otherwise than favourably. On a division, the motion for the second reading of the Bill was carried by a majority of 102 to 30.

Mr Maberly next brought forward his motion for the repeal of the House, Window, Servant, Horse and Carriage Taxes, amounting, in the whole, to three mil lions and a half. The Hon. Member directed his arguments principally against the Sinking Fund, and the other financial arrangements of the Ministers. The general purport of his speech was to show that the Sinking Fund might be abandoned without injury, in order to set the Surplus Revenue free for the reduction of Taxes. Mr Leycester seconded the motion, and took nearly the same line of argument. The Chancellor of the Exchequer defended the Sinking Fund, by which, he said, thirty-nine millions of debt had been redeemed since 1816: he professed an unwillingness to indulge in anticipations of any kind, but begged to deny that he had ever declared that no further remission of taxes could be expected before 1829. Mr Hume contradicted, in the most positive manner, the assertion that thirty-nine millions of debt had been redeemed. Mr Alderman Heygate declared, that, though he thought the Assessed Taxes the most objectionable of all sources of revenue, he could not consent to repeal them at the expense of the Sinking Fund. Mr Maberly replied shortly, when the House divided. Ayes 78, Noes 171-majority against the

motion 93.

11.-Lord Althorp, in a very long speech, introduced a motion for the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the state of Ireland generally, with relation to population, employment, commerce, the church, tithes, rents, the military es tablishment, the insurrection act, the state of education, and the Catholic question. Sir H. Parnell seconded the motion. Mr Goulburn, at some length, vindicated the conduct pursued towards Ireland by Parliament and by Ministers; he deprecated engaging in so wide a field of inquiry, as that suggested by the noble mover, and proposed as an amendment, "that the inquiry of the Committee be limited to the nature and extent of the disturbances that have prevailed in those districts which have been subjected to the Insurrection Act, that is, to Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Clare, and Kilkenny." Lord Milton supported the original motion. He thought that the widest scheme of inquiry was necessary to throw open to the people of England full information as to the state of the Sister Island. He argued in favour of Catholic emancipation, and

called upon the Government to discoun tenance the Orange system, by excluding all Orangemen from office. Mr North supported the amendment, in a speech, which was highly complimented by all the subsequent speakers on either side of the House. He seemed to think that colonization presented the only effectual remedy for the evils which oppress Ireland. He defended the Clergy of the Established Church in that country from the attack which had been made upon them on a former evening, and declared without hesitation, that the property in their hands was (even with a view to secular advantages only) more beneficially bestowed for the people, than it would be in the possession of the lay gentry. Sir John Newport and Sir John Sebright supported the original motion. Sir F. Burdett followed on the same side; he charged Mr North with inconsistency, in resisting the most ample inquiry, while he acknowledged the dreadful evils to exist in Ireland, but concurred with that gentleman in the opinion that colonization was the most promising remedy for these evils of such a bold and comprehensive policy as colonization on a proper scale, he had, however, he said, no hope from the present Ministers. Mr Peel supported the amendment, and pointed out the advantage which must result from limiting the inquiry to what the committee could effectually engage with. Mr Canning supported the amendment. He spoke less to the question, than in explanation of his own views upon the subject of Catholic emancipation. Mr Tierney supported the motion in a humorous and sarcastic speech.-On a division, the numbers were, for the amendment 184, against it 236-majority 48.

13. An interesting conversation took place on the subject of the existing Corn Laws. Mr Curteis, the Member for Sussex, complained that the averages by which the importation of foreign grain was to be regulated were never fairly struck, and moved for a return of the names of persons who have made returns of sales of corn in the markets of London, Liverpool, &c. for the six weeks preceding the 15th of May, with a view to check the frauds practised in striking the averages. Mr Huskisson acknowledged the existence of the evils of which Mr Curteis complained; and allowed the imperfection of that system from which the evils emanated. He should be happy, he said, to see the day when a more general feeling should exist for revising the present system; and he had felt great pleasure on seeing a petition from a part of the empire peculiarly alive to the merits

of the subject, requesting Parliament to adopt the system of free importation, guarded by a sufficient protecting duty, in preference to the law at present in operation.

