1843.] 
THE GARDENERS’ CHRONICLE. 
5 
first’ was applied to only a small number of persons, caused 
agreat sensation. The Chamber of Commerce and the 
town, fearing to be delivered up to the Military commis- 
sion, as was threatened, have partly submitted. They 
have sent the Captain-General, in q alist of 
200 of the most heavily taxed persons who have not yet 
paid their quota, The sums paid up to the 22d, by the 
Chamber of Commerce, amounted to 1,697,085 reals ; 
and by the town, to 404,495 ; making about a sixth-part 
of the sum imposed. 
Porrvear.—Accounts from Lisbon to the 26th ult. 
state that the Address to the Queen was carried in favour of 
Ministers, on the 16th, in the Chamber of Deputies, by 69 
to 21 votes. The debates on the Bill of Indemnity asked 
by the Government were immediately begun, and the Bill 
was carried by a large majority. The Portuguese pro- 
posals so long expected were forwarded by the Duke of 
Palmella to Lord Howard de Walden on the 16th. Not- 
withstanding the liberal offers on the part of England in 
reducing the duties on Portuguese wines, the concessions 
proposed by Portugal are so slight, and coupled with 
such conditions, that there is no chance of their being 
accepted by the British Government, which will no doubt 
consider them as the ultimatum of Portugal, and their 
rejection, therefore, will be tantamount to breaking off 
the negotiations for a Tariff convention for the present. 
On English woollens very trifling and inadequate re- 
ductions were all that the Portuguese commissioners 
would make. On Salt Fish one-fifth of the duty would 
have been taken off; but as the present duty is about 53 
per cent. ad valorem, a reduction of one-fifth would have 
been, in itself, quite inadequate; and even this was 
coupled with the condition that the Portuguese should be 
allowed to dry their fish on the Banks of Newfoundland, 
which is idered to be inadmissib It is there- 
fore considered that the Convention is at an end. The 
Baron Tojal, Minister of Finance, has laid before the 
Chambers a statement of the budget, leaving a deficit of 
reis 1,315,241,492, which he proposes to remedy by fresh 
economies. A decree had been passed authorising the 
dividends on the foreign bonds to be paid by the Board 
of Public Credit at Lisbon, when it may suit the conye- 
nience of the holders to receive them there. 
Gurmany.—Letters from Dresden of the 23d ult. state 
that the Chamber had come to some important votes on 
the mode of administering the criminal law. They had 
determined, by a majority of 71 to 4, that the present 
inquisitorial system should be abolished; by 68 to 8, that 
all proceedings in criminal matters should be public, and 
placed under the control of the Ministry; and by 60 to 
15, that, for the future, neither corporate bodies nor 
private individuals should be permitted to exercise any 
criminal jurisdiction,—A question which has caused some 
interest in Germany was recently brought before the 
Bavarian Chambers by some Protestant deputies, demand- 
ing the withdrawal of an ordinance issued by the Minister 
of War in 1838. By this ordinance, Protestant soldiers 
are commanded to kneel during the solemnization of the 
mass, This ordinance is at present attacked as a direct 
violation of the constitution, and though the measure is 
strenuously supported by the Bavarian Government, the 
majority of the Chamber of Deputies seems disposed to 
relieve the Protestant soldiers from the grievance com- 
plained of.—As a proof of the weather now prevailing in 
Germany, it is stated that the bridge over the Rhine at 
Cologne was taken up on the 24th ult., on account of the 
floating ice. The bridge at Nimeguen has been taken up 
for the same reason, and the river is now crossed in boats. 
—The dAgram Gazette states, that at an assembly of the 
Comitat, held at Agram on the 18th ult., it was resolved 
to present an address to the Emperor of Austria, pray- 
ing him to put a stop to the encroachments of Russia. 
Turkny AND SyRr1A.—From Constantinople we have 
letters of the 7th ult. They state that Capt. Williams, 
R. A., had been appointed by Sir Stratford Canning to 
proceed immediately to the Persian frontier to act as 
Commissioner, with those despatched by Persia and the 
Porte, and a Russian Colonel, named by M. de Boutenieff, 
for the final arrangement of all existing difficulties. 
Redschid Pacha had been directed to return by Vienna to 
consult with Prince Metternich on the Servian question, 
on which no decision would be taken by the Porte until 
his arrival at Constantinople. The Austrian Amb’ d 
Unitep Strares.—The packet-ship Ashburton, which 
sailed from New York on the llth, and the Stephen 
Whitney, which sailed on the 14th ult., both arrived at 
Liverpool on Sunday; the former after a passage of 18, 
and the latter after an extraordinary one of only 15 days. 
The papers brought by these conveyances extend from 
the 3d to the 14th ult. The New Year’s holidays had 
interrupted the proceedings of Congress. The bill making 
provision for the occupation and settlement of the Oregon 
territory had passed to an engrossment in the Senate. 
The last debate on the bill took place on the 12th, when 
Mr. Benton delivered a long and warlike speech in favour 
of the appropriation and settlement of the territory. The 
court of inquiry into the mutiny on board the brig-of-war 
Somers, and the subsequent execution of three of the 
mutineers, the reputed leader of whom was a son of Mr. 
