But perhaps the Times means to argue that the abuses of power by workhouse masters prove that the workhouse system is incurably vicious, and that no relief ought to be given except out-door relief. If this be its meaning, the system which it proposes is perfectly new. Workhouses have always been recognised by the law, and have always been extensively used, in this country. The novelty of the present system is not a workhouse, but a well-organized and a well-inspected workhouse. However, we may be saved the trouble of arguing against this supposition. Nobody, as far as we know-neither Sir F. Burdett on one side, nor Mr Wakley on the other-proposes such a scheme. Many wise men have doubted, and still doubt, whether a poor law, giving every person a legal right to relief, is compatible with the security of property, and the welfare of society. We think that the existing English system shows that, with proper protections, such a poor law may be not only safe, but also beneficial. But we believe it to be only safe with the existing protections (or others analogous to them), and if those protections are to be abolished, and we are to return to the allowance system, the roundsman system, the labour-rate system, and the various forms of unlimited outdoor relief of able-bodied labourers, we see nothing but certain ruin staring us in the face. It is very well for the Times to talk about cruelty and inhumanity to the poor, to rail against the Whig Poor Law and the Poor Law Commission, and to insist upon the right of the poor to relief without any condition rendering such relief less eligible than the earnings of industry; but it is astounding that persons who admire and repeat this wild declamation should call themselves Conservatives. There is nothing in Chartism more anarchical than this doctrine of an unlimited right to relief, or which strikes more directly at the root of property, industry, wealth, and civilization. The first effect of the practical enforcement of this doctrine would be, that all the surplus wealth of the community would be taken as poor rates; the next effect of it would be, that there would be no surplus wealth to take. We cannot doubt that the more rational part of the 'Conservatives must see the fatal tendency of this doctrine; that they must be aware that this is a question not to be trifled with; and must feel that there are some interests which are more important than a little temporary popularity derived from so impure a source. as out-door relief. We doubt whether the stoutest The question which Parliament now has to de- It is stated that the fitting up of the House of Lords for the trial of Lord Cardigan will cost 2,000l. The public have thus to pay 2,000l. because Lord Cardigan was pleased to call out and shoot Mr Tuckett. This is a piece of feudalism rather too irrational and costly for our times. Cardigans should be relegated to the Old Bailey. A dozen duels by Peers in the course of the year would be attended with an expense and interruption of the business of Parliament that would compel the public to call for an abrogation of the absurd privilege of the Peers. House of Commons a most immoderate fit of laughter, and would have damned any motion; but the French Deputies were struck, puzzled, and won over by the profound mystery of the effet moral. It was certainly a most luminous piece of humbug on the part of M. Guizot. General Schneider's amendment, to have detached forts and no continuous wall, was badly defended, and was proved not to be in favour of either economy or of the security of the Parisians. So it was rejected, and the law, devoting 140 millions of francs to the erection of detached forts, and of a continuous wall, was carried by 237 votes to 162. A clause forbids Paris to be classed amongst fortresses, or subjected to military law, without a vote of the Chamber. The Eastern question has since made a rapid stride towards conclusion, by Mehemet Ali's having yielded to the demands of Captain Walker, and restored the Turkish fleet on the 12th, as the French telegraph informed us; and the Sultan, at the same time, having definitively sent a firman conferring the hereditary Pachalic of Egypt upon Mehemet. Prince Metternich is said not to have taken the requisite steps for procuring this last result until he had reason to believe that France would disarm in consequence, and return to a nominal state of peace. Now the laws presented to the French Chamber are in direct opposition with such a promise. But there is much difference between presenting a law and executing it. M. Guizot, indeed, wants much more than the hereditary Pachalic of Egypt for Mehemet: he wants the Holy Land and The Eastern question is said to be settled, that the Mountains of Lebanon to be declared indeis to say, the Porte has revoked the déchéance of pendent, or quasi-independent, and its Christian poPachalic of Egypt, and Mehemet has restored the There are a number of obstacles in the way of this Mehemet and granted the hereditary tenure of the pulation emancipated altogether from Turkish rule. Turkish fleet; but it is not yet known whether desirable conclusion, and the chief one is, the injusconditions are or are not annexed to the grant of tice and impossibility of tricking the Porte out of the Pachalic of Egypt, and until we are informed a province just conquered under its flag, and in its on that point it would be hasty to conclude that the behalf. Besides, if Syria were converted into a affairs of Egypt are arranged; but, supposing them Hospodarat like Moldavia or Servia, there would be how is the question? What signs are there of the ment put in full force its own edict of Gulhané in to be so, those of Syria remain to be settled, and no end to interference. Let the Turkish Governestablishment of the Sultan's authority, and of re- those regions, and this is all which can be required. turning order? THE NEWS FROM THE EAST. FRANCE AND THE EAST. (From our own Correspondent.) A THE LITERARY EXAMINER. Ethelstan; or, the Battle of Brunanburh. A talented and ingenious man of science, well Dramatic Chronicle. In Five Acts. By George known in Paris, who has devoted much time and Darley, Author of "Thomas-à-Becket,' But if it is wonderful that persons styling them- study to the question of races, is of opinion that the Ethelstan, or, as nearly all the early English selves Conservatives should countenance the anar- Teutonic admixture is quite worn out of the French, Chroniclers concur in naming him, Athelstan, was chical principle of an unlimited right to the pro-and that nothing but the old Celtic remains, a germ the grandson of the great Alfred, and the first Saxon perty of others, it is still more wonderful that from which nothing more is to be expected of noble prince who made any considerable approach to the persons affecting to hold popular opinions, and or grand. I should be sorry to vouch for the corsovereignty of the whole of England. He enlarged, desirous of equalizing social conditions, and elevat-rectness of the anathema passed on the Celtic race; by his conquests of the Danes, Welsh, and Scotch, ing the working classes, should be favourable to a but certainly the plan of fortifying Paris comes the limited title of King of Wessex, borne by Alfred lavish system of out-door relief. This system sup- strongly to the support of the gentleman's argu- and his predecessors, into that of King of the poses that the working classes are not to support ments, for the Teutonic character is to put as few Anglo-Saxons, borne by himself and his descendthemselves by the wages of independent industry; walls or impediments as possible between one and ants. His last and greatest triumph was on the but that they are to be the dependents and humble one's enemy, and to trust to the living ramparts field of Brunanburh, celebrated in many a Saxon retainers of the rich, fed by the crumbs which fall rather than to stone and mortar for national inde-ode, where five Danish kings and seven earls were from their table, or, at the best, reared by their pendence. After all, there may be more dynastic left among the slain. Nor were his victories in hand, like tame domestic animals. We feel assured reasons than reasons of any other kind for throw-peace less striking than those he achieved in war. that men of really popular opinions, such as Mr ing up these 20 leagues of entrenchments. The He revised the Saxon code, made wise additions to Warburton, Mr Grote, or Mr Hume, would repu-party most furious against the plan are the Car- it, instituted provisions for the poor and helpless,* diate all notion of such a system as this; and we lists-the most furious for it are the Louis Philip-circulated a translation of the bible in the spoken believe that all the sounder and better part of the pists; so that both must imagine the Sovereign language of the vulgar, and in every way, by public working people would reject it