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    -pz , f Continued from our &xih page . ) j jgt imposed upon Km , bat how trifling -was their Amount when they looked at the insult he had infiicted ajhumaniiy * Bnt , listen again to-what tids inspector -id— " 2 fo defence -was attempted , except the often re--g&A one of being pressed to complete an order for ShHneni , the profits of which vrould hare been lost if * hej hadnot undertaken to snpply the -whole quantity reared- "The magistrates -would net entertain this plea affording any justification lor bo gross an abase of the -over an employer can exercise over the operatives in district where labour is redundant 1 regret to say $# ujHl-oesnpiers do not stand alone responsible lor gjjs cruelty towards the young females . " No ; the -g-nts bad been driven by the surplus labour of the

    jpjjili to leori their o ^ ro offspring to death for existence . * IVwss proved t&at a parent had mot merely consented & saoiSee the physical powers of his child lor money , jai oali ^ Bd his tender girl to exert herself to the last pnrine the period the mill -was at work , some of the ^ vereobliged to with draw , irom phy ^ pal inability fa Tirorl longer . The parent of one young -woman , about jfagem years of age , -was determined to brave the pjuusbment consequent upon opposing the -will of gj ^ nsstcr , viz . dismissal from Tirork for the fatnre . Ee proceeded at lour o ' clock on Saturday afternoon to jjje mill , f orhffistely obtained access to the TOOm "Where fciss irlbad been-working from five o ' clock on Friday -jorning . and insisted on withdrawing her . He

    ultijj ^ y succeeded , but not , as he informs me , until j ^ Ui thB mansging partner , Mr . Thalfall , and his son , j ^ i endeavoured forcibly to remove bin from the ^ gmjsss . This and the other cases of overwork which jgyg ocenrred within the last two yean in the Bradgud district must sorely convince the most sceptical of $ » absolute necessity of a strong law to protect the kjpujtaj Sass ia ttiese districts ; an § the officers emricyed may reasonably deem snob , cases as indicating Jlaj jjtobe expected among a certain class of mills jj ^ er a more active state of trade . ** There was not a ajober in the House , he ( Mr . Ferrand ) did not care to » £ at psrty ha might belong , who « ould have heard this tjtemest , and who would not blush for the ~ hononr of

    las ccnatry . ( Hear . ) There never was , he would ventsre-io say , in the history of England , aa disgraceful a pjeoe of conanct dragged to pnblic light in the House ^ Commons "by a Member against a man who had the tdTta of inflicfeK such horrors on his fellow-conntryiss . Toe >* ew Poor law had placed this power in gat man ' s hands . He had lost that power over the jeopls io the neighbourhood of his milL The Right ¦ gaa . Bsronet smiled l From plandering and persejstiBg to death ths working classes in the neighbonrjjood cf bis mill the working classes had struck against Km- tfcey ia 3 refnsed to be any logger his slaves ;

    jHsnuTl stood still . He was enabled to provide the means ooce more of working it ; and where did he fnd thi 3 ? Tfoa « r tbe i * ew Poor law . He applied Jo toe Sfcipton Workhouse , and they supplied hrm ^ ga treaty hsads . He would ask the Bight Hon . Bsronst -where those twenty hands bow were ? The £ jdit Bon . Baronet had a heart , he iMr . Ferrand ) fcnev , -within bis breast to which the cries of these poor Trrelcbes would nrt plead in vain . He > " ^ stated game of the const gusnces of this New Poor Law upon tie Bosses in the north of England . If the House would sQo * bim be would stats what was ths conduct of tae Asssuat Poor law Connnissionsia in the admlof in

    in ^ raaon ; doing so , he JMr FerijDdj doubted not that the Firstiord *> l the Treasnry Tonld render an act of Justice to him as well as to the p&rkhioners of the township where he lived , when he hid explained the scandalsns conduct of the AnsiRt « nt Toar iiw Commissionera . Boring the discussion of fee Sew Poor Iyw in that Honse Hon . Members would rsaezsber with what glee the Bight Hon . Baronet the Hist Lord of the Treasury had opened the red box befure him , and dragged out a statement from Sir . Hott Paragraph after paragraph he read , bringing charges iha meat untrue Against the Keighley Board of Soardisns . He IMr . Ferraxd ) had sat perfectly composed behind him , feeling that lie should have very

    5 Sls 4 iffiealty to prove to his conviction that the statesests made by Mr . Mott were uutrne , and contradictions lad passed between the right Hon . Baronet and himself . This bad ended in a challenge on the part of ths Bight Sob . Baronet toiim Jilt Penand ) to move for a com-™* t » -of inquiry , Trben ths gallint commodore the HEBba for Marylabone , always ready for the fight , j » T 5 notice of a-modon for a committee of inquiry , and Is tMn Fecrand ) ¦ EBderrcoodiita . t he iad brandished la stick above his bead on leaving the house , and Kid "ha had caught the Hon . ilemb-r for Hnaresks-Dnjh in a trap at last" That irqsiry had taken j&ee , and so convincad was be ( ilr . Perrand ) that Is eoold disprove the stat&menta of Mr . Mott that

    h bad assented to the siemben of the committee jrtposed by the Bight Hon . Baronet the First Lord of fe Treasury at once ; ior he was convinced thathalf-afeen witnesses connected with the Kdghley Union Toald prove every word of Mr . llott's statement to be i&a . The ccsunittee had been moved for and ap-Jdoted . The next 4 ay when he iMr . Ferrand > came to SsHonss an Hon . Member had said to Mm Why , ^ s feolish fellow , joq have agreed to a p-ctedcom-« w _ , ^» cj w in rej—t against yon . * He ( Hr . Far-Ssd ) bad xeplitd , he did ncn . i ~~ - « 1 hl £ * orfc o * A comlEUee there was , the witnesses would prove the bnth . lire magistrates , both TThigs , who had taken an active tart in the forwarding of the measure , and who were

    ftraniscs supporters of the New Poor Law , legal and medical cSeers connected with the union , had been ersffiinedss witnesses , and every one of them , without EZcepSau , had declared that Mr . Motfs report was ntrca . The committee had reported that" Mr- Mott's report wjs borne out in his important allegations . " He IMr . FanEd } regretted that there should have been an fiianpt in that committee to whitewash that public dseez . Let any man read the evideace given before that Rssmitteej the Hon . Member for Finsbury aat on it , and » aild bear him -out in what he stated , and he would be Ksnfcced that the evidence was opposed to the report TiectanmiKeebad reported that Mr Motfs statement was baa . Hr . 3 dott , inhisreport , amongst other things , said :

    " 533 April , 1 S 42 . I attended a meeting of the board tfraadiaus of thB Ksighley Union on "Wednesday , ths lKh instant , and Tf ^ ret to have to report to your Josrd , that the proceedings of the guardians are tbtj ra&Jts&etory ; in short , they are entirely at variance "ftfii the provisions of the law , and ths diRrtionB of 332 beard .- He ( Mr . Ferrand } had put it to ths vote a 2 at committee , upon Hie evidence of every witness , e £ > of iriioiD had proved that no instructions whatever kaiesi received from the Poor Law Commissioners , BspJ the original instructions , and that therefore the « Mfl ef gBMT > ' » Ttw had acted in direct accordance with Be caj ginai instrnctisns % but ths committee had come bitoU againstthe evidence . He must ttU the House

