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the Chancellor of the Exchequer calculates that he has funds exceeding it by nearly four millions, which is therefore the surplus of the revenue above the expenditure for the current year, and the real sinking fund possessed by the nation for the reduction of its debt. In this surplus, however, is included L. 500,000 to be received from the French Government as the proportion of our expences for the last war, and which we can only recover this year; so that the permanent surplus, according to the estimate of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, may be stated at L.3,500,000, which will however increase, if the revenue shall increase; and of this desirable result the Chancellor of the Exchequer holds out the expectation from its produce for the early months of the present year.

4. Sir James Mackintosh moved the third reading of the Forgery Capital Felonies Repeal Bill. Several objections were made, as well to the principle of the measure as to the partial nature of some of the exceptions, by members intimately connected with the mercantile interest; and the Attorney-General spoke at length in condemnation of the measure in principle and in detail. The third reading was, however, carried by a majority of 117 to 111. A clause was then proposed, excepting from the offences, to be relieved of the penalty of Death, the forgery of promissory notes, of bills of exchange, and of orders on bankers. This exception, which would confine the merciful provisions of the bill almost to the single case of the first uttering of forged notes, was adopted by a majority of 109 to 102. But the measure was not suffered to pass into a law; for on the question that the "Bill do now pass," which follows the third reading, the Marquis of Londonderry divided the House, when the measure was rejected by a majority of 120 to 114.

6. The Constitutional Association came under the consideration of the House of Commons this evening, upon the presentation of a petition from one of the pamphlet renders whom it has under prosecution. Dr Lushington, who presented the petition, made a very warm attack upon the Institution, which gave rise to a spirited conversation, but nothing farther occurred concerning it. A long debate took place on a motion by Lord Nugent, for the appoint ment of a Committee to inquire into the state of the Courts of Justice in the Island

of Tobago. The motion was ultimately

lost on a division of 66 to 105.-A discussion took place on a proposition of Mr Courteney for granting compensation to the American Loyalists. The Chancellor of the Exchequer opposed it, on the ground that the public could not afford to appropriate I.. 130,000 to this purpose, but the motion was carried by a majority of 17.

The claims of these unfortunate individuals, it is understood, will now, after a lapse of forty years, be submitted to a Committee to decide on their justice.

7.-An interesting conversation took place upon the subject of Mr Scarlett's Bill for the Amendment of the Poor Laws. Many members objected to the introduction of the measure without accompanying it by a general revision of all the laws which affect the labouring classes-the laws against Mendicity, Combination, Emigration, &c. Among those who urged the objection, were several members considered as high authorities on questions of constitutional law, and political economy; and the opinion that the question of the poor laws could not be properly treated as an insulated subject, seemed to be pretty generally favoured by the House. Hume then brought forward a motion for inquiry into the affairs of the Ionian Islands, and concluded a long speech by moving for a Commission to proceed to those islands for the purpose of inquiring into the conduct of Sir Thomas Maitland, the Lord High Commissioner, and the general state of the government. The motion was opposed by Mr Goulburn, who was supported by other Hon. Members, several of whom bore testimony to the merits of the gallant general, and the motion was negatived by a majority of 70.

Mr

8. In a Committee of Supply, the Marquis of Londonderry brought under consideration the resolution of the 16th April 1818, granting to his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence an annuity of L. 6000; when his Lordship moved that his Majesty be enabled to grant to his Royal Highness, out of the Consolidated Fund, an annuity to that amount, commencing from the 5th April 1818. This proposition is only a resumption of the original vote, a call upon the House to make good an arrangement previously made, but which his Royal Highness has not claimed till now. Mr Hume moved an amendment reducing the annuity to L. 3500 a-year; but seeing no disposition in the Committee to support him, he withdrew it in favour of another amendment proposed by Mr Harboard, for granting the original sum of L. 6000, but excluding the arrears, which was negatived on a division, and the original motion carried by a majority of 76. Mr Serjeant Onslow, at the suggestion of several members, withdrew his bill for the repeal of the Usury Laws till next Session.

