The Express. — London, England, 1847-03-11 00:00:00

Mr. GROG-1N thcught the civil bill process one of the t, most useful institutions iu the country. The first intiostul;m of the hon. member for Waterford's bill had spread alarm through Ireland. He should oppose the second reeding. Mr. P. SCROPE believed that the system of ejectment, serried on under the civil bill process, was acted ur n to a great extent by the landlords in ninny pars of Irellaiv., as the reediest means of clearing their land, and operated most severely on the poorer class of tenants, who were the victims. (Heir, bear.) A gentleman, writing to him from Mayo, stated, that in the last January sessions there were brough before the assistant barrister for trial from 1,500 to 2,000 eases under the civil hill process. By r.us.' a ing use of that process, and arresting the tenant for the iteht, the landlords succeeded Much more speedily in clea .ing off their poorer tenants than by the usual process of ejectment. The men were taken in execution and kept, In gaol their fami lies being left at home to star fe—until they gave up their holdings, and in numerous issuances, to avoid the pro cess, they abandoned their hom ea, and were driven to seek refuge in Liverpool, Mancheste r, and elsewhere, thus swel/- ing the burden upon the Engl . ,,ah poor-rates. The Rev. Mr. Neary, of the parish of •ryrass.ley, en Mayo, stated Chit on the lit of September last the ee were in his parish 1,000 fami conaisting of 6,600 in Jividuals ; there were now only 600 families and so exti .neively was this system of clear since in operation, that, h August next, he believed there would not be 200 mule]eft; and unless some check were in terposed, the county we old soon be depopulated. Of the con• acre tenants, 20,000 we re unable to pay their rent, in conse quence of the failure t if the potato crop; these might, under the civil bill proems, ne thrown into gaol at any moment; and many of them h ad already been driven from their hold ings, and were now., with their (smiles, utterly destitute or dependent upon e relief works. In other cases, where the tenants had 'Trued to give up their bolding., the landlords, being upon the relief committee, had interfered to prevent their obtainiag employment en the relief works. With them statements berme him of tic working of the power of arrest for small sums in Ireland, he thought no time should be lost in abolishing it. Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN considered that his hon. friend (Ste H. W. Barron) would, after the pledge which had been given, act wisely in leaving the matter in the hands of the Solicitor-General for Ireland. It was, however, a question for consideration, whether under the present circumstances of the country sonic temporary measure should not be passed to enable the assistant barrister to stay execution on the civil bill proms', is such cases as had been referred to, via., where it was used as a meant of ejectment. Sir R. FERGUSON believed the statement of the bon. member for Stroud was much overcharged. If an accurate return of the number of civil bill processes issued for non payment of rent were obtained, it would be found that there was no danger of depopulating the country. It twist be re. membered too, that the number of processes dated to have issued were tene tlebts of ml sorts, rad arising out ut dealings of all des:riptions. Again, the commissioners for relieving insolvent debtors invariably refused to allow execution under the civil bill process to be used as a means of compelling tenants to surrender their forms. Sir O. GREY hoped his hon. friend (Sir H. W. Barron) would consent to leave the matter in the hands of the Soli citor-General •, if not, he must move that the bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr. B. ESCOTT objected to a system being continued for Ireland, which in England it had been found necessary for the interests of humanity to abolish. He hoped, however, after the promise which had been made by the Solicitor- General fur Ireland, thet the motion would not be pressed toe division. The partial failure of the change in England in the first instance was owing entirely to the absence or local tribunals of sufficient jurisdiction to carry it Into effect with a due regard to the rights of the creditor. Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN was favourable to the prin ciple of the bill, though he thought there was much in what had fallen from the Solicitor-General for Ireland as to the means of carrying it out. With regard to the statements brought forward by the hon. member for Stroud, they had been full, answered by the hon. member for Londonderry. They bad the statement of a gentleman personally and pram tically acquainted with the state of Ireland against assertions brought forward on the authority of other parties, by a gen tleman of great humanity and practical benevolence no doubt, but who was, nevertheless, liable to be misled, and who, C. qualify himself to judge of the conduct of the Irish land lords, and of the real state of Ireland, he would advise to take advantage of the government measure for facilitating the sale of encumbered estates, and to settle down in one of the most disturbed districts as a resident Irish landlord. (A laugh.) When the hon. gentleman returned from Ireland—if ever he should—(laughter)—he would doubtless return a wiser end a better . man . . Sir H. W. BARRON, after the speech of the Solicitor General, would not divide the halve; but would ask the government whether they would give a pledge to bring in a bill on the subject this session. Mr. LABOUCHERE concurred in thinking the question one of great importance ; but, looking to the important Irish measures already before the house, and cenudering, also, that the government had other important measures in con templation, for which they hoped to obtain the unction of parliament, he could not give a positive pledge to bring for ward a measure on this subject in the present session. All be could say via, that the government would serionalc con sider, and if possible prapere, a bill upon the subject. (lieu, hear.) The bill was then, by leave, withdrawn. DRAINAGE OF LAND BILL. On the order of the d oy for going into nominate: on this bill, Mr. W. WILLIAMS said that the rate of interest paid under the bill of last session was insufficient, and leas than the Chancellor of the Exchequer was paying for his recent loan. The rata of interest under the bill was to be 61 per cent. for 22 years, when principal and interest would he extinguished. That was a rate of interest not exceeding 31 per cent. [An Hon. Member : 31.] It might be between the two, but it was at all events a less rate of interest than the government paid kr their loans. The people ought not to be taxed fin the benefit of the landed proprietors, whom the bill was intended to benefit, particularly as it was pro bable that the interest of money would reach a still higher rate. He therefore hoped the government would consent to make some addition to the rate of interest under this bill. Mr. H. J. BAILLIE said that as the faith of the govern ment was pledged to this measure last session, it could not now be violated. Mr. HUME observed that the measure of last session was a bribe to the landed interest. He himself was a party to it because he thought it would serve the public. But he toped the government would introduce a clause providing that if the rate of interest rose higher they should charge an addi tional rate of interest on the borrowed money. It was the interest paid in this way which bad raised the interest on Exchequer-bills. He admitted the obligation under last yeer's bill to lend the money, but he hoped that a clause would be introduced limiting the amount of loans to indivi duals, and thereby making the loan more useful by being more general. (Hear, hear.) Sir G. GREY argued that the landed proprietors, per ticularly in Scotland, relying upon the faith of government, as pledged by that bill, had expended large sums of