ment for ten minutes without suffering the slightest injury. The following are some of the public trials that have been under his superintendance. A fireman having his hand inclosed in a double asbestos glove, and guarded in the palm by a piece of asbestos cloth, laid hold of a large piece of red-hot iron, carried it slowly to the distance of 150 feet, then set straw on fire by it, and immediately brought it back to the furnace. The hand was not at all injured in the experiment. The second experiment related to the defence of the head, the eyes, and the lungs. The fireman put on only the asbestos and wire-gauze cap and the cuirass, and held the shield before his breast. A fire of shavings was then lighted, and sustained in a very large raised chafing dish, and the fireman approaching it, plunged his head into the middle of the flames, with his face towards the fuel, and in that way went several times round the chafing dish, and for a period of above a minute in duration. The experi SELECT Tributary Lines to the memory of the late WILLIAM THOMAS FITZGERALD, Esq. Written for the Anniversary of the Literary Fund (see p. 458.) By JOHN TAYLOR, Esq. FITZGERALD then is gone, whose gen'rous zeal For suffering talents could so warmly feel; Oft has his manly voice that cause impress'd, Own Zeal for the state, and honour to the throne. When NELSON, glorious on Nile's ancient shore, On gallic foes bade British vengeance pour ; Swift was his Muse her patriot meed to pay; [May, ment was made several times, and those who' made it, said they suffered no oppression or inconvenience in the act of respiration. The third experiment was with the complete apparatus. Two rows of faggots, mingled with straw, were arranged vertically against bars of iron, so as to form a passage between thirty feet long and six feet wide. Four such arrangements were made, differing in the proportion of wood and straw, and one was with straw alone. Fire was then applied to one of these double piles; and a fireman, invested in the defensive clothing, and guarded by the shield, entered between the double hedge of flames, and traversed the alley several times. The flames rose ten feet in height, and joined over his head. Each passage was made slowly, and occupied from twelve to fifteen seconds; they were repeated six or eight times, and even oftener, in succession, and the firemen were exposed to the almost constant action of the flames for the period of a minute and a half, or two minutes, or even more. 1830.] [ 453 ] HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. PROCEEDINGS HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 26. Mr. Slaney moved the committal of his bill for the amendment of the POOR LAWS. A debate of some length arose upon a clause empowering two justices of the peace to separate the children of paupers from their parents, if such a measure should seem advisable. The clause was rejected by a majority of 91 to 9. Mr. Paulet Thompson moved the second reading of the USURY BILL, the object of which is to enable individuals to contract for what rate of interest they please, but to prevent the lenders of money from recovering more than five per cent. in a court of justice. After some discussion, the House divided, when there appeared-For the second reading, 54; against it, 21. April 27. Mr. O'Connell moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the act of the 7th George IV. which regulated Vestries in Ireland. The object of the bill was to give to Roman Catholics the power of voting in Vestries on Church Rates, &c.-The Chancellor of the Exchequer opposed the motion. -Mr. Spring Rice supported it.—Mr. Peel said, that he was not to be deceived by paltry arguments about any defects that might exist in the Vestry Act. He looked to the main principle of the measure, and found that the great object of the honourable and learned gentleman was to make catholics and other dissenters eligible to vote in the assessment of the church rates in Ireland. To this proposition he (Mr. Peel) could never accede, believing that, if it were once adopted, it would be productive of endless confusion in Ireland. The house then dividedFor the motion, 47; against it, 177. On the motion of the Attorney-general, the Administration of Justice Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. April 29. Mr. Brougham brought forward a motion for establishing Local Jurisdictions in certain districts in England. The hon. Member took a very comprehensive review of the expenses attendant upon legal process. What he intended to propose was, to appoint a person of legal experience in every county, before whom any person might cite another who owed him to the amount of ten pounds or less, and that this judge should decide on the merits of the claim on hearing the parties, and appoint payment by instalments, if he should think proper. If the debt should exceed ten pounds, but not one hundred pounds, the parties should be allowed to employ a legal advocate to plead their cause. But IN PARLIAMENT. this judge should in no instance decide in cases of freehold, copyhold, or leasehold. From his decision, an appeal should be either made to the Judges of the Assize, or to the Courts of Westminster, as the party should think proper.-Mr. Peel said that he was favourable to the principle of the learned gentleman's proposition, and he should certainly vote for its introduction.