;I:fermi - el anti Prarrainfid in parliament.

1. REMOVAL or THE BISHOPS FROM THE HOUSE OF PEERS.

In the House of Commons, on Thursday, Mr. CUTHBERT RIPPON moved, for leave to bring in a bill "to relieve the Archbishops and Bishops from their legislative and judicial duties in the House of Peers." The motion was seconded by Mr. GILLor.sr, and supported by Sir WIL- LIAM INGILBY, Mr. JAMES, Mr. BUCKINGHAM, Mr. E. RUTIIVEN, Mr. O'REILLY, Mr. O'CoNNEn.r., Mr. HARVEY, Mr. HUME, Mr. Sum, and Mr. EWART. Mr. TENNYSON opposed the motion ; on the ground that it was part and parcel of the great question of Church Reform, and it was not quite fair to the Established Church to de- prive it, as a preliminary step, of its representatives in the House of Peers. He thought, however, that there were too many Bishops in the House of Lords ; and he recommended that they should sit there upon a principle of rotation. Doubtless, Ministers had something to pro- pose on this subject, which would appear when their measure of Church Reform was brought before the House. The Bishops ought not to throw any weight into the decisions of the House of Lords onsecular affairs.

These few remarks from Mr. Tennyson are all that were offered in opposition to the motion. Lord Althorp rose immediately after Mr. Gillon, the seconder, sat down, apparently with the intention of speak- ing; but he was interrupted by constant cries of " Question !" and the majority seemed to wish that the motion should be negatived without any further discussion. With this view, Lord ALTIIORP said, that he should not trouble the House with a'reply, but would meet the motion with a direct negative. The minority, however, would not suffer it to be disposed of in so summary a manner ; and several speeches of some length were subsequently made, though all on one side,—mot a single member of the Government or the Conservative Uppositiou tittering a word in reply. When the House divided upon the motion, there ap- peared for it, 58; against it, PS; ; Ministerial and Conservative ma- jority, 67. The announcement of the numbers was received by the minority with loud cheers.

Mr. CUTIIBF.RT RIPpoN's opening speech contained several very good passages. He referred to the times m lien the presence of the clergy in Parliament was rendered necessary by the gross ignorance of the other classes of the community ; but said that surely they no longer possessed , any superiority in the management of State affairs. The necessity for taking them from the perform:mee of their spirituel duties no longer existed. Their presence in the LegiAature was no longer serviceable to the State, %vhile it was highly injurious to the Church.

What are the erg rug e% ils of the present system ? Pluralities, non-residence, and unequal distribution of wealth. You create a plurality of ditties by placing political power in the hands of spiritual teachers. You cause non-residence by requiring the absence of the overseer from the diocese to attend his duties in

Parliament ; and by the same act pm sil an excuse for the unequal appor- tionment of wealth, by the ever ready plea of extraordinary expenses created by this political abduction. You bring them, bedizened with the splendour of title, to mix in the amusements of a metropolis—to mingle in the plots and jobs of government intrigue ; you tempt them to gratify pride, avarice, luxury, at indolence; you shower wealth and splendour upon them ; you forget they are but men.

By the possession of political power, they were subjected to the trying temptation of yielding their integrity to their interest : and their interest was against improvement.

" It is proper to consider political tendencies,—to reflect whether it is not the interest of certain tnen to maintain things as they are, to resist innovation, and prevent the diffusion of political truth,—to consider whether the possession of State patronage, which both enriches and exalts, mast not necessarily create an adverseness to that cl lige by which its weak h alel eminence may be d in inielted ; and it is right to review the past conduct of parties, and see whether private pretensions have not frequently been preferred to national advantage. Now, Sir, I will take upon niseell unhesitatingly to assert, that the tendency of all Chmelt Establishments en areeted with the State has been, and must be, to oppose po- litical improveinears. They are aware that no change can probably increase, but may possibly diminish, the wealth and advantages of the Establishment. They know that the hotels of ceele-iastieal delusion which have bound the powers of human reason for past centuries arc now burst asunder—that public judgment, now set free, will exercise its powers in judging fur itself, in dis- covering the truth. Therefore, to maintain themselves as they are, they will resolutely oppose any change in the forms of that government by which their supremacy is upheld, lest political reform:Men might weaken or endanger it."

Bishops ought to have nothing to do with the contention of serrates or the splendour of courts.

" The Church, as a spiritual community, has no concern with secular go- vernment. The Establishment has property ; and that being a temporality, should be represented in Parliameet, but not by Bishops or Christian officers, for these are servants of that Lord and Master whose kingdom was not of this world, who (lid not delegate to others a greater power than he himself received from God: they are the stewards of his mysteries; and no employment shook' take them front their proper business to preserve religion, the immediate purpose of which is to promote purity of worship, the ultimate one, salvation of souls."

Mr. GILLoN spoke in the same strain ; and quoted the following passage from a speech of the celebrated Lord Say and Sole, in refe- rence to the political conduct of the Bishops ; which lie maintained was applicable to their behaviour at the present day.

"While they kept themselves to the work of their ministry alone, and gave themselves to prayer, and the ministry of the NVord recording to the example of the Apostles, the world received the greatest benefit from them ; they were the light and life tlwreof : but when their ambition cast them down like stars from heaven to earth, and they- Sill grow once to be advanced above their brethren, I do appeal to all tele) have been versed in the ancient ecclesiastical stories or mo- dern history, whether they have not been the common incendiaries of the Chris- tian world ; never ceasing from contentions one with another about the prece- dency of their sees and churches, excommunicating one another, drawing princes to be parties with them, and thereby casting them into bloody wars. Their ambition and intermeddling with secular attars and State business bath been the cause of elteddiug more Christian blood than any thing else in the Christian world."

