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      Mabch 17, 1849. The Northern Star.

      Mabch 17 , 1849 . THE NORTHERN STAR .

      Ftttpmal Ijarttamcnt

      _ftttpmal iJarttamcnt

      Moxday, Mabch 12. House Of Lords.—The Pe...

      _MOXDAY , Mabch 12 . HOUSE OF LORDS . —The Petty Sessions Bill * wa 3 read a second , and the Larceny Acts Amendment Bill a third time and passed . Lord Beaumont , after detailing the circumstances under whieh Mr . Cotter had been arrested at Madrid , in September last , and subsequently transported by the Spanish authorities to Manilla , begged to _aak whether government had taken any steps to ascertain if Mr . Cotter was a British subject , and , if so , whether any means had been taken to obtain satisfaction for the injury which ha d been clone him . Lord Eddisbckt , in reply , stated that Mr . Cotter had been arrested in March , 1 S _ _85 charged with being coneeraed in a conspiracy , and su bsequently cond time icion of having been concerned

      a se , on susp in a conspiracy against Ifarvaez . It appealed that Mr . Cotter had originally served m the British Xenon , then became a captain m the regular bpa--msfa armv , and was appointed aide-de-camp to Cen . Concha , and was afterwards appointed comptroller of customs in a S p anish port . Mr . Cotter * wa 3 not , therefore , a British subject , owing allegiance to tiie Queen of England , nor had he claimed to be so either on his first or second imprisonment . On the motion of Earl Waldegrave , an address ¦ was _ao-reed to for a copy of the instructions given to the captain of the Scourge , as to the treatment of the convict Mitchel on his voyage to Bermuda . Their lordships then adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMOXS . —The adjourned debate on the second reading of the _Navigation Bill was resumed bv

      Mr . Gladstone , wbo sustained an elaborate argument in favour ofa departure from our present system by a series of comparisons which went to show that our tonnage , both foreign and colonial , had increased afc a far more rapid ratio since we embarked on a system of relaxation , so far as the Xavigation Xaws were concerned , than previously to our so doing . This was , of itself , a complete answer to those whoheld that further progress in the cause of relaxation would be destructive to the shipping interests of this country . He would not then enter into the question of time , his conviction being that , on commercial and other grounds , tbis was a fitting season for effecting a large change in our navigation system . If this were a proper time for making such

      a change , the question waa in what manner it could be best effected . Here he must say tbat he differed ¦ from many who supported the present measure . IBs doctrine was , that they should not abandon the path of _es _ ierience . In his opinion , itwas only on principles analogous to those acted on hy Mr . _Huskisson and others , that we could safely depart from the system of navigation which we had so long pursued , and wliich had been for centuries interwoven with our national policy . There were several demands which the shipowner mig ht fairly make upon the Legislature , -when it -was about to deprive mm of protection . ¦ In the first place , he was entitled to the removal of every peculiar burden by wbicb he was now

      hampered . If we exposed bun to unrestricted competition with foreigners , -we should rive him a drawback , or a remission of the duties upon the timber which hc used in the construction of his ships . He should also , in the next place , be relieved from the restraint under whichhe laboured with respect to the manning of his ships . There was still another compensation to which the shipowner was entitled . By thc repeal of the _Navigation Laws he would have to undergo a competition from the Baltic , sharp , as far as it went , and from the United States , all over the world . He was , therefore , entitled to ask that we should secure for him , if possible , an entrance into those fields of emp loyment from whicli he was now excluded , as a

      compensation for the entrance permitted to the foreigner to those fields of employment of which hc had now a monopoly . The policy pointed out to tbem by experience was that of conditional relaxation . He had never entertained the notion that we should proceed by treaties of reciprocity ¦ with foreign powers . There were difficulties in the way of so doing , which it became a prudent Leg islature to avoid . The American system , so far as ifc went , was that to which hc would look as a model . By adopting that of conditional relaxation , they would avoid the difficulties inseparable from the system of reciprocity treaties . The immediate effect of conditional relaxation would be to give to the vessels of such states as conferred privileges

      upon our shipping corresponding advantages in our ports . Such a course -would be in accordance with precedent and experience , whilst it was tbat which was demanded by justice , and which would be found much more easy of execution than thc plan proposed by her Majesty ' s government . There was one feature of that plan to wliich he had an insuperable objection . Every word said by Mr . "Wilson , on Friday night , against the system of reciprocity , told with augmented force against those of retaliation _, lie would join readily with tbose who might endeavour to get rid of that feature , regardhig it , as he did , as a material defect in the government p lan . Ifthe government would not consent to legislate on the suhicct conditionally , he would advise

      it to do so directly , without the accompaniment of retaliation . Indeed , thc conditional system was that upon wliich we now practically acted with _rej * -ard to many of ihe maritime nations ofthe world . The plan wliich he thus proposed would do more for the general liberty of commerce than that -which had emanated from the Treasury bench . There was another feature in the government proposition whieh he regarded as defective . He was of opinion tbat the mode in which it proposed to deal with the coasting trade would be found ineffectual for the purpose in view . Before we could expect to get the boon of the American coast Jig trade , wc must throw our coasting trade unreservedly open to that country . He did not believe

      that * we would secure the coasting trade of America by proceeding on thc principle of unconditional legislation . On the other hand , by proceeding on the conditional principle , they bad every reason to believe that they would secure that trade . If his plan wanted another recommendation to entitle it to the favourable consideration of the House , it would be found in tbis , that hy proceeding conditionally , they might at once effect a final parliamentary settlement of this great question . He was aware that there was one fact which mi < -ht be adduced in thc form of an argument against the plan which he ventured to suggest . It might he urged that ifc would not suit the views or meet the wishes ofthe colonics . What they wanted was supposed to be an unconditional

      "repeal of thc _Navigation Laws . But hc begged to remind ihe House that what they wanted was not such a repeal with a reserved power of retaliation . Having once tasted the sweets of unrestrained commercial intercourse with thc whole world , the colonies would not be very ready to return to the system of restriction , either wholly _' or partiall y , should that system be reverted to by the mother country , either in whole or in part , by the exercise of the power of retaliation . So far as regarded the colonies , the exercise of the power in question would be unwise and impolitic . On tbis and on the other grounds , he would submit , in all earnestness , to thc

      government , the propriety of erasing this feature from its plan , if it was resolved to proceed upon the princi p le of unconditional Ie ° - _ sl _ £ ion . Tho right lion , gentleman then proceeded to detail his reasons for thinking that the inter-colonial trade and the direct trade hetween the colonies and foreign states should not be removed from beyond tbe jurisdiction of parliament . The government bill contemplated such removal , which he regarded as another flaw in its construction . Imperfect , however , as the measure was , he could not refuse his assent to the proposition for its second reading , as in committee opportunities mig ht he offered of correcting what he conceived to he material defects in it .

