The Express. — London, England, 1852-03-24 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORI)S.—TvzsDAT, Nivicu 23. The LOUD CMANCELLON, took his seat at b o'clock. LAW OF WILLS. The LORD CHANCELLOR—My lords, I rise to move the second reading of a hill for the amendment of the law with respect to wills. When I iatrodaced this bill the ether night, I stated to your lordships the difficulties which it wet intended to guard against. My lords, the proposition is to amend the present law by providing that where the name of the testator is found after the will, so as to give, by its place and situation, a sanction to the will itself—so as to show that it was intended to sanction the will by the signs tare after the will, that shall be held to be valid. I believe there will be &general concurrence in this measure, and I believe that nothing can be more desirable, as people die daily, end as men must have male their wills, and as a great majority of wills would be held to be valid bat for the old rule of law ; and, indeed, I know that many of you, lordships, in consequence of what you have heard, have done exactly what I have done myself, namely, I have looked at my own will to see whether it was executed so as to carry my own int, ntions into edict, having a very great doubt in my mind whether the appearance of the thing epos paper might not invalidate it, tar 1 might hare put my name a little lower than the rule of law required. And I think, my lords, that it is or the utmost importance that a maws will should be con sidered valid and sacred where the mere form only is in question, and the substance is not in question. Therefore I propose, with your lordship.' permission, to carry the bill through all its stages now, so that your lordships may be enabled to pass the measure before Laster, and send it down to the other house immediately. My lords, there are other points which I have endeavoured to cope with, and which may be open to noire observation, and which may draw trim some or my noble and learned friends objections to its pawing without more mature consideration; and, my hole, is that .liould be so, I can only say that I should at once feel my-elf bound to withdraw thaw clauses, because I mean to put forward nothing that in my opinion shall en danger this measure, which is one which I think so exceed jiggly important. My lords, the two clause, to which I nice will. I think, remedy a very great abuse. The act of parliament of her present M.ijesty, as I hare told your 4enl require. a will to be segued at the foot or end thereof, in the presence of two witnesses. That, my lords, I have disposed of. It then goes on to require that the sig nature of the testator shall be made or acknowledged in the pees. nee of the witnesses. Now, my lords, this difficulty has amen upon that—it was not required by the Statute of Frauds but this difficulty has now arises. Your lordship. will bear its mind that what the act moires is, that the signature of the testator shall be made or acknowledged in the presence of the witnesses. Now, my lords, it often happens that when a 11.11111 has made his will and called in the viitu.ses to atb .t his will, he is anxious that they should not see any part of the provisions of that will ; suppote. ter esampk, that it is written on a sheet of letter paper—you have at before you, end two servants, perhaps, come into the room to witness the will, and the testator de ans. that they should not read any portion of the will by glancing over that part which is above the signature. and that has induced a man frequently to fold down the will to as to aide from the witnesses the portion above the signa ture, and in doing so they have folded down the signature itself. And, my lords, it has been held that as the statute requires that the' signature, net the will, should be made and acknowledged in the pretence of the witnesses, that unless they have seen the signature the will is void. Now, my lord., that was never the intention, and with your lordships pi mission I propose to amend that state of the law in this manner, by enacting that if the signature of the testator be is it. proper place, and it is not proved to have been placed then• after the witnesses. affixed the it signatures, and if the testator at the time acknowledged the instru ment to be his will, that that shall be sufficient. Now, nay lords. I entertained a hope—which hope I have rather soandon:il within the last quarter of an hour, but I had hoped that this proposition was free from übjection, and would meet with none from any of my noble and learned friends, because, if a testator acknowledges an instrument tai the hi. will, and if the will come to be eta named, and the name of the testator is found to be to its proper place at the end of the will, where is the danger ? What is it, my lords, that you have to guard against? There is the signature—this testator has signed it, and properly speaking it is not his will unless he has signed it. If, there fore be did that which was requisite at the end of it, which is necessary to give a &Mud operation to it, I ask your lord ships whether it is reasonable to allow men's wills to be set aside upon a distinction of that sort. I should promise your lordships that if any obstacle be ep posed by any of my noble and le rued friend. to this prosi. Mon being tarried now—a provision which I should think it not proper to attempt to form upon your lordships—if any of my learned friend. should have any objections to offer, I shall think it highly improper to attempt to ask your lord ships to pa...this provision without full consideration being given to it: and therefore I shall withdraw it, so as not to endangt r the ultimate success of the whole measure. though undoubtedly I shall introduce it for further and more mature consideration upon another occasion. My lords, there is another improve ment. if your lordships should think proper to concur in it, that I propose to introduce. The s: atute requires that the witnesses should sign in the presence of the testator ; and, my lords, it has very often happened that when a man is making hi. will in extreasis—when he is lying in bed, and is int Tattle of being moved, but still in a state of perfect eapacay of mind—it has frequently happened that witness,, who have come round the bedside, and witnessed the exe cution of the will, and seen it signed by the testator, all due solemnities being observed, in order not to disturb him have retired to the adjoining room, and there attested the will ; and then the question has arisen—is that, or is it not, a compliance with the statute, which requires that a will shall he eioned by the wi senses in the presence of the tes t due ? Now, my lord., in order to meet the difficulties of the caws—wait a natural desire to give cfrec: to men's wills .where there is nu fraud, and where the statute has been substantially complied with, the courts hare made this dis- Section, that if the witnesses sign in such a position in an 'adjoining room, that they are within the line of light, so that the testator, if he liked, might see them (althoug h f no body pretends that he did see them) the will is but if they happen to retire ligh t, the table, for example, being out of view, and they all sign the will, then the will is quid. Now, my lords, what has been the consequence ? Why, my lords, this—that juries have not been 100 id who would, though upon their oaths, find a will to signed to be void. They would not find a will tone void, though it was clear that the testator was not in'a position in ',which he could have seen the witnesses sign. And, my lords, we have hail several instances of this sort. I have no doubt some of my noble and learned friends will think that I have not provided in the meet !satisfactory manner for the solu tion of this question ; but what I propose to provide for is this, that where witnesses, without fraud, and as part of the same transaction, without quitting the house or place where the will is signed. do sign a will after seeing the testator sign it, all due solemnities being observed, that shall be held to be a valid will. As lam addressing your lordships upon the subject, and speaking of future measures, I would draw your lordships' attention