Mah. 9,] 



THE NEWSPAPER. 



tl844. 



parish, and left the care of the school to the minister of the 

 parish : and the question which he wished to have answered was, 

 Whether under such circumstances, the Rev. Gentleman was 

 justified in applying this fund as he had done, and converting a 

 parochial into a national school. The bequest was manifestly 

 entrusted to him for the purposes of education according to the 

 principles of the established religion, and, therefore, he was not 

 justified in doing what he had done, and the course taken by the 

 Board of Charitable Bequests in this case was perfectly right.— 

 After remarks from Lord Campbell, the Lord Cha.vcellor, Lords 

 Monte agle and Cottenh am, as to the proper construction 01 

 the words of the will, the petition was ordered to lie on the table. 

 Tuesday.— The Royal assent was given, by commission, to trie 

 Hcrse Racing Penalties Bill, the Offences at Sea Bill, and the 

 Metropolitan Improvement Bill.- In reply to the Marquess or 

 Normanbv, the Lord Chancellor stated that when the judg- 

 ment of the House had been finally pronounced in the cases ot the 

 Presbyterian Marriages Appeals, he would immediately move tor 

 the reappointment of the Committee of last year, preparatory to 

 proposing any legislative remedy.-The Marquess of Clanri- 

 carde put the three following questions to the Earl of Devon 

 relative to the Landlord and Tenant Commission :- First, whe- 

 ther the Commissioners contemplated any alteration in the laws 

 -which affected leases or covenants between landlords ana 

 tenants entered into previouslj to the issuing of the Commission; 

 aecondlv, whether they intended to report on the proportion 

 which rent bore in Ireland to the value of land in various parts 

 of Ireland : and thirdly, whether they would report the whole of 

 the evidence taken before the Coranmsim.— The Earl of Devov 

 having explained the progress made by the Commission, declined 

 to answer the two first questions, but to the third replied, that it 

 ■was the intention of the Commission to append to their report 

 the whole of the evidence received by them. He added that there 

 •was nothing in the proceedings of this Commission which should 

 necessarily interfere with any measures that might be contem- 

 plated for the improvement of the condition of the unemployed 



population of Ireland. 



Thursday .—The House was occupied almost exclusively witn 

 the preEentation of petitions and notices of motion. Among the 

 reneral business, the Loan Chancellor laid on the table a Bill 

 to regulate suits relating to chapels and other property held for 

 charitable purposes by persons dissenting from the Established 

 Church, the object of which was to remove a hardship under 

 which those persons laboured with respect to their chapels and 

 burial grounds. He said he intended, after the second reading, 

 to move that it be referred to a select committee. —The Bill was 



read a first time. . 



Friday.— The Marquess of Lansdowne moved for certain 



returns relating to Fees paid to Clerks in Petty Sessions. No 

 grievance, he said, was more heavy upon the poorer classes of 

 the country than the demands made upon them in the shape of 

 fees. The result was, thatthere was almost an absolute denial 

 of justice to a great number of persons who happened to be in a 

 state of poverty. The returns were then ordered.— On the mo- 

 tion of Lord Brougham, the Privy Council Bill was read a 

 second time. 



« f», Q , m mmi- nf hnsiness nressine on the Chan- T country, and to admit them on terms satisfactory to the Brazil. 



anv supervision over it, and the consequence was that there was a 

 lamentable want of economy in the arrangements, and of atten- 



tion to the health and comfort of the troops.— The Chancellor 

 of the Exchequer explained that the commissariat department 

 was one strictly of account, having under its superintendence a 

 large expenditure of public money, and that as now constituted 

 it had effected a considerable saving without diminishing the 

 comforts of the troops on foreign service. If those accounts were 

 to be transferred to the War Office, as Lord Howick seemed to 

 wish the officials there would be no better competent for the task 

 of supervision than those at the Treasury were.-Dr. Bowrino 

 felt bound to support the amendment of his hon. Friend. He 

 had always endeavoured, and would still endeavour, to minim- 

 ise " the army. The House divided-For the amendment, 12; 

 against it, 1 14 : Majority, 102. The vote was, after another pro- 

 position by Col. Rawdon to reduce it by 5000 men which was 

 not pressed to a division, finally agreed to. The sum of 3,43l,/64/. 

 for the land forces of England and foreign parts, exclusive of the 

 forces belonging to the East India Company, was likewise voted; 

 after which the chairman reported progress. 



