Members in that House. (Hear!) They were the Memoirs, it was said, of a Lady of Pleasure. Now if the principle of judging by isolated facts against the character of an association was applied to the University Club, would not the inference be, that its members dealt in loose books, and rejected the Bible? And yet it was on such unworthy principles that the House of Commons were called upon to legislate against the Catholic Association. (Hear!) The disabilities under which the Catholics laboured created the associations complained of; but if the House adopted the mischievous measure under consideration, he feared it would produce the most disastrous consequences. (Hear, hear!) Sir J. NEWPORT was of opinion, that Ministers were raising up dangers for Ireland which no man living could calculate the consequences of. (Hear, hear!) He commented on the conflicting opinions of the Irish Attorney-General and the Under Secretary of State, the former of whom contended that the Irish Priests were a calumniated body of men, who had mainly contributed to the tranquillity of their country, while the latter affirmed that they exercised a baleful and malignant influence! (Hear, hear!) The Catholic population was rapidly increasing, while the Protestant population was diminishing-the former was now as 6 out of 73 and they had much better now! grant the claims which it would be im possible long to withhold. (Cheers.) The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER was of opinion that, setting aside all party feelings, it was very doubtful whether the Catholic claims could Mr. V. FITZGERALD was convinced that the Association were justified be carried at the present moment, for there existed very strong prejudices in much which they had said and done, though he felt alarm at all Assoagainst them-No, no, from the Opposition); and a great portion of ciations. those prejudices arose from the existence of the acts of the Catholic Asso- Lord ALTHORP contended that the proper mode of putting down the ciation. (Cheers). It is true that on one occasion a bill for their emanci-Association was by redressing the wrongs of the Irish nation. (Hear, pation did pass this House; but it was carried by a very small majority; hear!) No man could believe that six millions of people would remain and the feelings against it continued to be very strong in the other House long in their present condition: while there were grievances to complain of Parliament. There was also another very powerful body who were of, there would be Associations to obtain relief, whatever might be the opposed to it, ab imo pectore he meant the Clergy (Laughter). But law. it did not follow that these impressions would last for ever. The Goverd ment was not inattentive to the state of Ireland. They had enquired and were still pursuing enquiry into the existing abuses, and they could not suffer the existence of a formidable body wielding that power which should only exist in the Government. He was the sincere advocate of emancipation, which had no greater enemy than the Association.-able" by the hatred which they bore to the Orangemen ;" and be asked, (Hear, hear!). Mr. HUME said, that this night's discussion elicited so much, that he thought the question was not, as yet, more than half debated. (Hear, hear, and laughter). He would therefore propose that the debate be adjourned till to-morrow. Mr. CANNING did not object, and the House then adjourned at one o'clock. Tuesday, February 15. PETITION AGAINST THE CATHOLIC CLAIMS. Mr. DICKINSON presented a petition from the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Bath against the Catholic Claims, which complained of the violence, superstition, tyranny, &c. of the Church of Rome; and of the Irish Catholics, for insulting and ill using their Protestant countrymen! Mr. D. said, he had quite made up his mind against any further concessions to the Catholics; and Sir THOMAS LETHBRIDGE expressed his high satisfaction at this avowal of his Somersetshire Colleague, and his firm con viction, that the great bulk of the people of England, not the low, vile, and senseless, but those who were entitled to the highest consideration, namely, the Clergy, &c. were of opinion that the Catholic Claims should not be conceded. Sir M. W. RIDLEY expressed his sorrow that the petition from such a body should be couched in language so violent and so unjust; and Mr. C. H. HUTCHINSON warned the Somerset Members against presenting such libels in future upon the Irish Catholics; for a petition, he said, more fraught with falsehood and marked with intemperance and indecency, he had never before witnessed. Such petitions, added the patriotic Member, presented against six millions of people, could only tend to exasperation, and were calculated to shake the kingdom to its foundation. (Hear, hear!) The MEMBERS for SOMERSET denied that the petition was libellous, but only firm and strong, as, they averred, it ought to be on such an occasion-It was ordered to be printed. CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION-ADJOURNED DEBATE. Sir R. WILSON contended that the Association was a defensive, not an aggressive body, and that it ought not to be put down by such a measure as the present, which would only tend to extirpate hope, and plant in its stead the bitter tree of discord. No friend to civil and political liberty could oppose the claims of the Catholics to an equal portion in the general rights. Mr. LOCKHART apprehended that further concessions to the Catholics might end in the destruction of the Protestant Established Church, and the British Constitution. Mr. W. J. BANKES said that the Catholic Association ought to be put down, as it had already done much mischief. The Hon. Member added, that while he was on his legs, he could not help adverting to what fell from an Honourable Civilian (Dr. Lushington) on the preceding evening, when he adverted to the University Club. (A laugh.). He did not stand there as the champion of that club; but when the Hon. and Learned Civilian stated, that certain Memoirs (A laugh) were received, while the bible was rejected, he was in error. There was no such book as the Memoirs there, nor was any such book proposed. It was, he believed, very much asked