The Express. — London, England, 1848-05-26 00:00:00

war t hem to pees it. But , even s u pp osin g! that the et e e yg lea been represented by the noble lord near It, in (Lord smoky), did the present form of oath administered t o Diem _ hers et the House et Commons answer the pur , ,,esie that was attributed to it ? Were all thews who took Para oath before t hey took their seats, Christians? Ile could with Wet) , my no ; it did not answer the purpose. (Bear, hear.) The oath heel The incurable vice of ell testa —it let in tho dishonest and unprincipled man and excluded the conscientious man. With regard to the ergamehtt that had been urg.d respecting the impossi bility of telking about religion in the legislative houses if a Jew were ad:anted into parliament, and thin the bill would effect the separation et time, h and state, he would only esclahn, God above torbbl that the church and state shout ever be eeparateil, but if such a bill as the pro ent were to effect that object. how did it- happen that the letting the Bo nencathelir and t he diwont ers into the Mouse of Commous did not produce that result? Letting in the dissenters was a far moe dangerous step than letting mute Jews would be; for the: dissenters had a much more active and bitter hostility to the church of England than the Jews, who, to say the truth, eared nothing al) out the matter. As for the oath shutting out all but true Christians, let him remind the bout that Shaftesbury sot in their lonlships' house and Wiling in the other House of Patti iment. lie was firmly of opinion that, even supposing the Jews were to be let into parliament, the I, gislature would not be the less Christian than it was h.l. , re, in the same 'limner that doing jewtice to the dissenters had not in any way unchristianised it. Ile again retested that he gave his ready resent to the bill, at the same time he must say that he did not think it by any means of so much importance as many other measures that were under the consideration of parliament. The Bishop of OXFORD said he was owry to end, upon reflection. that in the beat of debate he had used a wend with reference to the noble lonl at the head of the govern ment which was not j ust, but which he had not certainly uttered in malice. rise expression was drawn from him in the heat of the moment by an observation of the noble marquis near him. Ile, therefore, took the tint pubic opportunity of saying that he never meant to attribute to lard John Rus tell, or to any other member of the government, the having participated in a job. Ho was aware that the noble land had supported the Jewish disabili ties removal long before the Let election for the City of London. Ills note friend (Lord Brougham) had, in his playful manner, dealt rather hardly by him ; but he did not object to the observation made by the noble lord, as he had been afforded the opportunity of withdrawing the expres sions uttered by him, and of stating publicly that he never meant to cast any slander upon the noble lord. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE replied, and acquitted the right ler, bishop of any malignant intention towards his noble friend st the head of the government, when conduit, both with respect to the present measure, and, indeed, during the whole of MS public raver, had been distinguished by the purest patriotism and disinteresudness. Their lordships then divided Content—Present Proxies -128 Non-content—Present 125 Proxies -163 Majority against the second reading Their lordship+ then adjourned at 2 o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMuNS.—THUBSDAT, MAT 25. SrEAILIZ took the chair et 4 o'clock. VATE BUSINESS. REPORT , CONSIDEta.D.-- Dundalk, eagle Blaney, and can icit tnacrore 1:01111, 3 atitnich and Wheelock Turnmko Road ; South Varkobire, Dencmter, and lloole Itudtray Amendment (catcnriou to Penioanc amt al(cratirm .3( larlworth branch) ; TIIIBU READINGS.—Londuo, Brighton * and South Chart Railway (Codan-bnag• and New-crow cations, ale.) ; Llawnaterry Passage • Tyne lkrect Ferry; TICBLIC BUSINES4, FIRR ilEADlNG.—iftCrupThlitit Olibe Bill. CoSIMEITEKS.—PiabIie Health: Lair of Entail (Scotland) ; Bills. ittrottr—Collertnrs of (less (Ireland) Bill. THIRD RE %DlME—Joint-Stock Compa.dea Bill. NOTICE to morms.—Butortat ELvcrioN. THORP Kase police that, on motion for going into committee on this bill, he should more that it be read a second time that day ais month,. NEW MEMBER. Mr. MILNER took the oaths and his seat for the city of 'York, having been elected in the room of the late Mr. R. Yorke. TILE ROYAL PARDON TO SHEEPSTEALERS. An hon. member we believe Mr. Morgan) inquired of the right hon. baronet the Home Secretary the grounds upon which the royal per ogative of mercy had been extended to * notorious offender, named Frederic Williams, who had been convicted last year at the Monmouth assure, of sheep. stealing, and sentenced to tin years' transportation, and whose um xpected return to the scene of his former crimes bad created ronsiderable alarm ? Bir G. GREY replied that the roan had been pardoned on the recommendation of the commissioners, signed by Sir B. Brodie, the medical inspector of prisons, stating that the prisoner was labouring under pulmonary consumption, and that further confinement would endarger his life. THE BOROUGH ELECTIONS BILL. In answer to a Tiestion from CoL SIBTHOR Lord J. RUSSELL observed that he had stated on the occas'.on of the second reading of the Baronets Erections Bill, that it was not essential they should proceed immediately with the next state; it was not therefore proposed t take the committee as the first ceder, nor was it probable that it would come on that evening at all, as his noble friend (Lord Morpeth propo-ed to go on with the committee on the Health of Towns Bill, which would, no doubt, occupy the house until a late hour. THE CASTLEBAR UNION. Mr. BOURKE asked whether it was true, as reported, that a sheriff's sale of all the furniture and clothing had taken place in the workhouse of this union, and if so, what provision had since been made by the vieveguerdians for the support of the poor ? Sir W. SOMERVILLE answered that when the vice guardians found the rates several thousand pounds in ar. rear, while only 4481. bad been collected, and in conse quence of those arrears, which, notwithstanding their exer tions, still to % very large extent remained, they had been unable to met the demands on the union, the sale had taken place by the sher.ff, as mentioned by the hon. gentle. man. He wee, however, happy to say arrangements bad been made by which the paupers still remained in the house and received the accustomed re id. THE SPANISH CORRESPONDENCE. SIR 11. BULWER AND THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT. Mr. BANKES.—I wish to ask the noble lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he propane to lay on the table any further correspondence in reference to the dispute which his resul,ed in the order from the Spanish government to our ambassador to quit Spain, and if so, what those addi tional papers are, and whether they will be produced pre vious to the debate on the subject to-morr .w Viscount PALMERSTON.—I have considered it my duty to lay c rtain additional paper. on the table, selected from that correspondence, as tending to elucidate the subject. The selection T have male is now in the hands of the printer, and will, I believe, be laid on the table of the house to-morrow, and be in the hands of members on the follow ing morning. Those papers will cans st of despatches from it 11, Bulwer previous to the 10th of March, the two notes which I referred to on a former occasion as having pawed between Sir H. Bulwer and the Duke of Sotomayor, and which I did not before pro sent, because they were rather of a private than a public nature, being merely personal explanations then going on between the parties—together with seine other correspondence occurring between that time and the date of the note to Sir II Bulwer, directing him to leave Spain, which note will also be produce dl wide the others. (Hear.) Mr. BANKES.