Spencer, the Minister at War, was still sitting. All the 
officers of the vessel having been examined on the subject, 
the court was engaged in the examination of the seamen. 
The inquiry excited the liveliest attention. Some extracts 
from the log had been surreptitiously made by one of the 
New York papers, to show the severity adopted towards 
the apprentices on board, and the amount of flogging 
administered within six months and seven days amounted 
to 2,313 lashes. Captain Mackenzie had appealed to the 
court to prevent such a prejudicial statement being 
allowed, and the court stated their conviction, that an 
extra degree of such discipline had, they believed, been 
justified and necessary, but refused to interfere with the 
newspaper. The widow, also, of one of the men executed 
had applied to one of the law courts, by affidavit, before 
Judge Betts, for warrants against Commander Mackenzie 
and Lieutenant Gansvorth, for the murder of her hus- 
band, but the court refused the application.—A tragical 
affair had occurred in Columbus, Georgia. Colonel Hep- 
burn and General M‘Dougall had quarrelled. The former 
sent Gen. M‘Dougall a note, intended fora challenge, 
and then went personally to the office of the latter. On 
opening the door he said, ‘‘ General, I have come;’’ 
when he received a pistol-ball in his left side, just below 
the heart, and died instantly.—The papers mention that 
Dr. Lardner is starving at Philadelphia; and that Mrs. 
whom he carried off from Brighton, has 
eloped from him.—The latest accounts from Canada 
state that Sir Charles Bagot i i 
and that he will shortly leave for this country. 
believed to be quite out of danger.—Mr. Braham, the 
well-known singer, and his family, have returned to 
England by one of the recent packets. 
—— 
Jparliament. 
HOUSE OF LORDS. . 
Thursday.—Parliament was this day opened by commission, 
with the usual formalities. The Lords Commissioners were the 
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of 
Buccleuch, Lord Wharncliffe, and the Earl of Shaftesbury. 
Shortly before two, the Lords Commissioners entered, and took 
their seats upon the woolsack, The Speaker and the members 
of the House of Commons were summoned, and attended, as 
usual, at the bar of the house; after which the Lord Chancellor 
read the following gracious Speech from her Majesty :— 
“ My Lords and Gentlemen. 
«We are commanded by her Majesty to acquaint you that her 
Majesty receives from all Princes an tes assurances of a 
friendly disposition towards this ountry, and of an earnest 
desire to co-operate with her Majesty in the maintenance of 
general peace. 
«“ By the treaty which her Majesty has concluded with the 
United States of America, and by the adjustment of those differ- 
ences which, from their long continuance, had endangered the 
preservation of peace, her Majesty trusts that the amicable rela- 
tions of the two countries have been confirmed. 
«The increased exertions which, by the liberality of Parlia- 
ment, her Majesty was enabled to make for the termination of 
hostilities with China, have been eminently successful. 
“The skill, valour, and discipline of the naval and military 
forces employed upon this service have been most conspicuous, 
and have led to the conclusion of peace upon the terms proposed 
by her Majesty. aiagk 
« Her Majesty rejoices in the prospect, that by the free access 
which will be opened to the principal marts of that populous and 
extensive empire, encouragement will be given to the commercial 
enterprise of her people. 
Cay as the ratifications of the treaty shall have been ex- 
changed, it will be laid before you, 
“Tn concert with her allies, her Majesty has succeeded in 
obtaining for the Christian population of Syria the establishment 
‘m of administration which they were entitled to expect 
from the engagements of the Sultan, and from the good faith of 
this country. . L ex 
«The differences for some time existing between the Turkish 
had presented an angry note to the Divan complaining of 
obstacles opposed to a commercial company trading with 
Trebisond. A change of Ministry was expected at Con- 
Stantinople. ‘The leaders of the Anti-Corn-Law League 
in England have sent a copy of their circulars to the 
Porte, praying that the Sultan would interest himself in 
their behalf, and exert his influence with the Queen of 
England for the repeal of the obnoxious tax. Sarim 
Effendi, who was at first somewhat puzzled at this com- 
Munication, at length treated it as a joke, and gravely 
informed our dragoman, Mons. Pisani, that he might 
shortly look for a protest on the subject—protests being 
now the order of the day.—The accounts from Beyrout 
are of the 31st ult. They state that the most perfect 
tranquillity prevailed in that neighbourhood, and that the 
Tesults of the adjustment obtained by Sir S. Canning from 
e Porte were most satisfactory. 
