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PABLIAMRST, j
PABLIAMRST, j HOUSE OF I.OLDS. -MONDAY, JLLY 11. DISTRESS OF THE COUNTRY. Lord BROIGHAM said it must be as painful for their lordships to. hear as it was to him to state the Ifliiel in 'details, which all who knew the state of the country m ist b.' prepared to regret were without 'a parallel. He rememhered the distress of 1808, 181"2, and afterward s of hlô; but great as the distress was in those perioils. it w;ts comparative prosverity when placed by the side of that winch existed at the present time—no trade—hous s Liiieiiitite(I-reitts reduced to one-half—and every ap- pear .rice of a trans 'er of the trade from ore part of the LDiiir.i y to another. But unfortunately, coeval with the "tn-ss of the west was that of the 'north. Willing and a ixious as.the people were to work, and that fora pittance whicli could hardly sustain life, they were unable to obtain it (Hear.) The poor-rates everywhere doubled, and in some places increased to a fo'ur-fold and even eight-, fold extent; and then when he caine to the dreadful j details, over which he was running rather than going", he found thousands of persons for divs wholly vidiout food, and unable to leave their beads or straw for two days together, because in a recumbent posture they found thev cortld better be.tr the pangs ot hnhger. (Hear, hear.) These details, which he felt it his duty to enter into to their lordships, quite unmanned one to contemplate (hear); and in the midst of this distress, the kindness of the people to each other was altogether incon. ejvable. ([fear, hear:) Thev were, moreover, notwithstanding their su?'erins and, in despite of *hc ex.?p'e of certain ill-judging persons, determined stdl to do their duty to ,heir country, their families, and lhemsdves, and resist all impulses to break the laws of the country. Their patience, their tranquility, and their virtue, ought surely to induce their lord-hips to give a favourable ear to their prayer for relief. Unfortunately these suffering people had nothing to do with making the laws hy which they were governed. For, by an anomaly which he would nor even stop to glance at, more than live millions of the people had no share in the legislation <>t the country. H eai-, hear.) They were pprhaps virtually represented even in this house of Parliament; and be implored their lordships, if they did not actually represent them, at least to clothe themselves in the garb of their actual pro- tectors. (Hear, hear.) He tnt:st entreat of them to be their actual protectors. He we'LlIt! not say a word that would wear the appearance of party, because the present was no partYC;l:ticn, Th{'y' w,e 'It1tll1:1k()g people- who endeavoured to persuade the agriculturists that the manufacturer was his enemy, and the manufacturer that the interests of th" agriculturist were adverse to his. The true interest-; of both were united. In I.P°ds, fenv thousand out of ).¡),I:(U :,rtisitlls were receiving parish rel ief- Twenty thousand-did not average 6d. a week of it r I, I I had nothing ta'Ho'with the distress In tin- iron trade there was more machinery used than in the hosiery, but not near so much as in the cotton trade. Here also was great distress prevalent. It was not to t ie eason, to machine, y, nor to the currency (lor the charge took place 2-5. years ag til 't this distress was to Le attributed. Certj'nh it could tV't be attributed to the (. hai ge:n the currency; tor since this took pia.e, trade and agriculture had, at d rferent periods, arrived to a high pitch of prosperity. We mi Hit as well attribute it to the change of tin' seasons. If we wished to get a tit. r.'1t cause of our distress, we must look to our foreign la tioliS, or those of them connected with our foreign trad. If we did not retrace our steps, matters would be snOI worse. Those who pe.itioued the house on the subje t were prepared to prove that by continuing our prese it s ystem of coinmeicial legislation, we were enabling 10., reigners to reduce us to a worse state of tliir-g, W at would they think of a person having £ '200,000 locked up in his warehouses, in the sh ipe of stock, without be tig vii iiie it' 1* ),'ce( i I)v able to sell at aovthing like ;ts value But if forced by circu iistanees the owner prefers to sac lithe Wis "plant" and stock a: any price, rather than rem tin in England to Idose all. I here were cases where tiie orders Iud de- creased itoiii America one-half, and that hall procured fro m France. Mercantile men would shew by evidence, when a change took place that *hey would give those orders which they now retained I 1 was not confined to ill ■ merchallt-tile manufacturers were prepared to give th saine evidence. Tney were now discharging their men, vet this occurred when the men in many ferred to take half wages rather than to have halt the number of men discharged.* He had no doubt whciltt. pressure was removed from the masters by the change he referred to. tile men would be enabled to earn wages. If their 1 iidships would remove the prolu. itoryd it.es, the Americans would be obliged to do the suno. It was n it confined to America. The Prussian Minister, in 1 <+, stated that if the duty on corn was removed, )us g veit?tleiit (() make corresponding a ltera- t d'h in their Tariff. He understood that .M r. Addington m ide a similar statement v\ith r> gart! to the policy ot Am rica. I ¡' rhe committee was gi anted, the parties .vuul.! CI.tel upon the question of machinery :L, well as that of corn. Vou sav that you cannot remedy the evil; but even if you cannot devise a remedy for the distress which prevails, still it is your duty to investigate the matter, and hear what the people state upon the sub- ject. It was not enough to sav that they were at the close of the session (hear) —that would not do in times like these. If they could sit all last summer, because of an expected change in the l1li'li'lry, surely, they might act in a similar manner to impure into the distresses of the rcwnnunity. Winter was coming on with sable wings and long nights, and the distress would be increasing. The remaining three or four weeks of Parliament night, under these circumstances, to be a matter of indifference to them. He was really ashamed to enter into t)ie question of del iv. It was one that ought not to obtrude itself upon t leir consideration. Tiie noble and learned lord con- i luded by moving t lat the petitions of the people in refer- ence to the distress he referred to a select committee, of the atne nature that appointed in 1 S:;2. t.) inquire into the distress which then existed in the agricultural dis- tricts. The Karl of K r I'ON thought it would be better to ab stain from an inquiry if they could not carry out the ob ject oilgl itII.; ai-,iii learned friend said that the red cause of the distress arose out cf the embarrassment i of eimmeree, consequent upqn 'lie restrictions which ha,1 been imposed upon it. It certainly could not be that, as we did not take the surplus corn ot countries on the Con- tinent: because if such have been done for the last-ten vears there would have been entered for home consump- tion and consumed ail the surplus produce of the export- ing c 1llntrj" of Europe, with the exception- of that pur- •tio.i which was required for the wants of other countries. There was no< likelihood [h;it.thou?hth'yshomd repeal 'he Cornht?stht'Gertnan League wou'd alter its Cltn-I mercial policy. His noble friend aHuded to America. Now during the existence of the present Corn-laws they had a very* flourishing trade with America, and the change which took place was only in consequence of the mone- fary derangements ot America. The people would acriue the refusal of their lorrislMps tc> grant an inquiry to any other cause than that of a conviction that it could le-i?l t) rily(it,?,r et'Fect,. Ear[ Sr\\HOtE agreed with the nr.b!cand?parnpd lord opposite as to the extent of the distress, but never- ?h?ies.sopposed his motion. Lord i-egrettell ti?e detcri?in,-xtion ofniiiiis- t"rs to oppose the inquiry, "it appeared by-the statement of Mr. Addington, that the American government would not have passed their T.tr)it had this country consented to allow the importation of corn. The exports ol manu- factured ()ods had increased within the last s ix months, and order,; which weie intended to be had directly-from this country, for supplying the Mexican market, would now be bought in the ports of the Union cheaper than they could be procured in England, the effect ot which was to depress trade still further. It they allowed -V merican corn to be imported at a fixed duty of six sliI a qti-.irter, it could not be so?t at less than from '•■"s. to -IDs. a quarter in this country. He should support !s.t').??.aquurtermthisconnt)'y. Hes t x'ut d sn p pnrt The Marquis of Ci, wRtcARHR said the Americans formerly took our ni tt)iifiCtLires to a %erv great extent, and the only reason why they did not do so now was, that we did not take their corn in return. He should vote f"r the motion, unless lie heard some member of the government propose a remedy, even it only a temporary one, without which they would be left in a condition to see the people starve, and property rendered insecure. ■ Lord MFJ.HOI'UNE did not look upon the Corn-laws as the sole cause Çlf the existing distress, and therefore he could not assent to the opinion of his noble and learned friend on that subject.; and such being the case he should vote against the committee moved for by his noble and learned friend. The Earl of RADNOR would vote for the motion. The country was getting worse and worse, notwithstanding the measures of the government. Was not that then a reason why they should inquire into the tallses ot the present distress? Lord VVirARNcr.iFFF. still that when his noble and learned friend talked of repealing the Corn-laws, he ought to recollect that there were other interests it) the community to be attended to besides the manufacturing interests. (Hear.) They ought also to give time to the J present law to show its effects before the.y proceeded to inquire into its operation. lie quite admitted that if t they could relieve the flistress of the country, they would be well employed if they continued their sittings to a late period of the year; but, believing that no good would ari-se from the proposed inquiry, he should oppose ,it. Lord BKOUOHAM replied, and denied that his object was merely to inquire into the operation of tlir-. Corn- laws. If noble lords would say that over-production was no portion of the cause of the distress—that machinery had nothing to do with it—that there was no evil in olr constitution, either politically or .commercially, that was. ■ calculated to cause the distres if noble-lords wouid say all this, then possibly the only element- of inquiry w»trfil- be the operation of the Corn-laws. He would be a bold man who would say that no documents, no inquiry, would throw any light on the causes or probable cure of the existing distress, It had been said. indeed, that his motion was unprecedented; but what if it should turn out to be the fact that his motion was couched in iden- tically the same words in which a motion to inquire into agricultural distress was shaped in 1S.">2? (Hear.) That was the tact; the proposition was set forth in the same terms, the only difference being the insertion of the word "agricultural for" manufactUring- He I hoped he had tull:, answered the charge of his motion being unprecedented. He hoped that their lordships would recollect that trade could not remain under the influence of distress without communicating the pressure to land—to agriculture generally. After some further observations, their loriMiips divided, when the numbers were—Non-contents, til. Contents, 1! Majoiitv. 47. Their lordships then adjourned. TUESDAY, JULY 12. I Jorcl Wharncliffe presented a petition from the classes educated. at Exeter Hall, praying for assistance to enahle tee system to he carried out. There were at present no fewer than >50,000 persons of all grades learning to sing, in consequence ot the establishment of those classes under the superintendence of Mr. H ullah. He expressed an opinion that the grant ot 1;30,000 for e ducation in a country like this was altogether insufficient; and ex- plained what the present government were doing to fur- th r the education of the people, especially in the estab- li hment and support of normal schools, for which addi- tional assistance from Parliament was required. —Adj.
