Elcbatrs anbVtotccbinqs 113arliantent.

THE CORN-LAWS.

Mr. Vitt.] ster's renewed motion on the Corn-laws was the subject of a long discussion in the House of Commons, on Tuesday. It was in the same terms as the previous motion—i• That this House immediately resolve itself into a Coannittee of the whole House, to take into con- sideration the act regulating the importation of Foreign Corn."

Mr. Villiers commented his speech by referring to the "very singular course the House had thought fit to adopt with respect to his last mo- tion." Ile knew it might be said that the House adopted that course on the motion of 31r. Warburton ; butt under what ciseumstances had that motion been made ? Only after the majority had refused to adjourn the debate ; six hours out of seven having been occupied by speakers for the Corn-laws, and forty Members who would have voted to repeal theta having gone away. To prevent a division which would not have exhibited the real opinion of the House, Mr. Warburton felt it right to move the adjournment of the House. No doubt, the renewal of the motion was inconvenient ; but he was not sorry that inconvenience had resulted from the refusal to discuss fairly a subject of such importance to the people. The discussion which had taken place, however, had done much for the discovery of truth, and had brought the subject back to this simple question—" What right or reason had one class of pro- prietors in this country to impose heavy burdens on time rest of the community., for the purpose of saving their own fortunes?" That question had as yet received no answer ; but until it was answered, the people would continue to believe that the Corn-laws rested on the rough rule of might. That was now tine prevalent opinion, as far as it could be ascertained by ordinary means. He thought it right to remind the House of the progress this question had made in Parliament and out of doors. When in 18:17 he rose to make a motion on the subject, the apathy and indifference was so great that some County Member was enabled to count out the House. Again in 1838, it was alleged that the people felt little interest in the question—that there had been no public meetings and few petitions. What was the consequence of that assertion: There was not a single town in Great Britain which bad not met to place on record their opinion against the Corn-laws ; and the question had been so thoroughly sifted that every mechanic was prepared with a refutation of the arguments adduced by the lauded in- terest. To some of those he should briefly advert. And first, it was contended that the Corn-laws were beneficial to the labouring popula- tion. But he maintained that the agricultural labourer had been worse off during the last eighteen months than for sonic years previously, and that the general condition of time peasantry was considerably inferior to what it was three centuries ago. In support of this riiinion, Mr. Villiers quoted Sir J. Fortescue, Arthur Young, and Medial halt. To prove that in the ratio that food was cheap, the health of the community was

good, he referred to returns of deaths in seven of the manufacturing

towns of England, which showed a large increase iu deaths in the years when corn was dear. in 1801, the price of wheat was 118s. :id. a quarter, and the deaths 557965. In 1807, notwithstanding the increase of population, the deaths were only 48,108 ; but then, wheat had fallen to 73s. 3d. a quarter— Was it not something shocking for the Legislature deliberately to persist in maintaining a law which was ever spreading disease, occasioning death, and

weighing down industry, and all this for no other purpose but to add to the

wealth of the country ? lle did not mean to say that the wealthy classes were more untlxling ov herd-hearted than other people, but the fact was that they were not aware of the extent of the evil, and of the misery occasioned by this law, being misled by those who ought to know better. He believed that it'

those classes were aware of the real consequences of the law, they would meet the question in a very different way from that in which they now regarded it,

He defended the manufacturers from the imputation of desiring tO lower the rate of wages. The manufacturers were desirous of em- ploying their capital on such terms as would enable them to give good wages, but the Legislature prevented them. There was abundant evidence that the twenty-six millions of people in the countries now included in the Prussian League were ready for a commercial treaty with this country on fair terms—eager to exchange their corn and timber for British manufactures ; but the Legislature of this country stood in the way. It was even yet possible to negotiate with advantage with the Governments of Germany ; but if we dawdled on for another two years and did nothing, the opportunity might be lost. But it was said, England must not be dependent upon Germany or any foreign nation for a supply of food; and the President of the linited States was quoted as a great authority on this point. President Van Buren had said, " There was nothing so disastrous as for a country to depend on other countries for a supply of food": but assuredly. 3Ir. Villiers thought there was something even more disastrous than this, and that was for a country to want food and have no other country to depend upon for it ; and this might be Englaed's case, thongs not America's with its vast extent of whsle !mid. Although such paltry pretences as these were put forward by some defenders of the Corn-laws, others took a more intelligible line of argument. One Alember had said that he could not shut his eyes to the advantages which the aristocracy derived front those laws, and another had said "he did not think the landed interest would be so soft as to give them up." Now these few words contained the whole pith of the matter, Even Sir Robert Peel had almost abandoned argument on the question; for in his speech on the last debate, all he did was to show that other causes had disturbed the currency of the country before there were any Corn-laws; which Mr. Villiers thought a very inconclusive reply, even to that portion of the argument against the c orn-laws which was founded on the fact that a disturbance of the currency arose from the importation of foreign grain at irregular intervals. He could not help thinkieg that Sir Robert Peel was dissatisfied with the course time ne- cessities of his position compelled him to take on this question; for there was a manifest danger that the distresses of the people might urge them to demand more extensive changes than a repeal of the Corn-laws, if that demand were refused. Ile unapt a,!. Sir Robert and others to reflect whether there was not something in the social and political aspect of affairs which deserved their caimi t eaueeissa. thin ?- 1t would lie well if they COSSMeTell the increasing in telligeme or the people, and the It111:,(2 Or oppression diffused amongst them. It would he well it' they could appropriate their time to the solution of the question—if they could hni- prove till' condition of the people, and allay the existim; irritation. To deny the existence of that irritation, was to rehtse the evidences of their own facul- ties. To suppose that it would vanish without the removal of the 01119V, WM as idle as to imagine that the flames of it limning home would extinguish themselves. It was in his opinion little short of insaaity to disregard the signs by which they were warned of those ilangors.. The people were ill-led, over-worked, under-paid ; obliged to forego the decencies of life to provide bread for their families out of their wretched pittance. In the name of those elassss whose misery they Were about to augment by new burdens, and to avert the evil conse- quences which the continuance of their sulTerbes emit produce, he called upon the House to consider deliberately those laws which en- hanced the price of food, and generated discontent—. It was uryless to tell the people that the evils of :melt prohibition were in. evitable. They would not believe it. They would refer to men of the highest reputation who had denounced these laws. They might mention names in such high repute with the supporters of the Corn-km, as those of Burke, Johnson, and Chalmers. Burke said—" God bath given the earth to the chid- dreu of men ; and he, undoubtedly, in giving it to them, has given them what is almodantly sufficient for all their exigencies—not a .Tailty, but a most liberal provision. The Author of our nature has written it strongly in that nature, and has promulgated the same thing in his Mord. tlmt min shall eat his bread by his labour ; and I am persuaded that no Mall, or combination of men, tar their own profit, run, without great impiety, undertake to sly that he shall not do so, and that they have any sort of right eitlw r io %cut. the labour or to withhold the bread." The authority. of Dr. ;Johnson teisit I lo tk 1 01 I the same side : in a conversation with the grandfather et he aut her ei he present Corn-law, sir Thomas Rudd:Isom upon a law which o a. twcro.,,i respecting the admission of Irish produce into England, when Sie Thomas Robinson ob- served that th,,c laws might be prejudicial to the corn inicreA in Englund, "Sir Thome,- said Dr. Johnson, " you talk the lammage of a savage: what, Sir ! would you prevent any people trout feeding theii selves. if h■ in honest menus they car do it ? " 1/r. Chalmers had ilerla red that tlit, Corti-laws poisoned the air ; that there was a moral taint in these mid that there would be no peace until they were repealed. Mr. Villiers len the question to the House, trusting that they weld avail themselves of the accident tiltich pre them a second opportunity of considering it.

