The Express. — London, England, 1851-02-19 00:00:00

DLPIMIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.—TrESDAT, Pvt. 14. TM I.oan Cit teellefent tank hie mat at o'clock. PETITIONS PRESENTED. Term. Afro ematon.—By the Archbishop of YORE. hem a plate not beard • and the Earl of ST RADBROKE, treat Denningtoe, Fraselinghans, and four other places in Suffolk, complaining of papal segrension. Active Let/IAL Dlrrallee.—By Lewd STANLEY, from Sligo end South Devon; the Earl of STRADBItOKE. from a pant law attics in Suffolk, and agricultural labourers In that county; the Duke of RICHMOND, from Arundel, Lawn, Ha'bogs. Brighten, the county of Kent, Basing ebb, ftlandford, Sudbury, county of Ewes, Winchester, Banbury, and places in Leicester and Norfolk, complaining of agriceitural distress. AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS. The Earl of HARDWICKE said that a petition had hem intrusted to him from the county of Cambridee on the •e of agricultnral distress, and be was desirous that noble loot. in that bowie should have an opportunity of ex pressing their -sentiment. on this subject. lie had. there foe, given notice of his intention to present it. There was no amenably nu wog fitted to consider this subject as that of their lordship., intimately connected as they were with the land and baring - large estates. Some persons had domeht on account of the interest which their lord ships had in land they were not fitted to consider this subject, but that be thought to be an argument which told the other way, and he thought they could approach the ileems.ion of this matter with advantages which could not be eseseed by other persons. A great degree of ps liberality and independence hail born exhibited by their lordships no all great questions, and he was confident they would reg and the subject of the petition he had to present with untriesed and impartial mind.. (Hear.) The &gel culturi•ite had cowshed able statesmen on the effects of free trade, and were told that they need be under no apprehen sion. They wire told a lone time ago that prices could not be lower—that Europe rental not supply a greater quan tity of corn ; and that if more was introduced into the mar ket it must rime from America. They hail been told 5...- Mon after session that they had only to wait and everything would reeover itself. Noble lords opposite had reiterated thin in the face of advancing ruin. They mud look back, however, to their former opinions with tome doubt, and dispaminnately receive the sentiments which might he uttered on his (Lord Ilardwicke's) side of the house. Those who ha-1 lain most correct in their consideration of this mabjeet ve-re the noble lords with whom he had the honour of acting, and who had preciely foretold the pre sent lam alit dole condition of the agricultural population He denied that the condition of the people was gene rally prosperous, as stated in her Majesty's speech. Labourer. of all claws were out of employ, and much dis tress was being suffered by the working clams. A letter which he had received from the western part of t:embridgenhire said the condition of the tenant ferment was very bail. some were ruined, many more must be, and few would remain at the end of two year., if wheat tontine- d at preemtpriece. (lime, hear.) Akin rfrum New market ilitered mere into detail. He might Mate, as a pre- Itruinar) Lot, that the tenantry were struggling hard to maintain the ir position. The wntrr of the letter mentioned the nate •of a gentleman whose family had from an estate for many generations, w lei had obtained advances on hi. farm, and at last he us. obliged to emigrate. The tar pier of two or three farm+, in another instance, has le err obliged to shandies them, and make an assignment for tk • isenetit of his croditon. This had been the east with others, wlio had assigned over their stock fur the benefit of their • redituurs. Ile (the noble earl) had himself bet n ac quainted a ith many of them. The nest letter was Irma Ely, anti said that it sale of land could not he effected at all in lano• or small lot.; the writer haul had several pro nettle. ti, ll within the last .is months, but he hind not had a ornate bidding. Ile ;also had fnund that persons were ma stole SO rompl. te their purchases. An estate had been siffeied for sale a week or two ago, and not a lot was told ; two yo ere not a lot would hare remained The owner. or enroll rattles wens burrowing mom y on tbcir Mad. Another person stated that he had reduced his reale ten pee relit bait with this reduction he had hail his rents pour loudly pail up. Ile bad found it more difficult to obtain title, In Limidn.hire and Cambrilleshire there had lie i, a large failure of the wheat crop. With ref-term' to th.. Mil' and purcham of land in Cambridge shim h.- toisla say that haying rutenet the market as a {me ths., of Lori in await anoint. uts, hr hail fund pa•rsuno of the poorer classes outbid him, so great was their anxiety to purchase land ; hut such was not the c.v.(' at present. Now he would refer to the saes that the numb, ea paupers had sir)' eannitlerably in cresossl within the last two yearn. In the (•.unturidore tuition there haul been a gradual increase in the in-door and out.door paup..r• airier 15314 —the same ohs-Ts:Ohm. applied to every nth-•r unioni in Cambridgeshire, and completely dismoveil the a•••••rtnioscif the Poor law Commisairners. la the Royston Union for the first four y. an from P 4.18 there awl been on an lorrage 187 inaliwr and tor, out-door prelim., in the last four ) u•ars 181 in-donor and 1,075 out dot paupers. lu the Cambridge Union in the correnpond ing pericel hien 1143't there hail been 212 in-thane and 1,312 put-door taiupere; in the last four years ?et in-door awl 1,923 our-door pauper.. In the Newmarket Union in the first four years &beet-mentioned 261 is-door and 1,6a9 ant-done inup Ts; in the last four yar. :174 iti,lusur and 2.464 outdoor paupers; and in the Widicach Union, during the wine four ),111 Lout Pat, 111 ...w e e noel I . 7wi oot•utwor paripers . mid in the last four race ant in.oloor and 2,311"0t-door twills n. (Hear, hear.) rily Union the inrre ise was wit to thu• same estent. owing to th,• nueneroue oilman+, which coed. •I there. Fur hest four ). us the indoor inmate- amounted to fi2l I in the last four they amounted to *ll, being 3 slight redoes tem. The unituluer 'moat. • Amounted to 4,373 in Cie lint Nor years, and ire) ii•••reaseil in the hut four year, to 5.177. (Hear, bear) lint in sp sting of tlw state of the paw the report. of thc• pus, law • omminaioeu•r were not Rollie:it lit to tail to a pm-belly comet estimate of the condition ot the laboonng poor, le-ranee three were other appliances to moth as a rvdcnt preprietery and the dopeoition of the owner. of proven) to find cm poi ment bre tie ns to the rend. or in some other w are whirls Was more agreeable to their feeling. than to ecnd an in to It.. workhouse. (Hear, hear.) Ile 11.4.1 a masid,rable relate in the counts' of Cambridge, called the Littleport est ire. and he could inform their lonlehips that it Was the rust..m of a great kutniwr of the lahottrilez populatium there to hold small r0 1 , V11.111 Mates of their own. They were, therefore, an naught lie supposed, an ituli pendent mid supe r-mar a law of tnen. Hut out of one hundred emit holden of property f o rty la n l In e n ,utiliged to n• 11. They could not, of course, eat the of their buildings, and therefore they wen• compelled to sell doer bolding , nit a coneiderable Ins (near. hear.) It wait itnprwsild. In noweise a nem: purple% state of things than what hail ma-arrest in Cam bria:ft-Aire. It had begun in rambri•lo• indeed, but it would won yeti nil, if it hail not alt. .uly dune riu, to every part of Eireetml. (Ilear. hear.) Ilis rOttrietiool was, that the unhealthy stole of things which was il - sit the agricultural dintricte thruirehout the country moo- from the fret that the occupiers of the soil had bes•n supporting themselves nut occipital, and not out of their annual earning, (lime, hear.) But 'here was a confl uent h.p.• that this state of things would le- only temporary that the prte;v.rity of the mann(rturino noel eommerei.d Mawr. would no react on the agrieultural las, that the roaps•rity of that dos might le carihd, nay expixied. I hat :night be a natural expectation under proper eircum stone, s. But when they found that a quantity, equal to a quarter of the w bole produce of the u•untry, had lism im ported into this (armory within the het ) ear, such a Circuni -04111.