    , knier , that the gallant commodore tSrr C- Napier ) « 3 Tj ^ ed by mistake , that his opinion was not ** that **¦ Hcft ^ report was borne out in all its most im-P ^ tEii aEEgaaona by ths evidence of the witnesses ™ lad come forward to impugn it , " and when he JMiraisd trat that this was the -tase he had protested Hani Hi-rote being recorded ; but this opinion of the ? aaSee had gone forth to the world as the convic-« ad { be 2 on . and Gadant Commodore . But he ( Mr . 5 ^ 3 } was not a man to be put gown by the white-^ ofijstem . Ha came to the Honse and he told the r ^ aat justice had not been donethat the nblic

    : p - » , rf— - " **** . - * W * U Adw 4 J ^* -M * UVUtj fcJJJfch WJB ^/ lUUiW ~« ai put to great expense for the purpose of coming l ^ ™* , sod that He stai would setk for it in that ¦ ~ jj * . He was informed that opposition was to be S 8 * " to a motion of which he = bad given notice for a ^ certain papers relafive to this question ; but « bt Hon . BaroEet the First Lord cf the Treasury , ^ _ U » t straightforward Tn » -niinPCT » of conduct for ^* fteh » d always given him credit , said he would S * " * —* -bit the papers Bhouldoe granted . There ~**« ea a driving down of the Mtmbers of that ^™ ttee to oppose his motion ; but the Bight Hon . r « 8 « tad Bald that the -Da-Ders shcnld be wanted .

    wT *^ ^^ be moved for by way of coining at the vjTV ?* - * '' Jnoved for " copy of all orders which t ** ~* fa issasd by the Poor law CommiEsioners of ^^ £ t-hcEse to the Board of Guaroians in the j ^ -ej Tnioj . since the formation of the same , in ci ? ^ ^ y * - ^ p 12 ) 1842 ' * k ° ' ^ pyof j ^» ts upon the proceedings of the Board , and r * £ * £ k thereon during that period , -which fcsvBbeen ^^ 7 the Assistant Poor law Ctosonissionfers Mr . » aca li x . Mott to the Poor Law Commissioners ; § t £ ? % iaDait of thB P ^ Scnlarinstacces in which ^ a Board cf Guardians have acted contrary to the

    j * rttoju oj jjjg jj ^ jjj ^ jgj oi tjjj-eg the && $ Assistant ¦ | » 4 ^^ CoffiInia 5 oBer ^ - : Poirer aDd Ml - Mott , have fcSfe ^ f ^ Board and the poorhcuses of Keighley ga , Z ~^* ^^ & >* claies thereof ; also , a return of S 3 of *? ^ ^ ^ made on the said poorhouses , ^* Jon ^ tuml 5 ei o * inmates within the same en lij £ iP ™ of the union , and on the 1 st d » y of June , ^ j v 0 * ' ^ bat did the House think the return i ? Qrt * r S ? ter tte W ^ nuttee of * be Honse had ** iaa oL ^** ° PP ° sifi 011 to tbe evidence oi every tes «^ "SSbaaHea esfimined before them , of all P-fiSte' — eejJ fYB "''' ea Deiore inem , oi an

    , r S ^^^ es . bothfor and against the law , that Mr . ^ sa > t t >* ^ * batwassntrne ? The Co mmissioners ^^ t of Ietnin to the Sonse of Commons , — " That tt WSi i > pear tiiat ' &t - : Mott ^^ ^ "' J report ^ tfr ^ A pra , i 842 ''_ T » hich had been "brought Pa . rf 3 ^ ** the Bkht Hon . Baronet for the pur-^ QaL n ? h (^* Fenail ( i ) d 0 ^ 11 ^ the H ouse ; tj ^ g ^ * tte commisEicners had not any written k * Wori * ° ^ o * in what spirit the said Keighley ^ BSa ^^^ a bad acted . " Now he { Mt Ferrand ) ^^ Htt board of guardiaBs to listen to wiat was **¦ A ^ "^ otttothe Poor Law ConunissionicsT « i » aiJiee of that House bad been anoointed to the

    ^ jr ^ tnrtb ^ fMsallegaUuns ; committee < Sa Po ? tbey were true , and this was the return *** % &fiv CommisEioners of Somerset-house ! r ^ Hiwi ^ ^* ^ ^ oor ^ Commissioners l ^' tofe , HonSc ? WeTeaeytogra ^ Private J * £ BBJ 3 j . tT * } 5 ) 8 statement which was false from « s ^*~^ a , and then , when put to the testef «^ g ^ tkey to « ane fca-trard sod deliberately gt is ^ , ^* «* tnnentB bad not been made ? ^ hJlf ¦ *» 15 lleTa ^ a 8 : » i- ^ ott now ? * * m -fw " 16 of Mm ? T 116 country bad *« i * CH . ^ ^ dismissed from officea 33 i ^ L ? 1811115563 oa account of his conduct teE ^ S rfa ® ? His { Mr . Ferrand'O firm ? is m V \ ih&t ie bad had notice that » ^ siSL ; & < x > 88 to *^ gn . be weuld B ^ ^ Us Un * ' ? 1 TeT ? eroduct . Now , one ^ fttta rT ; * t : Ho 11- baronet the First Lora ot '' sad if that Right Hen . Baronet would

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    give hto his kind attention for one minute , he thought he eould cenvince him that be was in honour bound to do him an act of justice—( hear . ) The Right Hon . SfT * M 2 * f ° ?* Poor ^ Commissioners ' report , which he drew from his red box ; and when he tiid so be turned round and looked at him ( Mr Fer-Tand ) , a member of that House anxious to do his duty ^ cording . toifce best of his ability , and saia , "Letthe Hon . Member , instead of babbling about green fields and all such trash , go down into his own neighbourhood and inquire into the state of the workhouse rf ^ l , ^ *•* " * - Ms ^ berf or Halifax Bhonted « ut , rt Within three-qoarters of a mile of his own house "—( a laugh ) . He ( Mr . Ferracd ) assented that it was so and how loudly was the Right Hon . Baronet cheered by

    certain Hon . Members opposite , who gloried in seeing him put down by the first Minister of the Crown —( hear ana a laugh ) . But at the same time he felt conscious that all the horrible scenes described by the Right Hon . Baronet , and horrible they wtre , could not have taken place ; and he aaid that it was a disgrace to th& country that Poor Law Commissioners , for party purposes , should so deceive the Right Hon . Baronet—( hear , hear ) . He was also determined to test the truth of the assertions of Jit Power , as well as to justify Mms 8 lf in thB aigfet of the Sight Hon . Baronet and of the Hoqsb ; and to show , therefore , that they were not such monsters in the parish of Bingley before the Poor Law , &b to compel the living to companion with the dead , or to sleep four in a bed—and ohhow

    elo-, quently did the Right Hon . Baronet describe those horrors!—he ( Mr . Ferrand ) moved that there be laid upon the table of the House returns of the nnabera of tisiea the assistant-commissioners Power and Mott had visited the boards of guardians of which the Right Hon . Baronet had spoken , of how many reports th ^ ey had made concerning them , and of the number of inmates in the union from the first day of its formation to the year 1842 . Well , what was the fact ? Why , that previous to that report not one single commissioner had visited the poorhouse from the time of the formation of the union !—[ hear , hear . ) But if there were evils in that poorhouse now , who was to blame ? It was placed under the entire control of the Poor Law Commissioners and their assistant

