The Express. — London, England, 1852-02-03 00:00:00

MU NE Y MARK ET. 'f lIIS DAY. lIALF-FAST TRILTI O.CLOCIL. The English stock market this Morn --- We; ae Named a decidedly flatter appearance, founded mainly ppm unfavourable anticipations relative to the course political affairs will take so soon as the session has been fairly entered upon. Consols opened at a de cline of 1 per cent. on yesterday's rates, being first c et t .d !on! . to and at this rate they remain without posh business ',tiering. E‘slaspler Bills and India Bonds arc both steady. Sonic of the foreign investments are flat, but generally prices are maintained. Mexican have nil lied to :i2 to 1, and Grenada Deferred have further rine to 6 to Spanish Actives are called 23i to 'Ns day s quotations of English and foreign funds will be found below. Mr. the chairman of the Committee of Portu4ins.os Bondholders. yesterday renewed his fantil protest, through Mr. Iklinnion. the notary, the arbitrary deduction of 2:1 per cent., by s poirionclit of Portugal, from the dividend due to the foreign bondholders fur the tinst half-rear of and also against the non-pay ment of the ars y ea , of di% idends due ryspectively the Ist January and 14 July. lre,il, and the Ist January, We hive Received front Gen. Sir John Fitzgerald the fullosing letter: 2, Adonia.c.e.art, Old Broad-street, Felt. 2, tWi2. lientlenwo- .The committee of Spanith bondho lders, over whieh I preside, considering it desirable NOUN further steps shield is I don for the protection of the holders of tht evrtiticate. eo,ee,l by Mr. l'apel's committee, mpeetfully hot carni•ttly mime you will take into contideration the peproly 01 patting a resolution to the cffict that no new ftptuttli ttock 01 any deteription veherver sill be permitted to b, yu eed in the official li,t of prices, until tlw certifi cates Wald by Mr. Caper , . committee. and fern:muting the it/ per tent. of emptier. propooed to be umhocitted by the ttpAnidt proiett of Ida of the 14 of Atutwt Erin be re in,. therefrom by bring cony, mud into Three per Cent. Deferred Stock, upon the *tune terms at the holders have consent.ed to naive for the other 541 per cent. of arrears of intenat under the smote am, gentlemen, your must obedient ser.snt. J..11‘ FITIOSIt LU. Lieut. OCSefil, Chairman. The C.ontnittee for tirneral l'urposet, Stosi' biachange. The tout amount of railway calls falling due in the month of Felortt.try is as follows: Aarmst per rbare. —_—• Aimed, %umbi• Cau• 14, Mite. 1•••1. t •larra. • low pi . 4 24 I S 0 30.000 3/,500 MUM and 14 2O 0 2 u 0 30,000 110.000 Lowlunderre Ale• 2 Co;, rua . 11.1... 10 71 210 0 18,311 ihenewl 43“1 $4 per rent., 124 I. Newpwl, Aterr,:avrawy, m-1 Ilereloell ~ 3 0 2 0 0 unknown. North Wean, Wo. 2, 10/ 2 dep..it 210 0 10,120 2.2.3' 1 0 10111.ns. 11.0re•irr, and Wol.lrhasuptea. Nor 11.' req. nerwebury v. 4 (lower, New 10/. Stack 2O 2 2 4 0 9.7:1 :9.00 stisoti The demand on the money market for the prose- ration of railway enterprise is very trifling. For the first two months of the present ytur the calla amount to only 616,798/., against 1,113,147/. in the same period of 1831, and 1,887,527/. in 18,14). The subjoined calculations show the rate per cent per annum yielded by the various securities cited id the average of the pricer now ruling. Where the asterisk (*) is prefixed, it is to be under stood that the share rate of interest is leas the in come tax. It will be seen that in every case we take the rate of intt rest last declared as the basis of our calculation. To render the calculation strictly seen• rate, the proportion of interest which may have accrued since last disidcnd period should, in each caw, be taken into account : Three p• r rent. COM*, .... ... price WI Weld par seet.S3 2 3 Thew per Cret. helloed b7l .. 3 191 L. iltehaahlantherter pee Chow DOM Mork :My. at the tote of id We ewee p.s awes) . " Lie Mori .4w. 194 pw wet. we ea.) SC Ili 1 9 91 hwhowor ralla , lat. lel. roe dap) We pa ” 2 4 is Lot Indian Warm IL. peed (rears teed die. 3 per seat we eseues) Lea Wentone. /sleeeL (do.. et the wee sr 4 we cast ow weseeel s7 " 4 11 HI Ussitalldr• red Tatilin 1(09 Meet* ale. at the ram of 2 prs ant pw ame.l Lodes and emelt Weems Illsel• (dhldoed et the MP at 2# perseet. P *6 " pee mewl t leedoe sad Meth umbra Mei• oh.. at tit* nee of ill per wet per aim , ilot.u&J Stnek•ldlo. el the NOM it wit rept. ror ere.) booth astern stock. (die. at the re.. or 3we erase. ' , IT ann., AI o 4 7 14 Tort. 76 ers.tle..kad Berrrirk Stoehr lair. et the rate of 3 pre cwt. pa ammo) ENULIIH Ift h IW.—Tlere DAT. Pont . 3 1 I 'Ai: 17 loft A 3.6113313. 31,r o t 1,1••••3 !Al 7 lolls 311,..et, 630 en 3 7r, .n c .0....;.. 4 4 13Ittn f.., 4 , ..1 .I+4 i NSW 90041.11.10/.. T in. 3... Itaehowtor MIL. LAW. 50r. IL 71 ver Ct. C.0.d.. so 4 4 roams /UP De. 41 re ct esteem. 91 3 2 par Cl. Welders n 4 ppyll. I . tral . ilarr. a 34 $ sor th. Pernrlan. 93s 4 . MN lesearred. 461 TA g m %. 1 , ..n0t• Arr... 49 33 6 tor Ct. P1a5 1 13 ,33 ".1 10 1 g p., I t, o mien. lot 1 0 3 3 roe Ct. arses. 117 IS 3 per o have. Al I 44 per CL Ilales.loo4 I 3 pa... lksone. 74 it ewe 04 04 E. A•oara , Oft h ssr ••1 hot h. '7# :4# it . . 4011 • 4 pert. Inentt. PO # 51 1 Nora t. t. 31 44 Ulu, 0. Vemetrole s ti 37 1 per It. ursu,a333. 14i 17e , Pa Defame, 1.2 13 tlerAwas 5 'arena. El se L. .. 7 4 • LATEST FOREIGN EXCHANGES. 4 1 4i PARIS BOURSE. PAW', r.,. 1. Foe Par Mount. Mosey. °peals, Hyrbret . Loved arias. —,— sr Cents. ..,_ , 64 36 1 1 SI 73 64 75 64 0 64 10 et. rt. rro,l4.3BrwLara it se I ... ... ... ... ... ... wren:, - prr Orme i . ... ... ..., sagropes lank:: rtrinr. 13 131 Se 6170. 33 6 . —...— ....... ... ... . —. ..____ 8 pis Ce 10.4. ......... I 64 36 2 per feht• II per C. Lir.. NewLamo 4.lte fen:, 4044 Onto 1 . ... Ilasanmesa landen : aided, 33 II; M. ,!$ IL Inglin„ 3, Ifien MI s-" rapier. 1imb... .. . SO Away. irh ), 1611 D.I. 44 1... : lialat . t . sp. Ct... 24 36 Peak tillmos PAM*, Yr.a 2.—St. Germain, • Versailles (rfirbt ina.. :t.. ; cleft bank), 741 1 * ; NAP sod 0.4.0.,1,1/711; Pada nal 11.....0 s; •,n; Mown end 114444.960 ; Maresiike mg *Apra Sri; Illmtinunt .n.l Bele, 206 23; Cestr• 546; rboalms• ma Maw" Mt 30, I ocean. and 04141.4404. 436; Mietbers. MO; Parra awl Mesa lwrg, IGO , P.m and 14464, 33; Tows and Nemo, ffil SO; Illigge IN nesking 421 O. AIAURIn, J A N. 28.—Theee per Cents., 38:1 after Bolan, 381 c. New Three per Cents., 19 ; liter 114,1.0, 19 p. Coupons, 9 ; after Baia, 9I c. 5! ; alter Bolas, 3 9-16. Bank of St. Ferdinand, 103 c. Exchange on London, 50.90. RAILWAYS. THIS DAY. lIALP-PART TWTLVI O'CLOCK. The share market to-day is quiet, in common with t►e other department, of the house, and in some instances prier, hare sympathised with the depres sion in the English funds, and mark a shade lower. Generally, however, quotations in this department have been pretty fairly supported. NINES. THIS DAY. fIALr•eAJT TWILTI O'CLOCK . TIo mining share market to-day is quiet, the desk rs in the Stock Exchange being less inclined t• operate. and in same instances prices are flat, tkria,rh 3isterday's quotations generally prevail. COALq. - Lostrow, Vim. 2. - at market, Mg. wild, 129. - Saddle's West Hartley, 13s. Gd.. lhashopt. Its.; Cares Hanley, 13s. ad ; Chester Main, lis. 31 Howard's West Hartley Netherton, 13s. Gd• ; Mewl anti. Id. 135.; Newcastle Ilartley, 130. Gd. ; North II srtley, 19s. 6d.; Tandeld Moor, 12.. 9d.; T 1.1 Moor Butes, 12s. Gd. ; West Wylans, 13..; Walls End Harlon, 9d. ; Walk Bad Lawson, 14.. 60. ; End Northassherlaad, IM. 6t ; Walls En , ' Eid -4011. , Eden Maim, 16s. 3J ; Lainhtun Primrose, Ils .Id. Wall. End Delmont, 165.; Walls End Bend. 17. ; Walls End Haswell, 17s. rid.; Walls Bad Kisser rime., 14.. 60. ; Wan. End Lambtita, 17s. ; Rai End Plummer, 16s. Gd. ; Walls End Tauber, Ida 9d.. Will. Ead Ramey. Hatton, 17s. ; Walla End 81 1 1 ..r1 . .. 17.. Gal. ; Walls Bad Deaison, 13s. 6d. ; Walls Bad 11.,igh Hall, 16a. 3d.; Wane Rad Kellar, 170.; Walls Bed South Hartlepool, 17a ; Walls End Thornley, 16s. ; Vat. End Whitworth, 12.. 