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Northern Star (1837-1852), 1st March 1845, Edition 2 of 4, Page 8, Duncombe Testimonial. — Central Commits ...

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    • S&roerial farliamenk
    • \ M\Ct foltillMMt
    • SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
    • 0l DEATHS. . r
    • Printed by DOUGA& M'GOWAN, of 17, Great Wind?!* street, Haymarket, in the City of Westminster, a"
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      G ^ • The Northemusfafe March 1, 1345,

      g ^ THE NORTHEMuSfAfe March 1 , 1345 ,

      S&Roerial Farliamenk

      S & roerial farliamenk

      - House Of Lords, Mondat, Feb. 24. •>L.I...

      - HOUSE OF LORDS , Mondat , Feb . 24 . •> l . ii-i Casothx introduced abill , of which hehaa given notir / ; -. st session , for the abolition of deodands , a species oi 1 : taction which he characterised as most absurd , eapricia ; - > - ; : ; ::: d insufficient . _ , At * . ' "tins i-OH ) Chascellob by no means dispute * the justicevxihese epithets as app lied to the system of deodands , to suggested that , as they fomedapart of the casual reveaae of the croivn , it was expedient that the Eoval assent sliouldbeobtainedbefore the bul was further proceeded - . vitb . Thep rivUegesof theHouseofCJommons wereab-o in some measure affected , and it might be tonbtea-. vbetlier those corporations to which deodands accrued would not hare a claim for compensation .

      I « r •"•« ' - otbew admitted that the Boyal assent would be nvci ^ u-j , but denied the force of the two other objections to his bi » , which was ultimately read a first time . iordlUraopsiir : ! rt-n presented thereport of the Board of Trade uiw « ssviT . ilrailwajs , uponwhichaeonversatiou ensued , in wiiiv : ; Lord Fitzwilliam and Lord Campbell took part . , Their l * rd = l . h « then adjourned .

      Tuesday , Feu . 25 . Tin- i . «« d ' " riASCELLOR gave notice that , on Priday next , it :. - v ,-t _ .. ;» i move the second reading of the Bail in Error ; " '¦ ' . lor . j i-v .-cg : ha 3 i gave notice that on Thursday week he would Is v upon the table a bin to transfer the jurisdiction in divorce cases from their Lordships * House to another tribunal . Some petitions were presented , after which the House adjourned .

      Thursday , Feb . 27 . In reply to questions put by Lord Beaumont , in reference to the unfortunate expedition from Corfu , to Calabria , and the degrading suspicions to which the British Government was in consequence exposed . The Earl of Abebdeen said , that owing to the state of affairs in Italj representations were made to the British Government which led to the issue of a warrant to open the letters of 3 fr . 3 £ azziiii . They were sent to his office , and he immediately determined that no agent of a foreign Government should either see the letters or know that they were in existence , and in his communications he named no writer , and took care not to compromise the safety of any individual . These precautions proved successfcl , and not a single individual bad suffered in

      conscquwee' of the information so communicated . In . feet , "Mr . Hazzini had induced his friends to abandon the enterprise contemplated . With respect to the conspiracy at Corfu , be had communicated no information whatever , for be had not the most distant idea that any such enterprise was in contemplation . One of theBaiidicras arrived at Corfu , where be expected to find his brother . Failing ia this , he went to Malta , and from thence to Greece . From Greece be once more arrived at Corfu , on the 5 th of June , and the whole of the enterprise was arranged between that day and the 12 th , only one week , when they leftfor the coast of Calabria . There was , therefore , nopoSibiUty that the British Government could have known anything about it . He believed it to be wbollv untrue that cither the Austrian or

      Neapolitan Government had taken any steps whatever to induce the parties to embark in the enterprise . The immediate application to Lord Seaton to send the Medea steamer after the conspirators , was a proof that they were anxious to prevent any such enterprise , and he only regretted that Lord Seaton bad not felt it to be his duty to comply with the request , in which case the UUkapp . v men would have been rescued from the consequences of their own misguided rashness , lie felt these accusations keenly , however groundless they might be ; bathe onlj hoped , When the day should come when he would have to answer for every action of bis life , that any charge which might then be made against him , would be as wholly groundless as those to which the Noble Lord bad alluded . Lord Beaumost expressed himself perfectly satisfied with the explanation , and the House soon after adjourned .

      House Of Commons, Fbtdat, Feb. 21. The O...

      HOUSE OF COMMONS , Fbtdat , Feb . 21 . The order of the day for the adjourned debate on the Post-offjce Spv SrsiEJt was read , and Mr . CoLLETT addressed the House . He explained why be had moved the adjournment the night before , contending that "little " * men in debate , like hinself , bad no chance of having a " say , " unless it were at the beginning of the evening . The " great guns " * could demand attention at any time : but when the hour was late , and a speaker of minor rate presented himself , great disinclination to bear hhn was manifested . Theremedyforthiswould perhaps be to time each speaker , giving half an hour to

      the mover of a motion , and a quarter of an hour to each speaker afterwards . He sbouldsnpport the motion of the Hon . llember for Finsbury . That gentleman had been exceedingly iB-nsed ; and the House owed it to him , to its own character , and to the country , to grant the inquiry asked for . Mr . Duncombe was weU known to be a bold , manly , and independent man ; he was known all the world over as "honest Tom Buncombe " and he was at all events , entitled to fair play at the hands of the House . He trusted the Hon . Gentleman would not rest satisfied until be did receive a full acquittal from the imputations thrown on him .

      Mr . Febband bad been inclined to have given a silent vote , had it not been possible that bis doing ' so in the manner be intended might be construed into a desire to bear hardly ontheHome Secretary , with whem he himself had a rather hard fight , He should therefore explain the grounds on which he voted . He disagreed with the existence of the odious power at all . It was not wanted for any honest purpose by any honest Government The statement made by Mr . Duncombe , was one which the House was bound to notice , and notice in a satisfactory manner too , if it would maintain its own honour and independence . Both were compromised in the alleged practices of the Government The defenders of the unjust and un-English practice had pleaded the state of the country in 1842 as a justification for their suspicions

      and practices towards Mr . Duncombe ; hut let him ask whether any other Hon . members , who be thought ought to have been objects of suspicion much sooner than Mr . Buncombe , bad been subjected to similar treatment ? He knew that it was reported at the time of which the Hon . Baronet at the head of the Government spoke so alarmingly , that a meeting of the Anti-Corn Law League had been held in the Mechanics" Institute , Southamptoubuildmgs , presided over by Mr . Vt ' arburton , and attended by Mr . Tubers and Dr . Bowring , at which a person uttered such undisguised instigations to revolt , that a spectator in the meeting called him to order , telling hhn that what he was saying was " physical force . " Had the letters of Those Hon . Members been stopped , or read , or copied 1 If not , he ftought the odious power of the Home Office had not been exercised imparfiaUy . As far

      as he could judge , there was far more reason to " suspect " some of the league members than there was to " suspect Mr . Duncombe . But the power to open anybody ' s letters ought not to exist at all . It might possibly , in extreme cases , be of use in detecting offences ; but it might also be most grosely abused , and used for the worst purposes against the liberties of the people . Mr . Ferrand concluded by showing how odious this power of opening letters might he made in forwarding the machinery of that system of centralisation to which the Home Secretary was so much attached ; and especially to the carrying out of the provisions of the New Poor Law . On these grounds more than on any other , be was desirous not only to take away this power from the Home Secretary , but also from every other Minister of the € » wn .

