The Express. — London, England, 1847-05-29 00:00:00

/ai r elderegov.POsieg.autle_lioneallagenys AinelPeestlen; Dallis Posemess' Oro; Welsegol SW; Bins. SUM= PITMONS.-ey Dr rue= . Bowmen, then =WWI pesetittern Torseavete, is fencer of the Mole WIWI, 111L-111r. Bsononieser tray surveyors*/ Who sepia the Miltuuys BIL-Adlobel Davao, fro" I.Seg et> et thepeet flavesn. Woe Mee. sties eta* nolodes X. bosh fon ar abaft it VealMeseent sesepletilleg of fegsskse doe le thelrMli non el Or Intopeellelell Woo= X tsropellder Item fterrlsolaPsversretthelleill . Ovoion. teal lets et Wrgeouttr, kg dim*, eadloded tee Os grooromost glob odareeko hum 411/I=ln Ma Met ef lagtored. oophillog of the pro. hp the Bide" el igiefrig glint the Rev. Mr. dies ildi ar porhig la ea unlkoved sod praying the boom de upheld esheothok doh number a ministers, co the mete ;Israel iv, from as we under- Mesit u r hoserees reg 'oration bIL-Mr. W. 'anon% has rOdbelles Loortire, earoptelalogef big solialed hos eeratkodgeonment grant. egeesdese-Cheolo row. SI eloolMe et leightor. pray Ow es Mu tenants* the no dlealpeekoko-is Woos Ewa, from diumib at Ishoter, to OW sow ant -Mr. Lovett, teem eeetTel preellideres to Dodos. In from et the repeal arglrtbe 11111.-Mr. Boyar, fon the orpoellen t laddenalester, le flow of the Health of Sores at-Mr. Nwilies"from Warwishldee, in favour of the 118 retatirlittellment s A . :o.Ctriura hos the General Munn lily of the Church of agtiaat the Marriages de., (Scotland) BBL-Prom hhhop and of the Eptecopsi Church of Scot land, to the moo robot; wine petitions from various presbyteries in Sealant, m the same efreet.-Mr. C. Vitutous. from SedIMR7 end Dd.ton, raw Wolserhampion, in femur of incieding Keenan Catholics in the governmestgreats.-Sir Dr L Ewa, Prom Westminster, in Amur of • Medial Registration Dill-Mr. Warms, from Roman Catholics in Warwickshire, compLaning of being excluded from the operstito of government grants on clucation.-LorA 0. Doerr:vex, IS petitions from verb - is ports of Ireland, in Girour of the extension of the raLways in that country; aim a petition in favour of an ex. traded principle of ernigratim.-Sir R. I'm, from Birmingham and then plums, in favour of the participation of Roman Catholics In government greats for the purposes of cdueation.-Mr. Ewan; from Birmingham, for • direct ityrem of taxation. RECORD R 6 IDI NOn. -NewfonndLind Government; Burgh Police iscatilindl; Out-pensioners ((helsea and Greenwich) ; Bills. HEBORTS.-Lase Societies; Cemeteries Clauses; Blitz. rICII3 or MOTION.- EXCISE LAS,- Dr. BOAViIINU. an Mon. day next, to mom for certain returns connected with the excise lams sod to submit a motion for the revisiop of there laws, Tex Watuvoros Srarmi.-Mr. e.'Brnant-xv, on Monday next, to put • question to the government respecting the Wellingum statue. Poen, st.-Mr. Iluma on Monday nest, to bring the affairs of Pc•tietr.d, as oannected w.th British interference, under the notice of the Muse. NEW MEMBER. - - - - - • • Captain BURK. was introduced, and took the oaths and his seat far the county °essay. ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. On the motion of Lord J. Rua- ELL, it was ordered that it, house, at its rising, should adjourn till Monday. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. Lord J. RUSSELL said that on Monday he proposed to t e h • the Lords' amendment, upon the Poor Relief ( Ireland) Bill , and upon the Lan , lcd Estates Improvement Bill, before any ,:her buaiaess. The Chancellor of the Exchequer wee k ' then proceed with the measure for carrying into effect th e r t recently pw-aa-1 with reference to the relief of the destitut ion in Ireland. On Thursday he intended to bring forward the Prisons Bill, involving the question of trans portation , and his right hon. friend would wive the third ree di„ ge , 'the Loan Discount Bill. On Monday next be would state tithes arrangements proposed by the government with T d erwm public business. AFFAIRS OF PORTUGAL. Mr. ifuj a 'E nuked whether there would be any objection to produce t h e instructions under which the British autho- rities at Lisb sa hsd been called upon to interfere in the internal affairs of Portugal? Lord J. RUb SELL said that at present the instructions could not be p. soduced, but government would lay the= before the house 55 non 53 possible. Viscount Palms Teton entering the house at this moment, , Mr. H umE ask al the noble viscount whether Col. Wylde sad the B r i t i s h sat amities in Portugal had threatened the Junta w i t h arme d , =teTnaition, unless certain conditions they named were ado Teel ? Viscount PALMEI .STON said that her Majesty's go vernment, in concurren re with the governments of France, Spain, and of Portugal herself, were engaged in measures for the pacification of th g latter country, and pending these arrangement , the papers a eked for could not be produced. Sir It. PEEL asked whether the intervention of the three pewen was the result of a separate friendly understanding with Portugal, or was consid and a result of the Quadruple Alliance ? Viscount PALMERSTON replied that Portugal had cer tainly applied to the three powers, of preference, as being members of the Quadruple Alliance, but the pending ar rangements did not at all arise tut of that alliance. Mr. HUME then gave notice that on Monday he should bring the subject formally before the house. PUBLIC WORKS (IRELAND). Lord 0. BENTINCK said he understood that although the inferior persons employed on public works in Ireland had been very extensively dismissed, there bad been no cor responding diminution in the staff. Could the right hon. gentleman give any information on the subject ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that a great reduction had taken place in the number of superin tendent officers on the public works, though of course not in proportion with the reduction in the lower claws of persons. Since March 31, the overseen had been reduced from 11,218 to 1,000, and the check-takers from 4,835 to 2,080 ; and further reductions were eoe.stantly going on. TAXATION. Mr. EWART then rose, pursumt to notice, to move— Tbst It be expedient that a more direst spas= of taxation on pro- Erty should (as tar as possible) be substituted for the indireetsyseent yen.tores and crews duths, now in use. That such • change mould, removing restrictions emoted by the Eyelet., encourage Uncle, and the free application of Leonine to trade. That, by roaming the re strictions caused by custom* duties, it would extend commerce, and be the most natural means of prolonging the peace, by promoting the intercourse of the w,rld. That It would be highly beneficial to the poor (who now pay the great mate of indirect to by giving them more abundant mean, of schsistence and a empl Is-scent ; and ernnld tend generally wad finally to the good of all elm. of the community. He made this motion, he said, more peculiarly on behalf of the poor, who were at present called upon to pay a most unequal proportion of the taxes of the country. He nom. aidered that the taxes on articles of consumption and necem sity should be reduced as much as possible : the deficiency of revenue being made up by a direct tax on property. He dwelt upon the injurious effects in every point of view, of the duties which now Mil upon articles of provision, in general use among the population, and contended, that according toall experience, a reduction of there duties, while most trnefleial to the people and to the country in a commercial point of view, would not in reality be injurious to the revenue. Haling said so much for the customs, he now came to the 'stew. It would be recollected that an inquiry into the working of the excise laws had taken place in 1833, when a great many valuable suggestions were made. He believed that our present system of excise laws was so complex, that to carry it out properly would require at least a million of officer,. Some of the excise duties—that on soap, for instance—weighed heavily on the poorer classes, and militated greatly againet that cleanliness which was an essential to health. Then