The Principality

CARDIFF. MEETING OF THE STREET COMMISSIONERS. The adjourned meeting of the Commissioners for the purpose of receiving the report of the committee appointed to investigate into the merits of the plans sent in for draining the town, was held on Tuesday last, at noon.

PRESENT. C. C. Williams. I W. B. Watkins.. Win. Harris. James Lewis. Walter Coffin. R. Lewis Reese. C. Yacht 11. W. B. Bradley. F. H. Lowder. John Batchelor. Jn. Grierson. — Evans. E. P. Richards. G. Phillips. G. Phillips. J. Pride. M. Grover. B. Geo. Bird.

MEIITHYR. PEACE.—PUBLIC MEETING IN FAVOUR OF MR. COBDEN'S MOTION. In compliance with a public notice, of which the following ier is a copy, a meeting, most respectably and numerously attended, was held at the English Independent chapel, on Monday even- ing last. Notice.—A meeting for the purpose of promoting the principles of the Peace Congress Committee, and of advo- eating the adoption of arbitration instead of war, in the dis- putes of nations, will be held at the English Independent chapel, Market-square, Merthyr, on Monday evening, March 12, 1849 the chair to be taken at half-past six, when addresses will be delivered in English and Welsh by the ministers of the town and others." Accordingly, about the time appointed, on the motion of the Rev. J. Morris, minister of the chapel in which the meeting was held, seconded by Mr. Wm. Morris, J. W. James, Esq., surgeon, was unanimously called to the chair. He briefly stated the objects of the meeting, and called upon the Rev. J."Morris to move the first resolution—" That

ABOLITION OF CHURCH-RATEB. Mr. Thornely. Mr. Bright, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Locke, and Mr. G. Thompson, preeilted petitions praying to be relieved from Ch<>rch-nfe«. ,Wl r. TIIELAWXY, pursuant to notice, moved a resolution, that effectual measures should be immediately taken for the abolition of Church-rates." After noticing the opinions expressed by Lord John Russell, Sir C Wood, and others upon this subject, and ex- pressing surprise that nothing had yet been done to settle this question, he adverted to the 'law. and to the authorities under which the payment of these rates was held to be of universal obligation. He then stated the abuses to which litigation upon this matter I-i d ',etl -the hardship and oppression which flowed from this source 5 arid he argued that the present moment, when there existed little angry agitation upon this subject, was the fittest time to deal with it. If a tax produced more private mischief ■than public good, it should be repealed and when a law became impracticable, it ought to be abolislwd. Mr. WnOD gave full credit to thooe who opposed these rates on conscientious grounds for really entertaining such scruples though, if he had held property charged with a rate to a Roman Catholic chapel, he should not think that his conscience stood in rue way of paying such rate. But although the law imposed these rates uoon all property, there were many ways of evading it; ami this and other considerations, connected with the altered con- Jhon of the country, induced him to think thai. some measure- iz:lt tiieaboli,,ion of clitii-ch-rates, as proposed by Nir. Tt-eiawiiy -for placing this question on a more satisfactory footing was absolutely necessary and he moved, by way of amendment, the omission in the resolution of the words, the abolition of church-rates, sub- stituting the words "discharging Dissenters from contributing to cnurch-rates, and from taking any part in making, levying, or a i ministering the same." ML-. HKA.DI.AM seconded this amendment, considering that At e.nbniied the most satisfactory plan for adjusti 'g the question. The amendment was-supported by Mr. RICE, and opposed in a (1 tahfied manner by air. AGUONBY, who suggested that the fabrics of the Church might be sustained out of an available fund created by the increased revenues of the Church. ii" George GUBY was not prepared to adopt the bare proposition of Mr. Trelawny, and whiist he admitted with Mr. Wood that it was most desirable that a stop should, be put to the scandal to which conflicts between Churchmen an 1 Dissenters upon the sub- let of church-rates gave iise, he was disappointed at finding that i 3 could devise no better expedient as a remedy than one which had been before the House some years ago, and which he believed v.