Barley are beginning to decline as the season for sowing draws to a close. In Oats, no alteration.

All descriptions of British Securities have been remarkably steady during the past month. Consols at the end of February were 91 for the Account: they have not varied from this more than per cent. and are now 911 to . Exchequer Bills, in the interval, have advanced 28. or 3s. In the Foreign Funds, the transactions have been almost exclusively limited to Portuguese and Spanish Bonds, in which violent fluctuations have taken place with every rumour which gained temporary credence. The former from 73, the price at which they were quoted at the end of last month, fell rapidly to 60, and have again advanced to 65; in Spanish Bonds, the variations have scarcely been less, with reference to the difference in price; from 33 they fell to 28, again nearly touched 33, and are now 311. The other descriptions of Foreign Stock have been nearly as steady as our own.

The closing prices on the 26th are subjoined :

MONTHLY DIGEST.

GREAT BRITAIN.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.-HOUSE OF LORDS.

Feb. 25.-The Duke of Richmond, after noticing the great increase of county rates throughout the country, and the necessity of adopting inquiry into the subject, with a view to reform, proposed the appointment of a Select Committee for the purpose, which was agreed to.

March 3.-The Lord Chancellor, in the course of a conversation on the subject of the disabilities affecting the Jews, took occasion to suggest the injury which the cause was likely to suffer from making it an annual motion, and instanced Parliamentary Reform and Catholic Emancipation as proofs of the indifference likely to result from such a course.

March 4.-The Lord Chancellor (in answer to some remarks from the Earl of Durham, on presenting a petition which alluded to the want of a charter to authorise the conferring of degrees by the London University) declared that, upon an application for a charter being made for the London University, the other Universities-he meant the ancient Universities-had entered a protest against granting such a charter. Now, the question would come before a Board-the Privy Council-if the objections were not recalled or modified in some way. If the resistance should not be persevered in, why then, as a matter of course, the charter would be given; but if no arrangement could be made between the parties, then the case would be regularly brought forward in the place to which he first made allusion. March 20.-On the motion of the Duke of Richmond, a select committee was appointed to inquire into the expediency and practicability of substituting declarations in lieu of the oaths which are now required in certain eases.

-The Lord Chancellor laid on the table the last report of the Common Law Commissioners; and passed upon the Commissioners a very high compliment.

March 21.-Earl Grey presented a petition from the University of Cambridge in favour of the claims of the Dissenters, and especially of their claim to be admitted to take degrees without the imposition of any oath inconsistent with their peculiar tenets. The Noble Lord entered into various arguments to show the reasonableness and justice of complying with the request of the petitioners, which he maintained was calculated to serve, and not to injure, the established church; and the following passage in particular was dwelt upon by his Lordship: Your petitioners conscientiously believe, that if the prayer of this petition be granted, the great advantages of good academic education might be extended to many excellent men who are now, for conscience' sake, debarred from a full participation in them, though true friends to the institutions of the country; and your petitioners are convinced that this is the best way at once to promote the public good and to strengthen the foundation of the civil and ecclesiastical establishments of this realm. The University is a body recognised by the law of England as a lay corporation, invested with important civil privileges, and on that account resting on no secure foundation which is not in harmony with the social system of the state. Your petitioners therefore humbly beg leave to suggest, that as the legislative bodies of the United Kingdom have repealed the Test Act, and admitted Christians of all denominations to seats in Parliament and to places of dignity and honour, they think it both impolitic and unjust that any religious test should be exacted in the University, previously to conferring the civil privileges implied in the degrees above enumerated.”—The Duke of Wellington cautioned the House against interfering in their legislative capacity with the statutes of such Corporations. The signatures to the petition did not contain one-fiftieth part of the whole University, and he could not see any great hardship in making it a condition for obtaining a degree, that a Dissenter who received his education at Cambridge should subscribe to Christian rules and regulations required by the University.-The Lord Chancellor defended the rights of the Dissenters to the same liberty which he claimed for himself and for their Lordships. He thought they could suffer no greater hardship than to be excluded from academical honours, and that the statutes or by-laws of the Universities which recognised such exclusion could not long continue in their present state.-The Earl of Durham followed on the same side.—The Duke of Cumberland admitted that the statutes of the University of Dublin differed in this respect from Oxford and Cambridge, but intimated his unwillingness to be bound by the example of Dublin.-The petition was laid on the table.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Feb. 20.-Mr. Littleton brought forward his motion respecting tithes in Ireland. The Honourable Gentleman enumerated at great length the difficulties which interfered with the collection of tithes in Ireland, and mentioned instances in which the collection for whole parishes had been so low as a farthing a head. From the cruel resistance to tithes, which had been so long persevered in, it was evident that some substitute must be provided; but it was necessary to guard against the destruction of that species of property for the benefit of any particular party. He should propose that the composition and commutation of tithes should entirely cease after the 1st of November: that his Majesty should, after that period, be empowered to impose a land-tax, which land-tax should be redeemable; and that so much of it as remained unredeemed at the end of five years, should become a rent charge on the land, abating one-fifth from the amount