there was the tax on paper, which could not be too soon repealed. That duty was levied first in the reign of Queen Anne, as it was then slated, to help the war to a conclusion, and to bring about a lasting peace. Queen Anne's peace had long sine* been brought about, and, therefore, there remained no excuse for maintaining the duty on paper. Bat it was not so much the duty on ;mete as the vexatious mode of its collection which annoyed the manufacturer and consumer. The raw material of paper consisted of the sweepings of the cotton factory. Now cotton was free of customs duty, but the moment it came under the excise to be manufactured into a paper, a duty was immediately leviable. That duty demanded instant repeal. The English language was destined to be the language of the civilised world, and it would be unwise to retain such restrictions as prevented its diesemination. There were many articles, bricks for instance, the excise on which pressed heavily on the productive classes of the community. In the article of spirits it was his wish to see the duties assimilated in the three kingdoms, and he saw no reason why on every article Ireland should not bear her fair share of the national hurthens. He had not dwelt on the window duties, although he believed no one would contend for their continuation, but had confined himself to the principal features of the customs and excise, believing that their present arrangement acted as serious checks on the trade and commerce of the country. There was one duty to which he had not an yet alluded, and which pressed most unequally on different classes of the community—he meant the stamp duty. By the mode of rating, a fifty pound mortgage paid fifty times as much stamp duty, in proportion, as one for 50,0001. For all this cumbrous and inefficient machinery he would substitute a general system of direct taxation, believing that it would not only elevate the morals of the people, but would go Be towards securing the peace of the world. A reduction in the tobacco duties would consolidate our relation, with America, and we were encouraged to that by the late redoes lions in the American tariff. Since those reductions the A merican mutates receipts had increased 200,000 d01e.% month. He did not wish to precipitate any sudden or dangerous change, his only object in making the motion being to bring the subject under the consideration of the house and the country, with a view to the gradual and safe introduction of sound principles. (Cheers.) Mr. HUME seconded the motion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER— As it wotud be his duty, in the course of the next ses sion, to call the attention of the house to the important subject of taxation generally—(hear, hear)—and as they would then have to deal with that tax in which the principle of direct taxation was immediately involved—the income-tax—and to decide whether that tax should be made permanent, and perhaps increased, or whe ther they should return to the system of indirect taxation, his hon. Mesa must encase him if he refrained from entering into the various items to which he had referred. (Hear, hear.) He feared, however, that in any system of taxation he might have to bring forward, he should, as all his prede cessors had done, fail in making the taxes, whether direct or indirect, palatable to thceewho had to pay them. (" Hear, hear," and a laugh.) All he could do was to endeavour as fur as he could to apportion them fairly upon all classes of the community. (Hear, hear.) Looking at the position he held. and being anxious as fer as possible to prevent prema ture discussion on a subject which must at • comparatively early period come fully under the consideration of parlia ment, he felt it right to alatain from any observations be yond the general declaration he had made. (Hear.) Mr. R. YORKE advised his hon. friend, after the assur ance which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had given that the whole subject of taxation would be brought under notice next session, to withdraw his motion, Mr. HU3I E thought the time had come when the house should coati ler how the largest revenue could be levied at the smallest expense, and hoped his hon. friend would succeed in obtaining a general expression of opinion as to the alnolute neces ity of altering the unjust, unequal, and immoral sys tem of indirect taxation, so that the people might know what they had to expect from their present members. There would soon he en opportunity of choosing • new house of commons, and it would depend nn the convituencies them wives whether they would revues men who would pledge themselves to a reduction of taxation generally, the substitus Ow of direst for indirect taw, and the abolition of those aboard excise restrictions which crippled our manufactures. He called upon the government to economise, and to begin by pulsing down the fora now employed on the coast of Africa, whiels every nasal man admitted was not only useless for its object, but miechleyoue, and which cost the country a million a year. Mr. W. WILLIAMS complained of the great and grow ing IMINIMIIIeIa the estimates. This year they were no less thew sem masa, above those of 1835. Unfortunately for tb. wartime dams they bad not the means of ensuring the return of these ammilers who would attend to their interests. At present men *ma half the income of those classes went in payment of tense ea the necessaries of life. After a few words from Cal. SIBTIIOIIP, Mr. EWA.RT withdrew his motion, and the house went Into committee of SUPPLY—MISCELLANEOUS ESTIMATES. On the first vote, 77,8061. for the Mint, Mr. HUME objected that this establishment did not, like those of a similar character in other countries, support itself. He also complained of the expense attending the recoining of light gold, and that the abuses shown by the inquiry of 1837 to exist had not been redressed. Mr. SHELL replied that it was necessary to guard ega:net loss; and notwithstanding the large amount of gold that had been coined and recoined, nn lost to the public had oce.wred. To ensure perfect security, the pr. sent expense was neces sary. The committee of 1837 had not made any report, but if his hon. friend would move to renew the inquiry he did not think there would be any objection. Mr. W. WILLIAMS said. the great objection was, that the direction was placed in the hands of a private company, instead of in those of the government, Sir O. CLERK observed that the private company was tk contractor, mad they were under the control of the go- vernment. It might he a valid objection, that the terms of the contract were unfavourable to the public, but looking at the risk and the uncertainty of the demand, he did not think they were so. After a short conversation, Mr. TIIORNELY begged to inquire if it was intended to ions any new description of coin. Mr. SHEIL said he had consulted his right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with respect to the form of the new coin, and the subject was still under his conside ration, and he (Mr. Shed) had given instructions that err ry thing necessary for coining two shilling pieces should be kept in readiness. After some further conversation, the vote was agreed to. On the vote of 17,0001. to defray the expenses of the commissioners of railways, Col. SIBTUORP objected to the expense of the com mission, and thought it might be steed to the country by a poundage to be rod by railway companies. Mr. HUDSON also objected to the expense of a board, which he thought of no public benefit. Ile thought the btuiness was better conducted under the railway department of the Board of Trade. The selection of the commissioners, three in number, was not such as to cause their decisions to be respected, not one of them understanding anything of railways. He himself performed duties more onerous with out assistance. The expense was enormous, and if any hon. memher was to move for the abolition of the board he would vote for it. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that it was a mistake to suppose that 17,0001. was the annual en penis of the board. This sum was for a year and a half, and the annual expense was about 12,0001. only. With regard to the economical arrangements of the hon. member for Sunderland, it should be remembered that he participated in the profits ; and it was much to b • doubted if a large num ber of official men, in fifteen or twenty years, put to much into their pockets. This board was established on the die- tinctly expressed opinion of the house, at the recommends lion of committees which inquired into the subject of rail ways. The hon. member f.r Sunderland complained that no railway members were connected with the board, but it was doubtful if that would give weight to their decision on the score of impartiality—and the object was to appoint ru tlemen unconnected with railways. His right hon. friend at the head of the beard was, it could not be doubted, a most proper person to be appointed ; and as legal knowledge was required, Sir. E. Ryan, who lied disediard a juilicisl office is India with great talent mid credit, was also appointed; and the third commissioner wan an engineer officer of the highest character for judgment, discrimination, and profes sional skill ; and from the reports which had been laid on the table it was apparent that they had performed their duties in a manner most beneficial to the public. The. greater part of the other official persona were transferred from the rai:way department of the board of trade to the present departmeat., so that the increase was only in the board itself Col. SIBTHORP thought the board ought to be em. played in ascertaining what compensation should be given to persons who wet. injured by aczidents on railways. In the late accident on the Chester Railway, four persons had been killed, and thirteen disabled; but he had not heard that there was any intention of giving compensation to the sin , vivors or the relatives of the deceased. Mr. STRUTT said the ease alluded to by the hon. and gallant member was provided fur by an act of last session, which gave compensation to the relatives of persons who were killed, and remedied that anomaly in the law which had previously existed, by which persons injured were en titled to compensation, but none was given to the surviving relatives of persons killed. The commission paid to no doty more attention than that of inquiring into the causes of accidents. In the case alluded to, an engineer officer w►s sent to make an inquiry, and it was found to be PO serious that Mr. Walker, the eminent civil engineer, bad been sasoeiated with him. Communications had also been made to the Belida of Admiralty and Ordnance, and they would also send official persons to inquire into the matter. After a few words from Mr. Hums and Mr. Wita.tams, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER koped that a discussion would not be continued now, which would come I on better when the Railway Bill was before the house. Mr. HUDSON (in answer to some remarks from Mr. WILLIAYS) said that at the proper time he should be pre pared is & fend the course he had taken with regard to the area, on the line. with which he was connected. Although it had been explained that 17,0001. was not the annual expense of the b.ard, he still thought 12 , 0001 . too much. ME asked if there was any return by which it could be ascertained how many third class estmages were kept, in which passengers were not allowed to sit down ? Mr. M STIIUTT said that by an act passed two yearn ago, every railway was obliged to have one train a day in which passengers were conveyed in close carriages for a penny a mile, and at a rate not less than twelve miles an hour ; but they were still at liberty to have trains at any price, or of any description, over which the commissioners had no controul. The vote was then agreed to. On the next vote of 1.2,8121. to defray the salaries and ex penses of the officers connected with the keeping of the pub lic records, being proposed, Mr. PROTH EROR thought the vote extravagant when regard was had to the insecurity of the depositaries in Poets' Corner, at the Rolls Chapel, at the Tower, and in the old Riding House in Carlton Gardens. He wished to know if the government contemplated the erection of a suitable depositary for these valuable documents, and, if so, he must express a hope that the new building would not be erected in the outrageous Gothic style which character ised the new houses of parliament, but would be of the sim ple Italian school of architecture. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER agreed that it was desirable the public records should be deposited in a place of security, and that the present arrangement, were most unsatisfactory. On this subject a communication had some time been pending between his right hon, friend the Home Secretary and the Matter of the Rolls, and the notion of placing the records in the new Houses of Parliament had been given up, and it was expected that a site for an appro priate building for their reception would'bo obtained on the Rolls' estate in Chancery-lane, but some time would be re quired before possession could be obtained of the ground. Dr. BOWRING inquired whether an arrangement would be made to collect the earlier historians ? Alter a few words from Mr. FROTHERO E. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was taken by surprise with the question, and was not prepared at the moment to give an answer to it. The vote was then agreed te, as were also a vote of 13,0341. to defray the salaries and expense of the inspectors of fac tories and mines, and a vote of 1,7551. to defray the salaries and to provide for the Queen's plates, run for at races in Scotland. The next vote proposed was for 83641. to defray the sala ries and expenses of the householl of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Dr. BOWRING objected to the sum of 1,6741. (incladed in this vote) for Queen's plates to be run for in Ireland, or, in other wordx, to encourage gambling and horse-racing. At • time when Ireland was suffering from famine, pesti lence, and disease, he thought it unreasonable and inhuman to propose such a vote. Mr. LABOUCHERE defended the vote, on the ground that it contributed not only to encourage an improved breed of horses in Ireland, but to gratify the people of that country. Mr. W. WILLIAMS concurred in the views expressed by the hon. member for Bolton (Dr. Bovrring), and moved, so an amendment. that the vote be reduced by the sum of 1,5741., the amount specified as being to be applied for Queen's plates. The gallery was cleared, but no division took place, the vote being agreed to, as was also (we understood) a vote for the payment of the salaries, &c., of the officers of the privy council office. The next vote proposed was for a sum of 5,1351., to defray the expenses of the department of the paymaster of the civil services in Ireland. Mr. HUME repeated his objections to the continuance of the o ffi ce and establishment of Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. He thought the system most mischievous, and only calculated to raise political cabals. Under present exiting circum stances, he would not came a discussion on the question, but, if ha should have a seat in the new parliament, he would not allow the first session to pass without bringing the question of the propriety of abolishing the office and tune uons of the Lord. Lieutenant of Ireland under the serious consideration of the leg slature. Mr. LABOUCHERE was of opinion that the question was not one of expense, but whether the continuance of the present arrangement wee for the benefit of Ireland. He should not wish to pronounce a hasty opinion on the quer lion, and was glad that, ■t the present moment, looking at the state of that portion of the realm, the discussion was not raised. The vote wet then agreed to, and after a few words from Sir K. FEROUSON, the CHANCELLOR of the Eicucciunt, and Mr. HIINLEY, the sum of 27,0281. was voted to defray the salaries and expenses of the officers of the Board of Works is Ireland. On the vote of 39,0001 to defray the charges of the foreign and nave west services being proposed, Dr. BO WILING inquired what balauee remained in hand out of the sums which had been voted under this head for many 3 ears ;mat ; The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that the ism wee takes on en average of years, and the vote one year with another covered the expense. Mr. HUME wholly and entirely objected to this vote, which was expended in bribing a set of fellows who were n t worth their salt—(a laugh)—to fusuish statements which in the end could not be relied upon. Witness Spain and Portu gal at the present moment. Mr. W. WILLIAMS remarked, that the impression on the pubic mind was, that the sum was expended by the go vernment in electioneering purposes; and without some ex planation from the government, it would be difficult to re move that impression from the public mind. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could and did state that the impression, if it existed, was totally and altogether withont foundation. The oath required to be taken by every Secretary of State prevented such an appli cation of the public money. The vote was then agreed to. On the Tote of 200,5131. for the expense of stationery, printing, &e., asked why so large an increase had taken place in this item ? There was an increase of 68,0001. over the vote of 1345. Mr. PARKER was underaton2 to say that a great portion of the increase was due t the demand for blue books and parliamentsry inquiries. After s low words from Mr. CARDWELL, Mr. HUME said there was a want of control in the printing department, which rendered it impossible to ascer tain the expense of the printing of each paper. In every instaace of a paper being moved for, the cast to the public ought to be stated. (Hear, hear.) He should be very glad if such an arrangement were adopted. He hoped the secre tary of the Treasury would see that it was carried out, so that each printed paper might show its own cost. Mr. CARDWELL said that to curry this out would cost so much as the printing itself. Dr. BO WRING said that was not at all probable. Mr. HUME said this showed the character of secretaries to the Treasury. They ought to pay the same attention to the Tre isury accounts as they would to their own private mounts, . . After some further observations front Mr. CARDWZLL and Mr. Hums, Lord G. BENTINCK said he should be glad to Fee a statement of the ripen•e of printing all the useless papers that had been moved for by the two hon. members opposite (Mr. Hume and Dr. Bowring). Mr. HUME said the noble lord had no right to call the papers useless without proof. He would himself, on Mon day, move for a detailed account of the cost of all the returns. gir W. CLAY said he had never known any useless papers moved for by the hon. member for Montrose. Those papers had been the means of diffusing the greatest information. Mr. PARKER was understood to state that the matter wan not under the control of tto Secretary to the Tieuury. Mr. WILLIAMS !IV/ no difficulty in making out the account attic printing of the different papers in the course of a single night. The increase in this estima,e was per fectly enormous. He was certain the matter could not be properly looked after. Dr. BO WHIN 0 slid it was undoubtedlytrue that returns were sometimes made more than once. It was desirable that, before returns were ordered, steps should be taken to ascertain whether the information was not already in pos session of the house. For himself, he had never moved for any returns because he was asked to do so, nor for any that had not reference to measures before the house. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought the discussion a v.ry unprofitable one. Still he thought it would be well it some censorship were established over the making of returns; for it was impovible fir members of the government,—when asked across the table if they ob jected to such and such returns,—to be certain whether such returns had not been already made. An to the amount of the items, he believed the printing, which was all executed by contract, was done as cheaply as was con-istent with the efficient performance of the duty, and with the demands made by bon. members. One source of increase had been, the printing of forms and correspondence connected with the execution of the public works in Ireland. Mr. HENLEY asked what portion of tho increase was referable to the printing of parliamentary papers, and how much to other sources of expenditure? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the increase in the cat of the parliamentary papers was 15,0001. In answer to a question from Mr. ARKWRIO The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the annual report of the poor-law commissioners, and other of their documents, were ineluil,d in this item, the Treasury being of course responsible fur the expenditure. Atter a few words from Mr. Hume, Mr. Henley, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. Parker, the vote was agreed to, as were the following, without discussion 9.6001. for expenses attending the prosecution of offenders in England and Wales. 16,1001. for expenses incurred be the sheriffs, in connexion with the administration of the law. 13,3681. for salaries and expenses connected with the In solvent Debtors' Court. 61,0601. (or expen.es connected with the the law in Scotland. 12,509/. for expenses of the court buildings, and other law cleaves in Ireland. 188,0001. for gaol expenses and other charges, formerly paid out of the county rates. Mr. M. SUTTON asked, on this vote, how many additional prisoners were to be retained in county gaols, in consequence of the recent alteration of our system of policy as to trans portation ? Sir G. GREY said prisoners would only be retained in prisons, such as Wake6eld and Millbank, in which there were cells and other arrangements for punishments. Mr. HENLEY complained that the counties suffered by their arrangements with the government for the maintenance of prisoners. Dr. BU WRING wished to know what were the view, of the Home Secretary on the subjects of prison discipline and capital punishments? Would he give an assurance that good conduct in prisons would be considered with a view to miti gate punishments Sir O. OREY declined to go into the large questions on which the hon. member wished to know his views. lie begged to remind him, however, that goad condiLet was at the present time considered in mitigating punishMnts. 14,3451.. to defray the expenses of Parkhurst prison. Mr. HUME thought this prison scarcely so useful as it might be. Colonisation would be much preferable. Sir G. GREY, on the contrary, was of opinion that ea an , experiment it had entirely succeed. d. The best accounts were received of the conduct of the boys thus removed from the contamination of a gaol. Mr. WILLIAMS had understood, on the other hand, that the conduct of SUMO of the boys was of the moat profligate description. Each boy cost 201. per annum for maintenance. Surely it would be cheap. r to send them abroad at once. 18.3071., to defray the expenses of rent mville prison. Mr. WILLIAMS said this prison was most extravagantly conducted. Each prisoner seat 361. 12s. a year. The cost of officers fee attending on each felon was 151. 6s. annually; more than was paid in wages by ninny respectuttle He hoped it was not to be considered a model. Sir G. GREY hoped that the coat of this prison would be in future years decreased. It had, no doubt, been expen sively though not extravagantly conducted. Mr. WILLIAMS said that the expense of providing per sons in this prison to teach the prisoners various handicrafts actually exceeded by nearly one-hall the value of the goods produced by the prisoners. Mr. HENLEY did not think But this prison was extrava gantly conducted. Under the solitary system, prisoners required a higher diet. Mr. HUME observed that the enormous expense of prisoners showed how much cheaper and better prevention would be than punishment. Here did every prisoner cost from 12s. to 14.. per week ; while honest, hardworking labourers with families lived upon 10s. or lls. (Hear, hear.) The vote was then agreed to. The next vote wet 30,9851. to defray the expense of the MiUbank prison.