The Express. — London, England, 1853-02-15 00:00:00

ELECTION PETITIONS. The SPEAKER. read a report from the Emilie,' of animas stating that the petitions could not be pro coded with in the following asses :—(iloucester, Norwich, Iliddlewl, Kidderminster, Yougtial, County Down, and wean Norfolk. Slit C. WOOD'S SPEECH AT HALIFAX. Er. DISRAELI said he had given notice of a question 0t ....4 he intended to put this evening to the right hon. tmreoet the President of the timed of Control. He ob serail ,:at the right hon. berooet was not in his place ; hat it it were mire convenient to the government or would tie considered more fair, he would mention the sub jet .:. net oily of the relation , between this country and the French .sivernment before the how,e went into committee of soppy on Friday evening, and thus give as opportuoity for en ez t e nded esplanstions ; but it was entirely with t he government to say whether they wished the question to be put n.,w Or not. Ltd J. RUSSELL—My right hon. friend the President of the Board of Control is not able to naiad, but, as the rieht hon. gentleman has given notice of his question, he n,rt i r proceed with it. (Cheers.) lies DISRAELI, after reading the part of the speech o f s a C. Wood which he quoted on the former evening, m a which was again loudly cheered by the house, said he "b e d to inquire whither that was en accurate end fair re pir:ot the sentiments expressed on that occasion by the nitit fun. 'pathos in. Lord J. ItCSSELL—Mr. Speaker, the right hon. gen tleman in alluding to this subject the other night, stated t ine mt rght hon. friend, the President of the Board of Conte :, took oces•ion, in his speech at Halifax. to advert to at 1610,411 relations, and that, in speaking of France, ke used the words which have been repeated this evening. Now, to the first place, L think it may be necessary to state that what my right hen. friend said was not in a speech upon our foreign relations, that he was not pliertiag to that subject at all, but that in his eisech at Halifax he too marina to argue the question ▪ oniver•al suffrage and parliamentary reform generally, end need the illustrations which he thought appropriate to that at+ et. There is a very great difference between te eing an argument drawn front the state of France ea that sril going over our foreign relations and speaking of France in the manner the right hon. gentleman repre sented—cheer, hear) ,—but I thought it necessary, after whit the riot; hon. gentleman said in this house, to call upon m y ei4lit hon. friend; and he has written me a knee upin this subject, which I will read to the house. He 4.1)• " 1 am sorry to hear that any expressions reported to have been u-sol by me in addressing a meeting of my coati meats at Halifax should have been understood as offensive to the Emperor of the French. I cannot pretend to say I whether I did or did not ivie the precise words contained iu the reports of my speech, but it is very passible that, speak ing as I was, without any premeditation, in a meeting of that kind, an incautious expression may have escaped me. I In • pointing out the advantages of temperate and well comidereu rennin as contrasted with more violent and pre eipitate measures, and in proof of this I referred to the eyelets of the lest few years in neighbouring countries, where the temporary success of the extreme revolutionary party had led to the establishment of arbitrary power, and la France that this hail been carried to en extent unprece dated in the time of the first Emperor, and with the con sent of the French people, who bad, on two occasions, voting by ballot sad on the principle of universal suffrage, Mist honed the course pursued by the President end Emperor. 1 repressed no opinion on the conduct of the Emperor, a indeed of any one, though I cannot conceive that ate English minister is to be precluded (tom adverting to sela he understands to be the state of things on the Continelt —(loud cries of ' Hear, hear')—but I can say, with His inmost sincerity, that in doing so nothing could be further from my ititenti9n than to use any words which could be considered as offensive to the Emperor, sad I regret that soy mires/Ono should have fallen from me on that ermsinn on which such an interpretation can have been *ad." (Rear, bear.) iLeed cheers followed the reeding of this letter.) THE MILITIA. Mr. lIINDLEY referred to some proceedings which had been taken (as we understood) in Buckinghamshire against parties for exhibiting placards tending to dissuade persona from enlisting in the Militia, and inquired whether the re port was correct ? Viscount PALMERSTON—I thick the house will feel that those persons who, by circulating placards or papers, interfere with her Majesty's service, and prevent the colon. try from obtaining that means of defence which is sme ary, are guilty of a very grave offence—(cheers)—and re quire, whether they receive it or not, the punishment which any I.w may award against them. (Cheers.) ELECTION OF PROVOST OF ETON. In answer to a question from Mr. Prams, Viscount PALMERSTON said that the repent election of a provost at Eton had taken place in accordance with the established usage of nomination by the crown. He believed there bad been another election, but notking had passed to affect the right of the crown to nominate. SAVINGS BANKS. Mr. H. HERBERT inked whether it wu the intention of the government to introduce any IMAM, this session to 1111 , 14 the law relating to In m an b an k s . The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—My 'Hen. tin has been directed to this subject. and I fully recognise what was stated by the Late government on a former we, sift, namely, that there is a very urgent necessity for the ansMinsamt of the laws respecting savings hanks, and 1 ellpemat $ stossure to the house on that subject as suss se I ass arm one which I think will be satisfactory. WARLIKE PREPARATIONS IN FRANCE. Mr. COBDEN—In the Times of last Saturday a letter appeared, in a nerprominent position, signed by a peer of the realm, and which contained, amongst other similar statements, regardiag the question I am going to put, the following :—" Peculiar circumstances have enabled me to obtain information, which cannot be doubted, upon impor tant points, bearing upon those questions ; but, before re- tarring to it, I would state that I have lived in France ; have been on terms of intimacy with many Frenchmen, and have lost no opportunity of making myself acquainted with the state of public feeling." A little way further Gabe says: " I therefore contend that every additional ship to that great force (they have sow 110 f• sailors in their pay than we have, without our vast coloaial empire) is an additional proof that they do contemplate a descent on our shores. I have received positive information, which Maaot be doubted, that they are now striving to the very utmost to increase their naval force in every manner, and that arrangements have been officially decided upon to con tinue year alter year similar exertions. I eannxt give my authority, but trust that I shall be believed when I say, that this information may be most thoroughly tilled upon." It cannot be doubted that a statement of this kind, made by a peer of the realm, from his owe peculiar sources of iaforenattos, must have a deep impression on the country ; Ind the question I wish to put is, whether the British go vernment have had any cononanication with the govern neat of Frazee upon Hie subject of the Increased naval preparations alleged to be inn oa is that eosatry. Lord J. RUSSELL—With respect to the emotion with which my hon. friend has concluded I am enabled to state that, although it is true that the Fr ench government have thought it