-e showed that the &diluent manufacturers were the purchoner. to that . %tent of forviirn produ4 4. rather than of home prelate. and that the home grower could not he bent fitwl, but injured rather by :sant a circumstance. (11,..w.) What could they du to benefit the suffering farmer of the. country' Why by giving him a fair remunerative price for his mottoes-. (llear, hear.) But tluit was hopeless under the present .).tein. lie denied teen the possibility of reactor iii f amour of the agricultural body. Heretofore ,it was if Vueraliy Id that when thn y had a had harvest, his entwinement of price counequ, lit inn the diminished :apply in some degnso remunerated the grower, although the crop might have hi-en a deficient one. But hint year then had a deficient harvest. and coucummtly with that then , hod a ilepre.•.el price. (Hear. bear.) In the years 1414, 1419. and 1 , 10, the quantines of ems imported in--reused as the price din litt i t hid. In 3,097,000 Tenter. of wheat and flume. IVOe imported at uitts. 6.1. the quarter ; in 1011', 1,412,000 quarters at 410. M.; mud in when the crop in this countu was wont, there were 4 ..381,iten q Lotter , imported at 10..2.1. (I 'ear.; I t seemed to him therefore to be utterly hopelees to expect may improvement in the price of tom When they opened their markets to the foreign grower it was to be expected that they would gist a stimulus to foreign supply. Did they le-lime when they poke in their agricultural societies of raising increaned amp. by improved modes of cultivation, that the shuto ut. tots there made were not mad by the agricultaxista thnorehout the world, mid that thosse who derive,' their livelihood from the a anis ation of th. soil would not also ay e 1 themselven of es-cry improvement in agricultural im plements. and of the various art. :and science. connected Wltil agricultural chemittry 1 (Hear, hear.) What took pleee in America? Ile found it stated in American paper. th it IA great etimuln. had been given to American agricul ture by the n-cent ligielatiim of England. The conse quence was, that the exports of beef, butter, cheese, snit pork from America to this country had greatly in creesal between the years 11110 and 1849. There wax another point in ree-rence to America which was rather einauler. and not generally known, which was this, that it was pasible fur America to supply wham, to te t is country ma afford to lose by it. That seemed exces sively Curious, Vet it we. done in this way It was well known that • biautiful class of vess e ls eart., to this country from America tior the purpose of taking out emigrant', and as it was • very esprit iv*. attiir to load these vessels with ballast in the orilinon way in the ports of Antrim, they loaded with cunt. which they sad tor 2a. leas than it cost therm. (Hear. hear.) Thes nom found to be less eapensivc than if they took in the ordiaara ballast. Ile ma& that statement run the authority of Mr. Ong". of Liverpool, sail lie would venture to say that there was nothing like it le be round in the history of trade. (Hear. beer.) Yet such was the competition which the British farmer was called on to meet. (Cheers.) Then it might fo• said why sot grow iernestliing else i But the legi.Mture stepped in mad would not allow them to grow something else. (Hear.) When they were stopped from rowing u•bacao, for in stance, did they net contradict their siv a theory of free trade (Item.) Bat it was II Coll• c imam was not oa ) co l o t t .,l t o grow whams). How did they know that ? Tlie fart was they in anted a reei nee, ei i Mentors. tliee people of thes emultry were pc:re taut Mowing co llects. Barley again would be cultiva• ,1 to • much Fame/ extent in Lida -entry, lon, for that 4,1. w iit i v lr o u b ed e n the malt tax. (Hear , hear.) In • ue they pew a description of barley Which THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 19, 1851. made good beer, hut this year the crop was injured, and the molders would not buy it. It was utterly re;octed, and bad to be sold for 16.. or lee. the quarter, whereas if there bad been no duty it would probably fetch 245. or 255. Turning to the foreign trade, his lordship contended that enormous quantities of grain were pouring into the country, from Corkin• quarters at low pekes, and promised hereafter , to be still larger and cheaper. He proceeded with a variety of quotations to show that the nations who sent us their cons purchased no more of our numufacturcs in consequence, and argued that there wee a large and incessant drain of capital as a eon/sequence of this unfavourable balance of trade. He insisted upon the necessity of retracing out steps, and dwelt upon the injustice that was committed when all clauses connected with the land—owners, occupiers, clergymen, and labourers—were suffering from the effects of the policy now pursued, that the Chancellor of the E xc hequer should be the on to person who would not con sent to hear his proportion of the general depression. Earl GRAN% ILLE (who was very indistinctly heard throughout) said he should dispute the exclusive posses ion of the gift of prophecy by noble lords at the opposide side of the house. The noble earl who had just concluded re ferred to the extent of land thrown out of cultisation, as also the number of agricultural labourers thrown out of employment. He (Earl Granvi ll e) remembered last year it , . the same side of the house = aka a (1 , 7 a rea r a i e ot tr n i Su one :f t el i t e :ad Feee caled w x : i beeqzilet.oe bum/ 11111 ; but the returns, which ehewed that there ha bag of able-bodied pait, might be argued Ma mach more softie *.han an Mated like I this. It woo odd to be only reckless aad desperate tenants, those who were making a last effort to keep above water, who continued to give employment to the regular number of labourers ; but was it likely that men would continue to invest money in what they knew must produce a certain loss ? Still less probable was it, in such a state of things, that men should be found ready to take farms for the first time, and enter upon their cultivation; and he well knew that there were such, and that farms could be readily let. (Hear, hear.) He believed the diminution in the price of meat was caused less by foreign importatiou, than by the increased number of cattle reared at home, as evinced by the number of fat cattle brought to market—also by the increased facilities of internal commu nication, whereby the great meat markets of Loudon and Liverpool had been brought within reach of many to whom they were before inaccessible. (Hear, hear.) If it were a fact tnat the labouring classes of this country were enjoying an abundance of the necessaries of life, and that this was generally attributed to the change in our com mercial policy, would it be politic, or possible , to turn round the people, and say—" All this is true; hut there is - 4 diticulty . ----- ' ' .. __ _ not fallen. If labourers' wages had not fallen, he did not see what was the hope of tenants and landlords. How • could they go on if pepduction was not to be cheapened? Earl FrrzwiLLlAM acknowledged that there was dis tress, but he was inclined to think that it was greatly nem- gerated. He believed that that distress might be also ass counted for by particular circumstances, and that any attempt to remedy it by any general change of the law would be entirely ,napplicable to the case. (Hear, hear.) The noble earl who opened this debate referred mmt to the condition of the county over which he so , woefully prideil. The fact that that county was distressed could not he disputed, but he would give some reasons why that distress did valet. Amongst some propositions, in which he agreed the noble earl who • had just sat down had stated one in which he could not concur, at least without limitation. The noble earl first said that they must not look at particular pricey, but at the prices of the whole country. Now their lordships knew , that the average price was greatly affected by the character of the corn sold. At the present moment, in the county of , Cambridge, he could assure the noble earl that good wheat fetched no less a price than 42.. per quarter. (Hear, hear.) He would not say that that was a high price, and he, for one, was glad that