Tuesday. -Mr. Ward gave notice that, on as early a day as 

 possible after Easter, he should move for a committee of the 

 whole House, to inquire into the present state of the tempo- 

 ralities of the Irish Church.-The first regular public business 

 was a motion by Mr. Williams, for the purpose of establishing 

 a rule that no opposed business or motion shall be brought on 

 and discussed in the House after midnight. He complained of 

 the long hours-the after-midnight legislation -the habit of 

 members coming down from theatres, balls, routes, parties, and 

 giving their votes in moments of hilarity on questions of which 

 fhey knew little, and had heard k£-«d iof £• StTOD g -to*** 



HOUSE OF COMMONS. 

 Friday.— After disposing of Mr. Duncombe's motion, the 

 House proceeded with the remaining naval estimates. The 

 chief interest of the debate, which was necessarily confined to 

 technical details, was a conversation between Sir C. Napier, 

 Capt. Rous, Sir G. Cockburn, and other naval members on the 

 state cf the service —Sir C. Napier condemned the Penelope 

 steam-frigate, the Albion, the Rodney, the Powerful, and other 

 large class line-of-battle ships, and thought the best thing to do 

 would be to take them to pieces and begin afresh. He said that 

 when on the coast of Syria, the evolutions of the French fleet 

 were far superior to our own, and attributed it to the French 

 navy being manned by young men, whereas we kept old c fficers 

 afloat who ought to be allowed to retire altogether.— Capt. Rous 

 condemned Sir W. Symondb's system of building, and referred 

 to the builders of yachts at Cowes, and elsewhere, to prove the 

 superiority of their system to that of the Suiveyor of the navy. 

 —Sir G. Cockbubv defended Sir W. Syrnonds; but admitted 

 that his system was not perfection, and said that other builders 

 were now employed on experimental, vessels. After a long 

 discussion on points of dockyard details, the votes were all 



agreed to. 



Monday.— Mr. Gladstonb introduced the new resolutions 

 proposed to be adopted with respect to all future railway bills 

 which have been recommended by the select committee on rail- 

 ways, and contained in their second report.— Mr. Labouchbre 

 seconded them. The first of the resolutions was then proposed, 

 when a debate of considerable animation arose, the contested 

 point being whether or not it was equitable to exclude local 

 agencies, and thereby local knowledge and experience, from the 

 management of all future bills. The resolutions are peculiarly 

 applicable to the cases of competing lines, and are intended to 

 subject in future all railway bills to an ordeal similar to that of 

 public bills.— An amendment was proposed by Colonel Sib- 

 thorpe for the postponement of the adoption of the first reso- 

 lution in order to give time for consideration. A division having 

 been taken on this amendment, it was supported by 3 against 

 200. The resolutions were then adopted.— Mr. O'Connell hav- 

 ing inquired if the Government intended to introduce a measure 

 relative to Roman Catholic charities in Ireland was informed 

 by Sir Robert Peel that it was the intention of the 

 Government to do so, in fulfilment of the promise contained in 

 the Royal speech.— Mr. O'Connell then gave notice for 

 Monday next of his intention to introduce a bill to alter the 

 law relative to Roman Catholic charities and religious uses in 

 Ireland.— Mr. Borthwick complained of the delay in carrying 

 forward the Poor Law Amendment Bill, and censured the general 

 neglect evinced of the interests of the labouring classes.— Sir J. 