of the present valuation of tithes. The charge to be collected from the occupying tenant, and the tenant entitled to deduct the same from his rent. The average of the value of tithes had been considered, but it was desirable that the landowners should have an advantage to induce him to redeem his tithes, and this was accordingly effected. It was proposed that none should be entitled to redeem the land-tax, except those who were in some way beneficially interested, and that a commission should be appointed to adjudge the value. After some further observations, in which he described the more minute regulations of the bill, the Right Honourable Gentleman concluded by moving a resolution, which provides that a composition for tithes shall be abolished after the 1st of November, in consideration of the substitution of a land-tax; the said land-tax to be redeemable within a limited period. The motion led to a very long debate, followed by two divisions on amendments, moved by Mr. H. Grattan and Mr. O'Dwyer. The first was negatived by 219 to 42,-the second by 199 to 66. Mr. Littleton's resolution was carried.

Feb. 25.-Lord John Russell obtained leave to bring in a bill to legalise the marriage of Dissenters by their own clergymen, under certain regular tions. Mr. O'Dwyer moved a resolution condemnatory of the exclusion of Roman Catholics from the special jury impannelled in the case of the King v. Barrett.-Mr. Littleton resisted the motion, stating that no case had been made out to implicate the Crown Solicitor, or to prove any irregularity in the mode of appointing the jury. As to the verdict, he thought no honourable, honest, and moral man could complain of it.-Mr. Secretary Stanley considered that Mr. Barrett was ill-used, not by the government, but by the author of the letter; that the libel was wicked and flagitious; and that he was by no means sure that the culpable party was suffering imprisonment for it. After a protracted discussion, the motion was rejected by a majority of 130 to 32.-Mr. O'Connell brought in a bill to secure the liberty of the press, which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on the 12th of March.

Feb. 26.-Colonel Evans moved for the production of certain papers concerning the late application to the Court of King's Bench for a mandamus to compel the Directors of the East India Company to send to India certain orders required by the Board of Control. The motion was agreed to, and the papers ordered.

Feb. 27.-Sir William Ingilby brought forward his motion on the subject of the malt-tax. The Honourable Baronet observed that, instead of moving for the repeal of the tax, he should move for a Committee to inquire into the propriety of such repeal. He also proposed to substitute a budget of his own for that of the Chancellor of Exchequer, which had given so little satisfaction. The motion led to considerable discussion, and, on a division, was rejected by a majority of 271 to 170.-Lord Althorp gave notice that on Thursday he should move for leave to bring in a bill to repeal the house-tax. His Lordship then brought in a bill to repeal that part of the Irish Act which prohibits the issuing of stamps to persons convicted of sedition. It was read a first time.-Mr. Littleton brought in his bill to abolish tithes in Ireland, and substitute a land-tax in their stead, which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on the 11th of April.

Feb. 28.-The army estimates were brought forward by Mr. Ellice, in a Committee of Supply. He proposed a vote for 88,952 men. Mr. Hume moved to reduce it by 9000; this would still leave a force of upwards of 72,000; which was greater, he said, than existed in 1823. The amendment was negatived by 282 to 46.-Mr. Ellis made an able speech, full of details, relative to the construction of these estimates, as compared with those of former years. The military force of the country would be reduced by 8000

men, and there would be a reduction of 299,000l. in the expenditure. Altogether, the estimates were the lowest which had been presented to the House since the Union with Ireland. Agreed to.

March 3.-The House went into a Committee of Supply on the Army Estimates, when the following votes were agreed to after some discussion: -3,056,8737. 188. 11d. for land forces; 120,8481. 18s. 6d. for the pay and allowances of general staff officers and officers of hospitals (excepting India), and of his Majesty's garrisons of the Cinque Ports, the Tower, and Windsor Castle; 90,3137. 4s. 5d. for allowances to the principal officers of the public departments in Great Britain and Ireland, their deputies, clerks, and contingent expenses; 69777. 8s. 3d. for the Royal Military Asylum.

March 4.-Mr. Buckingham brought forward his motion for a select committee, to inquire into the practicability of devising some plan as a substitute for forcible impressment.-Sir J. Graham moved by way of amendment, for leave to bring in a bill for consolidating and amending the laws relating to the merchant service in the navy; and for obtaining and keeping up a complete register of all persons serving in the merchant navy in the United Kingdom. On a division there appeared for Mr. Buckingham's motion, 130; for the amendment, 218; being a majority of 88 in favour of Sir James Graham.

March 6.-Mr. Hume brought forward his motion for an alteration in the Corn Laws, which was discussed till a late hour, and the debate adjourned.-Lord Althorp brought in a bill for the repeal of the house-tax, by which relief to the public would be afforded to the amount of 1,170,000%.; he was induced to remove the house-tax instead of the window-tax, because there were 62,000 houses which contributed to the former and not to the latter. The bill was read a first time.