Mr. Srnurr secouded the motion, and applied himself chitty to that part of the question which had reference to the evils ereadoned by fluctuation iu t ;lees. Ile contended that the sliding scale of Mines was calculated to insure fluctuation in time price of corn.

Sir Cumilses Ilennsm, led the opposition to the motion, Ile denied

that Mr. Villiers's representation or the coreitiu n of the labouring classes was correct. In his part of the country ssises were good. On his own farm he paid twelve shillings a week. and the men worked freely and fairly. lie considered it a delusion Ism es ;met Ilea totthuhte- t ores would be exported for foreign corn. Gold o mild be paid for it tout he hilted the Public creditor would consider how his interests would be affected by that operation.

tion generally, end especially in Leicester; and coutenderi. that a re. popula- Mr. EasTlione described the distress of the inamtfacturing peal of the Chris-haws could alone avert es its of fearful magnitude. Mr. Glimmer lissorneort was certain that NV;1r( ,4 NV V:11(1 fall if the Corn-duties were taken oft'; turd such was the pi 01.11:it'll among the labouring population, who were not on the r ids. of t he eslonetits of the Corp-laws. The masses had matte no dentonsmsaiimi aganmst those laws, whilst the landed 'merest had all the tr.olesioen in the small towns and the asTicultural population on their side. l lc /booed that deterioration in the condition of the people which Air. Villiers had hi' houred to demonstrate—

Nothing could place the Corn-lave in a more favourable light than the ante

gonted condition of the people. Fifty years ago, the common people con- sumed the blackest of bread possible. Throughout that part of the country with which he was acquainted, find, he might add, generally throughout York- Aire, the labourers ate the finest possible wheaten bread. It was said that the Be of potatoes had increased. If they did, it was an addition to and not a substitute for the usual diet of the labourer. Moreover, the great cheapness of fueland clothing led him to the conviction that the labourers were scarcely ever better off than at present; and this accounted for the great flicility in getting signatures to petitions in thvour of the present Corn-laws. Sir MERV PARNELL spoke indistinctly, and was almost inaudible. He began by declaring the readiness of his constituents in Dundee to give up every kind of protection they possessed as manufacturers— As to the linen-trade, though it was carried on to a great extent at Dundee, be was sere his constituents were willing to surrender any duty which might be considered in their throw; and he had heard that the repeal of the bounties which they formerly enjoyed with respect to this article increased the trade.

Sir Henry then endeavoured to persuade the landed gentlemen that their incomes would not be reduced by abolishing the Corn-laws, and that the quantity of laud in cultivation would not he diminished— For the seven years after 1815, the average price of corn was 75s.; for the next ten years, to ls:12, it iva: fins.; and for the years 18:34, 1835, and 18:36, it was 44s. 8d. Now, with this 1411 in prices, we ought to have the cultivatiou of land very much reduced. But the more facts were examined, the more evident it would he that no such event took place. As the population increased from 1815 to 1837 for millions and a lmlf, it was manifest they could nut be fed if any large portion of the country had not been cultivated. That being the case, all the other arguments advanced against the repeal of the Corn-laws fell to the &round; because, it' it were proved that lands were not thrown out of cultivation during the period he specified, and that in 1837 the state of our manufactures, and trade, and revenue, MIS most flourishing, they were led to the further conclusion that every thing might go on well notwithstanding a great fall in prices, and the continuance Of those low prices.

All objections to repeal the Corn-laws seemed to center in this one— that Corn-laws were necessary to keep up the price of corn— Bow was that to be effected? By keeping out foreign corn? Now, if honourable 31embers examine the question, in order to come to a distinct and accurate judgment, lie thought that all their apprehensions would be removed. But this was at subject honourable Members opposite never referred to. Look- ing at the thuds he had stated, and the reduction which he bad shown to have taken place, as well as thud there had been no reduction of rent, and 11011C of the evils which were predicted from a change in those laws, he thought that the landed interest would not run any great hazard if a perfectly free importation was allowed.