mosey in carrying out the object of the bill; and, although it was at first proposed as a boon to the landed proprietors, it had been found most available for the relief of distress in Scot land, so much so that the government had only granted about 4001., the remainder having been advanced by the landlords, in the hope that the money would be repaid under the operation of the bill. With regard to the hon. member's suggestion of limiting the amount of loans, it was his intention to introduce a clause in committee having that effect. (Hear.) The house (after some further conversation on the subject) went into committee. On the 8/et clause, Mr. OSWALD, in reference to the proposed clause of the right bon. gentleman, observed that an hon. relative of his own, who had asked for 40,0001., and who had already advanced 15,0001. on the faith of the loan, wu willing to give up the remaining 25,0001. It was not for kiss to eq whether this hill would suffice to meet the diaries in Sr& land, but, if not, he hoped that such paternal &Mehra r llcCullurnmore would not be indifferent to that distress. The Earl of LINCOLN objected to that part of the bill which extended the loan from its original of drainage, so as to include fencing and elm improvements. The lowest estimate of the for the complete drainage of the land in Ragland Mat land was from 200 to 250 millions, and if the SIM of UM millions to be granted for drainage was to be seed mho kr fencing, its usetulnew would be greatly impaired. Sir G. GREY argued that, under the peculiar circuit stances of the highlands of Scotland, the government were fully justified in extending its object' to Mein and hum. Lord c DUNCAN trusted that preeedesea weal be gives to the Highland proprietors, who were aseiradleig figrahesti severe distress in their districts, without &deg be seesee- ment aid. Besides, in the Lowlands, at WA be Mai nay that in Forfarthire wages were 50 per out. Idsbeesewlikea for several years p eat. His opinion was that a relaxed= of the law of entail would be better for Scotland than eves the loan under this bill. Lord MORPETH said that if the gramma sued ea the noble lord's suggestion, sad excluded annkritna Mal England and the Lowlands of Scotland, they mead be guilty of a breach of faith, and that it was the less loseasery to do so as the bill showed that the Highland proprietor were uppermost in their thoughts. Indeed, it would be found that about threeefourths of the whole lass of 2,000.0001. would go to Scotland. The benefits of the WO would he limited to those wide pastoral districts where arable land bore a high value, so that the amount voted would not be expended oa other improvements. Indeed, no applica tion* for money to trench orfence had yet come from Eng land, nor did he expect any. Lord G. BENT INCH. had heard with great pismire OM wages hail risen in Forfarshire in proportion to die desk the price of food. He was, however, surprised to Uwe tbedier timent from the liberal member for Bath, whe lli tls desire to grind down the wages of the per eeirl e sist point. He did not concur in the apprehensions of the lava. member for Mutsu that the interest of money would be raised • for he had heard, on authority, that the Idel .111.1 tenantry were as ready to isty for the construction of snow-dykes as for drainage, Sir G. GREY said tt.o clause did not authorise fencing irrespc ctive of drainage, and the noble lord must not encou- rage his tenantry to Lepe that they would obtain money for fencing alone. Lewd DUNC AN, in explanation, said be did not wish to grind down wages, but in the present state of things in the part of tho country where he resided he thought it would be injudicious in the government to encourage drainage, becar.ae it would not repay the proprietors as well as if wagihi were lower. After a few words from Mr. H. J. Baillie, Mr. Henley, and Mr. Aglionby, in answer to a question from Mr. Hope, The LORD ADVOCATE said that nu doubt the charges en entails under Montgomery's act were inconvenient; and that what was wanted was not sdditioeal charges, but the power of making sales. After a few words from Capt. HARRIS, Mr. ESCOTT said this bill was one of which all owners of land ought to be ashamed. The grants would be made t.. 3 those who worts least in want of it, and ought to be extended to those who really needed it. It was understood that the bill was the result of an arrangement on the passing of the measures of last year. - The Earl of LINCOLN repudiated the notion that there was any arrangement between the late government and any party on this subject ; all he said was, that the faith of par liament having been pledged that a sum of money should be advanced at • err.ain rate of interest, when applications were made for grants, it would be a breach of faith if the rate of int, rest was raised. The clause was then agreed to. On clause 2, Mr. FORSTER moved that the following words be added to the clause: " That comet plans or tracings of the drain age, u Hinny effected, be deposited with, and preserved for, public use and inspection, by the commissioners." Viscount MORPETH objected to the provision, on the ground that it would cause inconvenience, delay, and expense. After a discussion, in which the amendment was opposed by Mr. E. Emma, Mr. AOLIONHT, and Mr. H. J. IlattLiz, and Mr. Hesse supported it, Lord DUNCAN asked in what order the clauses trent in would be considered by the government. Viscount MORPETH—In the order of their arrival. Lord G. BENTINCK said, that by the act all prelimi nary expenses were paid by the land, and there was no charge on the public. Sir G. GREY said this would not be a preliminary ex pense, but be for the public advantage, and when the drain age was concluded, it would be hard to charge it on the land. Lord G. BENTINCK did not intend to support the pro position. Mr. FORSTER then proposed to leave a discretion to the commissioners] to deposit the plans when they thought it would be for the public advantage. But after a short discussion, the hnn. gentleman with drew his amendment, and the clause was agreed to. Clauses 3,4, and 6, were agreed to. On clanse'6; Sir G. GREY said he had an amendment to propose. The bill as it stood provided that the works should be com pleted in three years from the time of granting the certifi cate, with a discretionary power to the commissioners to extend it for one year. The object of this limitation was to prevent the money being locked up, to reduce the number of largo applications from individual proprietors, and to diffuse the grants as widely as possible. It bad been sug gested that this object would be more directly obtained by limiting the pecuniary amount of the grant. It was th're fore proposed, in ordinary cases, that no provisional certifi cate should be granted for a larger sum than 15,0001., and that the period for its being expended should be enlarged from three yearn to five. In order to meet the case of the High land proprietors, a diseretionery power was given to the com missioner' ; where there was a large unemployed population, and it could be shown that • larger amount would be ex pended in three years, a larger advance should be made. Sir J. GRAHAM, while admitting the great improve ment which was made by this amendment, and highly approving, as he did, that some limitation of the grants was necessary, and also that with reference to the circumstances of the Highland proprietors some discretionary power of de viation from the rule should be allowed, yet thought that the sum of 15,0001. was too large. He very much doubted whether the object of the bill, as admitted on all sides, would be secured by concentrating these funds in a few large pro prietors. Those who really wanted assistance were the smaller proprietors—the yeomanry, who were labouring under comparative difficulties. It would be impossible to satisfy the just claims of the numerous persons who had made application for loans out of the 2,000,0001., if the maxi mum to b e advanced was 15,0001.; whilst on the other hand he believed that if the advance was limited in each case to 10,0001., there would he means sufficient to satisfy ectry claim, and also the peculiar case of the Highlands. He hoped the government would consider this suggestion, the adoption of which, he thought, would add to the great int provements already made in the bill. Lord G. BENTINCK thought the object which the right hon. baronet (Sir J. Graham) appeared to have in view, namely, the extension of the benefits of these loans, would be secured by adding 1,000,0001. to the amount already to be advanced, and without fixing any limit to the loan to be granted in each case. Lord DUNCAN objected to any addition being made to the loan, the payment of the interest upon which would be thrown on the working dames of this country. Rather than fix a limit it would be better to provide that the advance should in no ease exceed one-third of the rental of the land to be Improved. Lord G. BENTINCK said the noble lord could not have read this bill or the act passed last year, or he would have known that every landowner to whom advances would be made would have to pay 61. 