-onid operate as a premium upon dissent. Colonel THOMPSON aaid he h id been instructed to support the motion of the hon.-member for Tavistock. The instructions came men of wealth and liberality unbounded—from men of gre,,it al)i":ity and i-.ite;l',ge,-ice -ai-ici he thought them rather omi- r;"as. He was told by those who instructed him that ever since tne year 1836 they had in their own district practically abolished cnurch-rates, and they said that the liberty which they had achieved for themselves they wished to extend to others. J hen it appeared that liberty from church-rates might be achieved. But were church-rates so loudly complained ofP Simply be- cause they were deemed an injustice to the Dissenters. In reply to that, it was alleged that the Dissenters had purchased their properties subject to church-rates. But he would ask, had all the Dissenters purchased all the estates which they possessed ?—surely Dissenters inherited their properties, their fathers saying to them, This church-rate was a robbery it was a robbery oi yonr grandfather before ,iie, --it was a robbery as far as human memory extended. I hand down this land with a protest against eivirch-rates, and I enjoin you to resist them to the utmost of your power." Under such circumstance:; it would not be denied nar church-rates were a hardship upon Dissenters. in reply to tiuit, however, it had been said aud often repeated, that church- rates were legal doubtless they were legal, but that was not the quesfion. All the heretics burnt in Smithtield were legally burnt. The question was not whether church-rates were legal, but whe. ther they were just and expedient. In his opinion, laws which excited so much discontent could not stand, would not stand, and perhaps ought not to stand (hear). Mr. HCME supported the amendment. Lord DUDLEY STUAIIT was satisfied with neither proposition, thinking that Dissenters should be relieved from an unfair burden, yet that the House would not be justified in abolishing a provi- sion for sustaining the fabrics of the Church without a substitute. Sir W.CLAY characterised the law of Church-rates as unjust, in imposing a contribution upon the whole country for the benefit of a part; and thought it was degrading,to a weaithy Church to aoply to poor Dissenters to provide for its sacramental bread and wiae. YÜ. GouLBuHxsaid the wealili of tlio Church was not adequate t., provide for the religious wants oi trie community. He urged the' injustice of exempting land from a charge from which it had no tl ie to be relieved yet he was prepared to consider whether any other means couid be devised for sustaining the edifices of the Caurch but it would be u:r,'iv> for the House to affirm a resolu- tion for the abolition of Church-rates without providing a sub- t tKte. .Mr. BRIGHT, Mr. OSBORXK. Mr. (TROUGH THOMPSON, and Mr. COBDEN spoke admirabl v in favour of the motion, Sir R. PEEL and J. RUSSELL opposed it, the speech of the latter was ex- unsatisfactory and worthy of the days of Toryism. The H oitse "then divided on. the question wnether the words proposed to i ed from the original resolution should stand part of the q !<stioa or not, when the numbers were—Ayes, 183 noes, 20 The original motion, as proposed by Mr. Trelawny, was then liut, when the numbers were — 54 Noes lig Both the original motion and the amendment were consequently nc-gativea. The Welsh member, present voted as follows Mr. Trelawny'" m')ion for the abolition of Church-rates R. J. Blewitt, Daviu Morris, Pryse Pryse, John Williams. Against it Viscoun' Adare, D. A. S. Davies, Howei Gwyo, David Pugh, R. Richards' G.

HOU3E OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14. PHOTECTION FOR AGRICULTURE.-ADJOURNED DEBATE. The adjourned debate on Mr. Disraeli's resolutions was resumed by the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHKQDEK. He was^ followed by Mr. CI-IRISTOPHIIRS, Colonel THOMPSON, and the Earl of MABCH. 'Mr. MtLNER GIBSON moved the adjournment of the debate, and the House rose.