to a measure as to wills, which may require the attention of this sad the ether house of parliament. The statute of the first of Queen Victoria for the first time imposed the same solemnities upon the disposition of personal estate as in the time of Charles 11. (with variations), were int uited upon the disposition of real estate, and it wets said, how very aboard is it that you cannot dispose of half an acre of land without three witnesses, and yet you may dispose of 100,0001. of personal estate which is even fluctuating without may witnesses at all. Yet, people do not desire every day to alter their testa mentary dispositions ; but they make variations in the dis petition of their personal estate by codicil or by legacy to be payable out of their personal estate, however large it may be ; but now no max eau make the slightest alteration in his will—he cannot give lA, nor alter a certain legacy, without calling is& tyre witnesses. It was said of a great man, that the faults which we denounced in hiss died with him; but I might ~J with greater truth, that owing to the difficulties which the law throws around them, many codicil. die even in thinking. These are points, however., which we must consider hereafter. The noble and turned lord then concluded by moving the tumid reading of the bill. Lard BROUGHAM agreed with hia noble and I^arned friend that, at all “rrits, the drat patinae of the bill should he pelmet With reference to the preernt state of the law, ma, test must be takes. It had lees decided, that if the witar•se wore is a petition to be Ma by the Welker, that wee waikeeset ; sad ft we alleek M No hew the kw ask be otherwise eseetweed. 11te roctikeled diet e geodes ones epee the Mkt of Rwshargh's will, se to whe the witnesses signed es a particular table is the edikili _reek, where they would be sees by the tanker, se Work* wee detid,d by a mutt of law. He did ant ohket to mks the whole bill • wend reading ; but if there were disable aa the mend and third Causes, it would be well to withdraw them fee the prrernt. Lewd CRANWORTH did not object to the tint clatter; he theinght the other clauses required further conei• ileentine. — The ierl et ELLENBOR01:011 thought that all the eibeesitsey provision* having reference to wllls should be annhadied in ewe art of rarharnent. The bill was thee read • second time. • THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. Lord 11LAU MONT then caned the attention of the house io the $ of affairs in the Aker Plate, and having given a AMA id the kletory of the pubilics watered by that flyer, bee orWs dawn to the resist expulsion of noose, weesied te ash several %modem enameled with the wade e I ISlninise et thesevembles. the salstasse of w hash me whe oini tr o =lallea r hed bees mewed with the A hi that tar esmseskaiseme strZselellithed dew ine waters of the Passaa, the 1.2=, sal * a g e = as well as to secure the inde a tion, including Bolt . Oriental The noble lard wfdheg M the geinement to lose no tine is estates Into estahliehisi a free navigation aim. the the pat by the s Platt Parelki l lind Peeeensy rivers. Ind NAL 1618110111i= that it was sot is lits M power answer all ale lord at =tbut se ism as hail Ism' et the earthiest et te put hleuelt We onminsiendine wide the meat of the Trench r.g.Wey der Ito wise dw.ew seek negotiations with the slake ellq IM //Me Plate es would contribute to the pease of Woe Milne sad the searwreial interevta of both modems. The wormiest were sot so blind to the interests of this coastry as not to see the vast importance of the changes whit* hod just taken place, and the tramethate nett .117 for taking 'mei., measures to re cur, for the cummr,re of this country the udvantages width sight he reaped from them. Ile could nut detail the nego tiations or explain the plan of the govcrument bat he es eared the noble lord that ch. opportunity which sew cared was fully appreciated, and that advantage weld be token of it. The Earl of ABERDEEN eapeamed his tati.edee et what had fallen from Lord Melinalraq. The deuce of the Oriental Republic, ctiddiAtau the soh of our interference in the River Plato, was now pliabed. Having had some eaperiesere ie Clam he was anxious to testify that malting could the good faith with which Frans.", both as a a a republic, had acted towards us ia the drain of ti e ier Plate, and be was therefore glad to hear that the soak lord had put himself into communication with the govern. ment of that cuuutry with regard to recent occurrences at Buenos Ayres. After sumo further discussion, in the teem of which Lord NI tLYEant'illi promised to furnish Lord B6AVIIUNT with a copy of the last despatch received by the govern ment relating to the expulsion of Roses, the matter dropped and. •••••1 Their lor , .ships ad journed at twenty-five minutes to 7. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAY, MARCH 23. The SPEAKEIt took the choir at the usual hour. NEW MEMBER. ViSetnint GALWAY took the oaths asul his seat on his re election for East Raeford. PRIVATE BUSINESS. Dills read a second tine and referred to select roar Asthall and Readied Road bill; Idle Drainage Bill; Metropoli. Water Supply. Dill. SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE MINING DISTRICT WATER COMPANY BILL. On the maim hems/Hag Oh ha a meeemb Mae, Mr. LEST rose to oppose the l while be mid would do a great injury to the town be vispessatd, vis., Kidder minster, by cutting off the supply . a ekes vase which it now possessed, by means of the ewer Seeds.', MEd which was neces.ory for the carrying on of the acs seg tore. on which Kidderminster mainly depeedia. He moved, as an amendment, that the bill be read a snood time that day sis months. Mr. TIIORICELY had heard uo sufficient reason to jus tify the house in refusing to read the bill a second time, the object of which was to afford a supply of purr water to 14 townships, containing a population of about 100,000 PO*. After a brief discussion, The house divided— For the secosd teadiag Against it The Intl w- . _ was coaseptinslT krt. PLBLIC Busman. PETITIONS PHESENTE MAI'VOOTII GRANT.—Aptiost the continuance of, by Lord C. MANNERS, from Tariou• places in Leicestershire ; Mr. T. WEYNCOURT, from South Lincolnshire; Mr. COWAN. from Montrose, Argyle, and other places; Mr. MUNDT, from Derbyshire. Cut BCH Itsros.—Against, by Mr. J. ELLIS, from Lei cester. CLOY TO lIRTIIIIIIINTATION tx PARtJAIIENT.—By Mr. HEYWOOD, from 2,7110 of the inhabitants of Horsley, in Lancashire, in favour of the enfranchisement of Hensley. Taira ON KNowtatior.—By Mr. P. HOWARD from Carlisle; Mr. COBDEN, from the working men of Leeds, and other places, for the repeal of the taxes on knowledge. FaciracrioN.—By Dlr. J. B. SMITH, from Dunfermline, against the miaaposition of anT duty on corn. PATINT Laws.—By Mr. EDWARDS, from Halifax, l for an alteration of the patent laws. °CLAN PINNY PINITADE.—By Mr. WALTER, from Nottingham; Capt. WYNN, from Montgomeryshire, in favour of this project. MALT TAI.—By Mr. BANKES, from three parishes in Sutfulk ; Mr. CAYLEY, from twelve parishes in Su/Folk, for the repeal of this TIT. CLERGY Rratitrits, CANADA —H Mr. GLADSTONE, = diocese of to notice from the bishop, clergy, and laity of the of Toronto in conference assembled; the bishop, clergy, and congregations of the diocese of Montreal ; the same from the diocese of Quebec; the bishop, clergy, and lay delegates of the diocese of Quebec; the bishops of Quebec, Toronto, and Montreal ; and the clergy and laity of the church of England in Canada, against altering the Clergy Reserves Act of IMO. Posy Ilona' AND CARDIAON DrTT.—By Mr. WIL COX, from Salisbury; Mr. COCKS, from Reigate; Col FREESTUN, from 'Weymouth, for repeal of. S.sto or Barn Bat..—By Mr. FOSTER., from places in the metropolis, against. ECCLK.IAbTICAL TITLIN 1311 A.—By Mr. SL7LLIVAN, from the parishes of Kilmanagh, Kaiaks, and Ballylallan, county Kilkenny, for repeal. f MILITIA.—By Mr. D'EYNCOURT, from Lambeth, against calling out the militia. NOTICE OF MOTION. Tn:trs ox KNowLanot.