9d.; Walls End Tees, 17s. 3d. ; 1i0515y,11.341.; Sidney's Maguey, 13s. ed. Duro or Sift Rosrxr genet.. shle lierinet, who died on Tuesday last, was horn on Oil , 'sr I, IiGS, and married 26th Apra, 1810, Elisabeth, sal, .I,e,hne of Mr. John Young, of Battle, Rumen. lie Mernbd hi. brother, Sir Cherie., the wreath baronet, in 1it , .111.1 oureveded by bin second Km, his eldest, Richani ha. hang died in August, DO I. The late baronet, of W. in Comb. timid, nee • claimant of the earldom of Aimenti.di r dercerrlant of the eldest daughter of the Ism earl, end war collaterally retried to Sir Bellingham It. Orshem. Bert, and the Eight lion. Sir J. Graham, Bert., 111 . , .11 , 1 who had come from the (iridium of Esk. COLONIAL. CANADA. A letter dated Quebec, Jan. 111, says : The first sod of the railway from Quebec to Melbourne was turned on Wednesday. A number of canoes had been prepared, as the crossing of the St. Lawrence at this season of the year Is attended with great difficulty and sometimes with danger, in eonsequenee of the floating ice; and the llama. P. !hocks, Dr. Rulph, It. E. Caren, and Mr. Tachi, together with the municipal authorities of Quebec, end • large conooune of spectators, landed safely near the meat\ of the Etehemin. The blast was fired by the lion. Mr. Hineks, who delivered • very sensible speech on the occasion. He was flowed by Dr. Itoiph, Mr. Tube, Mr. Caren (who 9ologised for the unavoidable absence of the Governor tieneTlo, end 'carrel of the directors and shareholders in the railroad. 'Phis line is ninety miles long, and runs through • tolerably fee tile country, abounding in excellent water powers, and having no aisadvantages to contend against but a somewhat inhospitable climate. The city of Quebec will be the greatest gainer by the construction of the road. At present we are isolated, shut out Irons the rest of the world during the winter months; strong, indeed, must he the inducement which tempts a traveller to spend twenty•four hours in a catiole on • bleak winter's day, staging along from Montreal to Quebec Scarcely hail the mi. ousters rctunied front their visit to the Etchemin terminus, when the news arrived that the imperial goverment had sent despatches to Lord Elgin, informing him that her Majesty's ministers would not recommend any assistance being granted by the imp, red parliament to the construe- tion of the European and North American line of railroad. When Mr. Hose first broached his scheme of building the Quebec and Ilalitaz Railroad with money . advanced on pro vincial debentures, endorsed by Great Britain, New Bruns wick refused to (...operate in the measure, being firmly wedded to the liar from St. John's to l'ortland, which is called the European and North American ltailroad. The scruples of the New Brunswick cabinet were so far removed at the convention held at To ronto in June, that they agreed, on beha f of their government, to support • similar bill to the one passed in Canada, end adopted in Nova Seotie, with respect to the Quebec and ll:elites line, on the a aprem eon dello .... that the imperial endorsement or guarantee was to be extended to the debentures to be issued for their pet line to Portland. This was agreed to by the delegates from the other provinces, Mr. Howe pledging his faith that this deviation from Earl Grey's proposal would not meet with opposition at home. Now, it appears that Mr. Howe has either been completely in the dark as to the intottions of the British ministry, whose envoy he purported to be, or that he had wilfully misled the governments of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick—with what design it is difficult to say. The news, coming at a moment when everybody believed the railroad afro/ arrompli, has caused nu little sem ition. The opening speech of the Lieutenant-Governor to the New Brunswick legislature last week was far from satisfactory to the Intends of the road. He recommended it, but in terms so guarded, cold, and cautious, as to create the most gloomy apprehensions. Oar cabinet here have taken the alarm, and have despatched Messrs. }Nicks, Young, and ToeW to St. John's, to exert their influence with the New Brunswickers. They left yesterday. 'Elie Court. ARRIVAL OF TIER MAJESTY IN LONDON. The Queen and Prince Albert, attended by the Viscountess Canning, Lord Byron, Colonel lion. C. B. Phipps, Sir Edward Bowater, Lieutenant-Colonel Biddulnh, Colonel lion. Charles Grey, and Lieutenant. Colonel lion. A. ()onion, left Windwir Castle at five minutes past twelve o'clock yesterday, for the station of the Great Western Rail way in Windsor, where a guanl of honour of the Grenadier Guards was on duty, with the band of the regiment. Iler Majesty and his H Royal Highness left by a special train, and on arriving at the Paddington lemmas proceeded to Buckingham Palate. The illustrious party occupied three of the royal carriages, and was escorted by a detachment of H the Bth uman to the Palace, when they arrived at sit' minutes before one o'nock. The Queen and Prince Albert were received at Buckingham Palace by the Master of the llorse, the Lord Clisimberl.iin, the Vice-Chamberlain, Lord George Lennox, and Colonel Wylde. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, attended by Viscountess Cannine, Lord Byron, Coined lion. Charles Grey, and beat.-Colonel Hon. A. Gordon, honoured the l'rineess's Theatre with their presence last evening. Colonel the lion. Charles Grey has relieved Lord Alfred Paget in his duties as Bluererin-Waiting to the Queen. Mr. Thornely, M.P., had an interview with Sir Georg* Grey Testerdav at the Home-office. Mr. Adair had also an interview with the Right Hon. Baronet. Despatches from the Governors of the North American Provinces were received at the Colonial•otdce yesterday. Despatches were also received from the Governor of Malta. PRIVY COUNCIL Yesterday her Majesty held a Privy Council at half-past two o'clock. It was attended by Prince Albert, the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of 3linto, Lord John Russell, Sir George Grey, Earl Granville, Earl Grey, Sir Charles Wood, Sir Francis Baring, the Eon of Carlisle, the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Right lion. Fox Msulc, Lord Seymour, the Marquis of Westminster, the Marquis of Breadalbanc, and the Duke of Norfolk. The Right lion. Henry Lord Cowley (her Majesty's Ambassador to Paris) and Mr. Justice Patteson were by command of the Queen sworn of her Majesty's Most Hon. Privy Council, and took their places at the board. the list of sheriffs for England and \Vales was pricked for by , her Majesty. The Queen's speech on opening the session of parliament was arranged and agreed upon. The lion. William Bathurst was the Clerk of the Council in Waiting.—The Queen give audience to Lord John Russell, the Right Hon. Fox Maule, Sir George Grey, Earl Granville, and Earl Grey. Her Majesty was attended by the Treasurer of the house hold, the Vice-Chamberlain, the Comptroller of the Household, the Marquis of Londonderry (Gold Stick in Waiting), Lord Byron, Lord in Waiting, and Sir Edward Bowater (Groom in Waiting.) DEPARTURE OF THE ORINOCO. Yesterday the Royal West India Mail Packet Compasy's gigantic steamer Orinoco, Capt. Chapman, left Southamptoa with the West India and Melissa mails. The Orinoco, being the second of the' monster West ladia steam ers whic h has been built (the unfortunate Amason having been the ant), and going so soon after the Amason, her de parture ezeited considerable interest. She was to have been commanded by the ill-fated Captain Symons, and Captain Chapman, who took charge of her was to have had i the Annum. The Orinoco left Southa mpton docks oa Sunda/ morning, and was lying in Southampton water about miles from the town. The mail, which was a very heavy one, wes put oa board of her about 3 in the after. , noon. The Orinoco took out nearly 100 passengers; amongst them were Mr. Kilkelly and Mr. Hawke, vibe wen pm , wagers is the Amason. Immediately after the mail was I on board the Orinoco started on her voyage accompanied by the mail steam tender filled with the friends of lie piliSell• gen and numerous visitors from Southampton, who were anxious to see the monster steamer depart. Immediately the Orinoco was under weigh all the massagers on board of her stood in a row uu deck looking over the ship, and cheered most lustily their friends who were