    commissioners . The gwdiana and parishioners darst not interfere ; if Ha ? did , they wonld act illegally . They were bound d&- » r- in the strictest manner by the blessed New Poor Law ,-- ( hear , hear . ) But what was the treatment of the poor there under the old law , and what was it under thenew ? The number of inmates in the poorbonse of Bingley , aJ tie formation of the union , was 12 ; not enough to fill all the beds . —( hear , hear . ) - Would the Right Hon . Baronet believe that , under the new law , the number had increased to 56 ? —( hear , hear . ) And that crowded state of thB house was under the sanction of the Poor Law Commissioners themselves , for their directions to the Board of Guar dians were that thepoer should be crowded into that building , including the poor belonging to two other

    townships in that union . —( hear , hear . ) He would , therefore , ask the Right Hon . Baronet , not as a matter of favour but as a matter of right , did he not think hf was bound to give some explanation of the attack which he made npon him iMr . Ferrand ) on a former occasion ?—( hear , hear . ) As long as wa had the management of the poor ( continued the Honourable { Jentlenun ) we toek care that the living did not companion with the dead : we treated them with mercy and mth justice , allowing them the enjoyment of every thing they . had a right to expect by the = laws of England , and what by the laws of God they had a right to demand in a land professing to be Christians and to be influenced by the precepts of the Bible , iA cry of "Oh ! " and " hear , hear . *) He

    wished to bring under the notice of the House the dreadful state of the north of England in consequence of the operation of the New Poor Law ; and when he read a description of the condition of Huvidersfield , he thought that Hon . Members connected with the agricultural interest would say to themselves , " It is high time = for ns to place our houses in order , for the New Poor Law will soon operate in the same manner upon us . " " At the -Guildhall , Hudderafield , on Tnesday last , January 31 , the overseers of no fewer than nine townsMpa that were in arrears with the payment of the calls of the board of guardians appeared to ans-wt-r to summonses which bad been issued against them by order of the board of guardians . The following is the list of the differences : —Golcar , £ 34 2 s ., old arrears ,

    besides the last call of £ . 200 ; Cumberworth arrears , £ 2 «—call £ 60 ; Cumberworth half-arrears , £ 20—call , £ 70 ; SbeUy arrears , £ 20—call , £ 80 ; Thurstonland arrears , £ 60—call , £ 96 ; Linthwaite arrears , £ 95—call , £ 100 ; Whitley , ( Upper , ) arrears , £ 53 10 s . 6 d — « all » £ " 0 ; Scammoden arrears , £ 27—call , £ 100 ; Kirkheaton arrears , £ 52—call , £ 300 . The first fom of these eases were arranged with Mr . Floyd , the clerk of the board ; in the other five cases the overseers were convicted in penalties for the neglect . Mr . Heaton , the overseer of the last-named township , told the magistrates > hat it was absolutely impossible to get the rates collected , as the pe&ple were so very , very poor ; and that within the last fortnight he bad taken out no lesB than one tmnareQ sad twenty summonses , « nd that

    last week he was compelled to take out sixteen warrants of di « trosa for the rate , which they were niiahle to pay . " He would ask , then , was rw >» tUo Hnddersfield thiion in a state of insolvency , when 156 summonses were issued against poor persons who had not the means of earning their daily bread , which they would if they could , and Bixt&en distress-warrants were served upon men who had committed no offence , who had not one halfpenny to help themselves with , whoBe furniture was gone , whose houses were stripped , who were sold up , who had become houseless wanderers , and were reduced to a state of misery qualifying them to be admitted as inmates of the workhouse ?—( hear , hear ) . But the Poor Law Commissioners had lately discovered a new light , in the person of a Mr . Clements , whom they had sent

    down ia the- place of Mr . Mott ; and the manner in which he had treated the guardians was such aa to raise the blood of any man of honourable and right feelings—( hear ) . The insolent and overbearing manner in which that person treated those who had grown grey in the service of the poor , respectable men , members of boards of guardians for years , telling them that they were ignorast of their duty , and that through them the country was being eaten up by the poor , was almost unendurable —( hear ) . This Mr . Clements had told them that he went ( town to set them to rights . And how was he going to do that ? By cutting down a hill—( " hear , hear , " and a laugh ) . He had gone to Bradford and Halifax , and told the gurdbss thst they must compel the working classes , who had not the means of earning their daily

    braad in their own honest manner , to cut down a hill , and if it were four or Ere milea long , so much the better—it would give them more exererae —( hear , hear ) . That was the behaviour of that—what should he call him?—that AwrisfaTtt Poor Law Commissioner , —he could call him nothing worse—( cheers , and laughter ) . The guardians inquired what was to be done after the task was accomplished ? Must they find another hill ? " Oh no" said he , " let them put the earth back again " —( bear , hear ) . . Such were some of the effects of the sew law , but not alL Parishes were rapidly becoming insolvent ; the land was already eaten up by the poor rates . In his parish they had doubled and increased to the extent of £ 300 over that since the year 1836 ;

    and in twelve months more the rental of the small fanners in the parish would be wholly consumed . He would ask the Right Hon . Baronet , was that the method to be punned to relieve the country from pauperism ?—( hear , hear ) . If such was the state of thiuga in the North , where the people had manufactures to enable them in some measure to bear up under the new law , what wonld be the result in the agricultural districts , where the profits on the growth of corn were reduced , and ths wages of the agricultural labourers diminished in proportion ?—( bear ) . Thanking the Honse for the indulgence he had received , he would now condnde by declaring his intention to support the resolutions .

    Mr . Shakma * Crawtobd cordially snppdrted the resolutions , considering them to be borne out by facts . Sir B . Tkel . said , he wished very briefly io advert to a statement which bad fallen from the Hon . Gentleman the member for Knaresborongh . The Hon . Gentleman had referred to a former debate , in the course of which he ( Sii R . Peel ) had addressed the HouEe , and had stated that , in alluding to the report of the committee of that House respecting the reports of Sir John Walehain and Mr . Mott , he had misconstrued . She expressions contained in the reports . The Hon . Member further qnoted that report , and having adduced certain passages in it had expressed a hope that he ( Sir R . Peel ) would tha

    now alter his opinion , and , bein ^ convinced t the construction put on the expression was erroneous , -wonld explain hiB error to the House . Now , fee ( Sir R . Peel ) -was Bare ili&t if be had misconstroOT any expressions , he should be o , mta ready to explain away his error , but since the Hon . Gentleman had spoken he had referred to the report , and he did not find that such error of construction existed . The Bon . Gentleman Baid that the report gave a complete contradiction to tshat be had stated . Now , he had referred to ihe report , and what did he find there ! He found that Dr . Nichoil was in the chair , and that on the question being put that this report , as agreed to , paragraph by paragraph , be reported to the House , " Mr . Gnmsditch moved a long series of resolutions of a tenor opposed to that of the report , and on a division there were three for the amendment , and eight against it . The Hon . Member for MaryJebone iSir C . Hapier ) voted with the majority . So

    mnch , then for the general view of the report bj the Hon . Member . Now , what as to its particalAr references i With respect to Six John WalBb&m ' s report , it said , "No attempt has been made to unpnm the general accuracy , nor , with one or two teilinc and immaterial exceptions , any of the details of Sir John Walsham's report . " ( Hear hear . ) With respect to the dead body story , it said , " , At Keiahlev frequently , at Bingley only once , and then vnthX fnlTconsemof She other occupants of the room , dead bodies ot paupers have been left _ till burial in the beds which they occupied whilst bvmg , and in the room where the other paupers , who had been their companions during life , still continued to sleep ; but sheetB were suspended round the bed in which the corpse lay ! and the expression , that the ' corpse companioned the Imng , ' was not intended to convey thai the same bed was at the same time occup i ed by the dead and the Imng . " Then with iJptet to Mr . Mon ' 5 report , what was the evidence of m poamittes ! They said , " Ycnr committee is

