The Express. — London, England, 1853-04-20 00:00:00

bin' you sea are thought too La removed from politico altoes3 eh r te entlertm ed the smell intrieues which go on in these l e eve (Hear, hear, and laughter.) For myself, I eiew m e notion et patronsee altogether, and a change of the ee ,„eae ereutgene iits would only sewage me to perpetual 5 . 00 ,1 awe and truuLle, but in . any case your wishes would we !. have great weight w ith me; sad is the p, rue: twee ,* will, which I wow state the ease anti ask eeur opi „Lee. I hope you will perceive the sincere respect with which 1 „ mei n. leaf Sir Baldwin, truly your., A ST.srroliti." Tilt lett•ir might be right or it 'night not, but he cone cad ht. , ed tee letter inteply with surprise. (Hear, hear) A dierstieu win netessarily need in the hands of the First t el e e 1 the Ailminety as to treating letters as public or tri ce,. This letter nut hiving been lei:ie.:hi &lee the 1'.,r,;, was treated as a private letter, and the Duke of l e i neamberlatid was greatly surprised that hi. csasent to . Ink i ee eeeci was neither obtaived new asked for. (liter, It. PI • !veer.; ILe hest time lie saw it was in l news/sap. r, qi! i t w lilt be eie tensely difficult to carry on the puelic Cul ee.. it then things were to be porreittee. (Hear, leer.) lie oil n ot knew what answer had been given to it. It mei ,• we a verled answer, which was a kind of answer often e. „.3i, leeen received, or it miaht be a written answer,hat t temortert a is use en painful to hien that he thought as little s , po•iii, . attest it. clear, hear.) He thought he had golf Sulu 3 eouselentieus tine he hoped a complete and me ,,,,, e ,,, e mower to the hon. baronet on the subject of Cut :entre (Hear, hear.) Ile now came to tee first en-tem:Wed by the him. baronet. The h o n. p re em i es, ei meleined that the circular of Sept., 1819, was cancelled la tprie Pee!, without any atilt r or minute of the board. Bat he :tee l in strict conformity wi II precedent iii shov e eete cinch[ to be i-sued whitest • board minute. It Was ert,rel in the greeted minute book, and not in a eeard taieee t see on the 26:1101 . April the eirculer was re-allirmi d by a e p e I.si heard minute, eeceivieg the reby es it were i am b." 'unties:. (Hear, heal.) The members of the band present on the 26th of April were Admiral r iierr, Sir T. Herbert, Capt. Duncombe, and Capt. Mile e 1 es Jane of his doing thisehere lore,witheut the heowi, e. :e of tie board tell C. the premed. (Hear, hr...') Wee re reel to the eaurelling i-I the circular of 1549 the facts were m e ,. While S.r 11. Neer,' ea. Secretary to the Aelii.i. Yalu i.e hosed din:en...es in 1317 which were strictly ad. retieeg and hi. administration was conducted with gnat mestectioa to the Skrsire. lint when lie went awey a ge tout, i f a more erode kind, the &Welds )Jr. John Parker, was Appal/eel, and in his time the more active s l eet. were imened to tile. from the Secretary the power is heel up to that e re , b e e e cuweil. Ou this point he would refer to Ise Lenin, which Le selected out of innumerable own, •Lich he reeeivid, and e heeled not because they were the sec , : ranee, but bemuse he wished to make out a ease for Lan" .1 out to ley before the house the real facts of the case. 'Wits die waigs„ in 1818, began to f.•el their power de e:lame, they theti e ht it aseessaty to fall ea same Ilan for eniffianiair it sy s tem which would, even if they retired from *lee, end lease the eleckyard patronage in their grasp. i e . t o:anal:et mint of that system hail stuffed every bele sp.l C re. r ie the yards with whit; uffieials and mt.:cell." sad aatii.g .:0 yi.aire th. es wewthies had managed to cathode inm retry or promotion all parties who would not support ;e t seie interests. It became nrecaiary to vest all recom mit ii : semis with euckyard authorities, the channel fer weak SS* the surveyor of the navy—and thus erect a for ge:nee i.' anode frieze rowel their position. Thb order, Erased wish en apparent design of securing the avenue to me eenien. and promotion to ability, merit, and service, m e , Let vieletaniliug all its pretence we Summery, in Tetley a eecusient enabling the parties to carry on •system ei e h hod lone grown up into a crying evil and public • sae ie S 4 netorious were the channels of deckyard pa t:eta:: % tent it is said, end I believe with perfect truth, that • set of Leff heel been laid dawn as to the prices of wee, ipeuintatent. ; any person desirous of entry or pro- lee .0 ...et to cer!..in parties and offered to bet the tariff rneetiens that be would not succeed. The bet, if the m i me was feasible, wan accepted, and the unlucky atylic:int is, ..lw Is rare to lop) his bet. and honourably pouf it." litre wee mother statement—it ,was an extract from a letter from a doeoyarJ, and, though he could not give the wee of the party, he believed him to be • trustworthy min. " l'eliesal party feeling is very strong in this dockyard, see tee heads of d' partmeets being all liberals, with the ie.:elites% of the conservatives, have no hcpe either of pro meti .3 or fair play. Men who are well qualified fur pro siotees by length of service, good conduct, and superior werlitnan.hip, have had for yean fresli hands put over their heads, solely, it is believed, on account of their cote r estive priecipin. To incliner more particularly, in the an of —. Mr. —, twin; a liberal, shows the greatest partiality in the distribution of work; the censervatives being ineariebly put to the worst of the week." (Laughter and ceeers from the opposition). "Is one early required edict and another ashore ? The tury heading man, Mr. —, is nut afloat, while the other is kept in the ship; and of the el stributiou of work on shipboard the conserva tives are appointed to cockpit work, while the lihtrals lure tee cabin awl stet u work ; ant in every cue where it no be done there is a marked preference given to men professing lib rat opinions. In the case of an appointment lately of as artiticer trim this yard to superiutend a new mauled' at another pad, it was promised to A, mid he mails ereparations fur moving ; but having voted for the swervatives at the last election ' B was appointed over hie bead without any notice. On the appointment of B becoming kreeru there was a general cheer by the workmen of his party. Mr. saying at conservatives, ' What do you think of it now ? H u bad it all our own way while our own party was in power; we have got as our own way cow, and we mean to keep it, too.' NOW this, he admitted, was not a ease for altering an estate iohed set of dockyard regulations —(liear, hear)—but the long and the short of the gutter wee, that the system had been to make appointments which were entirely ore-soled; the conservative+ got nothing, the liberals everytLieg. (Hear, hear.) Thu was an extremely convenient arrange ment for hon. members opposite, but let them not stand up ter purity ant impartiality.—(Opposition cheers)—when tee reciprocity wee entirely on one side. (Laughter.) Well, a...‘‘, he found that the present Secretarymt.War al ways corresponded with the superiutendcuts of the y iiel when he was Secretary to the Admiralty ; so also did the right honour:4lo gentlemen the President of tee Board of Control ; sod he did nut see what 'mimes jai ie case had been made out against his pursuing a similar coulee, notwithstanding the circular of September, 1819. It wueel be seen from the dock yard instructions that the Admiralty did not shirk the question, but expressly cow mauled that communications should be sent directly to teem. This was the general instruction on the subject : " All reports trona the officers of the yard shall be made and transmitted, when necessary, by the superintendent to our setretary, fur our information and direction. Superinten eicat,—you are daily to correspond with our secretary, ge gen:Ring him with the transactioes of the yard, &c. Yon ars to report all vacancies without exception that occur in the dockyard, and when any vacancies, occasioned by pro motion or otherwise, shall occur, you are, after consult lag the officer in whose department such vacancy may happen, to forward to the Admiralty the names of per inea belonging to the yard fit, from ability and elm- , ISISK, to succeed to the vacancy; but no person whit ener is to be promoted or entered on the establish meat of the yard in any vacancy or otherwise, or office , clerk. artificer, or labourer, without our express authority." ' He freely admitted that he was guided in his course, not by p.hotical precedents and authority, but by the evidence of .rd Auckland and Sir Henry Ward, contained in the re put of the committee on army and navy estimates ; and he tree el no authority on the subject. Lord Auckland, by whom the present surveyor of the navy was appointed, stated distinctly, in the course of his examination, that it wee kit wish to frame a draft of instructions to tha t: officer, welch should define at once what were the duties of his office. On the Bth of May, 1815, Sir James Graham, addressing Lord Auckland, said—" Are '1 tee miscellaneous estimates of the present year laid on the table of the Ilous • of Commons ? lam told not. 1 have now get a draft with regard to the office of surveyor of the awry, which I will put in. My wish has been that Sir B. Walker should know his office well before we absolutely settle his establishment ; but this expresses the view I take of what it ought to be. I think it will meet his views, and I hope it will meet the views et the authorities by which it may be sanctioned." The following was an extract from draft report (as we understood) ..