      Mr , _(' . Robinson contended thai one effect of the _abro' _-ation ofthe _Navi g ation Laws would be to increase the shipping of America , and to decrease that of Great Britain ; and what security would there be tbat when the change was effected , that the British shipowner would be " released from tbe disabilities -under which he at present laboured in foreign countries . The project doubtless was put forward by the g overnment heeause they had entered on the path of tree trade , but notwithstanding all the advantages which had been promised to resultfrom that system , it had not heen successful , all its Tesults proving that direetly the contrary was the case . He entreated the noble lord at thc head of the government to pause before he exposed both the commercial interest and the British navy to the danger with which they were threatened bv this measure .

      Mr . Clat _. _Mt _^ J . Horsey , Mr . W . Waws , Mr . C . -Bn . cz Mr . Wilcox , Mr . It . C , Hixdtabd , and _d _^ J _™^ _? _l-T xr asainst the meas _« e 5 _'hidi was supported hy Mr . _Mijcdeu _, _ _,. BlcJLBD 0 > Mr . Dbcmmom * made a speech which excited considerable amusement , and from which wc take a few passages : —He must agree that much ofthe debate on this occasion had been not so much on tbe princip le as on the details of the hill - but at the same time he must say there was this excuse for ion . members—that the principle of the hill was nowhere to be found in it . ( Laughter . ) The hill in _itsfbst words said tbat it was a bill to amend certain things : and the way in wbich it proposed to

      amend tbem was by abrogating them . Now , he must say tl at Was the most extraordinary way of _mendinj ! heiai ever heard of . ( Hear , hear . ) It might 1 e aH very rig ht and proper to alter eighteen statutes nf Parliament , bnt he conld not consider that question in the present stage of the bill . To find out what was the princip le ofthe bill they must look to thc speeches which had been delivered , not only in that legislative assembly , butinmany assemblies of an illegitimate character . In all pst times the object of every statesman , whatever his political opinions mi ght have been , was to prevent capital going ont of this countrv , because if it did our labourers could not be employed . 2 fow , the object f _^ -5 hill—and most ingeniously contrived it had _heen—was to keep capital in the country , but still

      Moxday, Mabch 12. House Of Lords.—The Pe...

      notto emplov our labourers . ( "Hear , " and a laugh . ) The promoters ofit did not send capital awav , but thev kept it here for tbe purpose of emplovln- * _foreign labourers . They had all heard of tbe Satanic _school of poetry in literature . If there was such a thing as a Satanic school m politics , the auth _** rs of this bill certainly belonged to it . ( "Hear , hear , " and a laugh . ) Ifc was a very remarkable phenomenon that at the present day it seemed to be the fate of every statesman , no matter to what party he belonged , or on what side of the House he sat , to be doomed to eat every word be hid ever uttered on any one occasion—( a lau » hand to go against every principle which he had ever endeavoured to establish . Iftherefore hon

      , , any . gentlemen were at a loss to meet the arguments of the government and its supporters , they had only to go back to the speeches of those verv gentlemen , and to appeal from the drunken riiili ps of thc day to the sober Phili ps of ten years ago . ( Hear , hear . ) In fact , the best speech against the measure of Earl Grey was the speech delivered not long ago by Lord _Howick . ( A laugh . ) For years past the country had been under an evil genius . It had been well described by the hon . member for Buckingham ( Mr . Disraeli ) , as a fate from which no Minister could liberate himself—it seemed , as it were , a sort of myth of a force whicb bound tbem down , while Chancellors ofthe Exchequer pecked at their livers ad libitum . ( Cheers and laughter . ) The

      alterations in our system had not been carried to any dangerous extent . The changes introduced by Lord Wallace and Mr . Huskinson had been wise and prudent . ' Xot so the conduct of Ministers now . He spoke not of any particular government , but of all those who had sat on the Treasury benches for many years back . It might be apparent presumption ba him to say so , but oue expression in the right hon . member ' s ( Mr . Gladstone ' s ) speech had been worth attending to- _^ -that in which the right hon . member said the evil of our school was that we did aot attend to ihe lessons of experience , but dashed boldly into ways unknown on the faith of theories untried . ( Hear , hear . ) He called on them not altogether to disregard the teaching of the past , and the lessons of experience . The most celebrated

      statesmen of antiquity declared that "there is in maritime states a corruption and instability of morals , for they import not only merchandise , but mor als—so that nothing can remain entire in the institutions of their country —( hear , hear)—for they who inhabit those states do not remain quiet in their places , but are hurried away from tbeir homes by an overwin _^ ed hope of thought , and , even if they remain bodily , they still run about and wander hi spirit ; nor did anything tend more to the destruc tion of Corinth and Carthage , long in a declining State—than the vagrancy and dissipation of their

      citizens , who through their greediness of trade and navigation relinquished the culture ol their lands and their training to arms , " ( Hear , hear . ) He might quote the opinions of Lord Chatham and of Mr . Canning to a similar effect , and of late days they had an eminent writer , who , in bis werk on Germany , speaking of Frankfort , said , " in consequence of her commercial relations , she was so thoroughly under foreign influence , and so polluted by a mixture of all foreign manners , tbat her population could he hardly said to have a character of their own . " "What had fitted them to he citizens of the world had unfitted them to be citizens of the

      country to which they belonged , for " they judged of the happiness of mankind hy the rate of exchange , " ( Cheers and laughter . ) flow , all that was applicable to the Manchester school . The grand fault of tbese gentlemen was , that they could not form a conception how anything which was not good for cotton spinning could be good for anything else . ( Renewed laughter . ) "But , " said the same writer , "let no one blame them for forgetting , in the pursuit of the money speculator and merchant , the interest " of their country , or at least before doing so let him visit the ports of London , Liverpool , or Bristol , and discover—if he can—a purer foundation for English patriotism . " ( Hear , hear . ) But he had one more authority for

      hon . gentlemen opposite — their darling Adam Smith . The only quarrel he ( Mi ' . Drununond ) had with hon . gentlemen with respect to Adam Smith was that they never would read beyond one page of him . ( A langh . ) Let them attend to tills : — " As their ( the manufacturers' ) thoughts , however , are commonly exercised rather about the interests of their particular branch of business than about that of society , their judgment , even wben given with the greatest candour ( whieh it has not been on every occasion ) , is much more to be depended upon on the former than on the hitter . The interest of the dealers in any particular branch of trade or manufacture is always in some respects different from or

      even opposite to that of the public . " ( Hear , hear . ) Yet it was for such men as these that the Legislature had acted for many years back , and acted still . The manufacturer sent to America for his cotton , grown by the American labourer ; having employed the American labourer and shipowner , he would take it home and spin it info cotton ; then it was put on board a French vessel and exchanged for French silks or wines , so that from beginning to end not one English labourer would be employed . ( Ironical cheers from the Ministerial benches . ) When the poet , glowing with a fine enthusiasm , exclaims : — " Breathes there a man with soul so dead , Who never to himself hath said ,

