Wak&et said that no one had said one word respecting the greatest of all evils—the enormous length of barristers' speeches . The Hon . Gentleman then read an article from a publication called the Economist , intimating that shares to a large extent had been purchased by Mr . William O'Brien , whose brother is one of the members of the Railway Committee of the Board of Trade , and observed that investigation was absolutely necessary in order to purge the board from the suspicions to which these share transactions of Mr . William O'Brien inevitably gave rise . ¦ - ' ' . ¦¦ ¦ '¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . . Sir James Gbaiiah entered into au explanation exculpatory of the Messrs . O'Brien , and challenged inquiry if a single doubt remained of their integrity . He was informed by those gentlemen , and believed , that no communication had taken placQ between them relative to railway business ; and for his own part he would declare ; as his name was mentioned in the article in the Economist , that he never held a railway share in his life .
Mr . Bbothebton said , in his opinion , there was much more reason to complain of the speeches of Hon . Members of that House than of the speeches of counsel , cm the score of length . After a few observations from Mr . Darby , and from Mr . Wallace in reply , the motion was withdrawn .
BONE CBCSHIMO IN WORKHOUSES . - Captain Pdchell , in moving for a return , ordered last eessibn / of all tbe union workhouses under the Poor Law Amendment Act , in which the paupers were employed in grinding or crushing bones by means of mills or other machinery , complained of the delay which had taken place in its production . The order had gone in July last to the Poor Law Commissioners . ' The Poor Law Commissioners were under Sir J , Graham , and he would show that the information for which he' asked was furnished to the Poor Law Commissioners before the prorogation of Parliament . He wanted this return in order to compare the administration of the Poor Law in the Gilbert Unions with its administration under the Poor Law
Commis-. Sir J . Graham had pressed the Poor Law Commissioners to make this return before the close of last session . Different circumstances had prevented them ; but the return was now ready ; and would be presented within three or four days . It was matter of regret to him —and he had stated it before—that this crushing of bones by machinery was practised in the union houses . It was not ordered by the Poor Law Act , nor by thejSecretary of State , nor by the Poor Law Commissioners ; but it was the act of the local boards , unchecked by any superior or central authority . Lord Ebkington contended that , if Sir James Graham ' s principle were to bo adopted , bones must be crushed by independent labourers , if they were crushed at all ;
Mr . Wakley thought , 'that aa this practice had now got advocates among Noble Lords , the local ; ^ interest , which supported such atrocity , must be stronger than he supposed . ' The Poor Law Commissioners must have more to do than he had hitherto given 'them' credit for . He knew that they had been the protectors of his profession against the parsimony of boards of guardians ; One board had dismissed a surgeon for giving what they considered too much food to sick ' paupers , ' and the Poor Law Commissioners , though they declared the surgeon to have acted rightly , had not the power to reinstate'him . He thought that Sir James Graham ought not to allow forty-eight hours to elapse without giving'additional powers to the Poor Law Commissioners , if that which Lord Ebrington had stated were correct . If that Noble Lord had sanctioned the offensive , disagreeable , and unwholesome practice of crushing decomposed bones in any union-house , he was afraid that the practice was more general than he had anticipated .
Mr . Roebuck called the attention of the House to the wide discrepancy between the opinions just expressed by Mr . "Wakley and those which he had formerly advocated to obtain popular applause . In his post speeches he would have deprived "the throe tyrants of Somerset-house , " "the pinch-paupers , " of all power whatsoever . Now fortj ' -eight hours were not to elapse ' without additional powers being granted to them for the sake of humanity . Mr . Wakley had formerly pointed the-finger of scorn towards all who supported the New'Poor Law , Ho ( Mr . Roebuck ) bad supported it from the first ; and he now fixed the finger of scorn on Mr . Wakley , ' for the recklessness either of his past or of his present assertions . That Hon . Member was not justified in employing , the arts of popular demagoguoism to cast obloquy upon men who are as humane and honourable as himself , and a little more cautious and deliberate in coming to conclusions on important ' subject " . ¦ ¦¦ . ' : .. ••¦•
Sir C . Lemon . declared it to be his ; opinion that the paupers would find the breaking of stoneSHQta YjMt TOOTO agreeable to them than the - crushing of these Wines by machinery . * . . , . ; . Mr . TVABXEr repelled the insinuations of Mr , Roebuck , and contended that he had no right to impute motives to him , as he had done , in saying that he mado . statements to obtain popular applause . He was prepared to repeat in the House everything which he had said out of the House against the Poor Law Commissioners . All he had said was , that if this practice ,, which- Mr . Roebuck defended , existed under the Poor Xaw Commissioners , he would give them power immediately to abolish it . .
