The Express. — London, England, 1853-03-10 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMEN HOUSE OF COMMON:.—WEI/Nu...MAY, MAecn 9. The Seamiest took the chair at 12 u'cluck. THR ELECTION PETITION COALEITTEE FOR SOUTHAMPTON. Mr. 11. HERBERT, the chairman of this committee. Tem:uteri teat Robert Edmund !Meer hail refaced to gad evidesce before the committee, and that he had by direc ted of the committee committed the met Robert Edmund Bawer loth., custody of the Sergeant-at-Arius, to await t:.e pismire of the house. PRIVATE BUSIN GREAT LONDON DRAINAGE LILL. Mr. M. GIBSON moved the *mewl reading of this bill. Sir B. HALL said this was a most important bill, end he bad hoped that he should have been ablesupported the seem% reading, but there were certaio ,:enses in the bell which be would venture to wa Lad nev ben ham dated into • prisete bill before. T h e compet er e were to con struct two great sewers, one en the north tad the other on the south osie of the Themes. and they proposed to eonvert the sewerage into manure. But the ball actud4 contained • clause that if they did not get a sulticient return is pay them 3 per cent. they wee,: to tax the metropolis to make up that 3 per cent., which d, ficiency was to be paid out of the sewers rate. So that this ,„mpaGy ea ue forward as a speculating company, and if the speculation failed the r itepayin were to make it un . He had had u geed deal of conversation with the promoters of the b.ll, who told him they would not strike out the guarantee vans, ; and that if it were stench oat, they would tot pro wed with the bill. He thought it better to postpone the measure for a time, and he therefeee moved that the further consideration of it be postponed until Wednesday, the 6th Of April. Mr. W. WILLIAMS seconded the amendment. He thought the bill istagla to be postponed, in order to give the motropolisin parishes an opportunity of cossidering the details. Ile believed some objections had been made to it by several perishes. If them obj:ctions wart obviated. facilities might he given for passim. , the L.:1; but he could not think it could be allowed to pass in its present shape. Mr. H. OIBSON said be had Len used to move the second reading of the bill, and he bad not consented to do so without consideration. This was a great public work that must be done by somebody. The metroptiis must he drained. A question was put to the Secretary of State fur the Hume Department, whether it was the intention of go vernment to introduce any measure fur the purpose of en abling the present commissioners of sewers to b now money ea the security of the rates ; sad the noble lord (Lord Pal merstun) replied that that depended very much on • private enterprise undertaken by an emaciation of capitalist', who, if he was rightly informed, intended to bring in a bill to maresuct two great arterial sewers, one to the north and the ether to the south of Leaden, and that if that project should be approved by parliament it wont I render any loan maseermery. It appeared, therefore, that if this company of sapitalists did not come (award the csnamissioners of sewers would be prepared to undertake this great public work, but be felt maddest that the seat to the ratepayers,--aad be spoke in the capacity of a ratepayer,—would be far greater if it wen dose by the asamireumers of sewers, than ii it were done by • private company.. The object of the com pany was to convert the sewerage too a valuable manure, and thus to reimburse themselves. But at was said that it was wrong for them to ask for any guarantee. That ema nate@ was that if the milts did not give an amount of 3 per cent., the defleiesey should be made up by the rate payers. It was thought reasonable %oarlike such • proposal, as the ratepayers would derive great sanitary advantages hem the drainage. The only asked now for the second reeding of the bill, and t hoped that the bill might be east to • eels* committee, a order that the remonableness of the proposal might be inquired into by the committee ; sad it wee his pelmets opinion, that if the committee would set permit the guarantee, so gnat was the confidence of the parties in the undertaking, that they would carry it out, but be did not think they should be called upon to undergo that risk. The promoters of the bill did tot make it • rise eye wow of their measure ; they only "eked that it should be inquired ,veto. There bed been • proposal that the ratepayers should share the profits, and there might be a proposal to that effect made oefore the committee, if the prelim were beyond a within amount, or it might he proposed that the gisanutteri should be permissive and not compulsory He oohed the house not to *jest the bid on account of these details. Sir LIZ L. EVANS odd if this were a mere question of detail, he should be walks* epee to the nosed reading. It was set. lowover, • seethes of detail, but of principle. It was • smiths of tanedlee el the public, which was not to beder~ by • owaraltese, bet by the house. Mr. T. BUNCOMBE wished the right bon. member for Manchester weeld some to his senses, He was sure Maw shelter some met steed sash • bill for a moment. He was quite sadist the, seppdag this clause were struck out, the whale eithethe was impracticable. Pans this bill, and there weal be nether body having power to pull up the pmewieute i SDI what between paving boucle, and lighting eseipanles, amderater companies, the pavements were now being coatiarely broken up already. The object of this bill was said to be to effectually_ drain the metropolis—a =rod object. They were teethe% it by two peat arterial , and after that they were to apply the sewerage to merieultural purposes. Why, he ues told that after all the manure to be obtained would not be worth a farthing. Well, then, this speculation would fail. lie was quite seedy to vote against the second reading of the bill at that =moat, and nut to put it off at all. Lord PALMERSTON said he thought this a very im portant measure, inasmuch as the object of it was to effect a my great horseman* in the drainage of the metropolis, sad to do that while must be the foundation of any system 111( drainage, *mom it was evident that unless they got some great WIN alt a thffisieotly low 'esti to coable the tholes to empep thetheelves into it nothing their could do meal bees erp eeesiderable effect. Then the question seemed le be whether Ma work, which would necessarily east a prase MI, sheuld be undertaken by parties who en• treed late it as • 411•11111.11111 enterprise, or whether the *et sheuM be defrayed by loan, to be guaranteed epee the MN to be levied in th e different parishes •of the 1111111111ta. He perhaps rather wished it the e th er hem Wog, perhaps, somewhat ashiefsegiel ea sehlest, when he said that this work • would **ably espoesede any other, but be was informed the GYM of the dietelei drains was such that a very large outlay might be nememery in ceder* place them in =effec tive state. He wee MM, bleed, that there were many dis tricts in which theft mere to sewers, and that there were ethers in which the seems@ ware such bad constructions from the beginales dist a ensiderable outlay was required in order to render dant effisselve. It was quite clear there wee • want of a inesiderable expenditure ost the various sewers. Now, thee was a provision made in this bill to which be wideness/ objection was made, by which there vas a guarantee of a certain per Genteel , on the outlay. That was a 'matter not, be thought, for the mooed readies, bet for the committee. He smell my It append le him, that if this project held net a sofficleat isileiseesat to a company to invest a ledge ea* id, a gsessatee el 3 per cent. was almost