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    of opinion , that his report is borne out in all its most important allegations , by the evidence of the witness * who came forward to impugn it ; though undoubtedly it contains some expressions which are too general and unqualified . " In what respect , then , he asked , had he ( &ir R . Peel ) misconsfcraed the expressions in the report ? He did not really understand what was the point of the Hon . Member ' s charge . Mr . Fjsrjund explained that what he had asserted was to the effect that the report was in opposition to the evidence taken before the committee ; and he would refer to that evidence , as published , to shew whether his statement was true or not . With regard to the Keighley union , he had not denied all the statements of Sir John Walsham , bat what he had particularl y dwelt on was . that in the Keiahley

    workhouse , under the old law , there were only twelve inmates , whilst under the new law the poor of two townships went into it , and the number was consequently raised to fifty-five . Sir R . Peel said the question was whether Sir John VValEham ' s report was or was not generally correcf . That , wa 9 the Question . He found that the committee affirmed that report , and he could no nel thinking that it was substantially catteftt . Mr . FEaKAKD remarked that Sir John Walsham made it appear that the inhabitants of Keighley were to blame for the state of their poorhouse , and he perfectly remembered that the Hon . Member for Halifax had joined the Right Hon . Baronet in blaming them , speaking of course upon the allegations of-that report .

    Mr . ' G . Wood , said he perfectly remembered stating that the Hon . Gentleman , the Member for Knaresborough , was chairman of the Keighley board of guardians , and had been from the formation of the union an ex tfficio guardian in consequence of his being a juBtico of the peace ; and he also remembered remarking on the singular fact that the abuses stated by Sir J . Walsham occurred within , he believed , a quarter of a mile of . the Hon . Member ' s own door , he being either c hairman of the union , or ex officlo guardian as before stated . ( Hear , hear . ) Mr . Fbbband again explained . Although he was certainly an ex officio guardian , he had refused to be a party to enforcing a law of which be ao highly disaj proved ( oh , oh . ' ') , and it was without his consent or knowledge that the abuses complained of occurred . ( Ironical cheers . )

    Mr . Miles declared his conviction that the Poor Law had saved the country from destruction , especially the agricultural districts . Mr . Walter then replied as follows : —After all the debate that has taken place , the question is simply this—whether the House will support a law resting upon and embodying as it were the very soul and spirit of this unnatural report—a soul and spirit which will affect the future practice of the law for ever—or whether by sanctioning my propositions , or some one of them , they will impress upon the Government the necessity , if not the duty , of adopting a more Christian and humane principle as the ground of legislation ? ( Hear , hear . ) Now , Sir , as to the Right Hon . Baronet the Homo Secretary—with

    regard to the manner ia which I acquired possession of this document , I do not know that I am called upon to give the satisfaction he requires { bear , hear 0 and 1 beg to say , farther , that I hold myself perfectly competent to judge of the propriety or impropriety of making use of any document I become possessed of . ( Hear , hear . ) Nor do 1 come here to besohooled on points of delicacy or decorum by the Right Hon . Gentleman ( hoar ) , but feel inclined to adopt and act upon my independent convictions of dnty . ( Hear , hear . ) Here is a most scandalous communication ( hear ) , upon which is founded a most unconstitutional and most oppressive law . ( Hear . ) Others have spoken of this communication—I have dragged it to light and branded it as it deserves ;

    and 1 am told , forsooth , I ought not to have done so , because the authors of the mischief had chosen , in order to screen their © fence , to put the words " private" or"" confidential" to their production . Why , in that case no project of guilt whatever cau be detected . The authors have only to say , " We are acting confidentially , and therefore nobody mast take any notice of it , neither while we are so acting nor for years after . " ( Hear , hear ) The names Of the Commissioners , it is true , are not attached to this report , but this is not uncommon , for 1 have other documents of theirs , undeniably authentic , to which their names are not attached . ( Hear , hear . ) Besides , any document printed at the public expence , I submit , ought to bo at the disposal of the public . ( Hear , hear . ) I should like to know how long the word " secret" is to be in operation . ( Hear , hear . ) lean conceive secresy to be necessary during a short time for the completion of an act ; but the act being in

    thiB case completed by the Poor Law itself , it is the duty of every man to know by whom and by what means this legislative provision has been hatched . ( Hear , hear . ) But their most authentic acts I find are now disputed , even the dietary of the Cirenc ^ ster Union , which bears the signature of the three Poor Law Commissioners , but which , on its being published , appeared so horrible , that they dared not to act long upon it . There was a similar suppression of a document during the Poor Law Inquiry of 1837 ( hear , hear ) , and I called the attention of the House at the time to so reprehensible a proceeding . ( Hear , hear . ) Evidence was in that case tendered and and taken , which , when those who tendered it , found that it did not answer their purpose , or rather would prove ihe contrary of what they intended , they effected its suppression . The chief of those who urged this mppressio veri—as indeed his activity in favonr of the law would in no case suffer him to be

    second—was the present Right Hon . Home Secretary , who , though he acted as one of the commi tee , was really mistaken by one of the witnesses , as he will well recollect , as counsel for the Poor Law Commissioners . (** Hear , hear , " and laughter . ) The Right Hon . Baronet at the head of Her Majesty ' s Government said , I had given no intimation of what I intended to do if these resolutions were agreed to . Why , Sir , the Right Hon . Baronet himself supplies me with an answer- ** I have not . " said hei" received my fee for attending the patient . " So neither am I obliged to tender assistance to those who , « o far from offering me a fee , are previously determined not to take my help . ( " Hear , " and a laugh . ) Now as for the relaxations which have been spoken of . That

    must be a bad law , in the first place , which cannot bear its own enactment . The relaxations hitherto have been owing to no humane considerations on the parts of those to whom the execution of the law has been intrusted , but to their inability to enforce it . They frequently indeed allow a miserable out-door relief , but why ! Because the workhouses at this period of non-employment and public distress cannot receive those who are driven to its doors by suffering . In like manner , they send those whose life is extinct to be buried in the churchyards of their different parishes ; but only because the churchyard near the union-houses cannot contain them . CEear , hear . ) The Right Hon .. Baronet 6 poke of the county of Bedford , which my Hon . Frieud has

    called his pet county . ( " Hear , hear , " and a laugh . ) I will just mention a pe « union of his ( hear , hear)—the West Hampnett Union . A day or two ago I received a letter , stating that "in the We 3 t Hampnett Union several parishes raise voluntary rates , by which poor persons are relieved to whom the Poor Law Commissioners will not allow relief to be given out of the compulsory rates . Able bodied men are prevented being tested , as it is termed ; and ? the payert of these voluntary rates say that a considerable saving is effected by this system . The above information I had from two collectors of voluntary rates . I could send you strong cases of the Poor Law being the cause of thefts and mendicity , and perhaps something worse . I cannot now omit