Mr . HENtEtwas surprised at the short memory of Mr . Wakley , when he eulogised the kindness which the Poor Law Commissioners had shown to the members of his profession . Surely they were the parties who compelled the boards of guardians to go on thecoatract system at the beginning . Public opinion afterwards compelled them to abandon the system they had themselves set up . If the Poor Law Commissioners had not originated this system of bone-crushing their Assistant-Commissioners had recommended its adoption in every part of the country . - . ¦ , ¦ ¦ . ,. . Aftera protest on the part of Mr . Sharman Crawford against Mr . Wakley ' s suggestion of giving additional power to the Poor Law Commissioners , the return was ordered . ' ¦
' ' THE PB 0 P 03 ED NEW IAW OF SBTTLEMBNT . Sir J . Gbahah said , that when he addressed the House on the law of settlement in the course 6 f last session , he had mentioned some facts to show the vast importance of the subject . It was a fact , thai no less than a tenth part of our population how received relief from the poor-rates in the course of the year . The magnitude of the sum dispensed in their relief was very largeT "'Suice the termination of the . war i $ 1815 , notwithBtandfiji ; all ' thathad been said of the inhumaaity of the law , no less a sum had beenlevied , from the / paroch ^ l rate-payers than £ 200 , 000 , 000 , or , in other words , a jsumequal' to brie-fourth of the National Debt . " It depenCted on ' the' Betfleinent of an individual , when he first applied for relief , where he
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should rcCciVe it—whether iii- the place of his residence if hc-was settled there , ' or to what place he should be removed in order to be '? relieyed in case he was riot settled . ¦ The magnitude of the question deserved consideration , and increased the difficulty of making any change in the law . He had laid on the table at the close of the last session a bill in the hopei of its undergoing free ^ discussion in the recess , and of his receiving aid from the public , in order to ' amend it . He would now proceed tolay before the Housa his present bill , as the best ' . return which he could make to the comments ahd ' suggestions which had been offered him ' . In his bill of ' last year there were four pointsi prominently . treated . First , he had proposed ereat alterations in the 'law ' of settlement by . proposing
that ' all other causes of settlement should be repealed , and that birth should be the ' sole ground of ' settlement hereafter . Secondly , as to removals ^ '' lie had proposed seven checks to the summary power now in- ' eadstence , arid it was not necessary for him to repeat more than one of them at present , by which he proposed that five years' industrial residence'in any locality should not give an absolute settlement to any individual , but ' should place him in such a ' situation that , though without a settlement , he could not be removed . His third branch related to appeals , on the law of removal , and his fourth to the removal of Scotch and Irish paupers to their respective countries . To the two last branches no serious objections , were made ; but the strongest were made to the two first , the
substitution of a birth settlement prospectivcly and retrospectively , and the proposition for the irremovability of parties not having a settlement , but having a five years' industrial residence . ' It was his wish at present to meet both those objections . He was not prepared to propose that a retroactive effect should be given to the right of settlement by birth ; but he was prepared to propose , that from and after the passing of this act , only prospectively , birth shoul&lbe the ' ground of settlement , leaving undisturbed all existing ' settlements . Of late years a great statistical improvement had" been introduced . The registrations , not only of the birth , but also of the place of-the Ibirtli , was now compulsory , and thus facilities were ( given for proving birth settlements . ¦ The interests of the town and the country did not always
run in the same direction . The effect of the substitution of a birth settlement , retrospectively and pvospectively , was in favour of the town ' at the ' expense of the country districts ; for towns were tlie greatmarts of industry , and attracted the labour of-the rural districts . If'birth were the only ground of settlement , it was clear , that the expense of providing for destitution must be thrown upon the country . The abolition ; therefore , of birth settlement retrospectively would be favourable to the rural districts , and not beneficial to the towns . The converseof this was true with respect to irremovability . The clause which provided that five years' industrial resi- ' dence should vender a man irremovable , would cause an increase of burden on the towns , and would bea consequent benefit to the country . He was ' therefore disposed
to forego two portions of his former bill . He would no longer . insist on birth settlement retrospectively , and-he would withdraw the irremovability arising ftom a five years' ^ residence . He then called the attention of the House to the advantages which the poor would derive from the other six limitations in his bill of last year , which he proposed to continue in the present , He then stated , that it was his intention , to' propose that no woman residing with"her . husband at the time of his death in the"parish of his . settlement should be removable to her own . parish after his death j ' th ' at" ho widow , whether living in . her husband ' s , parish or elsewhere , should be removable for . twelve months after ' his death |; that ho legitimate child after its father's death ; should be removable under sixteen from it »