 Graham was awareof the importance of the subject, but thought 

 that the best course to be pursued with respect to the interests 

 of the labouring classes was first to carry the Factories Bill, and 

 then he would urge forward the Poor Law Amendment Bill ; for 

 both of which he hoped there would be ample time.— In reply to 

 Sir R. Ferguson, Sir James Graham was understood to say that 

 the Law Lords in the House of Peers being equally divided on 

 the question of Presbyterian marriages in Ireland, it was the in- 

 tention of the Government to resort to legislation on the subject ; 

 but that his colleagues in the other House proposed to re-appoint 

 the Committee of last session, and to commit their report before 

 taking legislative steps.— On the motion for going into com- 

 mittee of supp'y on the Army Estimates, Mr. Williams made a 

 motion to refer the estimates to a select committee ; but after a 

 few words from Sir H. Haroingb he withdrew his amendment. 

 — Mr. S. Crawporo made his fourth attempt to stop the supplies 

 by an amendment that the large amount of standing army and 

 military force now kept up for the service of the United King- 

 dom is contrary to the principles of constitutional liberty, and 

 dangerous to the rights of the people.— On a division there were 



ion to pass bills containing legislative jobs and blunders, when 

 brought on for discussion at unseasonable hours. Four- fifths of 

 the session were usually passed in idle debate (at this the minis- 

 terial benches cheered ironically)-as, for instance, in the 

 year 1840, when the ministerialists, then in opposition, oc- 

 cupied the whole session with paity discussions, for the 

 purpose of getting place and power by a change in adminis- 

 tration, which has produced no good result to the people of 

 this country.-Mr. Brotherton seconded the motion. He 

 was for manv discussions but short speeches, and daylight legis. 

 lation in conformity with the custom of our ancestors, and the 

 practice of other legislative assemblies at the present day. Hope- 

 less as he was of effecting the object, he would yet persevere in 

 endeavouring to confine the House to decent business hours.— 

 The Chancellor of the Exchequer, having noticed the smiling 

 manner of Mr. Williams, could not persuade himself that he was 

 in earnest. He felt grateful for his concern for the health of mem- 

 bers but that was more in danger from long speeches than late 

 sittings, and late sittings were caused by early long speeches. 

 He recommended Mr. Williams to leave the care of the House in 

 the hands of Mr. Brotherton, who exercised his functions with 

 so much amenity and discretion.— On adivision, the motion was 

 supported by 16, and opposed by 146.— Mr. Tufnell then pro- 

 ceeded with a motion for a select committee to inquire into the 

 cost of the Metropolitan Police force, and the manner in which 

 the sums levied as police rate are assessed on the different pa- 

 rishes within the Metropolitan Police district. His speech was 

 necessarily composed of details, illustrative of the inequality of the 

 operation of the present system, to the principle of which, how- 

 ever he was not opposed, neither did he censure the conduct of 

 the police commissioners.— Mr. M. Sutton, on the part of 

 the Government, opposed the motion. An annual return 

 of the expense of the police was regularly laid before the House ; 

 and the complaints upon which Mr. Tufnell founded his motion 

 came chiefly from the parish of Marylebone, the rapid increase 

 of which, since the passing of the Police Act, was extraordinary, 

 being no less than upwards of forty-seven thousand new houses, 

 comprehending more than seven hundred new streets, squares, 

 and roads. But it was in the power of Marylebone, by an appeal 

 to the magistrates, to get its inequalities rectified, without the 

 necessity of any interference from the House.— After a few ob- 

 servations from Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Tuknei.l did not think 

 himself justified in pressing the matter, and it was therefore 

 negatived without a division.— The Loan Aovocatb of Scotland 

 was then called on by the Speaker, to ask leave, pursuant to 

 notice, to bring in a Bill to facilitate the disjoining or dividing 

 of extensive or populous parishes, and the erecting of new pa- 

 rishes in Scotland. Leave was granted without opposition.— 

 Lord Ashlkv then moved for a select committee to inquire into 

 the mode of administering relief to the sick poor under the Pjor- 

 law Amendment Act, which was agreed to. 