    stating that not long ago , in one of the parishes of the West Hampnett UdIod , I saw in one day six women employed in leading horses , drawing loaded dungcarts into the fields . Though I have lived in Sussex all my life , I never Baw anything of the kind before . " The Hon . Member for Somerset had spoken of the benefit derived by the agricultural districts from this law . Now , I happen accidentally to have copied out of an old Manchester newspaper a passage which bears very strongly upon this . It is as follows . — " Yesterday afternoon , shortly before the sittiDg magistrates at the New Bailey left the Court , a case of extraordinary novelty and hardship was brought before them . - Two healthy , fresh-countenanced , but emaciated agricultural labourers ,

    presented themselves in the witness-box , whilst at the extremity of the court were ranged in view of the magistrates sixteen individuals , one of them a female about thirty , with two infants in her arms , eight chfloren , apparently aft of them "under ten yeaTB oi age , and three wfcose ages might 1 ) 6 from thirteen to sixteen years , two of them girls and the third a boy . There were two othera whom we did not Hee , making up a party of eighteen . One of the men stated that they came from Towersey , in Buckinghamshire . The farmers , he said , called a meeting to know if any of the parishioners would go down to Manchesttr , as every body there was doing well . Several of us said we would go . They told us that they thought oue families would do well to come down . They

    said there would be houses for us . to go into when we got there , and everything provided for our use . They employed a man named Clark to see after people who would go down , and we went to him . He asked what families we had got , and said we should do well indeed to come ; we started accordingly to Mr . Waterhonse ' s , at Glossop . In answer to questions , the man said , six of the children whom the magistrates saw belonged to him , and two were his brother ' s . The other man said , two of the rest were his own , and four belonged to another person ; but he had promised to take charge of them to

    bring them down , and do the best for them he couia . The first speaksr then continued his story : —* We were brought , ' he Baid , * from our own county to Glossop in a boat , and from Glossop , Mr . Water house sent us forward in a cart . ' When we got there , there were forty-five of us ; we were put in a bit of a warehouse j and I have bt en there with my family three weeks , lying on a bit of straw , which is the only bed I have had . The parish , ' he said , in answer to questions , * paid the expense of our journey down . We went by the boat to Marple , where they told us there was to be a cart to meet u- > , and take us forward to Mr . Waterhonsfc ' . ? . We did not know to what person in

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    Sf ^? w were C 0 ° *' lDg when we left our ow n El v w ? re 8 ent from our own Pariah to Cod-Wifiio ^ ri " £ we met with , a gentleman named William Clark . We travelled nearly forty miles , r £ fh ; V 2 ^ fwn , to the boat t 0 where and when we had embarked he told us that we were going to Mr . Waterhouse ' a , at Glossop . Two other families came with us . I cannot tell whether Mr . waternouso had desired our overseer to send any fc £ ™ > work ° Mr - Waterhouse ' s three weeks , S * Jf ^ V ha hired a cart and sent us in it to

    Manchester . The carter put us down in the street , ? n ~ i u ; hohas , 8 eat another cartload this mornsent iS ? A then ? ia £ own « and he would have ! nV . ? 2 ? 5 Stwd * y » butthe oart would not hold u * ? mL ™ d on ! the women he w ° send them this morning in his own cart . I don ' t know what has become of them . I saw them in town this mornil Jtt they 8 aid th < ^ were goins to the boat . We two ( the men ) are farmers , and the children are lacemakers ; we were in work at the time we left £ *?„?• msh . ? - Tile magistrates expressed much indignation at the deception which had been

    nran-51 ? Ju ** nnfortu nate people , and intimated fnTrtT * r 8 K'nO'paUy conoerned in thus allurm $ r w w th ! l i ho ^ e 3 ou « ht t 0 b « PWaeouted . Mr . ( x . W . Wood stated , that there happened now to be in town ( engaged in making inquiries on the subject of labour ) Mr . Muggridge , a gentleman employed by the Poor Law Commissioners ; and it was arranged that the overseers should go up to him , represent the case , and obtain his assistance , if possible , in taking measures for returning the families to their native parish , from which thev had h **

    ,, thus unnaturally cast off . In the meanwhile it was ordered that due care should be taken of them by the overseers of Manchester . We understand that the party , eighteen in number , were set down on Thursday evening at the Cotton-tree public house , in Ancoats , of course entire strangers , without means or resources of any kind . They were , however , taken to the workhouse and there provided for that night . I have documents that will overturn nearly every proposition that has been advanced on the other side ; but at this late hour of the night I decline

    bringing them under the notice of the House . The resolutions which I now propose I consciensciously believe to assert truths . They may be unpalatable to the present Ministers , as all propositions I have made on this subject were to the last Administration ; but that is no reason why I should not nropose them , or why those who think with me should not support them—( cheers . ) To meet the views of many Hob . Gentlemen near me , I will withdraw the firBt four resolutions , and take the division only upon the last—( cheers . ) The House then

    divided—AgainBt the resolutions 126 For the resolutions 58 Majority 68 Friday , Feb . 24 . Lord John Russell presented the petition of the Bombay merchants , for indemnification for the opium confiscation in China ; and the Chancellor of the Exchequer , in reply to a question , intimated that the settlement of those demands waited the exchange of the ratifications of the Chinese treaty . On the order of the day for going Into a committee of snpply ,

    Mr . Hume called the attention of the House te tho charge of the pnblic establishments , and to the state of the revenne and expenditure of past years . He dwelt on the decay of the revenue , the increase of the national debt , tne heavy burden of our military and naval establishments ; and on the necessity for the redaction of our stale expences , and for the adoption of Buch measures as will furnish the meatui of employment to the labouring population , and resuscitate tae revenue derived from articles of consumption . He . pleaded especially for a free trade in corn , and warned the Government of the consequences ^ hich "would ensue if nothing wore done to relieve the country .

    fllr . WJLLUMS contended that the Budget ought to be opened to the House before they were called upon to vote away public money . Formerly , tho different departments hod their estimates rigidly revised by the Treasury ; but such was not the case now . Until some system of control was adopted , it was hopeless to expect economy or retrenchment . ' He compared our expenditure in different past years with the present ; complained of the great increase in the half-pay and pensions , and contended that our expenditure sheuld be made to conform to our revenue .

    Sir K . Peel thought that many of the topics urged might have been reserved for explanation , until the estimates were actually under discussion . The increase in the amount of naval pensions was accounted for by the fact that formerly Greenwich Hospital bad independent funds ; and the increase in the charge for widows and orphans was the result of the recommendation of the parliamentary committee . Mr . Williams had omitted the charge for the Irish estimates , in comparing the expenditure of 1791 with subsequent yean ; and in considering the necessary expenditure of a great

    country like this , reference must be ha < l to other considerations than revenue , as the dispositions of foreign powers , and the necessity of upholding our dignity . He admitted tbe great importance of endeavouring to reduce oar expenditure as far as was compatible within tbe limits of our income ; and denied the position of Lord Howick in his speeeh of last week , that this country , in proportion to its means , was more lightly taxed than other nations . But it did not follow that because peace bad been established we could immediately reduce oar establishments ; good policy required that we should still maintain a fores on the coast of China .