—" In all peofes , sweat details of matters connected with his duties, in re. teenci information or explanation on professional points, the yor will be at liberty to correspond with the °Bi ters of the yards; but he is not to issue soy orders of a enteral nature, or to enter open any part of the general oertspondence with the superintendents of the yards." La•ling that the secretaries who had preceded him had, with the exception of one or two years, corresponded solely welt the superintendents of th 3 yard, and finding the prac tice supported by the authority of Lord Auckland, he felt that be was jusuded in the course which he pursued. The tin. baronet (Sir B. Hall) said the Board of Admiralty hal .'atel that they wished to lay the whole responsibility of mausgensent upon the surveyor of the navy. He (lir. Steford) quesuonoil the wisdom of that arrangement— (oear, hear) --he thought it much better that the Secretary to 3ke Admiralty shouel be required, if at:cowry, to explain ts ry appuiatnient in that house, than that be should be s',- to throw all the responlibity on another person, is a moaner totally at variance with precedent and with the °pi aos a the highest naval authorities. (Hear, hear.) Well, Cie, he would venture to go through the private or public t ..r —they might all it what they would—addrened te the Duke of Northumberland by Sir 13aldwia Walker. N t 1. tying been in office in 1819, of c nurse he (sir. Staf r 3 del not know what his personal grounds were. lie eel sot know how the figures were made op. The A lnirelty took the estimate. from the previous board. 'lee vote for 1e.52-3 was G6d,'Jool., against G. 6,4A1. in 18e1- j• mowing a saving, sot as the surveyor stated, of 130,0001., but of about 9,0001. (Hear, hear.) When the late board wee oat of office the ezpeiditure on account of dockyard mee.. was not at all above the rate for the financial year ; Were was so Mertes° up to the time when the extraordinary expenditure was sanctioned by the house tweet the supple. at mem estimates, and, but for that, there would have been a eeenderaele margin at the end of tee year. He himself Sarrespoad.d with the officers of the dockyard whenever the estenektere had Seen at all above the fair proportion. la one awe, be recollected, there was a considerable in' crease at Pembroke ; but on inquiry it appeared that it was caused by the removal of a number of men from Devon. Pert to wire in builuitig the Duke of Wellington, and that et Devemport there was s proportionate saving. lie was la soescant communication with the Accountent•General. I: was imposeible for the surveyor to charge upon the can on:4g of the cyder one farthing of increased expenditure is es, do kyare. Whether it were tight or wrong in ..self, due was no pecuniary injury to the country. As to the items department, that was altogether left .•' lee surviler of the navy. The suegestiens '! • ... e 'ler 'KAI rig .rd to too steam-packets were 3 Inc.i a- *mate with beiag brought before the board, from a cos eictia• that in tut department he was the best authority ; ail all ho (Mr. Stafford) did in the matter was t 3 supply the brutality of his oust sign t ure The surveyor can no l miter be held responsible tort the s not being tricecd,ll. He (Hr. Staff.ord) did net wish the sccrotary to be responsible with r. wet to ascure's in tae estimate.. (lbw, ln i ; v ri He thought that it w. i s with persons woo beton to that house th.t ali such rasp wisibi:ity should n st— (ileen)—and he hoped that no future &mossy or Lord of the Mini:alty would Le waho.t to surrender to the sur veysr of the nosy, or t tiny or,s- person, tae rrsponsi bility which atta.died to this gigantic department. (Chet rs.) There is no one to control the estab.ishments. lle entirely di. npeed the snrveyor of the navy on this point. The • hnirel, vomninture, 401 c ..sperin teudents of the yud, of whom he knew enow4h to bo able to decl ne that tioy wen: wen of basin:is, and men who hadtha: welfare of the serincu at heart, &mid . control tb,., establshreentA; and, far In.m agreeing with the stir/caw that when threet commun . :e S!. t:lona passed tptween the S. . . eret4ry to the AJosimlty awl tho liaperitycndents, thele Wl' e. control. he e wish no h tter :welt to tie .0 Cf. - - - tabhsbmer.ts, atmuudang, as they Ilia, in pry dit than that they ITig be prvAided over by Au :binets: . , Now, it was ;II the 26.6 of waa on tha 10th of May)—that the board ontiooneed their i:ttertnia it oil rigidly to adhere to that circular. It seemed rath. r m a. tore, therefore, to say that the circular of 1817 had b. en thrown aside. Now, the homharonit (S:r li. Hall) hvi named sit or seven people to whom he said aemointment. had been tanfeirly given. With regard to the Ill•vonpart entries, he must rem irk thst although the hon. baronet's cern-swot dent in the We.t ..f E..eland mis fi t he a very respeetal.do man, he could not be a rju :4r ns to t' proportion or kind of men who should hem, be..n 'wend, or es to whether or not more men should have been entered in one inonth than iu another, th.n V.ll Loa. bsronet • hinat,X. (Hear, hear.) A* to J •lan Smith, aril the sawyers rally, there might have been a greater number of i. trice entered at one particular time than at another ; het this he knew that. no nein was entered without the sauctien of the commodore superintendent. Certain he was that such a manes the calmed .re superintendent would rent haw: s incioned an entry which was net justifiable—(no3r, hear) ; ne:•her wou!,l it ti ire been poesiele to d VI with out exceolirat the estimates. 11l (Mr. Stalford) sent 12 buys to Woelwieh. CAninodore Hama relived II and entered I. Fair fora leing a patty na r-nlitical jobbery. that gentleman declared, with sail .r-like iranenee., that if unfit persons were sent down to hint, be would chuck them neck and heels iota the street. II! believed, that hut he attempted any pnlitical j /bhiug in his depart ment, the superintendents would, by means of public letters. have exonerated themselves front all connexion with it. Olt ar, bear.) Not cue of tbem had done anything of the kind, thou.th be hail held frequent communication withtitem, and 11.1110 of his recommenda tions had been refused, and ha I declare d to them that tit. !bought the interest of the service would often be promoted by selecting NJ!. 3 111.1 1 incr a 1 of Pius. I and 2. The hem. baronet het Ins peened the ease of a private trader. The man was tried, and gave satisfaction. (Hear, hear) The boa. baronet hid *cadmic of the case of Atkieson as a job. Well, the man was put on ; after his ',tried of proleation;the report rep ectibe him was untavourable(as was understood.) All he (Mr.Statf:rel) had asked for was a triad:tit to Lona burst, whow case the lion. htr met alto consitered a bpd one, he had been employed 17 years ena II months when ho was disebinged for beiag feand drunk ; but in caisegu, nee of the hial, character given to him by the superintendent he was rLs net on the 6th of October, five weeks after the compilation of tne offeuce. Among those whom he nomi nated was a Lino who, though in appearance a labourzr, was the sou of a late distinguished officer in the navy. On this account he eertaialy recommended the superint:ndent to