they had not high prices. (Hear, hear.) But the average price in that county, and in another which hadbcen alluded to, was no doubt very much lower. It was perfectly well known, and no one knew it letter than the noble earl who bad just sat down, that the last harvest was one of the most disastrous that had ever been known in the Fens ; and that in most of the markets in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire the lowest qualities of corn had only realised the price of 225. a quarter. That he conceived to be the true explanation of the agricultural distress which prevailed in the county of Cambridge, and in other parts of the country. The noble lord who spoke last never ventured to propose a return to restriction ; and he (Earl Fitswilliam) felt per fectly sure that any attempt to go back, whether on the part of the present, or on that of any future government, would be a task more difficult than they could conceive. (Cheers.) With respect to the noble duke's observations in regard to the malt tax, he felt inclined to agree, and if the noble duke would only give up protection, he would endeavour to impress the subject upon the government, for, he must confess, that it would have been as well if they had endeavoured to find some more effective remedy for the agricultural distress. (Cheers.) lie, believed with respect to local taxation that it was much better to maintain the present system. At present he had noticed, as every one must have noticed that was connected with the administration of the poor law, that there was a much greater tendency to spend money in those easeA which were called establishment cases than in those which be longed to their own parishes. If such cases, however, were thrown on the nation at large, he could not conceive a more lavish expenditure than would take place. (Hear, hear.) He concluded, therefore, that to throw the relief of the poor on the Consolidated Fund would be to open the door to an extravagance which they could hardly imagine. (Cheers.) With respect to the existing distress of the agriculturists, he must be allowed to say that a great number of the questions at issue were questions between the landlord and the tenant. He believed that whatever course might be taken in this house or in the other house of Parliament, they would not have a protective duty re-imposed on foreign corn; and he was convinced that it would not be on such a question that the present government would be replaced by the noble lords on the opposite side of the house. (Loud cheers.) A pause of some second+ then ensued, but no other noble lord rising, the petitions were ordered to lie upon the table 'the house rose at half-past nine o'clock. _ , distress and amongst certain classes of landlords and tenant farmers ; and to relieve those classes we must re verse the policy we have been so long pursuing with so beneficial a result, and tang at the same time deprive you of the abundance you enjoy ?" (Hear, hear.) Noble lords might say that that was an unfair argument; but it was certain that the labouring classes would look at it in that way, and those were the conclusions they would draw. (Hear, hear.) But it was said that to be consistent with free-trade principles, they ought to give the farmer a chance of competing with the foreigner, by taking off the burdens on land. '1 he malt tax had been alluded to. He was surprised to hear the assertiou that the pro ducer of barley paid the malt tax; it would be extremely difficult to prove that. It was said a great advantage would result to the farmer from the increased consumption beer; but the probability was that the extra malt required would be supplied from abroad; for, though barley brought from abroad could not be malted, malt could be imported, and would be imported to meet the demand. Then, some countervailing tax would be necessary to meet the detici eney caused by the repeal of the malt tax ; and this tax, whatever it was, would probably press as heavily on the agricultural classes as on others. (Hear, hear.) There was another topic which might be much more fairly urged as a burden pressing heavily upon the land—the poor rates. But it was to be observed, in the first instance, that not one-half of the land in England way used for agricul tural purposes. He believed that not more than 3.1 per cent was so used. Then it was a question how far the rat ing of stack-in-trade would he a benefit to the agricul- I twists, seeing that their own stock-in-trade, which was of very great value, would also be rated. (Hear, hear.) Ity what practical plan could they lighten the local rates throughout the country,upon all property real and personal ? He did not believe they should ever return to restrictive laws. (Hear, hear.) lie believed that the interests of all classes of the community were so intimately bound up in the general prosperity of the country, that it could not fail to have a bearing upon them each in their turn. (Hear.) That prosperity he believed to be undoubted at the present moment ; and he was convinced that the opinion of the nation, which ascribed that prosperity to the change in our commercial policy, would never sanetioN a retrograde move ment to a restrictive system, which, after repeated modifi cations and changes, and is long and fair trial, had at length in accordance with the voice of the nation been deliberately condemned and abandoned. (Hear.) The Earl of STRADDROKE was understood to say that he should address himself principally to the condition of the county of Suffolk. It was singular that noble lords on the government side of the house should deny the distress which was admitted in the Queen's speech. (Hear, hear.) The state of destitution in Suffolk was such as was never known there before. He had yesterday received a commu nication from the visiting justices, stating that the Ipswich gaol never was so full as nt the last sessions. On the 17th of February, 1816, the number of prisoners was 90; on the same day last year, 139; and on t',: same day this year, 180. (Hear, hoar.) Returns from Ilereles and other gaols showed a similar increase, the numbers being nearly doubled. Recently a most cold-blooded murder had been committed in the county; and only last Friday night his own servant hail been shot at when in the execution of his duty. It was notorious that hands of armed depredators were prowling about the county, because they could obtain no employment. (Hear, hear.) lle had been astonished at the statement that the importation of foreign cattle had no effect on the condition of the fanner, when it was well known that the number imported was very large. He hoped the government would take an early opportunity of doing something to alleviate the excessive pressure of taxation on the agricultural interest. The Earl of WINCHILSEA said that, though the last harvest had been good, the farmers, owing to the low prices, wai eedeavoured vibe proved on that extensive idleness prevailed amongst the labouring classes. Well, returns were moved for and produced; aad when it had been satisfactorily proved that labourers were extensively employed, they were told by noble lords oppo site that the circumstance was merely exceptional; hut that in six months the case would be very different. He would not dwell on that point longer than to contrast the prophe cies of the free traders with those of the protectionist advocates. On one side it was asserted that the repeal of the corn laws would be followed by an increase in commerce, as well as in wealth and prosperity; whilst, on the other side,the very contrary Was anticipated; hut he should maintain that, with one exception, the pro phecy of the free-trade advocates had proved correct. (Hear, hear.) It was worse than idle to dispute the fact, when they found that the exports in the present year (as we understood the noble earl) exceeded those of the past year by six millions, and of the preceding year by sixteen millions. (Hear, hear.) Surely all that could nut be an idle dream or illusion. (Hear, hear.) The noble earl opposite had read letters and statements front parishes in his locality with a view to prove his case, though, in fact they proved the very reverse. He (the noble earl) hail by him the returns of poor relief in England, and of the six counties in England in which pauperism had in creased in the last twelve months, the total increase over the returns of