—I think it right to state that I have re ceived a communication hom Sir H. Bulwer stating that if the question of which I have given notice should brought on to-morrow it might be attended with disadvantage to bins. Now it was not my intention to bring into question Sir IL Bulwer's conduct, but merely to raise the question as it relates to the instructions he re• mired from the noble lord her Majesty's Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and to confine my attention to the correspondence the noble lord has already laid on the table, which extends only to the 20th of April, up to which period the conduct of our ambassador at Madrid had received the full and entire approbation, not only of the noble lord, but of the whole of her Majesty's cabinet. ( !fear, hear.) It is, therefore, in my view of the question, in no w ay af fecting the conduct of our ambassador at the court of Madrid that the House of Commons should be called on to give an opinion as to the histructions which he had so impli citly obeys d. I now understand from the noble lord that copies are to he produced of some commu nications which passed prior to those instruction., and it is passible that these may alter my view of the case as far as it affects our •mhassailor, though I am not aware that it will , o es n, it apovore horn the paper we have that he strictly followed his instructions; but ss debates are not always carried on in the view or tone of the parties with whom they originate, and as it is impossible to say that in the course of this debate the conduct of our ambassador may not be celled in question, I cannot but sympathise with the feelings Sir 11. Bulwer expresses, and am, therefore, disposed to postpone my motion until the next supply night, unless the noble lord lit the head of the government will ensure me a day to bring on the discus sion eei this important question as a substantive motion. Lord J. RUei ELL.—It is for the hon. gentleman to judge whether he wid bring on his motion to-morrow, according to his notice, or not. The government propose to go into com mittee of supply, and to ask fur certain votes ou account to morrow, and the hon, gentleman can then, if he 'dews, make his motion, or lie can, as he has intimated, refrain from doing so. Sir H. Bulwer, it appears, has intimated to the hen. gentleman that it would not be fair to him the' his conduct should be made matter of discussion until further information—which my noble friend proposes to pro duce—shall be in the hands of hon. members. So far as her Majestv's government arc concerned they are perfectly ready to meet the hon. gentleman's motion to-morrow, if he think fit to bring it on—if not, he then having the opportunity, I cannot undertake to fix another day for the purpose. Mr. BANKES.—I will then keep my motion on the paper for to-morrow. Perhaps the noble lord will inform me whether the Spanish Ambassador, the Marquis Miratiores, has arrived in this country ? Viscount PALMEILSTON.—He has arrived. Sir D. L. EVANS inquired whether there was any reason for supposing that the discussion of this subject at the preface time would have an injurious influence on the inte rests of this country in respect to any negotiations now going on between the two governments Viscount PALMERSTON.—I am not aware that this discussion, taking place at the time for which it is fixed, can have any hearing upon tho state of the negotiations now pearling between this country and Spain. Mr. HUME.—I want to hate this question put fairly haste the homes. (bear, hoer.) Now, I understand from the noble lord that the additional papers he proposes to lay on the table will not be ready for delivery to members before Saturday. Viscount PALMERSTON.—I have already stated that the correspondence is en the hands of the printer; it cannot be printed to day, but I hope it will be ready before the house meets to-morrow, and that it will be in the hands of members generally on Saturday morning at the latest. Mr. T. D'EYNCOURT.—It is very desirable that we should know whether my hon. friend will persist in bringing forward his motion to-morrow. It seems to me that it would scarcely he just to do so under the circumstances. (Hear.) Mr. DISRAELL—I understand that the additional pipers will not be on our table before Saturday, and it would no doubt be advisable that the discussion should taut come on in the absence of the information they contain. At the same time it is to be desired that no great interval should elapse between the production of the documents and the debate ,• and it would be meet unsatisfactory if we were to understood that the only chance of our considering the subject—the papers being printed--depended on the caprice of the almi. nistration in compelling the question to be brought on on a supply night. I trust the noble lord, on reconsidering the circumstances, will feel that it would not be going further tLan the respect due from him to the house and the country warrants, if he were to hold out to us a prospect ofdiscutbing the important subject to which the documents in question refer. (Cheers.) Lord J. RUSSELL. —I have no doubt, that after the dis cussion on the navigation laws, which commences on Monday neat, and which 1 urn not willing to postpone, we shall be able to propose an early day for going into committee of _ s trei MAIION.—It appears to be the determination of the government that we are to discuss this question without the documents or nut at all. Now, that is not an alternative to which the government should reduce us. I must say it would not be unbecoming the position of the noble lord, as a member ot the government and as a member of this house, if he were to hold out aome prospect of an early and definite day when we shall have the opportunity of discussing the subject. (Hear, bear.) Lard J. EX SSELL.—I cannot now name a precise day ; but, as noon as the debate on the navigation laws shall have been concluded—supposiug the house should affirm the re solution and allow my right hon. friend to bring in his bill, before the second reading of that bill a day shall be named when the committee of supply shall come on. (Hear.) Mr. BANK ES.—As I ant aware it is material that the matter should be definitely arranged, so far as the noble lord will permit it to be, awl as it appear t 3 be the general feel ing nut to discuss the question until the other papers shall have been presented and hon. members have had an oppor tunity of considering them, 1 cannot take on myself the re eponsibilety of forcing on the discussion to-morrow. But I hope that the noble lord will, on reconsideration, feel that, for the sake of the character of the government and the honour of the country, the discussion ought not to be post poned to any distant day. (Hear, hear.) I will, therefore, leave my motion on the paper, but with the understanding that it will not come on to-morrow. ( Ilear.) DISTRESS IN JAMAICA. (.Mre GOULBURN said that; as there existed a great de ficiency of information as to the state of the island of Jamaica, in reference to the distress said to prevail there, and as a West Indian mail had arrived within the last two days, he begged to ails the hon. gentleman opposite, the Under- Secretary for the Colonies, whether any information had been received tram the euvernment of Jamaica, and if no, whether it would be laid upon the tab's of the Ileum ? Mr.:HAWES replied that by the packet which arrived the day berme yesterday no information in relation to the state of Jamaica had been received by the government. Ile contemplated in a few days to lay before the house some in telligence previously received, and, in the meantime, if any further information was received it would he added to it. THE WAR BETWEEN DENMARK AND THE GERMAN STATES. Mr. P. HOWARD, geeing the noble lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs in his place, begged to ask whether now or on any future day the noble lord would be prepared to say what progress bad been made in the negotiations on foot with regard: to the mediation between; Denmark and Prussia. Lord PALMERSTON said he was prepared to answer the question, so far as was consistent with his duty as one of the persons engaged in the negotiation referred to by his hon. friend. Ile might say that there was favourable disposition on both sides to consider the proposals made, and that dispo sition might lead to an amicable termination of the negotia tions, but of course he could not answer for such a result. He would add, that while on the sue hand the Danish go vernment had taken off some of the blockades which they had begun to establish, on the other hand he had been in formed, within the last hour, that the Prussian government did not mean to enforce the order of Gen. Wrangel for levy ing forced contributions from Jutland: hence it would seem that there was a conciliatorydisposition existing on both sides. EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA. In answer to a qu. stion put by Mr. Dive rr, Mr. HAW ES said that no intention whatever existed on the part of the emigration commissioners acting under the colonial department to lower the standard of emigrants in tended to be sent out to South Australia. On the contrary, they were most anxious to uphold the standard of emigre- Sou, which had hitherto given great satisfaction to the cotonieu. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ROME BILL. Sir R. H. INGLIS begged to inquire from the node lord at the head of the government whether he had heed in his mind any and what day for the further prosecution of the Diplomatic Relations with Rome Bill. Lord J. RUSSELL replied he had not at present fixed any day for proceeding with the bill, nor could he do so in the present atete of public business. PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. On the motion that "the Speaker do now leave the chair " for the house resuming the committee on the Public health Bill being put, Mr. SPOONER complained that on Friday last all the clauses ',hide bad relation to the rights and interests of the various waterworks companies had been withdrawn, to whom great injustice had been done by the course taken by the government not only last year but in the present year. Mr. MUNTZ seconded the amendment. Lord MORPETH said he assured the hon. member op posite (Sir. Spooner) and the house that nothing could be more painful or abhorrent to his feelings than even to appear to have been wanting in a perfect sprit of fair dealing in this matter. Ile should be perfectly willing to repair any sup posed breach of faith ; hut, on conferring with them, it did not appear to those with whom he advised that the ;course pursued in committee OH Friday was at all open to any such charge. Tile bill originally introduced was without any clause for the purchase of water-works, and also without any compulsory power of purchase'; hut in consequence of various representations made to him by several water-works companies, urging their insertion, the clause, referred to had been agreed to by the government, and appeared in the first bill of the year. But he had given no po sitive Wedge that the conditions of those clauses should be actually ratified. The last bill, however, contained those compulsory powers of purchase. In the course, however, of the discussion, it seemed to be the general feeling of the house to adopt the propositions made by the hon. member for Oxfordshire (gr. Henley), and subsequently agreed to by the government, to the rttect that this bill should not take any powers whatever to interfere with any local act for paving, lighting, cleansing, regulating, supplying with water, or improving any town. Therefore it become no longer ne emsary to lay down in the bill terms of purchase under which the compulsory acquieition of existing water-works could be made. lie apprehended, therefore, that the bill, as it now stood, in fact contained no powers of dealing in any way with the existingenter companies ; but to obviate ail mis apprehensions he was prepared sate , the 6fit la clause to enact a proviso to the effect, " that it shall not bo lawful for any local board of health to lay down or construct any water-works within any limits with respect to which water companies are already established, without the consent, in writing, of such companion" established being first had and ob (Hear, hear.) He should advise the companies to take this immunity, because if the dis cussion was prolonged he feared unfavourable opinions of the details of the clauses would be expressed. Mr. NE WDEGATE said if any discredit belonged to the clauses in question the onus was not on the cempanies, but on the noble lord who hail adopted them. Ile joined in the complaint that the clauses had been withdrawn in the ab sence of his bon. colle•gue, and without notice to the part ice. Mr. S. CRAWFORD felt it his duty to support the noble lord (Morpeth) in the alterations; tae had jmalo with re spew to those clauses Mr. W e PATTEN said that he had been a party to the arrangement under which the clauses had been agreed to, and !Should have (calculatedn pd to fieow that ales were not unre imitable, or to lead to such lt as that stated by the hon. member for Rochdale. heir. HENLEY was of opinion that the public ACT , left in a better posit:on without these eleue .5 thou they would bay , been if they had lwen allowed to remain in the Mr. BLANEY thought the noble lord who had charge of the bill was fully exonerated from all blame. Mr. HUDSON hoped the amendment would not be pressed, hut that the matter would he amicably arranged. In all large towns it was most iml.eetant that the existing interests should he purchased. Viscount MOItPEThI said that one re, son for withdrede• log the clauses sets the probability that a better bargain would be made with the existing water companies than if the Ii cal boards were compelled by the act to purchase. Sir W. CLAY thought that suniei .nt protection would be afforded to existing interests by the clause now proposed by the government. The compulsory power of purchase was advantageous, in so far as the supply of water ought to be a public concern, and not a private speculation ; for it had been shown that cos petition never lasted, and then the mat ter became a monopoly. Mr. W. P. WOOD thought the clauses ought to have been retained, if only for the mike of settling the principle on which compensation should be paid. To the existing water companies the bill was a sentence of annihilation ; for all householders would be compelled to receive the water sup plied under this act. In the case of Reading, 8,000/. had been spent-3,0001. by the water company and 6,0001. by the corporation; both which sums might have been spared had the principle en which compensation Mould bo assessed been recognised by parliament. The substituted clause was certainly beneficial to the companies; and he hoped the amendment would be withdrawn. Mr. SPOONER asked when the proposed alterations would be prtnted. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said they would be in the hands of members before the " further consideration of the report." Mr. SPOONER then withdrew his amendment (leave being given). and the house went inte committee. Oa obtuse 105, empowering local boards to borrow money, the knows Le UENEklet •ave some explanations, and in troduced some versal au.sidlMOnts, which were adopted, and the clause was agree. to. THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 26, 1848. Claws 106 to 110 were agreed to with come amendments. On clause 111, providing for the repayment of money bor rowed on mortgage, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL proposed to flx the term for repayment at 30 years, without requiring one-thirtieth part of the sum to be paid off each year. After a conversation the clause as amended was sgrecd to. Clause 112, empowering mortgagees, in case of non-pay ment of interest, to have a receiver appointed to collect the rates:have rise to some little discussion, Mr. H a N Lie express ing doubts ea to the sufficiency of the security, as the local boards could not be compelled to make a rate, and the Arrourize-GIINEUAL observing that they had a remedy by mandamus, but the clause was agreed to unaltered. On clause 113, giving local hoerds power to make by-laws, and inflict penalties subject to the confirmation of the g neral board, Mr. RAINES suggested that these bylaws sheen not be confirmed, until public notice of them had been given to all the inhabitants. Viscount MO►t'ETII an rented to adopt the prelimi naries suggested. Mr. HENLEY suggested that the confirmation of the bylaws should rest •oh the Secretary of State instead