;o.I'Iir.'t.NoC"¡'>OIõ>o,=* TO CORRESPONDENTS. "AN INQUIRER" (Haverfordwest). We cannot answer your in- quiries. You had better apply to one of the gentlemen who took attractive part in the proposed school.. Oar Swansea correspondent, referring to the scurrilous article of the Guardian on the P it IN CUP ALITY denies having gone" with a long face aud earnest entreaties to the office of the Herald, to bee" a few scraps to help hiin oat of his difficulty.' WVha've received'a letter from the Rev. J. P. Jones, of Bridg- end, addressed to Jas. M. B ncklancl, Esq., on the propriety of issu- iii"- a series of tracts in connexion with the Normal College, which we have taken the liberty of forwarding to that gentleman. "7"r"C'¡;

THE NAVIGATION LAWS. THE second reading of the bill for the repeal of the Navi- I gation Laws has passed the House of Commons on a close division, by a majority of only 56. It is now therefore doubtful whether the bill will ever pass the House of Lords. It is notorious that the Lords are opposed to their repeal; hut had a large majority carried it in the House of Commons I their lordships might have found it inconvenient to have re- fused their sanction, and thus have been brought into col- lisisn with the lower House. But as matters, now stand, and the majority is so slight, we have no doubt that the Navigation Laws will be kept intact. Navigation Laws were first instituted in the reign of o 15 Richard the Second and up to the present time they have been continued, although they have been modified and al- tered, amended and extended, under the reign of succeeding kings, retaining the same principle for their base. Thus it will be seen that her Majesty's Ministers are endea- vouring to overturn a principle upon which our com- mercial marine has been navigated for now nearly five centuries. We blame them not for this. If the principle of our Navigation Laws be wrong, then it is clearly our duty, time-honoured though they be, to repeal them. The last modification of the Navigation Laws was made in the year 1845. It was an improvement; but there is room for improvement still. Many hindrances to the develop- ment of commerce remain. The restrictions at present remain- ing upon navigation apply only to goods imported for use within the country: thus they are no longer what they were fondly, imagined to be, helps to maritime power, but gross impediments in the way of home consumption. It is very difficult to get people to take an unprejudiced view of the subject. The Protectionists have conjured up all kinds of forebodings to frighten Englishmen from- their propriety, and they have to a considerable extent succeeded. They have talked about sustaining British supremacy upon the seas, and have deplored the disgrace which will inevi- tably follow any further relaxation of the restrictions im- posed upon our commercial marine. They say the flag that for a thousand years has braved the battle and the breeze will have to dip to the flags of other nations, and British I glorv for ever be departed. Tiiis is all rhetorical bom oast. Our n I success upon the seas, in battle and in commerce, has not re- sulted from the Navigation Laws. Our mighty achieve- ments have been won in spite of those laws, and to-morrow, were every shred and vestige gone of these barbarous enact- ments, our triumphs abroad would be mightier, and our prosperity and happiness at home more secure. The secret of our mercantile success lies in our native industry, intelligence, and enterprise. With that we shall be still able to compete with all the world. Let Parliament not narrow down the scope of our energies, we have nothing- to fear. As long as Britain has mouths to feed, hands to manufacture, genius to invent, and energy to undertake, her commerce will be extended, and the history oi the people be honourable and glorious. Our ascendancy upon the ocean depends, not upon parlia- mentary laws, nor upon, a multitude of ai raed cvu3.sers. Our laws may be met by the laws of others. Our cruisers tend- to impoverish. In our skill alone we must confide. This is our true power. Let us open oisr ports to the productions and the commerce of the world. Thus shall we feed our people with provisions good and bountiful, and sow the seeds of an inter- course that must expand until it binds the earth with a girdle of peace. Civilization and evangelization must follow and while we as a people shall be the gainers, by reason of the nations that shall flock to our shores, those nations too shall gain and the whole world would be benefitted. There will be progress everywhere, and we may be assured that, with a larger scope for ouk activities, we shall keep pace with the advancement of the times, and our sails of commerce multiply upon the wave.