itheethliest smith the view dialed them to the enterprise, beep* if it would thew at all, it would answer without • guaradlue; and if it would not answer without • guarantee, be see minty should not advise any friend of his to invest In it. Be objected to the postponement, but should propose that the bill be hew read a sem* time, sad that the committee should deal with it. Lord SEYMOUR said foe many years they had been essedering the boat means of draining the mettopolis. Now the House of Commons seemed to object to the commission el sewers, whisk was by no means a popular body. (Hear, beer.) Again, it had been proposed that a government beard should widen** it, and that was considered still more objectionable. Now another proposal was mad*, that • private company should undertake the arterial drainage. Now there were great ob . Peden+ to • private company doing anything of the hied. They had had private companies supplying them with water, and that had not been satisfactory ; they put themeelvee under their power, and had very great difficulty in getting rid of them. But it must be remem bered that they had got to drain an immense area, and be 'squired some time ago of some engineers what it would take to drain the north bank of the Thames without bashing the other vide, sad they told him be mast not en• peat to de so under a millioa and • half. If this company esald undertake to do it, sad the ratepayets could be cer eal& of not having any charge made on them, and, at the same time, have the work efficiently done, they would, of course, receive a great benefit, and, therefore, it would be well, with • view to obtain some information on the subject, that the bill should go to aeommittee up stairs. He saw some oh jetties to that, but be thought the matter worthy of enquiry, sad if it was to be inquired into be hoped there would be so delay, because the noble lord said that any government measure would dewed is sows degree on what was do* with this, and if theydelayed they might lose another year. • Sir J. V. SHELLEY said be was one of them who thought there were three great nuisances in this esetropo lia,—lbe Cosemiseise of Sewers, the Board of Health, and the 'arrived* of the City of London. (Laughter.) He leokwl with therthise es this Wiese, because he had rev see to believe that the seepereiss of the City of London was this bail. Ifs endentooi the promoter* of the e ba sh=rl ao hoer it potties the capital unless they bad the pthimentee. If they es =mid the bill the compalay weld teme Mani sad whether they sould emit rt the esillel IMMO. is ad mg my the whole whose wee sbessh, boas he wee saides• that se swats *soli be head by which this groat week should He was anxious that the bill ebsuid be M seeseapihhed. *leered to • eels* amain*, but he could not consent to the second reales now, bemuse he thought that the rate yesehad a dohs teserdider the measure, ante he was sure C ausadtamale weld,tress give their consent to this gua- Tante, eft pert earth Mr. LOCKE theme* thy ought to consider the sub senbees. who hed end on the 'faith of this clause. life timed the bill ogee sot to go to a select committee unit they bad determined as to the guarantee. Mr. V. SCULLY observed that the principle of a gut though it might be novel in England, was common to Ireland. Kr. DIVETT hoped the house would not vote for the mond feasting under the delusion that it wee possible this work could go on as a private undertaking without a gua rantee. Mr. WILKINSON did not think tle mosey could be raimeg without • guAranter. Itil LOW ultras were wiling $ pey their fair share of the (accuse of Craiaig. procded they get their pennyworth for •heir pesoy. Mr. CAYLEY etipported the bill, and ta'd he 1-ioked on the eoroyant as ouh:le Nut fatit.,r.. After a ft w wort from Sir whi esdainel THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY E I VBNANG, MARCH 10, 1853. " A Zbo_Clfkt ELLOR of the EXCHEQUER objected the bill heinosent bp-stairs. He did not believe there we any informaden with& might be asked fir. *Mho wig not in a position to lies. It was natural that the honks should wish to know, and he assured them that as far an the taxation of the City of London was concerned, the coal duties,and the London-bridge Approaches Fund,they would remain precisely as they were, without • particle of differ ence. (Hear, hear.) It was entirely a question as in the moth of applying the mone and with regard to the Lon elosebeidgee - Appeasable-Fund, whether it should r *Tough one department of the government or another. One reason why he objected *sending the bill before a Mgegeittee upstairs was, that every day's delay was a east x(1101. to the Treasury. The object of the bill was to me 110,0001. to the pubic, without injuring a human being as fir as he was aware of. (Hear.) Putting himself for the state, the case stood thus:—lle had borrowed 895,0001. (which, with the interest of 184,000!. upon it, amounted to 1,029,0001.), for the purpose of effecting certain improvements in the City. He had therefore to pay • sum of 30,000!. every year. At the tame time he had several unemployed balances at his bankers, and he thought it was better to make use of these for the purpose of getting rid of this heavy annual payment of 30,0001. (Hear, boar.) By doing this he would elm re lieve the land revenues of the Crown out of a polities in which they ought never to have been placed, and would restore to that house the full jurisdiction which they ought to have over these , and which they never would have as long as they remained mortgaged. (Hear, hear.) These claims originated in this way. In 1839, the Com missioners of Woods and Forests, under the authority of en act of parliament, charged .the London-bridge Approaches Fund with a sum of 665,0001. for the purpose of promoting' , certain improvements in the city of London. But there were no proceeds from that fund at the time, because it was subject to ,certain prior charges. The Commissioners of Woods and Works therefore undertook to mortgage, and did mortgage, a certain portion of the land revenues of the Crown as security for the repayment of the money. A sum of 895,0001. was borrowed an;this way, and the im provements were effected. The interest on this had been regularly paid, but the land revenues continued meantime under mortgage. There were several slums at command for the liquidation of this debt, the principal one being the London-bridge Approaches Fund. But there was a prior charge of 660,0001. on that fund, and the interest upon that principal sum accumulated to 296,0001. He did not men tion this to the discredit of any one, because, as he had before stated, no revenue would be derivable for some time from that source. Therefore there was due upon the sth of January a sum of 961,0001. There was also • sum of 30,0001. advanced to the Westminster Improvement Com missioners, bearing interest at 4 per cent., and a further sum of 50,0001. made over as a gift to the same com missioners. Then there were two sums of 30,0001. each given on the fulfilment of certain condi tions to the Southwark Improvement Commissioners, the one of these sums bearing interest and the other not. There was, therefore, the principal sum of 1,029,0001., con sisting of 895,0001. principal and 134,0001. interest, bor rowed on the security of the crown ues , there were two sums of 30,0001. and 50,0001. advanced to the West minster Improvement Commissioners, and two sums of 30,0001. each advanced to the Southwark Improvement Commissioners. It was also necessary to allow a certain sum for the interest that might become due on the prin cipal sum of 895,0001. That was subject to certain condi tions of notice, so that it would