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Northern Star (1837-1852), 31st May 1851, Edition 2 of 2, Page 7, STRIKE OF THE GLASGOW PACKERS . TO THE C...

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      The) The Silk-Dressers Of The United L J...

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      The) The Silk-Dressers Of The United ¦ '...

      THE ) THE SILK-DRESSERS OF THE UNITED ¦ ' KINGDOM . Pitiof eliow-Men , —In reviewing the workings of our * de ' s ra ' s Societies and examining the present state tbe tr the trade , we feel constrained to make an appeal voor , voor common-sense . believing that steps should i imaiig inunedi ately taken to stay the increase of surplus i , our ^ our and preserve our trade from ruin , fle a fle assure you we are not taking this step with e vie ^ e view of personal aggrandisement , but truly in a « pUi » « pirifc of nnity and fraternity , believing it imi ^ ibtyssible to maiatain our present position unless we e » UV ! g »! lv combine for our mutual benefit and welfare . It « It a universally acknowledged that theremune-; tion ition of labour , like the articles it produces , deads lends upon supply and demand , and unless we can TIIE » THE SILK-DRESSERS OF THE TJXITPfl

      rise erise some means to regulate the number of apeatitteatices , a redaction in wages is inevitable . The ik bilk business was perhaps never more flourishing an than now , and yet there are numbers out of work ceiveceiving the support of the Tramp Society , and jlesinless the demand for dressers increases in a ratio ivomevond precedent , there-will very soon be consiueblyably more , as they are being brought into the ad ^ tade , at the different shops , in multitudes . The indi » ndition of onr trade is truly alarming This additional surplus labour will , in a short time be in e mhe mirket ,-competing with us , and probably sun-. ant p lanting some of us . What are we to do the /? : a * ira we to be supported by them , or are we to supirt sort them by our Tramp and other Societies ? iu

      nrouw juu » concur with us that surplus labour this the cause of aU the remedial evils we have to mttMDtend with ; , t places the workman entirely at lenhe will of the master ; compels him to submit to If thll that he may impose ; liable to be discharged at j y » ny moment should he venture to murmur , as the npfemployer well knows there are others out of work , id snd read y to fill his place . ? f-r 1 T- ° rkmen ~ 0 ar P ? » deplorable , id sad if this state of things continue—if avaricious enmen are allowed to produce labour bj * wholesale , ' ireoreless of the consequences to themselves , their ppupprenticas , and tbe trade at large , so that they

      secnncnre the 'hltny lucre / or , in other words , a few sbilshillings per week advantage over their fellow worworkmen—we repeat , if this state of things continuenne , we shall all soon ben tterij ruined . Ifjill were to aetaet as those men , where would be tbe advantage ? Wo Would it not very soon be , as in some places it is lis already , that they would have to work for as aiuaiuch less per pound in proportion to the privilege ? TfeTfe contend that it would , and that the consequence ! ces would not end here , for the surplus labour thus p « produced , being brought into competition with the otl other , would have the effect of reducing the wages sti still farther , which has been the case in many in trade . * .

      We do not assert that all men who have taken sp spprentices were actuated by motives of selfishness , fa far eircnmsiaaees under our present isolated condi ition have induced men to do contrary to their fishes ; hut we hope and trust that you all see the V tecessity of organization , for the time is now come «; vfhen we must unite , and devise or adopt some y means to stay the progress of the present evils , or r we shall soon be involved in greater difficulties . i Suppose thereare 300 dressers in the trade , and d every one take an apprentice for five years—and if & one has a right , in justice all have—at the end of 1 that time there would be a surplus of 300 in our la-! bow market ; but we will not venture to say whe-• i thertbe apprentices , or we who take them as ap-; prentices . When we consider the workings of the trade for the last few years ,-we are astonished to see the

      great change that has taken place , amounting , we may say . to a revolution . It is considered a trade above aR others most injurious to health ; and formerly we could earn- a good living by- moderate jr arkinft as the prices were double , or more than SO , to the present prices ; consequently we have row to work with all our mi ght to earn : a comfortable subsistence ; and , as a natural consequence , in sack an unwholesome atmosphere , many of us are saperannuated , or , to use a common phrase , " mashed up " at fire and thirty . Who , we ask , are the parties receiving the benefit of this change ? The manufacturers are not , reither are their workpeople . We maintain that redaction in wages is no b enefit to any one , or any psrt of society . Suppose for instance that one ma-Eifacwrer reduces wages , are not the others

      compelled to do so too , in order to meet each other in the market ? The consequence is that the goods become reduced in price , in tbe same proportion as vises were , without any benefit to the manufacturer , and the inference is , that as most of silken > aols are exported , the rich foreigner receives the ieaefifc at the expense of the poor English artizan . The interests , therefore , of masters and workmen are co-existent and inseparable ; for if masters had sen working for nothing they would gain no- advantage , as competition in the market would reduce fee article thus produced in proportion . Competition with masters is also encouraged by surplus hoonr , for petty capitalists , who do nothing at Other times , are read y to take advantage of brisk trade , knowing that they can command plenty of iibonratanytime , and thereby glut the market , causing reaction and depression .

      Again , sdken goods are appreciated for their casttiaess more than utility , and worn as articles of ornament , and this ia another reason to support the prices . Seeing then that it is no permanent benefit to any party to reduce wages , what a gratification : t must be to the generous master when he can aiord to pay good -wages and see his workpeople well-fed weIi- « Iotned , and happy . Sttrely he must feel the sathikction of a father who delights in the prosperity of his children . Work-fellows , we again refer to surplus labour ; and ask , how can these men , who produce it , justify their conduct ? It is contrary to justice , philanthropy , humanity , and Christianity : they care not for the welfare of their apprentices , for they are

      atrare that U is adding surplus labour to surplus labour , which is thc means of reducing wages , and by the time thoy are loose , will probably only be able to earn a mere pittance , and perhaps in getting work supplant others , or , which is more likely , not get work at all . All engaged in the trade suffer by tin competition . It is inhuman to induce apprentices to spend the most valuable part of their lifetime merely to gratify the selfish desires of those 2 Uin , and compelled to spend the remainder of their iays in poverty and wretchedness . How can you , « e ask . reconcile these actions with the great ' doctrine of christknity , " As ye would that men should to unto yon , do ye also unto them ? " Consider * be . = e consequences ; imagine yourselves in the condition of your work-fellows , who are sufficiently a-lustrions to do their own work , then ask yourselves if yon would like them to do by you as you * re now doing by them ? Your conduct proves that

      fob would not , because you are not satisfied with ? qisl privileges . Alas ! Christianity with snch men is become another name for avarice ! ' We have lad nsetinirs in consideration' of the Tramp and Ei « igmuon Societies , and weave of opinion that they s : coutage the cause of our present evils , because ttiey ass-st in removing the surplus labour from those who produce it into other localities , and hy tiisnwans make room for other apprentices , and at 0 : r expense , observe ! We contend that paying so 3 »; hto men out of work is equivalent to a reduc tan in wajres . These Societies will most assuredly wave io nothing , unless sosiething be done to recahte the supply of labour , which would obviate tie cans j of all oar difficulties . We . therefore make k » 11 to call your serious attention to this fsct .-that by combining together we may yet save ourselves ; on the contrary , if we do not , we are sure tJ fall , as thc tendency of wages is ever dow ' n-? 3 rd =