the preceding year in these six counties was 1723, whilst in the other counties the decrease, as com pared with the returns of the previous twelve months, amounted to 69,000. (Hear, hear.) He knew eases in which rents held as high as ever, and had heard farmers assert that of late, in the improvement of their land, they had expended as much capital as would go to purchase it. (Hear, hear.) Of late farmers who had been remarkable previously for the backward condition of their agriculture were now exerting themselves for its improvement, though they had never done so before. (Hear, hear.) And he would not believe that thaw laudable efforts would be un attended with successful results. (Hear hear.) Ile did think that in the third year after the occurrence of a change, which was bringing this country from the dearest in Europe to live in to one of the cheapest, it was not passible to expert that there should not be some temporary shock of a few months' duration. ' (Hear, hear.) He could perceive by the leading conserva tive journal of France, and could assert of himself from conversations he had with Frenchmen of various chases, that in that country agricultural labour was not depr•ssed, although corn wax now lour times cheaper than us MS. (Hear, hear.) All classes, the merchant, the trader, and the Landed proprietor, were agreed that at present employment was found by the working classes, who also enjoyed cheap food and provisions. (Hear, hear.) The artic le in the French paper to which he had been referring assumed as a thing acknowledged that the experiment of free trade bad taken so deep a root that it would be impossible to do away with it. (Hear, hear.) The article also referred to the ' effect it would have in the United States, in Spain, Sardinia, Russia, where the customs would be amalinimatisl and the duties lowered, also Austria. l'russia, and Norway, and argued most coaclusisely the benefits that were to be exerted. (Hear, hear.) Indeed, us coming under his own official knowledge he might instance the ease of the pensioners of Chelsea Hospital as a proof of the beneficial effects of free trade amongst those who were dimpelled to depend on limited ineomes. These men now dickered that they were able to live at a cheaper rate than previous to the abolition of the protective system. Ile could adduce another proof of how the measure• operated amon.4st the working classes. That very morning the chief commissioner of police fur the London district assured him that never within his recolleetion as superintendent of' the vast me tropolitan districts of London did he see the work. i n g classes a. ) comfortable, so happy, and us well-disposed. 'bar.) The noble earl bad referred to the `anti ~,, HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAT, FEB. 18. The SrELIE& took the chair at 4 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. SECOND READINGS.—King's College Hospital Mil denhall, Burnt Fen Road, and Lakenheath and ltoe kwold Roads; Ministers ' Widows and Orphans' Fund of the Free Church of Scotland ; St. Helen's Waterworks Act Amend ment ; London (City) Sewers ; Bills. HASTINGS IMPROVEMENT BILL. PIOOTT moved the second reading of this bill, the of which was, he said, chiefly sanitary. . lIOLLOND moved as an amendment that the bill id he postponed for one month. .r. BRISCOE seconded the amendment, and Ir. FItEWEN supported it. rhe house divided, when there appeared, For the second reading Fur the postponement 49-29 ST. PANCRAS (MIDDLESEX) PAVING BILL. Lord 1). STUART moved the second reading of this hill. Mr. CUBITT moved that the bill should ho read a second time that day six months. After some conversation, on a division there appeartsl— For the second reading Against it SEVERN STEAM-f CO COMPANY BILL. The motion for the second reading of this bill was ncga 'vest without a divi.ion. PUBLIC BUSINESS. . . prohio of tobacco growing: though it was well known dant tobacco had derived no advantage. The di trance between IL prim A number of petitions were presented on the &viceless could not be grown in thee* countries without a protecting of 375. and 61e. per quarter involved an amount equal to tical Titles Assumption Bill, papal uggression, penalties on duty of some COM per cent . Then the malt tax, to which the whole rent of the land. (Hear, hear.) Farm, gam. Roman catholic., window tax, paper duty, county financial the noble earl lid also referred, was in reality reeid by the rally were anxious to keep on their lahourers, even :et asa boards, unit enfranchisement of eopyholebe. costumier, mathy the agriculturist. as carry person Was frog critter; hut it was evident they could not do this marl s I'ItANSPOItTATION TO VAX DIPIIEN'S LAND. since aware. 'here was one thing, however, that the longer. Front what he had himself seen, he was eon- Sir W. MOLESWOR3II presented a petition from the landowaers and tenant farmer, were entitled to know, elated that laud was going out of cultivation, and that the north division of Van Diemen's Land, Pignut by the namely, what alternative they were to expect from noble cultivation carried on wae becoming of a worse character. He bishop., clergy, magistrates., and other inhabitants, corn , lortis oppodte, who, he aseert“l, were boom! to locale their had revently eeen people mowing wheat idetenil of cutting it. pinning that the Colonial-office hail broken faith with inte .. ntion as to the (aurae they would puroue with regard If they persevered in this policy they might depend upon . them by the continued transportation of convicts. The to. this long-dieputed queation. Though the mutter had it they would bring the agrieulturists inh, sigh a date . tot hon. bar nut gave Maier th .it he should on 'Thursday move e, been introduc' in ;m ealier platy, and very ably intr. winced, disc ii tent a s he would not adviet any It.nernment to twang that the petition he printed with the votes with the vicow by the hon. member for Bucks, yet no substitute hail la i n them into. It would b• difficult, perhaps, to say in what of founding upon it a motion for the abolition of tram sugoreated by him, nor did be say what at all was neoceesary way this injustice was to be remedied, but as the towns portation to Van Diemen's Lund. to he done undo r the circumstances. (Hear, hear.) There- had withdrawn proteetam from them, they could not coin- DISTRESS IN SUNDERLAND. fore, he would like to hear from the rub le lord the great plain if they required justice to be dune to them in this re M r lll . DStrai gave notice for Friday next to present a leader of the protevtionist party ((Lord Stanle)•) how the sleet. question was to b.. finally adjueteol or arranged. (Hear.) The Earl of MALME petition from the ship-builders of Sunderland, complaining SBL - Rir said the question was of great (lidera% and praying for the removal of the whole The Duke of RICH MOD said he did not rise for the whether the agricultural interest was in a distressed state ; purpose of answering the queetion of the noble earl oppo- and the next question was, whether government ought to of the timber duty. RENT CHARGE IN IRELAND. site. But, as .11111 , 1011 had been made to the hon. member neglect that great pad of the community which they them- Mr. S.IDLEIR, for an early day, of a motion relative to 11 fur Bucks (Mr. Disraeli), he should say that that hon. Ken- selves had confessed to he in a distre.sael state, and whether the mode of levying rent charge in Ireland. Renton deserved the deepest gratitude of the ugrieultural they ought nut to administer to them that relief which they DUBLIN PORT CHARGES. 1 class s, the more so as he' not only brought to the eonsidera- were in need of. In the Queen's 'Teeth it was admitted Mr. REYNOLDS for an early day, to ask the noble lord Beni of the quedioon an ability and eloquo'nee never our- that the owners and occupiers of land were in a state of at the head of the provernmentaahether it was his intention I passed in the annals of parliamentary preeeedinge, but also distrese ; but since the first day of eeseion events had to bring in any measure relieving the inereliante and for the manner in which he came forward ant declared lie taken place in the other house of parliament to which he chi, owners of Dublin from the preeent heavy port charges dal not ask that Hoopoe of Cowmen. ..... on. — which he (the noble had a right to allude, as they were pregnant w ith interest leviable under those oppreedee and unjust statutes, the duke) aew rted did not enjoy the coutieleuce of the country— and bore on this question. A great debate had taken plum ee. 66 Geo. 111, rep . . 