beneficial, it was altered; he meant the Smallpox Hospital, which was built before vaccination was thought of. That which was beneficial at one time might cease to be so at another; or a person with charitable views might be mistaken in the end or effect of it, when he established an institution. It was sufficient for him to have called attention to this matter; it was sufficient for him to state, that if the trustees had the remedy in their hands, and yet neglected it, and if they did not "take heed to their ways," there was a method of providing a remedy. The noble and learned Lord then concluded with moving for the returns in question, which were eventually agreed to.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

April 17. Lord Althorp brought forward a motion for leave to bring in a Bill TO ALTER AND AMEND THE LAWS RELATING TO THE POOR. After dwelling for some time on the importance of the subject, the difficulty of dealing with it, and the ill success which attended many of the endeavours of the Legislature to do so, he referred to the appointment and the labours of the Commission from which the valuable body of evidence had emanated, on the statements of which he rested the necessity of an immediate change. The working of the present system he described as most ruinous-worse than an agrarian law-for an agrarian law contemplated a division of property, but this system promised the destruction of all property. In alluding to the general measure of the Government, his Lordship stated the following to be the principal heads:-To get rid entirely of the allowance system to agricultural labourers; to have Central Commissioners, who should make general rules and orders as to the mode of relief, and for the regulation of workhouses, and the mode of relief afforded therein; to take from Justices the power of ordering parochial relief to persons in their own houses -that is, outdoor relief to the poor; to alter, in certain cases, the constitution of parochial vestries; to give large discretionary powers to the Central Commissioners; every method of acquiring a settlement to be abolished except those only acquired by birth or marriage; children to follow the settlement of their parents, until they attain the age of sixteen years—after that period, their settlement to be the place of their birth; to take away the power of imprisoning the reputed father of an illegitimate child, and to make the mother liable for the support of her child, in the manner and mode of a pauper widow. The motion was agreed to, and Bill ordered to be brought in.

GENT. MAG. VOL. I.

Colonel Williams rose to bring forward a motion, "That an humble address be presented to the King, requesting His Majesty to signify His pleasure to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge respectively, that those bodies no longer act under the edicts or letters of James I., 1616, by which he would have all that take any degree in schools to subscribe to the three articles' of the thirty-sixth canon, with the exception of those proceeding to degrees in divinity; nor to require the declaration, namely, that I am bona fide a member of the Church of England,' nor any other subscription or declaration of like effect and import."-The motion was seconded by Mr. Buckingham.-Mr. G. W. Wood rose to move an amendment, that the words of the original motion, after the word "that," be omitted, for the purpose of substituting these words, "leave be given to bring in a Bill to grant to His Majesty's subjects generally the right of admission to the English Universities, and of equal eligibility to degrees therein, notwithstanding their diversities of religious opinion-degrees in divinity alone excepted."-Mr. Estcourt opposed the measure. He said that the object of the motion was to introduce Dissenters into the Universities.-Dr. Lushington supported the measure. He said it should be the endeavour of the Universities, as of the Legislature, to mix up in cordial union every class of His Majesty's subjects, and, by promoting good-will amongst all men, promote the well-being of the whole of society.-Mr. Goulburn said he must enter his protest against the motion then before the House-a motion not only untenable on examination, but unsupported by any thing like argument.-Lord John Russell said that, by admitting the Protestant Dissenters to those great establishments of literature and science (the Universities), and the greater his respect for their distinguished learning, the more anxious was he that Protestant Dissenters should share in it.-Sir R. Inglis maintained that the present concession would tend necessarily to completely destroy the existing character and discipline of the English Universities, while, even if the proposed Bill passed to-morrow, there would still be restrictions on Dissenters; there would still remain on their consciences the obligation to take the oath of supremacy, and, on their loyalty, the tax of taking the oath of allegiance. Feeling deeply and strongly upon this subject, as intimately connected with the best interests of the Church of England, he should give the strongest opposition to both propositions, now before the House. From the forms of the House, it would be ne3 Z

cessary for him, in the first instance, to give an affirmative to one of them; but when it afterwards came as a substantive proposition, he should then most unequivocally vote against it.—Colonel Williams afterwards withdrew his motion for an Address, and the proposition of Mr. Wood therefore stood as the original mo. tion. On this the House divided, when there appeared-Ayes, 185; Noes, 44; Majority, 141; leave was accordingly given to bring in the Bill.

April 18. After a desultory discussion on the sentence of transportation against the Dorchester Unionists, several Bills were introduced. A Bill to regulate and abolish sinecure offices in the House of Commons was read a first time as also a Bill to give freedom to domestic religious worship another to abolish capital punishment in cases of letter-stealing, re, turning from transportation, and certain cases of burglary another to allow prisoners in all cases the aid of counsel and another to prevent the hanging in chains of prisoners sentenced to capital punish

ment.

The House having resolved into Committee on a Message from the King, after some discussion it was agreed that the KNIGHTS of the BATH, being for the future to be exempted from paying fees, the Officers of the Order, who were to be reduced to five, should receive compensation for the loss of their emoluments.