Mr. HaltvF.Y alluded sarcastically to the silence of Ministers on this question; which he attributed to their inability to defend the continu- ance of the Bishops in the Motet! of Peers,—unless, indeed, they deemed it a motion of no sort of consequence, undeserving of discus- sion, because it was not connected with the consideration of whether tithe was a tax or not—because it did not involve any such momentous inquiry as whether farmers should ride to market in gigs with springs or without them. lie defended the Nonconformists from the imputa- tion of wishing to share the revenues of the Church.

They wished to have no connexion with the State, either as regarded the Churchsor as regarded its revenues. They were of opinion—an opinion con- firmed by the experience of eighteen hundred years—tlsit Christianity required no aid front the civil power, and that it was impeded in its progress whenever such aid was tendered to it. ( Clicefs.) During the three first centuries of the Christian era, it was able to stand and triumph over powers far more fun midable than any of those which sprung out of the refinements of the present age. It overcame the power of Paganism and humbled the pride of the Cesare. There was nothing in the pomp of Ronne or the pride of courts which could resist its divine but simple dignity. I lowever powerful the fashion of the present times might be,—however profitable the subserviency of courts,—however bril- liant the regalia of monarchy,—whatever splendour might belong to crowns or sanctity to mitres,—whatever strength there might be in sceptres, or whatever reverence in crosiers,—Christianity rested on imperishable principles; and all that the Nonconformists asked was to let Christianity stand on its own inherent and imperishable principles. (Loud Cheering.) Mr. Ilumr: earnestly supported the motion. He had no hesitation in saying, that the Bishops, by their late conduct, had rendered them- selves odious to the people of England.

He admitted, that, having seats in the other House of Parliament, they had a right to give their votes as they pleased, but their exercise of that right had led the people of England to this conclusion—that to render them beloved by their flocks, they should be deprived of the power which brought them into collision with the people. lie was sure that in the opinion of at least three- fourths of the people of England there was no difference on this subject. The motion, so far from deserving to be treated as one not worthy of discussion, was, in point of fact, perfectly irresistible. Ministers, therefore, acted wisely in saying nothing against it. the hoped that they felt with him that political power wss never mixed up advantageously with religious functions. It waa no defence of the Bishops' seats in Parliament to tell him that they had been hell fur centuries, fur he had no regard fur any thing ancient unless it WAS also useful.

2. Coattrer BOROUGHS.

HERTFORD DISFRANCHISEMENT BILL. Mr. BERNAL, on Wednes- day, moved the second rending of this bill ; and stated that its object was to carry into effect the recommendation of the Committee of last sessioh. The Hertford electors were divided into three classes,—first, the inhabitunt householders who resided within the limits of the old borough, and who were subject to no qualification but the payment of rates and taxes ; second, the freemen ; third, the ten-pound coustitu- eney. The object of the bill WAS to disfranchise the first class, leaving the other two untouched. There were 314 voters belonging to this class ; :21i4 ten-pound voters, and 124 freemen. The Committee ulso recommended, after much patient inquiry, assisted by the report of Captain Brydone, who had visited I fert ford and drawn a map of the noighhouring country, to incorporate several parishes, within three miles of I lertford, with that town, for the purpose of returning Mem- bers to Parliament. This would give an addition of between 601) and 700 voters to the constituem.y. Of these additional voters, only 115 at present held a county qualification. Mr. Bereal also stated, iu ares;en to the evidence of Russell Davies, one of the witnesses before the 'oinmittee, who had recently been convicted of perjury, that the Como:lave had not received his evidence, and bud reported iode- pew:, ntiy of it.

Lord 1:41 N us: SomERSET, Sir Romner PEEL, :11r. HA LCOM B, Sir II. I laituisms, Sir J. SCAIILLTT, and 31r. SHAW, spoke against the stwund reading ; and rested their arguments mainly upon the iejury which the bill would inflict upon that part of the present flertfOrd constittwiley which was acknowledged to be pure. Lord G. Somenser moved that the bill be read a second time this day six months. The origins' motion was supported by Mr. CLAY, Mr. Halms., and Mr. Rowe, x ; and was carried without a division. The bill was then or- dered to be committed on 1Vednesday next. And, on the motion of Air. ButNas, the issuing of the new writ for Ilertford was again sus- pended.

lov ',mums Fiteestest 1311.1.. When the order of the day was read on Wednesday for the House going into Committee on this bill, Mr. 1101)::MON moved as an instruction to the Committee, "to limit the o w- ration of the bill to those persons whose guilt had been proved before Committees of that House ; and to make provision that all persons who had been proved before such Committees to have been guilty of givi»g or receiving bribes, should be rendered incapable of voting at tiuture elections." His object was to punish those who had given, us well as those who had teeeived bribes ; and to prevent thoss who had been ssarahsi from voting under the cover of another franchise. Sir H. W wawa:my, Mr. Nicnots., and Mr. W. E. t; LAnsToNE, sup- ported, and Mr. BE NETT, C010I1:71 WILLIAMS, /GA Mr. AGLIONRY opposed the instruction. Lord SA N DON could neither support the ori- ginal motion nor the instruction, as he disapproved of the measure al- together. The motion of Mr. Hodgson was put, and negatived, by 106 to Lt.

Lord EORGE BENTINCIE then moved another instruction to the Committee—the object of which was to preserve the right of voting to those freemen who had obtuined their freedom subsequently to De- cember 1830, and who had not been proved guilty of bribery, and to those apprentices, in number about 1800, who would under the present law be entitled to it. The bill as it now stood would preserve the right of voting to 550 of the corrupt voters; and did not provide for the punishment of about 208 persons, 40 of whom were gentlemen who had been active in the work of corruption. All these he would also disfranchise.

