The Express. — London, England, 1853-03-02 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS.—TvMDAT, MARCH 1. The Loan CIIANCRI.LoII took his sestet 6 o'clock. PETITIONS PRESENTED. P•I.I.IAMiNTAIIT P .—By Lard BROUGHAM, from the Porten Athenaeum and another institn:i4n in the Mate district ; sad the Dole of ARGYLL. from several Caen, praying fur a free distribution of Parliamentary Papers. - CANADA CLiaDY Resattere.—By the Doke of NEW CASTLE, from a place sot beard, in favour of the govern ment measure. J twin lnsa al trriti. —By the Earl of HARItOWDY, fram Southampton, against the removal of. Bet astrues.—By the Earl of RARROWBY, from Southampton, praying for a consideration of the law on the subject of. THE CONVICT ESTABLISHMENT AT BERMUDA. TRANSPORTATION. The Bishop of MANCHESTER wished to ask the noble duke the Colonial Secretary, whether any steps had been ' taken for assimilating the treatment of conricts .n Ber muda to those in Portland. An imp. ninon of a most sari our kind ha I gone forth MS to the system which had been practised heretofore in the hulks at Bermuda, and persons who were iaterested in the wellbeing of the convicts, were anzious to learn whether there was any foundation for the reports which had gone abroad. He begged, therefore, to in quire what arrangements were going en with reference to the new buildings said to be erecting for the reception of convict prisoners ? *The Duke of NEWCASTLE said, that when this sub ject was More the house a few days ago, he had stated with referer.ce to transportation to Bermuda, that there was no intention on the part of the government to make any alteration in the system whereby convicts would ecom to be scut to the public works at Bermuda and Gibraltar. With reference to the question of the right rev. prelate, he had the satisfaction of informing him that all the convicts at Bernuda would rapidly be placed on the tame footing as those in tho new prison on the improved system. There who had paid any attention to this subject would find that it was impossible to maintain any proper system of discipline or to ensure morality and health on board the hulks. The present governor of Bermuda Capt. Elliot, drew the atten tion of the government to thi s subject some time ago • and, with the permission of the government, he purelaissi a small island at Bermuda for the purpose of erectieg a prison upon it for cons icts. That prison had now been erected, on the meet improved plan, and it had promised so far to wards completion that 30J convicts had been removed there from the bulks; and he hoped that in the course of the present year the whole of the convicts now employed in Bermuda could be taken there. The right. rev. prelate had not asked him any question with reference to any other convict establishment ; but he thought it right to add, that so impressed was the government with the conviction that it would be desirable to remove, as far as possible, convicts from the balks, that at Gibraltar every attention would he paid to that subject without delay ; but the spate for the erection of prisons there was very limited. About onc e ird of the convicts at that place were now on board the froths. Lard CAMPBELL knew he should be 'eked by the grand juries on the circuit whether it was the intention of the government to put an cad to transportation as a second ary punishment • and he hoped the noble duke would be able to inform him that it was not, as he believed that no other mode of punishment could be substituted for it which WOll4 have as salutary an effect. The Duke of NEWCASTLE said there was some little intone( nience iu giving an answer at present, to such a qatstion, because, as he had stated on a former occasion, a great alteration of the law of secondary punishment and prison accommodation must be decided upon before any boat arrangements on this difficult question could be arrived at by the government. As at present advised, he could not but believe that it would be necessary before any long period had elapsed, to bring the punishment of trans portation to a close. When the noble and learned lord spoke of transportation, and said that, although it might Le requisite to abandon it as regarded those colonies who were unwilling to receive convicts. they might be sent to other places, and that it might be easy to find such spot., he (the Duke of Newcastle) did not know whether the suggestion as to an island on the north coast could be entertained ; but, as at present carried on, the system of transportation was very different from that. After n certain period of punishment convicts received tickets of leave, sad became incorporated wits the free and pure part of the population. All the colonies of Australia, eaceptiog Western Australia, had protested against the continuance of this system; and there were none of our more ancient colonies who would not solemnly and strongly protest against receiving convicts. Where, then, were we to look for any society in which convicts c said be introduced on the system that had here tofore been pursued in Van Diemen's Land, New South Wales, and Western Australia? There were many ques !AUT./ to be considered before they could arrive at a final determination on this subject, and that proved the incon venienee of the question which bail been reiterated by the noble lord ; and looking at th• duty we owed to our colo nos he could hardly anticipate that we could continue the system of transportation in the form in which it had been hitherto carried on. Lord CAMPBELL repeated his former statements that no other sentence, even imprisonment for life in this coun try. would, he believed, have the *llea which transports ti,n beyond the seas would have; and he should like, if possible, to have known whether, when pawing the sea teen of transportation, it would be a mockery or a reality. lie admitted that respectable colonists ought not to have convicts forced upon them; but still there were some ad /outages in the prestnt system of transportation to role nine, fur the object was not only to punish but reform the criminal, and, in many instances, convicts had become re spectable members of society, and earned their living ho nestly, whilst their fami:ies were often well educated and ma.lc usetul members of the community. (Hear.) The Earl of HARROWBY said the subject must be con sidered in various relations. What was to become of the convicts after their sentence had expired in this country ? Wvre they to be turned loose on our thickly-peopled coun try, amid their old haunts of vice, and surrounded by their former temptations? Would they not have a greater chance of employeneat and reformation in a thinly-populated country, away from their old anociations ? Lundy Island and the Fol.-land Islands had been sir-tested, but some place no doubt might be found to which they maid be sent. Lord MONTEAGLE said that colonies which had reached a given stage of civilisation, and were almost enti tled to take rank eassnist the nations of the world, had • rutht to ob l ieet to Pads convict settlements. if the Falkland elands be toned into a convict prima, sad be made use of he the parse of reformation m well as I discipline, it night be desirable to send convicts there. The convict system hod been administered in a way to nuke it hateful to the selesists, as would appear from the cone aponloass on rear lordship' table. Convicts might sin fully be employed as the pismore of shilintion, and whore they amid Aldo empboymont they might afterwards be come festal members elletwiety ; but to pour the whole mum of eat Navies predation into one colony--as in Via Diumee lased—orinst the will and eatreaty of the ishobinsese eata the very went policy that could have been punesed, and enough to maks the convict system detestable all Poe the world. Lied BROUGHAM referred to the committee which eat slime pan goon the subject of secondary punishment, sad stir divides of opinion on the subject. It was • sub jut *at must be well considered, the difficulties which It prnseitsd being eumwsous„ both as to the nuation of trans pereadea sad giving it up. He considered the difficulties on meedie as pretty nearly balanced by those on the other ; but, vffiriaiseer system war adopted sea substitute for tram ported's, be biped that nothing similar to that which was celled es the eladnent trawls: forces —falsely termed tke penitential enteni—would ever be ianoditeed into this country. (Hear, hear.) Lord WHARNCLIFFE said it appeared to kin to be a very great defect in our present system that the country to which our convicts were lent should be • plate of attraction. Transportation lost many of its terrors from that cause—a