319ebateg anti Prareebinga in Parliament.

1. hum TITHES.

In the House of Commons, on Monday, the order of the day for the further consideration of the Report of the Irish Tithe Bill having been read, Mr. LITTLETON moved that the bill be recommitted ; and took occasion to explain the alterations which Government had thought it right to make in the measure.

They consisted of the omission of that part which invested the revenue of the Church in land, and consequently of the redemption clauses. The composition would, on the passing of this act, be converted into a land tax payable to the Crown ; and that land-tax would be collected by the Crown in the same amounts and from the same parties who were now liable for the composition. This would continue for five years. The reasons why that period was deemed most eligible, he stated upon a former occasion ; and they were simply these—that some period was necessary to enable the Government to give to the land-tax that value and stability which it did not possess in the character of composition. Another reason was, that five years would be required for the recovery of the annual instalments of one-fifth of the sums advanced to the tithe-owners, under the act of last session. The amount so collected would be paid to the tithe-owners, subject to the deduction of 3 per cent. At the end of five years, it was proposed that four-fifths of the land-tax be converted into a rent-charge, to be imposed on the owners of the estates of inheritance. Such parties were to have the power of recovering it from their tenants and sub-tenants, and all who were primarily liable under the existing law of composition. The amount of these rent-charges so collected by the Crown was to be paid to the tithe-owners, subject to a fur- ther reduction ofl per cent. for the expense of collection.

It was also proposed that 15 per cent. discount should be allowed to such rate-payers as chose to redeem the land-tax, previous to the ex- piration of the five years : the rent-charge also might be incurred sooner if the parties wished it. Appeals against the amount of the compost. tion, to be converted into a land-tax, would be allowed, under the lia- bility of the parties appealing to pay costs. The cause of the omission of the clauses relating to the conversion of the Church revenue into land, was the numerous representations made to Ministers, that such investments would be injurious to the country on account of their mag- nitude, and give improper political influence to the Church.

Mr. O'CONNELL moved an amendment, in the shape of the follow- ing resolution. Thnt after any funds which should be raised in Ireland in lieu of tithes bad been so appropriated us to provide suitably, considering vested interests and spiritual wants, for the Protestants or the Established Church of Ireland, the surplus that remaiuod should be appropriated to the purposes of public utility."

The real principle of the bill was, he maintained, simply this : the King, for the first time, was to become the great tithe-collector—the pecuniary, instead of spiritual, head of the Church. Tithes were only nominally extinguished ; something else with a different name being substituted for them. The burdens of the people were not in the least lightened. Tithes were to be called land-tax, and that was all the good to be got from the measure. Where was the mischief? It was here— for five years to come there was to be no diminution of the burden. Horse, foot, artillery, and marines, were to be employed as heretofore to collect tithes. A black flag, with " Vie victis" inscribed upon it, the signal of war and extermination, was to be raised in aid of the Church—a church begotten in violence, raised in blood, fed with the tears and miseries of the people for three hundred years. Nothing whatever in the way of remedy or mitigation of Irish burdens was to be done in five years; not even when after the rejection of the motion for repeal, the Legislature had pledged itself to the redress of just grievances. Was not this a time to throw oil on the troubled waters—to mitigate political asperities— to quiet and tranquillize the people ? Was any attempt of this kind made ? No; the Government did nothing. Good God ! was there ever such insanity ? Five years was a century in the future history of Ireland. Nations now reckoned, not by ages, but by days. weeks, and months. Talk of a reduc- tion five years hence ! Prophesy something about the Millenium, and he would listen to them as attentively. Five years hence! Why, you might as well say that in the year 2500 of the Christian sera something might happen to Ireland. Mr. Littleton's plan was to continue fur five years! That was an eternity. Meanwhile, was not the present burden to be mitigated? No. Was it to be aggravated? Yes. At present, the clergy or tithe owners could only distrain for their demand ; hut pass this bill, and parties could have an extent, seize the land, goods, and body, and break in by open violence on the sanctity of private dwellings by day or night. Oh, you had the lion's share, and theliou's strength,

without the fabled generosity.

He reminded the House of the fruits of former measures—of the amount collected by the military in the late tithe crusade, and the cost of collecting it. Every November, Government would have to pay 500,0001. to the clergy tinder the present bill; without perhaps being able to collect more than 30,000/.

The British army would go out pig-hunting one night, blanket- catching another, to collect tithe or land tax. You would go on that holy crusade, and come back with the glory and hononr of having paid 500,000/. and received 30,000/. But suppose you levied the entire 500,0001., how would it be effected ? By a war in Ireland, by having skirmishes in every field ! Oh, what a service on which to employ our brave troops !—to vet our field-officers to work blanket- catching, and make the Attorney-General pig hunter general for all Ireland. Govetnment must show its imbecility, and be taunted with its weakness, if It took this course. Would they resort to extortion and extermination? That was the situation into which the bill drove them ; for it made the Government tithe-owner general, and enforced the demand without mitigation. He had re.. milted a reasonable reduction, and he got nothing fur five years. He also said that a reduction would not do without an appropriation of the surplus. Now, we were neither to have reduction nor appropriation. The Catholic priests had refused indignantly to receive any portion of the money collected by the Government. He had made a gap in his own popularity by proposing that a portion of the money should be laid out in glebes and manses for them. The Government might have stepped into that gap ; but they had not done so. It was not demanded that the religion of the majority of the people should be established in Ire- as was the case in England and Scotland. All that was asked was, that after a suitable provision had been made for the Protestant Church, the surplus should be devoted to works of public utility and charity. What he wanted was, that the Government shoted speak out on this point—that they would show that there was some principle of action by which they would be guided—that they would not act as if there were neither hsh, flesh, nor good red-herrings amongst them.

They were all of them English and Scotch gentlemen. Was there any timid shrinking amongst such men from the assertion of their print plea ? Was cowardice, either moral, political, or personal, ever branded Nam any one of them? They stood high—they were bound to do so. Let it nt t be said to- morrow of them that they were thnid, creeping, crawling creatures, Who for the take of the dirty tenure of place and office had flung from them tl e only men of principle amongst them, while they would not attempt to assert ti eir own. If they did not this night make an explicit pledge on this subject—sut h a pledge as that contained in the resolution he was about to move—they might depend upon it that such would be the universal public opinion of them to morrow. He taunted them to the assertion of their principles. Mr. Stanley whohad seceded from them, had no hesitation in asserting his principles. 'Let Ministers be equally ready to assert theits, and by doing so restore confidence to the people.

By acting in this manner, the Ministers might despise the howling of bids and owls in old places and ruined towers. The people of England did not speak by the voice of monks of the past or present century—by the voice of mitred abbots of this or the last century.

Mr. HUME seconded Mr. O'Connell's amendment, in a brief speech.

Lord MORPETH opposed the resolution • as he did not see its practical utility; though he was willing, if it should appear from the report of the Commission that a surplus existed, to appropriate it to the purposes of moral, spiritual, and Christian edification.

Lord ALTIloRP referred to the secession of Mr. Stanley, as a proof of the serious difference of opinion that existed between him and the present Ministry.

