a RE PE MN or oT Dee A aD 
1843.] 
THE GARDENERS. CHRONICLE. 
251 
James Grawam said that several of the points embraced 
in the resolutions had been under the consideration of the Go- 
vernment, and that in i i i will 
be introduced into the Factories 
Bill. 
his plan, and then proceeds as follows :— your petitioner 
has now to state to your honourable House that since the month 
of August, 1841, scarcely any progress has been made towards 
the completion of your petitioner’s plan; on the contrary, one 
important improvement, which had received the sanction of the 
late Treasury Board, and which would have been highly bene- 
ficial to the rural districts, and in all probability advantageous to 
the revenue, your petitioner is i i 
definitely postponed. That certain inquiries essential to the 
cess of an important improvement then in progress, which 
inquiries were about to be prosecuted by your petitioner under 
the authority of the Treasury Board, as at present constituted, 
were, by the interposition of the Post-office, prevented from 
our petitioner’s efforts to promote 
economy and the public convenience, by introducing the remain- 
ing parts of his plan, have been ultimately frustrated. That at 
the expiration of the third year of your petitioner’s engagement, 
viz., on the 14th of September last, when many specific improve- 
ments recommended by your petitioner, some involving large 
Savings of public money, were actually in progress, the Lords of 
the Treasury terminated your petitioner’s engagement, thus de- 
priving him of every chance of completing his appointed task. 
That the plan of Post-office improvement, thus left incomplete, 
has from the first been stated by your petitioner to consist of the 
following parts :—1. A uniform and low rate of postage; 2. In- 
creased speed in the delivery of letters; 3. Greater facilities for 
That the only portion of the plan which is as yet 
fully carried into effect is the institution of the penny rate. That 
for increased speed in the delivery, or greater facilities for the 
dispatch of letters, little or nothing has been done. t with 
regard to the si i ion of, 
events, he thought that it was too grave a matter to be disposed 
of in the present manner; it ought to be made the subject of a 
separate bill, and so receive a more deliberate consideration.— 
i 3RAHAM complimented Sir T, Wilde as the intrepid de- 
fender of the privileges of the House; but he denied that the 
clause to which he had objected was any surrender of those pri- 
vileges,. The argument of the learned gentleman was based on 
a misconception; the clause did not go so far as a provision of 
the Irish Registration Bill, which had been proposed by the late 
Government. 1 wer of an election committee of the House 
remained intact by the present bill; and he could not see what 
danger could be dreaded from the reference of a poi f law to 
the Common 
id the 
eir known political feeling, Tories de- 
higs another, They were now proposing 
to render a decision of the Court of Common Pleas, on an appeal 
from the revising barrister’s court, binding on a committee of 
the House, Mr. Fox had said that the representation of the 
people, and trial by jury, were the two safeguards of the liberties 
of the people; and here they were about to submit the rights of 
every elector in the kingdom to the conflicting and varying 
opinions and decisions of the judges.—The Soricrror-GENERAL 
remarked, that by an act passed previous to the Reform Bill, 
there was an appeal, in Ireland, from the revising barrister to the 
judge of Assize. After the passing of the Irish Reform Bill, it 
was a conflicting and disputed question as to the right of election 
committees to open the registry in Ireland, and the late Sir M. 
O’Loghlen, on the part of the then Government, brought in a bill 
to render the decision of the judge, on appeal, binding on a com- 
mittee of the House of Commons. the present bill, the deci- 
sion of the Common Pleas was merely made binding on an elec- 
tion committee in the particular case, and on the point involved, 
He regretted that Lord J, Russell, considering the weight of his 
opinion, should have expressed himself as distrusting the judges 
of the land, in a matter where political feelings could not pos- 
sibly operate. There was nothing given up by this bill which 
could be considered as an abandonment of the privileges of the 
House; it was merely carrying out an original intention of the 
Reform Act, only substituting as the court of appeal the four 
judges of the Common Pleas, instead of three revising barristers. 