witnessing their departure. The cheers were answered by vociferous cheer ing and waving of handkerchiefs from the tender. Among throe cheering on the deck of the Orinoco were the paseengen who had been saved in the Amason. They seemed in the highest spirits, to have forgotten all their troubles, and appeared to feel undaunted confidence in the success and good fortune of the Orinoco. The mail steam tender was tine of the fastest of the lido of Wight passage boats, and she was just enabled to keep up with the Orinoco all the way to Calshot Castle, a distance of four or five miles. Just before reaching Calahot Castle the Orinoco was stopped to let Mr. Mauthilay, the maker of her engines, and Mr. Mills, the engineer to the West India Company, who had remained on board to watch the working of the engines, leave her, and immediately after they had left the friends and the passengers cheered each other once more. The Orinoco then entered the Solent, and the mail steam tender turned towards Southampton. The utmost care appears to have been taken on board the Orinoco to guard agaiust the occurrence of tire. The store room has been built at a considerable distance from the boiler, and engine -room. Nothing in the shape of paint, turpentine, or any inflamirible autotance, more than is ab solutely necessary, has been suffered to be put on a card of her. Not one of the hundreds of coal sacks has been tarred or painted. Ladders have been fixed forward to enable persons to communicate easily and with rapidity with the decks from below. It is fully expected that the Orinoco will make her passage out to St. Thomas is 13 days, which will be five days less than the contract time. Amongst those present to witness her denature were Captain Corry, R.N., admiralty superintendent at Southampton, Lieut. D'Aranda, R.N., Captain Curry's first lieutenant; Captain Mangles, manager and director of the Royal Mail Company; Captain Neilson, of the Trinity hoard ; Captain R.N., the West India Company's Southampton superin tendent ; Captain Abbott, the commander of the Thames Steamer ; Captain Ilet.dersoo, Mills, Esq., West India Company'sengineer ; Messrs. Pitcher and Son, the builders of the Orinoco ; Messrs. Plaudslay and Field, the makers of her engines. Among the passengers was Commander Maguire, bound for Behring's Straits by way of Panama, to take command of H.M.S. Plover there • and there were sent out by her despatche s . and a numbe r of Admiralty packages for Captain Collation, R.N., at the Sandwich Islands. XTHE NATIONAL LAND COMPANY.-E- ' THE EXPRESS. TU ESI3 - 1T iirEN - 111G. T iiiiiitUAßY . 3. 1852' . POLITICAL BANQUETS. The Marquis of Lansdowne, u President of the Council, gave a grand ministerial banquet last evening at Lansdowne-house, to a distinguished circle of peers, sup. Porters of the present government. Covers were laid fur forty in the state dining-room. The guests were the Duke of Norfolk, the Duke of Bedford, the Lord Chang/110r, the Marquis of Anglesey, the Marquis of Breailalbane, the Marquis of Weetininster, the Marquis of Normanby, the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Earl of Carlisle, the Earl Craven, the Earl Grey, the Earl of Yarborough, the Earl of Albemarle, the Earl of Bemboroegh, the Earl of Strafford. the Earl of Zetland. the Earl of Minor, the Earl Granville, the Earl Fitshardinge, the Earl Bruce, the Earl Waldegrave, Lord Camoys, Lord Elphinstone, Lord listherton, Lord Monteagle, Lord Foley, Lord De Manley, Lord Colborne, Lord Carington, Lord Beaumont, Lord Portman, Lord Lilford, Lord Erskine, Lord flays and Bele, Lord Cremorne, Lord Wode house, and Lord Leigh. The noble marquis was assisted in the honours of the table by his son, the Earl of Shelburne, and his sea-is-law, the lion. .1. K. Howard. After dinner her Majeety'e gracious speech on the opening of the ses sion of parliament was read by the noble president to his assembled guests. We are sorry to say that Lord Lane dowse was safari ag severely during the evening from an attack of gout, which eons on a day or two Maw, and which prevented the noble marquis from attending the Privy Council at Buckingham Palace yesterday. Lord John Russell gave a full dewparliamentary dinner pally loot evening, at his racial reaidenes ia Down ing -street, to the following distbuyniihed circle :—The Right Hon. the Speaker, Sir IL Williams Bulkeley, sod Mr. Bonham Carter (the mover and seconder of the ad dress), Lord Seymour, Lord Alfred Paget, Lord C. Paget, Lord Mamas Hill, Lord Edward Iluward, the Right lion. Sir G. Grey, the Right Bon. W. G. Hayter, the Right Hoe. Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. Henry Labor then, the Right Hon. Sir FISACIS Baring, the Right Hon. 'f. Baines, the Right Hoe. Sir William Somerville, the Right lion. Sir David Dundes, Hon. E. Bouverie, lion. Wm. Casper, lion. (len. Anson, Lieut.-Colonel lion. Robert Boyle, the Attorney-Ueneral, the Lord Advocate of Scotland, the Nolicitor.Cleneral, the Attorney-General for Ireland, Admiral Berkeley, Sir W. Gibson Craig, Mr. Frederick Peel, Mr. Bellew, Mr. Rich, Mr. G. Cornwall Lewis, Mr. J. Elliot, Mr. James Wilson, Mr. Parker, and Mr. R. W. Urey. The Earl of Derby entertained a distinguished party of peen teat evening at his mansion in St Jamea's-square. The guests were confined to opposition members of the Upper home; end among those present were the Duke of Richmond, the Duke of Beaufort, the Duke of Montrose the Duke of Northumberland,. the Duke of Cleveland, dm; Marquie of Hector, the Manville of Salisbury, the Earl of Eglintaa, the Earl of Cardigan, the Hari of Lansdale, the Earl of ilalinesbury, the Earl of Loma, the Earl of Sand wich, the Earl of Wilton, the Earl Talbot, the Earl of Strailbroke, the Earl of Winching*, the Earl of Olen all, the Earl of Enniskillen, the Earl Delaware, the Earl of Hard wieke, Viscount Comberssere, Viscount Strang ford, Lord De Itos, Lord ILedesdale, Lord Southampton, Lord Colchester and Lord Saltoun. Lord Lyndhurst, the Earl of Ih-eart, and two or three other peen, were prevented attending by in disposition. The noble earl's table presented a magniheent display of gold and *deer plate. In the middle was a superb gold centre piece, pretested to his lordship'. father, as lord-lieutenant of Lancashire, by the deputy•lieutenant of that county; and upon the table were three beautiful pkags of racing plate, won at Goodwood and Doncaster b the galling Cussesa. A deepen a Twice of the most superb deembplllll4MMOgissturevl by Messrs. Daniell, of New Bond streets sal pardiond out of the Great I:shanties by Lord Derby, was used M this occasion for the first time, sad way greatly adaasel. There was to be a great iambi 4l immumesw—ambsts of the noble earl's party—at Ms IMF ska ammkg (Tuesday). TRAORDINARY SCENE. Yesterday, a meeting in this matter was held in Vice-Chancellor Kinder'ley's court, before Master in Chan cery Humphry, for the general examination of Mr. leargus O'Connor, M.l'., the , lireetors, and others, to inquire into the management and financial transactions connected with the company's affairs under the act of parliament passed to dissolve the company, to dispose of the lauds and property belonging to it, and generally to wind up its affairs. The hour fixed for the meeting was ten o'clock at which time all parties, with the exception of Mr. O'Connor, who had been siumstuned, welt present, and seine twenty minutes elapsed before that gentlemaa, accompanied by his solicitor, T t peered, and Melt his seat underneath the woolsack. OM% was isliewly crowded throughout the day. bk. asemarp, who appeared as counsel in support et the Ism maser, commented the proceedings with a diva khan of the company's proceedings, übjeens,lo4 =lll, Co i !o " re u rative rte itn i d i aims had sad locate members upon such terms ma mlght NNW by moderate industry, to live in comps anallatt mad independence. The title of the uncle yes abelerards changed to that of the " Nationa= Compose." A number of estates were bought, allotment. made, 111.11minban located, and a large number of honneiMe were istallisil is various parts of the kingdom. 