He thought that Mr. O'Connell ought to be satisfied as to what were the in- tentions of the Government on this subject, by the appointment of a Commis- sion to inquire into the state of the revenues of the Church, with a view to a more equitable appropriation. Ile could assure the House, that Government would never have issued that Commission if they had not intended to act on it.

He therefore thought, that as this Commission bad been appointed, and was about to commence its inquiries, no advantage could, in existing circumstances, result from the adoption of the proposition of Mr. O'Connell. While, therefore, admitting the right of Patliament to appropriate the surplus revenues of the Church to other than Church purposes, and believing also that a new appropri- ation was necessary for the Church itself, as well as to satisfy the people of Ire- land, he would meet Mr. O'Connell's proposition by a negative.

Colonel DAVIES considered Lord Althorp's statement as most vague and unsatisfactory, when taken in connexion with the declarations of Ministers, especially that of the Marquis of Lansdowne, in the House of Peers. Lords Lansdowne and Brougham had declared their inten- tion to limit the application of the surplus of Irish Church property to moral and religious education in the principles of the Established Church. It became the ditty of the House, under these circumstances, to pass some distinct resolution to show that it would not be trifled with.

Mr. FERGUS O'CONNOa opposed the resolution of Mr. O'Connell, because it did not insist upon the complete abolition of tithes.

Mr. SHEIL urged the Ministers to agree to the resolution. The duties of the Commissioners were so extensive and laborious, that years would pass away before they were completed. In the meanwhile, let the House give a formal approval of the principle of the resolution ; let Ministers act like determined men. A decided policy was indis- pensable. The House ought to know what the Government was doing.

Mr. EsucE said, that the Commissioners had already met ; and if their numbers were found too small, they would be augmented, in order that unnecessary delay in furnishing the required information might not occur. There was no difference of opinion in the Ministry as to the right application of the surplus revenues of the Irish Church.

Unanimity now happily prevail( d: indeed, had there been the least difference of pi inciple among the persons who now formed the Administration, or if that principle were averse from a fit application of the revenues of the Church of Ireland, after providing sufficiently for the wants of that Church, he should have been one of the last persons in the House to have accepted a position in that Administration. He should lend his best support to a measure so eminently cal- culated to remove the anomalies and reform the abuses of the Church Establish- ment in Ireland ; believing that he should thereby not only do an abstract act of justice, hut relieve the people of Ireland from that load of distress and misery which had so long weighed them down.

Mr. LEFROY acknowledged that Ministers bad made at last an ex- plicit declaration. The sole question now was, is there to he an Esta- blished Church in Ireland, or not? He granted that a majority of the people were Catholics ; but so were a majority Repeaters. If it was a good argument against the Church, that a majority of the people were not with it, then the Union ought to be repealed.

Mr. FRENCH was opposed to the omission of the redemption clauses.

Mr. Sttaw felt that Ministers and Mr. O'Connell were of one senti- ment on this great question ; but Ministers had not the candour and manliness to avow it. The Commission of which Ministers boasted would produce infinite evil.

He believed that the Commission would do the greatest mischief; it would rake up the embers of religious discord, and fan the flames of religious animo- sities, and all for no other purpose than to patch up a Cabinet a little longer, Which, without one principle to guide its course, or firmness to pursue any course, Was launching on a troubled sea, where they would miserably perish. For the There sake of endeavouring to .protract their existence a little longer, he depre- cated their issuing the Comnussion for no other purpose than that he had attri • buted to it. Ile believed that the Government had altered the bill and issued the Commission because they had not the manliness and straightforwardness to act upon their own opinion.

Mr. Secretary RICE re elled the very gmveimputations of insincerity which Mr. Shaw threw upon Ministers. He defended the issuing of the Commission, and its objects. If it was found that a surplus of Irish Church revenue existed, Parliament would have a right to deal With it ; though in what way, he should not then state.

The Louse bad, in the first place, merely to determine the principle, whether Pal liament might deal with the surplus. He owned that he had notions upon ibis point, which he hail often stated, and was realy to state again, and if Wrong, to ienounce them. But it was premature to enter into that discussion now, Itecatise they could not bring it to any practical result. (" Hear F" and 11(Ii.!") He was ready to consider of the appropriation of the surplus as Soon as Parliament had determined on the principle; but it was not fitting to do it now, and the measure of the sus plus must be the wants and necessities of the Protestant Chtoch of Ireland ; for he would not consent to apply the sur- plus otherwise than for the religious instruction of the Protestant population.

Parliament could not agree to Mr. O'Conuell's resolution without further information.

If he were to proceed on his own belief, and indeed on his own knowledge of Ireland, he should say that there was an excess of wealth belonging to the Church of Ireland, and that it was for her interest that that excess should be diminished : but was his knowledge or his belief sufficient ground fur a 'so- lemn decision of Parliament') One gentleman hail said that there were 2.000,000 of Protestants in Ireland ! Another hail said there was only half that number. Wits it not material to both that they should know precisely how the fact stood ? Whatever view the House might hereafter take of this ques- tion, should be founded on facts.

Sir ROBERT PEEL objected to the issuing of the Commission, be- cause up to that hour the motives assigned by Ministers for issuing it were indefensible. The House had a right to know in distinct terms, what the intentions of Government were in regard to the following up of their Commission.

. You objected to the motion of the honourable Member for St. Albans, which asserted a fact and maintained a principle ; and you now object to the motion of the honourable and Wined Member for Dublin, which contains no fact, but asserts the principle that Parliament has a right to appropriate to purposes of public utility the revenues of the Church of Ireland. You say that your principle is in your Commission. I look at your Commission, and find it headed—what ? A Commission for inquiring into the propriety of an appropriation of the revenues of the Church of Ireland to secular purposes? Ni,, but a Commission for inquiring respecting the state of religious and other instruction now existing in h eland. ( Cheers atal loud laughter.) The noble Lord says be has made up his mind that the Church of Ireland is a grievance; and the Secretary for the (701onies, who has more knowledge of Ireland than all the rest of his colleagues put together, says that he too has notions upon the subjeet, but that this is not the time to explain them. lie is full of information, he is fraught with practical knowledge of Inland, and he has made up Ms mind as to the principle on which he will act ; but, instead oi tiling us what that principle is, what is the course which he thinks proper to pursue? Why, truly, he selects our trusty and well-beloved Thomas Doyley, sergeant-at-law, Thomas Lister, John Wrotresley, George Barrett Lenttaid, Edward Carleton Tuffnell, and several other lea:mid gentlemen, to make cot tin inquiries,)isev, which must he completed on the spot before they ran determine on the priori' which cannot be completed if they are priority conducted in less than four or five years. All Ireland is to be embraced in these inquiries. The property with which the Church is endowed is to he stibmitted to their investigation ; and this too is to take place under the auspices of a set of English gentlemen, who, because they are unacquainted with Ireland, are sent to make minute in.. gullies on the vet, into the state of every parish in the countly, and are thus to go on a tour for statistical information."

