The Express. — London, England, 1853-03-14 00:00:00

Vitt erortSxs. TO CORRESI`ONOENTS. demand Vdt&en e: "The Expretia," eastaimlnT tbe came *venires "Garttte," is published eau, Tue.day it Friday ►ight, in Las Sur pit. twines:rests Intended ter "TV. r.pror," Latium Itrening paper, must ta at tits Mee, 10, Sy Teo debts es tbe day of publisatima. 111011 WATER AT LONDON BRIDOIL TVII DA9...41.1'01W. 41:6 491.. .......167:0110011, $3. ft. Tc.rasaow—lionung. 5.. 15A. —.lstternews. 31 “ aa. L'JNDON, MONDAY, MARCII 11. A FM years since it would have been impossible to assemble sueli a deputation upon any commerciel question as on Saturday hod an interview with the CIIANCKLLOE of the Ex( itimeelt un the subject of Customs Refurm. Under the old network of mow pollee merchants and manufacturers were broken up mto special cliques. Every port had some favoured interest to &tem,. The world's cec.merce with each close lay within the circle of its particular =- Lupoly ; and they card for LJ abuse, however great, so :on g as it mole no trespass upon their oats borders. But before Free Trade, these narrow-minded limits have given way ; and the trading classes arc fast risin;; to the convic tion that they have no divided interest, and that their strength lice in their being spoken of and felt as "the commercial community." They begin to ap preciate their real position in the State; to feel that it is they who give impulse to the world's industry— they who find markets few every product of our vast nia:bine power—they who find the English work man his customer at the antipodes, and bring to his doer his bread grown ten thousand miles away—they who lay before the toiling millions their wagto—they who spread iebncaid the character of England for commercial integrity and truth—they who make the seem ity of lingland the surest, and the land of Eng land the most valuable—they who (ruin every corner of the globe brine the products which feed the general wants, and bear the taxed products that go to swell the Exchequer—they whose bu,lness relations, deep rooted amongst the people of every climate and tongue, make it the whole world's interest to be at peace with Englund. We are pleased to bud that it was in this spirit that the deputation waited upon Mr. GLADSTONE. They had no favour to seek, males interest to advo cate, but simply to demand for the common good increased facilities_ to commerce.... There was pro- bably not a single breach of either our home; or foreign trade not repruentsd upon the deputation. The London Committee for Reform of the Customs, appointed in 1331, by upwards of right hundred of the leading merchants, bankers, and traders of the City, might of itself be said to repre sent not merely London, but the entire King dom. London is proverbially slow to move. It no easy matter to bring the merchants from their counting-houses, or to associate them for any purpose, however important. There must be a real pressing grievance, or a cause sound enough, for even a Bank director to stir London. lint it has been most heard of in the agitation for Customs Reform, nut merely because of the Dock prosecutions falling upon London merchants, nor because about 11,000,0001. of Customs revenue is paid by the port of London alone, but from the simple fact that every inconvenience to the trade of London is felt is every business throughout the Kingdom, and brings, not only from the ports, but from every town, its letters of complaint ; and it is therefore as reprtsentutives of the commer cial wants of the entire people that the Committee of London merchants have so tar fought the battle of Customs Reform. Nothing could be more temperate or to the purpose than the document read by Mr. TRATERI, as chairman of the Committee, and which we elsewhere publish with the Report. It states the evils of the existing Customssystem; its vexatious delays —its irresponsible authority—its seizorcs upon secret information— its investiptions with closed doors—its appropria tion of private property—its refusal of reports— its power to enact by-laws with all the force of statutes—its fifty-one acts and its forty years of board orders, which are always declared repealed when they are complained of, and in force when Ileac is any illerlity of the Board to be defended. It poiLts to the coinmertit i . irorance of the Com missioners—to the temptations to fraud thrown in the way of the officers by allowing them to share la fines, seizures, and compromises—to the enormous costs of Exchequer suits to the public, whether as plaintiffs or defendants, and the exemption of the Crown from costs—to the utter absurdity of appeals to the Lords of the Treasury—to the vexation, system of ad ralorena duties, and to the power pos sessed by the officers of Customs to bring utter ruin upon men following their business honestly, and without the possibility of their obtaining either a hearing in their defence, or a statemout of the charges against them. It urges the important point, that the commercial classes are far more deeply concerned in the prevention of every evasion of duties than the Board of Cus toms or its officers; that it is for the interest both of the Exchequer and the commercial classes that the management of the Customs shall be open, simple, uniform, and the law urn the subject clear, and in its application caeap and expeditious. It seems certain that no such clearness can be ex pected under the hands of the existing Board of Cus toms, who have assumed a position of hostility to the commercial community, nor from professional law makers, well learned in words, but not at all in commerce ; but is likely to be arrived at only by sub mitting to the commercial class for revision and suggestion any Bills to be prepared for Parliament previous to their being brought before the House. There is no need we should dwell upon the strangeness of the fact that the Customs should have been so long suffered to remain in a condition not only so unfitted to our growing commerce, but utterly at variance with the spirit of the people asi with every other institution of the country. It is very rarely that a deputation is favoured with so distinct a reply as that of Mr. GLADSTONE. He admitted not only the evils, but the Delimit' discredit of the existing system; referred pointedly to a codi fication not merely of the Customs Law, but of the tariff; pledged himself to the earliest possible intro thetion of the bills after Easter; impressed upon the members of the deputation that although the Government thought it best to take the responsi bility of laying the bills upon the table, they would be most desirous that the commercial classes should suggest amendment.; that, therefore, ample time would be allowed for the utmost publicity to be given to the bills, and that they would be reprinted with the amendments ar.d referred to a Select Committee. It therefore rests apparently with the commercial classes themselves to establish a sound Customs system. There is, however, the difficulty in the way ex pressed very forcibly by Mr. TRAVEL) and Mr. IiALL, and by their cheers concurred in by the great majority of the deputation, that the bills are being prepared by the very originators and defenders of the Dock Company