naafi's: anti Prateebingstfittiadiantent. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.
In the House of Peers, on Monday, Lord BELHAVEN presented a petition from the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, pray- ing for the extension of church accommodation in Scotland. He con- curred in the prayer of the petition, and was exceedingly happy to know that means would soon be taken for disposing of this question in a satisfactory manner.
Lord HADDINGTON said, he should share in the gratification of Lord Belhaven, if he only knew on what facts it rested.
Lord MELBOURNE rejoiced at the altered tone of the General Assembly. There was no longer any condemnation of the course taken by Ministers ; and no imputations were east upon the Commissioners. Ile had himself been charged with calumniating the clergy of the Scottish Church, by saying that they stirred up political animosity in their pulpit addresses ; and Dr. Macleod had denied the justice accii-:ition, challenging hint to nine a siiigt, ia..tapre wlicren be supported. He sincerely hoped that Dr. Mih od WI himself misinformed. He accepted with pleasure the entire disavowal and condemnation of the practice by the Scottish clergy. With respect . ta church accommodation, nobody cotdd deny that it was a most fin-1 portant subject. It was necessary to ascertain, however, bether the t neglect of pastoral instruction arose front want of room in the churches, before they took measures to multiply churches. He could not help thinking that if a person in Scotland really wished to go to church, he would find no difficulty in obtaining admission. He would, however, consider the subject ; and if it should appear that the property which formerly belonged to the Episcopal Church now belonged to the Crown, be would promise assistance to the Church from that fund. If these funds were insufficient, and it should be wise and expedient to do so, he would go still further.
Lord ABERDEEN regretted that Lord Melbourne had not said more. He had merely repeated, word for word, what he had said three years ago. Lord Aberdeen was totally at a loss to understand what Lord Belhaven meant, when be expressed so much gratification at what was going to be done. As for the Bishops' lands and teinds, to which Lord Melbourne had alluded, he wished it to be understood that the General Assembly held these funds to be inviolable. It was the opinion of Lord Monerieff, that these funds could not with justice be applied to the purpose intended Lord BELHAVEN said, that Lord Moncrieff had given no such opi- nion; he had merely said that the rents and teinds belonging to private persons were inviolable.
Lord ABERDEEN—" He is not reported to have said so."
Lord CAMPERDOWN Said, that be had a report of what Lord Mon- crieff did say, corresponding with the statement of Lord Belhaven. Lord ABERDEEN was aware he must have been mistaken. He then argued, that, as a matter of economy, it would be well to extend the church accommodation in Scotland; for there had been a great in- crease of crime in consequence of a deficiency of spiritual instruction. Five-and-twenty years ago, the whole annual expense of criminal pro- secutions in Scotland was 5,000/. ; it was now 30,000/.
Lord CAMPERDOWN Considered that the subject under discussion was one of great importance, and he was aware that the people of Scotland took great interest in it. He had been bred up in and was attached to the Church of Scotland ; and if Ministers had shown themselves negligent of the interests of the Church, would have been the first to blame them. But Government was not chargeable with remissness or negligence ; and he could not i,ee how Parliament would be justified in taking a sum out of the Consolidated Fund for the benefit of the Scottish Church— Besides, in his opinion, it hail not been made out that a grant for the endow- mot 0: churches would do away with the evils coniplained of; and Government would not be justified in doing any such thing. If the question were to be taken up, it must be taken up as a general question. Having read the Report with attention, he was sorry to say (and it was impossible to deny the fact) that great numbers of the inhabitants were not in the habit of attending the church ; and therefore great doubts arose as to the necessity for additional church acommodation It was a fact stated in the Report, that at present there were 23,000 seats unappropriated ; and, according to Dr. Chalmers's evidence, something else must be Mule—such as drawing a circle round large towns, and dividing them into parishes. Another witness had stated that such a plan would be useless, and treated the idea as visionary. Denying, as he did, the propriety of going down to the other House fur a grant, he thought Lord Mel- bourne had pursued the only course open to hi aaa , by recommending the Com- missioners to investigate other sources for supplying the deficiency in church accommodation. From a memorial laid on the table three years ago, it appeared that there was an annual income from bishops' rents of 2,7171., and It was therefore right to call the attention of the Commissioners to that subject.