10s. per annum for the next twenty.two years, which was equal to interest at the rate of 31. 10s. per cent., so that the public, instead of being losers, would be gainers of something like two shillings and six pence per cent. Mr. AGLIONBY thought the noble lord, the member for Lynn, had net answered the objection of the noble lord the member for Bath. Although the loan would be ad rimed on the security of the land, yet it must be repaid, and there could be no doubt that there would be taken something out of the taxes to pay the difference of interest. He concurred in the proposition of the right hon. baronet, and hoped it would receive the consideration of the government. ' Mr. ELLICE joined in the entreaty that the government would take the proposition of the right hon. baronet oppo- Apr (Sir J. Graham) into serious consideration. By its Aopnon he hoped the public would have little if anything to pay, while by increasing the production of the land, they would by this outlay in the end be greatly benefited. After a few words from Mr. BAILLII and Lord G. Hex- TI;CIt, in explanation, Sir G. CLERK supported the proposition that 10,0001. ought to be a maximum loan under this bill. Captain HARRIS and Mr. HENLEY expressed similar opinions. Captain GORDON supported the original limitation fixed upon by the government, vie., 15,0001. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER concurred in much that bad fallen from the right hon. baronet the member for Dorchester, and though be could not under take now to state what the government would do, he would smuts the committee, seeing the feeling to be in favour of a reduction in the amount of limitation, he would, on the bringing up the report, state the determination of the govern ment on the suggestion, which in the meantime should re ceive the fullest consideration. Sir J. GRAHAM said the sasuranoe of the right bon. baronet was quite satisfactory to him. He (Sir J. Graham) was quite convinced that the limit of 15,0001. would not enable the government to meet all the applications, whilst a reduction to 10,0001. would do so. After a short conversation, in which Mr. Oswald, the Lord Advocate, Mr. 8. Herbert, Mr. Aglionby, Mr. Cayley, and Mr. Beckett Denison took part, the clause , as amended by Sir G. GREY was agreed to, an were also the remaining clauses of the bill. The house resumed ; the bill was reported with amend ments, and the report ordered to be received on Friday next. Prevention of crime is, no doubt, the lawgiver's ; but in following it, the principles of justice must be taken as guides, one of the essentials of puaiahment being that the public, on whom it is to ant as an example, must be satisfied of its justice. Justice demands fitness and gradation of punishments. If imprisonment is to be the punish. ment of murder, what is to be the punishment of the robber who goes near to murder? The whole system of punishing by confinement of different degrees of duration and severity, is strongly objected to by the French jurisconsalts, as establishing no striking or manifest difference between degrees of crime—even when murder is excepted, and punished with death. We think, then, that even before we can discuss the alatiou of the punishment of death in cases of murder, we must first find a fitting substitute for capital punishment, and we must proportion this sub stitute to the other kinds of punishment allotted to inferior crimes. We must, in short, reform and esta blish our system of secondary , punishments, ere we leap to the conclusion of abolishing the primary. Now this is precisely what Earl GREY is aiming at I in his new measures, a bold and beneficial experiment made on each a scale as cannot but test, in a very few years, the efficiency of the separate system as a cor rective, and of the probation system by ticket and task work, both in reforming the offender, and deterring the committal of offences. It is most desirable to have the experiment fully . tried. If we cannot succeed, and that speedily, in some plan of re forming offenders, no colony will receive them. The efforts made abroad, in another hemisphere, for effect ing that reform have failed, in a great measure owing to the distance and the necessary results of distance. There remains, therefore, but to try it at home, with all the vigilance of the executive, and the intellect of those connected with it, concentrated on the working of the system. Should it fail, an altogether new course must be taken. We have, however, great reliance that the system now in contemplation will prove successful. And the efforts of Lord STANLEY to go on is the old bungling routine are so perfectly calculated to stop progress and perpetuate failure and abuse, that we trust they will not be countenanced. Lord STANLEY makes this a party and a personal question. He followed up and sanctioned certain half measures, and his anxiety is to prove that he could not be wrong. One way to effect this, cer tainly, is to preclude his successor from trying any other mode. If this be attained, both will have been wrong, nothing will have been done, reform will be strangled, and Lord STANLEY may boast, that, al though he did nothing, no one else has done more. The opposition carried on against Lord GREY'S plan proceeds less upon objections to it than upon the ground, that the existing law does not suffice for such a change ; and that, like the measures for the relief of Ireland, it must pass through both houses during this busy session, to be extinguishedor adjourned. Nothing, however, can be more dear than the Transporta tion Act of GEORGE IV. It empowers the govern ment to erect prisons either in hulks or on land for those condemned to transportation, to set them to work, to take them for that purpose from the com mon gaol and transfer them to a house of cor rection, the time so spent to be counted to them, as if spent in transportation. The commuting of one sentence for another, of substituting transporta tion for death and home labour for transportation, are to be found in the bill. The hulks, as a substitute for transportation, have all along existed, imprison ment in the hulks being . accompanied by labour in the dockyard. Where is the difference between this old-established eyetem and the one that Lord GREY proposes, except in prisons better managed and more healthful than hulks and on public works more impera tive at the present moment than the labour of Wool wich dockyard? Transportation at the time of passing the act was an impossibility, and government was obliged to pay the Australian Company in land for the reception of convict on assignment. The system of transportation contemplated by the Act of George IV. was that of assignment. It has been abolished without its legality being ques tioned. How then can Lord STANLEY question the lesser change from confinement and labour abroad to confinement and labour at home? Indeed, the legal question cannot bear