'As eh. ject of the 111.01801 inquiry was to examine the origimasea and directors of the scheme with reform* to the accounts, and the amount and application of the wigs received on account of the company, to pet the allailmsmager in possession of information to enable him to carry sat the provisions of the act of parliament. Since the appointment of Mr. Ooodchap, the official manager of the court, that gentleman and his solicitors, Messrs. Tucker and Sons, had gonu over all the estates and had obtained as much information as possible, but this win found to be of so deficient a description, that a personal examination of the parties became absolutely necessary. A large sum had been subscribes, and expended in the purchase of five different estates, amounting to 100,0001. Three estates were the Herringsgate, or as it win now called the O'Connor. ville Estate, at Kickmansworth ; the Minster Level Estate ; . the towheads Estate ; the 'Mate at litnig's Bad ; and the Great Dodford &tate. The object now was to earn lain the amount of mosey received, bow, where, and b whom; sad with referees* to its ultimate application, ana with this view he prepaid to examine Mr. O'coanor in detail. Mr. O'Connor was then sworn, and examined for nearly live hosts; but as his evidence was principally a recapitu lation of that given before the House of Commons' com mittee, on the occasion of their inquiry into the matter, it is unnecessary to repeat it here. He deposed that he did not know bow much money was received on behalf of the company between 181. i and 1816, but stated several times over that the amounts of these transactions, as given by Mum% appeared at intervals in the NortUm Star, and recently in the Daily New. There were no doubt entries of these matters in the ledgers of the Land Company, the directors of which he would trust with anything, and they had never defrauded the company of a farthing. He :had never men these books. He was now • creditor of the company to the extent of 7,6051. it appeared in the mune of the evidence that some of the estates had been sold since the eel of parlia ment prohibiting the disposal of them passed, and he tidy O'Connor) had been told by Lord Campbell and Sir F. Pol. lock that ke had a right to sell them and put all the mosey in his pocket, though he believed that that declaration was before the set pared. Witness was Om examined as to the general powers be exercised in the purchase and sale of lands, and was called mien to produce receipts and vouchers fur the rine, bet could not, invariably referring the court, on theft questions being put, to an account of the mosey transactions he had published in the Northern Mar and Deify New.. He was also questioned as to the particulars of the respective allotments on the various estates, but gave no definite information on a majority of them. When the Land and Labour Bank was proposed in connexion with the Land Ccepny l be protested against it, and the bank had new failed, swing 4,0001. Mr. Roxburgh—Can you inform us, Mr. O'Connor, how it was that portions of the great Dodford estate that had been sold by you do not appear, as was required in the schedule to the set of parliament ? Mr. O'Ounnor—l think it is there. Mr. Itoabursh—Yoa ►ad better look at the act. This it web a gigantic stemma that we gull get eawfwasil if we an cot careful. Mr. O'Connor—lt is a gigaatio scheme, sir, and I have been greatly contend by it. Mr. Itozburgh—lt would appear from the various ac counts to the House of Common, that ou have reeeived 18,0001. ea account of the company sines 1 ' 818? Mr. O'Connor—Yes, more than that, I dare my. Mr. Rozburgh—Well, what have you dame with it? Mr. O'Connor—All the accounts have been published in the Deily .Yeses and Northers Near. Mr. kozburgh—flat we cannot find say materials in them to test the correctness of the statements they eontela. Mr. O'Connor—lt is published word for word is the Dade New. 1 got the twirticulaes from the peaebook of the Gloucestershire Bank. I have, I may state, is this movement spent 160,11004, to improve and elevate the con dition of the people and em abused fur it ; whereas, if • middleman or a nobleman bad dose it, it would have been very different If Prima Albert had built these cottages and located these land., there would have been aloes to promote them is every street in London, fur the benefit of these poor people, under the patronage of the philanthropic prince; but now, if my Lord or Lady Nincompoop hap pen to be driving through their satetes, tad the daughter in the carriage happened to say, " Lor mamma, bole at those beautiful eottages," the anxious parent pulls down the blind, exclaiming, "My dear, it was that ruffian Yearges O'Connor built them." (Loud laughter.) Mr. Grey, who, at the instance of the House of Commas, re ported on the accounts of the company, had • "sofa full " of receipts and vouchers, and might sit on them. (Laugh ter.) You are Wowt me the most noaseasical vestiges; I know what you want is to juggle me. The remainder of Mr. O'Connee's evideece wee gives in such • semi serious, bet insulting meaner, as called frequently fur the marked reprobation of the Master, whom he turned to on use omenion with the utmost non chalance, anti milked to have • " pinch of snot," • wooden box full of which he throughout the day drew supplies from, using it every now and then as • tattoo on the table during the pause. between question and answer, at the close of many of which he deliberately shook his fist at the leaned counsel, exclaiming loudly "You ruffian." He did I not keow • man of the name of " Cotton," but knew • man i maimed " Worsted," and asked the learned counsel if he • meat " Piddle:unit," fur " Diddlecumb." The learned tomensel (at (our o'clock) must be hungry, aid if he liked he would order h,m • mutton chop. (laughter.) This was all that he (the witness) on one taxman had one day at O'Connorviile, when he stuck it on the tongs and fried it fur himeelt. (laughter ) The Master-Will you he good enough to look at thee ledgers, Mr. O'Connor, to refresh your rut mory ? Mr. O'Connor (balancing • ledger in his arms amid loud, laughter) _ -But just look what thundering books they arc. 'I be Mastor—Thundering or nut, you must du it. (Laughter.) Mr. O'Connor—Oh, you can get it from the Doily News sad in the " Ners"—(laughter)—all I received sad paid. The Meta—W. Rost pet yea to the trouble of looking at these books. Mr. O'Coomor—Oh, dear, I could sot look at them (Laughter.) Mr. Roxburgh --.We shall require you to-morrow. Mr. O'Cottuor—l cannot he here ; I must be at the Mr. Roxburgh—l think you will find that the Nimmons of Ode court has precedence over the Home of Commas'. Mr. O'Connor—Have you done with me ? Will you let me go? You have been examining me nearl♦ gee hours. Mr. kl'Grath end Mr. Doyle tell me that the directors have all the books, showing the wages and other matters paid. M'Orath is one of the most amiable men in the world— (laughter)—and he tells me all the books nave been given up ; and lld•Grath is use of the most honest and independ• est mire. Mr. Hoxbargh--We are all independent men. Mr. O'Connor—you are not an independent man. You are a ?Whim. (Sensation, and laughter.) The Nester here interposed. Mr. O'Connor—(laughing)—Oh no ; he is s jolly fellow. I make him laugh. You know he wants to juggle ins. You have examined me five hours and have not asked me one single word connected with the Land Compaq. Have you dune with me now ? Mr. Roxburgh—No; nor am I likely just yet. It may be • long time before. Mr. O'Connor—Oh, my God! Oh, dear! oh, dear! Will you have a pinch of snuff? (Laughter.) The Master—Allow me to look at that book. Mr. O'Connor (lifting it up)—Oh, dear! ob, lor ! Now, have you anything more to ask me ? Ho's been at me rise hours. I'll take a hatchet, and cut your head off. (Laughter.) The Master—Did you take any entries from this book to make out the amount you have alluded to? Mr. O'Connor—Nu; M'Orath tells me you have the honks, with all the wagts paid; and he is one of the most amiable, and upright, and honest men in the world. The Master—We shall hare another opportunity of judging of his amiability. Mr. O'Connor—Don't bother me any more, you old rut flan. (Understood to be directed to Mr. Roxburgh, who was about to resume his question.) Examine *Grath. Come up, M'Orath, now, and be examined. (Loud laruhter.) Come up, 11.Grath. Mr__ . Roxburgh—None of th e books w e h ave s h ow t b o cx pedllture. Mr. O'Connor—Hold your tongue, you ruffian. The witness here directed first one fist and then another at the learned counsel, and 11.111 abont to direct also one of the smaller ledger', at him. The Muter (with remarkable mildnesa)—Really, Mr. O'Connor, you must not do that. The Muter here retired into one of the side rooms, fol lowed by the learned counsel, and in the interim Mr. O'Connor, addres.ing some one in the crowd, exclaimed., " Here, now, do you get on the bench." O n th e re t urn o f the Master and lir. Roxburgh, Mr. O'Connor, addressing the latter, said—Ah, you ruf fian, will you have a pinch of snuff?" and on the Master taking bus seat, " Silence, gentlemen, for the noble lord." Mr. Roxburgh—Have you any books at all? Mr. O'Connor—None. The Master—Did you ever have any ? Mr. O'Connor—l never had any. I cannot come here to morrow ; I must be at the House. The Muter—The Speaker will be ready to excuse you, if there In any necessity. (Laughter.) Mr. O'Connor—Will you excuse me ? The Master—No, I cannot excuse you. (Mr. O'Connor here laughed outright.) The Master—l adjourn these proceedings until to-morrow, when Mr. O'Connor and all parties must be present. Mr. O'Connor (putting on his hat, and retiring laughing) —Oh dear, Oh dear. The court then closed at 4 o'clock, it being arranged that Mr. O'Connor should to-day be examined on the accounts, as published by him in the Daily News and Northern Star, and thus terminated the first day of these extraordinary proceedings. A large crowd of people followed the witness into the Lincoln's-inn court-yard, and through Lineoln's-inn-flelds. PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. MEETING IN MARYLEBONE. Yesterday a numerously attended meeting of the friends of parliamentary reform in the parish of Marylebone was held in the Marylamp° Coon' house, for the purpose of considering the best means of advocating the principles put forward by the Parliamentary Reform Association. The chair was taken by T. K. PIIITCH4II,D, Esq. The following letter from Mr. Hume, !LP., who was ex pected to have presided, was read : " Burnley Hall, 28th Jan., 1862. " Sir,—l should have been ready and wilting to take the chair at the reform meeting at the Court-house, on the 2nd Feb., but I shall not he in London before 10 and 11 at night. I hope there will be zeal and unanimity in the cause, as I fear, from the reports that have reached me, that , Lord John Russell's proposition for reform will fall far short of the wishes and the wants of the community. " I am your obedient servant, J. Hera." The CHAIRMAN said that he had been suddenly called on to preside on the present occasion, in the absence of Mr. Hume. He should therefore merely state that the pre seat meeting was called together to advocate the following principles of reform—lst, such an extension of the fran chise as would confer the right to be registered as an eke tor upon every man of full age, not subject to any legal di ability, who for twelve months should have occupied any tenement, or portion of • tenement, for which he should be rated, or should have claimed to he rated, to the relief of the poor. 2nd, the adoption of the system of vets by ballot. 3rd, the limitation of the duration of parliaments to three years. 4th, such a change is the arrangement of the electoral districts as should produce a more equal ap portionment of representatives to constituents. sth, the abo lition of a property qualification for members of parliament Thew were the measuren of reform which the people of this country demanded, and he would recommend them not he diverted from their pursuit by the ery of invasion. (Hear, hear.) There must be a strong pressure from with out upon the government, in order to secure something like • satisfactory measure of reform. They should bear in mind that the benefit of the last Retiree Bill was in a great measure neutralised by the Chandos claim. (Hear, hear.) A large proportion of the present House of Commons con sisted of military men and railway men, and till its compo sition was changed, which could only be done by changing the present system of representation, they could never hope fur liberal measures or a reduction of taxation. (Hear.) Sir BENJAMIN HALL said that if the franchise in counties, which was now • 501. one, reduced to a 201. one, and the franchise in towns, which was now a IW. one, reduced to • SI. one, was all that was to be afforded to them la the shape of reform, together with the Times they might well call it a "very meagre reform in the popular representa tion." One of the greatest evils of the old re form bill was the system of registration which it required. (Hear, hear.) And to demonstrate this, he would mention what happened in his own ease. lie occupied a house at the bet/inning of last year, and not being able to register last November, he must wait until next November, so that he would be two years in cialupa tion of the premises before he would be smutted to vote for a candidate for the city of Westminster. Now, his idea with regard to registration was this, that it ought to take place mach more frequently than it does at present, and this poiat of frequent registrations, though not dwelt on generally, was most deserving of public attention; for if there were more frequent registrations, or if the term of residence was limited to a shorter period, the persons so qualified to vote would come into the possession of the franchise sooner than even if the principles of the association were carried out. It was most heartily to be wished for that in any bill to be brought forward, such miserable disgraceful boroughs as Bt. Albans should not be retained. He was one of those who had had the misfortune to sit on the St. Albans committee, and knotting as he did the villany of the place, he would wish to Ile it struck out from any power of influencing the popular representation. But if it was to be retained, unless it was to have the bene fit of vote by ballot, they might as well band it over at ones to the tender keeping of the Earl Verulam or Mr. Edwards. And although he was one of those who thought it much better to select men for their character, and to look up to them rather than pledge them to any specific subject, rely ing on them to do what was just and equitable, yet it had come to such a pass that unless men declared for vote by ballot, they were hardly fit men to sit in the Commons house of parliament. (Hear, hear.) As regarded the question of the more equal distribution of electoral dis tricts, from what had lately appeared, he might have to regret the loss of a portion of his constituents, but never theless when the time of trial came he should abide by the wi.hcs of the electors, having no doubt that a portion of them would find him a seat in the representative assembly of the nation. (Cheers ) Lord DUDLEY STUART, who was received with loud cheers, said that as he and his hon. colleague had engaged long ago to attend the meeting at St. Pancras, which Was arranged and publicly announced before the present meet ing wu beard of, he hoped it would not be eonsidered as any want of respect if they were obliged to lam that meet ing sooner than they otherwise would. (Hear, hear.) lie confined he did not feel sanguine that the coming Re form Bill would be of such a description that it would be looked at with satisfaction. If, in entertaining that opinion, he was doing . injustice to those at the helm of affairs, no one wculd rejoice more than he, and he would be the first to acknowledge it. But he feared that the reform beverage would nut suit their stomachs, and, therefore, it was neves wiry to hold such meetings as the present in order to obtain something of a satisfactory quality. (Hear, hear.) For hie part he would vote for any measure of reform, but if the measure did not embody something like the principles ad vocated by the Reform Association it would nut and it ought not to give satisfaction. (Hear, hear.) And if he was not indisposed to swept of any things le.