—Agreed M. The next vote was 8,3121. to defray the expense of the prison at Perth.—Agreed to. The following votes were agreed to : 3,1231. for the convict depot at Dublin ; 10,0001. towards founding and supporting the general prison for convicts in Ireland ; 4,2021. for the cost of lunatic convicts at Bedlam; 6,2931. fur erecting a lunatic asylum for convicts at Dublin; 11,100/. for Inspectors of police; 35,9001. towards the expense of tho metropolitan police, Dublin; 118,0001. to defray the expense of convict establishments at home, Bermuda, Malta, and Gibraltar. 200,0001. to defray the expenses of convicts in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Laud. On the proposal of 100,0001. to enable the Lord-Lieutenant f Ireland to issue money for education in that country, Mr. HUME asked the Secretary for Ireland to explain, working of the present system. Mr. LABOUCHERE said the result of the experiment was most satisfactory. Thera were at the present time 3,637 schools attended by 456,410 children, protestant as well as catholic, the increase within the year being 211 schools and 23,506 scholars. Onethird of the children were protestants, 1,600 of the schools being situated in Ulster. There w ere about 300 teachers in training, of whom one-fifth were pro testant.; they were lodged and educated together in perfect harmony. Mr. MACARTRY suggested that more attention should be paid to training in practical agriculture. Mr. LABOUCHERE said that that subject had received considerable attention. Instruction in sgricultore bad already been given in the training schools, and he antici pated the greatest benefit from the diffusion of such know ledge through the instrumentality of the masters. The vote was then agreed to. 6,5001. School of Design. 2,0061. Professors—Oxford and Cambridge. 4,5361. London University. After an observation from Mr. Hume, the vote was agreed to. . _ '3OOl. for the Royal Irish Academy. 300/. for the Royal Hibernian Academy. 6,0001. for the Royal Dublin Society. 2,6001. for the Belfa s t Academiral Institution. 47,9591. for the British Museum Buildings. 3,1521. for the expenses of antiquities. On the *rite of .5,5371. for the National Gallery and pur sue of picture being propued, Mr. lIUME said he hoped an end would be put to the purchase of pictures, in consequence of the impositions which had been practised on the trustees. In one instance he a n . derstood that a copy of a work had been purchased as an original, and that a sum of money had been offered to the seller if he would take bark the picture. In other instances larger sums had been given for pictures to picture dealers than the same works had been offered for to other individuals. He therefore thought that, till they had better rules and better examiners, • stop should be pot to the purchase of pictures in future. With regorl to the cleaning of eietures, as opinions were various m the questim whether lie; were imprue'd by the scrubbing or not, he thought that it would be advi sable to put an end to the practice. The CHANCELLOR of tbe EXCHEQUER said that the principal picture which had been bought was the "Boar unt," by Velesquer. This belonged to Lord Cowley, and cost 3,5201., but it was bought by the trustees for 2,200/. The pictures which had been bought by them were below the value, in some cases; and, where what was considered too high a price had been given, it was dons in acrordance with the opinions of the most eminent picture dealers and judges. Col. T. WOOD hoped that no more pictures should be bought till they had a fitter place fol. keeping them. The present gallery was in a most filthy state, and persons went in there to lounge instead of to see the pictures. He thought that only cleanly-dressed persons 'mould be allowed in. Mr. HUME hoped that there would be no restriction on perrins going to see the gallery. (Hear, hear.) The voto was then agreed to, as were the following : 8,9611. for the geological survey of Great Britain and Ireland. 4,0941. for scientific works and experiments at the Cape of Good Hope, New Zealand, &c. 2,0001. towards completing the monument in Trafalger square to the memory of Lord Nelson. Lard MORPETH, In answer to a question front Mr. Hvate, said he did not expect that this suns would be sut &lent to complete the monument. The original estimate had been 12,000!., but to carry cut the whole of the design probably 16,0001. would be required. The sum called for was all that was required for the works proposed to be carried out in the present year. Mr. P. BORTIIWICK complained of the ill proportions of the column. The vote was agreed to, as were the following: 4,0191. civil establishments in the Bermudas. 3,0701. civil establishment at l'rince Edward's Island. 4001. civil establishment for relief of shipwrecked mariners at Sable Island. 13,680/, for civil establishments in Western Aerica. 7,5001., for civil establishments at St. Helena. 7,2901., for civil establishment+ in Westeru Australia. 1,2401., for the settlement of Port Essington. 5,5001., for expenses of government of Falkland Islands. 36,0001., for the colony of New Zealand. , - On this vote, Mr. HUME objected, that as New Zealand had now the power of governing herself, she had no right to cal upon this country for assistance. Mr. HAVES hoped that his hon. friend would allow the act of parliament to come fairly into operation, which gave that power to the colony, before he refused the vote. Con sidering the energy the colony had displayed, there was but little doubt that if left to itself it would henceforth be enabled to govern itself from its own resources. The vote wu agreed to. The fullon ing votes were then agreed to: 1,0231. to defray the expense of the establishment at Heli goland. 18,0001. for the salaries, &c , of governors and lieutenant governors of the West India Colonies. • 11,0781. for a similar purpose for the North American Colonies. 15,0001. to defray the Indian department of Canada. On the sum of 23,81:51. being proposed, to defray the charge of the Colonial Lands and Emigration Board, Mr. V. SMITH objected to the payment, out of this fund, of a salary to a third emigration commissioner, who was originally appointed Assistant Unier•Seeretary for the Colonies. Mr. HAWES defended the appointment, on the ground of the great addition to the duties of the emigration office, consequent on the number of emigrants that were annually sent abroad, and which had much increased, particularly as the whole of the Coolie emigration had been committed to their charge. . . Mr. HUME said that as there were fourteen emigration agent., he could not see what was the use of such a number of commissioners. Mr. HAWE S said it was the duty of the commissioners to see that the provisions of the Passengers' Act were carried out, and it was found necessary to appoint an assistant to some of the agents, in consequence of the great increase is the number of emigrants that were to be embarked, amount. ing to 124,000 in the present year. Mr. V. SMITH repeated his objection to the appointment of a third commissioner. _ _ ..... _ The vote was, however, agreed to. On the next vote of 41,6001. to pay the salaries of the stipendiary magistrates in the West India Colonies being proposed, Mr. HUME urged that this was an uncalled for and use less expenditure. The necessity of stipendiary magistrates ceased on the completion of the apprenticeship course to which the negro population was subjected under the Slavery Abolition Act. If these functionaries werc to be retained, it ought to be at the expense of the colonists themselves. Mr. V. SMITH supported the vote, and remarked that a considerable reduction under this head of expenditure had been effected. After a short conversation, in which Mr. W. William*, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Borthwick, and Mr. Hume took part, the vote was avreed to. On the neat vote of 118,9101. for consular agents abroad being propo.ed, Mr. HUME