HoeSE OF cor \ro:\S.-IO:\…
HoeSE OF cor \ro:\S.-IO:\ D.\ Y, Jl"LY ]!. THF. CO UN LAWS. On the motion for the House to go into a committee of sup pi v beinc; submitted. Mr. ViLHERsroseand moved that the corn laws be totally repealed. He would riot go into the arguments he had so frequently used in favour of this mot;~n, but he must say no satisfactory answer had been given on the subject, and th 'ref.ee he again h: oopdit the quest ion forward. lie did not submit this motion to the House entirely on his ov\n opinion and tecliuir- he was instructed to do so by a numerous and intelligent c)assofmen, from all parts of the kingdom [hear]. The parties to whom he alluded were convinced that that House ought not to separate until some effectual remedy had been adopted for the great and alarming distress which existed. No one attempted to defend the existing law-it had all the bad effects of the old law-it was, in fact, a total failure i liear, rc'(,LIC'ioll OF tlle duty had not lowered the price in grain, and he believed it was admitted on all sides that the alteration had not been attended with any benefit whatever. The general distress was aJmirted it was admitted to its fullest extent; arid therefore, surely the House ought not t, spparatebeforesome rernt-dy was provided. That distres- had been attended with great increase of crime, particu- larly in stealing nccessarv articles of subsistence. The hon. member then proceeded to read a number of returns, setting forth the misery and distress which existed in various parts of the COLititry, itli(i called upon the House i again to revise the law recently passed relating to the duty on corn, which it was admitted on all .sides had laded to produce any remedy, or afford any relief. He con- cluded bv moving for a committee to re-consid'er the corn laws. Mr. 11 nine seconded the motion; which was supported bv Mr. FiFLnKN, who dwelt at length upon the intensity of the distress, and the imperative duty of the repre- sentatives of the people to do something to relieve it. He thought it quite allowable to stop the supplies. It was a grievance so great and so pressing that he was ready to act his part in putting into force the old con- stitutional practice in such emergencies, ei -stopping the supplies till the redress was conceded — not from factious motives, but from a sense of duty and the necessity of the case. Those opposed to this course Wouid be the factious party. Were the advocates of repeal sincere! The attempts that must be madeto stop the supplies would test them. The only way to support public (TêJit milch longer, wlllch all parties were anxious to do, was to repeal the corn-laws. Sir H. Pi:i:t. deprecated a precipitate condemnation of his experiments, and declared his willingness to revise them sliouM they be found, after a fair trial, to disappoint tite he had formed ,f tli(,Iyl. Lord Jons Ri'ssni.r, said the tone of the premier indicated no great confidence in his own measures. He argued that a temporary relaxation of the restrictions on foreign cirn p.ouid give immediate relict; and hethevgh: that the patience and fortitude exhibited by the people, under circumstances of the most unparalleled suffering, entitled them to this indulgence, without any reference whatever to the permanent alteration of the corn laws, the on of which might be "afterwards taken. Mr. COBDF.N contended that the repeal of the corn laws woll, (I not only alleviate distress, but would eventually j render land mote valuable than it was at present. After some further discussion the House divided, when there appeared for the coiniiiittet- )it the corn laws, 117; for the committee of supply, 251; majority against the repeal of the corn laws. Ilk The House then rtso'ved itself into a committee of supply; and Nl r. It t: -,I r. objected to their voting away the public money at that hour (nearly one o'clock), but Sir R. Peel persisted, and t vn votes were agreed to. On the third being put, Mr. W illiams moved that the n solutions be reported. Sir R. Ped opposed the motion, and the House divided, when there appeared for the motion 21 against it 200, Another vote was then agreed to, and on the motion of Mr. flume, two other divisions took place on the question of rcpol till progress, the numbers in the fir t were 19 to 18, --in the second, 17 10 178. Sir R. PKKI. said if it was the object of the hon. mem- ber to stop the supplies, the sooner that battle was lotight tiie better. Mr. Hume said he had no SIIL.II obie> t, bat he must oppose voting away the public money at such a late Imur of the night. After a long conversation, Sir R. Peel consented to adjourn the other votes. TUESDAY, Jui.Y 11. VaoTI'.CTlON OF ili'.R MUt-STY. Sir R. Pkp.l said it was notor ions that within the period of two years no less than three attempts had been made by the discharge of tire-arms, thereby endangering the personal securitv, or calculated to excite the idnrin and apprehension of the public for the safety the sovereign, by a natural and t Majesty. I tie I)re.t--i*,t t;l! ef the I,i,.v %vl, ad ill iruster to the morbid desire for norllrity- alld it was desirah'e that an alteration should take place in the pre- sent enactments. lie proposed to deprive the gii 1-y Of tiie apparent dignity of trials for Treason, and that pri- soners should, at the discretion of the Crown, be sent to be tried by the ordinarv tribunals of the country, i hey had.acting on this feeling, thcught it better, the case ol the traitor Francis, not to carry out the capital punish- ment which the laws of his country had declaredhim liable to. In that case they had held two Cabinet COIIll- cils, ami consulted the three chief judge", as -veil as the law officers of the Crown. The unanimous opinion of that conference was that it was not advisable to take the forteiture of his offence, They had treated that man s case as if it were one ot the ordinary sort. The hill wlueh he proposed to introduce would also provide for other offences less than high (re:lsor.-it wOldt! subject to se- vcre punishment all glltlty uf attelllpts to alarlll or an- tlov her Majesty. This new class of oliences would coin- prise the wilful discharge, or attempt to Ilischargp" or point nea or at her Majesty's person, or striking, or attempting to strike, the person of the Queen, or throw, or attempt to throw any missile, with intent to injure the person of the Queen, or break the public peace, or abuse the Queen, they should he subject to a c, i-tiiii punishment. He proposed, then, mat the party sootiend- ing should be subject to the same penalties as persons guilty of larceny, that is, transportation for 7 years and he proposed also, a di eretionary form ot imprisonment for a certain period or the infliction of personal chastise- ment. (Loud cheers from the whole house.) lle thollglJt this th" right mode of dealing with miscreants such as those who had lately outraged the public peace. It was monstrous to think that the Queen ot these realms should not have the same security as any of her- own subjects. ( ficar, hear.) He lwped tiie measure which he proposed would meet the unanimous sanction of the house. The •right lion, baronet then moved for leave to bring in a bill for providing for the further security and protection of her Majesty's person. Lord .Ions li,L"ssL;i.r. supported the motion. Mr. lit1 \it; suggested the propriety of considering the law of treason, so as to put the whole lIltu olle tangible bill. Mr. O'CoN'xr:t.L agreed to tiie motion. ?,e The bill was then brought t??n'?''?"-???''stnnd se- cond time, ordered to be printed, <?? the committee appointed for to-morrow. ) POOR L W- j On the order of the day for gouig nito committee on I the Poor-law bill, M r. T. D (1: c\n! B F., ake111 govern- ment really meant to go on with the bill, seeing the near approach ot the termination of the Commission > Sir (rK.iir vm, attaching rl-e-iL iiii )ortaiice to tile bill, telr hound to go on, and ascertain the sense of the house with respect to it. '1 1 ',c Sir ROBERT PEEL, confessing *ie government was placed in a difficult position, thought thehoue should first decide whether the commission should continue for live years or not.. After some furt:1t'r d¡"C\lss¡on, Sir JD!ES ORAHAM reiterated the recommendation of Sir Robert Peel but several mpmbcrs entreated the government to pass a temporary bill, and lu illg the subject on at an earfry period of next session. At last Sir James Graham expressed, on the part of the government, a disposition to concede the point of pressing the entire bilk but asked tor a decision as to t'le continuance of the commission for five years, a poit)twhichheconsidered essential. For this purpose the house went into committee, and Mr. S. C A RAW roRt) pleaded for shortening the dura- tion of the Commission to one year, moving an amend- ment to that effect, which was seconded by Mr. Ferrand. A desultory debate was followed by a diyisioll, alld there ippeare-I For the amendment. against it, 161. Repeated divisions, and considerable debate, arose on motions to cotnnel the adjournment ot the proceedings, which ultimately ended in the clause being voted by n6 to :W.
