The Express. — London, England, 1853-04-29 00:00:00

wcrept ith which that veteran reformer the member I Mordreee TON and said pay equal taxes tint, and sou sha.l have jastice. Ile (Mr. Seek. Sher) would ; justice first, and then equalise the telethon. 1 lloisters might depend that, in the lung run, the feeling of t b. pools- of Ireland would be against them unless they a l veil towards that country a bold and generous policy. When they did that, they might calculate upon the sup pat of Ir.sh member', and be sure of maintaining • majo ,e 1 hen there would be an end of the Irish party—but y got rid of their prejudices, and were cuutent to gcc• onese the espeuditure of Great Britain as well u of I ,,;,,,j—Oritti they treated Ireland with justice, whatever utht be iu power, it would continue to find Ire ▪ An..! the Irish party their great difficulty. With regard prOVIII budget, he could not see huw any independent mime r r .131•1 vote for it. .ur. J. ItICARIJO observed that the hon. and learned gin eser who had just spoken had demanded that Ireland r h 11:1 be treated with fairness and equality, hut had „,„,a in it the income tax was fair for Logland and not for Whin& lie (Mr. Ilicardus could not uudentand how c uhl he any fairness in applying different principles io it.. oue country froin those which were to prevail in the othit. lie confessed himself somewhat at a lose to under sisal how the questien in regard to the amendment really Ile came du en to the house on Monday last to dig question, finding on the votes as amendment to e • thet —thst in respect to any profession, trade, or You y. tor every bus. of the annual value or amount thereof, end ender 4:01 , there should be levied for two fr m April, 1643, 54. in the pound; for 2 earsy from l" x , T e , is ;5, th in the pound, and for 3 years from Apr i 1,1847, :c the pound. That was a plain and tangible proposition ; Disteg some eztraordinary =sacrum another general reso lution het been put in the books, declaring, so far as he could understand it, that no income-tax bill ought to be passed without some adjustment and arrangement. The whole pith of the mutter lay in the adjustment and arrange 'pent. Ile did nut be lieve there was a men in the house, and if there were certainly that man was not the Chancellor of the Eachequer, who did not wish that this tax, as well a s sorry other tax, should be, as far as possible, adjusted an d equa li sed, en d had expected, seeing this amendment, that some gentleman on the other side would have told the house how it was proposed by those who supported this amendment to equalise and adjust the tax. (Hear.) He concerted with his him. friend the member for the West Biding in tkis—inat having taken an active pert a ga i n st the eitablishment and continuance of the tax in its present forte, and having gone into the committee strongly im pressed with the opinion that readjustment was name mry, he had, after bearing the evidence of actuaries and other, come to the conclusion that any attempt at adjustment w be tantamount to the &brogue. tion ot theta:. (Hear, hear, hear.) He was an advo cate of direct taxwein —and it was because he was so that le should vote for this budget, in which he believed there were the seeds and the foundation of direct taxation. (Cheers) He believed the proper system of direct taxation was on successions—and upon a fair and equitable tax on SUCCEIWIIi he believed direct taxation might be safely f ou nded. (Hear, hear.) But if they attempted to go bac k t o iodic. et 13111000 they would find each a deficiency that they would have to call back the giant from his tomb, for whaten r their deficit they could never hope again to re place i; by customs and excise. He wool I have the house nisch therefore, before they took that course. He un cured with the bon. member for the West Riding that it was a men fallacy and a delusion to say that if they re-im posed the immense tax it would he taken off at any particular period. It was impossible to calculate for more then mu or two years at the most—sad no Chancellor of the i sc hequer could fairly make up a budget in 1853 for the year 1860. And it was because that was Lis opininn that he saw no danger in voting this bud get. But while he supported it generally, he claimed for kmyelf and those who took the same course, the right to gad fault with a-.y of the details in the proposidem. He Irani with satisfaction that the Chancellor arum arm/se• per was about to reconsider the proposed duty RS ViIAWNII, which, as it stood, he (Mr. Ricardo) doubted, whether the rot hos. gentleman would ever have carried. On OM whole, however, be was prepared to fqrgive the right hen pntleman what be must be permitted tedesignate the Iblannal eccentricities of his scheme for the commutation - et inanities on account of this budget, to which he showy give a hearty support. The CHAIRMAN explained that in the amends fie misted in the votes the words ' 1 without some mitimedem were omitted, which left the sense somewhat asabigmene. Mr. F. FRENCH attacked Mr. Cobden toe ;Meg up the paint, in referees* to the modification of the immeseme, sad with regard to the general question, showed reasons why, is his belief, the tax should not be ulgesfiedl to Ireland, and why he should give his determined ow& don to the *afire budget. Mr. BELLEW, as an Irish member, took an o view of the question. He believed that the p es ne. gelded Ireland would he a groat boon to the tenant. farmer al that country. He objected, however, to the duty upon Irish whisky, but otherwise gave his support to the measure. Mr. SANDARS criticised the budglt, oliegUng to those portions of it which related to the licensing and advertise• went duties, which last should be swept away alto gether; and agreeing otherwise with the Mews of Hr. Cobden. Sir F. BARING was very glad that an amendment bad been moved such se that which had been proposed, became it did not put the question apes any particular point, but went maim.. the whale prin ciple of the budget. The Chancellor of the Es chequer had stated vevy frankly that the corner stass of his financial statement wen the income tax ; Meson if that were rejected, the budget was of course at as .et Now Le (Sir F. Bering) had expressed his great dissamfort both whin the booms tax was first introdembla me ml wit is 151',, at the large amount of revenue "AM um its and therefore he had heard with the greatest solisitastiom that her Maieety's government had come to the sassbmisi that it was net fitted for permanent use in the time al place ; and had taken measures for ultimately peal's rid of it altogether. (lbw, hear.) He was mit OM who had lay particular bre either for direct or indirect Juana.; ba. experience had shown that • huge direct impost irt the time of peace was • not • very easy thing to kelp ; ' and 0 his mind one of the most important qualities of • he was that it could be kept. (Hear, hear.) There were several gentlemen below the gangway who had expressed themselves strongly in favour of direct taxation; but un intimately whenever any particular plan fur carrying these theorise bets pasties was proposed they somehow wen always food whoa aphid it. (Hear.) He therefore Mould his OWltirm. hind Waimea very wisely is taking cepa for the aslEss of the /010111/• tax ; sad be thought. to, that be bad dews well not to maks any attempt to sleet tat immediately INo doubt it would bare bees wry to tare framed a 'shims ow paper for the repeal of the tea at nee, but it was way deral Woad .solestheo. Ws how ad the enstrmy IMO* bare , the_ libleillot mad it ewe ths *sty of a SEWING INA~ wet, to Magma the pod Worse Wile buhpt by smiting with them geperalar.