father ' s settlement ; that no illegitimate child under sixteen ' years of age should he removable from its mother ' s settlement ; that no one becoming chargeable by sickness or accident should be placed under ' order of removal until he or she had . received relief for forty days Consecutively ; and , lastly , that persons requiring Relief should be relieved . wherever they were resident , irrespec tive of their settlement . He then detailed the substance of the clauses' which he had provided . for the removal of Irish and Scotch paupers , and for the reparation of * thy wrong which inight he . done by illegal removals , and which were precisely the' same as those introduced hi his bill of last year . He then came to what he called the mosfc important provision in his measure—it was so important that he would give the fullest time for its
consideration before he called upon the ' House to affirm it on the second reading " of the bill . ' Dr . Adam Smith doubted whether any-poor man ever reached the age of forty with-, out experiencing the hardship and i njustice of the law of settlement , and thought it monstrous that any man should be confined within the narrow limits of his parish either for his residence or his labour . In England and Wales there are 14 , 500 parishes—their limits are . of course very narrow , and yet within them is the poor man restrained . It will be an advantage to the poor man to reduee the number of restrictions which are now . placed on the free circulation of hi » labour , and the number of those small local circles within which he is confined by the present law . He , therefore , proposed to substitute 020 . for these 14 , 500 small distrlcts ^ -in other words , to substitute
unions for parishes . If he could induce the House to substitute union settlements for parochial settlements , he should consider himself as having- accomplished a great benefit both for the payers and recipients of the rates . He then read several memorials whichMie had received from , boards of guardians in Norfolk and Lancashire , and from Assistant Poor Law Commissioners , and from a meeting of the clerks of tbe boards of guardians , in favour of the alteration which he had just suggested . The Right Hon . Gentleman next proceeded to state in detailthe manner in which he proposed to change parochial into union settlements , and the- manner in which he . in tended to apportion the rates to . be paid by the different
parishes in the union . He proposed that the amount of the poor-rate , ( abstracting the county rate and other similar charges ) 'paid for the seven years antecedent to the 5 th of March , 1845 , should fix the relative amount of the burden to be defrayed by each parish . -The equity of such an arrangement could not , he thought , be impugned . He should weary the House if he stated all the advantages which he anticipated from these changes ; he would therefore conclude by moving for leave to bring in a bill to consolidate and amend the laws relating to parochial settlement and the relief of the poor ,, and would recommend it . to , the justice and humanity of . all who were anxious to promote the interests of the poor . ,
. Colonel Wood expressed his regret at hearing the last suggestion of his Right Hon . Friend ; but if union settlements were to be substituted for parochial settlements , he was convinced that it . would be most injurious to the interests of i the poor ; for it would render the inhabitants of a parish inattentive to the employment of their local poer . He sincerely wished that residence , and residence alone , should give a settlement ; and if the bill proceeded , he should certainly propose a clause that residence for a year should in future give a settlement . * Mr . Bbwht 6 aid , that though ho viewed this bill with some alarm' and even some suspicion , he was most anxious to co-oporate . with any Government which seriously intended to remove the distress and , 8 uffering which were endured in too many case ' s under the present law .
Mr . Henlet objected to this bill as being the first step to break up the parochial system of England . Besides , ' it was absurd to extend the circulation of a poor man ' s ' labour to the limits of the union only ; what he wanted was , to have a free circulation , of it throughout the whole country . - . i .. ; Mr . Bbothebto ' v said , that without committing himself to ' support-the bill , he was inclined to look favourably upon' it , as an improvement on . the present law . He thought thai it would give satisfaction , and he should throw no obstacle in the way of its passing . Lord Ebeington approved of the general outline of the bill , and ' thought that it would be a great boon to tho labouring man .
: ' Mr . Beckett Dennisoh thought that Sir J . Graham had deprived his bill of last session of its best feature in depriving " it of the clause which gave irremovability alter a residence of five years . He should have preferred three years , ' two years , one year even , to five year * . Still the bill was a great improvement on the present law , and he should give to it his strenuous support . ' Sir J , Gsaham thanked the House for the cordial approbation which it had given to his bill . '" ¦ Mr . W > klet said , that in congeiraenoe of that remark he must observe'that in offering no opposition that night
to this bill he must" not be considered as approving of it . It was a bill of tremendous operation . It would break up the parochial system of England , and would , he was afraid , render permanent the law of the 4 th and 5 th of William IV ., which gave the Poor Law Commissioners existence . . Ho then vindicated himself fiom the sarcasms of MviRosbuck , audueclatedthat lie woulu not permit any member to impute improper motives to him . ' Ho was afraid that the bill would ' operato most injuriously to the interests of the poor . ' ' Leave waa then given to bring : in the bill . The Houiethen adiourned . .