with disdain. But actually in possession of the throne, as much advice and private example, encouraged the study this plan of managing the working classes is as strengthened by the fortresses. Singular to say, and diffusion of letters. A decisive evidence of delusive as it is degrading. The allowance system the Republicans applaud the measure, flattering his exertions and character was seen in his influconverted a portion of the wages of the labourers themselves that they are to be trained as the artil-ence with foreign nations. The Saxon Court had into parish pay; but, although it destroyed their lerymen to ply the cannon and defend the walls of no such pre-eminence in the time of Alfred. Seveindependence and many of their virtues, it never Paris. In 1830 all the Republicans enrolled them-ral foreign princes betook themselves to it, for the did, and never will, make them the smiling and selves in the artillery of the National Guard; at cultivation of their intellect and manners; he mar contented vassals of the rich. The system is so present, however, the Government will take care vicious that the administrators of it, in their strug- not to allow them to learn to point a cannon. All gle to save some shreds of capital and rent from the lawyers and civilians and foes to the military the all-absorbing poor-rate, interpose enough fric-party, with the exception of M. Barrot, were tion to deprive their bounty of all its grace. strongly opposed to the measure. The capitalists Hence the system of bribing the poor into tran- and people of the haute Banque were also much quillity by lavish out-relief is always accompanied alarmed by it; but these have been tranquillized by by endless contrivances for reducing their wages, the promise that the redoubtable bastion will never and is sometimes interspersed with a few lashes to be constructed. Time alone can tell "Who's the awe them into submission. The poor then reta-Dupe" in this comedy. liate against the vexatious conspiracy of the em- Three or four times the Cabinet was near going That such a man should become the delighted ployer and parish officer, with riots and swing asunder in the course of the debate. Marshal theme of poetry and romance, was a matter of fires. Instead of the imaginary picture of a grate-Soult had strong objections to the continued wall. course in those days; and fiction and fact are now so ful peasantry, living on the bounty of their bene-He promised to stifle those objections, but they blended in his story that it is hardly possible to volent superiors, we have a community of sordid burst from him, and created the tumult alluded to disunite them. Darker legends have even assotaskmasters and grumbling slaves. The theory of last week. He then declared that he would no ciated the circumstance of his early and childless this specious system is completely belied by its longer improvise, but confine himself to speaking death with remorse and penitence for an elder practical effects. what was previously written for him. Still, when brother's murder, but the contemporary records do Before we quit this subject, we will remark that he spoke again, he started off in the same vein. not bear this out; none of the early English the question is now more complicated than it was Louis Philippe exclaimed, "J'ai un Premier Mi-Chroniclers allude to it at all; and Fabyan expressly at the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act. nistre qui me compromette toujours quand il im- mentions the brother so alleged to have been unSince that act was passed, a Poor Law, resting provise, et qui me compromette encore plus quand justly thrust aside from the succession, as in reality upon the workhouse system, has been introduced il prononce un discours ecrit." All this and M. a younger brother, by a second wife of the father into Ireland. Now, if the House of Commons Humann's financial agonies have been got over, of Ethelstan. Legends of a cheerfuller sort made should decide that the workhouse system is to be a long and bright track after his memory, and abandoned in England, they must likewise decide among them are ever visible his giant champion that it shall be abandoned in Ireland. But the sir Guy of Warwick in victory over the giant adlegal provision which has been made for the poor in Ireland must be continued in some form; and if workhouses are abolished, it can only be continued and Ministers are once more afloat for the session. As to the law, it was principally carried by M. Guizot's first speech, a most able one, in which he entreated the French to fortify their city, in order to produce an effet moral upon Europe. Such an argument would have produced on an English ried his sisters to some of the first sovereigns of Europe; and having closed, at the early age of forty-seven, a life (to adopt the simple and expressive words of William of Malmesbury) in time little in deeds great, he was buried in the Malmesbury monastery, and left England open to those renewed ravages from the North, against which, if longer life had been spared to him, he might have firmly consolidated the Saxon power, and so changed the history of the world. See Fuller, who stops the quaint and rich eurrent of his Church History, to enumerate the acts of Athelstan, Wher in his life is written for ever and aye in Weary of spirit And flesh, yet in our eager wills unworn, She is followed by the rude fierce soldier, sword- Fool! I mean not Nothing disturbeth there Once queen, hath done. Wherefore not, thou and she, Blind embryons, in nature's darkling bosom, For that sad prize-long life! That hair his dead sister loved so fondly, whitens in a night: "Aye, are the tresses That gave, 'twas said, such lustre to the air,That down his shoulders flowed as rich as sands Down golden channels, are they blanch'd thus early? And now his enemies, drawn together and urged by Ellisif, prepare their final thunders, in the confidence of leaving him "like the scathed oak, a rind of lingering life, within-a pillar of ashes." The bolt is shot, and he springs up against it-a strong and hopeful man. He is suddenly told that So there, my armour, knights! That never manne might dooe but Athilston." Worthiest, however, of all the romance writers, poets, or chroniclers of Ethelstan, is this, his last, who writes in the nine hundredth year after the closing of the great king's grave. Mr Darley's treatment of this subject, it must be said at once, gives him that front rank in poetry which cannot be quesIt is to swear upon it an oath for the destruction tioned or disputed again. We were not churlishly of Ethelstan, whose trumpet is soon after heard at disposed to withhold it from him on the publication the monastery gate. Sad yet beautiful is the in "hundreds of deep hull'd ships," Danes, Irish, of Thomas-à-Becket, and we concede it to him meeting of king and abbess. Changes are in each Cambrians, Cumbrians, North men, Picts, Orcanow without a misgiving. Ethelstan, indeed, has other's face, but most in Ethelstan's. "Youth dians, sea kings and their pirate bands, have been its faults; but they lie as light as dust on the rich saddens near its ending, like old age.' Edgitha disgorged at Humber mouth, and are already, ore of its genius, and are swept as lightly away. would have him surrender his state, bare his head under the fierce command of Danish Aulaf, overOne is struck, first, with the great, broad, Saxon of all but tonsured crown, and dedicate the re-running England. In the peril of his Saxons he mark that is upon it. This chief dramatic requisite, mainder of his life to his favourite saint, within the forgets all else, and, with one regret for the abthe impress of the time, is as observable in the cloister of St John Beverley: sence of his brother, starts up into the ancient simple construction of the drama, as in the treatstrength and fearlessness: ment of the characters. Everything in it belongs to an early age: the mind is strong; the imagination; the will; and, soft as they are strong, the affections. There is something large, and of primeval cast, about all of these; even to the rude and elementary mode in which the passion is developed. It would not be tolerated on our modern stage; it would be supposed to want variety and relief; little but the harsh and repulsive would be seen in Ellisif, and possibly laughter be aptest to follow the Danish Gorm. For the Danes It is a sore temptation, but is checked by the are on the scene with the Saxons, in magnificent thought of his poor Saxons, and what they are to contrast. The one steady, solid, enduring; the do without their king, their father, their defender, other wild, tumultuous, daring: the proud, silent, white cliffs of England, against the roaring, dashing foam, of the dark Northern seas. The wealth of thought that is scattered throughout the poem is No; he will with life still cling to the duties of his such as an earlier and richer day of poetry might have given us; and for the strength and harmony of the versification in its finer passages, if asked on the sudden to equal it, we suspect that we should have to go to Milton. All this is great praise. Sober people shake their heads, and call it indiscriminate, extravagant-mere enthusiasm; as if the world, of criticism or anything else, had better ground to go upon than a right enthusiasm. We frankly admit its presence here, with gratitude to its awakener. It is a rare privilege, and may compensate rare annoyances, to be able to give Wel. come and Good speed to such a writer as Mr Darley. Our hearts re-purified at the altar's flame; when rumours of the Dane crown. Most finely does he thus continue: So best!