Mr. Ilatr.mm referred to the condition of the labourers in Poland, as proof that cheap corn would not prevent poverty and distress.

Mr. JAMES would go into Committee, to vote not fur immediate, un- qualified repeal, but for a moderate fixed duty.

Lord Satsocee quoted Mr. Senior as his authority for believing that the working classes in Eugland, though ted with dear corn, were much better off than the same classes on the Continent, where w heat was low-priced. He did not consider the present laws the most perfect that might be devised ; but he could not go into Committee under the guid- ance of Mr. Villiers, who had declared, not for modification, but total repeal.

Mr. Wantorterox was assailed with loud cries of "Divide!" and " Question !" He said, he was willing to support a moderate fixed duty as an intermediate step, for he recollected that Mr. lluskisson had stated that the first step towards total repeal would be a moderate fixed duty.

Mr. HANDLEY spoke against, and Mr. Maim PRELIM'S in favour of the motion, amidst noisy interruption.

Lord JORN thissm.r. obtained a hearing. He delimded the course taken by Government on the Corn question— It was his opinion, that if upon a question of this kind there was a general disposition to have an alteration of the law, and a general wilt to have the question settled by some new measure of legislation, but that there was a diversity of opinion as to the measure that ought to lie adopted, the Govern- ment might safely step in and frame such a measore as might be conducive to the national interests, and propose it for the adoption of Parliament, thereby securing a greater support for it than any individnal member could obtain. Such, however, was not the position of the question of the Corn-laws. There were Members on both sides of the Douse who thought that there ought not to lie any alteration of the present laws. That being the ease, the introduc- tMn of a measure on the part of the Government would have been only adding to all the arguments and prejudices which influenced the votes :Ind opinions of Members on the subject, and giving rise to party strife and contention, thereby not promoting but retarding the settlement of the question. The Government had not in the present or former debates interposed that obstacle.

He was opposed to the existing duties, as calculated to produce inju- rious fluctuation in prices, and would support in Committee :t moderate fixed duty. Ile was opposed to the entire abolition of protecting-duties both in corn and manufactures, though he would not express himself so strongly on the subject as his noble friend at the head of the Govern- ment.

Mr. Pnysim moved an amendment to add these words to the motion- " with a view to the reduction of the average prices:" but as no Member seconded the amendment, it was not put front the Chair.

Mr. lilt NW. did lint expect so much benefit from repealing the Corn- laws as some advocates of repeal expected. Ile was of opinion that the excess or money which was paid every year by the people was by no means altogether lost to them. If these laws were re- pealed, the price of corn, the rent of land, the value of land, and the rate of wages, would be speedily reduced to the Continental level. And, more than fins, a very large proper,;nu of our internal trade would lie destroyed, for which no mere:Ise in our foreign trade that he could anticipate would compensate. It appeared to hini, that if any one interest was to be protected, the lauded in- terest was to he protected, the landed interest was entitled to that protection ae well as another. No class of the community ought to be protected at the expense of the rest. (Mess jean/ all sides.) Oh, lie had no ohjection to free trade in corn ; but then, if there was free trade corn, there ought to be free trade in gold mid silver, and every thing else. lie was quite vo are that

trade was in a very bad state, but he did not see that it would find

As remedy for this evil in the proposed plan. The evil effccts under which the erentr.i laboured were to he attributed to mi,eovernment, induced, as he firmly be- lieved, by the entire ignorance of the great majority of those who had consti- tuted Governments and Parliaments fit years hack as to their true objects and duties. Ile was willing to enter into an inquiry upon the subject—(" Hear, hear!" and laughte))—and he was led to support the proposition for going into Committee, upon this principle, that the landed intvrest had the power in their own hands of doing justice to the people, and that it would be their own fault if they did not exercise it. (Cheers and great laughter.) Mr. VILLIERS rose to reply, amidst loud cries of "Divide !" Some minutes elapsed before he was allowed to proceed. At length be said- " AVere it not for the agreeable surprise occasioned by the closing announce- ment of the honourable Member who had just sat down, that lie intended to vote for the motion for going Otto Comniittee, I was about to congratulate the opposite party upon the accession of at least one friend lit the course of this de- bate. Tlie honourable AI/utter for Birmingham is. in fact, the only gentleman who has really spoken against the motion I have pr ,posed. 'Chat honourable gentleman has clalmed for himself a general superiority of knowledge and u full possession of uvery kind of information upon this subject. ("Hear, hear!" and laughter.) Ceti ainly, if superiority of knowledge: can be established by renderi»g himself wholly iiicoiui liensible to party. he has folly and com- pletely ;undo out his claim. (Cho ra on,/ bovhicc.) I own, that giving him all the attention wh'ell his position demands, I ant utterly nitable to know what it is that he ineens. Curtantl.■,. it is from that :1;:art :I. that I did expect some Confusion to ea,t. 1;:tO tilt` iii,Vit:d011 Opoil this matter. I remember his pre- decessor in this II st : and to say the ti min I do not think the honourable Member an inewor, hy successor. ("Ifeile:" o.rd l nr•I!•In•.) I hope, however, that the eentletmel us 110 elletlVd Lim r,r, prepared to assent to all the senti- melds that he sintered, or implied that he maintained. Because lie not only thinks that ll.. Corn-laws are advantageous. or that the repeal of them would not he a benetit, lett that he has other remedies in store to correct the evils of the voviit.c, which I imagine COI11101 be extremely palatable to the opposite side of the ilon:e. If 1 collect his views, it is not the repeal of the Corn- laws, but Io alter flue standard, to deal with tic. k'Zirroicy, to relieve the coun- try from its credilor—that always floats in the honourable Member's mind as the hest and only nicans of bestowittie a substaLfial benefit upon the coun- try. Therefore, if the gentlemen opposite take hint at all, they must take him with all his opinions."

