Manila anti procrebin 0 in Vadiament.

. .

I. hum TITHES. In a conversation, on Tuesday night, on the sub- ject of Irish tithes, Mr. WALKER having alluded to the declaration of Earl Grey,—which, he said, if carried into act, wo • ,e Ireland. with blood, without putting down the opposition

'` •

t at hart on of serva- prised Lord ALTnonv spoke to the following effec "I was present when allusion was made /Fere the. '4 .- ' fallen from my noble friend; but thou0 very much as his sentiments then quoted, I did not Mel myself justi i '49,4r: - tions, affirmatory or contradictory, upon them. But a tre' lie -,ainy . ■ -is .-e' that such a version could have been given of the sentime „. for when I recollected the politiCal principles which have guided the public con- duct of my noble friend, and which entirely correspond with my. Own, I was convinced that there was a misconception somewhere. I find I was right ; and that my noble friend and myself agree in this-rthat while We are prepared to enforce the laws when broken, yet we should be departing from the principles which we have acted on through our lives if, when extraordinary powers are de- manded to enforce the law, these extraordinary powers should not be granted unless accompanied by an efficient remedy for the grievance which occasions their necessity. (Loud cries of Hear P) This is the principle on which my moble friend and myself have invariably acted, and which we are not disposed to depart from on the present occasion. While we feel that it is absolutely ne- cessary that the law should be upheld—that all illegal combinations should be put down—we also feel, that if the resistance to that law, and those illegal combinations, have their origin in any grievance which it is in the power of the legislature to remedy, the Legislature ought to provide the remedy for that grievance. ( Continued cheers.) And this, let me add, is the principle on ubich we are determined to act with respect to the tithe system in Ireland." (Loud cries of " Hear!")

Lord Althorp afterwards added, that while Earl Grey did not mean to impugn the accuracy of the report of what had fallen from him, and which had occasioned the misunderstanding alluded to, his Lordship re- gretted that he should have so expressed himself as not to be clearly understood as determined to enforce the law on the understanding which Lord Althorp had just stated, of being accompanied by a remedial Measure for the grievance which occasioned an extraordinary enforce- ment of the law.

Sir Roaster PEEL said, that as this declaration on the part of the Ministry supposed an already arranged plan, the continuance of the Tithe Committee, under such circumstances, was uncalled for. Unless some specific plan were already arranged, Lord Althorp had no right to make the communication be had done. It was directly calculated to render the enforcement of the law impossible.

Lord ALTHORP thought he had sufficiently guarded his words against Misconstruction— He had said that it was the intention of Government to enforce the law, but that if it became necessary to call upon Parliament to enforce the law against a resistance which arose out of grievances, those grievances ought undoubtedly to be remedied. He could not perceive how this was calculated to prevent the en- forcement of the law.

Lord MILTON hoped the grievance would be so remedied, as to pre- vent what was now due to the clergy from going into the pocket of the landlord.

Sir ROBERT PEEL said, he was no advocate for a rigid enforcement of the Tithe-laws, nor was he disinclined to an inquiry into a practi- cable remedy for their defects.

Mr. STANLEY, who entered the House while this conversation was going on, stated that Government would neither apply for nor exercise any coercive authority for enforcing the collection of tithes, unless ac- companied by a pledge that the grievance complained of should be promptly, substantially, and satisfactorily redressed.

Mr. CROKER expressed his satisfaction at the explanation that Go- vernment meant to put in immediate force the laws respecting tithes, and that the remedy they proposed had regard only to their better col- lection, not their abolition.

Mr. STANLEY—" The right honourable gentleman is mistaken, if he supposes that it is the intention of his Majesty's Ministers to recom- mend the continuance of the tithe system. The attention of Ministers is certainly directed to secure a maintenance for the Protestant clergy; but another object to which their attention is also directed is the extinc- tion of the system of tithes." (Loud cries of " Hear !") Mr. SIIEIL thought this language was as satisfactory as it was ex- plicit. If tithes were appropriated to purposes of national utility,— one of which was the decorous and dignified maintenance of religion,— the people of Ireland would be content.

Mr. LEFROY said, if tithes were appropriated to any other purpose than the maintenance of the Church, he would cease in future to attend on the Tithe Committee.

Mr. STANLEY observed, that Mr. Lefroy had attended for the first time on Saturday.

This important conversation dropped with the order for printing the petitions from Ross, and several other parishes in Wexford, out of whose presentation it had originated.

The first report of the Lords' Committee on the subject of Irish tithes was laid before their Lordships on Thursday, by the Marquis of LANSDOWNE. The report, as well as the evidence on which it is tOunded, was ordered to be printed, the former being first read by the Clerk at the table. We give the following summary from the Times— The Committee commenced by stating, that they had proceeded to examine the subject which had been referred to them for their consideration, and that though. they were not as yet enabled to bring their inquiries to a close, they felt it their duty to lay before the House their opinion, founded upon that part of the evidence which had been laid before them, and the circumstances and facts which that evidence disclosed. The report goes on to state the resistance made to the collection of tithes in Kilkenny, Carlow, Tipperary,. and the Queen's County; a resistance supported by illegal and armed associations, which, from whatever cause they arose, if allowed to extend into other districts, would alto- gether undermine the law, and destroy the security, and peace of society in that country. It observes, that in consequence of such proceedings, the clergy had been reduced to the greatest distress; that the following were the estimated amounts of the sums due for tithes in the several dioceses in which those districts were situated. In the diocese of Ossory, the sums due in the compounded parishes amount to 14,0001.; in the uncompounded, to 10,475/.—total, 24,4751 In the diocese of Leighlin, the amount due in the compounded parishes is 18,092/.; 'in the uncompounded parishes 2,7001.; total, 20,792/. In the diocese of Cashel and Emly the sums due in the compounded parishes amount to 23,4091.; in the =compounded-parishes to 4,0971.; total, 27,506/. In the diocese of Ferns, the amount due in the compounded parishes is 7,0001.; in the =compounded, 6,1471. The total amount due in all the districts for tithes, is stated by the Committee to be- 84,9541. The report proceeds to state, that it appears to the Committee, that in order to afford- relief to the distressed clergy in those dis- tricts, his Majesty shsiuld be empowered to advance to the incumbents there for be tithes due to them, sums of money not exceeding the arrears of tithes due 'to them for the year 1831, and in proportion to the item= Of each incumbent, Ilecreseing as thiit'ineeine inCreaaed ; • thitt, ativeitity fOr-such. money timsad- Tamed, the tithes due to those incumbents were to be assigned over to Govern- meat, to he enforced accorclint to law; that where the Composition Act had taken effect, the amount of money to be advanced should be regulated by the amount of such composition; that where no composition had taken place, but where-there had been-an agreement, it should be regulated by such agreement; and that in all other cases it was to be reg-tilated by the average amount of tithe for the three preceding years. The Committee further state, that in order to the more effectual levying of the amount of sums thus advanced, it should be lawful for his Majesty's Attorney-General for Ireland to proceed by civil bill in the Court of Chancery,, in the Court of Exchequer, or at the Quarter Sessions against the parties in those different counties from whom those tithes were so ;Me, and that the said Courts should issue processes for the sums so due, in accordance with the provisions of the acts of Parliament of Ireland of 1787, 1789, and 1800, with such alterations only as the present times and circum- stances might require. " But," continues the report, " strongly as the Committee is impressed with the necessity of maintaining the authority of the law, and of relieving the wants of the clergy, they are equally impressed with the necessity of effecting some useful altA,ration in the present system ; and though their in- quiry has not arrived at its termination, they feel it their duty to pronounce a distinct opinion, that enough has already appeared in the course of that inquiry-, to satisfy them, that with a view to secure the interests of the Church and the

lasting welfare of the country, a permanent change in that system is necessary; such a change as involves a complete extinction of tithes, as well of those be- longing to the lay impropriator as of those belonging to the clerical incumbent, and the substitution of an equivalent either as a charge on the land, or in land in lieu thereof, thereby preventing collisions between the parochial clergy and the occupiers of land.'