Wbdnesdat , ' Feb . 12 . On the motion for going into a committee of supply , Mr . Roebuck called the attention of the House to the alleged fact , that the thanks of her Majesty had been given to the Sheriff of Montreal for his conduct in the late parliamentary elections of Canada , although at the time there was an election petition against the return for Montreal , impugning the conduct of the sheriff as returning officer . ! : Sir . Hope said , that Sir C . Metculfe had highly eulogised the conduct of the sheriff for securing tho public peace under very alarming circumstances ; and in reply to his diBpatch , Lord Stanley authorised him to convey to the Sheriff the thanks of the Executive Government—not the thanks of her Majesty , for his exertions , : In reply to a ouestion from Mr . Bouvexik ,
SirR . Peel said , that no negociation * were pending between this country and Brazil involving any alterations in the tariff of either country . The only negocia ' tions pending related to an ordinary treaty of navi gation and commerce . ' Mr . Ricabdo hoped tho Government would abandon its policy of differential duties , : Mr . M . Gibbon said the difficulty of effecting reciprocity treaties was to bo found at home ; and it would be much more satisfactory if the Right Hon . Baronet would endeavour to negociate with tho Central Society for the Protection of Agriculture . Iff reply to question * from Lord J . BuBm , i ,
Sir R . FeelBaidthatit wiinot hUinteiitlon to pre * B the House to a decuion upon the resol « tiws which be meant to submit to the ' eommittee of ways and means on Fridky next / though he thought thAt any ling delaywould be productive of great inicon * enienoe . It was h « intention to postpone aU other pubUc busihesi until the opin-
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ions ofthe SHouse " could be . ; gathered . upon . the financial views tobc ^ ubmittedpu'Friday .. _ ;•;' ., ... , / ; , ' The House then- went , > into committee of supply , and the CuANCEJAOB' of the : . ' Exchequer : moved , that £ 15 , 404 , 500 exchequer , bills be granted as a vote of supply to her Majesty for the service of the current year . ; After some brief discussion the reiolutiou was agreed to , and the House adjourned at half-past five . r - ' Thursday , Feb . 13 . ¦ /> ; : Mr . DAnBY presented several petitions from various districts , " complaining of the burdens which press on agrieulturista , and praying for immediate relief . ' Mr . MastebMAN presented a petition from the' City of London ^ signed by 1 , 500 persona , and praying for a revision of the Excise duty on soap . . ' - ¦ > Mr . Johh bright gave ubtice ' that ho would upon this day fortnight move fora repeal of the Game Laws . Afterthe presentation of several petitions ,
' iNOTICE OF MOTION—STATE OF THE NAVT . Sir C . NapiEB rose to more for a select committee to inquire'into the manner in which the money vested since 1835 , for the construction of ships , had been expended , and if the ships constructed are an improvement of the old " system . " The Hou . Member ( who dropped Ms voice so as to be nearly inaudible ) in commencing his speech , proceeded to say that his only motive in bringing forward the motion was to ascertain whether or not the reports in circulation as to the defects of these ships were corrcct . He had been told that it was no business of his to interfere with such a matter ; that it should be left to the proper authorities , by which ' was meant , he supposed , the Admiralty . It had been left to the proper authorities for a great number of years , and they had , notwithstanding ,
seen the / greatest errors and blunders prevailing . Tins was npither'a political nor a party question , but one which concerned the well-being of the navy and the proper application of the finances of the country ; and , in the remarks which he was about to make , ho should be guided solely by such considerations . It would be necessary to go back for a considerable time . When he ( Sir C . Napier ) first , cutercd the service , in 1800 , the navy contained'several three-decker ' s of 120 , 110 , 93 , and 90 guns . " The first class generally , consisted of good ships , but the others We' so inferior , that'they were found totally unfit for service ; but , notwithstanding all the representations which were made to the Admiralty , the same system , was persevered . in . This country had taken some very excellent ships from the French . There were the Terror , the
Suns Pareil , and the Canopus . Several'ships had been constructed upon the model of the Canopus , aud had been found to answer extremely well . The Sans " Pareil was a most excellent ship , but she had never been copied up to this very : time . He , now came to the-frigates of those days . There were forty-six , gun frigates , forty-two gun frigates , and tllirty-tWO gun frigates , all , carrying 18-pounders , thirty-two gun frigates carrying 12-pounders , and twenty-eight gun frigates . Those , were very good ships in their day , but they were found not to answer , and they were superseded by the thirty-two gun ships . One of these ships was commanded by anHon . and Gallant Officer opposite , and anothey by himself , and he could say that a more useless lot of ships had never , been , constructed by any
Admiralty , : They were found to be inefficient , in fact , good for nothing ; and they ^ were superseded by another class ; of frigates , called . 'twenty-eight gun frigates . These ; however , like the rest , were not found to auawev , and those ; were given . up . .. Another class of ships were ' those called sixteen-gun sloops , mounting sixpounders , and those vessels were persevered in until they were found perfectly useless ; and there was not a youngster or boy in the navy that did not know it . The next class of " ships adopted were the eighteen-gun frigateB , which were much longer and much narrower than the eighteen-gun brigs , which every body must have expected would have failed , and which he looked upon as -patent coffins for , burying a hundred and twenty men at once . Tho last class in the service which he noticed wag that of