PROTECTION OF HER MAJESTY…
PROTECTION OF HER MAJESTY S PERSON. The following is a copy of the bill for providing for tl,e further security and protection of her Majesty s person, brought into the House of Commons, last uiglit, by Sir R. Peel, and read a first and second time: [ The Words printed in ftrtlics are proposed to be inserted in the Committee.J V\ hereas it is expedient that the provisions contained in the act ot the SPth and TOTH years ot bis late Majesty King George the Third, intituled, An Act to regulate Trials for High Treason and Misprison 01 Treason in certain cases," should be extended to all cases of high treason in compassing or imagining the death or destruc- tion of the Queen, or in compassing or imagining any. bojily harm tending to the death or destruction, maiming or wounding of the Queen, and of misprison of such tra- son, when the overt act or overt acts of such treason alleged in the indictment shall be ariv attempt to injure in any manner whatsoever the person of the Queen And whereas it is also expedient to make further pro- vision by law for the protection and security of the per- son of the Sovereign of these realms Be it enacted, by the Queen's most e*xceRer.t Majesty, by and '.vitlitlie advise and consent of the.Lords spiritual and tempor.il, and Commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the author'tv of th ii-^ame, that from and alter the Act, in all cases of high treasoi1, in compassing or JIII,lgIY1!Jg ajY ()(/¡è.y hiln1 tell(II to the death or destruction, maiming or' ';iif,,(Iil)g of. the Queen, and in all cases of misprison of any such trea- son, where the overt act or overt acts of such treason alleged in the indictment shall be any attempt to injure in any manner whatsoever the person ot the Queen, the person or persons charged with such otfellce !5ha!! and may be indicted, arraigned, tried and attainted ill the SrllIll' 1l1'Hlller aod according to the same course and or- der of tritd,in every respect, anclllpon the like evidence, as if such persons stood charged with murder; and none of the provisions contained 111 the several acts of the seventh ye;u" of King V\ illiain the Third, and the seventh year of Queen Anne, and the sixth year of King George the Fourth, respectively, touching trials in cases of trea- son and misprison of treason respectively, shall extend to any indictment for high treason tn compassing or ima- gining tiie death er destruction of the Queen, or to any in- dictment for high treason in compassing and imagining any bodily harm tending to the death or destruction, maiming or wounding of the Queen, or for misprison of such trea- son, where the overt act or acts of su h treason allegi d in the indictment shall be such as aforesaid; but, upon conviction upon surh indictment, judgment shall be ne- vertheless given, and execution done as in other cases of high treason, any law, statute or usage to the contrary notwithstanding. And be it enacted, that from and after the q Act. if any person shall wilfully discharge, or attempt to discharge, or point, aim, or present at or near to the per- son of the Queen, any gun, pistol, or any other descrip- tion of fire-arms, or of other arms whatsoever, although the same shall not contain any explosive or destructive material, or shall discharge, or cause to be discharged any ■xplosive substance or material near to the person of the Queen; or if any person shall wilfully strike or strike at. or attempt to strike or to strike at, the person of the Queen with any offensive weapon, or in any other niin- tier whatsoever; or if any person shall wilfully throw or attempt to throw any substance, matter or thing whatso- ever at or upon the person of the Qi.teen, with intent in any uf the cases aforesaid to injure the person of the Queen. or with intent in any of th > (,,1""0 alo. P'C;¡ id to break the public peace, oi with intent in any oi !ii,? cases aîon- said to create alarm toiler Majeity; evei y such person o sli?ill I)C guilty oi' it 'iiii, deiiiand, being convicted thereof in due course of law, shall be ha!.1?, at the discrfion of the Comt before which the said person shall be convicted, to be transported beyond the seas for any period not exceeding seven years, or to be imprisoned with or without hard labour for any period not exceeding thrfv years, and during tlie,i,(--I,io(i of such imprisonment to be publicly or privatcly whipped, a* often and in s'.ch manner and form as the said Court shall order and direct, not exceeding thrice.
DRUNKENNESS NO EXCUSE. I
DRUNKENNESS NO EXCUSE. I TO THE EDITOR. I 12th July, lsi-z. Sir,- As some of the Tory papers seem to consider in- toxication an excuse for the conduct of Colonel Dundas allow ine to dirct your attention to the opinion of Sir Walter Scott, in a cast- ver v similar. It appears that some of the officers of the 18th Hussars were under the very severe censure of the Commander-in-Chief for ir- regular conduct, and language of a dangerous political nature used at their iiiess. Sir Walter Scott's son, then a Cornet in the Regiment, but in nowise implicated with the offenders, in a letter to his father, excused their conduct under the plea ot drunkenness. Sir Walter's immediate reply was as follows "10th May, 1821. My Dear W alter- I wrote yesterday, but I am in- duced immediately to answer your letter, because I think you expect from it an effect oh my mind rather different from what it produces. A man may be violent and out- rageous in his liquor, but wine seldom makes a gentle-; mIll a blackguard, or instigates a loyal mnn to idlsr sedition. Wine unvails the passion and throws away restraint, but it does not create habits or opinions which did not pre- viously exist in the mind." Your obedient servant, S. Vide Lockhart's Life bf Scott, vol. 5.
[No title]
WEATHER AND CROPS IN SOUTH WALES.—Since our last publication the weather has been very changeable ritl (I unsettled. Saturday was a verv wet day succeeded by a fine Suricitv but Monday and Tuesday were very wet ag;.in, aceolnpanied with a cold piercing wind; so cold, as almost to banish the idea that it was July. On Wednesday, some hours before the mocn ehtered her first quarter, there Was a change for the better; and up to the time of going to press there is a prospect of fine, if not of very warm, weather. Farmers have been com- plaining very much of the wet weather as spoiling the grass cut on the tine intervals of last week, and as keep- ing back the wheat harvest. The same description of weather appears to have been pretty general. There is little doubt that the present fine weather will induce farmers to cut almost all the remaining grass. The crops look well; the potatoes and green crops especially. No 1 positive injury has as yet been done to the corn crops; they have only been prevented from ripening so soon as might have been desired but perhaps the ears have been better filled. The harvest will soon commence should the tine weather hald out, as there is every appearance of its so doing at present. Barley and Oats are in a for- ward state and look well; Beans and Peas have been pre- vented from ripening Itye and turnips also look well. IMPORTANT TO i-,co-L-,rA.IZ P-%YFRS.-It may be some consolation for those persons who are to be assessed under sbeditle D, that they are not obliged to submit 'themselves to local commissioners, as, under the 31st section of the act, they can deliver their returns scaled■, directed to the SPECIAL commissioners (which cannot he opened either bv the general or assistant commissioners), and, upon the. amount being determined by them, they can give a ceitiF.cate to the appellant, so that he may pay his assessment quarterly under some letter or number, without his Hallie even being uien- tioned. I:cfHîE-T,X COMMISSIONERS.—The report of the proceedings at the appointment of Income-tax Commis- sioners, on Tuesday last, will rather amuse our readers. It will he seen thai nearly all the active commissioners are Tories, the majority ot the tew Liberal gentlemen put in nomination (let-I iiiina to serve. Mr. Geo. Thomas energetically protested against making Ins appearance before a Bristol public in the character of Paul and it is some little matter of surprise tnat the Liberals, as a body, did (Jet pursue a similar course. What have they to do with the Income-tax except to pay "tinder pro- test It is a l ory measure, introduced by the Tories for the purpose of bolstering up monopolies, carried by the Tories through both houses, and ought to be carried out by the lories through all its clious itiqu'sitr rial ramifications. We rather marvel that every Liberal gentleman, and, indeed, gentlemen of all parties, did not shrink fro II I the "uncfean thing," and rt-fuse to serve except "upon compulsion." Lrist(,l Mercury. The Patrioi administers a Vdi-merhed rebuke to the motley .Spectator, for saying, at second-ban I, that" The rick Dissenters arc (ill it be roguery hypocriti- cally to belong to a sect which you (!o hot approve in your heart, and are ready to quit as soon as your inter- ests or wh ims are opposetl; the Diss^titing clergy are descriùl"; as excellent p-ersens, but u eak in notions and con- duct—and nnt we short!([ quite free from roguery either, since thi': are clfftrgc'd with impeding the advance of Dissent, in submission to the worldly views of the rich in their flocks and .'he irhole tY* ik" Diss< ntini/ l<*lics are said to be. all in the. trronj." Tiie S/k-,ctator adds, on his own authority "They are not hearty in tlieir" i)i-acticil grievances,' and do not seem to be honest. They have kept grievances in abeyance, or p.traded them before the public, according as It party-purposes; they have not been happy, either, in their voluntary victims fur n»rseeution, who seem more like speculative 'versons 111Lr- ) a gainful trade, than honest enthusiasts suffering for conscienLl" sake. "The calumnies and reproaches which are now so unsparingly heaped on Dissenters alight to have tile effect only of increasing their zeal and energy in the cause of Civil and Religious Liberty. IIoiiRtRLE CASE (SURREY SESSIONS).