otion of Sir Thomas Wilde was rejected by 
102 to 26.—The bill then passed.—The second reading of the 
iastical C 4 
economy, though many important and successful changes haye 
been made, yet little has been effected in proportion to the oppor- 
the opinion which 
both in his pamphlet and in his evidence before the committee of 
your honourable House, was to the effec’ i 
of the Post-office revenue, even to the extent on which he calcu- 
lated (about 1,300,000/. a year), depended on carrying into effect 
he plan as a whole, That the opinion adopted by her Majesty’s 
Government, that the further progress in ce improve- 
ment may be left to the Post-office itself, is contrary to all past 
experience, and is contradicted 
in the attention of the Treasury inyolve savings to 
the extent of hundreds of thousands of pounds per annum; an 
AC e revenue entirely independent of that augmenta- 
tion of letters which the whole experience of the Post-office 
shows may safely be anticipated from the adoption of those 
ver since, and notwithstanding the very imperfect manner in 
which your petitioner’s plan has been carried into effect, the 
want of due economy in the Post-office, the well-known dislike 
to the measure entertained by many of those persons to whom its 
execution has been entrusted, and the influence such dislike 
must necessarily have had on its success, yet the results of the 
third year of partial trial, as shown by a return recently made to 
the House of Lords, are a gross revenue of two-thirds, and a net 
revenue of more than one-third of the former amount. That the 
Present gross revenue, as shown by the same return, is almost 
exactly the same as it was under the fourpenny rate. That the 
net revenue of the Post-office increases from year to year, while 
every other branch of revenue appears to be decreasing. That, 
looking to these results, your petitioner trusts your honourable 
House will see no reason to doubt that a few years with a revived 
trade would suffice to realize all the expectations which he held 
Out, provided the whole plan be carried into effect with zeal and 
r petitioner desires to submit the truth of the 
hypothetical case, but that the confidential opinion of the law- 
wn has been transmitted to him ; and the House 
Might rest assured that the right of slaves to their freedom, when 
in the hands of th 
‘ill was next proposed, and Sir R. H. 
InGLis said the opposition to the bill was various in its character, 
some opposing it because it went too far, others because it did not 
go far enough ; but all repudiated this particular measure. It was 
the destruction of st institutions— proposing at. one 
fell swoop to extinguish no less than three hundred and eighty 
courts, some of them coeval with the Conquest. Clerical and lay 
peculiars were to be destroyed ; the changes in the proving and 
custody of wills were not justified by any necessity; for on the 
principle that justice should be brought home to every man’s 
door, it was important that they should be enrolled as near the 
respective localities of the parties interested as possible; and 
after reviewing at some length what he considered would be the 
effect of the various alterations contemplated by the bill, such 
as that it was a deliberate step towards the separation o! 
he recommended its withdrawal, 
during the present session of 
Heconcluded by moving that the bill be reada 
second time that day six months.—Sir RAHAM would not 
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udicial change had ever been 
proposed on higher authority, ecclesiastical, judicial, and legis- 
Jative; and until he heard the argument of Sir R. Inglis, he was 
not prepared for the fact that any Member o: ouse could 
possibly defend the existence of those scattered ecclesiastical 
courts whose numbers and decisions had led to such extensive 
litigation. The highest legal functionaries had given their opi- 
nion that the expense of probate of wills would not be greater in 
London than in the country ; while the convenience of central- 
ising the custody of wills where all the great disputes on pro- 
perty were mainI: judi i 
portance involved.— Mr. Ji 
mn; and 
registry, if that were all that was required, they had already all 
hi hi 
egacy duty. The most objectionable parts of the criminal ju- 
risdiction of the Ecclesiastical Courts were retained by the bill, 
as the Bishops’ Courts, with the trials for ism, heresy, 
brawling, &c.; while the increase of salaries and patronage to 
the functionaries in London, and the necessary withdrawal of 
the more respectable practitioners from the country, with the 
sacrifice of their established business, rendered the measure as 
in a British port, would not suffer in th 
Sir R, Pet, in reply to Mr. Ewart, said he had not heard of the 
Yeport that Mr. Ellis was on his return to this country from the 
Brazils without accomplishing his mission.—In reply to Mr. 