In the House of Commons, during the same evening, a warm dis- cussion took place, but with closed doors on a motion for printing a

petition from an individual respecting the fatal Knocktopher affair. It stated, that Dr. Butler, who was represented as a poor starving clergyman, had been offered a composition which amounted to 3,000/.

a year, yet refused it. The composition was offered for fourteen pa- rishes, which only contained in all one church. Sir R. H. INGLIS re- sisted the motion for printing ; and it was ultimately negatived, by 130 to 51.

Last night, Lord ELLENBOROUGH put two questions to Ministers on the subject of the report on Tithes,—first, whether the expenses of the prosecutions suggested in the report were to be borne by Government, or by the clergy to whom the arrears prosecuted for had been due? Second, why the powers granted to Government to levy tithe should be limited to the tithe of 1831, and not extend to other years as well.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, the expenses would unquestionably be deducted from the arrears, and that the powers of Government were proposed to be limited to the tithes of last year, because those of the present year were only coming due, and the resistance with respect to 1820 was not so general nor so completely proved.

The Earl of WicxLow observed, that the tithe which had occasioned all the resistance was that of 1830, which was not due until 1831, as that of 1831 was not due until 1832. If any thing were wanting to prove the progress of the revolutionary spirit which threatened all the established institutions of the country with destruction, it was the presentation of such a report as that alluded to by a Minister of the Crown, without one word of remark or explanation.

Earl GREY thought that a measure which had for its object the en- forcement of the law and the relief of the clergy, was not one which ought to call forth an exhibition of party spleen and venom. He ob- served on what had been stated by Lord Althorp in reference to what had fallen from himself, that the two declarations were in no respect inconsistent; for while he asserted the intention of Government to maintain the law of the land, be distinctly added that there was an absolute necessity for correcting the grievances of the system of tithes in Ireland. Earl Wicklow betrayed a lamentable ignorance of the cir- cumstances of that country from which he had come, when he would endeavour to persuade their Lordships that the report which was now upon the table was calculated to shake the foundation of the Esta- blished Church in Ireland, and to destroy the welfare of society there. If he read the evidence, he would there see whether the system of tithes were a grievance, and whether placing them on a satisfactory footing, so as to prevent collisions between the clergy and the people, was not the surest way to add to the peace and welfare of Ireland. As to Lord Ellenborough's suggestions, Earl Grey said, Government had already considered the subject to which they related with as much attention to the good of the Church as Lord Ellenborough could do. The charge of revolutionary spirit urged against the report, would be best met by a reference to the names of the Committee.

Earl WICKLOW adverted to a motion in the House of Commons, in 1824, for an inquiry whether the clergy were not too numerous, and whether the whole Establishment were not overpaid : on the minority on that motion Lord Brougham's name appeared, as well as the names of other members of the present Administration. That circumstance, and the ominous call of Earl Grey to the Bishops to "put their house in order," he contended, quite justified his suspicions of the Ministerial intentions. He concluded by eulogizing the Orange Societies ; which had been, he said, called anew into existence by the praise bestowed on. Mr. O'Connell by the head of the present Government, and were now united in defence of their religion, their property, and their lives.

Lord BROUGHAM said, he might have voted for the motion alluded to by the Earl of Wicklow,—though he had no recollection of it; but he was sure that if the words of the motion were fairly stated, it would be seen that it went not either to overturn or to weaken the Church.

The Duke of BUCKINGHAM said, he could not look forward with hope for Ireland, when he looked back to the conduct of Ministers in classing Mr. O'Connell among their list of friends, and courting his hollow assistance.

Lord PLUNKETT said, no man at all conversant with the subject thought there was either peace or safety for the Irish Church while the present system of tithes continued. Earl Wicklow was not sup- porting either; nor would the Irish clergy thank him for the language which he had held in their behalf. The Committee had examined men- of all creeds and of all parties, and the game opinion prevailed among the whole of them. He denied that any one • could or dare4 poiiit lo a single instance in Which GOvernment had refused or de- layed to give all assistance to the Church. of 'Ireland. The:democratic societies, and the high Protestant societies—the former the more for.

midable, the latter the more foolish of the two—were the real causes of the disturbances that prevailed in that country, and which rendered the enforcement of the law difficult. The democratic party • had, how- ever, grievances of which to complain, and these must be redressed before they could be effectually put down.

The Earl of CARNARVON spoke of the Protestant address to the King, as proof that the Protestants at large concurred with the Orange Societies. He complained that Government had not sooner interfered to repress the agitation which was now so formidable and ge neral.

The conversation dropped,—after an observation of the Marquis of Ceesmeenne, that if there was any charge against Ministets, it ought to be distinctly stated ; he denied that the Orangemen of Leland were acknowledged as the heads of the Protestants.

2. CONSOLIDATION OF NAVAL BOARDS. Sir JAMES GRAHAM oh- tailed leave, 011 Tuesday, to bring in a bill for the abolition of the pre- sent Navy and Victualling Boards, and for placing the whole under the direction of certain accredited officers under the direct control of the Admindty. Sir James, after adverting to a similar consolidation to that which he purpesed to effect, and which took place soon after the Restoration, and was the first dawn of our naval superiority, pro- ceeded to more modern instances in which the existence of s cinn l and nearly independent Boards had been found injurioue, and rtatd extracts from evidence in the Finance Committee, in order to show that it laid been so. He proceeded to notice, what he deemed another marked in- convenience,—namely, the appropriation of money voted for one pur- pose to the effecting of another—

No less than five instances of this nature had Occurred since 126. Under

these five different heads, including the bakehouse at Deptford, the snm ex- pended, froin I se25 to 1830, amounted to 833,400/. while all that Parliament had voted was '270,0001. leaving 565,400/. to be provided for from other sources. On the other hand, in the same four years, there was less expended on building than had been voted, to the amount of 1,029,000/. This surplus, it appen,d, might he applied to any other purpose than that for which it had been voted, without the intervention of Parliameut—a proceeding which appeared to him to be highly objectionable.