—The Court was occupied a great portion of Wednesday in the trial of a man named Watts a tailor, residing at Walworth, who was inflicted tor cruelly ill-treating llis son, a boy between 1:3 and Pi years of age. At the commencement ot last month it.formation was given that the defendant had con- fined one of his children. Air. Brooks, the relieving officer, proceeded to his house, and on entering a room all the first floor, in a corner parted off from the rest oi the apartment by a curtain, he discovered a lad nearly naked, bent double from long continued remaining in one position, anti his body filthy in the extreme, with vermin and sores in various places,- arising from uncleanliness. The boy, it appeared, had been kept in the above condition for a considerable time, and had nothing to lie down upon hut a pieee of matting, and the medical officer stated that his limbs became paralysed, and unable to perform their proper functions. The boy himself was placed in the witness-box and presented a melancholy spectacle from emaciation and distortion of body which was produced from lor,g confinement and utter neglect. The medical: witness, however, said that his appearance was veiy much improved since he was taken away from the abode of his parent, but he would never recover the injurv he sustained. Several witnesses confirmed the fact of the ill,treatment of the boy while at home, and that they had seen him eating potato skins and hard crusts in his corner with avidity. The boy himself, when examined, however, said that he had enough to eat, and it was obvious throughout his evidence that he was anxious to screen his father, and not divulge the circumstances 01 his own ill-treatment.— I The jury returned a verdict of Guilty, and the Chairman, after commenting on the unnatural conduct displayed by the defendant towards his own otfsprwg, sentenced him to four months' imprisonment in the county gaol. SHKFKN ESS.—COCRT NIAIITIAI.rridty a Special Court Martial took place on board the Admiral's flag "I)il)'the ('a ilil)ertl,) ?I'll, lying off the Dockyard, at which all the officers in the harbour were present, to inquire into the charges brought against Mr. Jas. Balscombe, late master of H.M. s ship Larne, lately arrived from China, by his commander, Capt. P. T. Blake, for neglect of duty. At the conclusion ot the evidence, which was exceedingly voluminous, a verdict of guilty was pro- nounced 3gainst Mr. Balscombe, and he was sentenced to be dismissed from the service. At the Hertford Assizes just ended, there were only thirteen prisoners tor trial; the cause list is also very light. EXTREME DISTRESS. The condition of the poor, and the working classes generally, in the neighbourhood of Llanrwst, is one of extreme distress. The bulk of the farmers have not the means of paying their rates without being distrailled. The local bank has refused to make any further advances to the Guardians, and the poor within the union, (seventeen parishes) were on Satur- day last, for the most part, three weeks unpaid. Mr. Kennedy, Lord W illoughby 's agent, published a pamphlet in praise of the corn-laws; although wheat was 75s., and barley 4.5s. the tpiartSr in Llanrwst. The preceding market a -reat number of labourers were discharged from their employment, on the Gwydyr estate, and the wages of those retained materially -reduced. Monmouth monthly market, held on Wednesday, was wpll slIppliNl with stock. Fat beasts realised 5d, per lb.; sheep and wethers 6d. ewes 5d, lambs fid.. Brecon fair, on Tuesday last, was a poor one. The I supply of cattle was also small, and the demand slack. In the horse fair there was a larflje show of inferior kinds, with a number of ponies, but no improvement in prices was mauilest, and a large proportion were -taken away unso I d. FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE MOHMOI'TII AND DEAN FOREST RAH WAY.—A n wi., held on Tuesday, on the body of John Wat-kins. On Saturday deceased was employed in bringing the trams down the rail-road to Monmouth; a labourer working two fields ofJ" heard deceased calling for help, and he went down, found him on his face, one leg was between the wheels and the other close under the wheel, it appeared to witness that lie had been forced on before the trams about nine yards, he asked witness to unhitch the horses which he did iiii mediately, and then got him from under the trams, witness asked if he should get assistance and take him to the nearest house, but he relied no, there is an empty ,tt, iii( I let I Yi e 1) e ta k en to tram behind, put me in that, and let me be taken to M onmouth there were three trams of coal, one of lime, '11Id one empty tram in which he was placed and brought to the wharf at May-hill; could not tell how the accident happened, it was about five o'clock Saturday evening. Another witness stated that deceased told him that one of the wheels of the tram had got too much play, and was liable to go off the rail, that he went to push it on with his foot and fell under the trams, the wheel passing over the leg and s houlder causing such severe injuries that lie died on Sunday evening. Another witness stated that he met the trams after the accident, and returned im- mediately to procure a doctor; he went with Mr. Buck- ingham, (a clerk to Mr. Ford), for Mr. Thompson, the surgeon to the Union, but he had a dinner party and could not attend; Mr. Prosser, and Mr. Wilson, were then applied to, but were both out of town, a second application was made to Mr. Thompson, but he did not attend till eight o'clock; in the lnean time Mr. F. B. Wall, accompanied by Mr. If. Avery, bad attended and rendered every assistance that professional skill and humanity could suggest. The coroner stated to the jury that there could be no doubt but. deceased met with his death by accident, and as such they would record their verdict. The jury, after a short consultation, agreed to the following verdict:—" Accidental Death; but we cannot help expressing our disapprobation of the conduct of Mr. Thompson, Iie parish surgeon, in positively refusing to attend the deceased because he had a dinner-party." F.VTF.IO:C or THE FH \NrrifrtK. The Reform Act having been in operation, ten vears, it has become pretty generally known that tor borough electors to retain their votes fof the next year, it is necessary that they pay, on or before the 20th of July, all poor, rates and window-tax payable from them before the (jtlt of April. The window- tax is the less likely to be unpaid this year, as the go- vernment have been more urgeiit-iii eiiforcitig its collec- tion. It is important to those who posses a qualification, but are not rated, to know that in those parishes where there has been but one rate made since the 31st of July, 1841, they can obtain a vote at. the next registration, if they claim to be rated on or before Saturday, the 30th of July. TURNPIKE ROADS BILL.-It is the intention of go- vernment to pass only a Turnpike Roads Continuance bill thin session. The more extended bill is to be with- drawn. By the new turnpike act, the dri ver of a waggon is liable to a fine for ruling on his wag-on, It there be no person on foot or on horseback to guide the same. This salutary provision is designed to prevent accidents. Mr. Elmore's steeple chasers were put up for sale on I Tuesday week at Tattersall's; Sam WeHer fetched 200 guineas, and Jerry 91 gui neas; Lottery was bought in for 900 guineas, Gaylad for IHil) guineas, and Snake for 90 guineas. BUIEF HISTORY OF THE NEW POOR LAW.—The present Secretary of State for the Home Department, Sir James Graham, who, in his official capacity, intro- duced the Poor Law Amendment Bill of 1812, was also the first person to bring before Parliament the Bill of IS3t. On the 2Hth of March, in that year, Sir James Graham, on behalf of the then Chancellor of the Exche- quer, Lord Althorp, gave notice of a Bill for the amend- mellt of the Pour Law. The bill was introduced on the 17th of April, and read a first time without a division. The second reading was moved on the 19th of May. Not a single Tory opposed the motion. The opposition speakers were Colonel Evans, Sir Samilcl Whalley, and Mr. Walter, then a "Whig and something more." 3W members voted for the second reading, atul only 20 against it, of whom 18 were Liberals, and 2 Tones. In committee, an amendment w s moved, to give power to a majority of rate-pfyers to withdraw a parish from a union. 12 members voted for this amendment, of whom 2 only were Tories. An amendment to extend the power of granting out-door reiiefj received the votes of 30 -Libe- rals and 11 Tories. An amendment to enlarge the powers of Justices "to order relief, was supported by 14 Liberals, and 1*2 Tories. For the omission of the bastardy clauses, 2S Liberals recorded their votes, and 7 Tories. When the clause defining the liabilities of children came under discussion, Cobbett proposed an -4 oii, Cobbett prot,,ose d an amendment for its extension to State pensioners, and was supported by IS Liberals, hut not by one Tory. The Bill passed the House of Commons on the 21st of June, by a majority of 188 against 51. The minority included 38 Liberals and 13 Tories. Qn 'the second of July, the Bill was read a first time by the Lords, on the motion of Earl Grey. On the 21st of July (the Melbourne Ministry having been formed in the interval), the second reading was moved by the Lord Chancellor (Brougham). Lord Wynford moved that it be read a second time that day six months. The Earl of Witichilsea and the Duke of Wellington opposed the amendment. The Duke said:— "The subject had been submitted to the House by several Noble Lords, and had also been under the consideration of every Administration that he had known but no plan had ever been suggested, or scheme proposed, to remove and remedy the evils of the existing laws, which, in his judgment, at all equalled the present, and for it he must return the Noble Lords opposite, with whom it originated, his sincere thanks. The present remedy for the evils of the existing laws was unquestionably the best which had ever been devised." 76 noble lords voted for the second reading of the BiH.and 13 against the motion. Subse? I qnently, the Bishop of Exeter moved the omission of the bastardy clauses, and was opposed by the Duke of Wel- lington. The motion was defeated by a majority of '11, and the Duke of Wellington moved the substitution of a bastardy clause in the rCornhf Mr. Duke's motion was agreed to. The Biti was read a third time by 4.3 vote's against 15, on the 8th of August; and on the 1 ttli it received the royal assent. Since that time, the Bill has several times received the approval of the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel in Parliament; and in the session cf 1842 it h;.s been formally adopted by a Tory Government, without material modification. The Tory papers say, indeed, that the present Government have made the measure Worse than ever. And yet, notwithstanding the history of the New Poor Law, the factious Tory Press makes a handle cf it against the Whigs!
TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS.
TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. "AMICUS" mistake?. 'Ve are always thankful for local news. Our sole object indeed for excluding para- graphs of a different kind, is to give the greatest possible quantity of intelligence to the public. We regret to hear that papers duly posted from this office do not sometimes roach their destination. 1 he fault is not with us. A most punctual and trust- worthy person in our establishment sees every paper off and in the post -oflice. "Tenby Launch"—many thanks. Local intelligence of all kinds, and at all times, is acceptable. R. E." We have never recognized the right of any cor- respondent, high or low, to demand a "notice," nor have we often either space or time for detailed notices to correspondents." We may not, per- chance, find room for answers during the next month, or a longer period perhaps. The Rev. Mr. Jones is thanked—it is the directness, the fearlessness, and the truthfulness of the Xoncon- formist that we like. There is not all identity of principle."
[No title]
Strongly averse, as we ever are on principle, to the multliplication of penal enactments, it is not without satisfaction that we see a bill brought in, for the purpose of protecting her Majesty from a repetition of the annoyance and alarm to which s he has been recently exposed, by the contempt- ible riggtmtiflliis, who hftve played the part of traitor for the sake only of getting a name and good quarters at the same time. Such fellows in in future, instead of being raised to the dignity of traitors, will be subject to the same penalties as persons guilty of petty larceny. We have room only to reler the reader to Sir R. Peel's speech in another column.
[No title]
The debate on the distress of the country, which we called attention to in our last publication was not brought to a close until nearly three o'clock last Saturday morning, For the motion of the hon. member for Grcenock there appeared, on a division, 49 against it 17'1- The majority in- cludes Lords Palmerston and Russell, with six other Liberal members only- The rest were the Toiy hacks and officials, The hon. member for the Cardiganshire boroughs was present and recorded his energetic protest against the proro- gation of Parliament until inquiry were made into the causes of the unprecedented distress existing at present all over the kingdom j-and thereafter until effectual means were secured to provide sustenance for the unemployed and their destitute families until their sufferings be terminated by demand for their industry and wages for their labour." We have already so fully expressed our sentiments on the subject of the rejected resolu- tions, that we had now perhaps better limit our- selves to little more than such cursory notice of the debate, as the columns of a London contem- porary supplies. People incapable of looking beyond the surface, may point to the division lists on Mr. Wallace's motion, and ask what good" has come of rather more than a week's discussion on the national distress. We reply, much good- and we even wish that the opposition had suc- ceeded in protracting the debate during the present week. Though no specific system of relief is likely to he evolved out of the miscellaneous mass of opinions that a Parliamentary debate on general topics must necessarily call forth, yet the accumulated fesutts of individual experience are thus brought to bear on this one all- ettflrossinff subject of national interest, from which a subsequent examination, separating the prejudices and party feelings of the hour, may discover data on which to found practical measures of al eviation, if not of cure. At least, the stigma of being indifferent to the sufferings of the people has been removed from the House, if not from the Government, by the fact that such a discussion has taken place. Though no defined remedy has been distinctly proposed, at least the first step towards inquiry, which must precede all measures of relief, has been taken. rVor do we think it condemnatory of the discussion, as one of the organs of government has chosen to assume, to allege that each speaker has his own fancied remedy to propose; tor, how blindly obstinate must be the govern- ment which would exclude suggestions of reliet for an admitted and widely-spread calamity.' The debate then, (we agree with the Globe,) has not been without its use. IF the opposition be taunted with not having a plan of relief on which tin y are agreed, the ministry is in the still worse position of having been compulsory listeners to the deplorable condition of the country they have undertaken to govern, and have been compelled to admit the fact of that condition, ill all the depth, and length, and breadth of the calamity. The only consolation they offer to the sufferers, is the hope that things will mend; but they cling to the system of com- mercial restriction, to which the sufferings of the popula- tion are, to a great extent, to be ascribed.
[No title]
The unparalleled distress cf the country, it will be seen, was again discussed last Monday; Lord Brougham in a singularly calm and convincing speech having brought it before the House of Lords, by a motion for a Select Committee. We present but an epitome of the noble and learned Lord s address, also and for want of space our com- mentary on the debate can be but scant and cursory, We cannot, however, pass wholly with- cursonroyt^ ice the point taken up by his Lordship, and which was previously urged by the Welshman with equal earnestness, although less eloquently. We allude tr. indecency of proroguing Parlia- ment, without first inquiring whether any mea- sure could be adopted to mitigate the mass of misery tlinf. unhappily oxfoinJ-s from one extremity of the country to another. Well might Lord i-einitid the House that—■ It was not enough to say that they were it the close of the session (hear)—that wuiild not do in times like these. If they could sit all last summer, because ot an expected change in the ministry, surely they might act in a similar manner to inquire into the distresses of the community. Winter was coming on, with sable wings and long nights, and the distress would be increasing. The IlJlaining three or tour weeks of Parliament ought, under these circumstances, to be a matter of indifference to them. He was really ashamed to enter into the ques- tion of delay. It was one that ought not to obtrude itself upon their consideration." It ought not to, but nevertheless, it would ap- pear, that it did, "obtrude itself upon the consider- ation of some of their Lordships:" for there were only 75 peers present, and of these no less than GI rejected the noble Lord's motion—or, in other words, 01 of our luck-of-loins legislators refused to hear a word the distressed petitioners had to say. They did not attempt to deny the unprece- dented and daily accumulating distress of the country, nor could they go the length of asserting that no inquiry into its causes could possibly lead to discovery. Why then did they abruptly turn from the prayers of the destitute working-classes, to w hom, as the noble mover justly intimated, the Throne and Aristocracy owed every thing, and who had raised the commercial greatness of the country to its present stupendous height." Why, we ask, was the sympathy of our hereditary le- gislators with the great body of the people thus strangely evinced ? The reasons for their extra- ordinary conduct, such as they are, will be seen in our summary of the debate. We must conclude. We cannot however do so, without entreating our readers to peruse the speech of Lord Brougham, which will be found in another column, and from which we subjoin the following ex.tracts "When he (Lord Ih'ougham) carre to the details, with which he was almost atraid to deal, from the general statement over which he was running, not going, they were perfectly frightful. Thousands of persons were without food for days—he could not say that it was for one day alone—without a morsel of tood. In some cases the poor were unable to leave their beds. They thus starved for days; because, as'it was said by some of them, that in a recumbent position the pangs of htmgerwère m'lre easily endured. They were living on things that ought not to be eaten by men; and literally envied the husks thrown to the swine, wlikh they could not eat." Descending to individual instances of cala- mity the condition of the masses might be more clearly perceived Lord Brougham, on the testimony of ministers of religion and medical n-i?n", stated that —" In one case, a woman famishing with her infant, found shelter in a miserable cellar, and in the three hours a'ter her infant died, actually from want of that susten- ance which ought to be derived from the mother. In another case, a man, who had been without work fifteen or sixteen weeks, obtained employment, and worked ten hours without food but he was obliged to give up. He came back to his house, flung himself on a bench and his wife burst into tears, knowing he had not tasted any food that day. But some kind person gave them a little money, and lie thanked him, and said it was a sorry sight to see the poor in that state, and wished that he may never know what hunger was. These things quite unmanned one, and were excruciatingly painful." Another contemporary says, The new Corn Law cheat is already detected. The great impostor, indeed, with an affectation of triumph, compares the existing duty with what the fortner duty would have been, but as the quantity of corn which comes in for consumption is trifl- ing, this fact proves the failure of the new law. The im- postor talks as if it mattered to starving people that the duty is-twel ve instead of twenty shillings, when the one is as operative as the other for the exclusion of a supply of food. The vice in the sliding scale is incurable, the temptation for holding back for the lowest duty remain- ing pretty nearly the same, whether the figures of the duty be somewhat higher or lower. # Yet the Government has refused to accept the power which Mr. Bannerman proposed to give to it, of admit- ting corn duty free, by Order in Council, in the event of extreme exigency. Mr. Wallace has declared his resolution to moot the Corn Law question again before the close of the session, and the experience of the nev,, law is quite enough to warrant a motion for the repeal of it, for if it has worked ill in the circuhistanccs of the last six weeks, what have we to expect of it in the winter we have to look forward tO ? 'Thus bad begins and worse remains behind.' I t is certain that a motion for repeal of the new law will be defeated by a great majority, but it is the duty of the Liberal paiiy to make the effort, and it is good to accumulate on Sir Robert Peel and his followers, the res- ponsibilities of persisting in the mischievous monopoly, notwithstanding all warnings and opportunities to re- trieve the error. Their day of reckoning will come be- fore long."
