likely to require, and such impediments, originating in scruples of this House, warranted by neither reason, analogy, nor example, would be highly injurious to the character of this House, as well as to the progress of sound improvement and wholesome legislation in the country. (Signed) VASSALL HOLLAND." object the moulding a government to the exigencies and interests of the governed. On the same principles, the persons and places entitled to vote by themselves or their representatives in the Scottish Parliament, before the Union with that kingdom, had those privileges regulated, curtailed, modified, or suppressed, by a legislative act, without any legal proof of delinquency, or any judicial investigation of the nature and extent of such privileges, or of the manner in which they had been exercised. legislative Union with Irish Peers of MINUTES.] The Four-per-cent Annuity Bill was read a their votes in the House of Lords, and no inconsiderable number of boroughs of Ireland also deprived the majority of the their right to send burgesses to Parliament; and although certain compensations Returns laid on the Table. The Monies Demanded and The were granted to the latter, neither the preamble of the legislative Act, so depriving them of privileges, or compensating them for the loss, nor the grounds which induced the Parliament to pass it, were subjected to legal proof. More recently a large body of freeholders, entitled by common and by statute law to vote for Knights of the Shire in that kingdom, have been deprived by an Act of Parliament of that privilege; and the said act of Parliament, so far from being subjected to such judicial proceedings as usually attend private bills, or bills of Pains and Penalties in this House, passed the legislature without admitting the petitioners against it to be heard by themselves or their counsel, or to adduce evidence againt the allegations of the preamble in either House of Parliament. Concurring, therefore, with the greatest constitutional authority that ever sat in this House (Lord Somers) that "there are many things plain and evident beyond the testimony of any witnesses, which yet can never be proved in a legal way," I was unwilling, by inference, to sanction a principle which would fetter the functions of this House in the exercise of our legislative discretion and authority, and confine our power of regulating and reforming abuses in the representation to such cases only as are susceptible of strict legal proof. 3. "Because, if the House of Lords were to establish the practice of proceeding as usual in private bills, or in bills of Pains and Penalties, as indispensable in bills of regulation and reform in matters of election, great delays would ensue and various impediments be thrown in the way of such wholesome reforms as the lapse of time and the exigencies of the country are HOUSE OF COMMONS. Friday, April 2. A Second time, on the Motion of Mr. G. DAWSON. the last ten Allowed to the High Sheriff of every County in England, ending Michaelmas, 1828:-Of Hops Imported and Exported during the last year :-Of Excise and Customs' Duties collected in each district of Ireland, during years-Of Timber Imported during the last four years:-Of the number of Quarters of Malt charged with duty, and amount of Duty on Beer, during the last ten years :-Of the quantity of Spirits charged with Duties, and imported into England from Scotland and Ireland, in the last ten years :--Of Amount of the Duties collected on Leather in Ireland:-Of the Amount of Excise Duties on Paper in Ireland, with the Expense of Collecting them :-Of the Amount of Duties received by each Collector of Excise, throughout the United Kingdom, and of Payments made by each, and of money remitted by each to London:-Of Duties Collected on Coals imported into Dublin from January 1822 to January 1830-Of Sums paid into the Stamp Office for Duty on Fire Insurances, and on Marine Policies:-Of the Tonnage of Vessels entered into and cleared out of all the Ports of Ireland in the last seven years:-Of the quantity of Spirits imported from Scotland by land:Of Papers relating to the office of Coal Meter (Dublin) :--Account of the Trade of Southwold for the last twenty years: Of the number of Midshipmen promoted to be Lieutenants, of Lieutenants to be Commanders, and of Commanders to be Post Captains, between January 1827, and January 1850:--Of Gentlemen appointed to first Commissions, and of promotions in the Marines for the same period:-Of Officers holding Brevet Rank in the Marines, and of those who have sold their full or retired pay:-And Account of the Pilot Fund of the Corporation of the Trinity House. Returns Ordered. On the Motion of Mr SPRING Rice, An Account of the Number, Distribution, and Expense of the Constabulary Force in Ireland, during the last three years:-On the Motion of Mr. HUME, of the Duties performed by the Barons of Exchequer, (Scotland) in relation to the Public Property