The Express. — London, England, 1853-05-05 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. I. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY, MAT 4. The Synannz took the chair M 12 o'clock. PUBLIC BUSINESS. PE lIT lONS PRESEN TED. OPENING or THE C PALACE ON Sunnkys.—lty Mr. DUNLOP, from inhabitants of St. P A rtholomsn's &s -trict, Liverpool, against. CAE or EDWA" -6 from Nu wcaati. 0 Ht..to.or.—By 3lr. 13LACK.ETT, ol...Tyae, for release siL AvitENT or Wmara HADF/ ELD, from the Cutlet's Company of Stl'ireld, under the com pany's seal, against; Major W. WYNN, from weavers and 'Pitmen of Newton, Monti!' mcreshire, in favour of. PULLIC Royals (SCOT - „4.u) lifittt.—Lty Mr. DUNLOP, from the ministers sod utti,m-bearers of Stockwell Free Church, Glasgow, in favour of. INTOXICATING 1.11.11:01.¢.—By Mr. 0. RICARDO, from inhabitants of the city o a Worcester, for restricting the laws of the sale of. INDIAN TslittlTAtlEA.—By Mr. BLACKETT, from Newcastle end .te.hesd Commercial Association, praying for a better adm.stistration of. CONIBINATION or WOUILEIN BI r LL. —By Lord f rost D. STUART, from Sr. Marylebone; M. WILLIAMS, the operative stonemasons of Lambeth; in favour oL NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr. Or.teri For Tuesday. the 10th May: Select tom:mitts. to inquire into the state sail condition of the bridles over the Thames in the metropolis; to report whether they are adecuate to the present end vastly in creasing traffic; whether it be desirable to construct one or more bridges over the river, if so at what point or points; whether it would be desirable to throw open to the public the prevent toll paying bridges, and, if so, upon what terms such bridges could he thrown open; and to report upon Any measures. BOROUGH OF TYNEMOUTH. Sir D. HILL g;;;;Mit;is for this day to move that the writ fur the borough of T)nemouth be not issued until the mouth of fuse eon. Also to move for a commission to in quire into the alleged corrupt practices in that borough. PROBATE OF WILLS BILL. Mr. II ADF I ELD, in moving the second re ading of this bill, proposed that the bill should be read a second time without filiClPlioo, and the committee postponed until after be holidays. 'the SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that when, • month ago, he made a statement on this subject he hoped that he should shortly be able to introduce • bill. Considerable *regress had since been made in the preparation of that bill, and it was now nearly ready to be brought in, but, in ensequenee of communications he had received, he had referred at to the Chancery Commissioners for their opinion as to the testamentary iurisdictioo. Some little time must be allowed to enable the commissioners to make their report, as ho was anxious not to bring in a measure without the high sanction of their recommendation. He might here remind the house that the impirtant measure of last session, for the retires of the Court of Chancery, and of which every day showed the advantages, embodied the recom mendations of that learned body. (Hear, hear.) At the same time, he could assure the house that he was most anxious to fulfil the promises be had made, and he elm believed he bad authority to state, that if the report of the commis sioners were delaytd longer than was expected, the bill which bad been prepared would be immediately laid on the table. With regard to the bill of his hon. friend, he was willing that it should be read a second time with the un derstanding that when the larger measure was brought in the latter should have precedence of consideration. He (the Solicitor-General) was excessively desirous that eccle siastical jurisdiction, in which there was noddle' of a spiritual nature, but which was purely temporal, almald be absorbed into a temporal coati. and there was as mart se proper fur the purpose as the Court of Chiming. Velem I that were done, any partial monsere far the NOM et the ecelesiutical marts which NSW! them mita& mold be a step in the wrong direction With time eliservetlens be was willing that the bill sheali be reed a sassed thee. Dr. PHILLIMORB mold net penult the MU Se be reed a second time, even pro forme, without ealerig lie protest against its previsions. As it deed et pessent s be kneel le would tend to increase the amber of probates rather that diminish this. Ile hoped, however, that this much vexed question would be settled during the present parliament. Me. B. DENISON, seeing that government yeasiewl a eithgeehubsive measure, thought that the beet Neese wield le te wilbinw the bill. The LOAD ADVOCATE brought qq MOM damn ne , Nam be the werkieg of the act in Sedlvei Mr. EITZOEUALD deemed to the bill, as bring a meet of tiekeriag legislates en a kegs subject. lie tread that the governors( masseee wadi legislate for I reland s _sad Is that lope bad hinmelf selbelned from Wining is a M. Mr. 11111 LET thought that after the illetinet =seance meat of the Eelisitor-Oeserel the been ought all le read this bill amend time. He believed there was batons feel lag in the Mee as to dealing with the enemies of testa. mastery juridic-tips, sad anise theeeekeemitheme► alms he bad ea meareette that the MR would be wididemn4 be should more as lee eassadaseet that it be read a semi dese that day de maths. lard J. RUSSELL meld me a* reason fee rekellaj e te l bill at this stye. It apposed le him that the Mum 1 mime to the essaideratma of this 'guest gustiest if testa =eatery jurisdiction with all illignigniale before it. Now, la the Are pen, the hems bail net asr t the plan of the Solicitor-Oesswel ; LA la the eseseiAdm. dot lion might be mallard by the plea if the ..iney Ono*. stoners, who bed bees appointed mgesilly te eserike 111. Simla be the Nee. he did aft Mak lt - right to this bill, dialing wit% soy of the because every sad would be vale. able in enabling the beam le NEM a eight dedium Ile but should certainly oldest le gels' ink esemai but Ali not see "ay rams Ise ateselleg the asseed . He would menthes vide with Ida Yea. sad Ismael with the us I usessilni lIM the esmaillee should be until the gememarat memos had been laid on dm Mlle. Mr. COLLIER thought the meemmt a step in the riga direction, and that it wadi tbenfore be izespediont is stop its program. Although he telt that the jeakiktien testamentary should be dealt with in ithemprebeastee mew nor, he was not limimmilk to its number to the Oeigit of Chancery. He email glee it to the Omsk On" la di non-contested mattes* ander a metal* anilleinil lIMISINIPS that, it might bee _dealt widths the meats et mop mon law. He Mamma Itias thumbs, a Mlles lin sob , jest, with • view Mile imedihretke ekes with am aft Lon. and learned lininaheillalid. BO thestabe Ilea Oa question must ultimata* be MIA lig &mind emelllee. but he trusted it would be dealt with Alike the pima session. (Hear, hear.) The bill was read a second time, and ordered to be ani mated pro forma on Wednesday next. PAYMENT OP WAGES BILL. ... _ _ . Oa the order of the day for the second reading of this bin, Petitions were presented against by Mr. BASS, from Derby Mr. HADFIELD, from Sheffield ; and by Mr. BROCKLEHURST, from Macelealield. By Sir. I. WALMSLEY, from Leicester, signed by 900 ratepayers and 29 masters, in favour of. Sir 11. lIALFORD, in moving the second reading of the bill, proceeded to explain its objects. For • number of years gement of wages had been prohibited by law other wise tisis in the carnet coin of the realm. The ancient' !ewe ha this subject WWII esasolidated by the act of Wil- ' Ism the Fourth, and be hawed their policy had n bees chetiesed, although Bees tine to time there had bees assplalate of Impeders shimmies. A government oreasesies le isiske red woes. bed bees Instituted by Sir G. Grey, eed essibsedlby lie aessesser is tie Horae-oha. Mr. Tremoshows, the essmielieher, bore testimony to the great and manifest edviatips of the law, and added many suggestions for its isomeremeat. It was pert of his (Sir IL Helloed's) object to urge these suggestions on the house, as he proposed to bring certain practices within the scope of the act, which were distinctly against its spirit, but which, by an