HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 20. Lord John Russell moved the third reading of the PRINTED PAPERS Bill, for the protection of the Privileges of Parliament in their printed papers. - Sir R. H. Inglis moved the extension of protection to the reprints made by newspapers, but was defeated. The Bill passed after a division of 110 to 40.

March 23. Lord John Russell moved for leave to bring in a Bill for settling the political constitution of CANADA. He observed that the union of the legis lature of the two provinces was a measure which would not have been expedient, if repugnant to the wishes of the colonists themselves; but they had now acceded to the principle of such a union, leaving the arrangement of its details to the Imperial Parliament. The evils which a union would cure had arisen from various causes-from the feudal laws, from the mixed tenures of the lands, and from the preponderance of the representatives of French extraction -a preponderance which had given them a monopoly of the legislation, and had amounted to a practical exclusion of the English race. Against the narrow spirit thus engendered no better remedy could be devised than to let the inhabitants of both provinces send members to an Assembly common to both, the effect of which measure would be to deprive the French majority of the power which they had so ill employed. With respect to the Legislative Council, or Upper House, the Government and the Imperial Parliament were agreed that its constitution ought not to be elective, and that the seats in it ought to be for life. In the Assembly, or Lower House, he proposed to give 78 members, or 39 for each province. The population of Upper Canada was indeed less numerous at present than that of the Lower colony; but it was increasing so rapidly, that it bade fair to become ere long the majority. The duration of the Assembly was to be for four years; and the qualification a value of 5001. in land. Another part of the plan was to establish municipal governments for local districts, with powers of local taxation; and measures would be taken for encouraging emigration by faci

litating moderate grants of land at moderate prices. The most important point remaining was that of the Clergy Reserves an appropriation made under an act of, Parliament, of one seventh of the lands, as a provision for the church in lieu of tithe. The Legislature of Upper Canada had recently passed a bill upon this subject. They had not been willing to leave the whole of these reserves to the churches of England and Scotland, still less to the church of England alone; but their bill had proposed to give one half to these two established churches, and distribute the other half to the uses of the various sects existing in the colony. Whether or not this arrangement were such as in the abstract he should have approved, he was prepared, now that he found it laid down in the shape of a bill, to advise that it should be sanctioned by the Royal assent, in the belief that it would restore peace and harmony.-Mr. Hume objected to the Noble Lord's plan as not popular enough. Sir Robert Inglis and Mr. Pakington protested against the Canadian Bill for the appropriation of the Clergy Reserves. Sir C. Grey should have wished to see the whole of the Reserves applied to the purposes of the established churches, and grants of other lands conceded to the Dissenters. Nevertheless, he deprecated the interposition of the house with the Crown to obtain the rejection of the bill, and announced his intention of supporting the Government measure in general.-Sir R. Peel thought, that, until the House could see the Canadian Reserves Bill, and the bill now proposed by Government, all discussion would be premature.-Leave was given to bring in the bill.

March 24. Mr. Law Hodges moved for leave to bring in a bill to render effective the CONSTABULARY FORCE of England and Wales. Its principal object is to enable those counties which do not think it advisable to adopt the provisions of the Police Act, to avail themselves of the ancient constabulary force of the county, and to establish" special high

constables" for one or more divisions of a county.-Leave given.

March 25. Lord Stanley moved the second reading of a REGISTRATION OF

March 27. Mr. Hume moved for leave to bring in a bill to suspend the payment of the Duke of Cumberland's annuity whilst he should continue King of Hanover.-Lord John Russell opposed it, as a motion to take away an annuity granted for life, which seems to comprise all that it can be necessary to observe in answer. After a short debate, the motion was rejected by 76 to 63; majority, 13.

March 30. In Committee of Supply, Lord John Russell moved the consideration of the Queen's message for conferring some signal mark of favour on Sir John Colborne, now LORD SEATON. Lord John enumerated the military and other services of that distinguished officer from his entrance into the army in 1794, and proposed a pension of 2,000l. a year for three lives.-Sir Robert Peel seconded the motion, and observed how highly honourable it was to the British army, that it furnished some of the most conspicuous instances of civil as well as of military merit.-Mr. Hume opposed the grant, and the House divided, for the grant, 82; against it, 16; majority, 66.The House then went into a committee of the whole house on the ADMIRALTY COURT (JUDGES) SALARY BILL, when the Chairman put the question, "That a yearly salary of 4,000l. be paid to the Judge of the High Court of Admiralty out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland."-Mr. Hume objected to the amount, and proposed that it be reduced to 3,000.-Lord John Russell said that the amount of salary was extremely irregular. At present it was not more than 3,0001. but in case of a war it would amount to 7,000l. or 8,0007. This was

too much, and therefore it was proposed to give an uniform salary, and to fix that salary at 4,0007. The situation was one of the highest importance, requiring to be filled by a person of the highest abilities and the very first legal attainments. It could not, then, be expected that a man should abandon a lucrative practice, as in this instance he must do, for a less sum than that proposed. The House divided, for the resolution, 86; against it, 17; majority, 69.