In the course of the brief debate which took place on this motion,an altercation arose between Mr. Wssote and Lord SANDON, owing to a misunderstanding on the part of the former gentleman ; who had sup- posed Lord Sand011 to have said that his own word was more en- titled to credit than Mr. Wason's. The Speaker was obliged to inter- fere more than once, as Mr. Wilson intimated that be should seek satisfaction out of doors. The ailldr, however, was finally arranged in an amicable manner.

The tumution of Lord G. BENTINCE was negatived without a division, and the House went into Committee. The several clauses were agreed to, and the bill was ordered to be reported to the House.

WARWICK ELECTION Btu.. This bill, after some ineffectual oppo- sition by Mr. IIALC01111, was read a third time on Tuesday, and passed.

On the motion of the Earl of Durmast, it was read a first time in the House of Peers on Thursday. There was no opposition to this motion ; but the Marquis of SALISBURY gave notice, that he should move for the examination of witnesses for the bill at the bar of the

House. •

The order for the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the cireumstances attending the getting up of at petition from Leamington for the passing of this bill,—which order was obtained by Mr. Holcomb on the 5th of !!larch,—was discharged ou Thursday, by a vote of 51 to 9. The subject was discussed in the House both on Wednesday and Thursday. The Committee was obtained on the assertion of Mr. Halcomb, that a petition had been presented to the House from certain persons complaining that their names had been affixed to the petition without their consent, and praying for inquiry. It turned out, how- ever, that no such petition had been presented ; and Mr. Ilalcomb, the Chairman, when questioned on the subject by Mr. Abereromby, said that he was the accuser, and that there were no petitions. Mr. Hescomn, who was not present at the discussion on Wednesday, ex- plained on Thursday, that he had been mistaken in saying that a petition bad been presented. One had been prepared, and was to have been presented, and he thought that it had been. The statement made by him in the House, was, however, a sufficient ground for a Committee : and he quoted a precedent in confirmation of his opinion. Mr. Huones Hueues said, Mr. Halcomb had been completely hoaxed. Seventeen men, with names the same as those affixed to the Leamington petition, had very truly sworn that the names inscribed were not theirs; but the men who bad actually signed were ready to swear that they had signed. 3. PREVENTION OF BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS.

On Monday, Mr. H Attuy brought in a bill to consolidate and amend the acts relating to bribery at elections: it was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday next. The same evening, Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved the second readiug of a bill introduced by him last week for She prevention of bribery. A brief discussion ensued; in which Sir ROBERT PEEL, Lord Joust Ressess, Mr. WYNN, Lord AI:moms Mr. TOOKE, and Mr. Wait- netvroN joined. It appeared that the intent of the bill is to provide a fit and satisfactory tribunal for inquiring into allegations of general bribery and corruption in a borough. The bill gives power to a Select Committee of the House to inquire into the allegation of bribery, or of an improper return, although there may be no petitions complaining of either one or the other, and report the result of their inquiries. The subject matter of complaint may also be inquired into, any time within three months after the return of the Member. If the Committee should report that the borough ought to be disfranchised, and both Houses of Parliament concurred in their report, an address would be presented to the King, and the disfranchisement of the borough would follow. Several of the details were objected to by Sir Ronmer Pees, who thought that in place of un address to the King, a bill should be intro- duced upon the specific report of flit Committee. He also thought thas the Committee should be appointed by the Speaker, instead of in the usual manlier. Lord JOHN Russets. objected to this last alteration ; which, he said, would place the Speaker in an invidious position. The other suggestions would be attended to in the Committee. The bill was read a second time, and is to be committed on Monday.

In the course of the conversation, Lord ALTHORP mentioned, in reply to a question from Mr. '!'oust:, that the various reports of the revising barristers were under consideration ; but he could not state whether Government would bring in a bill this session to amend the English Reform Act, or whether it would be postponed.

4. OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH.

A number of petitions were presented at both the morning and even- ing sittings of the House of Commons on Tuesday, praying for sonic

measure to insure the better observance of the Lord's day ; and Sir ANDREW At;NEw obtained leave to briug in two bills, one for England and another for Scotland, to effect that purpose. They were both read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on the 16th of April. No explanation was given by Sir Andrew, or by Mr. Cmcitesrett, who seconded him, as to the provisions of these bills; but it was taken for granted by the different Members who supported and opposed them, that they were not materially different front those of last year. Mr. Porreu and Mr. AGLIONBY were the only Members who resisted the motion for bringing in the bills; but Lurd .MORPETII, Mr. Lirrurros, Colonel EvA:ss, Mr. WARBURTON, and Mr. Pease, hoped that Sir Andrew Agnew would be more pliable in the Committee than he was last year.

Having succeeded in introducing the two bills above-mentioned, Sir A NIMEW AGNEW then moved for leave to bring in a bill to prevent fairs being held on Saturdays and Mondays. This was opposed very strenu- ously by Mr. P. Howann, Mr. O'CoNNELL, Mr. Mane Pmuses, and Sir JOHN Wnorressev, on the ground that the alteration would create much confusion. Lord Moan:Tit and Sir ROBERT PEEL wished the leave to be granted, as the House would not be thereby pledged to adopt the measure. On a division, however, the House decided against granting leave to bring in the bill, by 181 to 137.

5. DISSENTERS' MARRIAGES BILL.

On the motion of Lord Joust RUSSELL, this bill was read a first time on Monday. The 28th of April was fixed for the second reading, in order to give time for the Dissenters to urge their objections to it. Should these be found insuperable, Lord John said, that he would not press the bill: he did not see how he could make any material altera- tions in it.