Lord Althorp brought up his Bill for the

better PROVISION OF THE POOR of England and Wales, which was read a first time; to be read a second time April 29th.

April 21. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a Committee on CHURCH RATES, brought forward his proposal on that subject. The first portion of the plan was, that these Church Rates should, after a day to be named, be entirely abolished. He should propose, instead of the present Church Rates, that 250,000l. a-year should be raised as a charge on the Land Tax, The sum thus raised was to be appropriated, not in the same manner as it was now applied, but chiefly, if not entirely, to the sustaining and repairs of the fabric of the churches. This fund, so made a charge on the Land Tax, was to be invested in the hands of the Church Commissioners, not now a permanent body, but which it would be necessary should be made so if this plan were adopted, by them to be distributed to the purpose of supporting the edifices of the churches throughout the country.-Mr. Hume objected strongly to the plan, as calculated to afford no relief to the Dissenters, who paid the Land Tax, and therefore would still continue to pay Church Rates in a different form. A long and animated discussion followed, in which Mr. Divett, Mr. Wilks, Mr. Stanley, Mr. D. W. Har vey, Lord John Russell, &c,, took parts. The House then divided, when the mo tion was carried by a majority of 256 to 140.

FRANCE.

France has been the theatre of popular commotion, attended by sanguinary results. At Lyons, on the 7th April, a serious disturbance broke out, when the military and people were engaged for five days in a sanguinary conflict, in which the rioters were eventually defeated. It originated from the trial of some of the members of the association who had been arrested during the late riots, arising from the coalition of the silk weavers. A large military force having been stationed near the court house where the trial of the Mutuellistes (a political association, which had instigated the workmen to their unlawful proceedings), was to take place, a considerable body of workmen, part of them armed, came there also, under pretence of protecting their friends, in the same way as the military were to protect the tribunal."

The people were desired to withdraw, and on their refusing to do so, orders were given to the military to fire on them, which orders were obeyed, but, it would seem, not without some hesitation on the part of the soldiers. The consequence, however, was a general battle, which lasted all day. Artillery was used, barricades raised, and. carried by the military, and a great number of lives were lost. The contest continued, with varying success, to the 12th, when it appears the insurgents, driven from their positions, took refuge in three or four churches, among others in the cathedral, which it was necessary to besiege. who were shut up in it perished. The rebels had also possession of two posts—one at Fourvière, seated on a hill commanding the Saone, which the troops took by assault, killing or making prisoners all who were found in it; and the other was that of

All

St. George, which was attacked and taken. The letters received from Lyons show that the contest there was almost as bloody and destructive as if the town had been stormed by a besieging enemy. The people poured a deadly fire on the troops from the roofs and windows of the houses, and when driven from them they took refuge in the churches, the doors of which were battered down with cannon-shot. Ac cording to the latest accounts all was quiet, but Lyons was nearly ruined, 1,700 troops had been killed and wounded, and of the workmen upwards of 5,000.

The

The news had scarcely arrived in the French capital of the civil war in Lyons being quelled, when an insurrection of a most formidable nature broke out in Paris. On Sunday the 13th, disturb ances began on the quays and Place du Chatelet. At half-past two and three, the Rues St. Martin and St. Denis were in commotion. At half-past three and four troubles began in various quarters of the Marais, and at five to six the workmen in all the faubourgs gave proofs of their determination to revolt. At nine o'clock twenty thousand troops and twenty thousand National Guards were under arms. The drums beat to arms; the barricades were formed in every direction. "Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers" were turned into barracks, and the inhabitants of that neighbourhood were entreated to place their windows at the disposition of the troops, in order to have lights, &c. at them. At twenty minutes past nine the firing was tremendous in the Rue St. Honoré and the Rue St. Denis. Fiacres and omnibuses were overthrown, in order to form barricades. Driven from the barricades, the rioters afterwards retired into some houses in narrow streets, from the windows of which they kept firing a great part of the night against the soldiers and National Guards who came within reach. In the morning of Monday the rioters, whose whole number, it is said, did not exceed 300, were either dispersed or taken. Several lives were lost. Extensive measures had been taken by the government to maintain order in the capital. The matter was brought before the Chamber by M. Guizot, and a notice that government was preparing strong measures to "crush the anarchists" was favourably received. The Chamber afterwards, in a body, went up with an address to the King. Chalons, Macon, Dijon, Strasbourg, Befort, and St. Etienne, in one or other of which disturbances had or were reported to have taken place, are reported by the accounts from Paris to be perfectly tranquil. The Tribune newspaper has been forcibly suppressedin Paris, and many persons arrested.

On the 14th, in the Chamber of Deputies, a law was introduced to punish with death persons using arms, and with fine and imprisonment persons possessing am munition or arms; and with imprison ment of from four to ten years persons assisting in erecting barricades.