13. The House went into a Committee of Supply, and a great number of resolutions were agreed to. The grant to the Commissioners for the suppression of the Slave Trade gave rise to a discussion, in the course of which the difficulties which still impede the abolition of that horrid traffic were cauvassed at some length; and

their magnitude, and the impossibility of overcoming them by ordinary measures, too generally admitted. Upon the resolution for the law expences, the Constitution al Association was again brought under the notice of the House, but without extracting any defence of it from Ministers, or provoking any particular animadversion on the side of the Opposition.

14. Lord Archibald Hamilton brought up the report of the Committee on Scots Burghs. The Noble Lord complained that the committee had not proceeded according to the instructions of the Houseto inquire impartially into the subject of the petitions, but had thought proper to decide without due investigation. The conduct of the committee was defended by Lord Binning, and after a discussion confined to Scots members, the report was read and ordered to be printed. A long and animated debate then took place, on Mr Curwen's motion for leave to bring in a bill for the repeal of the Agricultural Horse Tax. A number of members of the Opposition, and several gentlemen who usually support Ministers, spoke in support of the bill; and the tax was left to be defended in argument by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr Huskisson, with the qualified aid of Mr Baring, who professed his unwillingness to concur in a measure which went to diminish the security of the public creditor, and to relieve the country gentlemen, whose pertinacions opposition to economy and retrenchment rendered them wholly undeserving of the favour. On a division, leave was granted by a majority of 141 to 113. The Bill was read a first time.

15. The bill for the repeal of the Agricultural Horse Tax was read a second time, and the committal of it fixed for Monday, notwithstanding a slight opposition on the part of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who wished to postpone the committee, and renewed his hints of a resolution to offer a decisive resistance to the measure. The bill for appointing Commissioners to proceed to ireland for the purpose of inquiring into the state of the revenue of that country, and of correcting whatever abuses they may discover in the mode of collecting it, went through the committee the same evening. The revenue of Ireland has been much diminished by the imposition of duties which have discouraged consumption; the treasury has been also defrauded by the misconduct of the persons employed to collect the revenue, and by the enormous expences at which the system is put into action. The ordinary expence of collecting the revenue of Great Britain does not exceed 7 per cent. on an average; but in Ireland the average expence exceeds 20 per cent.

18. On the order for the committal of

the bill for the repeal of the Agricultural Horse Tax being read, Ministers announced their intention of acceding to the wishes of the majority of the House. Mr Curwen, in terms the most gentlemanly, rendered every justice to Ministers for the very handsome manner in which they had acceded to the opinion of the House on this occasion. The Marquis of Londonderry stated, that no new tax was intended to supply the deficiency, but he wished it to be understood that Ministers, in consenting to the present repeal, did not mean to preelude themselves from recurring to this tax in the ensuing Session, should it be found necessary. Mr Baring and Mr Peel were almost the only exceptions to the general gratification with which the communication of the government's determination upon this subject was received. The first of these gentlemen complained of the repeal, as tending to a breach of the public faith; and Mr Peel deprecated it, as introducing a principle of partial relief to particular classes a principle which must, in his opinion, lead to the most injurious consequences. The same evening the report of the committee upon the provision for the Duke of Clarence was submitted to the House. No less than three hostile amendments were proposed by Opposition, but they were rejected by decisive majoritiesthe number for the original grant to his Royal Highness was 131-Against it 81.

20. Mr F. Buxton called the attention of the House to the practice of women in India immolating themselves on the funeral piles of their deceased husbands, and concluded by moving for certain communications from India relative to the subject, which was agreed to without opposition. In the course of the discussion the painful fact was elicited, that within the last four years no fewer than 2366 females were burnt alive in British India, exceeding, in the proportion of seven to one, all the offenders who have suffered death by the criminal code of the United Kingdom, in the same period, and by a mode of execution deemed too barbarous for the punishment of traitors in this country. Mr Hutchinson again called the attention of the House to the state of Europe. He went over (as on the former occasion) the late proceedings on the continent, and extended his views to the events of the late war. After an able reply from the Marquis of Londonderry, the Hon. Member's motion was rejected by a majority of 117 to 28.

The same evening, the Scottish Malt Bill for reducing, for a time to be limited, the duty on malt made from bear or bigg only for home consumption in Scotland, was read a second time.-The Scottish Distillery Drawback Bill, for allowing to distillers of spirits for home consumption

in Scotland a drawback of a portion of the duty on malt used by them, and for the farther prevention of smuggling of spirits on the borders of Scotland and England, was also read a second time the same evening.