prosecutions,—in whom the commercial classes most justly can have no confi dence. The conviction amongst them is that through Custom-house influence the Committee upon the amendments will be so framed as either to render the amendments useless. or to delay the bills over the season. For this reason alone it was so strongly urged that the bills should first be submitted to the commercial classes, and should, in fact, be introduced as coming from them. Nor would there have been any difficulty in the way of such a course. London. though having no Cham ber of Commerce of its own, is in constant communi cation with such institutions throughout the country, and could have no difficulty in transmitting the drafts and collecting the several local amendments. But, as it is, Mr. GLADSTONE may rest assured that, however good the new system, perfected by amend ment, may be, it can never be worked with satisfac tion to the commercial classes by tho old tools of the Custom-house. The new laws must have a new Board. The machinery of the commercial classes must have commercial men to work it. A FUNERAL Seavier. is to be celebrated to morrow, in the catholic church of St. James, Spat:kWh-glace, Manchmter-square, for the repose of the soul of her lute Imperial Higbee*. the Prince* Marie Amelia, sister of the Ealpev r of Brasil and of the Queen of l'ortugal. Invitations Lave bei.o sent by the EfilAiliult MiUistlf 1 oil the repre natation of the Sovereigns who are related by consangui mity or Rlfniq with the august dece...odois well a l t o nit atermtuzutto and Brazilian) Iclidcal is Losioa. FRANCE. PARIS, SUNDAY EVININO. A telegraphic despaten from Vienna states that the Emperor went yesterday to the Cathedral to return thanks. There was no bourse, and in the evening the city was illuminated. A new "note" has been prei.ured for England, requiring modifica tions of the English Alien Act. Montenegro has been completely evacuated by the Turkish army. A republican demonstration, such as has nevir been seen since the 2nd of December, has occurred to-day upon the occasion of the funeral of Madame Rasped. Her death was announced three days since in a letter written by Raspail himself from his prison at Doullens, and published by the Presse. t he day and hour filed for her funeral was mentioned in ;he same journal last evening. To-day, at one o'clock, immense crowds flocked to the Place St. Michel, near the Luxembourg, and ranged themselves with the greteest order itt the neighbourhood of the house where the eurpse was lying. It will give you sumo idea of their numbers when I state that upwards of an hour after the hearse left the house the followers I were 011 filing off from the Place S,. Michel. They walked five abreast in closely serried ranks, very many of them bearing immortelh. and emblem, of mourn ing. The course frum the Face St. Michel to the cemetery of Fire la Chaise lay through the most thickly populated parts of Paris, including the Fau bourg St. Antoine. When the procession reechcd the Place de !a Bastille a cry of " hats off' was raised, and immediately obeyed, as if it were a word of command. A line of not less aunt 49,000 men uncovered their heads as they marched in solemn silence past. the column of Li berty. Hitherto, beyond the appearance in the streets of a few extra sergens-de-Yille, there was nothing to show that the authorities felt any alarm, but within a quarter of an hour after the coffin passed from the column along the Faubourg St. Antoine a strong body of cavalry dashed past, sabre in head, and took up a position at the cemetery before the arrival of the corpse. They were shortly afterwards followed by . about cue huudied and fifty sergens-de-ville, in two detach mentf, who went forward to surround the grave, and prevent any speeches from being made. 1 did nut follow the cmteye so far as the cemetery, but you may take it fur granted that there was no disturb ance. One of M. Haspait's eons appeared as chief mourner. Another, the ex-representative, is in exile. The demonstration of to-day is exceedingly remarkable, as show ing the immense influence winch the name of Respell yet exercises in Paris. M. de Lacour, the newly-appointed embissatlor to Constantinople, leases Paris for his post to.inonow. He has had the singular advantage of being able to confer both with Lord Stratford de Itedcliffe, and the Marquis de Lavalette, before his departure. Apropos of Lord de Redeliffe, I am told by an Em;lish gen tleman, who met him at a small dinner party at the Teflon:9 last week, that on rising front trade the Emperor took him to a private room, where they remained together for more than hour, while the Empress entertained the rest of the company over their coffee. The ~ in an article on Turkish affairs, refers, with considerable acrimony, to recent disquisitions in certain English journals, wherein the dismemberment of the Ottoman empire is com placently spoken of as a thing to be expected, and not Frew ly to be deprecated. It considers the suggestion insidious that 'flukey may be parcelled out into numerous " demi-independent " states, and yet the integrity of the empire preserved. Is there no dan ger, it asks, that the precedent act in Moutenegio may be followed ? May not some descendant of Skander- Beg be found to assert his right to . govern Bosnia and licrzegolina ? May not the projects ventilated in several German journals, of setting up a Bulgarian prince, in the person of an indigenous chief named Paul Groinadyaninn, or a Greek prince named Vogoridds, be realised by some fresh armed revolt ? May we not sec spriuging up princes of Epirus, Thessaly, and filacedonui, after the manner of the kings of Cyprus and Jerusalem that were restored by the crusaders ? The semi-official journal declares that France would see in any such system a tendency to favour the views of those who at Constantinople and elsewhere are opposed to the French protectorship of the }illy Places. Fractions so detached from the Turkish empire, even though nominally belonging to it, would fall an easy prey to neighbouring states, and such changes, in the opinion of the Constitu tionnel, would evidently destroy the balance of power in Europe, the maintenance of which alone can with entire certainty guarantee the peace of the world. M. Goudchaux, the finance minister, under the provisional government, was lately sent for by M. de Maupes, and warned that he ran the risk of being treated as a dangerous personage, by sending sub scriptions to the refugees in London. M. Goodchaux replied that he, in common with many of his former political friends, had long been in the habitof making monthly coxtributions to a fund for the support of such of the unfortunate refugees ea were without means of subsistence, but that he did it purely out of charity, and without any political object. It is said that the minister expressed himself satisfied with the answer. I know that many of the refugees are in a most distressed condition, and but for the liberality of their friends must either starve or surrender them selves. I happened to hear, only . this morning, that M. Flocon, a member of the provisional government, is now living upon eightpence a day, and he positively refuses subscriptions that have been offered him, declaring that he has sufficient for his wants. The Augsburg Ga:ette announces a "Congress of Sovereigns," which will take place at Berlin on the 30th inst. The first conference will include the Emperors of Austria and Russia and the King of Prussia. Earle in April they will ask the concur rence of the ()enflame Confederation, the King of Rolland, the King of Belgium, and other sovereigns, in reference to Italy. The closing prices of the foreign bourses yesterday were: Amsterdam.