not be in their power to pay it off at once. He took 25,0001. prospectively as the risible maximum amount of that interest. It would be necessary also to allow a liberal amount for interest on the other sums, and for this be allowed 21,7761. Adding all these sums together the right hon. gentleman would find that they amounted to 1,216,0001., which would be the maximum of charge on the Consolidated Fund. With regard to the assets, there was 961,0001. to come from the London-bridge Approaches Fund, that is to say for the principal sum of. 665,0001, and the interest of 296.0001. thereon. There was 30,0001. to be re paid by the Westminster commissioners, and 250,0001. the anticipated proceeds from ground rents. These added together made about 1.241,9001., which was more than am ply sufficient to cover the maximum charge on the consoli dated fund. There was another sum for which he did not take credit, as it would depend on the productiveness of the London-bridge Approaches Fund ; but without,the assets were more than sufficient to meet the liabilities. He hoped that he had now satisfactorily explained to the right hon. gentleman and the house the seeming discrepancy between the debt and the sum asked for in the bill. lie was sure that nothing more wits required than discussion across the table to insure the approval of this bill. (Hear, hear.) Mr. HENLEY rose to make a few observations, but 6 o'clock having arrived, the house adjourned. that he eia not mean that the metr4okit; . !oil to bo ‘. fieved of proper taxation , The house divided— For the second reading • • ''' 4 oit• 111 • Against it ;.. 16,-96 PC BLIC BUSMEN/. ‘ PETITIONS PRESENTED: , . . JEWIIIII DISAUILITIF.3.—By Mr. It. TUDWAY, from the Dean and Chapter of Wells, and from the inhabitants of Wells; Mr. PACKS, from Crooly, County of Leicester; Mr. HAMILTON. from the Baths Church Lay Association, end from Portarlington, County Tipperary; Mr. DAVIES, from the intiabi.unu of the parish of Llangendeirne, in Car ntarthenshire ; Mr. NEWDEOATE, from St. Nicholas, arwick ; Gossford, Denbigh; East laity, Berke; Hey on, Norfolk ; South Codbury, Somerset ; Chardon , Nor [ .1k ; Lockeen, Tipperary; Sundridge, Chevening. Brasted, ens; (2) Uxbridge, Fleetwood, and Bassets Attlebxrough, arwickshire • (3) Norwood and Southall, Middlesex • Bt. ary's Church , It ehdele. Lancashire ; Great Saling. E ssex ; mancore and Kntruck, Wexford ; and Starkey, Norfolk; spinal the removal of. Stutairra . COCRTS.—By Mr. A. HASTIE, from the bankers, merchants, and other inhabitants of Olsagow, in public meeting assembled ; for the improvement of. OPENING or THE CITITAL PALACE ON SUNDATE.— By Mr. MILLER, from Maldon, against. • HUARD or Ilnu.rm Aer, 1818.--By Mr. COBBETT, from Middl. ton, Lincashire complaining of the manner in which the act had been intr oduced into the township, and praying for the repeal of. CONEOLIDATED ATINCITIES,—By Mr. HAMILTON, front the grand jury of Leitrim, signed by Lord Clements, the foreman, praying to be relieved from the payment of. AEFORNIES . CERTIFICATE DCTY.—By Mr. K. C. lUD WAY, front inhabitants of Wells; Mr. EVELYN, from Eattorneys and solicitors of Fushun, Surrey; Mr. ACHE. from Loughborough, and one from Hinckley ; WEST, from the attorneys of Ruthin, for the re- Pei et• CRUELTY TO ANIMALS BILL. On the order of the day for the second reading of this bill, Mr. F. MACKENZIE moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr. T. BUNCOMBE, who moved the second reading of the bill, said his object in bringing it for• ward was to give an appeal, not only, as now, where the penalty inflicted was forty shil.ings and upwards, but in all cues. He had been induced to bring forward the measure in consequence of an occur rence at Penryth. A Mr. David Hill had paced some sheep in a Held in the occupation of a tenant of the Rev. Mr. Milner, the rector of Penryth. The sheep had the rot, and Mr. Milner demanded 41. for poisoning his field. This demand Mr. Hill refused to comply with, and there upon Mr blilner laid an information under the Act for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals fur driving the sheep while they were in an unlit state. Thero were three or four magistrate on the bench, Mr. Milner among them ; and Mr. Hill alleged that Mr. Milner adjudicated on his ow„ case. Mr. Hill was fined U. 19s. 6d., and though his attorney requested that the fine might be 6d. more, in order that hie client might appeal, the magistrates refaied , and Mr. Hill was compelled to ipay the penalty. Mr. Hill complained to the Secretary of State, and subsequently to two Lord Chancellors,but got no redress, and a petition signed by eighteen farmers was then presented to this house. The object of this bill was to give an appeal in all cases, and also to extend the time of the notice of appeal from three days to seven or ten. He believed also some hon. members wished to introduce a provision with respect to dog-carts. Sir G. GREY said he caused inquiry to Le made, and was informed that Mr. Miner did not adjudicate in the cue, but that he sat apart, and merely an:ducted himself as any other informant would; that nothing was said about an ap peal ; and that the amount of the Ilse was not in the leant degree affected by the question of appeal. Under these circumstances he thought a complete answer had been given to the charge. Mr. FITZROY said the reasons on which the bill was pomaded had not been sada good. The bill appeared to have been brought in for the purpose of making a charge which had failed. There were many other offences for which fines were imposed, with regard to which there was so appeal. Mr. IRTON said • few weeds is vindication of the ma gistrates whose conduct had been attacked. Mr. AGLIONBY said the case had caused great excite most in the neighbourhood, and if the amount of the fine was not fixed purposely to prevent an appeal, it was unto: , emote that it wee fixed at Gd. below the required amount. Ss thought there ought to be either so appeal at all or au ellirall cases. .I in HILDYARD *prod the bill, which he laid was • IMI against Mr. Milner. The hot. and ratted gentleman ties read a letter which Mr. Dasoombe had addressed to ▪ Miner, charging him with " rant injustice;" and mid that the hog. member hdtbeiebl espy* himself to as action fir libel. He believed that die W hoes seserly introduced from • personal feeling, sad should therefore vote against it. Mr. Aohtoenr explained. Mr. DE EDES, while anxious (or an improvement is the law relating to cruelty to animals, said he would not press his amendments. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL deprecated any discus sion on the conduct of • magistrate, and recalled the atten tion of the house to the provisions of the bill. As the law stood there was • cheap and summary remedy ; and he knew of no class of offences where it was ler desirable to introduce the power of appeal; it would in effect destroy the operation of the act. Sir DE L. EVANS considered the bill not one for pre venting cruelty to animals, but for giving additional impu nity to offenders. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said be had already candid) y stated the object of the bill. He did not believe that his letter to Mr. Milner was libellous ; if that gentleman thought so he (Mr. Duneombe) was ready to meet him in say court he might choose. The hon. gentlemen read • correspondence which had passed between him and the Rev. Mr. Essell, another of the convicting =aglitter', whose letters he ob served were neither sense nor gragunar. In one of the eases referred to the defendant, being fined 395. 