54, and It and 9 Victoria. to reverie their policy and return to protection. (Hear, in the other house of parliament, and he funnel it was t h e Sir It. INGLIS observed that the hon. member foe the hear.) No, the question of a return to protection should be public opinion that had it not been for extraneous assistance city of Dublin had used unparlitunentary language respect fought, and won too, on the hustings throughout England. her Majesty's government would have been in a minority. polo two acts of parliament. (Iliac, hear.) He Aid not think it the ditty of an oppu,-i- Ile allude el to a per-son of great talents and of eneinene ~ Mr. REYNOLDS bad no objection to withdraw the lion to enter into details of measure. which they thou elit beams.' he had been a respomible adviser of the crown, but expreasione " uppreesiee" and '• unjust," it being under should be broueht forward. Their duty ass to of to who had for several years retired from the service of the stood that he believed the statutes in question to he both. whatever they thought wrong. (Hear, hear.) But, for- crown and had lived on hi:estate on the borders. Everyleiel?. Mr. lal'OREGOlt poetponed his motion relative to the sooth, the country was not in so bad a condition a. they thought the woe ern would have been defeated had Customs for a fortnight. thought ; and why ? Rectum . some metropolitan police not been that the right hon. baronet the member fo t r Mr. HUME gave notice for the 25th of February to sups nntenelent reported that the populatimt of London was Ripon came rushing to their rescue. in the speech a lath move for a return of the revenue of St. Helena, and the very happy and contented. (" 'leer, hear," and a laugh.) the right hon. baronet made, though government must manner in which it was appropriated. Now in ',melon there Was a great deal of employment—the have been grateful to him for it, they must have seen that WINDOW TAX. glass palace of itselfarforded a deal of employment. That was in some measure he did not :ever with the speech from the Lord DUNCAN gave notice for that day fortnight to the very thing their agricultural labourers wantedbut could throne. The greater portion of his speech was to show move that the window tax was prejudicial to health and so- 1 not obtain (Hear, hear.) 'The noble earl opposite next cited that agricultural distress was of a very doubtful nature. vial improvement, and that it should I,e forthwith repealed. the ewe of 'some old soldiers--and he' was delighted they The question was not what was the state of this or that PAPAL AGGILESSION.—THE SCOTCH EI'ISCOPAL were so well off—who declared they were never so well off man's property, but what wus the state of the country gene- CHURCII. as of late, and all owing to the measure of five trade. rally. But he heard it sold in private that two of the Mr J. STUART gave notice that, on Thursday next, it ("hear " and laughter.) lie (the wade duke) was not greatest proprietors in the country had had their estates re was his intention to ask the noble lord at the head of the aware there existed any new regulation in Chelsea "lova valuell, and that they had been let at the Amur rents as government whether any of the law officers of the crown tal having for its object the inereasedemnfort of the moldier; before. But what were the facts with maned to those indeed he did not think they had much in the way . of estates? Of one of them the rents hail not been chattered for England, Ireland, or Scotland, had given any opinion liberality to expect from the present government, seeing since 1775; the other had not hero valued for nine- that in order to vindicate the eupretuacy of the crown snind the Papal aggression, it would be necessary that that deserving men got conduct medals for which they were teen years, and a great deal of capital had charged lialf-a-enown. (Laughter.) Al regarded want of been Lid out upon it in the meanwhile. These the ' jam:Once provided by statute against the protestant bishops of the episcopal church of Scotland should lee employment unitongst the agricultural labouring classes, facts proved nothing but that the assertions made by the that very morning several able-bodied men of ulnae- leading free trader. that the land of England belonged to a w o uld'ullroiled . to kaarliam . ynt ; and, if so, whether the noble lord th • la) such opinion on t table. pearhable character applied to him for work. They grasping aristocrecy were false , and that the land hail heen HOUSE TAX. stet. d they lead been discharged by the farmer. let at very fair and low rents. It was natural that it should Sir 8.11 ALL gave notice that in committee on the budget who could not employ them . (Hear, hear.) The farmers he so, ana it ought to be so. But that was not the case he would take the sense of the house as to the propriety of had done all in their power to keep them. Ind.sed with email estates, the proprietor+ of which were obliged to in his (the noble duke's) district the farmers were availing exact higher rents, and it was that claw who were now suf. les-ying a tax upon houses, arid in the event of its being themselves of excusee fur giving . a few days' employment in tering the most. (Hear, hear.) Well, the eminent person adopted, on the propriety of extending it to Ireland. RAJAH OF SATTAItA. the week to the labourers, paying them at the rate of ihe. to whom he hail alluded came to the rescue of government. Mr. ANSTLY gave notice for an early day to treat the per week, and all to try and keep them out of the work- hut the noble earl opposite in reading that epeeeh mud attention of the house to the case of the deceuesel Rajah of house; yet. nootwithetanding, a minister of the crown would have wished that lus own estate was in the None sat .. *met e that there was no distr.'. amonget that class. But condition. They (the protectionist peers) capected that PASSPORT SYSTEM. the result would he that, if the ',pima were carried too far, after the declaration in the Queen's speech, govern- Lord M the farmer. and landed proprietors would look to their own meat would have come forward with Some Ineioure. M i l gave notice for an early ( lay to move an pecuniary interests. and discharge masses of these men, and They did not expect them to reetore protection, but addrese to the crown praying for some improvement in the * s then they should guard against the comsequences—ae idle. they did expect them to have removed burdens that Apo y nes, they all koo, w, was the parent of crime. (Hear, hear) weighed upon agriculture. They had an opportunity List O a t G em OVERNMENT STATIONERY. thea motion of Mr. MIIWATT copies were ordered of The malt tax be loeolosel upon AS the mast unjust and oh- night, when the financial 'statement was made. If, did the treasure' orders under which contract* for government noxious out of the whole schedule of impoot., and enlarged not wish to use harsh word", but if he were to use them, made. upon the injuries it indicted on the labaurer. 'The noble he should say that the looney enumiated in that statement atationery ire EAST INDIA MAILS. duke proceeded to contend that the heavily-taxed British was an insult to the agricultural interest. There was not in Ou the motion of Mr. DIVETT a return was ordered of farmer mule' not compete with the foreignee, and pro- the whole of it one single remission which was worth either the expense of conveying the mail between Bombay and flounced it impassible that the struggle could last long. Ag- asking f=or or my tinge The agriculturists would think he Alexandria, and for particulars connected with the over rieultttral dere...seine and the lass of the home trade would, was joking to them. if he spoke to them of the re. land land mode of transits. he predicted, speedily bring down the manufacturer to the miwiou of the duty on agricultural seeds, Then, SAVINGS BANKS. 