THE important occurrence of a new Session of Parliament will call upon us briefly to notice such proceedings in either house, as may seem to influence the welfare of the public at large, while matters of merely local interest, except in our own county, must of necessity be passed over. On Tuesday, the 27th ult. the Session opened by commission, the recent national calamity preventing His Royal Highness from going to the House in person. The speech, after reverting to the continuance of His Majesty's indisposition, and the awful dispensation of Providence in the death of the Princess, goes on to announce the gratifying assurances of friendship from the continental powers, and of their desire to main ain the general tranquillity; the conclusion of treaties with Spain and Portugal for the abolition of the Slave Trade; the general improvement in commerce and the revenue; and concluding with a recommendation for supplying the deficiency of accommodation in our established churches, by the erection of new ones. The address was carried, nem. con. Addresses of condolence have been voted by the Commons, to the Prince Regent, Her Majesty, and to Prince Leopold.

LIBERTY RESTORED.

On the following day, Feb. 28th, Lord Sidmouth brought in a bill to repeal the Habeas Corpus act, which was read a second and third time, engrossed, and sent to the Commons, and on the 31st it received the Royal assent. We cordially join in the general congratulation that this restraint upon our liberty is at an end. The warmest friends of government had to lament its necessity; their bitterest enemies must applaud the promptness with which it has, on the meeting of Parliament,

been done away.

CHIMNEY-SWEEPERS.

On Feb. 9, Mr. Bennett brought in this bill respecting Chimney-sweepers, which was read first time, and committed to Friday following. The Act will abolish the present revolting practice of chimneysweeping after 1st of May, 1819.

BANK TOKENS.

On Feb. 10, Mr. Curwen asked the Chanceller of the Exchequer if any steps would be taken by government relative to the calling in of the Bank-Tokens, and to their being paid in cash.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer stated, that the Bank-Tokens had been issued by no authority from government, and must soon be called in, by virtue of an Act of Parliament. The Bank-Tokens was ready to pay for their Tokens in legal coin, and he did not apprehend that any more inconvenience would arise to the public from the Tokens being called in, than hud formerly happened in the case of dollars.

CHILDREN IN MANUFACTORIES.

Sir R. Peele presented a petition from persons in the manufactories of Manchester, relative to the early age at which children were introduced (six years old), and the number of hours they were employed (fourteen or more). The narrative had affected him, even to tears, and he hoped it would engage the attention of the house.

Mr. Curwen, Mr. Philips, and others, wished the facts of the petition to be scrutinized. Ordered to lie on the table.

On Feb. 11, The House, on the motion of Lord Castlereagh, went into a committee of supply, on account of the Spanish treaty. £400,000 is to be paid to Spain for the relinquishment of the Slave-Trade.

SPIES AND INFORMERS.

Same day, a long and interesting debate took place on the motion of Mr. Faza"That it be an instruction to the kerley, Committee then sitting, to enquire and report whether any or what measures had been taken to detect and bring to justice' those persons mentioned in the Report of last Session, as having fomented the disturbances which took place in several parts of the kingdom."

Mr. Bennet recounted instances of treawould go to prove how direful has been chery on the part of Oliver, which, if true, the consequences of this man's mission to the country.

Mr. Wilberforce thought the temporary advantages which government might derive from the employment of spies, in enabling them to detect some treasons, which might otherwise escape punishment, more than counter-balanced by the inconveniences which ensued. In a religious view, it was totally reprehensible; the God of Truth abhorred the falsehood and deceit which this practice en couraged; domestic confidence was destroyed; the most innocent actions were liable to misconstruction

and finally, disaffection to the government itself must be the result of it. Though these were his sentiments, still he should oppose the motion, because it was founded on the false assumption, that the late Committee had attributed some specific parts of the disturbances to Oliver; and because it involved an enquiry that could not be carried on in the Committe, and for which the Committee was not the proper place.

The Solicitor-General viewed it in the same light; and remarked, that the honourable Mover had concealed his witnesses, yet the casual mention of Mitchell gave a clue to the rest, and he was not a proper person to bring to support charges against government; yet such as he were considered martyrs to liberty, and proper objects of public bounty; and such persons artfully designed, by raising a cry against Oliver and the spies, to shift all criminality from themselves, and basely lay it to government.

The House divided, Ayes 53-Noes 111. Majority against the motion 58.

SHEFFIELD CUTLERY.

On Feb. 12, Lord Milton rose to present a petition from several manufacturers of steel and cutlery in Sheffield, and the viciuity, complaining that they suffered considerable injury from the manufacture in their neighbourhood, of wrought iron, which was made to bear a polish, and resemble the steel they themselves manufactured. Iron articles were thus made to resemble cast-steel, and iron being manufactured at twenty per cent. cheaper, they found their way into the foreign markets, and from their inferior wear had a tendency to undervalue the real Sheffield work, which, for two hundred and fifty years, had received an admitted superiority all over Europe.

Lord Lascelles thought the petition entitled to the consideration of the House, particularly from the circumstances stated therein, that a sort of article had gone abroad which had an eventual tendency to injure the reputation of the real steelworker, who had previously found a sate in the foreign market for his goods. petitioners did not want to prevent the manufacture of polished iron, but they did wish that the Legislature should make the manufacturer put a particular stamp on his work, to prevent its being taken for quite a different and superior article. He

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would only desire a Committee for this petition, as it involved the interests ofthree classes of persons, who certainly had each a right to be heard, viz. the manufacturer in cast-iron, the manufacturer in caststeel, and the worker in wrought steel. Petition referred to a Committee to report thereon.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN NORTHERN COUNTIES.

On Feb. 17, Mr. M. A. Taylor called the attention of the House to his promised motion relative to the administration of justice in the Northern Counties, and indeed throughout the kingdom, and strongly urged an increase in the number of Judges, which had not been increased while

LONDON.

Greenwich Murders.-It is a painful task for us to record two most horrid and barbarous murders, which were discovered on Monday the 9th inst. on the person of Mr. Bird and his housekeeper. This gentleman, far advanced in years, being near seventy,

was a constant attendant on the Greenwich church, and always in his place as soon as the service began, accompanied by his housekeeper. On Sunday morning, it was noticed by the beadle of the parish, and others, that they were not in their seats as usual. At the conclusion of the service, the beadle mentioned the circumstance to some neighbours, and they having observed that the shutters of Mr. Bird's house had not been opeued at the usual time, the beadle went to the house, knocked at the door, and called, but received no answer; they, therefore, had no doubt but something dreadful had happened, and determined on forcing their way into the house by the garden at the back. On their entrance into the passage, a most shocking spectacle presented itself on the body of the house-keeper, near the street door, lying on her face shockingly mangled. The horrid act was perpetrated by a blunt instrument. On proceeding from this scene of horror, another equally distressing presented itselfin the parlour adjoining the passage, on viewing the body of Mr. Bird, who was lying on his back with his arms stretched, and his head in a more shocking state than his housekeeper's, as the

wounds of her's were more concealed from

view. His forehead was drove in about an inch deep, and the wound as large as a crown-piece. The wounds of Mr. Bird were inflicted also by a large blunt instrument, by some supposed to be a bludgeon, and some suspicion that it was by a lefthanded man.

It is supposed that Mr. Bird was passing his evening, as was his constant practice, in reading, and that on his hearing the attack upon his house-keeper in the passage, he left his fire-side to proceed to her assistance, as his body was found between the fire-place and the door of the room, with his spectacles close to one hand, and a candle close to the other.

Distressed Seamen.-The result of the proceedings which the public benevolence has enabled the committee for relieving these distressed individuals to adopt, is of

ficially declared to be as follows:- 1230 men have been received on board seven vessels granted by the Admiralty for that purpose, and supplied with necessary clothing. Of these, 349 have been disposed of in the navy, in the merchants' service, or otherwise provided for; 162 are on board the Dromedary, appropriated exclusively to the sick, of whom 61 are serious cases; three have been sent on shore for miscopduct; five have died, and 711 remain on board the receiving ships, besides 162 sick. -Total, 1230.-The total amount of subscriptions received by the Treasurer is 11, 9387. 148. 10d.-The monthly expenditure of the establishment is about 1000l. exclusive of clothes, bedding, and ship chandlery. The committee state that the subscription having answered its purpose, no further pecuniary aid is solicited at present.

Feb. 2. A meeting was this day held at the Crown and Anchor to propose a subscription for the relief of persons who had suffered under the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act. Sir F. Burdett in the Chair.