6. DEAN OF RAPHOE AND DOWN.

The appointment of a son of Lord Plunkett to the Deanery of Down, formed the subject of an animated debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday. It appeared that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in Ireland, in their report published 13th July 1831, had strongly recommended that the union of six parishes, the income of which amounting to nearly 3004)1. a year, was paid to the Dean of Down, should be dissolved ; that a portion only of the income should be awarded to the Dean, and that the remainder should be devoted to the support of resident clergy- men in the several parishes. Lord Plunkett was one of those Eccle- siastical Commissioners who bad concurred in this recommendation ; yet when the Deanery of Down became vacant, his own son was appointed to it, without any provision for the disunion of the parishes, or any security that the new Dean would not claim the full value of his vested interest in the Deanery, in case the recommendation of the Commis- sioners should hereafter be carried into effect. Mr. GOULDURN now moved that an address should be presented to the King, praying him to adopt measures for complying with the Commissioners' recommendation. He mentioned, that in 1832 he had spoken to Mr. Stanley ou the sub- ject, who promised that the matter should be attended to ; but nothing was done. In the next session, he repeated his question ; and was told that provision for the case would be made in the Irish Church Tem- poralities Bill ; but there was no such provision in that bill. Up to this period nothing had been done. The grievance was of a crying na- ture. There were now five parishes, with a growing Protestant popu- lation, dependent upon curates only. .

Mr. RUTHYEN, Colonel CONOLLY, Sir ROBERT PEEL, Mr. HUME, Mr. Rostesou, and Colonel DAMS, reprobated the conduct of Lord Plunkett in strong terms. Sir Romer PEEL said that the appoint- ment ought to be revoked without delay.

Mr. STANLEY requested Mr. Goulburn to withdraw his motion. The circumstances, he admitted, had been correctly stated,—with this exception, that the Dean was willing to waive his claim to full compen- sation, and would not stand in the way of the new arrangements that would be made. If the plan of the Commissioners were adopted, the Deanery, for which Mr. Plunkett had given up preferment of more than 10001. a year, would be worth only 3801. a year. The subject was before the Irish Privy Council, whose determination would be known in a few days. Mr. LITTLETON: spoke.a few words to the same erect ; and the motion was withdrawn for the present.

7. PARLIAMENTARY OATItS.

Mr. O'CONNELL moved, on Tuesday, for a Select Committee " to cm shier and report on the oaths which are taken, and those, if any, wl ich ought to be taken by Member,: of the House of Commons." in the discussion which arose on this subject, Dr. Lusurecerox, '!r. BELWER, Mr. SIIEIL, Mr. C. FERGUSSON, Mr. P. HOWARD, JOIINSTONE, and Mr. O'Dweret spoke in favour of the motion; and !surd ALTHORP, Sir Romer PEEL, Sir It. IsGLIs, Mr. STANLEY, !kly. COMIETT, and Mr. Leecit, against it. It was urged by Mr. O'CONNELL and the supporters of the motion, that instead of the different oaths and declarations %elects were lea:- made, it would be much better to substitute deelaratioas which all von1,1 couscientiouslv make. At present there were different oaths tbr Pro- testants and Cuitholies, and a themlaration fur Quakers and Moraeians. The oaths were of an equivocal nature ; and different Members put different interpretations upon them ; though they were almost totally 14)1-gotten immediately after the opening Of Parliament, when they were administered. Al r. O'Connell and other Catholic Members felt them- selves aggrieved by the construction whine' some Members put upon the oath taken by Catholics; which, it was said, prevented them from legislating on subjects connected with the temporalities of the Esta- blished (lurch. This, it was admitted, was not the predominant feel- ing in the House; but still it was desirable to !wee the ;mina ttled once fur all. It was no necessary ingredient in the constitution of the Douse of Commons that an oath should be taken by its Members. Till the reign of Elizabeth. no oath was imposed on the Commons ; and none was imposed on the Lords till the 7th of James the Fret. In point of fact, no oath was taken by the Members of the Irish House of Commons till 1782, although some acts had been passed immaing oaths upon them ; but till that period these acts were mere dead letters. The oaths at present taken were absurd. In one of them, ellegiance was abjured to the descendants of a Prince who had no descendants. But this oath of abjuration was only required from the Protestants, riot from the Catholics, who were supposed to possess some rioaelme et to the Mouse of Stuart. Then the Catholics were called upon to abjure the opinion that princes, excommunicated by the Pope, might bim deposed br murdered by their subjects. This was very insulting to the Catho- lics. If a person could believe that it was right to murder and excom- municate a prince, he would certainly pay no regard to an oath restrain- ing him. Members were obliged to swear to support the Protestant Government ; but as every member of the Government except the Xing and tire Lord Chancellor might be Catholics, it was diffieult to tell the exact meaning of that equivocal expression " Piemtesount Go- vernment." How could men swear that no tbrimien prince, prelate, or potentate, had ecclesiastical jurisdiction within these realms, when the C itholice recognized the jurisdiction of the Pope in ecclesiastical mat- ters? The only declaration that a Ale other ought to 'mike m as, that he had acted and would an/ conscientiously. The desecrating practice of taking oaths ought to be done away with altogether.

