NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THIS has been a week of prodigious fuss in the House of Com- mons. Whippers-in are almost broken-winded by their extraor- dinary exertions. Members have been lashed into a state of high fever. There was no mid-week repose on Wednesday. Hot and tight was the daily duty required. And what has been the result of all this fury and fermentation? Little indeed. Never did so large a mountain produce a smaller mouse" The main point at issue, the only one possessing real importance, was coolly disposed of by Lord Joists RUSSELL on Wednesday.; when his Lordship admitted that no sufficient reason existed for any unusual proceeding with respect to the election petitions, and fixed early days after the recess for the trial of each and all be- fore Committees to be chosen according to the existing law. Lord JOHN discovered that the number of petitions was not larger than might have been expected, or than had been presented at the commencement of former Parliaments. Neither were they brought forward in a manner to justify tile assumption of foul play. No remonstrance against this course proceeded from any party. Sir ROBERT PEEL was highly satisfied with it, and Mr. O'CONNELL held his peace. Now, recollect the big talking on this subject—the meetings with closed doors and in public—the deputation to Downing Street—the earnest entreaties of Minis- terial journalists (such earnestness as belongs to such hacks) for a full attendance of Liberal Members — the mysterious therats — the patriotic professions — the sedulous " whip ; " and then resist laughter, if possible, at the lame and impo- tent conclusion—the voluntary retreat of the Whigs, and as easy victory of the Tories. Why, the upshot of the matter is, that the Liberals have got up " on the sly" so many counter- petitions as to overbalance those of their opponents. They were not deterred by the shocking immorality of such a proceeding ; regardless of the objurgation of one punctilious supporter ; care- less of the criminality, which, a short time ago, it was gravely de- clared by another that only Tory consciences could support! Though the real business was disposed of when the days of balloting for Election Committees were named by the Ministerial leader, a sham fight followed, and occupied the best part of two weary nights. Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN is one of the Irish Members petitioned against; and, believing that his assailant will be aided and "comforted " by the SeorriswoonE conspirators, he presented a petition to the House, pray ing for an inquiry into the proceed- ings of the " gang," and especially into the conduct of Sir FRANCIS BURDETT, an avowed subscriber to the petition fund. Tile Tories met Mr. O'BRIEN in his first move, and opposed the printing of the petition. Here they were defeated, by 234 to 203. Having made good his position so far, Mr. O'BRIEN on the next night moved for a Committee to inquire into the allegations of his petition. This motion brought on the question of the legality or illegality of the SPOTTISWOODE subscription. Sir WILLI AU FOLLETT pleaded for its lawfulness ; Sir JOHN CAMPBELL main- tained that it was " maintenance,"—by which unlearned persons may understand a combination to do something unlawful But Sir Jon N was in no hurry to try the soundness of his law by prosecuting the offenders ; and for this sufficient reason, given by Lord JOHN RUSSELL, that the same law which the SPOTTISWOODE people violate, is broken by every subscriber to the expenses of an election, and that to enforce such a law was therefore utterly out ,of the question. The Attorney-General and the Home Secretary likewise concurred in the opinion that Mr. O'BRIEN'S Committee of inquiry was useless, because there was nothing to investigate ; all the facts being notorious, and the transaction carried on ill open day. Finding that the discussion was going to end in talk, Mr. HARVEY, with a view to get some practical good out of it, proposed as an amendment, that a Committee should ba appointed to consider the best mode of reducing the expenses of elections and Election Committees. But the decree had gone forth, that • This rctrospe !t, w:ts written pro, ion, to the del ate of last night ; of veli kit son .e AecOunt v, ill he lo.ind in the Po,ttcript, at pa.,;e 1164, though much was to be said nothing was to be done; and Mr. HARVEY s amendment was rejected, by 389 to 91. Mr. O'BRIEN's motion received but little better support ; the numbers for and against it being 121 and 331. There was an episode in this affair of the conspiracy ; the author, REGINALD BLEWITT, erst editor of the Monmouthshire Merlin, now Member for the Monmouthshire Boroughs. This gentleman, on Wednesday, moved a series of resolutions con- demning the proceedings of SPOTTISWOODY, Bummer, and Co; and calling for inquiry thereinto. According to the usual form, the first resolution only was put from the chair. Mr. WARBUR- TON advised Mr. BLEwITT to withdraw all his resolutions but the last, which was for the inquiry. Mr. BLEwirr acceded : the resolution was withdrawn, and there was no question before the House. But some Tory Members, of whom Sir EiswAito SUG, DEN and Colonel StirmoRe were the most conspicuous, having paid no attention to the course of business, persisted in speaking against the withdrawal of the resolution. The Speaker in vain attempted to set them right. They regarded not Mr. ABERCROMBY. Calls to order from Liberal Members only increased the hubbub, which lasted far half an hour. The House was in a state of tumult and disorder that would have disgraced an assembly of drunken savages. In the midst of the riot, exit Mr. BLEwtrr with his resolutions in his pocket, amidst roars of laughter. On the next day, the Speaker recurred to the nocturnal revels; and with affecting solemnity announced his intention to resign the chair if such an indecorum of behaviour and affront to his dignity were repeated. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT delivered two speeches in defence of himself, and in recrimination of his accusers. The old man seems delighted at the notoriety he has contrived once more to obtain. Nothing is gained by serious attacks upon him ; even ridicule, though it may raise a laugh at his expense, is wasted on such a subject. DISRAELI "the Younger" on this occasion made his first attempt at a Parliamentary oration: a strange exhibition of floundering confidence and abortive effort. La one thing only he appears to have fully succeeded—provoking continued laughter even from his Tory friends. The best specimen of House of Commons eloquence which the debate produced, was a reply of Lord JOHN RUSSELL to Lord STANLEY, who had exulted over the lame and impotent conclu- sion of all the Liberal attempts to battle the Tory petitioners. Lord JOHN, conscious that he was going to do nothing, took refuge in his parts of speech. Most valiantly did he talk about the iniquity of the conspirators. With measured phrase he de- nounced their wicked plot to sow dissensions among her Majesty's subjects ; and would have convinced an inexperienced auditor that he meditated some mighty measure of retributive justice ou the daring offenders. But it was all taik—clever, and delusive. answering the intention of the orator to afford an excuse to Liberals for supporting the Minister who could utter such noble sentiment s.