He noticed other irregularities of an equally exceptionable nature— Two regulations which, had they been strictly followed up, would have been found extremely useful, had been introduced by the right honourable Baronet opposite, while he was in office. The first of these was intended as a check on the individuals to whom the receipt and issue of the public stores in the dock- yards was intrusted. By that regulation, it was directed that a ledger, contain- inn.' an account of tile receipt and th

issue of stores, should be kept at e out-port, •

anti another at the Navy Board. If these two ledgers were properly kept, and .1g:reed with each other, it was impossible that any fraud could be committed without detection. A more judicious regulation, if correctly carried into effect, could it be devised. But it unfortunately happened, that up to the present innineut, it was impossible to get any information from the ledger at the Navy- office. The other regulation related to the number of labourers to be employed in the dockyards. They were to be reduced to 6,000, including apprentices ; and no new aiiprentiees were tobe taken, except in cases of death. When he (Sir James Graham) came into office, that regulation was One year in operation, and the number ,f workmen was 7,716 ;:the number employed on the 31st of January last was 7,47:3; so that there was only a reduction of about 230 men.

Of the lack of vieilance in looking after the stores, Sir James pro- duced mum example, in the accidental seizure at Birmingham of five tons and a half of copper belonging to the King's yard at Chatham. With respect to any thing like an estimate of the cost of building a vessel, it was fir a long time hopeless to attempt even by approximation. Indeed, until within the last four .months, this could not be procured.

Having made these preliminary observations, Sir James went on to ex-

plain what the bill was infended to effect. The Boards could have been dissolved without the concurrence of the House ; but as the changes were extensive, it was thought best to obtain that concurrence. It was meant to abolish the Navy and Victualling Boards, and to vest the entire management of the Navy in the hands of those who were really responsible for its proper management. The mode in which this was to be effected, was by dividing the entire of the naval affairs of the kingdom into five great branches, —1st, The Sur- veyor-General's, Avhich would remain pretty nearly as it was at pre- sent. end, The Accountant-General's branch. By keeping the entire books on one model, and by one method, he thought one Accountant- General would do. 3rd, The Storekeeper's . branch. 4th, The Victualling branch, managed by one Superintendent 5th, The Medical department, similarly managed. He should propose that the officers at the head of those departments should not be Commissioners, holding their situations by patent, and possessing coordinate authority with other Boards, even with the Commissioners of the Admiralty itself, as was the case at present; but that they should be appointed under warrants from the Board of Admiralty, and that they should retain their situations whilst they performed their duties properly. He after- wards explained that he did not by this mean, that these officers should hold office quandia se bene gessissent, but that they should not be con- sidered as mere appendages of every successive Ministry, and be re- moved with it. He admitted, that by this arrangement there would be six placemen instead of four • but he proposed that no greater number than four, as at present, should be eligible to a seat in the House. Sir James then noticed the reductions which he had made,—gleanings, as they had been called, and those which, were his proposed arrangements earned into execution, he would be enabled to make— Last year there was a reduction of four Commissioners, and a saving of 4,000/. a year ; 37 superior officers, 9,4701.; 25 inferior officers 1,285/.; and eight clerks 1,970/. Under the present arrangement, he should be able, in the course of three months, to reduce five Commissioners at 6,000/.; 3 secretaries at 2,6001.; 29 superior officers at 10,280/.; 6 inferior officers, at 1,440/.•' and 54 clerks, at 11,950/. The account would then stand thus—Reduced 9 Commissioners, 10,000/.; 3 secretaries; 2,600/.; .66 superior officers 19,750/.; 31 inferior officers, 2,725I.• and 62 elerki, 13,9201.;: 'forming a total saving, upon the civil

establishment of the Navy, leaving superannuations out of the account, of 49,000/.

Agreeably to the arrangement for 'closing the financial year 'on thee 31st of Marchethe 'Admiralty proposed • to audit the Treasurer's books tip to that day, but to keep the accounts:themselves 'open to the 30th of November, to allow time for accounts being transmitted from foreign stations, and for the settling of -sums drawn and pat ents made on ac-- count of them. This done On the' 30tb, or Nov er, the entire ac-

counts would be transmitted to the Audit Board, which on the 81st of January would be prepared to lay before the House a correct balance- sheet, showing the appropriations, and where there was a surplus and where a deficit. This Parliamentary audit would convert the re- sponsibility of the person moving the Estimates into a real one.

Sir J. B. MARTIN, Sir G. Comintern, and Sir G. CLERK spoke in defence of the Navy and Victualling Boards.

Sir THOMAS TROWBRIDGE strongly praised the proposed phut of Sir James Graham. Captain BERKELEY also commended the junction of the Navy and Admiralty Boards, as the greatest boon that could be con- ferred on the service.

Mr. CROKER begged to say, that he disputed Sir James's facts, de- nied his reasonings, disapproved of his courses, amid more than doubted his success.

Sir J. GRAIIAM—" Whenever the right honourable gentlemen thluk proper to grapple with my statement, I will do my best to defend it."

The bill W s introduced, read a first time, and the second reeding fixed for Monday sennight.

3. THE NAVY Esentenns. In going into Committee of S eeply, on Monday, Lord ALTHORP, in answer to a question of Sir Glebe.: e Ciente, explained, that hitherto the estimates for the year had betel vo- ted after a large proportion of the expenditure had been made ; lie pro- posed that in future the practice and time principle of Parliatneu Lary control should go together—that. the sanction of tie House should be obtained before the disbursements took place. He anticipated great advautage from dating the uncial year from the 1st of April, and that the supposed difficulties attending the intended plan would prove wholly groundless.

Sir ROBERT PEEL expressed his fears, that time sufficient for die- cussing the Estimates would not be allowed ; which would be a greater evil than the one complained of It was obvious, that unless all the Estimates were voted before the 1st of April, the scheme would go for nothing.

Sir JAMES GRAHAM said, Parliament used formerly to meet in No- vember; it was only of late years that February was substituted. This ye:nettle necessity for preparing estimates for fifteen months had pro- duced delay; but if the House in future years met early in January, there would always be ample time for their full considerution, long be- fore the day fixed for their commencement.

Sir HENRY PARNELL said, the proposed arrangement was made in accordance with a report which he had assisted in drawing up. The old arrangement was manifestly absurd.

Mr. GOULBURN said, redress of grievances should precede supply ; but, by the proposed plan, there would been) time for redress of any thing.

Mr. R. GORDON rejoiced to hear Mr. Goulburn at last acknow- ledge the propriety of redressing the grievances of the people. He thought the proposed arrangement would very much facilitate the means of redress.

Mr. HOME recommended the 1st of July, as preferable to the 1st of April. This would allow plenty of time for discussing the varivus estimates.

Sir Henne Henninee hinted that All Fools Day would be inaus- picious. He hoped the Mutiny Act would be passed on the 24th of March.

Lord ALTHORP said, it should, if possible.

Sir B. MARTIN observed that the naval contracts should be made early in February ; and Mr. CHOKER suggested a difficulty from the salt provisions contract being made in November.

Sir JAMES GRAHAM said, if naval contracts were essential at an early period of February:, the case could be brought before the House, which would then be sitting. As to salt provisions, Mr. Croker was aware there was at all times a consumption of twelve months on hand.