unfortunate construction of the letter of the law, had been hitherto exempted from its operation. He was princi pally concerned fur the framework knitters of the midland counties, a numerous cad industrious clam of workmen. So great had been their distrees in former years, that in 1844 her Majesty had issued • commission of inquiry to ascertain the cause. That distress, he was happy to say, had been some what mitigated since, and he believed that, with fair play, these poor people might now earn a comfortable subsist ence. The commissioners had attributed their distress principally to the system of frame rents, and the custom of making deductions from the wages of the werkpcople, the latter making it the interest of the employer to spread his work over as many workmen a. possible. The evident* taken bet ire the commissioner was conclusive on one point, namely, that the deductions were determined by no fixed rat., but were solely at the will of the employer. So inju rious did the commissioner think this practice, that • ease wider the Track Act was taken before Lord Denman, but was unfortunately decided against the men. The frame work knitters worked in frames which they rented from their employers, and the stated rent of these frames was computed at 40 per cent. of their value, but there was abun dant proof that in many instances the rent reached 100 per rent. Oae witness proved that a fame ranted by an under taker or middleman at N. a week was afterwards sublet by him to a workman at 21. 01., the valeta of the femme being altogether not more than 5/. (Hear, hear.) The same witness knew of a number of frames, worth from 20.. to 21. each, let at Is. a week; sad fee one. which had coat, 305., be had for five weeks been paying Is. Bd. Another man stated that he bad rented the same frame for ten years without ever having it repaired. This was the evidence of the workmen; and although he bed no doubt of its truth, be would fortify it from other quarters. Mr. Pdkins stated that the undertakers who rented the houses out to tha workmen made, on an outlay of 5001. capital, an income of 5001. a year. It should be remembered, also, that these rents were levied whether the frames wen at work or not, the idleness being itself caused by tie un dertaker, in not giving oat • sufficient quantity of week. Idle or working, well or sick, this inflexible rent was always levied from the poor workman. (Hear, hear.) The son 111.41011efi a-certaiaed some facts which forcibly showed the client of the evii. One poor man earned 91. lid. in • week will his frame, and his employer charged 9s. Id. for rent., so that his net earnimas fur the week am ref rem one halfpenny. Ano:hor earned si. and iris charred 6s. 6d. rent. Another man, who was sick ter several seeks, had his rent paid all the time by iie sick club. Neither was the system beneficial to m isters themselves. Small capitalists set to work with tte-. trams., and tieing unable to let them lie idle forced a msrket, and thus depreciated prices on the Urge makers. The mole resaecteb.e masters were solver,. pe Mit practice, sod woheo the rel Woes between theta and their men to be pat us • mere health y toting. The boa. baronet having 4aoted same letters from manufacturers in support of hue i esattuoint, proceeded to say that another party, who felt aell, was the setayeziachegy of the team I* 1849 e is Leicester, the numher io the workhouse was 871; readying out door relief, 9,259; in 1350, 7,619; in 1831, 6,116 ; • A a lot Tear he was happy to say is eaMe down to 4,803. To repair all these evils be merely Naked for a declarat,e 4 carrying out the existing act to its legitimate extc• A tt these frames to fair c om p etition in c- to sub ien market, teed of the present system • wh• ..ch as open to the grossest abuses, to alter He propaseil abolish the system of arbitrary fines, an system, by which the masters sought a prof' • d • tut on their own Ph' eau of on the work of their yr..., e, which should always go to capital Among 'AC arguments used by the opponents of alteration, it Te• ai urged that the system of hiring out the frames ene° r .eaged domestic labour, and an affecting pic ture was etawri of the happy homes of the workmen. Any o'..• ' however, who hail seen the manufacturing vil laicasof the midland counties, knew how different was the sail reality. (Hear, hear.) Again it was said that it afforded an opportunity for workmen to rise to the posses sion of frames. On the same principle a stave might become a slave-driver, bat that was no argument in favour of slavery. The hon. gentleman contended that the system was against the provisions of the Track Act, and quoted Mr. Huskisson's opinion on the relation between labour and capital, delivered when that act was under discussion. I • conclusion the hon. member urged the house to pass the second reading of the bill, sa neceuary to carry out that principle of free competition which could not without some measure of the kind exist. THE KINGSTON-ON-HULL AND CANTERBURY BRIBERY COMMISSIONS. Lord DRUMLANRIO appeared at the bar with her Majesty's answer to the joint address of both houses, pray ing for a commission of inquiry :into the bribery at the last election for Kingston-upon-Hull. Her Majesty stated that directions had been given for issuing the commission. A similar answer was given in the ease of the address in re ference to Canterbury. CARLOW ELECTION PETITION. The SPEAKER announced that he had received a com munication from the agent for the petition against the re• turn for the county of Carlow, intimating the abandonment of the petition. PAYMENT OF WAGES BILL. Mr. BIGGS warned hon. gentlemen opposite how, by en ill-timed and ill-considered measure, based on un sound principles of political economy, they interfered with a branch of our manufacture in which 100,000 people were employed, and which involved a capitol of 31 millions. It was singular that the political economy of the tories and the country gentlemen was almost identical with that of the lowest elm of the working population in the great towns — those, he meant, who were usually called the rabble. (Hear, hear.) So much so was this the case, that the leading articles of the Morning l'ott and of the Evening Star might be transferred from the columns of the one paper to the other, without any one detecting the change. (" Hear" anelaughter.) There was another similarity between the two clesses—that was, that both were fond of field sports, and too often of low vices. (" Oh, oh," and laughter.) His conviction was, that this bill, if passed, would be inoperative, or, if opera tive, that it would pat a stop to a great partials of the trade, and injure rather than benefit those on whose behalf it was brought forward. With regard to the working classes themselves they were led to suppose that the effect of the bill would be to give them the same wages net which they now get in the gross, and that they would have nothing to pay for rent and wear and tear of frames. There could not be a greater falacy. or one that would occasion more disap pointment. These were his opinions as to the measure, bat as a manufacturer, sod therefore to some extent, as it might be supposed, interested in the matter, and as he wee 'NA desirous not to vote against either the real or the supped interest of the workman, he should take no part in the division, but would leave the question in the hands of the house. Mr. PACKS observed that the hon. gentleman who had just sat down had not advanced a single argument against the principle of this bill, which was that these poor unfor tunate workmen should be enabled to get a fair day's wages for a fair day's work, without the system of paying them partly in money and partly in machine rent. The charge of Is. and 2s. a week made for the use of these machines, which did not cost more than 51. each in the first instance, was outrageous. (Hear, hear) And the more so, u em- ployment wu generally refused to any man who had his own machine. The ham. gentleman had referred to the farmers ; but they did not deduct so mach a week from the labourer for the use of the plough and the harrow, but paid