    A redaction would be effected in our Mediterranean establishment , which would be done in perfect dependence on the good faith and feeling of France . There was a great interest growing np in that country interested in the maintenance ot peace ; newspapers were not always tbe organs of public opinion , and we might despise the ravings of those who were clamourous for war . In the army , navy , and ordnance estimates there would be a reduction of £ 832 , 000 ; and he could assure the House that tbe estimates underwent the closest inspection and control of the Treasury , and they were reduced to as low a point as was compatible with the interests of tbe country ; Mr , Francis Baring then rose to move for papers respecting tbe dismissal of Mr . Hosblns from acting as Deputy Judge-Advocate at Portsmouth . He was the last person in the House to interfere with the prerogative of the Crown : but there were certain situations

    dependent on the royal pleasure which were not considered as removeable on merely political grounds . Mr . Uoakins had been appointed by the late Government , and his qualifications bad been admitted by the pre-Bent ; but he bad been summarily dismissed , without complaint and without reason , except that bis situation was not one for life . He ( Mr . Baring ) believed that Mr . Hoskins had been dismissed because be was a Whig , and his successor appointed because he was a Tory . No stain rested on his professional or bis private character , and he now filled the office of Mayor of Portsmouth by the unanimous wish of his fellow townsmen . His appointment had a judicial character ; but he had been dismissed with as little or less courtesy as a petty officer of the Customs or clerk in a department . He wished to ascertain the reasons of ft , or to hear what explanation or defence could be

    given . Sir Qeoroe Stapnton seconded tbe motion , and bore testimony to the character of Mr . Hoskins . Mr . Sydney Herbert explained tnat Mr . Hoskfns he ! d no appointment under ( the Growni The office of Deputy Judge Advocate being in abeyance , Mr . Hoskins had for eleven years acted , pro hac vice , on the election of courts martial , tbe members of which could choose whom they pleased . He had on one occasion been Bet aside by a court martial ; and the Admiralty , having determined to re-establish : the permanent office of Deputy Judge-Advocate , in order to obviate possible public inconvenience , the Board chose the son of the previous functionary who had filled the office , he having filled the office when his father ' s age and infirmities had rendered him unfit for the duties of the office . The character of Mr . Hoski&s was all that Mr . Baring had described it to be , but no injustice bad been done to him , for as he held no office under the Crown , so it followed that the Admiralty had not displaced one officer

    by another , on the score of political opinion . Mr . Charles Wood thought that Admiralty should have offered the office of Deputy Judge-Advocate to Mr . Hoskins , and that political considerations bad restrained them from doing so . He bad an equitable claim to the situation . Sir CHARLES NaPIEU said it -was always agreeable to have secretaries pitted against each other , as then the cat got out of the bag . He regretted that Mr . Herbert should have attempted to defend this notorious job . He narrated various cases of jobbing , as occuring within bis own experience . Several of the naval officers in the House joined in the debate , after which

    Lord Palmehstom remarked that there never was a clearer case , in which one person had been dismissed , and another appointed , on pollticat ' consideratlons . Mr . Greetham , who had been appointed to supersede Mr . Hoskins , held different appointments , being agent for Customs , Excise , and the Admiralty , and was , therefore , " not more eligible than Mr . Hoskins , who was held not eligible , as filling the office of Mayor of Portsmouth . By the very letter dismissing him , the Admiralty recognised the official nature of the sftUAtion held by Mr . Hoskins . He admitted that in appointments a Government might properly , recognise its friendB , but it should not punish those opposed to them . After a few ebservationa from Mr . Eacott ,

    Sir Robert Peel said , that as the Government had agreed to give the papers aafeed for , the whole transaction wouia be aietinotly understood . H » admitted that the letter ot Sir John Barrow , dismissing Mr . Hoskins , did appear to recognise ; him as Deputy Judge-Advocate . But there was a previous letter , intimating the intention of conferring the revived office en Mr . Greetham , whose father had previously filled it for thirty-five years . He admitted the general principle of recognising service , and of not changing officers filling responsible situations , and he claimed for his Government the merit of having made as few changes as any Government , even where they might have been most emitted to do so , namely , in diplomatic appointments .

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    Mr . Labouche . he was satisfied , from the speech of Sir Robert Peel , t . bat if he had been consulted , thf transaction would not have taken place . He bad been a junior lord when SI r James Graham was at the head of the Admiralty , ana be then witnessed a great public department admirably conducted . 5 Such a letter as that of Sir John Barrow ' s dismissing Mr . Hoskins , would not then have Jxeen permitted to have left the office . He looked upon the affair as an ungenerous attempt to cow the electors of Portsmouth , where j government influence was notoriously ;! grest j Mr . Baring withdrew bis motion ; as all the infor- ' mation was before the House whieh he desired . j Mr . Blewitt called the attention of the Honse tof the state of the North Boundary qnestion between this j country and the United States , and asked information j as to the course which the Government meant to pursue with respect to it 1

    Sir Robert Peel hoped that Mr . Blewitt would not infar the disposition of the Arueriean Government from the speech or bill of a membsr of the Senate . Friendly communications were now I passing between the two Governments on tbe subject . I The House then went into a Committee of Supply ; and : Mr . Sydnet Herbert rose to move the Navy Estimates . Compared with tbe previous j year , there is to be a reduction of 4000 men , and a decrease in expense of £ 143 , 000 ; and on tbe entire estimates there will be a saving of £ 435 . 000 . ] A discussion followed , which laated the remainder of the evening , after which the vote was agreed to , and the Honse adjourned .

    Mondat , Feb . 27 . Lord Ashley presented some petitions against any interference with the beneficial working of the Collieries ' Regulation Bill , passed last session . ; Mr . R . Yorks wished to ask the Right Hon . Gentleman the Home Secretary , whether f the Poor Law Amendment Bill which he intended to introduce was to be ptecisely and identically tbe same as that laid before the House last year , with the exception , of course , of those modified clauses recognized by the House at the close of last session . j Sir J . Graham said , that tbe principle of the bill would be identically tbe same , but in some of the details various alterations would be made , and there would be some omissions with respect to tbe clauses introduced at the close of last session , and some alteration as to the apprenticeship clause , and there would be some additional clauses .

    The Speaker then said , "I understand that tbe Serjeant-at-Arras has a communication ! to make to the House . " ; Tbe Serjeant-at-Arms then apppeared at the bar , and on being calfad upon by the Speaker , said , " I have to acquaint the House that William Bullamy , a messenger of this House , and myself , have been served with a writ of summons to appear to an action of trespass issued by Thomas Burton Howard by Thomas Howard , his attorney . As tbe writ did not state the nature of the trespass , I thought it proper to enter an appearance to the action . On Saturday last t was served ! with a declaration , which shows that the suit wua In consequence of ray Saving taken into custody Thomas Burton Howard , and w ^ s against William Bellamy for having taken him to the prison of Newgate : but as both ] these acts were done under the order of the House and under your warrant , Sir , I hope we shall have tbe protection of the House , and the direction of tbe House as to the course we shall pursue "—{ hear , hear ) .