a moment's examination, nor is it worth mooting, when government admit that any thing beyond an experiment, or implying a permanent alteration in prison discipline, must come regularly before parliament. That the present moment is a fit one for the experi ment—nay, that the trial is imperative, is clearly shown. The abolition of the Norfolk Island prison even Lord DENMAN applauds. Nor does any one, save Lord STANLEY, recommend a continuation of the system, which turns the current of convicts chi' to Van Diemen's Land. The suspension of transporta tion was inevitable, and fortunately the necessity of con structing ports of refuge simultaneously occurs to offer labour at home, labour akin to that of the hulks, and no way competing with the regular employment of the labouring population. The portion of the system most attacked is the sending out pardoned convicts, and giving them the run of the colonies without surveillance. But the fact is, that this system exists already. Not only Sydney, but all the Australian colonies, have nume rous pardoned convicts, who circulate as they please, who find their way to America, to Hong Kong, and are not tempted to break theirban, and exchange colo nial life for home, their wages and condition out there being much more advantageous than any prospect at home could be. _ _ An objection which we made on Friday, and which has been enlarged on by the Chronicle, is the unfairness of teaching trades to convicts, and thus rendering their term of punishment conducive, not only to their education and morality, bat to their elevation in life. This, although a serious objection for offenders condemned for a short time, and about in a few years to re-emerge amongst our domestic population, becomes less so when the liberated convict stays in the colonies, where there is ample space for work, and where competition can hurt no one. But even for this we would teach them trades more useful to the rustic settler, than enabling the possessor to sit down in a town life. The carpenter's skill may enable the re formed settler to clear his way and build his hut in the woods ; whilst the shoemaker's craft would keep him, where he ought not to linger, in the town and amongst the urban crowd. But this class of objections should have been urged against the Pentonville system long since, where it is carried on. It makes no part of Earl GREY'S new proposals. And, indeed, we believe that Capt. MACONOCHIE'S recommendations altogether favour oat-door and rustic work, and limit as much as possible the sepa rate system and the sedentary trades, which alone can conveniently be taught during that period of punishment. These, however, are objections of detail, and should not be swelled into obstructions so great, so philanthropic, and necessary an experiment. WHILE our merchants are ransacking every corn growing country in the world to supply the peening demand for food which exists in the United Kingdom, it will be well to see that our home resources are fairly developed. Famine and dearth may be alleviated by importations of grain, and when the corn-trade shall have become permanently free, it cannot but preclude excessively high prices. But plenty, the abundance that produces cheapness, must ever depend mainly upon our own produce. Our growing population must look to increased growth of grain on British soils as their main reliance. Now, the great obstacle to increased produce of human food in this country consists in the impediments to cultivation imposed by the landowners. Of this, the pro ceedings in the House of Commons upon the second reading of Mr. PUNIT'S Tenant-right Bill offer a forcible illustration. Probably most of our readers remember the singular earnestness with which landowners in nearly every part of England preached improvement to their tenants during the latter days of the anti-corn-law agitation. Then, each representative of a rural constituency was great on the virtues of guano, and the profitableness few sincerely desirous of improving agriculture and bettering the condition of the tenantry. Amongst then Mr. PrSEY unquestionably stands high. Ms evidence against game-preserving has earned for him the respect of the yeomanry of Eng land, and his present bill on tenant-right is a well meant and honest measure. Should it pass into a law, it must. however. be regarded, to a great extent, as a measure of transition; its permanent operation, as we believe, will be found to consist chiefly in prevent ing tenants from exhausting their farms daring the last few years of their terms of occupation. This alone, however, should obtain for the bill the hearty support of the landowners. But instead of support, we have reason to believe that their efforts are directed, either covertly or openly, to render it practically inopera tive. 'The fear that seems just now to haunt the land lord mind is, lest tenants should lay out too mach capital and improve their land too energetically. We sincerely wish there had been any foundation for such fantastic fears. Efforts will be made in the select committee of squires, to which the tenant-right bill has been referred, to render all claim to be paid for improvements dependent upon the previous consent by the landlord—that is, to render the whole measure abortive. That an act with the name of a tenant-right act will pass there is no doubt,for farmers are so much in earnest about the matter, that their leaders and masters mast gratify them with the name, though they withhold the substance of the benefit. In order to understand the motives of land lord dislike to a measure for giving to tenants com pensation for nnexhausted improvements, it will be necessary briefly to refer to the condition of the tenant farmers of England. . . Competition for land, and the promises of arti ficially high prices for grain, which the successive ' corn-laws since 1815 held out, have raised rents ' higher than the actual state of husbandry war rants. We do not say that English rents are high, if the land were let for long terms of years to men of skill and capital ; but they are higher than prudent farmers ought to pay under yearly holdings and the present average system of cultivation. An acute writer defines rent to be "the residuum left, after delivering to the tenant the portion of the proceeds which the competition among individuals of his class obliges him to accept ;" and adds, that what the tenant will be obliged to accept " will be such a part of the price of the produce as will return him the capital he must lay out, with the lowest rate of profit for which men under the existing habits of their society will consent to lay out farming capital, and superin tend its employment." Here we have a clue to the principles on which the generality of landlords prefer, as in fact they do prefer, a comparatively poor and dependent tenantry, to men of capital and indepen dence. The " existing habits" of poor tenants induce them to accept so small a part of the price of the pro duce of the farm that the landlord's residuum, or rent, is little lees, as an absolute sum, than would be paid by a tenant of larger capital ; and the landlord has a subservient and dependent tenantry besides. What enables landlords with safety to their incomes to re tain a poor tenantry is the law of distress which enables the landlord to sweep away all the farmer's property to pay the rent, to the prejudice of the rest of his creditors. But for that, landlords would take espe cial care to let their farms only to men of sufficient capital ; and to induce such men to take the farms, the terms of occupation mint be rational, certain, and permanent. Yet, although tenants have generally less capital employed than is for the complete cultivation of their farms, still in majority of cases they farm better than in strict prudence they ought to do as yearly tenants. TLey could not pay their present rents if their farm ing was not better than the insecurity of their tenures would properly justify. The consequence is, that all moderately good farmers, being