The Express. — London, England, 1853-03-09 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS. —TuzsoAT, MAlcu 8. Tb. LOWS CIAISCOLLoS took his oat 84 . 5 o'clock. PET! TIONS PRESENTED. _ _ _ Tau roonLowa.—By the Dulled ItiCUMOND,freenthe guardians of the Eastbourne Union, iu the count, of Snots, praying that the general orders of the Your taw Board mybt be sent to boards of guardians for their perusal and report, before they receive the unction of the Secretary of TIM MALT TAX.—Also. from farmers Asieve):irs at the enarkets of Brighton, Aylesbury, Ilayward's Heath, and Lewes, against the malt K tisirau.—By the Earl of Er; LINTON. from the South Dublin Union, praying that the estabhahment of KR mainham might not be abolished. litarirourii —By Lord WIIAItSCLIFFE, from a place Bet heard, against. Nvsugutss.—Also, frees a plate not beard, praying for est iaspeeti , n of canaries. C l'aiaux.—By the Earl of YARBOROUGH, from Wesleyan reformers, against the epen.ng of the Cryi tel Palace on Sundays. Larralt Cauninui.—A!wi, from a lettel•Cliffier. calla Spilaby, on the subject of Christmas boxes. I's aht 141. N rally PAPLAA.—By Lord BROUGHAM, from the GiatleOW Aeadina UOOllll. and the Ear. of YAH- BoROUGH, from the Grafton lastituti..a, praying that they might receive the public papers of the ftwase. COUNTY COURTS. Lord BROUGHAM, on prer;r:tiniPetit:or.. from Mar gate and Heighten. praying that bankruptcy jurisdiction notht be vested im the County Courts, said that ho wished once more to call attention to the icumtuse importance of these courts of Weal judicature, and to notice this Get, that of tit, nurever of cues tried in the Supreme Courts in one year—b. tween 1,940 and 2.ooo—by writs issuing from all the three courts is Westusincer 11111, more than one half of them were under .501.. and they might have beta tried much more expeditiously end infinitely more cheaply is the C near Courts. (Hear, hear) The County Courts, within the same period, had tried about six thousand eases between 1.04. end 401. Anything more taoastrous than toe present state of the law could nut well he imagined— the whole of the lailf lei of the judges of the superior courts were new paid out of the Consolidated Fund, it bung the dul of the government to provide the whole ex pense of the administration of justice; but in the County Courts, where there was such an immense mast of bulkiness, instead or the country paying the expense the poor suitors hail to p , y it, beeouee they were leas capable of doing so. He hopel lie should not bare much longer to peru this on the attention of parliament and the public. 174.0001. • year were extorted from tho.e poor suitors in the County Courts to pay the expenses of their machinery; about 100,000'. more wee contributed to the general fee fund; and there was even • surplus, after paying all these expenses, which went into the Consolidated Fund. MAYNOOTIL We were informed that the notate of motion on the sub ject of Meynooth, given by the Earl of Winchilsea, and whaeh was hied for Thursday, is now postponed until the lath of April. Their Lirdships adjourned at half-past 5 o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAY, Mena 8. The house met at the usual hoer. The select committee to inquire into the alletrations of the Wigton Burghs petition were sworn at the table. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Bradford Waterworki, and Copper Miners of Eng land Bills were severally read a second time. EAST LONDON DRAINAGE BILL. On the motion that the bill bz read a second time, Mr. W. WILLIAMS said that this was a bill which would affect the whole metropolis, and sa its different ves tries wished to have time to consider its provisions, he moved that the second reading be deferred for a fortnight. Atter an observation from Sir D. L. Evan+, Mr. OSBORNE said that the bill bad come in such an eatraordinary shape before the honk., that be felt bound to emu is the motion for postponement. The Upper India Itailway_Bill (second reading) wu poet posed on the =Dilutor Sir T. MADDOCK. ------------"' PUBLIC BUSINESS. PETITIONS PRESENTED. Javelin DISABILITIMIL—By Mr. J. NEELD from Ash ton Keynes, eounty of Wilts ; Sir J. TROLLOPE, from I inns in Holland, Ingoldsby, Buccington, Burton upon Srother, Burton CogFlesholl in Lancashire ; Sir W. JOL LIFFE, from inhabitants of the borough of Petorslield; Mr. VANSITTART, from Lockenge, against the removal of; Mr. BASS, from Tndbury, Staffordshire, for the re moval of. OPINISO OF TRU CRYSTAL PALACE 01, SCNDAYS.— By Mr. SMYTH, signed by 1,700 working men of the eity of York, and from parisheo in Norfolk, from Southgate in Middlercsez ' and from Droadcbalke is Wilts; Mr. J. NEELD, from Ashton KeyL.s, and from Crick lade, county of Wilts; Mr. GLYN, from the inhabitants of St. Saviour s, Chelsea, and its vicinity ; Mr. C. HOWARD, from Irthington, Dayton and Carrock ; VANSIT TART, from L ockenge • Mr. WICKIIAM, from inha bitants of the district of . Buttenhow county of York ; Sir O. TYLER, from St. Georges, St. Brides, Caerphilly, sad two other parishes is the comity of Glamorgan, against. iIATICOOTN GRANT.—By Mr. WICKHAM, from the ishsbitants of the district of Buttirshow county of York ; Mr. LOCKHART, from the Free Chur ch Congregation and others of East Kllhride, in Lanarkshire ; against. Tug PLILIC HIALTK Acr or 184 S.—By Mr. LAS LETT, signed by 2.075 citizens and ratepayers of Worms. ter ; Mr. O. RICARDO. from the mayor, aldermen, and oiliness of Worcester; preying fur a animates to inquire late the operation aud working of. RLPILNAZNTATION OF TUN LONDON UNIVTRIIITT.--By Mr. KERSHAW, from studeats in Lancashire Independent College, and one from eongregation of Hanover Chapel,' Stockport, in favour of. Vanua MM :4 AA ft% PAIPZIC4.—By Mr. W. 0. STANLEY, from the Chester Mechanics Invtitotiou. for copies of. Artnantza' CENTIFICATI DUTT.—Ivy Mr. CRAVEN BERKELEY, from the &ponies of Cheltenham, against. EZAIIINALS IN CNANCZNY Bit.z.—By Mr. MtL LINOS, from the solicitors of Bristol, fur the ezpulsion of the second clause of. ituatitrre* Cot ar Bitt.—By Mr. A. HASTIE, from the Lord Provost, magistrates, end council of Olasgriw, aiso from the dean and faculty of Glasgow, praying that the Sheriffs Court Bill be sent to a select committee. MALLOW ELECTION. •- TM SPEAKER adorned the house that the petition eigaiaat the num for the home' of Mallow bad been enthdrawn. PAPERS ORDERED. PUBLIC INCOMI, itc.—On the motion cf Mr. W. WIL LIAMS—Account of the public income and expenditure of the united kingdom, in the years ending the sth day of January. WI, 1h62, and 15:13; distinguishing the actual payments for the expenses incurred in the collection and management of the reveaue ; for the charges of the public debt (the terminable annuities being valued by estimate); for the "sperm of the civil goveram , ut ; the &Bowmen to the royal family, and to his Majesty the King of the Bel-' glass ; the establishment of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland ; the imposes of the two houses of parliament end the civil deferments ; the other pens& .ms on the consolidated fund, en the gross , and the civil list; also the payments tee the administration of justice, diplomatie expenses, and en account of the sums voted fur the army, navy, ordnance, and miscellaneous services, also public works, bounties, poets' aloe, the quarantine and warehouse establishments, and al other payments not coming under any of the tomplas heeds, with an appendix showing the several items USW peeing each heed of the account (in continuation it paw limustary paper No. 48.3, of ,ession 1562). PAMIR:SOUKS TO IBANCB, Bc.—Oa the =diet d /b. J. 11•CORSOoll —Return of the annual esogen passing between this country and F ranz ar , sing with the year 1812, showing the ports of e avid disembarkation, and also toe annual vales et exports and imports to and from France, during the same period. SALIDA' CoMNITTIDI ON PUBLIC BOSINTAIL-01 the motion of Mr. Brim—Returns of the number of select com mittee, on public business during each session of the last parliament, specifying the subject matter of each commit tee, the dates of iu first appoiatment and last sitting, toge ther with the number of its sitting ; also the annsbet of days on which it may have been adjourned is esemetuence of a quorum of members not having atteedlei: Of the names of the members of the above commit showing the number of committees on which each served during each session: Similar return of the oember, dues um, &c., of committees on private business, emi of the members serving : And, the same for election enenenigless. SINOAI . ORB.