objected to further proceedings at the :ad vanced hour which had now arrived. _ After a short conversation, the vote was not persisted in, the house resumed, and the Chairman, having reported pro gress, obtained :cave to sit &Milli on Monday next. DRAINAGE OF LANDS (SCOTLAND) BILL. On the motion for the house to go into committee on this bill, Mr. F. MACKENZIE opposed the motion. Alter a few words from Si, 0. Gary, the committee was postponed till Monday. FEES IN COURTS OF LAW AND EQUITY. . . Yr. WATSON moved: "That it be an instruction to the select committee on fees in courts of law and equity, to include within their inquiry and extend the terms of the order of reference to the ecclesiastical Lonna and the courts of Admiralty.'" Agreed to. On the motion of Mr. WAKLEY, Col. T. Wood was added to the select committee on medical regisiration. The house adjourned at five minutes to one o'clock. THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 28, 1847. otit epprog. MAILS. math hr New South Wales, Van Diemen's Land, and New Zeeland will be made up on the evening of the 3lot May. West India ninth, indenting throe for Mexico, Honduras, mid the Havarmah, will he made up on the morniag of the 2nd June. The mails for Reitillo North America, Bermuda, and the United States, will be made up on the evening of the id June. Tbo overland /MM. for Gibraltar, Malts, Ovreee, the lonian lathadr, Keret, Aden, Ceylon, India, liongltheir, and Claim, ens Southampton, vr , ll ►e made up on the mewing of the 3rd Jane. The mails for the /kaolin, the River Plato, Monte Video, Pernam buco, Bahia, Maleira, awl Buenos Arm, will be made lip en the evening of the 4th June. The malls for Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Madeira, Cadiz, and Gibraltar ail: be made lan on the morning of the 7th June. The overland c!oved mail, ria Mormillee, to the Mediteminean, Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, India, /lung Kew, he., lOU be mildew on the arming of the 7th June. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Adrertiwonentalatended for 7AaKepreae, London evening paper, meet be at the flake by ?.o reelect oa the day otpublicatioa. MGR WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE. rm DAT—Wrap& 2$ oda. pest I ; AMvn4o gibs. put 1. Tbatoasow-166rAINE, 6 Ws. pee 1; Afternoon, 24 Ailn. peg 1. LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 29. BOTH Houses of Parliament re-assembled last evening. In the House of Lords, Lord PORTMAN called the attention of their lordships to the circumstance, that the money received under the authority of the QUEEN% letter, for the relief of the sufferers by the fire at St. John's, Newfoundland, had not been wholly so disposed of, a portion of it having been applied to the rebuilding of the episcopal church there. He com plained that the money had been appropriated by a committee sitting in London, instead of being appropriated by parties on the spot, and con cluded by moving an address to the crown, that when her Majesty should be advised to issue letters for a similar purpose, the object for which the money was to be raised should be distinctly stated, and that the persons by whom it wu to be appropriated should be named.—The Bishop of LONDON defended the course taken by the committee; the church of St. John's wasdestroyed by the tire, and they decided that a portion of the subecriptioa should go in aid of its restoration.—Earl Gala stated that the work ing classes had received compensation nearly to the amount of their losses, and as the cost of the rebuilding of the church would other wise have fallen principally on the shopkeepers, he thought that a good reason why a portion of the money raised should be applied for effecting the object as carried out by the committee. After some further discussion the motion was agreed to. In the House of Commons, the affairs of Portugal as connected with British interference were made the subject of conversation, at the instance of Mr. HUME, who, at its close, intimated his intention of bringing the subject formally before the house on Monday next.—Mr. EWART, in an ex planatory speech, moved that it was expedient' a more direct system of taxation on property should be substituted, as far as possible, for the indi rect system, by customs and excise duties, as now in use, Mr. HUME seconding the motion.—The CHAN CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER opposed it, on the ground that it would be his duty, m the ensuing session, to bring the subject of taxation generally before the house, when it would have to con sider whether that principle of direct taxation (the income tax) should ho made permanent, or perhaps increased, or whether the country should return to the old system of indirect taxation. His great object would be—though he despaired of making any system of taxation palatable to those on whom it tell—to endeavour, as far u possible, to apportion it, whether direct or indirect, Iltirly upon all classes of the community. After some further discuss.on the motion was withdra..n. The house then went into committee of supply on the miscellaneous estimates, which occupied the remainder of the sitting. Ma. Die ULU'S address to the electors of Buck inghamshire is much more amusing than is usual en the case of similar ddeaments. The l.najority of can more or less confessions o gr ai eral th are te w rm hi sa c a h thdi t t o hei ed th r e wi res mta re tl yo v fe e rri in p ti rti g' o e f s in t ha hec co o as their recognised symbols. The reasons of their opinions, if they have any reasons, are left fo.' their sympathising supporters to supply. A chartist eioctor anti -popery VINCENT on sup w po ha r:a pr t i h n e cipL fi!": Pod ; eB r i . u P ts'n :ti l a raa t a rr 'nl ßE " takes up his cross." They want to know the result of their candidate's political medi tations, and not the process of thought by which hr arrived at his conclusions. It is needless to observe how convenient the practice is to those who have to compose addresses. " Decide to the best of your judgment" was the wise advice tendered to a non professional judge; " but never give a reason for it." Abide by your blue or your yellow," it may be said to many candidates ; " but if you must give a reason for it, let it be some well-established, prescriptive, common-place reason, as respectable as the traditional blue or yellow cause itself." Mr. nihRAELT, however, is the reverse of a com mon-place candidate. As a scholar, as a man of the world, as the possessor of a genius at oate imagina tive and satirical- squalls reckless of promulgating absurdities, and matchlessly skilful in exposing those of others—he might have been expected, in the adop tion of a political creed, to fall into extravagancies of sentiment, to embrace phantoms of impracticable liberalism, or from intellectual scepticism to quarrel with all parties alike; but scarcely to take up with the 12ast aspiring, the dullest, and the most antiquated section of the political community. Such, however, is the effect of the Buckinghamshire address, if we construe it by the ordinary rules of election interpretation. The freeholders are reminded that the candidate opposed the Maynooth Bill and the repeal of the corn-laws, and they are assured that he will continue to support the land, the church, and the constitution. As ALCIIIIIDES, at Sparta, used fewer words and ate more black broth than any cf the genuine disciples of JAM:RCVS, so the eccentric preacher of the "new crusade" wins the affections of his desired constituents by sentiments redolent of top boots and market dinners, by the seeming adoption of all the prejudices and inclinations which appear dramatically appropriate to the well•known heavy part of county member in the legitimate political drama. Mr. Di •RAELI has, in fact, arrived at a new ' point in n career which has excited a good deal of abuse and criticism, but which some may be disposed to regard not without amused complacency. There ' are few instances in which the monotony of English ' life has in modern times been broken through by so