after (A laugh); but it was not there. Sir J. BRYDGES was friendly to the bill. Mr. GRENFELL disapproved of the raising of money by the Association; but he maintained that the Catholics ought never to rest satisfied till they had obtained their just rights; and he trusted in God that they would not submit to be deprived of them (Hear, hear !) Mr. ROBERTSON contended that it was quite absurd to say that there was anything unconstitutional in the attempts of the Catholics to recover their acknowledged rights. If the present system was persevered in, the House might be assured that an attempt at separation would be made, for no a of sense could suppose that six millions of people would long conbraldrom. Concession, not coercion, was the only remedy for Mr. W. LAMB Spoke strongly against the Catholic Association, and approved of the bill for its suppression. Sir F. BURDETT made various pertinent observations on the remarks which had been urged against the passage in the Address of the Catholic Association, in which the people of Ireland were called upon to be peacewhat would those who talked of Jesuitical casuistry have said, if the expression had been, "By the reverence and respect you owe to Orange men by that affection you bear them, we entreat you," &c. (Much laughter.) It was quite an original and modern doctrine to object to this expression of hate. The glorious lines of Burns were➡? "By oppressions, woes, and pains, "By your sons in servile chains"And the Leaders of the Association appealed to the same natural sentiments, though not for the purposes of violence, but for order and peace. It was indeed altogether unjustifiable to criticise every little expression which fell from a man whose heart was bursting with the wrongs of his country! (Hear, hear!) The Catholic Association had proved itself the organ of the Nobility, Gentry, Merchants, and Peasantry of Irelandof six-sevenths in fact of the population. It was not confined to Catholics, for among its supporters was Earl Fitzwilliam, a name which no man, whatever his party, could mention without veneration, for the unbounded benevolence, courage, and generosity of his character! While such names were found aiding the Association, it was impossible not to feel that it did not merit those aspersions which Hon. Members had thought fit to throw upon it. (Hear, hear!) The Association sought only to obtain justice for those who were 100 poor to procure it for themselves, and they had no motive for spending its funds fruitlessly; it was rather a Committee of Justice, than anything else. They procured evidence for the Jury, and appealed to the Courts and was this to be termed prejudging? No; it was the fairest and most open course that could be pursued. If the proposed bill passed, the Association would submit, but they hoped to be heard at the bar of the House before it passed into a law. (Hear, hear!) Sir Francis lamented the unnatural junction in the Cabinet, which had caused the Government to stand still on a question where the interests of millions were concerned-he regretted that the enlightened portion of it had submitted to the dark, and allowed the darkness to overshadow the land. The feeling which could keep men together in such an administra tion, must be, no doubt, one of pure patriotism-an ardent devotion to the interests of their country! The two Right Hon. Gentlemen opposite (Mr. Canning and Mr. Plunkett) had devoted themselves for the public good. Their sacrifice was greater than the Decii of old, for there only one Consul immolated himself, but here there were two! (Cheers.) The differences in the Administration upon the Catholic and other important questions were extraordinary, when viewed as emanating from men joined in the same Government. They acted without any settled rule or order, and the only thing for which they could claim distinction, was their disunion on those questions on which of all others they should be united. Nothing that he had seen or read could be compared with this system, or want of system, except that which the greatest of our poets gave as a descrip tion of Chaos"where eldest Night "And Chaos, ancestors of Nature, hold "For hot, cold, moist, and dry, four champions fierce, announced that universal tranquillity prevailed in Ireland, and yet upon this very speech a coercive measure against Ireland was now to be founded! (Cheers.) This was not an Irish but an English question; it applied as much to meetings in Yorkshire as in Dublin; its influence would be felt throughout the empire. The Association was to be put down, not because its acts were illegal, but because they might become so. This was nonsense-it was a childish tampering with the liberty of the subject, which no liberal policy could countenance. But Ministers said that they would not allow themselves to be bullied into granting the Catholic claims! To be bullied into doing an act of justice! This language was as contemptible as the feeling which gave rise to it. (Hear, hear!) It was petty, miserable, absurd! The loss of the American Colonies, whatever political economists might say, was a disastrous event, which had plucked the brightest jewel out of the Crown of England, and had cast an ineffaceable stain on its reputation; but, evil as that was, evil as the consequences had been, they were as dust in the balance when compared with the evil which would arise from the production of a war of rebellion in Ireland. (Great cheering.) Alluding to Catholic Emancipation, Sir Francis observed, that whenever that great question was brought forward, no efforts of his should be wanting to render it successful. (Loud cheering.) He hoped that it was now making great advances in this country, and he was sure that it had made very great advances since the period to which the Right Honourable and Learned Gentleman had alluded. But let that be as it might, it was not for him to flinch from the performance of his duty. (Cheers.) The cause was good, the grounds on which it rested were impregnable; and, come what might, he would still be found among its supporters, and would take as his motto the fine saying of the Roman poet-"Hic murus aheneus esto."