      Mr . Sxbutt , as a member of the secret committee , defended the decision it had come to , and said the Government had done everything in their power to assist the committee in its investigations . He considered the Bight Hon . Baronet , the Home Secretary , had been harshly dealt with , and as he thought neither the motion nor- the amendment would lead to any practical good , be Should decline Supporting them . He then entered into a general defence of the Government , in as far as letteropening was concerned , and laboured to show that the alarming state of the country in 13 i 2 sufficiently justified 8 SJexercise Of the power that might have been ' employed atthattime . Mr . Colquhoun spoke at length against the motion and amendment , and defended the conduct of the Home

      Secre-Mr . Williams challenged the Government to make out a case to justify thetreatment the Hon . Member for Finsbury bad received at the bands of the Home Secretary He was much surprised that the Hon . Gentlemen on tie Ministerial side of the House could for a moment entertain the idea that the Hon . Member for Finsbury could in any degreebe connected with the employment of the hand grenades and infernal machines , to which allusion had been made . Such allusions , made in connection with that Hon . Gentleman ' s name , showed the necessity of a full inqmry being made . The report of the secret committee was most unsatisfactory to the public mind . This , however ,. could not excite surprise , seeing thatMr . BuncombeV name was excluded from that committee—a proceeduig unpai alleled in the annals of this assembly .

      Mr . Bjilme Cochbane said it was a well-known feci that ' thc sjstem of espionage prevailed extensively in Franci . \ .-i the people did not complain . It was necessary that ; -i a certain extent such a power should be vested intlu- " - »•; of the "Executive . Mi - "' - rrr ia a brief address , said ! he should have ^ ctet ! ' v ' v as the Hon . Member for Finsbury had acted , :. ¦ * letters been opened . He thought the Gorerun . _ . 1--J a- , ted very improperly . L & i 1 * "' . ILiaiiTox defended the Government , and in the courrf if « . * •* observations , employed several very illnawu . " , ' •¦ - " -al remarks towards Mr . Buncombe . *

      Mr . « V - .-non made a very able speech in favour of an tonury iu ' o Mr . Buncombe ' s charge . The statute ol Anne , and the subsequent Act of Victoria , made the opening of a letter , without a warrant from the Secretary of State , a misdemeanour . Por his part , he held that in a constitutional point of view , there could be no such power as that exercised by the Secretary of State . "With « spectto the discontent exhibited in the North in lSi % be considered those disturbances to be no excuse for a tyrannical act . He looked upon this power as calculated to revive every evil associated with the spy system . He called upon the Solicitor-General to state upon what principles of constitutional law he defended the practice Of opemngJeiters . He . dared that officer to lay the war-STaJmS ^ S : S ncon * ' fetters had been delayed , m & e j ! 2 L * L ? e Honse ' or -a-taowledge it in anv fie haul Jfcat The-romat of tho Secretary of State to

      House Of Commons, Fbtdat, Feb. 21. The O...

      make s uch search could not be there maintained . A warrant could not issue without previous information on oath ; and the Secretary of State could not administer such oath , and consequently could not receive an information . The warrant must also set forth the name of the parry it implicated , and specify the offence . All these conditions were necessary to make a warrant legal : and he ventured to assert that were the warrant issued by the Secretary of State taken before the Judges , it would be scouted out of court . He should like the Gov ernment to give an opportunity of trying the question . It was of vast importance to public liberty .

      The SoHcrroa-GESEBAL , ia a long and wordy harangue , travelled over the same ground taken by his colleagues in defence of the espionage , without at all improving their position . . He acknowledged that the power to open letters was not con / erred by any statute ; but was a power formerly a portion of the prerogative of the sovereign , then had been exercised by the responsible advisers of the crown , and was recognised in the statutes of Anne and Victoria . He gave it as his opinion—an opinion expressed with a full recollection of the responsibility ofhis situation—that such a power did lawfully appertain to the office of Secretary of State , and could by that functionary be lawfully exercised .

      Lord John Eussell held that the law had been esta Wished in the reign of Queen Anne ; it existed now ; and the Home Secretary was not to be heldblameable for the practice which had always been associated rath his office . If there had been any improper exercise of that power , however , it ought to be inquired into ; and in order to learn this , and to do justice to all concerned , he was prepared to support the amendment of the Noble Member for Sunderland ( Lord Howick ) . He did this because inquiry was due to Mr . Buncombe , who stood before the House in such a peculiar position ; a position which , without inquiry , would jnftict gross injustice on that gentleman . He must also ' condemn that new mode of exercising the power whieh had been adopted by the Foreign Secretary , in stopping the letters of refugees , and communicating the substance of their contents to foreign Governments . The exercise of this power in the instance that had come to their knowledge bad led to most deplorable results : for there could be no doubt but that the two Bandieras had

      been entrapped to their rum . For such an exercise of the power the Foreign Secretary was blameable ; and he ( Lord J . EusseU ) would agree in a vote of condemnation of such principle , to prevent other "Ministers from following the most objectionable practice , and tarnishing the fair fame of England , the reputed refuge for the oppressed of the earth . Sir Robert Feel rose and said that , as he had spoken before , he should not take advantage of his position to speak again to the general question . He would , however , avail himself of the opportunity to explain one or two points . In the first place he begged to assure Mr . Duncombe that in his former remarks he had never dreamed of implying that he had been mixed up with the Chartist plots and rebellions of 1 S 42 . Such an idea never

      entered lus head . He was shocked when such an outrageous meaning had been put on lus words . He must also remark on the extraordinary speech of Mr . P'Isvaeli , on the i > revious night . If such a speech had come from one of the opposition , where he expected to meet with generous foes , he should not have been surprised : but coming from a "friend , " and from a " candid friend , " * too , he scarcely knew how to brook it . He could deal with lus foes , hut ho could not do with those who brOke his head with kindness . He then set the House right as to a statement made by Mr . D'Israeli , affecting one of the G overnment officials . Such statement was without foundation . He then complained , and bitterly , of the conduct of the opposition , in joining in the demand for fresh inquiry . Such conduct was not

      generous ; it was not just . The Government had been tried once ; they had been acquitted ; and why were they to be tried again ! He bid the Wings beware . He had not so acted towards them , when in opposition , and since he had been iu power he had not used his influence in visiting on then- heads the condemnation their conduct was held to have merited , though be had been solicited to do so . He plainly told them that there had been no use made of the power now so much complained of , for which the Whigs had not furnshed a precedent As to the continued existence of the power , he would not now offer an opinion . He would not purchase an acquittal for the Government at the expense of the power itself , by an offer to give it up , or any portion of it . The question before the House should go on its own merits ; and if the Government were sent to a fresh trial , on the heads of those who sent them be the

      consequences . Mr . D'Israeli gladly embraced the opportunity of unreservedly , pubUcly , and sincerely apologising for the Statement he had , without premeditation , made the night previous . He would not reply to Sir Robert Feel's twentyfour hours' conned-over impromtu , but reserve himself for another occasion . Sir Jons Hakjieb asserted the independence of Members on his side of the House . They were not to be tied up with the Ministry , just to do the Minister ' s bidding . Though they might act with them generaUy ; stUl on questions affecting their own honour , and the independence of the House , they would exercise their own opinion , and register their votes as justice dictated . This was one of those questions : and in it they should vote against the Government , because they held the conduct of Government to be utterly indefensible .