„ sad goedero ImPeddroble, proposals, lie respoonad, bonever, list be ea Old the idght boa. petlesmaa did met canters *lt ths maims' of the isms ted, because be (Sir F. Bodes) did est Wilms they wild ewe make it sopa baste Usher to *Wee er perhstion. (Hems hear.) Ali he hod as very wade( peel of this. A wiepaittse bad UM far two Isms cm the salsfect with the .". Nestor of Fianna" iii the chair; rod hei s after two years' Umbellate it had been unable yak nay pilaw obviate the dhow non to the t a x. . ewe . Wee made gestures. of dis use] It was Wm, that do had had taboo a preludes! of bat they hod made no report. In this state Wildest the right hon. gootismars had done what be thought may mosible man would do in such a case ; and they hod the peddw, Paige of the government, that at the to idaatisa of mews years the. income-tax should he Man of. (Leaghtert.) It was quite true, that if the igiaions of the soustry should undergo a great change ' the ha might still be retained ; bat, oa the other bawd, they Mudd not prevent the country in such a case frees rein prang it, if it were abolished now. His own opinion was, that it would be mere difficult to retain the tax at the sad of the seven c an than to re establish it, if sow repealed. Hear, hear.) But now, what wsuld be the means o the government, at the end cadre pried, to enable them to dispense with this large bomber Ihe public revenue ? At that time it would ' yield 5p4, 0 11111.111111., but the exchequer would be aimed 2,146,11 . by*. falling in of the Long Annuities, and 624,000.1. saved = by the operation of Mr. Goulburn r. robs is The deficiency would thus be only Aso esclusim of the additional mums of in seas the right hon. gentleman; mad ha *might ha a Awes minioten would easily Pods a Pas Assdug hg with that. (Rear, hear.) With rugs* M the ditties MPINto be redoord, he thought there geoid hardly be hea di stimas shoat them. In particular, be thought the map tax was op ef the worst now in exisesee, mad it rejoiced to hear that it was deemed. He hssght, w h ich tbee the prossat i•lfila day wok a inaction it would be impossible keg W maints!a, Wiese they had reehowl the axpese of dams, which tad to fora Goo of tbe _eidef reamsee for its Gladstone*. liar, hear.) He Vsishp, theigibro, it was a wise mane it coca to Amiss the eiewodsoms ia fewer of lawdlod po inty. (Cheers.) fle sombi thee, he maid say in favour of de Mudd same of the gpmmemeet ; but after the list assidsratisa be pull glee the ombjest, he really wen not Prepared to vote fee the eztromiat of the Warne tax to Plum wire did wet pa it tow. (Cheers.) In the first tfti, it would increase - the &Welty of getting rid of it. UM WNw swotted, of the retina e it yielded was slimly the filet room why it woo so mararhies and lara Ma a popemitima to add to it %If a M • n more. Mew, hear.) It was said thaLdroy aught to extend the he to imams of nu. bemuse of that class bad profited greatly by mind Lseil polity ; but If that argu ment were sound, they ought So p below Mu lOW., because the lower they went, the WOO they would find the People had boolited. But the bleb was, the very object of Sir R. Pots policy was to lesemille undo& from the lower claws le Ws higher; and duo right hon. gentlemen ought not to bring forward the beaeilts the lower classes had received as es arpossat Ws replacing the. is the posi boa they heid beim. (Chum) Igor maid be altogether silo bloom us else artgarmat &gaited As perusal while W kwmogul Os .gesessibis bust of the eta. He was nfYaid that wort lea vise Ere se Ito is. moralising; bet this hid haw heftil Is Is • usursally S. (Bear, hear.) All Woe ehowtoseisem applied with shill pester fosse to Ire/NIL If they thewsle that the melba to be et addition! twain. SIM War name esabe to bare Men prepaid; sod Wow. dose opal= ofibt not be Popular along* Wm ihiloopeoastryosa, be thought that Use right hoe gentlemen would have pled mere wisely if he bed followed the wen/1e of Sir Robert Pert. (Hear, *rail Sir Reber! Peel bad told them that they would Mrs the machinery to soma for eollectimig web en imposi tion is Indeed, and Sir Robert was a* teem authority, not *I 010 a fussier, but as haring WNW lowa chief se- THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING♦, APRIX, 29, 1853. winery. (Hear, hem.) Bat the sight hoe. gentleman said that Sir Robert Peel had imposed two taxes in lien of the income tax, both of which had eines been taken off. Sir Itobert Peel, it was true, hat imposed a spirit duty of Is. per gallon, and be (Sir F. Baring) did not object to that; but tbc Chancellor of the Exchequer actually proposed to reimpose two-thirds of that very duty. (Hear, hear.) Thee, again, with regard to the stamp ation. Formerly the stamp duties had been less in Ire land than in England, and Sir Robert Peel hail retied them to the same amount. Now, it was no doubt quite true that they had singe been reduced, but the reduction had been a general one, and therefore they could not say that it had been a boa; to Ireland in particular. (Hear, hear.) Bat it was said that the budget gare a boon to Ireland in the abandonment of the consolidated annuities. Now he (Sir F. Baring) did not argue on the strict justice of the cue ; but, after the report of the Lords' committee—(hear, hear) —he was bound to say he could nut look open the re mignon of a part of these annuities as any compensation to Ireland for the income tax, because she had to a certain . . extent a right to that retake:on without being subjected to any additional taxation. (Cheers from the Irish members.) What were the comparative benefits to Ireland and Eng land from the present proposal ? (Hear, hear.) Without attempting to capitalise the different funds, he would take the advantages and disadvantages to each from the whole budget, and also after 1860. What were we paying now ? He would put out of sight the tales to be paid by Ireland and England equally, and the advantages given to both— the legacy duties and the remission of the tea duties, for instance. Independent of the reductions common to both, the relief to Ireland would be 215,0001. from the Censoli. . . dated Annuities, while the additional taxation would be 668,0001.—a balance of 423,0001. to be paid more by Ireland. In Great Britain the new taxed imposed would be 403,0001.; the immediate relief in soap, mewed taxes, post-horse duty, 1,442,0601.; being a relief of upwards of one million. (Loud cheers from the Iri,h members.) Under these circumstances, was it quite fair to place the in come tax on Ireland, and thus make it pa 426,0001. additional taxation ? (Hear, hear.) At the end of 1860, the ultimate relief to Ireland would only be 46,0001. a year; to Great Britain it would be 5 millions from the income-tax alone, and in the whole, 6,993,000/. ; while the additional taxation would only be about 200,000!. for the spirit duties in Scotland, or a net relief of 6,70,0001. (Hear, hear.) This being so, he should have no hesitation in refusing by his vote to extend the income-tax to Ireland. (Cheers.) hie would mike that country pay its fair share 'id emotion, but nothing more ; and he hoped they should he Age to remit a rid, at least, of the consolidated annui ties, without imposing any additional taxes. (Hear.) Lord LOVAINE gave a mild but determined opposition to the budget, which he examined point by point, alluding particularly to that portion of it relating to the legacy duty, which he believed to be a step in the wrong direction, = to the downfall of the aristocracy end of things in Mr. FORTESCUE examined the "over-sensitive ar numents" of Sir F. Baring with regard to Ireland, and lured the justice of extending the income tax to that miuTnthery. Marquis of GRANBY disputed the logic by which it was attempted to justify the imposition of a eonferedly had tax for seven years longer. &Boding to other portions M the