The Express. — London, England, 1847-03-02 00:00:00

interest upon tbo whole from January. He regretted the 1 telatlie takes by the Chancellor of the Excheepter, and was =Wed the public euuld Nee by it. He had no doubt this stock would be at 3 or 4 premium to-morrow in the market. Ile would not, were he the Chancellor of the Exchequer, have left himself opi 0 to the charge of giving facilities to the contractoes to combine together; and without previous arrangement it was impossible the two parties could have hit en the acme sum. If gevernroent had advertised for tenders, leaving the sums in each case open to the parties tendering, they would bare had otters from ten or twenty houses, and would have obtained the money on much better terms to the public. Had this course been taken, he believed half • mil lion of money might have been saved. Mr. \V. WILLIA .1S should have thought, from the right hoe. gentleman's statement, that the credit of the country had suffered during the last forty eight boon, had he not seen the paper. of Saturday. 170,000,000 hid been added to the national debt by this system of contracting loans. In the pees nt instance, according to the price of the fund., the Chancellor of the Esehequer had tttrown away 2 per cent. He hel ' that government should a'ways insist upon lf. principal for If. stock, whatever interest they paid for the loan. If the right hon. gentleman had issued 4,000,000 of Exchequer bills at lid. a-day, which was more than 3 per cent. , they would have maiiitained that clan of securities at • premium, acid by a very moderate advance of deficiency bill., supposing his estimate of income to be cor rect, would have obtained the msney required. And thus Exchequer bills might have been forded as the state of the money market offered the opportunity of doing so with ad vanta H e.. Mr. UME complained that the question of loan had not been left open to competl'ion—the loan te be effected in several sums ; as if so, the right hon. gent would have re ceived tenders from twenty public bodies, and no doubt been able to get better t. runs for the cuuntry. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, be had left it open to competition; that his proposition was, who would give him most money for 1001. stock, intimating that he would expect not less than 891. 10s., to which amount he had received offers from two parties Mr. WILLIAMS asked who were the parties. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER: Mesas. Rothschild and Baring. The resolution was then agreed to, and the house having resumed, was ordered to be reported to morrow (this day.) POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL. Lord J. RUSSELL nu to move that the house resolve itself into a committee for the purpose of proposing two clauses to be sub-tituted for clauses 2 and 3 in this bill. He did not wish to invite discussion on them now, but to go Into committee pro forma, that the bill as might be printed, and the discussion taken on next. The following are the clauses: tat be la anialisil. that it at any time It emit be Aeon to the satis fied= dins Peer-taw Commandment th,t by nano agile want of rem be Me weedieess d any tomisa, adequate rind mom be at teriedineen mantels peer ..ies, sot Integuseans penamonatf didiel as anomeld i et Mat IM libssee es ow aim, by seem dna edition Merin d Imre et Weds= Amin _le Tient be the sendlasef tem le del te lawlit *Elbe said emmlerlinses hen thee to Mum by man thdr bads and soaks, eadnehe and the gunner demi man tediseleirer sad en et the noshhauN le wad dsetnne mews= Or sap tiee net inmea kg two Wieder minds Item the Ibis et wadi teedist stem., thst ft did be Midi he the mid eanalestemea f t any Ina dee the nab& sod Whim the tidied= el sad eider, le mei Os aims by m mgr mar Mak he bead wad Ow thme germs& end he ft smind, Meese Me reeds by de merdiem elm man dew ma albs wentirideg suet et et the werlibmse as dm add. Min eh& be eel are Wear emeswared sad telaired is code pesetelm Isir WI mid en erne vierlibemed dednde mar gemeer, not pewee swesseerity dbebYd se Sir end timer Eel be madded In Me "mil sr mat= Odurtialltheumbed : pedded always net eft en sear. d alms ale of In Illnanalle as elliebadled gams en* a the aarhertt y et Elaver Mai be elven la Ad ally, save as hereinafter y send edema an unmet arroista. dime 1 thispiropseed to alter the liability of the =, mid Is flaw It up to a certain amount on the elec dielriels; belt that if it exceeded 2.e. 6d. in the pound the WNW should be chanted to the union at large. They blewiee proposed • change respecting the number of ex officio guardians. According to the amended poor-law of England any number of magistrates who served in a union were es oji c io members of the board of guardians. In Ireland they were elected from the entire number of magistrates, and formed one third of the guar dians ; and what he proposed was, that a number might be elected equal to the number of elected guardians, so that they might form one Ma of that body. They also pro to introduce a clause similar to that in the temporary bell, giving power to the poor-law commissioners to remove the boarded guardians on the nonperformance of their ditty, and appoint paid guardians in their stead. There was another point on which they intended to make some change. The house was aware that in England, persons with eufficient means for their own subs stence, whether in land or personal property, had no claim to relief; and it was pivoted by the hon. member for Dublin, that no relief should be given in Ireland to person, possessing about half an acre of land. Now, with respect to that, he thought they stood be tween two dangers. If they said that persons should be required not to possess any land whatever before they re ceived relief, there was the danger that poor persons would either be deprived of their cottages or refused relief. On the other hand, if relief were to be given to persons occupying • certain portion of land, more than half an acre, there was the danger by such course of encouraging the worst species of holding in Ireland It had been stated to him from many limiters that the encouragement of such occupations as about half an acre of land would seriously injure the coun try. (Hear hear.) On that point, therefore, the govern ment wished to take further time for consideration. They quite agreed in the opinion that it would not be right gene rally that persons occupying land should receive relief, but he thought there might he some definition given to that occu pation, so that a person having a cottage and a small plot of ground might not be debarred from receiving relief. The noble lord concluded by expressing his desire to proceed as qnickly as possible with this bill, and the bill for the improve ment of land in Ireland./ Sir R. PEEL asked whether the noble lord proposed, during the period the workhouse was full, to give the right to relief to destitute persons within the union, as in England ? Lord J. RUSSELL said the right would not be exactly the same as in England, there being, amongst others, this difference, that the relief would be given in food. At pre sent relief was given in England to many families on account of one member of that family being ill. It was not proposed to enact anything of that kind in the present bill. So far it wined differ from the English poor-law ; but, at the same time it would give the right to relief in the workhouse, and In the event oft hat being full, would empower the Poor-law Commissioners to issue an order by which the guardians would be obliged to give out-door relief. After a few words from Mr. AL BILLOW, who was un derstood to approve of the amendments, Mr. J. O'CONNELL expressed his regret that the noble lord was giving up the uniformity sneers of rating, and feared the change would prove a great mistake. If the magi.- trate, were to be put in equal numbers with the elected guardians, he hoped some means would be taken to cheek the practice which had grown into • grievance of interfering with * the religion of the paupers. Sr D. NOR REYS likewise objected to the proposed mode of rating, which he suspected the noble lord had been led into by certain recent meetings of Irish members, Instead of first consulting the opinion of the whole body in that house. Why should the paupers of Ireland be charged upon districts that had no hand whatever in creating those paupers ? It was lately stated in a petition from Kerry that while the rating in one electoral division would be 2s. Bd., another would be rated at 9d. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL considered that the noble lord's provision would double the difficulties of the question of rating, and that the uniform system was the best and the only just system they could adopt. Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN was understood to object to the alteration proposed in the boards of guardians,which he con tended was not extended in a popular direction. Mr. B. ESCOTT said that under the English poor-law there was a power given to the boards of guardians to grant relief out of the house in cases of sudden and urgent neces sity, of which they were to be the judges. Did the noble lord intend to extend the same right to Ireland ? Sr G. GREY spoke a few words across the table in reply, which were quite inaudible. Mr. P. SCROPE hoped this power of relief in sudden and urgent sun of necessity would be taken into consideration. Hs limight a great part of the alterations in the bill were in Meese the landlords and rate-payers. He thought there abeedd be we Wieuriderstanding as to the extension of • wer a Mid to every class in Ireland as it was is and that no am field be left to sa ges. Hew ej be know whether the pewee of airbag relief to the abisibedled poor was to Messina be wadi time as the weatherman some full. He dm.* lbs asionlies of the nimbi" et esellele guar dians wee a peat wreeessioa to the leader*, ea that the pore tesehl man by It. At present, the small femme who mall Mew of land were not allowed es 111111 a re sell Hay gave up their property. This we set done by the peolaw is Scotland, and was a great bereidp II a men k de position required relief from alekneem, et defi cisme, if mtgs. He did not perceive that than was any sheaths la the Oh algae, which medal oddest re lief be perms poweaaantly disabled. Thit was a plasse are le the peentaw, and compreheeded a very small peahen a the astltiite. In England set-door relief we patted to aim different classes, and the totally disabled was may ISO of them. He trusted that the gorse-law in Ireland wadi be assimilated to that in England, but if such manic lieme WON matainied in it, it would afford very inadequate gait Timm ibmad be a power of out-door relief to desti ne,* mama awl ddldren. He wished to know if the noble ised prepead to tatrawe a bill for the suppression of vs- C:=gail eareadiatimey is Ireland. 1 he noble lord in in tie leirik Poor-law in 1838, stated, that it was eased on the daubs to put down • and mendicancy ; bat they had sot been diminished, far put down. Me. LEPROY wished to know how far the wcekhouse tot would be issmined by the addition of houses of accom modation. The more the question of onion-rating was dis gusted the mere desirable it would be found that the electoral division cyan should be adhered to. Mr. CALLAGHAN said that the great majority of the petitions punented this 'melon were not in favour of the rating by tbs electoral divisions but even of a more extended r a n than anima rating. Almost all the differences among guardians arose on the subject of rating by elec enerdlw4aw eisisms. In his opinion if the rating were extended seer • i :rise surface it would be better for the pesos and a the essatry. Hs regretted that there had been any shame in the number of the ex-officio guardians, which would be very unpalatable in his part of the country. Mr. FITZGERALD said that in his part of the country the ratio— g by electoral divisions was preferred to that of unions. He thought the course taken by the noble lord was • wile one, and he hoped he would be firm in con is It. He believed the increasing the number of se-oAclo guardians would be anything but popular inlreland. In answer to a question from Mr. gnaw, -Lord S. RUSSELL said he thought be had stated that a bill Me the suppression of vagrancy and mendicancy in Ireland would be Introduced, hut he had not made up his mind as to the time when it would be brought in. The bill was then committed pro forma, the report re ceived, and it was ordered to be recommitted on Monday next. LANDED PROPERTY (IRELANDI BILL. Lord J. RUSSELL postponed the committal of this bill, instead of allowing it to pass through committee proforma. Mr. SMITE' O'BRIEN ( who was very imperfectly heard) said that the state of things in Ireland was most dises teem.; and although he was prepared to support outdoor relief under the Poor-law, be did not think that it Poor-law was calculated to increase the productions of the country. They were spending large sums of mone y . on useless works; they had refused the propos it ion of the noble lord (0. Bentinek) which would have put in motion the industry of the country, and aothtng had been done during the xenon, except the bill. Only 1,500,000 f. had been provided for drainage, and this wee the whole amount of the provision which was made for supplying the people with work when they were taken off the roads, and nether the Waste Lands nor Tenants' COM poetic.° Bills had been brought in. Lord J. RII , BIILL hardly knew if it was necessary to give any answer to the hon. gentleman. He should have ' thought that, is considering these mi &sures, which were founded oe the views of the moat enlightened friends of Ireland, and were in consonance with the published opinions of the bon. gentlenan, it was better to go through them clause by clause, and them tomcod the bills to the other house of parliament than to throw five or six hills on the table at once. He thought that they had taken the best practical course, and that these two measures were the most im- , portant. The hon. gentleman thought that a poor law would not make the country rich, but it was con- lettered that a good poor law had that tendency. He had received a letter from a proprietor in Ireland on the subject of the rating by electoral disisions, and it con tained an opinion that the farmers would be more likely to employ labourers if they found that they were charged with their support when they were sent to the workhouse. (Hear, hear.) As to the sums of money which were being expended,' the hon. gentleman did act seem to Kin sufficient value to I the fact, that the spending of large sums of money enabled many people to earn something to keep them alive. The most important question was, not whether the works were pr. ductive, but whether they enabled • number of persons from di.taot parts of the country to earn something. The hon. gentleman seemed to think that the people should not be employed on public works unless they were productive; but he (Lord J. Russell) hoped that many of the roads on which they were employed would be found useful in teeth tatiag internal communication. Still it was most important that advances of money should be made whew wages could not be procured for productive labour for so large a population. The Waste Lands Bill would be introduced, but he was un able to say at what time. As to the other bill mentioned by the hon. gentleman, it was, no doubt, a measure of the ut meet importance, but it was also one of the utmost difficulty. The Lord Chancellor had gone through all the clauses, and had made up hie mind as to their beneficial effect ; but he stated that there was • difference between the practice of the I Court of Chancery in Ireland, and the practice in that court in England, end nothing more could be done until the opinion of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland was obtainedas to the manner in which it would work. Was it not, therefore, better that it should be delayed for a fortnight, until it was ascertained that the bill had no fault in its drawing, which would prevent its working. He could assure the hon. Eaathat there was no inattention to this subject on eat t ih tt e tar considering r the g°ven reat eh u ge n ti l lti effi eeTwYu ? :: they were plated, some little in dulgence and forbearance should be shown towards them. (Hear hear.) Mr. HUME said that no one could deny the government credit for the manner in which they were acting; but he disowned from the proposition of the noble lord, that work must be provided in order to give the people wages. He should agree to that if the system was not calculated to in crease the existing evils. Every shillbl which was given to unproductive works drew the pro • from exercising thew industry on the soil. Why 'd not the govern meet bring in a bill to relieve the property of the landlords fr om their incembrances, so that they might give wages foe cultivating the land. In the last ten days, not withstanding the present state of things, land had been scld in Carrick at twenty-seven years purchase, and the pur chasers were about to apply th eir capital to its improvement. He had a report from an individual in Sligo, which stated the most scandalous abuses in the administration of the money advanced there. He thought there should be no delay in bringing in the bill. In Lord Devon's report it was stated that there were an immense numberof estates in Chancery, which could not be sold. Let that be done with the prop rty in Ireland which was done with land for railways in this country; let it be taken on valuation, and the money paid into court, s o d let the claimants dispute about the money and not