yearly tenants, are liable to the confiscation of a considerable portion of their capital at the mere will of their landlords. Let a landlord be offended with a tenant's vote, his religious opinions, his insufficient protection of gnme, or any other matter equally foreign to the relation of landlord and tenant, and the tenant may be turned out at the end of any year, without any compensation for outlays made upon the farm, on the expectation of reaping the return from three or four years' cultivation. This is simple robbery. And it is the not unfrequent occurrence of each expulsions of tenants, with the sense of insecurity all yearly tenants naturally live under, which has created the present demand for tenant-right allowances. And the simple justice of that demand is so obvious, that it is di ffi cult for any one but a landlord to comprehend the frame of mind which dictates its refusal. Yet, unless farmers and the public strongly express an opinion, it will be retuned. If the tenant-farmers obtain a legal right to de mand compensation for improvements, by draining and buildings, by fencing, road making, or irrigation, by chalking and claying, by artificial manures, and the high feeding of stock, and so forth, some check will be placed upon capriciously dispossessing a tenant by the necessity of the landlord's paying a con siderable sum himself, or finding a new tenant able or willing so to do. And this will soon lead to the custom of granting leases; for landlords, being compelled to • exercise some degree of prudence in the management of their property, and being to some extent restrained in the wanton exercise of power, will quickly dis cover that complete prudence, which would induce them to grant leases, is most consistent with their own interests. Already we find many landholders, who once were sticklers for yearly tenancies, advanced to the advo cacy of tenant-right agreements ; and though they now accede to such agreements, in order to avoid giving the more complete security of leases, the rea sonings by which they support their views are so puerile, that they cannot be long maintained. Take, for instance, the following passage from observations lately made by the lion. W. Rot's, at the North Walsh= (Norfolk) farmers' club, after an earnest farmer's speech on the subject. He said : He strongly objected to long lessee. as they by no means tended to cement that bond of friendship which should exist between landlord and tenant. An agreement with a notice of a year and three quarters, subject to valuation for dilapid ation,, and unezhausted improvements, would, in his opi nion, be a far more advantageous tenure than a lean. It would be difficult to define such dilapidation and improve ments, but he would suggest that a committee, consisting of landowners and tenant farmers, should draw up such • scale, which they might deem suitable, and submit them to the clerk. On the question of buildings, he entertained some doubts. It was settled by late, that any buildings erected on the property of another, would at the expiration of the agreement, be the value of the owner. Ask the tenants what they think of this "bond of friendship," and they will say that it is the fetter of dependence. It is because the bill for giving a legal tenant right is the first step towards the emancipation of the tenantry that we earnestly desire to see it carried. i For it s • condition preliminary to any general im provement in agriculture, that the tenant-farmers should be relieved from their present state of inse curity and dependence. Until that be accomplished, the art of husbandry in this country will offer the melancholy contrast which it now presents to other industrial arts. The Paris journals and correspondence of Tues have arrived. The debate on the project of electoral reform is adjourned to the 22d. The rise in the pries of vegetable subsistence continues to make alarming progress. Nothing but large importations can arra* the progress of the calamity. Most of the arrivals expected are bespoken, some by the municipalities, and some by benevolent societies established for the aid of the poor in the interior, and these will not, therefore, enter the market, or produce a sensible effect on the price. In the markets which supply Paris the rise on Monday was from If. to 3f. per hectolitre. The actual price of wheat in these markets at present varies from 40f. to 44f. per hecto litre, being equivalent to from 87s. to 965. per qr. The price of flour in Paris, on Monday, was 92a. per sack. Bread is expected to undergo a further rise in the last fortnight of March. A large and respectable body of the clergy (not less than 900) petitioned the Chambers on Tuesday immediate French day last, when a report of the condition of the enter prise was submitted to the meeting. The total num ber of passengers carried in the year 1846 was 1,521,646, and the gross receipts amounted to 9,1100,138 franca, of which 4,186,68.5 were expended,; leaving a net profit of 5,613,453 francs. The secretary to the Spanish Embassy left Parison Monday morning, to place himself at the orders of Queen Christina, who is expected at Bayonne I today Two Spanish mails, bringing the Madrid pap er ,: and correspondence of the 3d and 4th, wire received in Paris on Tuesday. The appointment of M. lsturita to the embassy at London was officially announced. The report of a change of cabinet is contrad;cted. The ministry affirmed in the chamber that the go vernment had no participation in the proceedings of General Flom. A report was prevalent that the resignation of General Breton in consequence of ill health was accepted, and that General Pavia would take the command of Catalonia. No further Carlist movements were reported, and it appear.; probable that much exaggeration has been introduced in the accounts of these demonstrations. El Herald() announces that Mr. Bulwer has in formed the government that the English cabinet de sires, in concert with that of Madrid, to adopt such measures as may prevent the ultimate success of Den Miguel in Portugal. It appeared, therefore, probable that an intervention would take place to settle by compromise the present differences. FRANCE.—" COMMANDANT" ALEXANDRE DUMMI. —On Sunday, the author of " Monte Christo" appeared in a change of c ha racter. A strong muster of tho National Guards of St. Germain and some of the neighbouring corn. munea assembled to witness his reception as Cora. mandant of the National Guard of that place. An immense number of persons of all classes had assem bled to witness the ceremony. After the reception, M. Alexandre Dumas, who made in his uniform an excellent . military appearance, and who wore on the occasion only the moos of the Legion of Honour, *mourned the command," and," continues Gahgnani, gravely, "gave the word with all the readiness of an old soldier." BOULOONE.—At the last market at Boulogne-tmr- Mer, there were scarcely any supplies of wheat, a circuits stance which excited the greatest alarm among the authori ties and principal inhabitant+. M. A. Adam, M. L. Foe. Mine, M. Chavesu-Sire, and M. Arch. Adam, who are at the head of four of the principal mercantile houses of the town, immediately advanced a sum of 200,000 francs, with which they despatched M. L. Fontaine, jun., to England, to purchase corn. They took this measure only in the interest of the town, having declared that if any profits should arise from the sale of their purchases, they should be given to the charitable institutions ; and that if there should be any km, they would hear it entirely themselves. BELGIUM.