Wednesday.— The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave notice 

 that he would on Friday, in committee of the whole House, sub- 

 mit a proposition for the reduction of the Three-and-a-Half per 

 Cent. Annuities. He would also move, in a committee, a grant 

 in aid of eight millions from the Consolidated Fund.— The House 

 went into committee on the County Coroners Bill, the discussion 

 of which occupied some time. One point in the debate was the 

 mileage to be allowed to coroners, which, on a division, was 

 settled at \s. per mile, a distinct assurance having been given by 

 Mr. Pakington, the manager of the bill, that care shall be taken 

 in the wording of the act to prevent the charging of double or 

 triple mileage in case of more than one inquest being held at the 

 •ame place. The bill, with verbal amendments, was agreed to, 

 excepting the 22d clause, which was omitted.— The Marriage 

 and Divorce Bill and the Teachers of Schools (Ireland) Bill were 

 read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Wednesday. 

 Thursday.— Mr. Pakington reported to the House, from the 

 Athlone Election Committee, that W. Collett, Esq., was duly 

 elected for that borough; aud the minutes of evidence taken 

 before the committee were ordered to be printed. Several mo- 

 tions which 6tood on the orders were postponed.— In reply to 

 Mr. Macaulay, Sir R. Peel said, that the daily papers always 

 anticipate the Government in the receipt of the Indian news. 

 He acknowledged himself indebted to the courtesy of the Editor 

 of the Times, for a copy of the proclamation issued by the Gover- 

 nor-General of India; but was not then in a condition to say 

 whether or not that copy was correct.— In answer to Mr. La- 

 bouchere, Sir R. Peel stated that, from the authentic declara- 

 tions of Ministers in France, he concluded the opinion of the 

 French Government to be that there was no probability of con- 

 cluding any formal convention with this country for the reduc- 

 tion of duties by actual stipulations; and added, that whatever 

 impediments might have arisen in the way of a commercial 

 treaty with France, they had not been created by the Govern- 

 ment of this country.— Mr. Pakington obtained leave to bring 

 Bill to define and regulate the periods of holding Quar- 



of England were suffering under a stinted supply of sugar, and 

 with the exception of a repeal of the Corn Laws, he believed the 

 opening wide of our ports to the sugar of Brazil to be the greatest 



benefit that could be conferred in the direction of free trade 



Mr. Evvart seconded the motion.— Mr. Gladstone would studi- 

 ously abstain from disclosing, in the month of March, thefinanciai 

 plans of Government, which ought not to be promulgated till 

 April, so, whether or not the sugar duties were to be altered, 

 he would leave them to guess, and the chances were at least 

 even that the guess might be wrong. He resisted the motion on 

 two grounds, because it censured the Government, and de- 

 manded changes without reference to the happiness of a large 

 portion of the human race. He never knew a chain of reasoning 

 so completely logical or demonstrative as that which connected 

 the extension of the cultivation of Brazilian sugar with the in- 

 crease of the slave trade. It was not simple slavery that they 

 had to deal with ; it was slavery fed by a direct slave trade with 

 the coast of Africa. Our measures were diminishing the slave 

 trade ; our cruisers obstructed it and kept it in check, but any 

 relaxation of vigilance would lead to its instant revival, encou- 

 raged as it was by the connivance of the inferior local function- 

 aries of the Brazils. If we could effectually blockade the coast 

 of Africa, and thus entirely suppress the slave trade, then the- 

 sugar of Brazil might stand in the same relation as the cotton of 

 the United States. The culture of coffee, light and adapted to 

 family arrangements, did not tempt the slave trader ; that of 

 sugar, requiring greater strength and labour, was the main in- 

 centive to the traffic, which consisted chiefly in the transport of 

 youths just reaching the maturity of their physical powers. The 

 import of copper ore was not a case in point ; the change in the 

 tariff was intended as a burden instead of a favour; and he be- 

 lieved that it would be found that any increase in our 

 imDorts came chiefly from Chili, where it was raised by 

 free labour. The failure of the mission of Mr. Elli3 

 arose from the demands of Brazil; thsy asked, in the- 

 first instance, for admisssion on equal terms for their 

 slave-grown sugar; and they only receded to a demand for 

 a differential duty of one-tenth, which, with the duty o» 

 our colonial at 25s., would have admitted theirs at 27s. 6d. 

