passed in the third year of his present Majesty's reign. Mr Hume presented petitions from the Provost, Dean, and Guild of the royal burgh of Montrose, and from the Dean and Guild of Arbroath. The petitioners expressed their regret at the present convulsion in this country, and its partial extent to Scotland. This, however, they thought was not caused by any defect in the system of their currency, but by the contraction which has taken place in that of England.-They pray that no alteration shall be made in the present banking system of Scotland. Ordered to lie on the table.

Mr Brougham presented a petition from the Provost, Magistrates, and inhabitants of Haddington, praying for an amelioration in the condition of the negroes, and for the gradual abolition of slavery. Ordered to lie on the table. Mr Brougham presented a similar petition from nearly 17,000 of the inhabitants of the city of Edinburgh, and its neighbourhood.

SCOTCH BANKS.

Mr Calcraft asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it was his intention, as the One Pound-note Bill was to be read a third time on Friday next, to make any regulation in it as far as it related to the Scotch one pound bank notes. The bill was conclusive as far as England went, but he wished to know how Scotland was to be regulated. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, he proposed, in the course of the session, to bring for ward a specific measure on the subject.

3.-Lord John Russell brought in his bill for the prevention of bribery and corruption in the election of members of Parliament. Read a first time, and or. dered to be read again on Thursday. Mr Denman presented a petition, signed by 7000 persons of Nottingham, against slavery. Mr Brougham moved for the production of all acts of the colonial legislatures having for their object the amelioration of the condition of the slaves, passed since the month of May 1823. Mr W. Horton said, that all the acts should be laid on the table as soon as they could be printed, and every possible information given. Mr Brougham then gave notice, that, on the 20th of April, he would submit a motion for the improvement of the condition of slaves.

ARMY ESTIMATES.

On Lord Palmerston moving the House to go into a committee of supply, Colonel Davis moved for a select committee to go into the whole military expenditure of the country. The expenditure of the last year, in civil list, army, navy, and ordnance, was £3,000,000

more than in 1822. The motion being put and negatived, Lord Palmerston moved, that 87,200 men be the number of land forces for 1826. Lord Milton would object to the estimates altogether. The military spirit-the spirit of keeping up a large military force in this country, ought to be put down. Mr Hume had no hesitation to say, that the estimates for the civil lists, the army and navy, should be revised, and reduced one-half. He concluded with moving an amendment, that it was expedient to return as near and as soon as possible to the establishments of 1792. Lord Palmerston said, that the augmentations of the army were for colonial purposes exclusively. After some remarks from Mr Robertson, the amendment was negatived by a majority of 144

to 45.

6. Mr William Dundas brought in the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway Bill. -Read a first time. A bill was brought in for improving the ferries between Edinburgh and Fifeshire.-Read a first time. Mr William Dundas presented a petition from Fire Insurance Companies in Scotland, praying for a repeal of the duty on insurances. Mr Hume presented a petition from a parish in the county of Fife, praying that the House would direct an inquiry into the case of Mr Robert Gourlay, confined for nineteen months without trial. A desultory conversation ensued, in which Mr Peel said, he would imme diately be liberated if any person, and perhaps the Honourable Gentleman (Mr Hume) would be that person, would enter into securities for his keeping the peace. Mr Hume had no objection to enter into any security required, but the unfortunate gentleman objected to adopt that course, as he conceived it would be admitting his insanity. Here the conversation dropped. Several petitions against the corn laws were presented, and Mr Hume, and Mr Calcraft, and others, contended for the necessity of a free trade

in corn.

ARMY AND ORDNANCE ESTIMATES.

The House, in committee, went through the rest of the army estimates, and also part of the ordnance. Mr Hume made repeated objections to the items, and divided the House upon several amend⚫ ments, but which were rejected by large majorities. The estimates were agreed

to.