      Mr . Jertis made a smart speech , going over much of the old ground . He strongly supported the motion for inquiry : and be also bore out " Mr . "Watson * s opinion as to the UlegaUty of the warrants , inoppositiou to the Solicitor-General . Mr . llvaTZ should vote for inquiry , and also for doing away with the power entirely . There being loud calls for a division , Mr , Buncombe said , he would not detain them long with a reply , considering that the debate had been so protracted . He denied that there was anything personal in his proceeding . He had no object in view , but to put an end to an odious system of espionage . Some

      gentlemen bad suggested that he should bring his proofs to the bar of the House , for thus , as yet , he had produced no evidence of his letters having been opened : he begged to state that he should submit a motion for that purpose , and that he should bring his proofs to the bar . ( Loud cheers . ) He would make a motion to call to the bar the officers of the Post-office , who must have committed a breach of privilege if they had opened his letters Without a warrant from the Home Secretary . As there appeared a strong feeling in the House in favour of the amendment , and as he thought it prudent to get a little inquiry sooner than none at all , he should withdraw his motion in order that the sense of the House might be taken on the amendment .

      The House afterwards divided on Lord llowick's amendment , which now stood as a substantive resolution , when there appeared—For the motion .,.. 145 Against it „ ,. 240 Majority against it .... „ 95 Mr , Bckcojibe , on the numbers being announced , immediately gave notice that he should , on Tuesday next , move that the officers of the Post-offices the parties whom he charged with having opened his letters , be summoned to the bar of the House to answer for the breach of privilege they had committed , ( Loud cheers followed the announcement . ) The House immediately afterwards adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMONS , Monday , Feb . 24 . On the motion that the House should resolve itself into a committee of ways and means in order to consider of the sugar duties ,

      Mr . M . Gibsos moved as an amendment , " That no arrangement of the sugar duties will be satisfactory and permanent which does not involve an equalisation of duty on foreign and colonial sugar . " The Hon . Gentleman observed , that since the Act of last year the sugar trade had been in a most unsatisfactory state of suspense . It was time that the sugar duties were voted annuaUy , but stm parties purchased largely upon the implied understanding that the trade was not to be exposed to continual extensive fluctuations . The great question , Jhowever , was , whether the whole of the community was to he heavily taxed , not for the benefit of tie revenue , but of the West India colonists . By the protection of 10 s . given to them , the British community was compelled to pay no less than

      £ 2 , 300 , 000 on the 230 , 000 tons of colonial sugar estimated to be consumed in the ensuing year , and this for the promotion of private and not of public interests . This amount of protection actually exceeded all the value of the labour expended on the production of sugar in our West India colonics . He had no wish to do the slightest injury to the colonies , but he firmly believed they would prosper more under a system of free and open competition . Even if he were wrong in this belief , he would still Stand upon the justice of his case . He catted upon the Honse to abandon a system of legislation so injurious , and to free themselves from the domination of the monopolist classes , to the lasting benefit of the country . Mr . Ewa & t seconded the motion .

      Mr . Gibson ' s amendment was supported by Mr . llicardo , Mr . TOliers , Lord Howick , Mr . Cobdcn , and Mr . Bright ; and opposed by Mr . James , Sir G , Clerk , Mr . Miles , Mr . Gladstone , Mr . Labouchere , the Chancellor of the Exchequer , and Lord Sandou . The House divided , when Mr . Gibson ' s amendment was negatived by a majority of 211 to 84 .

      Tuesda y , Feb . 25 . Mr . Wallace moved for leave to bring in a bill to repeal so much of the Act 1 Wm . IV ., c . 69 , as provides that there shall be thirteen judges in the Court of Session in Scotland ; and to extend the jurisdiction of the stipendiary county judges , called sheriffs , by g iving them the power of awarding the punishment of transportation , in the event of the judges of the Court of Session being reduced below the number of thirteen . The motion was opposed by the Lord Advocate , and after some discussion Mr . Wallace withdrew his motion .

      Sir R . Ikclis moved for various papers relating to the new regulations for the negroes captured by our cruisers , and landed at Sierra Leone ; and drew the attention of the House to the hardships which were inflicted by those regulations . A proclamation was issued by the governor of that colony on the 12 th of last June , in pursuance of an order from the Colonial Secretary , for the purpose of encouraging emigration to the West Indies , and by that proclamation all those liberated Africans who declined to emigrate were deprived of all the allowances usually granted , and left in consequence without food , clothing , or implements of husbandry—in short , amongst strangers , and utterly unable to help themselves . The regulations feU so severely on the children that they were easily induced to emigrate , while the adults had no alternative between emigration and starvation , This was , iudeed ,

      House Of Commons, Fbtdat, Feb. 21. The O...

      conferring a boon on the West India planter , but a at terrible sacrifice to the negro . These regulations , he feared , would lead to the revival of the slave trade between the coast of Africa and the Mauritius . Some discussion followed , and the motion was agreed to . Dr . Bowkino moved for a copy of correspondence relative to the issue and withdrawal of an ordinance of the Governor of Hong-Kong , dated the 21 st of August last , for the registration of the population of that colony , and for establishing a poU tax on the inhabitants to cover the expenses of the said registration . Great dissatisfaction was excited amongst both the British and native residents by this attempted inquisition , and it was ultimately withdrawn . ' The motion was opposed by Mr . Hope on behalf of the Government , and after some discussion was withdrawn .

      Sir James Graham moved for leave to bring in a bill for the better regulation of medical practice throug hout the united kingdom . The first object of the bill would be , to have a central establishment of a council of health , which would have the superintendence of medical aud surgical education , aad which would be accessible to the Government for consultation upon matters having reference to the public health ; The second object was , to secure for all medical practitioners equal facilities of practice , and to secure for the ¦ public general equality of attainment . The third object of the bill was , that these attainments having been ascertained by examination , there

      should be such a registration as would give public notoriety that the parties examined had come up to the required standard . The Right Hon . Baronet then entered into a statement of the points in which his present bill differed from that of last year , together with the reasoas which induced him to adopt the alterations , amongst the principal of which were , that he did not propose to repeal the Apothecaries' Act , except so far as related to the parties who would be registered under his bill ; and he proposed that it should be a misdemeanour for any one to pretend to be a physician , surgeon , or other medical practitioner , who was not duly qualified . Leave was given to bring in the bill .

      The Right Hon . Baronet then obtained leave to bring in a bin to enable her Majesty to grant new charters to certain Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons . Mr . Bellew moved for copies of the correspondence which took place relative to the ' dismissal of the Earl of Lucan from , and subsequent restoration to , the magistracy ; and also for a copy of the commission appointing the said Earl of Lucan Lord Lieutenant of the county of Mayo . Motion agreed to . The remaining business on , the paper was postponed , and the House adjourned ^ Wednesday , Feb . 26 .