-After some observations from Lord Althorp and Mr.. O'Connell, leave was given to bring in the bill. House of Lords, April 30. The Marquess of Londonderry rose for the purpose of putting two questions to the noble Earl, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; the first was, whether Prince Leopold was appointed King of Greece? And the second was, whether a proposition had been made to his Royal Highness to give up his right of naturalization? The Earl of Aberdeen did not feel it incumbent on him to answer these questions. would, however, inform the noble Marquess, that Prince Leopold was the individual to whom the allied powers had offered the throne of Greece. There were some minor circumstances still to be settled, and when they were arranged, the papers would be laid before their Lordships. He The Marquess of Salisbury moved the order of the day for the continuation of the hearing of counsel and evidence on the East Retford Disfranchisement Bill. Counsel were then called in, when several witnesses underwent a long examinatiou: each deposed to having received a sum of 20 or 40 guineas for their vote. In the COMMONS, the same day, the House resolved itself into a Committee of Supply. On the proposition to vote 3,4021. for the expenses of the Military College at Woolwich, Mr. Hume said, that the establishment was kept up for purposes of patronage, and he considered those who were brought up in this way as no better than paupers supported at the public expense. After a long and desultory discussion, the question was put, and the House divided, when there appeared-For the vote 131; against it, 52. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 3. In a Committee of Supply Mr. Dawson moved, that the sum of 32,500l. should be granted for the repairs of public buildings, &c. on which Mr. Hobhouse and several other Members expressed their dissatisfaction on finding that the public were not to 454 Proceedings in the present Session of Parliament. be allowed a passage into St. James's Park from Regent-street and Pall-mall. On the proposition that the vote should be postponed, the House divided, when there appeared-For the postponement, 123; against it, 139 majority for Ministers, 16.-On the vote for 100,000 to defray the expenses incurred by the alterations, &c. of Windsor Castle, Mr. Gordon objected to the grant. 900,000l. had already been expended on this object, and there was no knowing when the expenses would cease. After a good deal of discussion, the Chancellor of the Exchequer agreed to withdraw the vote for the present, that the ultimate expense of the whole repairs might be ascertained by a Committee. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 4. Lord Mountcashel presented petitions from the Protestant inhabitants of Cork, Wexford, and New Ross, complaining of abuses in the Established Church, and soliciting their Lordships' consideration of so important a subject. His Lordship then, in a speech of great length, submitted to the House a motion for inquiring into the abuses of the United Church of England and Ireland. In the course of his speech he declared himself as sincerely attached to the Established Church; his only object, he said, was to make that Church respected, and, what it ought to be, an instrument of salvation to millions of benighted souls in the empire. The Lord Chancellor having put the question, there was only one tent." The "not content appeared to come from several Peers.-The Lord Chancellor, after a short pause, declared that the "not contents " had it.-Lord Mountcashel, after a pause, said, "The contents have it;" adding, "My Lords, if I stand alone, I shall take the sense of the House upon it." The noble Earl repeated his determination to take the sense of the House upon the question. (Cries of "order," and "too late.") The Lord Chancellor said, that the question was decided. con In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, the same day, Mr. O'Connell moved for and obtained leave to bring in a Bill the better to secure the charitable donations and bequests of the Roman Catholics of Great Britain.-The Hon. Gentleman then obtained leave to bring in another Bill, the object of which was to abolish penalties in marriages by Catholic Priests in England, and generally to amend the law of marriages. Mr. Calcraft moved the second reading of the Bill for throwing open the TRADE IN BEER. He denied the existence of what are called "vested rights;" and with regard to the objection that the Bill would increase tippling and broils, the Magistrates had the power of putting down the houses where the evil occurred.-Mr. Portman moved as an [May, amendment, that the Bill be read a second time this day six months. The interests of a large class of the community ought not, he said, to be sacrificed, unless some great practical good was to be effected, and in this case he thought the good was but remote and questionable.-Mr. Dickinson did not think this Bill would be any bonus to the common people, who were the class most entitled to consideration, for never was their condition more to be deplored than at present. He should, therefore, support the amendment.-On a division there were for the Bill, 245; against it, 28: majority 217. HOUSE OF LORDS, May 10. The Archbishop of Canterbury brought in a Bill, by which it is proposed to enable parties to enter into an arrangement for compounding tithes, in some cases not exceeding 21 years, in others not exceeding 14 years, regulated by the price of corn. The plan was to refer the proposed composition, in all cases, to the Bishop of the Diocese, to report upon the expediency of such composition. If the Bishop should be of opinion that it might be done, certain commissioners appointed under the Act, were to carry it into effect. They were to take care to ascertain the value of the tithes, and having ascertained that value, they were to proceed to make an award which would be binding on all parties. In all tithe compositions the rights of the clergymen would be respected; and in case of non-payment under a composition, the parson was not to re-enter upon the tithes, but in lieu thereof he was to have the power of distress, by the process of common law. His Grace observed, that some classes of vicarial tithes, and others taken by lay impropriators, by payment of a certain fixed sum of money, would not come within the operation of the measure. The Bill was then read a first time. HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 11. Mr. Hume brought forward a motion for the abolishing of the office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The Hon. Member, after giving it as his opinion, that almost all the evils of Ireland had arisen from delegated power, observed, that he sought, by the present motion, to remove the stigma of inferiority from the Irish people, and to give them what the Union promised them.