free pongee to the district of the gold fields was rather a source of attraction than otherwise. PRIVATE BILLS. Lord REDESDALE moved the following resolutions, which were agreed to :—That no private bill be read a second time after Tuesday, 12th of July, unless the chair man of committees shall report to the house special names for extending the time of any such bill; That no bill, con firming any previsional order of the Board of Health, shall be read a second time after Tuesday, the 19th of July. LAW OF EVIDENCE (SCOTLAND) BILL. This bill was read • third time and passed. Lord BROUGHAM said that it gave him great soden- tion that this bill had passed their lordships' house, and he hoped that it would soon become law. It made the Scotch law of evidence identical with the English law, except in one particular, wherein it was en improvement upon the law of England. BAIL IN ERROR BILL. On the motion for going iota committee on this bill, Lord CAMPBELL explained the object of it. It was formerly the law that a defendant remained in prison pending • writ of error, and it happened that a defendant was discharged before the writ of error was determined, the period of his sentence having ex pired. This grievance remained unnoticed till the year 1145, when the celebrated case of the late Mr. D. O'Connell occurred. Pending the writ of error in that case, it was proposed that the law should be altered, but Lord Lynd hurst, though favourable to the alteration, war of opinion that no change should be made till that case was decided. After judgmect was promiunced in that case, Lord Lynd hurst brought in • bill, which enacted that where a west of error was brought, the defendant might be discharged from custody on giving bail that he would surrender himself in nee the decision on the writ of error was averse to him. This bill, though it proceeded on an excellent principle,wu detective, inasmuch as no provision wee made for recap turing the prisoner if the judgment was adverse. The ob ject of the present bill, therefore, was to take care that the defendant should be always forthcoming on the different stave of the cases, and that, if the judgment was affirmed, e should be sent back to underro the residue of hie gamine,. Another evil of the bill of Lord Lynd hurst war that it enabled the defendant to tamper with the prosectror, and there were many cases in which the prosecutor received • rum of money from the defendant on thi- understanding that thy former was not to take the step. which were necessary, tor having the Writ of Error decided, and the defendant, in consequence of this scandalous bargain, was discharged out of custody. In order to guard against this it was provided in the t ill that no reversal of a judgment could take place till notice was given to the Attorney-General, and if be certified to the Court of Errol that he had received intim and that be ecneurred in the abandonment of the prosecution of the writ, thee, and tl en ocly, the defendant was to be die charged. Thus these shameful and corrupt bergaisa which now occurred would be put an end to. The bill then posed through committee, and was ordered to be re-printed. RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. • : ---- . -- - The tart of MALSIESBURY in moving for certain re turas relating to the accidents on railways which took place in 1652, said that he did not think he was going beyond public opinion in calling the attention of the government to this subject which excited considerable attention at the present moment. There was a strong feeling is which he participated—that those rail way accidents had lately increased, and were still increas ing, and greater sacrifice of life and limb had taken plasm than ever occurred before. Scantly a week passed by in w►ich the papers did not record some lamentable accident, attended by mutilation sod loss of life in many cases. The public naturally felt alarmed at this, and there was a strong feeling abroad that the government should step in between the railway managers on the one hand, and the travelling public on the other. In this great commercial country he knew that it was necessary to protect industry and capital, I but it was the duty of the government to see that the lives of the Queen's subjects were protected also. Although the system of locomotion had entirely changed during the last 60 yeses, yet they seemed to be returning in one respect to the state of t►ings that then existed. Sixty years ego, when it was a week's journey from Edinburgh to London, persons used to insure their lives, and now, although the journey was performed in one day, the travel lers were invited, by bills in the different railway stations, to insure their lives and to make provision for their families, as, before t►e journey was over, they might became shape less corpses. He understood, on good authority, that the proprietors of the railway accident companies divided 7 per cent. of the profits they made in this way. Formerly, when the innkeeper provided the means of travelling, he stood with his hat off to the public: but now it was the public that stood with their hats off before the railway directors. The locomotive details were then in the hands of men of the most inferior and ignorant class—the ostlers. (Laughter.) Whereas now men of station, wealth, and education presided over the details of railway management. The time was, be thought, arrived when they should endea- your to tranquillise the public mind, by ascertaining whe ther, without usurping the rights or interfering with the railway companies, it would not be possible to draw up and enforce certain regulations and improvements which would be calculated to give greater security to ! 1 her Majesty's subjects. Lord VIVIAN wild that he wished to know whether the government had the power of stopping a line in the event of its becoming dangerous? Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said that after a rail way was once opened for traffic he believed the government had no power of stopping it. No railway could be opened till the government inspector certified the line, but when it was once opened the government had, he believed, no power to interfere. There was no subject more deserving of at tention than the one introduced by the noble earl; and although he was of opin:on that in ordinary cases it would be unwise to interfere with the natural course of com• mercial transactions, and that it would be no slight matter to interfere with railway concerns, in which 250,000,0001., or more than a quarter of the national debt, was invested ; yet in this, as in other cases, be was of opinion that the solos POpai was the supresna les. The noble earl was of opinion that the government should have additional powers of interference in railways. But be cautioned the noble earl and parliament to hesitate before they relieved the railway companies from the responsibility which now attached to them. (Hear, hear.) It' they relieved the railway com panies from the responsibility which attached to them, by giving a department of the government the power of pre scribing to them certain rules and regulations, those com panies would perhaps consider themselves relieved of all further liability and responsibility by a mere literal observ ance of those regulations. He thought that the present system, especially when combined with the act of the late Chief Justice, threw an amount of responsibility upon rail way directors which they found no trifle. He did not know that it would afford QOM safety to the public if they were shut up in boxes such as horses travelled in, however soft they were made. As to the power of inspection, the govern ment at present possessed the power of sending en inspector to investigate the cause of accidents; and, upon his report, the Board of Trade made such suggestions to the railway directors as they deemed fit. At present there was no power of compelling the directors to carry these suggestions into effect ; and it might be worthy of consideration whether the government ought not to possess such a power. Ile did not think it would be desir able at the present moment,when a committee of the House of Commons was investigating the subject, to enter into greater detail. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the returns moved for by the ankle earl, there would be no objection to give those which related to accidents which happened last year. Those of a later date could not be given, as the returns were not usually prepared till after Easter. THE EAST INDIA CIIARTER... Lord Moslfitallgii;nnetieetinihewOnid, en Fri day, present a petition from residents in Bombay, on the subject of the renewal of the East India charter. the house adjourned at half-past 6. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAT, MARCH 1. The BrsAiza took the chair at the 'natal hoar. PRIVATE BUSINESS. SECOND READING/I.—The following balls were reed a second time :—Bscup Waterworks ; Galway Harbour ; Galway Improvement; HAM' Waterworks and Improve ment; Norwich Waterworks; Salisbury Waterworks, Bills. THE ,EIPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 2, 1853. NONNEZIEL—By COI. SMYTHE. from inhabitants of York, for inspection OS COVNTT COUNTS Acr.—Dap Mr. BIDDITLPH, from Denbigh, for the extension of. LONDON Orennsettx.-.-Ily Mr. BCHOLEFIELD, from Roman catholic college of St. Mary's Oseott, and hum pro testant dissenters of Horst-street chapel, Birmingham, for the representation of. THE CAMBRIDGE ELECTION PETITION. -- Mr. V. SMITH said he had to inform the house that the *elect committee on this petition had determined that Ken neth Macaulay, Esq., sad John Harvey Altall, Esq., were not duly elected to servo in the present parliament, and that the lut election for Cambridge was void. fhe com mittee bad also agreed to a resolatien declaring that Ken neth Macaulay, Esq., and John Harvey Aatell, Eq., were, by their agents, guilty of bribery—[several lames and sums were specified)—that it was not proved that such bribery wee committed with the knowledge of the sitting members —and that there wu tenon to believe that corrupt practices extensively prevailed at the election. He would now move that the evidence be laid on the table and printed. The motion having been agreed to, The HON. MEMBER gave notice that he would this day move that no writ be issued till the 11th April. NOTICES OF MOTION. lame CONSOLIDATED ANNUITIIII.—Mr. F. FRENCH postponed his motion on this subject until the 14th inst. Tilt CITY OP CANTERBURT.—Hr. H. SEYMOUR, that on Tuesday, the 15th inst., he would move (or an humble address to the crown, praying for a commission to inquire into the state of the borough of Canterbury. Trig ROYAL HOSPITAL AT KILKAINHAY.—Mr. BUTT, that on Tuesday, the 15th of March, he would move a re solution against the closing of the Royal Hospital at Ell =inborn. THE SHIPPING INTEREST. Lord GODERICH rose to ask a question upon which he said considerable anxiety prevailed among the parties inte rested. He wished to know what measarue government con templated fur the relief of the shipping interest? (Hear.) He believed that a bill on the subject of pilotage had been postponed. Perhaps some member of the government could tell him when it would be brought on. Mr. CARDWELL said that the delay with respect to the bill in question had arisen from the state of the public bold ness. Having communicated with his noble friend the member for London, he had every hope that it would come on on Monday next. THE REGIMENTS OF GUARDS. Col. LINDSAY, referring to some observations of the hon. member for Montrose on going into committee on the Ordnance estimates on the previous evening, asked whether the recommendations of the committee of '33, as to the re duction in the emoluments of the colonels of the three r- commis or the three re gimens of guards, had or had not been complied with ? Mr. S. HERBERT was glad the hon. and gallant !mem ber bad asked the question, as it gave him (Mr. Herbert) an i opportasity of making a short statement—due, in his op*nion, to his Royal Highness Prince Albert, respecting the emoluments which had been called in question— namely, those of the Grenadier Guards. It was quite true that one of the newspapers of that morning, in giving an ac count of the hon. member for Montrose's observations, made it appear that Prince Albert enjoyed the same emoluments as the Duke of Wellington although the committee had re commended their reduction. But so far as his (Mr. Her bert's) memory served, the hon. member did not complain of the emoluments not being reduced, but that the colonelcy, which had been given to the Prince, should have been retained as a reward for some veteran of long and bril liant service. Now, first he would observe that the recom mendations of the committee as regarded the emoluments of the three e,oloneletes were strictly carried out, and this year being the first in which that of the Grenadier Guards had been vacated by the death of the Duke of Wellington, the emoluments of that regiment 'were reduced in con formity with the recommendations of the committee. Let him add, that if there had been any misunder standing as to the intentions of the committee, it would cer tainly have been made manifest ten years since, when Prince Albert was appointed to the colunelcy of the Fusilier Guards. That was comparatively near the time of the issuing of the report, but now 20 years had elapsed, during which time no objection had been taken. When the Duke of Wellington died, Prince Albert was the senior colonel of the Guards, and it was therefore quite natural and proper that he should succeed to the vacant regiment. Let him add, that during the time his Royal Highness was colonel of the Fusilier Guards he never drew the full amount of his 2,0001. a year, the reason being that his Royal Highness exerted himself much for the comfort of his men, and be- bayed withgreat liberality as regarded his regieient..(Hear, hear.) But the main fact to which he wished to call at tention was, that his Royal Highness was appointed ten years since, and that no objection was taken on the score of the recommendation of the committee. His succession to the senior colmelcy was in the ordinary course of pro motion. He (Mr. Herbert) had been anxious to make this statement, which applied to the Duke of Cambridge also, the latter being as distinguished and able an officer es any in the service. (Hear, hear.) He should have felt pained had an imputation, totally undeserved, been cast on these distinguished iadividuals, or had his Royal Highness Prince Albert, in his position as colonel of the Grenadier Guards, been permitted to appear before the public in a light t he very reverse of that in which his public spirit and eminent qualities entitled him to stand in the estimation of all classes of the community. (Cheers.) Mr. HUME explained that what he did say was, that the reservation of three colonelcies for distinguished services was the intention of the committee, and that if the several divisions had been published, that feet would have been made apparent. Ile would appeal to any member of the committee, whether when determining to leave the emolu ments of the Duke of Wellington untouched they had not also determined to make the alteration he (Mr. Hume) proposed on his ceasing to be colonel. It was proposed by a member connected with the navy that two preferential colonelcies should be reserved, like the admiral and rear admiral in the navy, es a reward for extraordinary profes sional services. The right hon. member for Coventry had already c ,, ,nfirrned this view of the case, and therefore he (Mr. Hume) thought that the intention of the committee had been violated in giving the regiments to Prices Albert and the Duke of Cambridge. At the same time he begged to:say that in making these observations he did not wish to east any reflection either on Prince Albert or the Duke of Cambridge. On the contrary, he believed that Prince Albert did honour to the high station he filled ; but still that was no reason why professional rewards should be taken from those to whom they were justly doe. He had merely blamed the government of the diy, without any wish to cast reflections on the illustrious persons to whom allusion had been made. Mr. S. HERBERT had no doubt of the accuracy of the hon. member's recollection, but the committee sat 20 years ago, and be felt bound to take their intention from their recorded proceedings. (Hear, hear.) FOREIGN REFUGEES IN THIS COUNTRY. Lord D. STUART rose to ask a question of the noble I lord the member for London, and hoped if that noble lord I was not present, some of the members of the government would answer it. It had been very currently rumoured that demands had been addressed by certain foreign powers to the government of this country, for the removal or ex pulsion of such political refugees as had here found en asylum. He wished to ask her Majesty's government whe ther there was any foundation for Mese rumours, and if se, whit course it was the intention of the government to pur sue in this matter ? Lord PALMERSTON—Is answer to the question of my noble Mead as to whether any application has been made by hirstsa powers to her Majesty', geneumest for the ex pulsion of seek foreign refugees as are now within the United Kingdom, I have to state that no inch application has bola made. (Neer, hear.)