of the central board, in order that there should be greater secu rity that they would not he repugnant to the laws of England. After a short discussion Lord MORPETit assented to the suggestion. The clause as amended was then agreed to. Clauses 114, 115, and 116 were agreed to with some verbal alterations. Clauses 117 and 118 were struck out. Clause 119 wee agreed to. Clause 120 was struck out. On clause 121, relating to the audit of accounts, being proposed, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved amendments, which provided that ten days' notice should be given of the time and place when the audit was to be made that a copy of the accounts should be deposited at the office of the Board of Health, and that all persons should be allowed to take copies or extracts of them without fee. The clause, with the amendments, was agreed to. Clauses 122 to 145 were agreed to without any alteration. . . On clause 112 being read; by which it was proposed that the divining of any individual might be entered by the In spectors of nuisances at any period between the hours of ten and four o'clock, for the purpose of making surveys of sewers, levelling and opening drains, &c. Mr, TURNER submitted that some check should he im posed upon the powers thus intended to be vested in the in spectors under the act, and he proposed an amendment to the effect that such surveys shoeld not he made without the consent of two justices in writing, provided any objection were made on the part of the owner or occupier. The ATTORN EY-OEN ERAL having signified hi. assent to this amendment, it was added to the clause, which was then adopted. The remaining clauses of the bill having passed, The ATTORNEY-bIENERAL said it was intended that the bill should be reported anti reprinted at once, and that the report, with the various amendments, should be brought I forward for further consideration on Thursday next, or such other day as the house might deem convenient. On postponed clause 67 being read, Lord muRPETit said that by this clause it was made im perative on the proprietors of water-works to supply houses with water at the rate of Id. per week, provided that the lo cal board of health on tho report of the WI veyor had de clared the supply of water to be insufficient in such housee. In Nottingham Id. a week had been found sufficient r this purpose ; but as it had been represented that loss might ite ms to owners of waterworks by being compelled to supply water at that low rate, he had to propose an alteratiin in the clause to the effect that 2d. a week should be allowed. The alteration having been adopted, the cilium as amended was agreed to. Colonel THOMPSON proposed that after clause 80, which had been postponed, the following proviso should he added: " Provided always, and be it enacted, that upon the petition of a majority of the inhabitant householders of any such distr , ct, it shall he lawful for the local board of health to provide suitable premises, in or near suck district, for the purpose of being used as a burial ground for such district and neighbourhood, and to make by-laws for and with respect to the management and use of the premises so provided, and to charge for the use and occupation tb recd." After a discussion, in the course of which several difficul ei to the adoptionoi the proviso were started, Lord Li NCOLN suggesting that the application should originate in a public meeting of the inhabitants, and Mr. Tl'llSElt proposing that the power should be compulsory instead of permissive, it was decided that it should stand over for consideration on the report, and that it should then be taken in conjuuction with the 80th clause. In reply to a question from Mr. lions" Lard MORI' Ent said that with reference to the smoke clause, several hon. members hail suggested to him that the WA way of dealing with that subject was by the hill which had already made considerable progress in the Ilowe of Lords. Ile therefore proposed to omit the clause in question altogether. Mr. WILD moved a clause to the effect that the assessed tax on funeral c irriages and the post-horse duty on horses let for hitt for funeral purposes, be abolished. on the ground that these imposts prevented the poor from availing hem pelves of the cemeteries for burying their dead. The • .cri lice to the revenue would be unimportant, a. the whole amount robed from this source was considerably under 6,0001. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the ammo which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had informed him was unne cessary, as, whenever the hiro of the vehicle and horses used for funeral purposes was not charged, the duty might be re covered back. Mr. WILD doubted if any case could be shown in which the duty had been returned. The clause was withdrawn. Thu preamble was then agreed to, and the house having resumed, the hill moll reported and ordered to be reprinted with the amendments ; the report to be further ecnisidered on Thursday next. JOINT•STOOK COMPANIES BILL. This bill having been read a third time, The ATTORNEY.GENEItAL moved a clause, empow ering the Lord Chancellor to appoint diatEct commissioners of the Court of Bankruptcy, cr judges of county or local courts having jurisdiction in civil matters, to be masters ex traordinary for the purposes of this act ; which was agreed to. Mr. READLAM moved the following clause : That after on order absolute shall have been made execution shall not kayo snainst any contributories of the company at the suit of any creditor, iu respect of any debt due from the company, unless, on motion to the Court of Chancery, leave to that effeet be given; and that upon such motion it shall be lawful for the Court of Chancery either to permit execution immediately to be issued, or to suspend the same for push period and upon such terms us the said court shall, in its discretion, think fit, regal d being had both to the lawn:dings pending under act, and to the conduct of the shareholder against whom execution is sought to be enforced in obeying the fame. Dlr. M. OIBSON regretted that it was not in his power to agree to the proposal of the hon. and learned member. Mr. TURNER opposed the clause as being totally at variance with ever :principle on which the bill was founded. Mr. AGLIONBY supported the clause. The SOLICITOR-OENERAL opposed the clause. The house divided—For the clause 9 Against it 1 —B5 The clause was consequently lost. Mr. WYLD then moved the following clause : And be it enacted that all associations or companies formed for the purpose of working mines or minerals shall be liable to the operation of this act." The clause was added by way of rider to the bill, which was then LAW OF ENTAIL (SCOTLAND) BILL. On the motion of the LORD ADVOCATE, the house resolved itself into committee on thin bill. Oa clause 2 being proposed, Mr. D. M'NIELL suggested that a better mode than that proposed by the clause of altering the law would be to put both heirs of entail in possession and heirs of entail that wets to come into possession on the same footing, and to enable both descriptions, at '25 years of age, to disentail the estate on the consent being obtained of the heir apparent; and if there was no heir apparent, the consent of any limited number of the persons next in succession. This would be a better and more simple course of legislation. The LORD ADVOCATE said the suggestion of his lion and learned friend was adopted in the next clause. The present clause wits necessary to give greater efficiency and practical effect to that which followed, and as it had been adopted by a majority of the elect committee, to whom the bill had been referred, be (the Lord Advocate) felt bound to press it. Isle F. MACKENZIE observed that the clause hail only been carried in the select committee by a majority of one, aud, objecting as he did to the principle of the clause, he moved that It be struck out of the bill. Mr. OSWALD supported the amendment. The c immittee tie a divided—F.r the el Against it Tho clause was then agreed to. In clause 3, the Loan ADVOCATE proposed certain altera tions, with the view, as be stated, of rendering the object of the clause more clear. After • few words from Mr. M'NtiLL and Mr. MACKENZIM, Mr. 110 U EltIE moved ac en