-0a the motion of Mr. H. BA of a letter, dated December, 1552, from the Hex= Scott to the Earl of Derby, late First Lord of the Trimetery, transmitting an answer from Mr. R. C. Woods, sheriff of of Singapore, relative to the attempt of Sir Imes Brooke to procure the dismissal of Mr. Woods from his offi. vial appointments in Singapore. NOTICES OF MOTIONS. BOARD or !Imam I nseic rose. —Mr. V. HARCOU RT, for Thersday ult, to move fir a return of all cases in which the seperintending inspectors of the Board of Health had been ',unloved as engineers in carrying out works under the Public Health Act. CARDAMOM BouoLoit.—Mr.V . SMITH, for Tuesday seinnight, to move an address to the crown for a commie- Mesa to inquire into the corrupt pra:tices proved to prevail in the borough of Cambridge. CUATHAIt BOROVOIC — Mr. LOCK E KING, on Thurs day next, to call attention to the following resolution of the committee on the Chatham election petition :—" That it ie the opinion of the committee that there are strong grounds for believing that one Stephen Mount, in giving his evidence be fore the committee, was guilty of wilful and corrupt per jury," with a view to his immediate prosecution by the Attorney• General. Oa the motion of Mr. BRAITITON—That the evidence taken before the committee on the Chatham election peti tion be printed, and that Mr. Speaker do not issue his war rant for • new writ for tho borough of Chatham till the Ilth day of April next. HRH:MB:Conn Bonotoll.—Sir J. SIIELLEY,for Thum lay neat, to present a petition from electors of Bridge monk, complain;ng of bribery, intimidation, and corrup ion, preen gel at the last and former elections far their borough. BLAcumcar Dvnouon.—Mr. W. PATTEN, for Fr.day neat, to move the lain of a new writ. GREAT LONDON DRAINAGE. BILL. Lord SEYMOUR wished to know whether it was the in. otos of gwernment to suppott tht bill ; Lord PALMERSTON said be shot:11 certilialy bo dis- r THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 9, 1853. posed to support the second reading of a bill the object of which was to carry out works of vast importance -to the whole of the metroplis. Of course he would support the second reading, with • view to his having • fall opportunity of examining the details in committee. On the details be gave no opinion, but the principle and object of the bill were worthy the attention of the house. MINTS IN AUSTRALIA. Mr. BASS said that an answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the previous evening had led the public to anticipate that the government was about to 'section the erection of mints in Australis. Ile wished to know whe ther that anticipation was correct; and if so, in what part of the colony would mints be established ? Mr. WILSON said that government had come to the conclusion, with reference to mints in Australia. that the question was one rather for the colonies than the home government; but he might add that the home government was ready to give every facility in the matter. With roped to the places where, the only place that had yet demanded cash • convenience, and was willing to come forward with Iheneeessary funds, was Sydney, from which 10,0001. had be sent home towards the expense, which sum would be Immediately applied in furtherance of the purpose intended. With regard to other parts a Australia, government would be ready, free of all charge to the home government, and with proper regulations for securing the purity and weight of the coin. to grant the establishment of mints wherever they were demanded. SHERIFFS' COURTS (SCOTLAND). Mr. CRAUFUIID, in rising to ask for leave to bring in • bill to alter the constitution of sheriffs courts in Scotland, stated that his original intention was to have moved for a committee of inquiry ; but the Lord Advocate having given notice of a bill on the same subject, he (Mr. Craufurd) had suspended his motien, in the hope that the gover nment measure would remedy all the evils complained of. That bin had, however, completely disappointed him, retaining as it did what he conceived to be the great evil of the present system, namely, the double sbrievalty in the Scottish counties. For these rea sons he hail determined upon introducing • bill, and if the Lord Advocate did not oppose the second reading he would consent to its reference to the same committee as the go vernment bill, when probably an efficient measure might be extracted from both. The bill he now asked leave to in- I troduce, went to abolish the offices of sheriffs' depute and substitute, said empowered her Majesty to divide the counties into districts, fa the establishment of local judges. It created sheriffs in lieu of the sheriffs now existing, who should be resident, and the only judges in matters of fact up to 504 At prewut the sheriffs had summary jurisdiction up to 51.65. Sid, and he proposed to extend it to 501., with no appeal on matters of fact, nor any on matters of law up to 251. It provided for the qualifications of sheriff+ and defined their several powers—among others that of deciding, with the consent of parties, 1 beyond 501., and of summoning witnesses from Eng land or Ireland. lie proposed to raise the salaries of the judges, and to abolish the fees which formed part of their present remuneration. No doubt many learned authorities might be cited against his plan, but these were never the foremost in matters of reform. If Sir Islay Campbell were quoted against him he would remind his learned friend the Lord Advocate, that that distinguished lawyer had also said that 'if one of the five Exchequer Batons in Scot land were removed there would be an end to the admiais teatime of justice, and yet not many years afterwards Lord Chancellor Brougham abolished the whole five. The fact was that the success of the county courts in Eng land had made the people of Scotland impatient for speedy and effectual justice, and it should not be forgotten that these very county courts had been strenuously opposed by the present Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. What the people of Scotland required was that the same system which had worked so well in England should be ex• tended to them; that the two offices of sheriff depute and sheriff substitute should be united, and that the procedure of the Sheriffs' Courts should be assimilated to that of the County Courts here. He also proposed that the appeal should be direct to the Court of Session, instead of to en ad vocate sitting in Edinburgh, and that thus a complete local, inexpensive, and speed system of administering jus tice should he established. The hon. gentleman proceeded to state the provisions of his own bill, and his objections to that of thu Lord Advocate. These objections he had taken on the occasion when the Lord Advocate first introduced his measure, which he (Mr. Craufurd) then stated to the house would not satisfy Scotland. The defects in that bill were the maintenance of written pleading', though in a modified form, in all cases between 121. end 501, end of the appeal to the non-resident sheriff in Edinburgh, merely on the written statements against the judgment of a resi dent sheriff who had heard oral pleadings. The great evil of the system was, that the appeal was both on the fact and on the law. This necessitated the enormous mass of writing which created the expense of proceedings in the sheriff courts. The maintenance of the double sheriffs mainly depended en the maintenance of this system of ap peal, and as the Lord Advocate took a determined stand on the preservation of the office of sheriff's deputy, he was necessarily precluded from eying fur ther than he had done in abolishing written plead ings. In his own bill he (Mr. Craufurd) at once got rid of the difficulty by cresting one local compe tent judge who should decide all questions of fact without any appeal up to 251., and beyond 251. up to 501., with an appeal to the Court of Session on points of law, Objections were made to this final power of deciding it facts, and, if necessary, the means might be introduced for correcting erroneous decisions such as existed in the English county courts, viz., by granting • new trial on the facts before the local judge, or by giving the parties the option of a jury. This latter proviso he should not be disposed, however, to ley mach weight on, as jury trials are not popular in Scot land. Whatever might he the settlement of the details, he was satisfied of thin, that the bill he proposed to introduce was a much more accurate representation of the want and feeling of the great mass of the people in Scotland out of Edinburgh than was the hill of the Lord Advocate. He could adduce abundant evidence of that feeling, which was embodied most prominently in the following reso lution passed at a very large meeting of bankers, merchants, manufacturers, traders, and other inhabi tants of Glasgow, presided over by the Lord Provost, which was as follows :—. That the bill in troduced into the House of Commons by the Lord Advo cate of Scotland for the improvement of the Sheriff Courts of Scotland, c ntains various