—Mr. GIBSON postponed his 'notion on this subject till Tuesday, the 6th of April. MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS. _ _ _ Mr. Secretary Wietrota, having been questioned by Mr. Reynolds, stated that government did not propose to introduce in the present session a measure to settle the vexed question of ministers' money in 'attend, but that a bill fur that purpose would be brought forward by them in the nest session; and. in reply to Mr. Fox Mettle, he pro mised his best consideration to the subject of the annuity I tax in Scotland, with a view. if possible, to provide a re• medy. The PREAIDIENT of the BOARD of CONTROL, in answer to Mr. Antes, intimated that on Mon day next, should the discussion on the Militia Bill be over in time, he would bring forward his motion for a com mittee on the subject of the East India Company's Charter, when he would explain the views of the the government on the subject. Mr. Secretary WAteotz, in answer to Sir B. Ilan, stated that the government proposed to introduce • bill to continue the Sewers Commission, but no measure was at present contemplated to amend the Metropolitan Buildings Act. In answer to questions from other mem• ben, Mr. STAFFORD announced that it was the intention of the government to send out another expedition in search of Sir John Franklin ; and Sir J. PARINOTON stated that, in consequence of the premium of official business, he was unable to proceed with his bill in reference to juuenile of fenders. _ . hoe duty wenkt not image the notion of the government: The bead eilhe gemembent bed eseently seseleed a memo• nikai alai whisk wee by mese OM* amilleents of his ban. Owl. thlli b =ls word ne frar • Or r wall as ell OW clams, of r e l!, Ma. Mad 'NW be Mare t rrtlt the the nembla Sad that mile tilting eir eitmetrflus he won rat pewit for • mine Minim rawer. (Helle.) • ' Me. HUME said that although this gram had been brought forward as an agricultural one, he regarded it as one affecting the working climes generally. (Hear, hear.) He thought that they were wrong In not giving the working man • cheap beverage as well as a cheep loaf. Beer was drunk to a great extent by the clangs In Belgium and Bohemia, and it poorer cause drunkenness. He wanted to give it to the working dames here also, not to produce drunkenness. but to prevent drunkenness. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.) No tax in his opinion pressed so injuriously on the working man, econousisslly, socially, and physically, as the tax on malt. (Hear, hear.) Ile hoped boa. gentlemen opposite would prove their sincerity when they made motions of this kind, by pressing them forward when they had a prospect of success. (Hear, hear.) His was anxious to get rid of the inconvenience of the excise, and to give the poor man, who had now nothing but water, a plain, simple, and whole- some beverage. (Hear, hear.) Me wished to mention, also, that it appeared from a return which he moved for, that the importation of foreign hope had declined last year. Mr. H. DRUMMOND asked if it was fair in hon. gen tlemen who voted against the repeal of the malt tax, to agree with hon. gentlemen opposite now ? Mr. lIUME said he voted for the repeal of the malt tax. (Hear. hear.) Mr. DRUMMOND granted the " splendid exception ;" but Sir J. Grahans.—(Cries of " Order," and " The right hoe. member for Ripon.") He was speaking of historical (sets. (Laughter.) He was speaking of Sir J. Graham, who, before the corn laws were repealed, said, who can doubt that when the corn laws are repealed the malt tax must speedily follow. (Hear, bear.) Yet when the ques tion of the malt tax was brought forward, they could never get Sir J. Graham's vote for its repeal. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member fur Manchester also said that the repeal of the malt lax must follow the repeal of the corn laws; but the hon. gentleman invariably voted against them. (Hear, hear.) The fact was these gentlemen had but one idea in their heads, and they had not room for another. (Laugh ter.) Everything with them revolved itself Into a bread tax. It was, " Fee, to, fur I end the smell of a bread tax." (Laughter.) Why, they knew perfectly well that there was not the slightest intention of recurring to a bread tax. (Laughter and ironical cheering.) They knew well enough that it was all • mere sham got up for the oc casion. (Rene wed laughter and cheering.) He would not dwell any longer on this matter. He would merely allude to • strange chronological fact in connexion with the pre sent subject. He was not • person to say that because • thing was poet hoe it must bepropter hoe, but it was curious that as the increase in the consumption of bitter beer went on, the increase in the sale of gentian went on augmenting also. (Laughter.) Mr. COBDEN said that ho was one of those free-tnele members to wham the boa. member for Surrey had alluded, but beveled bet pete with the ken. gentleman opposite, and would vete rill him main that night if he premed his modes to a &Me& (Rear, hear.) He did not eon eider the hop err most obnoxious on account of the burden it barna e the consumers of beer. But he thought that the pressare of the hop duty fell more severely on the mime than other hieds of taxes. (Hear, hear.) Indeed the bop duty was exceptional in that re spect. (Hear, beer.) The tax was so irregular in its amount that the miltivator could not calculate the amount he might have to pay. (Hear, hear.) Theamount of duty was therefore • subject of cons tant gambling, sod was like another Tattereall's in the country. (Hear, hear.) It was precarious in amount, and exceedingly oppressive on the producer. But besides this, the tax bore moat unequally on the produeer.A person growing hops in Kent sol d them for double the pries at which the bur: grower sold them, but the letter paid the same amount of duty. (Hear, hear.) He paid the same ad valorem duty that the Kent grower paid. His bon. Mend therefore (Mr. Hodges) who repre sented the Kent growers did not want a repeal of the whole duty but only of that part of it which was known as the war duty. (Hear, hear.) This would leave the duty as much a prohibitory duty in favour of his constituents as he could well obtain. (Hear, hear.) This tax was therefore • most oppressive tax on the farmers who grew hops on the heavy soil of Busse:, and it appeared to him that both on the ground of justice and of fiscal expediency it ought to be abolished. (Hear, bar) If the tax were rep eal ed, it would obviate tho necessity of the hop growers coming to the Chancellor of the k:xchequer in forted pouperie, as they frequently did, to ask for a remission of a part or of the whole of the duty. (Hear, hear.) Nothing could more clearly show the oppressiveness and obnoxious character of the tax then the fact that the duty varied from 120,0001. to 400,0001. • year. Yet this was not an amount which threw any serious obstacle in the way of its repeal. He could not agree with the hon. member for Surrey (Mr. Drummond) that this tax and the malt tax were of the same nature, bruise if the malt tax were repealed it would be necessary to find • substitute for it, and he defied any man to find • new tax as • surtitute for the malt tax which would be accepted by the country. (Hear, hear.) The feeling in favour of the repeal of this tax was not near so strong as it was some years ago. (Hear, hear.) There was • large party in this country who were oposed to the use of fee mented liquors. (" Hear, hear , " and " Oh, oh.") There was a large amount of public opinion in favour of that view, and it included the best portion of the working classes in this country. (Hear, hear.) They might be right, or they might be wrong, as to the view they took of the effect of fermented liquors • but this he knew, that any gentleman who represented! a WIN constituency in that house might vote against the repeal of the malt tax without giving that offence to his constituents which he would have given's years ago by taking such a course. (Hear, bear.) Ile remembered some 20 yeses ago, when the repeal of the malt tax wait the most popular try in Manchester. (Hear, hear.) But now he was sure his hon. friends the members for Manchester might vote lagainst its repeal without incurring much danger of losing their seats on that account. (Hear, hear.) But if the hon. member for durrey and his friends in that house had, as he said, no idea of putting on • corn law, then there was no other way of getting rid are malt tax, except