ought not to be condemned on account of some intemperate acts and speeches; as well might the University Club be put down in the lump, because the committee had ordered the Memoirs of Harriette Wilson, a woman of pleasure, and declined the desire of a member for a Bible! The Chancellor of the Exchequer avowed the change which had occurred in his mind with respect to Catholic Emancipation, to which he was formerly adverse, but was now friendly, and for that reason he thought the Association ought to be extinguished, as operating by its violence against the success of that great measure. He defended the Cabinet from the charge of improper compromises on this question, and gave a history of its formation, which was a work of necessity, from the failure in forming an administra. tion, including the Talents. He maintained that Parliament had done much for Ireland already, and would complete its work, if the Association did not stand in the way. Mr Hume said, the subject was not half exhausted. Mr Canning was ready to go to a di vision now, but would not preclude any Honourable Member from speaking, and therefore proposed to adjourn the debate till to-morrow. Agreed to. Lord Palmerston presented the Army Estimates. 15. The debate on the Association Bill was then resumed. Sir Robert Wilson believed that the people of this country were not opposed to the Catholic claims, and defended the Dublin Association from entertaining any belli. gerent views; their measures were wholly defensive. Mr Lockhart and Mr Bankes, jun. both argued that the Association was dangerous, and must be put down. Sir J. Bridges supported the motion, but would not be precluded from voting in favour of the Catholics on other occasions. Mr Grenfell was of the same opinion, but would continue his support to the Catholic claims, without which, they ought never to be satisfied, and on his death-bed he would pray for their success. Mr Ro bertson was against the Bill, as was Sir J. Newport, who thought it would bring on a dangerous crisis. He was severe on the dissonant opinions on the other side, with respect to Catholic Priests and other matters. Mr V. Fitzgerald would vote for the Bill, in the firm belief that it would further the Catholic cause. Lord Althorp admitted that the Association was an evil, but it ought to be put down by conces sion. Mr W. Lamb contended that it was not a safety-valve, but a furnace below, causing all the danger. Sir F. Burdett contended that the penal laws were the furnace under the Association. He eloquently excused the intemperance of language of the A: sociation, on the ground of their hearts being bursting with wrongs; and they ought not more to be punished than the Orangemen for the ravings of Sir Harcourt Lees. Mr Canning urged the necessity of the measure, to secure tranquillity and vindicate the Govern ment. No one had ventured to defend the constitutional character of the Associaton. Mr Brougham, at a very late hour, rose to oppose the motion, contending that it was of a most unconstitutional character. He not only approved of all the Association had done, but hoped they would continue. Mr Butterworth followed, but could scarcely obtain a hearing. He contradicted something stated by Mr Brougham relative to the methodist conference. Mr Goulburn also replied as to some facts, in which he was confirmed by Mr V. Fitzgerald. The House divided For the Bill, 278; against it, 123. Majority 155. The Bill was read for a first time, (after some opposition from Mr Brougham, who had a petition from the Catholics, to be heard by Counsel againt it,) and ordered to be read a second time on Monday. 17. Mr Brougham presented a peti tion from the Catholic Association, praying to be heard by their Counsel against Mr Goulburn's Bill. The same Hon. and Learned Gentle< man presented another petition to the same effect, from three-hundred persons of the town of Newry; and after having very strongly urged the reasonableness of complying with the prayers of both petitions, he gave notice of a specific motion upon the subject. Mr Stuart Wortley obtained leave to bring in a Bill for the amendinent of the Game Laws. Mr Sergeant Onslow moved the second reading of the Usury Laws Repeal Bill. Mr Hume supported the Bill, in a speech of some length. Mr Calcraft opposed the motion, adverting to the laws against Stock-Jobbing, Gambling, keeping Gam ing-houses, &c. as complete answers to the doctrine upon which the proposed repeal rested, namely, that every man ought to be permitted to dispose of his money as he should think fit. The Solicitor-General pointed out all the evils which must follow the removal of re straints upon Usury at any time, and particularly at present, when the spirit 1 of gambling prevails to an alarming, Irish precedents in support of the motion. extent. He moved