-our world Edgitha. Did Satan then hauut holy hermit Paul? But what did this meek sample for all men? shorn to a bare monk," stands fondling with his These gold-bright locks, which crest them on thy brow But by Edmund he is destined to be rejoined, on his way to the field of Brunanburh. The scene of their re-union is an example of the dramatic power of Mr Darley, in all respects striking and complete. In nothing is the hand of the master so apparent as in these sudden yet natural contrasts, which seem to reveal, as by a magic touch, the innermost pulsations of the heart. In his view of the life of Ethelstan he has used the legend of the death of his brother; with admirable art, veiling the guilt, and giving prominence to the penitence and remorse. Superstition is hinted to have had a hand in it, and the mistaken thought of guilt in the brother. Sympathy, - therefore, does not recoil in memory of the deed from the wise mind and tender heart made obvious in the penitent prince; it even half resents the bitter suffering, as ill proportioned to the crime. For Ethelstan, here as in history, is foremost of his time, in war, in statesmanship, in letters; though over all his accomplishments, and yearnings after good, the sense of this one dark deed hangs as a funeral pall. As the drama opens, the latest period of his formal contrition of five long years has come; in the first act it is endured and passes; and he ventures to look forward at last to union with the maiden Ellisif, to whom his heart, in ignorance of her betrothment to his murdered brother, had been surrendered in earlier years. She the rare and true dramatic spirit, as Ethelstan, has meanwhile secretly devoted herself to his winding the secret serpent to his heart, talks to her destruction, and when he opens his arms to her, in this fine unconscious strain: they clasp a poisonous serpent. She will not murder him ("every churl's redress for every wrong"): she plants thorns in his couch; with a witching harp entrances him in sleep, and with devilish art enacts the nightmare to his dreams; robs him of the confidence and love of his younger It is bitterly realised by Ellisif. She stabs him and only brother; and then, at the very last, ex- through all his best affections. She turns the conpecting to overwhelm him by the pressure of an fidence and love around him into hatred and disunexampled confederacy of Danish, Welsh, and trust. Admitted to constant access of his bower Scottish foes, suddenly arouses the nobler nature and cabinet, she supplants even the services of his in him, and brings down upon herself its chastise- glee maiden, Runilda, who then deserts him. Ferment and vengeance. For his sorrows forget them-gus, a young Scottish prince and hostage, who loves selves when his father-land and her children are in this wayward little minstrel, flies too, though relucdanger, and the high-thoughted catastrophe of the drama is the security of Saxon freedom on that bloody field of Brunanburh, from which the Northmen sail'd a dreary remnant The first two acts are laid in the convent of St John Beverley, endowed by Ethelstan-though at a later period than that indicated in the drama. Here, as abbess, is Ethelstan's sister Edgitha, once a queen; here, as probationer, is the vengeful plotter, Ellisif; and here, last trial of the remorseful penitence of the king, is his murdered brother's tomb. The first scene discloses the dark outline of the form of Ellisif, pacing near it disturbedly; the long-dimmed lamp is out, the wandering moon herself sleeps on the battlements, but grief and vengeance are restless and watching still: tantly. The abbess Edgitha dies by poison. Last With angel face washed silver pale by tears, He seems shrinking and withering at last, under How many deaths we die with those we love Enter ETHELSTAN, with House-carls. To hold sweet under-talk with her, whose voice We linger, fellows! By St John Beverley we 're all entranced! House-carl. My liege, the followers report just now Ethelstan. Bring him before us. Enter House-carls with Prisoner. What runagate are thou? that when the foes Prisoner. A true Saxon! It might have cost thee blood-the Dane's upon us! I want thee, Edmund-All's forgiven, forgot! Will soon o'er-ride Northumbria-that's their custom! - Edmund (falling on his knees). Spare me! O spare me! [Giving the Death Warrant. (Starting up). Thou said'st by boat-the Derwent stream FAREWELL! Ethelstan. Royal-soul'd Edmund! The treatment of the Battle of Brunanburh remains, by far the most remarkable part of this dramatic chronicle. Mr Darley's finest writing is in this portion of his work-with that magnificent discrimination of character, between the towering and massive shapes of Saxon and of Dane, which shows that the greatest honours of the stage are within his reach, if he elects to take them, eyes of the most beautiful, and makes him see therein their deformity and rottenness, and they acknowledge it. We picture of the captain of the ship in which he Notes of an Overland Journey through France The Parlour Table Book. Written and selected by Robert Aris Willmott. Rickerby. Table Books have so long been a popular mode of conveying instruction, amusement, and the knowledge of style, in an easy and accessible form, hat Mr Willmott need scarcely have written so elaborate a letter to Mr Montgomery, in explanation of the "character and motives" of this Among the authors less known to us we have collect her broad, good-humoured face, we do not rolume. "Put into your table book," says Dry-been struck with the wise thought and epigram-wonder that she had many friends-will be glad to dea, "whatsoever you judge worthy. This matic style of an old clergyman, Arthur Warwick. Mr Willmott has done in his Table Book, and Of the editor's various poems, that to Dyer, the receive this volume. She was a competent obthinking it, correctly enough, not unworthy of poet of "The Fleece," seems best to suit his style. from the reputation she had gained in connexion server of Indian subjects, and it does not detract being given to the world, has transferred it from We cannot concur in the epithet, though it appears with them. It possesses additional interest as the his own to that larger Parlour. in a poem of some merit, which styles Milton "night-latest of her writings. Mr Willmott is the author of some interesting ingale of verse;" though it seems borne out by a Asiatic Journal (a clever and entertaining magaIn the same number of the lives of the sacred poets, and of several graceful fancy in a sonnet which we recollect to have and earnest poems. We do not know, therefore, heard admired by Charles Lamb, assigning the zine) which published the last essay contained in that it can fairly be objected to him that he has commencement of the rapt and melancholy note announced. It took place at Poona in September the volume, her sudden and unexpected death was judged his own writings worthy, and included them of the nightingale to the expulsion from Para-last; and she was buried near Mrs Fletcher, better in the collection to a somewhat large extent. They dise. Finally, we think that, in all cases, the known by her maiden name of Jewsbury as a are for the most part pleasing, and will scarcely be particular book from which the extracts were unwelcome to any of his readers. But to have set taken should have been carefully specified. And woman of very superior attainments, who also, them apart from those of the more acknowledged with this we recommend the Parlour Table Book some years since, fell a sudden victim to this trying writers, would have implied greater modesty, and as an agreeable companion by a winter's fire. climate of India. we notice the not having done so as an error of The main features of an overland journey through judgment. The laudable feature of the book is its selection Two Years before the Mast: A personal Nar-Egypt to India, are of course too well known to admit of much novelty of treatment, but this porrative of Life at Sea. Moxon. from writers that are now-a-days seldom sought tion of the book is pleasantly done, and the closing after. A good instance is the "Fragment on Shak- pay this book a high compliment