      IK ' lieviug wc arc makin * this appeal to a body of Eea who see the urgent necessity of combining testier for our » nutu < 2 welfare , we beg leave to call r ? -. ; r attention to the "National Association of lilted Trades " as a St society for the furtherance ' . ioar views ; it is founded uroa ' ihe 6 th George IV ., tip . 129 , which expressly states , " that it is lawful i prinybadyof-men to combine together to keen seir wages ' up , provided they do not use threats or J timidation to others to induce them to do so ;" ' - S . Buncombe , Esq ., is chairman of the aforesaid -Jeieiv , a gentleman of known honour and intcg-! -ty . The uxpeu-e of joining , contribution , itc , is ~ ~* triflbiff : « to cijnie within the means of the poor-5 ? of us " ; the ailowance to be rcc-.-ived in case of

      l "' i , wc believe will be found quire satisfactory ; -- ' secretary , Mr . Wm . Peel , 259 , Tottenbam' Jari-raid , London , will feel pl « isur « in forwarding 5 : > y : . « iov ! r , ; aion yoa may require , upon application . F-dlow-Bien , we are living in an ago of pregre-- ? , tanl . sochl , and political ; mea of all grades have j seir protective societies , over some of which , wc « heve , peers of the realm preside , generally for " -pjo tection of capital . Is no » ©» : r labour onr * ? : ul ? Then why . should wc-remain unprotected ? kt us unite , then , " a ; id keen picf with ihuiisr . es , * -de treating oar masters wuii all due respect as ° » nubile benefactors , believiag our interests as ° ' ~ 6 ; let us prove to each other and the world at te st . that , while doing our duty to our masters « : a societv we are determined to be treated as such teerve . I -Vw , as " actions speak louder than words , " to

      ^ avince you ' thntweare ra earnest , we , the sils j ^ ers of Leed ? , have joined the above association r ^ ly to a man , ami wc hope the whole of you will « e th ; - neces-ity of j-iininir hear * and hand in this l -w cause . We tare thought seriously upon tire " 1 ct , and couM see nothing so likely as this A ? ^ naijou but « f ai . v of yea candeviseovs'ig'iCrt ^ J ' . hing ' better , we should be happy to adopt it . "« i « el coavibccd . that after reading the rules , you M think with us , that nothing mere suitable to i ^ ri ews can be devised ; it will now prove , by Br . vloptinff or rejecting it , wheher you respect : ' ' Jr tfcrfe , Vour * -lve $ , »« " * yoar families , or nor . L ' s saown there are men in the trade who are li v-= « r the labour of others , ant have wade money tin '' kose practices our present condition , ei . i ^ ie * - * who do not care for a change—but"

      The) The Silk-Dressers Of The United ¦ '...

      must not look-to these . What we want -is a system for the « gulation Of tbe supply of labour and we must have it , if we intead to do well . Call yourselvestogether . then , at your different shops , enrol yourselves in tbe National Association of Trades , and then let as communicate with each shop : get a proper understanding by means of a delegate meeting or otherwise , on equitable grounds , as to the method of regulating the supply of lalour , as other trades have , and we believe we can finally and fully emancipate ourselves . We remain , Yours in Unity and Fraternity , ' Tee Silk Dressers op Leeds , In connexion with the National Association of United Trades . must . n « i \ nnvL ih .-vse :: " 'Wi „ v ™ . •' . .

      Strike Of The Glasgow Packers . To The C...

      STRIKE OF THE GLASGOW PACKERS . TO THE CLOTH LAPPERS OF GLASGOY NOW OX STRIKE . BaMHBaH asd Feixow Tradesmen , —I have beei informed in Manchester that you are contend !!!; with a number of your employers , for an abbrevia tion of your hours of labour . I need not remind you of the injury strikes di both to employer and employed , and that sucl things should only be resorted to when all othe means fail . The bitter experience of your brethrei the cotton spinners , as well as too many instance , of other trades throughout tho country , will havi taught you instruction enough , and at a price toi

      dear to pay ior except by compulsion . I say this , because many employers would make the world believe that workmen are unreasoning beings , and would commence strikes on every trivial occasion , neither knowing nor caring what injury they might commit upon themselves , or any one else . What might have been the character of working men twenty years ago , I will not say ; for I dare aver , that both masters and men bare not been perfect . But for the workmen throughout our kingdom now I will say , they , as much as their employers , are repugnant to strikes .

      ' Bnt when masters—as they are called—will not listen to the modest proposals of their workpeople , but meet them with contempt , and treat them as brute beasts , there is noother resource but to cease labouring for them , until such tithe as circumstances and difficulties bring them to their senses . As a Manchester calenderer and maker-up , I feel myself interested in your struggle , and alhougb distant from you , I long for the successful accomplishment of your desires . I think my brethren here have shown you that they are not men of words only , but that they ara willing to set apart a portion of their earnings to support your families , so long as yon require it . My opinion is , that when one trade is thrown into such unfortunate circumstances as you are , all the rest of the trades ia the empire should fly to its succour , we should then have an end to strikes , and masters would condescend to reason with us :

      Hoping you will keep up your hearts , and not forget your brethren in prison , and that you will organise yourselves as we have done , that you may bid a bold and stern' defiance io every blustering tyrant in tbe future , I remain , Your Brother in Heart and Pocket , Thomas Dickikson . 50 , Wood-street , Dolefield , Manchester .

      Pbisotf Discipline. The Following Petiti...

      PBISOtf DISCIPLINE . The following Petition of Mr . Ernest Jones , presented to the Honse of Commons by Lord Dudley Stuart , has been printed with the votes . The humble ^ petition of Ernest Cbarles Jones , of the Middle Temple , barrister-at-law , showeth , — That your petitioner for a speech delivered by him in June , 184 S , was sentenced , at the July sessions of the same year , by the then Chief Justice , to be imprisoned for two years and one week , io other punishment being embraced in the sentence , but raceiving while in the dock , in reply to a question asked , repeated' assurences of considerate and lenient treatment :

      lour petitioner was subsequently conveyed to Tothill-fields Prison , Westminster , and there , during the entire period to which he was sentenced , kept in separate confinement on the silent system , which was enforced with such rigour that he was severely repremanded for even reading the Bible to himself , though iri a scarcely audible voice . Your petitioner was further compelled to pick oakum , which he did on his arrival , and which labour was remitted only in consideration of a weekly payment of monev . lie was made to wear the same . dress and parti-coloured cap as culprits guilty of heinous offences , and marched about the prison in the same files with common felons , subjected to convict discipline so rigorous as to make an involuntary smile ,