give him a little lift if he saw an oppertunity of doing so. (Blear, hear.) Bayley, when first entered, was prnnounced to have a disease of the spermatic chord. Ile (Mr. Stafford) directed him to call at Somerset Home ter examination by the deputy medical superintendent, wha said that he wise iu geed beady health, and fit for the duties required of him. Well, now, with regard to the eases which tie had mentioned, as there was no complaint of any kind made by the superiutendents of the yard, he did not coma ier that he had much to accuse himself of. (lle,r, hear.) He did not knew what chug( s other pewit men might bring against him when he had sat down; but as to the matters alleged by the hen. baronet the no rnbe: far Mary lelione, he did not think that when examined they amounted to a very large aggregate. (Cheers.) As to the case of Cotten, on the previous day the Ana. baronet stated to him th at he was willing to bring forward a paper with his name attached. Ho went away because be reel', did not wish to see it. The lion. barooet might use his awn discretion about the matter. Sir B. lIALL said the substance of the paper was, that after Coteell had got the appointment, he stated that now that the election was over he did not mind telling how the thing occurred ; that Mr. St..fford promised him the ap pointmeut, that he went into a room at the Admiralty, where the appointmenewas lying on the table, and that on his observing that he thougat he was hardly dealt with, he ; I was told that he need take no more treat: in the matter ; ' the anpnintment was made out. t I Mr. STAFFORD said the election was over; but the election petition was not over, and why did not this Mlle t bitant of Chatham come before the committee with his . . statement ? (Opposition cheers.) He found in this state ment the name " Oeorge Cotsell" pawed in a double ca pacity, both u a briber and as one of the bribed, while the person who bribed him was stated to be the Secretary to the Admiralty. (A lauj,h.) The hon. gentleman might laugh it he chose ; it was a matter which might divert minds like his—(eheers and laughter) ;—but those who aerosol him of bribery ought to have had the manlinees and courage to prefer their charge before a constituted tribunal of the country where he could have met it upon oath. (Chects.) The relieving officer who made the statement had, it appeared, been so occupied with the relief of the poor that he could not come forward till that moment. ' (Laughter.) The charge made against him amounted only to this—it showed how closely the eyes of envy hod watched his proeress, how eagerly they had sought for every word and actioneof his which it was thought would not bear the severest scrutiny. (Opposition cheers.) The hon. baronet said Mr. Cotsell asked him for his appointment when he (Mr. Stafford) was going round the dock yard. Nu doubt that was so, but it should be recollected that the request was complied with Os was understood) after the election. With ieterance to the case of Cotsell, the hon. memher m ended to read the Letter of the 9th of September, 1532, and said he must here remind the house that the appoint ment of master smith was one of great importance, and that very superior attainments were required ter the office. an his evidence before the Chatham committee the Surveyor of the Navy said he had received an order to select tne best man, and that in his appointment of Wells he was not aware that he had departed from the ordinary course ; but when he (Mr. Stafford) came to inquire for the order (or that appointment, he was utterly unable to find it. Having read two answers to applications to the Admiralty denying the existence of such an order, the hon. mem ber proceeded to say further that the Surveyor of the Navy had before the committee also tes tified to the professional qualifications of Wells, sad that he had been appointed with a temporary salary of 2901. a year, with an understanding that it was to be raised at the end of six months to VrOl. Now, tt might have been right or wrong to make the appointments complained of, but what he wanted to show was, that the board, iu ap pointing Outsell, had no intention of injuring Wells, and had no information leading them to believe that they were doing so. The great point to be borne in mind was, that the whole question was one of dates, and to this he wished to call the particular 'Hendon of the house, as it was one which was likely to disappear on regaling the proceedings straight through ; and auuther point he wished to explain was, that every one appointed under the Board of Admiralty received two commutate:adieus—ono to himself, authorising him to take up his warrant, and another which he was to present to the commandant. The hon. baronet complained that Wells'. warrant was stopped, and now he (Mr. Stafford) _would en deavour to explain to the house why. Sir B. Walker bad expressly admitted in his evidence that he had had no in terview with Wells, while Wells said that it was in conse quence of an iuterview he was induced to accept the appoint ment. Sir B. Walker admitted, that not knowing 1% ells's addrese, he had, when informing him of his appointment, taken the irregular course of directing a clerk to communi este, not with Wells, but with a blacksmith in Woolwich, who was supposed to know his address. (Hear, hear.) lie would ask was that the proper mode for a our ) veyor of the navy to adopt in communicating 1 an Admiralty appointment? (Hear, bear.) It was inconceivable to him, seeing that the man was a prol.:ge of Sir Baldwin Walker's, that the latter was not more parti cular as to the formality of his communication, and its made of transmission. In making the other appointment the board acted oa the belief that the letter had not gone beyond the Surveyor of the Navy, and that therefore no en gagement had been entered into with Wells. It mason the let Octubet that the board decided on appointing Cotsell as muter smith. That appointment might have been right or wrong—all he meant to assert was that when making it the burl had received no notification of Cotsoll's appointment. But it would be thought that the Surveyor of the Navy, seeing that another appointment had taken place, would have been anxious to make reparation to Mr. Wells. Not the least. Ile never wrote to the board until a fortnight after, when he brought for ward the memorial of the Gth October. Oa the IGth Oc tober the beard found itself in the dilemma of having two muter-smiths, one appointed with every legal formality ; the other holding as his warrant the letter of a Woolwich blacksmith. The qustioa then became whether it was right to sanction such a proceeding, or to inform Wells of the irreguiarity of his appointment. The board took the latter course And informed Wells in answer to his memorial, that they wore nut aware he had received any appointment, and did not consider he wasjustified in styling himself" late master smith." They returned him his memorial, and he (Mr. Stafford) thought they would have sanctioned disorder had they adopted any other course. Their lordehips, how ever, further informed Wells that if from communications with any officers of departments, he had received reason to expect an appointment, they would be ready to take his cue into consideration. And for doing this, when driven into a corner, fur preferring Cotsell they were con sidered fit suhjects for parliamentary censure. With respect to Cotsell he had received the highest testimonials from dif ferent yards, and was a man who had risen from the hum blest position entirely by his own merit. He had been in three dockyards, and on one occasion had received the thanks of the Lords of the Admiralty for special service. The hon. member quotel some testimonials to Cotsell's merits ; among others one from the builder of the Duke of Wellington, and proceeded to examine the qualifications of Wells, the disappointed candidate. Ile did not wish to de prelate Wells, but should merely give the testimony of Sir flat loom Walker. Sir 1341 win, when filed who hel re euoarnee. :e . 