March 7.-The debate on Mr. Hume's motion, "That the House do resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House to consider of the Corn Laws (9th George IV. c. 60), and of substituting, instead of the present graduated scale of duties, a fixed and moderate duty on the import at all times of foreign corn into the United Kingdom, and for granting a fixed and equivalent bounty on the export of corn from the United Kingdom," was resumed, and continued till a late hour, when the House divided, and the motion was negatived by a majority of 157,—the numbers being 312 and 155. -Lord Althorp moved that a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the mode of raising county-rates in England and Wales, and to report their opinion to the House, whether any, and what regulations should be adopted to diminish their pressure on the owners and occupiers of land. After some conversation, which terminated in Lord Althorp consenting to add highway-rates to the other points of inquiry, the motion was agreed to, and the committee appointed.

March 10.-At the early sitting, the Great Western Railway Bill, after much opposition, was read a second time, and referred to a committee.-In answer to a question from Mr. O'Connell, Lord Howick stated that there was under the consideration of Lord Melbourne, a proposition that Government should recommend to Parliament a measure enacting, that none but licensed persons should drive cabriolets for hire; but that that proposition had not as yet received Lord Melbourne's approbation.-Lord John Russell brought in the Dissenters' Marriages Bill, which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on the 28th of April. The Noble Lord said he named a distant day for the second reading, in order that the Dissenters might have time to urge their objections to the measure. If he found these objections to be insuperable, he would not press the measure. On the motion of Lord Howick, a Select Committee was appointed to consider the state of the Police of the Metropolis, and the state of crime therein.

April.-VOL. XL. NO. CLX.

20

March 11.-Mr. O'Connell brought forward his motion respecting the oaths taken by members, which, after a long discussion, was withdrawn.— After a conversation of some length, Sir A. Agnew obtained leave to bring in bills for the better observance of the Lord's Day in England and Scotland. The bills were subsequently brought in and read a first time pro forma; but an additional proposition for a bill to enable local authorities to alter Saturday and Monday fairs and market days, was negatived on a division of 137 to 182.

March 13.-Mr. Rippon brought forward his motion for the exclusion of Bishops from the House of Lords. The motion was-" For leave to bring in a Bill to relieve the Archbishops and Bishops of the Established Church from the exercise of their legislative and judicial functions in the House of Peers." After glancing at the history of the Church, and arguing at some length on the evil consequences which followed from diverting the attention of bishops from religion to politics, the Honourable Member contended that the Church, as a spiritual government, had no concern with the secular government. The establishment was proper, and, being a temporality, it ought to be represented in Parliament, but no employment should take the bishops from their proper cures the first of which was to promote purity of worship. Whatever tended to introduce irreverent ideas of religion diminished the influence of the clergy. Let the property of the church be sufficiently represented, but make not a high religious office a qualification for a seat in Parliament. The motion was negatived by a majority of 67-the numbers being 125 and 58.

March 14.-Mr. Buckingham gave notice, that on the 26th of May he would move for leave to bring in a Bill for the Prevention of Duelling; and also for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire respecting the vice of drunkenness.-Mr. O'Connell postponed his motion respecting the Repeal of the Union from the 15th of April to the 22d of April; and Mr. S. Rice moved that the order for a call of the House on the 15th of April be discharged, and that the House be called over on the 22d of April.Major Fancourt brought forward his motion for a clause in the Mutiny Bill to abolish the punishment of flogging in the army. The Gallant Officer entered into various arguments to demonstrate the necessity of doing away with that degrading practice. He wished to correct an error into which Honourable Gentlemen had fallen, who said they would not deprive the Government of the power of inflicting corporal punishment for disgraceful offences. Regimental courts-martial had only the power of awarding a punishment of between 300 and 400 lashes; but general courts-martial might award any number they thought proper. Well, what was the consequence? Why, that all disgraceful offences, which, in most cases, come before general, and not regimental courts-martial, were punished, not by the lash, but by transportation. The Honourable Gentleman ended by moving that the following be added as a clause to the Bill:-"That from and after the passing of this Act, the punishment of flogging be entirely abolished in the British army." The House eventually divided on the question. The numbers were:-For it, 94; Against it. 227; Majority against it, 133.

March 17.-Mr. Secretary Stanley, in reply to Mr. Buxton, stated that some of the slave colonies were adopting measures to emancipate the slaves more speedily than the act required. The conduct of the slaves, too, had been most exemplary; and all the news from the colonies was of the most satisfactory nature. Mr. Shiel moved, that an address be presented to his Majesty, praying that there be laid before the House copies of any communication between his Majesty's government and the Russian government, with respect to any treaty between Russia and Turkey which has been entered into since the 1st of January, 1833.-After a long discussion, the motion was negatived without a division.-On the motion of Sir R. Peel, a grant of 17,0177. to the British Museum was agreed to.-Mr. C.