21.-Lord William Bentinck brought forward a motion for an Address to the Throne, praying his Majesty to interfere in behalf of the people of Sicily. The motion was rejected by a majority of 69 to 35. Mr S. Wortley then moved for copies of the Laybach Manifestoes, in order to give the House an opportunity of recording its condemnation of the principles contained in these instruments. This motion was, like the former, opposed by Ministers; and in the end it was rejected by a majority of 113 to 59.

22. A string of resolutions was moved by Mr Rice, the member for Limerick, relative to the conduct of the Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland. Captain O'Grady, son to the Chief Baron, having replied, the Marquis of Londonderry suggested that the House should be allowed time to deliberate on the course to be adopted, and the discussion in consequence was adjourned. Late in the evening Mr R. Smith revived the consideration of the Austrian Loan. The Marquis of Londonderry admitted that the question had never been discussed with the Austrian Cabinet with that formality which its nature demanded, and expressed his intention to press the matter in a proper form. His Lordship at the same time feared that the whole finances of Austria were not equal to the amount of the principal and interest due to this country, and acknowledged that the only payment to be hoped for was a compromise of some kind.

23. The Scots Malt and Scots Distillery Drawback Bills were read a third time and passed.

25-Mr Wallace brought in a Bill for the consolidation and simplification of the laws which affect trade, (amounting to nearly two thousand,) and removing some of the principal embarrassments by which commerce is restrained. The Right Hon. Gentleman introduced his bill for no other purpose than to bring the subject under the notice of the Legislature, and having effected that object, it was ordered to be read that day three months on the motion of its author, who, at the same time, pro mised to revive the subject early in the next Session, when it will receive ample consideration.-The Duke of Clarence's Grant Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed the following evening. The motion for the second reading was carried by a majority of 61 to 14.

A proposition was submitted to the House by Mr Maxwell, for an Address to the Throne, praying that a commission

might be appointed to examine into the system of society which Mr Owen has created at New Lanark, and which he is desirous of seeing universally established throughout the country.-The motion was opposed by Lord Londonderry, Mr Wilberforce, Mr Buxton, &c. Mr Maxwell seeing the sense of the House against the proposition, did not divide it on the subject, and the motion was negatived.-Mr Wilberforce then submitted a motion upon the subject of the Slave Trade, similar in all respects to that of the Marquis of Lansdowne in the Upper House. The Marquis of Londonderry defended the conduct of the British Government, and palliated that of France in regard to the hateful traffic, on the ground that no law existed in that kingdom for its prevention and punishment. Sir J. Mackintosh, on the other hand, charged the French Ministers with not merely countenancing the trade, but also granting impunity to the incidental murders to which it gave occasion.The motion was unanimously agreed to.

27. Mr Hume brought forward two motions, each of which gave rise to considerable discussion. The first related to a bargain for the erection of a New Stamp Office in Edinburgh, which the Honour. able Gentleman described as improvident, and with respect to the site of the structure, extremely inconvenient. The explanation of Sir John Marjoribanks was full and satisfactory, and the motion was negatived without a division. In common with our contemporaries, we have frequently alluded with pride to the splendid improvement we are again led to notice; and with them feel convinced that we owe entirely to the enlarged views, and liberal conduct of the Hon. Baronet, that a most stupendous undertaking, (we mean the Regent Bridge,) which forms an easy and elegant approach to one of the finest walks in Europe, has been completed with unparalleled expedition. The Honourable Gentleman's next motion embraced a subject of more extent and importance; namely, an Address to the Crown, calling upon his Ma jesty to institute a strict scrutiny into the mode and expence of the collection of the revenue; a revision of allowances and salaries, more particularly those granted since 1797, with a view to their adjustment to the increased value of the currency; and, in order to the making of all possible reductions, especially in the army, that a vigilant superintendence be exercised over the expenditure of the country.-Mr Banks moved, as an amendment, an address complimenting the government upon the measures of economy which it had hitherto pursued, and strongly recommending a perseverance in the same line of con duct; at the same time recognizing the necessity of referring to the improved state

of the currency, alluded to in Mr Hume's motion, and pointing to the army as a proper object for economical reduction. This amendment was supported by Ministers, and unanimously agreed to, after Mr Hume's motion had been rejected by a majority of 174 to 94.