determined and successful an attempt to overcome the obstacles to eminence presented by " the cold shade of aristocracy." In the juvenile novel of " Vivian Grey,"—for the personal and political cha racter of Mr. DISRIELI'S works perfectly justifies us in referring to them as illustrating his career,—in that wonderful production of the cleverness of nine teen, the ideal which the writer proposed to aim at was sufficiently shown. His hero was to become at I once a social leader and a practical politician, not for the advocacy of any particular principles so much as 1 to exemplify the pre-eminence of intellect even in the ( earriAreferme , e our talena which has long existed in i England. In maturer years Mr. Dtsittsu connected I a code of political opinions with his personal pretensions. The Young England party, to which, in consideration of the adhesion of a fyw fashionable and aristocratic names, he contributes all the opinions and all the ability he possesses, represents those of his political principles which have hitherto come within the range of public discussion. His more esoteric opinions are revealed in fragments to those who are curious to collect them out of masses of wilful and involuntary I nonsense, in the pages of " " Coningsby," and Tancred." V, eby no means doubt the sincerity with which these opinions arc held by their author; but for the most part they stand apart from the ques tions of the day, for which we hope we do him no in justice in think ing that he really cares little or nothing. Mr. I)IsRAELt has different times professed his adhs-- aim to different parties and to leaders, whom he has afterwards fiercely attazkecl. In all cases, probably, he justified his conduct to himself, by considering party politics merely as an instrument for the ad vancement of his own peculiar theories, for which no party in any way cared. To " Sidunia" or "Tancred" either side of the appropriation-clause dispute, or the corn•law controversy, must have appeared as good as the other. Wo are far fiom supposing t'at Mr. lAsitAeti is an over-loyal adherent of our exclusive aristocracy (for whom, in many places, he delights to show his contempt); but it was an essential part of his scheme to attain the position which in England can only be obtained by their favour. And, accord ingly, he is now the right-hand man of the party which, next to the alliance of the great whig families, forms the most aristocratic of all our political bodies. In this, as in other respects, the candidate for Buck inghamshire, singularly resembles WORDSWORTH'S " happy warrior." Who in the Wks of real KR bath 'wrought Upon the plan that piesned hie cluldirh thought. Though he has been, and is still, ridiculed and dis liked by the highest &asses, he has forced himself upon them. If not the first, he is the most fashion able of writers, and if not the profoundest of politi cians, he is one of the most brilliant and the most feared of parliamentary orators. His first speech in the house, we believe, was coughed down, while he ejaculated, amidst the laughter of the au di ence , th a t the time would come when they should hear him. On the occasion of a quarrel with O'ComseLt, he once declared that he would yet make hint feel his re verge ; and all the world again laughed at the threat of the obscure writer against the gigantic leader. Nevertheless, the time has come when the house is silent when DISRAELI rises, and if he has had no opportunity of carrying out his threats to O'CONNELL, his determined end effective persecution of a yet more vary leader, and of one who in the walls of parliament .vas far more formidable, showed how dangerous the enmity of the despised adventurer might become. By the aid of the aristocracy, and yet against their will, in defiance of the popular dis like of literature, and while using the resources of faction, iudicating clearly that he did not partake of its delusions, Mr. Ihsitazti has conquered a position which has generally been reserved for much safer and duller men, for squires, and for the sons of lords. We should regret his exclusion from the house more than many, perhaps, of the party which be at present orna ments, who might not be unwilling to dispense with the only man of genius, and almost the only speaker, but at the same time the most puzzling, and perhaps the most changeable, of their body. The peculiarity of Mr. DISRAELI'S address consists, as we said, in its containing the reasons for villa he supports the old tory creed—none of those reasons, we will undertake to say, being operative on the minds of his intended constituents. Lying under the double necessity of satisfying the CHANDOS party and his own intellectual conscience, he gives his reasons to please himself, and his intended votes to please the electors. He opposed the repeal of the corn-laws as they opposed it, but from a love of " our territorial constitution," of which they never heard. As a further safeguard, he declares that he considers that free trade ought to have a fair trial. In other words, he is tired of an obsolete cause, which no one could have supposed that he ever maintained from conviction. Whatever course he may hereafter think fit to adopt, will probably be consistent with some interpretation of his address. The county is to understand it, as if it came from Stowe itself, as an uncompromising de claration of hostility to all change and improvement. The future critic of the future inconsistency of the candidate, will find that it contains expressions which give as much latitude as can be desired. That the party with which the author of "Tancred " at present acts is both in fact and in popular esti mation the dullest and most prosaic of all others, is, we have no doubt, a circumstance highly stimulating to his imagination. A singularly eccentric theorist, endowed with peculiar contempt for all popular bigot ries and prejudices, must feel the same excitement in speaking against popery or in favour of protection, which induced RAI EL MENDOZA to carry the bag and cry old clothes on his way to speak to ROTII.- CHILD about taking three millions of the new loan. Ordinary intellects may be contented with advocating enlightened opinions —it is the privilege of genius to support error, without partaking in the delusion of its partisans. We should not express our real opinion if we said that Mr. I)l , aant.i was insincere. No one can doubt that in his hatred to Sir ROBERT PEEL, at least, he is most prosaically in earnest. In other points, the political measures whico he advocates are not, per haps, much more remote than a more enlightened _____________ system from the theories to whi c h the orator ia really attached. His real opinions are rather apart f rom existing political discussions than opposed to the i part which he takes in them. Ile w cu ld williagly cripple the aristocracy ; but only to diminish the power of parliament, in favour of the crown, and, as be thinks, of the people ; and as there is no practical struggl e on the subject either proceeding or likely t o arise, he makes himself in the mean time the mouth-piece of a portion of the mists. cracy. If the rival aristocratic section had courted him, perhaps they might have secured his temporary advocacy—bat neither body could have o. 'Alined his permanent all,:giance. In theory he is vet . v possibly consistent. lie has no temptatio n to b s 6, .her wise as long as his opinions have neither ad. vocat , s nor opponents. The electors of Bucki ng . h u ht re i however, will be greatly m i s t a k en i f they p that their brilliant and e l oquent candidate enterta i ns the smallest attachment t o t h e i r unimagi suppose opf g m ‘ ba veo b n ly .,;•:—and if it is wrong to native i. He will give them more ingenious reasons f or their belief than „ t p h lh e ey y ado ev nt e ha r cH l m ic u a t rd in b o i h fo pecta re ra. ; s b h u i t re th h e u s s tran ting t - c , u ve ess itlkinl nt to the prejudices of protection. - ism and to the po. 