The House having gone into Committee, Sir JAMES GRAHAM pro- ceeded to state, that there was this year an unappropriated balance in

the Exchequer of 80,000/. (last year the balance was 1,300,0000 : it would be considered as ways and means in the same way as the last ; and applied, with the sanction of the House, to the general service. In two items, the supply had fallen short of the Estimates ; in Timber and Materials there was a deficiency of about 10,000/. ; and in the Victualling estimate the deficiency had been very considerable. It would be necessary to take a vote for the quarter of 60,000/. Sir James concluded by moving a resolution, "that 32,000 men, including 10,000 Royal Marines be employed for the sea service, for three months, commencing die 1st of January 1832."

Sir James stated, in reply to questions from different members, that he meant to substitute prompt payment instead of sixty days' bills ; that the transfer of the Coast Blockade to the Customs department laid caused a saving of more than one half of the former expense ; that the smuggling under the new system was not greater than under the old. The resolution was then agreed to ; after which, the various items of the Estimates, with the exception of two which were postponed, were also agreed to.

One of the postponed items was the vote of .52,000/. for defraying the cost of buildings at Cremell and Weevil. In offering this vote to the Committee, Sir JAMES GRAHAM observed, that it was thought more economical to complete these buildings now that they had been commenced, than leave them uncompleted. The original contract for them had been made, by the Superintendent of the Victualling Board, with a gentleman named Rennie, his brother, and he believed his part- ner. Under these circumstances,the vote was, on the suggestion of Mr. ROBINSON, Sir G. CLERK, ad Sir ROBERT PEEL, withdrawn for the present. . The other item, on which there ensued a long conversation, was one of 1,000/. to Mr. Telford, as part payment of a survey and estimate of nirn Martin's plan for bringing a supply of•water.into London front the River Colne. This subject was very minutely discussed three years ago, when Mr. Wright, of Regent Street, published a pamphlet on the filth and impurities that were allowed -to mmgle'nvith the water of the 'Wet Lotidon- Compapy, anUdthersivhci-dra*their sirpplia

from the Thames. Sir ROBERT PEEL observed, that he had uniformly resisted the payment of this survey, on the ground that if the scheme was a feasible one, it would be undoubtedly taken up by private par- ties, and if not, Government ought to have nothing to do with it. It was stated by another member, that Sir Francis Burdett had engaged to defray the expense of survey from his own pocket. Mr. HUNT said, the proffer of Sir Francis Burdett was spoken of at the time as a cheap equivalent for getting returned for Westminster.

Mr. It. GORDON made some remarks on the payment of 800/. for removing the records from Westminster Hall to the King's Mews ; 2,000/. fOr Mr. Babbage's machine ; and 6,223/. for the expense of Com- missioners under the Reform Bill ; and to Lord Plunkett's outfit. Mr. Gordon said he would not revert to the diplomatic expenses.

Jr was answered by Mr. S. RICE, that in the diplomatic expenses on which Lord Aberdeen had effected a saving of 11,500/. , a further reduc- tion of 22,000/. had been effected by the present Ministry. The 800/. was not for removing merely, but for providing accommodation for the reception of the documeots reinoved from Westminster I fall. The vote or Mei Babbage's machine was not meant as remuneration to Mr. Bald :::.: ; it went merely to defray the expense of constructing the mail, Mt.. The sum of (3,:32:31. was expended for the purpose of piocu- Ti! i4ination necessary to enable the House to legislate on Re- form. With l'el,t`Ct to Lord Plunk ef t's outfit, it was strictly in prece- dent : an outfit had been received by Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Erme4laaa, Sir Anthony Hart, Mr. Ponsonby, and by Lord Eldon, 'vim. I ihe Lord Plunkett, had been transferred from another court to the (!1;:•,•ery.

Sonn• ohservations were made on the vote of 500/. to Mr. Marshall

liiiSt-at ii ItiMOS ; whichi \.hr. SPRING EWE explained was voted for it certain number of copies furnished by Mr. Marshall to the Govern- ment.

4. A 171Y Es-rim ArEs. These Estimates were brought forward last night by Sir John tiobhouse. The estimate which he proposed for the Tatrter, commencing on the 1st of January and ending on the 81st of March, was for the

Effective Service For the Non-effective Service 7.26,211

Being a decrease upon this quarter, as compared with any quarter of hit year—

In the Effeci ice Service, of .-£.15,300 In the Non-effective 35,131

There is tin increase in the item of Land Forces of 17,922/. ; in the Volunteers, a decrease of 30,683/. The other items of decrease are trifling. In 1830, there wire in England 69,125 rank and file ; 7,261 were added in 1831 ' • since this increase, 3,256 had returned from India; the actual inerease,however, amounted only to 158 men.

Sir Henry Hardinge complimented Sir John Hobhouse on his lucid statement.

Colonel Trench alluded to rumoured retrenchments of Sir Henry Parnell ; of which Sir Henry said be could know nothing, and was therefore not qualified to judge.

Lord Althorp observed, that the Brevet promotion, the want of which Colonel Trench found fault with, was refused because a similar promotion had been granted so lately before.

Sir John Hobhouse added, that it would have cost 11,000/. a year.

Mr. Hume spoke of the necessity of breaking up the whole establish- ment at the Horse Guards. The present CoMmander-in-Chief ought not to remain in office another day. Sir Henry Parnell was dismissed from office because he did not vote with Ministers on the Russian Loan—why then should Lord Hill be retained, after voting against Ministers on the Reform Bill ? The fact was, the Duke of Welling- toll's influence prevailed.

b. ARMY EXTRAORDINARIES. In remarking on a vote of 800,000/. under this bead, Mr. Hume said, be would not ask for an explanation of the accounts, for he knew the mover, Mr. Spring Rice could not give it. Mr. Rice admitted and deplored the incongruity Of the items in- troduced into them. A conversation ensued respecting Swan River, which forms one of them. Mr. Rice said, Captain Stirling had drawn a great many bills on Government, and they had sent out a commissary with a view to operate as &check. Mr. Hume insisted, that a pledge had been given, when the grant of 270,000 acres was made to Mr. Peel, that no expense would be incurred: it was monstrous for such a paltry colony to draw for 24,000/. The pledge was denied by Mr. Goulburn and Sir George Murray.

Mr. Robinson urged reduction of the Army in the approaching an- nual Estimates ; and Mr. Hunt declared it to be impossible, until every man in the country bad a vote for a member of Parliament.

Sir Henry Hardinge said, if Lord Hill were objected to as a friend of Lord Wellington, why not object to Sir James Kemp on the same ground? He could not subscribe to the doctrine that the Commander- In- Chief should be an instrument in the hands of Government.

Sir J. Byn,g said, if the Horse Guards were not filled by Lord Wellington, it ought to be filled by Lord Hill.

Mr. Hume thought Lord Hill ought to be removed, on the ground of having been a member—an influential member—of the late Govern- . ment.

Sir J. Sebright said, he honoured Lord Hill, because he was not a • politician ; and Sir Henry Hardinge, to prove that military men were independent, instanced his own conduct in reference to the Reform . Bill..

• Lord Howick, in answer to Mr. Hume, said he intended to submit a . detailed account of the Colonial expenditure this year, in as cOmplete

a shape as possible ; and he hoped in a yet more complete shape next

year.

The vote was agreed to, as well as four others for the Commis- sariat department, and for payment of salaries formerly charged on the Civil List.