and Hereditary Revenue of the Crown; and a Copy of the Memorial presented by Jous DENNSON, Master of the Patriot, of Aberdeen, to the Lords of the Treasury, praying for a return of 654 charged as Duty on Brandy, used on board his Vessel by the Sick, on her voyage from Jamaica. Petitions Presented. For an Amelioration of the Criminal Code, by Sir RICHARD VYVYAN, from the Merchants, Bankers, and other Inhabitants of Truro:-By General GASCOIGNE from the inhabitants of Hoddesdon. Against Suttees, by Mr. LITTLETON. from several Congregations of Dissenters in different places in Staffordshire. Against the renewal of the East India Company's Charter. By the same Hon. Member, from Drighlington, for the Emancipation of the Jews:-By Mr. BONHAM CARTER, from the Jews of Portsmouth:--By the Marquis of BLANDFORD, from the Jews of Rochester and Chatham, For the repeal of the House and Window Tax, re-committed. Mr. Byng said, that he intended to oppose the measure, because it would be injurious to many of his constituents occupying houses in the Haymarket. It would remove the market so far from its present site as to be a great inconvenience. With respect to those who complained of it as a nuisance, it should be remembered that they came to the nuisance, and not the nuisance to them. He had no objection to the noble Lord establishing another market in the spot he had selected, but he begged of him to allow the old one to remain. towns. Lord Lowther said, that there could be no question that the Market, as now situated, was a nuisance; and in moving it they were only following the example of other Not above half-a-dozen persons would be affected by it. It was true that the inhabitants had come to the nuisance, but at the same time, within the last few years, the nuisance had greatly increased. The distance to which he proposed to remove the market was not great, as it was only on the other side of the New Road, and consequently equally convenient for the West end of the town. The Bill re-committed, and ordered to be taken into consideration before a Committee of the whole House on Monday, April 5th. ST. GILES AND ST. GEORGE BLOOMS BURY.] Mr. Hobhouse said, that in consequence of what had passed in the House on the previous evening, a meeting of the Parishioners had been held this morning, and a Petition against the Saint Giles's and Saint George's Vestry Bill was immediately agreed to. It was signed by upwards of one thousand inhabitants, with their names and addresses, so as to bear the closest scrutiny. The Petition entreated the House, that if they persisted in disfranchising 1,856 of the inhabitants, they would, at least, not allow a gradation of voting, the consequence of which would be-giving to 400 of the higher ratepayers the same powers as those possessed by 1,600 of the lower rate-payers. The petitioners also stated, that if Parliament would consent to lower the rate one-half, so as to give a vote to those who were rated at 151. a year, though they would be more willing (though they should still think the principle of the Bill incorrect) to acquiesce in the decision of Parliament, and to entertain the hope that the measure, as it would then stand, would give comparative satisfaction to their fellow-parishioners. He also begged to observe, that at two in the morning, he brought up the Rea late hour last night, or rather at half-past Select Vestry System; and in that Report port of the Committee on the General it was agreed that the elective principle ought to be acted upon in any bill that was recommended to the notice of ParliaHe therefore thought that it would be ment of course with certain modifications. due to those petitioners, either to wait for a general measure, or else to grant one or Petition, he had another signed by an indiother of their prayers. In addition to this vidual, (Mr. Wakley) who, as he was Churchwarden, added to the prayer of his vision of the Bill by which the inhabitants fellow-parishioners one against that prowere deprived of choosing their own Churchwardens-a privilege which they had hitherto enjoyed from time immemorial. He had likewise been informed, that the statement made by the hon. Member for London (Mr. Ward), on the previous that many of the parishioners had relaxed evening, was incorrect, when he asserted in their opposition to the Bill. The fact was, that but four or five expressed more than a very qualified assent to the provisions of the present measure. Mr. Ward observed, that his only wish was the restoration of the harmony and good feeling of the parish. When he had stated that nine of the parishioners had relaxed in their opposition, he had founded what he said on what he had observed in the Committee up stairs; and he certainly had, on the occasion to which he alluded, understood that several gentlemen, when the rate entitling parishioners to a right of vote was reduced to 30l. had withdrawn that opposition which they had formerly