by • reduction of expenditure. (Hoar, hear.) If they would only join him in effecting that reduction of expenditure, they would find but little resistance to the abolition of the tax. (Hear, bear.) But what was the course pursued by the hon. gentlemen and his friends, the " late " protec tionists ? (Laughter.) Did not the right hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer make it a boast a few nights ago, that when he (Mr. Cobden) brought forward a motion in favour of a large reduction of taxation—not a sudden reduction, but • gradual return to the ex penditure of 15 3 6 —(hear, hear)—the government were enabled to, by the aid of his party, defeat that motion ? (Hear, hear.) And now the hon. member for Surrey charged them with being the cause of the malt tax not being repealed. (Loud cheers.) The boa. gentleman opposite ((Mr. Frewen) took a courageous part last session. Mr. Cobra having taunted Mr. Frewen with having con sented, as pert of a deputation to the Chancellor of the Ex chequer is the previous day, net to enthereass the govern ment by premig his maim, reminded him diet if he really wished to bane& the hip gneweis et Swum be would press the government meet wire they IMO l• •MB alt and would tehe a eels etas beam when the s tural members, Wog last abets IM mete Ilmiremetitnista, would bo afraid to oppose Wm. Mr. FREWEN denied having Ihm_i!4 part of the depu tation alluded to; but, Ihily mime with the answer of the Chancellor of the E , Orr • fir Verdi from Mr. Fatale and Mr. Bass, kb antics. FOREIGN REFUGEES. Mr. M. MILNES rose to move for copies of the germ spondees, which had taken place between her Malady% p ',Tamest mad fo rgs states respecting the promo tion athrdlei to ye ass. He had already mood for the pedisctims ed poen oa this wildest, whisk Mt bona lad the table elf the bole. sod the moth millifin wee he a ematimumlios et these PirieL libla bed boa press Owl, essoluded with the imp= Berl Granville ea the subject to whirl his men ohne& and the ellolllllllientillas in plt heetpa The Wesleaseeleed stated tha y t e Prime at Sad Me a... 1 the resepthe et that dispaidi, sum set le give ma lomomikte reply. But a siert dm after that Mar of the Best at Wedmore laud was revived, it wee slated is the pales pow that a despatch had bon sent by Primes Bshwessialmop, the Austelea admieter, to the larelimidleo r i g cone That reply had beam seesiod darkig the et the Tersipm-elles, by loul Ovandle. Be thought It wee very howterleat that the Awe& should be bid is the table; he the toe et it, se gathered has the oaths per, was of a very pesallir tad pobotel gene ter. It was mho desirable, for the oho of the 16111111101111 et the late government, that the bow chili be Menet whether - Lord Oranville answered that dsymbh, imilrestly se explicitly, or whether it revitalised lbw dwpressat emit tot M answer. Bees after the scosemisa Was rommosat to olio, be asked the right Ws. pre. ens the Cbaseellor of the Inthouse whether he wadi have say objection to lay these ppm w the table, Nth be mew- I stood from him that haws twwWiag to do se, the being that the seersopondasse was met esseplets. The ht has. peolethea mot permit hie to my that such a tamely mud that it was aid ouvralont to the more ; for • dupla of thh triad nick be withheld from Mae to thus km • hog acid at the grand that thine would pod* he fresh despatches sad anewert i awl that without them the papas would be incomplete. ne isfennation which he now sought wee confined to the despatch of the Austrian government in answer to that of Lord Granville, and to any answer which might have been given by the late govern ment. If, however, any correspondence had taken place since the present government came into power, he should feel grateful for the addition. He could assure the right hon. gentleman that in moving for these papers he had no desire to embarrass the government, feeling most deeply that questions of foreign policy were not questions on which any party different:ea could be allowed to prevail over considerations of public interest. (Hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said his hon. friend the member for Pontefract was one of that school who believed that the CW/0000 of diplomacy was mys tery. He thought it quite impossible that when diplomatic intercourse was in question a minister could give a straight forward answer. His hon. friend wished to bring a subject of great interest under the consideration of the house, end before he made hie motion be wished to be put in paase.ion of certain despatches which the guetroment of this coentry had received. Ilia hon. friend inquired of hlm the other day whether he would ley on the table 110010 further corre spondence connected with the subject of foreign refugees la THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 24, 1852. %Mt eintatly. He then told his hon. friend that Mit wwieependemes was not complete, but that when it wes be wield lay it ea the table , He bad now to tell his boa. friend that not only was the corresponding* complete, but partly printed; and whim It was spade cons. Oct', &she bred it would be In • day or two, it would be laid on the table. He could not suppose that his hose. friend meant to press his motion to a division, psrtieularly after the statement that the correspondence would shortly be produced. Mr. M. MILNES said that, far from accusing the right hon. gentleman of acting mysteriously on this subject, he could only wish that on every subject which came before the house, his answers were equally explicit. Lord J. RUSSELL hoped that after the statement which had been made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the motion would be withdraws. The motion .es then wlthdnwn. ' EGYPT AND THE PORTE. Mr. ANDERSON moved en address for ;opies of all cor respondence between her Majesty's government, her Ma jesty's ambassador at Constantinople, and her Majesty's agent and consul-general in Egypt, since the Ist day of Janntuy 1850, relating to the attempted interference of the Sublime Porte is the internal administration of Egypt, by proposing to deprive the Pacha of the power to indict ceps tal punishment on capitally convicted criminals, to con struct railways for the internal improvement of, and facility of transit through, that country, and otherwise ; and of all representations made by British subjects in reference thereto. The hon. member (who spoke in a low tone, and was very imperfectly heard) said he felt that the questions now pending between the Ottoman Porte and the l'acha of Egypt were questions in which this country had a deep in terest ; and in illustration of the nature of that interest he might refer to the raying of the celebrated Paths, Mehemet Alt—that Egypt had become the bridge between Europe and Asia. Let honourable members consider the im portance of the traffic over that bridge, and how great would be the disappointment of British me rchants, and of the British people if it had again to be conveyed round by the Cape of Good Hope. If something were not done, however, it was to be feared that it would either be stopped altogether or ma terially impeded. Now what was the real origin of the pretensions put forward by the l'orte ? The present l'acha of Egypt, when he succeeded to the government of the country, became a reformer. He found many abuses which had existed undisturbed under former administra tions. He found in the country a number of manufactur ing establishments which he wisely conaidered to be of no use in Egypt, the proper manufacture of which was corn ; and when those manufactories were broken up, • number of employis were necessarily dismissed, including some Frenchmen, who had been powerful men under his grandfather's government. (Hear, hear.) The parties thus dismissed flocked in • discontented frame of mind to Constantinople, and there originated • conspiracy against the Paths, the object of which was to deprive him of the government of Egypt. Ile had seen the handwriting of the chief conspirator, and it clearly appeared that what was aimed at by him was the dismissal of the present Pacha and the reduction of Egypt to the condition of an ordinary Turkish pashalic. It wee for this country to eon. eider what was likely to be the result of such a