HOUSE OF LORDS, April 25.

Lord Melbourne moved the second reading of the IRISH MUNICIPAL BILL. His Lordship stated the object of the Bill to be the same as that of last Session-to abolish the old corporations and establish new ones. There were forty-seven towns contained in the schedules, and the qualifications required in a burgess were, the occupation of a tenement of 107. a year in the larger towns, and 51. a year in the smaller. The only alteration in the present Bill was in the appointment of sheriffs, which was divided in the present Bill between the town councils and the lord lieutenant. He called upon their Lordships to desist from further opposition to the measure, and prayed them, as they had the power, so also to take to themselves the grace, of bringing this matter at once to an immediate and satisfactory accommodation and adjustment.-The Duke of Wellington, although he considered the Bill liable to great objections in many important particulars, should vote for the second reading, with the view of making such alterations in the committee as should render the measure fit to pass their Lordships' House, and suitable to the purposes for which it was designed.- Lord Lyndhurst should vote for the second reading, merely for the purpose of affording an opportunity for further consideration and inquiry; but nothing should induce him to acquiesce in the measure in its present form. After some remarks from Lords Melbourne and Brougham, the Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Friday, the 5th of May.

April 26. The SCOTCH MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS Bill, the CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS Bill, and a Bill to relieve the FREEMEN of CORPORATE TOWNS from the necessity of paying fees for admission, in order to enable them to exercise the elective franchise, were severally read a second time, to be committed on the 17th of May.

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April 28. Lord John Russell moved the second reading of the IRISH POORLAWS' Bill.-Mr. O'Connell said, that, although he should vote for the Bill, he felt persuaded that it would not be productive of advantage, but would work in. juriously, as all similar measures had done, wherever they had been introduced. preferred an extensive system of emigra. tion, and thought that Ireland would ne ver attain permanent prosperity until she had obtained a legislature of her own.Mr. S. Crawford thought that much of the misery of Ireland had proceeded from the absence of poor-laws in that country. He considered that a poor-law was abso lutely requisite in any country in which the monopoly in land was permitted, and still more so in a land where corn-laws existed. Mr. Richards was of opinion, that the proposed system of workhouse relief would only render the English Government odious to the people of Ireland, and strengthen those agitators who clamoured for the repeal of the Union.Lord Morpeth said, that the difficulty which the Government had to contend with was, to select such a plan as they thought would give satisfaction to the greater portion of all classes-it was to offer the destitute an asylum, but at the same time to make such regulations as would preclude all but the destitute from taking advantage of the Bill. It was calculated that the poor in Ireland amounted to 2,300,000. It was impossible to provide for such a number, and therefore their plan was to make the experiment by granting relief only to those who were actually below the general state of the working classes. The question was then adjourned.

May 1. Lord Morpeth rose to move for leave to bring in a Bill for the Settlement of IRISH TITHES, being the fifth that bad been submitted to the House within three years. His Lordship entered into details of the proposed measure, which were substantially the same as those submitted on previous occasions. He observed,

that" The Government proposed to follow the precedents of all the five previous Bills for converting the present composition for tithe into a rent-charge upon the owners of the first estate of inheritance, or the admitted equivalent for it. They took the same amount of deduction as in the two previous Bills proposed by the present Government-namely, a deduction of 30 per cent., or down to 70 of every 100 of tithe composition." In conclusion his Lordship moved a resolution declaratory of the expediency of commuting tithes into a rent-charge, &c., in Ireland, and to make other regulations for the ecclesiastical and other revenues of the church in that country. The resolution was adopted without comment, and leave was given to bring in the Bill.

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The adjourned debate on the IRISH POOR-LAW Bill was then resumed, when the measure was supported by Mr. Barron, Sir R. Bateson, O'Connor and Mr. Lynch, Lord Clements, Mr. Shaw, Sir R. Musgrave, Messrs. Wyse and Lucas, Sir R. Peel, Lord John Russell, and Mr. Callaghan-and opposed by Mr. Pryme. The Bill was then read a second time. -The Solicitor-General brought in a Bill to provide for the payment of the expenses of holding CORONERS' INQUESTS.

May 2. Mr. Borthwick brought forward a motion on the subject of the CONVOCATION of the CLERGY. The Hon. Member said, that the ecclesiastical body had been placed for nearly 100 years in a singular position, as self-regulation had been allowed to all other corporate bodies. From the length of time that had elapsed, it had been all but forgotten that a Convocation was recognised by the constitution of the country. The Church of England, however, was placed in an anomalous and most unfavourable position; its concerns were managed by legislators, many of whom were inimical or indifferent to its interests. The Assembly of the Church of Scotland discharged all the duties of an ecclesiastical council without injuring that establishment, and he did not see that there was reason to apprehend that the same would not be the case in the present day with a body representing the Church of England. The hon. Member then moved for leave to bring in a Bill to remodel the Convocation of the Clergy after such a fashion as should render its sittings practicable.-Lord John Russell rose to oppose the motion.