the gun-brigs , and of those a whole host had been introduced inttfrthe service likely to excite a great deal of notice , but calculated to be of little service . There was the Barker , the Bruiser , - and a number of others , which if taken together , would form * a whole pack . But these were soon exploded , and the ten-gun brigs were shortly afterwards introduced for them . These again in their turn had last year been condemned by the shipwright ' s committee . The navy was in a most inefficient state , the ships ; being generally constructed upon inferior principles . > The Gallant Commodore , after having gone to a considerable length further into the subject , tluynain gist of which was to the effect that the present navy was in a very incompetent state , concluded by making his motion . - :
SirGKOBOE CocKBCBtr replied to the Gallant Commodore . ' He would not go through the whole of the statements , nor attempt to defend certain defects in vessels which had been alluded to . It ought to be borne in recollection that during nearly the whole period of which the Gallant Commodore had been speaking , the art ot slup . buildiug had been' by no meanB so perfect as at present . He admitted that many of the vessels of which the Gallant Officer had been speaking were of a very bad description . ThoBe . however . hadbeen . supplauted by ships of a superior construction . He then proceeded to justify the transactions of the present Admiralty Board , though he could not pretend to answer for the one that had preceded it in office , contending and proving a series of nautical statements , that considerable improvements for the better had taken place under the management of the existing authorities .
Captain Ron * said the- navy and the country were greatly indebted to the Gallant Commodore , and defended at considerable' length the same positions . He considered this branch of the service had not been at all attended to by the present Government , in the manner it ought to have been done . Mr . Charles / Wood , Captain Pechell , and Admiral Bowles having briefly spoken to the motion , Mr . Wakletc said that he did not see any good that would accrue from the motion ofthe Gallant Commodore , and advised him to withdraw , it . ' He was opposed to the whole of our present system of naval tactics ; for while he thought the navy ought to be maintained in all its integrity , asconstituting the principal bulwark of the country , be deprecated to the utmost the squandering of large ^ sums of money upon old hulks that were never fit for any active service , or if they were so fitted out would continually endanger the lives of them who might he appointed to man them .
Sir Chaeieb Napieb having briefly replied , the House divided , when there appeared ' ; For the motion 32 , ' -.. ' . ' . ' . Against it .. ..... 93 Majority —61 The House then went into committee on the Railway Clauses Consolidation Bill , and after several clauses were agreed to , the House adjourned .
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GUILDHALL . Satubday . ;— Tvr » op a Trade never Aoeee . —A very respectably attired young man named Charles Knight was' summoned before Mr . Alderman-Moon , forannoying Mr . Simmonds , a foreigner , and a' medical- practitioner , residing in Skinner-street ,-Snow-bill . The complainant stated that for several years past' he had been the victim of a conspirncy entered into between the prisoner and several other young men , who were in the habit of knocking him up , and sending him to different parts of the neighbourhood , wider tho pretence that his aid was required ' in cases of urgent necessities , and frequently he found his door placarded with curious extracts and lectures he nan delivered on former occasions at various ¦ institutions . On Friday night last , between twelve and one o ' clock he was aroused from his rest by a
violent ringing at the street-door bell , aud on bis throwing up his . bed-room window and inquiring who was there , the defendant called out in a gruff manner , " I want you . " —The defendant , in answer to the case , said he had been out to a party on the evening in question , and returning home rather late , he found all the inmates gone . Herang Mr . De la Mont ' s , bell , and receiving no answer , he pulled the complainant ' s bell , thinking it would be heard then . He was aware that Mr . Sinimonds had been annoyed in the . manner . that gentleman had described , but he assured the Alderman he had no hand in it . —Mr . Alderman Moon , said , under these circumstances , he would dismiss the case , but at tiie same time he muit tell the defendant that he had no right to ring the complainant ' s bell . —The defendant promised not to repeat the offence , and both retired apparently satisfied with the result . .
RUBEN'S SQUARE , . SaTOEDAT . —• ASBAOL'MHO A Pl'BMCAN .- —Tho 8 , Hitch , an omnibus time office keeper at the Queen ' s Arms , was brought up , charged with assaulting Mr . Allder , publican , Chelsea . It appeared from the evidence adduced , tbat Hitch was in the habit of attending the house of- the prosecutor , and on the previous day , about' two o ' clock , he had two glasses of liquor , for which threepence-halfpenny was charged . The money was missed at the time . The next - evening some altercation •¦ arising about it , defendant began to abuse the prosecutor in a very offensive manner , and ended by striking him in the throat . Persevering in hig violence , a constable was called in , and the defendant was given into custod y . Fined forty shillings , or in default of payment , one month in the House of Correetion .