budget, be was particularly alarmed at that relating to the legacy duty,. which he prophesied would result, among other calamities, in ismatorial pauperism. He gave his opposition generally to the budget. Sir C. WOOD said two parties were opposed to the budget. the noble lord who had just sat down, fairly re presented on. elms of opponents, namely, the landowners. The other opponents were represented by members for Ira lass. The latter objected altogether to the extension of the Mame tat to Ireland. But did the amendment object le the *tend= at the iellolllo tax So Ireland? (Hear, hear.) Did the atiesideaseg that there was anything *fair le land, that eesaideration ought to be shown to la* in the lea R I Why, the amendment said directly the re verse. The ameaduient said, "do not extend the Lamm tax either be people having between 1601. and 1001. a year, unless you mike a diatinctiou in favour of trades and pro tiooksok" • Weil, then, if the noble lord and those who sat nee' Idea the landed merest voted for the amadamst props* the hon. member for Hertfordshire, they be - MI.. a further boon should be given a to trudge preteedess, which would make it more unfair. Hewes surprised then that the member for Maldon should meenidied et the speech by which it was pre faced. The representatives of the landed interest both in this want* and In Ireland, would do well to consider what wee the real purport and scope of the amendment before they voted for it. (Hear, hear.) He maintained that the amendment was more adverse to the landed interest than the proposition of hie right hon. friend, because it propos, d to give trade and professions an advantage which land would not enjoy. That might be wise and politic in itself, but at all events it was not for the benefit of the landed interest. (Hear, hear.) As a landowner, he would say now 'what he had often said before, that the interests of all were bound up together, and that the trade end manufactures of the eountry could not Boorish without land participating in their prosperity. (Cheers.) Tho landed interest had before now negleeted the advice whisk had been given to them frem his side of *6 _head., aid what was the consequen , • ? His noble frbmilfpnepenedi do, Ss. duty on corn, which had been refused; Mid a fad years afterwards the whole duty was taken off. (Cheers.) The tight hon. gentleman (Mr. Disraeli) made a proposal with regard to the exclusive byrdens which the land bore, which proposition, if it had been 01111114 would have :increased those those burdens. Os that occasion they, on his side of the house, saved the agri cultural interest in spite of themselves. (Cheers.) It was sai d that they did not ideate there were any exclu sive burdens on land. Why, it was on the ground of the enclasive burdens on land that he defended the justice of the Manse tax, as at present levied. He would now de:, maestri* to any . clear-minded man that the proposition of his right hon. friend was more favourable to the landed ia tenet than the proposition of the right hon. gentleman op posite. The right hon. gentleman opposite proposed to im pose • tax of only fild. on trades and professions, and 7d. on land. HU right hon. friend proposed to levy an equal tax of 7d. on both trades and land. . That was a statement of fact which must be clear enough to the leaded interest. (Hear, hear.) Then hie right beg. friend proposed the income tax with the hope of its being taken off at the end of seven years; and be point* out the means of ing about this result. The right hon. gentleman pro h i s income tax for three years without the slightest prospect of its being taken Of at the end of that period, unless he put on the tax en enceessioas. (Hear.) Then the right hoe. gentled* proposed to extend the tax between Pl. and 1601. to the oersersof land at a rate of 7d. His right hos. Mend proposed to eats* it to *semi' between 1001. and 150/. at a rata of fid., whereby these in comes between 601. gad 1051. would move altogether from , the tax, had those with incomes between 1001- and 1601. would have its pressure diminished by twopence' In the pound. (Hoer, hear.) Which of the two pro- positions, he would now ask, as the west favourable• to the owners of land and to the small freeholders? (Beer.) But he was told that he least take the inmate tax is ess nexion with the tax on tutoeseion. He admitted the fair. ness of that. Now, if the owners of land and real property thought that it was better fee theta that there should 06 a. difference of rate in the income tax, instead of a tax on sue sessions, they were labouring under the greateatinkashe possible. (Hear.) He was firmly meet** that Uwe**. their interest that a distinct tax should be levied i ream than thas they should pay a different • rate el imam, tax. (Hear, beer.) ' For whet ether mode of. pre.: needing could be adopted ? iferbabreed that the mbeneo of the actuaries*. 'utterly u and impagilisaMs. ;IL they now began to Make distiaelkslOblr :Mid ass moo with the disthmt*, between real smi poessnal = for the town math Manses beilisees the skill and'espital• of the trader, and the vhf l alone if dr professional men, se there was between real earl penergel! property. (Hear, hear.) With gegnedhe the meempdss of real property from the tax on ensesesim, lee tbought It was an anomaly that could not be meifteined much Mow* favour of the landed interest. (Hear, bear.) He, there fore, held that the proposition of hie right bon. friend was more favourable to the landed interest than that of the right hon. gentleman, and he would advise the landed gentry to close with the bargain at once. (Hear, hear.) But the landed interest was threatened with the tax on sue- ' eerie* by the right hon. gentleman opposit e , for* pro posing his sebum to the house, he said that 'he thought it sot imisteible to reconcile conflicting Interests by levying a duty ma sueemehles." (Heat, hear.) The only ineeiliag the right hen. gentleman's words could bear was that he thought the poseermalty and the realty ought to be pissed on the awe fixing. (Hear, hear.) Omitting, therefore, from consideration di view of the *tenets of the general cam malty, and leekihr to the landed interest slate, the pro position of his dolli br i e. i was far more in favour of - bet interest this,* et the right hon. gentleman. l{ a the wore able to avo id by' deerwthild pay um "P aid% It seZ 11/ 1 r *" 11 Moil, by will. His conviction see, thei the • be paid by perm ' sent, and nee l p Er ill pr ope rty was at present rem*fair y **optimal rates and ind legs* du ' Under the reseistions, rilletilingwould be made a> s e It with three items the duties peopased; sod, on the whole, he Wasted be bad proved that it was quite a misapprehension to suppose that the whole, or the greater part, of the two filliTsens mould be leviable en the land. Another advantage =be thif redact on of the duty on servants and car- Aill throe were kept in the greatest number by eneWint:htg s li sm oul e a tim in e th e e nc g ouragem t en de r e w e out be given to employment of labour. Oa all these grounds he recommended gentlemen opposite to accept the present proposals. The time must come when the legacy duty must re s et exceeded, sad they could not possibly do it with better grace than at the present moment, when they were offered so many equivalents. (Hear, hear.) The nest class of objectors were the members from Ireland. He would remind them that the amendment for which they were about to vote would by no means prevent the extension of the income tax to Ireland. • The boo. members for Cork and Roscommon had revived the old calculations which had been answered in the repeal of anima debates, and the latter bad talked of the consolidation of the exchequer of the two countries se a