      turning tbe head to the right or left , or folding the arms a punishable offence ; supplied with indi gestible and unwholesome food , to the serious injury of his health ; not allowed a fork , being obliged to use his fingers'instead ; and not furnished . with sufficient underclothing for health and cleanliness .. During the greater part of the months of November and December , 1848 ( which were remarkably severe ); your petitioner was kept without fire , and with the same clothing as- in the height of summer , in a day cell , two windows of which were uuglazed , having merely shutters , and its doors ( which closed imperfectly ) opening directly on the' prison yard . In neither winter during his detention was any addition , even in the

      most rigorous weather , made to the clothing he wore in summer . Your petitioner was further forced , during the chief period of his imprisonment , to sleep in a small , night cell , about six feet wide by eight feet long , in a thorough draught , between the window and the door ; the former fitting so badly as to admit tbe rain , and the latter , as did also two large gratings , of about one foot square each in that cell where he w . is principally confined during both winters , opening directly on the outer air . Such was the damp and fog in these cells during winter-that your petitioner has of mornings

      brushed the dew off his blanket , and suffered from the humidity of his clothing . Your petitioner thence became afflicted with tic-douleareux and rheumatism , so severe as almost to deprive him of the " use of his limbs ; notwithstanding this , his cell was not changed while suffering thus , till shortly before his leaving the prison , and , though afflicted during fire winter months with the . most aggravated attack of neuralgia , he was compelled to rise at a quarter past six in the morning , and even in snow or rain to ' walk through two yards , and wash and dress in the open air , under a recess in thc wall .

      Your petitioner was by this treatment reduced to a state of health so precarious that ho lost -IGlb . in weight in seven weeks , as the infirmary-books will prove , and was unable . to walk across . 'his cell ; tbe surgeon was compelled to order him into , the iufivnv . wy , where he remained nineteen weeks , at two intervals . On leaving the infirmary the first ume , no alteration being made in his treatment , the consequence was the surgeon was obliged to send him hack , after the lapse of a fortnight , in a more dangerous state than before . During part of this time , as he then asserted on his bath , and as he still believes , his life was in imminent danger ; his wife therefore petitioned for leave that Mr . Cholmondeloy , of 3 , 'Xottingham-placo ,

      Itegent'spark , who has attended petitioner aud his . family ior twelve years , might be allowed to see him , but was refused . Mr . Wakley , a member of your hon . house , applied as such , and in his medical " capacity , to sec petitioner , but was also refused permission , Uv both the visiting justices and Sir George Grey . ' Your petitioner , " after leaving the infirmary a second time , was ( with the exception of obtaining , after a while , a larger nig ht-cell ) once more subjected to the same treatment as before , the effect of which was the ruin of his jbcalth , and the infliction of nervous and ' rheumatic complaints , froai which hn is still suffering severely , and from which ho believes he can never wholly recover . Your petitioner further hega to state that ( with two exceptions ) he was not allowed to see any friend or relative more than ionr times in the year , aud then only in the presence of a turnkey , and for twenty minutes each time ; that after the first letter

      three months he was not allowed to write a , even to his wife , more than once a quarter ^ the permission of writing of tener , after the . period named , having been withdrawn without petitioner's hari . 'ig given any cause , or broken a single rule of the prison , but , on the contrary ; having been repeatedly coalcieudcd for his conduct ; ihat > not oven during the fearful visitation of the cholera , though petitioner made a special request to be allowed to bear from home , was that request acceded-to ; that be was during the first nineteen months of his imprisonment net-allowed-the use of pen , ink , or paper ( except for a few moments once a quarter for the u ' forssaid quarterly letter }; that though pettlioner ' s wife was so ill . as to be long in-danger of her life , permission was refused her to- inform her husband , or to communicate with him , and that whenever petitioner was himself dangerously ill , be was not able io acquaint his wife with his condition until the time for writing his quarterly letter . had

      cime round . a - - Such v » as the treatment to which your petitioner was subjected during t-vo years and one week , the ent re . period for which he was sentenced ; and petitioner be « s to remind your hon . house that the sent-nce of the judge , as delivered in court , was simnlv this- : " The sentence of the court , , -that toh be imprisoned during two years on the first count , and one week on the second , ' coupled with the assurance ¦ prerioMJr stated ; and petitioner be-sfurther to observe that-the same 'treatment would naturallv be tor more injurious to the health If . " m " n i " his ' station of life than to tint . of a . man hWinured to hardships .. ind ^ priv ationa ; whereas STiS can prove that prisoners convicted on inmirefeawiimanner .

      Pbisotf Discipline. The Following Petiti...

      \ our petitioner now solicits the attentiohof your b n ^ i nouse to the treatment be experienced when endea > 'Ouring to obtain some alleviation of his sufferings . Pn the 19 th of March , 1819 / petitioner , finding his hea lth unable to bear ( he treatment inflicted , and feeling convinced such treatment was not intended by tbe court , asked permission to write to the judge who sentenced him , for the purpose of inquiring whether his treatment was in accordance with the sentence passed ; hot the permission was refused . Petitioner was then threatened with additional severities of an aggravated character , if he did hot ' cease complaining of his sufferings ; he was even told he would be set to scrub the floors of the convicts' cells . Petitioner then applied for leave

      to see the prison rules , but even this was denied him . Petitioner then desired to see his solicitor , or to write to him , but was refused . Petitioner then asked leave to petition your hon . house , which was prohibited by the visiting justices , although he stated , as one reason among many adduced for so doing , that he had several serious charges to make against them ( tho visiting justices ) themselves . Petitioner then applied to the board to know under what clause , of what act , he was prevented writing , for the purpose named , to the judge who sentenced him , and from petitioning parliament . Tho board refused even to answer his questions . Petitioner was further told that he should not be admitted to see the visiting justices

      at their weekly board-day , though the act and the prison rules alike specify such to be the right of prisoners . Petitioner had never abused that right , and had previously to such refusal ( during a period of ten months ) applied duly four times to see the magistrates . The governor thus arrogated the right to himself of admitting a prisoner to see the magistrates or not , at his pleasure . Petitioner was further tofd if in his quarterl y interviews with his wife he alluded at all to his treatment . in prison , he would immediately be forced from her presence , though the act gives no such power . ' Petitioner was desirous of acquainting some members ofyouv bon . house with the treatment , ho experienced , and accordingly , in his quarterly letter , directed his wife

      to write to Mr . WaRley , Mr . G . Thompson , and Mr . F . O Connor , requesting them to come and see him at the quarterly period of seeing visitors . The prisoner was warned to desist , since it would , he was told , be highly injurious to him to see those gentlemen ; ever ) obstacle was thrown in the way of the interview , and , as petitioner persisted , thegovernor With his own hand , added aparagraph to petitioner ' s letter , warning his wife not to writeto those gentlemen under peril of being herself forbidden to see her husband at the periods prescribed by law . Pet v I 0 n ? 'i wife » alarmfid at the . communication , obeyed the governor ' sinjunction , andpetitioner had the greatest difficulty in acquainting the gentlemen named with his desire for an interview . Petirioner