MAN 8 I 0 N . H 0 U 8 E . wedkebdat . —Happt Ekqiuhp!—A man , named James Oliver , who had genuine symptoms of distress about him , was charged with having stolen two shawls . —The prisoner walked up , to a policeman in Ckeapside , at a quarter past eight" in the evening , arid said , " Have your eyes upou me . " He then went into a shop , and taking hold of two shawls , returned with them , and was taken into custody . —The prisoner declared that he was in tho deepest distress , and that he had resorted to the expedient of visiting the shop in order to obtain relief by being put in prison . —The Lord Mayor asked the prisoner who am what he was ? -Th 6 prisoner replied that from consideration for others he muit decline uttering a word about him . self . All he would say was that he never committed a robbery in his life , and he did not consider what he had done the night before wag any ogeace at aH . __ The Lon Mayor regretted to have such a case brought before him but said he waa bound to commit the prisoner for trial ' '
BOUTHVTAEK . Monday . —Dakiho Kobbbri . —William Abbot , a powerful looking young man ,, was placed at the bar before Mr . Trail , charged with being odncerned . with two others not ia curtodyi in stealing fronvthe person of Robert Roberts a shoemaker , retidingun Jled Cross-street , Borough , abou ton shillings in money , a letter , and a raemoranduw-book —Prosecutor , a simple looking young man , stated tha about twelve o ' clock on Saturday night , he was relumine towards home , through Castle-street , Southwark-bridee road , after haying ; partaken' rather too freely of grog
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"When near Worcester-street , two men andtk ^ seized his arms ; the former picked bis - rhV i Pn sone « ' of his money , while the latter held Us We arm » iJ > Ol % t had robbed him they ran away , but he p ™ ' u ^ ft tJ | ey soner , who was stopped by a policeman , and tak ? ¦ ™ Ptf tody ;—The oflicer said that the prisoner waa an lnto ^ . of . well-knownthieves . —Itcmanded until Friday MSoci » t «
... .. CLERKENWELL . FfliDAr . — Charge of Thbeaten [ no to iidrb « —Mr . John James ' Scluedel , a merchant , living Jj' *" rington-s ' treet , Hampstead , was charged with threat ¦ " to murder Miss 8 chledel ; the daughter of jj r p ia Pfciller . Schledel , a gentleman residing at 39 rj , i »' street , Somers Town . Mr . Schledel deposed that th " sdner washis nophew , 'and oh the previous niirh ^" went to the door of the house , 11 , Parki ngton t *" Islington , belonging to a gentleman named Ev ° v *' his daughter , was staying , and ' knocked lou ' dlv fo mission ; he was refused , and witness coming up at n ?" time ; directed him to go away ; the prisoner refused his violent knocking at that time of night ( twelve o ' ci "" * disturbed the whole street . : Finding knocking to be fectual , he commenced kicking at the door with alM ?
might , saying he would murder witness ' s daughter witness felt confident that if he had got in he worfA murdered her . —Miss Schledel / a pretty-lookin » ! ri ave 18 , wearing a profusion of ringlets , deposed that ° thc n ^ ' soner was her cousin , and had threatened to knock h brains out on the previous day , with- a poker , —m Combe : Can you assign no reason ?—Mi 3 s Sciiie / i ( blushing ) : He has been paying his addresses to me , aaj because I did not receive him as favourably as hedpeii . » he threatened to knock my brains out , and then to k ' ll himself ; and I am afraid he will carry his threat int execution . —Mr . Combe after a private consultation va \ l the prisoner ' s friends , committed him in default of bail and ordered that the prisoner be closely watched while hi remained in the cells attached to the court .
• Monday . —A Pauper ' s Life . — An able-bodied youn » man , named Crean , was charged with breaking sixteen panes of glass in the Islington workhouse , of which he hat been an inmate for years . The offence was clearly proved and the damage done laid at £ 1 . Serjeant Allen , 21 K ' deposed that on Saturday evening , soon after the prisoner was locked up , the constable , on going his rounds , saw the prisoner hanging in the cell .. He at once cut him down-, a moment later and life would have been extinct , fl . contrived to hang himself by fastening his neckcloth to ft . top of the cell . He was closely watched all day on Sue " day , aud on Sunday night two other prisoners were place j in the cell with him . When he supposed they were slum , bering- he made another attempt'to hang himself with hi | braces , but failed in it owing to the timely interposition o his comrades . Committed for six weeks .