—Two-and-a-lialf per Cent& (Dutch), 63;; Five per CentL, Metalliques, 82; Belgian Two and-a-Half per Cents., 53 1-16. Berlin.—Prussian Loan, 1850-52, 103; Three and-a-Half per Cents., 93i ; Bank Shares ' 109 1 . Madrid.—Three per Cents., 43 3-16; Deterred, 23 15-16; Amortia. (2nd class), Q. PARIS, SATVADAY EVENING. The Mayor of Carquefou, near Nantes, lately con voked a meeting of the municipal council for the purpose of receiving their oath of allegiance to the Emperor. Thirteen members attended, but upon being called upon they unanimously refused to take the oath. The seven other members composing the council, who were absent from the meeting, subse quently signified their intention to adhere to the resolution of their colleagues, and the council has esasequently been dissolved. As one of the public carriages called the " inver sables," that run from Geneva to Lyons, leas lately psoisg through Bellegarde, the Custom-house offi cers east a suspicious eye upon a hamper on the roof, directed to " Mdlle. Eulalie, Lyons." It was exa mined and found to contain a false bottom. The upper part contained fresh trout from the lake of Geneva, but the secret cavity was crammed with packets of "Napoleon the Little" and other political pamphlets. When the conveyance arrived at Lyons the police arrested a Mdlle. Escolier, who came to claim the hamper. Upon her lodgings being searched a correspondence was discovered between her and two pohtleal refugees now at Geneva, named Tisaot and Petit Jean. Some letters to other persons at Lyons were also found. In consequence of these dis coveries Mdlle. Escolier, the conductor of the dili gence, and three other persons, were Wed upon the double charge of distributing seditious writings and belonging to a secret society. The conductor and two of the prisoners were acquitted, but Mdlle. Es eoiier and aM. Gayet were found guilty and sen tenced to three months imprisonment. It is not yet known whether, in addition to their legal sentence, they will be transported to Cayenne for ten years by M. do Maupsa. It is announced to-day that the Havre Company has ace..pted the proposals for a fusion with the Western and Normandy lines. It has merely made certain conditions with respect to a sum now dis posable which will enable them to make a distribu tion of from 12 to 1,5 ptr share. It is thought probable that the railway line from Lyons to Geneva will be conceded to the Bartholony Co.npany. The Council of l'onts et Chausseies hate approved of their plans, and the Council of State is about to_pronounre its decision. A railway fT9III Corbel! $9 Plover, patronised by Count 31011* livet and numerous proprietors of the Cher, is also likely to be conceded. M. Orfila, the celebrated professor of chemistry, died this morning of inflammation of the lungs. Mdlle Marthe was buried to-day. The funeral service was performed in the little chapel of St. Andre, in the Cite &Ando, in the presence of a nu-, menus congregation. A ft erwards the body was eon- veyed on a hearse to Montmatre Cemetery, by the Chaussee d'Antin and the Hue Blanche. It is not usual in France, any more than in England for ladies to follow a corpse to the grave, but on this occasion a, large number of actresses, dressed in the deepest mourning, followed the coffin on foot. Madame Doehe was one of the pall-bearere. M. Samson, of I the Theatre Franeaie, and many other actors, were present. Ou the coffin being lowered into the vault the attendant priest pronounced the l ist words of the catholic burial service, and then all the mourners in succession sprinkled holy water on the tomb. During this ceremony not a word was spoken. There was scarcely a dry eye among the crowd that sur rounded the grave. Many of the actresses sobbed audibly. No speech was made, and it is certain that none would have been allowed. It is considered most extraordinary that the corpse of the unhappy young lady should hero been permitted to enter a church under the sad ciieninstances of her death. No religious ceremony was performed over the body of the Count Camerata. A mystery hangs over this dreadful affair which I cannot attempt to unravel. Several well known spiel watched the interment, and I was told in a whispsr that it would not be safe to speak aloud about the cause of her death. The journals are nearly silent on the subject, not daring to give, or to inquiie for information. 'r ho Canada tionnel says that NI d le. Marthe had seen her notary the night before her decease, and that she lighted seve ral pans of charcoal in her room, and lay down on the floor in the midst cf then), where she was found dead. There are no coroner's inquests in France, and it appears that state reasons oppose themselves to the satisfaction of public curiosity as to the causes of this shocking catastrophe. The telegraphic lines to Grenoble, Nismes, Beau vais, and Auxerre, were opened yesterday to the public. The Emperor and Empress yesterday paid a state visit to the Cathedral of St. Denis, and the School of the Legion of Honour in the precincts. The Moniteur contains a decree, regulating the form and inscription of the cross worn by the canons of St. Denis, with the view of making it an appro priate symbol of "the past and the present." It is to be of the size of the present cross, but with eight points in place of foar,each point being enamelled in white and violet, and having four golden bees on the white. The Chapter of St. Denis is to have for seal three golden bees on a field azure, with the inscrip tion Capitulum Imperiale Sancti Dianysii. Marshal Narvaez, whose arrival in Paris from Bayonne had been erroneously announced in the journals, has been detained at Bordeaux for upwards of three weeks by an inflammation of the chest. He is now in a state of convalescence, and was to leave Bordeaux yesterday to proceed by short journeys — to Paris. He expresses a firm determination not to go toVienna upon the humiliating muck mission assigned to him by his government. THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 14, 1853. SPAIN. With the consent of the government, the Senate has appointed General Cordova, General Laureano Sanz, General I'ezeula, General ODonntll, and the Duke de Rivas, who belong to the ministerial party, and M. Arrazola and NI. Pena Aguayo, of the oppo sition, to be a committee to report on the memorial of Narvaez relative to his expulaiou from Spain. SWITZERLAND. The Oa:ette Nat i onale of Bale, in commenting on the critical state of the country, states that in a fort- night Switzerland could concentrate and mobilise an army of 100,000 men, and still have its landwehr or militia to fall back upon. The Schweizerbote states that fresh troops arrived on the lst at Waldshut, and that in a few days the whole