6. MILITARY FLOGGING. Mr. HUNT moved on Thursday for a "re- turn of the number of Courts-martial that had been held upon private

soldiers in the army in Great Britain between the 1st of January 1831 and the 1st of January 18..t.2, stating the nature of each charge, the sen. tence passed, and specifying the number of lashes endured by each individual." He said it was his intention at a future day to move for the total abolition of the punishment.

Mr. HUME seconded the motion.

Lord ALTHORP said, he was bound in candour to state to the House, that, from all the communications he had received from officers in the Army, it was his opinion that it was impossible, consistently with discipline, to dispense with the punishment of flogging. It had of late, however, greatly diminished; and it was the earnest wish of those at the head of the Army to check it as much as possible.

Mr. HUNT expressed his surprise, that, with a Secretary at War who had all his Parliamentary life declaimed against floggine, met with a Reforming and Liberal Government, his motion should be resisted. He would not refer to a motion which Lord Althorp himself had once made, nor accuse him of inconsistency ; but this he would say, that Ministers had changed their opinions with their situations in that. House, and that they advocated measures by their speeches which they refused to support by their votes.

The House divided on the motion : for it, 28; against it, 61; ma- jority, 33.

7. FOREIGN INus.rmr.x.r. Captain Yorke mentioned, last iijbit, the case of Captain Sartori-is, as engaged in the expedition of Hon Pedro ; and a conversation of sonic length ensued on the impropriety of per- mitting English officers to hold commissions under a foreign power. It was stated by Sir James Graham, that Captain Sartoriii: was absent without leave, and that he bad no licence to serve in tlic expedition. Sir Robert Peel thought he might be recalled by Government; there WRS /10 hardship in that.

8. CHOLERA. To a question of Mr. CROXER, On Monday, Mr. PooLror THOMSON replied, that the medical officers of the Board of Health had stated their belief that two or three cases of cholera had

occurred at Rotherhithe. An official statement of the fact had been published that evening, and arrangements made for the appointment of district surveyors, and the appointment of a sufficient number of phy- sicians, so as to afford the most prompt means of recovery.

Mr. CROEER urged the necessity of tracing the disease in its history, so as, if possible, to ascertain the mode of its propagation.

Mr. ROBINSON expressed a hope that Ministers would use every means towards allaying the undue apprehensions of foreign states, so as to lessen commercial restrictions as much as possible.

Mr. WARBURTON trusted Ministers would not for any mercantile consideration neglect all the means in their power to cheek the spread of the disease, which should be the primary object of their care.

Mr. HUME was quite certain that the isolating plan would aggravate tenfold the evils of the disease— They had sufficient data already before them to warrant this opinion. On the one hand, it was seen—such was the strange and as yet unaccountable pro- gress of the disease—that the freest intercourse might take place between an infected and a non-infected place, without its spreading to the latter. There was, for example, the most unrestricted intercourse between Sunderland and Dur- ham, and yet but one cholera case occurred in the latter. And so in Glasgow, the disease had not shown itself in a single instance, notwithstanding its free intercourse with Kirkintilloch and other infected places. On the other hand, the disease extended itself in spite of the strictest precautiops enforced by a despotic Government, through the means of the most rigid military cordon. The fact was, nothing was known of the mocha propagandi of the disease but this--that no precautions hitherto tried can keep it out, and that it does not extend to districts under apparently the most favourable circumstances of pro- pagation. The only effect, then, of the proposition to cut off all intercourse with infected places, would be to add famine to pestilence.

The proper preventives were food, and clothing, and cleanliness.

Mr. STRICKLAND corroborated Mr. Hume's views, by the fact, that of six hundred medical men in Sunderland and its neighbourhood, not one had suffered.

Sir HENRY HARDINGE suggested the propriety of attending to the state of the barracks and shutting up the soldiers there. At Vienna, in consequence of cleanliness and ventilation, only twelve soldiers were seized with the disease.

Lord ALTHORP said, he would move for several documents laid be- fore the Privy Council, for the purpose of founding a bill on them to add to the powers of the Privy Council. He trusted, as the case was urgent, the House would permit it to pass with the least possible delay,.

Mr. HUNT said, the members ought to pay some attention to them- selves ; at present the atmosphere of the House was impurity itself.

Lord ALTIIORP introduced, on Tuesday, a bill for conferring extra- ordinary powers On the Privy Council for the purpose of meeting, and as far as possible repressing, the progress of Cholera. His Lordship described the object and enactments of the bill— The first provision was, that three Lords of the Privy Council, of whom the Lord President or one of the Secretaries of State shall be one, should have power to make such orders as they might deem necessary to prevent the spread of the disease, or to provide relief foe the sick or for the burial of the dead. Probably the best precaution that could be taken against the spread of the disease was prompt relief for the sick, and speedy interment for the dead; and it was evident that great evils must exist unless strong measures were taken to enforce early sepulture. The next provision of the bill was, that any person violating such orders of the Privy Council should be deemed guilty, and be liable to the punish- ment of a misdemeanour, or to a fine varying from H. to 5/. He admitted that this was giving very arbitrary powers to the Privy. Council, and that nothing could justify such a measure except the necessity of the case. The necessity of the case, however, was so apparent, that nobody would pretend to deny it. 'f he next point for which his bill would provide, was the expense of carrying the orders into execution; and it was on this account that the bill could not be ap- plied immediately to Scotland and Ireland, for there were no means of providing for the expense in those countries which existed here. He wished, however, to say that another bill would be brought in, as soon as arrangements could be made, for the purpose of providing for the same objects ia Scotland and in Ire.. land. The mode of defraying the expenses would be, in the first instance, from the poor-rates of the parish, but afterwards by an order on the county treasurer, from the county purse. His reason for this arrangement was, that he did not

think it fair to impose expenses which were incurred for the benefit of large districts upon individual parishes. It might so happen, that the expense im- posed upon one parish might be more for the benefit of the next parish than even of the parish in which the disease existed ; and therefore he thought it only right that the expense should not be incurred by any one parish alone, but by the county generally.

The bill will be a temporary one, it being meant that the powers it confers should expire at the end of the present year, or at the end of the ensuing session of Parliament.

A low-,b conversation took place on the mode of raising the funds ne- cessary for carrying the act in execution. Sir ROBERT PEEL thought they ought to form a charge against the Consolidated Fund. Lord Mwros.,, Sir GEORGE CLERK, and several other members, concurred in-this opinion. It was argued on the other band, by Lord A LTHORP Emil Mr. STANLEY, that it would be impossible to check extravagance of expenditure by any other plan than rendering the parishes and counties liable for the money expended.

Sir M. W. RIDLEY, adverting to the progress of the disease at New- castle and its neighbourhood, besought the House not to give way to unnecessary timidity—

In the North of England, the disease had always fallen upon those who were most apprehensive of it; and he had to state, that those who had manfully and courageously lent their aid to alleviate the sufferings of their fellow-men, had always escaped with the least injury from it. Indeed, at Newcastle, there were very "few cases of death occurring among the gentlemen who had lent their aid to their poorer townsmen. The dissolute, the profligate, and the drunkard, had fallen the easiest victims to the disease; for wherever they had been attacked by it, it had been almost invariably found impossible to resuscitate their powers of vi- tality to resist it.