      Sir P . Eceuton wished to draw the attention of the Right Hon . Baronet the Secretary for tlie Home Department to a shocking circumstance which came out in evidence before a police magistrate . It appeared that , in some of the crowded churchyards of the metropolis { one was instanced in the neighbourhood of Clerkenwell ) , it was the custom to inter the bodies pro tempore , and shortly afterwards to bum them . He wished to know if the Right Hon . Baronet intended to adopt any measures to prevent this desecration ? Sir J . Graham said he had only been aware of the facts stated through a newspaper of this morning . The case , if made clearly out , was one in which he should be inclined , certainly , to interfere —( loud cheering ) ; but , as the law stood , he apprehended there would be great difficulty found to stand in the way of an effectual interference upon the part of the executive . On tho motion for the Ilouse resolving itself into a committee of ways and means on the sugar duties ,

      Lord J . Russell contended , that at least one-half of the differential duties was appropriated by the planter and that it was impossible by artificial distinctions to keep out slave-grown produce , as was apparent from the amount of importation from Venezuela . He would admit that the principles of free trade could not be immediately appUed to the West Indian colonies , owing to obstacles of a temporary nature arising from the Act by which the negroes were emancipated . One of these obstacles was a deficiency of labour , which was sought to be corrected by the introduction of free labourers from the coast of Africa . Now , a gradual introduction of labour would be beneficial , no doubt ; but the importation of large numbers of negroes from the coast of Africa , with the view of suddenly lowering the value of labour , might be attended with many disadvantages , and more particularly with the fearful one of creating a dangerous preponderance of the black over the white population . He could not perceive the wisdom of the financial

      plan proposed by the Eight Hon . Baronet , which rendered it hopeless to get rid of the income tax at the end of three years . They were sacrificing revenue to the extent of £ 2 , 300 , 000 which might have been applied to the reduction of the silk and spirit duties without any loss to the revenue , while commerce would have been extensively benefited . He thought that they should gradually approach towards free trade principles by imposing for a limited period a moderate differential duty , until they should be at length in a position to abolish it entirely . The Noble Lord concluded by moving , " That it is the opinion of this House that the plan proposed by her Majesty ' s Government in reference to the Sugar Duties professes to keep up a distinction between foreign free-labour and foreign slave-labour- sugar , which is impracticable and illusory ; and , without adequate benefit to the consumer , tends so greatly to impair the revenue as to render the removal of the income and property tax . at the end of three vears extremely uncertain and Improbable . "

      The motion was opposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer , Mr . Gladstone , Sir James Graham , and Sir II . Peel ; and supported by Mr . Labouchere , Mr . Macauley , Mr . C . Wood , Lord Palmerston , and Sir C . Napier . The gallery was then cleared for the division , when the motion of Lord John Russell was negatived by a majority of 236 to 142 . Thursday , Feb . 27 . The Speaker took the chair at five o ' clock . Lord Sandon presented a petition from the sugar refiners of Liverpool , complaining of the hardship they would undergo if the Government plan for the reduction of the sugar duties should be carried into effect , in consequence of the large stock of sugar which they had on hand , and praying the House to give tbem relief . They also prayed that no duty might be imposed upon molasses , and that a high duty might be imposed upon foreign aud colonial refined sugar .

      Mr . Miles presented a petition from Somerset against the poor-law clause in the law of settlement . Mr . It . PALMER presented a petition , signed by 130 farmers of Bucks , against tho malt duty .

      POST-OFFICE ESPIONAGE . Mr . Waklev presented a petition from the inhabitants of finsbury , agreed to at a public meeting . The petitioners stated— "That they learn with mortification and disgust that there exists at the General Post-office a secret spy system , under which letters are broken open , seals counterfeited , and post-marks falsely imposed , in order to deceive the persons to whom such letters arc directed , and to whom they are afterwards forwarded , while the information thus obtained has , in some cases , been used to promote the despotic interests of foreign Governments . They also state that they had read with indignation , the statement made by their representative in his place in Parliament , that his correspondence had been

      clandestinely intercepted and secretly opened , under Government authority , at the Post-office . That the only excuse for the execrcise of such power towards Mr . Duncombe , would be that the Government had good reason to deem him capable of conduct which , if true , would , in their opinion , render him totally unfit to continue the representative of a free and independent constituency ; that they therefore feel it due to themselves , as well as to Mr . Duncombe , to demand from the House ot Commons such an investigation into the proceedings toward hhn as should either justify the implied suspicions of the G overnment , or fully establish tlie innocence of a long-tried and faithful representative . " ( Hear , hear . ) in answer to a question from an Hon , Member .

      Sir R . Peel said , that ' he was in communication with several persons connected with banking in Scotland , and he thought he could not be prepared to bring'in a Bill on the subject , or to state the intentions of the Government , until after Easter .

      GAME LAWS . Mr . Bright presented petitions , numerously signed by farmers and landholders in Horsham , Sussex , Alnwick , in Northumberland , from the western side of the Severn , Gloucestershire , andRuislip , in Middlesex , all praying for the abolition of the game-laws . The Hon . Member then said , the motion which he had given notice of bringing on that evening , was a motion for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the operation of the game-laws ; and in bringing the motion before the Ilouse , he acknowledged that he was full y sensible of the importance and difficulty of this question . He regretted extremely that it could not have all the weight in the House from his advocacy which it mi ght have had in other hands . But he was so convinced of the importance of the question , and of the necessity of some alteration in tho laws respecting game , that he considered he should bo neglecting his duty , if he had hesitated for-a longer period to

      bring the question under the notice of the House . He had observed that for several years past , a considerable portion of the convictions which had taken place at petty sessions , more especially in the agricultural counties , were for offences against the Game Act—( hear , hear , ) and thousands of the poorest of the population had been fined and imprisoned for such offences . It frequently happened too that violent outrages , and ferocious encounters , took pIacebetweengamekeepersandpoachers , endingfrcq uently in the infliction of serious injuries , andnotunfrequentlyin death . He found also that the last sentence of the law had been frequently put into operation on unfortunate individuals whose calamities had been brought upon them through the laws for the preservation of game . It was because he had a deep sympathy for the poorest classes Of the people , and because he had a deep reverence for the sacreilness of human life , that he asked the attention of the House to the motion u-hich he was about to

      propose , and he felt certain that no considerable number of members would refuse to accede to such an inquiry . Looking back to former legislation on this subject , he felt justified in . making this proposition , as there had been frequent instances of late years of tho appointment of committees to consider the game laws . In the years 1816 and 1823 , Select Committees had been appointed to inquire into this subject ; and in 1828 , there had been a Select Committee of the House of Lords , appointed for the same purpose . The Committee of 1816 appeared to have been appointed for the immediate object of obtaining such evidence as might induce the Legislature to abolish the qualification then existing , which was the possession of a considerable portion of landed property

      House Of Commons, Fbtdat, Feb. 21. The O...