extent of the frontier to. wards Austria will be occupied. A Hungarian de serter, named Masker, with two Italians, have been arrested at Lugano, where they were found distri buting revolutionary addresses, and are to bo tried at the assizes. GERMANY. PRUSSIA. Oa Thursday the Second Prussian Chamber adopted by 244 against 70 votes the bill on the future constitution of the First Chamber. According to this bill which has already passed the upper house, the members of the First Chamber will all be nomi nated by the crown, which may confer either heredi tary or life peerages. BERLIN, MARCH 8. The Zollverein conferences will be renewed on the 10th inst. Prussia has sent letters of invitation only to Hanover, Brunswick, and the Thuringian and Anhaltine duchies. To the coalitionists it has only given verbal notice through its diplomatic residents; but the coalitionists will, nevertheless, all send de puties. They have, too, all notified their assent to the Austro-Prussian treaty. The representative of Hesse Cassel lately moved that the Frankfort Diet address a note to the British government on the subject of the refugees' machi nations. The Diet resolved to await the result of the extensive inquiries which have been instituted about the Milan plot, ana to see whether a case can be made out. It is a favourable sign of p that even the Frankfort Diet begins to conceive:Tr a case must be made out before hanging is proceeded to. At Leipsic and Dresden the police searched the houses, and seized the papers of about forty respec table citizens belonging to the liberal party. Nothing whatever of a criminal nature was found. It is supposed that some police spy, in order to . get pay, had given fictitious reports about communica tions between the Saxon liberals and the London refugees. In consequence of M. de Vareane's promotion to the Senate, the Duke de Moustier, a talented young diplomatist, a near relation of Montalemberes, and an active member of the catholic church party, will succeed to the post of Berlin ambassador. The Ger man catholic leaders are eagerly expecting his ar rival here. About five years ago a sickly girl, twelve years old, made crowds of credulous people believe that she held communion with angels, and could perform miraculous cures. She has now just been convicted of swindling, and condemned to fifteen months' im prisonment. TURKEY. The D4bats publishes the following intelligence, received in the letters of its own correspondent, dated Constantinople, Feb. 25 : The day after Count de Leiningen received the reply of the Porte, M. d'Ozeroff, chargi d'affsires of Russia, com =talented to Flied Effendi a note of M. de Nesselrode, which complained sharply of the attack which had been Mob on Montenegro, alter the reiterated declarations of titi Porte to maintain peace. The Russian minister de als/ea in that note that the expedition of Omer Paths, and the blockade of the coasts of Albania had painfully surprised the Emperor Nicholas; that the cabinet of St. Petersburg protected and proclaimed the independence of Montenegro as afail accompli, which did not require any other conse cration. The note also announced the sending of Colonel Kowalski to Tsetguin (Cettigne). Without naming Itesehid Pachs, the Russian minister allowed it to be teen that pleasure was felt at 8.. Petenburg at his removal. The note declared besides that the ministers who kept up a bad understanding between the Ottoman and Russian governments were very culpable, and assumed a great responsibility on themselves. It was thought at Constantinople that the measures of Austria were not taken until after she had consulted the cabinets of London and Paris, and without being assured of all her liberty of action as regards Montenegro, but on tho ex prose condition of respect.ng the rights of sovereignty of Turkey. The m in which the dilTers nee be tween Austria and the Porte had been settled caused great dissatisfaction at Constantinople. The facility with which the Turkish cabinet yielded induced many persons to ask of what use the expense of keep ing up an army could bo when a government sur renders to the first suiniums of a foreign power. Tho conduct of the Minister of War seemed particularly to have displeased the generals and officers, and several of them had appeared without their swords in pubic ern monies. As is already knows,, Prince Roped a of Moldavia has been obliged, after a grave malady, to cont:sle the seine of government to a ciuncil composed of the ministers. The Mitilia cabinet &Neared el:rposed to make this circa:a- stance a pretelt for occupying the principalities. General Rudiger, it was said, had been nominated generalitaimo of the army of the south. The Russian troops assembled in Bessarabia and the southern provinces were 80,000 in number, and 80,000 Austrian troops were also on the fron tiers of Turkey. Accounts front Bagdad announced that a Persian corps d'arssde, had approached the Turkish frontier, towards Kesbela, and this demonstration was ascribed to the insti gation of Russia. On the 24th ult., an aide-de-camp of Prince MenschikoifL, aide decamp of the Emperor of Russia, arrived at Constantinople. The prince was expected him self on the 28th; he was at Odessa, ready to embark, it was said. as soon as he should be inf tuned of the departure of M. de Lavalette, the French ambassador. M. de Lavalette, on taking lease of the Sultan, received the grand cordon of the new order of Mediidic. lie also received from the I prime minister antagnificent Arabian horse. Al. Benedetti, tint secretary, remains charge d'effaires of France, in the ; absence of the ambassador. AUSTRIAN ITALY. The Opinione of Turin states from Milan, Bth, that the weekly contribution laid upon that city since the late events has been reduced by halt. Since the Gth of February it has paid upwards of 400,0001. exolusive of 100 oxen and 80 much cows it is bound to furnish the fort of Porta Tosa with. DENMARK. On the sth inst. the result of 96 elections was known in Copenhagen. Of tho new members of the Volksthing M belonged to the opposition, and 45 to the ministerial party. POLAND. A council of war has condemned Constantine Zut zico Szatniawsky and Stanislas Grudzsinski to four years' banishment to Siberia and confiscation of their estates, for taking part in the warn Hungary. INDIA. OVERLAND CALCUTTA MAIL. (BY SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH.) MARSEILLES, Mallen 13.