entertained towards the measure. Mr. Alderman Waithman had kept himself free from all parties in this question, though he lived in the parish, in order that he might be able, in the House and in the Committee, to give an unbiassed vote. His feeling, however, was, that these parishioners had a right to what they asked; because he should ever contend, that every man had a right to vote what should be done with his own money. This was the very spirit of the Constitution, and they were bound to support it as long as they pretended to care for freedom or justice., It had been said that, as the trustees or responsible managers of those rates were highly respectable, and oftentimes noble persons, there need be no fear of abuse in the application of those rates. To this he should say in reply, so much the worse; for he found that those highly respectable, as in the instance of the late Joint Stock Companies, were only used as a shield to protect the less respectable and less principled. He considered the clause, allow ing no person to have a vote who was rated lower than 30l., most invidious and unjust, and he should oppose the Bill at every stage. advocated by the Bill which he had introduced. It was true that the noble Lord's family had a great stake in the parish, but he thought that that was no argument on which to ground such a measure. He, however, trusted that the noble Lord would consent to fix the rate at 151. or 201., as even such a concession as that would afford considerable satisfaction to the parish. At all events, in order that there might be time for re-considering the question, he should move the re-commitment of the Bill. The Speaker said, that course could not now be adopted. There were three modes of proceeding open to the House. Either the third reading might be negatived; or the third reading might be postponed to that day six months; or an Amendment of any clauses might be proposed, but that Lord John Russell moved the third read-must be after the Bill had been read a third ing of the Bill. time. The Petitions were read; they prayed that they might be heard against the Bill, by themselves, their counsel, and agents. Ordered to lie on the Table. Mr. Hume, with a view of giving the parties concerned in the Bill time to come to an agreement, moved as an Amendment, that the third reading be postponed to the 27th of April. Mr. Hume would at that eleventh hour endeavour to have a Bill, so objectionable in its nature, if not re-committed, rejected by the House. The Petition which had been the result of the meeting held that morning, and which had been signed, as his Lord J. Russell observed, that his only hon. friend had stated, by upwards of reason for having anything to do with this 1,000 respectable bona fide inhabitant Bill was in the hopes of restoring the peace householders, in itself should induce the and quiet of the parish. That was the House to pause ere it gave its assent to a only interest either he or his family could measure by which 1,856 rate payers, out of have in the matter. In the commencement a total of 4,819, would be deprived of their he had been anxious to have nothing at all constitutional right. All that the peti- to do with the Bill; but it was stated to tioners prayed for was, the recognition of him that his undertaking it would open the principle established by Mr. Sturges the chance of a reconciliation between the Bourne's Act. By that Act, every person parties, and he therefore thought that it rated under 50l, and who had paid the last would have been wrong in him to refuse. assessment, was entitled to one vote in He had, therefore, undertaken it; but on parish affairs, the number of votes rising this understanding, that he would not be gradually in favour of those who were bound by the principles of the Bill. All rated above 50l. till they reached five or the differences between the parties were six. But the object of the present Bill settled before the Bill came under the conwas to deprive the parishioners of that sideration of the committee, and those right. He trusted, however, that the three points were laid before the committee House would be of opinion, when it was for their decision. He himself abstained informed that the poor-rates of these united from giving any opinion on the subject, and parishes amounted to 40,000l. a-year, that only laid the facts before them. The commen rated at 201. a-year had as good a right mittee decided in favour of the principle as to be able to look after their interests as it stood in the Bill, and against that conthose who were rated at 400l.; for it was tained in Mr. Sturges Bourne's Act. That of great importance that those who were that so happened was the fault of those only a little above coming upon the poor- hon. Gentlemen who did not attend in the rates themselves should have a right of committee, and now came down to the control on the subject. For himself, he House to complain of the step