-(Immense cheering followed Sir Francis Burdett's speech, which was followed by murmurs of applause throughout the House, that lasted several minutes.) Mr. BROUGHAM rose and said, that he stood before them as the defender of the Catholic Association, as the advocate of the Irish people to meet, to consult, to petition, to remonstrate,―aye, and to demand their just rights (cheers); and more than that, he would declare his frank and solemn opinion, which he hoped would reach Ireland as well as England, that the firmer and stronger they remonstrated, provided it was done peaceably, the greater would be their just prospect of success for obtaining those privileges which made life desirable, and the existence of mar useful to himself and to his country. (Hear, hear!) Were the complainants to become abject in their suit, they would deservedly prostrate themselves and their question, and lapse into the contempt which was due to slaves.-Mr. B. denied that the Association interfered with the due administration of justice. How unfortunate was this body in all their proceedings! If they were open, that was impudence; if secret, that was impious. If they found fault with that which they suffered, it was turbulence; if they were quiet, there was danger. Did they pronounce censure? That was disaffection; if they were to offer praise, that would be set down for hypocrisy. Nothing they could say or do would satisfy their opponents, and the bill stated that the only way of reconciliation was to destroy their existence altogether. "I don't care," said an Hon. Member, "about the blustering of Ireland, but beware," added this alarming logician, "when Ireland shows the aspect of tranquillity." And then the proceedings of the Association were compared with the system of 1782, the jacobitism of 1793, and the open rebellion of 1798. So that by this ratio the wound given to the public peace was only great because it was so small." To which must be added the response which was given to that very sensible complaint,"Then 'twould be greater were there none at all." The fact was, that the Association did contribute to the tranquillity of Mr. CANNING, after some prefatory matter, contended that the Catholic Ireland, and that, too, without exercising any other control than the fair Association was an unconstitutional one, for it was a self-elected, a self-exercise of their talents by men who sympathized with the people in appointed, a self-controlled, and a self-adjourned association (Hear, hear!) opinion, who participated in their sufferings, and felt their wrongs-men acknowledging no equal, and admitting no superior (Hear, hear!) levying who were the most considerable for rank and intellect in the country. money on the people by the force of its resolutions; (hear, hear!) inter- Was the House really afraid of them, as they affected to be? He could fering with the administration of justice; (hear, hear!) prejudging-no, tell how to annihilate them in an hour. Ere the morrow of that evening he must not say that, but-condemning beforehand, in published debates, in which he was speaking, they might be scattered and heard of no more. individuals whom it was going to submit to trials in the various courts of Take the advice of the Attorney-General of Ireland. Take away the justice; (hear, hear!) and in some cases, where individuals whom it grievance which oppressed Ireland. Thongh late, yet there was time: accused had been acquitted, revising the judgment of the court, and let them begin to do justice. The Catholic Association would vanish, and condemning those whom the law had acquitted of all crime. (Great cheer- Ireland would bless them, as she would curse them if they began at the ing.) There was no inconsistency in calling for a law to put down this wrong end,-if, instead of redress, they rivetted their fetters. One great Association while Ireland was in a state of prosperity-far from it-for objection to the Catholic Association was, that they were a self-constitu the Association retarded the increase of that prosperity, and rendered its ted body, and had the audacity to collect revenue. It was a voluntary duration problematical, by setting neighbour against neighbour, by rousing subscription. A man paid his penny, or if he could not afford that the prejudices of all parties, and diverting from Ireland all that super- amount, his halfpenny: be paid his shilling, but if that were not conveabundant English capital which would so much advance it in arts, agricul- nient, his sixpence was not unacceptable. (4 laugh.) And if he paid ture, manufactures, and commerce! (Hear, hear!) The House was nothing at all, he still received the advantage of the funds of those who therefore not only called upon to abate, but to put down such a nuisance! were able to advance a trifle. With their money he was defended from (Cheers!) The real question was, not whether the Catholic Association unjust prosecution-with their money he was enabled to bring his oppres and the House of Commons should co-exist; but whether the House of Commons should not check the Catholic Association before it really acted; such was the compulsory manner in which these funds were colsor to justice. (Hear!) Such was the system on which these men acquired the strength of a representative body. (Hear, hear!) The lected. Mr. Brougham then commented on a document which he held very fact of the Catholic Association being in possession of the confidence in his hand, showing the proceedings of the Methodists in this country, of the Catholic body, was a reason for passing the present bill (hear, hear!) who were 500,000, not 3,000 strong, who collected large sums of money for by that declaration, and the tone they had adopted, they had seated in the most peremptory manner, who had their Secret Committees, kept themselves, as it were, by the side of Parliament. It was his painful books, agents, &c. The Catholic Association collected voluntary contribelief, that the Catholic question had recently retrograded in the favour butions, so did the Methodists; but the latter went a step farther, they of the English people (hear!) and the existence of the Association had assessed individuals, whereas the Catholics had not one word on the submainly produced this effect. Let it not be said that he was unfriendly to ject. (Hear!) Did he state this to blame the Methodists-to cast a the Catholic question. (Cries of "hear, hear, hear!") Unfriendly he shadow of doubt on their motives, or on the legality of their proceedings was, it was true, to the spoliation of the Church of Ireland. (Hear!) Certainly not. But he argued, that what was right in England could And he was sufficiently a Catholic, in the popular sense of the word, to be not be unlawful in Ireland (hear!)