March 31. Mr. Pakington moved the second reading of the BEER BILL.-Mr. Alston proposed that it be read a second time that day six months.-Mr. Darby supported the Bill, and contended that the crimes which were committed in Beer-houses, and the evils resulting from their existence, would not be prevented by the most efficient police that could be established. It was well known that the low Beer-houses were kept by men of the very worst character-men not possessing a single shilling in the world, and who were, in fact, the mere servants of the brewers.-The Chancellor of the Exchequer would not oppose the second reading, but said that the subject was one of much difficulty to legislate upon.-After an extended conversation, the House divided. For the second reading, 110; against it, 30; majority, 80.

April 1. Mr. Villiers moved for a Committee to take into consideration the Act 9 Geo. 1V. regulating the importation of foreign CORN. He implored the majority who passed the bold vote of refusal in the last session to review that decision. The law had worked ill even for the agriculturists themselves, for whose advantage it was intended; it had oppressed the working classes, and it had added to the burdens of the country. The present law was the great obstacle to an arrangement with the corn-growing countries of Germany for such a modification of their tariff as would be highly favourable to the extension of British manufactures. If the existing system were to be maintained it would be impossible to impose any new tax which should be borne by the people at large; the only one at all practicable under such circumstances would be a tax on property to indemnify them a little for the impost on their food.-Lord Darlington was the first to speak in opposition to the motion, and Mr. Grote followed in its favour; and the debate was continued during the two following evenings. At a late hour on the 3rd April, Mr. Warburton moved another adjournment of the

debate, which on a division was negatived by 245 against 129, majority 116. The same hon. member then moved, "that the House do now adjourn," and the proposition was carried without a division.— The effect of this result is, that the whole discussion fell to the ground, like a "dropped order," and is expected to be brought on again after Easter.

HOUSE OF LORDS, April 6.

The Lord Chancellor moved the second reading of the PRINTED PAPERS BILL.-Lord Denman thought their lordships would consult the public interest by acceding to the motion of his noble and learned friend. His lordship in an able and manly manner vindicated the constitutional law of the kingdom, and trusted he had said enough to prove that the Court of Queen's Bench had done nothing which deserved to be visited with any kind of stigma; for he could not help thinking that, however their lordships might exercise the highest of all their attributes, that of wise legislation, those attributes would be appealed to in vain, if privilege were allowed to supersede the law, or if the laws, when made, were not to be carried into execution by fearless and independent judges.-Viscount Melbourne and the Duke of Wellington concurred in recommending a favourable consideration of the Bill, which was read a second time.-The first Clause provides that proceedings, criminal or civil, against persons for publication of papers printed by order of Parliament, shall be stayed upon delivery of a certificate and affidavit to the effect that such publication is by order of either House of Parliament. The second enacts that proceedings shall be stayed when commenced in respect of a copy of an authenticated report, &c. (This applies to all parties, the publishers of newspapers, &c.) The last declares that nothing herein contained shall be deemed or taken, directly or indirectly, to affect the privileges of Parliament in any manner whatsoever.

In the HOUSE OF COMMONS on the same day, Lord John Russell moved the second reading of the ECCLESIASTICAL DUTIES AND REVENUES BILL.-Sir Robert Inglis opposed the motion, and moved that it be read a second time that day six months. Sir Robert Peel supported the Bill from a conviction that a great effort was necessary on the part of this country to remedy the spiritual destitution of the people, and that this effort would not be induced without an example set by the Church herself, of making some sacrifice

from her higher incomes to supply the wants of religious instruction. After some further discussion, Lord John Russell said there were two main grounds on which such a measure might properly be said to rest-the expediency of amending defects which time had allowed to creep into the cathedral system, and the necessity of providing resources to meet the admitted dearth of spiritual instruction. It was not his plan to attach parochial duties to all the preferments with which this Act would deal. Some clergymen were peculiarly qualified by zeal, eloquence, and popular address to produce great effects, both in the pulpit and in private exhortation, among the parishioners of a large district. Others, who possessed not these gifts, were yet capable of equally serving the cause of religion in another department, by able and learned writings. The latter class of men, as well as the former, should find some provision in our Church. The House divided, for the second reading, 87; for the amendment, 11.