1 Kane level of ruin. as to the maintenance of pauper lunatics. The Lord WODEIIOCSE said, that if it was intended by Chancellor of t he Exchequer said that half of M. srnment to bring in any hill on the subject of savinge . SPOONER asked whether it wins the intention of noble lards opposite to hold out to the agricultural interest it was to come out of the consolidated fund and he spoke t . the slightest bop , or veto:elation of returnina to a restrie- as it' that were' a relief to the agriculturists to that exteut ; ' Cics during the present session. n The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had such tive system, hr would warn them not to be led away by whereas it was not a relief to the extent of mu: hale but only ! intention, but could not 113 yet fix the time. such a delusion. ( Hear , hear.) It was extremely , lick- to One quarter, seeing that the agriculturists thems,lves , BRITISH MUSEUM. cult to ascertain the amount of agricultural distress contributed one-half of the cemsolidated fund. And this I In answer to Mr. Hume, Sir Sir G. GREY said that the actually exietg. The noble earl opposite (Earl Herd. was the only relief he proposed to give. The great evil of na I commission had not recommended any alteration in the go wide) had referred to a number of letter., which all, the charge of transfer, the Chancellor completely lout ' vernment nt the Museum. They bad, however, recent were no doubt an authority to a certain extent ; but I oat of the question, but he told his audience that mended the appointme . nt of an executive coun cil, but from such letters as thew" no general conclusion could eafely not more than sevendwelfths of the poor were tam- no steps haul, as yet, been taken to carry out that recent be drawn. li e {Gel (bad telse) eou haul just as geed a right ported by the agriculturist.. It did not signify whether they. I mendation. The trustees were actively employed in to state his own ceperience of the condition of ciarieulture in supported seven-twelfths, or one-twelfth, heVause the other carrying out the other reeoramendations of the mom his ow n n e ighbourhood; hut he ehould not thank himself portion of the coimounity Were only taxed on a small mission themselves, and had appointed subcommittees to justilleel in thence drawing a general eonelusion as to the portion of their property, on their houses, whereas the look after the finance'', the library, and to provide iii ate of agriculture all over the kingdom. (Rear , hear.) i landoa nee was taxed on the whole of hie propene, and this tsetse-el accommodation in the reading room. Ile would .tat, what h e h a tt ava d to I w the condition of card. 1 was in tact a kiwi of smoted locum: tax upon 'ivies. The Guttural labour in the imortant detest with which he was I great argument for free trade on th e' part of the peemie rnt Mr . HUME wit that it' he did not mceive further in formation, he should oppose the grant of ail public money connected—th - county o f York. iie hail taken s o me' pains ! had becu, that the poor rate had gradually decreased. But to the Museum. to inquire, and he honestly believed that the condition of : decreased from what tune i The Oversee was taken as come ROYAL PARKS. agricultural labourers generally was better than it had been pared with that exceptional year 1847, when the poor rate' for some year" past. (Iles, hear.) 'I kiss lied no abould . moo to six million, and a half. in consequence , of the Lord DUNCAN had rather an important question to ask the noble lord at the bead of the government. Ile suffered a condoleratote redurtion of viva. . , hot at the mama baling of the harved. Of course it was not likely that the I ~_ , ~, Ix same t h ere aa. en • tarp n 4,le . leag mu the 4 , 111(14e of sum uf Matey which was reilitir,l to keep the poor in 1817, wished to tesk in what number of the ruieeellaneous esti larsak. of taa , ampt a m; aoa l though is the district when corn w a". at 705., coal be 'equired to support them mates the royal parks would he included. limeneoliately surrounding his raideure, wages had be-en foe wig n torn was at Pls. But take a wider range. Co back Lord J. RUSSELL—Possibly in No. 1, but the arrange ment is not finally settled. some time as law as Its a wick for au Silitiary leilemaer ; thin. en year'. ato 1e37, and take the price of eons in the , 1 yet, taking a cal, illation .011 which be ti, .lased he could de- year ores ItileZ. Whieh St a. 311 w. which was as n..ar as pus- GRAND JURIES (IRELAND.) ! Mr. HIGGINS wished to know whether it was intended pcud, so to the prim.. of artick• is. 0P.... , neitthbouthoel, sible• that of last year, and they would Had that the rive ,to bring in any measure for the arrangement of the fi scal ~fie was e auvise e d (aial thi s le I. S II 'tab el in pudic without ' rate Was only 4,000,0001. In 1849 it had risen , business of the grand j'llTies of Irehend. contradiction) that the taloa.. r. win- at least as well elf; to daVialaiat. ; and even now it wa." 5,400. 11 00/., than under 4an they hub re bowie. Unbolt , and their consume- which was 1,400,00 W. more Sir W. SOMERVILLE said it wua his intention to in and that where protection, 1 traduce a measure for the establishment of fiscal board. in ties was large, they were better off thaa oho e hail been 10. - Hew slid they mount for these things ? Perhape they ;e° nnenion with the grand juries. Ism. (Hear, seae.) Ile had been astuttishid to hear the (*mid not do so any more than he could. Then they had a : Sir G. GREY p o-s tis. usl the vernment measure rcla ta eonalushm denied which were drawn from - th. r. tarns a. sl , r...• of 68,379 peroine receiving relief since January 1, 1 SMITHFIELD MARKET. Ito pauperism. (hear, hear.) There was not Mai* • t . ..n.i. !+ co, tool• Illey woe still nut a 'thin 31,040 of the nullifiers ! ' , go nution of 10 per eeut. in the expereliture to! rtat t , ;o" which was the last ycar a proketion Enough ~ a h I, tiTe to the removal of Smithfield Market. lhat a diminution in the number of ebb. bel'at pto a a 4 lo .I 'a n s Cal a ilk respect to the Lbaurers. nary could UNIVEIeSITY OF DUBLIN. 13 per cent. ; and this, sot only in eoutitiato , L-so'. of sa se e,ba u' doubt, as the noble lord laid said, that a vast ae..rtioon Mr. KEOGH and it appeared from the public papers neitatring Indus , but in those whcr , the jopal i- had Is-en made to effect imerovensents, which had kept that a (*.Mail...len had lessen appointed to inquire auto the lien was priced y employed in writ 'attire. ((lear,l them in employment; but it was stated also, by the ems- management of Dublin U niversity , consisting of the Arch' or d hut ' ) la 2 ' oho aguiauli'm was ti per tu lot! seat pawn to whom hi had alluded, that wages had bish o p o f Dublin, the Bishop of Cork, Mr. Soulfuld, Ur. Cooper of Mackree, and another. He wished to know whether any Roman catholic had been placed on the com mission ? Lord J. RUSSELL mid he was not quite clear that the hon. and learned member was right in the names. It waa quite true that Lord Clarendon had 'recommended certain names, but he (Lord J. RUlWkii) did not know whether any Roman catholic, were included. POOR LAW ASSIMILATION. Hr. P. SCROPE rose to move for a select committee to I consider the expediency of assimilating the poor laws of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and promoting the pro ductive employment of able-bodied paupers. lie pointed out the diderenees existing between the systems for the re lief of the poor in the three constituent portions of the United Kingdom—not merely in the law, but still more in the practice—and the evils resulting front this want of uni formity. The main reason for considering the expediency of assimilating the three systems was, he observed, the deep interest which the working classes had in it, the condition of these classes in England being daily deteriorated by the immigration of Irish and Scotch, who are driven to this country to obtain that relief which they arc denied in their own, through the operation of the poor-laws. He was proceeding to discuss the second point.— the best mode of relieving the able-bodied poor—when An hon. member moved that the house be counted, which was done, and there being only 27 members present, the house stood adjourned at six o'ekck. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES.-CONTROVERTED ELEcriosa.—On Monday the general committee of elec tions selected the following members to serve as chairmen of election committees for the present session :—Mr. W. Deedes, Mr. E. Divett, Mr. G. A. Hamilton, Mr. 11. K. Seymer, Lord Robert Grosvenor, and Mr. E. Ellice. The Duke of Richmond and Lords •Stratford, Ponsonby, and Colchester have been appointed a committee on opposed private bills. The standing orders have been waived in the case of the General Reversionary and Investment Company, and in the case of. the Buckingham, Brackley and Banbury and Towcestcr road bills. EVERT SATURDAY AFTERNOON WILL BE PUBLISHED, T HEEXHIBITION EXPRESS, Size of • Daily Moraine Double Paper, PRL.E toUIt".