Stuart Wortley, it was stated by Sir R. Peet thataslave trade 
Was carried on by Arabs in the territories of the East India Com- 
Pany, chiefly on the Bombay coast, and that individuals had been 
Prosecuted in i 
ddition of a clause, in 
Order to define more clearly the 10J. franchise, but it was objected 
to by Sir J. Granam, and withdrawn.—Mr. Coxviie proposed 
nother clause, in order to secure to areal voter who has been 
Personated the exercise of his right, so that it shall be received 
as were 0 
_Sir T. Wipe then called attention to the provision of the Bill 
Siving to the Court of Common Pleas an appellate jurisdiction on 
fe Subject of disputed votes. In 1604 the House of Commons 
‘Ad secured its right of absolute control over the elective fran- 
Meat which had not since been questioned. He pointed out what 
© considered to be the i f giving th i 
Of th 
ten, 
art with their right, and it was gone for ever. Sir R. 
ii i yet re~ 
At all 
on privat public grounds.—Colonel S1s- 
rTHoR? protested against this addition of salary and patronage 
to the practitioners of Doctors’ Commons, who were already 
rich enough and idle enough. The bill was an infringement of 
vested rights, and of the rights of the people.—The debate was 
proposed to be adjourned, but a division was called for, when 
there were—136 for the adjournment, and 51 against it. 
Tuesday.—Sir JAMES Granam, i wer to Mr. Hindley, 
stated that certain modifications of the original: proposals of 
Government on the subject of education were under consideration, 
though not yet matured. He declined to say whether or not any 
of the principles of Lor + Russell’s resolutions would be 
adopted.—In reply to another question, put ‘ibson, 
Sir R. Pees said he intended to introduce another Bill, extending 
opportunity of seeing the report of the commission of inquiry 
into the state of the agricultural districts—In answer to Mr. 
Eseott, Mr. Vinurers stated that it was his intention to follow 
up, in the present session, his motion on the subject of the im- 
portation of foreign corn, which stands for the 4th May.—Sir J. 
Grauam, in reply to Mr. Roebuck, stated that the Government 
could not undertake the condensation of the criminal law recom- 
mended by the commissioners in their report. A commission to 
do so, if appointed, should, he thought, be appointed by Parlia- 
ment rather than by the Crown, 
n the motion of Sir R. Pex1, the House, at its rising, was 
ordered to stand adjourned to the 24th inst. 
Act for thi ion of Munici; in id and 
‘Mr. SCHOLEFIELD gave notice of a motion declaring the 
expediency of laying a further tax on income arising from pro- 
ubstitute for the existing taxes on tea, malt, ani 
Mr. Ewarr gave notice, for the 9th May, to move for 
leave to bring in a bill to abolish transportation asa punishment. 
—Mr, OMBE gave notice for the 27th inst., to move for a 
select committee to inquire into prison discipline. _ 
The adjourned debate on the Ecclesiastical Courts Bill was 
further adjourned to Friday, the 28th inst.; and the Factory Re- 
gulations Bill was fixed for Monday, the Ist of May.—Mr. 
Ewart postponed his motion on the subject of National Edu- 
cation. 
Sir J. Wars moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the 
Act, commonly called the Hobhouse Act, for the regulation of 
the Metropolitan vestries.—-Mr. GAuty Knieut, Sir B. Hann, 
Hawes, and Mr. Humx opposed the motion.— 
Mr. MACKINNON thought the bill at- 
tempted to go too far, but would not oppose its introduction. 
Sir J. Granan, seeing the little support the bill received, re- 
commended Sir J. Walsh not to press it. It was then withdrawn, 
Dr. Bowrine then rose tomove for the correspondence of the 
British Government with the Porte on the subject of the Bishop 
of Jerusalem. He considered that Dr. Alexander was an inju- 
dicious selection, inasmuch as, being the son of a Jew, he wa: 
liable to be associated with feelings of contempt in Oriental 
minds; and on his arrival, his wife and family excited much as- 
tonishment, celibacy being associated with sanctity in the East. 
The sanction of the Porte, solicited by this country, to the erec- 
tion of a Protestant church in Jerusalem, was on a par with the 
idea of an Act of Parliament to sanction the erection of a Maho- 
medan mosque in this country. Inthe existing state of the Holy 
Land, the establishment of the Protestant bishopric was only 
calculated to excite prejudices and fanaticism.—Sir R. Ines 
defended the acquirements and character of Bishop Alexander, 
and said that it wasno reproach to him that he was of Jewis! 
descent, seeing that the first bishop of Jerusalem was St. James. 