-Lord Leveson Gower felt that he must oppose the motion of his Hon. Friend, because it was one which he was apprehensive involved, and must kindle afresh, very lively feelings in Ireland. Mr. Spring Rice said, that the present motion was recommended on two grounds. The first, and the stronger ground, was for the sake of good government in Ireland; the second on the ground of economy.-Lord Althorp saw no more reason why Ireland should have a separate Government than any of the northern counties of ( 1830.] Proceedings in the present Session of Parliament. England, considering the facility of communication which now existed between the two countries.-Sir George Murray was persuaded that the machinery of the administration of Ireland, as it was now constituted, was necessary to earry on the Government there. The time might come when it could be dispensed with, but at present it was beneficial to Ireland. - Mr. O'Connell hoped the House would not agree to this measure without taking the sense of the people of Ireland upon it. Lord Castlereagh, Mr. Jephson, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer opposed the motion.-The House then divided, when there were-For the motion, 115; against it, 229. May 14. Sir J. Graham moved an address for an account of all salaries, profits, pays, fees, and emoluments, whether civil or military, from the 5th of January 1829 to the 5th of January 1830, held and enjoyed by each of his Majesty's Most Hon. Privy Council. The Hon. Member stated, that of 113 Privy Counsellors who received public money, 69 were members of the legislature, of whom 47 were Peers, the gross amount of whose salaries and emolument was 378,8404 The object of his motion was to lay some grounds for effecting reductions in these salaries, with a view to produce a saving of the public money.-The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that he could not consent to lay before the House the names of those parties who composed his Majesty's Privy Council, for the purpose of their being held up as objects of obloquy to the people, and concluded by moving, as an amendment, that there be laid before the House an account of all salaries and emoluments from Jan. 5, 1829, to Jan. 5, 1830, held by persons in the receipt of an income amounting to 1000l.-After some discussion, the House divided, when the numbers were-For the amendment, 231; for the original motion, 147. May 17. Mr. R. Grant brought up his Bill for the removal of the Jewish Disabilities, and moved that it be read a second time. Sir J. Wrottesley said, he confessed that he could not see the slightest objection to grant the Jews all that they required, except the permission to sit in that House. It was notorious that seats in that House were to be had to any extent for money, and therefore he could not consent to allow any to become Members who were not also Christians. Gen. Gascoyne declared his determination to oppose the Bill, if it proposed to confer on the Jews the same privileges already granted to the Roman Catholics. The Hon. Member, after enumerating various evils which would attend the granting of this measure, moved as an amendment," that the Bill be read a second time this day six months." - Lord Belgrave opposed the measure. 455 He stated, that he had felt it his duty to support the claims of the Catholics, as he considered they had clearly shown that the privileges they demand would not be abused, and that it was but fair to concede advantages to those who had never flinched from the support of the state. The Jews were scattered over all the countries of Europe and of the East, but they were amalgamated with the people of none. It was impossible then, that a Jew could ever be considered an Eng lishman, or love our native land as, he thanked God, an Englishman was wont to do.-The Bill was opposed by Lord Darlington, Sir E. Deering, Mr. Trant, Mr. Banks, and Sir R. Peel; and supported by Mr. Mildmay, Sir R. Wilson, Mr. O'Con nell, Lord J. Russell, Mr. Huskisson, and Mr. Brougham.-Sir R. Peel, in opposing the Bill said, he could not admit the prin ciple of it, and he objected much to the mode in which it had been brought forward. The Bill professed to give civil and religious liberty to all his Majesty's subjects, being Jews British born; but he did not hesitate to say, that that was not the sole object for which the Bill was meditated. He would not say that it was to effect an abandonment of Christianity; but this he would say, that by such a Bill every form and ceremony which gives assurance to Christianity must be abolished. The Roman Catholics had claims to urge in their behalf which the Jews know nothing of. They had fought in the same field for England-they lay buried in the same graves with their fellow Christians, and they had died looking for salvation through the merits of the same Redeemer. Was there not enough in the peculiar usages-in the ancient history-in the marriage ordinances, and in the civil society of the Jews, to account for prejudices, without