the land. Why should not persons whose property was encumlwred be allowed to sell it ? He thought that the noble lord was going on spending money which was doing no good ; arid unless a stop was put to the public works, and theland relieved from its incumbrances, there was no hope for the regeneration of Ireland. Lord G. BENTINCE did not quite concur in the san guine view token by his noble friend as to the improvement of the roads in Ireland. He had last Saturday received • re port of a speech which, by a strange coincidence, was spoken in Ireland on the lame day on which a speech was delivered in that house, in which mention was made of Mr. Bianconi. It was admitted on all hands that no one was so good a judge of the improvementsof roads in Ireland as Mr. Bien cont. This was what was said by that gentleman in his speech : " If the English parliament knew this country, they would not have given a million of money to spoil and render impassable the highways instead of turning it into • reproductive chaenel ; but he thought that it was appre hended that if the prosperity of Ireland was increased, it would lead to her independence. He had discontinued nine or ten vehicles, whist) employed 100 or 200 horse*, because the British Parliament had shown such • knowledge of the I country, that instead of granting money for railways, they had given it to spoil the roads, which they already had. His noble friend could not, therefore, he thought, congratu late himself that the money spent on the roads would tend to their improvement. Lord J. RUSSELL said he did not express any sanguine expectation so to the improvement of the roads, but that the object was to feed the people. Sr J. GRAHAM differed from the position laid down by the noble lord, that it was unimportant, provided that money was granted for the den.' in Ireland, whether it was applied to productive or unproductive works. He (Sir J. Graham) thought It was of great importance to future national prosperity, that capital so expended should be reproductive, and the wealth of Ireland should be increased. He rose principally to offer a suggestion to the noble lord. It would be unfair and unjust, considering the pressure under which the government laboured, and the dif- Beatties with which they had to contend, to complain of de lay in bringing firward measures to meet those difficulties. But; he was of opinion, that of all the ptrmsaent measures ' proposed, none was of more importance, or more calculated for the future relief of Ireland, than the bill which would give facilities to tenants for life to relieve themselves front incum brances on their property by the sale of • portion of it. The importance of that measure could not be overstated, and he, therefore, rejoiced to hear that the Lord Chancellors of England said Ireland were now directing their earnest attention to it. Judging from the experience of last session he must say that there was reason to apprehend that if the matter was left in the hands of lawyers no such relief as that which such • measure would effect would be obtained It cannot have been forgotten that last year the house almost unanimously sent up a measure to the other house by one clause of which tenants for life would have been en abled to borrow money on their estates, due precaution being taken that the inheritance was not damnified. That clause ' met with the general concurrence of the house, but in the I other house of parliament, Lords Cottenham, Langdale, I Campbell, and Lyndhurst, all made common cause, and by common consent thole four great law authorities conjoined. and forced the rejection of that clause. This house was forced to yield, and the bill pared in that mutilated condi. lice. The suggestion he had to offer to her Majesty's go- vernment was that while the house was employed in dis cussing the Poor-law Bill for Ireland and the measure enabling tenants for life to incur debts to improve their estates, the other house might with the utmost possible ad vantage be employed in considering a measure on the sub-I ject to which he adverted, upon which the great law autho titles could concur, and which he (Sir James Graham) thought ought not longer to be delayed He did not wish unduly to hurry the govern ment, because he thought they had shown the greatest I diligence under circumstances of unequalled pressure and difficulty, but thought the suggestion worthy their conside ration. (Hear, hear.) Mr. LABOUCHERE said he participated in the regret expressed by the right hon. baronet (Sir J. Graham) that it had not yet been possible for the government to lay before parliament the measure to which he referred; but he (Mr. Labonchere) trusted that no long time would elapse before the other house would be occupied with its consideration. (Hear, hear.) The right hon. baronet seemed to suppose that the noble lord at the head of the government had said that it was matter of indifference—comparative indifference —to Ireland whether the money advanced r was spent in pro ductive or unproductive works in that country. His (Mr. Laboachere's) noble friend gave expression to no such senti ment. His noble friend said, it must always be borne in mind in considering this question, that the primary object in the protein condition of Ireland was to save human life and diminish human suffering. Bo far as that could be combined with useful employment it was certainly desirable, but the main object could not be loot sight of. (Hest, hear.) He was sure the right hon. baronet (Sir J. Graham) would not have given his sanction to a proposal that the government should undertake the employment of the population in the ordinary cultivation of the soil. (Hes', hear.) The ques tion had been what reproductive works could be so scattered over the country as to bring employmeat home to every class of Irishmen, and there would have been great deader in employing them in the ordinary cultivation of the toil. If the government had undertaken that duty, heavy 1141 herealeen se their teak had been, it would have been es nothing compared with such a responsibility. The government had, theredre, thought it right to give aid, so long as that aid could furnish the means of rubmatenee, through the medium of employment on public works, rather than to have re course to a system of what might properly be called repro- ductive works. He thought it right to say these few words in answer to that which seemed to be a censure passed by the right bon, baronet on the government. Biro. NORREYB said the measure alluded to by the right hon. baronet (Sir J. Graham) would not oaly be wholly insuf fi cient, but productive of still greater difficul ties. Every effort ought to be made to develop the industry of Ireland ; and he was of opinion that it would be wall to establish a board of arbitration to settle the terms upon which rights of property were to be conc e d e d . Mr. SATI,LIE said it was impossible the landlords of Ire land could do justice to their tenants so long as their tastes were encumbered with liabilities and he should readily 'newt to any measure whist. would enable ibem to sell a. portion of their wean to pay off imeembrances, awl thereby 'into them to extend benefits to their teasists. Mr. J. O'CONNELL remarked that the employment of the people in the construction of roads had not oily been the means of saving human life, but, in many instances, the works executed will, in the end, be reproductive. In many parts of the youth and west of Ireland the new roads bed given scone to the new markets, and had greatly im proved the condition of the poorer dawn ; and in the cul- Vested districts near Dublin, including Kingstown, Dalkey, and Monkstown, the relief committee, of which he was the chairman, had no sort of reproductive work os which to employ the population except upon the roads. He joined in the wish that the measure for the reclamation of waste lands and the other measures to which reference had been made would be hurried forward by the government. Mr. SHAW thought it unreasonable to press the govern ment in the emergencies by which they were surrounded, but still he was of opinion that no time ought to be lost in bringing forward the Landed Property Bill and the measures Br the reclamation of waste lands, and for getting rid of eneumbrances on estates—measures which were necessary, In order to develops the resources of Ireland, and to enable the popuution to support themselves by their own labour. Mr. P. SCROPE enquired in what shape the government proposed to bring forward their measure on the subiect of arterial drainage. Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN mid, before the noble lord answered that question, he begged to ask whether or not the noble lord meant to re-open the question of poor.law rating In Ireland, by the adoption of the hill introduced by the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. 