lie would not detain the House long, for in point of fact he had no- thing to reply to- " 13lit 1 have all observation to make, which is this, that the Members of the House refuse to all:»w this question to be discussed. (Cries of" Oh!" and cheers.) I do not know what they mean by a questimi being discussed if they think. it is by creating smelt a dist utlelois• as to In eVcIlt the Members who en- deavour to address them from being beard. Nu le,: than six Nlembers who 11:1‘e nuttle the attempt have been obli:fed to altandoe the point, and to resume

;

their seats without uttering a word. -1 haVLavet"01werve, therefore, that the question of the Corn-laws has now arrived at this point, that the House of Commons refuses; to discuss it. No reply lids been offered to any argument thatthat has been advalwed. It was attempted on a Ihnoer ":'casino (11 get the question by a division. (ifemerot cr;is (Hi and great cheering.) It is ileterinined that there should be no disen,,,ion upon the question. The COD- dlia of the I louse upon till' SUbjeet Only corn- punch n it It the proceedings that little b cu auh a ,two ii ithout it walls. It Ica. I::trii �, i u: reds il:t when a per- sonai tired agricultural district tO 011111i011 1111,111 the COrt1.- a 1.1,1!9 I.i ph:, S:1•11 611';',' was trade to i!.,. pre-.ion or his opinions.

it this Home. Nohmly 1-, allowed to express his opinions moll Ibis matter. Out of the flouse the nrjeuttents of the e.or

hue e ere assailed he physical force ; within its they are putt downba; multi ;:nd diStOrleiiiiee, I know what the argument 1- against the protraction of the diseitssion—t hat there have been three nights' dettate. If there were two or three more nights' debate, wity should there not he: What arc the sub- ieets which are lo engage your attention if this i:luesu ion is not dl.ititssed? How is the time of the hhuu-c uuucupied? We have bc..1 sitting five niantlis, and what has 11001 Nutting that is in flue least degree interesting or advan- Iagsows to the great body of the community. We have bad nothing but party contentions. Every thing of a useful character that is prop feed is obstructe& And because now a matter is mooted that really is lute resting to the people, as affecting their condition generally, the most extraordinary impatience is nitwit', tot to prcreit honourable gentlemen from expressing their opinions."

[Shouts, laughter, cries of "flit!" " Question !" and " Divide !" in- terrupted every seilienc,• of Air. Villiers's reply. The I louse is described in the 7'intes as being in a state of "impatient timittlt."] The divisi fit took place—

Feu going into Conunittee 177

Against the Committee 300

Majority against considering the Corn-laws 123

GulNIIINC CORN ix BOND.

Mr. If e'r'r, on 'Ilitirsday. moved for a " Seleet Committee to inquire under what restrictions it might he exptaliont to permit flour to be manufactured it; bond." De showed how iiouriously the present re- strictions operated on British merchants-- Ile found from oltOeOa1 papers which the Secretary fir Foreign Affairs bad permitted him to have access to, that on an average of three years upwards of t:4,00;) tons of lb ;; di shipping annually repair to the port of Hamburg alone for the piurha-. it noel., and that upwards ut I 5.1 tun tons of shipping laden with flour annually left tile ports of Ilamlitiv:e l'opeldrigen, and 1/anutic, for the single calmly of Nev-finintlIttiel; and that for the supply of this colony with Hour and biscuit [upwards of 7.1,11110! sterling was annually I lid out in the port of !hamburg alone. Front Ili port or D uuotcic our I raileen carry off 11,-100,000119. of flour OlinnaliV, while the ,x.ict alumna exported from Copenhagen in the 'ell,. 1017 mei I • i•illy stated as follows: It I 8l7, wheat flour, 51f, : !! -!-!L!! ,!!■0,000. 10:Is, wheat 'lour, 9,tott,o0ollis.; :271,1122.7i! prodigious:mm.111:a might all line been manu- factured in Great fe; eh:. he. l'or these restrictive lows, which had been most improperly enoetvil, •ste!' abroad which, under it better system, might have gieen employ. u, nu to It; 1.1,11 capital is our own country. But this mat not the whole en the pioN :titan, by this system, was taken from the Mire ft labourer, and jels,e, to labourer of the Continent. The Earl of Danmsteros would not oppose it ; but gave Mr. Hutt notice, that if his Committee was composed principally of the advo- cates of free trade in corn, norcport they could make would be favour- ably received by the House. He felt bound to state now, as lie had done before, that the difficulties in the way of establishing diat security against fraud, which the landed interest had a right to expect, were almost, if not quite insuperable.

Mr. CURISTOPOER would vote against the motion, if he stood alone. Mr. HEATuroTE said, that Mr. Hutt's plan had been tried and proved to be impractietdde-

Mr. Butt maintained that them would be Ito frauds if corn were allowed to be ground while in Iwo but what was the experience of the former practice? .Why, that when c.o lied been allowed to be taken mit while in bond, for the purpose of being fmtintl, pounded chalk had been r.titrnist in its stead. A system of provisH:ii merchaut-vessels had crept into existence, which was, in some decree, frattiltileut : biscuit ;out bread were taken on hoard as men-

chandis.... and then pr‘isi,re,. if they sacceeded, as lie trwt d they

vould cot, in getting a f',:,wittee, whole system mast he examined into.

Sir J. IL hop( c • 1 •,' ' interest would act liberally towards

the didlipiag inters,. erare the Committee.

rile. CoUclik:Ii;, y.Tri,..`•!!:,* ill favour of the motion. Ile was

aitisfied there vote Ho

Sir C 7. .-1 -.aid his intention of voting with Mr. Hutt.

Nam. 1' aim Col:teel Woof>, leviso, and Mr. 'Wan-

utrwrox, sullen ted mo,ion : Mr. AV t 1;i:tie-los, however, was eon- -winced, that tho---.•.:•.!t the Committee might be granted, no bill would be

suffered to p.tss, moflon was .:otat•thing like a farce, after the seri- ouo yyisansain1 (Lee 1e. an il•;;;1.?1.d in. Motion for Commie-7.7 e.t.ed -0, by 126 to 54.