-that what the Methodists had a right desirous to extend to the Roman Catholics all the privileges of other sub- to do, and rather than give up which they would go to death, could no jects (not from any want of conviction of all the absurdities which the be a mere matter of pretext in Ireland. (Hear!) The last charg Roman Catholic religion involved, nor yet from any lukewarmness in his brought against the Association was, that they attempted too many things affection for Protestantism) but from the persuasion that it might be possible Tithes they never had touched; Parliamentary reform they refused t to maintain both religions together; and until the Catholics were admitted to have anything to do with it. When a most learned and venerable man a full participation of the rights of their fellow-subjects, the great work of Jeremy Bentham, sent his subscription, he called on them to take up th improvement would not be completely effected. The division of opinion cause of Parliamentary reform, to which he had devoted his life. Th in the Cabinet, on this subject, was one of 25 years standing. He (Mr. Association sent a letter in answer, in which they stated, that the Associa C.) had twice refused to take office in consequence of the particular views tion must "stand aloof from all questions, except the Catholic questio entertained by the administration; but he thought that an administration and the redress of the grievances of Ireland." (Hear!) Referring to th might differ conscientiously upon the Catholic question, and yet have the Catholic question and to Mr. Canning's conduct respecting it, Mr. 1 means of conferring great good upon the country. (Hear, hear!) He observed, that the Right Hon. Gentleman said the other night, that might have erred in forming this deliberate judgment as to the best way was as much a friend to the Catholic question as ever; and yet that frie of composing an administration; but to the charge of sinister views and want to the question said the most curious things to ensure its success. of integrity, he disdained to proffer an answer. (Cheers!) If ever the Catholic anything have been said more galling to its real friends, or more pleasa question were carried,-and sure he was it would,-in his opinion that to its inveterate foes? (Hear!) He said, the people of England we consummation would never be effected by a Cabinet expressly formed for as a man, united against the Catholics. This was acting like the Snee that purpose. His belief was, that if any such Cabinet were ever formed, wells, and the Candours, and the Backbites, whom he had this nig it would fail in its object, and not only fail in it, but create a flame of quoted. (Hear!) One of those characters said, “I like such a pers discord in the country which it would be difficult to quench!-After some but I cannot get any body else to like him." In the same way he lik further remarks on the Catholic question, in justification of the line of the Catholics, but he could get no one else to do so. (Laughter.) conduct he had adopted, Mr. Canning concluded by observing, that in him (Mr. Brougham) the friends of the Catholic, who said "Not only passing the proposed bill, two great objects would be obtained-the Whigs in Parliament, but all men of liberal opinions, are favourable extinction of the Catholic Association, and an advancement of the main your claims." (Hear, hear!) London and Westminster, notwithstan question itself, (Hear!) ing what the Right Hon. Gentleman said, were favourable to those claim Cou G TURNPIKE TRUSTS. Lord LOWTHER, after noticing the enormous sums levied at the turnpikes about London, and the abuses which had crept into the system of management, moved that a Select Committee should be appointed to enquire into the subject; which motion (with an amendment proposed by Mr. HUME, that the enquiry should extend ten miles round the metropolis) was carried without a division. STATE OF IRELAND. On the motion of Mr. GOULBURN, the Select Committee of Enquiry into the State of Ireland was re-appointed, and the Members appointed. USURY LAWS REPEAL BILL. The reading of this Bill was opposed by Mr. CALCRAFT, as he deemed the restrictions imposed by our ancestors were wise and necessary. Mr. HUME supported the Bill, as the present laws were in his judgment highly injurious to commerce. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL contended, that the improved condition of commerce, &c. since those laws were passed, sufficiently showed their utility, and that all borrowers would be oppressed by their repeal: he therefore moved, that the Bill should be read again that day six months. Mr. Serjeant ONSLOW replied to the objectors against the Bill, and observed upon the boasted "wisdom of our ancestors," that they deemed it irreligious to take any interest for money, denouncing those who did so as vipers and demons! Luther himself, the Hon. Member said, called the Pope Antichrist, because he had said that money might be lent on mortgage! and certainly the Head of the Country must not be considered as nothing. Even in 1807, when the Whigs were turned out on the scandalous cry of "No Popery," in London and Westminster, in Yorkshire, in Lincolnshire, and in Liverpool, which he represented, there was no symptom of dislike to the cause. The argument now was, "I cannot propose this measure, the country are against it." But he said men of liberal opinions were for it, for the cry of "No Popery was going down ever since 1807. But this measure was abandoned, on account of the feeling of the country. Did these gentlemen always act upon the scale of public opinion? What was their conduct in 1820? What did the country feel at that time on the subject of the late Queen's prosecution? (Hear, hear!) There was on that occasion no reluctance on the part of bis Majesty's Government