‘ The India mail has arrived. The dites are—Cal mitts, Feb. 3; Bombay, Feb. 12; Rangoon, Jan. 13; and China, Jan 13. . . . . In reference to the revolution at Ava, the King had been deposed by his brother. Au ambassador had set out for the capital. Commerce in India was active. Exchange 2s. 11d. THE UNITED STATES. ARRIVAL OF AMERICA. (TIT BLICTRIO TILLORACRI (PROM UCA OWN CORRESPONDANT.) LI V E RPOOL, MONDAY. The British and North American Royal Mail steam ship America, Leitch, commander, passed the north west light-ship at ten o'cloLic this morning, and was expected to reach Liverpool about one p.m. She brings 47 passengers from Boston and Halifax, and later advice. from California and the West Indies; but neither of these items is of much importance. Her mails will leave Liverpool this evening for all parts of the United Linden and the Continent. RETURN OF TILE AUSTRALIAN. (IT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) (PROW OWE OWN CORNISPONDINT.) PLYMOUTH, koNnLy. The Australian came back this morning, at 8 A.M., having proceeded as for as the Bay of Biscay, where, owing to toe strain of her engines, the ship had becomo leaky all ever, and all the hands, passengers included, were obliged to work at the pumps incessantly. Fortunately there was but little wind, or the vessel must hate been lost. Ihe passengers have passed a series of resolutions, strongly condemnatory of the ship and of the proceedings of the company, but approving of the conduct of Captain lloseason, the officers, and crew. DEPUTATION ON THE SUBJECT OF THE ADVERTISEMENT DUTY. The Chancellor of the Exchequer received on Saturday a deputation of gentlemen connected with the newspaper press, on the subject of the advertisement duty. They were introduced by Mr. Ewear, M.P., who sub- ; mitred the following objections to the tax " Ist. Because it is a tax on knowledge, and falls with partiality on an important portion of the press—the news paper, magazine, and periodical. All other means of ad vertising escape the duty. " 2od. It is en unjust tax. It cannot be equitably ite mised or collected. The rich man pays only ls. 61. to ad vertise the sale of an estate ; the poor man pays is 6d. to advertise for employment. 3rd. It falls heavily on particular classes of property, impeding to en important extent advertisements in jour nab. In America, any man who wishes to lend or to hire, to buy or to sell, announces his wish, without being subject to any duty, for Is. " 4th. It acts most injuriously on literary works striving at cheapness. The cost of advorising sometimes amounts to more than the whole profit of author and publisher on works which are successful. " sth. It is a tax which goes far to fetter the free exten sion of the press, and prevents the circulation of a sound end wholesome literature among working men. In Ame rica there are 350 daily papers—in England there are only 10. " 6th. It creates a monopoly. It is only the compara tively prosperous tradesman who can afford to advertise the intelligent mechanic is excluded from nespaper pub licity. " 7th. It is one among many of the fiscal errors com mitted when the true principles of taxation were compara tively unknown. It involves the lame principle, by which the lowest priced bohea is taxed at the same rate as the highest priced pekoe or souchong—on which the miserable shirt-maker is made to pay a duty of about 300 per cent. on the original value of the article which she consumes, while the rich pay about 80 per cent. only. " 1 8th. It is a tax that should be repealed, because the public would derive the full benefit of the repwd. In many cases a larger reduction than Ithe duty would be made by newspaper proprietors. " 9th. It is a tax which is easily and largely evaded. The blank-wall, the advertising van (dangerously blacking up the public thoroughfares), the omnibus, the railway car riage, Ike railway station, the :street pavement, and many other modes of advertising, reduce the amount paid to government to a comparatively, small amount, and leave ite pressure exactly where it is most severely felt, and where many grounds of public policy condemn it. " 10th. In a word—it is A great impediment to trade, literature, and labour, seeking a market through publicity,— and to the newspaper press for that reason : while the small amount of revenue which it yields—about 160,0001. per annum—renders it altogether unworthy of retention, at the cost of a tithe of the hardship and injustice which it inflicts." A conversation then ensued with reference to the objec tionable features of the tax, and its effect upon short adver tisements was especially pressed upon the attention of the Chancellor. It was shewn that four-fifths of the advertise ments iu the Time consisted of such as did not exceed ten lines in length. The object of the deputation was the total repeal of the tax, but in answer to an inquiry from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it was admitted by all thegentle men present (except:Mr. Young, representing the Sus news paper) that its reduction to 6d. would afford materiel relief to the advertising public, and it was urged that, whilst in a short time no lose of revenue would ensue from the total repeal, owing to the compensating effect of increased stamps and paper duty—the reduction of the dut7 to 6d. would most probably be attended with an immediate increase of revenue. TILE SPEAKER'S FOURTH PARLIAMENTARY DIN NER took place on Saturday last, when the following gen tlemen attended : Viscount Da umlanrig, Viscount Jocelyn, Lord Robert Grosvenor, Hon. General Anson, Right Hon. Henry Goulburn, Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, Right Hon. Sir George Grey, Right Hon. Sir Y. Baring, Right Hon. Vernon Smith, Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, Sir John Yards Buller, Sir Robert Hy. Inglis, Sir Robert Ferguson, Sir John Duckworth, Sir James Weir Hogg, Mr.Wigram, Mr. Thomas Baring, Mr. Sotheron, Mr. Deedes, Mr. Bremston, Mr. Robert Palmer, Mr. Ker Seymer, Mr. Chichester Fortescue, Mr. Evelyn Denison, Mr. Henry Herbert, Mr. Hume, Mr. William Beckett, Mr. Wright son. Lord Charles Wellesley was prevented from attend ing, having received the Queen's commands ; as was also the Right Hen. Edward Ellice, owing to the death of a re lation. A ?Lttt DECAPITATED AT LEEDS.—On Friday morning . • shocking and fatal accident occurred at the Kirkstall Forge Iron Works, near Leeds. A workman named Wm. Merritt, aged 28, was employed in a room where a revolving shaft, moved by steam power, is fired, and at the top of this shaft is a circular piece of thin metal used for some purpose. Ths shaft is fixed in • corner of the room, and behind it is kept a stock of iron Teens used in makiug engine boilers. It is supposed that whilst Merritt was taking something out of this corner his clothes caught the revolving shaft, and whirled him round it, and if so it would be with most fearful velocity. However this may be, he was soon after the accident found in the room with out head and minus one arm ; the load being in cite part and the trunk of thu body in another part of the room. The poor fellow was most probably drawn up the shaft, and his neck coming in contact wilt the piece of cir cular metal before meutiumd, it would he s , veri d from his bud) instantaneously. A coroner's jury has been sum moned tninquire into the circumstances, but the inquest , steals a4jonnacd until Wednesday nest. , ne Court. The Queen and Prince Albert drove to Stdenham on Saturday afternoon, attended by Colonel Bouverie and Captain the Hon. Dudley de Ras, and inspected the works in progressat the New Crystal Palace. The Duchess of Kent visited her Majesty on Saturday at Buckingham Palace. Prince Albert rode out on horseback en Saturday morn ing_attended by the Hon. Captain de Roe. The Queen had • dinner party on Saturday evening at Buckingham Palace. The company included the Duchess of Kent, the Princess Adelaide of Hohealohe, the Lord Chancellor and Lady Crunworth, the Count and Countess Colloredo, Lady Faany Howard, the Baroness de Speth, Lord James Murray. Lord and Lady Charles Wellesley, Lord and Lady De Itoe, Lord and Lady Colborne, Sir I Jame+ and Lady Graham, Sir John and Lady Pakington, and Lieut.