04at h been uamid be tht master smith of Woolwich, sad admitted that be could not say whether Wells had ever forged an anchor. (Hear, hear.) Bat then was something more. Wells based his THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING APRIL 20, 1853. memorial en an alleged previous interview with the ; was much interested In th e question; be meant Surveyor of the Navy, while the lett": denied havine seen the nobleman who had I i t e l e p res id e d over t h e B ear d o f him until after his examination. Now, with respe ct to Admiralty. lie (Mr. D.eraeh) could have wished that any Bothell's appointment being preitical. ha had only to say other department of the lase government 1..14 been gees that his Cdr. S:efford's) great opponent in the matter was' tioned Tattier than the Admiralty, fur he would say most his hon. Irtreid the member for Liverpool, who complained ' solemnly that there woe no individual who had ever pre that Wells, a staunch supparter of his, Lad taco harshly ' sided over that departnn tit of the government who pursued used. He (Hr. Stalfird) had however remained firm, anal *more eunscientioue curse in the disposal of his patrmage, maintained Cowell in use position, on the ground of hit ;of exercised the p twee of his department wen a greater having obtained it by geed conduct iu the royal uuckyards. ' desire for the goon of the eouurry. (Cheers.) Ile would Oa merit ales, had Ceteell been uppoiuteu, and ea that. , not sly that the Duke of Northumberland wee not a parti fict he (Mr. Staff:ad) rested the defence of tee li taxa. : Lea. He was as much a parte:toe is every Euglish They hail their do li.yarl Latta:ion*, end they proposed to pendent an was ; and, as a member of the great depend On them fur their &knee, in cam they were at- : peLtical party with which he was connected, tacked. They were brave and loyal men, who would steed he wns celled on by Lord Derby when lie was Pinning a by them to the last; but because they were heave and 'need ministry under eireueastacces of great difficulty to accept time therefore, he said, respect Beer feeling+ and their tho office of head el a great department. The Duke of hopes; do uot despise them because thy earn their deity : Northumberland bad ma l t great sacrifices in acceptine bra al, and bee tune their objects of anshitteu were not them that trust—and he entered • n toe deities of his °Mee on the of meet'' , rs of that house ; and never let the Luniblest full math wending that the filet duty he had to consieer of them feel that they called in the stranger with reference to the patronage of h.e department was that to dash the cup of Itemise horn his lip",' it 'should be distributed in such a manner us witeel be most what, these lips heti reached it. And now lie came t i the advantageous to the ceitutry. lie (Hr. Di,ratei) might general charges , . his answer, in re_g .rd to the general din-' hive eppealed to the r , eht lon. gentleman the predeceesor II:Om:inn of p eronege, was this. The dockyeel boroughs ;of the Duke of Northitub.rland to confirm him with re ware berouglis in which tha emverament had tntieence. see g eed to the feeliegs with * te c h t h e no bl e d u k e =- would b"gin with Pertsmouth. lii Pertemouth there was I vented his office. lie (Mr. Daniell) was un wiliiug ne contest whatever. If they had leen inclined to use their ;to ge into 1144 rititeet, but it was isneur- Wiesner, nisserupuloutty, tiny miilit at at events have got : cant that wit'• regnrd to the cheracter of a great up a caste-et ityaite.t the present member. At Devonport individual there shield be no misunderstandioe or miscon there was. no petit:on, and they must cmclude that ception in the Leese. Ile would take the feet that the there were no grounds for one, or it would Duke of Nerthlunberlend new to the routine of office, was have been Drought f trwaril. For Pl 3 mouth there was no ancette to here the assist an ce as hi s private. soviet try of petition. Fur Iforthester there Wal n i pet:thin either. FI or an officer highly qualified for the respoesibte duties of such Cheatham there was a petition, and in that petition a plc- a plot. lie only inquired where he meld obtain the person cart) was brought to ligl.t which et..., Ith it the S. , eretery best suited :o di,' purpose, and he ' , elected Captain Pelham, to the Ailinirelty accempateed Sir Frederiek Smith in hie without asking what were his politic*, wheel' were those of gin:we, and that he woof! he r1d,.,1 to state what be a whip; gentlemen. Whet was next to he done by the sei 1. Bat the Secretary of the Admiralty was never sum- Duke el Northumberland was the construction of the Ad awned before the e.omenttee. In the report et the turn- iniraliy Board, and he selected us the fleet naval lord Admiral mittee it was stated that 't a Lege number of the Hyde Faker, who m - ode it a condition of accepting office that eleetom ace employed in her hlejeety's dockyard, and they he should be freed front all p ditical hies, and not regulated are under the ietlueoce of the gevernment fer the , i3IC being, by party interests. The Duke of Northumberland ttieught and it appear. te ere is Les instance of a candidate succeeding it of such intnortence to obtain thet distinguished officer so signiust the reve.roment." But the It m. baronet said that first naval lord, [bait he complied with the condition., ; noel lie (Hr. Stateird) went down to Dasonport, and that there etewimunitetted that he had dune la to his culleageis, sad so was a dinner tecre. Tim lien. berenet mistook in rem re- fully had Admiral Ilyile l'arker fulfilled those conditions, spec's. lie suit that both the members for Devonpert were the! the euccess•s of the Isle goverantent hail insisted on there. hie continuing his labours in the eervice, and thus satietianed Sir B. RAU, observed that he said both the conservative tl e appointment, of which the Duke of Northumberland candidate+ weer there. had been the author mid originator. Ile Ole Disraeli) Mr. Li l'AF1011.1)--The hon. baronet supposed that same was net uneieus to trouble the house with details of this people were there. Ile could tell him they were not. kind, bet this 07:111 the time :it which they should 1%.0 hon. and gallant member for Davenport was not be towhee'. lie was certain that during tin mouths their. One elle gaVon was, th aLe (Hr. Stelfurd) hel cm- appointments ef a high and responeihle kind were never pieeeil a steamer to ge to D:teonport. Be utter took a go- made more attentively than by the administretion of the vernuient steamer one mile out of its way. When he was Duke of Northurn . ,erlaud. An officer was waisted her a away the steamer took him to el parts, but he cost the go- special 114n,iCe, and applications were made by tr.encls to tenement nut more that 121. for that jetsetter. He could, if the Duke of Northumberland ; but he 'elected Captain he was desired, detail twine curious circuonitancee with re- Loch, who went to the scene of war at Burtnah where he . .. gard to wine w, re in the Louse at pment, who had tipowe.l what ww; d th.? good cause ; but he would d en•cr into tires details. But ho would frankly state that it would here been better for hint not to have realiw•d all the expect.,tioux that had been formed of him, and, though his career had unfortunately been cut short, he had nobly upheld the hono•ir of the country. What were the political opinions of Captain Lich ? lie w x a member ol a family, and shared in their opinions, which was Givourahle to pattern: Ft epposite. Ile could give more instances in which the Duke of Northumberlund had consi dered the patreaage committed to his care as a eolenta trust. Ile was certein there never was is First Lord of the Admi ralty whe hail a higher sense of du'y, or who exercised the administation of hoe office in a new') fair and honourable spirit. Ho had rc.l94lked that the question bad assumed in the course of teat eveniug vtrious aspects. He agreed with his hon. friend the member for Starof web teat if they considered only the three allegations contained or referred to in the motien, there was no reason why the house should not decide without referring the matter to a committee. tie del not say the hon. baronet had no case, but he saitii the facts were before the house, and the house wes rout petent to decide upon them. His hon. friend the mem ber' for Northamptonshire had explained the circumstances under which the circular of 1819 was cancelled, on the 19th, without a minute of the board. With regard to the second pubs:, the house had heard the explanatioris of his hon. friend with regard to the letter which never reached him; and, though he could easily understand the motives and temper of mind which induced his h tn. friend to dwell on that poiut, he felt that where a