him the fall wages. Mr. STRUTT would not go into any lengthened discussion on the present occasion as to how far the factory or the domestic system was :preferable ; but he was assured by numbers of the working classes themselves that they would be disappointed if the effect of this measure were to deprive them of the power of carrying on their manufature at home—at their own pleasure and their own homes. Ile was net prepared to deny that these people were occasionally subject to oppression by the middlemen ; but this trade did not differ in this respect from others of • like character. It was • trade easily acquired, mad carried on to a great extent by women mod Andrea. This hail made labour abundant and wages low, and as a consequence the woekpeople were she. Ailed to submit to oppression in conseilassee of the 4114111111111161. fee employment. And though these were mils le be MI la some degree indirectly by those ereemra width tend to *move the condition of the people gear and enable the workmen to make agreements with tle employers on fair terms, no direct legislation could put an end to them. (Hear, hear.) lie believed that during the last seven years the condition of the working clangs , had greatly improved, and that there had been no recur- Noce of those sufferings which before that time were frequent (Hear, hear.) It was curious, however, to re flect that the three hon. gentlemen whose names were at the back of this bill had been systematically opposed to the measures which had produced those results. (Cheers.) He should be at all times happy to consider any measures brought forward for the benefit of the working classes, but, entertaining the views he did as W the present bill, it would sot be honest in him to consent to the second rearing. Mr. HUME could not estimate the talents of gentlemen opposite at so low • rate as to suppose the believed what they said as to We effect of this bill. They were the greatest enemies of the working men, and were doing mis chief by these attempts to kgislate,—to do that which no legislation could accomplish. It was most unjust to insinu ate that the manufacturers were influenced by other mo tives than those by which other classes were influenced. They were necessarily subjected to those necessities which competition entailed upon all. They were compelled to get their work done at the lowest rate of wages, and to in troduce new machinery to meet that competition by which they were opposed by the Saxon and other foreign manufacturers. Since 1824 the men had been free to meet end arrange with their masters as to the rate of wages, hours of labour, and other matters affecting them ; but this bill would put an end to that freedom et masters and men to make agreements between them for their muteal advantage. He admitted and regretted the suffering to which the working classes were at times sub ject; but it was not to be prevented or rem, died by legis lation of this nature. He moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months. The Marquis of GRANBY—The questions for the house to consider were, fleet, whether these poor people were suffering to the extent alleged ; secondly , whether, if they were, this bill would afford • remedy ? That the suffering existed he had heard no one venture to deny. This bill would be the greatest benefit to the working man by enabling him to get his frames when he liked—in fact, to buy in the cheapest and not in the dearest market. Hon. gentlemen opposite said that the bill would be nugatory. Well, if so, why did they oppose it? for surely it could do no berm. (Cheers.) At any rate those who believed it a end bill should be allowed to try it. (Hear, hear.) As to what had been said of the sympathy of the country gen tlemen with the " rabble," why, he was proud of it. Sir .1. WALMSLEY said that there was no man in that house whose opinions he regarded with more respect than those of his hon. friend the member for Montrose ; and he believed that there was no man in that house or out of it more disposed than was his hon. friend to promote the welfare of the producing classes. (Cheers.) It was, therefore, with the greatest reluctance that ho dif fieeed hem him on this occasion. The question was one whisk meld oily be decided by facts ; and in confirms ,ileaof what be bad said, he would venture to read to th house • communication he had received from the frame- I work knitters of Leicester. These people's story was to be r told best in their own simple Isrgusge. They said : " Leicester, March 14, 1853. " Sir,—As we have heard that misrepresentations have ban made in reference to the bill now before the House of Commons, entitled ' A Bill to Secure the Payment of Wages without Stoppages,' we feel it a duty we owe to oseuslves on behalf of the trade to put you (as our repre inalative) in possession of our own views relative to the said hill. Pint, as respects thequestion of the abolition of rent; we do sot desire, as has been circulated, to use the machinery of any person, whether manufacturer or not, without the owner being enabled to secure to himself the same rights sod advantages for the capital invested as is secured by law Seth@ owuers of all other descriptions of property ; but wile object that excessive rents and num* rats other de ductions on account of work being given should he wade from wages, irrespective of the quantity of material deli- 1 vered out to be manufactured, the value of the machine, or la the absence of any mutual contract. The legislature paged an act in 1831 prohibiting the payment of wages in goods or otherwise, but they did not prevent • master whist goods on the same conditions as other people, pro viding they did nut deduct, or bargain to deduc', such debt from the wages earned. With respect to the bill before the house, we say there is nothing therein con:sined to prevent • manufacturer or other persons from letting for hire any frame; nor is there anything to prevent a workman from hiring a frame from *limo he can agree with, on the same conditions as all other property is let, or hired, or leased. The word ' house,' inserted in line 4, clause 1, we think is clearly indicative of our true meaning of all the terms re ferred to in the bill. No gentleman can supper° for a MO ment that we desire to netle in houses, whether the pro : perty of balers or others, without paying r , nt ; nor do we desire to force, directly or indirectly, any other principle in respect to frame property, or refuse to pay fur any work which may actually be performed by any other person on their behalf ; but we do object to power being invested in the hands of any person to deduct what they please under custom alone from the earnings of labour without any court of appeal accessible to them on account of heavy law en pease!. Second—ln respect of defective work we think all questions which may &Ow under that term are already pro. vided to under the act ~ Geo. IV., cap. ; and the frame property of proprietors is protected under the act G & 7 Vie., cap 10. In cuocho too, se beg to state moot etnplt i ticoliy that w° ilijure all intention at prit•ent, or htr the future ' to interfere in any degree with the rights of pro perty, holding that each person has a right to let, lease, or gsL oa trim best Wml lax con, bit ye also kohl that the THE EXPRESF!, - THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 5, '853. - - - tam e right belongs to e•onelves in the dillgodd of our la tiour? and. that no stoppage ought to be made from the sateen"' of worls•nen in respect of frames, house, fines, or gas, or other charge which may be made; but that the I geestiou of sieges, of debt, Itc., should be separate from, each other.—We are, sir, your obedient servants, " GEORG* BUCIIIT, ELLIO.cy, ri •-•" bf). ..seif of the committee of fra me wor k knitter. on J. Walmaley, M.P." These frameworkers wets an exceedingly numerous body, of the character represented by the hon. member for New port, numbering in all about 100,000 persons ; and, as that hon. member had also explained to the house, they were scattered in various towns and villages chiefly in Notts, Lei cester, and Derbyshire ; and the frames being in their own houses, the manufacture was of a domestic character, and overlookers or middlemen were employed. The per sons who were now petitioning the House of Commons knew all these circumstances, and accepted all the cense queuees ; but they insisted that the system adopted was an artificial and not a natural one, and that it was not fair to add to their misfortunes by imported evils. And it should be understood that the petitioners were not petitioning is the abstract; the remedy they sought had been tried. Some manufaeturen had already, of their own accord, abandoned the system of deductions and charges; awl they had found the experiment in every respect a fortu nate one, not at all injurious to themselves ' and greatly beneficial to their workmen. (Hear, bear.) There could be no question that if such a general change wine brought about, it would eh wonders to foster and to har monise those kindly feelings which should ever regulate the relations between the employers and employed. (Ilea; hear.) Ile spoke as an employer—probably of as number of men as the hon. member for Newport—end he spoke earnestly, and after much experience. Bat them unhappy people in Leirestenhire bad waited king s mei were toeing patience, and they appealed now to the um of justice of that house, and through that house, owl he hoped not in vain, to the good sense and Ashman, of the employing classes. He held in his heel a letter from a Leicester firm, which would show to the house what excellent grounds there were for auguring well of such a change as the bill would effect; for it was to be observed that his correspondent had carried on his business operations for many years without an of those mischievous deductions of the prevalent system. The letter, which was signed "S. Brown," for "W. Preston and Company," said— "Dear Sir,—With reference to the bill now before parliament, of Sir H. Halford's, to secure the payment of wages without stoppages, I beg to say that the firm with which lam connected have carried on their business without charges' for seven years, and have found it beneficial and satisfactory to all parties concerned. " What followed was worthy of the house's attention ; since it answered the supposition that these framework knitters were attacking the rights of property ; the fact being that they only re- ' gaited that there should be two persons in a harpist, and tint an old but a bad custom, by which they believed their interests suffered (and as he believed, also), should be get rid of. Mr. Brown said :—" But we do not desire, sec does the bill, in oar opinion, intend, to interfere with frame property in any way whatever ; but simply that rent shall not be deducted from wages, but that wages shall be paid in full in the current coin of the realm." (Hear, hear.) Perhaps the house might think this argument as to the benefit derivable from a voluntary change of system was somewhat beside the question immediately before the house, but he thought it was not waste of time to show that such a change was practicable, and that where it had been tried it heel been successful. (Hear.) In defending this bill be most emphatically re pudiated the idea that he was interfering with free trade, or that he was assailing any established principle of political ec .nomy. He was only asking the house to do in this case what it had done with the best results in other cases. He should now, and on every other occasion, give his hearty support to any and every measure that would enforce and carry out to the utmost the spirit of the Truck Act.— (cheers)—by which he believed the working classes had been greatly benefited, and without which he was sure their interests would have continuously and increasingly suffered. One word as to the manufacturers themselves. Ho was sorry that remarks bad fallen which were unkind and offen sive (and untrue, too), to the manufacturers. (Hear, heat.) He knew them well. He was not one himself, but he had associated and mixed with them ; and he was well assured that they were a class who, as a class, spared no pains to secure the welfare and the social happiness of tee artisans and those around them. (Hear, hear.) He was also per seeded that, if it could be shown to them that this bill was practical, or could be so altered in committee as to meet their objections, leaving its benefits, and depriving it of what they regarded as its powers of mischief, the house would hear no more of their opposition, which was offered on conscientious grounds, and not with an exclusive reference to their own interests. They were a class who had often proved that they would not shrink from raising the artisan, even at the risk of some cost to themselves. (Cheers.) On these grounds he would support the bill ; and he hoped that the principle being adopted, the house would go into a fair discussion of the details in committee. Mr. T. EGERTON thought that the bill should be made a local bill. It was inapplicable, or, if applicable, would be injurious generally. In the silk trade, where gas was necessary and was used, a small charge was made ; and, in these caws, the bill would be mischievous. In the cotton trade the employers had built houses for their men; and here again the bill would do no good, and would introduce confusion. He should like to have heard the opinion of the government on the subject ; and he called upon the right hon. Fresidentof the Board of Trade not to allow a bill of this character to pass without a protest. (Hear.) Mr. CARDWELL did not hesitate to answer toe appeal, and would state at once the opinions he entertained on the subject. First of all he would say that he by no means joined in the complaint made of the excessive sympathy distinguishing that house with regard to the poorer work ing classes. On the contrary, he saw with satisfaction the eager and patient attention which the Home of Commons always gave to questions of this kind, connected directly or remotely with the sufferings of those classes. (Hear, hear.) To that extent did this feeling operate in the House of Commons, that there was generally a tendency to depart from that which in the long run was found the true principle, rather than to be wanting in an effort to remedy as far as possible the evils complained of. But this was evidently a very dangerous tendency : be cause they were dealing with subjects on which it was moat fatal to blunder, since, if they made a mistake, the recoil came upon the working classes themselves. (Hear, hear.) With regard to this bill be would vote for it readily, subject to certain modifications, if he thought it would remedy the grievances complained of ; but he believed that the direct opposite would be the result—that the mischief would be altered, but not diminished, and on that groand be would vote fur the amendment of the bon. mem ber for Montrose. (Cheers.) What were the facts they had to deal with? In the staple manufactures of this country they enjoyed a superiority over the rest uf the world by reason of their mechanical powers and great na tural advantages. In the handloom manufactures they had no advantages, but disadvantages, being subject to compe tition with the lower prices of the Continent, where the condition of the working classes and their wages were lower than in this country. They dare nut, then, in crease the disadvantages artificially, or saddle the trade with a weight which would render the competition more unequal. In this trade the wages were low for this reason, that skilled labour was not required ; that any child could go into it; great competition therefore going on for em ployment in it. The labourers in it resided in scattered localities, each with a separate loom, which loom being tee poor to provide themselves with they have to hire, sad dr contract for that hiring was the foundation uf the evils now represented to the house. The case, it was clear, was not t* be met by the Truck Act. The Queen's Bench had tried 'the point, and had decided that the Truck Act did not apply, and on this ground, that 'the man did not earn all, but that part was earned by the frame. The present system was an inevitable