{Here a motion was made that the House be counted; but as 
exactly 40 Members were present, Sir R. H. Incuis continued.] 
He approved of the political expediency of having in the Holy 
City a representative of the Protestant Church: and read an ex- 
tract of a letter from Bishop Alexander addressed to himself, in 
wring appeared to be actuated by personal feelings 
of hostility towards the Bishop of Jerusalem, an d spoken 
of himin a tone of levity. e manifestation 
m 
the dignitaries of the Greek an man Catholic faith; and on 
the showing of Dr. Bowring himself, who had said that many 
Christians in Syria nominally professed Mahomedanism, it was 
desirable that a bishop should be stationed there, in order to have 
their spiritual interests under his care. 
prevent the erection of a Mahomedan mosque try $ 
and Dr. Bowring might even indulge his apparent predilection 
for that faith by preaching in Nothing was asked from the 
Porte which was unreasonable, in giving its permission to the’ 
erection of the Protestant church in Jerusalem, and much exag. 
ition had been used with respect to the subject.—After some 
remarks from Mr, Hume, i 
it had been made a matter of comment that Dr. 
Alexander had a wife and family, seeing that, even in the Greek 
church, priests were under an obligation to marry, though bishops 
were not. He approved of the policy which had led to the esta- 
blishment of the Protestant bishopric in Jerusalem, the negotia- 
tions on which had commenced before he left office, and thought 
that it would have a beneficial effect in allaying feelings of fana- 
ticism, and in promoting good-will.—Dr. Bowrine disclaimed 
being actuated by any personal or improper feeling in bringing 
forward his motion, which he withdrew. 
On the motion of . W. Cowrsr, a select committee was 
appointed to inquire into the propriety of setting apart a portion 
of all waste lands which shall be inclosed by Act of Parliament, 
to be let out in small allotments to the labouring poor of the dis- 
trict; and also as to the best mode o! i me.—T! 
House at this period was counted, and forty Members not being 
Present, it stood adjourned to next Monday week, the 24th inst. 
CITY. 
Money Market, Thursday.—Consols left off 96g to 7 
for Money, and 97 to} for Account ; Three per Cent. 
Red., 963 to}; Three-and-half per Cent. Red., 1012 
to}; New Three-and-half per Cent. Annuities, 1022 to 3; 
Bank Stock, 183 to 4; India Stock, 269 to 70; India 
Bonds, 76s. to 78s. prem. ; Exchequer Bills, 68s. to 
70s. prem. Yesterday being Good Friday, the Market 
was of course closed. 
Metropolis and its Wicinitn. 
Improvements in St. James’s.—The bill now before 
Parliament to empower the Commissioners of Woods and 
Forests to appropriate to building purposes the area of 
Thatched House Court, and to widen and improve Little 
St. James’s-street, has just been printed. The preamble 
sets forth that the buildings in Thatched House Court 
aving been, or being now in progress of being pulled 
down, with a view of raising on their site houses of a 
superior class, and there being no longer need for keeping 
open the area or entrance to the court, which is vested in 
her Majesty, it is desirable to include the space in the site 
of the new erections. The bill accordingly proposes to 
discharge her Majesty of the rights of way, and the juris- 
diction of the Paving Commissioners of ‘St. James’s, 80 
far as regards paving and lighting, the. jurisdiction of the 
commissioners as to rating being retained, and the rights 
of certain lessees of part of the property being regarded. 
The bill further empowers the Commissioners of Woods 
and Forests to widen the entrance to Little St. James’s- 
street, from 10 feet to at least 24 feet throughout, the 
additions being thereafter considered as part of the public : 
street. 
Dinner at the Mansion House.—The Lord Mayor on 
Wednesday evening gave an entertainment to a dis- 
tinguished circle of guests, including most of the Members 
of the late Ministry. The company numbered about 150. 
Lord Lansdowne returned thanks on behalf of the House 
of Peers, Lord Palmerston on behalf of the House of 
Commons, and Lord John Russell on behalf of the City 
Members. 
Death of the Master lof Dulwich College.—The daily 
papers announce the death of John Allen, Esq., the 
master of Dulwich College. 
He was distinguished by 