8. Crawford). Lord J. RUSSELL replied, with respect to the Drainage Bill, that most of the operations under It could now be per formed under the Drainage Act, which had already been passed. With respect to the question last put, he (Lord J. litus.ell) could not state what were the intentions of the C v n e . ru m7mtr u f n or til ßt u cl o t t d h a e l r e tookdius p et a on ce. on H t e h:l id b n ill ot of concurthe in all the provisioner of that bill, but still he thought there were one or two clauses worthy of consideration. On the etsbject of the Poor law Bill he had already this evening minted what the government intended. The Earl of LINCOLN said that not only did powers milt he arterial drainage under the bill brought in by lir regent Earl St. Germano, when Chief Secretary fee bolord, but at the present moment those powers were la otterstion. No less than four extensive schemes of drainage were in progress in Ireland, the expenditure upon which would be about 120,0001. Of this sum but a small portion bad been contributed by the public, the residue being ad vanced by the landowners. After a few words from Mr. SMITH O'Botar, the order of the day_ was read, and the committal of the bill pom mel to Monday next. _ _ THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EViNING, MARCH 1847. SUPPLY. . _ _ On the motion of Lorrii.lijesiti., the order of the day for a committee of supply was read, and oa the question that the Speeker leave the chair being put, Mr. HUME said it was not his intention to object to any I of the items in the army estimates, but he begged to call the attention of the house to the condition which the country was in. On a former eveningthe late Chancellor of the Exchequer noticed the gradual increase which had been made in the three great establishments—the crmy, the navy, and the ordnance, and this year each of these was increased to a greater amount than they had ever been since the year 1822. No reason had yet been assigned for this increase. Two years ago the right hon. baronet the member for Tansworth (Sir R. Peel), said he could not reduce these establishments be muse of the China war, and the petition of this country with the United States. Last year the unsettled state of Ireland had been assigned as a reason why no reduction could be made, but he was at a lose to find any peculiarity which this year required an increase in every one of these three meat estahlistiments. It appeared to him (Mr. Hume) th.t they had now come to that Mutation which they were in in 1828, when the estimates were so large, and the condi tion of the country so incapable of bearing the amount, that the house was obliged to have recourse to a committee of finance to ascertain the cause of the increase, and it ap peared to him that such a general inquiry was called for on the present occasion, when there would only be a surplus of 80,0001. He would not now enter upon a discussion on the late brevet, further than to say that it had led to an expense which was uncalled for and indefensible, while it had not contributed to the efficiency of the service. The aggregate expense of the army, navy, and ordnance, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837, was 43,000,0001., while in the years 1842, 1843, and 1844, it was 65,000,0001. ; yet a further increase was now proposed. It was an extraordinary cir cumstance that no candidate at the last general election was . called upon at the hustings to pledge himself to economy. (Laughter.) Were It not for the extraordinary expenditure then proposed, many taxes pressing on the industry and prosperity of the country might have been reduced. He hoped that a new order of things would commence with the new parliament. Sir DE L. EVANS reminded the hon. member for Montrose, that between 1841 and the present time, the French government had expended 11,000,0001. on fortifin tions. The complaint of the hon. member with regard to the last election proved that more prudence existed at the hustings than in some quarters in that house. (Laughter.) Though generally considered a popular member, he would be a party to foolish and iiijudicioue reductions, which would endanger the security of the country. Lord G. BENTINCK said that though he concurred with the hon. and gallant member in reference to foolish re ductions, he was surprised to find the advocates of free-trade proposing an increase of the military and naval establish ments. They were at one time told that such would be the effects of free trade that they would be able to rue their battlements, to lay flat their fortifications, to disband their army, and to do away with their navy. (Laughter.) As a protectionist he had never believed in such a result ; but the disappointment of free-trade expectations would not induce him, any more than the hon. and gallant officer, to expos the country to the inroads of foreign nations. Dr. BOWRING maintained that free trade was inti mately connected with peace, and that the extension of English merchandise would be a better protection than the increase of the defensive establishments. He believed that the pulite generally were adverse to the proposed increase of expenditure. Mr. W. WILLIAMS regretted that the present govern ment bad not followed in the footsteps of Lord Grey and Lord Melbourne is relation to the naval and 'military esta blishments, by whom the expenditure in those departments was reduced 8,000,0001. below that of the ensuing year. The hon. Secretary to the Admiralty had stated that there were only 20,000 regular soldiers for the defence of England at the pre sent moment. The whole amount of the effective regular force was 157,789, to which number should be added 10,000 for the Irish police, and 10,000 for the pensioners, making a total of 177,789. Deducting those who were employed in Ireland and the colonies, it appeared that there were 70,000 men remaining for the defence of Great Britain. Taking into account the London police, the militia, the yeomanry, and the half-pay o ffi cers, he believed that a force could be col lected equal to any that could be landed on the English coast by France, and all the other countries in the world. It was his intention to propose a reduction to the extent of 20,000 men. The cost of 630 foot-guards iunounted to 105,452/., the cost of the whole guards amounted to 210,4921., which would sup port 6,260 schoolmaster. at 401. a year each, who could be placed over nearly half the parishes of England and Wales. If her Majesty were consulted, he had no doubt that she would consent to such a reduction as would educate upwards of a million of children. The half-pay pensions of the army and navy, and the ordnance of both services, amounted to 3,207,0001. They paid several persons who rendered their country great service in all these departments. But a great many retired pay who had done the public no good whatever. What he complained of was the host of generals who had made their way up in the Foot Guards. And he had heard from several officers well ac quainted with the service, that there were more lieutenant colonels of the Foot Guards than of half of the whole standing army itself. Two-thirds of them worked their way up by getting themselves placed in the Foot Guards. He had no objection whatever to their maintaining in a respectable position the widows and families of those who had lost their lives in the public service. He proposed the redaction of 20,000 men, under the belief that the public service would still be most efficiently pro vided for. That reduction ought to be made if they wished to show a proper regard to the economy of the present day, when so many of her Majesty's subjects in the three kingdoms were in the greatest distress. Mr. BROTHERTON said, that though he agreed with the hon. gentleman the member for Coventry, he rose to protest against such an invasion of the rules of parliament as to discuss a question while the Speaker was in the chair which ought to be discussed in committee. (Hear, hear.) There was no chance of coming to a decision on the matter by means of a division. There was no possibility of their coming to any result, and the end might be, if they went on with it, that the Speaker would not leave the chair till 12 o'clock, after which all these matters would be discussed over again in committee. (Cheers.) The Brimutz then let the chair, and the house went into ,commits. Mr. PDX MAULE said that it would be impossible for him to read such a lecture to his hon. friend, the member for Coventry, as that given by the hon. member for Buford; and he hoped that his hon. friend would not quarrel with him if he stated that it was his opinion that the house was much indebted to the hon. member for Salford forgiving that lecture. (Hear.) It certainly would be mods more con venient to discus these several points as they may arise on the several votes to be proposed in committee. With refer coos to what fell from the hon. member for Montrose, who stated that for the preceding year there was a decrease in the effective service, and an increase in the non-effective service ; he had only to state that the hon. gentleman should have borne in mind that he was an accessory after the fact to that increase, and that he was one of those who veer as cordi ally as any bon. member to the noisier of the dirge formerly plena to the credit of the perk of 10,100 .1 poundage on pensions to the amount amidst sea the sea effective service was increased. He wed& set maw eater into the policy of the country on dire ireerre, bet he would merely ooudae himself to the brim brae Ur and would proceed to sae the real liaerig etetemnt et the military affairs of We esestry. H. veer her cr eek the convenissen of the ammeletee by himself immediately to the sereetee beton the and afterwards allude le Wee reeler of military intamam of which the oommiten ray be Wire at leaning new thing. It would appear her the cheese, that the men bur of awe to be voted la the impepte bat the emialog year R esumed to 138,806. The ger th the e rpm her roe on airelhetive pee5 6 wre e8. 