right both to lacrosse sod to improve their naval means, yet that that Marone and that improvement have been going cm oradsally, sod are 604 at all soh, manii•noir that Frame is a snot maritime matey as would justify or require that the renamed of this eilenteg shoold either remonstrate Of pat my losutisa to the,.. peenameat France. (Hear, be ) I 'beg es add that the Maness between the two goantriee an of the meet friendly nature—(cheer)—and with respect to European affairs generally, the best under stsedlag_prevaile between the two poveroments. (Hear, hear ) With respect to say information which the noble lord to whom my hon. frieud has alluded may have re ceived, I certainly must profess my ignorance. (Hear, bear.) I believe that the government has tolerably good *forestial', sad I believe that there is no concealment on As part of the ignernment of France as to the improve mat sod ninon they are making in their ships; but with regard to say information which that neble lord may re erne, I certainly have no information whatever. All I Low is, that is that very letter the midge lord boa made some mistakes, for be speaks of the millimisawal of the ambassador at the time of the Pritchard triple, the fact being that on that occasion the aishormador aiet V L : e r ▪ withdrawn. withdon. (Hear, bear.) And I ass say, from the evide nce o f th at l e tt er , and of a r letter which was published in the Thom, that whatever in formation Lord Mount EJgecumbe may receive as to what is doing is the ports of Franco, he is very mach less informed as to whatpasses in my house Cr Hear, bear," and laughter.) His statement as to what paned in a house in L n ton , which happens to be my house, Is totally inaccu rate. (Hear. hear.) I do not attach so much importance ss my hon. friend thinks Dome people may d• to the au thority of a peer of the realm ; for it is clear that his in formation is not altogether infallible. (Cheers and haiku.) CORN AVERAGES. In answer to Mr. FfillWlN, Me. CARDWELL stated that the subject of con avengers, and the whole question of agMeultural statistics, wee ander the consideration of the Board of Trade. He was at present preparing a bill which would embody same of tho suggestions of the constituency of Mr. Frewen, as to ren tering it compulsory on the farmers to make returns at Their ova places of abode. GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH BILL. On the motion for going into committee on this bill, Sir G. PECIIELL complained of the darkness and con fusion in which the House of Commons was called upon to inithte on subjects connected with the General Board of H•alth. A promsional order was made the groundwork of legislation on these subjects, and yet he would venture to say that no one could cetnorehend what was meant by the various sections of the provisional orders, or even where they were to be had. When these things became SON Putridly known. an amendment of the act of 1848 mast mesdahly take place. It was true that one-tenth of the ishibitaats of a town must he given before a provisional order could be issued ; but every one knew bow easy it was to get such an anent. All that was necessary was to send two government men from Whitehall. Very large powers were given by these provisional orders; and yet it was not la the power of the house to alter any of the provisions they "tame.% They could only be dealt with by excluding them altogether. This was an unsatisfatoory mode of doing peblie business • but he had such confidence in the right tornr baronet-6w present head of the Board of Works—as b'exPect that it would he altered in a short time. With respect to the town of Brighton, he did not rise for the pur- Zirelf objeeting to the bill i n it s protein stage, but be the right hon. baroset would give time to the ia -141 "b l lants of that town to empress their opinions before the Protected to the next stage. W. IZOI.EiWORTII said he did not moan to defend Meru coorituboo of the Board of Health. The powers of that board would expire before the end of the i nest session of parliament, sad before that period arrived • the whole subject must be taken into consideration with a I view to its improvement. With regard to the town et, Brighton. two deputations waited upon him. By ono he I was told that the vestry were in fav on of Brighton being 1 included in the bill ; and by the other be was informed,' that at • public meeting the inhabitants declared them selves append to it. Now his own opinion was that the bill should not be applied mane a majority of the rate- • ‘ payers was is fuu fit. (Hear, hear.) He should therefore give sufficient time to the ntepayen of Brighton to express their opinion, and would act accordingly. Mr. HUME wished to know whether the right bon. 1 , gentleman would introduce a clause into the present bill Ito the effect, that if a majority of the ratepayers in any town were nut in favour of the measure it would not be 1 applied to them. In the ease of Yarmouth, it had been forced upon the inhabitants, altho::gh a vast majority of the ratepayers were opposed to it. If the right hon. baronet was not prepared to give an answer then, he would give notice that he would ask the question at s subsequent stage. The house thee went into committee, and the several clauses were agreed to with some amendments. COURTS OF COMMON LAW (IRELAND) BILL. The committal of this bill was postponed till Wednesday week. LAND TAX COMMISSIONERS' NAMES BILL. Oa the motion for postponing the committee on this bill, Mr. W. WILLIAMS objected to the power given to the county members to name the commissioners of land tax. He considered that he had as good a right as the members fur the county of Surrey to name them commissioners. Ile had some names to propose, and though he had no doubt they would be put on if he mentioned them to the members for the county, he objected on principle to take such a course. His constituency was more than twice that which returned the four members for the county. Why, therefore, should he ask them as • favour to put this* names on. Some years ago, when a similar bill was brought in, be divided the house on the insertion of the names so often that the Secretary of the Treasury gave way, and he obtained his point. He would take the same course again, if necessary. But be hoped the government would net sanction an absurd custom, sad put him to the trouble of dividing the house, which would occupy an inconvenient length of time. Mr. HUME would also submit it to the government, whether, as a change most take place in the mode of as sessing the income tax, a change should not also be made in the mode of appointing the persons who were to carry the act into effect. These eonanissioners were appointed, not by the authority of the responsible advisers of the crown, but by cliques throughout every part of the country. He h ad known tills carried to au extent that would hardly be credited. In the case of Mr. Fielden these Commis sioners seemed that gentleman to a large amount of profit, and distrained his goods, although it was clear that he was a loser by his business for the two preceding years, arid the government declared that they had nn power to inter fere. In the old times when tory members represented almost all the counties they had tory commissioners from one cod of the country to the other. (Hear, hear.) The time was now come when the mode of electing the Laid Tae Commissioners must be altered, and when all who had to do with the levying of the tax must he appointed under the authority of her Majesty's ministers. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he understood his hon. friend, the member for Montrose, to contend that great hardship arose to individuals from the circumstance that the government had no power of inter posing in cases in which the assessment was too high, and to propose that the government should be enabled to inter pose iu such cases. He would like to know whether his hon. friend proposed •so to give the government power to interfere in cases in which the assessment was too low. He thought that the real evil to be contended with was in- ..quality7 Mr. HUME said his complaint was, that the power of appointing the comminiunen did not rest with the govern ment, and that they had no power either of increasing or decreasing the amount to be levied. Sir 0. PECHELL hoped that the evil now complained of would be remedied. It was by no means a proper state of things that the commissioners for towns should be ap pointed by county members. Mr. FREWEN said the evil only existed in the ruse of new boroughs. lie himself appointed the commissioner for Brighton. but not for Hastings, because it was an an cient botosgh. He saw no reason why the borough com missioners should not be appointed by borough members. On the question that the bill be postponed till Monday, the 11th of April, Mr. W. WILLIAMS said he hoped some member of the government would state what course would be pursued. Mr. J. WILSON said if the hon. member had oommuni sated with him beforehand he would have taken care to ikon himself on the subject ; but all he could now do was mepomehe to investigate it in the interval of postponement. TIM milks wee then agreed to. The lam *ma went projoress into • committee of ways eel mess METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS. On the order of the day for going into committee on the Metropolitan Improvements (repayments out of Consoli dated Fund) Bill. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had put into the form of a resolution what was intended to explain the nature of this bill. He regretted that, owing to en inadvertence, the entry in the votes was calculated to produce an impression that the bill was designed to create • new charge in. the London-bridge Approaches Fund, in other words the cad duties levied in the port of London. There had ,in feet, been any such intention. The question was • purely financial one between one depart ment of the government, or rather one fund which formed part of the public revenue, and another fund called the Gmeolidated Fund; and the whole object of the bill was ai ll ed iseharging certain sums of money . out of the Fund, which was at present rich enough to bow the operation without inconvenienee, to escape from a payment of i nterest to which the land revenues of the crown had been for some time, and was still, liable on u mlaut of a considerable sum of money borrowed from pri vate parties for metropolitan improvements. His object was to relieve the public from the continued burden Cl that payment of interest. The house having gone Into committee, and the reeolu don having been proposed, Mr. HUME said, as the Chancellor of the Exchequer was the conservator of the public fund, Deceased the arrangement wee a proper one, and did rot o est therefore to its being carried out. There had certainly is an intri cacy in the amounts, which ought to be cleared up. Mr. BLACKETT said, as the bill would not interfere with the coal tar, he did not feel called upon to op pone it. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY would like to know what unseat was to he thrown on the aensolidsted fund ? Els CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the pie amuse bmeened wee sad the interest a ma n tgi hr tha _puma. 411011 Thee together to LOINIMIL l bee Miss there ware dedessisse Ihem that sum partly as 1•1111111111 of iliaTiZ a fr em ground peals, which were available Ise the liquid. of the debt, eel pertly oa neeseat of semi et messy available at that filleset from Os mina OEN mel detiom. The whole MI to be pal off, theredire, was from 940,0001. to til lrresolution was then agreed to, and the bill pared II MOO committee. THE SHERIFFS' COURTS OF SCOTLAND. The LORD ADVOCATE moved for leave to bring is a bill to facilitate procedure in the Sheriffs' Courts is Neat- Mod. He said this was a subject which had excited • good deg ot interest in Scotland, and he was happy to say that is baling with it he bad been enabled to avail himself of dm smisoness of suggestions drawn up by his predecease, in AM, gam was well qualified to prepare a steams of immageigit The Sheriffs' Courts of Scotland, which were sot at dt Ilaelegess to the County Courts of England, bad existed he motorise, and considerable abuses bad, in the progress of time, crept into the system, although on the whole *operation had been satisfactory. The complaints which had been addressed to himself had reference to delay an d septum. These were occasioned, he thought, by three sawn. In the first place, the pleadings were not Onefinelledlundly but committed to writing; the prepare d* and Mien of the papers necessarily involving consi derable delay and expense. A still greater evil was the taking of the evidence in writing. The witnesses, instead of being examined in open court, made their depositions in writing, and the house would easily understand what a frightful source of delay and espouse that must be. (Hear, hear Sometimes the proofs extended over weeks, month', and even years; and he need not say that to take evidence in writing was • very different thing from exa mining him i orally. (Hear, hear.) A third ground of complaint plaint was n respect to the facilities given Ihr appealing from the sheriff substitute to the *milt principal, which oftea occasioned much useless easy and expleee. These being the chief evils, he proposed le deal with the ordinary jurisdiction of the .heriff, lrst in =NMI above SW., then in caws be twee n 121. and 50L, and lastly, is sus mist IV. With regard to all of them, though it would be a greet i nnnnnnnnn in Scotch practice, he proposed to fits away entirely with written argumentative pleadings, and be had no fear that this would be found practically a very great improvement. Instead of the present system, he proposed that where proof was taken, the sheriff should take a note of the evidence, and that any review which might follow should be founded upon that note ; and that • similar course should be pursued when a ease was argued. He thought that when • case involved above 501., the principal should have a power of requiring oral p before him ; and he had made • provision that purpose. This was the substance of what be proposed with regard to the ordinary jurisdiction. He did not contemplate any *lteration In the office of sheriff as at present constituted, because that isedentlea I was considered to be the great advantage possessed by the Scotch over the English jurisdiction. An attempt to abolish the office had been made at a former period, and a commission was appointed to investigate and report, but that commitaion, with Lord Islay Campbell at its head, I unanimously reported for the continuaxce of the office. The only other change he contemplated was a simplification of the law of landlord and tenant, which would enable the former to obtain posseesioa without the necessity of an ee -1 lion, as at present. The learned lord concluded by moving for leave to bring in the bill. Mr. HUME was understood to approve of the bill as far as it went, but considered it to be little more than a half measure. What the peoele of Scotland wanted was a thorough and .earthing measure of reform, which should give them speedy. efficient, and cheap jo•tice. Mr. C. BRUCE said that the learned lord's explanation of the proposed measure gave him great satisfaction. Mr. CRAWFORD disapproved of the bill, but should reserve further observations fur future stages, when he THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 15, 1853. might probably have to move that the bill be referred to e committee. After a few words from Mr. Dr!coax, leers wu given to brim ; ht the bill. EXAMINERS IN CHANCERY. The SOLICITOR.GENERAL rose to move for leave to bring in a bill for the further regulation of the office of Examiners of the Court of Chancery. The learned gen tleman, who !woke rather indistinctly. was understood its say that this measure was rendered necessary by nee omissions in the larger measures of last session, but w•• not the only measure he sontrm•ilated, as he bad doter mined never to rest satisfied until he bad obtained that great desideratum—such a consolidation of the Courts of Chancery and Common Law, as should enable the same court to distribute ample and oompletd justice to all par ties. It would be recollected that the bill of last session substituted oral for written examination in the examiners' office, and for that purpose appointed two judges examiners. It was quite obvious that such • change in the system e•llyd for different duties and other qualifications in the Mate►, and therefore the then existing eiminuer obtained permission to retire ; but in the section authorising the re tirement two circumstances were omitted to be provided for. The oath was not altered to suit the reguireinentc of the new officer, nor was there any specification of the qualifications necessary for the office. The third omission referred to salary and retiring pension, and the object of the present bill was to remedy these deficiencies. Leave given. COAL DUTIES. Sir J. SHELLEYm47d tura select committee to in quire into the operation of the laws under which dues or taxes are lasted on the introduction of coals into the well o polls and the neighbourhood, the mode of collection, and the exp• nditura of such dues or taxes. Mr. HUME suggested some alteration, giving to the mo tion a more extended operation. Mr. GLADSTONE objected to any alteration in a motion to which the government had already agreed. It should be considered that much of this money was raised to replace money already paid, and the committee should not be in structed to interfere with the public faith. Lord J. RUSSELL thought that as government bad con sented to the motion, it shou.d not be altered. On the part of the City of London, he was enabled to say that every facility would be given to inquiry. Motion agreed to. CRIMINAL AND DESTITUTE CHILDREN. On the niniiost of Mr. %LINES, Sir J. Pakington was added to the committee on this subject. LEITRIM ELECTION._ _ _ Ths SPEAKER acquainted the house that he had re ceived a ccmmunication from the petitioners against the re turn fur the county of Leitrim, announcing the abandon ment of the petition. The house adjourned at 20 minutes put 7. erprelifi. TO CORIMPON DM 18. ..eeoud 1141ticta " The [sprigs." ersisialag 'be owe imall.fs nmwttr.,.ls pubilend every Tusk; eM L•riist *lO4 ui Vim kt &:.ert manna taleedod fa. 4 . he Expire," laelea guilt paw. cruet Le et tbe Oho, 10, etramiworeet, /my Tee isle* ea she 1.7 of psblieatisa. NIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDOR. Tarr Da*—llsrator. Gk. IT -Anomie. C• Om. I z-roomy —Morass. 7k. Ms- Aftermilk 7k. ria CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS. Yesterday the General Committee of Elections, appointed by the House of Commons, met in the grand corridor, No. 22, to nominate the first batch of select com mittees to consider and report upon the merits of the peti tions impugning so many of the returns at the laat elec tion. The members present were—Sir J. Trollops, in the chair; Sir F. Baring, Mr. Sitheron, Mr. K. Palmer, and Mr. E. Denison. The &Lowing select committees were named: TAVISTOCL.—Lord R. Grosvenor, chairman; Mr.Wyrill, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. Wigrom, and Mr. T. Chambers. BSIDGEKUATH.—The Hun. E. Buuverie, chairman; Mr . Locke King, Sir F. Dundee, Sir H. Willoughby, and Sir E. Beatelthull. Losicnsvaa.—Mr. E. Divett, chairman; Mr. 8. Cocks, Mr. ficholefield, the Hon. Cecil Forester, and Mr. Fergus. C AAAAA SUIIT.—Mr. H. Ker Seymer, chairman; Mr. Ewart, Sir J. B. East, Mr. Melillo, and Mr. Layard. It is expected the proceedings in reference to these elec tions will commence on Thur,day. 'Ube Court. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, with the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, the Prineesses Alice, Helena, and Louisa, and Prince Arthur, left Wind sor at that minutes before one o'clock yesterday after noon, for the station of the Great Western Railway, in Windsor. The Ladies and Gentlemen-in-waiting were the Countess of Charlemont, Lady Caroline Barriogtoe. the Hon. Caroline Cavendish, the Hon. Flora Macdonald, Earl Somers, Col. the Hon. C. B. Phipps, Col. the Hon. Charles Grey, Captain the Hon. Mortimer Sackville West, the Has ter of the Household, Lord Allred Paget, Lieut.-Col. the Hon. A. Gordon, and Mr. Gibbs. Her Majesty and the Royal Party travelled to London by a special tram, and on arriving at the Paddiogbon terminus entered several of the Queen's carriages, and proceeded to Buckingham Palace, where they arrived at eight minutes to two o'clock. A party of Light Dragoons farmed the escort from the station to the Palace. Her Majesty and Price Albert were re ceived at Buckingham Palace by the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Steward; the Marquis of Breadelbane, Lord Chamberlain ; the Duke of Wellington, Muter of the Horse ; Lord Ernest Bruce, Vice-Chamberlain; and Lord George Lemnos, Lord in-waiting to his Royal Highness. A deputation on the cabled of the Building Act, the sewers, and the police, and the necessity of local Rovern meet on these points, had an interview with Sir William Molenworth, yesterday, at the office of Works and Public Buildings, in Whitehall-place. The deputation consisted of Lard D udleyi Stuart, 11. P., Sir Benjamin Hall, M.P., Sir De Laey Beans, M.P., Mr. Nicholay, Mr. Toulmin Smith, Mr. Plum, Mr. Birdwell, Mr. T. Duncombe , M.P., Mr. G. Bird, Mr. Nelson, Messrs. Trelawny Saunders and James L,bram (St. Martin's), Wm. Geesin (St. James's), Home (St. Luke a), Guedalla (Islington), Williams, M.P. (Lans bath), C. Carr, Russell, Rowe, W. B. Greenwell, Buzzard and Cook, Messrs. J. F. Williams, W. W. King, H. Horn and Wm. Horn (overseers, St. Luke's), and about 23 other gintlemen. Ihe deputation had also an interview with Viscount Palmerston, Home Secretary, yesterday. [A full report appears in another column.] A deputation, consisting of Mr. Leslie Foster, Mr. Bai lee, Mr. Donaldson, Mr. Leslie, and Mr. Brooks, bad an interview with the Duke of Newcastle, yesterday, at the CeloniatoMee. The Governor and Deputy-Governor of the Bank of Bog _ . land had an interview with the Chancellor of the Bache quer yesterday at his official residence in Downing street. A deputation from Chorley, Lancashire, had an inter view yesterday with the General Board of Health, at their office, Whitehall. The deputation consisted of Mean. Anger, Wallworth, and J. C. Crook (solicitor.) They were attended and introduced by Mr. Robrrt Townley Parker, M.P., and Mr. John Wilson Patten, M.P. The Count Baptiste Metazi had an interview with the Duke of Newcastle yesterday, at the Colonial-41w. Despatches were seat yesterday from the Colonial-office to the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, and to the Governor of the Mauritius. Despatches were received yesterday from the Governors of the North American Provinces, and from the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands. The Speaker will hold two Levees this session— the first on the sth, and the second on Saturday, the 12th of March, each night at 10 o'clock. SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE AMENDMENT OF 1111 LAW.