Mr Wodehouse then moved the continuance of the existing Salt Duties, as a substitute for the Window Tax on small houses, which he proposed to repeal. Mr W. enforced his motion in a very able speech, in which he proved that all the evils of smuggling, perjury, and penal inflictions, which were alleged against the former Salt Tax, had been removed by the reduction that had taken place. The Chancellor of the Exchequer declared the inclination of his own mind, to be favourable to the motion, but said, that, pledged as he was upon the subject, he could not feel justified in proposing a continuance of the Salt Tax, unless called upon to do so by the unequivocal voice of the country. (The Right Hon gentleman was here cheered by the House in a manner which he interpreted to mean that he ought to adhere to his promise.) He therefore moved the previous question. The motion was then withdrawn.

17.-A conversation took place on the Beer Duties' Bill, against which several Members expressed themselves decidedly hostile, as it would be ruinous to the Licensed Victuallers if passed. Mr H. Drummond, on presenting a petition from the Magistrates of Stirling against the measure, gave notice, that if the part of

the Bill relating to small or cheap beer were not altered, he should oppose the Bill altogether as far as concerned Scotland. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, he had many alterations to make, particularly with respect to the scale of duties. The House would then see what he really desired, and he should be prepared to state what course he would pursue, and whether he would persevere in the Bill or not. The latter observation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer excited the manifest satisfaction of the House.

Mr F. Buxton moved for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal so much of the Act of George I. as restricts Partnerships and Societies from insuring Ships and Goods, and from lending money upon Bottomry. The object and the effect of this Bill would be, the Hon. gentleman explained, to give Joint Stock Companies the right of making Marine Insurances in common with the two great Chartered Companies, namely Lloyd's and the Sun Fire Company. The motion was opposed, on the ground that the Bill would destroy those Chartered Companies; but Mr Huskisson showed that they only took four parts out of one hundred in the business of insurance, and that the other ninety-six parts were in the hands of private individuals, members of Lloyd's. The arguments in favour of the measure being of a convincing nature, the leave asked for was granted, and the Bill brought in and read a first time.

JULY.

5.-HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY.James Martin, alias Leechman, a boy who stated himself to be ten years of age, was was found Guilty of theft, with the aggravation of habit and repute, and sentenced to transportation beyond seas for fourteen years.

12.-Daniel, or Donald Gow, a boy about 15 years of age, was convicted of theft, and being habit and repute a thief, and sentenced to transportation for life.

Robert Brown was then put to the bar, accused of the murder of Mary Brown, his illegitimate daughter, by putting her into the water or river of Slitrig, near Smithfieldhaugh, in the parish of Kirkton, Roxburghshire, on Saturday the 3d of April last, by which the child was drowned. Brown pleaded Not Guilty. The evidence adduced in this case failed in supporting the conclusions of the indictment. It was proved that the deceased had been seen in the company of

the accused a short time before the body was found in the river, but nothing else was elicited in any way to throw suspicion on the panel, who, besides, produced abundant evidence of his good character. The Lord Advocate said, he would not trouble the Court or the Jury farther with this case. It was evident a child had lost its life under suspicious circumstances: and though the evidence had not turned out as he thought, considering the situa tion which he held, he would not have discharged his duty to the country if he had not brought it forward.-The Jury, after a few minutes consultation, found a verdict of Not Guilty, and Brown was discharged from the bar.

13.-James Scott, a lad of 16 or 17, was convicted of having, on the 10th of March last, stolen from the cabin of the smack Venus, lying in the harbour of Leith, in which vessel he was an apprentice, a wooden box, containing £.1500 in sovereigns and half sovereigns, addressed

to Masterman and Co. London, and the property of John Maberley and Co. Bankers in Edinburgh. The prisoner pleaded Guilty, and the libel was restricted to ane arbitrary punishment. Sentence of fourteen years transportation was pronounced. The prisoner had buried the box in Leith Links, and afterwards taken out part of the contents.