 The mission of M. Ribeiro had also failed ; for the exaggerated 

 imoort Ince which had been attached to the Brazilian trade threw 

 insuperable difficulties in the way. In return for a mere margin 

 of "S 6rf. in favour of our colonial sugars, the Brazilians offered 

 not to tax our woollens higher than 30, nor our cottons more 

 than 40 per cent.! These duties were proposed, too, not for 

 revenue, but for protection, in favour of the extension ofBraz.han 

 manufactures : and in an official report 60 per cent, was laid down, 

 Ethe ' miSm of a protective system. He believed that neither 

 the Continental nations nor America were likely to supersede 

 us in Brazil, and concluded by saying that, whatever taunts 

 misrht be levelled against him, he was not prepared to pursue to 

 Si extremities commercial objects, and to throw into utter dis- 

 regard those great questions which respect the general interests 

 and happines! of mankind.-Mr. M. Gibson supported the 

 motion, and Lord Sandon opposed it-Mr. Bright reminded 

 the House that the party now affecting so much concern about 

 Slavery was really the one which had propped up the system as 

 long as it was possible to do so. Why all this concern abou the 

 morality of the Brazils, at the expense of the suffering people of 

 this country? The object of the sugar monopoly was pre- 

 cisely the ame as that in corn-to make the article scarce 

 and dear; and the real question was not to be evaded by 



in a 



ter Sessions in cities and boroughs. His object was to 

 assimilate the law respecting boroughs to that prevailing in 

 counties. — Mr. Labouchere submitted to the House the follow- 

 ing resolution : — "That an humble address be presented to Her 

 Majesty, representing to Her Majesty the great importance to 



forthe Amendment 8; against it 87; majority "g.-The House went | this country of the trade with the empire of the Brazils, and 

 into a committee of Supply, and Sir H.Hardinoe brought forward j humbly praying Her Majesty to adopt such measures as may 



phole estimate for appear best calculated to maintain and improve the commercial 



relations between theUnittd Kingdom and the Brazils." The 

 right hon. member described Brazil as peculiarly adapted for 

 commercial relations with Great Britain, and condemned the 

 imposition of a 300 per cent, ad valorem duty on the sugar of 

 Brazil upon entering our ports, while our manufactures were 

 admitted into Brazil ports at the ad valorem duty of 15 per cent., 

 as most impolitic, injurious to our trade, and destructive to our 

 shipping. He contended that the duties imposed on Brazilian 

 produce by the continental countries were less than ours, and 

 that, therefore, their manufactures were superseding ours in the 

 Brazil markets. As the treaty under which our present relations 

 with Brazil was regulated will expire in November, he called 

 on Government to reduce greatly the duties onexpoits from that 



the Army Estimates fir the ensuing year. Thew 

 the service was 5,964,524/., being 240,579/. less than that of last 

 year. On the vote for 1' 0,295 officers, non-commissioned officers, 

 and rank and file,forthe*erviceinGreatBritainand Ireland, Capt. 

 Lavapd suggested the expediency of adopting a plan of limited 

 service, say ton years, which he believed would ensure abetter 

 cla«s of koldiers and decrease desertions.— Mr. Williams moved 

 a reduction in the vote of 20,000 men. The number of men pro- 

 posed for this year was greater than the average of that for many 

 years • and after deducting the number he proposed to reduce it, 

 the force would still be greater than any that had existed for 2J 

 years viz., 11.5,290 effective men, including marines, pensioners, 

 and Irish police.— Lord Howick blamed the way in which the 

 commissariat department of the army was conducted in the 



making it a mere tu quoque argument ; between Whig and Tory 

 There had been a long debate about Ireland-its two nullum 

 and a half of paupers pouring their superfluity into Britain, and 

 adlng to the P pauperism of England and Scotland, aggravating 

 the general misery which these monopolies engendered. He 

 annealed to Ministers to look to the common and universal inte- 

 rests of the country, and spurn the domination of mere monopo- 

 EK-Mr. F. Baring attributed the failure of everything the 

 reiection of his last budget, and declared his opinion to be that 

 we were n^ow too late to conclude anything likean advantageons 

 t^eaTy wi"h Braz°il.L S ir R. Peel reminded the ex-Chancellor 

 the Exchequer of the danger of touching on so ticklish a subject 

 »■ his last unfortunate budget. He also reminded him and Mr. 