-Colonel F. Seymour. The band of the Coldstream Guards was in attendance in the palace during dinner, and pertormed the following se lection : Ova.. tuna, "Der Vartipyr," Selectidn, "The ikeeper Awakened," Maefarren March, emptied toe the Feneral of the tithe of Wellington With' Song and Chorus (Mountain Sylph? Quadrille on air. from " nett., 11 Grande" Her Majesty's private hand afterwards uttended in the palace, and played the following pieces : Overture...Nemo." Selection, "L'Ettfant Prodigue," March.... Her Majesty and Prince Albert, with the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the Prince's Alice, the Duchess of Kent, end the Princess Alelside of Ilohenlolic, the ladies and geuttmen in waiting, and the domestic household, attended divino service yesterday morning in the private chapel of Buckingham Palace. The ion. and Rev. Gerald Wellesley officiated. A deputation of gentlemen from London, Hull, Man cheeter, rte„ on the subject of reform in the Customs, Lad an interview wit,, the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Saturday. The deputation was headed by the following members of parliament :—M . Wm. Brown, M.P., J. A. Smith, M.P., Gao. Hadfield, M.P., F. Scully, M.P., B. Oliveira, M.P., Capt. Scobell, 2d.1'., Vincent Scully, M.P., J. Green, M.P.. J. Brothr 'ton, M.P., A. Peliar, M.P., Sir It. Ferguson, M.P., P. Kirk, M.P., J. Cheetham ' M.P., T. Barnes, M.P., Sir Geo. Goodman, M.P., W. Williams, 31. P., Dr. Michell, M.P., W. H. Barron, H.P., W. P. Price, M.P., J. Crook, C. A. Moody, M.l'., George Sanders, M.P., Montagu Chambers, M.P., Sir Jas. Duke, M.P., Jno. Mastertnee, 31. P., Charles Howley, M.P., H. W. Wickham, Chas. Turner, M.P., E. J. Hutchins, M.P., S. Gregson, M.P., H. Gore Langton, M.P., T. Alcock, M.P., Sir Herbert Maddock, M.P., 3. Hume, 31. P., P. Orenfell, M.P., Ileadlam, M.P., 11. Berkeley, M.P., Acton, M.P., J. L. Ricardo, 11 P., Sir W. Verner, M.P., Archibald linstie, M.P., Bowyer, M.P., John Macgregor, M.P., Alexander Hastie M.P., Swift, M.P., `V. Marshall, M.P., llev woo:I, M.P., A. Wise, M.P., Humphrey Brown. M.P., Diver, M.P., T. A. Mitchell, M.P., Grace, M.P., Lawrence Heyworth, M.P., Geo. Duncan, M.P., Rich, M.P., Pilkington, M.P., and F. Crossley, M.P. ; Mr. Grantley Berkeley and Mr. Torrens M'Cu'lagh. The deputation consist. d of the the Mayor of Hull (with a deputation); Mr. J. C. Baxley, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Manchester (with a deputation) ; Messrs. John Dillon, J. P. GWfiOtt, J. In gram Travers, Robert Crawford, Matthew Clark, James Cook, W. J. Mall, F. I'egler, J. D. Bowles, James Hutch inson, W. Pye, T. Tooke, F. Pattison, W. Hawes, W. L. 004, P. Dic kson , _F. W. H. Murillier i Charles Marryatt, B J. E. Saunders, ramlcy Moore (Of Liverpool). C. W. Gregory, A. Travers, A. Crowe, 11. L. Morgue, ~.nd Geo. A deputation on the subject of the Merchant Seaman's Fund, consisting of Mr. George Lindsay, Mr. Barclay, Mr. George Faith, Mr. William Faith, Mr. C. M. Lugluue, Mr. Lawlord (solicitor), and Mt. Watson (secretary), had an interview with the Right Hon. E. Cardwell and Lord Stanley of Aldcrley, on Saturday, at the Board of Trade. Mr. Wodehouse, M.P., had an interview with the Duke of Newcastle on Saturday, at the Board of Trade. A deputation on the subject of the advertisement duty had an interview on Saturday with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at his official reeidence in Downing -street. The deputation consisted of the Lord Mayor, Mr. William Ewart, M.P. ' Mr. Murdo Young, Mr. k. Smith, Mr. Julio Francis, Mr. Robert Braley, Mr. Daniel Pratt, 121 r. Thorn ton Hunt, and Mr. R. W. Cooke. The Committee of the Queen's Most Honourable Privy Council for the affairs of Jersey and Guernsey sat on Satur day at the Council-office. The lords preseat were—Earl Granville (Lord President), Viscount Palmerston, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall, the Judge of the Admiralty Csurt, and Sir J. Patteson. Tha case of the petition of the states of Jersey against the Orders in Coun cil of the 11th of February, &c., Ha, was resumed and ad- journed. A deputation, headed by Col. Wood, on the subject of the militia, had an interview with Viscount Palmerston on Saturday. A deputation, on the subject of the French tariff on linens and linen yarns, had an interview with the Right lion. E. Cardwell and Lord Stanley of Aldorlcy, on Saturday, at the Board of Trade. The deputation consisted of Sir Geo. Goodman, M.P. ; Mr. Geo. Duncan, M.P. ; Mr. P. Fairbain, Mr. Wickham, M.P. ; Mr. Marshall, M.P.; Mr. Vincent Scully, M.P.; Mr. Francis Scully, M.P.; Mr. William Kirk, M.P. ; Mr. J. C. Barritt, Mr. Davison, M.P. ; Mr. Cairns, M.P., and Mr. Crook, M.P. Dispatches were received at the Colonial °Mac, on Satur day, from the Governor of Van Dieman'a Land. A deputation, on the subject of the Vaccination Exten sion Bill, including Dr. Babington, Mr. Manson, and Mr. Grainger, had an interview, on Saturday, with Viscount Palmerston. . - ... .. Mr. William Clifford, from the General Land Drainage Company, had an interview with Viscount Palmerston, on Saturday. A cabinet council was held at the Foreign-office, Downing-Rivet, oa Saturday afternoon. The min isters present were the Earl of Aberdeen, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Viscount Palmerston, the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke of Newcastle, Lord John Russell, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir James Graham, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and Sir William Molesworth. The council eat three hours and a half. Bunch, Eeq., aow Unpaid Vice-Consul at New York, is appointed WM. Britannic Majesty's Consul at Philadelphia, in the room of W. Peter, Esq., deceased. Mr. Samuel Henry, of Lerwick, is appointed Commissary Clerk of Zetland. The Rev. Mr. Nicol has been appointed Assistant to the Rev. D. J. Mitchell, Minister of Meigle, Perthshire. ROYAL VISIT TO THE NEW CRYSTAL PALACE. —The Queen paid a lengthened visit, on the afternoon of Saturday, to the works at Sydenham. Her Majesty wu accompanied by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Princess Royal and the Princess Alice, and at tended by Colonel Bouverie and Captain Dc Roc Her Majesty appeared much gratified with all that had been done, and hie Royal Highness expressed his intention of shortly repeating his visit. Mr. Owen Jones conducted her Majesty through the works. THE SPEAKER'S LEVEE. The Speaker held his second and last levee on Saturday lut, when the following noblemen and gentlemen attended: —Right Hon. the Earl de Grey, Right Ron. Earl of Cardigan, Earl Beauchamp, Right Hon. de Broughton, Right Hon. Sir Thomas' Fremantle, the Acceuntant-Geue ral, Rev. Mr. Repton (also, the following members of the House of Commons,) Sir Thos. Dyke Arland, Mr. Hugh Adair, Mr. Adderley, Mr. Alcoa, Sir Ju. Andes." Earl of Anne'ley, Hon. General Anson, Mr. ROW Sir Ju. Baillie, Mr. Henry Baillie, Right Hon. Baines, Sir F. Baring, Mr. Thomas Baring, Mr. Beckett, Mr. Bentinck, the