BOW STREET . . FlUDiT .-r-BESTRnCTlON OF THE PORTI . A . SD VASE iji the British Museum ;— Yesterday , shortly before fti closing of the court , a tall young man , about twentj years of age , and of delicate appearance , was brought be . ore Mr . ' Jardine , in the custody of 149 A division , and placed at the bar , charged with wilfully and maliciousl j breaking the celebrated Portland Vase in the Brit ^ Museum . ¦ The prisoner , being placed at the bar , ap . peared very sullen and reserved , and regardless ofthe charge preferred against him . —Sir . Burnaby said—What is your name ?—The prisoner : I decline giving m ,
name or address . —Mr , Edward Hawkins bein » then sworn , said : Having heard that the Portland Vase had been , broken , and that no visitor 1 \ & 4 come : down stairs since the crack was heard , he went up , and finding ' four or five persons in the apart . I rnent , ; he asked them what account they could give of th » j circumstance ?• They replied , they knew nothing of it ' j and coming to the prisoner , to whom he put the same ' < question , he replied in the most deliberate manner , « i i did . it , " without giving any reason for such extraordi nary ' conduct . Witness . , saw all the fragments scattered about i the room , and on looking about he found a large sculp , i tured stone on the floor , with which the destruction »« . i . IUCU ; QVVUV . UU MIS . AfcVVJL , I 1 LU IIUJkVXA HIV ! UV 311 ULU ^ Q QH
. ^ peared to have been committed .--Tlie prisoner , who da . \ clined saying anything , was remanded . j S \ tctu > a . y . —Vees Ladtjmke . —Mary Lee , a well . : dressed young woman , was charged with being drunk and : incapable . A police-ofiicer found her on Friday night is ' Pall-mall , annoying gentlemen goiug to their clubs , and : when he requested her to go home , she threw lieraelf on the ground , and said she was at home . No persuasioa could convince her to the contrary , and she was taken to j the station-house . —Mr . T wyford asked if she was a pros . ! titute . —The policemau replied that she was . —The pri . ' soner , however , declared that she was not ; she got her ! living by honest industry . —Mr . Twyford : Well , you have j been accused of very disorderly conduct , and of being a ! prostitute . —Prisoner : I tell you , sir , I am not a pros . ' titute , —Mr . Twyford : The officer swears that you are , and I am hound to believe him on oath ; you are com . mitted for a month . —Prisoner : You are a nice fellow , you are ; why don't you send that d—d policeman to for a month ?
Tpesdat . —The Portland Ta 8 e Case . —The young man I named William Lloyd , who was brought before Mr . Jar . dine on Friday ovening , was again placed at the bar for final examination , charged with wilfully and malicioualj destroying with a . stone the inimitable vase in the British Museum . Tht vase , which was valued at £ 1 , 000 and up . wards , was described as being the property of his Grace the Duke of Portland . In reply to the question , whit he had to say to the charg-e , tbe prisoner said—Only this , that I had been indulging in intemperance for soms dava , from the effects of which I had only partially recovered when I entered the Museum , and being ; consequently in a state ot nervous excitement , I was afraid of everything I met with , aud under such impression I acted in the manner lliave done , and for which I was then taten into custod y ; j ' did not commit the act throufih any design or evil illife .
turn whatever towards any person . —Mr . Bodkin said ( hi had the honour to appear on behalf of the trustees of tLi British Mustum , upon whom the principal duty devolved in prosecuting in the ease on the part of his Grace the ! Duke of Portland , who had kindly permitted the propertt ! ia question to be placed in the Museum for the inspection i and gratification of the public ; It was rhuch to be re- I gretted that such was the defective state of the law upon i such offences , that it was difficult to meet the present I charge by any thing like an adequate punishment ; how . j evir . it was provided by the 24 th , section of the Wilful Damage Act , " that if any person shall unlawfully or ma- < liciously commit any damage , injury , or spoil to , or upon , ' , any real or personal property whatever , either of a public or private nature , for which no remedy or punishment was therein , before provided , every person being convicted i thereof before a justice of the peace shall forfeit and paj such sum of money as should appear to the justice to be :
reasonable compensation for the damage , injury , or spoil ' so committed , not exceeding th * sum of £ 5 . "—Mr . Haw- j kins proved that the shade , which was worth about £ 1 , the fragments ' of-which were lying on the floor with the fragments of the vase , was the property of the trustees oi the Museum . —Mr . Jardine said that was the most perfect i and legitimate course for the trustees to pursue , and called upon the prisoner to . pay the amount of the glass shade , having wilfully and maliciously destroyed it . —Mr . Jardine : I cannot help , in my humble capaeitv , observing with fh » j Learned Counsel , that the Act of Parliament providing for ; such offences is very inefficient , which prevents my entertaining the case respecting the destruction of the vase against you for the present ; but for the destruction of to glass shade I shall put the law in full force , and order you to pay the sum of £ 3 forthwith , and in default be committed to hard labour in the House of Correction for tiro calendar months . —The prisoner was than removed from the bar ..