—The Belgian government has pub lished a decree permitting the free import of cattle till the Ist of July next, by all the frontiers, excepting those of the province of Luxemburg, on payment of • regneration duty of 10 centimes, or about one penny per head cnly. It was expected that the municipal authormes of the various towns and cities would, in furtherance of the views of the govern ment, suspend also the octroi duties on the cattle entering their respective places. The Belgian Monfteur proposes that the prices of all the bread of first and second qualities shall be surtaxed, that is, rated at such higher prices as the cost of the wheat or flour may require, but that the household bread, pars de menage, in use among the lower classes should be maintained at the existing rates. The principal bakers of Verviers had agreed and proposed to the municipality that, desirous of contributing all in their power to alleviate the distress of the working classes, they would be content with three francs per hecto litre, instead of 11 per cent., for all their profit, which would be equal to a reduction of three centimes for the loaf of three kilogrammes. The greatest agitation prevailed all over Br um in consequence of the high prices and dearness of food, and in Liege more especially, perhaps. So, also, at Lille, Strasbourg, and other parts of the frontiers of France, The Belgian papers are full of details of rising prices of grain and popular commotion. TEST OP DEATH.—The Belgian papers report that • meant of that country, M. Maindle, has asserted his dis covery of a simple means of distinguishing real from appa rent death. It consists in establishing • burn of the second degree. If life remains, • blister always rises, even in the absence of all sensibility; but if death has taken place, the burn produces no effect. GERMANY.—BERLIN, MARCH 2.—The project of the new commercial code is terminated, and has been pre sented hy the Council of Sters to the ministers. It contains 186 articles ' and many reforms, especially as regards bank. notes and bills on order. M. de Bodelschwing is laid up with a serious illness from which he suffers, owing to a wound he received in the war of 1813, and it is not probable that he will be able to attend the labours of the general diet. The king has decided that sworn-in reporters are to be present at the debates of the diet. The Universal Pron. sian Gazette has announced that it intends publishing the debates. M. d'Eichsteedt, deputy of Stettin to the general diet, has declared that he shall make various propositions to the diet ; among others, admission of the public to the sittings of the diet, a modification of the present constitution, publicity of the municipal councils, liberty of the_prem, fite. THE CATASTROPHE AT THE CARLBRUHE THEATRE. —We read is the Carlsrulte Gazette of the 3rd : " For three days past, the persons occupied on the ruins of the theatre have been engaged in taking out the dead bodies, and con veying them to the cemetery, where they are buried in one large grave. They were for the greater part so mutilated that they could not be recognised. According to the infor mation which we have received, it muy be regarded as cer tain that most of the v victims were suffocated, and that they had not to undergo death from the flames ; it is almost be yond doubt that, overpowered by the gas, they lost all con sciousness before the tire reached them. A person who saved himself by getting out of one of the windows to the roof of - an adjoining house, states that when the fire broke nut, every body rushed towards the doors, but the effect of the gas was so strong, that they began to lose their sight, and wens crowded together in a senseless state unable to utter • my. / A chimney-sweeper who saved • person in the third Ike said,' All who are now there are seated without having - been able to move a limb.' " The remains of the enfeeble -• nate victims of this sad catastrophe were to be buried on the 1 4th in one large grave in the churchyard of the town. GREECE AND TURKEY.—The diplomatic mis understanding between these countries, on an affair of which we have given the details, has not yet been concluded. A. a correspondence which has taken place between Genera Coletti and Ali Effendi may be summed up in few wade. There is no tendency to yield on either aide. General fJele~ 'a complains of the Turkish envoy that he performed what kg conceived to be his duty in a harsh manner. and Ali Medi N/P s plies :—M. Manures, by refusing to rise the pampa MAL •• Turni Haratmes, only did his duty. The instructionsbebaime ceived prevented him from signicg it I hope that thlaini, of which I beg of you to inform his Majesty, will nasals make him retract the judgment he has expressed on the conduct of a man whose only thoughts wet to act in conformity with the instructions of bin govemoiss Should this hope unhappily not be realised, M. Museums to demand his pigpens, and to return immediately to Con stantinople with all the members of his legation, leaving a consular agent at Athens to manage the affairs current." To this, M. Coletti replied: " After due consideration, I sag declare to your excellency that it is impossible for me to counsel the king to take the steps demanded from his go vernment." DAMASCUS, FEB. 2.—Safveti-Pacha has jolt arrived at Damascus front his pilgrimage to Mecca. an caravan suffered from the cholera, and he had to deplore the loss of some sheiks, and of the commander of his irregular troops. The caravan found the cholera on its arrival St Medina, where it had canied away one-sixth of the pilgrims arrived from all points of Asia, Europe, and Africa. no pilgrims at Mount Ararat numbered 100,000. • AMERICA AND MEXICO. NEW YORK, Ply. 9, 1847. If, as I antiriptia, puW. enztety in England be at *5 • present moment intordy concentrated upon the question d : bow far the United Staid at America can this year minis* • to the wants of Ireland be large supplies of the "rug d life," I cannot be In making this the first subject d my present communication. And, truly happy am Ito my, that the further I extend my inquiries, the more am low • Tinged of the correctness of the opinion expressed in my fora* letters, that however great the demand may prove, the seas • plus produce of last year's abundant harvest in this nos country is amply adequate to meet it at moderate prices,— that is to say, wheat not exceeding 1 dollar 60 route. Awl • to Ge. English money) ; and Indian corn 1 dollar (equal 45.) per bushel. These prices on our extensive sea board A will bring enormous quantities of wheat, flour, and fading s corn from the interior; and if freights do not rise berm , 1 their existing high level, about 4s. per quarter will cover sil , expenses of transporting a barrel of flour, weighing 2001*, from any of our Atlantac ports to England, Ireland, or fleah land. Lut year, from this city alone, GOO ships, aver/dill 600 tons burthen each, all loaded with bread-stuffs lad other provisions, were despatched to Europe; and this yesr at least double that amount will be expedited. Hitherto 7 dollars (28a) per barrel ie the highest price asked for the finest brands of flour in New York; a strong indication dad no very large or pressing orders for the article haver id been received from your side of the Atlantic. Referring to the notice in my last, of the adulteration ef Indian meal, by grinding the " cob" and corn together , ba r the supply of the European market, I may notice that the charge of the corn and " cob" being " ground together, the Maud - bon ground together again, in order meal u Harty Y4si.lte," LANDED PROPERTY (IRELAND) BILL. • Mr. GP big. shelter t M their The report on this bill was brinutht up by Mr. GREENE, and, on the motion of the CrianceLLoit of the EXCHIQUEn, was agreed to. Lord NEWRY morel to add a claws, the effect of which was to enable the trustees or guar ans of infants, of persons of unsound mind, or of others labouring under legal dies. bility, to advance trust monies in their hands for the perma nent improvement of estates in Ireland, in the same manner as loons were authorised by the bill to be made by the Comatiodonen of Public Works. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER opposed the thaw ea the ground which be bed stated when it wee breught thewers 11 the noble lord in committee , namely, that its r igor not come within the scope and object of this Mr. J. O'CONNELL supported the clause, end invited the government to give it a further consideration. After a few words from Mr. Buten O'Batits, which , were wholly inaudible, ' Mr. HUME said he could not understand the grounds loon which the government objected to the introduction of ' the clause, because be was convinced its adoption would leave the application of much of the public money to the gice of improvement of property in Ireland. CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER repeated hi former statement that the government thought it desir able to confine the present bill to the object with which it prised to deal. He was not disposed to go so far in the presewt bill as was proposed by the clause of the noble lord, whisk Right more properly forma separate bill. The Earl of LINCOLN hoped that some such measure would be introduced, shortly, applicable to the country at huge. The act known as the Duke of Richmond's, passed two or three sessions ego, might properly form the bags of mesh a measure. Mr. W. R. CRAWFORD said that the provisions em powering landlords to enter on the lends of tenants would tempi view to raised ; for he had heard, on good authority, that the bid- fo""""g "`"""".."" ''" ""r" "" ''"" ."'"'" "• —",!-- -- r — "ern , ' on nrmun 0... - ... , ..‘ , - -- ----- ---- ---- ----• K r a ., ma *am Taa mar un guams, au. ulc Favutotnicssc-se aaase auma 471,/ , r 5............... .... .............,•. •••• ...........y - , ... .. . . dings to Meson. Rothschild and Baring, in the ease create tenet esuperation in Ireland. On the third reading of the late government loan of 8,000,000 t, exceeded orate bill he should mum their wailsic'n• """:".. main, in sour 'lunation at which it had arrived. The report of the of stock feeding • while a dissertation on draining and for the immediate abolition of slavery in the French Product kiln-dried , ana then aro und 7 'm e S met to make it resemble pure meal as near yas poem , , Landed Property (Ireland) Bill, led to some discus- outlays of capitl by tenants formed the stock-pieee of colonies. 80,000,0001. If so, they need be under no alar m Mr. Y. J. O'CONNELL hoped that the noble lord of exhausting the market by borrowing 2,000,0001. (N ewry ), and the hon. member for Limerick (Mr. W. S. axon, . fee carrying out the objects of this bill. Another O 'Brian) . , would concur in oeing proposed amendments being negatived or with- countymember . P well • ted with The continuation of the Paris and Rouen railway t h e * matter. fur denied No harm has been done in drswing stunners 10 ' a measure such as h a d drawn, b u t the h our o f adjournment having nearly the agricultural districts then said, this was all ato Havre will be opened to the public both for passen- Both houses of Congress have voted thanks tO OlWral ue , coadderation wee, that the original measure was no t been indicated. He eonside that the Chancellor of the one which was to be applied to the present distress, b u t Exchequer had assigned fair reasons for not including such farthera ui r r:il ved th'i j itaday. consderation was postponed sham ; that it was merely an ingenious device intended gee and merchandise on the 22nd instant The Taylor and the army under his command, to parry the prevailing demand for the abolition of °facial announcement of this will be made before thefor their cow dunng a certain portion of the ar duous campa ign ... eye ........ tensely done.. is which was one of the small measures which were to be a coalmines- Provisions in the present bill. Such a measure would be -- ' lion for the repeal of the corn-leers. He was sorry to unanimously approved of hy the Irish members, and wouldthe food monopoly ; and a few tenant farmers, more end of the present week. the Boulogne branch of the Northern they have been engaged. The thing has not, It u r,_.r . l The House of Repreeentatlves a d v i li d s . 7 hear there was to be soy restriction of the amount be productive of great benefit to the °pantry. In • 'rig the fundamental pm' ciples of penal plain spoken, perhaps more clear sighted than their The part of the original motion with " a tag" to the effect th at it of the gents . He did not deny that the expenditure o f Kr. AGLIONBY said he should prefer to me the met- law, we cannot agree with Lord BROUGHAM that the fellows, emphatically declared that all such exhorta- Railway, extending from Amiens to Abbeville, will 4 . money for fencing was inconaisteet with a bill ( c i e d ra i nage sure brought in by the government, who were in possession but he, as a Scotch propriitor, knew th at money expende d et all the requisite machinery. He hoped such • bill would reform of the criminal should be the only, or the tions to improve under existing tenures were nothing be opened on the 16th inst. Trains will leave Ab. of Monteril.. The Ten Regiments Rtffniar. Army, '',2,,11. include in is approbation the conditions for the e spicalatios in fencing in Scotland wee quite ea advantageous as drain- be made applicable to the whole empire. chief consideration, nor with Sir GEORGE GREY, that more than suggestions for transferring the capital of beville for Paris five times a day, and will leave Paris mastodon Bill passed the senate , as expected, out 7 .. ___ presentativea" refused to agree to the amendmentof e . Pr. ing. The fences , which were usually stone-walls, formed a Mr. LABOUCHERE agreed that the subject could be the prevention of is a r ' crime • all that 1 • has the tenants into the pockets of the landlords. And for Abbeville three times a day. dent. shelter for the sheep and cattle and ware almest as necessary more perly dealt with by the government than by indi- to look to; nor yet with Sir ROBERT Ignite, who this is not far from the truth with respect to the great The general annual meeting of the shareholders of The bill for placig three million dollars (secret servos as their toed, for thay saved them from the mt owsbiiht, mem b ers; also that the measure was a very darirshas would declare he Levitical code valid in England. majority of the landed proprietors ; yet there were a the Paris and Orleans Railway was held on Mon- money) wider the n control of the president, with a view to hones affecting the appointment of o ffi cers by the pees . . . • - . . THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 11, 1847. one : but in the great mass of Irish business before the house, he could only express his hope that government might be able to introdote etch a Measure in the present session. But this must greatly depend on the manner in whieb they were allowed to proceed with the bills at present before the house. All he scald say was, that he would concur with the Solid. tor-Gienetal for Ireland on the subject. Mr. M. O'FERRALL said it was highly desirable that the holders of estates under strict settlement, which was the condition of the great bulk of estates in Ireland, should be eoabled to lay out their own money on their property, with out coming . to government to borrow. It would be much better to give this power to the Irish landlords, than to cast upon them the foul imputations to which they had recently been No frequently subjected in this house. Mr. HENLEY suggested a modification of the provision giving landlords the right to enter on lands, by requiring no tice to be previously given. Mr. VESEY defended the provision aa it stood. After a few words from Viscount Noway, The clause was negatived without a diviaien. Lord COURTENAY moved the insertion of a clause. of which he had given notice, empowering incorporated com panies for the improvement of land in Ireland to borrow money for the purposes of this act. His object in proposing this clause was to place the companies on the same Leung as private individuals. He quoted from the report of a society for draining and improving waste lands in Ireland, to show that, in a district in the neighbourhood of Sligo, under the management of the company, not a single individual bad sought employment on the public works. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER objected also to this clause being intrsclueed into the present bill. Without underrating the importance of the companies alluded to, he did not think it advisable to give them further powers, as they were already enabled to borrow, by an act of last leaden, for a period of twenty years; and the present bill would only extend the period by two years. If these companies were in the position of owners, they might borrow under this bill; if not, he did not think it advisable to intro. dues a clause into this bill for amending their powers. Lord COURTENAY, not wishing to throw any impedi ment in the way of the present bill, said he would withdraw his clause. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER proposed some additional clauses, giving further powers to the com missioners, in conformity with a promise he had held out on a former evening. The clauses were agreed to. The Earl of LINCOLN rose to move an amendment on the fourth clause, but, it being near six o'clock, on the sug . gestion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the further con . aideration of the bill was deferred till this day. RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS. Mr. STRUTT laid on the table a report from the rail . way commissioners, with reference to the bills in groups 1 and 12. The former group would go into committee to morrow (this day) ; the committee oil the other group was r necessarily deferred, by reason of the inaccurate information which had been furnished to the commissioners by some of . the companies. The report was ordered to lie on the table. The house adjourned at six o'clock. PUNISHMENT OF DEATH: Drenoon on Mr. larbiaratoh;litiln a bill for the total repeal of the punigunent of death. Ayes, 41 ; Noes, 81. AYES. . Aybobby, H. A. Dennistoun, J 7 Macklanos,W.A. namely, T. Bain; W. D'Eyncourt,C.T.H'Cariby, A. Trelawny, J. S. BweisT. D. Duncan, G. Milne; RN. Turner, E. Bement, E. G. Ellis, W. Modem, Oen. Walker, R. Bowling, Dr. Ewa; B. Hunt; O. F. Warburton, H. Bretlterton, J. Fielden, J. O'Brien, C. William; W. Brown, W. liaamer, Sir J. (Minna, J. Torte, H.R. Castlereagh, Viac.lilndley, C. rattleon, J. MAKI; W. D. Hutt, W. Nebel; Capt. =um. Crawfoid,W. S. Kelly, Sir F. Strickland. Par O.Ewart, W. Currie, R. Lemke; Hon. C. Tancred, H. W. Hume, J. Adana, T. D. Dundee, David Lincoln, Earl of Round, C. G. Addezley. C. B. EMMA*, W. Linda y, Cal. Rowell, Lord J. W. Aldam, Fellowea, E. Maaaaky, Hn . T.Serope, G. P. ArundelkSurregerguson, Sir B. Mackangle, T. Seymour, Lard. Earl at Vernon, C. H. Manners, LordJ. Shaw, Hoe. P. Baillie, IL J. Gladstone, Capt Math/ace, J. Sheppard, T. Baring, IL B. Graham. Sir J. Mike, W. Sibthorp, 001. Baring, T. Grey, Sir G. Moisakan, J. H. Smith, J. A. Barrington, Via. II Sir H. Morpeth, Vied. Smythe. 1100.0. Bellew, IL M. Wade, A. Newry, That. Somerville.PM W. Bennet, P. Henley, J. W. ' Nortbland,Viact. Spoonm, R. Bs=ord<3.l l, Tbert. 8. Palmer, R. Scowl, W. V. a Mayor Heron, Sir R. Palmer, George Strott, Dan. B. Berkeley, Hn. C. Hope, G. W. Parker, J. Vevey, lion. T. Buller, Sir J. Howard, lin. C. Patten, J. W. Vyse, H. Carew, W. IL P. 1.41. 01 Vie , Peel, 3 . Chiehmter, Lel. J.lngile, Mr IL H. PrMeroe, E. Wrightaon,W.B. Clay, Sir W. James, Sir W. C. Pulnford, R. Clerk, Sir G. Jervis, Sir J. Posey, P. TZLitIA. Me, Vise. Law, lion. C. E. Rachleigh, W. Tanen, H. Dowel" Sir 11. Lawson, A. Reid, Col. Craig, W. G. Dunoombe, 0. Lefroy, A. hi priegg. MAILS. The mails for Vigo Oporto, Lisbon, Madeira, Cadiz, and Gibraltar, will he made up on the morning of the 17th March. Tha overturn wails for Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, the lonian lalantla, Font, Men, Ceylon, India, Hong-Kong, and China, ria Southampton, will be made up on the morning of the 20th of March. The overland cloud maila, rid Marseilles, to the Mediterranean, Egypt, Ades, Ceylon, India, Hong Kong, Ac., will be made up on We evening of the 24th March. The mails for New South Wales, Van Diemen's land, and New Zealand will he made up on the evening of the 31st March. The West India mails, euluding those for Mexico, tiondarm, and be Uevannah, will he made up on the morning of the 31st Marsh. The mails for British North America, Bermuda, and the United State., will he made up on the evening of the 3rd April. The mails for the &RAI', the River Plate, Monts Video, Pernam buco, Bahia, Madeira, and Buenas Ayres, win be made up on the evening of the S a d Aprli. TO CORRESPONDENTS. The Advertising Mess of the " DAILY NEWS" and "EXPRESS " have Dori REMOVED from 90, FLEET-STREET, to No. IR BODYERIE—STREET, FLEET-STREET, contiguous to the Printing and - Palialther • %a Advartheeseata Weeded Mr Tlut Solna*, London eveathipther, moot be at the Mee by Taro o'clock cet the day of pablimthoth LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 11. , In the House of Commons at the morning sitting I yesterday the second reading of the Edinburgh and Perth Railway Bill, after a diems 'on, was postponed for a week. Ir. WARD brought in a bill for con solidating the acts in reference to making and improv ing Harbours, Docks, and Piers. Sir H. W. BARRON moved the second reading of a bill for assimilating the law of arrest for debt in Ireland, to that of Eng land; but after a discussion, and on an intimation from the Solicitor-General for Ireland that the sub ject was under his consideration, with a view to pro- posing a more efficient measure than that before the house, the hon. baronet withdrew his motion. On the question of going into committee on the Drainage of Land Bill, Mr. W. WILLIAMS complained that the rate of interest payable on loan, by the last act was too low, being less than that which was to be paid by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the recent loan ; he therefore hoped the government would consent to make same addition to the rate of interest under the present measure. Mr. HUME con sidered that if the rate of interest in the market ad vanced, so ought the rate of interest to be paid on these loans. Sir GEORGE GREY submitted that the landed proprietors, particularly in Scotland, relying upon the faith of government, as pledged by the act of last year, had already expended large s ums of money in anticipation of loans to be granted at the specified rate of interest of Three-and a-half per cent. Although the act bad been proposed as a boon to the landed proprietors, it had been found =arly available for the relief of distress in Scotland, he therefore could not give his assent to raising the interest, but he was prepared to limit the amount of loans in any ease to a particular sum, and would do so in committee. The house then went into committee, various claims originating some dis cussion. On reaching the sixth clause, Sir GEORGE GENT moved that no provisional eertificste should be granted for a larger sum than 15,0001., and that tal hs ee rriod for its expenditure should be en from three to five years. In order to meet the case of the Highland proprietors a discretionary power was given to the commissioners where there was a urge unemployed population, and it was satisfactorily shown that a larger amount would be expended in that period, to recommend that an iccreased advance should be made. Sir JAMES GRAHAM was of opinion that the proposed amount of 15,000/. was too large, because those who really re quired assistance were the smaller proprietors, the yeomanry, who were labouring under comparative difficulties. He thought if the maximum was fixed at 10,0001., there would be ample means to satisfy every claim, and also to meet the exigencies of the Highlands. After a discussion of some length, souk honourable members supporting the proposition of unlimited grants, some of 15,0001., and others of 10,0001., the sum of 15,0001. was inserted in the clause; the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER inti mating that after what had fallen from Sir JAW GRAHAM and other hon. members on the subject of limitation, it would be considered by the govern ment in the interval afforded before bringing up the report, on which occasion he would state the deter-