Now, Ministers possessed all this information, excepting that which referred to the comparative 'lumbers of Catholics and Protestants; which information though often applied for, they bad ..iiilormly re- fused to give. Sir Robert then at greet length deseribe.i fl.e nature of the duties which the Commissioners would have to perform, and in- sisted upon their being for the most part unnecessary ; inasmuch as full information upon almost every point they were directed to inquire into, had been already furnished by previous Co llllll issions, at a very heavy expenee, and after very great labour. For jest:Ince,

We have the Population Returns for every parish in behind up to the yes&

1831. Those returns were only pi inted in 18.33; and yet it is now proposed, in 1834, that we should issue a new Commission to powlire fresh information as to the population of each pat ish in Ireland. The injunctions on the Commis- shm upon this point are distinct and positive. Now twelve hundred per- sons were employed in tnaking and collis-tim; the Piopulat. Returns. I find that each enumerator in the county of %Vat:third hail 4W. 10s. for his trouble. If then, the enumerators were all paid at the same rate, the cost of enumeration alone would be 54,004. You have the Retools up to 1:703; and yet you are now preparing to semi out another Commission to ascertain the revenue of the Church, and the respective proportiou of the Catholic mid Ptotestant popula- tion in each parish.

As to Education, the Government possessed returns remarkably full and minute ; specifying the number of (-balker, (Awaited in the dif- ferent parishes, their religious belie:, the !SHIM'S of the masters and mistresses, the cost of the school houses. &e. '1 here ale now twenty- three Reports on this subject. One of them (which Sir Hobart held up amid4 much laughter) t•olitains 1:3:13 pages. "11 he last Commission was issued in 1824. So much for education. But you want informs- thin respectilig Irish bent flees.

" Well—you have already doer Commissions in ln,land, pursuing inquiries on this subject. One was issued iii the third yeai of the present reign ; and includes the names of Lord Plunkett, Sir 11. Parni.111. Sit J. Newport,m11,111,111(11..tenrspe.iiinign

the last year you instituted another C lllll . and you passed

a valuation of every living in Ireland—compelling valu Irian, in order that a tax !nigh: be levied upon the living—ciimpelling a retaitu of that valuation he- fore the 1st of December I.e.33. Aloreovcr, pot gave to that Commission by statute the power of administeling an oath to all persons it ho came before It. This Commission has not that power, but on the face of it, I ask for what ob- ject is it issued? Now. I ask y tm, if it be not fur the :take of piistpmmmiinlg the decision of this subj:iet which you are now conirtetit to make, why issue this new Commission ? Can it be for the tranquillity of Ireland that you keep such a subject in abeyance, and evade by every HUI m mere a &cis' upon it? Your say that now at last you speak out. I deny that yen do speak mit. ( Very fund tittering.) I say that the opittions delivered by different inembers of Go- vernment on this subject are at variance with each other. ( Cheering con- tinued.) Every. opinion I have yet heard from them leaves me in (hada as to the ultimate intent lllll of the King's Government ; and thin being the case, I do not see why you should unsettle the conotry to its core, by ileclarim, that if you shall find hereafter that you have a sutphis beyond what is wanted'to maintain the Protestant Church, you will devote it to miler purposes. • " • 1 hope the House will bear with ive, while I cad irs attention to the extraordi- nary manner in n !rich the noble Lord keeps shifting his groom!. I can under- stand the noble Lord if he says that the revenues f the Chum elm are given for religious purposes, aml that he will rho efore apply them to the maintenance of the Catholiz telig' ; but • No,' Nos lie • the object fir a Inch I mink! except time appinpriatum of the it...vennis id the Church is the Cathodic teligiim.' How • -•.re the Ms hart ow, then, is the ground Oil he takes his sta • . . . venues of the Chuich to Nen, S',11111 Walt.4? Ile says i ' ti..• le less !Ilan sacrilege to do so.' But it Parham, it has a rigid. it, .111 revenues of the Clourelt at all, why has it nor a light tI1 iii' um pleaoies to the benefit and imonivi-ment of Nee iii Ii Wales? ; Se, gclitlelllen who pride )oflrsr lv isuri. s1,eakin4 •- pat ea I it, ••!. tit e derstand the dist-, „lions a 'rich pat maw yjUl GrC. t ciple excluded the Catholic.' fo what object then are you to appropriate the property of the Church ? I am speaking now of those who say that they speak out, and for my life I cannot understand them." (Immense cheering.)

Sir Hobert proceeded to argue, that no property could be safe if Irish Church property, the title to which was three hundred years old, and had been most solemnly guaranteed at the Union, was to be alienated from the purposes to which it is now applied. He again called upon Ministers to lead the public mind by a positive declaration of their Opinions; and quote" passages from the speeches of Earl Grey and Lord Lansdowne to prove that they had very lately avowed opinions contrary to those which were now imputed to them, and to those avowed by their colleagues in the House of Commons.

Lord Joins RessEss spoke in defence of the conduct of Ministers. He had concurred heartily in the appointment of the Commission, because the complaint of the Irish against the present appropriation of Church revenues was as just a complaint as ever had been made.

We had seen Tory Governments passing insurrection acts; we ourselves had been obliged to adopt severe and unusual measures ; and if it were painful to any statesman to propose nwasures of an unconstitutional character, such measures must be peculiarly abhorrent to those who prided themselves in the name of Whigs. (Loud laughter p om the Opposition, plowed by cheering from the Ministerial benches.) Not only had Toy and Whig Governments proposed such measures in turn, but Mr. O'Connell showed biniself willing last year to agree to many severe clauses in the Protection Bill, which were rendered necessary by the system of marauding and outrage daily and nightly prevalent in Ireland. While for temporary purposes such measures might he necessary with a view to the security of peace, life, and property, it was the duty of Go- vernment to look deeper into the causes of the long stand rig and perpetuated evils of that country.

He went on to declare his own opinion, that the surplus might fairly be applied to the purposes of education, both of Catholics and Protest-

He was not prepared to continue the Government of Ireland without fully I45. So the report is to be received on Monday. probing her condition. He was not prepared to 'impose the renewal if Coer- cion Bills, and to call for an increase of the military force, without endeavouring to do something to ameliorate her situation. ( Cheers.) In the same way, without intending in the slightest degree to injure the Church of England, he was reaL:s to relieve the Protestant Dissenters front every thing like a civil dis- ability. Upon that subject, as upon the others, he knew perfectly well what clamour might be raised against him, and what attempts might be made to cause a dissolution of the Government ; but he eared not, for he was prepared to stand by his opinions, and to do his duty. "I will not (he continued) be a Minister to carry on systems which I think are founded in bigotry and prejudice. No; be the consequences what they may—be the cry ever so loud—be the success what it may—I will abide by- those opinions, and I will use my utmost exertions to carry them out to their full exteut. At the same time, I will never make a premature declaration of my sentiments. 1 will not introduce a bill before I know the nature of its various bearings. But I will go on from time to time renovating and improving our institutions, without the least injury to their an- cient and venerable nature, in order to make them worthy a free and enlightened people."

Mr. WARD requested Mr. O'Connell to withdraw his motion, after the declaration of Mr. Ellice that the number of Commissioners, if necessary, should be increased, and after his success in eliciting such declarations as had been that night heard from Ministers.