• it was because he should not look upon It as a final measure. (Hear, hear.) Ile hoped they had done with the nonsense of final measures. (Hear, hear.) He would accept it as a means of getting those other measures to which the people of this country were entitled. He sin cerely wished to see the people of this country fully, com pletely, and freely represented. (Hear, hear.) Ile wanted a real representation of the people, and those who wished to give them a real and not • sham representation must vote for the ballot ; by that he would test all reformers, and try if they were reel reformers or not. They might appear l to wish to Iwo the people represented, but in reality they wished the landowners or the millowners to return the tnemberA and not the people who alone ought to do an. (Hear, hear.) The people ought to be protected in order to give their vote freely. Let any malt *hew him any means by which this could be done except ; by the ballot, and he would consider his propo.ition. Net no one prlstoded to suggest any other means by which the voter could be protected from unfair and unjust influence. Let them, therefore, unite and be firm in demanding, above all things, vote by ballot as a part of any measure of • idiom that might be proposed. (Hear, hear.) These were his sentiments, and he was glad to have that opportunity I of expensing them. (Hear, heat.) Ile should now lesvo them to attend the meeting at St. Pancras. (The noble lord, aneompanied by his colleague, then left the meeting.) Mr. CHARLES FREETH proposed the first resolution, to the effect that the prime minister of the crown having signified his intention to introduce a measure of parka. soentary reform during the ensuing session, the people should lose no time in giving an effective expression to their wishes, and this meeting would, therefore, declare that any measure which did not embody the principles put forward by the association would fail to satisfy the expectations of the people. On the question of reform he hoped all would be united. (Hear, hear.) Admiral Sir CHARLES NAPIER, who came forward amidst loud applause to second the resolution, said he was afraid ho might have been thought guilty of " indiscretion" —(laughter) —in coming forward before his old con stituents once more, but the mode of their reception made him feel perfectly certain that ho retained Bair good will. (lieu, hear) 01 course, he regretted, as lie told them before, that he was nu longer their representative, and the more so bemuse if the government had told him that he was going abroad for only a few mouths instead of for three years, as he imagined, their connection need never have been terminated as it did. There was nut one word in the present resolution in which he did not most fully acquiesce. Any reform bill which might be offered to them would be of no possible use unless it embodied the prin• eiple of voting by ballot Ho perfectly remembered, when he stood for Greenwich, asking a man to vote for him who told him, "My heart is with you, but I have a large family, and I can't vote for y ou .' Ilis reply was, "If the tones did not deal with him, all the radicals would, and that would do just as well." '• Oh," said he, " I have a house on Bayne'whill, and that house is worth to me a whole street of radicals; and how is it posaible that I can vote for you ?" The man was quite right. Ile (Sir Charles Napier) was not a rich man, but he would give 6001. to be In parliament this session, to capose ell this waste and profusion. They were at that moment in so help less a condition that Louis Napoleon, if he so desired it, could make a coup on the country which would surprise every one of them. (No, no) Even with their weak means he know what ho could do against France if he was em ployed, and when they knew that France landed 10,000 men within ten days at Civita Vecchia, in 7 or 8 steam ves sels, there was no reason why the same thing might nut oc cur elsewhere. (Nu, no.) Sir J. lIARE supported the resolution. Ile recom mended them, above all things, to insist upon the ballot; because he had known many a poor man to be reduced to beggary from the want of it. The resolution was put and carried unanimously. Mr. P. GRAHAM moved the nest resolution, to this effect that the members of the borough be requested to aria upon the government and the House or Commons, a messing of reform in conformity with the principles advocated by the Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association. Mr. It. MITCHELL moved the following reeolutioa:— " That the members for the borough of Marylebuno are hereby respectfully requested to use their utmost endea vours to obtain a reformat the Commons House of Parlia ment, and to impress upon the house the strong desire that exists in this pinch for such reform in accordance with the principles of the National Parliamentary and Financial Re form Association." lie said it became them to show the government that they were men of action, and men who would insist on the concession of their rights. (Hear, hear.) The Rev. Or. BURNS seconded the resolution. He said there could be no doubt that if the members of the present government had been in opposition for the last seven years, they would all have advocated what was advocated in that meeting. (Hear.) He was in favour of the extension of the suffrage to every man untainted with crime. (Cheers.) There never was a period of greater union between the working and the middle classes. The jealousy which ca lmed between them a few years ago had in a great degree subsided, and this was a time when all who loved libert ought to unite in a final and momentous struggle. lie ho they would not allow themselves to be disunited from t tie teal object. 1 hey had reason to believe that the govern ment measure would at least double the franchise, and so fir it would be a good. The resolution having been agreed to, Mr. SODEN moved the adoption of the following petit ion : " To the honourable the Commons of the United King dom, &Sc. The humble petition of the inhabitants of St. Marylebene--Showeth, " that your petitioners have, from the passing of the Re form Act in the ye.ir 1832, regarded the practical operations of that measure with great interest, and alter an experience of 20 years they are compelled with regret and disappoint ment to declare to your honourable house that it has failed to give to the people what was intended by its framers and propounders, via , a fair and equal representation of the commons of this kingdom " That it has come to the knowledge of your petitioners, that her Majesty's government have in their contemplation a measure further to amend the representation. " That in order such amendment may avoid the defects and supply the omissions which rendered the former mea sure inadequate for the end proposed, your petitioners are firmly of opinion that a large extension of the suffrage, to include, at least, every ratepayer, is imperatively called for; that the ballot, or secret voting for members of parliament, is essential to protect the freeman in the exercise of his franchise; that the duration of parliaments should be limited is three years, in order to secure responsibility of the ellsetsd to the electors ; that the property qualification far assmbess should be discontinued as unnecessary; and that these all the electoral distriete end boundaries should be shored sad re-arranged, so that population, intelligence, sad property may be more equally represented than here tofore, " That your petitioners, frilly convinced that without some such measures es your petitioners have indicated, it will be vain to expect satisfactory results either iu the well- being or the contentment of the people, earnestly pray your honourable house to pass such a measure as will effect • settlement of this question so important to the interests of your petitioners and of the country on the principles set forth in this petition. And your petitioners will ever pray." Mr. DIFFANGER seconded the motion, which wits adopted. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the pro ceedings. MEETING IN ST. PANCRAS. Yesterday, a meeting of the inhabitants of St. Pancras, convened by the parochial authorities, took place at the Vestry Rooms, " To consider the question of parlia mentary reform about to be introduced to parliament by Lord John Resell." There was a crowded attendance. Mr. T. E. BAKER, one of the churchwarden', presided, and suggested that each speaker, except the mover and seconder of a resolution, should confine himself to • quarter of an hoar. (Hear, hear ) Mr. W. D. COOPER moved, "That the First Minister of the Crown having intimated his intention to introduce • measure of parliamentary reform during the nest session, the people should lose no time in giving effective expression to their wishes; this meeting does therefore declare that any measure which does not re-arrange the electoral dis tricts, extend the franchise at least to every occupier of a tenement, protect the voter by the ballot, shorten the dorm tion of parliaments, and abolish the property qualification required of members, will fail to satisfy the just expecte , tions of the people, will be ineffectual in preventing the ' corruption, intimidation, and oppression now prevailing at elections, and in securing the full and free representation of the people in the Commons' House of Parliameat." He observed that under the present system Marylebone, with its 10,000 101. electors, had no more influence in the house than a place like Great Marlow, which could scarcely muster 200 voters. Be ridiculed the idea of a property qualification for member', and asked it the Scotch mem bers were not as good as the English members. (Hear.) The ballot was necessary, not to protect such voters as the independent inhabitants of St. Pancras, but to protect throe who could not afford to be independent, principally in the rural districts. He was an advocate for manhood sulfrage ; but eves if the franchise went as low as St. it would give a vote to every house in that parish ; while in other and leis populous places it would largely extend the suffrage. Reform was needed, not for its own sake, but to secure good and economical government, which could not be had without it. (Cheers.) Mr. Ktseica seconded the resolution. Lord DUDLEY STUART was received with loud cheering. He said he had asked to be called on early, having to attend another meeting in the City, in support of the Freehold Land Society for the Home Counties. Ile had already attended • meeting similar to this in the parish of Marylebone. (Hear, hear.) These were questions of paramount importance, questions whether the people should have their rights or not, and take their proper place in the management of public affairs. (Cheery) It wu for the people of St. Pancras now to make their voice heard, and tell the government what were their expectations as to the government measure of reform. He wished he could be sure that the measure of the government would be • " great measure," or one likely to satisfy the people. From all he heard, it would be one of very trifling extent, and not such as to satisfy their just demands. (Hear.) To extend the franchise to M., and disfranchise a few of the smeller boroughs, without providing for the independent ex ercise of the suffrage, would never meet the wishes of the people. (Hear.) The franchise ought at least I to be extended to all householders, including lodgers. I (Cheers.) The, would be a great measure; but to make .it a ;if. franchise would be to draw an arbitrary line. Still he was not disposed to vote against any measure of reform, however small it might be ; he had never dune so, anal he never would. (Hear, hear.) Imperfect as was the Reform Bill of 1831, it had done something; it had given members to the metropolitan boroughs; it had given the people the power of demanding more of their right.; and let them use it in that view. (Hear, hear.) Of all the points referred to in the resolution, the must important was the ballot. i (Hear.) With the ballot and extended suffrage they would get on a long way towards the attainment of their rights. As to the property qualification of members, it was ! • mere farce and humbug. It was well known there were , many men in the house who did not possess 3001. a year in lend. (Hear.) No one knew this better than himself. , (Cheers and laughter.) Ile was first returned to parliameut I twenty years ego for • borough which it would go hard if it did not now go to the well—Arundel. For four years he represented the liberal elector" of that borough ; hut was then turned out by a large territorial proprietor. He was then • young man, 11111.1 hail not come to his property ; but . he went to his solicitor, said he wanted a title to land worth 3001. a year, and the sdicitor brought hint one for land somewhere or other—he had 3. •no idea where. (Cheers and laughter.) On entering the house fur the first time, having the parchments of the estate in his possession, he bad a pert et right to swear he was the owner of it ; but when asked where hie property NU situate, he was obliged to tell the clerk he did nut know. (Great laughter.) Ile had no alternative hut to take a cab, drive to Lincoln's Inn, and ask his solicitor where hie property was. Then he went and took his seat, and all was right. Such was the history of the law of the property qualification. (Cheers.) Sir B. lIALL said that from the rumours which had' reached him, he had no doubt they would here to meet again soon, to protest against an inefficient measure of reform. He had been upward. of 20 years in parliament, and had been all that times sincere and roneiatent reformer. (Cheers.) The allegation that no reform was needed was met by looking at tiny of our institutions, which all con tallier! abuse' that could not be rem ove d' without Parlia mentary reform. (Hear, bear.) He did not thiuk parlia ment so much to blame fur nut retorming itself. The con stituencies were to blame for not sending up mentlet•rs to give rap,. mien to their true wishes. The great difficulty in making any alteration in the Return) Bill arose iu senile measure from the popular cry, at the time it was passed , of " the bill, the whole bill, and nothing but the bill." Two years slur it passed, lie sought to amend the rate-paying clauses ; and it was 1:1 years before lie succeeded in getting an extension of the time for the people to pay the /atm That was almost the only amendment that had been`madu in the Itt form 11111. However the suffrage might be ex tended, it would be of nu use without the ballot. He did not believe there was more corruption in the ugri cultural districts, than amongst the millownere and other large employers in towns, who expected their workmen to vote as they wished. (Hear ' hear.) Nothing but the bal lot could remedy this state of things. (Cheers.) As le the necessity of short parliaments no doubt could he enter tained ; he should vote for it cheerfully ; and if, at the end of three years, his constitui•nte were dit.satiefied, let them return somebody else. The property qualification sm. not only absurd •it was unjust. While the young er son of a peer ne eded a 3001. a year qualification for the House of Commons, the eldest sou walked into the Mouse of Peers without soy question as to his qualification being asked. (Hear, hear.) All our institutions needed reform ; the kw courts amongst the rest. It had recently transpired in the public prints that the:Lord.Chief Baron's coachman rec. ic e d 20. on undefended actions. Ile had recently turned his attention to eceleeinstical matters ; and would under take to say the ecclesiastical courts were the mist rascally abominations that ever exist e d in any country. (Cheers) He had shown up in the Howse of Commons the ease of the highest dignitary of the church nominating a relative to a sinecure office of 8,0004 a year. It was replied that the office was not a sinecure ; but on inquiry lie found that the only duty the young gentleman performed was to walk into the office four times a year, and take a cheque for his salary. (Cheers.) But he knew a case in the diocese of Chester, where a child of five years, the sort of a bishop, had been appointed to the registrarship of the diocesan court, with a salary of 4,000 f. a year, which he received all through a long life. (" Hear, hear," and " Shame.") These were instances of the need of reform. As to small