• 1111511 VoyEits.

WV. PrOOT (.c,IoCal for Ireland) obteined leave, on Toes- clay, to introduce a i :1:.1■0' the law for registering Parliannottary voters in Ireland. i exfia;illtd tile kaolin". provisions of the measure, but not with sufficient distinctness to entild'e us to give an intelligible occonet of' it. Very slight alteration in the existing practice seem: to be it-deeded.

Sir Ifoeieta: Peer. on l'imrsday, pa tposted the Committee on Lord Stanley 's 'Lilt from 'Thursday ileXt to the Thursday- following, us do- mestic eircumsomees were likely to prevent Lord Stanley's attendance oil the earlier day.

Quei,tro Arno.; OF Var.goa.

On Thor:ohne Mr. l'oioc obtained leave to bring in another bill "to remove doubts me it It rt,:arri to the quelifieation of voters in Irelatel for the election of :\ Tele' . 17- serve in Purlituttent, and to create a tribunal 'of appeal." Mr. Piet dwelt some time on the evils of the existing

law, hu: was extre hrief in Ids explanation of his own bill. Ile propos, s that the ye,11fiieolou shell Le the same as in two bills passed

by the If nisi:• of f and (MG ; and that the tribmial appeal should (eel: two barristers to sit in Dublin, to be assisted. by One of the titr.•17 .1 wi.•:es of ;appeal in this country.

Mr. 1,e,a-ox coo Idetaid the bill tut insult on the Irish Judges, who had satisfiwtoril:• lira down the low with respect to the franchise therct were no il1,it1 Sir Ilaie:ta 77 leautteve said, the hi:I Votild not 1':•i' r,c"clings that time existing low pc:••• <1. r• r. opinion. Lord Joite liessea.r. contended that the o!.:!...)rt, of lot Ileform Bill had it right to take measures for nwhitee- tLt, cr,..nolli:,12 what they intended it to be ; and that it was the duty 0' re:711,11mm to establish the fronehise on a but ground, V. khOill einion of the Judges. Mr. SOAR' post-

poned his opposiiit r. to a fontre :tap of the bill. Dlr. WAKI.F.'.'

wished the law to I: clear ant] defined; which this bill would not malse it. Mr, Pneer, in reply, quoted several cases to show tlw un- eel-minty of the law, t.nd the need of a bill to define the quaiilieatiee. Leave given to bring in flitt hid, lin1111;1117 AND TRFATING.

Leave was given to T.ord JOON 311".-q•.1.t. to bring in a bill for " tie! hater prevention of loilteey and tisening its the election of Members of of Pai ii.onent." Loot .'eint was -neatly inaudible, and did not enter into the detail; 1,1•; 1-.11: : he sold v-otild be test understooil

when product 1.1 ;ea'. ('llonnifteo. The chief pgoriaeit was. that if there s:ee.' be bribery and treatiog, or either bribery or

treating. going ( u en election, att:„. person might give notice that tint p cry Who, y or his ogents, was et-ere i we it on, would, if the bribery or tee:nine prover Itefore an Election Cortutilee. h.

disqtmlided, its the as a contractor or person not havin

qttalificetion 'tenni," i pre•,.:ut.

big. WYNN LORI :■11' hod strong doubts of the soecess of this measure—le el, -eemilice elliedy of the great difficulty in deiiniag

briber': atnd trcatim:. llr, W.Nant.incoN said, bribery woolil tin long as there Colonel \VooD, Colonel Ste:rime er, stet tOmeaes Lev, could not consider a dinner to II poor ;(0.s•-:

as bribery to t

ve at:Nr t,.• Me. 1.';;Aiii:v.s O'CosNolt.

Oa Wednesi" tc, r i.oder of the day liavif:g been nwved cot. ,ire

Coniatil;te cif tie t tif.mIers

Mr. Trtis>t..,-i 1 It, a petition he Lad pretombal from

Bradford cot.: plait: d the 1 l'eartus O'Comfor Ns-as sub- "3,,ete(l to in Vol', '•■ 4.! whde,t1 tit 1.nr w whether that tyentmod Nod tiro sanction tt/‘..mhiettt

Not veto 111 the v.ois!. of Tor.vit.ts—in the days of Pitt ctmr do perso..s conlhied far political otiencw, been heated as the individuals now in ei.i•r•:■• nait were heated mulct. n Reform

Admit:1,f ration. Whys ha nc1 `'ir t • i• is Burdett, Mr. .11.eiOt Hunt, 111 r.

case of Mr. O'Connor, he might observe, for the information of Mr. Duncombe and the House, that the Secretary of State for the tion4 Department had communicated with the Magistrates with whom the prison-regulations of York Castle rested, as to whether some alleviation of the treatment experienced by Mr. O'Connor could not be admitted. To that communication there had as yet been no answer.

Mr. WAnnuferox said the Government could move a prisoner from any one gaol in the country to :mother— Why was not that discretionary power exercised in the ease of Mr. Pe3 O'Connor? Why not remove that gentleman to some prison where the 3. cipline was of a nem lenient character : where the treatment of prisoners ap. preached more nearly to the old system of punishment for political libel? With regard to Messrs. Lovett and Collins, it was the general opinion, nod the 110nolonnle Under-Secretary concurred in ittimtnhaltvaass those iutlividunla hod been trotted with SO mach more severity expected tinging nine months, the remaining three months ought to be remitted them. But the Covet anent, in demanding Os the condition of remitting three months of their 111,tt ,lases. Lovett runt Collins should enue Into recognizauces for a toelvemonih, had acted in his opinion rlloghhE. Thu refus:il of the Govern. nwid to comply with the prisoners' request, and the attempt to impose condi-

tions, a most ungracious act on their part.