useful provisions ; but by per petuating the present system of double sheriffs, and the ex pense, delay, and uncertainty which are the unavoidable consequence of this erroneous system, it falls far short of the just expectations of the country." When he reflected on the coarse so honourably and successfully pursued in the establishment of County Courts by the present Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, and that the present Attorney-Oenerat who supported the County Court movement, as well as his hon. friend the Secretary to the Board of Control,awell-knownlawreformer and supporter of ComateCourtsolow sat on theTreuury bench, he could not but bust pad omen for the fate of the measure he now proposed to bitssisee. The hon. gentleman then concluded by moving far bases to bring in a bill teethe more speedy and effectual adminlstration of justice in the Sheriffs' Courts in Scotland. Mr. M'OREO OR, in seconding the motion, observed that the object embraced in it was one that engaged the at tention of the whole of Scotland out of the Parliament House of Edinburgh. The general opinion was that the present system of local adjudication was but a remnant of the heritable jurisdiction of ancient times, and the office of sheriff was looked upon in the light of a ainecure retire ment for the Edinburgh advocates. The bill of the right boa. gentleman, the Lord Advocate, though it undoubtedly eantained much that was good, would not give satisfaction in Scoehuid. What was demanded by the people of that cesowy was local courts, founded as nearly as possible upon the principle of the County Courts of England ; that these courts should have jurisdiction to the extent of 501., , and that the appeal from their decision should be not 'to a single judge at Edinburgh, but to the Court of Session. Believing that his hon. and learned friend's ' measure would meet the requirement, of the case, he bed much pleasure in seconding this motion. ' The question having been put, The LORD ADVOCATE, though not intending Is oppose the' introduction of the bill, must say that he alii not consider the course his hon. and learned blend bet adopted was the most connient one. TM house was aware that be (the Lord Advocate) iswebassil a WM Is reference to theft courts early in the sasslow, eat Mil Awed ' the second reading for Thursday next, bet vaisillmilog that the Scotch members were anxious to bays lbs salty of consulting their constituents upon it, be=iiree . tented to postpone it for another week, and he tbin& If , his hon. and, learned friend bad acted wisely, be would beige , deferred his motion until they had an opportunity of to a knowlege of each other's sentiments on the s e = Fee himself, he had no other object in the matter but to mum 9‘o Scotland the best and most efficient measure that mid be devised, and to that end he should be glad to receive Searetions from his hon. and learned friend, or any other amen e? and as his hon. friend had stated that his IMenleare would contain much that would tend to the reform of Ibs wisiaistration of justice in Scotland, he could not, of onsas. Ideas to consider its provisions. At the same time, be met observe, that judging from the outline whtch had boss given of the proposed bill, it was not likely that it would meet with his support—for as he understood it from that outline, so far from being a step in the way of reform, it would lie a retrograde and mischievous movement (Hear, i bear.) In his opinion the system which his hon. and I learned friend attacked—that of having one judge to ad minister justice locally in each county with a superintend sue or supervision by a judge resident in Edinburgh and attending the supreme courts—was one of great advantage, ,I, and had been productive of great benefits. (Hear, hear.) Ills honourable friend, the member for I Glasgow (Mr. M'Oregor) had drawn a conclusion, un favourable to his own country, between the Scotch and the English law. Now though he did not mean to say that the Scotch law was in all respects faultless, the theory of that law was infinitely more scientific, and in its adminis tration in all respects superior to the English law. In fact, the mesons which had been recently introduced for re forming and simplifying the administration of the law in England were as near as possible founded on the basis of the Scottish system. His hon. and learned friend proposed to do away with the double jurisdiction—that of the sheriffs principal end the sheriffs' substitute, but he would find that that double juriadictien embraced • much larger question than he appeared to be aware of. The sheriff in Scotland was not • mere local judge having jurisdiction merely in cases under 501. (and what he would do with cases above that amount he had not stated), hut • large proportion of the business of those courts involved amounts above that sum, and net only that, hut they were also called upon to adjudicate on questions of possession and disputed right which could cot be estimated by money—and to bring all these questions under a jurisdiction like that of the county courts in England would be a novelty and an inno vation for which no reason bud been shown. and which he believed would have an injurious effect. His objection to the plan of his hon. and learned friend, so far as he under stood it, was, that in the int plies it would impair thejudi dal, and, is the second, that it would cut up by the roots, the administrative functions of the sheriffs. (Hear, hear.) It was said that the office of sheriff in Scotland was not given as the reward fur high standing in the profession, and that it was a mere sinecure. But what was the fact ? At this moment there were see: a out of' the thirteen judges of Scotland who had filled the office, and with regard to its being a sinecure, though there might not be very much business attaching to it in the smaller counties, in the large counties the duties were onerous, and the labour considerable. (Hear.) He regarded the office of sheriff in Scotland as an infineatial balance of the legal system. As regarded opinions on the subject, he would quote that of Lord Campbell, then Attorney-General, who, in a de bate that took place in 1833 on • motion which had the same object as the bill of his him. friend, expressed his ad miration of the system of sheriff's substitute, as well as the plan of having • court of appeal in the sheriff depute between the local court and the superior courts, and de clared his belief that the system had worked well. ilia hon. friend said that his (the Lord-Advocate's) bill would not be satisfactory to the country ; and that out of Edin burgh there was no difference of opinion as to the objects of the bill of his hon. friend. He would not quote the opinion of the faculty of advocates, because his hon. friend would think nothing of that, but he could point to a resolution passed at Dumfries in favour of his (the Lord-Advocate's) measure, and he believed it was only one of many in Scot land. Ho would not yield to any one as • law reformer, but he did not thick he forfeited that character in objecting to the toll of his hon. friend. Mr. HUME thought that the law of Scotland might be made more iu consonance with the law of England, and he was in favour of Mr. Craufurd's measure for that reason. Mr. EWART wished to know whether the Lord Advo cate would object to the two bills going before a select com mittee, and whether such committee would be permitted to hear evidence upon the subject. Mr. F. MACKENZIE deprecated the course suggested; and generally opposed the bill. Mr. FERGUS saw in the bill not improvement, but merely rash innovation, and was decidedly opposed to it. Mr. WHITESIDE made a few suggestions. Lord DRUMLANIIIG reinforced the opinions of the Lord Advocate with some of his own. He considered the bill ill-timed, and that precedence, at any rate, should be, given to the government measure. Mr. Forbes, Mr. Phillimore, and Mr. Dunlop took various views of the subject. Lord J. RUSSELL thought that the proper principle was to combine the advantages of local and central government ; and this he believed to be secured by the arrangement which Mr. Crsufurd proposed to overthrow. At the same time he was most anxious to secure any reforms which were likely to be beneficial to Scotland. The discussion was continued by Mr. Napier, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Cumming Bruce, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Archibald Hastie, and Mr. Elliott, who rung the changes upon the points started by preceding speakers. Mr. C RAUFURD in a brief reply expressed much re gret at the cows* the government seemed inclined to pursue b 7 adopting at once the principle of the Lord-Advocate's bill as a foregone conclusion. The motion was then agreed to. TIIR NATIONAL GALLERY. Colonel MOHR then moved the awpointment