introduction of the corn bill scouted by the free-traders
themselves. By the imposition of a moderate fixed
duty they might raise a revenue of £2,000,000. without
materially raising the price of corn to the consumer. It
was not adverse to the principles of free trade to impose,
in favour of a class exposed to undue burdens, counteracting
duties to meet those burdens, and he believed
that by imposing a moderate fixed duty on corn they
would in two years be enabled to get rid of the income-tax.
In regard to the Papal aggression, he said he was
the last man to interfere with the full and free exercise
of the religious opinions and services of his
fellow-countrymen. He knew not whether the act of the Pope
violated the law, but though insignificant in itself, it
had been rendered infinitely more important in the first
instance by the insulting tone in which his bull was
introduced into the country; and it would be
inconsistent with the dignity of the crown and the
independence of parliament, if steps were not taken to deal
with the matter. He, however, did not approve of the
measure of the government, because it bore on the face
of it marks of passion and haste, instead of deliberation
and anxious consideration. The Papal aggression, in his
opinion, ought to be as strongly resisted as it would
have been in the days of their ancestors; but he
confessed he was not prepared to legislate on a question of
such vast importance until he had time to inquire into
its various bearings.

On Monday, the 3rd inst., the Marquis of LANSDOWNE
stated that, in obedience to the Queen's invitation, her
Majesty's former ministers had Resumed their Places,
a step which had been taken in conformity with the
advice of the Duke of Wellington.—The Duke of
ARGYLL, in presenting a petition against Papal aggression,
took occasion to remark upon the influence for
evil still retained by the Roman Catholic power. A
careful watch and defensive measures were requisite to
guard against the usurpations of that power. He
rejoiced to find that the changes of the past ten days had
resulted in the failure of every attempt to form a government,
one of whose principles would have been to ignore
and leave unnoticed an act which constituted an aggression
upon the public law of Europe.—Lord BROUGHAM
implored the government to pause in their course of
legislation upon this delicate subject, and rest satisfied
with declaratory resolutions passed by both houses of
parliament.—The Marquis of BREADALBANE felt that the
subject was so complicated, and the real state of the
case so imperfectly known, that he recommended the
appointment of a committee of inquiry before they
proceeded to pass any legislative act.—The Earl of ABERDEEN,
explaining some observations made upon a previous
debate, observed that the term "persecution" changed
its signification as time progressed, and the manners of
men became more gentle and refined. Acts that were
considered persecuting would have been deemed perfectly
tolerant in days when religious differences were contested
with greater cruelty. In reference to the bill of the
government, he thought the policy they were pursuing
was seriously erroneous.

On Tuesday, March the 4th, Lord MONTEAGLE
presented a Petition from Van Diemen's Land, complaining
of the continuance of transportation, and followed
up the prayer of the petitioners with some remarks upon
the vacillation that had been manifested by the government
with respect to the convict system in the colonies.
Repeated promises had been made that no more
transported criminals were to be introduced into Van Diemen's
Land; but the promises had been violated, and the
colony very much injured. The Australian colonists
were determined not to allow the entrance of any more
convicts into their part of the world.—Earl GREY denied
that any promises had been made by the government of
which he was a member to abstain from sending criminals
to Van Diemen's Land; but they had undertaken and
succeeded in improving the system of management and
discipline. He thought the system as at present pursued
was best for the convicts, and not injurious to the colony;
and adduced many facts to show the improvement that
had taken place during the past few years among the
transports, and the diminished opposition to their reception
among the inhabitants of the colony.

On Thursday, March the 6th, Lord MONTEAGLE asked
whether the government had received from the Cape of
Good Hope any official information with regard to the
Invasion of the Colony by the Caffres, and what means
for repressing it were at the disposal of the governor.
—Earl GREY replied that information had been received
of the irruption, and of one or two serious engagements
with the Caffres. With regard to the force maintained
for the defence of the colony, it was true that a reduction
had taken place within the last few years, but not below
the amount which Sir H. Smith considered necessary
for the protection of the frontiers. At the same time,
measures were in progress to send out a reinforcement
both of men and guns, so that the means of defence
might be equal to what they originally were in that
colony.

On Friday, March the 7th, Lord BROUGHAM explained
at some length the provisions of his bill for Extending
the Jurisdiction of County Courts, which he described
as extending to bankruptcy (out of London), equitable
jurisdiction, arbitration, and reconcilement.—A conversation
took place, in which Lord Langdale, Lord
Cranworth, and the Lord Chancellor engaged, after which
the bill was read the first time, and the house adjourned.

On Monday, March the 10th, on the motion of Earl
GREY, the Passengers Act Amendment Bill was read
the second time, after a brief conversation, during which
several suggestions were made for increasing the protection
and the comforts of emigrant passengers.—A bill
was laid on the table by the Earl of CARLISLE, and
read the first time, for Regulating the Sale of Arsenic.

On Tuesday March the 11, Earl FITZWILLIAM, in
presenting a petition, made some observations on the
Ecclesiastical Titles Assumption Bill, and after stating
that though he did not go so far as some in their
indignation against the papal aggression, still he was desirous
that some measure to repel it should be adopted, and
wished to know if the alterations about to be made in
the measure now before the House of Commons would
tend to render it inoperative.—The Marquis of LANSDOWNE
replied, that certain alterations were about to be
made in the measure to which Earl FITZWILLIAM had
referred. The house would have ample time to consider
the nature of those alterations when the bill came before
it in due form. He could only say that the principle of
the bill would remain untouched.

The second reading of the Sale of Arsenic Bill was
moved, on Thursday the 13th, by the Earl of CARLISLE,
who explained some of the details of the measure, by
which caution and responsibility were to be attached
to the sale of the article; he added that it was
considered inexpedient to include other substances among
its provisions, because the publication of a schedule of
poisons would but serve as an advertisement of the
existence and names of a large variety of deleterious
ingredients.—After a few words from the Earl of
MOUNTCASHEL, the bill was read a second time.

Lord BROUGHAM called attention to some protests he
laid upon the table against the Income Tax. This
impost, unjust and inquisitorial in its very nature, was,
he complained, rendered yet more so by the improper
selection of many of the subordinate officers entrusted
with its collection.—The Marquis of LANSDOWNE
offered a brief explanation, and the subject dropped.

Lord COLCHESTER inquired whether the government
intended to bring in during the present session any acts
for the regulation of the Mercantile Marine? and
referred to the three acts introduced, one of which had
passed last year, to remonstrate against bringing forward
measures at so late a period of the session that they
could not be properly considered.—Earl GRANVILLE
was understood to say that the intention of framing a
bill for the general consolidation of all the acts relating
to merchant seamen had been advisedly abandoned for
the present. Some amendments in the mercantile
marine act were, however, the object of a bill already
introduced elsewhere, and would be carried forward so
as to come before their lordships at the earliest possible
period.

On Friday, the 14th, the Sale of Arsenic Bill passed
through committee, Lord CAMPBELL expressing his
satisfaction that the subject had been taken up by the
government.

A conversation, commenced by Lord STANLEY, took