      This is my own my native land V " Oh , yes , " says the hon . gentleman opposite , " at Manchester there are a thousand of them . " ( Cheers and laughter . ) _ \ ot content ( continued the hon . g entleman ) with resorting to bribery to get up accusations against your sailors—not satisfied with assailing them and your naval officers with taunts , you now say we have a superstitious reverence " for the navy . It may be true we have a superstitious reverence for that gallant service . It may remain among us yet . Time was when we had a veneration for it . There was indeed a time when we had a national faitb—when we venerated , ay , worshipped , if you like , the statesmen who guided the destinies of this country—when we respected the magistrates who administered her laws , and admired

      the seamen and soldiers who devoted their lives to her service—a time when our national creed was "Rule Britannia , " and the finest anthem in our ritual was " God save the Queen . " ( Cheers . ) Mr Labouchere in reply proceeded to repel the accusation that he was disposed to base his support of the present measure upon the principle of cosmopolitan patriotism , as , on the contrary , if he were not fully persuaded that it was advantageous on strictly British grounds , he should never have taken a pari in its introduction . After referring to thc policy of Mr . Huskisson , and to thc objections raised to the details of the measure , the light hon . gentleman implored the Ilouse to agree to the second reading of thc bill , confessing that he should be greatly disappointed if it were not carried by a large majority .

      Mr . Mcxrz thought that hardly any one who liad heard the right hon . gentleman could fail to perceive that he was doubtful of the policy of thc measure which he recommended the Housre to adopt . ( Hear . ) He ( Mr . Muntz ) was about to do wbat be supposed would be called spealung on one side and voting on the other . ( A laugh . ) The object of the present measure was to reduce the freights and profits of the English shipowner , and g ive them to the foreigner . ( Cheers from the Opposition . ) He had yet to learn that any of these changes were productive of national advantage . ( Renewed cheers . ) He had voted for the repeal of all protection . ( A laugh ) When he heard that hnighter he always thought 01 Goldsmith ' s line in which he connected thc "loud

      laugh" with the " vacant mind . " Since other classes had been deprived of protection , hc thought it ought not to be enjoyed exclusively by the shipowner . Besides , this advantage would result from the repeal ofthe Navigation Laws ; that the standing excuse for the failure of all the free trade measures of the last two years would be removed . ( Laughter . ) The hon . member for Liverpool said we could compete with all the countries in the world , because we had the largest capital . He ( Mr . Muntz ) believed thai that capital consisted in our land , houses , and ships —( hear)—but if we reduced tlie value of them , he was not sure we should have the largest capital in the world . ( Hear and laughter . ) They ought to consider wbat had been the success of the measures

      they had taken . He would mention the effect of them on tlie article of zinc , in which he had been a large dealer . No zinc was now made in this country . "Wh y ? Because the price of foreign zinc was only £ 13 or £ 14 a ton , while in this country it could not be made under - £ 18 . But what had been the effect of free trade on the town he represented ? A few days ago a person handed to him a newspaper published there , called' the Midland and Birmingham Ahlvertiser , and pointed out an advertisement in it from a respectable ironmonger in Birmingham . It was headed " The Effects of Free Trade , " and stated tbat the advertiser had just imported from Germany a stock of superior tools , which , although the dutv was ten per cent ., he could sell at from thirty to sixty per cent , under the price at which they could be made in Birmingham . ( Hear , hear . ) It struck him that every day they were getting out of the fry ' mgpan into the fire . ( Laughter . ) For the

      last twenty-five years he had heen competing in the forei gn market with tho merchants of his own town , By care , industry , and economy , the whole ui m , - ceased to ' compete with bim ; but although he had the whole trade , he found himself so red uced by competition with tbe foreigner that it was not worth keeping , and he was going to give it up . ( Hear , hear . ) It -was said that they should _£ _ _ _ -j ehea - * -t market and sell in the dearest . That did not consist in the abstract price . ( Hear , hear . ) They might get an article that was manufacturedin England ten ner cent , cheaper on the continent . It did not follow that that was the cheapest market . Take iron . It might be £ 10 a ton here , and only £ 8 on the continent ; but if it were bought there the labour here would be unemployed , and instead of buying it in the cheapest market it might in the end prove the dearest . ( Hear , hear . ) He expected to see the produce of tbia country as low as foreign produce—hear , hear )— -and he knew

      Moxday, Mabch 12. House Of Lords.—The Pe...

      that that price could not pay the taxes and liabilities of the country . ( Hear , hear . ) If they had a fixed amount of revenue to mako up , and they lowered the price p f produce , they increased thc pressure of that taxation on the industrious classes —( hear , hear)—and by so doing prevented the possibility of their competing with foreign labour . They were told that they must buy in the cheapest market and sell in the dearest ; but he did not call it a good bargain , although they got an article at a lower price fronia foreign country , when at the same time all the different trades dependent upon the manufacture of the same article at home were injured and depressed by their employment being given over to the foreigner .

      ( Protectionist cheers . ) Lot tho Government only continue its present policy , and they would soon find , when they liad thrown the lands out of cultivation , rendered trado profitless , and destroyed the sources of their revenue , that there was something else wanting besides experiments upon mere abstract theories . ( Protectionist cheers . ) _ Mr . Scholefield , in opposition to his hon . colleague , contended that thc inhabitants of Birmingham , who had long carried on a flourishing co lonial trade , which was now declining , were very much interested in the repeal of the Navigation Laws , by which there was no doubt they would be considerably benefitted . The House

      divided—For Mr . Hemes' amendment 210 Against it 2156 Majority in favour of tlie bill ... 50 The announcement of the numbers was received with great opposition cheering . The bill was then read a second time without further division . The House theu adjourned at a quarter to one o ' clock . TUESDAY , March 13 . HOUSE OF LORDS . —This House sat only a few minutes , and the business was confined to the presentation of petitions .