when we notices of Bombay contain remark and suggestion speare" by Martin Sherlock; in which, however, say that it has strongly reminded us of De Foe. It of a valuable kind. Miss Roberts seems to have striking as no doubt it is, we have to notice a repe- has the graphic force, combined with literal minute-carried away a favourable impression from Egypt, tition of Voltaire's ridiculous error of calling the ness, which gives such charm to the easy yet pains- and takes occasion, more than once, to repeat a grave digger's scene in Hamlet gross farce, with taking narrative-style of that great writer. wish, which every friend of civilization will echo the addition or explanation, that Shakspeare, beIt is the work of a young American of good with much earnestness, that peaceful relations with cause he wanted to make his fortune, "wrote it in family, and not unconnected by many favourable that country may be permanently established in a low manner to divert the people." It is late in associations with literature, who, after finishing his England. the day to have to point out, that the scene of education at the Boston University, spent two years The growing superiority of Bombay is thus rethe grave diggers is one of the poet's most conas a common sailor, before the mast, in the Ame-ferred to: We cannot ascertain summate strokes of art; one of his richest and rican merchant service. subtlest contrasts; quite as necessary to the throughout the work any intelligible motive for entire and perfect Hamlet, as his fitful jeers with this step. The writer's name and education were Polonius, or his sad soliloquy with Death. Yet known to every one in the ship, nor does he seem Mr Willmott praises Sherlock's criticism on the to have concealed his design of returning to other ground that "instead of assigning to our great and more learned labours after the expiration of We can as post a subtlety of motive which he probably never certain term of sea-faring hardship. possessed, this clear-sighted commentator resolves little understand his fears, when the voyage his extravagancy into an intelligible cause." Fudge! threatened to stretch out to some three years as Mr Burchell would say. instead of two, that so comparatively trifling an adMr Willmott is apt to have his judgment run dition to his sailor life would end in dooming him away with by a name. In the way of quotation to perpetual seamanship. Direct enthusiasm scem, from Sir Thomas Browne he gives the following: to have been wanting in it all, though amazing Ruined Cities of Egypt.-Time sadly overcometh all energy of purpose, and infinite powers of enthings, and is now dominant, and sitteth upon a sphinx, and durance, supplied its place. If the object was looked unto Memphis and old Thebes; while his sister, merely to undergo, in the vividest possible way, Oblivion, reclineth semisomnous on a pyramid, gloriously what is called a discipline of humanity, we should triumphing, making puzzles of Titanian erections, and turn-venture to think this attainable in some mode, ing old glories into dreams. History sinketh beneath her where the pains and the result were better procloud. The traveller, as he paceth amazedly through those deserts, asketh of her who buildeth them, and she mumbleth something, but what it is he heareth not." And appends this note: This sublime passage is taken from the Remarks on Mummies, first published by Mr Wilkin, in his laborious edition of the works of Sir Thomas Browne." a portioned. Materiem superabat opus. We must reason. It has been turned to a good use, however, in the book before us. It will be doubted if, at all First published by Mr Wilkin indeed! Poor Sir times, the writer's chances of a correct judgment Thomas Browne would have had a difficulty in of the experiences before a mast, were increased publishing it, seeing that it was not written till the by the superiority of his previous education; but nineteenth century. The thing was a hoax, cleverly there can be no question of the power and effect of enough got up, to impose upon worthy and labo-his descriptions, or of the faithful and truth-telling rious Mr Wilkin. We thought everybody knew it spirit which pervades them all. His book is, in by this time, as well as its learned and ingenious this respect, one of the most remarkable that have inventor. It would not have been difficult of disco- been published in our time. He does not seem very, but for the respect a great name not improperly to have been prepared for the terrible trials he carries with it into all things. It is founded on encountered, and it is impossible not to admire what Fuller so quaintly says of the Pyramids the manly simplicity, and the desire to improve the that, doting with age, they have forgotten the condition of such as are of necessity still subject to names of their founders-and is chiefly notable for like sufferings, which animates his unaffected rela its clever allocation of words. tion of them. Excellent taste is observable in the selections above almost seemed to have fallen back from the shore to "That Bombay is the rising presidency there can be no doubt, and there seems to be every probability of its becoming the seat of the Supreme Government; nothing short of a railroad between the two presidencies can avert this catastrophe; the number of days which elapse before important news reaching Bombay can be known and acted upon by the authorities of Calcutta rendering the measure almost imperative. Bengal, too proudly triumphing in her delighted to subject Bombay, a place contemptuously degreatness, has now to bear the mortifications to which she signated as a fishing village, while its inhabitants, in consequence of their isolated situation, were called the Benighted." Steam-communication brought the news to Bombay of and this event was celebrated at the same time that the the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne of England, Bengallees were toasting the health of William the Fourth at a dinner given in honour of his birth-day. Who are the Benighted now?' was the universal cry; and the story is told with great glee to all new arrivals.” This is the closing remark of the book: "As far as I can judge, a little of Uncle Jonathan's feryour in progressing is wanting here; neither the AngloIndian or native residents seem to manifest the slightest of the apathy evinced at home to all that concerns their inclination to go ahead;' and while they complain loudly advantage and prosperity, are quite content to drowze over their old dustoors (customs), and make no attempt to direct the public attention in England to subjects of real importance. "The intellectual community of India seems yet to have to learn the advantage of placing all that relates to it in a clear, succinct, and popular form, and of bringing works before the British public which will entertain as well as instruct, and lead those who are employed in legislating for our Eastern territories to inquire more deeply into those subjects which so materially affect its political, moral, and And it is worth attention. commercial prosperity." The Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art. Illustrated with Engravings. By the Editor of the "Arcana of Science." Tilt and Bogue. A laborious and very useful little compilation. It contains, in the compass of less than three hundred pages, five hundred abstracts of inventions and improvements in science and art-the labours of the past year. Every class of subject that can be brought within its comprehensive title, is included in it; and the plan is, to condense and remany quarters its least valuable recommendation, write from various sources of every kind-fleeting that its picture of the ordinary seaman's life is paragraphs of newspapers, or the scarcely less painted in its darkest as well as its liveliest colours. fleeting pages of magazines-some sufficient menHow worthy of attention this rebuke of a popular It is sure to direct attention to many serious evils that tion or account of whatever scientific or artistic fallacy by Shenstone: cry for cure; and that must be rife with us as with progress has been made during the past year, The same degree of penetration that shows you another our transatlantic friends, if the frequent reports at whether by lucky accident or the labours of scien It seems to be carefully and conscienyour inferior: hence the observation and the real fact, that trials at the Old Bailey, are worth anything as tiously done. We notice, among an infinite variety in the wrong, shows him also, in respect to that instance, the Thames police office, to say nothing of frequent tific men. people of clear heads are what the world calls opinionated." evidence. Some such views, indeed, appear to of other matters, in the small volume before us, How grand, and, though already familiar to us, have suggested the republication in this country, very interesting