28. The Agricultural Horse Tax Repeal Bill was read a third time and pass ed.

29.-The motion for the second reading of the Duke of Clarence's Annuity and Arrears Bill provoked from Mr Creevey an attack upon his Royal Highness, of such a nature, as called for repeated corrections from the Speaker, and of which the great

body of the House expressed its opinion by voting for the Bill. The same Honourable Gentleman turned the discussion on the Coronation, which Ministers defended on the grounds of usage, antiquity, and the provisions of the constitution and which the Opposition, on the other hand, condemned as a triumph over the Queen, and the expence as an insult to the feelings of the public. The Extra Post Bill was carried through a Committee by a very small majority; the numbers being, for the Report, 33; against it, 30.-Mr Martin's Bill for preventing cruelty to animals was read a third time and passed, by a majority of 40 to 16.

BRITISH CHRONICLE.

ΜΑΣ.

CIRCUIT INTELLIGENCE.-(Concluded.)-On the 7th April, at Stirling, John Fleming was found guilty of uttering a forged L5 note of the Paisley Banking Company, and was executed at Stirling on the 11th May. The other cases at this circuit were uninteresting.

At Aberdeen, on the 2d April, William Grant, about 18 years of age, was convicted of housebreaking and theft, and senienced to be executed, which has since been changed to transportation for life.

At Jedburgh and Ayr no case of interest occurred.

5.-Dundee Ferry.-A great improvement is about to be made in the communication between Fife and Angus, by the employment of a steam vessel at Dundee Ferry. The description of vessel fixed upon is a twin-boat, the wheel by which the vessel is impelled being placed between two boats, which are to contain each an engine of 15 horses' power. The extreme length of the deck is to be 92 feet, and the extreme breadth to be about 35. It is expected to be ready by the beginning of the month of August.

7.-APPREHENSION OF RADICALS. William Watson, weaver in Strathaven, John Dunlop, in Stewarton, James and Andrew Roxburgh, in Galston, and James Gunn, weaver in Balfron, against all of whom true bills were last year found for high treason, have been within these few days apprehended at their several places of residence, and lodged in the jails of Ayr, Glasgow, or Stirling.

12.-High Court of Admiralty of Scotland. On Wednesday the 9th instant, came on the trial of John M'Dougall, late ship-owner in Glasgow, accused of having feloniously sunk or destroyed, after having

abstracted the cargo, in the month of June 1816, the vessel called the Friends, of Glasgow, while on a voyage to Hamburgh. The prisoner pleaded Not Guilty, and the public prosecutor having departed from the charge of abstracting the goods, the trial proceeded. The principal evidence, together with the pannel's declaration confessing the fact, was the testimony of the master and mate of the vessel. The whole of the first day was taken up with the proceedings, on an objection made by the prisoner as to the reading of his declaration, on the plea of the prisoner's insanity at the time it was emitted. After hearing witnesses on that point, the Court refused the objection, and the trial proceeded at ten o'clock on Thursday, and did not finish till about three o'clock on Friday afternoon. This day, at two o'clock, the Court met again, when the Jury delivered in a written verdict, finding M'Dougall guilty at common law of procuring mariners to sink the vessel called the Friends, with the intent of defrauding the owners of the cargo and the underwriters. After hearing Mr Murray in mitigation of punishment, the Judge Admiral pronounced sentence, ordaining the pannel to be for ever rendered an infamous person, and to be transported beyond seas for the period of his natural life. After this sentence was pronounced, the Court next proceeded to the trial of the same John M'Dougall and Archibald MLachlan, for robbing and sinking the Mary, of Glasgow, in June last, when M'Lachlan pleaded Guilty, under the common law, and was sentenced to transportation for fourteen years.-M'Dougall pleaded Not Guilty, and the diet was continued against him to the 11th of June. It is not supposed that the trial will be proceeded with. The loss sustained by the sink

ing of the Friends and of the Mary is calculated at upwards of L. 40,000, the great bulk of which fell upon Lloyd's.