April 7. Sir James Graham opened the debate on his motion of CENSURE ON MINISTERS respecting the affairs of China. Adverting to the magnitude of the interests now affected, he said, that onesixth of our whole commercial revenue depended on the maintenance of our relations with China. It would be unwise to deceive ourselves by adopting the vulgar notion of her weakness. She had 350,000,000 of people, directed by one man, with one language, one code of laws, one religion, one national feeling, a fertile and well-watered soil, and an annual revenue of 60,000,0007. unencumbered by debt. The East India Company, while it possessed the trade, had been careful in its injunction of forbearance to its supercargoes; but since the opening of the trade, that had been abandoned. The recommendation of the Duke of Wellington left in the Foreign Office had been disregarded by Lord Palmerston, and other suggestions for the prevention of smuggling were unbeeded. The result was we were now engaged in a war of which the circumstances were as formidable as the stake was important. He submitted the following motion :-" That it appears to this House, on consideration of the papers relating to China, presented to this House by command of her Majesty, that the interruption in our commercial and friendly intercourse with that country, and the hostilities which have since taken place, are mainly to be attributed to the want of foresight and precaution on the part of her Majesty's pre

sent advisers, in respect to our relations with China, and especially to their neglect to furnish the Superintendant at Canton with powers and instructions calculated to provide against the growing evils connected with the contraband traffic in opium, and adapted to the novel and difficult situation in which the Superintendent was placed."-Mr. Macaulay congratulated himself and his colleagues, that the charge against them had not been stronger. It was wholly retrospective, and alleged no blame but that of omission. It was impossible, even in this country, with the aid of the whole preventive service, to put down smuggling. He feared that too many were disposed to vote on this question, as if the armament had been undertaken to sustain a trade in opium. It was not for that purpose that a force had been sent out, but for the redress of insults and injuries no longer endurable.-Sir William Follett supported the motion, and Sir George Staunton opposed it. The debate was continued during three nights, and terminated in the following division for the motion, 264, against it 273; majority for Ministers, 9.

April 13. Lord John Russell moved that the Lords' amendments to the PRINTED PAPERS BILL be considered. The amendments had not in any degree varied the object of the Bill, but had varied it in this respect, that, instead of the certificate going from the Speaker of that or the other House of Parliament to the officer of the court, it should be produced before the court itself. The clause with respect to actions now pending had been left out of the Bill, and therefore in the actions that had been commenced against the Serjeant-at-Arms he would plead. He proposed that these amendments should be agreed to.-The Solicitor-General said the Bill came back ten times more objectionable, carrying every objection to the extreme; doing that which was professed to be disclaimed, and if passed into a law the privileges of the Commons of England were at an end. The object of the alteration made in the Lords was to compel the House of Commons to appear before a court of law, where they ought not to appear. The House had suffered by appearing there already, and he must say that the House of Commons, for the first time in parliamentary history, exhibited its imbecility to sustain the rights of the people, by sanctioning the jurisdiction of the courts of law on the question of its privileges.

The Attorney-General said, he thought that the amendments proposed by the House of Lords ought to be agreed to. The House had been placed in a difficulty, from which the present Bill relieved them, and he had no apprehension, that when the occasion should present itself, the House would fail to exercise its jurisdiction. With the judges there was no discretionary power: by the Bill they performed duties purely ministerial, and if they refused to perform them they could be impeached. It was the act of the House, and not the judge, which terminated the action.-Sir Robert Peel said the Lords had shown a sincere desire to co-operate with the Commons in the maintenance of the privilege asserted, and had clogged their consent with no inadmissible conditions. It was most material to observe, that they had retained the preamble, whereby both Houses now concurred in affirming the general principle of that privilege. He did not regret that the privilege had been asserted by the proceedings of this House itself; but he much preferred the powers which had now been wisely asked of the Legislature. The House divided, and the amendments agreed to by a majority of 68 to 28. The CANADA GOVERNMENT BILL was read a second time without a division. April 15. Mr. Hume, having opposed every stage of LORD SEATON'S ANNUITY BILL, again renewed his opposition on the third reading, both on the score of economy and on the ground of Lord Seaton's conduct in Canada. He moved that the Bill should be read a third time on that day six months.-Lord John Russell said that the frequent discussion which had already taken place on the subject of Lord Seaton's services, and the estimation in which they were generally held by persons of all political parties, made it needless for him now to enter into a debate on