memoranda concerning steam nairresistibly demanding quotation, this passage of and in this cheap form. It is remarked in a brief vigation and civil engineering; a good account, in Walter Raleigh's conclusion to his History of the advertisement, that it has been read with much remarks on many recent electrical researches, of approval by many officers of old standing in the the new Electrotype process, at present exciting World: Death, which hateth and destroyeth man, is believed; British navy, who were persuaded that its ex-so much attention; notes of the various advances God, which hath made him and loves him, is always de tended circulation "might have wholesome effects of the Daguerrotype; many novelties in Zoology, ferred. It was death, which opened the conscience of among seamen in general, and the many who re- Botany, and Geology; and a record of the achieveCharles V, made him enjoin his son Philip to restore Nagard their welfare. That valuable class of men ment of the North-West Passage. The information tice should be done upon the murderers of the Protestants tier and King Francis I of France, to command that jus- have been not a little misrepresented in works which is brought down to the end of 1840. is Merindol and Cabrieres, which till then he neglected. It have professed to describe their language, man is therefore death alone that can suddenly make len teknowners, and habits. They are here portrayed in their The New Tale of a Tub. An Adventure in Verse. By F. W. N. Bayley. With illustrations designed by Lieutenant J. S. Cotton. Lithographed by Aubry. Colnaghi and Puckle. This is an anecdote of some humour, cleverly related in verses more fluent than polite, and illus trated by seven large lithographed plates of prodigious comicality. make it. We think the three hundred and ninety | TER concurred in the meed of approbation.—The Duke o "The well spring of his love was poor The adventure is of two Bengalese, in size and shape a kind of Quixote and Sancho, who are interrupted in the enjoyment of a pleasant pic-nic, which they have had brought in a barrel to the centre of a pleasant Indian plain, on a remarkably pleasant day, by the unpleasant apparition of a royal Bengal tiger. The first plate exhibits the tiger in the foreground asleep, and in the distance the barrel and the Bengalese. He is roused and made thirsty by the sound of a cork, and the The gay, thoughtless youth is trifling with his second plate, an admirable one, introduces the hawk, while Elena stands apart in earnest gaze Bengalese in the foreground, in a state of most upon him. The expression of her face is an adabandoned enjoyment behind their barrel, and mirable study: it tells, "in the instant," both past his majesty the tiger stealing his march upon them and future. The sorrowful and self-reproachful sense in the distance, with a crawling, creeping, treache- of all that she has sacrificed for so light a thing, rous look, highly becoming to royalty when the awakening resolve to leave him, the struggle engaged in so dirty a business. The contrast in of the still surviving passion, are well combined. this plate is of the richest vein of humour and cha-The colours, and the back-ground of landscape, racter. The third and fourth designs represent a are also in excellent keeping. Of the other lifekind of dodging race round the barrel, most ludi-subjects exhibited for the first time, we can only crous and effective, in which his majesty at last mention two or three with anything like praise. One loses all his advantage, by bringing the barrel over is a simple little design by Mr Cope, called the upon his royal person in the course of an ill-con-Penitent's Return Home; and another a clever sidered spring. In the fifth the Bengalese are sketch of Napoleon in the Prison of Nice in 1794. pressing with all their weight upon the top of the The quiet and concentrated expression of the detertub, and have seized, as in the course of his majesty's mined young soldier, as the officers, entering to desperate struggles it has started through the bung-release him, find him busy over the map of Lomhole, the tiger's tail. Terrible is the interest now, bardy, is extremely well given. In Mr Stephanoff's for the enraged beast, lifting the barrel on his back, scene from Twelfth Night, with much cleverness, frees the forepart of his person in the next design, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew; and for two studies of there is no very wide distinction perceptible between and everything, including the Bengalese, hangs upon his tail. In the seventh plate the interest reaches Falstaff in the room, they are so bad that Mr Bartley its climax and is opportunely relieved. The knot- might have sat for them. Mr A. Morton has what tiest point in the world is solved by a knot-which, we may call a furniture subject of Penshurst, with firmly tied in the tail aforesaid, inextricably fastens Waller reading to Sacharissa; of which we will the tiger in the tub, and leaves the happy and say that if the lady was as she is painted, poor perspiring Bengalese free to pelt, with the less Waller has been unduly blamed for the spiteful useful fragments of their pic-nic, the helpless and insults in which his love ended; and that if the genbaffled beast. Changes in the sky have meanwhile tleman read his verses after that fashion, so booted proclaimed the exact length of time consumed in and spurred and beyond belief conceited, there was this tremendous struggle, and the mind is left to not much to envy in the fate of poor Sacharissa. repose, with a pleasing satisfaction, on the supeMr Simson, a highly promising painter, has not rior intellect and ingenuity that have deservedly done himself justice. reaped the triumph of such a well-fought field. Many of the landscapes are exquisite. These We suppose that everybody wants to laugh, and are the attractive points of the Exhibition, and the that we may therefore safely recommend to every-Creswick, and Mr Lee. The latter has some submost attractive are those of Mr E. W. Cooke, Mr body this New Tale of a Tub. jects of birds and dogs, which are clever, but much too smooth and glossy. They want the strong look of life. We should not omit to single out Amalfi on the Coast of Salerno," by Mr George Hering, which does perfect justice to a most de THEATRICAL EXAMINER. 66 warn their lordships that they must not always expect that ships, however well commanded, or however gallant their seamen might be, were capable of commonly engaging successfully with stone walls.-After a few words of perfect concurrence from Lords HARDWICK and HILL, the resolutions were unanimously agreed to. A bill for the enfranchisement of copyholds was brought in by Lord REDESDALE, and read a first time. Lord BROUGHAM, in presenting a petition from Leicester against church rates, inquired whether ministers intended to bring forward the measure brought forward three years ago.-Lord MELBOURNE answered in the negative. In answer to a question respecting the ecclesiastical courts bill, the Lord CHANCELLOR expressed his intention of introducing it again this session. Friday, February 5. Lord REDESDALE, on the part of the Earl of Ripon, postponed the motion which stood for Monday next on the subject of our relations with Persia. EAST INDIA PRODUCE.-Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from a number of persons interested in the culti vation of land in India, praying for an equalization of the duties on East and West India produce. The unequal duties on rum operated most injuriously on the production of sugar in the East Indies. The opinion of the petitioners was, that the equalization of these duties would not be attended with any facilities for the employment of slave labour. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the Working Men's Association of Finsbury, in favour of Frost and Williams, and full pardon of political offenders. regulations relative to the forms to be observed on the trial of the Earl of Cardigan.