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proved of the course pursued by the Noble Earl. The Marquis of Londonderry expressed his thanks for the papers, and then proceeded to arraign the conduct of Ministers towards the government of Don Miguel, and to deprecate their remissness in allowing France to capture the Portuguese fleet in the Tagus.

September 15.-The Marquis of Breadalbane (late Earl), Earl of Lichfield (Lord Anson), Baron De Saumarez (late Sir James), and Baron Cloncurry, severally took the oaths and their seats.-The Earl of Aberdeen accounted for his absence during the discussion on the affairs of Portugal the preceding evening, by stating that he was prevented by indisposition from attending. He pledged himself however to substantiate his former statements.-Lord Dundas presented petitions from places in Essex praying for alterations in the Sale of Beer Act.

September 16.-Lord Melbourne brought in a Bill for the protection of cornstacks, and other farm produce, against incendiaries. It consists in allowing the use of spring guns, license having been first obtained from magistrates. The Bill is to exist for one year, and till the end of the then next session of parliament.

September 17.-The House sat a short time to-day, merely for the second reading of the Bill to permit the use of spring-guns for the protection of property in barns, &c., and went into a committee on the Bankruptcy Bill, which was read a second time. September 18.-The Earl of Aberdeen rose to re-assert what he had said on a former evening respecting the conduct of the French admiral in the Tagus; which assertion had been contradicted, as he had heard, by the Noble Earl (Grey), in his absence. He (Earl A.) maintained that the real object of the French in sending their fleet to the Tagus was to secure commercial advantages, as was proved by the convention proposed by the French admiral to the Portuguese government.-The Duke of Richmond moved the committal of a Bill, the object of which was to make a very extensive alteration in the Game Laws at present in existence; which Bill had already received the approbation of the House of Commons. The Duke of Wellington opposed the Bill. Lord Wharncliffe was satisfied that if the present Bill did not cure all the existing evils, it would go a great way to remedy many of them. The Earl of Westmoreland could not see in this law, or in any which had yet been proposed, any thing superior to the laws now in existence. Lord Tenterden was so convinced of the evils of the present code, that he would give his support to any measure of amendment.

September 20.-The House went into the further consideration of the Plurality of Livings Bill.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, August 4.-The House having resolved itself into a committee on the Reform Bill, after some desultory conversation the following districts were added to Schedule C: Wolverhampton, including the townships of Wolverhampton, Wilston, Willenhall, Wednesfield, and the parish of Sedgley, Staffordshire; the Tower Hamlets, including the parishes of the Tower division in Ossulston Hundred, Middlesex; Finsbury, including the parishes of the Finsbury division in Ossulston Hundred, Middlesex, parishes of St. Andrew, Holborn, and St. George the Martyr, Saffron Hill, Hatton Garden, Ely Place, Ely Rents, Liberty of the Rolls, and St. Giles and St. George, Bloomsbury; Marylebone, including the parishes of Marylebone, St. Pancras, and Paddington; Lambeth, including the parishes of St. Mary Lambeth, St. Mary Newington, Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, and Camberwell. The question that Schedule C stand as a clause in the Bill, was then put and carried. Schedule D, embracing the towns and districts to which it proposed to give one member each. Stoke-upon-Trent; Lord Milton said that it was at first his intention to move that all the boroughs in Schedule D stand part of Schedule C; but instead of that course he meant to adopt another, which was to when that clause came to be considered, that instead of the word " the word "two" should be inserted. This gave rise to some discussion; but the one," motion was negatived, the numbers being, for the motion 105, against it 206, majority 101. Lord John Russell then moved that the blank in the line be filled up with "one" member, when Lord Milton moved his amendment to substitute "two." The Committee then divided. For the amendment 102, against it 230, majority in favour of Ministers 128.

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August 5.-Sir R. Vivyan wished to ask "whether Government had received any notification that the armistice between Holland and Belgium had been broken; and whether the communication had been made by the Dutch Government, or by our own minister, Sir Charles Bagot?" The Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply said, that the armistice was broken, and that the knowledge of the fact was communicated to Government by Sir Charles Bagot, and not by the Dutch Government. The House in committee on the Reform Bill, then proceeded with Schedule D; and agreed that the following places should stand part of the clause, and have the privilege of sending one member to Parliament: Brighton, Bolton-le-Moors, Blackburn, Bradford, Cheltenham, Dudley, Frome, Gateshead, Huddersfield, Kidderminster, Kendal, Macclesfield, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, South Shields, Stockport, Stokeupon-Trent, Tynemouth, Wakefield, Warrington, Whitby. The only towns on which a discussion took place were Brighten and Gateshead. The former stood in

the Bill," the parish of Brighthelmstone," to which Sir E. Stewart wished to add an adjoining place; but, understanding that the Parliamentary Commissioners would have the power of doing so, he should not persevere in his intention. The question of Gateshead was debated for a considerable length of time, on a motion by Mr. Croker that it be united with Newcastle. A division was at length called for, when the numbers were, for the original motion 264, against it 160, majority 104.