of a select committee to inquire into the mansgement of the National Gallery; also to consider in what mode the collective monuments of antiquity end fine art possessed by the nation may be most securely preserved, judiciously augmented, and advantageously exhibited to the public. He said that no longer since than the year 18.50 a committee of this house was engaged in a very similar kind of investigation, and it bad produced a report founded on a valuable body of evi dence. That committee, he believed, was suggested in a great degree by the excitement which at that time prevailed, owing to injuries alleged to have been committed on several fine paintings by a rash process of cleaning. But similar as might appear to be the object of the two committees, and short as might appear the interval between them, there were various circumstances that tended to justify the renewal of the late inquiry. In the first place there could be no doubt that a great advance had taken place both in the state of public opinion, and in the spirit of discussion relative to our art institutions since the year 1050, owing is a great measure to the great exhibition, which gave a new stimulus and improved direction to the enterprise of the country in almost every branch of artistic and industrial pursuits. But although the commit tee of 1850 went carefully into the question of cleaning, it did not appear to him to have altogether exhausted the sub- I jest. He thought some distinct expression of opinion should emanate from the House of Commons, were it only to tran quillise the public mind and to assure the public that the legislature was not indifferent to the matter. - - - Mr. EWA RT, in wending the motion, said he re. joked that his honourable friend had not limited it simply to the question of cleaning the pictures, but had wisely extended the motion to the general question. lle would confine his observations to two points,— first, as to the management of the National Gallery; and, secondly, as to the collection. The management had fluc tuated in an extraordinary manner between the Treuury and the trustees. They ought to have another system. It ought to be placed under the management of learned pro gnoses and of those who devoted their time to matters of this kind. The collection he considered was not half ex tensive enough. The architect, he believed, was asked if be had made provision for sculpture, and he said no. When asked why not, he replied that the minister of the day never gave hint to understand that a gallery for sculpture was required. The gallery ought to contain those beautiful drawings which contained the first ideas of the great mas ters. If they went to the Louvre they had free access to such drawings, but here they were buried, or at all events, somewhat concealed in the British Museum. Then at the Louvre for two or three francs, they could get fee similes of these drawirgs, which was a great advantage. In 1836 Mr. Woodburn offered to sell to the country for a small sum a great collection of the first drawings of some of the great masters, collected by no less a person than Sir Thomas Law rence, but the offer was not accepted, and some of them he believed had gone to Bavaria and others to Russia. He was glad to say that some of them remained, and had been collected at Oxford. It might be said it would be difficult to form a collection of this kind. But this was not impos sible. These drawings were often on sale, and if they seised the opportunity they might easily make a collection. Experience showed that it might be done. It had been done within a few ) ears at Berlin, under the superinten dence of an Englishman. The plan of the late Chancellor of the Exchequer appeared to be one for uniting the schools of design, the National Gallery, and all the other branches of ornamental art; and be thought that the offer made to bestow a portion of :the land at Kensington for the esta blishment of such an institution war one that would prove of the greatest service to the country. He was surprised that the proposal bad been received with so much coldness ; but in that respect it was like the Great Exhibition itself ; but, like the Great Exhibition, it would ultimately create the warmest enthusiasm. (Hear, hear.) He rejoiced that this right bon. gentleman had extended his motion so as to embrace a great variety of subjects; and he trusted that a beginning was about to be made that would lead to results of the greatest advantage to the country. _ Mr. B. WALL did not object to the appointment of the committee; on the contrary, he felt indebted to his hon. and gallant friend for having undertaken a task which he would find would prove to be no slight one. For himself he bad a most anxious desire that this committee should be the last. (Hear, hear.) There had been committee after committee, and commission after commission, and there was now • strong wish, out of doers at all events, that some decision should at length be come to. He hoped that the members of the committee would not enter upoa the en. quiry as partisans, and that the government would be pre pared to lay some satisfactory information before the house, in order that they might know how they stood, because the reports of the different committees and commissions had been most contradictory. Not to go back further than HMO, a committee was formed to inquire into the same subjects as those now proposed to be gone into. No sooner had that committee separated than a commission wee ap. pointed, which recommended one of two sites for a gallery, the one to which they gave their preference being in Bays water-road. The house never decided upon the point, and a new commission was issued, which had no sooner reported I than it was thrown over by a subsequent decision, 150,0001. being granted by government upon the condition that 150,0001. from the Great Exhibition fund should be added go it. That 300,0001., it seemed, was to be disposed of without the vote of the house; and It had turned out that the scientific societies which it was pro posed to accommodate under the same roof had refused the offer. He hoped that the house would require some furthet information before it consented to remove the National Gallery ; and ones more he trusted that the committee which had been moved for would be the last. (Hear.) Mr. H. D. SEYMOUR waggled that a csmmittee was to be appointed, because the public mind required to be satis fied on several points. As to the picture cleaning there was a general impression that the pictures had been Injured by the process; and he wondered that the government, as trustees of the public property, had not thought themselves bound to interfere. (Hear, hear.) As to the question of management, while he entirely agreed with Mr. Ewart as to the desire of uniting sculpture and the other attendaat arts with painting, he entirely dissented from the plan put forth in a pamphlet which he supposed had re ceived the sanction of the government, from the fact that its author had recently been appointed to an important o ffi ce—namely, that the pictures should be removed from the control of the trustees, and placed under that of the keeper of the national pictures. lie looked upon this as quite a crisis in the history of art. The natural way would be to leave the artists and the peo ple of this country to settle their own relations between themselves ; but another way was to introduce a continental system, namely, to establish a state education in art, at d a protective system with regard to artists. That was a ques tion that would require the greatest deliberation. (Hear, hear.) Another point was the precise limit of the commit tee's inquiry ; and he should have been glad if that had been more distinctly defined than was the case in the reso lution. As to the removal of the National Gallery to Ken- ' sington, the committee would no doubt be guided by the evidence laid before them. The subject was one upon which public opinion ought to be consulted. Sir Charles Barry had stated that the site in Trafalgar-square was, far sgricultural—(lauphter)— he meant architectural purposes, the finest in the world; and before they gave up such a site—the very eye of London, as it were—they ought to have some evidence as to the feelings of the inhabitants of the metropolis on the subject. ( 'Ulcers.) Sir 0. STRICKLAND thou,ht the committee would bo more likely to be • useful one, if its inquiries had some limits, inttead of rambling into everything in the world that had reference to the fine arts. The hon. member for Dum tries had proposed to include matters that properly belonged to the province of the British Museum. As to the pictures themselves, he would only say that as far as his own opinion went, many of the finest had been totally destroyed by what was called cleaning. (Hear, bear.) 