to confront public opinion. There they were, with one voice, anxiously pursuing their disgraceful and disgusting course. (Cheering.) Was that course rendered necessary by state expediency? Were there any reasons of state for it? Was one part of the Mr. J. SMITH took the same ground, adding that one of the ablest poliempire likely to be torn from the other, if that measure were not carried?tical economists of the age, Mr. Bentham, had triumphantly proved the No but there was one person who held in his hand the issues of official inutility of the Usury Laws, and his view was supported by Messrs. Mill life, and to that person-for he would not mince the matter-they acted and M'Culloch. with a lowly subserviency, with an unhesitating humility, which a Russian Court or the Cabinet of Ferdinand VII. might have equalled, but certainly never could surpass. The trembling wretches in the Divan of the Dey of Algiers, with the bow-string twanging in their ears, and the cimitar glittering in their astonished eyes, could not have acted more subserviently. (Hear!) All this was done to gratify the caprice of a Royal person. It might have been an excusable caprice in him: but what excuse could be made for those who ministered to it? (Hear!) If the Association, in its present shape, should be put down, he hoped that the Catholics would not therefore be deterred from pursuing all the measures which might be left to them-all that the law had not prohibited; and in the end he did not doubt they would be successful. He called upon the Catholics, not by any bad passions which might influence them-not by that enmity which he would fain see stifled-not by their sense of injuries which he wished and hoped to see buried in oblivion, but by every principle which they held sacred as free men and Christians, to pursue the course which was before them. (Cheers.) He called upon the members of the Government, by the responsibility of their stations, by their characters as statesmen, by every principle of policy and prudence, to deal with the Catholics, not by feelings of hatred, but of charity-not by measures of oppression, but of conciliation; and to reflect, ere it was too late, on the consequences which must result from the passing of this bill. (Hear!) It would alienate the Catholics from them for ever. It would turn discontent to rage, and it would arm rage with new weapons. "On your head," said Mr. Brougham, addressing himself toward the ministerial benches, "on your head be the consequences of this misguided policy; and you, not we, must have to answer for it, if your present measures should have, as they must have, the effect of tearing Ireland from this country."-The Hon. Member sat down amidst loud and repeated cheering, which was continued for some time afterwards. Amidst loud cries of "question," Mr. BUTTERWORTH rose to address the House, for the purpose, as well as we could gather his meaning in the noise which prevailed, of contradicting some of the statements of Mr. Brougham respecting the Methodist Conference.-Mr. B. produced a letter, which he held up to the House for some time, amid cries of "question, question," and "read, read." A candle was brought to the Hon. Member, who, having adjusted his spectacles, commenced the reading of the letter, but he had not proceeded far when a laugh was excited by some Member exclaiming Amen! Mr. Butterworth persevered with great patience, and read part of the letter, to show that the Catholic Rent was not a voluntary contribution [cries of "name, name," and place, place "]. It was in the county of Kilkenny, but he objected to give the name of the party who wrote the communication. Mr. GOULBURN replied to the charge of having made a false statement respecting two transactions alluded to in his speech; and the House then divided the numbers were-For the motion, 278-Against it, 123Majority, 155.—The bill was then brought in, read a first, and ordered for a second reading on Monday.-The House then adjourned at HALFPAST THREE O'clock. Thursday, Feb. 17. CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION. Mr. BROUGHAM presented a petition, signed by several Catholic Peers, Archbishops, and Bishops, and a great number of other persons of rank and influence in Ireland, composing the Catholic Association, declaring that no act of theirs was ever intended to excite alarm, or exasperate animosity, pledging themselves to rebut all the charges brought against them, and praying that Parliament would allow Counsel to be heard in their defence. The petition was received and ordered to be printed.-Mr. B. presented another petition, on the same subject, from Newry, which was also received. GAME LAWS. Mr. S. WORTLEY moved for lenve to bring in a bill to amend the Game Laws, the same, he said, as the one he had introduced last Session. A conversation arose, and the practice of setting traps and spring guns was noticed, which Mr. PEEL condemned, and Mr. BENET denounced as murderous; while Mr. WORTLEY contended that the use of them was beneficial and humane-Leave was given to bring in the Bill, but not without considerable opposition. After several other Members had spoken, and among them Mr. WYNN, who said that Ministers viewed the Bill favourably, the amendment was carried-45 to 40-so that the Bill is thrown out. Friday, Feb. 18. THE CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION. and a few in disapprobation of it-among the latter, one by Sir T. LETH- Mr. BROUGHAM then brought forward his promised motion respecting Sir J. YORKE, Mr. WYNN, the ATTORNEY and SOLICITOR-GENERAL, and Mr. PEEL opposed the motion. The latter Gentleman urged that neither justice nor Parliamentary usage entitled the Petitioners to be heard on this occasion; that if they were heard, there would be no end to similar demands in every case of public importance; and it was quite competent for the House to legislate on the general notoriety of the facts, without attending to special communications. In the course of his observations, Mr. P spoke of Mr. Hamilton Rowan, as an attainted traitor, who had been highly praised by the Association when Messrs. BROUGHAM and C. H. HUTCHINSON both bore testimony to the highi character of that amiable and much-respected Gentleman. Mr. Hutchinson reminded the Right Honourable Secretary, that Hampden, Russell, and Sidney, were called traitors, till the cause of liberty flourished in England; and that they would have continued to labour under that designation,; if despotism had flourished in England, as it did in Ireland, to the present day. (Hear!)