-Adjourned till Monday. Lord DUNCANNON laid on the table some additional HOUSE OF COMMONS. Tuesday, February 2. On the motion of Lord G. SOMERSET, returns were ordered of the number of parishes, with the population, in each county of England and Wales, not comprised in the unions under the poor-law amendment act, together with the amount of poor-rates levied in each during the years 1838, 1839, 1840. In answer to a question from Mr Shaw, Lori MORPETH stated that no more than 6s. 10d. in the pound out of the arrears of tithe, due from the tenants to the Irish clergy, could be paid. As to the amount owing by the landlords, however, the most strenuous exertions had been made by the law officers of the crown to recover it, and a considerable portion was already in course of payment. SELL stated that Admiral Stopford, disapproving of the The Good for Nothing, a farce played on Thurs-lightful scene. In answer to questions from Mr Hume, Lord J. Rus. Among the old pictures, exhibited in last year's day at the Haymarket, realized its title with per- Academy, we have a head by Sir Martin Shee; Mr fect success. It has not been played since. convention entered into by Commodore Napier with Etty's Parable of the Virgins, in which there is so The idea in it was good, but not the writer's much genius and so much doubtful taste; two Mehemet Ali, had subsequently concluded a new treaty, which had been accepted by the Sultan. A communicaproperty. One of Mr Jerrold's clever magazine gorgeous daubs from the palette of Mr Turner; ation had since been forwarded by the Sultan to Mehemet stories suggested the position of a laughing, care- few clever pieces of character by Mr Knight; Ali, assuring to the latter the hereditary government of less, good-humoured dupe, whose reckless manners Martin's two scenes of the Delug, with his Fall Egypt. Syria would be evacuated by the troops of Ibra and ill name make him scapegoat for all the sins of Nineveh; and some few splendid Eastern sub-him Pacha, and the Turkish fleet would be immediately of one of those civil, quiet, meek, well reputed jects, by Mr David Roberts. rascals, who get on so well in this wise world. The The sculpture pieces are few; and the best, Mr notion is appropriated by the farce writer, with as Park's Child in the Bath. The expression of quiet careful an avoidance as possible of its best points. glee, diffused over every part of the face, is exThe result saves us the trouble of going into detail. quisite. The acting of Mr Wrench and Mr Rees may be fairly said to have been good for something. But the good-for-nothing-ness of the farce carried everything before it. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS. It is observable that the audiences at this theatre are becoming more dainty in their taste for the comic than they have generally been supposed to be. This, we think, is the third faree condemned Lord ELLENBOROUGH presented a petition from the since the production of Sir Edward Bulwer's East India and China association, calling for an equaliMoney, for though the Widow Barnaby lingered zation of duties upon the produce and manufactures of our after the first night, the verdict against her was eastern and western possessions. The Marquis of LANSunequivocal. Whether the growing difficulty to DOWNE avowed his concurrence in the prayer of the please by bad farces, has anything to do with the petition. run of the good comedy which, in triumphant for the trial of the indictment found against the Earl of The house proceeded to make the necessary arrangements answer to its assailants, is now nightly crowding Cardigan for shooting at, &c. Captain Tuckett. The 16th the theatre, we leave wiser heads to determine. It instant was fixed for the day of trial. seems likely enough. Tuesday, February 2. restored. In answer to a question from Sir R. Peel, the noble lord further stated, that it had been the intention of the Governor General of the Canadas to proclaim the legis lative union of the two provinces in the latter part of the last or in the beginning of the present month. REFORM OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY.-The ATTOR NEY GENERAL asked leave to bring in a bill for certain legal arrangements, and among them for the appointment of two additional equity judges, one in the Court of Chancery, and one in the Court of Exchequer, in order to the disposal of the arrears now amounting in the Court of Chancery to 1,200 to 1,400 causes. He anticipated no opposition, especially as there were funds available to the proposd objects, without any considerable burden upon the public. The bill proposed was a large instalment of the legal reforms which were considered necessary, and he had so prepared it as to send it back in nearly the same state in which it had been sent down from the other house in the the arrears would be found to be scarcely half the amount last session. (Hear.)-Sir E. SUGDEN assured the house that stated by the Attorney-General; and contended that if the measures had been adopted which he himself had some time ago recommended to parliament, there would have been no arrear at all. He entered at length into details for the purpose of explaining the amount and nature of the respective arrears in the various classes of business, and observed that even if two new courts did really seem likely to be requisite, it would not be expedient to establish them both at once the safer course would be to make the experiment of them one at a time. The right hon. member expounded his own views respecting the best modes of keeping down the arrears of equity business, and respecting the best constitution of a tribunal for disposing of appeals, as well those now heard before the House of Lords as those now heard before the judicial committee of the privy council; but he did not oppose the bill in its present stage.-Mr LYNCH dwelt on the frequency of the compromises to which parties had been forced by the hopelessness of getting their causes heard. Thus, a person entitled to a right in possession was obliged to take the price of a right in reversion. It was was admitted The usual notice is affixed to the Catalogue of on all sides that the present judges were worked to the this Exhibition. "The Directors have been under utmost; so that further assistance was now become indisthe necessity of returning more than three hundred The Earl of MINTO moved the thanks of the house to pensable. The Vice-Chancellor was sometimes, for long pictures from want of room." A comparison of Admiral Sir Robert Stopford, G.C.B., and the officers and periods, unable to hear a single cause, from the enormous the three hundred rejected with the three hundred men employed under his command in the late operations on amount of motions. It was necessary in Lord Hardand ninety accepted, would be an odd thing. But the coast of Syria. His lordship paid a high tribute to the wicke's time to have two judges, when the property in we cannot say that we should like to be obliged to merit of this portion of the British fleet.-Lord COLCHES-court amounted not to two millions sterling, at least four Madrigals have been introduced into the Winter Lord Cardigan was, on the motion of Lord SHAFTESConcerts at Drury Lane with considerable success. BURY, ordered to be taken into custody. His lordship The number of singers is efficient, and the training appeared at the bar in custody, but declined to say any appears to have been extremely good. Certainly thing. The indictment preferred at the Central Criminal M. Jullien is a vigorous conductor, and infuses Court was then, in pursuance of a writ of certiorari, warmth as well as vigour into both orchestra and returned to the House of Lords. Lord Shaftesbury moved His Huguenot quadrille is the most that Lord Cardigan be admitted to bail. The motion was popular thing imaginable-not at all for its musi- agreed to, and his lordship's two sureties were bound in cal taste, but much for its odd excitements. The 5,000l. each, and himself in 10 000, to appear when audience want movement on these freezing nights, and M. Jullien takes care that they shall have it. audience. FINE ARTS. THE BRITISH INSTITUTION. ordered to attend. His lordship's sureties were his The copyhold enfranchisement bill was read a second Thursday, February 4. judges must be necessary now, when that property amounts to forty millions. The learned gentleman concluded by some suggestions for the constitution of an appellate tribunal.-The ATTORNEY-GENERAL shortly replied, and the bill proposed by him was introduced. Wednesday, February 3, com A new writ was ordered for St Alban's in the room of the Hon. Mr Grimston, who has accepted the Chiltern Hundreds. own bill. The Ulster Association had sanctioned the ap-ness of government to redress the evils of the present syspeal both ways, but not on matter of fact, and not without tem of certificates, and to allow to the objector as well as a definition of the franchise. In the bill which he intended to the claimant an appeal on matter of law, though not to propose a clause of definition would be contained. (Hear.) on matter of fact. But ministers were not inclined to —Mr O'Connell wished Lord Stanley had told the house make these reforms without adding a precise definition of EAST AND WEST INDIAN RUM.