Solicitor-General, Colonel Bolder% Hon. E. Bouvcrie, Hon. Colonel Boyle, Mr. Bremtidge, Mr. V. Browne, Mr. Cumming Bruce, Mr. H. A. Bruce, Sir John Boller, Mr. Burroughcs, Mr. Butler, Hon. G. H. C. Byng, Mr. Cairns, Sir J. R. Omar, Colonel Caulfeild, Hon. General Cavendish, Mr. Cayley, Mr. Thos. Chambers, Hon. F. Charteris , Viscount Chelsea, Lord Henry Choi mondeley, Mr. Christy, Sir Wm. Clay, the Attorney-Gene ral, Mr. Cocks, Mr. H. B. Coles, Mr. Colville, Mr. Comp ton, Mr. Cowan, Ron. Wm. Cowper, Mr. Craufurd, Sir H. R. Davie, Mr. J. E. Denison, Mr. Divett, Viscount Drumlanrig, Sir J. Duckworth, Mr. G. S. Duff, Mr. Jas. Duff, Sir Jas. Duke, Captain Hon. A. Duncombe, R.N., Colonel Hon.O.Duncombe, Sir P. Egerton,Viscount Ebnlyn, Mr. Esmonde, Mr. Evelyn, Mr. Fellowos, Sir R. Ferguson, Mr. J. Fitzgerald, Mr. Fitzroy, Mr. C. Fortescue, Sir W. Frazer Colonel Freestnn, Mr.Paskell, Mr. G. C. Glyn, Sir G. Goo dman,: Right Hon. H. Goulburn, lien. F. G. Gower, Lord M. Graham, Mr. Gregson, Mr. Grenfell, Lord Robert Grosvenor, Sir H. Raiford, Hon. C. Banbury, Right Hon. W. G. llayter, Mr. Headlam, Mr. H. Herbert, Right Hoe. Sir Sidney Herbert, Sir Thomas Herbert, K.C.8., Mr. Heywood, Sir James Wcir Hogg, Lord Ho them, Mr. Hume, Mr. Fitzwillism liume,Viacount Jocelyn, Mr. James Johnston, Mr. King King, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Knight, Right Ron. H. Labouchere, Mr. H. Langton, Mr. W. G. Langton, Lord H. Lennox, Mr. Leslie, Right Hon. J. F. Le wis, Mr. Liddell, Lord Lovaine, James MBregor (Sandwich), Sir Thomas Maddock, Mr. Willits, Mr. Mangles, Lord John Manners, Sir H. Mena, Colonel Miles, Mr. Mundy, Mr. Milligan, Mr. Monsen, Colonel Mure, Mr. Newdegate, Hon. G. Noel, Lord Norreys, Mr. ()twit'', Mr. Parke, Captain Pakenham, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Wilson Patten, Mr. Peacocks, Mr. F. Peel, Mr. Phillimere (Tavietock), Mr. Pigott, Mr Pilkington, Colonel Pin. ney, Hon. A. Ponwmby, lion. W. Portman, Mr. W. Price, Mr. Pugh, Mr. J. L. Ricardo, Mr. Hastings Russell, Mr. F. Russell, Captain Seobell, R.N., Mr. Vin cent Scully, Lord Seaham, Mr. H. Ker Seymer, Mr. I).ic'ty Seymour, Col. Sihtharp, Mr. M. I'. Smith, Right Hon. Vernon Smith, Mr. Smollett, Mr. Sotheron, Mr. Augustus Stafford, Marquis of Stafford, Mr. Stanfield, Sir G. Strickland, Mr. Henry Stuart, Mr. Tanered, Col. • Tay:or, Capt. Townthend, It.N., Admiral Sir G. Tyler, Lord Adolphus Vane, Lord li . Vane. Mr. vansittart, Right lien. the Judge• Advocate, Mr. Hussey Vivian, Sir R. Vivian, Mr. David Waddington, Mr. Baring Wall, • Right lion. Spencer Walpole, Mr. Walter, Mr. Warner, Mr. Whaley, Mr. Whitmin, Mr. Wlii:hre I, Mr. Wizrain, - Mr. Ayahford Wise, Mr. Wrightson. The Rev. J. Garnier t (chaplain), Mr. C. E. Lefray (secretary), were in atten daace. CUSTOMS REFORM. IMPORTANT INTERVIEW WITH THE CHAN. CELLOS OF THE EXCHEQUER. Oa Saturday a largo and influential deputation, consisting of members of parliament and others itoresent ing the mercantile and commercial interests of Londan sod veriest, outposts of the kingdom, waited upon the Chan cellur of the Exchequer, at his official residence in Duna. ing.street, in order to explain to the right hon. gentleman the wishes and feelings of the merchants and traders of the country in reference to the promised reform in the Customs' department. The reception morn was deii.ely thronged, and it was not without great difficulty teat mail members of the deputation obtained standing places. 1- was one o'clock precisely when the Chancellor of the Exchequer entered the room, accompanied by Mr. J. WI u, xi' ,, and his fire. act, after bowing to the deputati on , was in apologise to the deputation for the inadequacy of the ae. commodation. The right hon. gentleman stood bellied the chair placed for him at the talc daring the whole of the interview. The deputation comprised the following gentlemen John Masterman, M.P., Wm. Brown, M.l' , J iho A. Smith, M.P., George Hadfield, M.P., B. Oliva r:, H.P . , Captain &obeli, M.P., Vincent Scully. M.P., J 4u Green, M.P., Jos. Brotberton, Atsley Pellatt, M.P., Sir riz Ferguson, Bart., M.P. W. kirk, M.l'., J. Bat ies, mp., John Cheetlism, Sir G. Glodoil.n, Bart. M.P., W. Williams, M.P., D. \V. Mich( W. H. Barron, M.P., W. I'. Price, M.l'., Je.. Crooke, M.P., C. A. Moody, M.P., Geo. Sandals, M.l'., M. Chain ber., M.P., Sir Jas. Duke, Bart, M.P. Charles (Lindley, H.P.. \V.Wickham, M.P., Charles Turner, M.P., E. J. Hutchins, M.P., Saml. ()region, M.l'., If. Gore Langton, M.P. Thomas Alcock, Sir Herbert Maddork, Jus. Hume, M.P., P. Grentell, M.P., J. E. Headlun, M.P., H. Berkeley, M.l'., C. H. A'Court, M.P., J. L. Ric:rile, M.P., Sir Wm. Verner, Bart., M.P., Urrantley Berk , 1. r. M.P., Archibald Hattie, M.P., George Bowyer, MT., G. Grace, M.P.. James Pilkington, M.P., John M'Greaor, M.P., A. IL.stie (Glasgow), M.P., Win. Marshall, M.P., Richard Ss dr, M.P., James Heywood, M.P., A.Wise, M.P., E. Myatt, M.P. J. A. Mitchell (Bridport), M.P., Francis Scully, M.P.:Lawrence Hevworth, M.P., G. Donean, M.P., C. Rich, M.P., H. Blundell, Mayor anon : W. 11. Pearson and C. Harrison (Hull) • Mr. Thos. Barky, President Chamber of Commerce, Manchester; J. C. Barrett and Peter Fairburns (Leeds) ; F. Crossley, M.P. (Halifax); John Ingrain Travers, M..tthew Clarke, R.. Wietam Craw ford, Johii Dillon, W. John Hall, J. P. Gassiest, F.R S., James Cook, It Bagvhaw, E. Burneister, F. l'egler, W. Pyc, James Hutchinson, J. D. Fowles, Thomas Tooke, William Hawes ' F. Patteson, F. W. H. Marillier, W. L. Ogilby, C. W. Gregory, Peter Dickson, C. Marryatt, J. E. Saunders, E. Travers, Bromley Moore, William Torrens M'Cullagn' Alexander Crewe, 11. L. Motgao, George Hurry. It. R. R. Moore, &c. Mr. J. 1. TIIATERS said Lo had the honour to represent the deputation from the City of London, whose slew, were embodied in a memorial, watch, wiih the right hen. gen tleman's permission ho would now read. Ile then read the memorial, of which the following ate the principal pis . "To THE RIGHT HON, W. E. GLADSTONE, M 0., CHAN CELLOR OF TRY EN( IIEQUER. "Sir, —Upon the recent occasion of Mr. 11.rsfall in quiring in the House of Commons' whets the cevernment might he expected to bring torus and the subject to a reform of the Board of Custom. ?' you are reverted to have said that you were not in a position to state whether any rata cures which the government might take for the improve ment of the Customs' department and machinery would require legislative interposition,' but tlioa the whole subject was under the consideration of the Treasury, and that the result of it would probably be embodied in • minute.' " We do not think it necessary at present to enter at length into the details of the cede we complain et, or of the reforms which we propose. We lay before you tioe heads of such suegeet ions as we deem most important. We sub mit that under the existing law, a merchant's person may be seized, and his property detained or sold, with out any warrant, without any statement of charges, without any opportunity Afforded him f being confronted with the seizing officers, or of personal explanation or defence befure the Commissioners; and, practically, there is no appeal from the decision of the Com missioners, or in fact from the officer