as an amendment, that Mr Peel spoke at great length against the Bill should be read that day six the motion. He rebuked, with some inmonths. The debate was prolonged by dignation, the frequent, and insulting Mr Sergeant Onslow, Capt. Maberly, Mr references which the friends of the RoW. Smith, and Mr Wynn, who supported man Catholics were accustomed to make the motion; and Mr Robertson, Mr T. to the American rebellion; and in il Wilson, and Alderman Heygate, who lustration of the temper of mind in opposed it. In the end, the Solicitor- which the Association" had issued its General's amendment was carried by a celebrated adjuration-" By your hatred majority of 45 to 40; so the Bill is lost of Orangemen," observed, that upon the for the present Session. very same day on which they sent that document throughout the country, they received into their body, with the most enthusiastic expressions of admiration and reverence, Mr Hamilton Rowan, a person who had been attainted of High Treason. The Right Hon. Secretary then ridiculed the motion that the House were bound to hear Counsel whensoever it should please any individual person, or body of persons, to remonstrate against a general law. 18. Mr Brougham proposed the motion for hearing the Catholic Association by their Counsel and witnesses at the Bar, of which he gave notice. The learned gentleman argued at great length, to show that the Bill before the House was a penal and partial measure, which could not be justly enacted without evidence, of which the House had none, or without at least hearing the remonstrances of those against whom its operation was notoriously directed. With respect to the usage of Parliament in such cases, he cited the example of the hawkers and pedlars, who had been heard by Counsel at the Bar, against the tax imposed upon them; and some other similar instances; and in reference to the question of general policy, he called the recollection of the House to the first circumstances of the quarrel which ended in the loss of America; conjuring them to reflect how much calamity might have been avoided had the Parliament of 1766 received the American delegates in a spirit of conciliation. Mr Wynn denied the applicability of the precedents cited by Mr Brougham; because they all arose upon particular grievances, affecting par. ticular interests; whereas the law against which the Catholic Association" claimed to be heard, was intended to be a general law, affecting all classes equally and indifferently. Sir Joseph Yorke opposed the motion, and condemned in strong language the insolent tone of the Catholic Association. He mentioned, as illustrative of the prospect of tranquillizing Ireland, an observation of an Irish sailor, which he once heard, namely, "that Ireland would never be quiet until it had lain twentyfour hours under water." Mr Hobhouse reproved the levity with which the last speaker treated the wrongs of Ireland, and then spoke at some length in support of the motion. The Solicitor-General opposed the motion; with regard to the question immediately before the House, he took nearly the same line of argument as Mr Wynn, showing that both principle and precedent opposed the admission of Counsel to argue at the bar against a general law. Mr Spring Rice cited some Such a rule, he said, would reduce them to the necessity of doing little else than listening to Gentlemen of the Bar, who (as it had been said of them by Mr Brougham, at the Queen's trial) being in duty bound to postpone the public interest to that of their clients, were perhaps not the best instructors for the Legislature. Mr C. Hutchinson eulogised Mr Hamilton Rowan. Mr Scarlett supported the motion; and drew a comparison between the "Constitutional" and " Catholic" Associations much in favour of the latter. On a division, the motion was rejected by a majority of 222 to 89. 21. The Navy Estimates having been moved by Sir George Clerk, Mr Hume protested against building so many ships yearly, as if we were afraid of the sudden combination of all the world against us. On the subject of the dry rot, Sir George Clerk gave an explanation similar to that given in the House of Lords by the First Lord of the Admiralty. Mr Hume warmly approved of the course taken by Government, in retaining the more deserving part of the shipwrights in employment till they could find work elsewhere; and noticed with proper indignation, the misconduct of the workmen in different parts of the country since the passing of his Bill for the repeal of the Combination Laws. Such conduct, he distinctly hinted, would, if persisted in, lead him and many of their advocates to wish for the re-enactment of the old statutes. The Bill for the suppression of Unlawful Associations in Ireland was read a second time. Some Members, who could not obtain a hearing on the previous evenings of debate, raised their voices against the Bill, but on the division the majority of votes was greater than ever. For the second reading there were 253, against it only 107, leaving a surplus majority in favour of the Bill of 146 Members. 