juggle, whereas it was a measure undertakes solely for the benefit of Ireland, sad spinet the restos! strances of the country gentlemen of England. The hon. member for Cork, asked that Ireland should be treated the same at Scotland and Wales. He would ask in what way were these two latter countries exempt from English taxes? (Hear, hear) Again, the hon. member for Roe comma reminded him or what he had said is December last, to the effect that ho was not prepared to extead the income tax to Ireland. He would say the same now, if ao compensation were to he given, and would not be a party to the proposal of his right hon. friend, if his proposal did pet contain a fall equivalent. That, be eesld assure . tle i hon. member for Roaeomnion was his retarded *plaits before the proposal was laid on the table of the house. He thought he could show the hon. member that his (Sir C. Wood's) course, had been perfectly consistent in the matter. Is the first place the house would remember that in ' Deeember there was no quistion of the remission of the Consolidated Annuities. lair. DISRAELI intimated that they had then the reso lution of the Lords' committee. Sir C. WOOD said that the right hon. Lords' did not catmint to be bound by the report of the Lords' committee. On this point he could appeal to the bon. member for Mayo, who at the time complained ti at the government were not prepared to be guided by the report. lie would now turn to the question of how mach Ireland would gain or lose by the proposed changes. The Consolidated An nuities would amount in forty years to 7,731,0001., while the whole of the income tea up to 1860 would be only 2,690,0001. In this view of the case there would be a gain to Ireland of upwards of av• millions, and this too distri buted over the whole of Ireland. The hon. member for iie ; tlr;it - Iti - cling had truly said that the parties who now paid the rates would not feel the weight of the tax, as while the rate went down to holdings of 41. a year, the income tax would not affect any farmer paying less than 2001. a year rent, the number of farmers in that situation in Ireland being exceedingly small. The tat would thus be paid almost exclusively by the landlord, who would have the right to deduct all the charges on land. To this he must add that all land held by persons resident in England was already liable. Again the holders of property under 1001. a year in value would not be liable altbovgh at present they were liable to the rate. , Now to show how much the tax would be a relief, as com pared with the present charges, he would take half a dozen of the most distressed unions in the west of Ireland and compare them. Castlebar paid to the Consolidated Annui- ties 2,6311. a year; for income tax it would pay 9951. Galway paid, Annuities 3,2931.; income tax would be 1,7631. (Hear, hear.) Oughterard paid 1,5421.; income tax would be 3361. Scariff, annuities 2,366/. ; income tax 6351. Skib bonen 2,0801. ; income tax 1,2001. Scull 9341. ; income tax 3671. (Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") In all these cases, too, it must be , recollected that the Annuities were for 40 years, and the income tax only for seven. Taking, therefore, those portions of Ireland which were pressed down by the incidence of taxation, he thought they would make a good bargain by accepting the budget, and that generally Ireland would derive an advantage not merely in the amount remitted, but still more in the fact that the claws relieved would be the occupiers and the poorer classes, and that the new tax would be paid by those undoubtedly able to bear such a burden. Under these cir cumstances, the representatives of the western counties might find it worth while to pause ere they rejected so con siderable a boon. (Cheers and laughter.) With regard to the north and east of Ireland, the qaestion was clear. (Ironical Cheery) Well, he had never said that they had any claim to exemption. (Hear.) Why should not Belfast pay income tax as well as Liverpool? Looking at the mat ter generally then, as regarded Ireland, he thought that that country would, on the whole, obtain a remission, large and substantial in character, at • very small price. As to the spirit duties, they stood on quite a different footing ; and he had always said that if allowance for waste in bond were conceded the duties on Irish spirits must at ones be raised. Unless It could be pretended that illicit distlihdien was thus encouraged there could be no valid argument for the low duties on Irish spirits; and he on if tie assertion could be made out that much alit* distillation really was presented to an extent to justify the low duties. The hon. member for Roscommon (Mr. T. French) had said that it would be a breach of faith to ens ploy the constabulary in Ireland in checking illicit &stint- Hoe and in general ber for Kilkenny had complained that the Irish eonstabs• lazy was an expensive body which had nothing to do. New, evidently, one gentiemth's argument balanced the other ; fee the future the constabulary would be usefully employed, and the lees objection would be offered by the hon. and learned member for Kilkenny, inasmuch u he was in error in supposing that Ireland paid for her constabulary, the fact being that that force was sustained by the imperial ex. chequer. Appealing, then, to the whole body of Irish members, he could not see how they could justify an op position to a scheme so eminently favourable to them. (Cheers and laughter.) But to them and to other hon. members he would say, with the hon. member for Mon trose, that this budget must not be judged, however ex amined, in detail, bat that it must be taken or rejected as a whole. (Hear, hear.) There were, doubtless, defects I. detail; it was impossible but that on a measure so ex tensive aid so complicated, examination would show points where there might be amendments and improvements; and his right hon. friend had already said that various proposals fur modifications were under his consideration. Bat in the main poiets there could be nothing to object to. The repeal et the soap tax would be a great beon to rich and poor, OA all closes'''. Some hon. member bad said, " Why, this le a sop for Manchester, " as if Mansbeeter only wished liii band.. (Laughter.) The price he Wired nomad be in duced to the public far below the NNW MMIO4IIIII I MIS. indirect beatific' to manufacturers would be as gee IS OW direct benefit to the trade and it would also Mg le All as ployment of more people. The expert trade In MO MS sell to have been recently falling off; and the mint there would, of course, be great and diets. The other reductions were ell carefully r =l4 and now few article* would 'main under the I a protective duty. lion. gentlemen opposite had solemnly affirmed the principle of " unnetrieted competition," and they could of course offer no opposition to this part of the financial policy of the present government. (" Hear, bear," and Is ighter.) For theme redactions the public must be content to pay ; and those who world pay income tax fur the tint time would find an equivalent in the cheaper prices of soap, of tea, and of beer—(great laughter)—no, not beer, he meant provisions generally. Perhaps ho- nourable gentlemen opposite were proud of their pro-. meal about the malt tax; but, then, they owl. not flatter themselves that their budget would have err bees any cheaper. (Laughter and cheers.) With regard to the, income tax he agreed in much of the view which his right hon. friend the member for Portsmouth had laken'of it. (Ironical cheep.) Yes, he was glad that ' there'was a pie peet of its al removal. (Ironical cheer.) But he was alive to the advantages which it bad conferred. It bud enabled as to carry free trade,.to adopt the principle Of