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said he did not believe that the motion was in accordance with the wishes of the Church. On a division, the motion was negatived, by 24 to 19.

May 3. Mr. Robinson brought forward a proposition for permitting GRAIN in

BOND to be converted into flour for exportation.—Mr. P. Thompson resisted the proposal, on two grounds,-first, that much experience had shown that fraud could not be prevented; and secondly, that it was an effort to get rid of the Corn Laws by a side wind. If the Corn Laws were to be repealed, let it be done in a straightforward manner. The House divided on the question, and it was negatived by 43 ayes, and 108 noes.-Mr. O'Connell moved the second reading of the LAW of LIBEL BILL, which, after some discussion, was rejected, by a majority of 55 to 47.

May 4. Sir S. Whalley moved for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the WINDOW TAX.-Mr. S. Rice opposed the motion, as the amount of the tax, which the hon. Member asked the House to repeal, being about 1,200,000l. exceeded the whole of the disposable surplus revenue of the country. On a division, the numbers were, for the motion, 48; against it, 206.

Mr. Baines brought forward a motion, the object of which was to procure a fair and equitable apportionment of the FIRST FRUITS and TENTHS payable upon ecclesiastical livings. The Hon. Member stated that these dues originally formed a portion of the papal revenues, which the Reformation placed at the disposal of the Crown, and the Act of Queen Anne bad made a benevolent disposition of this important revenue, with a view to increase the incomes of the poorer clergy. The object of her Majesty had, however, been frustrated in a great degree by the negligence or mal-administration of the superior clergy, whose duty it was to enforce the collection of this fund, and apportion it to this very laudable and useful purpose. The hon. Member concluded by moving the appointment of a Select Committee, to inquire whether the full amount of the first fruits and tenths had been paid by the different orders of the superior clergy.

Lord J. Russell rose to oppose the motion. He considered that the clergy had paid as much under the heads of Tenths and First Fruits as they could be legally compelled to do, and that the question was not suited for the investigation of a Select Committee; although, at the same time, he did not deny that it was a very fit one for Parliament.-On a division there were, for the motion, 63; against it, 171.

Sir A. Agnew moved for leave to bring in a Bill to enforce the better observance of the SABBATH. After a long discussion, the House came to a division, when there appeared, for the motion, 199; against it, 53.

HOUSE OF LORDS, May 5. Lord Melbourne moved that the House

do go into a Committee on the IRISH MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS Bill.-The Duke of Wellington observed, that, opposed as he was to the measure, he was anxious to have the Bill deferred for a time, in order that the House might be enabled to form a better judgment of the intended course of legislation for Ireland; he should therefore propose that the further consideration of the present Bill be postponed till the 9th of June.-Lord Melbourne protested against this course, as calculated to produce a struggle between the two Houses.-A long discussion ensued, in which the amendment was supported by Lords Fitzgerald, Wicklow, Ripon, Haddington, Roden, Falmouth, and Wharncliffe; and opposed by the Marquess of Lansdowne, the Duke of Richmond, and Lord Brougham, who ridiculed the course pursued with regard to the Bill by the Tory side of the House, and observed that it was their evident intention to throw that important measure overboard. On a division, there appeared for the Duke of Wellington's amendment, 192; for the original motion, 115; majority against Ministers, 77.

In the HOUSE of COMMONS, the same day, the report of Lord Morpeth's resolution on IRISH TITHES was, after two divisions, taken into farther consideration; and the second reading of the Bill on that important measure, was deferred to the 9th of June.

HOUSE OF LORDS, May 8.

The Earl of Radnor brought forward a motion for an inquiry into the state of the Universities; and concluded a long address, by moving, "That a committee be appointed to inquire into the state of such of the several colleges and halls in the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge as have statutes enjoined by their respective founders and benefactors, in so far as relates to the provisions of the said statutes and the practice relative thereto, the oaths by which the members of the institution are bound to obey the same, and the power which may be vested in their respective visitors or others to alter, modify, and amend them, and to report to the House their opinion of the expediency or necessity of a legislative measure on the subject."-The Duke of Wellington, Marquess of Camden, and Lord Winchelsea, and several of the Bishops, strongly opposed the motion, chiefly on the ground that the Universities were prepared to institute all the inquiries that were necessary; and that it would be calculated to throw impediments in the way of the intended ameliorations.-The motion was ultimately withdrawn.