state of things. Among the pretensions of the Porte was one which struck at the very root of all authority in Egypt. It went to deprive the Pacha of the power of indicting capital ishment, • power without which it would be impossible to maintain due subordination or to rule the country advan tageously. Industrious efforts, also, were being made to sow dissensions between different members of the Pacha's family, and as many of them were in possession of large tracts of land, the effect might be to produce a civil war. A large number of emissaries bad actually been sent to Egypt to persuade his subjects that he bed no authority. Now, it was asked why Egypt could not be governed as well through the Porte, residing in Constantinople, as through • pacha in Egypt. His first answer was, that our national honour was pledged to the maintenance of the I'acha of Egypt; and to this he would add, that his claim to our support was strengthened by the fact, that during the last twelve months British property of the value of three millions sterling had through his territory in safety without a single sol dier guard it. (Hear.) This was a great contrast to the state of things in Turkey. He had that day received the fol lowing letter from Constantinople "The weak administration of the Turkish government, as to affording protection to life or property, is made manifest by facts out of number. Even in this capital we are scarcely more secure from mur der and theft than persons residing in the provinces, the only . difference being that here the acts are perpetrated during the night, and by gangs of organised thieves, whereas those in the country take place during the day, and in sight and call of the houses of the victims, d and fre ' jute Smyrna asps ywith t i w n o gunshot of u m d e n uot w l h on o g ar is l ue ea u lle f a guartlsparticu larly glaring description—via. 1. That of the Dutch consul, who was taken out of his own vineyard at 3, p.m., and within all of his house, and kept by the banditti who in fest the neighbourhood of that city until his friends ran somed him for a sum equal to about 5001.; and that of Mr. Be Youngh, the Danish consul-general, who was actually taken from his house in the centre of a village of upwards of 500 houses, having a an-called military force of upwards of 200 strong quartered in it. The payment of a sort of black mail by the Smyrna merchants to these robbers for permission to get the fruit and other produce brought there for shipment exempted from plunder is well known." When such was the contrast of Turkey to Egypt, this country could scarcely desire a transference of the govern. ment of Egypt to the Sultan. It wee felt by many persons that there had been some insubordination on the part of our diplomatists, and that our ambassador at Constantinople had not fully carried out the wishes of the Foreign-office. On this subject he had some pe rsonal knowledge. He had had several communications with the niche of Egypt, and be knew that the l'acha felt very strongly the manner in which he had been treated by the government of this coun try. The l'acha felt, perhaps, that had he sought an alli anoe with France he would have been in a much better position; and ho (Mr. Anderson) coasidered it not impro bable that instead of our having a French expedition on the coast of Kent, Sussex, or Hampshire, there would be one sent to the shores of the Mediterranean and the banks of the Nile. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the bon. gentleman's question involved one of the moot impor tant and delicate questions of modern politics, namely, the relations between Turkey and Eg t pt. (Hear, hear.) When the honourable gentleman said that the claims in dispute between Turkey and Egypt had their foun dation solely in a conspiracy of discarded workmen, he could easily understand from what source the honourable gentleman obtained his information. These claims were founded on existing treaties, and their settlement was founded on the interpretation of treaties, on the laws of the country, and on traditionary interests of the utmost import ance. (Hear, hear.) It was quite impossible fur the go vernment to accede to the motion ; to de so would be to bring before the house a variety of information in reference ,to negotiations which were stil l pending. The whole ques tion was at that moment sub jounce the attention of the government was of course directed to the settlement of the mutual relations between Turkey and Egypt, and, with a due consideration of the great importance to the interests of this country, and generally to the interests of the world, of the settlementiof those relations being made on a proper and legitimate basis, he felt it his duty to oppose the mo tion. This he did on the simple and intelligible ground that the transactions referred to by the hon. gentleman were at that moment in an imperfect state, being the subject of negotiation at Constantinople, and that effects most inju rious to the public service would arise from the production of the papers. Lord J. RUSSELL said he agreed with the right hon. gentleman that this was a question of the greatest - 'nee. He thought the hon. gentles's& who ieoereei the motion was mistaken in the view which ha leek oldie set tlement of the pechalic of Egypt. MY sea eery by no means guaranteed the conditions on while the whelk was osablished, and that being the ewe, of nee way Interfer ence of ours was a matter of the wilasse iillealty. We were on the most friendly terms with the tielha of Turkey, and also on the most intimate terms with the Pasha of Egypt ; and though we might advise the Sultan to allow the infliction of capital punishment without reference to Coostantinople, if we should think proper to do so, such inter- Meese° could only be received as that of a friend, and must be couched in the most conciliatory language. As to the papers moved for, he did not see how their produc tion could tend to promote the success of pending negotia ' tions—(hear)--and he hoped there would lse no attempt at undue interference between the Sultan and his subject. With regard to the ambassador at Constantinople, he must say that he was • man who had performed distinguished services, and he had no doubt that any instructions which he might receive from her Majesty's government would be flithfully carried oat Mr. FIUME, though disapproving of the interference of England in 18311, thought we were now bound to insist that the conditions of the treaty we then guaganteed should be carried out. Kr. M. MILNES said England had never so ruaranteed the independence of Egypt that she would be justified in inerting that independence by the force of arras; but \e tho ught el the parties to the treaty were Morally bound hs see it carried out, and that Egypt, to its endeavour to pi! , emote civilisation, and to ensure security for life and pro we, within its territory, should be supported by the meal influence of this country. Mr. ANDERSON believed it was an undoubted fact that Sir S. Canning at Constantinople, and Mr. Murray at Cairo, took different views in regard to the diffireneee in question, and he believed that Sir 8. Canning took the wrong view. It was unreasonable that the Pacha should be debarred I from improving his own dominions by the construction of railways, and impeded in his attempts to raise the condition of his people. The hon. member having intimated that he would not press his motion, it was withdrawn. TUE RIVER FEROUS, ENNIS. The O'OORMAN MAHON made an application, bared on a petition, for a grant and also for a loan secured on the tolls of the town of Ennis, in aid of private subscriptions to enable the town commissioners to wry out the drainage of the district, the works for which had been commenced by the Commissioners of Public Works but not completed. liis motion was that the commissioners be directed to carry out the works. Sir C. WOOD uggested that the application should be made b • bill. TheCHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER found from the petition that the works bad not been completed, not because of any neglect on the part of the commissioners, but because the residents, who had been benefited by the first outlay, refused to pay further subscriptious. After some convenation, The O'OOHMAN MAHON said that he would bring in a bill in compliance with the suggestion of the government, and withdraw the prevent motion. Motion by leave withdrawn. BORNEO. L. HUME moved for a copy of a letter from Mr. THE FASTER RECESS. In answer to I:o7dlEilitorsi.soa, --- The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the government had given to the subject of the Easter recess the consideration it deserved; and, with every anxiety to study the wishes of the house, they must look to the inte rests of the public business. They should feel it their duty to move the adjournment on the usual day, Thursday, the ' Stb, until Monday the 19th. Sir R. INGLIS the it had always been usual of late year to adjourn before the Thursday. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had no wish to deport from the rule on the subject. If there was any preponderating wish in the house for a longer ad journment they would coasider it. If he found, on exami nation, that the adjournment had last year been from Wednesday, he would move it from that day. (Hear, hear.) THE MAYNOOTH ENDOWMENT. Mr. KEOGH gave notice that on Thursday he should ask whether it was the intention of the government to introduce a measure for repealing the ltaynooth gnat. (Hear, hear.) THE HOP DUTY. _ - --- --- -- ... Mr. FREWEN, after preemlies a number of petitions, complaining of the coteries emus( of the duty on hops, and stating that it was Inmsmity_ mere than 60 per cent., said he would now brie, hrwaid the modes of whisk he had given notice.—" That is say amides ef taxed*, the repeal of the excise d i u l, cm bop eagle to he them Ws serious consideration * this bum" This troy their\ producing but aemenet to the emehmser, rem* with great severity en his essetitessts. Fee He Ism Mem years, the average prod*" el** tax had Imes sely=lol. • year; or, taking a longer pitied, the SNOW not ' amount to 280,0001. The samesat received hem the hum* collectors averaged from MAW. te 110,11IMIL • year. In 1848, it was 117,00 W. ; in 1860, IMAM. On division of a single county pitying such as sessee• semesst Ice direct taxation upon • single article, the Webs must poem upon them with very great severity. It might Weald they too many hops. The anew qusatityethellis pedYveliw was only 5 or 6 Nees in the 100 ; sod dist SOW IMO he considered omissive, yet 112 ..,.. pell=iptestameng ea those 6 or 6 acres al most is the 'meant of rent paid to the kadllifd . 1111' MO awes. He bed a statement from a fusser NI seam if had, not of inferior quality, of the seenent il i deity he led paid In the last five zee's. Is LIM biped ewes snaps iin 180 it ,3D sexes ;is 1840, 26 MIMI Ink II seem; sod is ' 1861, 20 acres; the average his IS seem 22 wales The /Mare duty was 26W. 17.. pee peer, Derhe these fee yea:a - his rent was 'Whaled tkomlllol. OINK, midair on average of 24W. a year, being 11. he the the enema da ild amount be had_ paid lir Is rasped ef AM sea peon of his tam .2212 wee la eshiesdes. OR nether fans in the NM pod* In germ ef very su perior lead, of width the no bum hitherto M. • year, 25 aim had boom in hose mildeedes ; and the average duty fur tholes* five years bed bass 1631.175. 10d., being 72 per cent. Imes the rental. He law sumben of similar seam. This writhe *sly tax which was Eimer mitlgatod , mil If the deal a things were plemltted le It legether with free trade, maw eel sod diem la every dlredies amongst his =helmets remeibusts. (Hear, beer.) He knew • "esthetes seat Hetrimp who had 700 sass of lead throws apse his bark eel he could net elseelet it apes any teems. He hal eves Ora le let • press weepy the lows rest free, pedged he moor. took to pay dm Mies and tame. (Hear, leer) There was another asselderation which was well atoning of the et testion of the house, namely, that the duty veiled ex tremely hem_yetr to year, and gave rise le $ great dad el gambling. Very large bribes were t Lives le smile Mein he for t primes' et ascertaining mount of duty. If the - tasty was repealed, it would put an end to this system et /melding. He was aware that the pre ssed goverment were anxious to relieve land from its bur dew, slid the resolution that he intended to propose only asked that, in ease of any future revision of taxation, the ease of the Iseprowers should be taken into considers- tion. (Hew, bast) Mr. 1101301.8 .weesded the modes. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that his hon. friend had put forweed the awe of hie constituents with great ability and great moderation. He stated that his constituents were ruffling great distress from the effect of the hop duties. He was sure his hoe. friend would give her Majesty's government credit for a desire to re lieve their sufferings, and those of every other chum of their fellow-subjects. With regard to the present motion, his hoes. friend admitted that it would be improper to press on the government for a definite answer, hut he had no hesitation in saying that if the government were to pro , pose a thorough revisioa of taxation, the duty on hope would term part of their consideration. In the case even of • more limited inquiry, such as a consideration of the incidence of taxation on agriculture generally, the r•" PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES. RAILWAY AND OTHER RILLS ON sTANDINO ORDERS. EASTERN UNION ItAlLWAT.—Yesterday the :select committee on standing orders decided that the standing or. der might be dispensed with in the case of this company's bill for arrangements so t capital, preference shares, and debts, use of London and Blackw.lll, and lease, sale, or amalgamation with the Eastern Counties Railway; and' , that the parties be permitted to proceed with their bill. I NORTH AND SOUTH WESTERN ♦ND BRIOIITON AND HOVER JUNCTION.—The standing orders were dispensed with in the case of this line for a railway from Croydon to Wandsworth, and the parties permitted to proceed. CORGIS AND MACRYNLLETH Itattway.—The standing orders were dispensed with in this case. VALE OF NEATH RAILWAY.—The committee to which this company's bill for extensions, and also the bill of the Worcester and Hereford Railway, is referred, met for the first time yesterday in committee-room 4, and proceeded with the first-mentioned bill. The members being Mr. Childers, chairman, Col. Peel, Sir It. Booth, Sir A. Campbell, and Mr. Johnstone. In Mr. Bernal's committee the preamble of the Barnsley Gas Bill was declared proved. Select committees were sitting yesterday with closed doors on the Laws of Slortmain, Ventilation and Lighting of the House, and on the Preserved Meats in the Navy questions. FOURTH GENERAL REPORT OF THE ECCLE SIASTICAL COMMISSIONERS FOR ENGLAND. The following extract embraces the matter of ge neral interest iu this report, the rest of the document being a narration of schemes and of territorial arrangements : To the Right lion. her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, &c.. &c. The Ecclesiastical Commissioner for England submit, in accordance with the provisions contained in the 2Gth section of the Act 13 and 14 Viet., c. 94, a report of their proceed- ings for the year preceding the lit of November now last pest. The commissioners in their lest report adverted to the de falcation of their late treasurer and secretary. They have now to state that, during the year which has since elapsed, they have received the legacy to which reference was then made, and also a stint of 2,01. remitted from abroad, in futther diminution of the debt due to the commissioners. The commissioners stated in their last report that they had taken preliminary steps fur procuring the septennial return, contemplated by the Act ti et 7 Wm. IV., cap. 77, of the revenues of all the archbishoprics and bishoprics of England and Wales. This return, which includes the year 18.50, has been since received, and has been laid before the House of Commons, in compliance with two addresses, dated respectively the th of June, ISIO, and the 10th of February, 1851. ( Sec l'arinunentary Paper, No. 400, of Session 1854 The necessity for these septennial returns in future has been superseded by the provisions contained in the Act 13 it 14 Viet., cap. 94, which require that every bishop there after appointed should receive the