amendment t` the word " three " f " tour," in the number of consents of heirs -substitute necessary to constitute a title. After a discussion, the committee divided : For the clause _ _ Against it 17-69 The claim was they agreed to as amended. Clauses 4 to 11 inclusive were agreed to. On clause 12 being proposed, Mr. D. COCIIRANE suggested in reference to this claim, and the two subsequent ones, that words; should be intro duced to enable proprietors to sell outlying lands to the ex tent of three-fourths of their improvements. Mr. BLUME thought it advisable to adopt some alteration of that nature. The LORD ADVOCATE said the subject had been much considered, Lut he was of opinion that the claus es were better as they stood. The clause was then agreed to, as were clauses up to 3i. Clauses 36 and 37 having been agreed to the house resumed. The LORD ADVOCATE said there were some clauses writin which he VMS anzioun to introduce ; but on account o g f the lateness of the hour he would not propose them until the bringing up of the report. An HON. MEMBER inquired when it was intended to bring up the report. The LORD ADVOCATE said that be hoped to bring it up to-morrow (this day) ; but, if the committee wished, the report might then be read pro found, and the discussion on the additional clauses taken on a future day. The report was then read pro form4l, and its further con sideration having been adjourned to Monday next, the house adjourned at a plarter past 1 o'clock. ELECTION COMMITTEEB.—YESTERDAY. LitICEBTER.—The committee having acceded to the application of petitioners for leave to amend the recogni winces, Mr. B. Andrews opened the cue of petitioners. The charges are of bribery and corruption against the sitting members, by means of the liquidation of former aocounts,and gifts, of sums varying from 10s. to 28s. The learned counsel stated that the bribery was committed by parties who could be connected as agents with the sitting members. One or two witnesses having been examined the committee ad• journed to this day. CIIELTENIIAM.—The only business was a prelimin ary discussion on the question of the recognisance*. GENERAL COMMITTEE OF ELECTIONS.—The follow ing committee was struck for Dublin :—The Marquis of Granby, Mr. M. Baines, Mr. Elotheron, Mr. Bright, and Lord R. Grosvenor. The last named chairman. Ithe el:profs. MAILS. The mails for Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Madeira, Cadiz, and Gibraltar will he made up an the morning of the 27th May. The mails foe New Mouth Wale*, Von Dieman's Land, and New Zealand will be made up on the evening of the Slat May. The moils for the West Coast of Africa and Madeira will be made tip on the evening of the 31st May. The mails for Bridal' North America, and the United States, will be mode up en the evening of the 2nd June. The West India iwatu., including Bermuda, NIMIIII Havanna, Honduras, New Orleans, Vera Croo, Tampico, and Porto Rico, and excluding than for Madeira, Jacmel, Carthagens, *ante Martha, Magma, Panama, West Coast of South America, and St. Juan-de. Nicaragua, will be made up on the morning of the 2nd June. The mails for the Brasile, Um River Plate, Monte Video, !lemma bum, Bahia, Madeira, and Buenos Ayres, will be made up on the evening of the 3rd June. The overland cloyed mile, visa Marseilles, to the Mediterranean, Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, India, (long-Kong, Re., will be made up on the evening of the 7th June. The overland mails for Gibraltar, Mahn. Greece, the lonian Island+, Egypt., Aden, Ceylon, India, Hong-Kong, and China, eta Southampa ton, will be made up on the morning of thu 'Nth June. NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. The number of STAMPS issued by the authorities of the Stamp-office, during 1847, to the DAILY NEWS was 3,447,009 This, we believe, Is within eight per cent. of the number issued to the Morning Herald, Morning Chronicle, and Morning Post, ALL PUT TUOIETHEN. In addition to the above, issued to the DAILY NEWS, Horning Paper, there were jawed for the Evening Edition, THE EXPRESS 778,714 Which was more, we believe, than wcte issued either to the Globe or Sfarid;rd, Evening Papers. 171011 WATER AT LONDON ARMOR. Tub 11•9-9799919c1n 911.. MA 7: AitATIVI.I. al al. put 7. .Put Afusuo. 9 WA. UM 9. LONDON, FRIDAY. MAY 26, LORD JOHN Rosser.[., in his very offensive little speech of Tuesday last, took upon him to declare that the middle and working classes do not wish to see the House of Commons take up the question of constitu tions,' reform, but believe their true interest to consist in the I it:llM ' s devoting itself steadily to financial, le gislative, and administrative improvements. This lan guage might have been tolerated in an able and effi cient minister of the CmoiNG and Iluski , ,sof: school. The nation might respect a statesman who from natural temperament, or accidents of position, had been brought to distrust the popular judgment, but who discharged his administrative duties with the same stern regard for the public interest, with the same industry and intelligence, which it is the object of popular pressure to extort from less happily constituted minds, lint unluckily for Lord JOHN, his principal title to public esteem is the readiness he showed in former times to aid in increas ing the responsibility of public men to the people—or a section of it. As a legislator, a financier, or ad ministrator, he is not above par. It is precisely be cause he and his colleagues, and the majority in the House of Commons who support them, do not attend to the subjects which he represents as of more importance than constitutional reform, that constitu tional reform is demanded. The publication of the Miscellaneous Estimates, now in the course of delivery with the sutra, suggests an illustration of their short- comings in this respect. The total of public expenditure, in 1847, was 59,230,4131. With the exception of 1,525,000/. for the relief of Irish distress, and 5908/. paid into the Bank to supply deficiencies on the balance reserved for unclaimed dividends, the items which make up this total may be classed under the following heads : Payments out of the income, in its progress to the exchequer, 4,727,4651.; interest and management of the national debt. 28,141.5311. : charges on the con solidated fuud, 2,713,513/. • navy, army, and ord nance, 18,502,1161.: miscellaneous charges on the ann ial grants of parliament, 3,361,066/. Of our annual national expenditure, 28.141,5311. is the interest on a mortgi ge over the national pro perty ; it is a burden which we have inherited along with all of good in our institutions, bequeathed to us by our ancestors—a burden of which parliament can only say, " Well, it must be paid." Nearly one-half of our annual public outlay is not for the purpose of carrying on government, but of paying interest on the accumulated expenses of other years still due. This is a sum which cannot be increased or decreased by economising in our arrangements. The actual expenditure of the year for purposes of government within the year consists of the sums charged to the navy, army, and ordnance, and to the consolidated fund, and of the miscellaneous charges on the annual grants. These three heads embrace the actual cost of civil government and defensive establishments for the year. The cost of our defen sive establishments was last year 18,302,1461. i the cost of civil government 7,274,579/. It is impossible to contemplate the enormous sum expended under the pretext that it is necessary for • defensive purposes alone, with that which is expended for the great purposes of civil government, without exclaiming, " oh, monstrous, only one small halfpenny worth of bread to all this quantity of sack." Nor is this all. Of the 7,274,579/. which we have assumed to be the expenditure of our civil government, part goes to defray naval and mili tary pensions ; while many items of expenditure for civil government never come under the cognisance of parliament. An ore* feature of on r pub' is accounts remains behind. Estimates of the whole of thecontemplated expenditure for defensive purposes (f.ir the army, navy, and ord nance) are annually submitted to parliament. No thing more than a partial and supplementary estimate