22.-Sir H. Parnell obtained leave to bring in a Bill to ameud the law of landlord and tenant, as we understood, by restraining the power of underletting on the part of the tenant; and regulating the right of recovering rent from the terre tenant by distress on the part of the landlord. The same Hon. Baronet also obtained leave to bring in a Bill to regulate the Irish Magistracy; but with a hint from Mr Goulbourn, that that measure would probably be resisted in its progress by the Irish Government. Mr Huskisson then moved to go into a committee upon the Association Bill. Mr Hume proposed as an instruction to the Committee, that a test should be imposed upon all persons now in office, or hereafter to be received into the public service, disclaiming connexion with any illegal society. His object, he said, was to deal impartial justice between Catholics and Orangemen. A debate of some length arose upon this proposition, FEBRUARY. which was supported by Mr G. Lamb, Mr C. Hutchison, and Mr Denman. The second of these gentlemen justified the Rebellion of 1798, as necessary and laudable; and eulogised the martyrs who had fallen upon that occasion by the hands of the King's troops, or by the law. Mr Denman confessed his dislike to tests generally, but thought the particular case an exception to their general impropriety. Mr Goulburn exposed the absurdity of calling upon men for a declaration that they would not expose themselves to the penalties of a severely penal statute. Mr Plunket ridiculed the idea of swearing men to a point of law. Mr Peel argued that tests were always inoperative when they might be useful, and unnecessary where they would be likely to operate; the perjurer felt no restraint from one, while the man who respected an oath was not likely to violate the law without it. In allusion to Orangemen, he freely gave it as his opinion, that after the proposed Bill should pass into a law, no Orangeman, then continuing such, ought to be permitted to remain in office. Mr Hume's motion was negatived without a division. The House went into a Committee, and the blanks filled up. BRITISH CHRONICLE. It appears from an official statement lately published, that there are 256 Catholic chapels in England, 71 charity and other schools, and 348 officiating priests; of these, 12 chapels, one school, and eight priests, are in the county of Hants; six chapels and five priests in Sussex; three chapels and two priests in Wiltshire; six chapels and six priests in Devonshire; seven chapels, one school, and eight priests, in Dorsetshire. In Lancashire there appears to be the largest number, there being 81 chapels, six schools, and 79 priests. Mr Kean. This tragedian resumed his performances in Drury-Lane Theatre, on Monday evening the 24th ultimo, in the character of Richard III. The clamours of those who thought his sudden appearance, after the disclosures made on a recent trial, was indecorous, and the attempts of his friends to put down the opposition, was so dreadful, that not a line of the play was heard from beginning to end; and although Mr Kean made seve ral attempts to obtain a hearing for himself, he was unsuccessful. The house was tremendously crowded; but the whole performance passed off in dumb show. The same uproar was repeated on Friday the 28th. On Monday the 31st, the opposition was somewhat less violent, and Mr Kean having obtained an interval of silence, addressed the audience as follows:-" Ladies and Gentlemen, I have already made as far concession to an English public as an English actor ought to do-(Uproar and ap. plause.) I hope, for the honour of my country, as I shall in the course of twenty nights take leave of you (speaking with amazing emphasis) for ever—(Much uproar, and loud cries of No, no, no!') I hope, for the honour of my country, that this persecution will never reach foreign annals,”—( Tremendous uproar of exclamations.)