fixed annual income ai -1 signed to his see, without reference to the actual produce of its revenues. The commissioner., having taken into consideration the best mode of carrying out the last-mentioned provisions, have passed a scheme, which has since been ratified by au order of her Majesty in council (Appendix, No. 1, No. 1548, p. 61). The provisions of that scheme apply to all archbishops and bishops succeeding to their sees upon avoidance. hap. pening after the Ist of January, 1848, and take effect from the commencement of their respective incumbencies. With respect to any other isichhishop or bishop, the commis sioners are only empowered to regulate the income of his see, according to the provisions of the same act, upon the expression on his part of a willingness to accept a fixed an nual income. The commissioners have received applica tions from several bishops who are desirous of availing themselves of those provisions. A considerable number of proposals has been made by the lessees of estates vested in the commissioners, either for the purchase of the reversions of or for the sale of the leasehold interest in such estates. As the circumstances to which these proposals relate are very different, the commissioners have not deemed it expedient to lay down any definite general rules, but in considering them have felt it to be their dut7, in ordinary ewes, to pay due regard to the recommendations in the report of the committee of the House of Lords in the last session of par liament in relation to this subject. It may be well here to observe, that the Act 13 and 14 Viet., c. 104, founded upon that report, which gave power to ecelesiutical corporations to sell to their lessees the reversion of, or to purchase the leasehold interest in the estates belonging to such corpora tions, does not apply to that portion of church property which is vested in the commissioners. The tool number of benefices permanently augmented by the commissioners, up to the Ist of November last, amounted to 820, with an aggregate population of 12,281,599; and the sums now payable by the commissioners in augmentation of the incomes of these benefices, exclusive of the value of land and tithe rent-charge actually annexed in certain cues, amount in the aggregate to 44,7411. p er an num in perpetuity. By the aid of benefaction from private sources the com missioners have been enabled to form the districts enu merated in the Appendix, No. 14, p. 68, under the Church Endowment Act (6 and 7 Vict., c. 37), by which an aggre gate population of nearly ?1,000 have been provided with pastoral superintendence. The total number of districts constituted under that act, up to the let of November last, amounted to 233, with an aggregate population of more than 826,000. Of these dis tricts 158 having been provided with churches have become new parishes, under the 15th section of the act. The sums now payable by the commissioners in the endowment of these districts amount in the aggregate to 32,806 per an num, increasing from time to time se churches are pro vided, to a maximum of 31,0861. It will be seen, therefore, that the permanent annual charge upon the commissioners common fund, in respect of augmented benefices and districts constituted under the Church Endowment Act, amounted on the Ist of November last to 77,6601. REVIVAL OP THE ANTI-CORN-LAN ASSOCIATION IN ClLAsoow.—At a preliminary meeting of the directors of the Glasgow Anti-corn•law Association, held on Friday afternoon, a resolution, on the motion of Alexander Gra ham, Esq., was unanimously agreed to, by which the director, of the association were empowered to revive it on the basis of its original constitution, and to take such mea sures as might appear necessary until the question of free trade is finally settled. It was also agreed that the L or d Provost should be requested to cell a public meeting of the citizens at an early day, in order to bring th e present posi tion of free trade before them. The question of a g it a ting for parliamentary reform was mooted by several of the speakers, hut the expediency of such a course in connexion with the specific object of the association was considered by the majority of those present so exceedingly doubtful, and it was therefore resolved that, in the public meeting to be called, nothing pertaining to political institutions should Is' introduce 1. The meeting then adjourned.— rakriutinin Afereury. MINISTERIAL DIFFICULTY.—Soine doubt appears to he entertained at present, as to whether the Earl of Derby and his colleagues are Protectionists in, or Protec tionists out and out.--eunch. Ihe eroregus. TO CORRESPONDENTS. a anemd Edition • • " Tbe Expreaa,” containing Ina urn, errnirre Gazette," Is pabiabed every Tomb., and Viola, Mr post %Omura:wan inaondad fur " Tla aprer." London Karmat• moat be at the !Moe, 10, Bourerie.griet, )7 Two o'clock ua the day of publication. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tau Dai—Yorning, 41%. Us Altainooe, 41z. 30m. To-roasow—lldormung, Hi. 41.5. ...... -Anent...B 4 4.. s; m. LONDON, WEDNESDAY MARCH 21. MONOPOLY in shipping is, after all, entirely aban doned—is altogethergiven up—by the DEitity cabinet. It is hopeless to attempt, it is full• to think of re. storing the navigation laws, says the l'at:wra• 'rho policy of MIS "is not reversible —restimio nut to retrorsum," funereally adds Mr. IlmutiEs, the man of experience. "We never thought of such a thing, joins in chorus the whole administration—the staple of whose opposition talk used !o be " protection to domestic industry of nll sorts and orders." Wh ere . upon, Mr. Lannuctimix, from the opposition scats, as well he might, smiled benignantly and approv. ingly on the penitents of the Treasury bench. But what said Mr. G. F. l'ouNii whom lately Lord DERBY invited to take a seat at his Bard of Trade—what said the 'immutable member fir Scar. borough, returned to parliament for the very purpose of reversing the policy of ISI Di—what said this ad. wirer of the means and measures which OLD NOLL took to punish the Dutch in the 17th century, but with which we only punished ourselves in the 19th —what raid he to this announcement? The poor man, to do him justice, seems to have beer, sadly shocked at the immorality of his friends evading in office the objects for which they attained office. Notwithstanding . his fatal fluency and the strange void that exists in his logical faculties, Mr. YOUNG has a conscience; and it would twinge, and tweak, and annoy him were he to falsify all his promises after the fashion of a Disraelite; so grave ly and deliberately he vowed a cow :—" if it pleased Got), he pledged himself to bring this subject under discussion in a new parlia ment"—and registered in heaven this practical rebuke of his lender's treachery. And what will the out-ports say? What will Sunderland, and Hu:l, and Scarborough, and iVhitby, and Yarmouth,and Poole, and Dartmouth, and all the rest of the little seaports around our coast say to this desertion of their supposed interests? IVltat will they say to the distinction which the DERBY government thus makes between one branch of " domestic industry" and another ? What will they think of a cabinet which seeks to raise the price of provisions on them and their shipping fur the benefit of the squires around them, and which has resolved to continue their exposure to foreign competition, involving, as that very cabinet protesses to think their serious injury, if not their ruin ? In what have these places been hoping against hope but in the advent to power of Lord Dsinti and Mr. HUR RIES, and when the Mount Pisgah of official happi ness has been reached, to be treated thus, as an old glove that has been worn and u s ed it., indeed, hard to bear. And it was in the smaller ports that some of the strength of the protectionists was supposed to lie at the general election. The ports would, it was stated, sympathise with the squirearchy, and render men pledged and re-pledged to reverse the policy of n these boroughs fret-trade candidates were, at all events, doomed. Alas, to what end? To what use return protectionists? Under no circumstances will Lord DERBY lay his hands ou the law of P 415 that is irreversible; under some he proposes to vary the law of 