For the Abolition of Tithes, by Mr. CAREW, from Tacumshane, and other Places in the County of Wexford. For protection against the Importation of Foreign Lead, by Mr. MUNDY, from the Owners of Lead Mines in the

LORD ELLENBOROUGH'S DIVORCE.] Mr. Hume said, that he was sorry not to see the hon. Member in his place who had

carried Coastwise, by Mr. ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL, from the Coal-owners on the River Dee. For a Repeal of the Vestry Act (Ireland), by Lord KILLEEN, from the Inhabitants of Arbroath. Praying for Relief, from the Ship-owners of North Shields, Blyth, and Hartley, by Mr. LIDDEL; And from South Shields, by Mr. BELL. For the extension of the Two-penny Post, by Mr. ALEXANDER Dawson, from John Wheel of the Edgware-road. Praying for an Allowance for Duty paid on Beer in hand when the Duty ceases, by Mr. STANLEY, from the Brewers of Manchester

and Salford. For the mitigation of the severity of the Criminal Code, by Mr. C. F. PALMER, from Maidenhead: -By Mr. HOBHOUSE, from Mr. Alan Newland:-And by Mr. STANLEY, from the Inhabitants of Warrington.

VICE-TREASURER OF IRELAND-NEW WRITS.] Mr. Planta moved for a New Writ for a Member to serve in Parliament for the County of Kerry, in the place of the right hon. Maurice Fitzgerald, who has accepted the office of Vice-Treasurer of Ireland.

Mr. Hume said, he was very sorry to hear of the appointment. The office was one of those which he had expected would have been abolished. He expected that any opportunity which occurred to abolish it would have been cagerly embraced, as it might have been dispensed with ever since the Union. It was to him most extraordinary that Government should have filled up the vacancy when there was a Resolution on the Table of the House, that every part of the expenditure which could be saved ought to be saved. There might have been some delicacy towards removing the hon. Member who held the office; but when he was removed by another appointment he did expect the office would have been done away. He had heard the report of the appointment, but he could not believe it. People could not expect that one Member of Parliament should be sent to the colonies from a useless office, and that another should supply his place at home. He was sorry to hear the Motion, but he could not, of course, oppose it.

The Speaker was ordered to issue a New Writ accordingly for the county of Kerry.

Mr. Planta next moved for a New Writ to return a Burgess to sit in Parliament for Corfe Castle, in the room of G. Bankes, Esq., who had accepted the office of one of the Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury.-Ordered.

A New Writ was also ordered to be issued for East Looe, in the room of Henry Hope, Esq., who had accepted the office of Groom of the Bed-chamber,

Bill, as he should ask him to re-commit the Bill, in order to amend the evidence. At present the evidence was in such a defective state, that he was sure hon. Members would think the Bill ought not to pass. When the hon. Member who had charge of the Bill was present he would again mention the subject.

DISTRESS (IRELAND).] Mr. Moore presented a Petition from the Operatives of Dublin, complaining of Distress, and soliciting inquiry by the Committee appointed to inquire into the propriety of introducing Poor-laws into Ireland. The petitioners stated, that the distress in Ireland, particularly in Dublin, was very great, so great indeed as to be unexampled,' except when famine was hanging over the land. The manufacturers there had generally suffered from the same vicissitudes as the manufac turers of England. There was a sympathetic union between the two. In 1824, for example, the English manufacturer enjoyed temporary prosperity, and the Dublin manufacturer was also prosperous. Between the condition of the two countrics there was, however, a striking difference, for what was only depression to the English manufacturer, was destitution to the Irish ma nufacturer.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN SCOTLAND.] Mr. Cutlar Fergusson, in rising to present a Petition from a Stone-mason of Paisley, of the name of Kintry, complaining of the Administration of Justice in Scotland, expressed his regret that the Lord Advocate, or the right hon. Secretary of State for the Home Department was not present, as the petition contained some representations of very great importance, and well worthy of the attention of the officers of the Crown. The petitioner complained of the great expense he had been put to by being obliged to sue a man for debt in a Sheriffs' Court, which was for such a sum that he could not go into an inferior court. The petitioner complained of the extraordinary length of the written pleadings, and of the great delay which had been caused. It was above a year since the cause was begun, and it was not yet terminated. The proceedings to recover a debt of 411. 12s. extended to eighty-seven folio pages. He had been obliged to employ a

Civil Contingencies for the extraordinary expenses of H. J. Mandeville, Esq. Secretary of Embassy at Lisbon, with the amount of his salary, and on what duty he has been employed since his return."

Sir James Graham took that opportunity of observing, that he had, for the same object, moved for a return of the total expense of his Majesty's Consuls at the various ports of the United States of America. No such return had yet been produced; and as it was extremely important that the House should possess it before they came to a determination on the Civil Contingencies, he hoped it would be prepared and laid on the Table immediately after the holidays.

Mr. Lennard observed, that the Government of the Netherlands had reduced the rank of its Ambassador at this Court. He wished to know if it was intended, on the part of this country, to reduce the rank of their Minister?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that some reduction was, he believed, in the contemplation of the noble Lord at the head of the Foreign Department (Lord Aberdeen), but he really was not able to say to what extent it would be carried. Returns Ordered.

On the Motion of Mr. Hume, a further Return was ordered of "an account in detail of the manner in which 1,5531., charged in the Civil Contingencies, had been expended by the Commissioners for the Valuation of Houses in the City of Dublin; and also of the sum of 8,8991. expended for the payment of Fees on Bills for Improving Turnpike Roads, and charged in the Civil Contingencies; and also of the items of an Expenditure of 1,1697. for the Robes of Knights of various Orders; of 1,278l. for the Colours of the Foot Guards; and of 2,7981. for the Public Offices in Whitehall and Westminster." The hon. Member said, that all these were contained in the Civil Contingencies, and he wished them explained.

BOUNTIES ON THE FISHERIES.] Colonel Wilson, in presenting a Petition from Staiths and Runswick, in the North Riding of the County of York, praying for the continuance of the Bounties on taking and curing Fish, which stated, that if the Bounties were withdrawn, ruin would be the consequence to numerous families, took occasion to observe, that he was sorry to see Ministers leave their places and walk away, when the wants of the people were alluded to by

their Representatives. He supposed that they had no wish to hear tales of distress, but he could assure them, whether they were absent or present, he meant, whenever he had an opportunity, to state the grievances of the people. Indeed he should be unworthy of a seat in that House if he did not state boldly and fearlessly what he knew of the distresses of the people. He had taken some pains to make himself acquainted with the condition of the fishermen, and he was sure that doing away with the Bounty would be ruin to them. The consequence of it would be, that the torrent of distress would be swelled by 100,000 additional souls. Those who advise such a measure must have been illinformed, or they must not have had the fear of God before their eyes, or the welfare of their country at heart. It was well known that in all fishery districts the people swarmed like bees, but were as poor as rats, aided, however, by the Bounty, they managed by their industry to pick up a living out of the sea, and while they supported themselves they fed the poor for many miles within their own neighbourhood. They required the assistance, too, of the sail-maker, rope-maker, and boatbuilder, all of whom would suffer with the fishermen. Moreover, ruining the fishery was breaking up the best nursery for our seamen which we had. Government, he thought, was not aware that these Bounties were compensated by the Excise and Custom Duties levied on articles consumed directly by the fishermen, or by those who prepared their instruments. The whole amount of the Bounty was about 48,000l., and for such a paltry sum as that could the Government inflict ruin on so many people? Such a system was being penny wise and pound foolish, and shewed that the subject had never been properly considered by the Government. He understood that Ireland was not yet to be deprived of this advantage, and he hoped therefore that it would be continued to England and Scotland a little time longer; another year at least he hoped would be granted. He had no wish unnecessarily to oppose the Ministers, but if they were determined not to listen to him, he was determined, night after night, to press the question on their attention; and if they did not attend to it, they should have his opposition, with all the force he could gather.