Mr. BARING admitted, that much inconvenience and expense would result from allowing every parish to draw on -Government for what sums it might consider necessary in order to repress the disease ; but at the same time, it might happen that, in a very poor parish—such, for instance as Bethnal Green—great difficulty might be fOund in rais- ing the funds that were absolutely necessary. He thought, therefore, a discretionary power ought to be given to the Privy Council to re- commend the granting of supplies where the demands were likely to ex- ceed the means of the parish.

Sir ROBERT PEEL concurred with Mr. Baring, that on its being cer- tified that a parish had been put to great extra expense in attempts to prevent the spread of cholera, it should be, if the Privy Council saw fit, remunerated out of the general funds of the country.

Lord ALTHORP assented to this ; and the bill was brought in, read a first and second time, and ordered to be printed.

The Cholera was again noticed on Wednesday, on the House go- ing into Committee on the bill for enlarging the powers of the Privy Council.

Sir H. HannrsoE suggested the propriety of precautionary arrange. meats for the health of the married men of the Guards. Sir JAMES GRAHAM said, it was meant to give them an additional barrack, and to place one of the battalions at present in out-quarters in some public building in the metropolis.

Sir JOHN Mai.copi spoke of the disease as he had seen it in India. He said it was "locally infectious" there ; a phrase which the House cheered. Sir John mentioned some of the plans he bit upon in the East for its suppression—one of them was to put down the accounts in newspapers and bulletins. He thought the doctors ought to conceal most of the cases, although he feared this could not be effected in Eng- land.

Mr. WARBURTON spoke of a disinfecting process invented by Dr. Henry of Manchester, by means of heat ; and wished to know if the Board of Health meant to take advantage of it ?

Mr. P. THOMSON said, it would cost 3/. or 4/. to construct the ap- paratus—and as they could not entertain Dr. Henry's plan without en- tertaining those of other persons equally, they did not think it was pro- per to make any advance on account of it.

Mr. BRISCOE wished to introduce into the preamble, that the cholera was an infliction of God.

Mr. HOME thought it might with quite as much propriety be deno- minated a blessing of God. He would oppose the amendment. - iIr. LEFnov and Mr. SHAW professed themselves of opinion that the words were peculiarly applicable; and exhorted Mr. Briscoe to per- sist in moving their insertion.

Mr. BRISCOE, however, on the entreaty of Lord ALTHORP, withdrew his motion ; protestinn.° that his only reason for calling the disease an infliction of God, was that it had battled human skill.

The report was then brought up, and the third reading appointed for Thursday. As the House sat into that day, it took place previous to its rising.

The bill was read a first time in the Lords on Thursday. Lord ELLENBOROUGH suggested the usual clause, that the bill should be open to Parliamentary revision during the present session. He regretted that it had not been introduced at an earlier period. In the course of January, it was distinctly shown that the powers of the Privy Council were wholly inadequate to the occasion.

On Thursday, in going into Committee on the Scotch Cholera Bill, which was introduced the previous evening, Lord Advocate JEFFREY moved the insertion in the preamble of the words "by the interposition of Providence."

Mr. HUME objected to the words : they were uncalled for by any fea- ture of the bill or of the disease.

It would appear, that on resuming his seat, Mr. Hume had uttered the word "humbug," not to the House, but to the member next him. On the preamble being read, Sir ROBERT INGLIS complained of this ; and Mr. HOME replied— It was not usual for honourable members to mention publicly words which were not intended for their ears. ("I/ear, hear !" ) However, as the honourable Baronet took the trouble of informing the House that he had said it was humbug to set forth in an act of Parliament that it had pleased God to afflict the country with a pestilence, he ought to have also stated that he added the words "cant and hypocrisy." ( Cheers. ) So far from wishing to retract these words, he

would repeat them; and assure the honourable Baronet, that he looked with suspicion upon the religious professions of people who, like the Pharisee in Scripture, were over-ostentatious in the display of their sanctity. ( Cheers.)

Lord ALTHORP approved of the amendment, and deprecated a division on such a subject.

Mr. HUNT could see no reason why the Scotch should monopolize the interpositions Of Providence. If the amendment were proper, ought to have been also made in the Engli!th bill.

Mr. WARBURTON asked, if occasions of evil were to be attributed to special interposition, why should not occasions of advantage equally ?

The LORD AnvocaTE said, he had not seen the preamble to the Eng- lish bill. He felt convinced the words would be agreeable to the peo- ple of Scotland, who universally attributed the disease to the inter- position of Providence, and only to be cured by its aid.

Mr. GORDON (Lord Roden's nominee) hoped that the question would be pressed to a division, that the names of those who thought tit to venture to reject such an amendment might be put on record, and the names of those who stood up to vindicate their principles might equally be known.

Mr. JAMES suggested, if these discussions were to be continued, that the House should meet on Sundays for that purpose, and put the Chap- lain in the chair.

Mr. HeME said, that being dared to a division, he would divide ; the country would not mistake his motives.

Sir R. Lcous hoped that no division would be taken on this subject. He wished, for their own sakes, that no men should have on their con- science the responsibility of having negatived such an amendment.

The House, however, did divide : for the amendment, 55 ; against it, 10; majority for inserting the reference to Providence, 45.

The English Cholera Prevention Bill passed through all its stages in the Lords last night ; the Bishop of London having previously moved the insertion in the preamble, of the same words which had been inserted in the preamble of the Scotch Bill by Lord Advocate Jeffrey. The amendment was agreed to by the Commons ; where the Scotch Bill was read a third time, and sent up to the Lords.

Mr. Hunt noticed last night a case of negligence in the local authori- ties. A man was taken ill of cholera at Hoxton ; driven to Bartholomew Hospital, where he was refused admittance ; next, to Abchureh Lane, where he received similar treatment; next, to the Sorry Dispensary, where also he was rejected ; and was, as a last resource, lodged in an empty house in St. George's Fields, opposite Bedlam.

Sir Robert Peel and Lord Althorp thought such matters not lit for public discussion, but that they ought to be privately intimated to the Authorities or to Ministers.

Alderman Venables said the case was not one of cholera ; hut Mr. Hunt persisted in affirming that it was.

9. GENERAL FAST. Mr. PERCEVAL, on Thursday, asked. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he would not consent to fix an earlier day than that at first appointed for the National Fast, in conse- quence of the Cholera having appeared in the metropolis ? On Lord ALTHORP'S answering that any alteration of the day would be inexpe- dient, Mr. PERCEVAL said he would take an early opportunity, on the House going into Committee of Supply, to call attention to this sub- ject.

10. THE REFORM BILL. The 56th, 58th, 59th, 606, and 61st Clauses of the Bill were agreed to on Saturday. The 57th or Oath Clause was withdrawn, to admit of certain additions to the questions to be put to the candidate which Sir E. SUGDEN agreed to draw up ; and the 62d was also withdrawn, for the purpose of modelling it accord- ing to an amendment suggested by Mr. EsTcouar, who wished to have the polling-places provided for in the Bill for fixing the boundaries of boroughs, rather than by the Justices at Sessions.

The Committee was resumed on Wednesday ; when Lord A LTHORP expressed a hope that the remaining clauses would be got through so as to save another Saturday's sitting. The 62nd, 63rd, and 64th Clauses, were agreed to without discussion.

Mr. WASON divided the House on the 65th. He wished, where the electors did not exceed 1,200, that only one day's poll should be al- lowed. On dividing, the member for Ipswich was the only person that remained above the bar.

Some conversation took place on the 66th Clause. Mr. EWART said, in Liverpool the electors voted alphabetically, and Mr. J. CAMP- BELL noticed that the electors of Stafford did the same. They wished, in reference to these two boroughs, that this practice should remain. Lord ALTHORP said, he would give the suggestion his best considera- tion in bringing up the report.

The 68th Clause—after an offered amendment from Sir C. WETHERELL, to give the returning officer a discretionary power to adjourn the poll for a day, had been discussed—was postponed.

The 69th Clause was opposed by Mr. HUNT, who moved that the cost of all polling-booths should be defrayed out of the county-rates. On this amendment the House divided : for it, 4; against it, 1.54. The clause was ultimately postponed, in order to introduce a limitation of the sum for which candidates or persons proposing candidates should be made liable.

The House went again into Committee on the Bill on Thursday. The 69th Clause was reproduced as amended—it now declares that the expense of polling-booths shall not exceed 40/. each in counties, and 2.5/. in boroughs.

On the 73rd Clause, Mr. GODSON observed that the existing election- laws and customs of boroughs should be carefully considered : to leave the existing and new laws in concurrent operation, would lead to endless litigation.

Sir E. SUGDEN said, the existing election-laws should have been con- solidated and dovetailed to the Bill ; and Sir C. WETHERELL declared the clause to be sheer nonsense. It was passed.

Mr. J. KNIGHT spoke against the 74th Clause. As the Bill now stood, the Barrister was obnoxious to a threefold punishment,—first of all, he might be indicted for misdemeanour, as disobedience to an act

of Parliament was in itself a misdemeanour; next, he was liable to an action for a penalty of 500/. at the suit of any beggar who chose to being such action ; and thirdly, he was liable to an action for damages at the suit of any party who was injured by his misconduct.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL observed, that Judges were similarly liable in cases where they refused to grant a habeas corpus, or to sign a bill of exceptions. Was it contended that the barristers to be appointed to act judicially under the Bill would be degraded by being held, under the clause now before the House, amenable to the law by the bill pro- vided, in case they were proved wilfully to have contravened those very provisions in the law with which the act itself intrusted them ?

Sir E. SUGDEN deprecated any penalty for malepractice in a Judge, as tending to bring into doubt the purity of the Bench. He consi- dered the clause as a trap for young hamsters.

Lord ALTHORP expressed himself willing to give the Judges a power to stay all penalties that were not enforced by the party actually ag- grieved.

Mr. C. W. Wrsnee wished to leave the penalties to the Judges.

Mr. O'Comeena. said, the clause was one of the most useful in the Bill— It did not empower punishment for a mistaken administration, but for a wilful contravention of the law. The clause was as valuable in form as it was in sub- stance, and avoided the many technical objections which could be raised, as learned member was aware, to actions on the case which frequently led to a nousuit ; instead of which, the clause made the action simply one of debt, and a jury was the proper tribunal to assess the damages.

Two provisoes were added to the clause,—one declaring that mem- bers and electors alone should be allowed to sue the barrister for any contravention of his duty under the act ; and the other, recognizing the " common-law " right of all individuals who might be injured by the conduct of the barrister.

The next three clauses were struck out as unnecessary.

On the 78th Clause, Sir C. WETHERELL offered a verbal amend- ment, but did not press it. On the question, that the clause stand part

• of the Bill, there was some confusion, occasioned by the rush of mem- bers into the House, in anticipation of a division.

Sir E. SUGDEN strongly deprecated the practice of members dividing on a motion, the discussion of which they had not heard—" just as if

• they were prepared to vote any way with Ministers."

Sir J. C. Hoenouse said, it was possible members might not have beard the discussion on that solitary clause, and yet have heard quite . (gimlet' of discussion on the Bill, and quite enough of Sir Edward's discussion of the Bill. Sir Edward was not entitled to lecture the House on the occasion. His right honourable friend, Sir Robert Peel, bed not been five minutes in the Hoese before Sir Edward rose_ • He protested against its going forth to the country that the practice coin-- ph:inc.: of by Sit- Edward was a novel one, and employed on the occasion of tl:e

Reform alone. It had been the practice of Parliament ever since he bad known it ; and if members ever had an excuse for having made up their minds on a qtu24ion, it was on this question. It was vain for gentlemen to appeal to the country. The country haul made up its mind. ( Cheers.) The country knew indeed, that in the discussion of the question, a majority of that House would ;ive a certaiu degree of credit to the King's Government in passing the Bill; but when the House had listened to a discussion of an hour and a half on a clause which was not an important one, even by the admission of those who op- posed it, it was too touch fu hook to this trilliog elluse the often-repeated charge, and which did not deserve to be refuted, to seek to prove it by allusions to a practice which, if ever excusable, was excusable on this question.

Sir C. WESIIERELL wished to know where Sir John Hobliouse was when the question of flogging was in discussion? He advised him to stiik to his last, and not to lecture the House on Reform. If the country had made up its mind on the principle, that was uo reason wy the !louse should neglect the machinery of the Bill. The clause, as well as the 79th and 80th, being the lest but one, was then agreed to, and the Chairman reported progress.

. BOUNDARIES BILL. This bill was introduced on Thursday, by Lord dome Ruesina- He mentioned, that Mr. Littleton, the mem- ber for Staffordshire, Captain Beaufort, and Lieutenant Drununond, had been requested by Government to arrange the various reports of the Commissioners. The rules laid down were-1st, that where the number of 101. voters in any borough fell short of 300, it would be expedient to take in the parish in which the borough was situated, us well as any adjoining parish, provided they did not extend above four miles from the centre of the borough, for the purpose of making up the requisite number of voters—in boroughs having between 300 and 500 voters, the same principle, but in a more limited degree, to be acted on : 2d, in all boroughs possessing within their own bounds more than 500 voters, no alteration was to be made, unless for the pur- pose of adding such houses as were already joined to the borough, and formed with it but one town. In the division of the counties, it had been the endeavour of the Commissioners to run the line so as to in- clude as nearly as possible an equal number of population and voters in both divisions. In some counties, proceeding on this principle, the boundaries of hundreds had been preserved, in others neglected. As the number of new voters or of old voters was not ascertainable directly, it had been calculated by approximation from the number of jurors. In all cases, the divisions would contain an equal number of the latter. Lord John added, that there was not the slightest fear that the inde- pendence of any county would be compromised by its division—

It had often been alleged in that House, that the division of counties might be made the means of injuring or benefiting particular individuals or interests ; but such an idea had never entered the minds of the Commitioners. From all in- formation which had been laid before him, he was induced to think that they never considered whether or not they might add to the influence of this or that party, but whether they could form such a constituency as was best fitted, under all the circumstances of the case, to be intrusted with the elective franchise.