l unrestricted competition—and It would continue to enable se to make great strides in the same direction ; lid when it had due its task, the weapon could be put back in the armoury from which it had been taken. (Cheers.) In taking further strides in the spirit of the • commercial policy of 1846, the government were entitled to rely on the support of all those who had, in the early pert of the session, put on record their adherence 1 to the new commercial policy. (Cheers.) He believed' that the country would sustain the government in their efforts to accomplish hue further advances; he believed that the country had passed its almost unanimous approval on the budget—(cheers and laughter)—and he could not doubt that when they came to • vote, the House of Com =mons would ratify the decision of the people. (Cheers.) On the motion of Mr. G. H. Moons, the debate war ad journed to this day. The house resumed, and immediately went into Commit tee of @apply, when some formal resolutions were passed, and the house again resumed. SHERIFFS' COURTS (SCOTLAND) BILL. On the order of the day for going into committee on this bill, , Hr. CRAUFURD said that at that hour (12 o'clock) it wee too late to discus the measure, and he was anxious to NM the reoplatjos of which be bad given nettle.: " That, , kilit *Wei of this ruse, no tarsus of Sheriff Urn saner will be satisfactory to the country which does net =en re rind* of abo li shing the present system et dada" He was the more desirous to move Ode umiak* rbe bad bees informed the ruminant were going towel top bill to a coesiiitten upstalrs. • Lord I. 1101FIELL said that the proper time fbr this resolution wain be when the bill came down in an ap proved shape hen the select committee. After a brief conversation, in the coarse of which Mr. COWAN complained that Scotch business wits always thrown over till 12 or 1 o'clock in the morning; and the Loan ADVOCA.III stated that the bill was approved of by a large nujor.ty of the people of Scotland; and explathed that his present proposition was that it should be nhrred to a select committee to consider its clauses, The till was referred to a select committee. COUNTY ELECTIONS POLLS (SCOTLAND) BILL. This hill was read a third time, and passed after some etwensgst ted u ba i ld t r. I t ' o urt i o h es e M p lekenr i ace. feorwpoittlinns whisk be wart be better effected by the insertion polling moi l z silisellemer in the North British Atkertiser than in the t7rs tdrMi re ' i h ll ater aders . of the day wire then disposed of. ' 'KUNIO/PAL CORPORATIONS. • Mr. TIINUILL obtained leave to bring is a bill to nisei the }c tar of cartels este Viso municipal corpora tions set ialiteiail ht the Yuri_ pat Aet 1836. IFBIOBTB IN MB BAIN OP BULLION. t tka Mr. WILSON abtaiaell leaf* te lafela m as bill tee Me' abject of A haft th welshes dhe the ages el whir he e proposed te en et re SS dos mewl a. ass The house them adjoined, at 20 minutes to ere o'clock. h. • • . ASYLUM FM IDIOTS.. — latterday the annual meeting of this society took place at the T o oodon Tavern, Bishopsgate-street. The report stated that the number of pupils and patients was 198, that of the attendants and ser vants 48, which, with tke number to be *looted on this so- casks, would make a total of 256 persons. The two homes now held by the trustees for the charity were b,th filled, but enlargements were nearly completed at Colchester which wield accommodate 60 or 60 more pupils. The! beard had given their attention to the erection of the pro posed asylum for the suitable and permanent reception of the idiot and imbecile, and had completed the purchase of the estate at Fairlswood, nest Itedbill. They had deter mined to build for not less than 40 0 beds. Prince Albert had promised to lay the first stone on the 16th of June. It was proposed that 30 gentlemen should lay 100 guineas each oa the stone, and that 200 ladies should deposit thereon purses of five guineas and upwards as part of the ceremony. If, however, on the dee of laying the stone they should be successful to their highest expectation, they would still re quire from 10,00 W. to 16,00 W. to complete their great ob. ject, and therefore the must IittODDOUI exertieme would be neoseatry to advance the interests of the institutive. The business of the day terminated with the result of the annual election, which wall he found stated is the advertisements. TUN COMMAND OF VIE WINCMESTER.—The ap pointment of Captain Fitzgerald to her Majesty's ship Winchester, recent by the lamented death of the brave Captain Look in the Burmese war, is confirmed. Captain Fitzgerald leaves for India in the Ripon mail steamer on the 4th of next month. (I . LERICAL.IIEbICAL. and GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. VIE BONUSES have been declared; et the last la liseary, 1852, the mat of £131,123 was added to the Pinkies, ;rodent* a beaus varying with the ditivest ages Rom 24 to 45 per eel. on the per paid daring the Ave yaws. et tress to gill ISA per out. as the sum awned. The mall share of profit divisible In (attire among the sbareboldeni being now provided for, roe ASSUItED will hereafter drive ell the benefits obtainable from a mutual ollkie, WITHOUT ANY LIABI LITY OR RISK Or PARTNERSHIP. One half the 111. premium to the Oset Ave yeses may reels on — INVALID LIVES nay be assorsd at rates proportioned to On (Taints psiti thirty days after proof of death, end all Policies are Isethipotehte exert it .ri eJOlS of fraud. The IRA ear yam's (Just printed). aes be obtained trey of Y.O9.GE H. PINCH &RD, Itaidest Beereist7. 99, Great itoasellatreet, tiloorostray, [nodes. the erSortoo. TO CORRESPONDENTS. t <laced Eaton of " Tbe Express" coutantirde the nine evening's "Gazette," is publisbNl every Tuesday an I Friday eight, in time for post. ♦ teatime/smut Intended for " The Eames," Lezeloa Evening peva, value be at the Oleo, 10, houverueetreet, by Two ohlocit ou lb* dAy of publication. MGR WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. rin Da*—llartintr. 6h. 1a.........Aftera0ha. 6h. 26ta. ichaosachr—Motahns, Ga. Um ..........Aahrasaa. 7a. Ks. LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 29. LIE philosophic:4l writers of history in France and Germany, who have not allowed their prejudices to overcome their love of truth, all agree that England has worked out more truly than any other modern nation, the great problem which Providence entrusted to the German tribes to solve. It is impossible to read our annals, and not acknowledge that there has been a successive evolution of results, all tending to enlarge the basis of national civilisation, to strengthen the national character, to augment the na tional freedom. There may have been slight re trogressions, but the product of the whole has been advanoe. The individual has •been developed at the same time that the State has been rendered more perfect and more powerful. Englishmen are more capable of self-government, more free in the expression of their opinions, more fitted to act upon their governors, than the inhabitants of any country in Europe. In spite of the strange fact that we do lees for education than the majority of other countries, it is still certain that there is no country in the world except America where the grand results of educa tion are obtained in such prolusion as in England. The Englishman comes up more completely than the inhabitant of any other country in the world to ARISTOTLE'S definition of man, that he is by nature a "political aaimaL." The cause of this is, that while the Continental . . Governments have, inariy•of them with the best in tentions, acted upon FREDERIC the GREAT'S princi ple, "everything for the people, but nothing by the people," we in England have been indu lged in this' merciful