himself. The officer gives in his own account to the board ; on complaint, the board refers to the officer; no one cross- examines him, and he rectivee, on Isis own statement of the case, a ' , melon of the proceeds of the goods as the rewerd of holding to his story. The appeal to the Lords of the 'Treasury is also nominal ; time , refer to the board, and upon the account given by the board decide without seeing either the Meter or his victim. " We complain that an appeal to the Court of Exchequer involves a ruinous expenditure, under bond to pay costs, fines, and penalties ; sod that costs are its no eases allowed to be recovered from the crown. " That, in fact, our Customs es-stern, as it stands, is the one remaining blot upon our commerce. " We have opened our ports and seas, but we still keep Alta the narrow and rusty gate of the cusMiloo ; we have established courts to expedite and cheapen juetice, but we deny a place in them to the sufferers under customs malad ministratioa. " No reform has touched the irresponsible secrecy of the Customs Board, nor the endless heaping up of the costs of customs cases in the Exchequer. " We have in ordinary cases reformed our modes ofpro ceclure, so as to allow of the parties being examined faceto face, with marked advantage in eliciting the truth ; but though a man's goods, papers, books—everything he is worth in the world—be seized upon without warrant in the name of the Customs, all knowledge of the accusation and of his accusers is withheld from him ; he may be beg gared in means, and ruined in character, but neither the Customs Cummissi(meri nor the Lords of the Treasury will furnish bins with a statement of the charges ageing him, nor allow him to appear personally in his own defence. Until within the last few years, the full rowers of the customs have boon but ScitlOM eeercist d, or exercised only against the weak ; the commercial classes were even ignorant that ' such powers existed, and the irresponsible authority of the boned was tolerated, solely because the oppressive provisions of tho numerous seta and by-laws lay dormant. Of late, however, as you, sir, are well aware, those powers have been most vexatiously put in force, and the board has proved too strong for individual resistance. But, fortunately, in this country, to call attention to such abuses is ultimately to en sure their extinction. Public opinion will no longer tolerate secret tribunals, irresponsible authority, and in terference with property and liberty upon private accusa tion. " It is now well understood by people of all classes that every hindrance to the passage of ships and goody—every tax and waste of time—every risk of injury and loss—every liability to plunder, corruption, overcharge, and delay, in the way of the landing, warehousing, clearing, buying, selling, and distribution of merchandise, falls at last upon the consumer. We therefore confidently believe that there would be no difficulty in bringing the whole weight of public opinion to bear in favour of an immediate and sweep ing reform of the present system; the experience of the last few years has forced the conviction, even upon the most unwilling, that every facility to commerce is felt in enlarged imports, lowered prices, increased consumption, and addition to the revenue. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed that no copy of that memorial had been submitted to him. Mr. TRAVERS said no copy had been sent, and he now begged to present it. Mr. W. Meow:, M.P. for South Lancashire, said the me morial which had now been placed in the hands of the right hon. gentleman contained a memorandum of the requirements of the commercial community, and expressed a hope that before the bills to which they referred were introduced, these suggestions would be embodied in thorn. He had only to express, on the part of the Liverpool merchants, a very strong desire that any difference arising between them and the Customs' authorities should be submitted to an open tribunal, and not, as hitherto, to a secret tribunal, where they were required to defend themselves from any charges that might be brought against them. He believed it would greatly simplify the work of the Customs, and prevent a great many unjust seizures. (Hear, hear.) They considered it a most important point in alteration of the present system that they should have on the spot an open tribunal to appeal to. Great hardships frequently arose under the present system; and, as an instance, he might state that an American ship having lately amved in the Mersey with a large quantity of rice, some ill-disposed person or ill-natured officer gave ia formation thatethere were smuggled goods under the rice,and about 40 tons of it were thrown out by o: der of the Customs; it happened to be a very wet day, nothing of the Kind was found, or had ever been there, but the rice was ;completely destroyed. That was one of the grievances of the present system ; and if they had such a tribunal as he had stated to resort to, which would compel the officer to state who gave the false information, in order that he might be punished, some redress might be obtained. Mr. TURNER, M.P., said the establishment of open local tribunals was held by the Liverpool merchants to be of the utmost importance, because false accusations were fre quently made, involving not only the property but the cha rmer of the party, which could not be so easily made if the parties were brought face to face. Mr. E. W. CRAWFORD had had ample oppertun:fies of becoming acquainted with the feelings of the commercial community on this subject, and he would say that there never was a question more generally taken up with greater spirit, or from a thorough conviction of the existing evils, nor was there ever a great public question so entirely un connected with party or political feeling. Ulcer, beer.) He was sure it was only necessary for the right honourable gentleman to look round the room, to be satisfied of the truth of that observation. (Hear.) The main object the to committee urgeo f t thehi particular merc hant s o point thc upon City o t f h L e o c n h d nonrie b Exchequer—that the hills, when prepared, should hex he O mitted to the mercantile classes in the first irsta nee, le fere being brought into parliament, in order that then' might have an opportunity of passing an opinion upon the= Poe" tiesl working and operation of their prevision te 'teat cos the great object the City cemmittee had in vivo thn etc' sent occasion. He was satisfied that the corer -nee.: had bestowed great attention on the subject, and :d; t h e row. mittee wished was, that legislation, when i• l'I'"! ~ l ld ur in o v fl e h w .e should be as nearly perfect as possible. (Ikon Lear.) There being then a slight pause, The CHANCELLOR of the Exeitooron inquired if there was no gentleman who wished to add anythirg to what he had already heard ? Mr. r it e! theux A ch i e te g i a l t r i twtoluld s a n s o e t t a n t , t hr e l n . dio , htohpeedratiirhe Cth,oann,cel:;fo committee to send those bit's in the first tester ta the mercantile communities. That course wont I relieve the government from the responsibility which they ought to take upon their shoulders. The proper time to nr.lie sug