*ENCE, Caotaiaing every po.aible inforetatio, relative I. the itEAT EXHIBITION OF 1851, Its (Netts, Exhibitors' Prltsptc;,iiitended Contra . % Arrangements, Appra.rance, l'roerem, past and future. The enormous number 01 perm interested in the forthcoming Great Extubition of the World's Inelestry having hitherto nod no mrafactory reprmentative in the preen—no paper sufficiently Loge, and with me,heinima comprehensive enough to grasp and camped} the forthcoming copnoition with Nino* w ?thy of no mead on event—the proprietors of tse EXPRESS have determined upon raring, every Saturday afternoon, • double sheet of that paper, to contain the fullest and latest information relative to the Exhibition, together with a mate of other matter acceptable to the multitude of persons interested either es general and lead committeemen and weretariep, members of provincial travelling club% exhibttore, friends of exhibitors, rivals of exhibitors, and the mill larger and wider circle of theme who me to be the hundreds of transited§ of visitors to the metropolis during the forthcoming Con. grass of Indostry of ail Nations. In addition to everything relaUve to the Ezpoeition tide doubt sheet will give general newp, and will, moreover, especially attend to all current events in literature, science, and art. On every day except Saturday the price of the EXPRESS will be threepence, as heretofore. The great value of the LXLIIIJITION LXHIFS9 as a medium met teesittent to advertisers. AU arteertisementa must be at the office in White friars at or ',fore 4ght In the evening of each Friday, to secure iasertion to the number followinir Office. 19, rouverimAtreet, Fleet street. gitt rameggi. TO CORRESPONDENTS. IretCwwwent.lntentled far "The Es prem.," Lowden Evening paper, muet be at the ottlee, td, liourerte•street, by Two o'cloat ba the day of pabdcatioa. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tow DAT—Menise. 41k. 110 a Afternme, 4h. 4 tn. Tomosactr—lliorria& Sit. 4e.. .Aftermoon, Sh. 24e. LONDO.V, TrEDXESDAY, FEBRUARY 19. Mn. LoCKE KlXo's proposed extension of the borough franchise of 101. to the counties of England and Wales is us moderate and unexceptionable an instalment of extended suffrage as can well be ima gined. If an occupant of a house rented at 101. per annum within a borough is qualified to judge of what is required in a member of parliament, can it be believed that the occupant of a house of similar value in a county is incompetent ? If the Tothill fields ten-pounder is a reliable elector, why doubt tho ten-pounder of Old Brompton, and exclude him from the exercise of the suffrage? In fact, the non-extension of the ten-pound suffrage to the counties implies even a 6 , reater absurdity than these considerations suggest. House-rent is higher in towns of any size than in rural districts. A im pound qualification within boroughs admits in many instances a lower class of voters to the roll of electors than would be admitted by the ten-pound qualifica tion in counties. The exceptions to this rule are the small boroughs in rural districts, where the ten pound franchise deprives of the suffrage classes who would possess it in Finsbury or Manchester; the only ettlet of that exclusion being to narrow the constitueney for the convenience of bribing can didates. _ - . The arguments in support of Mr. LockE ]Suds motion are: that the ten-pound franchise has been found perfectly- safe in large boroughs; that than can, consequently, he no danger in extending it to the counties; and that the numerous individuals who would, by this extension, be admitted to parti cipate in the exercise of the suffrage are at present debarred its exercise, to say the least without any advantage being thereby conferred on the general public, and with great injustice to themselves. We know not with what thee the protectionist con servatives can object to Mr. Locke kiNG's motion. They are incessantly dinning into our ears the moral ' and intellectual superiority of the inhabitants of the agricultural over those dilly manufacturing districts. They will be guilty of a glaring self-contradiction if they maintain that to keep virtually a higher rate of qualification in the former than the latter, would be unsafe among what they call the sounder communi ties when no evil has resulted from its adoption in the others. . . . There are indeed some who maintain that the existing qualifications in counties give a monopoly of the electoral franchise to owners and occupiers of land, excluding from it in a great measure the re spectable inhabitants of country towns and villages. /or our own part we decidedly incline to this opinion; and what is more, we believe that this ex clusion is felt extensively by one of the soundest and most trustworthy sections of the population. We' believe that the inhabitants of our more considerable country towns and villages are m fact better informed and more given to deliberute reflection and habits of self-control than the excitable proletarians of our great industrial marts, perhaps even than a majority of the millionaires rani lumina in guryite rests of these democracies. The extension of the ten pound qualification to counties would improve the quality fur more than the quantity of their constituencies. The protectionist conservatives may perhaps b ex pected to dissent from the proposal to call this class into political activity, from apprehensions that it may not be sufficiently imbued with implicit belief in the wisdom of protectionist policy. As far as our own experience goes, we fear it must be contessed that its opinions on this head arc rather what many protectionists consider heretical. But as this is the only objection that can be urged against them, the " farmers friends" ought fur that very reason to be chary of opposing the proposal to enfrunehise them. To enhance their own consequence, they have uniformly assumed that there is only one interest in the agri cultural districts. They have often and loudly com plained of the division of the population into parties en gaged in agricultural pursuits, and parties engaged in mercantile and numufacturing pursuits, adopted in the census returns as deceptive. They claim the shopkeepers and small manufacturers of country towns and villages us part and parcel of the ageicul ; tural interest. After having dune this pertinaciously fur so many years, if they now oppose the introduc tion of the ten-pound franchise into counties, on the ground that the political influence of the owners and occupiers of land may thereby be weakened, they will expose their own veracity to ugly suspicions. What course ministers may see tit to pursue, with relation to Mr. LoCKE KINtN motion, it is nut easy to conjecture. Lord Sorts RUSSELL's last declara tion on the subject was magnificently oracular. In reply to a q . uestion from Sir lustful, WacrisLEY, the noble Premier stated, last week, that on former occa sions he had admitted that certain amendments of the Reform Act of 1532 and certain extensions of the suffrage were desirable, adding that " he would certainly oct up to that opinion when he thought the proper time had come to do so." It is posZile that on Thursday night we may hear Lord Jons protesting that he does nor thiax the proper time has come ter extending the ten-pound qualdiesetion to counties. We wish rather than hope that in this anticipation we may bo found to Mr. object Mr. have erred. We believe that there is not one ear nest liberal who has not long arrived at the con viction that the present dead lock of the parties of proress and re-action in parliament demonstrates the necessity of a new infusion of the popular ele ment into our electoral institutions—an infusion much greater than could be effected by Mr. Loexr; KING'S motion. Any declaration, therefore, from Lord Joao RUSSELL, to the effect that he thinks tho time has not yet come for any amendment of the Reform Act of 1832, or any extension of the suffrage, will inevitably be interpreted to mean that he is perfectly satisfied with a state of affairs in which reform can make no sensible progress, and