'There were se veral pictures which for a large portion of his life he had been accustomed to admire, he only now looked upon with disgust and shame. (Cheers.) Lord J. RUSSELL could not ssy that he agreed with the hon. geot:eman who had last spoken, fur he not only thought that the matter could not be in better hand., but dirt the hon. and gallant member had chosen very judici ous)y the terms of his resolution; because although no doubt the committee would inquire into the manner in which the pictures in the National Gallery had been pre served, and whether the cleaning bad or had net injured them, yet there were some other subjects of weightier mo ment that would require their attention. (Hear, hear.) The committee might direct their inquiries to obtain the opinions of those gentlemen who were best qualified to give them upon various important subjects. Fur instance, it was a question of great importance to ascertain whether the pictures and other monuments of art which we possessed might not become more of a national collection than it was at present. (Hear, hear.) It had always struck him that the National Gallery was rather such a collection as a private individual would make, than such a one as a nation ought to possess. (Hear, hear.) It was evident that there were many pictures and drawings which belonged to the first beginnings of art, and which a collector might not wish to have in his house, preferring rather to employ his money in buying more beautiful productions; and yet that those works might be of the greatest value both to artists, and to a nation that desired to show in its collection the history of the fine arts. (Hear, hear.) Whether it was possible, considering the various titles by which the national pictures were held—there were, for instance, many in the British Museum—whether it was possible to make such a collection was a matter upon which he could give no opinion at present; but he could see many difficulties in the way, that the committee would have care fully to consider. With respect to one matter which he had more than once mentioned to the trustees •1 the National Gallery, it was an object that it would not be difficult to accomplish—he meant to obtain a collection of the early Mahon masters. (Hear, hear.) These were pictures, beautiful indeed in themselves, but more valuable as showing the progress of art; and that was In object which he believed, witheutany great expenditure of money, they might reach. (Hear, hear.) Ile hoped that the hon. and gallant gentleman would not desist from his labours, and that they would be attended with useful results. He should agree to the committee. (Cheers.) Mr. J. BELL considered that the plans of the royal com mission for the Exhibition had, in several respects, come to an erroneous conclusion. In the first place, the learned societies had refused to go to the proposed building. The secretary of the Geographical Society in particular bad stated, that at present he was in constant communication with the governmeat OiliCes, and that that would be total y put an end to if they moved to such a distance. In fact, the learned societies would rather not accept the govern ment patronage than have it upon terms which would prove their utter ruin. Again, if the National Gallery were moved, it could not be taken to a worse place than to Kensington. Mr. Uwins said that the site of the Exhibition was the worst in the park, and Kensington was much lower than that. Mr. Faraday stated that for smoke Kensington would De just as bad as Trafalgar-square. Sir Chas. East lake said that if they removed the gallery to Kensington it would have to be opened on Sunday. (Hear, bear.) In fact, the site was in a mere corner of London, and the most uneentral that could be selected. Were it adopted the prophecy of Mr. Uwins would very likely be fulfilled— namely, that the pictures would not be so much injured by dust, because the attendance would be se much smaller. He (Mr. Bell), however, thought that the number who frequented the gallery was not a thing to be guarded against, but was a subject for cougratulation . (Hear, hear.) With respect to the proposed union of all the de partments of art, no one who had visited the magnificent gallery at Berlin could deny that that would be a most de sirable object ; but any advantaffe of that kind might be purchased too dear. It was obvious that the gallery could not be taken to the British Museum ; and if they emptied the Museum of its contents they would be throwing out of use a building which had cost upwards of a million of money. (Hear, hear.) Mr. HUME recollected the time when he had been ob structed in all hie endeavours to throw open the public col lections as a means of forming the public taste ; but he had lived to see those collections have a most remarkable effect on the taste, not only of the middle and lower clause, but of the highest ranks in society. He doubted, however, whether the hon. and gallant member's resolution did not embrace too much. The management of the National Gal lery was a subject upon which the public desired to have some information ; and five years ago he had moved for papers with a view to assist them in arriving at some knowledge upon the matter. Sir Robert Peel had assented to his motion, and the papers were produced. He found that the trustees had no in structions for their guidance ; and that the board consisted of one of those onsnium-gathsrunss of great men who attended to nothing. (Laughter.) There were on it the First Lord of the Treasury, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who had enough to do in their own depart ments; Mr. Samuel Rogers, who, like himself, was much the worse for wear and could be of little assistance ; the Duke of Sutherland, the Earl of Ellesmere,and other noble lords; Mr. T. Baring, who had been on another commission with him (Mr. Hume), and never attended ; and, lastly, Sir Charles Eastlake. Sir Charles was, in fact, the com mittee himself. (Hear, hear.) Then he found in the minutes that three or four meetings had positively been held to settle whether a man should have 11.45. (Laughter.) He found also minutes of the refusal of pictures offered to be presented. The public would like to have some ex planation of that. (Hear, hear.) Perhaps it was that they had no room. Now what he wanted to see was, more room and better management. (Cheers.) There was capital enough in this country to form a school of art of our own, and one that would be worthy of the age in which we lived. (Hear, hear.) The management, however, unfortunately was but peddling, and did not take a sufficiently enlarged view of the case. (Hear, hear.) He did not desire to see any concentration of our galleries . He would much rather have them kept separate, so as to be available for a larger portion of the population. In parti cedar he wished the gallery at Hampton Court to be re tained. If the National Gallery must be removed to Ken sington, why not make use of the Palace ? He did not see why that large building should be held by a late Secretary to the Admiralty. (Hear, hear,) However he had come to the conclusion that Kensington was the worst site that could be selected. He would rather remove the barracks and buy up the workhouse behind Trafalgar moaare, and enlarge the present gallery. (" Oh, oh.") MIMI was in fact almost the only point upon which Sir Charles Barry and himself agreed. (Laughter.) It was • mistake to suppose that the people of England had no taste far the fine arts. He believed that many hon. gentlemen paint would live to see the day when they would not only bays more taste, but would have better opportunities at forded them of forming that taste than were possessed by any of the nations of the continent. (Hear, hear.) Let the hon. and gallant gentleman, then, not be afraid of making a beginning, and he had no doubt the result would be serviceable to the country. (Hear, hear.) Mr. GLADSTONE said that as some hon. gentlemen Aga gh t the motion included too much, and others too little, lime was room left for the comfortable belief that it had easily been framed in a very judicious manner. (Hear, hear.) It appeared to be supposed that the government were absolutely pledged to the removal of the National Gallery ; but he was informed that no such decision had been come to. (Cheers.) Nothing had been done, in ease the 'ehire opinion was adverse to its removal, th at would render it necessary. (Cheers.) With respect to the clean ing of the pictures, very strong expressions had been made use of as to the injurious effects of the process ; but he thought that rimething was due to public servants of high character ; and he trusted that nothing would be prejudged which they had done in the performance of their (linty. Mr. Segue had done all he had with the greatest care and under the constant superintendence of Mr. Uwins. Indeed, he (Mr. Gladstone) had a letter from Mr. Segue, in which he said, " I assure you that in all my vary extensive practice, I don't recollect any pictures which have proved more to my satisfaction." (Hear, hear.) It would be much fairer, then, to all parties, as the matter was about to undergo a close investigation, that they should suspend their judgment for the present. Mr. LOCKE regarded with some alarm the introduction of a foreign system, and on a previous occasion be had ex premed his sentiments on the subject ; but as the right hon. gentleman had stated that the government were not pledged to the removal of the gallery, he should not trespass upon them with any remarks. They ought never to forget that great school which already existed for the development of those great branches of manufacturing industry and in genuity, upon which the prosperity of the country so mainly depended. The motion was then agreed to. PROBATE OF WILLS. Mr. HADFIELD presented petitions from the North Western Railway, the capital of which was 22,000,0001., and from the solicitors of Sheffield, complaining of the in conveniences of the present laws relating to the probate of wills. The hon. gentleman then moved for leave to bring in a bill to prevent the necessity of obtaining several pro bates of the same will, and several grants of administration in respect to the estate and effects of any deceased person ; and to make certain amendments in the law of evidence in respire to the proof of wills, and of probates and grants of administration. The bill would be an exceedingly short one. It would make one probate sufficient, and it would also enact that the probate should be proof of the devise of a real estate as it was of personal property. Inconvenient w4the present system was in England, it was of trifling moment compared with what was the case in Scotland and Ireland. He congratulated the house on the recent speech of the Solicitor-General; but the matter he was introduc ingts heir notice was of too pressing a character to be Postponed until some general measure of reform should be introduced. Ile had conferred with the hon. and learned gentleman, and he had his sanction for saying that he would not oppose at least the introduction of the bill. Mr. BROWN seconded the motion, and expressed his belief that great public convenience would result from the measure if it passed into a law. Mr. IL PHILLIMORE said he would not oppose the introduction of the bill, which if it were what It professed, would confer a great benefit en the country. Ile knew a case where it was necessary to obtain probate both iu York and Canterbury, and also to get a certified will from the colonies. (Hear, bier.) Still he thought the alteration ought to form part of the general measure promised by the government, which, if e 6 (live, would entitle them to last ing gratitude. No greater public benefit could be conferred than by placing the whole testamentary jurisdiction of the country under one control. (Hear, hear.) Mr. COWAN spoke to the inconvenience felt in Scotland from the evil complained of, and hoped that Scotland I would, if possible, be embraced in this hill, or at any r_te would receive the benefits of any int.woved IMMO was then given to bring in the bill. THE LEOMINSTER PETITION. The SPEAKER announced that he had received an in timation from the petitionen against the return of Mr. J. G. Phillimore for Leominster, and that it was not their in tention to proceed with the petition. The order for further proceedings on the petition was then discharged. ASSURANCE ASSOCIATIONS. Mr. WILSON, in moving for a select committee on as surance associations, said it was impossible to name any subject containing principles of greater difficulty, or one on which more di ity of opinion prevailed, than that involving the interferenro of the go. vernment in trading amsociations. It was impossible to Iciok at insurance associations without regarding them in that light. It might be properly said, on one hand, that so long as the principle of public and open competition was relied upon, the interference of the government in any way what ever was rather likely to create a false reliance on the power of the government, and thereby inflict an injury rather than a benefit on the public relying on such security. On the other hand, it was fairly contended, with regard to associations of this description, which came to the legisla ture for peculiar privileges, that it was the bounden duty of that house, in granting those privileges, of whatever character or description, to accompany such grant with pro per aecuritit s to the public that those privileges should be used for their advantage. He would not attempt to decide between those two opinions ; but if the principle of inter ference were admitted at all—as it had been—they ought to take care, while interfering as little as possible with tho principle of private competition, to confer on the public the security which that interference professed to give. He wished to guard himself against being supposed to he the advocate of one class or the other. Out of the house there was a strong contention between the old, or proptietary offices, and the new, which were generally established on the principle of mutual association. Let the house understand that the government had, and could have, no object whatever in advancing the interests of one of these classes in preference to the other. The only object they had was to see that the privileges sanctioned by act of parliament were not so far abus e d as to place the public in a condition of insecurity, from which they had a right to be protected by that house. The enor mous magnitude to which these associations had grown was perhaps not generally understood, or the enormous amount of capital invested in the handsel( their managers. In Scotland alone,the liabilities of fifteen insurance offices had now risen to 33 millions sterling; the assets already paid up amounted to via millions sterling ; Jind their annual incomes exceeded one and a half million. Taking Great Britain, without including Ireland, the house would be astonished to hear that the capital of these institutions amounted to no less than 1.50 millions sterling at the smallest estimate ; and their aggregate income from premiums—paid by the moat deserv ing and best classes of society—(hear, hear)—who were justly and properly entitled to the guardianship of the nouse, from the providence they exhibited, and the great amount of self-denial they exercised in this enormous annual saving—was not less than five millions sterling,' equal almost to the entire amount of the income tax. (Rear, hear.) When site house knew the unsatisfactory way in which these institutions were conducted—new ones springing into existence one day, and falling like an autumn leaf the next—(hear, hear)—they would hardly allow the system to go on without taking means to place it on a More satisfactory basis than that on which it now rested. (Hear, hear.) One of the earliest thing; that attracted the attention of the government was the abuse of these insti tutions. As they were formed under acts of parliament, it was impossible for the government to stand by, with their eyes open, and allow them go on without at least making some effort to call public attention to them, and, b a parliamentary Imp*, to discover some means whereby so important a trust ought be placed on a more sure and satisfactory basis. (Hear, hear.) Every one would agree a. to the enormous utility which these associ ations were capable of yielding to the public. He knew of no modern institutions or inventions which, in a social point of view, were of greater importance than the establishment of these offices, calculated as they were to win people to provident habits, and to supply them with an easy and facile mode of making provision for the future and for there I who were to follow them. (Hear.) Just in proportion u' this was the case, and as the public felt the importance of I these institutions, should they strive to place them on such a footing as should give that securPv to the public which should induce them to use them to die greatest possible ex tent; for in proportion to the extent to which they were used was the benefit they were calculated to confer on the community. In another point of view, they might be looked upon as a most admirable mode of accumulating the capital of the country in funds of large amount, capable of being used for purposes of a kind to which banking deposits and blinking assets could not be proierly applied. The landed interest and public op rations of vitriol's kinds had derived the greatest possible benefit from thine funds, owing tithe circumatvnce that they could be invested for much longer periods than the funds of bankers. As an example of the benefits likely to be derived from