August 6.-The House went into committee on the Reform Bill. The Chairman then put the question "That Kendal should stand part of Schedule D." It was agreed to. The next question was, "That Walsall, including the borough and foreign of Walsall, in Staffordshire, stand part of Schedule D." Mr. Croker moved that Wedgebury should be added to Walsall. The amendment was negatived without a division, and Walsall was declared to stand part of Schedule D. On the question That Whitehaven, including the town of Whitehaven, town and parish of Workington, and parish of Harrington, Cumberland, stand part of Schedule D," Lord J. Russell rose to propose to add the adjoining township of Preston-water. Mr. Croker proposed to leave out Workington, which was seven or eight miles distant from Whitehaven. The House divided, when there appeared for the amendment 60, against it 104, majority 44. Whitehaven was added to the Schedule. The Chairman then put the question that Schedule D stand part of the Bill, which was agreed to.The Fourth Clause of the Bill, "for the reduction of the four members of Wey. mouth and Melcombe Regis to two," was then put and agreed to.

August 8.-Mr. R. Gordon, the Chairman, presented the Report of the Dublin (City) Election Committee, declaring the return of R. Harty, Esq., and L. Perrin, Esq., to be void, in consequence of having been guilty of bribery.-The House then, on the motion of Lord Althorp, resolved itself into a committee on the Game Bill. The Noble Lord stated that he was anxious, as soon as possible, to try the expediency of the measure, and he should therefore move "that the operation of the Act should commence in 20 days after it had passed into a law." The clauses of the Bill were then gone through, and the Chairman having reported progress, asked and obtained leave to sit again on Wednesday.

August 9.-The House having resolved itself into a committee on the Reform Bill, the Chairman read the fifth clause, namely, "That every city and borough named in the first column of Schedule E shall include the several places mentioned in conjunction therewith, respectively, and named in the second column of the said Schedule (E), and shall jointly with such places, after the end of this present Parliament, return two members, to serve in Parliament." Agreed to. The following were then agreed to form part of Schedule E:

Kingston-upon-Hull, with Sculcoates.
Penryn, with Falmouth.

Portsmouth, with Portsea.

Rochester, with Chatham and Stroud.
Sandwich, with Deal and Walmer.
Southwark, with Christchurch.

A short debate occurred upon each of the districts mentioned; several members maintaining that each of the addenda should be represented separately. They were, however, all carried without a division, except Rochester, on which a strong contest arose. The Committee divided, and the numbers were, for the motion 252, against it 152, majority for the motion 100. The question was then put that Schedule E stand part of the Bill. Agreed to.

August 11.-Sir R. Musgrave presented a petition from the inhabitants of Waterford praying for the disarming of the yeomanry.-Lord Althorp, in moving that the House resolve itself into committee on the Reform Bill, announced his intention of moving to-morrow that the House sit on Saturday from 12 till 6 o'clock. The House then went into committee. The eleventh clause of the Bill, which proposes to enact that certain counties (twenty-five in number) shall be separated into "two" divisions, each division sending two Members, was put. The committee divided, for retaining the part of the clause to which objection had been made, 241, against it 122; majority in favour of Ministers, 119.

On the 12th, Mr. Hunt presented a petition from Preston, for the repeal of the Corn Laws. Being indecorously worded, the House divided on its reception, 6 for, and 124 against it.-Lord Althorp having moved that the House should go into committee on the Reform Bill, Mr. Croker said, he would not, in justice to the character of this country in Europe, delay noticing a subject of the greatest public interest-he meant the conduct of his Majesty's Ministers regarding the negociations with Holland. He maintained that facts had not been correctly represented -that Holland was charged with violating an armistice, when no armistice with Holland existed. He moved for a copy of the letter of August 2. Lord Palmerston replied, that to produce such a letter, without other information, was useless, and to give other information now would be prejudicial to the public service; so that he was exposed to attacks when it was tolerably well known that he was compelled to be silent. Lord Brudenell, in a speech of some length, condemned the conduct of Government.-In the Reform Bill Committee the 12th clause was

negatived by consent; and seven counties it was proposed should return three knights of the shire.