161.6—that may be modified. Let the seaports note this well and understand this thoroughly. Lord DERBY will not, even with a majority at his heels, restore their monopoly. But, having the power, he will, he says, try and raise the price of food. Suppose then that the smaller sea ports aid in giving him a majority, by sending men who will vote for a tax on bread to parliament; they will effectually injure themselves; they will tax themselves for the benefit of the squires; they will be increasing the disadvantages at which they navigate their ships as compared with the foreigner; they will realise the old saw of people biting off their own noses to spite their faces. And why this treachery to the shipping interest —why summary rejection of their claims to protec tion when their own friends arc in power—why this unceremonious kicking of them down stairs— why this exception in favour of corn and sugar? No man can doubt. Dear trade is part of the great territorial system to which Mr. litse.extt has sold his fine mind. Dear sugar is connected with aris tocratic possessions in the Vest Indies. But shipping is low, is democratic; it is commercial; its connexion with the landed interest was accidental only; its na tural alliance is with trade, with manufactures, with free imports, with free industry, with cheapness and abundance. No great lord owns huge fleets of mer chantmen' though he may possess great districts in the tropical colonies; no selfish landlord invests his rents in ships. They belong to the middle class—to the class who live and flourish by enterprise, by per severance, by industry ; and whose rear interests arc identical with those of the community generally. Hence, an aristocracy-supported government cares little for them. So little, that it will, whilst sub jecting them to competition, raise the cost of working English ships. But, even in abandoning for ever the shipping in terest, the DERBY government tries to deceice it still further. In announcing that the policy of 1848 " was not reversible ;" in declaring " r,stioia nulla retrorsum ;" Mr. HERRIES added that it was possible to devise other means of mitigating the present distress of shipping. No doubt it is; no doubt that legislation can relieve British shipping of many disadvantages. But how ? Why only by pursuing and fully carrying out the principles of free trade. Open our coasting trade to America, and the Pacific ports of the United States will in return be opened to our long voyage trade. It is by means of the monopoly American shipping has in tts own ports in California, that it is able to displace British vessels in the ports of China and India, and to bring :produce thence to this country at rates beneath which the British shipowner can navigate only at a loss. Lower our port charges, our local dues, our light dues, and our pilotage dues on Enoch shipping, and then there is some reason to hope that England may be able to break down the principle of the navigation which France incorporated into her legislation from our bad example. Give to the Bri tish shipowner the right of manning his ships on the cheapest terms by removing all restrictions ou the nationality of the labour he mar employ.; give him the right freely to rival him4;lf of that cheap labour which constitutes the real power of his labour; remove that spirit of combination to which he is especially subjected; improve the cha racter of British seamen by protecting them from plunder, and by punishing their insubordination ; do away with the premium held out by the royal luny for sailors to desert in foreign ports; abolish alto gether the oppressive burthen of salvage; reduce the present enorinous amounts of consular fees to which our marine is subjected, and from other excessive con sular demands for trifling services; and abandon all duty on the row material of shipping—timber. Above all, persevere in our general free-trade police; prove by its practical results on the fortunes of the nation that it is beneficial; give up at once and for ever all intention of reversing or modifying it, and nation after notion will follow the good example we have set them, just as centuries ago they did the bad example ; and at last, in the course of time, our mercantile marine will be found in every foreign port, and our shipping be confessedly the cheapest, the best, and the swiftest in the world. If these are the means by which Mr. BERRIE., prO• poses to mitigate the distresses of British shipping. in them, he will, at all events, have the support of the free-trade party : for these are their proPo'''' tions, these their remedies. But when such plans of relief have been brought forward of late year. in parliament, where then was Mr. llEttlites ; what support did he then give to such propositions ; and how can a protectionist have any real faith t plans now ? Protection in British shipping is, however, heaven be praised, dead and gone for ever' We are. it seems, to continue to be entitled .o go to the chi:west carriers for the transit of our commodities. Whur then, will prevent us going to the cheapest market to buy our sugar and our bread ? in such Berne mo lard Palmerston, complaining of obstructions received et the bands of Sir James Brooke, and of any &Newer thereat,. Mr. HENRY DROMMOND objected to motions of this kind, invidiously worded, instead of direct charges. The motion was aimed to. DESERTION OF SEAMEN. Mr. HENLEY obtained leave to bring a bill enabling the government to enter into negotiation with foreign powers for the apprehension of seamen who had deserted. NEW CHURCHES. Mr. FREWEN obtained leave to bring in a bill to pro. mote the building of churches in benefi.a:s where none at present existed, and to prevent the union of benefices. MANCHESTER AND SALFORD EDUCATION BILL. Mr. N. GIBSON moved the nomination of the committee' on the above bill. Mr. PE'fOobjected to the selection of names. There were four panies, he said, who took an active interest in the question of education. One was the church party, ano ther was that which preferred voluntary education, • third preferred secular education, and a fourth was for mixing secular with religious instruction. lie thought it hard that all those parties should be represented on the commit tee but the voluntaries, who bad always exhibited such seal in the cause of education. Mr. M. GIBSON fully concurred in the right of every section of the education party to he represented on the committee. lie had himself submitted one name, who, he felt, would be acceptable to the voluntari e s, b u t It had been rejected and that of Mr. Heald substituted. lie thought, however, that the but way would be to allow the committee to be nominated now, and a couple of names might be added afterwards. Mr. HE YWORTH expressed his regret that no gentle man representing the voluntary principle had been named on the committee. Mr. WALI'OLE laid it was desirable that some member of the government should be on the committee ' and sug gested • postponement of the nomin a ti on un til T h ursday. The nomination was then postponed. ST. ALBANS DISFRANCHISEMENT BILL. On the motion fur the second reading of this bill, Mr. BELL expressed a hope that the crusade against cor ruption would not terminate with St. Albans. Mr WALPOLE said that tomorrow (this day) the noble lord the member for London would move the Corrupt Prac tices at Elections Bill, and it was the intention of govern ment to support it. Mr. HUME hoped that if the goverenmcnt were sincere in their attempts to put down bribery and corruption at elections, they would adopt the only complete remedy, namely, the ballot. (Hear, hear.) CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL. This bill was read a third time end passed. SUPPLY. The report of the committee of supply was brought up and agreed to. The amendments to the Indemnity Bill were considered and agreed to. COPYRIGHT BILL. Mr. HENLEY postponed the further consideration of this bill until Thursday next. FEES OF COMMON LAW OFFICERS. Mr. WALPOLE gave notice for this day, to move for leave to bring in is bill providing fur the payment of the salaries of common law officers out of the Consolidated Fund, and fur the regulation of common law fees. The house adjourned at half-put 8 o'clock. MOM w~: