upon paying a duty of 27s. per cwt. from all colonies having a slave population. The Mauritius, the only colony in which the detestable traffic in slaves had been continued-he said this to the credit of the West-India islands—was to be included. Now, that there should be any distinction made between these colonies and the East Indies he held to be rank injustice. Whenever any attempt was

would ask, upon what principle it was contended, that the same advantages should not also be enjoyed by the East Indies? There could be no reason why those territories should not enjoy, in their fullest extent, all the benefits to be derived from the liberal system which the government had now resolved to adopt, He said this, not, as it might be pretended, from a wish to reduce the West Indies, but upon the obvious principles of poli-made to improve the condition of the untical economy. What, he asked, could fortunate beings who formed the popula be more just, than that the population of tion of the former colonies, it was invarithe East Indies should be put into pos- ably opposed by those gentlemen in the session of the same liberty as was enjoyed House, who were connected with the by all the other colonies of Great Britain? West Indies, and who did not scruple to When he, and those who thought with assign motives to those by whom such athim on this subject, expressed their de- tempts were made, which, to say the least sire to alleviate the wretched condition of of them, were wholly unfounded ["hear, the slaves in the West Indies, it was said, hear," from Mr. Gordon]. His hor. that the measures which they proposed friend, who now so loudly cried "bear," would have the effect of increasing the had, on a former occasion, when this subdistress, which was already too burthen-ject had been brought before the House, some upon the proprietors in this coun- got up with so much vehemence, that he try. He was, however, inclined to be- seemed ready to devour all who were near lieve, that the distress of those proprietors him. He did this, because, being him. was chiefly to be attributed to their resi- self a large West-India proprietor, he dence in this country; and that the misery could not endure to hear any thing which of their slaves was another consequence even seemed to interfere with the state of of the same cause. These absentees cul- things in the colonies, and to alleviate the tivated their West-Indian estates by means sufferings of the slave population. He of agents, whom they bribed with large could not help doubting the judgment, salaries to manage their property. The although he could not suspect the heart, agents were actuated solely by the de- of his hon. friend, nor that of any other sire to procure large crops, for the imme- hon. gentleman, when he found him opdiate benefit of the proprietor, without posing a measure which was calculated to any regard to the ultimate condition of do away with an immense mass of evil the estate. The difference between the which disgraced our West-India colonies. condition of the slaves on the estates of For his own part, and for those who resident proprietors, and those who were thought with him on this subject, he reunder the control of their agents, was a pudiated with disgust and indignation the proof of the truth of this statement.-imputation, that they were actuated by There was one point of view in which the consequence of the proposed measure had not, perhaps, been sufficiently considered. In the event of a war at any future time, the vessels of neutrals would be allowed to carry freights between the colonies and the mother country. This appeared to him to be a great blessing. In the first place, it would alleviate the miseries of war; and, in the next, it would remove the imputation so commonly cast upon England by America and other nations, of being actuated by a desire to keep to herself the exclusive benefit of conveying merchandize. The main intention of the measure, however, if he comprehended it rightly, was, to ensure a valuable monopoly to the West Indies, and to admit all sugars

any feeling of hostility towards the WestIndia proprietors. On the contrary, he' thought those proprietors were entitled to the benefit which was about to be conferred upon them, and he hoped it would be as useful and as advantageous to them, as it was expected to be. Notwithstanding the contumely with which they had treated the British parliament, he hoped that the spirit of animosity by which, they seemed to be influenced would subside; and that they would listen with a patient ear to the admonitions of the legislature.

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Mr. R. Gordon rose for the purpose replying to the observations of the learned gentleman-observations, which the usage of parliamen thardly justified him in making. He did not know to what particular occa

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sion the learned gentleman alluded; but, | in his own name and in that of all the other West-India proprietors in that House, he threw back the assertion, that they had endeavoured, by their influence in parliament, or elsewhere, to interpose any obstacle to the amelioration of the condition of the slave population of the colonies. It was very easy for a person like the learned gentleman, who was in the habit of addressing public assemblies, to throw out insinuations against honourable gentlemen, who might find it difficult to reply, with equal fluency, to a charge so unjustly made. He had, however, felt it due to himself to seize the first opportunity of denying altogether the truth of that charge, and of vindicating himself from the imputation which had been cast upon him. The hon. member went on to say, that he approved of the proposition of the right hon. gentleman, and particularly of his intention to introduce the warehousing system into the colonies.

vernor, sir Lowrie Cole, which distinctly declared that there had been no instance of such illicit proceedings, and that the inhabitants held that infamous trade in the utmost detestation.

Mr. Evans protested against the principle of giving a preference to the labour of slaves, over that of freemen. The resolution was agreed to.

The

POLICE MAGISTRATES BILL.] House having resolved itself into a committee of the whole House, to take into consideration the subject of the Salaries of the Police Magistrates of the Metropolis,

Mr. Secretary Peel requested the attention of the committee to the subject upon which he proposed to address them; namely, the pecuniary allowance which the police magistrates of the metropolis received for their services. It was his intention to propose, that those individuals should receive an addition to the salary they at present received; a proposition which, he trusted, would not be consi|dered at all unreasonable. He held in his hand papers, from which, if he chose to enter into any detail, he could prove, to the satisfaction of the committee, that since the institution of police magistrates, the business which devolved upon those individuals had, owing to various acts of parliament, independently of the increase of population, greatly augmented. Although that circumstance would, of itself, bee sufficient reason for increasing the salary of the magistrates, he rested his proposition upon grounds which he hoped the committee would consider even more satisfactory. When the police magistrates were first appointed, it was the practice to select individuals to fill the office, who, he must say, were utterly incompetent to discharge the duties which devolved upon them. He found, from the papers which had been laid on the table, that out of twelve police magistrates appointed at a former period, there were only three barristers; the rest were composed of a major in the army, a starch-maker, three clergymen, a Glasgow-trader, and other