one; the manufac turer must make deductions for the rent of his frame ; and he must have overlooken, or middlemen, for what other security but:this inspection of work done at frames scat tered at distances could he have that the frame would not be wed by other persons, at less rates to his detriment? The very nature of the case required all the securities ho insisted on ; and what was this but a bill to take away these securities? With regard to the interests of the workman, such a bill could not benefit him. He must get a frame from somebody; and there must be an inspection. What was the position of this reprobated middle-man ? These workmen worked at their frames at peat distances from the manufacturer, and they had two journeys to perform to carry on their business; one to get work, and a second to take it back. Was it, then, better that they should make this double journey for themselves or agree to let commu nications to be carried on for them by a third party, who would undertake the same thing, at small expense to the individuals, for the whole working community ? The convenience and the economy of calling in a mid dle-man was obvious. % Hear, hear) The question therefore was would the house f ebid these mot people, getting the frames from those who could let them out at the cheapest rates, and at the same time prevent the interven tion of middlemen who bad Laved the knitters expense ? (Hear, hear.) Mr. Muggeridge spoke of it as an aggra vation of the evil in this case that mere were a great num ber of persons wholly unce.neee . ed with the manufacture who made a large profit by investments in Wise frames, and in hiring them out. Ho stated that there were but chers and bakers and others, among them women, who were owners and letters of frames. But if this were so, what became of the argument that only the manufacturers could gain from the present system ? Where was the proof in these circumstances of the asserted compulsory relations between the knitters and the employers? (Hear, hear.) To stair it concisely, be believed that the direct effect of the bill would be this; it would be a practical prohibition to the labour of these p eo ple in the villages, and would cause an increase of the labouters in tho towns. (Hear, hear) Of course those who worked already in the towns, and under certain advan tages, as being nearer the employer, were somewhat dis. posed to the bill, inasmuch as the bill would prevent ram petition ; hut then would the house do on injustice to the village workmen ? Ile, of course, recognised the philanthropy awl kindness of the bon. baronet ; he bad uo doubt of the ex cellent intentions with which the bill woe introduced ; but he (Mr. Cardwell) entreated toe house to be caution. in sine tinning such a measure. The hon. gentleman (Sir J. wahsoley) advocated the bill, on the ground that it would do away with the special grievances he had detailed ; but if his argument was good at all, it would be good far a general extension of the principle to all tr4tl , a; soil various hon. m..mto rs had idioms this iu ceraiu trol.s no moth :krintip:e could be safely recogoised. Wh. n the y gc.t into the discussion of such matters they found themselves acting and talking inconsistently ; and, what had beta said Art t h e come of this debit, solliciently showed how unfit that bonne was to legislate in such a way by such bills, on the details of complicated trades. (Hear, hear.) Mr. NEWDEGATE read • statement of objections to she bill drawn up by manufacturers, and answered them in detail ; concluding by saying that if hon. gentlemen met a bill of this kind, by the parent-like declaration of abstract doctrines of political economy, they would, in the end, tie a millstone round their necks which would sink them ; a result ho should not regret. Mr. R. GARDNER opposed the bill. The hon. hatonet (Sir H. Half,;rd) would be directing hie restless philan thropy into situ& better thumb' if he would address him self to showing the poor people concerned that they ought to look, or at least to bring up their children to look, to a better trade than that of hand-loom knitter. The employers were not alarmed at their bill; they rather regarded it with contempt ; for they were accustomed, now, to tho empiricism of the honourable baronet; and at any rate they knew that such • measure must of necessity be totally inoperative. He (Mr. Gard ner) regretted to hate to oppose the convictions and to resist the expectations of a numerous portion of his constituency; but the bill was founded on such a radically wrong principle, and held out such illusory hopes, that no other course was open to him. Lord J. MANNERS found that this bill was met by the same arguments and the same predic tions which the Truck Act, the act for the re gulation of employment in mines, and the Ten Hours Act, bad successively encountered, overcome, and falsified ; and he trusted that the House of Commons would not be led away by generalisations of political eco nomy, but having a specific evil to deal with, would adopt a measure of practical legislation, the principle of which was fully recognised in the Truck Act. (Hear, hear.) At least he hoped the house would not regard the clue con cerned as a "rabble." (Hear, bear.) The right hon. gentleman (Mr. Strutt) who had used that phrase be longed to • family which had risen into wealth and station by the labours of the working classes; and he should have been ashamed to speak in the slighting and insulting language he had used of an induct , trious and respectable body of his fellow countrymen. The Wry county members nee d not shrink from the taunt that they sympathised with that rabble : and with regard to r him-elf, he (Lord J. Manners) would never lose an occasion of showing, both by words and deeds, that he did sympa thise with all his heart with the " rabble " artisans of the , great towns now suffering from the oppressions of capital. Mr. WHALLEY (amidst great cries of " Divide ") stated that he would vote against the bill. The bill wits • suicidal r act. . which the promoters cf the bill Lad been treated by the government; and said that if the home would not allow themselves to be mystified by the legal arguments of the legal gentlemen, who might oppose the mature, they could nst hut come to a right decision upon the matter. Mr. RUNE advised the noble viscount to accede to the humble application of the working climes, and at all events, to adjourn the debate, in order that the subject might be re considered. (Hear, hear.) Mr. WILSON begged to appeal to the house on behalf of a bill which stood upon the notice paper—the Exchequer Bills Bill. Unless they forwarded that bill a stage that evening they would be obliged to sit on Saturday, Mr. lIUME would, thereßire, mote that the debate be adjourned. Mr. °EACH (amidst loud cries of "Divide I declared himself in favour of the bill. Though an extensive em ployer of labour, he thought the working classes were not allowed their rights, and that they ought to be placed on • footing of equality with their masters in this respect. (hear, hear.) Lord J. RUSSELL would consent to the adjournment on the grounds mentioned by his hen. friend (Mr. Wilson), but he could not undertake to support the bill. Mr. T. BUNCOMBE begged, therefore, that the divi sion might be taken on the substantive motion. Mr. RUME said he was willing to withdraw his motion for the adjournment of the debate. Mr. KENDALL (amidst interruption) opposed the bill, and mentioned cases where the imprisonment or spiriting away of the " peaceable persuaders" had restored peace to districts disturbed by strikes. The house then divided, as it seemed, upon the question of adjournment. Ayes lO2 Noes l2l-19 It was now, however, six o'clock, awl. therefore, the debate could neither be resumed nor a second division taken. The house adjourned. NEW ELECTION COMMITTEES. Yesterday, the General Committee of Elections met, and nominated the following new committees: Coss.—Sir J. Y. Buller, chairman ; Mr. Milner Gibson, Lord Newport, Mr. Crowder, and Sir J. Tyler. The mem bers petitioned against are Serjeant Murphy and Mr. Fagan. PLTKOUTII.