Mr. O'CONNELL admitted Mr. 1Vard's claims to attention when he advised : he persisted, notwithstanding, in dividing the house. For Mr. O'Connell's amendment, 99; against it, 369; Ministerial and Tory majority, 261. The bill was then recommitted pro fitrtna.

2. PooR LAW:: AMENDMENT BILL.

The discussions in the Committee of tile House of Commons on this bill were concluded on Saturday morning. An amendment, by Mr. Mtsvs, to the first of the postponed clauses, was agreed to by Lord Atsrlione; and adopted, after considerable discussion, by a ma- jority of 114 to 39. It is to the following effect, as we find it stated in the Globe.

" After the birth of an illegitimste child, if the child, by reason of the inabi- lity of the mother to maintain it, becomes chargeable, the parish shall take both mother and child into the workhouse : after this is done, two Magistrates may, on the application of the Oven ',sees of the parish where the child is settled, as- cm fain who is the putative father, and make an order on him for the payment to the palish of weekly sums (split to the expense of the child's maintenance. These sums are to be recovered by distress or attachment of wages ; and if these ILICallS fail, the putative tither may be sentenced to imprisonment and hard labour. Or the Magistratts may order a gross sum or penalty to be paid by the father in discharge of his liability. The weekly sums can only be levied SO long as the child is maintained in the workhouse ; and the mother is to have no claim or interest either in the weekly payments or the penalty."

The other postponed clauses were agreed to, and the report was re- ceived amidst loud cheers.

Last night, after a long but not interesting discussion, in the course

of which various alterations were proposed, the amendmonts made in that college; but froin a feeling of delicacy, as a promoter of the Londou Um- the Committee were agreed to. The bill was ordered to be engrossed, via sity, he did not exercise his visitorial functions. King's College had, however, and to be read a third time on Tuesday. his most hearty good wishes ; and he recommended it to all persons mem- 3. JEWISH DISABILITIES. If a parent did not like to send his son to the London University, he said to The second reading of the bill for the removal of Jewish Disabilities him, "Then let him go to King's College." For his own part he thought that was moved in the House of Petra on Monday, by the Marquis of those who objected to the London University, on account of religious principle, WESTMINSTER. The motion was supported by Lord BExt.i.s- and the ought to have a College iu accordance with the tenets of the Established

Earl of RADNOR; and opposed by the Earl of MALMESBURY, the Earl Church. of WINGILILSEA, the Archbishop of CANTERBURY, and the Marquis of The Duke of WELLINGTON objected to debating on the presentation WESTMEATH, on the ground that to admit Jews into the Legislature of petitions ; and thought the Lord Chancellor ought to defend, not to would be equivalent to un-Christianizing the Government of the attack the Universities.

noble Lord in this House, and the Lord Chancellor in the other House of Par- , country. The Earl of MALMESBURY moved that the bill be read a

i 5 I those of div ne service—was negatived, by 6 to 27.

ants. Ile was relieved from discussing the point as to whether Church The third and fourth clauses were withdrawn : they related to the property could be applied to secular purposes, because he believed that payment of wages at an early hour on Saturday. the surplus would be exhausted in promoting education and works of The fifth clause was then discussed : it was intended to extend pros charity. He read some passages from a charge of the Bishop of Man- cess and jurisdiction from one country to another, so that a delinquent daff, in which the propriety of inquiring into the mode in which might not escape because process could not be served on a Sunday, and Church property was applied, whether beneficially to the community or the reverse, was insisted upon very clearly. He also quoted a pas- sage from a charge of Dr. Phillpots, who had declared it to be the duty of Parliament to add to the property of the Church if it should be found insufficient This was admitting the right of die Legislature to deal with Church property in a very different manner from that of in- dividual property.

5. ADMISSION OF DISSENTERS TO THE UNIVERSITIES.

A conversation on this subject arose in the House of Peers on Tuesday. The Bishop of LLANDAFF presented several petitions against allowing Dissenters to graduate at Oxford and Cambridge. Ile expressed his concurrence with the views of the petitioners, and stated his belief that religious instruction could not be imparted as at present at the Universities, if all sects were allowed indiscriminately to enter and take degrees in them. He referred to the difficulties which the founders of the London University had experieeced in endeavouring to frame a system of religious instruction for Dissenters and Church- men. Ile also made some remarks on the opinions and conduct of Lord Brougham in reference to this question ; but they were delivered in so low a tone of voice, that the Chancellor did not hear, and would not have noticed them, had not Earl Grey directed his attention to them, by repeating their purport.

Lament, have excluded sell rion hem the benefit of this appropriation. We second time that day six montha. Upon this motion their Lordships

divided : for it, present 80, proxies 50; against it, present 24, proxies 14; majority against the bill, 92.

4. Loan's DAY BILL, No. 2.

The House of Commons resolved itself into a Committee on this bill, at the early sitting on Thursday. On the first clause being read, Mr. POTTER moved an amendment-

" Provided always, that nothing in this act, or the said welted act, shall extend to prohibit the sale of fruit, confectionery, soda-water, ginger-beer, or any other unintoiri- cat ing beverage."

This amendment was opposed by Mr. PousTEn ; but carried, by 38 to 4; and the clause as amended was agreed to.

Mr. POTTER proposed an amendment to the sevond clause—to the effect that bakers' shops might be kept open till two in the afternoon, and also to permit the sale of butcher's meat, fish, or greengrwery, be- fore half-past nine on the morning of Sunday.

A long discussion took place on this amendment ; which was op- posed by Mr. POULTER, Lord SANDON, and Sir Gismos: GREY; and supported by Mr. O'CONNELL, MT. FYSHE PALMER, Mr. BEaustoNT, and others.

Mr. O'CONNELL moved that the Committee rise ; but the motion was rejected, by 67 to 32.

Mr. POTTER withdrew the former part of his amendment relating to bakers' shops, as it appeared the present law permitted their being kept open till half-past one. The latter part of the clause, relating to the sale of butcher-meat, green-grocery, and fish, was canted, on a division, by 56 to 25.

An amendment proposed by Mr. HAI-COMB—which went to permit the sale of fish and greengrocery at all hours on Sunday except during have provided,' say they, or the Presbyteilan religion, and we have on prin-

be took advantage of that to escape into another county. Mr. 0' CON- NELL opposed this clause also ; and it was withdrawn.

Clauses 6th, 7th, and 8th, and the preamble, were agreed to.

The House having resumed, the Chairman brought up the report, and moved that it be received on Monday next.

Mr. O'CoNNEst moved that it be received that day six months. The House divided : for the amendment, 26; against it, 71; majority, Lord BROUGHAM then spoke at length in defence of the London University, and of the right of the Dissenters to found a College for themselves, as they were excluded from the national Universities.

When individuals exclaimed, "But why do you set about founding a Uni- versity excluding religious instruction?" he would ask them to consider and see how it was possible to found a University open to all, and yet to preserve a certain system of religious education. Was it meant to be said that they ought not to have founded that University ? Would any one get up at that time of day and say, " You have no right to found a Univeisity for Dissenters?" Would it be asserted, because Oxford and Cambridge kept them out, that it was therefore intolerable to found an establishment to which they might have free access? He should like to see at that time of day a specimen of such a reasoner— a specimen that would assuredly be fitter for a situation in the museum of a college than in its halls. (Laughter.) He should like to see a specimen of theanimal bipes el itnplume, possessing the voice and figure, but no other attribute of humanity, who would get up his place and contend that it was criminal, irreligious, hn- politic, and unfair to found a University for Dissenters. Why ? Because they were debarred from going to colleges that were established by the law of the land.