      HOUSE OF COMMONS . —After disposing of some private bills , Lord Palmers ton , in answer to Mr . G . Sandars , stated , with reference to the affairs of Schleswig-Holstcin , that it was true ihe Danish government had given notice of tho fact of the termination of the armistice on the 26 th inst ., but , in so doing , bad announced tbat it was not done with tbe intention of recommencing hostilities , but with a view to some provisional arrangement . So effort would be wanting on the part ofthe British government to bring the two parties to an understanding , looking to the vast magnitude of the interests concerned , with a view to a final arrangement for a permanent

      peace , . Irish Faufers . —Mr . II . Herbert asked the Home Secretary whether a deputation had waited on him representing that 12 , 000 Irish paupers had been landed at Belfast from this country , and whether the governmennt contemplated an alteration of the law m this respect ? Sh- G . Geet replied that such a statement had been made to him . He thought , however , the number exaggerated ; but whatever the number really was , they were paupers removed from Glasgow , having no _leg-al settlement there , but in Ireland . The deputation had been told that the government would be happy to hear any proposal for altering the law , but none had been made to which they could give their support . Since then a

      deputation from bcotland had arrived , and represented that there was a societ y ia Belfast supported by voluntary contributions , by whose , instrumentality piupers who had been legally removed to Ireland were illegally removed back again to Scotland , their fares being paid with that object . Abolition * of Church Rates . — Mr . _Tbelawjjt _, pursuant to notice , moved a resolution , " that effectual measures should be immediately taken for the abolition of Church Rates . After noticing the opinions expressed by Lord John Russell , Sir C . Wood , and others upon this subject , and expressing surprise that nothing had yet been done to settle this question , he adverted to the law , and to thc authority under which the payment of these rates was held to be of universal _obligation . He then stated

      the abuses to which litigation upon this matter bad led ¦ the hardship and oppression which flowed from this source ; and he argued that the present moment , when there existed Utfcle angry agitation upon this subject , was the fittest time to deal with it . If a tax produced more private mischief than public good , it should be repealed ; and when a law became impracticable , it ought to be abolished . Mr . Wood gave full credit to those who opposed these rates on conscientious grounds for really entertaming such scruples ; though , if he had held property charged with a rate to a Roman Catholic chapel , he should not think that his conscience stood _inthewayofpaynig such rate . But although the law imposed tiiese rates upon all propertv , there

      were many ways of evading it ; and this and other considerations , connected with the altered condition of the country , induced him to think that sonic measure—not the abolition of church-rates , as proposed by Mr . _Ti-elawny—for placing this question on a more satisfactory footing was absolutely necessary . The hon . member then proceeded to say that he had embodied his views in the shape of an amendment , wliich was to the following effect : — " That it is the opinion ofthe House that effectual measures should be taken for discharging persons dissenting from tbe church as by law established from contributing to church rates , and from taking any part in the levying , assessing , or administering , of the same . "

      The motion and amendment led to a lengthened debate . Mr . _Heaulam , Mr . Rice , Mr . Hume , and Mr . Cobden , supported Mr . Wood ' s amendment . Col . Thompson , Lord D . Stuakt , Mr . Martin , Sir W . Clay , Mr . _Bkight , Mr . Osbobnb , and Mr . G . Thompson , spoke in support of the original resolution . Mr . GouLBunrv , Sir R . Peel , and Mr . Gladstoxe , opposed both resolution and amendment . Lord J . Russell said , unless the House had made up its mind that there should be a total abolition ol church-rates without providing any substitute forthe building and repair of churches , he should not agree to the proposition of Mr . Trclawny . He

      believed that the nouse had not come to such a conclusion . He agreed that there were evils in the collection of church-rates : but he could not agree with Sir William Clay that the Church should bo ashamed to collect those rates from Dissenters ; there could be no shame in collecting a charge originally laid upon the land , or allowed as reduction in rent . Neither did he think that the Established Church was to be regarded as a benefit solely for those who belonged to it . The general ground upon which church-rates stood was that it was a great tribute and homage to religion . The same argument against church-rates would be goodagainst tithes . If anv memher would propose , in the form

      of a bill , a fair substitute for church-rates , he should not oppose the introduction of it , but he thought this resolution dangerous in principle and pregnant with mischievous consequences . Mr . G . Thompson told the noble lord , after the discouraging speech which he had delivered , that thc dissenters would bide tlieir time , and watch for the opportunity whicli the government could not , or would not make for relicvingthe Church of England from the reproach of perpetuating so great a scandal , as exacting rates from persons not belonging to that establishment . Mr . Henley thanked the noble lord for his no . ble speech , and said that thc scruple of conscience as to thc payment of church rates , was more an allegation than " a reality .

      Sir . Cobden , after replying to the observations of the previous speaker , and v ef erring to the Rochdale case , said , all the dissenters wanted was that they should not be compelled to pay two rates . The great difficulty in the matter had been to find a substitute for this ' impost , hut that problem had been solved by the hon . member for Oxford , whose plan was not only consistent but just . Thc noble lord bad said if a substitute were ' proposed , he would give it his consideration , but that bad already been done , because the lion , member for Oxford proposed to exempt dissenters from the payment of church rates , leaving their payment to members of the church . After repudiating the charge that persons would

      pass themselves off as dissenters In order to escape the payment of church rates , the hon . gentleman concluded by expressing his intention as a churchman , anxious to show his desire to prevent dissenters paying the rates of thc chinch to which he bclongeu , of giving his cordial support to the amendment . The House then divided on tlie original motion , which was negatived by a majority of 103—the numbers being , 20 to 183 . A second division followed on thc amendment , which was negatived by a majority of 35—the numbers being 84 to 119 . Mr . Anstey rose to submit a motion on thc subject of Tan Dicmen ' s Land , when the House was counted out at twenty-five minutes past ten o ' clock .

      WEDNESDAY , March li . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —The " Count-Out" of Tuesday . —Mr . Anstet complained with reference to the count-out of tho previous night , that the officers of the Ilouse had not rung the bells which communicated with the smoking-room and horary , or else a sufficient number of members would have been in attendance to keep a House , but entirely acquitted the government , inasmuch as they had exerted themselves to keep forty members present . As his motion was now a dropped order , he should of

      move it as an amendment on the question going into committee of supply on Friday . - Lasdiord asd _Tejakts Bill . —The second _reading _oHhis bill was moved by _ r Puset , who said itwas strictly in conformity with the report of thc committee of last year . Colonel SlBTHORP moved the postponement ofthe _iccond reading for six months , considering thafc the bill would create dissatisfaction and disputes between landlord and tenant ; and this amendment W 5 Si _ aim Ykrnet , who observed that if tenant fanners had leases , which it ought to be the object

      Moxday, Mabch 12. House Of Lords.—The Pe...

      of all friends ofthe agricultural interest to procure _;„ _Anilf / _- uUl vovi ( lc a better remedy for the grievances against which this bm _^ . _^ teil «« „_ « J t > SOme hn " c _** sueo - h- which Mr . _KrfZ ¦ - _£ _ _**" ' Mv Packe * M _* ' _Hesust , Mr . _Sidmsi IIembht _, and Mr . Kewdmate spoko in _iavoui ofthe principle ofthe measure , and Mr . _Chhmtowieb an Mr . _Mullixos against it ; the latter suggesting some practical difficulties and injurious effects m the working of the bill . iho _; _ATrpas-j _t-GRXMiLL s-w th <> . orcc oS most oi the objections suggested by Mr . _Mu-uxas _, but as tliey went to the details they were no " -round for rejecting the bill . Upon a division , the second reading of the bill was carried by HI to 11 .