      and of throwing open the right of killing game to all persons ! ' who should' ; ' : purchase a Government certificate . In 1823 the object of the Committee was to obtain such evidence as should induce the Government to legalize the sale of game , and in . 1828 the Select Committee of the House ' of Lords was appointed with the same object . Though the immediate objects of these Committees were such as he had stated , no one who had read the evidence adduced before them could fail to be convinced of the fact that the real cause of their appointment had been the prevalence of poaching , and the frequent recurrence of those disastrous encounters between gamekeepers and poachers , which they had of late years so deeply to deplore , ( Hoar . ) Mr . Bright then gave a number of oases of hardship under

      the Game Laws , and referred especially to a case of a man detected with a snare in his hand on the grounds of the Rev . Geo . Chetvvode , who had been sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment for the same , during which his wife and children had suffered the greatest hardships . It was a wellknownfact , that the killing of game was held to he no disgrace in the rural districts . He was in possession of a number of facts that illustrated in a remarkable degree , this state of public opinion . There was a person near Aldborough , in the county of Suffolk , a most noted poacher , who carried on a large trade in that way , and employed from thirty to forty persons . The men thus employed were all regular poachers , while the head of the body , to keep up appearances , had a regular game certificate , and had tt connection with several noted sellers of

      game in London , to whom the supplies were regularly dispatched . The depredations of this party were principally carried on upon the estates of Lord Rendlesham and the Earl of Hertford , and they had a regular protective association , aud suhscvibedTunds for the purpose of defending any of them that might happen to be prosecuted for an infringement of the Game Laws . The head of this party was considered a respcrtablc person in the neighbourhood where he resided . There was another striking instance showing this state of the public mind . He had lately read in a Yorkshire newspaper , a Doncaster one he beUeved , in the obituary column , that a person had just died , who was described as a noted poacher , but in all other respects an upright and respectable man . So trustworthy was he considered , that on more than

      one occasion he ivas , on being convicted , sent to Wakefield with his own commitment in his pocket , and he never failed to deliver himself into custody . [ Great laughter . ) Mr . Bright then proceeded to discuss the " right of property" in game . He could not conceive how any wild animal could be considered property . No one could identify a hare or a pheasant , as he could a pig or other domestic animal : yet , to claim property in anything , it was considered necessary that itsK'owner should be able so to establish his right , But if game was property , why had there existed a former law , denying the right of either buying or selling game ? It was generally held that that which was considered property should be that which was recognised to be an object of barter . The Game Law of 1831 , prohibited the sale of

      game ; and the fact of such a law having existed was an admission that game was not " property . " But if game was property , then wild animals , ho maintained , ought to be protected at the public expense , the same as were the wares of a shopkeeper ; and the public ought to be rated to support a police for that purpose . To show the effects which flowed from the operation of the Game Laws , hft would refer to a return which he had moved for last year , and also one furnished on another motion of an Hon . Friend . From these returns it appeared , that , during the year previous , " there had been brought before various assizes aud sessions for poaching above 4 , 500 cases . Of those tried , 40 had been transported , and U 2 imprisonedfor various periods ; while the remainder wore fined in various sums toanaverageof about £ 2 each .

      punishments monstrous and cruel compared to the offences committed . It was further shown , that , from 1833 to 1843 , there had been no less than forty-two gamekeepers killed , some by accident ; but in twenty-five instances with deliberate wilfulness . This was a dreadful state of things and one that ought to be put an end to . From returns furnished from the manufacturing districts respecting the number of deaths occasioned by machinery , it was shown that the annual deaths from this cause were , in Lancashire , one in " every 30 , 000 employed ; while in proportion to the number of gentlemen who had game licenses , ( about 60 , 000 ho believed ) , the number was four , or double the proportion , ( Hear , hear . ) Such were the results , which he was sure he understated . It was one of these murders which had called his attention to the subject , that at Knowsley , where a gamekeeper had met a poacher and exchanged shots , in which the gamekeeper fell tho victim . Of the five engaged in this

      transaction , ono was hanged , and the other four were transported . It was this case that had led him ( Mr . ' lli ) to the consideration of the whole question of the Game Laws , and induced him to bring the subject before the House . The system of game-preserving was a system of terrorism , inimical to both farmers and labourers , and one which should ' . be put an end to . The Hon . Gentleman then made " a jfointed reference to the member for Gloucestershire , Mr , Berkley , who had published a pamphlet in which he recommended poachers to be met with " punches on the head and blows before words ; " and expressing himself that he did not expect much opposition to his motion for inquiry unless it came from t ' iat quarter . After shewing up tin 6 a « ti « system , in describing which he occasioned much merriment , the Hon . Gentleman sat down by moving foi a Committee to inquire into the operation of the Game Laws .

      Sia J . Graham , who spoke in a very low tone of voice , said he had listened with great pleasure to the speech just ' deUveredby the Hon . Member for Durham . He was pleased at its tone and temper . He was sure that it would be met in the same spirit by the House , and that the result would be a full and dispassionate euq . \ HY > The fearful circumstances that had transpired during tinlast few years had convinced him ( Sir J . Graham ) that enquiry was necessary , an inquiry , which , he hoped , when gone into , would be conducted in an honest and impartial spirit . After referring to the recent

      alterations in the law , which he described as removing all the feudal restrictions that had formerly existed in reference to the killing of game , conferring the right to destroy them upon every person , without regard to their position in society , providing that they took OUt a license . He expressed himself that it was no ! the intention of the Government to offer any opposition whatever to the motion of the Hon . Member . He thought that if the motion did not lead to a change in the law , it would at least lead to a better understanding among all classes .

      Mr . Vernon Smith approved of the motion , and went on to show that the convictions under the present Game Laws were nearl y double to those under the law of 1831 . Mr . dabbx said that Sir James Graham had done well in acceding to the motion of Mr . Bri ght , though he did not expect so much good from it ' as that gentleman might expect . Mr . P . H . G . Berkeley said it was not his intention to oppose the appointment of the Committee ; though he did think that the agitation which had been occasioned since it was known that the present subject was to be brought forward , was not at all creditable . The landlords

      had been called "tyrants , " and the Hon . Gentleman who introduced the motion pretended to he the "farmer ' s friend . " He denied that the Game Laws tended to produce crime more than the other la lis that existed relating to the protection of property . He placed poaching on the same footing as smuggling , and thought the law might be improved in some respects , though he held it to be beneficial in the whole . The laws were not more stringent here than in other countries ; as the United States of America for instance , where very severe laws existed , against killing wild animals under particular circumstances ,

      Mr . Aguoxbt expected great good from a full inquiry into the subject ; and that the exaggerated statements which had gone abroad with respect to the preservation of game would be set at rest . Col . SlBTlfORPE said , the speech of the Hon . Member for Durham seemed to encourage the depredations of the poachers ; but he supposed this was part of the system pursued by the Anti-Corn Law League , a class for whom , thank God ! lie entertained no high opinion . Mr . Grant-ley Bebkelet maintained that the farmer always took' his land with tho knowledge that there was game upon it , and that allowance was made on that account . The poacher , generall y speaking , was a man who was receiving good wages , and not , as had been represented in that House , a person borne down by distress . He read a statement to show that crime abounded more in those districts where game was not preserved , than in those were it was rigidly maintained . Mr . B . Bscott thought tho existing law severe , and that there ought to be an alteration .