6d., and not being able to pay, was committed; and the result was that he died in prison. The proceeding against Hill had evi dently originated in a spirit of ge. The house then divided— For the second reading Against It 91-74 The bill is consequently lost. PUBLIC-HOUSES (SCOTLAND) BILL. Mt. COWAN presented • petition from Edinburgh, signed by 21,000 persons, in favour of this bill. Mr. F. MACKENZIE, in smelt, the second reading of the bill, said that some of the objectionable clauses had been withdrawn. Kr. MACKIE ;Netted to the clause giving the police power to enter houses. Mr. ELLIOTT approved of the bill as altered. The bill was then read a second time. COURTS OF COMMON LAW (IRELAND) BILL. The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved to postpone the committee en this bill till Wednesday next, owing to the absence on circuit of many gentleman who took an interest in its provisions. After • few words from Mr. G. Burr, The postponement was agreed to. LAND IMPROVEMENT (IRELAND) BILL. The house went into committee as this bill. Col. GREVILLE moved an 'smudgiest on erase 23, to Mier the words, "la respect of the dares of improve ment marked in clause 8 of this set, by the *umbers 1,2, 4, 6, and 8." Sir J. YOUNG opposed the amendment, as affecting the principle of the bill. I After • conversation the amendment was withdrawn. Mr. KIRK proposed to add at the end of clause 36, the hillowleg proviso:— 'Provided always, that the said in creased rent to be so fixed by the said Commissione.s of Public Works in Ireland, shall not exceed the sum of five pounds annually for each one hundred pounds so laid out seise the provisions of this sat; and that the tenant in eguspation, if be feels himself aggrieved by the decision of die said Commissioners of Public Works, may appeal to the assistant-barriiiter at quarter sessions ,• in slicers when the said ihcreoied rent shall not exceed fifty pounds a year, or in care when the increased rent exceeds fifty . pounds a year, then to one of the superior courts of law in Ireland, whose derision is each case shall be deemed final and con elusive." Sir J. YOUNG said this would be a very dangerous limitation of the set. He knew eases whore the money laid oat had repaid itself in two or three years ; and the effect of this proviso would be to prevent the money being laid out. Sir R. FERGUSON objected to the proviso. Mr. V. SCULLY supported it. L rd NAAS said the bill was merely permissive, and any limitation of its provisions would operate disadvantageously. Dr. BRADY moved as an amendment the introduc ion of the following words:—" Unless otherwise agreed upon by the landlord and t " Ultimately both the amendment and proviso were with drawn, on the understanding that some alteration should be made in the bill on the bring ing up of the report. Mr. P. URQUHART moved a clause empowering land lords to borrow money to pay taunts for improvements of the clue enumerated under clause 8. Sir J. YOUNG opposed the clause, as inconsistent with the , whet provisions of the bill. Tenants should not necessarily sell their improvements to the landlords, but to other tenants. Mr. FITZGERALD opposed it on the same ground. The clause was withdrawn. The bill passed through committee, and was ordered to be reported on Friday. ELECTION COMMITTEES. Sir J. TROLLOPE reported, from the general committee on elections, the names of the committees in the cases of Chester and Maldoo, alto some additional names (including that of Sir George Grey) for the chairmen's panel. DERBY ELECTION. Mr. INGHAM brought up the report of the committee on the Derby election (for which see reports of the com mittees). CATHEDRAL APPOINTMENTS BILL. This bill, as amended, was taken into consideration. Mr. AGLIONBY asked why • certain return bad net been made ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was unable to answer the question, and desired that it might be re petted on the third reading of the bill. The amendmen "greed to. INDEMNITY BILL. This bill pared through commi:tee, sal was ordered to b' reported this day. PUBLIC HEALTH ACT. Sir G. PECIIELL said he wished to call the attention of the hou'c to the operation of the Public Health Act, 1918, sail .o the system of legislating by means of provisional eiders issus4 by the Gement Board of aealsk to theAsvend glow, to a id:isfelefe.• Re had a pe4bee,-osi thle ftm S somplainhag of the *pennies of the est. When t P " Health Act was passed the object wais to ',vivid* for the sanitary improvemenkof the people. No doubt that was • very deshable object; tint the 'antennae 'was, Beat is emsequence of ithe.Disarel of Health centralisieg all . the power in their own hands, greet injustice was done in several localities. The Public Health Let declared that no interference should take place with ant towns unless one-tenth of she inhabitaata petitioned foe each interference. When that interference was asked for, an inspector was sent down to inquite into . the state o f -the town, and to report to the board. In every ease these inspectors of course expected that it was desirable to carry out the Public Health Act, and apply it to the particular locality to which they were sent. On this report being made, the board issued what was called a provisional order—which embodied the Police Act, the Improvement of Towns Act, and the local act referring to the town, all is one. Tbie was not enough, for this provisional order was buried in some dark cellar which was scarcely accessible to say one, and it got at it was impossible to understand what it meant. There were 71 towns where the Public Health Act was ap plied by means of provisional orders ; 66 where it was ap plied by orders in council. There were 22 provisional orders pending, and 12 towns where the Board of Health declared that it was not expedient to apply the act at pre sent. All of these towns were large and important places, There were com plaints _ from several other localities. One of these was Bromyard. When the ratepayer of that place knew that it was resolved to force upon them the Public Health Act on the pretence that one-tenth of the inhabitants had petitioned for that purpose. they assem bled in public meeting, and resolved by 1,266 to 336 against the application of the act. In Worcester again, the board attempted to force the act, contrary to the express wish of the mayor and corporation of the place. In Portsmouth there was a majority of one in the town council in favour of the application of the act. But as the general body of ratepayers would have to pay the expenses, he con sidered that their feelings ought to be consulted and respected on • matter of this kind. Since the establishment of the board they had received no less than 80,000 letters, and they had despatched 56,000. Besides this there were 1,030 letters asking for the opinions of solicitors, in order to explain this clear act of parliament. The correspondoooe cost 20,0001., in addition to the 10,0001. salaries which the board d. There were, no doubt, very excellent men on that board, but it seemed to him that they were committing the same fault as the Poor Law Board had committed, namely, that of not consulting local feelings. (Hear, hear.) He bad confidence in the present head of the Board of Works, and he trusted that these provisional orders would not be enforced contrary to the wishes of the ratepayers. If the act was to be carried out in its present form, he hoped the thing would be done openly, and that an effectual inquiry would be instituted on the subject. The hon. baroaet con cluded by moving for the following returns—Returns of all places which lave petitioned the General Board of Health for the application of the Public Health Act, 1848, with the dates when such petitions were received, distinguishing the towns