    The writ of summons and declaration were then laid on the table and read by the clerk . : The Solicitor-General said , he did Dot rise for the purpose of making any motion on the subject of the communication which had been made by the Sergfcantat-Arms ,- but he thought that it would be more satisfactory that the papers presented | by the Sergeant-at-Arras should be printed with the votes ; and that they should take them into consideration to-morrow , and ke then gave notice that he should tomorrow submit a motion on the subject to the consideration of the house —( hear . )

    Lord J . Russell said he believed that some action took place in the course of the recess with regard to the Sergeant-at-Arras and some ot bis deputies , and ia which he understood that a sum of mpney had been paid to the plaintiff in that action by order of the Treasury . If that were so , he thought , that although that proceeding might be perfectly right , these papers should be laid before the House . Sir . R . Peel said that whatever information the Government possessed upon the subject should be laid before the House . The papeTs laid before the House by the Sergeant-at-Arms were then ordered to be printed with the votes . ;

    Mr . T . Egerton wished to make one ; or two obaervctions on a statement made the other evening by the Hon . Member for Finsbury with respect' to tbe treatmant of prisoners confined in Knutsford House of Correction . Since that statement bad gone forth there had been a meeting of magistrates , and an examination of the prisoners , the result ef which be would , with the permission of the House , state ; as the charges of the Hon . Member affected the discipline of j the gaol and tbe character of the magistrates . The [ Hon . Member stated , In tbe first place , that one Samuel L-ees bad been ordered on the treadmill for the amusement of some ladies and gentlemen . Now , Lees had been examined , and he stated that he had only been twice on the treadmill , and that only in the ; first week be

    came . Both times were in tho afternoon . Lees said , " I don't know that I ever was put on i on any particular occasion . " On neither occasion yaa he there more than half an hour . The Hon . . Geatlemau had also refersed to the case of Robert Wild , another prisoner , who declared that on entering the gaol " he was told by the gaoler that the discipline was very severe , that heiwould take care he was punished , and that he would not give much for his constitution when he left the gaol . " Now , this prisoner also bad been examined , and he said that " on the day when he-went to the gaol the governor read the rules , f at the same time telling him that he did bo because they were severe , and they would find them bo j ] that if they were not attended to the punishment would be severe .

    and that as to the stopping of tbe bread allowance , it would bave such an effect on their constitutions as by the time he had done with them tbeirf constitutions would not be worth twopence . '' It was the duty of the governor to cause those rules to be Sread . They were ordered by the Home Secretary . The prisoner In question went on to add , that they made " no complaint of any of the officers , or of the treatment they received , that the quality of the food was good , but that they complained of the shortness of tbe quantity . They never applied to the governor for anything but they were sure to be attended to immediately , or he showed a disposition to attend to the request . He ( Mr . Egerton ) could assure the House that the magistrates were most anxious in their administration of

    the affairs of the gaol , while they wished to enforce discipline , to afford as much indul « ence : as possible , and to insure forbearance oa the part of jthe officers . Mr . T . Duncombe thought the House pugbt to receive such statements , when obtained from prisoners through the magistrates , with very great caution . The account he bad read the other evening was made and signed by the prisoners , who were prepared to come forward and repeat at the bar the conversation that took place between them and the gaoler onj being taken into the House of Correction . He was not surprised at the version which bad now been received : through the gaoler and the magistrates , from prisoners who had two years'imprisonment to undergo , and whojm ' ghfc well be supposed to have the dread of additional suffering

    inflicted on them if they persisted in the account they bad formerly given to their friends . Buti in order to get at the truth , he should move for a return on the subject , which he believed would prove the truth of what he bad stated with reference to the Knutsford House of Correction . It was rather singular , that the statement he made had appeared lu tbe j newspapers some time ago , and had never till the present hour been contradicted . He had also seen the statement of Thomas Clark , a fellow prisoner with Wild and Lees , whose period of imprisonment having expired bore testimony to the conversation with the gaoler , and exposed the cruel treatment and sufferings they had endured . He himself had written to Mr . Allison , a person living at Stockport , and desired him to go over to Knutsford and see the prisoners , in order to ascertain tbe truth of their statements . His correspondent paid a visit to

    Knutfiford on the 9 th of February , and applied to the governor for permission to see the prisoners . The turnkey , however , stated , that prisoners j were only allowed to see their friends once in three months , and all the prisoners having been seen within that time except Wild , he was allowed aboufc ten minutes" conversation with ulm In the presence of the turnkey . In the letter he received , Wild was described as a mere skeleton ; from being plump-faced , as he j was when admitted , his bones , from inadequate diet , now almost protruded through the skin . He complained bitterly of tbe conduct ol Lord Abinger , who , ouceihe heard a man was a Chartist , seemed to think that was enough to seal his doom . He firmly believed that what Mr . Allison had stated was perfectly correct , and if he could only get a committee to inquire Into the state of Knutaford gaol , he had no doubt he "would be able to substantiate all the charges which he j had made

    against it j .... Mr . T . Egerton said the Magistrates courted tne fullest investigation into their condnct Wfith respect to the Knutsford House of Correction , he had only to say that the Hon . Gentleman on looking into the reports of the prison inspectors would find it described as one of the best conducted gaols iu the-country . Sir J . Graham felt that the Btatement made by the Hon . Member for Flnabnty oa the evidence ot Mt . AUUon , who was described to be a creditable witness , was directly at variance with that made by bis Hon .

    Friend behind { Mr . Egerton ) . If Mr . AlllBon was to be believed , bo should only say , that the conversation which passed between the gaoler and the . prisoners was very much to ba regretted . —( Hear , bej-. rj There were also other parts of the statement ma ^ e by Mr . Allison well worthy of investigation . ItTas , tfierefere , expedient that inquiry should take " place ; and if the Hon . Member for Finabury v ? ouW give him a copy of Mr . Allison ' s statement he would , undertake that an Inspector should , on the part ef \ he Government , immediately proceed to Knutsford £ >\ , d inquire into all the

    circumstances of tbe case » whose reDort . when j presented , stances of tbe case » whose report , when \ presented , should ba laicl or . the table of the House—( Hear , hear . )

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    Lord Ashley took that opportunity of calling the attention of the Right Hon . Secretary of State for the Home Department to a subject of considerable importance . He bad just received a letter from a very respectable gentleman , signed Thomas Barber , auditor t'f the Halifax UnioH , which was in these words : — «• Halifax , Fab . 25 . - "My Lord—Permit me most respectfully to direct jom . ' lordship ' s special attention to the last page of the Hcdij ' ax Gum ' rdian of this day , where you will find a statsiL "eat of facts relative to the cruel treatment a boy has hbi lergone , or endured , at the hands of bis inhuman master , & collier , residing at Blackley , four miles from this pfea 3- It is not in the power of language to describe , or of imagination to conceive , the spectacle presented to n ^ y view when I examined his back on Wednesday las t at the union workhouse . With a firm

    determination of transmitting an account to you , I wrote his sti tement , but afterwards deemed it expedient to request the editor and publisher of the Guardian to report it ia the paper ; he yesterday accompanied me to the workho use and has given the substance of the boy ' a narrative . I have just returned from the magistrate ' s office , where tie master has appeared tinder a summons from the oTerseera for the purpose of freeing the lad from his parish indenture . The lad gave a clear and succinct statement cf the treatment and sufferings be had endured for some weeks back , with an artlessness that carried an irresistible coavietion of its truthfulness to the mind of every individual present The master was not able to disprove or controvert one iota of the statement , though defended by a professional gentleman , and the justices discharged the lad from his apprenticeship , according to the 20 th of George II ., c . 19 .