of the expenses of civil government is presented to it. Of the eew n millions and upwards which is all of the civil expenditure we can trace in the parliamentary ac counts, 2,713,5131. charged on the consolidated fund are voted without any opportunity being afforded to the representatives of the people to canvass their justice or necessity. They arc only allowed to examine into the supplementary 3,561,0661. included in the esti mates of miscellaneous charges on annual grants. One of these estimates contains the contemplated charges of the year for " Law and Justice." But these charges are only supplementary to—meant to eke out what is left unprovided for by the annual charge of 1,046,393/. for " Courts of Justice" on the consolidated fund. Nay, the charge on the consoli dated fund, and the charge on the miscella neous estimates taken together still show only a part of w!.at the nation pays for its Judi lal establishments in the course of the year. The enor mous extortions from suitors and vitiate in chancery, which go to swell the " fee. funds " are part of the national taxation for " law and justice." It is impos sible in the way the budget is ,aid before parliament fur members to say whether the charges for " law and justice" in the miscellaneous estimates are proper or not. They may be voting payment for the same ser vices twice over for aught they know, or voting sums to pay for services which might and ought to be remunerated out of the fee-funds or the charge on the consolidated fund. The same vice pervades all the miscellaneous estimates. The estimate for " education, science, and art" is only supplemental to the national funds for this purpose, administered by the universities and the various corporate bodies entrusted with the management of endowed schools. Members of parliament cannot say with a clear conscience that the sums they vote for educa tional purposes are necessary unless they are in formed of the amount annually expended by universi ties and endowed schools, and the fruits of that expen diture. The estimate of " salaries and expenses of public departments" is obviously - incomplete on the face of the document. The estimates of salaries and expenses in the Houses of Lords and Commons and in the great departments do not em brace all that is required to pay them, but only what is required" in aid ut the fee fund." The 'louse of Commons are the trustees of the nation. Their duty is to ascertain what government ought to cost, to raise the monies, defray the expen diture, and take receipts. In the department of civil government they do not take the ordinary precautions to asceetaia that they pay no more than they ought to do—that they get money's-worth for the money paid. They submit year after year to have incomplete and illusory estimates presented to them, and to vote away the public money on these worthless papers. So long as the present imperfect mode of submitting the budget is aliowed to be persisted in, upwards of four millions and a half of the public reve nue, deducted out of payments in their progress to the Exchequer, will remain unaccounted for, —safe from scrutiny or challenge. So long as this slovenly method of conducting finance business is tolerated, the House of Commons will continue to vote money for purposes of civil government, without having it in its power to learn how much is needed and how much honestly applied. The miscellaneous estimates are an impenetrable cloud cast over possible peculation and misapplication of the public monies. This truth was proclaimed and admitted before the year of grace 1831. Since that time the country has been blessed with sixteen years of what has been, by courtesy, styled a " reformed parlia ment." During the far greater part of that period the country has been blessed with ' what has been by courtesy styled, a " reforming government" Of that "reforming government,"' whenever it has been in office, Lord JOUN RUSSELL has uniformly been a member. Yet the gross and clamant abuse of a budget, framed to deceive, is still persisted in. In these circumstances, it certainly required some power of face in his lordship, to talk so Jauntily as he did on Tuesday evening of the ex pediency of not distracting the attention of parlia ment and ministers from their legislative, financial, and administrative labours by taking up the question of constitutional reform. So much for the principle and taut ensemble of the miscellaneous estimates ; their details (for this year) tempt to more minute criticism—and shall receive it GERMANY. OPENING OF THE PRUSSIAN CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY.—ARRIVAL OF THE EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA AT INNSPRUCK. PRUSSIA.—Our Berlin correspondent writes Si follows : BERLIN, MAY 22. The national or constituent assembly of Prussia was opened this day by the king in person, who arrived from Potnfam at the palace about 11 o'clock, in a plain carriage and pair, without escort or outriders. It was remarked that some fifty seats remained vacant, about that number of depu ' ties having absented themselves on the ground that as the so-called Singing Academy is the place appointed for the carrying on the discussions of the assembly, it should be there and there only that the opening speech should be deli vered. In fact, the absent members and many even who were present, entertain the opinion that the king, as in all constitutional countries, ought to proceed to the place ap pointed for carrying on the business of the assembly, and that it is not the province of the representatives of a nation to go to the king's residence in order to hear the speech from the throne. On his entrance the King was greeted with cheers, and having ascended the throne, his Majesty received the speech from the hands of the Prime Minister, and having seated and covered himself, read it in a somewhat depressed tone : Gentlemen Deputies,—With a glad hut solemn feeling, I greet an numbly which, proceeding from the election of the whole people, is called to decide with me on the consti tution that will signalise a new era in the history of Prussia and of Germany. In commencing that work you will, I feel assured, keep in view at once the double object of securing for the people an extensive participation in toe affairs of the state, and of drawing closer those bonds which, during more than tour centuries, have indissolubly united I my house with the destinies of this country. The draft of the constitution will be laid before you by my government. Simultaneously with you, the representatives of all the German people have assembled at Frankfort. Willingly would I have awaited the result of that meeting befor. con voking the representatives of my faithful people ; but ' the urgent necessity of speedily coming to a legal settlement of affairs in your own fatherland, did not allow of the delay. The unity of Germany is the immutable object to which I tend, and I feel assured that I may rely upon your co-operation, in order to attain it. The traequillity of the country begins to be consolidated. Upon your labours essen tially det end the complete restoration of confidence, the im provement of commerce, and the resuscitation of industrial activity. Efforts have been made iu different quarters to procure employment during the stagnation of several branches of industry, and up to the present period the in creased want of money has not exhausted the savings of the past My efforts to re-pond to the wishes of the Polish inhabitants of the province of Posen, by organic in stitutions, failed to prevent an insurrection, which, although I deeply regret it, has not deterred me from pursuing the adopted course whilst necessarily taking into consideration the claims of German nationality. Not withstanding the violent shocks ( Erschult,runyvis) of the net few months, the friendly relations of my government with foreign powers have been disturbed only upon one pout. I may indulge in the hope that the friendly me diation which has been freely accepted (gem angenonmene) will essentially contribute to hasten the termination of combat which Prussia did not provoke, but which, as a prince of the Germanic confederation I could not avoid, when the boundaries of our common fatherland appeared Übe menaced, and when the confederation called upon me to preserve a recognised right. But even under those cir senartances, my line of policy will be a disinterested and pacific one—a line of policy to which, in common with Germany, lam reaolved to remain faithful Wen zu blei6en)." Shortly alter delivering the speech, hie Majesty left the assembly amidst cheers. There was very little military dis play about the palace, through the court-yards of which the public freely circulated , but a great number of civilians had assembled in front of that edifice. Hen Schoen, is the oldest member, was elected president, pro tem., and took his seat amidst loud cheers. It may be worthy if remark, that he was a member of the ministry of the celebrated Von Stain, and that he had long been unpopular amongst the court party. A committee was appointed to verify the validity of the elections of the members of the assembly, which, after some further business of an unimportant nature had been transacted, adjourned till Wedneaday'meming. AUSTRIA.