-Mr LABOUCHERE moved how many were the fictitious voters he was so anxious to the franchise. They had no objection ro an annual rethat the house should next Monday resolve itself into a sweep from the register. Cork contained 713,000 in-vision, but they could not consent to deprive the voter of committee for equalizing the duties on East Indian with habitants, yet its whole constituency was but 3,800. the facility which he now derived from the right of quarthe duties on West Indian rum. Last year, on the peti- Did Lord Stanley grudge the county this small number? terly registration. And when the voter should once have tion of the Court of Directors, he had declared his assent Wales had but 710,000 inhabitants; yet its voters were been registered, they would not have him disturbed, exto the principle that the East Indies were entitled to as upwards of 30,000. The present franchise was a swindle cept upon circumstances subsequent to his original adfavourable a consideration as any other of our local pos- on the Irish. To be sure it was, for Lord Stanley was its mission, else he would be liable to a fresh attack before sessions. An opinion had been expressed by a committee author. Lord Stanley would not even give the country every fresh revising barrister. As to the court of appeal, of the House of Lords, that the equalizing principle, the fair play of waiting to know what the government bill he objected to have it constituted of the judges of the though just in itself, could not fitly be applied in the pre- would be. That bill ought to be on the table before the land he should propose a court of three barristers, to be sent transition state of colonial trade. In that opinion he introduction of this. Every fresh instance of ill-usage to nominated by the Speaker. He then contended, that did not concur; and if, by giving encouragement to the Ireland was an additional argument for repeal. If you with the measure of registration there should be coupled a sale of rum, the house could make it worth the while of wished to avoid repeal, you should give English rights | definition of the franchise. It lay now in a state of unplanters to increase their supply of sugar, that advantage and English liberties. Why did not Lord Stanley try to certainty, which was acknowledged on all hands, and very ought to be afforded to the British people. It was an error amend the defects of registration in England, which were perplexing and injurious to the voter. The test by which to suppose that the West Indian interests would be injured equally admitted and nearer home? Mr O'Connell he proposed to determine the franchise, would be the by the proposed measure. At present, from the inade- finished by moving that this debate be adjourned till after valuation of the voter's property to the new poor rate. quate supply of West Indian sugar, its price was very Thursday; which motion was seconded by Mr Hume, This basis had been mentioned with approbation high. But the supply of West Indian rum was so much and supported by Mr O'Brien.-Lord J. RUSSELL thought in the last session by several members, in reference to the greater than the demand, that it was obliged to seek a it strange, considering the party with whom Lord Stanley parliamentary franchise, and by Sir R. PEEL in reference market on the continent; and thus its price was not like acted, that he should neglect the numerous abuses in the to the municipal one. It was a principle providing its that of the sugar-a monopoly price-but was governed English and Scotch registration, and address himself own check; for the voter would not willingly magnify his by the price which the surplus would fetch in the conti- solely to those of the Irish. It was a great objection to possessions for the sake of his vote, when by doing so he nental market. The effect, therefore, of the proposed this remedy, that it worked solely by way of restriction. exposed himself to an increase of his assessment. It was equalization would not be to lower the present price of The Roman catholic relief bill, and afterwards the reform apprehended, however, by some of the Liberals, that as rum in England. At the same time he must admit, that bill, had narrowed the franchise: and the present bill the poor law valuations are always pared down by many as there would be no great loss to the West Indian pro- went to narrow it still further. Lord Durham had one deductions, no amount of valuation could be fixed which ducers, so there would be no great gain to the East In-day said to him, in illustration of restrictions, "You may would not practically raise the qualification beyond the dian; but the system of restriction had in it a general in- give a vote to every 101. householder, but will you make standard fixed by the reform act. Two barristers had been convenience, which this measure would tend to remove; it a condition that he shall be able to construe the first commissioned to visit various unions, and report upon the and there was a growing intelligence, a sort of public book of Homer?" It was by this tendency towards re- systems of valuation pursued there. The result afforded opinion, among the natives of the East Indies, which made striction that the large words of old charters, the “ a fair sample of the valuations throughout Ireland. He it important to satisfy them that their interests are equi-munity," the "burgesses," &c., had been narrowed to then read a variety of extracts from the report, from which tably considered by the governing country. Some persons some dozen people; and the judges, however conscien- it appeared that the scale of valuation was generally a low apprehended that under the name of rum, a cheap spirit tiously, did partake this tendency to restriction. Take one; and that the valuators had for the most part taken distilled from rice would find its way into the market, to care, then, that your bar against the fictitious voter do not as their test, not the rent which the highest bidder would the injury not only of the West Indians, but also of our prevent the entrance of the genuine one. Lord John then give, but the rent for which a good landlord ought to let own distillers, and of our own revenue. But he meant to enlarged on the difficulty which frequent appeals might to a tenant paying repairs, insurance, and all charges; propose that no spirit should be imported except rum, and impose on the voter, to the great discouragement of him and that even with reference to this test, the valuators had no rum except upon a regular certificate, which would be and his neighbours. The question could not be thoroughly usually estimated the rents below the sums asked by the perfectly efficacious to exclude any spurious article. Be- or justly settled without a settlement of the franchise also. most indulgent landlords. Therefore a rated net value sides, the rum would have to pay a nine-shillings duty. The effect of this bill would be to exclude all but those would probably range far higher than either of the values Respecting the duties on East Indian produce exported to who had powerful and wealthy backers. However, after now in contention, which are commonly called the solvent Australia and Ceylon, it was the intention of government the sanction given last year by the house, he would not tenant's test, and the occupier's profit test. It would to issue an order in council, Mr EWART and Mr HUME now oppose the introduction of the bill, nor support the hardly be deemed expedient to raise the parliamentary avowed their disappointment that the government con-adjournment of the debate.-Colonel RAWDON vindicated franchise above its present level. The noble lord reverted fined its proposal to this single topic, instead of embracing the Ulster Association from the imputation of concur- to the inadequate proportion of the numbers of Irish electhe whole subject of commercial restriction. After a few rence in the principles of this bill. The house then tors to the numbers of the Irish population, as compared words from Mr GOULBURN and Mr HOGG, Sir J. HOB- divided, and the motion of adjournment having been ne- with the proportion between the electors and the populaHOUSE pleaded the difficulties which impeded government gatived by a majority of 261 to 71, leave was given to lation of England, and to show the inequality read a long in all changes of this description, from the operation of bring in the bill. list of figures. In the 72d section of the poor law the adverse interests. Mr O'CONNELL announced his intenamount of 51. was fixed as the point at which the rate tion of proposing some guard against slave-grown produce should be chargeable, not on the landload, but on the sent hither from the West Indies. In this object Dr occupier; and he would propose that a rating of 57. should LUSHINGTON declared his concurrence, and gave notice of confer the parliamentary franchise, provided the premises a motion for the abolition of East Indian slavery. were held for the residue of a term which in its commenceREGISTRATION OF IRISH VOTERS.-Lord STANLEY then ment had been not less than 14 years. Where the tenancy rose for leave to bring in his bill for the registration of was only from year to year, he would not annex any parIrish voters. He could not anticipate opposition to this liamentary franchise to the rating, lest he should expose motion, after the unopposed introduction of the same meatenants, readily removable, to the vindictive exercise of sure in the last session, and the sanction which it had their landlord's powet. He felt certain that this measure then received in its progress. There was a universal conwould be acquiesced in by the most rational men of all viction that the abuses of the franchise imperatively departies. (Cheers.)