-He also told him to beware how he drove insulted millions to madness!(Cheers). On a division, the motion was rejected by 222 to 89. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTES. BANKRUPTS. J. Crooke, Burnley, Lancashire, iron-founder. Solicitors, Messrs. Adlington and Co. Bedford-row. W. W. Smith, Holborn-hill, silk-mercer. Solicitors, Messrs. Hodgson T. Osborne, Stroud, Gloucestershire, linen-draper. Solicitors, Messrs. J. Cooper, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, shopkeeper. Solicitors, G. Forsyth, Eden-court, Carlisle, draper. Solicitor, Mr. Addison, Veru- J. Lock, Baker-street-north, St. Mary-la-bonne, chemist. Solicitor, Mr. J. P. Knight, Fulham, hop-merchant. Solicitor, Mr. Lindsay, St. Thomas's-street, Southwark. H. Smyth, Piccadilly, hosier. Solicitors, Messrs. Osbaldestone and "Murray, London-street, Fenchurch-street.. Saturday, February 20. BANKRUPTS. J. Reeves, Eaton, Bucks, tailor. Solicitor, Mr. Jackson, New Inn, Strand. Ja Newbank, Earl-street, Lisson-grove, stage-master. Solicitor, Mr. T Harding, sen. and J. R. Harding, Bristol, brush-makers. Solicitors, Messrs. Williams and Co, Lincoln's-inn. J. Fletcher, Pilkington, neat Manchester, grocer. Solicitors, Messrs. THE FUNDS.-The British market remains remarkably steady, the fluctuations of the week being altogether trifling, South American Securities are a little improved by the recent new, although too vague to effect much alteration. Very little is now doing with the various Mining Shares, but the business done is upon a small advance, Greek Scrip is on the rise. The operation in the French funds are languid, and will possibly remain so until the pending question concerning the reduction of the rentes is decided. Latest quotations:Consols, 931 L Reduced, 94 34 per Cents, Reduced, 101} New 4 per Cents, 1057 106 Consols for Account, 94 PRICES OF FOREIGN STOCKS YESTERDAY. Austrian Bonds, 97 Buenos Ayres Bonds, 914 Colombian Bonds Ditto (1824) 901 Ditto Account, 901 Greek Bonds, 57% Ditto Scrip, of 4 pr.. Mexican Bonds, 803 pr. Ditto Scrip, 311 Russian Bonds, 1822, 971 Spanish Consols, 24 3 Ditto Account, 24 3 Ditto Consols (1823) 19 18 19 hazarded. A letter from Lima of the 4th of October, appears in the Liverpool Advertiser, announcing the entry of a party of the patriotic army into Lima on that day. Substantially, we apprehend that the partisans of old Spain in Peru are on the point of final discomfiture; a catastrophe which is scarcely avoidable, seeing that they are altogether divided among themselves. From Paris we learn the arrest of the great Commissary and Contractor OUVRARD, whose plunder and malversation are alleged to have enormously increased the expenses of the atrocious invasion of Spain: he is to take his trial. It is stated in the private letters, that the proposed law of sacrilege-a wicked scheme to renovate the power and influence of priestcraft in France, is so unpopular, that scarcely any of the Peers can be induced to speak for it; on which account it is thought that it will be rejected by the Upper Chamber. The French ultra papers, in allusion to our Irish policy, are pleasantly it is an amusing sort of profession doubtless! expatiating upon our boasted attachment to civil and religious liberty: Letters from the Island of St. Thomas mention a serious insurrec tion of Negroes, but no particulars have been yet afforded. One may judge of the value of Mr. CANNING'S professions of good-will towards the Catholics, when we see him voluntarily giving their enemies a great triumph, by admitting, with a mock-candid air, that the people of England are opposed to their claims. As Mr. the most insidious enemy could not have dealt them one more fatal. BROUGHAM justly observed, this was a deadly blow at their hopesBut even this is nothing to the extraordinary reason he assigns when pressed for this alleged popular hostility. The Minister asserts, with a grave face, that the People of England are so warmly attached to the Church Establishment, that they are prejudiced against any concessions which they fear might lead to an invasion of Church Property! We have heard many daring assertions respecting the people made in Parliament; CASTLEREAGH was wont not to debates, did we encounter so outrageous a defiance of the sense and stick at triffes in that way;-but never, since we took to reading knowledge of the public as is contained in this assertion of the Prime Minister. It is notorious, that the number of Dissenters in meant to include) already exceeds that of the followers of the Church England (to say nothing of Scotland, which however Mr. CANNING. of England, and that the disproportion is daily growing greater; it is notorious, that even the orthodox minority is eked out by the scep tics and the lukewarm in religion; it is notorious, that all the reasonable and disinterested members of the Church of England, however strict they may be in their adherence to the doctrines of that Church, do think an Establishment with a revenue of eight or nine millions a-year-abounding in scandalous luxury and inequalityanything but accordant with the proper character of a Christian much ill-will, both in its tyrannous principle and its vexatious collec Clergy; it is notorious, that no impost is so odious, no tax excites so tion, as the Tithe-Tax. Yet in spite of all these notorieties-as undeniable as seat-selling, as naked as the Lisbon Job-a leading Minister deliberately affirms in the House of Commons, that the People of England are opposed to the Catholic Claims, because of We hope Mr. BROUGHAM will not forget this to-morrow, when the their over-anxious tenderness of the temporalities of Mother Church! Catholic affair again comes before the House. His answer to Mr. CANNING on Tuesday was admirable and comprehensive; but this topic still remains for him, and he is well able to handle it in a style that would make the Right Hon. Secretary cautious how he ventures to