12. IRISH MAGISTRATES. The fees demanded by the Secretary of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland for the renewal of the Commissions to Irish Magistrates, were the subject of some discussion in the House of Lords on Monday. Lord WICKLOW said, the payment of the fees in question was resisted by the Irish Magistrates for two reasons,--they considered them unjust, and they believed them to be illegaL

Lord Pee:essay observed, that he had heard the objection of gillity-urged, for the first time,-during the previous three or four days. No such objection was made in Ireland ; the only objection there was the inequality of the fees in Ireland and England. Hs went on to explain, that the fees had been exacted on the authority of a minute of the late Treasury, dated 28th September 1830, which directed, that in future half the usual fees should be paid: when he had applied for informatioa on the subject, through the Secretary of Ireland, he re- ceived for answer, that the present Treasury had agreed to a minute confirming that of September 1830; and it was not until the previous week, that he had learned, from the discussions in the House of Coin.. mons, that it was confirmed in such a way as to leave no fees exigible at all but what were fairly due for labour performed. This had been settled so far back as January 1831. As soon as he was made aware of it, he sent orders to his secretary, purse-bearer, and train-bearer, to demand only such remuneration as was due for labour done. Lord Plunkett mentione&that he had appointed his nephew, Mr. McCaus- land, to be his secretary; but that Mr. Long, Sir Anthony Hart's secre- tary, being more acceptable to the Irish Chancery practitioners, his assistance had been retained, and Mr. McCausland paid him 500/. a year out of the fees received by him. He also contradicted the statement that the making out of the Commissions was attended with no labour : his secretary, he said, had been engaged in a correspond- ence of five months with the Various Lords Lieutenant on the subject.

Lord WICKLOW observed, that the Irish Secretary ought to have been better acquainted with the subject than he appeared to be. Why be might not have been attending to the situation of Ireland during the four sveeks of the recess, he did not know. • The mistake occurred then ; and had he been attending to his duties, it might have been satis- Ilmetorily arninged. He should like to know, if, under existing cir- cumstances, magistrates would be willing to take up their licences.

I.Ord PLUNKETT said, they ought to have done so at first, and let the filie,'■:0:1 Ur fees be investigated :Afterwards. Now that the matter was explained, Le had no doubt they would proceed in their usual course.

Lord CLONCURRY said, under the old system, the fees were &s- chemed by being handed over from one Government officer to another. One half of the Irish Magistrates used to be paupers. At the death of George the Third, not above one third paid any fees at all.

Lord lilit:nictc said, the Magistracy were gentlemen chosen to save the country from rebellion, and who would not associate with the rabble.

COUN'TY CORONERS. Mr. Cripps has obtained leave to bring in it bill to alter and amend the laws regarding the election of County Cel'UNCI'S. He proposes, that the Magistrates in session should divide rountits into as nanny districts as there are coroners ; that the voters should be limited to such districts ; and that the coroners should act only in the districts for which they were elected.

U. HIGH:SHERIFF. Mr. F. PALMER, on Tuesday, obtained leave to brii:g hi a bill for relieving the office of High Sheriff from many of tlIOS, ilICIOUS duties and expenses which have hitherto made that office auxi,msly shunned, instead of being, as its dignity- and importance

c i . '' ' eted by the country gentleman.

He:me-Derv. In presenting a petition from Dundee, last night, a;.,ai!lst the duty on hemp, Mr. H. Ross contended, that an under- sthildii;g existed between the Government and those engaged in the extens4e linen manufacture of which Dundee is the centre, that when the export bounties were withdrawn, the duties on importation should cease. It was impossible to complete with other nations in manufac- tines, 0.; :•:iw material of which bore in this country, in eddition to the greater 1.:7.t cost, a duty of 4/. 8s. 4d. a ton. The petition was sup- ported ,y thu Lord Advocate, Mr. Hume, and Mr. Gillon.

i..LT DRAWBACK. A resolution was agreed to, 1::st the malt drawback on Scotch whisky from t., rlordon, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Gillon, and other Scotch members, opposed it, but did not push their opposition to a division.

17. C URRENCY. In answer to a question from Mr. .ST'SIT Wony- 1.1:y, on Monday, Lord Althorp said, the rumours of an intended inter- fer,.nee with time currency of the country were wholly unfounded: Go- vernm L'ilt had no intention whatever to meddle with it.

18. PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGE OF EXEMPTION FROM ARREST. Mr.

EAU:NG, on Tuesday, obtained leave to bring in a bill to render members of l'arliument liable to arrest on judgment. He traced the history of Pailiamentary immunity. At one period, members were exempt from ehallecge even on criminal charges ; nor was it until the time of James the First that actions were allowed to be commenced against persons who had been members, but who were so no longer,—to such a length was the privilege from arrest pushed. By the 12th and 13th of William III. members were declared liable to be seized out of session. By the timid George III. the exemption during session was taken away, but the freedom from arrest remained. Lastly, by the 52nd George III. ( Walsles Act), persons being bankrupt, and not having paid twenty shillings in the pound within one twelvemonth thereafter, were de- (dared incapable of holding a seat in the House. Mr. iaring men- tioned, as an instance in Which the privilege of freedom from arrest had been grossly abused, the case (in 1820) of Mr. Burton; who being confined in the Fleet for debts of 7,6001., got himself elected for Be- verley, and was, in consequence, immediately released, as well as his bail. The title of Mr. 13:wing's bill, according to his motion, will be "a bill for limiting the privilege of members of the House of Commons of exemption from personal arrest for debt, and for vacating the seats of insolvent members in the House, and for preventing the election of persons avowedly insolvent." Mr. HUNT seconded the motion. He thought the privilege of frank- ing ought to be included among those to be taken away; it was grossly abused.

Mr. CROKER spoke of difficulties in the details ; and Mr. LAMBERT thought the state of the landed interest formed a strong ground of ob- jection.

19. ENLARGEMENT OF THE HOUSE OF COMYONS. On Tuesday, Colonel Trench brought forward his motion for a Committee to con-

sider of enlarging the House of Commons, or building another better fitted for the members and the public ; but it was so coldly received on all sides, that he was induced to withdraw it for the session.

20. Mr. MARSHALL and Dr. Bowaima. On going into Committee, last night, on the Civil Contingencies, Mr. Dawson commented with great severity on the vote of 500/. to Mr. Marshall,—which, he said, was a job of Mr. Hume's ; and of 900/. to Dr. Bowring for his two reports on the French system of accounts,—the value of which system might be estimated by the fact, that only the other day, the chief cashier be- came a defaulter to the amount of 300,000/. or 400,000/.

Mr. Hume ridiculed the new-born economy, of a party which had squandered thousands on thousands of the public money, and whose zeal was only inflamed by a desire to squander more. Mr. Marshall had collected information for the Board of Trade, which would save them thousands. He reminded Mr. Dawson of the 40,000/. for Buck- ingham House gate, and the 250,000/. spent without even a vote for the same edifice ; and asked were his economy was then ?

Lord Althorp said, Government only proposed to lay out 500/. in purchasing copies of Mr. Marshall's work. Dr. Bownng was by no means overpaid for his labour in drawing up the two reports in question.

Sir H. Parnell described the labours of Dr. Bowriug as highly im- portant; and Mr. Baring thought so small a sum well laid out in an attempt to remedy our wretched system of accounts.