-Mr Kean bowed the mo ment he concluded this address, and retired from the stage. His energies were greatly affected by the agitation of this scene; and he cast a glance at the audience as he quitted the stage, “more in sorrow than in anger." Since this address, Mr Kean has continued to perform twice a-week, and with less and less in terruption each night. On Friday the 14th instant, the contention had altogether ceased, and his performance received the usual attention, and the customary marks of applause. Miss Foote. One of the greatest audiences ever assembled in a theatre, was collected on Saturday night, the 5th instant, at Covent-Garden, to greet Miss Foote's return to the stage, in the character of Letitia, in "The Belle's Stratagem." On the entrance of the respective performers, who were favourites with the public,Mr C. Kemble, Mr Jones, Mrs Gibbs, &c.,-great applause was given; but on the appearance of Miss Foote, the burst was like an electric shock, commu. nicating to all the audience. When the applause subsided, a few dissentient voices were heard, but they were soon quieted, chiefly by manual force, that speedily convinced the remaining few that silence was most prudent. The performance then proceeded quietly, with the exception of the applause that attend. ed the passages that could be brought into allusion to Miss Foote's peculiar circumstances. Hayne was in a private box. Sales of Estates in Fife.-As there has probably been a greater transfer of landed property in the county of Fife, during the last twelve months, than in any other county in Scotland, we beg to subjoin the following list of estates sold during that period, which may be relied on as correct: Balgonie, £.104,000: Earlshall, £.68,000, Gilston, £.42,500: Todhall, £.31,200; Cruvies,£.25,500; Woodmill, £.29,000; Carslogie, £.18,900; Kings. dale, £.29.500, Airdit, (half), £.16,000; Denbrae, £.22,000; Myres, £.45,500; Plains, £.7000; Inchrye, £.15,000; Glentarkie, £.35,500; Luthrie, £.13,050; Russell-Mill, £.10,000; Edenshead, £19,600; Cairnsmilll, £.7000; Wester Newton, £.7000. Total £.546,150. Besides the above estates, there have been several others sold to the amount of above £.87,500, making together £.633,650. Joint-Stock Companies.-The accumulation of Capital which has been progressively going on, since the conclusion of the last peace, and the difficulty of new investing money to advantage, has given rise within these few months to the formation of numerous trading-companies throughout the country, with capitals of from £.25,000 to half a million. In Edinburgh we have a New Banking Company, a New Insurance Company, a Wine Company, a Porter Brewery Company, an Equitable Loan Company, a Whale-fishing Company, Glass and Iron Manufacturing Companies, Cotton-spin ning Companies, and a variety of others which it would be tedious to numerate. No sooner was the prospectus of a new scheme laid before the public, than ca. pitalists and speculatists ran eagerly and filled up the shares; and it was no uncommon thing to see these shares, in the course of a day or two, selling at a high premium. Much money was lost and won upon this kind of Lottery; but the mania received a check from a trial which took place in the Court of King's Bench on the 4th instant, in the course of which it was declared from the Bench, that all Companies having transferable shares were illegal, by the Act of 6 George II. unless they were incorporated by Act of Parliament, or by a Royal Charter. It was estimated that the different new schemes on foot in London amounted to 114; and the capitals to be more than £.105,000,000.—viz. Rail-roads, 20, ca. pital,£. 13,950,000; Banking, Loan Investment, &c. 22, £.36,760,000; Gas Companies, 11, £.8,000,000; British and Irish Mines, 8, £.3,600,000; Foreign Mines, 17, £.11,565,000; Shipping and Dock Companies. 9, £.10,580,000; Miscellaneous, 27, £.11,070,000. 18-Explosion at Stobbs Gunpowder Mills.-Yesterday morning, at a quarter to eight o'clock, two awful explosions took place at these works, which threw all the neighbourhood, to the distance of several miles, into a state of the most dreadful consternation, by the damage which it occasioned, and which shook the country for twenty miles round. This manufac tory, which has been carried on for many years by Messrs Hitchener and Hunter, is situated in a deep ravine, about four miles south of Dalkeith, surrounded on all sides by a plantation of young trees. The works are extensive. The drying-house and the store-house are detached at a small distance from the other parts of the manufactory; they are separated from each other by an intervening ridge, probably about the distance of 30 or 40 yards. The first explosion took place in the dry. ing house, just at the time when two of the workmen were conveying the material from this to the store; the horse and cart, or rather waggon, had just been loaded, when the explosion took place; both the men being then at the drying-house. One of them, of the name of Thomson, who has been at the work about nine months, was at the cart, and the other, Richard Cornwall, in the interior of the building. The second explosion, which destroyed the store-house, followed instantly, the flying embers penetrating the windows, and setting fire to the materials within. Both the men perished in the first explosion; their bodies were blown to atoms, and fragments of them were found at half-a-mile distant from the scene of the calamity, in such a state