Charles MacEwan, an itinerant wireworker, was then accused of assaulting, and maiming, so as to cause mutilation, in so far as he did, on the evening of the 22d May last, in the house of William Gray, in Bathgate, bite off a part of the nose of Hugh Robertson, travelling jeweller. The prisoner pleaded Not Guilty, and that what he had done was in defence of his wife and himself. The evidence in this case was conclusive against the prisoner, who was accordingly found Guilty, and sentenced to be publicly whipped through the town of Bathgate on the 28th July, and to be afterwards kept at hard labour in the Bridwell of Edinburgh for twelve calendar months.

14-Alexander Martin, alias Milne, was put to the bar, accused of theft, stouthrief, and housebreaking. He plead ed Not Guilty, and the first charge of simple theft having been abandoned, evidence was led to establish the others. It appeared that, as Alexander Hervie, a man of nearly 81 years of age, and his daughter, residing in the parish of Kemnay, were preparing to go to bed on the evening of the 15th April last, they observed a man look in at one of the windows. The old man went to the door, but saw no person. His daughter then darkened the fire, but almost immediately heard a noise as if some person was on the house top. She went out and saw a man, who came down and seized her by the throat. She tried to prevent his entrance into the house, but he overcame her. Hervie went to the assistance of his daughter, but he also was soon mastered by the ruffian, who forced his way into the house, took hold of him, threw him on the floor, and struck and kicked him while there, by which he was severely bruised, and had one of his knees cut.

He also seized Hervie's daughter by the arms, throwing her against the chairs. On which she cried out, "That if he would spare their lives, he should have all that was in the house." Hervie lighted a fir-candle, and the man went to the drawers, took out a knife, and said "that this would do for him if he made any resistance." Christian Hervie then took from the drawers fifty shillings and two silk handkerchiefs, which she gave to the man, who counted the money, and

threw away a shilling and sixpence as bad.. He then, still having the knife in his hand, made her take an oath that she would not describe his person or dress. Christian Hervie identified the prisoner as the man, and all the other evidence corroborated hers. The Lord Advocate. confined the whole charge to stouthrief and theft from lockfast places, and the Jury, without leaving their box, returned an unanimous verdict, finding the stouthrief, as libelled, Proven, and theft from lockfast places, as limited, also Proven. The prisoner was sentenced to be execu ted at Aberdeen on the 27th August.

[Martin was executed according to his sentence.]

15.-Robert Dennet was accused of having, at Dunbar, on the 3d day of June last, committed a most violent assault on Francis Findlay, with the intent of murdering him. The prisoner pleaded Guilty of the assault, but without the intention to murder. The Lord Advocate confessed himself at a loss to account for the want of the intent to murder, when one man attempts to cut another's throat. It would be for the Jury to judge, but he should not restrict the libel. From the evidence of Francis Findlay, it appeared that both himself and the prisoner, who lodged in his house, had been drinking that day (the latter for three days previous;) from some complaints of the neighbours, he had given him notice to quit his house, but told him he might sleep there that night, for which he thanked him. The witness had taken off his coat, waistcoat, and neckcloth, and was loosing his shoes, when he felt the prisoner's arm round his neck, and thought that a pin in his sleeve had scratched his neck; finding the blood falling on his hand, he exclaimed, "Good God! Robert, you have cut my throat," and made towards the door, calling" Murder." The first person who came was Jean Henderson, who held the wound, from which the blood was springing, till Dr Turnbull came. The wife of Findlay corroborated by her evidence that of her husband. Catharine Reid recollected of Findlay having his throat cut; it was on a Thursday night. About one o'clock on the Wednesday morning before, she accidentally heard the panel and Findlay's wife in conversation. He then said, if she (Findlay's wife) would give her consent, he would do for Frank; "he had often had a mind to do, for him, and he would do it immediately." The witness understood that they were speaking of the husband, Findlay. The Jury without retiring found the prisoner Guilty of the crime as libelled, and the Court sentenced him to be publicly

Colonel Peter Murray, was adjudged to Master William Gowan, (son of Mrs Gowan, London-Street,) dux of the senior Latin Class, who was also dux of the Geography Class. The following is a copy of the inscription : Præmium Moravianum in Schola Edinensi GULIELMO GOWAN,

PUERO OPTIME MERITO CONDISCI

PULORUM

DUCI.