14-Cheap Travelling-At present an individual may travel from Edinburgh to Dublin for 28s. viz.

To Glasgow,
Belfast, per Rapid,
Dublin,

L.1, 85.

outside, 8s. inside, 168. cabin 21s. steerage, 10s. outside. 10s. inside, 20s. L.2, 17s. From Dublin he may go to Liverpool for 25s. and from Liverpool to London 25s. and thus, for a very moderate sum, see all the capitals and great towns in the empire. 19.-Brig of Earn.-On Thursday the 17th instant, the foundation stone of the New Bridge of Earn was laid by Sir David Moncrieffe, Bart. Right Worshipful Master of the St Andrew's Lodge, in the presence of the Brethren of the various Lodges in the neighbourhood, the Magis trates and Town Council of the city of Perth, many of the noblemen and gentle men of the county, and an immense concourse of spectators. The new bridge is to be built a short distance to the westward of the present bridge, which is in a very ruinous state. There are extant records of orders for stones for its repair so far back as about 1220, and in more recent records it is stated to "have aye been ane evil big. git brig."

Castle Campbell.The following singular circumstance lately occurred at Castle Campbell: A young cow, belonging to the person who keeps the castle, escaped from the place where it was kept, and ascended the spiral staircase to the top of the castle, where, after being for some time, it was discovered by some of the surrounding neighbours, who immediately informed the owner. After great difficulty and considerable danger, he at length succeeded in rescuing it from a situation so singularly perilous.

Emigration. On the 1st instant the Earl of Buckinghamshire, Captain Johnson, sailed from Greenock for Quebec, with 600 settlers, from Renfrew and Lanark shires. On the 11th the Commerce, Captain Coverdale, left the same port with 422 passengers for Quebec, chiefly from Glasgow and its neighbourhood. And on the 19th, the ship David left Greenock for Quebec, with 364 emigrants, chiefly country people from the counties of Lanark, Dumbarton, Stirling, Clackmannan, and Linlithgow. Thus, in the course of 19 days, 1386 persons have emigrated from the West of Scotland, in search of subsistence on the other side of the Atlantic.

23. Justiciary Court, Edinburgh. This day, P. Wallace, J. Robertson, J. Shaw, and W. Smart, who had been tried at the Perth Circuit, on a charge of assault and robbery, committed in the High Street of Dundee, and whom the jury had found

VOL. IX.

guilty art and part of theft, were put to the bar. Their Lordships, in full Court, unanimously sustained the objection on which the case had been certified from Perth by Lords Hermand and Succoth, viz. that sentence could not follow upon a verdict of guilty of a crime not libelled in the indict

ment.

24.-Court of King's Bench, London. Thomas John Evans, proprietor of the Manchester Observer, who had been convicted at the Lancaster Assizes, of publishing a libel on the Government and the King's troops, and also of a libel on the late Dr Cunliffe of Bury, in Lancashire, was brought up for judgment. The sentence of the Court was-for the first offence, the defendant to be imprisoned in the Castle of Lancaster for one year; and at the expiration of that time to be further imprisoned for the second offence for six months, and to enter into recognizances for his good behaviour for three years, himself in L. 400, and two sureties in L. 200 each.

28.-John Hunt, one of the proprietors of the Examiner, London Sunday newspaper, for a seditious libel published in that paper, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment in the House of Correction, Coldbath-fields, and to find sureties to keep the peace for three years, himself in L. 500, and two sureties in L. 250 each.

Libel on the Queen.-On the same day, Thomas Flindell, proprietor of a newspaper published at Exeter, called the Western Luminary, received sentence for a libel on the Queen. Mr Justice Bayley observed upon the malignity of this libel, as tending to prejudice the inquiry, at that time carrying on by the House of Lords. The circumstances urged by the defendant, his being sorry for the publication, his having a family of twelve persons, nine of whom were dependent upon him for support, and a recommendation of a Jury of the city of Exeter, who, on account of defendant's good character, had recommended him to the utmost mercy, induced the Court to sentence him only to eight months' imprisonment in the city of Exeter jail, and to find sureties for his good behaviour for three years, himself in L. 500, and two sureties in L. 250 each.

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