that they could not be distinguished from each other. The horse which was in the waggon was thrown to the distance of about 30 yards, the body completely singed, and apparently pierced through by some of the flying materials, the shoes torn from its feet; the waggon was shattered into a thousand pieces, some of it being found at a great distance from the works. There were two other persons about fifty yards distant when the houses blew up, Mr Hunter, and one of the workmen who was loading a cart with wood. Mr Hunter was slightly burt in the leg. The dryinghouse, which was of two stories, with a very high chimney, was completely levelled with the ground by the effects of the first explosion, not one stone being left upon another. The store-house was entirely overthrown by the second explosion, and in an instant converted into a mass of ruins, the stones being scattered, some of them to a vast distance, while others, being driven downwards, have left furrows in the earth to a great depth. The burning rafters of the building were scattered in various directions, and some of these being thrown on the top of the knowe, amongst the broom and whins, set fire to them, which being seen burning, added considerably to the alarm spread by this dreadful catastrophe. The adjoining trees are some of them torn up by the roots, while others are cut asunder about the middle, as if by the operation of a saw, the stump being only left standing; and altogether the adjoining country presents a striking scene of ravage and desolation, and gives fearful evidence of the prodigious power of the agency which could in a moment accomplish such terrible effects. In the adjoining village of Gorebridge, the shock was powerfully felt; there is not a house that is not more or less damaged, and the windows have particularly suffered, the street being covered with the shattered panes. A shoemaker had his head hurt by a piece of glass forced out of his window. At greater distances, the shock occasioned a most severe concussion. bells of Dalkeith tolled with the concussion. In Musselburgh, Tranent, Ormiston, and at the more distant towns of North Berwick and Haddington, the shock was felt, and the houses shook. The same effects were experienced in Edinburgh, particularly in the southern districts of the town, where the windows were shaken. The reports were distinctly heard, and resembled in depth, The and a sort of terrific loudness, the description which Captain Hall gives of the noice heard during some of the South American earthquakes. At Kirkaldy, Leven, and even Cupar Fife, the shock was distinctly felt. The quantity of gunpowder exploded is es. timated about 60 barrels, containing each 112 lib. The damage to the work is estimated not much to exceed £.1000, as the buildings are slight. A dreadful explosion took place at these mills in 1803. On that occasion three lives were lost. Mr Hunter, a proprietor, was killed in his own garden, by a large stone, which carried away his arm. 21.-A New Zealand Chief-In the Urania, Captain Reynolds, which arrived at Liverpool on Saturday night, from Buenos Ayres, came passenger, a King or Chief of one of the Islands of New Zealand. The Urania, on her voyage from Calcutta to the west coast of South America, passed through Cook's Straits. A great number of natives came off in their canoes to the ship, and, headed by this Chief, were permitted to come on board. His Majesty expressed an anxious desire to remain on board, and to proceed to England. Finding all endeavours to induce the King to return to his subjects unavailing, and not wishing to employ force to compel his departure, the captain permitted him to remain. The Urania then proceeded on a trading voyage to the west coast of South Ame rica: afterwards she sailed for Buenos Ayres, and arrived at Liverpool on Saturday night. The Chief is finely tatooed, after the fashion of his country, and is described as a very good. looking savage. 24. Fire in Edinburgh.-On Tuesday evening, the 22d, this city was again thrown into a general state of confusion and consternation, by a most alarming fire, which broke out about eight o'clock, in a house of six stories high, at the head of Blackfriars' Wynd, on the west side, immediately behind the line of the High Street. The flames were first seen to issue from the middle flat of the tenement called Lady Lovat's house, having been once the residence of the widow of the celebrated Simon Lord Lovat. was some time before the flames gained any ascendancy; but the period that necessarily elapsed before the engines and firemen could be collected and marshalled at their posts, was the fatal interval, during which the conflagration, being undisturbed, rapidly acquired such strength as to defy all opposition; and by halfpast nine o'clock the whole building was It |