boroughs, they were a pest to the community. (Hear, hear.) Ile hail the misfortune to sit on the St. Albans committee, rind ht de clared it was almost as bad as an ecclesiastical court. Mr. MOtiltE, of Kentieh-town, moved an amendment, declaring that nothing short of universal seffrage, vote by ballot, annual parliaments, abolition of the property genii cation, classification of electoral districts, and payment of members, would secure the just rights of the people. The CHAIRMAN put the amendment, but not more than twenty hands were raised in Its favour, out of a meet irg of near a thousand persons. The original resolution was then put and carried amidst great cheering. Mr. BIIETTINGHAM moved—" That the cordial union and energetic action of all reformers are now imperatively requisite That the prineipks advocated by the National Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association inerkt the support of the great body of the people of this kingdoin ; and this meeting, consisting of reformers of every shade, pledge themselves to sustain the well directed i duets of that association." Amidst the cry now raised for national de fences, he was convinced the best national defence would be a just representation of the people in the House of Commons. Mr. l'a.stier, one of the churchwardens, seconded the resolution, which was unanimously adopted. Mr. MANNINO, a member of the council of the Na tional Reform Association, moved the adoption of a petition to the Rouse of Commons, setting forth the anomalies and injustices of the present representetson, and of the ti-cal system of the country, and praying for the adoption of the measures named in the first resolution. The petition was adopted; and it was resolved that it should be forwarded to the borough numbers for presenta tion. The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the pa rochial authorities, and to the chairman. EXTRAORDINARY ACCIDENT AT THE ROYAL ARSENAL, WOOLWICH. Yesterday an accident occurred at the Royal Arsenal, which might have been attended with awful con sequences. It is invariably the case on the receipt of new guns from contractors to test them by an extra charge of powder, varying according to the size of the gun and de scription of ordnance. In compliance with this regulutins, • detachment of gunners of the Royal Artillery attended at the proof butt, in the Itoysl Arsenal, and under the usual superintendence loaded tout% pounder guns, lying on the ground at a short distance from the butt, with a charge of 211 lbs. of powder to each, and, after the wadding, added a Sfilsounder solid shot to each. The tune selected for proving guns is always at 12 noon precisely, when the whole of the workmen is the ar senal have lett their work to proceed to their dimmers. Yhe process of testing the guns is very carefully conducted, port fires calculated to burn four or five minutes being supported by clay over the vent of each gun, and the whole ignited by one roan, who has ample time to retire three or four hundred yards before the firing takes place. On the ar rangements being made for firing with the lour 16- pounders, one of the guns, whose port fire hail communi • cated to the charge before the others, burst in the act of firing, and one of the pieces struck one of the other guns and turned it right round the muzzle being then instead of nearly due east towards the 'rotund, due west in the direction of the town of Woolwich, and in an instant after wards the 56-pounder shot was fired, proceeding at a tre mendous velocity given by the great charge of powder over the houses in the line of High-straet, and only at a very little elevation above, starting and causing the horses re turning from their work at the dockyard to rear and refuse to proceed, and astonishing the numerous workmen going home to dinner with its whizzing sound. The shut passed on a little to the south of the tall chimney at the saw-mills, and struck the chimney of the residence of Mr. Macdonald, master attendant at Wool wich dockyard, and a few yards further knoelted down the back drawing-room chimney of Mr. Morgan, the store receiver's residence, at the same time knocking down a large portion of the parapet of the building, scatter ing the bricks in all directions, and, ultimately, fell on the roof of a detached part of the house where the shot was found. Had the shot gone ten yards further, and the dis tance where it fell from the place where it was fired is fully a mile and a half, it would have fallen on ti dense growl of dockyard workmen at that moment leaving the yard for dinner. Mr. Budd, one of the inspectors of the dock yard police, had • narrow escape from being in jured by one of the pieces of scattered bricks, as it entered the open door of a greenhouse he has on the top of his house, and broke off • piece of a shelf by the great force with which it struck ; Mr. Budd had not left the slut the distance of a foot when the brick entered. The scattered bricks ascended and broke nume rous chimney pots on the tops of the adjoining houses, and Several windows in the lower parts of the dwellings, and the inside of Mr. Morgan's residence was covered with soot and pounded bricks which came down the chimney. The spot was visited by hundreds during the afternoon all congratu lating each other that no personal injury has been sustained by the accident. HOME COUNTIES AND METROPOLITAN FREEHOLD LAND Socterv.--sLeat evening a public meeting was held at the London Coffee house, Ludgate-hill, for the purpose of explaining the objects and principles of this society. Lord Dudley Stuart, M.P. ' presided ; and in opening the business of the evening, stated he had &Irises felt a deep interest in freehold land societies, as he considered that they were calculated to elevate and ennoble the character of the working classes, and he thought that great honour was due to Mr. James Taylor, of Birmingham, for having founded sneh institutions. He should much like to see the freehold land movement so widely extended as to produce a political change in those counties where there had been none but tory representatives, and where he hoped so in to tied pod, sterling, hottest liberals returned. qtr. Nicholay proposed a resolution to the effect that freehold land societies based on sound principles were well calculated to promote the eleva tion and improvement of the industrial classes. Mr. Nicho lay observed that these societies had been very successful so far as they had gone, and those who had purchased land under their auspices had found tho investment desirable in the extreme. Ile had received a letter from an influential person in America, stating that the freehold land move ment was regarded in that country as one of the most im portant agitations which had ever taken place in 'England, and he (Mr. N ieholay) thought this a very favourable omen. Dr. Challis seconded the resolution,which was supported by a working man, named Hopkins, who created much amuse ment by the honest, straightforward manner in which he upheld institutions whose object was to keep men out of the public-house, and to induce them to cultivate habits of sobriety and prudence. The motion was carried unani mously, and was followed by a resolution to the effect that the principles and objects of the present society were cape tehiaelrelyfocritelecunltitittleirdl t t o o o p e rozo p t po e n th o e f e tt nd an s t v w e e r re al anilkit,:eeLhini:e'eubill:"Uvsinnuesserluof'tet t he reso lution, u ldr a ' t *r : . awrh'viloci'tehttio'safu:litinhMganritsß‘et:go car ried, Elt TO WILLIAM LOCKHART, ESQ., M.P.—On Friday afternoon, Mr. Lockhart, M.P. for the county of Lanark, was entertained at dinner in the Clydesdale Hotel, Lanark, by the gentlemen of the Upper Ward, as an expres- Dion of the value which they attached to his services as re presentative of the county. The party, which numbered upwards of 120 gentlemen, many of them of With standing in the county, embraced all shades of opinion, it being un derstood that the demonstration was entirely irrespective of politics. Hope Vere, Esq., of Blackwood endemism Hall, discharged the duties of chairman.--VortA BriliA Daily Mail. f_ ' ' t:XV2II . p n. . . .., '. % ad %II tiai ti