76,227 11. 1. =W I Z% Merl her that the ✓apid by the SW Lila Oseepsy, areerlag t. 10,4971. 6 Tr ari l[proVen aM et tbe Wee amounted to balance Her Ws Royal Military College aseseeted to 17,1081. ; =derma the Royal Military Asylum, 268 On the whole a Merles of 8,068,091/. would be made in the effective swim. The first vote would be for the number of men in the army for the public service. Tae number of these men, deducting those who served in the Bast Indies, end who were paid by the Ent India Company, amounted to 108,398, making a small decrease tithe num ber taken last year of 210 men. The number of men to be required this year would amount to nearly the same as that required last year. There were some change', however, necessary. There was • decrease to be made in the regiments about to arrive from foreign service. During foreign service they were kept at the strength of 1,000 men, hut when they arrived home they would be reduced to 800. That, with the reduction of some non-commissioned officers in the regiments now on their way home, would cause • re duction of 1,075 men. There were other similar reductions, which would bring it to a decrease of 11,011 men. With the exception of 210 men, this deficiency ve old be supplied in the following manner; It was proposed to raise 682 men for the garrison at Hong Kong, and to add that body to the Ueylon Corp'. That was found economical in point of admi nistration, and as regarded the health of British soldiers. He thought that, instead of making those soldiers who maintained the honour and preserved the dignity of the nation exiles from their country, it was better to make the reduction in the way he had mentioned. He believed that there was no regiment in India which had been there above 14i years, and he believed that there was no regiment at home which was there a day more than four years ; but he still hoped that, in the course of time, they would bring down the longest absence to somewhat not much exceeding 13 years. He would now proceed to the neat vote, which was fur the land forces for the ensuing year. Upon that item them was a decreased expense (owing to the appropriation in aid having amounted to so large • sum) of 44,11.5/., without which there would have been an increase of 7,7161. The next vote was for the staff: and upon this there was an increase of 8,3431., occasioned chiefly by the force which had been seat to the Cape of Good Hope; and he thought the committee would admit that in all such un fortunate wars (which they might call little wars if they pleased), the usivrimst mode was to endeavour to settle them in a little way. (Hear.) The additional troops which had been sent there had laid the foundation for a well grounded hope that the next account we should receive would be one of submission on the part of the Kaffir* and preparation on our part to secure the frontier, after which the government might be able to withdraw some of the =to whose gallantry he Might be permitted to pray a testimony. (Hear, beer.) And here he would my that no corps had been more distinguished than the colonial corps which he had before mentioned, and Col. Somerset their chief. (Hear, hear.) The fourth vote related to public de partments, on which there was an increase of 2,093/., which was caused entirely by the increase of postage. In the next vote, the Royal Military Aralum, the charge for this year was 17,6331., the charge for the last year having been 14,0621., showing an increase of 3,5711., which principally arose from taking • vote of 2,0001. in furtherance of a new system of education. The next was a vote for the volunteer corps, which from their having been out on exercise more last year than customary, amounted to an increase of 3,9391. These formed the remaining votes for the effective services. In the estimates of last year a vote was taken under this head for 36,5001. for unprovided services, but it was not proposed to take any vote of that kind this year, leaving m those services to be defrayed as circumstances might require, which would make • further reduction of 36,5001. upon the estimate for effective services, from which, if they deducted the staff 17,9361., the sum of 18 , 564/ . would remain, which, if added to the decrease for the land force, would make a total de crease upon the effective services this year of 62,7151. (Hear, hear.) He next came to the non-affective services. The hon. gentleman, the member for Montrose (Mr. Home), had stated that then was a large increase on those services this year, and that he observed a steady increase in comparison with the estimate of last year. Now, he must say, that suck an observation was not fair, inasmuch as the vote of last year was only given for three-quarters of a year end the vote of this year was estimated four quarters. (Hear, hear.) The fiat vote was for rewards for distinguished services, and there was • decrease upon this vote, as compared with the last four quarters, of 3391. The charge for thin year pre sented the gratifying appearance of 1,040/. given to meri torious non-commissioned officers in annuities of from 10/. to 201. per annum. The next vote was for the pay of goneral offi cers' upon which there was an apparent increase of 33,000/.,but that vote contained the expenses of the brevet. 16,0001. was to be deducted for the quarter, not charged in the last year's estimate, and the reel increase would be, including the brevet, 17,000/. The next vote was for retired full-pay, which showed an apparent increase of 13,0001. ; hut, in reality, there was a deduction from this charge of 2,0001. They next came to half-pay ; and here, in reference to some observations from the hon. member for Montrose, he would say, that since 1830 this vote had been reduced from 720,0001. down to about4oo,oool. He thencame to " foreign half-pay," upon which there was a decrease of 1,1451. The next vote was fur widows' pensione;which last year amounted to 138,8191., and the vote of this year was for 131,8591., showing • de crease of 6,9601. Next on the list was compassionate allow ances, in which also there had been a decrease of 4.0001. He now came to the out-pensions, the charge for this year show ing an increase of 45,3821. The whole charge on this esti mate was 1,236,7321., that of last year being 1,191,3501., not withstanding which, there were 961 men less on these out-pen sions than last year, at a charge of 14,0511. The first great item of increase was a charge already sanctioned by the house, namely, the relinquishment of the charge of pound age amounting to 50,000/.—an act of justice which no one would regret. Then there was a charge of 6,0001. for organising a body of Chelsea pensioners to proceed to New Zeeland. The government proposed to send to that country • body of 500 of these men, with their families, under the charge of six officers, there to be located with certain ad vantages for seven years, and after that they would become valuable settlers, in the meantime affording defence to the colonists when called upon by the governor. (Hear, hear.) Upon the last vote---superannuation allowances—there was no increase at all. The re sult upon the non-effective services was then as follows: there was an apparent gross increase of 254,890/., but there was to be set against that the quarter omitted to be taken in the last year, 218,9791. ; the actual incr.-me there fore, would only be 35,9111,, sad if that were taken increase, the decrease on the effective services, amounting to 62,7171., it would show a decease, instead of an increase, span thr ser vices of this year, of 26,8061. And when it was con sidered that +50,0001. was to be accounted for as an addition to the Chelsea pensions already agreed to by the house-17,0001. for the brevet, and upwards of 15,0001. for the additional day in the next year—it being leap year—the committee, he thought, would admit that every attention had been paid to economy. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member for Montrose had slid that the object of the departments was to make their estimates as high as possible; but he (Mr. F. Mauls) could undertake to say for the department to which he bad the honour to belong, that they had endeavoured to make their estimates in low se paenble. He would now make one or two remarks with regard to the army generally. Its condition with reference to reliefs he had already stated. As to the mortality—from the steps which had been taken some time ago, by ameliorating the state of the troops in the West Indies, putting barracks in better places than they were in Jamaica and other islands, and employing the black troops on duty in unhealthy &inn tions, tne mortality in the West India islands, with the ex ception of Antigua and one or two others, was reduced to 1 3.10 per cent. In the Mediterranean, up to the 31st of March, 1846, the mortality was 1 3-10 per cent. ; in the twenty years preceding it was two per cent., showing • marked improvement. In Bermuda, Nova Scotia, Canada, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland, it was 1 3-10 per cent.; in the period antecedent to 1836 it had been 2 1-10 per cent. In New South Wiles, Van Diemen's Land, and the Cape of Good Hope, in 1846, it was 1 4-10 per cent. ; and it had been nearly the same in the period preceding. In St. He lena, Mauritius, and Jamaica it was I 9-10 per cent., or 19 in 1, 000; previous to 1836 it ha/ been 91 in 1,000. The alteration had been effected in Jamaica by the substitution of teeth meat for salted rations, but, above all, by the erec tion of barracks in the high lands of Jamaica instead of low situations. (Hear, hear) In the unhealthy stations, in cluding the rest of the West Indies and Ceylon, while the mortality was greater than could be wished, namely 4 4-10 per cent., it had been 7 6-10 previous to 1836. In - Hong Kong the mortality was 320 in 1,000 ; but he hoped that this rate would be lessened by the substitution of colonial for British troops. In India, the mortality was still large ; but, by the exertions of the noble lord now bolding the supreme command in that country, who bed been much impressed by the subject, he rammed that much good would be effected, and that healthy barracks would be erected in the highlands above Madras and Bombay, and in the ranges of the Himalaya mountains. Till something of that kind was done, there was no hope of reducing the present mor tality there. • vote of '2,0004. was proposed for the estab lishment of schools in the Royal Military Asylum. It was proposed to establish there a school for train ing echoolmesters, • model school, on the principle of which the regimental schools would be established,—and an infant school, consisting, as it had hitherto done, of the orphans and children of British soldiers, under certain dr cranstances. This was the plan of the right hon. gentle man who had preceded him, and it did him infinite credit; it not only laid the foundation of a system of educa tion for the children of the soldiery, but of the soldiers themselves, by which they !night be qualified to render themselves useful when their period of service expired. The libraries were increasing gradually and progressively. In this year there was en increased supply of 10,000 volumes for the army libraries ; and a vote of 2,0001. for that purpose would be liken in this year's estimates. With regard to discipline,--fteui the month of July, up to the close of the year, there had only been five instances of corporal punishments. (Hear, hear.) As the system of military prisons became more perfect sad more established, corporal punishment might be expected to die away al together. (Hear.) The prisons generally were working as well as could be wished ; there were now nine in Eng land, four in Ireland, and one in Scotland. The reports from the governors and chaplains were most satisfactory. The effect on the morals of the soldiers was most consider able: their being separated from the contamination of the civil gaols was one of the greatest boons ever conferred upon the army. (Hear.) From these prisons, the man returned fit for duty ; whereas, it required days, weeks, and some times months, to render them fit for service, after quitting the civil gaols, under the old regulation. Severe aa was the punishment in the military gaols, In no instance had the aol diem been injured in their minds, but in many cases they had Men reformed. The labour in these prisons was complained of as too severe; but it did no injury to those undergoing it, while it was severe enough to prevent any temptation being held out to a soldier to commit an offence for the purpose of getting Into the prison again. (Hear, hear.) In miens ether paints, the attention of government bed been directed to the entelioration of the condition of the soldiers. A vete of 6,0001. would be taken in the ordnance estimates, for the establishment of wash-houses in barracks. (Hear, hear.) As • proof of the disposition of the government to promote the welfare of the soldier in every particular, might be men tioned the remission of the duty of 50,0001 formerly charged as poundage to old soldiers, end the proposal to limit the period of service in the army. (Hear.) He believed that the army, as a service, had been, ix some particulars, too long neg lect, d; tke comforts of the soldier had not been thought worthy of attention • but he was convinced that the more care was taken of the soldier in time of peace, the more he was trained in those habits which constituted a good citizen, the better would he serve iu time of war. (Hear.) He hoped they should be able to promote the welfare of the men to such an extent as to induce the people of this country to look on the army, not as a refuge for the outcasts of society, but as an honourable profession, in which they might ncourage their children to embark, and from which, after • long or short period of service, by the at tention paid to their comfort, moral training, and strict dis cipline, they might receive them back improved in every way, and with their health nod morals duly and properly attended to. With these remarks, be would place in the hands of the chairman the vote—that 108,998 men be al lowed for the sera ice of the )ear, exclusive of those em ployed in the East Indus. Mr. WILLIAMS said the statement just made was so clear and straightforward, that scarcely any item required explanation. (Hear, lacer.) He had stated his intention of proposing a reduction of 10,000 men ; but having re ceived little encouragement from his friends near him— .. . . . . (laughter)—and bele'ving that there was very little chance of clisplactog the government by a hostile vote--(laughter)— and hoping, also, that they would be in cffice next year, and would then be enabled to propose a considerable reduction in these estimates—he should not bring forward the propo sition which he bad intended to make. Sir DE LACY EVANS expressed his satisfaction at the statements which had been made with reference to the de crease of corporal punishments, and the improvements in the moral and physical condition of the soldiers. A vote of 5,0001. was proposed for increasing the accommodation in barracks ; he should have been .lad if a much larger sum had been proposed, for the present state of the sleeping apart meats in the barracks was very objectionable, es they were extremely deficient in space. Mr. S. HERBERT was glad to learn that the 'cistern of education originated at Chelsea Hospital, was to be extended throughout the army. He believed that a spirit of eco nomy and frugality had been introduced amongst the men which he doubted not would be attended with the beet results. (Hear.) The system of rewards was one which could not but be productive of the greatest advantages, and he hoped to see it carried to a much greater extent. Mr EWART regretted that a much larger sum had not been devoted to educational purposes in the army. As indicative of their small habits of frugality it might be mentioned that their investments is the savings banks only amounted to about three thousand pounds. He was anxious to do everything in his power to raise the character of both officer and soldier. . . Mr. GOU LBURN was opposed to the general establish ment of colonial corps. His reason was this: the British army we. necessarily small, and if colonial corps were gene rally established there would be great difficulty in time of war is raising a sufficient force for imperial purposes. Be i aides, he thought that every British soldier should feel him self to be