Ale. Iluee asked if it were not the fact, that two days before the removal of Ole O'Connor from the Queen's Bench prison to York, two medical gentlemen of emit-Howe had certified that his life would be ettelangered if he were subjected to the usual prison-discipline in York

CestIc7? A more decided ease of (7°1(114°m:1e:1 11d1fia7renee than had been exhibited by the Goveriment to the situation of Me O'Connor, it !Wet never been 111r. Ilume's lot in his whole political life to know. They had fliown themselves utterly regardless of the feelings and wishea ii tho.a.t who usually supported them, as w7ell as of the coanutt- eity et large. Mr Fox itlart.,177. said, it certainly was true that medical certificates It been furnished from the (,?neon's Bench prison, stating that Mr. 71): 1 1ontior was nut in a fit. state to go ho York:—

The immediate effect of this communication was, that his removal was de- 'toyed from Saturday to Monday. The next step Willi to refer to the Marshal of the prison, who was the responsible officer; and the result was, that he at olive stmetioncil the removal of Nlr. (/'Conitor, and gave the Covt•roment to umlerstand there was no ground 1hr his remaining in London on the score of "wing tillable to undertake the journey. (" hear, lit or ! ") Now as to the case of Lovett and Collins— :alt.. 11'11.1.1,1'01m was quite right in saying that ice bad admitted that he thought their punishment had been infinitely more severe than had been anti• eipoted; and more, lie had hurtle testimony to the manner in which that puoishineof bad been submitted to. Ile also agreed in thinking that the Visit- ing .11i.dives ,hould be empowered to separate! priaatiers guilty of felony from those confined for misdemeanours. 'the Prisons llill, in the discussion on which he intale these observations, was read a third time on the 9th of May; but from some esuse or other, it did not leave that House until Thursday last. 'rite lionOinlihle Alta-alter for Bridport had declared that the Government had acted illegally ia esking for reeogoizances from Messrs. Lovett and Collins; me. name denit.d. that such a comse was calmer unusual or imprudent; nor tooth be sec in what way such a condition could be burdensome to them,— unless, hide, il, they contemplated a further breech of' the lair within the period air which site 1.,e0_•olzallees were ile:irlitifeil. (Cud-s (:I " ()11, oh ! :)..,, 11 ebaecr: were iiim.lueei3, ove.r' alai over again, of porsons having been liberated from a portion el their cor tinetuent on entering into recogniitances to keep 1 Mr. 0.4,"ritx NE:13. temttrlied, that to idiocy the persons who regulated the discipline of prisons to convert imprisonment into a state of actual torture, such as Air. O'Connor endured, was to deFive the Judge of the power of upportioning pimishment to crime.

Ali.. WA it it said, there was an evident desire to shift off the respansi.: bility Bit:whine: to this particular e aro ; and in the meanwhile they allowed ail individual, with the birth mid Oelings of a gentleman—one too who (owe held e seat in that Ifousee-to perform menial offices of a most de- eradiug kind, and which conk' He ter letve been contemplate(' when the :-. mere sentence of confinement hod been passed upon hint.

Sir Ccono17; Santo-t i,axo said, Government was not to blame ; but he much regretted that the Yorkshire -Magistrates should have com- mitted so grievous an error in their arrangements as this, by which Mr. O'Connor was now suffering a kind of puny .hment which was never contemplated. Their mistake aroee front their zealous desire impartially to carry out their new pison-reeulations. Mr. \1'.Nitteev tens sure that great responsibility rested somewhere-- Itclore the trial of Mr. (Pi'motor, medical certificates frcre furnished, which stated 1.1a,t he was in clang, r froni day fo day from ilifla7:Ini:' rem of i lie chest ; .1-.1.1 ilip.t lie roust li,if go iotac:,olf. without incurring great risk. Vet, alter le Intl antlel.;.;one the exf.t ',Lai I.I' of K•iuluei; himself; be it a, removed by the -Marshal of the 0,..cest's Bench to Vert-. Ca-Ile, whore he was imprisined in it stone tell. Now, snppoce the result of tins treat until of Ale. 0 Connor were to be increased ',lithium:trim], and ultimately a fatal termination to his 0.L.n-der, awl suppose a ver,14, or man,la•:...hter or (;r murder were to IT returned, as Inc laid no hesitation in 5:1 N ing tiiii.1 ice 11:e r• if Ale. O'Connor died under such. (sitcom •tatices, upon IV ivoli v. 'mi.{ 11..• '...•1•,ii.,Wility 1.•st : T:!,,, A7groitNEY-(IENEItA!, e:;111.1,f.„,..ply regret if' the statements made le the 'louse that night :holed -eraee i , be well fotiotted--- I le had felt it his ditty to r. • ( ,ife Mr. (ifeonnor for Iiiiels or the most (Ian- ' gerotts character. wel c deftlit, 1 t , h.eife the people to acts of violence and in- 'libordintion. Ile had ti I . 11,,,i0a, Itoe..evo,., in saying, that if the state- ments now nir.,fe. ,,n11 v. ft:, ft fi.• nous. Ittitrul foe the first time, were well iban led. ' Mr. O'Connor 11,;.1 ttnilt•E;en•.• ti•ealiiient which was not eontempl.ded by the law for a moment. 'Cite law :dways understood that there 81101011 b • d',O.•rent treatilictit for lid-demeanour mat IvIsts,y. If, upon inquiry, it should lie found

• Oita Me O'Come's I empLiso, acre well funded, trot all low shotthl be hot in remedying them.

'flat convent diem dropped ; and then the .1 tVEN11.11 OFFENDERS 1311,1,

'sax brought tooter discussion. Sir E k e UMW NVfmtare moved that the I louse go into col:unitise ant the bill. Some opposition was raisol, but the motion toe the Cmittnitwe we: earl:et', by 35 to 22. llefore any pro rocs scan made, the 'louse was " counted out." jive to the Union had been laid on the table. One despatch in June ha contained suggestions, which had been incorporated in the bill be- fore the House. Sir George Arthur's opinion in ght also be gathered from papers already produced. A despatch had been re:et:iota from Sir George a few days ago, stating that although there was much anxiety 96 to the Union Bill and the Clergy 'Reserves Bill, yet the result of the Imperial legislation on those measures was waited for with so much calmness, that Sir George considered the present the best possibk period for considering those measures.