THE SAYINGS OF SOLOMON. THE SUPERLATIVE OF LITTLENESS AND THE EXTREME OF FOLLY. Youn true-bred, first-class courtezans, the fair hangers-on of rich commoners and the mistresses of our nobility, to the eyes of those uninitiated in the mysteries of wickedness, appear as they pass along- the streets of our metropolis, the very acme of g'entility, and display all the amenities and proprieties" which persons of correct "er notions, recog- nise in the exercise of more respectable professions." But let some little incident transpire to arouse their anger— to bring out the devil that is in them—then how soon is their assumed gentility cast to the winds, their" proprieties and amenities forgotten, and their language of politeness and courtesy substituted by the use of expressions which savour of coarseness." The step before so mincingly aristo- cratic, resolves itself instanter into the gait of the wanton, and the lip that seemed formed for nothing but smiles or dignified remonstrance," with all ease unmistakeably-na- tural, pours forth with overwhelming volume, the slang of the gin shop and the rhetoric, of Billingsgate. "She public have, we bdicyc, hitherto looked upon our would-be "respectable" contemporary, the Guardian, as equally with ourselves "aspiring to be considered as con- nected with an honourable profession." To the eyes of the uninitiated and the wayfarer its course has had the sem- blance of consistency and virtue. To be sure it loved our institutions in Churc-h and State, but then its wooings were apparently not wantonness, and the frailty was forgiven. Occasionally it might, have been caught in the very act of simpering with the Curate in the meadow, and of winking at the Squire in the hall; on festive days it might have been found lurking about the premises of Sir Baronet, and in the market place, with a well assumed modesty, and a veil be- tween its blushes and the world, it might also have been seen to curtsey to my Lord," but still, after all, a charitable public passed the pretty sinnings by, and believed that beneath the accompanying amenities and proprieties," politeness and courtesy," there could not be anything but purity unsullied and unstained love. We readily confess that we had a very different opinion. Soon after our arrival in the town, we saw through our contemporary's meretriciousness. And now that the Guardian, with a temerity that it will long rue, has pushed aside its mask, and, in its last week's impression, given vent to its long suppressed venom, in language sple- netic, revengeful, and malicious, the public will be satisfied that its pretensions to respectability are all a sham, and they will consign it to a fate due to profligacy at first so specious but now so daring. The unscvupulousness with which we have been attacked overleaps itself. The shaft hlS sped beyond the mark. We are accused of having taken from the columns of the Guardian an account of the last Swansea Assizes, and of having dis- honestly and falsely sent it forth" as the result of our own exertions. This is the charge, and the mowed "head.-ajid front of our offendingand for this, unmeasured vitupera- tion has been heaped upon us. The charge is false. vVedo not deny having taken the report from the Guardian; but we do most emphatically d my that we sent it forth as the result of our own exertions. It is no crime to copy a report of any public proceedings from the co- lumns of a contemporary. The right to do so is one of the canons of the craft. It is, however, a crime to appropriate it without acknowledgment. This we have not done, and as it is the only crime that can be imputed, we are guiltless, and our contemporary stands condemned as a gross calumni- ator. Our report appeared without disguise, and was, as far as it was taken from the Guardian, inserted word for word the same. Had we intended it as a literary piracy, we should have certainly had common sense sufficient to have altered it so as to. baiHe detection. Our acknowledgment, however, of the fact was clear and explicit, and it appeared simulta- neously with the ribaldrous effusion to which we are refer- i-i!i,, But this is not the only false accusation, that with unblushing effrontery has been made against us. It is .a.j serted that we were not represented at the assizes." This, too is false. We were present in the person of our corfe-J spondent, from whom we received an account of the proceed- inga.and who for doing these things is pecu!lial,iiv "Coil, n s pensa cd by us. It is represented too that a person in our| behalf obtained from the office of the Swansea Herald, hy dint of pitiful supplications" a copy of the assize reportl found in our last week's impression. This again is false. We instructed no one to call at the Herald office, on our be- half, for such copy. Our correspondent made arrangements with the editor of the Herald for slips, to save himself the trouble of writing a report, which, in the usage of the press, so well known to the Guardian, were given him with the urbanity so characteristic of our honour- able profession." Surely then, there can be