The Bishop of LLANDAFF wished to explain : he had never con- tended for any such doctrine.

Lord BROUGHAM was sure he never could—

The Bishop of LLANDAFF again wished to speak in explanation— Lord BROUGHAM—" No, no, not now."

It was iodeed tile custom on the other side of the way, where he and the

Bishop had been that morning, for several individuals to perform together ; there they had trios, and duets, as well as solos: but on this side of the way it was found more convenient, though perhaps not so harmonious, for only one to speak at a time. (Laughter.) By taking that course, the arguments of noble Lords were shorter and niore intelligible. He should now take an opportunity of saying one word relative to King's College. He had already adverted to the

principle% upon which it was founded. He, as Lord Chancellor, was visiter of

bers of the Established Church who felt objections to the London University.

Lord 13nouonam denied that he had attacked the Universities. The Duke of Wellington had not improved in logic by his visit to Oxford. The Duke had not heard, or at least had not understood, his remarks.

But it was the fate of every person, and especially of every legal person, when addiessing suck an assembly, not to be attended to. Of that he did not eons- plain ; but he roust complain that a charge had been brought against bins, not for what he bad said, but for diametrically the reverse of what he had sant. Ile appealed to noble Lords on the opposite bern.lits. (4‘ Hear, hear !" from the Onmsithm.) Surely the noble Duke would not say that they would get up and assert that any noble Lona even though he happened to be Lord Chaneellor, had said what he tad not said? He appealed to noble Lords opposite, whether he had not said exactly the reverse of what the noble Duke charged him with ? Then, .1aim he was datrged with introducing these subjects of discussion on the pre eet-ttion of petitions. No man was more careful to avoid doing so—he never did it. [The Duke if Wellingt,41 intimated his dissent.] And he said that if on the present occashat the nolde Duke thought that he was the rerstm who had introdueed ti w disetr,hat, the noble Duke Was wrong ; for the right reverend Prelate hal altrAn,-,el it. [The Duke of Wellington used some es pn-tssion.) The ii lithe Poke now ,tid that he was not aware of it. Mat Duke of Wellington—" No such thing ! "J It was easy to say " no such thing." It was not the alludon to the Lomlon University alone that had made liiit,et IT, but the Bishop lid aili.har hatl proceeded to refute hint in his very winsk, end it was that which had provoke:I hint to answer.

He then referred to the proceedings at the dinner in celebration of the founding of the London [lavers ity ; and said that when Oxford and Cambridge were mentioned, there was no indecent hissing, but hearty applause.

Bet the order of things was different on the banks of the Isis. (3,Tneh lariphter.) Such decorent was not indigenous to the shady retreats Of she Muses who haunted that e!a...ic stream. Upon one occasion—adieu thi e was no excuse for the hilarity of the evening, whieh was not so favourable to the effusion of classic strains, but its the morning, when the air was free from all vapours except those of theological controversy and political feeling—upon that occasion to which be referred, unrestrained by the presence, unawed by the grave aspects of illustrious dukes, archbishops, bishops, deans, and learned thm- tors, an ancient, and, he believed, a very ancient—a harmless, an infinitely harmless—an ancient and established practice which be would be the last per.. son to blame, and which he would only further describe as a peculiar and well-- known though not exceedingly delicate tootle of saluting a person—was resorted to. ( Continued lanyhter.)

The petitions wete then laid on the table, without further emnment.

6. POST-OFFICE: REFORM.

This subject leas discussed at length in the House of Commons on Thursday. Mr. ROBERT WALLACE moved an address, " prayieg that his Majesty will be graciously pleased to appoint a Commission to inquire into the tnanagement of the Post-office and Packet service." He began his speech by remarking on the irregular manner in which eertein documents, entitled " Papers relating to the Post-office," had been put into the hands of Members of Parliament. They were not prit•ted by order of the House, and no party had a right to send them round to the Members. He then proceeded to lay down four great primiples, on which a change in the Post, office system should be made. The first was, that the head of this department should not have the power of

allowing his dutiss to be delegates', or to delegate them. The second was, that no monopoly should be allowed to exist hi a public department. The third

was, that the public money should not be devoted to the purposes of speculation. And the last, and not least, was, that it was contrary to sound principle for any party in the receipt of revenue to be allowed the right to disburse it. The proper way to keep just and fair accounts in every department, obviously was, that every department in the receipt of revenue should pay it over to the Treasury, which should alone have the authority to disburse it.

These principle's were not at present acted upon in the conduct of the Post-office department. The power and patronage delegated to the Postmaster-General, or rather to the Secretary, were enormous. The Secretary had the control, in fact, of his superiors. Mr. Wallace read several documents to prove the great influence, and the large pay of the Secretary. Ile then adverted to a number of arrangements in the transmissiou of letters, and the forwarding of mail-coaches, which required amendment. He mentioned the notorious fact, that letters and papers were sometimes left behind, because the mails were said to be overloaded ; whereas common stage-coaches, on many roads, carried very much larger burdens, and at a greater speed than the mail-coaches. The Post-office at present proceeded upon the grovelling system of col- lecting revenue without regard to public convenience. If one mail- coach were not sufficient, why not employ two? The system on which the Solicitor's office was conducted required attention ; especially in Scotland, where 5:24 informations had been laid against parties for

111 lally conveying letters, in the same time that only 18 had been laid in Ireland and :100 in England. The Post-office authorities were in the habit of breaking Opell parcels and letters, to obtain information ; and in so doing were guilty of felony. His own letters had been opened sometimes, and sometimes delayed two days in London. In the de- livery of letters, there was nothing like impartiality. By the payment of 5s. or 78. a quarter, the letter-sorters and postmen could be bribed , to deliver certain letters earlier than others. He contended, that it was unfair to charge an additional penny for the delivery of letters and ! newspapers : this was an impost upon the poor man, while the aristo- cracy had their letters post-free. Mr. Wallace complained of the diffi- culty he had experienced in getting the returns he wanted, by which to ascertain the amount of money stolen from letters sent by mail. He ; could only get a list of those who had been prosecuted : and here was ! another subject of complaint—the Post-office authorities were allowed to compromise or prosecute, or pardon offenders, just as they pleased. - The delay which took place in the forwarding of letters front London once a week was a great inconvenience. No letter frosts the Metro- polis was forwarded by mail from seven o'clock on Saturday till the same hour on Monday night.

A Member—" The mails go."

Mr. WALLACE—" The mail-coaches go, but not the wails. The coaches go, because it is the interest of the proprietors that they should carry passengers."