_ In answer to the other question sea what means shield be panned in the event of seek appliention Wig. made. I ems only repeat what I believe wee stewed Is li ds lease Ma INU occasion— namely, that soy soak stylisation would be met by a fins and decided s e (Lead cheers.) It is obvious that it must be eo, beams ne emit unesers as expulsion could be taken by the ffeesommat adds esmatry without the powers were conferred by sheik act apediament ; and I apprehend that no person, even it SO inelimsd—and the present govern ment are not se Wined—no person could apply with any chance of memo dm such powers, inasmuch as I believe that no alien bill pawed within the coons of the present century ever pin the power to expel foreigaers except with reference to eseribrations connected with the internal safety of this .sentry. (Hear, hew.) The British govern ment has never undertaken to provide for the internal safety of other OSSIBI&D, it being thought sufficient respon sibility to provide for the peace and security of their own. (Load sheen.) Bat I cannot mains my an swer simply to that statement. I must ask permission to add, that while on the one hand the British laws and the spirit of the British constitution give to foreigners of all political opinions, end in all Worries, secure and peaceful shelter within this country, I think that those foreigners who avail themselves of the hospitality of Eng . land, are bound by every principle of honour—(loud cheers) as well as regard not only to international law, but to the laws of this Lind—are bound to abstain from entering into any intrigues, er punning any course intended for the pur ' pose of giving umbrage to foreign governments, or disturb ing the internal tranquillity of any foreign country. (Loud sheen.) EDUCATION. In answer to Mr. Sesori;tlLD7 . Mr. FITZROY, who was most indistinctly heard, was understood to say that the delay in the delivery of certain Ta tum concerning education, had been delayed by a fire which took place at the printer's, and had consumed 300 pages of the work. They would be delivered in the course of the present session. RETURN FOR THE CITY OF CORK. The SPEAKER informed the house that he had received a letter from the agent to the petition against the return for the city of Cork, informing him that it was not intended to proceed with that petition. The order therefore to be discharged. DICKENS'S HOUSEHOLD NARRATIVE. Mr. COLLIER asked whether the government had come to any determination respecting the proceedings to be taken against the publication of the " Household Narrative of Current Events." Mr. GLADSTONE said that the report from the law officeri of the Crown, for which they were waiting, had not yet been received. LEGACY AND PROBATE DUTY. _ Mr.W.WILLIAMB said it would be in the neollection'of the house, that when the late Chancellor of the Exchequer brought forward his budget, he (Mr. William.) proposed as au amendment to that part which increased the duty on house., that the deficiency should be supplied by an eaten. Lion of the probate and legacy duty to real property. In deference to the expressed willies of the house, he withdrew his motion, stating at the same time that he would take the urlicet opportunity of introducing it again as a substantive WEST LONDON WATERWORKS COMPANY BILL. On the motion that this bill be read a second time, Mr. BARROW moved as an amendment that it be read a second time that day six months; observing that as par liament had imposed new obligations on the old companies, it ought to allow time for their fulfilment. Sir J. Y. SHELLEY thought there was • fair subject for inquiry. Every one must admit that a supply of pure water tor the metropolis was desirable. Lord SEYMOUR would vote for referring the bill to a eozumittee if the whole subject had not already been consi dered in c nusittee, and the old water companies subjected to new regulations. If the existing companies could not supply the metropolis properly, the beet course would be to abolish them, and establish a municipal system. To estab lish a now company would be to increase the present diffi culties. Sir B. HALL would put it to the house whether the were satisfied with the present supply ? (Hear, hear. They had gone on year after year treating with the of companies, without any good result. Tie great opponents of the bill were the Grand Junction Weber Company, whip were afraid lest competition should ilmessy their monopoly. He maintained that the old ooesprige a net te to have beta swept away long ago; and, at allettemee. =OM reject a new scheme which promised* a rinks aft the metropolis with good and pure water. Mr. BOUVERIE said the home ought Ca einumbee that competition between companies nearly always ter minated in a compromise, by which the !Public were robbeL (Laughter.) Last year very onerous stipulations IMO im posed on the old companies, and the hoses would be guilty of a breach of faith, if it did not await the result. Lord J. MANNERS agreed with the noble lord the Member for Totneas (Lord Seymour), and thought that by geheenting to pus the bill the hones would be committing a moral injustice towards the old companies without at all Improving the supply of water. Xr. W. A. WILKINSON protested anst the doctrine blot down, that bemuse parliament had Owed the old our ponies under new obligations, it had no right to amities any fresh scheme. (Hear, hear.) He saw no reams asq why existing companies sh ould not be still subjected N competition which was necessary for the riblie basalt Sir J. WALMSLEY wished to state that the of water under this bill was to come from an aatlrdy new source, in fact, from an artificial well ; and it was the opinion of competent authorities, that the water would be of • very supenor kind. He had beard no reason urged against referring the bill to a committee, except that ties scheme would interfere with the monopoly of the Gristle. companies. Mr. BECKETT supported the amendment. Lord D. STUART said the opposition to this MR was set up by water companies, and by the water men is ihst house—(laughter)—who were he lmlieved, very sommest That the present supply was dear, bad, and immilienee aM one could deny, and he could not believe that the boom I would reject a proposal to improve it. Mr. BROTHERTON believed that the competition of water companies was generally injurious rather than bene ficial to the public, and would oppose the second reading. Mr. HUME said that when the West Middlesex and other companies come before that house, they promised not to combine ; but no sooner had they get their bills than they combined and divided the metropolis amongst them— (laughter)—and he knew one instance in which the coat of water was, in consequence, raised from Si. to Ili. (Hear.) Lord R. GROSVENOR would like to hear from her Majesty's government a candid answer to this question— whether, in consequence of the arrangement of last session, all water companies were to be practically precluded from coming to that house ? (Hear, bear.) He understood that there was no member of the cabinet present, but the ques tion was one of considerable importance to the public. The house then divided:— For the second realms Against it PUBLIC BUSINESS. PETITIONS PRESENTED. CANADA CLERGY RESZETES.—By Sir B. INGLIS, from the presbytery of Jedburgb, against. EXAMINERS IN CiLascanv Buz.—By Mr. MULLENS, from solicitors in London, against. RELIGIOUS ENDOWMENTS.—By Mr. W. WILLIAMS, from Camberwell, Surrey, against. Sienalyre' COURTS, SCOTLAND.—By Mr. HUME, from Montrose, signed by the provost, for amendment. 'ENGIN DISABILITIVA.—By Sir INGLIS, from York shire, Kent, and other places; Lord HOTHAM, from Yorkshire; Mr. CHILD, from inhabitants of Skendleby, county of Lincoln, and from dewy and inhabitant+ of air ton-on-Trent ; Mr. GREENAM., from Great Sankey and Palkeith, Lancaster; Mr. BARROW, from Costock, Not tinghamshire; Mr. NOEL, from Stoke Drey, in the county of Rutland ; against the removal of. ANNUAL CERTIFICATE DUTY.—By Col. SMYTHE, from inhabitants of York, for repeal of. Maysoogis GitANT.—By Col. SMYTHE, from inhabi tant+ of York; Mr. CHILD, from the attendants at the I i chapel of Licensed Victuallers' Asylum, Old Kent-road, for repeal of. Latin' CAIIIIIERS.