In the House of COMMONS, the same day, Mr. T. D'Eyncourt moved for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the SEPTENNIAL ACT.-Lord J. Russell opposed the measure. He said, that after an experience of twenty years, the term of three years had avowedly been found too short for the duration of Parliament. Greater heats and animosities had thus been engendered than were ever known before; and for these and other weighty reasons it bad been deemed expedient to enlarge the term. On a division, the motion was lost by a majority of 96 to 87.

On the House going into Committee on the IRISH POOR-LAW Bill, Lord John Russell entered into some explanations, as to the course intended to be pursued by Ministers. The doubt and uncertainty in which the Government were placed as to the intentions of their opponents in the other House of Parliament, who had lately postponed the Irish Municipal Bill, made him come to the conclusion that they ought to wait, and see whether the mist could not be cleared up, than hastily to adopt a decided course as to the provisions of the Irish Tithe and Poor-Law Bills; and which they might afterwards discover could not be justified. The wish of his Majesty's Government and of their supporters in that House was, to come to such a settlement of these questions as would produce some benefit to Ireland, and to carry their measures in such a manner as would compel those who represented and sympathised with the feelings of the people of the country, to consider that some progress was made in legislation during the present session. At all events, he felt it incumbent on him, after the vote of the other night, and after the unusual proceeding of the other House in respect of that House of Parliament, to say that it was essential at this moment that all those who constituted the majority on this question in the House of Commons, should remain firmly together on the present occasion.-Sir R. Peet defended the conduct of the Lords, and denied that it was disrespectful to the Commons. He considered the Irish Municipal, Tithe, and Poor Law Bills to be intimately connected, and that they ought to be all before the other House, in order that they might judge of them together, as far as regarded technicalities as well as substance, and to determine the course which was fit to be pursued. Mr. S. Rice said, that if the Lords had recourse to postponement with a view of coercing and restraining that House, let them take care how they (the House) stood in the face of the people of England. Assuming that the other House was in the wrong, let that House be in the right. The principle on which the Go

vernment would act was that of creating the largest amount of public improvement, of giving the largest development to the principles on which the Government was founded, and in that course they would regularly persevere.

A Bill for the adjustment of the IRISH TITHE Question was brought in, and read a second, and ordered to be read a third time on the 9th of June.

May 18. Mr. Sergeant Telfourd rose to move for leave to bring in a Bill to consolidate and amend the laws of COPYRIGHT in books, musical compositions, acted dramas, pictures, and engravings; to provide remedies for the violation thereof, and to extend the term of its duration. The Hon. Member supported the motion in a very able speech.-The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in seconding the motion, said, that he never experienced more unmixed feelings of gratification than he had done both at the speech and motion of the hon. and learned Member. It was a motion which was not inappropriately brought forward by one who had himself aided in adorning the literature of his country.-Sir Robert Inglis said, that he had every reason to congratulate the House and the country that this motion had fallen into hands every way so competent to carry its principles into execution. The motion was then agreed to.

May 22. Mr. Bernal brought up the Report of the CHURCH RATES' Regulation Committee, and moved a resolution that it be received; when Mr. A. Johnson moved an amendment, "That it is the opinion of this House, that the funds may be derived from an improved mode of management of church lands, and that these funds should be applied to religious

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instruction within the Established Church, where the same may be found deficient in proportion to the existing population.— Mr. Brotherton supported the amendments.-Mr. Lambton defended the Ministerial measure, not as the best that could be devised, but as an important step to a more comprehensive arrangement.— Sir F. Burdett resisted the amendment and the Government plan, declaring them to be inimical to the Establishment and Constitution of the country. He also

adverted to the great sacrifices that he had made during his life to promote the public cause, and that it was a cause that he would not now desert. The debate was then adjourned.

May 23. The adjourned debate on the Government measure regarding CHURCH RATES, was resumed.—Sir R. Peel resisted the Government proposition, on the ground that it would be destructive of the Church as a state establishment; and expressed the hope that the amendment would not be pressed, in order that a direct vote might be taken on the main question.-Lord J. Russell denied that the tendency of the measure would be to affect the stability of the church; on the contrary, by putting an end to the cause of heart-burnings, the real interests of the church would be promoted. Harvey said, that if the resolution were carried, and the Bill founded on it reached the proper stage, he would move that it be an instruction to the Committee to confine the Bill to an entire and early abolition of church rates. On a division, the numbers were, for the original resolution, 287; for the amendment, 282. Majority for Ministers, 5.

The trial of Meunier, before the Chamber of Peers, for an attempt on the life of the King on the 27th of December last, was terminated on the 26th of April. The court found him guilty, but acquitted Lavaux and Lacaze, who were charged, at the same time, with being his associates in the crime. As Meunier has been considered a person of weak intellect, who was probably the mere agent of more designing villains, the royal clemency has been extended towards him; and his sentence has been since commuted to perpetual imprisonment. Meunier acknowledged his crime, and said that he had a natural antipathy to the House of Bourbon, and to the Orleans branch in particular. His object in killing the King was to bring about a republic.