      Messrs . Wakley , Cobden , and Newdcgate having briefly addressed the House iu favour of the committee , Sir Robert Peel said he was glad at the spirit which had been exhibited in the discussion ; and though he did not see the Game Laws could be very weU interfered with , without touching upon the rights of property , still he thought good would be produced by such an enquiry being gone into . If it produced no " other result than an improvement in the proceedings of landlords in relation to the preservation of game , it would indeed be something . He thought the practice of game-preserving was carried much too far . If gentlemen would abate in this respect , greater good would be produced than by any course that the House could pursue .

      Several other members having , spoken , the motion was put *| and unanimously agreed to . The House having disposed of the orders of the day shortly afterwards adjourned ,

      \ M\Ct Foltillmmt

      \ M \ Ct foltillMMt

      Marylebone. Saturday.—The Green-Eyed Mon...

      MARYLEBONE . Saturday . —The Green-eyed Monster . —Elizabeth Hooney , a formidable-looking Irishwoman , was charged with assaulting Mary Wilkins , who had several marks of having recently come off second-best in a " scrimmage " From the evidence , it appeared that the two fair ones who were neighbours , had been good friends till recently A fit of jealousy , however , had taken possession of Mrs Rooney , who laboured under the impression that the coml p lainant had been enticing her husband astray . The pre vious night , defendanthaving taken a glass too much paid a visit to Miss Wilkins , and set to , in right good style to give her a right good beating . This melee had led to ' the present summons . After hearing the case , in which it was clear both sides were to blame , the magistrate decided to bind over Mrs . Rooney to keep the peace for the ensuing six months . The parties then withdrew .

      Marylebone. Saturday.—The Green-Eyed Mon...

      BOW STREET . SATwanAY . — -Raising the \ Yi « d . — "William Johnson was charged , by a police-constable of the II division , with improperly raising the wiud without due regard to the ordinary rules of honesty . The charge originated with a landlord , with whom he had succeeded in getting up a splendid dinner , but when the biU was presented , instead of paying it , he hurled defiance at both landlord and waiter . On his being taken to the station he assaulted the constable , and was otherwise very unruly . Evidence was given to show that the prisoner was a regular victimiser of publicans and coft'ec-hou § e keepers ; and he was accordingly committed for a month to Bridewell ,

      Wednesday . —Book Stealing . —John Pentland , alias Smith , alias Campbell , described as a medical student , from Edinburgh , who was fully committed for trial on a charge of stealing several books from the library , of the University College , in Gower-street , was again placed at the bar , charged with stealing several volumes of different medical works from the library of St , George ' s Hospital , the property of the governors and directors of tho institution , which books he had sold to a bookseller in Coventry-street . Mr . Henry William Fuller , a member of the council , and the librarian , identified , several valuable books , the stamp being cut out , that had been taken since Christmas last from the library . The prisoner said nothing in his defence , and he was committed . —Serjeant Newman , E division , said , that since he apprehended the prisoner , he had found a groat many books that had been stolen from the Middlesex and King ' s College Hospitals , respecting which witnesses would be in attendance on a future day to give evidence . The prisoner was accordingly ordered to be further remanded .

      SOUTHWARK . Penny Theatres , —Joseph Riddle , aged li , was charged with stealing 2 s . 6 d . from his employer , Mr . Wright , a coal dealer , carrying on business in Bermondsey . It appeared that on the preceding evening the complainant placed a half-crown piece on the mantel shelf of his back shop . Having missed it , and having seen the prisoner secreting sometlung , he went into the shop , and found it in a coal sack , close to where the prisoner was seen , who denied all knowledge of it . The prisoner now admitted that he took the money , and said he intended to

      have spent it in confectionery . The lad ' s father , a respectablc-looking elderly man , said his son had conducted himself with great propriety until lately , when some other lads enticed him to frequent " penny -gaffs : " Mr . Wright said lie believed the lads had induced him to take the money ; he did not wish to press the charge , thinking that the Imprisonment he had undergone would lead him to adopt an honest mode of life . Mr . Cottenham having lectured the lad , bade him fall on his knees and thank his employer for the leniency he had shown , aud having complied with this request he was discharged .

      Monday . —A Wolf-hunter , — Richard Cobley , who formerly carried on extensive business in Tottcnhamupurt-road , was brought before Mr . Cottingham , charged with disturbing the congregation at a dissenting chapel in the Borough-road , called the " Surrey Tabernacle , " and abusing the minister during the sen-ice . It appeared that the defendant ascended to the gallery during the performance of the afternoon service . He stood up in the most prominent place , and soon rendered himself conspicuous by launching out into denunciations against the minister , bestowing the epithets "hypocrite" and " blasphemer "

      on him , and using other expressions of the most offensive description . The defendant said that the minister of the chapel was a " wolf in sheep's clothing , " and that he knew it . He proceeded to indulge in personal and other reflections which indicated an unsound state of mind ; declaring also , that while he lived ho should persist in lifting up his voice against evil-doers . The magistrate said that the defendant must be restrained by the strong arm of the law , otherwise he would repeat the offence . He was then held to bail , himself in £ 100 , aud two sureties of £ 50 each , and in default was committed .

      CLERKENWELL , TUESDAY . —METROfOLWAN Shave-Yards . — Horrid Abominations at the Spa-fields Burial-ground . —On T uosdaytliis court was crowded with respectablejtradesmen and other housekeepers residing in Exmouth-strcet and its vicinity , in consequence of its having become generally known that an application would be made to the magistrate relative to Spa-fields burial-ground . Reports of the most revolting and disgusting character have been circulated for some time back throughout the neighbourhood , and intense excitement has prevailed in consequence . — Mr . Watts , pawnbroker and silversmith , residing in Exmouth-strcet , stated that , as the representative of a large body of the ratepayers , of Clerkenwell , many of whom were present , he came forward to beseech the interference of the court for the suppression of practices of a most

      abominable nature which . prevailed iu Spa-fields burialground . The burial-ground was not quite two acres in superficial extent . Such a space was commonly estimated as being capable of affording a decent interment to about 30 DO human bodies : but what was the fact ? It had been a burial-ground for the last fifty years , and the average yearly number of bodies interred , or brought into it , was 1500 . There had been thirty-six burials in one day , but not a bone was seen on the surface . He could produce evidence which would leave no doubt , horrible as the thing was , that human bodies had been commonly burnt there . The Steueh proceeding from what was called the " bone-house , " in the graveyard , was so intolerable , that niany of the residents in Exmouth-street , which abutted on the place , had been obliged to leave it altogether . One lady was present who had been obliged to leave from the stench . The custom . was to disinter the bodies

      after theyhave been three or four days buried , chop them up , and burn them in the bone-house . —• Inspector Penny , of the G division , came forward and stated that a petition signed by 150 of the inhabitants of Clerkenwell , having been presented to the magistrate of this court on the subject , his worship put the matter into his hands . He went there , and in this " bone-house " found a large quantity of coffins broken up , and some of them burning . The wood was perfectly sound , and some of it appeared to be quite fresh . Had been there several times , since , and had seen parts of coffins burning ; the smell was shocking , intolerable . There were coffins of every size there , children ' s and men ' s . —Reuben Room , who had been grave-digger in the burial-ground in question , but left about two years ago , in consequence of a