—Mr. Aglionby, chairman; Mr. Glyn, Lord Chandos, Mr. J. A. Smith, and Mr. Child. The members petitioned against aro Mr. C. J. Mare and Mr. U. P. Collier. — Mr. CHEETHAM would also vote against the bill. He admitted the sufferings of •the class in question ; bat they were sufferings which such legislation as this could not ameliorate. Col. H. BLAIR would vote for the bill. He had heard no tangible argument against it. Mr. MUNTZ had done as much to improve the condition of the artisan as any man alive. (Laughter.) Hon. gen tlemen might laugh : he felt that what he said was true ; whenever he had to balance his own interests against those of the working man, he gave his conscience • tura against himself. (Cheen and laughter.) But he was in a difficulty about this bill. The people concerned would be disappointed if it did not pass ; and they would be griev ously deceived in what they hoped from it, if it did pass. (Hear, bear.) Under those circumstances, why not put the bill in • committee, and see what could really be done with it, to make it a rational and good bill ? If the bill were forced to a division, he should vote against it. Mr. L. REYWORTH argued that, if it were right to prevent the owners of stocking frames from receiv ing rent for their use, they ought also to take the sane course with respect to the proprietors of land—that peat machine by which the different articles of agricultural - we nufacture were produced. Indeed, there were far moss stringent reasons for the confiscation of the soil than of machinery, to which the proposition would amount. In truth, it was impossible to meddle either with frame rent or with wages without giving rise to incalcu lable mischiefs; but they might in an indirect way benefit the frame work-knittera—namely,by passing such measures as would tend to alleviate the condition of the working classes generally. They must go on in the glorious course in which they had already made such progress ; they must make Wade free, and remit indirect taxation. That this would prove the most effectual way of attaining the end sought by the bill, their past experience would show. When he bad visited the framework-knitters of Derby, five years ago, ho found their position the most deplorable that could be con ceived ; but their present condition was infinitely better. He should vote against the bill. Sir H. HALFORD would be happy to refer the Lill to a select committee, as had been suggested, if the house would consent to the second reading. The house then divided— For the second reading 125 Against it lB6-61 The bill was accordingly thrown out. COMBINATION OF WORKMEN BILL. On the motion that this bill he read a third time, The SOLICITOR-GENERAL begged to state the reasons why he should oppose the measure. When the bill was last before the house, its object was stated to be only to declare what was the law i and if that had really been the case he should not have felt much objection to it. But he found that it had been so worded as to lead to an entirely dif ferent result, for it would completely change the existing law. By the 6th of Geo. IV., chap. 129, as interpreted and declared by the late decision in the Court of Queen's Bench, INCREASE. persons not in employment were allowed to combine for the In the month In the three months purpose of raising wages; but this bill, if passed, would ending April 5. ending April 6. legalise all eomhinations of person., whether employed or Cocoa ....lbs. 26.618 .... 72,093 not, and would repeal that important act. It ought also to Coffee ....lbs. 2,103,539 .... 2,795,220 be noticed, that the word " combination" was employed in Wheat....qn. 99,018 .... 434.476 the bill. Now, that was a technical word, and had a strict Flour....cwta. 427,413 .... 629,193 legal definition ; and therefore, if it pawed and legalised Flax ....cwts. 10,041 ' .... 62,44 G "combinations" eo no,nine, it would give the sanction of Hemp ..cwts. 30,519 .... 36,476 law to every species of illegal society. (Hear, hear.) For Hides ....lbs. 2,304,729 .... 1,968,302 these reasons he begged to move that the bill be read that Silk lbs. 302,298 .... 795,372 day six months. Cotton ..cwts. 702,316 .... 871,031 Mr. G. BUTT seconded the amendment. There was Wool lbs. 2,553.590 ... 3,665,179 no doubt as to the state of the law, and the bill was quite Every one of these is an item of great importance •, unnecessary. In the case which had been referred to the and they show that the community has more food e and parties had been indicted, not for meeting to discuss and settle the rate of wages, but for taking measures for induc- more refreshment, and more materials for employ ing persons who were in the employ of other manufacturers ment and for producing wealth this year than the to.quit their employment. It was in short aMe of con- last. The facts are the more gratifying, inasmuch as .piracy to induce parties by improper means, and for an there have been apprehensions that our supplies of improper object, to quit the service of their employers. food would be curtailed and the supplies of the raw Mr. Justice Erle had therefore told the jury that it was a fallacy to suppose that men could be allowed to combine, materials fall short. But the supplies of corn and for the purpose of inducing men who were already in em- flour increase with our wants; and the supplies of ployment to quit the service of their masters, for the par- wool and cotton, particularly of the latter,are greater pose of compelling them to raise their wages. That was than were expected. The ships from Australia, too, the law, and it was quite en error to suppose that there had are now beginning to find their way home, been any conflicting decisions , eitber by judges or by courts, generany bringing some wool ; and as was stated in the preamble of the bill. It each was said that the Lord Chancellor, when Baron Rolfe, the dread of a failure of supply of this had put an interpretation upon the 3rd clause differing important article from that quarter seems at an end. from that of Mr. Justice Erle, for he had said that work- The price of wool is indeed unusually high, but that men might meet to consult as to their wages, whether they r . more the consequence of the rapid progress of tho were out of employment or not ; but Baron Rolfe had not manufacture having exhausted the supply of home decided that if they so met and consulted as to induce other workmen to leave their master's employment, and growth than from any actual falling off in the supply thus to compel him to raise their wages, it would not be an from Australia. It is extremely gratifying also to illegal combination. He considered, therefore, that it would notice the large increase in the import of hides, as be most unwise to paw& an act declaring that there were the supply last year was short, and the price is now doubts as to the meaning of the act when in point of fact from 20 to 30 per cent. higher than last May. there were none. Mr. H. DRUMMOND said that if the hon. and learned The large increase in the supply of cotton, too, is gentleman had been in the house when this bill was last worthy of notice. Our cotton manufacture increases before it be would not have asserted that there were no so fast that it is very natural some apprehension doubts on the subject, for the Attorney-General bail then should be entertained by . those who do stated one thing and tt e Solicitor-General now said directly not witness the increase in the production the opposite. (A laugh.) It was no doubt very great raw material that the demand may amusement to learned counsel to discuss this matter, but of the there had been some half dozen poor people who outrun the supply. Many look with some anxiety had had to pay 3,0001. while they (the lawyers) to other sources of supply than those at pre. settled the law. (Hear, hear.) Oa a former occa- sent open, and incite the Government to promote the siun the 'Attorney-General stated the bill would be cultivation of cotton in India. As yet, however, mere surplusage, but now the Solicitor-General said it there has been no scarcity, and the alarm is as great was not what It had been