where provisional orders have been conilmurd, and where orders in council have been issued, with the dates of such provisional orders and orders in council, stating whether an original or an amended order, with the dates of any such amended order that have been issued to such towns: Of the towns that have been struck out of the schedules of the several confirmatory bills in parliament, with the dates when they were so struck out, distinguish ing those towns whose provisional orders have subsequently been confirmed by parl iament: Of the names of any places to which inquiries have been directed with the view to the application of the Public Health Act, without any local application for the same : Of the places which have sent memorials to the General Board, complaining of the manner in which the Public Health Act has operated, or of the manner in which it is proposed by the general board to apply the same to their town, with the number of petitions for the amendment of the said act which have been presented to this house; and, account of the expenses of applying the Public Health Act by provisional order, and Order in Council, with the total amount expeaded in the application of the said act, distinguishing the expenses of each preliminary inquiry, and of the printing and publica tion of the several reports and statements sanctioned by the board in relation thereto. _ Mr. LASLETT seconded the motion. The inhabitants of Worcester were extremely badly treated in this matter. The town was surveyed, end a bill of coats was presented for that to the amount of 1,0001., though the surveyor after wards consented to take 6001. The people of Worcester would not consent to the application of the act unless they were allowed some control over the officers. Ho would move for a committee of inquiry to investigate the com plaints made by the inhabitant:of Worcester. Ilk W. MOLESWORTII said he did not rise for the rrof defending all the acts of the Board of Health s eensposition of that board. Yet he must say that they were anxiously desirous to benefit the public. The Beard of Health had two duties to perform—the first was to pat the water supply, the drainage, and the sewage of awns under local authority ; and next, it bad to superin tend these things. They proceeded en the application of eastenth of the inhabitants, upon which they issued a pro- visional order, which was something in the nature of a pri vate bill. The east of local improvement acts was 2,4001., whereas the test of a provisional order was only 1021. Now, the 161 towns to which provisional orders were applied cost only 15,0001., whereas local acts would have cost them MT 360,0041.1 b had said that he did not defend the constitution of the board, nor would he defend even its admi nistratisa in ell eases. It was, therefore, the ict•ntioa of the seveannent to introduce a measure for the alteration of the Ward, sad the amer.dinent of the Public Health Act and he was not without hopes that the contemplated improvements would give satisfaction. (Hear, hear.) The ease of Worcester was under consideration, and he hoped that the matter of complaint would be satisfac torily adjusted. (Hear.) Lord SEYMOUR said he agreed with the right hon. gentleman, that the constitution of the board required amendment, ' as well as the Public Health Aet itself. (Hear, hear.) He thought it would be best if they could go back to the system of giving local acts at a small expense. Mr. EVELYN thought that the different towns should have some control over the unitary arrangements VIM affected them. Under the present system the small team of England were completely in the power of the Waldo Se complained of the proceedings of the board with no* to Dorking. Mr. HENLEY was glad to bear that the AIM low ad deems intended to propose changes in the eseilleedee et Ile board and the Public Health Act ; and be biped that be would introduce the changes as soon as possible. Mr. WHALLEY remarked that a great SOWN of the evil was to be fined in the way in which the private busi ness of the house was conducted, and the cut of procuring bills. Mr. BROTHERTON protested against the youngest member of the house finding fault with the mode of con ducting the private business, with which he must be totally unacquainted. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.) Mr. HUME said he agreed with his Loa. friend in his denunciation of the mode in which the private business was carried on. The reviles was this agreed to. SOUTHAMPTON ELECTION. Mr. H. A. HERBERT, referring to a report which had been presented to the house at 12 o'clock from the South ampton election committee, now moved that Robert E. Bowe: be kept in the castody of the Sergi ant-at-Arms, and that he be brought before the committee from time to time as the committee might require. This individual, whose evidence counsel declared to be of importance, relined to take an oath on conscientious grounds; and when asked if he was a Quaker, Moravian, or Separatist, he said that he was a Separatist, but when the affirmation required to be made in that case was put to him he demurred and refused to declare solemnly that he belonged to the sect called Separatists; " alleging that when he said he was a Separa tist he meant that he had separated himself from other reli gions sects. Under these circumstances he believed that no other course was open to him, as the chairman of the com mittee, than to make the motion he had. (Hear, hear.) Mr. HUME said that he agreed to the motion, but as he felt strongly that their legislation with regard to oaths was not comet, he thought that this person should be called to the bar, and asked why he refused to take the oath. The motion was then agreed to. LOUTH ELECTION PETITION. The petition against the return of Mr. Kennedy was dis charged, the Speaker having received notice that it was not the intention to prosecute it. CHATHAM ELECTION. On the motion for adding Sir W. Jolliffe to the Warwick election petition, Mr. STAFFORD asked for the indulgence of the house in reference to a matter which was somewhat personal to himself. It had been stated in a leading article of a paper of great infioence and circulation, that the late government had returned to the old system of dispensing government patronage for political purposes in respect to the late ekes Lion for Chatham. To that statement he offered his an qualified contradiction, and ell he asked for was that the house would suspend its judgment till the evidence was printed. (Hear, hear.) He asked this se an act of common justice from the house which he was sure they would not refuse to the meanest criminal. (Hear, hear.) The motion was then agreed to. BLACKBURN ELECTION. On the motion of Mr. W. PATTON, the report, minutes of proceedings, and (*Wanes in the Blackburn election petition were ordered to be printed. GRAND JURIES IN IRELAND. On the motion of Mr. WM•now a return was ordered of the number of cases in which bills for murder or man slautthter against police, yeomen, or military, have been presented to grand juries in Ireland since the year 182.0 ; specifying in each can whether the Mil was found true or ignored, and also specifying the locality in which the loss of life took plan, and the number of pt Mill killed, and also whether the parties against whom bills have been found have been convicted or acquitted by the petty jury. METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS. Oa the motion for eonsideriug the amendments to this bill, Sir W. JOLLIFFE asked for some explanation of the discrepancy whied seemed to exist in the blll. It teemed that a sum of no lea than 1,221,0001. was asked to be trans ferred for the purposes of the bill, whereas