In illustration of the ill effects of this system, he would mention a circum- stance which had come under his own observation. At the Receiving-house at Charing Cross, an individual (whom he subsequently ascertained to be a servant of Loot F. Fitzdarence), with a most creditable feeling, was anxious to send some pecuniary assistance to his brother, who he had reaS00 to believe was in a

dying state in 13triningliant. loan dirived a few miautes too Late .0, dm

Receiving-office, and his distress was indescribable. Ile seize(' the reins of the horse, declaring he would give all he possessed in the world if his letter would he taken. Mr. Wallace had subsequently, Cu the following Monday, franked the letter, containing two soveoeigns for the man ; but this ft :dental gift, by the delay which had ensued, might have teethe:, its destiaation too late to be of benefieto the party whom it was destined to assist. In this respect, the country towns had the advantage of London. The cost and inefficiency of the Steam-packet service \vete notorious. This was owing to the refusal of the Post-office authorities to forward mails by the steam-boats attic respectable companies who offered to carry I hem for a trifle, and to their persisting in becoming packet- ownets and speculators, in spite of the recommendations of Committees and Commissions eppointed by Parliament. AR immense loss hail in this way been incurred, tnid multifarious jobs been promoted. Mr. Wallace then referred to the robberies and peeulations that had dis- gineed the Editilerell Post-office ; and to the inconvenient and unsafe

mode ilt ecut veyina lit ti jut Scotland, adopted for the sake of making twopently-halliwntry reduetions. Ile read a number of extracts from evidence given before Committees of the house, relative to the inex- pudieney of meleentratille such a variety of duties and so much patroh- age in the hands of one person ; and insisted that the mass of evidence which he had reed, and which bad been laid on the table of the House, proved the necessity of inquiry at least into the state of this depart- ment.

This is necessarily an imperfect account of Mr. Wallace's speech, as the reporters complained that, owing to his rapidity of utterance, much of what lie bl was not distinctly heard in the Gallery.]

AIr. E. le 111-1.wrie seconded the motion. He contended, that the fact of there having beam no improvement in the revenue, notwithstand- ing the great increase of counnercial transactions and epistolary com- munications, was a clear proof of gross mismanagement, end the ne- cessity of inquiry. The revenue of the French Post-office bad doubled dining the period that ours had remained stationary. It was clear that, in this country, either the rates of postage were fixed too high, or the revenues were not well intensged, or the expenses of the establishment were too great for its profits.

Mr. VERNON SMITH said, that lie appeared in defence of a depart- ment with which Ile had no ttcquaintance, at the personal solicitation of the Duke of Richmond, to evliose character and businesslike talents lie paid a high compliment. He felt great difficulty, he confessed, in re- plying to Mr. Wallace's discursive speech. Mr. Wallace would find, on reference to the orders for returns made by the House of Commons, that the Duke's " Papers " were not volunteered ; though Ile did not think the Duke e-as much to blame even if lie had volunteered infor- mation. He did not think that the feeling of the country was in favour of sending the mails from London on a Sunday. Mr. Wallace's coun- trymen certainly were not in favour of it.

Mr. Wei.sech—" In Scotland the mails do go on Sundays, and the Post-ullices ate open."

Mr. SMITH continued. Sir Francis Freeling, upon whom Mr. Wal- lace bad fallen foul, was acknowledged to be very obliging and civil. As to his salary, he would not be dragged into discussing that subject. He defended the system adopted by the Post-office, of choosing the parties to whom the charge of conveying the mails was confided.

The priuciple which they adopted was, not to make their contracts subject to open competition, but to select the principal dealers in each article, and give the contract to the best bidder among them, thus limiting it to those persons whose respectability insured responsibility. But Mr. Wallace went on to say, why not start two mails? If he liked to pay double postage for his letters, this might certainly be done, otherwise he did not see how it would he practicable. This, perhaps was part of Mr. Wallace's scheme; if, indeol, be had a scheine—if it was not a series of petty details, intended for the convenience of the districts with e hich he was more peculiarly connected.

There was no need of a Commission of inquiry. Mr. Wallace him..

self was a standing commission of inquiry. It was necessary that the post-office should have the power of opening patcels, upon receiving information that they contained letters. Mn. Wallace should pardon the Post-office if all things were not done to his fancy.

It might so happen that they did not always understand what he wanted, and that it:turns for winch he had called were in consequence not presented. He had himself taken the liberty of correcting some phraseology of the honourable Member, couched no doubt in what was pure Scotch, but not quite so intelli- gible to English ears, when the honourable Member moved for a return of "all letters which were gone a-missing." (Loud laughter.) Ile begged Mr. Wallace to consider what would be tine effect of his motion. Commissions were not just now at a premium. He disliked the division of responsibility which arose from putting departments under the control of a Commission. As it was, improvement was making rapid progress in the Post-office department ; in proof of which, Mr. Smith instanced the free transmission of newspapers to and frore France and the Colonies. The country was not obliged to Coma '•-• sioners, but to the Duke of Richmond, for this. He concluded by mov- ing as an amendment, that the House should resolve itself into a Com- mittee on the Postage Acts; when he would explain the mode which had bee:: adopted for the transmission of newspapers free of expense.

The :SPEAKER said, this motion was out of order.

Mr. SMITH said, then he should be obliged to meet Mr. Wallace's motion with a direct negative.

Mr. HUME maintained that the Post-office department called loudly for inquiry.

As to Mr. Smith's sneers at Commissions in general, would he suffer him to

ask, with what justices ITICMilet of the present Government could sneer at Corn.. missions, looking at the numberless, not to say useless Commissions that were now afloat? He would be willing to effect a compromise upon the present

question with the Government, by taking their engagement not to oppose the

appointment of a Committee of inquiry into the Post-olliee affairs if asked for early next session. Mr. Smith had asserted the claims of the Duke of Richmond

to the late concessions with respect to the reciprocal transmission of newspapera

between France and England. Now lie could refer Mr. Smith and the House on this point to a letter of the Duke of Richmond to the Chancellor of the

Excheoller, dated July 16, ltstid, wherein the Duke valued the revenue arising to the Post-office from this source at 3,5001., which was divided among the fifteen clerks and the chief of the Foreign Post-office, and, indeed, formed

the whole of their remuneration. The Duke of Richmond had made this is question of revenue with Lord Althorp, and asked him whether he could afford' to sacrifice no large a sum for the mere poreuse of intleasiog the luxuries of those who &sit oil in native or England to see the join nals uf either country ? And yet, after Such a letter as this, Hr. Smith must deeds put in a claim fur the readiness with which the Doke '‘f irchatond adopted this alteration, and indeed, the merit of having been the in pose it ! All Mr. Hume Was

disposed to do was, to give the Duke credi: actiniesunce in this alters-

Coo, when he found it utterly impossible for M.. longer to oppose it.

Mr. Hume also expressed his strong disapprobation of the recent ap- pointment of the Marquis of Conynghain to the office of Postmaster. General. It was a mere political appointment, and proved that the Government still clung to the old system of patronage.

Lord ALTHORP said, that Mr. Wallace had no distinct idea of the principle on which the Post-office was founded. Ile at one time spoke of it as merely a revenue. department ; and at another as if public con- venience, not revenue, was alone to be consulted in its management. But while public convenience was the main consideration, Lord Althorp thought that all ideas of revenue ought not to be laid aside. On this mixed principle the Post-office ought to be conducted. He could state that bills for the consolidation both of the Stamp and Post- office Acts were in preparation. The reason why the revenue had not increased, was because it great number of letters were illegally conveyed by private hand. He thought it would be unwise to appoint a Commas- mon. The Government was as competent to inquire into the manage- ment of the Post-office, as a Commission would be. At the same time, if this should not appear to be the case, he hoped that he should not be accused of inconsistency if lie hereafter moved for the appointment of a Commission.