      faded m obtaining attention to his case , owing to the impossibilit y of again conveying information as to his treatment , and that treatment now became more severe than ever . Petitioner was told if in his Quarterl y letters he alluded to his treatment those letters would be suppressed . \ The weekly payment of money being seven days in arrear , petitioner was ordered forthwith to resume oakum-picking , though his health rendered bun unequal to the labour , and his eyesight was seriously injured by tbe glare of the whitewashed cell . Petitioner then said . that , since , on bis oath , he believed his treatmen t to be contrrry to his sentence ; since he was prohibited from writing to his judge to ask if such was the case ; since he was

      prevented from petitioning Parliament , acquainting his solicitor , friends , or relatives appealing to the magistrates , or even alluding to his treatment in his usual letters ; and since his health was rapidly sinking under the infliction , he , on his part , refused to perform forced labour , but at the same time expressed his willingness to pick oakum forthwith , upon his being allowed to write to his judge or to petition your honourable house . Petitioner here begs to observe , that in no one instance during the entire period of his imprisonment did he knowingly break a single rule of the prison ; ¦ and in the case alluded to , be believed his treatment to he contrary to his sentence , but even then resisted it onl y because the common right of every prisoner was

      denied him , and both the laws of the country and rules of the prison were set aside by tho authorities . Petitioner was hereupon , on the 3 rd day of May , 1849 , ordered by the governor to be locked up in a refractory cell on bread and water , without books . On inquiring "for how long a time ? " the governor replied , " As long as I choose . J put you in at my pleasure , and I take you out nt my pleasure . " Petitioner was then sei 2 ed b y the neck and ankles , and forced towards . the : door of tho ward , where he was kept during three days in a refractory cell , by the governor s order , though the act expressly provides that no prisoner shall be locked in a refractory cell-on bread and water , except by order of two or more of her Majesty ' s

      justices of the peace . Petitioner was in the surgeon ' s- hands , for several weeks after that , and on somewhat recovering ( tbe infirmary books will show , by the nature of the medicines administered , that petitioner ' s illness must have been severe ) he was again sent for six days - to a solitary cell on bread and water , without books , having even his Bible taken away . Petitioner was seriously ill of a bowel complaint at the time ; the cholera was then raging at its height , the infirmary being then so full that patients were lying in the common cells , and one died near the refractory cell in which petitioner was locked . Two political fellow prisoners , Sharps and Williams , received the same sentence from the board

      for the same cause , at the same time as petitioner ; they were in good health when thus sentenced , but both died immediately after the completion of that sentence , and the inquest commented on the severity of the treatment . At the expiration of the six days petitioner was sentenced to be sent back to the refractory cell under tbe same treatment , - but the payment of money and the dangerous state of his health prevented the . sen tea ce from being- carried into effect . From that period , as the infirmary books will testify , petitioner never recovered his health , and he feels convinced that , had his imprisonment lasted a short time longer than the -period of bis sentence , he would never have quitted the prison with life .

      Your petitioner therefore prays your hon . bouse to grant some investigation of the treatment to which he was subjected ; by which the authority of the judge was superseded , by which the rules of the prison were violated , the laws oi thecountry broken , and by which the health of the prisoner was ruined , and . his life imperilled—an investigation that may prevent similar injuries from being inflicted on other prisoners in future . And your petitioner , as in duty bound , will ever pray , & c . Eitsxsr Chabi . es Joses .

      Wbawbv Paurens.—Two Paupers, Ann And Jan...

      Wbawbv PAurEns . —Two paupers , Ann and Jane Grieve , mother and daughter , the one above eighty , and the other about fifty years of agej have resided ( says our Wooler correspondent ) for ; somo time in one of the . Duke of Northumberland ' s cottages in Cbatton . from which parish they had received relief upwards of thirty years . .. Their house had got into a rather dilapidated state , in consequence of which mother and daughter were removed to Gleudale Union Workhouse on the 2 oth ult . ; and , as is customary , they were put into the probationary wavd until washed and " changed . " While the process was going forward the old woman ' s pocket droppnd on the . floor , and the matron , thinking that it fell unusually heavy , brought it into the house where the overseer and master of the workhouse were . It

      was examined , and found to contain £ i 9 s . 7 d . The overseer said he believed thoy had still more money , and suspected they bad some in an old herring , kit which they had brought in tlie cavt that conveyed them from Chatton ' to Wpolcr . This , therefore , was also overhauled ' , and found to contain , along with / some old wearing apparel , £ M' 0 s . Id . Fu £ ther search was prosecuted , ' and in an old chest , which they had also brought with them , there were fetratt , hidden ' in r . U sorts of vags , copper , silver , gold , " and notes , to the amount , of £ 91 9 s . C-Jd Another chest had been left at Ciiatton , which . was brought to Wooler on the following day , . and found to contain small parcels similat \ to those already mentioned , which , when opened , turned . out . the goodly sum of £ 12 8 s . 10 d ., making in . all

      £ 1 ' 25 17 s . ' 0 | d ., of which £ 2 S ' was in notes , and £ 42 in gold , ' and the rest in silver and ' copper . The clothes the women- had on when they reached Wooler were of a most wretched . character ,, apd filtliv- in the extreme , ' especially the caps , which they ' foughfrhara to keep possession of ; . and said they liad no others ; yet , on searching the chests already alluded to , ' they were found to possess no less a quantity than 362 caps ( nearly pno for , [ every day jii the year ) , thirtyr nine h : lndkerchiefs , thirtytwo pockets , thirty-seycil aprons ' , twenty : Jwo shifts , twelve bedso ' wns , " thirteen gowsif , six petticoats , five shawls , ~ dic . 1 { may be noticed' that . the " gre-at majority of tho articles of clothing were almost useless , ' bv being so long shut up , ' and in a damp house . ' The niost wonderful part of . all the . affa » r is , the women seemed quite uuconscious of what they-really possessed , for neither of them has ever ,

      « nce their entrance , named money ; to any one , ei > eeptthe daughter , " who asked the master if he , had not seen two shillings in an old tea-pot belonging to them . He told her he had , and would be responsible for it , which seemed to relieve , her , from fur-Iber ' ahxlety . They had Loth , been accustomed to farm work , and when they had received their , wages for the summer and harvest' work , they had sewed up the money along with , the . paper containing the account of work done ' ; and had never more looked at it again : for s-iveral of the s ixpences ,. shillings , half-crowns , &«; ., were literally black . , . The women are now " changed ^ " and have their . victuals , in , a rev . ul .-ir m .-ihoer , and '' . ' seem qnite happy in . their hew home , and content ' in ' theiE situatioi ) ,. nevt-r , having in all ' their lives , or at . leak for many years , . tasted the pleasure s thev nov * enjoy—cteiaUuess and comfo ^ - ^^ cTOfccr & r " '?• — - '" '