The discussion on the election petitions was not the only abortive one of the week. Sir EDWARD SUGDEN wearied the House by the hour together, on Manday, with a display of legal subtlety in an attack on Lord LANGDALE'S Wills Act. Sir EDWARD, it seems, was not consulted in the forming of that measure, and took this mode of revenge for the slight. Re moved to put off the operation of the Act of Parliament for three months. Sir JOHN CAMPBELL easily, and with greater felicity than usual, demonstrated the absurdity of setting aside a remarkably well- considered measure, merely because Sir EDWARD S ucoss happened to differ on some of its niceties with almost every other leading lawyer in the country. Sir EDWARD, though exceed- ingly able in a professional sense, looked foolish; awl the result of his motion was nil.
Colonel VERNER occupied the House for several hours on Tuesday, with a most tiresome dissertation on the quarrels of Catholics and Protestants in Ireland, the Orange version of the Battle of the Diamond, and an apology for giving that sanguinary toast at a public dinner. Lord MORPETH'S triumphant reply caused regret that Colonel VERNER bad not been dismissed from the Magistracy years ago. 'Ile produce of this discussion was an order for copies of the correspondence between Colonel VERNER and the Irish GoNcrnment,—very valuable documents, no doubt ; but they may be found in an) Irish paper two or three months old. More time was wasted in an attempt to procure for Lord CAN- TERBURY a grant of public tnoney in compensation for the loss he incurred by the fire in the Houses of Parliament. The job was a Tory job, and the Whigs did not think it their duty to lather it. Lord C AN fk:RBURY might have insured his valuables, but he did not ; and it was but tilting that be, like other men, should suffer the consequences of his neglect. The inferior °di- cers who suffered less had not been indemnified: why then Vis- count CANTERBURY, with his pension of 5000/. a year, and a sinecure for his son worth as much mote? Yet for a persen so well provided for out of the, public purse, Sir ROBERT PEEL sued in forma pauperis ! The tfitanitess te Which these grandees will condescend is astonishing. It is a satisfaction that the mo- tion for the grant was rejected, though by the narrow majority of 173 to 163.
The real and substantal public business was soon despatched.
On Tuesday, Lord JOHN Russell. brought in the new Irish Corporation Bill. As he did not choose to say a word in explana- tion or description of the measure, and as we have had no oppor- tunity of examining the bill itself, its precise enactments cannot be stated but it is understood that it is, with immaterial if any ex- ceptions, the same as the measure of last session.
The Municipal Offices Declaration Bill, the object of which is to relieve Quakers and Moravians from the necessity of making the declaration of a religious belief before entering upon mu- nicipal offices, has been sent up to the Lords. Mr. GROTE attempted to procure for the Jews the same indulgence that the bill will confer on Quakers and Moravians : but Mr. BAINES resisted the amendment, on the ground that, with such a provi- sion, the Peers would throw out the bill ; and Lord JOHN RUSSELL, though avowedly holding the same opinion with Mr. GROTE, shabbily "placed himself in Mr. BAINES'S hands," and promised to vote with him if Mr. BAINES required his aid. The consequence of this dereliction of principle on the part of Lord JOHN RUSSELL was, the defeat of Mr. GROTE'S motion, by a majority of 16-172 to 156. Thus the Commons have lost no time in resuming the policy of framing measures so as to suit the Lords.
By tact, perseverance, and thorough preparation, Mr. WAR- BURTON succeeded on Monday in forcing the Chancellor of the Exchequer to take up the Danish claims. The aim of Mr. Rice was to shirk the question. With this view it was arranged with his deputy, Mr. RARING, that urgent private business should prevent Mr. Rice from attending in his place. Mr. WARBURTON would not give way, without the promise of another early oppor- tunity for bringing forward his motion. This it did not accord with Mr. BARING'S instructions to promise; and Mr. WARBURTON proceeded to state his case. He had scarcely commenced, when Mr. RICE was seen hastening to his place on the Treasury bench; baying, apparently, been close at hand waiting to hear the result of Mr. BARING'S coaxing. He admitted that he had no formal objection to urge against Mr. WARBURTON'S motion ; and all he bad to say in defence of his refusal to allow the claimants a fair
bearing, was that they had already been kept out of their money
for thirty years. Nobody in the House would take the same view of the subject ; and Mr. RICE, acknowledging that he could get
nobody to support him, yielded to Mr. WARBURTON. Indolent and undecided Members may learn from Mr. W ARBURTON'S suc- cess, the real mode of carrying measures against the Minister.
The Lords have referred the Imprisonment for Debt Bill to a Select Committee. Lord LYNDHURST and Lord ABINGER threaten
to make havoc with it. They may cut and slash it without effecting much damage ; for the bill is a deception, and its title a misnomer : its chief object is to give shopkeepers facilities in recovering debts against all but lords and gentlemen—not to put an end to cruel and unsecessary arrests of the needy and unfortunate. A simple measure for that purpose might have been easily framed, and easily passed; but the authors of the bill had other, and not better, objects in view.