      dispute , stated that he had been there as grave-digger for six years . Had repeatedly dug up dead bodies interred but a short time , to make room for others . Had frequently dug up twenty corpses to make a grave of seven feet deep . The bodies that had been interred eight feet under ground were a few days after rooted up , and just covered by the surface ; the stench was intolerable . —A lady , who lived in a house abutting on the graveyard , stated that she was obliged to leave , from the intolerable smell preceding . from the bone-house . They burnt the bones at night , and sometimes they began to burn at eleven o ' clock at night , and continued at it all night . The

      smell was frightful . —Catherine Murphy : Lived m a house from the rear of which there was a view of the graveyard . Had seen the grave-diggers throw up parts of a human body , and then chop it up with their shovels . Saw one of them seize the upper part of a corpse by the hair of the head . On this occasion she could not refrain from crying out , " O , you villain , to treat tho corpse so , " upon which lie threw it into the grave again , and threw the clay on it . The smell was horrible . —Mr . Combe advised the parties to lay a full statement of the matter before the Board of Guardians , who would , he felt convinced , bring the parties under his jurisdiction . —The parties thanked the magistrate , and left the court .

      Shipping Intelligence.

      SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE .

      Urkaotdl Bnirwrecks.—-The Risk, A Brig B...

      Urkaotdl bnirwRECKs . — -The Risk , a brig belonging to Sunderland , was lost on Monday week near the Garbard Sand , near the northern entrance to the Downs . TllC Cl'OW had just time to launch their boat and get into it , when the vessel went down . The crew were shortly afterwards picked up by a passing vessel called the Uoram , which landed them safely at the North Foreland . A largo Russian ship , named the Mercurius , . ia reported to have been totally wrecked along the coast of Bilboa , and all hands ( excepting one man ) drowned . The vessel is a large handsome ship , and her loss is estimated at several thousand pounds . The American nackot-shb .

      Pennsylvania , . Captain Emerson , recently ashore on the coast of Bahia , eighty miles from Havanna , while on her passage from New Orleans to Liverpool , has since become a total wreck . On Sunday night week a vessel was totally lost on the Kentish Rock , off Margate . She proved to be the Freedom , Oapt . Robson , with a cargo of sulphur for Shields , from Scilly . The crew succeeded in getting her off , but in the course of a few minutes afterwards the vessel sunk , the crew escaping by their boat on to the Light-ship , moored near that place , where' they received every attention . Tho brig Flora , belonging to CardM ? , has been wrecked , while on her passage up the river , from Heligoland to Hamburgh . Crew saved . The Nelson , of Limerick , for Dumfries , has also been lost , and her crew ( four in number ) drowned . A

      deniable . accident happened to the crew of the schooner Hibernia , while getting out of Carnarvon Bay , on Wednesday last . The vessel bad struck on the bar , and the whole of the crew , it is supposed , got into the boat to survey the bar , when a heavy sea capsized it , and the whole , of the unfortunate fellows were drowned . The vessel was subsequently got oft ' the bar , and at present lies in Porthlerduiy harbour , for the owners . Reports have also been received , in the course of the week , respecting two vessels which were run down by others . One named Sir A . A . Ferguson , belonging to Glasgow , and the Diligent , of Liverpool . The forme * " was run into by the ship Hopewell , on the 11 th of last month , off the Tuskar Light : unfortunately two of the crew perished in the sinking vessel . A smack belonging to Lochilphead , coal laden , foundered during the night of the 17 th inst . off Toward Point , having been in contact with an outward bound schooner .

      Abelldeen. Cp-Or-Unatios.—A General Meet...

      ABEllDEEN . Cp-or-unATios . —A general meeting of the members of the Aberdeen Association of Producers was held on the evening of Wednesday , the 19 th February , at eight o ' clock , in the Hall , No . 1 , Flour Mill-lane , when a report from the directors , showing the rapid progress and flourishing condition of the association was read to the members , together with a balance sheet , showing the actual state of their affairs . From the report it appeared that the weekly returns had increased from £ U to upwards of £ 32 a -week and that the average weekly return since the commencem wa ml £ 2 Y * - ' and the Ma 1 amount of sales ± . 745 . i he balance sheet shewed a clear surplus , which , after laying aside fiye-jw wxA . interest en

      Abelldeen. Cp-Or-Unatios.—A General Meet...

      their capital , enabled them to place to the credi ' members , three per cent , on the gross amount of ° purchases made by them at the shop ; thus mtL mg the value of their shares in many cases from f " to ten and even of ' fifteen shillings , in the short space of half a year . It was also shown that tlv was a considerable ' number who nev er p * i , money towards a share , but merely pu ' rc i , « 3 their goods at the shop ; and "" , in all cases i" 2 purchases had amounted" to the sum of £ s ?? parties had been placed on the list of members ' 'iv report also shewed that the directors had operJi Savings' Bank in connection with the Assopi ^;

      winch it was anticipated would bs of great servicr r all of . the working class who wished to effect a ww . li saving out of their earnings , or to lay by for am-i ™ purpose , as any sum would be received from « fkl to fifty pounds , and would be repaid at any thZ demand of the depositor . The conduct of the tli ° tors was highly approved of by the memben i * then proceeded to the election of a salesman for t ? ° next six months , when their present excellent J i efficient salesman , Mr . Patrick Ironside , was uni mously elected . Five new directors were then cW " in the places of those whose term of office had pircd , and the meeting broke up highly satisfied Jfc the promising state of their affairs . ctl TODMOUDEN . Mr . James Cooper , of Manchester , lectured in ft , Mechanics' Institute large room , on Thursday nili the 18 th ult ., on "Knowledge , the true" ^ 7 freedom . " The lecture gave general satisfaction

      Duncombe Testimonial. — Central Commits ...

      Duncombe Testimonial . — Central Commits Parthenium Club Rooms , 72 , St . M artff £ Wednesday , February 26 th ; Mr . Grassby in « , chair . —The Secretary was instructed to summon It the members of the Central Committee for Wcdnpday evening next , to receive the auditors' report -y to decide on the time when tho subscription Vt nii positively close . Deputations were appointed to n * on the smiths at the Hole in the Wall , Chancer / lane ; and also on the several Societies of Bvbf * makers . ' " ¦ ' "

      Duxcombe lEsriMosuL . -The central commit ^ will meet at the Parthenium Club-rooms , No $ < Martin ' sJane , on Wednesday evening next , Vd every succeeding Wednesday evening . Chair taken at half-past eight precisely . Todmojjdk ,- . — Paotoki-Wokkers . — The facta * hands of Mr . Helliwcll , Duel ' s-gatc , near Todmordtt htive turned out for an advance of wages . Helliwel ! is one of the leading Corn-Law Repealers , and durino the begging tour of Moore and Cobden , subscrM one hundred pounds to the League fund ! Fielder Brothers , Waterside , have advanced the factorv ope ' ratives , some 6 d ,, sonic 9 d ., and others Is ., and si on in proportion to their previous wages , witw solicitation .