Sir ROBERT Prxi. wished to know whether any tommuniraii.i, had been received from Lord Seaton, at all qualifying the opinion he had given on the Union? . Lord JOHN Rom:amt. said, no such despatch had been received. And in reply to another question from Sir ROM MT PEEL, Lord JOHN stated that despatches had recently arrived from Lower Canada, but they did not relate to the Union.

In the course of the same sitting, Lord JOHN It moved for leave to bring in a " Bill to provide Rte the sale of the Clergy Reserves in the Province of I Toper Canada, ;Ind for the distribution of the pro- Ceeds thereof." Ile explained the circumstances which rendered the bill necessary. The Clergy Reserves Bill, as it passed the 1 3pper Ca- nada Legislature, provided that a portion of the proceeds of the Re- serves should be divided among Roman Catholics and members of other religious denominations. It provided also for the distribution ut fonds, the produce of former sales. The Judges having been applied to for their opinions, decided, that by the Constitutional Act of 1st George HI. the Clergy Reserves exclusively belonged to the clergy of the Church of England and Of the Church of Scotland ; tbr to them the phrase " Protestant clergy," used in the Cooistintional Act, alone plied. They also gave an opinion that the l pper Canada. Legislature exceeded Its powers in providing for the distribution of fluids already invested. A new bill then became necessary. Lord John ex plaittoo the chief' provisions of his measure. It would authorize the Gove, our to sell, and convey in fee-simple, ally or all the lands called the Cl000f Reserves in Upper Canada: the filed derived from the sales to chargeable with the amounts now paid to ministers of ditrelit 'o- minations: on the death of these ininisterG, the entire fund to be d's, bated as follows,--one-fburth to the Society' for the Propagation of 1 Ile Gospel in Foreign Parts ; anotlicr to the Preslooeriatt Brand repacao:t- ing the Church of Scotland and oliter bodies of Peesbyterians ; tile re- maining two-futaths to be distributed among varioas denornin..1,:os who had been in the habit of recivin.1.•; support out of the reveota• 0,1 the Province, and to be applied gcm..2rally to the plumoses of rel:,...itots worship, and the maimenance of sic:re 1 edifices. As it was very cult if __ not i topotsible to specify and define all the various sects in the Province, it vo.s proposed to leave the distributitto of the two-I:atoll,- last mentioned to the Governor an I the Executive Council. In coo.eh:- sion, lie wislie l it to be understood, " tlInt it was nut of the (Imola :t that they should invest either the Clotrch of Eogland or the Chinch • Scotland with any superiority over other sects. That would be total!:' contrary to the general feelinas of the Province ; and the only questioo which was to he considered was as to the best mode of di •tromii:ta tar: funds.'

Mr. COULIII,RN wished to know distinctly whether the Ronan Ca- tholics were to have a share of the fund Lord JOHN Russma, replied in the affirmative.

Mr. 6011.11linN asked why it was so, as the 'Roman Catholics we:e' excluded by the Act of 1 79 1 ?

Lord Joust Russmo. did not propose to explain the Act of 1.7It I. but to make new enactments.

Mr. Goul.BURN bad strong objections to the payment of Ittooln 4 'a- tholies out of a fuud in which it was not originally intended ti ry sh,,o!,. participate.

Mr. PLuanarnt; was of the same opinion.

Lord JOHN Itrassaa, remarked, that the Act of 1;9 i had liven tiosoe- eessful. They had to deal with n hind which had never been reo %Oar': appropriated, and which was to arise from waste lands otold.

Mr. Got:Limit:a said that the principle of this bill would apply o: produce of waste lands in Other eOlonies.

Mr. PAKINGTON considered that the Roman Catholics of 1..r. ;.- nada had sullicicot fonds and puss. scions to provide for the Ca !;o:i4.-.. both Provinces. Ile was anxious for it settlement of the .•■1 would not in that stage oppose the bill ; but he did not colt 11 - arrangement.

Leave Oven to bring in the bill.

Titans; worn JAVA.

3.Ir. CoLoyoors; 1.1oved lilt papers relative to the Unitish trod,: aim. Java and the l-:Lund; of the Eastern Arehipaloao, an allto.

treaty by the Dutch Government in Java, :URI the oacilt.itilL., Dutch upon English commerce iii the Lao. Lord Pa totolls-o.:Ni

no objection to produce the papers ; whieh would speak for then:- selves., and show that this country had no jlIst cause of toinolo.t.: against the Dutch.

Iatsn MUNICIPAL BILL.

Lord 311.1.BOURNE hill/Med the I louse of Lords on Tuesd:,V, tls:sr ht

did not intend to proceed with the Irish Municipal Bill till the 12111 of June, SonsenIrrioN TO Cll 111CH A RTICI,Es.

The Archbishop of DuniAN presented a petition to the I louse of

on 'Cues:lay-, which prayed that the Articles of the Church of 1'ii!.t;a11, might be revised and motored conformable to the actual belief the practice of the clergy. The petition was signet' by sixty oert.)e-. of whom one half were clergymen of the Es'ablished Church. 'Da' Archbishop guarded himself from Rim supposition that he approved o!' the prayer of the petition. Om the emit vary, he contended that Parlia- ment ought not to interfere in the spiritual concerns of the Cintreh, though of course its temporalities were solo...et to le:,tslot lye control. In the absence, however, of any recognized ecelesiastieal goveroment, the petitioners had resorted to Parliament. In his opinion, a I. etislatiye go- vernment for the Church was most desirable. Assuredly, the Reformers who had compiled the Common Prayer, never imagined that the power of aecominodating whatever was objectionable to an altered state of things would at airy time be wanting to the filar: di.