—Yesterday evening a general meeting of the members of this association was held at the society's rooms, 21, Regent-street—Mr. T. W. Kee, Q C., in the chair. The report on the "Assimilation of Commercial Law" was presented by the committee on comparative jurisprudence, the document being read by Mr. Hawes. The report was of a purely historical nature, the last sta dium gained having been the interview with Lord Derby, and the promise of the late government to consider the pro priety of appointing a commission. Mr. Hawes, in urging the necessity of bringing the views of mercantile men to bear upon commercial legislation, pointed to the evident impropriety of an ex-Chancellor (Lord St. Leonard.) giv ing notice to rescind an act passed with so much difficulty as was the Bankruptcy Consolidation Act, and this without toting counsel of the commercial community. A report on professional remuneration was afterwards read by Mr. 1. B. Allen. SUDDEN DEATH AT A BALL.—AII awful instant* of the uncertainty of human life occurred at a ball given last week at Ludlow to the inhabitants of the town by the Hon. R. B. Clive and Lady Harriet Clive, in return for the festivities which took place on the marriage of their son, on. of the members for the borough, R. B. Clive, Esq., with Lady Mary Bridgman, youngest daughter of the Earl of Bradford. About eleven o'clock, just as Mrs. Evans, the wire of a tradesman of the town, stood up for the purpose of joining in the dean', she suddenly dropped. Prompt assistance was rendered but in vain. Though three medical gentleman immediately ran to her assistance she was a corpse before the could eves be removed from the ball room. She has unfortunately left live children as well as her husband to deplore the melancholy occurrence. Apoplesy is believed to have been the immediate cause of death. CHANGE OF Forevitterc--A striking instance of the mutability of human affairs has recently occurred in the person of a stoker on board her Majesty's ship Valour ous, lying at this port. By some contretemps the individual who has now fallen re unezpectedly into the lap of For tune has been condemned by the fickle goddess to pass hie life up to the present moment in the humble and obscure position of a stoker or fireman, the immense property of which he has now, it is said, become the inheritor, having been lying in the Cheneery Courts for many years. A few days ago this begrimed and sooty son of N iptura was visited on board the said vessel (we are told) by a gentleman who, after making the necessary inquiries, communicated to the object of his visit the astounding intelligence that he was entitled to the Earldom of Stockport, and the immense property attached to the title, of the value of some 31,0001. per annum. The feelings of the poor fellow on learning the almost incredible transformation that bed taken place in his affairs may be readily conceived. We hear that the hero of this "romance of real life" immediately departed for London, in company with the gentleman alluded to, in order to complete the necessary arrangements previous to taking possession of his enormous wealth and "new-born" honours.—D oonport Telegraph. FATAL OCCURRENCE.—A farm-servant at Carbeth went out the other day after breakfast with a gun, is try a shot at a hawk that had been grin hovering over the barn yard. At dinner lie was missed, and, being searched fir, was found dead with a shot in his breast. It is thought that in 'queering himself through a hedge, and (Jawing the gun after him, it had gone off and killed him.—Dues barton Herald. LONDON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15. LORD CRANWORTH'S programme of Legal Reform is somewhat of the scantiest. His speech, indeed, was rather an apology for doing little than a promise to do much. The earlier portion of his address was occupied with au elaborate statement of the benefits already conferred on suitors by the Common Law Procedure Act of last session. With allowable com placency he dwelt on the abolition of a vast variety of unnecessary proceedings,—on the reduction of the cost of recovery in undefended actions, on the faci lities given for serving process on parties abroad,—and on the increased resort of the public to the improved tribunals, as proved by an increase in the number of writs issued between the 25th of October, 1852, and the 25th of January, 1853, and the corresponding period in the preceding year—au increase amounting to about 20 per cent., or 23,000 writs against 19,000. Lord CRANWORTH also alluded with considerable satisfaction to the ease with which the new practice had been incorporated with the old, and the absence of that confusion and perplexity which the opponents of the change had predicted as amongst its inevitable results. From all this he drew an inference which appears somewhat extraordinary. The natural and fair conclusion from this admitted success would seem to be that if the interests of justice have so far benefited from the comparatively limited abandon ment of technicality involved is the Common Law Procedure Act, they would benefit still more by a further advance in the same direction. If fees to a certain extent reduced, and forms to a certain extent simplified, have, without a single inconvenience or drawback, brought more suitors into our courts, and euabled us to administer law without caricatunng justice, or sacrificing the substance of right to the mere shadow of technicality—this is surely an argu ment to prove that we may safely advance with still greater boldness on the same path—that we need not be fearful of still further diminishing cost and still further increasing simplicity. This is not the way in which the matter strikes Lord CRAW WORTH ; he seems somewhat alarmed at the extent of good that these beneficial changes have effected ; and, after enumerating the various advantages that have attended their introduction, remarks with a certain degree of naivete, that " if there were no thing more to deter him from legislation on the sub ject, these facts would be quite enough to warrant him in saying that he would not attempt to intro duce any further reform." Fortunately, the AT TORNEY and SOLICITOR-GENERAL are of another mind in this matter; they are, as Lord CRANWORTIL informs us, in conjunction with the rest of the Common Law and Chancery Commissioners, pro ceeding to make farther suggestions and important changes. Upon some most important points it is consolatory to find that Lord CRANWORTH'S views are not anta gonistic to those of the Commissioners. Upon the gene ral question of the fusion of law and equity indeed he ' declines committing himself to any positive opinion ; but he gives his distinct adhesion to the doctrine that when a suit is commenced in any court that court should be able to give all the relief that the nature of the case admits of, and that parties should not he handed over from one tribunal to another. With this view his Lordship must bo taken as ap proving of the recommendations which he states to have been made by the Commissioners, to the effect that the Courts of Common Law should be clothed with powers they do not now possess, of decreeing by mandamus the specific performance of contracts, and staying by injunction parties who proceed in defiance of a writ. With regard to another recom mendation of the Commissioners, namely, that, by consent of parties, causes shOuld bi tried" in the Superior Courts as they are now in the County Courts, by a single judge instead of a jury, Lord CRANWORTA dissents from it on grounds of popular and constitutional principle, which are at all events entitled to consideration. In the County Courts it is found in practice that trial by judge is