      BiKMiN'GHAit Tailors . —A most important niee tfe * of the tailors of Birmingham , was held on Wednesday evening ; upwards of one thousand of the trade attended . Wc have been promised a full report for tfe Star of next week . Barnsley Liken Weavers . —The Weavers in thg employ of Messrs . Cordeux and Norriss arc , wc are informed , likely to strike , unless the advance of wages required by them is conceded . LoKnON . —Progress op the Trades' Movf . mk —The general committee for making the necessary preparations for the sitting of Conference at Easier

      held their weekly meeting at the Bell Inn , Old Bailey , on Wednesday evening , February 2 CtL , . \' . Cox , Silk Hatter , in the chair , when the secretary reported that he was in communication with forty-three trades in Lancashire , who were all favourable " to the Conference . He had also received com . munications from Ncwcastle-on-Tyne on behalf of the Miners of Durham and Northumberland ; fi-ora the Iron Moulders and Tailors of London ; and from the Society of Bricklayers , who had undertaken to correspond with their various sections throughout tie country on the subject .

      Belper Nailmakehs . —By inserting the following in your widely-circulated journal , you will oblige tlie Horse Naihnakcrs of Belper . It will be remembered that our strike originated in consequence of our masters giving notice oi an intended reduction of wages , to wjbich wc objected , and demanded a regulation of prices . After being on strike for nearly fire weeks , our masters have complied with our request , with the exception of Mr . Melborn . About twenty men are still unemployed . The following is a statemws of the subscriptions wc have received , for which n return our thanks : —Rothcrham , £ 2 13 s . ; Eekington , £ 1 ; Nethcrton , £ 1 ; Oldswinford , 18 s . ; Grantham , 12 s . ;—total , £ 0 3 s . —P . S . We should be glad if wc could hear how we could get to join the Sheffield Trades' Union . If they send us word , they must direct for Joseph Gregory , No . -1 , North-terrace , Belper ,

      Silk Weavers . — A public meeting of the Sill : Weavers of Middleton and its vicinity was held at sk o'clock on Monday evening , Feb . 24 th , in the schoolroom belonging to St . Stephen ' s Chapel , for the purpose of considering the propriety of petitioning Wb . Houses of Parliament for the protection of labour , Mr , Simon Kent , an old veteran in the ca ^ e , *& called on to preside . The chairman opened the business in his usual argumentative style , and concluded by calling on the secretary to read the letters received from Mr . Sherrard , of Spitalfields . This being ilonfi the followingresolutlons were adopted unanimously : — Moved by James Hunt , and seconded bv Thomas Wholstencroft , " That we , the Silk Weavers of

      Middleton and its vicinity , do resolve to co-operate with the Silk Weavers of Spitalfields , Norwich , Macclesfield , Leigh ,- and other places , in getting up petitions to both Houses of Parliament , praying them to grant protection to our labour . " Moved by Thomas Wild , and seconded by John Winterbottom , " That in order to carry out the foregoing resolution , and send a delegate or delegates to the Central Delegate Meeting about to assemble in London , the sum of one penny per member be levied , towards paying tlie expenses of the same . " Moved by Samuel Heywood , and

      seconded b James Barlow , " That the petition to the House ot Lords be pi'osented by Lord Lilford , and tbat to the House of Commons by W . B . Ferrand , Esq . " The next business was the consideration oi ' an advance of wages ; and it was agreed to bv a majority that two persons should be deputed to wait on the employers , to state tbe wishes of the men . Mr . John Smithes and Mr . George Whil & kc * «« t elected . The meeting was adjourned till Monday March 3 rd , to give time for the districts to bring in their subscriptions .

      Life Or Volxaire.—Lord Brougham Is Prepa...

      Life or Volxaire . —Lord Brougham is preparing' ' Life of Voltaire . He is writing it in English and ia French—and the work is to lie brought out in the two languages , simultaneously in London and in Paris . —Mr . Macaulay , it is understood , intends devoting his leisure for the next two years , to the comp letion ofhis History of the Revolution of 1683—and in consequence , the Edinburgh will lie deprived of hi " contributions during that period . Fonuiojf Cattle . —A fatal cattle disease iiasjn * ' broken out at Laeken , a few miles from Bnissel " . Twenty head of cattle have akeady perished . Tie veterinary surgeons designate the disease M" '

      cfiar & o- > Micu . r . In connexion with this fact we m " - ) state that the Commissioners of the Customs nave received a letter from Mr . Cardwell , ono of the secretaries of the Treasury , to tho effect that ho wascom . manded by their lordships to state to the hoard , tnati information has been received from various quart-era of the prevalence of an infectious disorder among cattle iu several parts of the Continent , and to ucsure that they would give directions to their officers carefully to examine any cattle imported into thwcoum * 7 i and in the event of their appearing to be intectea with any disorder , not to permit them to be Ian " . , without inspection and report as to their soundness ») some competent person , and to report the circw ** stances and their actual condition immediately to tne board . NORTHERN CIRCUIT . Carlisle , Feb . 24 . —Burolarv . —John o'Wf was charged with having , on the 10 th day of Decemher last , committed a burglary in tho house of Jo * and John Grindal , at Wigton , and having at tw . time committed such burglary , cut and woun'iw Joseph Grindal . The jury returned a verdict o Guilty . His lordship sentenced the prisoner to « transported for life .

      0l Deaths. . R

      0 l DEATHS . .

      At Bath, On Monday Night, February 17, P...

      At Bath , on Monday night , February 17 , p Twite , in tho , sixty-fourth year ofhis age . Ills' *' mains were interred on Monday last , Mowed to" » grave by lus bereaved widow , his several sons aa daughters , and a number of his political friends a ™* admirers . Mr . Twite was a democrat of fortyyca ™ standing , and joined the Chartist ranks at in * commencement of the agitation . He was for sever . years , and up - to tho time ofhis death , treasurer w the Bath Chartists . In private , as in public Wc , w was respected by all who knew him , andhas ucpan this life deeply lamented by a large circle oi friends . Death of the Rev . StdxeySmith .-Wc regret J > announcc the death of the Rev . Sydney Smith , w after an illness of some weeks' duration , expucu his residence in Green-street , shortly before clew

      o ' clock on Saturday evening . Dr . Holland and »* " ¦ Hibberts ( sons-in-law of the deceased ) were hot " » attendance on their lamented relative at the tunc « his death . Mr . Smith bad attained bis 7 « h year-At Holbcck , ill the borough of Leeds , on the j . ^ ult ., David Thomas , the youngest son of R « nJ ™ Thomas , a firm and undeviating advocate ot " rights of the many .

      Printed By Douga& M'Gowan, Of 17, Great Wind?!* Street, Haymarket, In The City Of Westminster, A"

      Printed by DOUGA & M'GOWAN , of 17 , Great Wind ?!* street , Haymarket , in the City of Westminster , a"

      Office In The Same Street Aud Parish, Fo...

      Office in the same Street aud Parish , for the * ' » prietor , FEARGUS O'CONNOR , Esq ., and published W William Hewitt , of No . 18 , Charles-street , Bran <«* street , Walworth , in the Parish of St . Hary , Netf" **' ton , in the County of Surrey , at the Office , No . - Strand , in the Parish of St . Mary-le-Strand is" * ' City of Westminster Saturday , March , 1 W 5 ,

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 1, 1845, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_01031845/page/8/