The Bishop of LINCOLN agreed that neither Jloose or I'm-Romeo/

ought to exerci.-e any auflowity in the spiriti.al of the (:hitreh; and he rose not to enter into an argument tot ti • point, but to mention some particulors respecting one of the p. t aovcrS, 111e never., :1:1 Mr. Wodeliouse- Ile remembered that about eiOit hat 1..1 ob- jected to certain portions of the .1thantisi.ol Cue,. th a., ' h0 r the Lin- coln) then stated to him, that it' a candidate staticg 1,. ,•nt:rta1i.ed Cie same views as those held by .11r. came to LH: ;iv Clio), he should not consider those views as *it ul vt.iUe IL, ;i: ,'• lie be- li that or IL similar opii:1, 11 1., , . 1, II by other

prelates. It, however, 'lid not sadand Ito r 1.i.11a,ri-

tat ive declaration that he might, : t 01,4 ••144 I. ...I .••■ii•Arag still conscientiously retrain th, t, (A:arch. 1 la told.

him that it appeal:A Whim • tIon, except through tht medium ola convocation, and th.il 1,1 aatliatity to give him sail: faction nil that point. Strt'..' of what pastel ill convei...-I mid in Asti ' :•pm,1 himself;

" I Mr. Wodelloo— 1■Si•N -! It .1:. • ii.1(altatiVe saltation, he was pret....ol to resi,:o • a...." a. the Iwtition yt•.irs I.. I •

table portion of th, 01' :11. t "i,..

Lad agreed in any CATI.il .14 • Of lbrn lie thought it v..: ,1 to :mhmit flame toll dt-iru exi,tol

lia• present ; t.,, c.,,,

11 .11i •' I.:la:ion than ikt the pre.•.•iit. The .1rchhislioo of C (N1' that it v.-0!-: ■le,-i.;;.).1t. t.o cede. is-tics: au-

thority as he 110(1111ut I

s. to eooterol.o. to xly revi,,i011 of the Litto•ay, amt cooeeived ll.. tlw ml on- deserved censure On ti' toe eler:rs .

Ue tics contitlentth this

lati-

tlule—Le wouldnot toe Oa ;tender• Cietii.44•4 tvitahl lie VI.' d tag ;cis of the Chtirth to : It itafte ion e,Itt-e, I., . t : , Is 'I Ills .1 s' miter, a441.1, ' , 1. 14 .1) all 01441 it .1 11 .4 141

'0 II)

and to e.. 01e1: liar a. it tiott Tilt.. 111S1101) Of 1.4),..d:ox Ntop.t tho

of the Eishop on the itch, 1)r. Stanley, from . had inad-

The IliAtop of 'Nowa ten . tlo. o'er(' great difficulties in the way of any alteration of C.: .• rticleo lett there tV.e.f0 great difficulties also in tile pre: t tit I', ,t t• Church in regard

to the sul,scripti to it: ".;•,". ' ' I boldly met-

h did not h. s,Ii l hLI.

and right 1 u..'ti ant ••••• a

certain lath of 111'1,:it II p:u!di: theSonce ■ii:11 • 1! I . ntat arid ,ci,act.,s of men .-hine.it. Ile haul .: had :in 'instance

' 1 • and

to re- . Articles.

mar, b,1 .'vt all example

Liz of !:,. ('hurtle; ,1

Cone.. anti a it, i at.cc

tut 11 I:1 C., i't

1. e ❑ certai,i 1- tl,:,t tut. •,•.

and aclinaiilt.4ed. sent on,. -

And. sooner or fat or, fij-

mein`

• .1' :: !lave

with

, ',Pia he r Mitered

took :,1 every

gli.:It C011ft ,1 tip., o :1 a�iaila b,conte ti.c

hea,t1 a ,:ay t•i. a right bta.tight of nit:pest ion ,ble t•halaatt .• : I ;Igo living because lit. ts's'..

1141It refer theic been Ilit:y would let ou i.o, .11 and toll them that his eliaractcr it was dimt. ,-:,;,■te too Lip!, iy,—who had shotril by Iris srru, , • ta • much he t and trim, !iv Li, eoinlue' whatsoever. And as to the scruples of cottseience, he mentioned it without the slightest reservation, that the great body of our clergy signed the Articles with a full belief in tb, i:. truth; and so far from its being his case—his misfor- tune, he might say—to have met with any clergyman who had declared that he did not entirely subscribe to the articles, he never met with such a ease in his life. He spoke of himself, that he should be guilty of a breach of trust if he had subscribed to Articles in which he did not believe. The remedy was, if the Articles were not according to religion, to alter them ; but for heaven's sake do not "expand" the subscription; do not, for the sake of relieving tender con- sciences, adopt a system of subscription which would leave a door open to men of no conscience. After all, what was now done? Was ever a num obliged to enter the Church ? Was lie not entirely conversant with what he would be liable to do from his course of previous reading, and when he came to do it, lie ought to do it with a clear conscience, or not at all. Thnt was tom abundant answer. Ile did not enter into the question whether there was a doctrine in our Articles which was expedient or not, or a phrase in our Liturgy; that was Not the question. But there was a growing indispoetion to alter them. Ho was old enough to remember the time when a question would be entertained whether or not some alteration might be made in the Articles. That time was gone by, and the great hotly of the Church was again,t any alteration. If one

were to alter Otte phrase, and allu,,I;c1; ; , c:c they to stop? They

would have a mere cupat a I:- ulales and no Liturgy ; they would

have nothing to satisfy the :um! , I, !iCcA mien here, nor to serve as the foun-

dation of their hopes hereaCt,•:.. !lc tl.uutight it saIrcludy desirable that some-

thing in the nature of a as:moldy :Mould be established in the Church, but the only difficulty was how it w:.: to be establiAed; and that difficulty he had never been aide to solve.

Nothing more was said ; and the House adjourned to Monday next.