privilege of being " let alone. Loans faire, which is the best maxim for commune, is, under due conditions, the only maxim for , healthy national life. From the village club up to the Parliamentary Committee, through all the phases of vestries, boards of guardians, municipal councils, elections, &c., Englishmen have always an opportunity of trying their hand at some ihing, of learning the principles of management. Ile has beuMe self-reliant and independent. "They manage these things differently in France." The Government there, whether a monarchy, an empire, or a republic, always labours to preserve its beloved subjects from the evils and the dangers of thinking md acting. The bureaucratic.arrangementain force throughout the whole country, graciously take charge of half the movements of the people, and concoct programmes for their execution in due order. The same is the case in Germany. There is a net work of bureaux all over the land, that interfere with the actions of the citizen from his birth toads death. The consequence is that the Frenchman or the German, when he succeeds in throwing off the trammels with which he has been fettered, has no I forces by which he can act upon the new world in which he is pieced. So much has been done fee himl that he can do nothing for himself. Mantes aftbe• human frame lose all their power by &tie. A nation of horse-riders are sure to be bade/albeit And a people that has never exercised any of the functions of government will make bat a wretched commencement when it is obliged to begin. This has been the came on the Continent, where despotism has succeeded revolution, from the mere fact of the successful revolutionists being incapable of ruling theniaelves. Louis NAPOLEON does not hesitate in public speeches to charge his subjects with this fault. They have as much freedom as is fit for them, he tells them. The Despotic Governments on the Continent may and do urge this plea too far ; nevertheless the facts upon which it is founded are indisputable. There is a broad line of distinction between the institutions under which Englishmen educate themselves; and the rigid machinery by which the Continental Goe vernmeats endeavour to make their people think, talk, and act without education. It becomes, then, a question of great importance to know - whether, them is any intention of making such modifications , in the system which has produced such admirable re- ; sults i n England, as will have a tendency to bring about a state of things which at present exist* only on the Continent. And that there • are rumours abroad which would indicate a danger in that direction, is but ton well knows. The Vienna correspondent of the Frankfurt Post Ga zette recently wrote: "It is now confirmed that the Prussian police were most efficiently assisted in the late political arrests at Berlin and elsewhere by repeated communication; from the police of London, without which many of the discoveries might not have been made. In this we see a proof of the Rood faith of tb British Goverpmeat when throegh, Lord Warritoititartis it assured the Cabinet or Vienna that it would watch over the conduct of the refugees. We learn from other sources that the London polies) his for wens tines kept lists of.all. the fugitives residing there; and watches over their con: nianicatMoi with the Continent." • • Is this true P "gas the polio), established here for the benefit of foreign governments a system of supervision 'andinspeetion which it would not. have dared •to put in practice for on; own ? Have we really made up our minds to glee the lie to all ear protestations bf the inviolability of the English soil P is Lord CILVIIIAII e S Imatit,that the King of ENGLAND dared not enter an Englishman's house against his will about to be turned Auto.tidiculeP For it Meet be remembered that any system of supervision exercised over foreigaers, to bacomplete, must extend to their benEnglish friends. It is clear that when onceit bas established that, the' police may excrete§ ear =Ukase over a hidY.Of men =used of no crittlk.bit =ipecac& it the possibility of the meditation. of crime, the ground has been prepared for the founds lion of a coy system similar to that which obtains in eyery CoaWiental State. We. are in danger when enee it is decreed that refugees flying from tyranny at home, and conducting • themselves with all due obedience to the laws here, are placed under:the in , Iffietion of the police. • •• • Surely, if this report be true,: we : should ktiow under what conditioni ii this newer exercised ? is it put, in execution at ono* against all refugees ,whatem ever? Are the royal exiles of the ORLEASILFamiIy, placedunder Coininisaioner MATNeB surveillanorythat Louis NAPOLEON may be sure they are not plotting a deseent on Ft:mien?' Are their houses • subject to domiciliary Visite, while they are • dining with her Majesty .QUEEN VICTORIA? Were MET TERNICR'S papers rummaged by Policeman A. 1 during his stay in• England ? ris it only in digent refugees Who ire treated with the benefit of police inspection ? Is it only the miserable beings who in political struggles have lost their all in their own country who are the objects of suspicion in ours/ Again, how is this system put in execution? Are the police Emmert sand judges of those whom they suspect? Do they decide upon the nature of the guilt the suspected are meditating without fortnal examinations to ascertain the fact P If not, at.what tribunal are these charges , proved, which are trans-J, mitted to the foreign police to form material which, at some future time, limy endanger the life of • the suspected ? lima questions must be answered. It it; well, known that it is not in foreign papers alone that rumours of this kind are propagated. Unless a satis- factor? answer can be given to them there will be no iioidtne The — nieratieholf conclusion that, either through pusillanimity or culpable simplicity, the Government have sanctioned the introduction of a step which may be the commencement of a down ward path which would lead to the destruction of the good and great result that has arisen from the unchecked operations of the freest institutions in Europe. Shall we, after the Gunpowder Plot farce of yes terday, have a long string of names put - down u those of men to be subject to surveillance? The magistrate of Bow-street declares that ungranulated rocket-powder is gunpowder, and it would further seem that because one refugee recommends a destitute compatriot to a place of employment, the recommender is, in the eyes of the police, to be held responsible for all the acts which that employ ment may involve. But this question is to go to a jury of Englishmen, and we have no fear for the re sult. Austria will, after yesterday's evidence, doubt less jump to the conclusion that the Rotherhithe factory was intended to blow the Emperor FRANCIS off the Hungarian throne, although at present there is no shadow of evidence of any such intention. In other countries police " discoveries" have been very dangerous to tho Governments who have abetted them, and we have yet to see whether Lord Anen- DEEN will not get into hot water, both abroad and at home, by this Rotherhithe ease. Political police men are very double-edged tools. FRANCE. PARIS, THURSDAY The Moniteur contains a decree, conceding 20,000 hectares of land in the environs of Setif, Algeria, to the Genevan Company, for founding a Swiss colony. The government reserves the power of diminishing the extent of this grant in the event of the company failing to found a village on each zone of 2,000 hec tares within the next ten years. Seventy-nine persons convicted of political of fences by the mixed commission receive the remis sion of their punishments. The Moniteur publishes a decree of