question of swiveled veracity was concerned, if an hon. member rose in his place—no matter in what part of the homes he might ah— ead gave them his word as to a het, there would be no more reasoning on the subject. (hear, hear.) With re • gard to the third ease, that of Wells, the 'let hon. gentle. man who hail just sat down said it was impressible he could have hail a warreet, as • mister smith was not a warrant (Aker. Sir J. ORAHAM said what ho stated was that Wells i was on probation. Mr. DISRAELI had understood the nigh: hon. gentle. man to say that he had no warrant. Sir J. GRAHAM said it was a rule of the service that in such n ease there should be no warrant. Mr. DISRAELI then read the appointment, terminatinF with the weeds " ler which this shall be your warrant. (Opposition cheers.) His eon. friend had, he thought, com pletely met the case of Wells and Cotsell; and he did not see any necessity for bringing the matter before • coin mittee. All he could say was that lie bawd that Mr. Wells was • professor of the most orthodox political opt ' nions—(laughter)--end that he was supported by a great many friends on his (Mr. Disrueli's) side. (Laughter.) With regard to Mr. Cohen, he knew, front circumstances of which he was persenaliy cog nisant, that his hon. friend was noxious that that iudividual should be promoted ; for, although be obtained no increase of salary, Mr. Cotsell attained the great object of his life in being made master smith. The right boa. gentleman (Sir J. Graham) had observed that the competition of the private yards caul l only be counteracted by rigidly carry ing out the system of promotion ; and it was on that prin ciple that his hon. friend had proceeded. Now, he mast coefess, that if the quest in depended on the vindication of his honourable friend (Mr. Stafford), in whose case there was noe, as it appeared to him, a single Haw, there would be no necessity for appointing a com mittee ; but he admitted that as the diseussion proceeded the question assumed a different form, and it was quite im possible that a vote of the House of Commons could decide upon the conduct of Sir Baldwin Walker. lie felt that it would be most invidious and unjust not to give that gallant officer an opportunity of entering into explanations. He had no personal acquaintance with him ; he knew him only by reputation, as a distinguished officer and most honour cede man. blialer the eireumstauces, he should recommend his hon. friend not to oppose the motion for a committee. (Cheers ) Lord J. RUSSELL said he rose simply for the purpose of saying that if lie saw any words in the motion, which appeared to him to contain any imputation upon the per sonal honour of the hon. member for Northamptonshire, he should certainly move their omission. (Rest, hear.) Ile did not, however, find soy such words, and he must eny that he thought the hon. gentleman load successfully vin dicated himself by his speech. (Cheers.) Ile could not approve of the revoking of the minute of 1519. In the maintenance of that minute he thought a great public principle was involved ; for upon promotion for merit only depended the efficiency of the service. (Rear, hear.) It was spite needlessto vindicate the character f the Duke of Northumberland, upon which no imputation could rest. (Hear, hear.) Captain DUNCUMBE said, though a personal friend of Sir Baldwin Walker, he thought there were some dis crepancies in his evidence, and them he had no doubt would be explained. Mr. NEWDEGATE deprecated an inquiry before a select committee, when there bad been an opportunity of examining witnesses on oath before the electiun committee. Sir J. GRAHAM said a few words in explanation. Mr. M. MILNES wished the hon. baronet who had in troduce this motion to leave out of the inquiry all the cir cumstances connected with the appointment of Wells and Cotsell, which would only serve to keep up as unnecessary agitation in the dockyard. (Rear.) Sir B. HALL was willing to strike out all the words after the word " borough" in one part of the resolution, as had been suggested by two hon. members ; but he could not consent to strike out an else. (Hear, hear ) The motion, as amended, was then put from the chair and agreed to without • division. Sir B. HALL said he hoped the house would have no objection to allow the committee of selection to name the members to save on this committee. (Hear, hear.) CHURCH RATES. Mr. PHILLIMORE said he had a motion on the paper for leave to bring in • hill to alter and amend the law re lating to church rates, but at that late hour it could not be expected that he should go on with it. lie hoped, however, as ha had given way in favour of the motion which had just been disposed of, the government would find it convenient t i name a [ley when he could bring his motion forward. (Hear, hear.) Lord J. RUSSELL was understood to reply that the hon. and learned gentleman should have Thursday. MALDON ELECTION. Lord It. GROSVENOR then ruse to move an address to the Crown on the subject of the Msldon election, and pro ceeded to state the grounds which had induced the Malden election committee to recommend that this course should be taken. There could be no doubt that a great deal of per jury was committed before the committee, and therefore the evidence could to it be taken as disclosing the full extent of the disorder, hut merely as an indication of the deep seated and long-existing corruptions which had unfortunately prevailed in the borough of Mahlon. One single Instance would suffice to show the state of the ease. The agent of the sitting member was a gen tleman named Parker. This gentleman was appointed agent on the Monday before the election, and the first act which he performed was to go to the house of a man familiarly known in the borough as the " King of the Island," and offer him 1501. down for his vote, besides a consideration for as many as 25 or more electors over whom "His Majesty" exereisett an authority. (A laugh.) This the agent slid with so little secrecy that he actually made the offer before a man whom ho had never seen before in his life, and who afterwards turned out to be the agent:of the opposite party. (A laugh.) It so happened that the 1501. was not accepted for a reason whisk the house could easily conjecture. 4,The rival agent, no doubt, ad vanced upon the offer, and the consequence was his Majesty the King of the Island and all his liege subjects passed over to the other aide and voted for the successful candidate. (A laugh.) II- did not think the house would r, quire any additional evidence to show what was the system and extent of the bribery carried on at Idaldon, but this took place at the last election. There was, hewever, equally as strong evidence of gross eorrup teen hevine prevailed a' reser C.Cet.oll , ; for Mr. Miller, Ilst.tha bierelietit, was beet for by is st tudiee cenanittee of Mehl= electors to anew himself to be put iu nomination as a candidate for the borough, and when he applied to know the expense which the step would involve—Mr. Miller beluga gone down t i the dockyards, for although ho di 1 not can. rasa. and although his first visit was always to the sup' rim. tehdent, and although on two eccesione he went round the yard socompanied by the superinteudent, yet although there was no canvassing, and *llona he plerlged himself aositively that government would nut interfere with any one for his political opinions, yet he woul I say it lied a political appearance, and it weuld have been better if he' had not gone. But as the house had heard the statement, he was sure it would do him justice. lie was called to this offic - in the middle of a session of par lietnena and on the eve of a general election, and those who were the most competent to Judge of the difficulties and temptations of such a period world aroaaLly be the most lenient judges. Where the baard was right he heal triad to vindicate it, where it wes wroag he had frankly owned it. Me should always have the satisfaction of knowing that there were num without whose se Mous, kind, and able assistance he should never have been able to curry on the lab .tars of that office, who knew that when he was in that (office he aid not waste his time in mere party jobs. Some who held high commaial, and who would bear testimony, and, what was more precious still, the voice of his owu conscioace, bore him testimony, that without distinction of party be did his best to ea-operate with them, and to promote the welfare of their gallant and a:orlon.