the cdt bt amounted to only 961,3021. This bill alto capitalised the arrears of interest, which was objectionable. Mr. IIU3IE did not think that any statement could re move the doubt which exbdtd with regard to the report on this subject. The report *tided that 296,0001. interest had been allowed to accumulate up to the sth of January It was a great slur on a public department that such a sum should bo allowed to accumulate. Re thought that the sub• ject should be referred to a committee up-stain. NEW COMMITTEE. NEW WINIMOIL —Yesterday the general committee of elections appointed the following members to serve on this committee :—Mr. J. M. Ciaskell (chairman), Mr. C. L. Bruce, Hon. G. H. Cavendish, Lord Loraine, Mr. C. Cowan. REDRUTH AND CHASEWATER RAILWAY. Yesterday, in Mr. Patten's committee, the preamble of this hill was passed, fur constructing new works at a cost of 13,0001. SALFORD BOROUGH EXTENSION AND IMPROVEMENT. Yesterday the preamble of this bill, for including Brough ton and Pendleton within the limits of the Improvement sag Waterworks Act, was deelared proved. Mr. Oliveira was shut out of the division on the Clergy Reserves (Canada) Bill, which he intended to vote for. etie ervregigi. TO CORRESPONDENTS. seenua Edition of "The Express," amtuluimt time ems swains', " Gazette." is published every Tuesday sadYriday sight. ut time toe ;sot. S. am tamest' essded foe " The Expnee,"l.ooioU Evening pew, sun be et the Oise, fO, Douverisodreet, by Two o'doek ow Wm fay of poblfooldro. • HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. ?a " DiTitarfike• 0. 4024. ----Molasses. IC. On. to-sossow—Maniba SA. .... 31.3 k.. LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 10. Tun Derby Election Committee, like the Chatham Committee, has done its duty manfully and well. The candidate of "W. 8.," FRAIL, MORGAN, RAD FORD, and Co., has been unseated. The Bribery at the County Tavern has been defeated, and Mr. HORSPALL, of Liverpool, is no longer able to append M.P. to his name. The seat he has thus been put out of has been awarded to Mr. HETWORTH, its rightful owner ; the Tory petition against Mr. BABE has been declared" frivolous and vexatious;" whilst, to crown all, news comes from Derby that the Grand Jury at the Assizes there have found a true bill upon NI indictment for bribery against MORGAN. Thus far, all is as it should be; but this is by no means all that is required. Other Committees have yet to sit, and, by an upright and bold discharge of their duty, win the public applause, now cheerfully paid to the members who tried the cases against Chatham, Derby, and other boroughs. We shall have other bribing delinquents unkennelled, and other improperly elected M.P.s unseated. The spread of this canker of corruption will be further tracked until full knowledge on the sub ject has not only demonstrated yet more completely the need for Parliamentary Reform, but has in structed the country and the Legislature on the beet mode of securing it. Some large towns have yet to peas through the ordeal of a Committee, and amongst them Liverpool, and there is little doubt but the evi dence relative to the elect►on in that town will point out one prominent loophole through which corruption makes its way amongst constituencies, and there or elsewhere it is to be hoped we may find eviaence cal culated to involve in the punishment of bribery those higher, and hitherto more hidden, agents, the em ployers of the MORGANS and FRAILS. Hitherto we have only caught members of the lower grade of this criminal class. The Artful Dodgers of the Rotten Boroughs have been caught by the Parliamentary Police, but where are the Fogies? The great plunder does not fall to the FRAILS and the Mtn roans : they are the procurers only in this corrupt work. Where are those who set the abomination in motion ? The task of investigation cannot be com plete till tAey are caught. To make thorough work of it the House of Commons must, of course, issue Commissions like the one sent to St. Albans ; since by process in that mode alone shall we be able to come at the whole truth. Under the wholesome operation of a Commission of Inquiry many of the " British Voters" who have sold themselves at 30 shil lings a head will, like men ashamed of guilt, make a clean breast of it; will tell by whose hands they touched the unholy silver for which their trust was sold. From the bribes we shall travel up the scale to the Briber ; from him we may hope to learn who supplied the money ; and then, call►ng this third party into the box, may ultimately reach that fountain head of the mischief—the great London Wholesale Firms who deal in Boroughs and Counties is other men deal in corn or in stocks. Commissions alone can ferret•the evil to its root, and they must be called for as the natural and only legi timate conclusion of the important inquiries now in progress. Whilst we are about this dirty task—this real attempt to cleanse an Aegean stable—let us all strive to do the work thoroughly. Those who object to the exposures--perhaps fearing them, or it may be thriving by the sale of seats—say, " If we check the sin it will giow again,"—"You can't prevent Bribery,"—" Corruption ',sista in all Governments," and so on. Them is just one small particle of truth in this Amble or vicious talk, but mixed up with it a very great portion of fallacy and falsehood. Whilst man are mortal , them will be weakness and sin—but because Captain Rook plucks Mr. Pigeon the world does not therefore throw up the cards in despair. Because the police can't catch a'l the thieves we do not therefore put the police down and let rob bery have its full swing unchecked. The common sense world sails on a widely different tack, and when a keen detective has caught one rogue they tell him to go on and catch another and another, that honesty may be vindicated against those who outrage it. Because weeds may grow a second time the gardener does not therefore give up weeding as hopeless. So with this difficulty of Electoral Cor ruption, the public expect the House of Com mons to pursue the honest, upright, common-sense course of catching all the sinners they can,—finding out the real inciters to the crime of selling seats,—tracking their secret courses,—itivestigating their plans of husi neas,—punishing all who can be convicted, and then, with all the obtainable knowledge well in hand, the nation look for the day when their represen tatives will be found going to work to arrange such a plan of Parliamentary Reform as shall—in the words of BENTHAM—maximise the good and minimise the evil of an electoral system. This task will not be found to be so difficult as at first sight it may appear to be. As a rule, bribery falls back in despair before large constituencies. Here and there, where old corrupt elements have been retained and allowed to infLct the new voters, we might detect a few exceptions to this. But they are exceptions. Large constituencies will be found to be one death blow to the trade of the seat-mongers. Marylebooe and Finsbury—Man chester and Birmingham, and such like places, are too huge to be comprehended in any scheme of crea tures like W. B. and his rivals in an infamous trade. They may contest such places of course. All men are ut liberty to do that. But they cannot buy them . T'sey cannot send down bags of sovereigns to be dispbnsed by a Man in the Moon, to buy a seat which the purchaser means afterwards to sell. MR. SERJEANT ADAMS—the SOLON of Petty Sessions—has discovered a new crime, and has fixed on it a new punishment. He becomes at once en titled to all the publicity the press can give him. He has discovered a novelty, and has distinguished himself by a remarkable act. This