a member of the national army of Great Britain. Colonial corps, although perhaps sufficient to defend a fron tier against savages, were hardly so well disciplined as effec tuallv to stand in the place of the regular army. Of course the C l ays and one or two other colonies must be made an exception to this rule. 3,728,7371. for defraying the expenses of her Majesty's land forces at home and abroad, exclusive of India. Bir C. NAPIER moved that the chairman report pro gress, and that the house proceed to the discussion of the navy estimates, as had been previously a Lord J. RUSSELL feared that att r h r rtt l e hour very little progress would be made in the navy estimates. They formed a tie on which a great number of gentlemen might wish to spea k. Mr. WILLIAMSI trusted that the government would not secede to the wishes of the gallant officer. Sir C. NAPIER persisted in moving that the chairman report Mr. Tr i t s ULE said that if the gallant officer persisted in his motion, he would be clearly chargeable with obstruct ing the public business, as it was clear that even if they proceeded to the navy estimates little or no progress could be made on that evening. Lord J. RUSSELL said that if the gallant admiral with drew his motion for reporting progress, he (Lord J. Russell) would arrange so as that a discussion might be had on the navy estimates on a future evening. The vote was then agreed to. 177,7771. 18s. Id. k.r staff officers and officers of the Tower of London. 96,6321., for principal officers of the public departments, civil and military. 17,0331. 6s. 3d., Royal Military College. 17,6331., Royal Military Asylum. 86,3041. volunteer corps. 15,7401. rewards for distinguished services. 82,0001. pay of general officers. 59.000/. full-pay for reduced and retired officers. 420,0001. half pay and military allowances to reduced and retired officers. The above votes were severally put and agreed to. 49,1361. half-pay and reduced allowances to officers of dis banded foreign corps, &c. Dr. BOWRING asked whether any precautions were taken to ascertain the identity of foreign officers receiving allowances ? He understood that personation to some extent had been carried on. Mr. F. MAULE said that care wu taken that the per son should be identified by parties on the spot, or by letters of sufficient authority. He was quite sure that no foreign officer received pay under fraudulent circumstances. Vote agreed to. 131.8591. for officers' widows. 98,0001. for the charge of allowanceson the Compassionate List, &e. 36 6231. 3s. for the charge of Chelsea and Kilmainham hospitals. 1,236,7321. for the charge of the out-pensioners of Chelsea hospital. 39,0001. for the charge of allowances, compensations, and emoluments in the nature of superannu►tions to persous formerly in public departments. Those votes having been agreed to, Sir DE LACY EVANS asked if the Peninsular medals were to be distributed to the survivors of officers as well as to the surviving officers ? Ile wished also to call attention to tha propriety of giving a similar medal to those who had served in the battle of Trafalgar. (Hear, hear.) Less had been done for those who were interested in that battle than was generally supposed, and he could give a carious case in point. Almost the last sentence ever penned by Lord Nelson was a recommendation te his country of aa adopted daughter. That lady, he understood, war married to a highly esteemed clergyman, with a very small professional provision. Nothing had been ever done fur the lolly by the nation ; and he (Sir De L. Evans) thought the noble lord might fairly consider whether the government could not confer on the clergyman to whom she was united some such preferment an, very much to their honour, they had last year given to the son of Sir W. Nott. Lord J. RUSSELL said the rule laid down with respect to Peninsular medals was this—that medals should be given to the non-commissioned officers and soldiers who had served in any of those engagements L. the Peninsula on account of which any honorary distinction had been conferred upon officers of superior rank. With regard to a distinction for the navy, the subject was full of difficulty for if they ' confined such distinction to thou who had served at Trafal gar, they should obviously be doing an injustice to many I others wko had served in exceedingly gallant actions, and yet as most of these gallant actions were fought previously to Tra fakir, they must go back to an almost indefinite period, in order to seek for occasions of conferring the contemplated distinction. However, the matter was one for the coon deration of the First Lord of the Admiralty, who, no doubt, would be prepared to advise her Majesty upon the subject. With regard to the last part of the hon. and pilau mem ber's speech, he (Lord J. Russell) was certainly not aware of the circumstance to which he had referred, and, therefore, he could, of course, say nothing upon the subject. Sir R. PEEL sked what had been done with reference to the monument voted to the memory of those who had recently fallen in India? Lord J. RUSSELL said there had been no final deci sion, though he believed it was understood that there should be one general monument- Sir It. PEEL observed that that was the course he him self had contemplated. Sir C. NAPIER mid there was a question which he had n.ver stirred, and which hie commander•in.chiet had never stirred, but which he thought he ought upon the present oc casion to mention. Medals were given for services in China and India, but he had heard of none for services in Syria. Now he cared nothing about these things himself, but thus were some who had served with him who thought they ought not to be passed over. They were English officers who had taken St. Jean d'Acre. There was nothing extraordinary in the tact of English officers having taken St. Jean d'Aere, but everybody knew the fortress was a very strong one, and that the service was one of great importance to the national interest. The service was very Severe, and was performed with great gallantry. It was • natural quotation to ask, therefore, why they should be put off with a medal from the Sultan, instead of being put on the same footing with their brethren who had served elsewhere ? Lord J. RUSSELL said no doubt the service referred to was a very brilliant end a very distinguished one. But it was clear they could not raise a question of this sort without raising others. There were Algiers and Navarino, for in stance ; if medals were granted for services in Syria, why not for services in those engagements? Sir C. NAPIER quite agreed as to the propriety of the last grant; and, for his part, he saw no reason why those who Nerved at Algiers should not have • medal. There was scarcely an action in the whole war equal to Algiers. Naval men hardly thought it could be done. Lord Nelson had sailed up and down the Mediterranean many years, and had never contemplated an attack upon Algiers. Lied Exmouth came home, and told the Admiralty that if they would give him roar or fire line-of-battle ships he would punish the Dey ; and so he did. Ships might more with ships in the open sat and beat them easily; bat what was that to running a squadron into such a port as Algiers, where you might be driven on shore, under • battery, by • current I or a foul wind, and placed at the enemy's mercy at any mo ment ? That was what Lord Exmouth did. He took Algiers in en extraordinary manner—ao extraordinary as to justify the assertion that nothing done in the war was supe rior to it. With respect to Naverino it was a different sort of affair ; but there, it must be reivillected the admiral in command engaged a very superior force, and beat them gal lantly. He thought they all ought to have medal,. (Hear.) The army estimates having been thu gone through, the house resumed. Report to be brought up to-morrow (this day). The report of the committee of supply of Friday last (navy ) was brought up, and the resolutions agreed to. The committee on the Customs Duties Act was postponed to Friday next- DRAINAGE ACT. Sir 0. GREY obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the act 9th and 10th Virg., cap. 101, authorising the advan u , of public money fur the improvement of land by drainage ; ' and stated that it provided fur facilitating the operation of the act by removing certain difficulties occasioned by th e law of entail. There was also a provision to limit th e amount to be advanced to individiuds applying by requiring that • provisional certificate should issue for the amount wttich the commissioners might have reason to believe would be expended during three years, such certificate to be void if the money should not he expended within the specin t at time. In almost all eases the net would be applicable to the western highlands and islands of Scotland, in facilitating b y drainage the pasturage into arable land, In answer to a question from Sir li. PEEL, Sir G. GREY added that there was no provision for eo n , pulling persons to permit drains through their land neces sary for the drainage of adjoining property. ENLISTIdEIst T ACT. Mr. F. MAULE obtained leave to bring in • bill to limit the term of service in the army to ten years in the infantry ; and twelve in the cavalry. Mr. lIINDLEY expressed his intention of moving an amendment to give more than the twenty-four hours now' allowed to persona who had enlisted to withdraw if they' repinted. Mr. F. MAULE said that amendment should be proposed in the Mutiny Bill. The house adjourned at twelve o'clock ROYAL COLLEGE of SURGEONS of ENOLAND.