Merchant Seamen's Auxiliary Bible Society.- Feb. 3. A meeting was this day held at the Egyptian Hall, Mansion-house, for the purpose of establishing an Institution under the above head, for supplying British Merchant Ships with the Holy Scriptures. The assembly was honoured with the attendance of some of the nobi

lity, and several members of parliament, and was successively addressed by the Lord Mayor, who presided, Lord Gambier, J. Thornton, Esq. M.P. Rev. W. Dealtry, Mr. Wilberforce, W. T. Money, Esq. M.P. Capt. Pakenham, C. Grant, Esq. M.P. &c. &c.

New Churches.-Feb. 6. A meeting was held at the Freemasons' Tavern, London, for the purpose of raising a fund to assist in the building of additional Churches and Chapels throughout the kingdom. Archbishop of Canterbury was in the Chair.

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Nearly the whole Bench of Bishops, and at least 25 lay Peers, were present. A number of Resolutions were passed, and the assembly separated.

Horrid Murder of Mary Minton.- This blood-chilling deed was perpetrated at No. 24, Union-Street, Mary-le-bone. The parents of the deceased were industrious poor people; the father being a carpenter, and the mother and daughters assisting in

the common support. They are lodgers in the house, occupying the upper apartments. The assassin, William Hetch, was married to the deceased (a young woman of but 18 years of age), in November last, and basely deserted her after five days cohabitation; shortly after which the unhappy woman had to learn that the wretch had been previously married, and his wife and three children living. She was taken home by her parents, and had had no communion with her murderer since that period. On Saturday the 14th, a letter was addressed by Hetch to Mary Ann Phillips, appointing the deceased to meet him in Tottenham-place, the contents were told to the deceased, and she wrote to say she could not give the relief he asked, namely, a trifle of money to enable him to leave the country. About eight o'clock, however, the assassin called at the house, and stated that he wished to see her. She came down with her youngest sister, who was going out to market, and the deceased and this wretch were left together in the passage of the house. A strange noise being afterwards heard by some people below, they were induced to come up, when they found the deceased on the floor, presenting a spectacle too horrid to describe, this monster having nearly severed her head from her body. From the marks of blood upon the wall,, it appeared as if she had been thrust against it while the diabolical deed was committed.

the islanders had suffered great privations by the abolition of smuggling; and that should the importation of silks and lace be put a stop to, it would reduce many to poverty and distress. The court further ordered, that a humble representation should be made to the Privy Council of all these circumstances, and praying that the order might not be put in force in Guernsey.

The late George Rose.-On Sunday the first inst. the Rev. F. Compton preached a suitable discourse, at Lyndhurst Church, on the death of the Right Hon. George Rose, to an attentive audience, at the close of which he delivered a written paper to the clerk, and left the church. The clerk then read aloud, that, from a codicil to the deceased's will, every male person then present was entitled to 10s. provided it was thought worth acceptance! Many others, could they have known the circumstance, would, doubtless, have given their attendance that day at church!

appointed to examine the crown-room Edinburgh.- Feb. 4. The commissioners and chest in this Castle, directed the latter to be forced open, which was found to contain the crown, sceptre, and sword of state of Scotland, answering in the most minute particulars to their description in the instrument of deposition, 26th March, 1707. There was also a silver rod of office, of which the peculiar use is not yet ascertained. The workmanship of the crown and sceptre are highly ele

a present from Pope Julius to James IV. is of a pattern corresponding to the excellence of the arts of Italy at that classical period. Nothing else was found in the chest, excepting a copy of the act of deposition. The regalia were placed in the chest, which was again properly secured.

GENERAL.

Guernsey.-The Prince Regent in council lately sent an order to the Royal Court of Guernsey, to prohibit the importation of French silks, lace, &c. into that island. After the order had been read in open court by the King's Treasurer, the court refused to register it, alledging, that it militated against the long-established customs, rights, and privileges of the island; that

Bakewell.-A Savings Bank for the High Peak district, was established here on the 16th instant. President, His Grace the Duke of Bedford; Vice-President, His Grace the Duke of Rutland.

YORKSHIRE.

Murder. On the morning of the 11th ult. Mr. Tiffany, the constable of Deighton, was found murdered, on the floor of a barn adjoining the house of John Blackhurn, alias Marsden, of Deighton. Mr. Tiffany had gone to apprehend Blackburn on a charge of robbery, and strong suspicions exist that he was killed by the culprit, who has absconded.

Longevity. There are now living in