[No title]
We have over and over again avowed our conviction, that the Tariff Bill viewed as a w hole, and in connexion with that unspeakably obnoxious, inquisition which Sir Robert has grubbed up, Wouid do little good to any one, and much harm to all classes in the country. Founded on fraud as nobody now deifies, it is fraught with danger. We in comition with our contemporaries, have repeatedly declared our opinion, that it frill add greativ to the distresses of some classes, arlfl contribute 'littfe 'to the present relief or benefit of others its advantages, such as they are, requiring time for their development; and we have observed further, that in the measures of Sir Robert Peel, including, of course, the Income Tax, all the detriments and oppressions will be immediate, adding to the great existing distresses, and the benefits gradual and distant." We want free trade in food. We want not 11 the virtual relaxation of the duty on corn" about which -the Premier was so excessively fluent last week -we do not want the shadow, we demand the substance. In his hollow, and-looking at the distress which stalks through the land—we may add, heartless speech, the Minister boastingly said, have reduced the duty on corn by one-half. The duty on foreign wheat at this moment is 9s. per quarter; and if I recollect right, at the same average under the old law, the duty would be 23s. 8d. per quarter. Do lion, gentlemen (asked he) mean to say that that was no virtual relaxation of the duty cn corn ?" What powers of face must not the Premier possess to give utterance to such barefaced and delusive language His sliding-scale juggle has hitherto been inoperaJve, or it it have had any operation what- ever, its only effect has been to occasion less importation, and less duty accruing to the revenue, by half. There is a return now actually printed by order of the House, by that House in which Sir Robert is represented to have put forth the specious statement which we have just quoted, from which it appears that the quantity of foreign wheat entered for home consumption, between April 29th and June 5th, 1842, is 92,,357 quarters, at a rluty ot 13s. or 12s. Last year, between April 30th and June 4th, were entered 108,090 quarters, at a duty of 23s. 8d. or 21s. 8d! Why, wheat now is not released from bond or imported to this country, at even the same rate of duty at which it used to be brought in for the consumption of the people under the old law of 1828. Sir Robert Peel's re. tention of the principle of the sliding-scale, as was pre- dicted, has produced no results more beneficial than the former sliding-scale. Lord John Russell, in the debate on Mr. Wallace's motion, demolished a not unpopular prejudice in a most masterly manner. It has often been complacently asked, why should England relax her commercial code without obtaining a mutual relaxation from foreign states. "It has been said," observed the Noble Lord, that it was vain to hope that by making concessions to foreign na- tions, that they would be induced to relax the restrictions to which they had recourse, with regard to our manufac- tures. That nrght be so, or it might be otherwise. He believed that by setting the example to other nations ofa more liberal policy, that they would be more likely to obtain concessions from them. He was certain of this much, that if each na:ion persisted in determining that it would never give way until the other should do so first, the present system could never be altered. (Hear, hear.) He thought the system of retaliation with regard to com- mercial transactions was unwise. Was this country to say that though the silks and wines of France would, if freely imported to this country, be beneficial to it, we shall not have them; and because the government of France deprived the people of that country of the benefit of our linens, therefore the government of this country must punish the people in a similar manner. He thought that such a course of proceeding was most falla- cious. Indeed, the right hon. baronet, when introducing the Tariff, used an argument which shewed the fallacy of such a course. He said that the house might pass laws to prevent the importation of certain articles, but it could not prevent those articles from being smuggled. The right hon. baronet then read a letter which stated that the smuggler would undertake to bring into this country any quantity of silk at six or seven per cent., while we Were keeping up a duty of about 30 per cent. on its im- portation. Suppose that the government of Germany were to argue that England had grown rich by its prohi- bitory duties. Would not the people of Germany, or of any other country, find the same difficulty in preventing the smuggling ot the prohibited articles as this country had exl-)eriencetl From these reasons, he believed, that while the government had adopted a wise principle with regard to the Tariff, they had not in other respects adopt- ed a course the most likely to relieve the distresses of the country or to revive prosperity."
[No title]
Amongst other advantages, growing out of the ineffec- tual endeavour of the Opposition to force ministers into measures, having for object the relief of our destitute population, is the prominency given to the baneful ope- ration of the Corn-laws. In the ('pinion, indeed, of a London contemporary, their inevitable doom has been accelerated by the debate on Mr. Wallace's motion. Although too much as well as too little importance has sometimes been attached to the Corn-laws, as the cause of all the national distress now prevalent, it is quite cer- tain they are the principal, if not the sole cause of most of it. We agree with the Globe, in thinking that it is a fallacy of exaggeration to attribute to the restrictive duties upon the importation of corn all the evils which aiflict the country. To the exaggeration which seldom fails to weaken the advocacy of a good cause, under cir- cumstances which tend to excite the feelings, by the pre- sence of evils, a large part of which are manifestly trace- able to the vicious system sought to be removed, the answer is ofter. must illogical and absurd. Of this absur- dity in argument wns Lord Stanley guilty on Wednesday Jlght, whcn in, reply to Lord Palmerston, he exclaimed, Repeal the Corn-law to-morrow: see if that will cause distress to cease.' No, we reply, the accumulated evils of erroneous legislation, persisted in from year to year, cannut be at once removed by the most energetic return to-i suiiiider policy. But we never maintain the Corn- law to be the sole cause of commercial distress; though it surpasses in evil all others derived from b,d legislation. It is more just to consider this law as a permanent evil- a weight which continually presses on the national ener- gies; lightly felt in times of prosperity, but heavily indeed, 111 those of distress. This argument was well wrought out by Mr. Huskisson in his speech on the state of the country in March, 1830; and fearfully have the con.equenccs of restrictive commercial policy, which he therein established as inevitable from such a system, been realized at intervals in its subsequent operations." |
WEEKLY RETROSPECT. OR čSUMMARY…
WEEKLY RETROSPECT. OR č SUMMARY I OF DOMESTIC NEWS. [FROM OUR LONDON* SPECIAL CORK F.S POX DTN T. ) LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, 7 O'CLOCK. There has been a great deal of talking in both Houses of Parliament,—in which, by the way, none of the Welsh Members have taken part, Sir John Owen is ever obmutescent, the Hon. Mr. Trevor too is tongue-tied, Mr. Ystrad Jones's silvery tones have not been heard, Lord Kmlyn's eloquence is of wedded love, and Col. Powell probably, as well as certain hon. members on our side, think that there are quite enow parliamentary orators without them—I said that there had been much discussion in Parliament, but really when called upon to supply specific statement and detailed explanation, the multifarious medley puzzles one. The proceedings in the Lords have been aristocratically dull and enimymur. They passed the Customs bill, on Saturday, which having received the royal assent, is now the law of the land. It came into operation last Monday, and gave the Custom- house officials no little trouble. The only really important feature in the Lords is the calm, con- vincing, and dignified speech of Lord Brougham, on moving for a select committee to see if any, and what relief could be afforded to the destitute thousands who are actually famishing. In the Commons, Mr. Wallace's motion, brought forward with a similar object, has engaged the attention of the country, but not apparently of the Go- vernment for they have rejected the resolutions, s purned the petitioners who prayed to be heard, and refused to inquire into the causcs of the distress of the people and the general depression in trade. The Corn-law, it is apparent, now is wholly inoperative, the Tariff can do no good, and the expedient of raising money by means of the Queen's letter, is an utter failure. Ministers rejected Mr. Bannerman's resolution, affirming the expediency of vesting in the Crown a power to reduce or discontinue, by Order it: Council, should circumstances so require, the duties which now regulate the importation of foreign I I corn, during the recess of Fariiairenr, ana nave thus refused the responsibility of holding the power to open our ports in case of the increase of pauperism, and the failure of the harvest. Mr. Villiers's motion for the total and immediate repeal of the Corn-laws, of course afforded only an opportunity for the revival of arguments against the Corn monopoly, founded partly this week on the palpable failure of Sir Robert Peel's sliding-scale. In both Houses ample evidence has been adduced ot the the destitution of a large portion of our population. The patience and virtues of the people have been highly and nightly extolled, but fair words but- ter no parsnips—legislation, it was affirmed, could do nothing for them. To the tampering with the currency, a few laid the blame, while others ascribed all our distress to bad harvests; some said the vice was in our foreign policy but. everybody well knows that we must look for the cause of the calamities with which we are afflicted, mainly in our cruel and most absurd restrictive system-a system upheld