—By Col. SMYTHE, from the lOW clrrien of York: Sir O. HEATHCOTE, from the letter twists of Uppingham, Untland ; praying for relief. motion. It had been to him a matter of greet surprise that the country had so long permitted the exemption cereal Property, which eassisted of freehold land, houses, lay and impropriste tithes, mason, quuries, and miser, from the payment bray sad probate duty, while those duties were imposed on every description of personal property. (Hear.) Thus when all other property was compelled to pa y . the tax, I this property was exempt from probate. It was in conse quence of this, legacies charged on land being generally left to the younger children of the landed eristocraey, that the owners were enabled to evade the law. But, although it was unjust to exempt these classes from the payment of probate duty, it was still a vast deal a greater hardship to exempt the first inheritor of land from the payment of an duty whatever. (Hear, hear.) But is short th e acts which implied these duties were from the beginning to the end a violation of every principle of common honesty, to prove which, he would give one or two examples, out of • great many which he had prepared. After going at some length into the question, he begged to move that in the opinion of that house real property should be made to pay the same probate and legacy duties as were paid by personal property. (Cheers.) THE CORK AND LIMERICK ELECTION PETITIONS. The SPEAKER drew attention to a mistake which bad occurred with reference to the withdrawal of the Cork peti tion. By an error in copying the letter of withdrawal, it was made to refer to the Cork petition, whereas it appeared by a subsequent letter he had received, that it ought to have referred to the Limerick petition—(a laugh)—the order to refer which to the cominittes on election petitions it would nw be necessary to withdraw, and to rescind the motion made earlier in the evening, in reference to the Cork petitior. The Speaker's suggestion was adopted, and motions passed in accordance. PROBATE AND LEGACY DUTY. Mr. GLADSTONE objected on general grounds to the form of the resolution ; and with regard to the question itself, he denied that it was a class question. The present law was unfavourable to great and favourable to small , holders of real property, and it did not give to landed pro perty generally the advantages supposed. He disputed the ground taken by Mr. Williams as to the large amount to be gained by the revenue from the proposed alteration ; because st should be remembered that all legacies, itc., chargeable upon land, paid the duty, and that the land itself was ; charged upon mortgages to about a fourth part of its value, , and paid the duty proportionately, thu. making the amount paid by real property about seven-eighths of the entire amount derived from that source. Then he argued that the ' tax could not be considered as an isolated tax, but must be viewed in reference to the general system of taxation, and particularly in relation to the Income-tax, which pressed with great comparative weight upon real property. Ad mitting that the operation of the law was unsatisfactory in many respects, he yet hoped the hon. member would eon- , eider the expediency of withdrawing his motion. Mr. HUME said this was a most important question and his hon. friend was quite right in bringing it forward. It had been his lot to hear many Chancellors of the Ex chequer say that it was not convenient to bring forward such questions as this, in this shape. But he thought the time had come when it ought to be stated what was to be done, with regard to these duties. Mr. HENLEY said the right honourable gentleman (Mr. Gladstone) had truly stated the evidence before the income tax committee, and he believed before the committee of the House of Lords, that seven-six teenths of the existing duties were paid by land ; and if they took that and the amount of stamps there was a targe pus amount. But the right bon. gentleman had omitted one very important element, and that was the land tax. He did not know whether the right honourable gen tleman. remembered that some two millions • year was paid by the land tax, and principally by the Southern and Midland counties of England. hat WAS a very important element to be considered. It was equal in amount to the whole of the legacy and probate duties. (" Nis.") The hon. gentleman said "No . , [Mr. Hume was here understood to observe that a portion of it was re deemed.] Well, if it was redeemed, those who redeemed it had paid hard cash for the redemption, and it was hardly fair that another tax should be laid upon them immediately afterwards. Putting the income-tax wholly aside, he be lieved that the land of this country paid in the three man ners he had stated what a great deal more than compensated for the exemption from the probate and legacy duty. Mr. BRIGHT said he rose merely for the sake of stating one or two points which, it appeared to him, placed the pro bate and legacy dukx on personal property in a particu larly odious light with a large portion of the people of this country. The right hon. gentlemen (Mr. Henley) said they could sot go against the feelings of the people. NQW, he believed if there was one thing more than another in which the large majority of the people were agreed, it was on this very point that t he taxes they were discussing to-night were laid on in an unequal and uajuet manner. Now he understood—for he was not in the whole of the time—that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had fully admitted that in the speech he had made, and he was not the only Chancellor of the Exchequer who bad admitted that. The late Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Disraeli) in a spuch he made on that side of the house, admitted that thus tax was a very great wrong, and that a remedy was required; and-more than that, he intimated that if he had remained in office he would have dealt with this tax, or have made it equal on all property. Now the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Henley) had got some singular notions on this question. He seemed to think them was some thing in the stamp duties which was, in some degree, a ba lancing tax, but the right hon. gentleman seemed to forget al together that leasehold property was liable to this tax, it being personal property, and was also liable to all the stamp duties of every kind which freehold property paid. Now, the great bulk of the property in this metropolis was leasehold. Take the case of Bedford-square or Belgrave square, one the property of the Marquis of Westminster and the other of the Duke of Bedford. At this moment the property was leasehold. Mr. Cubitt, or some other builder, had invested capital and built houses en it, and they had leases. During the whole time that these leases continued the house was liable to this tax. The leases con tinned, say for 99 years, and during that time that pro- petty might pay two or three times over • probate and legacy duty of from 1 to 10 per cent. But at the end of the lease the whole property being vested in the Marquis of Westminster or the Duke of Bedford, and he believed that in Bedford-square the property was rapidly fall ing in, when all thu property, which had been paying probate and legacy duty since 1797 fell into the possession of the Duke of Bedford or the Marquis of Westminster, it ceased to pay this tax at all. He begged the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who he believed wished the tenure of his office to be useful to the country, not to be afraid of those hobgob line which hon. gentlemen opposite had raised, but that he , would grapple with the question, and deal fairly with all the taxpayers in the country. - - Mr. WILKINSON was boned to say he did not see any good at the present moment in pressing this question. He was afraid that at the time the tax wee imposed there was an intention to favour landed property, as against personal property, because they knew that the legislature of this country then consisted of landowners. He should vote for the motion. Xr. W. WILLIAMS said he considered the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer required an answer. He (Kr. Gladstone) had displayed his vast fund of ingenuity, and bad failed to overthrow the case made out that it was unjust to impose a tax on one description of property alone. lie bad referred to Mr. Trevor's evidence on the income tax. Mr. Trevor said he believed that as nearly as possi ble nine-sixteenths of the real property of this country was tinder settlement, and he came to the conclusion that the other oevon-oistoontlrs paid the legacy and probate duties. Miyake awe minotroes odd not have been tittered. The bow dm divided— A No yos es 17124-63 The motion was therefore lost. THE SHIP _NOVELL°. On the gallery being opened, we found Mr. MUNTZ moving for a select committee to inquire into the petition of Mr. Bonacich, relating to the improper seizurelof the Novell'', and to report how far he was en titled to compensation. Captain SCOBELL