It was a fact, and he was sorry for it, that party politics had been mixed up with this question— Dr. 5I,Leod, in reply to a charge that had been made against him, contra- elicted the statement that the pulpits had been used for political purposes; but at the same time said he reserved to himself the rights conferred on him as an electlr. Now he regretted that ; for he did not wish to see the clergy of that couutry assume the character of a political body, and supporting one great political party against another. Ile had Dr. M'Leod's own admission for the fact ; for he said the clergy of Scotland did .nut want the franchise ; but, now that they possessed it, they were united as a man against a Government who, as Dr. M'Leoll said, would pull down not the Church Establishment of Scot- land, but the Church Establishment of the sister country. Now, lie .aust deny the ti uth of any such assertion. The object of the Government was not to destroy the Irish Church, but to place its security on a firmer basis. He would only say in conclusion, that that was not formerly the character of the Scotch clergy. The Scotch clergy had formerly abstained from politics, and devoted themselves to the sacred duties of their office, thereby setting an example worthy of imitation by the clergy of other parts of the country; and though some bail come forward in support of Episcopacy, which in that country had paseed away, yet there were others who conducted themselves better as clergy- men, who did not mix themselves up with polities, aud thereby secured the love and affection of the people.
Lord HADDINGTON defended Dr. AIncleod and the Scottish clergy ; who had conic forward in a political character from a deep sense of duty, and in defence of the general principles of the Establishment. There could be no doubt of the deficiency of church aceotrunodation- The question was so little liable to doubt, that some years ago 15,000/. were granted for building churches in the Highlaulls, and 30,000/. were granted for ' building churches in other places; but that bill was lost in the House of Lords. As a proof. however, of the view which the people of Scotland took of the question, he would inform the House that I50,000/. had been subscribed in that country, chiefly owing to the representations of the clergy, and chiefly of Dr. Chalmers, on the ground of want of church accommodation. That showed that the people of Scotland (who were not fond of sub- scribing unless for good reasons) believed there was a want of accommo• dation. It would be much better if the noble lord would at once admit the principh: ; and though he might carry it inw effect more slowly than the people desired, )et a different feeling would be raised towards him, and he would stand in a different position as regarded the people of Scotland from that which lie oc- cupied at piesent. Three years ago, a paper had been laid before the Govern. went, which was conclusive as to the fact of want of church room ; yet nothing had been done.
The petition was laid on the tilde.
NAVAL OFFICERS.
In the House of Commons, n Thursday, Captain DctIDAs moved,
MISCELLANEOUS.
COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. On Monday, the House of Commons voted a large amount of money for various purposes, in a Committee of Supply. Among them were the following.
For the expenses of her Majesty's Civil List, 200,0001.
For erecting new Houses of Parliament, 88,0001. Several Members opposed this grant, chiefly on the ground that Mr. Barry's plait was a bad one, and 'unpopular, and that the estimates would be exceeded. Among the dissentients, were Sir GEORGE STRICKLAND, Sir EDWARD CODRINGTON, Mr. GALLY KNIGHT, Mr. HAtVES, Mr. JOHN MAX.. WELL, and Mr. WALLACE. Mr. SPRING RICE, Sir ROBERT INGLIS, Sir CHARLES Bonus:Li., and Mr. G. F. YOUNG, supported the vote ; which was carried, by 100 to 20.
For the printing and editing of Public Records, 18,172/. Mr- CHARLES BULLER denounced the Record Commission as a gross job. Sir ROBERT INGLIS defended the proceedings of the Commission.
For arrears of salaries to the Judges and other officers employed in the administration of justice in Lower Canada, 142,160. Mr. IluatE opposed this vote ; but it was carried, by 43 to 10.
THE IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT BILL WAS read a third time, and passed.
THE REPORT ON THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTORS BILL (for extend- ing the time of paying rates and taxes) was "received," by a majority of 55 to 30; the measure being strenuously opposed, as is violation of the Reform Act, by Sir ROBERT INGLIS, Mr. WILLIAM GLADSTONE, and Mr. HODGSON HINDE.
THE BILLS OF EXCHANGE BILL was read a third time, and passed.
THE FINAL REGISTER Or ELECTORS BILL was read a third time, by 62 to 41, and passed.
CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. Lord JOHN RUSSELL bad leave to bring in a bill to obviate the necessity of the Recorder of London making a special report to the Crown of the prisoners under senteile of death.
MILITIA. Lord JOHN RUSSELL bad leave to bring in a bill to sus. pend the Militia ballot.
HAND-LOOM WEAVERS. On Tuesday, Mr JOHN MAXWELL moved an address to the Queen for an inquiry into the condition of the hand- loom weavers. The motion was seconded by Lord DUDLEY &rearm Mr. CLAY Said, that interference of the kind intended by Mr. Max. well would be positively injurious to the manufacturing population; and he should oppose the motion. Mr. BROTHERTON, though deeply commiserating the sufferings of time hand-loom weavers, concurred With Mr. Clay. Mr. LAWSON, Mr. GILLON, Mr. WAKLEY, Mr. FitanErr, and Sir ROBERT BATESON, supported Mr. Maxwell's motion : it was opposed by Dr. BOWRING, Mr. POULETT TitomesoN, and Mr. WIL- SON PATTEN, and carried, by 53 to 45.
LOTTERIES. Mr. Dint moved for a Committee to inquire into the lottery system ; and whether Little Goes, or private lotteries, were not now carried on to a considerable extent— He verily believed that the Chancellor of the Exchequer knew nothing more about lotteries than the man in the meon. (Laughter.) The right honour. able gentleman should make it his duty to study the question ; and if he d dr he would find that hundreds of thousands of pounds annually went out of the country, by way of speculations in foreign lotteries, to the enrichment of 10-. and Sir EDWARD CODRINGTON seconded, an address to the Queen, praying her Majesty to direct that before the Navy Estimates for next year are prepared, the number of effective and non-effective naval officers shall be ascertained, with the view of forming a retired list of meritorious old officers who had served during the war. Sir Edward Codrington dwelt on the hardship under which the families of several gallant officers laboured, and on the inadequate pay of naval officers generally-
• He would venture to say, that in other branches of the public service, an officer would get, in half the number of years a naval officer could, double the pay and allowances. If a full Admiral retired after forty or fifty years service, he could not obtain more than 7001. a year for half-pay and allowance. Now, for not nearly m the same i e length of service, a general offi-
cer would get more than double this income. The condition of the naval officers was different from that of almost any class of men in her Majesty's service. Look at the situation of a fleg-officer. When he went out to command on a foreign station he was in reality in the situation of an Ambassador ; yet he was not allowed table. money, and on his retirement from office he was in a much worse condition. Then next was the condition of the widow of an Admiral. The widow of a full Admiral was entitled to a pension of not more than 1201. a year ; but they seldom or never obtained it. The fund, however' from which these ladies, as well as the widows of other naval officers received their allow- ances, was formed from a deduction made from the pay of each officer ; but over the distribution of this the officers had no control, for it was totally under the management of the Admiralty. He would refer the House to the case of Sir Manley Dixon, as an illustration of the unjust mode exercised by the Ad. miralty in the distribution of widows' pensions. That gallant officer left a widow, and two daughters by a former marriage. The two latter ladies, in con- sequence of their not being able to obtain any allowance from the Admiralty, were obliged to apply to the Navy Charitable Fund ; which allowed them 23/. a year to save them from starving. Was this a state of things which should be allowed towards the daughters of a distinguished and gallant officer, who had often fought and bled in his country's service? He know another officer who had died and left a widow with eight children to support on 60/. a year ; and on her making application for employment for two of her sone, the Admiralty ap- pointed them to situations, but subtracted in lieu of it 361. from her pension.
Mr. CHARLES WOOD thought the motion perfectly unnecessary; and observed, that Sir Edward Codrington had merely repeated his former statements. Mr. Wood then generally defended the conduct of the Admiralty.
Captain PECIIELL said, the present proceedings of the Admiralty were of the most disheartening kind : he had hoped for more encou- ragement to the motion of Captain Dundas.
Mr. HUME thought that the present allowance to the Navy ought not to be continued, unless the services of a more efficient body of men were secured.
The House divided : for the Address, 21; against it, 19; majority
again.st Ministers, 2.
rigners and to the impoverishment of the people of this kinedom. Mitch hair heels said against the principles of state lotteries he thought, hrwever, that a
r' 'neiple which hail been sanctioned by such men as Burke, Pitt, Fox,Sheri- Jan, Pereeval, Bexley, Goulburn, Herries, Canning, Wellington, n d Robinson, could not be iaherently vicious. He recollected that on this very subject Mr. O'Connell observed that the Legislature were straining at a gnat i.nd swallow- Mg a camel. Indeed, to Mr. Bish it seemed that they had swallowed a host of camelsn the
shape of railway bills, which were speculations in olving more i
gambling, misery, and wretchedness, in a few years, than all the legal lottery ad. ventures in a course of a century. A friend of his had risked upwares of 20,000/. in railway shares, till he was now absolutely horrified at them. flis friend was once asked by some one, " What shall I do as to any dealings in these railway owes?" " DO, my dear boy ?. " said his friend, " why, use them as you would S cold bath ; plunge in, and Jump out again as quick as you c,.n." (Loud laughter.) And so the gentleman did ; for he jumped out of tie concern as soon as he could get a premium. As a matter of revenue, lotteries had realized upwards of 500,000/. to the Government ; but what did the duty n cards pro- duce? Not more than 14,000/. or 15,000/. ; and yet more misery and gam- bling were occasioned by catds in one hour than by lotteries in a whole year. Mr. Alderman Wool) seconded the motion ; for it appeared to the Committee over which he had presided, that a considerable number of illegal lotteries were allowed in this country. Mr. SPRING RICE could not suppose Mr. Bish to be selious in his motion. Mr. Rice would not follow an example set in the worst times by a had government ; and would rather see a deficiency in the revenue than au excess derived from the vices of the community.
Mr. limit then withdrew his motion.
BRITISH RESIDENTS AT THE CAPE or GOOD HOPE. Mr. WIL- LIAM GLADSTONE, on IVednesday, presented a petition from certain freeholders and residents at the Cape of Good Hope, complaining of a charge brought against them in one of Lord Glenelg's despatches, that they had provoked the late Kaffre war by their cruelties towards the natives. They denied the truth of the accusation, and prayed for a Commission of inquiry into their conduct on the spot. Sir GEORGE GREY said that an inquiry had already been instituted, and there was no need of another. The whole of the correspondence between the Governor of the Colony and the Colonial Office had been upon the table twelve months, and he declined any further discussion of the subject. Mr. BUXTON bad no objection to the Commission of inquiry. Mr. Hums said the petition ought to have been printed. The petitioners had rea- sonable ground of complaint against the Colonial Office, and he had evidence to confirm many of their statements. The petition was ordered to lie on the table.
REGISTRATION ACTS. .Dr. BOWRING drew Lord John Russell's attention to the conduct of certain clergymen with reference to the new Registration Acts— He had been given to understand, that in some instances the clergy had called the attention of their parishioners to the solemn rites they had to administer, and had hammed them that nothing in the Registration Act interfered with those rites, and that they were not bound to comply with its provisions. He wished to know whether his Majesty's Government had adopted-any means for inaking the law upon the subject better understood?
Lord JOHN RUSSELL replied, that He had no objection whatever to the clergy calling the attention of their pa- rishioners to the solemn rites they were called on to administer, or of their stating that nothing in the Registry Act interfered with the solemnization of those rites. He, however, thought it most objectionable that they should ad- vise their parishioners not to obey the law. The subject was now under the consideration of the Registrar-General, who was preparing a circular to show what the law really was ; and he hoped that its effect would be to counteract the evil complained of.
THE LATE SPEAKER'S LOSSES BY FIRE. Mr. SPRING RICE moved that a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the amount of the loss suffered by the lute Speaker, and other officers of Parliament, by the fire at the former Houses of Parliament, and to report on the same. Mr. WARBURTON moved that the discussion be adjourned to that day month, as there was no time for investigation. Mr. SHAW said, that a single day would suffice for it. Mr. liuste did not know why the country should compensate individuals for a loss which might have been covered by an insurance. Mr. SPRING RICE said, almost
the only point to be considered was whether the insurances were
legally payable. He did not pledge himself to any money vote. Sir FREDERICK POLLOCK said that no Mtn was bound to insure— If a vessel ran down another at ma, it would be a strange answer fur the owners of the offending vessel to give to the owners of the lust one when they applied for compensation, ,t He shall pay you nothing ; you ought to have in- sured." Ile confessed he should be ashamed if the present Parliament were allowed to close without something being done upon this subject. Lord JOHN RUSSELL, Mr. CUTLAR FER0USSON, Sir T. FRE.- MANTLE, and Mr. THOMAS DUNCOMBE, supported the motion ; Mr. Jotters, Mr. AGLIONIIY, and Mr. MORGAN JOHN O'CONNELL, op- posed it. For the Committee, 68; against it, 23.
Mr. Wassace then moved that the case of Messrs. Aladin, of Leith, should be referred to the same Committee. A large quantity of sugar belonging to Messrs. 111aefin, on which duty had been paid, was
destroyed by tire at the Leith Customhouse. Mr. HUME seconded the motion. Mr. JERVIS supported it. Mr. IVannultroN objected to increasing the labours of the Committee. Mr. SPRING RICE hoped that the House would at once negative the motion. The SPEAKER asked if the consent of the Crown had been given to the motion ? Mr. SPRING RICE felt it his duty to withhold that consent. The SPEAKER decided that the motion could not be maintained; and it was Withdrawn.
RP.FORM OF THE LORDS. Mr. TENNYSON D'EYNCOURT Ofl
Thursday, presented a petition signed by between four and five thousand electors of Lambeth, praying that means might be taken to tature the passage of measures of Reform through the House of
Lords, Mr. D'Evtecouer said, that he thought next session the Lords would *et reject bills sanctioned by the Representatives of the
People after mature deliberation. Mr. Hawes supported the prayer of the petition.
THE CONTROVERTED EI.ECTIONS BILL Was withdrawn by Mr. CHARLES BULLER, at the instance of Lord JOHN RUSSELL. .THE SLAVE-TRADE. Sir ROBERT INGLIS entered into a variety of statements, which proved that the slave-trade was carried on to a greater extent than ever under the Portuguese flag, and in a most bar- barons manner. lie feared that, though the vessels sailed under tbe flag of Portugal, and the chief slave.market was in Brazil, British ca- pital was employed in the trade to a lurge amount. He called upon Lord Palmerston to pledge himself that the treaty between this country and Portugal for the suppression of the slave-trade, width treaty was now a dead letter, should be carried into complete effect.
Lord PALMERSTON said, that the unsettled state of affairs in Par- tugal had alone prevented the conclusion of it new treaty, which would give British cruisers the right of searching suspected vessels. He was doing all in his power to put an end to the traffic ' • and was happy to state that the name Towns and the King of Tuscany had become parties to a convention for abolishing it ; he soon expected to have the adhesion of Mexico ; and negotiations for the same purpose were pending with Naples.
Mr. GORING asked, why steam-vessels were not employed on the African coast to capture slavers, and why persons employed in the trade, when captured, should not be hanged at the yard.arm?
Colonel THOMPSON said, that lie happened to be a living Governor of Sierra Leone,—rather a rare species, he believed on earth ; and he thought with Mr. Goring, that steam-vessels stationed at time mouths of rivers might effectually restrain the slave-traders. lie had no ob- jection either to the yard-arm ; for on treating the slave-trade as piracy, depended the chance of ultimate suppression— It was seventeen years since he hid the honour of negotiating, under the orders of Sir William Keil- Grant, in the Persian Gulf, the first treaty or public act in which the slave-trade was written down by its proper name of piracy. (Cheers.) This act took place in January 1820, and had been public law in
the countries concerned ever since. An act to the same etreet was issued by America in the same year ; but he had had the honour of comparing dates with Mr. Rush, the American Minister, and Mr. Rush told him the American act took place in May ; so that the British was actually the prior, though, fiom the difference in the modes of communication, the American act was known in Eng-
land first. It might be acceptable to many who heard him to be made ac- quainted with these facts. But the use he wanted to make of them now was to give additional stimulus to the Government to go on, and above all things not to expose themselves to the charge of stopping the small flies in their net and letting the great ones through.