the rule, trial by jury the exception. This unquestion ably proves that in the majority of civil cases, where the questions involved are mainly questions of ac count, the arbitration of a single man of superior attainments and unquestionable integrity is preferred to that of several, whose honesty may be as great, but whose habits of business or powers of concentrated attention are inferior. It does not follow that the same consequence would ensue in causes where character is at stake, —where the passions are deeply involved,—or where the decision turns on matters of mercantile usage with which a jury of mercantile men is more peen liarly conversant. Lord CRANWORTH evidently ap prehends that the effect of the proposed change would be virtually to abrogate the function of the jury in civil causes—a consequence which, for the reasons he so well suggests, we should think very dearly purchased even by the igreat advantages of increased rapidity and increased certainty of adjudi cation. Passing from Common Law to Equity, the charac ter of Lord CHANWORTH'S observations is still of rather a negative kind; he praises what has been done, he disclaims any intention of wishing to proceed further in the direction which has produced the 'improve ments he praises. As a measure of the degree of improvement effected, he tells us that an unopposed order in a legacy suit which, in the good old times of ELDON, would have cost 541., and, under the miti gated sway of Lord COTTENBAK 231., may now be done for 131. At this rate there is good hope for our grandchildren. Upon the very important subject of testamentary jurisdiction, the tone of his Lordship's remarks is anything but satisfactory. In as far, in deed, as he admits the expediency of referring all will causes to one court, and of enforcing probate in the case of all wills alike, whether of realty or of per sonalty, he has, of course, our most entire concur rence. We also agree cordially is the remark that there is no case for further inquiry in the matter, although we cannot concede that thereport of the Commissioners of 1832 is to be any guide for the legislation of 1853. Ike truth is, that although the information col lected by that Commission is most valuable, their report is by no means up to the exigencies of the present time. We require something far bolder and more sweeping; above all we arc now in a position to avail ourselves of local judicatures—the exist ence ofwhich was a mere matter of doubtful spe culation at the date of the report of 1832. But that which we think most objectionable, in this por tion of Lord CIUNWORTIeS address, is the spirit in which he referred to the possible injury that might be inflicted, by any bold and decided change, upon the present practitioners is the Ecclesiastical Courts. "Such alterations would be doing a great hardship to many innocent and worthy persons." "We must not make the reform of the law a pretext for in- justice to a very large class of persons." It was to be hoped the day for this had gone by. No man, and no set of men, can have a vested inte rest in a system that works mischievously to the gene ral interests. The most innocent and worthy of mankind, if they have the misfortune to be the ministers of such a system, may, and no doubt must, suffer from its extinction, but that can form no argument for its perpetuation. Lord CRAM WORTH can earn no character as an earnest I law reformer as long as he allows the prospective hardships of the JENNERS and the FUSTB to stand in the way of the introduction of changes, for the want of which " many worthy and innocent men" all over the kingdom are now daily cursing the tediousness, 1 the vexation, and the oppression of the law. With regard to the law of divorce Lord CILANWORTII ex pressed a strong opinion that some change should be introduced, and a decided intimation that, as a Com mission was already sitting on the subject, he should , consider himself dispensed from making any de , finite proposition. Up 'o this point of his address the Lotto CHAN CELLOR had merely stated what be should not do : I now for what ho will do. Three things it ap -1 pears. He will re-introduce Lord CAIIPBELL's Bill I for the Registration of Titles—propose a new and we trust amended bill for the regulation o: charitable trusts,—and issue a Commission for the purpose of codifying the general body of the statute law. We must reserve for a separate occa sion our comment on these most important propoei• lions, contenting ourselves for the present with the expression of an opinion, that except on some special point, the law reform programme of Lord CRAN WORTH bears upon it a stamp of indecision and incompleteness likely to foster opposition without stimulating enthusiasm, and disappoint friends with out disarming foes. THE CAPTURE OF PROME AND PEGU. We have received from the Admiralty the follow ing despatches descriptive of the operations of the naval and military force employed in the capture of Proms and Per, (Copy.) Fox, at Ronfroon ' Dec. 24, 1852. Sir,—Referring to my despatches dated the 11th of Octo ber, and 25th of Nov., Nos. 60 and 91 of 1852, respecting the occupation of the cities of Prone and Pegu, 1 request you may be pleased to lay before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the inclosed copies of two notifications published in the Gagettl., cmveying the approval of the Governor-General of India in Council of the i roceedings of the naval force on these occasions. I have, &c., (Signed) Gaoasa R. LAMBERT, Commodore lit Class, Commander-in•Chiet. The Secretary of the Admiralty. ( British The Burmese attack the garrison at I'egu, and besiege that city, but are driven away by a combined naval and military force. Fox, at Rangoon, Dec. 18, 18d2. Sir,—l have the honour to request you will be pleased u. inform the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty tuat shortly after my return from Prome on the 6th inst., I learnt that a large fleet which the military authorities had sent up to Pegu, laden with commissariat stores and bullocks, under the charge of 24 Sepoys, bad been attacked and burnt by the Burmese, a havildar and three of the men being killed, the remainder having by some means reached Pegu, with the loss of their arms and accoutrements. Considering it desirable to keep open a communication with the garrison at Pegu, and being anxious to ascertain the true state of things, l sent Com. Sbadwell, of H.M.S. Sphynx, with the boats of the squadron specified in luelo sure A, on the Bth last. on that service. 1 he day after his departure a letter was brought to Ran goon by a friendly Burmese, who found the greatest diffi culty in escaping from Pegu; Major Hill stated he was surrounded on all sides, and hardly pressed, and that his ammunition was getting very short. On receipt of this in telligence, Major-General Godwin decided on sending two hundred and fifty European troops to Pegu, and they em barked on the Nerbudda, and left the same evening in com pany with a force of armed beats from the squadron under Commander Rowley Lambert. On the 4th, Commander Shadwell returned from Pegu, having failed to communicate with the garrison ; on reach ing the usual landing place he was received by the enemy with a heavy fire, and on landing he found the Burmese too numerous to contend with; he therefore deemed it prudent to return, having in a very short time had four men kited, and twenty-eight wounded. Amongst the latter two offi cers severely:—via., Mr. Pocock, mate of her Majesty's ship Fox, severely, Mr. Cookson, midshipman of her Majesty's ship Sphynz, very severely, and his coxswain was shot dead by his side. A return of the casualties on this occasion is inclosed, marked B. On his return he meets the Nerbudda, but