discovery of the learned Ser- 1 jeant—this novelty in crime—is— calling a policeman a pig; the punishment, three years' transportation. The notable fact reaches us through the reports of the =ding, at the Middlesex Sessions, at which on y one MARY HILL, aged 22, was tried for rob-' bing a man named UNWIN. It seems clear that this MARY HILL was a bad character. She belonged to that glass which forms an apparently inevitable portion of all crowded communities—a fungus growth, as it were, of the blood-heat of high civilisation —but whose lives, if deserving condemnation, ask also he pity. First victims and then pests, they are entitled to at least some charitable consideration from the sex who adopt them first as toys—use them next as conveniences—and finally " put them down "as criminals. No doubt this wretched Magdalen was a companion of thieves —herself a thief—and leagued with a class especially dangerous to men out at night after late and over ijovial parties; but this being said, all has been said- I The law recognises robbery as a crime and allots a certain punishment for that peculiar offence. " MARY HILL, aged 22, a woman of loose character" (as the report runs), doubtless was all that was alleged against her. The jury were no doubt quite right in their verdict, when they declared her guilty of " having stolen a gold watch value 61., the property of THOMAS UNWIN, from his person"—said "THOMAS UN WIN young man, a clerk on the Eastern Counties Rail way," having replied to her solicitations on the street and "accompanied her to a court." It may be quite true, also, that she was connected with a gang of thieves, who, when the very innocent prose cutor was with MARY HILL in a court, came up and assaulted Mr. THOMAS Utswils, who "being very frightened ran away,"—afterwards finding he had lost his watch. It is also clear by the evidence that this clerk on the Eastern Counties Railway charged MARY HILL with stealing his watch—and she being of loose character, was locked up upon Uwwiw's oath, tried, and convicted of robbery, although the lost watch was not found upon her. The jurors, sworn to do justice according to the evidence, doubt less felt it to be their simple duty to return the ver dict they did. But the matter does not stop here. The report of the trial thus continues : The jury having found the prisoner guilty, The Assistant-Judge asked if anything was known of her previous character ; tor if there was, it was a proper case for transportation, as this system of robbery, with the aid of bullies, was a very serious thing. A police-officer uidshe was the associate of thieves and bad characters, and she was with a regular gang when she was taken into custody. The Assistant-Judge then sentenced her to seven years' transportation. The prisoner, who bad gone down on her knees implor ing mercy, on hearing this rose up, and in:a towering rage screamed out to the policeman, with many oaths—" You pig! oh, you pig! you perjured thief!" The Assistant-Judge.—The sentence upon you now is, that you be transported far ten years. Here, then,we have the remarkable novelty in crime and punishment. Mr. Serjeant ADAMS sentences MARY HILL for robbing THOMAS UNwIN to seven years' transportation. This weight of sentence is seemingly brought down upon her by the statement of the police officer in reply to a . question from the Judge— ," Who knows her previous character ?" " I do," is the response; " she is an associate of thieves." " Transport her for seven years," quoth Serjeant ADAMS. The prisoner, who on her had been asking mercy, starts to her flushed with indignation . against the officer w hose description of her companions bad thus ensured her condemnations With oaths of phrenzied passion and rage, she shrieks to the policeman, "You pig, oh you pig, you perjured thief." "The sentence on you ISM" —say s Mr. Serjeant ADAMS—" is that you be transported fen years." Clearly seven years for the robbery—three years for calling a policeman a pig. Whether all this be more ludicrous or more shameful it is really difficult to say. After a prisoner has been once sentenced, another sentence cannot be pronounced for the same offence. The extra three years' transportation could not ' therefore be an extra punishment for the robbery, or the immoral life, or for anything that had been given in evidence against the prisoner on whom it was pronounced. In what statute, let us ask then, don Mr. Serjeant ADAMS see the punishment of three years in the hulks set down as that for bad language ? Where is the act of parliament on', which he proceeds? How and where does he find his justification ? We wait for a reply. Those who know him and his proceedings beat—and those, too, who read from time to time the record of what happens in the courts where he presides— may, perhaps, be inclined to think that Mr. Serjeant ADAMS himself would wince, if three years' transportation always legally followed violent ex pressions used io court. Is he a dove-like model of self-control? Is he a stranger to passion and to violence of speech ? Does he preserve ever one placid equability of voice and manner—tempering justice with mercy? Is he gentleness personified aiming to the Bench of Justice from a well-stored home, and returning thence to a well-kept table— heeding ever the trials of those more tempted and more wretched mortals, whose bread has to be won by courses of infamy, and whose liberty hangs upon the oath of those ready to share their sins, but unwilling to be their victims! Should not Serjeant ADAMS with a knowledge of what he him self is in matters of feeling and of hasty speech, have remembered to do to others as he would others should do to him ? Should he not Lightly scan his brother man, More lightly sister—woman ? He thinks not. His actions say so. From a Bench, made remarkable by. his own liberties of speech, he hurls out three years at the hulks as the penalty to be paid by a wretched woman of 22, who—standing helpless a convict in the dock—in a fit of impotent rage and agony abuses a policeman. DEATH FROM THE SNOW STORM.—OR the morn ing of Ssbb.itb, the 27th ult., the dead body of Mr. David Adams, schoolmaster. Whitehill, Biree. was found in the snow on the road at Berrying'', in that parish, by the post runner of the district. Mr. Adams had parted with a neighbour about ten o'clock on the previous cvening.—Edin borjh Couvind. FRANCE. PARIS, WEDNESDAV EVENING. It is now understood that the coronation of the Emperor Napoleon and the Empress Eugenie will take place next month. A decree in this morning's 21fonaeur nominates General Aupick, Ambassador at Madrid. The Ottoman Government has conceded to the French Consul at Smyrna, an indemnity of 300000 piastres for distribution among such of his country men as have been plundered by brigands. A considerable change is made to-day in the re gulations relative to the restoration and repairing ecclesiastical buildings. Before 1818 it was a fre quent subject of complaint that the einp!oyment of the large sums annually voted by the state for the maintenance of precious historical and artistica monuments was left too much to the discretion of local architects, whose labours, in a general point of view, failed to produce a creditable result. Iu that year a permanent committee was appointed for the examination of all plans of church building or im provement, and at the same time France was divided into 32 diocesan districts, confided to approved archi tects, who were directed to make a just division of the credits voted, to consider how the work of restoration might hest be carried on upon a regular system, and to give precise and complete instructions to operative agents. M. Fortoul, Minister of Public