Eeyrr.—Our advices from Alexandria are to the 6th 
ult. They announce the death of Ahmed Fethi Pacha, 
the Turkish Admiral who delivered up the fleet to Mehemet 
Ali. Lis death is stated to have been caused by poison, 
ut by whom administered had not been ascertained. As 
he was about to return to Constantinople, it was surmised 
that the Pacha of Egypt was unwilling to have his secrets 
Tevealed to the Sultan or his Divan. Mehemet Ali left 
‘iro on the 26th ult. for Upper Egypt; it was believed 
@ would proceed as far as Cosseir. 
and Persian g' had recently led to acts of hostility; 
but, as each of these states has accepted the joint mediation of 
Great Britain and Russia, her Majesty entertains a confident 
hope that their mutual relations will be speedily and amicably 
adjusted. , 
“ Her Majesty has concluded with the Emperor of Russia a 
tr ee and navigation, which will be laid before 
you. Her Majesty regards this treaty with great satisfaction, as 
the foundation for increased intercourse between her Majesty’s 
nd of the constancy and valour which have been manifested by 
the European and native forces, 
«The superiority of her Majesty’s arms has been established 
not been deemed advisable to continue the occupation, by ® 
military force, of the countries to the westward of the Indus. 
“ 
« Jer Majesty has directed the estimates for the ensuing year 
ch reductions have been made in the 
e naval and military force as have been deemed 
compatible, under present circumstances, with the efficient per- 
formance of the public service throughout the extended empire 
of her Majesty. 
« My Lords and Gentlemen, 
«Her Majesty regrets the diminished receipts from some of the 
ordinary sources of revenue 
reduced consumption of many articles, caused by that depres- 
which has so 
materially affected by the extensive reductions in tl mport 
uties, which received yor ction during the last session of 
Parli: , and little progress has been hitherto made in 
a 
fo) 
vice. 
“er Majesty commands us to acquaint you, that her Ma- 
jesty derived the utmost gratification from the loyalty and affec- 
tionate attachment to her Majesty, which were manifested on 
the occasion of her Majesty’s visit to Scotland. 
« Her Majesty regrets that in the course of last year the public 
the manufacturing districts was seriously dis- 
turbed, and the lives and property of her Majesty’s subjects 
ere d a 1 
fidently relies upon its efficacy, 
he 
er loyal and peaceable subjects, for the maintenance of tran- 
quillity. ‘ e 
“We are commanded by her Majesty to acquaint you that 
measures connected with the improvement of the law, and with 
various questions of domestic policy, will be submitted for your 
sels, and make them conducive to the happiness and content- 
ment of her people.”” " 
‘After the reading of the Speech, their lordships adjourned until 
five o’clock.—Shortly before that hour the Lord Chancellor took 
his seat upon the woolsack. 
he Earl of Powis rose to propose the address, in reply to the 
speech from the throne, and commenced his observations by ad- 
yverting to the principle of peace which, coincident with 
fect maintenance of British honour, had been the guiding rule of 
the foreign policy of the present administration. The con! 
8 
2 
a 
3 
=) 
ex 
Theadvantageous conclusion of the Chinese ‘War, and of the in- 
army, The 
Foreign Administration touched o! 
regret at the present depressed condition of s 
important of our domestic interests, but felt persuaded that the 
empire possessed within itself ample materials for ensuring @ 
sion to express his hopeand belief that when the remedial measures 
ernment had time to work their effects, the public revenue 
on an occasion like the present. ; . " 
The Marquis of LanspDOWNE admired the discretion of the 
framers of the speech, and of the noble Earls who had just 
advantageous to the consumer, and 
former occasion. It was m' 
gretted that when such considerable concessions had been made 
to the United States, by the treaty of which his noble Friend 
Lord Ashburton was the negotiator, no corresponding conces- 
sion was yielded by the republic; no settlement made of other 
important questions, including, for instance, that of the right 
oner was one boundary dispute concluded 
m the other side of the Con- 
i poundaries. He di 
d@ delay which had taken 
place in prosecuting the war in India were not oats attributable 
indisposition t ie x the 
reat measure owing to 
the advice of his noble friend the late Governor- General of India. 
i present amendment, ‘ut reserved to himself 
dings. 
The Duke of WELLINGTON was sorry that the noble Marquis 
had adopted a line of remark, in reference to her Majesty’s speech, 
which went to gn even the veracity of certain expressions 
therein contained. 
various places 0 
Duke then observed that he had himself been the only man vy 
that House to defend the Chinese war on 1 TO! 
justice; and, under any circumstances, W! 
it was but just that Government should have the means of carry~ 
« Ber Majesty fears that it must bein part attributed to the | 
ing it on, ‘The noble Marquis opposite acted impr ae 
ysrd. is ; he present moment. 
his SO1ng stole % ie e American treaty, would be 
Snate terms till all the papers relating to the 
; heir Lordships. _ \ 
subject Banu Rage tlyn no hesitation in saying that a few leagues 
of territory, more or less, were 8) 
this minor question 
‘secured by us, inasmuc! 
ApeP eRe the river St. John down to the Bay of Fundy. 
‘The termination of the war in Affghanistan he looked upon aia 
happy deliverance, and noble Duke's’ vindication of the 
Governor-General’s policy would be decisive with the world. 
troops, 
peace, as acts unwo. ; 
capable of explanation, it 
loose upon the unoffending people by the avowal, not of the cap- 
tain, but at least of a military eye-witness who participated in 