On the other hand, it was urged, that it was quite useless to ap- point a Committee to inquire into a subject which every one was well acquainted with. It was one with which the whole House could best deal. The motion was therefore a bad one in point of form. But it I Pled be also highly impolitic for the House to accede to it. These oaths leer fixed to be taken at the time of the Catholic Relief Bill. They v ere considered as securities for the Protestant religion, and the people of England would be alarmed if they were now to be done away with. There certainly was s me security in oaths. There was no pra:oical g•ievance inflicted by them. An oath of a much more rigid character v as formerly taken by all Catholic barristers—Mr. O'Connell ameong them. 'There w is an understood compact between the Catholics and the Legislature, that the taking of the pre -ent oaths was the condition of their admission into Parliament ; and it was at least highly unbe- coming in them now to seek to free themselves from it. The terms of that oath were ton plain to be misunderstood. No sincere Cathulic Member would shrink from the full observance of its full spirit. Mr. 0-Cox:et:tie withdrew his motion, with an intimation that be should move to iesert a clause, in a bill of which Mr. Greene had given notice, to exclude Members of Parliament from taking religious or test oaths. If that motion were rejected, he should move to bring in a bill to explain the oaths new prescribed to be taken.

8. ARMY ESTIMATES.

The greater part of Monday evening was occupied with the adjourned discussion of the Army Estimates, in a Committee of Supply. It was, as usual. of a very desultory description ; and nothing very inte- resting was elicited in the course of it. Mr. HUME, Mr. Gue.oe, and Mr. Cournerr, opposed the grant of 82,179/. for defraying the charge of the Volunteer Corps for the present year. Mr. HUME thought that there was no occasion for the Yeomanry. There was public spirit enough in the country to render it certain that individuals would come forward voluntarily, as they indeed had done at Salisbury, Uxbridge, and Glasgow, to enrol themselves'for the purpose of preserving the peace and property of their respective neighbourhoods, without any charge to the country. Mr. COBBETr said, that Alajor Cartwright used to call the Yeomanry the Body Guard of the Boroughmoegers; but as the Boroughmongers were now defunct,. he thought their guard ought be disbanded. Mr. ELLICE, Colonel DAvies, Earl GROSVENOR, .Mr. BRODIE, Mr. LITTLETON, and several other Members, supported the vote; which passed, on a division, by 135 to 52. The grant of 81,240/. to the disbanded foreign soldiers, and the widows and children of deceased foreign officers, was opposed by Mr. CORBETT. Mr. HUME end several other Members supported it, on the ground that the national faith was pledged; although it was deemed necessary that further inquiry should be made into the actual condition of those who receive this money. It is suspected that some of the parties for whom it is intended are dead; and that it is fraudulently obtained by their relatives. Mr. Cobbett divided the Committee on the motion ; which was carried by 200 to 4. A long conversation took place on the vote of 1,327,0001. for Chel- sea and Kilmainham Hospitals. Mr. O'CONNELL and the Irish Members strongly objected to the breaking up of Kitmainham Hospital

(which they called a national establishment), and the removal of the pensioners to Chelsea. Mr. Hume: approved of the arrangement ; it was an economical one for the public. Mr. Ewer said there were oily two hundred and seven pensioners in the Hospital; there was plenty of room for them at Chelsea ; and the Kilmainham Hospital was wanted for the Artillery, whose barracks could not be repaired except at a great expense.

Mr. Hume aPuled to the appointment of Mr. Glide to tIre Chap- laincy of Chelsea Hospital, to which a salary of 300/. a year was an- nexed. He wished to know by what service's Ala Ghia had merited this appointment ? Lord Joints Itusseer. admitted that he had not adumpted the usual rule of conferring the office on one of his political connexiumus ; he had looked only to the service:: of the gentleman lie had appointed, and he did not reproach bine& at all for hoeing. appointed him. By the King's warrant, I:e was bound to conifer it en some one who had deeerved it by his services or sufferines in the Army. Sir II UNRY II veineee highly commended Lord John flu. s II for his conduct 011 this occasion. 31r. Glimig was very deserving of the appointment. When the Duke of Wellington made Dr. Grey Rector of Bishopsgate, and Mr. Abereromby Lord Chief Berm, of Scotland, there were no such paltry manifestations of spleen as this seh ction had called forth.

The vote pawed without a division. Several others were also passed, and the Committee rose.

9. MILITARY FLOGGING.

The report on the Mutiny Bill was brought up last night. On the question being: put, that it should be received, Alajor Eeecoulte moved the insertion of a clause to abolish the practice of military flogging. Ile supported his motion in an amble speech, of considerable length ; in %Odell lw dwelt upon the usual topics of the inefficacy and brutality of that mode of punishment; and recommended that solitary confinement, the mulcting of his pay, confinement to barracks, and other eecondary punishments, should be substituted for flogging. Mr. Rotwee GRANT, the Judge Advocate, made an elaborate speech in reply to Major Fancourt. Ile laboured to show that the general order which had been issued fr. ni the Horse Guards wash' compliance with the wishes of the House of Commons; and that the order had been obeyed by the officers, as was proved by the diminution of the number of corporal punishments. He assured the House, that there was every disposition to reduce them still more; and that much anxious consideration had been bestowed on the subject, with a view to discover sonic mode of punishment equally efficacious, and less abhor- rent to the feelings of the community. It was a melancholy fiwt, that tl:e number of crimes in the .Army had very materially increased with the decrease of flogging. It was quite necessary, before flogging was abolished, to be prepared with some substitute for it. Soli- tary confinement was quite impracticable, under many circumstances in which BD army was placed ; and transportation would not be censidere any punishment at all. The men who were flogged were curly those who had committed disgraceful offences; and though the punishmeent might not improve the offender, it served to deter others from follow- ing his evil courses. Lord DARLINGTON, Sir J. BYNG, Mr. HAWES, and Lord W. Lree- Nox, opposed, and Mr. O'Coxereee, Mr. BUCKINGHAM, and Sir E. ConntearoN, supported, the motion of Major Fancourt. Mr. HUME remarked upon the silence of the Government on this question ; and intimated, that it entirely lay in the bands of the Commander-in-Chief. The House divided: fur Major Fancourt's clause, 94; against it, 227; Ministerial majority, 133. The report was then received, and the bill is to be read a third time on Monday.