funds so accumulated, he might mention that a number of lons made on the security of the govern ment for the purpose of carrying on improvements in the West Indies and other parts of the Briish dominions, had been chiefly taken by the insurance offices. Thus those funds which had been accumulated for the future benefit of individuals, became in the meantime most useful for pur poses of public utility. It was impossible to over-estimate the responsibility of those who undertook the management of those institutions; and he should be glad could he feel any degree of assurance that in every case the gentlemen who undertook to bring into existence such companies, felt the weight and responsibility of what they were doing, and only did so with a view to the advantage of those whose advantage they professed to consult. He should feel comfortaole if he believed that all these insti tutions were started with the bona fide objects which professed, and were not, as in too many cases he believed they were, mere covers for fraud upon those insuring with them. (Hear, hear.) The character of these institution was different from almost every other joint stock company existing under the act of 1844. In banks and other joint stock companies the responsibility was not so great. If a person was dissatisfied with a bank, he had only to close his account. If a bank broke great loss was indicted , upon the community, but that loss was momentary. In a tire insurance office, a party paid his premium for a year; and at the expiration of the year he might renew his policy, or not, as he pleased. If he doubted the solvency or re sponsibility of the office, he might remove his insurance. But with regard to life insurance, it was quiie a different thing: whatever doubts a man might feel, be was hardly in a position to change. (Hear, hear.) Ile therefore looked upon these institutions much more is the character of a sacred trust for the future than as an investment for the present ; because the present payment was to secure a future return years hence, and individuals were induced to make great sacrifice. and exercise great self-denial for ben* fits which they would never themselves enjoy, but which • sense of duty made them endure, in order the better to provide for those who should follow them. (Hear, hear.) Therefore these associations might be taken fairly out of the strict category of commercial institutions; and if the legislature professed to regulate joint-stock banks and other companies, they were doubly justified in interfering with regard to those institutions. But whatever might be the difference of opinion on the question of interference, they had not now to judge whether they should interfere or not. They had interfered—(hear, bear)—so far as to make the public rely upon that interference ; they had become to a certain extent responsible for the good management of these concerns, t ecause they had given them parliamentary sane tion; and having done so, they could not now argue the question of interference or non-interference. Having in terfered, it became their duty to see that that inter ference was as effectual fur the purpose as possi ble, and that, under the shadow of that inter ference, gross frauds were not perpetrated upcn the public. The act for the regulation of joint-stock companies (7 and 8 Victoria, passed in 18.14). provided that these in stitutions should be registered, like other joint-stock eons. pauies, and that each company should furnish to the joint stock company register-office an annual balance-sheet, showing the state of their affairs. He extremely regretted to say—and this was fealty the ground on which the govern. meat felt bound to take further steps—that both those securities had been grossly violated and abused. (Hear, hear.) The registration bad in many cases been a name, and not a reality. (Hear, hear.) The act required that the deed of the company should be registered, and that, before complete registration could take place, the deed should be signed by a certain proportion of the partners, and a certain proportion of the capital subecri3ed. Bat it was • notorious fact, that the greatest possible frauds and deceits were committed in this process of registration. (Hear, hear.) Two or three persons wishing to get up a company hail no difficulty in prevailing on 30 or 40 others to put down their names as subscribers, who, cn inquiry, could not be found. It frequently happened there were no such persons; and more frequently still, when their circumstances were inquired into, they were found to be men of no responsibility whatever. (Hear, hear.) A recent report from the assistant registrar of joint-stock companies was conclusive as to the evil operation of that part of the act, and fully pointed out the mode in which these frauds were perpetrated. The other test which had been provided by the act, for securing the solvency and respectability of these concerns— namely, that of having an annual balance-sheet, was as much evaded as the other. (Hear, hear.) It was impos sible for any person to discover any deficiency in the bal ance-sheets of the various companies, as contained in the returns laid before parliament. There was nothing false on the fame of these documents and accounts. But every one knew that the production of these balance-sheets was • mere sham and delusion. In 25 offices which hailsubmitted their accounts, the premiums received amounted to 426,0001.; and the cost of manag. meet to 287,0001. ; leaving a compa ratively small balance out of nearly half a million. (Hear, hear.) In the face of facts like this, it would be criminal in the executive government to stand still with folded acme. (Hear, hear.) At the same time he was bound to say, that cases of this kind were the exception; and that the great hulk of the offices were, under proper management, not only solvent, but prosperous. There was, therefore, no ground for unnecessary alarm in the public mind. (Hear.) The accounts were clear, and there was no reason why the public should suspend their habits of providence, or their confident c in offices of respectability, iu consequence of the facts stated and the inquiry proposed. If, in consequence of this inquiry, the public would be better able to distinguish between those offices which were sound and good and those which were bail and unsound, they could proceed with the greater secueity in their sc's and habits of providence. We did not wish to interfere unneces sarily with existing offices or with future offices. His ob ject was, that the security they gave should be of a real character, and not mere shams and delusion,. (Hear, hear.) It had been proposed that joint-stock e..sup ones sboull ba subjected to the test of paying up a pertion of their capital before registration, as a proof of their lama tides; for i t was said that some of them, as they were now got up, deserved rather the appellation of swindling concerns. (Hear, bear.) He begged to call the attention of the house to the number of offices which had been projected and established sine. the passing of the act in 1844. No fewer than 355 bad been projected in London since 1841. Of the-e 149 had bees founded, and of those which were founded 90 bad ceased to exist, so that 59 had come into existence since that pu rled. Lest year—for every year things were getting worse_ 72 had been registered, 18 were founded, and 12 existed. (Hear, hear.) Now, although 12 of these only contioueil to exist, there could be no doubt that considerable sums of money were drawn from the public for those which never existed at all. (Hear, hear.) They could not, th ere f ore, go on any looter with out inquiry. (Hear, hear ) Ile ae. knowledged the great utility of these institutions, but it was necessary that the subject should be sifted in order to see whether the provisions of the act of parliami ut could not he made effectual, and whether parliament could in its wisdom devise any further provisions for the public protec tion. (Hear, hear ) A discussion followed, in which Mr. Whalley, Mr. Forster, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Daniell, Mr. Hume, Mr. T. Chambers, and Mr. Sotheron, took part. The opinions ex essed were generally favourable to the inquiry ; but Mn. Hume and Mr. T. Chambers were very decidedly art opi nion that any legislation upon the subj,et was unnecessary, and that the public could take care of itself; which Mr. Chambers believed to be proved by the tact of the large number and immense wealth of so many good societies, and the rapid failure of so many had ones. THE EASTER HOLIDAYS. Lord J. RUSSELL said he wished to give a notice which he had not been able to give before. It was that on Friday the 18th instant he should propose the adjournment of the house from that day till Monday the 4th of April, and that be should also propose that