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Since the above affair, Louis Philippe has granted an amnesty to political offenders, which act has been well received throughout all the departments, as well as in the capital. It is understood that there are about 169 political prisoners in France, of which number 130 have declared themselves penitent, but the remaining 39 continue to express the most violent revolutionary opinions, and openly avow a deadly thirst for vengeance; 52 of the insurgents of April have been discharged from one prison, Doullens. great number of state offenders have also been set free at Clairvaux; and, generally, the utmost facility to regain their liberty appears to be afforded to the objects of the act of oblivion. The surveillance to which the released prisoners are formally consigned is also generally dispensed

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with. Dr. Beaumont, whose imprisonment in St. Pelagie has made him somewhat notorious, is among the number of the emancipated; he has made an early use of his liberation to return to England.

The Chamber of Deputies have voted the sum of 1,000,000 francs, as the dower of the Queen of the Belgians, by a majority of 239 against 140.

The distress of the manufacturing and commercial interests continues unabated. At Lyons and Mulhauzen, in particular, trade was in a deplorable condition.

SPAIN.

Hostilities between the belligerents in the northern provinces, appear to have commenced in earnest. Several affairs, of a partial nature, have already taken place, so far favourable to the arms of the After an obstinate defence by queen. the Carlist troops, General Evans has succeeded in carrying Irun, where a dreadful scene of pillage and massacre ensued, notwithstanding the exertions of General Evans to prevent it. Fontarabia soon afterwards capitulated. Espartero has collected 32,000 men, Spaniards and British, in St. Sebastian. Despatches, dated the 16th of May, state that Espartero entered Hernani on the 13th of May, after having beaten the Carlists, taken 600 of them prisoners, and five pieces of cannon.

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continued on the 14th following the Carlists, who were retiring on Tolosa. It was also stated that Espartero was master of Astigarraga, Urieta, and Andoain, and that the Christino corps at Vittoria had forced the passage of Arlaban. Don Sebastian, in the mean time, had retreated, with a larger force, his ulterior intentions being utterly unknown.

According to accounts from the eastern parts of Spain, the chief of the insurrection at Barcelona had been shot in that Valencia was city on the 10th of May. at that date threatened by the Carlists, and the republican insurrectionary spirit had extended to Malaga, but the attempt it prompted had failed.

In the sitting of the Cortes of the 23d of April, they passed a vote on the article of the Constitution which provides that the colonies shall not depute representatives to that assembly, as they are hereafter to be governed by special laws, suitable to their respective positions, and adapted to their several wants.

PORTUGAL.

Accounts from Lisbon state that the Cortes had, after a prolonged and occasionally animated discussion upon the project of a new Constitution, at last adopted, by a majority of 65, the plan proposed by the Government, which com

prises two Chambers, and recognizes in the Monarch the ordinary constitutional prerogatives; amongst others, those of dissolving the Chambers upon urgent occasions, and of exercising a veto upon all legislative acts.

The Government of Portugal appears to be in a very unsettled state, and so great are its pecuniary embarrassments, that on a late occasion her Majesty was obliged to send a message to the congress threatening to pawn her jewels, if they did not send her an immediate supply. The answer, however, was "No funds." Moreover, the northern provinces are in a state bordering upon anarchy, robberies and murders being daily committed with impunity, so as to render travelling precarious. The tariff adopted almost amounts to a prohibition of British goods, and the English people there are frequently subjected to insult and contumely. To add to these difficulties, the ministers, Senior Passos, Marq. de Sa Bandiera, and others, have sent in their resignations to the Queen, owing to their having sustained a defeat in the Cortes.

PRUSSIA.

On the 28th April, at ten in the evening, an extraordinary phenomenon took place on the shores of the Baltic, in the province of Koeslin, in Prussia. A hill of more than 100 feet in height, and covered with furze, suddenly sunk with a noise resembling thunder. The abyss which has been thus opened must be at least 200 paces in length. This circumstance produced a movement of the ground in the neighbourhood, by which the adjoining bills were raised from 20 to 30 feet. The cause of this phenomenon has not yet been discovered.

AMERICA,

The monetary affairs of the United States have been lately involved in a dreadful state of embarrassment. Commercial houses of the highest standing have been compelled to stop payment. To give an idea of New York, it is only necessary to mention that between the 29th of March and the 8th of April no less than eighty-eight firms suspended payment; the total amount being estimated at sixty millions of dollars. The United States' and the other Banks, however, have come promptly forward to the assistance of the merchants indebted to England. The former has issued bonds bearing interest at six per cent. and payable in London at twelve months' date, of which about 500,0007. had been sold and despatched for England. The Bank of England has also resolved to afford