10. TILE New Excneetneet.

Last night, on the motion of Sir JAMES GRAHAM, the House re- solved itself into a Committee "to consider of the compensations a: d

payments to be made on the abolition and regulation of offices in the receipt of bis Majesty's Exchequer." Sir James then proceeded to detail the nature of the new regulations to be made in the offices of the

Exchequer. It was proposed to abolish the offices of Auditor, Teller, and Clerk of the Pills ; and to establish in their place a Comptroller, and various assistants. It :vas also proposed to establish Paymasters, similar to those in the Army, Navy, and Ordnance departments. The office of Comptroller-General would be held for life; and as, in case of sickness, an Assistant-Comptroller might be wanted, such an officer, removable only on the address of one of the Houses of Parlia- ment, would be appointed. The Exchequer Office is to be open daily. All the money hitherto payable into the Exchequer is to be paid into the Bank, to form one fund to the credit of the Exchequer in the Bank books. The Treasury is to direct the form of .keeping the accounts ; and the present absurd modes of keeping them are to be entirely abolished. Orders are to be given to the Treasury, under the royal signature, for all the money voted by Parliament. An order is to issue to the Comptroller from the Treasury before he gives his draft for the payment of any sum, and he is to have the opportunity of comparing the Treasury order with the act of Parliament under which it was unmade. The Treasury to have information daily of all the money paid into, and weekly of all the money paid out of the Bank. The Audit Board to have a quarterly account, and the Parliament an annual account, of all the money paid in and paid out, and of the actual balance of cash in hand at the end of each sessional year. The expense of the present system is 41,900/. a year ; the number of individuals em- ployed is sixty-five. It is proposed to reduce the cost to 11,000/. and the number of persons employed to twenty-nine. The immediate saving will be small, owing to the compensations to be made to indivi- duals whose offices are abolished. With respect to the Marquis Camden, it is proposed, in consideration of the great sacrifice he has already made, to authorize the Treasury to pay him the same amount of Imes he has been hitherto entitled to receive; leaving it to his discre- tion to deal with those payments as he thought fit. This, Sir James Graham said, was the very least the House could do to mark its sense of Lord Camden's public virtue. Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET approved of the new plan generally, but suggested that there should be two Comptrollers-General instead of one. He disapproved of the appointment of a Deputy-Comptroller; which, be said, would tender the Chief Comptrollership a sinecure. III answer to ii qUest• from .11 r. III eta Sir demi s Gemiem said that Lord Auckland would be the new Comptrol e'-General, but that be would not receive any salary for that office. Some conversation arose, in consequence of a remark by Mr. M. A'rTwooD, respecting the compentino to Ale Ellis, the ( leik of the Pells. It was remarked that Ale Ellis, who was every way qualified for the office, ought to be made the Comptroller. Sir JAMES GRAHAM interfere, was by promotilig the. instruteeei !O. 1,0“.■11Enr4' e):!■St'S, not give .1-) money. Ile had from two hundred to t ii:en cm- ;regarded the marriages by llonima Catholic clergymen in that cenetee benefit themselves by working no 11101e with him ; and the :•••••••• smpp. • LI late, as 18!5' a Ile told them they might do so if they pleased, for that the: MA compel cruel combination of the landlords, and getting those acemsed Girmlases re- ewes:, that the bill should be postponed till the measure for regulating pealed ; that then their limiters would be enabled to pay them properly, and to Dissenters' marriages had been carried ; and Mr. C. BRUCE objected give them three quarters of good American dour instead of arm. (A hawk.) to place Catholics on a more advantageous footing than other Dissenters. The remedy for all these complaints was for the masters to 'join with the men, The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on and the men to unite with the masters, ;splint the damnable, cruel, Corn Bill. (!' Hear!" and loud lanyhter.) Sir JAMES GRAHAM defended the conduct of Government on this occasion.; though he admitted the general inmolicy of interfering in the concerns of masters and their workmen. He denied that there had been any •increase in the work of the coopers since 18 5 : he had been in- formed by Messrs. Barclay and Co., Whitbread and Co., and the other principal London brewers, that no alteration had taken place in the size or stoutness of their casks. The average weekly earnings of the journeymen were 21. 6s. Id. per week when in full employ; and lie un- derstood that they were employed all the year round. [This statement Was contradicted subsequently; and Sir James Graham did not appear to be very positive in regard to it.] The workmen had, by intimida- tion, prevented the masters from increasing the number of their ap- prentices ; and when a strange hand was employed, although they did not beat or threaten him, yet they dogged him about wherever he went, and contrived to make his lite insupportable. lie considered that, in the case of the coopers, the letter as well as the spirit of the law had been violated; for there was a manifest conspiracy to overawe the Mas- ten. He thought that the interference of Government would have a salutary effect, and operate as a warning to the combinators. It was upon these grounds that the Government had intertieed. For the pre- sent, the amount supplied had been only 50 butts and WO hogsheads from the sews at Deptford. It should be borne in mind, that this was a matter of pri- mary importance—especially to the foreign trade of the country; for if, through

reported to the House. The report is to be taken ieto consideration on Monday.