being quite uncertain as to the extent of the force he would bee:posed to, he determined to bring them back. Immediately consulting with Major-General Godwin, who determined to go himself to Pegu with a considerable force, I appropriated for this service the Nabamuddy and Nerbudda steamers, and a number of native cargo boats the long boats of the transports and the boats of the squadron. Before ten o'clock that night Captain Tarleton had em barked one thousand and fifty men composing the land force in the boats, and left Rangoon for I'egu, the armed force under his command belonging to the squadron is en closed in enclosure C. The steam vessels Mahamaddy and Nerbudda had both been disabled, but through the activity and abilities of Mr. Berry, the superintending engineer, they were temporarily repaired, and fif sjor-Genersl Godwin having embarked with four hundred more Europeans in these vessels, started next morning. A land force under Colonel Sturt, of the 67th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry, marched far Pegu, leaving Ran goon on the morning of the 13th. I will now refer their lordships to Captain Tarleton's tter of the 16th inst., for details of the naval operations at' Pegs. 1 fully coincide with the encomiums expressed by C .p -tain Tarleton respecting the officers and seamen of the squadron serving under his orders, who on this occasion have been actuated by the same gallant and cheerful spirit to fulfil their duty that they have displayed throughout the war. I have, dm, (Signed) Geo. R. LAMBERT. Comm lore First Class, Commander-in-Chief. Augustus Stafford, Esq., Secretary of the Admiralty, Whitehall. Memorandum, showing the force of the expedition to Pegu : 11 M.S. Sphynx boat, Commander Shadwell, four men. 11.21 S. Sphyaz—Starbosrd paridle•bos boat, one 24- pounder, howitzer ; Mr. Edgar Cookson, midshipman . • 15 men, sir marines. Port puddle -box boat, one 24-pounder, 'swifter ; Mr. Arthur Morphy, master's assistant ; Mr. John F. Johnson, assistant-surgeon ; 15 men. H.M.S. For—Pinnace, one 12-pounder, howitzer ; Lieut. Mason ; Mr. Hudson, midshipman ; 15 men, six marines Barge, one 12-pounder, howitzer ; Mr. Pocock, mate ; Lieut. Nightingale, R.N. ; 13 men, sir marines. H.C.S. Mooruffer—Peddle-box bast, Nu. 1, one t 2. pounder, howitzer ; Lieut. Robinson, I.N. ; the boat swain ;21 men. Paddle-box boat, No. 2, one 12 pounder, howitzer ; Mr. Templar, midshipman ; an apothecary ; 20 MIL _ _ Total : 133 oaken and men, accompanied by Captain Malloeh, Bengal Artillery, and 12 artillerymen in two cargo boats. (Signed) C. F. A. SasowsiL, Commander. (Copy) H.M S. Fox's gig, in the Pegu river, Dec. 16, 18.52. Sir,—l have the honour to inform your Excellency that in pursuance of your instructions. at two pim. of the 11th, that fourteen hundred men, under the command of Major-General Godwin, should be embarked with the greatest despatch from Pegu. and, placing Commanders Shadwell and Lambert under my orders, I put myself in communication with the Quasterma.ter G l's depart ment, and, after ascertaining the number of native boats that could be supplied for the conveyance of troops, stores and provisions, with Commander Lambert's assistance, I embarked 1,060 men in the boats, and left Rangoon at 11 p.m., leaving Commander Shadweli to follow in the steamer with Msjor-Gen. Godwin and the remainder of the troops I proceeded with the boats up the Pegu river, and about two p.m. on the 12th, when about two-thirds of the dis tance, I bad the satisfoiction of communicating with the major-general on board the Nerbudda, and to observe the Mahamuddy following the former vessel, preceded us up the river. At the end of the flood tide at 8 p.m., the boats were anchored within hail of the steamer, twelve milts below Pegu. On the morning of the 13th, the Nerbudda lead ing, I proceeded with the boats, and happily arrived so as to be able to effect a simultaneous lauding of the troops about five miles below Pegu, and half a mile from the first stockade, at 7 a.m. The hlshantuddy not appearing, and the General having exprened his intention to me of wait ing the arrival of the troops en board her before he ad vanced, I proceeded in the Nerbudda to bring them up. I found the Mahamuildy where we had anchored on the pre vious evening, she having been detained by a broken rudder head. I immediately transferred the troops to the Ner budda, but by this time the water had fallen so much, that she was compelled to wait fur the fined tide to proceed, and did not reach the place of disembarkation till 9 p.m. The troops were landed from her at 4 a.m. on the 14th, and at 7 the army advanced. I appointed Commander Shadwell to take command of two of t: e boat's guns, fitted as field pieces, with 75 men I to drag them, t.) accompany the force. Commander Lambert assisted me in the protection of the steamer and boats. _ . At noon. some of the camp (Mowers having straggled a short distance from the bank were fired at from a poongie house in our vicinity. Two were taken, and the others pursued by the enemy, who evinced an intention of coming down to 'Us& us. I immediately landed all the disposable men, leaving naly sufficient to work the guns, and the fire of a few shell and rockets served to cheek their advance. At this time the Nerbudda, on the falling tide, had unfor tunately grounded on a stake, and her two foremost com partments filled with water. It became necessary to pu: her on shore to repair the damage. To move from our position was, therefore, impossible, and I proceeded to strengthen it by landing some rockets, felling trees, and throwing up entrenchments. The march of the army to the eastward of the Pagoda had left the enemy in possession of the lower defences on the river bank ; and I was sensible that he kad it in his power greatly to annoy us He reconnoitered our position with a few horse, in th e evening, but did not further molest us. At 2 p.m. I had the satisfaction of observing the preconcerted signal that the army had forced its way into the Pagoda, which intelligence was confirmed to me by Commander Shadwell, on the morning of the 15th. In the evening, this officer returned with his party of sea men and a guard. He informed me of the river b ink being cleared of the enemy; and it is therefore my intention to move up with the boats with the morning flood tide. I reconnoitered the river defences now evacuated, acid am only surprised that Commander Shadwell should have been able to pus and repass them in lu. late attempt to commu nicate with the garrison at Pegu. They are, for the pur -1 pose, of the most formidable description, and completely command the passage of the river for the distance of nearly five mile. Your Excellency, knowing the nature of the service that has been performed, will appreciate the real of both ale, T, I and men who have carried it out ; but 1 feel I should 1141 in my duty to them if I did not bring to your notice the exertions made by Commander Shadwell and the men under hint in taking the guns a distance of eight OS nine miles through a difficult country, under an .relent suu ; by Commander Lambert and Lieut. Mason, It N., and Robinson, 1.N., and Mr. Freeman, master 1.N., in their constant attention and watchfulness in bringing up so large a convoy in the boats. Lieut. Robinson was afterwards attached to the gun party, and Mr. Fre,:uan was moat useful to me in directing our rockets, and in the construc tion of our entrenchments. I exceedingly admired the skilful manner in which Captain Porter hrotight the Nee hudela up this ditfieu:e river ; and the energy that t. is ce rs and men displayed in making her again effective was most praiseworthy. I am happy to say that only one ca•usl•y has occurred on the part of the naval force—Thomas Saunders, A. 8., of her Majesty's sloop Sphsma, who (hid -it.ty of a wound he received whiie encamped with the army on the el eniog of the 13:h inst. _ I have, &e.,. (Sinned) J. W. TARLETON, Captain. His &Jerilefty Comm .clork J. H. Liinntt, Coruinat:der-in-Chia. LIST or KILI,9 • AIiII WOUNDED AT PEGV, 1, Tit DEC/3111Rn. IJi2. 