by the class policy of our aristocratic rulers. The Corn-laws, no doubt, cause much, very much of de- pression, but the truth perhaps is, as a contemporary says, our con- stitution has for centuries past been trouble with weaknesses, and infirmities, which during a state of general health were scarcely perceptible; but active disease having get in, they are the first to show them- selves, and topical remedies, however they may palliate the mischief, can scarcely be expected except by the dupes of quackery, to remove it. The revenue returns have been presented. There is a "large deficiency in the Customs, but that was caused by the non-settlement of the Tariff. Col. Dundas, a Tory, has been dismissed her Majesty's service for speaking grossly of her in Ids cups. The new Poor Law Continuance bill has been feebly supported, and notwithstanding the defeat of the opposition, it is doubtful whether Government will pass the act this sesions. In my last the "fact was stated that Lord Auckland had actually been asked to retain the Governor-Generalship of India. What a commentary upon the conduct of the Tories is this. After all the denunciations of Lord Auckland's policy, one of the first acts of the Tory President of the Board of Controul was to Wrrte to ask Lord Auckland to retain the Governor-Generalship of T ndia The Hon. Member for Montrose, it will be seen, has recommenced his useful career by exposing to poblic view the costly trappings of monarchy. It he cannot cause a diminution in the expenditure for the purposes of palace parade and luxury, he can at least open the eyes ot the people to the 1 cost of such mixed-monarchy monstrosities, and I trust he. will persevere. The Civil List expenditure is enor- mous, and has already caused calculations to be made, and comparisons instituted, which augur equally ill for the permanence of the present state of things, and for the popularity of the royal recipients. Economy may not be fashionable, but it is, nevertheless, much needed. Mr. Roebuck's committee is proceeding pailltully- several hon. gentlemen are sorely tormented. If there be room, tack to my common-place retrospect the following clever sketch from the Atlas:—" Mount the broom, sail into the air, and take a glance downward at this great world of houses, and tell us what is to be seen and heard. Peep into Mr. Roebuck's committee-room, and look at Mr. Walter and his tormentors. There is a political group for you, full of as terrible an expression of dismay and anxiety as if they were awaiting an earthquake. Who knows ? Nobody can tell whfct may happen to an election committee. 1 Turn away to Sr. George's, Hanover Square. There t are favours in the street, and garrulods knots of people Waiting at a few aristocratic carriages that are standing at the church door. We have a wedding here. The bride has alread y surrendered her liberty, and, trembling slightly, but radiant with smiles of that kind that are always ready to gush into floods of tears, and covered with a veil that conceals everything but her lustrous eyes and a small orange flower nestling in her hair, she hurries out, and vanishes into her carriage. The scene passes like a ray of light, and in a moment the dull, elegant street is as lifeless as if nothing ha'd happened. Yet v,hat may not be the issue of that marriage? Did the sauntering passers-by in the Streets of Corsica pre- dict the destinies of France when Charles Buonaparte, a simple advocate, was married to Letitia Ramolino, the mother ef Napoleon ? Now then, hover over the artcien t causeway ofbarbican. It is half-past one o'clock in the morning, and there is a mall to be executed presently for murder. People are gathering lazily, rubbing their eyes, and hurrying in broken parties towards the scene of this real horror. A real man really hang is something not to be equalled by Sadlers' Wells or the Victoria, and is consequently sure of attracting a great attendance. There is a young man, a sort of genteel hosiery apprentice, making his way along Barbican, with a couple of friends, to see the sight. A jaunty-looking person asks him something about the execution. He does not think it safe to answer, and hurries on—for there is a certain vague shivering sense of fear and reluctance that accompany all these matters, making men cowardly and superstitious in the very jaws of the terrible experience they are about to enter, 'ihe question is repeated, then follows a blow, a whistle, and a rush of confederates from dark lanes and nooks. The young man is overwhelmed, thrown to the ground, beaten almost to a jelly, and robbed of a gold watch. Of course the fierce questioners disappear, and the genteel youth is left to reflect upon the morality of that morbid curiosity which fascinates so many people towards the front of JJewgate on those neld-days of the criminal code. Before he gets home he is, no doubt, thoroughly convinced that thf general humanity of the lower orders is quite as !itt!c ?y,nrnved bv capital punishments as their sense of the .a".r"' difference between mcurn and tuum." M.P.
LATEST IBWS,
LATEST IBWS, I,ONI)OV, WEDNESDAY EVENINO. PARLIAMENT OF THIS EVENING. HOUSE OF COMMONS. COAL TRICKERY.—Amongst the petitions presented was one signed by 3,000 or 4,000 persons residing in the vicinity of London, complaining that sea-borne coals are much enhanced in price by the proceedings of the coal- owners of the north, and praying, that with a view to render them cheaper, the duty may be taken oft'inland coals (hear) the hon. baronet also presented a petition from Kingston-on-Thames, praying for the abofinon ot the tolls on the metropolitan bridges. FORGED EXCHEQUER BILLS. Mr GRIVISDITCII asked the Chancellor of the Exche- quer what progress had been made by the commissioners appointed to inquire into the circumstances attending the forgery of Exchequer bills (hear); and whether it was probable, or likely, that any report of those commis- sioners would be made before the prorogation of Parlia- nient ? (Hear, hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was not able to answer the question, but would make further in- quiry upon the subject, tin I should then be able to give the hon. gentleman some further information. PROTECTION OF HER MAJESTY.—THE PALACE DISTRESS. Oil the motion of Sir R. PEEL, that the house go into committee on ttie bill for the Protection of her Majesty's Person, r, Mr. HUME rose, and said the. attention of the house had for several months been called to the distresses of the country. But their attenfton had not yet been directed to that part of her Majesty's speech from the throne which pointed out the expenditure of the country as a means of removing those distresses. He (Mr. Hume) was of opinion that they ortght not to separate without the whole civil expenditure of the country being reduced. (Hear, hear.) There was an enormous ex- pense of the public money in mere parade and show. He was of opinion that one-half of that sum might be saved, and he believed no one would be more ready to make a personal sacrifice for the good of the country for a year or two than the Queen, if such a course were re- commended by her Majesty's ministers. The sum spent in mere parade and show a bout the Palace was no less than £ 300,000 of the public money. He (Mr. Hume) thought that it was in the power of the right honourable baronet, if lie would act upon his suggestion, to render any additional taxation (such as the income Tax) unne- cessary. The revenue of the present year was as great as it had been during the last ten years. The income had not fallen off, but the expenditure had been increased. Sir R. PEEL said, that when it was the opinion of the house, and the country, that the votes proposed were ex- travagant, her Majesty s ministers would have every desiie to reduce them; but when it was the judgment of those who were well capable of estimating these things that the national interests would not be promoted by a reduction of the votes—an d he (Sir Robert Peel) was of opinion that it was anything but true economy to stint the public service, while the country was earring on a war—(hear)—he thought it would be much more politic to meet the difficulty with a generous course of conduct, and endeavour as soon as possible to bring that war to a c'ose. (Hear.) Ultimately the bill passed through committee with some verbal amendments, and was ordered to be r* ad a third time this evening, if it could be engrossed in time. [Left sitting.] FRANCE.—A communication from Paris dated at a late lnur on Monday, informs us that the result of 3;;6 elections then known, gave a majority of 4-J to the Con- servative party. Advices from Madrid of the 4th instant have reached us, The Cortes would, it was expected, be prorogued in bout eight day", and would assemble itguin in October. Accounts from Constantinople of the23d utt., state that the Porte had finally sold the Constantinople Custom- house fur a sum exceeding that yielded fast vear by 10,000 purses (.,C;O,OüO) which is so much clear gain to the government. CORN EXCHANGE, THIS DAY.—The English runs of wheat not sold on Monday are still oil- hand, as they would hardly realise that day's prices. There was very little doing in foreign, either free or bonded. Ail oili-er articles are flat at Monday's quotations. CONSOLS, 91 J; Ditto for opening91; Dutch 512 Ditto- 6 per Cent. 101 New Loan 99t. THE COURT.—It has been finally arranged for the Court to visit Windsor for a somewhat lengthened period, immediately after the prorogation of Parliament. A BATTLE tor fifty pounds look place yesterday between Tom the Greek and Bill Jones. The ring was formed in a field at 1 wyford, in Berkshire, between 30 and 40 miles from London, on the Western Railroad. The fight lasted about two hours, during which time 76 rounds were fought, and J onf-S, after punishing his adversary severely, was declared the victor. ALARMING FIRE.-About 10 o'clock yesterdaymoming a fire broke out in Wells-street, Oxford-street, which < some hours threatened the total destruction of a vast quantity of property, and before it subsided, several houses were totally destroyed or damaged. The loss sustained is estimated at from to £ 2,000, and although occurring- in the morning, not the slightest in- formation as to the cause could be obtained.
CARMARTHENSHIRE.