% service with a roselous and honest heart. (Loud cheers.) Admiral BERKELEY said be had hoped the lion. mem b r would have fini-hed the speech by seconding the motion of the hon. baronet, more especially as he had not been sparing in attacking others while he appeared to be so tender of himself. (Oa.) lion. gentlemen called " oh," but he was speaking of au ah-ent man, whom he was proud to claim as by friend, Sir Baldwin Walker. The hon. gen tleman had Fast, thr eugheut his speech, impatations on that officer, awl he (Admiral B. rkelta ) should say the house would not do ham justice unless a committee was ap pointed. Mr. CORRIE on the whoa.) thought that the old plan was a better gu trantee against jobbery than the regulations of 1819; and that seemed to be the opiW.on of Lord Auck land and Mr. Ward ; for from the beainning to the end of their circular they did not once mention the surveyor. (Hear.) lie should certainly oppose the motion. (Cheers.) Sir F. BARING thought they were bound in the name of decency and jos'ice, iu a case where grave charges were made on the one hand against the Admiralty, awl against a distinguished officer on the other, to assent to the motion. (Hear, heat.) It was out just to Sir B. Walker too say, that when he appoiated him, he had no acquaintance with him; nor did he know what were his political views. He might even have had no politics at all, like many other naval officers who confined their attention to their duties. At all event', he was one of the most straightforward, honest men, and one of the most laborious and trustworthy public servants he had ever met with. (Cheers.) Whatever might be the result of this inquiry, there would be nothing come out that could Ma his character as a man of talent and of honour. (Cheers.) In conclusion, he had only to ask that the inquiry should be made as searching and as speedy as it Could. (Cheers.) Sir F. THESIGER expressed his . gratification that the right honourable baronet had done Justice to the personal character of Mr. Stafford, upon which some insinua tions had been cast by the gallant admiral opposite. In his opinion the committee asked for would be quite uu neceseary. (Oh, oh!) The house was already in possession of all the information which it could possibly obtain on the subject. (Oh, oh !) lie was aware that the fact of the friends of Mr. Stafford resisting the motion would expose their motives to misconstruction; but he (Sir F. Thesiger) nevertheless felt it his duty to ask whether it would not be superfluous work to impale on any committee such an in. quiry after the e x plena' ions which had been offered. But if the miatec was to be appointed to inquire respecting the last reanlution, It would be necessary to alter and extend its wording, so that it might include not the distribution of patronage in a particular office, but the distribution of pa tronage generally. There was no use in trying to disguise from themselves the facts with respect :o such distribution of patronage. Supposing that they were to ingaire into the distribution of patronage by the Treasury? (Hear.) Wm there a single member of the house who had not asked for favours from the treasury for political friends on account of electioneering services? (Hear, hear.) They must be fair, open, and candid in this matter. The excise and post-office appointments were notoriously given to the members for the boroughs and counties who supported the government for the time being. (Hear, hear.) To pro pose an inquiry, therefore, into the dietribution of aatrow age by the Admiralty did, in the present state of their political knowledge, seem to him to be a mere affectation of purism. (Hear, hear.) It was ridiculous, absurd, and hyeocritical. (Hear, hear.) The facts were now known to every member of the house—the matter was ripe for deci sion at the present moment, and it would therefore be a senseless and unreasonable proceeding to institute an haves tigation (Hear, hear.) Sir J. GRAHAM said the bon. and learned gentleman who had just spoken, told the house that they must be fair, open, and candid; but •after having listened to the speech of the hon. and learned gentleman, and also to the speech of the honourable gentleman (Mr. Stafford), he pro tested that up to that moment ho could not find out whether they intended to resist or support the appointment of a committee. He could not help saying that this was a legitimate subject of inquiry by a committee. The honourable and learned member for Stamford had talked of such inquiries with the utmost contempt—treated them as absurd, ridiculous, hypocritical, and said that all political parties were tainted in this respect. He (Sir J. Graham) was no purist—(" hear, hear," and a laugh)—and he said that i t was impossible to carry on the government without there being a fair share of patronage given to the supporters of the government. It muttered little in the dockyards from whom the nominations flawed ; no doubt they came first from political friends ; but if you adhered to the system of strict examination of the nomi nees before they were appointed, he cared not from whom the nominations came ; but it became of vital importance that when once persons were in the dockyards promotion should come from merit only. lie had said he was no ! purist, and he repeated that, although much patronage must be granted to the government, which in the first instance was checked by the examination, but after ap pointments were mate, political influence should Le ex cluded. (Hear.) Ile anew the tendency almost inevitable to to endeavour to conciliate political friends, and he knew how ,difficult it was to avoid such influences. lie believed that the Duke of Northumberland, anxious to avoid, this difficulty, gave up all the patronage to the hon. gentleman. An election took place; them was a pressure from political friends, who said that they were deserted, that you were untrue and mawst to them, and an h .noureblo man might perhaps in such a moment forget what woe due to public virtue. The right hon. gentleman then concluded by say log to the effect, that he would make every allowauce fur such circumstances, and was not desirous that undue pres sure should be put on the lion. gentleman; that all he wished was that for the fur ure much that had eccurred sleould be avoided, and that fur that purpose an inquiry should he made, fur the sake of the hon. gentleman himself, who, although has personal honour had been cleared to night, might yet be open to a charge of error in judgment; there should be inquiry when the honour of • distinguished officer was in question, and he hoped that all sides of the house would show a willingness to grunt an inquiry without narrowing its sphere, and lie thought that the honourable member for adarylebone would do wisely in adopting the suggestion of the honourable and learned member for Stamford, and that if he enlarged the terms of his inquiry it would be more aatiafactory. (Rear.) Mr. DISILtELI said that the question during a pro tracted struggle hail wanted various and varying aspects. It had now taken after the speech of the rioht honuutolito :non II,t• of an oliegation corruat.on on fie part of the late government ' • and he must make some reference to an iudividual who had been merely mentioned in the debate, but who from his psi** :el h ' t d ea f rd r o bY m tedi r tri i u3 o e.t d nyi , tn.s a n, yda s uri t ntr i yi l eo l ,taeot m nnsc o iase r o e nosba, a t ff ail l l c ia: t have hitherto been levied. Carriage-makers are and of taxed six pounds fur letting out a carriage, for how evercoursethe short f s t r mboalr post-horse of to be colketed at much increased expense, and liable to much evasion, because the parties who let post horses arc more scattered, and do business on a much smaller scale titan formerly, and do a large part of this business without passing through turnpikes, where the gate-keepers were tormerly auditors, if not collectors. This part of cur Excise eystt in has evidently outlived its original uses, and its relorm is a rrihe and salutary step. The vices of the present system, with which Mr. Geettreross prop )ses to deal, arc two-fold. First, the taxes are cumulative; and, secondly, they are defeated at every turn by exemptions. The cumulative scale was origin...sly adopted on the priu ciple of a sumptuary law. It was thought fair to tile poor to tax carriages used by the rich, far the publics did not then understand that such taxes, after all, fall chiefly on the class from whom men servants aro selected —bv whom carriages are built—and horses are bred, and fed, and shed. Ac cording to the present system, the more earn ages a man keeps the - higher tie) tax he pays on each, thus rising, by regular steps, from 11. 