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      UMten MOSDAY Mat 2 D . rouoh mov . 5 ? < pS .-The Earl of EtLBNB 0-hS ? PI ? df 0 rthe P ^ duetion of certain papers and E £ W , ^ button ° P * * ™? SSSfnSb . " and afWr th 0 Campaign in whether thS mued ' involving the question Uv S ftflteTr-2 enm 1 « th 0 representathe Duke of UiNomthe

      t ^ S £ S 2 !™* WE , SS . S ? BB' 5 ; partial » roduction * ? nhr * piS !* ? ramittoe on t ! l ° Episcopal and Capi-5 h ?™ SSl !! r % - £ f ient Bin ^ nominated on Vk ? f ? U i Eart 0 f 0 AHM 8 LB . JKiT i , beries ( Scotland ) Bill was read a Th hS / v "" L ° « on of the buke of Auotll . eigliWcloct ? V Stben ^"" . ed at a quarter to llODSE OF COMMOKS . -Mr . More O'Ferrall took nis seat as the member for the county of

      Long-Eacusunrou Twins But-Tho consideration , D £ 0 n 3 mJ " r . ee 0 f this oili having been resumed , Mr . - Jft Uuagh moved as an amendment the omission of two words in the first clause , by which the titles assumed under the papal rescript were declared simply" void , " instead of being enacted " unlawful and'void . " After some discussion the house divided , and the amendment was negatived by a majority of 170 to 4 o— "lou . Mr . Kbooh moved the insertion after the word «« void of the words "in England , " thereby ex-Ireland

      empting from the operation of the clause . The amendment was opposed by Lord J . Russell . On a division the vote passed in tlio ' uc . g « twe , there appearing , for the amendment 3 d , against 84 . A further amendment was then proposed by Mr . Khoqh , by which it would be declared that nothing contained ) in the . clause should prevent tho free action of the ' Catholic prelates in Ireland , as regarded their spiritual functions . The amendment was opposed by the AironsEr-GKNBnAL , who contended that no interference would he exercised by the present bill with any spiritual functions of the Catholic bishops , unless exercised under the prohibited titles .

      A long discussion ensued , after which a division was called , and the amendment thrown out by a majority of 344 to 55 ) . . .. Tlie next amendment was proposed by Mr . Sad-LEIB , to the effect that no 'legal proceeding should take place under the act for anything done in pursuance of the practice , in use anterior to the year 1850 . i % ¦ ¦ '¦• ¦ ' ¦ -. . ¦ '' Being discussed and carried to a division , this was also negatived , by 278 to 47 . " ¦¦ Some further discussion was followed by ' a motion of Mr . Refolds , that the chairman report progress , to which Lord J . Russm acceded , with the observation that the debate had been lingered out to a late hour ( nearly one O ' clock ) with a repetition of amendments all turning on the same point . The house then resumed , and shortly afterwards adjourned . TUESDAY , May 27 .

      HOUSE OF LORDS . —Pontic-HousES ( Scotland ) Bitt ,. —Lord Kiskaibd moved the second reading of this bill , which was the same measure that passed through their lordships' house last session , and was afterwards withdrawn'in the other house of parliament on account of the , lateness of the session . Tho Earl of Minto supported the second reading of the bill , but wished it to . be , referred to a select committee . '' ,-. . ' Lord KufNAinn would accede to that suggestion , had not the hilL . beeii well considered last session . There ' was , therefore , no . reason to refer _ it to a select committee how . ' ... ' ..-.-.. The Diiko of Anoni . and the . Earl of EatitriouN also supported the second reading of the bill .

      The Earl of Minto observed , that it was not the intention of government to offer .: any obstructions to the bill at this stage ; hut there wero some details which would require . alteration in committee . After some observations from the Duke of Ricur mosd and thc Duke of . Buccleuch , the bill was read a second time , and ordered to be committed on Friday . . The house then adjourned to Friday . HOUSE : OF COMMONS .-Ebsest Jo . vxs .-Lord Dudley Stuart presented a petition from Ernest Jones , barrister-at-law , praying for an inquiry , into the treatment he was subjected to while imprisoned for a misdemeanour in Tothill-fields Prison , and was ordered to be printed with the votes ; The , Cbylon . IxQuinY . —Mr , H . Bailhb then rose to move the following resolutions : —

      "That this . house , having taken into its consideration' the : evidence adduced before the ^ select committee appointed to inquire into the affairs of Ceylon , is .. of opinion . that , the punishments inflicted during tho . late . disturbances in that island wore excessive and uncalled for . " That this house . is of opinion that the execution of eighteen persons , and ; the . imprisonment , transportation , and . corporal punishment Of 140 other persons on this occasion , are at variance with the merciful administration of the British penal laws , and not calculated to seoure the future affection and fidelity of her . Majesty ' s colonial subjects .. "That this house is , of opinion that these severities , are the . more sincerely . to be deprecated as they were exercised after the suppression of the disturbances ,-during which none of her Majesty ' s troops or public servantswere killed , and only one soldier . slightly wounded . .

      " That this house is of , opinion that the conduct of the . late Governor of , Ceylon ,-in keeping in force martial law ! for ! two months after , his chief legal adviser 'had . recommended"its discontinuance , and during -which poi'iod ' the civil courts were sitting without danger or interruption , and also his refusal to allow , a short delay in the execution of a priest , at the request of . the . Queen ' s Advocate , who wished further investigation into the case , was in the highest degree arbitrary andoppressive . " That this house is therefore of opinion that . the conduct of Earl Grey , in signify ing . her Majesty ' s approbation of the conduct of . Lord Torrington during and subsequent to the disturbances , was precipitate and injudicious , tending to establish

      precedents of rigour and severity m the government oi her Majesty's foreign-possessions , and injurious to tho character , of this . country for justice and humanity . " ' . ' .. ' .,. He observed that this was ho longer a question in which the interests of the . colony were alone concerned , illnvolved'tiie interests of all our . colonies , the honour and character of the country , and the conduct of . a committee of that , house ; and these were the grounds upon which he had felt it to be his duty , as chairman of the Ceylon ' Committee , to bring the question before ' the ; house . He began by giving a detailed history of the proceedings of the committee , and of the circumstances under which certain " documentary evidence came before'them ,

      and then addressed himself to the other branch , ol the subject—the . ' rcsult ' of the committee ' s inquiry . He should avoid , he said , matters of opinion , includin" the origin of the outbreak , and tho oxpediencyof declaring martial law but he should call upon the house to decide whether the manner in which martial law haVl been carried into effect could be justiSod , especially after the disturbances bad ceased , and ' when the country was in a state of tvahrpivlUty . ' ' 'After examining the nature of martial law ,. and the circumstances which call . for the su bsttttttiott ' of courts martial for tlie ordinary tribur nals . 'ho described the modes by which the courts at Matele wove constituted , and their proceedings were conducted , laying great stress upon the opinion

      expressed by thc Chief Justice of Ccylp ' n ,. Sir A . Olipha ' nt . That flic country Was tranquil when the courts martial sat was proved 'b y a proclamation of the Governor himself , After taxing Lord Torriiigtonjwitli misrepresentation , ' Mr . Baillie charged the Colonial-office with falsifying documents laid before the house , and then adduced evidence of . other ; acts committed , he said , " by , ' the Governor of Ceylon under the supposed omnipotent- power . conferred upon'him by martial law;—proclamations orderin « the confiscation , of . lands , and , property , and carried into effect in the most oppressive manner , par ticularly in the cases of Dulawe Dewi Xileme and Goliihclla . He should then , ' he said / , proceed ' to show how human " life' had been disposed of , ' and