seconded the motion. Viscount PALMERSTON assured the house of his anxiety to do justice to foreigners, but he thought it was not expedient that the house should, without some very strong presumptive grounds, take up claims which the go vernment had frequently and maturely considered. If they were to do that the Rouse of Commons would have little else to do from the beginning to the end of each ses sion than to appoint committees of inquiry. In the present case, Mr. Bonacieh's claim had been most anxiously and maturely investigated both at the Foreign-office and the Treasury. The fact was, that he was neither the owner of the cargo nor the ship. The vessel belonged to two merchants at Venice, and had been consigned to a merchant in this country. When she arrived here she required, in Mr. Bonacich's opinion, certain repairs, and he placed her in the hands of a shipwright, named Hales. While she was undergoing those repairs, an opinion was started that she was a French privateer, and not the bona fide property of an Austrian. She was therefore seised by the Admiralty pending the in vestigation of the fact ; and the statement proving to be untrue, the detention was put an end to. Well, Mr. Bona eich was called upon to pay the shipwright for the repairs, and, not having the moans. he was put into prison at the snit of the shipwright, and not at all at the instance of the government. He was, in fact, put in prison for debt. After a certain time the vessel was sold—certainly to a great disadvantage—(hear, hear)—and the proceeds were not enough to satisfy the legitimate claims upon the vessel. Bat Mr. Bonacich had no legal interest in the matter. The owners might have some claim for the loss they bad sustained ; but Mr. Bona cich had claimed in the quality of owner, and it was upon that ground that he (the noble viscount) thought that he had no claim in justice. It was perfectly true that Mr. Bonacich might have been in great distress. Men gene rally altered in the course of so long a period as between 1801 and 1853, and therefore it was perfectly conceivable , that the physical appearance of Mr. Bonscich might not be so good now as it was at the time when he first came to this country ; but the government did not make compensa tion for such a circumstance as that. (Laughter.) It was • true also that Mr. Bonacich, who had placed himself in a position of difficulty: by ordering, upon :his own responsibility, repairs fur which he was unable to pay, had r also placed himself in a situation of difficulty with regard to a benefit society which had been established in this country for the purpose of affording the means to claimants to pro secute thei , claims. (Murmurs.) He (the noble viscount) • was informed, and he believed it to be true, that Mr. Bonacich had received assistance to a considerable amount r from those parties; and of course they were naturally urgent for his claim to be admitted after the advances they had made to him, in the full belief that he had large claims upon the government ; but that was not any ground on which the house could proceed. His (the noble viscount's) objection to the motion lay in the fact that it had already I been most carefully inquired into, and the decision come to had been, that Mr. Bonatdch was not entitled to compensa tion, on the ground that be was not the owner of the vessel. ord STANLEY said the noble viscount bad certainly made a moat ingenious defence; but this was nevertheless seas* in which • substantial injustice had been done. (Cheers.) ~No doubt the noble viscount was strictly accurate in saying that Mr. nonacid% had been put in prison on account of a pri vate debt; but under what circumstances had that debt been incurred ? It had been contracted in consequence of the difficulty of the position in which he had been placed in the improper seizure of his vessel. (Hear, bear.) lie (Lord Stanley) did not say that the government was pri marily responsible; but still it was responsible in some measure, and the longer the injustice bad been done, the mere speedily and ample ought to be the redress. (Hear, hear.) It having been his (the noble lord's) duty to inves tigate the subject while in office last year, he had come to the conclusion that there was a fair prima facie case fur inquiry. (Cheers.) After some conversation, Viscount PALMERSTON had performed what he consi dered his duty in laying before the house the reasons which had led hint to think the claim unfounded ; but as it seemed to be the general opinion that another inquiry should be gone into—(hear, hear) —he should not oppose the appoint ment of the committee, especially as the noble lord, after having had official cognisance of the facts, had come to a different conclusion from that which he had himself arrived at. The nob'e lord, however, had not explained why he did not himself afford the redress asked for. The resolution was then agreed to. GRIEVANCES OF THE LETTER-CARRIERS. Mr. T. DI.INCOMBE, in presenting a number of peti tions, bron4ht under the consideration of the house the grievances of the letter-carriers of the United Kingdom ; pointing out the principal hardships of which they com plained, viz., hard and increasing work ; miserable wages (aggravated by the practical abolition of Christmas boxes) ; the absence of superannuation allowance (in the case of pro vincial carrien) ; and inequality and absence of sysnm in all the arrangements. He moved that their complaints were well-founded, and worthy of attention. Mr. WILSON said that most of the grievances complained of were under the consideration of the Postmaster-General, who was most anxious to improve the condition of a useful and respectable clan of men. With regard to inequality in the rate of wages, &c., he raid there would indeed be in equality were a uniform rate adopted throughout the king dom without reference to the various rates of wages in different districts ; and the amount of population would be altogether fallacious as a test of the amount of labour de manded. As for the amount of salaries, it was altogether a question of finance. Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Duncan, and Col. Sibthorp supported the claims of the letter carriers ; and Mr. buncombe begged to withdraw his motion. _ The satisfaction expressed at the announcement of Mr. Winsox here drew from that hon. gentleman an explana tion that he had not promised a revision of the entire sys tem of employment at the Post-office. Mr. V. SCULLY drew attention to the hardships of the letter carriers iu Ireland ; to which Mr. M'GUIRE added some illustrative information. S.me sarcastic allusions to " cheese-paring " on the part of the last-mentioned hon. gentleman brought up Mr. HUME, who deprecated interference with the exe cutive of the government. After some further conversation, the motion was with drawn. ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS. Mr. COLLlol.rese to move for a select committee for the purpose of inquiring whether the Ecclesiastical Courts might not be. advantageously abolished, their jurisdiction over all matters not purely ecclesiastical transferred to other existing tribunals, and new courts established for the pur pose of dealing speedily and effectually with matters purely ecclesiastical ; and whether the jurisdiction of the court of Admiralty might not be advantageously transferred to local tribunals. He had not given this notice until the inten tions of the government, with reference to the ecclesiastical courts, had been announced en the highest authority. Had their announcement been satisfactory he should not have interfered, but he was sorry to say it was not so, as govern ment proposed to wait for the report of the commission, and then or ly to interfere with the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the courts ; whereas, in his opinion,the better way would be to see whether they could not be abolished altogether. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the commission, he had this to say, that it was to a great extent composed of civilians practising in these court., and it was not unnatural to sup pose that they would be inclined to favour the courts in which they themselves practised. (Hear, hear.) The distinction between law and equity was bad enough, but here, what with their civilians, their registrars, their doctors, proctors, and surrogates, these Ecclesiastical Courts were the greatest abuse that had lasted down to modern times. They had over and over again been reported against and condemned. In 1830 a commission containing judges of the courts themselves, after examining thirty or forty witnesses, reported against them, but recommended an inadequate remedy—the aboli tion of all the courts except those of York and Canterbury. A committee of the House of Lords fully considered the subject in 1845 and reported fur the aboli tion of the testamentary jurisdiction, and • bill passed that house substituting a central tribunal, but it was thrown out in the Commons. Subsequently the Irish courts wore subjected to an investigation, and they were equally condemned. The general concurrence of opinion was for the abolition of the courts, and his belief was that nothing sbortof that would meet the exigency. One word on the subject of vested interests. He was by no means dis posed to deny the claims of vested interests. Compensation, of course, would have to be given to those who held °flees in these courts, and the bar and the proctors who practised there should be allowed to practise in the ordinary courts as baribters and attorneys, or solicitors. With regard to the Court of Admiralty, that was not open to the same com plaints as the other courts of civil law. In many respects that court worked beneficially, especially in cases of collision, salvage, &c., wherein it possessed powers which the courts of common law had not. The practice of that court of consulting the Trinity masters was also highly useful. It was, however, felt in seaports such as that he represented that a local ad ministration of the Court of Admiralty was desirable in order to avoid the expense and delay of sending to London for the trial of Admiralty cases. It would be worth the consideration of the committee whether the county court judges of the district in which such towns were situated, or the recorder of such towns, might not be safely entrusted with the jurisdiction in such cases. If a precedent was re quired for what he proposed, they had it in Scotland, where the jurisdiction of the Court of Commissaries and the Court of Admiralty' had been transferred to the Courts of Session. After speaking of the slow progress made in law reform, and the multitude of statutes over which the laws were ex tended, he observed that he feared much blame was due to the profession who had too much neglected the legal maxim eessanle rations emat . . _ Mr. HUME congratulated the house on the accession of the hon. and learned member who had just sat down to • seat in it. He had shown an intimate acquaintance with the details, and great power in dealing with the principles of the question he had brought forward, which must always commaad attention in that house. (Cheers.) He hoped the government would sanction the committee, from which be anticipated beneficial results. He had much pleasure in ' seconding the motion. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL was glad the subject had been introduced to the attention of the house as it had been by the hon. and learned geatleman, for all must agree that a more vivid and striking account of the evils of the present system could not have been presented. (Cheers.) He was sorry to be compelled to admit that, in the whole of the hon. and learned gentleman's representations, he re eollnised nothing but admitted truth, long ascer tained, and about which inquiry therefore was not aeeeusary. But while the evil was admitted there remained to be considered the mode in which a remedy should be applied so as to make it effective, and to provide that that remedy should extend not :only to anomalies of mixed jurisdiction, but to those equal anomalies consequent on :the establishment of -so many discordant and anta gonistic jurisdictions. (Hear.) Would it be believed that m a country like this, justice was administered on a prin ciple confessedly opposed to all justice—the remedy to the evil being that, when the ene court had proceeded in wrong, another court was to arrest that wrong and avert the evil if it could ? he evil was not confined to ecclesiastical jurisdiction, but extended to the other, and before soy re medy could be devised there must be a consideration of the two jurisdictions that justice might not be administered in different degrees, and unequally by different tribunals, but from one common point on one uniform andjsimple principle. The existence of these evils, and the necessity of applying a complete and general remedy, was felt and acknowledged. and he trusted that the existing administration would act upon this feeling. (Hear, hear.) But whilst the evil was acknowledged, and the necessity for a remedy was acknow ledged, they should proceed to apply that remedy not in a tasty but in an effective manner. (Hear, hear.) And, though he should be exceedingly reluctant to interpose any delay, and unwilling to suggest any course that might seem to savour of a desire to put off investigation, yet he was obliged to remind the hon. and learned gentleman that there were at that moment three inquiries pending on this subj. et ; and he was afraid that, if the hon. and learned gen tleman obtained a committee of inquiry, it might lead to clie. cordant suggestions with regard. to the remedy to be applied. He hoped, therefore, that the hon. and learned gentleman, to whom the house was so much indebted, and from whom they might still hope for important services in the cause of legal reform, would be satisfied with the assurance which the Lord Chancellor gave in the other house of parliament when he stated that he would bring forward, after the in quiries now going forward were completed, a remedy which he hoped would be a complete cure for existing evils. (Hear.) Ilaviug reminded the house of that assurance and that the necessity of a remedy was deeply felt by the exist ing administration, he begged of his hon. and learned friend to allow the subject to remain for a short time in abeyance. He did not think that any further inquiry was necessary ; and, therefore, he should prefer, if an effective reform was not presented to the house within a reason able time, that his honourable and learned friend should bring in a bill which might at once be discussed. Another reason for delay was that a committee of the House of Lords was now sitting on the sehjcct of marriage and divorce. Under these circumstances, he thought that his hon. and learned friend would do well not to press his motion. (Hear, hear.) Sir 13. HALL was satisfied with the assurance thus given, and urged the withdrawal of the motion. Mr. IRE described the state of the cccle. iastical courts in Ireland—where they were doubly odious—and he hoped that they would he included in any measure for re form. Dr. PIIILLIAORE, on the part of himself and the pro- fes•ion to which he belonoed, without agri.cin; to the aboli. dun of the courts, expressed himself cagi , r for their cc. fora. Sat A. COCKBURN hoped before long to see all the courts under one common procedure ; but he was for cau, tious measures; end on the part of the government asked for a short time for deliberation. Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD, addressing himself to the Irish part of the quastion. wished to be informed so to the intention of the government. Lord PALMERSTON assured the hon. member that Ireland would not be omitted from any le3islatton upon the subject.• Mr. WRITZSIDE and Mr. But:rmitz contributed some observations, and Mr. COLLIER was contented to withdraw his motion, and leave the question in the hands of the goveramen:. Sir J. V. SHELLEY moved that the evidence taken on the Bridgnorth Election Committee be Dilates', mid .the writ suspended until the 4th of April. Mr. W. PATTEN considered that the motion involved an unwise precedent. Sir J. GRAHAM was in favour of the principle, but thought that the writ need not be suspended for more than a fortnight. Sir J. TROLLOPE pointed out various inconveniences which would result from the practice of printing petitions and suspending writs. Sir B. HALL and Mr. COBDEN approved of the motion. In the course of some further conversation, Mr. BRIGHT supported the motion, iwlievintt that strenuous measures were necessary for the correction of a system which had caused so many members to be turned out of the house wider such humiliating eircumPtanc:b, sad which made the position of many mamba:, still in the house - . extremely uncomfortable. Mr. PEACOCK moved the adjournment of the debate. After a fsw words from Sir JAMES GRAHAM, 10 support of the motion, the debate was adjourned accordingly. The report of the committee of supply was received. The Inland Revenue-office Bill was read a third time and passed. Tne Mutiny Bill and the Marine Mutiny Bill were read a first time. JEWISH DISABILITIES BILL. Oa the motion of Viscount Estmettirox, this bill was read a first time, and the second reading hied for the 11th instant. The house adjourned at a quarter-past one. NEW COMMITTEES APPOINTED. Yesterday the General Committee of Elections ap. pointed the following members, chosen from Panel No. 3, to serve on the following election committees : Wtovort 131:110118.