the Emperor, founded on a report of the Minister of War, granting a concession of 20,000 hectares (about 50,000 acres) of land in the neighbourhood of Setif, province of Constantine, to a companycomposed of the following proprietors and capitalists at Geneva :—MM. Count Francois Sautter de Beaaregard, Dr. P. E. Lullin, J. M. J. Mirabeau, J. A. Fazy-Alleon, C. H. E. de Teas, li. M. Bouthillier de Beaumont, de Bude, C. A. do Loriol, and C. L. Sautter, for the pur pose of founding an agricultural colony. The company, among other conditions, is bound to form on each 2,000 hectares a village composed of 50 stone-built houses,for the accommodation of European agricultural labourers, and to keep in repair all the existing roads which may pass through the said ex tent of ground, and for the space of ten years to give up to the state, without indemnity, any ground that may be required for other roads, canals, or works of public utility. The decree contains other regulations for the division of the land among the colonists, the quantity to be apportioned to each, and the terms on which they are to have possession. All the colonists ' are to be natives of Switzerland. M. Desjobert, a well known member of the Chamber of Deputies, who represented the depart ment of the Seine Inferieure for upwards of twenty years, died suddenly on Tuesday. He was chiefly noted for the eccentric zeal with which he on all occa- Sions opposed every species of colonisation. When ever Louis Ph►lippe's ministers took occasion to glory in the progress of French civilisation in Algeria, M. Desjobert never failed to mount the tribune to pro test against, the possession of that country. True to his "ruling passion strong in death" he has by his last will and testament bequeathed to the Corps Logis latif a number of anti•colonial pamphlets written by himself. A convention was some time since made between Spain and France, authorising the latter power to improve the navigation of the Guadalquiver, ohich is both difficult and dangerous. News has arrived that the French steam corvette the Newton, lately ascended the river as far as Seville for the purpose of making a chart of the river. This was the first vessel of war ever seen at Seville, unless indeed his torians are wrong in treating the appearance there of a Moorish fleet spoken of by Corneille, in the " Cid," as a poetical invention. However, that may be all the honours of a first visit were paid by the authorities at the city to the Newton, and great cariosity to see her was manifested by the population. There are said to be 20,000 French residents in Seville, and the improvement of the Guadalquiver is a matter of great importance to their commercial interests. M. Raepail, who is now safe in Brussels, denies in energetic terms that he sued for pardon. " Not only," he says, in a letter to the Asseaddie Nationale, " did I never ask anything of the government, bat I constantly, during the. whole period of my painful im prisonment, avoided everything that might have had the appearance of the slightest concession." When it was notified to him that the Emperor had commuted the remainder of his sentence to banishment, he was asked to What country he would desire that his passport should be made. He answered Belgium, and this has given rise to the supposition that he had negotiated the conditions of his liberation. The government would get more credit for magnanimity if these instances of spontaneous clemency to politi cal prisoners were not so exceedingly rare. Only two days ago General Goyon, in giving an account to the Emperor of a mission of mercy, was compelled to confess that he bad found three out of five of all the prisoners he bad examined " obdurate," by which he meant that they preferred to endure their suffer ings rather than humbly ask for pardon, and avow themselves to have been in the wrong when they supported the reputlic. Wbyare not the consciences ,of these men entitled to as much consideration in this respect as a Cavaignac or Respell ? Their obscurity only readers their conduct the more heroic, because 4 they might submit to the required humiliation with comparatively little risk of discredit in the opinion of their friends. A warrant of arrest was issued the other day aghast M. Antoine, formerly editor of the Voiz du Proserit, who was living at Valenciennes under a state of surveillance. The police went to his house, bat he, having probably got wind of their intention, was not to be found. I have not heard the grounds of the fresh accusation against him. In the affair of the "foreign correspondents," the public prosecutor ' has not only appealed a minima for an increase of punishment, but be proposes to renew the charge of belonging to a secret society, which the Tribunal of ' Correctional ?o_lice rejected. He also proceeds de novo against M. Chantelauze, who was acquitted. Public opinion, crippled as the expression'of it is, has pronounced so strong# against the system of breaking open letters that it is not thought possible that ,the Comet of Appeal can maintain the odious doctrine of the court below. The letter and spirit of the Code, and the avowed opinions of the govern menti of Louis XVI. and Napoleon I. are alike against it. Two of the former editors of the Peupk, MM. Pille and Langlois have been removed from the Belleisle prison to St. Pelagie. M. Pille was a mem ber of the Constituent Assembly. He has obtained this favour in consequence of the great age of hie mother who desires to visit him in prison, and cannot go to Belleisle. The Moniteur contains a list of 69 more " remie sions of measures of general safety taken by the mixed commissions." There is not a single known name in the list. It has been stated by mistake that M. Proudhon was one of the conceasionnaires of the Besancon and' Mulhouse railway. The error arises from a confusion of similar sounding names. M. Prudhomme, the ex- i deputy, is the person interested in the railway. A journal, called the Presse Religeuse, which he. hitherto confined itself exclusively to religions top's', announces that it has obtained leave to treat of political questions. This is a fact of importance, because the manager of this journal, the Abbe Michon, is a staunch Galilean, and the permission granted to him is indicative of a desire on the part of the government to encourage an opposition to the ultramontaue tinkers. The Union, speaking of Lord Clarendon's speech on the eastern question, says " They " the English ministry, " see no reason to fear that the peace of Europe will be immediately troubled. This is qu ite simple. We are entirely of their opinion. It is, we intention at perfectly clear that no power has any at the present moment of making any direct attack on the integrity and independents of the Turkish em pine; latt some of them are endeavouring,-with ability and perseverance, to create and to aggravate situa tions which, in given circumstances, will enable them to turn events to suit their own views." The Moniteur says: The Marquis Fabien Pallavicini has just been raised to the dignity of Grand Offzer of theL.gion of II mour. The Karquith . who was former!) Sardinian minister at thb court of Berms, served France from 1807 to 1814 in quality of aeditor at the Council of State. He was charged with se veral missions by the Emperor Nspoleon 1., to whom he always remained faithful, and only left France after the abdication of Fontainblean. On taking leave of his Ma. *l7 M. Pallavicini received the Cross of the Reunion, but ebb* ulterior circurustane would not allow him to wear. It IS as a souvenir of that distinction so honourably , ac- Vthat the Emperor Napoleon 111. has wished to give a: of the last servants of his dynasty a !calumny of hie high esteem. The °currier des Mere