that had should not have believed it possible that been taken. By the decision of that comthe noble Lord, who had always so strenu-mittee (all the petitions having been inously advocated the cause of reform, would vestigated by it) he felt bound, though, have agreed to such propositions as those perhaps, it was not exactly what he himself should have approved. At the same time he thought that it was generally calculated to produce the good government of the parish, and final harmony and satisfaction between all parties. On these grounds he should persist in moving the third reading of the Bill; at the same time leaving it to the House to do exactly as they pleased with it. Lord Nugent supported the Amendment. Mr. Tennyson said, he did not know what was meant by concession; but the Bill, as it then stood, contained one of the most monstrous propositions he ever remembered. Almost 2,000 persons were disfranchised by it, and 400 individuals were to have as many votes as 3,000. He hoped the Bill would be postponed. The House now grew impatient, and called loudly for the Question. The gal Sir F. Burdett thought it was desirable Mr. Bramston denied, as it was only a that the House should assent to the Amend- question of degree, that the principle of ment of his hon. friend, and give all the disfranchisement was at issue; at the same parties an opportunity of coming to an un- time, as he wished to see the House unaniderstanding with each other. He disap-mous, and all parties satisfied, he should proved of the Bill, and thought it would like to see 201. substituted for 301. have been better to abide by the principles of Mr. Sturges Bourne's Act. Sir Thomas Fremantle opposed any fur-lery was accordingly cleared, and on the ther delay. Sufficient concessions had already been made in the committee, and further delay would only increase the disagreement of the parties. There was no chance of their agreeing together, and therefore he hoped the House would at once decide the question. The Bill as it then stood was a very fair measure. division the numbers were-For the Amendment 36; Against it 70; Majority 34. Mr. Hume next proposed, as an Amendment, that every person rated at the sum of 257. should be entitled to a vote, precisely in the same manner as in the parishes of Marylebone and St. Paul's, Covent-garden. The Speaker stated, that from the manMr. Baring declared that it was his in-ner in which the Amendment was worded, tention to vote for the postponement. It the effect would be, that no person could was very desirable that some uniformity possess more than one vote. should be introduced into the proceedings of that House in relation to the parishes of London. Last year they had passed a bill for St. Paul's, Covent-garden, with one qualification, and now they were going to pass one for St. Giles's with another qualification. The House was bound to look that its enactments conformed to each other, and he should vote for delay, with a view to making this Bill like other bills. Colonel Davies remarked, that in St. Paul's, Covent-garden, already one principle prevailed; in St. Andrew's, Holborn, another; and in St. Anne's a third; so that it was impossible for the House to introduce a uniformity of enactment into the several parishes; if any hon. Member would move to substitute 201. for 30l. as the qualification, he should have his support. Mr. Byng hoped the Bill would be postponed till after the Easter holidays. The concession spoken of by the hon. Baronet opposite was only on one point. There were four points in dispute, and one only had been conceded to those who opposed the Bill; and that was the least important, viz.—that the election of the vestry should be annual, instead of biennial. If the Bill were not postponed till after the Easter holidays, he should feel it to be his duty to vote against the Bill altogether. Lord John Russel said, that the friends of the Bill had reduced the qualification for a vote from 30l. to 251., on the understanding, as they thought, that the Bill would not then be opposed in the other parts; and as the hon. Member pressed this Amendment, he must vote against it. Mr. Hume declared he had not heard of any such agreement as that alluded to by the noble Lord. The House divided on the Amendment Against it 48; For it 26; Majority 22.The House also divided on another Amendment, the object of which was to limit the number of votes possessed by any individual to three, which was lost by the same majority. Bill read a third time and passed. LORD ELLENBOROUGH'S DIVORCE BILL.] On the Motion of Sir G. Clerk, the report on Lord Ellenborough's Divorce Bill was brought up. The hon. Member moved that it be read a third time next Monday. Mr. Tennyson wished the third reading to be deferred to a later day. He was not prepared, without first reading the evidence through, to give his vote on the Bill. Mr. A. Ellis protested against the haste with which hon. Members