Mr. Hume's allegations.-Mr. Ward said that he would not discuss the merits of Lord Seaton; but that he should vote for the rejection of the Bill, because he thought the grant of pensions to peers for three lives involved injurious consequences, as tending to the introduction of persons into the peerage whose incomes were not adequate to the maintenance of the dignity. The House divided, and the numbers were-For the third reading, 77; against it, 17-majority 60.--The Bill was then read a third time and passed.

On the 15th April Parliament was ad journed over the Easter recess to the 29t instant.

GENT. MAG. Vol. XIII.

FRANCE.

The new Premier, M. Thiers, has achieved a great triumph in the Chamber of Deputies. The debate on the secret service fund closed on the 26th March, and a division took place on an amendment proposed by M. Dangerville to reduce the sum by 100,000 francs; when there appeared-For the amendment, 158; The against it, 261; Majority, 103.

clauses of the bill were next carried pro forma, and then the important question was put on the totality of the bill, when there appeared-Ayes, 246; noes, 160; majority, 86. This is, perhaps, one of the greatest triumphs that a minister in the difficult position of M. Thiers could secure. The result is far beyond his warmest expectations, or that of his friends. The announcement of the division was received in the Chamber with enthusiastic cheering, while out of doors the effect produced by the welcome news of the King's defeat, as it is generally regarded, was even more striking, and the funds rose immediately. An unwonted activity has been observed in the several departments of State, and M. Thiers has obtained high popularity, and gained cre. dit for much talent and sound judgment.

NAPLES.

In 1816, a treaty was concluded between Great Britain and Naples, by which all British subjects, resident in the Neapolitan territories, were permitted to buy and dispose of property, particularly such as were at that time in possession of any sulphur mines, or who should become proprietors or lessees. In the face of this stipulation the King of Naples, about two years ago, sold an exclusive monopoly of all the sulphur in Sicily to a company of French merchants, and thereupon issued an edict, by which he commanded all the sulphur-mine proprietors in Sicily, including the British residents, to limit the production of their sulphur mines to six hundred thousand pounds per annum, and to deliver and sell the whole of this quantity, at a price fixed by the government, to the French company or to their order only. Mr. Temple, our minister at Naples, was ordered to make the necessary remonstrance, and to require that the monopoly should be im. mediately revoked and cancelled, so far at least as regarded British subjects; but, having received only evasive and unsatisfactory answers, he was instructed,

about the middle of March, to require immediate satisfaction; and on the 2d April he informed the English merchants that "circumstances have arisen which may very probably oblige the naval forces of her Majesty to exercise reprisals against vessels navigating under Neapolitan colours." On the 7th April a steamer was sent to Admiral Stopford, with instructions to blockade the Neapolitan ports; the next day the Sardinian Ambassador offered his mediation, and proposed, as a system of mutual concession, that the King of Naples should annul the sulphur contract, and that England should submit the ques tion of indemnity to the arbitration of a third power. The French government has undertaken the office of mediator, or, in other words, that of bringing the King of Naples to his senses, by giving him a very intelligible intimation of the certain consequences of his refusal. It appears that Mr. Temple remains very quietly at his post, and no doubt is entertained but that the matter will end in the abolition of the monopoly, and a just reparation being made to such of our English merchants as are sufferers.

SPAIN.

On the 9th April the Queen accepted the resignation of the Ministers of Marine, of the Interior, and of War. The first has been replaced by M. Sotela, subsecretary of that department; the second, by M. Armendarix, a deputy; and the last, provisionally, by M. Serzagary, subsecretary. The ministry of finance has been entrusted to M. Santillan, a deputy. These selections partake the opinions of the majority.

The sixth and seventh battalions of the Carlists of Aragon were surprised and destroyed by Colonel Zurbano, on the 6th April, at Petrarque. 419 officers and soldiers were taken prisoners.

The surrender of Castellote, a Carlist fortress, has also caused great exultation to the Christino party. The siege had been protracted for several weeks, the garrison having held out to the last extremity. However, the spirit of Carlism is decidedly on the increase in Navarre and Biscay, and there is every reason to expect that the civil war will not terminate with the present year.

HANOVER.

The Hanover Gazette of the 18th March states, that the King received all