says : We have related, under all reserve, the rumours which have circulated in this town on the su'iject of the measures taken relative to the arrival of the Emyereur du Brasil. We ate now enabled to give precise information on this affair. The truth is, that the French consul at Rio Janeiro ad dressed to the Minister of the Interior a despatch announc ing to him that an infernal machine had been embarked on board the Empereur do Brasil, and that it was to be taken to France, with a criminal object, by a German named Kautmann. According to the orders transmitted from the Prefecture of Police, the German and his wife were arrested. But after the explanations given by him, and after an examination of the machine, from which it ap peared that it was constructed with an innoceat object, he and his wife were let at liberty.. The indications given to our maul at Rio were true materially, but false only as to the bearin; of them. On the whole tnis affair, which has warmly excited public curiosity, his in itscif no gravity. In it sitting of yesterday the credit fowler of France authorised loans to the amount of 2,537,000 f. The number of demands from Apia 20 to 26 were 306, and the total sum asked for 4,448,850 fr. The Three per Cents. closed at 80f. 35c. for the end of the month; and the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. at 103 f. 23c. LATEST CONTINENIAL BOCRSES.—Antwerp, Wed nesday: Belgian Four-and-a-Half per Cent., 98 Five Cent., 1848, 98}; Austrian Metallics, Five per Cent., 84i ; Lots of 2306,. 848. Berlin, Tuesday : Loan, Four per Cent., New, 99;; Four-and-a-Half per Cent. 103;; Bank Shares, 100; Rhenish Railway, 88k. Brussels, Wednesday,: Belgian Four-and-a- Half per Cents., 98 1 , ; Two-and-a-Half do., 53 11-16; l Austrian Metallics, Three per CAA., 311; Spanish Ono per Cent., 23 7-16; Roman Five per Cent., 98 ; Sardinian Five per Cent., 96; ; Namur and Liege Railway Bonds, 96 ; Tourney-Jurbise, Four-and-a- Half per Cent., 606; Deadre-Weer Railway Five per Cent., 536. Exchange on London, 23.071. SWITZERLAND, Ia its sitting of the 25th the Swiss Federal Coun cil received the answers of the Ticino and Grisons governments respecting the concessions to be made to Austria. The two cantons refuse in the most posi tive terms to abandon the right of asylum. They insist that the confederation has no power to deprive them of the right. Ticino denies all participation in the Mils* plot. SPAIN. The Madrid journals of the 23rd have arrived. The Gazette contains a royal decree, v hiCh enacts that "that official valuations made for fixing the duties in the general tariff now in vigour shall be re vised, so as to cause the duty on each article to be levied according to its real value;" and it directs that for that purpose, the Juntas of Commerce shall remit the average price currents of different articles for the last six months, and that foreign consuls shall be invited to give any other information that may be required. A meeting of grandees had beep held, at which an address to the Queen against certain pot tions of the bill presented by the late ministers rela tive to the orgrnisation of the Senate and the Grandeeship was agreed to. General Narvaez had written letters to General Rios de Olano and Gen. Serrano, expressing his gratitude to them for defend ing him in the ret*nt discussion in the Senate— when, for political reasons, he had no reason to ex pect their support. ITALY . Several German journals, ordinarily well informed, state that Count Itechberg, Imperial Austrian Coin missioner in Italy, is invested with a power to treat for the adjustment of the differences with Piedmont and Switzerland. Further, the Op:*nione has a letter from Milan, stating that the Vienna cabinet has found a means of intimating to the Lombard emigrants naturalised in Sardinia that if they wonid have the sequestration taken off their property, they must procure a certificate of good political conduct sinco 1848 from the magistrate of the place where they live, and deliver it to the Austrian ambassador at Turin, who will submit it to Field-marshal Itadetzky for consideration. _ _ _ This last statement may be liable to correction, bat accounts from Austria and Lombardy have lately i reported the desire felt at Vienna to escape from a position fall of embarrassment and disadvantage. TURKEY. A serious affray between Greeks and Armenians took place at Jertmalem on Palm Sunday. The sceno was the church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the oh. ject of contention the sacred lamp. Tho sanctuary was stained with the blood of the combatants, num bers of whom were carried off wounded. The Latins, it is said, held aloof from the broil. MALTA. A telegraphic dispatch dated Malta, 22nd., states that the English fleet still remained in the harbour, and has not been reinforced. Zig Court. Yesterday morning, at half-past nine o'clock, the ceremony of ebtrrehing the Queen was performed in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace ' by the Hon. and Rev. Gerald Wellesley, her Majesty's Domestic Chaplain. Prince Albert and Lady Caroline Barrington were present. W. A. Mathews, Esq., Mayor of Sheffield, accompanied by Professor Woeroft had an interview with Prince Albert yesterday morning, at Buckingham Palace, to pre sent an address from that town, praying for the establish ment of a national library and museum of inventions. Prince Albert left Buckingham Palace at half-past 12 o'clock yesterday, for the Royal Academy, in Trafalgar squire. The Prince was accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, and the Prin cesses Alice and Helena. The royal suite included Lady Caroline Barrington, Lord Byron, lord George Lennox, Colonel Wylde, Major-General Buckley, Lieutenant• Colonel P. H. Seymour, and Mr. Gibbs. Sir Ladies Lock East lake, theEresident of the Royal Academy, received hie Royal Highness, end occluded the Prince and the Royal Perkily through the different rooms of the Exhibition. Prince Albert end the royal party returned to Buckingham Palace at half-put 2 o'clock. Prldce &Mut of Leiniagea arrived at Buckingham Palace, about 12 o'clock yesterday, on a visit to her Malesty. Her Majesty walked in the Garden of Buckingham Palace yesterday afternoon. Prince Albert rode out on horseback yesterday afternoon, attende.l by Lieut.-Colonel F. H. Seymour. The Duchess' of Kent visited the Queen yesterday. The following were presented at the Levee on Wednes day to Prince Albert:—Mr. Robert Clive. by the lion. Mr. Clive; Lieutenant Viscount o.lford, R.N., on promotion, by Earl Clanwilliam ; and Mr. Hugh bOtt, by Lord Polwarth. The Duchess of Kent, the Princess Adelaide of lionen lobe, and the Prince Ernest of Leiningen, dined with Het Majesty yesterday. The Hon. Lucy Kerr and the lion. Mary Belted have succeeded the Hon. Matilda l'sget and the lion. Mary Seymour in their duties as the Maids et amour in Waiting • to Her Majesty. The Duchess of Kent, accompanied by the Princes Ade laide of Hohenlohe, end attended by Lady Anna Maria Dawson and Sir George Couper, visited the Exhibition of the Royal Academy yesterday. CHRISTENING OF THE INFANT PRINCE.—It is 11R derstood that the christening of the Infant Prince will take place towards the end of June, when he will receive the names of " Leopold George Duncan Albeit." His Mcjesty the King of Hanover, the Prince of Holtenlohe Langen hourg, and the Princess of Prussia, are espected to arrive in England to be present at the ceremony, at which, with the Princess Mary of Cambridge, they will stand sponsors to the young prince. SAMBRE AND MEUSE RAILWAY. - Traffic for the week ending April 24 11153:-460.. Si. M. Correspond ing week last veal, 285 '. 19s. 3d. Miles open. 1813, 274 ; znik. open r 052, /...15 s' V U .~ . f 'I