in which the chapter of accidents may any day throw power into the hands of the bigoted opponents of pro gress. WHEN recently describing the movement ori gbmted in Manchester for the promotion of edu cation in that city, by means of local rates and municipal administrations, the proceedings termi nated, it may be recollected, in the appointment of a sub-committee to consider and retort on the scheme; and by that body instructions have been prepared fur the draft of a bill to be introduced to parliament. The fundamental principle adopted is that, in Manchester, " the parent or person having the care and maintenance of any child above four years of age, may require free education to be pro vided for such child"—a principle which in substance is, of course, the necessary conse quence of any educational system supported by public taxation. But to it was at first proposed to be made an important addition; that, whilst all should be provided with free education of an ordi nary character, a higher and superior education should be furnished in the same schools for such as could and would pay fur it. This addition has now been abandoned ; lest the poorer classes should be repelled from sending their children, and lest any cause of distrust should arise as to the fairness of the practice pursued in the schools, whether all received an equal degree of attention; and thus the very ad vantages of such a system proved a serious impedi ment to the progress and success of the still greeter principle of free education at the public expense ,to all. - _ _ _ Upon the principle, then, of free education of the same sort to all, the committee propose to base their scheme. First, by forming Manchester and Salford into School Districts, each under the control of School Committees to be appointed by and out of their re spective Municipal Councils. Ily these District Com mittees the respective councils are to be moved to lay on school rates, to be assessed and collected us the ordinary borough rates now are. Funds being secured to furnish free education for all, it is next proposed to rend, r available for that purpose the amount of existing. school accommoda tion. Now in Manchester it is found that there is already school-room space equal to the education of all, and with this apparent advantage, the real dif ficulties of the scheme commence. For the surplus accommodation is principally the result of tho competition or the jealousies of religious sects; and it exists in what are now denominational schools. Existing, it is a fact not to be overlooked ; but, on the contrary, to be used. What is therefore pro posed, is, to admit all existing schools of a public character in the two boroughs into the District School Unions ; not to interkre with their internal discipline or management, and to allow them to re tain their own distinctive religions teaching. But when admitted into the union, they are to be open to all applicants free of charge ; and to receive payment out of the rates according to the number of scholars registered. What, then, are the rates to be exclusively applied to sectarian religious instruction of all sorts and kinds? Not so. The existing schools when ad mitted into the union and paid out of the rates, will teach their peculiar tenets to the children of thoso who desire it ; parents may therefore select such schools as they prefer and as belong to their own particular persuasion or church, and so have their children brought up in their own opinions. But it is expressly provided " not to compel children attend ing such schools to learn any ems' or formulary, or to attend any Sunday Schools or place of religious worship to which their parents, or persons having the care and maintenance of them, shall in writing object." So far as they are concerned, Scripture reading excepted, the education will be secular. Is there, then, sufficient security in this? No doubt the religious atmosphere of the particular meet by which the school was established will prevail in each existing establishment; and fur that parents sending their children thither must be pinionA ; but those who are aware of it, and object to tho distinctive teaching, are exactly the persons who can and will guard against the consetjuences, by else where imparting their own religious opinions to their children, who at these schools ieceive secular instruction. It would be idle to ask denominational schools to abandon their religious features; it would be absurd, and costly to a degree, to lay down any scheme of flee cduention for all without taking these schools into consideration, and making all the use of their surplu4 space which is lxissible7 Taking, then, that into consideration, and went _ leetingt at the proposed rule will exclude the National Schools of the church of England from all participa tion in the rates unless they accommodate themselves to the rule by a modification of the fundamental principle of the National School Society, we must think that, for all protestant dissenters at least, there is here as much security against scholastic proselytism as they ure likely - to secure in any scheme for th e . free education of all. Ilut, though there may be at present surplus space in existing schools in Manchester adequate to furnish accommodation for all its children, those schools may he inconveniently situated, and the growth of popu lation may quickly overflow the surplus space. In doubtedly this is so; and it has not been overlooked. For in districts where either at present or hereafter there may not be accessible school accommodation, the district school committees will have power to erect school houses and provide masters; and therein lies by far the most agreeable part of the scheme, the other being at best a compromise and an accom modation to existing and adverse circumstances. Ire necessitous or unoccupied localities these com mittees have to report on the facts to the municipal council, and to set forth the amount of school ac commodation required. Time has then to be allowed for denominational schools to fill in, at their own cost, the gap; but should that not be done, then the necessary schools are to be erected by the district committee out of the public rates. Mlen erected, theyare to be placed under the immediate control of a local committee of ratepayers, from which clergy men and ministers are to be excluded, to be subject to the inspectitm of the Committee of Council ; and therein, though " instruction in the tinily reading of the Holy Scriptures is always to be provided for, no distinctive religious creed or formulary is to bo taught." Now, no doubt, these are the schools most de sirable to prevail in a scheme of free education for all at the public cost. But it is impossible to over look tither existing schools or existing prejudices; or, if that were possible, to rush into such tui expertise as the supply of Manchester with these indepcudcut schools would involve. Such is the bill about to be introduced to parlia ment, and, coming from churchmen, remarkable for its liberality and fin. its endeavour to meet a great I want and a great difficulty. We do not disguise that we gretaly prefer the broad and simple plan of secular education, as proposed by the Lancashire Association—a plan to which recent events must have given great impulse, by persuading all ha , partial persons of its ultimate necessity. The scheme, however, of the Manchester church .l men is well worthy of consideration. THE ROYAL AORICELITRAL SOCIETY'S CATTLE Snow.—A correspondent says, that considerable objections having been made to Hyde-park as the site of the society's cattle show, a committee has been appointed to make In quiries and report thereon. The report is due this day, when it is expected a final decision will be taken. Hang ,- ton-court is spoken of as one of the localities visited by the committee, and as not unlikely, from its proximity to the metropolis, and the ready access thither by railway, to ho selected as the scene of the agricultural exhiLition - - AFFRAY Mint POACIIERS.—On Friday night las Lord Stradhroke's gamekeeper encountered smue poachers M Ileuisyard Weod, one of whom fired at and woundesi hint. Four priono are in custody, and air remanded until Thursday mat, for the offence. We believe the keeps r ehot a poacher's dog with a horse-pistol, immediately alter which one of the poachers Bred at him' —lpswich Etpress.