Mr. timer recommended the employment of steam-vessels ; and said that the course taken by the British Government had driven the trade into countries where the greatest inhumanity was practised.
Mr. CHARLES WOOD said, that a steamer had been employed on the African coast, but more extensive powers of search and seizure were required.
Dr. Bownstso condemned the conduct of the Government of the United States, through whose auspices the slave-trade had been again introduced into Texas, after it had been abolished by Mexico.
here the conversation ended.
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN IRELAND. In the House of Peers, on Monday, the Earl of WICKLOW moved for a copy of the cir- cular, dated 111ey oth last, from the Irish Attorney- General to the Magistrates at Querter-sessions in Ireland. Upon this motion Lord IVIcesow engrafted charges against Lord Mulgruve of an undue exer- cise of the prerogative of mercy, of the appointment of agitators to the offices of Assistant Barrister, and an undue augmentation of the fees of the Attorney. General. Lord IVLSTMEATII, Lord FITZG F: R A and Lord GLENGALL, supported Lord Wicklow. The Earl of Met- GRAVE said, that the circular in question was merely a copy of one regularly issued ; that the conduct of the Assistant Barristers had been irreproachable, (and he challenged proof of their mineoushict); that the country had been in a great measure tranquillized ; and that his release of prisoners had been followed by time best effecte—ooly eine of those released having been recommitted, and for slight offences.
Lord WICKLOW withdrew his motion.
DEMISE OF TIIE CROWN. The bill for carrying on the government of the country in ease of a demise of the Crown, when the next heir was not in England, was read a second time on Monday, on the motion of Lord CIMOCellor COTTENHAM. It Kr:vides that the great officers of state, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and an indefinite number of persous, to be named by the Heir Presumptive, and put in a list to be in the custody of the Lord Chancellor, the Chief Justice, arid another person named by the Heir Presumptive, shall carry on the government of the country, in the absence of the Heir Presumptive, on the death of the Queen. Lord BROUGHAM objected to this mode of proceeding, that it was founded on the precedent of Ann, when there were no members of the Royal Family, as now, of mature age and sound capacity in the realm. Ile doubted whether they should name Lords Justices at all ; but if they did, certain members of the Royal Family resident in England should be included in the list. Lord WYNI 011 11 and the Duke of IVES SINCTON were for adhering to the precedent of Atm, and approved of the Lord Chancellor's bill.
Tits. COSINIISSIONElle OF BANKRUPTS IRELAND BILL having been altered so as to meet Lord Brougham's approbation, was read a third time, and passed.
AsiEstomeNT OF THE CRIMINAL Law. On Tuesday, Lord PEN.- MAN movemi the second readilig of the Forgery Bill, and of the other bills passed in the House of Commons for abolishing the punishment of death for several offences, and in other respects mitigating the severity of the criminal law. The Duke of RICHMOND, Lord WYN. FORD, Lord LyteontrusT, and Lord BROUGHAM, approved of the principle of the bills ; but they all complaitied of the lute period of the session at which measures of so mtit•II importance were sent up to them, and explessed regret that they did not go further. Lord LYND- HURST pointed out some inconsistencies in the bills ; and Lord BROUGHAM expressed great doubts as to the efficacy of punishments now in use, though he was not frantic enough to propoee the abolition of all puirishments. The bills were read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday.
THE COMNION LAW COURTS Btu. went through a Committee of the Peers on Tuesday. THE SMALL DEBTS (SCOTLAND) BILL was read a third time, and passed.
THE BRIDLINGTON Hannoca BILL was read a third time on Thursday, by a majority of 45 Peers to 30, and then passed.
OPERATION OF THE POOR-LAW. Lord STANHOPE presented some petitions against the Poor-law. A conversation arose ; in the course of which, Lord WYNFORD said— The rule which restricted the inmates to the workhouse was not con- sistent with humanity or good policy. He saw no reason why they should not wander about every hour of Me day as long as they thought proper to attend regularly attneal.times, and to return at a reasonable time at night. They might thus obtain some assistance by getting employment, instead of wasting their time within the walls of the workhou,e; and they would also have an opportunity of attending religious worship.
Lord CHICHESTER and Lord RADNOR declared, that the law gene- rally gave great satisfaction both to the paupers and the rate-payers.