having recourse to any law whatever? He confessed that he was not prepared to admit the principle of the Bill, and felt himself bound to give it his opposition. On a division, the numbers wereFor the second reading, 165; against it, 228. May 18. Sir John Newport brought forward a motion on the subject of the Irish FIRST FRUITS. The Hon. Member stated, that if fairly collected the fund would be amply sufficient for the purpose for which it was intended-the support of the Church Establishment in Ireland; but, from the erroneous and fallacious mode pursued, it was found to be wholly inadequate. The Hon. Member concluded by moving for a Parliamentary inquiry into the subject. After a few words from Lord F. L. Gower, Mr. S. Rice, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the House divided, when there were -For the motion, 65; against it, 94. On the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the House went into a committee 456. Proceedings in Parliament.-Foreign News. for the further consideration of the King's message, with respect to the administration of justice; when, after some discussion, it was resolved that the three additional Judges should have 5000l. each per annum, and be entitled to the same retiring allowances as the other Judges. May 19. Mr. Alderman Thompson brought in a Bill to declare in what cases the possessions of Charitable Institutions shall be liable to the payment of rates for local purposes. In a Committee of Ways and Means a resolution was passed for granting compen sation to the Welsh Judges, whose fees or emoluments shall be abolished by the Bill altering the administration of justice. May 20. On the order of the day being read, for bringing up the report of the Committee on the London and Birmingham Junction Canal Company, Mr. Benson called the attention of the House to the conduct of Mr. Thomas Eyre Lee, an attorney, and said, he was satisfied that the Birmingham and London Junction Canal Company had been got up by fraud. He should, therefore, move, that Thomas Eyre Lee, having committed imposition on the House, be called to the Bar and reprimanded. — Motion agreed to. The Attorney General obtained leave to bring in a Bill to repeal so much of the Act of 60 Geo. III. as relates to the Sen tence of Banishment for the second offence, and provide some further remedy agaiust publishing libels. May 21. The House went into a Committee on the BEER BILL. On the clause relative to licenses being read, Mr. Monck contended, that were the proposed measure passed, it would lead to a general ruin of those who had embarked their all in their several establishments. The Hon. Member moved a clause, to the effect that all persons obtaining licenses under the new Act should not be at liberty to allow Beer to be [May, consumed on the premises. — Mr. Slaney said, that the only mode of preventing a monopoly in any trade or business, was to afford all persons pursuing such business equal advantages. The proposition of the honourable mover of the amendment would do away in a great measure with the substantial advantages of the Bill. - Mr. Barclay suggested, that some modification of the proposed measure should be adopted, for the purpose of relieving those who were likely to suffer from this Bill.--Mr. Western was decidedly opposed to the amendment, as destructive of the benefits of the Bill.The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that if the proposed amendment were carried, it would deprive the public of all the advantages of the Bill. He was aware that the publicans would suffer by this measure; but when their loss was compared with the good which the public would derive from it, it could not for oue moment stand in the way of the Bill.-Mr. Maberly was an advocate for the principle of Bill, but he was not for shutting out the publicans from all chance of getting out of their business without incurring great loss -Mr. Colburn considered that Parliament would not be dealing fairly into the Bill before the House.-Mr. F. by the public, if it admitted any restrictions Buxton deprecated throwing open a trade, by which persons of every character, and of no character, would be allowed to sell beer. -Mr. Huskisson was an advocate for the measure, because it would do away with the licensing system, which was au evil of great Brougham, Lord Milton, and Sir E. Knaichmagnitude. After a few words from Mr. bull, the House divided, when the numbers were- For the motion, 118; against it, 143; majority against the clause, 25. [The House of Commons was never more occupied with private bills, motions, and orders of the day than during the past month, though there was scarcely an average portion of public business. So numerous are the motions and orders set down in the Speaker's paper, that the 9th of June is the first day that can be found open.] FOREIGN NEW S. FRANCE The dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies has taken place. An ordinance to that effect, dated the 16th May, was published in the Moniteur, ordering the election to commence on the 23d of June; and convoking both Chambers for the 3d of Aug. A partial change has taken place in the French ministry; M. Courvoissier, the 'Keeper of the Seals, and M. de Chabrol, the Finance Minister, having retired. M. Chantelauze is appointed to the former office; M. de Montbel, Minister of the Interior, takes the department of Finance; and he is succeeded by the Count de Peyronnet. The expedition against Algiers sailed on the 18th of May. Count de Bourmont, who has the command, had previously issued an order of the day, addressed to the army, in which he says: The insult offered to the French flag calls you beyond the seas. At a signal given from the throne you flew to arms, and inany of you have left the |