-Lord STANLEY observed that this manded some legislative remedy. His proposal would be postscript to the government bill, this proposed alteration mainly the same as in the last year. That measure had of the franchise, was no amendment of the existing sysgone to abolish the system of certificates; to substitute an tem, but a new reform bill (hear, hear); and expressed annual revision of the registry as in England; to require, his astonishment that on the slender intelligence derived as in England, a due notice of each voter's intention to from two barristers who had visited some ten unions, the register; to constitute a regular circuit for the purpose of noble lord should have brought forward so large, so unthe registration, instead of leaving it, as at present, a part heard of, a proposal. (Cheers.) As to the proportions of the business of the quarter sessions; to withdraw the Mr H. HINDE proposed that the standing order respect of electors to population, the principle of franchise question of the validity of votes from election committees ing railway bills, which requires one-tenth part of the adopted by Lord Grey's government had not been mere of the House of Commons, now the sole resource against amount subscribed to be deposited in the Court of Ex-numbers, but numbers coupled with fitness to exercise that an unduly admitted vote; and to constitute, instead of chequer, should be modified by substituting one-twentieth ties of Ireland by giving a vote to every labourer who had franchise. But the present plan was to deluge the counthat appeal, an appeal to a judge of assize, who should part for one-tenth. He contended that the order as it now have the power, not only as now of allowing a vote impro- stood operated injuriously as a check upon a most im- couple of acres under a fourteen years' lease. (Cheers perly rejected, but of disallowing a vote improperly ad- portant system of commercial enterprise. He asked only from the Opposition.)-Lord HowICK fully concurred in mitted. He had before proposed to leave the costs of that that the deposit of 10 per cent., which the House of Lords the principle of the proposed alteration in the franchise, appeal wholly in the discretion of the judge; but, in order had deemed excessive, should be reduced to one of 5 per needed a definition. The occupier's profit test let in all which he had never wished restricted, but which greatly to provide against even a possibility of hardship, he had cent.-Mr LABOUCHERE, in opposing the motion, expressed the world; the solvent tenant's test, on the contrary, was now introduced a clause allowing costs to the voter, where his desire to encourage by all possible means the developthe original decision had been in his favour. He then ad-ment of the railway system so long as the speculations verted to the Liberal Association of Ulster, headed by were of a bona fide character, but he did not believe that on the Irish people. The valuation to the poor rate was Lord Charlemont and others, whom he regarded with per- so small a deposit would act as an obstacle to the execu a just basis. The question of amount was for future consonal respect. They had declared themselves in favour of tion of any undertaking which could be safely recomsideration, but at present he was disposed to think 51. sufballot, of extended suffrage, and of other liberal objects. mended to the public, while it formed a salutary check ficient. He wished the law to be such as should satisfy On every part of his bill he could cite the authority of this upon those gambling schemes which had inflicted so much the Irish that the opinions of the bulk of their people were association itself; and he then proceeded to quote admis- injury upon the country. Mr WARBURTON and Mr represented in parliament. (Hear.) The land in the sions of theirs upon his leading points. He was generally BROTHERTOA opposed the motion, and after a short consister kingdom was almost all in the possession of a small desirous to adopt the opinions of the house as intimated in versation, in which several members took part, it was reminority; and if that minority were permitted to recover the divisions of last year; but there was one amendment jected by a majority of 144 to 15. its ascendancy, the relief bill and the reform bill would then carried, to which (if it meant that a party once reIDOLATRY IN INDIA.-Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE, in answer land was a subject of great present anxiety: he blamed have been passed in vain. (Hear.) The state of Iregistered, however unduly, should remain on the register to several questions from Sir R. Inglis, explained what the Orange party, who had opposed the wishes of the for life provided there was no change in the ingredients of progress had been made in relieving the civil and military Irish people; and he blamed still more the agitators of to be removable from the register, on proof given by the with the idolatrous ceremonies practised in that country. O'CONNELL observed, that the valuation under the poor his qualification) he could not accede. The vote ought servants of the Indian Government from any connexion repeal, and especially the member for Dublin.--Mr objector that it ought never to have found its way thither The pilgrim tax in Bengal had been wholly abolished, laws was always below the truth. He approved the bill at all. It was not his intention to introduce any clause and, except in the presidency of Madras, the instructions defining the parliamentary franchise. That subject could sent out in 1838 had been fully carried into effect. The now proposed, and believed it would give satisfaction to not conveniently be mixed with the subject of registration, attendance of Christian troops at heathen festivals, and of the Irish people. Lord Stanley's bill would have an opand so the house had last year decided by a majority of Hindoos or Mahometans at those of either faith, which posite effect. It proposed to accomplish an accurate realmost two to one. The introduction of such a definition would wound their prejudices, was dispensed with; and gistration, yet it did not define what it was that was to be would raise a discordance in the house, which would cut if in any instance the orders issued to this effect had been registered. And it invested the judges with an invidious him off from the chance of passing any bill at all. (Hear.) disregarded, steps would be taken to ensure obedience for power, which exposed them to unfair obloquy. There was -Lord MORPETH said the noble lord (Stanley) had shown the future. a growing opinion among the Irish that they could not himself so enamoured of the subject, that he had not been The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in reply to Sir E. Wilmot, obtain justice from England; the way to check that feelable to resist the temptation of introducing it again, not-stated that in his measure for the improvement in the ing would be to adopt the ministerial measure, Their withstanding the notice given by government of their in- administration of justice, he had provided no tribunal for arms might be needed sooner than some men were aware, tention to bring in a bill on the same matter. (Hear.) the trial of juvenile offenders. It was not prudent to alienate them in the present state of However, after the reception which the bill had last year IRISH REGISTRATION.-Lord MORPETH, in moving for Europe: in no state of things could it be honest. No obtained, he would not oppose its introduction now; and leove to bring in a measure of Irish registration, admitted division would take place to-night; there would be time he trusted the same courtesy would be extended to his the existence of gross abuses. He professed the willing for thinking, and he besought the Opposition to employ it Several returns connected with the wool-trade and manufactures were ordered on the motion of Mr Baines. Mr F. MAULE said, that the report from the commissioners, with respect to hand-loom weavers, would be laid on the table in the course of a few days. Lord J. RUSSELL, after a high eulogium on the late Mr Rickman, moved "that this house entertains a just and high sense of the distinguished and exemplary manner in which John Rickman, Esq., late Clerk-assistant of this house, uniformly discharged the duties of his situation during his long attendance at the table of this house." After some very complimentary speeches of cordial assent from Messrs Goulburn and Hume, Sir R. Inglis, and Mr Bernal, the resolution was agreed to unanimously. Thursday, February 28. a so exclusive that it made the reform bill a mere delusion |