      . with this view be-stated the . case of the Buddhist priest , whose execution Lord Torrington had refused to ' stay at the request of tbo chief la w . offim ' of the colony , ; who ' . had suggested that there w . is reason to bolieyo lie was innocent . ; Lastly , Mr . Bailiie ' referred , to tho despatches of Earl' Grey , cou veyiug ' a . goner ' a ! approbation of the conduct of Lord Torrington m ' relatioh to the disturbances , which , in the language , " of his resolution , . ' . be considered " precipitate and injudicious , " and . '* injurious to the character of this country ' for . justice and ' humanity . " .. . ¦ ..: ' . '" , . ' ,,. " , ;¦ - . Mr ' , . ffcrgeant Murphy , ' . avowing ' that he spoke as the a'd vocste of Lord , Torriugton , entered upon a defence of his conduct . He cpiriplained that one

      p articular part of'Lord . TorringtbYs . administration had been invidiousl y selected , for animadveVl sion , 'depriving him thereby of . the benefit of those parts admitted to deserve cbmmoridatiqn . He then entered with forensic minuteness into the history of the insurrection , its formidable . phafactor ,, the necessity of martial law—of which tie gave a definition very different from Mr . ' Baillie ' s-and ' the salutary effects of that measure , which ; ' according , to the competehfc'U estimony" of ' Colonel Drought and other witnesses ; led to the prompt capture of the Pretender , without which tranquillity could not have been restored . " He defended the probee'ditigs of the' Courts-martial ' at Mtitele—with /' which ; however ,-Lord TorringtoB'had ' nb . co ' nnexi ' on- ^ arijl contrasted iha number sentenced by those tri-

      Umten Mosday, Mat 2d. Rouoh Mov.5? L <Ps...

      bw ; als ' . with that of the rebels convicted capitally by tho . % ' : ?! F " ' 6 ' . ^ were spare ( i bv the clemency O f-Lord ¦ ' ° ' . ™ gton . In the matter of the priest sho' !' Kanav . ' upon which , ho observed , a charge of worst than judicial murder had been founded , Mr . Murp hy gave a very full exposition of facts , whi « b he insisted established thc guilt of the prisoner and the regularity and fairness of the trial ; and ho denied that the governor was bound to stay thc execution upon theidle testimony of a . proctor . Tbe conduct of Sir A . Oliphant was incotish . tent with the culpability of Lord Torrington , who , as the whole evidence proved , had exercised a wise discretion , and would , had he acted otherwise in the peculiar emergency , have been guilty of a dereliction of duty . As to thc

      confiscations , except the two cases of Kilomo and Golahclla , there hud been no instance of actual confiscation of property , Mr . Murphy then diverged into a collateral history , in which Mr . Elliott , the editor of the Colombo Observer Mr . John Selby , the brother of the Queen ' s advocate , and tho notorious Tickery Banda , were the chief airents , which , he alleged , was connected with a cabal against the Governor . If Lord Torrington , after acting to the best of his ability and with the soundest motives , leaving the island in a state of prosperity , was to be visited with censure , tho Ilouse would establish a fearful precedent , and tho sooner wo gave up our colonial empire the better .

      Mr . Ker Setmer repudiated all party feeling upon-this question , which in his opinion , involved thc prosperity , perhaps the very existence , of our colonial empire , which required good government , and this , m a colony like Ceylon , meant a good governor . His impression from the evidence was , that tho insurrection was not originally considered of importance , but that it had been afterwards exaggerated . It was alleged by Lord Torrington that martial law was a humane measure ; whereas Colonel Braybrooke and the Queen ' s Advocate

      stated ttat the people had been driven by it from their homes , and were afraid to come back . This question , Mr . Seymer remarked , affected the Colonial office more than Lord Torrington , and ho pointed out instances in which the conduct of that office , with reference to this inquiry , was in his opinion censurable . The proceeding of Lord Grey he thought was the most important part of the question . When other colonies found that conduct such as Lord Torrington'a bad been entirely approved by the Colonial Secretary , the effect would be

      serious . Earl Gkosvenok shortly defended Lord Torrington . . Mr . RoBnucK , notwithstanding the circumstances connected with the appointment of Lord Torrington , felt it to be his duty , after going through the evidence , to vote against the motion . Ceylon was termed a colony , but it was not so ; it was an outlying possession , densely peopled with ? arioua races differing from us in language and religion , which had been gained by . the sword and was maintained by force . Different tests were to he applied to such a possession audio a colony . He should testa government like that of Ceylon , hot by rules applicable to constitutional governments , but by

      the result ; andthe question , therefore , was whether security had been obtained there ot the least expense of pain and suffering to the community . Although the obligations of the Sing of Kandy , who maintained the priesthood , had devolved upon us , our policy had weakened their power and destroyed that of the chiefs av . d head men , and all those classes had been exasperated against us . Mr . Roebuck thim described the difficulties which besot Lord Torrington when he assumed the government of the island , which he represented as a hotbed of insubordination , discontent , and intrigue , and he then examined-the grounds upon which Mr . Bailiie rested his , resolutions . The evidence negatived the allegation that martial law had been

      unnecessarily proclaimed . ; tlie tribunals had been administered it . were evident and safe , and their proceedings deserved ho censure , nor was there any evidence that while martial law- continued the punishments were unnecessarily cruel . A priest had been shot , it was true , in his sacerdotal robe ; this rdbo ' was a . vest of yellow calico , and had it been removed he would have been left naked . But , if a priest engaged in rebellion and was convicted , ho should bo executed as a priest , by way of example . Then , did Lord Torrington continue martial law too long ? There was no proof of this ; in short , there was nothing in the three blue books , except afterthoughts , which impugned the conduct of that noble lord .

      Mr . Hume declined . tp regard Ceylon , with Mr . Tjtbebuck , as a possession to be ruled without constitutional government , and differed from his theory , that if the island was kept quiet this result was sufficient . When Ceylon was conquered , we pledged . ourselves to govern it according to certain rules , and the question was whether Lord Torrington , had violated those rules , and disregarded , the dictates of humanity as well as the interests of the colony . Applying himself to the evidence , Mr . ' . Hume complained that much of it favourable to Lord Torrington had been concocted between him and Sir E . Tcnnent . He contended that there had been no ; rebellion ; disturbances . there had been , but they were caused by taxes imposed by Lord Torringnton , as shown by SirE . Teiinent , who admitted that the people when they assembled were , unarmed , and that " no disaffection existed in tho country . " The taxes enforced upon

      the priests were peculiarly unjust in conjunction with the injudicious policy adopted by Lord Torrington towards that body by direction of Earl Grey . The proclamation of martial law , which was not warranted by . any evidence of jtsntcsssity , was , he contended , an abuse of power ; the disturbances might have been dispersed by tlie civil arm . Tbe responsibility of issuing this proclamation rested with Lord . Torrington and General Smelt . To the employment of Colonel Drought in the disturbed districts—an inexperienced officer—instead of Colonel Braybrooke , Mri Dume attributed the irregularities of tho courts martial at Matele , which , he said would disgrace any country ; and he expressed . his astonishment that Earl Grey should have approved of the executions—murders , as he called tbeni—confiscations and outrages which had taken place under martial law . In conclusion he maintained that- the house had sufficient proof before it to affirm all the resolutions .