little dcuh in the mind of the public whether the mendicity of our correspond- ent or the mendacity of our contemporary is worthy of the greater blame. But from whence come these accusations ? From the paper that above all others should be silent. Does it remember ever having been itself charged with giving news purloined from the columns of the Stvansea Her aid f We have a distinct recollection of such a fact. Has it forgotten the extent to which in times of yore, and in days more recent, it has availed itself of the literary labours of others, and even in its leaders, whenever it vouchsafed to give them, adopting the patchwork plan of stitching together paragraph after paragraph from the London journals ? But we need not inform the public, the character of the Guardian is too well known, for us to fear that any will be imposed upon, by the virulence of its invective, or the audacity of its libels. We are sneered at as a Chartist print." Be it so, but we have yet to learn that there is anything to be ashamed of in the term. Our principles, political and ecclesiastical, are well known. On no occasion have we shirked them. We believe them to be true, and therefore seek to dissemi- nate them. If the principles we advocate are identical with those of the Chartists, they are no less true on that account. We love our principles as dearly as a bishop does his lawn, or an hireling editor his pay. Never shall we cease to pro- mulgate them. What was intended as a term of reproach we esteem as an epithet of honour. True madmen have disgraced it in the eyes of the genteel; political adventurers and demagogues have brought it into dishonour in the esti- Z, mation of our aristocracy nevertheless, few are so blind as not to see that the value of principles is not to be tested by the conduct of its professors. Were it so, how low an opi- nion would be formed of Toryism by the readers of the Guar- dian how despicable it would appear in their eyes. But what can our contemporary mean by his sneer at the Char- tists ? Let him look to it, fools may knock their heads against other things besides stone walls. Recklessly to tempt an exposure which generosity alone withholds is the extreme of folly and designedly to that have oft supported him in the hour of pecuniary difficulty, and to go out of his way if haply he may injure them, is indeed contemptibly small and superlatively little. The editor of the Guardian writes, not only for himself, but also in the name of the newspaper press of this c un- try generally." The newspaper press will thank him little, we opine, for his advocacy. However, it is well that the newspaper press" have some one to do the indignant and the thunder for their body. It is in the name" of the newspaper press of this country generally" we apprehend, that the redoubtable champion of his honourable profession" sneers at tape and calico." Doubtless the Guardian has sub- scribers who will know how to answer that sneer. For our- selves we regard it not. Fools should sometimes be answered; according to their folly. Surely a vendor of tape and calico" has as much right to become the proprietor and conductor of a newspaper, as an umbrella mender, and a dealer in "toys for girls and boys." A word to the wise ought to be sufficient for them. i The real cause of the attack that has been made upon us is other than what appears. Had success not attended our efforts The disreputable chartist print" would have never been as much as mentioned by our right gentle adversary, and there never would have been a whisper of the "contemp— tible trickery" whereby we so wickedly took advantage of the; "trouble, anxiety, and expense" incurred by him in getting.; a fifty shilling messenger from Swansea. But here is the rub. The PRINCIPALITY, in spite of hip prophecies and prayers, has succeeded in establishing itself, and that too with a circulation far in excess of his own. This result we know must be galling to the Guardian, representing, or striving to represent, as it does, the Conservatives and landed gentry of this county, who, notwithstanding its efforts to please, its lackeyism and servility, accord to it so cold and limited a support; but still why not wreak its vengeance on the proper party P Why be angry with us P Poor Solomon, we pity thee! Little didst thou think in thy first essayings after literary fame, when the Merlin dubbed thee Solomon, because thou wert so distinguished for thy wisdom, thatin after life as proprietor of theno-"Chartist print" thou shouldsthave to bewail, as thou knowest thou hast bewailed, that in spite of "all your love could say," in spite of petition and dignified remonstrance," your occupation should be ao nearly gone and you deserted by the men who promised to uphold you. Alas, poor Solomon We pity thee, and while we resent the malice into which thy anger has betrayed thee, we re- gret the ingratitude with which, by thy party thou hast been rewarded, and which, we confess, would have been suf- ficient to have aroused a more saintly character than thine. Alas, alas, poor Solomon! "TVe will not recur to the subject."