There has been a change in the French ministry, in consequence of their defeat in the Chambers. The question upon which they were defeated was the indemnity of 25,000,000 of francs, guaranteed to Ame rica, under a treary of the 4th of July, 1831. This indemnity, so guaranteed, the Chamber of Deputies has refused to grant. The most important resignation was that of the Duc de Broglie. M. Persil, Deputy, Procureur-General of the Royal Court, is appointed Keeper of the Seals, and Minister of Justice and of Worship. M. Thiers, Deputy, Minister of Commerce and Public Works, is appointed Minister of the Interior. M. Duchatel, Deputy, is nominated Minister of Commerce. Vice Admiral Count de Rigny, Deputy, and Minister of the Marine and Colonies, is appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. Vice-Adm. Baron Roussin, Ambassador at Constan tinople, is named Minister of the Marine. M. Martin du Nord, Deputy, and Advo cate-General of the Court of Cassation, is appointed Procureur-General of the Royal Court. The ministers who retain their previous offices are, Marshal Soult, President of the Council and Minister of War; M. Humann, Minister of Finance; and M. Guizot, Minister of Public Instruction.

The Semaphore of Marseilles states that a coal-mine has recently been discovered near that city, below the surface of the sea. The Echo de la Frontière states that another mine has been discovered at Saint Mathieu, in the territory of Dourchos. More than 150 hectolitres of coal were extracted from the first orifice of the mine. The coal is of very excellent quality.

BELGIUM.

Some alarming riots took place at Brussels on Saturday and Sunday the 5th and 6th of April, in which 15 or 16 houses of the Orange party were gutted, and the furniture thrown out of the windows. The riot was produced by the circulation of lists and subscriptions for purchasing the horses belonging to the Prince of Orange's stud at Terveuren. It is well known that, from the suddenness of the Belgian revolution of 1830, and the accident of the Royal Family being then at the Hague, very considerable property belonging to that family was of necessity left in the Royal Palaces at Brussels,

whom they beat severely, and rescued the prisoners. This occurred in front of Bankside-mill, owned by a Mr. Thompson; who was disliked by the Unionists on account of his employment of knobsticks, or men not belonging to the Union. These knobsticks had, it appeared, been provided with arms for their defence, but as it turned out, used them for offence; for, appearing at the windows of the building, they made a foolish display of their weapons, and fired blank cartridge at the passing mob. One shot, however, actually took effect, and killed a man named James Bentley. This so incensed those around, that the windows of the manufactory were immediately demolished, the dwelling-house of the proprietor entered, and a total destruction of its contents effected. The liquors were drunk in the cellars, the cabinets rifled and broken, the victuals eaten, and about 501. in money stolen. One of the lower rooms was filled with printing cloths, which the mob set fire to. In the course of the tumult the two prisoners were rescued. The arrival of a party of lancers eventually caused the dispersion of the mob. The two Union men who were rescued afterwards surrendered, and were liberated on bail; meanwhile, the town was in a state of great confusion. A meeting of upwards of 10,000 operatives was held the next day on Oldham Edge, or Moor, at which resolutions to support their fellows were entered into.

At a

Coroner's inquest subsequently held on the body of the individual who was shot, a verdict of Manslaughter was returned. Several of the rioters have since been arrested, and committed for trial.

Melbourne, in favour of a remission. of sentence on the six Dorsetshire labourers, lately transported for administering illegal oaths, about 30,000 workmen, arranged according to their respective trades, assembled in Copenhagen Fields. By seven o'clock the large field in front of Copenhagen House was crowded, and every minute the numbers increased by thousands. Each man had a piece of red ribbon in the button-hole of his coat. Not a noise, or the least inclination to break the peace occurred. The petition was brought on the field in a car or couch made for the occasion, borne on the shoulders of twelve men. It was or great bulk, and signed by 260,000 persons, 100,000 of whom were Unionists in the metropolis. At half past nine o'clock a rocket was fired, as the signal for the procession to move, which had been regularly marshalled. It proceeded down Maidenlane, Guildford-street, Regent-street, and Charing-cross, to Whitehall, where the first part arrived at twelve o'clock. They marched five and in some instances six abreast, in perfect silence, and at an ordinary foot pace, and were upwards of two hours in passing any given point. On the arrival of the procession at Whitehall, Mr. Owen, of Lanark, Dr. Wade (the nonresident Vicar of St. Nicholas, Warwick) in his canonicals, and three or four other leaders of the Unionists, entered the Home Office with the petition, whilst the procession passed on along Parliamentstreet, and over Westminster-bridge to Kennington-common. Mr. Phillips said Lord Melbourne was in the office, but that he had his directions to say that his Lordship could not receive a petition presented under such circumstances; if the petition however should be presented on another day, and in a becoming manner, his Lordship would receive it and lay it before the King. After some conversation, the deputation retired, taking the petition with them. Upon the arrival of the procession at Kennington-common, they formed in good order to await the arrival of the deputation with Lord Melbourne's answer, after receiving which, the different divisions immediately drew off, and in a short time the streets resumed their ordinary appearance. Very ample arrangements had been made by Government and the Civil authorities, for the immediate suppression of any disturbance; but such was the peaceable bearing of the Unionists, and the crowd accompanying their procession, that not a single soldier or police-constable was visible throughout their whole march. On the 24th the petition was presented to Lord Melbourne by a deputation from the Trades' Unions, and laid before the King in the usual way.