After some further discussion,—in which Mr. BUCKINGHAM, Mr.

LABOUCHERE, and Mr. C. Woon, took part —Mr. WALLACE replied briefly ; and the motion was negatived, without a division.

7. BREACH OF PRIVILEGE; LORD BROUGHAM AND TILE :MORNING

POST.

Last night, Lord BROl7GIIAM called the attention of the House of Peers to a gross breach of privilege, mid a false and malicious libel on himself, in the Morning Post of that mordiug. During the tweilty-four years he had been a Member of Parliament, he had never taken such a step, though, God knows, he had received abundant men/ovation. He wished in this iustatiee he could lily hold of the author of the libel ; who was one, he doubted not, that ought to have known better, and let the publisher, his instrument, go flee ; but the terms of the libel were such that it wits impossible not to take notice of it. Lord Brougham then read the libel from the Post; which charged him with having garbled an entry on the journals of the House of Peers, after having been warned by Lord DOMINO und another friend, that he hod given wrong judgment in a cause to which the entry referred. The cause was that of " Solarte versus Palmer," which was appealed from the Courts below. Lord Brougham WAS formerly engaged as counsel in the same cause ; and, it was asserted, had recta JJJJJ ended the appeal to be made, which he now dismissed with costs. The libel was couched in extremely irritating and contemptuous language; and concluded with these words.

" Inhere is one nobleman in the Upper Home.

SU__c_.011s in Lie very least &OPP fir Cs- diAnity or his order, this maticr tult,t be noticed si luost delay. If .■ hat we tell .s true. Lord Itrou2 ham is mujill to pesi,te in the Court C baces-ry as a Ju Ige, to sit ill Parliament as a Peer. to move in sodi,-ty 4S a gentleman. It what Sr.' tell is ml e. there never was committed a grosser breach of piivtlege than that of o:,ich se ate to-day guilty.- Lord Brougham utteily denied the truth of ti-e npiiiist He had received nu hint from Lord Denman, co am y other person, that his decision was wrung or injudicioMe; and Le ..ad net in any way whatever interfered with the record on the books of their Lordships' House. The libeller fanried that he had grounds for his charge, because the decision was not entered on the minutes in the NOM! terms - as it was given vied voce; but it was the invariable t ractice, that when motion that the judgment of the Courts below be tainted was agreed to, it was entered, " judgment postponed." Lord Brougham further explained this When the order is made, and your Lordships have agreed to affirm a decree, the costs are stated pro frnna at 3.50/., but the real a lllll unt is left to be weer- Mined. Three hundred mai fifty lllll nds is the maximum sum. The costs can - not exceed that sum, but they might be less, they might he 250/. or 2001, The judgment is afterwards entered up, together with the teal amount of the costs. That great improvement, which was directed by one of toy noble anal learned predecessors, was made .tears and years before I entered this House. On all occasions. ever since this rule has been in loom, the order has been pronounced as I pronounced it ; but the judgment has never been entered up till the real amount of the costs has been ascertained. In every one case, I repeat, the judg- ment is moved to be affirmed with costs, but it is entered iu the way I have de- scribed to your Lordships—. Judgment postponed.' " But the ignorant and malicious libeller, on referring to the Jounnals, found the entry different from that which might be expected from the

motion ; and therefore charged him with falsifyiug the judicial decision

of the House. As regarded the charge of his twit g advised, as coon- , sel, an appeal which he now declared should never have been made, be could explain that also. He did not think that he was uound, as a judge, to decide according to an opinion which he had given us rt perhaps pre-

judiced advocate. But, in this case, it was impossible he could have

advised the appeal to the House of 15; for the cause mm as vied in

the Exchequer before the Twt lye Junigt -onently to his becoming Chancellor, and long after it had been .• a nefore Lord 'I'enterden, when he was counsel in the cause. Lord Brougham then detailed several

c.....unastances attending the conduct of this case by the appellants, with a vi -w to defend the decision which had ultimately been given ; and concluded with some observations on the necessity of vindicating the character of the highest court of judicature in the land from such foul calumnies as had been levelled against it.

Earl aliEv then moved that the concluding paragraphs of the article in the Po. were a gross libel and breach of the plivileges of the House.

This resolution was agreed to.

Lord IV vNFolilleonfirmed what Lord Brougham had stated respecting the form of entering judgment. The Duke of W1 id. so CON and the Earl of MANSFIELD deel,.red that they were deceived by the mode in which it was dote. and had suml posed that there must be sonic mistake in the

entry. The Earl of Mansfield also observed, that in the written minute of the proceedings, which was different front the printed one, the words "to be" were interlined above the word "affirmed." Lord BROUGHAM said the clerk must explain that—he had nothing to do with it.

It was then resolved, "That Thomas Paine, the publisher of the Morning Post, should appear at the bar of the House to-morrow (this day), at half-past three o'clock."

8. INTERRUPTION OF MEMBERS GOING TO TIIE HOUSE OF COMmoNs.

Colonel WILLIAMS complained, on Tuesday, that he had been prevented for some time from entering the House, by the Military and Police who lined the streets to preserve order on the occasion of the King going to Westminster Abbey to attend the Musical Festival. He moved for a copy of the orders to the Military and Police to ob- stiuct the avenues of the House of Commons.

Mr. HENRY BULWER seconded the motion, and made a similar com- plaint. He had been grossly abused by the Police.

Lord Howlett thought Mr. Bulwer should have complained to the Police Commissioners, or to some of the authorities. (Load cries of " No !" and " Oh, oh !) Ile would of course see that a proper ex- amination was made into the subject matter of the complaint.

Mr. Ber.wEa replied, that he did not think it consistent with the dignity of that House, or of its Members, that they should go up and down hunting out Lord Howick as a receptacle for their complaints, when the insult of which they complained was not so nitwit an insult to themselves personally, as an insult to the House, of which they we're elected Members.

Mr. WARBURTON expressed the same opinion. Mr. O'CONNELL called upon the Speaker to vindicate the privileges of the Commons.

The SPEAKER said, that he could not be expected to give an opinion on the nierits of the case, which was now before the House, and sub- ject to its decision ; but it would have certainly been his duty to men- tion it, had not Colonel William anticipated him. A brief conversation then ensued, in which Lord John RUSSELL, Mr. ROBINSON, and Sir J. WROTTESLEY took part. It ended in Colonel WILLIAMS withdrawing his motion, on the assurance of Lord Howicx that a strict inquiry should beInade, and the cause of complaint removed.

9. MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS. 9. MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS.

PRISONER'S COUNSEL BILL. On Tuesday, this bill was considered hi Committee in the House of Commons ; and the first clause was amended, on the motion of Mr. Pot.t.ocK ; so that, in all criminal eases, the party accused shall have the liberty to defend himself by e el; provided that if evidence should be given on the part of the defence, mid the prosecutor's counsel should reply upon such evidence, then the defendant's counsel should have a right of addressing the Court upon the whole case. In the course of the discussion, Mr. POLLOCK Said, that Sheriff Il'ilde had told him, that during seven months of his shrievalty he had saved seven convicts from being hanged, on the ground of their inno.. reface alone.

EQUALIZATION OF DUTIES ON EAST AND WEST INDIA PRODUCE. The House was counted out on Tuesday, on the motion of Mr. 017os:is:ELI., just after 'Mr. EWART hail concluded it speech of some length with moving a resolution, to the effect that the duties on East India produce should be lowered to an equality with those OD the same articles from other British possessions.

Sourit AUSTRALIAN COLONY. Leave was given, on Monday, to Mr. WOLRYCHE WHITDIORE to bring in a bill to establish a new British Colony in South Australia.

BUNGARVAN ELECTION; INTERFERENCE OF GOVERNMENT. MT. FERGUS O'CONNOR presented a petition, on Wednesday, from Richard Keefe, an elector of Dungarvan, complaining of illegal treatment by a Magistrate during the late contest, and most outrageous acts of intimi- dation by the Police. A conversation of some length took place; in which 51r. LITTLETON, Mr. SHEIL, Mr. LAMBERT, MT. GissoRNE, and others, joined. In the course of this discussion, it came out that a subscription had been raised to assist the Government candidate, Mr. Barron ; a portion of which, amounting to 500/., had been forwarded to Dutigarvan by Mr. Crampton, Solicitor-General for Ireland; who said in his letter, that it was the sum "promised." Several other facts, tending to implicate the Government, were also stated, on the authority oi some letters received by Mr. Crampton, which he had torn up, but the fragments of which had been put together by a dishonest servant and given to the Repealers. It was said that Mr. Stanley had been a stabscriber to the Barron fund ; but this he denied. Mr. Galway, the Member for Waterford, was charged directly with bribery, and Mr. O'CONNOR declared he could prove the fact. Mr. LITTLETON promised that the circumstances should be inquired into.

THE BUDGET. In reply to questions from the Marquis of CHANDOS and Mr. BARING, Lord ALTHoae mentioned on Thursday, that he should make his financial statement a day or two after the close of the present quarter.

WINDOW-TAX. Mr. THICKN ESSE moved the following resolution on Thursday. "That after the end of the present financial half-year, the ditty on each mindow above the number of thirty.nine, in any dwelling-house in Great Britain, shall be the same as is now chargeable on each Will.aW above the number of eleven and below the bomber of forty." The SPEAKER said, that such a motion ought to be made in a Com- mittee of the whole House ; and Mr. THICKNESSE then moved that the House resolve itself into Committee.

Lord ALTHORP opposed the motion. Before the next meeting of Parliament, he would consider the subject ; but it was not worth while to alter the financial arrangements of the year for so small an object.

The motion was then withdrawn.

STATE OF THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST. The Marquis of CHANDOS gave notice on Thursday, that when the order of the day for going into a Committee of Supply should be read, on Monday the 7th of Judy, lie should submit a motion on the subject of re,oichltural

distress.

GAME LAW AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. LENNARD moved the second reading of this bill, on Thursday. Mr. G. BERKELEY moved that it be read that day six months. Two divisions took place for Mr. LENNA.RD'S motion 33, against it 43; for Mr. BERKELEY'S amendment 55, against it 24: so the bill was thrown out, by a majority of 31.

THE CONSULAR SERVICE. On Thursday, Mr. FLEETWOOD moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the nature of the duties of British Consuls in foreign countries, their modes of performing them, and into the means of rendering their services more generally useful. Lord PALMERSTON objected to the motion, at the late period of the session which has now arrived ; but promised to refer the Consular estimates to a Select Committee next session. Mr. FLEETWOOD then withdrew his motion.

POSTAGE OF NEWSPAPERS. On the motion of Mr. VERNON SMITH, last night, the House agreed, in Committee, to a resolution that a post-

age of 2.d. be levied on every newspaper going to and coining from foreign countries through the Post, till arrangements were made for the

mutual transmission of papers postage-free ; also, that the Postmaster- General be authorized to forward through the Post certain unstamped papers, on payment of such sums as may from time to time be agreed

PERTHSHIRE ELECTION. Admiral FLEMING presented a petition, last night, from five hundred electors and other inhabitants of Perth- shire, complaining of the undue return of Sir George Murray, and claiming the protection of the ballot. Sir GEORGE MURRAY said that the petitioners should have petitioned against his return. He owed his election, he was proud to say, to the good opinion of his constituents, not to undue means.

TRIAL OF MORENO. Lord PALMERSTON stated, last night, that the Law Officers of the Crown bad been consulted as to the legality of prosecuting the Spanish General Moreno for the murder of Mr. Boyd at Malaga. He had little doubt as to their opinion ; for Poyd was put to death according to the law of .Spain, and the law of nath ns; having knowingly gone with the band of Torrijos to excite an in,iiiiection on the Spanish territory. Mr. O'CoNNELL, Mr. BUTT, and Mr. O'DWYER, hoped that some legal means would be found of punishing the treacherous murderer.

COMPENSATION TO COUNTY CLERKS. Sir CHARLES PEPYS, (So- licitor General) moved, on Thursday, that the House should go into Committee to consider of the amount of compensation to be given out of the county-rates to county officers suffering a diminution of income by the operation of the Central Criminal Courts Bill. Mr. HUME, Mr. WARBURTON, Mr. AGLIONBY, and Mr. DENISON, objected to giving compensation,:until the equitable claims of the parties to it were proved. A division took place, and the House refused to go into Committee, by a majority of 27 to 14. The measure is therefore lost.

hum COERCION BILL. Lord MELBOURNE stated in the House of Peers, on Wednesday, that the Coercion Bill would in the first in- stance be brought forward in that House ; and Bail Grey would in a few days give the necessary notice for it. Mr. Lirri.E.roN made a similar statement in the House of Commons; but declined answering a question of Mr. O'CONNELE. Its to whether there was ally connexion between the Irish Tithe Bill and the new Coercion Bill. Ile said that the measure would speak for itself.

DRAMATIC PERFORMANCES BILL. The House of Lords refused to Igo into Committee on this bill, last night, by a majority of 22 to 8. It Is therefore lost.

CHURCH REFORM. In reply to a question from the Duke of Cyst. BERLAND, Lord BROUGHAM stated, on Wednesday, that he wished to have his Non-residence Bill passed this session; the bill relating to Pluralities might be deferred till next session. Lord WYNFORD ex- pressed his decided disapprobation of every clause in both the bills. The Archbishop of CANTERBURY also said that the bills required nu- merous and important alterations. Lord BROUGHAM refused at that time to discuss the question, and the conversation dropped.

Law REFORM. On Wednesday, Lord BROUGHAM moved for a copy of the First Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the state of the Criminal Law, with a view to form a digest of the same. He spoke in very high terms of the Report ; which contained, as a specimen, a digest of the laws relating to theft. After a few words from Lord WYNFORD, who promised to give the subject his best atten- tion during the recess, the motion was agreed to.