CARMARTHENSHIRE. As the following lines relate to local facts, although trifling ones, their introduction into a spare niche of our columns, will not, we hope, be considered a very grave offence. A day or two ago there was a short conversation be- tween a Carmarthen gentleman and the Editor of this paper, on the subject of the JJ'clsltnlan'tt recent squib— a trifle which seems, sadly as well as most strangely, to, have ruffled the temper of certain Tory gentlemen. The- gossip assumed the following form :— Editor. You know every Carmarthen Conservative- named in the squib far better than I do; for in truth, personally, I know not one of them, and before I could. put their names, even in print, I was obliged to ask the Printer for them. My retired habits, and the prefer- ence always given by me to a ride on the road or a walk in the fields to what is called the best country society," to say nothing of the inferior, necessarily precludes the possession of those particulars relating to private indivi- duals, which you who live in town, and have your being, in it, have so perfectly at your fingers' ends. I protestthat by putting in print some of theTory solicitors, &c., I thought 1 was rather illustrating their names than calumniating their characters. Don't you think that their taking of- fence was absurd ?-by doing so haven't they shown some hypercriticism, and a singularly thin-skinned sensitive- ness > Don't you think so ?" Gtrmarlhen Gentleman. Why, my good sir, you certainly were in error. My neighbours, the Tories, whom you named—named I confess very inoffensively— can scarcely be considered public characters and ought, not to have been named at all. I have lived here man and boy upwards of half a centurv- I know the feeling in this locality-we arc two or three hundred years behind our English neighbours-we don't like jokes; to be frarik, we don't understand them; and if you wish, as I know you do, to avoid giving offence, pray abstain fr.om them. I'eople here, particularly the Tories, never like ia see their names in print, unless t/rey are praised. Sugar-plum them, my dear sir,—sugar-plum them all—honied words cost nothing. Never print a name but to praise it. Praise them all from my lord down to a snob from the country squire down to our respected fellow-townsman,' who seduces ignorant servant-girls into his shop to exchange their savings in light' sovereigns, for shocking bad' slips and chemises. By this means you get the patro- nage of professional as well as of other gentlemen, and your respected fellow-townsman' in return for your puff sends you weekly his advertisement about I light sovereigns, 'full value,' and all that sort of humbug. Why don't you take a leaf out of a contemporary's book —he's the man for a dignified eulogy on a ftllow-towns- man's damaged goods. Never print a man's name, be he Squire, Shopkeeper, or Solicitor, without plasteing it ,"?ll with prmse, and of course you will then have no complaints. They have been used to it, they like it, and. they can't do without it." Edilcr. Well, now I see you have been jesting all the while. Good morning. You can't shake my faith in our fellow-townsmen's good sense and general intelligence." D. Morris, Esq., the member for Carmarthen, voted last Tuesday night in the minority of 92 against Ministers, for shortening the duration of the Poor Law Commission to one year. The Priory-street Fair here was held last Monday. There were not many beasts, and those that were sold did not realise the prices that might have been expected. CRDfE IN CARMARTHENSHIRE.—At our assizes this week there were only two prisoners for trial. A considerate number of persons assembled on Mon- day evening to witness the departure of the Phoenix. She sailed a day previous to her usual time on account of the Royal Agricultural Society's meetings and shews which take place this week. She had several persons on board, who after spending the night at Tenby would be in Bristol on Tuesday evening in time for the best days. THE BURIAI, OF THE DEAD. Our disposal of the dead, in the midst of the living, is a disgrace to our country and our civilization. It is characterized by an injurious departure from the wisdom of the ancients, and singles us out, most unfavourably among the modern. No one, of the least observation, can have failed to remark the loathsome and threatening state of our crow- ded burial-grounds. The evil cries aloud for a remedy, and We are glad that the attention of the Legislature has been called to the subject. The body of O'Brien, who, we stated, Wasuro\Vned,hai been found on Laugharne sands, not far from the place of the melancholy occurrence. The body was conveyed to Laugharne church, to await an inquest; but after some time, the body was buried without an inquest being held; the magistrates in the Quarter Sessions having come to a resolution, not to allow the expenses of the inquest oil bodies found on this coast. INQUEST.—On Monday, the 11th of July, before Wil- liam Bonville, Esq., the Coroner for the County, at the Half-Moon, Pembrey, on the body ot a mariner, who expired suddenly in a fit The jury, upon the evidence produced, found a verdict to the above effect. The de- ceased was much beloved by all who knew him. An inquest was held at the Baptist Chapel, at Velirl- gwm, in the parish of Llanegwad, before Daniel Price; Esq., Coroner, in consequence of the Coroner of the dis- trict being unable to attend, on view cf the body of Mary Lewis, an elderly female, the wife of Williarn Lewis, a mason, living in the dwelling-house attached to that chapel. The poor woman, on the 5th, was found dead and alone in the house, by some neighbours; the husband was out working at his trade. It appeared from the evi- dence that she was a sickly person, though her particular disease was not known. Verdict—" Natural death." TAKE COPIES OF YOUR LETTERS.—The necessity of this advice must have been brought home to the con- viction of everybody, more particular during the Assizes, and now that everybody can take a copy in one second, it is madness not to do so. Hart's Improved Patent Portable India Rubber Copying Machine, sold by our b' publisher, as will be seen bv m advertisement, accom- plishes the object at once. His machines are better than the manifold writers, inasmuch as the impression taken by the manifold writers is not a copy but co--oria;aal; consequently no one could swear in a court of justice that this cocoriginal was "a copy" without being guilty of perjury whereas, by Hart's Copying Machine you take (t copy in the literal sense of the word, by writing your letter first, and taking a copy afterwards.
ICARMARTHENSHIRE SUMMER ASSIZES.
I CARMARTHENSHIRE SUMMER ASSIZES. The Commission for these Assizes should have been opened on Saturday last, but in consequence of the heavy nature of the business of the Glamorganshire assizes, his- Lordship, Baron Rolte, was unable to leave Cardiff in time to be at Carmarthen on Saturday to open the com- mission. His Lordship arrived here on Sunday after- noon about four o'clock and at eight o'clock on Monday morning proceeded to the Shire Hall, where the commis- sion was opened. His Lordship attended Divine service at St. Peter's Church at 10 o'cloc k, when the services were read and a sermon preached by the Kev. R. B. Jones, the High Sheriffs ?huplain, who tk,teJl.t from the 10th chapter of St. Paul's )st Epistie?tu the Corinthians and the 31st verse-" Whatever you do,doalI to the Glory of God." His Lordship entered court at 12 o'clock, when the following Magistrates answered to their names:—Sir John Mansel, Bart.; Lewis Evans, Esq.. Pantykendy; Rees Goring Thomas, Esq., Llanon; J. George Philipps, Esq.; James Thomas, Esq.. Caeglas; Daniel Prytheich, Esq.; R. J. Neville, Esq., Llanelly W. B. Swann, Esq., Merixton; J. Banks Davies, Esq., Myrtle llill; H. W. Howells, Esq., Glaspant; W. Rice Howell Powell, Esq.; T. Charles Morris, Esq.; R. P. Beynon, Esq., and T. Jones, Esq., M.O. CORONEIt.-I). Price, Esq., Talley. MAGISTRATES FOR THE BoitoOGH.-J. G. Philipps; Lewis Evans 1). Prytherch T. Charles Morris; E. H. Stacey, and T. T. Webb, Esqrs. CORONER.—J. P. Watkihs, Esq. The following Gentlemen formed the Grand Jury for the County:—Sir John Mansel, Bart., Foreman; J. B. Davies; R. P. Beynoti; Lewis Evans; H. W. Howells; W. Howell; John Lewis; T. C. Morris; R. J. Neville, J. G. Philipps; Daniel Prytherch; W. R. H. Powell; W. B. Swann: Rees Goring Thomas, and James Thomas; Esqrs. There being a scarcity of Grand Jurors present, although fiftv-three had been summoned, his Lordship remarked that in Glamorganshire he had been obliged to fine many of the Grand Jurors, and he did not know whether he ought not to fine some of them now. It was a great mis- fortune that gentlemen who are summoned to attend as Grand Jurors did not think-it their duty to attend; and if there happened to be a scarcity of Pent Jurors, it would not be a very impartial administration of justice were he to fine them when the gentlemen who ought to have at- tended the Grand Jury set them so bad an example. As there were so few prisoners, however, he had no doubt fifteen wOlfldbe -sulficieiit for the bllsliiess. He did not mean his observations to apply to those present, but only to thouc Who hud been summoned and did not attend. Sir J-olin Maiisel assured his* Lordship that there usuaHy was a very large attendance of Grand Jurors, and lie could only attribute their absence to-day to the fact that there being so little business at this assizes, that they might be of opinion they would not be wanted. 1 he following Gentlemen formed the Grand Jury for the I' ,)rou,Ii.-W ill iiim Evans, E"q., Foreman; J. J. Stacey, C. Brigstocke, George Bagnall, J. P. Davies, George Children, J. Griffiths, David Ch irles, D. Walter Hughes, W. G. Jones, Daniel Jones, E. B. Jones, O. Jones, T. G. Lewis, D. Ll. Mortimer, J. Morgan, W. Thomas, S. Tardrew, Esqrs. Iler Majesty's proclamation against vice and immorality having beer, read, his Lordship addressed the Grand Juries as follows:- Geiitlei-neii of the Grand Jury for the County of Carmarthen,— I m extremely happy to be able to say that the motive of my observations to you just now was only in consequence of my regret at the non-attendance of the Grand Jurors, and had no reference to the amount of business to be done by them. 1 think I may safely