Wedkesdat . — Distressikg Case . —A fine looking young man named James Vernon , aged 18 years , ff « placed at ' the bar , supported by two of his shopmates , «™ held him by the arms to prevent him from in juringhiniBpu , i charged with attempting to commit suicide by IiangipS ! himself . ; The defendant ' s father , who is a printer res * ing in Coram-street , St . Pancras , on entering the witnessbox , was , deeply . affected . He stated that his son , *™> had assisted mm in his business , kept company for some time with a young female to -v ^ hotn he seemed much attached , and to all appearances the feeling was routuw : but on Sunday night last , for some cause , respecting w »<» he had no means of obtaining any information , she threw herself into the river from the parapet of Waterloo-bnaWi when she was carried away by the current , and the boilj has not since been found , although the usual means were resorted to . , The occurrence was shortly after communicated to the defendant , and such was the shock proaucea upon his niind , that he was almost immediately deprived of reason to such an extent that it was deemed neccssarj i Vlfl
to watch his movements ; but , notwithstanding the - ; lance of his friends , he continued to evade them , m made several attempts upon' his life , the first of wtocj was by a sharp Instrument , of which he was deprived , a »» on the next occasion by strangulation . Yesterday , engaged with his shopmates , he was suddenly unsseu from his work , and search being made , he was discoverea in the privy , the door of which the men were obliged ' « break open , suspended , and being cut down it was ff «* difficulty animation was restored . Mr . . Taraine askeo tie . defendant what explanation he could give of thesaa » c " count given by his father ?—The defendant , without urn * : ing a word , stared at each of his companions , who 6 »* continued to . hold his hands , in a wild idiotic mannen evidently unconscious of being addressed by the ma ?^ trate , or anything that transpired from the time ten ?" conducted into the court . Mr . Jardine directed tlvi ' might be immediately conveyed to St . . Giles's . working and in the course of tlie day , Mr . Tucker . one ofthe o « * seers , waited on the magistrate to say that the case li » been entertained , and that the unfortunate youth's comforts should be attended to .
, \ , / LAMBETH . Wednwdat . —Attempt to Commit Suicide . — Sarah Freeman , a woman about 40 years of age , appareitlj under the influence of nervous excitement , was placed a ' the bar before Mr . Norton , charged with creating a dUturnancein Arlington-street , Waterloo-road , and with attei # ing to commit suicide by strangling herself in the cell « which she was confined at the Tower-street station . Serjeant Evans , of the L division , said that the defendant *!} now under bail for having attempted to commit suicide oy jumping off "Waterloo-bridge . In answer to questions put to her by Mr , Norton , the woman , who trembled violenw and wept , stated that her husband , who was a waterfflW ; ia
and to whom she had been married four years , was «" habit of ill-using her . She had been to fetch him fro * •< public-house last night , and had some beer with him . " their return home he knocked her about , and she ran oui of the house for protection , and unless she had done 30 f , would have murdered her . —Mr . Iforton : But noire ? " * , you think of such a dreadful thing as to commit smci <» —Defendant : I was not in my right senses . Sometun " I do not know what I am about . My husband does w * give me his earnings . Frequently I do not get more tD » Is . 6 d . a week . I admitendeavouringtojump off watery bridge . My husband ' s bad temper drove me to " .-j" , Norton directed the officers to obtain the attendance » her husband , and remanded the defendant until he cou > be broughtbefore . niin .
Imperial Pfrlianrntk
imperial pfrlianrntk
Police Xtttektffenttt
police XttteKtffenttt
Printed By Douoal M'Gowam, Of 17, Ore*T Win*»* Street, Haymarket, Im The City Of Weataui»T«. » "
Printed by DOUOAL M'GOWAM , of 17 , Ore * t Win *»* street , Haymarket , im the City of Weataui » t « . » "
vmoein tne samt street and rarun , v »* \ ji * prietor , FEARGUS O'CONHOR , Island p » W » ii »^ ' TfuuiM Hjwitt , of No . 18 , Charles street , » r »»*« ' ; . street , Walworth , in tb » Parish of St . M » ry , KewI " j tan , U the County of Surrey , attheOffiae , *»•*!' 1 8 tr » nd , in the Parish £ of J 3 t . Mary-le-Stond «> GityofWMtininBter . " ' Saturdayj . Pebuary 15 , 19 * 5
Untitled Article
• , J __ , THE . * #$ T MIS S Tsn ^ m & H T . Febhuaby 45 , 1845 .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 15, 1845, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1302/page/8/
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