—Mr. Miles (chairman). Lord P. Clin ton, Mr. Martin tucker Smith, and Mr. Ruben Lowe. KINGSTON-1J PON-HULL.-Right lion. H. Labouchere (chairman), Mr. Raikcs Currie, Mr. W. Bagge, lion. F. H. Berkeley, and Mr. Richard Davison. DilliDY. —Mr. Robert Ingham (chairman), Mr. Wm. Stirling, Mr. W. M. E. Milner, Mr. J. Banks Stanhope, and Hun. Arthur F. Kinnaird. PAIRS ON MR. WILLIAMS'S MOTION. FOR. AGAINbT. Mr. Russ:y Vivian. Lord Einlyn. Mr. Locke King. Captain Townshend. Mr. Osman Ricardo. Colonel Mure. Mr. Otway. Mr. A. Ilastie. Sir John Johnstone. Colonel Blair. Mr. A. Stafford. M. U. al. Mr. Mare. ELECTION EXPOSURES. CHATHAM. EXAMINATION OF THE SITTING MEMBER. Yesterday, on the re-assembliwr of the parlia mentary committee, Mr. Bramston chairman, Mr. James Bidden, a licensed victualler, and Mr. Thomas Hills, soli citor, of Chatham, were examined. and deposed to having accompanied Sir Frederick Smith during his canvas., and that he never offered place, employment, or pension in respect of any person's vote. Applications of the kind were made to Sir Frederick, but Sir Frederick's answer invariably was, they could not be entertained. Wit nesses had given Sir Frederick advice on the subject. Mr. Hills had looked into the poll book to see how the per sons employed in the dockyard voted, and found that from 145 to 150 voted for Sir Frederick, and from 80 to 00 for Admiral Stirling. Sir Frederick Smith, the sitting member, having tendered himself, was then examined at great length by Mr. Serjeant Wrangham, Q.C. The gallant gentleman's evidence was a long-continued categorical contradiction " in minima parti cula ' and "in tutu" of almost every statement adduced by the witnesses produced on the other side, and as on this ac count it may be supposed to possess mire than ordinary in terest, we give it pretty fully. He deposed that he held the rank of colonel of the Royal Engineers, and com manded in the south-west am! Sussex district of the royal engineers' department, and then proceeded to reca pitulate, in reply to questions from counsel, that he had held the appointment of inspectorigeneral of railways, and had been chairman of the well-known Gauge Commission. Had received Isis knighthood fur services in the Mediterra- new between 1807 arid 1812. Also held the post of second in command at Chatham. Had been connected with it some 20 years, and consequently was perfectly familiar with its constituency and inhabitants. Did not prior to 1852 become a candidate, not wishing for private reasons to oppose Lord Enfield, the son of his friend the Marquis of Anglesea ; but Lard Enfield having withdrawn, he became a candidate at the last election. Was pretty well acquainted with the character of the constituency before he commenced his canvass in March, and that there were a good number of government employ.:s connected with the dockyard. Wu obliged to canvass in the most active manner, having ac tive opponents to contend with. Shortly after he started, an opponent appeared in the field, Mr. Romaine (who was sitting at the counsel's table), and witness had to be very active, as this gentleman was not only very active, but possessed great talent, and was, above all, popular with the ladies. (Laughter.) Mr. Romaine, however, withdrew in a tortnight, and Admiral Stirling came forward. Witness, however, did not enter lain the slightest doubt of his success, having examined the register, and having; very able agents. Estimated his majority at upwards of 200 votes. Completed a personal I eanvass of the whole borough, and was almost always at tended by his friends canvassing. The canvassing of Chatham was of a nature that required a candidate to go several times to the same elector, in order to find them at home. " I was aware," continued Sir Frederick, "of the peculiar nature of a large portion of this constituency, and throughout my canvas', from the commencement to the close, my mind was thoroughly impressed with the danger, as well as the impropriety, of making any promises for the purpose of obtaining a vote. I started on my canvass with the determination to make no promises, and, to the best of my belief and intention, adhered to that determination throughout my canvass. I be. lieve I can solemnly swear that' on no occasion did I make a promise as the condition of a vote or for the purpose of obtaining a vote. Had known Ridout for many years. He was a superior officer of the dockyard police. Had no expectation, however, of getting Ridout's vote. Witness said he had called upon him for his vote, and Ridout said "It is a little early." Never said to Ridout "I am the government candidate." Never could have made use of such an expression. It was known by witness's placard that he wu a supporter of Lord Derby's ' government. Was astonished to hear Ridout say so in hie evidence. Was quite clear he never said to Ridout " I I have the patronage of the Admiralty," or that he put his hand on his breast and said " I have a letter from my friend the Duke of Northumberland, or the Admiralty." Had such a thing been said it would have met with the imme. diate contradiction of Captain Richards, the Cap tain-Superintendant, who was of opposite politics to witness. Ridout had stated what was entirely untrue. The whole of Ridout's statement was entirely erroneous and false. If Ridout said Sir Frede rick stated " you had better mind what you are about, and not promise, for if the Derby government stands I shall be able, through my particular friend the Duke of North umberland, to do something for you,",it was false. Nothing of the kind ever passed witness's lips. Knew R. N. Dadd, who told witness he could not support him ; bat witness shook hands with him, and said, " I am obliged to you for being so frank." Never said anything to Dada about the making of a road at the end of Ordnance-terrace, beside Dadd's house, with the view of conciliating him. Saw the voter Hogg on the canvass, and his wife. The latter said her husband bad not made up his mind. Hogg ultimately, after interviews, said " I've made up my mind to support you if I stay in Chatham," but said he should like to go away, and to sea. lie never at any time told witness he had promised Sir J. Sterling, and witness made it a rule never to ask for votes promised to Sir J. Sterling, and in culcated the same practice publicly and privately on his supporters. Some time after Hogg called on witness at the Sun, but he did not think any one was present. Hogg said he had heard from some friends that there were vacancies in the Customs for tide-waiters, but he would prefer going to sea as a steward. lie asked witness if he could get him a tide-waiter's situation, Hogg having heard that a number of vacancies had occurred 'oy tide-waiters going to Austra lia. Witness said he would inquire on the utiles • and said if I cannot assist you, you may have other friends who can. Never made any promise to Hogg with reference to his vote, and when he said this to Hogg he did not do it in the slightest degree with an intention to affect his voting. Looked upon him as one of his pledged supporters. Thought on that occasion he wrote to i n qu ire whether there were such vacancies in the Customs for tide wai ters, and gave Ilogg a letter to put into the Rochester Post office. The reason that induced him to have it pos ted at Rochester instead of Chatham was that he (witness) bad bad several of his official letters opened at Chatham b y breaking the envelope, by which the letter could be ex tracted without breaking the seal, and on this accou nt he bad his letters sent to Rochester. Was compelled to sa y this, although it might cast an implied censure o n the Post-office. It might have been accidental, but it was ver y unpleasant. Did not recollect llogg saying anything shout a messengership is Deptford dockyard, and witness knew nothing about a stewardship on 'board the W Ana' Offered and obtained for Hogg a stewardship on hoard the Hydaspes in January. Applied to Mare, the MT., who was one of the directors, and obtained the under. stewardship for Hogg, but he declinei it, al though he would have taken the stewardship. Knew John Driver, the voter, and had seen his sot) Esau at Chatham. Driver came up to witness and said, " Sir Frederick, my vote is for you." llow,- hers Driver bringing his son atter to thr inn and sai d he wanted to net his son employed as a bricklayer. Witness said he should like to bee hia son. it being in wit-