represented to be, and that it would change the law. It was, however, nothing more in the United States that the supply will be too than a declaratory measure, and if the Attorney-General or abundant, as it is here that the supply will be short. any other gentleman would draw a better bill for that par- Some of the journals of the southern states are filled pose, the promoters of the present one would willingly with complaints of the redundancy of the produce, accept it at his hands. All they wanted was to pacify the people, and to let them know what was really the law. and the lowness of the price. Two or three Conven (Hear, hear.) tiers of planters have been held with a view to esta- Viscount PALMERSTON should certainly object to the blish cotton manufactories in the south, for the put , bill, because, in the first place although the Attorney- pose of increasing the consumption of cotton, and General had inadvertently omitted to more that it be read keeping up its price. To turn their slaves to other a second time that day six months, the sense of the house labour is not easy. Slaves cannot learn new arts had already been very fully taken upon it. He had a very free men, and can only cultivate the great objection to the bill, also, on the ground that it was like nos a declaratory measure, but one that would tend sub- ground in the rude manner they have been accus stantialy to repeal the 3rd clause of the 6th of George IV., tomer! to. The slave-owners are compelled, there which protected such workmen as were willing and desirous fore, to continue and to extend the cultivation of of working from the threats and intimidation of other cotton. In consequence the quantity is increasing parties who might wish them to desist. They all ear by year, and the phinters in the United States knew it often happened that while there were men Y who were able to abstain from work, there were others in , complain bitterlj of the increased quantity produced great distress who would gladly accept employment in order , 1 ' and the deterioration of the price. We are reminded to obtain the mesas of providing for their families ; and the !of these facts by the large increase in the quantity object of the third clause was to prevent the former clams imported in the present year, and such facts are worth from preventing them, whether by threats and intimidation 1 or by other improper inducements, from accepting work it .remembering to allay the apprehension sometimes they chose so to do. He certainly could not consent to re , expressed lest the supply of cotton should fall short. peal so important an enactment. 1 Our exports have kept on increasing like our im- Mr. M. CHAMBERS expressed his astonishment at the ports, or have grown even faster. The increase coarse which hid been taken by the government—the At- in the declared value of the exports in February, torucy-General objecting to the clause one day because it was simply unnemseery, and the Solicitor-General to-day : 1853, over that of February, 1852, was 919,097/., aeddeuly changing the ground of opposition, and arguing which was thought a large sum ; but the increase in that it would change the law. He certainly could not as- March is no less than 1,486,8181. above the value of sent to the doctrine that there was iso contrariety between the decieions of Baron Rolfe and Mr. Justice E the exports in March, 1852 ; and the increase in the for while Baron Italie asserted that workmen three months of 1853 above the declared value of the might met t and determine what steps to tak e . exports in the first three months of 1852—a rospe with regard to their wages, and even persuade othersto fol- ' roue year—is no less than 3,815,97,5/. 11 nth the low their example, provided only that they did so in a exception of alkali, candles, coals, cotton manufac peaceable manner, Mr. Justice Erie stated that if they ' at- tares, window glass, unwrought leather, linen yarn, tempted to advise other men what to do, it was an overt act i • ng iron copper, silk twist, re fi ned sugar, wool, and au indiciable offence. But whether the privilege was i en old One, or whether it would be new, he contended that woollens re entered by the yard,—the incase in it ought to be conceded to the working classes. They ought the exports is general, and in most casts to he able, if they pleased, to meet and say to each other, there us " Trade is flourishing, and our employers are making vast an increase in quantity as well In the case of cotton manufactures, profits, while we are overworked. What, thee, can we do • as value. to mend our position?" The bill would only place window glass, pig iron, linen yarn, and some others, a p r op e r construction on the statute of George IV., an d there is an increase in the value, while the quantities would in nowise alter or repeal the common law, ' have decreased. The increase is very considerable in mid. r WlllOl au indictment for compiraty would Thew oraioa el leafs weee 1110dt QIIIIIi.US to obey the 'till lie. ' beer, cotton lave, cotton yarn, saddlery and harness, law it linens, MRCIIIIWIN, bar iron, wrought troll, in most of they c , o 1 I only make out what it was, and he thought the me t a l s, in silk, and in woollen manufactures. their very reasonable request that it should be plainly 1 ' • stated to thi m should be complied with. (Hear, hear.) All our great Industries share in the growth, and Mr. T. DUNCOMBE, also complained of the winner in nearly all appear to be alike flourishing. DUBLIN.—It is stated that in this cue the petition against the return of Mr. Grogan and Mr. Vance is withdrawn, after the committee was nominated by the general com mittee. The members appointed on it were, Sir J. V. Huller, Mr. Halsey, Lord Shelburne, Mr. H. Smith, and Sir J. 11.'Taggart. the eroreoo. TO CORRESPONDENTS. t 4 etnitd Edition e The Express," containing the woe evenirire " Cazette," iu published every Tuesday and friday sight, in time for poet. latverueenteste intended for " The Expires," London Everting paper, must be at the lace, 10, Bouverie.etrest, by Two tet.loelt on the gay of publication. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tno Mr—Morning. Oh. 2733 Afternoon. Oh. lam. T moozacv—Morrang. Is. 7.• . Afternoon. la. Mx. LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 5. THE Board of Trade tables fur the month ending April 5, just published, furnish, like , all our public documents at present, proofs of great national prosperity. With the exception of barilla, bark, bones, brimstone, oats, beans, cochineal, madder, currants, lemons, oranges, polished glass, guano, some kinds of women's shoes, cambrics, copper ore, bar-iron, olive-oil, seed-cake, bacon, fresh beef, poultry, eggs, rape-seed, tares, broad velvets, plush for making hats, cassia lignea, tallow, tar, some species of timber, tobacco and watches, in all of which the reductions are small,—every article of import has increased considerably in the month of March, 1853, as compared to the corresponding month of 1852. Some of these, as oil, seed cake, and broad velvets, have been imported in greater quantities in the three months of the present year than in 1852. Of the more important articles, such as live animals of all kinds, cocoa, coffee, sugar, tea,wheat, and flour, wine, spirits (all articles ofgreat consumption), dye stuffs generally ; flax, hemp, hides, silk, cotton wool, all raw materials of our manufactures,—the increased importations are very considerable. A few examples will suffice : It must not, however, be forgotten that this gr ea t increase both of our imports and exports is exclusive of the imports and exports of the precious metal ' which now constitute a great trade, increasing every I year. Gold and silver together, the value in the year is many millions ; and, supposing that the precious metals be merely diffused, through England, over other countries, the transit adds to our trade and our wealth. Gold and silver must not, ther , ; Dtt, be =allied from our calculations, though n ot i nc l u d ed iu the present returns. The increase in our navigation is commensurate with the increase in our trade. The entries inwards