on Thursda)l after Easter orders of the day should take precedence of motions. THE SHIP NOVELLO. On the motion olgri MC*NTz the following members were nominated a select committee to inquire into the seizure of the ship Novello : Mr. Muntz, Lord Star li y, Sir F. Baring, Mr. Spooner, Mr. Cowper, Mr. A. Hattie, Mr. K. Sumer, Mr. Price, and Col. Boldero. CAPTURE OF THE SHIP VIOLET BY PIRATES. Mr. WHALLEY stated that in constquence of a promise from her htlitsty's government to take this subject into consideration, he should postpone his motion with respect to it until that day week. TILE STRANGERS' GALLERY. On the motion of Mr. MtNri a select committee was ap pointed to inquire if the reporters and strangers may he allowed to remain in the house during divisions, excepting on special occasions; and, if possible, to devise some plan by which the time allowed between the divisions being de clared and the doors being closed shall be correctly and satisfactorily determined. HULL ELECTION. On the motion of Mr. CATIOLCIIEIiId it was agreed that the Speak( r should not issue his warrant for a new writ for the borough of Kingston-upon-Hull before Tutsday the 12th day of April next. TAVISTOCK. ELECTION. Mr. BROTHERTON moved, on behalf of Mr. Tanen, that the minutes of the evidence taken before the select committee on the Tavistock election petition, and minutes of proceedings, should be laid before the house. Mr. T. CHAMBERS would like to know why this mo tion was made, when the only question which had been raised was the qualification of a candidate. Mr. BROTHERToN said the explanation of the matter was, that his right hon. friend, the member for Deronpott (Mr. Tufnell) intended to bring forward a motion with re gard to the property qualification, and with that view had consulted the chairman of the committee. THE CHATHAM ELECTION. On the motion of Mr. 1311.41(31'0N, it was agreed that the evidence taken: before the committee on the Chatham election petition should be printed, and that the Speaker should not issue his warrant for a new writ till the 11th of April next. The Designs Act Extension Bill was read a third time. CATHEDRAL APPOINTMENTS BILL. On the order of the cloy for going into committee on this bill, Mr. EWART complained that the incomes of deans were still various in amount, in opposition to an understanding which had been come to that they were to be equalised. Many deans had '2,0001. a year, whereas it had been under stood that 1,0001. was to be the maximum. The intention of the legislature had so far been defeated. The bill passed through committee. INDEMNITY BILL. This bill was read a second time. TILE PILOTAGE BILL. This bill was brought is and read a first time. The house adjourned at a quarter to 10. Mr. IV. 0. S'anley wag shut out from the division on the Canada Clergy Reserves Bill. NEW COMMITTEES APPOINTED. Yesteriny the General Committee of Elections ap- pointed the following members to serve on the follow ing Committees: tiILHNCESTEIL.—Hon. Edwin Laseelles (chairman), Hon. E. Yorke, Col. Ferguson, Mr. G. H. Vanaittart, and Sir J. Haunter. Mar.nort.—Lord Robert Grosvenor (chairman), Mr. T. Phinn, Right Hon. G. Mulkey, Sir H. F. Davie, and Mr. H. G. Liddell. EXPLOSION OF A RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE. SHOCKING LOSS OF LIFE. A terrible accident occurred yesterday morning at LongsiAt, near Manchester, by the explosion of a railway locomotive belonging to the London and North Western Railway Company. Loagaight is a depot for engines. It is about two miles south of Manchester, close to the main hue; and besides extensive works for mechanics employed in repairing, there is an immense shed, of nearly circular form, into which engines are taken to clean, oil, be supplied with fire from the coke oven, and in which the steam is got up. It is about 150 yards in circumference, and is lighted by a circular lantern iu the centre of the roof, 40 feet high. It has eight pairs of rails, radiating from a turn-table in the centre, with eight pits, over which the engines are placed for examina tion and cleaning. Yesterday morning, amongst six or seven of the locomotives in this shed, was one standing on the south side, with the steam got up. It was engine No.l, being the first locomotive ever built for the Manchester and Birmingham Company, 12 or 13 years ago, by Messrs. Sharpe, Roberts, and Co. This locomotive bad been under going thorough repair, and was to have left the shed for the first time since renewal yesterday, the steam having been got up at 8 o'clock for the purpose. About 5 minutes to nine o'clock, however, the boiler burst with a terrific explosion, which was heard for miles, tearing the part over the fire-box into three separate pieces, hurling each to a distance of six or seven yards destroying five of the pillars supporting the structure, and blowing off and destroying upwards of 1,500 !queue feet of the slated roof. In this shed from 60 to 80 workmen were at breakfast, dispersed in groups about all parts of it, and hence a shocking loss of life, four men being killed on the instant, in addition to some ten or a dozen carried away, more or less severely hurt. Four men were sitting close to the next pit, on the west side of that over which the engine exploded, about six or seven yards distant, and upon these unfortunate men an immense sheet of iron, forming one side of the boiler over the fire place, about six feet by four, and to which apiece of the ash-box was attached, weighing altogether 6ur 7 cwt., tell; and these are the men killed. Their names are Thomas Gresty, of Gorton, a married man, having a wife and five children—his skull badly fracturei ; James Snowdon, of Chancery-lane, Manchester, married man—skull and right leg fractured; Wm. Black, of Gorton Brook, married man skull much fractured ; James Moore, of Pinmill Brow, Manchester, married man—skull much fractured. All these men were also badly scalded. The workmen were of course fearfully alarmed, and those who conk escaped from the building at once, but in a state of great excitement. A large number, however, were covered by the roof having fallen in, and those who had escaped were set to work as soon as possible to rescue their fellow. workmen, which they effected in a short time. When the engine exploded, Edward lieffern, the driver, was on the top of it, and William Cheetwood, the fireman, was in the pit underneath raking the ashpan ; and how they escaped with life is wonderful. They are, however, seriously hurt. Reffern, who was found by the side of the tender, alter the explosion, was found to have sustained compound fractures of the skull and of the right leg ; and Cheetwood had his face badly scalded, besides other injuries. 1 hey were both carried to the Manchester Infirmary, and lieffern's is considered a very dangerous case. The following were also conveyed to the Infirmary : about 10 o'clock William Coweell, of 3 , Rider's-court, May -street, Manchester, boiler-maker, aged 26, basing a scalp wound and fracture of one knee ; Ralph Brundrett, Gorton-brook, aged 24, with a laceration of one thigh ; Charles Clyde, 10, Edward -street, aged 26, labou rer, fracture of one arm and leg ; Joseph Ainsworth, 1, Crook-street, boiler-maker, aged 38, laceration of the sale, Robert Tabley, 56, Burt:street, aged 34, scalded face. Besides these seven taken to the infirmary, many others were led home, some much injured, and °then but slightly. These included Ralph Turner, contused head; James Muckle, contusion of the head; Rickard Hough, struck by a bar of iron, and repotted i• a dying state; Joseph Blears, contusion of the head ; and Edward Bolt, contusions on the head. On the boiler exploding the engin , broke from the tender and darted forward about twice its own length, whilst the tender recoiled only a few feet. The fire-box dropped into the pit immediately under the place where the engine had stood. The cause of the ezplos;on is not known. Though the engine was a very old one, and had received a new fire-box, it appears to have been soun d . There are patches on the boiler, but the rens caused by the explosion are not through these or any part in which there is evidence of a flaw. The wrought iron roof of the external covering of the fire-box seems to have been blown off in one piece, drawing with it the copper stays, and is torn through the centre of the ricer holes on both sides. Another piece is torn through the solid wrought-iron plate for several feet in length, eighths tl.ick, and in one place through two tkickne ssa l the plate. A coroner's inquest on the four bodies of the H killed, which have been removed to the WaggWaggon orses public-hou s e, Longsight, will probably be held a day. three: TILE CONSERVATIVE LAND SOCIET V.—The shah purchase of the society was made yesterday in 'Wend shire between the towns of Ware and Ileriturd.