7.-Mr Monteith brought in the Glasgow Streets and Road Act Amendment Bill. Read a first time. Sir R. Fergusson presented a petition from the Town Council of Dundee, against the Tay Fisheries' Bill. Mr J. Smith presented a pe tition from the Town Council of Ayr,

against any alteration of the Scotch cur⚫ rency, particularly of the one pound notes. Mr Hume presented similar petitions from Brechin and Arbroath.-Ordered to be printed.

Sir John Newport, after a few prefatory observations, moved for "an account of the application of all sums of money granted during the last session for the furtherance of education in Ireland;" which, after a few words from Mr Goulburn, who was ready to meet any discus. sion on the subject, and from Mr S. Rice and Mr Plunkett, was agreed to.

PROMISSORY NOTES BILL.

After a lengthened discussion, which embraced the same observations as those already given, a division was called for, when there appeared-Ayes 180-Noes 9-majority 99. The bill was then passed, and ordered to be sent to the Lords.

The report of the committee on the army estimates was then brought up, and after considerable opposition from Mr Hobhouse and Mr Hume, which was met by Lord Palmerston, recapitulating his former statements as to the necessity of keeping up the present establishment of troops, was finally agreed to; as was also the report on the ordnance estimates.

The Leith Harbour Improvement Bill

was read a first time.

Sir George Clerk presented a petition from the county of Edinburgh, against any alteration in the currency of Scotland. Mr H. Drummond moved for leave to bring in a bill to repeal two Scotch laws passed in the reign of James VI., with respect to civil actions. Leave given.

MERCHANT AND FACTOR.

Mr Huskisson said, the Chancellor of the Exchequer had already stated that the Bank had agreed to make advances on goods; he now moved for leave to bring in a bill to make the property pledged with the Directors become a security to the Bank, although the person with whom it was pledged might not be the real owner at the time of making the deposit. This was strictly following the precedent of 1811. Mr Pearse said, he was happy to say all parties had express ed themselves satisfied with the accommo dation afforded by the Bank, which the Bank, on their part, endeavoured to make as generally useful as possible, (hear, hear.) Mr Abercromby did not know any act of Ministers more to be applauded than the resistance of his Majesty's ministers to the public clamour raised from the issue of Exchequer bills.

0.–A great number of petitions, from

different places in Scotland, were presented against any alteration in the currency. REPRESENTATION OF EDINBURGH,

Mr Abercromby presented a petition habitants of Edinburgh, praying for an signed by upwards of seven thousand inimprovement in the representation of that

city.

The petition was signed by six of the Town Council, who enjoyed the monopoly of returning the member for the city. On Thursday, 13th April, he should give notice of a motion on the subject. Sir G. Clerk said, there was nothing pe culiar in the case of Edinburgh, which, in common with many places in England, returned its member by means of its corporation. Mr Hume said, the abuses that existed in other places was not a justification of the case of Edinburgh, where a few individuals returned the representative, and the great body of the people had no influence in a matter in which they were so highly interested.

Sir R. Fergusson said, the state of the representation of Scotland was a disgrace to the country and the age.

CRIMINAL LAWS.

Mr Peel rose to move "that leave be given to bring in a bill for consolidating and amending the laws as relating to larceny, and the offences of stealing or embezzling property, as well as concealing the same." His object in this measure was to consolidate the laws regarding theft, of which offence six-sevenths of persons in prison were charged on the average; and likewise to do away with the immense number of acts on the statute book, amounting to no less than ninetytwo, every material enactment of which could be embraced within thirty-two pages. The Right Honourable Gentleman, in a luminous and admirable speech, which was repeatedly cheered from all parts of the House, then went into a detail of the measure by which he hoped to remedy the existing evils.

STEAM NAVIGATION-SCOTLAND. The Lord Advocate moved, pursuant to notice, for leave to bring in a bill for the specific object of regulating the navigation of steam-vessels in Scotland. Mr Hume thought the learned Lord was likely to find himself involved in great difficulties in the bill he proposed to bring in. Sir John Newport thought, that if Scotland could not navigate her steamboats as the rest of the kingdom did, with equal safety and by the same means, a bill should be brought in to prohibit the use of steam for the purposes of navigation in Scotland altogether. (A laugh.) Mr Secretary Canning supported the bill. Mr Hume recommended the learned

Lord to withdraw his motion. The House then divided-for the motion 70-against it 26-Majority 44. The Bank-charter Bill was read a second time, and committed for Tuesday; as was the Bank-De. posit Bill, and committed for to-morrow.

10. Mr Hume presented a petition from the magistrates and inhabitants of Arbroath, praying an amendment of the corn laws, also a similar petition from the weavers of Dundee.

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved that the House resolve itself into a committee of supply. Mr Maberly opposed the 'speaker leaving the chair, and brought forward his promised proposition regarding Exchequer bills, and the Government connexion with the Bank. He said it was his opinion that the Government and the Bank had, by the mismanagement of the funded and unfunded debt of the country, produced the great distress under which every class now suffered. The Honourable Gentleman supported his opinions at some length, and moved resolutions to the effect, that, in January 1826, the out standing Exchequer bills amounted to 37 millions, and that in December these bills had been at a discount of 80s. per cent.; that Government was obliged to raise the interest to prevent farther depreciation, and to procure the Bank of England to make advances for the same purpose. That it would be expedient to fund the Exchequer bills outstanding on the principal amount thereof.

Mr Calcraft seconded the resolutions. Mr Herries denied that the Govern ment had been so improvident in the management of the country's finances as the Honourable Member would impute, in not funding more of the Exchequer bills. He opposed the resolutions, as they went to censure the conduct of his Right Honourable friend, whose statement (to be made on Monday) the House ought to await before they supported the proposition of the Honourable Member.

Mr Baring, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr Hume, having deliver. ed their sentiments on the subject, Mr Maberly withdrew his motion, and the House went into a Committee.

In answer to a question from Sir R. Wilson, Mr Canning said, that the French army were anxious to retire from Spain; but were prevented by the mischievous attacks made from time to time on the constituted authorities of the country.

The Edinburgh Water Company's Bill was read a second time. The Dundee and Forfar Railway Bill was brought

The House having resolved itself into a Committee of ways and means,

The Chancellor of the Exchequer rose, and observed, that the period had now arrived at which he had felt it his duty to submit to the House, and the country, a statement of the situation of the finances of the country. In 1823, he calculated that the revenue would be £.52,200,000, and his expectations had been realised beyond the expectations of every man, He proceeded to reduce taxes to the amount of £,3,000,000, calculating on a loss of one million and a-half. In 1824, he expected revenue to the amount of £.51,797,000. The receipts exceeded such amount, notwithstanding the repeal of taxes. The same was the case with

the last year. For the three years he had expected £.155,000,000 revenue; it had been above £.156,000,000, or £1,390,000 above his estimate, and such increase, notwithstanding the repeal of £.8,000,000 taxes (Hear.) Then where had he misled the House and the country?-(Cheers.) The whole amount of reduction since the war, was altogether £.27,520,000. There had been then relief, substantial relief, to the country(Cheers.) Such a reduction could not be otherwise than beneficial. The fact was proved by the increased power of the people to consume larger quantities. Had nothing been done then to relieve the burthens of the people? and had not the increased powers of consumption proved the improvement of the country? The expence of collecting taxes he had waged war against; it was £.4,300,000 odds-he had reduced it half a million; but for this he had experienced all sorts of oppositions. It is not the easiest task in the world to effect such reforms. It seems that the extinction of the two independent Boards of Customs and Excise in Scotland, (the same course has been taken with respect to Ireland,) and the amalgamation of them with like establishments in England, is to be considered by every true Scot as derogatory to the dignity of his country-an affront to national pride-and, good God! that such a statement should be made, as subversive of all the public rights of the Scot. tish nation!(Hear, hear, hear.) He

should proceed to the charges on the debt, &c. with sinking fund, army, &c. The whole charge was £.56,000,000. The receipts were, he estimated, Customs and Excise, £.37,000,000; Stamps, £.7,400,000; Taxes, £.4,000,000; Post Office £.1,500,000.-Sum total, £.57,043,000; leaving a surplus of £.714,579 to be disposed of, according to the wishes of Parliament-(Cheers.) The Right Honourable Gentleman concluded by expressing, in an eloquent strain, his unshaken confidence in the resources of the country, and in the wisdom of that policy adopted by Ministers, which would ensure the right object of Governmentthe happiness of the people. (The Right Honourable Gentleman sat down amid loud and long-continued cheering.) As soon as the applause subsided, the Right Honourable Gontleman proposed the vote of annual duties on pensions and offices.

A conversation ensued, in which the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was praised by Sir J. Newport, Mr Baring, Mr T. Wilson, and others. It was commented upon as fallacious by Mr Maberly and Mr Hume. The resolution was ultimately agreed to, and the chairman ordered to report progress.

14. Lord Archibald Hamilton, in presenting a petition from the noblemen, freeholders, commissioners of supply, and other inhabitants of the county of La mark, against any alteration in the bank ing system of Scotland, observed, that all Scotland was unanimous in favour of the system as it stood at present, and he was convinced it would bear the strictest examination. Mr Abercromby denied that the opinions of the people of Scotland were so unanimous as they were represented to be, and he could not avoid wondering at the unblushing confidence of assertions made by some members on that subject.

Petition ordered to be printed.

15. The Scotch Assault and Battery Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed.

BURGH OF PITTENWEEM.

16. Lord Archibald Hamilton moved for copies of all papers relative to the disfranchisements of the burgh of Pitten

weem.

The Lord Advocate of Scotland contended that the subject was cognisable by a Scots Court of competent jurisdiction, and therefore he thought the House should not interfere; but, as far as he was personally concerned, he had no objection to the return moved for,

Mr Abercromby supported the motion. The system of Scots burghs was really so

monstrous, that it was unnecessary to draw the public attention to their proceedings.

Mr Peel said, he never knew a man so entirely uninfluenced by any other consideration than the qualification of the individual, in recommending to office, as Lord Melville. He would with confidence appeal to the judicial appointments in Scotland. Mr Baring said, it was well known that in this country judicial appointments, even to a silk gown, could not be obtained without the most abject subserviency to the crown.

The motion was then agreed to, after a few words from Lord A. Hamilton. CIRCULATION OF SMALL NOTES IN

SCOTLAND AND IKELAND.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, "that a select committee be appointed to inquire into the state of the circulation of notes under the value of £.5 in Ireland and Scotland; and to report their observations and opinions thereon to the House, particularly with reference to the expediency of applying to those countries the measures now proposed to be adopted in England."

Messrs Gurney, Gordon, and Douglas, disapproved of the measure. Mr Dundas and Mr H. Drummond approved of it.

The latter gentleman warmly disclaimed any feeling of any description like jealousy of English interference. After a few words from Alderman Wood recommending inquiry, and from Mr Wilson recommending delay, the motion was agreed to.

17. Mr W. Dundas presented a petition from 2300 persons of Edinburgh, against any alteration of the Scotch currency.-Ordered to be printed. Petitions with a similar prayer were presented from Wigton by Mr Blair, and from Bute by Lord J. Stewart.

A message from the Lords announced that their Lordships had agreed to the Scotch Jurors' Bill.

20. The House resolved itself into a committee on the Assault and Battery in Scotland Bill. The several clauses having been agreed to, the House resumed. The report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow, and the bill to be then read a third time.

The House then went into a committee of supply, in which £.13,992 was voted to the British Museum, and various sums for schools and charitable institutions in Ireland.

21.-To-day the Commons' select com. mittee on the banking system of Scotland and Ireland assembled, and was very fully attended by members. Mr Secretary Peel was in the chair. A witness

had been ordered to attend, but he did not appear. After sitting for nearly two hours, the committee adjourned till to

morrow.

As yet they have not examined any witnesses. The Edinburgh Water Bill was read a second time.

Mr Hume moved for papers respecting the northern light-houses.

The Lord Advocate had no objection to the production of the accounts; on the contrary, as one of the Board, he was willing to give all publicity.

Sir J. Yorke said, that the Honourable Mover appeared to think that one Board, instead of three, would do all the work, and most satisfactorily, and that the Trinity-House would be enabled to attend to all. He was also of that opinion. He thought the Trinity-House was competent to do all the duties. He wished some of the Scotch jobs were done away with,that they were taken out of the hands of the learned Bailies, and consigned to the Trinity-House. Sir J. Newport said he had formed part of the Trinity-House committee, and that instances of wasteful expenditure had come before them. Mr Ellice thought all the lighthouses ought to be under one Board. Captain Wemyss said, he should be sorry even to see the northern lighthouses under the management of the Trinity-House. He could mention lighthouses, not in the north, more like lanterns and " lobster pots, than any thing else." Mr Hume said, that unfortunately such houses were not under the Trinity-House management.-Accounts ordered.

STATE OF PRISONS IN SCOTLAND.

The Lord Advocate brought forward his motion regarding the state of the prisons in Scotland. Many of them were in a wretched state. Debtors and crimi. nals huddled together in the most repulsive manner, and in a prison sixteen miles from Edinburgh, the jailor was stone blind, the prison being under the control of the jailor's daughter. In that prison there was a crown debtor for £.7000. His Lordship moved for a committee to inquire into the subject. Mr Hume seconded the motion. It would be most useful. The bad management of the pri sons, doubtless, was owing to the few prisoners in them. Mr Peel, said if the small jurisdictions would combine, as was the case in England, and have one large prison, the several burghs, &c. retaining their jurisdictions, it would be infinitely more satisfactory.-( Hear.)— Each burgh, &c. having its prison, occasioned them to be badly managed. Committee appointed.

Mr Arbuthnot moved for leave to bring in a bill, authorising the purchase of all

that line of buildings on the north side of the Strand, between St Martin's Church on the west, Chandos-Street on the north, and Bedford-Street on the east, as well as the tract of buildings between the Mews at Charing-Cross, for the purpose of improving the communication between the eastern and western parts of the City of Westminster. After some observations, in which the opening the Regent's Park to the public was mentioned to be impossible, on account of the want of drainage, until next year, leave was given to bring in the bill. Mr Hume moved for copies of all the correspondence that had taken place between the Governor and Council of Trinidad and his Majesty's Government, relative to the state of slavery in that island, and the effects produced by the order in Council. Mr W. Horton said, he had no objection to give specific information upon any particular subject, but he did not think they ought to deal in generalities. The motion was then put and agreed to, without a divi

sion

· REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.

Mr Brogden brought up the report of the committee of the 17th of March. On the resolution for £.200,000 to complete the vote for civil contingencies, Mr Hume repeated his objections to the diplomatic expenses of this country, which exceeded by £.10,000, the total civil expenses of America. He moved as an amendment, a resolution, condemning the general sys. tem of diplomatic expenditure of the country. After a few words from Mr Secretary Canning and the Speaker, as to the irregularity of the course pursued by the Honourable Member, the amendment was withdrawn. The resolution was then agreed to, as were the other resolutions, seriatim.

The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at half-past eleven o'clock.

22.-Colonel Wood presented a petition from 21 Adjutants of militia, complaining that their allowance of 8s. a-day, half-pay, after a service of 20 years, had, by a late regulation, been reduced to 6s. a-day, after a service of 30 years. The Honourable Member expressed his intention of bringing the subject before the House, Lord Palmerston presented a petition from an individual praying an amendment of the law of patents for inventions. The Attorney General said, the subject was one of great importance. One of the prayers of the petition was, that persons should not be restricted to the assignment of their patent rights to not more than six persons. That, he thought, could be easily remedied. Ano