Mr. W. Duncombe presented a similar Petition from the Robin Hood's Bay fishermen, and intimated a wish to know what

were the intentions of his Majesty's Go vernment with respect to the Bounties. He hoped, if it were correct that the Bounty was to be continued for Ireland, that it would also be continued for England and Scotland.

Mr. Herries said, it was due to the numerous and industrious class connected with the Fisheries to state, that the subject of continuing the Bounties on some part of the Fishery, and for a limited period, was now under the consideration of his Majesty's Government; but it was also necessary to state, that those Bounties would not on any account be continued in any case beyond that limited period. Parliament had determined that the Bounties should cease at a period now near at hand; and he confessed that although the subject of continuing some of the Bounties was under consideration, it would require a very strong case to induce the Government to alter its determination that these Bounties should wholly cease. The continuance of all of them was, indeed, quite out of the question. The Bounties on the curing of the fish might, perhaps, be continued for a short time, both on account of the peculiar nature of that employment, and its aiding the formation of a nursery for seamen ; but beyond a short time, he thought it but fair to state, the Government had no disposition to continue any of the Bounties.

Petitions to be printed.

SCOTCH AND IRISH POOR.] Mr. Lillleton presented a Petition from the Justices of Peace near Lichfield, praying for a Revision of the Laws with respect to Vagrants belonging to Ireland, Scotland, Guernsey, and Jersey, resident in England. The number of Irish and Scotch vagrants who visited Staffordshire and Shropshire was very great, and they gave a great deal of trouble, particularly the Scotch, who seemed to have an extraordinary desire to revisit the places where they had once been harboured. The parish authorities, at considerable expense, sometimes sent some back to Scotland, but they in general returned, causing additional expense. There were instances of the same individuals having been eight times passed to the northern side of the Tweed within a very short time. With this disposition to prey on their neighbours, there was no other mode of dealing than by a strong legislative

measure.

Mr. Cullar Fergusson said, the counties the hon. Member spoke of were fortunate in possessing a means of passing away va

grants though at a considerable expense and trouble, but that was a power which the counties of Scotland did not possess, and the consequence was, that they were overrun with vagrants from Ireland and England, whom they would gladly get rid of.

Sir James Graham wished to take that opportunity of asking a noble Lord what was his intention respecting the subject to which he had called the attention of the House some time ago; namely, the great influx of Scotch and Irish paupers.

Lord Stanley, in answer, stated, that shortly after the recess he would submit to the House a proposition with respect to the best mode of passing Scotch and Irish paupers to their own countries.

Petition laid on the Table.

FORGERY.] Mr. Lennard said, he had been requested by his hon. friend, the member for Essex, to present a Petition from the Magistrates, Clergy, Gentry, and other inhabitants of Braintree and Bocking, in Essex, praying for the mitigation of the punishment of Forgery. The numerous petitions which had been presented to that House on the subject showed the general feeling which existed in the country respecting it; and there could be no doubt that that number would have been much greater had not the public been aware that the right hon. Secretary of State for the Home Department participated in their feelings with respect to the expediency of mitigating the punishment of forgery. He (Mr. Lennard) felt great satisfaction at what the right hon. Gentleman had already stated it to be his intention to do, as far as it went; but he was sure that the public wished for a more extensive measure, and were anxious that the punishment of death for the crime of forgery should be abolished altogether. It had been said, and among others by the hon. member for Bristol, that the monied interest would not be sufficiently protected if the punishment of death for forgery were abolished entirely. He believed, on the contrary, not only that it would be protected, but that it would be protected more efficiently, if the punishment for forgery were not such as to render it repugnant to the feelings of those upon whom forgeries were committed, to prosecute the offenders. He had himself given notice of a motion for the abolition of the punishment of death in all cases of forgery. He had great satisfaction, however, in surrendering the motion into the hands of his hon. and learned friend, the member for