4s. for one servant, to 3'. 10s e for earl, of twelve servants. Freon ed. for one tour.wheeled carriage, to 0/. ls. ed. for eeeh of nine carriages. And front 1!. Bs. for one horse, to 31. Os. 9d. cads for these who indulge them selves in nine. The result of this taxation, on rho prineiple of confiscation, is seen its the decline of the number of tax-payers for private carriages. When looking at the wealth and bleats ban tastes of the people, this class ought to have in creased steadily, for, although railroads make psivate carriages a greater luxury than ever, many who once kept at least a chariot and pair, with a coachman and footman, :,re now content with a brougham with one horse, and contrive " a double debt to pay" with a coachman-groom. la this variable climate, at a rea sonable tax, many would indulge in two carrisiges. It was sufficiently absurd to sa arrange a tax, that it shall cheek production and discourage people from becoming tax-payees ; but to crown the absur dity there are a list of exemptions, begin ning with the boy in livery, for whom no tax is paid, " it under 18 years of age, with a legal settlement in the same paris.i as his employer" —an exemption framed on the exclusive system of an old parish law. In carriages, the latest and most flagrant exemption is is favour of every two wheeled vehicle which dot's not originally cost more than 211. On this exemption this revenue) is daily defrauded by melt in all ranks of society. The Om of cheating the tax-gatherer is simple enough. Tho that. TOM Amoy pays 20!. for the trap and 201. more for the whip. livery country coat-I:maker ca . give a long string of such cases. Turning from two wheels to four wheels, we there find that the Legielaterc found some N irtue in wheels less than thirty inches in height, drawn by ponies under thirteen hands high. fhe result is, that in all diree ' tious we meet with elegant untaxed George the Fourth t phaetons escaping duty, drawn by a useless class • of animal, which no farmer can afford to breed, or to use when blemished. The tax on horses has else its string of exemptions. Fifteen per cent. of the number of horses paying are rated at le Is, instead of 1!. Bs. 9th, because not exceeding thirteen hands. Ponies not exceeding twelve hands pay no tax; and, harnessed to low carriages, afford exemptions to persons well able to pay. A butcher pays 10s. Gd. oniy for a second horse; but the country surgeon, who has at least quite as much need of a second lease, is not exempt. Draught horses used in trade, and mules, pay 10s. Gd. each, but horses used for agriculture, ; amounting to upwards of 300,000, pay nothing. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER commences well by simplifying all these taxes, abolishing a mass of exemptions, and doing away with the system of punishing a man by extra taxation far employing several servants, or keeping several horses anti car riages. For men-servants, in any number, 11. Is. each is to be paid by the employer if over 21 years of age. and 10s. Gil. if usder 21. For horses 1/. Is. each, whatever the number, and 10s. GI. for ponies. Four-wheeled carriages, drawn by two horses, 31. 10s.; with one horse, 2:. 10s. Two-wheeled carriages, 13s. Horses used in trade—in carriers' carts, tec.—as at pre sent, 10s. Gd. each. It is scarcely wise to make the dif ference bet weencarriagesdrawn by one and two horses. It will lead to constant evasions and disputes, and be unfair to residents in hilly counties who have to pay turnpikes too, while in towns one horse will do the work. We doubt also the policy of imposing a pre mium on ponies by halving the tax on them. On the whole, however, the part of the new scheme which relates to Assessed Taxes, like that which deals with Customs, is good. Tko CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER calculates to lose 87,000!. on serviette, and 93,000/. on private carriages. We dauht it' he will lose a single penny in the course of two years. Ile deserves such good fortune. CLERICAL, MEDICAL, and GENERAL LIFE ASiTRANCE SOCIETY. VIVI! 130ICVSE9 have het n tie Jan"_; at the Inst In J inuary, the MIT of.Cl'll,l_i Nets added ttt lh^ Niletes, prodaeirg a L`ll varying situ the t.ktraent erect truta 21i to 55 pte Cfllt. on the pit. — return, paid during the lire years, Of from ZS to £l2 las. per rest. on the sum aseured. _ . . Toe euziol .here of profli dlvirdbl.. in Ware :morn the tharcholdeni briny Lon irovinsa for, ','o :ASA:IW) v.,lt ::ereatier d. rive uti the Itnnelkil oh: dolr.le from n inutorti ottl,ro, WI I'ILOU f ANY LIABI. LIT% On. It OP PARTNERrSIIIP. One half ill! hie Frve.iain to Um last five pars may remain of credit 17 , :VALID LIVES msy be morel at rites proportiored to the risk. Claims peG thirty days after proof of death, and al' rubric:a arc Inuisputal•l•• raimmt in c rsr a of (mud. The last year'. Ite:•••rt oust p: intol) tin b= i•trainott fre • of oLottur. H. I.lNeii till). Hestdeht Secretary. 99, Great Htta-eloatrret, L .rdon. c t .r 44; i v 41 TO CORD.E6TOSI.E:4IIB. s -est 04 et ei Toe E.s.prees.. oontaihing , LA otweb Fot:lietri awry Toe•.' Lod Ir4aj tine for . ' • var . : uqn wakc! req " The on:cm tent be r: 'he .Psce, £-44etei , :.eteet4 by 'isc, o'cloci; oa the lay a prtglosttu. OHM WATER AT LONDON bRiDOR. ;HIS thy—Monthly. Its. 'Ti Oa. 7so . .Mtcrllo.lo. 03. 31ua. LONDON, WEDSESDAY, APRIL 20. THE Free Trade features of the Budget were sure to obtain for it a large measure of support out of doors. Inde ed, it may be said to be is the main a Free Trade Scheme, and, as such, entitled to the support of that great and influential body of Reformers whose activity and intelligence have given the bias to our mudern progress in political improvement. The clearing of the Tariff from a crowd of senseless items that have hitherto encumbered it may be looked on as an almost unmitigated good. Again and again we have drawn public attention to the need for such a clearing of the way, by which industry may have more untaxed materials ready to hand, and trade may proceed upon its bene ficial course, without the perpetually re.urring presence of the revenue officer. Just as Mr. GLAD STONE has adopted the suggestions of the Reformets in requiring that all taxes shall be paid into the Exchequer, and be at the disposal of a constitutional Parliamentary vote, so does ho now again follow in the same line of progress by acting on Mr. HUSte's suggestions to purge the Tariff of a whole crowd of articles which compli cate our Customs' regulations, and hamper our industry, whilst making no suitable return to our revenue. The reductions of duties on butter, cheese , and other agricultural products, are steps in the same wise direction—so also is the reduction of the Tea Tax. We could have wished to see timber, and some other things, in the list of favoured articles, but the proposed clearance gives new hope for further removals, and new reason fur demanding them. We are glad to find that the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER holds views we have often expressed about certain Assessed Taxes on what are called luxuries, but which are really . taxes on labour and skill, and that he has determined to simplify the tariff and abolish a mass of exemptions which have rendered the horse and carriage duties com plicated, unjust, and unproductive in proportion to the increase of. the general wealth of the country. He has determined to revise the whole system under which about twelve hundred thousand pounds is obtained from assessment and excise on horses, carriages, post horses, and servants. This revision is essential if we are to make the most of our advantages as a travelling, horse-breeding, and carriage building nation, and is the more needed be cause the whole condition of the country has been changed since they were imposed. When the Horse and Carriage duties were imposed the whole fast communication of the country was conducted by stage coaches and post horses. At the same period it was part of the essential state of every nobleman and large