—AItItIVAL OF THE EMPEROR OF Aus- TRIA AT INHAPRUCK.—We learn from the Ali !leonine Zeitung of the 21st of May that the impe rial family arrived at lonspruck at half-past 10 p.m. on the 10th. Their approach had been announced about half-au-hour before by a courier. The muni cipal national guards proceeded with torches to meet them, and their entry was greeted with enthusiastic cheers by the assembled citizens. Their Majesties had reached Salzburg about 11 p.m. on the 118th, where they supped and slept for a few hours. Two hours after their departure from Salzburg (about 6 a.m.) Count Heyoe, commandant of the Vienna national guard, and 11 . ildschenk arrived at Salzburg, in search of the impel :al family, whom they imme diately followed to I c.nspruck. During the Emperor's halt at Salzburg, a proclamation, explaining that he had left Vienna on account of the disturbances of the 13th, and expressing pleasure at the loyalty of the Upper Austrian provinces, was printed and dis tributed. FRANKFORT, MAY 22.—The national assembly discussed M. Raveaux's motion yesterday. The pur port of that motion, it will be recollected, was to en able persons elected to the German and also to the Prussian constituent assemblies to sit in both. Its practical aim was to enforce the adoption of the re commendation of the committee of fifty that the diets of all the German states should adjourn during the session of the national assembly. Various amendments were moved, all of which, with the original motion, were referred to a committee which it was resolved to nominate at the after:won sitting. The president, in the name of the assemi,?v, expressed a wish that the committee should report as soon as possible. This reference to a oommitito is regarded 3s a victory by the conservative party. Sir Henry Hulwer visited Lord John Russel yesterday. The Ecclesiastical Corn a yr' neral meeting yesterday. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office fr.= the Governor of Gibraltar. for England had OPENING OF THE NEW STEAM BASIN AT PORTSMOUTH BY HER MAJESTY. We have seldom had to record a more interesting public ceremony than the laying of the lee soon of this na tional work, which has been constructed with the view of improving tee eb am department of the navy, and affording to steam-ships a fitting and convenient pia aof r, ceptioct. The first stone was laid January 13th, ISO. and the let yesterday. Its original design was of far has magnitude, but as the work progressed, enlargements and improvements were suggested, until the plane were finally extended to its present spacious dimensions. Its mean average length is 774 feet, 400 feet wide, and 31 feet deep from the coping, covering an area of more than 7 acres. The entrance is 80 feet wide, and the depth of water at the lowest tides 21 feet. There is also a fine wharfage outside the basin, in the har bour, where there is water to the depth of 13 feet, which is sufficient to accommodate second class steamers. There are two inlets on the east Fide of the basin, each 300 feet long by 70 wide and 30 deep from the cr ping ; there are to enable Teem Is whose refitments must he completed in a great hurry, to be worked upon by the artisans on both sides at once. On the west brink of the basin le • great factory of handsome architecture, 687 feet long, 48 wide, and 51 high, and iv partially roofed in. On the south wall is a new brass foundry, 90 feet by 110, which has been, for some time, in partial working. The basin is considered capable of scram modating around its sides nine steam frigates of the first class, and has employed, on the average, 1,500 men since the co mmencement, besides an immense boil , to whom it has given work off the premises — in the quartin, forests, iron works, &c. Besides the above materials, there have been used in various parts of the whole about 2,500 tons of cast iron from Staffordshire. The reugh Cost of the labour already turned out of hand is 400,0001. From the two points of entrance all rennet, the basin was lined two deep by upwards of 3,000 men, consisting of Royal Artillery, Royal Dockyard Artillery, the Royal Dockyard brigade, the Boat battalion, the 9th aid 17th regiments, two guards of honour, and a company of Sappers. The ships in harbour were dressed in their colours and pendants, and a number of revenue gutters, also decorated. All round the basin were numerous bo oths, seme of monster iimen -60113, but all filled to the highest seat, while the tope of the immense factory on the western side, and tide , d of every other building in the dockyard from which the setae could be witnessed was crowded with spectators, notwithstand ing that in that position they were exposed for se veral hours to • scorching sun. A more animated coup d'ccil could therefore scarcely be imagined. The steamers from the Isle of Wight, and the triune of the South ' Western and South Coast Railway, which afforded every accommodation, brought hundreds of visitors, amongst I whom we are sorry to learn there were some of the light fingered gentry. The gates of the dockyards were thrown open about one o'clock, and every available position was soon after occupied,—the whole when present amounting at least to 15,000 persons. It being the birthday of the Princess Ilelena, at 12 o'clock royal salutes were fired from all the ships and the garrison; and at half-past 12 the Duchess of Kent arrived in harbour from Osborne, and was received with rival salute% About 3 o'clock sounds of artillery from Spithead announced 1 the approach of her Majesty, upon which the ships in the harbour immediately manned yard., and the troops around the basin were called to attention. The arrival of the Fairy was then most anxiously looked for, but having stopped at the King's. stairs to take an board the Duke of Wellington, the Marquis of 'alleges, and the Lords of the Admiralty, sne did not reach the basin until hotline three, when she entered it amidst the cheers of the crews of the various ships, which had previously fired salutes. At the sa me moment the of honour on the pier-head saluted, and the band played " God save the Queen." Lord Frederick Fitzcla rence, the Rear-Admiral Superintendent, with their re spective staffs, the master attendant of the yud, and the con tractor were also there, but quickly returned to the landing place to receive her Majesty. The Fairy, however, steamed past, and went slowly round the basin, durii g which the military presented arms, and the bands (of which there were six or seven) played the national anthem, while all the spectators had an opportunity of weep the royal party and testifying their loyalty, which we could not help observing was marked more by the waving of bate, hand kerchiefs, and parasols than enthusiastic cheering. When her Majesty and Prince Albert landed, the whole of the mili tary line again saluted, and the band of the Royal Marines repeated the national air. The booth destined for her Ma jesty's reception was covered with flap, and surmounted by a staff on which the royal standard was he bated. It afforded accommodation to about 50(1 ladies and gentlemen, the elite of the visitors. Amongst them her Majesty recegnised the Earl of Haddington and a party of