      Sir J . Ilooa moved the adjournment of the debate . Mr . Hawes rose , and requested the attention of the house to a personal , matter . Upon the general question he would be prepared to speak on a future evening . A charge had been made against him b y the hon . member ( , Mr . Bailiie ) to the effect that he had been guilty of the falsification of documents which he had laid , or had been the means of laying , before the committee , or on the table , of the house . The hon . gentleman ( Mr .. Bailiie ) had said , "I charge the hon . gentleman the Under-Secretary for the Colonies " Mr . Bailije ( interrupting Mr .. IIawes)—I charged the Colonial-office with having sent out a Paper which was falsified . ( Oh , oh ; and hear , hear ) .

      Mr . uawfis . —The hon . gentleman said now that he charged the Colonial department , or some person ju that department .. Be ( Mr . Ilawes ) represented that department , and ho would refute the charge . ( Loud Cheers . ) The hon . gentleman , in order to sustain the charge , bad referred to the Blue Book containing the . document connected with the inquiry before the Ceylon Committee , where he found it stated . that . Mr . Stewart , the Deputy Queen ' s Advocate , had attended fourteen courts on martial matters , whereas . he had . only appeared before four . ' lie ( Mr . ITawcs ) admitted , that Mr . Stewart had . only appeared before four courts-martial . Since the lion , gentleman { Mr . Bailiie ) had made tho charge , he ( Mr . ' llawcs ) had obtained the

      original document ... That document had not been put in by him ( Mr . Hawes ); it had not come from the Colonial-office ; . but | t had been placed before the Committee hy the Colonial Secretary for Ceylon . . ( Hear ; Iipat ' . J ' Moreover , it hail never , passed through the Pp lonial-office , ( Cheers , and "Hear , hear . " ) ThatVhowever was not all . Tho ori ginal document was perfectly correct . It showed that Mr . Stewart had appeared before four of the courtsmartial only , and . the repetition of the word , " ditto —ditto , " in the paper , was' the error of the printer of the House 'of Commons .. (" Oh , oh ; " and . ' ! ilear , hear . " ) Why , what further explanations could he , ( Mr ; IIaw ' cs )' g iv ' oT '( Cheers , and uproar . )

      The lion , gentleman . ' - ( M r ., . llaillic ) having been chairman of the Committee , was jnst as responsible in the matter as he ( Mr , I'lawes ) . ' The " error was in the paper , printed , in the . Blue Book , and it must he the error of ' the piuterahd the printer only , ( Cheers .. } The lion , ' gentleman ( Mr . Bailiie ) ought hot to have preferred the charge , so lightly as he bad-done , lie ( Mr . Haillie )> as bound to have inquired -intd ' lhb matter before ho brought'it forward , and bound ' fo givchihi ( Mr . Ilawes ) information of his intention to make such a' charge . If he had had . tlie courtesy to have informed him ( Mr . Ilawes ) of his ihtfhtioh , he might have bcen . saved the necessity of that , public refutation . ( Cheers , and "heiir . " ) ' , ; , ;

      Mr . . Disraeli rose for the purpose of asking the nobie lord ( Lord J . Russell ) . on what . day he intended to have the debate resumed ? He might also , however , remark that it was so far satisfactory lo ' the hou ? e that the' Colonial-office ; should . be vindicated , but at tho ' s ' am o time , without entering into a discussion ' on the question , it was quite evident that his hon . friend ( Mr . Bailiie ) was perfectly jus titled in his statement , as far as the merits of the case were concerned . His lion , friend ( Mr . Bailiie ) was , he really thought , perfectly justified in making the statement , anda . very important statement- , it was . ' ( Cheers ; and " Hear , hear . ) Lord J . RiissBUsaid he would . take the ad journed debate oii Thursday next , . . . ' ,.. ,.. . :

      • 'Mr . Baiime . said that . the . explanation of ,. the hon . ' member , ( Mr ; Hawes ) . ' might ; be very satisfactory as" far as' lie Was concerned ; but the house mus tremeraber that the document had been pub-

      Umten Mosday, Mat 2d. Rouoh Mov.5? L <Ps...

      bshod now for nearly two months . It must have br-ca seen by nil the officers of tlm colonial department and yet tho hon . gentleman had just told thorn , for /» ni ' y first liinp < of the extraordinary mistake . V u * oh ' " anu " bear , hoar . " ) The statement of tin ^ ° 1 ' B ^ wnnH ( Mr . Hawes ) had at all events vindicat ed what ho ( Mr . Bailiie ) had said in the first row . ) ' * ' " " hCa ' ' ° ' " migMAt UP " R ^ lLfL ?^ ^ id tlmt , be ! " > " member ( Mr . falsification of a return cither aem ' nat the colonial department , or . the bead of that depar me , ? or agamst some clerk connected with i t / and then ho had added , "What a department th ft , „» It Z

      allow the falsification of the returns by an officer " ( Hear , hear . ) JN ' ow , the hon . gentleman '* attention had been long directed to this error / as it appeared to be in . the printed paper , and not in the ori » ioal document . The hop . member had not taken" the trouble to make an inquiry which might have satisfied him on the subject , but had reserved the matter to make an impression on the house . ( "Oh , oh . " ) He ( Sir G . Grey ) blushed for the House of Commons that it contained a gentleman who would , after the explanation that had been given —( loud cries of " order , order , " and " oh , oh , ' iu the midst ; of which Sir G . Grey sat down . )

      Mr . Bailhe wished to know from the Speaker if he thought the right hon . gentleman ( Sir G . Grey ) in order ; because he ( Mr . llaillie ) did not , and if ho were in order in that house—( " Order , order , " " Oh , oh , " and groat uproar . ) Tho Si-baker said that tlie right hon . baronet ( Sir G . Grey ) had . not , ho thought , transgressed tho rules of the house . Sir G . Gkky had not used any observation which the hon . gentleman ( Mr . Bailiie ) could at all consider personal . ( Oh , oh . ) He would not repeat the word " blush , " hut he did regret tlm any hon . gentleman , after thc complete explanation which had been afforded aa respected that department * which had been deliberately cbarced as falsifying a

      return , could say that ho was fullv vindicated in making that charge by the statement of his hon . friend ( Mr . Hawes ) . He ( Mr . Bailiie ) mi ^ ht himself have had recourse to the original document , and have ascertained that it did not pass through thc Colonial-office at all . ( Hear , hear . ) He ( Sir G . Grey ) regretted that he did not make that inquiry , and regretted also that the bon . member should say he was fully vindicated in making the charge . " ( Cheers , and "hear , hear . " ) Mr . Baillik . —Tho right hon , gentleman had said that he ( Mr . Bailiie ) could have had recourse to the original document , but the original document was in tho Colonial-office . Mr . lhwB 3 . —So , no .