11. TRADES UNIONS.

A discussion of considerable length arose, on Thursday, upon a motion by Mr. Hume, for copies of the correspoildenee between the master coopers and the Lords of the Admiralty, relative to a dispute between the former and their journeymen, in a Ilia, as appears from a statement in Sir James Graham's speech on the Coin-law question, the Admiralty had interfered in behalf of the masters. Air. 1!)une disapproved of the interference of the Government on this ()evasion. The work of the men had been increased; they were now reqeired to wake heavier casks than formerly, and therefore they required an advance on the wages which had been agreed oil between themselves and their masters in 1825.

Nothing could be fairer than this. The question was, whether the workmen Were to be at liberty to reconsider their agreement with the masters? Ilv tot shrstood that twelve or thirteen masters (the trade was very limited in point of number) had agreed, upon the representations of the men, to act as was re- quired; when Government stepped in, and the \lett:ailing Department offering. to provide the necessary casks, the al rangement between the journeymen and their employers was abandoned. As to the average earning, of the workmen, be believed that they by no means amounted to built a sums as Sir James Graham appeared to suppose (from 21. 4s. to 2/. Itit. a week); and that, taking into account slack times and workmen of different degrees of skill, they would not be found to exceed 20s. a week. , lint, supposing the wages to be as high as had been stated, was not a man at liberty to obtain :1/. a week instead of 2/., if he could do so by fair means, and without usit.g threat, or violence? A law existed to punish every attempt at force or violence; ;mil it was the duty of masters to enforce it, if necessary.

Ile was informed that the workmen ACCEIld be able to rebut the alle- gation made against them of h Lying prevented their masters trout em- ploying other workmen by means of threats and violence. Ile main- tained the right of workmen to form themselves into clubs, and com- bine together to procure by all lawful means the highest price they could for their labour. He was satisfied that the unhappy conse- Mitleee of strikes would be soon apparent to the working classes, end that they would desist from them. Ile very much disapproved of the conduct of the Admiralty if any interference was necessary, the law should step in, not the Government.

the success of such an Bleed conspiracy as this, articles neeessaay for our ship- ping should he unduly entanced in price, we should have to encounter foreeel on Wednesday the 26th instant, to Monday the 14th of April. commercial competition under considerable disadvantages. If, in fact, through SCOTTISH LAW OF ENTAIL. The Earl of BOSEBERRY gave notice such a conspiracy the supply for. our shipping should be suddenly stepped, we. on Monday, in the House of Peers, that on an early day he should lay should have to inert re eet foign shipping upon unequal grounds, and tinder the ills- advantage of wanting a great many articles supplied for the use of certain parts of the shipping. It was with a view to prevent such consequences that the granting relief in certain cases. Covernmeut bad interfered in this instance, and their doing so was nut without COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS. A petition was presented on Thursday, precedent ou former occasions. by the Earl of DURHAM, from the licentiates of the College of Physi- In similar circumstances, Mr. Huskisson had done the same thing. clans, praying for inquiry into the state of that College, and of the Sir James would not, he said in conclusion, oppose the motion ; and medical profession in England, while the matter was before Parliament, no further steps would be taken There was no city in Europe so badly supplied with physicians as London, by the Admiralty. in proportion to its population. In Herb% the population was no more that,. entered into a long detail of the serene..., of Air. Ellis, during many GRANVILLE SOMERSET moved the second reading of this bill ; the ob. years in various capacities, and insisted that it would be highly dis- ject of which is to incorporate a company to form a railway from Lon- creditable to the country not to give him a Land-once retiring allowance, don to Heading, and from Bath to Bristol, leaving out the space be- lt was very hard in Alr. Att wood to call Mr. Ellis's (Alice a sinecure tween Bath and Reading. The Earl of KERRY seconded the motion because its duties could be performed by deputy. for the second reading ; which was supported by Mr. C. Resta:lee Mr. Several resolutions were then proposed, and eeriest to ; and were O'CONNELL, Mr. Lenoueneite, Mr.:(11sBouse, Colonel CONOLIY, Sir Mr. LAB ircIIIRE. A !r. G. F. Youeo, Mr. B. Gneser, and Lord A LIlltete, also defended the conduct of Government, in brief speeches. Mr. Home's motion was then agreed to.

12. AIISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS.

GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD BILL. There was a very full atten- dance of Members of the House of Commons on Monday, when Lord YVYAN, and Mr. CHRISTMAS. It was strongly opposed by Mr. R. PALMER, the Marquis of Cneenos, Sir T. FREMANTLE, Sir C. BURRELL, and Captain DuNDes. The Captain said, that if this bill were carried, there would next be a railroad from Shields and Sunder- hind to London, and then the Navy would be ruined, and the breed of seamen become extinct. Very contradictory statements were made re- lative to the number and atnount of property of the dissentients to the railroad. The motion for the second reading was carried by 11.42 to 92, PUBLIC CONVEYANCES. Alderman Woon obtained leave, on Thurs- day, to bring in a bill to regulate the plying of oinnibasess of h , stage- roaches, hackney-coaches, and cabriolets, within twelve miles Metropolis.

METROPOLITAN POLICE. On the motion of Lord Howled:, a Select Committee was appointed, on AI day, to consider the state of the Po- lice and of crime in the Metropolis.

SEWERS. On the motion of Air. Went), a Select Committee was appointed, on Wednesday, to inaeire into the existing laws respecting sewers, and to suggest such elewees in those laws, as well a; in the Board of Commissioners of S:evers, as the public convenience may require.

GENERAL. REGISTRY BILL. On the motion of Mr. Bnovoiessa this bill was read a first time last night, and ordered to be read e second time on the lath of COUNTY REGISTRATION OF DEEDs. Mr. CAYLEY obtained leave, on Thursday, to Wing in a bill to establish a County Registration of 1)eeds in England and Wales. Air. W. Hittite:nem thought that per- haps Alr. Cayley's plan might be moved as an amendment to some part of his Registry Bill. But Mr. CAYLEY hoped that Mr. Brougham's bill would be rejected in tot°, and his own adopted.

REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND Dravrits. Lord A 1.- 1110RP mentioned, on Thursday, in reply to a question from Mr. WILE'S, that Government approved of the principle of Mr. Brougham's bill on the subject, but were not pledged to support it in detail.

ROMAN CATHOLIC MARRIAGES IN SCOTLAND BILL. This bill was read a second time on Wednesday, on the motion of Alr. J. A. Alen- !LAY ; who explained the present absurd state of the law on this subject.

The House was aware that, as the law now stood in Scotland, if a man and a Mr. Hume's view of the subject was supported by Mr. ()Toe- woman went blare two persons, no :natter who they were, ostlers, tinkers, or NEI.I., Mr. BAINES, Mr. ROEBUCK, Mid Air. T. ...le rnana. Alr. smiths, and declared themselves in the presence of such witnesses titan and wife, Rot:BUCK thought that the only way in vo i.i id G overnineet should the contract was binding, andthe tbatri.:ge was a validlid one; Now that being the ca,e, was it not most un3ust. and absurd to indict punishment on those persons who choose it be married by toeir own priests: It would not he was and teaching them to see wheys their real lieu, Ale Fe veit gire, be denied that it was the dote olet:av person who hada regard tbr religion expressed himself as dui:lolly hostile to Trades 1 1. eels. a:al nowalitv, to add the greatest :Ind hi-1.%t sanction to the eer bratiun litar- lie would resist a combination against the masters bee the masters coal Scotland. Now, the very reveifse-4.t.hat was dope by the existing law ployed. Within the last eight months and five weeks, u they would Catholic clergyman had been tried before the Jus- ticiary Court of Inverness for celebrating a marriage, and the Court him to give them more money, as he had not the locums of ibis:, so ; that held that he was liable to punishment for so doing. This bill would instead of combining against him, they should join with resisiiie; the do away with all such penalties. It was suggested by Mr. A. Joite- on the table a bill for amending the law of entail it) Scotland, and for Wednesday next. PROCURATORS FISCAL BILL. This bill was read a second time on Monday, on the motion of Mr. J. W. MURRAY.

FINES AND RECOVERIES IN IRELAND. Mr. LYNCH obtained leave, on Wednesday, to bring in a bill for the abolition of fines and recoveries in Ireland, and the substitution of more simple modes of assurance.

DURATION OF PARLIAMENTS. Mr. TENNYSON, on Tuesday, post- poned his motion on this subject to the 15th of May.

Ma. HARVEY'S MOTION ON THE PENSION LIST. This motion is postponed to the 5th May ; the House to be called.

REPEAL OF THE UNION. This motion is postponed from the 15th to the 22d of April ; and the House, on the motion of Mr. SPRING RICE, is to be called over Oil that day, instead of the 15th.

DISSENTERS' PETITIONS. At the morning sitting of the House of Commons, on Tuesday, a number of petitions from the Dissenters of various places were presented. Among them, was one from the general body of Dissenting ministers, Independent, Baptist, and Pres- byterian, residing in and near the Metropolis, praying for the removal of civil grievances, but not for the separation of Church and State, though they thought such connexion injurious to the Christian religion.

Petitions from the Dissenters, for redress of grievances, have been presented in considerable numbers every morning of the week.

ADJOURNMENT OF TIIE HOUSE. Some conversation took place on this subject last night and it was agreed that the House should adjourn 2-0,000, and there were in that city 2.N physicians. In Paris, with a popnir- tion of 9:5,0tX), there wet e 0:15 physicians. But in London, with a pm ulati.el of 14011,000, there were but 108 resident physicians. In consequence of the number of regular physicians being su small, the people of London were com- pelled to avail themselves of the services of inferier persons. Thus, the number of apothecaries in London was 2000; whereas in Berlin there were only 74 apo- thecaries, and in Paris 159. The petitioners attributed a great improvement in the medical profession throughout the country to the operation of the Apo- thecaries Act, and affirmed that the charter of the College of surgeons would have in like manner advanced and improved the higher department of the pro- fession if it had nut been perverted by the by- laws of the Fellows. The Col- lege had been established by Henry the Eighth, and in the whole three hun- dred years of its existence there had appeared but eighteen volumes of its trans- actions: whereas the Medical and Surgical Society, which had now existed only thirty years, had published upwards of eighty volumes. The petitioners especially prayed the attention of the 'louse to tlw effect of one by-law, which precluded all persons except graduates of Oxford or Cambridge from tae Fel- lowship. By this law it was impossible that any but members of the Church of England could become Fellows.

Lord MELBOURNE intimated, that he would not oppose a motion for a committee of inquiry; though, as there was already a Committee of the I louse of Commons appointed, lie did not think it necessary. The petition was laid on the table.

PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS, AND LIBRARY 01"flIE Moist; OF PEERS. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, on Tuesday, presented the Re- port of the Committee appointed to inquire into the inima;femela of the Library of the House of Lords ; and gave notice, that he would move an address to the King on the following Friday, founded on the recommendations of the Committee. lie a1,4) presented the Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into fire management of the Parliament Otlice, with a view to the adoption of the best mode of printing Parliamentary papers ; and gave notice, that on Friday, if the House of Peers approved of the resolutions of the Committee, he should move that they be communicated to the llonse of Commons. On Friday, he moved the address relative to the library; which was carried. The motion respecting the printing of Parliamentary papers was postponed till Thursday.