Worship, in a report to the Emperor, acknowledges that from that time the department of church build ing and reparation has been hater managed than formerly. But he says it has been found by expe. rience that the substitution of Parisian for local architects—an idea adopted for the sake of giving unity of direction to important archmolo,gical works —has been in many instances &trimmer to parishes possessing a church of no peculiar interest or beauty, but in want of immediate repair. Bishops have com plained of having to wait more than a year before the attention of one of the central architects could bo obtained for the purpose of the most ordinary repara tion, and then the expense of the journey has been out of all proportion to the occasion. M. For toul, to remedy these inconveniences, proposes to return to the system of employing local archi tects except iu extraordinary cases, but every plan and estimate is to be submitted to a superior committee of inspection, to bo appolieed annually by the Emperor. The inspectors are to vi-it periodically, either personally or by their agents ' all the works confided to their superintendence, and to make a pri vate report to the Minister of' Public Worship as to the state of the buildings, the propriety of the archi tect's plans, and the regularity of the expence. They will meet from time to time in committee under the presidence of the Director-General of Public Worship, and will make an annual report of the gene ral state of ecclesiastical buildings throughout the country. A decree to carry out this arrangement follows the report in the Moni!cur, and further di rect that the:standingeommittie on religious edifices attached to the committee of public instruction and worship, shall henceforth consist of three sections, the section of architecture and sculpture, the section of painted glass and religious ornaments, and the sec tion of organs and religious music. The three newly created inspectors are M. Ll'..once Reynaut, an en gineer in chief, director of bridges and highways, professor of architecture in the Polytechnic School, &c, and MM. Vaudoyer and Viollet le Duc, govern vernment architects. Their salaries for this service will be 6,000 fr. each. Three more senators are created this morning: General Aupick, French ambassador at Madrid ; Lebrun, ex-peer of France and member of tho Insti tute, and Baron Thieullen, member of the Corps Legislatif. General Aupick is exceedingly well known. I have endeavoured to learn something about the two others, but the only answer 1 have obtained to my inquiries is, that they are ":nullites." M. Lebrun is known,: however, as the author of the tragedy of " Marie Stuart." One-fourth of the legislative session is now over, and the only public measure passed by the Corps Legislative is a bill for sanctioning the payment of 5,0001 r. arrears of rent due by the Minister of Public Instruction. During the very few days on which they have held public sittings for some half hour or so, they have done nothing but vote a few insignifi cant private bills. All this, while the .Voniteur has been unusually fertile in decrees. And if anything were wanting to hold up the people's representa tives in a more glaring light to the eyes of the coun try as a perfectly useless body, the fact of their now for the first time receiving a salary of 2,500 fr. per month would accomplish the object. It is probable that one or two energetic speeches will pro test against the farce of the budget, but this will be the whole work of the session. M. de Montalem bert, it is understood, will make one great speech, if M. Billault will let him, but this is very doubtful. It was fancied last year, that when the excitement consequent upon the coup cleat had passed away, and a regular governmeut should be established, the Corps Legislatif would assert the prerogative theore tically belonging to them as constitutional guardians of the public purse, and seriously examine the state of the finances. There is, however, now no expecta tion of their making any such attempt as a body. They know their impotence, and are resigned to it. They sac mere puppets in the hands of the govern ment, and are utterly without interest inthe country. Nobody cares to inquire whether they are sitting or not. The only consequence of their throwing out any important bill would be that they would be dis solved, and the government carried on without the form of an appeal to them. To make amends for their political insignificance, they gratify their sense of importance by making a stand upon various questions of etiquette. The other day they made a really gallant demonstration of indepen dence by presenting themeelyes at the Tuileries in pantaloons when breeches were ordered to be min, they passed a sort of private vote of censure upon ace of their body for appearing at a recent levee in the uniform of a chamberlain to the Emperor, rather than in that of a deputy. They busy themselves more than ever about the prepare Lions for the ball to be given to the Empress, and dispute so hotly upon the subject, that M. de Moray and several other stewards have resigned. It is now I believe, settled, notwithstanding certain ultra religious objections, that the ball shall take place on Easter Monday. Each member will subscribe 700 fr. and, as there are but two seats vacant in the house, composed of 261 member., a sum total of 180,000 fr. will be realised. It has been voted that the subscription money shall be stopped out the first month's salary of members. On the Bourse to-day the business transacted was at very fluctuating rates. A rise of 15c. was finally obtained in the prices of the Three per Cents., which closed at 811. 15c. for the next settlement. The Four and-a-Half per Cents. on the contrary left off 10c. lower, being last called 1041. 900., and Bank Stock also sustained another heavy fall of 15E, leaving off at 2,750 for the account. Railway shares were for the most part higher. The latest prices received by telegraph to-day from the other continental bourses were:—Amsterdam: Metalliques (Five), 811• ' Two and-a-Half Belgian , 53 ; ditto, Dutch, 65 ; Bank shares, 4'4; Coupons, 6 7-16. Antwerp: Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 98;; Two-and-a-Half, 561; Metalliques, 85. Brussels: Fives, 100: ' • Four-and-a-Half, 984; 'f wo-and-a- Half, 56 3-16; Bank of Belgium, 91. Vienna: Metalliques, Five per Cents., 944; New Loan, 106; Lomb., 991; Bank shares, 4102; exchange on London, 10.50. • PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING. I mentioned some time since that several arrests had been made in the department of the Mersalt. A government journal, the Opinion du Midi, treats these arrests as connected with a serious plot. It says " that the authorities were warned that secret societies were again at work. An accidental circum stance made known to them the extent and import ance of the plot which ha•i been denounced to them. According to the information received, it appears certain that the mot d'ordre came from Lon don, and that a general insurrection was to have broken out at the same time in the south of France, in Switzerland, and in Italy. usual, Marseilles was the centre of the in surrectional committee for the southern de partments." It is, however, a hopeless task for a common observer in France to attempt to dis tinguish between a genuine plot and one concocted by the police. The famous plot to assassinate the President of the *public at Marseilles, which did such yeoman service in stimulating the movement a favour of the empire, is altogether forgotten. Nu merous arrests were made, the question whether the prisoners should be tried by the high court of justice