'ideal faith of Stowe, the electors b tta u t t t te h r e l re y will not be far out 1 a their suspicions. Ind s 7ffmer. , Tim Irish ha p l rti no cu t p iak7 v ii ed iend so s utt an er d ly f u m n .s ma p n r agea ognos bl tie. , as their more cated. To suspend a -e and wide-spr ea d an d un. distinguishing system of et aployment and sub s tit ute , for it eleemosynary aid, give n of coursewith consider aol,. scrutiny as to the real indigence which crav e d, would have been no small tae c to undertak e w i t h any, even with a Saxon popnlatii an. The Celtic have shown themselves amenable, at lc! if there be recalci trants in Ireland, it has not been a nongat the very Celt s , but amongst the landlords and m %miffing folk, woo are so fond of pleading the Celtc blindness of th e peasantry, as an excuse for their own semi -Saxon obstinacy. The chief difficulties, as might' have been ex pected, have arisen on the part of the landlords. Having failed in pal liament to prevent the establish ment of any system of out-door reli of, , they hav e sought to evade the responsibility Owen upon them by vexatious delays. They have also bee, kept f rom the necessary co operation by the usual animosities and discussions among themselves, arising horn pa feuds, personal jealousies, and rival interests, as well b from a want of will and energy to undertike thei r duties. It is melancholy to think that the (amnia sioners should have to make the following statement about a body of men placed by Providence in such a position of responsibility at such a crisis : While some are making laudable efforts to carry their district through the existiug calamity, us rapidly and with as little mischief as pos,ible, we regret to say th at there an other. so shortsighted, so ind dent, or so pererrre, as to leave events to t..ke their owns course, and subsequent, to allow d mal.proctices which they alight prevent, or eves to ocr nice at them for the purpose of seff-adroutoge. The only means by which the commissioners have been enabled to stimulate the relief committees to do their duty, are the gradual suspension of the public works, and remonstrances through the medians of their inspectors. Unfortunately, Ireland has been ill prepared for the local self government, the com bined and systematic exertion which this emer gency required. Past policy generated distrust, dissension, and dependence ; it left room for patron age, jobbing, and corruption ; but it did not inculcate self-reliance ; it did not cherish social rights among the people, nor embody those rights in organic institutions. Had former governments dealt with the people directly, and not so exclusively through the landlords and clergy—had they put faith in the masses, and won their confidence by attention to their real interests, regardless of party claims ; had grand jury jobbing and its irresponsible power of taxation been abolished ; there would h tve been honestly worked machinery in the country on which reliance could be placed, to carry into effect measures of this kind. Then the interests of the country would have been in the hands of local bodies that could be de pended on to use their power promptly and wisely for the safety of the people. There is little use, however, in complaining of the past ; to tarn a hopeful countenance to the future is the best way of providing for the disorganisation of Ireland. And the establishing and working of these relief committees, the setting all the men of sub stance, whether of upper or of middle class, to consult seriously and continuously for the wants, the destitution, the employ cf their districts, is alone a great and useful schooling. It is, in fact, esta blishing the great principle and habit of the poor law. For the present it is the poor law with go vernment aid. On the future we shall not dwell for the present. It cannot be complained that the commissioners are too rigid political economists. If they have objected to relief in aid of wages, they do not object to relief in aid of property. " Ahstnetealy," says the Report, " it may be thought that the pusseauon of property should preclude a person from being considered destitute; but, independently of the cruelty of this principle, it hce„nncs a quov:en of policy whethf.r a man should he driven to permanent denitution, a hen. by some temporary relief afforded him, he might hereafter, by such reserved "[Lana, be enabled to gain an iu dtpcnilent livelihood." What would the English poor-law commission and its secretary say to this doctrine, which is quite as applicable to wages as to property? For oar part, wo do not object to such ratiocination in a moment of actual famine. The best way to preserve laws and principles is to relax them, and pursue an altogether exceptional course, in time,, when the whole system of labour and produce has been paralysed. We have received, on the operation of the Relief Act, a very graphic and powerful letter from the Rev. Mr. TOWNSIIEND, rector of Agbadoe. We shall not publish it. We do not see what more can be done than has been done, and is doing. We hare hot shrunk from appealing to and goading the Eng -I;sh public at the right time. But England has suf ferings of her own, and we shall spur that " free horse" no more for the present. " out-door relief,' writes Mr. Towashend, "what is it? Ono pound of Indian meal fn an adult for twenty-four hours ; half a pound for any under nine years. They must come for this, every individual of them,—father, mother, child. They may have to travel four, tire, or six miles. They are told to steep this in water for twelve hours, under penalty of its injuring life, and causing dysen tery and fever. Tell a man at twelve o'clock. who has eaten nothing, and who has walked Are mile., to wait twelve hours more to steep his Indian meal. He may not have the heart to laugh at you, but he will reply by recklessly devouring his pound of meal raw." The commissioners are not to be blamed for these hard hips. To establish places of distribution so thickly as that no one should have to come more than a mile or two, would be clearly impossible. The dis tribution of raw meal is deprecated for divers reasons, but relief committees find it convenient: the order is, that meal, when it cannot be cooked, ought at least to be steeped, previous to distribution. But even this is evaded. " We find it difficult," nay the commissimsers, " in many districts to obtain the establishment of soup kitchens, as the medium is part of relief. Dry meal is universally greatly preferred, and, it is feared, chiefly on account of the opening it affords for abuses; and many committee*, yielding to this popular feeling, or to avoid increased trouble, insist on its nee." The outcry against soup and soup kitchens - WU raised by the self-appointed friends of the Irish pee. pie. It, of course, follows that the poor are the worse off for the outcry, and get lees and less wholesome nourishment. It is more difficult to overcome stupid malignity, than to succour destitution. Our Paris letters of Thursday bring us reassuring reports of the general prospects of the harvests. The fine condition of the crops has already produced a sensible e ff ect on all th e mar k e t s . If the present splendid weather shall happily he continued for som e longer, various vegetable productions will begin to enter into consumption, to the great relief of the labouring classes. In almost all the provinces these prospects, acting merely on public opirdan, inde pendent of any actual auirment.iti .n in the supplies of grain, have already produced a fall in the markets. Within the radius front winch l'arie derives its sup ply, the fall varie s f rom one to two francs per hecto litre. In the north the fsil am mints to three francs, and large supplies remain unsold. In Brittany, although the decline is not 11. , great, the markets are abundantly supplied. The only shore of apprehen sion now on the part of the farmer, is drought. Hitherto rains, falling generally at night, are alternated with a high temperature, and unclouded sun during the day. The appearance of the wheat crop is really magni ficent The barley and oats are also good, but not fie Sae as the wheat.