were hurrying the Bill through the House. He was not hoping that the House might be able to devise some remedy for their relief. They stated in the Petition which he (Mr. Sykes) held in his hand,—and he was sorry to say that he could confirm the statement to its fullest extent,-that the interests which they represented were involved in the deepest and most deplorable distress. They prepared to say that he should vote against the Bill, on the contrary, he thought he should vote in favour of it; but he could not refrain from opposing the proposition that the Bill be read a third time on so early a day as next Monday. He did conceive that the third reading should be postponed until after the holidays. Sir G. Clerk said, there was no disposi-embodied in their Petition a resolution tion on the part of the supporters of the Bill to hurry it through the House. But a most ample inquiry had been entered into, and he thought a very general feeling existed in the House that, after the evidence was ordered to be printed, as little delay should take place as possible. The House would adjourn on Wednesday or Thursday next for the holidays, and it was desirable, he conceived, to have the fate of the Bill decided before that period. The evidence would be printed and in the hands of Members by Monday next; but if any hon. Member should then state that he had not had sufficient time to consider it, he should be ready to postpone the third reading of the Bill till the next day. Mr. S. Rice thought it would be extreme injustice to the parties concerned, to postpone the third reading until after the holidays; but he suggested that it should take place on a later day than Monday nextnamely, on the following Wednesday or Thursday. On the motion of Sir G. Clerk, the third reading was then fixed for next Tuesday. passed at a meeting of the Ship-owners of Hull, held last January, in which the latter expressed their regret at the present condition, and their melancholy forebodings of the future prospects, of the Shipping-interests of the United Kingdom; and, in conclusion, they earnestly prayed Parliament to institute such an inquiry into the causes of the existing distress of the Shipping-interests as might lead to some remedial measures for the relief of that important national interest. They further prayed the House that they might be relieved from foreign competition, as experience had, in their opinion, fully proved that they were not able to compete with foreigners while burthened with their present load of taxation; and they therefore suggested, that the principle, of an equalization of taxation with foreigners should be first applied before they were placed upon an equality with them in other respects. They further suggested, that the House, with a view to afford relief to the existing distress of the country, should introduce a more rigid system of economy into every department of the State,-that the national expenditure should be reduced to the lowest possible scale consistent with the due maintenance of the national honour, and that a more equal distribution should be made of the public burthens. The petitioners likewise objected to the reciprocity system. With their opinions upon that subject he did not concur, and it was a proof of their candour that, though aware of his difference with them upon that point, they did him the honour of intrusting their Petition to him. He should not trouble the House by entering upon the consideration of that SHIPPING INTEREST.] Mr. Sykes rose, pursuant to the notice which he had given, to present to the House a Petition from the Ship-owners of the town of Hull. He was confident that the petition would meet with every consideration and attention from the House. If the subject to which the Petition related would of itself be sufficient to fix the attention of all the Members present, the claims of the Petition of their consideration would be enhanced by their knowing that it came from a body of wellinformed and well educated gentlemen, who were perfectly cognizant of their own in-system at present; he should only say, that terests and rights, and in his opinion as well qualified as any hon. Gentleman in that House to form a correct judgment upon the subject to which the Petition referred. These gentlemen were associated together in a society called the Ship-owners' Society. From time to time they had laid their petitions most respectfully before the House, and they now again approached it with a respectful statement of their condition, he did not think that any alteration in that system would afford any relief to the distress that prevailed in the Shipping-interests of the United Kingdom. The petitioners also took the liberty of respectfully calling the attention of the House to a reduction of those taxes which more particularly pressed upon navigation. He thought that upon that score, they had a fair claim for a reduction of taxes, and in that portion of |