A.D. MDCCCXXIV. Another gold medal was adjudged to the dux of the senior Greek class, Master Basil Bell, son of Mr John Bell, Chapel Hill, Berwickshire, bearing a suitable inscription in the Greek language.

A similar gold medal, the bequest of the late Mr William Ritchie, who was for twenty-three years one of the teachers of this school, was awarded to Master George Cotton, (son of Mr Cotton, tobacconist, North Bridge,) as dux of the second class, and

The Macdonald premium, being a beautiful silver medal, bearing the arms of Macdonald, finely embossed, was adjudged to Master John Whyte, (son of Mr John Whyte, printer, Lawnmarket,) dux of the third class.

Union Canal.-The beneficial effects of the Union Canal become daily more apparent. We observe ground advertised to be feued along its banks; and the proprietors of lands adjoining find an easy outlet for all sorts of produce. On the estate of Baberton, only four miles from town, a new quarry has been opened, yielding excellent stone for building, of which the builders in Edinburgh have begun to avail themselves at a cheap rate, by the easy access which the Canal affords.

14—Revenues, &c. of the East India Company. The accounts of revenues and disbursements of the East India

Company for the three years 1819-20, 1820-21, 1821-22, the latest period to which they can be made up, with an estimate for 1822-23, have been printed by order of the House of Commons. The territorial revenues of the Presidencies of Bengal, Fort St George, and Bombay, and the dependencies-Bencoolen, and the Prince of Wales's Island-were, in 1821-22, 4.21,803,207 sterling; the charges on it £.17,732,516, to which is to be added, £.1,935,390, interests on debts in India, and £.208,038 expense of St. Helena. When these three sums are deducted from the revenues, there appears a net surplus revenue arising from the territory of India of £.1,927,263. In 1822-23, it is estimated that the gross revenues will have amounted to

£.22,213,622 sterling, and the net surplus to £.2,274,646.

Hunterian Museum, Glasgow.-Rattlesnake. The Hunterian Museum has been lately enriched by the present of a living Rattlesnake. The reptile is enclosed in a large box fronted with glass, defended by a grating of wire. It is perfectly lively, although since its arrival it has taken nothing but the portion of the yolk of two eggs. Living mice and young birds have been introduced, but without its taking the smallest notice of them. Frogs, also; but they were found entwined in its folds or even perched on its head-without suffering the smallest injury, or as much as attracting its notice. A rabbit, however, did not fare so well; the little animal had been scarcely put into the box, when the snake darted at it, and bit it, retiring, as it were, at the same moment, and coiling itself up in its folds. The deadly nature of the bite was soon conspicuous. In about a minute, the rabbit was seized with convulsions, and, after three minutes more, expired, in apparently dreadful agony. The snake did not subsequently take the smallest notice of its victim, but moved about as though its prison inclosed nothing but itself.

20.-Manchester.-It appears that the payments made by the Manchester Clerk Society to 177 members and their families in distressed circumstances, since its establishment in 1802, amounts to no less a sum than £.15,769, 14s. 1d. The permanent fund of the Society, amounting to £.16,174, 19s. 8d., has been principally laid out in the purchase of chief rents, and is now producing £.750 per annum. The annual subscriptions are about £.600, making a total of income to the Society of £.1350. The claimants now on the books are 18 sick and infirm members, 60 widows and their 47 children, and 25 orphans, at a charge of £.1326 per annum, according to the present allowance, which is only one half of what was originally intended, and allowed up to the year 1821, when the Committee were reluctantly obliged, from the rapid increase of claims, to reduce the allowances to the amount of the annual income, according to the rules of the society. It is a fact worthy of particular notice, that the circumstances of a number of individuals, (who at one time were among the first of respectable merchants, and who became members of this society, rather as patrons than from interested motives,) have so changed since, that they or their families have actually become claimants on the funds. Letter in the Manchester Guar■ dian.