Mr. A. C. Grant defended the conduct of the West-India proprietors, and denied that it was their object to make the greatest quantity of profit from their estates. All that they looked to was, to obtain a fair return; and with that object they combined a proper attention to the condition of the slaves. The learned gentleman had accused them most unfairly, in that and in other respects. Nothing could be more unfounded than the assertion that the West-India proprietors never would be satisfied, whatever parliament might do for them. On the contrary, they came to parliament, under the most difficult and embarrassing circumstances, humbly asking for relief. All they required was, the protection to which they were justly entitled. After all that had been said in favour of East-India produce, as the result of free labour, the committee must be aware, that it was no such thing. And he would put it to them besides, whether they felt that the tenure by which they held the East Indies, was so perfectly secure as to induce them to legislate in its favour to the disadvantage of the West-persons who, from their previous occupaIndia colonies.

tions, could not but be utterly unqualified Sir R. Farquhar begged to state, in to perform the duties of magistrates. answer to what had fallen from the hon. The law had fixed no limitation with reand learned member (Dr. Lushington), spect to the previous education of persons that, for many years past, there had been no appointed to the office of magistrate; but instance of importation of slaves into the he thought the committee would be Mauritius; and that there were documents pleased to hear, that a limitation on that now in England, from the present go-point had been prescribed by the Secre

tenant, for instance-be able to discharge the duties of a country magistrate in a satisfactory manner, who would be incompetent to undertake the very important ones of a police-magistrate. "Police-magistrates' was the name generally given to the magistrates to whom he alluded, but those persons were mistaken who supposed Mr. Hobhouse said, he did not rise to that the duties which they had to perform oppose the plan, but to guard himself were merely executive. They were called against sanctioning any proposition, the upon to administer the law in a great tendency of which might be, to increase number of complicated cases which were the influence of the Crown. He undersubmitted to them. Out of some recent stood that there were at present 820 baracts of parliament many very important risters, and no fewer than 400 places questions arose, which the police-magis- to which barristers were eligible. What trates were called upon to decide. Seve- he wanted to know was, whether the salaral nice cases had occurred under theries were to be all raised immediately by building acts. He knew one case of that this measure; or whether it was to be at

the option of the Secretary of State to raise some, and to leave others without any advance, as he might think proper. If the Secretary of State was to exercise any such discretion, he should say "no" to the proposition. He did not wish to allude to circumstances now gone by, and he hoped never to be repeated, when an individual (sir R. Baker) was removed from the magistracy, not by the right hon. gentleman opposite, but by another secretary, contrary to the feelings and wishes of the whole body of the people. The mere question of money did not weigh with him. It was only the principle that he was anxious to guard.

Mr. Peel said, that if the committee should agree to the resolution which he had proposed, the increase would be extended to every police magistrate. As a proof that there was no wish on the part of government to favour particular magis trates, he might mention, that though the last resolution for regulating the amount of their salaries was passed ten or twelve years ago in precisely the same terms, he believed, as that which he had now proposed, there was no distinction at the present moment in regard to the salaries of magistrates. They all receive 600l. a year. With respect to what the hon. member had said respecting the patronage of the Crown-ift hat were any object, it could be much better attained by giving the appointments to gentlemen from the country, rather than from the bar.

consequent augmentation of business, no addition had been made to that number, except by the appointment of magistrates to the Thames-police-a most useful institution. A great part of the business transacted in the police offices was done in the presence of two magistrates. He considered that a good arrangement; as one magistrate acted as a check on the other. This being the case, it was neces sary to have a third magistrate attached to each office, to provide some little relaxation for the other two. He could assure the House that the periods of relaxation were very short. The office was open from ten in the morning, till eight in the evening; and during that time, the magistrates were compelled to be in constant attendance. The jurisdiction of the magistrates of Union-hall extended over a district containing not less than 243,000 inhabitants. In one month, July 1823, not less than 176 cases of assault came before the magistrates of that office; and in July 1824, the number of assault cases was 150. This was independent of all other cases. It was evident, under these circumstances, that the number of magistrates could not be reduced, without great inconvenience to the public, and prejudice to the administration of justice. That, at least, was the opinion which the committee to which he had alluded had come to on the subject.

The resolution was agreed to

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Tuesday, March 22.

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Mr. Hume did not think that 800%. per annum was too much for a magistrate to receive; but he was of opinion that the present number of magistrates might PRIVATE COMMITTEES-WANT be reduced. In what way were the ACCOMMODATION.] Mr. Calcraft called thirty magistrates to be disposed of in the the attention of the House to the great metropolis? Could not the right hon. inconvenience which had been felt by Secretary have effected his object, by rais many members attending private coming the salaries and reducing the number?mittees, from the want of sufficient accom-. If the salary was raised, would not three modation. There was at present a great be amply sufficient, where four were in an press of private business and much confuoffice? He wished to know what were sion and delay had arisen, from the want the number of offices, and what the hours of a sufficient number of rooms in which the of attendance? committees might sit. On that very day he had seen not fewer than 150 persons sitting in the body of the House, transacting business in private committees. Now, he was certain that nobody would object, on the score of economy, to having a sufficient number of rooms for the accommodation of members in their private committees. As he was on the subject, he could not avoid observing, not only on the general want of accommodation, from

Mr. Peel said, that the question of the propriety of reducing the number of magistrates had been considered in a committee, which was appointed at his suggestion two sessions since, to inquire into the state of the police of the metropolis. In 1792, London was divided into nine districts, to each of which three magistrates were appointed. Notwithstanding the great increase of population, and the