landed squire to drive at least four horses with outriders. In towns, every family that kept a carriage had at least two horses. A few years ago, any attempt at a close carriage drawn by one horse was looked upon as something lamentably mean and contemptible. To drive up to a house of fashion in a hackney coach was au insult. What a change has occurred ! In the first place, the railways have abolished post ing on the main lines of road. A duke who was obliged to post with four horses to kis chariot, while his valet followed in a chaise and pair, is now con tent with a first-class coupe for himself, and a second-class for !' his gentleman." On the main roads it is now impossible and on the cross roads difficult to obtain post horses at all, without a week's notice. Colonel SIBTHORr, who still adheres to the road, bears testimony to this fact ; and the chief employment for post-horses is in taking carriages to and from railways. Thou in towns the improvement of the pavement has ren dered it possible to employ one horse where two were once indispensable; and this improvement in the roads has been followed by change in the taste of the nobility and gentry. For instance, on the Midland race-courses, where, twenty years ago, scores of carriages with four horses in hand, or with posti lions in private liveries, were to be seen, now only one or two specimens of by-gone equipage vocal what used to be the custom in such matters. Although Railways hare put down a certain number of stage coaches, post horses and post chaises, as well as carriers' carts and coin mercial travellers' gigs, they have also called into existence a vast number of vehicles for town use and cross-country travelling, and under en equitable system they would swarm in every suburb. Bat the diminution to the number of tax-paying earnages and horses in privato use may be disunctly traced to the absurd principle on which the taxes affecting them, and the needful men-servant attendants, . cautious man—he was eaolly tald that in ad tition to the 1 usual expenses he would be required to stake good tic de- ticiencies of the p re vi ou s !newly's, which amounted to , 4,600/. (A Leigh) lie thcught he need not say anotht r 1 word upon the subject after that, and therefore, without detaining the house longer, he would move "That an humble iCldre,s be presented t., the crown, praying he r M.jesty to be crrciously piewed t , issue a commission to inquire into the cal,trnen of con unt rraetices in the borough of Matdon. th.tumisvioners : —C. Shapland Whitmore, F...q ~ Hon. Fre :crick l'onsooby, end JAR . Carlem Ilcutb, E the Ser.tizeit }mina real the motion, Mr. I.IANKES could not n.io.nt to the motion on the grounds offered by the noble lord. He did not c.,r0i.1.r thst bribery e r treating had been proved in the Mahlon ewe. lie regretted that a matter of such importance should by brought tot Ilard at so late at hour. Mr. LIDDELL, us a member of the Malden committee, lilt bound to rote for the corumisdon. Mr. WALPOLE nezettrd to the eormuissien, on the around that iirihery ht.d occit proved before the eouunitlee. Mr. VANATTAIIT steed that he would divide the house vAainst the motion. After a few w.irds trout Sir J. TVIIELL and Mr. Pit INN respectively, 'rho house divided— Fe. the 'notion 69 A3ainst it COMMON LAW BUSINESS. Sir J. YOUYCluhisine,liear.. 7 t:l/;in;Tna bill to make better pro% is iOll for tho itticiol! discharge of the duCia of the taxing di: er iu au.l e unman law business in BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. The CH CSlCELltSttorthal...XClic:Clua stated that on Thursday the first bovine/a wml.l he the statement of his boo. friend th, Samtary to the Tracery or. the ques tion of Custom.. and after that be pruposed/to gu into com mittee en the hill fur the redemption of stook, and after, the Pilotage Bill. Mr. WHITE:4HE said the bill for the reform of cern nr,a Isw mo:edure is Ireland wea Aced for that day. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said tome irrangerneut wuuld ha mule that that bill should come on to Thursday or Friday. Tke house then adjourned at Ii) minutes put one. NEW COIMITTEES APPOINTED. Yes:crLit lic met, and apvii,ted th , fut,wing cmninittres. BERWICK-ON-TWEED —Mr. Scyna , r (chairman), Mr. B. Willcox, Mr. Wiiittsidc, Mr. Kr.uiuk, MIA Mr. B )uker. lIMUM.III).—Mr. Wuhan (chairman), Mr. G. M. Butt, Mr. P. Setup Mr. 11. fili.Witlcy, and larquia uf Stalrord. MAlnsTuse.—Mr. Butt (chairman), Sir J. Pakingtun, Mr. F. 11. Maddock, Mr. Meagher, and Mr. Farnham. BRITISH ELECTRIC TRLEGRAPII COMPANY. Yester lay the committee on this bill declared the pre amble proved, the clauses seeking power W run over the railways being withdrawn. PAWL—Sir W. Clay's tnotuia ots Church Rates: Sit De Lacy Evans fir, with Mr. Pugh agsiast; Mr. Lerma Gower fir, with the E irl of Shelbtras sgaiu.r. MINISTERIAL TACTICS. A correspondent says: " A meeting of the supporters of the Ministry will, it is understood, be held on Saturday in enesliam-pluce, when it is likely that it' the Budget is not regarded as acceptable us a whole the wis dom of an early dissolution of parliament may bo mooted." TIIE ARGENTINE CONFEDERATION. Private letters from Buenos Ayres state that both contending parties have appealed to the Brazilian minister at that capital, to assist in bringing about a compromise of the :existing difficulties and mbar ransmeuts ; and very great expectations are enter tained that his medievion will be successful. The Brazilian representative at Buenos Ayres is a diplo matist of great moderation and good sense; and when acting in a similar capacity recently at Monte Video, contributed largely to the settlement of dis putes in the Banda Oriental, which consequently owes much of its present tranquillity and progress to his good offices. FRANCE. PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING, The .Ifuniteur of to-day contains decrees authoris log the Bank of France to establish branches at Nancy and Toulon. A telegraphic despatch from Vienna, dated tho 18th inst., states that accounts had reached that city from Constantinople to the Sth. They contained nothing of interest. Affairs remained in the same situation. --------- A telegraphic despatch from Berlin, dated the 19th inst., states that the First Chamber has thrown out the proposition adopted by the Second Chamber fixing at six years the duration of parliament. Everybody is talking to-day about an article in the Presse of startling boldness. It is headed "1793 and 1853 ; the Empire," and is the most uncompro mising attack upon Bonapartism, and every article of imaginary e in he arY characters the Bonapartist creed, that has been seen in print for many a long day. The spirit of the production may be judged of from the following opening passage: l a t ra t c ° te w re i eit'!ajta4y of it we r e s in u g lik m ie e n n, t t 0 0 0 create to teienha intended to be exalted gigantic proportions in order to obtain dramatic effects, to cloak error and folly under vain sonorous language, then have we plenty of hietorica of the empire to which nothing can be added. Bat if the rights and interests of a people be the only just mea sure by which th merits of a g overnment can be appre ciated, if it be contrary to equity to conceal the deficiencies of a sovereign by exaggerating his capacity, and to cover Lis admitted faults by continual appeals to his brilliant action., then there are but few histories of the empire, and, above all, there are but few g ;cid ones. Nevertheless, if we were to abridge the mono tenons descriptions of batiks, in which the mind loses itself in the confueion, sod to condense the bulletins, proclama tions, and official reports, noshing would be more simple, shorter, or more easy to reecunt than this history, and it is much to be desired that some writer of talent and impar tiality would undertake it. The article then describes the treachery, perjury, dissimulation, and violence by which Napoleon, pro :easing always to net in the name of the peop:e, suc ceeded in raising himself to the empire. But in all these details, although the Prose thinks the history of Napoleon I. should be re-written there is nothing not perfectly familiar to the ordi nary reader. One net as coming from a French pen is worth a passing untie. lite rupture ut the peuee t glernirts. earl buted entirely . to tho necessi 'of Icipolcon's insatiable ambition, and itrr it . ' .. adirlitted that •