      Clerot Relief Bill . —Mr . Lacy nmved that thc second reading of this bill be postponed for six months , contending that the bill afforded facilities lor clergymen to escape improperly from their vows , and that it would offer a premium upon insincerity . Mr . Bouverie said , under the existing law a _cayman could not get rid of his orders at all . Mr . Hume thought that nothing could be more tyrannical than to prevent a person from leaving the church who conscientiously differed from it and desired to do so . Mr . Stafford objected that , by this bill , any clergyman who offended against the discipline of thc church , and became liable to penalties , might go before a mag istrate , call liimself a dissenter , and escape them .

      Mr . Spoonek viewed this as an objection to the details Of tlie bill , the soc 6 nd reading of wliich he supported ; as did Mr . Waw . v . Mr . _DwiMMosD considered tbis bill was an act separating the . Church from the State , whicli would be the only party prejudiced ; tho church would be the gamer . Sir G . _GnuY said , it appeared him that the bill was calculated to remedy a great practical grievance , inasmuch as , by the existing law , a clergyman once ordained could not release himself , but continued subjeet to Hie jurisdiction ofthe church during his whole life , though he mi g ht become a professed member of another religious denomination . _) Vas there anything unreasonable in exempting , under due limitations , from a process which might be instituted against them at any time , individuals once in holy orders , who were honestly exercising their talents elsewhere than in the church _.

      After some further discussion , Mr . Lacy withdrew liis amendment , and the bill was read a second time . Burdens on Land and Real _Pkoperiy . —The adjourned debate on Mr . Di _siueu S resolutions ' , and Mr . Hume ' s amendment was then resumed by The Chancellor of the _Exciikquku , who rose to state the course which the government recommended the House to adopt with reference to tlie two propositions before it . He dealt first with the amendment of Mr . Hume , which was connected with theproposition for reducing ten-elevenths of the expenditure necessary for the defence of the country , and which proposition liad been fairly discussed on the motion of Mr . Cobden afortnight ago ;

      andhe called upon the House to negative Mr . Hume ' s amendment , and to affirm its recent decision . "With respect to the other proposition , hc agreed in much that had fallen , from Mr . Disraeli , lie joined him in the tribute he had paid to the gentry and farmers of the country ; he agreed with him that the local taxation to which hc had referred was a burden more especially pressing upon real property , and that the amount of that taxation came near £ 12 , 000 , 000 . But here his acquiescence ended . Mr . Disraeli had calculated that this local taxation pressed upon one-fourth only of the property of thc country , having taken the income derived from real property at £ 67 , 900 , 000 and the aggregate income of the country at - £ 249 , 000 , 000 . But he would find that the annual income of property rateable to the

      poor was not £ 07 , 000 , 000 , but £ 105 , 000 , 000 ; so that the burden fell not upon one-fourfch _, but upon two-fifths , of tho annual income of the couutvy . Then thc effect ofthe change proposed by Mr . Disraeli would not make a fair and equal distribution of benefit . Of tho property subject to tho exclusive burden of local taxation , not one half consisted of land , thc rest being railways and other descriptions of rateable property ; so thafc ho would throw a heavy burden upon ono class to confer a boon upon another that did not ask ifc , Mr . Disraeli had sometimes spoken of this burden as pressing upon the occupiers of land ; but they liad no interest , or next' to none , in his proposition , tho rates being always calculated by a tenant before he took a farm , and deducted from its value . There was another

      poiut he had lost sight of—namely , the diminishing proportion of the expense of maintaining the poor , paid by landed property , as distinguished from other property . Hc showed by statistics that the poor rate was diminishing in its proportion upon land , anil increasing upon other property . He then touched upon the items of local taxation , and , with reference to Mr . Disraeli ' s complaint of the miser- * inflicted by manufactures upon agricultural counties , he asserted that , even in the comity he represented ( Bilcks ) , thc introduction of manufactures liad relieved the surplus population and diminished poor rates . In dwelling upon the special burdens upon land , Mr . Disraeli had overlooked its special exemptions ; and in asserting that nothing had beon done for the landed and agricultural interest , he

      had forgotten that smco 1815 Excise duties affecting agriculture had been repealed to tho amount of £ G , S 35 , 000 . The burdens of the landowners of this country had been described in pathetic terms by Mr . Disraeli ; whereas there was scarcely a country in Europe in which a heavier portion of the national taxation did not fall upon land and real property . To the local taxation referred to by thc lion , member for Buckingham ( Mr . Disraeli ) , must be added £ 2 , 000 , 000 for municipal taxation ; this would make £ 1 _ , 000 , 000 , half of which was to be transferred to the Consolidated Fund ; and , assessing ifc in tlio proportion of tlie income tax , £ 8 , 233 , 000 would fall upon those in schedule A , and a heavy share upon the tenant farmers . He

      then proceeded at great length to show that thc proposal before the Ilouse , il successful , would bo of 110 benefit whatever to the tenant farmers , tho proprietors being the only class who would benefit by it ; aud they had no right to look for such a boon at the expense of every other interest in the country . The proportion of poor rates now paid by the owners of real property was not so great as formerly . In 1833 thoy paid no less than sixty-nine per cent , of _thati-ate , whereas now their proportion did not exceed forty per cent . Complaint was mado that tho whole cos _' t of the roads fell upon the owners of real property . But tbis complaint was not very well founded , seeing that it was land that was chiefly benefitted by the great majority of the roads

      sustained . But the whole cost did not fall upon thc landlords , many ofthe roads being supported by tolls , from the payment of which , manure , so extensively used in husbandry , was exempted , Nor did the burden of church rates fall exclusively upon the land , inasmuch as all the householders of the parish were rateable for the maintenance of the fabric of the church . Nor could they , in considering this whole question , leave out of si g ht the fact thafc there were some burdens , from which _the-land was exempted , such as the probate and legacy duties . lie agreed with Mr . Disraeli , that as regarded tlie hitter , the land was but partially exempted . As to the malt tax , he could not consent to its repeal , unless an equivalent were offered him . But , as he

      had already said , the burden proposed to bo dealt with by the honourable member for Buckinghamshire was onc by the removal of whicli the landlords alone would be benefitted . He objected , as a landlord , to take thc burden from off liis own shoulders , to transfer it to those of tho tenant-farmers and others . He had serious objections also to saddling tho consolidated fund with the millions proposed to be spared to the landlords . How could tlie sum be raised from thc community generally without resorting to an increase of the income tax ? Were the House and country prepared for such an increase ? Were the tenant-farmers prepared for it ? Or were they really the friends of the tenantfarmers who would make such a proposition ? "What

      Mr . Disraeli proposed would not simply be a transfer of a burden , but , to a considerable extent , a clear addition to tho general burdens of the country . If the principle of local taxation , accompanied as it was by local administration , was an unjust ono , ifc would be unjust if retained in part , as well as if retained in its present extent . He himself was not prepared to give up the principle of local taxation , because he would not abandon thafc of local administration , which had so greatly contributed to the safety and stability of thc country . The two wore inseparably connected , and if thoy abandoned the one , they could not with justice insist on the retention of the other . He " admitted the existence of agricultural distress , but he did not admit its

      existence to the extent alleged by Mr . Disraeli .. Thc distress was chiefly confined to the southern counties , and there was no good ground for saying that it had generally prevailed amongst the agricultural population . He deprecated the ill-advised language , On this subject , which had been used' as tending to lower the price of produce , and to spread , nstead of alleviating , the distress complained of . The Chancellor concluded hia speech bv expressin _g his belief that the well-being of the masses was essential to that ofthe higher classes , and that if that well-being could be secured by the sacrifice ofsome ofthe luxuries to which hitherto the higher classes

      had been accustomed , the sacrifice should be freely and fully made . There was no class so strongly and immediately interested in tho well-doing of the great body of the people , as that which enjoyed the permanent and inalienablo interest of being the owners of the soil . The right hon . baronet was immensely cheered on resuming his seat . Mr . Cm-isT OPHBB supported the motion of Mr . Disraeli , contending that Sir Charles Wood had not dealt fairly with that proposition , which was offered as one of conciliation and policy . The land , it was admitted , was unequally burdened ; by the law of England every person should be rated to the poor according to his ability , and the fundkoider haying

      Moxday, Mabch 12. House Of Lords.—The Pe...

      lent ins money subject to this law , could not comp lain of being called upon to pay liis proportion . Agriculture alone was subjected to the unlimited operation of free trade ; manufacturers were protected by import duties ; the landed interest , therefore , had a right to look to other remedies ; and unless some remedy were given , the Ministers would find all the leading interests against them , and it would be impossible * to carry on the government of tho country . Col . _Tuo'irsoN said , ifc . wasbufca very short time ago since there existed in tin ' s country a tax wliich pressed very hard on the interests of many hon . gentlemen on that ( the _Ministerial ) side of the House , aud which was supposed to operate in favour of the lion , gentlemen opposite . It was now only six weeks

      since that tax was taken oft ' , and yet hon . gentlemen opposite , under these _circurastiinces , came forward and complained of suffering interests . "Sow , he wanted to know what compensation those hon . gentlemen intended to give in return for the advantage they had so long enjoyed ? Did they mean to propose as a compensation thafc there should be a duty tor twenty years on home-grown corn , in order to increase the quantity of corn brought from abroad ? ( " Hear , hear , " and laughter . ) If it should be said that that would be an injury to the country , he would commute the tax williiiglv for an equivalent charge on rent —( laughter;—and then he should bo prepared fully to consider any allegation of theirs , that they wero excessively taxed in respect to certain items , and to remove tho grievance whenever

      found to exist . ( Hear , hear . ) The Earl of March said , he was surprised to hear thc Chancellor of the Exchequer state thatthe distress in tlie agricultural districts was of a partial nature . He , on the contrary , believed that throughout the agricultural districts there existed the greatest and _decjiest distress . ( Hear , hear . ) Tliey were told when the corn laws were repealed—a measure wbich no one regretted more than himself —that with low prices the labourers would be as well Off as with high prices ; but , by a paper before the House , he would prove that a greater amount was levied for the poor rates when corn was low than when it was high . Prom the appendix of the report ofthe Poor Law . Commissioners , it appeared that there were expended for thc relief of the poor , in

      the seven years when the price of wheat was lowest , £ 3 _ , _400 _, 81 l > , and in tlie seven years when the price of wheat was _highest , only _i' _34 , 259 , _454 , being a difference of £ 207 , 362 . But the difference in the value ofcorn during the two periods , he believed , mi ht be correctly estimated afc thirty per cent ., and if , consequently , the aiiiouiitofpaiiperism . it the time when wheat was lowest was thirty per eeht . gvoator than at the other period , no " less a sum than £ 10 , 000 , 000 ought to be added to the difference of £ 207 , 362 , hi order to show the real comparison between the two periods . The Chancellor of the Exchequer had stated tliat the experiment of feeding cattle with malt was an entire failure . ( Tlie Chancellor ofthe Exchequer . —I said I thought thero was no great advantage in it . ) Nevertheless

      agricultural Witnesses , examined before the Burdens on Land Committee , complained of tlieir being restricted from using mult for that purposo , and the committee reported that the malt duty was a restriction on cultivation , and an impediment to tho improvement of land . ( Hear , hear . ) With reference to what had fallen from the Chancellor of thc Exchequer in reference to roads , he could say that in thc isle of Wi ght , where there were no turnpikes , or but very few , the highway rates were Is . in the pound for tlie repair of roads , not required only for agricultural purposes , but for the benefit , too , of those who , 111 great numbers , visit that district . He , therefore , thought that that should not fall on the agricultural interest . Land had burdens to bear not borne by other interests , and what he wanted

      was that all classes should be put upon the same footing . Hc knew the case of a man with an entailed estate of £ 5 , 000 a-year paying for poor rates , land tax , income tax , assessed rates on his house in London , & c ., about £ 1 , 123 a-yoar , while an individual with a similar income from the funds ov annuities , and living in a similar house in London , would only have to pay for income tax a _\ u \ _assessed rates on his house £ 210 . As a proof of the existing distress , he could state that , since tlio present poor law liad been in existence , the union of West Hampnct never was so full as at present , and it was necessary to give out-door relict . The farmers of Sussex , when tliey took their wheat to market , could now get scarcely any price for ifc at all . He was surprised that the Chancellor of the Exchequer , in reply to the statement , ofthe hon . member for Buckinghamshire , that thc farmers liad not been fairly dealt with , inasmuch as tlio removal of the burdens on

      argiculturc , whicli ought to have accompanied the withdrawal of protection , had not been effected , should have referred to the repeal of the duties on hides and skins , as if the occupier of land was thc better by that repeal . ( Hear , War . ) Witb respect to thc malt tax , he thought it unjust , and the greatest possible feeling existed for its repeal ; but , although he was prepared to vote for its removal , he was not prepared to vote for the proposition of Mr . Hume , because the hon . member , in his amendment , implied a doubt whether there were any burdens pressing unduly on land . Thc occupiers of land did not require any unfair exemption from taxation , but objected to have more than a fair share of taxation placed on them . In consequence of the withdrawal of protection , their burdens had now become intolerable ; and he trusted the House was not prepared to leave them the victims of _miscliievous and reckless logislation . ( Hear . )

      On the motion of Mr . M . Gibson the debate was tben adjourned till Thursday . The House adjourned at a few minutes before six o ' clock .

      Lvtunksting Discovert.—The Picturesque V...

      _LvTunKSTiNG Discovert . —The picturesque valley of tho river Maun , so long celebrated as the scene ofsome ofthe most jovial exploits of " Robin Hood and his mcrric men , " and also of the humorous interview between " tho King and the miller of Mansfield , " has this week contributed largely to the antiquarian celebrity of the neighbourhood by the discovery of an urn filled with Itoman silver coin , in a beautiful state of preservation . Our readers arc aware , from previous announcements , that the Mansfield and _Pinxton Railway is being altered so as to adapt it to steam-power ; in doing so it has been found necessary to alter the coursc _" _ iearto tlie lung ' s Mill , by cutting through several grass fields _bcloti-rimr to his Grace the Duke of Portland , and

      in the occupation of Mr . Adlington , thc worthy modern representative of ' the redoubted " miller of MaD $ Md , " and Sir John Cockle . During the process of levelling one of these fields on Saturday morning last , one of the workmen struck his axe against a hard globular shaped substance , about two feet beneath the surface , which he at first supposed to bo a piece of lead . A council of navvies being instantly held , the stranger was submitted to a severe and searching cross-examination ; a few gentle blows against a neighbouring block of stone very soon annihilated what proved to bo a beautiful lionian urn , and presented to thoir astonished eyes from 300 to 100 silver coins of tho Itoman empire , whicli , after reposing for probably 1 , 000 years , were thus summarily ejected from their resting place by the rude hands of a trio of Irish labourers . These interesting relics of the greatness and glory of the

      "Eternal City , " although at first encrusted with a strong coating of acetate of copper , proved , " on being cleaned , to be in a most beautiful state of preservation , some , indeed , of the Emperor Severus as much so , to all appearance , as thc day they were first issued from the imperial mint . Thc majority of them are ahout three-quarters of an inch in diameter , and somewhat thicker than a sixpence , and include fine specimens of the following reions , viz . : _—Octavius Augustus Ca * sar , Ycspasiau , _ Elius liadrianus , Antoninus Pius , Aurelins , Cornmodus , Septimus Severus , Septimus Geta , Julia Augusta , and several others . It is impossible accurately to describe the amount of interest excited by this discovery ; suffice it to say , that many anxious purchasers were found , from whom thc navvies reaped a rich , although , probably , a very wet harvest . The whole of tlie coins were eagerly bought up , and it has been almost an impossibility to obtain one since Saturday for either love or money , — Notts Guardian .

      A " Naval ' Engagement . —On Wednesday last , a sanguinary conflict took place at Marseilles _jjon board a Spanish vessel called the Leon . Sonic English sailors of the Ann Ingat went into the Spanish vessel and insisted on tasting some wine which the Spaniards had on deck . The Spaniards ousted the English , but tho latter returned to the attack , whereupon thc Spaniards assailed them with knives and . hatchets , and a struggle ensued which lasted a quarter of an hour . A picket of National Guards and troop 3 went on board , and succeeded in separating the combatants . Two of the English were then found lying on the deck , one with a terrible stab in his bowels , the other with the back of his head cut open . Thoy were both conveyed to thc

      hospital , and thc former died shortly after , and the other lies in a precarious position . The Spanish crew were arrested . In the course of the conflict a _Russian sailor went on board , and the Spaniards thinking that he was coming to assist the English , attacked him , and pitched lum into the sea . He was so much injured that he was conveyed lo tho hospital . _—Oalignani . Cuiforxian Quicksilver . —The Remittance , arrived afc Liverpool from Mazatlan , has brought a quantity bf quicksilver ore whieh had been shipped from California . Two specimens were . exhibited in the Liverpool ' Change News-room on Tueaday .

      [ Advertisement . ]—IIouowAv ' fl Puis A _suke hbm-dy » oi * Coughs , Coids , and _Opphjes-ions or the Chest . —These complaints _heing accompanied more or . less by fever h * most prompt measures should be adopted to reduce the febrile action ofthe system , and allay the irritation of the affected parts , for wliich purposes notlung can equal - Holloway ' s Tills ; let the sufferer have immediate recourse to a few doses of this inestimable medicine , which wiil speedily remove all weight or pain in the head or chest _wlien the most troublesome cough or cold will imniediatelv ¦ _neld to the influence of thk wonderful medicine . FoV aslhmn . &* _„ sul affections of the lungs it is equal " - efficaewvw- J

      • - Wi?*. Jntcuifffiitt

      • - wi ?* . _Jntcuifffiitt

      Ciielmsroitd , _[ .Vncii 10. Grout T J*1...

      CiiELMsroitD , _[ . vncii 10 . Grout T J * 1 ™'" , ™ _, * T WS Mother . _ _Saralr ment -i _* _--. _! _,, _^ ItL ¦ " ei _? a sccoml i , ldl ' cta _^ _sSSSSS nest ihunoc v _, near a cottage occupied bv the _urisoiioi- and her husband . They had three _ __« _, K ' boy seven years old , thc deceased , Ja _* -, os fo _* * years old , and n little girl , Man _AWIO about f J _ On the morning of _tfieSth of _August _' inlas ye , "' the oldest boy came into witness ' s cottage , and told bertha his mother had murdered the two babies and had nearl y cut their heads off with a bill-hook ' She immediately went to the houso accompanied bv a person named Isaac Moss , and on going into thr

      prisoners room , she saw the boy James kin ** on the ground with his head nearl y cut off , and the little girl was lying upon the bad injured in a similar manner . Thc prisoner was . standing b y the dead bodies with a bi'Mwok hi hor hand , whieh wa covered with blood , and she repeatedly exclaimed " I '" five murdered my children . " Mr . Moss took the bill-hook from her , and sho then sat down bv the bedside , and began to _wring hw bands and cry bitterl y . Before this timo the prisoner had always appeared very fond ofthe children ; but for a month or two before August sho had observed very stvam-e _S « r ttllc J p . risollor ' ' _*¦¦ " seemed like ° a _TW m . d ° _™ ° / *"•' m , '» d _- _-By Mr . Chambers : lhe prisoner frequently used to behave in a verv extraordinary manner . Upon one occasion she saw nd _Shn « fil _\ l llia ,, t , t }' 0 fC ! lil , a mt 0 an _oW _^ _k , and She said the reason she did so was that a gent eman was coraimr to tako it . - > _- ™ v i ! nA

      „ another occasion the prisoner told her she did not know what would'become of them , for they wero all going to , hell ; and the prisoner shook her violently , and it was with great difficulty she got her m doors , and put her to bed . After she recovered irom this paroxysm sho _inquired _cai-eriy where her children were , and wished to know if she had hurt any ot them , or any one else . Witness hid „ dead , and that thc only things she should grieve to leave were her two chMrol . _-liv the court-The prisoner had three children , Lilt at this time she seemed unconscious of thc truth , and only talked foZltll ° _^' _'W _^ _-BMMniinctl : Abo Fa 2 -t 11 f l _<[ - * - _, ¦ - ¦ - * : < - •••< - <¦ took place , theprisoner told her that she had _attempted to bans-

      horsen , aim wnen witness asked \ m why aa 0 ) J ; ltf aonc _thitlL ' ' !! n tfK _\ t ,, ! 1 ' !" ldrcn wcl " _*> - _" - _^ l En £ ? _* _- k , l , t 0 bcar hej _' scl } - Conhinutory testimony having been adduced , Mr . II . h . Jordison , a surgeon , on being asked by Air _SllS _fc _ft ? , th 0 « S » tthat ! i the _thno she killed the children she was aware she was comm sf _. _n- _' nV ° ' - , Iied h 0 wns ofo P ' - l , n . t 1 n Clded y - _ _* - _^ - Chambers was _S 2 , in , _STC 3 l _-P , tho P _risonw . _whcn llis midship asked them if they thought it was necessary he should do so , after the statement of tlie surgeon and the other evidence in the CISC . TltC foi' 0-manot thejury fi ; ii _, l they did not consider it necessary _, iiiey had made up their minds to _acouifc the prisoner on account of her being insane . The same iT n nl _^ entm : _f u ? ° » the second indictment , and the prisoner was then removed .

      Worcester , March 10 . Case . — Elizabeth rritchard alias god 24 , married , was Indicted with ot in custod y ) , with having aided in ing ono Eleanor Ewen s , and in compon her . The prosecutrix is an old of age . She stated that about midth of July last she was returning hagen-stroot , and was met bv tho prisoner , the man smith , and several other persons . Tho prisoner wished her to come to hur _lodgings , but she refused . But sho was forced there ; the prisoner and Smith took her to a bedroom . Smith , who was described as a stout and stroiir-man , threw the old woman upon tho bod , tho prisoner holding her down while he effected his purpose . They theu beat the old woman , dragged her across the room hy the hair of her head , and then thc man tlire *** her

      down stair ;? . Smith afterwards dra' _-r-ed her into tlie street , threw hov down , and left _m-r . The crime was witnessed by two persons who _lodsred in an adjoining room , who being disturbed by tiie _noi-io _, got up and saw what was _ffoing on through the cracks in the partition , but were afraid to interfere . Tho old woman was found at her own lod gings the next day , but how she got there has never heen ascertained . She waa dreadfull y beaten , the medical man who attended her describing her to be iu a most pitiable stato . Tho evidence clearly proved tbat the capital offence had been committed , and that the prisoner took the part in it for which she was indicted . After a careful summing up by the learned Judge , the jury almost immediately returned a verdict of " Guilty , " and the prisoner was sentenced to be transported for fifteen vears . The prisoner , addressing the judge , said : " " Thank vou , that won ' t hurt me . "

      Charge of Manslaughter against a Midwife . — Elizabeth Jones , a midwife , aged 42 , surrendered to her bail , upon an indictment charging her with the manslaughter of Aim Bill . The prisoner attended her in hw confinement . After a protracted labour , tbe deceased died from exhaustion ; and it was alleged the prisoner had been guilty of gross negligence in not procuring medical ass ' istaitcc . A surgeon was at length called in when it was too late , and ho described the case as being by no means a difficult one , and whicli , if ordinary c ; ire liad been taken , would not in all probability have resulted as it did . The question for the jury " was , whether the prisoner had been guilty of the negligence allowed . —The jury found her " Xot Guiltv . ' "

      _BiiDFonn , March 10 . _Siiootino at Policemen . —Malicious Wounding . —T . Dockcrill , G . White , and W . "White , were charged with haying , on the 25 th January , in tho parish of Stanbridge , to prevent their lawful apprehension , maliciously shot and wounded James Parrott , and also maliciously wounded William Clough , police-constable . — _. _bimcs- Parrott deposed that on the evening of the 24 th January hc accompanied Clough to DockeriH ' s house . Soon after they saw three persons . Clough and witness came out on them , and Clough seized William White . The men threw down sonic bags tliey had , and Dockerill said , " Now , my lads , go to work , " and pointed his gun to Clough . Witness immediately presented a pistol

      at him , and told him if ho made any resistance ho ( witness ) would shoot him . Dockcrill turned away and then levelled his gun at Clough , when witness again threatened to shoot him , and levelled the pistol at him . Clough said : " Parrott , look out , or you will be knocked down in a moment . " Witness turned round , and saw George White in the act of striking him with a stick . Witness thou shot afc him and missed , when he turned round and saw Dockerill levelling the gun at him , and was shot in the shoulder . Witness staggered some distance and fell , and Dockcrill and George White followed him . He was then struck on the head and left arm by both of them . He could not see wbat happened to Clough at the time , and became _ii-. _seusiMe . —Afterwards DockeriH ' s house was scinched , and three

      sacks were found , two of which contained undressed barley , and the other sack somo peas and meal , and six fowls , dead , but warm . The sacks and fowls were identified . The Judge summed up the caso to tlie jury , who returned a verdict of " Guilty" against all the " prisoners but recommended William White to mercy , on account of hi- ; not being armed . The learned Judge , in passing sentence , remarked upon tlie _uai'Mw escape Clough had of his life ; if hc had died , thc prisoners would have been guilty of murder ; and his life was despaired of for " ten days . Dockerill was sentenced to transportation for life , and George and William "White for fifteen years ' each . The two Whites declared their innocence , and Dockerill asserted , after sentence , that George White was not present .

      York , _Mahcii 10 . _CiiAnoi ; or Poisoxixo a Wifk . —James Holdsworth , fifty-nine , was charged with having , on the 12 th of December , put a quantity of arsenic into some porridge , of which his wife , Judith Holdsworth , partook and died , r'ivc years ago the prisoner was married to deceased , who was ins third wife . He was then fifty-five , and she only twentyfive years of ago . On tho 12 th of December Judith Holdsworth went into a neighbour ' s house , and complained of being very ill , and her friend went to a , druggist ' s shop , got somo ipecacuanha and gave ifc to deceased , who went to bed there . She lingered until the 15 th , and then died , having been attended by a surgoon . A post mortem examination was made ,

      and thc Stomach having been submitted to a chemist at liradford , was found to present sueh _apfiearances as left no doubt that the woman's death iad been occasioned bv arsenic . Tlie deceased had made a dying declaration . Witnesses having been examined as to consciousness and belief , on the part of tlie deceased as to her speedy dissolution , with a view to his lordship deciding whether her dying declaration was admissible ; it turned out that tha original deposition was not in court , but only a copy , a circumstance which proved fatal to the prosecution . His lordshi p directed the jury to return a verdict of " hot guiltv , " observing that he should

      certainly think it ri ght not to allow the expenses of the prosecution , the not having the necessary documents hero was such _sv gross piece of carelessness . The pri 8 oher " wafaii 36 charged with the murder , on the coroner ' s inquisition ; and he was ordered to stand down for the present . Mr . . Hardy , for the prosecution , made au app lication that the trial on . tho coroner's inquisition mig ht be postponed until Monday . His lordshi p was disposed to grant Mr . Hardy ' s application , but he did that without prejudice to any application which might then bo . made on the part ofthe prisoner , thathe might be allowed to withdraw his nlea of " not guilty" and to plead " autrefois _acwit .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 17, 1849, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_17031849/page/7/