      Mr . B . AiuiBsaid , that the right- hon baronet had misunderstood his ( Mr . Baillie ' s ) statement , lie ( Mr . Bailiie ) had said that the honourable gentleman ( Mr . Hawes ) had made no explanation which had vindicated his own character , and the character of the house . But he ( Mr . Bailiie ) had also said that he was justified in making the statement he had done , seeing that the document had been two months printed . ( Hear , Hear . ) Mr . Hawes had understood the honourable member to say that this document having been printed for a great length of time , must havo come under the notice of the Colonial-office ; and therefore that the error might have been corrected . Tho document , however , had never been in the Colonial office . It had come from Ceylon and passed into the hands of the committee , and from the committee to the House of Commons . From tho archives of the Ilouse of Commons he ( Mr . Hawes ( had

      taken it . Mr .. W . Milks , amidst a scene of great uproar , maintained that the Colonial-office was responsible in all colonial matters , and was , therefore implicated in this-transaction . Yiscount Palmerston conceived the Colonial-office , from the explanations which had been given was entirely blameless in this matter . It appeared that there had been a difference between a written paper given into the committee and the printed copy of that paper as inserted in the bills . If that paper had been given in by thc Colonial-office it ffouldnot have been to blamo because tho paper had been perfectly correct But the paper had not been given in by them , so that if it had been wrong the

      Colonial-office would not have been chargeable with any wrong . It had been in the printed copy , where the words " ditto , ditto " had been inserted , that the mistake had occurred . The House of Com * mons printed tho document and not the Colonial-office , and if blame attached to any one ( and he was not saying that blame did attach to anyone ) it was surely to the chairman of thc committee—( "hear , hear" and laughter ) — under whose auspices thc report containing the erroneous document had been . made . Hear , hear . ) As the chair * man of the committee , he ( Mr . Bailiie ) ought to have known that the document did not at all come from the Colonial-office , but from another quarter . Lord G . Hamilton asked the house to mark the contrast between tho tone of the remarks which

      had just been made , and that of tho & e which had fallen from the right honourable gentleman ( Sir G . Grey . ) ( Uproar ) . He thought the honourable gentleman , the Under secretary for the Colonies , had made use of terms which he ought not to have used , and had deviated from that honourable course which he ought to pursue . If it took the honourarable gentleman , the Under Secretary for tbe Colonies three hours , notwithstanding his official knowledge , to ascertain how this mistake had arisen , how was his honourable friend to know it ? The noble lord said , as his honourable friend was chairman of the committee he must hava recollected it , but though he was chairman of the committee , he was constantly outvoted , and it was not to be expected that he should watch over every

      document . . Tho AttokNkT-General said the noble lord who had just sat down had complained of undue warmth on that side of thc house . How had the warmth arisen ? A charge was deliberately made by the hon . member for Inverness against his hon . friend the representative of the Colonial-office of having wilfully and deliberately falsified documents . ( Hear . ) That was no light charge ; it affected the character of those who were implicated in it as gentlemen and as men of honour as well as of public wen , and in support of that charge the hon . gentleman referred to a certain document in the printed evidence . The hon . gentleman , whose character -was affected , had received no notice on thc part of the hon .

      gentleman of his intention to bring it before the house . Jfow , he ( the Attorney-General contended that common fairness between man and man , and between gentleman and gentleman , required that when a man was about to be thus grievously assailed , some intimation should be given to bim . Now mark the position in which his hon . friend was placed . By singular good fortune and diligence ho had been able to produce tbe document , before the house . If he could not have done so , it would have gone forth to the country that there had been a falsification of documents ; and that was a state of things that Was calculated to excite warmth in any man . It turned out that there had been a mistake made on the part of the printer by putting the word "ditto " where "ditto" ought not to have been . Itdid not come from the Colon ' al-ofnce at all , but from the Colonial Secretary in Ceylon . He should have thought

      the hon . member for Inverness would have hastened to vise and express his profound regret that he had beon the means of making a charge against the personal honour of his hon friend . But ' the house bad seen tho singular want of candour of the hon . gentleman . Mr . Herries expected that the hon . and learned gentleman who had just sat down would havo used persuasive epithets , hut , instead oi that , he had made a most violent attack , lie ( Mr . Herries ) did not think it was incumbent on his hon . friend to give notice that , in tho course , of his observations , - lie might speak of this document . He lamented that his hon . friend was mistaken , as undoubtedl y he was . Certainly there was no blame in the Colonial-office ; tho blame , if any , was with the corrector of thc press . It was impossible , however , to state that tho right hon . gcntloman ( the Secretary of State for the Homo Department ) had : exhibited his usual co ' urtesvi

      Sir < 3 . Grey said fhe rig ht hon . gentleman had expressed an opinion that the charge was altogether without foundation —( "No " )—that ther . ; was no charge that could bo substantiated against i he Colonial-office in the matter , and that the hon .. gentleman was mistaken . He ( Sir G . Grey ) had . now no hesitation in expressing his regret that he should havo made use of any expression that . could bo personally offensive . . ( Hear , hear . ) . . t ' The debate was then a djourned till Tn . ursday .. Mr . 3 . Stuart moved an address , praying that hcr'Maie ' stv would aud to the Commissioners appointed to ' inquire into the Court of Clraeery , two or more . persons hot of the profession of the-, law , and cause instructions to . be given to the Commissions to direct their immediate attention to the business before the Masters . , . , . . Sir -I . Trollops seconded the motion . ...

      The Attoksky-Gesebai . objected to procccdinowith so important . a discussion at halfl past one o ' clock , and moved that the ' debate be ' adjourned until Monday , which was agreed to . . ¦ The other business having been disposed ' of ; the house adjourned at a quarter to two o ' clock .

      , „ v WEDNESDAY , May . 28 , . . HOUSE OF COMMONS-Lord H . Vans , j moving the second reading of . the . Coroners Bill , explained the nature of . the measure and the evils it was intended to remedy ,- and showed tlieexrcdiency upon , principle as well as in practice of paying coroners by . salary , instead of by . fees . .. . Mr . Fiizrot explained the objections to which tho wholtt ayatem of coroners' inquisitions was ¦ liable ,.. which in , his opinion , required oreat alteration , and moved , by -wav of amendment ; that a select , committee bo appointed to consider the stata of the law and practice and whether any ^ aml .-whatalterations-should be madem any of tbe maUm connected therewitbi

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), May 31, 1851, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_31051851/page/7/