August 13.-After some questions had been put, respecting the coronation, the House went into a committee on the Reform Bill. The Chancellor of the Exche quer detailed certain proposed alterations in the 16th and 21st clauses. The 13th clause was agreed to.

August 15. Various petitions were presented; and the House went into committee on the Lords Lieutenant of Ireland Bill.

On the 16th, Various petitions were presented; and Colonel Evans moved for papers to show how far the neutrality of Prussia towards Poland had been observed. Mr. Hume moved that it be an instruction to the committee, to provide that the Colonies be represented in that House. In the committee, it was proposed that the Isle of Wight should send one member to Parliament, which was agreed to.

On the 17th, After the presentations of certain petitions, and some questions having been put by the Marquis of Chandos, respecting the foreign relations of the country, the House went into a committee on the Reform Bill. Under the 15th clause an amendment was moved by Colonel Davies, that the freeholders in cities and boroughs, should vote for cities and boroughs only; for, 124, against, 164, The 16th clause was debated afterwards.

On the 18th, After some preliminary business, the house went again into a committee on Reform; and the Marquis of Chandos moved, that farmers of 501. a year should vote for counties. The House divided, for the original clause, 148, against it, 232, majority against the clause, 84.

On the 19th, The 16th clause, amended, and the 17th were agreed to. The 8th clause, regarding returning officers for the newly-created boroughs (which had been postponed) was next moved; and after some discussion it was arranged that the Sheriff shall appoint such officers where none exist, and that such appointments be compulsory. The clause was agreed to.-Mr. Lefroy moved the second reading of the Union of Parishes in Ireland Bill. After some conversation the House divided, when there appeared, for the second reading 11, against it 38; majority 27.

On the 20th, The 18th, 19th, and 20th clauses of the Reform Bill, were agreed to stand part of the Bill.

August 22.-Colonel Evans presented a petition from Thomas and Caroline Dea cle, of Marwell, Hants, complaining of allegations that had been made in various newspapers, purporting to be speeches delivered in that House, in which they had been much maligned, misrepresented, and injured, and praying that they might be allowed to adduce evidence at the bar of the House, to contradict all such false and injurious representations. The Speaker said it was impossible to receive a petition that commented on what had been said by Members of that House; but if the Hon. and Gallant Member moved that the petition be brought up, the House would deal with it as they thought consistent with their own rules and privileges. Mr. Hume strongly urged inquiry before a committee, into the allegations of the petition. Colonel Evans thought it was a case in which the House ought, if possible, to receive the petition. The press he thought the best friend of liberty, and more enlightened than at any former period of our history. The Hon. Member moved that the petition be brought up and read, which was agreed to, and, after a desultory conversation, in which the allegations against the parties accused were attempted to be refuted, was ordered to lie on the table. The House then went into a committee of Supply, and the Wine Duties Bill was read a second time.

On the 23rd, Mr. R. Gordon rose to submit a series of resolutions, founded on the report and evidence of the last Dublin Election Committee, where it was proved that bribery and undue influence had been exerted, and persevered in pressing the motion, in spite of J. E. Denison's solicitation that it should be allowed to make way for the Reform Bill. The Hon. Gentleman, among other cases of undue influence, instanced the interference of Baron Tuyll with two Police Magistrates, Mr. Tyndall and Mr. Studdart; and moved that the law officers should proceed against the parties. The House divided, 66 for, and 207 against the motion.

On the 24th, Petitions were presented against the delay of the Reform Bill, and there was much desultory debate, on various topics, before the House went into a committee on the Bill; when Mr. Hunt moved, under the 21st clause, that all householders paying taxes should have a vote. The House divided, for, 1, against, 123.-Col. Davies moved that persons resident in towns or boroughs having the right of voting, should be restricted from voting at elections for the counties, in which such towns or boroughs were situated. The numbers were, for, 136, against, 225. The Duchess of Kent's Annuity Bill was read a third time.

On the 25th, The House went again into committee on the Reform Bill. Upon the consideration of the 21st clause being resumed, Mr. Hunt moved that the word "rent" be omitted. The House divided, 10 for, and 353 against the amendment. The committee divided on another amendment, 142, for, and 210, against. On the 26th, The 21st clause of the Reform Bill was agreed to.

Ou the 27th, The House went into a committee on the 23rd clause of the Bill.