attribute to the English Public prejudices which would disgrace them. There is still a mystery relative to the increase of the army. Recruiting goes on throughout the country with a vigour quite unusual since the war-time; and Government appears to be raising a much larger number of troops than the 8,000 spoken of by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Some persons suspect-coupling this apparent preparation with the violent tone of the Holy Alliance tools-that a rupture with the Continental Despots is anticipated, on account of our recognition of South American Independence. But we do not The appearance of several Communications is delayed; but the Notice of the think the Legitimates in any condition to undertake a crusade against Lord's vagaries must be authenticated before it can have place. THE EXAMINER. LONDON, FEB. 20, 1825. LETTERS received from Buenos Ayres to the 4th of December bring very interesting intelligence of the state of affairs in Peru, so late as the beginning of October. According to these accounts, Canterac and the Royalist army were approaching rapidly to their dissolution, Ithough it was still thought that another general battle would be Great Britain on such a score: we much more incline to suspect, notwithstanding ministerial disclaimers, that the military preparation is connected with a secret fear of the consequences in Ireland of that most impolitic and shameless measure, the suppression of the Association. A FOGGY UNDERSTANDING.—In the Debate on the Usury Laws Repeal Bill, on Thursday evening, the SOLICITOR GENERAL asked. "Was there any landed Gentleman so ignorant, did any Member of that House possess so foggy an understanding, as not to see that, if the monied man could legally lend to the trader at a higher rate than five per cent., that he would not lend to him at that sum?" We beg the Learned Member will explain to us then, why, since on his principle every lender gets as much as the law permits him to take,why monied men are at this moment lending at 4, 3, and even 24 per per cent., when that very law allows them 5 per cent. "Your most exquisite reason, Sir Knight!"-Here is a pretty fellow to impute foggy intellects to people who, with the present state of the money-market before their eyes, can see no connection between the mercantile value of money and the arbitrary legal rate of interest! We should like to hear this bright genius floundering about in an attempt to prove that connection-till when, we trust his dogmatic flippaney will be rewarded with the appropriate cognomen of "Foggy WETHERALL." The French Budget has been brought forward-the receipts estimated at 928, the expenses at 926 millions of francs. The Court of Common Council have agreed unanimously to petition Parliament for the repeal of the Assessed Taxes; and more especially for According to accounts from the Bank of England, it appears that amongst the public balances in the hands of the Company, are," April 5, 1824, Lottery Prizes not claimed, 14,6241.; July 5, 1824, ditto, 11,7521.; Oct. 10, 1824, ditto, 7,7681.; and January 5, 1825, ditto, 7,2714.; making together 41,4154.; and respecting the Dividends due and not demanded, there were quarterly Returns to Jan. 5, 1825, of about 1,200,000l. !« INDIAN PRESS-Capt. SEELEY'S "Voice from India," in favour of a fettered Press (what a performance for a free-born Briton!)-has been ably replied to by Capt. ROMEO, in the name of "Common-Sense." Common-Sense, as is usually the case, has by far the best of the argument; but whether it will be listened to in the high places, is quite that of the House and Window Duties. another matter. RENT. The "London Catholic Rent Association" has changed its title to that of the "Free Gift Association," in consequence of a letter read at the last meeting from a Mr. Blount; who suggested that the term" Rent" implied something due, which there was an obligation to pay, and not a voluntary contribution. We learn from a respectable Correspondent, that not the slightest blame is attached to Mr. Peto, the Builder of the New Custoin-house, in respect of the recent accident which occurred to that national building. KING'S BENCH.—Mr. Wood, a salesman of Croydon, was yesterday found guilty of a breach of promise of marriage to a Miss Horner. Every thing had been arranged, the settlement made, the day of marriage fixed, when the fickle Salesman suddenly changed his mind, and would not change his state. The Jury gave the forsaken lady 100l. to soften her grief. On Friday, in the Court of King's Bench, the Chief Justice refused to allow a cause to proceed, in which a Mr. Egerton sought to recover 100%. from a Mr. Furzeman, which had been deposited with him as the stakes apon a dog-fight. The Chief Justice observed, that all such wagers were illegal. Bow-STREET, Yesterday morning, the notorious Wm. Probert was brought up on a cflarge of horse-stealing. Andrew Meredith, of Gloucester, a farmer, stated that his mare was stolen from his close on Thursday night, and he traced it to the prisoner's mother's house in that city on the following day. The prisoner said he should be able to prove an alibi. He was remanded. BROWN'S PNEUMATIC ENGINE. Recent experiments by Dr. Fyffe, of Edinburgh, and other chemists, show that the power of this engine, arising from the vacuum produced by the rapid combustion of gas, is greater than was at first supposed, but that it will be more expensive than the steam engine. The pneumatic engine will, however, be contained in so much less space than the steam-engine, the former being calculated to weigh only one-fifth as much as the latter, that it will still be much preferable for locomotive engines, and for other purposes where room is an object. A four-horse power locomotive steam-engine weighs upwards of four tons, whereas a pneumatic engine of the same power will weigh less than one top, and a supply of gas sufficient for four hours' consumption may be compressed into a cubical copper vessel scarcely exceeding one yard each way. It is said that there are serious intentions of applying this engine to working the plough !