ladies, with whom she briefly conversed. In the centre of the carpeted floor, and immediately facing the "last stone" which hung suspended for the machine, was a raised dais, with three chairs, but these were not made use of, as her Majesty, who looked extremely well, and in excellent spirite, re mained standing, and so received the address of the Ports mouth corporation declaring their loyalty, thanking her for the visit, and expressing a hope that it foreign aggression should again disturb the peace of the British empire, that arse nal might send forth such fleets as, by the blessing to the God of battles, woulei vindicate their ancient fame as the wooden walls of her Majesty's throne, impregnable to every enemy. An address having been also pre sented to Prince Albert, the atone was lowered to its destined place, covering a brass plate, which beers an inscription of the date and the names of the persons, including the Lords of the Admiralty, by whom the cere mony was performed. Her Majesty then graciuuely bowed to all around her, descended to the Fairy amidst similar honours to those which greeted her arrival, and having again steamed round the basin returned to Osborne. The dockyard battalion, numbering upwards of 2,000 men, then eat down to a substantial repast, in the shape of roast beef and plum pudding, in the spacious but costly edifice termed the boat-house, while about 1,000 of the workmen were treated with similar liberality by the Messrs. Rolt, in the newly erected factory, on the west side of the basin. Much credit is due to Captain James, R.E, direc tor of the works, for the excellence of the arrangements by which so many thousand persons were enabled to witness the day's proceedings, without occasioning the least visible inconvenience or excitement. _ . the THE MURDER LN SPITALFIELI)S. Yesterday3l;:Baker, coroner for Fast Middlesex, again resumed the inquiry opened on the 17th inst. •ouching the death of Henry Lazarus, the boy who war found strangled in the yard of the house, No. 16, Tenter-street o under circumstances already several times allutitd to in this journal.- In reply to the Coroner, Inspector Scott said the lad Savage, who made a statement affecting two other indi viduals at the last sitting of the jury, had since been exa mined before Idr. Hammill, at Worship-street Police-court, where he was confronted with ono of the two parties. The magi-trate, after giving the matter the add seriou: consi deration, bad come to the determination of discharging the person accused, not being able to satisfy biassed that any reliance could be placed upon the statements of the evidently half-witted witness, Savage.—The Coroner raid he thought the magistrate had exercised a very sound discretion in so doing. After the examination of several witnesses, in wl ose testi mo ay, however, nothing of importance appeared beyond what is already known, The Coroner charged the jury on tho whole ca.., and ex pressed his opinion that no reliance whatever could Ise placed on the statement of Savage. That a cruel murder had been committed there could be no doubt, but at pri sert h,. feared they had no evidence before them by which they could attach criminality to any party. The jury were of the Arne opinion, and after a few minutes' consultation returned the following verdict :—"'l hat the deceased, Henry Lazarus, was wilfully murdered by some person or persons unknown." EXPLOSION AT THE CRANBOL'HNE TAVERN.—An explosion occurred at elate hour last night, upon he xteu sive premises termed the Cranbourne Tavern, 3.9 N. wport street, Leicester-square, the property of Mr. Parker. A strong smell of gas had been experienced during the night, which induced Mrs. Parker to go into the front bar with a lighted candle; she had no sooner done so than an explosion occurred, which blew the windows and doors ont of the buildi ig, lifted the flooring, and rent asunder the several walls, at the same time setting the bar in flames. Mrs. Parker and a female servant, named Emma Attick, were thrown down and for some time deprived of their senses, god their clothing set on tire. Three children who were sleeping in an upper room were fenced out of their beds, and the other meal ants were thrown eosen and more or leas injured. The police on duly in the neigh'eiuthood, having been attracted to the spot by the gnat noise, rushed into the place, when they found Mrs. Parker lying on the ground with the whole of her wearing apparel in flames, which, alter some trouble, were extinguished, when it was ascertained that she was most frightfully burned, and little hopes are entertained of her neovcre. The servant was found in the passage, with her apparel also on lire, and, be fore the flames could be extinguished, the was terribly burned. She was remove 1 to Charing-cross Hospital, Where, at half-past 2 o'clock this morning, she tors king without the least chance of recovery. The whole of * the building is much shattered. INQUESTS, YESTERDAY.— TREATMENT OF TILE SICK POOll IN Sr. PANCRAS WoitimOrse.—Before Mr. T. Wakley, M.P., at the Elephant and Castle, King's-road, Camden-town, on Eliza Pollard, aged 38, au inmate of the infirmary of St. Pancras Workhouse, alleged to hare died from neglect consequent on the system adopted towards sick poor in that Ilkabl.shment. Sarah Hipping said dec: , ased was admitted on the 11th inst. and died on the follow iag day, It was her opinion that the deceased died from want of proper treatment. When brought into the ward she was laid on the bed, Lut not put into the bed until half-past eight, because there were no sheets. Tne doctor did not see her until nearly tee o'clock. When the medical gentleman came, he did not order her any refreshment. The deceased had some milk and water given her, when she was put into bed, end although she could not speak she was quite sensible, and assisted the . can to her mouth. Mr. Terry, the doctor, fel, him pulse and looked at her tongue. W Witness told that she was dy'asg for want of nourishment.. —By the Coroner : All the nourishment the deceased had from the time of her admission till her death was come milk and water, perhaps a pint. It is customary to put persona on low diet until the doctor has seen them, and that consists of bread ai.d milk, and water or gruel.—Mr. T. Terry deposed that he was assistant to Mr. Robinson, the workhouse surgeon. He saw deceased on the night of Friday, the 11th, ahout 10 o'clock. She wu then in artictilo mate. As he countered the INS ne Court. Yesterday was the birth-day of the Princess Deena. The Duchess of Kent took leave of the Queen and Prince Albert yesterrl ty morning, and quitted Osborne soon after ten o'clock. Iler Roy al Ilighncsa_crossed in the Fairy to Gosport, and travellisd thence by th/London and South- Western Railway on her return to town, and arrived at her residence, Clarence-house, St. James's, soon after three o'clock yesterday afternoon. The Duchess of Cambridge dined with the Duke ani Duchess of Sutherland, at Stafford house, on Wednesday evening. The Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Augusta Bruce, Sir George Coaper , a nd Lord James Murray, honoured the performance at her Ma jesty's Theatre with her presence last evening. Major-General D'Aguitar had an interview with Bad Grey yesterday, at the Colonial-office. Mr. Gordon and Mr. Hodges had interviews with Sir George Grey yestudsy, at the lionte-rfffice. A deputation from the various water-work cora psnivs in the king an had an interview yesterday with Viscount Morpeth and the Attorney-General, at the office of her Majesty's Commissi , nera of Woods and Forests, in Whitehall-place. The deputation cansisted of Mr. R. Spooner, M.P.; Mr. J. W. Patten, M.P.; Mr. J. Pulking ton, M.P.; Mr. G. Whatelcy, Birmingham; Mr. G. B. Williams, Cheltenham ; Mr.W. Hale, Norwich ; Mr. It. B. Smith, Sheffield; Mr. G. Emmott, Oldham ; Mr. W. Hoole, Rochdale; Mr. Coadwiek, Heywood; Mr. W. Roberts, Rochdale; Mr. C. R. Cawley, Warrington ; Mr. J. Worth ington, Ashton; Mr. Davey, Norwich ,• Mr. Vines, Reads ing ; Ms. Hawksley. Nottingham ; Mr. rover, Chester ; Mr. Southgate, Gravesend; Mr. T. B. Addison, chairman, Preston; Mr. Loseby, Leicester; and Mr . R. Williams, se cretary to the Birmingham Water-works. I 4 . ~~~~~ it