in the month amount to 141,747 tons more than in the corresponding month of 1852 ; an d the entries inwards in the three months exceed those of last year. by 217,726 tons Of the increase in the month no less than 101,118 tons is of British shipping, which are now re. turning therefore from the long voyages, which they have found to be profitable. In the three months the increase of British shipping entering inwards is only 70,161 tons, a pretty clear indication that the relatively greater increase of foreign ship. ping was only temporary, and is now to be dimi nished. Because our slopping were much employed abroad, however, there were comparatively few to do the additional work required to be done, and accordingly the increase in the entries outwards in the three months, 66,562 tons,is entirely of foreign shipping; and entries outwards both in the month and in the three months 'of British shipping h as fallen off. This has been Che necessary consequence of our not having sufficient shipping of our own to carry on our trade, and now that such a large i n . crease has been made by the arrivals in the last month of the native shipping at our disposal, the entries outwards of British shipping will in. crease more rapidly than before. Departures will be the consequence of arrivals. Of the ship. owners it is now said that they were ruined in pocket, according to their own statement, ' last year by the lowness of freights, and this yeas ' they are ruined in morality by the vast demand t which makes them require exorbitant freights. We , repeat the saying, not as complaining of the ship. owners,—to whom, now that they have ctased to be • monopolists, we wish every honest 'meter ;—but as a 1 proof of their present great prosperity, which is confirmed by the fact that our trade is larger than ' they, with all their increased facilities, can carry on. FRANCE. PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. The Montieur contains a decree nominating fifty. five departmental commissioners of police. These are new functionaries intended to supply the place of the inspecto,- ~........aus-general and special of police, abolished some time since. The majority of the commis-inners are retired captains and subalterns in the army. Some of them are juges-de-paix, and others ex-sub-pre. fects, mayors, and government clerks. It would be difficult to say what is the precise nature of their duties. They aro to be the "eyes and ears" of the government. Experience will show in what respect they mad differ from spies and informers. The trench minister at Frankfort exchanged, on the 10th of April last, the ratifications of the literary treaty with the Duke of Nassau and the Prince de Reuss (elder branch). This treaty is similar to that concluded with Hanover in 1831. French authors will have the same rights against piracy in Nassau and Reuse as the natives of those principalities. Three months are allowed for selling off pirated editions already existing. The principle of inter national copyright has now made considerable pro- gress in Germany. The Duchy of Brunswick, the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt, and the Principa. lity of Hesse Hombourg, have made literary con ventions with France within the last year. A new government establishment of great commer cial importance was created by an imperial decree pub lished yesterday. It is known that textile substances, such as silk and wool, absorb, according to the state of the atmosphere, a mare or less considerable quan tity of water, which often makes it difficult to judge of the true value of the article by weight. In Pied mont, for upwards of a century, there has been a public office authorised by government to examine all silk offered for sale, and to issue certificates of its " condition," which certificates arc conclusive be tween the buyer and seller. In France there are similar offices—at Lyons, Nismes, Avignon, and St. Etienne; but up to the present time nothing of the kind has existed in Paris. The Chamber of Com merce recommended the creation of such an estab- lislitaent so long ago as February Vitt, but it has been hitherto feared by government that the silk chiefly used in Paris being of an inferior quality the office would not pay its expenses. The Chamber of Commerce at Lyons receives 50,000 L a year from this source alone, and that of St. Etienne half of that sum. The system is, however, now to be adopted in Paris, and it is hoped that whatever deficiency may be found in the proceeds from testing silk will be made up by wool, to which the decree extends. A bill has been laid before the Council of State to extend the powers of the Prefect of Police of Paris, by placing the whole of the ?mallow within his jurisdiction. This is a measure similar to that adopted about a year ago in Lyons, under the desig nation of the "Agglomeration Lyommise," and which is said to have worked well. . . The sentence of death passed by the court-martial of Herault upon eight political prisoners, accused of taking part in the insurrection at ltedarieux is December, 1851, has been commuted to imprison ment with hard labour for life. . The Moniteur publishes a decree convoking the Council-General of the Aube for the 12th to deliberate on a project tending to exonerate the department from the effects of the guarantee stipulated in favour of the holders of shares in the Troyes to Monterean Railway, and on other urgent affairs to be submitted to it by the prefect. The Petrie says that the intended grand expedi tion into Kabylia is adjourned, but that there will probably be one on a smaller scale in the course of the year. The activity previously noticed at the Bourse has been again continued, all descriptions of public securities having met with a good demand, and closing generally at an increased quotation. In the Three per Cents. for the account a rise of 35c. occurred, with an advance of 20c. in the same de scription of stock for cash. The closing price of the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. for money showed no change from the previous day's quotation, but there was an improvement of k. for the end of ;he month. The concluding quotations were :—For cash: Theo per Cents., 81f. 30c.; Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 103 f. 50c. For the account : Three per Cents., 81f. 70e.; Four and-a-Half per Cents., 103 f. 90 c. Bank Stock, 2,680 f. In the railway share market there has been much activity. Concluding prices :—Northerns, 922 f.; Orleans, 1,121 f.; Paris and Strasbourge. 915 f.; Paris and Lyons, 971 f.; Paris and Rouen, 1,180 E; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 815 f.; Western of France, 810 f. 30c.; Rouen and Havre, 557 E BELGIUM. King Leopold and his eldest son, the Duke of Brabant, arrived at Cologne on Monday evening, on their way to Berlin. 'they slept at Deutz, oppo site the city, and were to continue their journey on Tuesday as far as Brunswick. SPAIN. The Lcrsundi cabinet promises to break up befoes it is fairly constructed. It was on the 14th of April that M. Lcrsundi presented his list of ministers ; the department of public works, however, is still vacant, and it is doubtful if M. Ayllon will accept the port folio of foreign affairs. A despatch, dated April 30, now arrives from Madrid, stating that M. Bermudes de Castro, Minister of Finance, the most efficient member of the cabinet, if not the only one who enjoys the public confidence, is anxious to abandon his col leagues, and has offered his resignation to the Queen. Former Spanish ministers have bequeathed enornras deficits to their successors and enormously creased the public debt. M. Bermudez do Castro has attacked the evil at its root. Since he has been at the head of the national finance, decrees ltsve rapidly SLUT., cded each other suppressing useless offices of his department, as well throughout the provinces as in 1 1 the c.tpi , al, and otherwise effettting retrenchments of the mat important character. None of hi, colleague has imitated his example, and this may be the rea,on why M. Bermudez de Castro has resigned. At the date aforementioned the Queen had not accepted his i