Mr. Estcourt moved, that all the present rights of voting at elections of citizens and burgesses (except such rights as appertain to boroughs enumerated in Schedule. A) be permanently preserved. There appeared-for the amendment, 17, for the original clause, 89, majority 72.

On the 29th, Mr. Sadler made a motion for the introduction of the Poor Laws into Ireland, when the previous question was moved, and the House divided, 64 for the previous question, and 52 against.

On the 30th, After the presentation of various petitions, the House went into committee on the 22nd clause of the Reform Bill, which had virtually passed by the previous decisions of the committee-the object of which clause being to prevent any except 101. freeholders from voting for cities and boroughs. Mr. Edmund Peel moved, as an amendment, "That the right of voting should be preserved perpetually to freemen." A long discussion ensued, in which many Members took part; and, after strong symptoms of impatience had been manifested in the House, the committee divided, when the original motion was carried; for the motion, 210, for the amendment, 131. Mr. Wilks then proposed an amendment to the effect of continuing to the widows and daughters of freemen, born before the passing of the Act, the right of transferring the vote to the person they might marry. The amendment was acceded to by the Attorney-General, and afterwards agreed to. Mr. Trevor moved an amendment to secure to freemen within cities and boroughs the privilege they at present enjoyed, and to their posterity, provided they continued within the city or county. Lord J. Russel thought every man in that House ought to complain of the abuses under the non-residence system. Mr. Croker agreed that there were great abuses in the conduct of the out-voters, but it was a melancholy reflection that in the boroughs which had been left they could not proceed without disfranchisement. The question being loudly called for, the committee divided; for the amendment 38, against it 151, majority 113. After some further debate the clause was carried.

On the 31st, The House was occupied principally with Irish affairs; and the.. report of the Game Bill was brought up.

September 1.-Sir C. Forbes presented a petition from several natives of Bombay (Hindoos, Parsees, and Mahometans), praying to be allowed to serve on Grand Juries, and as Justices of Peace.-In a committee on the Reform Bill, the23rd and 24th clauses were agreed to.

On the 2nd, The Game Bill was read a third time and passed.-In a committee on the Reform Bill, the clauses up to the 30th were carried or agreed to.

On the 3rd, The 31st clause of the Reform Bill was agreed to, and also the 32nd; after a statement of Col. Sibthorpe, that he should delay the passing of the Bill in every stage.

On the 5th, After various petitions were presented, Mr. Vernon moved for a new writ for Liverpool. Mr. Bennet moved as an amendment that a Bill should be. brought in to prevent bribery and corruption in the town of Liverpool, which was carried by 76 to 35.-The clauses of the Reform Bill from the 33rd to the 44th, inclusive, were agreed to.

On the 6th, The clauses up to the 60th of the Reform Bill were put and carried, which completed the passing of the Bill in the committee. Lord Althorp added afterwards, two or three clauses of little importance to the Bill. Colonel Sibthorpe then rose in violent agitation, and said he had opposed the Bill fairly and fearlessly, and he was satisfied it would never pass: if it did, he must take leave of the existing institutions of the country, and he could only pray to GOD that He might save the country from revolution. The Hon. Member was repeatedly interrupted by laughter, and he sat down evidently much excited.

The next day Lord Althorp, in a committee of the Bill, settled the amount of barristers' fees, under the clause for deciding the claims of voters. Mr. Hunt proposed that Peers who interfered in elections should be fined 10,000l. and sent to Newgate. The motion was negatived. The report was then brought up by the chairman, Mr. Bernal.-The House went into a committee of Supply.

On the 8th, The House met only to proceed to the ceremony of the Coronation. On the 9th, A debate took place, on the allowance to the Kildare Street Society, in a Committee of Supply, and progress was reported. A debate ensued upon the merits of the Truck System; and Mr. Hume moved that the Bill for stopping truck payments be read that day six months. On a division of the house there was a majority of 44 against the motion.

After a debate on certain petitions on the 13th, Lord John Russell moved the bringing up the Report of the Reform (England) Bill: he said it would be necessary for him briefly to state the few alterations which were intended to be made since the Bill had left the Committee. The first alteration would be as to the mode of taking the description of parishes and districts, but it would be only necessary to apply it in a few cases. In the next place the word "township," as it might create confusion in several towns and boroughs to be enfranchised, was to be omitted, as in the case of Brighton, which was now to include the whole of the

parish of Brighthelmstone. It was also found necessary to make alterations in several of the dates-such for example as those relating to the times up to which taxes and rates were to be paid, and also the period at which this Act should commence operation. He also proposed to fix the date for registration at the 1st of February, rather than the 1st of November, as it now stood. These alterations would naturally render others in minor particulars necessary, and he would suggest that the period up to which taxes should be paid, to entitle a party to register, should be the 6th of April, rather than the 1st of August, as it now stood in the Bill. He would also move it as a proviso, that houses might be employed as booths for taking the poll, as he considered that alteration necessary for general convenience. These were the few points in which changes were necessary to be made in bringing up the Report. As to the Representation of the Welsh counties, it was before stated that the Government would consider of the propriety of adding to it; and he had now to state that to the counties of Glamorgan, Carmarthen, and Denbigh, it was proposed to add one member each to the present number, as they had each a very considerable population. He also proposed to give members to Ashton-under-Line and Stroud, which were towns of considerable importance. Of these alterations, however, he only gave notice, as he intended to introduce them on the third reading. Several verbal amendments were then proposed and agreed to. On the 14th, The House went into a Committee on the Report of the Reform Bill, when two divisions took place; one on Mr. T. Duncombe's moving that Aldborough be restored to Schedule A;-64 for, and 149 against the motion. Mr. Croker also moved that Downton be expunged from Schedule A ;-for the motion 43, against it

96.

On the 15th, The Reform Bill was ordered to be read a third time.

On the 19th, Mr. Hunt moved a repeal of the Corn Laws; but Mr. Hume moving the previous question, the motion was lost by 188 to 6.-The Wine Duties Bill was passed.

September 16.-Colonel Evans presented a petition from Cranbrook, praying that inquiry might be instituted into the conduct experienced by Mr. and Mrs. Deacle. He considered that the government ought to cause inquiry.-The Waterloo Bridge New Street Bill was read a third time and passed.

September 19.-Several petitions were presented, praying for the institution of inquiry into the treatment experienced by Mr. and Mrs. Deacle.-Lord John Russell moved the third reading of the Reform in Parliament (England) Bill. Sir James Scarlett rose to speak. The Speaker appeared to intimate that he was too late. The House divided. Ayes, 113; Noes, 58: majority 55. Lord John Russell moved the first of the additional clauses. The clause was agreed to, and added to the Bill by way of rider. Mr. Lee moved for the insertion of some words in clause 22, to protect the franchise of freehold minors; to which Lord Althorp having no objection, it was agreed to. Lord John Russell moved several verbal amendments, which were all agreed to. Mr. Briscoe moved an amendment to prevent commencing taking the poll on Saturday, where there were but two days allowed for taking the poll, which would prevent Sunday intervening before the close of the poll. Lord John Russell concurred in the amendment. Agreed to. The AttorneyGeneral moved an amendment, that the costs in election petitions under the Act should be recovered as at present. Agreed to. Lord John Russell moved an amendment that the town of Preston Porter be added to Whitehaven. Agreed to. Lord John Russell then moved that the Bill do pass. Sir J. Scarlett rose to enter his protest against the " New Constitution,' although he had no hope that he could prevail on any gentleman to alter the opinion he had formed on the measure. He maintained that the Ministers had sacrificed the best institutions of the country to popular clamour; and he would never consent to make that House a body of delegates from distinct classes to represent their peculiar feeling, and to act under the direction of their constituents. The Bill would throw down to the people the right to discuss and decide upon all the most vital points of government; and, as such a latitude had never been given to any other country, he should record his decided objection to its being adopted in the British Constitution.

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The next day the discussion was resumed. Mr. Baring Wall was confident that, if this Bill passed, the future historian would date from that event the downfall of the British empire. Mr. Macaulay defended the Bill in the most energetic terms, and cordially gave his assent to this noble law-the parent, he trusted, of many good and noble laws. Mr. Croker made a speech of two hours' duration, denouncing the Bill as an incredible mass of absurdity, injustice, and partiality: and the debate was adjourned to the 21st; when the question "that the Reform Bill do pass' was resumed. Mr. Crampton, the Solicitor-General for Ireland, having in the course of a long speech in support of the Bill, made use of the expression, that the Crown had the power to withhold writs from the Boroughs," Mr. W. Wynn and Sir Charles Wetherell seized upon the occasion to make speeches, each considering the assertion as more revolutionary and frightful than even the Bill itself. Mr. R. Grant forcibly supported the Bill. Sir C. Wetherell warned the House of Peers to take example from France, where concessions had been followed

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