-Leeds Mercury. THEATRICAL EXAMINER. DRURY-LANE. A NEW piece was brought out at this theatre on Thursday evening, ntitled, Massaniello, the Fisherman of Naples, to which was affixed the somewhat equivocal denomination of an Historical Play. We need not enter in the particulars of the popular insurrection which supplies the subject of this piece, as it is very generally known; suffice it therefore to say, that the rising of a people excited by a sense of oppression into a burst of brief temporary fury, under the conduct of one of those master spirits which every rank of life will occasionally furnish, is not an unfavourable theme for dramatic management. The historical truth also, in reference to the fate and character of Massaniello, was tolerably congenial. A man of quick sense and deep feeling, nurturing within his bosom a deadly animosity to aristocratical oppression, finally inflaming an aggrieved populace, and blaring, like the eruption of a volcano, for nine days, until driven by over excitement into tyranny and frenzy, forms a portion of powerful material for the hand of a master. In the present instance, we are indulged with little beyond a mere melo-drama, attended with a fault, which, from the nature of the story, is very extraordinary that is to say, a surprising want of action. We have also to deplore the additional defect of a most mawkish and threadbare tissue of feminine interest, uncongenial at once with the main incident and character. Why lower the ruling passion of a man in the situation of Massaniello, by a silly and improbable amour with a woman of quality, and the undesigned assassination of a too tender and prying wife? events, which for the two last acts produce a maudlin source of distress which is wholly opposed to dramatic, historical, or any other order of consistency. But this it is to attempt the bow of Hercules in a pair of white gloves-to deal in elements beyond our power of handling. The subject of our dramatist was the headlong career of a strong and powerful mind, suddenly raised from the lowest station to unbounded gratification, and overborne by the transition into tyranny and phrenzy. Instead of this, we perceive a man very decently bemoaning, for half an hour together, the death of a beloved wife. If there must be love in a play, why not connect it with underplot, or incidental character? All this is said in allusion to Massaniello, as an attempt at tragedy; as an olio of singing, dancing, scenery, horsemanship (KEAN mounts one of Ducrow's' chargers) and processions, were it not insufferably dull, it might pass. Dullness, however, and a species of anticlimax in the management of incident, are unbearable in every walk of the drama. Mr. SOANE, the reputed author of Massaniello, seems only to excite expectation in order to baffle it, and uniformly falls instead of rises with the occasion. We will not recommend him "to chuse out some province in acrostic land," because we willingly concede to him a far higher share of talent; but certainly Melpomene never answered for him at the font-that he may depend upon. We shall sufficiently describe all the rest in our advertence to the acting. In the first place, then, Mr. KEAN and we speak it in the face of a very active disposition to run him down-did as much for our melo-dramatic Massaniello as the author would allow. Had it been more historically correct and natural, he would have been quite the man for it; but he is not the actor to whine out love, penitence, or complaint, complaint, the very essence of modern tragedy, the chief pathos of which is generally a tedious species of bemoaning! Now, too much complaint, either on or off the stage, is insufferably tiresome, and seldom the language of energy or passion. It is in fact, in many temperaments, a species of mental evaporation, a relief possibly to themselves, but a certain bore to everybody else. On the stage, particularly, it is the bore superlative, and especially unfit for KEAN, who by some very fine hits in his own way, shewed what he might have done with loftier matter. His soliloquy when provoked by his wife's information of the exaction of the tax-gatherer, was very fine, and so was a good deal of his verbal encounters with the old serpentine Viceroy. In a banquet scene, the author, having caught a genuine hint from history, shows the rising effects of wine, and of the still more intoxicating consciousness of unbounded power on undrilled and unpractised nature, with some skill; and KEAN depictured the incipient phrenzy very admirably. In some subsequent wordy war with a haughty Nobleman, he also appears to advantage. Almost all the rest was entirely out of his way, and indeed of that of every body else; no human being could make much, of it. WALLACK performed a proud but honourable Noble, when he had anything beyond empty expletive to utter, with considerable effect; but, independently of Massaniello, the only attempt at individualization, was a sort of bravo, evidently sketched from the gipsy in Quentin Durward, and forming a tolerably respectable Master Barnardine out of prison. TERRY filled up this sketch with considerable spirit; but unhappily, as to the drama, it is a mere supernumerary, though one, which told. Of the court lady of Mrs. BUNN, and the loving wife of Mrs. WEST, we will say nothing; vapid and womanish conceptions as they both are, no human skill could infuse anything like vitality into either of them. Without rhyme, reason, or necessity, that pleasing actress, Mrs. YATES, was put into male attire to say what any fifth-rate male was equally fit for. But this is the Drury-Lane way; a play-bill is filled with names without characters, and the interest of the actor, and finally, the reputation of the whole company is> sacrificed to a little temporary attraction. This is poor, and should be amended. The dialogue of this piece exhibits occasional spirit and vigour, but as usual the populace are made too contemptible to supply the necessary collision. Nobility, to be sure, is dealt with a little freely, but as to Kings, they are as a Bishop said in the days of the first Stuart,, "the breath of our nostrils ;" and, as another observed during the most recent of the Brunswicks, can in no sense" do wrong." This play is printed, and we perceive that the facetious hand of Mr. COLMAN the younger has been over it. "Ill lie you like a rich man's epi |