1 liaok Names. or W.sindeil. hi nu: V. Itatitt;. -- — C. A. B. l'oe ek Mate Janes Ulnae . 'A. B ....... John Jones .i enact *Aviv . Ordinary This. Quinlan Marine w. liam I oder.. Marine • Dangitourly D.ito. Since dead Henry Buda _. Marine Walter Bed (barks Smith .. Matins ...... .. slightly W. E. Cooliron .., Midahlevaa . Veryserenely H.b.S. !phlox fhoniga nano .. tom et's Kate ..... U n to. 1i...1ei Wm. Mii belt . Oats. hire.tao. Sashay ..,. Ditto. lamer blanch . . pt. malt:11 4hhtly is/16ft Colltsoe. (tuber 2 . Initi. Killed John strains .. inner //LILA ,L sorely .. . Delia. John V. ill's J..hu 0,....rn roe. M•Ki.sick . 1.11 A in. Hetiirion.. LB Janie* Cerro to ... nner's mate severely ... Ditto. D inie: Witt.t.a A. H Joseph Fraser . s. anew B Art. Shabb B ii-lin Heins], .... y Jobs Uruce A. B :lightly .....i Ditto. Wil:iam Brown.. B Slightly • li tto. A Borns-me ...... Boatman Veryerverely. In 11 e 1 . .110 r. In addition to the above, the sley . t.chisse sst of are• i Ir., serving with the 1111 , 1111 force abstaini 4 the fdlowing 101. : Bank Name. or Woundd. I &iambs. native. -- - 1 rite Sergeant . -- Killed. One Gunner One Bugler One Gunter ,, evrely Two (tunnels. Slight y .... Total thirty-twu—Ot these killed in action. 4 Of these wounded in action. 28 Total Since dead (Signed) J. F. JOIINt:ON, Aui.tant•Surgeu¢ Memorandum of the Nasal Force employed at Pegu. Total number or seamen employed. ISt. Boats of Fox, armed.—Captain Turletou, enumerting. Com. 8.. Limber[, Lieut. W. B. Macon, Mr. IL Sturgess, second -master, Mr. T. Seccombe, aseistar.t surgeon, Mr. Villiers, midshipmen, Mr. Mason, Boats of Sphjia, mooned and armed.—Mr. Augustus H. Webb, midshipman. Mr. Arthur Murphy, inaster.a.,istout. Beats of 2doostutfer, manned and armed.—Mr. Fitemau, master, Mr. Templer, midshipman. Boats of Beroume, maimed and armed.—Mr. Mannerly, luster. lion. C. S. V. Firoquern's paddle-box boats Gun Par.y.—Com. Churls* F. A. Shadoell, S,ii.ynx ; Lieutenant Robinson. Mooguffer ; Mr. J. S. kind.on, mid shipman, Fox; Mr. A. A. Smith, inidaiiimmin, Sphynx ; Mr. Dawkins, midshipman, Mooguffer. (Signed) J. Tant.wross, Captain. FRANCE. OPENING OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS. THE EMPEROR'S SPEECH. I'ARIS, MONDAY EVENING. The Legislative Session was opened at the Tuileries • this morning, by the Emperor in person, who de livered the following : " Senators and Deputies,—A year since 1 called you together in this place to inaugurate the con stitution, promulgated in virtue of the powers which the people had conferred on me. Since that peebel calm has not been disturbed. The law, in resum ing its empire, has allowed the return to their homes ut the mujority of the men who were made the aubject of necessary rigours. The riches of the na tion have increased to such a point that the part of the fortune maniere, the value of which can be es• Hinted, has alone increased by about two milliards. The activity of labour develops itself in every branch of industry. The same progress is being realised in Africa, where our army has just distinguished it self by heroic successes. The form of the government has been changed, without any shock, by the free suffrage of the people. Great works have been un dertaken without the creation of any new tax, and without a loan. Peace has been maintained without weakness. All the powers have recognised the new government. Franco has now institutions which may defend themselves, and the stability of which do not depend on the life of a man. " These moults have not cost great efforts, because they were in the minds and tor the interests of all. To those who would doubt their importance I will reply that scarcely fourteen months ago France was delivered up to the hazards of anarchy. To those who may regret that a wider field has not been given to liberty, I will reply, that liberty has never aided in founding a durable political edifice; it crowns it when it has been consolidated by time. Let us, besides, not forget that the immense majority of the country has confidence in the present and faith in the future; there still remain incorrigible individuals, who, forgetful of their own experience, of their past terrors, and of their disappointments, obsti nately persist in paying no attention to the national will, deny the reality of facts, and in the midst of a sea which every day lowers more and more, call for tempests in which they would be the first to bo swallowed up. These occult proceedings of the dif ferent parties serve no purpose but to show their weakness, and the government, instead of being dis turbed at them, only think of governing France and • tranquillising Furor. For this double object it has the firm determination to diminish the expenses and ' the armament, and to devoteto useful purposes all the , resources of the country to keep up with good faith • international relations, in order to prove to the most incredulous that when France expresses her formal intention to remain at peace, it may be believed, for ' she is strong enough not to deceive any one. " You will see, gentlemen, by the budget which will be presented to you, that our financial position has never been better for the last 20 years, and that," the public revenue has increased beyond all previ sions. Nevertheless, the effective of the army, al ready reduced by 30,000 men in the course of the last year, is about to be immediately reduced by 20,000 more. "The majority of the laws which will be pre sented to you will not go beyond necessary exigen r eies, and that is the most favourable indication of , our situation. People are happy when governments do not find it necessary to resort to extraordinary "Let us therefore thank Providence for the visible protection which it has accorded to our efforts • let us persevere in this course of firmness and modera tion, which reassures without irritating, which leads to good without violence, and so prevents all reac tion. Let us always reckon on God and on ourselves, as on the mutual support which we owe to ourselves, and let us be proud to see in so short a time this great country pacified, prosperous at home, and honoured abroad. _ . The public were not admitted to the ceremony. No reporters for the press were present. The speech was placarded in manuscript at the Bourse at about t o'clock. It was rather favourably received there. The positive announcement of an immediate reduction of 20,000 men in the army was a surprise, and ilad a manifest and immediate effvet upon all descriptions of securities. The confident way in which the speech alludes to the financial situation was by many con sidered as evidence that the budget will bear ea lamination better than has hitherto been supposed. I The rise in the funds, however, was but hiding, and was not, such as it was, fully maintained till the close of business. The Three per Cents. speedily declined from the highest point of the day, under the iutluence of sales to realise profits. The holders of the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. were disoppoin.ed at finding in the speech no contradiction of the reports of the further eons en•ion of that stork, and under the influence of this feeling s:tle , were made which sent the Four atid-a-llalf lier down to a trifle below the prima. of tiaturdlye If we may judge from the exceislingle mewl*, character of the speech, the labours- el. the Corps ,'. :y~ - ~