    " To Lord Ashley , London . " Along with that letter he bad received a copy of the HaJi / am Guardian ,, and he thought he was justified ia calling the attention of the House to the case , because he bad last year affirmed the total and immediate cancelling of apprenticeships for underground operations , and if that clause had not been reversed elsewhere such , a case as tbe present never could bave happened . The Hulifax Guardian thus reported the case : ¦—( The report will be found at length i n another column ) . Having read the statement he had to appeal to the Right Hon . Gentleman the Secretary for the Home Depart ment , and request him , In virtue of tbe 3 d section of the act passed last year , to send down some official person

    to make inquiry into the case , in order that his report might be laid on the table of the House . Such a step would not only be justified by the net , but by precedent ; some time ago , when the Noble Tord the member fox London ( Lord J . Russell ) was Secretary for the Home Department , an analogous case occurred of great atrocity . He appealed to his Noble Friend , who caused an inquiry to take place and the report to be laid on the table . T wo years after another case occurrad , into which Lord Normanby also directed an inquiry , the result of which was reported to the House ; but , apart from all precedent whatever , and from the act itself , he felt quite sure that the Right Hon . Baronet Would be most ready te extend the protection and aid of his important office to such helpless and destitute objects —( hear ) .

    Sir J . Graham could assure his noble friend , that although this case was entirely unknown to him till the Noble Lord commenced his address to the House , he most warmly sympathized with him in the feeling of disgust which such a statement must create in the breast of every gentleman who heard it ; at the same time , all would agree with him in hoping that there was some exaggeration in the facts as stated . He would most readily institute an inquiry into all the circumstances by sending down a person worthy of confidence into the district , and if the facts as alleged were substantiated it would be his duty to direct thai prosecutions should be commenced against the parties implicated —( hear , hear . ) He was glad to take this opportunity of stating to the House , that notwithstanding anything which had occurred elsewhere with respect to the act of last session , no one was more anxious than he was to give effect both to the letter and spirit of that act , and adhere most strictly to all its provisions—( Hear )

    Lord . J . RUSSELL called attention to the almost unprecedented circumstance ( with the exception cf the case of General Con way ) of tbe Duke of Wellington , aa Commander-in-chief , holding a seat in the cabinet . Aa a conspicuous political bias ; and his Grace bad himself , on a former occasion , declared his opinion that tbe comniander-in-cbief should not be a member of the cabinet Sir R . Peel admitted that in recent times it had not been usual for the commander in-chief to have a seat in the cabinet But he did not conceive that it was

    contrary to constitutional analogy for that high functionary to be a member of the cabinet Lord John Russell had referred to the previous case of General Con way ; and the Duke of Wellington bad been , at ene time , Master of the Ordnance , and cabinet-minister . On the resignation of the late Lord Hill , he ( Sir R . Peel ) , with the concurrence of his col leagues , bad advised her Majesty to appoint the Duke of Wellington to the office ; and they had also bsen all of opinion that it was due to his Grace ' s eminent civil services that , in conjunction with tbe command of the army , he should still retain his seat in the cabinet . '

    Oa tbe motion thai tbe Speaker do leave the chair , Mr . S . Crawford rose , and said he muat entreat tbe attention of the Government to the propositions contained in the resolution of which lie had given notice , and which it would now bscome his duty to submit to the House . At such a period as the present , when most severe and extensive distress prevailed throughout the country , it was , he thought , the duty of the House to endeavour to alleviate that distress by tightening the burden of taxation . This , be conceived , could not be effectually done , unless they took into consideration the whole public expenditure of the country , and th *> means by which it was to ba defrayed ; and in bis opinion , before they assented to votes of the public money , they ought to know what

    amount of revenue might be drawn from the country without unnecessarily oppressing the people . It had been said that the accessary expenditure of the country must be defrayed . ; but he thought that those who bad the controul of the revenue of the country ought , imitating the example of prudent individuals , first to look to their resources , and then to regulate their expenditure according to their means . He did not object particularly to the course pursued by the present Government , but he objected to the system which had been going on for a number of years , under all Governments , ef voting the supplies before they were acquainted with the means to which it might be necessary to have recourse for defraying their votes . He objected generally to the extravagant nature of the present civil

    and military establishments ; and he thought thisextravagance had arisen from no regard being bad to the resources of the country at tbe time when those establishments were formed .- The Government might think that this doctrine was tainted with the principles of Radical Reform , which he was aware were not very popular iu that House ; but he would not hesitate te assert those principles , for he thought that no man ought to maintain opinions out of doors which he had not courage to support in that House . He found that 100 , 846 men were required for the army of this kingdom , 38 , 000 men being retained in Great Britain and Ireland . Now , be would put it to tbe Government whether it was necessary to keep up such a standing army ! Were 38 , 000 men required to

    keep in order the people of the United kingdom 1 He found that in Great Britain there wag a force of 25 , 127 men ; and , if the Government conceived that such an army was requisite in this country , he would ask what rendered it necessary ? If they were compelled thus to coerce the people of Great Britain there must be something wrong in their institutions or in their legislation . ( Hear . ) He thought a great reduction might be effected in the number of troops at present maintained in Great Britain , and , if no reduction was made , he considered it a strung proof that the country was in a very discontented state . Nearly 13 , 000 troops , he found , were stationed in Ireland . He would ask if this was necessary , when they bad in that country a constabulary force of 9 000 men . who were quite as efficient as a

    regular army ? He begged also to call the attention of the House to the wanton and extravagant expenditure incurred for the staff , which ameunted to the sum of £ 165 . 300 . He wished to know what necessity existed for keeping up such an expensive staff , which in his opinion was almost useless I The expense of the staff at head-quarters , in London , was , £ 16 , 800 . The pay of the Duke-of Wellington as Field-Marshal was £ 16 83 9 d per day , or £ 6 , 000 a year ; and he mnst say it seemed to him wholly unnecessary ' that any office * should receive such pay . Tber& were i- the united kingdom fourteen different stations of * he etaff , the number of which might , he thought , bs greatly reduced . The expence 8 of tbe Commander-in-chief ' s office , were £ 17 , 000 a-year ; those of the Adjutant-General ' s ,

    £ 12 , 000 ; and of the Quartermaster- General ' s , £ 6 . 600 . Ha considered this an enormous expenditure of tbe public money ; and he thought th 9 business might be effectively conducted at a much less cost He found Is the army estimates an item of £ 117 , 787 for volunteer corps . He would put it to the House , what services were rendered by these volunteer corps which entitled them to such an amount \ Was there any record of their ever receiving . the thanks of tbe House for their services , which must have been tbe case if those Ber * vices had been important and valuable ? He fsond in the non-effective service 198 generals , w&o cost the country £ 89 , 000 ; tbe amount paid to officers retired on full pay was £ 64 , 000 ; and the pensions allowed to soldiers amounted to £ 1 , 243 , 176 . The allowance to retired servants of the military department > as £ 41 , 000 .

    In tbe Ordnance Department there 'were numerous heavy expences , iu which he thought great reductions might be effected . Tbe effective force of the naval service for the last year cost £ 4 , 632 , 000 ; the non-eflfcetive , £ 1 , 390 , 000 ; there being 184 admirals on tbe non-fcffective list Then , in tbe civil department , he found that the salaries and other « xpenses of the pome-office cost tha country £ 25 , 000 , the expences of the Exchequer were £ 18 , 000 , and of the Privy Council and Board of Trade £ 32 , 000 according to the estimates of the last year . The allowances to retired and superannuated officers in tbe civil aepartment amounted to £ 84 , 000 . To one iteinwnich appeared in the estimates of last year , that of £ 39 , 000 for eecretservice money , he strongly objected . ^ He thought , then , after tbe statements he had made , that some means should be taken to alter the existing sys > i ( Continued in our Eighth page . ) i

    Untitled Article

    THE NORTHERN STAR . 7

• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 4, 1843, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct924/page/7/