—The COURSE of LECrEhlis in the Thew. 0 this 130111Dge for the present rear will be COMDICOCerI on Toads, ' the 9th of /lamb neat. when Professor OWEN will besin his ko. bares on the Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of the Vert& Mated Animals with alit blood. of the counte will be commenced by Frac:wet IPAi :ET, on the concluaion of Übe kart by Profaner OWEN. The lecture. wiU be delivered on coutt Tueaday, Tburaday. and Saturday, at four o'clock. Cards of admission will be trued to owm ben of the college, upon personal or written application tithe college, between the boom of ten and four. February, DEG. EDMUND BELEOUR, Secretary. gilt eporto. melts. The mail. hir Brltlah North America Bermuda, and the Milted Mates will be made up on the evening of the 3rd March. Tlvi overland mails for Gibraltar, Malts, Greece, the lonian Wand% Egypt, Aden, Ceylon, India, Bong-Kong, and China, via floultiimpten, will he made up on the morning of the ltd of March. The mall, for the Brazils, the River Plate, Monte Video, Pennine =wrßattia, Madeira, and Buenos Ayres, will be made sip on an of the ith Marth. The mils for Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Madeira, Cadis, and Gibraltar, will be made op oa the morning of the 7th Mardi. The overland eloped maila, via Marseilles, to the Mediterranean. Egypt. Aden, Ceylon, India, Hong hose, he., will be made up em tb evening of the MN March. The mails for New booth Wales, V. Dkanen's Land, and Mei Zeeland will be made up on the evening of the 31st March. The West India math, excluding thane for Mexico, llondtxra the Havanath, will be made up on the morning of the 31st i TO CORRESPONDENTS. The AdtertWng Mom of the DAILY iFi•s v and " EXPRESS* have horn REMOVED from 90, MELT-STALKY. to No. le, BOUVAILIE-frrktldliT, FLASCDBTREET, contiguous to the Printing ad Addieldag Odes. we dad mid in soy way, any commuldention that Le sent to den=b; but thaw weabeom to added m in confidence add asselese respidad. NEITHER CAN WE. UNDERTAKE 70 lISTUSX ANT lI Lera WHATEVER.. •. Advertiser% tesadd le The Ernes, London resins per, noel be at the Oise by Tee die on the day of eider HIGH WATKII AT LONDON-BUDGE. 'ems DA,iicriinir,l7.l67;l4l - 17" -- Aft:60 - 7 4 74 ad& pat L To-Blos.aow—Yondag, 3 mahs. past 3 ; Afternoon, IS WA. pet L LONDON, TUESDAY, MARCH 2. Is the House of Lords, yesterday, the Earl of AUCKLAND, in repl to the Murquia of LONDON DERRY, stated that the surveyors employed by the Post-office had given it as their opinion that Port Patrick was not a favourable point for Post-offioe communication with Ireland. The Duke of MON TROSE complained of the defective state of the postal arrangements at Glasgow, by which letters which arrived there by an accelerated mail at eight o'clock in the eveuing were not delivered until the following morning. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE admitted the inconvenience, stating that steps were taking to have an evening delivery, if possible. The Labour ing Poor (Ireland) Bill, after a short debate, was read a second time. Earl GREY intimated that ou moving the second reading of the Custody of Offenders Bill, on Friday, he would state what measures the govern iment intended to propose in consequence of the dis continuance of transportation. In the House of Commons the New Zealand Bill was read a second time, Lord J. RUSSELL observing, that until that moment he was unaware that such a bill had been introduced, and previous to its further progress he would make inquiries on the subject at the Colonial-office. The noble lord announced that her Majesty had summoned a council in order to fix a day for a national fast. The noble lord, in answer to Mr. HINDLEY, also stated that the sums to be pro posed in the miscellaneous estimates for the purposes of national education would be the same as last year, and that it was not his intention to introduce any new regulation as to the application of these funds. A discussion on Irish and Scotch distress ensued, ' after which the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER an nour.ced, in a committee of ways and means, that he had that morning entered into an arrangement for the loan of eight millions voted by the committee on a former night. The offer made was 89/. Its. for every 100/. stock, the interest on which would be about V. 7s. Gd. per cent, the contractors being the Mears. Rothschild and the Messrs. Baring. Mr. HUME Me demned the course taken by the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER as calculated to afford facili ties for combination between the contracting parties, whereas, if the loan had been open to public compe tition, leaving it to the bidders to name the amount they would take, half a million of money might have been saved. Mr. W. WILLIAMS considered that an issue of Exchequer Bills would have been a prefer able mode of investment, by which means the fund ing might have taken place at periods when the Money Market afforded the best opportunities for so doing. A discussion on the Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill followed ; after which, on the motion for going into committee of supply, Mr. HUME and Mr. W. WILLIAMS urged the necessity of retrenchment and economy. The house having gone into committee, Mr. Fox MAULE brought forward the army estimates, and on the resumption of the house brought in a bill for shortening the period of enlistment. THE action of the government, with a view to the relief of distress in Scotland, was unquestionably cha racterised by promptitude. A few letters from that country, intimating that assistance might be necessity, were written in the end of July. During August, they began to become numerous. What may be called official notice of the destitute state of the Wed ern Highlands and Islands was transmitted by Sir JOHN 'M'Neitt, of the board of supervision for the relief of the poor, on the 31bt of August, and by the LORD ADVOCATE on the 2nd of September. On the 11th of September, Sir E. 1 ' , " , --FrtN received orders to proceed to Scotland ; on the Ifith of that month we find him in Edinburgh busy collecting information ; and by the beginning of October we Mad him in the heart of the distressed district. The conduct of government towards Scotland has been quite as much characterised by prudence and judgment as by promptitude. Finding zea lous and intelligent coadjutors in the country, ministers remained satisfied with pointing out what might be done, advancing the means where necessary, and checking what Deemed to them misdirected real and energy. The late and present Lord Advocate, the gentlemen constituting the relief committees in Edinburgh and Glasgow and other places, and many ' private individuals, were men capable of giving and receiving suggestions ; and, with such se militants, Sir E. COFFIN and his staff found their task comparatively light. While the Irish landlords met to clamour, agitate and embarrass, the parties in Scotland whom we have named, met to act, and the influence of their example awed into silence a large proportion of the Highland gentry, who had all the will in the world to follow the example set them by those who may be termed, in the language of the old Scotch acts of parliament, "the Erschrie of Ireland." In the distressed districts of Scotland, as is Ire land, the main cause of the destitution has a deeper root than the casual failure of the potato crop. The disease is chronic : the poverty perenniaL In IMO, we had begging missions from that quarter holding forth at the Memnon-house, and not a year has passed since, but destitution might be found lurk m some nook or corner of it, as snow may be foetid all the year round in some chink or crevice of Ben Nevis or Shihallion. This has not been overlooked by government, and its efforts have been directed with the view of affording immediate relief in the manner most likely to pave the way to a social regeneration. Eleemosynary do. nations and public works have been discouraged, end the proprietors stimulated to find such employment for the poor or labour: u v r lass as was calculated to be re the germ of future employment. The opera' I