 rabouenfreoft'heir different sentiments in 1840 when , a prepe, 

 sition was made to reduce the sugar duties. Figures for several 

 vears did not bear out the allegation of diminished suppl/ 

 Ind high prices; for last year was one in which the consump- 

 tion had been greatest, and the price lowest. He admitted 

 the great importance of sugar to the comfort and conve- 

 nienc g e of the community at large. But this was not to be 

 obtained by yielding to unreasonable propos iticms jan dfcoga 

 he hoped that a better spirit would actuate > ^eBr^a* 

 Government, that was not to be promote I by a vote or t 

 House which would encourage their exaggerated ^s a 

 which would practically take the matter out of the hand 01 

 executive Government. The Anti-Slavery Society, represe 

 by its committee, had addressed a memorial to «""».*££ they 

 signed by the venerable Thomas Clarkso" in wlucn * 

 entreated that no relaxation of the /■fferent.a duty ° * a , 8 

 might take place, a sufficient refutation of Mr^ »• had th(J 

 assertion that they were opposed to it. No doWK ^ 



right to deal independently with the iB«rdu tie , but ^ 

 vast colonial empire he very much d ^^^ economy. 

 an exclusive view to cheap sugar, would prove true 

 They were now about to try an experiment = »«««* e ca in or der 

 Dcnman, that of blockading the wh ^°f s t u f ceeu T He hoped 

 to suppress the slave trade. God grant it may su cce eu eg 



that, the House of Commons would be animate lb , to«n TU 

 than these with which Mr. Bright seemed to be imbu of 



a time when members of his connection (trie Df 



. ...nds) would have repudiated the ^"""^JhJ ^oancial 

 He referred all farther discussion to the t'^JJj Mr . Bright 

 statement will bemade.-Lord ^L««eTOH defendea ^ 

 from the unfair construction which had been P la «a the}X 



timents by Sir Robert Peel. Ministers had 1 J^J WasUu5 

 ground ; it was no longer slavery but the s . a*e tra 

 a foreshadowing of some farther "'^^"f^ons with Bree* 

 merce ? Criticising the character of *«" e c ^°Vfe exclusion of ite 

 and the nature of the arguments by which the 



sugar is maintained, he contended the : a " r «J°£~ mell ,, with** 

 support of the West India monopoly. The Go* ernm y 



free trade maxims, fell back on the »°n o P° l, a s * 'eJcd-For U* 

 were borne into office. On a division there appear 



motion, 132 ; Against it, 205 j Ma J°"£» ' 3 ' rea d for going «» 



Friday. -The order of the day having been ireau * hair ,the 



committee of supply, and the Speaker having left th ^ , 



CHANCBLLoa of the Exchequer said the ^ b J ecc d if agr eed W 



to bring forward was one ot great ^P^^edebt. He *» 



would greatly decrease the burden J f J h J Amended a «imjjj 



not the first Finance Minister that had recomme * 



proposition to the House The resolution he s ^ rf t h 



would cause a great annual saving. He was an > m ^ 



a large amount of debt- amounting to no Jf^"!, bt b e effected 



The fime had now arrived when the operatio- ^^ hthe m ,gfc| 



with safety and security to the country, and l he tjo ^ to0 k 



add with advantage. The right hon genue a 



new of the state of the money market amr ^ J nded that 



,c securities during the la.t few jean. andcj ^ 



imp h«d arrived when a reduction of »« lc " nditur e an* 



was 

 Friends) wo 



a rev 



the time had arrived when a reoucuuu «. rr^dWW *": 



and justly be made. He then ^Jj.^di •'^S 

 revenue of the country, which he coneidere ^ ^ e ta 



the Bank of England for any advance prey 



